p DENTS REPORT Th Van Who Haa Given Mnok Time to the Irrigation Question- AMUIOIAL WATEB IS HEOESSAXY- Mr. Port Thinks Sixty Per Cent of Ne braska Lands Can Be Irrigated if All Means Possible Are Utilized. Moat Valuable Information GiTen. The question of irrigation in Nebraska at the present time has become one of the leading topics of discussion among onr people. Our state must remain almost solely an agricultural region. This will always be the source from which the sup. port of the people will be obtained. In the arid portions of the world irrigation is an imperative necessity, for a failure of the water in the brooks or rivers means to the inhabitants of that section death by starvation or forced migration. Where intelligent care is exercised in re taining the sources from which the wa ter supply is derived and maintaining the conditions favorable to perpetuating the same, the conditions of the people are generally in advance of that of their neighbors in the humid or semi-arid por. tions of the earth. Historical records ehow us thatcivilization, although some times crude and barbaric, first saw light in that portion of the earth where irri gation was practiced. Our state would be greatly benefited by the creation oj an irrigation commission that would have control of the question of irriga tion. We are prevented by constitution al limitation to a certain number of state officers, and it will therefore be imposs ible to create the office of state engineer, similar to the one now in existence in Wyoming. California, Colorado and oth er states of western America. Our com ing legislature should also make a lib eral appropriation for the two State Ir rigation Experiment Stations of Ogalal la and Culbertson, Nebraska, and, if it was deemed practical by the legislature, should move the Ogalalla station to some point where water for irrigation purpoHes will always be available. These experiment stations should be instructed to issue quarterly pamphlets on the most practical method of securing, hand ling and applying water for irriga tion purposes. The question of for estry and the promotion of the growth of timber in Nebraska, that the influence effected by such bodies of timber may create a beneficial i result, is one that is clearly allied to the question of irrigation. We do not be lieve that our state can do too much on practical and well established lines in promoting the cause of forestry. The question of the amount of land that can be irrigated in Nebraska, is a question difficult to answer, but were I to make comparison of the amount of land now irrigated in Colorado, that twenty-five years ago people believed it would be im possible to irrigate, and compare the same quantity of land in its relation of Nebraska water supply, allowing for Nebraska's excess of rainfall over that of Colorado, it would be safe to assert that fully sixty per cent of the surface of our state could be irrigated, but this allows for all methods of irrigation, the canal, the pumping system of various kinds, sub-irrigation, and all the dfferent means end ways by which water can be secured, handled and applied to cultivated lands. This also would include the application of water to lands that will be cultivated in that good time coming when Ne braska's population will be more than treble that of the present. Of theamount that can be easily and cheaply irrigated within the next twenty years, it oan be safely estimated as ten million acres, a little over one-fifth'the area of the state. Of that amount fully five million acres will be irrigated within the next ten years. This means to our state a sure annual yield of a heavy crop year after year, regardless of drouths or rainfall. Granting that the lands of our state are generally capable, of being irrigated, the question arises, "What are our available water sup plies?" When we take into considera tion that the Sappa, Beaver, Frenchman and Republican rivers all head in other states, that the North and South Platte rivers. Lodge Pole creek and Niobrara river, all have their rise in, and drain a territory outside of our own stale. We will see by the estimates that have been mudrf of the drainage area of North and South Platte rivers druinins; about forty-five million acres of territory m Wy oming and Colorado. We now add to this the drainage area of the smaller riv ers and creeks that have their rise in Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming, show ing that Nebraska receives the drainage