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OF THE
s PECIAL COMMITTEE
OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE
ON TELE
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
JP A B, T II.
wASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
189 ().

REPORT
SPECIAL COMMITTEE
OF THE
UNITED STATES SENATE
ON THE
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARII) LANDS.
WOL. III.-R00RY MOUNTAIN REGION AND GREAT PLAINs.
tº-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º-º:
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE.
189 ().
VOL. III.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION AND GREAT PLAINS.
EL PASO AND LOWER RIO GRANDE (TEXAS).
NEW MEXICO.
THE STAKED PLAINS (TEXAS).
WESTERN KANSAS.
(XOIOR ADO.
WYOMING.
WESTERN NEX3RASKA.
EL PASO AND LOWER RIO GRANDE (TEXAS)
* DIVISION. -
EL PAso, TEx., September 6, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman. º
Present: Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Reagan; also Director
Powell.
STATEMENT OF EDGAR B. BRONSON, OF EL PAS0.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with western Texas and New
Mexico º
Mr. RRONSON. To a considerable extent.
The CHAIRMAN. What opportunities have you had to become ac-
Quainted with those sections of the country? -
Mr. BRONSON. The opportunities that a man will have who has been
handling cattle over a considerable portion of the country to which you
refer.
The CHAIRMAN. Commencing with New Mexico, state what you
know of the irrigation that is practiced there, the water supply, and the
practicability of increasing the acreage of land that may be cultivated
by irrigation.
Mr. BRONSON. The bulk of the irrigation carried on at this time in
the Territory of New Mexico is practiced under the old Mexican system.
It is only within the last three or four years that anything has been
done in reference to the coming in of organized capital with a view to
developing the water supply. The water supply as a rule is meager.
There is an abundance of water in the mountains, rising to great bold
streams at the foot-hills, where it sinks in large sections. It only needs
to carry that water out in canals to indefinitely increase the area of till-
able lands in the Territory,
The CHAIRMAN. I believe the Rio Grande is nearly dry; no water
running in it. Does that often occur in summer ?
Mr. BRONSON. Very rarely occurs. It has occurred in seasons of ex-
traordinary drouth. But new conditions are coming up—conditions
similar to those that exist in the South Platte River in Colorado. That
river flowed a great bold stream to its mouth, but the taking out of the
caſions has run such a drain on the river that after the snow waters and
spring waters are taken away it is dry almost its entire length. The
same conditions are succeeding here in the Rio Grande Valley. For-
merly, when it was necessary to irrigate the land, there was an abun-
dance of water in this river; but at the present time the conditions are
rapidly changing to the conditions that exist on the Platte. The changes
made upon the river in the San Luis Valley are rapidly affecting the
Supply.
The CHAIRMAN. How is that affecting the inhabitants below %
Mr. BRONSON. To their absolute ruin. It means absolute ruin to the
plantations of the Rio Grande from Albuquerque south. The crops are
F.
6 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
dying, and it is impossible to make any crop except one of corn. I
mean that it is impossible to make a crop of small grain—wheat or bar-
ley. There will be water enough to make a crop that is planted in the
late winter and harvested in June; but the crop that is planted on the
Same land early in July and harvested in the autumn may not be longer
made, nor may the fruit crop be ripened.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it affect people on the Mexican side of the line
as well as those in the United States ?
Mr. BRONSON. Equally. And it affects them to a greater extent, be-
º: the settlement there is older and the acreage of tillable land is
arger.
The CHAIRMAN. And perhaps the inhabitants there are dependent
upon agriculture? {
Mr. BRONSON. The inhabitants on the Mexican side of the river you
may say are entirely dependent on agriculture, for this reason: They
have no manufactures. The mass of the people are agriculturists, and
those who are not, are merchants who depend on the farmers for trade.
The CHAIRMAN. About what is the population of the valley on the
Mexican side?
Mr. BRONSON. On the Mexican side, from the line above Quitman
Cañon, there is a population—I think it would be a moderate statement
to say of 25,000.
The CHAIRMAN. About what is the population on the United States.
side that are affected in the same way ?
Mr. BRONson. Within a radius of 25 miles of El Paso there is, roughly
estimated, about 40,000 to 45,000 population. That is the population
of the valley proper that is affected by these conditions. Within the
valley above Las Cruces, Mesilla, San Marcial, and Albuquerque there
is an arid country with a population surely of not less than 30,000
who are directly affected by the stopping of the water supply of the
river in the ditches of the San Luis Valley and below. There a ditch.
was taken out and nearly finished, having a length of 60 miles, which
takes out about the last available supply from that Stream.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of water runs to waste in this river
in flood-time 3
Mr. BRONSON. That is a question of a technical nature that I can not
3,10 SW CI’,
The CHAIRMAN. It has not been gauged?
Mr. BRONson. It has been gauged, and Major Mills can afford you
information upon that subject. I can say that for three or four months
of the year it runs at flood and the channel is full, and then there is an
abundance of water for all the land that the ditches could be brought
to.
The CHAIRMAN. If the water is stored, you think there is an abun-
dance of water in the Rio Grande to furnish water to all the land?
Mr. BRONSON. To every acre that could be put under cultivation. It
flows a great bold river every year through the periods of the flood,
through all the winter months, and up to the middle of June or July.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of land is there in the United States
that can be irrigated from the Rio Grande, if the water were preserved?
Mr. BRONSON. That again is a very difficult question to answer.
The CHAIRMAN. It only calls for a rough estimate. It is a large-
quantity, is it not?
Mr. BRONSON. We have in the valley of the Rio Grande, from heree
to Quitman, 75,000 acres. In the Las Cruces Valley and in other val-
leys there are probably 250,000 acres. That is pretty close. As to what.
PECOS RIVER, ITS CONDITION AND AVAILABILITY. 7
there is in the San Marcial Valley and from there up, I can not say. I
should think a million acres a very low estimate.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography of the country
at the source of the Rio Grande?
Mr. BRONSON. To some extent. I have been in that country. It
rises in the high mountain ranges of southern central Colorado, and
flows thence through the San Luis Valley, and then through the cañons
of northern New Mexico, coming out on the valley and plains below.
The CHAIRMAN. What other irrigating enterprises have been inau-
gurated or contemplated in New Mexico besides those waters directly
from the Rio Grande 3
Mr. BRONson. Only two on anything like a large scale. One con-
cerns the development of the Maxwell grant, in northern Mexico, of
which you doubtless know a great deal. The streams are small, and
they are confined to a system of Small canals which they are proceed-
ing to take out. They have availed themselves of the entire water Sup-
ply, and that land is put upon the market at from $10 to $15 an acre.
The CHAIRMAN. Have they made an effort at the storage of water?
Mr. BRONSON. To no considerable degree. They have some small
dams. The other enterprise which has been attempted is that of the
Pecos Valley Irrigation and Investment Company.
The CHAIRMAN. You are interested in that ?
Mr. BRONSON. Yes, personally.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you describe that?
Mr. BRONSON. The conditions are these : The Pecos River, like the
Rio Grande, rises in Colorado. It flows to a point about Fort Sumner,
where it sinks every year a distance of 80 miles. Then there comes in
from the mountains on the west, striking out from the margins of the
river, a series of springs, which create the Lower Pecos. There a ditch
is taken out 37 miles long and 35 feet on the bottom. It is taken to a
point 35 miles from there, where a series of new springs break out from
the mountains affording another supply to the river, from which there
is another canal 58 miles long and 45 feet on the bottom. The two
canals will irrigate about 300,000 acres of land as now planned. It is
then the contemplation of the company later to take those ditches along
the line into Texas, and it is the expectation of the company that the
amount of land will not be doubled, but very near it.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you contemplate storage reservoirs to save the
storm waters?
Mr. BRONSON. There is no necessity for that under our present plans.
That will become a practical question when the water supply of the
river is run short. But we have an abundant supply for at least half
a million acres. That is a definite calculation by one of your own en-
gineers, Mr. Nettleton, of Colorado—that is to say, he is one of Di-
rector Powell's engineers.
The CHAIRMAN. By storage and the saving of water to its utmost
extent you might increase the number of acres.
Mr. BRONSON. It may be indefinitely increased, because there are
points where you could conserve the water through the winter. But
there are no uses for it; it would simply run to waste.
The CHAIRMAN. Then your additional land will be in Texas?
Mr. BRONSON. The additional land will be in the State of Texas.
The CHAIRMAN. Making a rough estimate, about how much land in
Texas could be reclaimed should you exhaust that water supply?
Mr. BRONSON. I believe over a million and a half in Texas; because
the lower you go to the point where we take out these canals it is very
8 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
narrow, but passing the Texas line the canal widens, and it could be
carried out at least 30 miles from the river to a point down about Live
º Springs, below Fort Stockton, a great broad valley being on the
WeSU,
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the land 3
Mr. BRONSON. It is a loose red, sandy loam, and very deep soil under-
laid with limestone. With the storage of water the possibilities of that
enterprise are so large it is very difficult to state them accurately.
The CHAIRMAN. How much of a river is the Pecos in flood-time?
Mr. BRONSON. It is a river probably 150 to 175 feet wide, and from
20 to 25 feet deep. It is a very peculiar stream. It is narrow and
deep. I have never seen anything like it in the West.
The CHAIRMAN. Has it a rapid current? -
Mr. BRONSON. Very rapid current—a sharp fall all the way. That is
an important feature in the quantity of the supply of the water. It is
a very rapid stream. The extent of the water that could be stored in
the four months of idle season, in winter, is almost indefinite. *
The CHAIRMAN. Have any streams been taken out 3
Mr. BRONSON. Small streams have been taken out at Pecos City, on
the Pecos River, about 50 miles below Mexico.
The CHAIRMAN. How far is it from where you start, following down
the river to the Texas Pacific Railroad 3
Mr. BRONSON. From the head of the northern canal it is 185 miles.
The CHAIRMAN. And you occupy with your canal what portion of
that district 3
Mr. BRONSON. When the canals shall have been completed we will
occupy the country to a point within 50 miles of the railway. We will
occupy 130 miles of the Pecos. There is a break between of undesir.
able country that need not be covered. It is indefinite, but the canal
system could be carried down farther south 100 miles at least if there
were water sufficient.
The CHAIRMAN. What products do you raise there ?
Mr. BRONSON. Everything that is raised in this section of the coun-
try—all varieties of fruits. The country produces two good crops a
year. The small grain crop—barley and wheat and all that sort of
thing—is harvested in spring, and corn can be put on the same ground
and harvested in the autumn, but that is not deemed the most desirable
crop. Then we are nearer the markets than California.
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of fruits can you raise ?
Mr. BRONSON. We raise everything except the purely tropical fruits.
The orange, olive, and such things have been tried in the Pecos, and
they are doing very well. The grape, apricots, figs, and all kinds of
apples can be raised. *
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any other opportunities for irrigating in
Texas further east except on the Pecos ?
Mr. BRONSON. Yes, on the Nueces.
The CHAIRMAN. Where does that river rise?
Mr. BRONSON. That rises in the Blue Range, north of San Antonio,
and flows generally south through southern Texas into the Gulf.
The CHAIRMAN. How much of a river is that ? *
Mr. BRONSON. It is a dry stream below, after coming out of the
mountains. But coming down it is a stream that will run 100 feet wide
at the cañons, and be 78 feet deep. It is a large stream. There is a
project to take the water from the cañon of the Nueces and carry it east
out of the valley. A charter is granted for that purpose, and the com-
pany has been organized.
NECESSITY FOR THE EL PASO INTERNATIONAL DAM. 9
The CHAIRMAN. What crops can be raised on the plains of western
Texas without irrigation?
Mr. BRONSON. Nothing. In seasons of heavy rains occasionally a
light crop of corn is made. But it is so entirely untrustworthy that it is
not mentioned.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been over the Nueces and understand the
topography of the country at its source. State whether there are any
opportunities there for storage reservoirs.
Mr. BRONSON. The opportunities are excellent, because the character
of the country is especially adapted to that purpose. The streams lie
deep, and they are crossed at different points by dikes of rocks, at
which points storage reservoirs or dams could be made without great
expense. When you get down to that lower country, as a rule the
streams are broad, and they flow great bodies of Water. At those points
cheap dams could be put in that would accumulate the water and make
possible the tillage of a great deal of land.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any person you know who is familiar with.
that region of country and who can give us a report on it?
Mr. BRONSON. I do not know of any one here at the present time.
The CHAIRMAN. How can we get that information without traveling
over the country 3 In the absence of railroads it would be difficult for
us to travel over these sections.
Mr. BRONSON. You mean southwestern Texas?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes; and in northern Texas where irrigation is re-
quired.
Mr. BRONSON. I should think that Mr. Streeruwitz, the State geolo-
gist, could give you that information.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any other facts in regard to Texas and
Mexico that you would like to state 3
Mr. BRONSON. I would like to state what are the local conditions
here at El Paso: We have a proposition here, the suggestion originally
of Major Mills, for the building by the Government at this point of a
great international dam. He has studied the matter, and has brought
it down to a pretty definite set of figures, which he will present to you.
But in that connection I would like to say that we beg of you that you
give that question very careful consideration, because it affects not only
the question of irrigation of arid lands, but also the settlement and reg-
ulation of certain international difficulties that we have here–diffi-
culties that must exist until this question shall have been settled. And
the question involves the channel of the river. It is changing, and dif.
ficult and noisy litigation under international law comes up over these
changes of the river channel. Now, there has been at this point, per-
haps from the beginning of the settlement, a dam maintained exclu-
sively at the cost of the people of Mexico on the other side, and without
any contributions on our part, though it is being used by us with equal
benefits. But they are now, in common with us, deprived of the water
by the drain upon it in the ditches of the Colorado; and it seems to us
a moral responsibility, if not a legal one, rests upon us to have the
waters of the Colorado by some means stored. One way is to choke off
these fellows in Colorado and New Mexico who have taken out the
water in the face of an undeniable right. There should be a storage
system here, by which the Waters of the river could be rétained in such
quantity as to enable the people to cultivate their land under their orig.
inal rights. We want you to study that question, as it is one of vital
importance to the people of this section.
The CHAIRMAN. The Scope of our power does not include a recom-
10 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
mendation for Government work. The Government has commenced
engineers' surveys, and will designate reservoir sites, lines of ditches,
etc., and will make estimates of the cost of construction, for the pur-
pose of informing the people where they can make homes. The Gov-
ernment will reserve all the sites that may hereafter be designated as
suitable for reservoirs, with the land that may be irrigated thereby.
But the law making these reservations also provide that the President,
by proclamation, may open these lands to homestead settlers. Now,
We Want to ascertain if any further legislation will be necessary in that
direction, and if so, what ? It is our duty to ascertain, first, whether
the subject is of sufficient importance to justify the expenditure of so
. an amount of money as will be necessary for this engineering
WOI’K.
Mr. BRONSON. There is one other feature that I wish to suggest in
this connection, and that is as to the desirability on the part of the
Government of going into expenditures in the West to develop the arid
land. Millions are appropriated yearly for the improvement of the
rivers and harbors, the promotion of local commerce. We have no har-
bors to improve, no channels to deepen; but the commerce of this
country can be fostered and promoted, developed and enlarged, by
storage reservoirs comprehended in your present study.
Senator REAGAN. You were asked the question about what streams
there were from which water might be applied to land, and you men-
tioned the Nueces. How is it with regard to the San Antonio 3
Mr. BRONSON. I mentioned one way in which the project was planned;
but it is possible also on the San Antonio, the Guadalupe, the San
Cruces, the Marquis, and even going farther east, on the Colorado.
There is some farming land west of Colorado in that section.
STATEMENT OF W. H. STEERUWITZ, STATE GEOLOGIST OF TEXAS,
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. STREERUWITz. I am a civil and mining engineer, and State
geologist for western Texas.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography of western
Texas' *
Mr. STREERUWITZ. I am as familiar with it as I could make myself
within the last ten months and by short trips in former times. I am as
familiar with it as any one here.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you during your investigations had your at-
tention called to the possibilities of that country with regard to irriga-
tion ? t
Mr. STREERUWITZ. Yes; I have for a number of years proposed the
building of reservoirs in the mountains, because it struck me that it
would be a very easy matter to do it, and probably it would be a great
deal cheaper than experimenting with artesian Wells. The mountains
in some places come together very closely, and, so far as I could ascer-
tain, the bed-rock being very close to the surface, it would form a
number of reservoirs to cover say from 10 to 50 Square miles.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the rain-fall in that region ? Is it sufficient
to fill a reservoir in the storm season 3
Mr. STREERUWITZ. There are very few rains here; but when they
come they come with a will. -
Senator REAGAN. Of what portion of Texas are you now Speaking 3
Mr. STREERUWITZ. Western Texas; west of the Pecos River. So
STREAMS AND othHR warERs of westERN TEXAS. 11
far as I could ascertain in ten years, the annual rain-fall within a cir-
cuit of 100 miles around Fort Davis has averaged 19.9 inches in Feb-
ruary. Farther east, where I have my tent at the present time, I have
had within the last three months 34 inches of rain-fall. That is the re-
sult, so far as I could make my observations by crude means.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you acquainted with Texas farther east?
Mr. STREERUWITZ. I know Texas very well. I am a citizen of
Texas, and have been for twelve years, traveling around every year.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the particular streams that would furnish
water for irrigation if the waters were stored in the mountains above?
Mr. STREERUWITZ. The Colorado River of Texas might; the Llano
River partly; the San Saba River; part of the Brazos River; the Pecos
River; the Nueces River; the San Antonio River; in fact, you might
say any of the rivers of Texas—the larger ones that deserve the name
of river. In eastern Texas it is not necessary, because we have more
rain there than we need. Of course in western Texas the Rio Grande
and Pecos Rivers are of great importance. But between those two
rivers we would have to rely on the rain-fall.
The CHAIRMAN. There are no ravines between 2
Mr. STREERUWITZ. Yes; but they are in the valleys, and they would
not do for reservoirs. We have here between the mountains old lake-
beds running down in sand and gravel many hundred feet in some
places, so that the reservoirs, according to my idea, would have to be
put back in the small valleys between the mountains themselves. There
the mountains are close together, and the bed-rock is not more than 10
or 15 feet from the surface. If that were not so it would be expensive,
and it would not pay to build them.
T The onauwas. Has the subject of irrigation been discussed in
€Xa,S
Mr. STREERUWITZ. It has been discussed here and on the Pecos
more than anywhere else. So far as I know, and from what I see in
the newspapers, it is becoming a vital question. There is no doubt that
it is one of the live issues for the Rio Grande Valley.
The CHAIRMAN. There is a large amount of land that could be brought
under cultivation from the various streams of which you have spoken
and the reservoirs that might be built? -
Mr. STREERUWITZ. There is a large valley extending, we may say,
from Sierra Blanca down to Fort Davis, 10 miles wide, that is nearly
as flat at this table, and of good soil. From about a half mile from the
mountains it is excellent soil. I made an analysis of about twenty dif.
ferent soils along this valley.
The CHAIRMAN. Then there is a large amount of land containing good
Soil in Western Texas?
Mr. STREERUWITZ. Excellent soil. All it needs is water. It is very
good agricultural soil.
Senator REAGAN. Have you examined the country up in the Pan
Handle %
Mr. STREERUWITZ. I was up in the Pan Handle, but I made no par.
ticular examinations?
Senator REAGAN. Have you made an examination to ascertain whether
there are any streams in that section with which you could irrigate?
Mr. STREERUWITZ. The Upper Brazos. Its largest forks, the Salt
Fork and the Double Mountain Fork, are hardly fit to irrigate with.
Qne is charged with brine and the other one is too strongly alkali.
Then there is Clear Water Fork: but the valleys there are not to be
12 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. *
taken into consideration for irrigation, because the expense of the dams
Would be too high for the value of the land.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been through the country to the Indian
Territory, to Oklahoma! * -
Mr. STREERUWITZ. No. I was in Oklahoma for a year, spent the
Summer in the Chickasaw Nation, making examinations along the Santa
Fé Railroad. +
The CHAIRMAN. Would they require irrigation there?
Mr. STREERUWITZ. In Paul's Valley they had excellent crops on the
Washita River. There is plenty of water there; the Washita River was
full of water all summer. *
Senator REAGAN. Have you any information about the wells along
the plains?
Mr. STREERUWITZ. I have no information about the wells there.
STATEMENT OF SENOR. J. ESCOBAR, CONSUL FROM MEXICO AT
EL PASO,
The CHAIRMAN. Will you proceed and make any statement you may
desire with regard to the effect of using for irrigating purposes the water
above here on the Colorado and Rio Grande Rivers? Explain how it
affects the people of your country. r
Mr. ESCOBAR. I would prefer to answer questions. On that point,
however, I will state that we consider our rights come from the first
occupancy of the river. Having disposed of those waters for two cen-
turies, we can not now be deprived of their use without injustice being
done. I do not think it would be just to conserve all the water as they
have done in Colorado and deprive the people of Mexico of it. I do not
. it right to give life to a new people and in doing so kill an old
people.
The CHAIRMAN About how many persons reside in the valley of the
Rio Grande on your side of the line # -
Mr. EscobAR. In this valley, for some miles, we have no less than
25,000 population.
The CHAIRMAN. And this population is dependent upon this water ?
Mr. ESCOBAR. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it affect them below %
Mr. ESCOBAR. Not so much below. The necessity for the waters
ceases at the confluence of those rivers.
The CEIAIRMAN. But above that ?
Mr. ESCOBAR. To allow the water to be taken out as it is now will
be to destroy the people on both sides; because the life of the people
is agriculture. They would have to emigrate; they could not live. If
you will pass over our side you will immediately see the effect. Our
vineyards have decreased one-half, thousands of fruit-trees are barren,
and the corn-fields are entirely lost.
The CHAIRMAN. This is an unusually dry season.
Mr. EscobAR. It is unusually dry; but it is not only on account of
the lack of rain, but it is on account of the deprivation of the water of
the river. Such a thing we have never seen before. And it is now
exceedingly difficult to make wells, while before this condition of
things it was easy to reach Water. , S
The CHAIRMAN. Did you feel its effect before this season ?
Mr. ESCOBAR. No, not before this Season.
The CHAIRMAN. When you have a more favorable season would not
this difficulty be removed 3
INTERNATIONAL WATERS OF THE RIO GRANDE. 13
Mr. ESCOBAR. Oh, yes. In the winter we expect to have Water.
But our crops are already lost.
The CHAIRMAN. What have you to suggest as a means of restoring
the water to you?
Mr. ESCOBAR. It seems to me that proper legislation in Colorado and
New Mexico could avoid that. Of course, I acknowledge it would be a
very difficult thing. But the project that has been presented by Mr.
Mills is a satisfactory solution of the local necessities. His project be.
gins by an acknowledgment of our water rights, and distributes the
water in such a way that we can not claim more—one-third to the
American side, one-third to the Mexican side, and one-third to form the
current of the river; which will produce the effect of avoiding that con-
stant change every year which has been the cause of perpetual strife on
both sides. We are never at peace, and we can never be at peace so
long as this shall be. No matter what may be done on both sides of the
river, the question will be continued so long as the river is the boundary
line between the two countries. But this proposition solves the diffi-
culty. The changing of the river is the feature that makes this ques-
tion very interesting. Its adoption will awaken the sympathy of the
Mexican Government so soon as an official acknowledgment of it shall
be made. It is an excellent project. f
Senator REAGAN. For how many years has the Mexican side of the
boundary been populated—as far as you know %
Mr. ESCOBAR. Not less than two hundred and seventy years.
Senator REAGAN. What portion of that time have the people been
using the water out of the Rio Grande?
Mr. ESCOBAR. There was in the past a population that could not use
all the water, because there was an abundance of it.
Senator REAGAN. How long have the people been using the water for
irrigation?
Mr. ESCOBAR. From the earliest settlement. The Spaniards crossed
first into Mexico, and established a settlement, and the other Indian
towns that were established became Mexican. They were the first
towns on the border of the river. Ever since that settlement there has
been a little dam above the town. It has been renewed yearly. That
is the one to which Mr. Bronson alluded. That has been giving water
to the Mexican people since that time, plenty of water for irrigation.
They opened a big canal sufficient to irrigate all the valley. That canal
*::::: ºn using for centuries. But now there is not a drop of
W2L6F ID 115. sº
STATEMENT OF MAJOR ANSON MILLS. U. S. ARMY, OF FORT BLISS,
NEAR EL PASO,
The CHAIRMAN. We would like to hear any statement you may have
to make on the subject of irrigation as applicable to this country.
Major MILLS. I suppose you wish first the general features of the
prºject to build a dam in what is known as the North Pass, about 3
miles above the city, and form a large lake in the Valley above. So I
will give them. *. -
The valley above extends for 60 miles. It widens gradually, after
leaving the Pass going north, and has at some places a width of 4 and
at others 12 miles. But what we have to do within our reservoir will
only extend 25 miles from the city.
The plan is to build the dam, say 60 feet high, and at the most favor-
14 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
able point in this pass. We have made soundings at various places,
and have discovered two suitable locations; one about 14 miles from the
City, and the other about 24 miles. At the lower place we have one
end of the dam in Texas and the other in Mexico. We have another
advantage from the fact that we could use the Mexican dam during the
construction of the new dam, and lower the water from 8 to 10 feet, and
thereby have less trouble in sinking our caissons to build the dam.
Another advantage is that the bed-rock is nearer the surface there,
the deepest sounding in the cross-section being 7 feet. The great
difficulty in this location comes from the changing of the railroads—
the Southern Pacific and the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé. The
Southern Pacific would have to be changed for about 5 miles in order
to keep the track out of the submerged district, and that would be
Somewhat difficult to do. The grade of the Southern Pacific is 1 per
cent, or 52 feet to the mile. That is their maximum. The grade of
the Santa Fé is the half of 1 per cent., or 26 feet to the mile, so that in
order to rise over this 60 feet of dam from the city, it would be difficult
to get the Santa Fé to increase their grade, because they would have to
double their engines to get over the dam.
The upper location is preferable on account of the feasibility of climb-
ing the dam by the railroad; also from the fact that it is not so broad.
The dam would not be so long, and in that respect would not be so ex-
pensive, and yet in regard to bed-rock it would be more expensive.
Now, this elevation of 60 feet would throw the water back in the lake
15 miles from the upper dam and over 16 miles from the lower, the fall
of the river being about 4 feet to the mile.
Mr. Follett, a civil engineer with experience in railroads, was em-
ployed by Colonel Nettleton to do the platting, and the map before you
is his work. The blue line [indicating] describes the lake as it would
exist when flooded. The average is 3 miles in width and 15 miles long.
It would cover an area of 26,000 acres of land. Of that 20,000 acres,
16,800 acres are in Texas, and all of that but 1,000 acres are patented
to individuals. These 1,000 acres are supposed to belong to the city as
school lands. That part in Mexico will cover 9,400 acres of unconfirmed
Spanish grants, the Refugio colony grant, and the Francisco Garcia
grant. There are about 1,000 acres of public land, not covered by either
of these grants or claims, in Texas.
To illustrate the difficulty of arriving at the location of the land and
of ascertaining to whom it belongs, it should be explained that this river
is constantly changing. It is inconstant in its flow and inconstant in its
position. The present river is described by this other large blue line
|indicating]. There is now a river opening here [indicating], and the
next high season will carry the river over the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fé track. This red line describes that; it represents the prelim-
inary survey.
The CHAIRMAN. This line [indicating the railroad] will have to be re-
moved?
Major MILLs. That is the preliminary survey, made by Mr. Follett
up in the bluffs. w
The CHAIRMAN. The railroad would have to be changed for 15 miles?
Major MILLS. Yes, in my judgment, it would have to be. So Soon as
that river opens it would change it anyway. There is no abutment
within the range of any railroad company that could protect it.
The CHAIRMAN. Probably that could be changed without any diffi-
culty. -
Major MILLS. It would be an expensive change. We shall have.
THE CHANGING RIVER BOUNDARY AT EL PASO. 15
trouble to induce the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad to adopt
the new line without compensation from the Government. That road
is not now paying the stockholders, and it could not be made to adopt
that change without compensation. The Southern Pacific could make
the change, and they would get a better grade. This [indicating] is the
present Southern Pacific, and this [indicating] to this point is the pro-
posed change for them. w
The CHAIRMAN. Have they laws in Texas and Mexico providing for
the condemnation of land for reservoirs for the storage of water?
Mr. HINTON. There are such laws in Texas.]
ajor MILLS. I have no knowledge in that respect. The river, at the
time some of these surveys were made, ran here [indicating]. I might
state that I was appointed to the army from this town, and was pre-
viously the surveyor for this district and surveyed all the land from
the New Mexican boundary down to El Paso and 75 miles below.
At that time this [indicating] was the position of the river. See
how it has changed since. I made those surveys in 1858 and 1859.
This land could be easily condemned, and it probably ranges in value
from $1 to $7 per acre. The whole expense, therefore, would probably
be not over $100,000,
The CHAIRMAN. Outside the railroad changes?
Major MILLS. Outside the railroad. The dam at the upper location
indicated would probably cost $200,000. Mr. Follett made an estimate
of that last year. He estimates it at $221,000.
This project, I should have explained in the first instance, is for the
control of the boundary and the preservation of the lands adjacent to
it on each side. And to illustrate how necessary that is, I would like
to show you a map that was made by the county surveyor, Mr. Heldt.
That shows how changeable the river is, and the various complications
that are constantly rising on account of those changes.
As shown by this map, El Paso is situated on the Ponce de Leon
tract. Here [indicating] is the pass where the river has a straight line
for 3 miles. There [indicating] is the lower Mexican line. The lower
dam would be there [indicating], and the upper dam here [indicating].
You will observe that the river leaves the pass. It has always a tortu.
tuous course, winding about. This line [indicating] shows where the
river was in 1849; this one [indicating] shows where it was in 1858,
when I made the surveys down below.
Now, if this dam could be built, it is believed that it would control
forever the changes of the river bed, and that it would maintain a con-
stant and invariable flow. So that, if the river is constant and in-
Variable, the Sediment will stay in the lake and the water will back
clear through, and this boundary will have no changes. To do that a
boundary commission would be necessary to cut off this bend, straighten
the river, and throw that which would fall on the Texas side of the
channel into the jurisdiction of Texas, and that which would fall on the
Mexican side into the jurisdiction of Mexico. As it is at the present
time, in Seasons of high water most of these lands are overflowed.
The river makes a sudden turn, and houses are carried into the water.
Then comes these dry seasons in cycles of about seven years to dry up
and kill new trees and Vines, and make it almost impossible to raise
anything.
Before the annexation of Texas all this land |indicating] was on the
right bank, or Mexican side; but since then it has changed to a de-
posit on one side, by erosion on the other. Down below here |indicat-
ing] it is constantly changing. Here ſindicating] we have a tract of
16 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
land of several thousand acres. The river five years ago was running
here [indicating] on the east side of it. In that high season it made a
Sudden change and destroyed the Galveston Railroad, just as will be
the case with the Santa Fé some day out on the bluffs. -
In order to irrigate their lands the Mexicans had to come on Texa
Soil. They built a dam on both sides of the river through Texas terri-
tory to irrigate their own land. I mention that to show the complica-
tions that are rising and will arise every year. Then there are other
difficulties that may arise with the collector of customs. With his in-
Spectors he may observe a train packed with goods and may attempt
to seize them on account of their being in Mexico, and it will be diffi-
cult for any court to determine whether they are in Mexico or not. It
is always difficult to convict in criminal cases—cases of arson, murder,
or theft. The sheriff on one side may claim that he is without jurisdic-
tion, having no boundary.
Now, if this project had simply the object of irrigation, I could speak
With a little more minuteness as to that.
The CHAIRMAN, We wish to know what this dam would accomplish.
Major MILLS. The dam would contain 531,000 acre feet, that is, the
whole of the dam. One-third of that, the upper 10 feet, would be avail-
º º irrigating purposes, and it would irrigate about 500,000 acres
OI 12 Ol Cls
The CHAIRMAN. On which side of the river?
Major MILLS. On both sides.
The CHAIRMAN. It might be equally divided between the two,
Major MILLs. Yes. Of the new land which would come under the
ditches, the Mexicans would have a little the preponderance. The Mex-
icans would have 125,000 acres that could be brought under the ditches.
I dare say it is better to have a ditch only 50 miles long in this arid
country where evaporation is so great and the soil loose.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with points farther up 3
Major MILLS. Yes. There is a good site for a dam at Fort Selden,
but it is not so good as this of which I have been speaking. -
The CHAIRMAN. How far is Fort Selden ?
Major MILLs. Sixty miles, I believe. There the site for the lake is
contracted, the river bluffs coming together, and you could not impound
so much water as in this dam, probably by one-tenth.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the river carry down much silt 3 ---
Major MILLs. Probably it does. When I first projected this plan I
was told that it would be impracticable, because the silt would fill up
the lake.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you made any investigations on that head 3
Major MILLS. We have made investigations during the whole of this
season, and we found that the average carried was less than one-third
of 1 per cent.
The CHAIRMAN. Would you provide for sluicing the dam to clear it
of silt 3
Major MILLs. I think probably it would be three or four hundred
years before this dam would fill up. So that we may leave it to the
people. They will have better facilities for sluicing it then.
The CHAIRMAN. If this civilization is not destroyed.
Major MILLs. Yes. That is the view that I take of it. That is an
element that need hardly be taken into the present problem. --
Now, in regard to the construction of this dam—by whom should it
be made—I would like to say this: I do not see how it will be possible
TROUBLE WITH THE CHANNEL OF THE RIO GRANDE. 17
to construct it by private enterprise; and for these reasons: It is
international, in the first place, and it would be hard to get a chartel
from the two Governments that would sufficiently secure the investors
in their rights to dividends. In our country it is very feasible, because
here they can take a lien on the land for the money invested. In
Mexico, however, it is different. The proprietors of this enterprise
would necessarily be Americans, and there would be that doubt on the
part of Mexico and on the part of the investors that they were fairly
dealt with. Then, to control the boundary, I do not see how private
individuals could do that.
The CHAIRMAN. Could not the Government sell the 100,000 acres of
land that would be brought under cultivation by the dam &
Major MILLs. Yes, that would be true in Mexico; but in the State of
Texas, where we own all the land, it would be different. There is in
Texas very little vacant land belonging to the Government.
The CHAIRMAN. Could we not sell the water right 3 Suppose there
were 100,000 acres brought under cultivation on the Texas side. That
is valueless now ; but with water on it it would be valuable, worth
from $25 to $100 an acre. Could not the persons who occupy that land
well afford to pay something for the water right 3
Major MILLS. They would be willing to do it, I dare say.
The CHAIRMAN. On the Mexican side, where they have had water,
it would not be fair to charge them; but where they reclaim new land,
they might. And on the United States side it would be the same.
Major MILLS. That land would be the best land, according to my ex-
perience. Lately I have been in southern California, and I think you
will bear me out that around Los Angeles the upper lands are better
than the bottom lands because they can be irrigated without overflow-
ing. Then they are not so heavy. So that these new lands would be
more valuable than the old lands.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it be practicable for you, after having made
the surveys and ascertained who owned the land, to get a proposition
from the land owners stating how much they would pay for permanent
water rights if the water were brought in by the Government?
Major MILLS. That would be practicable, to some extent. I surveyed
50 acres of land here for Mr. Hamburg, of San Antonio. Now it is
owned by Mr. Dodge, of New York City. Mr. Heldt showed me his tax
receipts. They were for large tracts of land in Mexico, but he does
not know it. General Dodge is probably paying taxes on 75 acres of
land over on the other side of the Rio Grande belonging to the Mex-
icans. This map was finished but a few days ago.
The CHAIRMAN. If the Government should run the water over the
dam, you would not let it go out until it was paid for ?
Major MILLS. My idea would be for the Government to build the dam,
build the reservoir, change the railroad, and provide how that water
should be disposed of, and turn it over to a private corporation there-
after. That could be arranged.
The CHAIRMAN. If there are 100,000 acres to be redeemed, the land
reclaimed would pay the cost two or three times over at $25 or $30 an
3.C.T.C.
Major MILLS. Mr. Follett tells me that it is impossible for him to get
up an estimate to rely on for changing the road. It will cost from
$800,000 to $1,000,000 to complete the work, but that is merely a guess;
it may not cost $600,000.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be $10 an acre for 100,000 acres?
Major MILLS. Then the water power would be there, and the climate,
138 A L–WOL III——2
18 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS,
by the presence of this vast amount of water, would be changed. But
that is problematical; we can not tell about that. t
The CHAIRMAN. It is not problematical—covering the soil with veg-
etation would make the climate more healthful, and make the atmos-
phere more damp.
Major MILLS. I feel a great enthusiasm in the project. I believe it
practicable, and I believe the country sufficiently progressive to build
a dam, and have no doubt it will be built in the next few years. . . .
Senator REAGAN. What is the fall of the river above this dam, and
for Some distance up?
Major MILLS. The river generally averages 4 feet to the mile for 50
miles above and below here. Strange to say, there is a greater fall in
the Valley than there was in the pass. That was a surprise to me. In
the rapids the fall is less than where the river takes this turn here.
Senator REAGAN. There are table-lands lying east 3 \
Major MILLS. Yes. t • y
Senator REAGAN. Is there any water above where it could be taken
out on that table-land?
Major MILLS. I am not sufficiently posted to state that. I suppose
there is, by making a high dam. t
Senator REAGAN. How far down below this do you estimate that the
channel of the river can be controlled by the construction of this dam 3
Major MILLS. I am quite sure if the dam should be constructed with
the vast quantity of water that it would hold, the river could, in a de-
gree, be controlled to the Gulf, and absolutely controlled to 100 miles
to the cañon regions, because there is no confluence between this and
100 miles down. We would allow so much water to pass through the
dam each day.
Senator REAGAN. What is the character of the valley &
Major MILLs. About 75 miles below, a little more—90 miles—below
old Fort Quitman, the bluffs come in. These bluffs close in, and there
is no valley land there.
Senator REAGAN. How far down does that caſion go?
Major MILLs. That runs down 100 miles.
Senator REAGAN. If you could control the bed of the river down to
this cañon, no difficulty would arise. How much of the land that would
be covered by the proposed reservoir is cultivated land?
Major MILLS. I do not think there is more than 500 or 600 acres.
There is no cultivated land in the whole 26,000 acres that would be sub-
merged, except a little colony called the Liunia. There is a town right
there—a settlement—and they have taken out a ditch. The ditch would
cover probably 1,000 or 2,000 acres. There are probably only 500 or
1,000 acres under cultivation. That could be condemned, because it is
not deemed valuable. -
Senator REAGAN. Are there any buildings or valuable structures on
it,"
Major MILLS. No. -
Senator REAGAN. The marks here [pointing] indicate that the land
has been taken up.
Major MILLS. It has been all taken up. Here [indicating] is a tract
marked “State.” That is school land. I think 1,000 acres belong to
the State and to a great many individuals living here in the city. I
own some myself.
Senator REAGAN. Is there any Value fixed to that land 7
Major MILLS. No. Some of it is sand-bars that you can not sell at
any price, The other would be, if this project were carried out, the best
- INTERNATIONAL COST AND CHARACTER OF THE DAM. 19
land in the country; but at the present time nobody would settle on
it. Something must be done to settle that land below. If you will
ride from the city down on this or the other side you will see the trees
perishing, and so with the vines; and this will continue to be the case
until they have some water.
Senator REAGAN. Is there any current price on this land 3
Major MILLS. I do not think there have been any sales in there; I
have never heard of any. I have tried to sell mine, 100 acres in this
tract [indicating]. I have owned it for thirty years. I tried to sell it,
but could not do it. I offer to the committee a memorandum on the
general character of the project:
, INTERNATIONAL FEATURES-BOUNDARY—THE RIVER JOINT PROPERTY-VESTED
RIGHTS IN THE WATER, BY APPROPRIATION TO PRIOR USES.
The lake covers an area of 26,270 acres, 16,830 being in Texas, all but about 1,000
acres (which is supposed to be State school lands) being patented to private parties;
all that in New Mexico, 9,440 acres, except about 1,000 acres (which is supposed to
be Government land), lies within two unconfirmed Spanish grants, “The Refugio Col-
ony” and “The Francisco Garcia.” The lake will be about 15 miles long by about
3 miles wide, and an average of 20 feet deep with a total capacity of 23,160,777,000
cubic feet of water; the capacity of the proposed reservoir of 10 feet on top will be
8,610,565,000 cubic feet. *
Of the two proposed sites for the dam, one lies about 2+ miles from the city and the
other about 33 or about 13 miles apart. Relative merits, bed-rock, six outlèt gate-
valves of 4 feet carry 2,400 feet with 50-foot pressure, and a crest overflow 200 feet
long by 4 feet deep will carry 7,400 feet, equal to 10,000 feet, sufficient with the stor-
age to relieve any probable or possible flood from overflowing the dam.
The first measurements of flow were taken on May 20, showing 4,300 feet, and
were continued until July 28, when it had been gradually reduced to 29 feet, and
river'ceased to flow August 5.
Measurements for evaporation have continued since May 10 with an average of
about 10 inches per month.
Measurements of sediment continued during the flow since June 10, showing an
average of .345 of 1 per cent of the water carried.
Approacimate cost of the wovk.
Condemnation of the lands to be submerged ($160,000); reconstruction of 15 miles
of the Santa Fé Railroad; reconstruction of 5 miles of the Southern Pacific Railroad;
building of the dam, gate-valves, and waste-weir; approximate total cost of work,
$321,000.
The committee here took a recess until 2 o'clock.
The committee re-assembled at 2 o'clock p. m.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF EDGAR B, BRONSON.
Senator Stewart made a statement to me this morning after the meet-
ing of which he desired an explanation. It was with regard to the con-
dition of the arid lands of western Texas. He wishes me to demonstrate
the necessity or no for appropriations looking to the investigation of
the resources of the country for reservoirs, dams, and that sort of thing.
The CHAIRMAN. We want the facts to show whether it is necessary
Or not.
Mr. BRONSON. In the region of western Texas, which might, perhaps,
be defined by a line drawn north and south, through Colorado City,
there are Some few mountain chains. But the mountain chain is not a
prevailing feature of the country; plains are the prevailing feature.
The character of the country is such that the rain-fall is very light. On
the mountains, though, it is very great. There are very few of these
mountain ranges which have permanent streams, yet, in the rainy sea
20 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. "
son, they pour down torrents of water, and there are dams that would
afford streams for irrigation. I speak of the great mesas lying to the
west of Fort Davis. Along the Southern Pacific there is a mesa J 50 to
200 miles long, averaging 30 to 80 miles wide. From the mountain
ranges on the west side, in what Major Powell calls the torrential sea-
son, there are poured down great bodies of water, and there might be
accumulated in reservoirs a sufficient quantity of those waters to irri-
gate an immense area of land.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that country occupied at all?
Mr. BRONSON. It is sparsely occupied along the railway. There are
small Settlements and nothing else, because no tillage is possible there.
It would require a community of labor and organized capital to make
the large reservoirs necessary to irrigate that great country. Apropos
of that subject, you go on the plateau of southern Mexico where there
is a dense population, where the country is under tillage in cotton and
all varieties of crops, and there the conditions are the same as in
western Texas. They have no streams, and the rain-fall is inadequate
to make irrigation possible; and the result is what—what we are be-
ginning to do here. The whole country is covered. Each has a dam
which conserves the water which falls during the rainy season and is
held and stored over to the period when cultivation is desired, when
it is used in irrigation. I think, perhaps, there are some hundreds of
square miles actually under tillage south of the city of Santiago, Mex-
ico, under the system which is now proposed in western Texas. I have
seen it, and it is practically here as it is there. The rain-fall of that
country is about as it is here. For instance, they take a region of
country with a great drainage area behind it, a series of important
hills or large range of mountains, and they bring several of the water-
ways together. The water is then brought down until it reaches a point
where it is convenient to make a reservoir, and there they store the
same. Those are the conditions of that country. When you get to the
Texas Pan-Handle the conditions change from those you see here.
There you have no range of mountains; the important ranges are sand
hills, which are perfect sieves. But in almost the whole belt, or two-
thirds of the Pan-Handle, the water is found 5 to 56 feet, deep in an
inexhaustible supply, and the system there is pre-eminently a well
system. The water lies near the surface, and it is inexpensive to raise
it. But the country does not lay in such shape that reservoir irriga-
tion may be practiced to any great extent. There are a few places,
such as the head of the Yellow Elorse Cañon and Yellow Fork. They
begin with long dry ravines, and in those places it might be practica:
ble to make your systems of dam storage. But it has always seemed
to me, since I became familiar with Santiago, that the same thing could
be practiced here in western Texas, and the country become as rich as
any in the United States. I think I am safe in saying that one-third
of the cotton raised in the Republic of Mexico is raised under that par-
ticular system of irrigation—fully a third of the Cotton. ' \.
Senator REAGAN. Have you been acquainted with any place that is
under cultivation by irrigation in Tom Green County or anywhere else?
Mr. BRONSON. The Comanche Creek section, by Fort Stockton. It
is at Fort Davis. That is the only place in Western Texas Outside of
the valley.
Senator REAGAN. Do you know of any one here acquainted With the
waters. of the Colorado or Tom Green County ? a
Mr. BRONson. It is there where irrigation is practiced to any extent.
I understand there is a gentleman here who is familiar with Some parts
STAKED PLAINS, TOPOGRAPHY AND WATER SUPPLY. 21
of that country, whether the particular parts to which you refer, I do
not know. I am not familiar with it.
STATEMENT OF E. E. ROESLER OF DALLAS.
The CHAIRMAN, What is your occupation?
Mr. RoßSLER. I am emigration agent for the Texas Pacific Railway,
and I am also secretary of the Marienfeld Co-operative Fruit and Gar-
den Irrigation Company.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography of the Coun-
try, the character of the land, and the other possibilities for irrigating
portions of Texas? -
Mr. RoßSLER. Yes; I have made a special study of that since 1886.
The CHAIRMAN. In what portions of Texas?
Mr. ROESLER. From the Brazos River almost to El Paso. What is
known as the Staked Plains.
The CHAIRMAN. Go on and describe the character of the Country,
and state what the facilities are for irrigation.
Mr. ROESLER. Beginning at the Brazos River, which is at an alti-
tude of about 900 feet, the country rises in steps toward the west. It
is generally in the form of one plateau above another. So you proceed
westward from Brazos River 20 or 30 miles, and you come to a bluff
200 or 300 feet in height, and above that is a plateau which extends 20
or 30 miles. The difference in altitude is from 150 to 300 feet in these
plateaus. . From west of the Colorado River the rain-fall is from 20 to
46 inches, with an average of 26, and in that country it has not been
found necessary to irrigate, although it is found advisable with the
garden crops, vegetables, and things of that description. They have
been benefited by irrigation. On the Concho near San Angela there
are about 5,000 acres under cultivation by irrigation, and all the waters
are obtained from the North and Middle Concho Rivers. About 50
miles north of San Angela that river Springs out of the ground. Above
that there is no river, but simply an old river-bed that extends all of
300 miles across the country into New Mexico. In the north branch
of the Concho River, which is known where it crosses the Texas Pacific
Railroad as the Mustang, irrigation is considered necessary. We have
an extraordinary farming Section there, and we found since 1882 about
the following: -
In 1882 there was abundant rain-fall, and wheat made from 18 to 25
bushels; corn ran about 30 bushels, and the smail grains between 18
and 20 bushels. Vegetables of all sorts did well. In 1883 the crop
was equally good. In 1884 they made about a half crop. This was all
without irrigation. In 1885 there was an extra good crop. In 1886
there was a total failure. They planted all the seed wheat they had,
put it in the ground five times, and lost every bit. In 1887 the failuré
was as great as in 1886. The result was that everybody became dis-
couraged, and those who had money enough to leave the country left
it; those who had not, staid. They then began to bore wells. In
Martin, Howard, and Andrews Counties the farm land was increased in
capacity to five or six times what it had formerly been. People bought
wind-mills and erected small dirt tanks and went into fruit-raising. The
result in the matter of fruit-raising has been very satisfactory. They
find that every variety of grape that is grown in California will suc-
ceed there. They produce a raisin grape at least six weeks earlier than
22 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
it can be produced in California, and every ranch in that section of the
Country is going into fruit-raising. \
I had a number of notes ready for the committee, but I did not ex-
}. it for ten days to come. I got a telegram 30 miles off from my
ODO €.
The CHAIRMAN. You may describe from memory, and you can report
more fully to the committee subsequently.
Mr. ROESLER. On the Colorado River, west as far as the Pecos, there
are a few places where we can make dams, but in the balance of it you
will have to rely on wells. Then on the Pecos River there is the Pi-
oneer Company's ditch, which is now about 10 miles long, some 40
feet across the bottom, and they have gotten in operation this year.
They are still building on the lower end. They have places under cul-
tivation—three or four sections of land. They claim that that river is
always running full; that it stays at a certain point and never becomes
less. South of the Pecos is Toyeh Creek. That is an old settled por-
tion of Rains County. That has been in cultivation for the last ten or
fifteen years, and is irrigated from the waters of that creek. They say
there are about 15,000 acres in cultivation there.
Senator REAGAN. What do you know about the wells up there?
Mr. ROESLER. The wells I have examined, a considerable number of
them, and I find in Martin County the water consists of two strata.
That which is found above the limestone is usually found at a depth of
from 10 to 25 feet; it is not lasting, however, for it comes from the local
rains. Then from below the limestone, which is usually from 40 to 60
feet, they get an abundant supply, which is not affected by drought or
local rains. During the drought of 1886 and 1887 neither of them were
dry. The local theory is that all these wells are fed from underground
rivers; that the strata from which this water is derived falls from New
Mexico, underneath the Staked Plains, and eventually emerge on the
Guadalupe and Concho, and one hundred other streams that burst Sud-
denly out of the ground and become rivers without headwaters. The
San Pedro, San Antonia, Concho, and many streams in Southern Texas
will all appear where the limestone ridge is broken. We hold that be-
tween the Pecos and Colorado Rivers the strata are entirely unbroken;
that there is a ledge extending for hundreds of miles which is without
fraction, and that the water enters it east of the Pecos, and there it is
broken by the mountains of El Paso and Reeves Counties and the east-
ern part of New Mexico. Underneath that flows an immense body of
water which again appears after it gets underneath this limestone ledge,
where it is broken. It is lying about 200 miles north of the Gulf coast,
and makes a semi-circle. tº •
Senator REAGAN. Is there a flowing well at Washburn ?
Mr. ROESLER. I understand there are four or five on a ranch there.
Senator REAGAN. Would that be in harmony with the theory Just
presented ? i
Mr. ROESLER. I think they are dependent on local causes alone. I
spoke with a gentleman the other day who told me that he thought
that the supply was gotten a few miles distant; that it was not a part.
of the general system, but simply some elevated Valley that gathered
the water and let it out a few miles below.
Senator REAGAN. Do you know the depth of those flowing wells 3
Mr. ROESLER. One 60 feet, another 75 feet, and another 110 feet.
Senator REAGAN. Is not the one at Washburn 300 or 400 feet in depth?
Mr. ROESLER. I do not know. That is a recent discovery if it is
there, and I have not learned of it. I am more acquainted a 100 miles
south of the Texas Pacific road than I am north.
To DEVELOP wells ON THE STAKED PLAINS. 23
The CHAIRMAN. Whether you testify again or not you will write out
your report and submit it to the committee.
Mr. ROESLER. Yes, I prepared one, and I did not expect you so soon.
The news caught me 300 miles from home.
If a suggestion is in order I would like to make one to this effect, that
on the part of the Government stations be established, say every 100
or 150 miles, in which there shall be a crew well supplied with a dyna-
mite drill and strong pumping machinery, and that there examinations
be made of the soil by boring ten or fifteen wells in a straight line, vary-
ing in distance from say 25 to 100 yards. Wherever a piece of land
is found 10 or 20 miles in width and 30 or 40 miles in length, with the
characteristics uniform, then make a test. After ten wells shall have
been bored, put in a steam pump that is capable of pumping 20,000,000
to 40,000,000 gallons of water. Then measure and ascertain the most
distant point from the center well which is not attracted by the well,
that is, in this way. If you pump the center well dry the next well
nearer to it will show a diminution of water, the one a little more dis-
tant will also show a little less diminution, and the most distant will
show no diminution at all. Then in a radius of 250 or 300 feet, say,
you can calculate the amount of water you can get out of a certain ra-
dius, and thus know how much water you have in every acre of land in
a given distance.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it be expensive?
Mr. ROESLER. I think it will cost money.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it pay to do it?
Mr. ROESLER. It certainly would.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you fuel convenient?
Mr. ROESLER. We have mesquite wood, which will burn out a boiler
as quickly as coal.
The object to be gained by such experiments is this: If a man wishes
to irrigate on the Staked Plain now, he will have first to get a well, then
a Windmill, and then a tank, and the whole thing will cost him $400.
The entire capacity of this well, at a cost of $400, will be 5 acres, and
you will find that he would be paying from $50 to $60 an acre to get
Water. If the Government will make this test, and say that under a
Certain area of land So much water can be had, the man who wants
to make this, improvement can interest others, and instead of get.
ting a little Jim Crow well and windmill, he will get a strong company
who will build large tanks to furnish that water for $15 an acre, whereas
a single individual could not do it for $75. One section of land in the
Vicinity of Midlands, as nearly as I can figure out, taking the wells that
I know to be there, cost $16,800 to raise enough water and store it to
give to each and every acre of that section 24 inches of water during
the year. That means 2 inches each month on a dead level.
it. º,Channas. That would be more than you would need, would
1U IMO
Mr. ROESLER. Well, perhaps so.
The CHAIRMAN. A foot is about the limit.
Mr. ROESLER. It will depend on the rain-fall. Take it on our irri.
gated tract, this year we have not used a drop of water. Had we
planted in 1886 we would have lost every stalk we had on it. The rain-
fall we had then did not exceed 18 inches, according to the rain-gauge.
It looks as if that country were well supplied with Water, but at the
time the crop needs it it does not get it. After the crop has failed,
there will come a 10 or 15 inch rain and drown out the country. Then
a farmer has a new crop in. I am satisfied that all that country be.
24 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
tween the Colorado and Pecos Rivers, with 15 inches of water on it,
Will make a crop every year. There is a critical moment, and when
that moment comes, if you give the crop water, it will be good.
STATEMENT OF C. I. GARFIAs, OF THE CITY OF MEXICO.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation?
Mr. GARFIAS. I am a civil engineer. I have been sent here by the
Mexican department of public works to attend to the public work in
the frontier. ^-
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given attention to the proposed dam an
reservoir on the Rio Grande 3 -
Mr. GARFLAS. Yes. As soon as the Mexican Government was made
acquainted with the fact that Major Mills was here, and that he was
going to begin his preliminary work for the completion of his project,
I received an order to assist him in every respect. And afterward, so
Soon as it was needed, to make a survey of the land that would be irri-
gated, I received an appointment to make the surveys of those lands
and to make the location of the Canal. So that the Mexican Govern-
ment is perfectly acquainted with Major Mills's project, and is inter-
ested in its completion, and thinks it would be a perfect success.
The CHAIRMAN. What extent of country has been irrigated on the
Mexican side 3
Mr. GARFIAS. I am not acquainted with those facts. I am only be-
ginning those works, waiting for another engineer who comes from the
State of Mexico with instructions. -
The CHAIRMAN. Have you run any lines to determine the new works?
Mr. GARFIAS. Not yet. I was appointed only a few days ago.
The CHAIRMAN. The Mexican Government is very much interested,
you say?
Mr. GARFIAS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And so are the people?
Mr. GARFIAS. Yes. I want to state that so soon as the American
people on this side appointed a committee for this question the Mexi-
cans also appointed a committee. All the members were here this
morning; now there are three here; I am the secretary. The president
does not talk English.
The CHAIRMAN. As an engineer do you think the plan which has been
adopted and presented here this morning the right plan 3 ! ~.
Mr. GARFIAS. I think so. The thing is that that location would be
much better. The location has one end in Mexican territory and one in
Texas. The irrigation canals for Mexico would all be in Mexican terri-
tory, and so it would not be required to run that water across New
Mexico. -
STATEMENT OF THOMAS H. LOGAN, U. S. ARMY, COMMANDING AT
FoRT HANCOCK, ON THE RIO GRANDE,
The CHAIRMAN. Have you looked over this region, having in mind
the possibility of irrigating it 8 w
Mr. LoGAN. Yes, very closely. . .
The CHAIRMAN. State your observations and your views of the ques-
tion.
Mr. LOGAN. In the first place, the country needs water very badly.
If we had plenty of water we could raise anything that will grow in any-
ENGINEERING WoRKS FOR IRRIGATION PURPOSES. 25.
other place. That is the result of my observation. And as to the means
for getting the water, I think that Major Mills's plan is avery good one.
The CHAIRMAN. For this locality ?
Mr. LOGAN. Yes. I do not know anything about the country except
from here down to Fort Quitman, 80 miles. There will be about 300
square miles on both sides of the river that will be under the ditch ;
that is, 150 on this side, perhaps, and 150 on the other side. The dam is
simply a matter of dollars and cents to build it. The dam is practi-
cable; it is a small dam in comparison with some I am familiar with. I
mean to say the contemplated dams. There are dams that I know of
three hundred years old that have been in operation right straight
along for three hundred years. One of them is in Spain that was built
in 1686, and I think it is in operation to-day. That dam is 110 feet high
and, I think, about 750 feet long. It is a masonry dam, built for the
purpose of Supplying several Spanish towns with water and for irriga-
tion.
The CHAIRMAN. It occurred to me while Major Mills was testifying,
though I did not call his attention to it, that it is desirable, if possible,
to build this dam higher than 60 feet. -
Mr. LOGAN. It is simply a matter of dollars and cents.
The CHAIRMAN. It involves the difficulty of getting right of way
from the railroad.
Mr. LOGAN. The Croton Works in New York are 210 feet high. So
far as "building the dam is concerned, it is simply a matter of dollars
and cents and good engineering. I do not know what the local features
are on this side and at the foundation, but no matter what they are it
can be surrounded with proper precautions.
The CHAIRMAN. You can get a rock bottom.
Mr. LOGAN. There was a French dam built in Algiers right on a rock.
There are no engineering difficulties at all. There has been some doubt
expressed by a good many people in this locality about the dam filling
up. That is all fol de rol. It will fill up, but it can be cleaned out. That
dam in Spain, which was built three hundred years ago, is cleaned out
every three or four years. It had not been cleaned out before 1884 for
fourteen years, and the sediment had increased 75 feet. At that time
it was cleaned out in four days at an expense of $150, because they had
the appliances to do it.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you seen that dam?
Mr. LOGAN. I have not seen the dam, but I have books on the matter.
They have scouring galleries. *
The CHAIRMAN. Describe them off-hand. We can get the books'
afterward.
Mr. LOGAN. Of course the number of galleries depends on the width
of the reservoir, and the amount of filth that will be deposited in a
given time. That will have to be regulated by observation and experi-
ment. They build near the bottom of the dam, leaving a hole—that
is a good plan—something in shape like a wedge, on the upper stream
side. They have that closed With gates, and when they want to clean
out the dam they raise these gates. At times the silt has deposited so
far above the gates that the water would not run. Then by means of
a bit with augers they perforated a hole in the dam, and this up-stream
side threw the silt right out. They cleaned out that dam of a deposit
of fourteen years in four days, and at an expense of $150. The bulk.
head was made out of timber. They send men in the lower side of
the dam Who take augers and bore holes in the timber so as to weaken
it, and when they got enough holes in there they run away. On the
26 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
occasion to which I refer it did not start until two days after they
thought they had enough. They ran away because it was a dangerous
place to be. After a while it burst out and, as I said, it was cleaned out
in four days. - - -
The CHAIRMAN. They left a hole there 3
Mr. LOGAN. Yes, sir; they left it in the face of the dam. They are
left at proper intervals. Of course they are built strongly and then
closed by gates. There is a French dam that has gates that go
down with proper appliances for raising them, and a child ten years
old can raise them without difficulty, because they have the proper
machinery. . They do not appear to be necessary in this dam with the
pressure of Water. Forty or 50 or 60 feet of water has an enormous
pressure. It generates such an immense current away above the dam,
and gets Swifter as it gets lower toward the bottom. There have been
no difficulties in the dams that I have read about; that is to say, diffi-
culties in cleaning them out. This dam was in a gorge of the mount-
ains, with a fall of 15 feet to the mile, and the deposit was much more
than would be in this river. I have kept a little record at Hancock of
the volume of water that flows down this river, and it is enormous.
This river runs fifty-eight days in July and August at an average
depth of 7 feet and 250 feet wide. Now it is dusty, you, know, and
there is not a drop of water in the running river except in the hills.
I had some difficulty in supplying the post with water. I have a little
well dug on the river bank some 18 feet deep, and in it is an abundant
supply of good water. The stuff that can be raised down there with
a little bit of water is perfectly prodigious. I had some experience in
Montana. Fort Keogh, Miles City, was my stamping ground. The
same rule applies there as down here. If you can get plenty of water
you can raise plenty of stuff. This country on both sides of the river
presents less difficulty for a canal or ditch than any country that I have
ever been in where they have ditches. There is no work at all except
with a spade and shovel. There are places between here and Fort Han-
cock, 55 miles away, that would not require more than a mile of flum-
ing, and in some places there would not be that much. There are some
places where, in crossing ravines, it would be necessary to flume to
protect the canal. I have had some talk with the Mexicans on the
other side of the river. There, at Paso del Norte and Guadalupe and
Fort Hancock, they are very much interested in the scheme. They
wanted to know if I thought it would go.
STATEMENT OF J. F. CROSBY, OF EL PASO,
The CHAIRMAN. You know the subject under consideration, and you
may go on and make your statement. - -
Mr. CROSBY. Ihave been very familiar with this question since theyear
1852, when I first came to this country. Ithink I am somewhat advised of
its importance, I may say its vitality, to the interests of this country.
The CHAIRMAN. Go on and make any statement you wish touching
what you have observed, the water supply, the land to be irrigated, and
the general conditions of western Texas. -
Mr. CROSBY. I will endeavor to condense my statement as far as prac-
ticable under the circumstances. This country, going back to its his-
torical record for upwards of three hundred years, is well known
here. This country, on the other side of the river especially, has had
the use of the waters of the Rio Grande for three centuries past. I.
THE RIO GRANDE RIVER AND ITS GREAT CHANGES. 27
came here first in 1852, and at that period there was an abundance of
water on both sides of the river. In lieu of the dam that has been built
since, almost entirely by the expenditure of money by our friends on
the other side of the river, either local or by municipal governments,
we have had nothing but brush dams. The waters of the Rio Grade
afforded most abundant irrigation for all the valley on the other side of
the river than was then or has since been in cultivation.
I would like to make one statement here which may perhaps strike
you as a little astonishing, because you are familiar with these things.
But Judge Reagan comes from a country where they have a surplus of
rain and water. You come from a country where the conditions exist
about as, I understand, they do here. I wish to state that J have seen
the waters of Rio Grande like this. You have been at the Grand Central
Hotel. Bight opposite there stands an ash tree, in front of Mr. Pru-
denthal’s store, and there was a volume of water that ran along there
in 1852 to 1860, sufficient to start the grist-mill that did the grinding
for almost the entire country around here. I understand that is 20 feet
above.the level of the river where it is to-day. And that irrigation and
water power was accomplished at least 20 feet. I say in altitude above
where the river stands now. Since the changes in the river, the with-
drawal of the waters above, the withdrawal of those currents, the people
have been forced to go down to the river bed with their irrigating canals
until they have gotten down on a level with the river, and have a dry
irrigating canal to-day, as our friends on the other side of the river have.
There was no trouble then to get water for purposes of irrigation and
water enough for all manufacturing purposes in this country. When
you take the elevation of a canal of that kind ºnecessary to run a mill to
grind 200 or 300 bushels of corn a day, you can imagine what the force
of the river was at that time.
But these things have changed from time to time until to-day we are
left with a dry river. We have not even water-power here to run the
mills, and we have not even power to nourish, invigorate, and foster
the plants that we put into the country, and on this and the other side
of the river the crop of corn, beans, and all those material products
which afford a sustenance to the people are all lost. The question is
as to what Way this scarcity of water is to be ascribed. I believe it is
to be ascribed to the fact that the waters of the Rio Grande, which in
prior times ran down this valley, have been diverted. Human nature
is human nature the World over, and the people who have settled on
the Rio Grande, in Colorado want the water, and they take it and use it
to the fullest extent to supply their necessities in the way of making
their annual crops.
Then, I am told that there are laws on the statute books, both in Col.
orado and New Mexico, probably passed over a quarter of a century
since. Those laws are very good laws. I have no doubt they are very
well framed. They are gouched in the language which a lawyer would
use. But the question is as to the observance of those laws. I have
been living in this country since 1852. I am satisfied that I can state
here, as they state under oath, that the waste of water in this river for
the last eighteen or twenty years has been sufficient to irrigate from
four to ten times as much land as is now proposed to be irrigated, or
as is now planted in this valley. We can not control those things; the
Question is how to do it. The only question with me is how to allow
the people of Colorado to get the water they need. They are bound to
use this water, just as a hungry man would eat bread or meat. A man
in Colorado is not going to allow it to pass his field if his crops require
28 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
it. He is going to take it. He will not care for the laws on the statute
books. And when he has used the water he is happy. . 4.
In the valley of the Rio Grande, between here and Socorro, just 200
miles distant, I have seen lakes from 1 to 4 miles in width and 3 to 5
miles in length which I have forded on horseback up to my saddle's
girth. All that water came out of the Rio Grande.
The CHAIRMAN. Do the irrigators take it out 3
Mr. CROSBY. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And it is wasted?
Mr. CROSBY. Yes; that is about it.
The CHAIRMAN. That is criminal.
Mr. CROSBY. The laws are against it. The question with me is how
is that to be avoided. I believe if we had a dam here, that is, either at
this or some other point on the Rio Grande (I have no interest in either),
the whole of that difficulty would be avoided. I am satisfied there is a
volume of water that courses down the channel of the Rio Grande from
the 15th of May until the 15th of August, taking year in and year out,
to irrigate ten times the amout of land that we expect to irrigate to-
day. Mr. Bronson stated to-day in his testimony that he conceived
there was about 75,000 acres of land in the county of El Paso that could
be irrigated successfully by the building of such a dam as is proposed
by Major Mills and others interested in this project. He made a basty
calculation. I think he very greatly underestimated the extent of ter-
ritory that could be irrigated.
Mr. BRONSON. That had no reference to the county, but to the valley
proper. *
Mr. CROSBY. I am speaking of the valley proper. Inow propose to
refer to the valley proper. The valley from here to Fort Quitman, with-
out following the meanderings of the river, but where you could run
the shortest road, to the end of this valley is 92 miles. That valley has
a width of fully an average of 3 miles. Then, I assume that with a
dam such as is proposed here you could add to that Valley, Conserva-
tively speaking, 3 miles more; that is doubling the extent. You put,
4,500 acres in rough to the lake, 3 miles to the lake, and it gives about
thirty-one lakes to Fort Quitman. Then you double that by the mesa .
and lower ground which could be irrigated outside of this valley; and
you double that proportion, and my figuring is that that there would be
over 320,000 acres of land that is susceptible of cultivation in El Paso
County alone. A 20-foot dam would flow water over that much land ;
but with a 60-foot dam you would get it to the opposite side of the
river, and you would double that amount; and what is to their benefit
on the other side of the river, experience shows us, in a commercial Way,
is to our benefit. We buy their grapes, pears, apples, peaches, Corn;
we trade with them in every respect; and you may say that the Walkey
of the Rio Grande opposite us is practically of as much commercial
benefit to the town of El Paso as though it were on this side of the
TIVET.
And there is one other point to which I wish to refer. If you will
measure from Fort Selden to this point, the distance is 90 miles. AC-
cording to actual measurement, the fall of the Rio Grande River in that
90 miles is 240 feet. Major Mills stated to-day that the fall was an
average of 4 feet to the mile. We have here the actual measurement,
because the discussion here has led to a consideration of a dam at Fort
Selden, 90 miles above this, in New Mexico, or here in the city of El
Paso; and hence we have obtained, or endeavored to obtain, all the
data, scientific and otherwise, in reference to the current of the Rio
4,
THE obligATIONS OF THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO. 29
Grande River. The fall of the river in that 90 miles, from Fort Selden
to El Paso, I understand from Major Mills and other engineers who
have made the observations, is 240 feet. Now, with 240 feet of fall in
90 miles, in the flood time, when we have this immense flood—because
it is not infrequent that we see this river a mile wide from the 15th of
May to the last of August—the volume of water that comes down is
ordinarily something surprising. It is an immense volume of water.
If you could confine that water with a 240-foot fall you would not only
benefit the agricultural interests of the country, but it strikes me you
would obtain here and below and above in New Mexico a water-power
that would be sufficient for almost any manufacturing purpose which
water can subserve. You obtain an immense water-power, just as I
stated about this little mill that ran day and night. These gentlemen,
some of them, perhaps, in their boyhood have seen that mill run every
day and night 20 feet above the river, and when we have any water it
runs to-day. How much that can be improved by these scientific gen-
tlemen, Major Powell and Major Mills, I do not know. The good of
this country, the interest of the General Government, the amount of
wealth that such a dam would contribute, not to the State of Texas
alone, but to the General Government, in the way of taxes, would be
enormous. It is almost beyond calculation.
Now, I wish to go back, if you will pardon me, to defend in a way
our friends on the other side of the river. I make this broad statement :
In 1848 the Government of the United States, under the treaty signed
at Guadalupe Hidalgo, agreed upon the Rio Grande as a boundary line
between the two Governments. What did that mean & Did it not mean
that the two Governments should maintain that boundary line, that
the two Governments, the United States and Mexico, were permitted to
cultivate those lands; that they were permitted under the guaranties
of this Government to cultivate that land up to the boundary-line? Both
of the Governments have acknowledged it up to two years ago. At that
time the Mexican Government made a large expenditure, as you will
see, for the works on the other side of the river. To avoid the difficul-
ties that were to ensue from this treacherous stream, this changeful
current, they appropriated a great amount of money, and the people on
the other side of the river have been taxed for works that have been estab-
lished there by engineers of the Mexican Government. I do not know the
amount of money appropriated, but it has been a large amount. They
had been admonished that it was necessary to protect their banks. The
United States has not expended anything to protect this side of the
river. Land here in front of us on the other side of the river and in this
town, by reason of the increased population of the two cities, has largely
increased in value. Hence, the Mexican Government has sought to pro-
tect their banks of the river because of the change of the river. You
will find that the homes over there of poor, indigent people have been
swept away, first on one side and then on the other, by the currents of
this river. That question is not pertinent to this committee, but I be-
lieve that morally and justly and equitably the Government of the
United States, a great and grand and rich Government, should say to
Mexico that “we gave you an international boundary, we are bound to
maintain that ; we have neglected to maintain it; you have begun to
maintain it, and we should adopt all means in our power to bring that
boundary where it belongs.” I believe this dam would settle it, and I
believe you could let it into your dam 30 feet or 50 feet wide, of clear
water; no erosion to increase or decrease on one bank or the other, but
you could follow it down with an expense far less than can be conceived
30 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
of by those who speak lightly of the subject. I believe the thing could
!. done. I believe we can establish a boundary to-day that would be
asting.
Let us say that an offense was committed over there—murder, rob-
bery, smuggling, or anything of the kind. You do not know where to
fix the jurisdiction. We can not do it. Our courts are bothered to
know where to fix the jurisdiction. But with this dam, and with a
very slight work because there will be no rush of water; there will
be only So much water run into that river—you could keep its channel
according to the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo; and then the work'on
each side of the river to confine that water to its proper course would
be a matter of very small import.
Of course, there are a great many other views of this matter. My
judgment is that both the Governments are responsible to their people for
all the changes that have occurred in the course of this river, just as if
you had an artificial line across the plains from here to Fort Yuma and
that were removed. I think these people should be indemnified for the
loss of their land by the boundaries of that river. We should come
up to the treaty.
I do not know that I should say anything more.
STATEMENT OF E. PROVENCIO, MAYOR OF PASO DEL NORTE.
(Interpreted by Juan S. Hart.)
Senator REAGAN. Will you inform the committee about the decad-
ence of irrigation or loss of irrigation on the other side of the river
within your remembrance %
Mr. PROVENCIO. Some twenty years past, during which time my
observation has extended, and up to date, there has been a loss of no
less than one-third of the territory which was originally irrigated by
the waters of the river; to which I attribute, as the principal cause,
the lack of water each succeeding year; and I attribute this lack of
water to the fact of increased irrigating facilities that have been es-
tablished in the upper portions of the valley of the river. On this ac-
count a large portion of the population of what was formerly known
as Paso del Norte, and is now called the City of Juarez, has been of
necessity forced to emigrate to distant parts to find support. These
emigrants have formed in a great measure the new and thriving towns
of La Union, La Mesa, Chamberino, Las Amoles, Nombre, and De
Dios, in New Mexico, and along the borders of the Rio Grande, and
also the additions in population that have been made to La Massila and
Las Cruces. They have increased in population by reason of this emi-
ration. r
g The parts on the Mexican side of the river that have suffered the
greatest loss of population are Seni Cu, El Real, De San Lorenzo, and
Tres Jacales; and in the very best inhabited portions of others of our
border towns on the Mexican side it is noticed that a considerable por-
tion of the population has left the larger towns.
The principal source of water, the irrigation canal that we had
during the past twelve years, our main canal, which was formerly of
a breadth of 12 feet and contained 6 feet of water in depth, now has less
than 3, preserving its same width. There has been lost during that
length of time the greater part of our crops on account of the lack of
water, Four mills which have existed along that canal With a Water-
whAT THE MEXICAN MAYOR OF JUAREZ SUGGESTED. 31
power are to-day without any means of turning their machinery. The
mills are by name, first, Montoya's, Vicente Provencio's, Jose Caribal's,
and Juan Gila's. Their doors are now closed entirely, without doing
any work for the past three years.
Senator REAGAN. What amount of water comes down in flood time 3
Mr. PROVENCIO. It is an immense quantity that comes.
Senator REAGAN. You have been mayor of Paso del Norte for how
long?
Mr. PROVENCIO. I have been two years mayor of Paso del Norte, and
for over six years a member of the local council.
Senator REAGAN. What steps have been taken by the Mexican au-
thorities to protect the banks of the river on that side 3
Mr. PROVENCIO. The work that was done in former years was almost
useless. Very recently our Federal Government has ordered the banks
of the river protected by such works as are now subject to your inspec-
tion at any moment on the river banks on the other side. I want to
make known the fact, which no one can deny, that during the past six
or eight years the water which they have had on our side has been
hardly sufficient for the land which has been open for irrigation pur-
poses. Prior to that time they had an abundance of water, which has
been failing in quantity each succeeding year. I wish to have that im-
pressed on the committee.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land was formerly under cultivation on
the other side of the river from this point down to Quitman? -
Mr. PROVENCIO. I would place the estimate at 125,000 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. How much is now under cultivation?
Mr. PROVENCIO. Hardly 70,000 now.
The CHAIRMAN. And is the amount gradually decreasing 3
Mr. PROVENCIO. It is gradually decreasing. It is about three years
ago that, at the expense of the municipality on the Mexican side, there
was built just above the city a dam across the river of masonry work
which cost about $40,000, thinking that even the shortage of the water,
possibly, with such a dam, which was never necessary before, might
have been stopped, and they would have a sufficiency of water; but
that project has not given good results.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there apprehension that irrigation on the upper
portion of the river will destroy it on the lower portion?
Mr.PROVENCIO. Undoubtedly. I cannotattribute the presentscarcity
of the water to any other reason.
The CHAIRMAN. And the more irrigation they have above, the less
water they will have below %
Mr. PROVENCIO. Surely. Every new canal taken from the river above
deprives us here of a certain amount of water. Besides I want to make
it known to this committee that we have always lived in perfect har-
mony with the American side of the river. It is true we have estab.
lished and maintained a dam across the river above the city, but we
have always distributed the water in perfect proportions between the
two sides of the river, and for that reason, for the fair treatment of the
American people, we desire to be treated fairly on the opposite side of
ë. .." and We desire to be given our share of the waters of the Rio
Tân (19,
32 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
STATEMENT OF JOSEPH MAGOFFIN, OF EL PASO.
Senator REAGAN. How long have you resided in El Paso ?
Mr. MAG OFFIN. I came here in 1844 and I have resided here since 1856.
Senator REAGAN. You have heard the course of examination. Will
You State any facts in relation to the sources of water, the means of ob-
taining water, and the necessity for irrigation here, which you think'
would be of interest to the committee 7
Mr. MAG OFFIN. Prior to 1861—I will go back—the population of
Paso del Norte (city of Jaurez) was about 30,000. It was a thriving
little city, and also the surrounding country was cultivated. They had
no trouble from water, except in exceptional years. Probably once in
ten or fifteen years the river would be cut off. During our interstate
troubles here and the war of Maximilian, the dam above here was car-
ried away by the flood, and a great many people on the other side of .
the river left, they being more interested in keeping their country intact
than in looking after the dam. In 1868, when I returned here to El
Paso, the dam that had been swept away had not been rebuilt. A year
or so afterward the dam was again built, and the people who had left
El Paso proper and all the farmers commenced to return to their
homes and to cultivate the lands. They now have, on account of the
scarcity of water and the difficulties that they have been having for
the last two or three years in the scarcity of water, commenced to leave
their part of the country and go above into New Mexico, Las Cruces,
and elsewhere, where they have friends and relatives, seeking new
homes. This state of things, it is regarded by not only the Mexican
people but ourselves here in El Paso, is caused by our friends in Colo-
rado and New Mexico taking out these vast ditches from the river.
The water has lessened from year to year until this year we have none
at all. -
Senator REAGAN. Does that apply to both sides of the river ?
Mr. MAG OFFIN. Yes.
Senator REAGAN. And are the people suffering in Paso del Norte as
they are here ?
Mr. MAG OFFIN. Equally so. There is no water on the other side of
the river. The river was dry this year about the 1st of July, something
that never occurred in the history of the country.
Senator REAGAN. What is the usual season of flood 7
Mr. MAGOFFIN. The river never fails to rise here the 1st of May,
and it keeps up continuously, so that no one can cross it until about
the 25th day of July—I mean on horseback.
Senator REAGAN. Did you have any rise the 1st of May this year?
Mr. MAGOFFIN. Yes, we had plenty of water all of April, May, June,
and you may say until the 1st of July. The river went dry about the
15th of that month. We had a full river before all the time. I think we
had more water in the river than flows in any stream in Texas, Colo-
rado, or anywhere else. - - f
Senator REAGAN. Make any additional statement that you may
desire. - 4.
Mr. MAGOFFIN. I do not know that I can say anything more than
this, that our Mexican friends look upon our Government as a great
Government, and are willing to restore these water rights to them.
They are now moving in that matter with their government. They
look upon it as a matter of justice to them that our Government should
in some way restore their ancient rights to this Water. It is a question
A CIVIL ENGINEER's VIEWS ON THE EL PASO DAM. 33
of vital interest to them, as well as it is to the people on this side of
the river. And there is nothing that I can see now that will give us
this water except the establishment of that reservoir that Mr. Mills
contemplates building. In building that reservoir it will cease all
complications with regard to the boundary line which has destroyed
thousands and thousands of dollars worth of property on both sides of
the river. The water will be stored in such a way as not to come down
In flood times and wash away the banks of the river. It washed away
at Fort Bliss and destroyed my father's property there, worth $100,000,
and has destroyed other property equally valuable on the other side.
Sixty-five miles from here is Fort Selden.
Senator REAGAN. Up the river.
Mr. MAG OFFIN. Yes; they contemplate building a dam there for
the purpose of irrigating all the land west of us here, in New Mexico.
That will again take the water away from this section of the country;
and if something is not done by our Government I do not see what the
people below here are going to do. We can not do this work as a peo-
ple, because the international questions come in that will interfere with
private capital engaging in the enterprise. They are questions to be
settled with Mexico amicably, and adjusted so that they may get their
water rights. No one has a right to question or look into that questicºn
but our General Government, and we have our hands tied here expect-
ing that you gentlemen will try to help us out of the fix.
STATEMENT OF W. W. FOLLETT, OF THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. Foll ETT. Engineer.
The CHAIRMAN. In the employment of what ?
Mr. FOLLETT. Temporarily in the Geological Survey.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been making surveys in this country
Mr. FOLLETT. I made the survey for the lake and these maps that
have been presented. I made that above the town; the one below was
made by the county surveyor, Mr. Heldt; but the survey above the
reservoir I made.
The grainwas Have you given any attention to the subject of irri-
gation º -
Mr. FOLLETT. I am from Denver down here for the purpose of making
these surveys; was never in this country before.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it be practicable to build that dam higher ?
Mr. FOLLETT. Yes, 10 feet higher.
The CHAIRMAN. In building it 10 feet higher to what extent would it
flood back on the land 3
Mr. FOLLETT. The principle amount it would cover would be directly
in the river bottom, which, at the upper end, is 34 miles wide, practi-
cally 2% miles, covering 8 Square miles more than now covered.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it injure much more property ?
Mr. FOLLETT. It would only a short distance above the head of the
lake as now surveyed. I do not know how far, but I think only 4 or 5
miles. There is a town they call Montagu where there are vineyards,
and it would flood those, and that is very valuable property.
The CHAIRMAN. Valuable, compared with what it would now cover ?
Mr. FOLLETT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. About how valuable would it be, too much to allow
you to build the dam 10 feet higher ?
138 A L–WOL III—3
34. IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs. . .
Mr. FOLLETT. Ten feet more would add about 40 per cent. to its
present COntents.
The CHAIRMAN. If they have the amount of land that they say they
*::: º there is a chance to fill it, it seems to me there is no difficulty
2,00tlū 10,
Mr. FOLLETT. The estimates that Mr. Heldt made on this side of the
river from Faben's to Fort Hancock is 36,000 acres that it will cover,
and there are probably 10,000 or 15,000 above that, making 50,000 acres
On the American side.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you investigated to any extent the probabil-
ities of filling such a reservoirº
Mr. FOLLETT. I have investigated the probabilities of filling this
particular one.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think it could be filled "
Mr. FOLLETT. Yes; it could be. The general flow of the river, allow-
ing a reasonable amount to pass the dam, would probably fill it, the
first filling, in the course of two years. Of course, a great deal would
soak up. It is hard to say how much would be taken up; but it is safe
to say that it would be filled in two years, or two and a half after it is
built. In July it was carrying 600 or 800 cubic feet per second.
STATEMENT OF J. W. EUBANK, of EL PASO.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been county surveyor. What do you say
as to the amount of land that could be covered by a dam 60 feet high
for purposes of irrigation ?
Mr. EUBANK. I have made a calculation of the land in the low part
of the valley, from here to Quitman, and I calculated that it was about
110,000 acres. But I think from what I see in that map that it will be
something like 50,000 acres more, and adding the higher lands, up to
175,000 acres from here to the cañons below.
The CHAIRMAN. If you could get the water?
Mr. EUBANK. Yes; raising the water 60 feet high. The valley falls
24 feet to the mile. After that it falls 2 feet and over; after that a
little faster, down to Camp Rice. I do not know what it is. I take it
from the railroad, which falls 2 feet to the mile, or 1.9 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it on the other side of the river ?
Mr. EUBANK. I have been all along there, and it would be just about
equal; one side the same as the other. I have never made a calcula-
tion, but that is my observation.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with Western Texas?
Mr. EUBANK. Yes; I spent a year and a half coming out into this
country on the Texas Pacific Railroad as an engineer. I know the
country there pretty well; walked all over it. &
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say as to the feasibility of irrigation
in western Texas.
Mr. EUBANK. I think it is feasible up to the point 30 or 40 miles west
of the Pecos River, where you strike the mountains. From there east
it is feasible to get water from the ground so far as I have observed.
The CHAIRMAN. To what extent can it be practiced from there east?
Mr. EUBANK. Only from wells. There is no water there, except the
well water, and we found water from 20 to 30 feet for railroad purposes,
stations, and engines, wherever we dug.
The CHAIRMAN. Could the water be stored on the Pecos below 3.
Mr. EUBANK. The plains are 2,989 feet, the highest point, where the
railroad crosses, and the Pecos is 2,300 where the Texas Pacific crosses.
* ,
- *t
THE AREA TO BE RECLAIMED BY WORKS PROPOSED. 35
You see the difference is about 600 feet below the plains. You would
have to go up the Pecos River and get it out on the plains. I do not
believe it would be feasible.
The CHAIRMAN. But the valley ? . -
Mr. EUBANK. It could be all brought under cultivation by the Pecos
River.
The CHAIRMAN. How much valley is there?
Mr. EUBANKs. On the eastern side, before it comes to the hills, it is
24 miles where the railroad crosses; but going west it comes 2 miles
out and rises four-tenths of a foot to the 100 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not know to what extent the Pecos could be
brought on that ground 3
Mr. EUBANKS. I went up on the Pecos River 6 or 8 miles from the
railroad, and I have been farther than that from the railroad.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that good land %
Mr. EUBANKS. Yes; it appears to be good land. Down near the
river it is alkali; but when you get away from the river it is splendid
land.
Senator REAGAN. Have you made any examination that would en-
able you to say whether a dam built here, as has been spoken of, 60 or
75 feet high, would throw water out on the mesa on the east side of the
river ?
Mr. EUBANICs. The mesa is 170 feet above this town, and the highest
point of the mesa is 374 feet above this town. In order to bring a ditch
around this mountain San Marcial onto that land, by obtaining a
grade of 1 foot to the mile to bring it out on this vast plain, you would
have 30 or 40 feet cutting for a half mile.
Senator REAGAN. How much land would it open to irrigation ?
Mr. EUBANKS.. About 1,000,000 acres any way.
Senator REAGAN. What is the distance that you speak of where it
would be necessary to bring that ditch out 3
Mr. EUBANKS. One hundred and fifty or 160 miles; 120 miles.
Senator REAGAN. What would be the length of the ditch before you
reached the San Marcial? -
Mr. EUBANKS.. You might add 20 per cent to the railroad for the wind-
ings of the ditch. The ditch would not be as straight as the railroad.
' The committee took a recess, and on re-assembling heard the
STATEMENT OF LUDWIG HELDT, SURVEYOR OF EL PASO COUNTY.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography and sources
of water-supply for irrigation in western Texas ?
Mr. HELDT..Yes; I am well acquainted with some of the latter.
The CHAIRMAN. State what you know of them 3
Mr. HELDT. I was division engineer of the Southern Pacific Railroad
for some years, and I am well acquainted with the Devil's River and
part of the Pecos and nearly all the waters between here and San An-
tonio.
The CHAIRMAN. Go on and explain that.
Mr. HELDT. In Devil's River I have taken an extra interest, because
a friend of mine asked me if it was possible to irrigate by damming the
river, and I went out there and made a special examination of it. At
another time I was at the head of the river. i
Devil's River is an overflow from a small lake near Beaver Lake in
Crockett County, Tex. It is a free flowing stream of clear water, and
36 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
is everlasting. There is a rock bottom all the way, and it is very easily
dammed up, and can be spread over 50,000 acres of land near Del Rio.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think that there is a sufficient water-supply,
if it were stored, to irrigate 50,000 acres of land?
Mr. HELDT. Yes, I do. They are irrigating 12,000 acres of land at
Del Rio and at San Felipe Spring, and that spring must come from
the Devil’s River somewhere, because every time that river is up the
spring rises, and when Devil's River is low it falls. But this San Felipe
Spring is also everlasting. One curious thing about it is that they tried
to dam it up a couple feet higher a few years ago; they found that it
would not flow more, and that is my reason for thinking that there is
water from the Devil's River, and by damming up the Devil's River I
think this San Felipe spring will rise so much higher that they could
irrigate nearly twice the land. That is my impression, and I think that
I am right about it.
The CHAIRMAN. Then what is the next stream 7
Mr. HELDT. That is the only stream that I have made any special
study about. º
The CHAIRMAN. Have you traveled over the others ?
Mr. HELDT. Yes. g
The CHAIRMAN. What is the next stream 3 *
Mr. HELDT. There are no streams any farther down until you get to
San Antonio River. .*
The CHAIRMAN. How far is Devil's River from here?
Mr. HELDT. Four hundred and fifty miles.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any stream between that and here?
Mr. HELDT. There is the Pecos River. There is no irrigable land be-
tween Fort Quitman, 80 miles below here, and Del Rio, 90 miles below
that point.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the next stream 7
Mr. HELDT. The Pecos River.
The CHAIRMAN. No streams between 3
Mr. HELDT. There is a small stream at Langtry, but it is in a caſion
about 120 feet deep. t -
The CHAIRMAN. Are there no caſions or arroyos that have storage
facilities 3
Mr. HELDT. No; not between the Pecos and Devil's River.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the distance between Devil's River and Pe-
cos River.
Mr. HELDT. Fifty miles; and that is the roughest country in the
world.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been up the Pecos ?
Mr. HELDT. No, not for any distance. Well, I have been on horse-
back when I was trading cattle. f
The CHAIRMAN. How much of a stream is the Pecos in flood time 7.
Mr. HELDT. In flood times I have known it to be 30 feet deep—up to
the bottom of the bridge of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The CHAIRMAN. How wide 3 -
Mr. HELDT. One hundred and fifty feet wide.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you give an estimate of the quantity of Water
that runs in it 3 i
Mr. HELDT. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever gauged it 8 -
Mr. EIELDT. No. Well, I think it would be possible to dam up thos
draws and irrigate some of that country there.
The CHAIRMAN. Where ? -
How THE RIVER'S CHANNEL MAY BE PROTECTED. 37
Mr. HELDT. About Murphyville and Marfee. That is a level coun-
try.
The CHAIRMAN. What surveys did you make 3 -
Mr. HELDT. I made a survey of the river from here to a point about
10 miles below Fort Hancock.
The CEIAIRMAN. And made a map * was that your map that was
shown to the Committee ?
Mr. HELDT. Yes, sir; also a survey of an irrigation ditch to be used
in connection with this proposed dam from Fabens to Fort Hancock.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of land is there on the American side
that can be reached from the ditches of this dam 3 e
Mr. HELDT. I think there will be 125,000 to 150,000 acres between
Fabens and Fort Hancock. By actual measurement I have found it
136,000 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. How much on the Mexican side 3
Mr. HELDT. An equal amount.”
The CHAIRMAN. In running your ditches, how far from the top of the
dam would you take the water?
Mr. HELDT. Forty-five feet from the bottom of the dam. I used the
Southern Pacific grade all the way down.
The CHAIRMAN. That will leave about 15 feet of water.
Mr. HELDT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think that will be sufficient to irrigate 135,000
acres of land 3
Mr. HELDT. I really have not made that a study.
The CHAIRMAN. How many acres would 15 feet of water in that dam
cover a foot deep 3
Mr. HELDT. I would have to have some time to figure that out.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land could you irrigate if you came up
six feet from the bottom ?
Mr. HELDT. Fifty thousand acres.
The CHAIRMAN. If you came up 20 feet, how much 3
Mr. HELDT. The increase would be rather gradual.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it proposed to make different places to draw the
Water out at different heights of the dam 3
Mr. HELDT. I think not.
The CHAIRMAN. I think they ought to do that.
Mr. HELDT. I think the dam will be solid for 40 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. It ought to be solid at the bottom, too. In survey-
ing the ditch from the proposed dam down to the cañon on the Colorado,
you found that the river had been changing its bed very much 3
Mr HELDT. Yes, very much.
The CHAIRMAN. And that the boundary is very uncertain?
Mr. EIELDT. Yes, very uncertain.
The CHAIRMAN. In what respect has it been changed?
Mr. HELDT. In some places changed for 3 miles and over.
The CHAIRMAN. And it is continually changing 3
Mr. HELDT. Continually changing, yes, sir. §
The CHAIRMAN. Do these changes take place in flood times or are
they constantly occurring ? y
Mr. HELDT. They always occur in flood times.
The CHAIRMAN. No change when water is low?
Mr. HELDT. No. -
The CHAIRMAN. Then, if the flood waters were retained you do not
think there would be any changes?
Mr. HELDT. I do not think there would be any changes.
38 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
**,
The accompanying papers, reports, and statements were received and
Ordered filed by the committee. -
Adjourned.
STATEMENT OF ANSON MILLs, MAJOR TENTH CAvALRY, U. S.
ARMY, CONSULTING ENGINEER OF THE U. S. GEOI, OGICAL SUR-
VEY AT IEL PASO.
While on leave of absence here last fall, I submitted to the city coun-
cil of El Paso the project for a dam and reservoir in the Rio Grande,
, above this place; later on, while in Washington, I presented the same
to the Director of the Geological Survey, Major Powell, who gave me
such kindly encouragement that on the 10th of December, at the request
of the then Secretary of State, Mr. Bayard, I wrote and he had printed a
detailed explanation of my project, which is inclosed herewith, marked A.
In April, 1889, at the instance of Major Powell, I received the fol-
lowing order from the War Department :
Special Orders, ; HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY,
No. 85. ADJUTANT-GENERAL's OFFICE,
Washington, April 12, 1889.
[Extract.]
* +3 * * * * #
6. With the approval of the Secretary of War, Maj. Anson Mills, Tenth Cavalry,
will report for temporary duty to the commanding officer, Fort Bliss, Tex. In ad.
dition to his military duties at that post, he is authorized to extend his services in
every proper way, when they may be requested, to the officers of the Interior Depart-
ment in charge of the Geological Survey on that part of the Rio Grande 60 miles north
and 60 miles south of the El Paso, Texas, this survey having for its object the re-
demption of areas of irrigable lands in the Rio Grande Valley. The travel enjoined
is necessary for the public service.
% # * * * $6. º
By command of Major-General Schofield.
R. C. DRUM, r
Adjutant-General.
Official.
J. C. KELTON, -
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Major MILLs,
Worcester, Mass.
On reporting to the Director of the Geological Survey I received
verbal instructions from him to make all reasonable investigations that
would tend to develop the feasibility of my project, and the following
written instructions:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
Washington, D. C., April 20, 1889.
SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 15th instant trans-
mitting a copy of Special Orders, No. 85, current series, from the commanding general
of the Army, authorizing you to extend your services, in every proper way, when
they may be requested by the officers of the Interior Department in charge of the
Geological Survey and its action with reference to improvements of the Rio Grande
River, near El Paso. e *
In reply thereto I hereby request that you will act as the advisory agent of this
Bureau in respect to matters connected with improvements of the Rio Grande River
near El Paso, and relation to the use of its waters for purposes of irrigation. You are
requested to keep this Bureau informed of all projects looking to such purposes and
to communicate to it your opinions and advice thereon. In view of the fact that any
works affecting the flow of the Rio Grande River must be matters of equal solicitude
to the people of the United States and of Mexico, and to their respective govern-
ments, you are especially requested to acquaint yourself, so far as may be, with the
views of the Mexican officials and people in relation to such matters, maintaining in
your intercourse with them a most friendly attitude and representing to them a sin-
z’
MAJOR MILLs' LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. 39
cere and earnest desire of this office to treat all matters relating to the use of the
waters of the Rio Grande for purposes of irrigation with a due regard for their rights.
It is the purpose of this Bureau to establish at El Paso a station for gauging the
annual flow of the river, for measuring the evaporation, and for other purposes, and
I should be pleased if you will exercise a supervision over this work of the employés,
who will be instructed to report to you, and I further request that you will assist
them in securing facilities for their work. g
Very respectfully, sir,
J. W. PowrDL, Director.
Maj. ANSON MILLS,
Tenth Cavalry, U. S. Army, Worcester, Mass.
EXHIBIT A.
EBB1TT House, Washington, December 10, 1888.
SIR: Agreeable to promise at our interview this morning, I have the honor to sub-
mit the following general outline of my projected scheme for an international dam
and water storage in the Rio Grande, near El Paso, Tex., for the control of the annual
floods and the preservation of the national boundary to the Gulf, and for other pur-
poses.
The Rio Grande, 1,800 miles long, rises from an unusual number of tributaries in
the very high altitudes of southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, where the
rain and snow fall is extraordinary, and the ice formed therefrom in the long winter
enormous. As it flows southward the precipitation gradually decreases for 600 miles,
when the Mexican boundary is reached, at El Paso, Tex., where there is neither Snow
nor ice, and but 8 inches annual rain-fall; from thence, 1,200 miles south, to the Gulf
of Mexico, the rain-fall is only sufficient to compensate for the loss by evaporation
(which latter is very great); and, for these reasons, the river has but few tributaries,
and no increase of flow below El Paso.
The annual floods, caused by the melting of the snow and ice in the mountains,
take place in May and last for about seventy-five days, during which period the aver-
age flow may be estimated at 200 yards in width by 2 yards in depth, with a velocity
of 5 miles per hour, although in recurring periods of about seven years it is much
greater. During the remaining two hundred and ninety days of the year the aver-
age flow is, perhaps, not over 30 yards wide by 1 yard deep, with the same velocity;
and in the same recurring periods in the intervals between the high tides the river
goes dry for months, as it is at this time, or at least has no current, with not enough
water in the pools to float the fish.
There is a present popular opinion that this want of water comes from its diversion
by the numerous irrigating canals lately taken out in Colorado and New Mexico, and
while it is problematical what effect this may have, if any, I am of the opinion that
most of this water returns to the stream again, either through the atmosphere, by
evaporation and precipitation, or by the earth, through overflow and drainage, as,
from personal observation, I know that these seasons of flood and drought were of
about the same character thirty years ago.
After leaving the mountains the river passes through low valleys of bottom lands
from 1 to 12 miles wide, and from 4 to 8 feet above low water level, of a light, sandy
alluvium formed during annual overflows by sedimentary deposits from silt, which
the water always carries in a greater or less degree.
In meandering along the Texan bank of the river, as a land surveyor, from the New
Mexican line to a point below Fort Quitman, in 1858, 1859, 1860, I observed that the
deposit was from one-half to 3 inches annually; that during the floods the bed of the
river was constantly changing by erosion and deposit; and that in regular cycles it
shifted from one of its firm rocky or clay banks to the other as the deposits had raised
the side of the valley through which it then flowed above the level of the opposite
side. Generally this change took place slowly by erosion and deposit of matter
entirely in suspension; but frequently hundreds of acres would be passed in a single
day by a cut-off in a bend of one channel and sometimes the bed would suddenly
change from one firm bank to the other, a distance of perhaps 20 miles in length by
6 in width, for instance.
When surveying “El Canutilo,” a valley a short distance above El Paso, the river
was moving westward, and about the middle of the valley, which was some 6 miles
wide, old Mexicans who had lived in the vicinity informed me that in 1821 the river
ran close along the eastern bluff, where its bed was plainly to be seen, as was also a
less plainly outlined bed along the bluffs on the opposite side where the river flows
at this date, and gives evidence of returning abruptly to the eastern bluffs again at
40 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the next greatest high tide, to its old channel, along the bed of the track of the
Sante Fé Railroad. r
In another case, more recent and extensive, in the great valley below El Paso, some
12 miles in width and 20 miles long, the river, as was plainly evident at the time I
Was surveying the land, had made a sudden change from the bluffs on the eastern ore
Texan side to the western or Mexican side of the valley.
Mexicans, who had been residents continuously in that vicinity, informed me that
this change took place in 1842. w
Again, in 1884, in this vicinity, the river swept suddenly from the Mexican side,
crossed the Southern Pacific Railroad, and destroyed both track and bed for a dis-
tance of 15 miles, stopping traffic for a period of three months and causing the re-
moval of the road to hills above the valley.
Though these are the most extensive changes that came within my personal obser-
Vation, similar ones are being made annually, from El Paso to the Gulf, which not
only prevents the settlement and development of such of the lands as are sufficiently
above the overflow (were the banks and boundaries secure), but, by reason of the
river being the national boundary between the United States and Mexico for over
1,200 miles, cause fatal embarrassments to the citizens and officials of both repub-
lics, in fixing boundaries and titles to lands, in preventing smuggling, collecting
customs, and in the legal punishment of all crimes and misdemeanors committed near
the supposed boundary line, it being easy at almost any point in its great length
to produce evidence sufficient to raise a reasonable doubt in the minds of the jurors
as to which side of the line the arrest was made or the act committed.
At the last session of Congress the House passed a joint resolution (No. 112) request-
ing the President to appoint a commission, in conjunction with a similar one from
the Republic of Mexico, to consider the matter above referred to. While surveying
these lands in 1858, and prospecting for a crossing of the Rio Grande for the Mem-
phis, El Paso and Pacific Railroad, which was then projected and, in fact, in course
of construction, I examined the pass about 3 miles above the present city of El Paso,
and discovered that it had solid rock bed and walls, the latter but about 400 feet
apart, and that the valley above which came close down to the spur of the Rocky
Mountains, which crossed the river and formed the pass, was from 4 to 8 miles wide,
with a fall of about 4 feet to the mile, so that it would be an easy matter to build a
dam in this pass and create an immense lake.
The water coming through this pass for ages has deposited at its lower end a great
mass of rocks, over which is formed rapids with about 12 feet fall, and the aborigi-
nes of prehistoric ages made use of this to carry the water on to the lands below—
no one knows how long ago; but it is known that the Mexicans have used it for two
hundred years, under most disadvantageous and unsatisfactory circumstances.
I have witnessed, each succeeding year, hundreds of Mexicans piling loose stones
on the top of this drift of rocks to raise the level to that carried away by the floods
of the preceding year; and it has been estimated by a Federal engineer sent from the
City of Mexico, that, had the labor thus expended been reduced to silver, the dam
could have been built of the solid metal.
The difficulty has been, and always will be, that there is neither bed-rock nor solid
earth in the bottom or banks, each being composed of quicksand.
In other places in the valley, temporary willow dams, 1 or 2 feet high, are made
at convenient places, and the water carried several miles below on to the lands that
are above the usual overflow; but these dams are carried away annually, and have
to be rebuilt, and frequently the river bed moves miles away from the mouth of the
ditch or acequia, rendering it useless, but even if these difficulties in carrying the
water from the bed of the river to the lands are overcome in the usual manner, it is
evident that by reason of a great overflow—say every seventh year—and a dry river
in a like period, no system of irrigation for the Rio Grande can prove satisfactory
that does not embrace a grand storage system sufficient both to restrain, to a great
extent at least, the tidal flow and maintain a costant annual flow, especially since
the great emigration and settlement in its valley is constantly doubling the demand
for water.
Being on leave of absence in the city of El Paso recently, where I was a citizen
before the war, having surveyed the first plat of the town, and being well known to
most of its citizens, I was invited by the city council to submit to it a plan for water
supply and irrigation that would overcome the difficulties above referred to.
it at once occurred to me that, as the Rio Grande was the joint property of the two
nations, and especially as the Mexicans had used its Waters since time when “the
memory of man runneth not to the contrary,” that any plan to be acceptable and satis-
factory must be international in character, and the works, both before and after
completion, under the joint Federal control of the two Inations—the more so as ripa-
rian rights in this country, so far as regards irrigation, are not well defined by law
and could be best brought about in this instance by treaty stipulations between the
two countries.
THE PROPOSED FLOW TO BE CREATED ABOVE EL PASO. 41
The matter of restraining the tidal flow by storing the water, and thus protect the
constantly-changing national boundary, occurred to me, if it could be introduced
into the project, as likely to secure encouragement and substantial aid by liberal ap-
propriations in money from both Governments.
And further, that at El Paso (now a city of over 11,000 population, with every pros-
pect of being a large manufacturing city at no distant day, there being no place
within 500 miles likely to compete with it), the subject of water-power ought also to
enter into the problem, which of necessity is of such vast proportions as to require
all incidental aid possible to attach to it to insure its success.
It will be apparent, from what has been written, that the Rio Grande is one of the
first magnitude, not only in length and breadth, but for short, annual periods in
devastating flow of waters, and that its general characteristics, as compared with
other rivers with reference to irrigation, are so abnormal as to require different and
more heroic treatment.
I therefore projected a scheme which may be briefly outlined as follows: To build
a strong dam of stones and cement—say 60 feet high—in the pass before referred to,
and by submerging about 60,000 acres of land now subject to overflow, and of little
comparative value, create a vast lake 15 miles long by 7 miles wide, with a probable
storage capacity of 4,000,000,000 cubic yards of water; place gates on each side of
the river in the dam at the 50-foot level for waste wiers and irrigating canals to sup-
ply each side of the river and keep up a flow in its bed, which would bring the water
in the canals 70 feet above the streets in the cities of El Paso and Juarez, respect-
ively,
The gates at the 50-foot level would give an available reserve of water of 10 feet
over the entire surface of the lake, over 2,000,000,000 cubic yards, which would be
exhausted during the long season of little flow for the purposes of irrigation and
other needs, as well as maintaining a constant stream in the river beds so arranged
as to exhaust the reserve about the period of annual flood, which would be checked
and held in reserve for the next season of little flow, and in this manner produce a
comparatively constant and unvarying flow of the water for each entire year below
the dam, redeeming"many times the number of acres submerged above in the lake
from overflow below, and fixing permanently the national boundary, the banks of
the river, as well as the boundaries and titles to private lands, and making it an easy
matter to collect duties and prevent Smuggling, detect crimes and misdemeanors
generally, arrest and punish criminals, as it is along other national boundaries.
The assumed flow given for the seventy-five days of high water will give about
7,500,000 cubic yards, and that for the remaining two hundred and ninety days .
1,500,000,000 cubic yards, making an aggregate annual flow of 9,000,000,000 cubic
yards. If we allow 3,000,000,000 of this for loss by evaporation and other wastes,
which former, in this dry atmosphere, is very great, perhaps 20 inchés, we havé
6,000,000,000 cubic yards, and dividing this into three equal parts, one for each side
of the river for irrigation and other needs, and the third for overflow through water
motors to furnish power to the future manufacturing cities on each side and to main-
tain a constant flow in the river below to the Gulf, as would no doubt be demanded
by the people there as their right ere they would permit the scheme to be carried
out.
The 2,000,000,000 cubic yards falling a distance 50 feet over the dam, estimating
the weight of a cubic yard of water at 1,500 pounds and one horse-power, the energy
required to lift 33,000 pounds 1 foot in a minute would expend energy equal to over
30,000 horse-power for eight hours every day in the year, and produce a constant
stream in the bed of the river 26 yards wide by 1 foot deep, running with a velocity
of 5 miles per hour, to say nothing of the probability that the greater part of the
other two-thirds would find its way again to the river-bed through the earth and
air, the whole flowing in a steady, continuous stream to the mouth of the river, to be
used as required at any season of the year, instead of, as is now the case, six-eighths
of the entire mass of the annual flow going rapidly to the Gulf in the short period
of seventy-five days untaxed.
Estimating the amount of water required for annual irrigation at 20 inches, the
water reserved for that purpose would be sufficient for 1,000,000 acres on each side of
the river, all that could be reclaimed from the desert for 100 miles below.
To carry out this project, I recommended to the people on each side of the Rio
Grande that they petition to the executive authority of their respective nations for
the creation of a joint commission, to draw up the necessary treaty stipulations to
protect the work and the rights of all interested in them, the fundamental feature of
which should certainly be that each nation should have the right to divert no more
than one-third of the flow at any period, and that one-third the flow should be main-
talmed in the bed of the river, and that this international commission have charge
and control of the work after completion as well as during construction. 8
That the legislative authorities of the two nations be asked to appropriate, after
complete investigations and estimates have been made, money sufficient to complete
42 1RRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the work, probably $100,000 for the dam proper, $100,000 for the condemnation of the
50,000 acres of land to be submerged, and $100,000 for the removal of some 15 miles
of the road-bed of the Atchison, Topeka and Šanta Fé Railroad to bluffs above the
old bed of the river, where the track now lies, subject to annual damage, and sooner
Or later, total destruction, unless removed.
It will also be apparent that the waters of this great lake will be clear and fresh,
the silt held in suspension in the current of the river being precipitated as soon as it
enters the still water of the lake, doing away with the great trouble and expense
how necessary in keeping the canals and ditches ãºff of sedimentary deposits,
and a further great benefit derived from using water reduced in temperature by ex-
posure for months in a warm climate far below that used in the early spring, which
comes in three days from Snow and ice and is immediately applied to the young and
tender sprouting plants, chilling and checking their growth.
I know of no point on the Rio Grande—between Albuquerque and the Gulf of Mex-
ico—where nature has provided both the natural basin and rim for a lake of such
great dimensions—for indeed it can be made 100 feet deep, if desired, and it may be
questioned whether a depth of 60 feet with 10 feet reserve to draw from will afford
sufficient storage to control perfectly the tide at its highest flow.
This project was well received by the people, and has been earnestly discussed in
the public press of the locality ever since, with general approbation and a disposi-
tion to endeavor to carry it out as quickly as possible; the only question exciting
any general distrust being that of the sedimentary deposit in the lake, which, it is
held by some will shorten the life of the reservoir by filling the lake at such an early
period as to render the scheme of doubtful expediency, and opinions differ very widely
upon this subject, which is indeed a problematical one, and can only be determined
even approximately by actual measurements of a #. majority of the annual flow,
for the quantity of sediment changes with flow and season.
That the bed of the river will eventually be filled, of course is only a matter of
time; but whether in fifteen or one hundred and fifty years can only be ascertained
by prolonged actual measurements; but, even if filled in the near future, it seems to
me that the difficulty may be overcome by raising the dam, unless, indeed, that should
be required too often.
The matter has already been referred to Major Powell, Chief of the Geological Survey,
who has sent Capt. Clarence Dutten, of his department, to El Paso to investigate and
report upon the feasibility of the scheme; but as the initial steps, should it be pro-
nounced feasible, must come from your Department in the nature of international
treaty stipulations, I have thought it proper to thus early acquaint you with the
grand project.
I beg to refer you to the Hon. Mr. Lanham, member of Congress from Texas, who
is acquainted with me personally and my projected Scheme.
ANSON MILLS,
Major, Tenth Cavalry, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Army
The SECRETARY OF STATE,
Washington, D. C.
EXTRACTS FROM MAJOR MILLS’s ANSWER TO CIRCULAR OF INQUIRY.
The country is certainly to be congratulated that Congress has so willingly and
generously taken the initiative in making appropriations for experimental examina;
tions, indicating a purpose of putting the matter on a footing with other internal
improvements. While I lay no claim to any special attainments in the particular
sciences applicable to the development of the great and grand schemes that are cer-
tain to be brought forward and accomplished in the near future, I feel that a youth
spent in tilling the soil, and a manhood mostly spent on the arid plains of the Great
Southwest, º I have obtained that general knowledge of its characteristic feat-
ures that observation alone gives, but, more than all, a familiar acquaintance for the
past thirty years with the abnormal characteristics of one, of the greatest riversin the
great North American continent, and destined, in my judgment, to gut, a greater
figure in the matter of providing water for irrigation than any other in the United
States—the Rio Grande—has qualified me to say something of interest on the
subject.
}*. to submit here with as a part of my report (see Exhibit A), a copy of a letter
addressed by me to the honorable Secretary of the State on the 10th of December, sub-
mitting a project for controlling the annual floods in the Rio Grande and the preser-
vation of the national boundary between the United States and Mexico, incidental to
which there would be derived great facilities to both nations for irrigation and Water-
power. What is said of the Rio Grande is true of all the larger rivers in the arid re;
gions; they are allessentially torrential in character, at times carrying great floods and r
--
PRELIMINARY OF ERATIONS UNDER MAJOR MILLS. 43
again dry, the latter condition generally happening in the season of irrigation, hence
the generally unsuccessful efforts, almost universally practiced until recently, of at-
tempts to take water immediately from the river beds without dams or reservoirs to
the lands to be irrigated, allowing vast volumes to pass when not needed and being at
the season most needed, in some years powerless to carry anything, and manifesting
clearly the absolute necessity of abandoming present methods, and resorting to the
more expensive, yet more certain and economical methods, of large dams and res-
ervoirs. In soil, heat, and light, all so essential to vegetable growth, these arid re-
gions are generally favored by nature above other parts of the country, and water is
generally available in abundance if properly preserved until the time of need, and I
predict that if the time shall ever come when even the greater portion of it is held in
lakes and reservoirs, instead of being permitted, as now, to go quickly to the sea, that
the high winds and extreme aridity of the atmosphere, now so prevalent and detri-
mental to vegetable growth, will be decreased by the exposure of large surfaces of
water, creating greater humidity and more precipitation in rain and dew and a tem-
perament of the extreme heat of the midday, thus modifying the parching dry winds.
My letter above referred to was perhaps the prime cause of my being stationed at
‘this post under Special Order No. 85, current series, from the War Department to as-
sist the officers of the Geological Survey in the preliminary international accommo-
dations and adjustments between two peoples here and the preparation of the neces-
sary surveys, plans, estimates, etc., to present the project in an intelligent form to
Congress at its next session with a view to the procurement of an appropriation at as
early a date as possible for the accomplishment of the work, in conjunction with sim-
ilar agencies from the Mexican Government, the scheme in its entire scope being es-
sentially an international one, the waters of the river being the joint property of
the two nations. I have purposely delayed this report until this late day that I
might be able to show some progress in the project which I have so much at heart
and which I trust may not prove entirely uninteresting to those in authority over
Iſle),
I arrived here May 4, and at once presented my letter of instructions from Major
Powell to Mr. Garfias, the Federal engineer; Colonel Candano, the Jefe Politico of the
Canton del Bravo, and other local officials of the other side to whom I explained in
detail the projected enterprise, which they one and all received in the most kind and
encouraging manner, giving me permission to establish one end of my cable for the
gauging station on Mexican soil, and promising to assist me generally in any reasonable
manner. Ithen invited Mr. Garfias, the Mexican engineer, to co-operate with me to any
extent he might see proper by accompanying me in my investigations, surveys, and
measurements, that his Government might have a knowledge of all preliminary work
in the matter from the beginning. He replied that he would take the responsibility of
doing so at once, pending action on official application which he would at once make
to his superior, the minister of public works in the City of Mexico, and later on
he furnished me with a copy of the minister's authorization, and he has continued to
inform bimself with the nature of all our work.
On May 6, Messrs. Williams and Dyar reported to me, and we proceeded at once to
procure the material for the establishment of the station for the measurement of the
flow and evaporation of the water and the silt carried in suspension, selecting a point
in the limits of this post and about 300 yards above the old dam in the river for the
suspension of the steel cable, and on the 20th we had everything complete, and have
continued our measurements to this date with the following general results:
I found the river abnormally low on my arrival May 4, carrying probably but 5,000
feet, and it has continued falling quite regularly, old residents saying that it has car-
ried less water during the same period than they have known formany years. Every
indication points to an entirely dry river within a few weeks, to last perhaps for many
months, as sometimes happens, though heavy rains on the upper river may prevent.
While this will be exceedingly unfortunate for the country, it will assist our investi-
gºry materially in search of the bed rock and the prospects of the project
generally. -
Our first measurement of flow was taken May 20, showing 4,300 feet, and the last,
taken to-day, shows but 100 feet.
The measurements for evaporation began May 10 and have run very regularly,
averaging about 35 of an inch per day or 10 inches per month for May and June,
but now seem to be decreasing to about .25 daily.
Mr. Pyar has taken almost daily measurements of the silt in suspension since June
10, with results varying from one quarter to one half of 1 per cent of the water car-
Tied, save in one case of local rains, which lasted some twelve hours, wherein the
per cent. Tose to 1%. The general average of the per cent, of the water carried,
agºording to the assumption that a cubic foot of dry sediment weighs 85 pounds, is
345 of 1 per cent, Assuming this to be correct, and that it will take one year's time
for the river to fill the lake with water, it will take about three hundred years for
the lake to fill with sediment. *
44 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
t
On the 27th of May, at the solicitation of the United States Senate Committee on
Irrigation, the mayor of El Paso appointed Messrs. Bronson, Davis, Magoffin, Mê-
Cutcheon, and Mills, a committee to collect data, etc., relating to the subject of irri-
gation, for the consideration of said Senate committee on its expected arrival here in
September mext ; and a few days thereafter, at the solicitation of the mayor of El
Paso, the mayor of Juarez appointed Messrs. Sanchez, Padilla, Provencio, Count
Duprez, and Superintendent of Public Works Garfias, a committee to act in conjunc-
tion with the one on this side, and it is understood that this committee has requested
of its Government that an engineer be sent to run a line of levels for a canal from
the proposed dam, and to ascertain the quantity of land it would cover for 50 miles
below, and that a committee similar to that of our Senate be organized to meet here
in September to investigate and discuss with the American committee the inter-
national features of the project, to the end that a common and intelligent under-
standing may be reached at an early day between the two countries in the matter.
Meanwhile, Colonel Nettleton, the supervising engineer of the Geological Survey,
visited this station and after a thorough examination of the project, the lands, the
river, and the railroads, and an interview with the fivo committees, jointly decided
to make the necessary surveys, plans, and estimates, and employed Mr. W. M. Fol-
lett, an engineer, with four assistants, who are now in a camp, the equipage of which
was kindly furnished by the commanding officer of this post, doing the field work,
and he informs me that he will be able to complete the whole, including the office
work, by the time of the arrival of the Senate committee in September.
Colonel Nettleton having informed me that he had been instructed not to make
any expenditures below El Paso this year, and seeing the necessity of some data to
present to the committee showing the ever-changing bed of the river and the
national boundary in the valley below for the past forty years, and also the extent
of land that will be covered by a canal from the proposed lake or reservoir, I laid the
matter before the El Paso committee, and it at once made application to the county
commissioners, through the county judge, Mr. Townsend, resulting in an order from
the commissioners to the county surveyor to Teport to me to prepare the necessary data
at the expense of the county, in connection with Mr. Follett's surveys. I will try and
arrange that the county surveyor and the Mexican surveyor, in preparing plats of the
beds of the river at the different periods, when any considerable surveys of land were
made on either side to work in conjunction, that the greatest detail and accuracy
possible may be obtained. -
I feel that our project is progressing as promisingly as could be expected, and that
we shall be able to make such a clear showing to the legislative authorities of the two
nations that it will fix and control their boundaries; that there will be little difficulty
in arranging the necessary international treaty stipulations, and appropriations in
money to complete the work at an early day, laying aside the great “object lesson”
it would place before the people of both countries as to the possibilities in the line of
irrigation.
I beg to suggest the examination later on of another international project of a
similar nature, of a dam in the Rio Colorado at Yuma, a short distance above the
Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge, say 30 feet high, that would create a large lake,
mostly I think on unappropriated lands, control the floods and boundary below,
and afford ample water for the irrigation of vast quantities of land both in Mexico
and the United States, and the formation of a lake, say 50 feet deep, in that miserable
“Yuma Desert,” the center of which would be somewhere near Salton Station, tem-
pering the climate so that the country would be habitable, and providing water for
the irrigation of the thousands of acres not covered by the lake, but below the level
of the sea. The Mexicans would be the greatest beneficiaries should this project be
found practicable and carried out, but it would afford another grand “object les-
sou’’ in the possibilities of water storage.
timsºmºmºsºs º-
ExTRACTS FROM MAJOR MILLS’ REPORT TO E. S. NETTLETON, C. E., SUPERVIS-
ING ENGINEER, U. S. IRRIGATION SURVEY.
Mearican official action.—After receiving the necessary authority from the ministel
of public works in the City of Mexico, Mr. Garfias, their engineer, has kept him-
self advised concerning all our investigations to this date, and I propose furnishing
him with a copy of all maps and reports relating thereto with a view to inducing
the Mexican Congress (now in Session) before their adjournment in January to pass a
joint resolution authorizing their President to join the United States in the construc-
tion of the dam proper and appropriating $150,000 for that purpose should our Govern-
ment make a like appropriation; this for the purpose of gaining a year's time in the
commencement of the work.
EvapoRATION volumE AND RIVER SOUNDINGs. 45
Measurement of evaporation.—May 6 Messrs. Williams and Dyar reported to me.
Measurements for evaporation began May 10 and were continued until the present
date with the following results:
May (twenty-one days, 11th to 31st).-----...---------------------------------- 7. 31
June -------------------. --------------------------------------------------- 11. 23
July---------------------- , ºn as ºr sº, º sm ºn tº se sº me º as º ºs s m = s. s. sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -------- 9. 05
August --------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.85
September.----------------------------------------------------------------- 8. 20
Total.---------------------------------------------------------------- 46. 64
A total of 46.64 inches for one hundred and forty-three days, or a mean of .32 of an
inch per day. As these one hundred and forty-three days embraced the season of
greatest sity. it is probable that the annual evaporation will be about 6 feet.
Measurement of flow.—May 20 our gauging station was established, the first meas-
urement taken that day showing 4,300 cubic feet per second; the last, taken July
30, showing 30 cubic feet. On August 5 the river ceased to flow, and has not car-
ried any water to this date, though some small pools of water are still to be found
in the pass, sufficient to float the evaporation pans. During the measurements of flow
the fall of the river was very continuous and gradual, and other conditions favor-
able to the projection of curve for the measurement of highest flood, as shown by
drift marks, but, unfortunately, about the middle of our observations the crest of the
Mexican dam, only 300 yards below the station, was raised about 12 inches, distort-
ing the projection of the curve so that no reliance could be placed upon it. The river
probably carries about 9,000 cubic feet at highest flood, and perhaps an annual aver-
age of about 1,200 cubic feet per second.
Measurement of silt.—Between June 10 and July 28, one hundred and eighteen Sam-
ples of water were taken from different parts of the river's current, and the sediment
of each carefully measured, with the following results: The average of the per cent.
of the volume of water carried, according to the assumption that a cubic foot of dry
sediment weighs 85 pounds, is .345 of 1 per cent. The results varied from one-quarter
to one-half of 1 per cent. of the water carried save in one case of local rain, the flood
of which lasted some twelve hours, wherein the per cent. rose to 1%.
Assuming this to be correct and that it will take one year's time for the river to fill
the lake with water, it will take about three hundred years for the lake to fill with
sediment; this, however, is making no allowance for evaporation, which is very great
(possibly on the surface of the lake one-fourth the annual flow), or for the moving
quicksand in the river's bottom, or the detritus to be thrown into the lake by storms
from the gulches and ravines from its mountainous sides.
It is, however, safe to assume that at least one hundred and fifty years must elapse
before its basin can be filled with solid matter. If these premises be correct it should
e remembered that each year one, one hundred and fiftieth part of the lake's basin
will be filled with solid matter, thus decreasing year by year its storage capacity in
that proportion ; but the date when any or all of these causes may destroy its effi-
ciency is so remote as to be unworthy of consideration. This silt problem seemed to
be the most formidable one confronting the enterprise. After it had been favorably
determined you visited the locality, inspected the proposed sites for dam, the basin for
the lake, and the location of the two railroads, from an engineer's stand-point, and de-
cided to have preliminary surveys, plans, and estimates for the entire work made as
quickly as possible in order that the project might be presented to Congress at its
coming session. * * *
Soundings for bed-rock.—The soundings for bed-rock were made under my super-
vision in the following manner: The rods were of octagonal cast-steel, printed as a
Square pyramid, one for shallow soundings of one-half inch steel 18feet long, another
three-fourth inch and 32 feet long for medium soundings, and still another double
rod, jointed in two sections, of 1 inch, 26 feet long, each for the deeper soundings. A
tripod 20 feet high with a ring in its apex was necessary to keep these flexible rods
in a perpendicular position while being worked by four men with two iron clamp-
bars, arranged to adjust to any part of the rod as it passed down. The entire 3 miles
of the pass were prospected for the bed-rock at all points where the walls of the
cañon rendered it practicable to build a dam ; but only two available sites were
found, the 52-foot rod failing to touch bottom at other points. * * * It is not ab-
solutely certain that the true bed-rock exists as described in the soundings, or if it
does exist that it is free from faults or rifts, or of such a quality as to support a dam
of the kind designed; but every evidence possible with such soundings was obtained,
being the more positive at the lower site by reason of the rock being so much nearer
the surface, and the friction on the rods consequently much less. The rod rang out
clearly when in contact with the rock at the lower site, while at the upper it was
dull and indefinite. Before any permanent work is commenced, the fact of the ex-
46 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
istence of suitable bed-rock should be determined by boring out cores from it with
a diamond drill. .* >
Relative merits of the two dam-sites.—The upper site has but two advantanges over
the lower one ; the first being that it is of sufficient distanco from the Santa Fé
depot to allow that line to be rebuilt on its ruling grade and rise above the dam,
which it is impossible to do from the lower site, it being 2 niles from the depot; the
Second, that the walls of the cañon will allow the dam to be built higher, should it
ever be desired.
The lower site has many advantages over the upper one; first, the cost will prob-
ably be one-half that of the upper, the bed-rock being but 22 feet from the water-
level at its deepest part and for the greater distance across the channel from 2 to 9
feet only, While the upper site is from 30 to 50 feet for the entire cross-section. The
old Mexican dam, which has a fall of about 12 feet, is about 1,000 yards below this
Site, and by breaking this and opening a channel through the sand to this site, I think
the water could be fowered 8 or 10 feet, so that the bed-rock for the greater part of
the cross-section would be presented above the water; it would be necessary of
Course to do this in a season of low water and perhaps to flume the channel with
lumber. In this manner I think this dam might be completed in one year, and if
commenced at the right season the flood-waters of that year reserved. At the upper
site it would take one year to build the coffer-dams and get the masonry above water.
I have suggested a double curvilinear dam with three heavy buttresses, which I think
well adapted to that site. These buttresses could be built in the manner indicated
by moving the middle one a little nearer the left bank than shown by the gencil mark
entirely out of water. Other advantages are that one end of the dam would be on
Mexican soil, and that 1% miles of expensive and difficult canals on either side would
be avoided.
To have the benefit of these advantages, however, it is necessary to get the Santa
Fé Railroad above the water in the lake.
It will be observed that the Southern Pacific in its north-bound course leaves the
valley just before reaching the lower dam-site and climbs the bluff behind the smelter,
Crossing two arroyas marked A and B, on Mr. Follett's map No. 1, and on a down grade
before reaching the bridge. It has occurred to me that the two roads might be ad-
justed to use a common double track from Fort Bliss, with a cut about 15 feet deep
in the bluff behind the smelter, and by a strong retaining-wall built on the fills in
the two arroyas mentioned, so that their tracks would be some 10 or 12 feet below
the surface of the lake behind these walls and yet gain an altitude before reaching
the third arroya, near the present bridge sufficient to carry them above the waters of
the lake. The problem then would be to cross the Southern Pacific over the broad
river's channel by heavy and well ballasted crib-piers rising to near the surface of
low water in the lake so that all the wood-work might be well preserved by submer-
Sion, and a Superstructure of such a nature as to be restored independently. If this
be practicable it will solve the difficult problem of putting one end of the dam in
Mexico, and keeping both railroads exclusively in the United States.
The laws of Texas require joint or union depots in cities where railroads cross
each other, and sooner or later the railroads in El Paso will be required to comply
with them. Should the dam be built the radical changes wrought in the two roads
mentioned above will no doubt hasten other adjustments in the city, and, as neither
have any permanent depots, will probably result in a union depot, in which case the
Southern Pacific would doubtless depart west on the south side of the Santa Fe,
i. would obviate the present crossing, which gives trouble in any adjustment for
the dam.
I beg to recommend that on the first intimation of favorable consideration by Con-
gress of this project, that an engineer be sent here to investigate the practicability of
this double track and retaining-wall for the easement of the grade of the Santa Fe
to enable it to rise over the water of the lake formed by a dam at the lower site.
Agricultural features.—The land that would be brought under a high-line ditch
from this lake, with a fall of 12 inches to the mile for 60 miles below, would be over
100,000 acres, consisting of about 20,000 above the flood-waters of the river and below
the waters of the #. ditches now in operation, which would hardly be con-
sidered as being redeemed by the project. About 40,000 acres are below the highest
flood-waters of the river and about 40,000 more are above the waters of the highest
ditches in operation, yet would be below the high-line ditch from the lake, so that
80,000 acres would be redeemed, and could justly be taxed for water rights should
the Government see proper to re-imburse itself for the investment. On the Mexican
side there would be perhaps 125,000 acres to be brought under their high-line ditch;
this estimate is approximate only, no º having been made as on our side, though
an engineer is about to commence the work. ©
Water-power.—The water-power made available by the construction of this dam
would be of great magnitude. If, as before assumed, the mean annual flow of the
river is 1,200 cubic feet per second, and one-half that quantity can be utililized in a
.**
THE WESTED WATER RIGHTS AND BOUNDARY LINE. 47
fall of 50'feet over the dam, or from the high-line canals below to the lowlands, for
irrigation, we should have 600 cubic feet per second, or 36,000 cubic feet per minute;
assuming the weight of a cubic foot of water to be 62 pounds, we have 2,332,000 pounds
falling a distance of 50 feet each minute, or 111,600,000 falling 1 foot each minute,
which, divided by 33,000, gives us 3,381 constant horse-power, or 10,143 horse-power,
less, of course, loss by friction, for eight hours every day in the year. There are few
cities on the continent possessing such vast water-power, and, by reason of high price
of coal here, it would be of greatest value to the citizens of the sister Republic in this
locality. The leasing of this power, should it be thought proper, would produce
another revenue for re-imbursement.
Wested water-rights.—The records of Jaurez, formerly Paso del Norte, clearly estab-
lish that when first settled by the Spaniards, over two hundred years ago, it was an
Indian village subsisting partly upon vegetables raised by irrigation from a ditch
and dam in the same location as the one now in existence; that this was a loose
bowlder stone dam yearly repaired by piling bowlders on those not carried away and
buried in the quicksand below by the floods of the preceding year. This process was
continued until within the last six years, when efforts have been made to form a
cement cresting on the dam, but it too has been annually destroyed. In 1827 Juan
Maria Ponce de Leon made the first settlement on the left bank of the river, on a nar-
row strip of land then forming under the hills opposite Paso del Norte, and by common
consent took a ditch from the waters above the dam which has been maintained for
the benefits of the residents of this side of the river to this day without the expendi-
ture of a single dollar in the original construction of the dam or the millions that
have been spent in its repair. On the annexation of Texas to the United States, over
forty years ago, the Mexicans raised no question of assessment or expense of main-
tenance, but #. continued to divide with our people the waters from their
dam, the product of their own labor, there being sufficient for both except in seasons
of extreme drought, about once in seven years. Now has come a great change; the
river has been entirely dry for nearly three months," was dry for about the same
period last year; the people this side have suffered, but the Mexicans on the other
side have suffered much more for the reason that their sustenance comes almost ex-
clusively from agriculture. Should these seasons of drought be succeeded by two
more, but a small portion of the population on the Mexican side could remain here
for want of subsistence. There are now about 25,000 in the valley for 50 miles be-
low, and an equal number on the American side.
Both the Americans and the Mexicans claim that this drought in the Rio Grando is
caused by the taking of numerous ditches from that river and its tributaries by the
citizens of Colorado and New Mexico, and it is apparent that it is true, though I am
not as well prepared to substantiate the fact as you are. . By reference, however, to
the “Fourth Biennial Report of the State Engineer of Colorado for 1887–88,” it will
be observed that there are over three hundred ditches taken from the Rio Grande
and its tributaries in that State. (See pages 287 to 325.) Most of these ditches have
had but a short existence and many others are being rapidly taken out, so that from
that State alone the peril to the people here of a water famine in the future seems
great indeed. º
The Rio Grande has a much longer passage through the Territory of New Mexico,
and it is well known that much water is being in like manner taken out from that
river and its tributaries in an increased proportion each year, though I am unable to
find any official statistics on the subject.
The Mexicans are in great distress, yet protest patiently that they are being de-
prived of vested rights inherited for many generations, and that according to ripa-
rian laws the United States is under a moral obligatio;1 to indemnify them for their
loss or make some reparation, such as the construction of the projected dam and res-
ervoir. I am not qualified to discuss the legal aspects of this case, but leave it to
other hands. t -
Boundary line.—The “deepest channel” of the Rio Grande, except when “changed
abruptly into a new bed by eruption or evulsion,” is understood to be the boundary
line between the United States and Mexico. The prime object of this project is to
fix and control that boundary.
It is certain that it will do this for at least 200 miles below, if a comparatively
constant flow of clear water unburdened by silt is allowed to pass through the dam
into the channel constantly and the channelstraightened and shortened by numerous
cut-offs in the great bends so as to give greater fall and a better aligntment below
200 miles; the river has two considerable confluents, in the Pecos from Texas and the
Concho from Mexico, the floods of which may possibly cause some changes, as they
carry considerable silt.
"Superintendent Ennis of the Southern Pacific Railroad has since informed me
that the wells of his road between this place and Hancock are failing.
48 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
I believe the reservoir in the lake will in the main control the boundary line from
these tributaries to the Gulf of Mexico. *
For the past forty years the river has been so continuously shifting its bed from
one side of the valley lands to the other with each succeeding flood of water (in
many cases unknown whether by evulsion or gradual erosion and deposit) that it is
impossible to determine to which nation the land on either bank of the river belongs,
for a great portion of the distanee through the alluvial valleys, to say nothing of
the fact that these lands are almost valueless by being submerged and rendered im-
practicable of permanent occupancy. -
* * # 36 * * *
In order to illustrate graphically the changes made by the river, Mr. Townsend,
the judge of El Paso County, with the approval of the commissioners, directed their
surveyor, Mr. Heldt, at the expense of the county, to make the necessary surveys to
determine the exact location of the river at this date, and from the sefield-notes and
the surveys of other dates on file in his office to compile a map showing the changes
, that have taken place in the past forty years between the line of New Mexico and Fort
Hancock; also to ascertain the quantity of land that would be brought under the
ditch by running a line of levels for a high-line canal (to be taken from the proposed
lake) from Fabems to Fort Hancock. |
I was informed some time ago by Mr. Garfias, the Mexican federal engineer, that
his Government had ordered an engineer to Juarez to make a similar survey of the
river and lands on the Mexican side, together with a line of levels for a high-line
ditch from the dam.
International features.—As the Waters of the Rio Grande as well as the boundary
line belongs jointly to the two nations, this project can never be carried out without
their perfect concord in purpose and action, and in view of the evident prior rights
of the Mexicans and the equally evident fact that they are being deprived of them
by the citizens of the United States in Colorado and New Mexico, and the further
consideration that they have furnished water from their dam untaxed for forty years
to the citizens of the United States on this side, I recommend that the United States
Congress take the initiative by making an appropriation to cover the entire expense
of the work save the one-half the expense of the dam proper, conditioned only that
the Mexican Government shall appropriate a sufficient sum to cover the expense of
constructing the other half of the dam and accept this action on the part of the
United States as full indemnification for their prior rights alleged to have been
usurped, and that an international commission, similar to the one proposed in the
House resolution before referred to, be organized for the double purpose of super-
vising the construction of the dam, changing and straightening the channel of the
river, and establishing a permanent international boundary to forever coincide there-
with, as far below El Paso as the dam may prove effectual in maintaining a constant
channel.
Construction.—As under the most favorable circumstances, with the success of an
appropriation from both Governments this winter, at least one season must pass,
probably two, and possibly three, before the waters from the dam can be available
and that in all likelihood these seasons will be like the present and past, depriving
the Mexican citizens of “101 Canton del Bravo” of occupa, on and means of support,
I further recommend that for the purpose of the entire construction of this project in
rebuilding the railroads as well as the construction of the dam proper that the “Alien
Labor Act 7' be suspended so far as it applies to that canton of the Republic of Mex-
1C0.
In conclusion, J beg to say that I think the construction of this work essential to
the continued existence of these frontier settlements; I believe it an obligation justly
due from the Government of the United States to the Americans and Mexicans Com-
posing them; that in accomplishing it the Government will be availing itself of the
grandest opportunity to set before the whole people an “object lesson’ of the very
first magnitude in the line of that great national development of redemption of arid
wastes now dawning upon the country, and giving promise to exceed all others with
which it has been blessed, without compromising its future action in similar internal
projects, because this, being international and more a question of the rectification of
an international boundary, is unique.
whAT THE MEXICANs DESIRE ON THE DAM PROJECT. 49
MEXICAN ACTION IN RELATION TO PROPOSED WORKS.
[Extract from El centinela, of Ciudad Juarez (Paso del Norte), November 24, 1889. Translation.]
The following petition has been addressed by the Mexican committee on the Rio
Grande international dam and water supply, to their deputies in the Mexican Con-
gress mentioned below. The editor of El Centinela says: & o
“The committee is deserving of great honor for the zeal it displays in favor of these
to Wns.
“Water is the life of these settlements, drought their speedy ruin. If we do not
take advantage of the opportune moment for regulating the vital subject of water, it
will be a weary task at no distant day to repair the mistake and avert the threatened
evil. r
“People continue to emigrate, driven by hunger, and their departure entails pov-
erty on those who remain.
“What are Guadalupe, Zaragoza, S. Ignacio doing with the protest of El, Paso 3
Will these towns not stirº Is the water question of no importance to them 3 °
THE MEXICAN COMMITTEE ON THE MILLS PROJECT.
The committee in extraordinary session has resolved to intrust to you the object
communicated, in a separate paper, in order that by making use of your influence and
of the character lent you by your quality of representative and by your constituency,
you may be pleased to entreat of those to whom it pertains the prompt dispatch of
the subject to which we refer, which will inaugurate a real state of well-being in
place of the melancholy situation in which this locality is placed by the absolute lack
of water. We tender in advance our gratitude and protest our attentive considera-
tion.
Ciudad Juarez, November 21, 1889.
- DAMASO SANCHEZ,
President.
IGNACIO GARFIAS,
Secretary.
To our Messrs Deputies in the Congress of the Union :
C. MANUEL RINCóN, C. José VALENZUELA, and MANUELO LEON.
THE MEXICAN COMMITTEE ON THE MILLS PROJECT,
This part of the frontier suffers at present from an absolute want of water, as the
river has run dry since the end of July past. The consequences of this drought have
been the total loss of the crops in the fields, and the diminution, on an enormous
scale, of fruit in orchards, many of the more delicate trees in the latter having died
of drought. Six mills, whose motor force was the water, have stopped running.
Flocks find no watering places, and families lack the precious liquid, even for indis-
pensable domestic uses. The authorities in order to alleviate to some extent this dis-
tress, have put up public pumps, and persons whose means permit have put up others,
allowing the free use of them to neighbors who were debarred from resorting to the
same expedient. Still, as the inhabited portion at a distance from the river is consider-
able, and the erection of pumps has been limited to the central part where the popu-
lation is denser and the supply greater, the result has been that the families in the
more distant portions from the center have had to emigrate, abandoning their homes,
and suffering losses which in many cases have amounted to complete ruin.
All this injury is without natural cause. The river has enough water in its upper
part, and that water would suffice if the one-half secured to us by treaty was allowed
to run down to the frontier, but such is not the case. Irrigation companies have been
formed in the United States, which take the water of the Bravo to irrigate the lands
of Colorado and New Mexico, intercepting it altogether, leaving the river dry in the
part which divides New Mexico from Texas, and afterwards separates the latter State
from our Republic. -
The inhabitants of Texas have already taken pertinent steps, asking the protection
of their General Government, in order that they may in some way receive the water
for the fertilization of their lands. They ask this as a favor, since the public lands
of Texas belong not to the Federal Government, but to the State.
We must ask the same, not as a favor, but in virtue of the duty incumbent on
the American Government according to existing treaties to turn over to us one-half
138 A L–VoI, II 4
*
50 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
-
of the water which the river naturally contains, which half has been unduly seized by
citizens of that country, with the authorization and protection which the authorities
have been obliged to give to those enterprises. • *
With this object, the inhabitants of this locality have raised a protest, which under
the conduct of local and State authorities is already operative, in the hands of the
Secretary of relations, in order that the secretary shall make due reclamation to the
Government at Washington. - * --
In order to carry out practically the restitution which we claim, we have thought Y
of means that may be employed. At first sight the most natural means seems to be
to cause the waters now diverted to return to their natural channel; but since consid-
erable interests have already been created by the irrigation companies to which we
have referred, and since it would not be equitable to take from one an advantage
Which may be given to another by other means, we agree, both the citizens of El Paso,
Tex., and those of this place, that the radical remedy lies in the realization of the
Mills project at the expense of both nations and according to proper preliminary
treaty. This project consists in the construction of a conduit 60 feet above the mean
height of the water, which within the river channel is to close up the space between
the bordering hills. Behind this conduit there is an extensive valley with very gentle
slope, which is to be filled to an extent of 26,300 acres to a maximum depth of 3 feet
8 inches. Adopting a mean depth of 1 foot, the capacity of the lake is found to be
532,000 acres. The mean volume of the river is calculated at 1,200 cubic feet per sec-
ond, of which we would be entitled to one-half, or 600 cubic feet per second, at a
height of 50 feet on issuing from the conduit. This would yield a motive power of
3,381 horses constantly at work, or 10,143 horses working only eight hours a day, an
enormous quantity, which will give rise to the establishment of new industries. This
consideration alone should suffice to determine the execution of a work which is to
produce so great an improvement.
At present there are irrigated and cultivated from 25,000 to 30,000 acres of ground,
and inspection of the ancient works still existing assures us that by the new canal
that is to issue from the projected conduit there might be irrigated 100,000 to 125,000
acres continuously, and without fear of the river's failure at any time.
Among other advantages of the project is this, that the outlays and labors will cease
which the municipality and the population are constantly obliged to make in the re-
pairs which the conduit requires. -
But the great international importance of the work and the real advantage for the
two nations lie in the fact that the dividing line marked by the river will never more
undergo change up to the mouth of the river Conchos at Presidio del Norte, because
its water being distributed in the American and Mexican irrigation canals, no more .
will be allowed to run in the river than the quantity necessary for the needs of the
riverain towns farther down, the channel being rectified and a true canal being
formed which will be invariable, and will smooth over the questions now existing
concerning the proprietorship of the ground left by the river on one or the other side
of its banks. : - *
On the American side the preliminary steps have already been taken to insure the
appropriation by Congress of the sum necessary to accomplish the work. The locality
has been visited and all the pertinent data have been obtained by the Senators form-
ing the Irrigation Commission, the deputy for the State of Texas, and the Chief of the
Geological Survey. Engineers, topographers, hydrographers, geologists have gone
and surveyed the topography and made hydrographic and geologic studies, and have
completed the project of the work, calculating its cost, including indemnity for the
ground to be occupied by the two railways whose location will have to be changed;
All persons that have come to study the case are unanimous in their opinion that
the primordial right of Mexico given by treaty is unquestionable. They further
agree in holding that since Mexico made no objections after the annexation of Texas
to the United States to the construction of conduits by Americans for the purpose of
taking the water which they have used since that time for the irrigation of the new
American territory, without having a share in the expenses of construction, recon:
struction, and constant repair, she has thus acquired, in view of her generosity, and
of the indemnity which she may claim for the damage she has suffered and will gon:
tinue to suffer, § the occupation of waters which are her property, the moral right
of not being called upon to bear one-half of the total cost of the work, but only one-
half of the total cost of the wall or work of masonry. The total cost of the Work
will be $1,000,000, and the cost of the wall $300,000. Thus the Mexican Government
would obtain for $150,000 all the advantages we have enumerated. . .
It is safe to say that our Government will not hesitate to make the reclamation,
carry out the treaty, and vote the sum required; but the situation in which we are
now placed is unbearable, and we need prompt remedy. Hence it is imperative that
our petition, in the hands of our minister at Washington, shall be made efficient at
the next meeting of the American Congress in the coming December, in order that
that Congress, during its coming session, may appropriate the necessary sum for the
opinions of ARMY OFFICERS ON IRRIGATION. 51
work; and it is requisite that the indemnity be demanded by our Government, since
the State of Texas may be denied what it asks as a favor, while our nation can not
be denied what it asks as an indisputable right. -
Hence it behooves to agitate without a day's rest, for the dispatch of the protest
raised by the people of Ciudad Juarez, in order that our reclamation may arrive at
washington during the first days of the coming December in due form and through
the proper channels.
This is the favor we ask and hope of you, trusting in your patriotism and in the
interest which you bear this part of our territory.
We tender you in advance the most sincere demonstrations of our gratitude, and
assure you of our particular and distinguished consideration.
Ciudad Juarez, November 21, 1889.
DAMASO SANCHEZ,
President.
IGNACIO GARFIAS,
Secretary.
To the Messrs. Deputies in the Congress of the Union,
C. JESUS WALENZUELA, C. MANUEL RINCON, C. MARCELO LEON,
Mearico.
REPORTS OF MILITARY OFFICERS STATIONED ON THE RIO
GRANDE, FRONTIER, DEPARTMENT OF TEXAS.
CIRCULAR OF INQUIRY.
The following inquiries were made by circular issued from Army Department Head-
quarters at San Antonio, Tex., in response to the request of the chairman of the
committee, made through its engineer expert, Mr. R. J. Hinton.
(1) What system of irrigation is used in your post or in the vicinity thereoff
(2) What is the source of water supply?
(3) What is the quantity of water-supplied?
(4) What is the area of land irrigated ?
(5) What is the length of main ditch...
(6) What is the length of secondary ditches 3
7) What was the cost (approximate) of putting in the system 3
§ What was the value of the land irrigated per acre before irrigation was put in 7
(9) Value after irrigation ?
(10) Does the system belong to the land-owners or is it the property of a separate
company #
(1i) What is the cost per acre per year for irrigation ?
sºº-ºº:
STATEMENT OF W. C. BORDEN, CAPTAIN AND ASSISTANT SURGEON, AND D. J. RUM-
Bough, FIRST LIEUTENANT THIRD ARTILLERY, U. S. ARMY, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEX.
The only method used in this department is that known as bed-work irrigation.
In this method the water is conducted from the source of Supply by means of a main
ditch and furnished to the land by means of secondary ditches. The inclosed map
of the San Felipe ditch gives a good idea of this method, and the statement made
by the owners shows the great advantages derived from irrigation,
This ditch was constructed by a company, each member of which had to own land
on its line. In case of sale, the water privilege is transferred with the title. The
total extent of land irrigated is about 7,000 acres, being ordinary river-bottom land,
such as is found all along the Rio Grande. This land, before irrigation, is covered
with mesquite brush and a sparse growth of grass or precarious and scant crop of
corn. The ordinary price of this land varies from 75 cents to $2.50 per acre, accord-
ing to slight differences of soil or proximity to water.
2rofitable cultivation of the soil without irrigation is out of the question, as scant
crops only are produced, and those only during a particularly favorable season, the
seed sown often being entirely lost. In all respects the land irrigated at Del Rio by
the San Felipe ditch is a type of the greater part of western Texas, in which there
are vast tracts where water only is needed to change the land from barren or grazing
land Uo soil capable of high cultivation.
The San Felipe ditch with its branches, under which 7,000 acres are irrigated, was
put in at a total cost of about $30,000, or about $4.75 per acre. The land so irrigated,
52 f IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the highest price of which was $2.50 per acre, is now worth from $45, the lowest, to
about $100, the highest, price per acre, a rise in value of from $42.50 to $97.50 per
acre, at only an outlay of but, $4.25 per acre. This rise in value is entirely due to
irrigation; as the land immediately bordering on the irrigated lands is still held at
the old price. . From this we see that land which was originally worth $17,500 at the
highest is by irrigation increased in value to fully $400,000, and that by an outlay
of only $30,000, showing the immense gain on the money invested.
The cost of irrigation per year for such repairs and work as are necessary to keep
the system in good repair is about 75 cents per acre yearly, varying with the year,
being some years as low as 50 cents and others as high as $i.
. The increased productiveness of the land can hardly be estimated, as before irriga-
tion it was practically barren, while now grains, grass, and fruit are raised in the
greatest abundance, changing what was before only a cattle range into a plain covered
with cultivated farms.
It is true that the problem of irrigation at Del Rio was practically an easy one, as
the water is derived from the San Felipe spring, so rendering the supply nearly con-
stant and equal in quantity, and if the same conditions obtained in other parts of
Texas the cost and trouble of irrigation would be reduced to a minimum. Such is
not, however, the case. The rivers of Texas are subject to great and sudden rises,
the Rio Grande particularly so, and in addition the bed of the river is constantly
changing. The difficulties arising from the sudden rising and falling of the streams
can of course be obviated by properly-constructed flood-gates, but the shifting of the
river bed offers many and great difficulties, so great in fact that in some cases the en-
gineers have been unable to overcome them.
. The subject of irrigation by means of artesian wells is but a repetition of irrigation
from streams, provided a sufficient supply of water can be obtained.
* STATEMENT OF MAJOR MILL, TENTEI CAVALRY, U. S. ARMY., AT FORT BLISS.
I have the honor to return, inclosed herewith, the letter with printed interrogato-
ries, with the answers that suggest themselves to me as being most correct and appro-
priate to each of the eleven numbered questions, as follows:
To the first : None at the post; in the vicinity, in the valley of the Rio Grande, for
50 miles below, principally on the Mexican side, the old Mexican system of numerous
small ditches is still in use.
To the second : The Rio Grande, exclusively.
. To the third: Ample for about five years out of each seven, during which period
there is one year of drought, when the river goes practically dry and another of great
flood, each of which occurrences prevent the cultivation of the greater portion of the
improved lands. *-
To the fourth : On the American side about 6,000 acres; on the Mexican side about
18,000 acres. *
To the fifth : One principal about 10 miles, on the Mexican side; on the American
side there are some four main ditches taken from the river, ranging from 4 to 8 miles
long.
#. the sixth : From 500 yards to 2 miles. -
To the seventh : These systems are from one hundred to two hundred years old, and
were built by a tax on labor, and on which it is impossible at this time to even ap-
proximate the money value.
To the eighth: The land was generally granted free, by the Spanish Government,
to such as would undertake to put it or a portion of it under cultivation.
To the ninth: Mexicans have no approximate values on real estate; changes in
ownership seldom take place as compared with us; if one wishes to sell he takes the
first offer, and unless he does desire to sell he will accept no offer whatever; on the
American side land under cultivtion is held at from $20 to $40 per acre, some of the
same having in the past few years been purchased at from 50 cents to $2 per acre.
To the tenth : So far the systems in each country belongs exclusively to the owners
of the land, in community, as public roads do in the States. w
To the eleventh: This would be very difficult, even to approximate, the only ex-
pense being the keeping the mouths of the main ditches where the water is taken from
the river in repair from destruction by floods and the changing of the river, which
often takes place, sometimes moving miles in the same year; the annual cleaning of
the ditches of a deposit of silt or sediment of from 6 to 10 inches in the bottom and
sides of a thick heavy and sticky clay very hard to handle, and the other cares need-
ful to such property, but as they are all carried on by a general pro rata tax on labor
the money value can not be satisfactorily approximated even.
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION AT ARMY Posts. 53
STATEMENT OF J. V. LAUDERDALE, MAJOR AND SURGEON, U. S. ARMY, AT FORT
DAVIS.
My opportunity for observation is confined to an area of country 30 miles due north
of this post, on the road to Victoria, Tex., and South as far as Marfa, Tex. The
nucleus of the mountains and high lands in this vicinity, like those of the Rocky
Mountains, consist of trap-rock; and their sides are flanked by more or less altered
sandstones. The valleys between are filled in with rounded sand and gravel, and
beds of clay and alluvium.
In every place that I have visited, where there are springs or perennial streams,
large tracts of lands have been supplied with water through irrigation ditches led
out from the main source. A few feet of dam thrown up about a Spring forms a res-
ervoir which may be made to irrigate miles of land. The main ditch at Victoria car-
ries water over a tract of land 10 miles in extent.
In regard to reclaiming lands that depend upon rains alone for their supply of
water, I would say that the only method which has proved to be at all successful to
the average ranchman is to widen and deepen existing ravines and catchment areas,
and allow them to fill during the rainy season. Water may be removed therefrom
by pumping or led out through pipes to the lands below. They afford a supply of
water for stock during a good part of the dry season.
All attempts at damming ravines and water-courses with earth and brush is labor
thrown away, as the first freshet will wash them out. An instance in point is the
efforts of the brothers Merrill, about 12 miles from this post, where, after weeks of
labor, they made a dam of earth across an arroyo, about 75 feet in length, 50 feet wide
at the base, and 25 feet high. It was made of alluvium and clay. The front of this
dam was supported by brush, tree-tops, etc. It is needless to say that the first heavy
rain carried everything before it.
Damming ravines or building reservoirs to successfully hold water is quite an ex-
pensive undertaking, and can be accomplished only by walls of cut stone laid in good
masonry. Examples of this kind of reservoir may be seen at the water-works at At-
lanta, Ga.; also at the crossing of the Encarnacion River, on the Mexican Central
Railroad. At several points along Lympia Cañon ranchmen have constructed dikes
or semicircular mounds to catch the storm-water that descends from the hills, only to
see them washed away during a freshet. Tanks, to be capable of holding water, should
be dug out of the natural soil or excavated in the rock formation at a suitable height
above the lands to be irrigated. The water thus dammed may be tapped through a
small gate set in masonry below ground, or removed by siphon or pump, above ground.
A waste-gate for the overflow in time of freshet is indispensable in all such reservoirs.
Rosebud Cañon and Fraser Cañon are localities that could be cultivated if they had
reservoirs to supply them with water. -
There is a large tract of land near the village of Marfa, on Southern Pacific Rail-
road, where water is now only obtained by pumping it from an artesian well and it
sells at 20 cents a barrel, that could be provided with a reservoir for the storing of
storm-water, and gardens and orchards could be irrigated from it. I am unable to
give estimates of costs, etc., as my observations have been made without engineering
instruments and I do not know the cost of such a structure. With a mean annual
rain-fall of nearly 18 inches I believe that there are many square miles of land in this
vicinity that may be reclaimed for agricultural purposes whenever our ranchmen and
other citizens shall take steps to preserve the rain-water that now finds its way into
subterranean caverns of the earth or by surface drainage into the sea. The elevation
of this place above the level of the Gulf of Mexico is about 5,000 feet.
In response to Department questions the replies received are as follows:
E. M. Randall, eaptain, Fifth Infantry, U. S. Army, commanding at Fort Ringgold,
states that there is no irrigation in vicinity of post; the garden at postis watered from
works as water can be spared. The source is the Rio Grande River. The water-tanks
of post have a capacity of 64,000 gallons. The garden is between 6 and 7 acres. The
land on which post is built cost $20 per acre.
From Fort Brown the irrigation of from 2,000 to 3,000 acres is reported on a sugar
plantation owned by a Mr. Brule. The main ditch is in length about 2 miles; the
ary ones are about 300 yards in length. The value before irrigation was $1 and is
now about $20 per acre. & w
George F. Towle, captain, Nineteenth Infantry, U. S. Army, commanding at Fort
Concho, states that surface irrigation exists by water conducted in ditches from low dams
in creeks and rivers. The sources are the North, South and Middle Concho Rivers,
, Dove and Spring Creeks. The average amount of water running in said streams is
equal to about 150 to 200 cubic feet per second, nearly all which is at present utilized
54 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
for irrigation. The amount irrigated is about 7,500 acres. The aggregate length of
main ditches, which are in different hands, is about 50 miles; of secondary, 75 miles;,
approximate cost, about $5 per acre to get the land under water; of land, from $2 to
$5 per acre; after irrigation, from $30 to $100, according to location. Most of the
Systems belong to land-owners; a few only belong to incorporated companies. The
cost varies. For one farm of 1,500 acres it bas cost $1.50 per acre.
George H. Morgan, first lieutenant, Third Cavalry, U. S. Army, commanding Camp
Piña, Colorado, reports that irrigation is by acequia or ditch. Sources are Rainbow
Creek and other very small streams. There is about 10 inches flowing, serving
10 acres. The length is one-half mile. The cost in work was eight mules and ten
men one day. The value of land is nominal and due to water only. Post garden is
made and controlled by troops. One man gardener can generally keep ditch in repair.
Heavy rains generally wash all improvements out.
Charles Morton, captain, Third Cavalry, U. S. Army, commanding camp at Eagle
Pass, reports post garden under irrigation with success, and watered from town wells
and works. He adds that a large irrigating ditch 35 or 40 miles long is being made,
i. come from near Del Rio to this town. It will reclaim many thousand acres of
and. -
A. G. Brackett, colonel Third Cavalry U. S. Army, commanding at Fort Clark
reports a system of irrigation by ditches, raising water above the bottom lands
of stream, through differences in fall; the source is Las Moras Creek; supply is 1
barrel per second, but much more is available; on the reservation about 6 acres are
irrigated, which belongs to the United States. Colonel Brackett also reports that at
Mud Creek, about 16 miles west of Fort Clark, there is a gravity system by means of
ditches, supplied from Mud Creek; it supplies about 1 barrel per second, irrigating
600 acres by a main ditch about 33 miles long; secondary ditches are short and in all
about 3 miles in length; system cost $2,500; before irrigation land was worth $2 per
acre; after it at least $50; the system belongs to the land owners; the cost of irriga-
tion is about $2 per acre, including repairs to main ditch. ... *
At the mouth of the Pinto, about 18 miles southwest from Fort Clark, there is a
system of ditches supplied from Pinto Creek. At its mouth the Pinto flows about 4
barrels per second; there are about 200 acres under irrigation; main ditch is 2 milesin
length; secondary ditches are short, about 2 miles in length; cost is $2,000; value of
land before irrigation $2 per acre, after about $50 per acre; the system belongs to
the land owners; the cost is about $2 per acre, including repairs to main ditch.
At Dolores, Kinney County, there is a system of irrigation by ditches. It is about
8 miles south from Fort Clark, and is supplied from Las Moras Creek; all the water
is used, affording a flow of about 3 barrels per second, serving 1,000 acres; the main
ditch is 24 miles in length, and secondary ditches are about 2 miles; system cost
$1,400; land was valued at $2 per acre; now at $50; ditches belong to land owners;
system cost about $2 per acre, including repairs to main ditch. . . . -
At Mariposa there is a system of irrigation by ditches; location is about 7 miles
northwest from Fort Clark; served by Pinto Creek; the cross-section of water in the
ditch is 1 foot by 3 and the current is 3 miles per hour, giving a flow of about 1 bar-
rel per second; the main stream is much longer; it serves 600 acres; main ditch is
3 miles, and secondary ditches are short, their aggregate length being not greater
than that of the main ditch; the cost was $6,000; land value before irrigation $2
per acre; after, $50 per acre; the system belongs to the land owners, and the cost
was about $2 per acre, including repairs to main ditch.
STATEMENT OF B. K. BRANT, SECRETARY OF THE PIONEER
4. CANAL COMPANY. t
IRRIGATION IN THE PECOS VALLEY, TEXAS.”
Irrigation in Texas is of comparatively recent date. With the exception of a few
canals in the valley of the Rio Grande, the irrigation in Texas dates subsequent to the \
year 1875. In that year the legislature of the State passed an “act to encourage the
construction of canals for navigation and irrigation,” and for that purpose made
donations of land to any company incorporated under the laws of the State, construct-
ing canals of the several classes named in the act. º
£ncouraged by this law a few ditches were taken out of the smaller streamstributary
to the Pecos River, where it could be done at a small expense. Being so far removed
from market at the time, from lack of railroad facilities, and the country being
sparsely settled, the cost of building and fencing material sº great, that the lands
offered by the State as an “encouragement” proved but a slight inducement to the
practical irrigator. f
* Referred to in Mr. Brant's testimony in the Staked Plains Division.
*
% l } tº - - ~-
& - TMI A- E”
* SEIOWING THE ROUTE OF THE CANALS
ſº º - - of THE
- 22 PIONEER CANAL COMPANY.,
\, | * ~- Reeves and Ward Counties,
&2. T EXA. S.
º º | -
} sº $º g *
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>
THE LEGISLATION OF TEXAS ON IRRIGATION. 55
Under the law of 1875, however, there were constructed several canals in Reeves
(then Pecos) County. Among them may be mentioned the Rooney Ditch, taken out
of the Pecos River about 25 miles south of the present site of Pecos City. This was
the only ditch taken out from the Pecos River under that law. From Toyah Creek,
a tributary of the Pecos River, in said Reeves County, there were taken out several
ditches of the third class, to wit: The Saragosa Manufacturing and Irrigation Com-
pany’s ditch, capacity 6 feet on bottom, 24 feet deep, and 3 miles in length; the Mur-
phy, Syles, and Miller ditches, of similar construction and capacity. On each of the
ditches, since their construction, have been grown a variety of grains and grasses, of
large yield. The law, however, proved inadequate, and offered but little encourage-
ment to investments in irrigation canals. O
At a State, convention, held in the city of Dallas in August, 1888, a resolution was
adopted calling upon the legislature to pass some law for the encouragement of irri-
gation in the State. Responsive thereto the legislature formulated the present law,
which will probably prove the one thing needful. The principal thing sought for in
legislation is the needed protection to the appropriator of water. Priority of appro-
priation gives priority of right. That once secured, the rest of the legislation follows
as a natural sequence. The same legislature passed the following resolution, calling
the attention of the Texas Senators and members in Congress to the needed legisla-
tion on the subject of the right to the use of water in interterritorial and State
streams. Such legislation by the General Government is very much needed, and
º be based on the principle that priority in time of appropriation gives priority
of right.
& 4 Whereas several rivers having their sources in New Mexico and other Territories
flow into and through the State of Texas; and
“Whereas the waters of said streams are necessary for irrigation in the arid dis-
tricts of Texas; and
“Whereas it is expedient to obviate future litigation by providing for an adjust-
ment and regulation of the rights of the respective citizens of said Territories and said
iº of Texas, entitled to the use of said waters for purposes of irrigation: Therefore,
Ö I
“Resolved by the legislature of the State of Texas, That our Senators and Representa-
tives in Congress be requested to secure the passage of such laws as may be neces-
sary to effect the objects above set forth.” -
Encouraged by the legislation on the subject of irrigation, the Pioneer Canal Com-
pany, in the year 1888, commenced the construction of a canal on the Pecos River.
This canal is taken out on the west bank of the Pecos River, in Reeves County,
Tex., about 9 miles north of the town of Pecos City.
The water is brought to the surface at the distance of about 34 miles, where the
main stem is divided into two canals, the east and the west valley lines. The former
is then flumed over the river and serves the large valleys on the east bank of the
river. The latter continues its course on the west side, crossing the track of the
Texas and Pacific Railroad at the town of Pecos City.
The main canal, 7 feet deep, and 44 feet at the water surface, is 23 feet wide on the
bottom, and carries 1,020 cubic feet of water per second of time, a quantity of water
sufficient to irrigate 64,000 acres of land.
The two lines of the canal when completed will be 52 miles in length, of which 14
miles have already been completed. (Date of writing. September 16, 1889.) The
west Valley line will be completed back to the river, a distance of 20 miles from the
head-gate, by the 15th of November, 1889.
Work was begun on this canal in the month of April, 1888, and is being rapidly
pushed to completion. The canal covers very fine bodies of land on either side of
the river. , Quite a number of small farms under the canal have already been opened,
and there have been raised Indian corn, 35 bushels per acre; millet, 23 tons per acre;
Sorghum, 6 tons first cutting, with a heavier crop promised for the second Cutting ;
Sweet potatoes very prolific, not yet dug; heavy crops of all kinds of melons, Squash,
beets, turnips, and general garden vegetables. Nothing was planted earlier than the
15th of June, owing to the fact that the canal was not sufficiently completed to fur.
nish water for irrigation before that date. All lands were Sod, being first grubbed and
broken in May of the present year. This year's experiments in planting alfalfa has
demonstrated the fact that alfalfa should be planted not earlier than the 1st of Sep-
tember, and may be planted until the 1st of November. It may also be sown in the
Spring with success from the middle of February until the 1st of April. Between the
seasºns indicated the sun is too warm for so tender a plant to get a good start. Once
established alfalfa thrives in warm weather.
A large acreage of orchards will be planted this fall.
All kinds of deciduous fruit trees, English walnuts, soft shell almonds, French
prunes, and a large variety of European grape vines, of which there is not theiºs,
doubt of the success of their cultivation, as they have been Successfully grown near
this point by irrigation. Under the canals on Toyah Creek, and on the Pºcoş River.
56 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
in this county, have been grown large yields of rye, barley, oats, Indian corn, and
Wheat, a fair average of which would be for rye, 30 bushels per acre, worth $1 per
bushel; barley; 50 bushels per acre, worth for feed $1 per 100 pounds; oats, 70 bushels
per acre, worth unthrashed, $15 per ton; corn, 40 bushels per acre, worth 65 cents
per bushel; wheat, 35 bushels per acre, worth $1 per bushel; alfalfa, 10 tons per
acre, worth $18 per ton; millet, 3 tons per acre, worth $15 per ton; sorghum, 12 tons
per acre, worth $15 per ton.
The Aztec Irrigation Company, incorporated in July, 1889, will also begin opera-
tions on Toyah Creek and be prepared to deliver water to consumers for the spring
crop of 1890.
Flowińg artesian wells, ten in number, inside the corporate limits of Pecos City,
ow nearly, if not quite, 50,000 gallons of water per hour, and is used exclusively for
drinking, washing, and all domestic purposes, including irrigation. As the wells have
a natural pressure that forces the water 30 feet above the ground, they can be used
for fire purposes. The artesian water belt in the Pecos Valley country is practically
Without limit, and can be utilized to irrigate thousands of acres at a moderate cost.
A well that will irrigate 20 acres of land can be had, including the best of iron cas-
ing, at $300 to $400, and at a depth of 200 to 250 feet.
Climate.—Our winter climate is simply delightful—clear, bright days, with the
thermometer rarely below the freezing point; very seldom rain, snow, or sleet; no
“ northers” or “blizzards,” such as are common in eastern Texas and other States.
In Summer, owing to our altitude, 2,700 feet above sea-level, we do not have as warm
weather as other points east of us in the same latitude. While the weather gets hot
in Summer, and the Sun is brighter, apparently, than at most other localities in the
State, the thermometer (in the shade) rarely reaches 100 degrees, and the nights are
always cool and refreshing—never too warm to sleep well.
Rain-fall.—Our annual rain-fall is from 12 to 18 inches. t
Soils.—Soils of the Pecos Valley under the Pioneer Canal are considerably diversi-
fied, there being the black and chocolate colored stiff lands, and sandy loams, vary-
ing in color from black to red. There are also about 5,000 acres of a peculiar whitish
loam, and from the amount of silica and lime it contains it will certainly prove valu-
able as grain, alfalfa, and fruit lands.
Price of lands in the Pecos Valley.—There are a large number of sections of State
school lands on the Pecos River under the Pioneer Canal, which alternate with vari- .
ous railroad surveys. These lands are offered by the State at $3 per acre on forty
years' time, with 5 per cent, on the deferred payments.
The railroad lands are offered at correspondingly low prices—one-fourth cash, and
balance in one, two, and three years.
Water-rights.-A Pioneer Canal permanent water-right is an amount of water for 40
acres of land, equal to an annual rain-fall of 40 inches, distributed under a head of 100
miners' inches. A 40-acre water-right is sold for $300.
This company is most liberal in taxing the land for water service, charging $1 per
acre for the land in cultivation. *
Analysis of soil.—An analysis of the soil of the Pecos Valley shows the following
percentages: r t i
Organic and volatile matter.---------------------------------- tº e º me sº sº se e s sº * * * 6.73
Insoluble residue.----------------------------, ----------------------------- 76.97
Soluble silica --------------------------------------------------------- '• - - - - , . 14'
Iron ------ ... • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3.13
Aluminia ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2. 07
Phosphoric acid.----------------------------------- . . . . ------------------ . 21
Lime ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 5. 22.
Magnesia ------------------------------------------------------------------ Trace.
Sulphuric acid ------------------------------------------------------------- . 87
Alkalies (as chlorides) ------------------------------------------------------ 2, 27
Carbonic acid------------------------------------------------------------- 3. 22
Chlorine ----------- ------------------------------------------------------- . 07
Total.--------------------------------------------------------------- 100. 90
Analysis of Pecos River Water.—An analysis of the water in the Pecos River shows
the following percentages: &
Suspended matter.--------------------------------------------------------- 36. 32
Total Solids in clear Solution.------------------------------ .----------------- 308, 48
Organic and volatile matter ------------------------------------------------ 53.00
Total mineral matter------------------------------------------------------ 255.48
Total soluble matter------------------------------------------------------- 172. 59
Total insoluble matter-------------------------------------------- as * * * * * * * * 135. 89
Total hardness------------------------------------ --------------------- . ... 27.42
THE PEcos River CANALS AND LAND UNDER WATER 57
º, Temporary hardness------------------------------------------------------. . 4.05
Permanent hardness.------------------------------------------------------- 33.3%
Sulphuric acid ---. ---------------------------------------------------------- 64. 3.
Alkalies (as chlorides)------------------------------------------------------ 3.79
Chlorine ... ----------------------------------------------------------------- * *
--º
- \
MEMORANDUM OF IRRIGATION CANALS OF THE PIONEER CANAL COMPANY IN REEVES
AND WARD COUNTIES, TEX.
Head gates on west side of Pecos River, 9 miles above Pecos City.
Miles. Feet.
Length of main line------------------------------------------------ 3 160
Length of east valley line------------------------------------------ 34 - - * * * * *
Length of west Valley line ----------------------------------------- 14 1,473
Total miles -------------------------------------------------- 51 1,633
Main line: -
Width at bottom ------------------------------------------------. feet -- 23
Width at surface of water-------------------------------------- --- do--- 43
Depth ------------------------------------------------------------ do. -- 7
Carrying capacity per second-------------------------------- cubic feet -- 1,020
Miles of water-ways now complete - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - miles.. 19
Land susceptible to irrigation----------------------------------- acres... 64,000
Work commenced April, 1888.
Quality of land.—Alluvial, and chocolate-colored and black sandy loam ; products
are the serials, alfalfa, the deciduous fruits, raisin grapes, and all varieties of Euro-
pean grapes, French prunes, English walnuts, and soft-shelled almonds
STATEMENT OF THE PECOS RIVER IRRIGATION COMPANY, PER O. W. WILLIAMS,
- PRESIDENT.
The officers of the company are O. W. Williams, president; T. J. Ray, secretary; A. .
P. Wooldridge, treasurer. The principal office is at Fort Stockton, Tex. This com- "
pany possesses an old canal, built in 1878, 9 feet wide, 3 feet in depth, carrying 65
cubic feet of water per second of time, and supplying 5,000 acres of land. The head
gate is at Ripples, 30 miles southeast of Pecos City. The canal is now being enlarged
and extended. Where the enlargement is completed, the canal is 25 feet wide by
33 feet in depth, carrying 250 cubic feet of water per second. The canal is now 10
miles in length, and covers 8,000 acres of good land. Work is progressing, and it is
intended to make the canal finally 30 miles in length, 40 feet in width, 4 feet in depth,
with a capacity of 500 cubic feet of water per second of time. Work progresses at
the rate of 1% miles per month. Water rights are held (permanent), at $2.50 per
acres, subject to annual assessment for the necessary repairs, etc., incident to keeping
the canal in good condition. •
There are some places along the canal where good storage can be had.
NEW MEXICO DIVISION.
SANTA Fá, N. M.Ex., September 7, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present: Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Reagan; also Director
Powell.
Members of the State constitutional convention were examined. .
STATEMENT OF W. H. H. LLEWELLYN, OF LAS CRUCES, N. MEX.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Las Cruces 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. For the past five years.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given attention to the subject of irrigation?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And of water-supply in this Territory 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes.
. The CHAIRMAN. Will you state the condition of your county, and any
other portions of the Territory with which you are familiar? State what
you have now, the supply of water you have, and what are the prospects
of reclaiming land there.
Mr. LLEWELLYN. The lands in the Mesilla Valley, in Doña Aña
County, are irrigated by canals which take the water from the Rio
Grande. We have now under cultivation in the Mesilla Valley, in the
vicinity of Las Cruces, about 20,000 to 25,000 acres of land. There is,
however, a large tract of land there which, with proper arrangements
for the storage of water, is equally good with the lands now under culti-
vation, and which could be brought under cultivation—probably about
200,000 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. From where would you obtain the water?
gº LLEWELLYN. We would obtain the water supply from the Rio
rande.
The CHAIRMAN. Bow would you be required to do it? - * *
Mr. LLEWELLYN. We would do it by the construction of a canal at
a point probably about Socorro, and probably as far up as Las Cruces,
which would carry the water on to the tract of country known as the
Jornado del Muerto, and this canal, if built, would cover in addition to
the land I have mentioned before 200,000 acres of land, and other
tracts of very rich land, which are now valueless on account of having
no water.
ºnatºws Is there sufficient water in the river to supply the
In 0.0CIS
Mr. LLEWELLYN. There would be an abundance of water by the
construction of proper reservoirs. w
59
60 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the condition of the water at flood-time 3
You have not gauged it 3 - :
* Mr. LLEWELLYN. There is an enormous quantity of water that an-
nually passes down the Rio Grande early in the spring. |
The CHAIRMAN. That goes to waste?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Flows absolutely to waste, to the Gulf? --
The CHAIRMAN. Have you had any surveys or estimates of this
plan of this stream 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes, there has been an accurate level line run and
survey made. - - *
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a report of it 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. I have not with me. I have it in my valise.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you furnish a report of that?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. I will. I will be glad to hand it in.
. The CHAIRMAN. Are you acquainted with other portions of the Ter-
ritory 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes; I am acquainted with every portion of New
Mexico by personal observation.
The CHAIRMAN. Describe any other portion with which you are
specially familiar.
Mr. LLEWELLYN. By describing one particular tract or section of
country it will be applicable to all portions of the Territory. There are in
New Mexico numerous water-courses which, during a high stage of
water carry an immense volume of water, which passes away, and later
in the season the streams are nearly dry. By the construction of reser-
voirs this water could be stored, and thousands of acres of valuable
land could thereby be brought under cultivation.
The CHAIRMAN. If the Government would make the necessary sur-
veys and investigations to show what could be done, with estimates of
cost, would that be of any advantage to your people here?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. It would be a great advantage.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there many places where private capital or by
association of capital they could construct the works?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. There are many places where private capital is now
constructing irrigating-Canals. -
The CHAIRMAN. Describe some of them where private capital is now
engaged and what the plans are, if you are familiar with them 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. In the Maxwell land grant, in the northern part of
the Territory. This land grant company during the past year con-
structed a number of irrigating-ditches, and in connection with the ir-
rigating-ditches have constructed reserviors to store, water. In the
lower valley of the Pecos, in Lincoln County, there are three large canals
now in process of contruction by private capital. But these two local-
ities are especially well situated for private capital to carry out this
work, more so than any other places in the Territory. . .
The CHAIRMAN. Have you in Mesilla Valley, or anywhere else, given
special attention to the quantity of land that an ordinary family, a man
and wife and two or three children, can cultivate profitably by irriga-
tion?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes; I have myself personally.
The CHAIRMAN. Without hiring help ?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Without hiring help.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. How much land would they need 3 * .
Mr. LLEWELLYN. In my opinion a family is much better off in Mesilla
Valley if they intend to cultivate the land themselves, with part in al-
THE PEcos RIVER AND IRRIGATION IN NEw MEXICo. 61
falfa and part in fruit, to have not to exceed 15 or 20 acres. That is as
much as a family can take care of.
The CHAIRMAN. What occurs, in this Territory when they undertake
to irrigate too much land as a general thing 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. It generally occurs that they make a partial failure
of it; their crops are not so good. In other words, 10 acres of land
properly cultivated will produce more than 40 acres indifferently culti-
wated and irrigated. *
The CHAIRMAN. The land in this Territory wants to be cut up into
Small farms?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. That is my opinion—to have irrigated lands cut up
into small allotments.
The CHAIRMAN. What schemes have these companies that are bring-
ing out water adopted for disposing of the water ?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. There are several different plans. The plan of the
Pecos Irrigating Company is to charge $15 per acre for the water-right
that is attached permanently to the land. They then charge an annual
rental thereafter of $1.50 an acre. They divide, however, this $15 into
annual payments. There is another company down there that charges
$10 an acre and divides that payment into ten annual payments, and
then it charges in addition to that $1.50 an acre for the water.
The CHAIRMAN. Have any of them adopted the plan when they have
paid for the water of turning the establishment over to the settlers and
allowing them to take care of it 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. I do not understand that they have. There may
be companies in the Territory organized under that plan, but I do not
understand so.
The CHAIRMAN. That plan, I would suggest, has worked best in
California. The colonies will come in more readily if they can have
the entire property. Jº
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes; and I understand that is carried out very
successfully in Idaho and Utah.
The CHAIRMAN. In Utah the settlers more readily take hold of it if
they are to have ultimately the property in hand. In fact, they could
not do it individually, and are willing to pay a good price, but want the
title absolutely in their hands.
Mr. LLEWELLYN. The ditches we have in the Mesilla Valley are com-
munity ditches.
The CHAIRMAN. How are they managed ?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Undés Territorial statutes. In January next we
elect three Water commissioners for the ditch system, and we also elect
a major-domo, or overseer of the ditches. And we have what we call re-
partidors, who act under him.
The CHAIRMAN. Then persons are not allowed to measure out their
Own water 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. No ; it is done sometimes, but only by common
consent, and where there is an abundance of water. But the major-domo
has general supervision of the ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. You elect him every year 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes; it is done under provision of the Territorial
Statutes. -
The CHAIRMAN. That is practically an adoption of the Spanish cus.
tom and law.
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes; it is practically the old Spanish way.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have the lands in this Territory been cul-
tivated by irrigation? & ... • * *
62 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Mr. LLEWELLYN. From a period extending back, probably, three
hundred years; that is, since the Spanish invaders occupied the Terri-
tory, and perhaps many hundreds of years before that.
The CHAIRMAN. They found irrigation practiced here?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes. -
The CHAIRMAN. Have you in this Territory many of the ruins of
ancient irrigation works 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes; a number.
º CHAIRMAN. How extensive are they, and what are their char-
aCter?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. There are the ruins known as the Gran Quivera.
They are situated in the eastern part of Valencia County. There are
the remains of a system of very extensive ditches there; they have
been cemented and plastered. You can trace them for miles.
The CHAIRMAN. The cement still remains therein 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Still in a pretty good state of preservation ?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes; but the water has disappeared entirely.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know where they got the cement 3 -
Mr. LLEWELLYN. N.O.
The CHAIRMAN. That was before the Spaniards came 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. That was before the Spanish occupation.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any material for making hydraulic
cement " -
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes, it is made near Springer; it is of very good
quality, and it can be manufactured at other places.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not know where they got theirs; that is to
say, those ancient irrigators ?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. No.
The CHAIRMAN. It is real hydraulic cement 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes; and it stands there to-day in a very good
state of preservation. Coronado, in his first occupation of this country,
describes the ruins in Salt River Valley and elsewhere, both here and
in Arizona. They have been found at Casa Grande, and at La Tempe,
where the ancient canals were constructed.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any further statement that you desire to
make?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Well, I differ somewhat from some of our friends
With reference to the real cause of the low state of the Water in the Rio
Grande. I do not think it is attributable altogether to the diversion of
the water in Colorado. We have had two years of Very low stages of
water, and I think it is largely due to the fact that we have not had a
regular snow-fall on the head-waters of the Rio Grande. But that does
not do away with the Government taking active measures to afford us
relief, because new lands will be opened up in New Mexico that will get
the water off further below.
The CHAIRMAN. When these schemes, of which you speak, are car-
ried out, the water will be largely used above here 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Has there been a rain-guage kept in this Territory
for any considerable length of time 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. There has been. -
The CHAIRMAN. Have these dry seasons appeared before, coming in
cycles 3 - .
yº LLEWELLYN. As I understand, the periods of drought in Arizona
in recent years, that is, very low stages of water in the Rio Grande, were
in 1872, 1879, last year, and this year.
THE MESILLA WALLEY AND ITS PRODUCTION. , 63
The CHAIRMAN. I suppose old residents here will recollect other
periods.
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Perhaps so.
Senator REAGAN. What is the character of the crops that you raise
about Las Cruces? --
Mr. LLEWELLYN. We raise corn, oats, rye, barley, wheat, and various
varieties of sweet potatoes. We'raise nearly all the fine European va-
rieties of grapes, and in fact all the fine fruits.
Senator REAGAN. Will you state the amount per acre of these crops
that can be raised on irrigated land.
Mr. LLEWELLYN. If we have the water we can cut four crops of al-
falfa, with an average of a ton and a half to the cutting. Five crops
have been cut, but four is a very safe estimate. Our vineyards will pro-
duce from 16,000 to 24,000 pounds of grapes to the acre.
Senator REAGAN. How much wheat?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. I have known personally of one small crop which
produced 42 bushels to the acre.
Senator REAGAN. What would be the general average there?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. I think it is safe to say, with an abundance of
water, good cultivation, and good farming, 40 bushels can be produced ?
Senator REAGAN. How much corn do you raise to the acre ?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. The corn crop would generally average, under
our present system of cultivation, not more than 25 bushels to the
- a CT63. &
Senator REAGAN. What has similar ground without irrigation pro-
duced in that portion of the country ?
Mr. LLEWELLYN. Nothing—absolutely nothing.
Senator REAGAN. What you say as to the crops there applies gener- .
ally throughout the Territory 3
Mr. LLEWELLYN. It will apply pretty generally throughout the Ter-
ritory, except in elevated regions, where the frost might come too early
in the fall or too late in the spring. There are a great many sections of
New Mexico where it has been demonstrated that all the fine varieties
of fruit can be raised.
C Senator REAGAN. What kinds of fruit do you raise around Las
JTU1C0S. N.
Mr. LLEWELLYN. We grow dates; pomegranates have been raised;
also apricots, pears, peaches, quinces, nectarines, apples, prunes. We
have no fruit pests there. Curculio is absolutely unknown.
Senator REAGAN. Can you say anything as to their quality ? -
-- º LLEWELLYN. Their quality is reported to be the finest in the
WOI’ſ (1. -
STATEMENT OF WARREN BRISTOL, OF DEMING,
The CHAIRMAN. You have resided in the Territory how many years ? -
Mr. BRISTOL. Ever since the spring of 1872, something over seven-
teen years.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been United States district judge?
Mr. BRISTOL. For a little over twelve years, not quite fifteen years,
continuously.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you a judge yet?
Mr. BRISTOL. No.
ti º CHAIRMAN. Have you given attention to agriculture by irriga.
IOIl
64 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDS.
Mr. BRISTOL. A good deal; and since my boyhood I have had an
interest in that. I was brought up on a farm.
The CHAIRMAN. Eſave you pursued agriculture to some extent in this
Territory "
Mr. BRISTOL. As far as vineyards, on a small scale, are concerned.
The CHAIRMAN. Where was that? º
Mr. BRISTOL. At Mesilla; at present at Deming. I am now living at
Deming.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a water supply at Deming %
Mr. BRISTOL. Yes, but we have to pump it up 50 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Explain anything you think will be of interest to the
committee.
Mr. BRISTOL. So far as my experience in Deming is concerned, it is
this: I have bought town lots 25 by 142 feet that, with the exception
of my dairy and barn and the rest, are planted in fruit trees. I have a
large pump and an 18-foot well in connection with another man. We
are Supplying water for fourteen or fifteen families, and several gardens
are being irrigated from it. My garden is most prosperous, as I give
special attention to it. Fruits of all kinds and grapes grow to perfec-
tion; the Bartlett pear, and even the peach, the early and late Craw-
ford. This year we have as fine a flavored peach as any coming from
the Chesapeake Bay. It was a surprise to me. \
The CHAIRMAN. Will you describe that country at the time the rail-
road was brought there, and before any water was put upon the
land *
Mr. BRISTOL. At that time there was no water on this table-land, ex-
cept occasionally when the water came down by flood. No water was
known to exist there, but there is a region of country from 25 to 50
miles wide, and 100 miles long, north and south, that we know of (and
how much farther it exists we do not know) where, if you dig down any-
where you will strike water at about 50 feet in inexhaustible quantities. .
To illustrate, at my place I have a powerful windmill, an 18-inch wheel
(Holladay's). Each revolution of that throws out 100 gallons of water.
You can run it up to one hundred and sixty revolutions per minute.
There are only 24 feet of water in that well, and that quantity can not be
lowered with that pump. It is so all over the plain.
The CHAIRMAN. How did that plain appear before you discovered
that water Ž
Mr. BRISTOL. As a barren plain ; a desert with nothing but grama
grass growing anywhere On it. ſ
The CHAIRMAN. I thought that was the most unpromising place I
€Vé I* S2, W.
Mr. BRISTOL. It was very unpromising. Deming has a great many
windmills now, and is a pretty place. The change really seems like a
miracle. The Southern Pacific Railroad Company was the first to dis-
cover this water beneath the surface. Since then it has improved; the
whole plain I have described is covered with cattle ranges, and the
ground is all occupied with pumping machinery of this kind to water the
cattle. A great deal of money is invested there. The Whole plain is
taken up. -
In addition to that, in the water system to the north of Deming—
Cook’s Peak mountain, which you probably know—there is one place
where the water comes down every year from the mountains, and passes.
through a range of foot-hills about 3 to 4 miles from the main chain of
mountains. A perfect flood or river of water comes down there every
year, several times during the rainy season, and it has dug out im-
TJNIDERGROUND WATER SUPPLIES AND HOMESTEADS. 65
mense excavations in the ground. These are filled with water, extend-
ing away out on the plain. It is a beautiful plain of the richest soil, and
cattle from all over the country frequently, for several weeks at a time,
gather in there. That would be a good place at which to build a res-
ervoir, for it would afford accommodation for several thousand acres.
The CHAIRMAN. Then from your observation of New Mexico, are the
opportunities for reclaiming land and making homesteads plentiful?
Mr. BRISTOL. Yes, very; especially so along the range of lower mount-
ains and foot-hills. This year has been an exception in some instances,
but I have noticed in the extensive range of mountains here that there
is rain-fall enough, if it was equally distributed over the plain, to make
it One of the most fruitful countries in America. Even in these mount-
ains (a tract that has only recently been discovered) millions of acres
may be cultivated without any irrigation, by clearing off the pine
forests. In addition to that the great waste of water that flows out
from the foot-hills on to the plains could be collected in immense reser-
voirs and distributed over the plains for agricultural purposes. The
opportunities for that are very great.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the climate of New Mexico º
Mr. BRISTOL. I have lived in New York, and I have lived in Minne-
sota, in the latter State for twenty-five years. I have lived in New
Mexico for something over seventeen years, and I regard New Mexico
as one of the most healthful climates on the continent. My experience
and observation convince me that the most salubrious climate is not
high up in the mountains at an extreme altitude, nor down in the river
bottoms where they have more or less malaria, but out on these plains
where water can be had, and where the breezes blow and there are no
malarial influences. I consider this as good a climate as there can be
in the World.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the production of crops?
Mr. BRISTOL. I simply say “water is king.” Wherever water can be
had or can be got on the soil it is wonderful in its productiveness. It
is rich in, all the elements of fruitfulness, even out on this barren plain
that We have been calling a desert. Put water there and everything
Will grow in luxuriance. On the plains the greatest drawback at pres.
ent, in my opinion, to successful cultivation is the strong spring winds
Which obtain in every country where there is no wind-break. As soon
as forestry is cultivated here systematically, and trees are planted so
as to break the prevailing winds, it will be a wonderful country for pro-
ductiveness, providing you get water. The altitude of Deming is about
4,000 feet. It is on the first plain out of what we call the Mesa Valley
of the Rio Grande. It commences on the Bluffs of the Rio Grande and
is a lovely plain all the way on into Arizona.
STATEMENT OF T. B. CATRON.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you please state to the committee any facts of
interest that you know regarding this Territory and its irrigation ?
Mr. CATRON. I have resided in this Territory for twenty-three years,
most of the time at Santa Fé, but part of the time in the southern part
of the Territory, where Major Llewellyn resides. What he states about
that section of the country is substantially correct. What I can state
is, that this Territory is divided, as you observe upon the map, almost
equally from north to south by the Rio Grande. On either side of the Rio
Grande there is a rangeof mountains extending nearly the whole distance
J38 A L-WOL III—5
66 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
\
from the northern to the southern part of the Territory. It extends, with
a few breaks only, on the west side entirely through, and on the east side
through excepting that due west of here the continental divide is not very
high, though a little bit higher than this place. The Rio Grande between
the 1st Of April and the 1st or middle of July in each year contains
almost as much water as the Missouri River does during that period—
enough water to irrigate, if properly husbanded and properly divided,
at least half of this Territory, if it could be reached—that is, during
the crop season. But the Rio Grande is fed by constant streams com-
ing from the mountains on either side. There are also streams on the
other side of the mountain running in the other direction. These
streams come down very rapidly. There are large quantities of land
that it would be difficult to reach from the Rio Grande because they
are in Cañons. By making reservoirs in those streams (which can be
made cheaply) immense volumes of water could be collected in the
spring time, as Our mountains have from 3 to 10 feet of snow in the
winter, and furnish, ordinarily, outside of the Rio Grande, all the water
that is furnished for Our lands. I do not suppose that more than one-
twentieth or one-fortieth of all the land is attempted to be cultivated—
probably not more even than one-fiftieth part is attempted to be culti-
vated—that can be cultivated, for the reason that the people are quite
poor and unable to construct reservoirs and extensive ditches. But on
all places like that in which you are now, the city of Santa Fé, there
are immense bodies of land at the foot of the mountains which can be
irrigated, and these streams being deep and being susceptible of dam-
ing, can hold a great deal of water. We have hardly enough at this
time for Our drinking purposes. But the stream above here can be
dammed in forty places with dams, some of them not over 40 feet, some
100 feet long. Those would irrigate a great many acres.
The same state of facts exists all along the range of mountains clear
up to Colorado on both sides of the river. On the other side of the
mountains the same state of facts exists, where the land slopes to the
east. There are many fine streams there, which run principally into
the Canadian River. Others flow south and run into the Pecos. º
of the land in ordinary seasons can be cultivated without irrigatioſ,
but that would not produce over half a crop or one-third. With the
assistance of a very slight amount of irrigation, all these lands can be
made to produce what would be called a crop in this country.
The CHAIRMAN. Also a variety of crops?
Mr. CATRON. Any variety you can think of. All those uplands will
produce wheat, rye, or barley. Corn does not grow so well. It is not
so good a crop as the others. Irish potatoes grow in abundance on the
uplands, while on the lowlands along the Rio Grande the Sweet potato
does well. Almost all grapes, except the Mission grape and the El
Paso grape, do well. The fruit here, I think, is a better fruit than that on
the Rio Grande, while perhaps not so large. Fruit grows excellently
here in any place where you protect it.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it with the plains outside the bottom—the
lower plains, or what you call the mesas &
Mr. CATRON. This is a mesa around here. These mesas can all be
reached by water stored in dams in these mountain streams. The land
is very rich and will produce as good a crop as that in the valley of the
Rio Grande, if you can get water to it. But I may say nineteen-twen-
tieths can be reached, because under Our present System. We have not
water enough, and the people are not able financially to store that
Water. --- *~.
EXTENT OF WATER SUPPLY IN NEW MEXICO. 67
The CHAIRMAN. The first thing in order, it seems to me, is a survey
and exploration for irrigation purposes Only.
Mr. CATRON. Yes; the first thing is such a survey. There is a Gov-
ernment surveying party up this river now. The first thing is to see
how much water can be located and the cost of it.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think, when that is done, that the people
will utilize many of the places &
Mr. CATRON. I think a large number of places would be utilized.
The fact is, that every day now they are increasing the supply of water
by putting in more or less dams or going above and taking Water.
The CHAIRMAN. Have they studied the economy of water much in
this Territory º
Mr. CATRON. In this place there has been no economy studied at all.
The CHAIRMAN. So that you would not be able to state what would
be the duty of water here?
Mr. CATRON. No ; I can not state that. I think Mr. Llewellyn has
given you the best figures on that. There should also be a big profit
wherever a man would take water from any supply that could be fur-
nished from this river. It would yield to the man cultivating the land
a large profit Over and above what he could realize from that same land
without having water. -
The CHAIRMAN. How much water would irrigate an acre here?
Mr. CATRON. I could not give you those facts. There are other gen-
tlemen here that can give you the figures. *
The CHAIRMAN. About what portion of New Mexico can ultimately
be reclaimed by irrigation, according to your best observation ?
Mr. CATRON. About one-half of it.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think so much as that ?
Mr. CATRON. Yes. *
The CHAIRMAN. About how much of it could be brought under culti-
Vation without resorting to any refined methods, but simply storing and
using the ditches without piping?
Mr. CATRON. From one-fourth to one-half of New Mexico can be done
in that Way.
The CHAIRMAN. By the ordinary methods used in other Territories?
Mr. CATRON. Yes, by the ordinary methods used in other Territories;
by taking out these ditches, and probably more after a time by the use
of storage. Our railroad transportation here has been so high that we
have not been much encouraged. We pay twice as much railroad fare
to here from the East as you pay to San Francisco.
The CHAIRMAN. I should think that would impede the growth of the
place.
Mr. CATRON. Well, it does not hurry it along any.
Senator REAGAN. Are you familiar with the distribution of the water
by irrigation in the valley of the Rio Grande 3
Mr. CATRON. Yes, I think I am ; that is from observation only.
Senator REAGAN. What measures, if any, have been adopted to pre-
Vent the Water from going to waste so loosely in the distribution of water
in the valley'?
Mr. CATRON. There have been no measures whatever adopted when
there was a Surplus of water to prevent it from going to waste. Each
Community has taken out a ditch from the Rio Grande, and run out
Sometimes around the foot-hills, and sometimes around their land just
high enough to get it on their land, and they have used all the water
Sufficient to irrigate their land, and they let the balance go.
Senator REAGAN. Is that allowed to run to waste from the end of s
68 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
*.
the ditch, or do they shut it off so as to allow the water to continue to
run in the river ?
Mr. CATRON. Sometimes they let it run off, and sometimes they turn
it back into the river at the end of the ditch.
Senator REAGAN. Have you no legislation controlling that?
Mr. CATRON. No.
iºr REAGAN. It is one of the great problems here to save that
Water
Mr. CATRON. I understand, of course, that that water goes back into
the river at the end of the ditch.
g Senator REAGAN. Is it your observation that the water is used with
due reference to economy and to the interests of the people alone?
Mr. CATRON. No ; in taking out their ditches they do not pay much
attention to the people below. They take out their water and let the
º below look out for themselves. The system of irrigation is very
CTUOIC.
Senator REAGAN. It is a subject very well deserving the attention of
the Territorial legislature.
The committee then took a recess until 3 o'clock, when it again
Convened.
STATEMENT OF ARTHUR BOYLE, OF SANTA FE.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Santa Fé 3
Mr. BOYLE. Nine years.
The ºnairwan. Have you given any attention to the subject of irri-
gation ?
Mr. BOYLE. I have been raising fruits and crops by irrigation since
I came here.
The CHAIRMAN. Tell us where you pursued that business and with
what success %
Mr. BOYLE. I lived for three years in the extreme northern part of
the Territory. I was farming and ranching there. I found that land
which without irrigation barely raised a half a ton of natural grass to
the acre produced with irrigation at the first crop 60 bushels of oats
and 42 bushels of wheat. Corn does not do very well; still I did raise
a very satisfactory crop of corn. The same land without irrigation
would be comparatively useless. Since I came to Santa Fé I have
given my attention principally to the cultivation of small fruits and the
orchard business generally. *
The CHAIRMAN. Give us your experience with that ?
Mr. BOYLE. The land I took was a very poor cornfield, that scarcely
returned seed from one season to another. Last year the trees
planted in 1882 gave me a profit of over $1,800.
The CHAIRMAN. For how much 3
Mr. BOYLE. For 24 acres of land.
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of fruit were they "
Mr. BOYLE. Small fruit, such as apples, pears, plums, grapes—in fact,
everything that I have tried here up to the present time, where water
is sufficient, has succeeded. Under the very common, careless, and
ignorant method of irrigation in use here now, land which was scarcely
worth cultivating produces good crops. I have put in Orchard trees
that are thriving very well, and in five years' time from the present
spring I think that they will bring me from $300 to $500 an acre,
The CHAIRMAN. Profit?
DIFFICULTIES WITH MEXICAN METHODS. 69 *
Mr. Boy L.E. Profit. I have seen a great deal of country that is very
similar to New Mexico, both as to soil and climate—particularly some
portions of Spain and the Nile—great portions of Australia, some por-
tion of the steppes of the Danube, and they are very similar to the
land here. In all these places where water is not systematically used
the land may be called waste; whereas with a proper application of
water there is no richer land in the world. I think it safe to say that
New Mexico can easily anticipate an increase of five times her present
population within ten years if the storm waters that fall naturally be
saved and used for the purpose of turning the water to the best ad-
Vantage.
We have an annual rain-fall of which the Government has full re-
ports. On the brightest days in July, August, or September, a storm
will burst in the mountains, and the water will come tearing down the
streams and practically run to waste. It often comes when the crops
need it, but it goes to waste. If that water can be saved, it can be made
advantageous instead of mischievous, and be made to support a large
population. In this particular locality and north of here much of the
land which at present is used for pasturing sheep, either because it is
too high above the river or because the water in the river is already
taken out by riparian occupants, can be supplied with water, and there
is water enough for it to depend upon an average crop. Of course Vir-
gin soil in the first year would give a heavy crop, but I think an annual
crop could be had of from 30 to 35 bushels of wheat, judging by my
own efforts, and 40 to 45 bushels of oats. Some portions of the upper
part of the Territory would not do so well, but the greater part would
give 20 to 25 bushels of corn to the acre. There are other crops that
are raised here, such as onions, that are not equaled in any other part
of the world except Spain. The onion crop in New Mexico, with water
sufficient to apply at the right time, could be made sufficient to supply
the whole of the United States. I am stating that, after having made
considerable inquiry about it, and giving statements to the freight
agent of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad on this very sub-
ject. So I think it is correct. Other things naturally, as the land came
in cultivation, would be found suitable for this particular climate and
soil, which at the present time we do not raise but look upon as com-
mercial products.
I alluded just now to Spain. Of course, these people are Spanish
people, and derive many of their ideas of irrigation from the country
from which they came. But they have either forgotten or never knew
the improved methods of irrigation in use in the old country. Water
here does not serve for 1 acre where there is an abundance for 5 acres.
That is so for many reasons. In the first place, each man looks for
water only for himself, and does not think of his neighbors. He has
practically no control over the waters. Consequently much water goes
to Waste. The ditches are improperly and badly constructed, and are
not kept in repair. I believe that at the present time the establishment
of a proper and efficient system of storage reservoirs is of very much
more importance to this section of country than any other question
which we have before us at the present time. A new population is com-
ing in at the headquarters of all our streams. Colorado is diverting a
great deal of water from this country that the people of this country
have depended on in years past. Not only the Rio Grande, but the
other streams—the headquarters of the Pecos and other rivers in south-
ern Colorado—are now being used at their sources, and therefore when a
flood occurs it is turned off on the land, and the people living below
.70 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDS.
along the course of the river are deprived of water entirely. Unless
Something is done in the way of storing the surplus water the people of
the Lower Pecos, the Lower Rio Grande, and so on will have to abandon
their farms for want of the water to which they have been accustomed.
In 1868 I was instrumental in introducing the silk industry into South
Australia, in conjunction with Sir Samuel Davenport and Prof. George
Francis and Mr. Atwater, who was then curator at the museum at
Adelaide. I think this climate more nearly resembles that portion of
Australia than any other climate I have met with. The success there
was most pronounced. The industry has grown from that time until it
is now of Very great importance. The French, the Italians, and the
people of other portions of Europe where silk is grown to a great
extent, as well as India, send to Australia now for their seed, which is
Called “grain.” That grain is sent from Australian ports to the proper
places, the steamers being fitted for the transportation of it as in China
and Japan, and the value of one cargo will frequently be as high as
if 150,000 to £300,000 sterling. These cargoes are made up simply of
the eggs of the worm. From the fact that the mulberry tree flourishes
here, and that the leaf contains precisely the constituents that are best
adapted for the production of the largest amount of silk and the health
of the worm, I think the industry will be established here to advantage.
Further than that, the peculiarly dry atmosphere we have here, the
electrical conditions of the atmosphere, and the season which can be
made so long by a succession of hatches, would make the profits of the
industry very much larger than I am informed they are in California.
I also wish to add that not only in the valley of this Santa Fé River,
but in all portions of this Territory, the northern half of which I know
Very well, storage reservoirs can be made in natural depressions with
very small expense. In the interior of Australia, 500 miles from the
coast, I have known of sheep stations, intended to carry only five hun-
dred sheep, which, by diverting the water, carried fifty thousand head of
sheep within three years. Away from the rivers the waters should be
carried in Some way so as to prevent them from going along either
through the deep caſions or the arroyos, which are simply ravines.
The water should be diverted from them and retained in those natural
reservoirs, and that could be done at a slight expense. I think there is
no locality adjacent to the mountains where any Very large expenditure
need be contemplated to put an enormous area of land under cultiva-
tion.
STATEMENT OF FRANK SPRINGER,
The CHAIRMAN. You have heard the examination here. Please state
your views with regard to irrigation, and your own experience also.
Mr. SPRINGER. I have lived for about sixteen years in the northern
part of this Territory. The condition of the part of the Territory
that I am best acquainted with is very much such as Mr. Catron
described as applying to land on either side of the mountain ranges
bordering on the Rio Grande. There are a number of streams flowing
to the eastward, none of which are very large, but which flow out at a
very rapid rate, but the fall of these streams after leaving the foot-hills
is on an average about 40 feet to the mile. In the mountain region it
is considerably greater. I should say that the principal of the streams
in the locality I speak of is about 12 to 15 feet wide, and during the
winter season the flow, at an average, from 14 to 2 feet of water.
The CHAIRMAN. In depth &
Y
THE MAXWELL GRANT AND IRRIGATION PLANs. 71
Mr. SPRINGER. In depth; the velocity which would be indicated by
the fall I have stated. During the early spring, whºm the snows begin
to melt, and from that on to about the 1st of June, the flowage of the
water in those streams is very much increased, so that they oftentimes
run five or six weeks at a time at a depth which makes it impossible to
cross them except on bridges; 3, 4, or 5 feet deep. Sometimes they
overflow their banks and fill the whole valley. I have Several times
seen one of these small streams in Colfax County, where I formerly re-
sided, 200 or 300 feet wide, running for a week or two. That Water,
for nine months in the year, is lost.
I presume all of the irrigating is done during the months of June, July,
and August; very little is done before that. Occasionally the farmers
irrigate the land before plowing it, in order to make it plow the easier;
but the great bulk of irrigation is done during these months. The first
two of those months are those in which the streams are usually lost.
Our rainy season, in the latter part of July and August, frequently pro-
duces a large flow of water at that time.
The subject of storage has been very much considered in our part of
the Territory, and storage will be undertaken to some extent by private
enterprise. I can give, if the committee desire it, some facts with re-
gard to some private enterprises in Colfax County, of somewhat consider-
able dimensions. º
The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed.
Mr. SPRINGER. Those I speak of are upon private property—upon the
Maxwell grant, which is a large body of land held in private ownership.
During the past year there have been two large irrigating Systems put
in operation. One of them is from a stream called the Vermejo. From
that a ditch 20 feet wide at the bottom has been taken out, running
about a distance of 20 miles. The smaller laterals, of course, make the
mileage considerably more. This water is carried into a series of natural
basins which happen to be so favorably situated as to render it practi-
cable to store in them a great quantity of water without artificial means,
except to lead the water into them. There are five or six of those lakes.
That system of ditches, with the aid of reservoirs, brings under cultiva-
tion about 30,000 acres of land. Thirty thousand is now considered as
directly belonging to the system, but with the addition of some similar
lakes in that vicinity it is expected to very considerably increase it.
Another irrigation system is taken out from the Cimarron River in
the same county by a ditch a little larger—24 feet at the bottom. In
that they have made one very large reservoir by re-enforcing the bank
at the lower end, adding to the natural bank an artificial one of dirt of
about 25 feet height. That system will irrigate about 30,000 acres of
land. Besides that there are some smaller enterprises. Those are the
two principal ones, whose lands are to be put on market. Those lands
are sold at about $15 an acre, including a perpetual water right.
The CHAIRMAN. Do they give any time 3
Mr. SPRINGER. Yes; the time is usually ten annual payments at 7
per cent. interest. They get one payment down and have all the pay-
ments completed in ten years. The title does not pass until the pay-
ments are completed.
We estimate the duty of water, based principally on the experience
of Colorado, at a very conservative rate, as we think, about 50 acres for
each cubic foot per second.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, a miner's inch to the acre 3
Mr. SPRINGER. Yes, I believe that amounts to the same thing.
72 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. One-fifth of a cubic foot per second is, I believe, the
miller’s inch. 3.
Mr. SPRINGER. I believe so. We think that when a particular, dis-
trict has been irrigated for a number of years water will go farther
than before. That seems to have been the experience of those who
have been irrigating for five or ten years. As to the crop raised
there, all of the crops that grow in the northern part of the temperate
Zone do well there, and some of our farmers have even been raising pretty
good corn crops during the last four or five years, getting a good, quick
Variety of corn. I know one gentleman who raised 71 bushels to the
acre last year on 25 acres of corn. Barley has been grown considera-
bly there this year, in addition to the other small grains that have been
mentioned. They are also finding that many fruits grow there very
Well. Some very fine apple orchards can be seen there now. Of course,
as in all new countries, fruit always comes last. There is one gentle-
man Who for ten years has been engaged in creating a very large or-
chard. That, however, is down in the cañon of Red River, about 1,000
feet below the general level of the country. He raises, I think, every-
thing that can be grown in the temperate zone.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the Red River run through this country &
Mr. SPRINGER. Yes; it heads in the valley I have been speaking of,
in Colfax County.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they irrigating much on the Red River ? *
Mr. SPRINGER. No ; there is not much, in this Territory, because the
Water very soon passes into a deep cañon. They irrigate little patches
of ground in the cañon.
The CHAIRMAN. When it gets below the caſion it can be taken out"?
Mr. SPRINGER. Yes, but that is pretty well out of the Territory.
The CHAIRMAN. Where would that carry you?
Mr. SPRINGER. That would carry us down by Fort Bascom, that is,
on Red River. The Red River runs east of Las Vegas and into the
Pan Handle of Texas. 3.
The CHAIRMAN. Where does it go then ?
Mr. SPRINGER. It runs down through the northern part of Texas and
adjoins the Arkansas.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the country down below require irrigation ?
Are you familiar with that part of the country?
Mr. SPRINGER. I am not very familiar with that part. The country
slopes off very rapidly. I suppose the same principles apply there as
in the Rio Grande Valley. I might add on the subject immediately in
hand that at the headwaters of almost all those streams originating in
the mountains there are ancient lake beds which formed the original
source of the streams undoubtedly. The streams break through the
mountains in narrow caſions. There are many of those places where a
dam 100 feet wide would perhaps create a lake of the average diameter
of a mile, with a depth of 50 to 100 feet at the lower end and gradually
becoming less. Such as that can, I think, be found at the head of all
those streams, and very often in the tributaries of the streams. Those
are pretty well up in the mountains, where the water is not so hot, and
where it is supposed that the evaporation is considerably less, though
we have no statistics on that point.
The CHAIRMAN. Would the suitable places for reservoirs in your
locality be on public or on private land 3
Mr. SPRINGER. In the locality that I have been speaking of, in Col-
fax County, they would be mostly on private lands. In the counties
on the eastern slope of the mountain range there are many such places
on public land. t
BUSINEss IGNoFANCE of IRRIGATION PROFITs. 73
Mr. CATRON. The majority would be on public land.
Mr. SPRINGER. I think so; I think on that side of the mountain the
majority would be.
Mr. CATRON. On this side they would almost all be on public land.
Senator REAGAN. What is the volume of water in the Pecos River ?
What is the size of the stream that enters Texas &
Mr. SPRINGER. That I can not tell you.
Senator REAGAN. I thought you described irrigated land on the
Pecos.
Mr. SPRINGER. No, not on the Pecos, but from streams farther north ;
though there are gentlemen here from that County who can give you a
great deal of information.
Senator REAGAN. What is the volume of the Canadian River where
it enters Texas %
Mr. SPRINGER. That I can not tell except from an estimate. That
stream is formed from five streams that I think would average 12 to 15
feet in width, and in the winter season, in ordinary times, 1 to 5 feet
in depth,
Senator REAGAN. You are not familiar with the Canadian River
down near the “Pan Bandle?”
Mr. SPRINGER. I am not.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES H. GILDERSLEEWE.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given some attention to the subject of
irrigation?
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. Yes. For the last two years I have given con-
siderable attention to that subject in New Mexico and the promotion of
irrigation enterprises among Eastern capitalists.
The CHAIRMAN. Please state what you know on that subject.
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. I have lived here about fifteen years. A little
over two years ago the legislature of New Mexico passed some laws that
were very favorable to the encouragement of investment by capitalists
in irrigation, in storage reservoirs, and similar enterprises. With other
gentlemen in New Mexico, I organized several irrigation companies and
spent considerable Gf my time East in promoting them and endeavoring
to encourage the investment of Eastern capital in those enterprises. I
have encountered a good deal of trouble in that matter. I find in the
first place that there is much ignorance among Eastern people on the
subject of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that ignorance confined to the people of the East 7
Mr. GILDERSLEEWE. Hardly; but I think there is more ignorance
in the East about it than in the West. The only people before whom
I have laid enterprises of that kind are Eastern people—those of New
York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Hartford. I find they are very igno-
rant on the subject of irrigation and they have very little knowledge
. only of our conditions but of the capability of production of our
SO11.
The CHAIRMAN. There is no doubt about that. What can you tellus
about the soil of New Mexico º
Mr. GILDERSLEEWE. The soil here, when it has a system of irrigation
that will insure a good Supply of Water, each year, will produce from
two to three, and sometimes five times, as much as the soil of the East,
that depends entirely on rain fall. The distribution of plenty of litera.
ture among our Eastern friends might educate them on this subject. I
74 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Want to make another statement here affecting legislation, which may
be influenced by your report regarding New Mexico. Our conditions
are Somewhat different from those of any other Territory, and probably
from those of all the States. Many of the sources of water supply in
New Mexico, and particularly large bodies of land lying contiguous to
the large rivers that are suitable for irrigation and colonization, are held
by private owners in large Spanish and Mexican grants. From my
long experience with those owners, I know that they are very favorably
disposed to assist in any effort that will look towards the irrigation of
their land or of lands contiguous to theirs that are held by the Gov-
€rnment.
In one notable case with which I was connected, the owners of the
lands which were adjoining the source of water supply and the river
bottoms offered to donate one-half of all their land grants, aggregating
500,000 acres, to an irrigation company, as a subsidy to encourage them
to build their irrigating canals and storage reservoirs, but owing to
Some unfortunate legislation of Congress in the anti-alien act, a corpo-
ration was precluded from owning over 5,000 acres of land, and as the
area which those people intended to grant exceeded 5,000 acres, and
amounted, in fact, to several hundred thousand acres, the company was
unable to avail itself of that very generous offer. The company could
not take a fee to the land, and could not mortgage it to a trust com-
pany or bank, because they were corporations. So we were placed in
a very embarrassing attitude, and are yet. Unless Congress will make
some legislation to enable these owners to put the land in the hands of
Companies, or to construct storage reservoirs or mortgage the land, we
are in a very unfortunate plight.
I wish to say something with reference to some experience I have had
in regard to the Santa Fé River. At the instance of some eastern
capitalists, I caused a survey to be made of the river for the establish-
ment of storage reservoirs about 13 miles east, to ascertain the approxi-
mate amount of public or Government land that could be irrigated from
the Santa Fé River, and by these storage reservoirs. The report of the
engineer was that a reservoir could be established near the city at an
expense of $250,000 which would store sufficient water to irrigate
between 100,000 and 150,000 acres of land lying from 50 to 300 feet
below the bottom of the reservoir. The matter was laid before the
eastern investors and they were loath to invest their money and rely
solely upon their investment for an income from sales of water rights,
They seemed to think that in view of the fact that the Government
lands which were now being sold at $1.25 would be worth from $5 to
$10 an acre, the Government ought in some Way to assist them by
donations of land. But, as no encouragement to that end can be offered,
they have declined to go on with the storage system or reservoir. t
The CHAIRMAN. You appear to have been studying the land ques-
tion. What would the difficulty be in constructing hydraulic works
that would irrigate 100,000 acres of land? Nobody could take that land ,
but homestead settlers. What difficulty would there be in your selling
the water to them 3
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. There would be none; but the difficulty is to
encourage eastern investors to do the work. They say it is a new thing
and a little uncertain.
The CHAIRMAN. What does the company want of the land if the Gov-
ernment is willing to give it to those who go on and buy the water ?
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. As an additional incentive to encourage invest-
Inellt. e !
EXTENT OF STORM AND SURPLUS WATER SUPPLY. 75
The CHAIRMAN. When they have the water, that is pretty much all
there is of it,"
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. Yes; there is more land than water, and I am
frank to say that I have endeavored to persuade those people that an
investment in water lands would yield a handsome income.
The CHAIRMAN. I think they will be convinced after a little while. I
feel certain that an investment in water is the safest investment, pro-
viding you sell it to the homestead settlers outright, giving them time in
which to make their payments; not getting all the money on the first
making of the contract, and not attempting to levy contributions per-
petually on the settlers, In the first place it would be very difficult to
get settlers to take hold of it, if there should be a perpetual tax on them
to pay it. They would prefer to own the water-works as a community
and take care of them themselves.
Tell us what you have observed with regard to the sources of water
Supply.
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. The period of largest water supply in the Santa
Fé River is during the months of March, April, and May. The larger
part of the Water falling during those months, I might say almost the
entire quantity, goes to waste. This water, from my examination, by a
system of storage reservoirs along the line of the stream immediately
north or east of the city of Santa Fé, could all be preserved and then
used during the irrigating season of May, June, July, and August, for
the irrigation of from 100,000 to 150,000 acres of Government land
lying immediately contiguous and to the south and west of the city.
I have caused some examination to be made (in connection with organi-
zations with which I am identified) of the Rio Grande River from Es-
panola to El Paso.
The CHAIRMAN. What distance is that?
Mr. GILDERSLEEWE. About 400 miles. My investigation was prose-
cuted among the oldest Mexican and American inhabitants living along
the line of the river, who were familiar with the Volume of water run-
ning in the river. They informed me that the months of March, April,
and May formed the season of high water in the river. The volume of
Water at that Season is so great that it often threatens to wash out towns
and cities lying below Peña Blanca. To my personal knowledge, the
cities of Albuquerque, Socorro, San Marcial, and other towns lying on
both sides of the river have at various times been threatened with in-
undations, and have occasioned the inhabitants great apprehension
and expense to preserve their towns. They all unite in saying that it
Would be a great blessing to them if, in that season of the year, the
Water could be diverted from the main channel of the river and held in
storage reservoirs conveniently located on both sides of the river, which
should then be utilized during the proper season for irrigation purposes.
As far as I know, that is the universal sentiment of the people living
along the Rio Grande Valley. I estimate that there are forty thousand
people living along that valley that require water for agricultural pur-
poses, Stock raising, and other industrial pursuits, and that ten times as
much land lying on both sides of the river could be irrigated by a com-
petent modern System of irrigation from storage reservoirs which could
be filled during the season of high water in the river.
The CHAIRMAN. How much would that amount to.
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. It would amount to about 4,000,000 acres, ap-.
proximately. Do you wish to know how much of this land would be
Government land and how much private land 3
The CHAIRMAN. If you have an idea give it to us.
76 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
f
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. I have made an approximation that one-third
of the land would be Government land and that would be irrigated
along the Rio Grande River.
Mr. WILLIAM L. RYNERSON. If one-third were public land, the bal-
ance would be private land. I would like to ask Mr. Gildersleeve to
State that a great portion of this land that is called private land con-
sists of Community grants or a species of public land. •ºr
Mr. GILDERSLEEVE. Yes; I will state that the greater portion of the
Other two-thirds is covered by either private or community lands or
grants to the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad by the Government.
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM B. SLOAN.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given any attention to the amount of land
under cultivation in this Territory by irrigation ?
Mr. SLOAN. I have. .
The CHAIRMAN. How did you obtain that information ?
Mr. SLOAN. As superintendent of the semi-decennial census of 1885,
and by personal observation traveling through the Territory.
The CEIAIRMAN. Please state how much it is.
Mr. SLOAN. The amount of the lands under cultivation in 1880 was
5,053 farms, with an acreage of 237,392 acres which was improved. The
valuation was $5,514,399. The farming implements at that time were
valued at $255,162. The live stock at that time was worth $5,010,800.
The value of all farming productions at that time was $1,897,771. In
1885 there were 10,511 farms, a gain of 5,458, with a value of farming
implements amounting to $1,595,370. The value of the farm products
was $2,914,984, an increase of $1,016,910. That was on the farm prod-
ucts alone. If you want the acreage of the Territory, I can give you
that. * @
The CHAIRMAN. Give us the acreage that is under cultivation by ir-
rigation.
Mr. SLOAN. The total land acreage of the Territory is 78,374,400 and
the area for pasturage is 63,374,400 acres. Unoccupied pasturage
amounted to 12,874,000. Public lands, subject to irrigation, amounted
to 13,965,000 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. That could be irrigated?
Mr. SLOAN. That could be irrigated. *
The CHAIRMAN. Of private land that can be irrigated, how much is
that % t
Mr. SLOAN. I do not separate them. & -
The CHAIRMAN. Would there be as much public land as private
land? •
Mr. SLOAN. No, there is more public land in the Territory than pri-
vate lands.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, more of public land that can be irrigated
than private land that can be irrigated?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes. The Gila, the Palomas, the Rio Grande, the Pecos,
the Red River, and their tributaries, all have their natural flow to the
south, the southeast, and southwest. Their valleys, etc., all embrace a
large area of public land. Immediately adjacent to the mountains there
is quite a quantity of land, what we term bench land, that is subject to
cultivation without irrigation. Passing from that—the foothills—down
into the valleys below, that are susceptible of irrigation, there are large
bodies of public land to be found throughout the territory. In Taos
RELATIONS OF IMMIGRATION AND IRRIGATION. 77
County there are some very fine lands on streams that are tributary to
the Rio Grande, that by the construction of proper reservoirs could be
made to hold water to be let into the Rio Grande at the proper time.
The flood of the Rio Grande is so great that if the water was held at
the proper time it could be carried a long way off. The Pecos River,
likewise, holds a good quantity of water. Altogether, we have thirty-
one streams in the Territory that at proper seasons of the year contain
more or less water. The main streams are those larger ones I have
mentioned, while the others are tributaries; but in the Spring Season,
after the snows begin to melt, there are large bodies of Water, all of
which could be husbanded and saved for the purpose of irrigation in the
vicinity of those lands I have mentioned.
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM G. RITCH.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. RITCH. I have been secretary of the Territory during the last
twelve years, and during that time I acted as governor for about two
years and a half.
The CHAIRMAN. You have heard the examination here. Please state
to the committee anything additional which may be of interest to us
regarding irrigation in this territory.
Mr. RITCH. I have heard something of the examination this after-
noon, but I was not here this morning,
The CHAIRMAN. We shall be glad to have any, statement you desire
to make.
Mr. RITCH. My statement would be more general than specific per-
haps. I will say that my means of information have been more espe-
cially in connection with the Bureau of Immigration, with which I was
associated in various capacities for Seven or eight years.
As to the sources of Water supply, they are mainly in the central
and northern portions of the Territory from the mountains, and depend
very greatly upon the quantity of snow that falls in the winter. Of
course, we have the rainy seasons, but the water usually runs off rapidly,
and we have the benefit of only a small proportion, relatively, of the
Quantity that falls. It is very manifest to me that in order to have the
full benefit of the precipitation; storage reservoirs are an absolute neces-
sity. The present system of irrigation is manifestly a very wasteful
one. With a proper saving of the water, I have no doubt but what
anywhere from fifteen to twenty times (probably more) land could be
brought into use than is now under cultivation. If the water was
stored and taken out in pipes the increased quantity of land that could
be brought under cultivation would be almost indefinite; I should say,
possibly, an increase of forty or fifty times; that is, saving all the water
and utilizing it to the best possible extent. The soakage of the water
is very great at the best when it is taken out in open ditches. Our
soil, I think, is unexceptionable.
The CHAIRMAN. Are the crops good?
I . RITCH. The crops are good wherever you can get water on the
2,1101. -
The CHAIRMAN. You have been looking at this question with a view
of bringing emigrants upon the land. Suppose the country were accu-
rately surveyed, and the places for reservoirs located, showing that the
land could be covered by certain water designated, and if the expense
78 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
of the work were estimated by the Government engineers, would you
then be able to get colonists to take up some of the land 3
Mr. RITCH. Certainly; and I think there would be no trouble in that
direction. Enterprises of that kind have gone on before in other places,
and I think we shall have no trouble in having them taken up here in
New Mexico.
I reside in the southern portion of the Jornado del Muerto, and I am
quite familiar with that portion of the country. In Socorro County, and
counties adjoining that, I think more than one-half the land is Govern-
ment land, which is good soil, and can be reached through reservoirs
Where the water has been brought from the Rio Grande. Of course
surface water could be utilized. There are caſions in the mountains
where natural reservoirs could be made. There are also depressions in
the Jornado, where large quantities of water could be stored at little
expense.
In regard to the fruits that can be produced in this Territory, I think
it is one of the finest fruit-growing countries in the United States. As
to the fruits produced here at Santa Fé and in the Rio Grande Valley,
you find no better. There has been sufficient experiment in that direc-
tion by amateurs.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you get a crop nearly every year?
RITCH. Nearly every year. I think we are a little peculiar in
that respect. We seldom have a frost; and while the crop may be a
failure in one locality, it is generally very good; certainly away above.
a half or three-quarters of the crop of what may be termed a good
year. Our soil is susceptible of growing all the crops adapted to the
temperate Zone.
The CHAIRMAN. How do the crops here, in quantity and quality,
compare with the crops raised where people rely on rainfall?
Mr. RITCH. I think where we have a certainty of irrigation. We can
produce crops in very much greater quantity. There is one advantage
in connection with irrigation—that we need little or no fertilizers, be-
cause, coming down with the water, in solution, are natural fertilizers,
and no artificial fertilizers are required.
The CHAIRMAN. Has there been an experiment here of cultivating
the land for a long time 3
Mr. RITCH. Yes; for two hundred years or more.
The CHAIRMAN. Does that land produce as good Crops as it ever
did 3
Mr. RITCH. That is its general reputation. It is understood that it
rather improves in the valleys.
The CHAIRMAN. Do the Mexicans manure their land—put fertilizers
On it."
Mr. RITCH. I do not understand that they do. There may be ex-
ceptional cases, but I know of none. They depend on irrigation to
fertilize the soil as well as to moisten it.
STATEMENT OF HENRY F. GRIERSON.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation? -
Mr. GRIERSON. I am foreign immigration agent of the Santa Fé
Railroad.
The CHAIRMAN. Please give us such information as you may have in
regard to irrigation in this Territory. -
Mr. GRIERson. The information I can give is largely the result of
what I hear from people that we bring in here. The universal opin-
THE VALUE OF ARID LANDs. Is DERIVED FROM WATER. 79
ion of the farmers that have come from foreign countries where they
have had to depend upon rainfull is, that they would not, under any
consideration, go back to the old method of depending upon that Source
for watering their crops. They find that irrigation is much more Sat-
satisfactory, as they can give the crops what water they require and at
the right time, just so much and no more. The crops raised under irri-
gation are very much heavier than the crop raised under rainfall. For
instance as to alfalfa ; in Kansas they would consider themselves very
lucky if they got 2 tons to the acre each year, where they depend upon
rainfall; here 5 or 6 tons is a very conservative estimate of the crop.
The trouble we have had so far is not in getting people to come here,
but in getting suitable locations for them. Wherever we can find land
with good water facilities, at reasonable prices, we have no difficulty at
all in colonizing it.
Take the Maxwell grant, for instance, of which Mr. Springer Spoke a
few minutes ago. It was only quite lately—a few months ago—that
they put that land on the market. They sell it on long time payments,
with light interest. Forty thousand acres that they have under ditch
will, I think, be sold by next year to small farmers and be brought
under actual cultivation. On the 15th of last April I was there, and
there was not a spear of any product then growing, except the natural
grass. I went there two weeks ago again, and one farmer, on 1,200.
acres, had as good a crop as any 1,200-acre farm in the World, compris-
ing alfalfa, oats, barley, and vegetables, beside other crops, and hun-
dreds of fruit-trees thriving. It may interest you to know that that
land was previously worth probably $2 or $2.50 an acre for grazing cot-
tle and would not now be worth that because of the present low rates
for cattle. They have increased that land in value from $3 to $12 or
$15 an acre.
When the Australian commission was here a few years ago, whose re-
port I read in the Government book prepared by Mr. Richard J. Hin-
ton, they said that land out West was plentiful but of little value; that
the value here was in the water. That of course is very manifest. I
have probably brought in more settlers for the past few years than
anybody in the Territory, and they are all satisfied. Last spring sev-
eral French wine growers came here by my invitation to look into wine
possibilities in this field. They have been importing a half a million
dollars worth of wine from Louisiana to cross with French wines. They
do not like the mixture very well. The California wines they liked less,
the amount of alcohol in it not being sufficient to make it a good carry-
ing wine. They say it is their intention, if the Government or any other
corporation would put any large body of land under cultivation, to
bring a large number of men here for the growth of grapes and the
making of wine for exportation to France.
People from France have also been looking at this Territory with a
view of observing how it would suit for silk culture. The conditions of
electricity and other features which they do not understand make this
one of the best places for silk culture in the world. Some French gen-
tlemen are to be here in a few days who will determine its possibility.
as to that.
They tell me that they have tested the grapes grown, and analyzed
the wine made in the Rio Grande Valley, and find that the percentage
of Sugar is large. The Soil here has a constituent such as it has near
Naples—a mixture of volcanic ash, which seems to have the effect of en-
riching the grape Very much.
As to the question of Soil being impoverished by constant cultivation
t 80 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Without fertilization, there is no doubt whatever that irrigation fertil-
izes land very considerably, on the Rio Grande Valley at least; I can .
not answer for other places. In the Rio Grande Valley you can take
What seems to be dead white sand, irrigate it for a year or two, and it
Will grow beautiful crops. Every year it is observed that the growth
of the plant is aided by the addition of alluvial deposits from the water,
as is the case in Egypt, South Africa, and India.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been through India º
Mr. GRIERSON. Part of India. I know South Africa quite well so
far as irrigation there is concerned. *
The CHAIRMAN. How does India compare with this country as to ir-
rigation ?
Mr. GRIERSON. This is a very rich country, very much like South
Africa. They do there very much as we do—raise two crops a year.
In the winter they irrigate their growing wheat.
The CHAIRMAN. If this is a richer country than India, how do you
* for their supporting 250,000,000 of people on 800,000 acres of
all C
Mr. GRIERSON. It is accounted for by intense cultivation and thefact
that they can live on very little—a little rice makes a very good meal
for the Hindoo. They do not want fine foods or woolen clothes.
The CHAIRMAN. We have over 1,300,000 square miles of arid lands.
Mr. GRIERSON. Irrigated land will without doubt support a very
much larger population in any portion of the world than land which,
depends upon rain-fall.
There is another point which these French people feel confident of,
that is, that in New Mexico there is a very superior capability for raisin
growing—a capability such as no country in the world has. The per-
centage of moisture or humidity in the southern portion is about 29 per
cent. by weight, which is very low. You can dry your grapes in your
Own Vineyard. In California and other places they have to ship their
grapes away from their vineyards in order to dry them, and then they
have to bring them back.
The CHAIRMAN. Similar conditions of climate exist in Arizona, do
they not ? -
Mr. GRIERSON. Perhaps so, though I can hardly state that to be a
fact of my own knowledge. It may interest you also to know that a
Trench commissioner was here in the spring for another purpose. He
had been looking all over the world for a sanitarium for French con-
sumptives. He was the agent of a society of rich people. They have
been examining all parts of the world, and they report that New Mexico
is about the best place in the world for the cure of consumption. The
Mexican Government have offered them a donation of 10,000 acres of
Government land. The gentlemen who have examined both countries
say that New Mexico is their choice.
STATEMENT OF E. S. STOVER, OF ALBUQUERQUE.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in New Mexico?
Mr. STOVER. Thirteen years.
The CHAIRMAN. You have heard what has been stated here. If you
can add anything that will be of service to the committee, we will be
glad to hear it.
Mr. STOVER. I should like to re-enforce what has been Said by Judge
Bristol, that it is not a question of land but of water. As has been
stated, in Bernalillo County, at Albuquerque and the town of Berna.
THE EXISTENCE OF UNDERELow IN NEw MEXICo. 81
lillo, 20 miles this side, it is a very rare thing for us not to have water
for the land we are cultivating. I suppose that not over 15 to 20 per
cent. of the river bottom is cultivated. At the present time I think we
have nearly all the water that is required for the land that is being
cultivated. There apparently lies also under Albuquerque a large basin
of water. For instance, while we have had no rains this year so far,
except a very few little showers, at any point on my place within 2
miles of Albuquerque I can strike standing water at 24 feet. In fact,
I have a fish-pond on my place which was got by simply taking a plow
and scraper and scraping it out. There is nothing, in fact, but water
from below—subirrigation.
I desire to say also that in the Rio Grande Valley we raise good crops
by Subirrigation; that is, forage crops, not good crops for corn or wheat
Or even grapes, but forage crops. There lie on each side of the river
what are called mesa lands. I should say that in the counties of Ber-
malillo, Valencia, and Socorro, nearly a million of acres on each side
of the river is not irrigated at all, although it is most excellent land
if they had the water with which to irrigate with. It can not be irri-
gated with the systems we have now. With other gentlemen I had a
survey made on the east side of the river several years ago by a com-
petent engineer, and his report was that he did not think it was practi-
cal to come up the river far enough this way for private capital to take
Out a ditch from the Rio Grande to irrigate this large mesa or table-
land which lies east of Albuquerque, but recommended the reservoir
Systems. Of course, he said it could be done, but the expenditure
Would be so large that no private capitalist could be induced to take
hold of it. I understand that is largely so on the West side of the river
also. If the report of the engineer would be of any use to you I will
furnish you a copy of it.
The CHAIRMAN. We should like to have the copy.
Mr. STOVER. I will furnish it. It will give many figures in regard
to the matter.” My opinion is that if irrigating or diverting the water
from the main stream diminishes the amount of water, in the stream,
by the time we irrigate what lands we have in Bernalillo County our
friends down below in Socorro County will not have any water at all.
Having taking some interest in that matter and inquired into it, my
opinion would be that the way to solve this matter would be to keep
this vast amount of water above us in the Rio Grande Valley.
The CHAIRMAN. You think a system of reservoirs would answer the
purpose 3
Mr. STOVER. From my experience and from the information I have
had from competent engineers, I am convinced that this system of hold-
ing the Waters back in the mountains is the proper system.
STATEMENT OF ALBERT J. FOUNTAIN, OF LAS CRUCES.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Las Cruces 3
Mr. FOUNTAIN, I have resided in the Mesilla Valley for twenty-seven
years.
The CHAIRMAN. Tell us what you know of irrigation here 2
Mr. FOUNTAIN. I have for some years made a study of this subject.
I foresaw years ago that we would experience the difficulty we now en-
counter. I speak specially now of what is known as the Mesilla Valley
and the great table or mesa land adjoining it. In the Mesilla Valley we
* Report was not received
(;
138 A L–WOL III
82 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
have in the river bottom about 130,000 acres of land, of alluvial de-
posit, through which the Rio Grande meanders. About 30 per cent. of .
this land is under cultivation, producing the finest of all kinds of crops
—wheat, corn, on the same land each year by irrigation only. The
floods come down in the spring, spreading out to places in our valley
for a mile and a half in width, running probably six weeks to two
months, and during that time a sufficient body of water flows by us,
going West, to the Ocean, to irrigate millions of acres of land lying on
the table lands or mesa on each side of us, all of it being Government
land, very little of it at this time being appropriated. Above us on the
Valley of the Rio Grande are a number of deep caſions and streams,
such as the Perches, the Animas, the Palamas, the Cuchillo Negra.
They drain the Rocky Mountain range. When those streams come
down they add to the flood which comes from the northern part of the
Territory.
These great caſions afford probably the best opportunity of a reser-
voir system, with little expense, that can be found anywhere—especially
the Perches, through which a great quantity of water flows down during
the year. There are the best of facilities in the Perches cañon for hold-
ing water, below Hillsboro, and so of all the other streams I have men-
tioned. If a storage system could be established by which this water
might be saved it could be taken out on this mesa land, especially on
the Jornada del Muerto on the east of the river, a tract of about
90 miles in length, averaging about 30 miles in width. I am very
familiar with that section. A very large portion of that country could
be reclaimed. There are great facilities for storage of water on the
Jornada del Muerto. At times great streams rush across it. I re-
member on one occasion I was water-bound for Several hours by a tor-
rent of water probably 6 or 8 feet in depth, and several feet in width,
rushing across the Jornada del Muerto. I was stationed there while
in the military service in 1863 and 1864 at Fort McCrea, and I made a
note at that time of the water fall and kept a note also of the amount
of the water that passed from the Jornada del Muerto through the
Fort McCrea caſion. On the west bank of the Rio Grande, that is, on
the mesa lands, say from Deming south, and the country between Dem-
ing and the Rio Grande, is a vast tract of very level country, unap-
propriated, which could be brought under cultivation if water could be
put upon it. I believe that could be done by storage of water in the
north.
It is my opinion, derived from actual observation, and from a study
of the question, as well as from inquiry of engineers and those who
profess to be familiar with the subject, that from 8,000,000 to 10,000,000
acres of Government land now unappropriated, could be put under
irrigation and reclaimed if we could save by storage this water which
runs off to waste every year. The engineers tell me they Will experience
no very great engineering difficulties in doing that. There is no doubt
that lands on the mesa, if put under irrigation, could be made quite as
valuable as those on the river bottom. An acre of unimproved land in
the Mesilla Valley is worth now from $25 to $30, with water facilities. If
they could put in alfalfa it would produce from $50 to $60 per year,
Alfalfa is an unfailing crop, with water. Or if put in vines the acre of
land will produce $250 per year. The vines are an unfailing crop. If
put in fruits it will bring something less than that, or about that. The
apple crop seldom fails. The peach crop frequently fails, however.
Í have experimented largely and for many years with small fruits and
vegetables. I have laid out a small piece of land 40 feet square, and
ExAMPLEs of LAND FERTILIZATION By water. 83
divided it up into pieces and experimented with it. I find that with full
irrigation a double crop can be produced compared with the crop that
can be produced with insufficient irrigation. Without irrigation noth-
ing can be produced. In addition to what has been stated by other
gentlemen from this section, we can grow rice and tobacco. Experi-
mentation with cotton has shown that it can be produced not only on
the river bottoms but on the mesa. Adjacent to the valley of the Me-
silla, about 15 miles to the east, is a range of mountains known as the
Organ Mountains, cut up into cañons. Torrents of water flow from the
mountain to the river in the rainy season. Sometimes they flow down
through our town, threatening instant destruction. We have been
compelled to erect a dam in order to protect our town. There are the
best of facilities for preserving that water. A storage System there
would, in my opinion, furnish water enough to fill a large canal which
would supply the necessities of the valley below it, and El Paso, for
several months in the year—not sufficient for the whole year, but as a
feeder it would aid considerably in keeping up the water supply of El
Paso.
On the subject of fertilization, lands are enriched by irrigation.
Lands entirely barren—sand-bars on which nothing would grow—will,
if irrigated one year, produce good crops; if irrigated a second and
third year the land becomes as good as any land that we have in the
valley. At a certain period of the year, when What is known as the
Puerco River comes down to our place, a large amount of sedimentary
matter is contained in suspension in the water, probably 10 per cent. of
it; but that is not for any great period, probably four or five weeks
during the year. That enriches our land to such an extent that irriga- . .
tion with that water from the Puerco River would in itself be more
valuable than all the fertilization that would be put upon it excepting
with irrigation. It is my opinion, derived from a study of the subject,
that if the water be held in reservoirs placed upon those high lands
there could be opened to settlement of the public lands in the county
of Doña Aña at least 5,000,000 or 6,000,000 acres. On the eastern side
of this Organ range there is a broad valley 50 miles in width and 150
miles in length, bounded on the east by the Sacramento Mountains and
the White Mountains. At certain periods of the year there flow from
those mountains into this walley great quantities of water which evap-
orate and Waste. In that valley many hundreds of thousands of acres
of land now unappropriated, valueless for any purpose, even for grazing
purposes (for there is no water), could be reclaimed and opened for set-
tlement. The same thing may be said of the adjoining county of Lin-
coln. The White and Sacramento mountains are in that county and
partly in the county of Doña Aña.
To the east of the Sacramento Mountains flows the Pecos River.
Artificial irrigation is now being carried on there. Canals are being
taken out and large reservoirs are being constructed. But between
the Pecos River and the White and Sacramento mountains—a strip of
country nearly 60 miles in width—vast quantities of land now unap-
º could be reclaimed by artificial irrigation and by the storage
Of Water.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you attach much importance to Government
Surveys for ascertaining the possibilities of storage, etc.?
Mr. FounTAIN. I attach the utmost importance to them. It is my
opinion, based upon the experience of the last four or five years, that if
the Government does not take some such steps the dry belt will keep
extending to the north, and will in time dry up the Mesilla Valley,
84 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Where we have millions of dollars invested in the finest fruit lands in
the World. We have made magnificent orchards and vineyards. This
year we might have lost them. }
The Rio Grande is now absolutely dry, and we lose a fine crop of
alfalfa. If it be true that the diversion of water north of us is the
cause of the drought, then it will continue; if it be true that the
drought is the cause of the light rain-fall of the last few years, then we
may hope next year to have an increase of rain-ſall and sufficient water
for our necessities. -
But we are brought face to face with the fact that vast quantities of
water are being taken out north of us, as has been said by Governor
Stover. Great canal systems are being inaugurated. If that water be
diverted from us, as it probably will be, and if the Government affords
no remedy by giving us a system of storage supply, we will be ruined.
But, independent of that, we desire, of course, to populate our county.
We desire to colonize it. We desire that these vast tracts of land, at
present comparatively valueless, should be opened to settlement. I
believe that will be done if the Government will establish a system of
water storage. Therefore I attribute to the movement on the part of
the Government in the matter of surveys for irrigation of the utmost
importance, and I think that expresses the view of every citizen of this
Territory. Not only will it be of very great advantage to us, but it will
tend to settle what may be an international complication. Our people
are diverting water to which the people of our neighboring State of
Chihuahua, in Mexico, claim to have a vested right. .*
The CHAIRMAN. We went into that fully yesterday in El Paso.
Mr. FOUNTAIN. A portion of the county of El Paso has been dried
up. This storage system will entirely eradicate that evil and will afford
relief. I might say much more, but so many gentlemen have gone into
the subject fully that I have no need of Saying anything further.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF T. B. CATRON.
Mr. CATRON. There was one statement made here which I think is a
little inaccurate. Mr. Sloan made a statement that there were thirty-
one rivers in this Territory, the water of which might be stored. I have
traveled through this Territory for the last twenty-three years, and I any
acquainted with nearly every river in the Territory. I can enumerate
over one hundred and fifty rivers that have constant water in them,
which can be stored. The sources of nearly every One of those rivers
is on the public domain, and the places for the storage of Water which
I would conceive to be proper places for storage, are cheapest and best,
most of them on the public land. Very few of them are on privat
property. s
STATEMENT OF W. L. RYNERSON.
The CHAIRMAN. If you know anything in addition to what has been
stated, please give the committee the benefit of it.
Mr. RyNERSON. There is one matter in addition to what has been
testified to which might be an advantage to the Committee.
I have been in this Territory for twenty-Seven years. In addition to
the testimony to which I have listened I wish to add something in
regard to storage reservoirs in the Rio Grande. I do not believe it is
practical. I think no matter how high you may build your dam, that
in a very short time it will be filled up with sediment, and you will have
no way to clean it out. When the Rio Grande is high it carries, much.
**
- RESERVoIR SITES IN THE county of SIERRA. 85
of the time a vast amount of sedimént. At certain seasons of the year
the water is Quite clear. -
If reservoirs were constructed out of the bed of the I&io Grande you
might run the water into these reservoirs when it is not being used in.
the valley for irrigating purposes, because there is a certain portion of
the year—two or three months—that it is required for irrigation.
For the section of country lying below what is called the Jornade
del Muerto, if the water of the Rio Grande was conducted on to that of
the Jornada del Muerto, which has been called a desert, and is an
extent of country some 75 miles in length and about 25 in width. There
are natural depressions all over this Jornada del Muerto that would
hold all the water that the Rio Grande would run in a season. That is
my opinion. The water then could be conducted from this point down
to our Mesilla Valley and also supply Texas, as has been suggested.
This is a mere idea of my own.
STATEMENT OF R. N. WHITE, OF SIERRA COUNTY.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you lived in this Territory 7
Mr. WHITE. I have resided in Sierra County, this Territory, about
nine years. The Rio Grande runs through it for about 50 miles. The
county is almost entirely Government land. I think there is not more
than one hundredth part of the county which is not so. There are five
rivers running through this county from west to east, having their
sources in the Black Range. There are many places which are specially
good for damming and preserving the water. There is a range of
mountains dividing them, at about one-half their length, and at every
place where the rivers break through this range of mountains—the Cu-
chilla Negra range—dams of not more thau from 250 to 500 feet in
width would back up waters for a distance of from 1 to 10 miles.
Another source of dams could be found south of the Alamosa, the Cu-
chilla Negra, the Rio Polomas, and the Rio Las Animas, with which to
irrigate a strip of country 10 miles in width and 50 miles in length, be-
side serving as reservoirs for the Mesilla Valley, that valley being a
continuation nearly of the valley of the Rio Grande, just running
northerly and southerly.
The county of Doña Aña raises all the vegetables and almost all the
fruits. The altitude is about from 3,800 feet to 6,000 feet. There has
been a dam on one of those streams, built by private parties, which il-
lustrated the feasibility of penning the waters. That dam was on the
Rio Perches, and dammed up the water for about a mile in length for
the entire length of the valley. It was neglected and washed away.
The Sediment is not a drawback at all. It has not been so found there.
I am acquainted with other parts of the Territory and can confirm the
statements that have been made by the other gentlemen here.
Mr. CATRON. What proportion of your county could be reclaimed or
cultivated if there was water stored there in your various streams—of
the total amount of acres in the valley, what percentage %
Mr. WHITE. Fifty per cent. The Jornado del Muerto is part of the
county. Of the Rio Grande Valley there are more than 600 square
miles which can be irrigated.
The CHAIRMAN. More than 50 per cent. of the whole can be re-
claimed ?
Mr. WHITE. Yes; I think so.
Mr. STOVER. I think that is true all over the Territory.
86 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
- {
STATEMENT OF M. S. OTERO, OF BERNALILLO COUNTY.
The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be glad to hear any statement
you wish to make in regard to farming in this country. 4
Mr. OTERQ. I am a very poor farmer, but have observed a little about
the great lack of water in the country and the disadvantage at which
the people are placed on account of it. I think that if the Govern-
ment Would help us a little we could in our county alone have enough
farming land for double the number of people that are in the county,
and it is one of the largest counties on either side of the river. "I
think that by building a dam probably up above Peña Blanca on the
Rio Grande, the water could be taken up on the mesa east of Albu-
Querque, which is a stretch of land about 25 miles in length and 12 in
Width, very good land. There is enough water in the Rio Grande to
Store reservoirs on the mesa or prairie, if the water could be raised.
The whole of it could then be reclaimed,
Then you come to the Jaemos range, or the Tejaemos, as it is called
in the Survey. That section of country has some streams. We have
Some beautiful streams there at the tops of the mountains. There are
five or six places that, with very little cost, would enable us to have
an immense storage of water by piping that water or fluming it on top
of the mesa. Between the Puerco and the Rio Grande there is another
mesa of about 15 to 20 miles wide, and probably 25 miles long, or 30,
as far as Albuquerque. It runs clear on through to the Rio Puerco
as far as 50 miles probably. I am satisfied that if that river could be
brought up on top of the mesa we would have 300,000 or 400,000
acres of land that could be irrigated and made to produce. To-day
it is going to Waste, and the same thing can be said of the Rio Puerco
range.
On the Rio Puerco there is an abundance of good, tillable land, but
we have not the means to store the water. There are three or four
months of the year that big volumes of water run down without any
Way of Saving it. The crops this year on the Rio Puerco have been
very good. The corn is as good as you can raise anywhere in the
Country, but the wheat was a failure on account of the lack of water.
The people could not save the water or take it out of the Rio Puerco;
it came in such volumes as to carry away the little dams, and they
lost their wheat crop. The corn crop was very good. On the west
side of these same mountains, and on the the range of the San Juan
mountains, the same thing could be said. There is an immense ter-
ritory there, of which, with proper reservoirs, all the land could be
Saved.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you think an engineer's survey and estimate of
Cost would be valuable?
Mr. OTERO. They would indeed. We do not suffer in our county for
the want of water, but with more water we could make that county a
big country—a very paradise.
Mr. RYNERSON. If these storage reservoirs were made and the water
was conducted on the land you spoke of, would it not injure your sheep
ranges } #
Mr. OTERO. No; I do not think it would. We do not range our sheep
there. We would like to have that land on the west of the river very
much. -
The CHAIRMAN. You can go farther back with your sheep when you
get the water? * *
Mr. OTERO. Yes.
NEED BE No LACK OF WATER IF STORED AND UTILIZED. 87
Mr. CATRON. There are some things more valuable than sheep
. I’3D 968.
§ STOVER. Are you familiar with northwestern New Mexico?
Mr. OTERO. Not very much. There is a beautiful spot at El Rato.
There is much level and beautiful country there if water could be got
on it. I do not think that a reservoir would be very costly. I am more
interested in the Tejaemos Mountains, and I think Major Powell will
agree with me that it is a great country. That country would irrigate
the western part of our county, which will make a Territory of itself.
STATEMENT OF L. S. TRIMBLE, OF ALBUQUERQUE.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Bernalillo County ?
Mr. TRIMBLE. I have lived there about ten years. We have plenty
of water, but it comes at the wrong time and gets away from us so that
it does not be of any use. If you can invent any means of keeping that
water here until we want it, you will have acomplished a great thing.
There is enough water to-day flowing out of the Sandia Mountain, 12
miles east of Albuquerque, and that has flowed out of it in the last three
months, to irrigate the mesa land east of Albuquerque from Bernalillo
to Indian village, a distance of about 38 miles. There was last week
a stream of water running out of that cañon with a rush which has be-
come as fine a stream as you would care to look at. When there are
rains, there is a perfect torrent rushing out of these cañons.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it not a fact that that is the condition of most of
the cañons in the Territory—that there is a rush at the time of high
water, and that what you want to do is to keep that water back by
i. or by storing it. You first want a survey to show what can be
done? .
Mr. TRIMBLE. Yes; this water can be kept back out of the mesa in
the winter.
The CHAIRMAN. That can be determined by surveyage, if you have
the water and the land; the survey is desirable to find out in detail
what you can do 7 e
Mr. TRIMBLE. The Water is here if it can be utilized.
The CHAIRMAN. And the land is here 3
Mr. TRIMBLE. The land is here. If the land that is on the level could
be utilized, the crops of New Mexico would be increased sixfold.
Mr. CATRON. Six hundred fold. -
Mr. TRIMBLE. The crops of Bernalillo County could be very greatly
increased if that Single mesa were utilized. There is no question in
my mind that if the water could be preserved it would be a great ben-
efit to the country, and it would induce people to take up the land.
STATEMENT OF JAS. K. LIVINGSTONE, OF LAS CRUCES.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your business 3
Mr. LIVINGSTONE. I am general agent for the real estate—the lands
of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad in New Mexico.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you add anything in the way of information to
what has been said here 3
Mr. LIVINGSTONE. I have lived in the Territory for about eight years.
I have frequently heard the criticism made that if all the iand were
brought under cultivation which it is claimed can be irrigated in New
88 . IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
§
Mexico there would be no market for its produce—that we are too
isolated from the other States and Territories, and that being on the
Mexican border we would be unable to find a market for our produce.
The fact is we have a fine home market. I believe that is a point that
has not been touched upon to-day.
Adjourned.
ON THE TRAIN AT LAs CRUCEs, N. MEx., i
September 8, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
r.” Senators Stewart (chairman) and Reagan; also Director
Owell.
STATEMENT OF JOHN B. BOWMAN, LL. D.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you lived in New Mexico º
Mr. BOWMAN. About seven years; five years of that time at Aleman
on the Jornado del Muerto, and here at Las Cruces.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the Rio Grande Valley in New
Mexico º
Mr. BOWMAN. I am familiar with the central and southern portions,
extending from Albuquerque down to the State line of Texas. The
entire extent of that valley through New Mexico is about 360 miles.
Trom Albuquerque to the State line it is about 230 miles. A section
of that portion in southern New Mexico is known as the Mesilla Valley,
and is about 50 miles long, Las Cruces being the chief town. Another sec-
tion lying north of that is known as the Jornado del Muerto, rising from
the river at the town of San Marcial, and widening out into a broad,
beautiful valley of a higher level, nearly 100 miles long, and an average
width of nearly 40 miles. Another section extends from San Marcial to
Albuquerque, the first level being from 3 to 5 miles in width, and ex-
tending indefinitely up on to the mesa.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the sources of the water supply of the Rio
Grande Valley, and what the annual amount of water for irrigation
purposes?
Mr. BOWMAN. The sources of water supply are the Rio Grande, rising
in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, and from tributaries which below
Albuquerque flow almost exclusively into it from the west side, and also
from the storm-waters which fall generally in the months of July,
August, and September, the average annual rain-fall being from 10 to
to 12 inches in the valley.
As to the amount of the annual supply of the Rio Grande and its
tributaries for irrigation purposes, I have no means of estimating, but
if properly saved by dans and by a system of storage reservoirs and
canals, I am satisfied that, in connection with the storm-waters gathered
from the mountains, the supply would be ample for all the irrigable.
lands in the valley. As it is, this river rises to flood height usually in
the months of May and June, from the melting of the Snows in the
Rocky Mountains; flows rapidly to the Gulf, oftentimes with great dam-
age and destruction; then subsides quickly, as in the last two years,
drying up bodily for hundreds of miles and for several months below
Albuquerque, leaving the crops to perish and the farmers to lose hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars, and stopping all immigration into the
valley. This natural flow of the water to southern New Mexico and
As
THE JoRNADo DEL MUERTO AND ITS CHARACTER. 89
western Texas and to Old Mexico is being rapidly curtailed by the
large immigration into southern Colorado and the northern part of New
Mexico. These thrifty people are constructing canals right and left,
and by degrees are taking the Rio Grande out, during the farming sea-
son, almost bodily. The result is, that this season a water famine has
existed in the valley for hundreds of miles above and below El
Paso, and a panic exists among the people as to the future supply.
This in my judgment can only be remedied by the saving of the
flood-waters of the river in the early season, and of the storm-waters
from, the mountains later on, by a system of dams, reservoirs,
canals, and laterals, to be constructed either by the Government
itself or by its encouragement of private capital. Unless this is speedily
done, one of the fairest and most productive portions of the southwest
will be desolated and deserted. Immigration to it has already ceased,
lands have greatly decreased in value, and many people are preparing
to leave this valley.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character, extent, and source of water
supply of the large area of country known as the Jornado del Muerto,
upon which you have resided for five years.
Mr. BOWMAN. It is one of the most interesting and peculiar confor-
mations of lands in all the arid regions. It is a broad, fertile plateau,
at an altitude of 4,500 feet above sea-level, on the thirty-third parallel
of latitude, lying somewhat in the form of an ellipse rising gradually
from the eastern side of the Rio Grande near San Marcial several hun-
dred feet, and then sloping downward and southward for about 100 miles,
with an average width of 40 miles, bounded on the west by the Cristo-
bal and Caballo Mountains, curving around with the river behind them
to Rincon, a station on the Atchison, Topeka and Sante Fé Railroad,
which crosses this valley in a direct line, and on the east by the San
Andreas Mountains then narrowing down to the base of the Doña Aña
and Organ Mountains to a beautiful mesa, nearly to El Paso, crossing
the State line of Texas about 20 miles above said city. This remarkable
area of country, containing about 2,000,000 acres, has not a living
stream of Water upon it, except one or two small springs in the Caballo
Mountains. On the eastern side of the railroad, for 100 miles by 25
miles in width, there has not been, in all the past nor at present, but
two habitations outside of the railroad stations, one of these the “Ale-
man " or “Martin's well,” and the other Ojo Denaio, a small spring
which rises and runs a few hundred yards and sinks on the plains. The
railroad Supplies its stations with water hauled from the Rio Grande
and from reservoirs and wells sunk at great depth. This area of
country is capable of 50,000 homes for colonists, if water could be put
upon it.
The climate is perfect both winter and summer. Its soil is rich and
highly productive, having been formed by the deposits from the ad-
jacent mountain ranges for ages past, and is admirably adapted to the
growth of all kinds of fruits and cereals of a semi-tropical climate. The
whole plain and mountain sides are covered with luxuriant growth of
gramma and other grasses indigenous to these arid regions, and indica-
tions are most favorable for large mineral deposits in the surrounding
mountains, Which are also covered by an abundance of timber for fuel
and other purposes.
The CHAIRMAN. You speak of the Mesilla Valley; what is its extent,
and what its resources?
Mr. BOWMAN. The Mesilla Valley extends from a point near Fort
Selden to the Texas line, a distance of about 40 miles. The lower level
90 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
.*.*
of land is from 3 to 5 miles in width, the mesa lands on the east about
15 miles in width, extending to the Organ Mountains, and on the west
Side extending indefinitely towards the town of Deming, on the Southern
Pacific and Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé railroads." The lower level
of land has been partially under cultivation for several hundred years,
and has a wonderfully rich soil, capable of the production by irrigation,
from the muddy waters of the Rio Grande, of all crops of cereals, and
especially of all semi-tropical fruits and vegetables, to a remarkable de-
gree. Perhaps no country in America can excel it in the production of
all Varieties of grapes, both as to quantity and flavor. Apples, pears,
peaches, plums, apricots, figs, and nectarines grow to great perfection,
Superior, we think, to California.
The CHAIRMAN. You speak of the Rio Grande failing in its supply
and having been absolutely dry for several months during the past two
years. How can these valleys be relieved from this water famine in
the future, and how can this large area of mesa land be settled up 3
Mr. BOWMAN. Only by saving the great floods of waters of the Rio
Grande which waste away to the Gulf of Mexico every year, during its
Spring rise, and also gathering the storm waters which flow from the
mountains in the summer and fall.
The CHAIRMAN. Have any steps been taken by the people themselves
to protect them from this threatened annual water famine? You have
Organized a company, I believe. Please state its character.
Mr. BOWMAN. More than a year ago a number of the best citizens of
Southern New Mexico and El Paso, Tex., many of them small farmers,
whose all depended on a regular water supply, fearing the increased
failure of the river from its absorption by the people of Colorado, and
With a view to settling up the large tracts of adjacent mesa lands, or-
ganized a company, known as the Jornada and El Paso Canal and Res-
ervoir Company, subscribed a fund for preliminary surveys and ex-
penses, and appealed to Congress for aid in the construction of a canal
and laterals, with a series of storage-reservoirs, to be built under the
direction and auspices of the Government, by private capital, and in
exact line with the policy indicated by this investigation. -
The organizer ask the right to operate under a national charter
under the direct on of the Secretary of the Interior, and for the right
of way, and to take from the Rio Grande, under proper restrictions by
the Government, the waste or flood waters of that river; also, to gather
the storm waters from the mountains and plains, and to conduct and
store the same by a system of canals and reservoirs, to be located by
the U. S. Geological Survey, taking the waters from the river at any
point on either side of said river, between Fort Selden and Albuquer-
que, and carrying them across the Jornada down at the base of the
Organ Mountains, with a branch canal or lateral near Fort Selden run-
ning south through the Mesilla Valley to the State line of Texas, where
the waters can be conducted into the largeinternational reservoir, which
is suggested to be built by the Governments of the United States and
Mexico. In order to construct this large and expensive System of
works, and to develop the large area of public lands on this peculiarly
situated Jornada del Muerto, and to save the beautiful Mesilla Valley
from a constantly recurring water famine, they ask for an appropria-
tion of $25,000, to be expended under the direction of the Geological
Survey, for the permanent surveys and locations of said system of
works, and they ask also for the right to purchase at a reasonable rate
the alternate sections of public lands along or near said canals and res-
ervoirs, to an amount not exceeding 1,000,000 acres, which lands are
---
- A SHORT REPORT FROM THE SURVEYOR-GENERAL. 91
now practically worthless and uninhabited. Only in this way can pri-
vate capital be induced to take hold of this great work, which will cost
several millions of dollars. This settlement of more than 2,000,000
acres of rich but arid lands will be postponed indefinitely, unless these
works are constructed by this means or by the Government itself.
The policy of the people who have organized this company is not only
to save their own valley, but to encourage the settlement of these un-
occupied lands by colonies of small farmers, who will be enabled, under
governmental protection, to secure water rights which will attach per-
petually to the lands purchased by them.
I beg leave to file with this statement copies of the maps and profiles
of surveys which have been made by this company, showing the prac-
ticability of the proposed routes and works, with some photographic
views of the Mesilla Valley; also, a copy of the bill introduced in the
last Congress, with a report made in its favor by the House Committee
on Agriculture; also, arguments before the Senate Committee on Agri-
culture, which committee gave the measure most favorable considera-
tion, without action, near the close of the last session.
The following papers were received by the committee and ordered
filed for publication. t
STATEMENT OF EDWARD F. HoHART, UNITED STATEs surveyor-
GENERAI, OF INEV IMIEXICO.
The Committee on Irrigation of the United States Senate :
GENTLEMEN: New Mexico is, by reason of its inland situation, naturally an arid
region. This condition is however greatly modified by its mountains, which cover a
large part of the northern portion of the Territory and are scattered over the rest of
its surface in detached groups.
If these natural reservoirs of moisture were supplemented by works that can be
readily constructed by man, a very large portion of what is now a barren waste could
be turned into a very garden of the Lord, for at the touch of water these prairies
become equal to the most fertile land in the world, and the crop is much surer than
it can be where it depends upon rain.
M: the mountains a great number of streams run out onto the plains of New
€X1CO,
The Water that runs 32, these streams during the summer is used to some extent for
irrigating the bottom lands; the water that runs during the rest of the year goes to
WaSte. -
For an example of these streams, take the little river Gallinas, which runs through
Las Vegas, the flow of which I have measured at Las Vegas Hot Springs for the last
Slx years.
. The stream commences, to rise from the melting of the mountain snows early in
April, and soon attains a depth of 1 foot more than that of its ordinary stage ; as the
weather gets a little warmer this increases to 2 and then to 3 feet and two years
ago last spring it reached the extreme height of 8 feet above low-water mark, which
in a swift running mountain stream is quite remarkable.
The high stage of water in the spring continues about two months. Taking the
average, height during this time as 2 feet and the width as 30 and the velocity
as 4 miles, there flows by every day a body of water 100 miles long, 2 feet deep,
and 30, feet wide, or more than enough to irrigate a square mile of jänd for a year
after all allowance is made for evaporation during the time it needs to be held. There.
fore during the two months ending the middle of June ample water for irrigating 60
Square miles of land could be saved up by the proper reservoirs. 5.
For miles above Las Vegas Hot Springs the river enters a caſion 100 feet deep, 75
feet wide at the bottom, and 200 feet at the top. A dam constructed here at an 'ex.
pense of some $30,000 would bold the before-mentioned water, which could be let
down as it was needed on the land.
The area of land to be irrigated could also be greatly increased by smaller reservoirs
on the prairie, costing from $500 to $3,000 each. For example, 2 miles out on the
- *. - - - \ .
92 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Prairie, from the point where the Gallinas leaves the mountains, a flat valley on ele-
Yateſ, ground, could be crossed by an embankment 24 feet high in the center, contain-
ing 13,000 cubic yards of earth, and costing $1,500. This would produce a storage
lake half.8 mile in diameter and of an average depth of 10 feet.
. Four miles north of the Gallinas is a smaller stream; 10 miles north of the Gallinas
is a Sapello of equal volume; 8 miles farther north is thé Mora, and so on. Everywhere
Streams come forth from the mountains at frequent intervals, and if the water was
saved, it would irrigate a belt of land all along the foot of the mountains from 10 to
20 miles in width. How many thousands of happy homes would cover these tracts
now barren and useless.
The same method of treatment just suggested continued to the streams along the
upper Rio Grande would solve the problem for that river.
In the side eaſions of the river at the north the waters should be held that now
come down in devastating floods, and when the water becomes scarce a steady flow
could be secured by releasing the water from the artificial lakes. The experiment
made by the Government on the upper Mississippi shows that such a plan is practi-
gable. It is what our country needs, and is beyond the power of private enterprise.
It is for the general good, and will render valuable a vast quantity of Government
..and. Therefore we ask the aid of the General Government.
TROM COMPILED LAWS OF NEW MEXICO.
ACEQUIAS OR IRRIGATING DITCHES.
[Filed by Governor I. Bradford Prince.]
Title 1, Chapter 1.
SECTION 1. No inhabitant of this Territory shall have the right to construct any
building to the impediment of the irrigation of lands or fields, such as mills or any
other property that may obstruct the course of the water; as the irrigation of the
fields should be preferable to all others.
SEC. 4. In case a community of people desire to construct a ditch or acequia in any
part of the Territory, and the constructors are the owners of all the land upon which
said ditch or acequia is constructed, in such case no one shall be bound to pay for
said land, as all the persons interested in the construction of said ditch or acequia
are to be benefited by it.
SEC. 5. The course of ditches or acequias already established shall not be dis-
turbed.
SEC. 6. All rivers and streams of water in this Territory, formerly known as public
ditches or acequias, are hereby established and declared to be public ditches or
acequla S.
SEC. 7. From and after the publication of this act, it shall be the duty of the sev-
eral justices of the peace of this Territory to call together, in their respective pre-
cincts, whenever it may be deemed convenient, all the owners of ditches or acequias,
as well as the proprietors of lands irrigated by any public ditch or acequia, for the
purpose of electing one or more overseers for said ditches or acequias for the same
€3,1". t
y SEC. 10. The regulation of ditches or acequias which have been worked shall re-
main as they were made and remain up to this day.
SEC. 15. All acequias, public or private, when completed, shall be the property of
the persons who may have completed such acequias or ditches, and no person or per-
sons who may desire to use the waters of such acequias or ditches shall be allowed so
to do without the consent of a majority of the owners of such acequies or ditches, and
upon payment of a share proportionate to the primary cost of such acequia or ditch
to the amount of the land proposed to be irrigated, or the quantity of water proposed
to be used: Provided, That the provisions of this section shall not apply to any ace-
quias or ditches, public or private, that may pass from the limits of any one county
to within the lines of any other county.
SEC. 16. Where any acequia or ditch, public or private, passes from within the
limits of any one county to within the lines of any other county, such acequias or
ditches, within the proper precincts of their respective counties, shall be under the ex-
clusive control and management of the officers of such precincts and counties.
SEC. 17. All the inhabitants of the Territory of New Mexico shall have the right to
construct either private or common acequias, and to take water for said acequias
THE IRRIGATION AND DITCH LAws of NEw MEXICO. 93
f
from wherever they can, with the distinct understanding to pay the owner through
whose land said acequias have to pass, a just compensation taxed for the land used.
SEC, 18. If the owner or owners of land where a new ditch for an acequia is to be
made should ask an exorbitant price as a compensation therefor, which shall not be
satisfactory to the owner or owners of such acequia, it shall be the duty of the pro-
bate judge of the county in which it may occur to appoint three skillful men of well-
known honesty to make an appraisement thereof and fix the compensation, which
once done shall be executed and without appeal.
SEC. 24. In each precinct of this Territory, where public necessity requires it, an
election shall be ordered and held on the third Monday of February, 1880, for the re-
spective directors of acequias, for each one of such acequias as shall irrigate differ-
ent places, as hereinafter provided.
SEC. 25. The manner of conducting the election, and the number of overseers, shall
be regulated by the justice of the peace of the precinct, and the only persons entitled
to vote at said election shall be the owners or renters of lands irrigated by said ditches
or acequias.
SEC, 26. It shall be the duty of the overseers to superintend the repairs and exca-
vations on said ditches or acequias; to apportion the persons or number of laborers
furnished by the proprietors; to regulate I hem according to the quantity of land to
be irrigated by each one from said ditch or acequia; to distribute or apportion the
water in the proportion to which each one is entitled, according to the land culti-
vated by him, also taking into consideration the nature of the seed, crops, and plants
cultivated, and to conduct and carry on said distribution with justice and impar-
tiality.
§. 29. The pay and other perquisites of the overseers shall be determined by a
majority of the owners of the land irrigated by said ditch or acequia.
SEC. 35. All persons interested in a common ditch or acequia, be they owners or
lessees, shall labor thereon in proportion to their land.
SEC. 36. All owners of tillable land shall labor on public ditches or acequias,
whether they cultivate the land or not.
SEC. 37. It shall be the duty of the proprietors to furnish each one the number of
laborers required by the overseer, at the time and place he may designate, for the
purposes mentioned in the foregoing section, and for the time he may deem necessary.
SEC. 48. The penalties on those who shall fail to supply the amount of work due
by them, according to the provisions of this act, or the number of laborers on them
apportioned, or for any violation of existing laws on this subject; and those penalties
that are applicable under existing laws to major-domos shall be the same that shall
be applied in these cases, and they shall be executed and fines shall be disbursed in
the same manner.
SEC. 49. All currents and sources of water, such as springs, rivers, ditches, and cur-
rents of water flowing from natural sources in the Territory of New Mexico, shall be
and they are by this act declared free, in order that all persons traveling in this Ter-
ritory shall have the right to take water therefrom for their own use and that of the
animals under your charge: Provided, That the word traveler shall not in any man-
ner extend to persons who travel with a large number of animals, for in that case
they shall not use the water of any spring belonging to any individual without hav-
ing first obtained the express consent of the owner: * * * Provided further, That
this shall in no manner apply to wells in this Territory: Provided further, That this
act shall not be applicable to ponds or reservoirs of water that persons may construct
for their own proper use and benefit, and no person under pretext of title to said
Sources, Springs, rivers, or ditches shall have the right to embarrass and hinder or
molest any transient person or traveler in or at the time of taking the water for his
proper use and giving water to his animals.
SEC. 52. It shall be the duty of the major-domos of ditches and the commissioners
of the same to prosecute all persons who shall violate the provisions of this act.
\ Title 18, Chapter 1.
SECTION 1305. The different communities or Pueblos of Indians residing within our
settlements shall be subject to render their services in working the acequias and high-
ways in which they have the common use of the water of said acequias with the im-
mediate citizens to their Pueblos, and enjoy at the same time the benefit and commer-
cial traffic: Provided, That in such service they shall be entirely subject to the laws
now in force on both branches of roads and acequias.
In addition to the foregoing there prevails among the Pueblo Indians of New Mex-
ico the custom of annnally electing a mjaor-domo by all interested. He has control
over the distribution of the water and calls out the help required for repairs, etc.,
much in the same manner as practiced among the Mexicans.
94
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
+
\
MINING AND WATER RIGHTS.
Section 5, article 14, adopted as part of the proposed State constitution by the con-
stitutional convention which met at Santa Fé, N. Mex., September 3, 1889.
Whenever by priority of possession rights to the use of water for mining, agri-
Culture, manufacturing, or other purposes have vested and accrued the possessors and
owners of such vested rights shall be maintained and protected in the same, and the
right of way for the construction of ditches and canals for the purposes herein spec-
ified is acknowledged and confirmed subject to the restrictions of this constitution
as to taking property for public or private use. --
LIST OF WATER AND IRRIGATION INCORPORATIONS.
[Filed by the Secretary of Territory.]
Albuquerque Consolidated Water-Works Com-
pany.
The Albuquerque Land and Water Company.
The Albuquerque Mountain Water Company.
The Aqua Pura Company of Las Vegas.
Alºque Water-Works Company (consoli-
ated).
Albuquerque Water-Works Company (The A.
Mountain).
Tho Albuquerque Water Company.
The Albuquerque Water-Supply Company.
The Albuquerque Water-Works Company.
The Cerrillos Gas and Water Company.
The Cerrillos Gas and Water Company.
The Cerrillos Gas and Water Company.
Citizens' Water-Works Company.
La Campania de Agua Cristalina de Manantial.
The Deming Artesian Water Company.
The IDark Cañon Water Company.
The Deming Water-Works Company.
The Gawilan Ditch and Water Company.
Gallinas Canal and Water-Storage and Irrigation
Company.
Gila River Ditch and Water Company.
Hot Springs Water-Works and Railway Company.
Kingston Irrigating, Mining, Milling, and General
Water-Supply Company.
JKingston Water Company.
Las Cruces Water-Works Company. ,
The Lordsburg Water-Works.
Moreno Water and Mining Company.
The New Mexico Water Company.
Pecos and Placer Water-Pipe Company.
The Raton Water Company.
The Roswell Water Company.
The Santa Fé City Water-Works.
The San Juan Water Company.
Sandia Water Company.
Santa Fé Water-Works Company.
The Santa Fé Water and Improvement Company.
Silver City Water Company. , - .
Sierra Madre Water, Mining, and Reduction Com-
any.
siſ: Madre Water, Mining, and Reduction Com-
pally.
Socorro Water Company.
The Springer Water Company.
The Springer Water-Works and Railway Com-
pany.
Tuerto Water Company.
The Water and Improvement Company.
New Mexico Water and Immigration Company.
New Mexico Water and Irrigation Company.
The Silver City Water-Works.
Socorro Water-Works Company.
Albuquerque Ditching and Irrigation Company.
Albuquerque Irrigating and Ditch-Improvement
Company.
Albuquerque Irrigating, Canal, and Land Com-
}.
Albuquerque Irrigating, Canal, and Land Com-
any.
Aº, La Plata and San Juan Irrigating Canal
Company.
Bernalillo Ditch and Irrigating Company.
Black River Ditch Company.
The Bowman Irrigation Company.
Black River Ditch Company.
B. R. Cañon Ditch Company.
The “B. R.” Cañon Ditch Company.
The Cabresto Ditch and Irrigation Company.
The Chama Valley Mill and Irrigating Ditch Com-
pany. -
The Detroit and Rio Grande Reservoir and Pipe
Line Company.
Echo Irrigating Ditch Company.
Eureka Irrigating Ditch Company."
The Guadalupe *vailey Irrigating and Milling
Company.
McDermott Irrigating Ditch Company.
McDermott Irrigating Ditch Company.
Mesilla Valley Irrigation Company.
The Mountain Irrigation Company.
The New Mexico Irrigating and Land Company.
The People's Ditch and Irrigation Company. " .
The Pecos Irrigation and Investment Company.
Penasco Tank, Irrigating and Ditch Company.
Reservoir Irrigating Company.
Rio Grande Irrigation and Colonization Company.
The Rio Grande Irrigating Canal, Land, and Live
Stock Company of New Mexico.
The Rio Grandel Trigating and Improvement Com-
pany.
The Rio Grande Irrigation and Ditch Company.
Santa Fé Irrigation and Colonization Company.
The Santa Cruz Land and Irrigation Company.
Socorro County Irrigating and Agricultural Im-
provement Company.
The Socorro I)itch and Irrigating Company,
The South Spring River Land and Irrigation Com-
pany.
Una de Gato Canal and Irrigating Company.
Water Cañon Stock and Irrigating Company.
Western Union Cattle, Land and Irrigation Com.
pany.
New Mexico Irrigation Company.
New Mexico Irrigating Canal Company.
IXITCEI COMPANIES.
American Bend Ditch Company.
Bosque Grande Ditch Company.
The B. R. Cañon Ditch Company.
The Dark Cañon Ditch Company.
The Farmers' Ditch Company.
The Fort Sumner Land and Ditch Company.
Fresnal Ditch and Improvement Company.
George Danner Ditch Company.
Good Bend Ditch Company.
Greylands Ditch çº;
The Guadaloupe Valley Ditch Company.
Hondo Falls Ditch Company.
The Island Crossing Ditch Company.
The Largo Land and Ditch Company.
LaPlata, Indian Dutch Company.
Lea & Cockrell Ditch Company.
The Lincoln County Ditch Company.
Lower Felix Ditch Company.
Mimbres Uitch and Pipe Line Compalsy,
The Mimbres Canal Company. * ~
Mimbres River Canal Company.
-
f
INTERESTING PLANT LIFE OF OUR ARID REGION.
e-
Messilla Valley Canal Land and Improvement
, Company.
Now Mexican Artesian Well Company.
The North Spring River Ditch Company.
Old Fort West Ditch Company.
The Polwadera Ditch Company.
Perry Fountain Ditch Company.
The Pecos River Ditch Company.
Pecos & Placer Mining and Ditch Company.
(change of name.)
Pº,Valley Ditch Company, of Lincoln County,
. JWLOX-
The Pecos Valley Land and Ditch Company.
Porter Ditch Company.
Rio Hondo Ditch Company.
Rio Pecos and Salt Lake Ditch Company.
95
Rio Hondo Ditch Company.
The Rio Grande Placer Dutch Company.
Rio Grande Pecos and Ortiz Grant Canal Com-
pany.
Tio Pecos and Salt Lake Ditch Company.
Rock Corral Ditch Company.
San Jose Ditch Association.
San Juan South Side Canal Company.
The San Juan Canal Company.
The San Juan Land and Canal Company.
San Antonio and Placer Mining and Ditch Com-
pany.
The San Simon Cattle and Canal Company.
The Spring Valley Ditch Company.
The Union Ditch Company.
Rio.Grande Valley Water Company.
The La Plata Ditch Company, of Colorado.
The Riverside Ditch Company.
The Rio Arzul Ditch Company.
Rio Grande Ditch Company.
Jacarilla Mining and Water Company.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE: M. KELLOGG, M. D., OF DEMING, N. MEX,
t
No word, even of an out-door naturalist, can be needed to emphasize the importance
of the matter your committee has in hand. But as germane to the primary line of
your investigation, I respectfully call your attention to another subject also deserve
ing the consideration of your body. I refer to the natural productions of these upland
plains and mountains, and would suggest an investigation as to the plant-life adapted
to climatal conditions here present—the vegetation which with a modicum of irri-
gation would prove the most profitable and satisfactory. It would be in place—an
inquiry as to the nature and value of products found in regions analogous to this, as
the steppes of Asia, the plains of Tartary, Persia, and Arabia. Many of the choicest
Known medicines and condiments originated in those lands, and might with great ad-
vantage be introduced here. There are many native products the collection of which
would be valuable, and the best methods of their cultivation, where cultivation should
prove practicable, would constitute an inquiry of rare importance. I refer to such
plants as the yucca or almoli, the mesquite, as tree or bush, and the cañaigre-plant, so
rich in tannin.
Since the Irish potato, as is now generally believed, originated in New Mexico, it
might reach here in this land of sunshine, with but a modicum of irrigation, its highest
development. There might be initiated the successful cultivation of medicinal chu-
barb and the best quality of gum-Opium, which now are produced only in the high and
dry plains of the Eastern Continent.
The vegetation of these upland plains should be sedulously studied. There are
native trees and shrubs which would flourish with a slight help from irrigation. It
is such which should be selected for the growing of timber and shade trees. I would
emphasize this because of some usages noticeable in this country, such, for instance
as the cultivation of the cotton, Wood, an enormous water consumer of little value as
timber or fuel. A species of black walnut, here indigenous, is well worthy of cultiva-
tion for its fruit and timber. In the mountains where there is, in some places, an
excess of moisture, such trees as the cotton, wood are permitted to usurp the ground
where trees a hundred times more valuable for shade, timber, and fruit might be
grown with marked success. Sc
When it is considered that a majority of the medicinal plants and a large moiety of
those used by man as food, had their origin in the high and dry parts of the earth
we may, in western phrase, find “a pointer” to moderate our zeal in endeavoring to
emulate the highly-watered alluviums in agricultural products. &
There is, in this country, an abundant plant, which seems, in flavor and from the
presence of thein, a fair substitute for China tea. Doubtless the tea plant itself might
flourish here as well as some of the hardier varieties of Arabic coffee. &
I would respectfully memorialize Congress to establish botanic gardens and labora-
tories for the thorough investigation of the native products of our country, and for
the careful Selection of the exotics adapted to the various sections. The fair Teturns
in-coming to the country from Scientific fish-culture now fostered by the Government
is encouragement for analogous work as to plant-life. And such work should bein’
augurated before the utter extermination, as now threatened, of many valuable spe-
C10S,
36 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
}
- }
STATEMENT OF JOHN SYMINGTON, ACTING Assist ANT SUR-
GEON, OF FORT MARCY.
The Santa Fé River rises in the mountains north and east of Santa Fé, flows in a direc-
tion almost west, until it reaches the Rio Grande, distant some 30 miles. At present
some 12,000 acres are under a high state of cultivation, the water supply being con-
ducted by a system of ditches (many of which antedate the Spanish conquest) taken
from the stream above the town. A thoroughly accurate test of the volume of water
available has never been taken, as in addition to the numerous irrigating ditches de-
rived from the river, a dam has been thrown across the river 33 miles above the city,
from which the town is supplied by mains, but a rough estimate of the volume of
water flowing past a point below the last important ditch, will show that, could it
be utilized a large portion of the 50,000 acres of land adjoining the valley could be
brought under cultivation. Successful efforts to cultivate these lands have been
made, and in all seasons of a fair rain-fall they have produced abundantly the usual
cereals and some of the products of lower altitudes. The soil being of a reddish loam
and capable of retaining moisture, has induced the establisliment of rude storage-reser-
voirs at points where the rain-fall from the adjacent foot-hills could be collected, and
are made by throwing the earth on a cribbing of stakes, brush and bowlders, built in a
circlular form, at the rim of which are planted willows, which in growing fill the in-
terstices of the cribbing with a thick growth of roots, thus giving stability to the
structure; the bottom is made impervious to water by driving cattle or, preferably,
sheep around the inclosure until the earth becomes thoroughly packed to the depth
of several inches, and many reservoirs so made have served the purpose of their con-
struction for many years, without the necessity of repair or loss of water, Save by
evaporation. With each shower they are refilled, or their contents added to, and fre-
quently insure the safety of a crop during a critical season.
These several enterprises show conclusively the feasibility of the scheme of water
storage, as during the spring months the river is filled with water from melting snows,
and in the latter part of July and August, at the time of the greatest precipitation,
the stream often causes great daunage to its banks from overflow. Of all this water not
one-fourth is utilized, and it is the observance of this fact that induces me to believe
the application of storage dams and ditches to keep them filled would be the means :
of reclaiming from 50,000 to 75,000 acres of valuable lands adjacent to Santa Fé, the
greatest portion of which are subject to entry, and from their situation easily irrigated
and capable of producing good crops, for which a ready market can be found in the
adjacent growing mining towns of Cerrillos and San Pedro, Many natural sites for
reservoirs exist, as in arroyos with rocky and precipitous sides, where no great cost
would be incurred in their construction, and which would be filled from the rain-fall,
and a succession of such reservoirs could be constructed, connected by ditches, which
passing in close proximity to the foot-hills, would render auxiliary what water fell on
them, as frequently showers do not extend to the plains.
STATEMENT OF THolyAs CRUSE, FIRST LIEUTENANT, SIXTH
CAVALRY, OF FORT STANTON.
There is, bordering on the Pecos, to the eastward of Fort Stanfon, a plain about 30
miles wide, and wherever water has been put over the land the results are simply
wonderful. The crops are varied, command excellent prices, and the fruits grow
well, except semi-tropical varieties. Peaches, and sweet-potatoes especially seem to
be suited to that locality and thrive in the soil. *
There is at present in the vicinity of Roswell, N. Mex; about 200,000 acres of the
very finest land, that I think would be a good subject for discussion by the honorable
commission, and some attempt on the part of the Government to reclaim. In my
opinion, this can be most readily done by sinking, say, three artesian wells, 10 miles
apart, in order to demonstrate whether or not water can be obtained in that way.
That the effort in that direction will be rewarded I am led to believe from the nat-
ure of the surrounding country and the very curious water system that exists in the
vicinity of Roswell. This is seen in the rough sketch hereto appended. A word in
explanation of the sketch. The El Capitan Mountain is very high and has Snow on
it; still there are no streams flowing from it. ... In the vicinity of Roswell no less than
six good-sized streams gush from the surface of the almost level plain and flow into the
Pecos, about 9 miles away. Enough water is obtained from these streams by irrigat-
ing ditches to cover about 60,000 acres. My idea is that one of the three artesian wells
wºuld tap the subterranean lake which feeds the large streams at Roswell, and I cal-
culate that $10,000 would settle the matter one way or the other. North Spring River
THE PossIBILITIES OF EASTERN NEW MEXICO. 97
is about 30 feet wide, 6 to 8 feet deep, and runs at the rate of 8 miles per hour., South
Spring River is about the same size, and the three Barendas flow about one third as
much water.
cº"
3. N. Ft. Swynner;
& (ab&J
9
&
\ __65 Miles to the Pecos.. . . . . "w—HF:
º INot a direp of water.
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ter. W 㺠}
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$2. *ść ºf p? gro"
*zoso gº.” S㺠sº | :
%NS. * Go” °Artesian, ă
$32, # `--> * -
* Kºź 3. `-- QArtesian. Q
*. Juliº - - *Artesian - Sº * S
£4%2 Øxº"? `-- $3:e º §
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D|STANCES. *> # s.Sº
C

