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Show Reclaiming 11,000 Acres of Land Near Corinne, Utah; 45,000 Acres To Be Drained In Ogden District t . i. Construction of an adequato under-drainage under-drainage system to reclaim the 11.000 acres of water-logged land near Corinne, Co-rinne, 28 miles from Ogden, is now in rapid progress. Within a few months the ugly and unproductive swamp will bo transformed into its former state of marvelous fertility, and the town of Corinne, so prosperous and ambitious ambi-tious in the days of Horace Greeley, so nearly lifeless and deserted since the lands became practically useless about twelve years ago, soon is to be awakened and restored to the state of prosperity and opportunity which once attracted national attention as a paradise for industrious homebuilders. "What hath God wrought?" was the devout question asked bv the amazed world, when Professor Morse harnessed harness-ed the lightning. Observers of the Corinne agricultural miracle utter a similar exclamation, for the place has DRAINAGE DITCH SIX FEET DEEP. seemed hopeless, the wait long and the loss great. Only three or four of the original Corinno pioneers today remain in the town, jubilant over the prospects of coming into their own again, elated over this proof of the uo, me men gatnerea quiCKiy to jade up the soil-leviathan and put the shoe back on. The tile-layers in the trenches trench-es keep steadily at work with heroic disregard of the mud and cold water-soldiers water-soldiers of honest industry and the common good. When a visitor sympathized sympa-thized with tho workmen who tolled in the trench ankle-deep in water, another an-other workman said: "Huh, he's lucky. His boots are water-tight and the wind can't hit him. That ,boy's snug as a bug." Given a parapet and a rifle, the scene would bo a duplicate dupli-cate of what one sees on the bloody fields nf Prannft. Th nha orvor ia to. I showers of blessings were assured from the work. Empire-Builder Won Over. Perfecting their plans with Napol-jonic Napol-jonic swiftness, Edward Ryan and his associates obtained the necessary ac- OUTLET OF SEEPAGE. ; fact that "everything comes to him 1 who waits." Their eyes glow with admiration ad-miration as they watch the four great , motor-driven trenching-machines slowly slow-ly but surely conquering the waste. These four titanic wonder-workers, each doing the work of a score of men, remind one of the British "tanks" in action. They seem irresistible irresis-tible and relentless. Two are of sixty six-ty horsepower, 4-cylinder loader type , with buckets, and two are forty horsepower horse-power 3-wheeled rotary diggers. Automatic Au-tomatic fingers clean the dirt-buckets as they revolve. Mechanical Giants Busy. j These mechanical giants are stead-J stead-J ily excavating mile after mile of the six-foot trenches, 15 inches wide, all carefully dug to grade, in which the grimy workmen are laying the concrete con-crete tile. Without machinery of this kind, the 11,000 acres might never have been reclaimed, for the task would require an army of workmen. The expense would have been prohibitive. prohibi-tive. Intelligently managed by well paid crews, every member evincing enthusiasm enthu-siasm for his task, the machines are digging the smooth, straight trenches, automatically piling the dirt on one side handy for refilling, at the rate of . 1200 feet daily. The men are over-( over-( coming all kinds of obstacles, grade ' and mechanical difficulties, quicksand quagmires and sub-surface water. When one of the larger machines suddenly sud-denly kicked off one of Its caterpillar treads during an official inspection the engineer yelled to it as if to an elephantine thing of life: "Whoa- Ne-buchannezzer, Ne-buchannezzer, whoa sir! Where are you tryin' for to go, sir!" Without wasting time swearing, as most crews minded that "peace hath her victories not less renowned." More than 25 miles of the 227 miles of the trench system have been completed. com-pleted. Soon to Be Completed. Ralph E. Bristol, of the Ogden-Port-land Cement company, the generalissimo generalis-simo and financial brains of the undertaking, un-dertaking, said during tho inspection that the entire system, working perfectly, per-fectly, would be completed next year. Co-operating with him in tho enterprise enter-prise are his business associates, Chapin A. Day, Harold Day and W. F. House. Edward Ryan, farmer-promoter, man of action, whose intelligent understanding un-derstanding of the cause and cure of the alkali flat, helped greatly in the organization of tho drainage