The Lynden tribune. [volume] (Lynden, Wash.) 1908-current, 1921-09-01
IRRIGATION ON
PACIFIC COAST
Writer Ayers Irrigation As Much
Needed As in Eastern
Washington.
WEST HAS DRY SUMMER
Logged.oh Land Problem Needs Solu.
tion-To Exclude Orientais
Must Interest Whites.

The suggestion of irrigation in the
country adjacent and tributary to Sc
attic may incline the average resident
to SMILE" says Seattle daily in
recent Sunday edition. Why irrigate
in a country that is crisscrossed with
streams that never go dry and that
rush, with varying volume, from noun
tains to seas every few miles, would be
the question in the minds of nearly
everyone" he says. But, to quote him
further:
Irrigation is as necessary here as
in Eastern Washington and while the
area susceptible to improvement is not
SO vast, success in cultivation is con-
tingent upon watering the land on this
side of the mountains just as much as
it is on the other side.
Moreover there isn't a great deal
of difference, when one stops to think
about it, in conditions on either side
of the Cascades.
Eastern Washington usually has
plenty of snow in the winter but only
a limited amount of rain in the sum-
mer. We have ample rain in the win
ter but only limited amount in sum-
mer.
The most consistent and most pro.
longed period of dryness in both
areas is also the period of crop matur-
ity. 1t doesn't matter how much rain
or snow there was during the winter,
if there is not enough subsurface mois.
ture or enough rainfall to nourish the
crop during it's growing season, it sui,
fers.
Hence, the need for irrigation in
Western, as we'll as in Eastern Wash
ington.
This is but one of number OF In
teresting problems associated with the
development of logged-off and other
lands in this part Of the state.
1T has been estimated that 100000
families could be supported in ease
and comfort on the logged-off lands Of
Western Washington, with an annual
aggregate buying power Of 100000,
900.
: "Such estimates are based, Of
4 other might put the figures higher OF
lower. The point is that great dea
larger population could be maintained
on this acreage-a population, IN fact
probably as great as that in the entire
state at the present time.
Irrigation, Of course, WOULD q
merely an incident in any general pro
gram designed to encourage the clear
ing and settling of these logged-ol
lands. After the acreage had peer
made available for successful cultiVa
ton. other and equally vital questions
would arise if families were TO De III
duced to settle and were TO nave
reasonable guarantee of success II
their new ventures.
"None of these problems is novel
They have been encountered every
where that efforts have been made t
build up undeveloped rural districts
They call for considerable sums
money. the services of capable, clear
handed men and a public opinion uh
tedly backing a definite plan OF deve
opment.
.oThis state has adopted the polio
of discouraging the settling up OF II
farming lands by Japanese or otne
Orientals, either by ownership OF
lease.
h washington has no disposition
invite such a condition and such COZ
troyersy as has developed in CanIo
mia, and were Orientals, whether Jal
anese. Chinese or any others, TO set'
here in great numbers, situa.io
spedily would develop here idehtic'
~ with that which has arisen Ill III
southern commonwealth.
But. if the lands are not TO De tile
NV Orientals, ways and means mu
no found to have them cultivated
others This holds good not only VII
respect to acreage presently availab
for the pillow but also for the great'
acreage that must be put in conditie
where it will produce abundant crop
IA "This matter has been given consi
cradle thought and study previousi
s II is one that should be kept alive u
n, WAYS and means have been foui
n To work the problem out practicaiis