Omaha Daily Bee Newspaper, February 1, 1891, Page 13

THE OMAHA DAILY BEE SUNDAY.. FEBRUARY 1, 1801-SIXTEEN IRRIGATION 1IN NEBRASKA. A Study of the Splendid Oonvention in the fouthwestern Section. IRRIGATION PRODUCES A CROP OF FACTS. How Land is Increased in Value by the Method — Its Citics and Towns Talks Sciel Bearings on Prof Hicks o6, ARTICLE V. After McCook, the Sidney convention. After Sidney, a great mass meeting at Lin- coln 10 give s ringing endorsement to the bill 10 be drafted for p ntation to tho legisla- ture ‘That is the programme for the immediate future, as outlined by the splendid gathering at McCook during the past week, Ivery- Lody recogmizes that a comprehensive state law must bo the basis of a general system of irrigation in Nebraska—that capital will not cmbark in an effort to develop the western half of the stato unless it can be assured that justice will be guar- anteed to oll interested parties, and that canals will bo constructed and the water ipply guarded under the supervision of & competent state engineer. The McCook cou- vention undoubtedly spoke the sentiment of the state when it emphatically declared in favor of a state engineer, the division of the stato infto water districts, and the prepara- tion of drainage maps as the basis for intelli gent investment and development. Nothing that could be written time would be of such and importancoe to the movement as a study of the convention at McCook, It represented a district of large area,which has been settled mostly by homesteaders and is now dotted with promising towns, When it was thrown open to settlement mobody dreamed that irvigation was necessary or de- sirable. To say so amounted toa slande But experience has taught the people that ir- rigation is necessary. Agitation and discus- sion have brought them to believe that that is a fortunate country which has opportuni- ties of irrigation and proceeds to utilize them. The fact is beginning to be seen that out of the ashes of last year's devastated flelds there may arise & greater prosperity ana a nobler civilization than ex- ists today in any section which depends upon the rainfall for the basis of its agriculture. Iuventors and manufacturers have har- nessed steam and electricity and made them the docile servants of their will. Now the western farmer proposes to domesticate the water supply and lead it in a thousand threads of silver over his arid acres. What other path of development is open to Ne braskal She has neither mines wnor forests. Her natural wealth is a rich soil and a superb climate. To make the most of these is the only road to prosper And at least one-half of the stateis now en- gaged in an effort to accomplish this on a grand scale, It was in this spirit that the farmers and business men of ten southwestern counties assembled in convention at MecCook. The speeches and proceedings are therefore of the greatest moment, at this interest L—JUDGE COCHRAN AND Judge J. E. Cochran of the Eleventh judicial aistrict, had evidently closely studied the relation of the general govern- ment to irrigation enterprises in the west, He stated that he had had a considerable correspondence with senators and members of congress, and that his latest advices were to tho effect that the government would ren- der no assistance, at least for a generation. In a very vigorous speech he denied the theory that the government had no power to act in this matter. Ho reviewed the history of legislation since 1338 and said that In that time congress had appropriated multiplied millions to raake the farms of central and southern states fit for agriculture. He cited particularly the cases of Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinols and Indiana, which in that time had received 4,500,000 acres to assist 1 building canals to drain their land. He also quoted similar in- stances in regard to swamp lands in thesouth and analyzed tho river nnd harbor bill, recently passed, as another example that congress had both the power and dis- position to assist insuch works of internal fmprovement. “If the government for fifty years past has done this,” sald Judge Coch- ran, “it has power to help to make the arid regions of the west fit for habitation and put them in a position to increase the national wealth.” The convention in 1its resolutions urged congress to turn over the arid public lands to the several states for irrigation pur- poses and on the second day of its session de- clared in favor of a direct approvriation, Hon. Robert W. Furnas, aloneof the men who have enjoyed the highest honorin the gift of Nebraska, continues to be a prominent figure inall movements aiming to develop Ler resources and increase the prosperity of Ber people. The warm grecting which he re- 2eived in McCook showed ‘that he was sti one of the best loved, as well as one of the most conspicuously use- ful citizens of the state. In his inter- esting address he referred to the well known fact that he favored irrigation more than thirty years ago, when it was not safe to intimate that such a thing was necessary. He rejoiced that the time had como when the doctrine fell on willing ears. He said that western Nebraska had a fine soiland plenty of ‘water,if itis looked up and properly cared for. Healluded to the need of legislation which would give proper assurance to investors in regard to the mauagement of the water supply. He also describeil his observations in Californin when he was actiug for the gov- ernment, and gave some rather startling figures of crops now raised in that stato in a valley that was desolate until brought under freigation. In closing, the governor urgently suggested the need of a mass convention at Lincoln, to impress the legislature with the siz0 and importance of the movement, H-PROFESSOR TICKS' LUCID SPEECH, There is one quiot and scholarly man, of em- inent scientific attainments, who has for five years been proving the soil, sampling the water and ascertaining its extent, in western Nebraska. This is Professor Lewis E. Hicks of the geological department in the state uni. versity. During that period he has been urg- ing that irrigation was desirable, but has found the people unwilling to listen to his ar- guments. His appearance at the McCook conyention, however, was & signal for hearty appluuse, and both farmers and business men wero ready to