of a territory much greater in extent than the forty-nine millions, five hun dred thousand acres of her surface. We now also allow that with our great hu midity in the great majority of years, that only a small amount ot water will be required to insure a crop. Again al lowing that our annual rainfall being fur greater aud heavier than that received by the totally arid lauds, we have here some strongly advantageous conditions in our favor. In discussing the question of irrigation we must allow for the rain fall that takes place enstor west of cer tain lines. The late IT. S. report on the climate of Nebraska and its rainfall place all that portion of our state lying west of the 1)7 meridan in the arid aud semi arid portion of America. There is and has been a great deal of discussion in regard to the underflow of water. We will advance the propositioa that there is no underflow, not as the term is generally understood and ac cepted. The underflow, beneath the sur face of Nebraska lands is the sheet water of the earth working its way to the lower levels at the rate of from two to three miles per year. The underflow is the natural drainage of the lands of our state. The question of artesian wells in one that in connection with artesian wells has been generally discussed. There is some hope for northeast Nebraska se curing some good flowing wells, but bow many and of what character it is impos sible to say. In lifting the water the question of fric tion or suction cats quite an important figure for irrigation purposes. Drive points are not to be recommended. AH the power should be applied to the lift possible, and as little as possible to over come friction. Where water is not lifted over twenty-five feet, the cost will not be very great in proportion to the benefits derived. Ten or twenty acres can be easily irrigated by a pumping appliance. But the cost must be steadily increased in proportion to the depth of the well, or banks of creeks or streams. A power that will when attached to a pump readi ly lift sufficient water to irrigate five acres, when lifting from a depth of 46 to 55 feet, the same power would only lift enough to irrigate from two to three acres, pumping from a depth of 100 feet and only to one and a half acres 200 feet. If the fanner will start in a small way and commence irrigating from five to ten acres, be will gradually learn how to ap ply water, but if be knows nothing abont iriigating and owns an eighty or one hundred and sixty acre water right that he is anxious to use on his land, he will show wisdom if be secures the services of a competent engineer, who will run out the lines of his laterals and show him where the water can be conveyed from his fields. Having seen that his laterals have been properly constructed, he will send to Colorado or Utah and secure the services of a practical irrigator to edu cate him in the art of applying water to the crops. If this is not done a great many failures will ensue, and many farmers will assert that irrigation is not practical and is a failure. Irrigation as a means of securing every year a sufficient food supply from the Boil of Nebraska, by her farmers has now become imperative. But this does not require the irrigation of 160 or 320 acres of land by the farmer. For with three, five or even ten acres of land irri gated and well and intensively cultivat ed, a sufficient food supply can be ob tained to prevent suffering or total loss, and it is safe to say that the few acres well tilled and cultivated will be the suc cessful irrigated farm. We cannot afford to risk the repetition of such years as 1893 and 1894, nor the year 1890. Every farmer must be taught that he should irrigate an orchard and from one to ten acres, or be ready to ir rigate that amount of land should dry and drouthy years ensue. Our rainfall is not increasing. This we know to a certaiuty, as we have the records of both our state and the national weather ob servations to corroborate this assertion. In connection with the question how to prevent losses by drouth we have heard advanced the question of subsoiling. This will do an immense amount of good and will tend to make the land a natural reservoir, instead of the water falling on our plowed soils, then sinking down to the depth of six inches and then the sur plus that cannot find a lodging place, running off into streams and back to the Gulf from whence it came. It will soak down and be held in reserve for future nse at a depth of 12 to 24 