WEALTH IN DESERT.
Waste Tracts Reclaimed by Modern
Scientific Irrigation.
Rich Crops of Melons and Vegetables
Produced on Soli Which Gave
Bat Little Promise of Pro
ductiveness.
[Special Indio (Cal.) Letter.]
TWO problems which have been
vexing the public mind for many
generations are likely to settle
themselves by cancelation. The one—
how we are to dispose of our ever-in
creasing population, the other—how
to secure a living proposition from
the waste lands of our great desert,
which stretches, broken by mountain
, from north to south through
our own possessions and those of our
peighbor, Mexico. The journey of
w'feeks over barren lands, where the
wind overwhelmed the weary traveler
with storms of alkali sand and dust
with no water for days except what he
carried from the last watering place
and that, perhaps, brackish and pro
ductive of disastrous symptoms, was
a sufficient barrier to the rapid settle
ment of our Pacific coast.
The railroads have changed all that,
of course, but the hundreds of thrifty
tourists who daily seek pleasure and
recreation in California while winter
holds the east with frozen fingers, are
already 100 good ones. Many boring
rigs are now in operation. The tem
perature of the soil two feet below
the surface is 72 degrees, of the water
from the wells 74 degrees. Boring has
shown that the soil to a depth of 500
feet is a succession of alluvial deposits.
For ages it has been accumulating
humus. As soon as the water supply
was assured, tl ground was cleared
and in three months, and as an experi
ment,cantaloupes, watermelons, sugar
beets, barley and wheat were planted.
From a tract irrigated in November,
a crop equal to 3ya tons hay (baled)
was secured in March without further
irrigation. Beets were ready for ship
ment the first of May, which had been
planted January 28. There was great
interest in the latter crop, as it com
prised the first sugar beets produced
in the desert, where conditions seem
especially favorable for their cultiva
tion. The long symmetrical root*
yielded 18 per cent, in sugar; the crop
20 tons to the acre. In four months
wheat matured from the seed.
On June 10, cantaloupes planted
February 28 were ready for shipment,
the season lasting till July 18. Grow
ers netted $13b per acre from 23 acres
planted in cantaloupes. Most of
them went to the Waldorf-Astoria in
New York and the White Star line
steamships. Those shipped earliest
netted the growers $1.86 per crate.
From 64 acres in cantaloupes, 23 car
loads were sent out, each car contain
ing 360 crates of 45 cantaloupes each.
The season closed just as the regular
RHYTHM IN BIRD MUSIC.
An Oliaerver Thlnk» He Has Discov
ered That Even the Rooster
Keeps Aeenrate Time.
How little we realize the fact- that
the music of nature is always intensely
rhythmical; an intelligent rooster with
a good ear always crows in accurate
three-four time, and in the minor key.
Our own simplest idea of time is per
fectly illustrated by the drum, the dots
indicating footsteps and the dashes
drum beats. Now this is rhythm, an
essential principle of music, says Frank
Leslie’s Monthly, and we are widely
at fault if we suppose for one moment
that the birds sing regardless of it.
The drum beats are in unmistakable
four-four time, the commonest time of
all, and I think it could be conclusively
proved that the oriole, for instance,has
adopted that time for his own.
It is evident to a close observer that
there is something odd about the
oriole’s time; it is four-four, without
doubt, but there are queer breaks in
it; the singer drops a note here and
there, much as good old grandma
drops a stitch in her clever knitting.
These omissions are characteristic of
the oriole; his style is one of marked
syncopation, with a preference for
that kind of melody which has been
styled “ragtime.” If you wish to imi
tate this quality you must whistle a
“toot” by placing the tip of the tongue
immediately behind the upper front
teeth, dropping and returning quickly
DOMESTIC ABILITY.
Thu Girl from Finland Had a Unique
Specialty in the Line of
Housework.
An aristocratic East {Superior street wom
an, who has had tne usual number of fail
ures in the way of domestics, having tried
nearly every nationality, heard the other
day that a number pf girls had come here
from Finland to seek employment as serv
ants and that they were highly recommend
ed as strong, intelligent, capable and gen
erally excellent help, relates ' the Duluth
News-Tribune.
