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Letter to Editor
February 9, 1888
Fort Worth Daily Gazette
Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas
What is this article about?
In a letter from Fort Worth, Texas, dated Feb. 8, 1888, J. L. Tyler promotes irrigation via constructed lakes, detailing his 15-acre lake's capacity to support profitable hay and millet crops on $2/acre land, encouraging new homes in Texas.
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GOOD RESULTS OF IRRIGATION.
What a Little Care and Labor Can Obtain From Texas Soil.
Fort Worth, Tex., Feb. 8, 1888.
To the Editor of the Gazette.
A short time ago I saw an article in The Gazette pertaining to the irrigation of land from ponds or lakes, made by making a large fill across a low spot, from one hill to another, similar to a railroad, only putting in a great deal more of earth so as to make it stronger. Now, Mr. Editor, as I have to-day probably the largest lake in this section permit me through your paper to make some figures in regard to irrigating this way and showing to those looking for new homes how many parts of Texas could be made equal if not superior to any lands in America, and on lands that cost but $2 per acre at that. To-day I have at least fifteen acres of a lake, ranging from one to twenty feet in depth and at least an average depth of eight feet, enough to irrigate over 800 acres twice or 200 acres eight times.
Usually in this part of Texas we have rain enough to not require irrigating more than once, and often not at all, but suppose we go to some part of Texas and not calculate on any rain after spring opens; then I have water enough caught in the winter to irrigate 200 acres four times—twice, or enough to make two crops of one inch each time irrigated. Say one 80 acres alfalfa or millet at two and a half tons per acre 200 acres one crop, 500 tons two crops, 1000 tons at $15 per ton, baled: 1000 tons makes $15,000, cutting and baling say $3 per ton or $3000, and you have left $12,000 I have seen in this same country hay sell at $20 per ton instead of $15. and then by irrigation in Texas and with the rains we usually have one could often irrigate twice this amount, and by irrigation a crop never fails to grow. Who then can say but what Texas will soon be attracting the snd this on cheap land, too, I have sold over $20 worth of prairie hay on an average on land near Fort Worth that only cost me $5 per acre, and a whole crop of millet averaged over $30 per acre, and without irrigation, and I have seen a lot here in Fort Worth sell for $500, and within one year the man realized $3000, I have seen a man pay $600 down on a piece of land and within four years sell nearly $50,000 worth from the investment.
J. L. TYLER.
What a Little Care and Labor Can Obtain From Texas Soil.
Fort Worth, Tex., Feb. 8, 1888.
To the Editor of the Gazette.
A short time ago I saw an article in The Gazette pertaining to the irrigation of land from ponds or lakes, made by making a large fill across a low spot, from one hill to another, similar to a railroad, only putting in a great deal more of earth so as to make it stronger. Now, Mr. Editor, as I have to-day probably the largest lake in this section permit me through your paper to make some figures in regard to irrigating this way and showing to those looking for new homes how many parts of Texas could be made equal if not superior to any lands in America, and on lands that cost but $2 per acre at that. To-day I have at least fifteen acres of a lake, ranging from one to twenty feet in depth and at least an average depth of eight feet, enough to irrigate over 800 acres twice or 200 acres eight times.
Usually in this part of Texas we have rain enough to not require irrigating more than once, and often not at all, but suppose we go to some part of Texas and not calculate on any rain after spring opens; then I have water enough caught in the winter to irrigate 200 acres four times—twice, or enough to make two crops of one inch each time irrigated. Say one 80 acres alfalfa or millet at two and a half tons per acre 200 acres one crop, 500 tons two crops, 1000 tons at $15 per ton, baled: 1000 tons makes $15,000, cutting and baling say $3 per ton or $3000, and you have left $12,000 I have seen in this same country hay sell at $20 per ton instead of $15. and then by irrigation in Texas and with the rains we usually have one could often irrigate twice this amount, and by irrigation a crop never fails to grow. Who then can say but what Texas will soon be attracting the snd this on cheap land, too, I have sold over $20 worth of prairie hay on an average on land near Fort Worth that only cost me $5 per acre, and a whole crop of millet averaged over $30 per acre, and without irrigation, and I have seen a lot here in Fort Worth sell for $500, and within one year the man realized $3000, I have seen a man pay $600 down on a piece of land and within four years sell nearly $50,000 worth from the investment.
J. L. TYLER.
What sub-type of article is it?
Informative
Persuasive
What themes does it cover?
Agriculture
Infrastructure
What keywords are associated?
Irrigation
Texas Soil
Fort Worth
Lake Irrigation
Alfalfa
Millet
Hay Profits
Cheap Land
Agricultural Yields
Settlement Promotion
What entities or persons were involved?
J. L. Tyler
To The Editor Of The Gazette
Letter to Editor Details
Author
J. L. Tyler
Recipient
To The Editor Of The Gazette
Main Argument
irrigation using constructed lakes on cheap texas land can yield high profits from crops like alfalfa and millet, making such areas superior to other american lands and attracting settlers.
Notable Details
Describes A 15 Acre Lake Capable Of Irrigating 200 Acres Multiple Times
Calculates Potential $12,000 Profit From 1000 Tons Of Hay At $15 Per Ton
Mentions Sales Of Prairie Hay And Millet Without Irrigation Yielding High Returns
Cites Examples Of Land Investments Returning $3000 On $500 Lot And $50,000 On $600 Down Payment