inches, beneath the surface. It is a question as to whether irriga tion canals in Nebraska will ever become a profitable source of income for the cap italist or investor. With our fair to heavy rainfalls, with our semi-humid climate, W3 believe that there is more risk at tached to this form of investment than will justify us in recommending capital ists to build or construct canals in the semi-arid portions of the state. Wherev er practical, the canals should be con structed, owned and managed by the farmers themselves. This places land and water uwder direct control of the farmers, making land and water insepar able. It is a question how far the cause of irrigation has been benefited or re tarded by the bond agitation. The as sociation believes in the farmers mutual plan of canal construction. The president of this association com menced the work of agitation on this question in July, 1893, at North Platte, and has steadily continued at work writ ing articles on this subject, lecturing, or ganizing irrigating associations, pro moting canal companies, working for legislation and attending conventions for nearly a year and a half. He has or ganized over seventy-five local associa tions and traveled in working for this object thirty thousand miles. He has done this without pay or compensation of any kind whatever, having been com pelled to be his own secretary and treas urer as well as banker for the state asso ciation. W. P. Wright. State Lecturer. Bethany, Neb., Dec. 26, 1894. Editor Wealth Make us: Please notice in your paper this week that at the state meeting of the Alliance I was elected as state lecturer and dele gate to the meeting of the Supreme Couno 1 of the N. F. I. U. to be held at Raleigh, North Carolina. As the state lecturer of the Alliance I desire corre spondence with localities for the purpose of reorganizing the work in the state. I will make arrangements for active work as fast as dnsired. Co-operative work in connection with the check system of ex change will be explained where there is reasonable prosiectsof putting the same ' in operation. The check system, if prop erly pushed, will reorganize nearly every Alliance in the state, Address me box 15, Bethanv, Neb. W. F. Weight, State organizer and lecturer. A Blacksmith Sulcftle. Joseph Valek, a Bohemian black imith residin g at Valentine, and an old time resident of the town, commit ted suicide at about It o'clock Satur day forenoon, blowing his brains out with a horse pistol. He did the deed in a small bedr oom in the rear of his blacksmith shop, and when found was sitting on the floor in an upright posi tion, his back leaning against the side of the bed. The weapon lay across his lap. His wife and children, who were at the house, which is about fifty feet from the shop, heard the shot and were the first to see the body. Mrs. Valek was entirely prostrated." Hang ng to the lapel of alek scoat was a lengthy letter, written in Bohemian and ad dressed to his family. He gave a list of the debts he owed about town, and made known his wishes as to the dis position of his property. He advised his son Edward, who has been asso ciated with him in the blacksmithing, to give it up and learn some other trade. Valek was about tiO years of age and leaves a wife and seven chil dren, three of whom are living at home. His life was insured for $1,000 in the C. S. P. S., a Bohemian benevo lent organization. NEURALGIA cured by Dr. Miles' Paw Puja "One cent a dose." At all droudlat. 57th BPISSBL UV SAMYEWU TO THE HEETHUN. sevrul sentyeris ago mister satun tuk a noshen thet heed Uk tew get kuntrol uv the watters nv the oshen; fer heed veri ofen notised , when amung the hawnts uv men thet awl ther rivvers run thair, but newer bak ageu. an morover awl ther laws veri kurriosli pertekted whut tha kolled the rites nv property, whil man he went neglekted. an sew he arguewd with hisself an formd a grat big trust tu munopulize the watters; -but that tim be got bust, fer he hadent kalkulated with the lord uv awl kreeashnn hoo pervides fresh air an watter bi a plan uv kondensashun. so he swor a sweet revenge on the soles nv awl mankind an put hes branes tu werkia fer a hellish skeem to find, he invented traps an pitfawls an awl sorts nv meennus trid bnt he mite ez wel hev shot hisself, fer the lord wui on ther side, but ax be persiveerd he kame tu this kunklusbun thet theonli wa tew flcks them wuz threw greed an self deluzyun. sew he set hisself tu werkin an ther beds an branes astuffin