Stanton to Boswell, 74 miles.
Boswell to Pecos, 9 miles.
Boswell to proposed Artesian Wells about 25 miles.
Plain 38 by 23 miles, but not all available for cultivation.
STATEMENT OF E. H. KELLOGG, ENGINEER OF THE MAXWELL
LAND GRANT COMPANY OF RATON.
I am in receipt of your favor of the 15th of June, with inclosure of letter from Mr.
Richard J. Hinton, expert of the Senate Committee on Irrigation, requesting informa-
tion as to the irrigating enterprises in which your company has been engaged. I
take pleasure in complying with the request, the more that the subject is one of deep
interest to me, both as engineer and citizen, and I am confident that the results of
this investigation, by the collection and dissemination of valuable information, will
accomplish a very decided advance in the intelligent development of the Rocky Mount-
3,11). TOSEl Oll.
I . to preface my report with the remark, that within the year during which
I have been engaged on the irrigation systems of the Maxwell Grant the time has
been almost wholly devoted to construction and so little of it to practical operation,
that I shall be unable to answer many of the most important questions out of my own
experience, except so far as experience under parallel conditions elsewhere enables
me to speak with certainty.
The Maxwell Grant occupies the north central portion of New Mexico, and em-
braces an area of 1,714,000 acres of mountain and prairie land, with a border on the
west of a range of mountain peaks, many of which reach an elevation of nearly 14,000
feet above the sea. Between this range and the plains lies a broad band of foot-hills,
which but for their nearness to the main range would rank as mountains, This re-
gion is generally covered with heavy timber of pine, spruce, cedar, and piñon. Near
the headwaters of the main streams, which drain this area are numerous open parks
of greater or less extent, The foot-hill belt ceases abruptly at the western i. Of
138 A L-WOL III–7
98 IRRIGATION AND RECIAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the plains, sharply defining the limits of the two topographical extremes—prairie and
mountain. Through their several cañons a number of water-courses discharge the
accumulated rain-fall of the hill region and through the leading channels into the
main artery—the Red or Canadian River. r
. The prairie lands have till now been utilized only as grazing lands, while their ag-
ricultural possibilities have been wholly ignored. The signal success which has at-
tended the efforts to redeem the so-called arid lands of Colorado encouraged the
owners of this grant to inaugurate a system of irrigation works with a view to in-
greasing the productive, and necessarily the selling value, of lands till then of nom-
inal value only. In pursuance of this plan surveys were made, and all available data
concerning water supply, climate, soil, etc., were collected. These latter were meager
enough, since no systematic record had been kept and the reports of the oldest inhab-
itant were tinged by the extent to which he had been prosperous or afflicted in the
time covered by his residence here. Some were so impressed by the drought of a cer-
tain year as to be unable to recall an offsetting wet one. Others could only remember
those years when abundance of rain made irrigation unnecessary. From the average
of this curious medley of reports the opinion was reached that the mean annual pre-
cipitation here was not less—probably greater—than that of regions where successful
agriculture is practiced in Colorado and Utah, and that if even a decent moiety of
this water could be saved, a very large body of land could be reclaimed.
With no more definite facts than these it was decided to proceed. As a result we
have the two completed systems definitely described below. First:
THE SPRINGER SYSTEM.
This system draws its supply from the Cimarron River, at a point 13 miles north-
west of the town of Springer. It begins with a canal 20 feet wide on the bottom,
with slopes of 1 to 1 and a fall of 5.28 feet per mile, capable of carrying a depth of 4
feet and discharging approximately 400 cubic feet of water per second. At the end
of 6 miles a branch is diverted, and conducted in a flume down to the first of a series
of natural lake beds 90 feet below the main ditch. These lake beds are arranged
by nature so that water can be drawn through the whole chain to the lower (No. 6)
by the simplest means. No. 7 (see plat) is artificial, being formed by an embank-
ment across a low valley. From this in turn a ditch 10 feet in width carries water
to the lands about Springer. 0.
From the point of first departure the main line is reduced to 12 feet in width, but
increased in fall to 7.6 feet per mile, following a ridge or divide, which necessitates
several “drops” of simple but novel construction. This is called the “High Line,”
and is about 8 miles long. Continued under the name of the North High Line about
13 miles, and gradually reduced from 10 to 6 feet in width, the Red River Valley is
reached.
The system as now completed consists of 47 miles of main and distributing ditches,
four reservoirs of 40 acres each, averaging 6 feet in depth; one of 62 acres, 6 feet
deep ; and one of 475 acres, 9 feet deep. The entire plant is designed to serve
20,000 acres with competent irrigation. The total cost of this plant will be approxi-
mately $60,000, or $3 per acre, on the land redeemed.
The details of construction are of the simplest order; lines are laid in tangents
and regular curves; banks are built 2 feet above high-water mark, with bermes of 4
feet; wood-work is substantially framed and coal-tar is used liberally on all bearings.
The outlet to the large reservoir is a masonry conduit with two iron valve-gates and
flap-gates at head for emergencies; heavy masonry bulk-heads are erected at head and
foot of conduits. The embankment is built with a width of 12 feet on top, inner
slope 3 to 1, outer slopes 1} to 1. It is 4,000 feet long and 28 feet high at highest
point; overflow weirs at either end each 16 feet in width, 2 feet below high-water
mark and 8 feet below top of bank, insures against any possibility of surcharge.
THE VERMEJO SYSTEM.
The Vermejo system is essentially one of storage. The main canal (20 feet wide on
bottom, 4 feet deep, fall 5.28 feet per mile) taps the Vermejo River near John
B. Dawson's house, above the mouth of the Vermejo Cañon, and at the end of 9
miles begins to feed lakes Nos. 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; at 12 miles it flows through lake No.
1, and at 13 miles discharges into the Laguna Madre. At the ninth mile the width is
reduced to 18 feet; at the eleventh mile to 16 feet, and the grade doubled.
In this line there are five drops, aggregating nearly 100 feet in all, but in two cases
the water is allowed to run wild over the Sod. The essential feature of the wooden
drops is the tub sunk below the lower level in which all the turmoil of falling water
is exhausted.
Water is drawn through the Laguna Madre into main laterals to the north and
south; former supplies Laguna Rodondo, Moccasin Lake, and Nos. 15, 13, 14, and 18,
Jr.
MAP #9.
— & }^ O UJi YY §—
SPRINGERSYSTEM 2.
Zºc/ e3, ſe servoirs 22&
Cz 27. 2.3 zz/za'ez, &eezz.
C.O/ AA X (622222
/16), /*Text 2

T H E
VERMEJo SYSTEM
OF
DITCHES AND RESERVOIRS.
MAXWELL LAND GRANT CO.
Colfax Co., New Mexico.
1889.
Headgate
Stone Wałł
-
-
*-
-
-
-
-
J
-
--
-
--
-
.
–
-


























THE STORAGE OF WATER ON THE MAXWELL GRANT. 99
The south lateral runs south about 3 miles and then unites with a lateral from the
chain of lakes first mentioned. This arrangement places the lands south and east
under seven lakes. Enough of the lateral system and lake improvement has been
done to supply all deimands for this year. The only novelty in the way of construc-
tion on this system is in the eruployment of wood pipe running under vicious ravines
instead of overhead flumes. These pipes are 6 feet in diameter, and are constructed
at the place where they are used of staves of Texas pine, banded with steel rods, 10
to 18 inches apart. Sufficient fall is given between receiving and discharging ends
to insure a powerful flow. Floods pass harmlessly over these pipes, and being
thoroughly painted inside and out with coal-tar, are very durable. I estimate their
life at twenty years. At the seventh mile of the main line, and at the head of the
Second drop, a high line lateral, 8 miles in length, carries water to Crow Creek.
This system is designed to serve 30,000 acres of land, although the river is somewhat
smaller than the Cimarron; the remarkable number and sizes of the natural storage
basins scattered over the tract making this increase of service possible. All the
eighteen lakes will be re-enforced by embankments at an early day, and their capacity
fully doubled. The total cost of construction to date is, approximately, $56,000, or
$1.87 per acre. This cost is considered phenomenally low.
SUPPLY.
The Cimarron and Vermejo Rivers head against the main range, but many impor-
tant branches run into them from the foot-hill country north and south. The total
area of mountain country drained by these river is, approximately, 250,000 acres. A
very considerable part of this area is subject to very heavy falls of rain and snow,
which, except on occasional “off years,” insure a very large and steady flow, besides
many severe floods. The climatic habit of the region seems to be fairly defined. An
early spring thaw, supplemented by rain and soft snow, mark the months of February,
March, and April as a high-stage period; May and June are generally destitute of
rain, but the extra heat attacks the snow reserves, and the high stage is fairly main-
tained. During July and August frequent rains may be expected, making the lessen-
ing river flow of small importance to the farmer. September and October are bright,
open, and dry, and enough water to complete the last watering of meadows and fruit.
trees can be pretty safely relied upon. Neither of the streams mentioned has been
systematically gauged, and their variable flow makes estimation little better than
ſº In 1888 the Vermejo held its high stage from May 1 to August 1, and
oW Water was not reached till September. During the same year the Cimarron main-
tained a strong flow throughout the season. So far this year, owing to the absence
of snow in the mountains, there has been no rise of any consequence in the Vermejo,
though the Cimarron ran strongly from February 15 to May 1. It is now even lower
than the Vermejo.
SOIL.
The soil is very uniformly a close-grained clay, of great depth; it is easily satu-
rated, and retains moisture excellently. In point of fertility the new experiments
on the Maxwell farm, on the Vermejo, promise nobly. Alfalfa and almost all kinds of
grain, large and, small, fruits, and vegetables, are in excellent condition, and the
showing is remarkable for entirely new land.
DUTY OF WATER.
On this subject much has been said and written, more or less directly to the point,
but the very great diversity of opinion arising from the almost infinité variations of
conditions of soil, climate, crops, and seasons, as well as the degrees of intelligence
with which water is applied, make it impossible to formulate any standard gauge.
Qur experience on the Maxwell grant is too young yet to give us any definite or re.
liable data. It is, therefore, only an opinion of my own that 1 cubic foot per second,
flowing constantly through the irrigating season, will serve 40 acres the first year
50 acres the second and third, 60 the fourth, with a possible rise to 80 acres under thé
best conditions. It would be quite safe, I believe, to set the figure at 60 acres, for an
average of a number of seasons. y
100 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
STATEMENT OF THE RIO PECOs IRRIGATION AND CANAL ENTER-
PRISES.
The Rio Pecos rises in the northern part of New Mexico, northeast of Santa Fé.
It flows in a southeasterly direction to the neighborhood of Fort Sumner, and then
a little east of south across the territorial line into Texas, finally forming a junction
with the Rio Grande.
It is a mountain stream, subject to alternate flood and drought, until it reaches the
neighborhood of Roswell, N. Mex.; thence for 100 miles, in a due south line, it runs
a tortuous course of probably 250 miles, receiving at intervals large quantities of
spring water.
These springs generally flow into it along its bed, following the general limestone
strata of the country.
They represent the drainage from the eastern slopes of the Capitan, Sierra Blanca,
Sacramento, and the Guadalupe Mountains, and the waters of the upper river which
disappear below Fort Sumner.
Careful measurements show that the permanent supply is sufficient to fill both of
the canals now in course of construction, and calculated to carry 1,600 cubic feet per
Second, or 80,000 miners' inches.
The drainage area, or catchment basin of the Rio Pecos, within the Territory of
New Mexico, and available for irrigation purposes, is approximately 20,000 square
miles, at varying altitudes from 3,000 to 11,000 feet, and extending across four degrees
of ſatitude from the thirty-second to the thirty-sixth parallel.
. The lands of the valley between Roswell and the territorial line, subject to irriga- -
tion, are of the choicest limestone soil, and the total area between the foot-hills on
the West and the river, is nearly or quite 1,000,000 acres. Of this fully 400,000 acres
is below the level at which it is practicable to deliver water from the Pecos.
The 40 miles of the Northern canal, now under contract, will cover about 75,000
acres of bottom and mesa land, and more than that area can be covered by extending
the canal farther south. -
The Southern canal is much the larger one, and will irrigate more than 100,000 acres
on the west side of the river, north of the Texas line, while there is practically un-
limited area that can be made available, by extending south of that line. Several
bodies of choice land can also be covered on the east side of the river if desirable.
These lands are, for the most part, covered only with the scant growth of gramma
graSS. -
Where the greasewood is found it is not in the way of the plow, and the roots of the
mesquite more than compensate for the grubbing, where that occurs.
The surface needs no leveling for the distribution of water. The natural slopes to .
the west, toward the river and to the south, are just enough to afford every facility
and to make the practical work of irrigation quite inexpensive.
The Northern canal is being constructed 30 feet wide on the bottom, with sides
sloping 13 to 1 foot, and to carry water 5 feet deep, taking its supply from the Hondo,
the principal tributary of the Rio Pecos, below the junction of the North Spring and
Barenda Rivers, deriving its chief supply from permanent springs of great vofume.
Three, miles from its head it crosses and receives the waters of the South Spring
River, and is deepened to 6 feet to accommodate the increased supply at that point.
These streams are all fed by permanent springs.
The Southern canal was constructed a distance of 11 miles by the company from
which it was purchased by this company, with the capacity to irrigate 30,000 acres.
It is being enlarged to 45 feet wide at bottom, 63 feet at the top, and 6 feet deep,
and by careful computation is intended to utilize all the available water of the river
during the entire irrigating season. Its length within New Mexico will be 55 miles.
It is taken from the east side of the Rio Pecos a few miles below Seven Rivers.
Although the waters of the Pecos are sometimes enlarged by floods, at the point
where this canal is taken from the river, a dam 3 feet high, built at trifling expense,
suffices to turn the water to fill the canal. It is controlled by head-gates, and the
fall of the river is so great at that point that the rise does not exceed 6 feet—indeed,
it never gets out of its banks. The river is a succession of rapids, and the fall
within 6 miles amounts to as much as 50 feet. Very much of the water can be
utilized at the crossings of arroyos for water-power, and then be discharged so as to
cover large areas of agricultural land, without any loss of water. . The canals are
secure from floods. On the Hondo the reservoir at the dam backs fully half a mile
up-stream, making dead water, and giving perfect control.
The price of water rights has been fixed for the first 20,000 acres at $10 per acre—
one-tenth cash and the,balange in annual payments of $1 per acre. The next 10,000
acres will be sold at $13.5g pºſſ gère: and after that none will be sold for less than $15
er acre. The annual: water; rent"-lyas been fixed at $1,25 per acre for cultivated
and, and 50 cents per acre for uncultivated land, one-half payable June 1st, and the
other half payable. D800ſnber 1st of each year, W
sIKETCH. M. A.E.”
SHOWING LOCATION OF THE CANALS
OF THE
PECOS IRRIGATING AND IMPROVEMENT COMPANY,
AND
PECOS VALLEY LAND AND DITCH COMPANY.
Lincoln County, New Mexico.
By H. HARTMANN, Santa Fe, New Mexico. ſ
Scale, 720 chains to 1 inclu.
º ~1.clarks
@Dry L.
Co.
Clinton
*—J
,Seveſ’
Afivers,
2^
& ºf
º
rva/re Spir.
Report on Irrigation.

STAKED PLAINS AND PAN HANDLE (TEXAS)
DIVISION.
ON TRAIN AT PECOs, TEx, September 9, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman. º
Present, Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Reagan; also Director.
Powell.
STATEMENT OF R. K. BRANT, OF PEC0S.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a paper which you desire to present to
the committee #
Mr. BRANT. I have a resolution which, though it was not signed by
the governor, was passed by the legislature.
It is as follows:
IRRIGATION RESOLUTION.
Concurrent resolution addressed to Senators and Representatives in Congress for passage of
such law8 as may be necessary to adjust and regulate the rights of citizens of 8everal of
the Territories and the State of Texas in the w8e of waters of interstate 8treams.
Whereas several rivers having their sources in New Mexico and other Territories
flow into and through the State of Texas; and
Whereas the waters of said streams are necessary for irrigation in the arid districts
of Texas; and
Whereas it is expedient to obviate future litigation by providing for an adjust-
ment and regulation of the rights of the respective citizens of said State and Terri-
tories entitled to the use of said waters for purposes of irrigation : Therefore,
Be it resolved by the legislature of the State of Texas, That our Senators and Rep-
resentatives in Congress be requested to secure the passage of such laws as may be
necessary to effect the objects above set forth.
[Indorsed.]
Concurrent resolution to request our Senators and Representatives in Congress to
secure the passage of laws to define and regulate the rights and privileges of citi-
zens of several of the States and Territories and the State of Texas respecting the
use of waters of interstate streams.
Adopted by the Senate February 13, 1889.
- C. M. Boy NTON,
Secretary of Senate.
Received from the Senate February 14. Taken up, read first and second times,
and adopted.
W. M. IMBODEN,
- Chief Clerk House of Representatives
THE STATE OF TEXAS,
- Department of State :
I, J. M. Moore, secretary of state of the State of Texas, do hereby certify that the
within and foregoing is a true copy of the original concurrent resolution adopted by
the twenty-first legislature of the State of Texas, at its last session, which adjourned
on April 6, 1889, entitled “Concurrent resolution addressed to Senators and Repre-
101
102 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
sentatives in Congress, for passage of such laws as may be necessary to adjust and
regulate the rights of citizens of several of the Territories and the State of Texas in
the use of waters of interstate streams;” the said original being now on file in the
archives of this department.
Witness my official signature and the seal of State affixed, at the city of Austin,
this 2d day of September, A. D. 1889. i
[SEAL.] J. M. MOON,
Secretary of State.
Mr. BRANT. I have also a paper showing the number of canals and
their lengths owned by the Pioneer Canal Company in Reeves and How-
ard Counties.*
There is a small company taking out 50 feet of water by a canal 35
miles long. Then there is a company north of here.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you examined the mountains here to see what
the chances are for increasing the supply of water by storing 3
Mr. BRANT. I have been in those mountains, and I have no question
that reservoirs can be made in the high peaks.
The CHAIRMAN. In the mountains you have flat places where there
have been lakes, which discharges through a narrow caſion ?
Mir. BRANT. No, I do not call to mind any particular situation of that
kind, but I am satisfied they exist.
The CHAIRMAN. You estimate that with the natural flow of the streams
you can bring under cultivation how many acres 3
Mr. BRANT. Sixty-four thousand acres.
The CHAIRMAN. You think you have enough water for that ?
Mr. BRANT. We are the first on the stream, and we can get that if we
get our appropriation. Every gallon of water I know is valuable. Our
statutes provide for an economical use—a very good way. The con-
Sumer does not want to waste the Water. There is no disposition on
the part of anybody to waste it.
Senator REAGAN. Will you furnish the committee a copy of the laws
on irrigation ? *
Mr. BRANT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How about artesian wells' h
Mr. BRANT. We have a fine artesian belt here. Wherever we put
down a well we get a flow from 212 to 350 feet. There are about eight
or ten wells around this town.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you noticed any diminution in the flow on ac-
count of the number of wells that have been sunk 3
Mr. BRANT. No; never.
Adjourned.
ON TRAIN AT COLORADO, TEX., September 9, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present, Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Reagen; also Director
Powell. l
STATEMENT OF FRANK E. ROESLER, OF DALLAS.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. ROESLER. Secretary to the Marienfeld Fruit Growing, Garden-
ing, and Irrigation Company; also emigration agent of the Texas Pa-
cific Railway.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given much attention to the Subject of
irrigation in Texas ?
* The paper referred to will be found on pages 54 to 57 of this volume.
*
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Report on Irrigation.
















































westERN TexAs—THE waters ABove AND BELow GROUND. 103
Mr. RoHSLER. Yes; I have given it considerable attention.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you reported upon the Subject 3
Mr. RoeslBR. Yes; at various times.
The CHAIRMAN. Is the paper you present your report upon that sub-
ject 3
J Mr. ROESLER. Yes. There are also several other reports that Were
sent in at various times to Major Hinton, your engineer, which are now
in his hands.
The CHAIRMAN. And those reports are all you wish to Say about the
subject?
§. ROESLER. Yes. I would like to add that the reports relating to
irrigation published by the department heretofore, are of interest to
this State. --
The CHAIRMAN. What have you to say in reference to the benefits
of engineers' surveys designating the points for reservoirs and making
estimates of the cost of construction, etc.?
Mr. ROESLER. A survey of that sort would be of invaluable benefit.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it help to develop Texas?
Mr. RoesleR. Yes; very much. I would like to suggest that the
nature of the surveys in this region should be to determine as far as
possible: First, the amount and character of the visible water supply
like that in the Colorado River, the Rio Grande and Pecos, the Dela-
ware and Olympia Cañons, and a considerable number of small streams
that are scattered through the arid regions of Texas. Second, after
these, are a number of underground rivers which are known to exist,
and could by a little effort be traced. Also in the western portion of
Texas, including the Staked Plain, a number of ancient river beds are
also worthy of survey, which are now filled with filth and sand, it being
demonstrated in many places that water is found in them at a depth
varying from 2 to 10 feet. A line of levels run at various places will
show that this water now lying under this sand could be carried on to
the neighboring uplands and be applied for purposes of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. What have you to say about a tank for storing
storm waters? J
Mr. ROESLER. Through all western Texas, particularly the mountain
regions, there are numerous ravines which could be made suitable for
storing storm water, which is now lost and useless. That this is practicable
is proved by experiments. It is proved on the ranch of C. C. Slaughter,
in Martin County, where at an expenditure of $1,700 he has created a
tank or reservoir having a width of nearly a quarter of a mile, a length
of nearly a mile, and a depth varying from 6 to 20 feet. Much of the
water in this tank was lost at first by seepage and by evaporation. It
has been observed that the shallower the tank the greater the evapora-
tion; but as the quantity of water augmented and the whole of it re-
mained cooler, the evaporation grew less, and more water was secured.
There are various places along the line of railroad where the embank-
ment has crossed the ravine, and it has filled up above and formed
lakes. Now, many of these dams could be built so that they would
Water a considerable area.
The following paper was then read by Mr. Roesler:
THE SUBHUMID REGION OF TEXAS AND ITS FACILITIES FOR IRRIGATION.
It is somewhat difficult in Texas to determine with any accuracy the boundaries
of what might properly be called the arid, the semiarid, the subhumid, and humid
areas. An arbitrary division by meridians will hardly hold good, because the rain-
fall varies much at different points along a meridian, and further the altitude is not
104 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Iniform along the same line. A record of the rain-fall, will hardly suffice, because
the observations are of such recent date that they can not be said to be well estab-
lished. The altitude of the various parts of the State in connection with the rain-
fall record as far as observed, seems, therefore, the only available method of determin-
ing the boundaries of each area. -
THE ARID PORTION OF TEXAS
gan by this method be classed as that part of the State in which the altitude ranges
between 3,000 and 6,000 feet and in which the rain-fall in a number of years varies
between 10 and 17 inches; say all that part of Texas lying between the Pecos and
Rio Grande Rivers, and in which farming is impossible, except by irrigation.
THE SEMI-ARID REGION
should by the same method be designated as that part of Texas having an altitude
Varying between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, and possessing a rain-fall of 17 to 30 inches per
annum; enough in quantity to mature any crop, provided the rain-fall was timely
and properly distributed, a section of country that will mature all kinds of forage
blants to perfection, without resort to irrigation, and will produce good Small-grain
crops in favorable years, say four years out of six. An irregular line drawn from
east boundary Hansford County, touching altitudes of 2,000 feet to the Colorado River
in Mitchell County, and thence sontherly to the Rio Grande, would about indicate the
east boundary, and the Pecos River the west boundary of the semi-arid region. This
territory is more particularly described in a previous paper on the Irrigation of the
Texas Staked Plain.
THE SUB-FIUMID REGION
according to the same rule might be safely indicated as lying immediately east of the
Semi-arid region, its western boundary being described as the eastern boundary of
the semi arid part of the State. It might, perhaps, be better described by saying,
that it is an irregular line lying near the one hundredth meridian, crossing the same
at various points, but seldom being more than 50 miles on either side. The eastern
limit of the subhumid region might be shown by the irregular line trending south-
erly from the southeast corner of Montague County to San Antonio, passing by way
i. gºrious points along that line having an altitude of about 1,000 feet above sea-
6V61.
The rain-fall of the subhumid region as noted by the various Government and
private observations, made during a series of years, is about as follows:
Brackettville, Kinney County, 29.12 inches; Coleman, Coleman County, 27.71
inches; Fort Concho, Tom Green County, 25.07; Decatur, Wise County, 28.63
inches; Fort Griffin, Shackelford County, 24.75; Fort McKavett, Menard County,
22.71 inches; Graham, Young County, 25.11 inches; Henrietta, Clay County, 22.73
inches; Jacksborough, Jack Čounty, 26.20 inches; Fort Elliott, Wheeler County 28.38
inches; Baird, Callahan County, 22.37 inches. N. -
The average rain-fall is 24.96 inches, as shown by the information at hand. The
smallest precipitation was rated at Baird, in 1886, when the total rain-fall only
amounted to 16 inches, and the greatest was rated at Fort Concho, Tom Green County,
in 1885, when it amounted to 42.67 inches. It will be readily observed that in the
matter of quantity, the subhumid region is as well provided for as are the best agri-
cultural portions of the United States.
It does not appear that such crop failures as have been encountered were due in
any measure to a lack of precipitetion, but rather to the want of discretion on part of
the rainmaker in a proper distribution of the same. The conditions of the precip-
itation in Texas are peculiar and well defined. -
The conditions of temperature, altitude, and direction of the winds determine the
time as well as the quantity of the rain-fall in the various portions of the State, as
may be readily observed from a study of its climatology. A mild winter in Texas
almost invariably means a moist spring in the subhumid region, and an excess of
rain-fall in eastern and southern Texas. A long, cold winter generally means a rather
dry spring in the subhumid, and a moderately moist spring in the humid region.
Nearly all of the moisture precipitated in Texas is derived from the Gulf of Mexico,
over which the rain clouds are formed and then drifted northward and westward as
far perhaps as northern Kansas or Nebraska and eastern Colorado. The Staked
Plain, the Pan Handle, where the altitude is over 3,000 feet, and the mountain
ranges of El Paso County and New Mexico may be properly called the weather
breeders of the State. As spring opens in Texas generally in February the low-
lying lands of the eastern and southern parts of the State warm up first under the
genial influence of the sun. The prevailing winds are then from the south, spread-
ing out fan-like as they proceed northward. They are warm, and carry much moist-
TEMPERATURE AND PRECIPITATION IN TEXAS. 105.
ure, which is dissipated in Kansas, Nebraska, and northward; as the cooler tempera-
ture of these States is encountered, at intervals of about two weeks during each
spring, a norther will sweep southward, pushing before it the moist clouds from the
Gulf. The vapors are suddenly condensed, causing a snow-fall in Kansas, and a day
or two later, heavy rains in eastern and western Texas. The blizzard will continue
on to the Gulf, and a few days later return in a greatly demoralized condition. The
warm south wind is pushing it northward, and, the line of contact between the
opposing winds is the source of another rain-fall; a wet norther generally brings
with it about a week's rain. For about two weeks following the norther there will
be mild, balmy spring weather, and then another norther may be expected, bringing
with it another rain or cold, windy, and disagreeable weather. During February
and half of March the humid region gets nearly all the rain that falls. In March
and April the subhumid region begins to share in the rain-fall, and by the middle of
April it has warmed up sufficiently to attract a goodly portion of the rain clouds.
The winds have shifted more to the westward, and carry much more moisture there
than they did the month before. Vegetation in eastern and southern Texas has generally
obtained a fair start in March, and corn is well up. The subhumid region shows signs
of awakening about a month later than the humid region. Between April and May
the Staked Plain, or semi-arid region—altitude 2,000 to 3,000 feet—has warmed up,
and partakes copiously of its semi-monthly potations of rain-water, and about the end
of May wears its Sunday clothes, the whole plain being a carpet of flowers, consist-
ing of hundreds of varieties, many of surpassing beauty. Between June and July
the moist Gulf winds have reached the mountain ranges of El Paso County and New
Mexico, and the heavy rains of the arid part of Texas may then be expected. In the
interval between February and the end of June the greater portion of the precipita-
tion is dependent upon the northers, which seem to come between the 5th and 9th
and the 17th and 21st days of each month, bringing with them a sufficient lowering
of the temperature to cause precipitation. Between June and September a change
of temperature is also noticeable about the same time in each month, but the change
is not sufficiently pronounced to cause rain-fall. To ascertain what relation there is
between these constantly recurring northers and the changes of the moon would be
an interesting study. Between June and September, much of the precipitation is
subject to purely local causes, as in midsummer the thermometer ranges equally high
in all parts of the State, though there is a material difference in the humidity of the
air. As far as personal comfort goes, a temperature of 100°Fahrenheit at an altitude
of 2,000 feet is far more agreeable than a temperature of 800 at an altitude of 500
feet.
During midsummer rainbearing clouds are nearly always in sight in the sub-
humid, semiarid, and arid regions, and anything that will cause a disturbance of
the equilibrium of the temperature will bring about a rainfall. It has been frequently
observed that the evaporation from a dry water-course, or a field in cultivation will
chill a passing cloud sufficiently to cause a heavy local shower. A sandy tract of
land absorbing more heat than the surrounding densely grassed lands will frequently
cause local winds to rise, which coming in contact with a passing cloud will cool it
by evaporation of part of the moisture of the cloud itself, and cause a general dis-
turbance of the equilibrium of temperature and bring about a heavy rainfall, extending
Sometimes over several hundred miles. A prairie fire extending over several miles of
country has been observed to have a similar effect. In the mountain region the aver-
age annual rainfall on the level mesa lands does not exceed 12 inches, but on the
mountains it rains often and the showers are nearly always heavy, one single rain
sometimes equaling 12 to 18 inches. It appears that owing to their great altitude the
mountains are always cooler than the clouds, and whenever they come in contact the
clouds are sure to be robbed of nearly all their moisture. It is a well known fact
that all the mountain ranges of El Paso have their springs and their verdure on the
eastern slope, and none worth mentioning on the western side. It seems also, that
during the summer months the gulf winds are deflected northeastwardly by the
mountain ranges of New Mexico, as it is claimed by residents of western Kansas and
the northeastern Pan Handle of Texas, that their heaviest summer rains nearly
always come from the southwest. From August to December the rainfall gradually
decreafes in western Texas. The highest elevations west of the Pecos River lose their
heat first. Their ability to attract the moist winds from the gulf decreases and the
rains become fewer and lighter, and after August very little rain is expected. In the
semi-arid region heavy faii rains are usually expected up to the middle or end of No-
Veinber, subject to the semi-monthly northers. In the subhumid region heavy rains
Will generally come until December 25th. In January and February very littie rain
is expected. The routine work of the norther is occasionally disturbed by a general
rain covering all the Gulf States, but these as a rule are too irregular to cut any figure in
the general weather system of the State. About the 1st of January winter sets in
in earnest. Two to 6 inches of snow in northern Texas, 2 to 4 inches occasionally on
the Staked Plain, heavy snows on the mountain sides, and hardly any on the mesasin
106 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
El Paso County; heavy rains in eastern and southern Texas during the prevalence
of a norther usually constitute a Texas winter. The temporature rarely falls below
zero, though it sometimes reaches 4 to 6 degrees below. An ordinary norther in mid-
Winter generally ranges a few degrees above or below freezing point, and seldom lasts
longer than a week.
TOPOGRAPHY OF THE SUB-EIUMID REGION.
A profile of the Texas and Pacific Railway will show the following changes in alti-
tude, proceeding westward from Brazos River: Brazos crossing, 750 feet, but at Lam-
ber, 30 miles east, nearly 1,200 feet; at Gordon, 875 feet; at Strawn, 900 feet; at
Ranger, 1,425 feet ; at Eastland, 1,500 feet; at Baird, 1,700 feet; at Clyde, 2,025 feet; at
Abilene, 1,700 feet; at Merkel, 1,875 feet; at Trent, 1,920 feet; at Sweetwater, 2,175
feet; at Loraine, 2,297 feet, and at Colorado River crossing of the Texas and Pacific
Railway, 2,075 feet. The surface of the northern part of the subhumid region ingen-
eral presents large expanses of gently undulating prairies, broken in a few places by
stretches of rolling and hilly land, and along the water-courses by small areas of rough
and broken land; about four-fifths of all the land is suitable for cultivation. The soil on
the uplands or table-lands is generally red or chocolate colored loam, of great fertility.
The river and creek valleys have dark and black loams, generally heavier than the
uplands. . Along Red and Brazos rivers the soils are usually a bright red in color, but
quite as fertile as the best black lands. On the uplands are numerous mesquite flats,
or nearly level tracts, which generally have heavier and darker sandy loams than the
adjacent tracts. On the ridges or local divides, between the smaller water-courses, are
narrow strips of red or grayish sand, commonly known as shinneries.
The native vegetation of the black or dark valley lands, or of the nearly level
mesquite flats, is generally the short, curly mesquite grass. The more mellow red
and chocolate lands are usually covered with gramma and other varieties of grasses,
while the sandy lands carry from fifty to seventy-five different varieties of native
, grasses, as well as an unlimited number of flowering weeds, mesquite, shrubs, chap-
parell, uno de gato, post oak, live oak, shin oak and sedge grass 6 to 7 feet high, grow
on these lands in the greatest profusion. The soils, considered from an agricultural
point of view, are very well adapted to general farming, and ordinarily produce, with-
out resort to irrigation, the following crops per acre: wheat, from 20 to 30 bushels,
frequently 40 bushels, weighing from 61 to 68 pounds to the measured bushel. In isolated
cases 45 and 50 bushels bave been made. Corn yields from 20 to 45 bushels, and if the
rain comes “just right '' 60 and 70 bushels. Oats run from 50 to 65 bushels per acre,
but 100 to 110 bushels are frequently made by a few individuals. Cotton is grown as
far west as the Colorado River, in Mitchell County, and quantity per acre and quality
are considered equal to that of any other part of Texas; a crop of some kind has been
made in every year since 1882, excepting the droughty years of 1886 and part of 1887.
The unusual duration and exceptional severity of this drought is perhaps best illus-
trated in the fact that in parts of Eastland and Callahan counties thousands of forest
trees, which had reached an age of thirty to forty years, withered and died, showing
that there had been no such drought in their lifetime, or within"thirty to forty years before.
As to the drought-resisting qualities of the various soils, it can be said that the black
river-bottom soils have the advantage of natural Subirrigation, and will resist a short
spell of dry weather easily. The black or dark mesquite flats produce equally as well as
the river bottoms, but during a severe drought will suffer considerable, often reducing
the yield to one-fourth or one-half crop. The mellow and porous red lands of the
table lands, while probably not so rich as the black bottom lands, will in time of dry
weather make a better and larger crop than any of the lands above mentioned. The
ridge soils, are sandy “shinneries,” retain moisture to a remarkable degree, and while
apparently thin and poor in quality will withstand a drought almost indefinitely.
No fruit trees or vines planted on these lands have succumbed to the drought of 1886-'87,
and all that was harvested during this period was grown on shin oak land. The
timber of the subhumid region is mainly found in the “upper cross timbers,” a belt
of oak forest extending from Red River southward for a distance of 100 miles or more,
and varying in width from 5 to 50 miles. This forest consists in the main of live oak,
black jack, post oak, red oak, shin oak, and a few other varieties. The Texas
and Pacific Railway passes through the upper cross timbers between Weatherford and
Baird. Small local areas of timber of other kinds are found in nearly all counties,
and consist of pecan, elm, hackberry, cottonwood, cedar, chittim, wild china,
etc. East of Clyde Station there is timber in abundance for all uses of the farm. West
of this point there is enough timber for fuel, but the country is essentially open prairie,
except in the river and creek bottoms. |
WATER SUPPLY AND IRRIGATION, *
To a direct question as to whether or not a farmer can hold his own in the sub-
humid region of Texas, without resorting to irrigation, I should certainly reply in
the affirmative. Taking one year with another, I think it perfectly safe to make the
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Report on Irrigation.






