district, still is serving loyally as lieutenant-inspector, sacrificing time, money and effort to facilitate the work. Ryan Inspires Activity. On his own land nearby, Mr. Ryan had demonstrated in a small way that underdrairiage would remove tho alkali, al-kali, but he was at the mercy of neighbors who did not drain, who would not adhere to common-sensible methods In Irrigation. Surveying la disgust four years ago the vast area of salt-saturated land which formerly produced Buch wondrous crops, Ed- ward Ryan determined to fight for the reclamation of the entire tract. It looked liko a hopeless task, like Gomez Go-mez and Maceo fighting for Cuban liberty. lib-erty. Like them, Mr. Ryan said ho possibly might not succeed, but he would have tho joy of the effort and the battle. He campaigned among the farmers and owners of the land. He brought influence to bear, appealing appeal-ing to tho highest motives to which they would respond. They easily were persuaded, however. They knew the land could bo reclaimed and valued it accordingly at $50 to $80 the acre. They were stirred to immediate action. ac-tion. Catching Ryan's enthusiasm, they urged him to "go to it." One conservative con-servative old pioneer asked when tho proposed bonds would mature. When told "in twenty years," he signed on the spot, chuckling as ho remarked: "Oh, that's all right. I won't be here then to bother with It." But he know tion in the legislature and the supremo su-premo court, then set about interesting interest-ing capital. Naturally they turned to Ralph E. Bristol and his wealthy associates as-sociates of the big cement concern. Mr. Bristol is known as a far-seeing and Indomitable empire-builder, a type of the latter-day giants who are developing devel-oping Utah into a mighty commonwealth. common-wealth. Considering facts and not fancies, certainties and not chances, Mr. Bristol Bris-tol made a thorough investigation. He is from Missouri and had to be shown. He said" he wanted to help in every possible way in building up this region, re-gion, but in business projects of this magnitude he was not a philanthropist. philanthro-pist. Finally convinced of the financial feasibility of the enterprise, having sufficient imagination to foresee the tremendous results of its success, Bristol caught the enthusiasm of Ryan and the others and pledged unlimited support. Preliminary Work. With characteristic promptness, Mr. Bristol purchased the trenching machines ma-chines an investment of about $20,-000 $20,-000 and equipped tho $40,000 Corinne Concrete Tile company. He had been advised by the highest authority that concrete tile would prove perfectly satisfactory, and he had inexhaustible quantities of necessary materials in his sand and gravel pita near Brig-ham. Brig-ham. He employed experts for the tile-making plant, including Roland MInogue, a graduate of the Michigan Agricultural college, and W. D. Thomas Thom-as of Iowa, a tiler of twenty years' experience. Mr. House volunteered to help manage the plant, which employed employ-ed about twenty men. They began tile-making with a vim about a year ago. They now have a supply of about 250,000 feet ready for the trenches and five moulding-machines are producing pbout 6000 feet dally. The plant has four machines for the smaller (5-inch) pipe and one for the larger (15-Inch) tile. All materials are subjects to exact scientific tests. Cement is used In the ratio of one to three. Every faulty tile is discarded. discard-ed. The smaller tile Is given a pressure pres-sure test of 1000 pounds per foot and the 15-Inch pipe must withstand a pressure of 1250 pounds. iur. isriHioi ugureu mo cost of the work at 5 1-2 to 6 cents per foot for a six-foot trench with tile of 4, 5 or 6 inches, and 35 cents per foot for the ten-foot trench with tile 10 to 20 inches In diameter. Bond Issue Is Handled. While construction preparations were being perfected, the Corinne Draining District six per cent bond issue of $175,000 was passed. Mr. Bristol submitted the bonds for ex-I ex-I pert judgment' as to legality to Attorney' Attor-ney' Oakley of Chicago, who Is regarded re-garded as the infallible authority on bonds in America. After requiring certain safeguards, the bonds were approved. The next step was to find a purchaser. The Morganlzed banks were buying war bonds and munition securities. The Corinne proposition, though gilt-edged, could wait indc initely for all they cared. Whereupon Mr. Bristol and his associates took tho whole Issue, handling it successfully success-fully themselves. The cost of the drainage system will be