with the noshen tha mite get sumthin awl fer nuthin. an then he set them skramblin fer a thing whuts kolld inkrees, an munopuliz in evrything frum Lash tu bones an grees. tha ript an tore an snorted lik kattul owt uv breth then let ther biznuss go tu pot . until tha sturved tu deth. ets a sollumkulli stori, this histery uv inunni, tho sum foks down en washintun appeer tu think et funni. uv korse awl thet wuz long ago but how the gods must laff when tha think uv such kweer kritters. so duz sam fonagraf hoos alwais preechin gospul er raisin hi grad mewls en tryin fer tu kristyunize thos kussed gold base few.'s. Protecting the Cows. The American Cultivator says that there is no excuse for any man failing to protect his cows from the severe weather; because there is no spot on earth where a milch cow can subsist but which furn ishes material for protecting from Bnow and winds. A cow does not require a hard-coal fire and a feajher bed for com fort. She enjoys a brown-stone front to be sure; but she enjoys a sod stable, a dug-out on a hillside or stall in a straw stack, quite as well, if it is kept clean and dry. No man who owns one cow is so poor that he cannot build a shelter of some kind aud get six feet of rope or n Btanchion for a tie. The trouble with great many farmers is that they are waiting till they build that two-story barn before they begin to stable the cows. How foolish! Stable the cows and they will build the barn out of the in creased profits which they yield from kind treatment. Sell your cows if you will not procure a good thermometer, a trustworthy tester, and if you are not willing to school your intelligence to the utmost within your power. There is no profit in unscientific work in this progressive age. The farmer who does one thing thor oughly well is very apt to be more than usually thorough in all bis operations. On the contrary, the farmer who thor oughly slights one part of his business does not do thoroughly well any part of it. Millet is a luxuriant grower, and, like clover, contains a larire per ceut of al buminoids, which makes it especially val uable for milk. It produces three to sii tons per acre, and is easily cured. Try two acres next season on good rottei turf, one bushel of seed to the acre. The time that a heifer is allowed to go dry .after her first calf is dropped affects her habit in this respect all her life. It is not necessary for a good cow properly cared for to go dry longer than from three to four weeks. The very best cows can hardly be dried off, the inbred tend ency to milk production having been de veloped so strongly. The dairy brings a revenue which is al ways cash and almost continuous. It helps maintain the fertility of the farm; its product, if good, has seldom to seek a buyer; it exhibits more vitality in times of depression than almost any other product that the farmer sells; but the average farmer studies improvement in all other lines before he takes an inter est in the business of making butter. The dairy school at Madison, Wis., had registered ninety-fivestudentsou Novem ber 1 for the winter term, beginning Jan uary 1, 1895. As the capacity of thej school is not more than 100, the indica tions are that a large number of appli cants will have to be turned away. Sim ilar reports come to us from all over the United States and Canuda of the crowd ed condition of the dairy schools for the next term. At St. Anthony Park, Minn., they will be obliged to hold two sessions in both butter aud cheese. Cows in milk will consume nearly 50 per cent more water than the same cows when not giving milk. The New York Experiment Station, at Geneva, found as an average of several breeds that each drank 1,039 pounds of water and con sumed 547 pounds more in food per month." During lactation the average per month was 1,600 pounds drank and 774.8 po inds consumed for each pound of milk produced were as follows: Ayr shires, 4.20; Guernseys, 5.07; Holsteius, 4.43; Jerseys, 5.21; Short-horns, 5; Holderness, 3.9."; Devons, 4.H2, making an average of 4.C8 pounds. The need of uu abundance of water is evident. Den Writing to till Advertiser, FIcm T 2p1 w DON'T WAIT For a Cold to Run into Bron chitis or Pneumonia. Check it at Once WITH AYER'S Cherry Pectoral. "Early in the Winter, I took a g! severe cold which developed into 3 an obstinate, hacking cough, o very painful to endure and troubling me day and night, for nine weeks, in spite of numerous oi remedies. Ayer's Cherry Tec- oi toral being recommended