TEXAS CROPs, wells, SPRINGS, AND UNDERFLOW. 107
assertion, that notwithstanding the fact that the sub-humid region has passed
through a most severe period of drought, the aggregate losses by drought of each acre
under cultivation, compared with another acre located in Eastern Texas, will amount
in dollars and cents to less in the subhumid region, during a period of seven years,
than do the losses in Eastern and Southern Texas by reason of excessive rainfall. In
the subhumid region there have been two total failures and an occasional partial
failure of crops. In Eastern and Southern Texas there have been partial failures
nearly every year, and it is a rare occurrence that a full crop of all that has been
planted is secured. A total failure of all crops in the humid region is not known,
but a perfect crop of corn, cotton, wheat, oats, and fruits, from the same farm in the
same year is a very rare occurrence though the subhumid region has produced such
several years in succession. The question of farm drainage by ditching and tiling in
Eastern and Southern Texas is becoming more and more pressing each year. If it
rains too much and the crop is in danger of spoiling, it is too wet to cut a ditch, and
when it is dry weather, the East Texas farmer doesn’t need a drainage ditch. The
farmer in the subhumid region is slowly availing himself of the natural facilities
rendered for irrigation, and is gradually realizing the fact that a liberal water supply
applied to a crop at the right time will bring a cash dividend much quicker than a
dozen protracted prayer meetings. One or two irrigations of 2 or 3 inches each on the
Ievel, will make a full crop every year, and for some years in succession no irri-
gation will be needed. There is in all counties a critical moment, when the precipi-
tation or absence of rain will decide the fate of the crop. No portion of the United
States is better provided with the facilities for overcoming this critical moment by an
occasional irrigation than is the subhumid region of Texas. -
Small grain generally will puli through without irrigation, and cotton likewise.
Corn could be doubled in yield if irrigated occasionally. Fruits and vegetables
could be grown with absolute certainty, but in addition to these, hops and many
other high-priced commodities could be grown to perfection. Instead of growing
one garden crop, the subhumid farmer should grow three. The storage capacity
of the subhumid region is enormous, and the rain-fall necessary to utilize this ca-
pacity is ample. Very few places exist in which there is not sufficient water for 5 up
to 160 acres under irrigation. . The Red River, Brazos, Colorado, and Conchos, and
their numerous affluents afford water in abundance all year round. The headwaters
of these affluents carry water part of the year, and could be easily dammed and made
available for the whole year. In the more hilly portions are many hundred depres-
sions that catch the drainage of a large area, and could be made to store immense
quantities. Springs are found in nearly all counties, and are becoming more numer-
ous since the land is placed in cultivation. Water in ordinary dug or bored wells is
found in almost all places where sought for, and by the use of wind-mills could be
raised to the surface and be used for irrigation. The drought of 1886–87 brought to
light a few points of interest bearing on the underground water supply. In 1886 the
drought extended over the entire subhumid region. The Black Wax belt of Texas,
extending from Weatherford to Mineola, and from Red River to the latitude of Aus.
tin, received sufficient rain-fall to mature crops. East of the Black Waxy region,
both in Louisiana and in southern Texas, as far as the Gulf coast, the weather was ex-
ceptionally dry. Of all the wells dug or bored between the Pecos and Sabine rivers,
none were affected by the drought except a considerable number of wells in Shackel.
ford, Eastland, and Callahan Counties, which temporarily lost their water. The
Wells in the counties east and west did not show any diminution of their supply dur-
ing the drought. . In August and September heavy rains began to fall in southern and
eastern Texas, while none fell in the subhumid region, which is from 500 to 1,000 feet
higher. The dry wells in Shackelford, Eastland, and Callahan Counties, within a
few days were again supplied with water, though no rain had fallen in the neigh-
borhood or at any point of greater altitude within 600 miles.
The filling of the wells was at the time a subject of remark, and was not explained.
The only explanation possible is, that the waters from the mountains of New Mexico.
and Colorado find their way to the Gulf of Mexico through underground channels, and
that they maintained an unobstructed flow southeastward during the entire period of
grought. Wherever the strata lay close enough to the surface to be dug or bored into,
they furnished an unlimited supply of water. In places where the channels lay
deeper the underground waters were not reached, as in the counties mentioned, but
the Wells were dependent on the local rain-fall. In a wet year in eastern and south-
ern Texas, the underground channels become clogged through the pressure of the
Water above them, and as the water lies between impervious strata and can not find
a ready outlet, it causes the backwater to rise a thousand feet or more. The wells
in the counties mentioned were therefore filled by the water coming from New Mex-
iº9 and Colorado, which could not find an unobstructed flow to the Gulf of Mexico.
If there had been no drought in southern and eastern Texas, as well as in the sub.
humid region, the supply in the wells of Callahan, Shackelford, and Eastland Coun-
ties would have remained normal whether it rained or not in western Texas, As a
108 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
further proof that there exists an underground system of rivers extending from the
mountains of El Paso County, New Mexico, and Colorado to the Gulf, it can be said
that a considerable number of these underground streams have been discovered in
various portions of Texas; but perhaps the best evidence of an underground connec-
tion between the mountains and the Gulf, is shown in the famous “Breathing Well,”
at Eagle Flat in El Paso County, Tex. This well is distant about 550 miles from the
nearest point on the Gulf coast. Its altitude above sea-level is 4,500 feet. A boring
of 300 or 400 feet was made in the hope of finding water, but instead, an underground
cavern was discovered, and the work of boring discontinued in consequence. With
the removal of the boring apparatus it was discovered that for a number of hours a
current of air would be forced out of the bore-hole, and that later,in the day there
was great suction of air into the cavern. This process repeats itself every day. The
only way to account for the “breathing ” of the well is that the lower end of this
cavern is alternately filled with water, and again emptied by the tides of the Gulf,
over 500 miles away. An examination into the mysteries of the underground rivers,
channels, and deposits of water, is of importance, not only from a commercial and
agricultural, but also from a scientific point of view, and merits much more attention
than is now given the subject. The artesian waters lie deep in the subhumid re-
gion, and but few wells of limited capacity have been bored. It is thought, though,
that artesian water can be had by borings of proper depth. The upland prairie
farmer will have to depend in a great measure on his well and wind-mill, and will
generally find enough water for his purposes. The writer understands perfectly well
that a 160-acre farm can not be irrigated from a common barn-yard well, and knows
also that not one in five hundred farmers is financially able to bore or dig enough
wells and erect enough wind-mills to irrigate such an acreage. There is nothing
in the way, however, to prevent the subhumid farmer from successfully irrigating
5, 10, or 20 acres, and to plant on this irrigated land such crops as will bring the
highest possible market prices. If he will not grow for the market, he can to almost
absolute certainty raise all the food products needed for home consumption. In a
droughty year, like 1886–87, he may not make any money, but will always have
enough to maintain his household, and thus avoid becoming an object of charity.
He can still raise wheat, corn, cotton, hay, and forage generally on his dry land, but
his irrigated patch will secure him a money return of five times the value per acre,
than will his dry land under cultivation. Having neither topographical maps of
the respective subhumid counties, or detailed information as to the exact location
of water supply, or storage sites at hand, this report is more general in its char-
acter than it should be, but it is hoped that some information may be found therein
that may be of use.
Adjourned.
ON TRAIN FROM MIDLAND, TEX.,
September 9, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman. -
Present, Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Reagan; also Director
Powell.
STATEMENT OF B. F. WILLIAMS, OF FORT WORTH.
The CHAIRMAN. How is agriculture prosecuted in this section of the
country Ż
Mr. WILLIAMS. In various ways. There has been a good deal of ex-
periment here with farming in different ways, but they are trying mostly
to demonstrate it here by irrigation; but it has been very poorly prose-
cuted, take it as you may.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you raise crops here without irrigation ?
Mr. WILLIAMS. You can when you have any Season for it.
The CHAIRMAN. How often do the seasons prove favorable?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Once in four years.
The CHAIRMAN. As often as that ?
Mr. WILLIAMs. Yes, I think so. •
The CHAIRMAN. What do the people do in the meantime 3 * ,
WELLs AND IRRIGATION ON THE STAKED PLAINS. 109
Mr. WILLIAMs. Some of them try it—keep making experiments, but
do not do anything.
The CHAIRMAN. What success have you had by means of irrigation?
Mr. WILLIAMS. From my own observation there has been very little
success. So far as experiments have been made they have been Satis-
factory.
The CHAIRMAN. How many wells are in this vicinity 2
Mr. WILLIAMS. For irrigation purposes 2
The CHAIRMAN. Yes; for irrigating gardens or anything of that
kind.
Mr. WILLIAMS. There are three here that I know of.
The CHAIRMAN. We have seen more than that.
Mr. WILLIAMS. They are not for irrigation. I only speak of what I
have seen—the results of my own observation.
The CHAIRMAN. You have seen three ?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What size wells were they 3
Mr. WILLIAMS. Six inches in diameter.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know how deep 3
Mr. WILLIAMS. No, I can not tell you the exact depth at Midland.
Mr. GEORGE E. BRIGGs. The depth of the water is 70 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. With the three wells that you have observed here
for irrigation purposes, what do you raise?
Mr. WILLIAMs. Well, fruits, vegetables, and different kinds of crops
by means of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. How do the fruit trees get along 3
Mr. WILLIAMS. They do exceedingly well. I have noticed more trees
this year that had as much as 5 feet of growth on them than heretofore.
They were peach trees.
The CHAIRMAN. Did they get that much growth in one year?
Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes; I can show you cottonwood irrigated a very
little, with 10 feet of growth.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE E, BRIGGS, OF COLORAD0.
The CHAIRMAN. You have lived at Midland 3
Mr. BRIGGS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you acquainted with the wells run by wind-
mills in Midland 3
Mr. BRIGGS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you state about what amount of water is thrown
out by the different wells, and the size of the windmills 3
Mr. BRIGGS. As a rule they use 12-foot mills: that is, for stock pur-
poses and for domestic use. They do not irrigate. I irrigated 24 acres
and subirrigated the trees that I planted out a year ago this April. This
season they bore fruit. I had one tank that held about 46 gallons of
water. I had it shut off half the time, and more too, I judge.
The CHAIRMAN. If you had saved all the water during the year with
a suitable tank how much land could you have cultivated with a 19-
foot mill?
Mr. BRIGGS. I think a man could irrigate by subirrigation 10 acres.
That is of course quite different from surface irrigation, that is, by sav.
ing all the water that a 12-foot mill would pump.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of this locality for fruit?
Mr. BRIGGS. The finest I ever saw for peaches, plums, and lemons
The CHAIRMAN, How are the pears? .
110 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. BRIGGS. The trees that I have seen at Colorado have no fruit,
but they grow finely. In Colorado they grow abundantly.
Senator REAGAN. How with regard to grapes?
Mr. BRIGGS. They do remarkably well. The California and Euro-
pean grapes do as well as they do in California. So people tell me.
Senator REAGAN. Have any of them been cultivated long enough to
produce fruit? *
Mr. BRIGGS. Yes, fine. I have some put out a year ago last March,
and they bore a quantity of grapes.
Senator REAGAN. What kind 3
Mr. BRIGGS. The Muscat and Black Prince. I do not know the
varieties. I bored a well on the Staked Plain.
Senator REAGAN. What material did you go through 3
Mr. BRIGGS. Lime rock, principally.
Senator REAGAN. At what depth did you strike lime rock?
Mr. BRIGGS. It varies from 15 to 30 feet. I have one well 30 feet.
Senator REAGAN. How thick is the lime strata ? -
Mr. BRIGGS. Well, it varies. I can not tell you that; I do not know
how thick it is. -
Senator REAGAN. But you go through it 3
Mr. BRIGGS. Yes, go through it.
Senator REAGAN. Before you get your well ?
Mr. BRIGGs. Yes, it is from 40 to 70 feet deep.
Senator REAGAN. And the lime rock is 30 to 50 feet 3
Mr. BRIGGs. Yes; and there is some red clay. I think the rock,
as a rule, is not over 10 or 12 feet, and then they strike another layer. ,
The CHAIRMAN. In what do you find the water?
Mr. BRIGGS. The best water is found in this white gravel. If you go
to that depth you will strike it at 68 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. After passing through lime rock you strike gravel?
Mr. BRIGGS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. White gravel beneath the lime rock furnishes the
Water.
Mr. BRIGGs. Yes; and you can not exhaust it. I have let my Well
run for ten days at a time and never exhausted the Water.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the water rise in a pipe } |
Mr. BRIGGs. About 30 feet—stands that way. The lime rock is very
shaly and porous. It will absorb an immense amount of Water. It
would rise much higher if that were a solid mass.
Adjourned.
ToyAH, TEX., September 9, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the Chairman. te
Present: Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Reagan ; also Director
Powell.
STATEMENT OF H. H. CLOUD, OF EDDY, N. MEX.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. CLOUD. Civil engineer.
The CHAIRMAN. On what works are you now engaged?
Mr. CLOUD. The Pecos Irrigation and Investment Company’s canal.
The CHAIRMAN. Where is that canal?
Mr. CLOUD. One is located about 5 miles from Roswell, taken out in
Lincoln County, N. Mex. It is taken from the Pecos and Hondo Rivers,
THE DITCHES AND LANDS OF THE PECOS WALLEY. 111
The length of it will be 37 miles to 40 miles, when completed, and will
cover about 100,000 acres of land. The lower canal is in the same
county, but it will also be in Eddy County, N. Mex. It is projected to
be 50 miles in length.
The CHAIRMAN, Will that get into Texas?
Mr. CLoud. No, it will cover about, as contemplated now, 100,000
acres of land.
The CHAIRMAN. Will that exhaust the capacity of the river?
Mr. CLOUD. It will not.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there a large amount of water running in the
river?
Mr. CLOUD. There is an extraordinary amount of Water.
The CHAIRMAN. In flood times how is it?
Mr. CLOUD. Very large.
The CHAIRMAN. Has it been gauged ?
Mr. CLOUD. I think it has been in flood time. Mr. Nettleton has the
figures on that. He is Mr. Powell's assistant, on the irrigation survey.
The CHAIRMAN. He has the gauging of the river?
Mr. CLOUD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land is there on the Pecos that might be
irrigated, if there were water enough?
Mr. CLOUD. I can not say; but it is practically inexhaustible.
The CHAIRMAN. Practically unlimited ?
Mr. CLOUD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the opportunities for storing the waters
of the river and increasing the Volume 3
Mr. CLOUD. They are very excellent. I know where water reservoirs
could be constructed, where 5,000,000 cubic feet of water could be stored.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the country for reservoirs?
IExplain a little more particularly.
Mr. CLOUD. Immediately above our lower canal there are places where
the bluffs come in toward the river, and by damming at those points we
can make extensive reservoirs. We have not had the exact surveys
except on one, and if we make Our dam at that point it will have a
capacity of 500,000,000 cubic feet. *
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the land on the Pecos, in
New Mexico and Texas? "--
Mr. CLOUD. Well, it is a lime soil. I have been here but four months
at the canal itself.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any knowledge of the fertility of the soil?
Mr. CLOUD. Mr. Shields, at Las Cruces, has made experiments, and
so has Mr. Eddy, and I know they grow large crops at Rosswell. They
have very fine orchards, and they yield immensely.
The CHAIRMAN. And generally it is good land? I
Mr. CLOUD, Yes; and will produce all sorts of crops. They say it is
very fine for fruit and grapes and things like that.
The CHAIRMAN. Do wheat and corn grow generally *
Mr. CLOUD. Yes; corn, potatoes, and crops of that kind.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further that you could state?
Mr. CLOUD. It seems to me that the opportunities here are exceed-
ingly great for investments of this kind.
The CHAIRMAN. There are opportunities for reclaiming the land 3
Mr. ClOUD. Yes. At Pecos you will find another ditch under con-
struction. The engineer of that is Mr. Wood. He is not here now,
Adjourned.
!
112 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
ForT WORTH, TEX,
September 11, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present, Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Reagan; also Director
Powell. s
STATEMENT OF W. S. MARSHALL, OF FORT WORTH,
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with western Texas, the water sup-
ply, and the chances for irrigation in that region?
Mr. MARSHALL. Yes, I am somewhat.
The CHAIRMAN. Make your statemont in your own way.
Mr. MARSHALL. I have worked in western Texas putting in wells,
erecting windmills, in stock raising, and developing the water supply
there for four years. I can give you a map of the country in which we
have done most of our work. This country here and in Pecos County,
Reeves County, El Paso County, Crockett County, Tom Green, and all
of Old Tom Green, including the six or seven new counties, we have
something like six hundred wells. I traveled over this country, 9,000
miles, in my buggy and investigated it personally.
The CHAIRMAN. Describe the country.
Mr. MARSHALL. Starting at the south here through Pecos County
and Tom Green an abundant supply of water is to be had. We will
take at Dryden, on the Southern Pacific road—the well is 1,800 feet, and
the water after they struck it came within 600 feet of the surface. We
built some wells north of Dryden on the Pecos, one of them 650 feet.
That was connected with three more from 300 to 500 feet. We have
got to go a great depth for water in that county. Y.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it good water and plenty of it? -
Mr. MARSHALL. Yes, at 1,800 feet. Then north of there, at Pecos
City, we got flowing water. Every well we put down—the deepest was
275 and the shallowest was 235 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. What did you go through 3
Mr. MARSHALL. At Pecos we struck no hard rock at all. There are
gravel veins, thick sand, and hard clay. Then there is an alkali, we
call it; but it is a sort of decomposed lime. I thought it was alkali,
but the State geologist gives no record in his report. There is no
rock at Pecos City, but there is rock in the Southern part of Pecos
County.
ºnairwan. There was a radical change of formation then in
these shallow wells.
Mr. MARSHALL. Where we got the flows 3
The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
Mr. MARSHALL. I would not call it a radical change. We struck a
very hard substance; it was not a rock; it was hard pan. It was
what I call a clay hard pan. That was only 18 inches thick, and as
Soon as we broke through that the water commenced to flow.
The OHAIRMAN. That is what held the water down 3
Mr. MARSHALL. It is a 3-inch hole, and it flows 350 gallons a minute.
Those wells are very strong. Now, working north, take the center of
the Staked Plain as a sample, and there is a vast change in the country;
it is what gives the country the name of Staked Plain. But north of
here the cactus and Spanish bayonet and all that sort of vegetation
disappears, and you come Cn to a perfect type of prairie, such as you
find in Nebraska and Iowa. The mesquite and gramma grasses grow
there, aud the lay of the country is exactly the Same and the forma-
wells AND waters IN THE PAN HANDLE REGION. 113
tion is the same, as I found putting in wells in Iowa. There we strike
water in abundance. In Hockley County, for instance, we never made
a failure in finding the water, and I know there are fifty Wells We put
wind-mills on.
The CHAIRMAN. At what depth?
Mr. MARSHALL. One hundred seventy-five feet; the shallowest is 35
feet. The average will be 100. None of them are as deep as 200 feet.
The water very seldom rises there except in the northwest corner,
where there is a valley and where there are surface veins at 100 feet,
and a flow of 200 gallons a minute. Those were the only two flowing
wells. In Hale County the wells run shallower, not over an average of
50 feet in the whole county. In Crosby County they run 100 feet, and
in the west part of Lubbock, you go 300 feet to get good water. But
all through this country there is an abundance of good water when you
get down to it, and that is within 400 feet.
Senator REAGAN. Do you know of a flowing well north of this point %
Mr. MARSHALL. I do not know of any.
Senator REAGAN. Is there not a flowing well north of Washburn?
Mr. MARSHALL. No ; I do not know.
Senator REAGAN. Where is it 3
Mr. MARSHALL. I do not know of a flowing well on the railroad.
Senator REAGAN. The newspapers have it reported that there is one.
Mr. MARSHALL. At Washburn we have fitted up a pump for the
railroad. I am not sure whether I am right about Washburn. I do
not think there is a well on the Denver and Fort Worth road in Texas,
except it may be in Fort Worth.
The CHAIRMAN. What have you to say as to water tanks, etc.
Mr. MARSHALL. The drainage of that country is in basins or surface
lakes. There is no place where the water will flow across and run to im-
portant streams, but it runs in basins. It is like a saucer. The drain-
age water that falls in the different seasons of the year goes into those
basins, and either evaporates or goes away with the underground drain-
age. The rain-fall there is a great deal more than in the center and
lower ground. *
sºlor REAGAN. What is the topography of that country through
there
Mr. MARSHALL. A rolling prairie country.
Senator REAGAN. No mountains?
Mr. MARSHALL. No. . [Indicating on the map.] There are very few
passes. You can not drive upon the plains in some places. It is a wall
right up and down, and at other places it is breaking away—the earth,
rock, and so forth. When you get on one of these plains you have the
horizon all around about. It is a high country. To the west you just
See a hill 6 or 8 miles ahead of you; but when you get there there is
another one. You are going up all the time.
Senator REAGAN. Is there any irrigation in that country?
Mr. MARSHALL. No. There is some at Toyah. I do not know what
they have done there. -
Senator REAGAN. Is there any here?
Mr. MARSHALL. By windmill at Midland. Also at Odessa, and also
at Mansfield. That is in Hamilton County.
Senator REAGAN. Is there any in Tom Green County 2 w
Mr. MARSHALL. There is some irrigation near San Angelo, Tom Green
County. That is from the streams. There are no streams here from
which there could be any irrigation, unless they were dammed and the
Water Saved at the time the rains come, *
138 A L-WOL III–8
114 IRRIGATION AND REULAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
i
The CHAIRMAN. What are the chances for that ? Explain that.
Mr. MARSHALL. In the headwaters of all these streams there are
plenty of draws to be dammed across and make large basins. I have
come across the river perſectly dry, and then there would come a big
storm and for four or five hours there would be plenty of water; but it
would be dry again in twenty-four hours.
The CHAIRMAN. Could you find places where you could hold it 3
Mr. MARSHALL. I think there could be, because the subsoil is clay
on the top and rock underneath. Generally the river is all run down
to the rock and the top soil is clay.
The CHAIRMAN. And you could find places where ponds of water
could be had 3 -
Mr. MARSHALL. We would have no trouble for ponds of water for
our windmills—pumping into the cañon and having it full of water in
a short time. There would be no trouble in making a dam and having
it impound the water. I have seen a good deal along the Colorado in
Mitchell County. There is a pond that I have never seen dry. Fish
put in there six years ago are there yet.
The CHAIRMAN. The country north of that is similar 3 -
Mr. MARSHALL. Yes. There is water enough falls in that country
to be saved. There is a little mistake in the distribution of it, the
time they send it out. There is a full description and plat of it. [Pro-
ducing paper.] We got this out to distribute to the stockmen. -
The CHAIRMAN. I wish to ask you about the expense of tar and pitch.
It seems to me that, as in California, there would be a vast amount of
bitumen here and a great quantity of bituminous rock.
Mr. MARSHALL. There is bitumen in this county. Take also Navarro
County. All through that country we find that water must be con-
ducted over sandy, loose ground, where the seepage is very destructive.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given any attention to the cost of these
things 3
º MARSHALL. Yes; that can be made and kept up at very much
less expense than would be the case with plank or cement. In Our
tank works I have used all three—cement, plank, and coal-tar. I
find coal-tar, while in some instances it costs a little more for a small
tank than for wooden tank, yet when you get up to 250,000 gallons
the cost is not one-tenth. In fluming I should think the plank would
be as much to make it good. It would cost about $4 a hundred Square
feet. That woul be there equal to lumber at $40 a thousand. But when
it is there it is for all time.
The CHAIRMAN. That depends somewhat upon the freight. *
Mr. MARSHALL. It would not cost that here. It costs freight from
here out to where we have used it west 33 and 38 cents a hundred.
The CHAIRMAN. What would it cost here ?
Mr. MARSHALL. I could put it down here inside of $3 a square.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be less than 3 cents a Square foot.
Mr. MARSHALL. Yes; if it runs out of water and stands in the sun it.
does not open the cracks; if it runs out of water and freezes it does
not open the cracks. It remains perfectly tight without any repairs.
We find it is the case with that where it is not the case With cement
and not with plank. Once put on there it costs practically nothing to
keep it up.
The CHAIRMAN. In what portion do you mix it?
Mr. MARSHALL. We just take coal-tar pitch. If we can not get that
we take the coal-tar and boil it down and make pitch. When it gets
stringy, and to ascertain that you do as you would in the case of making
THE STATE GEOLOGIST OF TEXAS ON ITS WATERS. 115
molases candy, put a stick in it to see if it strings out. We generally put
it on hot, with two coats; the first coat being hot is just like water, and it
will soak into the sand and make a quarter and a half inch coating,
according to the condition your bank is in. It becomes a kind of amal-
gamation of sand and pitch. Then you put your sand on the top to keep
it from running. We thought it better not to put on any sand at all,
but just a thin coating of pitch, a double coat. When you have it on
from a half to three-quarters of an inch thick, you can walk on it, walk
all over it and being a little careful not to dig your heels into it. Even
in the hottest days it will bend under your feet and not break. We tell
everybody that the reservoir down there cost $1,800. That is half what
it would have cost to build it of stone. The actual cost was $1,150 to
$1,200.
STATEMENT OF E. T. DUMBLE, OF AUSTIN.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. DUMBLE. I am the State geologist. *
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography, the Water
supply, and the means of irrigation in western Texas?
Mr. DUMBLE. As well as it is possible to be in the short time that
we have been at work.
The CHAIRMAN. Make any statement in regard to it that you think
would be interesting to the committee. -
Mr. DUMBLE. Do you wish to know what the chances are for irriga-
tion in western Texas ?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes; state what the chances are for irrigation in
that section.
Mr. DUMBLE. Well, you have examined the Rio Grande, and so you
know all about that. Have you information with regard to this coun-
try through here, that is, below the railroad on which you came in 3
The CHAIRMAN. No. State anything that you know of this side of
the Rio Grande—the waters that do not flow into the Rio Grande. We
wish to know about them.
Mr. DUMBLE. There are no running waters of any consequence.
But these "flats are all susceptible of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. To what flats do you refer ?
Mr. DUMBLE. The country is a series of flats or plains interrupted
by mountain ranges, and in those ranges there are places in which
dams could be made that would hold water sufficient for irrigating a
large amount of land that lies in the flats. The rain-fall. as nearly as
we have gotten at it, is from 15 to 20 inches yearly throughout that
region. One section, in Quitman Mountain, the one we have examined
most closely, a dam about 200 yards long will hold the drainage of
Some 45 Square miles in those mountains. That opens out on this
flat below here, a large plain. That is true of a great many other
mountain ranges through there. At Fort Davis there is already con-
ºple irrigation from the waters of the Olympia Cañon on Olympia
I’06|K.
The CHAIRMAN. Do they store the water there, or do they take the
natural flow % q.
Mr. DUMBLE. The natural flow. The city of El Paso and presidio—
there are many places where the water could be stored and used for ir-
rigation and stock-raising or for mining purposes.
The CHAIRMAN. It would not be very expensive, would it?
Mr. DUMBLE. No, not very expensive; because the mountains are
tolerably steep, and material is always at hand to build the dam,
116 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Do the streams discharge in narrow gorges 7
Mr. DUMBLE. Yes. •
The CHAIRMAN. Can there be some irrigation from wells?
Mr. DUMBLE. I do not think so. The water so far as yet found lies
too deep, and it would be too expensive to pump it. The railroad com-
panies have gone down 700, 800, and 1,000 feet all along the line without
getting water. That is between the Pecos and the Rio Grande.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it extend up north ?
Mr. DUMBLE. The plains come in here—about Drouro Station on
Texas and Pacific [indicating on the map). It takes in the mesas.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been up the Pecos to its source?
Mr. DUMBLE. No; I have not.
The CHAIRMAN. Take it farther north, in the Pan Handle, have you
been there ?
Mr. DUMBLE. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Can they irrigate with wells 7
Mr. DUMBLE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. They have equal facilities for storage reservoirs,
have they not ?
Mr. DUMBLE. They have on the east side of the Staked Plain, where
those cañons make in and streams begin there. The whole body of
that country is red clay, and they can build dams there for reservoirs
very well. There in Tom Green County, on the Conchos, they are
damming those creeks, and will have an abundance of supply of water
for irrigation. They are increasing that all the time, and they are in-
creasing their water supply.
The CHAIRMAN. From your observation what is your opinion as to
the extent of irrigation that may be generally, not in detail, practiced
in western Texas, where rain-fall is insufficient 3
Mr. DUMBLE. They can irrigate nearly every part of it. There are
some flats or plains in between the mountains where the land to a
great extent could be reached by it.
The CHAIRMAN. What would be the productive capacity of that coun-
try when irrigated ?
Mr. DUMBLE. It would be very great. The soil is very fine. It is
old lake bottoms. ---
The CHAIRMAN. How is the climate for products 3
Mr. DUMBLE. That I do not know ; I could not say. The thermom-
eter gets very high, but it is a dry climate.
The CHAIRMAN. I mean in reference to the production of crops.
Mr. DUMBLE. They grow anything that will grow alound El Paso, tº ind
in that country, wheat and all kinds of fruits; corn, cotton, and any-
thing of that kind which is suitable to this lower country.
Senator REAGAN. Is you bureau collecting statistics about irrigation ?
Mr. DUMBLE. Yes; all we can. For instance, I am having the border
of the Staked Plain mapped, with instructions So that they may know.
the places where dams can be built, and in Tom Green County I have
a map of that irrigation district, and I am having a map of the suitable
places in El Paso County where dams can be made.
Senator REAGAN. On the western tributaries of the Colorado there is
some partial need of irrigation. What do you say about the streams
down there ? & :
Mr. DUMBLE. These streams, the ones in Tom Green County, are run-
ning all the time. They are very seldom dry. When you get along the
edge of the Staked Plain they run during the wet season; but frequently.
the beds are entirely dry—a great many of them.
EFFECTs of frkIGATION ON GRAINS AND GRASSES. 117
Senator REAGAN. What stream is this [indicating on map.]?
Mr. DUMBLE. That is the Llano.
Senator REAGAN. Have there been any efforts made to take out that
stream?
Mr. DUMBLE. Some small efforts. In Llano County, from some of
these creeks, there are gardens that have been irrigated, and some
fields that have been irrigated.
Senator REAGAN. And some on the San Saba &
Mr. DUMBLE. Yes; and from those streams there are places where
they could irrigate large quantities of land.
Senator REAGAN. In the Concho and its tributaries. What do you
say about that ?
Mr. DUMBLE. That comes in there [indicating].
* REAGAN. At the Red Fork of the Colorado. What about
that
Mr. DUMBLE. I can not give you any definite information about that.
You have had information about Midland, Odessa, and about there.
Senator REAGAN. Coleman is where they have had fine water ?
Mr. DUMBLE. Yes; they have good water there.
Senator REAGAN. Is there any irrigation from the streams in there ?
Mr. DUMBLE. I do not know of any irrigation at the present time.
Senator REAGAN. Is it needed ?
Mr. DUMBLE. They needed it two years ago, if they could have gotten
it in any Way.
Senator REAGAN. Do you know whether there have been any efforts
at irrigation on the Clear Fork of the Brazos ?
Mr. DUMBLE. No.
Senator REAGAN. You have no information that you have collected
on that subject?
Mr. DUMBLE. No. -
Senator REAGAN. Could you at an early day send any information on
that subject to the committee at Washington ?
Mr. DUMBLE. Yes, I will do so.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES E. PRATT, OF ABILENE, TAYLOR COUNTY.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. PRATT. Commission merchant.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed the effect of irrigation upon the
production of crops?
Mr. PRATT. Some ; up from the Pecos and in the Pan-Handle.
The CHAIRMAN. Anywhere in western Texas 3
Mr. PRATT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. State what kind of crops.
Mr. PRATT. Alfalfa ; that is about all I have seen.
The CHAIRMAN. What success did you have in raising alfalfa with
irrigation? sº
Mr. PRATT. This season not much; because they could not get the
water turned on at Pecos in time.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean your success this season, but how
water affects it; whether you can raise crops with water.
Mr. PRATT. I do not know that I could state that.
Senator REAGAN. Do you not know whether it makes better crops
With Water ?
Mr. PRATT. Yes, it makes better crops. In Taylor County, had we
rain when we needed it, I know we would have made fine crops in 1886;
118 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID tants.
but as it was we made nothing, everything perished for want of water.
Last year we made 110 bushels of oats to the acre.
The CHAIRMAN. How far west is that ? s
Mr. PRATT. Two hundred miles; from 190 to 210 miles.
Senator REAGAN. In what county 2
Mr. PRATT. Taylor County.
The CHAIRMAN. You raise good crops there without irrigation ?
Mr. PRATT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How often ?
Mr. PRATT. Once in every three or four years. .
The CHAIRMAN. Then you have failures 2
Mr. PRATT. Yes; we have four failures out of six there.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you must irrigate 2
Mr. PRATT. Yes; that is the way we look at it.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the opportunities for irrigating there?
Mr. PRATT. I have not thought about that. Could we get water when
it is needed, I know we could make splendid crops.
The following papers were ordered filed when received.
Adjourned.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF FRANK E. RoHSLER, ON IRRIGATION
. UPON THE TEXAS STAKED PLAIN.
DALLAS, TEx., September 2, 1889.
The Great Plain, where traversed by the Texas and Pacific Railway, constitutes a
table-land about 65 miles in width, widening out northwardly, and extending into
the Pan Handle several hundred miles. Its most southerly point is about 60 miles
South of Midland, Tex. Its outline is well defined, its edges consisting of rocky
bluffs extending for hundred of miles, forming many bold promontories and shelters
of coves. At some remote period of time its eastern edge was the shore-line of some
great sea, which, as it receded eastwardly and southwardly, cut new shore-lines, con-
verting the stretch of country between the plain and the Brazos River into a series
of benches or table-lands, lying one above the other like the steps in a stairway:
The Brazos River at the Texas and Pacific Railway crossing has an altitude of 750
feet, while the last step in the grand stairway, the eastern edge of the plain, has an
altitude of 2,700 feet. l
Before the creation of the Pecos Valley the plain seems to have been continuous
with the eastern slope of the mountain ranges of New Mexico and western Texas.
This would appear from the fact that the surface of the plain presents a gradual fall
from the north and west toward the southeast, the altitudes from its western to its
eastern edge being as follows: Douro Station, 3,100 feet; Odessa, 2,900 feet; War-
field, 2,875 feet; Midland, 2,780 feet; Marienfeld, 2,700 feet; the southern edge about
2,300 feet. Through some convulsion of nature a break in the strata was formed
near its eastern edge, forming what is now known as Suphur Draw, in Howard
County, and probably several other fractures will be found north and west several
hundred miles distant. This would seem to be indicated by the fact that the strata
of the plain are continuous, and that water is usually found in abundance below the
limestone, and that this supply does not seem in the least to be disturbed by either
heavy local rains or long periods of drought. The water seems to come for a distance
of hundreds of miles, and wherever the limestone is penetrated the supply is perma-
ment. The local rain-fall seems to find its way through the various “draws” to the
headwaters of the Colorado and Concho Rivers, and is eventually carried to the Gulf
of Mexico, or passes through Red River into the Mississippi. The dark colored “rises”
of the Colorado River always indicate local rains in Central Texas, and the “red
rises” heavy rains on the Staked Plain. These rivers carry off the surface drainage.
The underground drainage, namely, the waters under the limestone strata, work
their way to the San Marcos, San Antonio, Guadaloupe, Nueces, Sabinal, and many
other rivers, which rise and fall at the same time that do the Rio Grande and the
Pecos, both of which receive their waters from the mountain snows of New Mexico
and Western Texas.
The “draws” above mentioned seem to be able-bodied rivers that have retired from
business. In times gone by they have carried great volumes of water, and have cut
their way through solid limestone ledges, their banks being well defined to this day,
THE UNDERGROUND waters of NoFTHWEST TEXAS. 119
During heavy rains they resume business in a small way, occasionally drowning a
flock of sheep that are feeding on their grass-covered beds. ... Generally the water is
lost in a few days, having percolated through the sand to the limestone layer beneath;
which is generally impervious. Most of these “draws” are filled with silt and sand
blown in from the plain. They drain many hundreds of miles in area, and in many
of them water in great quantity is found at a depth of 2 to 20 feet. Several could,
without great expense, be again converted into flowing streams, carried to the higher
lying lands, and be made to irrigate a considerable area. Mustang Draw, in Martin
Čounty, by the use of 5 or 6 miles of flumes, could probably be put to good use in this
manner, as water in abundance is found at a depth varying from 2 to 6 feet. All the
“draw” water will, of course, be surface water, derived from local rains.
The “underground water” is generally found at varying depth. At Marienfeld, on
the eastern edge of the plain, at from 60 to 90 feet; at Germania, 10 miles west, at 45
to 60 feet; at Midland, 20 miles west, at 35 to 50 feet; at Odessa, 40 miles west, at
30 to 50 feet; at Douro, near western edge of the plain, none. In a few localities
“joint clay,” a water-proof material, on which the “underground' water rests,
comes close to the surface. No water was found, though this material has often been
penetrated to a depth of 500 feet. A few of the surface wells are brackish and Sey-
eral salty, but generally the water is good. Several springs containing soda, sul-
phur, or gypum water, as well as a few wet weather salt lakes, are also found on the
plain. The only permanent running stream on the Staked Plain is “RunningWater,’,
in Dickens County, a bright, sparkling stream, that suddenly breaks out out of the
ground, ripples over a pebbly bottom for a distance of 10 miles and then mysteriously
disappears, like many other streams west of the Pecos River, notably Leon Wells,
Comanche Springs, Escondido, Limpia, and Toyah Creek, or the underground river
near Castle Mountain, in Crane County, which is working its way to daylight by
washing away the roof covering it, occasionally causing a part of it to fall in. A
similar stream exists in the northern part of Crocket County, which was not known
to exist a few years ago, though a recent cave-in exposed an abundant water supply
20 feet below the surface.
Nearly all the wells dug or bored in the “under ground” water, under the limestone,
show a tendency to rise above the point where first water was reached. In some
localities a rise of 20 to 30 feet was observed, showing that the supply is under con-
siderable pressure. Borings at Odessa have shown five separate layers or deposits of
water to exist between the surface and the “joint clay” 100 feet below. Between
the Staked Plain and the Pecos River is an ancient fresh-water lake basin, known
as “the White Sand Hills,” which is covered with numerous ponds of pure fresh
water. The supply is permanent, and said to be inexhaustible. The railway wells
at Monahans, in this locality, furnish an immense supply. Altitude, 2,620 feet. The
wells west of this and to the Pecos draw their supply from the seepage of the Pecos
River. East of the Staked Plain the water supply in wells is variable as to quantity,
quality, and depth. In Howard County good water is abundant in the southern part,
rather deep in the northern part, and brackish in the town of Big Spring. In Mitch-
ell County, generally good at 30 to 50 feet, sometimes strongly alkaline. Several
wells bored are capable of furnishing 9,000 gallons of water per hour continuously.
At a depth of 200 to 300 feet super-saturated salt brine, claimed to be chemically pure,
is found in inexhaustible quantity, and a fine grade of salt is manufactured. The
Colorado River carries water in its bed nearly all year round. Its water here is said
to be brackish and salty. A chemical examination will have to determine whether
or not the water can be used for purposes of irrigation. *
PRODUCTS OF THE PLAIN.
Farming as a distinct business was begun as early as 1882, and that without irriga-
tion. The highest yield obtained is as follows: Wheat, 25 bushels; rye, 22 bushels;
corn, 65 bushels; oats, 50 bushels; potatoes, 150 bushels. Farming operations sincé
1882 have shown that all varieties of forage plants, including sorghum, millet, alfalfa,
Johnson grass, rye, etc., do very well without irrigation, and can be relied on. Wheat,
corn, and other crops which are grown especially for their seed, must mature at a
specified time. If the rain-fall is timely a large crop will be made, but there is suffi-
cient uncertainty to prevent their becoming (for some time to come, at least) the
principal source of income. It is generally conceded that it is useless to plant a wheat
Grop after a dry fall. A large wheat crop can, however, be made if the country has
had good rains in October and November. One good rain in April or beginning of May
will secure the crop. It has been frequently, observed that two adjoining fields of
corn will show the greatest difference in the yield for the reason that the one crop was
planted a Week or two earlier than the other. The earlier planting would make 10
bushels, while the later planting made 65, though both received a good rain at the
same time. The rain-fall of the plain varies between 18 and 42 inches, and this quan-
tity regularly distributed would be ample to secure any crop; but its precipitation
120 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
is irregular, and the farmer has unwillingly come to the conclusion that he must have
an additional source of income in order to prosper,
The native grasses are abundant and nutritious, and most farmers have acquired
º or less live stock, cattle, horses, or sheep, to make the annual income more cer-
&l D.
The soils as a rule are very fertile, and some of the early settlers from California
ºnced them well adapted to fruit-growing, provided water for irrigation could
Ö Ila,01.
The drought of 1886 and 1887, more than anything else, brought the question of fruit-
growing and irrigation to the foreground. Old wells, used for household purposes
only, were increased in capacity, one-half acre gardens were put under irrigation, and
found to be very profitable. Experimental orchards were established at Odessa and
Marienfeld. Much of the nursery stock was obtained from California, and nearly
every variety of fruit grown in the United States, excepting the citrous fruits, can be
found on the plain. The experiments carried on for several years by private citizens,
and by the experimental farms, have demonstrated that, in addition to all the stand-
ard American fruits, the commercial prune and all the raisin grapes and the fancy
table grapes of California can be successfully grown. It is now generally conceded
that the money-making crop of the Staked Plain will be the fruit crop, and the
reasons given therefor are, first, that European table and raisin grapes can not be
grown further east than the Staked Plain, owing to the humidity of the atmosphere
in the lower-lying lands of the Mississippi basin or the Gulf shore.
Second. That all fruits mature fully and are free from blight, premature rot, and
obnoxious insects; that all Western fruits contain more sugar and are sweeter and
juicier than any of the fruits of the low lands.
Third.That the dryness of the atmosphere has the tendency to modify the effects
of severe frosts, it having been repeatedly observed that a much less degree of cold
would kill the fruit blosoms in central and eastern Texas, whereas a severe freeze,
several degrees colder, on the plain would be perfectly harmless.
Fourth. That while the fruit crop of central and eastern Texas is frequently a fail-
ure, owing to excessive rains, this danger is not anticipated on the plain.
Lastly. The fine fruits of the plain are 1,200 miles nearer to the great cities than are
those of California, and as the same varieties can be produced it is obvious that the
fruit of the plain ought to be more profitable, as it will reach the market in better
condition and costs less in the matter of transportation.
THE QUESTION OF OBTAINING AN ADEQUATE WATER SUPPLY IS PARAMOUNT.
The question as to the practicability of raising the finest of fruits is definitely set-
tled. Cheap water is wanted. It can only be obtained in small quantities from wells
and storage reservoirs, and the acreage that can be irrigated from each source of sup:
ply is limited. The development of the plain will depend largely upon the cost of
securing and raising water for irrigation. What has been accomplished through pri-
vate efforts in a small way only goes to show that present methods are too expensive,
and that very few can avail themselves of irrigation by individual effort. Corpora-
tions with ample capital can secure sufficient water at moderate cost, but it is ques-
tionable whether men with money to lose can be induced to invest in enterprises where
success is to some extent problematical. Moneyed men prefer to deal with known
quantities. If it is known that a certain quantity of water can be had at a certain
depth, that it can be reached at a certain cost, and put on the land at a certain cost
per acre, and that the combined cost is sufficiently low to enable a farmer to profit-
ably cultivate and pay for the improvement, there is no question but that the capital
neccessary to make the improvement will be at hand. But to determine these points
the money will not be forthcoming. As at least 95 per cent. of the arid lands must be
irrigated from wells or remain uncultivated, it appears that the people of the arid re-
gion will have to look to the national Government for the information that is neces-
sary to secure the investment of capital for irrigation of the plains away from the
T1WOTS.
On the Staked Plain but very little water will be needed, but when needed is
needed badly. Continuous irrigation is not required. In the history of every crop
there is a critical moment in which it is determined whether or not the farmer shall
have a full crop, a half crop, or a failure. A rain-fall to-day makes his crop, a rain-fall
two weeks hence does him no good. One or two, or possibly three, Trigations during
the year, each equaling a two-inch rain-fall, would bring him a great harvest.
More than that he will hardly need. In 1888 and 1889 he made a full crop without
irrigation; in 1886 and 1887 he did not get his seed back, though the rain-fall of each
year, if properly distributed, would have made splendid crops.
The acreage that can be irrigated from a six-inch bored well in a dry year, by us-
ing a ten-foot windmill, will be about five acres, varying with the rain-fall. By the
use of a suitable storage tank the capacity of the plant may possibly be doubled, but .
FARMING BY IRRIGATION ON STAKED PLAINS. 121
at all events the acreage irrigated is very small compared with the cost of the outfit
which runs between $200 and $350. Five acres under irrigation by a $200 plant, will
cost the owner $40 per acre, and if he borrows the money, paying 10 per cent, interest,
he practically pays a water rent of $4 per annum.
This expense is for water alone. If the farmer plants fruit trees and grape-vines
he must have rabbit-proof fencing, which may cost him $10 per acre additional.
Comparatively few new settlers will be financially able to incur such expense as is
necessary for a good water plant, and if they do succeed in securing their water sup-
ply it will be at such cost per acre that very high-priced crops must be grown and
successfully marketed to meet the interest on the investment to be profitable. The
raising of the cereals and forage crops by irrigation will, therefore, be entirely
out of the question, but if the cost of the water supply can be reduced, the growing
of early vegetables, fine table grapes, early fruits, raisins, prunes, and the making of
wine can be made profitable. In order to ascertain the cost of water supply on a
larger scale, and also to learn what varieties of fruit are best adapted to the Staked
Plain, a number of citizens of Dallas, Fort Worth, Colorado City, Marienfeld, and
Midland, agreed to risk the sum of $5,000 in experimental work, and for that pur-
pose organized the Marienfeld Fruit-growing, Gardening, and Irrigation Company.
A study of the questions before them has led them to the conclusion that corpora-
tions with sufficient capital in hand can safely and profitably develop the plain, and
furnish water, the necessary appliances for raising and storing the same, fence lands,
build houses, plant trees and vines, market the products, for 25 to 50 per cent. less
money than any individual can furnish the same materials, appliances, or conven-
iences for, and still make a fair profit on the investment.
The estimates on a section of land near Midland or Odessa, where the presence of
º: in sufficient quantity has been determined by previous tests, are given as fol-
OWS :
640 aeres of land, at $3 per acre.----...-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * $1,920.00
704 fence posts, at 15 cents.------------------------------------------- s e is 105. 60
1,408 stays 1x6 (704 feet of lumber) -------------------------------------- 35. 00
7,200 lbs. Glidden barbed wire, at 5% cents.-------------...----------------. 396. 00
21, 220 feet 30-inch netting, 1% inch mesh, No. 19 wire - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 462. 00
Freight on same------------------------------------ {* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 50.00
4 gates, staples, hardware ----------------------------------------------- 75. 00
30 adobe or box houses, at $150 each ---------------------...----...-------- 4, 500. U0
27,040 young fruit trees and freight, at 10 cents, for 160 acres --...--- - - - - 2,704.00
64,000 young rooted grape vines, at 5 cents, for 160 acres -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3,200.00
Office of superintendent -----------------------------------------------. 250.00
Salary of superintendent three years, at $720 -------, --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2, 160.00
Wages, five farm laborers two years of three hundred days, at $1.25 per day 3,750.00
Surveying, freights, commissions, advertising, etc... ---...---...----...----. 2,200.00
Farming implements, live stock, etc. ------...-- • - - - - - - - - - - - tº º ºs º ºs º ºs e º sº º ºn 500. 00
$22,307. 60
The total cost of improvement per acre will be $34.85, or $22,307. 60 for the sec-
1OIl.
All of the land is put in tillable condition, but only one-half is planted in trees
and vines.
There is a delightful uncertainty as to quantity of water obtainable, size and ca-
pacity of wells, windmills, and storage tanks required. The estimate will vary with
each section of land used. The estimate on a certain section of land which the writer
has in mind is as follows:
Seven dug Wells, tunneled in water-bearing strata, at $1,200 -......... ----- - $8,400
Seven 30-foot windmills, pumps, towers, etc., at $700--------...----...--...--. 4,900
Ten storage tanks, at $350-------------------------------------------...----- 3,500
Six miles of wooden flumes, etc.; 95,000 feet lumber, at $25 ...... ---...----. 2,500
$19,300
An average cost of $31.10 per acre for water.
Adding together the cost of the improvements $22,307.60, and the cost of water
supply, $19,300, we have a total cost of $41,607.60, or $65.01 per acre.
The foregoing estimate is an extra liberal one. . Fruit-trees at wholesale figures can
be had for cash as follows: Apple-trees, $3.50 to $80 per thousand; pear-trees, $100 to
$200 per thousand; plum-trees, $100 to $150 per thousand; peaches, $30 to $50 per
thousand; grape-cuttings, $2.50 to $5 per thousand; rooted vines, $10 to $100 per thou-
sand; shade-trees, $10 to $150 per thousand. If the company making the improve-
ments grows its own nursery stock, it can produce nine-tenths of the trees and vines
at a cost of one-half to 4 cents, and many for much less money. The labor charged
against improvements will also be employed on the water supply, and perhaps 25 per
122 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
cent, gained in construction. . The quantity of water required per year will be the
equivalent of a rain-fall of 12 inches, the lowest annual rain-fall at Marienfeld being
18 inches. ...To give each acre the equivalent of a rain-fall of 30 inches, 12 inches, or
325,848 gallons, per annum must be supplied. To give a section 12 inches, 208,542,720
gallons must be furnished during the year, which can be furnished by five Knowless
steam-pumps, raising 5,000 gallons per hour, or 120,000 gallons, per day each. A prop-
erly constructed well, costing $1,200, should yield double this quantity per day in the
vicinity of Midland or Odessa, and in such event three wells may be expected to fur-
Inish the quantity of water for which seven wells are allowed in the estimate. If
four-sevenths of the cost of construction can be saved, the cost of the water supply
can be reduced to about $15 per acre.
A section of land improved and supplied with water as above outlined could be
subdivided into 20-acre tracts and sold on easy credit terms to a fruit-growing colony.
Each of the 20-acre tracts, according to the estimates above given, will cost $1,300,
though it is the opinion of the writer that this amount can be safely scaled 25 per
cent. If 50 per cent. be added as profit to the $1,300 the sum will still be from 25 to
50 per cent. less than local retail prices for the same material and labor. If the land
and improvements were sold on ten annual payment terms, with 6 per cent. interest
on deferred payments, the purchaser could easily meet his obligations, as one single
acre in onions or grapes, and other fruit, should earn enough to make the annual
payment. The investment made by a company of this kind would be eminently safe
and legitimately profitable.
Another estimate on cultivation and irrigation of a section of land, only 160 acres
being planted in trees and vines, and no houses being built for the settler, places the
sum total at $23,555 or $36.85 per acre.
A 20-acre vineyard on the Rio Grande, carried to the third year's cultivation, is
estimated to cost its owner $1,175, or $58.75 per acre. The difference in cost comes
in in the increased price of the land, $25 per acre, and the fact that the owner does
not own his water supply but must buy it. Besides, he must irrigate oftener and use
more water, owing to the different character of the soil and the difference in the rain-
fall, the maximum at El Paso being 16 inches per annum, and the minimum being
18 inches at at Marienfeld.
An acre in grapes three years old is claimed to produce 16,000 pounds to the acre
at El Paso, which, converted into wine, is said to equal 700 or 800 gallons, selling
at 75 cents to $1 per gallon. Shipping grapes sell at about 2 cents per pound, which
would make the crop worth $320 on the ground. A bearing vineyard, three to five
years old, is considered as worth from $300 to $500 per acre. Land on the Staked
Plain sells at prices ranging from $2 to $5 per acre, is of easy cultivation, and pro-
duces fruits of the same kind and class.
On the Staked Plain and in the mountain valleys west of the Pecos there are many
hundred places where flourishing fruit-growing colonies could be established, if only
the location, quantity, and cost of the upland water supply were known, and this
applies to the entire arid region extending from the borders of Mexico to the British
Possessions. Millions upon millions of idle capital are lying in the Eastern banks
awaiting investments that will secure a certain and reasonable interest. If com-
petent information can be given on the subject (and who can be more competent
than the National Government after due investigation ?) much of this capital will
become available, and a subsistence be furnished for the millions of American citizens
now growing into manhood. These fruit-growing colonies will become small trade
centers around which will cluster numerous other industries, such as the raising of
live stock, dairying, the growing of wool, the development of mining industries, and
of the wealth of fiber now annually going to waste in the mountain Valleys of
Western Texas.
The crowning work of the century in the way of national legislation will be the
making of proper provision for the study of the underground water-supply for pur-
poses of irrigation, and connected with this a study of the adaptability of the various
soils to the most profitable and necessary crops.
The wirter would respectfully suggest to the honorable Senate Committe that
legislation be recommended, to the end that observing stations be established under
the joint control of the U. S. Geological Survey and the Department of Agriculture,
at places, say, a hundred miles apart throughout the arid region. The observers
placed in charge should keep a record of the rain-fall; a record of the temperature,
of the wind movement; the period of germination and maturity of unirrigated as
well as irrigated crops, together with information as to cost and profit of growing
them; should furnish descriptions of existing streams, lakes, springs, dry water-
courses, locations for reservoir sites, furnish history of existing wells, reservoirs, cost
of same, and cost of appliances and methods of raising water either for ranch purposes
or irrigation, describe the soils in their districts and the strata passed through in the
different wells; in short, gather all possible information bearing on the subject of
water supply, irrigation, and agriculture,
A
fx PERIMENTS PROFOSED AS TO t, Ni).ERFLOW. 123
The observers should be supplied with suitable machinery to make test borings
for water, and to determine the quantity of water available for purposes of irriga-
tion under any given area of surface. (As long as the arid region is dependent upon
the professional water-hunter, who, armed with a forked mesquite switch, puts in
time at $5 per day tramping over the country until his employer gets tired, and then
suddenly experiences a .#. which he mysteriously calls a magnetic shock and
points out a suitable location for a well, little progress can be made.)
The search for water must be systematically made, and the observer must be
guided largely by the arrangement of the strata of his district. The presence of
water having been determined, its quanity must next be ascertained, and for this
purpose I have only one method to recommend, though perhaps better methods may
be known to the U. S. Geological Survey.
The observing station should have at its disposal a prospecting diamond drill,
which will preserve a cone consisting of every material penetrated ; also a portable
steam-pump capable of extracting 5,000 gallons of water per hour. Wherever the soil
is so constituted that it will grow crops if irrigated, and a considerable area of Sur-
face lies favorable for irrigation the test for water should be made. If the water is
found in limestone, it will probably run in veins or crevices. Drilling should be sus-
pended and the steam-pump put to work. By observing the time required to empty the
well, and the time required to refill, the capacity of the well per diem can be de-
termined. After the quantity is known, it is important to know whether or not the
capacity can be increased by opening up neighboring fissures and crevices, thus ad-
mitting more water. This can be done by exploding a quantity of dynamite in the
bottom of the boring. If no better results are obtained the drilling should be con-
tinued to a lower deposit of water. If the quantity of water in the limestone is in-
creased by the use of dynamite, five or six additional borings within a radius of, say,
25 feet should be made and a charge of dynamite exploded in each, which will have
the effect of breaking the strata and practically making one well of the entire lot. If
the quantity of water thus obtained is sufficient and economical for purposes of irri-
gation, the object sought for is obtained. The problem to be solved in the experiment
is, whether more water can be obtained from combined wells in the fractured rock,
than from the six or seven wells singly in the unbroken limestone.
As soon as the water-bearing capacity of the limestone has been determined, the
drilling should be continued to the first water below the limestone. Water will prob-
ably be found in coarse sand or quicksand. If found at a reasonable depth, say at
100 to 200 feet, a few additional wells of same depth and diameter should be bored
respectively 50, 100, 150, 200 feet distant. All these wells should be in line. The
wells are numbered respectively 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. If a steam-pump of 5,000 gallons
capacity per hour be attached to the middle well No. 3, the water contained therein
will be exhausted. If the pump has worked four hours, 20,000 gallons of water will
have been raised. Measurements taken, say, four hours later show that the water in
the well has again reached its normal level. If the well can be emptied and refilled
every eight hours, the capacity of this well will be 60,000 gallons in 24 hours, suffi-
cient to irrigate 23 acres per day. Next it is necessary to determine from how great
an area this supply of Water is drawn. All the wells should be measured and the
normal level recorded, then the center well should again be pumped dry, and all the
wells measured again as to their water levels. The center well will be found dry;
the nearest wells on each side will show a great diminution in their supply; those
more remote will also show a diminution, but not so great.
There will be a point where the well most distant from the center will show no loss
of water. How far the wells should be apart or how many wells are necessary for
the test can only be determined by the nature of the material from which the water
is derived, a dozen wells 25 feet apart may be necessary in close-grained sand ; less
wells at greater distances in coarse sand or small gravel, and in coarse gravel such
wells may be 100 feet or more apart. The point where there is no apparent loss of
water is the radius of the area from which the water is drawn. If the test mentioned
above shows no diminution 100 feet from the center well, the experiment determines
the fact that 60,000 gallons of water can be drawn from within a radius of 100 feet in
a given locality, and that a stated number of wells in said locality, 200 or more feet
apart, can be relied on to furnish sufficient water to irrigate a given acreage, allow-
ing a certain number of inches as the equivalent of the rain-fall needed to perfect a
crop. The experiments can be carried on in a number of different ways, by measur-
ing and weighing the material through which the water must pass, as outlined in a
letter to the honorable committee, dated July 20, 1889.
The work should not, however, be discontinued after uncovering one or two layers
of water, but should be carried on to such depth as the cost of raising the water for
purposes of irrigation will warrant. It will remain for the observer to determine
from how great a depth water can be pumped and be used for irrigation and still be
within a reasonable expense. Another work for an observing station will be the mak-
ing of test borings in the thousands of water courses, coulées, ancient river beds,
124 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
draws, etc., scattered throughout the arid region and to ascertain what amount of
water they carry and how it can best be utilized. All over the plains are hundreds
of small land-locked basins that hold water part of the year but which is lost
by evaporation and seepage. Some method will have to be devised to make this
water available by raising it to properly constructed storage reservoirs where it can
be kept until wanted, and last and not least are numerous underground rivers, whose
course should be studied and laid down on the maps so that the water now going to
waste can be raised to the surface and be utilized. The co-operation of the Depart-
ment of Agriculture should by all means be secured for this work. A small experi-
mental farm should be attached to each station and an effort made to determine what
products can be most successfully grown and can be made profitable.
The *.*.*.* in short an outline of what might be done by Congress for the de-
velopment of the open plains. I have confined myself more particularly to the
Staked Plain of Texas, because I am more familiar with it, but the suggestions
herein offered apply equally well to any part of the arid region that is distant from
running streams or visible supplies of water.
As stated above there is too much uncertainty in the search for water to interest
the investment of capital, but if the National Government will supply a reasonable
certainty to the effect that a given quantity of water can be obtained from a given
area, and that it can be raised at a certain cost per acre, there is no question but that
all the private capital needed to develop irrigation from wells can be readily obtained.
PROPOSED EXPERIMIENTS IN WIELL-BORING.
[Explanation offered by F. E. Roesler, of Dallas, in paper addressed to Mr. Hinton, committee's expert.)
In your recent favor you suggest the propriety of elaborating a little on the plan of
experiments suggested by me to ascertain the quantity of water present under a
given area of surface. To make my views on the subject clearer I will endeavor to
explain it more fully with this little diagram.*
EXPERIMENT NO. 1.
On well No. 7: Section No. 23, block No. 37, township No. 5 south, Midland
County, Tex.; open upland prairie, mesquite grass, no underbrush; surface soil;
chocolate-colored sandy loan; nearest basin, arroya; draw, pond, or creek is Peck
Spring and Salt Lake, N. 45, W. 13 miles; altitude, 2,780 feet.
Diameter of well, 8 inches; depth, 147 feet; surface soil, 15 feet; red clay mixed
with sand, 15 feet; clear clay, 10 feet; marly limestone in small bowlders and nodules,
12 feet; compact, bluish-gray limestone, 18 feet; red coarse sandstone, 1 foot; wet
white or gray sand, 10 feet; yellow clay, 2 feet (above this water); white or red
clay, 15 feet; sandstone, gray or red, 3 feet; gravel water-bearing, 40 feet.
September 20, 1889.—Knowles's steam-pump at work six hours exhausted the well.
Water line 6. a. m., 75 feet from surface; at 12 p.m. at bottom, 147 feet. Water ex-
tracted, at 5,000 gallons per hour, 30,000 gallons. At 3 p. m. measured water line at
100 feet ; at 6 p.m., water line at 75 feet.
September 21, 1889.—Repeated yesterday's experiment with the same results. It
appears that the quantity of water extracted will be replaced in about six hours.
NotE.—(27,154 gallons will cover 1 acre 1 inch deep. Capacity of well will there-
fore permit 1 acre to be covered 1 inch deep every day. The lowest rain-fall of this
locality being 18 inches, only 12 inches per acre per annum will be required to bring
the average to 30 inches, which will be ample and sufficient. Twelve days’ pumping
will therefore do for 1 acre, and by using the well every day for three hundred and sixty-
five days 30 acres could be supplied with 12 inches of water each; that is, pumping
only six hours out of the twenty-four. If the pump works also during the night
double the acreage could be irrigated. Allowance should be made for waste, exces-
sive evaporation, occasional drought, and time lost an account of repairs to machin-
ery, say one-sixth. . It will be safe therefore to estimate the capacity of this well at
25 acres, pumping six hours per day, or 50 acres, pumping twelve hours per day.)
ExPERIMENT NO. 2.
[Supposed copy of observer's note-book.]
September 23, 1889.-Measured stage of water in wells No. 1 to 13, inclusive. Found
some slight variations, owing to difference in thickness of the layer of surface soil;
the average of the water line is 75 feet. Set the pump to work on, well No. 7, an
exhausted the well in six hours, extracting, as heretofore, 30,000 gallons. Examined
*------
*See next page,
S
EXPLANATION OF METHODS FOR EXPERIMENTING.
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125
stage of water in all the wells with fol-
lowing results: Nos. 6 and 8, water line
at 135 feet; Nos. 5 and 9, water line at 110
feet; Nos. 4 and 9, water line at 90 feet;
Nos. 3 and 11, no différence visible; Nos.
2 and 12 and Nos. 1 and 13 unaffected.
Three hours after above-described exami-
nation a second test was made with fol-
lowing results: Well No. 7, at 100 feet the
water line; Nos. 6 and 8, water line at 85
feet; Nos. 5 and 9, water line at 75 feet;
Nos. 4 and 10, Nos. 3 and 11, Nos. 2 and
12, and Nos. 1 and 13, water line at 75 feet.
It appears from the foregoing examina-
tion that all the water extracted from
well No. 7 comes from within a radius of
300 feet from said well, as the wells more
distant do not seem to be affected suffi-
ciently to be apparent. It seems also that
the principal supply of water is obtained
from the 40-foot bed of gravel. The
weight of 1 cubic foot of said gravel, hav-
ing been previously thoroughly dried in
an oven, is — pounds; upon being thor-
oughly saturated with water and again
weighed its weight was — pounds. De-
ducting the weight of the dry gravel,
there is a residue of — pounds of water,
— gallons per cubic foot, and showing
the holding capacity of the gravel. A
drip, allowing as much water to fall on a
cubic foot of said gravel as the same
could absorb without overflow, demon-
strated that in — hours — minutes a
quantity of water equaling — pounds,
OT gallons, could permeate and pass
through a cubic foot of gravel. A simi-
lar line of experiment made with the layer
of sand found at a depth of — feet in
well No. 7 demonstrated that the retain-
ing and carrying capacity was only —
per cent. as to quantity of water absorbed
per cubic foot, and that —— hours —
minutes were required for through pass-
age of the water.
A circle of 600 feet diameter = 6.45
acres, will furnish sufficient water for 25
acres of land, pumping six hours per day.
A second well should not be placed nearer
than 600 feet from well No. 7. The ex-
periment shows that only about one-half
of the water-supply within this circle has
been extracted. Pumps placed in wells
Nos. 3 and 11 would extract about one-
half of this remainder, but would not
work to their full capacity, and therefore
not be profitable.
The above is an imaginary page from
the observer's diary, and will show the na-
ture of the observations to be made.
There will be many other questions of in-
terest arising continuously, and should
appear on his diary. The observer should
be well posted in regard to pumping ma-
chinery, and other matters pertaining to
the raising and storage of water. Wher-
ever there is a stretch of country present-
ing a uniform surface, and there is reason
to believe that it can be made arable by





126 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
experiments of this kind, it appears to me that it is worth while to try. I confidently
believe that nearly all the mesa lands in New Mexico, Texas, and Arizona, that are
remote from running streams, can be thus made available, but doubt seriously that
private capital can be induced to make the experiments, * -
DIA GRAM OF PROPOSED WELL.
Dug Wells on the Texas Staked Plain. Approximate arrangement and depth of
strata in the well on the Haas farm, proposed to be enlarged for purposes of irriga-
tion. The strata encountered vary in thickness in different wells within the distance
of a mile. The data here given is approximate and not claimed to be accurate.
IRRIGATION.—CENTRAL TEXAS,
[EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF W. F. CUMMINS, FILED BY THE STATE GEOLOGIST.]
The question of irrigation is one so immediately connected with the farming inter-
est in this part of the State that every available supply of water, and every locality of
suitable land for that purpose ought to be investigated. With this idea before me I
have given the matter particular attention during the present expedition. While it
is not absolutely necessary to the raising of crops that the land should be irrigated,
yet the product may be greatly enhanced thereby. There are two sources of water
supply; one is the utilizing the natural supply from springs and streams already in
existence, and the other is to make larger reservoirs for the storage of the surplus
waters of the creeks and rivers. I have examined the many large springs and the
perennial streams of this country, and will mention some of them separately, so as to
give some definite idea of the adaptability of all of them to the purpose of irrigation.
The first place examined with reference to irrigation was at Lampasas Springs.
Here there is a constant and unvarying flow of water from the several springs of
1,440,000,000 gallons of water per day. All of this water can be very easily taken out
of the channel and turned on the wide valleys below. In the first 3 miles below the
springs there is a fall of 46 feet. The valleys of the stream are broad and level, so
that there should be no trouble in getting water over the entire space. The soils are
well-adapted to the purpose of irrigation, being black Sandy, with subsoil that would
retain moisture for a considerable length of time. Although this water is largely
mineralized when first issuing from the springs it is not found to be detrimental to
the growth of crops, nor does it injure the land after having gone a distance of a mile
or two in an irrigation ditch. -
There is land enough subject to irrigation in the valleys below to consume all the
water supplied by these streams. This water might also be taken out of the Lam-
pasas River at other places than immediately below the city,
In San Saba County there are several springs along Cherokee Creek that might be
used in a small way for irrigation, or the creek might be taken as a whole and used
upon some of its broad valleys. The Cherokee Spring, at the head of the creek, fur-
nishes a large amount of water, and at a very small expenditure the water could be
carried to the broad valleys below. Already a dam has been constructed across the
channel below one of the springs, and at the Small expense of a few hundred dollars
it could be extended so as to include the water from both springs. This spring is
fresh and constant in amount of water it furnishes. * tº º
The Flemming Spring, 3 miles east of the town of San Saba, furnishes water to irri-
gate at least 300 acres of land if properly distributed. It issues from beneath the
massive limestone of about the same height as the valley. Already a part of the water
is being utilized for irrigating purposes. At one time it, was the intention of a former
owner to use all the water from the spring for irrigating his farm, but he has been re-
strained from doing so by an action brought against him by the owners of land below
him on the creek made by this spring. A large part of the water now goes to waste.
The Hubbard Spring, a mile northeast of the Flemming Springs, is well situated
for irrigating purposes, and furnishes about the same amount of water. It is also
used in a small way for irrigation, but the most of the water runs to waste. There is
plenty of land in reach of this water to consume it all by irrigation, but the riparian
fights of the owners of land below on the stream have been asserted. gº
The large spring just east of the town of San Saba, which is now used for driving
machinery in the flouring. Inill and for water-works, furnishes a sufficient amount of
water to irrigate several hundred acres of land, but it is permitted to, run into the
river after performing the before-mentioned purposes, A small amount is taken out
at the upper dam and turned into a garden and a small field.
On the lands of Mr. Sloan, 10 miles west of the town of San Saba, and on the south
side of the San Saba River, a fine large spring bursts out from under the massive
Aſkºs <ll |U}, \, \lſº J Z % * TY
Atecº, Chocozote oz. Surface Soil, varying from 2 to 40 feet
doz7”/e Loanz. I5 "L^^T
Red CZay, stify bact more Red Clay, etc.
or Zess sandy. I5
Rotten, Marly
Limestone, with
small Boulders
and Water,
Ited Sazzd Stone
often absent, 2 to
4 inches thic/e.
s|
Water proof Clay, varies from 5 to 100 feet in thickness.
Water bearing Sand with pressure, generally at 60 feet.
L^_--~~~~T->~~
Storze or CZay. Stone or CZay.
T-T-T-T--~TT^^^- |--~~~~~~~
Water bearing Gravel zoºth pressure.
J20 feet.
NOTE.-This layer of sand varies from 7 to 20 feet in thickness and is found at a depth of 40 to 90 feet. In the Hass well at
about 85 feet. Water supply inexhaustible and can be increased indefinitely by excavating the sand. Water from lower levels
always rises to the level of this sand.
‘gºr
Report on Irrigation.













THE RIVERS AND STREAMS IN CENTRAL TEXAS. 127
limestone rocks. This spring and branch made by it to the junction with the San
Saba River is all on the jands of Mr. Sloan, so there is no one to set up a claim of
riparian rights; hence all the water of this spring has been used to irrigate his farm
of several hundred acres.
The Richland Springs, at the head of Richland Creek, in the western part of San
Saba County, furnish enough water to irrigate several hundred acres, but the water
has never been used for this purpose. These springs occasionally in very dry times
go dry, but not until after the time when the crops are matured. ...The lands are good
and of such a character as to be well adapted to irrigation. There are sixteen of
these springs in San Saba County, and all of them might be used for irrigating the
lands in their immediate localities.
The Colorado, Concho, and San Saba Rivers can alk be utilized for irrigating their
broad valleys and the adjacent plateaus.
The Colorado River would be the most difficult to divert from its channel, as the
lands are generally much above the level of the channel. The valleys are of suffi-
cient extent anywhere above San Saba County to consume all the water of the river,
and are very fertile.
The waters of the San Saba are abundant, and no trouble would be experienced in
taking the water from its present channel and conveying it to the valley above. The
valleys are broad and fertile. They now produce fine crops of corn, wheat, oats, and
cotton without irrigation, but this yield would be greatly inereased by irrigation.
There is, however, less actual need for irrigation along this river, and I may say in
San . County, than in any other of the counties in which my observations have
extended.
The Concho River and the country adjacent thereto are more adapted to irrigation
than either of the rivers in the district described. The river is more constant in its
supply of water, and the plateau of level land above the lower valleys is more
accessible.
The South Concho River, Dove Creek, Spring Creek, and North Concho River all
have their source at the foot of the Staked Plains. They all have very large springs
at the head. None of these springs have a flow of less than 2,000 gallons of water per
minute. Irrigation ditches have been taken out on all these streams, and thousands
of acres are already under irrigation. In none of these streams has one-half of the
water been utilized. The system of irrigation, if it can be called a system, is of the
most primitive kind. The farming is mostly done by Mexicans for a share of the
crop. Every man takes out what water he wants, and for as long a time as he wants
it, letting the remainder flow back into the channel. The next man below him has
built a ditch and takes out the water, and so on to the end.
Such is the character of the soil of these streams that they retain a large amount of
moisture after having the water from the irrigation ditch spread over them, and
numerous springs have broken out along the bank of the river since the plan of irri-
gating the lands has been put in operation, and instead of the water of the river being
exhausted by taking it out and spreading it over these valleys, it is really stored for
constant use. There is as much water in the river below the irrigated farms as there
was before there was any water taken out. There is really more water Inow in the
Lower Concho River than there was before these irrigation farms were made.
The only reason that can be assigned to this fact is that heretofore all the water
was allowed to flow down the channel during the rainy season and at all other times,
while now the surplus water is taken out and spread on the valleys above and forms
reservoirs and supplies numerous springs with water which before only flowed during
wet weather.
The advisability of storing the surplus water need not be discussed in a report like
this. The only question that need be considered is whether it can be done success-
fully and the place where such storage can be made to advantage. It would be a
very easy matter to find places along the San Saba River where dams could be made
from one hill to the other and an immense amount of water saved for future use.
This river runs, from head to mouth, through the massive limestone of the Silurian
and Carboniferous formations, and it would be difficult to find places where the water
could be stored in reservoirs except along the immediate channel of the river, owing
to the height of the surrounding country. zºº
The Colorado River would be more difficult to store water in its channel on account
of the material over which it flows and the character of the soil in its immediate val-
ley. But when once the water is taken from the channel it could be conducted to
localities where immense lakes might be formed and water stored for future use.
The clays of the Carboniferous formation are impervious to water, and places could
be selected where these clays would form the sides and bottom of artificial lakes of im-
mense size. When the time comes for selecting localities for water storage there will
be no trouble in finding such places to store the immense surplus of water that at
times goes down the Colorado River. - -
The Conch9 River furnishes the best locality for utilizing or storing surplus water
128 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
of any of the rivers, owing to the ease with which the water may be taken out of the
channel and the extensive plateaus which lie contiguous to these streams.
It is possible to make an immense reservoir for the storage of water a few miles
below the head of the South Concho River, and the water taken out and used to irri-
gate the Lipan Flat, a body of land constituting at least one-half million of acres.
The lands in this flat are situated so that the water could be taken to any part of
them. There is not a better place for such an enterprise in the State.
REPORTS FROM THE STAKED PLAIN AND PAN HANDLE COUNTIES.
[Forwarded by F. E. Roesler, of Dallas.]
ACT To ENCOURAGE IRRIGATION PASSED BY THE Twº NTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE OF
TEXAS, 1889.
CHAP. 88–ſs. H. B. No. 298.) An act to encourage irrigation, and to provide for the acquisition of
the right to the use of water, and for the construction and maintenance of canals, ditches, flumes,
... and wells for irrigation, and for mining, milling, and stockraising in the arid districts
Of TL'OXà.S.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the legislature of the State of Texas: That the unappropri-
ated waters of every river or natural stream within the arid portions of the State of
Texas, in which, by reason of the insufficient rain-fall, irrigation is necessary for agri-
cultural purposes, may be diverted from its natural channel for irrigation, domestic,
and other beneficial uses: Provided, That said water shall not be diverted so as to
deprive any person who claims, owns, or holds a possessory right or title to any land
lying along the bank or margin of any river or natural stream of the use of the water
thereof for his own domestic use. -
SEC. 2. That the unappropriated waters of every river or natural stream within the
arid portions of the State, as described in the preceding section of this act, are hereby
declared to be the property of the public, and may be acquired by appropriation for
the uses and purposes as hereinafter provided.
SEC. 3. The appropriation must be for the purposes named in this act, and when
the appropriator, or his successor in interest, ceases to use it for such purpose the
right ceases.
SEC. 4. As between appropriators, the one first in time is the one first in right to
such quantity of the water only as is reasonably sufficient and necessary to irrigate
the land susceptible of irrigation on either side of ditch or canal.
SEC. 5. Every person, corporation, or association of persons which have constructed
or may hereafter construct any ditch, canal, or reservoir, for the purposes named in
this act, and taking water from any natural stream, shall within ninety days after
this act goes into effect, or within ninety days after the commencement of such con-
struction, file and cause to be recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county
where the head gate of such ditch or canal may be situated, or to which said county
may be attached for judicial purposes, in a well-bound book to be kept by said clerk
for that purpose, a sworn statement in writing, showing the name of such ditch or
canal, the point at which the head gate thereof is situated, the size of the ditch or
canal in width and depth, and the carrying capacity thereof in cubic feet per second
of time, the name of said stream from which said water is taken, the time when the
work was commenced, and the name of the owners or owner thereof, together with a
map showing the route of said ditch or canal. -
SEC. 6. Within ninety days next after the filing of said statement, the party claim-
ing the right to appropriate the water shall regin the actual construction of the pro-
posed ditch, canal, or reservoir, and shall prosecute the work thereon diligently and
continuously to completion.
SEC. 7. “Completion,” as used in the preceding section, is hereby defined to be the
conducting of the water in the main canal to the place of intended use. *
SEc. 8. By compliance with the preceding provisions of this act the claimant's
right to the use of the water relates back to the time when the work of excavation
or construction was commenced on said proposed ditch, canal, or reservoir: Provided,
That a failure to file said statement shall in no wise work a forfeiture of such hereto-
fore acquired rights, nor prevent such claimants of such heretofore acquired rights
from establishing such rights in the courts. - ë
SEC. 9. When any person, corporation, or association of persons, by compliance
with the preceding provisions of this act, shall became entitled to the use of the
waters in any river or stream, it shall thereafter be unlawful for any other person,
corporation, or association of persons, except for domestic use by any one entitled
thereto, to so divert the flow of water in said river or stream in such manner and to
the extent of depriving said person, corporation, or association of persons in priority
of the use of the water to which they roay be so entitled. r
ow
#
…*
- PROVISIONS AND FEATURES OF TEXAs water LAws. 129
SEc. 10. Corporations may be formed and chartered under the provisions of this act
and of the general incorporation laws of the State of Texas, for the purpose of con-
structing, maintaining, and operating canals, ditches, flumes, feeders, laterals, reser-
voirs, and wells, and of conducting, transferring, and furnishing water to all persons
entitled to the same, for . and doméstic uses, and for the purpose of building
storage reservoirs for the collection and storage of water for the uses before mentioned,
and for mining, milling, and stock-raising. All persons who own or hold a possessory
right or title to land adjoining or contiguous to any canal, ditch, flume, or lateral,
constructed and maintained under the provisions of this act, and who shall have
secured a right to the use of water in said canal, ditch, flume, or lateral, shall be en-
titled to be supplied from such canal, ditch, flume, or lateral with water for the irri-
gation of such land and domestic uses: Provided, The party so entitled shall first
make available his said land for agricultural or grazing purposes, and shall provide
cisterns, wells, or storage reservoirs for water for domestic purposes.
SEC. 11. All corporations and associations formed for the purposes of irrigation as
provided in this act, are hereby granted the right of way, not to exceed one hundred
feet in width, over all public, university, school, and asylum lands of the State, with
the use of the rock, gravel, and timber on the right of way, for construction pur-
poses, and may obtain the right of way over private lands by contract. Any such
corporation may also obtain the right of way over private lands by condemnation by
causing the damages for any private property appropriated by such corporations or
associations to be assessed and paid for as provided in cases of railroads.
SEC. 12. All surplus water not used or disposed of, as provided for in the preced-
ing sections of this act, shall be conducted back to the stream from which it was
taken. And all water sold or disposed of may be measured in inches, feet, or frac-
tional portion of the whole supply, or distributed by the hour or acre system. But
any person, corporation, or association of persons shall furnish water in the way and
manner named in the contract or certificate issued to the purchasers of said water, so
long as water remains unsold in the ditch: Provided, That the commissioner of agri-
culture, insurance, statistics, and history shall make a report to the legislature at its
next regular session, and at each regular session thereafter, as to the cost and expense
attending the construction and maintenance of canals, ditches, flumes, feeders, and
wells for irrigation in various parts of the State, and accompany the same with a
statement of the charges made for the uses of water by canal, ditch, and well com-
panies, and the legislature shall at such times as it deems proper, either by direct
legislation or by the creation of a commissioner or water inspector or inspectors with
fuji delegated power, control and regulate the quantity of water which may be di-
verted by any water company or individual, when and in the manner in which it
may be diverted, and may establish and enforce all such reasonable rules and regula-
tions necessary and proper governing and controlling such corporations and water
construction companies and persons operating under the provisions of this act, and
may also control, regulate, change, and fix the charges for the use of water made by
such ditch, canal, and well companies.
SEC. 13. All said persons, corporations, and associations shall have the right to
run along or across all roads and highways necessary in the construction of their
work, and shall at all such crossings construct and maintain necessary bridges for
the accommodation of the public, and shall not affect or impair the usefulness or
condition of said road or highway.
SEC. 14. Any person who shall wilfully or through gross negligence injure any irri-
gating canal or its appurtenances, wells, or reservoirs, or who shall waste the water
thereof, or shall take the water therefrom without, authority shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor, and for each offense shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five
hundred dollars.
SEC. 15. Any corporation created and organized under the provisions of the gen-
eral laws of this State or the provisions of this act for the purpose of irrigation shall
have the power to acquire lands by voluntary donation or purchase or in payment of
Stock or water rights, and to hôld and dispose of all such lands and other property,
and to borrow money for the construction, maintenance, and operation of its canals,
ditches, flumes, feeders, reservoirs, and wells, and may issue bonds and mortgage its
corporate property and franchises to Secure the payment of any debt contracted for
the same : Provided, All lands acquired by said corporation, except such as are used
for the construction, maintenance, and operation of said canals, ditches, laterals,
feeders, reservoirs, and wells shall be alienated within twenty years from the date of
acquiring said lands or be subject to judicial forfeiture.
SEC. 16. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with the provisions of this act are
hereby repealed.
SEC. 17. Whereas it is necessary that irrigating canals should be built at once to
afford water for irrigational purposes for the present year; therefore an emergency
exists, and an imperative public necessity demands the suspension of the constitu.
138 A L-VoI, III—9
130 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
tional rule which requires a bill to be read on three several days, and that this act
take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
[NotE.-The foregoing act originated in the house, and passed the same by a vote
of 69 yeas, 6 nays; and passed the senate by a vote of 21 yeaS, no mayS.]
Approved March 19, 1889.
|
STATEMENT OF JOSEPH TwitHDY, or sAN ANGELo, Tom GREEN
COUNTY.
[Secretary of the San José Irrigation and Power Company.]
Having been requested to place before the Senate committee some information in
regard to the agricultural resources of Tom Green County, Tex., and how such re-
sources may best be increased or improved by irrigation, I would briefly and imper-
fectly submit as follows:
Tom Green County, Tex.; or perhaps, better to cover the points at issue, those por-
tions of Tom Green and adjoining counties locally known as the “Conchó country,”
comprises some 6,000 to 8,000 square miles in and below the foot-hills of the Staked
Plains, or the water-sheds of the North, Middle, South, and Main Concho Rivers and
their tributaries, and lies at an elevation above tide-water of from 1,600 to 2,500 feet.
That portion of the tract towards the head-waters of the streams is rough and
broken, and while affording excellent pasturage is generally unfit for agricultural
purposes, except in the immediate river bottoms, which are from one-half to two
miles in width. *
From and for some distance above the point, near San Angelo, where the various
branches of the Concho unite to form the main Concho River, to its junction with the
Colorado River, the valley widens out into broad plains with a gradual slope towards
the east. *. -
The soil is generally a chocolate or reddish loam, easily worked, of good quality
and depth, and underlaid with clay, gravel, or the limestone formation characteristic
of this section. The valleys are sparsely covered with mesquite and live oak timber,
with pecan and elm lining the streams.
All of the streams mentioned above, together with Spring and Dove Creeks, tribu-
taries of the Middle Concho River, are ſed by never-failing springs, breaking out
near the foot of the Staked Plains, which in the aggregate are estimated to furnish
a minimum flow of from 200 to 250 cubic feet per second. 3.
Owing to the abruptness of the upper water-sheds and the considerable grade of
the country toward the east (averaging about 10 to 15 feet to the mile) the streams
rise and fall very rapidly after a rain-fall.
Rain-fall.--The average annual rain-fall for the past fifteen years, taken from the
records of the United States Military Post of Fort Concho, has been about 20 inches,
which on its face would seem to indicate a fair amount of moisture for agricultural
J Ull’OOSGS,
| ğ. however to its unequal and uncertain distribution during the year, and the
generally extremely rapid precipitation, together with the prevalent hot and drying
winds during the spring and summer, the actual benefit of the rain-fall for agricult-
ural purposes can not be measured in direct prºportion to the inches of annual pre-
cipitation, but must be taken with a considerable reduction.
Irrigation enterprises.—The first irrigation ditch in the Concho country was taken
out by Taylor & Spears on the South Concho River, irrigating about 700 acres, and
is still in successful operation.
The following is a partial list of the principal irrigation ditches and farms now in
operation:
On Spring Creek, William Locky, 300 acres; T. McDonald, 400 acres; James Neill,
200 acres; J. T. McLane, 300 acres; R. F. Tankersley, 500 acres.
On Dove Creek, E. Stilson, 500 acres; San Jose Irrigation and Power Company,
1,500 acres; Scott & Ryan, 300 acres; and R. F. Tankersley, 400 acres.
On South Concho River, P. H. Moris, 200 acres; De Long Bros., 500 acres; Cochran
& Wynn, 300 acres; A. Gardner, 300 acres; C. B. Metcalf, 900 acres; M. Sims, 300
acres; Berrendo Stock Company, 100 acres. i
On Middle Concho River: J. R. Nasworthy, 300 acres; Capt. J. Foulkes, 900 acres;
P. C. Lee, 400 acres. *
On North Concho River: Phelan and Glenn, 300 acres; Jonathan Miles, 400 acres;
in all about 9,000 acres.
Methods of irrigation.—All the dams heretofore built have been rough and inex-
pensive affairs, of brush and rock, of from 4 to 10 feet in height, designed simply to
divert a portion of the natural flow of the stream into the ditches, which are usually
from one-half to 1 mile in length from the dam to the lands desired to irrigate.
IRRIGATION METHODS PURSUED IN TOM GREEN COUNTY. 131
Irrigating by furrows is the system generally followed, except in small grain and
grass, where the land is cut by low dikes into oblong “melgas” or lands, about 10
yards wide and 100 to 200 yards long, and the water run over each in succession.
By simply diverting the water from the streams by means of the rough dams above
mentioned, a farm of 400 to 500 acres can, if favorably located, be put under irriga-
tion at a cost of not to exceed $4 per acre. The cost of keeping dams and ditch in
ordinary repair should not exceed 50 cents an acre per annum.
The cost of irrigating 1 acre of land, with the methods and appliances at present in
use, is about 20 cents for each irrigation.
Duty of water.—Owing to large losses by leakage and present wasteful methods of
irrigating the actual duty of water for ordinary crops is about 50 acres per cubic foot
#. second of flow during the irrigating season of, say, one hundred days. . There have
een seasons (notably the present season of 1889) when the natural rain-fall has been
sufficient to mature the crops with little or no irrigating. As a rule, however, one,
two, or even three irrigations are necessary to insure certain and abundant returns.
Values and rental of irrigated land.—Good dry farming land is worth from $3 to $5
per acre, but where the same land can be brought under a ditch, the value is increased
to from $30 to $100 per acre including the water right. The irrigated lands are usually
rented either for a cash rental of from $5 to $10 per acre, including the right to the
water at stated intervals, or for a share, usually one-third of the crop.
Crops raised.—The usual crops raised, with their average yield, on irrigated and dry
lands, gathered from the uncertain data at hand, are about as follows:

Average yield •
Crop. OIl lººted *º Remarks.
Corn ----------------------------. 40 bushels . . . .] 10 bushels .... Very uncertain on dry land.
Oats.----------------------------- 50 bushels - - - - 25 bushels ---. Fairy certain on dry land.
Wheat --------------------------. 20 bushels - - - - 10 bushels - - - - O ,
Rye -----------------------------. 30 bushels ----| 15 bushels ---. Do.
Barley --------------------------. 40 bushels . . . . . 20 bushels - - - - Do.
Sorghum ------------------------- 2 crops ... -----| 1 to 2 crops ...
Sweet-potatoes.-----------------. 300 bushels ...| None . . . . . . . . .
Irish potatoes -------------------. 200 bushels ---|---------------. Uncertain on dry land.
Alfalfa.--------------------------- 3 to 4 cuttings. None ---...--. r
Vegetables ----------------------. April 15 to Oc- |. --------------. Uncertain on dry land.
tober 15.
Fruit----------------------------- All varieties. ----------------- Some varieties do well on dryland.
Grapes do well on both irrigated and dry lands, although the yield is surer if they
can be irrigated just when necessary.
That on the
Cotton has been planted to a limited extent for the past two years.
irrigated lands has been irrigated once the past season, and now promises a yield of
not less than a bale to the acre, of extra long staple. Cotton on dry lands will also
yield well the present season, although somewhat less than that irrigated.
In a general way, it may be stated, that while small grain (if planted in the au-
tumn), some fodder crops, a few varieties of fruits, and probably cotton, will yield fairly
well in a season of average precipitation of moisture. The yield is largely increased
by irrigation; and that for all other crops irrigation may be considered almost a
necessity.
Storage of surplus water.—Estimating the duty of water at 50 acres per cubic foot
per second of flow during the irrigating season, the ditches now in operation will, in
a dry season, divert nearly if not all the natural flow in the streams.
While undoubtedly under improved methods the duty of water will be somewhat
increased, to materially increase the acreage under irrigation, there must be adopted
some comprehensive system of dams or reservoirs in the upper valleys to store up all
the water running to waste during the nine months when not in use, to be conducted
by canals or pipe to the lower valley lands.
It is believed that available sites for reservoirs can be found on nearly all the
streams, with capacity not only to store the normal flow, but also a large portion of
the enormous volume of flood water.
Irrigation by wells.—But little has been attempted in the direction of irrigating
from wells, except for garden purrposes. Of the many hundred wells in the Concho
country, nearly all are for stock or for domestic use. As a rule all wells are drilled
and water found at from 25 to 200 feet, with an average depth of about 100 feet. The
average capacity of wells sunk in this section has been estimated to be about 500
gallons an hour.
In a number of wells where they have encountered subterranean streams or rivers
the yield seems to be limited only by the pumping capacity of the machinery applied.
132 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
--
The Writer is informed that pumps of a capacity of 5,000 gallons an hour have been
applied to several of these large wells without developing any sign of exhaustion, or
lessening the flow. s
There have been no attempts as yet to obtain artesian water, although a company
is now being organized at this point (San Angelo) for that purpose. Should artesian
Water be found in sufficient quantities at a reasonable depth, it will undoubtedly be
largely utilized for irrigation purposes.
All the lands now under irrigation lie in small detached tracts in the upper val-
leys or points where the water could most readily be diverted from the streams.
In the lower and broader valleys and plains there are very large and fertile bodies
of land, aggregating, at moderate estimate, not less than 400,000 acres, favorably
situated for irrigation purposes. *
Should the General Government, by surveys of the headwaters of the Concho Rivers,
demonstrate the feasibility of a system of dams, with sufficient storage capacity, it
ls believed there will be no lack of private capital to take up the enterprise, and
place a large portion of their lands under ditch.
STATEMENT OF E. W. KIRKPATRICK, of McKINNEY.
In compliance with the request from the Warienfeld Fruit Company, I have, as a
horticultural expert, during this month visited the Staked Plains and the Pecos
Valley, of west Texas, for the purpose of examining the prospective interests of
farming, fruit-growing, and irrigation of that district. I was most favorably im-
pressed with every condition of climate, soil, and production. The climate is about
everything that can be desired for the habitation of man and the maturing of the
finest products of earth. The soil is uniformly rich and deep, with a strong flow of
pure water below, ranging in depth about 30 or 40 feet. Foreign and domestic fruits
grow to as great perfection here as in any country. |
The altitude being about 3,000 feet, and the extent of these lands being hundreds
of miles each way, the air is very pure, and almost constantly in motion, giving fine
health and almost perfect development to the most valuable forms of animal and
vegetable life. The dry beds of lakes, and the rivers and creeks which stretch through ,
this country, and the rich alluvial red sandy loam of several feet, underlaid with clay,
gravel, and constant running water of pure quality, indicates that this plain has at
one time been of less altitude and well watered with lakes and streams. The whole
surface is covered with rich grasses, beautiful flowers, shrubs, and small bushes.
While visiting these plains I saw many young, vigorous orchards and vineyards of
ihe finest varieties of peach, plums, prunes, apricots, almond, and cherry trees; grape-
vines, berries, and other fruits showing remarkably large growth, fine specimens of
fruit with perfect foliage and no sign of hurtful insect or disease. Vegetables, grain,
and sorghum, and all these fruit-bearing plants, were maturing fine crops with little
or no irrigation. -
The Pioneer Canal Company, at Pecos City, with water from the Pecos River, is
demonstrating the wonderful fertility of this soil by producing immense crops of grain,
fodder, and vegetables. Since the savage has been driven away, and since the an-
nual fires have ceased to sweep over this land, young timber is springing up everywhere,
and the rain-fall, which is 18 to 36 inches, is being better distributed through the year,
and if these influences could be accelerated by an entensive system of irrigation by
wells and pools, it is my opinion that the waste places of west Texas would soon
be converted into one of the richest and most desirable sections of our country, fur-
nishing happy, prosperous homes for millions of our crowding population. During the
Iast three months I have visited in eastern and southern Texas many horticultural
fairs, and examined many of the finest orchards and vineyards in this State, but I
have never tasted better flavored peaches, Kelsey Japan plums, fine European and
native grapes, melons, potatoes, beets, etc., than those of the Staked Plains.
While at Odessa, the acme of the plain, Ifound sweet-potatoes in a cellar perfectly
firm, bright, and sound, and which had been stored ten months. The present sparse
population are growing rich with their large herds of fine sheep, horses, and cattle—
which feed all the year on rich grass. This immense body of rich land belongs chiefly
to the railroad companies and the State and can be bought on most reasonable terms.
So soon as the possibilities of this large area can be ãemonstrated beyond cavil by
artial development, extending through a series of years, then will this long neglected
and be converted into one of the richest Sections of our great country.
º
PAN HANDLE water sources AND LAND PRODUCTS. 133
*
STATEMENT OF J. L. VAUGHAN, OF MERKEL.
Merkel is located in Taylor County Tex., latitude 32° 25', longitude 23°10', and is
embraced in the “subhumid district.” The season of rains begins in March and con-
tinues until about the middle of June. The month of July is nearly always dry, and
usually little or no rain falls from middle of June until middle of August. The mid-
summer rains, which nearly always come in August, are very copious. During the
fall rains become less frequent and the winters are nearly always dry.
The wheat crop, if sown in October while the ground is still moist, Springs up very
rapidly and makes a good growth before the cold weather and dry winds of January:
set in. The absence of excessive moisture during the winter months is beneficial to
wheat, rye, and barley, as there is less tendency to freeze out. The heavy Spring
rains of March revive the plants, and the frequent showers during the months of April
and May mature the crop, while the dry weather in the latter part of June and in
July is very favorable for the harvesting and threshing of the grain. The yield of
wheat is from 15 to 30 bushels per acre. This crop could not be benefited any by irri-
gation. About 40,000 bushels of wheat were raised in this section this season.
For corn and oats the seasons are not always so favorable, as there are instances
when the dry season injures them somewhat before they fully mature. Oats are more
certain than corn, and under ordinary circumstances will average 60 bushels per acre.
Corn generally averages about 30 bushels per acre. Of the cereals, corn is the only
crop that would be benefited by irrigation, as it needs it most in the months of June
and July, when it is usually dry weather.
Wheat is selling this season at 85 cents per bushel, oats at 50 cents per bushel, and
corn at 40 cents per bushel. Rye and barley have not been much tried here yet, but
as they resemble wheat they will be similar in their yield and culture.
The vegetable crops, while usually yielding well, would be greatly benefited by
irrigation. It is almost impossible to raise Irish potatoes successfully in this district
without some irrigation, and common garden vegetables will nearly all cease during
the dry season, unless assisted by irrigation. Sweet-potatoes and the members of the
melon family being of Southern origin, stand the dry weather well, and make the most
wonderful growth in size with very little rain-fall.
The cultivation of orchards and vineyards would be greatly benefited by irrigation.
The peach, nectarine, apricot, and plum grow very rapidly, but where they can be sup-
plied by a moderate amount of water, either by surface or sub irrigation, they will double
their growth of tree and yield of fruit. The fig will do well by a little irrigation and
slight protection during the first winter. The apple and pear have not been a suc-
cess, unless where they can be irrigated. The vine grows tolerably well, but with
some irrigation it makes a very rapid growth and bears fruit of the finest quality.
The absence of blight or mildew is very noticeable. Nearly all varieties succeed, but
the mission grape seems to be the best adapted to irrigation.
There is a garden in Merkel where peaches, apricots, plums, persimmons, cherries,
pears, apples, figs, pomegranates, and several varieties of grapes are growing and doing
well; also in the same garden are strawberries, gooseberries, currants, blackberries,
and raspberries; also a number of tropical plants and orchids. Bananas and dwarf
species of orange grow and bear fruit, but have to be protected during the winter.
The rain-fall, as recorded at this station during this summer, is as follows: April, .23
inch; May, 2.68 inches; June, 6.33 inches, July 3,04 inches; August, none; September,
3.85. The rain-fall in June and July and absence of it in August this season is very
unusual, as it usually begins earlier in the spring and ends in June. This has rather
been an “off” year in regard to seasons.
The general topography of Taylor County is similar to the rest of the counties that
lie adjoining the Staked plain. The surface of the county is rolling prairie, covered
in places by a growth of mesquite timber, and in some places dotted with live oaks.
The soil varies from a red to a dark, sandy loam, varying in depth from 2 to 7 feet,
and is very productive. A range of mountains runs through the county from east to
west. . These mountains are about 300 feet high, are abrupt and steep on the north
side, but on the south they slope off gradually. They are in fact the end of a plateau
that slopes southward toward the Concho River. Several streams head in these
mountains and run on the north to the Brazos and on the south to the Concho Rivers.
A large number of water-courses, which in wet seasons are torrents, but in dry
seasons have no water, also have their heads in or near the mountains, and cutting
across the prairie intersect the different streams. These are feeders during the wet
Season and help to make the sudden rises so remarkable in the Brazos and Colorado
rivers in Texas. &
Many of these water-courses could be used very successfully for the storage of
water for irrigation purposes. The cost of putting dams up at intervals along them
would not be great, and besides furnishing a valuable supply of water for irrigating
134 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
purposes and for stock they would tend by their evaporation to make the air more
humid and thereby increase the rain-fall.
The Western part of Taylor County is remarkable for the inexhaustible supply of
Water that underlies the country for a distance of 30 miles north and south and 10
miles east and west, Merkel is located in the center of this water district, and has
over fifty Wells in the town that furnish an abundance of good pure water, which is
free from alkalies. - •
STATEMENTS MADE BY CITIZENs of MARTIN, GAINES, AND
ANDREW COUNTIES.
[Forwarded by N. S. Schmitz, of Marienfeld, through F. E. Roesler, by whom, at request of committee,
this northwest Texas testimony was obtained.]
I had the honor to call a meeting of settlers, of Martin, Gaines, and Andrew
Counties, in northwest Texas, to the end of obtaining such information relative to
irrigation, water supply, fruit-growing, and gardening, as well as raising field crops,
for the use of the United States Senate Committee on Irrigation, as will enable said
committee to form a correct opinion of our part of the State,
The meeting took place September 18 at the office of J. B. Konz, at Marienfeld,
Tex., Dr. L. N. Moller, chairman; N. S. Schmitz, secretary.
The first witness examined was Mr. J. B. Konz; lives on section No. 13, township
1 South, block 36, adjoining the town site. Witness said the only way we can irri-
gate is from wells by the help of wind-mills and pumps; has one dug well 61 feet deep.
Its costs about $1.75 per foot to dig a well. Thinks bored wells more expensive on
account of the iron casing required.
Witness thinks an earth tank can be made anywhere hereabouts without much ex-
pense. He thinks he would use the clayey soil out of our natural basins and cover
bottom of tank to the thickness of about a foot, and have it well tramped while moist.
Thinks a great variety of fruits, especially the grape, can be successfully raised by
irrigation. Has lived in this county seven years and one year in central Texas, near
Austin; considers this section of country capable of producing fruit of better flavor
than central Texas; considers fruit-raising very profitable, since owing to the fine
flavor of the fruit raised here it will bring good prices. He thinks field crops uncer-
tain without irrigation and doubts whether these crops would warrant the expense of
irrigation. Says water oan be found in liberal quantities almost anywhere in the
vicinity of Marienfeld by digging or boring for it. Thinks a common well with
pump and 12-foot wind-mill capable of irrigating 2 acres in vegetables and 6 acres in
fruit-trees; considers it a day's labor to apply water for irrigation to 1 acre in vege-
tables. Does not think it safe to raise fruit or vegetables without irrigation.
The second witness examined was Joseph Gittinger, of Marienfeld. Lives on sec-
tion 11, township 1 south, block 36, 1 mile from town. He believes in irrigation from
wells. He applies it by letting the water run in open ditches over the ground. The
ditches to be from 2 to 3 feet apart for vegetables. Has one dug well 80 feet deep,
with pump and 12-foot “challenge” windmill. Pump has 3-inch cylinder and 13-
inch pipe, and furnishes 10 gallons of water per minute. Made the well himself;
used $30 worth of dynamite and caps. Pump and windmill have cost $130. would
recommend earthtanks, which he thinks will not leak when well tamped.
Witness considers this county and surrounding country well adapted for fruit-
growing and gardening. Had fourteen years' experience with irrigation in San An-
tonio, Tex. Is sure this part of Texas is better than Southwest Texas or California
if water can be applied to the crops. He is of opinion that grapes,onions, sweet pota-
toes, and tomatoes can generally be raised without irrigation, but they grow more
perfect when irrigated. His well is inexhaustible. With his pump and windmill he
can irrigate 3 acres in vegetables. . By adding a large tank he could water double
that quantity of land. He says it takes four hours to irrigate 1 acre in vegetables.
The next witness was J. B. Robertson, who lives on Section 20, township 1, South,
block 38, about 18 miles west of Marienfeld. Mr. Robertson and his brother C. H.
Robertson have six wells. Five of them are dug wells, one a bored well 51 feet
deep. The dug wells are from 35 to 45 feet deep. All these wells are inexhaustible.
On section 20, where he lives, he has a double-action pump, with a 34-inch cylinder,
operated by a 12-foot “Halladay’ windmill, capable to irrigate from 5 to 7 acres in
vegetables. . He runs the water in open ditches over the ground. Has had fifteen
years' experience in irrigation in Southern and Central California. Considers soil as
productive here as in California if water is applied. Has grapes and peaches now
pearing that are as fine as in California. Qther young fruit trees make as good
growth as in California. Has irrigated land in this part of Texas the last four years.
Has raised sorghum successfully without irrigation for three years on same land.
Always found water wherever he tried. Dug wells have cost him $1.50 per foot.
whAT THE FARMERS ON THE STAKED PLAINS SAY. 135
A. Rawlins, Marienfeld, is a strong believer in irrigation from wells and reservoirs.
He says he would recommendearth tanks, rendered impregnable with alternate coats .
of pitch, tar, and sand. Considers fruit-raising a very profitable business for this
part of Texas. Says we can beat central Texas and California. Claims that irriga-
tion is to be preferred to dry culture or any other mode. Thinks water can be ob-
tained anywhere in this portion of Texas. Has a well 4 feet deep on section 24,
township 1 south, block 37, 5 miles west of Marienfeld. He estimates that with a
shallow well, with pump and windmill, the cost of a water supply for irrigating 5
acres of land, including a small tank, will be about $150; in a deep well it will be
about $300. In his experience it will take from four to six hours of work to lead
water over 1 acre in vegetables; if land be planted to fruit trees it takes less water
and less time to irrigate it. He also says he never tried to raise anything without
irrigation, not thinking it would do any good.
Dr. L. N. Moller, Marienfeld, was the next witness. He is in favor of irrigation
from wells, and besides would recommend making reservoirs on the side of a slope
wherever it is practicable to do so, and catch rain-water from elevated lands, and
distributing it over land farther down these slopes. Has one well on section 15,
township 1 south, block 36,90 feet deep.
Witness thinks earth tanks can be made cheaply on high points, and filled from
wells during the winter months, and the water thus gathered to be used in summer.
Says he has no experience of his own in fruit-growing, but from his observations in
California, Oregon, Nevada, and Utah and Washington Territories he considers this
part of Texas superior to any of them. He thinks grapes and peaches will do as well
here as anywhere. Witness further says: “I do not think central Texas can com-
pare with this portion of the State as far as fruit-growing is concerned. I have lived
there four years, and I find this part much superior, especially for grapes. I think
everybody who attends to grape-growing rightly must become rich at it. I do not
think grapes need much is rigation after the first year. I think alfalfa would do well
without irrigation. I have seen it grow well on a side hill Inear Salt Lake, Utah
Territory.”
The next witness was Prof. G. H. Seymour, of Marienfeld. He thinks grapes will
grow without much irrigation. Our peaches and grapes here have a very good flavor,
and, I think, will remain free from diseases to which they are subject in more moist a
climate. I think our fruit and grapes bear shipping long distances. I have great
faith in the future of this country as a fruit-growing country.
Joseph Karl, Marienfeld, was the next witness. He thinks the best method of irri-
gation is with artesian wells; such wells could be sunk easily in Martin County and
all over the Staked Plains. Has seen such wells in Hungary and Servia. Considers
this portion of Texas excellent for fruit growing—better even than Hungary. Thinks
we can raise wine as good as the Tokay of Hungary if we adopt irrigation. Considers
grapes and fruits very profitable if raised by irrigation. Has planted rye, corn, and
sorghum without irrigation. The rye was 4 feet high, but did not fill on account of
drought. Corn made about 10 bushels per acre. Thinks an acre in fruit-trees can be
irrigated from a well in two hours. Has been engaged in grape and fruit growing in
this county for three years.
Isaac Gardener lives 12 miles northwest of Marienfeld; has three wells, one 28 feet
deep, one 40 feet deep, and one bored well 63 feet deep. Has a pump and 10-foot
“Halladay” windmill on 28-foot well, from which he can water twenty-five hundred
º of cattle, equal to 25,000 gallons of water per day. Cost of boring wells, $1.50
per foot.
P. M. De Witt, living 18 miles west of Marienfeld, has three wells, one 20 feet deep,
one 22 feet deep, and, one 35 feet deep. Has one 12-foot “Halladay” windmill and
one “Bird” mill. His wells are also inexhaustible.
Robert Bartlett, on his ranch 20 miles northwest of Marienfeld, in Martin County,
has eight wells and seven windmills. The wells are from 35 to 63 feet deep and inex-
haustible.
Frederick Sommers, Marienfeld, said: Witness lives on section 15, township 1
South, block 36, one-half mile west of Marienfeld. Has one well 70 feet, deep, with
pump and “Challenge” windmill, from which he watered one hundred head of cattle
and irrigated about 1 acre in vegetables. Considers irrigation from wells a success
for fruit-growing and gardening. Has lived here five years. Has raised field Crops
without irrigation, every year, though, with the exception of sorghum, the returns
were light, owing to dry summers. He believes in earth tanks.
Louis Kochs, Marienfeld, lives on section 17, township 1 south, block 36; has two
wells both 85 feet deep and inexhaustible. On one of these wélls he has a 10-foot
iron turbine windmill. . It furnishes about 600 gallons of water per hour.
George, Matzec, Marienfeld, lives on section 25, township 1 south, block 36, 1 mile
south of Marinfeld. His well is 70 feet deep and inexhaustible; has the greatest faith
in northwest Texas as a fruitgrowing country. His one and two year old grapes all
bore fine fruit this season. Many of his two-year-old grapes have bloomed and are
136 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
now bearing a second crop. He firmly believes in irrigation from wells. He con-
siders this part much superior to Bohemia, his native land, as a fruit country; has
planted tobacco successfully for several years with irrigation.
John Pagendarm, Marienfeld, lives on section 1, township 1 south, block 36, 2 miles
north of Marienfeld ; has grown vegetables successfully by irrigation for five years.
His well is 110 feet deep; jas pump and iron turbine windmill, 10-foot wheel; has
sufficient water for a large herd of cattle and to irrigate 1 acre in vegetables. He be-
lieves, in irrigation from wells and in fruit raising, especially the grape.
We have in Martin County quite a number of wells not mentioned in the foregoing;
notably one on section 4, township 1 south, block 37,8 miles west of Marienfeld. It
is 6 feet deep. It has a chain-and-bucket pump capable of furnishing 5,000 gallons.
of water per hour. It is inexhaustible. Punups by 1 horse-power. This pump was
kept going fourteen hours in August, 1889, at a round-up, when it supplied water for
eight thousand head of cattle. This well belongs to C. C. Slaughter, of Dallas, Tex.
He also has a similar well in Mustang Draw, 18 miles northwest of Marienfeld. This
well is 12 feet deep. Along Mustang Draw are five or six more wells from 10 to 15
feet deep that are considered inexhaustible. C. C. Slaughter has three wells on Sul-
phur Draw, at a place called Soda Springs, which wells are from 8 to 12 feet deep and
inexhaustible. They are supplied with pumps and windmills and the water is se-
cured in troughs for watering cattle. Soda Springs is 21 miles north of Marienfeld,
in Martin County.
The first witness from Gaines County, Tex, was W. A. Quebedeaux. He lives
about 100 miles northwest of Marienfeld. He has one well 30 feet deep, with a pump
and 12 foot “Star” windmill. With a 4-inch cylinder and 2-inch pipe his well will
supply and does supply seven hundred head of cattle. He says he has an earth tank
50 by 60 feet, which holds water without any protection except a strong wire fence
to keep cattle out. Has stood for three years and is good for all time. Out of this
tank he draws water into troughs for his cattle as fast as they need it. His wind-
mill runs day and night and keeps large tank full. He does not farm.
The next witness from Gaines County was George Bell; he lives about 110 miles
northwest of Marienfeld. Has three wells—one dug well 27 feet deep and one 40 feet
deep. One bored well 51-feet deep. Has one “Star” 12-foot windmill, and one 10-foot
iron turbine mill. They throw about 15 gallons of water per minute. Both dug wells
are inexhaustible. He can not say anything about bored wells because he has not
tried them yet. Can find an abundance of water anywhere in his vicinity by sinking a
well. He never farmed any. Thinks this is a very good country for all kinds of
fruit, but especially the grape.
Joseph Arnold, the next witness, lives also in Gaines County, about 100 miles north-
west of Marienfeld. He has four dug wells, supplied with one 12-foot “Star”, wind-
mill and three 10-foot iron turbines. His wells are about 40 feet deep, and furnish
about 10 gallons of water per minute each. Has one dirt tank about 200 feet in cir-
cumference, 6 feet deep. The earth is thrown up and a rough stone wall is built
around it on the outside. His windmills pump water into this earth tank and he lets
it run in troughs for the cattle to drink. He says earth tanks are a success in his
vicinity. Never raised fruit; raised sorghum without irrigation in 1888, but it was
too dry for it this season. His wells are inexhaustible. From these last three Wit-
nesses it was learned that the following wells are in Gaines County, Tex.;
On Mallet ranch there are twelve dug wells from 9 to 45 feet deep, mostly supplied
with iron turbine windmills. Two of them have 16-foot “Eclipse” windmills.
There are also on this ranch eight or ten earth tanks—the ground excavated and
thrown up outside, and then fenced to keep cattle out. These tanks give perfect
satisfaction. These wells are inexhaustible. In making them, when water is reached
the manager puts a strong pump with 5-inch cylinder into the well to keep the Water
out as much as possible, so as to allow the workmen to sink the well as deep as
possible. Mr. Hardgrove has three dug wells from 9 to 40 feet deep. He has one 10-
foot “Halladay" and one 12-foot “Star” windmill. Joseph Campbell has two Wells
30 feet deep. Has one iron turbine and one “Star.” A. F. Crowley has two wells;
both are open wells and inexhaustible. Lighe Estes has six good open wells, 9r dug
wells, and windmills. J. Arneson has one well—“Star” mill. The cost of digging
wells is about $2 a foot; boring, $1 a foot. In sinking wells about 18 inches of flint-
rock is met. The balance is earth and sand-stone. Another witness, Mr. T. C. Estes,
could not say positively whether he lives in Texas or in New Mexico, the line not be-
ing well established. He has a well 34 feet deep furnishing an abundance of Water
for his flock of sheep. He never found any rocks in digging. . Mr. James Smith, of
Five Wells Ranch, lives about 40 miles northwest of Marienfeld. There are eight
wells and seven wind-mills on this ranch. One well is 15 feet deep; two are 45;
the others from 50 to 60 feet deep. These latter seven are bored wells. The 15-foot
open well furnishes water for one thousand five hundred head of cattle; the others
have a capacity for five hundred head. They use five “Star,” one “Eclipse,” and
one “Kirkwood” wind-mill and wooden troughs.
.* gº
STAKED PLAINS RAIN-FALL, Topography, AND SOIL. 137
In sending this report now it is impossible to secure the opinion of the Rev. P. A.
Peters, of Marienfeld, he being absent. The secretary, N. S. Schmitz, desires to say
for him that the reverend gentleman has always considered the Staked Plains country
the best fruit, and especially grape, producing country in America. . Four years ago
Father Peters had about .# acre planted in grapes, from which he made quite
a lot of wine last year. In 1889, out of this half acre, he made 174 gallons of wine,
which connoisseurs claim to be equal to any they ever tasted. I have visited the vine-
yard of Father Peters several times this summer, once in company with a gentleman
fresh from France, who, when told these grapes had never been manured, told me that
in the champagne district near Epernay, where the finest of wines were produced,
the grape does not make such vigorous growth nor bear fruit so young. Mr.
Tripis, of Waco, Tex., a native of Sicily, Italy, who visited this vineyard also this
summer, thinks this part of Texas excels every other country in grapes. Father
Peters owns section 14, township 1 south, block 36. He has one well and pump,
operated by a 14-foot “Challenge” mill. While he is the first who planted grapes,
he also raises large quantities of vegetables by irrigation from his 98-foot-deep well.
He farms extensively, and if his field crops do not yield so abundantly, owing to dry
summers, he has absolute faith in the country whenever irrigation is applied.
A8 to 80il, topography, and rain-fall.—Martin County and the attached counties of
Gaines, Joacum, and Terry are on the so-called Staked Plains or Llano Estacado.
The soil is mostly a chocolate-colored loam and red sandy land, both of great depth
and fertility. The Staked Plains are an eleveted plateau, with an altitude of from
2,500 to 3,000 feet, extending about 125 miles east and west and 200 miles north and
south. They are bounded on the west by the Pecos River and on the other three
sides by a ledge of steep, rocky bluffs, from 50 to 100 feet high, and often of much
greater elevation, and it seems from the abrupt and rugged outlines that this plateau
has been lifted up by some convulsion of nature. From the top of these bluffs, form-
ing the boundaries, stretches out an undulating plain of surpassing beauty, covered
with a variety of rich grasses and traversed by long and gentle swells and depres-
sions, strongly resembling those of the sea when settling down after a storm. This
uniformity of surface, however, is broken at rare intervals by deeper depressions, so-
called draws, which look like a river bed. Water, there is none, but it can be ob-
tained in all these draws within from 5 to 15 feet from the surface. In order to
illustrate how this land lays, I will say that a railroad could be built over this Staked
Plain 100 miles long without either cut or fill, and still I do not believe there are 40
acres of land in one body that are perfectly level.
The rain-fall this year, if well distributed, would have been sufficient for all kinds
of crops. There was plenty of moisture in the ground all winter for plowing; we
had good strong rains also, early in spring up to March 1.
The following table gives amount of rain-fall to date. Since May I measured it in
a Government gauge supplied to me by the Signal Service as its voluntary observer
at this point.

Date. How ascertained. l Inches. Date. How ascertained. Inches.
Feb. 28..------------- Approximated - - - - 1.50 || Juue 18-- - - - - - - - - - - - Gauged ----------- 0.04
ar. 1 --------------. ----do -------------- 1.00 || June 21-----...--... ----do-------------. 0.63
Mar. 11 -------------. --do -------------- 0.30 || June 29............. ---do-------------. 0.05
Apr. 10 -------------. - - -CIO - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.50 || July 2 -------------. do-------------- (). 23
Apr. 12 -------------- ---do -------------. 0.10 || July 6 ---------...--. ---do-------------. 0.04
Apr. 13 ... ----------. ---do -------------- 0.10 || July 7 ---------...--. do-------------- 0.14
Apr. 20–21 ----------. --- do -------------. 1.50 || July 8 ---------...--. ---do.------------- 1. 02
May 21 -------------. Gauged.----------. 0.49 || July 9 -------------- --do-------------- 1, 60
May 22 --------------|-------------------. trace. July 10 -------...... ---do-------------- 0.04
May 23 -----, -------. Gauged.----------. 0.09 || July 11 ------. --... do-------------- 0.05
May 26 ------...--...--. --do -------------- 0.23 || Aug. 10............. do-------------- 0.04
May % --------------|-------------------. trace. || Aug. 11 -------...--. -do-------------- 0.05
June 3.-------------. Gauged.-------...-- 0.01 || September 14–15 . . . . . . . . do. --...-----.... 1.54
June 6--------------. 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.21 || September 15.......!--- do.............. 0.14
June 9--------------. ---do -------------. 0.48 || September 17. ------|------...----. ---..... trace.
June 10.------------. ----do -------------. 0.20 || September 21.------| Gauged ........... 0.08
June 11-------------. ----do -------------. 1, 20 || September 25, -----. ----do-------------. 0.06
June 16.------------. ----do -------------. 0.28 || September 27–28 - - -...--. do-------------. 1.01
RECAPITULATION.
February -----....... Approximated ----| 1.50 || July................ Gauged
º * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * we dº sº. º: * * * * * * * * sº es º gº º 1. 30 ºist * * * * * * * sº ºn s sº as s .............. ; ;
T11 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , (10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2. 20 || September to 28th ..l.... do.............. º
*Y ----------------.] Gauged ----------. 0.81 p do 2.88
June ---------------. ----do -------------- 3, 10 Total.----------|-------------------. 14.95

