The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1913-03-27
w. T. Sheldon's Letter

The above question has been asked
SO many times that | want to give
those in the valley, who are interest
ed, the benefit of my actual expert
ence In the matter as farmer both
above the ditch, under the creeks
and under an irrigation canal
farmed dry land for four or five
years but found that | was able to
grow little else but grain, which, in
few years, depleted the soil to such
an extent that only very small crop
could be realized. Had | been able
to get water for irrigation enough
to rotate my crops and put in alfalfa
or clover it would have been possi-
BILE to put the soil in shape again to
grow fair crop of grain, but this
was not available. The same thing
applies to land under the creeks
where no fall water is available and
the land gets so dry in the fall that
the timothy roots do not stool out
and prepare themselves for an early
start in the spring. could never
depend upon crop of grain for
sometimes it would get to a point
where a little water would fill it and
make crop of 30 bushels to the acre
but not having the result would be
about 10 bushels to the acre. One
cannot depend upon anything in the
way of crop on farms above the
bitches and man may have a fine
prospect for crop today and in
few days after it lis burned up and
ruined. Under the canals you can
depend upon water when it is most
needed and can be absolutely sure
of your crop. You can rotate your
crops and give your land the required
rest and renew the properties nee
essary for the growing of good crops.
| have found that this water will
give me a second crop which, at the
least calculation, is worth ton more
to the acre, to say nothing of the in
crease in the first crop. | can then
get good pasture crop which is
worth from 80 to $500 per acre.
Under such conditions no man can
say that irrigation does not pay or
that he cannot make his land pay the
tax which will be put upon it by the
construction of the High Line Canal.
| do not believe that any man
farming under the High Line in five
years from now would give up his
right to the water for twice the a.
mount it cost him | can honestly say
that | would not farm and be COM
PEELED to make my living on dry land
if some one would make me pres
ent of it. This L think, is the ex-
perience of every man who has farm
ed both above and below the canals.
1t has come to point in this val
ley when We can get a good supply
of irrigation water at reasonable
price and if we don't get it now we
never will. There is constant liti-
cation over creek rights, such as is
now pending on Coleman creek and
many of those who now have such
water will some time find themselves
litigated out of it. The knowledge
that the land you own has an ever
lasting water right is worth much
to your peace of mind and places
far greater value upon your land.
Many people in figuring on the cost
of the High Line count the cost per
acre but never figure what it will
produce or how much profit it will
pay them over and above the cost
of the water. If you figure one
side you have to be fair and figure
the other. Anyone who does this
will find himself so much better off
with the water that he will be anx-
ious to get it at the earliest oppor-
tunity.
WILLIAM SHELDON.