The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-25

selling at from $500 to 5000 an acre.
All of it is irrigated.
After the government began It's irri-
CATION projects, the discovery was made
chat land artihciaIly watered needs 10 be
4 trained in some eases. It becomes seeped
and turns into bogs. The water on the
surface, going 20 an impervious hard
pan where it is held. rises during the
months OF June and July and browns
the growing crops. 1t also brings TO the
top the alkal in the soil below and so
mineraliZes the surface that what vege-
tation escapes drowning is poisoned 10
death. The unforeseen popularity OF ir
rfgation that I have mentioned caused
the national government to undertake the
work of drainage investigation and ulti-
mately to extend the inquiry 10 perma-
nent swamps and all kinds of lands dam
| aged by surplus water.
THE Yakima Valley is the best Illus
tration in this country, 1 suppose. Of
what irrigation will accomplish, but here
and there are fields or orchards that
have become boys. Formerly fine crops
of hops were grown in that country. but
| hops are so variable in price, some
times bringing 81 a pound and at other
times only a few cents, that farmers
uprooted their vines and planted or
chards with sensational money results.
1T often happens that while nearly
/ all Of the land in an irrigated section
| is good that the bad luck OF an entire
neighbOrhOOd may center on a certain
ri ~ rats h.
water from the adjoining lands and be-
/ ing without a gravelly or sandy bottom.
where percolation IS easy and natural,
1t becomes a quagmire part of the year
Such land needs special treatment and
the national government sends a doctor
to see the patient.
Washington State Conditions.
4 also went into the northwestern part
of Washington, to a remarkable valley
OF 4O.OOO acres, between Puget Sound
and the Skagit River The river over
flows occasionally and covers the whole
country. Levees were made. but they are
not effective. Il was my business TO
| find a way to control the river Econom-
1 ically the task was worth the govern
ments time and money. The yield of
/ oats in the valley is as high as $50
| bushels 10 the acre. and OF timothy hay
| at least four tons TO the acre. Oats are
selling in the Northwest at 50 cents a
bushel and hay at SIS ton A farm
there is better than most gold mines
While we are commonly engaged In large
matters. We are ready 10 assist almost
any one. even though he owns but a
very small acreage"
What large drainage projects have
! been completed in this country"
| asked.
! up to the year 1860 nothing greater
than the drainage of Central Park in
/ New York City had ever been attempted
The engineering work was done by Col
| George E. Waring, who had run Horace
! Greeley's farm at Chappaqua on shares
and scientific principles. He put the soil
| Of Central Park in condition and set out
1 four rows OF elms that have since become
large and beautiful trees. Extensive
drainage operations followed Warnings
work in New York. Fifty-two miles of
levees were built along the Mississippi
River in Illinois. and 10000 acres of waste
land were made ready for the plow. Out
in the ST. Francis Valley of Missouri
100000 acres are now being drained by
modern methods.
Between st. Louis and Peoria, for
distance Of 100 miles. where the Illinois
River escapes from it's banks, levees and
bitches are retaining an immense area
OF permanent and periodical swamps.