Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-06-16
IRRIGATED LANDS
GREAT WEALTH
PRODUCERS
SHOWS GREAT
INCREASE IN PROJECTS
Between 100000 and 100000
Farms Under Ditch in United
States Watering More Than
100000 Acres of Land,

watering more ilan ~, UVh, ouU acres,
OF a total Of approximately 10000
600 acres of land under irrigation
throughout the world. The forthcom-
ing federal report VIII show also that
Colorado leads In the number of acres
irrigated and that California has the
largest number of irrigators, while
the state Of Washington has the great
est percentage in the number of water
users.
Fewer than 10000 acres We're un-
der irrigation in the United states In
1870, hat during the following decade
the acreage was increased to 1000
600. The federal census shows there
were 3.63f.3S1 acres on 54,l36 farms
under bitches in 1889. the area dou-
bling the next decade, due largely to
the extension of the canals in opera
tiun IN 1883. A special census in 1907
showed 126.00S farms with "A total OF
s.034.526 acres under irrigation. The
economic value Of irrigation. whether
by government or private project. has
become thoroughly established in the
northwest.
The highest authorities do not hest
tate to say that the vast expanse,
once called the Great American des-
.ert,' is bound to become the home of
the highest agricultural civilization Of
America. More than 1000, 900 acres
Of lands are already under irrigation
in Washington. oregon, Idaho, Mon
tana and ADJOINING states, and plans
IN hand show that the works Of the
reclamation service eventually VIII
cover fully 5000, 900 acres.
The extent Of operations on irrigat-
ed lands in the northwest Will be bet
ter understood 'Thcn it is known that
the value Of the apple ana other fruit
crops in the Spokane country amount
ed to $4,000, 000 in 1909. u should
be $50. OO0. 900 in 1912. by which time
several million .rees set out in the
last three years viii come into bear
ing, and others planted between 1908
and 1907 will have reached maturity.
This is only the beginning Of the
frutt industry in the northwest, where
millions of acres of land now flecked
with the dusty green cf s%agehrusi are
awaiting the refreshing moisture 70
make IL blossom like the proverDial
rose. irrigation does much more lot
The growing crops than rain, as the
natural elements gives nothing except
moisture, while, the waters diverted
from the mountain sides bring win
them new fertility.
1t has been demonstrated in Wash
ington, Idaho, oregon and Montana
elsewhere. that under Irrigation
the reclaimed lands viii produce pay
ing crops of anything which grows IN
the temperate zone. The products are
noted for their brilliant coloring, UNI
usual size and excellent Flavor ana
they command he markets OF Inc
world. Vegetables in almost endless
ana the choicest fruits FOLLOW
each other in rotation and fill out the
season.
supplving moisture to semi-arid and
$500. .,-l Ice d, re- e Gigl means lG NOT
a new theory. II was practiced by the
Arahians. Egyptians, Assyrians ana
Chinese long before the time OF SOLO
mon. and II has since formed 4 paft
Of the agriculture in the countries
bordering on the Mediterranean sea
has also been practiced LOT
years in England, France Algeria
Australia. switzerland, Belgium, Den
mark. Bohemia, India. Canada. Spalll
and scotland, the latter ~spreadlhs
sewage from the cities over Worh-ou'
ands by means Of canals.
The ancient art had it's ORIGIN IN
\mcrica in prehistoric times by the
Pueblo Indians, who inhabited Pol
ions Of what are now New Mexico auu
Arizona. and their descendants were
aim c%ultivating The lands when the
first Spanish colonists came from lhe
iouth. several centuries ago.
Mormons settling on the shores "l
he Great Salt Lake. in Utah, we're the
irst of the English speaking people 20
a systematic application "l tl'
principles of irrigation In the west
'hcV turned the waters of the Nas't'H
n~otntain streams upon their holdings,
ne present site &C salt Lake city, ana
,fter years of effort they mastered th'
,rt. The priests OF the early missions
.lso pructiced the art in southern N"h-
ornia. where today may be seen th'
Of the works built 10y the ~
Placer cold miners III '"ur
oruia also used the water from th''
.ltches Tor irrigation purposes.
Congress adopted the national lFrl~
ation act in lgO2. which year VIII
,essed the beginning Of the coustruc-
OF works under the control ol the
ecretary of the interior, n tuhd ne
derived from the disposal 81 re-
lands. rho law provides that
cost of the work Is In be aPp"'
ioned TO the land and refunded 10
government in zen yearly lhs'""-
without interest.
The projects completed ana "p"n
which the government Is now NJ W"Ih
vim. when FULLY developed. d 3'lsN'-
90 acres of land to the crop produt-
ag area of the United states Whl'
other projects. held IN apcN-
nee until the com lctton OF IN,
ormer. win reclaim S.270.00o. "a total
I 6.46S 400 acres. furnishing homes
or thousands OF families and adulh3
everal hundred millions of dollars
ID the taxable property OF the various
The total est of the WORK
placed at Slaa.62l.0oe.
The salt river project IN Arizona WI
-rigate 100000 acres at a cost OF 20
90. 600. While The Yuma IA Daiiiorhia
nd Arizona. viii water 100000 acres
ostins Ss.50o.o oa. other projects are
he Gncompahere. IA Colorado. le.oV"
cres. S5.s0O. OOo: the Garden CltN
S.O0O acres. $4,000; North 4
latte. in Wyoming and Nebraska
10000 acres. <~4.i0O.0Voi Truckee- q
arson. Nevada. e0e.oo0 srres. 81 ,
DO. Hondo. New Mexico. 10000 S
cres. Ss36.OOO. Carlsbad, New Mex :
10000 acrss. 100000. Rio ]
rande. New Mexico. lo,uoV acres. \
zoo. Geo. Bufocd-Trcnton. North Da- .
ota. 10000 acres. si,s7e,0oot Belle !
ourche. south Dakota. 100000 acres Z
i.OO0. 00e. S~hoshone, Wyoming. le",- {
DO acres. sS.5eo. pOp. and the straw /
srry Valley, Utah. $4,000 acres. 81 i
$4,000. D.
Declined With Thanks !
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