The copper era and Morenci leader., 1919-12-26
IRRIG ATED LANDS
YIELD TWICE As
MUCH
According To Report of Secretary Lane
Recently Issued Reclamation
Projects Of Arid West Pro-
duce More Than Humid
Lands OF The East

Some interesting facts are cleaned !
from the report of Secretary Lane
of the interior department, issued on
December Z, 1919.
1t is now II years since the pas
sage of the reclamation act. during |
which the surveys, examinations, and
construction therein authorized have
proceeded under the provisions of
that act and other acts amendatory
thereto. During the present year the
service is in position to deliver water
to about 100000 acres of irrigable
land, covered by crop census. of which
about 100000 acres are now being
irrigated Besides this storage water
is delivered from permanent reser-
voirs' under special contracts to about
$4,000 aces more The projects
that have been undertaken have plan
ned to provide for an area of about
1900. 900 acres. This latter figure is
tentative and subject to variation in
accordance with the development OF
DlduS DIS lie WOIh lIOSISSoSS
A large portion of the arid region
has been subject to severe drought
for the past two years, leading to
heavy losses on the part of those
attempting to cultivate the soil with
out irrigation and leading to short
age of water supply in many irrigat-
ed regions. The reclamation pro-
jects have been remarkably free from
drought conditions, owing to the
ample storage provisions usually
made, the only notable exception be-
ing a small project in northern Wash
ington where the drought conditions
are so Intense that shortage has been
suffered on a few thousand acres of
irrigated laad. The general require
ment for irrigation, together with the
striking success of agriculture under
the government projects. has greatly
stimulated demands for the extension
and completion of existing projects
and the construction of new ones.
Advantages of Irrigation Farming
Agriculture in the arid region where
irrigation is feasible has several i'm
portant advantages over that in the
humid region. The soils of the arid
region by the nature of the case have
generally not been leached of their
mineral plant foods as have those in
the humid region, and they are there
fore much richer in this respect on
the average and are seldom or never
acid, as are soils in the humid region
This quality has the disadvantage al
times of leaving the arid lands charg
ed with hurtful alkalis, which seldom
remain in the humid regions on ac
count of their solubility, but wher'
the injurious salts do not predominant
the general principle of abundance o
mineral plant food obtains and CO..
stitutes a distinct advantage for tht
soils of the arid region over those o
humid regions.
There is much advantage in bein'
able to supply water to growing crop
at lust the time and in just th'
quantity needed, and to withhold i
at will Where the water supply i
ample that constitutes very i'm
portant advantage in arid regions.
Another striking advantage is tn
preponderance of clear days in a
arid region where the absence c
rainy and cloudy weather affords
much larger percentage of sunshin
than is found in humid regions. A
sunlight is one of the most importan
essentials of healthy plant growth
this advantage is quite important.
Results From These Advantages.
1t appears that the average gros
product of agricultural crops on r.
clamation projects is just abor
double the average yield from mol
irrigated lands in the country at lare
The larger product obtainable pc
acre from irrigated lands justifies an
pemits a more careful and intensiv
cultivation, which with a favorab
climate and controllable water su
ply. yields more certain results tha
the same care in the humid region
This means that as much produ
can be obtained from a 40 acre ira
under irrigation as from the averaE
80 acre tract in the humid -regio
This. of course, requires more lab