The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1910-10-29
Our Vanishing Desert

N~|F~NNNNNNNN~~N~~N
A quarter of a century ago any men
ton of the Great American desert call
cd up visions OF a region of limitless
extent, n-baked, parched and desol-
ate. A country associated always with
tales Of suffering and death, of un-
friendly savages, and deadly reptiles,
for years il was passed over by Con-
gress as worthless. The marvellous
transformation which has been
wrought in two decades in this land
of silence and sunshine furnishes one
Of the most interesting and inspiring
pages in the annals of our republics
development. The great American de-
sert is vanishing from the map Its
boundaries have shrunken and IL no
longer presents a formidable barrier to
the growth and progress of the far
West Twelve million acres of this
rainless country have been subdued by
means OF agriculture and irrigation
and are producing bountiful and as
sured harvests every year. A quarter.
Of a million families are residing on
farms and as many more have found
homes and occupations in the cities,
towns, and villages which have sprung
up in the midst Of the agricultural
areas. Great dams have been con-
structed TO impound the floods and
through 10000 miles Of canals andI
bitches the life giving water has been
turned upon the dusty desert. The
90
or and an era Of manufacturing is
dawning in which all of the raw pro-
ducts Of the farm, the forests and the
mines will be prepared for the markets
OF the world. The comforts and lux
uries heretofore unknown In agricul-
tural regions already are obtainable in
many OF the western valleys. The
farmer lights and heats his home with
electricity and his heavy work is done
cheaply by the same potent force.
Trolley lines bring the farm and town
close together In "A majority OF the
irrigated districts the farms are small
not more than 40 acres each. With
16 10 60 farm families To- the square
mile isolation is eliminated and life
in the country becomes more nearly
urban than rural. While pioneering
In this new country calls for good
deal Of grit and not little hard work
the compensation is sure and abund-
ant. Carving out home In the desert
il no child's play, it is mans work,
but there are few places where Nature
responds more quickly to intelligent
industry than the irrigated country.
on the Government projects the past
year has been a conspicuously pros
porous one. The success Of the aver
age farmer I'm many instances has
been remarkable. ON several OF the
projects the crops on individual farms
this year have yielded enough to en-
able the owners 90 repay 10 the Gov
eminent every dollar OF their obliga-
lions II they were so inclined. As
the payments to the Government ox-
tend over a period Of ten years with
out interest there Is no object in meet
ing the same in advance and most Of
the farmers therefore are devoting
their revenues TO improving their
fi'iii'o eiih ~ HtoihE i've tiVih
and implements. one Of the most in
teresting features Of the upbuilding Of
these new communities is the large
number Of settlers who have come
from the cities and towns. Their
success is all the more notable be-
cause they had little or no previous
experience in farming. especially farm
ing by irrigation. Under these circum-
stances the call of the open country
Is likely 10 appeal 10 others who
have grown tired Of the stress and
fume OF city life and the never end
ing struggle TO make income and outgo
balance.
The West is filling up so rapidly and
the really choice locations are so few
that II Is only n question Of time now
when the increase Of land values there
will make IL as difficult for the poor
man to get a foothold as II is today In
the East. Letters are pouring I'm TO
the Statistician Of the Reclamation
Service at Washington. u. G., for in
formation about the lands which are
ready for settlers on the several Re-