listen with eager cars toa sei- entific explanation of their resources. “Save the water you have aud make the most of it," was the text of his address, Ho urged the people to first make the most of the water that ¢ in sight, assuring them that they would find an abundant suppdy und er- ground when they needed it. He had care fully examined the Republican river, both wath reference to its surface and its unaerfiow, He stated that tho surface water in that river was usually sufiicient to irrizate 100,000 acres, while the underflow could be made to furnish water for at least one million more, He answered one question about which there had been muny anxious enquir- fes, by statiug that there 1s no di- vide in the valley of the Republican or the Freuchman which was not susceptible of irrigation if the streams were tapped at the right place. He also aescribed what could GOVERNOR FURNAS, bo sasily done in the valley of those rivers. Confining himsell closely to his text, s to the wisdom of making the most of every drop of surface water, ho explained the plan of coastructing storage basing or reservoirs to retain the water during the months when it would not bo needed for irrigation. He stated that very many canouns or ravines, having alargo drainage area, could at slight cost be dammed up and made very useful as storage basins, These would be filied by the occasional. heavy rain, the melting snow, or natural s If used in this way a vast amount of water would be saved which now runs almost entirely to waste, In connection with this branch of the sub ject ho explained how this system, available ut slight cost to many farmers, could be made to do good service in a double sex In the first place the presence of sheet of water in such a basin would greatly enrich the soil by tho process of silting, similar to that in the valley of the Nile. Such a basin would be wonderfully productive, and if it were an alkali soil the water would cure it and a rich | soil gradually be built up. Furthermore, the water which had already performed this use- | ful function could be drawn off by a simple plan of ditches, and turned upon the arid acres, Ho cautioned farmers, howcever, against making the mistake of trying to dam | up every draw without regard to its supply of water. Tho professor gave an interesting descrip- | tion of ancient irrigation on the Nile, He stated that under such a system as existed therea farmer would make move money off a single acro thap on an entire section under present conditions in southwestern Nebrask He then dwelt upon the difference between intensive farming as practiced in Europe, and compared {t with the extensive farming of the west. A unique feature of his statement of the on the social life When a farmer begins value of water and to cultivate a small number of acres iutenscly, rather than a large number promiscuously, his acres take on & cleancr and neater appearance, Ho cannot allow the common weeds, with vora- cious appetite, to eat up the precious mois- turewith which ho fertilizes his ground, result is amodel farm, so far as the land is concerned. Following this, as a fiatural con- %equence, he wants a better barn, a botter house, more of the comforts of life for him- selfand family. His increased profits enablo him to have these things, and the result has been, wherever irrigation has been success- fully introduced, that social life has gained great deal and that tho farmers ns a class have risen in the scale of civilization. Another practical suggestion in the profes- sor's address related to tho treatment of the soil in & manner that would make the rainfall most beneficial. He stated that a large por- tion of the natural rainfall goes to waste be- cause the hard prairie sod is net broken, and that when it is the plow does not go deep cnough. The soil should bo plowed two feet deep so that it would absorb aund hold the moisture and be less susceptible to the action of the sun, He strongly advised the convention that it could not depond on the overnment to develop Nebraska, but it must rely on tho energy of its own people and the attractions which Jt can hold out to invest- ors, The address his address was effect of irrigation of the people. to realize the great importance of Prof. lies mn the fact he has recently investigated soil and water supply of south- western Nebraska under the auspices of the general government, He has demonstrated by scientific methods that the section of the state which suffered most from the recent drouth may be made to blossom into assured prosperity by irigation. Hicks' that the HE—THE TALK OF A PRACTICAL MAN. The members of the convention enjoyed a rare treat in the speech of Mr. B. F. Bab- cockof Garden City, Kas, He is not only skilled in engineering, but the principal own- er of the largest irrigation enterprises in Kan- sas, Heis, morcover, a much traveled and cultivated gentleman, and his speech was therefore interesting from several stand- poiuts, He stated tha ation is not ouly the most practical question in Nebraska, butalso the most interesting agricultural problem in all parts of the world. Krom a personal knowledge of all the states of the union, and most of the countries of Europe,he could tes- tify that the most profitable ing in the world was done by means of irrigation, This was the fact becauseunder natural conditions agriculture is not a cortainty. Under irriga- tion it isun absolute certainty, because you control the water that makes your crop. Ho suggested that when the enterprise was finally under way in Nebraska 1t would be well to bring practical farmers from Colorado, Utah and other sections where irrigation is practiced, to teach the best method of applying it. He stated that the farmer possessing forty acres under a good system of irrigation is wealthier than the farmer with 160 acres, dependent on natural rainfall. One feature of Mr. Babeock's address, which will interest the owners of realty, was bis statement of the effect of irrigation on the vale of lands, He said that he once ad- dressed letters to the county clorks of Colo- rado, Wyoming, Utah and California, asking them tostate the valuo of facm land before irrigation was introduced, and afterwards, Averaging tho results of his inquiries, he found that lands in these states had increased from five to eight times in value. The ori inal