The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-05-01
RECLAMATION WORK
HELPS 4 LOT IN the
MOVE FOR MORE CROPS

WASHINGTON. April %0.-Thc part
thu Reclamation service is taking. III
t!:a general raiupa IN :" stimulate @aT
rr,.Au,lirn in agriculture" WAS rcc"hI"u
in !, =. rnr, l,lad,, rubl.. '"-d2y b$ pircC-
tor ..\r;:.u: T.. nlI!$. showing that crops
,;,l,.t ~ so. u"" hm" wcr" raised in
az l.. - nr" farmers on l.h""."""
;irr,.< g.: rr..airn.L land. Tn" gross
ayrrn.C - $..h an acre for rr"hS grown
ON ir:i:at.d farms, - consider re
'r:,rl,hle by government officials. in
v..w al ;hc ga. that IN 90? III" aver
agc. :I"id far farms m tn" entire United
States WIS cnly $lG.%n per acre.
'''rh" production capacity at the
American desert after irrigation is cm-
rnaHi.,d whom III" results az III" 1arrn-
.rs arr, compared with those "f the hui
mid states. says the report. ''rhc 1917
crop from reclaimed lauds exceeds IN
total value by $ll.nOo.NNG all tn" crops
Of Maine rs shown Ivy the census re-
ports OF 1909. II is greater by S'hnV-
600 than the combined crops OF New
ttampshIrc and Vermont and only $4-
49,, nnn less than the total crop values
nr massachusetts, and Connecticut.
Tho vast extent Of the Reclamation
Services activities also is rcHc;tlru ny
IN. report. Under its direction. work is
now under way on thirty projects III
fifteen states embracing %1l2.6"1 acres
divided into 6".G31 firms. 50 far. water
Is available for 1.I50.0oo acres or ap-
rrnxirratrly about unc-half of the area
affected ny the "ariOus projects but
limited funds at tho disposal OF tho re-
+ claina.ion service is hindcrinG the Work
Of r"clalninE tho balance OF IN" lann'
Despite this handicap. however. TINS
work is being pushed as rapidly as pos
Sble.
! Reclamation Of arid areas IN the west
/ the report shows. is resulting III great
| influx OF settlers and tho demand for
, these lands is greatly in excess Of the
! SIMPLY. AS result. land hunger ia
| increasing with tho ranidIH rising prices
Of farm land and tn" better prices for
| farm products" tho. report says. adding
! tina; in Wow Of this coalition and con-
| sidrrlnc tho :mpcratiV" ncrd or an
! enormous increase in food products. the
| i,nnnrtanrr Of quickly extending the
! field Of reclamation is obvious"
/ Sine" IN" organization If IN" service
| IN 1Nn", The report says. 1t has to It's
! crrdl; many notable and worth Will"
! achievements" several hrinS "Eonu-
| mental in character" and making with
! tho "crrat"si engineering works OF tn"
| world" besides building tho highest mis-
! sonry dam IN" longest tunnel and tn"
most clpaciouS reservoir FIR irrigation
rv"r built canal system 1871" miles
! long has hccn constructed across tn"
| desert. Through tho mountains. twrn-
| ty-siX miles Of tunnels have hccn con-
, Structcd through TWO Of which two
! Of which two rivers arc carried outside
| Of their own DRAWINGS basins.
IN III" construction Of tn" several
/ irrigation systems il was necessary 10
! dig 291 wells having total depths of
! moro than six and onc-ha!f tilcS. Fip"
! lines and fumes long enough 20 reach
! from New York % WASHINGTON and back
! again arr now in place.
Tho rHwrr plants Of tho service have
! Developed AS.na2 horse power. which j.:
| utilized in construction and leased 10
many municipalities and individuals.