about $17.50 per aero, which Ib said to be low in comparison with tile drainage in other,aections. These lands, however, are comparatively easy to work, there beln'gr no rock. There's plenty of sub-surface quicksand quick-sand and water, however, and the men must have the endurance of - a- bullfrog and an utter disregard of mud. Eager Demand for Land, Meanwhilo, drainage assured, there was an eager demand for the land. About 1500 acres changed hands. Now tho other owners are holding on. Brigham men purchased one section with water right near tno center of tho tract, paying about $85 the acre, and considered this a rare bargain. The Utah-Idaho Sugar company sold a .third of a district to 18 or 20 Russian families that came from Los Angeles. All owners of the tract were given assurances as-surances that the company would erect a beet-sugar mill as soon as the drainage system is completed. The stalwart and hardy Russians are said to be export beet growers, for this Is a vaBt industry in their native land. Three families of Hindus have leased some land for beets, but for obvious reasons this indolent and dependent race is not being encouraged to settle here. After a careful survey of the 11,000 the Inclination of the field, emptying into a main cross ditch at the lowest level. Through the permanent slough emptying into the Bear river bay and the north end of great Salt Lake, the water will at all times pass freely off. The laterals are set rather rath-er far apart, because the soil is naturally nat-urally porous and friable. The tile lines are smooth and straight, laid absolutely correct to grade, and the water readily finds its way through the joints. Project Financially Sound. The financial wisdom of this enterprise enter-prise is attested by all authorities. They say that in all sections where land is worth $50 an aero nothing can pay better than to expend $20 to $30 per acre In good under-draining. Not only Is the land reclaimed for intensive inten-sive use, but tho labor of cultivation is much reduced. while the produce is generally increased one-half and is not infrequently doubled. This increase in-crease Is net profit. The Corinne farmers far-mers figured it profitable to borrow money for draining at -6 to 10 per cent and get back 25 to 50 per cent per year. The debt will be paid in a few years. It is the experience of farmers In New York state that tile drain pays for itself in two years. The intrinsic value of the land increases in-creases 300 per cent. During the inspection, Mr. Bristol was asked whether he had observed on the land any sodium carbonate (black alkali), which dissolves the organic or-ganic materials of the soil and corrodes cor-rodes and kills the germinating seed or roots of the plants. He had seen none and was positive it did not exist ex-ist in this soil. Only white alkali was anza farmers reaped enormous prof-Its, prof-Its, but over-irrigation and lack of drainage caused local accumulation of salts by means of seepage waters which could not escape. There are now several small areas in the district dis-trict under cultivation which still have a low salt content and are probable prob-able safe without underdrainage for years to como. For the most part, however, the entire 11,000 fertile acres had been transformed into a nearly barren waste by the accumulation accumula-tion of salts., Quoting eminent authorities, Mr. Ryan and other owners say this thorough thor-ough system of under-drainage will not relieve the farmers from exercising exercis-ing care and good judgment in applying apply-ing water to tho land. Thero is less Immediate danger of ruining the land, of course, but thero are two iWntra to be considered, namely, that an excessive ex-cessive ubo of water means just so much loss to irrigation and so much less land that can Bo brought under the ditch, and also that In the removal remov-al of these salts by the flow of the seepage waters out through the drainage drain-age system largo quantities of really valuable plant food will be removed from, tho soil. Souroe of Fertility. The accumulation of these soluble-salts soluble-salts is due to tho arid condition of the climate. The great fortuity of tho soil results from the accumulation of theso salts, and by introducing artificial ar-tificial drainage, which will tax the resources of tho soil, they may remove re-move in the course of a generation, or oven in less time, tho accumulated results re-sults of tho changes of vast geologic ages in tho disintegration of rocks. By over-irrigation and under-drainage they may remove in a fow years tho