Show ann I THE EARTHS CAPACITY H In 1 North It Can Cn bo bl by Iho tho Work of 2 Engineers 2 5 I u n n n nj i l conditions of ot the lands If T which no now op n to the tho In Increase which hn crease crOl o In population hn to be 10 expected within two or three centuries may be taken approximately to show that at most there thero Is IK enough to admit of something ikI a I of ot the tho present numbers that without 01 considerable engineering work In lands not available for Cor a total of ot about can be ho imp HIJ ported In tolerable tol rhe comfort The ho question queston arises as 11 to tho addi additional 1111 capacity CI of ot the earth orth which mi he w won on by II menus of ot engl and other scientific work n nM In Irrigating arid field or draining tho n which executively terI or nr by II Improving the methods of oC fertilizing solid now In use e eI oli It I Is la impossible l with wih th present luck of ot Information to determine accurately I how hOI extensive ox Is II the th t which may maybe be he won on to tillage by h th Ih work of nt the en this vi Inning from 1101 the arid lands will wl be hI done by IW Irrigation and from the morns e the CrA Int ard the m In tine by h In the r part of or oftie orne tie ne land tl W II nimble hl ne long Ion Il brought rought to use lej it tt Ii I not lol likely that th t na nIl I II I Increase of ot 10 per rent cent In 11 the tho too gl I ing In rapidly of ot lt Il soils can by hy nn known means 1 be realized In tho tha lesi leK developed continent tho gain Is 18 likely to be ho much greater Thus within the limits Ill of ot the United the writer has hAP estimated that the n Improvable by hy drainage In tho manner already In Holland would add to tn the tillable ground of or tho country an In ami IHen somewhat exceeding square miles mies In extent with wih n I value about four our times that of lt the Iho state of oC Illinois wherein the soil would be far Car more enduring that of or nn upland district The complimentary tary process that of ot Irrigation prom Iseo I el to afford yet et larger gains Including the tho area 01 1 of oC the south Routh and 1111 middle we t where the system R stel would greatly In n f the value alue of oC thi Ihn noil we 10 may ml the possible p 01 ment lell from U would he even een e limn that afforded by a complete drilli drilling ng Ile of ot tho aa Taking the tho COIt nent lent of 0 North America merll ns 11 a whole it seems Mel probable that the existing lIP city of le noil for tor feeding men mOi m lIY y be he doubled by I the th work of ot tho engineer through his hll skill In watering and un watering Its la d Hertl and 11 On the other othe continents the for tor winning good land from arid All Io are probably leu Ie than In II North I jd the th 1111 Is l gu h Unit wo 0 may 11 that when hU hI I grent work Is II done the tho engineer will 11 have hae recovered land enough lough to 10 feed the existing population lon of ot the earth IIrth In Africa there Is the problem of oC the til Nile a n river which wastes to 10 the lell In II Its I annual 11 water enough to tn fertilize tenfold the It now IO makes 11 IR fertile There Is la the valley vRle of ot the Ihl Twin Hers of ot Asia sll where whee a I realm once fertile has become a waste asto by 1 the loss Iou of Its Ia Irrigation works hele are tn II all the great rrell lands vast mean of ot lake lalleR swamp and marshes hrs awaiting the skillful labor which has hiI won 1101 Holland from Crom the pen fel The fhe largest opportunity of IH In such combat with wih the Incomplete work of ot The problem of or how ho we are III to In main maintain tain the tho fertility of t the tw noil 1011 when the Is II taxed by hy II population tin lee as aK great as It II now depends upon our ability Ahll to tn the excessive sive ale rapidity with which tilled IIA pass to 10 the sei Iea our ability to 10 10 Ie to the land the which cultivated plants Imol We Ve hal find that both these needs fairly to 10 tobe be he met by b the resources of modern science the Iret by I a I proper control of ot the movements of oC water U 1 falls upon the th land to Us Is station In Inthe the ocean and the second by hy n 1 to the tho oce nl An n and under the earth for Cor forthe Corthe the materials to renew reMI the fertility of nt th the round ground when It I Is II exhausted tod by hy cropping There Is to 10 do cn In II order to make the earth fit Ot to beAr benr the life Ile to come but there Is II every to 10 be belleve hI lee that our ClI science Is I leady I for COl the tho and alI that within two centuries s of o peaceful endeavor w 11 may tho Iho place for Cor U International Quarterly |