IRRIGATION SYSTEM.

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18392, 28 July 1931, Page 3

IRRIGATION SYSTEM.

DEDICATED IN CHINA. . ' HOPE TO DEFEAT FAMINE. The newly-completed 200-mile* £IOO,OOO Irrigation canal system which, by flooding arid areas in Sulyuan Province, China, with the water* of the Y'ellow River, will fight famine, has been dedicated at Saratsi by the opening of the terminal headgates of the main canal. Chinese and foreign delegates were in attendance at the formal opening, at which the Nanking Government was officially represented. O. J. Todd, an American engineer, originated the plan and has supervised it throughout. The work has been done by famine vlotims and by 5000 former soldiers, and It is hoped that the Yellow River, known as “China’s Sorrow,” will be converted Into A blessing by the project.

The Project Outlined. The project consists of 42 miles of main canal from the Yellow River westward to the Black River, the Het Ho, with about 150 miles more divided among 14 laterals or distributing arms, making approximately a 200-mile canal system. Slightly more than 250,000 acres of land will receive irrigation, with another 80,000 acres additional If certain widening processes are undertaken In the future.

The project was agitated for when the famine in Sulyuan was at Its peak three years ago, and is Intended to prevent future destitution on so widespread a scale. Rainfall has been below normal this year, and has been poor in the past few years. Under a contract sighed by the Sulyuan Provincial Government no poppy is to be raised on land Irrigated by the system, and thus it Is hoped that the opium scourge will be abated. It is also expeoted that the canals will prevent the encroachment of the Ordos Desert. The China International Famine Relief Commission, under the contraot made with the Government of the province, will collect the water revenues until the money advanced by the China Famine Relief, of America, half of tha sum required for the construction of the system, is returned. The other half was paid by the* provincial government. The money returned to tha American organisation will then ba used for famine relief and prevention

work. A staff of Chinese and American engineers supervised the construction of Ibe system.