natural conditions which contribute to the wealth of the country In tho fertility fer-tility of tho soil. Great care must therefore be taken, tak-en, 'tis said, in the application of water wa-ter after the drainage is completed. As little as possible must bo applied each time, so there shall be as little waste as possible to go off as seepage seep-age water. The dangers aro exceedingly exceed-ingly simple, however, and tho rise of salts or the waste of fertility easily may be controlled. Warning From Experts. Bogs, swamps and alkali flats, caused caus-ed by unintelligent Irrigation, are said to be common in many large nnd fertile areas In Utah, southern California, Cali-fornia, Colorado, and In nearly all of the older irrigated sections. Some of these bogs aro covered by a heavy growth of weeds. Many land-owners mistakenly think tho alkali is being used up by tho weeds and that the soil again is becoming fit for crops. Milton Whitney and Thomas H. Means, federal alkali experts, say this is a vain hope unless there Is under-drainage under-drainage to carry off tho excess of seepage waters. Weeds thrive on wet ground and grow for awhile luxuriantly, luxuriant-ly, but, If the seepage waters are al- acres, the engineers said there was no remedy for the desolation except underdrainage. They examined the fields in detail and determined the plan best adapted to effect tho object in view and the materials which could most economically bo used in constructing con-structing the drains. lowed to collect and evaporate for a few years, the alkali will accumulate in sufficient quantities to kill even the growth of the weeds and the land will truly present tho appearance of a hopeless waste. Stringent Law Needed. Corinne farmers say that property The fields were checked for parallel i rights are -itally involved in all such drains, to be cut directlv un nnd rlnwn I rpHnmntinn nrnlntc a eti-inrronf viaiuiu, uul pienty oi mat. it is non-poisonous non-poisonous and does not attack the substance sub-stance of the plant roots, but is injurious in-jurious in excessive amounts because it prevents tho plants from taking up their needed food and water supply. Work of Bonanza Farmers. The source of the alkali here is in the sandstone and shale from which the soils have been derived. Before irrigation was introduced, the salts were present in the soils in large amounts, but well distributed and not injurious to crons. Tho nfnrmnr hnn. v . 1'. VJVJ, -i A. law is needed, they say, to compel every land-owner to construct underdrainage under-drainage and to use intelligent irrigation irriga-tion methods. Crude and Ignorant methods by one farmer spread disaster disas-ter to the lands of his neighbor. The continuance of prosperity is dependent, depend-ent, they say, upon the construction of under-drainage and the care which Is taken in irrigation. The immediate results of the tile drainage system in the Corinne district dis-trict will be, as follows: To render the soil dry enough to be worked or plowed at all times; to make the soil more porous so that it will take in water without flooding and give it off again gradually in time of drouth; to prevent adhesion and assist pulverization, thus allowing the plant roots to pass freely through all parts of the soil; to facilitate Irrigation Irriga-tion and the mixturo of manure through the pulverized soil, greatly increasing in-creasing its value; to allow tho water drained from the surface to pass downward carrying away the alkali; to abstract the heat contained in the falling rains, thus warming the soil; to increase the porosity of the soil, rendering it a more perfect non-conductor of heat and the roots of plants to be less injured by freezing; to admit ad-mit the entrance of air, facilitating the decomposition of enriching portions por-tions of the soil; to" permit early plowing, so that crops may be sown early and an increased profit bo reaped reap-ed in consequence; to economize labor, la-bor, allowing the work to go on at all times without interruption from surplus sur-plus water in spring or from hard-baked hard-baked soil in summer; to increase the intrinsic value of the land at least 300 per cent and its nrosfint mnrtot value at least 50 per cent Object Lesson for Ogden. The Corinne system is a tremendous tremend-ous object-lesson for Ogden city builders, build-ers, for the county's stalwart leaders, for everything said of the Corinne lands applies with equal force to tho 45,000 acres of waste lands in the Hooper, Harrisville and Plain City districts, dis-tricts, tho country northwest, west and