138 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
*
STATEMENT OF GEORGE M. swink, of EstacADo.
\
IN RELATION TO TIIE PANHANDLE REGION.
. The population of Crosby County is 600; that of Floyd, Dickens, and Motley Coun-
ties about 300 each; Garza, 100; Lubbock about 100. Surface of all these counties
gently undulating prairies; soils principally dark sandy loams without exception fer-
tile ; grasses, mesquite predominates, "some buffalo grass and abundance of hay
grasses in the depressions. . Altitude about 3,200 to 3,500 feet above sea level. Crops
generally grown without irrigation are sorghum, millet, and forage, generally mel-
ons, garden truck, and vegetables of all descriptions. Several young orchards have
been planted and some trees bore this year, Wild grapes, plums, and currants grow
profusely along the breaks or caſions formed on the heads of the various water courses,
generally tributaries of the Brazos River. Prospects for orchards on the open plain
are excellent, and Mr. A. W. Lewis, near Estacado, has shown his faith by planting
80,000 young forest trees. His first orchard, consisting of peaches, pears, and apples,
has borne an excellent crop this year, the flavor of the fruit being superior to that of
any other part of Texas. This orchard is from five to six years old. "Other orchards
have been planted in the vicinity of Estacado by Messrs. Dr. William Hunt, Dr. W.
V. Marshburn, Isaiah Cox, W. C. Dockum, Andrew Underhill, and others.
The neighborhood was settled in 1880, and known generally in Texas as the Quaker
Colony. Since its settlement there has been enough rain-fall for all forage crops,
though in some years the crop has fallen short, owing to delayed or too limited rain-
fall. It is generally the opinion of the people residing there that the rain-fall is in-
creasing. As everywhere else in western Texas, there have been times where one
good watering of a crop by irrigation could have been of great benefit. For purposes
of irrigation there are very few water-courses that could be utilized, for the reason
that the amount of running water is very limited, and secondly, that the next arable
lands are somewhat remote from these water-courses. Some of these water-courses
lie from 100 to 300 feet lower than the level of the lands to be irrigated; but if the
capital could be secured to construct dams across these water-courses they could be
made to hold back water extending from 10 to 20 miles back from the dam in a com-
paratively narrow channel. The land that could then be brought under irrigation
would amount to thousands of acres on each side. The question of damming these
water-courses, all of which carry large volumes of water during part of the year, pre-
sents no great engineering difficulty, the question being merely a matter of dollars
and cents.
The principal drainage of the Plains country is in basins or depressions in the soil,
some of which contain water during the entire year, others from six to nine months
in the year. Many of them could be made absolutely water-tight, and nearly all
could be used for irrigation by use of pumps or windmills and storage-reservoirs
placed on the higher-lying land under cultivation. It would be simply a question of
raising and storing the water. By applying the different means of irrigation avail-
able about nine-tenths of the lands in the county of Crosby could be cultivated by irri-
gation, and the same could be said of most of the adjoining counties.
At Epworth, Hale County, Mr. Alex. Jones has a large garden under irrigation
from a well and a 12-foot windmill. The benefit derived from irrigation is shown in
his crop, which brought him more cash money for garden vegetables than all the
other gardeners have been able to obtain for their joint crops.
Water in wells is obtained in all parts where dug or bored for. The average depth
is about 75 feet. In digging wells from 4 to 10 feet of soil are encountered, then gen-
erally red or dark colored clay 20 to 25feet. Next usually water is found resting on
limestone. This layor of water is not very abundant. Going through soft limestone
a hard limestone is met with, then sandstone, and then water in the greatest abun-
dance is obtained. It appears that this second water is part of an underground lake
or river. No well in the second water has ever been known to be exhausted when
used either for ranch or domestic purposes. In many places water in abundance is
found at a depth of 40 to 50 feet. For the irrigation of small orchards and vineyards
there is no question but that water can be had in abundance. By the proper use of
12 to 16 foot windmills and small storage-tanks from 12 to 13 acres could be placed
under irrigation. The principal business of the country consists of stock-raising and
wool-growing; but it is the opinion of the people that a farmer so situated that he
could have some live stock, raise forage and food products without irrigation, and
carry on a garden of 3 or 5 acres under irrigation, ought to do well in Crosby and any
of the adjoining counties.
AN APPEAL FOR EXPERIMENTAL STATIONS, 139
6TATEMENT OF J. E. LUCE, OF CISCO, EASTLAND COUNTY.
There is probably about one-half of the land under cultivation in this county.
The thrashers report this year for the county an average of a little over 20 bushels
of wheat per acre. Owing to a want of rain-fall at the proper time the oat crop
was cut short to about 20 bushels per acre, whilst with rain at the proper season the
average would probably have equaled that of 1888, which was from 65 to 70 bushels
per acre. The corn crop this year will probably average 35 bushels per acre, whilst
with rain at the proper season it would have made 50 bushels per acre. If frost does
not come too early our cotton crop will average about one-half bale per acre, whilst
with the proper rain-fall this county would have yielded three-fourths of a bale per
acre. The apples, pears, peaches, etc., which should mature during dog-days, are
usually cut short for want of rain, and the later varieties are inferior to what they
otherwise would be in consequence thereof.
It therefore follows that our farmers are in great nced of water for their crpps dur-
ing July and August, and in some years a demand for water is imperative at a much
earlier season. The rain-fall will probably average about 33 inches, and if properly
distributed would be sufficient. I think the topographical engineer's report for this
county will give the best locations for storing water. Of course, as Cisco is the largest
town in the county, a deposit of water near that town would accommodate more
people than at any other one point. From Cisco to the south and southwest line of
Eastland County wells are usually got at from 3 to 40 feet, whilst north of Cisco to
the north line of said county wells are rarely secured except at great depth, yet there
are exceptions. There are also some springs.
There is no one irrigating in this county at present. We think that at many places
dams can be built, with a 2-inch pipe extending through them, and a faucet in the
end thereof, which can be used to advantage, and the water drawn off by pipes or
ditches to the places required.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE BAUER, BIG SPRINGS, HOWARD COUNTY.
I have at present about three thousand fruit and shade trees, consisting of apple,
peach, pear, plum, apricot, nectarine, cherry, quince, fig, and almond; also grape-
Vines, blackberry, gooseberry, raspberry bushes. I commenced to plant my first trees
in 1886 and 1887; about eight hundred fruit and shade trees. The drought destroyed
most all of them, and those that were left were so stunted as to prove worthless. If
I had had facilities to irrigate, I would have saved most all of the trees. During the
fall of 1887 to 1888 I replanted with six hundred trees. During the drought of 1888
I lost four hundred. Discouraged with such poor success, I still gave tree-planting
another trial in the season of 1888–89. This time Iset out two thousand five hundred
trees. Through the best of culture and the best rainy season we had for years in west
Texas I lost but few. I am now preparing to irrigate the coming season, for I can
not rely on the natural rain-fall, and if a drought comes next season I will lose all
of my trees. Had I been prepared to irrigate I would now have over one thousand
fruit-bearing trees, instead of a few, every tree bringing an income of $2 per tree.
The soil and climate of this region are unsurpassed and adapted to produce the
best of fruit, and of crops equal to California through proper irrigation, especially
for fruit and garden crops for the Northern market.
For irrigation there are two means to be adopted: One is by damming the ravines
to impound the rain-fall for use in the droughty season.
Nature has arranged this county for such reservoir irrigation. The other plan is
to irrigate on a smaller scale ; that is, through tanks and wells. Water is found at
from 20 to 250 feet deep. Windmills are generally used for pumping. The cost of
such a system for wells and tank would be about from $2,000 to $5,000, according to
locality. Fully one-third of Howard County could be thus irrigated. The same
would be correct for counties west of here. Irrigation would in a few years populate
our present unsettled plains with a thriving population. ---
The Government, by establishing experimental stations for irrigation throughout
the Southwest and West, would soon demonstrate the certain success of irrigation.
Private, capital would then develop this almost unknown region. Being close to
the borders of Mexico, for political as well as commercial reasons this part of the
United States should be developed and settled as rapidly as possible by the Anglo-
Saxon race. ... Thousands of acres of fine lands can be reclaimed by irrigation to
make homes for families, friendship will be strengthened, and commerce increased
in both Republics.
140 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
\
STATEMENT OF W. J. MALTBY, OF BAIRD, CALLAHAN county,
The topography of this county is undulating.
There are estimated to be 16,000 acres in cultivation.
The yield in wheat is from 15 to 35 bushels per acre; in corn, from 25 to to 50 bush-
els per acre. Oats yield from 40 to 100 bushels per acre; cotton, from one-half to
three-fourths of a bale per acre; all kinds of grasses, as far as tried, from 2 to 3 tons
per acre, including millet, Johnson grass, and sorghum.
The value of these crops for the past year in this county is estimated at $200,000, in-
cluding vegetables and hay products.
The annual rain-fall is 30.3 inches. The rain-fall for the months of January, Febru-
ary, March, and April, as well as November and December, is 1.50 inches.
March, June, and October are the months (and September) in which irrigation
would be the most beneficial, as that would insure both a season for planting and fruit-
age of the crop.
There are about three hundred wells in the county, ranging in depth from 10 to 50
feet; average depth, 20 feet; usual cost, $1 per foot.
Sorghum, millet, and Johnson grass will grow without much water.
All the crops grown in this county would be doubled if water could be had on them
at the proper seasons.
No artesian wells have ever been bored in this county, but the general opinion pre-
vails that water for irrigating purposes can be obtained in all the valleys in the
county at a depth ranging from 600 to 2,000 feet, and there is not a valley in the
county that if irrigated but would more than double its yield of agricultural products.
These valleys are numerous and are all so situated as that dams could be constructed
and a large acreage irrigated in this way. The outlay to construct a few dams at
various points need not be necessarily great, as the material for their construction is
found in abundant quantities in all our hills adjacent to these valleys. If the proper
season could be put in the earth at the proper time, there is no part of the United
States that would surpass these valleys in the production of fruits and vegetables.
Apples, peaches, pears, plums, and grapes all do well, especially the peach, pear, and
grape, which as produced here are the finest flavored in the world.
If a few artesian wells could be obtained in this county by which the question of
artesian water would be made certain individual enterprise would then do the rest,
and our county would teem with population well-supported, for the products of this
section will support a greater population than any other section, and it is the health-
iest country known. Near the geographical center of the county, and just north of the
divide of the waters of the Brazos and Colorado Rivers, an artesian well can be sunk
which, if a success—and there is every reason to believe it would be—a vast body of
land would be made almost in a garden, as it could and would all be put in cultiva-
tion. This I have had in my mind for years, and if artesian water can be obtained
at this point, then not only in this county upon the north of this divide, but in all
the adjacent counties, the question would be solved, except as to the depth, which
would of course vary, owing to the altitude of the point where the well would be
made.
STATEMENT OF C. H. EARNEST, OF COLORADO.
First, with respect to the topography of Mitchell County: The extreme eastern
and northwestern portion of the county is high table-land, with a soil almost ap-
proaching black waxy, perfectly level, except where modified by basins or slight de-
pressions in the general surface, in which water stands for a considerable portion of
the year after once filled by rain-fall. This character of ground is limited within the
bounds of Mitchell County, the most of this table-land being in Nolan County, to the
eastward. West of this table-land begin the breaks or ravines which form the head-
waters of Lone Wolf Creek and North and South Champlin Creeks. These streams
flow southwestwardly to about the center and south of the center of the county, where
they empty into the Colorado River. . They are not running streams, except for a very
short period after rains. They do however furnish an immense volume of water
when it rains because of the large area drained by them.
The Colorado River runs clear through the county from northwest to Southeast, be-
ing a running stream the year round, except for perhaps a month during a very dry
season. It does not then cease running, but only loses itself in places here and there
where the bed of the stream is Sand.
West of Colorado River are the following streams flowing into the Colorado River
and situate partially or entirely within Mitchell County, to wit: Willow Creek,
Morgan, Wild Horse, Camp Creek, Beal's Creek, Hackberry, Dugout, and Rendre-
brook. On the east side of the Colorado and in the Southeastern portion of the
THE BASIN OF THE COLORADo RIVER IN TEXAS. 141
county we omitted to mention Silver Creek, which is a running stream the greater
portion of the year. The same may be said of Deep Creek, which rises in Scurry
County and empties into the Colorado River about 3 miles within Mitchell County
from the north line.
Reverting to the country west of the Colorado River, this is divided into table
Iands between the creeks and valleys along the Creeks. Some of these valleys
are as much as 2 to 3 miles wide, notably that of Morgan Creek. . The soil of the
Morgan Creek country is a red clay. Experience has shown that it is very fertile
for the production of general crops, and will easily hold water in tank building. In
the Rendrebrook, Beal’s Creek, and Hackberry country the divides or intervening
prairies are black or dark chocolate soils and very rich. Rendrebrook and Hack-
berry Creeks are furnished by springs at the head of each, furnishing a regular stream
the year round, of four to five inches of water.
For irrigation we would think Hackberry preferable to Rendrebrook spring from
the fact that the valleys of the former are greater in extent than those of the latter.
Second. Number of wells in the county. So far there must be as many as ninety to
one hundred wells. The average depth is 100 feet. The wells around the town of
Colorado are generally about 100 feet (from 75 to 100), the water rising in them from
30 to 60 feet. The shallowest wells are in the northern and eastern portions of the
county. We know of no well in the county which, being as deep as 90 or 100 feet,
can be pumped dry by a 12-foot windmill running forty-eight hours under a full
head of wind. In the western portion of the county it is deepest to a good flow of
Water. -
At the city water-works, 1% miles east of the business portion of the town, are two
wells, only one of which is used and operated by a windmill—a 30-foot mill. The
lessees of the works, Messrs. Fletcher & Caldwell, inform me that the water can
not be exhausted by a constant use of this mill for any length of time. The only way
in which it can be lowered at all is by attaching an engine, and they estimate the
flow of either of these wells to be one hundred and forty gallons each to the minute.
These wells are 190-foot bored wells.
Since the leasing of the works by Messrs. Fletcher & Caldwell they erected a 30-
foot mill over one well, and during their lease of more than eighteen months they
have not had to use their steam-engine as much as three weeks altogether, and they
furnish the water supply for a city of 3,000 inhabitants.
This stream of water was found in boring for salt by the new salt company at the
same depth, and it is believed that at the depth of 190 to 200 feet it can be found any-
where east of the Colorado River.
The salt wells, of course, are as deep as 940 feet. After striking salt they went this
deep to get ample water. Mr. Blount, of the Lone Star Salt Works, tells me that their
steam-engine pumping day and night has never lowered their salt well.
This volume of water, it will be remembered, is below the bed of salt and can be
cased off. The stream of water at 200 feet and less is above the bed of salt, and is
good water. The cost per foot of bored wells is now 75 cents per foot for the first
• hundred feet, and perhaps $1 or $1.25 per foot for the next hundred.
Third. No one here is farming strictly by irrigation. Several are gardening, fruit
and grape growing by irrigation from shallow wells. Among them are C. H. Lasky,
J. F. Clayton, A. M. K. Sowell, Mr. Wrigsell, Victor Dziedzioch, Fred. Schroder, H.
C, Townsend, J. D. Martin, A. R. Earnest, H. A. Fowlkes, J. W. Holmes, W. H.
Hughes, Durham Wulfjin, Ben Van Tuyl, H. B. Smoot, C. H. Earnest, and others.
It is estimated that to irrigate 5 to 10 acres of fruit trees or grape vines, or both, the
cost of fixtures complete would be not less than $1,000 for surface irrigation, the same
as is used so far in this country. Irrigation by underground perforated tiling would
add to the cost, but would very much increase the area to be covered perhaps twice
or three times.
For the year 1889 there was no material difference between fruits irrigated and
those not irrigated. But this has been a specially good seasonable year. Ordina-
ril the difference is remarkable where they are irrigated and well cultivated as:
WOII. --
Fourth. The crops that will do well every year in this county without irrigation
are sorghum and the ordinary forage crops and cotton. Three years out of five corn
(Indian corn) will do well without irrigation; so also will potatoes, melons, etc.
Qur irrigated fruits are superior to the fruits of central Texas, far superior in flavor,
and are equal, if not superior, to the irrigated fruits of California. This statement,
is made from actual comparison of fruits raised this year in Mitchell County with
those raised in central Texas, and upon the strength of statements of Californians who
are here and who resided for a number of years in California. Our grapes are equal
to the California grapes, and all varieties have been given a thorough test except the
i. Paso or Mission grape variety. The test as to this is limited but very satisfac-
ory.
142 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Mr. W. S. Marshall thinks that by using a 30-foot mill pumping water from a 200-
foot well, with a tank constructed after the manner of the reservoir at the works of
the Texas Salt Company (lined with pitch and tar), and with perforated tiling or
Some other, cheap means of distribution of the water without waste, that 30 to 50.
acres of fruit trees or grape vines could be irrigated to advantage.
As to whether the Colorado River or other streams in the county could be utilized
by dams or storage tanks for profitable irrigation is a question which could be best
answered by some one more familiar with irrigation. A rich area of country could
be reached by any of these streams with a head of water far enough up to reach our
upland prairies, and it would seem the plan would be a practicable one.
STATEMENT OF MARSHALL H. D. W. SMITH, J.R., ASSISTANT ENGI-
NEER OF THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC RAILWAY.
I would say that the most important streams on the Rio Grande division for irri-
gating purposes are the Brazos, the Colorado, and the Pecos Rivers. These are living
Streams, running at all seasons, and flowing through rich valleys susceptible of a
high degree of cultivation if properly irrigated. The Brazos valley is accounted the
best region in Texas for cotton and wheat, and is settling up rapidly throughout its
entire length. The turgid waters of the Brazos hold in suspension vast quantities
of rich detritus, which, if distributed over the adjoining lands, would greatly in-
crease their fertility, and enhance the value of the riparian tracts especially,
The country along the Colorado River is as yet but sparsely stttled, being given up
almost exclusively to the stockmen; but the rich chocolate loam of this section, par-
ticularly along the headwaters of the river, offer tempting inducements to the
farmer. Here I have seen mesquite trees 30 inches in diameter, the normal growth
of this tree rarely exceeding 10 inches. This in small tracts, where the water reached
them by natural means.
So far as experience shows, the Pecos valley is very productive, and great hopes
are entertained for its future. The Pioneer Canal Company, an incorporated insti-
tution, is now engaged in constructing a large irrigating ditch in this valley, which
they will have in working order in the near future.
As to water from wells: Between Gomez and Arroyo flowing water impregnated
with sulphur can be obtained at depths varying from 250 to 500 feet. Between Big
Springs and Monahan's, where our road traverses the Southern edge of the Staked
Plains Plateau, a distance of about 100 miles, water can be found at 50 feet depth;
though between Douro and Monahan's, 25 miles, the Water is more or less saline. At
Monahan’s, however, where we have three shallow wells, the water is fresh and in
unlimited supply.
The artesian well at Pecos is a strong flowing well, being 213 feet deep, and lifting
the water to 30 feet above the surface by natural pressure; but we rarely use it for
steaming purposes, owing to the presence of Sulphur. We have at Toyah an aban-
doned artesian flowing well, 800 feet deep, useless for engines on account of its sulphur
impregnation. ' ' .
Our deep wells at Colorado and Van Horn, or wells elsewhere of similar depth,
could not be made available for irrigating purposes, since the cost of raising water
from such great depth would be so great as to preclude its use.
The San Martine Valley, around San Martine Station, enjoys an annual rain-fall
unprecedented in western Texas. Two miles north of San Martine Tank water can
be obtained at any time at a depth of 2 feet.
Two miles north of Carrizo Pass water can be found in great abundance at slight
depths.
Aºiope and Apache Springs, about 7 miles south of Kent Station, are large, bold
springs, with a daily capacity of about 250,000 gallons.
wFLLš AND TANKS ON THE TEXAS AND PACIFIC ROAD.
* ‘. .
143
* Water stations of the Texas and Pacific Railway, Rio Grande Division.
Dis-
§. N f Dail
08 8,000 O ally
from station. Source of supply. capacity. Remarks.
Fort,
Worth.
Miles. Gallons. &
0 || Fort Worth . . . Artesian well and pond... y Steam pump, well 389 feet deep.
2.60 | Clear Fork ...| Clear Fork Creek... -- - - - - Unlimited . . Do.
20, 13 || Aledo - - - - - - -. Three Wells. --------...--. 40, 000 Do.
30, 65 | Weatherford . Well and siphon ......... 18,000 | Steam pump, well 43 feet deep ;
siphon from creek,
47.95 || Rock Creek - -] Well and creek. -- . . . . . . . . Unlimited -- Steam pump, well 41 feet deep.
55, 21 | Brazos. --...--. Palo Pinto Creek. -- . . . . . . ----do ------- Steam pump.
79.43 | Strawn ....... Well.--------------------. 50,000 || Steam pump, well 31 feet deep.
84.25 | Canyon. ------ Palo Pinto Creek...... . . . Unlimited ... Steam pump.
92. 52 | Tiffin . . . . . . . . .]. ----. O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (10 - - - - - - - Do.
98.57 | Colony Fork...] Well and creek-----. . . . . . 6, 500 | Steam pump, well 65 feet deep;
water from well, Colony Fork
Creek, and, in very dry seasons,
- tank cars.
121.37 Delmar ....... Pond --------------------. Limited. ---. Steam pump.
137.80 | Baird- - - - - - - - - Mexia Creek -------...... Unlimited .. Do.
139.25 ----do --------. Pond --------------------. Limited.----. Steam pump, pond one-half mile
east of round house; capacity,
8,300,000 gallons.
146.68 || Clyde. . . . . . . . . Two wells. --------------. 10,000 | Steam pump, wells 42 feet deep.
160. 20 | Abilene -----. Oſld - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Unlimited ... Steam pump, pond formed by dam-
- ming Cedar and Clear Creeks at
- © their confluence.
178. 20 | Merkle - - - - - - - ell.--------------------. 40,000 || Steam pump, well 48 feet deep.
199.74 | Sweetwater - - | Sweetwater Creek. - - - - - -. Unlimited --| Steam pump, well also. Well was
- . icient, and Creek was dam-
In 601.
223.25 | Lorraine...... Well and pond.----------- 60,000 | Steam pump, well 50 feet deep.
228. 83 | Colorado - - - - - Artesian well------------. 24,000 | Steam pump, well 143 feet deep.
237.92 | Westbrook. -- Pond --------------------- Limited. --. Steam pump.
253, 99 || Iatan ---------|-----. do ------------------. Unlimited . . O.
267.61 || Big Springs --| Spring-------------------. 100,000 || Steam pump, distance south from
tank to spring, 11,880 feet.
288.39 Marienfeld ...! Well-...---------.......... 24,000 | Steam pump, well 72 feet deep.
304. 62 | Midland ...... [...--- do ------------------- 60,000 || Steam pump, well 32 feet deep.
329. 58 || Odessa.--...----|-----. do ------------------- 50,000 | Steam pump, well 47 feet deep.
362.96 || Monahan's....] Three Wells - - - - - - - - - - - - -. 200,000 || Steam pump, wells 52 feet deep.
399.24 | Pecos. ---...--.] Artesian Well------------. 60,000 | Natural flow ; sulphur water.
Well 213 feet deep used in emer-
gencies only.
419.83 || Toyah ..... --. Tankcars from Monahan'sſ....... ---...--. Water in this vicinity strongly
impregnated with sulphur.
443. 46 | San Martine..] Spring. --------------...--. 8,000 Steam pump.
488.40 | Van Horn ....] Four artesian wells. -- - - - - Unlimited ... Steam pump, 2 wells 600 feet deep;
1 well, 580 feet, and 1 well 550
feet deep.
521.99 || Sierra Blanca. Tank cars from Van Horn. ... . . . . . . . . . . . Southern Pacific Railway has
artesian well here 930 feet
deep; water slightly brackish.
Maximum daily capacity about
24,000 gallons. , Texas, and
Pacific Railway is now (October,
1889) sinking one here.
144 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS
Principal streams crossed by Teras and Pacific Railway, Rio Grande division, with dis
- tances west of Fort Worth, in miles.
Stream. - Miles. Stream. - Miles.
Clear Fork of Trinity River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.61 || North Fork Palo Pinto Creek............ 83. 30
* g & s sº * * * * * * * * * * * is as s s m e º sº sº as º ºs º º sº sº gº º 20, 18 o---------------------------------| 88.76
South Fork of Trinity River. --..... -----. 20, 41 Do--------------------------------. 84. 30
O- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21, 28 Do--------------------------------- 84. 61
Do.--------------------------------- 26.93 Do--------------------------------- 85. 26
To.--------------------------------- 27, 80 D0--------------------------------- 87, 20
Do--------------------------------- 28. 09 0- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 88, 86
Po---------------------------------. 28. 67 || Palo Pinto Creek (viaduct). -- - - - - - - - - - - - 90.76
Do---------------------------------- 30. 11 || Clear Fork of Brazos River. --...- - - - - - - - -] 163.04
Do---------------------------------- 30.60 || Champlin's Creek ----------------------- 223. 30
South Branch Clear Fork of Trinity River. 32.59 || Lone Wolf Creek. ---...-...----...----... 229, 78
Do---------------------------------. 33.57 || Colorado River -------------------------. 230, 37
I3razos River ----------------------------. 54.55 || Morgan Creek.-------------------------. 235. 04
Palo Pinto Creek ---.......... --...----... 59.09 || Pecos River ----------------------------- 398. 26
South Fork Palo Pinto Creek............. 77. 70 *
Water stations supplied from streams alone ------------------------------------------------------- 6
Water stations supplied from Wells alone ---...-------------------------------- is * * * * * * e s as sº s is s sº ºn s = * * * 11
Water stations supplied from ponds alone.-------------------------------------------------------- 5
Water stations supplied from two or more sources -------------------------...------...------------. 5
Water stations supplied from Springs alone.-------------------------------------...-----------------. 2
Water stations supplied from tank-cars.----------------------------------------------------------. 2
Total number of water stations, Rio Grande division, this date (October 22, 1889) ........... 3}.
TEITE KANSAS DIVISION.
ON TRAIN, NEAR DODGE CITY, KANs., September 11, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to the call of the chairman. Present:
Mr. Stewart (chairman) and Mr. Jones; also Director Powell.
STATEMENT OF EDWARD D. TAYLOR, OF KINGSLEY.
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside and what is your occupation ?
Mr. TAYLOR. I reside in Kingsley, Kans., and I am superintendent
of public instruction of the county of Edwards.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you have any difficulty in raising crops in this
vicinity for want of moisture ?
Mr. TAYLOR. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How often do you raise a full crop here if you depend
entirely on rain-fall ?
Mr. TAYLOR. We have raised but two full crops since I have been
in this Western country—that is, in twelve years. We have only partial
crops nearly every year.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you raise partial crops at all times—vegetables,
fruit, and grains?
Mr. TAYLOR. We raise partial crops of grain and corn nearly every
year, but we need irrigation for full crops. Apples and cherries will give
a full crop without irrigation, but peaches freeze.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the means of irrigation? f
Mr. TAYLOR. The Arkansas River is the only means we have in this
neighborhood. There is a small creek here, called Coon Creek, that
gives a little water.
The CHAIRMAN. How wide is the Arkansas valley—the low valley—
before you get to the hills?
Mr. TAYLOR. On the north that valley runs 25 miles. On the south
there are sand-hills near the river.
The CHAIRMAN. To what depth do you require to sink for water in
this valley.
Mr. TAYLOR. On an average 40 feet. On the divide they have to
go some 200 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there some places less than 40%
Mr. TAYLOR. Some 20 and some 60.
The CHAIRMAN. In what formation do you find the water?
Mr. TAYLOR. In quicksand.
The CHAIRMAN. Does that extend all over the valley 7
Mr. TAYLOR. Everywhere. v.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say as to the quantity of water where
you do reach it 3
Mr. TAYLOR. There is more than could be exhausted by any ordinary
pump. In one well We put in a steam-pump and it did not get down
Over 4 feet, when they got 400 gallons of water a minute; but the en-
138 A L–WOL III—10 145
146 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
gine could not pump that more than one or two minutes; consequently
they could not exhaust the well with that engine.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land could be irrigated with a single
Well with a good pump?
Mr. TAYLOR. I could not say of my own knowledge. The pump I
Speak of Was such an absolute failure that they did not try to irrigate
With it. It was said they could have irrigated 80 acres with that pump.
The CHAIRMAN. At what expense 2
Mr. TAYLOR. I could not say as to that.
The CHAIRMAN. When you go back from the valley proper what is
the character of the country in western Kansas?
Mr. TAYLOR. It is a rolling prairie.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever examined the rolling prairie with
reference to the storage of water in ravines?
Mr. TAYLOR. Not with special knowledge in that respect, but I know
there could be water stored in the ravines. I have seen ravines where
men in Wagons would be drowned during the time of the rains. The
ravines could not be forded.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the rain fall in violent showers during the
SeaSOn 3
Mr. TAYLOR. Nearly always in violent showers.
The CHAIRMAN. At what time do the showers prevail?
Mr. TAYLOR. In July and August; sometimes earlier; sometimes in
March or April.
The CHAIRMAN. If you saved the water then would that be early
enough for the irrigation of crops?
Mr. TAYLOR. Not unless there was rain-ſall or snow during the win-
ter to start the crops; that rain would not be early enough. t
The CHAIRMAN. If you had plenty of water how early would you
plant corn ?
Mr. TAYLOR. In May or June.
The CHAIRMAN. Then water in July or August would help you?
Mr. TAYLOR. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How late could you plant potatoes if you had water?
Mr. TAYLOR. At the same time as other vegetables. These rains
come usually in July and August, and they are too far apart then.
The CHAIRMAN. But if that water were stored you could do some-
thing with it 2
Mr. TAYLOR. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have any of the people who attempted to farm here
left because they could not raise regular crops?
Mr. TAYLOR. Yes; many.
The CHAIRMAN. As to the town of Kingsley, has anybody left that
on account of the drought 3
Mr. TAYLOR. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How many ?
Mr. TAYLOR. I presume five hundred.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know the exact longitude of this place?
Mr. TAYLOR. I do not. We are near the one hundredth meridian.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it farther east from here? Is there more
rain than there is here.
Mr. TAYLOR. Somewhat. I only know by what men tell me. They
have better crops than we have here.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it west of here?
Mr. TAYLOR. Worse.
Adjourned.
UPPER ARKANSAS WALLEY AND ITS CONDITION. 147
DoDGE CITY, KANs., September 12, 1889.
The committee met at 7 p.m., pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present, Mr. Stewart (chairman).
STATEMENT OF J. W. GILBERT, OF DODGE CITY.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided here, Mr. Gilbert Ž
Mr. GILBERT. In this county, nine years.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there sufficient rain-fall here to produce crops with-
out artificial irrigation ?
Mr. GILBERT. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of crops can you produce here without
irrigation ?
Mr. GILBERT. Nothing very successfully, except perhaps sorghum, .
and of that not a full crop.
The CHAIRMAN. You can not produce the various cereals and vege-
tables and fruits without irrigation.
Mr. GILBERT. Not successfully.
The CHAIRMAN. What crops can you produce with irrigation ?
Mr. GILBERT. Anything adapted to this latitude.
The CHAIRMAN. With full success %
Mr. GILBERT. Yes. *
The CHAIRMAN. With irrigation, how much wheat can you produce?
Mr. GILBERT. From 40 to 50 bushels an acre, at least.
The CHAIRMAN. And how much barley?
Mr. GILBERT. I could not answer that question intelligently. I do
not know.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not tried it 3
Mr. GILBERT. No.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it with oats 3
Mr. GILBERT. You can produce with irrigation as full a crop of oats
as is grown anywhere.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you produce fruits here with irrigation ?
Mr. GILBERT. The very choicest quality of fruits.
The CHAIRMAN. Of all kinds adapted to this temperate region?.
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it with vegetables of different kindsº
Mr. GILBERT. They grow very finely with irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. You can not produce them without irrigation ?
Mr. GILBERT. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the opportunities to irrigate this portion
of Kansas—what is your water supply 3.
Mr. GILBERT. The Arkansas River; but we have found since we
have been operating canals here that we are liable to be short of water
at the critical time that it is needed for irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. There is no water in the river that will flow in your
ditch at that time?
Mr. GILBERT. No.
The CHAIRMAN. When do you require water ?
Mr. GILBERT. During June, July, and August.
The CHAIRMAN. How wide is the valley of the Arkansas proper here
before you get to the rolling part º
Mr. GILBERT. I think it would average 5 miles.
148 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
.*
The CHAIRMAN. How deep do you have to sink in the valley of the
Arkansas to strike water ?
Mr. GILBERT. About 4 or 5 feet; though on what they call the first
bottom not so far as that.
The CHAIRMAN. On the second bottom, :ncluding the 5 or 6 miles
wide that you spoke of, how would it be 7 *
Mr. GILBERT. I think an average depth of 6 or 8 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you went 10 miles wide, how deep would
you have to sink 3
Mr. GILBERT. It would depend somewhat on circumstances; proba-
bly you would have to go to a depth of 75 to 150 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, when you get on the uplands on the divideº
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. In the valley, is there a good supply of this water
that you find under ground 3
Mr. GILBERT. We think it is unlimited almost.
The CHAIRMAN. In what formation do you find it 3
Mr. GILBERT. In sand.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not sunk through the sand to know how
deep it is, have you ?
Mr. GILBERT. We are doing that now.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any idea how deep it is ?
Mr. GILBERT. The sands runs from 6 to 12 feet in depth.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you believe there is an underground river flowing
in this sand 3
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, the water that passes down in the dry sea-
Son all mainly under ground 7
Mr. GILBERT, Yes; all of it to every appearance.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you tried the experiment of lifting that to the
surface in any way ?
Mr. GILBERT. No. We want to experiment by going below the bed
of the river for our water supply aud then conducting it into reser-
WOII’S.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the fall of the river ?
Mr. GILBERT. About 7 feet to the mile. That is about the general
slope of the country.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you tried running a cut or tunnel at a less
grade than the river, so that you could get a flow of water ?
Mr. GILBERT. The canal we have in operation now has a fall of only
14 feet to the mile. *
The CHAIRMAN. I mean you have not run it into the ground to see
whether you could intercept the flow of the water under ground?
Mr. GILBERT. No, sir; we have not undertaken that yet.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you line your ditch with anything to prevent
Seepage %
Mr. GILBERT. No, it is not necessary.
The CHAIRMAN. It is not necessary when you get it to the surface?
Mr. GILBERT. No.
The CHAIRMAN. But if you should make an underground cut, I Sup-
pose you would have to protect it? -
Mr. GILBERT. It would not have to be protected until we should
reach what we term a natural canal in the sediment.
The CHAIRMAN. In Texas they line them with tar and pitch.
Mr. GILBERT. I do not think that would be necessary here,
The CHAIRMAN. Have you tried pumping at all ?
CANALS AND UNDERFLOW IN SOUTHWEST KANSAS. 149
Mr. GILBERT. Not in canals. We are supplying the city here With
water from a well. That well is 24 feet in diameter and about 10 feet
in depth. We can pump from that well millions of gallons a day and not
lower it at all. That proves to us very conclusively that a reservoir or
well 40 feet in width and from a half mile to 1 mile in length, properly
constructed, and with the water conducted from it properly, would Sup-
ply water for a canal of almost any size.
The CHAIRMAN. And that you could convey by gravity onto the
higher lands as you went along 3
Mr. GILBERT. Yes; we would, for instance, go 10 feet below the bed
of the river. With the fall that the river and the country has to the
east, we would have to go perhaps 2 miles before reaching a natural
canal. We would give the ditch a fall of 13 feet to the mile, thereby
gaining 53 feet every mile we would go. -
The CHAIRMAN. In that way you would get an underground flow %
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And the perfection with which you could take out
the water would depend on your works, and how thorough you made
them?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any means of estimating what extent of
country you could irrigate with the waters of the Arkansas if you could
intercept the underground flow 3
Mr. GILBERT. We are undertaking to irrigate a territory that con-
sists of about 800,000 acres, and we think we will be able to do it.
The river makes a very large bend here, starting in at Dodge City and
bending to the south at Speerville east of here, that would be 13 miles
from the river. The ditch we now have in operation reaches the top of
the divide a little north of here and runs along that divide from that
point east, dividing the water between a net-work of creeks and this
river. There is very nearly half a million acres in that net-work between
the Creeks and the river.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be all right for that amount of land.
When you get away from the river bed, what is the topography of the
country north, South, east, and west?
Mr. GILBERT. The topography is very smooth in the center of our
divide, sloping to the east about 7 feet to the mile and sloping to the
north and to the South about 16 feet to the mile. The draws that form
the topography to the north and south are, as a rule, very even and
rolling, not broken, making a very nice country.
The CHAIRMAN. By what means can the balance of the land be irri-
gated beyond what you can reach by your proposed ditch?
Mr. GILBERT. I do not know. 4.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you ever consider the question of saving the
Storm waters in tanks or reservoirs?
Mr. GILBERT. I have thought of that ; yes.
The CHAIRMAN. That is practiced in other parts of the world?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What would be the opportunities here for that ?
Could ravines be found that could be dammed; does the topography
furnish an opportunity for that ?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you plenty of creeks and “draws,” as you call
them, running through the country Ż
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. At what season of the year do the storms come 3
150 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARIL) LANDS.
Mr. GILBERT. Our heaviest rains come during the middle of the sum-
mer. But they come with such a rush and come and go so quickly that
We could not use them.
The CHAIRMAN. I understand that; but if you had means of storage
you might utilize that water ?
Mr. GILBERT. Possibly. I think, however, that if you take my prop-
osition to irrigate 800,000 acres from the canals we have in contempla-
tion and in actual operation, we could double that amount by taking
the Water from the river, as I suggest, to enlarge those systems, and,
perhaps, put in Canals. I think that could be done to better advantage,
cheaper, and with more certainty, than by efforts to get an increase
from other sources.
The CHAIRMAN. I am not talking about that now. Suppose you should
exhaust the river, so far as Kansas is concerned, how much do you es-
timate you could irrigate with the river in the State of Kansas &
Mr. GILBERT. That I could not say. I could only give you an esti
mate of our territory.
The CHAIRMAN. From here down 7
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How much from here down &
Mr. GILBERT. I would not be able to estimate that beyond what we
have in contemplation.
The CHAIRMAN. You put that at 800,000 acres, and you said that per-
haps more could be irrigated?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes. I think it might perhaps be extended to 1,500,000
acres. We could extend it back.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you could go on and exhaust the Arkansas
IRiver, how much would that irrigate—how much would it serve 7
Mr. GILBERT. That is a pretty hard question to answer.
The CHAIRMAN. You have made some examination of the quantity
of water. Of course you can not give it accurately, but I should like
to have an estimate.
Mr. GILBERT. I think it would irrigate one-third of the State of
Ransas.
The CHAIRMAN. One-third of the part requiring irrigation, you mean?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, and that is about 40,000 square miles.
The CHAIRMAN. As to the other two-thirds that require irrigation,
what opportunity would there be for storm storage %
Mr. GILBERT. I think there would be an excellent opportunity.
The CHAIRMAN. It is an open country, as I understand it, with draws,
ravines, and divides 7
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. It is very similar to the other countries where they
store water ?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. There has been no examination of the country with
a view to determine what could be done in that line"
Mr. GILBERT. Not that I know of.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the soil away from the im-
mediate river bottom, on those rolling lands where you would have to
store water ?
Mr. GILBERT. The opportunity is very good indeed. We have a
reservoir north of us that covers an area of a little over 50 acres. It is
24 feet deep. That water will seep away and evaporate about 4 inches
a day. -
The CHAIRMAN. If the water falls during the summer, you would
not have to retain it a long time before you use it?
1FAILURES IN FARMING THROUGH THE DROUGHT. 151
Mr. GILBERT. No, it will go down seemingly for two or three days
to the number of inches I spoke of, but not so much after that.
The CHAIRMAN. After the reservoir gets puddled, so to speak, it
would probably not seep so much 3
Mr. GILBERT. Probably not.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you puddle your reservoir at all ?
Mr. GILBERT. Not at all. We did not do anything to prevent its
Seepage.
The CHAIRMAN. How long would you have to hold the storm water
before you could use it? It falls right along in the summer, does it,
usually *
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, usually, but perhaps there is more that falls in the
spring. We always have good prospects for crops here, but we do not
get rain enough at the proper time. Our heaviest rains come after the
Spring Season.
The CHAIRMAN. Have there been any failures of persons who at-
tempted to farm in this part of the country?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have any persons left it because they could not
raise crops?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Very many ?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How often do you have an exodus or period of de-
parture from this part of the country?
Mr. GILBERT. There has been quite a general moving out twice since
I have been here, that is, within a period of about nine years.
The CHAIRMAN. How many people went out from wetern Kansas 2
Mr. GILBERT. I think about one-third of the population.
The CHAIRMAN. Each time 3
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What became of those that remained?
Mr. GILBERT. They branched out into the stock business and differ.
ent pursuits and managed to hang along until another favorable season
Cand 6.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it practicable for a farmer to come here and make
a living as a farmer without irrigation ?
Mr. GILBERT. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. You mean that it is entirely impracticable?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And every attempt has been a failure ?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And there have been two occasions since you have
; here in the last nine years that a large portion of the population
€
Mr. GILBERT. Yes. s
The CHAIRMAN: What made them come back again?
Mr. GILBERT. Some of them might thereby retain their land.
º CHAIRMAN. Did the same ones come back or did a new Crop
COIſle
Mr. GILBERT. Partly some of the old ones came, but a large major-
ity, I think, would be new-comers.
The CHAIRMAN. Then they would get experience and leave 2
Mr. GILBERT. That is about it. §
The CHAIRMAN. State anything further that you think may be in-
Structive to the committee.
152 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. GILBERT. As a reason why we are anxious to develop this res-
ervoir system, I will say that the Kansas Water Works and Irrigation
Company have invested about $1,000,000 in a canal here. We have a
canal about 96 miles long, 45 feet wide, constructed to carry 5 feet of
water. Our failure to get water from the river at two or three critical
times this year has led us to investigate this matter of utilizing this
underground water, and we think that if we could construct a reservoir
at the head of our large ditch and the other ditches that we have in
Contemplation we could make a success. If we could demonstrate this
fact and utilize this water that we know to be under the bed of the river,
it would develop about 800,000 or 1,000,000 acres of land here that
would be as choice as land anywhere. I wanted to speak of that in
order to show you that we are in earnest about it.
The CHAIRMAN. In flood times there is an abundance of water, is
there ?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any way to divert that and hold it in res-
ervoirs until you want to use it 3
Mr. GILBERT. We might store it in reservoirs. We have about fifty
reservoirs on the line of our canal that we could utilize to some extent.
We have some reservoirs east of here. There are two that I think of
now, natural reservoirs, that would cover an area of two or three sections
of land each.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there no places above here where it could be
stored and made into large lakes above your ditch 3
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, that could be done.
The CHAIRMAN. In case you fail to get sufficient underground
water, why would it not be a good plan to save these flood waters?
Mr. GILBERT. It would be a good idea, and that could be done to
SOme extent.
STATEMENT OF M. W. SUTTON, OF DODGE CITY.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided here ?
Mr. SUTTON. Thirteen years.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given any attention to the subject of irri-
gation and have you observed it here?
Mr. SUTTON. I have to a limited extent.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say as to the capacity of raising
crops without irrigation ?
Mr. SUTTON. I say it is a failure.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know of any person who has tried it and left
the country &
Mr. SUTTON. I have lived here for the time stated and there have
been two or three new crops of people that have come in here. Many
of those who did come went away. For instance, in 1879 quite a good
many people come into this Western country for perhaps two or three
years before 1879. Then there came a season when they left, and they
continued to leave up to the fall of 1880 or the spring of 1881. In 1882
new people commenced coming and continued to come. They rushed
here in crowds and continued to do so until 1887. Now they are going
back again, leaving the country quite largely. They came here, they
saw the rich soils and the splendid climate, and they started in to
plow and plant. Then the rains came in the spring and the crops grew
magnificently on and up to, perhaps, the 1st of July, and then there
was no more rain. The hot winds destroy the crops, as a rule. There
THE UPPER ARKANSAS AND ITS CONDITIONS. 153
are some exceptions, but as a rule they destroy the crops. People
always think the next year will be better and so try on and on two or
three years and then give it up. • tº
The CHAIRMAN. That is the condition in western Kansas, is it—West
of a line drawn across what point?
Mr. SUTTON. At Great Bend, Kans, and the failure from Great Bend
west seems to be in proportion to the rise of the Country.
The CHAIRMAN. It commences failing about how far west of Great
Bend ?
Mr. SUTTON. Perhaps at Great Bend, I would say.
The CHAIRMAN. It commences then about the ninety-eighth degree º
Mr. SUTTON. But the farmers raise pretty good crops in Barton
County almost every year. -
The CHAIRMAN. Some irrigation would do them good there?
Mr. SUTTON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. But as you go west it grows worse ?
Mr. SUTTON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And west of Great Bend it needs irrigation to make
it safe to try farming %
Mr. SUTTON. Yes.
º CHAIRMAN. You have observed this river when it was up, have
you •
Mr. SUTTON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the volume of water running in the river at
flood times 3
Mr. SUTTON. I have seen this river, to the best of my judgment, 15
feet deep. I may be too high, but it has been 12 anyhow. Am I too
high, Mr. Wright 3
Mr. WRIGHT. It does not rise so high on the banks, but the quick-
sands wash out in the middle. When it rises 3 or 4 feet it is 10 feet in
the middle of the river.
The CHAIRMAN. It is a vast volume of water, is it 3
Mr. SUTTON. Yes, it is a vast volume.
The CHAIRMAN. If you could store the flood waters above how much
land could be irrigated in western Kansas 3
Mr. SUTTON. I can not give the number of acres, but I believe the
Arkansas River would water that third of the State which lies west of
this line, where we commence to need irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, if you could save the flood waters; if you
could save the water that flows down the river ?
Mr. SUTTON. Yes, and I think it could be pretty much all saved.
The CHAIRMAN. What chance is there for making large reservoirs
above 3 Are you familiar with the stream above 3
Mr. SUTTON. I have observed it. A little west of us and above this
place the streams are running from the west to the eastward; they are
also 12 to 15 miles apart, and are generally dry. Between these streams
there is a divide, and from the top of that divide to each stream there
is a gentle decline of the land. At the head of these streams, as far as
my observation has gone, there is an immense plateau of salt land, and
I think that with very little cost all of these flood waters could be car-
ried on to those plateaus and stored there, and then run down these
divides between these streams during the seasons of the year when it
is most needed.
The CHAIRMAN. Would a survey by competent engineers showing
the most available places for these reservoirs, etc., be regarded as bene-
ficial.
154 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. SUTTON. I think it would not only be regarded as beneficial, but
I am satisfied that it would be a success.
The CHAIRMAN. That is what we are inquiring, to see whether it
Would not pay to make these surveys. Leaving out of consideration now
the Arkansas River, and considering only the other two-thirds that can
not be watered by the Arkansas, what is the opportunity to store water
for them 3
Mr. SUTTON. I am not sufficiently well acquainted with the topogra-
phy of the whole country to know. After you pass north here 65 or 70
miles I have not been over the country and do not know. In the times
here when there is water in the Arkansas River, unless it is very low,
there is sufficient water for any use and all uses, and when there is no
Water in the river there is no water for any purpose.
There is another thing to which I might call your attention. The
Arkansas River is on a divide. The town of Meade Center, some 45
miles South of us, is some 35 feet lower than we are. The town of Jet-
more, somewhat north of us, is 340 feet lower than we are, which in my
judgment makes the Arkansas River capable of watering all this coun-
try On either side if there is a sufficient amount of water.
The CHAIRMAN. With water, what is the character of the crop pro-
duced here.
Mr. SUTTON. The crop produced here by water is superabundant.
It is wonderful. The soil is very fertile, and only needs rain to pro-
duce any crop that can be produced in this climate, and to produce it
in abundance.
There is another thing I wish to say: I believe that the homestead
law is based on the wrong idea. It should be based upon improvement
and cultivation and not based upon residence alone. As the law now
stands, a man comes out into this country, settles on the land, and
builds a little sod cabin. With $50 or $100 of improvements he can
not cultivate much. Therefore very little of the land is cultivated, and
very little improvement is made. The country is covered with a little
short Buffalo grass; that is a sickly vegetation, at its best, and three
or four days of hot sun and dry weather will ripen it. The country is
all just the same as though it were bare, and there is no vegetation to
keep the air cool. The hot wind that blows over the crop is manufact-
ured right near the crops. As you well know, a field of corn will be
burned a rod or two into the crop and the balance will be nice and
green. You take trees and plant them out on a piece of land 40 rods
wide and they will make a little stunted growth. Break up 40 acres
and plant them in the center of that 40-acre piece and they will make
a fine growth. Now, if this law required a man to break up 140 acres,
even if he did not cultivate it, it would cover the field with vegetation
and there would be less hot wind. If you break a piece of prairie land,
and can go away, you can see it miles off afterward by reason of its
greenness, while all the land around it is parched and dry.
STATEMENT OF R. M. WRIGHT, OF DODGE CITY.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in this city ?
Mr. WRIGHT. Twenty-two years.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed the efforts made to cultivate the
soil in western Kansas without irrigation ?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have they been successful ?
Mr. WRIGHT. They have not.
DEPRESSIONS PRODUCED BY PREVAILING DROUGHT. 155
The CHAIRMAN. Describe the efforts you have made and whether
people have remained or not as a consequence of those efforts?
Mr. WRIGHT. As these gentlemen have explained to you, two or three
crops of immigrants have come to this country in the last twelve or four-
teen years. -
The CHAIRMAN. What do you mean by two or three crops of immi-
rants'
g Mr. WIRIGHT. What I mean by that is this: different batches of im-
migrants have come into the country and about half of them, after two
or three years’ trial, have left. Some stay a little longer than others ;
some have remained four or five years and have then gone away, and a
new batch has come in. That has repeated itself, I think, three or four
times since I have been here.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it possible to farm in this part of the country—
the western part of Kansas—west of Great Bend, without irrigation ?
Mr. WRIGHT. It is only partially possible. They raise a very sorry
crop here without irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. Can a family make a living on the ground by farming 3
Mr. WRIGHT. Not one out of five, I should say. Rain comes in
streaks, here. Some cultivate the soil a little better than others, per-
haps, and a few have made money but they are rare exceptions.
The CHAIRMAN. The great improvements have failed ?
Mr. WRIGHT. The great improvements have failed.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you taken into consideration the possibilities
of irrigation for western Kansas?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed the river from year to year?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the dimensions during the flood season,
for example in the spring of the year, or whenever the water is highest ?
Mr. WRIGHT. This river will average three-eighths of a mile wide, and
an average depth of 6 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. With what fall?
Mr. WRIGHT. Seven feet to the mile.
The CHAIRMAN. That gives it great velocity?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes. It seems to have much greater velocity when
the current is in it.
The CHAIRMAN. The current is very rapid?
Mr. WRIGHT. Very rapid, indeed. You can not ford it.
The CHAIRMAN. If the flood water could be stored, have you ever
considered how much land it would cover in irrigating?
Mr. WRIGHT. No, sir; but it would cover an immense amount of
land. There is a terrible flow of water down this river. For eight
months in the year it is full, and has plenty of water for everybody
and everything. In dry seasons, such as we have had for the past two
years, there is no water at all; that is, for four months in the year, for
the last two years. \
The CHAIRMAN. It dries up entirely once in every five years?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Even before they took any water at all out above 3
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes. It is, say from the middle of August to the middle
of October. Whether they have any rain or snow at all, it seems that
atmospheric pressure brings the water to the surface, and it commences
to flow and flows freely as soon as the weather gets cool.
The CHAIRMAN. Perhaps that is owing to a diminution of the extreme
evaporation.
156 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. WRIGHT. That may be so.
The CHAIRMAN. There is, also, I understand, an underground flow of
Water here ?
Mr. WRIGHT. A very large underground flow.
The CHAIRMAN. How wide is that underground river, so to speak 3
Mr. WRIGHT. I do not know; but I know that southeast of here, say
35 or 40 miles, it breaks out in very fine creeks. There is nothing in the
World to produce that water and no place for it to come from, except
from the Arkansas River.
The CHAIRMAN. If by any means that could be brought to the surface
that would be of considerable aid, would it not?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Outside of the country that can be irrigated by the
* River, in western Kansas, are you familiar with the topography
Of I
Mr. WRIGHT. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not been north and south ?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes, I have been north and south, but have never taken
much notice of it.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it rolling here and there?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes; there are many arroyos and creeks.
The CHAIRMAN. Could those arroyos be dammed and stored?
Mr, WRIGHT. Isuppose so.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not examined it with that view º
nº." WRIGHT. No. The underground water I think is inexhaust-
1016.
Mr. SUTTON (interrupting). For 35 or 50 miles on either side of the
river, you have to go to the level of the river for digging wells. You
can not tell how deep you have to go until you strike the sand.
Mr. WRIGHT. I will have to correct Mr. Sutton a little on that. You
can dig a well (there is a well here) 300 or 400 feet from the river, and I
venture to say that the water in that well is 4 feet higher than the water
in the river. At different places as you go up the hill-side that in-
CI’623 SOS.
te º CHAIRMAN. You do not have to go clear down to the bed of the
rl Ver
Mr. WRIGHT. No. It rises considerably above the bed of the river.
I think it is the flow from above that does that. It has the advantage
of the flow of the river.
The CHAIRMAN. Still you think it comes from the river ?
1Mr. WRIGHT. Yes. Say, for instance, if it flows in at a half mile
above, that would be 3 feet pressure from above.
Mr. SUTTON. That is, pressure from above in the manner of arte-
Sian Water.
º: CHAIRMAN. You have not stated what kind of crops you raise
here
Mr. WRIGHT. We raise a very good crop here under the ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. Describe it.
Mr. WRIGHT. It is a very good crop of corn, potatoes, and oats.
The CHAIRMAN. How much corn to the acre? -
Mr. WRIGHT. I have not gathered it yet, but I expect 40 or 50
bushels. z
The CHAIRMAN. How much oats?
Mr. WRIGHT. I think about 40 bushels. We did not get the water on
the oats in time or we could get a good deal larger crop.
Mr. SUTTON. The reason of that was that there was not Water in the
river, I suppose.
*
How THE SETTLERS HAVE COME AND GONE AGAIN. 157
Mr. WRIGHT. The potatoes are 60 bushels to the acre.
The CHAIRMAN. That is rather a small crop 3
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes; but they are the best potatoes I ever ate in my
life.
The CHAIRMAN. This land is rich, and will raise good crops if irri-
gated ?
Mr. WRIGHT. Excellent.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the climate?
Mr. WRIGHT. It is the best in the world.
The CHAIRMAN. Was there much suffering on the part of those peo-
ple who had to move away ?
Mr. WRIGHT. I can not deny that there was some little suffering, but
our county has relieved many of them, and we would send them away
sometimes when they could not get away from here themselves and
could not do any more good.
The CHAIRMAN. How many times in the last twenty years have you
had to help people out?
Mr. WRIGHT. I guess about three times. The Santa Fé Railroad
Company issued passes at two different times, I believe.
The CHAIRMAN. To the people who wanted to get away who had
attempted to farm here and failed ?
Mr. WRIGHT. Yes.
STATEMENT OF JOHN W. SIDLOW, OF DODGE CITY.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in this vicinity ?
Mr. SIDLOW. Fifteen years.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say as to the efforts of settlers to make
farms here, and as to their success or failure? *
Mr. SIDLOW. The efforts have generally been a failure.
The CHAIRMAN. How many times have the immigrants tried it':
Mr. SIDLOW. There have been about three different attempts since I
have been in the county.
The CHAIRMAN. Have large numbers come?
Mr. SIDLOW. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Throughout western Kansas 3
Mr. SIDLOW. Throughout the western part of this State.
The CHAIRMAN. What became of them 3
Mr. SIDLOW. I think in 1879 there were about two-thirds of the peo-
#. Who Settled in the county and attempted to farm that had to
€2,Ve.
The CHAIRMAN. What did the others do?
Mr. SIDLOW. Some of them came with some means and were able to
Worry through some of the poor years, expecting that the crops would
be better, and there were two or three years in which the crops were
Very good—that is, they were fair; and it encouraged the farmers to
put in largely of crops. Then there would come a dry season, and what
they had accumulated in two or three years was all used up by the fail-
ure in One of those dry seasons.
The CHAIRMAN. And they had to go away ?
Mr. SIDLOW. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Then there is no safety in farming in this vicinity
except by irrigation ?
Mr. SIDLOW. I do not think there is.
Adjourned. *
158 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
- GARDEN CITY, KANs., September 3, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present: Messrs. Stewart (chairman), Plumb, and Jones of Arkansas;
also Director Powell. -
STATEMENT OF G. W. CONYERS, OF FINNEY COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside, Mr. Conyers?
Mr. CONYERS. In the north part of Finney County.
Senator PLUMB. What is your occupation ?
Mr. CONYERS. I am a farmer.
Senator PLUMB. Are there any ditches running through your part of
the county 2
Mr. CONYERs. Not through my part of it.
Senator PLUMB. How near are you to the nearest ditch?
Mr. CONYERS. About 5 miles to the nearest ditch that has ever had
any Water in it.
jºr PLUMB. What was the result of farming there without irri-
gation
Mr. CONYERS. It was an entire failure.
Senator PLUMB. You could raise nothing?
Mr. CONYES. A little sorghum as feed for stock. That is the best we
could do.
Senator PLUMB. You raised a little, but you can raise more ?
Mr. CONYERS. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Is there a sure crop up there ?
Mr. CONYERS. Not a sure crop, by any means, without irrigation.
Senator PLUMB. Is any other crop a sure crop 3
Mr. CONYERS. My experience is that rye is about as sure a crop as
anything we can plant without water.
Senator PLUMB. How far is it to Water ?
Mr. CONYERS. About 20 feet.
Senator PLUMB. Have you a good supply 3
Mr. CONYERS. We have an inexhaustible supply. I have a well
bored with a 6-inch auger; I have a windmill on that well and have
pumped 150 barrels of water a day from it; there seems to be no end
to it.
Senator PLUMB. Have you tried irrigation by that means ?
Mr. CONYERS. Yes; I have tried it from a tank in the garden, filled
from that well. t
Senator PLUMB, EHow large a garden?
Mr. CONYERS. A small patch.
Senator PLUMB. Could you, by duplicating these appliances, extend
the area of irrigation on that place 3
Mr. ConyERs. Yes; if I had any means by which I could get the
water out. There is water enough on my place to irrigate a whole
quarter section.
Senator PLUMB. By “means” do you intend to signify some pumping
appliances different from what you have?
Mr. ConyERs. Yes; I have not power enough to irrigate any special
amount of land.
Senator PLUMB. Could you get it by duplicating or triplicating your
present pumping plant, such as Windmills &
AN orDINARY PUMPING PLANT AND ITS USEs. 159
Mr. ConyERs. Yes; but I have been farming so long without the se-
curity of irrigation that I have not the means now to get the appliances.
Senator PLUMB. Have you any Suggestions to make as to anything
that can be done in the line of testing the conditions necessary to secure
irrigation in your locality?
Mr. CONYERs. No, sir; unless some plan could be arranged to elevate
the water we have in the country up there. There is an abundance of
water there to irrigate the whole country if we had some means of ele-
vating it to the surface.
Senator PLUMB. You need only an ordinary pumping plant }
Mr. ConyERs. That is all ; some power sufficient to raise the neces-
sary amount of water.
Senator PLUMB. You consider it a settled fact, then, that there is a
sufficient body of water within 20 or 25 feet of the surface 2
Mr. CoMYERS. I do. There is an ample supply there.
Senator PLUMI5. To what extent has this underflow been determined
by your neighbors or yourself—through what extent of country &
Mr. CONYERS. My place is 17 miles north of the river. I get my
well water from the sand formation. When you go west some miles
you get into land where they have to go 100 feet for water.
Senator PLUMB. Do you think you are on a level with the Arkansas
River at that 20 feet?
Mr. ConyERS. I think so. I do not know that that is the case, how-
ever, having no way to determine, but my best judgment is that it
would be on the exact level with the Arkansas River.
Senator PLUMB. Have you no suggestion to make, then, as to any-
thing that would be necessary to determine by further tests the exist-
ence of this water and the means of getting it to the surface 3
Mr. CONYERS. I think it could be tested here in this bottom or valley,
The main thing that the people of this country want, I think, is to have
it demonstrated that there is a supply of water here.
Senator PLUMB. That has been demonstrated on your place, you
think, in your locality ?
Mr. CONYERS. I think it has. I think if it was demonstrated that
this water was supplied here in sufficient quantities capitalists would
take hold of it and let us have a supply of water.
STATEMENT OF R. J. CLARK, OF GRAY COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
h Mr. CLARK. In the south part of Gray County, 50 miles southeast of
€Te. r
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided there?
Mr. CLARK. Since 1884.
Senator PLUMB. Where did you come from ?
Mr. CLARK. Directly from Illinois.
Senator PLUMB. State in your own way what is in your mind con-
cerning this question that We have been discussing as to that which
in your judgment, can be done in the way of irrigation and how tº
meet the situation in your county.
Mr. CLARK. What can be done and how I do not know, but some-
thing must be done if this population is to be kept here. I came here
in 1884, as I say. In 1887 we had a voting population of 1,500 men in
our county. Some of those came for the purpose of speculation, a small
number of them to prove up their claims, mortgage them, and make all
160 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
the money they could and leave. A large proportion came here, how-
ever, to settle and with the determination to stay in this country. They
have staid: First, they exhausted their own means to come here; sec-
ondly, it became necessary to mortgage their land; they did so; that
money went in trying to hold up and improve this country; thirdly, the
wants of their families compelled them to mortgage their stock. I am
in such situation that I know for a fact that three-fourths of the per-
sonal property in Gray County to-day is under chattel mortgage, and
that the mortgage money is gone.
Senator PLUMB. We want to know generally the situation down
there.
Mr. CLARK. We have held up this country by publication in the pa-
pers. We have held it up until the people are ruined. Now, it is be-
coming necessary for the facts to be made known, let it be to the Gow-
ernment or whoever it may be.
Senator PLUMB. The question before us is as to the needs of the
country, and what those needs are. In regard to the condition of
things that would make agriculture highly profitable—that is another
Question.
Mr. CLARK. We have endeavored to hold up this section as a part of
the State you represent, Senator. Now, it becomes necessary that you,
as our representative, should know the true character of this region,
so that you may report it as you hear it.
Senator PLUMB. Just state it in your own way. How long has it
been since your people came to the conclusion that the natural precipi-
tation of moisture would not do for crop purposes 3
Mr. CLARK. We had been thinking that for two years.
Senator PLUMB. Upon what was the judgment of your people origin-
ally based that there would be sufficient precipitation of moisture?
Mr. CLARK. We had nothing to base our judgment upon. We came
into this country. The beauty of it is unsurpassed, and the fertility of
the soil, on thorough examination, with the applied moisture then found,
proved to us that the richness of this soil also was unsurpassed. All
we needed was moisture, and we hoped that there would always be suf-
ficient rain-fall to produce crops. Up to the present time we have found
sufficient to produce all crops except perhaps in April and July.
Senator PLUMB. It is not properly distributed ?
Mr. CLARK. That is the trouble. Through April we have a spell of
dry weather that cripples the wheat and oats so that they never recover.
Senator PLUMB. What is the elevation of your county above the sea-
level?
Mr. CLARK. I do not know that I can answer that question, but I
think it is about 2,800 feet.
Senator PLUMB. How deep do you go for Water"
Mr. CLARK. From 100 to 200 feet.
Senator PLUMB. What streams are in your county &
Mr. CLARK, Crooked Creek in the south, and the Arkansas River in
the center of the County.
Senator PLUMB. Is there any water in the Arkansas River now %
Mr. CLARK. No, not flowing on the surface.
Senator PLUMB. What has been the condition of the stream for the
last two years?
Mr. CLARK. We have usually had a flow of water in June and July.
Last year the stream went dry, and this year it has also done so.
Senator PLUMB. What in your mind is the course to be pursued to
THE ARTESIAN weLLs of MEADE county, KANSAs. 161
enable your people who are in the strait you have mentioned to main-
tain themselves where they are 3
Mr. CLARK. I have only one fact to give. I live at present at Ingalls.
Near that place is a dam, and the Eureka Canal goes out from there.
That dam is very hard to hold. When the rush of water comes in the
river it tears out the rock. The company conceived that they could
dig a lateral from the main ditch below the dam, and, when the river is
up high, they would let the water flow from the ditch and out into the
river again. In digging that they had to dig from 4 to 6 feet deep, and
they dug it in the southeasterly direction. The length of the ditch
was nearly half a mile. When they got down to the level of the river
they struck water. They kept scraping out the dirt until they came
to water. The ditch is now dry. That went on, and they cleaned out
that ditch to the river, and the water flowed out there through that
lateral. It seemed to come up from the bottom and flow out through
that. From that I gained an idea that by proper appliances—I do not
know what they should be or how they should be constructed—but
that by going into this river bottom at any point and excavating the
earth perhaps 6 feet deep for a distance of 3 to 4 (or perhaps even 2)
miles, whatever was necessary, you could get a constant flow of water
Out of this river at any point.
Senator PLUMB. In your judgment, would that be sufficient for all
the adjacent country &
Mr. CLARK. I do not know how that would be.
Senator PLUMB. No estimates have been taken as to the flow %
Mr. CLARK. I am not mistaken as to the flow I have spoken of at
Ingalls. t
Senator PLUMB. But what I mean is that there have been no measure-
ments as to what the extent of the flow is, or of the depth of the water ?
Mr. CLARK. No.
Senator PLUMB. Have you any further suggestions to make about
this matter ? I should like to have you state just what has been in
your mind as to the thing that could be done to meet the present
emergency and also to meet future conditions.
Mr. CLARK. In Meade County, south perhaps 10 miles of where I
live, they have flowing wells, fifteen or twenty, put down by private
capital. Perhaps there might be flowing wells got all over Gray
County. I do not know. There is no person there that has the means
to put down those wells at the present time; their means are gone.
The people in that section of the country are in a deplorable condition.
If, perhaps, the Government should see fit to put down a flowing well
I think that that would demonstrate the fact, and eastern capital might
be brought in there and get wells.
Senator PLUMB. Do you know if the experiences had with the flow-
ing wells referred to would warrant the expectation that if they were
multiplied largely the flow would keep up 3 Has it done that so far *
Mr. CLARK. It has kept up; yes, fully. The largest well there has a
4-inch pipe. That well has been flowing since it was first sunk, and
has been flowing full and with such force that when you take a bucket
and hold it under it the power is so great that the water will overflow
and you can only get a half bucketful from it. A gentleman has taken
a large “draw” from it from which he has irrigated and grown trees ;
they are doing Well. From that he has also flooded a field in which
there are potatoes and all sorts of vegetables. In that field I can show
you potatoes equal to any grown in Utah in size and flavor.
Senator PLUMB. Are those wells in the bottom 3
138 A L–WOL III—11.
162 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Mr. CLARK. No, sir; they are up on the hill. The first well we got
there was down on Crooked Creek. The other wells are scattered over
that country. * 2
Senator PLUMB. How deep are they 7
Mr. CLARK. From 60 feet (that is the depth of the lowest well) to 150
feet, the deepest well.
Senator PLUMB. You could not get artesian wells in your county at
that depth º -
Mr. CLARK. No; our wells are, as I say, about 110 feet.
Senator PLUMB. Is there plenty of water in them ż
Mr. CLARK. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. A very large quantity ?
Mr. CLARK. Yes. You can not pump the wells dry after you get well
into this stratum of sand. When you have gone down 3 feet into the
•
sand, you can put all the appliances and pumps you please to it and you
can not exhaust the water.
Senator PLUMB. Have you any further suggestions to make 7
Mr. CLARK. Nothing, only that I should urge the matter of investi-
gating our water supply strongly on the Government. e
Senator PLUMB. Within what time must something be done by some-
body to enable your people to remain }
Mr. CLARK. The men who are there now are anxious to stay. If
they knew that the Government was going to take hold of the matter
and demonstate the fact beyond question, so that this water may be
raised to the surface, they would stay on, notwithstanding that their
condition now is very bad.
Senator PLUMB. Could they stay three or four years if necessary to
meet that condition; or perhaps two or three years?
Mr. CLARK. Well, I do not know whether they could stay so long or
not, but they will stay until starvation drives them out.
Senator PLUMB. Of course, if the demonstration you speak of were
made, and if one artesian well were got, within a few months we will
say, the question would still remain as to the sinking of others and the
obtaining of capital; and the further question—a very important one,
however—as to whether the supply will keep on under the multiplica-
tion of the wells?
Mr. CLARK. I have no doubt whatever as to the supply of water. I
think that if the Government took hold and sunk one well to demonstrate
the fact, and then went to work to investigate the amount of water un-
der this river (for we know that if the water is there it can be got out,
and that it can be got out in quantities sufficient to Wet this country
thoroughly), why the people would stay. They will not have to stay
very long. The east is now watching this committee. The people are
watching this committee as you pass around. After you have gone
and made your report to Congress, if that report is favorable, and Con-
gress comes to the assistance of people here, they will feel certain that
the Government is going to do something to demonstrate this great
fact, and as soon as that fact is established people will come here from
the east and buy these cheap lands. In that way many men that are
here to day between life and death will have an opportunity, if they
wish, to let loose some of their land to those who have money. This
country is settled up largely by old soldiers, men who have been to the
front, and have done their duty by their country and the Government,
and it looks now as if the Government should come to their aid and do
its duty by them. I would like you to go into the country and see the
true condition of things, not from my words, but from actual observa-
SETTLERS HAVE GOT THROUGH PAINTING THE LAND. 163
tion and sight. We have got through “painting” it, and we have got
down to bed rock. sºn
Senator JONES. You made a statement just now to the effect that
people are hanging on here between life and death. I wish you would
state in the first place how long you have lived in Western Kansas'
Mr. CLARK. Since 1884.
Senator JONES. I wish you would explain to the committee (the other
members may know all about it, I do not) how you first came here
and how the other people first came here; what your information was,
and, what your experience was ?
Mr. CLARK. This country was thoroughly advertised by railroad com-
panies and land agents. In the first settlement this country was filled
up by persons who had been in better circumstances and something had
broken them down financially, or by an active set of young men who broke
loose from their family relations and wanted to do something for them-
Selves.
Senator JONES. About what time was it that that movement set
in 3 -
... Mr. CLARK. It began in 1884 and continued until 1886. This country .
was all taken up from 1884 to 1886, or virtually so. A few pieces of
land, perhaps, were left vacant, but only a few.
Senator JONES. Are the same people here now who came here then }
Mr. CLARK. Yes, to a large extent. Probably a majority remain.
Senator JONES. Has there been any material emigration from west-
ern Kansas by people who have come here and have abandoned their
homes and left?
Mr. CLARK. In 1887 we had a voting population of 1,500 in our
county. To-day the vote will run about 600. We had a class of people
who came here merely for speculation. They came merely to take up
this land, mortgage it, make all the money they could and go away.
Those men went the first six months. The men who remained are the
men who came here to make homes.
Senator JONES. I think you said that that was but a small percentage
of the population ?
Mr. CLARK. Yes, it was.
Senator JONES. What has been the cause of the great emigration of
the other class of people who came here 3
Mr. CLARK. The Want of sustenance. Men who came here with lim-
ited means staid two or three years and could not raise crops, and the
consequence was that they had to get out.
Senator JONES. Failure of the crops was the cause 3
Mr. CLARK. Yes; and that is what is now about to drive the re-
mainder of the population out.
Senator JONES. How have the crops been this year in this section of
country? You have had an unusual amount of rain-fall this year.
- Mr. CLARK. Yes. -
Senator JONES. Have you had enough for your crops?
Mr. CLARK. We had, if it had been properly distributed. Our rains
did not set in until April, and the wheat and oats were ruined by
drought. Some hundreds of acres of wheat were caught in the drought,
and it did not get high enough to mow.
The CHAIRMAN. What was the condition of the river in April? Was
it high or low %
Mr. CLARK. In April We had water, and again in July. There are
ten months of the twelve that are good for crops here. It is in April
and July that we get caught.
164 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Senator JONES. Is that on account of a small rain-fall in April and
July, or on account of the greater demand for water in April and July.
Mr. CLARK. It is on account of the lack of rain in July.
Senator JONES. You do not have so much in July as you need.
Mr. CLARK. No.
The CHAIRMAN. How was the river last July 3
Mr. CLARK, Nearly dry. There came a flood in the river, however,
on the 12th of July, and we were ruined on the 14th of July. The 14th,
15th, and 16th of July are the days that ruined us this year. If we had
had ditches at that time and had the water held in reservoirs so that
we could have used it at the proper time we would have been much
better off. The hot winds do not come from Texas or from other places 20
miles south of us. They generate right here. If we have a local shower
here, twenty-four hours afterward the buffalo-grass has become again
green. But where the local showers have not fallen the hot winds
come on. Where they have local rains at the proper time the crops are T
right; but the great area of this country that did not have local rains is
entirely destroyed; winds blew over us and destroyed our crops, but did
not affect the crops of people at places where they have local showers;
nor did it affect the people where they had local irrigation. This
demonstrated beyond all question of doubt that all we wanted was
moisture. -
Senator JONES. Were there any experiments in agriculture before
1884 that would justify the settlement of this country for agricultural
purposes? -
Mr. CLARK. There had been to a limited extent. We came in 1884
and we found that many claims had been taken by men that came in
1876, 1877, 1878, and 1879. A few of those men who came tried agri-
culture and moved out.
Senator JONES. They had failed ?
Mr. CLARK. They had failed.
Senator JONES. On account of the failure of crops?
Mr. CLARK. Yes; on account of the failure of the crops. Those who
staid and went into the cattle business were able to remain.
Senator JONES. Then these representations that induced this immi-
gration in 1884, as I understand you, must have been knowingly exag-
gerated; people must have been willfully misled into thinking that
this country was good for agriculture ?
Mr. CLARK. I think they were, as far as the railroad interests were
concerned. - w
Senator JONES. At what prices were those lands in this country sold
by the railroads?
Mr. CLARK. Five and six dollars an acre.
Senator JONES. On what terms ?
Mr. CLARK. On long terms.
Senator Jon ES. Was no portion paid down 3
Mr. CLARK. Yes; a part of the money was paid down.
Senator Jon Es. And the balance on long time?
Mr. CLARK. Yes. The land agents who advertised the country were
new comers here the same as ourselves, and their advertisements were,
I think, based on honor. In passing over the country they saw what a
beautiful country it was here. The man who would plant a little sod
and put it under moisture, would be readily convinced of the richness
of the soil. Those advertising men, therefore, I think believed it, and
the railroad men may have believed the same thing, although they were
conversant with the land long before that. -
$
THE weLLs AT ARTESIAN CITY, GRAY county. 165
I have here a card that has been handed to me by a gentleman Who,
I suppose, was here in 1883 and 1884. On that card he says, “Large
crops.” I would like the gentleman to be called to the stand to explain
that. I do not know anything about it. -
* , STATEMENT OF J. H. KELLY, OF GRAY COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
Mr. KELLY. In the southwest part of Gray County.
Senator PLUMB. Do you live near Mr. Clark?
Mr. KELLY. No. .
Senator PLUMB. Where did you come from when you came to that
country &
Mr. KELLY. I came from the southwestern part of Ohio into Kansas.
Senator PLUMB. You may make any statement to the committee
which you think bears on this subject of water supply for your sec-
tion of the State, as briefly as you reasonably can. I suppose there is
no necessity for your re-stating what Mr. Clark has already stated about
the condition of the people. Of course, we can not take time for every
witness to repeat everything.
Senator JONES. If those statements are in his opinion correct, he
may Say S0.
Senator PLUMB. Yes. Dou you believe that what Mr. Clark said is
Correct 3
Mr. KELLY. Yes; I think Mr. Clark has stated the facts of the case;
and I believe, also, there is ample water. It is essential for the settlers
of Western Kansas to have that water.
Senator PLUMB. Where is the water ?
Mr. KELLY. I think the water is in the earth, sufficient of it,
Senator PLUMB. Where is it with reference to being obtained; is it
under the surface of the land 3
Mr. KELLY. It is under the surface; yes.
Senator PLUMB. At what depth 3
Mr. KELLY. I have sunk a well 96 feet deep, and I find ample water
at that depth. I find a basin of water that is running, I think, as
Swiftly as the Arkansas River.
Senator PLUMB. In the bottom of your well?
Mr. KELLY: Yes; at 96 feet deep. I am on an altitude that is high
On the divide between the Arkansas and Cimarron Rivers. I have been
there for some five years.
Senator PLUMB. You think that water could be had for this section
of the country at the depth of your well?
Mr. KELLY, No, I think not. I think you would have to go deeper.
I think there is water sufficient, however, provided the people of west-
ern Kansas could afford the machinery which it would take to bring
that Water to the surface.
Senator PLUMB. You think there must be an artesian supply?
Mr. KELLY. I think so.
Senator JONES. Is your well an artesian well?
Mr. KELLY: No. But southeast of me 35 miles is Artesian City, on
Crooked Creek, with an ample supply of water.
Senator PLUMB, What depth do they have to go there to get water?
Mr. KELLY. Fifty-five feet is the shallowest well. There have been
four or five wells sunk, at Artesian City, and the pressure will run, I
think, about 2 pounds to the square inch.
166 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
\
Senator PLUMB. How much land do they irrigate at Artesian City ?
Mr. KELLY. This is the first season in which they have attempted to
irrigate land to amount to anything. tº
Senator PLUMB. What quantity do they now irrigate?
Mr. KELLY. I can not say; but they have irrigated enough to con-
Vince the people that the supply of water is sufficient. They have res-
ervoirs for the dry period. They have produced everything; potatoes,
Cabbage, corn, rye, wheat, etc., at Artesian City.
Senator PLUMB. Your suggestion, if I understand you, is that it
Should be demonstrated that there is or is not artesian water under the
surface of your section of country?
Mr. KELLY. That is my idea exactly. I am confident that there is
sufficient water if it can be brought to the surface, and in the present
condition of the people they require water very much. My idea is that
the water is sufficient, and if the Government will take the matter in
hand and demonstrate the fact that there is a sufficiency of water by
making an appropriation to sink one artesian well, it will be a great
thing for my section of the county. We know that in the Arkansas
Valley there is ample water, but to concentrate the people of western
ECansas into the Arkansas Valley seems to me a little absurd. At
the same time many of our people are satisfied that if we bore into this
stratum I have spoken of, the water will be found ample. That would
mean millions of dollars to western Kansas. When I struck my well
I dug 96 feet deep and came to running water, running as swiftly
as the Arkansas River, running right through the quicksand and pebbles.
It seems to me that the Government might go to work and sink One or
more experimental artesian wells. They woud only have to go moder-
ately deep.
The CHAIRMAN. What means have you taken to get the Water to the
surface? A
Mr. KELLY. No means.
The CHAIRMAN. How did you get it to the surface?
Mr. KELLY. By going deep enough.
The CHAIRMAN. But how did you get it up 3
Mr. KELLY. By pumping; by means of a wind-mill.
The CHAIRMAN. How large a wind-mill ?
Mr. KELLY. The cylinder is 14 inches by 4 inches.
The CHAIRMAN. How large across is your wind-mill?
Mr. KELLY. It has a 12-foot wheel.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of water does it throw up 3
Mr. KELLY. I have never estimated.
The CIIAIRMAN. Have you ever tried to irrigate a garden with the
Water 3 *
Mr. KELLY. We keep a little reservoir besides my tanks, for cattle
and so on. I put in a day and a half’s work with the Scooper and
plow, to dam a little ravine to hold the water, and ran the water into
that reservoir and it has been there all Summer.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not make any further use of it than to water
the stock &
Mr. KELLY. Nothing else. *
The CHAIRMAN. You have not thought of elevating the water by
windmill, storing it, and cultivating some land with it?
Mr. KELLY. Yes; I have thought a good deal of it, but I have not
put it into practice. º
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think it practicable %
Mr. KELLY. I do not know whether it is or not. I think it is practi-
How well water Is READILY oBTAINABLE. 167
cable to irrigate that way, but we would have to go deeper than my well
to do it. We would have to go down deep enough to get pressure or
“head" enough to get the water to flow. I do not think it is practi-
cable to get machinery to throw its water up at all—either windmill or
€1191 Iſle. *
#. CHAIRMAN. Have you studied the question to see what has been
done elsewhere ? º
Mr. KELLY. No; I have not studied it out, but I know that the water
supply is ample.
STATEMENT OF R. O. JAMES, OF STEVENS COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
Mr. JAMES. In Stevens County.
Senator PLUMB. Where did you come from ; from that county ?
Mr. JAMES. I came from Indiana.
Senator PLUMB. What is your occupation ?
Mr. JAMES. I am a banker. Our farming community is not repre-
sented to-day. We had not expected you here until the 20th of the
month or it would have been represented.
Senator PLUMB. Have you heard the statement of Mr. Clark as to
the condition of the people in Gray County &
Mr. JAMEs. Yes; I heard that.
Senator PLUMB. To what extent does that compare with the condi.
tion of things in your county &
Mr. JAMES. It compares about equally with the condition of things
in a portion of our county. There are some parties in our county that
have made a good living until this year. The county has been settled
only about four years and this past year has been the most difficult of
the four.
Senator PLUMB. That is, the present season?
Mr. JAMEs. Yes. Since the 12th of July it has been “rocky” there,
to use a western word. The farmers of our county believe that it can
be irrigated by artesian Wells.
Senator PLUMB. Are there artesian wells in your county?
Mr. JAMES. No; because we have not gone deep enough. We find
water there at from 50 to 150 feet deep. We have three wells in our
town, two squares apart, that give water at 80 feet. The 12-foot wheels
of these wells are on day and night and have no effect to lower the
pressure. The Windmill has no effect whatever on the waters in the
Wells.
Senator PLUMB. The farmers in your county who have done well
down there, up to this year, have they had any irrigation to aid them?
Mr. JAMES. No. g
Senator PLUMB. In what respect, then, are they better off than their
neighbors?
Mr. JAMES. We have two classes of land—one we call buffalo sod,
the other is a Sandy loam. The parties living on the edge of the sand
have been each year more successful because it retains moisture. Mr.
Kunz, a man who was an old farmer in the East and took care of his
crop and worked diligently, and Mr. Nash, another man who worked
diligently, made quite a success of their farms.
Senator PLUMB. Have there been other farmers in your County that.
have been successful?
**.
\ --
i
168 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Mr. JAMEs. Yes; there is another man who has been successful there
in raising potatoes. He was on the edge of the sand.
Senator PLUMB. To what do you attribute their special success?
Mr. JAMES. They are, as I say, on the edge of the sand.
The CHAIRMAN. Is the sand lower ground than the other.
Mr. JAMES, No; higher if anything.
Senator PLUMB. The men, you say, who have been farming on the
Sand have done Well? -
Mr. JAMES. Not all of them. It is only in localities where there
have been local rains. There are some men in the county who happen
to have been in the local showers, who have had fair crops, while other
men right near them have not had any. * -
Senator PLUMB. Then it is the question in the distribution of water
that has made the difference?
Mr. JAMES. Yes. In the southern and eastern part of our county
they are far ahead of the central, northern, or western. Last year We
were far ahead of the southern. It seems to be as it happens.
Senator PLUMB. State what, according to your belief and that of
your people, is within reach and necessary to make a secure Water
supply?
Mr. JAMES. Our people are all anxious to know if the Government
will take Steps to learn whether this water can be raised from below us
for irrigation purposes. If the Government will test that, we think
that private capital will come in. It is only a question of whether this
is inexhaustible or not. Mr. B. E. Steely, of our town, has a well, and
he claims that there are 225 feet of water in this well. It was dug and
bored with a 2-inch auger. There is another gentleman 2 miles from
town who has a well 240 feet deep, and has 70 feet of water standing
in it all the time.
Senator, PLUMB. Has that to be pumped up 3
Mr. JAMEs. There is a windmill running all the time; it fills his
trough and it runs Out. -
Senator PLUMB. Is it the opinion of your people that that sort of
thing will be enough for irrigation ? gº
Mr. JAMES. It is their belief that it will afford great relief in that
respect. Our belief is that the stratum of water will prove to be arte-
S13, Il.
Senator PLUMB. But you do not rely for this opinion of yours, as to
the water supply, upon what has already been discovered; you think
there is a vein below that is artesian &
Mr. JAMEs. Yes; I think that the third stratum, probably at 1,000
or even 600 feet, will give us plenty of water. My opinion is that the
stratum of water runs from east to west, and that ‘it comes from the
mountains. Whether it will be inexhaustible or not is a question, and
that question we would like to have settled. 1 spoke of a few of Our
successful farmers. We have been in the rain-fall, but there have been
many who have tried to be successful who have not been in the line of
local rain-fall. Last year Stevens County supported itself and shipped
some produce out; this year, if the people had all remained there, we
could not have done it. If the people had all staid We could not have
fed Our Cattle.
Senator JONES. I understood you at first to say that there Were Cer-
tain citizens, certain farmers, in your country that were prosperous;
..but I afterward thought that you qualified that statement by saying
that there were some years when these farmers were prosperous and
others when they were not—depending upon the rain-ſall. How is that ?
Are there some men who have been uniformly a failure? *
THEORIES As To THE INCREASE OF RAIN-FALL. 169
Mr. JAMEs. It is changing around. Mr. Kuntz, south of town, the
old gardener that I spoke of, has been there four years. The first year
there was not much raised, because there were but few people in there
until the spring, and there was not time to prepare, but Mr. Kuntz would
plant his melons, potatoes, etc., and he told me yesterday that he had
9 acres of potatoes that he had planted back again that had not sprouted,
and which he had planted back with the idea that there would be rains.
Our July rains have been very short. Our August rains, until this
year, have been suitable for some purposes.
Senator JONES. Are there any farmers in your county that have
raised good crops of wheat this year 3
Mr. JAMES. We have some gentlemen who can tell you more than I
can. One old gentleman in the northwestern part of our county (Dr.
Allen) said he raised 1,000 bushels of oats, rye, and wheat, but many
have not been successful.
Senator PLUMB. One swallow does not make a summer. The fact
that one man has not made a success this year proves nothing. My
question is, has there been a farmer in your county who has uniformly
made a good wheat crop since the land has been in cultivation ?
Mr. JAMES. I do not think there is. It is a question in my mind
whether the wheat crop has been thoroughly tried or not. The county
west of ours has given a better trial than ours. Many of the farmers
there do not seem to think that wheat will do well there, but many of
them this year sowed more than has been sowed before. Last year one
good flood over a good deal of land in our county would have made a
successful crop. I do not believe that Indian corn would be the success.
that other kinds would be. All new countries have their ups and downs.
with regard to population. I have heard some men in other counties,
at one time say that they could not get away, and yet to-day they are
the wealthiest farmers in the county.
The CHAIRMAN. With reference to the water you find by sinking
Wells—does that seem to be extensive 3
Mr. JAMES. Yes, and We can not lower it by steam-pumps.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever considered the question of combining
together and getting machinery of some kind?
Mr. JAMEs. Yes, I believe that could be done to some extent, but
whether the Water is inexhaustible or not is what we would like to have
tried.
The CHAIRMAN. In the particular stratum that you spoke of, do you
think the water would be easily exhausted?
Mr. JAMES. I do not think it would.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you say you have considered the propriety of
ºpining and getting Water enough for a neighborhood by machin-
ery
Mr. JAMES. Yes; we have under consideration now a proposition to
issue $15,000 of bonds for that purpose.
The CHAIRMAN. You want to get a $15,000 plant?
Mr. JAMES. The county, according to statute, has a right to donate
$15,000 to any firm or corporation for that purpose.
The CHAIRMAN. Eſow much will a wind-mill throw out 3
Mr. JAMES. It is according to the wind and according to the wheel
and many things of that kind. I do not know that I could say just
What quantity of water it would throw out in twenty-four hours.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you people tried to save the water thrown out
by Wind-mills for the purpose of irrigating gardens?
170 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
M.I. JAMES... No. Mr. Cook, north of the town, has a fish-pond. To
fill that he tells me that he pumps two days and stops pumping one.
The CHAIRMAN. He has not tried making a garden of 2 or 3 acres?
Mr. JAMES. No. Mr. Kuntz, last year, did irrigate a little garden.
Our county has no river in it, although the Cimarron River touches us
on the border. Its altitude is higher than onrs and when there is water.
there there could be an irrigating ditch made.
The CHAIRMAN. Has it ever occurred to you to dam up the ravines
and Save the storm water ?
Mr. JAMES. Yes. That is a good thought, but it has never been
tried. Water can not be held successfully, however, on sandy land,
although it can be on the Buffalo land.
The CHAIRMAN. The idea has occurred to you that you might save
Water for Small irrigation purposes from the storm storage %
Mr. JAMES Yes, and if the water under the Cimarron is sufficient
We could get enough. The water in the river itself is not sufficient for
much. I am Satisfied that we have water under us sufficient to irri-
gate 30 acres of every 160. That would be sufficient. I know men in
OUII’ ºunty that Would give 1 acre of land to have another acre irri-
gated.
Senator PLUMB. I have no doubt that there is water there. It is
Only a question of getting it to the surface.
Mr. JAMES. I have thought that the putting down of one artesian
Well in each county Would be a great blessing to the people.
STATEMENT OF G. H. ALLEN, OF RICHVILLE,
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3 &
Mr. ALLEN. In Morton County, at Richville.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you lived there ?
Mr. ALLEN. Nearly four years.
Senator PLUMB. Where did you go from ?
Mr. ALLEN. From Cowley County, in this State. I am originally
from Massachusetts, but I have been in this State for thirteen years.
Senator PLUMB. State to the committee in your own way and as
briefly as you can the suggestions growing out of your experience or
observation which bears on the question of water supply in this section?
Mr. ALLEN. As to this country as an agricultural country I am con-
vinced in my own mind that with the exception of the want of water
here it is one of the finest agricultural countries in the entire West. I
believe that with the soil we have in southwestern Kansas all the fea-
tures are here to make it a successful agricultural country if we can have
sufficient water,
Senator JONES. What will be the result if you do not have water?
Mr. ALLEN. Then we can not mature crops. That has been the ex-
perience. In the spring months we have sometimes had rain enough
to mature the crops, and up to the middle of June in this year we had
fair prospects. Then the rain-fall began to diminish, and in July the
crops were almost entirely destroyed by drought for the lack of rain to
mature the crops.
Senator PLUMB. How was it with wheat”
Mr. ALLEN. That was cut earlier. It was cut principally in June,
but it was damaged by lack of rain. There were some fields that were
pretty good, however; one man told me the other day that he had an
average of 30 bushels per acre, and another had 21 bushels. These
DEMONSTRATING THE EXISTENCE OF ARTESIAN water. 171
were the best fields in the county, but there was a lack of rain to prop-
erly fill out the crop. All the indications point to this as a good wheat
country. It has a soil that is fertile. It has all the elements existent
in the soil to make it a good agricultural country.
Senator PLUMB. We all understand that all that is wanted in this
country is water. Now, what do you have to state in regard to the
water supply 3 -
Mr. ALLEN. In our county a well was sunk that was six hundred and
sixty odd feet in depth, flowing 23 to 24 gallons per minute, but that
was insufficient for irrigation purposes. It is my opinion, however, and
it is that of others, including Professor EIay, the State geologist, that
the country is underlaid with artesian water, and that by going deeper
a stronger flow could be obtained. We have demonstrated that there
is artesian water there at a certain depth, and it is believed that by
deeper sinking a stronger flow can be got, perhaps 2,000 feet. Our
people would like to have the experiment made.
Senator PLUMB. Has there been more than one well sunk?
Mr. ALLEN. No. The city is about sinking another in the immediate
locality.
Senator PLUMB. In what material is this water found 3
Mr. ALLEN. It is really a red sandstone near the surface; down about
200 feet it is a sort of quicksand.
Senator PLUMB. Has there been salt-water found 3
Mr. ALLEN. There have been some indications of it.
Senator PLUMB. Would that be a good water for irrigation?
Mr. ALLEN. To some extent and for some purposes.
Senator PLUMB. State in your own way, and as briefly as possible,
what you think is to be the source of the water supply there, and what
you think the Government can do, from your own stand-point (without
reference to what anybody else may think about it) to bring about that
desired result.
º ALLEN. The quickest means would be the sinking of artesian
WellS.
Senator PLUMB. You mean not for artesian wells in this flow that is
already obtained, but for a lower flow %
Mr. ALLEN. Yes; for a stronger flow. The question whether artesian
wells will furnish a permanent and sufficient supply is a mooted ques-
tion and must be tested by actual experiment. :*
Senator PLUMB. Did Professor Hay, when there, say that there was
a supply of Salt-water, probably under the sandstone º
Mr. ALLEN. Yes; he said there would be probably salt-water there,
but he did not say how much.
Senator PLUMB. If the water was impregnated as it is at Larned, for
instance, would that be sufficient 3
Mr. ALLEN. To a limited extent it would, but it is my opinion that it
is not necessary to depend on that flow. I believe water would be
found either below or above that salt-water at different depths to furnish
artesian water sufficient for irrigation.
Senator PLUMB. You think there is another artesian stratum between
the present flow and the salt-water below %
Mr. ALLEN. Yes.
Senator JONES. What do you base that opinion upon?
Mr. ALLEN. On the experiments in some other countries. It is stated
that in some Countries the first flow was never found to be so great aS
that below, and I furthermore base it on the opinion of Professor Hay,
who is a good authority.
172 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
t
Senator PLUMB. Have you heard the statement of the condition of
the people in Gray County as made by Mr. Clark?
Mr. ALLEN. Yes. f Q.
Senator PLUMB. To what extent does that correspond with the con-
dition in your country?
. Mr. ALLEN. The people of this country are depressed by bad crops
in hard times, but I do not think that is a thing we should dwell upon.
Senator PLUMB. What has been the result of crops in your county
for four years past 3
Mr. ALLEN. Variable, more or less. Our best year for crops was our
first year. That is three years ago; we raised more then than we have
done since,
Senator PLUMB. Are there any differences growing out of the
thoroughness of farming?
Mr. ALLEN. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Some men do better than others?
Mr. ALLEN. Yes, I anticipate that will make some difference, but
still We can not get along without more water. I think that an intelli-
gent cultivation of the soil, coupled with the proper supply of water
and at the proper time for cultivation, will make a great improvement.
Our people are not all going to leave the country by any means. It
is too good a country for that. We only want water at certain periods
to help the growth of crops.
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything else that occurs to you?
Mr. ALLEN. I do not know that there is, except as to the manner of
getting Water from streams. In the valley of the Cimarron, which is
a small stream, and is dry much of the year, there is plenty of water in
the Spring time. In the month of June this year we had an overflow
of the stream there, and by tapping that stream several miles south-
West water might be brought over the surface by ditches or aqueducts.
The country gradually declines toward the east all the way from Col-
orado eastward. In our county the fall is about 20 feet per mile, so
that the water could be easily carried. The country, however, prac-
tically is a level country. There are sufficient depressions to make
local reservoirs of a small kind. However, those depressions and
“draws” are usually of the lowest elevation below the surface of the
country, and the work would be somewhat difficult, but there would be
no difficulty in bringing water from farther west, in my opinion.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you think would be the depth you would
have to Sink to find Surface water.
Mr. ALLEN. It varies from 40 or 50 to 100 or 150 feet.
Senator PLUMB. How abundantly do you find water when you strike
it 3
Mr. ALLEN. Quite abundant. We have not drawn on it for irrigat-
ſing purposes in a way that would test its Strength.
Senator PLUMB. Have you ever discussed the practicability of test-
sing that and showing how much you had of it 8
Mr. ALLEN. No ; there has not been any direct discussion to settle
“that question, and of course all these questions have been touched
, more or less frequently and generally. +
Senator PLUMB. Where do you suppose this supply comes from ?
Does it come from any river ?
Mr. ALLEN. No ; I do not think it takes its source from any river.
It may be on the level of the Cimarron River, and the Cimarron
River may be a part of that same flow.
Senator PLUMB. You say the Cimarron River had a good flow in
«the summer once. At what time was that ?
INSUFFICIENT SUPPLY OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER, 17 3
Mr. ALLEN. I think about June.
Senator PLUMB. If you had had reservoirs would that have helped
you considerably *
Mr. ALLEN. Yes; though if we had had reservoirs we could not
have made them in our county; they would have to be farther West ;
but if we had the water stored above we could get it all over Our
County.
Senator PLUMB. Is it not possible, after all, that you could get a bet-
ter supply of water that way than from any artesian well ?
Mr. ALLEN. I will not say that ; I do not know. I realize that that
would take time to develop 3
Senator PLUMB. What we want to know is the possibility of ulti-
mately reaching that result.
Mr. ALLEN. Yes, I think there would be no question about that.
Senator PLUMB. You could supply considerable of the country in
that way by damming up the tributaries of the Cimarron 3
Mr. ALLEN. Yes, probably so.
Senator PLUMB. How wide a stream is it?
Mr. ALLEN. When it is pretty full it overflows its banks to the ex-
tent of half a mile wide, but the stream itself is not wide.
Senator PLUMB. We are talking about its flooding capacity.
Mr. ALLEN. In the spring time, when the snows are melting, there is
usually a strong flow and the water overflows the banks of the river.
STATEMENT OF J. M. SLOAN, OF HAMILTON COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3
Mr. SLOAN. In Hamilton County, in the western part of this State.
Senator PLUMB. The Arkansas River cuts it through towards the
Center.
Mr. SLOAN. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. In what part of the county do you live?
Mr. SLOAN. In the central part ; in the Arkansas Valley; at Syra-
CUISC,
Senator PLUMB. How long have you lived there?
Mr. SLOAN. Four years.
Senator PLUMB. Where are you from ?
Mr. SLOAN. From Indiana. *
Senator PLUMB. Please state the result of your observations in re-
gard to the water supply of your locality. te -
Mr. SLOAN. We have two irrigating ditches under construction. The
water supply of the river is nothing now, but it has never been that
way before. There has never been a time before when a few ditches
could not have been filled.
Senator PLUMB. What, in your judgment, is the reason for a dimi-
nution of the water supply in the river this year 2
Mr. SLOAN. The lack of snow-fall in the mountains.
Senator PLUMB. You understand that during the last three winters
there has been less Snow than in any preceding year?
Mr. SLOAN. That has been my information. At the extreme western
town of Coolidge they have artesian water 300 feet deep.
Senator PLUMB. In the valley # =sº-
Mr. SLOAN. Yes. We have tried it out of the valley, but can not
get it.
Senator PLUMB. How deep do you go?
174 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Mr. SLOAN. One thousand feet. We tried it out of the valley on the
bluff. We struck several strata of water and there seemed to be no
sufficient pressure in any of them. The water got up, but not to the
Surface.
Senator PLUMB. Was there a good volume of water?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Fresh water ?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes, all good water.
Senator PLUMB. How far were you from the Arkansas River when
yOu Were at the side of this well ?
Mr. SLOAN. About half a mile or three-quarters.
Senator PLUMB. Just off the bottom ? g
Mr. SLOAN. Yes; off the bottom within the town site.
Senator PLUMB. How high above the surface is the water at Coolidge?
Mr. SLOAN. Not very high. It runs about 20 gallons a minute.
Senator PLUMB. How many wells have they 3
Mr. SLOAN. Two; then down 3 miles this side of Coolidge, on the
other side of the river, they have another one which I have never seen,
but I know it is an artesian well.
Senator PLUMB. With the same result 3
Mr. SLOAN. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. State in your own way what your theory is about
this matter of water supply for your county, judging, of course, from
your Observation. -
Mr. SLOAN. I have no theory only the artesian theory. We would
like to see that determined.
Senator PLUMB. You would like to see some wells sunk deeper, to see
how far it would go º
Mr. SLOAN. Yes. We spent $7,000 on that well in our town and the
digging of sueh wells to any extent is too expensive for our people.
enator PLUMB. You did not try in the valley to strike a well such
as they bave at Coolidge 3
Mr. SLOAN. No.
Senator PLUMB. Do you think that in ordinary seasons the ditches
will have water enough 3
Mr. SLOAN. Yes; if it was not for the law of Colorado forbidding
ditches to come across the line, we would have large ditches. We have
had a hard time here. The law of Colorado is that the water must be
returned to the river before it crosses the line.
Senator PLUMB. You heard the statement of Mr. Clark in regard to
the condition of the people in Gray County. To what extent does that
correspond with the condition of the people in your county ?
Mr. SLOAN. That is correct so far as concerns the men that depend
on corn. The men that depend on stock get along fairly well.
Senator PLUMB. Cattle men get along very well?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes. -
Senator PLUMB. But the men who depend on grain Will want irriga-
tion ?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes; they must have irrigation.
Senator PLUMB. What forage plants have been tried here, and with
what success %
Mr. SLOAN. Alfalfa where it has irrigation.
Senator PLUMB. But without irrigation ?
Mr. SLOAN. Sorghum and millet.
Senator PLUMB. They have done pretty well without irrigation?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes; except this year.
THEORIES As. To THE EXTENT AND VALUE OF WELLs. 175
Senator PLUMB. This year they all failed ?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. This year has been the worst in your experience?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes. Every year since 1884 they raised something. If
the corn would not make grain it would make fodder.
The CHAIRMAN. Has your attention been called to the saving of the
storm-waters?
Mr. SLOAN. Yes; we have thought of it.
The CHAIRMAN. Have any tanks been made in your part of the
county 3
Mr. SLOAN. Not to catch the rain-fall.
The CHAIRMAN. A good deal of water comes down that is wasted.
Mr. SLOAN. A good deal. The river flows past us many times when
it is quite full.
The CHAIRMAN. And the small streams are also full very frequently 3
Mr. SLOAN. Yes. One of those little streams will often flood a valley.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not considered the possibility of storing
that water and flooding the land with it."
Mr. SLOAN. I have thought of it, but never saw it tried anywhere.
There is a great deal of water coming down those streams and down
this river; the water frequently washes the bridges away.
The CHAIRMAN. It is not necessary to make any experiments to
demonstrate that that water is there ? -
Mr. SLOAN. No ; the artesian water is there also.
The CHAIRMAN. But you do not know in what quantities the artesian
water exists? -
Mr. SLOAN. No ; it is expensive to test it. It is only along the val-
leys in our county that it has been tested.
IFURTHER STATEMENT OF R. O. JONES.
Mr. Jon ES. With reference to artesian water, while I think it wonld
not be inexhaustible, and while I think there is plenty of it to do the
irrigation that we need, I would say that last year at one time in our
county one flood would have been all we needed. One flooding of the
crops would have made a success of them. We had lots of crops dur-
ing one time in the year, but the failure of water in July was very in-
jurious. Had we had water at that time we would have had plenty of
good crops. If we could irrigate as they do in California, where they
have no rain at all for long periods, it might be that the artesian wells
System might be regarded as not feasible. But we think it would be
fair for the Government to try it.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF E. J. CLARK.
Mr. CLARK. I desire to add one word with regard to the artesian
Wells at Artesian City. Before they had artesian wells that country
was covered wholly with buffalo grass. Since the location and flow of
that well its constant stream and flow have killed out the buffalo graSS,
because that grass can not stand extreme moisture. Instead of the
buffalo grass, there is to be found there to-day blue-stem or bluejoint
grass standing 4 to 6 feet high.
Senator PLUMB. That will always occur where moisture increases.
The buffalo grass gives way to blue-stem or bluejoint grass.
-
*~.
176 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF Aard LANDs.
STATEMENT OF A. W. STUBBs, of SANTA Fé, HASKELL County.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
Mr. STUBBS. At Santa Fé, Haskell County, Kans., 28 miles south of .
there; I have lived there since May, 1888, and in Kansas about twenty-
, Seven years.
Senator PLUMB. State the result of your observation as pertaining.
to the general Subject of irrigation, especially in regard to the county
in which you live.
Mr. STUBBS. We are exceedingly anxious to have more water. We
believe that it is possible to obtain it from the Arkansas River. If it
can be demonstrated that a flow of water can be got for irrigation from
ithe river it would be a great blessing for our county. A survey has
been made from our county to the Arkansas River, about Lamar, Colo.
Water can be successfuly carried from the river all over our county,
jprovided the supply is sufficient to warrant the construction of a ditch.
What I should like to see, and what our people would like to see, is a
demonstration of the fact that there is a sufficient supply of water in
...the river Valley toward the construction of ditches.
Senator PLUMB. You are aware of the fact, as stated by a former
witness, that the law of Colorado limits the flow of water found in that
;State to the uses of the people of that State?
Mr. STUBBS. That was stated, but it is a question in my mind
whether it is true. Suppose a ditch should be constructed right up to
the Colorado line and should be permitted to flow to that line, could
that State forbid its flowing into Kansas?
Senator PLUMB. I am speaking about the law itself.
Mr. STUBBs. Well, then, does the law forbid it?
Senator PLUMB. That is my understanding of it.
Mr. STUBBs. And that is a question on which I am not posted.
Senator PLUMB. Is there any other supply that has come under your
observation as available for that county 3
Mr. STUBBs. There are artesian wells all around us, east, West, and
Southwest of us.
Senator PLUMB. Have your people experimented on that subject 3
Mr. STUBBs. They have tried, but their means gave out and they
have been unsuccessful.
Senator PLUMB. How far have they gone?
Mr. STUBBs. We have sunk a well 1,200 feet. -
Senator PLUMB. Without finding water? *
Mr. STUBBs. Without finding water that would rise to the surface.
Senator PLUMB. Did you find water?
Mr. STUBBS. We found some water at 200 feet and some at 400 feet
with good pressure, and from there on we found water frequently, but
without sufficient pressure to get to the Surface.
Senator PLUMB. At what depth do you get ordinary Well water?
Mr. STUBBS. It Varies from 70 to 225 feet in our county.
Senator PLUMB. Is it very large at 225 feet 3
Mr. STUBBs. Not very large at that depth. •.
Senator PLUMB. You do not get a large supply, then, until you get
to about 400 feet 3
Mr. STUBBS. No.
Senator PLUMB. And then it rises to 200 feet from the bottom?
Mr. STUBBS. Yes. -
Senator BLUMB. Is it fresh Water?
THE UNEQUAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE RAIN-FALL. 177
Mr. STUBBs. Very good, soft, fresh water. wº
Senator PLUMB. Has there been any survey or examination by sci-
entific men which indicated that by going to a lower depth artesian
water would be found 3
Mr. STUBBs. No; there has not been, and we would very much like
to have something of that kind done.
Senator PLUMB. What is the condition of farming in your county,
and what, according to your observation, has been the condition of it
since it has been settled ”
Mr. STUBBs. We have some farmers, two or three in one locality,
that have been successful, they tell me, every year in raising corn.
With that exception I do not think that there is a township in our
county that has been successful every year. The showers come as local
showers. Last year it was very dry in the south part of the county,
while there was plenty of rain in the north part to produce good crops.
This year the eastern and central parts have been pretty well supplied
with rains, while in our part it is very dry and some of the best farmers
have had to leave the county because they could not raise enough even
to feed their cattle.
Senator PLUMB. Have the storms been variable %
Mr. STUBBs. They have come in localities. I have been going back
and forth to Haskell County since 1885, and have been watchful of the
storms and made them a study. My observations are that the storms
have flooded the streams. I have called attention frequently to the fact
that when a cloud forms in the West, one rain-cloud comes down the
Arkansas River and another goes down the Cimarron. They have had
numerous rains when we had none on the divide.
Senator PLUMB. What have been the crops that your people have ex-
perimented with ?
Mr. STUBBs. We have tried everything. I have made a special effort
on my own farm. I have had thirty-two different things growing this
year on my place. Some did well, such as Johnson grass, cattle corn,
broom corn, and Sorghum. I also raised pretty fair wheat this year.
My corn is what you would call good here, but not what you would call
good in eastern Kansas. It matured, however.
Senator PLUMB. Did you have millet”
Mr. STUBBS. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Did that do well ?
Mr. STUBBS. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. How did the precipitation of moisture in your county
this year compare with the more favored parts of the section ?
Mr. STUBBs. At Santa Fé we had as much rain as they had in any
other part of the county.
Senator PLUMB. On the divide 3
Mr. STUBBS. YeS.
Senator PLUMB. Then you think your part had the maximum of any
part of the county ? *
Mr. STUBBs. Yes, I think so. --
Senator PLUMB. You Were at the experimental station yesterday and
saw the cattle corn ?
Mr. STUBBS. Yes.
sensºr PLUMB. How did that compare with that grain raised in your
county'.
Mr. STUBBS. I have had corn just as good as that. We happened to
have a rain that did not reach as far west in the county as where I live,
and the winds that burnt others did not damage us, -
138 A L–WOL III—12
178 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator PLUMB. In your opinion do these hot winds originate locally,
that is, do they originate near by ? a’
Mr. STUBBS. I think they originate right on the ground. I have
noticed them boiling up right in my face from the buffalo grass.
Senator PLUMB. You do not sympathize with the belief that they
Originate in Texas 3
Mr. STUBBS. No. We have the largest body of smooth land in and
adjoining Haskell County of any part of the United States. There may
be on the Staked Plain a section that is somewhat similar. There is
not a stream or even a ravine that could collect enough water for any
irrigating purpose. The Cimarron rises about 1% miles from the western
end of our county, and with that exception there is no running water in
the county during the year.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that in the western end of your county º
Mr. STUBBS. Yes. A survey has been made and a line run 100 miles
west of us, and into Colorado, and the water has been taken out into a
ditch in Colorado and brought across what they call the sand-hills. The
water is on a high divide in Colorado, and the only thing necessary is
to continue the ditch right into Kansas.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not think the law of Colorado ought to pre-
vent the water from running ?
Mr. STUBBS. I do not think it does. A man can not make a home in
western Kansas and rely on rain-fall. Every man to-day in western
Ransas is having a hard pull. Almost everything that he has is under
mortgage, and it has been necessary for him to put it under mortgage
in order to subsist.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose that before that they had studied the best
methods of getting water and devoted themselves to the subject, would
they not have been in better condition to-day than they are ?
Mr. STUBBs. Yes; I believe they would.
Senator JONES. If they had understood the conditions before they
came here, would they come in such large numbers?
Mr. STUBBS. I doubt whether they would. We have a mixed popu-
lation in Kansas; people from Dakota to Texas, and from Maine to
California. - •r
Senator JONES. It seems very clear that the people who came here
to western Kansas did so without understanding the actual conditions.
Mr. STUBBS. The conditions at the time seemed to be such as to War-
rant their coming.
Senator Jon Es. Yes; but they were mistaken as to the actual condi-
tions that existed.
Mr. STUBBS. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything else that suggests itself to you?
Mr. STUBBs. Nothing else, except that I would like to See an appro-
priation made by the Government to determine the fact whether or not
artesian water is available. Of course that is a question that We have
no control over, but at the same time our people are anxious to have
it tried. The parties who have bored our well are satisfied that the
expenditure of some more money would result in finding more water.
Senator PLUMB. Is that well in such condition now as that, if addi-
tional funds were supplied, it could be deepened?
Mr. STUBBS. Yes. We have a thousand feet of 6-inch pipe standing
there. There is a thousand feet of the well in good condition to start
with.
Senator JONES. Have you no water in the thousand feet?
Mr. STUBBS. We have about 100 feet of water, but it does not flow
DEEP wells ARE warM, THE SHALLOW ONES COLD. 179
out. It rises from the bottom because the casing is solid. The dirt
packs around the casing.
The CHAIRMAN. You cut off all streams down to the bottom 3
Mr. STUBBs. Yes; and we believe that in a lower stratum it would
rise to the top. The wish may be father to the thought, but there are
good indications to warrant the belief that that is true.
º
STATEMENT OF JOHN Q. A. NEWSOM, OF SCOTT CITY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3
Mr. NEWSOM. In Scott City, Scott County, which is the county ad-
joining this to the north.
Senator PLUMB. What is your occupation ?
Mr. NEWSOM. I am a farmer and an inventor.
Senator PLUMB. What streams flow through Scott County 3
. Mr. NEWSOM. We have no live streams, except the Beaver, in that
county.
Senator PLUMB. State the conclusions at which you have arrived in
regard to the chances of an artificial water supply in your county. I
assume, of course, that you believe that artificial water supply to be nec-
essary. -
i Mr. NEWSOM. I do.
Senator PLUMB. State the result of your observations as to the
sources from which that supply must come, if it is to be had.
Mr. NEWSOM. Having no live streams in the county we have to de-
pend upon the water supply from outside streams, such as the Arkan-
sas River. We have a water-way in the county which is the bed of
an old stream that ran perhaps into an ancient lake. This lake is an
old delta, and that fills up this old stream. It is called the “White
Woman.” It runs through Scott, Wichita, and Greeley, into Colorado.
It rises in the eastern part of Colorado. It has water in our part of the
county only where there are heavy rains. I live in a basin. The Beaver
is a stream which heads up near Greeley County, and runs into Gree-
ley and Wichita Counties, and perhaps into Colorado also. The fount.
ain of that stream seems to rise from Water close to the surface, but the
erosion caused by the water has washed out caſions through Scott
County, so that it would be impossible to divert that water immediately
in Scott. I think that perhaps there is not enough water to pay for the
trouble of attempting to make it useful in Scott. As to the other stream-
way it is doubtful whether there would be water enough there, unless
the same lay high enough so that it could be tapped by a horizontal
aqueduct, reaching into the water-line and conveying it down. I have
not investigated that question.
Where I live my well is 18 feet deep to the surface of water. I have
fine pure water, at a temperature of 54 degrees, which is extremely cold
for that county. Our deep Wells are warm and the shallow wells cold.
My impression is that if we could get water it would have to come from
the Arkansas River, unless We could construct a subterranean tap to
the water-line and bring it to the Surface. That is a question I have
not investigated enough to give an intelligent opinion of what might be
done. We need a Water Supply. As Mr. Stubbs has said, and as oth-
ers have said, the people have left the County, and there is only a certain
number who can stay by raising stock. If engines could be had of great
capacity, higher up, that could raise the water a short distance to the sur-
face, it would settle the question, But whether the water could be applied
180 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
to public use or not, I do not know. A few farmers might join together
and irrigate their land in that way, but when you contemplate a vast sys-
tem ofirrigation that should be beneficial to all people alike, and where all
would be alike interested in it, it requires a more extensive system than
is accessible to the people. If the Arkansas River has water enough,
and aqueducts could be constructed to bring the water down, then we
could get it into Scott County by canals, but the question is, Where
shall we get the water? We have fine soil, rich in all the mineral con-
stituents necessary to make fine crops, but it is lacking in the element
of water, and in the vegetable elements.
Senator PLUMB. Is there a good crop of grass?
Mr. NEWSOM. An excellent crop of grass. In the locality in which
I live there is what is called wild rye. There is periodical inundation
of the basin in which I live, caused by the storms and head waters of
the river. That makes a good growth of hay and some of the farmers
in the locality have been able to raise a good crop of hay when the
basin was flooded.
Senator PLUMB. Has there been any attempt to get artesian water ?
Mr. NEWSOM. Not in our county.
Senator PLUMB. What is the source of supply, of which you speak,
of the 18-foot well and similar wells in your neighborhood 7
Mr. NEWSOM. The source of supply is sand, or clay, or lake-bed, or
marl formation. s
Senator PLUMB. Does it seem to be in a sheet of water ?
Mr. NEWSOM. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Is there a current to it?
Mr. NEWSOM. Yes, the current flows to the east. There is one feat-
ure about my well that I do not understand. It has been supposed
by many people who lived in this section (the first settlers), that the
water there was affected by the rise and fall of the water in the Ar-
kansas River; I presume there are some who think that yet. My
well is 14 inches lower now than when I moved there, two years ago
last February, and I have thought that it was caused perhaps by the
amount of water consumed in Colorado. I have asked other people
about it, and I have not met with any one yet that has observed it in
his own well, because the other wells are usually deeper than mine, and
are usually covered up and can not be seen ; whereas I can See ex-
actly how much the water in my well varies. In the winter time my
well will come back to the original point at which it was when I Com-
menced; then, in February, again it falls. ... I take it that there must be
some connection between our section and the Arkansas River.
Senator PLUMB. Do all the wells in your county reach up to the
same level ?
Mr. NEWSOM. I think they do.
Senator PLUMB. You think the deeper wells are at the same level ?
Mr. NEWSOM. I think they are.
Senator PLUMB. While the water is warmer you think it is the same
sheet of water 3
Mr. NEwsom. I think it is. The reason that the water is warmer I
have attributed to the more rapid evaporation at the shallow depth and
the slower evaporation in the lower depths. There are four degrees of
difference in temperature between the water in my well and in the Wells
in other parts. *
Senator PLUMB. If there is anything further that you wish to Say
about this matter we will be glad to have you state it as fully as you
wish. Give us the results of your observation and the conclusions of
your mind.
2
IMPORTANCE OF A water-way FROM THE MISSOURI. 181
Mr. NEwsom. I am very much interested in the success of the coun-
try and the prosperity of the people there. Every man of sympathetic
feeling can not help being interested if he travels over that country and
sees the amount of money that has been expended by those who have
come to settle there in ignorance perhaps of the climate and of the Con-
ditions necessary to make homes. They evidently need some outside
assistance in order to remain there. They have cast their lot there and
all that they have is there. Any system that would bring that about
would be a great blessing to those people.
There is one thing I would like to call the attention of the committee
to. It is to a proposal—an extensive one—that has been discussed
among our people, It may have been mentioned in your hearing. It
is a proposition to irrigate from the Missouri River by Striking it at
one point in Dakota and bringing the water over the plains region
here into the south. If that was a practical idea it would be a great
enterprise for this country. If the lay of the country there is such
that a large canal could take the water down it would be of great use
here and would be of great use in the Missouri and Mississippi Valleys
by preventing floods. We can utilize all the surplus water of these
rivers and of the Yellowstone River that can be brought to us. It has
been suggested that such a canal might be excavated and brought
down. That would depend on the altitude and the fall that would be ob-
tained in bringing it down. Your committee, of course, would under-
stand whether that proposition would be worthy of entertainment.
Senator PLUMB. What has been the suggestion with regard to bring-
ing the water across the other streams?
Mr. NEWSOM. There would have to be aqueducts constructed for
that purpose. The question is whether it is a feasible proposition.
Our people feel that it is. Our people feel that all the country between
here and the Rocky Mountains could utilize that water in that way.
The water could be utilized for manufacturing purposes also, when not
needed for irrigation, by leading it into the Arkansas River, Smoky
Hill River, the Republican River, Beaver River, and the streams that
come out of the mountains. And you might carry it on to the Cana-
dian River, the Cimarron River, and so clear on down to the Red River
and the Staked Plains. Such a canal might be used also for moving
heavy freights and might be made tributary to the deep-water outlets
at the Gulf. I merely suggest this as a problem that comes under the
‘scope of this investigation.
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything further that occurs to you?
Mr. NEWSOM. Nothing at this time, I think.
Senator PLUMB. If anything further occurs to you at any time, the
committee will be glad to hear it.
STATEMENT OF L. D. BAILEY, OF GARDEN CITY.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you lived in Kansas 3
Mr. BAILEY. Thirty-three years.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you lived in this part of the country?
Mr. BAILEY. Six years.
... Senator PLUMB. You can state to the committee, in your own way,
the results of your experience and observation here concerning the
great question of what has been done and is doing here in regard to
Crops and the artificial water supply, present and prospective.
Mr. BAILEY. The subject is a very important one. My experience
covers only six years here. The result of it is that with water we can,
182 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
raise anything. Without water there are somethings that we can raise.
With water I have never found a more fertile soil. My first experience
here showed that we could grow an abundance of sweet potatoes, Irish
potatoes, onions, and, in fact, almost everything but corn. That was in
the fall of 1883. I have never seen better Irish potatoes than we had
here, and there was an abundance of them ?
Senator PLUMB. Were they grown without irrigation?
Mr. BAILEY. No ; they had to be irrigated. But I have since raised
Some crops without irrigation; I think sorghum, millet, and cattle corn.
I think those are reasonably sure.
Senator PLUMB. How about ryeº
Mr. BAILEY. Three years ago I grew a small patch of rye. I believe
it can be made a profitable crop here by putting it in thoroughly and
early, so as to take the chances of the rains. Still our prospects for
farming without other sources of water supply than the clouds are not
brilliant. Our prospects are not good unless we can get water from the
river or from underneath the river. My well is 65 feet deep and is in-
exhaustible. It is on the thirty-eighth parallel of latitude. The rail-
road runs along that parallel for a good many miles, keeping on the
north side of the Arkansas rise up to the State line and beyond. The
road does not follow it all the way. I have known as many as one hun-
dred teams (two-horse and four-horse) to water at my well at a single
day and to use a good deal of water, but I never perceived that it made
the slightest difference in my well. That, I think, is the general char-
acter of all the wells in this neighborhood. When you get down to
where the water is there is an abundance of it.
Senator PLUMB. What is the depth of water in the well?
Mr. BAILEY. I do not know.
Senator PLUMB. How deep does it stand below the lowest point of
excavation ? -
Mr. BAILEY. The well was there before I was. It had been abandoned
and caved in to some extent. There never was any curbing there, and
there never was any wall. *
Senator PLUMB. Is there now %
Mr. BAILEY. Not a particle of wall. It shows the peculiar character
of the formation. The water never seems to come any higher or to get
any lower.
Senator PLUMB. Is there a current there?
Mr. BAILEY. I have not observed it. te
Senator PLUMB. Is there sufficient water to be of Service for irri-
gation if it could be lifted to the surface 3
Mr. BAILEY. I think enough could be drawn from that well to irri-
gate perhaps 2 or 3 acres, and I think a good many wells could be got
from the same quarter-section.
Senator PLUMB. Are you apparently on the level of the Arkansas?
Mr. BAILEY. I think so. I am on the highest land there is in Sight.
Mr. Spear's place, about a half mile west, is a few feet lower on the Sur-
face, and the well is about that much shallower. I think he went down
55 feet. There is a well a little way east of mine that is about 50 feet
in depth, and on lower ground than mine. There is another Well half
a mile east that is about 53 feet, and on ground just a little lower than
mine. A mile and a half farther there is another well that is about 52
or 53 feet in depth. e
Senator PLUMB. Then you think that all that section of country is
underlaid with the same sheet of water that flows on the Arkansas bot-
tom, and in the channel of the Arkansas River?
PERCOLATION OF RIVER IN THE ARKANSAS WALLEY. 183
Mr. BAILEY. Yes. -
Senator PLUMB. It is fresh water?
Mr. BAILEY. Yes. The formation changes after while; it is sand or
gravel after you get to the water, but until you get there it is the kind
of earth that you see at Kansas City. It stands without any walling,
and is destitute of moisture. Yet in a well half a mile from my place
the men who were digging found a root 10 feet deep about as thick
as my thumb. I thought that remarkable, and suggested to them to
follow it down and see how deep it went. They cut it off at a depth of
48 feet, and it was then about the thickness of a lead pencil. At 53
feet they struck water. That shows the peculiar character of that
formation.
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything in your experience that shows
where the artificial supply is to come from beyond that suggested by
the water on your place 3 - -
Mr. BAILEY. The underflow of the water on my place is in my judg-
ment just the overflow of the water from the Arkansas River, but I
think there is an inexhaustible supply of water under this whole coun-
try. The sand in which water is found in the bottom of the wells
about there seems to underlie this whole country; whenever you find
water you find it under that sand; how deep that sand formation is
I do not know ; it is probably hundreds of feet deep, and is probably
entirely saturated with water. My idea is that if we could cut down a
section of ground here deep enough to strike that water and avail our-
selves of the whole of its full volume, and then lead it out, we would
find it very useful for irrigation. There is a fall of about 7 feet to the
mile from the Rocky Mountains to the Missouri River. If we could
avail ourselves of that fall we would have the benefit thereof by digging
down to this sheet-water, this inexhaustible supply, at about the State
line, and if we struck it at say 50 feet in depth, we would only have to go
a few miles to spread it all over the surface. That theory may need dem-
onstration, but I am inclined to take a good deal of stock in it myself. It
may be practical to take that underflow and by availing ourselves of this
uniform fall of about 7 feet in the surface of the land we could bring that
water out and on to the surface to very great advantage.
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything further that occurs to you ?
Mr. BAILEY. Nothing just now.
STATEMENT OF J. W. GREGORY OF GARDEN CITY.
Senator PLUMB. You reside in Garden City ?
Mr. GREGORY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. What is your occupation ?
Mr. GREGORY. I am publisher and editor of a newspaper.
Senator. PLUMB. You have published some articles on the subject
of artificial water supply in this section of the State, have you not ?
Mr. GREGORY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Can you furnish copies of those to the committee º
Mr. GREGORY. I think I can furnish copies of the most important
OldeS.
Senator PLUMB. You have some statistics on the subject, which you
can let us have 3 t
Mr. GREGORY. I have some figures that I can give you.
Senator PLUMB. Of course you understand that in the limited time
at our disposal we can not very well go into the subject as thoroughly
184 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
as you could go into it in writing at your leisure, but I should like you to
State now in a general way your ideas in regard to it, and then sup-
plement your statement by furnishing to the committe, in writing or in
Print, such other matter as you may have bearing on the situation.
Mr. GREGORY. Do you wish me to confine what I have now to say
to the idea of obtaining a supply of water 3 |
Senator PLUMB. Yes, generally to that idea, without the elaboration
Which you have given it heretofore in publication, because we can get
it in more compact form by the method I have suggested. |
Mr. GREGORY. Of course these are largely matters of opinion, and
I would like to preface what I have to say by making one remark with
regard to artesian Wells and storage reservoirs, as applied to this
Country. \ .
I believe that an immense amount of water can be obtained from
artesian Wells, and that a considerable amount can be saved by storage
reservoirs, but the evidence that has already been presented before your
Committee shows that the expense and uncertainty attending the obtain-
ing of Water by means of artesians wells would be great compared with
the amount of land that could be irrigated. No doubt a great deal of
land will be irrigated in the course of time.
As to utilizing the storm-falls. the draws and ravines that are in this
Country are so few and scattered, and of such a character, and the
basins that they would drain are so small, that the amount of water
Which could be stored and used from them would be very small indeed,
and hardly appreciable, in western Kansas. The draws that are large,
and drain a considerable area, so far as I know, reach down through
this subterranean bed of sand, and it would be very difficult to store
Water in them. So that if in this southwestern country we could only
rely on those two means of obtaining water we might as well, it seems
to me, Consider it a fact that it would be a great many years, perhaps
centuries, before this whole country would be irrigated.
My experience and observation, however, have convinced me that there
is an abundant supply of water easily available that will not only irri-
gate the Arkansas Valley but also the broad plains north and south of
us that have been mentioned in your hearing by gentlemen from Scott,
Haskell, and other counties. I refer to the supply of water which we
know exists in this bed of sand that underlies not only the Arkansas
Valley but reaches out to places on either side of it at a considerable
distance therefrom. To undertake to utilize that by digging, as was
Suggested by one gentleman, to a depth of 50 feet, to bring that water
to the surface, would cost so much that it would not be practicable; but
by opening fountains along the Arkansas River, where the water is only
about 3 feet below the surface, and taking advantage of the general
fall of 74 feet to the mile, water can be carried to the highest land in
this part of the country, excepting occasional knolls, and the percentage
of that would be very small.
I would like to present a few figures on which I base my estimate of
Supply. I do that as much for the benefit of the people here as any-
thing else. The opinions expressed in these papers are the opinions
that I hold, and which I have satisfied myself are correct. I have in
my hand a letter from Mr. R. A. Steen, of La Junta, Colo., Superinten-
dent of water service on the western division of the Santa Fé Railroad.
In answer to questions which I asked him about the middle of last May,
he informs me that from Dodge City to La Junta, inclusive, the Santa
I'é Railroad has fifteen supply wells that are an average distance of 15
miles apart. They have an average depth of 21 feet, the shallowest
THE WATER-BEARING STRATUM–dEPTH AND EXTENT. 185
being 17 feet at Lamar, Colo., and the deepest 27 feet at Cimarron,
Kans.; the average diameter of the wells is 16 feet; the average
depth of water in the wells is 8 feet. There is but one of those that has
a pumping capacity that tests the capacity of the well to any consider-
able extent; that is at La Junta, Colo. That well has a capacity of
255,150 cubic feet per twenty-four hours.
The most abundant supply of water in any of these Wells is found at
La Junta and Las Animas, Colo. I asked him this question: What is
the character of the formation in which the water is obtained ? His
answer is, “Sand or gravel.” Another question I asked him is this:
Where water is obtained from strata of sand and gravel what is the
total depth of the water-bearing stratum to the best of your informa-
tion? To that his answer is: “At La Junta, about 10 miles east of
here (this was written from another point on the road) we have wells
sunk 8 feet in the gravel, but none of the wells reach through this sub-
terranean water-soaked sand.” Another question I asked him was,
this: If any of your wells obtain water from veins instead of sheet,
state the circumstances. His answer is: “None; they all obtain it.
from the subterranean water-bearing sand or gravel; none of them.
pierce or go through it.” I then asked him : If any of your wells.
obtain a supply from what is popularly named sheet-water, please state.
what is the lateral extent each way of the sheet water. To that his.
answer is: “At La Junta the water-bearing strata extend about 2,000
feet south of the river.” He did not venture any further opinion.
That gives some idea of the extent of this water east and west along.
the river, and shows that the depth is very considerable.
As to the extent north and south of the river, I addressed some ques-
tions to Mr. J. S. Humphrey, formerly water surveyor of our county,
now residing at Findlay, Ohio, an educated civil engineer and a very
conservative man, and one in whose judgment all people who know him
will have great confidence. He says: -
I will give you all the facts that I know about the water supply in the Arkansas
valley. In sinking the well of the Garden City Water-Works we struck water at 8
feet from the surface, in coarse gravel. This gravel had a depth of about 8 feet, at
which point we came into a rather fine sand, which was not so good a water-bearing
stratum as the gravel. We tested this to a depth of about 25 or 26 feet and could not
detect any change. The construction of our well-wall was range rock-work laid in
cement, so as to exclude all water except such as should come from the bottom of the
well. The excavation of the well was stopped by direction of the council at 19 feet
in depth. The capacity of the pumps is 1,000,000 gallons in twenty-four hours; the
capacity of the well somewhat less; I do not now recollect how much less. If the
well had a porous wall, say 16 feet deep, the water supply would easily be 2,000,000
gallons in twenty-four hours. I regard the water supply as inexhaustible. I believe
that the water underlying Garden City is one sheet, extending from the southern edge
- of the sand-hills (that would be about 10 miles south) northward to some point be-
tween Scott City and the Kansas Pacific Railway.
Scott City is 38 miles north of here. Mr. Humphrey further says:
In the Arkansas River valley is a river of water flowing eastward which can be
tapped for irrigation at almost any point and the water supply is limited only by the
capital at command. A clear water system of irrigation can be secured independent
of the river, and which, once constructed, will not require the cleaning of ditches,
and will prevent the spreading of weed-seed all over the land. Freshets in the river
will not wash away the dams and sluice-gates. The Arkansas River valley has a
#. future before it, and those of you who can hold on will be amply repaid for so
Olng.
There is another thing that indicates the depth of this supply. Ex-
perimental boring was made here which extended to a depth of 900
feet. I obtained the facts in regard to it from a gentleman who super-
intended it for the county at the time and had his figures, but have lost
186 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
them. I remember, however, that he found continuous succession of
Water-bearing strata to a depth of 120 feet under Garden City.
You have already had statements from other gentlemen, including a
gentleman who lives several miles north of us, one who lives several
miles South of us, and one from Scott City, showing that they had also
Struck this same subterranean sheet-water. In the river valley this
Water is only about an average of 3 feet below the surface.
In a letter from Mr. W. E. Trull, of Garden City, who was city en-
gineer for a long time, after giving the depth of the city well, which is
19 feet, he states that its extreme supply for twenty-four hours, as
shown by tests when he was superintendent of the water-works, was
800,000 gallons. He was in charge of the works for twenty-two months.
That well is located in the second bottom. That surface is on an aver-
age 8 feet higher than the surface of this underlying supply of wa-
ter. In the first bottom it is an average of 3 feet at some places, at
others 4, and still others 5. Mr. Trull gives the average depth at which
the water stands at this well as 12 feet, out of a total depth of 19. The
average depth of wells in Garden City he gives as 18 feet. The aver-
age depth of water in the first bottom next the Arkansas River is 3 feet.
He gives it as his opinion that the depth of this first stratum of water-
bearing sand is 18 to 25 feet and that there is but a thin scale between
that and the next. -
I am satisfied that the State of Colorado can not deprive us of water
by continuing in the dog-in-the-manger policy of preventing the water
from crossing the State line. We can obtain a sufficient supply of water
from the underground source, which would be out of their reach except
by pumping, and if they resorted to pumping, there would be enough
for our use and theirs too. Enough could be got by bringing this under-
ground supply to the surface in less than a mile and, by penetrating
the sand to a sufficient depth, it seems to me that the capacity of these
wells could be much increased. We certainly could secure all the Water
we could use, the only limit being the amount of land necessary to irri-
gate and the amount of money necessary to irrigate it.
I am satisfied from the investigations I have made that the Water to
fill one of our large irrigating ditches can be secured in that way with
less expenditure of money than would be necessary to put in dams on
the Arkansas River, and also, as Mr. Humphrey suggests, free from the
noxious weeds and weed-seeds that come down; and that We Would
have the water at the time we need it most.
I do not believe that it is practical for us to obtain this system of
irrigation within a time that will enable it to benefit the people now
here, unless the Government will take hold of the matter and see it
done systematically and thoroughly, and also start the work. It Ought
to be done systematically, because otherwise there will be areas that
will be furnished water by two or three ditches, more ditches than they
need, while others will be neglected. Besides that, where it depends
on private capital the people who own the land will have to pay or give
up of their property a great deal more than they ought. You all know
how matters of that kind work in reference to railroads, etc.; they often
cost more than they are worth. So far as we are concerned here, it is
better to lose half our lands than all of it, and have the Water. But
we can not make this a successful agricultural country Withoutirrigation.
We do not think that in asking the Government to take hold of this
matter we are asking it as a matter of charity, at all. Since the Gar-
den City land district was organized in 1883 there have been paid to
the Government for lands in that district $4,450,943.86. That is not ex-
whAT GOVERNMENT MIGHT Do To HELP THE SETTLER. 187
actly accurate, but it is within a few dollars of the exact amount. This
district had paid a good deal of money into the Treasury before it was
organized as a separate district. It was formerly a part of the Larned
district, so that we will be fully justified in saying that the land in this
district has paid into the Treasury of the United States $5,000,000, and
if the Government will devote the one-fifth part of that sum to making
this land habitable, I think you can safely rest assured that it will re-
turn in the way of taxable property alone, not saying anything of its
value to the people, one-hundred fold the amount of the investment by
the enlistment of private capital in the development of the resources of
this country. I think that a very conservative estimate.
Senator PLUMB. Is it your idea that the Government should engage
in furnishing the water ?
Mr. GREGORY. My idea is that the Government should systematize
the matter and start it. Beyond that I do not think the Government
would need to go.
Senator PLUMB. How do you mean to “start it?”
Mr. GREGORY. In the first place, the Government should make sur-
veys and establish where the high land lies between the streams, and
fix the places where the underflow from the Arkansas valley and from
the valley of the Cimarron, the Beaver, and the other streams can be
most advantageously tapped and turned in to perhaps a long central
canal. This is merely a theory, of course. But if a canal were estab-
lished on the high land, for instance, near Garden City, and could go
up into Colorado, it could be kept constantly filled by pools along the
river, and the flow turned in from a main canal as soon as the supply
could be raised to that point. South of us the same thing could be
done. There is no question but what the water could be taken across
the sand-hills at Several places. I think the Government ought to ap-
propriate money sufficient to make the start and see that it is system-
atically done, and should also regulate it after it is done.
Senator PLUMB. You mean that it should make the survey 3
Mr. GREGORY. That it should make the survey, and also establish as
many fountains or supply sources as are necessary to make a thorough
demonstration of the practicability of the plan. We have these wells.
We have within the present limits of Garden City a lake, the bottom of
which is below the level of the river, from which water runs the whole
year round. That is a practical exemplification of this system, showing
that it can not help but be a success. ---
Senator PLUMB. Then in what way would that which the Govern-
ment could do add to the certainty of the situation ?
Mr. GREGORY. It would not add to the certainty, but you have
already heard the condition of our people. If we must wait for the
uncertainty of private capital, we must wait from five to fifteen or per-
hap sthirty years before we can make it a success.
Senator PLUMB. Do you think that private capital would go into
competition with the Government 3
Mr. GREGORY. No; but I think it would act in accord with the Gov.
ernment.
Senator PLUMB. What is the scope of your idea º
Mr. GREGORY. I can not say that I have developed it.
Senator PLUMB. You say that the Government ought to make sur-
Veys, and then that it ought to make these pools for the purposes of
demonstration, but, according to your statement, it is demonstrable
IlOW.
Mr. GREGORY. It is. N
188 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Senator PLUMB. Demonstrable from what can be seen as the result
of the investigation of private parties?
Mr. GREGORY. It is not a question of demonstrating it to us, but of
demonstrating it to those who have money.
Senator PLUMB. To what extent would the Government need to carry
on the work in order to make that demonstration ?
, Mr. GREGORY. It is impossible for me to say that; but I think the
fact that the Government had taken hold of it would give it publicity
and bring it to the attention of people who have capital—an attention
that can not be brought about in any other way.
Senator PLUMB. Do you think that if the Government were going to
dig ditches, fountains, and so on, private capital would also go into it?
Mr. GREGORY. I do.
i Senator PLUMB. In competition with the Government 3
' Mr. GREGORY, No.
. Senator PLUMB. If the Government should have a fountain and a
ditch and got its money by taxation from the people, of course it would
not need any stockholders and would not pay dividends. It would
either have to sell the water to the people, keeping up a corps of assist-
ants here, or else it would have to give it to them, and if it gave it to
them, of course no private capital could engage in it, because private
capital could not afford to sell water in competition with those who gave
it away. If the Government were selling the water, there would always
be a pressure upon those of us who represent these people, as well as
upon others, to constantly abate the charges, forgive the debt, etc.; so
that no man would feel safe to invest money in that sort of competition.
As you have given a great deal of attention to the subject, I would like
you to address yourself to that point. I would like to see what your
idea is as to just how and to what extent the Government ought, as
ºthink, and could, with propriety, according to your notion, engage
IIl It.
Mr. GREGORY. I do not believe that the Government of the United
States should go into the irrigation business at all as a matter of profit.
Senator PLUMB. Nor as a matter of loss.
Mr. GREGORY. No, nor as a matter of loss, but as a matter of right.
Senator PLUMB. And to what extent 3
Mr. GREGORY. We consider that this land has cost us enough, and
that the conditions have turned out so adversely and so differently from
what was anticipated, that we are entitled to such consideration from
the Government as that it shall put money enough into this matter to
make a good agricultural country here.
d Senator PLUMB. What I want to know is how the Government should
O that. &
Mr. GREGORY. The extent to which the Government should go would
be, as I have stated, to the extent of demonstrating what should be
done, and whatever works may be constructed by the Government need
not be lost by any means, either to the Government or to the people.
As I understand it, this Government is of the people and for the peo-
ple. We are a part of the Government, and expect consideration from
it. Such irrigation works as I have mentioned might ultimately be
turned over to the States or counties and communities, or to private
corporations, but under such restrictions as that the price of water
might be lowered.
Senator PLUMB. Would that be any inducement to private capital %
Mr. GREGORY. If the Government would invest $1,000,000 and allow
private capital to take hold where the Government left off, in such a
THE westERN ARGUMENT FOR AID To IRRIGATION. 189
way as that they would make money out of it and let the people have
the water, I do not see where the injustice would be.
Senator PLUMB. Somebody has to do something about this matter,
and we are here to get the opinions of the people. We Want to know
what they expect.
Mr. GREGORY. If we had the assurance that there would be anything
done at any early period, I am satisfied that the person to produce the
plan would be on hand.
Senator PLUMB. If we are to consider this question with the view of
determining what we ourselves would recommend, we ought to know
the desires of the people here on that subject.
Mr. GREGORY. Just how the connection should be made, as to what
would be expended by the Government——
Senator PLUMB. But you have not yet answered my question. Do
you think the Government should put in a ditch to supply water to the
persons wanting it 3 #
Mr. GREGORY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. I did not know whether you wanted to do that, or
to stop with the survey.
Mr. GREGORY. I would not have it stop there by any means.
Senator PLUMB. The Government, you think, should go to the extent
of building a single ditch at least, to supply water to persons along the
line of that ditch 3
Mr. GREGORY. I would not confine it by any means to a single ditch.
I would not confine it to less than enough for these plains.
Senator PLUMB. Then you think the Government ought to put in all
the ditches necessary 3
Mr. GREGORY. I think it ought to begin the work and carry it on to
a point where private capital would be ready to carry it on. I am
satisfied that that will be a very early period. Any one who will come
here and see the results of irrigation can not but be satisfied that
there is an immense development in store for the country if we had the
use of water.
Senator PLUMB. That is common to the observation of all persons
who have visited the country. Everywhere it is manifest that wher-
ever water is applied by means of irrigation great and certain crops re-
sult. Of course, the people everywhere would be very glad to have the
Government supply them with water. That brings up, however, the
problem with reference not only to this immediate locality but as to
all parts of the United States. If the argument is based on the idea
that the people here have paid certain moneys for their land and that
that is to be returned to them, of course, that argument is suscepti-
ble of pretty wide application.
Mr. GREGORY. I would call attention, Senator, to one thing: We
have no rivers to improve and no harbors to clean out. We have
not asked for Government buildings, but we do ask for a chance to
live.
Senator PLUMB. The people of the East have also paid money to
the Government, and the people in the eastern part of this State have
paid money to the Government, and want to live. It seems to me that
your argument should not be based on the idea that the people have
bought a quantity of land for which they have paid. -
Mr. GREGORY. We will not, for a long time, ask for any Government
building or river and harbor appropriations, which all the States to east
of us have had in great plenty, but we will ask you to devote to our
part of the country our share of the money to develop water supply.
190 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
ti jator PLUMB. That is your share of the money raised by taxa.
1OIl
Mr. GREGORY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. That will result in a mathematical calculation as to
how much that money was.
Mr. GREGORY. We want our share of it simply.
Senator PLUMB. You want a fair computation on that subject 3
Mr. GREGORY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Speaking of public buildings, I have no doubt that
When the Government wants a Government building in Garden City it
Will build it, not because the people want it, but because the Govern-
ment has need of it.
Mr. GREGORY. Yes; I wish to say that the suggestions I make about
the Water supply are not to be considered as applying solely to this
Country, but are to be considered as, applying also to the valley of the
Platte. I think Major Powell shows that 25 per cent. of the arid and
Semi-arid lands of United States can be made fertile by the use of a
Small share of the water of the mountains. If we can use a part of
the Water that has gone down into the subterranean strata it will be an
immense gain to the United States.
Senator PLUMB. I understand that your theory of the duty of the
Government is not limited to this locality at all. I understand your
idea is that wherever the circumstances require it the Government
should do the work.
Mr. GREGORY. The Government should begin it.
Senator PLUMB. That opens up a great question, because this con-
dition of things exists over one-third of the area of the United States.
Mr. GREGORY. Well, none of us know the cost of the work. A
gentleman in Garden City, Mr. Moon, has excavated a reservoir for the
purpose of manufacturing ice. That reservoir, I understand, cost some-
thing less than $1,000. It is of such depth that it reaches about to
the surface of this underground water supply. It is nearly in circular
shape. If that were extended and made, say, 25 feet or 40 feet across,
and made much longer, the same amount of money would provide a
great deal more of a reservoir than when the dirt has to be moved so
far as in the case of a circular pool.
Senator PLUMB. Would it be practicable to use that for the purpose
of experimenting to demonstrate the general result 3
Mr. GREGORY. It would be available as demonstrating a result of a
reservoir in connection with it. The quickest and cheapest thing I know
of would be to clear out and do a little work in this lake I spoke of in
this town. It would not take much money to see in a small way what
could be done. I do not believe that if we wait for results to come from
small showings we will ever have the general result that ought to come
to the people as a whole. While we might here at Garden City obtain
results to answer our purpose very soon, we do not feel Satisfied with
having the matter stop there. We want to see our neighbors east,
west, south, and north of us have as much benefit as they can.
Senator PLUMB. You do not think that on a demonstration of this
kind private capital would be induced to make investment?
Mr. GREGORY. I think that it may be, but it would be so slow that
by the time it would be done the capitalists and monied men would have
the land and would have the profit that the poor people ought to have.
Senator PLUMB. You mean that it would not be done quickly enough?
Mr. GREGORY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB, Is there anything further you wish to state?
SIZE of THE FARMS AND THE DEMAND FOR water. 191
Mr. GREGORY. Nothing further than to impress upon you as far as
possible the very great importance of their being something done; also
the fact that if we depend upon private capital we depend on it to make
development for somebody else and not for ourselves.
Senator PLUMB. You may, of course, supplement what you have said
by submitting in writing any data that you think will throw light on
the subject. &
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of land do the people here generally
have—how large are the farms?
Mr. GREGORY. There is hardly any one here who has less than 160
acres. As to the farmers I think it will be fair to say that among those
who came early each man would have about 320 acres of land, because
almost all of them took a homestead and pre-emption claim and also a
timber claim. But perhaps at the present time that would not be the
case. Perhaps 160 acres would be the quantity.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you aware that a person does not need as much
irrigated land as other land 3
Mr. GREGORY. We are aware that a person can make a good living
On 10 acres of this land.
The CHAIRMAN. If the Government did not do this, would it not be
practicable for the people to join together and contribute some of their
land toward the building of a ditch 3
Mr. GREGORY. If we could get the men to supply the money and the
water I do not think there is a man in this country that would not give
80 acres out of his 160 to get water. If he had to go as far even as 120
he might do that ; but we do not think it is just to the people to require
that of them.
. The CHAIRMAN. I did not allude to that, but whether there was any
way out of the difficulty except the Government way.
Mr. GREGORY. There is that way that I have just spoken of, but it is
a very hard way.
STATEMENT OF A. T. MOON, OF GARDEN CITY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
Mr. Moon. In Garden City, Kans.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided here?
Mr. Moon. Since the spring of 1885.
Senator PLUMB. What is your business?
Mr. MOON. I am engaged in the ice business.
Senator PLUMB. Have you given some attention to the question of
the artificial water supply in this section of the country?
Mr. MOON. I have had no great experience in irrigation, but as to
this question of obtaining water from the subterranean supply I have
made Some little experiments in the way of excavating an ice pond and
got information in that way.
Senator PLUMB. State what your information is.
Mr. MOON. In the winter of 1886 I excavated a pond on what is
known as the first bottom. The pond contains about 2% acres, and
the excavation is an average depth of about 3 feet. We took off all
the surplus down to the sand. It was perfectly dry and easily worked
until we came to the sand. When we came to that the water rose and
made it very muddy and hard to work. We did not get it so deep as
we intended to get it.
That pond is Supplied from a natural lake about a half mile above.
The bottom of the natural lake is probably a foot below the sand in the
192 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
river. There is a continual stream flowing all the year round. The
Volume of the stream varies a little every season. It is about the lowest
now that we have ever seen it. In the dry season it does not flow as
much as in the spring or in the wet season, but it has never been known
to go dry. I filled this ice pond from the branch which flows down
from the natural pond above. The fall is sufficient.
Senator PLUMB. Would there be any difficulty in digging it out to
the depth of 10 or 15 feet, and getting out the sand 3
Mr. MOON. Yes; I think there would be some difficulty in doing that.
Senator PLUMB. Does the sand flow with the water ?
Mr. MOON. It does to some extent, but not very much.
Senator PLUMB. It is not a quicksand, then 3
Mr. MOON. No ; I would not call it that.
Senator PLUMB. Is there gravel in it 7
Mr. MOON. There is some gravel, but we drove through it with teams.
Further excavation may be possible there, but we did not make it.
Senator PLUMB. You think the water in this lake or pond is got by
flowage from the lake above 3
Mr. MOON. There are some who think the lake above is supplied by
a spring, but I do not see why we should have a spring in the middle
of a lake-bed. It looks to me as if it came from the level of the river.
Senator PLUMB. Does that water from the lake above flow in a channel,
or is it a general sheet of water following the trend of the river ?
Mr. MOON. The channel follows the trend of the river. This natural
channel looks as if it had been cut out some time by the river. It was
probably an arm of the river. I have dug down on the east side of the
lake, and I find this same sheet of sand on each side, which, it seems to
me, did away with the theory that there was a spring in the lake.
Senator PLUMB. You regard it as settled that in a large portion of
this bottom here the water is found on the same general level as the
bed of the river ?
Mr. Moon. Yes; I think it is also true that in an excavated pond the
water will rise higher than it is found to be in the river.
Senator PLUMB. You think it will rise above the level of the Water in
the river ?
Mr. Moon. Yes; probably by capillary attraction. The water is
higher in our pond than in the river, which is only about 2 rods dis-
tant.
Senator PLUMB. How much higher ?
Mr. Moon. I do not know exactly how much, but I know it rises
higher. Of course other sources contribute to it, and the water coming
from above has something to do with it.
Senator JONES. How much higher than your pond is the natural lake
to which you have referred ?
Mr. Moon. About 5 or 54 feet. The upper end of it is from a mile to
a mile and a half farther up the river, and the natural fall is toward the
artificial pond.
The committee here took a recess of an hour, after which the Session
was resumed, the same members being in attendance.
THE RAINFALL AND THE KANSAS WATER FAMINE. 193
STATEMENT OF WILLIS BRYANT, OF SCOTT COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3
Mr. BRYANT. In Scott County; about the center of it.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided there ?
Mr. BRYANT. Three years and a half.
Senator PLUMB. Where are you from ?
Mr. BRYANT. Montgomery County, in eastern Kansas.
Senator PLUMB. Please state to the committee the result of your ob.
servation in regard, first, to the necessity for an artificial supply of
water in this section of the Čountry, and secondly, as to the method by
which it can be obtained.
Mr. BRYANT. There is no doubt but that they need a little more
water here; yet they have raised quite a considerable crop there this
year; good wheat, very good oats and rye, and some very good corn.
With a little assistance in the way of artificial water they would have
a very good crop there this year.
Senator PLUMB. What is the annual average precipitation in your
part of the county ?
Mr. BRYANT. About 14 inches, I think, on an average.
Senator PLUMB. Not more than that %
Mr. BRYANT. No ; it runs a little higher some years—as high as 18
or 20 inches. -
Senator PLUMB. About how high has it been this year?
Mr. BRYANT. It is 13 inches, about.
Senator PLUMB. Is it distributed pretty evenly 3
Mr. BRYANT. No ; the rain is local rather than general.
Senator PLUMB. Is there any particular part of the county that from
year to year has more than any other part? Is there more precipitation
along the streams?
Mr. BRYANT. There is probably a little more. Last season a better
Crop was raised in the north part of the county. This season it has
been pretty generally distributed all over.
Senator PLUMB. What do your people chiefly raise?
Mr. BRYANT. This year our people are commencing on wheat.
Senator PLUMB. Is it a fair crop, and is the wheat full ?
Mr. BRYANT. It is a very good crop, and of full wheat.
Senator PLUMB. Have they tried spring wheat?
Mr. BRYANT. No, In addition to the wheat, they have rye and corn,
and cattle-corn. They have also some alfalfa, though not very much.
Early potatoes did very well this year.
Senator PLUMB. Please state the result of your observation in regard
to the chance for an artificial water supply 3
Mr. BRYANT. About the only hope that our people look for is the
Storage of the rain-fall and the assistance of the Amazon ditch now be-
ing constructed, which will irrigate about one-third of the County.
Senator PLUMB. That is supplied from the Arkansas River ?
Mr. BRYANT. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. If you get all the water you can irrigate the area
you have named ?
Mr. BRYANT. Yes; engineers are now surveying with the view of
making storage reservoirs to take care of the water that comes down
in the fall and Winter... Some have an idea that they might get relief
from artesian Wells. Nothing of that kind has been tried there.
Senator PLUMB. At what depth have they found water 3
138 A L-WOL III—13
194. IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. BRYANT. At 50 feet depth in the towns. It is pretty much the
Same all the Way round. It seems to be sheet water. {
Senator PLUMB. That is found all around the valley of the Arkansas
River?
Mr. BRYANT. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. You are on the water-shed of the Smoky Hill?
Mr. BRYANT. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. From what direction must the artificial water sup-
ply come 3 -
Mr. BRYANT. From the Arkansas River.
STATEMENT OF J. A. WILSON, OF KEARNEY COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3
Mr. WILSON. In Kearney County, Kans.
Senator PLUMB. That is the county adjoining this?
Mr. WILSON. Yes; on the west.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided there?
Mr. WILSON. Two years.
Senator PLUMB. Please state to the committee the result of your obser-
Vation in regard to the necessity for an artificial supply and the source
from which it might be obtained, as well as the method of obtaining it.
Mr. WILSON. I have seen the irrigation from the ditches within reach
of the Arkansas valley proper, and have also noticed the natural fall of
Water. My idea is that the best agricultural country could be reached
by storing the waste water that passes through the draws.
Senator PLUMB. You mean what falls on the hills, on the surface of
the earth 3
Mr. WILSON. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Is the topography of the country such that storage
could be carried on on a large scale %
Mr. WILSON. It seems to me that it is. There are large “draws,” some
of which are a mile wide, and the water could be stored there so as to
give a surface reservoir of 50 to 100 acres perhaps.
Senator PLUMB. What you speak of as a “draw" is what we know
generally as a ravine, is it?
Mr. WILSON. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. You mean that by closing the mouths of those ra-
vines or draws, and getting the Water naturally belonging to them,
you would get enough water to aid materially in irrigation ?
Mr. WILSON. I think so. -
Senator PLUMB. At what time is this Water to be had 3
Mr. WILSON. It falls in the early spring, except during the last season.
I notice that it has fallen in August and September and in the winter
time. More falls in the spring and fall than at other times. There has
been waste water that has washed out the embankments and ditches
several times this last season. -
Senator PLUMB. Have you had any experience with artesian water
in your county"
Mr. WILSON. No.
Senator PLUMB. Are there any artesian Wells in your county ?
Mr. WILSON. N.O.
Senator PLUMB. Have any efforts been made to obtain them 3
Mr. WILSON. No.
IRRIGABLE CHARACTER OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS. 195
Senator PLUMB. What reliance can be placed upon the water in the
Arkansas River ?
Mr. WILSON. From what I have heard others say, they have now a
greater slope of country subject to irrigation than the surface supply
of water will warrant.
Senator PLUMB. That is, the present ditches can not supply the lands
that lie under them "
Mr. WILSON. No.
Senator PLUMB. Is that because of the short supply of water in the
rivers this year compared with former years 3
Mr. WILSON. The two seasons that I have been here they have had
failures of crops for want of water.
Senator PLUMB. What, in your opinion, is the occasion of there not
being sufficient water?
Mr. WILSON. There not being sufficient rain-fall, or there having been
a limited snow-fall in the mountains.
Senator PLUMB. Is there any other suggestion you wish to make on
this subject 3
Mr. WILSON. I will only state that I am enthusiastic on this theory
of the reservoir system. We have great natural advantages by reason
of the natural fall of slope of the land, and the ravines or draws. I be-
lieve the water could be very easily stored in sufficient quantities to irri-
gate the land.
Senator PLUMB. What proportion of the land do you think would be
irrigated by storing the water which is the result of storms at seasons
of the year other than the growing season; that is, what proportion of
the water that descends goes to waste in the season of the year when it
is not needed for irrigating the crops ?
Mr. WILSON. I think there is sufficient to irrigate all the land.
Senator PLUMB. You think the annual precipitation is sufficient if it
could only be used at the proper season of the year }
Mr. WILSON. I think so.
Mr. CLARK. I should like to have the privilege of asking a question.
I wish to ask Mr. Wilson by what means he would lift the water out of
a low draw to irrigate the table-lands above &
Mr. WILSON. I would not undertake to irrigate the lands above. I
would irrigate the lands below. I suppose that that water to be carried
out and utilized to the best advantage should be carried out in hard
tiles. The soil is all sandy around here and absorbs water very rapidly.
To conduct it Out Overland through ditches would waste a considerable
portion of it. I think the water should always be taken out from the
bottom, so that you could utilize all the water in the mountain lakes or
reservoirs, and that it should be taken out by means of hard tiling, with
proper machinery for shutting it off at the proper times.
Mr. CLARK. Then you do not expect to irrigate the small valley below
the draw Ż
Mr. WILSON. We have a natural fall in this country of 8 or 9 feet to
the mile. -
Mr. CLARK, Is it a fact that if you took it along the river or stream
in this country where the draws come in, and were to carry it by a
flume, each half mile you would come to another draw—if so, how would
you pass over that draw 3
Mr. WILSON. A system of reservoirs would, I suppose, have to be ar.
rangedfor, to accommodate the country, and if they struck another draw
they would have to arrange to get a fall of 2 or 3 feet for the water.
196 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Senator JONES. There is no practical difficulty in that. Everywhere
Water is carried in flumes above water-courses.
Mr. WILSON. If water is carried by proper machinery so that it will
not be Wasted by absorption and evaporation it can be carried to the
proper place.
*-
STATEMENT OF W. E. HUTCHINSON, OF ULYSSES, GRANT COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
Mr. HUTCHISON. In Grant County.
Senator PLUMB. In what part 3
Mr. HUTCHISON. At Ulysses. &
Senator PLUMB. How near are you to the Arkansas River ?
Mr. HUTCHISON. The northern part of our county is 12 miles from
the Arkansas.
Senator PLUMB. Please state to the committee the result of your ob-
servation; first, as to the necessity for an artificial supply of water in
your County, and, secondly, your view as to the source from which that
supply must come if it is to be obtained.
Mr. HUTCHISON. I have been in Grant County two years, and I see
the need of having something to help out the crops. We have an
early spring. A superabundance of water comes along then ; in
July and August we have little or no water. There is great need of an
artificial supply. My idea is that we will have to get that from the Ar-
kansas. It is very shallow to water in our county, and probably an ar-
tesian system would have to go deeper than in other places.
Senator PLUMB. How deep do you have to go for water?
Mr. HUTCHISON. On the west half of the county about 40 feet, and
on the east half about 100.
Senator PLUMB, Is there an ample supply then }
Mr. HUTCHISON. Yes. Some people say that in digging wells the
augur would drop 14 feet, and sometimes as much as 6 feet.
Senator PLUMB. Does the water rise pretty well up in the well ?
Mr. HUTCHISON. Quite a distance.
Senator PLUMB. There have been no artesian Wells dug in your
county &
Mr. HUTCHISON. No. The sand hills lie between us and the Arkan-
sas and there might be difficulty in getting the Water acroSS, though
not a great deal, I think. *
Senator PLUMB. What success have your people had with their
crops? *
. HUTCHISON. The crops are only a partial Success. This year
we have not had half a crop. -
Senator PLUMB. What is your principal crop 3
Mr. HUTCHISON. Corn. We raise oats sometimes. Alfalfa does
well in the wet part of the season, but it is no good after the dry season
COIN) In 62D1C0S,
Senator PLUMB. Have you tried sorghum, cattle-corn, or other fod-
der crops ?
Mr. HUTCHISON. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. So far as any known fact is concerned, your reliance
is on the Arkansas River ?
Mr. HUTCHISON. Principally. We have two streams, the Cimarron
and Bear Creek, from which water is easily obtained and we have often
thought of making reservoirs and retaining the water when there was
water sources AND NEEDs of HAMILTON county. 197
an excess of it. Bear Creek could probably supply all our county. It
would be down grade. --
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything further you wish to say?
Mr. HUTCHISON. I do not think there is.
STATEMENT OF J. C. GUY, OF HAMILTON COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. You reside in Hamilton County, I believe?
Mr. GUY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided there?
Mr. GUY. Between one and two years.
Senator PLUMB. Where were you from, originally ?
Mr. GUY. From Missouri.
Senator PLUMB. In what part of the county do you live #
Mr. GUY. At Syracuse, in the center of the county.
Senator PLUMB. Please state the result of your observation as to the
necessity for an artificial water supply in that county, and the result of
your observation as to the best method of getting it.
Mr. GUY. My view of the necessity of getting a water supply is very
decided. We have a little over half a million acres of arable land in
that county that is susceptible of irrigation, with water; and without
water it is almost worthless. We have about 70,000 acres running
through the center of the county that could not be irrigated. In the
western part of the county we have good artesian wells to the depth of
300 feet, but I do not think they would be sufficient to irrigate any
considerable amount of land for agricultural purposes.
Senator PLUMB. How many wells have been sunk there ?
Mr. GUY. I think two or three.
Senator PLUMB. What is the flow from those ?
Mr. GUY. I do not know. They are in the western part of the county,
in the town of Coolidge.
Senator PLUMB. What, in your judgment, is to be the source of sup-
ply for artificial water? -
Mr. GUY. Our opinion there generally is that the only really practi.
cable plan would be that of storage reservoirs.
Senator PLUMB. Taking the water out at the time that there was an
abundance of it, and storing it 3
Mr. GUY. Yes; principally.
Senator PLUMB., And also storing that which fell during the season
of the year when there was no need of the water 3
Mr. GUY. Yes. There are times in the year when a great deal of
water runs down the Arkansas River, and during that time we might
Store it in the reservoirs. In that county there is a sheet of water that
underlies all the bottom land. You can obtain it by boring, digging,
or driving, at from 12 to 15 feet from the bottom. That supply is Sup-
º to be inexhaustible, though we have no information on the sub-
JeCD.
Senator PLUMB. Those two sources, then—the water that flows under
the surface along the Arkansas bottom, and that which is a result of
precipitation and flows down the Arkansas River during the season—
would be the two sources of supply
Mr. GUY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Does the topography of the country afford places
for storage to irrigate the county º * *.
Mr. GUY. Yes. Along the course of the river there are various long
*
198 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
ravines that might be filled from the river. About 3 miles from the
river you come across a nice level plateau—a beautiful country with an
excellent quality of soil. I believe that is a better quality of soil than
the soil on the bottoms.
I isºtor PLUMB. Are there natural depressions on the elevated table-
3Il Ols
Mr. GUY. Yes; although these storage places would have to be made
Some distance above and the water conducted down,
Senator PLUMB. Is the land in your county chiefly entered ?
Mr. GUY. No ; I do not think there is one-half of the county that has
been entered and proved up.
Senator PLUMB. I do not mean the final proof, but the quantity of
land on which filings have been made. You know that when a man gets
a piece of land and files his claim for homestead entry, that is called
an “entry.” Most of those lands have been filed on, I suppose?
Mr. GUY. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Have the parties left there?
Mr. GUY. Yes. A few years ago we had four or five thousand; to-
day we have not two thousand.
l *to: PLUMB. Do you think the people have finally abandoned the
3,1] &
Mr. GUY. They have gone away to seek employment—to get a liveli-
hood. They could not raise a sufficient amount of crops to sustain
them. They took the land in good faith, and have tried very hard to
remain there.
b Senator PLUMB. You think, then, that those people mean to come
ack? \
Mr. GUY. They mean to come back if provision could be made by
which they could make a living. I have never seen a man go because
he wanted to go, but because he was compelled to go; he had to make
a living.
Senator PLUMB. There is no doubt about the country being good if
you had the water.
Mr. GUY. We have a good country, and only lack water.
Senator PLUMB. Have you any further suggestions to make to the
committee on this subject?
Mr. GUY. I have no suggestions further than this, that the project is
too great for private enterprise, and if the Government will appro-
propriate as much money toward bringing those lands into cultivation
as they have appropriated for reclaiming the swamp lands along the
various rivers of the country, I think we can have in Southwestern
Kansas one of the best countries in the World.
STATEMENT OF H. K. LESTER, OF SYRACUSE.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
Mr. LESTER. At Syracuse, Hamilton County, Kans.
Senator PLUMB. When did you go there ?
Mr. LESTER. In June, 1873.
Senator PLUMB. You are one of the original Syracuse colonists?
Mr. LESTER. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. How many are left of the original colony?
Mr. LESTER. Three families.
Senator PLUMB. Out of how many ?
Mr. LESTER. There were originally twenty-five families.
THE STORAGE of water AN ABSOLUTE NECEssity. 199
Senator PLUMB. When did they commence leaving %
Mr. LESTER. It must have been in the fall of 1875 that they began
to go.
§ator PLUMB. You have had the benefit of sixteen years' residence
in that country. What do you say as to the necessity of an artificial
supply of water in order to make agriculture possible %
Mr. LESTER. I am satisfied that eventually the country will be all
right without irrigation, but that there is a necessity for it now.
Senator PLUMB. What, according to your observation, will be the
most natural or the main source of supply for that irrigation ?
Mr. LESTER. If it were in accordance with the existing laws of
Colorado, I should say that one great source of supply would be the
Arkansas River and the establishment of a system of reservoirs. Dur-
ing the sixteen years that I have been there I have not seen the river
so low as at present, unless it was in 1883, and last year. In other
years it has seemed to me there was an abundance of water in the
river for all practical purposes. In regard to the formation of those
reservoirs, I have on several occasions seen the river at Syracuse when
over 160 acres of land would be overflowed with water to an average
depth of 2 feet, from the rains that came down the creek at Syracuse.
It seems to me possible that such water might be used. There might
be a system of storage to hold that water. Not at that place alone;
but creeks abound there; and at Highland, about 16 miles northeast of
Syracuse, Mr. Hadley told me that he saw from 300 to 400 acres of
water in the depression, and it looked like a lake. All the water holes
are probably filled now.
Senator PLUMB. Has there been any modification of climate since you
have been in that country &
Mr. LESTER. The most that I have remarked is the growth of vege-
tation over the sand hills. Those were entirely bare, or the major por-
tion of them were, when I went there. They are now covered with vege-
tation. The rain-fall, I think, is also better distributed. One farmer I
know raised 30 bushels of wheat to the acre a little north of Syracuse.
Senator PLUMB. You think, then, that in the average of the years
since you first went to this county there has been a better distribution
of rain-fall than when you first went there?
Mr. LESTER. I think so, and that is the trouble with rain-fall; it is
not that the quantity is too great so much as that the distribution is
defective.
Senator PLUMB. Do you know what the average rain-fall is in that
county ?
Mr. LESTER. I do not remember. The first ten years after I went
there we never had a rain in January or February, to my knowledge,
but of late years we have begun to have rains then.
STATEMENT OF E. L. HALL, OF FINNEY COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3
Mr. HALL. In Finney County, about a mile and a half from here.
Senator ſ”LUMB. Where did you come from ?
Mr. HALL. From Ohio and Indiana. $4
Senator PLUMB. You have been engaged in farming since you have
been here? "
Mr. HALL. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Are you under ditch {
Mr. HALL. Yes.
200 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator PLUMB. Please state to the committee as briefly as you rea-
sonably can the necessity for irrigation and your judgment as to the
means of getting it.
Mr. HALL. In the fall of 1885 I came to this county to look up a
flew location. I took in several of the Western States in my examina-
tion. I entered some land in Scott County, about 35 or 40 miles north
of here. It was good valley land and I thought I could make a good
farm of it. I intended putting about 40 acres of it into orchards. I
commenced digging a well and got moisture 3 or 4 feet down, but from
that down it was as dry as dust. I made up my mind that I had made a
failure. The older a tree gets the more water it requires. I abandoned
that thing at once and came here on the ditch. On a ditch I can raise
any kind of vegetables or grain or anything else, while away from a
ditch nothing of any account can be raised. A man might possibly
keep stock by the stuff he raises there, but that is all.
Senator PLUMB, Does the moisture from the irrigation penetrate
deeper than it did originally *
Mr. HALL. If you irrigate a piece of land one year it does not need
so much moisture the next year.
jºr PLUMB. You do not know whether the water penetrates the
SUlOSO1
Mr. HALL. It will go down to the sand below.
Senator PLUMB. How about the upland?
Mr. HALL. I do not think it will affect the upland.
h ºntor PLUMB. Your observation is, then, that irrigation is needed
GI’ê
Mr. HALL. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. What do you say as to the means of providing it 3
Mr. HALL. It appears to me that there might be some arrangement
made with the State of Colorado by the United States to store that
water if the United States Government were to control it. Plenty of
water comes down this Arkansas River to irrigate this whole country,
and yet it goes to waste now.
Senator PLUMB. Do you think enough went down this season ?
Mr. HALL. This season the river has been up four or five different
imes, full, nearly to the bank. The ditch I have been on will irrigate
º 3,000 or 4,000 acres of land, and enough water goes down that
ver in one day to fill this ditch for a whole year, I think.
Senator PLUMB. That is your judgment as to the source of supply of
water for irrigation?
Mr. HALL. Yes; I think there is plenty of water that can be stored
in one place or another to answer every purpose here, and make this a
great country.
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything further you wish to say on th
subject 7 r
Mr. HALL. I believe not.
STATEMENT OF T. J. Jon ES, OF GARDEN CITY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3
Mr. JONES. At Garden City, Kans.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided here ?
Mr. JONES. Eleven years.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you lived in Kansas'?
Mr. JONES. Twenty-three years. I first came to this valley as mail-
agent on fine road, sixteen years ago last Spring.
IRRIGATING DITCHES OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS. 201
Senator PLUMB. You have lived in this country nearly ever since it
was settled, I suppose? .
Mr. JonEs. Yes; I was one of the first four or five persons that came
here.
Senator PLUMB. Please state to the committee, in your own way, the
necessity of irrigation, and your view as to the method by which that
object can be obtained ?
Mr. Jon Es. I soon found out that we could not raise crops here suc;
cessfully and rely upon having them every year, without some artificial
supply of water. Some years we could get good crops of one kind by plant-
ing early. We might get early corn, for instance, by planting early, but
we could not depend on it. I made up my mind that we could save Some
of the water. I have built over 500 miles of ditches in this and ad:
jacent counties already. That is, I projected them and helped to build
them. We have not water enough now to warrant our building any
more or even keeping up the repairs on those we have.
Senator PLUMB. The Arkansas River is the source of supply
Mr. JoWES. Yes; when it does supply.
Senator PLUMB. What is the occasion of the lack of supply from the
Arkansas this year?
Mr. JONES. The defective supply of snow on the mountains and
very light rains. When we have a big rain above it comes down in im-
mense quantities and passes away. If it came steadily we have an
abundance of water to irrigate the whole country here.
Senator PLUMB. If the waste water were saved would it supply the
ditches 3
Mr. JoMES. I believe it would supply all the ditches and all the land
adjacent for 100 miles each side of the one-hundredth meridian. Then
I think that much of it goes to waste by seepage through the country.
it is about fifty miles wide, probably.
Senator PLUMB. Is that the uniform width 3
Mr. Jon Es. No; but an average width. It runs from 70 to 30 miles,
as nearly as we can tell.
Senator PLUMB. That would require, of course, many more ditches
than there now are ?
Mr. JONES. Yes. &
Senator PLUMB. What amount of land could be irrigated by the ex-
isting ditches if the water were abundant }
Mr. JONES. I can not say as to the number of acres, but I should
think about twenty or twenty-four townships could be watered by ex-
tending the laterals from the present ditches.
Senator PLUMB. By the present water supply 3
. JONES. By the present water capacity of the ditches—not by the
Supply.
Senator PLUMB. Do you mean Government townships, or municipal
townships?
Mr. JONES. Government townships.
Senator PLUMB. What proportion of a county?
Mr. JONES. One-half of a good-sized county ?
Senator PLUMB. Are any of the ditches now in existence giving a
full supply of water ?
Mr. JONES. None; not all the season. If we had some way to bring
Water across the line from Colorado—if our Colorado neighbors would
divide with us—I think we could have a good deal more. Somebody
has said that it was unlawful, according to the law of Colorado, to bring
Water across the line. I do not think that is so. If the Colorado ditches
202 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
$
had given us a prior right we would have had abundance. The Colorado
ditches that have been lately built have been taking the supply of water.
I have been up and down a good deal, and have been making close Ob-
Servation of that fact.
Senator PLUMB. Then your suggestion of the plan to meet this diffi-
culty is the storing of the water at the time that it flows down, unused ?
Mr. JONES. Yes. t
Senator PLUMB. State how you would get reservoirs.
Mr. JONES. There are several ways of getting water: one by taking
it from beneath the surface, another by rain-fall as it reaches the ground,
and the other by getting it from the river. As to taking out the water
from the river, I believe that can be done, but many people do not un-
derstand how much water is needed to irrigate land. The land here is
Sandy, and it would take a good deal of water to supply it. Another
great objection to building a canal, or something to get the water out
With, is that the quicksand makes it very difficult to keep it. It would
have to be walled with a still wall.
Senator PLUMB. That only relates to the expense and time of getting it.
Mr. JONES. Yes. That is hardly the proper way to get the water, Ithink.
The other way I mentioned is by building dams across the ravines, etc.
The first year or two the seepage is very great, but after a few years of
holding the water the evaporation will soon become slight. I think
the farmers would in that way save themselves a great deal of hard-
ship.
Senator PLUMB. Is the configuration of the country such as that on
the upper level there would be facilities for natural storage?
Mr. JONES. Yes; the table land comes up to a point. The highest
point in it is a backbone that averages from 1 mile to 5 miles wide. If
water could be stored or gathered from there in these little ravines that
come down, a great deal of irrigation could be had from below. You
would get sufficient water for the pipe, but not sufficient to water the
country.
Senator PLUMB. Many incidental advantages would grow out of that;
for example, the facility it would offer for the planting and growth of
treeS.
Mr. Jon Es. Yes; and the precipitation would be so great that we
would have more rains. X.
Senator PLUMB. What do you think of having reservoirs to catch
the surplus waters of the Arkansas River ?
Mr. Jon Es. Every man in this country will acknowledge that the
rains do not penetrate down to this sheet-water. It only wets down
from 3 to 6 feet. All must concede then that the water comes from the
mountains. Instead of trenching and getting it out of the bowels of
the earth, you must gather it where it is kept, and take it out on the
highest lands and distribute in that way. In that way we all can have
water and abundance of it.
Senator PLUMB. These reservoirs, in order to answer the purposes of
distribution, would be mainly on the highlands?
Mr. JONES. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Would you carry the waters up on the ridges and
distribute them from there to the valleys?
Mr. JoWEs. Yes. If you have a bird in the hand it is better to hold
on to him than to let him go with the expectation that he can be caught
again. If you get the sediment settled the seepage after a year or two
will be very slight. We have to wait until we get an overflow of the
river in order to get the ditches filled.
whAT THE GOVERNMENT MIGHT DO FOR IRRIGATION. 203
Senator PLUMB. Is that sediment also carried onto the soil 7
Mr. Jon Es. Yes; it is very fertile and distributes itself very nicely.
It is equal to a coating of manure.
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything else you would like to say on this
subject.
. JONES. It appears to me that there is only one practical way for
the Government to do in getting irrigation for this country; that is, to
build a large canal on each side, taking it from the base of the mount-
ains, and taking all the water of the Arkansas River and saving it in
these reservoirs. The Government would have to charge a price for
it—say so much a foot—in order to protect those who have already put
the ditches in.
Senator PLUMB. You mean that the Government should make the
main ditches and let private individuals take out the laterals?
Mr. JONES. Yes. It would be foolish for the Government to expect
to fill irrigating ditches and expect to keep them up. Let these main
ditehes be on the divides and let them save all the water of the Arkan-
sas River. It has been suggested to me that the seepage would be less
On them than on the bottoms.
Senator PLUMB. Would the ditches on the uplands have a steeper
grade than those on the bottom lands?
Mr. JONES. No ; the level of the country is generally the same.
Senator PLUMB. Would not the water scour and cut away the land 3
Mr. JONES. The land is very solid and it takes an immense current
to cut the banks. I have seen places where the fall is at the rate of 10
; º feet and yet the soil is so compact that we can not get too much
all.
Senator PLUMB. Does the porcelain lining to the ditch wash º
Mr. JONES. That does not wash. It stays in. By constructing a
. as Wide as the Arkansas River you only need to have it 5 feet
eep.
Senator PLUMB. Would not the evaporation be greater?
Mr. JONES. If you want to get less evaporation or seepage you will
make your canal narrower; but at an expense, I would say, of $2,000
a mile, you can save every drop of water after you get it up. There
would be more expense on the heavy places.
Senator PLUMB. You would be obliged to have reservoirs made at
convenient points?
Mr. JONES. Yes. I can get the capital needed to develop all these
ditches if we are sure of water. There is no question about that.
Senator JONES. Are you still owner of a number of those ditches 3
Mr. Jon ES. I have some interest in them; very little.
Senator JONES. Do you sell the water-right annually or altogether ?
Mr. JONES. Year by year. ".
Senator JQNES. Have you any objection to stating the average cost
per acre, to the land under the ditch, for the construction of the ditch 3
When you lay out a ditch do you expect to irrigate a certain amount of
land 3 What would be the total cost of the ditch, if distributed evenly,
to be paid for by the land-owners ?
Mr. JONES. That would be very difficult for me to say, for I never
kept any account of it in that way.
Senator JONES. Can you approximate it 2
Mr. JONES. It depends on how you are fixed about machinery and
everything of that sort. With the modern way of getting out water, if
the lay of the country is good, and if it could be taken out without bad
cuts and fills, it might be taken out at a cost of 50 cents an acre, provided
204 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID DANDS.
you had enough of it. It depends on the amount you get. But as
to the cost of taking it out the way we have had to take it out and the
amount of water that the ditches will give for irrigation, we have been
letting it at $1 an acre on an average.
Senator JONES. That is $1 an acre each year 2
Mr. JONES. Yes; but we have not had enough to make a dividend
on that, because we have taken it out, as I say, under disadvantages
and have had some experience about it.
Senator JONES. Have you any objection to stating the cost of your
ditches 3
Mr. JONES. I did not keep an accurate account, but I can give you
the cost of a ditch 102 miles long. I have 137 miles of laterals com-
pleted with flumes and everything connected with it. It has cost me
about $50,000.
Senator JONES. It is 100 miles long and cost $50,000.
Mr. JONES. Yes.
Senator JONES. What is the size of the ditch
Senator JONES. At the head it would average about 30 feet at the
bottom and about 40 feet at the top ; it is 43 feet deep.
Senator JONES. How much land could be irrigated by that ditch 3
Mr. JONES. If we had water to keep it going all the time, and if peo-
ple would use it judiciously and would know how to use it, I believe it
would irrigate 300,000 or 400,000 acres of land. We can generally get
along by one good flooding of water. That is, we can raise almost any
kind of crops by having the water just at the right time. One flooding
will give a man almost certainly a good crop. Some crops want more,
perhaps, but two floodings, with the amount of rain-fall that we have,
gives a certainty.
Senator PLUMB. Is it not usually calculated in this western country
that the amount of water necessary to supply an acre of land is about a
miner's inch 3
Mr. Jon ES. The way they use water here that quantity will not do
it. It will take about 14 inches for the first year and after the first
year it will take about 1% inches. Perhaps after using it for several
years a miner's inch might do, by judicious use of the water; but our
land is such that we have to flood it all over. We can not perforate or
let it go by seepage through the ground, and it is better to let a big
supply of water go all over. We are learning a good deal by experi-
ence hero in regard to the use of water.
STATEMENT OF A. B. COCHRANE, OF SCOTT COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
Mr. CoCHRANE. In the south part of Scott County, although I have
lived in the northern part. -
Senator PLUMB. About how far north ?
Mr. COCHRANE. About 20 miles north.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you lived where you are now 7
Mr. COCHRANE. About six months.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you lived in this section of the
State %
Mr. CoCHRANE. This is my sixth year. *
Senator PLUMB. State your idea as to the necessity for an artificial
supply of water and the source from which it can come.
Mr. CooHRANE. The necessity is illustrated by this fact, nearly every
section in Scott County is good tillable land, and nearly every section
...”
WHEN THE SETTLEMENTS AND FARMING BEGUN. 205
has had three settlers on it in turn. Take Lake Township, for example,
it will not cast 40 votes at the next election. Valley Township is the
same way. Other townships are in the same fix. The people expected
to make homes there and have tried, but they were obliged to go away.
We have had rain every week from the time the Snow began to go
away until the 1st of July, then it stopped. It has been so every sea-
son since I have been here. If the forepart of the Season was good the
last part was a failure. l am acquainted in the eastern, Southern, and
northern portions of the county, and I know there is no corn to speak
of except a very few fields in the eastern or central portion of the county.
In the south there is quite a wide strip where the stalks do not stand
more than 3 feet high this season. Oats have done a little better than
formerly. -
Senator PLUMB. How is it about wheat 7
Mr. CocBRANE. Where wheat has been cultivated properly it has
done somewhat better. I have heard of some 17 bushels to the acre,
but that is the exception. Generally it is from 7 to 12 where they have
harvested and thrashed.
Senator PLUMB. How is the artificial supply of water to be got, in
your judgment 3
Mr. COCHRANE. I should think the water needs to come from the
mountains. In the northern part of Scott County the wells are usually
100 feet deep. A large portion run from 125 to 150. In the southern por-
tion they are from 30 to 50 feet generally, so that it would seem that
either artesian water will have to be secured or it will have to come
from the mountains. The land lies in good shape to carry water.
There are little ridges from 10 to 20 or 30 feet above the general level.
The surveys show that the water will follow those. g
Senator PLUMB. Is the topography of the country such that the water
can be stored ?
Mr. COCHRANE. Some could be gathered in that way and brought to
the lowest lands, but the general level could not be reached, I think,
by water gathered off the highest ground. There are a good many
farms that could be supplied perhaps by water gathered off other lands
near by. But the land generally is so level that it would be difficult
to reach the greater part of it. The land is pretty nearly all mortgaged.
The people have been compelled to mortgage it in order to get some-
thing to live upon. If they could get water those that have gone would
come back again.
Senator JONES. When did those people go there who live there now?
Mr. COCHRAN.E. Some of them went three or four years ago.
Senator JONES. Had there been a settlement there prior to that time?
Mr. COCHRANE. There had been a little trial about Scott Centre, as
it was called. A few settlers had tried it there in 1879, I believe, but
gave it up.
Senator JONES. That was the first settlement, was it 3
Mr. COCHRANE, Yes, except ranching along the creeks and the
prairies. They did not make any effort to do any farming.
206 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
STATEMENT OF FRED. BROWN, OF GRANT COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside?
Mr. BROWN. In Grant County.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided here?
Mr. BROWN. About four years.
. Senator PLUMB. Will you state to the committee your views regard.
ing the necessity of an artificial water supply and the means of getting
it in your locality.
Mr. BROWN. Most of our settlers came into Grant County about four
years ago. They were an industrious class of people, men of indomi-
table pluck and determined to make a home there. Last year we had
an almost total failure of crops. This year they will not cast over 200
Votes in the county. Our population is reduced from 4,000 to 1,500, and
We feel that something must be done. We are satisfied that we can
not stay there very long unless something is done. We have deluded
Ourselves with the hope that turning up the soil and exposure to the sun,
deep plowing, etc., would bring an abundance of moisture, but we have
ingloriously failed in all that. This year is the hardest year we have
had. Other years we have had enough feed for our stock. This year
We will not have half enough to feed them. Everything is burnt up on
the stalk. The corn is burnt up without any ear having got started,
all, because of the lack of moisture when we want it. Everything is very
uncertain in the way of crops there and most of our people have gone.
As the gentleman who preceded me has told you, the land is mostly
mortgaged, but the people will undoubtedly come back if they see they
have any show. I am satisfied that Mr. Jones's idea is a good One, to
bring the water from the mountains and store it in reservoirs. The
utmost economy should be practiced with the water supply we have.
There is enough water running down the Arkansas to irrigate 100 miles
on each side, and we can not afford to waste one drop of it. In Grant
County we have what seems to be a natural basin for water where Bear
Creek enters the sand hills. It would be almost a natural reservoir
for all our county. Bear River is a flowing stream in Colorado and the
water disappears when it comes into Kansas.
Senator PLUMB. Is there anything further you wish to say?
Mr. BROWN. I might say that in the last three months there have
not been more than two or three days at a time when the prairies of our
county have not been burning. -
Senator PLUMB. To what depth do you go for water on your place
Mr. BROWN. From 40 to 200 feet. There is a sunk well at the edge
of the sand hills where this basin enters. It is a cavity of about 150
feet across the top. From the top of the sand down to the Water Would
be perhaps about 30 or 40 feet. There is a vast basin of water there of
unknown depth. That is supposed to be the subterranean passage of
Bear Creek. It goes along through the sand hills and there are a couple
of lakes over there that are supposed to be a part of that connection.
STATEMENT OF D. J. BELL, OF FINNEY COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3
Mr. BELL. In Finney County, 5% miles north of this city.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided here 3
Mr. BELL. Six years next Spring.
Senator PLUMB. Please state in your Own Way What is your view
with reference to the artificial supply of Water and how it is to be ob-
tained #
THE DUTY AND WALUE OF WATER—CROPS RAISED. 207
Mr. BELL. I have no great knowledge of irrigation ; only what little
I have seen since I came here. Where we can irrigate we can raise as
much of everything as we want. Where we can not irrigate, every-
thing is a failure.
Senator PLUMB. Are you under a ditch now %
Mr. BELL. Yes; there are 30 acres that I can not irrigate because 1
have not fixed the ditch. I have about 50 acres in which the crops are
exceedingly fine.
Senator PLUMB. Is it your conclusion from experience, then, that
irrigation is necessary 3
Mr. BELL. Yes. Men can not live here without it, unless they are
stock raisers. There are a few ranchmen scattered about the country.
Senator PLUMB. What in your judgment is to be the source of Sup-
ply for this water ?
Mr. BELL. My opinion is that the only source of supply is the Arkan-
sas River, and in order to make a constant supply there would have to
be reservoirs. Without them we can not get along very well. None
of us get the amount of crops, even at the best, that we ought to get.
We will have water plentiful one week, and none the next week. Some
times we will be a month without water.
Senator PLUMB. How many times do you need to irrigate during the
growing season 3
Mr. BELL. My crop has been principally alfalfa since I have been
here. I would like to cut that every thirty days, water it once and then
cut it, water it immediately after cutting and in thirty days it would
be ready to cut again.
Senator PLUMB. How much water do you contract for, or how much
do you expect to get according to your contracts with the ditch, per
acre 3
Mr. BELL. I find that for alfalfa, it is best to put in a box that carries
80 inches of water. I contracted for 40 inches, and the contract was
that I should get water half the time in that box. If I could have got
water half the time it would have given me an abundance, more
than I needed. Ithink a square inch, constantly running, will more than
supply all the necessities for an acre of ground. A cubic inch, per-
haps, you might Call it—I mean a stream measuring 1 inch up and 1 inch
a CI’OSS.
Senator PLUMB. Have you anything further to suggest ?
Mr. BELL. Nothing further.
STATEMENT OF W. H. FRENCH, OF KINSLEY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 2
Mr. FRENCH. In Kinsley, Edwards County, this State.
Senator PLUMB. How far is that east of here 3
Mr. FRENCH. Eighty-five miles.
Senator PLUMB. How long have you resided there?
Mr. FRENCEI. Five years.
Senator PLUMB. State the condition of things in your county with
reference to the necessity for an artificial water supply, the efforts made
to get it, and the source from which in your judgment that supply will.
have to come.
Mr. FRENCH. There is a portion of the county to which irrigation
Would be very beneficial. There is another portion of the county that
requires none, and can not be irrigated. There is a range of sand hills
that follows the curve of the Arkansas River and goes through Edwards
208 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
County. On the southeast of these sand hills there is a valley of sandy
land in which they raise crops every year and only occasionally fail to
make the crop. This year corn will average from 30 to 45 bushels an acre
in that valley; wheat 35 bushels an acre. On the north side of the river
the case is entirely different. It is rolling upland, similar to the country
here. From Garfield station (a station about 14 miles east of Kinsley)
Westward the crops are a failure. There is a canal that has been built
from Ingalls east of here, that runs along the course of the river and ends
near Kinsley or Oberly.
Senator PLUMB. Is that the Soulé ditch 3
Mr. FRENCH. Yes. Last year they had a little water, and those who
had land right by the ditch raised very good crops—some very good
corn and large cabbages. There was a piece of land there that furnished
75 bushels to the acre. For some reason that land did not furnish any-
thing this year. The water this year has been entirely insufficient.
People have concluded that without irrigation they can not do anything,
but there is no manner of doubt that if they had an abundance of water
they could raise enormous crops.
Senator PLUMB. In what way could the water be supplied to that
locality?
Mr. FRENCH. If the ditch had been sufficient in the first place, they
would have had more water than they did have, but the trouble seems to
be that the water is insufficient in the river. It is taken out of the river
up in Colorado, and it never reaches down there. They are building
another ditch. There is an underground flow near Dodge, and that is
supposed to be enough. I do not think, however, that they will get
enough water. If the water that gathers in the mountains, and in the
different draws or cañons throughout this country, could be saved by
means of reservoirs, there is water enough passing through the country
to irrigate the country. An immense amount of water passes off by
means of freshets. I have had some experience on the Pacific coast.
They have there an abundance of water, somewhere in the neighborhood,
for irrigation. In this country it is altogether different. We have very
few sources of water. ©
When water is first put on the land it takes a good deal of it to go
around. In the course of a few years the ground fills up, and, after
that, the water goes back to the river again. In Colorado I understand
that when they undertook at first to irrigate the ground it took a good
deal of water, but that afterwards it did not take so much. I hardly
think, however, that that will work on so extensive a scale as they
think. -
There are a number of draws all over this country where basins could
be made at slight expense. The water might be saved and conveyed
from a main ditch and other ditches. That is one thing that could be
done at moderate expense. The expedient of damming up the caſions in
the mountains could be resorted to. There is a large reservoir in the
caſion of the Wasatch Mountains that furnishes the water for Salt Lake
city. That plan might be resorted to, and reservoirs formed that Would
save the overflow and get an abundance of water. It looks to me as
though that were the only source of supply for this country. Unless
some system of irrigation is devised for the extreme western half of this
State, farming, as carried on in the eastern part of the State, will not
work, although it is a good stock country. They can raise some good
crops here with water, and it seems to me that the people of this country
should adapt themselves to the condition of the country, and raise the
crops that the climate and soil are adapted to.
DESICCATION MIGHT FOLLOW THE UNDERELow USE. 209
The people in our part would object to any system of irrigation that
would take the water out of the country. The system of underground
irrigation, if it could be accomplished, would take the water up in this
part of the country. The whole county would then be dried up. It
seems to me that that would be very injurious to the lower portion of
the valley. I do not think, either, that it would furnish a sufficient
amount of water to accomplish the object. The best plan, I think, is to
store the water that comes here in the times of floods and freshets.
That would probably involve the expenditure of millions of dollars, and
could then be done only by the Government. If private citizens could
be induced to invest money in such a scheme it would be different, but
it is too large at the start for private capital to come in.
STATEMENT OF STEPHEN ROOF OF FINNEY COUNTY.
Senator PLUMB. Where do you reside 3
Mr. ROOF. Twenty-five miles south of here.
Senator PLUMB. State what you may deem of interest regarding the
inquiry before the committe.
Mr. ROOF. With regard to the ditch company at Ingalls, near Spear-
ville, this is the second year of its operation. They have had trouble
with their dam. This summer they had a cut-off, relieving the ditch to
save the dam in case of a freshet. -
With regard to irrigating this country, if the sub-water is taken out
to any great extent and distributed all over the country it will be but
a short time before it will get back into the soil. There is no fear of
our drying up the soil by taking water from 6 or 8 or 10 feet beyond the
bottom of the Arkansas River. The level of the river as far as we go,
shows sand out on the plains. The depth of our wells is very close to
the level of the Arkansas River so that we have here a reservoir of from
200 to 400 miles wide.
Senator PLUMB. You think, then, that if there had not been a misfor-
tune to the mouth of that canal you would have water.
Mr. ROOF. Yes. -
Senator PLUMB. Where is the new ditch that Mr. Soulé is proposing
to digº
Mr. ROOF. Is starts out east of Dodge.
Senator PLUMB. On the north side of the river ?
Mr. ROOF. Yes; I think so, but I am not certain about that.
Mr. FRENCH. They are building a ditch on the south side of Dodge
to run back into Dodge again. If they make a success of that, they
will build another ditch below Dodge, running along the bank of the
I'l Welſ.
Mr. ROOF. The great trouble here is from the last of June into July.
Senator PLUMB. What is the annual precipitation about Dodge?
Mr. ROOF. It is 20.77 inches; that is the average for thirteen years.
Senator PLUMB. What is the maximum ?
Mr. ROOF. We have had as high as 33 inches and as low as 10 inches.
If we could get the water distributed through the latter part of June
and July We could complete any crop. We have completed wheat on
about 6 inches of rain after the 1st of April until the cutting.
Senator PLUMB. How much did it yield?
Mr. ROOF. Five acres yielded 46 bushels; 10 acres, badly hurt by
the frost, was considered a total loss, but yielded 56 bushels; 24 miles
north and west there were 18 acres that yielded 20 bushels of No. 2.
138 A L–WOL III—14
210 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
wheat, prime. We have but very few general rains throughout this,
Country. After four years' residence here I expect heavy rains, prob-
ably 3 to 4 inches at a rain, from the 1st to 10th of May. This year
We did not get them in my section. We need but little help here. If
by storing we could save water in the spring, and the freshets did not
come down to disturb things, we would be all right. Colorado can not
Continue to hold this water more than a little while.
STATEMENT OF J. C. FUGATE, OF GARDEN CITY.
Senator PLUMB. You may state anything that you think will be of
interest to the committee in regard to irrigation.
Mr. FUGATE. I simply desire to say a word in regard to this under-
ground flow. We camo here four years ago. I took a Burt wheel 1
foot in diameter. We got down to sand, but could not reach water
until we drove through the sand. We drove through it and tubed
about 1% inches. We watered three thousand sheep and two thousand
five hundred head of cattle, beside our horses, from that well without
any perceptible lowering of the water. That was out here 5 miles from
the river, where we went 43 feet for water.
I also want to say one word about the water from below; there is
surely a supply of it there that is inexhaustible.
STATEMENT OF W. R. GRACE, OF GARDEN CITY. \
Senator PLUMB. Please give the committee any information you may
have, and your views regarding the subject of their inquiry. -
Mr. GRACE. It has always seemed to me that we could get water
from the river here by a system of reservoirs, say a reservoir for each
ditch. If you will go up on the bottom and sink a reservoir 35 to 40
feet and tap that you will find it very serviceable. I speak of water
from a single ditch. From this well here at the water-works they had
four pumps, but they had to quit because they could not get the water
Out. •
There is a ditch across the railroad at this place, and they could run
that full without exhausting the water. If it were so that we could
get a well down and make it 100 feet square there is enough Water to
keep it full all the time, and there is plenty of land to be watered. If
you once get the flow started it will run. By doing that we could have
an abundance of water, and that, I think, would be more practical than
by going across to Colorado. l
STATEMENT OF ROBERT HAY, OF JUNCTION CITY.
Senator PLUMB. What is your name, occupation, and residence?
Mr. HAY. I am geologist to the Board of Agriculture for the State
of Kansas, also a fellow of the American Geological Society. I reside at
Junction City, Kans. For several years past I have given attention to
the water-bearing strata of western Kansas and neighboring parts of
Nebraska and Colorado, and have also studied the evidence of rain-fall.
Senator PLUMB. Pray tell the committee in your own way the results
of your studies and observations.
THE GEoLogy AND RAIN-FALL OF WESTERN KANSAs. 211
Mr. HAY. There is no reliable evidence as to the rain-fall of most of
this region. . Seven years' observations at Fort Wallace gave an average
of 19 inches per annum ; this before any settlement of the country.
Fourteen years' observations by the signal service at Dodge City, end-
ing with 1887, gave an annual mean of 21 inches. , Wallace isjust east
of the one hundred and second meridian ; Dodge just West of the One
hundredth meridian. Other rain-fall records are only for a single year
Or at most two.
In eastern Kansas rain-fall averages from 30 to 40 inches per annum.
It is generally believed this rain-fall has since settlement been modi-
fied—not increased—in its distribution. There are now fewer heavy
storms and a greater number of rainy days. This is attributed to the
cultivation of the soil and planting of trees, which retain the moisture
to be given off by the slow process of evaporation rather than by flood-
ing the stream beds and Valleys. -
The active settlement of Kansas west of the One-hundredth meridian
only dates from 1883; a few counties were organized as far back as 1871
and 1872. The rain records at Dodge City show great fluctuations, the
smallest amount of precipitation in one year being under 11 inches.
Settlers in the West already believe that the breaking of the sod has
produced modification of distribution, as in the eastern part of the
State, and the water is retained for a longer time in the soil. It is cer-
tain that dew falls much oftener than in the beginning of settlement.
In years of the average rain-fall cereal crops—wheat, oats, maize—can
be grown if the precipitation is at the right time. In eastern Kansas
half the annual rain-fall comes in the four months of April, May, June,
and July. Crops fail mostly by irregular—not necessarily deficient—
rain-fall in June and July, and sometimes in May. If there is a week
or more without rain in July the maize is in danger. Similar privation
in June will damage the small grain. In western Kansas the dry time
in July sometimes extends from ten to thirty days. It is in these times
that the hot winds blow, and then the damage is irreparable. In ref.
erence to the growing of crops, these periods in June and July may be
called the critical time. Irrigation that would water the land every
five days would save them.
Senator PLUMB. From whence would you derive the supply for such
irrigation ? #
Mr. HAY. The Arkansas River supplies abundance of water at this
time. Other witnesses will testify as to the extent to which this river
is available. The Cimarron can also be used.
º The Smoky Hill River, the Republican, and, to a less extent, the
Saline and the Solomon, though not mountain streams, may probably
be used. There is, moreover, a certain formation that absorbs the rain-
fall of the plains and yields it again in wells all over the high-prairie
region at depths of from 40 to 200 feet. The rivers last mentioned are
rivers of the plains. They do not come from the mountains, but they
have permanent water below where their channels have cut through
the formation mentioned. This bed is of Tertiary age; by that I mean
the last of the three great periods into which geologists divide the
process of world-making. These formations are probably Miocene, or
the latter part of the Tertiary period. It is in places known from its
appearance as the Mortar-beds; other parts are gravelly Conglomerate.
I have called this formation the Tertiary grit. It yields water to nu-
merous copious perennial springs. From such springs Spring Creek, in
Meade County, is kept a running stream, and about a third of its water
is being now utilized to irrigate 400 acres of land. Preparations are
212 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
being made to utilize nearly the whole of this stream. Similar use
may be made of the waters of the rivers above mentioned. The précise
areas where such use can be made will have to be determined by surveys
in three States—Kansas, Colorado, and Nebraska.
In Meade County, in the valley of Crooked Creek, north by east from
the county-seat, the Tertiary grit, apparently broken up somewhat by
erosive influences, has been covered up over an area of several thousand
acres by an impervious, soft, bluish clay. This clay having been pierced
by drills has given numerous artesian flows of excellent water, service-
able for domestic purposes, and abundant for local irrigation. One
farm has three wells which yield an aggregate of 98 gallons per minute.
On another farm is the largest well; it yields 66 gallons per minute.
There are upwards of eighty wells ranging from the above down to 25,
10, 6, and 2 gallons per minute. Some are being used for irrigation,
but none to their full capacity. Two on the farm of B. F. Cox (who
was the first to obtain the artesian water), yielding together nearly 20
gallons per minute, are used to irrigate 4 acres and to supply a large
carp pond. Mr. Cox considers he could successfully irrigate 10 acres
if he used the water to the best advantage. ?
The conditions on which the artesian flow depends in this region are
simple. The water-bearing stratum (Tertiary grit) has an outcrop on
the edge of the high prairie where it absorbs the rain-fall. On the side
of the valley slope it is covered with the impervious clay, and the wells
afford it outlet at levels below the outcrop. Below the lowest Wells
there is a break in the covering of clay and Water escapes in Springs.
As the Tertiary grit is found all over the plains region, at least
from the Arkansas to the Niobrara, it is probable that a repetition of
these conditions might be found and other artesian flows be made avail-
able for irrigation.
At Coolidge, and near that town, both in Colorado and Kansas, there
is another group of artesian wells. They are all nearly 300 feet deep.
They obtain their water from a bed much older than that supplying the
wells of Meade county. The formation is a sandstone of the Cretatious
period, known as the Dacota. To the east, this does not out-crop nearer
than to the north of Dodge City. To the south it outcrops within 20.
or 25 miles, but the general dip of other strata suggests that the outcrop
that would take in the water yielded to the Coolidge wells should be to
the northwest. This outcrop has not yet been found. It is not un-
likely that other parts of the region may have artesian flows supplied
by the Dacota sandstones, but the fact that the same sandstones have
been pierced at Syracuse, 16 miles east of Coolidge, without such flow,
shows that there is a breach in the continuity of the subteranean Con-
ditions, which indicates that the phenomena are local. . It is not im-
probable that the local conditions may be repeated elsewhere, and areas
of such repetition may possibly be found by geological examination:
The largest well at Coolidge gives 100 gallons per minute, and is used
for the fire-service of the city. Other wells yield 50 gallons and less,
and are well situated for irrigation. -
Fifty miles to the south, at Richfield, in Morton County, is another
artesian well. The water comes from a depth of 600 feet, and is taken
from beds of Triassic age, which are older than the Dacota strata yield:
ing the water at Coolidge. The flow at Richfield is small, only about 6
gallons per minute, and the water is considerably mineralized, so much
so as to have medicinal qualities, not enough to hinder its use for irri-
gation. Another well is being drilled to find, if possible, a larger flow.
The depth to the water, and perhaps the small flow, indicate a distant
*...
ARTESIAN watRR AND ITS MINERAL PROPERTIES. 213
, outcrop of the strata. This outcrop has not been found. It is pre-
sumably to the northwest or west in Colorado. It could be found by a
careful geological examination, and probable estimates formed as to the
location of other wells. In the known outcrop of Triassic or new sand-
stone beds to the east (over 100 miles) they do not show themselves as
good water-bearing strata; but in their development at Great Bend,
as shown in a deep boring there, there is one stratum that should carry
water well. It does not yield water there. It might elsewhere under
other conditions. The well at Great Bend gives an artesian flow of salt
water from strata of Dacota age. The flow is only 6% gallons per min-
ute.
At Larned is the largest artesian flow in Kansas. Besides some
waste, 250 gallons per minute were measured. It is, however, highly
mineralized, being a strong brine. It comes from a depth of over 400
feet, and seems to be from the top of the Triassic strata. The Larned
well is so situated that it would be suitable for experimental decision of
the question as to how far saline waters could be used with advantage
in irrigation. Its proximity to the Arkansas River would allow of di-
lution of the brine to any required extent. The source of the salt is an
interesting problem. If it is the salt beds below, then the water comes
from a greater depth actually than is indicated by depth of the well.
The wells at Great Bend and Larned are both east of the ninety-ninth
meridian.
Senator PLUMB. What, in your opinion, is the value of artesian water
for irrigation ?
Mr. HAY. In estimating the value, due notice must be taken of their
mineral properties. Usually, the mineralization increases with depth.
Excluding the salt wells, this is well illustrated by the three groups of
artesian wells previously noted. The Meade County wells have the
purest water; those of Coolidge are next, and Richfield comes third.
This is in the order of their depths. With regard to the quantity nec-
essary for irrigation in the region between the hundredth and the hun-
dred and third meridians, the rain-fall must be taken into account, and
also the evaporation. There are at present no data for estimating evap-
oration. During the hot winds it must be excessive, but they last for
only brief periods. It may be assumed that the annual evaporation is
less than the rainfall, because the rivers of the plains do carry away
SOme Water.
Instead of using the second-foot or acre-foot, which is the unit of
Quantity for measuring streams used by Mr. Gilbert and others in Utah
and elsewhere, I have assumed a flow of 100 gallons per minute as the
basis of calculation. This is about two-ninths of the second-foot.
Our Kansas unit of 100 gallons per minute, then, would flood 54 acres
to the depth of 1 inch in one day. Neglecting the fraction, this would
allow 50 acres to be covered with water 1 inch deep every ten days.
This is equivalent to a rain-fall of 36% inches per annum. This is amply
Sufficient for any crops raised in this region. The rain-fall of the dis.
trict may be counted on to more than supply the loss by wastage from
Canals. Thus, an artesian well, yielding 100 gallons per minute, may be
relied on, therefore, to thoroughly irrigate 50 acres of land in the region
indicated. A well of 10 gallons would suffice for 5 acres. It would be
necessary in the critical period, June and July, to irrigate oftener than
Once in ten days. Half an inch every five days instead of hinch in ten
days, would suffice to continue plant growth without inj \, and this
could easily be done. In some cases a storage reservº ſight save
the water of December for use in July. is



214 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Though I have shown that the flow of the artesian wells above de-
Scribed depends on local conditions, yet it is also true that repetition of
these conditions in parts of the wide area I referred to, may be expected,
and that at comparatively small cost thousands of acres may be irri.
gated by means of artesian wells. $
º Senator PLUMB. In what way can the General Government by legisla-
tion or otherwise help on this work?
Mr. HAY. It would seem reasonable that the Government should
Cause Such geological Survey to be made as would determine the areas-
Where artesian water may be probably obtained, and, in some cases, de-
Cide it by boring. The investigations made with respect to the artesian
Wells previously described do not warrant the belief that the water
bearing strata obtain their supply from the Rocky Mountains. The
inquiry of the committee must be of great service in arousing pub-
lic and legislative attention, and the irrigation survey in progress
should be rapidly continued. The information it will give our people
Will invite capital, of course, and greatly stimulate the farmers to co-op-
eration.
The following papers were received and ordered filed with the Kan-
SaS testimony. The committee then adjourned.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF J. w. GREGoRY, of GARDEN CITY, IN
RELATION TO THE ARKANSAS RIVER UNDERFLOW.
While a certain degree of success in farming has been found possible west of the
one hundredth meridian in the southwest, still we take it for granted that all will
concede the proposition that irrigation has proven a necessity—an absolute neces-
sity—to general success.
We can not afford to spend the best years of our lives attempting to open this re-
gion to agriculture, without the assistance of a certain water supply. If such a sys-
tem can be secured, we wish it at once. To the pioneers who have borne the hot
wind and the blizzard, driven out the buffalo, the wild horse, and the coyote, taken
the risks and conquered the wilds, belong of right the fruits of their labors. If they
are to enjoy the benefits of the development of this region, it must be accomplished
without delay. Every resident of southwest Kansas and southeastern Colorado knows
this.
Now can any practical system of irrigation be speedily secured ? g
In the solution of such a question as this the first thing and the matter of greatest
difficulty is to get rid of the impracticable plans which inevitably will be advanced.
Drawing upon the head waters of the Missouri and the Yellowstone by an immense
canal which shall skirt the mountains, crossing streams and ravines in its course, has
been suggested. While this might be done at some future time, the immensity of
such a work and the time and incalculable expense necessary render it impossible
within a period which would make it worth while for us to think about it as a prac-
tical solution of our present and pressing difficulties.
Artesian wells have been found in parts of this region. Do they furnish the solu-
tion to the problem 3 Let us test the matter as far as we can. It is better to lean
upon no staff at all than upon a broken one, because leaning upon a broken stick
insures a fall. It is better that we should give up the battle at once and seek new
fields of labor than that we should spend our time and strength upon that which will
yield us in the end only disappointment, and defeat. - *
Henry Stewart, civil and mining engineer, the pioneer writer upon the subject of
irrigation, says this of artesian wells:
“The idea that artesian wells may be made a source of supply for completely irri-
gating large tracts of land, if ever held by any over-sanguine persons, must be aban-
doned. For partial irrigation they may be made available, but the quantity of water
needed for the irrigation of a few acres of land only, in localities where there is no
summer rain-fall, as upon our western plains, is far beyond the capacity of any
artesian well to supply, unless it be one of extraordinary volume.
“It is ver ortant that the quantity of water needed for irrigation should be
accurately Žated. A mistake in an estimate may lead to the construction of in-
adequate w #nd the useless expenditure of much money. Estimates generally,
#of insufficiency rather than otherwise, and much error has been
y persons and journals having considerable influence. * * *



THE IRRIGABLE AREAs OF THE UPPER ARKANSAS. 215
“An artesian well 6 inches in diameter would give a stream of 28 square inches,
and would deliver 32 quarts per second, if the flow were at the raße of 4 miles an hour.
Such a well would furnish an inch of water per day for 28 acres, or an inch a week
for 196 acres, which would be a very insufficient quantity to irrigate dry, open soils in
places where the climate is arid. The cost of such a well would be at least $5,000 to
$10,000, or more than the value of the land when irrigated.” . . . .
These statements, coming from a recognized authority upon irrigation, are corrobo-
rated by our experience. Consider what the successful wells in southwest Kansas
have cost, figure out what they will irrigate—even at the most liberal estimate—and
it will be seen that they will probably cost far more than the land they will irrigate
is worth; because, further, in considering the development of the country by such
means, the uncertainty of striking water must be taken into consideration. At Gar-
den City, at Syracuse, at Santa Fé, at Springfield, and other places are expensive
“dry holes.” These things will, of necessity, be taken into consideration by capital-
ists—must be considered by any one, when figuring upon the chances of irrigating
from artesian wells. Beside, the multiplication of such wells in close proximity soon
causes all to cease to be flowing wells and become only pumping wells. This is
proven at Denver and elsewhere.
et it not be supposed that we would oppose the sinking of all possible artesian
wells. We all must rejoice at every such development. Each such thing helps at least
a little ; but southwest Kansas contains about 9,250,000 acres of land, nearly all of
which is cultivable; and as not less than 30,000 artesian wells would be needed to
irrigate the whole, even if the system were successful, costing in the neighborhood of
three hundred millions, it is evident that, for any system that shall be of general
benefit, we must look further while being glad to have the help of all such wells as
may be had.
“Storage reservoirs” in the mountains and the conservation of “storm waters”
have been greatly urged of late as the means of providing the necessary water supply.
That storage reservoirs for the conservation of the mountain waters will be worth all
they can reasonably cost to those regions near enough to the mountains to be bene-
fited is certain. Neither will the citizens of southwest Kansas grudge the expendi-
ture of the estimated cost of fifty millions by the Government, or twice as much if
necessary, to secure storage reservoirs which shall save the heavy precipitation of
the mountain ranges and apply it to the soil—both for the benefit of those who may
use it for irrigation, and also of those on the lower courses of the great rivers, who
will thus be relieved of a vast surplus flow of water, which becomes, year by year,
a greater menace and danger to them.
ut what will such storage reservoirs do for us? Let us take account of a few
“pointers.” Maj. J. W. Powell, chief of the U. S. Geological Survey, estimates that
When all possible sources of water supply for purposes of irrigation are utilized, but
25 per cent. of the lands requiring irrigation can be served with water. This is not
‘encouraging to people so far from the mountains to depend upon such a source of sup-
ply. On each side of the Arkansas River, in Colorado, lies a vast plain of rich land
yearning for irrigation. Roughly estimated, there are not less than 8,000,000 acres of
land in these two areas. If but half of it is susceptible of irrigation, that would make
4,000,000 acres which must, according to Senator Plumb, eventually be satisfied be-
fore Kansas can expect to use any of the water coming down the Arkansas, whether
it be stored melting Snow or storm waters. If the Arkansas River should furnish a
stream of water 1,200 feet wide and 4 feet deep, flowing at a speed of 3 feet per second
for one hundred days in each year (it has not furnished one-fifth that amount this
season), that would furnish but two practical irrigations per year to 2,500,000 acres.
As a matter of fact, the average total water supply of the Arkansas River, for the next
five years, at least, will not, if all utilized, furnish safe and reliable irrigation for more
than 1,000,000 acres of land each and every year, and there are already ditches con-
structed and projected in Colorado covering land sufficient to use at ieast all of the
practical supply. The fact is, eastern Colorado, adjoining Kansas, is as much in need
of a prompt and effective solution of the problem of a water supply as is western
Kansas. Stewart, the authority already quoted, says of the Arkansas valley :
“The nearest crest of the water-shed on the north side of the river is 45 miles dis-
tant, on the south, it is much more distant. . If we calculate a territory only 90 miles
wide and 500 miles long, depending upon this river, it would contain 28,800,000 acres,
requiring 1 cubic foot per second per 100 acres, 288,000 cubic feet per second. T6
supply this there would be required a river nearly 2 miles wide and 10 feet deep
flowing 2 miles an hour, with no allowance for loss by evaporation and percolation.
º flººsas is not one-fifth of this capacity and could not supply one-tenth of the
erritory. -
What of the storage of storm waters that fall on the lands in which we are inter-
esſed! Here is probably the worst impracticability yet suggested.
To begin with, we lay down this proposition: That there is not enough surplus
Storm Water, collected or wasted, in all southwest Kansas in twelve months to fur.
216 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
nish practical irrigation for 5 per cent. of the land. Then more than half of all ,
that is collected, collects in basins where it can not be utilized for irrigation, and any
reservoirs constructed to save the remainder would cost many times what the land
they would irrigate would be worth. Supplemental to some other water supply, they
would be of great value, well worth what they would cost, because they would sup-
ply the seepage and evaporation over a large area, thus making a large net gain in
the water supply. It is only that such a supply alone would be practically exhausted
by the inevitable waste of evaporation and percolation that renders it useless as a
sole source of supply.
These propositions are fully demonstrated both by facts which are familiar to all
residents of the Southwest, and also by practical test.
It must be conceded that storm waters to be stored and used for irrigation must be
caught in something of the nature of what we call in this part of the country a “draw,”
that is, it must be a depression with an outlet which may be closed by a dam to hold
back the waters, and through which they may afterward be let out as needed upon
the land below. Waters caught in a deep, bowl-shaped basin, without an outlet, are
Imore inaccessible for irrigation than if at the bottom of a well. Where, then, can be
found draws which may be converted into storage reservoirs for storm waters ? Only
along a narrow strip of land north of the river in Hamilton and Kearney, Gray and
Ford Counties, and probably in still narrower strips of rough land along the Cimarron,
the Pawnee, the Whitewoman, and the Beaver. Not 10 per cent. of the total area of
this region could thus be utilized for the construction of such storage reservoirs, and
not only would the waste in such draws from soakage be very great, on account of
the nature of the formation, but the water would have to be carried to such a distance
in order to get it out upon land susceptible of irrigation, that it would be practically
used up in transit. There is no part of the country offering such advantages for res-
ervoirs of this kind as the northwest part of Ford County and northeast Gray, and
here the Eureka Canal has had a large number of such reservoirs in use for the past
two or three years. The ditch and reservoirs were constructed by the Gilbert Broth-
ers, who have had charge of the work and watched the development and operation
of the works from first to last, Mr. G. G. Gilbert, being asked as to the supply of
storm waters collected in these draws, fully corroborates the foregoing statements as
to the inadequacy of such reservoirs as a primary source of supply. Being finally
asked how much land he could depend upon irrigating from these storage draws, un-
aided by water from the river or some other source, he answered promptly: “None
whatever.”
As an ounce of practical and intelligent experience is worth a ton of untested theory,
we regard this as settling the status of storm storage reservoirs in this region... As
accessories, to make up for the various wastes of evaporation and percolation, they
will be valuable. Without an additional source of supply, they are absolutely with-
out practical value.
As for digging out little 5-acre ponds all over these level prairies, as has been
gravely advised, there is not one of our farmers but can say at once that such holes
might as well be dug in the crest of Chimborazo or the heart of Sahara for all the
practical good they would do us, unless there is first some source of supply aside fronu
the rains. They would simply be dry, unsightiy, costly holes, useless and in the
way. The storm waters which fall upon more than nine-tenths of the area of south-
west Kansas do not run off into streams. They go straight down and up. Ask a
resident of Finney County how much rain-water gets into the river from the entire
area of the county, aside from what falls upon the stream and its immediate banks,
and in one small draw in the eastern part of the county, and he can truthfully an-
swer, “Not a bucketful.” g r
The entire county of Haskell, with adjacent parts of Grant, Finney, Gray, Seward,
and Meade compose a vast plain with an area of about 15,000 square miles in which
there is not a single stream, nor place for one. None of the rain-fall flows off from it.
The major portion of every other county in the entire district is similarly conditioned.
North Finney, Kearney, and Hamilton and south Greeley, Wichita, and Scott contain
an almost unbroken plain still larger than the above. In the adjacent parts of Colo-
rado the same vast undrained areas are found. Whenever there is a sufficient rain-
fall upon these plains to fill a 5-acre pond upon each 40 acres with surplus surface
water, the ponds will not be needed, for there will be rain enough to dispense with
irrigation and replace it with a system of drainage. . . & * is
Can we then secure a supply of water sufficient to irrigate this vast and rich region
by the help of the artesian wells and storage ponds? Let us see.
Underlying the whole Arkansas Valley is a vast sheet of water of unknown aver- .
age width and depth. Every well in the valley and within a few miles upon the up-
land—except in a few localities—penetrates the “sheet water.” From Dodge City;
Kans., to La Junta, Colo., the Santa Fé Railroad has fifteen large wells. .They all
penetrate the sheet water and none go through it. So says, Mr. R. A. Stein, super-
intendent of the western division of the water service. The Water-works well at .
. . How THE ARKANSAs SEEPAGE MAY BE obTAINED. 217
Garden City goes into the sand to a depth of 11 feet and soundings to a depth of 25
feet more did not “touch bottom.” The experimental boring made here at Garden
City in 1888, passed through a depth of 320 feet of water, soaked sand and gravek.
P. W. Conyers's well, 17 miles north of the river in Finney County, strikes the sheet
water and so does the well of S. G. Morris, 15 miles south of the river in Gray County.
These are only given as examples. Scores more might be mentioned. J. S. Humph-
rey, a practical civil engineer, who has given some years to the study of the matter,
estimates that the sheet water extends from the south side of the sand hills, 10 miles
south of Garden City, to a point at least 60 miles north. W. E. Trull, who was for
a long time city engineer, and closely observed the same matter, is convinced that
the sheet water is not less than 30 miles in width. It would not be reasonable to
suppose that it did not at least extend to the northern edge of the river valley, and
to the south side of the sand hills which skirt the river on the south, which would
make an average width of at least 12 miles. What may be the average depth of this
vast reservoir of sand and gravel saturated with water is not determinable from the
slender data at hand, but it is safe to assume that it is more than 20 feet. That a
steady current flows eastward through the porous strata of sand and gravel is a well
established fact and undisputed. It has been observed for years and by hundreds of
people. In many wells the current is plainly perceptible, and in all, any chance bit
; wood or handful of chaff or leaves blown in by the wind, floats to the east side of
the Well.
All these facts are of utmost importance to us, because they prove that, underneath
our feet, a broad and deep stream of water slowly passes down the slope, compared
with which in volume the visible stream is as an infant to a giant. Let us gather an
idea of the capacity of this subterranean stream to supply us with water.
Carefully conducted experiments, made in the past few days, show that a single
square mile of this sand, 20 feet deep, contains about 209,000,000 cubic feet of water,
enough to flood 19,200 acres of land to a depth of 3 inches. While it would be practi-
cally impossible to drain any given area of these substrata completely, it is well
Known that they yield up their waters with great readiness. The Garden City
Water-Works well, before referred to, is but 25 feet in diameter and penetrates
the water-bearing stratum but 11 feet, and water can enter the well only at the bot-
tom, the walls being of rock laid in cement, yet it will furnish 800,000 gallons of
water per day. If, then, the half of these subterranean waters can be utilized to a
depth of 10 feet over an area of 5 miles wide, enough water can be obtained to flood
one-half of the land for 40 miles on each side of the river to a depth of 3 inches. In
practical use, if one-half the land can be irrigated, the rest will be included in pas-
tures, roadways, high places, etc.
-
* •
& • º º *
. . . . . . . . . Water Bearing Sand, and Gravel. . . . . . . . . . . .Y-,
This diagram represents, a cross-section of a 2-mile stretch of river bottom land in which the slope
of the surface (Whigh is 75 feet per mile) is purposely exaggerated in order to make the method of
obtaining Water elsily perceptible to the eye. The upper irregular line represents the surface of the
Soil, the waye line néxt to it representing the surface of the saturated sand and gravel which lies
from 1 to 2 feet below the top of the ground and extends down to a great depth, flet the line A-5
indicate the bottom of an irrigating fountain, and it will be seen that water which will rush into it, as
into a Well, at A, will readily run out upon the surface at B. 1
Can this water supply be obtained; and if so, how
As is well known, this valley and adjacent plains have a slope to the eastward of
73 feet per mile. In the river bottoms, the surface of the soil is but 3 feet above the
surface of the underlying Water over large areas. Great pools or fountains can be
opened into this subterranean water supply and the accumulating waters run to the
surface in ditches having a fall of, say, 2 feet per mile. The accompanying diagram
illustrates the method. s' -- b r
*-ce



> 0 *
218 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDS.
The surface of the ground and the surface of the underlying water are indicated. .
Let the line A-B represent the bottom of an open fountain, having a fall of 2 feet per
mile, and it will readily be seen that water from 10 feet below the water line at 4
could be discharged into a ditch2 feet deep, only 2 miles distant at B. The bottom
of the fountain at A would be 13 feet below the average surface of the river bottom
lands... To discharge water from that point into a ditch 2 feet deep at B would re-
Quire it to be raised 11 feet. This the difference between a fall of 73 feet per mile
and a fall of 2 feet would accomplish in 2 miles.
A fountain or pool thus excavated, 40 feet wide and a little more than 2 miles long,
gradually deepening to a depth of 10 feet below the water-line, would have an area
capacity one thousand times larger than the Garden City well. If it could supply a
proportionate extreme output of water, it would yield 800,000,000 gallons of water
per each twenty-four hours. , And while it could not be expected that one-half such
proportionate yield could be had steadily, yet if it should yield a supply of but 10 per
cent, as large in proportion it would produce water enough to cover 1,000 acres per
day to a depth of 3 inches, making a total irrigation capacity of 30,000 acres per
month, or 360,000 acres per year. Granting a loss of nearly one-half of this supply
from soakage and evaporation in ditches, fields, and storage reservoirs, still two
thorough irrigations per year would be assured to 100,000 acres of land from such a
fountain. From data already obtained, we feel justified in stating that such a supply,
including the cost of making fountain, canals, storage reservoirs, etc., including all
ground and right of way for same, can be obtained at a cost of less than $100,000, or
not exceeding $1 per acre to be irrigated. Should time show that the cost will be
even ten times as great, it will still be below the average -cost of depending upon
“storage, storm, and torrential” sources, and will pay enormously.
HOW THE WATER IS OBTAINED.
In this drawing, which represents a longitudinal section of part of a “fountain,” the slope of the
land is exaggerated in order to make the method of obtaining water plainly apparent to the eye, Jº
the drawing represent a stretch of 2 miles of Arkansas River bottom, which has an eastward fall
of 73 feet per mile; hence, the surface at C is 15 feet higher than B. ... The underlying bed of Water
bearing sand and gravel, averaging 3 feet below the surface, is indicated. If the fountain be ex:
cavated so that the bottom will have an eastward fall of 2 feet per mile (indicated by the line A B)
the bottom will be 11 feet below the surface at C, and 8 feet below the water-line, so that the Water
which rushes into the fountain from bottom and sides will readily flow out upon the surface of the
ground at B. This plan is in operation in several places and is thoroughly successful. The drawing
shows, in outline, sheet piling, which is used as one means of walling such a fountain.
Of the objections that may be interposed to this theory of obtaining Water for irri-
gation, we will here notice but one: “Will not such a pool fill up with sand *, The
numerous large wells so long in use along the river show that curbing at the sides is
required, but that the sand will not fill up from below.
Áll the points as to abundance, steadiness, permanence, and cost of the supply have
been considered, and we are prepared, we think, to meet all possible objections with
facts, figures, and demonstrations that can not be controverted.
wé may as well meet the facts and face them. Nothing can begained by shutting
our eyes to the inevitable and clinging to exploded, theories. ... To do so is to invite
disaster and bitter disappointment. Without the utilization of this vast underflow,
artesian wells, the rivers. ditches, and storage reservoirs will only starve us on broken
promises and hopes deferred. By prompt and united effort, all southwest Kansas
and southeast Colorado (whose necessity is just as great) may so add to the present
resources for water as to make the future one of certainty and most abundant
success. And such a demonstration in the Arkansas Valley Will lead to the devel-

PROPOSED METHOD OF ]) [STRIBUTING UNDERFLOW. 219
opment of similar vast and heretofore unused resources for irrigation in other parts
of the West.
To secure speedy and systematic development will require govermental attention.
A central system of main canals and "storage reservoirs should be laid out upon
the highest ground on each side of the Arkansas River, these twin systems reaching
well up into Colorado. Into these, any number of great fountains, opened into the
saturated substrata, may be made to pour torrents of water the year round, keeping
them full and ready for service at all times. Neither long delay nor great expense
will be required. With the work thus laid out and systematically begun, private
capital may soon be brought forward to take up the work in a way that while it will
pay the capitalists, will also give the greatest benefit to the sturdy pioneers who arc
entitled to greatest consideration. Without governmental action, the development
will undoubtedly take place in time; but in a hap-hazard and uncertain fashion and
with such delays as will result in incalculable loss to the people.
How can it be done 3. A large main canal should be provided on the highest
ground on each side of the Arkansas River, reaching from the mountains, or nearly
so, in Colorado, past the one hundredth meridian in Kansas; these to be kept upon
the highest land and to be connected with available storage reservoirs, thus making
two grand chains of storage canals and lakelets, reaching clear across the arid region.
Then open supply pools from the underflows and lead the waters to these storage sys-
tems, where it could be made available for all parts of the land needing irrigation.
A supply once stored, no part of the great plains need ever be without its ample sup-
ply of water right at hand. The accompanying rough sketch illustrates the method
suggested. While storm waters, surplus from the mountains, and the flow of artesian
wells would all lend their aid, it must be apparent on the most casual observation
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NoTE:-This view illustrates the method by which the underflow of the Arkansas Valley may be
utilized to irrigate the lands for many miles on each side. By means of fountains opened on each side
of the river alternately (as at FF), not only the underflow water, but all that coming down the river
all the surplus storm waters caught in “draws" or ravines (as at DD), and all surplus from artesian
Wells (as at W), may be stored so as to have an abundant supply always ready for use in all parts of
the region to be irrigated, by means of systems of main storage canals and storage basins. These
main canals should be constructed on the highest land on each side of the river, utilizing for storage
purposes such large depressions as fall in the line of a main canal (as at A A), or to one side (as B B)
or on the line of a supply canal (as at C). A glance at this plan will show how necessar, it is to a
general development of irrigation in a large scope of country to have all development made a part of a
general system, under general regulations. As the plains are in reality a vast #. Such a system
of storage canals and reservoirs will furnish steady water-power to an incalculable amount. and this
power, by means of electricity, may be transmitted to distant points. y


































































220 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
that the steady gush of the inexhaustible waters of the underflow, day and night,
the year round would be of vastly greater significance. We only need refer en pas-
§ant to the immense amount of water power such a system would develop—-sufficient
to cover the land with factories, and heat and light the homes of the people by elec-
tricity. With such a system of water supply once developed, this valley of the Ameri-
can Nile will support in comfort at least thirty millions of people.
It is the duty ofthe Government totake hold of this matter at once for a host of reasons.
Private capital would develop the whole in time, but piecemealand in a desultory and
unsystematic Way. Some favored localities would be crossed and recrossed by a super-
abundance of ditches, crowding and interfering with each other, while other portions
Would be neglected wholly or for long years. The cost to the people in delay and
overcharges would be more than the entire cost of the System. The interstate feature
can be handled only by the national Government.
HOW WATER RUNS UP HILL.
NOTE.-Many people find it difficult to understand how water, used for irrigation, runs from the
Arkansas River, which is in a valley, out upon the highest upland. It is the rapid slope of the sur.
face of the plains which makes, this an easy matter. The general surface falls is feet per mile from
West, to east. If a ditch be cut from the river, as shown in the drawing, with a fall of 13 feet per mile,
it will climb 6 feet higher up the slope every mile, and yet have a good current.
Not only would national assistance insure the speedy and systematic development
of the whole, but it would justify a proper regulation of the cost of water to the con-
SUITY) {3DS.
It would not be necessary that the entire development should take place in a year
or two, even if such a thing were possible, but so much would be assured from the
first that any part, whenever constructed, would be in harmony with the final whole,
and the Waste of time, energy, and money be reduced to the minimum.