value of the land was the government price, $1.25 an acre. Afterirrigation, districts remote from large cities were worth from 25 to 0 an acre, while in the vicinity of Denver they wore worth from §100 to $150 an acre, and iv parts of California it was quoted as high as $350 an acre. He pre- dicted that if the time ever comes when any county can show 100,000 acres under irriga- tion it would be the richest county in Ne- braska, excepting only Douglas and Lao- caster. Ho dwelt alsa upon the vast importance to thecities in the state of a prosperous sur- rounding country. If the farmers are not making money and doing their share to in- crease the wealth of the country, it is useless to hope for the growthof large cities and towns. For this reason the success of the present movement is not less important to the residents of cities and towns than to the farmers themselves. They are all in the same boat and must stand or fall together. Having had large experience in operating upon the Arkansas river in Kansas, he could testify that rivers of the same character in Nebraska were capable of supplying un- bounaed facilitios for irrigation. He is - terosted in the Culbertson diteh, and expects to see it in practical operation this spring. In private conversation Mr. Babeock said that he had no doubt that ample private cap- ital would flow in if the laws were made to conform to the best features of the Colorado and Wyoming statutes. As a citizen of Kan- | seshe isanxious to have a large delegation | from that state attend the mass convention at Lincoln and get inspiration for a similar | campaign at home Oue of the most interesting speeches of | thecounvention was made by the gentleman who 1is widely known as *“‘Buffak” Jones. Having constructed most of the ditches in | Kansas and operated to some extent in Ne- | braska, he predicted the complete success of the project in this state and gave many valu- ablo suggestious of & practical nature, Senator Koontz and Representative Rug- glos represented the legislature at the con- vention, | them to this country. | scendants of these stolen IV—RESULTS OF THE CONVENTION The practical results of the McCook con- vention were of the most importont nature, 1t coustituted tho formal insuguration of & eampaign destined to be crowned with a vie- tory speedy and complote. As such it will e a bright pago in the history of Nebrasia. The resolutions, which have been printed in full in Tie Bre, represent the programme of the movement. The western part of tho state is solld for a stato irrigation engineer, for the division of the stats into water dise tricts, and the preparation of a complete sys- tem of maps, showing the water, sheds and the nature of the strcams. When these laws have been secured the movemont mustunder- take to interest capital in these enterprises, and thus realize the fruits of the agitation The appointment of Messrs, LeHew, Meeker and Morse as o committeo to repre- sent the southwestern part of the stato, in conjunction witn a like committee to bo ap- pointed at Sidney, sccuresa high order of ability fora service which will aim at tho drafting of a bill which, it is hoped, will be a model forother states to pattern after. Thousands of people who have now a lively concern in the progresof the movement will await the results of the big convention at Sidnoy next Saturday with a keen in- terest, On page fourteen of this issue of Tne Bex there is published a full accountof the immense progress made in Scott's Bluft county. Wintias B, Ssyme, KETALIATION, Munsey's Weekly, With fickle heart and loye he spoke To almost every girl he met, And to the fact at last awoke I'hat each one was against him set His bachelor life dovoid of joy, His ¢ oss days 1 dare not limn- He treated Cupid as @ toy And Cupia has made game of him, ODDS AND ENDS. A man in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, atches rabbits with a hook and lin The sultan of Turkey has attached to his body guard a soldier who is 110 years old. During 1800 railroad property of a face value of $252,500,000 was foreclosed or went inth the hands of receivers, Or. Cruice of St. Joseph's hospital, Phila- delphia, says that dolirium tremens is de creasing in this count The cost to the stato of Massachusetts of printing and distributing 1,000,000 ballots at the last election was ouly &,0553.50, “Thore are twenty:six monarchies and twen- © ropublics in tho civilized world, Six- teen republics are in South America. A fine of £ for the benefit of the pensios fund of firemon is imposed on every house in New York where a chimuey burns out. A New Hampshire saloonkeeper was cently tried on 1,000 distinct charees, was convicted on 715 The aggrogate of fines was 5,000, An Atchison, Kan, slecp, lita lamp, an ro- and his woman got up in her wentto sewing, After working quite 4 while she ran the necdle in her finger and awoke. Polly Ann_Collins, twelve years months oid, married Jesse L. Donahue, wid- ower thirty-three years old, at St. Helens, Ky., with the fuil consent of her parents. The Board of Underwriters of New York found that the heating apparatus of six churches in the were defectiv liable to cause dangerous fires at any time. One of the latest things in church fairs is a bazaar held in Edinburgh, Scotland, for the purpose of raising funds (o provide accom- modations for ladies who faint during church services, Chief of Police Marsh of Chicago estimates that there are between 4,000 and 5,000 men in the city unable to obtain work, and fears that many of them will be dviven to crime through want, Adding the fiest figure to the second in 1801 gives us the third, and subtvacting the fourth from the third gives us the sccond. Andif wo add all the figures we get the number of the centur, Four educated Apache Indians have been arrested at Solomonville, Ariz., for connect- ion with the forging of Captain Bullis' name toa governmentcheck for 3125, The quartet is addicted to poker viaying. eward Clayton, born October 16, 1709, died this moruing at his home near Savannal, Ga. Around his death-bed stood five sons, each of whom was six feet three inches in' height. Mr. Clayton was a prosperous plant Near Camilla, Ga., there is a justice of the peace who uses the oath to witnesses as fol- lows: “The evidence you shall givein this case shall be the trath, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, and