I.-N^ >< X >e-. I/i f\ /\ \ Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2007 with funding from IVIicrQsoft Corporation http://www.archive.org/details/alkaliwaterloggeOOsaltrich Salt Lake Commercial Club bulletin No. One Alkali and Water Logged Lands .A*^ By THE LANDS COMMITTEE in S^^^ J^"^' ■^i^ COMMERCIAL CLUB, Inc. SALT LAKE CITY OFFICERS: W. F. JENSEN, - - President FRANK S. MURPHY, Vice-President JOHN F. BENNETT, - Treasurer W. C. STARK, - - Secretary EDITED BY W. C. ALEXANDER, Chairman Lands Committee ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS Acknowledgment. N PRESENTING this bulletin to the public, the Salt Lake Commercial Club, through its Lands Committee, wishes ^tf^ to acknowledge its indebtedness to the following authori- ties on the subject of reclamation, and to express its appre- ciation for the generous responses to requests for the articles contained in this, the first of a series of bulletins it is pro- posed to publish. E. W. HiLGARD, L.L.D, Ph.D., Chemist (Emeritus) of the University of California. Robert Stewart, B.S., Ph.D., Chemist of the Utah Agricultural College. E. D. Ball, B.S., M.S., Ph.D., Director of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station. L. A. Merrill, B.S., Agricultural Expert Salt Lake Route and United States Mining, Smelting and Refining Company. R. A. Hart, B.S., C.E., Supervising Drainage Engineer of the United States Department of Agriculture. J. C. Wheelon, Chief Engineer of the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company. It is to be hoped that the articles herein will correct, in a measure, the general misapprehension regarding alkahne soils. "Alkali," as the term is commonly used in the west, conveys to the average mind some harmful substance whose presence in soils renders the land practically valueless from an agricultural standpoint. That the prevailing opinion IS contrary to the fact is shown by the contributions to this publication, notably in the initial article by Prof. E. W. Hilgard. 369 J 37 CONTENTS OF THIS BOOK COPYRIGHT, 1914. BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS Introdudlion. HE OBJECT of this bulletin is to place before the public authoritative information regarding the practicability of reclaiming by means of sub-drainage, alkaline atid water- logged lands generally, and with specific reference to and urging the development of the major portion of an area of land approximating 50,000 acres lying between Salt Lake City and Great Salt Lake. This area of desert — and in many sections unsightly — waste is in excess of ten per cent of the total acreage of Salt Lake County, and is equal to forty per cent of its improved land in farms. The articles contained in this issue, which have been generously contributed by authorities, whose opin- ions are final in all matters pertaining to reclamation, should leave in the minds of even the most skeptical, no doubt whatever relative to the feasibility of successful reclamation of alkaline and water logged lands by means of drainage. There can be no question regarding the efficiency of drainage, but largely influ- encing its economic success is the factor of proper out- let for drainage waters. It therefore follows that in every district where a drain- age system is contemplated, this primary element should be the sub- ject of careful investigation. Topographical conditions under >*vhich successful drainage of the land west of this city must be accomplished, are such as to require much attention to this important feature. The altitude of the land with reference to the varying levels of Great Salt Lake (upon which depends the practical operation of a gravity drainage system) renders this con- sideration one of unusual importance. To the end of supplying a small measure of accurate information on the subject of elevations, the Commercial Club secured the services of a competent engineer, who 6 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB ran levels from the lake to the central portion of the tract under con- sideration. The result of his work dispels any doubt whatever regard- ing^ the sufficiency of outlet for gravity drainage for approximately ninety per cent of the land traversed, basing the elevation of discharge upon the average level of Great Salt Lake for the past quarter of a cen- tury. A graphical chart indicating the relative land and varying lake levels, together with a brief report and map of Salt Lake County by the engineer will be found elsewhere in this issue. It is not the purpose of the Commercial Club to enter into a tech- nical discussion relative to engineering, the sufficiency of water for irri- gation or other features involved in the ultimate reclamation of this great tract, or, to pass upon the merit of any existing enterprise. It is the development of the tract as a whole in which this club is interested to the end that it may conform to the otherwise unsurpassed environ- ment of Salt Lake City. ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS ECONOMIC CONDITIONS To the most casual analyst of local opportunity for profitable investment in a drainage enterprise, it must be readily apparent that this area possesses exceptional economic advantages. It lies within a short distance of Salt Lake City, which affords the largest as well as the best market in Utah for all produce and is the distrib- uting center of the inter- mountain west. Its prox- imity to the city oiTers su- j)erior educational and so- cial advantages with little inconvenience, and nowhere within the State is to be found an undeveloped area, similar in extent, which is so well served with all classes of public utilities. The transportation fa- cilities are exceptional. Ex- tending through the cen- tral portion of the tract is the Salt Lake & Los An- geles (Saltair) Railroad, and to the south, within a distance of less than two miles from it, are the lines of the Salt Lake Route and the Western Pacific Railroads. Electrical energy for commercial and domestic purposes is easily available from the transmission system of the Utah Power & Light Company, while telephone and telegraph service may be obtained from the lines which traverse this area. Topographical conditions are such that highways of very light grades, leading to almost every section, may be constructed and maintained at very low cost. if^ll!l,iilin r.J!l|l 11111 RECLAMATION The feasibility of successfully reclaiming these lands by means of drainage has' advanced beyond the experimental period. This state- ment has been confirmed by the United States Department of Agricul- ture, acting jointly with the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station on what is known as the "Swan Tract," an area of forty acres in Section 5, Township 1 south. Range 1 west, on the line of the Western Pacific Railroad. This acreage was selected as representative of perhaps the worst possible soil condition to be found on the tract. Not only was the land water logged but the alkaline content so high that, in places 8 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB upon its salt incrusted surface, even native plant growth was utterly impossible. Within the short period of a year, this farm, under intelli- gent management, produced a satisfactory crop and is now regarded as being the best "40" wesbof the city. A brief article by Prof. L. A. Merrill regarding the results of this experiment will be found in this booklet. An entirely successful demonstration of drainage reclamation by private enterprise, under conditions similar to those of the Swan Tract, has been a recent accomplishment by the Utah-Idaho Sugar Company in Bear River Valley under the able direction of its chief engineer, J. C. Wheelon, by whom an instructive article has been contributed. The articles 'by Prof. E. D. Ball of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Sta- tion, R. A. Hart of the Department of the Interior and Mr. Wheelon, regarding the practicability of reclaiming worthless lands by means of drainage, should be thoroughly convincing. SOIL Concerning the chemical composition of the soil of this tract (aside from its alkaline content), it is shown by analyses that the elements essential to plant growth are found in such quantities as to assure com- mercial agricultural success. The Utah Agricultural Experiment Sta- tion, in co-operation with the Bureau of Soils of the United States Department of Agriculture, at the time the soil survey of this tract was made, collected some fifty samples from various portions of the land, and included in this bulletin is an exhaustive article by Prof. Robert ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 9 Stewart of the Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, thoroughly cov- ering this -essential subject and which, through his courtesy, is for the first time given to the public. From the foregoing and the articles following, two conclusions, at least, will be reached : First, that this area offers unusual opportunities for investment in drainage , enterprises, from which very exceptional profits may be realized. Second, and far the more important from a civic viewpoint — the transformation of this, the most conspicuous waste in Utah, into productive fields and gardens. PUBLIC OPINION The environs of Salt Lake City, with the single exception of this area, are rarely equaled. The beauty of the surrounding scenery is nowhere in the west surpassed. Particularly is this true of its many magnificent canyons, but, unfortu- nately, the greater percentage of visitors rarely spend sufficient time here to visit them and their opin- ions are largely based upon obser- vations from passing trains. The railroads leading north and south from this city traverse a country, the greater portion of which is un- der a high state of cultivation ; the fields and orchards with