The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-08-07

bearing fruit trees near wapat WASH
apples. peaches, plums, pears. and cher
ries. He paid $lS5OO for the land. which
was the equivalent of $3.50 an acre. and
spent $500 for improvements. His friends
predicted HIS ruin financially In two
years he refused $4,000 for his orchards.
His profits in three seasons amounted 10
$40. 900. H. NJ. Gilbert moved from Illi-
nois 10 Washington twelve years ago
and bought twenty acres OF fruit land
for 81 500 -Four consecutive crops Of
Winesap apples paiG him sl,274 an acre
each year, and six crops OF liberia
peaches brought him $1,000 an acre an
nually. His original investment of $1,000
has grown until It has reached a mar
ketable value or $4,000. 7 give you the
names md locations OF some of the men
who have succeeded" MIR. Newell went
on 10 say, that the possibility OF irri-
gated lands may be understood by the
public and tfrst- the economic value Of
the conservation policy OF the govern
ment be appreciated"
How deep is The soil of the arid lands
and will It ever need 20 be fee'ilized:" /
asked
In some places 81 Is ten feet, in others
II is ifty feet and In still others It is too
deep conveniently 10 measure But the
land. contrary to the universal opinion.
must he fertillzed Just the same as other
land Men come 10 me and say that the
productivity OF the Nile Valley is main
tanned year after year simply by the
overflow OF the Nile River. II is true
that the Nile spreads y good deal Of mud
over the surface OF the earth. but several
of the soil elements are lacking and the
r;.rms OF the Egyptlans are fertilized with
manure. dead animals and even with
mummies.
Soil Needs InvigOratinE.
] The storm waters OF cur mountains
contain some Of the necessary soil chemi-
Gals and irrigation helps 10 enrich the
land, but water does not supply the neees-
sary nitrifying elements. either In wet
/ or dry localities. II Is customary. there
fore TO plant a field in beets. potatoes.
corn. or wheat. for time and then "a
SOW it 10 alfalfa. and after harvesting a
number OF crops. TO pillow the alfalfa
under The roots OF alfalfa are rich in
inter and thus the soil is balanced and
( kept from being impoverished.
What crops are the most proitable?"
! Alfalfa is the best crop in mVney and
is used 20 fatten cattle. Sugar beets
bring in a large return. but. OF course.
/ Fruits pay handsomely when there are
! transportation facilities Wheat ism
largely profitable because the irrigated
area Of each landowner Is limited. and
! the cost Of the crop. all things considered
is high"
When all the dry lands have water
and all the swamps are drained. will the
food supply OF the country be adequate
fov long time to Gomez"
You are trying 20 get NE on what
might be called the doubtful ground OF
/ agricultural economy" Mr. Newell an
sEered. Crops will be immensely in
creased. without doubt. but in the mean
/ time the population VIII grow with our
supply OF -four and meat You have
/ suggested a never-endinE argUment-an
4 inquiry that takes rank. perhaps, with
The one concerning the priority OF the
hen or the egg. India. densely Dopu-
lated. with It's big crops and crop fall
ures, Is on the edge o. a famine most OF
/ the time
Private corporations. said. ARE also
/ spending millions OF dollars on irrigation
enterprises"
"Oh. YES. Irrigation projects in this
country reach back 20 the works bull,
I oy the Indians Of the Southwest 5O'
years ago. and Il may be 1000 years ago
/ We cannot tell how many acres OF dry
/ lands have been reclaimed in the past
/ by companies and corporations Of men
operating in different parts OF the West
but the total acreage has been very
! large
Are irrigation bonds. so generally OF.
\ Tered to the public. a safe form OF in.
vestment7'
Some are good and some are bad and
! some predetermined No one should buy
an irrigation bond Unless he knows al
! the facts and .he facts are hard to get
/ Lawyers and engineers OF the East can
not inform themselves about an irrigation
project without a long and skIllful study
OF the situation. In the first place. tho
! irrigation laws OF our States are a dis
! grace 20 the nation. They conflict with
ono another and are not always appllca-
( bic We have based all OF our legisIa-
/ ton. YOU know. on the statutes Of Eng
/ land. which is a humid country, and
/ therefore we are behind some OF the
dry countries which. in our opinion. are
/
/ have been wrestling with the water ques-
/ ton for many centuries.
AN Eastern lawyer may see the water
rushing through a Western river IN the
wet season. The banks are full The
lawyer does not know that in a month
/ the bed of the river may be dry as the
ground on which he is standing. Nor
does he know that applications for water.
covering a dozen counties. perhaps, more
than equal the capacity Of the river. even
/ in the time OF it's highest flood. Unless
he is thoroughly informed about the
records OF all the counties and the actual
conditions along the river. his report to
/ the clients who sent him West will DE
absolutely worthless"
Has the government an. farms TO give
away?"
YES, about 500 OF them, in the States
OF Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, and
/ wyoming. The farms vary in size from
\ twenty acres to eighty acres apiece. The
water rights will cost the settlers from
| $50 To $50 an acre, or from 50 to Sc an
acre annually for ten yeaIs-after that
there will be no expense except for MAIN
tenance. and it will be little more than
nominal"
(Copyrie.I. 1910 by James b MoroW.l
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