Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 January 1908 — FARMING IN A DESERT. [ARTICLE]

FARMING IN A DESERT.

There Are Colonizing Possibilities Even in Death Valley. The craze of “homestaking” which is seems to have reached its limit in the choice of Death Valley as a colonizing possibility. Wrth the idea of transforming the most arid and most desolate portion of the great American desert into farm land, a number of tracts have been homestaked, irrigation systems have been planned, and other preparations are now In progress fo’fr beginning the reclamation of Death Valley. A railroad is already built from Greenvvater, at the southern end of the valley, to the borax works owned by the celebrated “Borax” Smith of 20mule team fame, and there is an automobile stage line through the valley. Even enthusiasts do not claim that piping water from Telescope Peak across the Ftfneral range into the valley is also under consideration.