their back- ground of majestic mountains bear silent testimony to the fertility of the soil and industry of the people. The impression on the traveler is salutary. In striking and disagreeable contrast is the impression received in traveling westerly through the area under discussion. Traversing its southern boundary are two transcontinental lines, the Western Pacific and Salt Lake Route, while bisecting it is the Saltair Railroad which, during the summer season, carries constantly increasing thousands of visitors to Utah's world- famous lake and its equally famous resort — Saltair. The opinion which all travelers automatically form in traversing this unsightly forbidding waste is justly unfavorable and one which at best cannot but reflect negatively upon an otherwise progressive community. The advertising value of favorable expression by travelers con- cerning any section of the country visited is difficult to measure. Its 10 SALT LAKE COMMERCL\L CLUB infliienGe is far reaching and very often the pleased visitor becomes a satisfied investor and frequently a resident. Pleasing environment of a well equipped city offers an uncon- scious inducement to the itinerant to prolong his visit, during which tlic active man of business is certain to inquire relative to local condi- t'ons and opportunities. The longer the visitor remains the greater the likelihood of his engaging in the affairs of the community. This ^______ interest in turn ex- tends to his associ- ates, all of which tends to the up- building of the state. It is outside cap- ital for develop- ment of which all western states stand in need. No- where in the inter- mountain west do so many opportu- nities exist as in Utah, a state which has within its boundaries all of the resources of an empire. No western state stands more in need of financial assistance to develop its wonderful resources than Utah — resources which are as yet, practically untouched and local capital, however actively it may be employed, is far from sufficient to realize even a fraction of the results which are possible with the opportunities everywhere at hand. ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 11 CONCLUSION Agricultural expansion of the arid states is restricted by reason of topographical conditions or scarcity of water, to comparatively nar- row limits. This unquestionably applies to the State of Utah gener- ally and to Salt Lake County in particular. Considering the limited undeveloped area in this country which is susceptible of cultivation and its proximity to the largest city in the State, it is difficult to deter- mine the cause for its present condition. That the soil is alkaline should afford no ground for apprehension regarding the ultimate result of de- velopment. The practical demonstration on the "Swan Tract" has long since proven its feasibility. But one logical reason seems to remain — the lack of publicity concerning the truth relating to the suc- cessful reclamation of this class of land and the intrinsic value of this particular tract. In presenting this bulletin, it is with the desire that it may prove, in a measure at least, educational and if there shall follow as a result of this e'ffort to correct erroneous impressions, a measure of activity leading to the development of this tract, the endeavors of the Salt Lake Commercial Club to that end, through its Lands Committee, will not have been in vain. 12 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB A WELL KNOWN FARM LOCATED SOUTH OF SALT LAKE CITY. Indicates the agricultural development which is possible to equal in the area west of the city. A TYPICAL FARM NORTH OF SALT LAKE CITY UNDER A HIGH STATE OF CULTIVATION. This farm, with many others, adds to the environment of Utah's metropolis. ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 13 Mr. IV. C. Stark, Secretary Commercial Club, Salt Lake City. In response to your request that I should give to you some special expression of my views regarding alkali lands and their cultural value I might say, summarily, that both chemical investigation and practical experience have shown that when such lands are once freed from excess of salts which injure useful vegetation they prove exceptionally and lastingly productive; more so even than the non-alkahne lands lyings adjacent. The fact that they result from the failure of adequate rainfall to leach out the salts at once indicates that all the active soil ingredients are retained, the useful ones as well as the useless, so that so soon as the useless or injurious salts like common and Glaubers salts and carbonate of soda are removed there remains an accumulation of plant food which for a long time renders fertilization unnecessary, provided only that proper deep cultivation is practiced and maintained, so that the crop roots can reach the great depths to which the available soil almost always reaches in these lands. They are therefore eminently