pay all costs, so help you God." A beggars' journal has been started m Paris, and it is said, meets with success. The costof anumber is 2 conts, and it eon- taws articles on the vest” methods of pursu- ing the business and advertisements of use to those soliciting charity. A burglar who stole two coats, an brella and other articles from a St residence the other night, ato a hearty luncheon before his deparwnre, and loft be- hind this note: **Thankful for what 1 got, but wish you had more to give." Emma Wilson of New York, nine years old, wasin the habit of drinking water from the copper faucet in her mother’s kitchen. A fow days ago she was taken sick and di and the physician said the cause of her death was arsenite of copper poisoning, resulting from her habit of putting her mouth over tue faucet. Charles Dennis, a good looking white man and Victoria Dozier, & full blooded colored man, were arrested in Opeliks, Ala, Den- nis is a' substautial farmor of Mariwether county, Georgia, with a wife and a family of five children. He became enamored of Vice- toria, who was his wife's cook, aud was eloping with her to Texas, William Munson, a hermit, was found dead in his hut, near Avnoid’s Stution, Conn, His body was removed by relatives, but the lat- ter did not trouble themselves to examine the hut, supposing it contained nothing of value. Subsequently as phrty of young men visitod the shauty, and after a short investigation turned up bank books and bonds valued at §71,000. Mrs. Stuff, who was familiarly called Aunt Kate,died at Greencastie,Pa.,a few days ago. She was almost ninety-eight 'years of ageat the time of her death, and up to within a fow days before the happening of that event had not drank or tasted water since she was a little girl. Aunt Kate insisted that “‘wator wasn't healthy,” and drank tea and coffee only. Maude Dencau of Lockport, N. one years old and less than four feot high, was” married to a tail, slender young man, named John Argue. Mrs, Arguois thesmall- est marriecd woman io the state, She is of French parentage and very handsome, with dark hair and eyes. She was cast off by her parents because she gave up her veligion, be- ing & Catholic, to marry the mau of Lor coice, Dr. Tremblay of Windsor Mills, Quebec, a fow nights ago tooka dose of poisou in mi take for a preparation for asthma from which hosuffered, Ho. triod ave 'y means to coun- teract the poison, but faiied, after which he went to a priest, made his confession, re- ceived the sacrament, made his will, ‘and then went home and died in great agony in the presence of his young wife aud three children, ‘The family of a man named Anderson, re- siding at 1.yon Mountain, Clinton county, N. Y., has been greatly aflictod. Last weok Anderson’s wife died from typhiold fever,and athirteen-year-old daughter” also died from the same disease. On the way to the funeral the ten-year-old son of Mr. Anderson was kicked by a horse and the. lad’s leg was broken. ~Another daughter died of fever Wednesday of this week, and two remaining children, a boy and a girl, are sick from the same malady, The origiv of tho National Marine band at Washiugton is most curious. Nearly one hundred years ago a yankee captain kid- napped a strolling troop of musicians on the shores of the Bay of Naples and brougnt From this handtul of Ttalians the band ‘was developed. The de- Ttalians ave now among the wealthiest people of Washington Some of them are prominent lawyers and others have their names connected ‘with the keost known hotels and the largest real estate oices in tho capitai city. Dr. Birney cures catarrh, Bee bldg. and three um- Louis . Y., twenty- At Pittsburg wan has patented a bicyclo to work by hand power. The advantages claimed over the ratlonal type are lightness, speed and concentrated power. WATER ABSOLUTELY NEEDED, Inter-State Conforents for Adoption of Plans to Make Arid Lands Fertile, FORTUNES MADE FROM IRRIGATION. Significant Comparison from Califor Depends onan Artificial Water Supply, No other subject. of equal importance to the west with irsigation is likely to bo considered in the prosent sossion of congress or the Kau- sas legislature, declares the Topeka Capital Upon thus problem of irrigation the future of the western portion of Kunsas is almost en- tirely dependent, and the chances of its solu- tion in the near future are rendered favora- ble by the general interest, bothscientific and popular, taken in the subject, Kansas can- not afford tosee her westorn plains depopu- lated because of drouth while it is possible by irrigation to make thatscctiona marvel of productiveness, The Capital is cordially in sympathy with theapproaching convention called to discuss this topic, and we further more believe that the time has arrived for the calling of an interstate convention for the ame purpose, The results of such a appreciated by @ glance at the deep harbor work now about to begin at Galveston, due to the demands of western statos set forth in 158 the iopeka convention. The west has reached the position where ner demands aro heard and heeded at Washington, The united petitions of Kansas, Colorado, Ne- braska, the Dakotas, Wyoming, Toxas, Oklashoma and the Indian territory would secure promptaction 8t the hands of con- gress 3 and Kansas, by vesson of her promi nence as a leader in the now west and of hol advanced position as an advocate of irrig tion, is the proper state to issue the call for tho convention. In the judgment of the Capital, the time hus come” for the issue of the call In endorsing these views the Lincoln Jour- nal makes these observitions: Nebraska will need less irrigation probably than of the states to thesouth and west, but our people can afford to expend a great deal of time and money to_encourage the construc- tion of comprehensive irrigation systems in Kansas, Colorado, Texas aund New Mexico and the Indian territory. When the aridity of the southwestern plains is conquered the destructive hot wimds will no longer harass the settlers in tho western counties. No- braska will heartily join in the movement for au interstate irrigation convention. From a bulletin just_issued by the Los An- geles chamber of commerce somo very signifl- cant comparisons are drawn botween tho profits from farming whers ivrigation is used and those where artifical means for