With high hope the housekeeper hied her
to the office where these paragons were on
exhibition, and was soon brought face to
face with a brawny specimen, who could
not speak a word of English. With the aid
of an interpreter the following conversation
took place:
“Can,you cook?”
“Oh, no.”
“Can you wash and iron?"
“No.”
“Can you sweep and dust or clean house?"
“1 have never done anything like that.”
“For goodness sake,” exclaimed the as
tonished matron to the interpreter, “ask
her what she can do.”
With calmness and complacency the reply
came back: “I can milk reindeers!”
HE LOOKED DIFFERENT.
The Barber Had Shaved Him Before,
But Failed to Keeugnlie 111m
Healed Face.
A Ninth street barber owns up that the
following experience was his own less than
a month ago. An actor from a neighboring
theater dropped in one afternoon to be
shaved, and seemed disinclined to talk. The
barber, says the Philadelphia Times, is a be
I mi'nr* in ♦ li n t li nrtcir Is so t r i Kn t U u t ill Fd P.
MILWAUKEE PEOPLE
Could Hardly Believe It. A
ProminentWoman Saved From
Death by Lydia E. Piiikham’s
Vegetable Compound.
“ Dear Mrs. Pinkham :—I suppose m
large number Of people who read of
my remarkable cure will hardly believ*
it; bad I not experienced it myself, I
know that I should not.__
I—,,.—- -TT~- -rnyyjmamm
grieved at seeing so much territory
■unproductive. Of course, where irri
gation from mountain streams has
proved feasible, most gratifying re
sults have been obtained, but over hun
dreds of thousands of acres it has, un
til recently, seemed impossible to get
water on the soil. Sinec it has been
proven that a good supply may be ob
tained from^artesian wells, the desert
has undergone an entire
now little oases may be
seen at intervals dotting the great
plains where formerly the cacti, me»
quite and sage brush were the only
signs of vegetation. Around these
wells settlements are growing, sepa
rated sometimes by hundreds of miles.
During the last two years a seeming
ly hazardous undertaking has pro
duced most satisfactory results. About
two years ago a party began seeking ;
A GARDEN IN INDIO.
(Showing What Irrigation Has Done for
Arid California.)
for water in the Coachella valley, a
portion of the great sandy waste of
the Colorado basin. The locality is
130 miles from the Colorado river and
27 miles from the rim of the desert.
The valley is about 16 miles long and
nine miles wide. Indio is one of the
wonders of irrigation, which no trav
eler who has passed through this sec
tion will fail to remember. The sur
face of the valley is from 66 to 120 feet
below sea level. On the north, west
and east are mountain ranges, varying
in heigh from 3,000 to 10,000 feet,
southeast, the plain stretches monot
onously to Salton Basin. In November,
1900, work was begun about four miles
oast of Indio by driving a two-inch
pipe, and the following November ar- j
tesian water was flowing freely. Ihe
water-bearing stratum was penetrated
to a depth of 550 feet and a pressure
secured sufficient to produce five
miner’s inches from the two-inch pipe.
This success was the signal for more
wells to be driven, of which there are
TWO YEARS AGO THIS BARLEY FIELD WAS A DESERT WASTE.
southern California shipping season
began, and the highest prices were
secured. Eleven thousand dollars
went to the express company, the
growers divided $10,000 among them
selves. TlitWe was a gross product of
about $328 per acre. Three carloads
of watermelons, netting the growers
$517, were grown on 2*4 acres of land.
Four crops in succession were ob
tained from millet sown in June. A
large crop of alfalfa may be cut every
three weeks.
The crop matured so early that
agents of leading city houses in the
east were on the ground last Novem
ber securing contracts for this sea
son’s produce. Last year Indians
were employed to do the picking.
This year 450 Japs have been en
gaged in addition to all the Indians
obtainable, as, when the crop is
ready for market, it must be harvest
ed at once.