adapted to intensive culture, such as truck-farming, where markets are available. The maintenance of good surface mulch of loose soil, to prevent unnnecessary evaporation from the surface, is of course as needful in alkali lands as in other dry-farming soils of the arid region. But owing to the remaining saline ingredients, reclaimed alkali soils are always more easily kept in a moist condition which greatly helps vegetation. While the reclamation of alkali lands by drainage is somewhat ex- pensive in extreme cases, there is a large porportion of them that, while showing some salts on the surface before cultivation, may be made to produce large crops by deep and thorough tillage and the maintenance of a good surface mulch, alone. The one deficiency of most of these lands is lack of humus, but this can readily be made up by turning under the abundant vegetation they produce. E. W. HiLGARD. 14 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB O - M States Wcat•^ I* ». Ot r -4 o >« 5 - Bu Jo w reac f G a 5 3« 8 ~ a t s: 5 S a f air S2 is Feet S - ^^ i ' ■ - 1 . ■*n : = rH^ _ _ _ , _ V> 1 I8M T- z~ - - Z z — - 1867 TTnm j- Z I ■ I8«9 3^- z- - - - m4\ 13 o S ^" — — — "^i d 1 T • ^ _ ^ _ _ iBTS 3 " I - - I I87« tt . _ — — — 1 — 1 i s: — 1* _ — s^ — - -^ ■■ " - s ~ : :^ 1, ~ _ J] 1 Is : - ' s. ~ ' —^ iS: " ' y * ■ f Si -[ 3 X n ? "i««i-r ' 9 'l898 i T n "leas' i " -o=EEE = S S = »»-3 -- :z 3 t 5 z - - z z :r ,90, I ; m i — i}i -f ►- ^ — — — — — ",903 * ^ I "l ■,904 ""*«». ! ~ 1905 US' i a ' ■Ti^-*S--* — — — — — — — _i££i__5;_: h^ __ _ _ _ r I-- ,907 =- — \7 ~ ^ ^ — — - — — — — ' JISL ^ ^- _ _ _ _ 1 909 -> = T - — 1^- -» >— — — — — — " ^^ :: " f 1911 -i ^ 1 — f _ _ _ _ — - — ^ — — - — — N 51 a bON ft (P c >e a Li IV e 1 M ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 15 Salt Lake City, Utah, January 2nd, 1914. Mr. W. C. Alexander, Chairman Lands Conwiittee Commercial Club, Salt Lake City, Utah. Dear Sir: Complying with your instructions, I ran levels on the Salt Lake Meridian from Salt Lake City to Great Salt Lake, connecting with the guage of the United States Weather Bureau at Saltair. When running these levels, I took the elevation of certain lands lying adjacent to the Meridian which are indicated on map of Salt Lake County, herewith. The levels taken disclose the following facts : (1) The elevation of the present level (January 1st, 1914) of Great Salt Lake is 4229 feet above sea level. (2) The elevation of the highest land (near Ewing Station) covered by these levels is 4256. (3) The elevation of the low^est land surveyed (near the works of the Inland Crystal Salt Co.) is 4238. (4) The average elevation of land covered by these levels is 4244 feet above sea level. (All elevations refer to Salt Lake City datum.) Therefore, the greater portion of the land surveyed is susceptible of gravity drainage with outlet into Great Salt Lake with tile placed at a depth of five feet under ground, so long as the water level of the Lake remains below a reading of thirteen (13'') feet on the guage of the United States Weather Bureau at Saltair. Should the water level of the Lake arise above this level, a gravity system of drainage would fail and a pumping system would be re- quired. In order that some opinion may be formed as to the possibility of the Lake attaining to that height, I am submitting herewith a dia- gram showing the fluctuations of the Lake from the year 1862 to date. On this diagram are indicated the elevation of the Lucin Cut Off of the^ Southern Pacific Railroad across the Lake and the pier at Saltair, also the elevations of the land surveyed. Yours very respectfully, L. C. Stubbins, C. E. Chief Engineer Richlands Irrigation Co. 16 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 17 MORGAN COUNTY ScAi-e. r-i-t Legena r C.'y Lim.H ©••• Che* »«»To«-« «U.I'T.»d.Vlnf€rvH>«>a — Po-«r L.nes o E'ecf'.c Sulnf.hon. 5tr«,«„ % C.'mI. « Lakes ■ Area suscebtiWa to l^cl»nafiort Map of SALT LAKE COUNTY, UTAH Fo- SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB L.C.STUBBINS Con«ulHn9 tngr. BIdg 1^ accompany BULLETIN N9I of the LANDS COMMITTEE. W. C . ALCXANOCn , (COPYRIGHT, i9i4r BY THE COMMERCIAL CLUB) 18 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB 1 UNIT •1000 UNITS 1 CHAJtT TO ACCOMn»Ny BULLETIN NSI orxMe Salt Lake City Commercial Club showing Increase in Pb^ulafion, lmf>roved farms, and Farm Products in SALT LAKE COUNTV 230 220 > _ 210 >.^::^ Comf.il»d frx>m ^*v _ 200 U.S.CtN5U3 REPOf^TS Marl, 1914 I..C.STUBBINS // 190 .y ^-5^ 160 tv^'^ Appro>^.Total Land in Farms - i Ife9.262acs _ 170 1 • "7 160 f \ Ap»m«ox. Aiw* or SALT LAKE COUNTV « 48 Land in Farms = IC Improved Land in Farms in 19)0 « 12 ^1 150 3,840 acs ^1 9.242 .cs ? - 140 1.221 .cs h': i'l^ 130 ^li 'h 120 ? i ^^ *' $ ^/ / _ no ///.^ "/ ^ N y/'^ 100 '7 ^ /Xt^ 7 ^ f¥ _ 90 80 "V ^ "7 / /' / V %" ,oy , V */ Z^ &■" X '' / V \J^^' aT/ '' / ^v lyiy y:^^ 60 / V \y^ y^y / >\ ' .