southwest of Ogden. The reclamation of the Corinne 11,- for 275 families, adding probably a thousand persons to tho population and much wealth. The reclamation of the 45,000 acres near Ogden would provide comfortable and wealth-creating homes for 2000 families, adding enormously to the population and wealth of the city and county. These lands would have to bo included, it is said, in four or five different drain-1 age districts and tho completion of the entire system would require a large force of workmen and two or three years. The Corinne promoters have solved all of the major problems, providing the necessary legislation, making enlightening experiments and trying out all theories of construction and repair. In the reclamation of the 45,000 acres, the miracle-workerB would progress at every step with mathematical certainty as to cost and results. This great work means more weauo, more sugar factories, poultry plants, varied industries, wealth-producing activities of all kinds, pros-perity pros-perity and fame, and money for everybody's every-body's pocket. It might also mean the storage of the head-waters of the Ogden river, the bringing in of Bear river through a concreted ditch as originally contemplated by Bothwell. Corinne's Past Glory. , In 1875 Corinne was booming. The whole country was hearing of Bear River valley. A dozen or more cap- K able boosters, Including F. J. Kiesel, ,JI K vice president of the board of man- 11 p agers; J. W. Graham, E. C. Jacobs, O. Jl C D. Cass, S. L. TIbbals, A. Harden- il f brook, E. P. Johnson, Hiram House, 111 l W. W. Watkins, William Hyndman, all Phil Klipplo, G. Goldberg and others, 91 were advertising tho s6ction for act- ual settlors and colonization enterpris- VI I es. The town at that timo had tho lla Corinne MIIIb, sampling works, saw- IH mill and water-works, overland stago IE manufactory.orwardlng houses, wag- IHj on depots, BKieltlng works, browory, lB banks, fraternity halls, a daily news- wt paper, livery stables, city hall and 1l) board of trade, agricultural park, ill steamboat landing and the steamer i; 1)1 City of Corinne, churches, public l schools, several good hotels every- , Is thing desired for a thriving, ambitious ;j l( The homeseekers came. The place i II had a great commercial future. The ).' II farming lands were marvelously pro- I ductlve. Bumper crops were harvested I W In tho greatest variety. Wheat, bar- ' W ley, rye, oats, and all kinds of crops ' grown in tho temperate zone were produced in abundance. From 50 to 75 bushels of wheat were raised to tho ! I acre, of a quality much superior to mm eastern wheat. Vegetables of all lfl kinds were produced in quantity and Jal quality excelling other localities. Mm Unsurpassed Advantages. JtM Of iqo fruits which were successful p were the apple, pear, peach, apricot, ' 1 Jlum, cherry and all kinds of small i . - ww.. ,r t..w 44ltAwEX. AUO ' matured rapidly. No danger was ap- 'Jb prehended from early frosta. Mar- rTJp kets were good and everyone was -3a prosperous. Above all things, healtk W was assured. The dry climate had the "J summer temperature of New York I and Chicago, and the winter average 13 temperature of Norfolk, Virginia, with W this difference: The summer nights were always cool. The climate ef- i fectually cures asthma. The section jf is above tho "tubercular zone" and does not produce consumption. It cures it in the earlier stages. In ad- (E dition, Corinne had in its Immediate M vicinity, matchless scenery of moun- 9 tains and plains, superb stock ranges V for cattle and sheep, requiring no win- f ter fed; abundant water power. -m Paralyzing Disasters Fall. M Came then with paralyzing effect O two great disasters. The Utah North- fl ern railroad, building north, deprived - Corinne of its sustaining freighting m business, whereupon everyone turned 4Jj to agriculture. Ignorant of proper ir- ill rigation methods, or careless of ulti- wrl mate results, they alkalied the lands by over-irrigation, as previously de- :J scribed, andthe exodus began. The Ij population dwindled to about 300 and M this number, soon to be augmented, M perhaps, by thousands, patiently J2M awaited the day of reawakening and development. Laching machinery and ' $A capital they could not construct un- if derdrainage systems, but they never ill lost faith in tho town and its sur- fffl rounding lands. ? All that Corinne was in the past fl is now to be restored with merest in M growth compounded, and best of all, M the old town and its noble residents M are giving Ogden and the whole coun- ty an inspiring object-lesson. JH |