me, I began to take it, and inside of 24 0 j Hours, l was reneveu or tne tickling in my throat. Before I finished the bottle, my cough was nearly gone. I cannot speak too highly of its excellence." Mrs. E. Bosch, Eaton, Ohio. Ayer's Cherry Pectoral Rnealved Hlchest Awards --' o AT THE WORLD'S FAIR Does tor Mational Alliance. The dues of the National Alliance have heretofore been paid from the State All! ance treasury. Although the National Alliance expects each Alliance to pay its national dues separately from the state dues. Owing to the reinstatement of so many delinquent Alliances without pay ment of back dues there is now no money on hand in the state treasury to pay na tional dues, which are 10 cents a mem ber, and must be paid immediately, or our delegate will not be allowed a seat at the National Council. Only such Alli ances as forward national dues will be entitled to the national password, so or ders the National Secretary. Mas. J. T. Kellie, Hartwell, Nab. The Northern Allianoe Moulton, la., Nov. 26, 1894. The annual meeting of the National Farmers' Alliance will be held at the Commercial Hotel in the eity of Chicago, Illinois, Tuesday, January 15, 1895, at 9 o'clock a. m.,for the purpose of electing officers and the transaction of such busi. ness as may come before the convention- By order of the Executive Committee. August Post, Elwood Furnas, Secretary. President. Notice! J. A. Allis, James A. Benjamins and W. D. Lowery have sent us money for their subscriptions, but neglected to give us their postoffice address, so we cannot give them credit. Gentlemen, send us the name of your postoffice and we will receipt you for the money. The best remedy for constipation is Ayer's Pills. They never fail. Have you seen Ayer's Almanac for this year? ii ii 1 1 iii ii i iii ii iiiiii I2 COLUMBIA PAP CALENDAR For A Desk Calendar is a necessity most convenient kind of storehouse for memoranda. The Columbia Desk Calendar is brightest and handsomest of all full of dainty silhouettes and pen sketches and entertaining thoughts on outdoor exercise and sport. Occasionally reminds you of the superb quality of Columbia Bi cycles and of your need of one. You won't object to that, of course. The Calendar will be mailed for five 2-cent stamps. Address Calendar Department, POPE MFG. CO., Mention thii piper. Hartford, Conn. I M W1 1 1 1 H 19 3 erYPairy5uppi!es TVr lABAirT ATnrK INTKlWrfiT. - TriC LAHOE6T OTOCK iNTHtWtST. D.JJ .T.L. .TY .1 ii l SIZES The rtost Complete SxKtf cvtrythirJrJainiiB'TO BUTTERS CHEESE MAKING. Boilers and tymlSX Feed- Cookers AllLK CAN6,0CrCA$Lf)lIIRS, far llliMtr&tid G9.tou, Add ncs v (REAMERYpACKAOEfiife Jott uw their AdU. In this Ptper. Irrigated Farm Lands FERTILE SAH LDIS VALLEY, COLORADO. THHE 8AN LUIS VALLEY, COLORADO, is a stretch of level plain abont as large as the State of Connecticut, lying between surrounding range of lofty mountains and watered by the Rio Grande River and a core or more of small tributary streams. It was the bottom of a great eea, whose de posits have made a fertile soil on an average more than ten feet deep. The mountains are covered with great deposits of snow, which melt and furnish the irrigating canals with water for the farmers' crops. The Climate is Unrivaled. Almost perpetual sunshine, and the elevation of abont 7,000 feet dispels all malaria, nor are each pests as chinch bugs, weevil, etc., found there. FLOwnta artesian wells are secured at a depth, on an average, of about 100 font, and at a coat of abont $25.00 each. Such is the flow that they are being utilised for irrigating the yards, garden and vegetable crops. The pressure it sufficient to carry the water, which is pore, all through the farmers' dwelling. Irrigation. Already several thousand miles of large and small irrigating canal hare been bnilt and several hundred thousand acre of lands made available for farming Operations. Irrigation is an insurance against failure of crops, because suc cess is a question only of the proper application of water to them. The loss of a single corn or wheat crop in Nebraska, for instance, would more than equal the cost of irrigating canal to cover the entire state, so important is the cer tainty of a full crop return to any agricultural state. The San Luis Valley will grow Spring wheat oats, barley, peas, hops, beans, potatoes, vegetables and all kinds of small fruits and many of the hardier varieties of apples, pears and all kinds of cherries. In the yield of all these product