^^^ n* 50 . / X ^ C^'^"""^''^*' / X^y 1 '^^'^* 40 / /^x r '' / _^ ^' X 4 ' 30 / ^0^' y^'K^ L^ry^ y yV 20 ' ,,, -^ 1^*^^ A<^' eoo-li- *^' ^,. v« 10 ^n^t^f s???;?^'^^^^ y^.^-^--" f'' 0 1 ! 1 ; i I C > ALKALI AND WATER LOGGED LANDS 19 THE SOILS OF SALT LAKE COUNTY BY Robert Stewart, Chemist, Utah Experiment Station. A complete soil survey of the region lying west of the Jordan River in Salt Lake County, Utah, was made in 1899 by the Utah Experiment Station in co-operation with the Bureau of Soils of the United States Department of Agriculture. The physical and alkali conditions of the area are quite thoroughly discussed in the report of the survey which may be obtained from the United States Department of Agriculture, or from the Utah Experiment Station. In this report no discussion was made regarding the plant-food content of the soil and it is therefore the purpose of this article to give a brief discussion of the fertility of the soil from the viewpoint of plant-food actually present in the soil. At the time of the survey, samples of soil representative of the important soil types to a depth of twelve (12) inches were carefully collected and preserved for chemical analysis. The Jordan Sandy loam comprises above 30% of the area investigated. Gardner and Stewart in their report of the survey say, ''The Jordan Sandy loam is easily cultivated and is sufficiently fertile to produce almost any class of crops. It forms the most valuable portion of the low salty area, because of the ease with which it may be reclamed by underdrainage and washing." The analysis of these samples of soil from this type are reported in Table 1. Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen in Jordan Sandy Loam. (Results expressed as pounds per two million of soil.) Labora- tory No. Description and Location of Samples Phos- phorus Potas- sium Nitro- gen 19523 19527 19536 19537 19538 19539 19542 19544 19545 19547 19548 19550 NE Corner of SE Quarter of Sec. 27, Township 3 S, Range 1 W South Center of Sec. 22, Township 1 S, Range 1 W Near NE Corner of Sec. 15, Town- ship 2 S, Range 1 W SE Corner of Sec. 5, Township 2 S, Range 1 W E Center of Sec. 3, Township 2 S, Range 1 W N Center of Sec. 10, Township 2 S, Range 1 W N Center of Sec. 27, Township 2 S, Range 1 W NE Corner of Sec. 29, Township 2 S, Range 2 W -. . Near S. Center of Sec. 18, Township 1 S, Range 2 W SW Corner of Sec. 22, Township 1 S, Range 2 W SE Cortier of Sec. 28, Township 1 S, Range 2 W S Center of Sec. 1. Township 1 S, Range 2 W Average. 2800 5600 4400 4600 3800 4000 3800 6800 2800 4800 2400 2200 4000 18600 11600 10200 21000 21000 12400 15600 15000 5400 16200 12000 13600 12633 2400 5420 2160 3460 2520 2900 3300 3300 2660 2120 3000 2080 2948 20 SALT LAKE COMMERCIAL CLUB The soils of this type are very rich in phosphorus. A soil contain- ing 2200 pounds of phosphorus per two million pounds of soil is re- garded as rich in this element. It will be noted that none of the samples analyzed contain a smaller quantity of phosphorus than this, while the average amount of phosphorus present is 4000 pounds per two million pounds. The potassium content is also high. A soil containing 11500 pounds of potassium per two million of soil is abundantly supplied with potassium. Only one sample falls below this amount, and many of them greatly exceed it, while the average amount is greater by 1100 pounds. With the proper methods of cultivation the amount of potassium present is sufficient for indefinite periods of time for ordinary general farm crops. The amount of nitrogen present is as in all arid soils, somewhat low — but by the proper utilization of the ability of legume crops to secure nitrogen from the air this deficiency can easily be corrected in a proper system of agriculture. Table 2. Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen in Jordan Meadows. (Results expressed as pounds per two million of soil.) Labora- tory No. Description and Location of Samples Phos- phorus Potas- sium Nitro- gen 19524 NE Corner of NW Quarter of Sec. 14, Township 3 S, Range 1 W 19540 NE Corner of Sec. 11, Township 2 S, Range 1 W 2600 3200 1 14600 2020 17000 1 5820 Average 2900 15800 1 3920 The composition of the soil of the Jordan Meadows is indicated in Table 2. The conclusions arrived at by a study of the results for the Jordan sandy loam, apply here also. Table 3. Phosphorus, Potassium and Nitrogen in the Jordan Loam. (Results expressed as pounds per two million of soil.) I abora- 1 tory No.] Description and Location of Samples Phos- phorus Potas- sium Nitro- gen 19525 I About 2 miles NE of Harriman, I Township 3 S, Range 1 W 19526 NW Corner of Sec. 29, Township 1 S, Range 1 W 19541 NW Corner of Sec. 4, Township 1 S, Range 1 W....'. 19543 Near Center of Sec. 28, Township 2 S, Range 1 W Average 2600 3400 2800 3400 17000 14000 15800 16000 2800 15700 1780 2520 2260 2440 2225 The composition of the Jordan loam is shown in Table 3. This soil lii