The St. Paul echo., 1926-05-01
MAY YET RECLAIM
VAST ARID TRACT
Plans to Rsnesp Fertility in
South Africa.

Rainfall over the whole of the CEN
trail portion Of the Union Of South Az
RIGA is steadily decreasing year by
year. and If this goes on at the present
rate, the time will come when vast
areas now supporting farming and
grazing population will be given over
to the wild beasts Of the desert. This
process can, however, be checked. Its
causes are known, and, being known,
can be remedied."
This startling statement is not that
of sensational journalist in search Of
thrilling story, but the considered
judgment Of a scientist, Professor
Schwartz, Of the University of Stellen-
| BOSCH
Put in nutshell, the reason for this
gradual decrease in rainfall is the dry
ing up of the big tract known as the
Kalahari, 400 miles from the Orange
river in the south to Lake M'gami in
the north. Up to comparatively re-
Gently this area was traversed by
whole system of rivers dotted with
several lakes. This water system con-
nected Lake M'gami with the Orange
river. But the lake which acted as
feeding reservoir for this system Is
| drying up owing to the sitting up Of
the streams that fed it from the north.
What water it still gets and holds has
been diverted by some mysterious play
of nature and now, instead of flowing
toward the south directly, flows east
ward into the Zambesi and westward
into the Kunene and Okarango rivers.
So far has this process gone that Of
recent years the term desert" has
come to be generally applied to the
Kalahari, although the word is mis-
homer. The area is not by any means
waste land yet it is vast undulating
plain, partly covered with forest and
partly with rich long grass whenever
there is the slightest rainfall. 1t bor-
ders on one of the best cattle-raising
districts in South Africa, Bechuana-
land The forests are, however, fast
dying; there is ample underground
water supply which may be tapped by
artesian wells, but the water lies too
deep to affect the roots Of the trees.
For mile after mile, one may see
wilted and withered remains of what
once were luxuriant growths..
To remedy this state of affairs, three
schemes have been proposed, and the
time is fast approaching when the
Union government will have to make
its choice between them.
The scheme which stands the best
chance of being adopted, and is backed
by Professor Schwartz and other South
African scientists, provides for the con-
structiOn of dam across the Kunene
river, which, 1t Is calculated, would
restore a great part of the old scheme
t. of nature for the irrigation Of the
Kalahari.
The expenditure Of money and time
is likely to be very considerable, but
the Importance Of the issues at stake
are believed to justify it. Not only
would the reclaimed area of Kalahari
! open up a vast stretch Of magnificent
grazing land, forest, and valleys suit
able for orange growing, but the
process of drying up that is threaten
ing central South Africa with eventual
economic and social ruin would be ar
rested.
Awful, Anyway
Mother had read an item In the
newspaper, Beware, the Measles Are
in Town." to her two children. Bobby,
age three, evidently took the article
seriously, for when his daddy came
home, he rushed up to him and said:
"Oh, daddy, you must be careful;
there is something awful in town."
The father asked, "Well, what is 1t,
SOM"
ooh, I don't know whether it is
weasels or skunks, but 1t sure is
awful"