propugu- tion of crops are nov resihted to, Here aro me examples: From 15 peach trees Mr., tin cloared $1,05,80. Another mau cleared $074.65 from four acres of trees. Anothor man cleared 438 from 30 trecs, six years old. Another man from ten acres cleared 2300, ~ Another man from two acres $4 lesser profits are from_ trees not irrigated. Mr. Dewey cleared 82,731 from six acres of prunes. Another man from eight acres—not rigated—cleared $100. Another man cleared 56,00 from one-third of an acro. An- other one cleared 150 from 100 trecs. Mr. Holden, from 2,000 trees planted in. 1559, sold $714 worth. Another man cleared $100'from eighty apricot trees, F'rom ten acres on an- other’ place 8375 netwas made, Still another from three acres mude a profit of 1. One man from four acres of lind made a profit of #250 from tomatoes, F'rom three and a half acres of oranges Mr. Nixon made a ret profit of §2,2%, George Hanna sold from five acres, his oranges on the tree at a profit of $900; in the same way peanuts yielded a profit of 850 t0$200 por acre. Avother man sold from one and a half acres fourteen tons of alfalfa ata net profit of §2. Another man from half an acre of strawberrics cleared 193,13, Another man made a profit of §07 from anacreof walnuts, convention may bo Chancesin Nebraska. Numerous petitions to the legislature aro being circulated in Chappell asking the state todo something for western Nebraska in the matter of irvigation. If the state would take nold of this enterprise it would give the peo- ple employment and there would be no furthier need of shipping charity goods to this county, says a correspondent. Irrigation would be the means of adding several million of dollars worth of property tothe state. It would only bea short time before the state would get 1ts money back in the way of - crease of tax, Deuel county has a solid traot of lwd 20x30 miles fu extent and comprises nearly four hundred thousand acres of the finest land and richest soil in Nobraska, Under irrig tion it1s capable of the highest state of ‘,llll vation aud immenso crops of ov could bo raised, and instead of the state gef.- ting a tax on land assessed at §2 per acreit would receive a revenue from land valuad at £10 or 0. Farmers have tried to farm there for the last five years and have worn away that many years of theirlife without realiz- ing from their Iabors the stern necessities of life. All this could be obviatel by the state aking hold of the matter and causing ditches to be taken from the North Platte river that would cause the water 1o be spread over the farms, There is anabundance of water in the North Platte river und the only thingnoeded is capi- tal to take hold and push the enterprise to completion, It would be far better for the legislature to appropriate 100,00 for something of this kind than to spend half the amount on a whim ving to keep from recognizing a duly elected governor. Big New Mexican Scheme. A party of civil eugineers and suryeyors of the Rio Grande irrigation and colonization company outfitted at Alouquergue, N. M., aud left to establish the source of the big ditch and to locate a dam for an immense reservoir. They were joined at Bernalillo by Mr. Anderson, a hydraulic engineer from Denver, Colo,, and then set out for the mouth of the Sauta Ana river. They will follow up the stream for about fifteen miles to & very high but narrow can- yon. Ths will be dammed and from here the source of the ditch to irrigate nillions of acres, now arid, will commence, Colonel P, B. Smith of New York, who has built several bie ditches, is munaging the scieme, in which a number of easteru capitalists are interested. Big Coloradoe Pipe Line, There is a tract of land between eight and twelves miles from Ohnon City, Colo., that ought to be brought under cultivation, si the Record. Surveys- bave been made of a canal—also of & pine Lineand reservoir site. The surveys will be a matter of record in the United Svuates land ofice as soon as the United States survey of the Arkansas drain- age basin is finished, The land lies in one whole body and is a deep red, sandy loam. There are about two thousand acres, mostly government land, Theéreservoir site has an area of eignty acres; will average, when completed, about sixteen feet in depth forthe entire area. The rc»ul‘[julr will be thirty-five feet decp in deepest point. The pive line pro- posed is 16,000 feet in length and has a fall of over sixty feet. Pipe can be laid in a trench 0[numrlnnl,m‘mvlu running the year round to irrigate the land at a cost that makes the investment for revenuca good one. A com- pany has been organized and all rights are se- curéd that are necessary to prosecutothe work. Profits in Utah. J. H. White told the Salv Lake Tribune that on his ranch of 350 ueres near Kaystille they have cut as high as seven tons of alfalfa hay ina season and sold it at &4 per ton malking 898 per acre. He further says that 50 much of the farm as could be irrigited has been tilled, and ithas also been grazed by his stock. He estimates that the entire farm has been paying 10 per cent on a basis of §200 per acre. Among the big crops raised was named that of last season, when oats averaged uinety-six bushels per acre, aud two years before the average was 110 bushels. Regard- ing irrigation, one gentloman said he raised a big crop of potatoes last season on two acre irrigated by an artesian well, with a two- inch casing. All Depends on Water, In what was regarded as a portion of the great American desort, as the vlains country was called on the maps of fifty years ago, there aro now approximately 1,500,000 acres under cultivation, producing last year a crop valued at £62,500,00; 10,000 mites of main irrigating canals, and 1,500,000 acres more land which those ditches can water which yet awaits the lavor of the farmer, says the Donver Nows, But how about tho country which lies be- yond the point where irrigation with present facilitios can bo carried! What of the so- called rain belt of eastern Colorado! La that section agriculture has been attempted with- out irvigation and the result kas not been en couragiug. While it maybe possible in oceasionul seasons to raise & crop, tho cxperionce of five or six year has shown that the average rainfall is insuf- ficient for crop purposes, The difference be. tween farming with irvigation and