Much of the land has been secured
at $1.25 per acre from the govern
ment under desert land or homestead
laws, some was purchased from the
railroad, some from individuals who
had obtained large tracts. Twenty
five dollars per acre was paid, a short
time since, for lan<’ purchased a year
ago at $1.25 and which is a part of
640 acres state school lands. Wells
have been bored, and Seven Day Ad
ventists are to settle on that trart.
The results above described may be
realized in numberless other sections
which have until lately been consid
ered worthless because of the seem
ing impossibility of securing a water
Bunnl v.
There is still a great quantity of
government land unreclaimed. Some
of the best of this is at a great dis
tance from the railroads. Other
good lands may be purchased at a
small price from individual owners
of large tracts who are willing to
part with a portion of their posses
sions in order to secure funds with
which to develop a large water sup
ply. Results already obtained fur
nish good arguments for those in
favor of government irrigation of
the 60,000,000 or more acres of waste
land comprised in the great desert
of the United States. Crops bein°
produced quickly, a comparatively
small farm yields wonderful results
during a year, and irrigating our
useless lands and subdividing them
will not only give homes and a sub
stantial living to thousands of fam
ilies who may emigrate to them,
but the larger supply will place
fresh, healthful food on the early
market at low prices, so that vege
tables may be within reach of the
purses of those with small incomes
who are left in the cities.
EDWARD JULIAN.
His Own Estimate.
“I regard Winebiddle as a man in
a thousand.”
‘‘That’s too high. He considers
himself one in the 400.”—Detroil
Free l’ress.
-Vfl \\\ <9
MRS. SADIE E. KOCH.
“ I suffered for months with
troubles peculiar to women which
gradually broke down my health and
my very life. I was nearly insane
with pain at times, and no human
skill I consulted in Milwaukee could
bring me relief.
“ My attention was called to Lydia
E. f*inkham*s Vegetable Com
f>ound ; the first bottle brought re
ief, and the second bottle an absolute
cure. I could not believe it myself,
and felt sure it was only temporary,
but blessed fact, I have now been well
for a year, enjoy the best of health,
and cannot in words express my grat
itude. Sincerely yours, Sadie E. Koch,
124 10th St., Milwaukee, Wis.”—16000
forfeit If above testimonial Is not genuine.
Such unquestionable testimony
Eroves the power of Lydia E. Pink
am’s Vegetable Compound over
diseases of women.
Women should remember that
they are privileged to consult
Mrs. Pinkham, at Lynn, Mass.*
about their illness, entirely fna
Shake Into Your Shoes
Allen’s Foot-Ease. It cures painful, swollen,
smarting, sweating, feet. Makes new shoe*
easy. Sold by all Druggists and Shoe stores.
Don’t accept any substitute. Sample FREE.
Address A. S. Olmsted, Le Roy, N. Y.
“Sad about Bingham, isn't it?’’ “What’a
the matter with Bingham?’’ “He went t*
the bad being a good fellow.’’—Baltimore
News.
Stops the Cough
I and works off the cold. Laxative Bromn
Quinine Tablets. Price 25 cents.
Don’t believe all you hear; you are for
tunate if you can believe all you say.—Chi
cago Daily News.
I am sure Piso’s Cure for Consumption
saved my life three years ago.—Mrs. Tbos.
Robbins, Maple Street, Norwich, N. Y*
Feb. 17. 1900.
Praise a man’s wit and he will admiro
your judgment.—Chicago Daily News.
- — ... - --^ ;--_ .
sation makes the process of shaving easier
for the shavee—that the time seems to puss
more quickly if the customer can be inter
ested in this or that topic for the few neces
sary minutes. He tried the actor on the
weather, the beef trust, the asphalt scandal
and the new filtration plant without suc
cess. Then, just to keep things going, he
asked:
“You have never been shaved in here be
fore, have you, sir?”
“Oh, yes,” replied the actor. “I was in
here once when we played across the street
about 18 months ago—in the beginning of
last season, it was.”
“Strange that I don’t remember your
face” commented the barber.
“Well, you see,” came from his victim,
“my face has healed up since then.”
l'apii Was Flensed.
“And what did papa say?”
“He said it was all right.”
“Didn’t he seem very reluctant?”
