The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-01-17
!. -. s.+++*+ $50 Sx**'
/: IRRIGATION OF THE .
= WESTERN LANDS.


GFNNb0s
80 :: :. :: :: = = !. !. = :. :. :. :. = = !. :
From waste of cactus and sage
brush 20 a growing city over 10000
|, inhabitants-ths is the transforms
tion that has taken place i'm perio,
of so years within the so square mile
of territory covered by the city %
Denver Col,
Today Denver stands IN the mids
OF farming country. watered by irri.
cation, and the products OF the sol
are crowding the wealth OF the hills
for honors in contributing 10 the sup
port and growth of Colorada's capita.
city. Taking the state as a whole. the
value of the combined agricultural and
horticultural products is more than
four times the value of the gold pro-
duction. the figures for 1909 beng
something over S1O0,0O0,00O.
Irrigation enterprises have sprung
up like magic in all parts OF the state,
and now large sums of money are be-
| ing expended in the construction of
immense reservoirs and mile after
mile of canals. Within a few years
every foot OF land surrounding Den
Yer will be under cultivation. To the
north OF the city, stretching away for
nearly 75 miles. is the great northern
Colorado district. one of the largest
irrigated districts in the world, en-
Tracing something over 900, 900 acres,
dotted with thriving towns and small
cities, and supporting numerous beet
sugar factories.
Eastward lies the broad plains.
stretching away To the Kansas and
Nebraska lines. Gradually the irriga-
ton canals are being extended over
this territory, but in the meantime in
dustrious farmers are forcing the soil
to yield abundantly by system of in
tensihed farming commonly referred
TO as dry farming"
Within the last three years the con-
struction of immense irrigation works
has been in progress near Denver.
When they are completed practically
all of the land within a radius of 25
miles will be placed under irrigation.
Approximately $S,0O0,000 is being
spent i'm the construction of four large
reservoirs tributary to this area. In
addition. two more reservoirs are pro-
posed The four reservoirs will con-
tain sufficient water in storage to ir-
rigate 100000 acres Of land. More than
300 miles of canals are being built to
distribute the water. Orchards are
being planted and truck gardening be-
gun on land already watered from
these projects.
Winding through the country south
and east of Denver is the Highline
canal. the headgates of which are in
Platte canyon, about 20 miles south
west of the city. After leaving the can
yon the canal takes a northeasterly
direction, finally terminating at a
point about 10 miles northeast of the
center of the city Although this great
canal is 50 miles long, at no point is
IL more than 20 miles from Denver
In this territory there is about $4,000
acres Of land.
just now the enllTe state is aSllateu |
by the good roads movement" The |
state government is doing a large
amount of work and various counties
are interested. a large percentage of
this work is being done in the noun
tains where roadways have to be
blasted through solid rock. Castle !
Rock n cut on the Crags Automobile !
Boulevard through the mountains near
Denver, is a striking example of this
sort of road bedding Although IL leads !
through deep canyons, and winds it's
way up steep mountain sides. it is as
smooth as any well RECONSTRUCTED high |
way down in the valleys or out on the |
plains.
To help promote growth and devel- |
opment, Colorado is building up a sys-
tenn of efficient organizations. The
Denver Chamber of Commerce, |
through effective methods. is produce
ing an aggressive spirit of pull to-
gether' among the citizens of Colorado.
An association composed of all the