The Virginia enterprise., 1909-07-30
"ROOF Of WORLD"

wheat and 100000 bales of cotton. be-
sides a great amount of other prod
ucts. The cities of Tashkent, Chin
kent and Turkestan are in fourishing,
irrigated areas, watered by branches
of the Syr Daria coming down the
mountains on the northeast. Ta1h.
kent has now 4 population of 10000.
After course of 1900 or 1900 miles,
the Syr Daria also empties into the
Aral sea, where its water is evaporat-
ed in connection with that of the Anu
Daria.
Still farther to the northeast numer-
GUS other streams of considerable size
come down from the northern flank
of the Tian Shan mountains and, after
distributing alluvial soil at the base of
the mountains, disappear in the desert
sands or in Lake Balkash. Among
these are the Talas, the Chu (Which
has length of 700 or 800 miles), the
Ill, of equal length, and the Seven riv-
ers, which have given name to the
province of Semirechensk. For a dis
tance of several hundred miles along
this northern base of the Tian Shan
mountains there is a broad belt of
most fertile soil capable of irrigation
with the water from these mountain
streams. The Chu isiformed by the
combination of an innumerable num-
ber of mountain streams; so that it
has been designated "the land of the
thousand springs"
From earliest times this belt of fer
tile soil has played an important part
IN the history of the world. Lying
midway between the mountains and
the arid plains to the north, it has
been the favorite resort of semi
nomadic tribes, who venture out into
the pasture lands of the steppes with
their flocks and herds in early sum-
mer, and retreat to the mountain pas
lures later in the season, while raising
rich crops of grain upon the interme-
diate fertile irrigated belt. The Rus.
sian military road for several hundred
miles in passing through this region
encounters not only line of flourish
ing cities of present Importance, but
passes by innumerable mounds of
earth marking prehistoric civiliza-
ton. The abandoned irrigating canals
also speak too plainly of a decadence
resulting from the neglect of oppor-
tunities due to the social and political
| disorganization which has reigned for
! centuries. In the thirteenth century
the hordes of Jenghiz khan marched
leisurely along this belt on their way
to the conquest of western Asia and
of Europe.
Altogether these vast areas in cen
tral Asia which are capable of irriga-
tion afford most attractive conditions
for human life. Since the soil has not
been leached by constant rains, the
fertile elements remain in concen-
trated from, so as to afford crops far
greater than can be produced by the
broad cultivation necessary to obtain
remunerative results where the rain.
fall is such as it is over the larger
part of Europe and the eastern United
States. One acre of the irrigated silt
at the base of the Tian Shan noun
tains is worth three acres of the aver
age soil on farms in the middle states
of America. Prof. Hilgard has recent
ly commented upon this richness of
the soil in accounting for the fact that
all of the early centers of civilization
were in irrigated areas. Instances of
this are the valleys of the Nile, the
Euphrates and, he might have added,
of the Murghab, the Oxus, the Zeraf-
shan and the Jaxartes. When the ag-
riculturist considers also the certainty
of the water supply furnished by the
melting SHOWS on such lofty noun
tains, he cannot fail to be thankful
that he is not dependent upon fitful
showers of rain for the growth of his
crops, but can look with unfailing con-
fidence to the murmuring streams
which flow through the irrigated canals
which distribute the life-giving ele-
ment far and wide.
Another advantage of this irrigated
belt is the almost perpetual sunshine,
which relieves the inhabitants from
fear of the loss Of crops by mildew
and which enables them, even in
winter weather, to utilize the warmth
of the direct rays of the sun in &C.
curing their bodily comfort. The de-
mand for fuel to drive away the dis
comforts of winter Is thus reduced to
the lowest point. The famous bazar
in Tashkent occupies several miles Of
the ordinary streets, which during the
summer months are made comfortable
by a shading of mating stretched
across a network of beams which
cover the roadway. With this per.
petual sunshine, abundance of purs
water, great fertility Of soil, the hns
of cities along the base of the Tian
Shan mountains presents the most at
tractive centers of habitation which
can be imagined.
As one looks out to the north from
this irrigated belt and sees the glim.
mering mirage Of the desert. with
camels approaching, seeming to wade
knee-deep in water, and then turns
to the south and beholds the mountain
peaks from $4,000 to 10000 feet in
height glittering in their snowy man.
ties, he can but be thrilled with the
thought that here extremes meet, and
that midway between them nature il
most lavish with everything which
makes life attractive. The only draw.
back has been that man throughout
this region has been exceedingly vile
There can be no prosperity in an irri
gated region except there is a strons
and just central government, which