farming without it 1n Colorado is shown by the differ- ence in the o communities —the former has produced over £40,000,000 and has an abund- ance ; the latter is suffering from widespread destitution and want. Evidently some means must be devised tosupply water for tho cast ern portion of the stato, and the work is one which should engage the attention of the fe al government which Bas sold these arid lends to the setulers. As the s are not to bo depended on, artesian wells or the over: flow of the streams must be resorted to, and the state legislature should direct the atten. tion of the national government to the fact Comm Beaver City Tue Ovaiia B seription of the i in western Neb are long one dollar the ouly 1ts and Suge stions, Tribune: The last issue of & contains maps and a a igating ditehes now in us aska. Someof their ditches 1d have cost many thousand Private enterorise, so far, has been over in the matter. Whereeve tried success has followed and the dry arid plain has been turned into agarden. There is more availablo water in Beaver county thau in any other territory of similar arca in the wost and it will not be long until it will be utilized or we miss our gues Culbertson Sun: The B &. M, iroad company are taking_an interest in irrigation fur southwestern Nebrasks, and say that they will doall in their powsr tosccure the same, Rocky Ford. Colo., Enterprise: The pio- neers who constructed the Rocky Ford and Catlin_canals, thereby aemonstrating the possibilitics of this great and fortile valley, orve great eredit. Thousands of families will make beautiful homes in the country these pioneers have shown to be the garden «lm\ of Colorado. noy Rock Tra anseript: Within sight ..Hm,nm h ro are six different and sep- arate irei compinies at work as we write, and we believe each company wili have water runving within the next year. Bayard is the very eenter of the best pros- pective ivrigation ccuntry in Nebraska, Pueblo Chicftain: Lot no wan who de- s to depend upon cultivating the soll #8r alivelibood in Colorado be fool enough to set- tlo upon land which is not, susceptible of ar- tificial irvigation. With a good ditch and a plentiful suppiv of water. s crop will come if properly cultivated and caved for with a cortainty “which is unknown in_countries which depend on the natural rainfall, but without these necessities the farmer will find his lotanything but & hapoy ono and his chances for obtaining a livelihood from the s0il poor indeed. Under the ditches in the Arkansas and San_ Luis valleys there are thousands of acres of land whicih™ can be irri- gated. These are the localities in which farmers should settle, and tne return for their labor will be certain and abundant. Holyoke, Colo, Herald: The Champion Valloy water power and irrigation company has made a proposition toput in ei miles of irrigation ditch in Champion pi cinet, Chase county, Nebraska, for £5,000 in precinet. bonds. The water is to be taken from the Frenchman river, and it is claimed that the proposed diteh will ivrigate at least 7,000 acres of laud. If the people just over the state line in Nebraska have so much faith in the water supply of the Frenchman, it cer- tainly would be & ‘wise move on the part of the citizens of Phillips county to make a thor- ough investigation as to the amount of water that coula be obtained from the rivers in this county, If the river furnishes water enough in Chase county to irrigate on the scale that is proposed, there is certainly no good reason why sufticient water cannot be obtained from the rivee in this county to successfully irris gate on a move limited scale. Why uot in- Vvost gale this mattert comments ete Gering Courier: Scotts Bluff gounty would have been long before this time as complete a collapse as many of her neighbors, were it uot for the canal enterprise, and the certaint of irrigation hope beinz generally r: { We have been undergoing course of sprouts iu the way of hard times, itis true, but un- derneath itull lies the universal feeling of confidence which buoys up tho sottler and 1ses him to cling to his interests in the fair valley of the Platte with a stubboruness born only of the irrigation spirit, Progress and Play The Minatare canal company of Box Butto county has purchased an Austin ditching machine which they expect to arrive at Alli- ance within a fow days. Itis of the latest improved pattern. Gering Courier: Tho survey party of the new farmers’ canal are now down as far as Highland precinet, which makes about sixty miles of the line, They expect to finish up sometime next weel. ‘The construction and straightenmg out of the ditch matters have been completed. The construction company has decided to advance 10,000 and also to assume the expenses of the first survey. Concerning the carrying on of farming operations on a gigantic” scale the San Luis valley will hold first_ piace in Colorado this year as in 150, says the Saguacke Herald The companies under the general manage- mentof T C. Henry will farm all told, under the San Luis and Empire canals, 4 acres. It is_possible this area may ba iu- creased by from 2,000 to 6,000 acres if the spring opens favorably. At this rate of im- provement there soon willbe no raw land under theso ditches, and this is the great beneficial end to gain, The White Sulpnur Springs water and electric company, tosupply the town of White Sulpnur Springs, Mont., with water for domestic and manufacturing purposes, and to irrigate land adjucent to the pipe line which will conduct the water into town, has been incorporated. The incorporators are Thomas S. Ash, B. R. Sherman and Elmer J. Ander- son; capital, 100,000, Judge Emery of Lawrence has written to the Topeka Capital calling for united action in impressing through discussion the impor! anceof irrigation. “We must wet western Kansas,” he says epigrammati “or turn that section back to pastoral us Tn an avea of the equivalent of six square miles of the level lands of Salt Lake valloy Utah, west of the Jordan river are more than sixty artesian wells. They have an average depth of 200 feet and an average aiameter of two inches and an average flow per minute of fifteen gallons of water. [t is reported in La Junta, Colo.. that the Otero canal will be extended to the Purga- ta1re this season Star-route Dorsey, who has a big ranch in Colfax county, New Mexico, is