“I can’t say that he did. When T told
him that I came to ask him for your hand
he muttered something that sounded verj
much like “Thank heaven, at last!”—Cleve
land Plain Dealer.
Assumption.
“The shovel fish of South America,” said
Uncle Jerry, “is the most accommodating
fish there is. Tt has a snout in the shape ol
a shovel, and it will jump out on the bank
and dig bait for you to catch it with.”—Bui
timore American.
Accounted For.
Gladys—So Ferdy has been tracing bad
nis ancestry?
Ethel—Yes, and found his first ancestoi
Was a garbage-contractor.
“I thought he seemed ‘in the dumps’ aboul
something.”—Judge
That cannot be right which is not ra
tional.—Ram’s Horn.
A liird Thief.
Having Been the victim of a protract
ed series of thefts from her home, Mile.
Varvay, a variety actress in Paris, start
ed to investigate before causing the
arrest of her servants. Leaving a dia
mond bracelet on her bureau, she kept
it in view through the keyhole of a
door leading to an adjoining room.
Suddenly she saw it “lifted.” The
thief proved to be a starling, who had
deposited up the chimney all the
uctress’ lost jewelry.
Reannnred, lie Pnrehascd.
A tattered, forlorn miss of 15 summers
entered the office of a young real estate
man the other day. Ordinarily he is the
politest of individuals, but this day he was
so busy that he didn’t know “where he
was at.” So, with a swift glance out of
the corner of his eye, he said rather s'harp
ly:
“Well, what do you want?”
“P-p-p-please, mister, won’t you buy &
ticket on our cuckoo clock?” replied the
girl, hesitatingly.
“Buy a ticket on your cuckoo clock?
WThat the deuce would I do with a cuckoo
clock, even if 1 should get it?”
“Oh, you won’t get it, mister. Please buy
a ticket.”
He bought.—Milwaukee Sentinel.
Forethought.
“Mr. Grimes,” said the rector to the ves
tryman, “we had better take up the col
lection before the sermon this morning.”
“Indeed?”
“Yes, I’m going to preach on ‘Econ
omy.’ ”—Philadelphia Press.
It takes a very small fool to commit great
folly.—Rani’s Horn.
fafijiCfn tDjn$LESSOfe£
Health will come with all its blessings to those who know the way, and it is mainly a ques
tion of right-living, with all the term implies, but the efforts which strengthen the system,
the games which refresh and the foods which nourish are important, each in a w'ay, while it is
also advantageous to have knowledge of the best methods of promoting freedom from unsani
tary conditions. To assist nature, when nature needs assistance, it is all important that the
medicinal agents used should be of the best quality and of known value, and the one remedy
which acts most beneficially and pleasantly, as a laxative, is—Syrup of Figs—manufactured by
the California Fig Syrup Co.
With a proper understanding of the fact that many physical ills are of a transient chav
acter and yield promptly to the gentle action of Syrup of Figs, gladness and comfort come to
the heart, and if one would remove the torpor and strain and congestion attendant upon a con
stipated condition of the system, take Syrup of Figs and enjoy freedom from the aches and
mins, the colds and headaches and the depression due to inactivity of the bowels. In case of
any organic trouble it is well to consult a competent physician, but when a laxative is required
remember that the most permanently gratifying results will follow personal cooperation with
the beneficial effects of Syrup of Figs. It is for sale by all reliable druggists. Price fifty
cents per bottle.
The excellence of Syrup of Figs comes from the beneficial effects of the plants used in the
combination and also from the method of manufacture which ensures that perfect purity and
uniformity of product essential in a perfect family laxative. All the members of the family
from the youngest to the most advanced in years may use it whenever a laxative is needed and
share alike in its beneficial effects. We do not claim that Syrup of Figs is the only remedy of
known value, but it possesses this great advantage over all other laxatives that it acts gently
and pleasantly without disturbing natural functions, in any way, as it is free from every ob
jectionable quality or substance. To get its beneficial effects it is always necessary to buy the
genuine and the full name of the Co.—California Fig Syrup Co.—is printed on the front of every
package.
San Francisco, Cal.
Louisville, Ky, New York, N. Y.