A MAP SHOWING THE UNDERFLOW'S CHIEF DOMAIN.
1.4.”
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#||
NOTE. —This map shows the generally accepted boundaries of what is known as “the arid region,” and
- between the two shaded lines on the right is shown the strip of country which will be most benefited by the .
development of the vast subterranean sources of water supply for irrigation, which may be tapped and
utilized in hundreds of places, not only in the region thus outlined, but throughout the entire territory in
which irrigation is needed. The lands which will thus be furnished with irrigation are in very large pro-
ortion smooth as to surface, possessing soil of great depth and exceedingly rich, and having a fine climate.
!hey are too far from the mountains to secure a reliable supply of water from torrential sources, and, at
the same time, they already contain many settlers who have been tempted, or gone mistakenly, beyond
the boundaries of humid areas. Hence, the underflow will not only furnish to many million acres of rich
laud the only sure means of irrigation, but will turn the sorrow of many thousand toiling settlers into joy
‘‘ by giving to their arid homesteads the means of the highest degree of fertility and a certainy of much greater
Success in farming than can be secured by natural rain-fall, 221 º



















222 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES MANKART, DIVISION EN GINEER UNION
PACIFIC RAILWAY. -
There are no artesian wells on the Kansas Division. Our water supply is obtained
from wells varying in depth from 13 to 260 feet, and from running streams. I am
unable to ascertain the cost of the wells as the motive power and construction de-
partment has no record of their cost, neither is there any record in the superintend-
ent's office.
I send herewith a statement giving description of wells, quality of water, etc., at
}. water stations between Wakeeney (just east of one-hundredth meridian) and
On WeT. $
Union Pacific Railway, Kansas Division. (Main Line.) Description of water supply
west of the one-hundredth meridian.

1- - - ? Source of Diam- e Nature
Location. Supply. eter. Depth. Quality, of Supply.
Feet. Feet,
Collyer ...--------. Woll., { #: ; 100 | Fair. ---| Good ---| Standard tank, 16 by 24, capacity
iº 50,000 gallons.
Buffalo Park . . . . . ----do --- 20 110 | Good . . . . Medium. Do.
:
Grinnell ---------. ---. do -: #: ; 130 |.... do ... Good --. Do.
Oakley ------...--. ---. do - #: ; 112 || Fair ----|----do --- Do. t
Monument..... --. ---. do --- 16 $1 | Good ...|Medium Do.
Lisbon------------ ----do --- 10 30 | Bad..... Good. -- Do.
Wallace .-----...- -- Creek --|--------|---------. Fair ---. I. ... do ... Do.
Weskan -----...--. Well. - .. 12 130 | Good ... - | Poor. --. Do.
Cheyenne Wells. . . ... do ... §6 260 . . . . do ...| Good ... Do.
Eit Carson - - - - - - - ----do --- 12 41 | Poor....] .... do - - - Do.
Aroya ------------ --. do 20 22 | Very bad.... do - - - Do
Mirage ------ ... do 16 13 | Fair . . . . . . . . do . . Do
Hugo ------------- do -- 24 26 || Bad . . . . . ... do Do
Lake ------------- ---do --- 15 21 | Fair ---...... do ... Do.
Agate ------------ ---, do --- 24 80 | Bad. . . . . ---. do --- Do. 3.
Deer Tail. --...--. --- do .. 10 16 || Poor --do --- Do
yers - - - - - - - - - - - - - --- do . 20 34 || Bad. . . . . ---do - .. T}o
Watkins. --------- ----do --- 10 16 || Good --do --- T)0.
Magnolia - - - - - - - -. ----do --- 10 34 |....do - . . . . . . do ... - Tank 14 by 16, capacity 13,200
gallons.
L. AND C. DISTRICT.
Inches. | Feet. Im.
M. P., 166.5, near | Sand |--------|------...-. Good ...| Good ...
Hoxie. Creek.
Menlo ------------ Well. ... ||7 133 7 |.... do ---|.... do - - -
Colby. ------------ ----do --- ||7 119 8 - - - -do ---|--|--do ---
* Top. f Bottom. f First 70 feet. §6-inch pipe. || Pipe.

sTATEMENT OF WATER SUPPLY BY ATCHISON, TOPEKA AND
SANTA FE: RAILROAD COMPANY. &
[Addressed to Mr. Hinton, engineer expert with º committee, by A. A. Robinson, second vice-presi-
€Il
In compliance with request for information concerning the water supply on the
Santa Fé System west of the one hundredth meridian, for use of the Senate Committee
on Irrigation, I take pleasure in inclosing the following:
Brief statement of our water supply.
Copy of analyses of certain waters. g
Blue print of condensed grade profile. (As the profile does not show the lines re-
cently constructed I suppliment it with a list of elevations above Sea of controlling
oints.
p I * I can not furnish you with profiles of all the new lines, but we have no con-
densed profiles, none but on the large scale of 400 feet to 1 inch, to copy which would
require too long a time.
THE water SUPPLY OF A., T. AND S. F. RAILROAD. 223
MIDDLE DIVISION.
The only part of this division lying west of the one hundredth meridian is on the
Great Bend Extension of the Chicago, Kansas, and Western Railroad, lying west of
Ness City, and covering a distance of 91 miles.
There are four water stations on this part of the line—located at Beeler, Dighton,
Modoc, and Crisby.
º Crisby the source of supply is a well 974 feet deep, and furnishing 2,000 gallons
per hour.
At Dighton there is a well 18 feet in diameter and 65 feet deep, and at Modoc the
well is 16 feet diameter and 102 feet deep. At Beeler the source of supply is a small
stream which has been dammed. From this dam to the tank there is a pipe-line
1,100 feet long. -
At each point steam power is used.
SOUTHERN DIVISION.
The only part of this division lying west of the one hundredth meridian is that part
of the Panhandle extension within the State of Texas.
Water stations are located as follows: At Clear Creek, 7 miles west of Glazier,
where the water is pumped by steam from the creek. At Miami, where there is a
well 51.5 feet deep, which furnishes 40 gallons a minute. West of Codman, where
Water is pumped by steam from the creek. At Panhandle City consideſ able time and
money has been expended to secure an adequate water supply, but the result has not
been satisfactory. A well was dug and drilled to a total depth of 560 feet without
getting a sufficient supply. The company now hauls water from the Miami tank.
In a test well sunk at Panhandle City, water was struck in sand at a depth of 341
feet. The water rose 18 feet, with a flow of only 5 gallons per minute or 7,200 gal-
lons per day. At Glazier a well has been sunk for section house uses, and good water
obtained at a depth of 20 feet.
westERN DIVISION.
From Dodge City to Cañon City—From Pueblo to Denver.
From Dodge City to Cañon City the railroad lies in the valley of the Arkansas
River, and, with the exception of Pueblo and Coolidge, the water supply is obtained
from wells varying in diameter from 18 to 30 feet, and in depth from 15 to 40 feet.
Steam is the power used at all of the water stations with the exception of Syracuse,
Prower's, and Taylor's, where windmills are used.
At Pueblo water is obtained from the city water---orks company, which company
obtains its supply by pumping direct from a reservoir which is filled by an open ditch .
from the Arkansas River.
At Coolidge water is obtained from an artesian well recently completed. This well
is almost 300 feet deep, and the flow is something like 100 gallons a minute.
The following are the water stations between Dodge City and Cañon City: Dodge
City, Cimarron Pierceville, Sherlock, Lakin, Kendall, Syracuse, Coolidge, Granada,
Lamar, Prower's, Caddoa, Las Animas, La Junta, Carlin, Nepesta West of Boone,
Pueblo, Taylor's, and Clelland. Total, 20. Between Pueblo and Denver there are the
following water stations, viz.: Piñon, Fountain, Colorado Springs, Pring, Castle
Rock, Sedalia, and Denver. §
At Colorado Springs water is obtained from the local company. At Castle Rock
water is pumped from an open box sunk in the bed of East Plum Creek, and at Seda-
lia the water is pumped from a bored well, the well being 300 feet deep, and the pump
placed at a depth of 120 feet from the surface.
... At the other stations above named water is taken from wells, which are of the
same class as those in the Arkansas Valley. The flow of water, while not so great as in
the valley, is sufficiently ample for the company's present needs.
NEw MEXICO DIvision.
From La Junta, Colo., to Wallace, N. Mez.
At Timpas and at Iron Springs there are wells located on the bank of Timpas Creek,
a steam-pump being used at the first-named and a wind-mill at the last-named sta-
tion. At Thatcher there is a well located some distance from the railroad, with a pipe
line extending from the well to the tank. The supply has proved so meager that the
well has been practically abandoned, and now water is hauled from Trinidad. At
224 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Hoehne there is a well on the bank of the Purgatoire River and the power used is
both steam and wind. At Trinidad the supply is obtained from the local company.
At Starkville and Morley water is obtained from Clear Creek and conveyed to the
tanks through iron pipe. Springs at the head of Clear Creek are the source of supply
and one or more dams serve to collect the flow from the springs. At Lynn water is
obtained from wells and springs located at various distances, none exceeding a mile,
and by pipe lines conveyed to a pressure tank at the railroad. At Raton, the site of
extensive shops of the company, a well on Raton Creek and various springs on the
high ground surrounding the town furnish the supply. Steam is used to force the
water from the well, while from the springs gravity does the work. ^ --
At Otero, Dorsey, and Maxwell City the supply is obtained from wells on the bank
of Red River, steam being the power at Otero, while wind-mills are used at the other
two. At Springer there is a well near the Cimarron River, with both steam-pump
and wind-mill. At Colmor we have a well and wind-mill. At Wagon Mound springs
are the source of supply and gravity does the work. At Shoemaker's a steam-pump
forces the water from a well on the bank of Mora River. At Las Vegas water is ob-
tained from the local company, whose source of supply is the Gallinas River. At
Bernal gravity brings the water from several springs. At San Miguel and Rowe wells
are located on the bank of the Pecos River and steam furnishes the power. At Lamy
gravity brings the water from a well in Apache_Cañon. Gravity is also employed at
Los Cerillos, where there is a well on the bank of the San Marcos Arroyo, and at Wall-
ace, where there is a well on the bank of Santa Fé Creek. At Santa Fé a wind-mill
is used, a well furnishing the supply.
RIO GRANDE DIVISION.
From Wallace, N. Mez., to El Paso, Tea.—From Rincon to Silver City, also Magdalena,
Lake Valley and San Pedro Branches.
At Bernalillo there is a well 12 feet deep; at Albuquerque, one 12 feet deep; at Los
Lunas, one 15 feet deep; at Sabinal one 15 feet deep; at Alamillo, one 13 feet deep;
at Socorro, one 16 feet deep ; all with steam and wind-mill. At San Antonio, one 15
feet deep; at San Marcial one 15 feet deep ; at Lava, one 342 feet deep, with
steam power. At Engle there is a spring several miles distant from the railroad.
From this spring the water is forced by steam power into a reservoir located on the
divide between the spring and the railroad. From this reservoir the water passes by
gravity into the tank at the station.
At Rincon there is a well 14 feet deep; at Randall, a well 14 feet deep; at Las
Cruces a well 18 feet deep; at Canertillo, a well 9 feet deep; and at El Paso, a well
24 feet deep, steam being the power at each station.
At Hatch there is a well 19 feet deep, with steam power. * >
At Florida gravity brings the water from a spring 27,000 feet distant from the tank.
At Deming there is a well 67 feet deep, the power being steam.
At Crawford there is a well 41 feet deep, fitted with a wind-mill.
At Siver City the supply is obtained from the Silver City Water Company.
On the Magdalena Branch there is a gravity line 5 miles long at Water Cañon, the
source of supply being a spring, while at Magdalena steam power is used, the water
being obtained from a well 28 feet deep. e { *
At Osceola, on the Lake Valley Branch, there is a well 136 feet deep, and there is
both steam power and a wind-mill. At stations where there is both steam and wind
power the steam is only used when the wind fails to supply., . tº * º
At Engle the water is raised 310 feet into the reservoir, which, as above said, is on
the divide and about 2 miles from the spring and about the same distance from the
tank. *
Lava, Engle, and Upham are stations on the Jornado del Muerto, and at each station
an effort was made to secure an artesian supply but without success. At the Engle
well salt water was struck. ſº wº
Upon the New Mexico and Arizona Railroad, extending from Benson, Ariz., on the
Southern Pacific Railroad to Nogales on the boundary between the United States
and Mexico, water is obtained at the following stations, viz.: Benson, Contention,
Brookline, Elgin, Crittenden, Calabusas, and Nogales, and in each instance the source
of supply is a well and the power steam. tº ge º
On the Senora Railway, extending from a connection with the New Mexico and
Arizona Railroad to Guaymas on the coast, there are the following water stations,
viz: Nogales, Agua Zarca, Imuris, Magdalena, Llano, Caibo, Pesqueira, Hermosillo,
Torres, Artiz, and Guaymas. At each of these stations, with the exception of Imuris,
the source of supply is a well and the power steam. At Imuris Water is obtained by
gravity from the river Qasita. gº ſº º ºs &
. The Senora Railway lies wholly within Mexico.
some ALTITUDES IN KANSAS AND colorado.
Partial list of elevations above sea-level.
, IFeet.
Ness City, Kans------------------- 2,268
Beeler, Kans --------------------- 2, 479
Dighton, Kans.------------------- 2,769
Grigsby, Kans -------------------- 2,931
Scott City, Kans------------------ 2,979
Modoo, Kans---------------------- 3, 139
Coronado, Kans------------------- 3,275
Leoti, Kans ---------------------- 3,307
Crosby, Kans --------------------- 3,448
West Line Wichita County, Kans... 3, 470
Higgins, Tex --------------- * - - - - - 2, 576
Glazier, Tex ---------------------- 2,608
Canadian, Tex-------------------- 2, 347
225
Feet.
Miami, Tex---------------------- - 2,751
Codman, Tex--------------------- 2,892
Paten, Tex ----------------------- 3, 345
Panhandle City, Tex. ------------. 3. 458
Cañon City, Colo ----------------- 5,321
Pueblo, Colo---------------------- 4,656
Colorado Springs, Colo-- - - - - - - - - - - 5,990
Palmer Lake (Divide), Colo-...---. 7,231
Denver, Colo. -------------------- 5, 188
Walter Cañon, N. Mex- - - - - - - - - - - - 6,008
Magdalena, N. Mex-...------------- 6, 557
Kelly, N. Mex-------------------- - 7, 149
These elevations are on top of rail at station,
138 A L–WOL III 15
'..cº-
226
.**
*.
Table 328.- Wells on the Atchinson
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
[In Kansas, Colorado,
*rº- WATER
F. # # ‘5 3 s º §§ ‘8 $ 3
# 3. # a |#3 # ##|##|##| #5
Stations. § Date. ‘āš | g | #3 ##| ##| #5 ##| #5 | ##
§§ 5 * | * ää o, ºr || @ 33 ||33 || 3:3 || 3.3
º .3 5* | *2 = | 3 ; 33 8:3 8 &
ſº § # E | # ##| || 3 # 3 & #3 | #
º & § | | | 3 || 3" | 3 |Š "| 3 || | #3,
Topeka Shops...........g. 55 May 2, 1884.875 .168.64 m. 1821.49 sº.....] 5.915.
Grº Hole, S. Pedro C. C. 76 |June 10,18841. 408 |2. 507 | . 6 5.948] 1.10028.909,3. 920]...... 2,960
0.
Qº. * * * * * * * * * as * * * * * * * * * * C. 93 |July 17, 1884|trace. . 519 trace.[17. 138|| 1.860|.... --|.... . . 425|1. 549
ton. ------------------- C. 94 | . . . do . . . [1, 728 1. 167 | . TT8 |12. 636 5.023. 4. 983]. - - - - 5.023 . 656
Peabody (tank) ----...--. C. 104|Sept. 24, 1884|trace. 2.924 |1.464 |30.324|...... [. - - - - - |. - - - - || 6.638 . 837
Pueblo (railroad tank) ---|C. 106|Aug. 9, 1884]... do - 1.213 trace.|14. 804|------|--|--|--|---.. 9. 41613. 014
Pueblo (city reservoir) --|C. 107|............. do - .431 .297 || 3. 521] .816 .328 .428; .216|... . . .
Hillsboro ---------------. C. 180|June 25, 1885 .229 |. 580 trace. 41. 047|------|---...]. . . . . 8, 309|2. 150
Nickerson --------------- C. 181|Nov. 12, 1884 § 510 ||--do . . .959. 3.310|......l.. --. 4. 0761, 788
Raymond---------------- C. 1821------------- * . 777 | . 282 || 8.812| 2.333| . 928}..... 6, 482 . 980
€).
Dodge City-------------- C. 183|Nov. 20, 1884|trace. 3.031 | . 948 8.455; 8.496 ... - - - - - - - - 3. 366|2, 193
Speareville -------------- C. 184]. --- do ------|-. do .2. 686 trace. 7. 225] 1.580) . 716 .302 - - - - - |- - - - - -
enwood -------------- C. 188|Nov. 24, 1884|... do - .980 | .200 7.980 2.669| 3,254;..... 2. 1121. 794
Great Bend.------------. C. 189|Nov. 22, 1884|.. do . . . 464 | .464 || 6. 500 2. 233|----...--.. 13, 0942. 441
Peabody----------------. C. 194|Nov. 30, 1884]. - do . [2, 328 |1. 169 |31.929]. ---...] ... - - - - - - - - 16, 472|3. 560
Iron Springs.-----------. C. 197|Feb. 5, 1885|.. do - .968 .621a)18,06012.921 2.620..... 28,918|6, 628
insley ----------------. C. 198|Dec. 4, 1884|--do - . 841 | . 730 |15.994|...... 3. 564]- - - - - - - - - - - 490
Larned -----------------. C. 1991---. do . . . . . . . 116 | . 620 .987 10.640|. . . . . . . ... ---|----- 9. 2021. 874
Benson ------------------ C. 204|Dec. 20, 1884|trace. . 777 | . 519 || 6,731|| 3.366|......|- - - - - - - - - ... [......
Lawrence.--------------. C. 205|Dec. 22, 1884 --do -|1. 753 .443 36.298, 7.440|------|----. ------|- - - - - -
aV8 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - C. 228|Jan. 20, 1885) . 778 |7. 492 |1. 546 |40. 220......}.-----|----- 38. 6229. 420
Iron Spring (new spring) (C. 237|Jan. 24, 1885 trace. . 134 3, 234 |28, 212|. -----|...... ---...- 30, 320
Iron Spring(railroad tank)|C. 238 ... do ... . . . . . do . .952 .600a17.840. 1,622|......|..... 35, 428
Kansas River at Topeka C. 242|Jan. 28, 1885 . 716 |1.016 .980 |13. 409 1.625|......|----. 4. 177
Kansas Riv. at Lawrence.|C. 243 - - - - do. . . . . . * . 149 | .340 15.080 . 600!......}- - - - - 4. 729
A. T. Well, Lawrence. ...|C. 244|Feb. 12, 1885|1. 010 | . 868 |1.449 (32.827| 1.551]. -----|- - - - - 7. 016
Silver City (railroad tank)|C. 255 Mar. 4, 1885|trace. 2.292 (1.720 |43. 54614, 324.----. ----. 29. T94
Deming (railroad well)--|C. 256|Mar. 3, 1885|--|--|--|--|--|--|-- - - - - * = - I e = * * * * | * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * m e = * * * *
Nickerson --------------. C. 257|Mar. 7, 1885 . 046 |. 138 | . 102 15, 620 4, 198|......|----. 36.247
Iron Spring (new spring)|C. 264|Mar. 9, 1885 trace. . 126 3.031 |26. 620 ----. ------|----. 28, 748
Hudson, hot spring -----. C. 270|Mar. 19, 1885|... do -1. 552 | . 502 || 4, 448 2.624|------|----. 13, 547
Nickerson ... -- - - - - - - - - - - C. 271|Mar. 23, 1885...do - . 868 . 141 |10. 729| 1. 131|...... [- - - -. 3. 229
Gypsum Mills, 6 miles C. 284|Apr. 6, 1885|--do -2.040 1.436a, 60.472|.-----|------|----- 213, 834
northeast of Wallace.
Maxwell----------------. C. 2851. ... do ... ---. ... do 384 |l. 157 |17. 106||11. 337]. -----|- - - - - 15. 254
Florida ------------------ C. 306|Apr. 15, 1885 |:-----|------|------|------|------|------|-----|------ |------
Rincon ------------------ C. 307|Apr. 30, 1885 |1, 788 |1. 550 | .519 |14. 721] 3.695|------|----- 22, 410
& *
Water Cañon. ----------- C. 308. ---do ------|------|------|------|------|------|------|-----|------------
Osceola Well . . . . . . . .---- C. 309. ---do ------|------! ----. I.------|------|------|------|-----|------|------
New well, Topeka . . . . . . C. 320|May 19, 1885|1. 167 |1. 169 |. 882 11.939. 3.632|------|----. 2. 012
Kºº. ºver at new well, C. 321|....do ------ . 164 |1.459 | . 901 11.956 4.094. -----|-- - - - ~ 2.089
opeka.
Topeka Water Works...|C. 330 June 11, 1885 .291 |. 732 .583 |10. 204 1.878]. -----|--|--> 1, 5831, 307
Tſpham . . . ...--...-----|C. 332|June 15, 1885 trace, 1.258 .406a 8.001| 3,449. 9.751 .. 73275,233|------
Ca º Smelter near |C. 341|July 2, 1885|..do - . 585 .344 |15. 450|5. 848|------|----- 2.5805. 246
Silver City.
Kiowa, No. 1.------------- C. 350|Aug. 3, 1885). 772 1.289 . 516 10.883 5. 158|9. 109|..... 8,820
IKiowa, No. 2.-- - - - - - - - - -. C. 351 . . . do -- - - - - trace. . 778 .315 7. 193 5. 44211. 659|- - - - 2. 120
Las Vegas Well, Wood C. 347|July 31, 1885|--do - .289 trace.[13. 507 2, 186 2.546 . 821. 4. sº * * * tº gº tº
Preserving Works.
San Pedro C. and C. Co. --|C. 381|Sept. 21, 1885|5. 627 (1.922 3.844 (22.948.30. 195|------|----. 193, 685
Dorsey Spring, 2 miles E. C. 385|Oct. 10, 1885. 188 |. 776 |... 194 || 8, 166 1.800.-----|----. 3, 122
Silver City (new well)... C. 390|Oct. 31, 1885; trace. .233 #1.465a10.730. 3. 732 . 117---...- 6, 532
Kiowa (new woll). --...-. C. 391]. ---do ---... .974 | .395 |*. 270a |12, 522]. -----|------|----- 7.702
Dodge City. ------------. C. 395|Nov. 21, 1885 trace, 2.336 . 577a 14.975 5.377|------...- . . 17. 106
Iron §º section C. 396 Nov. 27, 1885 . 727 | . 570 | .422a) 2.64.1 2 503 47.652 |... --. |5.859
house well.
Medicine Lodge-...-...--. C. 409|Jan. T, 1885. 811 1, 187 |*. 583a/25.979)------|------|----, 11. 539
Spring Creek, {º 418 Jan. 23, 1886 trace. .291 .291a 9.326|| 1.956 9. 869
Flm Creek, Lodge ...!?C.414|----do ------ ... do - | .306 | . 306a |11. 611| 1. 880 5, 472
Peabody (new well of C. 452|May 20, 1886 |--do - . 581 |. 873 |13.082. 3. 237 12, 113
water works). #
Argentine (pump house). C. 425 Feb. 5, 1886|1.749 1, 142 , 776 (20.022]. ----- 2. 219
Argentine (white house). C. 424]. ---do ------ 1. 551 2. 365 .387 |22, 683 1. 584 2.949

1 Trace of iron.
RAILROAD wells
*
Topeka and Santa F4 Railway. &
and New Mexico.] .
-
AND QUALITY OF THEIR waters.
227
ANALYSES.
*
&- • s. A cº -- * ©
*3 | ####3 3 . © 3
.# .3% g’s ſº 35 3 E. § 3 * Remarks.
5. # 3 * * 3:5 º:B 2 : #
## |3:####| ## #T | #" | #
# 5 || 333; # É UD O E-
* -------|-----------. -- 7. 463 |. --.. or * > 1 > * * * * * * * 29.921
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * is a s - a s = e ºs .284 |. --...- ..}--------| 50.678 | Not poisonous, but supposed to be. Red
sediment is iron and organic matter.
7, '689 ---------...--. 1.652 - - - - - - --------. 40. 882
* * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. 830 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 33.824 º
21.863 |. --------...-. 3.097 || 3.259 |... . . . . . 70.406 | Poor. Large per c. sulphate of magnesia.
9.083 |--------...--- 5.032 | 2.403 |. -- - - - - - 44. 965
* * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1.619 i.--------------- 7.656 Extra good. -
21.000 ---------...--. 3.579 20, 180 - - - - - - - - 97.074 | Poor. Large per c. sulphate of magnesia.
* * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * is ºs e as – 8.939 || 4.842 - - - - - - - - 29.424
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 6.4.13 |..... ---|--------| 28.304 || On account of organic matter unhealthy
for drinking.
* * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4. 720 | 10. 549 |. - - - - - - - || 41. 758
* * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1. 489 . . . . . ...}.-------| 13. 998 || Extra good.
* * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s 2.982 |. -------|--------| 21.981 | A good water for comparison.
2,082 I.------------- 3.598 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30. 876 -
20.482 l.-----...----- 3.942 | 1.431 . . . . . . . . 81.313 | Poor. Large per c. sulphate of magnesia.
4.520 ----------------------|-------. 2. 500 77. 756 Poor. Large per cent. of hard salts.
22, 298 |.-----...----. 12.846 | 16. 127 | . . . . . . . . 97.890 | Poor. Large per c. sulphate of magnesia.
3.999 ||-------------- 1. 631 .087 ,------. 29. 156
* * * * * * * * 20.449 |--------|--------|--------| 31.842 © º
* * * * * * * * 36.003 ||--------|--------|--------| 81.937 || Combined sulphuric acid. , 10.356 grains.
37. 142 I.-----...------ 7.820 | 62.420 |- - - - - - - - 205. 460 || Over 70 per cent, insoluble matter. Puri-
fication necessary.
25, 200 I.------------- 2.375 | 12.609 |.... ---. 102.084 Very poor.
14.490 -------------- 2.780 [..... - - - 2. 680 76. 392 || POOT,
•820 -------------- 7.143 --------|-------- 29, 886
2.056 |-------------- 7. 905 - - - - - - -, -------. 32. 661
6. 107 ||-------------. 20. 126 --------|-------- 70.954 || Will corrode brass fittings.
7. 105 l.------...------ 15.699 --------|-------. 114,480 | Poor. Large per cent. of hard salts.
* * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * 16. 329 | Extra good.
* * * * * * * * : * * * * ... ...-----| 20.920 ---...---|---...---| 77.271 T. water must have a strong tendency to
O8.II].
23.403 l------...----- 2. 316 || 11.240 - - - - - - - - 95.484 || Poor. Large per cent. of sulphate of lime
and magnesia. *
* * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2.286 --------|--------| 24.959 | Note large per centage of silica.
3.812 l-------------- 8.261 --------|-------- 28, 171
67. 888 1.-----...----- 20. 676 22. 665 - - - - - - - - 389, 021 || On account of large §. cent. of Epsom
salts, injurious to health, if used too freely.
5.039 |..------------ 13. 163 --------|-------- 63. 440
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * = g º - 19,040
• 417 -------------- 14, 364 --------|-------. 59.464 | Per c. of scale-producing material small on
account of large per c. chloride and sul-
hate of soda. This water will attack
rass and corrode fittings of that material.
* * * * * * * s it is as ºn m ºn a a s as e º sm s m i < *s an e - - - - - * * * * * * * * : a sa e s = - * * 13, 024
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e as a tº “ - - - F - ºn tº e s - s sº I tº * * * * * * * 18.079
• 263 |-------------- 5, 757 --------|-------- 26, 821
• 277 l.------------- 5.763 --------4-------. 27. TO4
1.694 I.------------- 5. 145 i---------------. 23. 417
* * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * * 20. 420 --------|---...----| 119.250 Poor. Will corrode brass fittings.
,-084 - we sº - as - - - is ºn se tº * * 4. 300 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 34. 387
* * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * 15.025 |--------|--------| 51.579
* * = \º º sº sº tº º º - - - - - - - - * * * * 3. 874 - - - - - -----------| 31. 381
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºn 1. 450 l--------|-------. 25.674
* * ºn tº ºn as sº tº we º 'º -e ºn tº * * * * * * * * 16.470 --------|---...----| 274.691 Poor. Unhealthy for drinking purposes.
Will corrode brass fittings.
3.080 -------------- 281 --------|-------- 18, 607 || Good.
• * * * * * * * : * * * - - - - - * * * * * * 1.533 |--------|--------| 33.442 Good both for drinking and boiler purposes.
15. 280 -------------- 7, 795 | . 916 |........ 45, 853 | Poor water on account of large quantity of
sulphates. Will form hard scale.
8,742 -------------- 5,792 --------|-------. 49. 905
* * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 23.418 ||--------|--------| 83.792 | Poor. Will corrode brass fittings.
27.096 ſ.------------- 9.612 I--------|-------. 75.887 | Poor. Large per c. sulphate of magnesia.
ºn ºn sº g = e, as s i s m sº º sº w w w an º ºs = * * 2.677 |-------...-------.] 23.910 | Good ge p p gn
• as a m = * * * : * ~ * * * * * * * * * ---| 2.419 |--------|-------. 21.994 | Good.
• * * * * * * * --------------| 2. --------|--------| 82.321 | Fair.
2.231 -------------- 1. 603 |. --..... * * * * * * * 29.742
2, 762 |..... * * * * * * * * * 2. 556 --------|--- ... --. 36.837

The terms good, fair, and poor indicate the value for boiler purposes.
228 IBRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE H. west, of GREELEY, colo., IN RELA-
TION To souTHwBST KANSAs.
We beg to submit the following information, covering those counties in Kansas
South of the third standard parallel and west of the ninety-eighth meridian, embrac-
ing an area of 16,520,000 acres, of which fully 15,000,000 acres are suitable for agri-
cultural purposes, relying for its best results upon irrigation.
At least 90 per cent. of this land is underlaid by subterranean flows or reservoirs
of Water, available from wells by means of mechanical power. The application of
an economical method of raising this water would produce more immediate and gen-
eral benefits than any other system, making from 60 to 75 per cent, of the entire area
at once reclaimable by private enterprise.
Along the Cimarron River and its tributaries are 350,000 acres of first bottom lands,
with abundance of water within 20 feet of the surface; while at least 500,000 acres in
the Arkansas Valley will afford an exhaustless supply of water for ordinary irrigating
purposes at 10 feet. The valleys of the Beaver, White Woman, Pawnee, Walnut, and
their tributaries will afford 1,000,000 more acres of land, with an ample water supply
from 15 to 30 feet. Outside of the valleys sheet water is found, from 30 feet to 100
feet, with an average depth of about 60 feet; excepting limited areas, including por-
tions of nearly every county west of the ninety-ninth meridian. Embracing nearly all
of Haskell County and a narow strip west through the counties of Grant and
Stanton and east through Gray, Ford, Kiowa, and Pratt, extends what is known as
the deep-water belt, or high divide. Another such area extends west through the
counties of Garfield, Finney, Kearney, and Hamilton, along the fourth standard paral-
lel. In these belts water lies at depths generally exceeding 100 feet. Outside these
narrow belts the larger portion of the entire area is underlaid by a water supply,
available to a mechanical method of raising it. The water is almost universally
found running through gravel beds with a uniform current towards the east.
Neither coal or wood is found in the territory embraced in this report, and prices
are governed by the length of haul and competition between lines of railroad. At
Garden City the best Cañon City coal sells at the scales for $6.75 per ton, Trinidad
coal $5.90, and Cañon City pea coal $4.65 per ton. No slack is sold, and we are un-
able to get the price of same to include in this report. Garden City is not a compet-
ing point, and the above are about the maximum rates on fuel along any line of road;
while at competing points good fuel for steaming purposes can be bought much
cheaper. The western half of the State has meager railroad facilities, but develop-
ment through pumping or other system of irrigation would be followed by the ex-
tension of present lines through that section into the great coal deposits of Colorado
and New Mexico, southwest of us.
No pumping system or irrigation has been tried, and the surface streams are totally
inadequate to furnish an extensive, water supply for a system of canals. The Arkan-
sas River is the only stream that can be utilized in that manner, and the present
demand upon it renders farming more hazardous than will justify further develop-
ment in that direction without the application of a storage reservoir system, or in
tapping the water-bearing strata with underground canals—taking advantage of the
universal trend eastward. Such a system will be necessary to reclaim the high
divides mentioned in this report, and will call for reservoirs of enormous capacity, as
those lands, being uniformly unbroken, storage basins must be made at great distances
from the areas to be watered.
* The underground water supply will rapidly increase instead of diminish, as the
water used will largely be absorbed by the soil, and percolation from above be added
to the present sources. The water lost by evaporation will be replenished by the
rain that will be enabled to soak into the soil, instead of wasting upon the impene-
trable sod of our prairies. Most of Kansas has demonstrated that breaking the sod
and continued cultivation of the soil will eventually result in the complete satura-
tion of the dry soil, that almost invariably exists from the sod to the sheet water.
. The almost entire absence of clay beds and other impenetrable substrata will permit
of the complete saturation of the soil down to the present water levels, making a
storage reservoir of incalculable magnitude, proportionately increased by each ad-
ditional demand upon it, and capillary attraction, now almost entirely absent, will
soon be established.
By determining at once the practicability of mechanical means of raising water
from our wells, these results can be accomplished by private enterprise in time to
benefit the classes who most need aid and encouragement, and who are utterably un-
able to wait upon the action of the Government in devising and executing a more
elaborate system of storage and canals. A pumping system will permit of individual
enterprise and general adoption at once. Any system dependent upon the construg-
tion of expensive canals, reservoirs, Subdrainage, or other methods involves unavoid-
Topography, AND HYDROGRAPHY of westERN KANSAs. 229 |
{
able delay of governmental action, or in inducing capital to come to our relief. To
demonstrate #. a pumping system can be practically and economically applied will
greatly reduce the area of arid lands to be reclaimed, and afford a proportionate in-
crease of the available water for that purpose.
STATEMENT OF SECRETARY M. MOHLER, STATE BOARD OF
AGRICTULTURE.
*
That portion of the State of Kansas west of the one hundredth meridian, as well,
as some portions east of it, may be classed as semi-arid, and would be vastly im-
proved by irrigation.
The topography of the country also is such as to admit of irrigation on an exten-
sive scale.
The difficulty, however, in the way is, the country is destitute of water. There are
no streams in that section of any consequence, and the only possible means of get-
ting a supply of water is either from the clouds by gathering the storm-water as it
falls or from the interior of the earth by artesian wells.
In my judgment irrigation by means of storm-water gathered into reservoirs is im-
practicable except on a small scale. The chief, and I think the only, hope of irriga-
tion in that country is by means of artesiah wells. Such is the opinion also of the
settlers there.
The underground water supply of the west is mainly obtained in two formations,
the Tertiary grit and the Dakota sandstones, which in some localities are so situated
as to give artesian water of good quality from comparatively small depths. Other
water but much mineralized is obtainable at greater depths.
There is a series of irrigation canals in the Arkansas Valley, and it is possible that
the flood water of that river could be stored to irrigate larger areas. It is believed
also that the Cimarron and the Republican Rivers would supply water for irrigation
of large areas of extreme northwest and southwest.
The crops of the western half of the State are substantially the same as east, only that
sorghum and rice corn do better than maize. Tree planting has begun and the State
has established a forestry station in Trego County, but too recently to give results
yet.
In the judgment of many parties I have met with it would be a good thing for the
Government and that country to solve the problem as to the practicability .# irrigat-
ing by artesian water by sinking wells in different localities. If it were once demon-
strated with reasonable certainty that artesian water could be had, private capital
would be invested in developing the artesian water resources of that section.
This idea, it seems to me, is of sufficient importance to merit attention.
[Papers inclosed by Mr. Mohler. 1
STATEMENT OF ROBERT HAY, OF JUNOTION OITY, ON NORTHWEST KANSAS, ITA
TOPOGRAPHY, OLIMATE, AND RESOUROES.
[Prepared for the State Board of Agriculture.]
A State whose boundaries are so little irregular as those of Kansas could have its
northwest quarter or other similar portion marked off with definite lines if area only
required to be noted. The northern line of the portion under consideration would in
this case be the Nebraska line, which is the fortieth parallel of latitude, and the south
line would be the parallel of 38% degrees. The western boundary is of course the
Colorado State line, or the one hundred and second meridian, and its eastern bound.
ary would be a meridian line whose iongitude is 98° 20' west of Greenwich. This
eastern line passes through the counties of Jewell, Mitchell, Lincoln, Ellsworth, and
Rice, while the southern boundary is nearly coincident with the line of the Santa
Fé branch roads from Lyons and Great Bend, or the Missouri Pacific liné to Colorado,
through the counties of Rice, Barton, Rush, Ness, Lane, Scott, Wichita, and Greeley,
The area, so defined has slightly over 20,000 square miles.
If, however, geographical features be taken into account, and not merely are
other boundaries might be used for a district that might properly be called ſº
Kansas. One convenient area might so be named which should contain all the region
north of the Smoky Hill River from the Colorado line to its confluence with the Re
publican, near Fort Riley, in Davis County. This region would be curtailed in iti
Southern extent as compared with the previously defined area, but would make up
by increased easterly extension. ... Another district well marked topographically
would be the region between the Smoky Hill and Republican Rivers. This district, -
while having considerable southeastern extension, includes parts of Colorado and
230 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
* .*-
Nebraska. ... A better area for topographic description would be the drainage area of
the Republican and Smoky, but this would include larger areas beyond the limits of ’
the State, while its southern line would be singularly near the parallel of 38° 30'. t
In this paper it will not be possible to give detailed treatment of even the smallest
of the areas defined above, yet in dealing with the larger features, both topographie
and geologic, the larger areas will have some notice. t
The entire region here considered belongs to that part of our country known topo-
graphically as The Plains, or The Great Plains, but it has within it all the varieties
: * just mentioned, and the valleys of its water-courses are conspicuous
€3.15ul I'êS.
The fact least noticeable by ordinary observers, yet the one on which all other
topographical facts are dependent in northwest Kansas, is that there is a general in-
crease of elevation of the country westward. Of course, the least thoughtful trav-
eler or settler is sure of this as soon as he has observed that all the larger streams
of the region have an easterly course. It is also to be observed when the attention
is directed to the subject when traveling on the comparatively level country—the
high prairie—above the river valleys of the district. In this situation it will always
be noticed that the western horizon is higher than the eastern. It is also to be ob-
served when looking across the greater valleys that the northern plateau is higher
than the Southern one ; i. e., that there is an increase of elevation northward as well
as westward. The former, however, is nét so marked as the latter.
The direction of the streams indicatcs the elevation. The elevation is the cause of
the direction of the streams. Examining a map of the region from the Mississippi to
the Rocky Mountains, we find that between the Platte and the Arkansas rivers are a
number of others streams, whose sources do not reach the mountains. The principal
are the Smoky Hill and the Republican, whose highest gathering-grounds are in
eastern Colorado, separated from the mountains by the Platte Valley. These two
streams are seen to diverge, the one to the north the other southerly, and, entering
Kansas, pass into the region we are discussing. As these streams diverge it is seen
that others originate, of considerable length, but tributary to them at last, and occu-
pying the region between them, as these lie between the Platte and Arkansas. There
is a repetition on a small scale in the sources and courses of the Saline and Solomon,
of the conditions under which the sources and courses of the Smoky and Republican
were formed. Looking further east, another repetition of the same forms is seen in the
Neosho and Marais des Cygnes, between the Arkansas and the Kaw, continued into
the Missouri. This repetition of drainage-forms points to continuity of similar forces
through long periods of time and persistence of the same conditions through wide
3. I'êa.S.
The rivers, then, of northwestern Kansas are rivers of the plains—they are not
mountain streams—and hence lack mountain snows and mountain rains as sources
of their waters. Besides this difference in their water supply they have a very im-
portant difference in the form of their beds. The mountain stream is more rugged,
steeper, and narrower as its nears its source. The river of the plain has a shallower,
roader depression the higher it gets, and besides having less water its bed becomes
scarcely noticeable at all as a ji. The valleys of the Saline, the Solomon, the
Prairie Dog, the Sappa, and the Beaver become in Thomas, Sherman, Cheyenne,
and Rawlins counties little more than depressions in a great rolling plain. The
valleys of the Smoky and the Republican are the same a little farther west in Colo-
rado.
Another characteristic of these river valleys is that at some distance down their
courses, where they have decided depth and running water, they are more abrupt—
in some places rugged—on their southern slopes than on their northern, and the
tributaries on their south sides—right bank—are shorter than those from the north.
This is of course referable as to its cause to the fact before mentioned of the increase
of elevation northward.
This leads us to observe that the valleys themselves—all in the region—are the
, result of one cause—erosion. They have been cut out by the action of the streams
now running through them, aided by the frosts and winds, and all other weathering
agencies of āges past. Further, the differences in the character of a valley in differ-
ent parts of its course are due to the differences in the material, the cutting away of
which forms the valley, and which is the substance of the earth in difforent parts of
the great plains. Of these differences more will appear further on.
A fact in the structure of the valleys that is noticeable by the least observant is
the prevalence of bottom land in the lower parts and its gradual restriction in area
and diminution in depth as we ascend towards the sources of the streams. This
bottom land is usually level, with a gentle slope laterally—i. e., upwards from the
river, but with a marked exception in many places near the stream; that is, it is
there higher than a little farther back, and this is manifestly due to the manner of
its deposit. The whole material of the bottom land is what has been held in me-
chanical suspension in the water of the stream when in flood–Sand, gravel, mud-
THE RELATIONs of GEOLOGY To water SUPPLY. 231
and has been deposited by the retiring waters, the finest material held longest in
suspension being deposited in the gentle ridge near the stream. There is another
evidence of this seen in the places where the recent workings of the stream have
left the bottom in the form of overhanging precipices whose vertical sides show
horizontal markings of sand, mud, or other alluvia, alternated with black bands of
yegetable soil, showing that at those stages of its existence there was freedom from
flood for a sufficient number of years to allow the grasses and other vegetation to
grow and decay and leave the carbonaceous material—humas—similar to that
making the present surface of the bottom. These level bottoms are not usually the
lowest bottoms of the river. They are no longer the flood plains, but are permanent
as to their height, wasting away by present action of the stream as to their area.
The flood plains of to-day are lower, usually more irregular, and becoming higher
with each year's flood deposit. They are formed by the material from above, the
high prairie as well as the older bottom, by the deposit of each year's flood. These
present flood plains may be called the true first bottom. The level bottom occupy-
ing a higher position is the second bottom formed as first bottom when the stream
was at a different level, and there is often a third bottom back from the stream 15 or
20 feet higher than the second bottom, and showing a similar condition of things in a
period still further back. These phenomena—of the three series of bottom lands—
may be observed in the narrow valleys of Big Timber in Cheyenne County, and of
Beaver in Rawlins County, the Beaver of Scott and Wichita counties, valleys farther
east of the Sappa, the Prairie Dog, the Solomon, the Saline, the Republican, and the
Smoky. It is noticeable that the second bottom of one part of the valley becomes
the third of a region lower down.
Of the streams themselves, i.e., the main ones, we notice, in connection with the
above facts, that they are at present occupied only in cutting away and redistribut-
ing the material of these bottom lands which they formerly deposited. In very few
places in all northwest Kansas is any stream engaged in wearing away bed-rock.
The South Solomon in eastern Osborne County is doing it a little; the Prairie Dog
º a little of the rock-bed near mill-dams, and this is true of the Saline and other
St.T02). OS.
In all the region there are no lakes. A few old river-beds, occasionally connected
at flood-times with the present streams, are the haunts of fish or wild fowl, but there
is no sheet of water anywhere wider than the present streams. A few of these old
river-beds have encircled a piece of higher bottom that by courtesy is called an
island, as at Long Island, in Phillips County, and such areas have timber. All the
rivers east of the ninety-ninth meridian have timber. The Solomon has a little into
Rooks and Norton Counties and the Prairie Dog has a few trees nearly to the one
hundred and first meridian, and the Big Timber Creek has some in Cheyenne County;
Beaver creek, in Rawlins; the Sappa, in Decatur; and also the Southern Beaver, in
Scott County. But this region is essentially a prairie country. The valley of the
Republican, from Jewell County to Fort Riley, and the Smoky, from Ellsworth to
the same place, have abundance of timber. The trees natural to the country are
oak, ash, elm, cottonwood, box-elder, walnut, locust, and hackberry; the ash, cotton-
Wood, box-elder, and locust going farthest west. The red cedar is found as far west.
Taking the most extensive definition of our district, a strip from 15 to 20 miles in
width across the eastern end of northwest Kansas from Washington to Rice County
might be called comparatively a rough district, the great valleys being bounded by
precipitous bluffs of hard limestone of ferruginous sandstone and the smallerones bein
rugged ravines. Another strip, like the former, widening southerly from Jewell .#
Smith Counties across Mitchell, Osborne, Russell, Ellis, and Rush, being much
smoother in the slopes of the hills. , Again, a strip across Phillips, Norton, Graham,
Sheridan, and Trego into Scott might be called rough, and the most western coun-
ties have a decidedly smooth contour. But these descriptions are only comparative,
and parts of these districts would illustrate the opposite terms.
The general increase of elevation westward is due mainly to newer geological
formations being added as we proceed in that direction. We shall see further on
how all the topographical features are influenced by this, but the increment itself is
mostly so gradual that its relation to the geology is not seen by the casual observer
except in one instance, where the added series of formations make a conspicuous
step on the prairie. This is where the limestone of the Fort Benton rocks comes
first into view as we go west. In the valley of the Smoky, in Ellsworth and Russell
counties, in Lincoln back from the Saline, in Cloud, and Mitchell on the Solomon,
these are seen capping the bluffs away back to the high prairie—a distant ledge and
step higher than the underlying sandstones, and showing promontories and ridges
With table tops scarcely less marked than those of the massive limestones of the
lower courses of the Republican and Smoky Hill Rivers. This is a prominent feature
of the topography for scores of miles.
There is a very interesting feature in the topography of the most western part of
northwest Kansas, particulary in Sherman, Wallace, Logan, Greeley, Wichita, and
232 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Scott Counties. It is the existence of depressions not connected with other valleys,
basins having no outlet, separated from the general drainage of the country. Some
3. these seem to be in a line, and suggest an old river valley filled up with alluvial
3.1118.
The main facts of the topography are—
§ Gradual increment of elevation westward.
2) Similar, but less marked, increment northward.
(3) The entire region forms part of the “Great Plains.”
(4) None of the streams have their origin in the mountains.
(5) The streams all belong to one system, lying between the valleys of the Arkansas
and the Platte, which are mountain streams.
(6) The valleys of the streams are all the results of erosion, having been cut out of
the body of the “plains” by the streams and the other agents called “weathering.”
(7). The character of the underlying rock and distance from highest part of the
“plains” have resulted in two smooth and two comparatively rough districts, with
mounds and bluffs—all hills of erosion.
(8) The upper parts of the river courses are without permanent water.
(9), The lower parts of the river valleys have more or less timber.
(10). The difference of elevation from a river valley to adjacent high prairie is not
over 300 or 400 feet anywhere. In the west the valleys are mere depressions. *
d (11) There are basins in the western part not connected with the system of river
Talnage. *
The source of most soils is the actual degradation of the geological deposits of past
years by the action of rain and moisture, heat and frost, running stream and stirring
wind. Some rocks, even the harder ones, have by these agencies been broken up in
fragments and dust on the spot where they have lain for ages. Seeds of plants
buried in this débris have rooted and grown, and by their chemical force and mechani-
cal action have aided in still further breaking up the rock, and then their own de-
Cay has added substance to the soil thus formed, and it has gradually increased in
thickness. A soil so formed is said to be sedentary. It is on the spot where as a soil
it first began to be. Running water, and sometimes the wind, will carry off soils so
formed, and also the rocky débris before it becomes soil, and redeposit it on the flood
plains of rivers or on sand-banks and shores of the sea, and then plants taking pos-
session convert them into soils as before. Such soils are said to be transported. Other
designations are used for particular kinds, but all fall under these two main heads.
Northwestern Kansas has soils of both kinds. The bottom-lands—first, second, or
third—of creek or river valley are all transported soils. The great bulk of the high
prairie and the sloping uplands have sedentary soil. The transported soils are of
mixed ingredients; the dust of limestone, the grains from sandstone or granite, the
mud from dissolved shales are all mixed in the composition of the river bottoms, and the
most finely comminuted matter is in the best physical condition for furnishing plant-
food. . The sedentary soils are, on the other hand, composed mainly of the Ingredients
of a single bed of rock.
This is largely true of the principal soil of northwestern Ransas. The smoothly
rolling high prairie, with its short buffalo-grass, has scarcely any depth of black Soil
or humus, such as is looked upon as the standard of value in soils, and which is often
characteristic of bottom-lands. But underneath the sod of the prairie is the tertiary
marl before described, which, though a rock in technical geological phrase, is a lake
silt, composed of limy materials, sand, and clay. Turn it up with the subsoil plow,
bring it from the excavation of a cellar, or from a well 100 feet deep, and in it plants
will grow, and grow well. The rolling prairie of Cheyenne, Sherman, Wallace, Gree-
ley, and the rest of the remote western counties have this subsoil as an everlasting
resource. West of the one hundredth meridian this is the principal soil of the region.
The valleys of the rivers are comparatively narrow, and bottom-land is not so plenti-
ful. Coming east, the valleys widen, and besides there being more bottom-land, there
are wider areas of slope where the substance of the sedentary soils is formed from
older formations in all the soils of the Upper Smoky, the Walnut, the Saline, and the
two Solomons. Still on the high prairie to the east of the limits above suggested is
the sedentary soil of tertiary marl, and still traces of it on the highest lands farther
east than middle Kansas. tº
But in these eastern parts—Smith, Osborne, Russell, Rush, Mitchell, Cloud, Ottawa,
Saline, Ellsworth, and Rice counties—if bottom-land does not actually preponderate.
in area, yet transported soils occupy quite the half of the counties, as the smalleryal-
leys are numerous and the river valleys broad and grand. Valleys are settled first,
Sheltered from winds, they attract the pioneer; they give response to the touch of
the plow. Their cultural features soon set off their natural advantages, and, the popu-
lation increasing, all other advantages also increase. z t
On some of these slopes there are soils that are thinner, and as far as arrangement
of material is concerned not in the best condition for plant-food. On these slopes the
grasses are thinner and coarser. Some of them are on the exposures of shales. Where .
THE winds, PRECIPITATION, AND TEMPERATURE. 233
these are clayey shales they are at first intractable to the plow, and are in wet
weather the most adhesive of muds. They are locally called adobe or gumbo soils,
and are found on the slopes of Russell, Osborne, Smith, and other counties where the
blue shale of the Niobrara has outcrop. Yet these soils, after being once broken, are
not infertile nor continuously intractable, but do not seem to have much power to
resist drought. The area of these soils is not large.
Another class of soils of the less valuable kind are those that are gravelly. They
have their source in the disintegration of the Tertiary conglomeration. . They occur
in unexpected places. Occasional mounds in the valleys and slopes of higher prairie
are made of gravel that support but a scanty herbage, and indicate the former pres-
•ence of the older Tertiary formation when its actual presence is no longer realized.
Some of the higher mounds of grit have this bare, gravelly soil, but the entire area. So
covered is not great. The mortar-beds of the grit supply a sedentary soil, which
ives a moderate hold to blue-stem and other grasses, and will probably supply a hold
or forest trees.
The geology, the topography, the soils of northwestern Kansas are as favorable to
the pursuits of man as can be desired,” The climate needs some remark. Most of the
settlers' trials come from the climate. Can it be modified to Suit him better, or can
he adapt his ways and his work to its peculiarities 2
Climate may be considered under three heads: Temperature, precipitation, winds.
We will notice each separately.
The Temperature of the Northwest may be fairly described as continental. That is,
it has a wide range from summer to winter. The observations made in the region
are too few to give much reliable material. It may, however, be said that while there
are many days in winter that are below zero, yet it is not continuously so even in
January. The severity of the winter is frequently broken by milder days. In sum-
mer the temperature rarely goes above 100°Fahr., but it is for some time in the nine-
ties. The mean annual temperature is probably about 53° Fahr., but the position of
isotherms it is not possible to state with exactness. Eight stations on the Union Pa-
cific, from Brookville to Ogalallah, give a mean average for 1887 of 569. Observations
from the northern counties, and for more years, would probably reduce this. One of
these stations gave 1139 for the maximum and—15° as the minimum for the year. The
lowest winter temperature given is-20°. It may be said that the highest tempera-
ture of the summer is not unbearable on the high prairie, and that the maximum
given above is not duplicated anywhere in the region.
Precipitation.—This term includes rain-fall, snow-fall, and dew. In the early days of
settlement there was a very little dew in northwestern Kansas; there is now much
of it, especially in the spring months. The quantity of dew is not measureable ex-
cept by a statement of the number of days on which it occurs. Further on we shall
notice the probable significance of the increase of dew. Rain and snow are classed
together under the term rain-fall, 10 inches of the latter being about equivalent to 1
of the former. Whatever the quality of soil or skill of the farmer, it is necessary that
moisture shall be within reach of growing crops. If there is no rain-fall there must
|be irrigation, as in Egypt, or the land will be a desert. Again, the rain-fall must not
only be sufficient in quantity, but it must come at the right time. The rain-fall of
Kansas generally is greatest in the four growing months—April, May, June, and
July—more than half the year's precipitation taking place in those months. The
quantity falling is less, however, in western than eastern Kansas. Rain records have
Inot been kept for any length of time in this region with any regularity, but seven
years at Fort Wallace, in the extreme west, before any settlement of that or the neigh-
hºnties (1875–1881), shows an average annual rain-fall of very slightly under
1D Cl62S.
Five stations in Saline, Ellsworth, and Russell Counties give an average in 1887 of
25 inches. It would appear that the annual rain-fall is not too small to support veg-
etation or make prosperous the operations of the farmer, for good crops have been
raised in the counties of Norton, Decatur, Rawlins, Cheyenne, Sherman, and others of
the extremely westerly counties, as well as farther east, when it can not be said that
there was exceptionally large rain-fall. But there is a defect in the rain-fall that
seems to be climatic, and which, if it be moderated in the future, will only be so very
slowly. There is in many western counties a spell of dry weather of two to four weeks
in duration in July. . This results often in damage to the corn crop. Wheat may have
been harvested in fair quantity before this, and green crops, turnips, millet, sorghum,
will do well from rains in August. If this fact be recognized, and corn of rapid ma-
turity be planted very early or very late, this damaging time may possibly be defied.
Good farming and persistent breaking of prairie, planting of trees, may gradually
improve the hot season, but the present generation can scarcely hope to benefit by
it ; but by going around the difficulty and putting to best use “the early and latter
rains” they may not suffer so much as by simply farming on methods that were good
in the rainy East or South.
234 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Winds.—The prevalent winds of the region are north and south, south predominat-
ing largely. On the high plains of the more western parts there are, however, more
variations to east and west than in eastern Kansas. The winds blow most of the
time. There are few quiet days. The breezes make bearable the heats of summer.
There are, however, two winds in western Kansas that are unpleasant and damaging
or dangerous. Fortunately they are never long continued. The first is the blizzard .
of winter, rarely felt before Christmas, never after the end of March. It is unusual
to have more than one or two in the season, and they do not last more than forty-
eight hours. They are the mere fringes of the snow-storms which in the States and
Territories farther north are so terrible. The other wind which is never welcome is
the hot wind of Summer, coming mostly from the south. It is this wind that is usually
held more responsible for damaged crops than the lack of rain in July. But the two
facts coincide often, and so give the maximum of damage. It is after one or two
weeks of hot sun that the hot wind blows. It lasts one, two, or three days, and some-
times more, , Corn-fields are literally burned up; those whose cultivation is the
poorest suffering first and most, so that the poor settler whose single team is not
strong, and has therefore not done the best work, and who may be depending on a
single crop, sees his season's work wasted. The remarks made above about the choice
of crops to raise apply here as well as in view of rain-fall. There has long been an
opinion that the hot winds came from the far south and southwestern Territories,
Settlers in western Kansas and those who have traveled much on the plains are of
the opinion now that many of them are of local origin. Two facts may be mentioned
that sustain this view: One is that sometimes the winds come straight from the
north or west and is encountered suddenly, and its origin can be seen in the intense
radiation of heat from burnt prairie, or otherwise bare earth or thinly-covered with
vegetation; secondly, the failure of crops from this cause is not universal, but in
streaks and patches. Counties as far removed from one another as Smith and Sher-
man and Scott this last season have had districts where all corn was destroyed and
others where there has been a good yield. Still there are hot winds that come on
gradually and last long enough to show that they are of distant origin and wide-
spread influence. It is fully believed that the local hot winds will be modified and
ultimately terminate by the persistent cultivation of the soil, the breaking up of the
prairie, the planting of trees. Rain-fall may not be increased, but humidity will be
more distributed through the season and the intense reflection of heat diminished.
STATEMENT OF O. ST. JOHN ON THE PHYSIOAL OONDITION OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS,
[Forwarded by the State Board of Agriculture.]
The region especially referred to comprises the counties lying South of the Arkansas
River and West of Medicine Lodge River, viz: Morton, Stevens, Seward, Meade,
Clark, Comanche, the western portion of Barbour, Kiowa, and those portions of the
counties of Ford, Finney, and Hamilton lying south of the Arkansas, including the
disorganized counties of Gray, Arapahoe, Sequoyah, Grant, Kearney, and Stanton,
embracing an area of about 10,000 square miles, or 6,400,000 acres, wholly comprised
in the Arkansas drainage System. - 1 &
The Arkansas, which forms the northern boundary of the district, has a general
course a little south of east from the point where it enters the State, in Hamilton
County, some 70 miles north of the southwest corner, for a distance of 132 miles, to
the eastern border of Ford County. Here it is deflected to a northeasterly course,
forming the great bend, which embraces the almost as extensive, fertile, and popu-
lous region comprised in the counties of Stafford, Pratt, Kingman, Harper, Sumner,
and portions of Sedgwick, Reno, Rice, Barton, Pawnee, and Edwards, lying to the
east of the present district. & &
The Arkansas, along this part of its course, receives very few affluents on either
bank, and none of these are of considerable size, save Bear Creek, which rises to the
west of the State line and drains an important fertile area within the limits of Ham-
ilton county. Many of these affluents, before reaching the river, sink in the loose
soil that composes its broad bottom plain, and Bear Creek on entering the belt of
sand hills that borders the south side of the valley, ends in a deep basin or sink,
whence its waters percolate by underground channels to the main stream. Few of
these streams afford permanent supply of water, and during the greater part of the
year, except here and there the presence of water-holes, their beds are marked by a
ribbon of sand. The Mulberry, in Ford County, is the next largest stream on the
south side of the river. None of these streams to-day have any timber, except a few
scattering trees along the courses of some of the north-side affluents in Hamilton
County. Indeed, along the banks of the Arkansas only a slender belt of cottonwoods
is seen in the same quarter. e & g
The greater part of the district is watered by the Cimarron, which enters the State
near the southwest corner in Morton County. Flowing northeasterly a distance of
f RIVERS AND WELLS IN souTHWESTERN KANSAs. 235
about 60 miles to the southwest portion oi Finney County (or the southeast part of
Grant County), it swerves to the southeast, crossing Seward County, diagonally, and
enters Indian Territory near the middle of Meade County, whence it flows easterly
some 30 miles, just south of the State line, to the middle of Clark County. At the
latter point the stream bends to the north, flows through the Southeast portion of
Clark, and finally leaves the State in the southwest part of Comanche County. The
great bend to the west embraces nearly the whole of Stevens County, a gently
undulating plateau traversed by no considerable drainage channels. Indeed, all
the principal affluents of the Cimarron within the limits of the State gain the stream
upon its north bank. In the west the North Fork and its tributaries drain the south-
ern and northern portions of Hamilton and Morton counties, gaining the main stream
in the southeast part of Finney (near the southeast corner of the disorganized county
of Grant. In the middle section Crooked Creek drains a large area, including Meade
and the southeastern and southwestern portions of Finney and Ford Counties. In
the eastern section Six-Mile, Big Sand, Bear, Day, Bluff, and Cavalry Creeks and their
numerous affluents drain Clark and the western portion of Comanche, to the east of
which the drainage flows to the Medicine Lodge and South Fork of the Arkansas.
The Cimarron rises far to the west in the region of the eastern plateau extension
of the Raton Hills, in northeastern New Mexico, where indeed its volume is much
greater than it is along that part of its course within the bounds of Kansas. It is
here a small brook only a few yards wide, and in places during a portion of the year
its waters are lost in the sandy bed. In early summer its low banks are sometimes
overflowed. The above-mentioned affluents mostly afford pools the year round, and
like the larger stream they are subject to overflow from the heavy local rains that
occur during the summer months. In the past these pools were the resort of the
herds that pastured the adjacent plains, and the Cimarron Valley was, until recently,
entirely occupied by stock ranches and thousands of cattle. The recent immigra-
tion of agricultural communities has changed all that, and to-day the valleys and
plains are dotted with every description of domicile from the “dug-out” and sod-
house to plank and stone dwellings, and the uncultivated prairie is everywhere cov-
ered with smaller herds and flocks, which are furnished abundance of pure water
from wells.
As was surmised from the results of the few experimental tests made prior to 1884,
abundant supply of good water may be obtained in wells almost everywhere in the
region here referred to. The subterranean sources that supply the wells are encoun-
tered at variable depths, ranging from a few feet to above 300 feet. The water
stratum apparently forms a shallow basin, the center of which lies in the southern
portion of Finney County, where at present are found the deepest wells. The almost
absolute assurance of reaching water by digging or boring certainly greatly lessens
the hardships of the necessary expense in seeking water by this means. The pleas-
ant custom often followed by some of the settlers of locating their dwellings on ad-
jacent corners of quarter-section tracts, forming snug little hamlets, makes it possible
to reduce the cost of a deep well to the individual by making one excavation supply
the needs of four families. The reported failures to reach water are very few, and
over far the larger part of the area the average depth will probably fall short of 100
feet. In no instance does the water in these wells rise to the surface, and generally
it stands only a few feet above the point of inflow.
The water of the Cimarron is slightly brackish along the lower portion of its course
in the State, as is also that of Salt Fork, but this in no respect injures it for stock
purposes. Beyond the limits of the State the former stream expands into wide shal-
low flats, which receive annual deposits of salt from the evaporation of the overflows,
which it is said have accumulated in places to the depth of a couple of feet, and
where the natural product may be shoveled up by wagon-loads. All the tributary
streams afford good water, some derived from springs, which, though not of very
frequent occurrence, are met with at various points. Spring Creek, a west-side trib-
utary of Crooked Creek, in the southwest portion of Meade County, is supplied with
a clear flowing current from numerous springs along its upper course. At Evans-
ville, in the southeast corner of Comanche County, a copious spring issues from the
tertiary gravels on the borders of a pretty little valley tributary to Indian Creek, at
the Comanche Cattle Pool’s Ranch. And elsewhere in the district springs appear in
the valley sides or are recovered by means of shallow excavations.
The shallow depressions characteristic of the gently undulating uplands that so
widely prevail in this southwest region very generally form receptacles for the
accumulation of the surface drainage of more or less considerable areas, which for a
part of the year at least are converted into shallow ponds, and the remainder of
the season appear as Vegas of dark green herbage. Even the larger of these basins,
like Deep Basin and Wild Horse Lake, in the southeast and northwest portions of
Finney and Meade Counties, which when filled to the brim by the rains of the early
season are very pretty little bodies of water, are known to become dry during the
236 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION, OF ARID LANDS.
fall and winter months. There are other pools and sinks, like that in the course of
Bear Creek, which is said to be a deep funnel-shaped basin formed in the loose soil
of the sand hills, affording a perennial supply of water. In the valleys of the Cim-
arron and Some of its tributaries small alkali basins are met with, but these comprise
areas of inconsiderable extent, and are indicated by the usual efflorescence emanat-
ing from the soil composing their margins and beds. Some of these pools are very
§ features in the valley landscape, like those in the north tributary valley of the
orth Fork of the Cimarron above Ulysses, which are frequented by a variety of
Water fowls in the spring and autumn months.
* * * +& * * 4.
Far the greater part of the district comprises a gently undulating prairie, with
a moderate southeasterly declivity in the direction of the drainage courses which
furrow the surface. While the altitude ranges between 1,500 and 3,300 feet, culmi-
nating in the upland summit between the Cimarron and the Arkansas on the west-
ern border of the State, the relative elevation of the uplands above the stream levels
rarely exceeds 200 feet, The Arkansas occupies a broad shallow valley compris-
ing an immense area of level bottom-land, usually presenting two low benches, the
narrower of which forms the present flood-plain along the margin of the stream,
and which affords valuable meadows. The stream itself presents a very uniform
appearance—a broad Sandy bed threaded by shallow channels, and bearing grassy
islets, and confined within low earth-banks. In places the bars are composed of
gravel; elsewhere treacherous quicksands prevail. The melting of the snow in the
mountains about the sources of the Arkansas fills its banks brimfnl of turbid, sedi-
ment-laden water in early summer, when the volume of the stream is at its greatest.
The bordering uplands present some variety of grassy declivity, generally long, gen-
tle slopes, retreating in the vicinity of tributary valleys, where the bottom-lands
present magnificent expanses of level plain, elsewhere approaching the stream in
low bluff declivities broken by rocky ledges. To the west the bluffs become some-
what more abrupt, showing one or more limestone terraces.
While the foregoing features are met with along the north side, quite different
appearances obtain on the south side of the valley throughout the course in the dis-
trict. This is due to the presence of sand, which, in the course of comparatively
recent times, has accumulated to such extent as to form a nearly uninterrupted belt
of sand hills of variable width, 1 to 10 miles, along the south border of the valley,
and presenting marked contrast to the soil-mantled slopes of the opposite side.
The surface of the sand-hills belt exhibits the uneven contour of downs, and that
their origin is attributable to the action of winds as the transporting agent, seems
highly probable. Although their surface is to-day clothed with a more or less dense
growth of herbage, a sort of rank, brown-topped bunch-grass being the character-
istic prevalent variety, in places still exist patches of loose, bare sand, where the
tireless action of the winds may be witnessed under conditions identical with those
encountered along the sea-board. The surface rises into irregular hillocks, with
intervening and often quite deep basin-like depressions, having no connection with
the infrequent drainage channels that traverse the belt, and south of Garden City
they culminate in elevations at least 100 feet above the Arkansas. From these ele-
vated points the contour of the sand hills may be best observed, presenting an irreg-
ular, rolling belt, strongly contrasting to the gentler undulating, smooth, buffalo-
grass-carpeted plains to the south, as also the north-side uplands. Many of the basin-
like depressions in the sand hills are based upon a firm, brown soil in no way dis-
tinguishable from that prevailing in the adjacent prairie surface, and like it also
in being covered by a mat of buffalo-grass. The occurrence of these remnants fur-
nish additional evidence bearing on the inference respecting the comparatively mod-
ern formations of the sand hills, and their probable encroachment, through the
agency of the winds upon the earlier formed prairie surfaces that once swept down
in gentle slopes from the upland levels into the valley.
The sand hills, though unfit for agriculture, are by no means barren wastes. They
are more or less densely clothed with a variety of grasses which afford fair pastur-
age, and abundance of water doubtless may be obtained by means of wells. The
belt varies in width from 3 or 4 miles at the State line to about 10 miles at a
point south of Lakin, to the east of which it as gradually diminishes in width until
in the vicinity of the Mulberry it forms but a narrow belt. East of the Mulberry it
again increases in magnitude, a wide arm drifting from the bend in the Arkansas
between Dodge City and Kinsley, in an easterly direction across the northern tier of
townships in Kiowa County. Å gently undulating plain stretching east and west
from Wendal in Edwards County, intervenes between the south range of sand hills
and the narrower belt bordering the Arkansas, between which latter and the river
occurs a wide and exceedingly fertile valley plain upon which are located many fine
**-*
THE SAND HILLS REGION AND THE CIMARRON RIVER, 237 .
farms. Water is obtained at moderate depths in wells, as is also the case in the
sand-hills belts in this quarter. a
South of the sand hills stretches the great upland plain that extends over to the
Cimarron. Its surface features present a more or less gently undulating contour,
marked by broad, low elevations and intervening wide levels. A remarkable uni-
formity in the character of the soil obtains over the greater part of the area, con-
sisting of a slight brown, fine loam, possessing the constituents of fertility, and
tractable under cultivation. Bordered on the south by the Cimarron, along which
the upland breaks in more or less abrupt declivities, it is traversed by many valley
depressions occupied by tributary streams, and which exhibit a variety of appear-
ances. In the northwestern section a considerable area is tributary to Bear Creek,
which opens out into a wide shallow valley, bordered by comparatively moderate
grassy slopes; farther west the valley narrows, and the stream is excavated in the
Cretaceous sandstones that often outcrop in the low bluffledges. The stream itself is
deeply eroded into the soil, and for a portion of the year its course is marked by a
dry, Sandy bed.
South of Bear Creek the drainage of North Fork of the Cimarron has fashioned
similar valleys, separated by low, sometimes gravelly, ridges, and showing at inter-
vals low bluffs along their courses. The lower course of the North Fork is hemmed
by steeper upland slopes, rising in benches, and the bottom-land is somewhat sandy.
The stream flows between steep, grassy banks, and even its bed is often grassed over
like the meadow Swales along its margin. South of the Ulysses the upland on the
south rises about 100 feet above the valley, the south-side brink commanding a fine
view of the Cimarron Valley. This upland flat extends far to the southwest between
the parallel courses of the main and lesser streams, averaging about 5 miles wide, and
generally occupied by recently commenced farm improvements.
Water, which is not abundant the year round in the streams, is reached in wells
at various depths in the region here referred to. In the upland between the Cimar-
ron and the North Fork, wells reach depths of from 50 to 170 feet, as in the vicinity
of Taloga and Frisco, and at Richfield 50 feet. To the north of the latter place in the
uplands south of Bear Creek, the depth varies from 100 to 170 feet; the latter depth
was reached at Johnson City. To the north, in the valley of Bear Creek, the depth
diminishes to 60 feet, as also to the east in the vicinity of Shockyville and Surprise,
where water is obtained at 35 to 75 feet. But in the uplands north of the latter val-
ley the depth reaches 170 feet. º
The Cimarron, throughout its course within the limits of the State, occupies a
well-defined valley, and is bordered by low meadow intervales, sandy and gravelly
benches, and grassy upland slopes, which rarely reveal the nature of the strata in
which the valley is excavated. Along the upper portion of its course, in Stevens and
Morton Counties, the border slopes attain elevations of 75 to 125 feet. The higher
acclivities occur along the north side of the valley, and present, as seen from above,
a range of quite abrupt bluffs running out into high rocky points dominating the
valley, as at Point of Rocks, a few miles east of the State line. The valley gradually
deepens to the east, and below the confluence of the North Fork the border slopes
attain an elevation upwards of 200 feet, exhibiting interesting effects of weather
action on the soft variegated strata composing the bluffs. The lower course of the
river within the State flows through a wider, shallower valley plain, which, in Clark
County, is occupied by belts of low sand-downs, and hemmed by gentle acclivities,
broken here and there by low rocky bluffs, like the gypsum bluffs on the borders of
Clark and Comanche Counties.
The considerable area embraced in the great bend and lying between the Cimarron
and the State line on the South, comprises an undulating upland, the surface fea-
tures of which are very similar to those met with to the north. This area includes '
Stevens and the southeastern and Southwestern half of Morton and Seward counties
respectively. The surface drainage is performed by shallow draws, which, on the
eastern and more abrupt border, debouched into deeply-eroded ravines, which score
the edge of the upland on that side. This plain gradually rises from the edge
of the Cimarron Valley southward, culminating on the southern border of the State,
where it is loaded, with heavy accumulations of sand, forming characteristic low,
irregular, hills. This sand-hills belt is apparently similar in origin, as it is also in
position, to that traversing the northern townships of Kiowa County on the Arkansas,
previously mentioned, or an offshoot from the sand-hills at the west end of the great
bend of the Cimarron. The plain is hemmed on the north by sand-hills which form
a nearly uninterrupted belt, 1 to 3 or 4 miles wide, following the south side of the
Cimarron Valley, presenting the same characteristic features as elsewhere ascribed
to the sand-belts, their rolling conformation of surface, old prairie basis, and mantle
of herbage with which they are clothed. But in the latter section, the drifting of
the sand has extended the area of the Sandy loam soil, which forms a wide, outlying
belt flanking the sand-hills, and encroaching on the fine loam lands characteristić
of the original prairie Surface, as met with in the central portion of the area. This
*
*. “.
238 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Sandy loam, characterized by strips of blue-stem and bunch-grass, interspersed with
patches of buffalo-grass, is fertile, and capable of growing excellent crops, as the
past season's experience affords ample proof. Twenty to thirty bushels of sod-corn
per acre were produced on this soil, besides other cereal crops and vegetables, and the
various sorts of native and fruit trees thrive as well in these situations as upon the
ordinary prairie soil. Water collects in shallow pools, affording temporary supply
for stoek, and excellent and abundant supply is obtained in wells at depths of 75 to
130 feet. At Hugoton, near the center of this area, water was reached at 80 feet; to
the east and west the depth of wells increases.
Isolated and considerable areas of sand also occur on the east side of the Cimarron,
along the edge of the uplands bordering the valley. In the latter quarter similar
modifications in the original character of the upland soil, due to the encroachment
of sand upon the adjacent prairie surface, are met with, as have been already noted,
on the south side of the valley. These sand-hill areas continue eastward past the
confluence of Crooked Creek, to Big Sand Creek, in Clark County, beyond which
they occur in low hillocks occupying the widened valley plain.
A large part of the upland plain lying to the northeast of the Cimarron, embrac-
ing the northeast portion of Seward, the southern portion of Finney (or the old
county of Arapahoe), and nearly the whole of Meade County, belongs to Crooked
Creek drainage. The western portion of this area presents a gently undulating
surface, with a light-brown, fine loam soil, and clothed with a luxuriant growth of
buffalo-grass. The sources of Crooked Creek furrow the surface with shallow draws,
with grassy beds, and pools of water. Within Meade County the valley gradually
deepens, with gradual border slopes, and occasional groves above the north bend.
The Arkansas-Cimarron watershed is here crowded far to the north—the summit
lying less than 12 miles south of the former stream, and presenting a broad, low,
undulating upland, scarcely more conspicuous than that separating the Mulberry
from the Arkansas, which, southwest of Dodge City, scarcely exceeds 175 feet above
the latter stream. In the region of the great bend the valley forms a broad vale,
from which the surface gradually rises into the general upland plains on the east
and west, in the midst of which are situated the villages of Wilburn, Pearlette, and
Fowler. The stream here shows reaches of water between low, grassy banks, and
margined by meadow intervales. To the south the valley becomes deeper and the
border slopes steeper, with occasional exposures of rock. Below Meade Center, in
the vicinity of Odee, the borders become quite abrupt, rising 150 feet above the
stream, and cut by deep ravines. Several pretty little spring-fed streams here de-
scend the west slope, their valleys widening on approaching the main valley, with
extensive meadows of blue-stem. Along the lower course of the stream its waters
sink in the sands composing its bed.
In the high prairies of the southern part of Finney County, water is obtained in
wells at depths ranging from 65 to 336 feet. The greatest depth of the water-bear-
ing stratum is found at Santa Fé, about midway between the Arkansas and the
Cimarron, the average depth of wells in the region being about 160 feet. To the
east, in the slopes occupying the great bend of Crooked Creek, water is reached at
depths of 30 to 50 feet.
East of Crooked Creek a similar undulating upland forms the dividing ridge be-
tween that stream and numerous smaller affluents flowing Southeasterly to the Cim-
arron, and curving round to the northeast, it merges into the high prairie of the
main watershed that extends eastward along the northern border of Clark and
Comanche Counties, East of Meade Center the summit reaches an elevation of about
100 feet above Crooked Creek. To the east the surface descends in a succession of
broad, low undulations, gradually becoming more and more broken as the water-
courses deepen their channels. The sources of Big Sand, Bear, and Bluff Creeks, in
the northwest portion of Clark County, score the upland with deep ravines, givin
the declivities a rugged character strongly contrasting with the tamer topographica
features prevalent to the west. However, the lower courses of these streams flow
through broad valleys, separated by undulating low uplands based upon the gypsifer-
ous red-beds, which impart to the warm loam soil its peculiar color. The aspect of
that arm of the highlands separating the Big Sand and Bear Creek drainage from
Bluff Creek is peculiarly broken, showing high, dome-like hills, mesas, and headlands,
commanding a most instructive view of their deeply eroded banks, the lowlands of
the Cimarron and the upland heights far to the south beyond the limits of the State.
Except the more broken belt at the sources of the streams, and which afford good
pasturage, and the sandy intervales bordering some of the streams, the region, pos-
sesses fertile soil, and is well adapted to agriculture. In the lowlands the soil is a
warm, reddish loam, while in the highlands a light-brown fine loam occurs, identical
with that prevalent in the region to the west. In the latter quarter water is found
in wells at depths of 75 to 125 feet east of Meade Center, and at Letitia, in Clark
County, 109 feet; in the lowland section, wells vary from 20 to 75 feet in depth,
Bluff Creek, the easternmost important tributary of the Cimarron within the State,
---. º
REGIONAL CHARACTERISTICs souTH OF ARKANSAs. 239
drains an area of over 500 square miles, in Clark and Comanche Counties. The main
stream, as also its principal affluents, Kiowa and Cavalry Creeks, rises in the great
divide, the first few miles of its course being bordered by gentle upland slopes. As the
stream deepens its bed in its southeasterly course through the northeast part of Clark
County, it is confined between steep bluffs, and lower down in the vicinity of Lexing-
ton, the valleys widen, with long intervening slopes between the intervale and the
upland heights. Below the confluence of Kiowa Creek, whose sources have similarly
scored the southern flank of the divide, it presents a broad valley expanse, occupied
by low, gently-undulating bench-lands, offering inviting agricultural locations, and
finally merges with the more or less sandy plain bordering the Cimarron, in the south-
west corner of Comanche County. The wide west-side slopes, after leaving the high-
lands, are composed of a reddish-brown soil, which also occurs in the low uplands be-
tween Bluff, Day, and Bear creeks. The east slopes are more sandy, and the summit
traversing the central portion of Comanche County, and forming the watershed in
which the Nescatunga, or Salt Fork, of the Arkansas rises, bears a belt of low grassy
sand-hills lying between Coldwater and Nescatunga. Cavalry Creek is bordered by
moderate upland slopes, which along the lower portion of the valley terminate above
in a line of low bluffs which form the western rim of the broad shallow flats about the
sources of Salt Fork. The ridge reaches an elevation of about 225 feet above Bluff
Creek, and is an interesting geological feature, being based upon the gypsiferous red-
beds, and crowned by a remnant of the lower Cretaceous.
The Salt Fork of the Arkansas, and its numerous affluents, perform the drainage of
the central and eastern portion of Comanche County, and the Southwest portion of
Barber County. The main stream, which rises in the upland flats east of Cavalry
Creek, flows easterly along the north border of the southern tier of full townships to
near the east line of Comanche County, and thence Southeasterly beyond the limits
of the State. The upper course is merely a deeply-eroded draw, traversing the shallow,
basin-like plain known as “Koller Flats;” but below Avilla, a few miles, the stream
is bordered by intervales and hemmed by bluffs, which gradually become higher, de-
scending the stream to the eastward, and in the vicinity of Evansville the south side
presents buttes and lines of precipitous bluffs, with a heavy coping of light-gray gyps.
sum, resting upon red-beds. . Several affluents gain the stream upon both banks,
those to the south deeply scoring the north declivity of the highlands extending east
from the Cimarron along the State line. ... The north-side upland is also drained by
several tributaries which occupy pretty little valleys. The most important of the
latter is Mule Creek, which drains the northeast portion of Comanche County and
the western border of Barber County. Throughout the greater part of its course it
occupies a well-defined valley, the Sandy flats bordered by sloping benches that rise
into the steeper declivities of the neighboring uplands 150 feet or more above the
stream. Like the other tributaries, the stream is a clear, rapid, shallow current, its
tortuous course lined with trees, indicating the rapid declivity of the stream-bed.
The whole region above alluded to is clothed with a luxuriant growth of native herb-
age, the uplands occupied by the nutritious buffalo grass, and the valleys with blue-
stem meadows, affording abundance of hay. The undulating uplands here present a
reater variety of soils, due to the diversity in character of the subjacent geological
formations from which they are derived. With the exception of the sandy intervales
bordering the water-courses, and the arm of sand reaching eastward from Cavalry
Creek valley, the general character of the soil is a warm, fineloam, in places gravelly,
and generally fertile.
The uplands east of Mule Creek, in the western portion of Barber County, present.
a much more rolling surface. The drainge channels are deeply eroded into the pecu-
liar red deposits prevalent in that quarter, and certain sections present quite broken
and even rugged surface features. Yet, even here, the narrow summits of the ridges
separating the streams often expand into undulating areas, affording favorable loca-
tions for farms, as is the case in the upland between the Cimarron drainage and that
flowing north into the Medicine Lodge. The latter stream, a clear, rapid brook,
winding between low banks over a sand and gravelly bed, here occupies a beautiful
valley, hemmed on the south by precipitous red bluffs, capped by a heavy ledge of
gypsum, which form the edge of the broken uplands which rise into heights 200 feet
or more above the stream. The space between the foot of the bluffs and the stream
is occupied by a sloping bench, from which the red escarpment rises to a height of
about 150 feet above the Valley. The slope on the north side more gradually rises into
the great divide, and is unbroken by conspicuous bluff escarpments. Toward its Sources,
in the southern part of Kiowa County, the stream flows in a broad, shallow Valley,
from which the surface gently rises into the neighboring upland summits. Indeed,
Kiowa County presents a remarkably uniform undulating surface, except the south.
ern tier of townships, in which the south-flowing streams take their rise, the erosion
of their beds having produced a more rolling surface contour.
240 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
*
STATEMENT OF MARTIN ALLEN, OF HAYS OITY, ON HOW TO INOREASE AND PRE-
4. SERTVE THE WATER SUPPLY.
}
Suppose the prospector to be where the surface is reasonably level, and the depth
to the water level be 60 feet, and shale is found at one-half this distance. Abandon
that prospect at once and try, say, 100 feet therefrom, and if the shale is here found
at 46 feet deep, go another hundred feet in the same direction and he will have a
reasonably sure thing of getting water at 60 feet and above the shale. With this
System of prospecting and its various, modifications, adapted as they may be to
each particular case, good sweet water can very genérally be obtained in central
Kansas by digging or boring for it. In some places, however, there are high, smooth.
localities with the best of soil, where the water is very deep, and other places where
the shale is more persistent, and still others where the natural water is not good. In
all such cases there is one simple and efficient remedy, that of putting in one or more
cisterns, as may be needed. These may be an excavation in the ground, walled on
the sides (which may be either square or circular), and well cemented, being cow-
ered by an arch or other suitable device. They should be so located that the water can
be led into them by a furrow or other device, when such cistern can be very readily
filled each winter or spring from the melting snow led from a drift, that can always
be depended upon for a supply as sure as the snow falls and the wind blows, by
using a fence, a row or two of trees, corn or sorghum stalks, or even weeds, to stop
the fullest fury of the winds and snow with it. In this way there need be no failure
to obtain at reasonable cost an ample supply for household use of the best of
water. If it be not clean or clear enough, a simple brick wall through the center of
the cistern—filling it from one side and using from the other—will cure the difficulty."
If the cistern is shallow, as it should be for ease in drawing water, and it becomes
too warm for drinking, an occasional hundred pounds of ice dropped in during sum-
mer will cure this trouble.
In my first knowledge of central Kansas it had scarcely a furrow plowed in its
surface, and the one rule most arbitrarily enforced was the annual burning off of the
grass. Sometimes this was begun as early as July or August. This grass was very
short, with none of the tall sorts, or any weeds. The earth itself was very hard and
compact, much like a field used to corral a large herd of stock in a wet time. It
turned water almost equal to a shingle roof. These were years of extreme floods,
and practically without the “dews of heaven.” Since, however, we have a few plowed
fields as reservoirs to hold water, and have put an end to the wholesale burning of
the grass; the vacant land is much heavier coated, and with a large increase in the
tall sorts. Weeds also abound wherever they can get a foothold. These all tend to
prevent the old-time flow of water into the streams and out of the country, as well
as to prevent rapid evaporation. They often gather snow drifts on level land (when
before it blew away); this melts and soaks into the ground. --
The result of all these influences were without any perceptible increase in the an-
nual rain-fall. Places that were bare only a few years ago are now well covered with
herbage; the atmosphere is more moist, trees are now succeeding that could not a
few years ago be coaxed from one year's end to another; cellars can now be dug
with a spade, or plow and scraper, when a dozen years ago the pick would have been
the only effectual tool, and the genial dews are no longer strangers to us.
Among the elements that may here be mentioned as valuable aids in the retention
and preservation of water are, plowing the soil or breaking the crust so that water
may the more readily penetrate it, which may be followed by Subsoiling or trench
plowing, so that a surplus of water at any time may the more readily sink down
deeply, where it will be held in reserve for the time of need, and not be forced from
necessity to pass rapidly over a hard' and often sloping surface toward the Sea.
Saving the natural growth of grass from being burned has from actual observa-
tion a most wonderful effect, not only in preventing the free passage of water fol-
lowing a rain-fall out into the neighboring streams, but to prevent evaporation as
well. To understand these matters in their full force, the observer must, as I have
done, both examine adjacent burned or unburned lands at time of and closely fol-
lowing a rapid rain-fall. And again, put a breaking-plow into both burned and un-
burned lands just at a time when it is getting too dry to break land with ease. . * *
May not the plowing of a single furrow in the stubborn Sod for a mile in length
over the level plain be followed with taller grass, weeds, and even the taller sun-
flower along its line # When the snow comes a drift is found to the leeward of this
line, and when it melts the water soaks into the ground; and thus is an additional
supply, for the time being at least, preserved. ... &
Again, let us, in working or making our public and private roads, do just the oppo-
site of what the people are compelled to do where the surface of the whole country is
more level and therefore moisture more abundant. Indiana and Illinois annually
spend large sums of money to get rid of their surplus moisture along their high-
GAINS IN MOISTURE BY LOOSENING THE SOIL. 241
ways; in other words, to cure their mud-holes by various devices of ditching, drain-
ing, filling, and putting in bridges, culverts, etc., All these are among what are
known as public improvements over vast areas of the Eastern and Middle States, but
deemed quite unnecessary in Kansas, especially in the central and western parts, that
are supposed to be suffering from the want of moisture.
Now ſet us in making and working all our public and private roads, whether we
need them or not, make dams wherever such roads cross over slight depressions.
These will be found very numerous—say from three to five for each mile. But for
the sake of argument let us suppose that there are only two to each mile of road and a
road on every section line: this calculation would give to the western two-thirds of
our State the enormous number of 212,800 such dams. And suppose these on an
average to each cover one-fourth of an acre, and to be an average depth of 1 foot;
the vast amount of water that can be retained by this simple method can readily be
figured out.
STATEMENT OF H. R. HILTON, OF TOPERA, ON MOISTURE ECONOMY.
One theory of general acceptance is that the loosening of the soil more freely ad-
mits the air, which gives up part of its moisture when brought in contact with the
cooler soil. This theory will be true while the soil is cooler than the atmosphero, but
when the atmosphere is cooler than the soil, which will generally be the case be-
tween midnight and morning, than the soil must, on the same principle, give up
part of its moisture to the atmosphere. In striking a balance the greater gain would
probably be with the soil, but the actual gain of the moisture obtained from this
source will not account for the benefits that frequent loosening of the soil confers
when showers are infrequent and temperature high ; and we must attribute the good
results that follow, not to the moisture robbed from the atmosphere, but rather to
that saved and economized in the earth.
The location of Kansas, between the fortieth and thirty-seventh degrees of latitude,
subjects it to high temperature in the midsummer months; and if an interval of two
or three weeks occur without rain—and this is to be expected in July and August—
then the best methods that the intelligent farmer can devise are necessary to tide the
growing crops over these trying times. The injury that would result from the ex-
posure of the corn crop—now one of our greatest staple products—to these intervals
of dry, moisture-exhausting weather, can be very much modified, if not obviated, by
knowing the capacity of the soil on the farm to receive and store water beneath the
surface, and how this water is drained away from the surface soil to various depths
in the substrata and pumped back to the surface again to supply the wants of the
growing plants. *
Of the rain-fall over a large area of the country it is estimated that less than one-
half finds its way back to the sea, more than one-half being evaporated back into the
atmosphere again. No tests have been made in Kansas to determine what percentage
of the rain-fall is drained off in our streams, but owing to the larger acreage of un-
broken primitive sod than of cultivated land, the surface drainage will naturally be
greater than in countries where the greater part of the soil not covered by native tim-
ber has been cultivated at some time in the past. Eastern Kansas, owing to larger
relative acreage cultivated, probably drains off less than half its rain-fall, while
Western Kansas drains more than half. The water drained from a deeply cultivated
field will, however, be much less than the average of the country and the amount
evaporated from it much greater. Only in instances when the rain-fall is excessive
within a given time will there be much waste by surface drainage from a well-culti-
vated field. What escapes is mainly by subdrainage. We may say, therefore, that
the rain-fall drained out of a country is, so far as the growing crop is concerned, rain-
fall wasted or lost, and the rain-fall that is held in the soil and evaporated back into
the air again is rain-fall utilized or saved.
The water in the soil not drained into the streams is evaporated at the surface or
transpired by the growing plants. By the law of capillary attraction water ascends
through the spaces between the fine particles of sand or clay, from the reservoirs be-
low. The finer the sand or particles of clay, the smaller will be the spaces between,
and the higher water will rise through these small nature-made capillary tubes. In
very porous or friable clays or coarse sand or gravel the height that water will rise by
capillary attraction is limited. The quantity of water raised in a given time de-
pends on the capillary power of the soil. . If fine and capable of raising water 20 to
25 feet, the process will be slow. If capable of raising water 10 feet, it will be much
more rapid, the quantity being gradually reduced as the height is increased.
The same law applies to the drainage of the water from the surface and storing it after
a fall of rain. The surface soil to depth cultivated takes in the water rapidly until
fully saturated. If rain continues falling faster than the subsoil will absorb it, than
the surplus must waste at the surface. The amount stored for future use is deter-
mined by the nature of the subsoil and capacity to absorb. If the capillary spaces
138 A L–WOL III 16
242 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
*
are small, drainage will be slow; if large or coarse, it will be rapid. The law that
elevates the moisture to take the place of that evaporated at the surface also draws
or Sucks the water down from the surface to the water reservoirs, or water level be-
low, after each rain. It follows the law of supply and demand, ascending or descend-
ing as the point of greatest deficiency is at the surface or at the water level.
* * #. #. * 35. •k.
A stratum of gravel within 15 to 25 feet of the surface works an injury to the grow-
ing crops in a very dry season, unless it is constantly filled with water. This also
Will be true of solid rock, or anything that tends to break the capillary connection
between the level to which the water drains and the surface.
Keeping in mind this law, let us take, for example, a corn-field in the month of
June. The ground between the corn rows has recently been cultivated and the soil
to depth cultivated is loose and finely pulverized. A thunder shower common to
that month gives an inch of rain-fall. The ground to the depth cultivated rapidly
absorbs the water until fully saturated. One-fourth to one-half of the additional
rain that falls at that time will probably waste at the surface, because the compacted
subsoil can not drink in the water as rapidly as the loosened surface soil. After the
shower the subsoil, if not impervious clay, will gradually drain the water out of the
surface soil, part of it to be drained off through springs into the streams and part of
it to be held in reserve and returned again to the surface. The effect of the heavy
thunder shower on the soil of many of our Kansas farms is to pack the soil. This
packing establishes a capillary connection between the subsoil and surface, and per-
mits the moisture to come to the surface, thus exposing it to the hot sun and air and
rapid evaporation. To prevent this great waste the capillary connection with the
surface must be broken by cultivation just as soon after the shower as the land is
sufficiently drained of surface moisture as to be worked with a cultivator. The soil
thus loosened and pulverized acts as a mulch, covering the compact soil underneath,
in which the larger roots of the corn plant are lodged.
The point of evaporation is at the surface, where in July and August the mean tem-
perature is fully as great as that of the air. The high temperature rapidly dries out
the surface soil, and would rapidly exhaust what was stored in the substrata did we
not take prompt measures to protect our reservoirs by cultivation. The moisture
rises just as far as the soil is compacted, and finds its upper limits at the roots of the
plants, where it is needed. The mulch of two or three inches of loose soil forms a cool
covering to protect it from the evaporating heat at the surface. The moisture in the
subsoil is thus saved and economized for future use.
I feel confident that the experience of many farmers will confirm the statement
that on clean ground, where the suppression of weeds does not figure, the corn that
has been cultivated as soon after every packing rain as practicable has given the best
results.
As we study this law of capillary attraction and understand the important relation
it bears to successful farming, we must be impressed with the importance of a better
knowledge of the physical properties, not only of the surface soil we cultivate, but
also of the substrata. The method of cultivation will depend on the nature of the
surface and the subsoil.
The law of capillary attraction as applied to development of the corn-plant and
the conservation of moisture can be summarized by a homely illustration.
The corn plant is the pump; the temperature is the pump-handle; the water stored
in the subsoil the well; the capillary tubes the pipe connecting pump with well;
cultivation of soil is the packing at joints of leaky pipe-stem to prevent waste. The
pump-stroke is determined by the temperature—slow in May, a little faster in June,
and a long, rapid stroke during high temperature in July, and August. If a pump
that is being worked hard fails to throw water by reason of shortage of water in the
well, its mechanical parts are injured, so when the hot days of July are at the pump-
handle and the moisture is not supplied at the plant's roots as rapidly as it is being
transpired through its leaves, then injury is wrought to the plant. The curling leaf
in the heat of the day tells us plainly that the pump-handle is working too vigor-
ously—that the supply of water in the reservoir is not equal to the draughts upon it.
The return of the corn plant to its normal condition in the cool of the night tells just
as plainly that the water supply is equal to the demand. But the corn plant can not
recuperate many times from such overdrafts and if relief does not come in shape
of a timely shower or lower temperature, the plant shows sign of distress in the “fir-
ing” of its lowee rleaves and whitening of the tassel. In a time, when the reser-
voir is low and temperature high the advantage must be with the smallest-sized
pump on the varietyof corn that exhausts the water supply slowest. tº g
The luxuriant growth of the corn plant and of every species of vegetation during
the showery months of May and June is something to which we “point with pride
as evidencing a very rich soil, and yet this great fertility that in normal seasons
shows such wonderful productiveness is a source of injury to the corn plant in dry
seasons like those of 1887 and 1888 in western Kansas. The height of the plant, thick-
EFFECTS OF THE LAW OF CAPILLARY ATTRACTION. 243
ness of stalk, and rich profusion of leaves require for sustenance an amount of moist-
ure proportioned to the size of the plant. The ranker the growth of plant the greater
its demands on the supply of water in the soil and the more quickly will the supply
be exhausted.
If it is desirable, then, to economize moisture during our rainy and growing sea-
son, to carry our unmatured crops as far into the dry months as possible before ripen-
ing them, does not this suggest deeper plowing, thus increasing the capacity of the
soil to receive and retain the-rain that falls, and prevent the waste at surface? Ex-
cept in very sandy soil, or in land where the subsoil is very porous, every field should
be “subsoiled” at least once in ten years. Subsoiling is very necessary in prairie
lands recently brought into cultivation. Our virgin prairies are ‘‘hide-bound" by
the trainping for many years of great herds of Buffalo. Plowing 6 or 8 inches does
not break through the hard upper crust and open the pores in the earth's skin. It
requires subsoiling to aid it, and this should be as deep as plow and power can do it.
Subsoiling 12 to 15 inches will increase the rainfall of Kansas by saving nearly all
that is precipitated over the land so plowed. Intelligent cultivation to conserve the
moisture, as well as prepare and supply food to the plant, will greatly increase pro-
duction.
Keeping constantly in mind the law of capillary attraction, it is easier for us to
understand what an important part the buffalo played in producing an arid climate
suited to their life and wants. The constant tramping of their feet year after year
manufactured a clay roof over the soil of the greater portion of the plains. It was
almost water-proof. The rain-fall, probably as great then as now, was rapidly car-
ried into the streams and out of the country to the sea. What little found its way
into the soil was soon evaporated because of the capillary connection with the sur-
face afforded by the trampled soil. Only the buffalo grass, with its long, slender
roots penetrating deep into the earth and capable of maintaining its existence on a
limited supply of moisture, could survive in such a hard-packed soil. This buffalo-
trodden, sun-baked soil, aided by the bleached color of the buffalo grass, reflected the
sun’s heat back into the atmosphere, producing an arid climate even in seasons when
the rain-fall, if utilized, would have been sufficient for crop production. The pioneer
settlers following close upon the retreating buffalo, or large cattle herd, had to dig
their cellars with a pick. Fifteen years later a cellar could be dug out of the un-
broken prairie on similar ground with a spade. The effect of the winter frost is to
loosen the surface soil. With no buffalo or cattle at hand to trample it firm again
and stop the threatened leaks the spring rains worked into the soil a little, soften-
ing the surface. Each succeeding winter's frost and summer's rains, when left to
work out this problem in their own way, undisturbed by wild or domestic animals—
for the pioneer settlers had but little live stock—changed the nature of the prairie
sod by making it more mellow and receptive, taking into the soil more of the rain-
fall than was possible when the prairies were under the régime of the buffalo.
A ranker growth of grass followed the mellowing of the surface and increase of
moisture in the soil. The fire-guards of the settlers; the prairie-wagon trails, and
the patches of breaking here and there, all combined to protect the grass against
prairie fires and promote the preservation of the grasses. These in turn shaded the
ground more from the Sun and retarded the drainage of the water from the surface
by holding it in check. Thus the ranker grass on unpastured and unbroken land
aids in storing the rain-fall and in preserving it when stored, so that after ten or fif-
teen years cellars can be dug with spade, where formerly the pick was used. If the
condition of the soil could be so much modified by simply “resting” the land from
wild and domestic animals, how much more benefit must follow the breaking up of
the prairie sod, which, after a few years' cultivation, opened the pores in the earth's
skin and induced a more natural, healthy action of the system.
The blue-stem grass covers more than double the area of Kansas that it did thirty
years ago. It has always followed in the wake of settlement, and rarely preceded it.
It could not find a foothold in the hard, dried-out soil of the buffalo grass. As the
ground gradually softened and increased its water absorbing and saving qualities
the blue stem increased. We find it in advance of settlement only in the sand hills
or sandy river bottoms that, owing to small per centage of clay, do not pack like the
level prairie lands. Here the rain-fall was absorbed rapidly, and the substrata seem
also to have wonderful capillary power in raising moisture from below. The blue
stem selects the most moist spot on the prairie for a beginning—first a few spears,
next season a little larger, many nuclei are started, and these grow and spread,
smothering the short buffalo by its ranker growth, till the whole surface is covered.
It is noticeable that where the blue stem has taken possession of one-half of the
ground, and is fenced off for pasture and stocked with cattle, that the buffalo grass
more than holds its own against the encroachments of its stronger neighbor; but if
a similar tract is kept as meadow and free from stock that the work of substitution
goes on and the blue stem prevails. Buffalo grass thrives and Spreads on a tramped
244 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
and compacted soil; blue stem requires the loosened and moistened soil for its best
development.
The arid climate of the plains comes more from the tramping of many feet than
from any other single cause. Entirely remove the herds and keep out the prairie
fires and the climate of the plains will be modified. I do not pretend to say that the
rain-fall will be materially increased or that it will be sufficient for all the agricult-
ural products of that latitude, but the rain-fall utilized will be largely increased, the
heat radiated from the surface will be less, the average mid-day temperature will not
be so oppressive.
The natural drainage of the soil of Kansas, like that of all the trans-Missouri
country, is superior to that east of it. The soil under deep cultivation will absorb a
very large percentage of the rain that falls—at least four-fifths. The soil of central
aud western Kansas has a more perfect natural drainage than in eastern Kansas, ex-
cepting in some of its river bottoms. An average rain-fall in central Kansas of 25
inches will be equal to 30 inches in eastern Kansas, because of its better drainage and
storing capacity and the better subsoil for raising water by capillary power, and we
#. the average production taken for ten years fully as great in central as in eastern
3,1] S&S.
Western Kansas averages less than 20 inches of rain-fall. This fully utilized may
be sufficient for special crops requiring minimum supply of moisture; but whatever
benefit, if any, that might result from deep cultivation with this rain-fall there is no
doubt that central Kansas will be the beneficiary, for this cultivation and increased
storage of the rain-fall on the frontier will temper the winds coming from the south
and west to the country lying to the north and east.
I want to make one or two points a little clearer in regard to the water not getting
up through shale. I am now talking only about the water that falls. . If the water
can not come up through the shale, it can not go down through it, and if it does go
through it can come back again. Here is a body of gravel, say 20 feet below the
surface. When it is full of water, the soil is moist. As quick as the rain falls it
goes down very rapidly; but if that dries out in the warm summer and the soil is
more or less dry all the way through, when you have rain it goes down very slowly;
it would be good drainage until you get that all moistened and full of Water again.
When there is no moisture down below, the water will not drain down, and is then
evaporated very rapidly. I forgot that point, and I want to call special attention to
it; that when the soil is moist all the way down the soil drains naturally and rap-
idly; but when it is dry and there is gravel underneath you have got to have this
full of water in order to suck it down.
STATEMENT OF ALFRED A. WOODWARD, SURGEON U. S. ARMY,
OF FORT LEAVEN WORTH.
That I believe practically the whole of what is generally known as the sage-brush
country can be brought under agriculture by a system of Wells reaching the deep
water-bearing levels, and that, speaking generally, this would be less costly and more
efficient than canals drawn from natural water-courses. But each large topographical
section must present its own engineering problem. . . -
I have no intelligent opinion to express as to the strictly Sandy deserts. I believe,
further, that the systematic cultivation of forests on the plains, and their preserva:
tion on the mountains, will materially aid in the distribution, if not in the actual
increase of the annual rain-fall. º - º
Attention is invited to the propriety of planting forests with the view of breaking
the sweep of winds, especially from the south, whose course in the summer is so fre:
quently followed by general desiccation. Such belts on a large scale, as suggested
by Col. Charles F. Adams, jr., of Massachusetts, will probably materially modify
the climate of Kansas and Nebraska in its relation to agriculture.
STATEMENT OF L. R. HARE, FIRST LIEUTENANT, SEVENTH CAV-
ALRY, U. S. ARMY, FORT RILEY.
When I first went to Dakota in 1874 it was then considered impracticable to plant
potatoes on high ground; experience since has shown the fallaº. of such an assump-
tion. The “Gumbo” grounds in the vicinity of the Black Hills produce as fine
potatoes and vegetables allied to the potatoes as, can be produced. Some of the
iands in Arizona and New Mexico are especially adapted for producing onions and
allied plants, but I know of none of these lands that would be at all useful unless water
could be supplied. - i tº º
I have not had sufficient experience in Kansas to justify a conclusive report, but I
am satisfied that through the greater number of years a “dry spell’ occurs which, if
it could be bridged over by artificial means would make a wonderful difference for
the better in the result,
SURPRISING RESULTS FOLLOWING USE OF water. 245
STATEMENT OF J. L. POWELL, SURGEON AND CAPTAIN, U. S.
ARMY, OF FORT SUPPLY, IND. T.
It has been my privilege to traverse on horseback the greater portion of the arid
belt located in the area of Texas, Indian Territory, Kansas, Colorado, Nebraska,
Wyoming, Montana, and Dakota, and I dare say there are few persons who have
been raised in the productive regions of the Atlantic or Pacific slopes, where all the
conditions of rain-fall, temperature, etc., combine, under the operation of a regular
cyclical law to give variety to the pursuits of man, who would not, at first sight,
assume that every foot of territory east of the Rocky Mountains and situated in the
area indicated would be utterly worthless for any purpose save that of grazing, and
very much of it not even for that. Such were my impressions some sixteen years
ago, upon the occasion of my first experience on the Western plains while serving as
medical officer to various commands operating against hostile Indians. Since then
I have had an opportunity of watching and noting what can be accomplished by
courage and enterprise, even in a section so forbidding as that which it is proposed
to consider, and the result bas been to cause a material modification of my views,
and to suggest to me a chain of possibilities for this Western desert, so to speak,
which I think are neither visionary nor impracticable.
Wherever agricultural or horticultural pursuits have been attempted under the least
favorable conditions the results have been more than gratifying, indeed surprising.
Every measure of success, however, has had its concomitant of failure, which, I think,
may be largely attributed to a wide-spread fallacy that prevails as regards an increas-
ing rain-fall over the Western prairies. To my mind the data do not justify an affirma-
tive conclusion on this point, and the results have been not only damaging but cruel.
To those who have fixed their homes in the valleys and near the banks of the small
streams that here and there traverse the plains, the results have not been so unsatis-
factory, and where they have been so situated as to make available for purposes of
irrigation the water supply, which though exceedingly limited and circumscribed in
extent, it has proved to be the only thing needful for the raising of every variety of
farm and garden product. As long as the climatic conditions, chiefly as respects rain-
fall, continue as they are farming and garden pursuits must be confined to the narrow
acreage of the villages, while the broad and expansive mesas will continue to produce
the tough buffalo grass without hope of reclamation, save by artificial agency, and
just so long prove to be the rock upon which the hopes and spirits of many a hardy
pioneer will be dashed in a vain endeavor to extract from their parched surface the
means of a livelihood.
From what has been said it will be readily understood that the amount of land
available as homes for the annually increasing tide of immigrants to the West, con-
stitutes but an insignificant portion of the millions of acres embraced within the ter-
ritory that was formerly termed the “Great American Desert.”
When it is considered that but one condition is necessary to bring this whole re-
gion, alike valley and plain, into a uniform adaptability to all the pursuits in which a
rural people engage, the question of means to the end is one which assumes the high-
est importance and merits the wisest and most serious consideration.
It is admitted that the soil possesses all the elements of fertility. How then shall
be supplied the other essential for successful tillage 3 What method, in the absence
of the requisite amount of rain-fall, which is the marked peculiarity of the region in
point, and by which circumstance it is so distinctly differentiated from all others,
can be thought of or suggested as a substitute for cloud precipitation ? There is but
one source from which it is possible to derive the needful moisture that must nourish
and sustain the farmer's crop, until seed time and harvest have passed, and this is to
be found on the lofty peaks of the Rocky Mountains where nature has established a
perpetual reservoir in the great Snow heaps that are there annually collected and dis-
solved away and then sweep on unimpeded and unutilized to the ocean.
By taking up a map of the United States and tracing a line from its most northern
boundary to the Gulf of Mexico and about midway between the Mississippi Valley
and the Rockies, one will be struck with the number of water-courses of various size that
will cross it as they make their way eastward, following the tread of the great water-
shed that they would be supposed to drain. Like the waters, however, that make
the Colorado and Columbia Rivers, they, too, come from the mountains and not from
the plateaus, through which they flow, for the amount of precipitation that annually
falls on the great plains east of the Rockies is too small and too infrequent to require
a channel to take it to the sea. What there is of it is quickly absorbed by the arid
soil on which it falls. It is a remarkable and striking fact, then, that while these
same plains that we are now considering are so parched and barren, on account of an
almost entire absence of rain-fall, comparatively speaking, there periodically flows
across them a Volume of water that can only be described as incalculable. The an-
nual rise and fall, uniform and at stated periods, of the Yellowstone, the Missouri,
246 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the Platte, the Arkansas, and other water-courses that have their sources in the great
mountain chain that stretches north and south across the western portion of the
United States, confirm this statement.
American enterprise, alert and ever on the lookout for a theater in which pecuniary
recompenses will be the reward of energy properly applied, has already grasped the
situation and at various points we hear of private or corporate measures being set on
foot to utilize in the reclamation of the barren lands of the West the great waste of
waters that annually runs to the sea.
Some three years or more ago, while on duty in the State of Colorado, I had an op-
portunity of becoming acquainted with a project that was inaugurated by a joint
Stock company for diverting a portion of the waters of the Arkansas River from its
proper channel, for purposes of irrigation, by means of a canal, the exact dimensions
of which I can not now recall. This canal, starting from a point well up to the foot-
hills, that loom up towards the west, so as to give it sufficient elevation as it ad-
vances eastward to distribute its supply over the plateaus that skirt the valley of the
river, has been the means of opening up and introducing to new pursuits, a great
portion of the immense acreage of that region that heretofore has been considered as
little less than a barren waste. |
I am informed that the project has been attended with signal success, and that
now on the open prairie are to be seen thriving homesteads, dotting the landscape,
and yielding to their owners, by the process of irrigation, for which they are
charged a certain rental, an ample return for their labor and investment.
I know of and have heard of other similar instances, but on a smaller scale, illus-
trating the efficacy of irrigation in regenerating the barren lands of the West. Since
commencing to formulate the thoughts that I here present, in connection with the
subject under consideration, I have come across the following extract which I clip
from a popular magazine. Speaking of irrigation in Idaho, the writer says.
“Lands that are irrigated always produce large crops regardless of the seasons or of
rains or drought; but it is not alone in regions devoid of rain that irrigation is profit-
able. It is an absolute necessity in some places, but also a great help to agriculture
everywhere. Thus what wonld seem a curse often turns out a blessing in disguse.
Idaho, where irrigation is an absolute necessity, now offers the farmer an absolute
advantage over ordinary land with the average rain-fall of the east. There is no
seed, labor, or crop lost by dry or wet seasons. The farmer in Idaho, being obliged
to resort, to irrigation, is quite independent of the weather. He can make his crop
early or late at will, and can have his land wet or dry, as suits his convenience, for
plowing, cultivation, or harvesting. Under these circumstances crops are usually of
superior quality, and therefore bring higher prices. The ditch companies are extend-
ing their operations in the vicinity of the Boise River with most gratifying results, so
that now Idaho walleys can not be excelled by any region east of California for the
production of fruit. The sage-brush lands are soon turned into fruit farms, and the
amount of fruit produced annually far exceeds that on unirrigated lands. Yet in future
the most profitable use to which the irrigated lands will be put will be the growing
of hay for winter feeding of stock, and the millions of acres of southern Idaho now
awaiting irrigation will bring great profit to their owners, as well as to the irrigating
companies who propose to carry the water to fertilize the land, which is really of fine
quality and lacks only the water to make a successful and profitable field for stock-
Ital Sllſ). Qſ.
Thus far what has been said has been chiefly to indicate the advantages that will
follow upon the introduction of a general system of irrigation in the arid region of
the West.
But there are certain conditions in connection with it, which, in view of a possible
infringement upon private and vested rights already established by long tenure and rec-
ognized under law, may require to be conserved and guarded by such measures as can
only be applied by Congressional enactment. Especially is this likely to be the case with
reference to the great arid region east of the Rocky Mountains. May it not happen
that by the diversion of the waters for irrigation, as in the manner indicated on the
Arkansas, the time may come when those who live below the points where the irri-
gating canals tap the main streams may feel the damaging effect of this wholesale
depletion? It is true this state of things is likely to be experienced only during
what is termed the dry season when the rivers are low.
During the spring thaw the volume of water flowing away from the mountain-sides
would be vastly more than enough to meet the requirements of a much denser popu-
lation than is now settled in the West. It would be well, then, to inquire into the
feasibility of devising a sytem of storage by which a portion at least of the water
that now yearly runs to waste could be held at different points along its pathway to
the sea, to be distributed for such purposes as it may be required as the summer
season progresses. 4.
I believe the suggestion is a perfectly practicable one, and that the end can be at-
tained by a series of dams, the construction of which, though beyond the pecuniary
WESTERN KANSAS FOR STOCK, NOT (GRAIN FARMING. 247
possibilities of private enterprise, would be a matter of small moment if fostered by
national aid. By the method proposed it is not unreasonable to hope and expect that
districts now far away from any living stream of considerable size may ultimately
have the benefits now possessed by more favored localities. In the possibilities of a
combined system of irrigation and water storage I believe is to be found the only
hopeful and promising outlook for the barren lands of the West.
Granting now that the argument on the lines laid down is based on the logic of
facts, there are certain theoretical questions, in connection with the subject, which
before bringing this paper to a close it may be worth while to consider. It is accepted
as true, that the primary source of all precipitation is the ocean, consequently the
heavy rain-fall that takes place on the western coast of the United States is but a re-
turn of the aqueous vapor that has been taken up by the prevailing winds from the
evaporating surface of the Pacific and conveyed over the land. But why should not
this heavy precipitation occur this side the line of the Sierra Nevada and Rocky
Mountains as well as beyond 7
The answer is to be found in the known fact that temperature decreases with ele-
vation, so that these wind and air currents in their endeavor to leap the mountain
ranges are carried up to the snow line, and being further chilled by the cold sides
of the mountain have all their moisture squeezed out of them, to be returned to the
earth in the shape of snow or rain. But suppose these air currents, laden as they are
with moisture, could escape these mountain barriers and be conveyed over the arid
region that is giving us so much concern, is it not reasonable to infer that from time
to time they would be taken by force of cyclonic aspiration and those variations in
temperature that produce aerial circulation to the higher strata of the atmosphere
where condensation would occur & The theory appears a plausible one at least, and
the suggestion brings us back to a consideration of the effect that so large an evapo-
rating surface as would be developed by the impounding plan that has been pointed
out would be wrought on the present climatic conditions that prevail. It is not un-
reasonable, I think, to assume that it would be marked, and that we might justly
hope and expect that a greater, more gentle and equable, precipitation would take
place everywhere, while those violent electrical phenomena that are the accompani-
ments of an excessively dry atmosphere would grow much less frequent in their mani-
festations.
The foregoing thoughts, rather hastily prepared, are respectfully submitted. If
they contain a single valuable suggestion in assisting the committee to a satisfactory
solution of the problem before them. I shall be glad, for I feel that to assist in pro-
moting in the least degree the development, the grandeur, and the resources of our
common country should be the pride of every American.
STATEMENT OF F. M. SHELTON, OF STATE AGRICULTURAL COL-
LEGE, MANHATTAN, KANS.
[Being those portions of a report forwarded by the college regents of an inquiry
recently made by the professor of agriculture which relate to the advisability or
otherwise of irrigation in western Kansas.]
For many years, but particularly within the last eight or ten, the question of the
settlement and agricultural occupation of the western and drier portions of the State
has engaged the earnest thought and effort not alone of those directly interested as
owners and cultivators of these lands, but of scientists, publicists, and even moral-
ists, whose interest in the theme is based on the broad ground of public good. The
efforts at the settlement of western Kansas do not make a cheerful chapter in the
history of the State. The scores of abandoned farms, with their ruined “dug-outs”
and other small improvements seen in all these recently-settled western counties all
speak of brave efforts ending in futility. It is noteworthy, however, that great and
far-reaching as the disasters of the last three years have been to the plains farmer,
there have been many exceptions to the rule of failure. Here and there in almost
every community may be found cultivators who have been reasonably successful;
farmers who have made steady if not rapid headway in freeing themselves from debt
and improving their stock and home surroundings.
From the fact that the settlement of western Kansas has progressed with various
interruptions for twenty or more years, it would séem that there must have accumu-
lated, particularly with successful farmers of this region, many valuable facts the
outgrowth of much experience, and that these facts, if brought to the attention of
inexperienced settlers, would certainly prove of great value to them. With this
thought in mind, I was instructed by the board of regents of the Kansas State Agri-
cultural College to proceed to various points in western Kansas, there to meet farmers
and others interested in the problems involved in this investigation, and ascertain
from them, as far as possible, facts for use in this report.
During the month of October I visited Ellis, Trego, and Wallace Counties, on the
248 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Union Pacific Railway, while a little later on the line of the Atchison, Topeka, and
Santa Fé, my inquiries were extended to Ford and Finney Counties. If my acquaint-
ance With plains farming had been limited to the information picked up in the course
of these few trips I should consider my qualifications for the work meager in the ex-
treme. In justice to myself, I think that I may say without risk of egotism that an
experience of sixteen years as a farmer and teacher of farming in central Kansas, and
as a lecturer before farmers' gatherings, many of which were held in the region in
Question, to say nothing of a very extensive acquaintance, personal and by corre-
Spondence, with farmers of every section of the State, and the numerous excursions
made during the past summer with the sole view of studying the condition and pros-
pects of agriculture in western Kansas, have furnished large opportunities for the
study of this subject.
The journey from the east to the west line of the State, and on to the crest of the
Rocky Mountains, is steadily one of ascent, the rate of increase in elevation increas-
ing enormously as we near the western limits of the State. Thus, at Kansas City, on
the Missouri River, the altitude above sea level is 763 feet; at Manhattan, 118 miles
West, it is 1,042 feet above sea level; at Ellis, 302 miles from the Missouri River, it is
2,135 feet in altitude; while at Monotony, a station on the Union Pacific Railway a
few miles distant from the Kansas-Colorado line, an altitude of 3,741 feet is attained.
Coincident with this change in elevation, a gradual but none the less striking varia-
tion in Scenery, climate, and the character of the soil and its productions is noticea-
ble. The soil changes in color from deep black in the east to light brown or yellow
in the West; the grasses become shorter and thinner on the ground, while timber
trees are not only much less numerous, but are scrubby, stunted, and gnarled, and
their growth is strictly limited to the immediate vicinity of water-courses. Several
counties in the extreme west are reported to have no native forest trees of any kind.
These are not mere seasonal, superficial, and temporary indications which the agri-
culturist may safely disregard ; they are fundamental facts, due to differences in
elevation or position in respect to the more elevated regions west, and to variations in
climate. They have existed since long before historical times, and are certain not to
be changed by the agency of man. The variation in rain-fall, the fact of chief im-
portance to agriculture, as progress is made west, strikingly illustrates the general
trend as well as the nature of the varying conditions above referred to. Thus, at Fort
Leavenworth, the annual rain-fall is 38 inches; at Topeka, 32; Manhattan, 30;
Salina, 29; Fort Hays, 22; Wa Keeney, 19; and Fort Wallace, 13 inches, omitting
unimportant fractions in each case.
The plain inference from these facts seems to me to be that the agriculture of west-
ern Kansas, whether practiced with or without irrigation, must differ from that which
experience has shown to be best for eastern Kansas. The grand mistake made so far
in the attempt at the settlement of western Kansas, and the cause of nine-tenths of
the failures and distress that have so repeatedly overtaken the people of that unfor-
tunate section, has been the practical assumption by them that crops and a system
of farming that have proved successful in a region having 32 inches of rain-fall could
accommodate themselves to a section which was watered with less than 20 inches of
annual rains.
Western Kansas differs from the eastern portion of the State in well nigh all essen-
tial agricultural conditions. In elevation, character of soil, rain-fall, and natural
products there is between two sides, or rather ends, of the State not merely a differ-
ence, but a radical and fundamental divergence. And these differences will be in the
future essentially what they have been in the past. Of course, seasons will vary here
as elsewhere. Occasionally, as in 1860, 1874, 1881, and 1887, the plains climate will
be carried east to the Missouri River or beyond, and, again, not unfrequently the
humidity of the eastern section will pervade the whole State and the region west-
ward even to the mountains; but this fact will remain, that what the climate of any
section in the State has been in the past twenty-five years that it will be during the
next quarter century. I speak with a fair knowledge of the literature of this sub-
ject and a considerable acquaintance with the agricultural history of our State, and
I have no hesitation in saying that there is no warrant in history or local experience
for the well nigh universal belief that “deep plowing,” “foresting,” “turning under
the buffalo grass,” building “reservoirs” will each or all ever change the agricultural
conditions which the settler of any section finds when he begins these and other im-
provements. The common notion that a change of climate will come as a result of
growing more trees and cultivated plants seems to me wholly due to false logic; vege-
tation is due to climate, and not climate to vegetation.
Except in the case of limited tracts of land flanking large streams like the Arkansas,
no general system of irrigation is possible in western Kansas. ... Water for use for this
purpose on an extended scale is wholly or in great, part wanting. . Such streams as
the Smoky Hill, the Cimarron, the Beaver, the Solomon, and their larger affluents
might furnish water for irrigation upon a small scale, but the quantity of water
available for this purpose is sure to be small during the season when it is most needed.
STORAGE OF STREAM WATERS; NOT ARTESIAN WELLS. 249
In the lower valleys, where water may be had by means of shallow wells, it would
doubtless be possible to practice irrigation upon a considerable scale by means of
powerful pumps of the Huffer pattern; but this is at present wholly a matter of spec-
ulation. The cost of such pumps and machinery, to say notling of fuel, puts the
system quite out of the reach of the average settler. Moreover, irrigation, even
where water for this purpose is ample, is almost certain not to succeed in a region
where rains are sufficient for a crop—where, in short, artificial irrigation may be sus-
pended. Artificial watering on a large scale is always expensive. To build dams
ditches, and the apparatus of irrigation, and to keep these in repair, involve a
very large investment of capital. It is unlikely that the farmer will make this large
outlay for occasional use only ; but even if the plant has been constructed, it is al-
most certain not to be in repair for immediate use at the critical time when the rains
cease to fall.
The very first thing that the farmer of western Kansas must learn is to take that
region, not for what he hopes or dreams it will be, but for what it is. We may not,
like the evolutionist, ask and obtain cycles of time in which to demonstrate a theory.
He has at his command at most a few years; and even if it were true that the culti-
vation of the soil may materially effect climate, it is most unlikely that this change
would be noticeable in the course of one brief life-time. The settler must then give
practical recognition to the fact that the climate as well as the soil of western Kansas,
whether better or worse than that of regions further east, radically differs from that
of the East. As a result, whatever efforts men may make to the contrary, there will
ultimately certainly obtain a different system of agriculture in western Kansas from
that practiced in the East. What this system will be must, in so far as details are
concerned, be largely a matter of speculation; the general plan, however, seems to
have been plainly indicated by the experience of the past few years.
Stock-raising must be the basis of plains farming. Even if grain crops for imme-
diate marketing could be safely counted on it is doubtful whether, considering the
remoteness of this section from ultimate markets, and the high price of freights,
whether the business can be made a paying one. Moreover, the farmers who have made
stock-farming their chief reliance have generally been successful. The men who
have been compelled to flee from western Kansas have almost to a man been exclu-
sive grain-raisers. The stockmen have stayed, and, as a rule, they have flourished.
The Eastern idea that a farm of 160 acres is sufficient for the maintenance of a
family must, upon the plains, outside of irrigable regions, be forever abandoned.
Where outside pasturage is not accessible the plains farmer ought not to limit his
operations to a smaller farm than 640 acres, and in most cases 1,000 acres will not be
too large. Upon such large farms the native grasses, supplemented with rye and
wheat pasturage, and sorghum and corn fodder and millet hay, will keep a herd of
cattle or flock of sheep of sufficient size to make a profit from the operations of the
farm well nigh certain.
STATEMENT OF AUSTIN P. LOWRY, OF BIRD CITY, CHEYENNE
COUNTY.
Having been a former bomesteader in this Cheyenne County, Kans., since its set-
tlement in 1885, I feel myself somewhat competent to suggest what is best to be done
by aid from the civil government to overcome, in a great measure, the effects of the
scorching rays of the snn upon our growing grain. In this county there are numer-
ous streams in which the water flows the entire year, chief of which is the south
fork of the Republican River. It enters the county about 5 miles north of the south-
west corner of the county, running diagonally to the northeast corner, near where it
forms a junction with the north fork. *
With the exception of Timber Creek, which only has a flow of some 9 miles, there
is no other running water in the county south of the Republican.
The fall of the Republican is said to be 17 feet to the mile, but I doubt if it is even
half that much. The average flow of water for the year would scarcely go over 4 feet.
The river is narrow, 150 to 200 feet wide; the valley from 1 mile to 13 miles wide; the
river very generally in the center of the valley with low banks; an abundance of rock
and sand along the south side. The difference in the rain-fall in this county is very
perceptible.
On each side of the river for some 5 to 8 miles much rain has fallen every year, and
the settlers in that line have not had a failure of crops, while those farther from the
river have lost their crops twice since 1885.
This fact surely shows the influence of the water in the river upon the atmosphere
and consequent rain-fall ; hence it is my opinion if five or more dams or reservoirs
were erected across the river bottom it would extend the rain-fall all over the county
as well as into Colorado and Nebraska.
I believe such dams should be constructed across all these running streams in west-
ern Kansas and the surplus water retained here. I have no faith in artesian wells.
250 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
We see and know what the quantity of water is which flows down these streams, and
it is our privilege to detain it, or a portion of it. The General Government should aid
the settlers, who are manfully fighting for the subjection of this great plain, and it
can not do us a greater benefit than to furnish the money to erect the dams to store
this surplus water. The settlers are all in favor of this project, and I sincerely be-
lieve it will solve the hot-wind problem in western Kansas and eastern Colorado if
Carried out.
STATEMENT OF JOHN G. STEFFEE, OF WICHITA.
ARTESIAN WELLS, RAIN-FALL, AND IRRIGATION IN SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS.
Southwestern Kansas is more than 100 miles in length and an average of over 60
miles wide, and comprises nearly 6,000 square miles, or upwards of 4,000,000 acres of
land. It is larger than the new territory of Oklahoma, and larger than the combined
area of the States of Connecticut and Rhode Island.
It will be admitted without question that the rain-fall in this section is defieient
and irregular, and that hot winds actually occur, and at those seasons when the one
is most needed and the other most ruinous in their effects.
Let us consider briefly whether the recommendations of the various methods pro-
posed for augmenting the annual precipitation and the conservation of moisture, so
often expressed and gratuitously furnished by the residents of the more favored sec-
tions of our State, can under existing conditions be put into practical operation in
southwestern Kansas. By the term southwestern Kansas is meant all that part of
the State lying west of the one hundredth meridian and south of the Arkansas River.
First, there is the current opinion, founded on scientific principles, based on sound
reasoning, and not wholly lacking in support of actual experience, that if this vast
expanse of level prairie land, reaching out to the horizon in every direction, be broken
by the plow of the husbandman and this work supplemented by stirring and pulver-
izing the deep, rich subsoil underlying the surface, the amount of moisture thus con-
served for agricultural purposes would greatly enhance the possibilities of bountjful
crops every year.
Now, if $1.50 per acre be taken as the minimum cost of breaking prairie Sod, and
an equal amount as the cost of subsoil plowing, and if this work is to be supplemented
by a thorough pulverization of the soil to the depth mentioned in the report of the
experimental station, the aggregate cost of preparing the ground for the first crop
would be not less than $5 per acre. But if we admit that the cultivation of one-
fourth of the territory, or 1,000,000 acres, would be sufficient to have a desirable
and salutary effect upon the annual precipitation and hot winds, and the crops thus
produced ample to sustain the population necessary for so great a work, even on
this basis the expenditure of labor and money for the first crop would be more than
double the assessed valuation of this entire section.
Leaving the question of cost entirely aside, when we inquire into the present facil-
ities for putting this experiment into general practice we find that they are grossly
inadequate. Probably not more than 1,000 men who own good strong teams are now
actual residents of southwestern Kansas, and with such a meager force as this it re-
quires no argument to warrant the conclusion that successful and profitable farming,
or the conservation of moisture by the process described in the report of the agricult-
ural experiment station, is wholly impracticable, and that it is impossible under ex-
isting conditions to reclaim the semi arid lands of southwestern Kansas by breaking
prairie Sod or subsoil plowing.
Referring now to the question of timber-culture, it will not be denied that the
planting and cultivation of forest trees has been to a certain degree instrumental in
conserving moisture for agricultural purposes, at least in some sections of the State.
Our national legislators doubtless had this theory in view when they passed the tim-
ber-culture act. But we are informed that not over 20 timber-culture entries have
been completed in the Garden City land district, and after examining the condition
of trees planted on a large number of timber claims we are clearly of the opinion that
very few of the entries made under the provisions of this act will ever be completed,
certainly not until there is a second influx of immigration into this section of the
State; and even though in the future the climatic conditions should be most favora-
ble to the growth of trees already planted, the influence to be exerted by this means
must necessarily be almost infinitesimal as a source of augmenting the annual pre-
cipitation. *-
}. there is another theory, to the effect that if the surplus water which falls
during the winter and spring months, also the water, produced by the melting of
snow, could be in some way impounded and retained till allowed to evaporate under
the summer sun, it would greatly increase the humidity of the atmosphere and have
a marked influence upon the rain-fall later in the season. This theory presents to
-
ARTESIAN wells, THEIR CHARACTER AND CAPACITY. 251
our mind a greater semblance of reason than the two preceeding, but as no data have
been compiled and no known experiments have been made 9, which a calculation
could be based, and although a general survey of the surface of the country seems to
disclose many locations for building dams or dikes, and thus impounding the surplus
water, yet the evaporation in this section is so great that unless some ineans can be
devised for replenishing the artificial basins thus constructed the opinion must be
that the necessary expenditure of money would hardly be compensated by the bene-
fits accruing therefrom.
Several other theories have been advanced which might be here discussed, but so
far as can be learned their demonstration will depend upon conditions almost wholly
wanting in southwestern Kansas. Hence it must be concluded that all the theories
relative to the subject of increase of the annual precipitation, the conservation of
moisture and modification of hot winds, which have heretofore obtained circulation
must for the present be discarded, for the reason that their demonstration is imprac-
ticable under existing conditions.
There are three elements then which must be combined before we shall discover the
key to the solution of the great economic problems mentioned in the first chapter, and
which not only the inhabitants of southwestern Kansas, but also every person pe:
cuniarly interested in that section of the State are anxiously awaiting a practical
demonstration. These elements are:
First. A complete study of the geological formations underlying the surface of the
country as described in the State geological survey. *
Second. The data compiled with reference to the artesian wells already existing in
this section of the State.
Third. A thorough examination of the topography of the territory described.
The first two elements are even now largely matters of public information.”
An artesian well is one in which an artifical vertical shaft is filled to overflowing
by water, which enters, it at some distance below the surface of the ground. Thé
water may spout up with force and rise higher than the surface or it may barely
reach the point at which it flows over. The conditions under which this can occur
are the same as those which govern the supply of water to the upper rooms of build-
ings in cities. The reservoir with which the water-mains are connected must be
higher than the place supplied; for the same reason the stand-pipe which takes
place of a reservoir in towns located in a level country must be higher than the tops
of the highest buildings. This is made necessary by a well-known principle in hy-
drostatics, that a fluid will not rise in an open tube higher than its source. There
are some artesian wells whose flow is due to other than hydrostatic pressure here de-
scribed, viz, to gas pressure and rock pressure, but these forces need no illustration.
In nature the channel through which the water flows is more like a sponge than the
orifice of a pipe. It is porous rock, standstone, conglomerate, gravel, sand, or lime-
stone more or less cracked or broken. The walls of the natural pipe must be im-
permeable and usually beds of clay or clay-shale serve this purpose. To get the
head of water the beds of sandstone, shale, etc., must have a dip, i. e., they must be
higher at one part than another. The best conditions are when the rock strata take
a basin formation, highest on the edge of, circular area, and a well sunk in the middle
of the basin. It is to be understood that all the waters of the land are meteoric
waters, having their origin in the rains and snows. If, then, the rain falls on porous
rock on the upturned edge of a basin, which within the basin is overlaid and under-
laid with impervious clays, a well sunk at or near the middle would be artesian.
The basin form is, however, comparatively rare in nature, but continuous dip of
rocks in one direction is by no means uncommon, so that the form of a trough is
more often found. If the relative position of porous and impervious rocks is the
same, artesian wells may be found on the slope or at the lowest point. In south-
western Kansas the general dip of the geological strata is from west to east, as is
also the slope of the surface of the country, thus widely distributing the conditions
ſo,º artesian wells. ey
brief description of the artesian Wells already existing in south (a.
will be useful. Mr. B. F. Cox, who resides on §. northeast º
township 31 south, of range 27 west, in Meade County, was the first to find artesian
water south of the Arkansas River in Kansas. This discovery was made about two
years ago, and since that time nearly one hundred wells have been sunk and are now
flowing in Meade County from 10 to 60 gallons each per minute. Nearly every farm
in the vicinity of Artesian City has one, and some farms have several. These wells
evidently derive their water supply from the Dakota formation, which, as has been
before stated, is the stratum from which the deep wells of the high prairies is sup-
plied. The water of the Wells is clear as crystal, and is used by the farmers for sup-
plying the troughs in the feed lots and pastures, also for drinking and culinary pur-
poses. Several farmers are preparing to use the water for irri gation next season.
* Prof. Robert Hay, geologist of the State board of agricul e —s
on the first topic. 2 <3 3-y griculture, furnishes a report
Y.
sº
252 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
At Richfield, the county seat of Morton County, are two artesian wells to which
the Water is supplied from a lower stratum, evidently the miocene grit, the lowest of
the Triassic series. These wells are 670 and 710 feet in depth respectively. The drill
passed entirely through the red beds, which at that point are over 400 feet in thick-
ness. The flow of the first well is over 25 gallons per minute and of the second about
10 gallons, which may be increased to 25 gallons or more by driving the casing down
to the Triassic strata. These wells are located on a ridge one-half mile west of the
genter of the town. The surface of the ground being as high as any of the surround-
ing territory, and about 75 feet higher than the site of the Morton County court-
house, situated near the center of the town, the pressure is sufficient to carry the
...in a 2-inch pipe to the top of the derrick used in drilling, which is 70 feet in
61ght.
We have, then, two sources of artesian water in southwestern Kansas. There is
another group of artesian wells at Coolidge, in Hamilton County, which yields from
30 to 100 gallons per minute each, and one at Larned, Kans., having a flow of Salt
Water of 250 gallons per minute.
Other wells are projected and one is now being put down at Johnson City which on
the 20th of December had reached a depth of 260 feet at which the water rose in the
tube 54 feet.
From these facts we may conclude that a strong flow of artesian water may be
readily obtained any where in southwestern Kansas when the drilling is properly
done and the shaft sunk below the Triassic strata.
The special aim of this statement is, however, to supply the third element in the
group mentioned, to wit, a careful investigation of the topography of southwest sec-
tion of Kansas.
A cursory survey of the surface of southwestern Kansas from almost every point of
observation presents to the view a vast expanse of level prairie unbroken by any ap-
parent elevation or depression, and reaching to the horizon in every direction. But
every person who has traveled extensively over this region has doubtless been at-
tracted by the numerous shallow depressions with which the surface is so thickly
interspersed. These depressions may be separated into three classes, and that the
classification which we shall give may be more readily understood we will in defin-
ing and describing them make use of the terms commonly employed by the inhabit-
ants of Southwestern Kansas and denominate them as buffalo wallows, prairie sinks
and draws, and will define them as follows:
A buffalo wallow is a shallow depression in the surface of the prairie, usually cir-
cular in form and from 1 to 10 rods in diameter.
A prairie sink is a shallow depression in the surface of the prairie, either of cir-
cular or irregular form and from one acre to several hundred acres in area.
A draw is a narrow, shallow depression in the surface of the prairie, from a few
feet to several rods in width, and often extending several miles in a broken and irreg-
ular line and opening into a valley or prairie sink.
Having now defined these shallow depressions, it may be proper to explain or at
least give an opinion concerning their origin, and in offering this opinion we adopt
the views of Mr. Edward Dudley, who resides near the village of Moscow, in the
eastern part of Stevens County. In addition to farming and stock-raising he has acted
as agent for the United States Wind-Mill Company and has drilled over one hundred
and fifty wells in Stevens and adjoining counties within the last two years. Mr.
Dudley now resides on a homestead on which is a prairie sink of 50 acres, by which
he camped when buffalo hunting thirty years ago. He says he has often seen buffa-
loes wallowing in these depressions when partly filled with water, and has also wit-
nessed the initiatory work in the excavation of buffalo wallows, which the buffaloes
performed by pawing with their feet and tossing with their horns the loose dirt thrown
upon the surface by prairie dogs, gophers, and other burrowing animals, and by break-
ing dawn the surface undermined by the burrows. These small depressions, after-
ward filling with water, furnished the buffalo a safe retreat from the attacks of buffalo
gnats and other insects. He has seen a herd of buffalo make sad havoc with a colony
of prairie dogs in a short time. As to the origin of prairie sinks Mr. Dudley has made
numerous experiments to determine the depth of the hard and impervious soil with
which they are covered and the strata underlying them. He finds the coating of
putty-like clay to be from 4 to 10 feet thick, and underlying this is a straturn of sand
50 to 100 feet thick, and in his opinion these depressions were originally beds of Quick-
sands into which flowed the surplus water from a much larger area, each heavy
rain having left a thin coating of silt, consisting of gypsum and clay which in course
of time became thick enough to sustain the surplus water for a much longer period or
until it evaporated under the summer sun. Some of these prairie sinks now furnish
water the entire year. They are usually covered with growth of light colored gramma
grass and on a bright day the reflection of the sun gives the prairie the appearance
of being thickly interspersed with Jakes in which the buildings and wind-mills of the
improved farms are clearly reflected.
*-
THE FILLING PROPOSED OF THE SINKS AND DRAWS. 253
In endeavoring to account for the presence of the third class of depressions or
draws we would assign the same causes that are usually given for the origin of val-
leys, i. e., the erosion caused by the flow of surplus water from the surrounding
territory. It is a noticeable fact that draws are much more numerous where the soil
is sandy and the surface covered with blue stem grass which is of recent origin. In
fact many men now residing in southwestern Kansas remember when these sections
of country were almost entirely devoid of vegetation, and similar to the sand-hills
which yet exist south of the Arkansas River. And it is quite probable that in former
times these sandy sections were frequently visited by severe rain-storms, cloud-bursts,
and water-spouts, caused by the intense heat arising from the arid soil condensing
the moisture in the rain clouds which may have caused the erosion to be much more
rapid than under ordinary precipitation.
It will require further investigation to determine even the approximate amount of
the surface of southwestern Kansas that is included by prairie sinks and draws.
Having located and secured approximate measurement of over five hundred prairie
sinks, varying from 5 to 200 acres in area, in Seward County in six days' drive; also
a large number of draws which might easily be converted into basins for holding
water at very little expense, and from observations made while driving over the
other counties of Southwestern Kansas the opinion has been reached that they con-
tain an equal number. At present it is estinated that at least one-tenth of the sur-
face of southwestern Kansas could be converted into artificial lakes, providing a suf-
ficient amount of water can be obtained with which to fill them.
And with these data, before us a theory may now be presented which if practi-
cally demonstrated, will reclaim for agricultural purposes all the so-called semi-arid
lands of Southwestern Kansas.
If by sinking artesian wells in this region a sufficient flow of water can be obtained
to fill the prairie sinks and draws, the whole of southwestern Kansas will be thickly
interspersed with a vast number of artificial lakes. The evaporation of the water
from these lakes will increase the humidity of the atmosphere, augment the annual
precipitation, and dispel these disastrous hot winds. The deceptive mirage will be
then a reality. Groves of trees will grow upon the borders of the lakes and the
whole country will be converted from a semi-arid region into one most delightful to
the eye and the finest agricnltural and grazing country on the American continent.
The pºints of merit, which may be justly claimed for this theory are numerous and
3,10 Ożllſ 62 Ill.
* admits of the employment of all those means which have heretofore been recom-
mended for the solution of these problems. If these draws and prairie sinks can be
filled with water, the amount of moisture conserved by breaking prairie sod and sub-
soil plowing will be greatly augmented. As we have before stated, groves of trees
can be successfully cultivated on the margins of these artificial lakes, and whatever
modifying influence there may be in the growth of forest trees can be readily appro-
priated. The theory of impounding and conserving the surplus water which falls in
rain and Snow is combined and brought within comprehension of those whom it is in-
tended to benefit and relieves the serious doubts as to the influence to be exerted by
large basins hundreds of miles distant. t
It is not claimed that a sufficient flow of water can be secured to irrigate by the
usual method, nor is if necessary to affirm or deny such a possibility. The aggrégate
flow of the wells in Meade County are sufficient to irrigate at least 500 acres during
the severest drought, and those at Coolidge will serve 1,000 acres. Mr. Edward Dudiº
ley has irrigated about 5 acres of ground during the past summer by the water from
two ordinary wells, and raised an abundance of garden vegetables of all kinds; and
the growth of various kinds of forest trees in a small nursery which he supplied with
Water by this means was truly marvelous. A well like that at Richfield would insure
a bountiful crop of vegetables and small fruits any ordinary season on at least 10 acres
of ground, and by conducting the surplus to a prairie sink which may be found on
nearly every quarter section, it would thus be conserved and allowed to evaporate.
Deep Wells have been sunk at Meade, Syracuse, Santa Fé, and Liberal, in which the
water does not flow over the top of the shaft. Whether these wells were properly
cased when being sunk is not determined. But in no instance does the drill record show
that the drill passed through the red beds and into the Miocene grit, as at Richfield.
While other wells like these might be the result, even when the most careful work in
sinking the shaft, yet, owing to the triumphs of inventive genius, even those difficul-
ties may be readily overcome by the use of irrigation pumps, which are available at a
much greater depth than the surface of the water in any of the wells in which a suf.
ficient rise has not been secured.
It may be claimed that if a ſlow of salt water should be obtained, as is the case in
the well at Larned, Kans, it would be injurious rather than beneficial. While un-
prepared to say that salt water would not be detrimental to the growth of vegeta-
tion if used for irrigation, yet the rank growth of vegetation noticed along the mar-
gin of the great Salt plains of the Cimarron in the Indian Territory is at least one
254 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
point in favor of the opinion that salt water would be in no way injurious if used for
irrigating purposes. Certainly no objection could be offered if the salt water be al-
lowed to evaporate from prairie sinks, for the salt thus obtained might be a source
of great profit.
In fact it is believed that this theory incorporates all the desirable features of those
heretofore advanced, and answers every objection that can be raised in opposition to
it.
In conclusion it will be proper to make some inquiries concerning the sources from
which to secure the proper financial support for the development of the scheme.
While many might be named, three only will be referred to.
First. By Congressional appropriation. In this connection we will state that al-
though we have confined this discussion to southwestern Kansas, we have done so
only for the reason that we have not yet had opportunity to extend our personal in-
vestigations over a larger area.
Many arguments might be offered to induce recognition of the claims of southwest-
ern Kansas on Congressional legislation. The United States Government has received
from the settlers of southwestern Kansas hundreds of thousands of dollars in pay-
ment for lands under pre-emption and homestead entries, of which hundreds have
been abandoned for no other reason than that the numerous failures of crops have
exhausted the means and blighted the hopes of those who came to this country in
good faith and are compelled by force of circumstances to abandon it. It may be
said that many of the pre-emption entries were made by single men and others, who
had no experience in agricultural pursuits and no intention to improve their farms
after completing their entries. While this is true it will be readily admitted that
nearly all the farms whose owners were of this class have always been, and are still,
for sale at very low prices; and, had this country been blessed with bountiful crops
these low-priced unimproved farms would have been eagerly sought after by prac-
tical farmers, and the population of the counties of southwestern Kansas, instead of
being less than one-third what it was two or three years ago, would be much greater
to-day than at any time in their history. Besides, as we have before stated, very
few of the entries made under the timber-culture act can ever be completed until
there is a marked change in the climatic conditions, and the greater part of South-
western Kansas must sooner or later revert to the use of cattlemen for grazing
purposes; and the sugar industry, which promises so much for this country, must be
greatly retarded if not eventually abandoned.
Aside from the salt industry which might be developed by sinking deep wells, ag-
riculture and stock-raising are the only resources of southwestern Kansas. No de-
mands will ever be made upon Congress for improvements of rivers or protection of
mineral products. Besides, the great West is on general principles certainly deserv-
ing of more recognition from our national legislators than it has heretofore received.
The second source to which we may look with some confidence is to a union of inter-
ests on the part of loan companies and other corporations who have invested largely
in real estate and municipal securities in this section of the State. Many of these cor-
porations already realize the necessity of prompt and united action in devising some
scheme to prevent a heavy depreciation in the value of their securities and obviate a
great loss of money on their own part and that of their patrons. From these two
source can sscarcely be hoped a sufficient sum to more than carry the Scheme over the
experimental stage and sink a few wells in each county with a view of determining the
feasibility of the plan. Before the plan can be practically demonstrated it must be
prosecuted by those directly interested in its success, which is the third source and
the one from which all great enterprises are carried out. The practical demonstration
of the theory must depend on private enterprise. g
Until the plan is carried beyond the experimental stage we would certainly dis-
courage all efforts to secure money for sinking artesian Wells at public expense—and
by this reference is made to the questionable methods employed for raising money
for public benefits which seem to be practiced to an alarming extent in all the re-
cently organized counties in Kansas. This pernicious practice of issuing County,
township, and city scrip for purposes plainly unprovided for by statute and immedi-
ately converting the obligation thus ostensibly created into a bonded debt under the
refunding act of 1879, should be stopped immediately if the municipalities would es-
cape expensive litigation in the future and private and public credit would be main-
tained. But if proper influences are brought to bear, and experiments made by those
who can afford to lose in case of failure and greatly aid in case of success, then the
great work of reclaiming the semi-arid lands of southwestern Kansas can be com-
menced with some assurance of u-jimate success.
The cost of a plant for sinking a shaft to the depth of 1,000 feet is about $4,000, and
may be used for years with very little expense for repairs. The one at Richfield cost
$2,600. And the cost of sinking the well will depend very largely on the manage-
mént of the enterprise and the experience of those having control of the Work. Up:
wards of $4,000 was expended by the city of Richfield in attempting to educate local
Pła 9 West.
.
|
§§
s
§
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IN/I_A_TEP CIET
THE KANSASWATERWORKS AND IRRIGATIONCDS CANA,"
THEDDIECITY CANALáil THES]|THINGE CANAI,
SHOWING
IRRICABLE AND GRAZING LANDS
tº
§
§
—IN THE–
s 6 || 5 || 4 || 3 || 2 | I t ARKANSAS RIVER WALLEY. §
º 7 S $9 |10|II 12 DoDGE CITY, KANSAs. #
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§ f , 3 6 §
ū-E-F-F- -
20|21 22|23 - Scale 3 Miles to 0.55 Inch. .S.
§ 29|2S 27 |26 |25 F-7- - - - - - Tºeservation ºn. -- .S
.* 32|33 ||34 |35 |36 eservation. Lines. Lines of Canals. S.
S
| ...Atange 39 West. 2S | 27 26 25 24 23 22 2I 20 I9 IS I7 Range 10 West.
Report on Irrigation.