building a number of extensive reservoirs on his land and will demonstrate the feasibility of this system of supplying moisture for grass and crops. In Douglas county, Colorado, to petition the county commissioners to call an elocvion for the purpose of voting on the question of issuing bonds to make an artesian wellin each township, ‘There should be prosperity among the se tlers of tho westend of Kiowa county, Colo- rado, this coming season, says the Leader. Private arterprises and capital has und taken the construction of several small ditches to be taken out of Adobe creck. The big Bob creok diteh will be extended toa pointa fow miles northwest of Arlington this year, and by another year much valuable land witl bo “brought uider irrigation. Tie settlors can get employment on theso works and they will thus bo” enabled to tide over the hard times until the water runs in tne ditches, which will {nsure good crops in the future. t is proposed e — The associated cycling clubs of Chicago have decided that national meet of the L. A. W. should be held in the ‘‘windy city" in 1803, - Gormully & Joffery manufacturing com ny elaims ihe bonor of being the first Ameri- can factory to fit the ordinary with cusiion tires, ECHOES FROM THE ANTE ROOM New Devolopments in the Uniform Ranl Knights of Pythias, A CONSOLIDATION OF DIVISIONS. The Grand Lodge of the Trene Bund Masonic Geand Lodge of Now Mexico-News and Notes, A revolution will soon take place in Uni- form rank affairs among the divisions of this cfty, which will result in tho Omaha rog- iment being reduced to a battalion Ithas been painfully evident for tho past two years that if something extraordinary wasnotdone to preveat it, tho divisions of the Omaha regiment, with tho excoption of Omaha division No. 12, would disappear en- tiroly, Several efforts divisions to wero made to induce the consolidate and form two or three good divisions from the active membors of the rank, but these efforts were unsuceess- ful, Matters wout on this way, the divisions, with the notable exception of Omaha No, 12, rapidly deteriorating but still retaining thoir charters, Some of the active members came to th conclusion that herolc teas ures w sary and & mass meeting of the Si of ‘the Omaha regiment was called. The meeting was held in the Pythian hall in the Paxton block, and was attended by members of the various divisions in the city. The matter was thoroughly aiscussed, and many of the members spoké favorably of the prop. osition to consolidate the weaker divisions, but no action was taken Shortly aftewards another mecting was held, at which it wa cod that Lily, Laun- celot, Myrtle and Douglas divisions were to consolidate and form two divisions. In order todeerde which two of these should velin quish their charters four slips were placed in a hat, cach containiug a name of one of theso divisions, These weve drawn, and it fell to the lot of Lily and Launcelot to throw up the sponge, Subscquently the members of Lily division med that they were not representod at the meeting at which these proceedings were lad and they refused to lie down and die Ins! d, they went to South Omaha and made a proposition to the lodge there to re- ceive about thirty members of the lodge, who were desirous of forming a division,and 'reor- gavize Lily division, allowing South Omaha wembers to clect the oftic This proposition was favorably received by theSouth Omaha Knixhts as it would reliove them from the payiment of a charter fee. Tho matter was d toa committee of the South Omaha Knights which reported favor. ably on the proposal and_was authorized to investigate the cost of uniforns, etc. As the matter now stands thre are six di- visions in_the city, namely, Omaha Black Engle, Trojan, Myrtle, Douglas and Lily. All of the divisions swill eloet ofticers during th coming month and a general revival of inter- estis looked for. Crescont lodge No. 38 of Holyoke, Col., in- stalled the following officers at its fost meet ing: .M. C. Woolman, . C.; John Dye, C.C.; R E. Wobster, V. C.; A. M. Wood ford, P.; J. 1, Forbes, K. R & 8 ; E. £ Brannon, M. at A.; J. N. Andrews, M. of Thomas Vernon, M. of 1.3 J. Lewis. L G} . Gustasen, 0.'G. Tho installation sorv- ices were conducted by Jerome Lewis, D, D. G. C., and George Weir, G. M. at A. ' After the céremony the members adjourned to the banguet room where a toothsome repast was served. | o neces Knights Treue Bund. The grand lodge of Nobraska and Towa of the U. 0. T 1. held its annual session in this city last weok, The report of the secretary was us follows : On_ Junuary 1, 1800, there wero in this grand jurisdietion six_subordinato lodges with a‘membership of 25. On_ Junuary 1, 1801, thers were seven subordinate lodges with a total membership of 7, net gain of 102 members. There was organized during the year one subordinate lodge at Sioux City, known as Lincoln lodge No. 3, with a mem: bership of 22 Amount of capital on hand January 1, 1860, including all property, £2,0:4245; amount on hand January 1, 1801, $2,416.62, @ net gain of §84.14. During the year the following amounts were paid out for relief: Sick ben- efits, 85803 benelits to three members for | wife's death, #00; bevelits to wives of de- | ceased membe 2,000, | The following officers were clected for | ensuing year: _August Schroeder of Omaha, T.M.; J. H. Thoms, Plattsmouth, B, M August Shirbach, Omag, secret Hartz, South Omaha, treasurer Lemke, Council Bluffs, G. M.; Omaha, G, W.; 'Carl Froeh nith aad F. J. Freitag, Oman., trus- Masonic. The Masonc grand lodgze of New Mexico mot in thirteenth annual session at Albu- querque last Monday. In 1877 the first grand lodge 'was formed in Sauta Fe, and at a time when there were only four lodges in the ter ritory. Now thereare twenty lodges with a membership of over ono thousand. The first and master was W. W. Griffin (now de- ceased) of Santa Fe. Temple lodgo of Albu- querque entertained the visitors in royal style at a banquet atthe San Felipe and a hop Tuesday night at the opera house. It was decided to erect a 80,000 Masonic tem- plo in Albuquerque for the'grand lodge of the future. The following officers were elected and installed: C. H. Dane of Deming, grand master; Richard Knglish of San_ Mareial, deputy geand master; Joseph H. Kuhns of Albuquerque, grand senjor warden: Charles A. Sporlinger of Las Vegas, grand