IT has metes been iubfassed by ANT otbeb SECTION ON THE CONTINENT. , Forty Acres Enough Land. Fobty ACRE is enough land for the farmer of ordinary mean and help. Be sides the certainty of return, the yield, under the condition of proper irriga tion, will average far more than the 160-acre farms in the Mississippi and Missouri Valleys, and the outlay for machinery, farming stock, purchase money, taxse, etc., are proportionately lee. There are a hundred thousand acres of such lands located in the very heart of the San Luis Valley, all within six miles of the Denver, and Rio Grande Railroad, convenient market and shipping stations, for sale at $15.00 per acre. Most of these land are fenced and have been under cultivation and in many instances have well and some bnildings, everything ready to proceed at once to begin farming. A shall cash payment only is required where the purchaser immediately occupies the premises, and long time at seven per cent, interest is granted for the deferred payments. A Specially Low Homeseekers Rate will be made you, your family and friends. Should you settle on these land the amount you paid for railroad fare will be credited to you on yonr pay ments; and remember the land is perfectly and thoroughly irrigated, and the land and perfbttjel water rights are sold you for less than other sec tions ask for simply the water rights without the land. No better land exist anywhere on earth. For further particulars, price of land, railroad fare, and all other information call on or address, , F. I-j. MARY, (Mention this paper.) Manager Colorado Land Immigration Co., BBOWHELL BL00K. - - UIOOU,' BTSB J. W, Oastoi. Pret. J. P. Roots, Ylca-Praa. O. L. Lines, The Fanners' Mutual Ipsnrance Company of Nebraska. The Largest, Beat and Cheapest Farm Mutual Insurance Company in the State. . m. over vtr" yx------vaa 4,ono.ooo Insurance Paid Mora ProitiDtlv than Anr Old Lin Now in ' jf " U gp and Lightning-, Wind and Tornado, at On Par C.nt. Ha ran Tore y.r without any AaMHmcnt. FarnlRh Insurance to th. Farmer at Actual Coat. AU Loe Paid In Fall and no debt Handing agalnit th Company. Home Office: 245 So. 11th St, PURELY 2- t vr" j era !: in tZte it . V a NEBRASKA MUTUAL FIRE, LIGHTNING & CYCLONE INSURANCE COMPANY. Over half million Insured. Have paid over 1500.00 In losses. Huve had bat one assessment, 10c per 1100.00. J. Y. II. Swiqabt, secretary. Lincoln, Neb. pr" Agents wanted. The New Commonwealth. THE great Peopls's party paper oi New York, and organ of the Co-OperaMv tevemsnt of the United States, and Canada, Prloe, BO Cento Por Year. Sample Cepleo Free- Auress, sef Commoni caltt, TM Maco St. Bsookxt, M. t, If our advertisers do not treat yon rig-lit let us knov, We want no "fates" in The Wealth Makers. Isn't there something in our "Three Cent Column" that will profit yon? Fester Time Better Service, The Black Hills passenger now leave daily at 1:25 p. m. and will land passen gers at Hot Springs at 8:05 a. m., and at Dead wood at 11 a. m. next day. From Chicago two fast trains arrive here week days, one Sundays. For further information apply a be low. A. S. Fielding, City Ticket Agt., 8. A. Mosheb, Oen'l Agt, 117 So. 10th St We want you to notice every new "ad" in our columns. They are pat ther es pecially ior your benefit. 1. Obishamtcb, Tress. Over . 17,000 on hand. Thirty-two Losses Paid Comoanv Dolnir Bnslneaf. Inmrea asain.t Ftte LINCOLN, NEB. MUTUAL To California in a Tourist Sleeper The Burlington Route's Personally Conducted Excursions to the Pacific Coast are just the thing for people of moderate means. Cheap respectable comfortable ex peditious. From Omaha and Lincoln. Through to Los Angelos and San Francisco with out change. Experienced Excursion Managers and uniformed Pullman por ters in charge. Second class tickets ac cepted. Cars are carpeted and uphol stered and have spring seats and backs, mattresses, blankets, curtains, pillows, towels, etc. Only fo.OO for a double berth, wide enough and big enough for two. The route is over thej"Scerjic Line of the World," through Deuver, Salt Lake City and Sacramento. All the woudtrful cauons and peaks of the Rocky Mountains are passed during the day. If you are going west you should ar range to join one of these excursions. They are the best, the very best, across the continent. Information and adver tising matter on application to the local agent or by addressing J. Francis, Genl. Pass. Agt, Omaha, Neb. Ur.juta PauPiuciiwearaJaa. W. B. Lines, See'y. Stat. Agent.