SEEPAGE waters IN THE ARKANSAS RIVER GRAVELS. 255
talent in sinking deep wells, and without benefit. But when the enterprise was put
under exclusive control of one man who really had the interests of the city at heart,
and the machinery put into control of a man who had had experience in sinking deep
wells, not in the oil or coal regions of the east, but in western Kansas, the work was
easily and satisfactorily completed at a cost of $1,000, and a contract promptly let for
the second well for one-half that amount. ,
Let it be once demonstrated that artesian water can be found under proper man-
agement and at a reasonable cost, and private companies, fully equipped for sinking
deep wells and with employés trained to assist in the work, will Spring up. The
competition which will follow will reduce the price of sinking wells, and eventually,
at an aggregate cost much less than at present would seem available, these great
economic problems of increasing the annual precipitation, conservation of moisture,
and modification of hot winds will be practically demonstrated, and the vision of the
future as herein described will become a reality.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF JOHN G. STEFFEE.
THE UPPER ARKANSAS VALLEY “UNDERFLOW.”
Within the last ten years over 500 miles of irrigating ditches have been constructed
in the Arkansas Valley west of the one hundredth mericiian, in Kansas. These
ditches are capable of supplying water for the irrigation of more than 100,000 acres
of land in Ford, Gray, Finney, Kearney, and Hamilton Counties; but, owing to the
failure of the water supply in the Arkansas River for the last two or three years, the
ditches have not been used to their full capacity. This failure of water was caused
mainly by the paucity of snowfall in the Rocky Mountains in the winters of 1887 and
1888, and the severe droughts which have prevailed between the one hundredth merid-
ian and mountains for the last three seasons. We think the current opinion that
the numerous irrigating ditches which have been recently constructed along the A1-
kansas Valley in Čolorado exhaust the water in the river before it reachestfiefºansas
line is largely erroneous. During the summer of 1889 there was more water in the
Arkansas River at Dodge City than at Coolidge, near the State line. There was
more at Wichita than at Dodge City, and more flowing water in the channel in the
200 miles in Kansas than 1n the 200 miles west of the Colorado line.
From records kept at Dodge City during the last eighteen years, and from informa-
tion gathered from other reliable sources, we believe it is safe to depend on an abun-
dant supply of water for irrigation in the Arkansas Valley in at least seven years out
of ten. And we believe that when the snow-fall and rain-fall are sufficient to supply
the ditches in Colorado, the residents of the Arkansas Valley in this State have no
reason to fear a water famine. If these same climatic conditions are to be looked for
in the future, would it not be wise to make some provision for these three years of
drought 3 Manifestly so, if the conditions are present which will render such a pro-
vision possible. For several years past articles have appeared in the newspapers of
this State discussing various methods of utilizing the underflow of the Arkansas
River to supply the irrigating ditches with water which the river failed to furnish
during seasons of deficiency in precipitation. That the supply of water is inex-
haustible has been frequently demonstrated by pnmping water from wells located in
the valley. The two most noted experiments were made last year at the wells which
supply the water-works at Dodge City and at Garden City. These wells are 22 feet
and 19 feet in diameter, respectively, and about 20 feet deep ; the water rises to
within 4 feet of the surface of the ground. Over 1,000,000 gallons have been pumped
out of the Dodge City well in a single day without lowering the water to any ap-
preciable extent. At the Garden City well the water-works pump, with a capacity
of 600 gallons per minute, and a Huffer irrigation pump with a capacity of 500 gal-
lons per minute, were both worked to their utmost limit for a period of four hours
without lowering the water in the well. Numerous other experiments of a similar
nature have been made.
While ditch companies have been repeatedly assured that the underflow of the
Arkansas Valley might be utilized for supplying their ditches none of them had
sufficient confidence in the recommendations to warrant the necessary expenditure of
money to demonstrate its practicability until quite recently.
The South Dodge Canal Company was organized last year with a capital of $250,000.
The officers of the company are E. E. Soule, president; G. G. Gilbert, vice-president, and
J. W. Gilbert, secretary. This company has secured the right of way for 35 miles of irri-
gating ditch on the South side of the Arkansas River. Fifteen miles of the ditch have
already been completed. It will be known as the South Dodge Canal. Nearly 100,000
acres of valuable lands may be irrigated by this Canal. The ditch extends from
Howell Station, 8 miles west of Dodge City, to Ford City, a distance of about 35
miles. The original survey provides for taking water from the Arkansas River at
256 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
the south bank, opposite Howell Station. It is at the head of the South Dodge
Canal that the experiments are being conducted for securing a ſlow of water in an
open channel from a reservoir to which the water is supplied by the underflow of
the Arkansas valley.
The reservoir or head of the canal is located about 60 rods from the river bank.
At a point one and three-eighths of a mile from the head the ditch was built exactly
at grade—i.e., the bottom of the ditch is on a level with the surface of the ground, the
bank of the canal being levees about 8 feet high. Commencing at the grade
point the excavation of the upper end of the ditch was begun, due allowance being
made for the proper fall. At a distance of about half a mile the water-bearing
stratum of sand was reached, the bottom of the ditch at that point being about 4
feet below grade. After reaching this sand the soil was then stripped off to the head
of the ditch, the work all being done by teams and scrapers. The ditch at a point
2,000 feet from its head is 30 feet wide at the surface of the ground. This increases
to 60 feet at the head of the ditch. For this entire distance of 2,000 feet both sides
of the ditch are protected by sheet-piling.
The company did not expect to secure a flow of water at this stage of the excava-
tion, but contrary to their expectations the water began to accumulate and run in a
strong current down the ditch and in such a quantity that it was necessary to put in
a head-gate and cut-off at the grade point 1; miles from the head of the reservoir.
The flow extended over 8 miles, and as far as the ditch had been completed at that
time. Since the head-gate, and cut-off have been put in no water is allowed to pass
below it in the ditch, but is turned off at the side of the ditch and runs in a open
channel to the river, which at that point is about 100 yards from the ditch. The
writer measured the flow of water at the point where it falls over the river bank,
and found the stream to be 43 feet wide and 13 inches deep. It will be remembered
that this result has been obtained without any reservoir yet being constructed.
The head of the ditch, as before described will constitute the reservoir, and will be
60 feet wide at the upper end, 30 feet at the lower and 2,000 feet in length. The sand
will be excavated by a dredging-machine, which was placed in position on Saturday,
February 1.
Owing to the extreme cold weather which has prevailed during a greater part of
that month the work of excavating the reservoir progressed very slowly. Over 200
feet was completed by the 7th instant. The excavation was begun at the upper end.
Two dredging-machines are in operation, and if the weather is favorable the work
will be completed by the 25th of this month. The flow of water has increased largely,
and is now fully 2,000 gallons per minute. If the water continues to rise to the same
height at which it has been found impossible to reduce it in small wells by pumping,
the profile and survey of the ditch provides for a stream of water 5 feet in depth at
the grade point before mentioned. The managers feel confident that this supply can
be secured.
As an experiment, the work has been a complete success; the water will, and does,
flow in an open channel from the underflow of the Arkansas Valley; the channel does
not fill with sand, and manifests no disposition to do so.
The Gilbert Bros. have had the general management of the constructing of these
ditches. On the 7th the Eureka ditch, 96 miles in length, was full of water, besides
over fifty storage reservoirs of from 5 to 40 acres in area. The Dodge City Canal and
the Eureka Ditch will both be furnished with reservoirs for supplying water from the
underflow of the Arkansas River this season.
A REPORT ON A PROPOSED I’LAN FOR THE IRRIGATION OF WESTERN
RANSAS WHEN WATER FOR IBRIGATING CAN BE PROCURED FROM
THE UNDER FLOW OF GROUND WATER BY PUMPING FROM WELLS
AND DISTRIBUTING BY PIPES.”
PREPARED BY W. Twº EDDALE, C. E., OF TOPEKA.
Observation shows that there are certain districts within the arid subregion where
the rain is concentrated in certain months so as to produce a rainy season. When
this occurs during the growing period, and the temperature is not too high, less than
20 inches will suffice for “dry farming.”
In Texas, with 20 inches of rain-fall, “dry farming '' is not profitable; while in
Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska 16inches of rain-fall gives good results. The reason
for this is that in Texas the temperature is high, and the rain-fall uniformly distrib-
uted throughout the year, while in the above-named States the temperature is much
lower, and there is a well-defined rainy season giving 72 per cent. of the annual rain-
fall during the spring and summer, while Texas has but 50 per cent, during the same
time ; for which reason 15 inches in the above States will be equivalent to 20 inches
in Texas, with the further difference in their favor due to much lower temperature.
* This paper was forwarded as an “advance copy subject to revision ” by the Kan-
sas State board of agriculture.
No CAUSE FOR KANSAS ALARM FROM COLORADO USE. 257
The relative value of rain-fall for agriculture in the different localities will appear
from a comparison of the tables of rain-fall at eight selected stations in Texas, three
in western Kansas, and eight in Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Of the annual
rain-fall of these several stations, the amount that falls during the spring and summer
is as follows: In Texas, 55 per cent. ; western Kansas, 65 per cent. ; Dakota, Minne-
sota, and Nebraska, 72 per cent. ; from which it will be seen that the proportional
part of rain-fall in western Kansas during the growing season is intermediate between
that of Texas and the above-mentioned three States; and while that in western Kan-
sas is but 11 per cent. less than in the above three States, the difference in effective-
ness is much greater by reason of difference ill temperature.
In a consideration of the subject of rain-fall, it must be borne in mind that in the
so-called “Subarid" region there is a great liability for many seasons in a long series
of years to be without sufficient rain-fall to make agriculture profitable, in which
case the whole supply of water for irrigation must be procured artificially. And as
it is the certainty of results alone that will justify the investment of capital in new
interprises, it follows that in any scheme for furnishing water for irrigation estimates
ef cost must be based on being able whenever required to furnish the whole amount
of water necessary for the profitable raising of any particular crop. The disregard of
ohis rule in the projects for irrigation in western Kansas has been the cause of many
tailures.
It is claimed that 336 miles of irrigating ditches have been constructed in Kansas,
designed to irrigate 300,000 acres of land, with water procured from the Arkansas
River. The amount of water, as per estimate of the State engineer of Colorado, re-
quired for grain crops for this amount of land, when the rain-fall was 94 inches, dur-
ing the growing season would be 3,000 cubic feet per second; while the average dis-
charge of the Arkansas River at Pueblo during the months of May, June, and July,
1888, was but 2,000 feet per second, and the ordinary flow at Hutchinson in 1876 was
but 1,500 cubic feet per second, being but from 66 to 50 per cent. of the requirement.
From this it will be seen that the solution of the problem of irrigation for western
Kansas must be sought for elsewhere.
It is the universal testimony of settlers in the aforesaid region, that the soil in the
river bottoms, which is for the most part sand and gravel, is water-bearing, and that
the whole of the Arkansas River valley is underlaid with a vast sheet of water, which
can furnish unlimited, never-failing supplies of water at depths not to exceed 25
or 30 feet. The prevalent idea is that the source of this supply is the Arkansas River,
and that the completion of the immense systems of irrigating works projected and in
course of construction in Colorado will materially affect this supply. In pursuance of .
this idea, Congressional aid is being invoked to protect western Kansas from so dire
a calamity. That this alarm is causeless, and that no fears need be entertained of this
result, will appear from the following considerations: Water-works of varying ex-
tent, ranging from that of the Croton, which supplies the city of New York, to that
of a village of a few thousand inhabitants, have been and are continually being con-
Structed on the basis that in any locality, the rain-fall and physical characteristics
being known, a given number of acres of water-shed will furnish a determinable
quantity of water. This basis is always used (unless the source, being a large river
or lake, is largely in excess of the requirement), whether the water be taken from a
pond, a running stream, or where in the dryest season of the year there is little or no
Water. Thus a pond of 100 acres area, with a water-shed of 500 acres, will furnish
precisely the same quantity of water in one year as 600 acres of contiguous and
equally favorable territory where there is no pond, provided that in the jatter case
the water falling on the surface can be saved for use by means of a dam in a storage
reservoir. sº &c.
In designing storage, reservoirs of limited extent, account must be taken of the
minimum annual and minimum periodic rain-fall. It sometimes happens that the an-
nual rain-fall continues to be less than the general mean through cycles of three or
four years. Computations based on a number of selected stations of largest observa-
tion in the United States, extending throughout the whole country, give the average
annual rain-fall of the least three-years cycle, at any one of these points, as 67 per
cent. of the mean annual rain-fall at the same point, and the greatest three-years low
cycle as 97 per cent, of the mean annual rain-fall at the same point. Taking 16inches
as the mean annual rain-fall at Fort Dodge, the mean annual rain-fall of the low cycle
will be 67 per cent. of 16, equals 10 inches. Of this amount, favorably situated gath-
ering-grounds of unbroken prairie will furnish at least 60 per cent. This will give al,
depth of 6inches of water over the whole area drained for collection in a reservoir.
Taking 16 inches depth of water over the area irrigated as the requirement in addi,
tion to the proportional part of 16 inches of rain-fall, and we have 16 divided by 6,
equals 24; i. e., the water from 23 acres of drainage area will furnish sufficient wºte:
138 A L-WOL III 17
\ . - }
258 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
to irrigate one acre of land. Doubling this amount for contingencies (as evaporation
and seepage), and 5% acres will suffice for one acre. On this basis the owner of a
favorably-situated quarter-section of land can collect in a reservoir the required
amount of water to irrigate 30 acres, which will allow 15 acres for agriculture, 15 for
meadow, and 130 for grazing. The reservoir should be made deep, to prevent loss by
evaporation. Should the gathering ground be large, and owned by a number of per-
Sons, a reservoir of greater capacity might be constructed, and by purchase or ex-
change with each other, a unit of forty acres of irrigable land might be secured to
each, with diminished cost per acre.
As the prosperity of a community and nation consists in the land being divided
into a great number of well-cultivated small holdings rather than in large tracts
owned and controlled by organizations of capital, the above plan will especially apply.
When, however, there is no suitable site for a reservoir, the rain-fall from the gath-
ering-ground will run onto and be absorbed by the porous soil of the bottom lands.
ure Sand, when saturated with water, will contain from 30 to 40 per cent. of its
bulk, while gravel contains 25 per cent. The eminent scientist, Sterry Hunt, esti-
mates that one Square mile of sandstone 100 feet thick will contain, when saturated,
water sufficient to sustain a flow of one cubic foot per minute for a period of thirteen .
years. Sandy soil at a certain depth is always saturated with water, which rises,
after large accessions from rain, nearly to the surface of the ground, and falls again
during periods of drought. In a region of sand and gravel a fall of 6 feet in the ground-
water will give a discharge into the streams of from 40,000,000 to 50,000,000 cubic feet
per square mile of ground. The water so held constitutes the reserve which goes to
maintain the dry-weather flow of streams.
The water in the ground, like that in the streams, is in constant motion, although
its rate is by comparison with that of streams very slow. The quantity of water
flowing in an open channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep, with a fall of 1 foot per
mile, is about 1,000,000,000 of gallons per day. The quantity flowing through a chan-
nel of the same dimensions and fall, filled with gravel, will not exceed 600 gallons at
the same time. This extreme slowness with which the ground-water moves serves
as a regulating sluice to the ground reservoir, securing it against rapid exhaustion.
From the above it is evident that the water stored in the porous soil of the bottom
lands is the source of the water supply of the Arkansas River valley, rather than the
flowage of the river, which in fact for a portion of the year acts as a drain to the
valley rather than as a supply to the under-current. The longitudinal fall of the
ground-water in the valley in western Kansas is about 7 feet per mile. The writer
found by measurement that the fall of the ground-water from the Arkansas River to
Cow Creek, a distance of 2 miles, near Hutchinson, was 84 feet per mile. Observa-
tions made during the construction of water-works for cities show that in ordinary
sand and gravelly soil a fall of 7 feet per mile will give a rate of motion of the ground-
water of about 1 foot per hour.
The plans proposed for procuring water for irrigation from the under-ground cur-
rent, that are said to be in course of construction in the sand hills on the South side
of the river, near Fort Dodge, of excavating a large reservoir; and that proposed, of
digging an intercepting ditch, and to carry the water thus collected in open ditches
to the land to be irrigated, will require that the reservoir and intercepting ditch be
made large and very deep, for the reason that the water thus obtained must be pro-
cured from above the surface of the water in the reservoir or ditch, with a grade of 7
feet per mile of ground-water to have a rate of motion of water into the reservoir or
ditch of even so much as 1 foot per hour. The least allowable inclination of the ditch
to carry off the water with a depth of 2 feet will be 3 feet per mile, and as the water
collected will be free from silt, the loss from seepage will be very large. Add to this
the liability of the carrying ditches becoming filled with drifting sand, and it is ex-
tremely doubtful whether, in the case of works of any magnitude, the cost of construg-
tion and maintenance may not be largely in excess of pumping from Wells.
The question of the supply of any desired quantity of water for irrigation from the
underflow being assured, we will consider the subject of its procurement, etc.; in the
following order: First, the quantity of water required for irrigation, generally and
specifically; second, the manner of its procurement from the underground current;
third, the cost of plant for procurement and distribution; fourth, the results of irri:
gation and a comparison of it with “dry farming” when the rain-fall is deficient, and
also when it is ordinarily considered ample for “dry farming,” together with a com-
parison of the methods in general use of distributing the water from open ditches by
means of rills opened and closed with shovels or hoes; and of distributing pumped
water from pipes by means of hose and hydraulic monitors attached to plugs or hy-
drants. --
First. The quantity of water required for profitable agriculture depends upon the
nature of the soil, character of the crops, and the position of the district in relation
to the surrounding country, Thus in the case of a permeable soil with considerable
declivity the water deposited upon it will pass off rapidly, erhaps even before serve
EFFECTs of PLANT-TRANSPIRATION ON THE SOIL. 259
ing for the germination of the seed or the nutriment of the plant. If, however, the
soil be retentive, and the site low as compared with its surroundings, the soil may
become so saturated with water that germination and growth may be greatly impeded.
The conditions necessary for the germination of seed and the growth of plants are
moisture, air, and a certain degree of heat. In a clayey, impervious soil an excess of
water will act injuriously by reason of the absence of air and heat. . In the case
under consideration, the soil being pervious and the ground having sufficient declivity
to give surface drainage, the discharge will be large. Add to this an elevated tem-
perature, a clear sky, and dry air—in brief, a normal drought—and we have all the
conditions which require frequent and plentiful waterings. In the process of vegeta-
tion, water is the medium through which plants obtain nourishment. The water,
charged with the organic and mineral substances in a state of solution which consti-
tute the food for plants, is drawn up through the roots; these substances are assim-
ilated, and the water thrown off through the leaves. Many experiments have been
made to determine the amount of water transpired by plants. M. E. Risler, a Swiss
philosopher, has recently given a good deal of attention to this subject. He operated
both in the laboratory and by observing the flow from the drains of a field especially
arranged for such observation. He gives the daily consumption of water for different
kinds of crops as follows:
Inch.
Lucern grass------------------------------- 0.134 to 0.267
Meadow grass------------------------ * * * * * * 0. 122 0, 287
Oats--------------------------------------- 0.140 0. 193
Indian corn -------------------------------- 0. 110 1. 570
Clover------------------------------------- 1: 140
Vineyard ---------------------------------- 0.035 0.031
Wheat ------------------------------------ 0. 106 0. 110
Rye --------------------------------------- 0.091
Potatoes ----------------------------------- 0.038 0.055
Oak trees---------------------------------- 0.038 0.030
Fir trees----------------------------------- 0.020 0.043
Schlieden, at Jena, found for a mixture of clover and oats grown in earth con-
tained in an iron box which was weighed at intervals to determine the evaporation,
a consumption of about 0.0984 inch per day from the time of sowing until the time of
harvesting, a period of one hundred and twenty-nine days—13 inches nearly. Very
careful experiments on this subject have been in progress for several years at the
observatory of Mountsouris, in France. The grain is grown in earth contained in
metallic boxes, and similar boxes without grain are used to determine the evapora-
tion. In some cases the earth was dried and weighed both before sowing and after
harvesting. The results obtained were essentially as above given. It was found that
to produce one pound of wheat required the expenditure of from 800 pounds to 2,400
pounds of water, the lesser quantity being when the soil was fertile. In the case of
wheat the maximum consumption of water occurred at the period of flowering, after
which it diminished to the ripening, and then ceased.
From the above table it appears that a field of grain (as wheat, oats, or rye) may.
absorb, between seeding and harvesting, 15 inches of water, while grass may absorb
37 inches during a period of growth of one hundred and thirty days. This question of
the effect of water on fertility explains the difference observed in the yield of different
fields of grain at the same time, and of different yields of the same field in different
years. It also serves to explain some points in hydrology, as to the effect of the de-
struction of forests on the flow of streams, The table shows that the quantity of
water transpired by the leaves of cereals is greatly in excess of that by the leaves of
forest trees, which proves that the clearing and cultivating of forests do actually
diminish the quantity of water in the streams. It also explains how lands rich in
the chemical constituents of certain grains produce large crops with a small rain-fall,
as in the case of Northern Dakota and Minnesota, where with a rain-fall of but 17
inches, 30 and 35 bushels of wheat to the acre is not an uncommon yield.
To the above quantity of water, viz, 15 inches for cereals and 37 inches for grasses,
the amount transpiring through the leaves respectively, there must be added that
required for evaporation and percolation. This last in the case under consideration
will depend on the condition of the soil and the frequency of waterings; the applica-
. . º two inches when the soil was dry would not penetrate to any consider-
able depth.
As examples of the quantity of water found necessary for profitable agriculture:
California, with 15 inches of water, in addition to rain-fall, secures good crops; this 's
a duty of 206 acres for 1 cubic foot of water per second. A. D. Foot, in his estimate
for irrigating works in Idaho, gives 100 acres as the duty of the above quantity of
water, India, for wheat, uses four waterings of 2% inches each; this is a duty of 267
acres, G. L. Stevenson, civil engineer, gives the duty in Utah formerly as 00 acres,
260
IRRIGATION AND *
RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
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EFFECTs of PLANT-TRANSPIRATION ON THE SOIL. 260a
and now of 100 acres. Lombardy, Italy, with an annual rain-fall of 38 inches, 22 of
which falls in the growing season, finds it neces-
sary to irrigate, especially for rice and meadow.
A grass called marcite requires, except when
being cut, the continuous passage of a thin
film of water. A cubic foot of water per second
irrigated 3 acres, thus securing an enormous
yield. The meadows near Milan were cut seven
times, yielding from 50 to 75 tons per acre per
all Il Ul IIl.
J. D. Schuyler and G. F. Allardt, in their
report upon the water supply for the irriga-
tion of Claus Spreckel's sugar plantation in the
Hawaiian Islands, state that the customary al-
lowance for sugar cane in Spain, Italy, Algiers,
Egypt, and Japan is from 45 to 60 acres for 1
cubic foot of water per second; and that the
manager of the Hawaiian Commercial Com-
pany gave as his experience that for water
applied every seven days, when the allowance
was 1 cubic foot of water per second for 65
acres, the yield of sugar was an average of 5%
tons and a maximum of 10 tons per acre. The
yield of cane sugar in Louisiana is a maximum
of 3,200 pounds, and an average of 2,800 pounds
per acre, while the yield of sorghum sugar in
Kansas is a theoretical maximum of but 1,400
pounds per acre.
The above large range of water used points
to the fact that, depending on the crops being
raised, the more water the larger the yield;
for which reason any scheme for the procure-
ment of water for irrigation from the underflow
of the ground in a region of normal drought,
the requirements are not only that the supply
be ample, but that provision be made to fur-
nish it on call as required. To insure certainty
of supply aud mimimum of cost will require
that the water be obtained from wells. These
conditions will be satisfied by the use of steam-
power pumps, obtaining their supply from a
system of tube wells connected to a horizontal
main which constitutes the suction-pipe of the
pump. This arrangement, while the first cost
is small, admits of extension as required. As
an example of the successful operation of this
way of procuring water in quantity, is that of
the water supply of Brooklyn, N. Y., where,
from one hundred well-points driven to a depth
of from 50 to 75 feet, 7,000,000 gallons of water
were pumped daily. While this method allows
of the construction of works for the irrigation
of any desired area of land, the larger and more
complete the installation the less will be the
cost per acre. With two sections of land as
the area to be irrigated, divided into units of
20 acres each, place the engine and dynamos
at the center of the area; locate each battery
of wells at the adjoining ends of two 40-acre
tracts, the motors and pumps to be portable,
and the power to be transmitted by means of
copper wires from the dynamos to the motors;
the capacity of engine, dynamo, wires, wells,
motors, and pumps to be such as to provide for
the covering of the whole area of two sections
of land with 1 inch of water per week. This
quantity of water will serve for ordinary ag- t
riculture. Should circumstances require an |
additional supply the works can be extended || tºll)";"|l\th
by simply adding to the plant.
As the success of all enterprises requires a sound financial basis, and this system,
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260b IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
while adapted to the irrigating of a few acres, is also susceptible of any desired ex-
tension, we will consider in what manner it may be put into operation where there
is a number of interests concerned, bearing in mind that with the upland range for
grazing, 40 acres of irrigated land is a farm.
One method might be by the formation of an irrigating district, as is done in cities
in the construction of sewers; the whole cost of installation for the delivery of the
water at the end of each 20-acre tract to be assessed on the property benefited, and
payment extended over a term of years; the works to be paid for in construction
bonds. As soon as their nature and value become known, they can be sold readily
at a low rate of interest.
Or the works might be put in by a chartered company as contractors, who would
be paid a rental as a return for their investment. This relatal would entitle all
parties within the district to the privilege of obtaining water on payment for the
same, which charge would be the cost of pumping and maintenance of plant.
For the installation for an area of 1,280 acres, consisting of a 60-horse power engine,
dynamo, poles, wires, insulators, sixteen batteries of wells of fifteen points each, six
motors and six pumps, two extra motors and pumps being provided for the purpose
of allowing for moving to new stations, thus keeping the pumps running contin-
uously, on the basis of one watering per week of one inch depth of water, each under
a head of thirty feet, the cost will be twenty-five dollars per acre. The cost of
pumping, consisting of fuel, oil, attendance, and depreciation of plant, will be 12
cents per acre per watering. This delivers the water without waste at the end of
each twenty-acre tract.
The distribution of the water may be done, as in the case of that supplied from canals
and ditches by hand labor, from lateral drtches; or, preferably, as the water is de-
livered under a head, by means of a system of pipes, hydrants, hose, and monitors.
The cost of distribution will vary with the character of the ground and the nature
of the crop, being a minimum for meadow land having a regular declivity, and a
maximum in the case of fruit, when, in addition to the regular system of pipes, a
line of small perforated pipes is put between the rows of trees.
For two lines of pipes and eight hydrants to each twenty trees, the cost of installa-
tion will be about $20 per acre. This, however, allows of the irrigation of land situated
E
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Fº
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#S
Proposed plan, showing distribution of water from hydrants.
25feet above the pump, and entirely does away with all labor connected with the con-
struction and maintenance of lateral ditches and the conducting of Water, over the
jands by means of rills. Estimated cost of irrigating by this method will be as fol-
lows:
Installation of plant proper for one acre ------------------------------------ $33.9%
Installation of pipe system ----------- -------------------------------------- 99.00
Total cost of installation ---------------------------------------------- 45.00

EFFECTS OF PLANT-TRANSPIRATION ON THE SOIL. 260c
Interest on above at 8 per cent------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * $3.60
Sixteen waterings at 12 cents per watering ,---------------------------------- 1. 92
Cost of distribution of water, one-twentieth of thirty-two days’ labor, at $1.50
per day----------------------------------------------------------------- 2. 40
Total.------------------------------------------------------------------- 7. 92
Contra, for cost of irrigating with supply from canals and ditches: *m.
Cost of water rental per acre - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - sº e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * $2.50
Labor, laterals, and distribution, one-fortieth of three men for three months,
at $40 per month, per forty aeres----------------------------------------- 9. 00
Total cost------------------------------------------ gº º e º ºs º is sº º ºs sº tº as sº tº dº sº tº sº ºn 11. 50
A saving of $3.58 per acre, equal to 454 per cent.
The advantages in favor of irrigation are: not only are the crops much larger, but
they are entirely unaffected by drought or wet ; and being harvested under a clear
sky are in good condition, and therefore, being of superior quality, command higher
prices. As a rule, persons living on irrigated land, having regular occupation, are
more thrifty; their crops are certain, regardless of seasons; having larger and more
certain incomes, their earnings are expended in increased comforts—all of which in-
creases the business of railroads. And now that the competition between rival lines
has destroyed the profits of through traffic, dependence must be placed on local busi-
ness, which for that reason must be developed, resulting in the charges for the haul-
ing of coal used for pumping being the least possible. As the effect of an extensive
system of irrigation is toward small holdings and a dense population, the result will
be increased business. It is estimated that 1 acre of irrigated land produces, directly
and indirectly, more than 1 ton of railroad freight annually, or more than two hun-
dred times as much as the same land used for grazing cattle, as the effect of any con-
siderable amount of irrigation would, by increasing the humidity, tend to a reckama-
tion of the unirrigated desert, and in a measure affect the humidity of the whole
State; for it is from the desert that the hot winds come that have proved so disas-
trous to the eastern portion of the State.
Justice would seem to require that some return be made for the benefits rendered,
by way of bounty or remission of taxes for a term of years on all irrigating plants
and all increased value of irrigated lands. Such aid would greatly promote this in-
dustry, and work no injustice to other portions of the State. -
While the above proposed plan allows of application on any scale from 1 acre to
100,000 acres, whether by means of storage reservoirs or by pumping, extensions on a
scale commensurate with its importance and magnitude may be made by Governmental
or State aid with perfect safety, the cost being a lien on the land benefited in a manner
similar to that practiced by the British Government in their administration of the
affairs of India. In the case of works of improvement that promise to be remunera-
tive the Government takes the initiative, and sends its engineer to make surveys,
plans, estimates of cost, and reports as to its character, etc. These reports, with
detailed plans and estimates, are sent to the collector of the district, who publishes
them and invites objection. If no valid objection is made, the work is done and paid
for by the Government, and the cost assessed on the property benefited. If small, it
is Qollected at once; if large, the payment is extended over a period of years. The
enhancement of the value of the property by reason of the improvement always pre-
cedes the payment of the cost.
The above proposed method of irrigation is but an application of known methods
of proouring, pumping, conveying and distributing water; and the mode of trans-
mitting the power, while in one sense new, is of very general application. With an
abundant º of water assured, the merits of this plan are so marked that it
would seem that a simple presentation would secure recognition and adoption. The
necessity of devising some system of irrigation for the reclamation of so vast an ex-
tent of territory of such known fertility, situated in the center of the civilized world,
will be seen by a consideration of the methods of developing India by the British
Government, in the construction of works of irrigation aggregating millions of dol-
lars of cost, and the resources of Africa awaiting development by them. It was from
the then undeveloped Soudan that England obtained the cotton for its factories dur-
ing the blockade of the Southern ports at the time of the late civil war.
As to the claim that we can not compete in production with the cheaper labor of
India and Africa, it must be borne in mind that 40 pounds of coal, costing 10 cents,
in a first-class steam-engine will develop 1 horse power for ten hours, which is equiv.
alent to the labor of five stalwart English laborers, and probably seven or more un-
derfed Asiatics or Soudanese, which, at 30 cents a day, will be $2.10, a saving of $2
on 1 horse-power per day. This saving is not only in the procurement, but also in
the distribution, which, apart from the cost, is especially applicable to American
methods of doing work by machinery and power.
COLOR ADO DIVISION.
PUEBLO, COLO., September 14, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present, Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Jones, also Director Powell.
STATEMENT OF VICTOR G. HILLS, OF PUEBL0.
The CHAIRMAN. We are investigating the subject of irrigation with
reference to the water supply, the land to be irrigated, and the crops
produced. Will you please give the committee such information as you
may have touching those subjects, so far, especially, as relates to the
State of Colorado or to this county 2
Mr. HILLS. Had I known that I should be examined to-day I should
have brought with me, as county Surveyor, some notes and figures that
I have left at my office. I will endeavor, however, to meet your wishes.
The source of our water supply here is, generally Speaking, the
mountain streams, the main stream of this county being the Arkansas
River. There is one thing which occurs to me to mention in that con-
nection; that the flow of the Arkansas is greatest in June and July,
which is the time when most water is needed for irrigation. Therefore
less storage capacity is required to utilize that water than if the greatest
flow were at some other time. That may be said probably of all the
Streams flowing from the mountains east, across these plains.
The CHAIRMAN. Describe the Arkansas River, its dimensions, etc.,
and the quantity of water flowing into it, if you have kept any gauge
of it. State also whether the water now runs to waste, or whether
anything can be done to increase the volume at the time needed for
irrigation, both here and in Kansas.
Mr. HILLS. The Arkansas River has its source near Mount Lincoln,
north of Leadville. It may be said here that something could be done
there toward turning the waters of the western slope into it if that
should be thought best. I am well acquainted with that particular
locality personally. There is a stream tributary to Grand River, which
should probably be turned into the Arkansas at some time, as the water
is not needed West on account of its streams going into calions and not
being available.
The CHAIRMAN. Which one of those streams could be turned?
Mr. HILLS. There is a tributary which is called the Ten-Mile Creek
or Blue River, which has it source near Breckinridge.
Director POWELL. Do you know as an engineer that that can be
done?
Mr. HILLS. Yes.
it Director PoWELL. The Grand River will always run to waste where
1U lS. %
261
262 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. It will unless we can make it tributary to the Colo-
rado.
Mr. HILLS. I believe the State of Colorado appropriated something
for Surveys to determine those questions at the last session of the legis-
lature.
Director POWELL. Where could the Ten-Mile River be tapped and
be turned into the headwaters of the Arkansas 2
Mr. HILLs. At that portion which is called McNulty Gulch, where
the old placer mines were twenty years ago.
The CHAIRMAN. How much of a stream is it there where it can be
turned ? How much water is there in it 3
Mr. HILLS. It is very difficult to guess at the capacity of a mountain
Stream Without knowing its fall. I never gave that question any special
thought.
The CHAIRMAN. You can state whether it is an ordinary mountain
Stream or a considerable one.
Mr. HILLS. It is a good mountain stream.
The CHAIRMAN. Has it a good water-shed ?
Mr. HILLS. It has its head in Mount Lincoln and Mount Bross.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there opportunities for the storage of those
waters ?
Mr. HILLS. I think the opportunities for storage are fairly good. I
do not know of any special reason for saying that they are better than
Ordinary opportunities.
The CHAIRMAN. How many ditches are taken out of the Arkansas
River in the State of Colorado &
Mr. HILLS. As to the whole number of small or individual ditches I
Could hardly make a guess. The State engineer's report would show
that fully. Of extensive ditches there are only two that we might call
large company ditches now.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land is irrigated from the waters of the
Arkansas %
Mr. HILLS. I could not answer that question so well probably as you
can get it from some other source.
Director POWELL. I have all those statistics prepared for the Com-
mittee. -
Mr. HILLS. I have not the figures in my mind.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been engaged in engineering for irrigation
here ?
Mr. HILLS. Yes. *
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the crops produced ?
Mr. HILLS. We can produce almost everything here that grows in a
temperate climate. © e g tº
The CHAIRMAN. You produce, of course, good crops with irrigation ?
Mr. HILLS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of water does it require to irrigate an
acre of land here—have you paid attention to that ?
Mr. EIILLS. That is difficult to answer.
The CHAIRMAN. It has been discussed among you here, I suppose ?
Mr. HILLS. Yes, it has been discussed a good deal, but the amount of
water used by inexperienced persons is well known to be greatly in excess
of that actually needed, as was proven in cases where they could not get
the water, and as proven by the amount used in dry seasons, like the
preSent One.
The CHAIRMAN. I suppose they waste water here as they always do
where they have not had experience.
Mr. HILLS. Yes.
THE Foot-HILLS AND THEIR *** CAPACITY. 263
The CHAIRMAN. Some soils and some ēlimates require more than
others ? -
Mr. HILLS. Yes. You will find them to vary here, as we have dif-
ferent soils. We have different soils even in this county.
The CHAIRMAN. I should like to ascertain what efforts have been
made to economize water. What is the least amount required to irri-
gate an ordinary crop 3
Mr. HILLS. I could not state that from personal observation. We
have not had enough of it. What I would state in that connection
would be simply what I have gathered from reading and experience.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean to ask you as to the results of your
reading and experience elsewhere. Have you had experience of that
character here to enable you to state as to this locality?
Mr. EIILLS. I have not.
The CHAIRMAN. There is good soil here, I suppose?
Mr. HILLS. The larger part of the soil here east of the foot-hills is
excellent soil and capable of cultivation.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of it is under ditches 3
Mr. HILLS. A small proportion of it—you may say nothing but the
bottom lands in this county.
The CHAIRMAN. They have not brought the water to the uplands at
, all ?
Mr. HILLS. No. There is now one ditch building—the Bessemer
ditch—that will bring some water onto the uplands.
The CHAIRMAN. You have no idea, I suppose, of the amount of land
here that is irrigated ?
Mr. HILLS. About three-fourths of the area of the county.
The CHAIRMAN. How much would that be 2
Mr. HILLS. I could not tell the area of the county without referring
to notes.
Senator JONES. Could water be put on lands in this county with
comparative ease? -
Mr. HILLS. It can when it is once placed on the mesa lands.
Senator JONES. That is the question. Can that be done?
Mr. HILLS. It can.
pººr JONES. What would be your source of supply, the Arkansas
, tº] Wer 4
Mr. HILLS. The Arkansas River mainly, but not altogether. We
think other small tributary streams in the Greenhorn range could be
made available by Storage reservoirs, and Beaver Creek from the
Pike's Peak region. *
Senator JONES. What is the nature of the Arkansas River above
here—how far would you have to go to get the necessary fall to take
the water out? Would you have to dam the river, and how expensive
would the works be, comparatively, to get water enough to irrigate this
part of the county which is susceptible of irrigation ? *
Mr. HILLS. I think we should have to go above Cañon City to irri.
gate most of the county. That means that we would not have to dam
the river, but the Water could be brought out by a ditch.
Senator JONES. How far is Cañon City ?
Mr. HILLS. Forty-two miles above Pueblo, and just at the place
where the river comes out of the mountains.
Senator JONES. Where the irrigable lands begin?
Mr. HILLS. Yes.
Senator JonBs, Water could be placed immediately on the land by
taking it out up there? *
264 IRRIGATION assºciavarios OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. EIILLS. Yes.
Senator JONES. Are you familiar with other parts of Colorado besides
this county—the physical features of the country, the possibility of irri-
gation and the demand for it?
Mr. HILLS. Some parts of it.
Senator JONES. Not generally 2
Mr. HILLS. My observation has extended over the counties south of
here. Otherwise I am familiar only with the mining or mountain re-
glonS.
Senator JONES. Are you familiar with the southwestern part of the
State—that portion south of the Arkansas River ?
Mr. HILLS. I am, through that portion south of the river and east of
the San Juan Valley.
Senator JONES. What is your southeastern county named ?
Mr. HILLS. Las Animas County.
Senator JONES. Are you sufficiently familiar with Las Animas County
and that part of Bent County south of the Arkansas River to say
Whether or not any large proportion of those counties is susceptible of
lºſion, and whether there is sufficient water supply to irrigate
€IYl -
Mr. HILLS. No. I am not sufficiently acquainted with Las Animas
County to make any statement in regard to that matter.
STATEMENT OF HENRY R. HOLBROOK.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. HOLBROOK. I am a civil engineer.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you been engaged in this section of
country " -
Mr. HOLBROOK. About sixteen or seventeen years.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you are quite familiar with this portion of the
State %
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes. I have been over it considerably. I have been
in railroad engineering mostly since I have been in this country.
The CHAIRMAN. You have heard the examination of the previous wit-
ness and observed the scope of our inquiries. You may proceed to make
any statement which will afford information to the committee with re-
gard to the Arkansas River and to other supplies of water here, the ex-
tent of land to be irrigated, and any scheme by which the water supply
might be augmented if it is insufficient. Give us a general statement
of your information and views on that subject.
Mr. HOLBROOK. Our main source of supply of water for irrigation is
the Arkansas River. It is the largest river on the eastern slope of the
Rocky Mountains in Colorado. The Arkansas River has a good many
branches that carry a good deal of water, especially during the flood
season. This water might be stored in reservoirs for the purposes of
irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. Does a large portion of the water of the Arkansas
River run to waste §
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes. The Arkansas River is highest during June
and July. That is the flood season. It carries then an enormous quan-
tity of water. That is also the season of irrigation in this country—
June and July.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of water is taken out by the ditches
in Colorado during irrigation season 3
THE VALUE FOR IRRIGATION OF THE ARKANSAs. 265
Mr. HoDBROOK. I do not know how it is as to the whole State. I
know only about this vicinity—the Arkansas Valley.
The CHAIRMAN. State the amount of proportion of water taken out
by the ditches in the Arkansas Valley in flood times.
Mr. Holbrook. Perhaps there is one-tenth of it taken out now dur-
ing flood time—during June and July—in the Arkansas Valley. I do
not know how it is about Denver. sº
The CHAIRMAN. They do not take the Arkansas out in Denver, do
they "
Mr. HOLBROOK. No. ,
The CHAIRMAN. I am only speaking of the Arkansas River.
Mr. Holbrook. About one-tenth, perhaps, of the water of that river
is taken out for the purpose of irrigation during flood time. I would
not think more than that.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that stored at all, or is it taken out as it is needed
and put on the land?
Mr. HOLBROOK. It is taken out in ditches when needed. There is
no water stored in this Valley now to amount to anything.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the land in Colorado might be
irrigated by the waters of the Arkansas that are under ditches?
Mr. HOLBROOK. There is a very small proportion of land in the Ar-
kansas Valley irrigated that might be irrigated. All this iand in the
Arkansas Valley will produce well if you can get water on it. I never
saw an acre of it that would not.
The CHAIRMAN. Is one-tenth of the land under cultivation ?
Mr. HOLBROOK. No.
Senator JONES. What do you mean by “the Arkansas Valley;” how
wide a tract of country do you include in that term? à
Mr. HOLBROOK. The Arkansas Valley extends from the divide, 50
miles north of here, south to the Raton Mountains. That is about 80
miles South.
Senator JONES. About 130 miles wide altogether?
Mr. HOLBROOK. About 130 miles wide. Of course it would not be
practicable to irrigate all of that strip.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of that could be irrigated if proper
ditches were constructed ?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Ditches can be taken for, say, 20 miles each side of
the valley.
The CHAIRMAN. Could they not be taken out farther than that?
Mr. HoDBROOK. Yes, by going to greater expense; but it would cost
so much money to take ditches out farther than that that it would not
be practicable.
The CHAIRMAN. Would that strip extend down to Kansas 3
Mr. HoDBROOK. Yes; all the way down to Kansas.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it be 40 miles wide all the way down”
Mr. HoLBROOK. Yes; it would not be quite so wide as that at Pueblo.
These ditches would diverge from the river.
The CHAIRMAN. But 40 miles wide from the caſion up here?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Suppose you commence at Caſion City, the width
, there would be nothing. The canals would diverge from the river grad-
ually until they reached, say Pueblo. That would be about 10 miles
each side of the river, so that you could irrigate a strip here at Pueblo
20 to 30 miles wide.
The CHAIRMAN. Then it would go on expanding %
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes; it would go on expanding until you got down
266 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
to West Las Animas, say, 80 miles east of here you would irrigate a
Strip of country from 30 to 40 miles each side of the Arkansas River.
The CHAIRMAN. It would be 60 or 70 miles wide when you got 80
miles below here?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes; then these ditches would steadily diverge from
the river until you got to the State line. The strip then would be very
Wide; I do not know exactly how wide. 2.
The CHAIRMAN. When you got down to Kansas you could distribute
OVer an almost unlimited space of ground 3
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes.
Senator JONES. If that system of ditches were already made how
Would it be about the water supply?
The OHAIRMAN. Yes; suppose you had ditches enough to carry it
all the Way down to Kansas, what would be the water supply for those
ditches” -
Mr. HOLBROOK. The present water supply would not be enough to
irrigate all that land, but the supply might be increased very largely
by storage reservoirs.
Senator JONES. You mean the present water supply—the running
Streams ?
Mr. HoLBROOK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You mean by saving the water of the running streams
to be used at irrigation time?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you saved in reservoirs all that was practi.
gable to save in that way, what extent of land would it irrigate; would
it irrigate all this land that it would flow over?
Mr. HOLBROOK. It would not irrigate all the land that you cover
With ditches, but of course the amount that could be irrigated would
be largely increased; just how much it would be very difficult for me
to Say. sº
The CHAIRMAN. If this land were brought under cultivation by reser-
Voirs and other works, would there be any floods in the Arkansas
Valley 2
Mr. HOLBROOK. There would not be such large floods if the waters
Were stored and kept back.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think it is practicable to keep them back so
that there would not be floods below %
Mr. HOLBROOK. They could be very much diminished by reservoirs.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you not mathematically certain of it 3
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes.
Senator JONES. You think that if all the water in the water shed of
the Arkansas that could be stored in reservoirs should be stoled, there
would not be enough water to irrigate all the land in the Arkansas
Valley which is between here and the Kansas line &
Mr. HOLBROOK. No. You have more land than you can irrigate. It
is simply a question of water supply. All this land east of here will
produce fine crops if it can have water; all the crops incident to this
latitude.
Senator JONES. But it seems to me there must be a large water-shed
in the Arkansas Valley, in these mountains.
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes; it is a very large basin.
Senator JONES. Have you made any calculations as to the rain-fall
in that basin and the amount of water that could be stored, or is this
just an impression without careful examination on your part 3 *
Mr. HOLBROOK. I never made any careful calculations in regard to
it at all.
THE ARKANSAs watersIIED AND RESERVOIR SITEs. 267
The CHAIRMAN. You have been over it somewhat ? *
Mr. HoDBROOK. I have been over it a good deal. I located the rail-
road line from here to Leadville, and was over it a good deal during
location and construction.
The CHAIRMAN. What occasion have you had for examining the
water-shed generally of the Arkansas?
Mr. HoLBROOK. I have made surveys from here to the head of the
Arkansas River.
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of surveys?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Railroad surveys. I located the line from Cañon
City to Leadville for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad Com-
pany, and was also engaged on the construction of the road. I made
surveys through Marshall Pass and down to Gunnison.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you have had rather unusual opportunities for
observation ?
Mr. Holbrook. Yes; although I was not observing the country then
for irrigation. I was making railroad surveys and locating railroad
lines.
The CHAIRMAN. But you observed how the country was 2
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes, and I observed one point, as I now recollect, up
there, where I think a large storage reservoir could be made at small
expense.
The CHAIRMAN. Where is that %
Mr. HOLBROOK. At the Twin Lakes. That is the finest natural water
storage place I ever saw.
The CHAIRMAN. Is the water-shed large?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Very large. It is on a small branch of the Arkan-
sas River, just above Granite. I was up there several times, though
not for the purpose of examining its adaptability for a storage basin, but
º my knowledge of it. I think it is the finest storage reservoir in the
World. *
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the Arkansas River comes out
of there in flood time 3
Mr. HOLBROOK. I do not know; I could not say. It was quite a
large outlet and a very strong stream of water comes out of there, per-
haps 20 feet wide and 1 foot deep in low water.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it in high water 3
Mr. HOLBROOK. I never saw it in high water.
Senator JONES. How large are those lakes?
Mr. HOLBROOK. I do not know just how large they are. They are
Several miles long and 2 or 3 miles wide. One is larger than the other.
Senator JONES. How much could the level of those lakes be raised ?
Mr. HOLBROOK. I do not know. I should think 20 feet without
trouble.
Mr. STANTON. Mr. Holbrook made a survey for a line of ditch on the
north side of the river with storage reservoirs, etc. Perhaps he could
give the committee some information as to that.
The CHAIRMAN. Was that below here or above 2
Mr. HOLBROOK. It commences below—20 miles east of Pueblo.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that as good a place as it would be to commence
above—it will not cover so much land, will it?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes. Water can be taken out below cheaper than
it can be taken out above. The farther down you go the cheaper you
can take out ditches, because the bluffs on either side are not so high.
Tººnammas. How is it as to the bottom of the river; is that sand
OI’ I’OC -
268 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. HOLBROOK. Sand usually.
The CHAIRMAN. Would you not select a place where there is a rock
foundation to bring the water to the surface? - *
Mr. HoLBROOK. It would be better if you could, but I do not know
of any such place in the Arkansas River east of here.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there not places west coming out of the caſions?
Mr. HOLBROOK. There may be some places west, but the bottom is
covered with bowlders for several feet deep, and I do not know that I
ever saw a place where the water ran on solid rock.
The CHAIRMAN. But have you not seen places where the rock was
not very deep in the channel? -
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you not aware that by taking sandy places you
are liable to lose a good deal of water by percolation ?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it not better to select a rocky spot?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes; if you can find the rock.
Mr. STANTON. They do not build dams here as a general thing.
The CHAIRMAN. It is very well to build dams, but it is a good thing
to have a rocky bottom.
Mr. HOLBROOK. Undoubtedly, if it can be found. Here, generally,
they tap the river at the channel, but it is a little better to tap it 6
inches or a foot below the level of the channel instead of building a dam.
Then if there is any water in the river at all you will get it.
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of a head gate do you make in order to
regulate the flow?
Mr. HOLBROOK. They are made here usually of timber, say 4 feet
Wide and 4 or 5 feet high. º
The CHAIRMAN. Tell us something in regard to the ditch that you
surveyed.
Mr. HOLBROOK. The ditch that I surveyed commences at a point on
the north side of the Arkansas River, 20 miles east of Pueblo. It di-
verges gradually from the river, and runs 100 miles to a point about 25
miles north of West Las Animas. *
The CHAIRMAN. How much land does it cover?
Mr. HOLBROOK. In that distance it covers 500,000 acres of land.
The CHAIRMAN. What size is it?
Mr. HOLBROOK. I do not know the size. There has been no Con-
struction work done on it yet. It Ought to be, I think, at least 70 feet
wide at the bottom. In that distance it covers several large natural
basins that can be used for storage reservoirs. -
The CHAIRMAN. It drops down into a basin and it comes out again?
Mr. HOLBROOK. Yes; the basin becomes filled with water, and from
there it is taken for irrigation as it is needed. One basin is 50 feet deep
and has an area of 600 acres.
Senator Jon ES. Is that shown on your map?
Mr. Holbrook. Yes, I think it is. *
Senator JONES. I see here a place marked that I suppose is a basin.
Mr. HOLBROOK. There is another basin shown there that is 20 feet
deep and has an area of 600 acres. Another basin is 35 feet deep and
has an area of 3,000 acres. Another basin is 15 feet deep and has an
area of 1,500 acres. Another basin is 50 feet deep and has an area of
10,000 acres. Another basin is 55 feet deep and has an area of 4,000
2C1'éS.
Senator JONES. Are all those basins high enough to Carry the Water
on the land adjacent without raising it by artificial means ?
DITCHES REQUIRED AND WATER DISTRIBUTABLE. 269
Mr. Holbrook. Yes, they might be raised a little, 4 or 5 feet, per-
haps, in some places.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it not be more economical to ascertain where
the highest ditches could be taken out on both sides, and construct but
two ditches, one on each side, and carry all the water in them and dis-
charge it lower down 2 Would not that be more economical than to have
a multiplicity of ditches”
Mr. HOLBROOK. No, I think not.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean in the amount of money to be ex-
pended, but in the economy of water ?
Mr. HoLBROOK. No, I think not. I think it would be more economi-
cal to construct a number of ditches, one below the other. If you take
out two ditches, say commencing at Cañon City, one on each side of the
river, as these ditches are run down the river there is a great deal of
Water lost by seepage that runs back into the river, and to utilize that
_water you would have to take out other ditches below. Of the water
you take out at Cañon City 75 or 80 per cent. would ultimately get back
to the river, and to utilize that again you would have to take out other
ditches farther down. Then to take out only two ditches would require
very long lateral ditches. Your main ditch might be 20 or 30 miles
from the river, and it would take a lateral ditch of many miles to irri-
gate land down near the river.
Mr. STANTON. Do you know anything about a chance for a reservoir
on Beaver Creek, at about Seven Lakes 3
Mr. HOLBROOK. No, I have not been up there.
STATEMENT OF O. H. P. BAXTER,
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Pueblo 2
Mr. BAXTER. In this county ever since 1860.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography of the south-
ern portion of Colorado 3 A.
Mr. BAXTER. Somewhat,
The CHAIRMAN. That portion drained by the Arkansas?
Mr. BAXTER. Yes, I know something about it.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the Arkansas River as a source
of water supply, from your observation ? .
Mr. BAXTER. We have an abundant supply of water in that river for
irrigation in the early season.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever thought how much land you could
irrigate by it?
Mr. BAXTER. No, I have never figured that up, but we have a very
big supply of water in the early spring in this country.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of it runs to waste?
Mr. BAXTER. I think almost all of it. The small ditches do not cut
much of a figure in the early season of high water, during May, June,
and July.
The CHAIRMAN. Very little of the water then is taken out 2
Mr. BAXTER. Very little, comparatively speaking. We have not a
great many ditches and they are nearly all small.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been practically engaged in irrigating 3
Mr. BAXTER. Yes, many years ago. I commenced farming in 1860.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of water do you need for irrigation
after you have had the ground saturated 3
270 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. BAXTER. In the way that we used to take out ditches here,
which was a small way, a ditch 4 feet wide at top and 2 feet at bottom
Would irrigate about 360 acres of a crop.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not arrived at that by actual measurement,
I Suppose ?
* BAXTER. No; not being an engineer I never measured it accu-
rately.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you have a water-master here to distribute water ?
Mr. BAXTER. There are water-masters now, but when I was a boy, in
the early days, we distributed it ourselves. &
The CHAIRMAN. You have not done anything with it recently?
Mr. BAXTER. No ; I have not farmed for ten or twelve years.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land is there in the Arkansas valley, in
Colorado, under cultivation ?
Mr. BAXTER. I do not know how much there is—not a large portion.
A Very small part, in fact, of the valley is under cultivation. I do not
Suppose there is one-twentieth even of the low valley under cultivation.
The CHAIRMAN. And none of the mesa land 2 s
Mr. BAXTER. Very little. They are doing a little of it now; but here-
tofore they have been confined to the low lands along the river.
The CHAIRMAN. How does the low land compare in productiveness
With the mesa land 3 *
Mr. BAXTER. I do not think it is any better. I think the mesa land
is really the better land. It is more easily attended to ; the low land is
more weedy.
STATEMENT OF W. P. HOBSON.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Pueblo ?
Mr. HOBSON. I have been here the greater part of the time for eleven
years.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. HOBSON. I am a civil engineer by profession.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography of the water-
shed of the Arkansas River and the flow of Water into and on land
to be irrigated by it 3 Have you given that subject any attention?
Mr. EIOBSON. Yes; considerable. *
The CHAIRMAN. Please give the committee the results of your obser-
vations and experience in that respect.
Mr. HOBSON. I should like to have a suggestion from the commit-
tee as to the points upon which they wish me to touch.
The CHAIRMAN. Tell us what you know as to the quantity of water,
the means of increasing that quantity, the area of land to be irrigated,
the kind of crops to be produced, how much of the Water runs to waste,
how much of it can be saved, and such other information as you think
may serve to give the committee an idea of the situation in this locality.
Mr. Hobson. There is a very large quantity of water in the Arkan-
sas River at this point on the surface. Below here a very large pro-
portion of the water sinks into the sand. From this point upward
there is a very large body of it. There is less volume in sheet water
below because it extends much wider the farther down you go. The
water on the surface here would certainly irrigate very large tracts of
land on either side of the stream if properly handled and properly
Stored.
º CHAIRMAN. Give us your idea on that subject as fully as you
please,
whAT IS TO BE DONE IN THE ARKANSAS VALLEY. 271
Mr. HOBSON. This season I have run a ditch line from Cañon City,
on the north sideof the liver, to a point on the divide west of the Fount-
ain (about 85 miles in length) at an elevation of about 500 feet above
this point. It crosses the Fountain about 20 miles north of here, and
it covers an area of probably 200,000 acres of arable land. -
The CHAIRMAN. The ditch might be extended farther and cover
more land”
Mr. HoBSON. Yes, the next 6 miles would probably cover 100,000
acres of land.
The CHAIRMAN. Could it be dropped down from time to time to
make reservoirs ? t
Mr. HoBSON. Yes, there are some points where we could make reser-
VOII’S. *
The CHAIRMAN. At how much an elevation above the river is the
lower end of that ditch line?
Mr. Hobson. It is over 400 feet, and there are basins, of course, over
that. There are broad, flat areas, that have basins. I do not have
much faith, however, in all large flat areas for basins. There is too
much evaporation.
The CHAIRMAN. I am not speaking of that, but are there not places
where the ground is such as to give opportunities for making deep
basins 7
Mr. Hobson. Yes, there are certainly some locations of that kind in
which a great deal of water might be stored for use.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your idea as to whether or not a large por-
tion of the Arkansas could be used ? f
Mr. HOBSON. I think it could be done.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you ever figure upon how much land it would
irrigate if you could utilize the principal part of the water that flows
down every year }
Mr. HOBSON. No, I have never rated the Arkansas, nor have I ever
Seen an approximate rating. I do not think that even an approximate
rating has ever been made of the waters of this river.
The CHAIRMAN. Or an estimate of the land that could be irrigated?
Mr. HOBSON. No.
The CHAIRMAN. That is all to be determined by surveys hereafter ?
Mr. HOBSON. Yes, I think so.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it not important, before commencing work and
Spending a great deal of money, to have that done 2
Mr. HOBSON. Yes, I think So, to the extent through which the work
is to be applied. -
The CHAIRMAN. Ultimately you intend, I suppose, to irrigate all the
land that can be practically irrigated by the river ?
Mr. HOBSON. We have no intention of doing anything only the matter
that is in hand. I think that the water will all be utilized certainly,
but that is a question for the future. The land is very fertile and very
productive.
The CHAIRMAN. Haye you been engaged personally in farming 3
Mr. HOBSON. Yes; I have had some experience in that line.
The CHAIRMAN. Give us the benefit of your experience in that respect
So far as irrigation is concerned.
Mr. HOBSON. My experience has shown me that a great many persons
used too much water. I have had experiments made with recent crops
and find that they did very well with a small amount of water, I know
that many persons frequently use too much, - ~ * >
* ~ *" º º ºxº
272 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
º
The CHAIRMAN. Do not nearly all people use too much when they
have an opportunity ?
Mr. HOBSON. I think so.
The CHAIRMAN. And by that means they injure their land as well as
their crop 2 *
Mr. FIOBSON. Yes. A very serious difficulty in connection with stor.
age reservoirs, especially from the saving of storm waters, is the sedi.
ments in the Water. That is a very serious question in the solution of
the irrigation problem. My opinion is that from 10 to 15 per cent of
the Water from floods in our streams here is sediment. That would be
a great trouble When you come to make reservoirs for the storing of
flood waters.
Senator JONES. You think the trouble would be that the reservoir
Would fill up with sediment
Mr. HOBSON. Yes, I think they would. I made a little reservoir up
here, and after a rain I found nearly a foot of sediment in the reservoir.
I think the sediment would make over 10 per cent.
Mr. HINTON. Is there no way of sluicing it?
Mr. HOBSON. That might possibly be done, and in that case the
Sediment would make an excellent fertilizer for the soil.
The CHAIRMAN. Sediment in reservoirs is one of the things that
people have been contending with for thousands of years. I think we
Will overcome that in this country by superior skill, and finally get the
mud on to the land. That would make it a great deal better land. The
people have been doing that for many years.
Mr. HOBSON. I have thought of that.
The CHAIRMAN. That sediment makes land very rich and perhaps it
can be sluiced out. That is one of the problems involved in this great
Question. High up in the mountains you do not meet with so much
difficulty of that kind.
Mr. HoBSON. No, but I think that getting the water from those
high reservoirs through the mountains would be a very serious obstacle.
The CHAIRMAN. Through the mountains ! You would let it come
down by ditches in the proper season of the year. You would not let
it come through the mountains.
Mr. Hobson. The great volume of our high water comes from this
slope of the mountain. If you store water up there we will have to get
it through the mountains by tunnels.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it not come down now by the river ?
Mr. HOBSON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Then what is the difficulty of getting it that way ?
Mr. HOBSON. That comes down very gradually.
Senator JONES. The water out of the reservoir would come just as
gradually. w
The CHAIRMAN. It would not come down to augment the flood. It
seems to me there is no difficulty about it.
Senator JONES. The water will come down the stream naturally?
Mr. HOBSON. Yes, but there are the ditches, and the great volume of
water that comes down the Arkansas River comes down in these floods
and high tides.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you measured the water-bed to know that the
larger portion of the water is on this side of the mountain where it
could not be stored, or does it not come in ravines?
Mr. Hobson. I never measured it. I do not think any rating has
been made of the Arkansas River. *
Senator JONES. You say that they use too much water on the land.
JHow much water is it usual to make use of on an acre here?
*
UTILIZING THE FLOW OF THE ARKANSAS, RIVER, 273
Mr. HoBSON. Various soils and crops require different quantities of
Water.
Senator JONES. I know that, but is there any limit to the amount per
acre on any kind of land or for any kind of crop 8
Mr. HOBSON. My opinion is that a cubic foot of water per second will
irrigate 80 acres of ordinary crops after a second or third season.
Senator JONES. That is a good deal of Water?
Mr. HOBSON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How much is used here on 80 acres?
Mr. HOBSON. They often use three or four times as much as that,
and damage their CropS.
The CHAIRMAN. Does this land require drainage 3
Mr. Hobson. Very rarely, and but very little of the land.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not let the water evaporate on the land so
as to form alkali, do you ?
Mr. HoPSON. There is very little evaporation.
The CHAIRMAN. I mean you do not let it lie in puddles on the land.
I suppose it soaks in immediately 3
Mr. HOBSON. There is very little of our soil but what has a sufficient
slope to carry it away.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the soil 3
Mr. HOBSON. The character of the soil is such that it absorbs the
water at once. There is very little puddling of the surface.
Mr. STANTON. I think Mr. Holbrook made a statement that on re-
flection he may qualify ; that is, that perhaps one-tenth of the water
was utilized in flood-time—the Water of the Arkansas River. I am sure
that he did not intend to say that.
The CHAIRMAN. He may correct his statement if he pleases.
Mr. HOLBROOK. I do not think there is probably so much. I do not
know exactly how much.
Senator JONES. I suppose he meant one-tenth of the water that went
down the river in the irrigating season—one-tenth of the normal flow.
Mr. HOLBROOK. That would be the flood-tide of the irrigating sea-
Son—June and July.
Mr. STANTON. There is certainly not one-hundredth part of the water
that flows in the river at that time utilized for irrigation at present.
STATEMENT OF IRWING. W. STANTON.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Pueblo 7
Mr. STANTON. Eighteen years.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed the Arkansas River from time
to time during that period &
Mr. STANTON. I have generally.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of that river as to the supply of
Water running down it 3
Mr. STANTON. In the months of June and July and up into August
there is an immense quantity of water usually running in the river.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of that water is diverted by ditches
for irrigation purposes?
Mr. STANTON. About this point I do not believe that there is the two-
hundredth part of the water running in the river above this point used
for irrigating purposes, and below this point I do not think there is the
one-hundredth of the water used for those purposes.
Senator JONES. For what distance do you mean that ?
138 A L-WOL III—18
274 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF' ARID LANDs.
Mr. STANTON. I mean for the whole State of Colorado. Of course,
recently more ditches have been constructed, and a greater proportion
of the water is taken out of the river; but when you consider the veloc-
ity of the water in the river and of that in the ditches, the amount of
Water taken in ditches, a few ditches make no perceptible difference
whether that water runs in the river or not, because it runs with such
Velocity in the river channel and so slowly in the ditches. That has been
my observation.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, from your observation, you conclude that there
is a vast amount of land not occupied that might be brought under cul-
tivation ?
Mr. STANTON. I am confident that there is a vast extent of land—all
the land for 30 miles on each side of the river as you go east from here—
that can be irrigated by water from the Arkansas River, if the water
can be stored for the purpose.
The CHAIRMAN. Upon that basis would you stop with the line of
the Colorado or would you go along down 3 *
Mr. STANTON. I would go along down (if Kansas wants it) through
Kansas. It can be taken through the Western part of the State of
Ransas just as well.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think that by storing there would be enough
for the whole? -
Mr. STANTON. I believe that storage reservoirs could be made so
that they would hold an immense quantity. I do not know whether
there would be enough for the whole, as there would be a vast amount
of water required. I do not think my opinion would be worth much
as to that.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been up in the mountains and know gen-
erally the condition of that country. What is its condition, and what
is its capacity for keeping the water stored up there?
Mr. STANTON. I think there are places where immense reservoirs
could be made and immense quantities of water stored for use in irri-
gating the plains. I think the day is coming when the Arkansas val-
ley will be not only the garden spot of Colorado, but of the whole coun-
try. I do not think that any such garden spot occurs anywhere else
in the country as is to be found in this valley.
The CHAIRMAN. Would a survey and gauging of the Streams be of
use in informing the people on this subject? &
Mr. STANTON. It would be of immense benefit.
Senator JONES. Have you any idea how much land is in cultivation
in the Arkansas valley in Colorado by irrigation?
Mr. STANTON. I have not.
Senator JONES. You could not approximate it? &
Mr. STANTON. I do not believe I could, or if I did I do not think my
approximation would be reliable. You can probably get that at Denver.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you anything else you wish to say to the
committee ? - * t
Mr. STANTON. I only desire to say that I am a firm believer in the
system of storage reservoirs and I think the actual experience and sur-
veys will demonstrate the entire feasibility of the plan.
Adjourned.
THE WATER SUPPLY OF EASTERN COLORADo. 275
CoLoRADo SPRINGs, COLO., September 14, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to cali of the chairman.
Present: Messrs. Stewart (chairman) and Jones; also Director Pow-
ell.
STATEMENT OF A. Z. SHELDON, OF COLORAD0 CITY.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in the State of Colo-
rado 3
Mr. SHELDON. About thirty years.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the water supply for irrigation
in this State, the successof that method, the quantity of land that can
be covered by water, etc.? Have you given that subject attention ?
Mr. SHELDON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed and make such statement with
regard to it as will aid the committee.
Mr. SHELDON. I have been engaged in the business of civil engineer-
ing most of the time while here, and much of the time have, as a matter
of course, been dealing with water. I am really at a loss to know ex-
actly what information you desire.
The CHAIRMAN. We want to know what water supply you have,
whether it needs to be increased; if so, how it can be increased ; the
land that you think can be covered by it, whether you have water enough
for the land, and whether irrigation is a good thing in this country.
Mr. SHELDON. Water is essential to us here. It is out of the ques-
tion to depend upon cultivating the soil here without an artificial supply
of water. In this immediate neighborhood we are dependent on the
water of the Fountain River and the Monument River mainly for our
supply. There are several tributaries to the Fountain above, but I in-
clude those in the term. I suppose we have some 7,000 or 8,000 acres
under cultivation, and if we depend on the natural flow of the water
during the season of tillage there is not sufficient to supply that amount
of land. Very many persons are short of water during the season. There
is, however, taking the season together, in my opinion, water enough
flowing here to supply three or four times that amount of land by storing
it properly. During the winter-time it virtually runs to waste; there
is very little use made of it. During the summer we have copious water.
falls, and, as a matter of course, we have no means of retaining it; so
that it flows off.
The CHAIRMAN: What are the opportunities for making storage reser-
voirs in this vicinity ?
Mr. SHELDON. There are Several localities in the mountains where
reservoirs might be made, but my idea has been to make those reser-
voirs on the plains. That is further off. If we attempt to make a reser-
voir on the mountain and then carry it a long distance towards the
plains, there is a large loss of Water before it reaches its destination.
Of course that would contribute to the supply of those in the immedi-
ate neighborhood, but it would not sufficiently supply outlying lands.
My idea of the proper course to be pursued is to locate those reservoirs
at suitable places on the plains and have provision made not only for
draining the Waters of the stream during the winter to those reservoirs,
but for intercepting the rain-fall and storing that. I have seen a single
rain-fall here that would fill a large reservoir, and the quality of our
land is such that places could be selected where there would be abso-
lutely no loss from Storage except from evaporation.
wº-
wº -
276 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Another feature of the country adjacent to us is, east of us are a sys-
tem of sink-holes. You understand, I suppose, what is meant by that.
Those have for their substratum, you might say, beds of sand. I am
Satisfied, from my experience, that those sand-beds can be made places
for the storage of water. Our experience shows that wherever irri-
gation is employed springs break out where under ordinary circum-
stances they never flowed, and they frequently flow along into the win-
ter, sometimes throughout the winter; and if these sand-beds were
infiltrated with water I am satisfied that it would constitute a constant
Source of supply to the stream below, because water in those sand-beds
finds its way to the stream. They generally overlie a stratum of allum-
inous shale which is impervious to the water, and it will flow out to the
stream and constitutes a continuous flow. Mr. Nettleton, our former
State engineer, made a series of experiments on Boulder River and
made careful measurements of water where it leaves the mountains.
Although there were no additional streams entering it below that, he
measured it some 20 miles below. The water was being determined
from the stream by the ditches above and he found a larger flow of
water below than came from the mountain; which corroborates the
theory that I have advanced here. Any one who has had any experi-
ence in the matter will confirm me in this statement that the filling of
the earth with water is virtually storing it. East of us there are places
where very considerable reservoirs could be constructed with compara-
tively little expense.
The CIIAIRMAN. Are you familiar with other streams than the two
you have mentioned ?
Mr. SHELDON. I am familiar with the Arkansas River and the Platte.
The CHAIRMAN. We have had no one to give us an account of the
Platte, but have had considerable testimony with regard to the
Arkansas. Are you quite familiar with the Platte 3
Mr. SHELDON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. That is dry in summer, is it not?
Mr. SHELDON. After you get some distance from the mountains it is
apparently dry, but our streams here are peculiar. Their beds are im-
mense sand-beds and nine-tenths of our streams that appear dry are
really full of water which is percolating through the Sands. If at any
point where the Platte River appears to be dry a permanent dam could
be constructed on the bed-rock, there would be a large flow of water
intercepted by that dam. But as it is, of course it is not available for
irrigation. The expense of reaching it is So large that individuals
could not undertake it.
The CHAIRMAN. The waters of the Platte are pretty much consumed
above, are they not, in irrigation ?
Mr. SIIELDON. They are at present. That is, those which appear on
the surface. During a very dry time, even in the neighborhood of
Denver, the waters of the Platte are very low. I have never seen the
Platte perfectly dry, though. I take it that it is never dry anywhere.
If the waters which are flowing through the sands could be intercepted,
there would be a considerable flow.
Senator JONES. Can that be done?
Mr. SHELDON. I think places could be selected where it could be
done. Of course, that is a matter for examination. I never made any
special examination.
Senator JONES. That is your conjecture ? -
Mr. SHELDON. That is my conjecture. I do not know how far below
the surface the hardpan or firm bottom is, but I know a great many
FERTILITY AND CROPS INCREASED BY IRRIGATION, 277
streams of that character which seem to be dry and yet are carrying a
very comfortable body of water.
Senator Jon Es. What crops do you raise here when you have water ?
Mr. SHELDON. We raise all the grains common to farming, Vegeta-
bles, hay, etc. -
Senator JONES. Fruits of some kinds 7
Mr. SHELDON. Yes, fruit is quite successful here. If we had water
facilities we have as good farming country as there is in the World.
There is no question about that.
Senator Jon Es. What do you say as to the supply of water for Colo-
rado—is it sufficient for the lands you have?
Mr. SHELDON. It is my impression that if a proper system of reser-
voirs were constructed the entire portion, or almost the entire portion,
of that which is known as the plains can be cultivated.
Senator JONES. Would there be some water left that could be used
in Kansas, beside 3
Mr. SHELDON. It is my impression that it would be a source of Sup-
ply for Kansas—the storage of those waters. It would increase the
flow of those streams which are running toward Kansas, and hence
Kansas would be benefited.
Senator JONES. Then you think that with a proper system of storage,
that is, if the water were saved and utilized, there would be enough
to supply all Colorado and what is required for Kansas 3
Mr. SHELDON. It is my impression that if a proper system of reser-
voirs were constructed on the plains sufficient to retain the rain-fall,
which every one who has had any experience in the West knows flows
off immediately as it falls, the whole of Colorado and Kansas would be
relieved in respect to the water supply.
Senator JONES. Would you regard investigation and survey of this
country important, with a view of ascertaining what could be done 3
Mr. SHELDON. I most certainly would do so. I have been working
up the subject for the last twenty years, making a start. Of course my
productions have been merely local here in Colorado, but I have made
an effort to attract attention to the subject.
Senator JONES. What do you say of the value of irrigated land for
homes 3 Taking a period of ten years, how will the same quantity of
land compare for production with the same quantity of land where they
rely on rain-fall?
Mr. SHELDON. I think the advantage is in favor of irrigated land.
Senator JONES. In regularity of crops?
Mr. SHELDON. In regularity of crops and in the fact that you have
the disposition of the water in your own hands and can apply it to the .
crops when they need it, and in the fact that flooding the land with
Water enriches it—an important factor.
Senator JONES. Has that been the experience in Colorado 3
Mr. SHELDON. Yes. I have land which I have cultivated for twenty
years successively, with irrigation and without manuring, depending,
therefore, on irrigation. Last year I did not see any modification in the
crop. I raise from 40 to 70 bushels of oats to the acre every year.
Senator JONES. Successively for many years ?
Mr. SHELDON. Yes, and that is a test that tries.
Senator JONES. Has a similar test been applied anywhere around
here with regard to wheat 3
... Mr. SHELDON. I do not know. I raised wheat on one plat of ground
for ten years until the prices dropped and then I relinquished it. I did
not see any abatement of the crop of wheat for ten years.
• V
278 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator JONES. But there was an abatement of the price?
Mr. SHELDON. Yes, the price abated and that abated the growth of
the wheat.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, in any crop that you have tried, you have not
found that it exhausted the soil at all?
Mr. SHELDON. No. -
The CHAIRMAN. Trrigation has supplied nutriment for the soil 7
Mr. SHELDON. Yes. I have other lands which I have laid down in
grasses. I think I was the first man in Colorado who commenced irri-
gating the land to produce native grass. I cut grass on the land for
fwenty years and I have an increasing crop all the time.
The CHAIRMAN. The native grass, without manure ?
Mr. SHELDON. Yes,
The CHAIRMAN. How much water is necessary to the land here, after
it is fairly reclaimed?
Mr. SHELDON. I have not those figures in my mind. I made several
calculations and stored them away; but from 1 inch to 2 inches of
water to the surface will constitute a good irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. An inch under a 4-inch pressure ?
Mr. SHELDON. No ; an inch or two in depth.
The CHAIRMAN. That is probably about one-tenth of a foot in depth 3
Mr. SHIELDON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Well, if that is the case, you certainly have water
enough.
Mr. SHELDON. We have water enough by storing it.
The CHAIRMAN. There are places where they think they must have
a foot in depth.
Mr. SHELDON. There is a good deal of water wasted in irrigation.
Many people think they must run floods over the land to irrigate it.
Senator JONES. Do you need more than one irrigation here?
Mr. SHELDON. I used to think that in order to make a crop of wheat
about three irrigations were necessary ; sometimes, if the season was
dry, I used to think four irrigations necessary.
Senator JONES. Then you divide that one-tenth of a foot into three
irrigations"
Mr. SHELDON. No ; apply one-tenth for each irrigation.
Senator JONES. Then you want more nearly half a foot than one-
tenth of a foot ?
Mr. SHELDON. About that.
The CHAIRMAN. About 6 inches for the year?
Mr. SHELDON. Yes. . That was what I meant to Say.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further you would like to suggest ?
Mr. SHELDON. Nothing that occurs to me now.
The CHAIR MAN. Where are the places for reservoirs & Are they on
public or on private land 3
Mr. SHELDON. Most of them are on public land, but those I have in
mind are on private land.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a law for condemning sites for reservoirs?
Mr. SHELDON. We have a law condemning right of way for ditches,
and that would naturally carry the reservoirs.
The CHAIRMAN. You have a good law in Colorado.
Mr. SHELDON. It took a long time to get to it, but the people are
coming to it now. I made an effort to have them begin as early as 1864
to provide specifically for the distribution of the water.
\
e
FORESTS AND THEIR ADMINISTRATION IN COLORADo. 279
STATEMENT OF EDGAR. T. ENSIGN, OF COLORAD0 SPRINGS.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ? *
Mr. ENSIGN. I am State forest Commissioner for Colorado. With
respect to Mr. Sheldon's testimony in regard to the storage of water in
the land serving to keep alive the streams, I will say that I think we
have an illustration right here in the matter of Shook's Run. Shook’s
Run formerly was one only in name; that is to say, it was a dry
creek. It is quite a little stream now right back of the town. The stor-
age of the water in the land tends to preserve a uniform and steady
flow in the Streams. *
The CHAIRMAN. You may proceed and make any statements you
please.
Mr. ENSIGN. In my own behalf I only wish to make the point in re-
spect to our forests, that according to our belief and according to the
belief of most of the people of Colorado, our forests tend largely to
conserve the waters. I am aware that I differ quite a good deal from
our friend, Major Powell, in that respect, but I can not help it. I think
that the forests help to keep alive the streams. I believe that they
keep the snows from melting prematurely, and are vastly advantageous.
I shall be glad to give the committee copies of my last official report in
which I have shown the irrigated land of the State. The forests and
streams and the irrigated lands, not the lands strictly that are or may
be irrigated, but the lands on the ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. What do the colors on the map signify ?
Mr. ENSIGN. The green indicates the forests, the red shows approxi-
mately the land on the ditch. The object of this map is to show the
intimate connection of forests with the streams and the irrigated land.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any suggestions to make in relation to
necessary regulations of Congress in regard to forests?
Mr. ENSIGN. Yes, I have.
Senator JONES. Do these red places show land under irrigation ?
Mr. ENSIGN. Land actually under ditch, but not irrigated. It is only
an approximate estimate, you understand. It is taken pretty largely
from reports received from the county surveyors and from Mr. T. C.
Henry, a man of high character, acquainted with the subject. I get
statements from people living in the neighborhood when I can not have
personal observation.
I was asked a moment ago by the chairman of the committee in re-
gard to the action of Congress, I think decidedly that Congress ought
to provide an efficient forest administration. What it should be as to
details I am not prepared to say.
The CHAIRMAN. You have had experience in regard to forests. What
is your idea as to what should be done 3 *
Mr. ENSIGN... I should say that instead of making forestry a mere
appendage of the Land Office at Washington it ought to be put in a de-
partment by itself and have an efficient head, and have representatives
and officers in every State where there are public timber lands.
The CHAIRMAN. We have a public timber land law in some or most
of the States. Would you sell the timber lands at all? If not, how
would you allow people to get timber? When they come into the west
they must have timber. What arrangement would you make whereby
they ºld have timber, and at the same time have the forests pre-
SøI'We
280 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Mr. ENSIGN. Your question is very vital. That is the thing. The
point is to preserve the timber and not prevent the legitimate use of it.
The CHAIRMAN. If they can not have the use of it the country can
not be settled. How can it be arranged so that the people may have
the timber and at the same time preserve the forests?
Mr. ENSIGN. I think that should be done so long as our pre-emption
and homestead laws allow people to take up land of that character that
may Come on their own claims.
The CHAIRMAN. But you know that in this great interior there are
no legitimate homesteads now on the timber lands.
Mr. ENSIGN. There are no agricultural lands, but they take them up
under the homestead law for cattle uses.
The CHAIRMAN. There are many fraudulent claims.
Mr. ENSIGN. There are many legitimate ones also. The fraudulent
claims are for milling purposes, where they skin the timber off and then
leave it. That is where the fraudulent claims come in mostly, I think.
The CHAIRMAN. This has been suggested through Montana and other
places where we have been: That all law for the sale of timber lands
should be repealed and that the Government retain all timber lands, .
except where it is seen in good faith to be agricultural. Then let every
man have all the timber he requires by paying a small stumpage, which
Shall meet the expenses of the administration and have local agents
that shall have charge of the timbers and prevent forest fires, etc.
Mr. ENSIGN. I think that should be done. People ought to pay
enough to keep up the protection of the forests and they would be will-
ing to do so.
The CHAIRMAN. If there is anything further that you wish to com-
municate after reflection I hope you will communicate it to us.
Mr. ENSIGN. I shall be glad to do so.
The CHAIRMAN. There are two things to accomplish; first it is ab-
Solutely necessary that people shall have timber.
Mr. ENSIGN. I know that.
The CHAIRMAN. The next is that the timber shall not be wasted and
the forests denuded. Now, how can that be accomplished ?
Mr. ENSIGN. I have long known that the people must have timber.
The question is how they can so use it as not to destroy it. Let them
have the timber crop like any other crop. When it becomes mature
let it be reaped. Let it be consumed in some legitimate way without
waste, and at the same time prevent the people from destroying all
the young timber. That should be preserved.
The CHAIRMAN. That needs local supervision ?
Mr. ENSIGN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Would not citizens residing in the locality of the
forests be apt to exercise more interest and control than strangers sent
in to supervise them 3
Mr. ENSIGN. That is a very good theory. If you will pardon me I
will tell you what our administration here is. We have a State forest
commissioner; then we have county commissioners and overseers.
The idea is also that we must interest the people locally; that if the
people are not interested the forests will not be saved. That is very
nice. It has been my duty to correspond with the county commission-
ers and overseers all over the State, and I find a woeful degree of indif.
ference, perhaps worse than that where the saw-mill interest predomi-
nates, where the public interest seems to lie in the destruction of the
forest rather than protecting it. .
APPEALs of THE AMERICAN FORESTRY CONGRESS. 281
Senator JoWEs. If the neighborhood wants some timber the local
agent is rather inclined to be kind to his neighbor ?
Mr. ENSIGN. Yes; in the forests they are nearly all pioneers. They
want to build corrals and doors and Windows.
Senator Jon Es. Is this question discussed in your pamphlet”
Mr. ENSIGN. Yes, to some extent.
Senator Jon Es. Do you desire to discuss it further after reflection ?
Mr. ENSIGN. Not now. |
Senator JONES. I mean will you communicate with the committee if
you think the question needs discussion further?
Mr. ENSIGN. Yes. We will have a bill before Congress, as we have
had nearly every session, for a forestry administration that would in-
clude all the public timber land in the United States. By “we” I mean
the American Forestry Congress, which meets again next October.
That body nearly every year has put forward a bill for the preservation
of the forests.
The CHAIRMAN. I have seen some of your proceedings, and I find you
are taking Germany as a model a good deal. I think you will have to
abandon that and take this country as a model, and look at it as it is.
You can not control it here exactly as they do in Germany.
Mr. ENSIGN. I suppose from your reading such volumes and reports
as have been published by the Department of Agriculture with respect
to foreign systems you are led to believe therefrom that the most we
are thinking of is to get some foreign system engrafted on our systems
here.
The CHAIRMAN. I have seen much of the foreign reports reprinted
in our books.
Mr. ENSIGN. We will be quite satisfied here if we can exercise a sort
of gentle supervision over the matter.
The CHAIRMAN. I sympathize with that movement. We have seen
terrible destruction by forest fires. There has been more timber de-
stroyed this year probably than has been cut for useful purposes since
the first settlement of the West. Fires were numerous in Montana,
Idaho, and Washington. It was so dark that we could not see the
mountains on either side.
Mr. ENSIGN. There is a paragraph in this report published last year
in which I stated that Colorado had for several years been quite free
from forest fires, but that as soon as we had another dry season the ex-
periences of 1879 would be repeated. That came sooner than I thought
it would, for we have had very disastrous fires this year.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE H. PARSONS.
The CHAIRMAN. You understand the class of information of which
the committee is in search. Please state anything that may interest
the committee in that respect, especially in regard to the preservation
of forests.
Mr. PARSONS. It seems to me that the principal thing in the preser-
vation of forests is first to withdraw certain parts of them from sale,
So that they can be looked after, then put them under Government su.
pervision. That of course would only apply to certain parts of the for-
ests that are most important, the headwaters of streams, etc. Then,
if we should devise some means—I think it would take the wisest heads
in the country to do it, however—to keep down the fires. We have
282 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
tried many means in this State, but they do not seem to be efficient.
Fire seems to be the greatest cause of destruction.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any suggestion as the result of your ex-
perience to offer to the committee in that respect 3
Mr. PARSONs. No, I have not.
Senator JONES. What have you tried in this State to prevent it 3
Mr. PARSONS. We have the different county officers, and they have
power to get help to put out any fires that they see, and to post no-
tices, etc., and to institute suits for damages.
The CHAIRMAN. Has that been no protection ?
Mr. PARSONS. No ; none at all. They will not look after it. If a
fire starts it is very hard to stop it, and it gets to going before we know
it. We have had one case here where the fire started a quarter of a
mile from a gentleman's house, in the mountains. He happened to dis-
cover it, and it was the hardest thing in the world for him to get it out,
although he discovered it shortly after it was started.
Senator JONES. What is the origin of forest fires here 3
Mr. PARSONS. Camps and parties through the mountains generally.
Regarding storage reservoirs I may be mistaken, but I differ from
many others. The forests would store the water just in the same way
that the reservoirs would. In fact, they act just as reservoirs do, and
in preserving the forests we more or less preserve the waters. There
are certain parts of the country which can be reserved without injuring
anybody—where people are not apt to go for timber. If those could
be reserved it would be of great advantage to agriculture.
The CHAIRMAN. When the forests are removed the water is let
down more suddenly 3 *N
Mr. PARSONS. Yes, the forests catch it and hold it in the soil. A
few years ago the hillsides were all covered with trees; now they are
denuded, and when we have rain it is pretty bad.
Senator JONES. I never heard a suggestion that anybody doubted
that until to-day.
The CHAIRMAN. I have never heard it stated that if the forests
were denuded it would not increase the rapidity with which the streams
would discharge the water.
Mr. PARSONs. I have heard people speak of the wisdom of caring
for our forests for that purpose.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. I think you will get just as much rain-fall without
the forests as ever, but if you have means of storing the moisture
below, of holding the water, probably the forests would not be so neces-
sary.
Mr. PARSONs. I have noticed here that the rain-fall is now better
distributed. We are irrigating, and are planting more trees around
the town sites here and in the country around.
The CHAIRMAN. The rains are less erratic and do not come down so
much in spots in this vicinity ?
Mr. PARSONS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. The rain-fall is modified so that the showers do not
resemble cloud-bursts so much as they used to do *
Mr. PARSONs. I do not know about that. I have been here only ten
years, but I notice that our showers through the summer come more
steadily and I do not think we have had such severe cloud-bursts as
we used to have, though of that I have hardly had sufficient experi-
6D.C.O.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed whether the cloud-bursts come
more where there are few trees?
A SIMPLE PLAN of water storAGE PROPOSED. 283
Mr. PARsons. That is a point that I have never observed. They
generally come north of us. I do not think though that there is any dif-
ference as to that.
The committee ordered filed papers to be forwarded and then ad-
journed.
**
STATEMENT OF W. N. BYERS, OF COLORADO, AS TO WATER-
STOR.A.G.E.
[Forwarded by Mr. Ensign.]
There is one plan of water storage which I think has never been publicly dis-
cussed. I doubt if it has been much thought of. It has the merit of being cheap
and simple whenever the natural conditions will permit of its adoption. In many
places it can not be used at all. It could not be applied upon the water of Cherry
Creek, Plum Creek, Monument Creek, or many other streams that might be named.
It is perfectly feasible upon the head waters of the Arkansas, the Platte, Clear
Creek, the Boulders, Cache-a-la Poudre, and all other streams that head high up upon
the Snowy Range. The plan is simply to convert the winter flow of water in such
streams into ice. It can be made to pile itself up into great masses and extensive
fields, many feet in depth, sufficient to withstand the sunshine of the entire summer
following. This opinion is based upon an intimate, knowledge of high mountain
streams and many years' observation of the effect of frost and snow upon them.
Most of the longer streams that flow out from the crest of the Snowy Range rise
at, or above, the upper line of timber growth. They descend by a steep grade
through the upper belt of timber and a number of them converge toward the center
of a basin which is the gathering point for a large stream. This basin is generally
a swampy meadow or a thicket of willows filled with beaver dams. Sometimes it is
partially covered with spruce trees. In any case it is wet and nearly or quite level.
The water flows through it very slowly and a relatively large quantity is always in
store there. At the foot of the basin a sharper descent begins and a large, well-de-
fined stream is formed. It may further on pass through other basins and lose itself
in successive swamps or beaver ponds.
In ordinary seasons these high regions are early covered with snow. In many
places it comes before the ground is frozen at all. It bridges over the channels of the
small streams and each succeeding storm covers them deeper. Consequently they
flow all winter under the snow. When the small streans have united and formed the
large one, it is too wide for the falling snow to bridge over, but the frosty nights soon
cover it with ice, leaving plenty of room beneath for the winter flow of water.
Snow soon spreads a blanket over the ice and the stream is safely housed from its
source at timber line all the way down the mountain slope to the point where chang-
ing temperature brings alternate freezing and thawing. Away up at the head, and
for many miles down its course, there is nothawing for many months. Ice once formed
remains ice until next summer.
Now my plan is to obstruct these small streams at, or just above, where they enter
their first Alpine basin. It can be very easily done. When the snow has covered
over the little rivulet and the weather has become freezing cold, break through the
covering at a favorable point, pack the channel full of snow and compel the water
to flow over your snow-dam into the open air. The compact body of water that
hitherto flowed in its confined and covered channel, now spreads out like a fan, in a
thin sheet; it saturates the Snow, the freezing air quickly changes it to ice, and in a
little while a hillock is growing up like the dump at the tail of a ground sluice. And
this hillock, or thousands of them, may be kept growing all winter. They will re-
quire Some attention to prevent the water from burrowing a new channel under the
Snow, but this can hardly happen except during a very heavy storm.
To carry out this plan would require an able, trusty man for each given space. It
may be the basin, or a number of basins at the head of a considerable stream. He
must make his winter home there. Before winter sets in he will have surveyed the
ground and marked out his route. It will be nearly on a level along the mountain
side and will resemble a trapper's trail for setting a line of traps. He will mark it
Well by blazing trees or planting poles. At the crossing of each little stream he will
determine the exact place to interrupt its flow and mark, it by a high stake or pole.
When the proper time comes he will proceed as above explained. During the winter
he must keep watch of the work, and especially after each considerable fall of snow
he should go over his entire circuit. A man should take care of 15 or 20 miles or
from 50 to 100 little streams. The tools required would be a shovel and possibly a
wooden maul. As may be readily seen, this same process might be applied lower
284 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
down the stream where it is larger, and instead of building up a great number of
little glaciers, construct a grand one. Success depends upon bringing the water out
to the air; distributing it in a thin sheet over a comparatively large surface so it will
freeze quickly, and keeping the flow all the time on the surface. To save it all the
process must be high enough upon the mountains to have steady freezing weather.
Taking the head waters of any one of our important irrigating streams, as the St.
Vrain, the Boulders, or Bear Creek, and I believe that one man at $60 per month for
six months in the year will store up more water against the next irrigating season
than can be stored in a $50,000 reservoir. The plan is so simple and the expense
would be so little, that it is certainly worth an experimental trial at any rate.
COT.ORADO FOREST LEGISLATION AND STUGGESTIONS.
[Forwarded by State Forest Commissioner Ensign.]
By the laws of Colorado the office of State forest commissioner has been instituted,
and the county commissioners and road overseers throughout the State are constituted
forest officers in their respective localities.
Under the act found at page 299, session laws of 1885, county commissioners and
road overseers are made conservators of woodlands in their respective localities, and
are required to enforce the laws and regulations made for the protection and preser-
Vation of such woodlands.
County commissioners are also enjoined to encourage, to the extent of their power,
* planting of trees along water-courses and irrigating ditches, and in other proper
places. *
It is made the special duty of all forest officers to exercise great care and diligence
in the prevention and extinguishment of fires, within the State, likely to endanger
or destroy forest growth, and to apprehend any persons who may be guilty of causing
such fires; and in the performance of such duties, such officers may call to their aid
such person or persons, within the State, as they may deem necessary.
All forest officers and all peace officers, within the State, are empowered and re-
Quired to arrest any and all persons found trespassing upon the woodlands of the
State, or unlawfully cutting or destroying timber thereon, or setting fire in a manner
to endanger such woodlands; and shall cause actions to be instituted, in courts of
proper jurisdiction, to punish violators of the forestry laws of the State.
Judges of the supreme and district courts and justices of the peace, are by law
made conservators of the peace, or “peace officers.”
Section 7 of the forestry act also prescribes the mode of compensating county forest
officers for services performed under the act.
The session laws of 1885 (page 164) provide for the punishment of persons building
camp-fires and failing to extinguish them.
A further act (see page 161, session laws, 1885) makes it the duty of the county
commissioners, in each county, to cause to be erected, in conspicuous places, through-
out their respective counties, notices in large letters, substantially in the following
form, to wit :
“Camp-fires must be totally extinguished before breaking camp, under ponalty of
not to exceed one month imprisonment, or $100 fine, or both, as provided by law.”
Section 3426 of the general statutes of Colorado provides that whenever a line of
forest trees, not less than 16 feet apart, shall hereafter be planted, at not more than
8 feet from the outer line of a highway upon which his land may border, or along
ditches within his land, and kept in good growing condition for three years, there
shall be paid as a premium to such owner of the said land, on the fourth year, and for
the next six years following, the sum of $2 for every one hundred trees so planted,
provided that said trees be so long kept in good growing condition.
FORESTRY MEASURES PROPOSED.
(1) That a memorial to Congress be adopted, urgently setting forth the immense and
increasing destruction of the public forests, in Colorado and adjacent Territories, by
fire, railway companies, charcoal-burners, lumbermen, and others, causing great
and irreparable injury, and earnestly requesting the enactment of laws to afford
necessary relief.
(2) That a liberal annual appropriation be made to the State Horticultural and
Forestry Association to aid it in its work. e -
(3) That arbor day be established by legislative act, and made a holiday in the
public schools. e º w º
(4) That more substantial encouragement in the way of premiums, etc., be given
for the planting of trees. The bounties and exemptions, now provided by law, are
inadequate.
y
PLANTING OF TREES NECESSARY FOR IRRIGATION. 285
(5) That railway and telegraph companies, mill-owners, charcoal manufacturers,
and others, who consume, in the prosecution of their business, large amounts of
timber or other forest material, be required to make reports, in connection with the
use and consumption of such timber or material, to the State forest commissioner,
as may be called for by that officer.
(6) That the act found at page 161 of the laws of the fifth general assembly, be
so amended as to require the continued maintenance of fire notices; such notices to
be posted annually, when necessary.
(7) That a law be enacted prohibiting the wasteful use and destruction of young
evergreen trees during the winter holidays, or at other seasons.
IRRIGATION AND TEEE-PLANTING.
In nearly all portions of the State where water can be had for irrigation, trees
can be made to grow. The method or methods, by which they can be grown in certain
portions of the plains region, beyond the reach of irrigation, and without the so-
called “rain belt,” is yet an unsolved problem. It is, however, quite confidently ex-
pected that by the introduction of certain hardy foreign species, by the more care-
ful and extended cultivation of some of the native varieties, and by certain prospect-
ive experimental work, much may be done to promote the cultivation of trees
in the hitherto treeless sections of the State. That crops have been successfully
grown in some parts of the plains region without the aid of irrigation, warrants the
belief that trees also may be grown there.
PROPOSED NATIONAL LEGISLATION.
In furtherance of a movement to give the State control of such lands, Congress has
been memorialized, and the subject more or less agitated by State organizations and
individuals interested in the question. The later, and perhaps the better, opinion
is, that, owing to the great difficulty of obtaining legislation of that character in be-
half of any particular State or States, some general measure should be proposed appli-
cable to the entire body of public timber-lands, wherever situated, and which would
leave them under the control of the General Government. Therefore, a bill in accord-
ance with the last-named plan was prepared, and copies of the same sent to lead-
ing citizens in different sections of the country for an expression of their opinion
upon its merits. The proposed measure met with general favor, and was also
heartily indorsed by the American Forestry Congress, at its 1887 annual meeting.
The bill provided for the withdrawal from sale, or entry, of the public forest lands
and their classification. It instituted, in the Department of the Interior, the offices
of commissioner of forests, and four assistant commissioners; authorized the appoint-
ment of necessary forest inspectors and rangers, and sought to establish an effective
and reasonably complete forest administration. By a system of licenses for the cut-
ting of public timber, it provided for the needs of settlers and others. Five hundred
thousand dollars was named as the amount required to carry out the provisions of
the act.
The bill was duly introduced in both branches of the 1887–88 Congress, but seems
to have made but little, if any, progress beyond the committees to which it was re-
ferred. A new bill, differing in some important particulars from the old one, will be
prepared and introduced at the next session of Congress.
DENVER, COLO., September 16, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman. -
Present: Messrs. Stewart (chairman), and Jones; also Director
Powell.
STATEMENT OF SUMNER. H. BODFISH, OF WASHINGTON, D. C.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you made an examination of the topography,
the water supply, and the land to be irrigated in the State of Colorado,
with reference to the subject of irrigation ?
Mr. BODFISH. As engineer assigned to the drainage basin of the Ar-
kansas River, I have had a little experience in searching for reservoir
sites in the Upper Arkansas.
286 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
The CHAIRMAN. How long were you engaged in that work?
Mr. BODFISH. Since the 1st of July of this year.
The CHAIRMAN. What district have you examined ? --
Mr. BODFISH. The upper portion, in the vicinity of Leadville.
The CHAIRMAN. Commencing at what point below %
Mr. BODFISH. Commencing at the village of Granite, on the Denver
and Rio Grande Railroad and the Arkansas River.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you examined from there up as far as the
Sources of the Arkansas ?
Mr. BODFISH. Thoroughly, and from there below have made pros-
pecting trips.
The CHAIRMAN. State exactly what you found.
Mr. BODFISH. I have found several reservoir sites of the old glacial
period of the Upper Arkansas, above the town of Granite, which will
store 300,000 acre-feet of water. They are now being surveyed by one
of Our parties. I have made one trip Southward in a wagon as far as
Cañon City and across from there to Colorado Springs; and also up
and down the Monument and Fountain Rivers, the finding some small
sites in the vicinity of Cañon City; also on the Monument and Fountain
Rivers. &
The CHAIRMAN. Describe the principal sites and the probable amount
of storage capacity and the probable cost; not having made an accu-
rate survey, of course, it will be only an estimate. When will you have
accurate estimates made 3
Mr. BODFISH. Not until the field Season is done and I arrive in Wash-
ington. The time we use in the field is entirely for prospecting work.
Senator JONES. How late will that be 3
Mr. BODFISH. The month of January next.
Senator JONES. You mean you will be in Washington in January 3
Mr. BODFISH. I shall be in Washington probably in December, but
probably by the last of January I will have those estimates ready.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you give a general statement of what you found?
Mr. BODFISH. Do you mean the reservoir sites and the localities 3
The CHAIRMAN. Yes—the principal ones—I do not wish you to go
into details.
Mr. BODFISH. Some of them will be rough guesses.
The CHAIRMAN. You can qualify your language as you choose.
Mr. BODFISH. The first site surveyed was that of the Twin Lakes in
the vicinity of Granite, in which we find about 108,000 acre-feet, upon
the supposition that it was dammed to a height of about 30 feet and
drawn off to a depth of 40 feet below the existing surface of the lake.
The Clear Lake reservoir site on the next stream to the South would,
at comparatively small cost, store 7,000 acre-feet.
The next area already surveyed is what I called the Hayden reser-
voir site, on the main Arkansas stream, with a dam, within about 2
miles of Twin Lakes. That has a natural basin out of which the river
would cut its way, and it would constitute a storage basin of about
60,000 acre-feet. e tº
The next one, which is now being surveyed, is what I called the Sugar
Loaf site, on the lake fork of the Arkansas River west of Leadville and
consists of two dead glacial lakes, the water of which had cut its way
out. By restoring the natural dam at the lower lake some 50,000 acre-
feet can easily be stored.
To the northward of that is found what I call the Tennessee reservoir
site, on the Tennessee fork of the Arkansas River, a few miles only from
Leadville and about 2 miles from the Sugar Loaf Site. Roughly esti-
RESERVoIR SITES AT THE HEAD OF THE ARKANSAS. 287
mated, I would say that the Tennessee reservoir would hold at least
50,000 acre-feet.
To the northward of that, about 2 miles is another site which would
hold about 3,000 to 4,000 acre-feet. It is called Crane's reservoir site.
In the vicinity of Leadville, within about 14 to 2 miles of it, is a nar-
row gulch on the east fork of the Arkansas river which, when dammed,
I think would hold something like from 10,000 to 15,000 acre-feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Those are the principal sites?
Mr. BODFISH. Those are the principal sites.
The CHAIRMAN. You may state roughly the probable cost of dams
and the kind of structures required to improve those sites.
Mr. BODFISH. I have not had time to make estimates of that or to
compute the cubical contents of those accurately. Those three that I
surveyed were accurately given. The others were simple estimates.
I should say that those sites could be improved at a cost of about $7
to $8 per acre-foot.
The CHAIRMAN. State whether those would be more than ordinarily
expensive or not in the construction.
Mr. BODFISH. In the Twin Lakes Reservoir site, the stream has cut
out through a natural dam, which is composed of small glacial drumlins
or hills with slight hollows between. The masonry portion of the dam
at Twin Lakes would be 70 feet high, provided the lake was drained 40
feet below its present surface and raised 30 feet above its present surface.
The masonry portion of the dam would be not over 100 feet wide, includ.
ing the overfall and waste-way. The remainder would be small earthen
embankments on the tops of these hills, the greatest not over 100 feet
long and 10 feet high. The Clear Lake Reservoir site is also a natural
embankment or dam, through which the river has cut to the depth of
about 50 feet. The copage at the bottom is about 75 feet across, sloping
to about 250 feet on the top of the dam.
On the Hayden Reservoir site I assumed that because the situation
was so favorable, a dam to the height of 120 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Is the copage narrow %
Mr. BODFISH. It is about 400 feet wide and is precipitous almost on
both sides to a depth of 90 feet. On one end it rises fast, and on the
other it slopes off to a piece of land between the river side and the
neighboring Creek. The waste-way would be over the natural rock bed
at an elevation of 95 to 120 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you describe the kind of a waste-way needed in
the other ?
Mr. BODFISH. No : they are all glacial drifts.
The CHAIRMAN. And you have to have the water go over the dam *
Mr. BODFISH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. That is much more expensive in the building of the
dam, I suppose, is it not ?
Mr. BODFISH. Yes. On the Sugar Loaf Reservoir site, where the
Water has cut through the matural dam, the masonry and overfall
Would have to be built, including waste gates of about 100 feet in
length. . The remainder could be of earth. I estimated the height of
that to be 45 feet. In the case of the Hayden Reservoir site, I should
have Said that there are two railroads to be moved. In the case of the
Tennessee Reservoir site, the dam would have to abut against a glacial
drift and would be a length of 600 feet over all.
The CHAIRMAN. Would the overflow have to be over the dam :
Mr. BODFISH. Yes.
288 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. There are only two of them in which the overflow .
would be over the dam *
Mr. BODFISH. There is only one in which the overflow would be over .
the Solid rock. -
What I call the Leadville reservoir would be caused by damming a
narrow gorge through solid rock where the walls are perpendicular,
only about 75 feet apart and about 60 feet high. Above that, the
masonry could be carried as high as 90 or 100 feet and then by some
embankments 200 or 300 yards.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of those reservoir sites would be
On private lands 3
Mr. BODFISH. They are almost all on private lands. It happens on
those sites that the basins are natural basins, the land is irrigable land,
and the people are settled on them. They have excellent farms on the
Tennessee basin, and raise sufficient hay to give them an income on some
of the farms of $3,000 a year for 160 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you, in each case, a general estimate of the
amount of property that would have to be condemned ?
Mr. BODFISH. In the maps of those reservoir sites that are being
made, all culture and improvements are recorded—railroads, fences,
ditches, everything in existence that was put there by man. The topog-
raphy is taken around the immediate outlet of the reservoir site. Two-
foot contours, to enable careful estimates of construction on high-water
lines, are run around the remainder of them. º
The CHAIRMAN. Have you made any exploration of the land, to be ir-
rigated by the water that is stored ?
Mr. BODFISH. Not yet. The Arkansas Valley is about 200 miles in
length, from Cañon City to the Colorado and Kansas line. If you take
1 mile wide of that Valley for that distance, you get approximately
128,000 acres. You can see how much land could be covered in that
valley by the 300,000 acre-feet of the upper portion. The drainage area
to furnish the water for these 300,000 acre-feet is approximately about
360,000 acres.
Senator JONES. You have examined all the sites above Cañon City?
Mr. BoDFISH. No, sir. I have only made one prospecting tour in a
wagon from the lower end of this glacial area down the river to Cañon
City and across to Colorado Springs. I have surveyed the Fountain
River and the Monument Creek, near Colorado Springs, for reservoir
Sites.
Senator JONES. How much is embraced in the drainage basin of the
Arkansas above the lowest point to Which you have made Complete ex-
amination ?
Mr. BODFISH. About 360,000 acres.
Senator JONES. What proportion of the rain-fall embraced in that
basin would be caught in those reservoirs?
Mr. BODFISH. It would all be caught.
Senator JONES. There would be no waste of water of that 360,000
acres at all if the reservoirs were built 3
Mr. BoDFISH. No, sir; they would be sufficient. The rain-fall in the
Arkansas River is now being determined and the streams will be
gauged by the hydrographic force. That information has not been fur-
nished to me yet. So I can not state how much Water there is.
Senator JONES. I did not ask about the quantity of Water, but whether
the reservoirs would catch all the rain-fall Within that basin 3
Mr. BODFISH. Yes; they will catch all the rain-fall within the 360,000
acres, and they furnish about 300,000 acre-feet, of storage room.
STORAGE IN THE MOUNTAINS AND ON THE PLAINs. 289
Senator Jon Es. As to the Water Supply, that Will be ascertained
when you find out the rain-fall ? -
Mr. BODFISH. Yes.
Senator Jones. How much will all those reservoirs irrigate %
Mr. BODFISH. About 300,000 acre-feet, 300,000 acres of water 1 foot
deep.
sºlator Jon Es. I think the rain-fall would be very much more than
a foot.
Mr, BODFISH. I presume it will, but on the assumption that you can
store those full twice a year you can have a good deal of water. The
rain-fall, with the melting of the snows, would fill them before spring,
and when the farmer wants them, in April, May, and June, they can be
emptied, and filled again with the melting of the snows in June and
July, which would be used again in the fall, on the supposition that
there is rain-fall and snow-fall enough to fill them twice.
Senator JONES. About how much land do you think (by refilling)
could be irrigated if you got enough to fill them twice? -
Mr. BODFISH. You would have 600,000 acre feet.
The CHAIRMAN. They do not need more than 6 inches of water.
Senator JONES. His proposition is to irrigate twice a year.
The CHAIRMAN. Six inches of water for a year will be enough when
the people are reasonably economical.
Mr. BODFISH. I have found three small sites on the Fountain and
Monument Rivers. I have found one in the vicinity of Cañon City.
From my knowledge of the topography and looking into the country
from a distance, I think there are many more in the vicinity of Cañon
City and Pike's Peak.
Senator JONES. How near Will you be able to complete the examina-
tion of your whole district this season 3
Mr. BODFISH. I think I can do it all before the end of the season as
far as reservoir sites are concerned.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you contemplate sites on the plains 2
Mr. BODFISH. There are some sites there, I understand, and which I
am told are good, and will carry a good deal of water, but I do not know
about that until I investigate.
STATEMENT OF. H. B. CHAMBERLIN, OF DENVER,
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation?
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. Investment banker and real-estate dealer.
The CHAIRMAN. You are president of the Chamber of Commerce?
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. Yes. -
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given the subject of irrigation and water
supply for land in this State any attention 3
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. I have given the matter some practical but not
theoretical attention.
The CHAIRMAN. Please state in your own way what practical atten-
tion you have given the subject, and what conclusions you have arrived
at. 3.
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. My interest in the reservoir question is in the
ownership of land adjoining a reservoir built in 1884. I purchased of
the Union Pacific Railway in 1882 the northwest quarter of section 12,
township 5, South of range 69 west, for $7 an acre. In 1883, this land
was held at $10 an acre without a buyer in the open market. No im-
provements had been made thereon. In the autumn of 1883, W. C.
138 A L–WOL III—19
|
;" w --
* t
290 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Henry, the owner of the southeast quarter of section 4, township 5, south
of range 69 west, built a reservoir covering 80 acres on said quarter
section, this reservoir being completed by the following spring. With-
in three months of the time this reservoir was completed this land of
which I was the owner was sold by me for $25 an acre, the apprecia-
tion in value being wholly due to the fact that the reservoir had been
built of sufficient capacity to furnish water for the adjacent lands.
During the whole of my ownership that land was under a ditch known
as the “Agricultural Ditch.” No water could be had for the land, the
entire water right being exhausted, so that the stored water referred to
enhanced the value of this land within six months from $10 an acre,
with no buyers, to a sale at $25 an acre. During this time no improve-
ments of any kind had been put on the land.
The CHAIRMAN. What has been the practical result of that reser-
voir to you which furnished water for irrigation all that time?
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. That land has been under cultivation ever since,
and is now worth $100 an acre. -
The CEIAIRMAN. From that reservoir”
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Explain what water it gave and how much land it
covered. Give an idea of the cost of the reservoir and its practical re-
Sults.
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. From time to time this reservoir has been en-
larged by heightening the wall that confined the water in a sink, so that
from being able to store water to furnish about 400 acres the reservoir
is now able to furnish water for an estimate of 1,200 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land is flooded ?
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. I think now about 120 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the height of the dam ?
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. It must be 14 feet high.
The CHAIRMAN. How is the reservoir supplied with water; what is
the water-shed that supplies it 3
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. It is not a natural water-shed. It is water stored
during the unused season from the Agricultural Ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. The water runs to waste from that ditch and you
turn it into a reservoir. w
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And by making that reservoir you have succeeded
in irrigating about 1,200 acres that could not have been supplied.
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. We saved water in that to irrigate the 1,200 acres.
Senator JONES. Has the owner of that tract of land bought a per-
manent interest in the water-right or does he get it annually *
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. He has bought an interest in the stored water of
this reservoir, not in the water-right, not in the ditch; he could not buy
a right in the ditch; nobody would give up, but he bought a right to
the water stored in the reservoir.
Senator JONES. What did the water cost him 3
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. I do not know. I think that another witness
later will know. J *
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the soil & Is it different
from what it is on the plains generally &
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. No, not at all. There is a little more adobe in it.
The CHAIRMAN. Is not that good for reservoir sites? f
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. Yes; the reservoir site is Sandy and adobe-like,
having a little more adobe than the soil east of Denver.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you made record of the evaporation?
Flood streams AND THEIR service value. 291.
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. No. Not having interest in it now I have not
done so. - * -
The CHAIRMAN. How long did you have to retain the water before
using it 3 -
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. The first season it did not hold; the second season
it did.
The CHAIRMAN. After you got it puddled so that it would hold water,
how long a time elapsed from the time of filling the ditch before you
could use the water ?
Mr. CHAMBERLIN. The filling was done during the winter and early
spring and every time there would be a little water going to waste the
commissioners would allow it to be turned into this lake. The water
was not all used that was coming through the ditch. There was water
coming constantly through until the dry season commenced, about the
middle of June.
STATEMENT OF LOUIS G. CARPENTER, OF FORT COLLINS,
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation?
Mr. CARPENTER. I am professor in the State Agricultural College.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given the subject of water supply for ir-
rigation some consideration ?
Mr. CARPENTER. I have traveled a good deal in the summer, inves-
tigating irrigation in Colorado. In connection with my duties, I have
been over a good many thousand miles. I have traveled probably 800
or 1,000 miles over the ditches themselves. /
The CHAIRMAN. Give us briefly the result of your investigation.
Mr. CARPENTER. Some features that I have met with in the eastern
part of the State may not have been called to your attention, especially
as to the Platte River. It has struck me many times that while the
Platte River up here has been nearly dry, with very little water in it
for many-miles, the lower ditches have not suffered for want of water,
although the same ditches have used nearly all the water. I under-
stand that the greatest Water Supply at any one time in the Platte
River has been 600 cubic feet per second.
Senator JONES. Where did those lower ditches get their water sup-
ply?
Mr. CARPENTER. From the Platte almost entirely. They have been
aided somewhat this year from side streams. As you know, throughthe
plains there are streams that are ordinarily dry, yet the total water sup-
ply from them is large in one sense. As a special instance, there is the
Bijou, which enters the Platte near Fort Morgan. It has several times
this summer come down with a rush and has supplied a good deal of wa-
ter to the Platte in the region below. It has helped out the Platte and
Beaver very much. One special instance was told me by the superin-
tendent of that canal, with whom I went over the canal. He heard the
flood coming down the canal and went up to protect the ditch. The wa-
ter came down that channel a good many feet wide and 3 or 4 feet deep,
sufficient to cover all the highlands outside. The water commissioner
of that district corroborated that statement and also stated that the wa-
ter ran for nearly twenty-four hours. He further stated, as showing the
effect of the Platte, that the Water commissioner of the district below
told him that although they ran for twenty-four hours, it did not affect
the water supply at Sterling or on the Pony Ditch, which is some miles
.below. All the water had disappeared in the sands. The disappear.
292 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
ance and re-appearance of the water in the sands is rather surprising.
I have not verified that, but it shows something of the characteristics
of those streams. * t r
b ºlºgnanºs. How do you account for the additional supply down
€1OW w
Mr. CARPENTER. It must come from the supply from the mountain,
I think, indirectly. It can not come from seepage from irrigation in that
immediate vicinity, I think. The water from the mountains must out-
Crop at Various places, as we know it does at the head of the Republi-
Can River and so on through Kansas. The Republican River rises in
the eastern part of the State entirely away from the mountains or any
perpetual Water-shed or water supply in the sense of rains or snow; yet
I believe it is a perpetual stream, and they are irrigating from it.
pº guaranas. Is there any irrigation done in Kansas from the
atte
Mr. CARPENTER. Not that I know of, until you reach North Platte,
although that is beyond my line of experience. I have confined my
travels to this State, but the North Platte waters some portion of it. I
have been told that there is none on the South Platte in Nebraska.
The lowest ditch in this State that is of any size is the Ileff Ditch, taken
from the Platte Valley, which heads just below Sterling. There we .
See a ditch that seems to be abandoned farther east.
The CHAIRMAN. In your travels this summer have you observed
many places where they have attempted to store water, in reservoirs
or otherwise, to increase the supply "
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes; I have seen some.
The CHAIRMAN. Describe them and their success.
Mr. CARPENTER. As to a part of them I can not describe their
Success. In the Arkansas Valley there is a reservoir, covering about
200 acres, about 200 miles from Lamard. It was in process of con-
struction when I was there in April. I have here a photograph of the
embankment, which is quite long. It is about 110 miles from the head-
gate of that canal, that being the largest canal in the State. The Canal
has been a success during the year, and has furnished a good deal of
water. In the northern part of the State there are a number of reser-
voirs. As to the North Poudre the Superintendent is here and can give
you definite information, and I would prefer that he should give it. In
many cases they have helped out wonderfully. The crops would have
been a failure without them. º *
The CEIAIRMAN. Have you heard any discussion of the amount of
evaporation from the time of the storage of the water until they got
ready to use it 3
Mr. CARPENTER. We have conducted a series of experiments at the
college, and know something approximately of the evaporation. I have
a chart here showing the evaporation, if you would like to look at it.
The CHAIRMAN. We should like to see it.
Mr. CARPENTER (producing the chart). Experiments have been con-
ducted at the college in tanks for several years. I do not know the
circumstances of those that were made before I came there, but I com-
bined the experiments of last year, September to December, with those
of the first half of this year and reduced them to the evaporation day-
rate. In January and February the water was frozen, but we melted
it and divided the loss by the number of days. The horizontal lines
on this chart represent hundredths of an inch. In January the average
was .035 of an inch per day. The progress of the curve indicates the
general run. In April it ran up to between .13 and .14 of an inch per
-*.
MAXIMUM AND MINIMUM OF HUMID EVAPORATION. 293
day. In May we had a very rainy month, and it increased. In July it
ran up to between .17 and .18 of an inch, as an average, per day. We
have taken those observations twice a day with the book gauge, so that
our experiments are correct, because that is the most careful means of
measuring. At least our measurements are correct within one one-
thousandth of a foot, and generally within one ten-thousandth. That
makes the total evaporation, I believe, about 35 inches for one year.
This summer we have placed tanks in canals and tanks in reservoirs.
The reservoir experiments have not been carried on now for four years,
but for the limited time in which they were carried on in one reservoir
the evaporation was a little over 50 per cent. more than that shown in
this chart. The tanks are in earth, and their temperature is kept cool
by the temperature of the surrounding earth. Heat has, of course,
great influence on evaporation. We have really only one good result,
because of one of the tanks being tampered with. The evaporation in
July was 73, inches in the middle of the lake, probably 80 rods from the
nearest shore, while in this tank, the figures of which are shown in the
chart, it was a little less than 5%. We placed a tank in the river, so
that the water would be of the same temperature as the river. There
the evaporation was between 3 and 4 inches less than in either the tank
in the earth or the tank in the reservoir. Temperature, of course, has
a controlling influence on evaporation.
The CHAIRMAN. About what time does the water remain in the res-
ervoir before it is used for irrigation purposes? When is the end of the
irrigation period 2
Mr. CARPENTER. That depends upon the crops. The water is needed
most in June, July, and part of August. 3.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose the water is used in June, July, and August.
Then, you commence storing at what time?
Mr. CARPENTER. It can be stored just as soon as the ice melts so that
Water can run in the Canals or ditches. In the contracts that are made
by the various ditch companies it is generally stated that the irrigation
shall be from the 1st of Maw until the 1st of November. But they are
beginning to irrigate earlier wherever they can get water.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you would not store it more than five or six
months probably * 4.
Mr. CARPENTER. No.
The CHAIRMAN. It would not be kept stored any longer than that as
an average %
Mr. CARPENTER. I should not think the average amount would be
much more than 4 months.
The CHAIRMAN. And during those four months, you have part of the
time the maximum of evaporation?
Mr. CARPENTER. No ; the maximum of evaporations in the streams
is in July.
Senator JONES. And the maximum needed for irrigation would be
in June, I suppose? " ;
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes; in the latter part of May, June, and perhaps
part of July—along in those three months.
The CHAIRMAN. There would not be more than 5 or 6 inches of evapo-
ration during the time the Water would have to be retained 2
Mr. CARPENTER. In the month of June and July, the evaporation
under reservoir conditions would not be more than 5 inches per month
for these two months, judging from my limited observation.
. *. Then, the Whole evaporation would not exceed a foot
WOUL101 I f
294 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Mr. CARPENTER. I should think not.
Senator JONES. For what time? ---. -
Mr. CARPENTER. During the irrigation season, for the time the water
Would be needed.
The CHAIRMAN. What I want to get at is the loss by evaporation.
Senator JONES. For the twelve months. * --
Mr. CARPENTER. For the twelve months, the evaporation would vary
from 35 to 60 inches. Storage might begin in the fall, in case there is a
reservoir. There is no reason why the winter water should not be saved.
Of course, that water would be subject to a greater evaporation than in
any other case.
Senator JONES. But you will have evaporation as soon as there is
Water in the reservoir. If you have water there for twelve months there
Will be evaporation for twelve months.
Mr. CARPENTER. It is not always full, as the water will be used up
for irrigation during part of the time.
Senator JONES. What is the rain-fall here per year 2
Mr. CARPENTER. The rain-fall for the State at Denveris something over
15 inches. From our observations at Fort Collins the rain-fall for eight
years averages 13% inches. There is another diagram here that shows
the distribution of the rain-fall, which is fully as important as the amount
Of rain-fall, so far as crops are concerned. A minimum of rain-fall may
do a maximum of good, if it comes when it is needed. It is a chart of
the average rain-fall per month. On the rain-fall map you will observe
that in June the line descends somewhat, and in July it descends some-
what. In the winter the rain-fall is of course'slight. A large percentage
of it comes during the months of May, June, and July.
Senator JONES. State the amount of rain-fall for each month from the
chart so that it may get into the record. *.
Mr. CARPENTER. In January it is .80 of an inch; in February, .52
of an inch ; in March, .70 of an inch ; in April, 1.6 inches; in May, 2.9
inches; in June, it is 1.7 inches; in July, 1.8 inches; in August it is a
trifle over 1 inch; in September it is about .94 of an inch ; in October, .97
of an inch ; in November, .4 of an inch ; and in December.35 of an inch.
I have further data here from the state engineer’s report. It is a chart
which was made for another purpose, but it illustrates the discharge, in
cubic feet per second, of the Caché la Poudre River. The actual dis-
charge varied from day to day, but I have evened them out. On this
chart there are lines which represent the actual discharge, according to
the records of the state engineer's office, but the curve has been smoothed
out to show the change of the stream. The first line is the discharge of
1884. These lines indicate a thousand cubic feet per second. I'or 1885
you will observe that the discharge was more variable and less in amount
than in 1884. In 1886, the lines indicating the discharge show that in
the fall and winter it became very small. Fainter lines represent the
discharge of 1887, which is still smaller. In 1888 it is still smaller.
As to that year Mr. La Grange, the water commissioner, is here and
can tell you as to the condition of the stream.
Senator JONES. From 1884 to 1888, there was a steady decrease in
the volume of the stream 3 4.
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes.
Senator Jon Es. This year, it would seem, there has been a slight in-
crease ? -
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes. The black line running across the chart rep-
resents the supply which the ditches would carry if they had all the
volumE of WATER REQUIRED FROM CACHſ LA POUDRE. 295
water they could carry. The needs of the ditches vary. If they all
want water at the same time, 2,300 feet would supply them. Early in
May a less amount would supply them, but how much, I am not able to
say. So this line, as a standard, would be more exact if it were a curve,
because the excess of water would be greater than this chart would
show. All that water ſindicating by reference to the chart] is excess,
and if it could be stored it would furnish an immense volume of water,
which would benefit all the country east of there.
Senator JONES. For how long a time is this 2,300 feet required in the
ditches 7
Mr. CARPENTER. I do not know personally.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there not a time when this water is not all re-
quired in the ditches?
Mr. CARPENTER. I do not know how that is. Mr. La Grange knows
more of the matter than I do.
Senator JONES. Let us see what Mr. La Grange has to say about it.
STATEMENT OF B, S, LA GRANGE.
Senator JONES. Mr. Carpenter has just stated that 2,300 cubic feet
per second is what is required by the ditches supplied by the stream he
refers to (Caché la Poudre). I ask you for how long a period the ditches
require that much water?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Thirty to forty days.
Senator JONES. Within the twelve months?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
Senator JONEs. Only that much within a year 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes, for the general irrigation. We have a surplus
of about 1,100 cubic feet per second, basing it on the supposition that
the intake of all the canals is 2,300 and the discharge, as recorded in
the cañon, would give us about 1,100 cubic feet of surplus.
Senator JONES. That is to say, the average annual flow of the stream
for twelve months would be about 3,400 feet per second, and the canals
require 2,300 feet 3 - *
Mr. LA GRANGE. It is more than that for the whole twelve months.
I am speaking with reference to this season. We had about 1,100 feet
excess during the past season of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. You had that much surplus water that was wasted?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
Senator JONES. During the season of irrigation, he says.
The CHAIRMAN. Not during the whole year, then }
Mr. LA GRANGE. No, I do not mean for the whole year.
Senator JONES. There were 1,100 feet of excess during the season of
irrigation ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
Senator JONES. And the whole flow was in excess, during the rest of
the year?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes. *
l º: CHAIRMAN. All of which might be stored and cover furthe
a 10
Mr. LA GRANGE. Certainly.
296 IRRIGATION AND RECIAMATION of ARID LANDs.
STATEMENT RESUMED OF LOUIS G. CARPENTER,
Mr. CARPENTER. The number of square miles in the Caché la Poudre
Valley under ditch is 393. The number under actual irrigation I have
not the data for. The State engineer has that data, however. -
The CHAIRMAN. Can you figure up how much this excess would add
to the land to be irrigated if it were stored 3
Mr. CARPENTER. You will go into that section this evening and you
Can get the information there.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you anything further to state %
. . Mr. CARPENTER. I have a map here showing the extent of theirriga-
tion of the State, which combines, graphically, the irrigated regions.
Mr. Ulrich has here present a map showing the regions themselves,
Which contains much valuable information.
Senator JONES. Is this map for the entire State %
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes. This shows, approximately, the land under
ditch in the Platte Valley, or Water Division No. 1. That shown in
Water Division No. 2 (the Arkansas Valley) is about correct. The re-
gion of the San Luis Valley is about correct as to the lands under ditch.
The regions in the other portions of the State are approximate.
Senator JONES. What do the different colors on that map represent 3
Mr. CARPENTER. The yellow represents the land that Professor Hay-
den denominated “Agricultural land.” The dark color represents the
region under ditch—I do not mean irrigated, but the region that has
water above it, and that, if there were water in those ditches, the land
could derive the benefit of it.
Senator JONES. The colors, as I understand you, on this map show
the location and quantity of land in the State of Colorado that are un-
der ditch 3 s
Mr. CARPENTER. Approximately, yes. The information is not exact
enough to show the western part of the State accurately, but it is ap-
proximate. {A -
Senator JONES. Can you give us any idea of the amount of land in
Colorado that is susceptible of irrigation if the ditches were extended ?
Mr. CARPENTER. All this portion of the State east of the mountains
is agricultural land, if it had water. That is in extent about 50,000
Square miles.
Senator JONES. About how much of it is so situated that water can
be carried to it if a water supply were to be found in the mountains 3
Mr. CARPENTER. As to that I am not prepared to state exactly.
Senator JONES. Is it a very large proportion 3
Mr. CARPENTER. It is a very large proportion. From this map, and
from knowing the location of the ditches from Mr. Ulrich's map and
determining the area by the perimenter, I compute the total extent of
the lands under ditches to be 4,552 Square miles.
Senator JONES. That is, the land shown by coloring on this map.
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes.
Senator Jon Es. Is there water enough in the ditches to irrigate that
land 7 ;
Mr. CARPENTER. No.
Senator JONES. How much more would be required in the ditches to
irrigate that much land 3
Mr. CARPENTER. I could only make an estimate that might be very
far from the truth, but I should say three or four times as much.
wATER USERS AND water SELLERs; THEIR CONTRACTs. 297.
Senator JONES. There is no more water in the ditches than would be
necessary to irrigate one-fourth or one-third of this land.
Mr. CARPENTER. That would be my estimate, though it may be Very
far from the truth. It is merely an opinion. You have asked me in re-
gard to the tenure of water property. I have brought the forms of a
couple of deeds used by the canal companies, that may be entered as
exhibits, which you can examine at your leisure.
FORM OF AGREEMENT FOR WATER. RIGHT.
The Arkansas River Land, Reservoir, and Canal Company.
This agreement, made this day of in the year 18—, between the Arkan-
sas River Land, Reservoir, and Canal Company, a corporation existing under the laws
of Colorado, party of the first part, and , of the county of , and—
Of , party of the second part, witnesseth : That in consideration of the stipu-
lations herein contained, and the payments to be made as hereinafter specified, the
first party hereby agrees to sell unto the second party water right — to the
use of water flowing through the canal of said company, each water right represent-
ing 1.44 cubic feet of water flowing over a weir per second, subject to the following
terms and conditions, to which the said party of the second part or assigns expressly
3,9-Tees : -
*. The said company agrees to furnish the said water to the said second party
or assigns continuously during the irrigating season, except as hereinafter provided,
and at no other time, unless with consent of company thereto in writing. *
Second. Said water shall be used only for irrigation and domestic purposes on the
following-described tract of land, to wit, , and under no circumstances
shall said water or any portion thereof be used for mining, milling, or mechanical
power, or for any other purpose not directly connected with or incidental to the pur-
poses first herein mentioned, unless with consent of company thereto in writing.
Third. The said company shall deliver said water at such point or points along
the line of said canal or ditch, or from any of its reservoirs, or either or all. as it may
determine to be the most practicable, and the manner of withdrawing and regulating
the supply of said water from said company’s canal, ditch, or reservoir shall be pre-
scribed by said company, and shall at all times be under its control as determined and
directed by the board of directors of said company. The head-gates, flumes, weirs, or
other arrangements through which the water hereby sold shall be drawn off from the
said company’s canal, ditch, or reservoirs shall be made and placed in position by
said company, but at the cost of the said second party, who shall also be liable for the
expense of keeping the same in good repair and condition, and the said company may
collect and enforce the payment of all sums expended for said purposes in the same
manner as prescribed for collecting and enforcing assessments.
Fourth. The said first party agrees to keep and maintain said main canal or ditch
and any and all of its reservoirs in good order and condition, and in case of accident
to the same to repair the injury thereby occasioned as soon as practicable and ex-
pedient ; and the company shall have a right to assess for the ordinary expenses of
maintaining, repairing, and Superintending said canal and any and all reservoirs con-
nected there with a sum not exceeding $12 per water right sold per annum, payable
on April 1 of the year for which said assessment is made.
Fifth. The first party shall have the right of roadway on the banks of its ditch
and main laterals, and the same shall never be obstructed by fence or otherwise by
second party or assigns, and in case a fence is constructed by second party across
said roadway he shall construct and maintain convenient gate or gates across said
banks or roadways wherever such fence may be constructed by second party. It
shall be the duty of the employés of said first party to close all such gates whenever
they open them. t
Sixth. It is hereby distinctly understood and agreed by and between the parties here-
to, that in case the canal of said company shall be unable to carry and distribute a vol-
ume of Water equal to its estimated capacity, either from casual or unforseen or un-
avoidable accident, or if the volume of water prove insufficient from drought, or from
any other cause beyond the control of the company, the company shall not be
liable in any way for the shortness or deficiency of supply occasioned by any of said
causes. If, however, by reason of such causes, the supply of water be insufficient to
furnish an amount equal to all the water rights then outstanding the said company
shall have the right to distribute such water as may flow through said canal to the
holders of such water rights pro rata, and for the purpose of so doing may establish
and enforce such rules as it may deem necessary or expedient,
*
298 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Seventh. It is hereby specifically understood and agreed that the necessary right of
way upon which to construct and maintain laterals through which to conduct water
#om the ditch or reservoirs of first party onto lands situate and lying below or under
the lands herein described shall be, and is hereby, granted for said purposes;
and the right to enter upon said lands to survey and locate said laterals, and to con: .
Struct and maintain the same by first party, or the owner or owners of the lower
lands, is hereby granted by second party, without other or further consideration
than is herein contained; and such right of way is hereby granted where the same
may be located on the lands herein described. Provided, however, that such laterals
shall only be built when and where it is reasonably impracticable to do otherwise,
and to the least harm and injury to said second party.
In consideration whereof the said second party agrees to pay unto said first party
the sum of
per annum.
Payment has been made and received of dollars, and the remaining princi-
pal. With the annually accruing interest, shall be paid at the office of the first party
in Denver, Colo., in - payments, at the time and in the manner following,
that is to say:
Day. | Month. Year. Principal. Interest. Amount. Remarks.
First payment.----.
Second payment....
Third payment.....
Fourth payment. ...
Fifth payment .....
Sixth payment ---..
And the said second party, in consideration of the premises, hereby agrees to make
punctual payment of the above sums, as each of the same respectively becomes due
and to regularly and seasonably pay all assessments that may hereafter be imposed
by said company for the purpose aforesaid And it is hereby agreed and
convenanted by the parties hereto, that time and punctuality are material and essen-
tial ingredients of this contract.
It is understood and agreed that in the event of a failure to make payment of either
principal or interest, when the same by the terms of this contract become due, then
all the deferred payments due and to become due, as agreed, shall become then due,
and the Said first party shall have the right, at the expiration of sixty-days, to fore-
close and terminate this contract: Provided it shall first give said second party notice
of its intention so to do.
It its further agreed that the irrigating season shall commence April 1 and con-
tinue to November 1 of each and every year, and that thereafter water shall be
conveyed for domestic purposes whenever reasonably practicable, subject to the right
of Said first party to repair, enlarge, or extend said canal.
And it is further stipulated that no assignment of the premises shall be valid unless
the same shall be indorsed hereon, and that no agreements, or conditions, or relations
between the Second party and assignee of the second party, or any other person ac-
quiring title or interest from or through the second party, shall preclude the first
party from the right to convey the premises to the second party, the assigns of the
dollars, with interest payable annually, at the rate of — percent.

second party, and the surrender of this agreement and the payment of the unpaid
portion of the purchase-money which may be due to the first party.
It is also stipulated and agreed that from and after the execution hereof, the said
second party shall enter into the use and enjoyment of the water flowing through said
ditch to the extent of the right above contracted to be conveyed as fully as though a
final certificate for said right had been issued, but subject, nevertheless, to all the
terms and conditions above set forth.
It is further expressly understood and agreed between the parties hereto, that
neither this contract nor any of its terms, conditions, or provisions shall be in any
manner supplemented, altered, or changed from what has been provided, or any other
or further contract be made respecting the subject-matter of this contract, except that
it be indorsed hereon in writing, signed by the president, and attested by the secre-
tary, under the corporate seal of said company. -
It is agreed and understood that when the owner or holder of a water right has fully -
paid for the same, he may have the right to relocate the same, wholly or in part,
upon any other land under the line of the company’s canal, provided the same be
done without any detriment, expense, or liability whatever to said canal company.
It is hereby further stipulated and agreed that when said first party shall have sold,
and shall have outstanding and in force a number of water rights equal to the esti-
mated capacity of the company’s ditch, to furnish water, and two-fifths of the contract
water DEEDs, Drtch contRACTs, AND AGREEMENTs. 299
price for the same shall have been paid, then the holder or holders of such contracts
for water rights shall have a voice and vote in the management of the affairs of
said company’s canal, proportioned to the interest which said second parties' contract
bears to the entire number of contracts outstanding ; and when two-thirds of such
outstanding rights have been fully paid for, according to the terms of the several
contracts entered into, then the title to said canal shall pass to the owners and holders
of contracts for such water rights at the time, on the plan following:
Within sixty days thereafter, at such time as may be fixed by the board of directors
of first party, said board of directors of first party shall hold a meeting for the pur-
pose, and thereat designate persons, who are at that time owners of water rights
minder said ditch, to be the incorporators of a new company, to be incorporated under
the laws of the State of Colorado, and which said persons shall, within thirty
days thereafter, subscribe to articles incorporating a new stock company under a new
Iname, and said persons shall be the directors for the first year; and immediately
following the signing and filing of articles of incorporation the directors thereof shall
organize, make by-laws, procure a seal, and otherwise proceed as the law directs;
and at said time they shall issue to the owners of said water rights, and to each
owner of the capital stock of the new company, full paid, the same proportion of the
whole of said stock as the water right each owner thereof has will bear to the whole
amount of water rights sold as aforesaid, and second party hereby agrees to accept and
receive the Sockofsaid new company as aforesaid, and when said water rights shall have
been fully paid, as aforesaid, and said persons shall have been named as herein
provided by first party, and said persons notified in writing of that fact and
that said water rights had been fully paid, as aforesaid, then the obligations of this
company, said first party, in respect to said ditch and keeping the same in repair, or
Supplying water through the same, or any other ditch, canal, or reservoir connected
there with, shall cease, and the said new company and the stockholders thereof shall
thereafter be the owners and in control of the said ditch and the water of the same.
It is expressly provided, however, that should first party, in exercising its rights in
its articles of incorporation set forth, carry on any business therein named—for
instance, stock-raising, farming, milling, etc., and should require water for such pur-
poses, that first party will take the same subject to the same restrictions and rules
that govern the use of water for others, and that it will also be entitled to its pro
rata representation and stock in the new company.
It is further agreed that if said persons provided to be appointed to incor-
porate a new company should decline or fail to incorporate said new company as herein
Contemplated, then first party may, within days, appoint others for said pur-
pose and to so continue to appoint persons until said company is incorporated as herein
provided. And it is further agreed that the said first party will deliver said ditch to
said water-right owners, as aforesaid, and at the time and manner aforesaid, free of
any debts against the same.
. . In witness whereof the said Arkansas River Land, Reservoir and Canal Company
has caused its corporate name to be hereunto subscribed by its president, and its
corporate seal to be hereunto affixed by its secretary, as well as to a duplicate hereof,
and the said subscribed — name hereto, as well as to a duplicate
hereof, this day of A. D. 188—.
Attest :
— —. ISEAL.T
— —. [SEAL.T
— —. ISEAL. J
— — . [SEAL.]
— —. LSEAL.]
Secretary.
[Indorsement: No. — contract. The Arkansas River Land, Res.
ervoir and Canal Company, with *
Received — 18 —, of the sum of — dollars, in-
terest. On the within contract.
Received — 18 — of the Sum of — dollars
amount of first payment on the within contract.
Similar receipts for second to sixth payments, inclusive, follow.
ASSIGNMENT. º
, the within-named purchaser, for and in consideration of dol-
lars, do hereby assign and transfer all right, title, interest, and claim in and to
the within-described right to water, unto , of the county of and
, of , heirs and assigns, forever. And — do hereby authorize and
it ...”
300 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
empower , to receive from the said - all unpaid balances due
to said company, in part consideration for said water right, and upon the final pay-
ment of all the purchase-money, and a full compliance with all the requirements coil-
tained in the within agreement, to execute, or cause to be executed, to the said
; heirs and assigns, a deed for said water right, instead of to o
Given under — hand and seal this day of , A. D. 18–.
It is oxpressly understood that in consenting to recognize this assignment the offi-
cers of this company do not exempt the original purchaser from any of his liabilities
under, the contract, but to protect the rights of the assignee, provided he complies
with his obligations.
Countersigned :
— — . [SEAL.]
-*
º
º
Of
County, 88 :
Before me, in and for said county, this day personally came
, known to me to be the identical person described in the within agreement,
and wbo executed the foregoing assignment, and acknowledged that — signed,
Sealed, and delivered the same as — free and voluntary act and deed for the use and
purposes herein set forth.
Given under my hand and seal of office this day of —, A. D. 18–.
FORM OF WATER DEED.
Know all men by these presents that the Arkansas River Land, Reservoir, and Canal
Company (a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Colorado), of the
first part, and —— , of the county of , and State of Colorado, of the
second part, for and in consideration of the sum of dollars, paid by said
second party, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged by said first party, and in
consideration of the mutual covenants and agreements in this deed contained, to be
performed and kept by both of said parties, and hereafter specially mentioned, the
said first party hereby grants, bargains, sells, and conveys to the said Second party,
— heirs and assigns water right ; that is to say, the right to the use
of water flowing through the canal of said first party, each water right representing
1.44 cubic feet of water flowing under a weir per second, subject, however, to the
following reservations and conditions, to which said party of the second part ex-
pressly agrees:
First. Said company to furnish the said water to the second party or assigns con-
tinuously during the irrigating season, except as hereinafter provided, and at no
other time, unless with consent of company thereto in writing. -
Second. Said water shall be used only for irrigating and domestic purposes on the
following described tracts of land, to wit, º
Third. Said company expressly reserves to itself the right to distribute the water
from its said canal, in accordance with such rights and priorities as are or may here-
after be established or decreed; and this deed is received by the party of the second
part subject to such priorities.
Fourth. The said second party, heirs or assigns, shall not permit said water
or any portion thereof, to be furnished as aforesaid, to run waste, but as soon as
a sufficient quantity shall have been used for the purposes herein allowed, the second
party, - heirs or assigns, shall in such a manner as the first party may prescribe,
notify the first party that the said water may be shut off, and shall also give the first
party timely notice when the same shall be again needed for the purposes aforesaid;
but in no case shall the amount of said water taken or received at any time by Said
second party, - heirs or assigns, exceed the quantity first herein referred to.
Fifth. The said company shall deliver said water at such point or points along the
line of said canal or ditch or from any of its reservoirs, or either or all, as it may
determine to be the most practicable, and the manner of withdrawing and regulating
the supply of said water from said company's canal, ditch, or reservoir, shall be pre-
scribed by said company, and shall at all times be under its control, as determined
and directed by the board of directors of Said company. The head-gates, flumes,
weirs or other arrangements through which the water hereby sold shall be drawn off
from the company's canal, ditch, or reservoirs, shall be made and placed in position
by said company, but at the cost of the said second party, who shall also be liable
for the expense of keeping the same in good repair and condition, and the said com-
pany may collect and enforce the payment of all sums expended for said purpose in
the same manner as prescribed for collecting and enforcing assessments.
Sixth. The said first party agrees to keep and maintain said main canal or ditch
obLIGATIONs of water BUYERS AND DITCH ownBRs. 301
and any and all of its reservoirs in good order and condition, and in case of accident
to the same to repair the injury thereby occasioned as soon, as practicable and ex-
pedient; and the company shall have a right to assess for the ordinary expenses of
maintaining, repairing, and superintending said canal and any and all reservoirs con-
nected there with, a sum not exceeding $12 per water right sold, per annum, payable
on April 1 of the year for which said assessment is made.
Seventh. The said first party to have, and the said second party hereby grants to
the said first party, a right of way across said above-described land of the width of
, of the main canal of said first party as now located, and also the right
of roadway on the banks of the canal and main laterals; and in case a fence is con-
structed by said second party across said roadway, he should construct and maintain
a gateway across said bank, when said first party finds it necessary to use said bank
as a roadway, in which case said first party shall close said gate when opened by it.
Eighth. It is hereby distinctly understood and agreed by and between the parties
hereto, that in case the canal of said company shall be unable to carry and distribute
a volume of water equal to its estimated capacity, either from casual or unforeseen or
unavoidable accident, or if the volume of water prove insufficient from drought, or
from any other cause beyond the control of said company, the company shall not be
liable in any way for the shortness or deficiency of supply occasioned by any of said
causes. If, however, by reason of such causes, the supply of water be insufficient to
furnish an amount equal to all the water rights then outstanding, the said company
shall have the right to distribute such water as may flow through said canal to the
holders of such water rights pro rata ; and for the purpose of So doing may establish
and enforce such rules as it may deem necessary or expedient.
Ninth. It is hereby specifically understood and agreed that the necessary right of
way upon which to construct and maintain laterals through which to conduct water
from the ditch or reservoirs of first party on to lands situate and lying below or un-
der the lands herein described, shall be, and is, hereby, granted for said purposes;
and the right to enter upon said lands to survey and locate said laterals, and to con-
struct and maintain the same by first party, or the owner or owners of the lower
lands, is hereby granted by second party, without other or further consideration than
is herein contained; and such right of way is hereby granted where the same may be
located on the lands herein described. Provided, however, that such laterals shall
only be built when and where it is reasonably impracticable to do otherwise, and to
the least harm and injury to said second party.
Tenth. It is further agreed that the irrigating season shall commence April 1 and
continue to November 1 of each and every year, and that thereafter water shall be
conveyed for domestic purposes whenever reasonably practicable; subject to the right
of said first party to repair, enlarge, or extend Said canal.
Eleventh. It is also further agreed and understood that the said party of the sec-
ond part, as long as said second party shall remain the owner of such water right,
and entitled to control its use, shall be entitled to relocate the same upon any other
lands (owned or controlled by said second party) under the line of the said com-
pany’s canal, to which land a water right has not already attached, providing such
relocation can be made without detriment, expense, or the incurrment of any liabil-
ity whatever by said company ; said location to be made upon a showing by said sec-
ond party that said second party is still the owner of said water right, and entitled to
relocate the same, and upon cancellation of the prior location, such relocation to be
made by the company, and a record thereof kept by said company in the records of
the company.
It is hereby fmrther stipulated and agreed that when said first party shall have sold
and shall have outstanding and in force a number of water rights equal to the esti-
mated capacity of the company’s ditch, to furnish water, and two-fiths of the contract
price for the same shall have been paid, then the holder or holders of such contracts for
water rights shall have a voice and vote in the management of the affairs of said com-
pany’s canal, proportioned to the interest which said second party’s contract bears to
the entire number of contracts outstanding; and when two-thirds of all such outstand-
ing rights have been fully paid for, according to the terms of the several contracts
entered into, then the title to said canal shall pass to the owners and holders of con-
tracts for such water rights at the time, on the plan following:
Within sixty days thereafter, at such time as may be fixed by the board of direct-
ors of first party, said board of directors of first party shall hold a meeting for the
purpose, and thereat designate persons, who are at that time owners of water
rights under said ditch, to be the incorporators of a new company to be incorporated
, under the laws of the State of Colorado, and which said persons shall, within
thirty days thereafter, subscribe to articles incorporating a new stock company under
a new name, and said persons shall be the directors for the first year; and im-
mediately following the signing and filing of articles of incorporation the directors
, thereof shall organize, make by-laws, procure a seal, and otherwise proceed as the
law directs; and at said time they shall issue of the capital stock of the new com-
302 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
pany, full paid, to the owners of said water rights, such a proportion of the whole of
said stock as the water right each owner thereof has will bear to the whole amount
of water rights sold as aforesaid, and second party hereby agrees to accept and re-
ceeive the stock of said new company as aforesaid, and when said water rights shall
have been fully paid, as aforesaid, and said persons shall have been named as
herein provided by first party, and said persons notified in Writing of that fact
and that said water rights had been fully paid, as aforesaid, then the obligations of
this company, said first party, in respect to said ditch and keeping the same in repair
or supplying water through the same, or any other ditch, canal, or reservoir connected
there with, shall cease, and the said new company, and the stockholders thereof, shall
therafter be the owners and in control of the said ditch and the water of the same.
Provided, however, and this grant is specially subject to the conditions following,
that is to say: 'That inasmuch as said parties so holding water rights are forever ex-
empted from any and all assessments that may be made upon the stockholders of the
said company as it now exists, for any purpose, except that of keeping said ditch in
repairs, as stated in subdivision 6, of this deed, and inasmuch as an increase of the
capital stock of the company as it now exists may become necessary or an assessment
of the present stockholders, in order to complete the construction of the ditch and
reservoir of said company: "
Now, therefore, said second party does hereby agree with said first party that this
deed, and the right of said second party to vote and have a voice in the management
of the company, is subject to the limitation that said second party shall not, by rea-
son of anything in this deed contained or by reason of any relation he may bear to
this company arising out of said water right, be entitled to claim, demand, or receive
any part or portion of any moneys arising out of the sale of any stock of said company,
should the said company find it necessary to increase its capital stock, and the said
second party is to be allowed a voice and vote only as relates to the said company's
affairs at the time of executing this deed, and necessary to securing to said second
party the fullest enjoyment of said second party’s water right.
It is expressly provided, however, that should first party, in exercising its rights
in its articles of incorporations set forth, carry on any business therein named—for
instance, stock raising, farming, milling, etc., and should require water for such pur-
poses, that first party will take the same subject to the same restrictions and rules
that govern the use of water for others, and that it will also be entitled to its pro
rata representation and stock in the new company.
It is further agreed that if said persons provided to be appointed to incorpo-
rate a new company should decline or fail to incorporate said new company as herein
contemplated, then first party may, within days appoint others for said purpose
and so continue to appoint persons until said company is incorporated as herein pro-
vided. And it is further agreed that the said first party will deliver said ditch to said
water-right owners as aforesaid, and at the time and manner aforesaid, free of any
debts against the same. *
In witness whereof, the said Arkansas River Land, Reservoir, and Canal Company has
caused its corporate name to be hereunto subscribed by its president, and its
corporate seal to be hereunto affixed by its Secretary, this — day of D.
18—
Attest :
*s [SEAL.]
*º [SEAL.]
*º [SEAL. 1
Secretary.
INDORSEMENT ..] No. — water deed. The Arkansas River Land, Reservoir, and
Canal Company to
STATE OF COLORADO,
County of Arapahoe, 88 :
I, -—, , a notary public in and for the county and State aforesaid, do
hereby certify that , the – president of the Arkansas River Land,
Reservoir, and Canal Company, personally known to me to be the person whose name
is subscribed to the annexed deed, and to be the president of said company, ap-
peared before me this day in person and acknowledged that he signed, sealed, and
delivered the said instrument of writing, and affixed thereto the corporate seal of said
company as his free and voluntary act as said — president, and as the free and
voluntary act of said company for the uses and purposes therein set forth. #
Witness my hand and official seal this — day of , A. D. 18–.
My commission expires on the – day of A. D. 18–.
Notary Public.
CHARACTER of water companies AND water-RIGHTS. 303
The CHAIRMAN. Are those samples of the general contracts 7
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes, of the stock companies that sell water and
make water contracts. The provisions of all are about the same.
The CHAIRMAN. Explain generally the relations of the land-owners
to the Water.
Senator Jon Es. That, I suppose, is what those deeds do.
The CHAIRMAN. There are others where the land-Owners Own the
water, I suppose 3
Mr. CARPENTER. The ditch managers could give more definite infor-
mation, I suppose, than I could. There are two classes of companies.
There is a mutual company class and one class of companies that are
formed to sell water. The mutual companies generally divide the ditch
into shares—each person taking a number of shares depending upon
the extent of his property underneath. The amount of water he gets
from the ditch depends in that case upon the number of shares he has
in the ditch. They divide it according to the number of shares. In
the second, or stock companies, they generally sell the water, or water-
rights. “Water-rights,” as a term, in this State, is generally taken to
mean the supply of water necessary for 80 acres of land. In those com-
panies they agree, if they have water, to give a definite amount of
water, not exceeding a certain quantity. There are two general types
of contract; first, a contract made by the company with a man to sell
him a certain amount of water on certain conditions, provided he keeps
up his payments. The second is a water deed, which is given to the
man, in exchange for the first, When he has carried out the provisions
of the first contract. These contracts represent the provisions of
nearly all companies that I have been able to secure deeds of.
Senator JONES. Do farmers as a rule, who get water from those
ditches, pay for the right to use the water perpetually, or year by year 3
Mr. CARPENTER. In most cases they have a perpetual water-right-
Under a few canals they rent water. The prices for perpetual water
rights vary with the different canals. In the San Luis Valley they pay
$400—that is $5 an acre for the perpetual right. In the northern part
of the State the Larimer and Weld Company have a different price.
In the case of the North Poudre it is $15 an acre. The North Poudre
also has a charge of $1,200 for a perpetual right. Another prevailing
price is $800, and another one is for $1,000. The Arkansas Valley
Company charges that much. That is for a perpetual water-right, but
all Subject to an assessment for maintenance. The farmers are assessed
for running expenses.
Very frequently in those deeds, almost always in fact, there is a pro-
vision that an assessment for maintenance shall not exceed a certain
amount, say $10 for 80 acres, for ordinary assessments. Then they very
frequently have a provision that in case of a very extraordinary diffi-
culty in that ditch, or extraordinary repairs, they may be subject to a
certain maximum assessment, $20 or so.
Senator JONES. Who is the judge of all that ?
Mr. CARPENTER. The ditch company. But they very rarely charge
an extraordinary assessment, even when they have extraordinary diffi-
culties. But for the larger ditches that does not seem to be enough
(with the present amount of irrigated land under them) to maintain the
ditch. If all the land were under cultivation that would perhaps be
enough. In other ditches the assessment is more, depending some.
What upon the local conditions, or the difficulties the company think
they may meet.
In the case of the union ditches, they keep the ditches in repair, and
304 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the prices are less, because generally the ditches are smaller and the
expense of maintenance is less. A small ditch runs itself almost. In
the Small ones it is perhaps from 5 to 15 cents per acre per year for
maintenance.
The CHAIRMAN. Who deals out the water ?
Mr. CARPENTER. Each large ditch has a superintendent whose busi-
ness it is to distribute the water.
Senator JONES. Who appoints him 3 f f
Mr. CARPENTER. The stock owners, or in the case of a mutual com-
pany, they have a meeting as every company would have, and make
their own arrangements.
Senator JONES. The superintendent is an officer of the company ?
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes, he is appointed by them, and he distributes
the water according to the farmer's holdings in the ditch. In the
smaller ditches where they have plenty of water, each man takes all the
water he wants 3
Mr. CARPENTER. I have some views of the boxes used for measuring
water. In the two kinds of ditches there are really two kinds of devices.
In the box where they divide the water pro rata they do not care about
the amount of water but they want their share of the water in the ditch.
Here are two types of boxes [showing photographs]. I will mark them
“Division box A* and “Division box B " in the San Luis Valley. Both
of those are used in other parts of the State. The second one is the
division box of the Lariet Canal for dividing water.
In the case of the Division box A, there is a permanent partition just
at the crest of the weir. In case each man is to have half of the water,
this division board is in the middle, and the water will split, part of it
going one way and part another. This was introduced in the San Luis
Valley by Mr. Graves. It is also used in the northern part of the State.
The Lariet ditch has a movable board, so that a farmer may get more
or less water, but he could not get more than his share, because the
movable board is prevented from going beyond a certain, point. If he
wants a less quantity of water he can get it.
Senater JONES. He can regulate his own supply So as not to exceed
what he is entitled to.
Mr. CARPENTER. It is arranged so that a man Can have up to his
supply, but can not exceed it. Here is another box for measuring
water. It is called “Graves's Spill-box.” There are three views of that
here. This measures water by the statute inch. It is called a “Spill”
box probably because it is so arranged as that the water passes into the
upper end of a long box, and the excess over 5 inches Spills back.
These other two views show the thing in operation when the Water is
running.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that regarded as an accurate measurement 7
Mr. CARPENTER. The “inch * is not as a general thing a satisfac-
tory measurement. It is convenient for the users because they can de-
termine approximately the amount of water they are getting Without
going through a calculation. But the inch is not a very accurate meas-
ure, because, if a man is taking 100 inches and another man 10 inches,
the first man gets more than ten times what the Second man gets.
Very few of the people have got to measuring by cubic feet, and when
they do they measure over a weir, which is a very reliable way if prop-
erly conducted. This is derived, of course, from the miner's inch. In
one place in the State they measure by “2 inch”. I have been en-
deavoring to collect data of all kinds regarding this matter, but my
survey of the State is incomplete.
EXPERIMENTS IN THE MEASURING OF WATER. 305
The CHAIRMAN. Before you leave this question of measurement, let
me inquire if they have invented any other mode of measuring water
except by the inch.
Mr. CARPENTER. The contracts generally provide for measuring by
cubic feet per second.
The CHAIRMAN. Have they any device for measuring by cubic feet
per second 3
Mr. CARPENTER. The plan of measurlmg by the weir is the most accu-
rate of any I know of.
Senator JONES. How is that done º
Mr. CARPENTER. The weir is really a box or small flume. The water
is brought to a rest as nearly as may be by a vertical board. This
illustration [exhibiting a wood-cut] shows it very well. For accurate
measurement by weir the water should come to almost a complete rest.
The Weir should then contract the area of the stream. Then it should
have a free fall. The edge and sides of the weir should be perfectly
sharp. The board over which the water falls should come to a sharp
edge, and the oblique side should be toward the direction in which the
water is falling. The depth of water in front of the weir should be at
least twice as great as that on the weir.
The theoretical measurement supposes that the water comes from an
infinite reservoir, or one from which, if the water passes over, it will not
give any velocity. That has been experimented on very accurately,
especially by the Massachusetts experiments of Mr. Francis, who has
gone to a great deal of expense to experiment. The weir formula is most
accurate when the weir is properly placed, without actually measuring
the Water into some vessel of a fixed capacity. Under proper conditions
the result will be true to within, say, 3 per cent. That is what Professor
Francis concludes. With ordinary ditch arrangements most of the
Weirs I have seen have not been placed under proper conditions for
entire accuracy.
Senator JONES... You ascertain the amount that goes over the fall by
measuring the fall of the ditch when the weir is open 2
Mr. CARPENTER. No; the depth of the water above the weir. The
depth of the water should not be measured at the weir itself, because,
as the water passes over it, it curves. The water will begin to curve
before it gets to the crest of the weir, so that the depth of the water
above the crest of the Weir should always be measured some distance
above the Weir. You see in the photograph here a stake made level
With the Crest of the Weir, and the water is measured several feet above
that, so as to avoid the curvature of the water.
Senator JONES. In practice, if you were going to take a measurement,
as this is here [referring to the photograph] you would stop the water
entirely and take the depth first?
Mr. CARPENTER. No.
Senator JONES. How would you measure it? *
Mr. QARPENTER. Both from theoretical knowledge and from experi-
ment, the quantity of water, depending on the depth, is known, and a
formula is known which, knowing the depth and the length of the ori-
fice, gives the discharge.
Senator JONES. That is based on the knowledge of the rapidity with
Which water runs under those conditions 7
Mr. CARPENTER. Yes, and on experiments on the flow of water from
theoretical conditions and the force of gravity. The co-efficient had to
be determined by experiment, and that was done by Francis.
138 A L–VoI, III——20
306 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
it. The CHAIRMAN. It is not expensive to arrange the weirs that way, is
I º t
Mr. CARPENTER. No. Of course it requires a fall, which is not al-
Ways practical. If the country falls slowly, every inch may be worth
Saving. In such cases a measurement of that kind is somewhat objec-
tionable.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever tried to get a formula that will deter-
mine, in measuring miners’ inches, how much less in proportion you must
have the size of the orifice when there is a large number of inches to be
discharged, compared with the size when a smaller quantity has to be
discharged ?
Mr. CARPENTER. That would have to be determined by experiment.
The CHAIRMAN. I think it might be worth some experiment so as to
determine that proportion with accuracy.
Mr. CARPENTER. Then it would be as troublesome to use as this one
Would be. That is the objection to the weir method.
STATEMENT OF J. C. ULRICH, OF FORT COLLINS.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. ULRICH. I am superintendent of the North Poudre Land and
Canal Company.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you give the committee any information you
may have with regard to water supply and irrigation in your vicinity;
what has been done there by you and what has been done by others ?
Mr. ULRICH. Our principal work at present is developing some res-
ervoirs which we have on the canal line up on the plains.
The CHAIRMAN. Where is it located ?
Mr. ULRICH. Forty miles north of Fort Collins.
The CHAIRMAN. Please explain what you are doing.
Mr. ULRICH. There are natural depressions on the plains, and we
make a cut from those natural depressions; We then put a pipe in the
cut and build “fills,” which will retain the water, which is afterward
drawn off to irrigate the land.
Senator JONES. You have water ditches 3
Mr. ULRICH. Yes. º
Senator JONES. And you are providing those fills in order to store the
excess of water in the irrigating ditches, not used during the irriga-
ting season 3
Mr. ULRICH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You expect to fill them from the ditches 3
Mr. ULRICH. Yes, when the rivers are high and the amount of
water used by other ditches is small—Where there is a considerable ex-
C6-SS.
The CHAIRMAN. To what extent have you gone in that operation?
Mr. ULRICH. At present we have four reservoirs constructed, with
an aggregate capacity of 175,000,000 cubic feet.
Senator JONES. Will they store all the excess of water that your
ditch carries 2
Mr. ULRICH. No, but we intend to make more.
Senator JONES. When you have reservoirs sufficient to store all the
excess of water that you have, how much more land will your ditches
be able to irrigate than they would be otherwise 3
Mr. ULRICH. When our System is completed, we expect to serve
probably seven or eight times as much as We can at present irrigate,
RESERVOIRS, THEIR CAPACITY AND ADVANTAGES. 307
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a map showing this system 3
Mr. ULRICH. Yes, this map shows it [exhibiting a map).
The CHAIRMAN. What is this map called 2
Mr. ULRICH. This is a map of the North Poudre Land, Canal and
Reservoir System. At present it is called the North Poudre Land and
Canal Company’s Canal.
Senator JONES. How long is the canal 3
Mr. ULRICH. Twenty-five miles.
Senator JONES. What is its size?
Mr. ULRICH. Sixteen feet wide on the bottom, with an average depth
of about 4 feet. It has a grade of about 24 feet to the mile on the first
7 miles, and 4 feet on the rest of it, on the lower division. We esti-
mate that it will carry about 300 cubic feet per second. The first 7
miles are in the mountains or foot-hills, and after getting out on the
plains we strike the land which we expect to irrigate.
The reservoir on section 21 ſillustrating] has an area of about 100
acres and a depth of 14 feet. The next reservoir brings two “fills” to-
gether, containing each about 35 acres, about 9 feet deep. The third
contains 160 acres 26 feet deep. That is as far as we have completed
the system at present. Then, below the last one I have mentioned,
(south of it), is a chain of proposed reservoirs, aggregating something
like 2,500 acres.
Senator JONES. When those are completed they will store all your
excess of water, will they 2
Mr. ULRICH. They will store more than we have any use for.
Senator JONES. What was the total cost of this ditch 3
Mr. ULRICH. About $175,000.
Senator JONES. What will be the total cost of the reservoirs as you
contemplate completing them *
Mr. ULRICH. It will take about $50,000 yet to complete them.
Senator JONES. So by an expenditure of $50,000 you increase seven
or eight fold the capacity of a ditch that cost $175,000 %
Mr. ULRICH. Yes.
Senator JONES. And therefore very much cheapens the cost of the
Water 3
Mr. ULRICH, We would consider the ditch absolutely worthless with-
out that, because We do not get Water long enough in the season to irri-
gate a crop. Without the reservoirs the crop would be an absolute
failure and our ditch a failure.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you experimented to ascertain or determine the
seepage and evaporation in that vicinity ?
Mr. ULRICH. No, we have not been able to ascertain the seepage. I
have not been able to make any experiments on evaporation except in
the winter time. Then I have been able to examine them, because we
were not running any Water there, either in or out, at that time. I
found last year that No. 3 reservoir, containing 160 acres, only lowered
about 9 inches during the six months of winter. I think there was
no seepage at all, because the bottom of the reservoir is rock. The first
reservoir lost about 1 foot. That would indicate that there was some
seepage there, or at least more than in the other case. Whether there
was any seepage in the third we could not determine.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the altitude of the country?
Mr. ULRICH. About 5,000 feet.
Senator JONES. How are those reservoirs constructed 2
Mr. ULRICH. By dams. They are natural depressions, with a rim all
around them. We usually make a cut on the side and take the water
308 IRRIGATION AND RECLA MATION OF ARID LANDS.
from the reservoir, but make no excavation of the reservoir itself. We
generally make a cut from the top of that rim, and in addition to that
We raise and fill to a height depending on the contour of the country.
Senator JONES. These reservoirs are north of Fort Collins'
Mr. ULRICH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you let us have this map?
Mr. ULRICH. Yes, you may have that.
The CHAIRMAN. What does the map now presented by you show %
Mr. ULRICH. This map shows all the irrigating ditches in the State
that we can get any description of.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it marked ?
Mr. ULRICH. It is marked “map of the State of Colorado, showing
irrigating ditches.” [Explaining it. The first location represents the
North Platte and its tributaries. The red lines indicate the irrigating
ditches. The blue lines represent the streams from which taken. The
second location represents the South Platte and its tributaries.
Senator JONES. The water-shed is not marked 3
Mr. ULRICH. No, it is not marked. At present I can not give you
this map, as it was prepared for the State Commissioner of Immigra-
tion, but I will have a copy sent to you.
The CHAIRMAN. I wish you would explain this map a little further.
Mr. ULRICH. The number of miles of irrigating ditch shown on this
map is 5,500; that is for the whole State of Colorado.
Senator JONES. Can you state how many of those are in the Valley
of the South Platte or the Arkansas %
Mr. ULRICH, NO.
Senator JONES. Can you ascertain that ?
Mr. ULRICH. Yes, I can.
Senator JONES. When you send us the copy of the map, please indi-
Cate that.
Mr. ULRICH. Yes, I will do so.
Senator Jon Es. The water-shed of the Arkansas, the Platte, and the
Colorado'
Mr. ULRICH. Yes.
Senator JONES. How many ditches are represented on that ?
Mr. ULRICH. The total number of ditches represented here is 1,120.
I have every reason to believe that there are a great number of small
ditches that we have not been able to get any record of at all. I be-
lieve there must be 2,000 ditches in the State. Those that we have not
got, however, are, I think, very small and insignificant. Those that I
have shown here are from personal knowledge of the ditches, or from
maps that I got from persons in the different localities.
STATEMENT OF J. R. BURTON, OF ABILENE, KANS,
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. BURTON. I am a lawyer. I am interested also in irrigation in
Colorado.
The CHAIRMAN. State your interest.
Mr. BURTON. I am president of the Arkansas River Land, Reservoir,
and Canal Company.
The CHAIRMAN. You may make such statement as you please with
regard to irrigation. r
Mr. BURTON. The canal of that company is 113.2 miles long. I have
a map here which shows its course. [Produces map.]
CANALIZATION OF UPPER ARKANSAS VALLEY 309
The CHAIRMAN. What is the map you present"
Mr. BURTON. It is a map showing the territory covered by our canal.
The CHAIRMAN. How is the map marked ”
Mr. BURTON. It is marked “map of canal and reservoirs of the A. R.
L., R., and C. Company, Colorado.”
The upper tracing shows the meanderings of the canal from where
we take the water Out Of the Arkansas River, 2 miles above La
Junta, to where it enters into Sand Creek, or to a point about 10 miles
east of Lamar. The canal, for the first 17 miles, is 35 feet wide on the
bottom. For the next 40 miles it is 42 feet, and for the balance 12
feet. It is 6 feet deep. At the end of the 99th mile we strike a natural
reservoir.
Senator JONES. What is the grade of this canal % -
Mr. BURTON. It averages 24 inches to the mile. As I say, we strike
a natural reservoir at the 99th mile, covering 240 acres of ground. We
|banked a little on the West and South, and made the water in some
places about 17 or 18 feet deep, or an average of 12 feet deep. We
placed a head-gate on part of that, and extended our canal on to Sand
Creek. This reservoir we have been using this summer and it holds
water without any trouble whatever. It will irrigate fully 2,000 acres
of ground.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed the evaporation and seepage of
it this year 2
Mr. BURTON. Generally, the seepage, so far as we could tell, has
been practically nothing. It will hold water just like a basin. It will
be observed that the reservoir is high up on the divide, far away from
the river. Having run our canal So far we strike these natural reser-
voirs. Then, just west, or Within 2 or 3 miles before we reach the canal
(off the line of the ditch), there is a reservoir that we call the “King,”
covering about 1,040 acres, in which the water, without any embank-
ments at all, can be made 42 feet deep, or an average of about 23 feet,
and can easily irrigate 20,000 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. You have to make or cut a tunnel to get the water
Out º
Mr. BURTON. Yes. Our engineer has made the survey. We can cut
under the ditch and also cover this territory here. There are about
200,000 acres of ground under this canal, and our present capacity is
only about 65,000 acres. We have contemplated widening it. The
cuts and fills and flumes now are all 60 feet wide. I mean by that that
the grade in the flume is so sharp and the sides so high that it will floaf
60 feet of water with a fall of only 24 inches.
The CHAIRMAN., What amount of land do you intend to irrigate with
those reservoirs when completed ?
Senator JONES. Before you come to that, let me ask one question.
Will these reservoirs that you speak of constructing store all the excess
of water which your ditch carries?
Mr. BURTON. N.O.
Senator JONES. You have land enough to take all the water out of
your ditches in the irrigating season, I understand 7
Mr. BURTON. Yes; much more.
Senator JONES. You design increasing the capital of your ditch com-
pany to meet that demand”
Mr. BURTON. Yes.
Senator JONES. You propose in addition to that, to provide reservoirs
to store Water to be used during the irrigating season 2
Mr. BURTON. Yes.
310 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator JONES. Will you be able to store all that excess — can you
find reservoirs enough for that ?
Mr. BURTON. I should think not.
Senator JONES. Do you contemplate making any other reservoirs be-
sides those two 3
Mr. BURTON. Yes. About 24 miles southwest of the reservoir that
we are now using
Senator JONES. That is the first-mentioned reservoir.”
Mr. BURTON. Yes; below that there is a natural depression, where
We Could easily make a reservoir. We do not need it now, but we have
Secured the title to that land, and if we need it we can make use of it.
The CHAIRMAN. And if you have a surplus of water you can use it
along down 2
Mr. BURTON. Yes.
Senator JONES. What has been the total cost of your ditch, exclusive
of reservoirs?
|Mr. BURTON. About $300,000.
Senator JONES. What has been the cost of your reservoir”
Mr. BURTON. That cost very little because it is a part of the canal I
spoke of; but as to the cost of the other reservoir, I have not yet re-
ceived the estimate from the engineer.
Senator JONES. Can you not estimate it?
Mr. BURTON. No ; but it will be trifling compared with the territory
it will irrigate.
Senator JONES. From the amount of water that can be stored in the
reservoir the cost will be trifling compared with the amount of water
carried in the ditch'.
Mr. BURTON. Yes. Wherever you go to a great depth, if the reser-
voir will hold water well, then the cost of the reservoir is trifling com-
pared with the land it will irrigate.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land will you irrigate when you get this
complete?
Mr. BURTON. Two hundred thousand acres; but of course that will
take some years to develop.
Senator JONES. The present supply of water in the irrigating season
will irrigate how much 3
Mr. BURTON, About 65,000 acres; that is the present capacity of the
ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. You say you reside in Kansas ?
Mr. BURTON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. In the arid portion of the State %
Mr. BURTON. No; I live 100 miles west of Topeka, on the line of the
Lnion Pacific Railroad.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of your Company ?
Mr. BURTON. Ours is a stock company. Many farmers imagined
that they were in the rain belt and went down there and pre-empted
ground and afterward discovered that they were not in the rain belt.
We went there and sold water rights and began the construction of
our canal. We derived a good deal of money from that before we began
to build. The gentleman who furnished the brains of the enterprise is
Mr. T. C. Henry, who is now abroad. We sell a perpetual water-right
contract. The present price is $12.50. We agree in the contract to
furnish water perpetually ; enough to irrigate the land. We also have
in that contract a provision for the assessment of not more than 15
cents an acre, and for that to keep up the expenses of the canal. When
we shall have sold all the water and the enterprise is fully developed
it will then belong to the farmers.
SMALL FARMS ARE A NECESSITY OF IRRIGATION. 311
Senator JONES. Have you a prospectus of it in writing”
Mr. BURTON. It is in the contract, and you have a copy of that con-
tract. Mr. Carpenter gave it to you. . I might say that So far We
have collected, in the two years that we have been running, 15 cents
per acre, and it was paid without any trouble at all. We had a break
in our canal this year. A portion of one of our flumes “Went up,” and
it cost us about $5,000 to repair it. We have only 550 feet of fluming,
however, in the 113 miles. -
With regard to the homestead law, I believe a man should not be
allowed to pre-empt more than 40 acres of land in the arid region. I
believe the homestead law ought to be amended so that one person
could not acquire more than 40 acres of land under its provisions in the
arid region. My reasons for this position are, first, the average farmer
could make more money farming 40 acres of land by irrigation, than
he can a larger amount. The homesteader is a poor man, generally.
He must borrow the money, at a very high rate of interest, with which
to improve his land and Ilve upon it, to provide himself with the neces-
sary farming implements. He must go in debt for water, and wait for
the harvest season for any returns from his toil and expenses. If he has
160 acres, his great desire to improve it all causes him to buy too much
water, too much farming machinery—in short, it causes him to shoulder
too much debt. His taxes and expenses are greater, and he is not
capacitated to farm so much land, and farm it well, and the result is
his harvest is no greater than it would have been had he carefully culti-
wated a smaller tract. Instead of getting out of debt and saving a
little spare money to invest in live stock, or to help develop some other
industry in his immediate locality, at the end of ten years he is above
the average farmer if his quarter section is not mortgaged and a large
share of his earnings does not annually go to the money-loaner.
Then, again, it is far better for the ditch company for the farmers to
have small holdings of land. They are enabled to pay out on their water-
rights, or to keep up the water-rentals. But a still greater reason is
that if the homesteader could not secure but 40 acres of land, the oppor-
tunity for speculators to secure the land in the arid region by engaging
professional bomesteaders to prove up and obtain title would be greatly
lessened. There are localities where ditches or reservoirs could and
would be built but for the fact that speculators have obtained the land
in this way. The interest of the ditch company and the land owner
ought to be mutual. Where the land is held by farmers for homes,
and especially where the land is cultivated, it is so, and there is but
little or no friction between the owners of water and the owners of
land.
I also think the law ought to be changed so as to make the cultiva-
tion of the land for a given time requisite to obtain title, rather than
occupancy. Land that is cultivated in the arid region must have
water. If the farm is once put into a state of cultivation, and has a
water-right attachment, there is no danger but that it will be occupied,
and, for ever after, be a home for Somebody. But under the law as it now
is, a homesteader may put upon the land a trifling building, ever so small
and worthless, sleep there occasionally, but in reality live elsewhere,
and in a short time have title from the Government, called a home-
stead, which, in reality, remains wild land. The spirit of the homestead
law is violated, there is no home upon the land; it is used entirely for
speculative purposes. I am not stating an exceptional case. In many
localities it has been and is now the rule to obtain what is miscalled a
homestead in this Way.
312 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS,
\
Senator JONES. I would like you to state as to a man’s ability to
make a living on a 40-acre tract—a man with a family.
Mr. BURTON. A man, with an ordinary family, that will cultivate 40
acres of ground and have no more than that to cultivate (and he can
Cultivate practically all of that) will not only make enough to supply
his family with the necessaries of life, but he will be like the Maine
farmer, who will have a little surplus each year to put into the construc-
tion of a mill or manufactory, right beside his farm. In other words,
he will have a little surplus left instead of a debt.
Senator JONES.. He may have a surplus after making a living, but
Will a man on such a 40-acre farm make a living as easily and with as
much certainty as a man now does on a 160-acre farm where he depends
On rain-fall'?
Mr. BURTON. Yes. He will make more money. I have 160 acres of
land which cost me $8,000, near Abilene, Kans. I can go on any 40-
acre farm, under my ditch, and make more clear money than I can on
that land. That is my judgment, after having farmed my land for four
years.
Senator JONES. Do you think the means of acquiring land under the
present law ought to be repealed and nothing left standing except the
homestead law "
Mr. BURTON. You might reduce the timber claim to 40 acres.
Senator JONES. How about the desert-land act?
Mr. BURTON. That ought to be repealed by all means. It is entireiy
On the wrong principle. Instead of making it a section, it ought to be
the other way—it ought to be reduced. My idea is that, in the arld
region, you ought to have a thickly-settled population, and every acre
of land should be utilized.
Senator JONES. Is there much good, practically, resulting from the
timber Culture law Ż
Mr. BURTON. N.O.
The CHAIRMAN. Would you repeal all those laws except the home-
stead law Ż *
Mr. BURTON. I think that is a good suggestion. I hesitated to be
overradical, but I think it is a good suggestion to repeal them all.
The CHAIRMAN. What would you do with timber land 3
Mr. BURTON. I have not given that much attention and am not pre-
pared to Suggest. *
STATEMENT OF J. P. MAXWELL, STATE ENGINEER OF COLORADO.
The CHAIRMAN. You have, of course, given this subject of irrigation
and water supply full consideration?
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Please give the committee such information as you
have with regard to those subjects.
Mr. MAXWELL. I have tabulated from the records in the State engi-
neer's office certain matters upon which questions have been sent to the
office, and I can give you the result of those tabulations, if you wish.
That is, with reference to the mileage of ditches, the area of land under
cultivation, and the area of land under ditches, and other points in
connection there with. This paper is a tabulated Statement of the east-
ern slope, and for the distribution, under the irrigation laws of this
State, of the water from the natural streams, irrigating canals, ditches,
and reservoirs.
COLORAT) O ARRANGEMENT FOR WATER DIVISIONS. 313
The State is divided by law into six irrigation divisions and sixty-
eight water districts. In a general way, the first division comprises that
portion of the State which is, drained by the North and South Platte
Rivers. The second division is that portion drained by the Arkansas,
and the third that portion drained by the Rio Grande. These three
divisions compose the eastern slope, or all that part of the State Which
drains into the Gulf of Mexico. I make that statement for the pur-
pose of explaining more clearly the tabulated statement I have. The
tabulation is simply confined to the eastern slope, because that is the
only place I have the data for, to any great extent.
I have here the water districts comprised in the South Platte division,
which is division No. 1, the names of the streams, the number of miles
of ditches, the number of acres under ditch, and the number of acres
actually irrigated.
In division No. 1–the Platte division—there are 2,067.36 miles of
ditch; there are 1,126,800 acres under ditch; there are 631,036 acres
actually irrigated.
In the Arkansas division, which is division No. 2, there are 943.30
miles of ditches; 440,240 acres under ditch; 116,047 acres actually irri-
gated.
The Rio Grande division is not complete, but I will give the totals
as I have them. Miles of ditch, 1,033.68; acres under ditch, 596,097;
acres actually irrigated, 250,263. The records of the office are not com-
plete with regard to that. There are two districts that we have no rec-
ords of at all, to amount to anything.
As a recapitulation of the eastern slope, I will state that in those three
divisions we have, in the aggregate, 4,044 miles of ditch, 2,163,137 acres
of land under ditch, and 997,346 acres actually irrigated.
The total area of the arid lands on the eastern slope is about 30,000,-
000 acres in this State. That is all agricultural land, practically. If it
could be watered, it is magnificent land; and it can be watered if we
have the facilities for doing so.
Senator JONES. There is no statement in this summary about the
capacity of these ditches to Water lands. You state that there are
2,000 miles of ditch in the first district that irrigate actually 631,036
acres of land, and that there are 1,126,800 acres under ditch; but there
is no statement of the capacity of the ditches to water lands.
Mr. BURTON. I have a statement as to capacity; that is, with regard
to division No. 1, or the South Platte division. This is for the year 1888.
The average discharge from the streams for four months in 1888, per
second of time, was 1,624 cubic feet, and there were decreed to the ditches
in that division 24,787 cubic feet per second of time.
The CHAIRMAN. Explain what you mean by “decreed.”
Mr. MAXWELL. As a district, they have decrees made by the court, for
that amount of Water, under their several “appropriations.” The total
area cultivated is something over 631,000 acres, and I have estimated
that about 68,000 acres of that was irrigated by reservoirs, and about
563,000 irrigated by ditches. The duty of water—1,624 feet—on that
basis, would be 346 acres to the cubic foot per second.
º CHAIRMAN. What is about the duty of water, in that connec-
tion
Mr. MAXWELL. That is very hard to determine. It is estimated all
the way from 50 to 100 acres to the cubic foot per second. I think it
overruns 100 acres in this division.
The CHAIRMAN. You think a cubic foot irrigates more than 100 acres?
Mr. MAXWELL. I think it does, on the average.
314 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Will water perform a greater duty in older districts
than in the new Ž
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes. In the older districts we use it over and over
again in Solne cases, and as land is irrigated it requires a less amount
of Water. As an illustration, I will state that we have a gauging sta-
tion at the base of the mountains at the Platte, so that we know the
amount of water that comes out of the mountains. We have also a
gauging Station at Denver, and from the reports of those stations we
determine the amount of water that passes Denver and the amount
that is carried into the ditches between this point and the base of the
mountain, where the other gauging station is, and we determine, to a
Certain extent, the amount of seepage we have the benefit of here. We
have as much water in our gauging station here as we have at the base
of the mountains, while a good portion is also taken out in the ditches
between the two stations.
The CHAIRMAN. After the ground is filled with water it discharges
itself into the river again 3
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes.
The following is the table prepared by Mr. Maxwell:
COLORADO.
For the distribution, under the irrigation laws of this State, of the water from the
natural streams to the irrigating canals, ditches, and reservoirs, the State is divided
into six irrigation divisions and sixty-eight water districts.
In a general way, the first division comprises that portion of the State which is
drained by the North and South Platte Rivers, the second division of that portion
drained by the Arkansas River, and the third division of that portion drained by the
Rio Grande.
These three divisions compose the “Eastern Slope,” or all that part of the State
Which drains into the Gulf of Mexico.
IEASTERN SLOPE.
Tabulated statement showing the number of miles of irrigating canals and ditches, the num-
ber of acres of land under such canals and ditches, and the number of acres of land actu-
ally irrigated by such canals and ditches. A
[Compiled from data in the State engineer's office.]
SOUTEI PLATTE DIVISION, No. 1.
*- :- #
© 1 -> tº º º * * * r * g TJnder Actuall
à # # Name of principal stream in district. Ditchos. ditches. #.
a P-g
Miles. Acres. Acres.
# South Platte --------------------------------------------- 238.00 150,000 39, 719
2 ----- (1O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - p = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 150, 00 174,000 46, 233
3 | Cache le Poudre.----------------------------------------. 349. I; 20. 360 193,895
4 Big Thompson ------------------------------------ - - - - - - - 2:36. 66 80, 690 69,908
5 St. Vrain ...--------------------------------------------. 225, 50 92, 460 86, 655
6 | Bowlder Creek ------------------------------------------. 125.00 89, 580 72, 895
7 | Clear Creek ---------------------------------------------- 240.00 98, 558 66, 405
8 South Platte. --------------------------------------------- 206. 50 131, 537 53, 110
9 | Bear Creek. ----------. .-------------------------------- 50.00 6,915 3,742
23 | South Platte. ----------------- *-------------------------- 61; 50 23, 270 20, 920
47 | North Platte ------------------- - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 124, ()0 46, 980 41,080
46 |. ----. do ----------------------------------- - -------------- 61.45 24, 330 21, 470
48 ||------ do --------------------------------------------------- 8. 00 800 4
Total ------------------------------------------------ 2,067. 36 | 1, 126,800 631,036
IRRIGATED AREAS AND LOCAL FLOOD STORMS.
315
Talulated statement showing number of miles of irrigating canals and ditches, etc.—Cont'd.
ARECANSAS DIVISION, NO. 2.