junior warden; A.C. Fox of Rater, grand greasurer; H. A. Keen of Albuquerque, grand secretary. . W. Lipe of Council Bluffs is one of the members of Nathan Whitney chapter, No, 120 of Franklin Grove, 11, which met on the 224 ult. to celebrate the ll)(ll.l birthday lllllll~ versary of Nathan Whitney, the oldest liying Mason'in the world, both "in years and in membership. Mr. Lipe was uiablo to aitend tho gathering, but from nim are learned some ory interesting facts concerning the cen- tenarian. Nathan Whitney was made a membe he was twoity-two years of ago, so that ho has worn tho apron for soventy-cight years. Ho was one of tho char- ter members of the chapter which bears his name. Oneof tho very strange coincidences is that this chapter has always held its regu- lar convocations on the Thursday of each month on or before the full moon, and this Inst_week fell, queerly enough, upon *he 100th birthday anniversary of Mr. Whitnoy Auother interesting colncidence is that the present high priest, who ofticiated on this anniversary, is of like name, Nathan Whit- noy, he being a grandson of the veterau thus honored. COrdor Eastern Star, esta chapter, No. 6, willhold its seven teenth annual social at Freemason's hall, Six teenth and Capitol avenue, next Th ursday evening. These annual cnttainments of Vesta chapter have gained=a wide celobrity among Omaha people, and it is safe o say that the seventeenth annual will be no excep- tion to the rule. Master Masons, their fam. ilies and friends have a standing invitation to attend these affairs, and special efforts have been made to provide a pleasant entertain- ment. No individual fuvitations have been issuod, 1L O, 0. g T'he members of vy Rebekah degree lodeo were entertained at the resinence of L. Armstrong, 979 North Twenty-ffth avenne, Wednesday evening. Progressive high five held the boards aud & most enjoyablo evening was passed. The Daughters of Rebokah nolda installod oficors for as follows: Mrs. A. H. Bothwell, N, G.; Mas. C. D. Moore, V. (.5 Mrs, Henry St Martin, secrotary; Mrs. (i, W. Hoch, treas- urer. A Rebekah degree lodge was instituted at Holdrege last Tuesday with about uty five cuarter mombers. About thirty Ro. belcalis were present trom Juniata and Hast- ings, After the ceremony o banquet was ser Next Friday evening, the 6th inst., Omaha lodge No. 2 will colebrate its thirty-fifth an- lodge of Re the ensuing year 1 niversary at its hall on Fourteenth aud Dodge streets, A pleasant entortainment will be provided, consisting of an addross by Grand Master Evans on the history and work of tho lodge, and addresses by soveral other members, These will be pleasantl interspersed with musical numbors and fol- lowed by refreshments. The evening willbo closed by dancang. Council Bluffs Rebokah dogree lodge pald avery pleasant visit to Ruth lodge lnst Sat- urday ovening. About fifty members came over from the Bluffs to witness the exem- [lification of the degreo work by the toam of Ruth lodge. This team 1s the one which re- ceived a prizo at the Chicago meeting for its excellont work, and tho mannor in which tho work was put’ on tho floor for the visitors from the Bluffs elicited lovd praise. The team is provided with full paraphernalia for the work, the outflt being the finest which could be procured, and each member of the team takes especial prade in rondering her part in a perfect mann GoAL R Custor post No. 7 and Crook post No. 202, together with Custer's Women Relief Corps No. 82 and Shoridan Reliof Corps No. 88, will hold a fairand aseries of entertainments at the Coliseum March 4, 5 and 6. Tho services of Colonel Lew Ginger have beon secured to manage the enterprise, and the well known ability of Comrade Ginger is a guaranteo of success. The proceeds of the enterprise are 1o bo turned into the reliof fund, which will be used to bolp necdy soldiers it this stato, In. addition to tho entertainment o fine museum of war relies will be on exhibition the material for which 18 being eatherod from all over the cou Contractors’ Suppli Wheel Barrows, Shovels Scoops, Bars. Hoes, Hose, Picks Wire and Manilla Rope, Tackle Blocks, All K inds Twines Butchers' Tools, Carpenters” Tools, Coopers” Tools, Machinists, Tools, Moulders' Tools, Builders’ Hardware. AGENTS FOR Yale & Towne Fine Bronze Goods, Wm. T, Wood & Co's. Ice Tools, amesMortond& Son 1511 Dod e Street. DR. J. E. McGREW, THE SPECIALIST. More Than Fifteen Years Experience in the Treatment of PRIVATE DISEASES { out the 108s of an hour's timo, STRICTURE e ne: no emarkablo remody Kiown o mod clonce, Gr wis troatment for this terrib a0 pr the most powerful and su covored £0r tho abs: Buccoss wih this di LOST MANHO0D atural dlscharges, are absolu muodinte and complete, SKIN DISEASES manently cured, FEMALE DISEASE curad truly LADIES from 2 (0 4 ONLY. DR. McGREW'S 1n aharacter, an the Atlant of I Acurels g 1 in from throe 10 1ve duys withe cured ruments Cured Iis 0 equallod. wenkness of Al Oraan < nory - nd ol un- Rellof 1y Rheumatism and all dis- euses of the blood, liver, Kldneys and Dladder po Barrennoss and disensos of the stomuch or bladder The Doctor's Home Treatment for Ludle mploto, convontent nd w Houk fro marveld won for him ur which Is truly lospiral prac wmony leading specinlist in Treatment by correspondonce. Book or ars about each of the above diseases, Fic REMOVAL OF JNO. H: CORNLES Letter Files, INDEXES, RANSFER CASES, IMPRESSION BOOKS 's Standard Indexes, Mimeographs and Supplics, To 318 South 156th St. Tel. 630. Omaha. PR.E.C.WESTS NERVE AND BRAIN TREATHIENT, gpocifio for Hystoria, Dizxiness, Fite, Kenralula. Wike fulnwss, Deprission, Ko 0t the 1i¥ain, re: sultinie’ ity ad ‘leading Lo misery decay and Hoath: Premature “OId Age, Barrenness. Loss of Power fnither sex, 1nvoluntary Losses, and Hporims torrh caused by GVerexeition of the brain, self-ubu; over-Andulgence. Each box eontains on s month's jont. §1 box, oF Kx Lor 85, sent by mel pi lth each ‘order Tor six b Wil vend pu i Tl 60 Wikranies 0 retund meney it the troat BN OGUar inteas 1asuod and @unuIDe so1d ouly by GOODMAN DRUG CO., Euflufll\( from Street, TOWEAK MENE:2 !Imn wasting weakness, lost manhood, eto, 1 u«m valuable troatise (sealod »w,.mlmn‘ full ulrm'u s for home oure, HEE of charge A splondid medical work ; sho o Temd by every Prof, ¥,(, FOWLER, Moodus, Cona, Burr _110 Farna Omahn, Neb.