* The records relating to this division are not complete.
Division No. 1.
i No data.
* - 5
S v -> * g & & " " tº a tº g Under Actually
3 # Name of principal stream in district. Ditches. ditches. irrigated.
Miles. Alcres. Acres.
10 | Fountaine que Bouille.----------------------------------- 53.00 32,680 18, 000
11 | Arkansas. ------------------------------------------------ 46. 10 39, 820 34, 780
12 ------ do . . . ---...-------------------------------------------- 34.00 33,760 25, 520
13 Grape Creek.--------------------------------------------- 3.00 600 540
14 Arkansas ------------------------------------------------ 92. 50 13,694 7,265
15 St. Charles------------------------------------------------ 91. 50 7, 314 4, 543
16 || Huerfano ------------------------------------------------- 340. 00 32, 129 12, 547
17 | Arkansas------------------------------------------------- 167. 50 224,640 38, 700
18 Apishapa.-------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * 24.00 6,700 6,000
19 | Purgatoire------------------------------------------------ 58. 10 33,380 25, 660
49
66X. Various------ - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº º º & sº º sº * 29. 70 5, 490 2,492
67
Total ------------------------------------------------- 943. 30 440, 240 116,047
RIO GRANDE DIVISION, No. 3 (SAN LUIS WALLEY).”
20 | Rio Grando----------------------------------------------- 300. 00 398,140 98, 515
21 | Alamosa.------------------------------------------------- 175. 00 57, 711 45,093
22 Conejos-------------. ------------------------------------- 160.00 45, 711 33, 340
24 Culebra and Costilla. --...--------------------------------. (f) (f) (f)
25 | San Luis Creek ------------------------------------------ 227.78 42,425 31, 315
26 | Saguache ------------------------------------------------. 143.80 33,380 28,000
27 | La Garita------------------------------------------------. 5. 60 570 500
35 | Twinchera ------------------------------------------------ 21. 50 18, 160 13, 500,
Total ------------------------------------------------- 1, 033.68 596,097 250, 263
RECAPITULATION.
Pivision No. 1.--------------------------------------------------- 2,067.36 1, 126,800 631,036
Pivision No. 2.---------------------------------------------------- 943. 30 440, 240 116,047
Pivision No. 3.---------------------------------------------------- 1,033.63 596,097 250, 263
Aggregate ------------------------------------------------- 4,044.29 2,163,137 997,346
Total area of arid land .----------------------------------------------------------- acres 30,000,000

Average discharge of streams for four months in 1888, per second, 1,624 cubic feet,
and decreed, 24,787,81 cubic feet.
Acres.
Total area irrigated.---------------. --- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a- ºr a s = a 631,000
Irrigated by reservoirs ---------------------------------------------------. 68,000
Irrigated by ditches------------------------------------------------------- 563. 000
Duty of water, as per above, 346 acres per second foot.
One thousand six hundred and twenty-four cubic feet per second will cover 563,000
acres with water .69 foot, or 8.28 inches deep in one hundred and twenty days.
Measurement of local flood storms.
August 1, 1888. Clear Creek discharged for two hours 8,700 cubic feet: Clear Creek
degrees, 1,131 cubic feet; surplus, 6,569 cubic feet; 47,296,800 cubic feet in two hours,
which would cover 1,086 acres 12 inches deep.
Coal Creek (a practically dry stream) August 10, 1889, discharged for three hours
968.40 cubic feet per second, making 10,458,720 cubic feet, which would cover 240
acres 12 inches deep. Same creek, September, 1887, discharged for two hours 6,076
Qubic feet per second, making 43,747,200 cubic feet, which would cover 1,004 acres 12
inches deep.
316 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator JONES. Let me ask you some questions concerning this state-
ment. You Say “duty of water, as per above, 346 acres per second foot.”
By that statement do you mean that 631,000 acres of land are actually
irrigated, and that 346 acres are actually irrigated per second 3
Mr. MAXWELL. I mean that 631,000 acres are actually irrigated and
that we have 346 cubic feet per second.
Senator JONES. Can the water capacity of the first district be ma-
terially increased with that sort of showing 3
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes, I think it can be increased.
Senator JONES. From the conversation of the local floods º
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. By means of their storage 2
Mr. MAXWELL. From such storage.
Senator JONES. So far as the running capacity of the streams is con-
cerned, I should think that that was exhausted by this showing, and
that to increase the capacity you would have to resort to storage.
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes; unless we have better facilities for spreading
the Water on the land and saving it.
Senator JONES. It seems to me to indicate that the facilities for spread-
ing the Water are pretty good when a foot per second irrigates 346 acres.
Mr. MAXWELL. It also indicates that we use it over and over again.
Senator JONES, Yes; I should say it was pretty well managed.
The CHAIRMAN. That is a great economy of water.
Mr. MAXWELL. It gives about 8 inches of water over the ground.
The CHAIRMAN. This takes the water during the irrigating season
alone?
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes. t
The CHAIRMAN. Then, what runs outside the irrigating season prac-
tically goes to waste, and if that were conserved the irrigating area
could be increased in the proportion that that bears to the volume of
water used in the irrigating season 3 g
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, what runs out the irrigating season practi-
cally goes to Waste, and if that were conserved the irrigating area could
be increased in the proportion that that bears to the volume of water
used in the irrigating season?
Mr.MAXWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you give any estimate of that ?
Mr. MAXWELL. No. At our gauging stations we make observations
during the irrigating months. In the winter time We can not do it be-
cause it freezes up, and we can not take observations or measurements.
Senator JONES. The amount of Water going down these streams must
be larger for the other eight months of the year than for these four
months.
Mr. MAXWELL. I think there is less water during the other eight
months.
Senator JONES. In the aggregate?
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes; the water gets very low in the winter time.
Much of the water also becomes ice, and that we get the benefit of in
the Spring.
Senator JONES. What four months are those ?
Mr. MAXWELL. May, June, July, and August.
The CHAIRMAN. You will file this statement, will you?
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes, but there is something else I wish to read first.
I have some figures of local floods. On August 1, 1888, Clear Creek
discharged in two hours 8,700 cubic feet per second of time, while the
RESERVOIR CAPACITY IN EASTERN COLORADO. 317
ditch will only take 1,131, thus leaving a surplus of 6,569 cubic feet per
second of time. There was then 47,296,800 cubic feet of water that
was in excess of the demand and which could have been stored had We
had the facilities for doing it.
Senator JONES. Three times as much went to waste there at that
time as was used ? º
Mr. MAxwell. Yes; that amount would cover 1,086 acres 12 inches
deep. At Coal Creek, August 10, 1889, there was discharged for three
hours, 963.4 cubic feet per second of time. That was a local flood.
That makes 10,453,720 cubic feet, which would cover 240 acres, 12 inches
deep. The discharge was much greater than that, but that Was the maxi-
mum for two hours. In September, 1887, on the same Creek, there Was a
discharge of 6,076 feet per second; making 43,747,200 cubic feet, which
would cover 1,004 acres 12 inches deep. We have in this country a
great many local water-spouts in the small caſions near the base of the
mountains. They are peculiarly subject to them and we do not get the
measurement of them. They do not come into the stream above Our
gauging stations and, of course, we have no estimate of them at ali.
The CHAIRMAN. Could such water be stored and utilized 3
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes, if we had the proper facilities.
Senator JONEs. As to this average discharge of streams for four
months in 1888 which you say is 1,624 cubic feet per second, the Water
was not I suppose all used in irrigation, but a considerable part of it
was lost 7
Mr. MAXWELL. I presume most of it was used in irrigation. In the
excessive floods, however, probably some of it passed down.
Senator JONES. In the case of those two streams you have mentioned
a large proportion of that water was lost 2
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes, it was lost. Those are on the dry gulches.
Senator JONES. Yes; but that suggested the idea to me that there
was a considerable loss of water during the irrigating season in such
StreamS.
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes, there is during high floods a considerable loss of
Water. *
I also have here a statement of the reservoirs on the eastern slope,
giving the divisions and the acreage where I have been able to get it
from the records and the capacity of the reservoir.
In division number one there are nine districts. I will simply give
the totals of those. Timere are seventy-five reservoirs on record with a
capacity of 3,168,780,082 cubic feet of water. That would furnish water
1 foot in depth for 72,746 acres.
In division number two, there are seventy-seven reservoirs, with a total
capacity of 2,069,000,706 cubic feet. That amount would water 47,495
acres of land 1 foot in depth.
In division number three there are ten reservoirs, with a capacity of
82,159,000 cubic feet, which would furnish water 1 foot in depth for 1,885
acres. Those are reservoirs actually constructed, being one hundred
and sixty-two in all, with a total capacity of 5,319,939,788 cubic feet,
which would furnish water 1 foot in depth for 122,129 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you visited those reservoirs personally 3
º }. MAXWELL, No, not all of them ; only a small proportion of them
in fact.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your information as to seepage and evapo-
ration ? Do the people effect much saving of water here or do they have
a good deal of difficulty
º MAXWELL. I think as a general thing they save water pretty
Weiſ,
318 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they generally able to fill the ditches that are
COnStructed ?
. Mr. MAXWELL. In some cases they have been able to fill them, and
II) º Cases they have not. It depends on the water supply and the
Surplus. -
The CHAIRMAN. They usually fill the reservoirs from the ditches.
Mr. MAXWELL. Yes. k
The CHAIRMAN. They have commenced constructing reservoirs for
the purpose of storing the storm water ? -
Mr. MAXWELL. Not to any great extent. There are a few reservoirs
Constructed for that purpose, but they are small.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that practical or have you not given sufficient
attention to it to know %
Mr. MAXWELL. I have not given sufficient attention to it to deter-
mine the question thoroughly, but I think it is practical.
The CHAIRMAN. What observation have you made in regard to it
that makes you think it is practical ? J
Mr. MAXWELL. My observations are principally in connection with
the office, where I have been called upon to examine localities in regard
to the construction of reservoirs. The State made an appropriation for
the purpose of constructing a reservoir at Cold Creek to hold the flood
St OI'm S.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further you wish to say?
Mr. MAXWELL. I believe not.
The following is the table of reservoirs submitted by Mr. Maxwell:
Colorado (eastern slope).—Tabulated Statement of reservoirs 'so far as the same are
of record in the office of the State engineer.
º
DIVISION N.O. 1.

Name of reservoir. Name of stream from which water is diverted. | Area Capacity.
º
First district : Acres. | Cubic feet.
Dry Creek---------------. Dry Creek -------------------------------------- 10, 60 2,000,000
Dyers' No. 1 -------------- West Bijou ------------------------------------- 20, 30 4, 275,000
Byers' No. 2.--------------|------ do ----------------------------------------- 3, 80 670, 556
Byers' No. 3.-------------|------ do ----------------------------------------- 5.00 875, 700
Byers' No. 4.--------------|------ do ----------------------------------------- 13. 50 2,870, 000
Byers' No. 5. -------------|------ do ----------------------------------------- 22.50 3,932, 280
Byers' No. 6 --------------|------ do ----------------------------------------- 20, 00 6,996, 000
Box Elder----------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|--------|--------------
Snow.-------------, ------------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 800, 000
Brewer.-------------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 5,000, 000
Total capacity----------|--------------------------------------------------|- - - - - - - - 27,419, 536
Second district. : : --------, ---.
Harris ------------------- Dry Creek --------------------------------------|-------- 60,000, 000
German No. 1 ------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 1,045, 000
German No. 2 ------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|----- * - - 54,450,000
German No. 3 ------------|-----. do ---------- ::::------------- 3: -- 7:35, ----|-------- 700, 000
Smith -------------------- First, Second, and Third Creeks and SouthPlatte -------. 20,000, 000
Oasis ---------------------|- - - - - - do - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------------------|- - - - - - - - 400,000, 000
Hudson ----- ------------ South Platte. ----------------------, ------------|-------- 1, 800,000
Hudson No. 2 ------------|------ do - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 792, 000
Total capacity ---------|--------------------------------------------------|- - - - - - - - 538, 787, 000
Third district :
Mitchell-----------------. North Pine . ------------------------------------|-------- 14, 754, 930
North Poudre Co - - - - - - - - - North Poudre ----------------------------------|-------. 174,240,000
Total capacity.-------- |.-------------------------------------------------|- - - - - - - - 188,994, 930
Fourth district :
Mariano...... ------------ Dig Thompson---------, -, -, --------- - - - - - - - - - - - 373. 80 180,000, 000
THE RESERVOIR SYSTEM OF EASTERN COLORADO.
319
Colorado (eastern slope).--Tabulated 8tatement of reservoirs, etc.—Continued.
IDIVISION N.O. 1–Continued. l

Name of reservoir. Name of stream from which water is diverted. | Area. | Capacity.
Fifth district : A cres. | Cubic feet.
Highland No. 2.----------|-------------------------------------------------- 140. 00 118, 119, 280
Oligarchy No. 1.----------|-------------------------------------------------- 75. 00 47,044, 800
Total capacity ---------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 165, 164,080
Seventh district :
David Peabody No. 1. ----|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 80,000
David Peabody No. 2 -----|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 100,000
David Peadody No. 3.----|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 100,000
David Peabody No. 4 - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------------ ---------|-------- 100,000
Webster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Clear Creek-------------------. . . . . . ------------|-------- 7, 588, 900
Rox & Reser No. 1.-- . . . . . . . . . . . do -----------------------------------------|-------- 2,900, 000
IKox & Reser No. 2.- - - - - - -l.----. do -----------------------------------------|-------- 699, 150
IKox & Reser No. 3. . . . . . . .l...... do -----------------------------------------|-------- 1.761, 230
Lake Erie ----------------|-----. do -----------------------------------------|-------- 13, 077, 000
Ohio Lake. -------------- l. ----. do --- ---------. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I - - - - - - - - 3,900, 500
Cole No. 1 ---------------. Clear Creek and Seepage ---...--...-------...-------|-------- 1, 440, 000
Cole No. 2.-------------- ------ do ----------------------------------------|-------- 1, 675,000
Lake No. 1.--------------- Clear Creek ------------------------------------|-------- 2, 400, 000
Lake No. 2.---------------|-----. do ----------------------------------------|-------- 16, 300,000
Lake No. 3.---------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 1,000, 000
§º s sº as sº sº is as we s is as as sº as as as sº as sº tº s : * as sº as as a §: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * *s 6,000, 000
Xart:--------------------------- (10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 100, 000
Ward No. 5.----- - -------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 9, 429, 800
Neal --------------------------- do ----------------------------------------|-------- 1, 258,859
A. W. Chaniberlain...-----|-----. do ------------------------------------------------- 36,950, 000
Church-------------------|------ do ------------------------------------------------- 7, 229,017
Total capacity ---------|---------------------------------------------------------. 114,089, 456
Eighth district:
John Thomas - - - - - - - - - - - - Cottonwood ------------------------------------|-------- 290,000
Linhart ------------------ Marcy Gulch ---,-------------------------------|- tº º , " : º º º 1,000, 000
Lambert------------------ Indian Creek----------------------------------- * 00 36, U00, 000
Pºnt of Frank | Deer Creek--------------------------...------...------- 2,025,000
3.IłIllS
Melvin ------------------- Cherry Creek ----------------------------------|-------- 1, 000.000
IReservoir No. 1.-- - ------| South Platte and Bear. --...--...--...--...--...--...]. --...-- 980, 062, 942
Reservoir No. 2.-- - - - - - - - - Bear Creek -------------------------------------|-------- 371,944, 970
Reservoir No. 3.-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - do ----------------------------------------|-------- 85, 550,957
Reservoir No. 4.- - - - - - - - , , Turkey Creek ----------------------------------|-------. 12, 949, 0S1
Reservoir No. 5. -- - - - - - - -. Dutch Creek -----------------------------------|-------. 223, 872, 560
Interlaken No. 1.--------. Bear Creek-------------------------------------|-------- 2, 189, 280
Interlaken No. 2.... ------|------ do ---------------------------------------. I.------- 789, 525
Interlaken No. 3.---------|-----. do -----------------------------------------l. * * * * * * * 615, 502
Windson -------, --------. Dry Creek-------------------------------------- 72 92, 000
Total capacity --------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 1, 688, 381, 817
Nineth district :
Ward No. 1.---------------| Clear and Beaver Creek. --...--...-----...--...-----|---..... 42,364,000
Ward No. 2.---------------|-----. do -----------------------------------------|-------- 2, 272, 800
Ward No. 3... -------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- '330,000
Ward No. 4.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - do -------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | *s * * 330, 006
IH. W. Lake A - - - - - - - - - - - - Beaver and Turkey Creek-------------------...}. . . . . . . . 13, 939, 200
H. W. Lake B - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - do -----------------------------------------|-------. 3, 920, 400
H. W. Lake C -----------. [...--. do -----------------------------------------|-------. '653. 400
H. W. Lake D ------------|-----. do -----------------------------------------|-------. 1,306,800
Frederick - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , Bear Creek -----------------------------------. I.------. 14,473,340
W. C. Henry's . . . . . . . . . . . . Bear and Turkey Creek -----------------..... --|........ 9, 900, 000
Bowles No. 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . do ------------------------------------- * | * * * * * * * * 165,000,000
Bowles No. 2* - - - - - - . . . . . . . . . . . . do -----------------------------------------|-------- #9, 400,000
Bowles No. 3* -----...-----|-----. do -----------------------------------------|--------|------º
Total capacity----------|--------------------------------------------------|---..... 263, 778, 940
t *-º
Twenty-third district:
Anterors. --------...----. South Platte ------------------------------------|-------. 2,214, 323
§ * About 12 feet deep or about 25 acres. j Estimated.
320
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Colorado (eastern slope).—Tabulated statement of reservoirs, etc.—Continued.
RECAPITULATION, DIVISION No. 1.

3 * - No. of
District. Reser- || Area Capacity.
\ Vation.
- Acres. Cubic feet.
First 's----------------------------------------------------------------. 10 l.------- 27,419, 536
§§ººd ---------------------------------------------------------...----- 8 || ------- 538,787, 000
*%------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 1. ------- 188,994, 950
!ººl' --------------------------------------...... ... --...------------. 1 -------- 180,000,000
* -----------------------------------------------...-...----...----. * !-------- 165, 164,080
§§Yºſh ------------------------------------------------------...----. 21 |.------- 1, 114,089, 456
*ighth -------------------------------------------------...-----...----. 14 I. ------. 1,688, 381, 817
* ---------------------------------------------------------...----. 13 I-------. 263,778, 940
Twenty-third ---------------------------------------................ 7 - - 1 - - - - - - - - 2, 214, 323
Total -----------------------------------------------------------. 75 -- - - - - - - 3, 168,780,082
NOTE-The above number of cubic fect of wator would furnish 1 ſoot in depth for 72,740 acres.
DIVISION NO. 2.

Name of reservoir. Name of stream from which water is diverted. | Area. | Capacity.
Tenth district : Acres Cubic feet.
Banning & Matthews ----| Cheyenne Creek ---...--------------------...-----|-------. 3, 500
Overland Heights Im-
provement Company-- |--------------------------------------------------|-------. 208, 360
Johnson No. 1.----------- Springs-----------------------------------------|-------- 330, 000
Johnson No. 2.------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 207, 000
Johnson No. 3.------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------. 207, 000
Johnson No. 4.-----------|--------------------------------------------------|-------. 334,000
Johnson No.”.-----------|-------------------------------------------------|-------- 334, 000
Johnson No. 6.-----------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 12,500
Johnson No. 7------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 12, 500
Johnson No. 8------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 12, 500
Johnson No. 9------------|--------------------------------------------------|-------. 12, 500
Johnson No. 10-----------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 12, 500
Johnson No. 11-----------|------ - - - - --...-----------------------------------|-------. 660,000
Lake Moraine. - - - - - - - - - - Ruxton Creek ------, --------------------------|-------. 22, 580, 000
Dast Colorado Springs ...| Sand Creek -------...-----------------------------|-------. 23, 905, 210
The Broadmoor - - - - - - - - -. Cheyenne Creek ---. - - ------------------------|------- 8,933,333
Haynes.-----------------. Little Fountain and Rock Creek. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. 8,702, 600
Bear Lake. --------------. Bear Creek -------------------------------------|-------- 1, 205, 280
Roberts -----------------. Bierstadt ----------------------------------------------. 230,000
Cheyenne Mountain. ----. Pountain ---------------------------------------|-------- 21, 500,000
Wolfe.--------------------------------------------------------------------|-------- 160, 635
Corbin ------------------- I'ountain ---------------------------------------|-------- 106,667
Phelps ------------------- W. Monument ----------------------------------|-------- 26,000
Mt. Baldy ---------------. Springs. ----------------------------------------|-------. 21, 500, 000
JBroadmoor No. 1 - - - - - - - - Broadmoor. ------- . . . . ------------------------.] ------. 1,880, 000
J3roadmoor No. 2 ... - - - - - - - Spring ------------------------------------------|-------. 2,000, 000
JBroadmoor No. 3 - - - - - - - -. Run --------------------------------------------|-------- 200,000
Iłroadmoor No. 4 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - do -----------------------------------------|-------- 475,000
Fursinan -----------...--. Biorstadt ---------------------------------------|-------. 186, 667
* Total capacity.---------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 115, 937, 752
ICleventh district:
Cottonwood Lake . . . . . . . . Cottonwood.------------------------------ -----|-------- 6, 294,048
Donnell No. 1.------------| Lake Fork.-------------------------------------|-------- 9, 614, 880
Donnell No. 2.------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 4,704,480
Total capacity----------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 20, 613,408
Fourteenth district, :
IHobson No. 1.- - - - - - - - - - -. Fountain ---------------------------------------|-------- 4,626, 551
Hobson No. 2.-------------|------ do ----------------------------------------|-------. 1,076, 301
Hobson No. 3.-------------|-----. do . . . . -------------------------------------|-------- 1, 136, 132
Hobson No. 4.-----------. I.----- do -----------------------------------------|- * - - - - - - 1,637, 159
I3essemer No. 1 - - - - - - - - - - Arkansas -------...----------------------------|-------- 189,000, 000
Bessemer No. 2 - - - - - - - - - -. I.----. do ----------------------- -----------------|-------- 240,000, 000
Bessemer No. 3 - - - - - - - - - - . 1.-- - - - do -----------------------------------------|-------- 120,000, 000
I3essemer No. 4 - - - - - - - - - -...----. do -----------------------------------------|-------- 47, 600,000
Bessomer No. 5 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - do ---------------------------- & “ sº as s = * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * 51, 840, 000
Bessemer No. 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - do -----------------------------------------|-------- 15, 840, 000
T}essemer No, 7 . . . . . . . . . . .]. ---. ºdo --------------------------- F - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 28,800,000
--
THE RESERVoIR systEM
* -
OF EASTERN COLORADo.
321
colorado (eastern slope).-Tabulated 8tatement of reservoirs, etc.—Continued.
DIVISION NO. 2–Continued.
21
NoTE.—The above amount would furnish 1 foot in depth of water for 47,495 acres,
138 A L–WOL III
Name of reservoir. Mame of stream from which water is diverted. Area Capacity.
Fourteenth district—Cont'd. Alcreg jeet.
i Bessemer No. 8 -----------|-----. do -----------------------------------------|-------- 31, 280,000
Bessemer No.9 - - - - - ------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 34, 500,000
Bessemer No. 10 ----------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 43, 200,000
Bessemer No. 11 ----------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 34, 560,000
Bessemer No. 12 ----------|------ do ---------------------------- tº sº me as ºn s sº as * * * * * I e = s. s - - - - 54,000,000
Bessemer O. 13 es sº º sº e º sº me • * * * * * * * * do a. * * * * * * s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * gº • * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = e º an - e. 112, 000, 000
Total oapacity----------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 1,011, 596, 143
Sixteenth district:
Huerfano Valley---------. Huerfano --------------------------------------|-------- 87, 855,600
R and M.---------------- Apache Creek ----------------------------------|-------- 667,283
La Joya ------------------ Cucharas. --------------------------------------|-------- 7,741. 400
Hayden A.--------------- Cheyenne Creek --------------------------------|-------- 56,810
Hayden B.---------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 19,700
Hayden C.---------------|------ do ----------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * } e º ºs ºs º ºs º sº. 50,000
, Hayden D----------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 78,605
- lace.-------------------- South Veta -------------------------------------|- * * * * * * 860, 000
Total capacity----------|--------------------------------------------------|-------. 98, 329,398
Seventeenth district: º
Woodworth A.------------ Caddoa Creek ----------------------------------|-------- 720,000
Woodworth B.----------- … . . do -----------------------------------------|-------- 540,000
Maryland No. 1.----------- Spriº; • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 24, 349
Maryland No. 2.-----------|------do -----------------------------------------|-------. 407, 109
Maryland No. 3.----------|------ do ------------------------------------------------- 451, 592
Maryland No. 4.-----------|------ do -------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 86, 352
Maryland No. 5. ---------- ---...-do -----------------------------------------|-------. 30, 817
Maryland No. 6-----------|----- do --------------------------- ſº e < * * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * 245,566
Thurston A. -------------. Steele's Fork -----------------------------------|-------. 360,000 -
Thurston B --------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 390,000
Thurston C --------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 350,000 .
Thurston D --------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 5,425,000
Thurston E --------------|------ do ------------------------------------------------. 2,760, 720
Thurston F --------------|------ do ------------------------------------------------- y
Thurston G. --------------|------ do ------------------------------------------------- 585,000
Thurston H--------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 262, 500
Thurston O --------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 210,000
Thurston P --------------|-----. do ------------------------------------------------ 90,000
ing --------------------- Arkansas---------------------------------------|-------. 748, 000,000
Prince. -------------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------. 61,000,000
Total capacity----------|--------------------------------------------------|------ ..| 822, 524,005
RECAPITULATION, DIVISION No. 2.
- No. res- •
Districts. ervoirs. Area Capacity.
Alcres Owbic feat.
Tenth s a sm º ºs º ºs º w w = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * º tº Lº tº º ºr w w w w is sº sº a ºn m was sº sº sº e º ºr m e º m 29 |.------. 115, 937, 752
Eleventh. -------------------------------------------------------------. 3 I.------- 20, 613,408
Fourteenth ------------------------------------------------------------ 17 -------- 1,011, 596, 143
Sixteenth ---------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8 -------- 98, 329, 398
Seventeenth------------------------------------------------------------ 20 l. ------- 823, 524,005
Total ------------------------------------------------------------ 77 ---...- . 2,069,000, 706
.x -
*


322 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Colorado (eastern slope).--Tabulated statement of reservoirs, etc.—Continued,
IXIVISION No. 3.
Name of reservoir. Name of stream from which water is diverted. | Area Capacity.
Twenty-second district : - Acres. | Cubic feet,
Poncha No. 1.------------ San Antonio -----------------------------------. 60.00 6,000,000
'Poncha, No. 2.------------|-----. do ----------------------------------------. 40, 00 4,000,000
Roncha No. 3.------------|------ do ------------------------- tº tº tº s m º º º ºs tº s ºr m ºn as tº e º sº w w w = * 4,000,000
Poncha Nö. 4.------------|------ do -----------------------------------------|-------- 2,000,000
Total capacity ---------|--------------------------------------------------|-------. 16,000,000
Twenty-fifth district: -*
IIigh Line.--------------- Black Cañon Creek. -----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * 2,000,000
Richard Cooper ----------|--------------------------------------------------|-------. 64,000,000
Total capacity ---------|--------------------------------------------------|-------. 66,000,000
Twenty-sixth district:
John O'Neil's ------------ Jones's Spring----------------------------------|------- 50,000
Twenty-seventh district :
San Juan Gulch No. 1 ....] San Juan Gulch Creek.-------------------...--...- .... 13,000
San Juan Gulch No. 2.----|-----. do -----------------------------------------|-------- 76,000
San Juan Gulch No. 3 - - - - - - - - - - do -----------------------------------------|-------- 20,000
A. Total capacity ---------|--------------------------------------------------|-------- 109,000
RECAPITULATION. DIVISION No. 3.
Districts. *...* Area. | Capacity.
©TVOll'8.
Acres. | Cubic feet.
Twenty-second -------------------------------------------------------- 4 |-------. 16,000,000
Twenty-fifth----------------------------------------------------------- 2 -------. 66,000,000
Twenty-sixth ---------------------------------------------------------- 1 ------. ,000
Twenty-seventh ------------------------------------------------------- 3 |-------. 109,000
Total ------------------------------------------------------------ 10 -------. 82,159,000
NoTE.—The above amount would furnish 1 foot in depth for 1,885 acres.
GENERAL RECAPITULATION.
No. of
A. Division. reser- || Area. | Capacity.
voirs.
- Acres Cubic feet.
First------------------------------------------------------------------- 75 -------. 3, 168,780,082
Second------------ |- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 77 - - - - - - -. 2,069,000,706
Third----------------------------------------------------------------- 10 l. ------. 82, 159,000
Grand aggregate.------------------------------------------------ 162 l.------. 5, 319,939,788

NoTE,--This total amount of water would furnish 1 foot in depth of water for 122,129 acres.
,-


**
*-
whAT constituTEs “BENEFICIAL USE" or WATER. 323
STATEMENT OF JOS. C, HELM, ASSOCIATE JUSTICE, SUPREME
COURT OF COLORAD0.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you please state anything that may interest the
committee in regard to the irrigation laws of this State %
Mr. HELM. There are several lawyers present who undoubtedly could
give the committee a better idea than I can of the statutes. I simply
consented to answer any questions the committee might have to ask
me with regard to our decisions. I could not go into a discussion of
the statutes or express any views concerning them unless I had Written
an opinion on the subject. There are lawyers here who will give you
all the evidence you desire on that subject.
The CHAIRMAN. We do not ask any extended evidence because it
is mostly in your reports I suppose. I have been a student of your re-
ports for many years and I must say that your court is considered the
most enlightened on this subject by those who are familiar with irriga-
tion matters.
Mr. HELM. That is a compliment that we appreciate.
The CHAIRMAN. You are governed by the principle of prior appro-
priation ?
Mr. HELM. Yes, we adopted that doctrine. I think the supreme
court of the State announced that doctrine before it was incorporated
into the statutes. It was in the case of Younker against Nichols, re-
ported in the First Colorado. The court at that time decided that it
was the best common-law doctrine for this country. The decisions since,
I believe, have been in harmony with that. Of course a multitude of
questions have come up and I think there are a dozen decisions at least
in which this subject was before the court in one way or another.
The CHAIRMAN. There is a question now with regard to appropria-
tion which is interesting the people all over the country very much;
and that is what is meant by the word “appropriation,” whether you
mean taking the water out of the stream or whether you mean some-
thing else?
Senator JONES. I imagine the judge might object to construing the
Statutes.
Mr. HELM. I would not object to that so far as to state the opinion o
the court, about it. g
The CHAIRMAN. Have you considered the question of what is prior
appropriation ? *
Mr. HELM. I think that in a number of decisions we have announced
that to constitute a valid appropriation within the meaning of the con-
stitution (and our constitution is in accord with our common law) there
must unite two acts, the diversion and the use.
The CHAIRMAN. Use for a beneficial purpose?
Mr. HELM. Use for some beneficial purpose.
The CHAIRMAN. It has been stated here that under the court decis-
ions a certain amount of water is “decreed” to a district. What is
meant by that?
Mr. HELM. Our statutes divide the State into irrigation districts, as
you know, and under the statutes the district courts, which are the
highest courts of record, next to the Supreme court, adjudicate what
we call the priorities of right. These districts are generally arranged
with reference to the natural streams, and if from the principal natural
stream in a district one hundred ditches have been taken, the court pro-
ceeds in the method pointed out by statute to determine the dates at
*
324 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS
Which each of these appropriations were made when the ditches were
constructed; the size of the ditches; their capacity; the degree of fall
of the water. Then a decree is entered which declares these dates, de-
Clares these facts, and assigns the priorities to these ditches in accord-
ance With the dates of the diversion.
Senator JONES. The diversion and use go together ?
. Mr. HELM. The diversion and use. And I might say here that under
our views the use must follow the diversion within a reasonable time.
These decrees assign to these ditches priorities in accordance as I have
Stated with the dates of the diversion, and, as I have said, the use, of
course, is connected with that diversion. *
Senator JONES. It must be within a reasonable time 3
Mr. HELM. Within a reasonable time. The question of reasonable
time goes according, of course, to circumstances. But the proposition
is that if the ditch is dug with due diligence and the water is applied
reasonably soon, the priority relates back to the date of the commence- .
ment of the ditch.
Senator JONES. And that is a question for the court”
Mr. HELM. That is a question, I take it, to be determined in each
particular case in the absence of statute. Possibly a statute might be
framed which would declare how soon use must follow diversion, but so
far we have no such general statute, and the court has not laid down the
proposition. It would remain a question of fact to be determined at
each particular case. This decree that I spoke of also determines the
Quantity going to each ditch. I suppose in answer to your question,
that the decree of a given district must be considered and the quantity
of water assigned to each particular ditch or to all the ditches taken to-
gether in the aggregate, would constitute the quantity in use or the
quantity assigned.
The CHAIRMAN. If there is not water enough, those having priority
under the decree would get it first 3
Mr. HELM. That is the decision.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any officer to deal it out 3
Mr. HELM. We have.
The CHAIRMAN. How do you arrive at that? To get at priority, do
you let them regulate it themselves?
Mr. HELM. Mr. Nettleton can answer that question better than I can,
but I think in each district there is an irrigation commissioner whose
duty it is to superintend the distribution of water according to the de-
crees of the court.
Senator JONES. Is he an officer of the court or of the State or county º
Mr. HELM. He is not an officer of the court; I think he is appointed
by the governor. The governor appoints a commissioner for each water
district.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you, in your decisions, classified the different
uses of water, with a view of giving a preference to one use above
another ?
Mr. HELM. We have not, but our constitution has. First, to domestic
use; second, to irrigation; third, to mining, and then to manufactur-
ing. I believe that is the order. Domestic use is certainly first and ir-
rigation Second.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not yet by any judicial decision deter-
mined what you understand by domestic use 3
Mr. HELM. We have not ; I think the question has never been fairly
presented. gº
The CHAIRMAN. That is a very important question.
.*
THE SAN LUIS VALLEY AND ITS IRRIGATION works. 325
Mr. HELM. We have a decision which touches upon it slightly but
not sufficiently for me to dwell upon.
The CHAIRMAN. It ought to be limited in some way. Of course, if a.
man were to insist on having a river run down for the purpose of getting
a drink of water it would interfere with irrigation.
STATEMENT OF WALTER. H. GRAVES.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you please state anything which may interest
the committee.
Mr. GRAVES. In the first place, I desire to state that I represent a
company that has invested considerable money in building canals in
Colorado.
Senator JONES. What is the name of the company?
Mr. GRAVES. There are various enterprises backed by Eastern capital,
they are one interest but under different names. We have altogether
something over 1,000 miles of canals and we have spent nearly $4,000,-
000 in building them. I have promised Major Powell to send him a
tabulated statement, embodying some points in connection with our
maps. These maps [indicating the maps) are all that I have at present.
We have canals, as I say, in different parts of the State; two large
canals in the western part of the State, two large ones in the San Luis
Valley on the Rio Grande River, and one in the northeastern part of
the State. *
There are many questions that have arisen in connection with our
enterprises and schemes that are of interest. Professor Carpenter has
already presented some of the questions. Many of the questions you are
investigating we have had occasion to deal with. In the San Luis Valley
we have 468 miles of ditch. One of our canals, known as the Rio Grande
Canal, is, I think, the largest canal in operation at present in the West.
We have 312 miles of ditch system. The canal at the head is 80 feet
wide on the bottom, and it is contemplated that it will supply water to
about 240,000 acres of land. The conditions and character of the soil
of the San Luis Valley, on the Rio Grande River, in the southern part of
the State, are different from other sections of Colorado. That valley
has an area of 5,000 square miles, and with probably 3,000,000 acres
there that could be redeemed if we had the water to do it with. We have
altogether in the San Luis Valley, not embodying our canals entirely, but
other canals also, probably 1,150 or 1,200 miles of canal. There are
supplied by these canals about 1,500,000 acres of land.
The CHAIRMAN. That is the number of acres under the canal?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes. Our water supply is not sufficient to irrigate
those lands at all times. The present year has been one of low water,
and we have not been able to irrigate more than 50,000 or 60,000 acres.
There is a splendid opportunity for conserving the water and increas-
ing the area of cultivated land.
The CHAIRMAN. How %
Mr. GRAVES. The Rio Grande River carries a large amount of flood
Water during the Summer months, but of course we are unable at
that time to utilize it all, and Will be unable to do so even if our canal
system be extended. There are probably six weeks during the average
year when there will be sufficient water to irrigate the entire valley if
We could rely on it, but we can not do that. There are fine sites
within the mountains adjacent to the valley for building reservoirs.
In order to redeem that entire area it is necessary to conserve the
water. We are all interested in the reservoir system, because that is
326 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
**
the only way that the entire valley can ultimately be settled. With
that area we can probably support 150,000 or 200,000 people there, but
With our present irrigating facilities and water supply we will not be
able to support more than 50,000 people. The soil is good.
The CHAIRMAN. What is its general altitude 2
Mr. GRAVES. About 7,500 feet, but the latitude is such that it gives
us a good locality for irrigation. The San Luis Valley, which, by the way,
is the largest Valley in the Rocky Mountain region, has a soil some-
What peculiar and different from the soil on the eastern slope of the
mountains. Our soil is underlaid by a heavy stratum of drift.
We find artesian water in the San Luis Valley at a depth of 800 feet,
a Very full flow of water that will cut a figure sometime in the progress
of irrigation ; but even with this artesian water and all the water we
have we will be unable to redeem the valley without storing the water.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you explored the mountains with a view to
finding reservoirs?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes, and a number of them have been picked out and
located by the owners of the various ditches in the locality.
The CHAIRMAN. Has the Government made any surveys there yet?
Mr. GRAVES. I think Major Powell's men have been on the east slope
this Summer and surveyed some. _*
ſº CHAIRMAN. Are those sites on public or private lands gener-
ally
Mr. GRAVES. Public lands mostly up in the mountains. In some
cases, however, there are ranch claims that would have to be con-
demned to avail of the site.
The CHAIRMAN. But they are generally on public lands, you say?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes; most of the land in the San Luis Valley is public
land, but the State has some 200,000 or 250,000 acres therein. In order
to induce capital to invest in this enterprise the State passed a law
providing for the sale of the State land in alternate quarter sections at
$1.25 per acre to any company that would build a canal large enough
to supply the entire area. They require the Canal company to make a
contract and give a bond and supply that land. There is one feature
about those large enterprises which is this: Capital is loath to go in
and investigate and make the expensive examination necessary to ascer-
tain whether these canals are feasible. There are a number of canal
and other irrigating projects in the State, especially in the western and
southwestern portions, that would undoubtedly be undertaken if it
could be demonstrated they were feasible, but in order to demonstrate
that it would require the expenditure of considerable money.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you think the Government Surveys would be
useful ?
Mr. GRAVEs. By all means, yes. It seems to me that if the informa-
tion could be got and promulgated, so showing that these Schemes are
feasible, capital might be induced to go in and construct them. That is
especially true in Grand Valley. This valley, extending from Grand
Junction over to the valley of the Green, in Utah, embraces a fine sec-
tion of land, but to build a canal that would reclaim the whole of the
Rand that is irrigable therein would require much money. We have
made some reconnaissances to ascertain that, and it was ascertained
that the canal would cost probably $2,500,000. It is hardly probable
that capital would go in and build such a canal as that without some
benefit that would be commensurate with the investment. I do not be-
lieve that capital will ever go in there to build a canal unless there is
some inducement—some bonus or franchise to induce them to go in.
GOVERNING CONSIDERATIONS IN SALE OF WATER, 327
The CHAIRMAN. They could estimate that better if the surveys were
made.
Mr. GRAVES. Yes, but it is highly important that these surveys
should be made by the Government.
As to the question of the duty of water, you have ascertained from the
State engineer's remarks here what has been done in this vicinity. I think
that, in a measure, that is misleading. In the first place it is a difficult
matter to ascertain absolutely the duty of water. It varies very largely
with the locality, the nature of the soil, and the nature of the crop.
By the most careful experiments we have been able to make in the San
Luis Valley, the duty of water will run from 80 to 100 cubic feet per
second. We have there offered as a premium on the minimum use of
water a plan similar to this: We sell water by the quantity. In cer-
tain cases, we sell at so much a cubic foot to a certain number of indi-
viduals and deliver it to them at a certain point. They can distribute
that water as suits them, but it is to their interest to make it go as far
as possible. We sell water generally by the statutory inch. It is easily
measured to the consumer in that way. We advise a farmer to buy so
many statutory inches less than he would probably ultimately need. If,
by careful and economic distribution, he can make that water cover a
certain amount of land, it is to his interest to do it. That is a much bet-
ter plan than to allot a certain amount of water to a certain amount of
land, because in that case the farmer will surely use it, even if thereby
it is wasted. In the same fields sometimes there are places that require
different amounts of water, but the question of distribution in that sense
is a matter for careful observation and economy.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you sell water rights?
Mr. GRAVES. We rent it per annum and we also sell it in perpetuity.
We allow a man to buy as many inches as he wants to buy. If we sell
him 20 or 30 inches this year, when he has paid for them we will sell
him an additional amount. Each perpetual right is followed by an
assessment to keep up the canal.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any limitation on the assessment?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes; it is limited and it is sometimes graduated, run-
ning So much for a certain number of years and so much for the years
following that, and so on. The idea is this: The ditch is built by the
COmpany
Senator JONES. When you sell a number of inches do you obligate
yourself to furnish that number of inches”
Mr. GRAVES. Yes.
Senator JONES. Suppose you have not got them?
Mr. GRAVES. It is provided that if the water is in the river we shall
Supply it. It is contemplated that if a man buys a certain right he
buys a corresponding interest in the ditch, and at a certain time stock
will be given to him, so that in time the consumers will own the ditch,
#. by electing their own officers they will have the management. By
e time that is done we expect to have the ditch in perfect Operation,
So that the cost of maintenance would be comparatively small. This
plan [referring to a map.] gives a skeleton outline of our canal system.
The country lies very level, and it is such that we carry our water
east and north. We carry our laterals in section lines and quarter-
Section lines. In some cases our laterals follow the ridges. The canal
referred to has cost about $800,000.
Senator JONES. How long is it?
Mr. GRAVES. Our total mileage under that is 212 miles.
Senator JONES. How much land is covered by that ditch?
328 IRRIGATION AND REGLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
\
Mr. GRAVES. Two hundred and forty thousand acres.
Senator JONES. Is there water enough in it to irrigate that amount
of land? *
Mr. GRAVES. There is, in the river, at times.
Senator JONES. Is the capacity of the ditch sufficient to carry it?
Mr. GRAVES. It has a theoretical capacity sufficient; yes. It was
built on that basis.
The CHAIRMAN. Eſave you adopted the plan of having storage reser-
voirs along the line of the ditch? \
Mr. GRAVES. No, only the little one you see there [indicating by ref.
erence to the map). Of course, for the present, we have an ample sup-
ply in the river, but since our ditch system was built quite a number of
other ditches have also been built, and some must go short unless the
water is supplied by means of storage.
º piannas. What are the opportunities of storing water in this
valley
Mr. GRAVES. Practically none in the valley.
The CHAIRMAN. It is very level there?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes. It must all be done in the adjoining mountains.
In Grand Valley we have an ample supply of water. Grand River is
sufficient, but the difficulty there is the very great cost of maintaining
the ditch. The peculiarity of the soil is such that it has been very diffi-
cult to maintain the ditch as against the floods and water-spouts during
the Summer.
The CHAIRMAN. We have heard a good deal of that in Utah. How
much land area is there in the Grand Valley?
Mr. GRAVES. There is a very large country there that could be re-
deemed. We cover, by our canal, about 40,000 acres, but there must be
some 250,000 to 500,000 acres that could be redeemed.
U. CHAIRMAN. In that estimate do you include any portion of
tah
Mr. GRAVES. Yes; in that estimate I include a portion of Utah. I
have here two maps that I present to the committee. One is the map
of the north side of the river in the San Luis Valley, and the other is a
map of the south side. The first map is entitled “Map of the Del Norte
Canal and laterals.” This second map is entitled “Map of the Citizens'
Ditch,” now called the “Monte Vista Ditch.”
In addition to our canal, there are probably fifteen large ditches in
the valley. Many of those are comparatively new, and some of them
are not noted yet in the State engineer's office. Consequently, these
estimates are designed to include them.
The CHAIRMAN. If these schemes are carried out and the water used
in the valley, what effect would it have on the Rio Grande Valley &
Mr. GRAVES. It would practically exhaust it; indeed, it is doing it
already. We have found that it is true that after water is distributed
over a country for a number of years, nearly all the swales and dry
gulehes become running streams.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you aware that the citizens of Mexico feel ag-
grieved over your use of the water ?
Mr. GRAVES. Yes, we are aware of that fact, but inasmuch as we
take the water here in this country, we think we have a prior right
to it.
Senator JONES. You do not think that the Mexicans have a prior
right 3
*. GRAVES. That is an international question that We have not con-
sidered.
THE APPRoxIMATE RENTAL FOR WATER PER ACRE. 829
The CHAIRMAN. They say they have had it for two hundred years
and have some right in the matter.
Mr. GRAVEs. After we have used it for some years in all probability
it will be returned to the river. We look at it as we do at an artesian
well. When a man puts an artesian well on his place, we think he has
a right to it, because in one sense it is a creation of his own, and when
the snow falls on our mountains and the rain falls here, we think it is
Our Water.
Senator JONES. You have not increased the snow-fall ?
Mr. GRAVES. No, sir. -
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further that you wish to say?
Mr. GRAVES. We have spent a large amount of money in the State
and we are covering a much larger area of land than there is water at
all times to cover. If there is any possible way in which the water
could be increased or information about it could be had, it would be a
material advantage or benefit to the people who have invested the
money.
Senator JONES. Is all the water in the ditches practically taken in
the irrigating season ?
Mr. GRAVES. No, excepting in the low-water season. Our canals
have only been built a few years, and the present settlement of the
country is comparatively small in proportion to the amount that will
ultimately be settled. It will take a great many years to fully develop
this country. We have, therefore, a surplus of water except in extreme
low seasons of water.
Senator JONES. What proportion of that water is taken now?
Mr. GRAVES. Possibly from 5 to 10 per cent. is utilized—may be more;
I can not say exactly.
Senator JoMEs. Not more than from 5 to 10 per cent. ?
Mr. GRAVES. No, that is the capacity of our canals.
The CHAIRMAN. You mean the water actually taken out 3
Mr. GRAVES. Yes. -
Senator JONES. During the irrigating season 3
Mr. GRAVES. Yes, but in low-water season this year we have hardly
had enough to supply our customers. We have had to economize and
utilize it in the best way possible. Any information or system promul-
gated by the Geological Survey, or any action taken by the Government,
Will be highly important to us, to the capital invested, and the people
who are to use the water.
Senator JONES. About what do people pay per acre for perpetual
Water rights to your company 3
Mr. GRAVES. We do not sell or measure it in that way. We sell it
by the inch to them.
Senator JONES. Yes, but you know how much it takes to irrigate an
a CTO. -
Mr. GRAVES. It varies. I might approximate it on an average.
Senator JONES. That is what I mean.
Mr. GRAVES. They are probably paying us from $5 to $8 an acre.
But there is all the difference in the world in men. One man on this
piece of land—his water would cost him perhaps $10 an acre. His neigh-
bor, by more intelligent and economic use of it, might get along for $5
on the method we have adopted. A parallel case would be the con-
Sumption of gas and coal. One man will consume more than another to
Supply the same house. -
Senator JONES. What I wanted was the average.
Mr. GRAVES. I should say an average of $5 to $10 an acre.
330 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator JONES. And the expense of keeping it up is $5 to $15 per
acre, did you say ?
Mr. GRAVES. No, I did not say that. We charge by the inch. In the
San Luis Valley the ordinary assessment runs from 15 to 30 cents an
ingh. In Grand River it is $1 an inch, and that is insufficient to main-
tain the ditch there. The expense of keeping up the ditch varies with
the capacity of the canal.
Senator JONES. What is the selling price per inchº
Mr. GRAVES. We are selling it at $8 an inch in the San Luis Valley
for the first 5 miles. A man 24 miles down would pay about $12 an inch
for it. We charge so much an inch and agree to carry it to a certain
point. For instance, if we sell to a colony, we agree to give them so
. gºve feet at a certain place, and they do what they think proper
WILI1 115.
Senator JONES. But in case of a failure of the water you are dis.
charged of your obligation to furnish it?
. Mr. GRAVES. If it can be had in the river we must furnish it. If it
is not in the river we are relieved of our obligation.
Form of water contract in use in Colorado–submitted by Mr. Graves
to the committee:
WATER CONTRACT.
. Know all men by these presents, that the Canal Company, a corpora-
tion existing under the laws of the State of Colorado, of the first part, and
, of the county of and State of Colorado, of the second part, for and in
consideration of the sum of $ — to be paid-fis hereinafter specified, and in consider-
ation of the mutual covenants and agreements in this contract contained, to be per-
formed and kept, the said company hereby agrees to carry and convey for the use of
the second part—, statutory inches of water in and through the canal of said
Company, subject to the following terms and conditions, to which the said part— of
the second part, — heirs and assigns, hereby expressly agree:
I. The said company agrees to carry and convey the said water in its said canal for
the use and benefit of the said second part—, —, heirs or assigns, continuously dur-
ing the irrigating season, except as hereinafter provided, and at no other time, unless
with the consent of said company thereto in writing.
II. Said water shall be used only for irrigating and domestic purposes on the follow-
ing described tract of land, and none other, to wit: and under no circum-
stances shall Said water, or any portion thereof, be used for mining, milling, or me-
chanical power, or for any other purpose not directly connected or incident to the
purposes herein specified.
III., Said company expressly reserves to itself the right to distribute the water
from its said canal in accordance with such rights and priorities as are or may here-
after be established or decreed; and this contract is received by the part— of the
second part subject to such priorities.
IV. The said second part—, — heirs or assigns, shall not permit said water, nor
any portion thoreof carried as aforesaid, to run to waste, but as soon as a sufficient
the quantity shall have been used for the purposes herein allowed and contracted for,
said second part—, — heirs or assigns, shall shut off said water and keep the same
shut and turned off until the same shall be again Ineeded for the purposes aforesaid.
But in no case shall the amount of water taken or received by said second part—, —
heirs or assigns, exceed the quantity first herein referred to, and said company hereby
reserves the right at any time to shut off the water herein mentioned whenever it
shall find that the said part—of the second part — wasting it or not using it in ac-
cordance with the agreements herein contained on the land above mentioned.
W. The said company shall deliver said water at such point or points along the line
of said canal or ditch, or from any of its reservoirs, laterals, either or all, as it may
determine to be the most practicable, and the manner of withdrawing, and regulating
the supply of said water from said company's ditch and reservoirs shall be prescribed by
said company, and shall at all times be under its control, as determined and directed
by the said company. The head-gates, flumes, weirs, or other arrangements or de-
vices, and all measuring boxes and devices through which the water hereby con-
tracted to be carried shall be drawn and measured from said company’s ditch or res-
ervoirs, shall be made and placed in position by the said company, but at the cost of
said second part—, who shall also be liable for the expense of keeping the same in good
-- .*
~ * - - - ** -
- ForMS USED BY colorado wATER coRPoRATIONS. 331
repair and condition; and the said company may collect and enforge the payment of
- ali sums expended for said purposes in the same manner as prescribed for collecting
and enforcing assessments. - * * - * -
VI. The said first party agrees to keep and maintain said main canal or ditch and
any and all of its reservoirs and laterals in good order and condition, and in ºase Of
accident to the same, to repair the injury thereby occasioned, as soon as practicable
and expedient; and the company shall have a right to assess the said second part—
for its expensés of maintaining, repairing and operating said canal, and any and
all reservoirs and laterals connected there with, including taxes and legal assessments
on said canal, a sum not exceeding per statutory inch hereby contracted to be
carried, per annum; and in addition thereto may, when necessary by reason of acci-
dent, assess all owners or hoiders of water rights, pro rata, such sums as may be neº-
essary to repair the injuries so occasioned, the amount of all assessments herein
provided for shall be determined and levied by said, company by resolution of its
board of directors, and the company also reserves to itself the right by like resolu-
tion to establish and enforce such rules and regulations, and to provide and declare
such penalties as it may deem necessary and expedient for the purpose of enforcing
and collecting said assessments or any part thereof. Said assessments shall be due
and payable at such time as may be fixed by the board of directors of the first party,
and the second part— hereby agree—to duly pay the same, and further agree—that
the failure to pay the same or any part therof within sixty days after notice of the
levy of any assessment (which notice may be either personal or by registered letter
addressed to the second part—at , Colorado) shall, at the option of the board of
directors of the first party, constitute a forfeiture of all the rights of second part-
as provided in paragraph XIII of this agreement,
VII. The said first party shall have, and the said second part— hereby grant - to the
said first party, a right of way across said above described land of the width of:
feet for the main canal as now located and a right of way for the laterals of said first
party as now located, of the width of— feet, and also the right of roadway on the
banks of the canal and main laterals; and in case a fence is constructed by said see:
ond part—across said roadway—shall construct and maintain a gateway across said
bank, when said first party requests, in which case said first party shall close said
gate when opened by it. e
VIII. It is hereby distinctly understood and agreed by and between the parties
hereto, that in case the first party shall be unable to carry and distribute a volume
of water equal to the estimated capacity of its canal, either from casual, unforeseen,
or unavoidable accidents, or from any cause beyond the control of said first party, or
if the volume of water prove insufficient from drought or from any other cause beyond
the control of said company, the company shall not be liable in any way for the
shortness or deficiency of supply so occasioned, or any loss or damage resulting there- .
from by reason of any of said causes. If, however, by reason of such causes, or any
of them, the supply of water be insufficient to furnish an amount equal to all the
water rights then outstanding, the said company shall have the power and the right
to distribute such water as may flow through said canal to the holders of such water
rights pro rata, or may alternate the same ; and for the purpose of so doing may es-
tablish and enforce such rules as it may deem necessary or expedient. And the second
part—for —— and —— heirs and assigns, agree— in consideration aforesaid, to waive,
and hereby do— waive, any claim for loss or damage by reason of any leakage, overflow,
or breaking of said company’s canals, or any of its reservoirs, lakes, or laterals, either
upon the land aforesaid or any other tract belonging to the part—of the Second part,
provided the same is not caused by the negligence of said company.
IX. The said company agrees that when it shall have sold and have outstanding
and in force a number of water rights equal to the estimated capacity of the com-
pady's canal, or sooner, at its option, it will then transfer to the holder of each water
right, who shall have complied with the terms and conditions of this contract, with-
out further consideration, such a proportion of the number of shares of the capital
stock of the said —— company as the number of water rights held by bears to
the whole number of water rights held or outstanding in the canal of the company,
or as near thereto as may be possible without making fractions of shares, and which
said shares the second part— agree— to accept: Provided, however, that such transfer
is to be made only on the express condition that the first party shall thereupon and
- thereafter be absolutely released from any and aſl obligations or liabilities arising out
of the ownership, operation, management, or control of said canal, or out of any con-
tract (including this) pertaining to the distribution of water therefrom, which said
obligations shall be assumed by said holders of water rights, who shall pay all ex-
penses incident to such transfer; which said condition the said second part—, in con-
sideration thereof and of these presents, for — and lmeirs and assigns do—
hereby accept. Such transfer shall only be made when the canal is in good order
and unencumbered.
X. It is further agreed that the irrigating season shall commence April 15th and
332 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
continue to November 1st of each and every year, and that thereafter water shall be
conveyed for domestic purposes whenever reasonably practicable; subject to the
right of said first party to shut off the water in order to repair or enlarge or extend
Said canal.
XI. The payment of the consideration heretofore specified herein shall be as fol-
lows:
in the manner following, that is to say:
dollars upon the ensealing and delivery of this contract, payment of
which is hereby acknowledged, and the balance in payments at the times and

Day.
Month.
Year.
Principal.
Interest.
Amount,
Femarks.
First deferred
Second deferre
ayment. --.
payment..
Third deferred payment...
Fourth deferred payment..
Fifth deferred payment. ...
Sixth deferred payment. --.
Seventh deferred payment.
Eighth deferred payment. .
• * * * * -
w as e ºn tº e s sº * *
* * * * * * * *
• * s tº sº - ſº º
• * * * * * * *
• * is ºs º ºs º ºs
• * as s ºr - sº a a
* * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
• * * * * * * * * *
• * * * - tº E gº º - I e s s
as ss m e º is m as s -
gº ºf º- - - - e º 'º- -
* * * * * * * * * *
s sº e º 'º º tº sº * *
* e º 'º - - - sº se -
• * * s sº - ºr * * * * * * - sº as - -
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * a sm tº ºr us as as ºn as as tº as a sm as tº
* * * tº gº - ºn sº se s - - - us s tº - -
Said deferred payments shall bear interest at the rate of
per cent. per annum,
payable annually, and shall bear interest after maturity at the rate of — per cent.
per annum, and the second part— in consideration of the premises hereby agree—
that – will make punctual payment of the above sums, and each of the same, to-
gether with the interest thereon as the same respectively become due ; and that —
will regularly and seasonably pay all assessments that may be imposed by said com-
pany for the purposes aforesaid as above agreed.
XII. In case the second part —, legal representatives, heirs or assigns, shall pay
the several sums of money punctually, and at the times above limited, and shall
strictly and literally perform all and singular the agreements and stipulations afore-
said after their true tenor and intent, then this contract shall be and operate as a
contract entitling said second part— in perpetuity to the enjoyment of the right
hereby granted, subject, however, to the same assessments and forfeitures for non-
payment as herein provided.
XIII. And it is hereby agreed and covenanted by the parties hereto that time and
punctuality are essential elements of this contract. And in case the second part—
shall fail to make the payments aforesaid, and each of them, or shall fail to pay any
assessment which may be levied as provided in paragraphs V and VI hereof, punct-
ually and upon the strict terms and times above limited for the payments and assess-
ments herein provided for, or likewise to observe, perform, and complete, all and each
of said agreements and stipulations aforesaid strictly and literally, without any fail-
ure or default, then this contract, so far as it may bind the first party, shall become
null and void, the water may be immediately shut off, and all rights and interests
hereby created or then existing in favor of the second part, -, -heirs or assigns, or
derived from this contract shall utterly cease and determine, and all equitable and
legal interest in the right hereby contracted for shall revert to and revest in said
first party, without any declaration of forfeiture or any other act of said first party
to be performed, and without any right of said second part—of reclamation or com-
pensation for moneys paid or services performed, as absolutely, fully, and perfectly as
if this contract had never been made: Provided, That said first party shall give to Said
second part—heirs or assigns, sixty days' notice, either personal or by mail, of the
said second part—, – heirs or assigns, being in arrears upon said payments, or any
of them, or the interest thereon, which notice, if by mail, shall be sufficient, if by Peg-
istered letter addressed to said second part— at Colorado. e
XIV. It is also stipulated and agreed that no assignment of the rights of the see:
ond part— under this contract, whether by conveyance or lease of all or part of Said
lands, or by operation of law, or otherwise, shall be binding on the first party, so
as to require it to carry for or deliver to such assignee any of the amount of water
berein contracted to be carried and delivered unless the first party shall consent
thereto in writing; and provided, that no assignment whatever shall be binding as
to the first party herein until the same is endorsed upon these presents and consented
to in writing upon these presents by the said company: And provided further, That
nothing herein contained shall be taken to bind the party of the first part herein, to
release the second part— in case of such assignment, from any liabilities to said first
party under this contract. The endorsement upon these presents of the company's
consent to the assignment by the party—of the second part of this contract and of
— rights hereunder will be made by said company upon request of the part- of the
second part, provided all payments, assessments, and charges herein provided for
which may have become due at or prior to the time of such request shall have been
fully paid.
BLANKS IN USE By colorado DITCH companies. 333
XV. It is further stipulated and agreed that nothing in the foregoing provisions as
to relocation and assignment shall be taken to bind the first party to convey or deliver
water in less amount than 5 statutory inches for any one tract of land.
XVI. It is also stipulated and agreed that from and after the execution hereof, the
said second part—may enter into the use and enjoyment of water flowing through
said canal, its reservoirs or laterals, to the extent of the rights above contracted for as
fully as though fully paid for, but subject, however, to all the terms, limitations, and
conditions above set forth.
In witness whereof, the Canal Company, party of the first part, has
mereunto caused its corporate name to be subscribed by its president, and attested by
its secretary, and its corporate seal to be affixed hereto as well as to a duplicate
hereof, and the part—of the second part——hereunto subscribed—— name—and affixed
—seal—hereto, as well as to a duplicate hereof, this the – day of A. D. 18–
# COMPANY.
By President.
Attested by:
Secretary
[SEAL.]
Address,
—— [SEAL.]
Address,
ASSIGNMENT.
—, the within-named purchaser, for and in consideration of dol-
lars, do hereby assign and transfer all — right, title, interest, and claim in and to
the within-described rights to water unto , of , county of
and State of , heirs and assigns, forever; and — do hereby authorize and em-
power the Company to receive from the said all unpaid
balances due to said company, in part consideration for said water rights.
Given under — hand and seal this — day of , A. D. 18–.
It is expressly understood that in consenting to recognize this assignment the offi-
cers of this company do not exempt the original purchaser from any of his liabilities
under the contract, but will protect the rights of the assignee, provided he complies
with its obligations.
e [SEAL.]
Countersigned.
* President.
Secretary.
STATE OF COLORADo,
County of , 88 :
Before me, in and for said county, this day personally came ——
——, known to me to be the identical person described in the within agreement,
and who executed the foregoing assignment, and acknowledged that — signed,
sealed, and delivered the same as — free and voluntary act and deed, for the uses
and purposes therein set forth,
Given under my hand and — seal of office this —— day of ——, A. D. 18–.
My commission expires
Received , 189—, of
defºrred payment, on the within contract.
, 18–.
the sum of
dollars, amount of first
f Hºpe similar to the above for the second to the eighth payments, inclusive,
O}|OW. ë.
(indºwntº No.—. Agreement to carry — inches of water. The
wit
The following is another form of contract in use:
WATER CONTRACT.
... Know all men by these presents, that the — Canal Company, a corpora-
tion existing under the laws of the State of Colorado, of the first part, and
$ , of the county of and State of Colorado, of the second part, for and in
oonsideration of the sum of $– to be paid as hereinafter specified, and in consider-
ation of the mutual covenants and agreements in this contract contained, to be per-
334 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
formed and kept, the said company hereby agrees to sell unto the second º:
water right for — statutory inches of water flowing through the canal bf said
company, subject to the following terms and conditions, to which the said party of
the second part, — heirs and assigns, hereby expressly agree:
I. The said company agrees to furnish the said water to the said second party, -
heirs or assigns, continuously during the irrigating season, except as hereinafter
provided, and at no other time, unless with the consent of said company thereto in
writing.
II. Said water shall be used only for irrigating and domestic purposes on the
following described tract of land, and none other, to wit: and under
no circumstances shall said water, or any portion thereof, be used for mining, milling,
or mechanical power, or for any other purpose not directly connected or incident to
the purposes hereinafter specified.
III. Said company expressly reserves to itself the right to distribute the water from
its said canal in accordance with such rights and priorities as are or may hereafter
be established or decreed; and this deed is received by the party of the second part
subject to such priorities. -
IV. The said second party, heirs or assigns, shall not permit said water, nor
any portion thereof furnished as aforesaid, to run to waste, but as soon as a sufficient
quantity shall have been used for the purposes herein allowed and contracted for,
the said second party, - heirs or assigns, shall shut off said water and keep the
same shut and turned off until the same shall be again needed for the purposes afore-
said. But in no case shall the amount of water taken or received by said second party,
— heirs or assigns, exceed the quantity first herein referred to, and said company
hereby reserves the right at any time to shut off the water herein mentioned when-
ever it shall find that the said part— of the second part wasting it or not using
it on the land above-mentioned.
V. The said company shall deliver said water at such point or points along the line
of said canal or ditch, or from any of its reservoirs, laterals, either or all, as it may
determine to be the most practicable, and the manner of withdrawing and regulating
the supply of said water from said company’s ditch and reservoirs shall be pre-
scribed by said company, and shall at all times be under its control, as determined
and directed by the said company. The head-gates, flumes, weirs, or other arrange-
ments or devices through which the water hereby sold shall be drawn from said com-
pany’s ditch or reservoirs, shall be made.and placed in position by the said company,
but at the cost of said second part— who shall also be liable for the expense of keep-
ing the same in good repair and condition ; and the said company may collect and
enforce the payment of all sums expended for said purposes in the same manner as
prescribed for collecting and enforcing assessments.
VI. The said first party agrees to keep and maintain said main canal or ditch and
any and all of its reservoirs and laterals in good order and condition, and in case of
accident to the same, to repair the injury thereby occasioned, as Soon as practicable
and expedient; and the company shall have a right to assess the said second part—
for its expenses of maintaining, repairing, and operating said canal and any and all
reservoirs and laterals connected there with, including taxes and legal assessments on
said canal, a sum not exceeding — per statutory inch hereby contracted to be sup-
plied per annum; and in addition thereto may, when necessary by reason of acci-
dent, assess all owners or holders of water rights, pro rata, such sums as may be
necessary to repair the injuries so occasioned. The amount of all assessments herein
provided for shall be determined and levied by said, company by resolution of its
board of directors, and the company also reserves to itself the right by like resolu-
tion to establish and enforce such rules and regulations, and to provide and declare
such penalties as it may deem necessary and expedient for the purpose of enforcing
and collecting said assessments, or any part thereof. Said assessments shall be due
and payable at such time as may be fixed by the board of directors of the first party,
and the second part— hereby agree— to duly pay the same, and further agree— that
the failure to pay the same or any part thereof within sixty days after notice of
the levy of any assessment (which notice may be either personal or by registered
letter addressed to the second party at , Colorado) shall, at the option of the
board of directors of the first party, constitute a forfeiture of all the rights of the
second part— as provided in paragraph XIV of this agreement.
VII. The said first party shall have, and the said second part— hereby grant—to
the said first party, a right of way across said above described land of the width of
for the main canal or laterals of said first party as now located, and also the
right of roadway on the banks of the canal and main laterals; and in case a fence
is constructed by said second part—across said roadway — shall construct and
maintain a gateway across said bank, when said first party requests, in which case
said first party shall close said gate when opened by it.
VIII. It is hereby distinctly understood and agreed by and between the parties.
hereto, that in case the first party shall be unable to carry and distribute a volume
*
AGREEMENT As To THE PAYMENTs For water RENT-335
y
of water equal to the estimated capacity of its canal, either from casual, unforseen,
or unavoidable accidents, or from any cause beyond the control of said first party, or
if the volume of water prove insufficient from drouth or from any other cause beyond
the control of said company, the company shall not be liable in any way for the
shortness or deficiency of supply so occasioned, or any loss or damage resulting there-
from, by reason of any of said causes. If, however, by reason of such causes, or
any of them, the supply of water be insufficient to furnish an amount equal to all
the water rights then outstanding, the said company shall have the power and the
right to distribute such water as may flow through said canal to the holders of such
water rights pro rata, or may alternate the same ; and for the purpose of so doing
may establish and enforce such rules as it may deem necessary or expedient. And
the second part— for and — heirs and assigns, agree—, in consideration
aforesaid, to waive, and hereby do waive, any claim for loss or damage by reason of
any leakage, overflow, or breaking of said company’s canals, or any of its reservoirs,
lakes, or laterals, either upon the land aforesaid or any other tract belonging to the
part— of the second part. §
IX. The said company agrees that when it shall have sold and have outstanding
and in force a number of water rights equal to the estimated capacity of the com-
~.
pany’s canal, or sooner at its option, it will then transfer to the holder of each water
right, who shall have complied with the terms and conditions of this contract without
further consideration, such a proportion of the number of the shares of the capital stock
of the said company as the number of water rights held by — bears to
the whole number of water rights held or outstanding in the canal of the company, or
as near thereto as may be possible without making fractions of shares, and which said
shares the second part — agree— to accept : Provided however, That such transfer is
to be made only on the express condition that the first party shall thereupon and
thereafter be absolutely released from any and all obligations or liabilities arising
out of the ownership, operation, management, or control of said canal, or out of any
contract (including this) pertaining to the distribution of water therefrom, which
said obligations shall be assumed by said holders of water rights, who shall pay all
expenses incident to such transfer; which said condition the said second part— in
consideration thereof and of these presents, for and — heirs and assigns do—
hereby accept. Such transfer shall only be made when the canal is in good order and
unencumbered.
X. It is further agreed that the irrigating season shall commence April 15 and con-
tinue to November 1 of each and every year, and that thereafter water shall be con-
veyed for domestic purposes whenever reasonably practicable; subject to the right
of ºil first party to shut off the water in order to repair or enlarge or extend said
Căillall. *
XI. The payment of the consideration heretofore specified herein shall be as follows:
— dollars upon the ensealing and delivery of this contract, payment of which is
hereby acknowleged, and the balance in — payments at the times and in the manner
following, that is to say:
Day. | Month. Year. Principal, Interest. Amount. Remarks.
Tirst deferred Fº tº º ->
Second deferred payment--
Third deferred payment...
Fourth deferred payment--
Fifth deferred payment. --.
Sixth deferred payment. --.
Seventh deferred payment.
Eighth deferred payment..
Said deferred payments shall bear interest at the rate of — per cent. per annum,
payable annually, and shall bear interest after maturity at the rate of —-- per cent.
per, annum, and the second part—, in consideration of the premises, hereby agree—
that – will make punctual payment of the above sums, and each of the same,
together with the interest thereon, as the same respectively become due ; and that
— will regularly and seasonably pay all assessments that may be imposed by said
company, for the purposes aforesaid, as above agreed.
XII. In case the second part — legal representatives, heirs or assigns, shall pay
the several sums of money punctually, and at the times above limited, and shail
strictly and literally perform all and singular agreements and stipulations afore-
said after their true tenor and intent, then the first party shall cause to be made and
executed unto the second part — heirs or assigns, a deed conveying the water-right
above described in fee-simple; subject, however, to the same assessments and for.
feitures for non-payment as herein provided,
a `

336 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
XIII. The first party claims and reserves a strip of land of the width necessary and
sufficient for the right of way of the canals of the first party, and for enlarging and
repairing and superintending the same where any such canal is located upon or con-
tiguous to the premises, hereby claiming and reserving the right of way across said
lands for lateral canals where the same are or may become necessary and expedient for
the purpose of conveying water from the main canals of first party to the lands below,
whether such laterals are constructed by the first party, or by persons owning such
lower lands; provided that the laterals aforesaid shall be constructed under the
Supervision of and upon such lands only as are selected by the first party.
XIV. And it is hereby agreed and covenanted by the parties hereto that time and
punctuality are essential elements of this contract. And in case the scond part—shall
fail to make the payments aforesaid, and each of them, or shall fail to pay any assess-
ment which may be levied, as provided in paragraphs V and VI horeof, punctually
and upon the strict terms and times above limited for the payments and assessments
herein provided for, or likewise to observe, perform, and complete all and each of
said agreements and stipulations aforesaid strictly and literally without any failure
or default, then this contract, so far as it may bind the first party, shall become null
and void, the water may be immediately shut off, and all rights and interests hereby
created or then existing in favor of the second part heirs or assigns, or derived
from shall utterly cease and determine, and all equitable and legal
interest in the water-right hereby contracted to be conveyed shall
revert to and revest in said first party, without any declaration of forfeiture or any
other act of said first party to be performed, and without any right of said second
part— of reclamation or compensation for moneys paid or services performed, as abso-
lutely, fully, and perfectly as if this contract had never been made: Provided, That
said first party shall give to said second part—, — heirs or assigns, sixty days' notice,
either personally or by mail, of the said second part — heirs or assigns, being in
arrears upon said payments, or any of them, or the interest thereon, which notice, if
by mº, be sufficient, if by registered letter addressed to said second part— at
olorado.
And'it is further stipulated that no assignment of the premises shall be valid unless
the same shall be indorsed hereon, and no agreements, or conditions or relations be-
tween the said second part— and T. assigns, or any other person acquiring title
or interest from or through —, shall preclude the first party from the right to con-
vey the premises to the second part— or assigns, on the surrender of this agree-
ment and the payment of the unpaid portion of the purchase money which may be
due to the first party.
XV. It is also stipulated and agreed that from and after the execution hereof, the
said second part — may enter into the use and enjoyment of water flowing º
said canal, its reservoirs or laterals to the extent of the right, above contracted to be
conveyed, as fully as though fully paid for, but subject, however, to all the terms,
limitations and conditions above set forth.
In witness whereof, the Company, party of the first part, has here-
unto caused its corporate name to be subscribed by its president, and attested by its
secretary and its corporate seal to be affixed hereto as well as to a duplicate hereof,
and the part— of the second part subscribed name— and
affixed — seal— hereto, as well as to a duplicate hereof, this the – day
A. D. 18—.
f
*
By —
COMPANY.,
President,
Attested by—
Secretary.
[SEAL.]
Address:
Address:
Address:
[SEAL.]
[SEAL.]
ASSIGNMENT.
, the within-named pnrchaser, for and in consideration of- dollars,
do — hereby assign and transfer all — right, title, interest and claim in and to the
within-described rights to water unto — of , county, of: , and
State of , heirs and assigns, forever. And — do — hereby authorize and em:
ower the Company, to receive from the said * all unpaid
tº: due to said Company, in part consideration for said water rights and upon
the final payment of all the purchase money and a full compliance of all the require-
wATER CONTRACT FoEMS AND BLANK RECEIPTS. 337
ments contained in the within agreement, to execute, or cause to be executed, to the
said heirs and assigns, a deed of said water rights, instead of to
Given under — hand and seal, this — day of , A. D., 18–.
It is expressly understood that in consenting to recognize this assignment, the
officers of this Company do not exempt the original purchaser from any of his liabili-
ties under the contract, but will protect the rights of the assignee, provided he com-
plies with its obligations.
, [SEAL.]
Countersigned :
President.
Secretary.
STATE OF COLORADO,
County of —, 88.
Before me , in and for said county, this day personally came
, known to me to be the identical person— described in the within agreement,
and who executed the foregoing assignment, and acknowledged that — signed,
sealed, and delivered the same as free and voluntary act and deed, for the uses
and purposes herein set forth.
Given under my hand and — seal of office, this — day of , A. D. 18–.
My commission expires , 18—.
Received • , 189—, of —— —— the sum of — dollars, amount of first de-
ferred payment on the within contract.
f Hºpe similar to the above for the second to the eighth payments, inclusive,
ollow. T
(Indorsement.) No. —. Agreement for sale of water right. The
with for — statutory inches.
*º-º-º:
The following is another form of contract in use:
WATER CONTRACT.
THE FORT MORGAN LAND AND CANAL COMPANY.
This agreement, made this — day of ——, in the year 18—, between the Fort
Morgan Land and Canal Company, a corporation existing under the laws of the State
of Colorado, as the first party, and , of the county of Weld, and State of
Colorado, as the second party, witnesseth :
I. That in consideration of and subject to the stipulations herein contained, and
the payments to be made as hereinafter specified, the first party hereby agrees to sell
unto the second party — heirs or assigns, – water right to the use of water,
flowing through the canal of said first party; each water right to be sufficient to ir-
rigate 80 acres of land, but not to exceed 1.40 cubic feet of water per second of time,
which the first party agrees to furnish to the second party heirs or assigns, dur-
ing the irrigating season, except as hereinafter provided, and at no other time, for
domestic purposes and for irrigating the following-described land, situate in the
county of Weld, and State of Colorado, viz: e
II. Said second party heirs or assigns, shall not permit said water or any
portion thereof, furnished as aforesaid, to run to waste, provided, however, that own-
ers of water rightssfrom the said canal may temporarily, for mutual convenience for
irrigating purposes only, use their water in combination upon their several lands,
but never upon lands for which the first party has not sold its full quota of water,
on a basis of one water right to 80 acres of land.
III. Said first party shall deliver said water at such point or points along the line
of said canal, or from any of its reservoirs, either or all, as it may determine É. time
to time to be most practicable; and the location of all headgates, and the manner of
withdrawing and regulating the supply of water from said company’s canals and reser-
jº, shall be prescribed by said company, and shall at all times be under its con-
trol.
IV. Said first party agrees to keep and maintain said canal and any and all of its
reservoirs in good order and condition, and in case of accident to the same to repair
the injury thereby occasioned as soon as practicable and expedient; and the company
shall have a right to assess said second party, for the expense of maintaining, repairing
and superintending said canal and any and all reservoirs connected there with, assum
138 A L-WOL III 22
338 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
;
not exceeding $10 per water right sold, per annum, and in addition thereto may, when
necessary by reason of accident, assess all owners or holders of water rights pro rata
such sums, not exceeding $10 in any one year for each water right, as may be neces-
Sary to repair the damages so occasioned. The amount, manner of collection, and
time of payment of all assessments herein provided for shall be determined by said
company; and the company also reserves to itself the right to establish and enforce
such rules and regulations, and to provide and declare such penalties as are neces-
sary and expedient for the purpose of enforcing and collecting said assessments, or
any part thereof.
V. It is further expressly understood and agreed that when the first party shall
have sold and have outstanding and in force water rights, fully paid up, equal to the
full capacity of its canal (or sooner at its option), it will distribute pro rata, the stock
of said company among the holders of water rights so sold and the first party as
owners of unsold water rights (if any), and the second party agrees to merge —
water right in this contract, and the first party, in the exercise of said option, to
merge all its water rights then remaining unsold, if any, severally, into the capital
stock of said company, in equitable proportions to the water right— so merged.
VI. It is hereby distinctly understood and agreed by and between the parties hereto,
that in case the canal of said first party shall be unable to convey and distribute a
Volume of water equal to the estimated capacity, either from any accident, or from
lack of supply in the South Platte River, or from any other cause beyond the con-
trol of said first party, then the first party shall not be liable for the shortness or
deficiency of supply so occasioned, or any losses or damages resulting therefrom.
It is further agreed that during a deficiency in the water supply of such canal, from any
of the causes aforesaid, the first party shall have the right to divide the diminished
Supply pro rata, among the holders of water rights under said canal, and for the pur-
pose of So doing may establish and enforce such rules and regulations as are neces-
sary and expedient. And the Second party, for — and — heirs and assigns agree—
in consideration aforesaid to waive, and do hereby waive, any claim for loss or dam-
age by reason of any leakage or overflow of said canal, or any of its reservoirs,
lakes, or laterals, not resulting from the negligence of the first party, either upon the
land aforesaid or any other tract belonging to said second party.
VII. In consideration of foregoing promises, covenants, and agreements of the said
party of the first part, the second party agrees to pay unto the said first party the
sum of dollars with interest, payable annually, at the rate of 10 per cent. per
annum. Payment bas been made and received of dollars, and the remaining
principal, with the annually accruing interest, shall be paid at the office of the first
party in Denver, Colo., in payments, at the times and in the manner following,
that is to say :

Day. | Month. Year. Principal. Interest. Amount. Remarks.
First deferred * yment----|--|--|--|----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|------------------
Second deferred payment--------|------------------ i.---------i--------|----------|------------------
Third deferred payment. --|------|---------|--------|----------|--------- || --, ------|------------------
Fourth deferred payment.-------|----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|------------------
Fifth deferred payment -- . 1.-----|----------|--------|----------|- - - - - - - - - -|----------|---------------- - -
Sixth deferred payment. ... [...----|----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|------------------
And the second party, in consideration of the premises, hereby agrees that —
will make punctual payments of the above sums, as each of the same respectively be-
comes due, and that -- will regularly and seasonably pay all assessments that may
hereafter be imposed by said company for the purposes aforesaid. And when the
said party of the second part or —assigns, shall have fully paid the consideration for
the water rights herein conveyed, with interest thereon according to the terms of
this contract, the absolute title to said water rights, free and clear of all incum-
brances, shall be thereby vested in the said party of the second part, and his assigns
without any further or other deed of conveyance whatsoever.
VIII. The second party for — heirs and assigns further agree- to pay to the first
party or its assigns, on such terms and regulations as its board of trustees may from
time to time prescribe and determine proportional part of the expenses of main:
taining and repairing the general fence, constructed to inclose a large tract of land
lying under said canal; and said second party for — heirs and assigns further ex-
pressly agrees, in consideration of these presents, that − will nºt permit any live
stock in possession or under — control to run at large within such general
fence; and any violation of this agreement shall render the second party — personal
representatives or assigns, liable in damages to the first party, as trustee for the
benefit of any persons and their privies in interest, who inay be injured by reason of
depredations of live stock so allowed to run at large in violation hereof. º
ix. And it is hereby covenanted and agreed by the parties herefo, that time and
BLANK AssignMENTs of water RIGHTs Now IN USE. 339
punctuality are material and essential elements of this contract, and that in case said
party of the second part shall fail or neglect to make the payments aforesaid, and each
of them, at the time and times herein stipulated, then all rights, privileges, and
benefits accrued or accruing under the terms of this contract in favor of said party of
the second part or — heirs or assigns, shall utterly cease and determine after thirty
days' notice of such default being given by deposit thereof in the post-office at Denver,
addressed to said party of the second part at his last known post-office address, or by
personal service of such notice, at the option of said party of the first part, and with-
out any right of said party of the second part of reclamation or compensation for
moneys paid or services performed, as absolutely, fully, and perfectly as if this con-
tract had never been made ; and all moneys theretofore paid by said party of the
second part to said party of the first part under the provisions of this contract shall
belong to, and be retained by, said party of the first part as liquidated damages for
the breach hereof.
It is further expressly and distilictly agreed and understood that this contract shall
not be construed or operate to convey or vest any interest whatever in the water
right hereinbefore mentioned until said party of the second part shall have fully per-
formed each and every of the covenants and agreements herein contained, for the
payment of the aforesaid consideration and purchase price, and shall not be assigned
until fully paid up, without the consent of the first party indorsed hereon.
In witness whereof, The Fort Morgan Land and Canal Company has hereunto
caused its corporate name to be subscribed by its president and attested by its secre-
tary and its corporate seal to be affixed, and the second party subscribed
name and affixed seal hereto, the day and year first above written.
THE FORT MORGAN LAND AND CANAL COMPANY.,
By y
President.
Attested by:
Secretary.
*- [SEAL.]
*s- [SEAL. J
*=- [SEAL. I
ASSIGNMENT,
, the within named purchaser, for and in consideration of dol-
lars, do— hereby assign and transfer all — right, title, interest, and claim in and
to the within described rights to water unto , O , county of
and State of , heirs and assigns forever. And — do— hereby authorize and
empower The Fort Morgan Land and Canal Company to receive from the said
all unpaid balances due to said company, in part consideration for said water
rights, and upon the final payment of all the purchase money, and a full compliance
with all the requirements contained in the within agreement, to execute, or cause to
be executed, to the said , heirs and assigns, a deed of said water rights,
instead of to . º -
Given under — hand— and seal— this — day of , A. D. 18–.
It is expressly understood that in consenting to recognize this assignment, the offi-
cers of this company do not intend to exempt the original purchaser from any of his
liabilities under the contract, but to protect the rights of the assignee, provided he
complies with its obligations.
... [SEAL.]
Countersigned:
-º-º-º:
President.
3.
Secretary.
STATE OF COLORADO,
County of , 88 :
Before me, , in and for said county, this day personally came
, known to me to be the identical person— described in the within agreement,
and Who executed the foregoing assignment, and acknowledged that — signed,
sealed, and delivered the same as — free and voluntary act and deed for the usé
and purposes herein set forth.
Given under my hand and — seal of office this — day of
Received 18 —, of
ferred payment on the within contract.
, A. D. 18—.
, the sum of dollars, almount of first de-
|Receipts similar to the above for the second to the sixth, inclusive, follow.]
* (Indorsement :) No. Agreement for sale of water right, The Fort Morgan
Land and Canal Company with e
340 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
STATEMENT OF THOMAS P. DUNBA.R.
The CHAIRMAN. I understand you have given some attention- to
rating lands with a view of making loans—irrigated lands and non-
irrigated lands.
h Mr. DUNBAR. Yes; I have been loaning money for twelve years
(21°C.
The CHAIRMAN. State your observation and experience and the rules
you have been guided by in the matter of security.
Mr. DUNBAR. As a rule, I do very little in non-irrigated lands be-
cause we think them of very little value. Very few crops can be
grown on them with any certainty on what we call dry lands. I con-
fine my loans almost exclusively to lands under ditches and with ditch
rights attached.
The CHAIRMAN. What are irrigated lands generally worth that are
under cultivation—what would be their average value 3
Mr. DUNBA.R. Pure agricultural lands 2
The CHAIRMAN. That is what I mean.
Mr. DUNBAR. In the best counties, Larimer and Weld, land that is
well improved and well down in grasses, under a ditch that is reliable
and with perpetual water-right attached to the land, go as high as from
;", to $75 an acre, the very choicest; the second class from $25
to $50.
The CHAIRMAN. That is for loaning purposes 7
Mr. DUNBAR. I value them at that. They could be sold and they do
sell for that. Taking the new places, like the San Luis Valley, with per-
petual water-right attached to the land, the advances on loans on mort-
gage average from $3 to $5 per acre. The highest advances made in
the State will probably range at $25 per acre. The medium advances,
about $10.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the difference in the San Luis Valley be-
tween irrigated and non-irrigated lands?
Mr. DUNBAR. The lands that can not be irrigated in the San Luis
Valley are only good for grazing and are not worth over $1.25 an acre.
Lands under one of those ditches without a perpetual Water-right to
enable the acquiring owner to get water would be worth from $5 to $6
à,Il a CI'62.
The CHAIRMAN. If it is under cultivation, what is it worth then }
Mr. DUNBAR. That depends upon the cultivation. The trouble is
with a man living on 160 acres of land, carrying a mortgage on the
whole and only cultivating 25 or 50 acres. The holdings are too large.
We want smaller holdings of land and better use of what we have.
There should be close tillage, so as to make eyery gallon of Water tell
on every square yard of ground. They can not do it now. A man
could well support and bring up his family on 40 acres if thoroughly
well tilled, where he could do the work himself. He attempts to grab
320. The consequence is he has only got 10 per cent. Of his land pro-
ducing anything, or, if he does attempt to cultivate it, he has to do so by
expensive and inefficient labor. He goes to an expense for machinery
and gets no result. Instead of plowing 10 inches deep, he plows 3
inches deep and goes over a large area.
The CHAIRMAN. You think 40 acres enough for a man?
Mr. DUNBAR. Forty acres is enough for a man to live on With his
family. Of course, he can not do that by raising wheat and oats,
The CIIAIRMAN. He must have a variety. i
SMALL FARMs well, CULTIVATED BRING WEALTH. 341
Mr. DUNBAR. Yes, and a better class of crops. He should have fruit,
vegetables, hops, and so on. There is a large demand for hops. ... I
know a man making $300 or $400 an acre on hops, and a man can easily
make $100 an acre on alfalfa. To get the best results a man must have
a small area and cultivate closely and have a supply of farm-yard ma-
nure. Our soil here is very heavily charged with imineral matter and is
very deficient in manure material. He must grow a variety of crops. We
do not want men to raise a large surplus, but we want large communities
and to have the land more closely cultivated, so as to bring our popu-
lation nearer together, and have them produce everything that men can
and need to live upon. That is what brings wealth into any State. , All
our immigration comes from non-irrigated districts. Everything here
is new to such immigrants. The conviction is forced on my mind that
a man is better off with 40 acres thoroughly cultivated than 160 acres
half cultivated. You can not convince the immigrant of it, however.
The CHAIRMAN. Experience does it after awhile 3 -
Mr. DUNBAR. Yes; but it takes a good while to convince a man some-
times.
The CEIAIRMAN. As to supporting a family, which is the better situ-
ated, the man with 40 acres in the arid belt or a man with 160 acres
where he has to depend upon rain-fall &
Mr. DUNBAR. If I had to bring up my family that way, I should take
the 40-acres in the arid belt with irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. You would be better off, you think?
Mr. DUNBAR. I should consider myself so.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your observation and experience %
Mr. DUNBAR. My observation is that a man is better off with 40 acres
in the arid belt with every foot of it well cultivated, and his crop
thoroughly attended to, than he is to have 160 acres skimped over.
The man with 40 acres in the arid belt, well cultivated, will make more
clear money in the end. I will lend him 25 per cent. more money on 40
acres of well cultivated land than on 160 acres half cultivated. The
-men that have a section of land have to have machinery and all that.
Then a man's water-right will go farther on a small farm. His supply
of water would have to be all put on at the same time. One great thing
is to protect the land from the rays of the sun to prevent baking. You
can not do that with a very large farm. I have often gone into an
alfalfa field where the alfalfa grows half an inch a day in the warm
weather, and within two or three weeks after it had been irrigated the
crop was up 6 inches, which would prevent the land from being dried
up. I have picked up there as damp a piece of soil as was wanted. On
the other hand, I have been in a wet field that had been irrigated a few
days before, when there was nothing to protect it from the rays of the sun
and the soil was baked hard.
STATEMENT OF J. S. STANGER, OF DENVER.
The CHAIRMAN. Bow long have you resided in Colorado 2
Mr. STANGER. Fifteen years.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you had any experience in the matter of irri-
gation ? \
Mr. STANGER. Yes; I have had theoretical experience for about
twelve years. I was the editor and proprietor of the Colorado Farmer,
and had some little theoretical experience in formulating the laws relat-
ing to irrigation and in passing them. For the last few years I have also
\
342 s. IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
had practical experience as an irrigator myself. I have been farming
my own land and using and distributing water on it myself many times,
not only with hired help but personally.
The CHAIRMAN. State anything that will enlighten the committee in
regard to it. Give us your idea of the practical work, how to distribute
the Water and the crops you can produce, the size of the farm you can
cultivate, what crops you can produce and how.
Mr. STANGER. For gardening purposes a man wants but a small
Quantity of land, and he needs that close to a large city or some good
market. Ten or 20 acres is sufficient for any gardener to have. To
make a success in grain-raising a man must have a greater quantity of
land. On 40 acres a general farmer will not make much of a success.
He would raise sufficient undoubtedly to support his own family and
probably pay the taxes, and maybe pay Mr. Dunbar the interest on the
money he would loan him. He might succeed in doing that, but it
would be very doubtful when cabbages are selling at 35 cents a hun-
dred here in Denver. Alfalfa is not worth $5 a ton 10 miles from Den-
wer. The wheat is a good crop, and is worth something like 75 cents a
bushel or $1.25 a hundred, as you would understand it.
In regard to the distribution of water, the duty of water is the great
Question that interests us in Colorado.
Senator JONES. I would like you to run along a little further on the
line you were talking of now. I infer from what you say that you do
not think a man ought to be confined to 40 acres in the arid belt.
Mr. STANGER. No.
Senator JONES. What size do you think he ought to have?
Mr. STANGER. Eighty acres. Forty acres would not be sufficient in
Colorado, unless it be near Denver.
Senator JONES. Where it could be used for truck farming?
Mr. STANGER. Yes. If a practical farmer be away from such a mar-
ket he can do very little on less than 80 acres. Of course he can sup-
port a family. - -
Senator JONES. That is what I wanted to ask. Now you can con-
tinue on the other line.
Mr. STANGER. You do not care to hear anything from me about
how to distribute the Water.
But in regard to the water that we have been using in Colorado I
wish to say this: Twelve years ago we had an idea that we were using
all the water in Colorado. We knew nothing then about the San Luis
Valley. The Platte Valley we knew a good bit about, and I suppose
ten years ago we had utilized about all the water that was possible, but
we have kept on increasing our farms and putting in cultivation uew
lands, and we find that we have a gradually-increasing water supply—
more than we thought we had then, Experience has developed the
fact that we can get along with half the water we used to. The old
theory was that a cubic foot of water per second would irrigate about
55 acres of land. That was put as nearly the maximum of the duty of
water. Our experience is that we can nearly double that—we can irri-
gate nearly twice as much land.
Getting down to practical operations I will say this: I have a 320-
acre farm. We used on that farm eight years ago 125 inches of water.
That is a very indefinite proposition, as the engineers have told you, but
it was all the water that would run through our box, and was called 125
inches. That was the water for 160 acres of land, and a great deal of
it was a natural meadow, some of it in crops (perhaps 40 or 50 acres),
fields, and in orchards. I added to it 160 acres more and dropped
*
THE NEED For storAGE Is Now overwhel MING. 343
down to 100 inches of water. Nearly 100 acres of it were put in alfalfa
and some of it into other crops. I went on a few years longer and
used 8 inches on 320 acres of land—240 of it in actual crops. I find
that a service of 80 inches of water in this very dry year gives better
results than when we wasted the water. It is very much therefore the
fault of the individual, a lack of industry and carelessness on his part
in the distribution of the Water.
Of course crops have to be somewhat arranged so that..we can utilize
this water on different crops at different times. Alfalfa is a crop that
takes about three or four times the quantity of water that wheat Would.
This year we have irrigated our alfalfa, but I have only cut two crops
on account of the lack of water in our ditch. The third crop I shall not
cut. I shall not bother with it. I have irrigated for the two crops four
times. My wheat and oats were irrigated but once. I had 40 or 50
acres of wheat and had a good yield. We were favored with rain at
the proper time.
The main point I want to impress upon the committee is that we have
plenty of water in the State of Colorado to utilize all the land now under
ditch; but, in my estimation, we have approached the limit of lands
that it would be possible to irrigate with the water or moisture that
falls in the State of Colorado. To be more definite, there are enough
ditches already constructed, or partially constructed, to consume not
only the water we could have, but all that we could save. I am speak-
ing now of the Platte. The Arkansas Valley has not utilized the water
it has. It is utilizing it on paper, but it is to be determined whether
the water can be got down. There is very much sand on that river,
and whether they can get the water down on the mesa. I do not know.
, Senator JONES. You think there are ditches enough in the water-shed
of the Platte to use all the water that could be saved?
Mr. STANGER. That could possibly be saved, either in the mountains
or on the plains.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the land covered by those ditches
is actually cultivated now %
Mr. STANGER. About one-fourth or one-fifth of it.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. It would be four or five times as great an area of
cultivation if the water was saved then }
Mr. STANGER. Yes. Our State engineer instructed the water com-
missioners to give him data in regard to the quantity of land under the
ditch, the quantity under cultivation, the quantity in alfalfa and other.
grasses, and the quantity in other crops. I think it amounts to but
one-third or one-fourth of the land that is actually under cultivation at
the present time, yet it is covered by ditches.
Senator JONES. That information is already in, I believe.
Mr. STANGER. Yes, I believe it is.
The CHAIRMAN. Outside of the Platte, and outside of the Arkansas,
there is a large area of country liere. Have you ever taken into con-
sideration the question whether any portion of it might be reclaimed
by reservoirs to accumulate the storm-waters.
Mr. STANGER. Yes, I have given that a great deal of attention, and
it is possible to do that out on the plains, in our dry streams—those
that are dry the greater portion of the year. At certain seasons im-
mense floods come down and if at proper places reservoirs could be
constructed that will hold the Water, large quantities of water could be
stored. Some years ago We had great floods in the streams east of our
town, So great that a locomotive going over a bridge could never be
found, although the railroad company expended a great deal of money
344, IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
to find it. . If it were possible to save those great floods that come down
from the divide and hold them, there would be great quantities of water
saved and Some Very fertile tracts of land taken care of.
. The CHAIRMAN. You think it important to investigate that ques-
CIOI).
Mr. STANGER. Yes, very.
STATEMENT OF JAMES B, GRANT, OF LEADVILLE,
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside?
Mr. GRANT. In Colorado.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you engaged in the smelting business %
Mr. GRANT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given any attention to the matter of irri-
gation or the storage of water in reservoirs 2 º
Mr. GRANT. Yes. -
The CHAIRMAN. Please give the committee the benefit of such in-
formation as you may have on that subject. a
* , Mr. GRANT. I own about 1,000 or 1,200 acres of land about 10 miles
from Denver, between Littleton and the mountains, in the triangle be-
tween the Bear Creek and the Platte. We have no water practically
in the irrigating season, for the ditches absorb it all. Sometimes we
get one irrigation in the spring from the natural flow, but for the second
and third irrigation we have to rely on reservoirs entirely. A num-
ber of us there have spent a great deal of money in building reservoirs.
The CHAIRMAN. State what success you have had in storing water?
Mr. GRANT. It is an absolute success as far as storing is concerned,
and the only trouble about it is the expense. Of course, where you have
a natural reservoir there is no expense except the outlet—cutting under
the lowest point, putting in pipes, and having valves to let the water
out as you want it ; but on this land of mine we have something of a
natural site, though not very much. We have to dam on one side en-
tirely. My experience is that it costs $20 per acre for 160 acres of land to
build the reservoirs for holding the water for irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. That is in your locality?
Mr. GRANT. Yes. I have about 1,200 acres of land there, and I ex-
pect in time to have plenty of Water for it. I have estimates already
made on it and have about 300 acres in cultivation.
The CHAIRMAN. It costs $20 per acre to build the reservoir for irri-
ation ? -
g Mr. GRANT. Yes. Being near the city, I think good land there is worth
$75 per acre.
Senator JONES. Where do you get the water for your reservoirs?
Mr. GRANT. From Bear Creek.
Senator JONES. You take it out of the creek in the flood times?
Mr. GRANT. Yes.
Senator JONES. Is that practically a dry stream in summer?
Mr. GRANT. No. It is not entirely dry, but there is not much water
during summer in it. We cannot use the water much in winter because
the ditches freeze solid, and it costs so much to clean it out that it does
not pay to run the Water. e
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography of the plaim
between the Platte and Arkansas? f
Mr. GRANT. Only in a general way. I have no knowledge in regard
to reservoir sites.
where NEEDED RESERVoIR SITES MUST BE FOUND. 345
STATEMENT OF LEVI B00TH.
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside?
Mr. Booth. I reside 5 miles from Denver, on Cherry Creek.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Colorado *
Mr. BOOTH. Since 1860. 4.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given attention to the subject of irrigation
and water supply?
Mr. Booth. I have had practical experience in irrigating.
The CHAIRMAN. State your practical experience.
Mr. BOOTH. Cherry Creek is a dry creek. I located on a dry creek
first. Cherry Creek rises at a point where the bed-rock runs up, and
by taking the water from that point and getting it onto the ground you
save it from wasting in the sand-bed of the creek. I did that and had
reclaimed quite a portion of land until the water was taken away
from me by the city company. The question with me, and With
farmers generally, is how to save more of the water that is running to
Waste. e *
The CHAIRMAN. What is your observation as to the amount of Water
wasted—is it large or small 2
Mr. Boot H. There is a great deal of water wasted. In the spring,
during the irrigating months, probably more than one-half the Water
runs to waste; the ditches will not hold it. The Platte runs full very
often and sometimes runs over its banks. That water is generally run-
ning to waste at least a month and a half. It could all be conserved,
saved, and used upon our arid plains.
The CHAIRMAN. HOW 3
Mr. BOOTH. By reservoirs.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you had any experience in constructing res-
ervoirs &
Mr Boot H. No, I have not. All I know is from what I have seen.
My idea about it is that we should go in the mountains, not in the deep
caſions, however, but take it in the parks where there is a large area
of flat lands, dam up the streams and let the water freeze up. It will
freeze up in the winter. Then in the spring there is a reservoir for you
that will last for a month or two. The ice will melt, the water will run
down, and we will get the benefit of it below. That is one way.
Then there are places where large reservoirs can be constructed, and
the valley reservoirs here must be constructed on the highest point.
My way would be to take the water out onto the divide in a ditch
along the apex of the summit, running toward the Arkansas and toward
the Platte. There are many such chances to make reservoirs. There
I would construct the reservoirs. Then the ditches would run from
those reservoirs over the arid plains. I think a great portion of the
country that is now worthless between here and western Kansas can
be brought under cultivation, and homes made for the millions that are
now starving to death in our cities. That is what you want these sur-
veys for, to make small homes for the people, not for speculation. The
farmer wants it understood emphatically that he does not want the
land to go into the hands of speculators.
The CIIAIRMAN. What quantity of land is enough for a man?
, Mr. BOOTH. When a man is engaged in general farming, nothing
less than 80 acres. If he is gardening, 5 or 10 acres will do. If he is
near Denver or some other point where there is a good market, he would
not want as many acres.
346 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
w
Senator JONES. Who do you think ought to own the canals or con-
trol them?
Mr. BOOTH. I think the State or the National Government should
Control the canals; at least, they should in such a way that large cor-
porations could not get hold of them, for the man that owns the water
OWns the land or controls it. Hence the State or the General Govern-
ment ought to own the land or it should be given into the control of the
men Who take up homesteads. It is then a question whether the con-
trol of the water would not finally get into the hands of the capitalists.
My idea would be to have the State control the water. Of course, so
far as the construction of reservoirs is concerned, if it is done by the
Government, the Government should control them or give them to the
State to control, but by no means let them get into the hands of cor-
ºns. The reservoir sites must be owned for public use—for the
people.
STATEMENT OF BYRON S. WHEELER, OF DENVER,
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in this State?
Mr. WHEELER. Nearly nineteen years. w
The CHAIRMAN. Have you had any experience in the matter of irri-
gation or water supply "
Mr. WHEELER. I have.
The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be glad to hear what you have
to say on that subject. w
Mr. WHEELER. In regard to irrigation on the dry creeks; I have a
ranch east of the town, about 9.4 miles, through which runs the bed of
one of the dry streams of the plains. Before a ditch was built scarcely
ever was there water to be seen on the surface of the creek bed, while
at other times the creek would be in a tremendous flood, tearing fences
and land away in great quantities. Since the ditch has been built there
has been a continual increase of water in the creek—so much so that it
is possible to irrigate a good many acres of land from the seepage
Coming out all along the banks. This comes apparently from lands that
had been irrigated miles away—discharging into the creeks—so that it
has been possible to again take that same water that had once been
used on the higher lands and reirrigate lands lying still lower. That
one increase of irrigation by reusing the water is one of the great
Sources of supply that we will have as we continue our irrigating sys-
tem. But I suppose Mr. Nettleton wished that I should present my
views more on the question of the control that this water shall be put
under while we are using ſt.
For some years I have been associated with the farmers, particu-
larly in regard to that. There is for them a nether millstone, consist- .
ing of the intractable things of nature, like the drought, the arid coun-
try, the inability of the farmer to always calculate upon a steady flow
of water, and an upper millstone in the fact that the water they
need so urgently is controlled by men whose only motive can be the
money they get out of it. My experience with the farmers is that they
are being ground to powder; that they are not getting their crops so
that they are able to pay the interest on the money they have borrowed
on their 40 or 160 or 320 acres; that the interest of the ditch company
is simply as a company to get all the money there is in the water that x
they furnish. So they charge for the water in advance. The farmer
must raise that money for the water before he has raised anything.
THE CONFLICT BETwFEN FARMER AND DITCH ownBR, 347
Then he alone takes the chances of getting what he has paid for it.
The result of it is that in more than half the cases the man is at a
loss five years out of every ten. For the last twelve years there is
-scarcely a question that the average farmer—not the exceptional
farmer, but the average farmer—has been going down hill financially
from such causes as these. The water supply is sure to be decreased,
not alone from natural causes, but from the cupidity of the Company
controlling the ditch, in continually extending its area and selling
water that it can not deliver, even though there should be a flood in the
stream. So that 20,000, or 40,000, or 100,000 acres are added to the
area which a given ditch is supposed to irrigate at first and the others
then must prorate. The result is that every man under the ditch is
put to his trumps to get what he pays for. The farmer you see has to
pay in advance; the ditch company sells what it can not deliver. But
in any event it gets the money. The result of that is there is a great
deal of so-called stealing of water. The farmer's family is dependent on
the crop he raises. He must have his crop or else his family will have
to go naked or in rags. Yet the water is scarce. The company has
prorated it along the line and the cupidity of every farmer is roused
to obtain a support for his wife and his children. That is the history
of all the old settled portions and largely so already in the newly set-
tled parts of the state.
That conflict rises higher and higher as time goes on. It is the farmer
as against the man who has put his money into the ditch. It is not the
farmer attempting to defeat the just result of capital. The question
for him is as to the livelihood of his family. He needs to curtail the
ability of the corporation to do him harm, as it does when it contracts
to sell water it can not deliver. The quarrel has grown each succeed-
ing year. So that the great question with us in Colorado is the way
these ditches shall be managed. If it be left as at present, it goes
against the farmer, because he must devote his whole time digging in
the soil and distributing the water he gets in order that he may be
able to obtain a crop. His entire time and attention is absorbed in that
so that the political aspects and the more general features of the mat-
ter, such as the manipulation of legislatures, has gone by the board.
The ditch companies have their agents, plenty of them, all round the
legislature. There is not on the statute books of Colorado to-day more
than one law that fixes a penalty for the ditch company if it oppresses
an individual who is using water. To get that law passed, the farmers
of the State turned out and labored all winter long, going hungry and
scantily clothed during that session of the legislature in order to get it
through. They finally succeeded on the last day of the session. While
the penalties have been fixed higher and higher by each succeeding
legislature against the men who violate any of the rights of the ditch
company, the ditch company is making his necessity the pretext for
having that water. Still the penalty is increased and his necessity in-
creases. The companies have got the penalties all upon him. He has
no recourse upon the company when they fail to perform their part of
the contract.
So the farmers pretty generally—I am associated with them in three
or four Organizations—have come to the conclusion that there must be
a radical change in the control and management of the water. Most of
them approve of State ownership. They take the model of the United
States Government in controlling the delivery of the mails, which is the
best possible Service at the least possible expense. The Government
in Some form, whether the United States Government, or the State gov.
348 IRRIGAT1ON AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
ernment, should control the water. Whether any given territory should
be segregated into water districts, or be controlled as a whole, is a mat-
ter of detail. The point is that the water, as far as it goes, shall be
justly distributed by men who have no financial interest at stake; men
Who are simply there for the sake of the service they are to perform.
That would be the consensus of opinion in this State as to the delivery
of the water to the farmers.
Senator JONES. Have you not got State officers already to do that ?
Mr. BOOTH. Yes; but they have no control of the delivery of the
Water to the individual farmer. They only control the head-gates of
the ditches. The individual farmer is dependent upon the head-gates
Of his ditch.
Senator JONES. It seems to me that your difficulty is not so much
With the distribution of the water as with the prior management, or
mismanagement, of the company.
Mr. BOOTH. The difficulty is that the companies are endeavoring to
get all the money they can out of it. Somebody should see that each
ditch is supplied with its proper proportion of the water. Somebody
should go down and see that each head-gate and lateral is properly
raised and lowered. It can never be properly done as long as there is
a financial interest in it, because, like other business'matters, heart never
enters into the distribution of water. These companies are not governed
by the desire to do right; they are only governed by that which pays
best. This is accomplished by delivering the least water for the most
money that is possible. Hence the quarrel. It has been proposed here
in Colorado that the State should own every ditch and all the laterals;
should control every outlet in every ditch from beginning to end, and
see to it that the water be distributed according to the land that is under
cultivation. It has been heretofore, and is to-day, attempted to hold
so-called water rights as independent and separate things from the use
of the water on the land. The ditch owners assume to say, “We will sell
you a water right and give you a piece of paper’—an alleged deed show-
ing that that is your right. Yet a man may sell out the land to another
who is ignorant of the water laws, and the Second purchaser is thereby
left without wafer. In fact, it has been so arranged that a man has had
to pay twice for those so-called water rights, in first buying outright
and in after buying over again from the same company. But Worse
than that, the buying of any water right at all is paying a Company
that has really done nothing.
The constitution of Colorado declares that the water is dedicated to
the use of the people. The doctrine, as I conceive it, should be that
when a piece of land is once cultivated with water, the State is inter-
ested in seeing that it should never be deprived thereof. Of course,
everything should be done to compel the economy of Water. While a
man’s selfishness impels him to get all the Water he can, there is but
one way to prevent a large waste. If the water were measured accu-
rately to each man as he uses it, and at the end of the season it were
ascertained what quantity he had actually used, them he would pay for
the actual amount used. In that case the question for him to decide
is, “How much does my crop actually need?” He would at once cease
to waste the water. In other words, the duty of water would probably
be increased to at least twice the amount at present. If the State had
the matter under control so that the consumer would pay for what he
actually used at the time he paid his taxes, there would Soon be uni-
versal satisfaction with the system of water distribution.
The CHAIRMAN. How would you get control of those private rights
—buy them up 3
/
PROFITs of DITCH CoMPANIES AND STOCKHOLDERs. 349
Mr. Booth. Even if the State bought them, it would simply give the
private company a proper return for their money. But that should not in-
clude watered stock. The first dividends of one ditch built here brought in
the first year 60 percent. of the actual cost of the ditch. One of the stock-
holders said, “The farmers can never stand 60 per cent.” So they went
to work and increased the stock, and the next year it was but 30 per
cent. profit. They then said, “The farmers never can stand 30 per cent.”
so they increased the stock again. That time they got it down to 124
per cent. profit and next year it increased again. Then I believe
they got it down to 8 per cent.
Mr. STANGER. Did they not build additional laterals?
Mr. BOOTH. They now say that under that ditch “our stock is only
paying 8 per cent. now.” But the stock is eight times as great as it
was and is eight times what the stock would be if the State had it. If
the State took control, it should not pay that ditch company eight
times what its works actually cost and give it all of these profits for
all those past years. There should be a just estimate put on what it
would cost to build that ditch to-day. Pay them their full value for all
they have, let the past robbery go, and prevent their future robbery.
That's my proposition.
Mr. STANGER. Do you know personally of any ditch company that
has got rich?
Mr. BOOTH. No, I do not know of any ditch companies that have
got rich, but I know a good many individuals in ditch companies who
have got rich. The crying need of this country is State control of the
water, rather than any increase in the number of ditches. If reser-
yoirs are to be built to improve the supply of water in the ditches, it
becomes necessary to see that the persons using the water have the ad-
Vantage of it instead of making it another means of increasing the
Wealth of the few. A man who has 40 acres of land should not be confined
to that quantity of water that will just enable him to pay interest to
the money loaner. The fact is, that the prosperity of the country de-
pends more on the number of men who are prosperous in it than on the
few that are prosperous in it.
Senator JONES. What is your idea of the changes that ought to be
made in the homestead law Ż
Mr. BOOTH. In this section of the country if the Government will
guaranty the Water to a man, I would say that 80 acres is of more
* to him than 160 acres in a country where they depend on rain-
&ll.
Senator JONES. Suppose the Government would not undertake any.
thing about the water 3
Mr. BOOTH. Then I think the homestead law should be left as it is.
But if the Government would provide means by which water would be
put on the land, it might be desirable to reduce the number of acres a
unan may have. It has been suggested, and I think it will be nothing
but fair, that the Government give to the States lying in the arid
region the unreclaimed lands that now belong to the nation, binding
the State to use all that land for actual settlement as it is made fertile.
Then if the General Government wishes compensation, the State can
pay back to it a certain amount.
Senator JONES. Why would it not be just as well for the Government
to give the land to the settlers instead of to the States for that purpose?
Mr. BOOTH. The only difference would be that the State administra.
tion would be nearer home and would plan the further development of
the irrigating system more rapidly than the Government would.
350 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you name an instance where any State having
public lands donated to it for any purpose has administered them well?
Mr. BOOTH. No, I am sorry to say I can not; from the swamp lands
of Wisconsin all the way through. *
Senator JONES. I see no advantage to the State in giving it the
desert lands unless it be allowed to dispose of them as it pleases. It is
one thing to give the lands to the State and let the State give them to
people under mortgage. It is another thing to give the lands, the State
being bound to give them to some one else under condition.
Mr. BOOTH. The population would thereby be guarantied.
Senator JONES. The Government is guarantying as it is. It is.
ready to give lands to the people, and the State can not do it any faster.
Mr. BOOTH, Yes; the State would use the increased value of the land .
In order to put under cultivation more land and to build those reser-
voirs and ditches.
Senator JONES. You mean tax it with a debt?
Mr. BOOTH. No; that would not make a debt. For instance, if the
lands were sold in a certain district to actual users of water the pro-
ceeds of those sales would then be turned over to another district.
Senator JONES. You are in favor, then, of the States selling the lands?
Mr. BOOTH. Yes. w"
Senator JONES. Not giving them away ?
Mr. BOOTH. Not giving them away, unless it be for the purpose of
development. -
Senator JONES. That is another question; whether it is better to sell
the public lands or give them away ?
Mr. BOOTH. As it is now the State gives 160 acres to the individual,
and he turns around and gives the ditch company the very money that
we want the State to have in order to develop the ditch. -
The CHAIRMAN. In other words, you want the State to become the
grand ditch company ?
Mr. BOOTH. Either the whole State or its subdivisions. I think the
farmers, as a whole, favor the whole State controlling it.
There is another feature I would like to mention. There are new
ditches being taken out without any prospect of water during the time
it is needed for irrigation, but in which there is plenty of water flowing
when it is not used for irrigation. A man comes along to take up a
homestead, and they say here is a ditch to supply you with water. He
does not wait until it is dry. He goes on and invests the last dollar he
has in that homestead, and gets absolutely no show whatever for water.
It should be within the power of the State to say, when the Waters of a
given stream are exhausted, and prevent the further building of ditches
under such circumstances, because there will be thousands of men de-
ceived by the over-building of ditches where there is no constant water
Supply.
Mr. STANGER. Are those extensions of ditches that you Speak of the- . .
oretical or actual %
Mr. BOOTH. They are actual.
Mr. STANGER. Will you give instances 3
Mr. Boot H. I would prefer not to do so, as there are persons in the
room here that would be pretty sure to be hurt. There are many cases
I know of in which extensions of the ditches have been made on the
lower end where they have compelled those above who have invested
their all to go scant of water and let the others below have a still Scantier
supply.
}
*.
How DITCHES ARE BONDED AND STOCK waterED. 351
STATEMENT OF ROYAL A. SOUTHWORTH,
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside 3 ^ -
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. In Colorado, 12 or 14 miles from Denver, down
the river. tº
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been engaged in the business of irrigating
land 7
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. State anything new in this inquiry that you know of.
1Mr. SOUTHWORTH. I suppose the object of your committee is to learn
facts?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes; give us any facts that you may have.
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. The question is whether the Government could
make profitable use of some outlay here in conserving the water. I am a
practical farmer, having been farming for fourteen years. In that time
I have been connected with various farmers' organizations, and I have
been pretty nearly all over this State. I am familiar with the practical
use of water. Unless the waters that are annually going to Waste now
are conserved in some way, fully 25 per cent. Of the people now engaged
in farming over the divide here, north as far as the Wyoming line, will
have to leave. They have already paid for their alleged water rights,
but the water does not come with the paper water-right.
Speaking of the prosperity of the farmers I know that many farms
are trust-deeded, and not altogether for farm machinery either. Of
course the agricultural implement man has a strong hold on the farmers,
but the ditch monopolist of Colorado have a much stronger hold. The
ditch companies are drawing good interest. I know one ditch in which
twenty-seven farmers have been closed down because of trust deeds for
water rights.
Senator JONES. They were unable to pay for the rights?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. They were unable to pay the interest on the trust
deeds that paid for the rights. The rights had been paid for. I know
other instances where people had to leave their farms where they had
even paid for the water rights and could not get the water.
Senator JONES. Why?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. The companies change hands from one to another.
They bond a ditch, for instance, and the ditch is sold to another company,
- and the new company is not going to put out the money necessary to
run the ditch, claiming that they will only put out the money necessary
to repair the ditch. This is done when the farmers have in their con-
tracts the clause that they will only pay a certain figure per year, and
no more. Then they say “if you do not permit assessments to be raised
We will not permit you to have any more water.” I believe this land is
going to be used some day and that it will not be allowed to lie idle, but
We Want it put in such shape that whatever expense the Government is
at, the people Will get the benefit, and that the men who till the farms
may not have to pay interest to somebody else for handling it.
With regard to the watering of stock I have a word to say. I am
under a ditch that I helped to build. That ditch is watered at a great
deal more than has been stated here. That ditch cost only $30 a share
and is selling at $300 a share. They profess to give a certain number
of inches, but they do not do it. Men have lived near me who have
worked for years and years and struggled hard, and have finally had to
give up. This thing has gone far enough in this State. The farmers
352 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
are Willing to pay a reasonable price. The ditches have been built at
an average cost of $2 or $2.50 an acre and the farmers under the water-
right system have to pay $10 an acre and then do not get the water.
We can grow crops here and the crops that we do grow are of a better
Quality than those of any State I have lived in in the East, as Michigan
and Illinois, in both of which States I have farmed. While we can
raise better wheat, oats, and barley, it costs us considerable to grow it.
Many of our farmers sell their crops for less than it costs to grow them.
The farmers therefore are going constantly down hill. The price of
Water has been going up while the prices of the crops have been going
down. So if you now find a farmer that is prosperous he is making his
money on something other than his farm. Besides they think that if
there is to be any speculation in land they ought to be allowed to
speculate in lands as well as the companies that own 40,000 or 50,000
3CI’OS,
The CHAIRMAN. Would you make any change in the homestead law "
Mr. SouTHWORTH. I have arrived at this conclusion after farming
for many years. I have several times 40 acres myself and it is near
this city, but it is a drag to me. The question is, why should not a
farmer be able to pay his help as well as any other man 2 Still, they
can not do it.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the region of country between.
the Platte and the Arkansas—those plains that have no running streams
in the dry season 3 |
Mr. SouTHworTH. Yes, I have been all over that country consider-
ably.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the opportunities there for the storage
of the storm-waters ?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. There are many opportunities for the storage of
water. On the question of storage my opinion is that the proper place
to commence would be at the heads of the streams, and to store there
all that could be stored where you can find a place. If you find a place
in the mountains, that is the place to begin with, because in storing .
there you help all the people below.
The CHAIRMAN. And there is less evaporation there?
Mr. SouTHWORTH. Yes; and the higher up you get the reservoir the
more people it will help.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think the area of the farming lands can be
extended on the Platte beyond the lands now under ditches?
Mr. SOUTHWoRTH. In time it can be; only, however, under State
and not under corporation control. If you will let the State do it, when
a farmer comes in in the fall and pays his taxes for the county govern-
ment he pays also for the water, not for the quantity he thought he
might want to use, but for what he actually used. As it is, he has to
pay in the spring in advance oftentimes for what he will not use at all.
Senator Jon Es. You think, then, it would be better for farmers to get
their water year by year?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. Yes. There is nothing in this water-right business
except robbery. We can bring plenty of facts to prove it. r
The CHAIRMAN. How would it do for the farmers to build their own
ditches 2 -
Mr. SOUTHWORTII, The place where that plan is adopted here is the
only place in Colorado where the farmers are prosperous.
Senator JONES. Why can you not all do that?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. The corporations have got ahead of us and have
bought up all the places.
A. DENVER RESERVoIR PROJECT AND ITs VALUE. 353
Senator JONES. There is a law-making power in every State.
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. The farmers tried to get something last winter
whereby they might bring the corporations to time or punish a corpora-
tion for selling water away from them. But they can not do it. Cor-
porations steal our water. They have burnt up thousands of trees and
thousands of acres of alfalfa.
Senator JONES. It seems to me that the people of Colorado ought to
be able to elect people to represent them.
Mr. SouTHWORTH. We do not have time to pull wires.
Senator JONES. There are as many farmers as there are ditch owners,
at least.
Mr. SouTHWORTH. Yes; but when you put the ditch owners and
railroaders together they can outwind us.
The CHAIRMAN. You think where communities own the water and
manage it themselves they have prospered?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. Yes; they may have occasional hard times when
the Water is not to be had at all, but they are the only farmers that have
prospered within the arid section.
STATEMENT OF W. E. ALEXANDER, OF DENVER.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation?
Mr. ALEXANDER. I am in the real estate business.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given attention to the storage of water ?,
Mr. ALEXANDER. I represent a company that is about to begin opera-
tions next week. It is in Cherry Creek Cañon, about 30 miles south of
Denver.
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of stream is Cherry Creek?
Mr. ALEXANDER. It is usually a dry creek, and it is for the purpose
of saving the flood waters that this enterprise is undertaken.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the name of the map you present &
Mr. ALEXANDER. It is called the “map of the Denver Reservoir and
Canal Company; reservoir site, Douglas County, Colo.”
The CHAIRMAN. What is your proposition?
Mr. ALEXANDER. To dam up this Cherry Creek Cañon, take them off
through a ditch and save the waters. We have our surveys made.
The CHAIRMAN. Is Cherry Creek used for irrigating purposes?
Mr. ALEXANDER. There are some ditches from it.
The CHAIRMAN. You propose to take the flood-waters?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How much do you expect to get &
Mr. ALEXANDER. Probably 250,000,000 cubic feet.
The OHAIRMAN. Is there flood-water enough for that purpose ?
Mr. ALEXANDER. The reservoir will hold that much.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there probably flood-water enough to fill it?
Mr. ALEXANDER. There is probably enough to fill it four times a
€abſ.
y The CHAIRMAN. How much will you be likely to irrigate?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Thirty thousand acres.
The CHAIRMAN. At what cost 3
Mr. ALEXANDER. The reservoir and ditch will probably cost $150,000
to $200,000.
The CHAIRMAN. That is $3 or $4 an acre? -
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; of course that is only an estimate, Before
we can get through it will probably cost more than that, :
138 A L–WOL III—23
&
3á4 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think you can do it for $5 an acre?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. I have here a map of the land to be irrigated
by the reservoir. Here are the plans of the dam which we intend to
build so that it will not wash away.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you going to build it of masonry 3
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; all solid masonry and condrete.
Senator JONES. How much land is it intended to be irrigated by
this 3
Mr. ALEXANDER. Probably from 30,000 to 35,000 acres. I can fur-
nish you a full set of those maps and plans. We are going to cut
that land up into' 40-acre tracts. We own about 60,000 acres.
Senator JONES. Are you going to sell the water-right with it, so that
the people are going to have the dam when it is done?
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. -
Senator JONES. You are not going to continue a water company, but
will let the people have it 3 t -
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. But it will be, of course, a benefit to the
ditch company. The State was offered the chance to build this but it
would not do it. The legislature would not pass the bill that gave
them the chance. So we took it up and propose to do it ourselves.
That is the only chance for this country to have the water properly
utilized.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography of the
country 3 -
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes. -
Senator JONES. Do you think that the Opportunities for reservoirs
are extensive 3 *
Mr. ALEXANDER. Yes; there are many that I know of. We have
an immense water-shed there; probably 200 square miles.
STATEMENT OF ROBERT G. DILL.
The OHAIRMAN. Have you given any attention to the Subject of irri
gation?
Mr. DILL. I have.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you a farmer?
Mr. DILL. No.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation?
Mr. DILL. I am now a printer, but have been in the Government
surveys, and have been all over the Arkansas Valley from one end to
the other. .*
The CHAIRMAN. What do you think of the Arkansas Valley in refer-
ence to opportunities for storage? We have a description of the upper
Arkansas from Leadville here, but we would like to have a description
of the lower Arkansas Valley.
Mr. DILL. My occupation at the time I was in the Service of the Inte-
rior Department took me from Pueblo to the State line and down into
Ransas very frequently. My belief is that in that Section of country,
with a proper system of canals and storage reservoirs, almost the entire
basin on the north side of Arkansas River can be irrigated.
The CHAIRMAN. How far down 3
Mr. DILL. As far as the State line. º
The CHAIRMAN. How is it beyond the State line 3 Is there no water
left for Kansas? *
Mr. DILL, My observation as a newspaper man has led me to believe,
f
#
STORAGE PossIBILITIES IN ARKANSAS WALLEY. 355
at any rate, that the water finds its way back to the river. I was here
when Greeley had only one canal and it now has four. The one canal
exhausted the Cache la Poudre, and that stream now Supplies four.
The CHAIRMAN. You think there will be a Supply for Kansas after
enough is taken out for Colorado?
Mr. DILL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. In laying out their ditches some of the Schemes pre-
sented to us contemplate the construction of reservoirs along the line.
Have you been on the divide between the Platte and Arkansas 3
Mr. DILL. Yes; all through it.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the opportunities for storm-water res-
ervoirs 3
Mr. DILL. They are frequent. The only ones I can testify to are
those that occurred to me in surveying Government land. Of course,
we frequently came to depressions and had to make Calculations. I
have not surveyed much above Pueblo but have been over the ground,
and from the mouth of the Cañon to the State line there are many nat-
ural depressions that can be inclosed at the lower end with very little
labor, but it needs a canal the entire length.
The CHAIRMAN. A canal to take water from the Arkansas River ?
Mr. DILL. Yes, and along the divide.
The CHAIRMAN. They might be supplied by storm-water ?
Mr. DILL. Yes; there are frequent storms there, on the south side of
the river particularly, but the opportunities are fewer there because the
ground on the South side of the Arkansas River, from Trinidad to the
State line, is broken up into cañons from 150 to 350 feet down to prairie.
There is one place where you could inclose 500 acres but there is no
land to irrigate.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever been a practical farmer ?
Mr. DILL. To some extent, in Pennsylvania.
The CHAIRMAN. I mean have you farmed here 3
Mr. DILL. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further you would like to sug-
gest ?
Mr. DILL. The only general idea that I got when I was engaged in
Surveying in that country was, that a canal from the mouth of the Ar-
kansas down to the State line would irrigate, with proper storage res-
ervoirs, the entire country down to the Arkansas River without materi-
ally interfering with the Arkansas itself. On the south side of the
river there would be frequent opportunities. They are not so frequent
until you get down to the Kansas line, and then there would be about
equal opportunities.
STATEMENT OF PLATT ROGERS.
The CHAIRMAN. You have given considerable attention to the laws
regulating the use of water ?
Mr. ROGERS. Somewhat.
The CHAIRMAN. And to irrigation?
Mr. ROGERS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Speak to the committee of these subjects in any di-,
rection in which you may feel interested. \
Mr. RogBRS. There is hardly much that I could add in a legal way
to enlighten the Committee, but it has occurred to me that there are
Some rules of law in this State that might have influence in carryin Š
356 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
*
out this scheme of reservoirs. The statutes of Colorado and the de-
cisions of the courts take the position that a ditch owner is nothing
more or less than a common carrier, and that he is simply entitled to
make a charge for the carriage of the water. In other words, it is de-
clared by the constitution and enforced by repeated decisions that the
Water is the common property of the people of the State, and that
therefore it is incapable of private appropriation ; that it must be put
On the land for the purpose of use, and that the owners of the ditch
perform no function except to carry it from the stream to the place
where it is used. For that they are entitled to pay, and for nothing
else. That being so, the county commissioners are vested with author-
ity to fix the charges in case there is a difference between the user and
Supplier of water. In other words, the rule already applied to rail-
roads is made to apply to ditches. I think that in actual operation
this is an obstruction to the building of ditches for the revenue to be
derived from the ditches simply as such. My experience is that the
large ditch companies in this State have expected to get their revenue,
and in fact have got revenue, from the fact that they are the owners
of large bodies of land lying under the ditch, and that, save for the
ownership in that land, the ditches would have not been constructed.
So that if the question were presented now in respect to the use of
large sums of money for the building of ditches, the right and power
being in the people or in the county commissioners, that right and
power would act as an obstruction, because the Companies have not the
right of making such rates as they think will compensate them for the
construction of a ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. What obstruction would it be if it were organized
with the view of disposing of the water right and of the whole prop-
erty 2
Mr. RogFRs. That is the very question, whether the courts would
allow that to be done. The supreme court has practically said that
any person that needs water may have it at rates to be fixed by the
county commissioners, and that he need not take the contract. The
ditches being nevertheless constructed the consumer of the water will
not apply for a contract when he can apply for a delivery at the rate
per annum that the commissioners will fix.
The CHAIRMAN. That will not prevent people combining and supply-
ing the water themselves.
Mr. ROGERS. No. The difficulty is that after all there have been
those who have not taken water under the terms, and who, when the
ditch is constructed for the first time, say that they will take it for the
rates fixed by the county Commissioners.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it clear that the county Commissioners will fix
rates that will not be sufficient to pay for the Construction of the ditch?
Mr. ROGERS. It is said that they have fixed rates here that will not
pay for the construction of the ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. Then how do you reconcile your statement with
those of several persons here that the ditch Companies are charging
too much and have a monopoly %
Mr. ROGERs. I do not attempt to reconcile the differing statements
of some people. I would have to reconcile many things that do not
seem to conform to nature if I had to do that.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any instance of the Supervisors fixing the
rate %
Mr. RogFRS. I am told that the rate fixed by the county commis-
sioners in this county on the High Line ditch is not sufficient. This
{
\
.*
Powers of suPERVISORs to REGULATE RENTALs. 357
ditch company, and it is true of all others, have been able to recoup
themselves fully and amply by reason of the increased value of the land
that lay under the ditch because they always had the foresight to ac-
quire a large body of land under the ditch. I am not stating this as
being actually true but it is a matter that is current.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose the ditch company here should take out a
ditch and should make contracts with land-owners sufficient to use the
water of the ditch, would the supervisors have any authority to take it
away from the parties who had contracted 3
Mr. ROGERS. No.
The CHAIRMAN. It will be only when there was a surplus 3
Mr. RogFRs. Yes, it must be shown that there is water to be had.
The CHAIRMAN. That would only treat with the surplus that had not
been contracted for 3
Mr. ROGERS. That is all.
The CHAIRMAN. Practically that is not likely to become a very seri-
ous question?
Mr. RogFRs. I do not know that it is; because instances of the build-
ing of ditches by speculative companies, purely as such, has really not
occurred in this State.
The CHARMAN. Is it desirable that it should 3
Mr. ROGERS. As land is taken up now it must be done because there
is not land to be had otherwise.
The CHAIRMAN. The people have the land, have they not?
Mr. RogFRs. Yes, but these lands were obtained by taking the land
of railroad companies.
The CHAIRMAN. What is to prevent the people from combining to
make ditches 3
Mr. TOGERS. That is another scheme entirely. If you should start
by building a ditch without making some arrangement beforehand, the
returns on the investment would not be assured.
The CHAIRMAN. In other words, if a person should attempt to dig a
ditch and charge arbitrary rates, the board of supervisors could regu-
late him and prevent a monopoly rate %
Mr. ROGERS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is not that wise %
Mr. ROGERS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. I see nothing wrong about that.
Mr. ROGERS. I am simply showing that this it is that stares in the
face a purely speculative company.
The CHAIRMAN. But it does not affect the others?
Mr. ROGERS. I do not know that the purely speculative kind of com-
panies are coming in. This question leads to this view in my mind.
The difficulty which I see about Government aid in the matter of these
reservoirs is, that you are dealing with a commodity that is common
to the entire body of the people, and to which different legal rules at-
tach from anything else with which we have to deal. There is no other
property in this country to which private proprietorship may not be
affixed, except this single element of water for irrigation, unless you
take the public streams in the State. You are, therefore, dealing with
something that all the people have an interest in and concerning which
you can not acquire a title. You have to supply this water at minimum
rates. That being true, the question is whether you can get a company
to take the risk of putting in the ditches upon a bare return of their
money with a low rate of interest.
The CHAIRMAN. I hope there will not be a company in Colorado that
358 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Will put in water depending on speculative rates. What difficulty does
that put in the way of the Government in surveying this land for the pur-
pose of determining what land could be irrigated and what not; taking
the gauge of your rivers, determining the amount of rain-fall by exper-
iment; estimating the quantity of water you will get, and then giving
out all this information, any more than there would be in surveying it
for geological or topographical purposes?
Mr. ROGERS. There is nothing whatever in the way, but I have not
shown you the end to which I was coming. It is this: that on account of
the small return coming from ditches and reservoirs, it is doubtful
Whether companies will take hold of these investments. All these
things hamper capital. I am not speaking for capital, at all, because I
believe in the declaration of our State constitution; but is not the Gov-
ernment as much interested in providing the means by which the water
is stored as in getting at the data by which it may be stored ?
The CHAIRMAN. We have not that question before us yet. The Gov-
ernment has not determined to do it. *
Senator JONES. You think there is no speculative element in the com-
panies? A gentleman testified here to-day who seems to be intelligent
and who said he had deontrol of ditches. He said that his company was
get $800,000 for what cost them $300,000. It would seem to an out-
sider that that was somewhat speculative.
Mr. ROGERS. But he had not sold the water.
Senator JONES. There certainly seems to be an opportunity for spec-
ulation in that ? -
Mr. ROGERS. If carried out.
Senator JONES. He is carrying that out, is he not ?
Mr. ROGERS. I doubt if there is very much land there brought under
cultivation at this time.
Senator JONES. He seemed to be pretty well satisfied with it.
Mr. ROGERs. There is no question that he should be satisfied with it,
if his Scheme carries.
Senator JONES. There was another gentleman testified here that the
rates paid for water were from $5 to $10 an acre. I asked the cost of a
number of the ditches and the costappeared torun from 50 cents to $2.50an
acre, and it seems to me that there is some opportunity for Speculation
in that ?
Mr. RogBRs. Yes; but this remains a fact, that they are subject to
legislative control in respect to their charges, absolutely, through the
county commissioners. I am not saying anything pro or con about it,
but these are the laws.
Senator JONES. I am very glad they are.
Mr. RogBRS. There is no objection to them. The constitution was
very wise in saying that the water belonged to the body of the people,
and thatit can only be taken for beneficial purposes. It seems to me wise in
regulating the charges for the transfer of water. But I am discussing the
point whether men who are looking forthereturn of their money willinvest
in ditches. I am not speaking against the justice of the matter because
I think it is right, but I do not see that capital will come in to investin
business of that kind. -
The CHAIRMAN. I think it will come in while a man can build a ditch
that is going to cost $2 an acre, of which he can sell the rights to the
land-owners at the rate of $6 to $10 an acre.
Mr. RogFRS. Now you are speaking of profits and ditches. Accord-
ing to the statement of Mr. Southworth, and the other gentlemen who
testified on his side, they would reduce the profits to a minimum. They
suggBSTIONS RELATIVE TO watPR DUTY AND USE. 359 |
organized a farmers' protective union to induce the legislature to give
them practically the water for nothing.
The CHAIRMAN. There have been cases where they went on and dug
their ditch and sold the water to the land-owners as they went along.
In that case the people will own the land and the ditch. What have
the legislature to do with that ? t
Mr. RogBRs. Nothing.
The CHAIRMAN. Is not that a pretty good scheme * -
Mr. RogFRs. Yes, if you can always develop that scheme; but I think
there was only one scheme in which that was developed.
The CHAIRMAN. The legislature ought to interfere when the land and
water are divorced and an exorbitant charge is made for Water.
Mr. ROGERS. But you must remember that the capital that goes into
ditches is not capital invested from here. It is capital that comes from
outside. I am not a capitalist, but I have heard some who were speak
of this. It is only within a few hours that I have heard gentlemen dis-
cussing this very matter, and that was one of the schemes that stood
in the way. The county commissioners' authority led him to reject the
security, except so far as the land lying under the ditch was concerned.
The ditch as a ditch he entirely rejected. There are some other legal
Questions. You suggested the situation of New Mexico and Kansas.
To my mind that is simply a temporary disarrangement. The water .
has not yet found its natural channel of seepage, but when the Rio
Grande is taken over the San Luis valley and makes, as it will, the
reservoir for New Mexico, then they will get their quantity of water,
because it will be divided through the proper irrigating seasons.
Senator JONES. Have you any facts to show that ?
Mr. ROGERS. I think Mr. Nettleton has facts to show that at a cer-
tain point in the Rio Grande River, where the bed-rock comes up, the
volume of water is materially increased.
Senator JONES. It might be that it might increase without becoming .
a full volume.
Mr. ROGERS. There is a certain amount of water that is used up in
plant life and the rest of it must follow the ordinary law of nature.
Senator JONES. And if the plant life exhausted all the water, that
would leave nothing for the Mexicans ?
Mr. ROGERS. The State engineers have shown that 300 acres were
served by 1 cubic foot of water, because the water gets back to the river.
Senator JONES. That might be accounted for in the way you suggest,
and might be accounted for in half a dozen other ways. Af
Mr. ROGERS. There is this other suggestion, that if these reservoirs are
to be built and the Government is to give its aid, even to the extent of
making the surveys, I think it might be a wise provision (and I think
the engineers would agree with me) to arrange that most of the water
should be used in the ditches up the stream, not only during the irrigat. .
ing season, but when the water can be run with safety, that is, when it
does not freeze, etc. We get an enormous amount of water from seep.
age, from the effect of building ditches on the high land.
Senator JONES. You would not increase the water supply?
Mr. ROGERS. You Would increase it at the needed time. Of course
you would not increase the amount of rain-fall, but if you get the water
on the upper lands, so that they become thoroughly soaked, then there
is not so much excessive moisture at other times.
The CHAIRMAN. That is a good suggestion, that if they would, in the
lººting Season, Soak the land pretty well it would be better for
the land.
360 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDS.
Senator JONES. You must not do that so much as to injure the lands.
Mr. ROGERS. Of course it must be done with due respect to other
interests. In respect to the legal phases of the matter, I am giving you
my experience in talking with the people.
Senator JONES. What is your proposed remedy for that ?
Mr. ROGERS. I am not proposing any remedy except for you to con-
sider whether the Government should take any further interest in these
reservoirs after you have surveyed the sites, etc., whether you should
leave them to the control of the State or otherwise. It is rather anom-
alous to say that common property shall be for any time whatever
Subject to the control of corporations.
The CHAIRMAN. I think your laws are very good. If they were
adopted throughout the whole arid region, capital would be much more
Safe in its investment than if it came in here with the object of monop-
Olizing. If a company constructs a ditch and sells the water rights to
the people as it goes along, and lets them have the ditch when it is con-
structed, that will give margin enough to give capital its full profits.
The only difficulty is ibat people will be willing to give at the rate of
$10 or $15 for what will only cost perhaps $2. You can go anywhere
and sell the Water rights as fast as you construct the ditches and the
ditch will be sold at a good profit, and the people will have it when it
is done. That ought to satisfy capital, and it appears it is already sat-
isfying capital in your State, because we have had three or four instances
brought before us this morning where companies started to get con-
tracts before they got the ditch. They got them and put in the money
to build the ditch and are making 200 or 300 per cent. on their invest-
ment. I do not see anything in that in the way of discouraging capital,
but I dislike to make it possible for speculators to come into this State
and sell it out and thereby create here a race of peons.
Mr. ROGERS. That leads to what I was coming to. That is, whether
the State or General Government should be the owner.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the objection to the people themselves own-
ing it 3 e
Mr. ROGERs. That is another name for it. That is a different ques-
tion from capital coming in to invest.
Senator JONES. It is for you people to say whether the State will
own these ditches or not. The Federal Government has nothing to do
with it.
The CHAIRMAN. The best thing is for the people to own it themselves.
Mr. RogFRs. The question is whether the Federal Government has
nothing to do with this. The Federal Government purchased this land
and it might make it available.
Senator JONES. What do you say about the statement made here this
morning about the stock of the ditches being watered 300 or 400 per
cent.”
Mr. ROGERS. I do do not know anything about that. I do not know
whether it is true Or not. **
Senator JONES. You do not know any instance of that kind &
Mr. ROGERS. I do not. I think it quite true that there have been
instances where there have been extortionate amounts charged for water.
That may be true, but I do not know of any such instance as is spoken of.
The largest value that I know of was where there was a combination
ditch on the left hand of a creek where a Water right is deemed worth
$1,200 for 80 acres. It is an enormous price, but it is purely a private
affair. There is no company taking this money. It goes back to the
farmers living along the line of the ditch. It is one of the oldest ditches
in the State.
%
THE water Royalties AND THE ANNUAL RENTALs. 361
Senator JONES. Still owned by the farmers ?
Mr. RogFRs. Yes; the highest value that I know of is on these mutual
ditches, that is, ditches built by combinations of farmers, but usually
taking a corporate name, with officers, by-laws, etc., and where each
share that is issued to represent capital stock also represents interest in
the water. The certificate is a contract for water and at the same time
it is a share of stock in the company. It performs a dual function.
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. Would not those farmers in selling their Water
rights virtually sell their farms ?
Mr. ROGERs. What farms do you mean?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. The farms along mutual farmers’ ditches—the left
hand or any other like it. Would not the sale of the land leave the farm
valueless; that is, without water?
Mr. RogFRs. There are some grounds for saying that ; I should say
CS.
y Mr. SOUTHWORTH. No farmer could sell his water without selling the
value of his farm.
Senator JONES. Unless he can replace his farm.
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. But he could not do that.
Mr. ROGRS. Perhaps not, on that ditch.
Mr. BOOTH. How is it about paying $30 an acre for the right to use
water without getting any stock in the ditch at all ? What worth is it
to those who pay ? They merely pay that for the right to use the water,
and they get nothing only the right to buy the water and afterwards
pay for it yearly.
Mr. RogBRs. Mr. Booth is referring to the ditch built by an English
company here at a very heavy expense. They had to take the water
out of the cañon and had much rock Work about it. As I understand
from the statements made by the officers of that company, that ditch, as
a ditch, has not, at any time since its construction, paid. That Is one
Instance I had in view of the failure of the ditch, as a ditch, to pay.
Senator JONES. Is the statement correct that has been made just
now that there have been $30 an acre paid here by the people under the
ditch, for the privilege of buying the water?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. More than that in many instances.
Senator JONES. And then the purchaser has had to pay $30 an acre
annually for the privilege of getting the water?
Mr. BOOTH. No; from $1.75 to $4,50 per acre.
Senator JONES. In addition to the original price 3
Mr. BOOTH. The $30 an acre gave you a perpetual right to buy the
water—you are not buying the water itself. The buyers get nothing,
only the right to buy the Water, and pay for it yearly afterwards.
The CHAIRMAN. Witnesses who were here this morning spoke of get-
ting a right in the ditch.
Mr. ROGERS. There are different systems about that.
Senator JONES. After a man pays $30 an acre who regulates the price
he shall pay for the water 3 *
Mr. ROGERS. The ditch companies. -
Mr. TAYLOR. They are not allowed to do that now under the present
statutes, are they *
e º SOUTHWORTH. They are if they stick to the contract on both
S1016S.
Mr. TAYLOR. That is, if the party chooses to do it; but he can de-
mand water although he may not have paid the $30.
Mr. SOUTHWORTH.. He can demand water, but it has broken up every
man who has tried it in the court.
362 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
** X
Mr. ROGERS. As I understand it, our courts have held that the com-
panies can not exist on the $30 an acre?
Mr. SOUTHWORTH. Yes. .*
Senator JONES. And they are regulated by the commissioners?
Mr. ROGERS. Yes.
STATEMENT OF E. S. NETTLETON, OF THE U. S. IRRIGATION
SURVEY.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. NETTLETON. I am a civil engineer.
S The gainwas Are you connected with the Government Irrigation
Survey - -
Mr. NETTLETON. I am the supervising engineer for the eastern divis-
ion of the arid region. --
The CHAIRMAN. You are quite familiar in a general way with the
arid regions of Colorado, are you not ?
Mr. NETTLETON. I am.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you prepared some facts for the committee in
Writing in regard to it which you will furnish the committee ?
Mr. NETTLETON. I have some facts that I think have not been put in;
Some Statistics with regard to what is called seepage—the return of water
to the stream after it is once used.
The CHAIRMAN. You have that information tabulated ?
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes; I made an experiment on the Cache la Poudre
four years ago and I am going to make another one next October, that
is, four years later on the same stream, to see whether there is any in-
crease or decrease.
The CHAIRMAN. Will the facts drawn out there be instructive as to
what may be expected lower down the river, as in Nebraska and Kansas ?
Mr. NETTLETON. It may be, providing the land adjoining it is irri-
gated. I suppose seepage comes from the irrigation of land.
The CHAIRMAN. Then your observations lead to the conclusion that
the irrigation of land in Colorado would not necessarily deprive the
people of Kansas and Nebraska of water ? &
Mr. NETTLETON. It might at certain seasons of the year, but I think
the effect will be that they will have a more uniform flow. They will
have a less flow during our flood time here and a greater flow during
Our low water here.
The CHAIRMAN. Will the same be true as to Kansas; that is, down the
Arkansas ?
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, providing that valley is irrigated to the same
extent that the Platte Valley is.
The CHAIRMAN. You have traveled considerably over the State of
Colorado and Western Kansas and Nebraska ž
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the result of your observation with regard
to the storing of storm waters, independent of the rivers, that have
been testified to ? 4.
Mr. NETTLETON. I believe that that is practicable in a great many
C3SéS.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the places where it is prac-
ticable %
Mr. NETTLETON. It will be generally done in the ravines that bring
this storm water in from the prairie country or the highland Country.
DRAINAGE AND PERCOLATION IN IRRIGATION, 363
The CHAIRMAN. You have been here a long time *
Mr. NETTLETON. Twenty years.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the quantity of this storm
water that falls?
Mr. NETTLETON. Our heavy storms occur in the summer; gener-
ally during the latter part of June and July. It is the storm Water
that falls at that period of the year that will have to be stored.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the difficulty about distributing the Water
on the land, or is there any difficulty by reason of the storms being
sudden and rapid 3 Do you get a natural and fair distributing, or does
it come in violent storms?
Mr. NETTLETON. These storms last for a few minutes only and are
very violent, and a canal could hardly carry the water more than a mile
or two; but if held in a reservoir, that water could be used afterwards.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it come so rapidly as not to be useful in fructi-
fying the soil”
Mr. NETTLETON. Not only is it not useful, but many times it is de-
structive. -
The CHAIRMAN. It passes off rapidly and does not penetrate much
into the Soil?
Mr. NETTLETON. That is the case.
The CHAIRMAN. If this rain-fall came at the right season and was
properly distributed and soaked into the ground, it would be much
more useful ? *
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes. Ithink the amount of rain and Snow we have
in a year if properly distributed would very nearly grow a crop with-
out irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. And you think this can be remedied to a consider-
able extent by reservoirs in the heads of ravines, that will detain the
water, and from which it can be distributed through the ditches over
the land 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. We have information in writing, I believe, as to res-
ervoirs along the streams. I do not care to ask you about that matter.
Have you anything to add orally to what you will probably present in
writing ?
Mr. NETTLETON. I think not.
Senator JONES. Have you any idea of the proportion of water that
escapes by seepage—the proportion of water that is used in irrigation
that would ultimately find its way back to the streams ? Have you
formed any conclusion as to the amount that would be used up in plant
growth 3 *
Mr. NETTLETON. Much water escapes through ditches; more in the
uew ditches than in the old. Much water is wasted in irrigation. To-
morrow I can show you how the country is being flooded by over-irriga-
tion. Instead of finding its Way to a natural channel, that water makes
bogs and swamps. Those places are filled up by percolation through
the soil, by the over-irrigation of the country surrounding them.
º CHAIRMAN. Has any attention been paid in such places to drain-
age - y
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes; in many places we have spent almost as much
money in drainage as in irrigation. That will be especially true, I think,
of the San Luis Valley,
The CHAIRMAN. What is the effect of too much irrigation, allowing
the water to remain on the land to form pools? -
364 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
... Mr. NETTLETON. Too much irrigation.washes the land; washes out
the fertilizers and makes the land cold and unproductive.
The CHAIRMAN. Has it gone to the extent that it effects the health.
of the people in any part of the Territory 3
Mr. NETTLETON. I think it would do so in any country than an arid
Country Or a country like this. I think there would be more or less
malaria in any other country, though I have not heard of any countries
of this altitude being affected that way.
The CHAIRMAN. They find in California that drainage is necessary,
and that with irrigation and drainage they have not only prevented
any deleterious effects so far as earth is concerned, but that it has
improved the health of the country. That is very marked in Kern
County, Cal., where they could not live at all until it was irrigated.
By irrigation and drainage it has become one of the healthiest parts of
the State.
STATEMENT OF JOHN CHURCHES.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. CHURCHES. I am a farmer. r
hº CHAIRMAN. Have you had experience in constructing reser.
VOITS : w
Mr. CHURCHES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. State your experience.
Mr. CHURCHES. I got a lease from what was known as the Mineral
Land Company about ten years ago, and laid out $3,000 in constructing
a reservoir. But the freshets and storms in June and July cut it out again
and caused a great expense in repairing; in fact, they cut it out so many
times that I could not stand it any longer. It is a large reservoir, about
three-quarters of a mile long and half a mile wide or a little over,
and will hold about 85 feet in depth of water in that basin.
The CHAIRMAN. How high is that dam * -
Mr. CHURCHES. It is a natural dam, a natural depression between
the two mountains. It is in Jefferson County and situated on Ralston
, Creek.
The CHAIRMAN. How did you make the outlet” t
Mr. CHURCHES. By a cut. I intended to make a tunnel underneath,
but my money would not hold out and I did what I could with that
Cut.
The CHAIRMAN. If a proper tunnel were secured by an iron pipe
cemented in and constructed securely, I suppose you could make it
useful ?
Mr. CHURCHES.
The CHAIRMAN.
properly ?
Mr. CHURCHES.
The CHAIRMAN.
Mr. CHURCHES.
The CHAIRMAN.
Mr. CEIURCHES.
mile wide.
The CHAIRMAN.
Mr. CHURCHES.
The CHAIRMAN.
tion in the dry season ?
Mr. CHURCHES.
Yes. h
You did not have money enough to construct it
That was the trouble.
It is about 85 feet deep, you say?
About 85 feet, the surveyor says it is.
How many acres are there in it 3 t
It is about three quarters of a mile long and half a
That would irrigate a large quantity of land?
Yes.
The Ralston would not furnish much water for irriga-
No; this reservoir is above all other ditches. My
ARTESIAN WATERS, EVAPORATION, PERCOLATION. 365
own property is 640 acres. There are several thousand other acres that
are lying there that can be watered from it. All I should ask would
be my share like the rest. I would gladly give my share to Some par-
ties to put it in running order.
The CHAIRMAN. Could you not get the land owners there to join with
you in constructing a proper reservoir 3
Mr. CHURCHES. They are too much like myself. They are too poor.
The CHAIRMAN. How much would it irrigate?
Mr. CHURCHES. I should think it would irrigate 4,000 or 5,000 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. It is all private land, is it *
Mr. CHURCHES. The biggest part of it is.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose there are 4,000 acres; what would the land
be worth if irrigated ?
Mr. CHURCHES. They are selling lands as high as $50 an acre down
under the ditches and this would be just as good land if irrigated.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be a very good water right, would it
not, if this were made all right 3
Mr. CHURCHES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you should give away half your land (all
you people that have the land) and make all the land worth $50 an
acre, you would have enough left to get rich on ?
Mr. CHURCHES. Yes; but it would be bad policy to give it away to
those that had no money.
The CHAIRMAN. I should think that with that amount of good land
and something to irrigate it, you would be able to make terms with
Somebody that would complete the reservoir.
Mr. CHURCHES. I think if we could make terms with Uncle Sam, he
Would be the best person.
STATEMENT OF P. H. WAN DIEST.
The CHAIRMAN. You have given some attention, I understand, to the
subject of artesian wells in this State 3
Mr. WAN DIEST. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you please state to the committee such facts and
views as you may have on that subject.
Mr. VAN DIEST. I have given some thought to the flow of water. I
have had something to do in India with artesian borings and gathered
Some statistics about the amount of water which percolates the lower
strata. We found, for instance, that in the Paris and London basins,
by careful observation it was ascertained that a third of the water-fall
on a certain extent of land gives a certain flow ; that another one-
third evaporates and is taken off by the plants, and that the last third
percolates to the lower strata. How far that is the case here is diffi-
cult to know because there are no Observations taken.
Senator JONES. That is, one-third is taken up by the plants, one-
third goes off in evaporation, and one-third percolates below %
Mr. WAN DIEST. Yes; that is the experience in London, England,
and Paris, France, where considerable artesian water has been got.
Similar observations have been made in India. Batavia is now sup-
plied with artesian Waters after Surveys made by me. No observations
are made here, and it is difficult to say what the case is. From the
Very Sandy condition of a great deal of the outcropping rocks in the
arable regions of Colorado, a good deal must percolate to great depths.
That is proven to be the case in Denver, the Denver basin having ob.
366 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
servations made in it to some extent by Mr. Cross, of the Geological
Survey. We came to the conclusion that there was considerable water.
running down to the lower strata. By borings that have been made
Since (about two hundred flowing wells having been bored) we have ob-
served that there are three different flows. Speaking of those flows, I
would say that the upper flows, to which many wells have been bored,
are very limited. The lower flows take water from a greater extent of
Country. Much trouble has occurred in the artesian diggings by the
bad construction of the tubing. There are a great many of such basins
here all along the foot-hills, and it has been proven that there is much
loss, as, for instance, in the San Luis Valley, where they have had flows
of water to a great amount. I do not know exactly the figures, but
Very much more than is necessary for domestic use. There would be a
chance to apply water for irrigation. The same is the case in the San
Bernardino Valley, in California, where over two thousand artesian
wells are aiding in irrigation. They are under regulations, so that dur-
ing the night they must be closed off with stop-cocks. Thus, there is
no unnecessary water flowing off. Similar arrangements can be made
here.
I will call the attention of the committee to the great amount of water
which flows away without our seeing it. There are many streams that
run east of us here, such as the Bijo, the Badger, and other creeks,
which at their best are all running streams and have considerable
water. Over distances of 20 to 30 miles they are entirely sunk and lost.
The Platte Valley is increased farther down in its flow. Without seeing
it directly here, the volume of water in the Platte is increasing. It
must be that the water from some of the mountains flows invisibly away,
probably not at a very great depth. Perhaps at 15 or 20 feet deep there
may be an impermeable layer and that it flows under the surface away.
I think that that water could be made useful by pipes from a distance
out, carrying the pipes to a place where the water is needed. Certainly
a great deal of land could be redeemed by the percolation of water
which is now lost. ſº
The CHAIRMAN. Have there been any deep wells bored here?
Mr. WAN DIEST. The first flow in this neighborhood was got by bor-
ing to about 150 feet. The second flow to about 400 feet, and the deep-
est 700 feet. There may have been some wells bored deeper than that.
One well, for example, has been bored to nearly 900 feet. That is the
well that contains the iron water.
The CHAIRMAN. No deeper than 900 feet 7
Mr. WAN DIEST. No; there is no doubt, according to the outcrop and
the water from the mountain side, that there must be an overflow of
water from the sandstone layers which are between the other strata
under ground.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed the formation in the hills here,
whether the strata is tilted up "
Mr. WAN DIEST. Yes; certainly. Near Golden the strata are nearly
perpendicular. Where Cold Creek comes out the upper part of the
formation crops out again as we see it at Golden. If there was not a
great deal of friction in the sandstone layers which carry the water we
would not get so much at the surface. -
The CHAIRMAN. You think there must be a deep vein of water, prob
ably?
}. WAN DIEST. I think so because the borings here have not reached
the coal formation yet. -
DUTY of water AND THE ACRE-Foot suggestion. 367
STATEMENT OF J. S. GREENE.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been State engineer here, have you?
Mr. GREENE. I was State engineer in 1887 and 1888.
The CHAIRMAN. You have heard the Statements made here to day,
have you?
Mr. GREENE. Some of them.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you add anything to them or make any further
statement with regard to your observations?
Mr. GREENE. I want to give a little note of warning to the commit-
tee. It may be overcautiousness, but I think I detect a tendency to
place certain matters before the committee in a flattering light which I
think will be to the disadvantage of the State later on. That is more
especially in connection with the duty of water.
In speaking of the duty of water, it is often mentioned carelessly, and
a distinction should be drawn between Water measured at the Cañons
of streams used for irrigation below them. Sometimes we speak of the
duty of water at the entrance of the ditch. At other times the duty of
water is spoken of where it is carried and is immediately distributed
to the land. There are people looking toward the conclusions of this
committee who will base their actions upon what this committee prob-
ably shall report or in some way intimate as the duty of water. Al-
ready there has been published in our papers a statement to the effect
that an acre foot of water was sufficient to irrigate 1 acre of land.
That was stated to have come from the Director of the Geological Sur-
vey. I have no doubt that when that statement was made it was
qualified. Possibly it was said that an acre foot of water could irrigate
1 acre of land, if there was rain-fall of Say 8 or 9 inches during April,
May, or June. Possibly it meant that it would be an acre foot of water'
just distributed on the land.
If the impression gets out, however, that an acre foot of water stored
in reservoirs in the fall and Winter months, to be taken out and put on
the ground in the dry season is sufficient to irrigate an acre, the result
will be that the people will undertake to build reservoirs and construct
ditches and they will be failures. It will do more harm to the State
than a more conservative position. I dread expensive failures in con-
nection with irrigation works, and I think I see them coming and re-
sulting from an overestimate of the duty of water. The duty of water
that was given to you this morning of 346 acres per cubic foot per sec-
ond is, as I say, an extremely high one. That Water was measured at
the cañons or outflow points cf the streams. It was used over, many
iº portions of it, and all of that land was not satisfactorily irrigated
and.
Senator JONES. I think all that has come out in evidence.
Mr. GREENE. Statistics were taken from my report of last year and
I know that very much of that land was not satisfactorily irrigated.
Senator JONES. State what you think the duty of water is here, meas.
ured when it goes on the land.
Mr. GREENE. I have in my report attempted to make an estimate of
what it is within Colorado. It differs with the character of the land
and the character of the Soil and subsoil. It may run to 90 or 100
a CIOS. -
The CHAIRMAN. That is, 1 cubic foot per second 3
Mr. GREENE. But that is some years abead, I think. As a rule, we
do not do that now, There is this to be taken into consideration :
368 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
N.
Since this measurement of water at the cañons indicates that the water
is used over and over again (because we know that water applied di-
rectly to the land will not irrigate any 346 acres or any 246 acres—none
of us expect to go over 100; and, where the water is taken right on the
land, I do not expect it to go over 80 or 90 acres), that indicates that .
the higher up on the streams these canals are taken out, the better it
is for the State; that is, more land will be irrigated. So that with re-
gard to the question as to whether the waters of the Colorado should
be turned down into Kansas, I should think that if the benefit of the
Community was considered, it would appeal to the committee as desira-
ble that this water should be used first near the cañons; then after-
Ward, portions of the same water again and again, so that a greater . .
good can be effected by using the entire water of the streams in Colo-
rado than could be effected if portions of it were turned down.
Senator JONES. Than if portions of it were turned down to be used
first in Kansas &
Mr. GREENE. Yes; to be used there first.
The CHAIRMAN. In taking the Water on the land, has no method
been adopted beside ordinary ditches 3 Do they use pipes º 3.
Mr. GREENE. We have not irrigated much with pipes. We have
done very little Subirrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean Subirrigation, but to carry the water
to the place to be used.
Mr. GREENE. We have done some of that.
The CHAIRMAN. Have they cemented the bottoms of the ditches 3
Mr. GREENE. A cement is used in Some cases.
The CHAIRMAN. That saves considerable of the seepage if you get the
water to the land? -
Mr. GREENE. The objection to pipes is that the friction is increased
more, and it requires a greater hill than when the water is brought di-
rectly on the land. I am using a pipe now of long-leaved Texas pine,
bound with long bands. It is used under the St. Charles River.
The CHAIRMAN. Bow do they irrigate here—by flooding the ground .
between the rows close together and running the water along in ditches?
Mr. GREENE. They have little ditches and frequently flood the ground.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, do they check it? 4
Mr. GREENE. It is checked—some of it—and prepared for flooding.
The CHAIRMAN. Which is regarded as the most economical way ?
Mr. GREENE. To carry it in ditches in rows is considered the most
economical. I believe the committee has had my report presented to
them of statistics gathered during two years, and it contains the maps
of Colorado. I do not know whether you have looked into our drainage
system or not. My report also contains the figures of the capacity of
our streams, so that we know how much water we have to distribute.
As to the matter of the segregation of land I do not know whether
the committee is considering that subject or not. But I think it is
highly proper that the land suitable for reservoirs should be segregated.
The land that lies under the sites of proposed ditches should not be
segregated, but it should soon be put upon the market again and be
made open to homestead settlement, because otherwise it will delay irri.
gation development in Colorado. f
Senator TELLER. It is not segregated now, under any fair construc-
tion of the statute, until the reservoir is first made, and then survey.
made to see what land will be irrigated from it. The statute provides
that then that land shall be segregated. p
Senator JONES. Is that with regard to the National Government 3 .
WHAT IRRIGATION DID FOR ONE MAN's PROSPERITY. 369
Senator TELLER. Yes.
Senator Jon Es. I understood that the Commissioner of the General
Land Office, on request of the Director of the Geological Survey, has
the right to reserve for a limited time to give an opportunity for exam-
ination. If the Director of the Geological Survey has reason to believe
that a certain locality would make a favorable reservoir site he requests
the Commissioner of the General Land Office to reserve it.
Senator TELLER. He can do that without any statute.
Senator JONES. I thought that was provided for by Statute.
The CHAIRMAN. That is a matter of administration.
Senator TELLER. And it is Very proper.
Senator JONES. Certainly.
The OHAIRMAN. You regard it as important, Mr. Greene, that these
surveys should be pushed rapidly 3 •
Mr. GREENE. I do, indeed. I think these surveys are a great thing;
more especially the determination of the precipitation both on the plains
and in the mountains. It is from that we must eventually determine
what lands can be irrigated. We know pretty well what amount of
precipitation in the mountains is carried off through the caſions of the
streams, but what proportion of that on the plains runs off we do not
know.
Senator Jon Es. What amount of rain-fall do you think passes down
through the cañons?
Mr. GREENE. My impression is that 40 per cent. Of the aggregate
rain-fall of the mountains passes down through the Caſions.
Senator JONES. That is very much smaller than I supposed.
The following papers were received by the committee and ordered
filed.
The committee then adjourned.
STATEMENT OF E. T. WILCOx, FIRST LIEUTENANT SIXTH CAV-
ALRY, U. S. ARMY, FORT LEWIS.
I have seen the results of irrigation in certain portions of the West, and in differ-
ent soils. My experience has been that all that is required on prairie, sage brush,
or desert is water, to make the lands of the West productive of any cereal,
vegetable, or fruit that the climate will admit of. In and around the town of Phoe-
nix, Ariz., all grains and fruits, even tropical ones, flourish in great richness, the land
before reclamation being simply an arid, rocky, and sandy cactus desert. The water is
brought from the Salt River by two large canals, and thence distributed over the land
by means of ditches, of greater or less size. Veritably, this desert is “blooming
like the rose.” This section has long been under irrigation. Long before the white
man entered it the Pima and Maricopa Indians had made much of the land fertile
and productive by irrigation, of which they have an excellent idea. All the country
along the Verdi and Salt Rivers is now under cultivation, with rich results, due to ir-
rigation. This much for purely desert lands. Upon the prairie and sage brush
3ountry let us take Salt Lake as an example: Not many years ago it was a parched,
sage brush wilderness; now it is a garden and a mine of agricultural wealth, all due
to irrigation from the waters of the Jordan, and the fresh-water lake 50 miles away.
These two examples cover the two kinds of country in the West.
My experience has always been that the soil is ever abundantly productive, and oll
that is required is water, and if water is at hand, little science is required to carry it
over the arid land. In many of the arid valleys of our western country underground
rivers run, the waters of which may be brought to the surface by means of wind-mills,
hot-air engines, or sunken pipes. As an example of the latter, I note “Soldiers'
Holes,” or Sanderson's ranch, in the valley of the Sulphur Spring, Arizona, a large
arid prairie valley. When I first saw it, in 1878, a miserable little well gave water to a
small cow-boy bar-room at “Soldiers’ Holes; ” when I again chanced there, in 1883, I
found a flourishing ranch, two large lakes of water below the houses, hundreds of
cattle, horses, etc.; Sanderson, a rich and prosperous man. He told me that he had
ust been offered $150,000 for his place. All this was simply produced by sinking
138 A L-WOL III——24
37 () IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
5-inch iron pipes in the ground, striking, as I believe, the underground current of the
lost Santa Cruz River, from 30 to 45 feet below, the water bubbling out of the pipes
6 inches above the surface, and then running off and forming its own reservoir—“the
twin lakes.” Sanderson was induced to sink these pipes by the offer of the Arizona
legislature of $10,000 for the first artesian water found in the Territory.
A plan, once proposed by General J. C. Fremont, I believe, seems to me worthy of
consideration by Congress for the benefit of our extreme southwestern country, Ari-
Zona, etc.; that is, to form of the great Colorado desert, which is in most part below
the level of the sea, a great inland Sea or lake, by one of two methods, i. e., either by
Jetting the water of the Gulf of California into it, by canals, or by flowing the waters
of the Colorado and Gila rivers into the desert, letting them find their own outlet to
the Gulf. The desert is now a useless, intensely hot, arid alkali waste and will never
be anything else. By making it a sea or lake the whole climate of that section would
be changed; rains would come, and the land would produce and grow in fruitfulness
for the benefit of our over-growing and great people. All our Western soil is rich,
water on its bosom will make it fruitful.
STATEMENT OF N. S. JARVIS, FIRST LIEUTENANT AND ASSIST-
ANT SURGEON, U. S. ARMY, OF FORT LEVIS.
My limited service has carried Ine over a portion of Arizona, in which irrigation on
an extensive scale will accomplish wonders. An instance coming under my observa-
tion proves this: At a point 60 miles to the southwest of the confluence of the Great
and #. Colorado Rivers is a small Mormon town, called “Tuba City.” This lies
on the edge of an arid region, known as the “Great Painted Desert.” By collecting
the water of several small springs into reservoirs and thence distributing over a few
dozen acres the most remarkable success has repaid the efforts of the inhabitants.
They raise corn, wheat, a variety of vegetables and fruits and even cane sugar.
This indicates to a certain extent the bearing capacity of this now desert and weird
region. The Indians in this country raise millions of sheep. General Greely, in his
recent interesting report to the Senate on the rain-fall of certain portions of the West,
states that land in the San Joaquin Valley capable of raising grass sufficient to sup-
port one sheep, under the influence of moisture permitting the growth of alfalfa will
nourish 20 sheep to the acre. tº
Thus can be imagined the enormous number of these animals, outside of farm prod-
ucts, that could be raised in the country of which I speak if the soil were allowed
the benefit of abundant moisture.
STATEMENT OF S. BAKER, CAPTAIN, SIXTH INFANTRY, U. S.
ARMY, OF FORT LEVIS.
During the last eighteen years I have observed wherever irrigation was practiced
in western Kansas, western Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, and Colorado
large yields and sure crops were the result. Every acre of soil in that region, if
cultivated by irrigation, will produce any crop in abundance that the climate will
permit. Without irrigation farming is practically out of the question in the whole
territory mentioned. These remarks apply to Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico also.
The question is, how shall all available arid land be irrigated and reclaimed ?
The land on each side of an ordinary stream can be irrigated from the stream to the
extent of its water capacity. In the valleys of the larger rivers water can be taken out
at any season of the year sufficient to cultivate a large portion if not the whole valley
while the river is in the mountain district. I am speaking of Such rivers as the Yel-
lowstone, Madison, Gallatin, and Jefferson in Montana; the Snake and Bear in
Idaho; the Green, Grand, Arkansas, and other large rivers in Wyoming and Colorado.
The tributaries of these streams run comparatively short distances through extensive
valleys and have rapid currents, which, in the season of rains and melting snows in
early spring, increase to torrents, in which water is carried off that is absolutely nec-
cessary later in the season for the production of crops. Speaking in a general way,
it would seem that all that can be done is to save as much of this annually wasted
water as possible, and the only way of doing this that presents itself is by means of
dams, making lakes at such points as the conformation of the adjacent country will
permit with the least damage.
Of course these lakes or reservoirs must be near the heads of strealms, and, as all the
large rivers have numbers of tributaries, and as each tributary would have its system
of reservoir lakes, the storage capacity in the mountains would seem to be quite
enough to supply sufficient water for irrigation at pleasure, not only along the whole
course of the tributaries, but also in the main stream, if some directing authority
like, for instance, the Interior Department, had supreme control over the whole
systein.
THE OPINIONS OF ARMY OFFICERS ON ARIDITY. 371
Wherever water is scarce during the growing season a supply must be stored dur-
ing the previous abundance and kept until it is needed. That it can be stored near
the sources of streams and rivers by artificial lakes there can be no doubt. Take, for
instance, Snake River, in Idaho. At the head of North Fork there is a basin that was
formerly a lake, covering an area of several hundred square miles, the outlet of which
runs through a narrow gorge that could easily be dammed at many places, which
would create an inland sea where there is now nothing but an enlargement of the
river, called Henry’s Lake, at the foot of Tahgee, Raynolds, and Red Rock Passes.
Again, at the head of Pierre's River, a branch of the Snake, having its source in the
Teton, there is a basin of from 12 to 15 miles square, whose outlet runs through a
narrow gorge made in the porphyry rim of the basin, which could be easily dammed,
producing a lake of magnificent proportions considered as a reservoir. South fork of
Snake runs through another basin east of the Teton, and then gorges, but this eastern
basin has a number of quite large lakes already, which supply the main Snake with
plenty of water.
I give this as an illustration of the system proposed, not that it is necessary in this
case, as I believe there is water enough in Snake River to irrigate its whole val-
ley. Of course such a system involves great expense, but the question of supplying
water for irrigation is as importalit to the country west of the Mississippi Valley as
the improvement of river navigation is to the rest of the country.
STATEMENT OF O. B. W.ARWICK, FIRST LIEUTENANT, EIGHT-
EENTH INFANTRY, U. S. ARMY, OF FORT LYON.
In reference to the subject of irrigation I can only testify to the satisfactory re-
sults obtained from land that has been irrigated. The only land that I have observed
was irrigated from ditches taken out of streams. From the general slope of country I
have no doubt that many thousand acres of land, now worthless, could be made produc-
tive by means of large storage-reservoirs. Irrigation has certainly proved a great ben-
efit to this State and in Montana, where I was previously stationed. Many thousand
acres of arid land in Colorado and New Mexico, I think, could be made productive by
means of storage-reservoirs, that would be of incalculable value. To accomplish this
the cost would be great, but the results obtained would more than compensate for the
outlay of money. Cereals and vegetables are Low grown near this post on land that
two years ago was not productive. The subject is one that I consider of great im-
!..."; though I lack the experience to be able to give as satisfactory data as I
would like.
STATEMENT OF JOHN S. GRISWOLD, SECOND LIEUTENANT, THIR-
TEENTH INFANTRY, U. S. ARMY, OF FORT LYon.
The soil of eastern Colorado will produce nothing without irrigation; but where
irrigation has been resorted to the results have been entirely satisfactory. This
was well demonstrated by the products exhibited at the Colorado State fair, held at
Pueblo last October. The inhabitants are unanimously of the opinion that were
Colorado well watered it would rival in its products those of Indiana, Illinois, or any
other Central or Eastern State. The slope of the country from the mountains in the
west and center toward the east would greatly facilitate irrigation. Canals and
ditches could be dug, thus opening up thousands of acres to cultivation, the canals
being fed by the Arkansas and the mountain streams. It would also be possible to
build large central basins. The construction of canals, facilitated by the lay of the
Country, would be accomplished at comparatively small expense and would be of in-
estimable value to Colorado.
STATEMENT OF F. E. LACEY, CAPTAIN, TENTH, INFANTRY, U. S.
ARMY, OF FORT CRAWFORD.
The system of irrigation in use in this valley does not differ from any I have seen
in other parts of the country, and seems to be fairly well adapted to present wants.
There seems to me to be an unnecessary waste of water, owing to the fact that there is
no proper means of regulating the flow of surplus water when the river is high; con-
sequently in the months of July and August there is a great scarcity of water and late
crops suffer. Storage-reservoirs could, with small expense compared with the results,
be constructed in the foot-hills on both sides of the Uncompahgre River. There are
many natural depressions admirably Suited to that purpose and much valuable land
now almost barren would become good farming land. I believe a system of reser-
voirs in the Arkansas Valley will soon be an absolute necessity.
372 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
STATEMENT OF WALTER D. McCAw, FIRST LIEUTENANT AND
ASSISTANT SURGEON, OR FORT CRAwFORD.
My experience on the subject of irrigation is limited to the most casual observa-
tiºn of the method pursued in this valley, gained from a year's stay at this post.
The land here can hardly be called “arid,” as the soil seems to contain everything
necessary to the growth of nearly all grains, fruits, and vegetables, which will grow
in a temperate climate. There is, however, a deficiency of rain-fall usually from May
to August or September, and irrigation is practiced to make up for the small amount
of rain. The method used is the simplest known. The water is taken directly from
natural. Water-courses, no reservoirs being known, and is conducted to the highest
level of the land to be cultivated ; there it is caused to overflow the ditch, by the ac-
tion of small wooden sluice-gates placed at convenient intervals. If the land is
planted with vegetables, in hills, the water overflows in a series of small channels per-
pendicular to the conducting ditch and running between the hills; fields of grass,
alfalfa, or grain are simply flooded. The water not taken up by the ground is col-
lected in a ditch placed at the lowest level of the ground, and thus conducted away.
Irrigation is practiced from April to the maturing of the crop. No manuring effect is
expected of the water, but simply the moisture is needed in the absence of rain. The
ditch company in this valley sell the right to water from their ditch for $10 an acre.
That land perfectly arid, without vegetation, may by the constant use of water be
Tenderedfertile, is, I believe, undoubted. In such cases the manuring effect of water,
and not moisture alone, is needed, and a long time might be required in effecting the
change. The circumstances would be very different Trom those in this valley. The
quality and amount of suspended matter of the water, the climate and soil of the
land to be irrigated, would all have to be carefully considered. I am not prepared
either by experience or acquirements to offer any views of practical value of the
subject of “irrigation of arid lands.”
STATEMENT OF THOMAS McCUNNIFF, INDIAN AGENT, of souTH-
ERN UTE AGENCY, IGNACIO.
All facts and data bearing upon the previous customs of irrigation practiced by the
Indians under my charge are very meager and unsatisfactory. In fact, in former
years, the Utes seem to have relied but little upon the products of the soil. Their
efforts were confined to the raising of small patches of corn and melons, which were
always planted at the mouth of some vega, where the water from above filtered
through the soil and moistened the roots of the plants. From this practice, we may
infer, we have the present system of subirrigation. But, owing to the increased num-
bers desiring to engage in the raising of crops on such small patches and the limited
amount of available land under that primitive system of irrigation, it became neces-
sary to devise some means by which a larger area could be utilized. This probably
caused the Utes to resort to the system of irrigating ditches, with flumes and head-
gates, which is now practiced here and in the main throughout Colorado and New
Mexico.
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM ASHTON, ENGINEER, COLORADO DIVIS-
ION, UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY, DENVER.
Along the Kansas Pacific Division of the Union Pacific Railway, which passes
through the central eastern portion of the State, water for the various uses of the
railway company is obtained from wells; these wells are in most cases sunk at a
point near a small water course, and although the water seldom appears as a stream
in these water-courses, a fair supply as to quantity is usually obtained by sinking
wells through the sand and gravel beneath the bed of these apparently dry streams
At one point on this line of railway an artesian well has been put down which I
understand is furnishing a large amount of very good water; of this you probably
have record in your office. This well is about 15 miles west of the east boundary
line of the State and nearly midway between the north and south boundaries.
The Julesburg branch, owned and operated by this company, lies along the South
Platte River from the point where it enters the northeast corner of the State to its
junction with the Denver Pacific district at LaSalle. Plenty of water for our pur-
poses can be obtained at almost any point along this line by sinking a well from 20
to 40 feet deep; quicksand is often struck in these wells and the water contains some
alkali,
WATER SUPPLiFS ALONG J'HE KANSAS PACIFIC. 373
Wells along this line are located as below and of dimensions shown.
Station. I)epth. Diameter. Quantity. Quality.
Feet. Feet.
Sedgwick-------------------------------------------- 21 11 || Plenty. . . . Some alkali.
Crook ----------------------------------------------- 20 11 - - - - do ----. Do.
Iliff-------------------------------------------------. 21 11 |----do ----. Do.
Sterling --------------------------------------------- 22 12 ---. do - - - - - I)0.
Merino --------------------------------------------- 21 11 I---. do ----- Do.
Snyder ---------------------------------------------- 20 11 I----do - - - - - Do
Deuel------------------------------------------------ 22 11 I----do ----. Do.
Orchard ------------------------------- ------------- 20 11 1. ---do - - - - - Do.
Hardin ---------------------------------------------- 20 11 ||---. do ----. Do.
On the Denver Pacific district water was more difficult to find. At Pierce a well
34 feet deep supplies all water needed for locomotives and station purposes, while 10
miles farther north, at Dover, a hole was put down 175 feet and no water found.
At Athol, on the divide between Lone Tree and Crow Creeks, a well was sunk 162
feet, but no water found. Athol Station is very near the north boundary line of the
State.
On the mountain districts plenty of water for railway purposes can usually be
taken from streams along the line or from adjacent springs. Most of the water-tanks
on these districts are supplied by gravity pipe lines and the quality of water is usu-
ally good.
Dug wells in eastern Colorado cost us from $10 to $15 per foot of depth for wells 10
to 15 feet in diameter and less than 80 feet deep. This price covers the well complete,
well lined with a good dry stone wall for its entire depth. Quicksand is usually
overcome by walling the well as fast as it is sunk and by cementing the wall where
unusually bad strata of quick sand are found. *
On the Denver Pacific district, between Denver and Cheyenne, we have for the
supply of locomotives five wells, including one at Denver, and, in addition to this,
one tank at Carr, supplied from a spring.
These wells are as follows:

Station. Depth. Diameter. Quantity. Quality.
Feet. Feet.
Denver ---------------------------------. 25 20 | Abundant | Alkali.
IBrighton -------------------------------- 32 6 || Plenty. --. Fair for locomotive use.
Platteville ------------------------------. 31 12 l------------ Alkali.
la Salle----------------------------------|----------|------------|------------
Pierce ----------------------------------- 31 12# ------------ Fair for locomotive use.
Carr ------------------------------------- 11 9 |------------ Do.
On the line of the Colorado Central we obtained all water from the water-works of
the towns We pass through ; this water is usually from a mountain stream by a
gravity pipe line; the quality of water is good.
On the Denver and Boulder Valley from Brighton to Boulder we have no water
stations; water could be obtained at almost any station along this road by sinking
a shallow well, except where road crosses the divide between South Platte River and
Coal Creek.
The Water in this section of the country contains a large amount of alkali if taken
from near the surface.
Qn the Greeley, Salt Lake and Pacific district the only water station is at Fort
Collins; this supply is from the city water-works.
At Stout a pipe line is laid from a spring in the side of a steep hog-back from which
water of good quality is obtained, but the amount is so limited that it is seldom used
for other than domestic purposes.
The Denver, South Park and Pacific district as well as the other mountain lines, is
well supplied With Water; most of it of good quality, from mountain streams.
No Water-storage system used by this company in Colorado.
The headquarters of the engineering department for Colorado being at Denver,
the location of a United States observation and weather reporting station, no ac-
curate record of temperatures, precipitations, etc., has been kept.
The use of artesian wells in and about Denver has greatly increased within the
past three or four years, and this method of obtaining water for domestic use has been
largely adopted both in the city and country. The section about Denver in which
374. J RRIGATION AND REC'ſ AMATION OF ARii) I, ANT)S.
these wells flow is described about as ſollows: From Golden north to the south line
of township 1 south ; thence northwest to Brighton; thence east to near the divide
between the South Platte River and Box Elder Creek; thence southerly along said di-
vide to the south line of township 4 south ; thence southwest to Acequia and Platte
Cañon; thence north along base of mountain to Golden. There are points outside and
adjacent to this district where flowing wells are struck, but as near as I can deter-
mine at present the district as described is practically correct.
Artesian wells seem to be a success over the entire eastern portion of Colorado, a
good supply of good water usually being found, but at some points it is so far below
the surface that the expense necessary for pumping machinery decreases the value of
the well. These wells, so far as I know, are used for domestic purposes except in a
few cases where the overflow is retained in a small reservoir for irrigating purposes,
but these cases are so rare and the reservoirs so small that they practically have no
bearing upon the irrigation problem.
Water that rises to the surface is found in the vicinity of Denver at a depth of about
325 feet and 600 feet; the best wells are from the 600-foot flow.
From the 600-foot flow a pressure of 20 pounds per square inch at the surface is
often obtained, while it is claimed by many that some wells have a much higher
pressure.
That portion of Colorado east of the base of the mountains could be almost en-
tirely utilized as farming land and for agricultural purposes if water for irrigating
could be obtained. The soil is light, and in many cases contains a considerable
amount of sand, but when properly irrigated the crops grown in this soil are seldom
surpassed. Farming has been attempted in the extreme eastern portion of the State
at several points without irrigation, but although partial crops have been raised—
and some of the farmers by this method are very confident of success—the future will
probably prove that even in the most eastern portions of the State this method will
prove very uncertain and unsatisfactory.
BLANKS AND FORMS USED IN DITCH MANAGEMENT.
[Furnished the committee through S. J. Gilmore by the Northern Colorado Irrigation Company,
office, Denver, Colo.]
RULES FOR EMPLOYES ON THE PLATTE CANAL.
D. W. Payne, division superintendent.
Division No. 1.
This division of the canal commences at and ends at º
You are specially under the orders and directions of the engineer, and you are to
carry out faithfully and promptly all his instructions. You will frequently and
closely examine every part of the canal in your division, and enter in your weekly
report any remarks that you may think necessary regarding the general condition of
the works. Should there be a necessity for immediate attention to any part of the
canal, report immediately on the telephone to the office, or if before 9 o'clock a.m.
or after 4 o'clock p.m. ring the number on the telephone for the engineer. Failing
to get an answer from the engineer ring the manager's number.
Should a serious leak, or break, or overflow occur, you will immediately make
every effort to stop it, and to accomplish this you may hire such assistance as may be
necessary and close at hand. Open the nearest waste gates above the leak, or break,
or overflow, and if necessary to have all the water shut out of the canal, telephone
to Denver to any of the three calls there. Should the accident be one that you can
overcome without great difficulty, do not lose time by leaving it and trying to tele-
phone, but get such assistance as may be nearest. If necessary, send or go to the
nearest telephone and give notice to the engineer. o
All employés on the canal are required to promptly render assistance to each other
whenever there is any necessity for so doing. Each division superintendent shall
keep a daily record of the depth of water on the gauge or gauges in his division, and
will report the same to the engineer by telephone daily. &
Each division superintendent shall provide himself with a suitable horse and eart,
if such conveyance be required, and shall at all times carry with him a shovel, ham-
mer, nails, screw-driver, wrench, measuring rule, and telephone tools, all of which,
excépt the horse and cart, and feed for horse, will be provided by the company. In
addition to these tools, there should be on each division oakum and Sacks, and divis-
ion superintendents will promptly notify the engineer when additional supplies are
needed. *
Expenses.—Except in cases of emergency, such as leaks, breaks, or overflows, or
danger of any of these, no materials or tools shall be purchased or obtained on the
credit of the company, except by the engineer or on his order, and no labor shall be
MANAGEMENT OF THE NORTHERN COLORADo works. 375
employed except in emergencies as above stated, without first having the authority
of the engineer. In all cases where laborers or mechanics are employed, the person
in charge of the division where the work is being done shall keep a full and complete
record of the time each person is employed and the wages to be paid, unless the engi-
neer shall place some other person in charge of the work. . .
All payments for wages or hire of any kind and for material, shall be made at the
office of the company in Denver, and then only upon properly stated and certified
accounts first approved by the president or manager.
Care of property.—All property of the company must be carefully watched and pro-
tected on each division by the division superintendent, and he shall be responsible ...
for locks, keys, gate-pins, tools, bolts, bars, or other effects. He shall report promptly
to the engineer or manager all cases where the property of the company has in any
way been tampered with or damaged, such as the cutting or breaking of gates or
weirs, or interference in any way with the banks of the canal or flumes. . He shall
also report all cases where any damage has resulted to the property of others by reason
of overflow or breaks, or in any other way.
Distribution of water.—Such water as may from time to time be in the canal shall be
divided pro rata to all persons entitled thereto by reason of their ownership of water
rights, and each person in charge of a division shall in the most impartial and care-
f § manner turn water out of their respective gates in strict accordance with the
directions given from time to time by the engineer or from the manager’s office, and
under no circumstances is any person to be allowed to open a gate or in any way to
obtain more water than the quantity stated in the directions. The gate on every
outlet must at all times be kept locked and the division superintendent must at all
times carry the keys with him. He shall carefully inspect all gates, weirs, and out-
lets every day to see if all be in good order, also to discover if the gates are being
tampered with, and he shall measure and record every day the depth of water flow-
ing over each weir, and enter the same in the reports prepared for such purpose. Look
sharply for persons having duplicate keys.
All outlets are to be kept free and clear of drift-wood and all other floating matter,
and the gates should be frequently examined to see if there be a free flow under
them; also that no wedges have been driven under them by persons trying to get more
Water.
Do not accept the statement of any person about water; all instructions pertain-
ing thereto will be given on the telephone, or in writing, from the proper authoritys
Report promptly the name of any person who offers any bribe or any inducement
to get more water than is then being allowed under the directions given you.
Whenever there is a rise in the water in the canal, not caused by floods from the
prairie, the quantity running over the weirs in the lateral ditches should not be al-
lowed to increase by reason of the greater pressure on the outlets. The gates in the
outlets should be partly closed down so as to give just the same depth of water over
the weirs as was running before the rise, unless orders contrary to this have been
given from proper authority. In almost every instance when more water is taken
into the canal from the river, the extra quantity is intended for the divisions at the
end of the canal. When a suddenly great rise occurs in the canal by reason of flood
water from the prairies, caused by a storm, make haste to the waste-gates and open
them, also let out at all the outlets in the canal as much water as the lateral ditches
will fairly carry without overflowing or doing any damage.
Whenever there are indications of a storm and a flood, the waste-gates should be
opened before the flood comes. Good judgment and prompt action in emergencies of
this kind will determine the efficiency and earnestness of the employé in the duties
assigned to him.
Whenever you see that water is being allowed to run to waste by any irrigator,
reduce the quantity running over the weir to the extent of such waste. If you see
that a lateral ditch is broken, and the water is running to waste, shut off the water
and notify the superintendent of the lateral or some person who is using water from
it. Make a record of your action in every case of the two above kinds, and state the
particulars in your weekly report.
NOTE.-There must not be any absence from duty unless permission first be obtained
from the engineer or manager.
There must not be any scolding with, or rough language applied to, farmers or
users of water. You can perform your duty better without this. If any one assaults
you without just provocation the company will assist you in a prosecution.
Any case of intoxication or any neglect of duty, or apparent indolence or indiffer-
ence on the part of an employé will be met with prompt dismissal.
All reports must be carefully and accurately made, so that, if necessary, they can
be sworn to. - 4.
S. J. GILMORE, Manager.
GEORGE G. ANDERSON, Engineer.
376 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
THE NORTHERN COLORADO IRRIGATION COMPANY.,
Record of depths of Water at the weir, at the city limits of Denver, for the week ending Sat-
w?'day, , 188—, at 6 o'clock p. m.
7 a. m., 6 p.m., Average | Discharge Total
Day. depth in depth in depth per in cubic quantity in
inches. inches. day. feet. gallons.
Sunday --------------------.
Monday -------------------.
Tuesday. ------------------.
Wednesday. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Thursday------------...-----
iday ---------------------
Saturday ------------------.

I certify that the depths of water entered above in the first two columns are true
and correct.
I certify that the depths given above in the first two columns and the average
depths given in the third column show a total delivery of water for the week ending
as above, of — cubic feet, or the equivalent of —— gallons.
Q
Record of depth of water on weirs in third division for the week ending Saturday, Septem-
ber 16, 1888.

3Outlet
number. Sunday. Monday. | Tuesday. | Wednesday. | Thursday. Friday. Saturday.
6
2
I certify that the depths of water entered above are true and correct.
THOS. EVANS,
Division Superintendent.
EVIDENCE FROM WIFSTERN SLOPE OF THE ROCKIES. 377
18—.
Record of depths of water in flumes, etc., for the week ending Saturday,

Location. Sunday. | Monday. | Tuesday. Wednesday. | Thursday. | Friday. | Saturday.
Dam. -----------.
Cañon Flume. . . .
Blum Creek . . . . .
Bennett Gulch. . .
Little Dry . . . . . . .
Cherry Creek. . . .
Section 1 Check .
Dryer's Check. --
Twº
I certify that the depths of water entered above are as telephoned to me daily by
the respective division men.
5
*ss===== **
sº
3. 18—, by
Report of 8ervices performed during week ending Saturday evening,
Sunday,
Monday,
Tuesday,
Wednesday,
Thursday,
Friday, t
Saturday,
The Northern Colorado Irrigation Company. Report of services performed by
, for week ending Saturday evening, , 18–.
[Fill in every evening, and not wait to end of week, when you may have forgotten
particulars..]
NOTE:-This report may be made in pencil. It need not include all the little details
of work, but should be sufficiently full to clearly indicate what was done each day.
It should be sent by mail, or otherwise, at the first opportunity, to—
S. J. GILMORE,
Manager, Denver, Colo.
STATEMENT OF A. J. McCUNE, CIVIL ENGINEER, GRAND JUNCTION.
[The statements from western Colorado were º after adjournment and ordered inserted in re-
p0ID.
I am a civil engineer, and have resided here since 1883. I was engineer on the
Grand River Ditch during its construction and for two years past have Surveyed sev-
eral sites for small reservoirs for the farmers. As to the extent of our system : The
Grand Valley Canal is in width 35 feet in the bottom, to run 5 feet depth of water.
It covers 40,000 acres; cost about $250,000. There are about Seventy-five small irri-
gating ditches, covering, perhaps, 60,000 acres. The Grand Valley Canal is taken
#. the Grand River; the smaller ditches are taken from the tributaries of the Grand
1Ver,
The supply of water from the Grand River appears to be sufficient for all land that
it is practicable to water from that river. The supply from the smaller streams is
limited, except for a period of two months, or perhaps seventy days, while the snow
is melting from the mountains.
37S IRRIGATION ANT) RECIAMATION OF - ARIB3. IANDS.
There is need of storage reservoirs on the southern and western slopes of the Grand
1Mesa. In the valley of Kannah Creek and Whitewater streams there is a large body
of valuable fruit and farming land, perhaps 40,000 acres, that could be successfully
watered from reservoirs upon the Grand Mesa.
There are some old lake beds on Grand Mesa that could be successfully converted
into reservoirs.
A full survey for irrigating purposes would be helpful in promotingthe co-opera-
tion of capital and in constructing storage works.
The farmers have already done something in a very small way, but their means are
too limited.
If a survey were made pointing out the location of reservoirs and the feasibility
of making by the building of reservoirs thousands of acres of land now worthless to
be worth from $25 to $50 per acre, capital could surely be induced to construct such
works. There are other portions of this country where the small streams have been
Overtaxed, in other words, where more land has been entered than could be watered,
through ignorance on the part of the farmers, as to the capacity of the streams. At
the head of these streams are good reservoir sites where water could be stored, not
only to relieve the farms that are already located, but also to supply new ones. Al-
together in Mesa County alone about 100,000 acres could be reclaimed.
STATEMENT OF R. W. SHROPHIRE, OF WHITE WATER.
I have been farming in Mesa County, Colo., since 1882. I live about 8 miles from
Grand Junction. The results, financially and otherwise, have been beyond my ex-
pectations in every respect, both in farming and fruit raising. The chief products are
timothy, alfalfa, and fruit. Irrigation does pay; I would not farm in a country
where irrigation is not possible. My land, before cultivation under irrigation, was
worth nothing. I have since been offered $6,000 cash for my 130 acres. This was
days since. I have a house on it worth $1,500, but $8,000 cash is my price. I am cul-
tivating 120 acres. My net profit last year was $2,000 on 80 acres. I had 40 acres
rented. My water for irrigation comes from Kannah Creek and I have a plentiful
supply, because the private ditch in which I have an interest has the priority of
right to the water in the creek. There are 5,000 acres of land taken up and only half
º because of the fact that their rights are second to ours. Our ditch covers
1.000 acres,
'There is a good location for a storage reservoir on that creek, and its establishment
would be of benefit to the farmers now located in that section. It could be built on
the Grand Mesa at a cost of $10,000. That would benefit the farmers now located on
Whitewater, Kannah Creek, and the country between the two, to the extent of fully
$10,000 in one year, besides enabling 10,000 acres more of land equally as good as that
Inow farmed to be settled upon and worked with profit. We are short of water for two
months, from July 15 to September 15, just the time when it is most needed. Our irri-
gating season is, for grain, five months; for fruit, eight months.
STATEMENT OF C. W. STEELE, OF GRAND JUNCTION.
I have been farming in Mesa County, Colo., since 1881. The results have been Satis-
factory in every respect. Our chief products are vegetables and small fruits. Irri-
gation pays and I would not farm, unless so situated that I could irrigate the land
at will. My land before cultivation under irrigation was practically worth nothing.
Its market value is for 35 acres, in cultivated fields, $50 per acre; for 35 acres an or-
chard, $200 per acre. I am cultivating 70 acres. , My not profit per acre last year was
for vegetables grown between trees in orchard, $50; alfalfa, $30 per acre. I own a
water-right in perpetuity, paying an annual assessment of 20 cents per inch, equal to
124 cents per acre, and have had plentiful supply at all seasons for eight years past.
The water is taken from Grand River.
The possibilities for fruit raising in this section are great. I have lived in south-
western Missouri, and I find Grand Valley, Colorado, far superior. The fruit grows
to greater perfection. It is not troubled with insect pests, such as codling moths,
curculio, and the borer. Grand Valley is also adapted to a wider range of varieties.
Grapes and gooseberries, which often scald or mildew in southwestern Missouri, suc-
ceed admirably here, as also do currants. My pears have begun fruiting, and in size
and quality they compare favorably with California productions; trees show no symp-
toms of the dreaded pear blight. All peach trees of sufficient age were loaded with
fruit the past season. The length of our irrigating season is mine months. The cli-
mate is hot and dry; the thermometer seldom reaches zero. The rain-fall is very
little; not enough to be of any practical benefit, and there is scarcely any snow.
THE DIJTY OF WATER J N NOR'J'HERN COLOR.A.J)(). 379
STATEMENT OF CY RUS L. HUGHES, OF DENVER.
I am a nurseryman, and my interests consist of an 80-acre peach orchard, three
years old, 9 miles from Grand Junction. There are fourteen thousand trees in it, all
in healthy condition. They will be in bearing next year. , Have every reason to
expect a yield of $15,000 worth of peaches from the crop of 1890. In this enterprise
I have invested $11,000. The value of my land if I had no water would be practi-
cally nothing. I consider my 80-acre farm to be worth to-day at least $25,000.
STATEMENT OF J. CLAYTON NICHOLS, OF GRAND JUNCTION.
I devote my entire attention to alfalfa and stock raising and have 325 acres planted
to alfalfa, 6 miles from Grand Junction. The yield of alfalfa, thereon is 3 tons to the
acre. It is worth this year $9 per ton on the ground. The land would not grow grass
before irrigation, and was quite worthless. It is now worth $50 per acre. I get
water from the Grand River Ditch. I have a quarter-section of land on “The Big
Salt Wash,” but prior rights take all of the water from me. Were a reservoir con-
structed at the head of this mountain stream, 5,000 acres would at once be available
for farming purposes. My neighbors raise the finest peaches grown in this valley.
STATEMENT OF A. D. MAHANY, OF FEUITA.
I have farmed by irrigation 12 miles from Grand Junction for the past five years.
I would not farm where irrigation was not possible. My principal crops are oats,
wheat, corn, alfalfa, and fruit. I cultivate about 100 acres. There is plenty of water,
except a little short in July. The water is obtained from the Grand River Ditch.
Reservoirs could be built that would benefit the land. Above the line of the present
ditch there is a fine country, which comprises about 5,000 acres, that could be econom-
ically watered were reservoirs built in what are known as the “Little Salt Wash”
and “the Big Salt Wash,” which have ravines carrying a large amount of water in
the spring.
ForT COLLINs, CoLo., September 17, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present, Mr. Stewart (chairman) and Mr. Jones, of Arkansas; also
JDirector Powell.
STATEMENT OF N. C. ALFORD, OF FORT COLLINS.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. ALFORD. Farming, mostly.
The CIIAIRMAN. Where are you farming 2
Mr. A l'ORD. North of the town of Fort Collins; on the north side of
the Poudre River.
The CHAIRMAN. I am told that you have had some experience as to
the duty of Water in this vicinity. Please state as to that.
Mr. ALFORD. As to the amount of water ?
The CHAIRMAN. As to the amount of water necessary to produce
Crops, and the kind of crops that can be produced here.
Mr. ALFORD. For the first irrigation, we think it requires about 15
inches of Water, covering the ground. The second time about 12inches
is required to raise a crop.
Senator JONES. Do you mean 15 inches the first year?
Mr. ALFORD, Yes.
Senator JONES. And 12 inches the second year 2
Mr. ALFORD. Yes. Thereafter about 8 inches of water will raise a
grain crop in ordinary seasons.
380 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount is required to raise all-around crops,
Vegetables, etc.? t
Mr. ALFORD. They require more. I never had any experience with
Vegetables.
Senator JONES. You mean 8 inches in addition to the rain-fall ?
Mr. ALFORD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know how much rain-fall you have here?
Mr. ALFORD. I think about 15 inches, year after year, in a term of
Seven or ten years. .
Senator JONES. How much in the irrigating season ?
Mr. ALFORD. Our rain falls largely in the spring. If we have rain
it is generally at that season.
The CHAIRMAN. In the irrigating season 3
Mr. ALFORD. Yes, and prior to that time—in May, perhaps.
The CHAIRMAN. I see in passing through this country that people
Seem to have given some attention to storing water in reservoirs. Have
you given any attention to that subject 3
Mr. ALFORD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. With what success %
Mr. ALFORD. With very good success.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the method of doing it !
Mr. ALFORD. A ditch company of which I was president built one
reservoir on the mountains that covered about 200 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. How deep was it, what did it cost, and what pur-
pose did it subserve?
Mr. ALFORD. We now hold 20 feet of water in it, and we use it after
the flood-time, if we do not have water sufficient for the ditch. The
ditch it is connected with is one of the State appropriations and it was
necessary to have water to carry out the irrigation system, because the
prior rights took the water away from us on the river. We built that
dam and reservoir on the mountains to supply the ditch at the times
when the other ditches required all the water in the river.
The CHAIRMAN. And when they did not require it, you took the
surplus and filled your reservoir 3
Mr. ALFORD. Yes, we were allowed to take that when there was a
Surplus.
#. CHAIRMAN. Is the surplus of this stream, the Caché La Poudre,
all saved now, or does it go down stream 3
Mr. ALFORD. There is a large surplus yet remaining.
The CHAIRMAN. A large surplus to supply other reservoirs?
Mr. ALFORD. Yes.
Senator JONES. How much did that reservoir cost 3
Mr. ALFORD. About $15,000.
Senator JONES. It is 200 acres in extent?
Mr. ALFORD. Yes.
Senator JONES. And 20 feet deep 3
Mr. ALFORD. We hold 20 feet of water in it now.
Senator JONES. Is that its capacity ?
Mr. ALFORD. Yes.
Senator JONES. How far away is that from your line of ditch 3
Mr. ALFORD. Seventy miles.
Senator JONES. You get it to your ditch by another ditch?
Mr. ALFORD. No; the law gives us a right to use the channel of the
river to conduct Water in.
Senator JONES. And you take the Water from your reservoir by the
channel of the river to that ditch?
RETURN OF WATER BY SEEPAGE TO THE STREAMS. 381
Mr. ALFORD, Yes.
Senator JONES. So you were not at any great expense in Constructing
a ditch to carry the water from your ditch 3
Mr. ALFORD. No, sir.
Senator JONES. You only use that to supplement your other ditch
at such time when you do not get your ditch supplied from the river ?
Mr. ALFORD. That is all.
The CHAIRMAN. You stated that there was a large amount of Water
still running to waste that might be stored in reservoirs. Is there
land cultivated upon which to use that water &
Mr. ALFORD. Plenty.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the country below here with
reference to the opportunities to make reservoirs ?
Mr. ALFORD. Yes; all the way to the Missouri River.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the opportunity to store water?
Mr. ALFORD. There is an amount sufficient for more water than I
think can ever be stored.
The CHAIRMAN. I know that, but what is the opportunity for storing
water. They are not storing water away below here, are they 2
Mr. ALFORD. I am not able to say ; I do not think they are.
The CHAIRMAN. We have had some testimony all along the State
with reference to water accumulating in the streams below after
you have taken out all you wanted. Is that true of the Caché la
Poudre? Do you find the water again in the streams from seepage or
underground channels or anything of that kind?
Mr. ALFORD. It appears so in this river.
The CHAIRMAN. How far down is the lowest ditch taken 3
Mr. ALFORD. In this stream, it runs into the Platte at Greeley. If
I recollect correctly, Mr. Nettleton says there are 80 feet of seepage
there.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever paid any attention to storing the
Storm water on ravines where there is considerable water shed, and
Without any running stream in dry weather ?
Mr. ALFORD. I have had no occasion to look at that.
Tººnanzas. The Water of the stream has answered your purpose
SO Íalſ 3
Mr. ALFORD. We sometimes take it out into a depression or lake and
Store it and then take it out lower in another ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, the water of the river.
Mr. ALFORD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you estimate the amount that goes to waste in
this river ?
Mr. ALFORD. I can not say exactly. I have no way of knowing;
Some years We use quite a large proportion of it, and in other years I
do not Uhink that we use a tenth part of it.
Senator JONES. During the irrigating season, do you take it all out
of the river ? +
Mr. ALFORD. Some years we do; other years we do not.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you mean during the irrigating season 2
Mr. ALFORD. I do not think we use a tenth part, taking it in the
Whole irrigating season.
Senator JONES. What proportion of the entire volume of the river
runs during the irrigating season 7
Mr. ALFORD. That season is about from the 15th of May until the
10th or 15th of August.
38.2 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator JONES. Three months. How much water does this river
afford in the other nine months, compared with these three months 3
Mr. ALFORD, Very little. I can not tell exactly. At this season the
river is very low and will keep so until next May.
Senator JONES. And there is no water taken out of it 3
Mr. ALFORD. Only for domestic use.
STATEMENT OF F. J. AMIES, OF FORT COLLINS.
The CHAIRMAN. You have heard the statements of Mr. Alford. Do
you agree with him as to the duty of water in this vicinity ?
Mr. AMIES. Yes. w
The CHAIRMAN. He said he had had no experience in regard to the
duty of water in raising vegetables. Have you made any observations
in that respect 3
Mr. AMIES. None myself. I only know those that have been taken
at the college here—at the experiment station.
º CHAIRMAN. What would be the duty of water in raising vegeta-
€S
Mr. AMIES. The duty of water would be at least 1 foot.
The CHAIRMAN. And you could irrigate so as to raise the different
kinds of vegetables during the whole season with a foot of water ?
Mr. AMIES. Yes; it is more distributed with vegetables than with
grain crops. Grain crops require generally two irrigations.
Senator JONES. How about alfalfa',
Mr. AMIES. That requires one irrigation in the spring and sometimes
tWO. º
The CHAIRMAN. How much water does it take 3
Mr. AMIES. I do uot know.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it the practice here to flood alfalfa fields after
cutting 3
Mr. AMIES. It is customary.
The CHAIRMAN. What would be the amount of water necessary to
irrigate alfalfa with that practice?
Mr. AMIES. It would take about two-thirds of what it would take for
Ordinary crops.
The CHAIRMAN. It would take less than for ordinary crops?
Mr. AMIES. Yes. At each irrigation it would take two-thirds of what
it would take with an ordinary crop of grain.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. How much for the season?
Mr. AMIES. About twice as much.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that a reason why you have to use more water
with vegetables—that you have to irrigate more frequently?
Mr. AMIES. Yes.
STATEMENT OF A. L. EMIGH, OF FORT COLLINS.
The CHAIRMAN. You are deputy water commissioner of this dis-
trict'
Mr. EMIGH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you taken pains to ascertain as nearly as pos-
sible the amount of surplus water that runs away here in the average
ear?
y Mr. EMIGH. I have taken a number of years, SO as to get an average.
I know pretty well what ran to waste this year, and it was under the
a Verage.
LOSS OF CROPS OWING TO THE WANT OF WATER. 383
The CHAIRMAN. This has been a very dry year?
Mr. EMIGH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the whole ran away this year "
Mr. EMIGH. For about ten days there was a surplus. There were
2,000 cubic feet per second for several days. For the balance of the
time, say a week, there were as much as 400 or 500 feet that ran to
WaSte.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the whole amount ran to Waste
probably during the Season 3
Mr. EMIGH. I can not say ; I have not figured that up.
The CHAIRMAN. It would cover considerably more land?
Mr. EMIGH. Yes. There was enough ran to waste this year to irri-
gate (if you saved every inch of it) every square foot of arable land in
the valley.
The CHAIRMAN. More than you have under cultivation ?
Mr. EMIGH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have the crops suffered by reason of not having the
water properly distributed?
Mr. ALFORD. The potatoes and corn have. The early crops have
not.
Senator JONES. What is the discharge of this river by the month 3
Mr. EMIGH. We have a record of it, but it varies very much. We
have nearly 4,000 cubic feet per second as the highest, this year, in one
day. *
The CHAIRMAN. What I want to get at is the flow of the river out-
side of the irrigation season ; what is the usual or normal flow in Sep-
tember say; has it been gauged ?
Mr. EMIGH. Yes. I have not the record, however. About 225 feet
is the usual flow per second in August when it gets down.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be about the usual flow outside of the
irrigating season ?
Mr. EMIGH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. For eight months?
Mr. EMIGH. YeS.
The CHAIRMAN. That would make a total of about 2,000 feet a sec-
ond, for one month's time?
Mr. EMIGH. Yes. To fill all the ditches, if they are all running full,
would take about 2,000 cubic feet per second. The decrees of the court
are for a good deal more, but it actually takes that.
Adjourned.
GREELEY, COLO., September 17, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present, Mr. Stewart (chairman), and Mr. Jones, of Arkansas; also
Director Powell.
STATEMENT OF JOHN L. ROUTT, OF DENVER.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Colorado º
Mr. ROUTT. Fourteen and a half years.
S Tºonanzas. You have been governor of the Territory and of the
State
Mr. ROUTT. I was the last territorial governor and the first State
governor.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation now &
384 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. ROUTT. I am cattle raising and farming. I have mined some.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you paid attention to the production of crops
by irrigation ? If so, state the character of the crops and the quantity
produced of the various cereals and vegetables.
Mr. ROUTT. I have been engaged in farming for the last five years.
I have two ditches on my land; have experimented somewhat with
farming products and have succeeded pretty well in some things. I
have raised three full crops of alfalfa every year but this. The third
Crop this year was a little short for want of water. My ground will
yield about 5% tons to the acre this year, counting the three cuttings.
I have raised corn, from 25 to 50 bushels to the acre, without irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. Was that in the low lands, where there was seep-
age
Mr. ROUTT. It was in made land, the wash from the foot-hills. It was
a level piece of ground with a good deal of sand and lime in it. The
erosion of the rocks made a sediment so that I am able to plow pretty
º and I raise corn in that way. I have to irrigate the oats and the
3,118,118.
º CHAIRMAN. What is the average and what is the best crop of
Oats'
Mr. ROUTT. The best I have been able to raise is 25 bushels to the
acre; the oats weighed 43 pounds to the measured bushel.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the average crop for the State?
Mr. ROUTT. About 40 bushels by weight.
The CHAIRMAN. How about wheat 3
Mr. ROUTT. I am not familiar with the wheat, but I should think the
crop of the State would average 25 to 28 bushels to the acre or some-
where along there, although some extra crops yield over 50 bushels.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you raise vegetables of all kinds here?
Mr. ROUTT. All kinds except the tropical vegetables. We can not
raise tropical vegetables here, but this is a great potato country. It
is also a great country for cabbages, beets, and all the ordinary varie-
ties of vegetables.
The CHAIRMAN. Have there been experiments made in regard to
fruits in different parts of the State? *A
Mr. ROUTT. Yes. -
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the capacity of this country to
grow fruit *
Mr. ROUTT. We are growing very good fruit in Colorado. We raise
excellent apples. This part of the country is not well adapted for
peaches, but almost all other sorts of ordinary fruits grow well here.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you made any experiments to ascertain the
duty of water?
Mr. ROUTT. Yes; but that is pretty hard to explain.
The CHAIRMAN. I mean the amount Of Water necessary to Water
Crops?
%. ROUTT. That depends upon the quality of the land. It will take
double the quantity of water on some kinds of land that it will on others.
A sandy loam that is not so sandy but what it will raise a good Wild
grass will take less water than a clay land. I think it will produce good
crops with one-third less water than clay land. On the clay land it
takes a long time to flow before you get all the land Wet.
The CHAIRMAN. How much does it take any kind of land to get Wet &
Mr. ROUTT. They estimate that 1.45 cubic feet flowing past a given
point per second every day will irrigate 80 acres of land. I do not use
anything near that much water, however, on my land.
THE NECESSITY OF DRAINAGE WITH IRRIGATION. 385
The CHAIRMAN. EIas the irrigation made the land too Wet in any
place”
Mr. ROUTT. You can kill land by too much water just as well as you
can kill it by want of water.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any places in this section of the country
that have been injured by too much water?
Mr. RouTT. Yes; you passed through much land of that kind near
1Fort Collins. They have to ditch the land out now so as to drain it and
take off the surplus water.
The CHAIRMAN. Can it be drained so as to restore it to its original
good quality?
Mr. ROUTT. That I can not tell.
The CHAIRMAN. At the experiment station did you observe where
they had drained the land 3
Mr. ROUTT. Yes, I noticed that; but they have not had a full oppor-
tunity to determine the fact of full restoration. I see no reason, how-
ever, why the land should not be restored, though I can not speak from
actual experience.
STATEMENT OF J. MAX CLARK, OF GREELEY.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. CLARK. I am a farmer.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been farming in this vicinity by irrigation?
Mr. CLARK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given considerable attention to the sub-
ject of irrigation and the use of water 3
Mr. CLARK. I have.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you state what results have been secured here
as to the duty of water ?
Mr. CLARK. We average, I suppose, something like a cubic foot per
second for 60 acres for the season. It varies a little, but I think that
is about the average. It waries with the different soils.
The CHAIRMAN. You reckon that, that cubic foot will do for how
many days 3
Mr. CLARK. For the season through.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you call the season?
Mr. CLARK. About one hundred days.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you require that for all kinds of crops ?
Mr. CLARK. There are some kinds of crops that would require more
and Some that would not need so much. The average of our farmers
grow some alfalfa, wheat, and potatoes. For such crops as we grow
we want water all the time for about one hundred days.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you irrigate every day ?
Mr. CLARK. Pretty nearly every day.
The CHAIRMAN. Not the same land 3
Mr. CLARK. No.
The CHAIRMAN. You change around 3
Mr. CLARK. Yes.
The ºnanzas. How often do you irrigate the same land during a
S03,SOIl . .
Mr. CLARK. As to alfalfa, I would rather water it three or four times
a season. We can not do that, however; we have not enough water.
But We would rather Water it after cutting it in the spring and after the
last cutting in the fall. When I say we use the water continuously, I
138 A L–WOL III—25
386 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
do not mean that we are applying the water every day to the same
Spot. W
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any means of economizining the Water by
running it in pipes or putting some coping on your ditch?
Mr. CLARK. Not here.
The CHAIRMAN. How do you flood the land 3
Mr. CLARK. We flood the entire surface. For potatoes and corn we
run the water down between the rows. We water every row when we
can; when we can not we do less and get a less crop.
The CHAIRMAN. Has any of your land been injured by having Seep-
age water settle upon it 3 -
Mr. CLARK. I do not think the land has been injured.
The CHAIRMAN. Injured for immediate use, I mean.
Mr. CLARK. Yes; we have considerable bodies of land in low places
where the soil is of such quality that it will get wet and Will not dry
itself.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you reclaim that ?
Mr. CLARK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How %
Mr. CLARK. We drain it by ditches.
The CHAIRMAN. Does that restore it?
Mr. CLARK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there a deficiency of water here sometimes?
Mr. CLARK. Yes. º
The CHAIRMAN. Does some water go to waste in the flood time'?
Mr. CLARK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What means, if any, do you take to save the flood
water to use for irrigation ?
Mr. CLARK. We have a few natural depressions in the foot-hills and
in the mountains where we store some of this water in the high Stage,
and use it afterwards, but those places which we can make use of with
the expense which we can afford are not numerous.
The CHAIRMAN. Where you store the water in such places is the
seepage great, or do the places hold the water pretty well ?
Mr. CLARK. The seepage is great, but the water gets back into the
main stream again and there is very little loss, only by evaporation,
which, of course, we might not perceive, because it may be carried off
into Nebraska or Kansas, but all seepage generally returns to the river.
I believe it is estimated that there is not over 15 per cent. Of the Water
that actually dries up in the atmosphere.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there opportunities for saving the flood Water ?
Mr. CLARK. Yes, there is no trouble about that, but all we want is
money. It is too expensive for private enterprise. It is more expensive
than we have been able to accomplish.
Senator JONES. How expensive would it be 3
Air. CLARK. I will make a statement to show you what I think about
it. We have up on the river here a natural depression called Boyd’s
Iake. We wanted very much to make use of that as a reservoir to help
us out. We had no doubt but that we would receive great benefit if
we could use it, but we find on making careful estimates that the attempt
to make proper ditches to that reservoir would cost more money than
the entire capital stock invested in the two ditches that we were pro-
posing to invest in. We have been here nineteen years and this one
reservoir would cost more money than we ever put into our ditches.
The CHAIRMAN. How much is that %
Mr. CLARK. One hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
INSUFFICIENCY OF WATER AND ITS EFFECTS ON CROPS. 387
Senator Jon Es. It would cost that much 3
Mr. CLARK. It would cost just that to do what we were trying to do.
There ought to be two good ditches—one from the Thompson and one
from the Poudre, so that we could take from one or the other as the
water might be found most in either.
The CHAIRMAN. How much water would that reservoir hold that you
wanted to make 3
Mr. CLARK. I believe it was calculated to be three-quarters of a mile
wide and 3 miles long, and would hold about 30 feet of water,
The CHAIRMAN. How much land would that irrigate %
Mr. CLARK. There were different opinions about that, but there is no
doubt that it would be a very great benefit to this whole valley. .We have
completely exhausted the stream, except in the high-flood time, early in
the spring. There is not a year that we have enough water for the
proper growth of crops to get the yield that we ought to get, and that
we know we can have when we have proper water.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it make any difference in the quantity of water
required, whether the amount is properly distributed or not ?
Mr. CLARK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What effect has cultivation on the amount of water
required to produce crops?
Mr. CLARK. Just the difference in quantity required, I can not say:
but we all know that with potatoes and hoed crops, if we stir the ground
up immediately after watering, it is improved.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it with wheat? Did you try summer fallow-
ing here ?
Mr. CLARK. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How does that result 2
Mr. CLARK. The wheat will burn a great deal quicker the next year,
but if it was watered and plowed two or three times the year before,
you will get a large crop. If you put a piece of ground in wheat that
you had in corn the year before and were not able to water it, thor-
oughly, you can trace every spot just where the water was before.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you tried summer-fallowing the ground and
not irrigating it to see what the result would be?
Mr. CLARK. I have, yes. I do not say that is not beneficial to sum-
mer-fallow, but if you let it go a whole season without water, you can not
get a good crop here next year.
Senator JONES. What is an average crop of potatoes here to the
a Cre'.
Mr. CLARK. I suppose about 100 bushels to the acre on an average,
That is not anything like the crop we could obtain, however.
The CHAIRMAN. What is a maximum crop 3
Mr. CLARK. About 400 to 600 bushels.
The CHAIRMAN. You cannot raise potatoes without irrigation?
Mr. CLARK. Not successfully. ©
The CHAIRMAN. How much wheat do you get to the acre on an
average?
Mr. CLARK. I have averaged as much as 25 bushels per acre for nine-
teen years. I do not remember to have ever raised less than 20 bushels
to the acre in a single season.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the largest crop you ever got, taking the
entire crop? -
Mr. CLARK. I have averaged 37; bushels. I have raised 30 bushels,
35 bushels, 32 bushels, and 33 bushels, according to the year.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you raise corn to any great extent?
388 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. \
Mr. CLARK. No.
t º CHAIRMAN. Your principal market crops are wheat and pota-
OeS'
Mr. CLARK. Yes, and alfalfa.
The CHAIRMAN. How much alfalfa do you get to the acre”
Mr. CLARK. From 4 to 5 tons. I have raised 5 tons repeatedly. I
Suppose 4 tons Would be an average crop.
STATEMENT OF BENJAMIN H. EATON, OF GREELEY.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been governor of this State?
Mr. EATON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. We would like to have you give us something of the
history of the colony of Greeley and your experience with it.
Mr. EATON. In 1869 I saw an article in the New York Tribune, in-
viting people to meet Mr. M. C. Meeker, to form a colony to come
to the frontier country, cut loose from the evils of eastern civilization
and locate on the arid plains or in a new country and start a pure and
holy colony, so to speak. I was rafting on the river, the Caché la Pou-
dre, and I immediately wrote to Mr. Meeker that here was the place. I
saw him at Evans four months afterwards and he said, “You have
helped to get us here and we want you to join us and our colony.” I
did so. So I am one of the original colonists.
The colony was located here on a barren plain or cactus bed in a very
dry spring of 1870. There was not then a house or a building or any-
thing of that kind here. The first season was a very unpromising one. At
that time no one in this section of country thought that there was any
good land here except the land along the river, watered by capillary
attraction. People had great hesitancy about farming here because
they had no faith in the soil. In fact, as just stated, it was a new thing.
There was no upland farmed.
This Greeley colony was the first pioneer to take a hold of the uplands
or cactus-bed. Hundreds and perhaps thousands of people came here,
but very few remained. They came from all over the United States,
especially from the town portion, of different trades and different pro-
fessions. There was not very much to be seen in the prospects of the
soil.
I, myself, had not faith enough in it to take a claim, but as I lived
up the river, I took interest in it and watched it. The second year
there was a little plant food put in the soil. It was all absorbed and
they were able to raise nothing ,but they did better the third year. If a
friend came to the house and asked me how much faith I had in these
uplands, I would turn the question a little and would not like to tell
him. Next year, the land was all taken up. Enough people remained
that had faith in it, and altogether it made a colony. At that time
there was but very little water in the river late in the season. This
Greeley canal irrigated, I think, some 4,500 acres the first year.
Senator JONES. Did they begin irrigation at Once when they came
here *
Mr. EATON. Yes.
Senator JONES. You have not made any statement about that yet.
State what was done. -
Mr. EATON. They laid off a ditch and commenced to construct it, and
as fast as it was constructed they turned the Water in.
Senator JONES. These were irrigated lands that you said made poor
crops the first year and did better the next year }
WASTE OF WATER FROM WANT OF STORAGE MEANS 389
Mr. EATON. Yes. When I speak of high lands, I mean lands that
showed no signs of vegitation except the Cactus or something of that
kind. At that time there was about 4,500 acres irrigated, I believe,
under this colony ditch, what we now call the “Caché la Poudre canal,
number two.” They made that 4 feet deep and 2 feet wide, I think, at
the head. It ran out to the railroad, some 24 miles. There it was a lit-
tle ditch, but next year they enlarged it, and now it is 25 feet wide and
6 feet deep, owing to the natural wear of the ditch and the crooked
places having been made straight. It flows now, perhaps, ten or fifteen
times the water it did the first year. That ditch has been extended
every year. That land has become wet by soakage. The land is now
being drained.
The extent to which we can irrigate here is not determined, and will
not be in our time. The water is flowing out all the time. By the res-
ervoirs in the mountains, we are able to save a large amount of this
water that in former times ran down stream. Some ditches take it all,
and others are imperfect and do not take it all, but it does not go very
far before it gets back into the river again. There are many depressions
in the valley, like Boyd's Lake, that was mentioned, that could be made
into good reservoirs. But that is expensive, and the people are not
rich. Many of them would not have staid here if they could have got
away. It was a matter of necessity for them to stay, though they do
not talk that way now. They are now Willing to stay. Much more
water could be got if we had help. The snow-fall has not been so
heavy as usual this last year. There were fourteen or fifteen days last
year in which, if we had the water stored that went to waste, we would
have Saved several hundred thousand dollars.
The CHAIRMAN. In a single year. 3
Mr. EATON. In that single year. But at other times the stream
would flow the amount of water that it has flowed this year.
The CHAIRMAN. And ten times the amount of water that was used ?
Mr. EATON. Yes. This river has been flowing so full sometimes that
you could not tell where the channel was because of the overflow. It
has 16 feet of a fall from here to Fort Collins, and 25 from there to the
mountains. Water that falls like that does not pay much attention to
a channel.
The CHAIRMAN. Has the country been surveyed to see what could
be done 3
Mr. EATON. No, I think not ; only by slight individual enterprise.
The CHAIRMAN. Would a survey be of benefit to you?
Mr. EATON. It does not require much to know that an immense
amount of good can be done if we have reservoirs or ditches. Every
man can see the depressions,
The CHAIRMAN. How many people are there, do you suppose, in the
east, that believe anything in it at all 2 -
Mr. EATON. Seeing is believing; all believe it who see it.
The CHAIRMAN. The committee desires to ascertain facts and report .
to Congress. We have not expressed any opinion as to what will be
done, and it is improper for us to do so. There will not be much done
until all the people understand it as the people of the West do. We are
trying to get at the facts, as to what kind of country you have, and as
to What can be produced, and what people can do if they come here.
To what extent then could the farming land be increased if water were
properly used from this river ?
Mr. EATON. You would have to limit the time in order that I might
answer that question properly. It will depend on the winters and the
390 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
depth of snow. Large ditches could be constructed to use when water
is high; and they would make water available for the other seasons. It
is impossible to say how much exactly could be done. Everything de-
pends on moisture. There are large ditches on the flat that are caused
by Seepage and overflow.
. The CHAIRMAN. Can you say generally that it is possible to largely
increase the irrigation by reservoir 3
Mr. EATON. Yes, that could be undoubtedly done.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, the opportunities for making new homes, even
* this vicinity, where you had early irrigation, are not exhausted at
all
Mr. EATON. By no means. New homes are being made all the time,
and ditches are being constructed, but for the last two years ditches
have been constructed and preparations made to receive the water
more rapidly than the water has been available.
The CHAIRMAN. More rapidly than water has been increased by stor.
age or other development.
Mr. EATON. Yes. There is an excellent opportunity for making a
reservoir on Chamber's Lake, up in the mountains, and many others are
available. You can not tell how much can be done, because past sea-
Sons are not fair samples. *
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of this as a good country to live
in, with irrigation ?
Mr. EATON. It is the best country I know of.
The CHAIRMAN. Why is it best ?
Mr. EATON. We have a great deal of sunshine. Many people do not
think that that is much of an advantage, but it is an advantage in bar-
vesting crops. We harvested our crops this year without losing a
pound, I might say, by “must.” In many years, east of here, the crops
are destroyed in the harvest season.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it as to the certainty of crops if you have
irrigation ?
Mr. EATON, With irrigation crops are certain.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you repeat the same crops on the same land 3
Mr. EATON. We have done so, but it has not been good. We are
rotating now.
The CHAIRMAN. Does land grow better or poorer each year?
Mr. EATON. It grows a little poorer. The lands have been farmed
here for twenty years and we raised very good crops last year. I have
heard people say that they had 40 bushels of wheat to the acre, but it
was on new land.
The CHAIRMAN. As to alfalfa, does the crop increase or decrease year
by year?
Mr. EATON. There is one place that has been cut forty-four times,
that is, three times a year for fifteen years. This year it is as good as
in any former year.
The CHAIRMAN. You say that alfalfa is a great fertilizer?
Mr. EATON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What crops do best immediately after alfalfa 3
Mr. EATON. Wheat and potatoes. Some people put in potatoes and
some put in wheat. Alfalfa roots are very hard to plow up, but some
find it best to plow them up and put in wheat. That saves them from
contending with the roots, with the stubs that have not been thoroughly
cut off.
Senator JONES. Is there any trouble in destroying alfalfa 7
Mr. EATON. It is very hard to plow.
º
THE GREELEY UNION COLONY AND ITS FOUNDERS. 391
Senator Jon Es. But after the first plowing is there any trouble 3
Mr. EATON. No ; it decays at once.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you ever try destroying it by flooding it
Mr. EATON. No ; I have heard of people flooding it late in the fall, at
a time when we do not have much water. Hard freezing will kill it,
but I have never tried it. We are not trying very hard to kill alfalfa.
The CHAIRMAN. What use do you make of it *
Mr. EATON. It is a good forage plant and is fed to cattle and Sheep
for fattening purposes.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you feed it to hogs?
Mr. EATON. I have heard of hogs getting fat lying around about it,
but I have never seen them do it. It is a good feed for hogs, but does
not make them very fat. I ought to say, perhaps, that irrigation is a
wonderful success in this country and community.
The CHAIRMAN. You have a fine country out here?
Mr. EATON. Yes; the people are doing pretty well and are putting
more paint on their houses.
The CHAIRMAN. They are getting into a little better financial condi-
tion each year?
Mr. EATON. Yes, I think so.
STATEMENT OF DAVID BOYD, OF GREELEY.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation?
Mr. BOYD. I am a farmer.
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside?
Mr. BOYD. In Greeley, sometimes, and sometimes on my farm be-
tween here and Eaton. My family live in Greeley and I live there
Sometimes.
The CHAIRMAN. You are farming here by means of irrigation ?
Mr. BOYD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You have given some attention to the subject 3
Mr. Boy D. Yes; I have been here since 1870 and had control of this
canal when it was first built.
The CHAIRMAN. You are one of the original Greeley party?
Mr. BOYD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Give us some of your experience as one member of
that colony.
Mr. Boy D. I would say, as one differing in view from Governor
Eaton, that I did not quite burn my ships when I came here, Neither
did I put all my cargo in one ship. I am Scotch-Irish, and proceed
cautiously. I did not put all my money in here. I was trying an experi-
ment. I have been informing myself recently in regard to the statistics
of irrigation in this irrigation division, and also in the Poudre. I would
say that when we came here first, which was in 1870, a corporation was
formed according to the laws of Colorado on the 15th of April of that
year. The officers of the colony issued a circular stating that they pro-
posed building four canals, which were to cost, according to estimate,
20,000 for the four. This was information for the colonists at large.
Only the second and third canals were ever taken out by the colony. No.
3 was built first, in the spring of 1870, and it cost, on first construction,
$6,000. We found that it was utterly insignificant and utterly useless
for our purposes. We put in 200 acres. I know exactly what was put
in because I managed, or rather mismanaged, the canal for the first
year. An enlargement had to be made. All the land was put in town
392 IRRIGATION AND it ECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
N
lots and everything. It was a scarce year for water. The ditch was
poorly constructed. In points it would carry much water, and in points
it Would not carry any. It was made zigzag. The engineer who did it
Was one who had run ditches in mountains, and of course he must fol.
low every acute angle. We enlarged that the next year at a cost of
$5,000 more. This ditch has cost us $25,000 and irrigates about 4,000
acres of land.
In regard to ditch No. 2, which is across the river; that cost on first
Construction $27,000. Two thousand acres were put under that canal.
A large part of that went under for want of water, because the canal
Was poorly constructed. My friend Max Clark put in 80 acres and lost
it all. Then we had to make another enlargement. We made alto-
gether three enlargements, costing us $60,000. This was done by the
colony. It was turned over to the farmers in 1887. They have spent
Since that time $25,000, making the total cost of canal No. 2 $112,000.
I am sure of the figures because I have been over the colony books.
They never constructed ditch No. 1. A portion of the land which was
to be covered by it had a ditch built by the Larimer & Weld Company.
Senator JONES. How much land is irrigated by canal No. 2% !
Mr. BOYD. About 25,000 acres. There are one hundred and twenty
80-acre water-rights (or the equivalent thereto) in it. The actual cost
is $350 per 80-acre water-right, while in the Larimer & Weld, above it,
each water-right costs $1,200. We found that a cubic foot of water per
Second would irrigate about 65 acres.
Canal No. 4, which used to come out at Big Thompson, and covered
the land South and west of town, was not constructed by the colony, but
by Captain MacKenzie, and is now owned by an English company. It
cost $50,000. So that those four canals, which the colonists expected
to build for $20,000, actually cost $400,000.
Senator JONES. How much land is irrigated by canal No. 4, which,
you say, cost $50,000?
Mr. BOYD. I have not looked over the statistics. I can not give the
figures.
Senator JONES. What was the total cost of canal No. 1 ?
Mr. BOYD. The total cost of that, or of the two canals covering the
same land, would be about $200,000.
Senator JONES. How much land is irrigated by that?
Mr. BOYD. Twenty-seven thousand acres are now irrigated by the
Larimer & Weld, which is part of the land that would be covered by
No. 1. It covers, say, one-half, and we may safely assume that the La-
rimer County ditch, still above, and covering land that would have
been covered by No. 1, will irrigate the same area.
Senator JONES. Twenty-seven thousand more ?
Mr. BOYD. Yes.
Senator JONES. That makes 54,000 acres, then, that you say are cov-
ered by a ditch that cost $50,000.
Mr. BOYD. Yes.
Senator JONES. This is what is embraced in what was the original
colony ditch No. 1 %
Mr. BOYD. Yes. *
The CHAIRMAN. Have you enumerated all the ditches 3
Mr. BOYD. These are the four ditches that were proposed.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there others ?
Mr. BOYD. There are some 50 ditches from the Caché la Poudre.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know the expense of constructing all those ?
Mr. BOYD. No ; I can say, however, that the two canals, the Union
COST OF DITCHES IN FIRST IRRIGATION COLONY. 393
colony, and the Larimer & Weld, covers about as much land as all the
rest; they being all small ditches.
The CHAIRMAN. How much do they irrigate 3
Mr. Boy D. Fifty-two thousand acres (that is, 27,000 and 25,000). Of
course these figures are approximate. The whole area, as estimated by
the commissioner, of all the canals taken out of the Poudre (which is
district No. 3) is 108,000 acres.
The OHAIRMAN. Has there been any estimate of the entire cost of
these ?
Mr. Boy D. No; I have made no estimate. I could only do it approx-
imately.
Tºonammas. How much did the irrigation cost for the 52,000
acres that you irrigate; did it cost $400,000?
Mr. Boy D. No ; these 52,000 are included in our No. 2, and the Ilar-
imer & Weld. The cost of those would be $100,000 for the Larimer &
Weld, and $112,000 for our No. 2.
The CHAIRMAN, That is $212,000 for the 52,000 acres 3
Mr. BOYD, Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be a little over $4 an acre 2
Mr. BOYD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is $4 an acre about the cost of irrigation here ?
Mr. BOYD. That depends on whether you build, yourself, or whether
you buy the water.
The CHAIRMAN. I mean the actual cost of the construction of the
ditches.
Mr. BOYD. It waries very much.
The CHAIRMAN. I know that, but I mean the average 3
Mr. BOYD. Take No. 3, which supplies the town; that is to say, 4,000
acres. That cost $25,000.
Senator JONES. That is a little over $6 an acre.
Senator TELLER. You must remember that those ditches were excep-
tionally cheap ditches, this valley being an easy Valley to irrigate.
The CHAIRMAN. I want to know the cost of construction of ditches
in this valley.
Mr. Boy D. No. 3 cost $25,000 and irrigates 4,000 acres. No. 2 cost
$112,000 and irrigates 25,000 acres. The Larimer & Weld cost $100,-
000 and irrigates 27,000 acres. No. 4 cost $50,000, and I do not know
how much that irrigates.
The CHAIRMAN. That is pretty cheap irrigating.
Senator TELLER. I would not like the committee to have an idea that
that is the average cost of irrigating here. This is a peculiarly happy
valley in regard to the cost of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say, Mr. Boyd, as to the feasibility of
increasing the acreage of irrigated land here 3
Mr. BOYD. In my opinion, what we need irrigation for is to finish
crops that are under the ditch. For instance, we lose our potato crop
nearly every year because of the shortage of water at the proper time.
In regard to the amount of Water that comes over this weir, I think the
greatest amount of water that ever came over the weir at the caſion was
7,000 cubic feet per second. In 1888 the greatest quantity that came
over it was 1,700 feet per second. That seemed to be sufficient for the
amount of land, the 108,000 acres irrigated, and if you divide the 108,000
by 1,700 you will get somewhere about 60 acres as the “duty” of water,
as it is called. If that had continued for any length of time we would
have been all right, and would have saved our crops, but it soon fell.
There was only one week when the ditches were dry.
394 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
The CHAIRMAN, You think if the water were stored and economically
used you could prevent all failure of crops? *.
Mr. BOYD. Yes. We are especially devoted to the cultivation of po-
tatoes. Last year we lost a large part of the crop because we had no
late Water. Late water is important because we can not raise an early
Crop of potatoes here. If we supply water early to them it makes them
“Set ’’ and goes to producing tubers at a time when the soil is hot and
dry. So we must have late water for potatoes. In 1877 we shipped
2,000 car loads of potatoes from Greeley. We had late water that year.
Last year we shipped less than 1,500 car loads, because of the shortage
of water. This year we will ship less.
The CHAIRMAN. How much would it enhance the average value of
the irrigated land (supposing there are 108,000 acres of such land in the
whole valley) to have a sufficient supply of water each year to mature
the crops. -
Mr. BOYD. I can best answer that by telling you what people are do-
ing in order to get this late supply. There is a party here who has put
in a pump to pump water for irrigating purposes. It costs him $14 a
day to run that pump and he pumps a water right and a half. The
question arises, does it pay him # It is said that he will have 100 sacks
to the acre on 120 acres. That will be 12,000 sacks of potatoes, where
he probably would not otherwise have had 12 sacks to the acre. So it
pays him to have a pump at a cost of $14 a day, besides $3 a day for
coal, and a man night and day to run it.
Senator TELLER. How much does it cost him a day for the Water
which he gets through pumping?
Mr. BOYD. He irrigates about 10 acres from his pump. If that be
considered in comparison with what our water costs us, it would be
cheap.
Senator JONES. Did I understand you awhile ago to say that if reser-
voirs were provided, so as to save the water from going to waste in this
river, there would be only about water enough to make a certainty of
the crops now under cultivation ?
Mr. Boy D. That would depend greatly on the year and on the size
of the reservoir.
Senator JONES. Take the average year and suppose there were reser-
voirs enough to hold the excess of Water.
Mr. BOYD. There have been two years when there was very little to
Spare.
Senator JONES. They are exceptional perhaps.
Mr. BOYD. Yes. *
Senator JONES. I was speaking of the average year and the Ordinary
flow of water.
Mr. BOYD. Take this year, which may be considered an average year,
there might be a surplus of 1,000 feet per second.
Senator JONES. Did I understand you to say that that would be about
the utmost that could be expected from storage of water on river ?
Mr. Boy D. Yes; I really think it would be very unsafe for parties to
build reservoirs.
Senator JoWEs. This seems to be very vague and indefinite informa-
tion; one man stated here that there was not more than one-tenth of
the water used.
Senator TELLER. That was in Some years.
Mr. Boy D. I think 7,000 feet per second is the maximum that went
down since Mr. Nettleton put in his gauge, and by decree of the Court
we have appropriated 4,632 cubic feet per Second.
BRINGING WATER FROM THE EARTH BY PUMPING. 395
Senator TELLER. But not every year.
Senator JONEs. He meant that it was in the exceptional year that
they used only one-tenth of the Water.
Senator TELLER. He meant that some years there would be ten times
as much water running in the streams as compared with other years.
Mr. Boy D. Governor Eaton, I suppose, was thinking of a year when
there was not any such large area or ditch capacity as we have now.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the land require more irrigation after it has
been irrigated a few years?
Mr. Boy D. It requires much less; depending, however, largely, on
the character of the subsoil. If gravel is near, and the Water is Scarce,
there seems to be no particular difference—one year is as good as
another.
The CHAIRMAN. Could you not increase the water very much by
seepage from lands that have received too much water 3
Mr. BOYD. Yes, we have improved the situation by drainage. There
are pipes being arranged for that now.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the names of those now using the pump 3
Mr. BOYD. Hurdle & Wilson.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE H. WEST, OF GREELEY.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you the manager of the concern here which has
a new invention—that of a pump for irrigation?
Mr. WEST. YeS. *
The CBAIRMAN. What are the general characteristics of the pump 3
Mr. WEST. It is what is called a steam vacuum pump. It lifts the
water on a short lift up to say 24 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Being governed by what ?
Mr. WEST. By the weight of the atmosphere producing a vacum.
The CHAIRMAN. Will 24 feet operate in this altitude as much as that ?
Mr. WEST. About as much as that.
The CHAIRMAN. By actual experiment here you can operate the suc-
tion about 24 feet?
Mr. WEST. About 22 to the discharge and 24 to the top of the cyl-
inders.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the virtues of the pump in the way of
cheapness, etc.
Mr. WEST. It is operated very economically. The ordinary pump
lifts the water against the weight of the atmosphere, while this is
operated by the weight of the atmosphere.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you put it in actual operation anywhere?
Mr. WEST. Yes, we have quite a number of them in use on ranches
in northern Colorado.
The CHAIRMAN. How much does it cost to elevate to a height of, say,
22 feet a cubic foot per second & What is the expense of the pump and
what does it cost to operate it 3
Mr. WEST. The entire plant—pump, boiler, and steam pipes, com-
plete—cost, set up on the ranch, is $700. *
The CHAIRMAN. That is, to elevate a cubic foot per second to a height
of 22 feet, 3
Mr. WEST. Yes. The expense of fuel would be 1 ton of slack coal in
three days' continuous pumping of twelve hours a day.
The CHAIRMAN. And for one hundred days (which would be the irri.
gating season) it will therefore be 33 tons of coal? -
396 IRRIGATION AND RECILAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. WEST. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the price of coal here 7
Mr. WEST. Slack coal costs here, laid down, about $1.50 a ton.
The CHAIRMAN. Would hard coal give better service
Mr. WEST. Yes, but not with the same economy in results of water.
The CHAIRMAN. So that about $40 or $50 worth of coal would last a
SeaSon. Then what would it cost for attendance %
Mr. WEST. The same man can attend to the boiler who attends to the
irrigation. That depends however on the size of the plant and the
kind of boiler used.
The CHAIRMAN. I want to get it down to the cubic foot per second
for 60 acres 3
Mr. WEST. I think it would be fair to count $1 a day perhaps for at
tendance. -
The CHAIRMAN. That would be $100 for the irrigating season 3
Mr. WEST. For one hundred days, yes.
* CHAIRMAN. Then about $150 would be the expense for the sea-
SOI]
Mr. WEST. YeS.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be about $3 an acre ?
Mr. WEST. It is about $2 an acre as I have figured it out.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, if you have to elevate it only 22 feet. You
could pot Operate it except to the extent of the weight of the atmos-
phere
Mr. WEST. We have another pump on the same principle, which ele-
Vates the water above the pump, by Steam pressure—a combined lift
and force pump. We can lift the water above the pump in that case
170 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. What would be the expense of raising it 170 feet?
Mr. WEST. We have not made any practical tests this year on that.
The CHAIRMAN. Have the farmers resorted to this method of pro-
curing water to any considerable extent in Colorado &
Mr. WEST. It was introduced late this season. I think there are
about thirty-five plants in operation, enough to test the water supply
and also the question of economy.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you collect the facts as to the actual operation
of the different plants and forward them to the committee ?
Mr. WEST. I will do so.
Senator TELLER. You might state where you get this water.
Mr. WEST. We have under Greeley 46 feet of gravel stratum filled
with water. . We have first 4 to 6 feet of surface drift or soil, and be-
low that comes this gravel filled with water, which extends down 46
feet farther to bed rock. On the Platte River, east of here, we have
84 feet of that gravel stratum filled with water.
The CHAIRMAN. What depth is there to it? t
Mr. WEST. About the same depth, but the top soil may be a little
lighter.
*. CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the country below here, in
Nebraska, and do you know how deep the water is below the surface
there 7 .
Mr. WEST. That varies according to the distance back from the
streams. We find that in many of these dry creeks or arroyos there is
water at a slight depth and also in the flats. At Crow Creek, 40 to 45
miles northeast of here, where there is only a little Water in places
coming to the surface, they find large quantities of water there at from
4 to 15 feet below the surface over a large area.
THE AREAS THAT ARE AND CAN BE IRRIGATED. 397
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any information as to how it is in Ne-
braska, on the Platte?
Mr. WEST. It is the same all along the Republican Valley. As you
get on the divide or high land the condition seems to be that you get
usually into water, although it is not so in all cases.
Senator JONES. You say that a $700 pump discharges about a cubic
foot a second?
Mr. WEST. Yes. -
Senator JONES. What is the size of the discharge-pipe?
Mr. WEST. The pump I speak of discharges right at the box.
Senator JONES. Have you measured the discharge capacity of the
pumps ?
Mr. WEST. Yes.
Senator TELLER. You mean to say, I suppose, that these people using
the pumps are getting this subterranean water 3
Mr. WEST. This gravelis very coarse, in places as large as your fist.
That lies together irregularly, and there are great spaces or cavities be-
tween the pieces. As we pump the tendency is to throw this stuff out
and open up great channels, and then there is a rush in of water. On
the Albert Howard well, which is 70 feet deep and gives 22 feet of wa-
ter for irrigation, there are two pumps for the 200 acres, and the water
is lowered about ll feet in pumping twelve hours per day. That leaves
11 feet to draw on. The amount of water underneath in these gravel
beds seems to be enormous. Where we have found 12 feet of water
in that stratum We have not put in any pumps yet that have pumped
it dry. At Platteville, about 20 miles south of here, they have 60 feet
of that gravel stratum, and Inearer to Denver they have 50 or 55 feet in
different locations. *
The CHAIRMAN. If you will in condensed form give the results of
your operations, the cost, and the amount of land irrigated, and also any
information you may have as to Water that is underground, down about
the Platte, the Arkansas, or any other stream, we would be glad to
have that information.
Mr. WEST. There are one or two other facts I would like to state
concisely. One is that we have sold a number of those pumps for
places where the streams run very sluggishly (2 to 4 feet per mile) and
where it is impossible to take out ditches. In other cases, for instance
in Bear River, in Routt County, the condition there is that of a great
difference (12 feet) between high water and low water in the streams.
There the Valleys are narrow and the people are not able to take out
large ditches. For that reason their ditches are too small and are
built for high Water. When that Water drops, their ditches are left
dry, and their crops have to dry up for want of water. That is the
condition of many localities, particularly in the parks and mountains.
On Bear River they have coal that they can put right into a wagon with-
out any cost of hauling.
The CHAIRMAN. In your Statement give us an explanation of
raising of the Water up from a distance of 4 or 5 feet. It may be
useful.
Mr. WEST. You mean the fuel expense for different elevations?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
Mr. WEST. Yes. It might be well for me to state also that we have
had letters from Arizona, New Mexico, western Kansas, western Texas,
Utah, Montana, and elsewhere, giving indications that there are locali.
tles Where it is impossible to irrigate except by raising the water by
398 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
ºal power, and where they have regular rivers of water under
ground.
The CHAIRMAN. You can condense all of that information that will
be of use. When received it will be placed in evidence.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF GEORGE H. WEST.
In Greeley we have given much attention this season to elevating the
underground water to the surface for irrigation. This idea had its in-
ception in the lack of water to mature our crops under the old irrigating-
Canals in this section. In the year 1888 the loss on the potato crop trib-
utary to this city was estimated at $250,000, this year at $300,000, from
lack of water solely, the crop being perhaps three-fourths made and
then burned up. This loss occurred with an abundant supply of water
under every ranch in the valley at from 4 to 30 feet from the surface
in coarse gravel. Much study has been given to this matter and the ma-
Chinery used is cheap, simple, durable, and economical. The pumps com-
monly used in Colorado are of the class called steam vacuum pumps,
operated with Steam-boilers, requiring no engine, and lifting the water
by Vacuum or atmospheric pressure through automatic condensation of
steam in the two pump cylinders alternately. They are of two kinds,
one making the atmospheric lift only, say, 22 feet here, and the other
the same lift of Water into the pump, thence forcing it above 150
feet higher, by steam-pressure in the cylinder. Being without plungers
or pistons, muddy water, sand, and gravel do not interfere with their .
operation. On a simple vacuum lift they can be operated with less than
1 pound steam-pressure and discharge their nominal capacity with 5
to 10 pounds Steam-pressure and on a lift of only 4 to 12 feet with
from 25 to 30 pounds steam-pressure the discharge is about doubled.
Figuring on a pump of nominal capacity of 450 gallons a minutes, being
1 cubic feet per second, or 50 miners' inches, the theoretical discharge
is as follows: One pound of coal in an average boiler should convert 1
gallon of water into steam. Water at the altitude of Greeley—4,778
feet—is converted into steam at about 202 degrees. Steam occupies
here relatively 1,993 times the space of water. Allowing 493 parts steam
for waste, and also that the water displaces the steam in the cylinders
space for space, we should get 1,500 gallons of water for every pound
of coal used and every gallon of water converted into steam. In actual
practice we have done about one-half of this, discharging 1 cubic foot of
water per second 20 feet high with 35 to 40 pounds of good soft coal
per hour. The ranchmen in actual use, often use consume 50 per cent.
more coal than this.
The accompanying sketch (No. 1) is a section (one-half) of a deep .
well (Albert Howard's) on the bluff north of this city. There are two
pumps in this well, set on top of the curb just above the water level,
Both operated by one steam boiler. Mr. Howard has irrigated 200
acres of land with this plant at an expense of $2 per acre for fuel
and labor for the season’s irrigation. This well is 68 feet deep, 46 feet
from the surface of ground to water, and with 22 feet depth of water.
The discharge is 2 feet above the surface of the ground. These pumps,
operated twelve hours per day continuously, lower the water 11 feet,
and the average lift is 53% feet. A 60-horse-power horizontial steam
boiler is used, consuming about 14 tons of inferior slack coal in twelve
hours, costing $1.50 per ton. The water-bearing strata is coarse gravel.
These pumps discharge about 1,400 gallons per minute, being about 3
399
THE VACUUM PUMP As USED FOR IRRIGATION.
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138 A L–VOL. III—26

402 IIRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
cubic feet of water per second, or 150 miner's inches, under a 4-inch
head of pressure. These pumps will deliver about one-half more water
on a 22-foot lift. The entire cost of this pumping plant was less than
sº Mr. Howard’s experiment was the pioneer one in the United
tates.
A simple steam vacuum pump on the Robert Boyd ranch near this
city is shown by sketch No. 3. It has a normal capacity of 500 gallons
discharge per minute on a 20-foot lift. This pump is elevating seepage
water 14 feet high from the Cache-la-Poudre River through tiling laid
in a trench dug horizontally into the bank some 20 feet. One 14-horse-
power vertical steam boiler is used, and with 30 pounds pressure the
pump discharges about 1,000 gallons of water per minute, being about
24 cubic feet per second, or 110 miner's inches. One ton of slack coal
is used in three days’ pumping of twelve hours per day. A boy runs
the plant. More water could be furnished by this pump than was re-
Quired for the area cultivated. The expense for fuel and labor was 50
cents per acre for each irrigation. The entire cost of the plant was
$700, and the pump will irrigate 80 acres of land on a 20-foot lift.
The cost of a similar complete plant for irrigating 160 acres would be
$1,000, and for 320 acres $1,200. The price of these plants and the
cost of fuel and care per acre decrease rapidly as the acreage increases.
In a general Way, complete pumping plants of this kind for large tracts
of land would cost $3 to $5 per acre. When the land is in small tracts,
the best results would be obtained by co-operation in the use of large
plants. The form of wells constructed for use of these pumps is shown
in sketch No. 2.
The valleys of Colorado on the eastern plateau have all been formed
by denudation ; the streams from the mountains have left on the bed
rock deposits of sand and gravel filled with water, varying in thick-
ness from a few inches to 64 feet at Eaton, Colo. This bed of water-
bearing sand and gravel in the Cache-la-Poudre Valley extends from
Greeley to the foot of Chalk Bluffs, 39 miles north and 1,220 feet
higher. The sketch presented illustrated this. Near the foot-hills
large bowlders lie next the bed-rock, and farther east on the plains their
size decreases regularly to large stones, coarse gravel and sand, all
filled with water. From the surface to bed rock the conditions are re-
versed, and below the soil we reach quicksand or sand, then fine gravel,
coarse gravel, large stones, etc. Water is usually found on the plateau
east of the mountains as soon as the gravel is reached, and back from
the rivers for miles in the valleys water is usually found beneath the
surface at the same level as in the surface streams. The water-bear-
ing strata near the surface is comparatively narrow at the foot-hills,
but widens out many miles as we reach the Valleys, where the surface
streams have less fall to the mile. Since the construction and use of
irrigation ditches the amount of water in the gravel strata has greatly
increased, often standing much higher than the level of water in the
natural streams, and coming to the surface as seepage in lakes and
onds.
p The distance from the surface to the subterreanean water varies from
a few feet to more than 50 feet in the Valleys of the Cache-la-Poudre,
South Platte, and Big Thompson Rivers and their tributaries. At
Greeley, in the river valley proper, water is found from 4 to 16 feet
from the surface, and the water-bearing gravel is 44 feet thick; at
Eaton, 8 miles north this water strata is 20 to 25 feet from the surface
and is 64 feet in depth ; at Pierce, 10 miles still farther north, this water
strata is 30 feet from the surface, and continuing 20 miles again north,
LOSS OF WATER IN CHANNELS OF IRRIGATION. 403
to the Maynard Flats, near Carr station, water is but 8 feet from the
surface, in gravel. The depth of the water-bearing strata in the latter
locations have not been determined. Water is found also in gravel on
Crow Creek and Little Crow flats, 40 to 50 miles northeast from
Greeley, at varying depths from 4 to 20 feet, in large quantities. At
Denver, bed rock comes to within a few feet of the surface, and good
results have not been obtained; but large amounts of water are found
in the sands of Cherry Creek and in the valleys adjacent thereto.
North from Denver, along the South Platte Valley, water is found at
varying depths from 8 to 30 feet, and the water-bearing gravel is 50
feet thick at Brighton, 55 feet at Fort Lupton, 60 feet at Platteville,
and 86 feet at Evans; 100 miles still east, at Sterling, Colo., water is 4
to 20 feet from the surface, in sand and gravel. The gravel there is
much smaller than at other localities named, and there is more quick-
Sand above it.
The amount of water that may be stored in a cubic foot of sand or
gravel, when fully saturated, has been ascertained by careful experi-
ment to be as follows: Fine sand 2 gallons, coarse sand 24 gallons,
sand and fine gravel 3 gallons, coarse gravel and Small Stones the size
of hen's eggs 3.6 gallons. As a cubic foot contains 7.5 American gal-
lons, it will be seen that very large gravel beds contain fully one-half
water. Water is found in all the dry creeks and the valleys adjacent
thereto in northern Colorado, east of the mountains, at varying depths
from 2 to 20 feet. Actual tests have been made verifying this matter
on Lone Tree, Big Crow, Little Crow, Wild Cat, Pawnee, Lewis, and
Cedar Creeks north of the South Platte River, and on Cherry
Creek, Sand Creek, Lost Creek, Box Elder, Kiowa, Bijou, Big Beaver,
and Little Beaver south of this river. As investigation goes on, the
area of land known to have underground reservoirs of water at a nom-
inal depth from the surface is largely increased.
In twenty counties in Colorado, lying east of the base line, which
runs through Pueblo, there are some 25,000,000 acres of land. Fully
20,000,000 acres of this is suitable for cultivation, and probably one-
fourth of this, or 5,000,000 acres, are underlaid with an ample water
supply near the surface, available for use for irrigation by mechanical
power—that by lifting or pumping.
A major part of the water from the eastern slope of the mountains,
in the South Platte River and its tributaries, taken for irrigation, is
used west of this line. From a residence in this locality of seventeen
years, and a close connection practically with the operation of ten large
irrigating ditches, I believe there is a loss of fully 40 per cent. of the
water between the heads of irrigation canals and the application of the
water to the lands at varying distances along the line of distribution.
The Colorado State engineer, it is understood, testified in Denver that
there was in use for this season's irrigation about 1 cubic foot of water
per second for each 342 acres of land cultivated in the State—about
one-fourth the amount actually needed. This accounts for the large loss
in the later crops of potatoes, alfalfa, etc. If all the water in the nat-
ural Streams on the eastern slope of the mountains in Colorado be stored
in reservoirs and used in this State, it will no more than fairly irrigate
the land lying under the present irrigating canals, as fully one half the
land under said canals in the State is not in cultivation at the present
time. Attention is called to the testimony given as to the condition of
the water Supply in the lower part of the Rio Grande and Rio Pecos,
also in the lower Arkansas Valley. The same condition exists, and to
a greater degree, in the lower South Platte Valley, where a greater de-
404 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Velopment has been made in farming by irrigation. This condition of
a Shortage of water supply in the lower valleys increases every year
even with the construction of reservoirs by private capital each season.
Careful investigation in Arapahoe and Jefferson Counties indicate
that as much more land as is now cultivated can be watered by mechan-
ical power. The average depth to water on the bottom-lands is about 8
feet; On Second bottom-lands 20 feet, and the supply seems inexhaust-
ible. In dry gulches and sand creeks the depth to water is from 2 to 12
feet. Lump coal, near Denver, costs about $5 per ton; slack coal, about
$1.25 per ton retail, and 90 cents per ton in car lots. These facts are
necessary in estimating the cost of pumping.
In Rio Grande, Saguache, Conejos, Costilla, Huerfano and Las Ani-
mas Counties, Colorado, estimates are made that 300,000 acres can be
reclaimed by such mechanical power, and not otherwise. There is much
Waste land in these counties. The depth to water averages from 6 to
25 feet, and the Supply seems enormous, entire rivers and creeks flow-
ing into the sand, and being lost for surface irrigation. Fuel is plenti-
ful and cheap in these counties, coal costing from $1 to $6 per ton, ac-
cording to locality.
In New Mexico it is estimated that 1,500,000 acres can be reclaimed
by mechanical power. There is much waste land in this Territory. The
depth to water is usually from 10 to 50 feet, and the supply of water
near the surface seems very large. Fuel is plentiful, and usually cheap.
Coal costs from $1 to $6 per ton. Mesquite is used for fuel in some
localities. Letters from the States and Territories in the arid West
indicate a very large area of land that can be reclaimed Only by me-
chanical power in elevating water for irrigation. The conditions of such
use would vary, and can be named, as follows:
(1) Where irrigation is not much developed, and where capital is not
readily interested in large irrigation enterprises.
(2) Where the streams having an ample surface water supply are
sluggish, and run on a grade of from 2 to 5 feet per mile; also, in elevat-
ing water from lakes, where the land adjacent thereto is in broad and
comparatively level valleys, as at Utah Lake, in Utah, and Tulare Lake,
California.
(3) Where the streams run deep in the ground at all stages, and the
agricultural lands adjoining are on mesas, at varying heights of from 20
to 100 feet.
(4) Where the level of water in running streams varies greatly at
flood tide and low water, the valleys being narrow and the streams tor-
tuous. (This condition necessitates the construction of small irrigation
ditches. The fall of water in the streams, later in the Season, leaves
these ditches high above Water.)
(5) In the lower valleys of the larger streams, like the South Platte,
Arkansas, and Rio Grande, where the water is all used in upper ditches
for the lands adjacent thereto.
(6) In many parts of the arid district, where there are no running
streams on the surface, but where the under-flow from lost rivers and
creeks, or the general under-drainage of Storm-Waters and mountain
streams gives an ample supply near the surface.
INCREASE OF WATER SUPPLY AND T) UTY THEREOF. 405
FURTHER STATEMENT OF BENJAMIN H. EATON.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you wish to add anything to what you said this
morning %
Mr. EATON. Yes. There seems to be a misunderstanding as to the
increase of our water supply. By reservoirs and canals the Whole of
the Poudre River is held back. There is no doubt but that it is flow-
ing a little more every year. One gentleman here said there was no
more water than is enough to irrigate the land under cultivation. I
know as much about it as he does, though I do not pretend to know any
more. I built these ditches and I built the upper end of No. 2, and 5
miles out I dug a well 35 feet deep and could not get water to supply
my camp. Now the water is running on the surface. Mr. La Grange
dug down, I think, 33 feet before he got any water. You can now dip
the water out of his well with a cup.
This Larimer & Weld canal is 50 miles long, and I tried at one time
to get water along its line, but could not get it. I hired a man to dig
wells along there and he did not find water. In this flat country that
we have made these ditches over there is not any “wash ’ to amount
to anything. There is a deposit. The earth above the hard pan that
retains the water is from 50 to 60 feet. At Eaton at one time we dug
25 feet for water. Now it is only 15 feet to water. A seepage ditch,
holding only the accumulated water of 3 miles, was sold for $5,000. I
think it was worth double that sum.
By holding this water back, with the flow toward the east, it can not
help but increase the irrigation to the extent of the water we have.
After irrigation there comes seepage streams, and to my mind it will
never be known to us how much water there is.
Senator TELLER. I would like to have the record show that Governor
Eaton is a practical farmer.
The CHAIRMAN. Please state how much land you farm.
Mr. EATON. Eight thousand acres, by renting and what I farm my-
self.
Senator TELLER. You overlook and attend in all to 8,000 acres 7
Mr. EATON. Yes.
Senator TELLER. That gives you a good opportunity to observe.
Mr. EATON. Yes. **
STATEMENT OF B. S. LA GRANGE, OF GREELEY.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. My Original occupation is farming. I am also water
commissioner on the Caché la Poudre. My principal occupation at pres-
ent is water commissioner; distributing water in that district.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you been engaged in agriculture in
this vicinity?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Nineteen years.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say is the duty of water? That is,
what quantity of water is required in Greeley and vicinity to produce
ordinary crops ? *
Mr. LA GRANGE. From 60 to 100 cubic feet per second per 80 acres
for the season. I might explain why I make that difference of “ 60 to
100.” Our Soil is SO variable that in the different localities even on the
same farm there is a Vast difference in the duty of water. Where we
406 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
have a soil that is 60 per cent. sand it takes more water to do duty in
growing the crop than it does when the soil has a less quantity of sand.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that much water used and consumed in plant
growth and evaporation ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. To some extent.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it all used ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. No.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion is not consumed and what becomes
of the Water that is not so consumed ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. The earth becomes infiltrated with it.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it show itself anywhere ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. It shows itself along the margins of the streams,
when it is returned to the streams again.
The CHAIRMAN. What has it produced along the margins of streams?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Increased soil.
The CHAIRMAN. Has it produced swamps?
Mr. LA GRANGE. 1 do not know exactly the acreage along our irriga-
tion district.
The CHAIRMAN. I am not asking for exact acreage, but whether
there is more or less Swamp ground on the lower bottoms in conse.
Quence of irrigation ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. On the Caché la Poudre it goes pretty nearly the
entire length of the interval lands along the bottoms. Wherever irri-
gation is practiced, there is found made soil.
The CHAIRMAN. The low bottoms nearly the whole length are mud
SWamps. º
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What is necessary to reclaim them "
Mr. LA GRANGE. Drainage.
The CHAIRMAN. Does this drainage furnish any accumulation of
water that could be used for further irrigation ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. It does.
The CHAIRMAN. How does the seepage from the water that is not
consumed by irrigation show in the stream &
Mr. LA GRANGE. By an increased supply in the stream below.
The CHAIRMAN. How does the Caché la Poudre compare below
Greeley, say 5 miles, with what it was before any water was taken out
and used, during the dry season, I mean?
Mr. LA GRANGE. We have measured it, and the quantity of water is
increased 87 cubic feet per second in the very dry season. It is so to.
day.
#he CHAIRMAN. It has increased in the stream below the irrigation ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How far down does that increase manifest itself?
Mr. LA GRANGE. About 23 miles below Greeley, according to our last
observations.
The CHAIRMAN. There is more water in the Caché la Poudre below
the irrigated district in the dry season than there was before irrigation
commenced there?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it as to the water coming to the surface; is
the country irrigated nearer the surface than when you began irrigat-
ing %
†. LA GRANGE. It is.
The CHAIRMAN. How much nearer & How deep did you have to dig
before irrigation commenced, and how deep do you have to dig now %
\
HOW THE LAND IS FILLING UP BY IRRIGATION. 407
Mr. LA GRANGE. It formerly varied from 12 to 40 feet. In the case
of some of the old original wells, where it was 12 or 16 feet deep, you
:an now take water out with a bucket in your hand 7
The CHAIRMAN. Then the earth has become filled with Water 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it require as much water to irrigate, now that
the earth is saturated, as it did then?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Not so much in some places, but in others about
the same.
The CHAIRMAN. No as much as you did the first year, of course?
Mr. LA GRANGE. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Commencing with perhaps about the third year,
there are some places that have not decreased the amount required,
and some places that have, even since then 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they still decreasing the amount required each
year 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your mode of distributing the water whe
there are various persons interested ? g
Mr. LA GRANGE. We take the cubic foot as the unit of measure, and,
under our laws, priority of appropriation gives the better right. There
is decreed to each canal the amount of water necessary to be used upon
the land.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you distribute the necessary amount of water
according to the date of priority?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you *lopted the plan of giving a certain
amount, or giving on certain days, to one and then to another?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes; notwithstanding the priority of appropria-
tion, our people are so educated to the necessity of having service that
they have left it to the commissioner to so rotate the water so as to get
the highest duty and best service. *
The CHAIRMAN. State how that will effect a better service.
Mr. LA GRANGE. By running it on the plan of priority of appropria-
tion strictly the water becomes lost, because our canals are of such
great length that the amount appropriated for one canal is lost along
the line.
By “bunching the canals,” as it is called, we get a sufficient head to
get a better duty.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, you get a sufficient amount of water to run
down the ditch and do some good?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Whereas, if you distributed the water by priority, a
ditch company would not have enough to do any good and yet would
consume a great deal of water ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it not be much more economical if there were
just two ditches, one on each side of the river, and no more, to carry
the water and distribute it?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes; that is one of the troubles of our early set.
tlement.
The CHAIRMAN. Too many ditches 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. Too many ditches.
The CHAIRMAN. That wastes a great deal of water.
408 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. LA GRANGE. Certainly. We have an illustration at Fort Co [.
lins. We have 16,000 acres there in cultivation. There are four lines
of ditches running across. Two of them are nearly parallel, and in
some cases these are not 200 feet apart. We have another up in the
foot-hills.
The CHAIRMAN. All should have been carried to the upper ditch,
you think?
Mr. LA GRANGE. We could not very well have carried them to that
ditch to get the best service. It is too high up, and we would have
had to have two great lines of distributing mains along down. But it
should have been differently arranged in the first instance.
The CHAIRMAN. The economy of water depends a good deal on
having ditches located in the right place and carrying the water in the
fewest number of ditches 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes, that is one of the troubles we have. We hays,
too many ditches for the area of land.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the best grade for a ditch 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. It depends on the character of the soil.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it in your locality ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. It depends there, too, upon the character of the soil
From 2 to 4 feet to the mile on the average. J
The CHAIRMAN. That depends something on the size of the ditch, too.
does it not %
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes; about 3 feet to the mile is about right?
The CHAIRMAN. In your small ditches or in the large ones.
Mr. LA GRANGE. In the large ones.
The CHAIRMAN. That is ample?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes. O
The CHAIRMAN. Does it “wash 3”
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes, in some localities, but not in other places,
The usual grade on the large canals is about 2.40 feet per mile.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there much of the water wasted ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes. The American people are all new to the sub-
ject of irrigation, and have not arrived at that stage of nice preparation
of our soils with reference to getting at the highest duty of water. I
am aware of this fact: That in Caché la Poudre Basin we could do
double the duty of water with our present flow, taking an average of
five or six years.
The CHAIRMAN. Without storage or anything else of that sort 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Merely by economic dse?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes, merely by economic use.
The CHAIRMAN. With storage, then, you could increase that still fur
ther. Could you not do that by saving the Waste water from running
Off"
Mr. LA GRANGE. We have, on that water-shed, been taking observa-
tions now for six years, and with a storage Systematized in a proper
way we could treble our irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land have you there 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. About 225,000 acres irrigated.
The CHAIRMAN. With economy of water, without storage, could that
be increased ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Nearly double.
The CHAIRMAN. With storage how much could it be increased ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. I am satisfied that with the proper storage system
we could readily irrigate from 600,000 to 800,000 acres.
THE Loss Both BY EVAPORATION AND PERCOLATION. 409
The CHAIRMAN. Of course that would involve having proper ditches
and economizing the water? g
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it better to irrigate near the mountains than far
away on the plains? º
Mr. LA GRANGE. It is better to get near the mountains.
The CHAIRMAN. Why?
Mr. LA GRANGE. On account of the loss, by escape, in the transpor-
tation such a very long distance.
The CHAIRMAN. What produces the loss?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Filtration, principally.
The CHAIRMAN. What else?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Evaporation to some extent, but that is compara-
tively small.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the loss in a ditch of the size you have
there 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. We have 35-feet ditches.
The CHAIAMAN. That is, 35 feet on the bottom ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How deep 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. From 5 to 6 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. With a fall of from 2.40 feet to 3 feet to the mile,
what would be the probable loss of running water in a ditch over that
country, say 20 miles?
Mr. LA GRANGE. From 15 to 25 per cent. It depends upon the kind
of soil we are running over.
The CHAIRMAN. You think it would make that difference in 20 miles
of length 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. I think I would make the distance 40 miles.
Director POWELL. Suppose you should change the section of your
ditches in this country, what would the effect be? You have wide and
shallow ditches which require a great declivity—a high grade. Sup-
pose you change that and have a rounded bottom instead of a flat bot-
tom, and increase the depth of your ditches two or three fold, what ef.
fect would that have on the conservation of the water 7
Mr. LA GRANGE. If the conditions of the water were all the same as
they are now, it would decrease the loss and get a more rapid discharge
at the end of the ditch, or at any given point along it. But after we
have made these flat bottoms, by use they get a subgrade fixed by
themselves.
Director POWELL. They cut out themselves?
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. They cut out and round out.
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes; nature always fixes those things.
Director POWELL. When you open your ditches at the commence-
ment of the irrigating season—that is, each time you open them—a
large body of water is absorbed before the water can get to the foot of
the ditch. Is that not the fact 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. It is.
Director POWELL. Have you anything to suggest as to how that loss
could be prevented ?
Mr. LA GRANGE. I could not suggest anything now as to that. The
percentage of loss Will vary more or less in accordance with the head
that you put in at the time. When I want to let water down through
the ditch, to be let out by the main stream, I get the ditch two-thirds
410 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
full ; that will run through in thirty hours, whereas, if I take half of
that quantity it will be possibly sixty hours. That percentage of loss
Will vary according to the size of the head and the condition of the
ditch. It Varies also with the seasons. Atmospheric conditions have
much to do with it.
Director POWELL. Have you, in your community, ever thought of
lining your ditches by silting with gypsum or any heavy material which
would be impervious to water 3
Mr. LA GRANGE. We will do that when we get better off, and get a
more dense population, so that we can stand it.
Director POWELL. I mean lining by silting and not by masonry.
Mr. LA GRANGE. I understand. When we first put the water in the
Caché la Poudre, No. 2 ditch, in 1872, it ran down 6 miles and sunk.
It ran very nearly a week. Our mountain streams, when rising, bring
down a vast amount of stuff caused by erosion and it silts the ditch.
The ditches do silt up and become comparatively tight.
Director POWELL. You have a very great variety of material in your
region. Have your people thought of some material which you could
powder and float down, which would have that same effect, only to do
the thing more thoroughly? *
Mr. LA GRANGE. Yes; we have large bodies of gypsum right near
Fort Collins and north of there, which if powdered up and properly
applied to our canals would prevent large wastage of water, just the
gypsum itself.
The CHAIRMAN: How do you communicate with the different points
where the water is to be let out?
Mr. LA GRANGE. We have a man at the head-gate, and he is in com-
munication by telephone with the central office. That system is now
about completed.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the advantages of that ? t
TMr. La GRANGE. "In order to distribute the water, we must know
what definite quantity we have to deal with, so we telephone to the
head-gate man.
Adjourned.
CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF COLORADO-PROVISIONS REI, AT-
ING TO WATER RIGHTS.
PRIORITIES AND RIGHTS THEREUNDER.
[Constitution, Art. XVI.]
Sec. 5, Water Public Property.]
The water of every natural stream not heretofore appropriated, within the State of
Colorado, is hereby declared to be the property of the public, and is dedicated to the
use of the people of the State, subject to appropriation as hereinafter provided.
Sec. G. Diverting Unappropriated Water—Priority.]
The right to divert unappropriated waters of every natural stream for beneficial
uses shall never be denied. Priority of appropriation shall give the better right, as
between those using the water for the same purpose; but when the waters of any
natural stream are not sufficient for the service of all those desiring the use of the
same, those using the water for domestic purposes shall have the preference over those
claiming for any other purpose, and those using the water for agricultural purposes
shall have the preference over those using the same for manufacturing purposes.
THE STATE WATER LEGISLATION OF COLOR ADO. 411
RIG IIT OF WAY AND SERVITUDE.
Art. II, Sec. 14. When Private Property may be taken for Private Uses.]
Private property shall not be taken for private use unless by consent of the owner,
except for private ways of necessity, and except for reservoirs, drains, flumes, or
ditches, on or across the lands of others, for agricultural, mining, milling, domestic, or
sanitary purposes.
Art. II, Sec. 15. Compensation for Property taken.]
Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public or private use without
just compensation. Such compensation shall be ascertained by a board of cominis-
sioners of not less than three freeholders, or by a jury when required by the owner of
the property, in such manner as may be prescribed by law, and until the same shall
be paid to the owner, or into court for the owner, the property shall not be needlessly
disturbed, or the proprietary rights of the owner therein invested [divested] ; and
whenever an attempt is made to take private property for a use alleged to be public,
the question whether the contemplated use be really public shall be a judicial ques-
tion, and determined as such without regard to any legislative assertion that the use
is public.
Art. XVI, Sec. 7. Right of Way for Ditches, etc.] *
All persons and corporations shall have the right of way across public, private, and
corporate lands for the construction of ditches, canals, and flumes, for the purpose of
conveying water for domestic purposes, for the irrigation of agricultural lands, and
for mining and manufacturing purposes, and for drainage, upon payment of just com-
pensation.
Art. XVI, Sec. 8. County Commissioners fix Rates for Water.]
The general assembly shall provide by law that the board of county commissioners
in their respective counties shall have power, when application is made to them by
either party interested, to establish reasonable maximum rates to be charged for use
of water whether furnished by individuals or corporations.
Art. X, Sec. 3. When Free from Taxation.]
Ditches, canals, and flumes owned and used by individuals or corporations for ir-
rigating lands owned by such individuals or corporations, or the individual members
thereof, shall not be separately taxed so long as they shall be owned and used exclu-
sively for such purposes.
WATER AND IRRIGATION PROVISIONS IN STATUTES OF COL-
ORADO,
General Statutes, 1711, (1861). Owners of Land on Streams Entitled to Use of Water.]
All persons who claim, own, or hold a possessory right or title to any land or
parcel of land lying within the boundary of the State of Colorado, as defined in the
constitution of said State, when those claims are on the bank, margin, or neighbor-
hood of any stream of water, creek, or river, shall be entitled to the use of the water
of said stream, creek, or river, for the purpose of irrigation and making said claims
available to the full extent of the soil, for agricultural purposes.
1729. Wested Rights of Mill and Ditch Owners.]
Nothing in this chapter contained shall be so construed as to impair the prior
vested rights of any mill or ditch owner or other person to use the water of any such
Water COurse. *
Under the provisions of this act ſeminent domain] private property may be taken for
private use for private ways of necessity, for reservoirs, drains, flumes, or ditches on
or across the land of others for agricultural, mining, milling, domestic, or Sanitary
purposes. (Session Laws of 1885, pp. 201, 202.)
PRIORITY-HOW SECURED.
1720. New Ditches—Sworn statement must be filed—Contents—Maps.]
Every person, association, or corporation hereafter constructing or enlarging any
ditch, canal, or feeder for any reservoir, for irrigation, and taking water directly from
any matural stream, and of a carrying capacity of one cubic foot per second of time
as so constructed or enlarged, shall within ninety days after the commencement of
such construction or enlargement, file and cause to be recorded in the office of the
412 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
county clerk of the county in which such ditch, canal, or feeder may be situated, or if
Such canal, ditch, or feeder be situated in any water district, in the office of the county
clerk of such ſeach] county in which such water district may extend, a sworn state-
ment in writing, showing the name of such ditch, canal, or of the reservoir supplied
by such fºeder, the point at which the head-gate thereof is situated (if it be a new
construction), the size of the ditch, canal, or feeder, in width and depth, and the car-
rying capacity thereof in cubic feet per second, the description of the line thereof,
and the time when the work was commenced, and the name or names of the owner or
owners thereof, together with a map showing the route thereof, the legal subdivisions
of the land, if on surveyed lands, with proper corners and distances, and in case of
an enlargement, the depth and width, also the carrying capacity of the ditch en-
larged, with the width and depth of the ditch, canal, or feeder as enlarged, and the
increased carrying capacity of the same thereby occasioned, and the time when such
enlargement was commenced, and no priority of right for any purpose shall attach to
any such construction or enlargement until record is made. (Sec. 2, p. 162, acts 1881.)
1721.]
This act shall apply to and affect only ditches, canals, or feeders used for carrying
Water for the purposes of irrigation and for no other purposes whatever. (Sec. 3, p.
162, Acts 1881.)
314. Shall Commence Work in Ninety Days— Complete in Three Years—Forfeit.]
Any company formed under the provisions of this (corporations) act, for the pur-
pose of constructing any ditch, flume, * * * shall, within ninety days from the
date of their certificate, commence work on such ditch, flume * * * line as shall
be named in the certificate, and shall prosecute the work with due diligence until the
same is completed, and the time of completion of any such ditch * * * line shall
not be extended beyond a period of two years from the time work was commenced as
aforesaid; and any company failing to commence work within ninety days from the
date of the certificate, or failing to complete the same within two years from the time
of commencement as aforesaid, shall forfeit all right to the water so claimed, and the
same shall be subject to be claimed by any other company; the time for the completion
of any flume constructed under the provisions of this act shall not be extended be-
yond a period of four years: Provided, This section shall not apply to any ditch or
flume * * * constructed through and upon any grounds owned by the corporation:
And provided further, That any company formed under the provisions of this act to
construct a ditch for domestic, agricultural, irrigating * * * purposes, or any or
either thereof, shall have three years from the time of commencing work thereon
within which to complete the same, but no longer. (Sec. 296 (106) pp. 179–80, G. L.)
1727. Wheels, etc., on Streams.]
All persons on the margin, brink, neighborhood, or precinct of any stream of water
shall have the right and power to place upon the bank of said stream a wheel or other
machine for the purpose of raising water to the level required for the purpose of irri-
gation. (Sec. 8, pp. 68–69, Acts 1861; sec. 6, p. 364, R. S.; sec. 1377 (6) p. 516, G. L.)
1723. Irrigation of Meadows.]
All persons who shall have enjoyed the use of the water in any natural stream, for
the irrigation of any meadow land, by the natural overflow or operation of the water
of such stream, shall, in case the diminishing of the water supplied from such stream
from any cause prevents such irrigation therefrom in as ample a manner as formerly,
have right to construct a ditch for the irrigation of such meadow, and to take water
from such stream therefor, and his, her or their right to Water through such ditch
shall have the same priority as though such ditch had been constructed at the time
he, she or they first occupied and used such land as meadow ground. (Sec. 37, p. 106,
Acts 1879.)
1719. Extending Head of Ditch Up Stream.]
In case the channel of any natural stream shall become so cut out, lowered, turned
aside or otherwise changed from any cause as to prevent any ditch, canal, or feeder
of any reservoir from receiving the proper inflow of water to which it may be en-
titled from such natural stream, the owner or owners of such ditch, canal, or feeder
shall have the right to extend the head of such ditch, canal, or feeder to such dis-
tance up the stream which supplies the same, as may be necessary for securing a suf-
ficient flow of water into the same, and for that purpose shall have the same right to
maintain proceedings for condemnation of right of way for such extension as in case
of constructing a new ditch, and the priority of right to take water from such stream
through such ditch, canal, or feeder, as to any such ditch, canal, or feeder, shall re-
main unaffected in any respect by reason of such extension : Provided, however, That
no such extension shall interfere with the complete use or enjoyment of any other
ditch, canal, or feeder. (Sec. 1, pp. 161, 162, Acts 1881.)
THE PROVISIONS OF LAWS IN THE USE OF WATER. 413
1762. Jurisdiction of Courts. HOW Wested.]
For the purpose of hearing, adjudicating, and settling all questions concerning the
priority of appropriation of water between ditch companies and other owners of
ditches drawing water for irrigation purposes from the same stream or its tributaries
within the same water district, and all other questions of law and questions of right
growing out of or in any way involved or connected there with, jurisdiction is hereby
vested exclusively in the district court of the proper county; but when any water
district shall extend into two or more counties, the district court of the county in
which the first regular term after the first day of December in each year shall soonest
occur, according to the law then in force, shall be the proper court in which the pro-
ceedings for said purpose, as hereinafter provided for, shall be commenced; but
where said proceedings shall be once commenced, by the entry of an order appoint-
ing a referee in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter in this act provided, such
court shall thereafter retain exclusive jurisdiction of the whole subject until final
adjudication thereof is had, not withstanding any law to the contrary now in force.
(Sec. 19, pp. 99–100, Acts 1879.)
1763. Filing Statements of Claim—Ditch, Name, Description—Post-Office Address.]
In order that all parties may be protected in their lawful rights to the use of water
for irrigation, every person, association, or corporation owning or claiming any inter-
est in any ditch, canal, or reservoir,’ within any water district, shall, on or before the
1st day of June, A. D. 1881, file with the clerk of the district court having jurisdic-
tion of priority of right to the use of water for irrigation in such water district, a
statement of claim, under oath, entitled of the proper court, and in the matter of
priorties of water rights in district number * * * , as the case may be, which
statement shall contain the name or names, together with the post-office address of
the claimant or claimants claiming ownership, as aforesaid, of any such ditch, canal,
or reservoir, the name thereof (if any), and, if without a name, the owner or owners
shall choose and adopt a name, to be therein stated, by which such ditch, canal, or
reservoir shall thereafter be known, the description of such ditch, canal, or reservoir,
as to location of head-gate, general course of ditch, the name of the natural
stream from which such ditch, canal, or reservoir draws its supply of water, the
length, width, depth, and grade thereof, as near as may be, the time, fixing a day,
lmonth and year as the date of the appropriation of water by original construction,
also by any enlargement or extension, if any such thereof may have been made, and
the amount of water claimed by or under such construction, enlargement, or exten-
Sion, and the present capacity of the ditch, canal, or feeder of reservoir, and also the
number of acres of land lying under and being or proposed to be irrigated by water
from such ditch, canal, or reservoir. Said statement shall be signed by the proper
party or parties. (Sec. 1, pp. 142, 143, Acts 1881.)
1764. Secretary of State Shall Make Publication—Publisher’s Certificate.]
The secretary of state shall, without delay, after the passage of this act, cause a
certified copy of the foregoing section, giving the date of the approval of this act, to
be published in one of the public newspapers published in such county in which part
or portion of any water district is or shall be established by law at the time of such
publication; and said section 1 shall be published, as aforesaid, once in each and
every week continuously in said paper until said 1st day of June, 1881, and in case
in the meantime any one of said papers shall cease to be published, then such publi-
cation shall be made in some other paper in same county (if any), and on conclusion
of such publication such publisher of such paper shall deliver to the secretary of
state his sworn certificate of publication in duplicate, showing that such publication
has been made in his paper in compliance with the preceding section hereof, and
Stating the first and last day of such publication; and he shall thereupon be entitled
to receive from the secretary of stato a certificate of the amount due him for such
publication, on presentation of which to the auditor of state he shall draw his war-
rant for the amount in favor of the holder on the state treasurer, who shall pay the
same according to law. (Sec. 2, pp. 143, 144, Acts 1881.)
When at any time after the 1st day of June, A. D. 1881, any one or more persons,
associations, or corporations, interested as owners of any ditch, canal, or reservoir in
any water district shall present to the district court of any county having jurisdic-
tion of priority of rights to the use of water for irrigation in such water district ac-
cording to the provisions of (sec. 19, G. S., 1762) an act entitled an act to regulate
the use of water for irrigation and providing for settling the priority of rights thereto,
and for payment of the expenses thereof, and for payment of all costs and expenses
incident to said regulation of use, or to the judge thereof in vacation, a motion, pe-
tition, or application in writing, moving or praying said court to proceed to an adju-
dication of the priorities of rights to use of water for irrigation between the several
ditches, canals, and reservoirs in such district, the court, or judge thereof in vaca-
tion, shall, without unuecessary delay, in case he shall deem it practicable to pro-
ceed in open court, as prayed for, by an order to be entered of record upon such mo-
414 | RIRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ABID LANDS.
tion, petition, or application, appoint a day in some regular or special term of said
court for commencing to hear and take evidence in such adjudication, at which time it
shall be the duty of the court to proceed to hear all evidence which may be offered by or
on behalf of any person, association, or corporation interested in any ditch, canal, or
reservoir in such district, either as owner or consumer of water therefrom, in support of
or against any claim or claims of priority of appropriation of water made by means
of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, or by any enlargement or extension thereof, in such
district, and consider all such evidence, together with any and all evidence, if any,
which may have been heretofore offered and taken in such district in the same mat-
ter by any referee heretofore appointed under the provisions of said act above herein
mentioned, and also the arguments of parties or their counsel, and shall ascertain
and find from such evidence, as near as may be, the date of the commencement of
such ditch, canal, or reservoir, together with the original size and carrying capacity
thereof as originally constructed, the time of the commencement of each enlargement
or extension thereof, if any, with the increased capacity thereby occasioned, the
time spent severally in such construction and enlargement, or extension and re-en-
largement, if any, the diligence with which the work was in each case prosecuted,
the nature of the work as to difficulty of construction, and all such other facts as
may tend to show the compliance with the law, in acquiring the priority of right
claimed for each such ditch, canal, or reservoir, and determine the matters put in evi-
dence, and make and cause to be entered a decree determining and establishing the
several priorities of right, by appropriation of water, of the several ditches, canals,
and reservoir [reservoirs) in such water district, concerning which testimony shall
have been offered, each according to the time of its said construction and enlarge-
ment or enlargements or extensions, with the amount of water which shall be held
to have been appropriated by such construction and enlargements or extensions,
describing such amount by cubic feet per second of time, if the evideuce shall show
sufficient data to ascertain such cubic feet, and if not, by width, depth, and grade,
and such other description as will most certainly and conveniently show the amount
of water intended as the capacity of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, in such decree.
Said court shall further order that each and every party interested or claiming any
such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall receive from the clerk, on payment of a reason-
able fee therefor, to be fixed by the court, a certificate under Seal of the court show-
ing the date or dates and amount or amounts of appropriations adjudged in favor of
such ditch, canal, or reservoir under and by virtue of the construction, extension,
and enlargements thereof severally; also specifying the number of said ditch and of
each priority to which the same may be entitled by reason of such construction, ex-
tension, and enlargements. (Sec. 4, pp. 144–5–6, Acts 1881.)
1767. Copy of Decree—Authority of Commissioner—Recording 00py—Evidence.]
The holder of such certificate shall exhibit the same to the water commissioner of
the district when he commences the exercise of his duties, and such water commis-
sioner shall keep a book in which shall be entered a brief statement of the contents
of such certificate, and which shall be delivered to his successor, and said certificate,
or statement thereof in his book, shall be the warrant of authority to said water
commissioner for regulating the flow of water in relation to such ditch, canal, or res-
ervoir. Said certificate shall be recorded, at the same rates of charges as in cases of
deeds of conveyance, in the records of each county into which the ditch, canal, or
reservoir to which such certificates relates shall extend ; and said certificate, or
said record thereof, or a duly certified copy of such record, shall be prima facie evi-
dence of so much of said decree as shall be recited therein in any suit or proceeding
in which the same may be relevant. (Sec. 5, pp. 146–7, Acts 1881.)
1768. Clerk Publish Notice—Post Copy—, en Copies Posted by Party Petitioning.]
Notice shall be given by the clerk of said court of the time so appointed by pub-
lishing the same in one public newspaper in such county into which such water dis-
trict may extend, which notice shall be so published in such paper once in each week
until ſour successive weekly publications shall have been made, the last of which shall
be on a day previous to the day appointed as aforesaid. Said notice shall contain a copy
of said order, and shall notify all persons, associations, and corporations interested as
owners in any ditch, canal, or reservoir in such water district to appear at said court
at the time so appointed and ſile a statement of claim under oath, in case no state-
ment has been before filed by him, her, or them, showing the ditch, canal, or reservoir,
or two or more such, in which he, she, or they claim an interest, together with the
names of all the owners thereof, which statement may be made by any one of the
owners of such ditch, canal, or reservoir for and in behalf of all; and also that all per-
sons interested as owners or consumers may then and there present his, her, or their
proofs for or against any priority of right of water by appropriation sought to be
shown by any party by or through any such ditch, canal, or reservoir (either as owner
or consumer of water drawn therefrom). Ten printed copies of Said notice shall also
whAT courts MAY DO FOR WATI R REGULATIONS. 415
be posted in ten public places in such water district not less than twenty days before
the day so appointed, which copies shall be so posted by the party or parties moving
the adjudication. (Sec. 6, p. 147, Acts 1881.)
1769. Proof of Publication—0f Posting Copies—Entry by Clerk.]
Proof of the proper publication of said notice or notices in said public papers shall
consist in such case of the sworn certificate of the publisher of such newspaper, show-
ing the publication to have been made in accordance with the provisions of section 3 of
this act, which certificates shall be procured by the party or parties moving the ad-
judication at his or their expense, and on said certificate being filed the clerk shall
enter the amount of the printer's fee therefor as costs advanced by the party pro-
curing the same, which sum shall be counted to his, her, or their credit in distribution
of costs. Proof of the posting of said printed copies shall be made by the affidavit of
some credible person, certified to be such by the clerk or other officer administering
the oath, showing when, where, and how said copies were posted. (Sec. 7, pp. 147-8,
Acts 1881.)
1770. Notices Served on all Parties—HOW Served—Notice by Mail.]
The party or parties moving such adjudication shall cause a printed or written
copy of the notice aforesaid, published as aforesaid, to be served on every person, as-
sociation, or corporation shown by the statement of claim on file, as provided in sec-
tion 1 hereof, which service shall be made within ten days from the time of the first
publication by the clerk, by any credible person certified by said clerk or referee to be
such, by delivering such copy as aforesaid to the person to be served, if such person
by due diligence can be found in the county of his residence. If such person can not
be found, as aforesaid, then by leaving such copy at his or her usual place of resi-
dence, if he or she have such residence, in clarge of some person of the age of four-
teen years or over there residing ; and on any corporation by delivering the copy to
the president, or vice-president, or secretary, or treasurer thereof, or the manager or
superintendent in charge of their ditch, canal, or reservoir, or authorized agent or at-
torney, or by leaving such copy at the office or usual place of business of such cor-
poration, and the proof of such service shall be made by affidavit of the person or
persons serving said copies, showing when and how such service has been made on
such party. In case of parties not served in any manner as aforesaid the clerk shall
deposit in the post-office, duly inclosed in an envelope with the proper postage
stamp thereon, a copy directed to the address of such party, slown in the statement
3. claim aforesaid, filed by him or her under section one hereof. (Sec. 8, pp. 148–9,
cts 1881.)
1771. Court Numbers all Ditches—Reservoirs—Number Appropriations.]
The court, in making such decree, as aforesaid, shall number the several ditches and
canals in the Water district concerning which adjudication is made in consecutive
order, according to priority of appropriation of water thereby made by the original
construction thereof, as near as may be, having reference to the date of each decree
as rendered, and shall also number the reservoirs in like manner separately from
ditches and canals, and shall further number each several appropriation of water con-
secutively, beginning with the oldest appropriation, without respect to the ditches or
reservoirs by means of which such appropriations were made; whether such appro-
priation shall have been made by means of construction, extension, or enlargement,
which number of each ditch, canal, or reservoir, together with the number or numbers
of any appropriations of water held to have been made by means of the construction,
extension, or enlargement thereof, shall be incorporated in said decree and certificate
of the clerk, to be issued to the claimants, as provided in section 1 of this act, so as
to show the order in priority of such ditch or canal; and of such reservoir, and also of
such successive appropriation of Water pertaining thereto, for the information of the
water commissioner of the district in distributing water, such numbering to be as
1163,E * may be having reference to date of decrees as rendered. (Sec. 9, p. 149, Acts
1881.
1772. When Court may Appoint Referee—What Referred.)
If for any cause the judge of said court shall deem it impracticable or inexpedient
to proceed to hear such evidence in open court, he shall, instead of the order men-
tioned in section 4 of this act, make and cause to be entered of record an order ap-
pointing some discreet person, properly qualified, a referee of said court, to whom
shall be referred the statement of claim aſoresaid on file in said matter, the matter of
taking evidence and reporting the same, making an abstract and findings upon the
same, and preparing a decree in said adjudication; and also in case of any water dis-
trict in which a referee has been heretofore appointed, and evidence taken by him under
the provisions of the act, the title of which is recited in section 4 of this act; such
416 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
evidence so already taken, together with the abstract thereof and report of the ref-
eree who took the same, shall be also referred to said referee, to be appointed as afore-
said, and he shall proceed with his duties as hereinafter provided, first taking an oath
[of] office, such as is required to be taken by referees in other cases under the provis-
ions of the code of civil procedure. (Sec. 10, pp. 149-50, Acts 1881.)
1773. Contents of Notice—How Published—Posting 00pi CS.]
Said referee shall prepare and publish a notice containing a copy of the order ap-
pointing him, in which notice he shall appoint a time or times and place or places
suitable and convenient for the claimants in such water district at which he will
attend for the purpose of hearing and taking evidence touching the priority of right
of the several ditches, canals, and reservoirs in said district, and notifying all persons,
associations, and corporations interested as owners or consumers of waters [water] to
attend by themselves, their agents, or attorneys, at the times and places appointed in
Said notice, and notifying such owners to then and there file a statement of claim in
case such statement has not been already filed under the provisions of section 1 hereof,
such as mentioned in section 6 hereof, and present their proofs touching any priority
of right claimed by them for any ditch, canal, or reservoir in said district, which
notice shall be published in same manner and times and in all respects according to
the provisions for publication of the newspaper notices mentioned in section 6 of this
act, and proof of such publication shall be made in the same manner as is provided in
Section 7 of this act ; and he shall also post ten or more printed copies of such notice in
ten or more public places in said district, which copies shall be so posted at least
twenty days before the time of commencing to take said evidence. (Sec. 11, p. 150,
Acts 1881.)
Proof of the posting of said copies shall be made by the affidavit of said referee
or other person certified by him to be a credible witness, which shall show when,
where, and how the said copies were posted, and shall be filed by him with his re-
port. (Séc. 12, p. 151, Acts 1881.)
1775. Who May 0ffer Evidence—Former Evidence.]
Said referee shall attend at the times and places mentioned in his said notice, for
the purpose therein mentioned; and all persons, associations, choosing to do so, and
being interested as owners of or consumers of water from any ditch, canal, or reser-
voir in said district, and may also attend by themselves, their agents or attorneys,
before said referee, at some one or more of said times and places so appointed, and
shall have right to offer any and all evidence they may think advisable for their in-
terests in the matter to be adjudicated, as well in districts in which evidence has
been heretofore taken as in other districts. All such evidence as has been heretofore
taken, if any, in such district, shall be kept present by said roferee, subject to in-
spection by any party desiring to examine the same for purposes of the investigation.
(Sec. 13, p. 151, Acts 1881.)
ºr
1776. POWOrS and Duties of Referee—Books and Records—Evidence.]
Said referee shall have power to administer oaths to all witnesses, and to issue
subpoenas for witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum, which subpoenas may be served by
any party, or constable, or sheriff, or deputy sheriff, and may require witnesses to appear
at any of the places appointed by said referee for taking evidence. He shall permit all
witnesses to be examined by the parties calling them respectively and to be cross-exam-
ined by any party interested, and he shall take all testimony in writing and note all
objections offered to any part of the testimony taken, with the cause assigned for
the objection, and shall proceed in all other respects as in case of taking depositions.
He shall certify all books and papers offered by any one in his own behalf, and pre-
serve them with the testimony offered concerning the same, and in case of books
and papers offered in evidence, which shall not be under the control of the party
desiring the evidence for which such books may be offered, said referee shall make a
true copy of the parts demanded and certify the same, and preserve the same, to-
gether with the evidence offered concerning the same and concerning said books and
papers, as part of the evidence in the matter. (Sec. 14, pp. 151–2, Acts 1881.)
1777. Refusal to Produce BookS or PaperS-Effect. J
No person, association or corporation willfully refusing to produce any book or
paper, if in his or their power to do so, when rightfully demanded for examination and
copying, shall be allowed the benefit of any testimony or proofs in his, her, or their
behalf, in making final adjudication, if the court shall be satisfied, from all the evi-
dence shown concerning such refusal, that the same was willful. (Sec. 15, p. 152,
Acts 1881.)
1778. What Facts to be ASCertained by PrOOfS.]
Said referee shall also examine all witnesses to his own satisfaction, touching any
point involved in the matter in question, and shall ascertain as far as possible the
THE water LAws of THE STATE OF COLORADo. 417
date of the commencefnent of each ditch, canal, or reservoir, with the original size
and carrying capacity thereof, the time of the commencement of each enlargement
thereof, with the increased carrying capacity thereby occasioned, the length of time
spent in such construction or enlargement, the diligence with which the work was
prosecuted, the nature of the work as to difficulty of construction, and all such other
facts as may tend to show compliance with the law in acquiring the priority of right
claimed for such ditch, canal, or reservoir; and upon all the facts so obtained shall
be determined the relative priorities among the several ditches, canals, and reser-
voirs, the volume or amount of water lawfully appropriated by each, as well as by
means of the construction, as by the enlargements thereof, and the time when each
such several appropriations took effect. (Sec. 16, p. 152, Acts 1881.)
1779. Disturbing Proceedings—Penalty.]
Every person present before said referee at any time when he shall be engaged in
hearing festimony, who shall willfully disturb the proceedings; and every person
who shall willfully refuse or neglect to obey any subpoena issued by said referee,
when his lawful fees shall be tendered him for his attendance before the referee, shall
be guilty of contempt of the court appointing such referee, and on complaint, under
oath of the referee or other person, before the said district court, or judge thereof in
vacation, may be brought before the court or judge and dealt with accordingly.
(Sec. 17, pp. 152—3, Acts 1881.)
1780. Fees of Witnesses—By Whom Paid.]
Every witness who shall attend before said referee under subpoena, by request of
any party, shall be entitled to the same fees and mileage as witnesses before the
district court in the county in which he shall so attend, and shall be paid by the
party requiring his testimony. (Sec. 18, p. 153, Acts 1881.)
1781. Duties of Referee—Rights of Parties—Adjournment—Notice.]
The said referee shall take all the testimony offered, and for that purpose shall
give reasonable opportunity to all parties to be heard, and may at any place, when
the time limited thereat shall expire, adjourn the further taking of testimony then
proposed or desired to be offered to the next place in order according to his said
published appointments, and at the last place may continue until all testimony shall
be taken or make furthur appointments at any former place or places as may seem
best and most convenient for all parties, giving reasonable motice thereof. (Sec. 19,
p. 153, Acts 1881.)
1782. Referee Shall Examine all Testimony—Numbering—Findings—Decree.]
Said referee, upon closing the testimony, shall proceed to carefully examine the
same, together with all testimony and proofs which may have been heretofore taken
by any former referee in the same district, if any such shall have been taken under
the provisions of said act, the title of which is recited in section 4 of this act;
he shall make an abstract of all the testimony and proofs in his possession concerning
each ditch, canal, and reservoir separately, and shall number each ditch and cana
in order, and likewise each reservoir, each class consecutively, and also number the
several appropriations of water shown by the evidence, all in manner and form as
provided in section 9 hereof, and shall make a separate finding of all the facts
connected with each ditch, canal, and reservoir, touching which evidence shall have
been offered; and he shall prepare a draught of a decree in accordance with his said
findings, in substance the same as the decree mentioned in section four of this act,
and conformable also to the provisions of section 9 hereof, so far as the same are
applicable, which decree, so prepared by him, shall be returned with his report to
the court, and he shall file his report with said evidence, abstract, and findings, and
said decree, with the clerk of the court, and inform the judge of so doing without
delay. (Sec. 20, pp. 153–4, Acts 1881.)
1783. Filing Report—Court Proceed to Determine—Exceptions—Approval—Entry.]
Upon the filing of said report the court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall cause
an order to be entered setting some day in a regular or special term of said court as
soon as practicable, when the court will proceed to hear and determine the report,
at which time any party interested may appear, himself or counsel, and move excep-
tions to any matter in the findings or decree made by said referee, and after hearing
the same the court shall, if the decree reported be approved, cause the same to be
entered of record, or otherwise such modifications thereof, or other decree as shall be
found just and conformable to the evidence and the true intent of this act, and to so
much of any and all former laws of the State as shall be adjudged consistent here-
with. (Sec. 21, p. 154, Acts 1881.)
138 A L-WOL III—27
418 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
w
1784. Failure to"0ſfer Evidence—Water Commissioner Disregard Ülaims until, etc.—Party obtain
Decree and present Certificate.] - -
No claim of priority of any person, association or corporation, on account of any
ditch, canal, or reservoir, as to which he, or she, or they, shall have failed or refused
to offer evidence under any adjudication herein provided for, or heretofore provided
by this act, the title of which is recited in section 4 hereof, shall be regarded by
any water commissioner in distributing water in times of scarcity thereof, until such
time as such party shall have by application to the court, having jurisdiction, ob-
tained leave and made proof of the priority of right to which such ditch, canal, or
reservoir shall be justly entitled, which leave shall be granted in all cases upon
terms as to notice to other parties interested, and on payment of all costs, and upon
affidavits or petition sworn to, showing the rights claimfied, and the ditches, canals,
and reservoirs, with the names of the owners thereof against which such priority is
claimed, nor until a decree adjudging such priority to such ditch, canal, or reservoir
has been entered, and certificate, such as mentioned in section 4 hereof, shall have
been issued to claimant and presented to the water commissioner. (Sec. 22, pp.
154–5, Acts 1881.)
1785. Rights of Parties against Referee for Neglect, 0ppression, etc.)
Every party interested shall have the right to complain to the court of any act of
willful neglect or oppression on the part of the said referee in exercising his powers
under this act, whereby such party shall have been aggrieved, either by refusal of
said referee to hear or take evidence offered, or by preventing reasonable opportunity
to offer such evidence; and the court may order such proceedings in the premises as
will give redress of the grievance, at the cost of said referee, if he appear willfully in
fault; otherwise, in case of accident or mistake, costs shall be awarded as to the court
shall seem just. (Sec. 23, p. 155, Acts 1881.)
1786. Power of Court to make just Rules—Law construed liberally.]
The district court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall have power to make all
orders and rules consistent with this act which may be found necessary and expedi-
ent, from time to time during the progress of the case, for carrying out the intent of
this act, and of all parts consistent there with of the said act, the title of which is recited
in section 4 hereof; as well as touching the proceedings in court as of the acts and
doings of said referee, for the purpose of securing to any party aggrieved by the acts
of said referee or any proceeding of the court, opportunity for redress; and this act
shall be construed liberally in all courts, in favor of securing to all persons interested
the just determination and protection of their rights. (Sec. 24, p. 155, Acts 1881.)
1787. Party must File Claim before offering Evidence.]
No persons, associations, or corporation representing any ditch, canal, or reservoir,
shall be permitted to give or offer any evidence before said referee until he, she, or
they shall have filed a statement of claim in substance the same in all respects as is
required to be filed under the provisions of section 1 hereof. (Sec. 25, p. 155, Acts
1881.) e
1788. Re-Argument—Review—Limitation two years..]
The district court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall have power to order, for
good cause shown, and upon terms just to all parties, and in such a manner, as may
seem meet, a re-argument or review, with or without additional evidence, of any de-
cree made under the provisions of this act, whenever said court or judge shall find
from the cause shown for that purpose by any party or parties feeling aggrieved, that
the ends of justice will be thereby promoted; but no such review or re-argument
shall be ordered unless applied for by petition or otherwise within two years from
the time of entering the decree complained of. (Sec. 26, p. 156, Acts 1881.)
1789. Who May Appeal—Statement—Approval—00ntents—0rder—Bond—00nditions.]
Any parties or parties representing any ditch, canal, or reservoir, or any number
of parties representing two or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs, which are affected
in common with each other by any portion of such decree, by which he or she or they
may feel aggrieved, may have an appeal from said district court to the Supreme
court, and in such case the party or parties joining, desiring an appeal, shall be the
appellants, and the parties representing any one or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs
affecting in common adversely to the Interests of appellants shall be the appellees. The
party or parties joining in such appeal shall file a statement in writing, verified by affi-
davit properly entitled in such cause in the district court, which statement shall show
that the appellants claim a valuable interest in the ditch, canal, or reservoir, or two
or more of such, which are affected in common with each other by some portion of
said decree; also stating the name or names, or otherwise the description of the same,
and the name or mames, or otherwise the description of any one or more other ditches,
canals [or] reservoirs, which by said decree derive undue advantage in respect of
priority as against that or those represented by appellants; and also setting forth the
WATER AND IRRIGATION UNDER COLORADo LAws. . 419
Iname or names of the party or parties claiming such other one or more ditches, canals
or reservoirs, affected in common by said decree adversely to the interest of appellant
or appellants, and praying that an appeal be allowed against such other parties as
appellees. If the court or judge in vacation, on examination, find such statement in
accordance with the statements of claim filed by the parties named as appellees, men-
tioned in section 1 of this act, he shall approve the same and make an order to be pre-
pared and presented by the appellants allowing the appeal and showing the name or
names of the appellants and appellees, with the name or names or description of the
one or more ditches, canals or reservoirs claimed by the party or parties appellant
and appellee, as shown by their several statements of claim filed as aforesaid, before
the taking of testimony, and fix the amount of the appeal bond, which bond shall be
executed by one or more of appellants, as principal or principals, and by sufficient
securities, and approved by the court or judge in vacation, and shall be conditioned
for the payment of all costs which may be awarded against the appellants or any of
them in the supreme court. (Sec. 27, pp. 156-157, Acts 1881.)
1790. Copy of Order served on Appellees—Publication posting copies—Proof. I
The order last aforesaid shall be entered of record, and the appellant or appellants
shall cause a certified copy thereof to be served on each of the appellees, by deliver-
ing the same to him or her, if he or she may be found, or otherwise serving the same
in manner the same as may be at the time provided for serving summons from the dis-
trict court by the laws then in force, and shall also cause the said order to be pub-
lished in the same manner as the notices required to be published by the referee men-
tioned in section 11 of this act, and proof of the publication in any newspaper shall
be the same as in case of said referee's notice, and proof of the posting of the ten
printed copies in the district, shall be by affidavit of the parties posting the same,
with the certificate of the clerk of the district court appealed from, that the affiant
is a known and credible person. (Sec. 28, p. 157, Acts 1881.)
1791. Transcript to be Filed in Six Months—Bill of Exceptions.]
The appellant or appellants shall file the transcript of record of the district court .
with the clerk of the supreme court at any time within six months after the appeal
shall be allowed as aforesaid. Only so Imuch of the decree appealed from, and so much
of the evidence as shall affect the appropriations of water claimed by means of the
construction or enlargement or re-enlargement of the several ditches, canals and re-
servoirs mentioned in the order allowing the appeal, need be copied into the bill of
exceptions. (Sec. 29, pp. 157-158, Acts 1881.)
1792. Costs in Supreme Court.]
The Supreme court, on dismissal of such appeal, or on affirming or reversing the
parts of the decree appealed from, in whole or in part, shall award costs, as in its dis-,
cretion shall be found and held to be equitable. (Sec. 30, p. 158, acts 1881.)
1793. Supreme Court amend or make new Decree, or remand with Instructions.]
The Supreme court, in all cases in which judgment is rendered, and any part of the
decree appealed from is reversed, and in which it may be practicable, shall make such
decree in the matters involved in the appeal as should have been made by the district
court, or direct in what manner the decree of that court should be amended. (Sec.
31, p. 158, Acts 1881.)
1794. Filing Proof of Service and Notice—Sixty Days—Supreme Court make Rules.]
The said proof of the service and publication of said order allowing the appeal shall -
be filed with the clerk of the Supreme court within sixty days after the making of
said order, and if not so filed the supreme court shall, on motion of the appellee or
any of the appellees, at any time after such default in filing said proof, and before the
said proof shall be filed, dismiss such appeal, and if the transcript of record be not
filed within the time limited by section 29 of this act, such appeal shall, on motion,
be dismissed. After the filing of the record and proof of service aforesaid the causé
OO º shall be proceeded with as the rules of the supreme court, or such special
rules as said court may make in such cases, and their order from time to time there-
under may require. Said Court shall have power to make any and all such rules con-
cerning such appeals as may be necessary and expedient in furtherance of this act, as
well as to preparation of the case for submission as to supplying deficiencies of rec-
ord, if any, and for avoiding unnecessary costs and delay. (Sec. 32, p. 158, Acts 1881.)
1795. Court may Dismiss Referee—Wacancy—new Appointment.]
The district court, or judge thereof in vacation, in case of the death, resignation,
illness, absence, or other disability of the referee hereby provided for, or for any mis-
conduct in him, or other good cause to such judge appearing, shall appoint such other
properly qualified person in his stead as he shall deem proper, who shall proceed with-
out delay to perform all the duties of his office, as herein pointed out, which shall re
main unperformed by his predecessor in office. (Sec. 33, p. 159, Acts 1881). -
*
420 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
*
1796. Sults must be Brought in Four Years—Injunctions in what Cases—what Districts—00m-
missioner's Duty.] w
Nothing in this act or in any decree rendered under the provisions thereof, shall
prevent any person, association or corporation from bringing and maintaining any
suit or action whatsoever hitherto allowed in any court having jurisdiction to deter.
mine any claim of priority of right to water, by appropriation thereof, for irrigation
or other purposes, at any time within four years after the rendering of a final decree
under this act in the water district in which such rights may be claimed, save that no
writ of injuction shall issue in any case restraining the use of water for irrigation in
any water district wherein such final decree shalſ have been rendered, which shall
effect [affect] the distribution or use of water in any manner adversely to the rights.
determined and established by and under such decree, but injunctions may issue to
restrain the use of any water in such district not affected by such decree, and restrain
violations of any right thereby established, and the water commissioner of every dis-
trict where such decree shall have been rendered shall continue to distribute water
according to the rights of priority determined by such decree, notwithstanding any
suits concerning water rights in such district, until in any suit between parties the
priorities between them may be otherwise determined, and such water commissioner
have official notice by order of the court or judge determining such priorities, which
notice shall be in such form and so given as the said judgé shall order. (Sec. 34, p.
159, Acts 1881). -
1797. After Four Years Suit Barred.]
After the lapse of four years from the time of rendering a final decree in any water
district, all parties whose interests are thereby affected shall be deemed and held to
have acquiesced in the same, except in case of suits before then brought, and there-
after all persons shall be forever barred from setting up any claim to priority of rights
to water for irrigation in such water district adverse or contrary to the effect of such
decree. (Sec. 35, p. 160, Acts 1881).
1798. Compensation of Referee—how Paid—His Duty to keep Account.] -
The referee appointed [as provided] in this act shall be paid the sum of $6 per day
while engaged in discharging his duties as herein provided, and also his reasonable
and necessary expenses and mileage at the rate of 10 cents for each mile actually and
necessarily traveled by him in going and coming in the discharge of his duties as such
referee, which said per diem allowance, expenses, and mileage Shaji be paid out of the
treasury of the county in which such water district shalllie, if it be contained in one
county, and if such water district shall extend into two or more counties, then in equal
parts thereof, shall be paid out of the treasury of such county into which such district
shall extend. He shall keep a just and true account of his Services, expenses, and
. mileage, and present the same from time to time to the district court, or judge in va-
cation, verifying the same by oath, and the judge, if he find the same correct and just,
shall certify his approval thereof thereon, and the same shall thereupon be allowed by
, the board of county commissioners of the county in which said water district shall
lie, but if said [water district] extend into two or more counties, he shall receive from
thé clerk of the district court separate certificates under Seal of the court, showing
the amount due him from each county, upon which certificate the board of county
commissioners of the respective counties shall allow the same on presentation thereof.
(Sec. 36, p. 160, Acts 1881.)
1799. Repeal.]
All laws and parts of laws heretofore in existence inconsistent with the provisions
of this act, shall be and the same are hereby repealed. (Sec. 37, p. 160, Acts 1881.)
1800. Sheriff not to Serve Writ outside his County.] $
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize any sheriff to serve any
writ outside the limits of his own county, or give effect to any record by Way of
notice or otherwise, in any county other than that in which it belongs. (Sec. 35, p.
106, Acts 1879.)
1801. Fees of District Clerk—How Audited-Pald.]
The fees of the clerk of the district court for a service rendered under this act shall
be paid by the counties interested in the same manner as the fees ºf the water.com-
missioners, upon the said clerk rendering his account, certified by the district judge,
to the board or boards of county commissioners of Said county or counties embracing
the water district in case of which the services shall have been rendered. (Sec. 43,
p. 108, Acts 1879.)
Session Laws, 1885. Evidence.] r *
Whenever testimony shall or may be taken in any district created by this act for
the purpose of procuring a decree as to appropriation of water and priorities thereof,
under the statutes of this State, any testimony therefore taken before any former
referee may be introduced, and shall be received as evidence. (Sec. 28, p. 259.)
4.
x. z
wATER AND IRRIGATION UNDER colorado LAws. 421
.309, Bight of Way—0ſ water—Crossing—Priority.]
Any ditch company formed under the provisions of this (corporations) act shall
have the right of way over the line named in the certificate. (Sec. 275 (85), p. 171,
G. L.
1712. Right-of Way of 0wners near Streams.] e
When any person owning claims in such locality (on the bank, margin, or
neighborhood of any stream) has not sufficient length of area exposed to said stream
to obtain a sufficient fall of water to irrigate his land, or that his farm or land used
by him for agricultural purposes is too far removed from said stream, and that he
has no water facilities on those lands, he shall be entitled to a right of way through
the farms or tracts of lands which lie between him and said stream, or the farms or
tracts of lands which lie above or below him on said stream, for the purposes herein-
before stated. (Sec. 2, p. 67, acts 1861. Sec. 2, p. 362, R. S. Sec. 1373 (2), p. 515,
G. S.)
1713. Extent of such Right of Way.]
Such right of way shall extend only to a ditch, dike, or cutting sufficient for the
purpose required. (Sec. 3, p. 67, acts 1861. Sec. 3, p. 363, R. S. Sec. 1734 (3), p.
515, G. L.) *
1715. Condemnation of Right of Way.]
Upon the refusal of the owners of tracts of land or lands through which said ditch
is proposed to run to allow of its passage through their property the person or
persons desiring to open such ditch may proceed to condemn and take the right of
way ºne, the provisions of the “Eminent Domain Act”). (Sec. 1376 (5),
p. 516, G. L. *
1716. Only one Ditch if Practicable.]
No tract or parcel of improved or occupied land in this State shall, without the
written consent of the owner thereof, be subjected to the burden of two or more irri-
gating ditches constructed for the purpose of conveying water through said property
to lands adjoining or beyond the same when the same object can feasibly and prac-
ticably be attained by uniting and conveying all the water necessary to be conveyed
through such property in one ditch. (Sec. 1, p. 164, acts 1881.)
1717.. Shortest ROute must be taken.]
Whenever any person or persons find it necessary to convey water for the purpose
of irrigation through the improved or occupied lands of another, he or they shall
select for the line of such ditch through such property the shortest and most direct
route practicable upon which said ditch can be constructed with uniform or nearly
uniform grade and discharge the water at a point where it can be conveyed to and
used upon the land or lands of the person or persons constructing such ditch. (Sec.
2, p. 164, acts 1881.)
1718. 0Wner must Permit 0thers to Enlarge.]
No person or persons having constructed a private ditch for the purposes and in
the manner hereinafter provided shall prohibit or prevent any other person or per-
sons from enlarging or using any ditch by him or them constructed in common with
him or them upon payment to him or them of a reasonable proportion of the costs of
construction of said ditch. (Sec. 3, p. 164, acts 1881, eminent domain.)
1727. Right of Way to 0wners of Wheels, etc.]
The right of way shall not be refüsed by the owner of any tract of land upon which
it is required (by those who wish to place wheels upon the bank of a stream), subject
of course to the like regulations as required for ditches, and laid down in sections
hereinbefore enumerated. (Sec. 8, pp. 68–9, acts 1861. Sec. 6, p. 364, R. S. Sec.
1377 (6), p. 516, G. L.)
$38. Ditch, etc., Company may Condemn Real Estate Needed.]
If any corporation formed under this (corporations) act for the purpose of construct-
ing a * * * ditch * * * shall be unable to agree with the owner for the pur-
chase of any real estate required for the purposes of any such corporation or company,
or the transaction of the business of the same, or for right of way, or any other law-
ful purpose connected with or necessary to the operations of such company, such cor-
Fº * acquire such title in the manner provided by law. (Sec. 304 (114), p.
182, i
339. Entry On Land to Survey, etc.]
Any company formed under the provisions of this act for the purpose of construct-
ing a * * * ch " " " may cause such examination and survey as may be
necessary to the selection of the most advantageous route, and for such purpose, by its
officers, agents, or servants, may enter upon theiands of any person or corporation,
422 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
but subject to liability for all actual damages which shall be occasioned thereby,
(Sec. 305 (115), p. 183, G. L.) * -
1724. Reservoirs—Right to water-Right of Way—Embankments, I
Persons desirous to construct and maintain reservoirs for the purpose of storing
water shall have the right to take from any of the natural streams of the State and
store away any unappropriated water not needed for immediate use for domestic or
irrigating purposes; to construct and maintain ditches for carrying such water to
and from such reservoir, and to condemn lands for such reservoirs and ditches in the
same manner provided by law for the condemnation of lands for right of way for
ditches: Provided, no reservoir with embankments or a dam exceeding ten feet in
height shall be made without first submitting the plans thereof to the county
commissioners of the county in which it is situated and obtaining their approval of
such plans. (Sec. 38, pp. 106–7, acts 1879.)
1725. Conducting Water in Natural Streams.]
The owners of any reservoir may conduct the water therefrom into and along
any of the natural streams of the State, but not so as to raise the waters thereof
above ordinary high-water mark, and may take the same out again at any point de-
sired without regard to the prior rights of others to water from said stream; but
due allowance shall be made for evaporation and scapage, the amount to be deter-
mined by the commissioners of irrigation of the district; or, if there are no such
commissioners, then by the county commissioners of the county in which the water
shall be taken out for use. (Sec. 39, p. 107, acts 1879.)
1726. Damages. *
The owners of the reservoirs shall be liable for all damages arising from leakage
or overflow of the waters therefrom, or by floods caused by breaking of the embank-
ments of such reservoirs. (Sec. 40, p. 107, acts 1879.)
312. Keeping Ditch in Repair.]
Every ditch company organized under the provisions of this (corporations) act shall
be required to keep their ditch in good condition, so that the water shall not be allowed
to escape, from the same to the injury of any mining claim, road, ditch, or other prop-
erty; and whenever it is necessary to convey any ditch over, across, or above any
lode or mining claim, or to keep the water so conveyed therefrom, the company shall,
if necessary to keep the water of said ditch out or from any claim, flume the ditch So
far as necessary to protect such claim or property from the water of said ditch. (Sec.
278 (88), pp. 172–3, G. L.)
1726. Liability for Damages.]
The owners of reservoirs shall be liable for all damages arising from leakage or
overflow of the waters therefrom, or by floods caused by the breaking of the embank-
ments of such reservoirs. (Sec. 40, p. 107, acts 1879.)
1728. Maintaining Embankments—Tail Ditch.]
The owner or owners of any ditch for irrigation or other purposes shall carefully
maintain the embankments thereof, so that the waters of such ditch may not flood
or damage the premises of others, and shall make a tail ditch so as to return the
water in such ditch with as little waste as possible into the stream from which it was
taken. (Sec. 7, p. 36, R. S., with first clause, amendment 1872, p. 144, Sec. 1, Second
clause, sup. by sec. 2, p. 78, acts 1876.)
1730. Crossing Highways—Bridge.]
Any ditch company constructing a ditch, or any individual having ditches for irri-
gation, or for other purposes, wherever the same be taken across any public highway
or public traveled road, shall put a good substantial bridge, not less than 14 feet in
preadth, over such water-course where it crosses said road. (Sec. 10, p. 364, R. S.
Sec. 1381 (10), p. 516, G. L.)
1731. Ditch must be Bridged in Three Days—Duty of Supervisor.]
When any such ditch or water-course shall be constructed across any public traveled
road, and not bridged within three days thereafter, it shall be the duty of the super-
visor of the road district to put a bridge over said ditch or water-course, of the dimen-
sions specified in section 10 of this chapter, and call on the owner or owners of the
ditch to pay the expenses of constructing such bridge. (Sec. 11, p. 364, R. S. Sec.
1382 (21), p. 517, G. L.)
1782. Proceedings against Owner for Payment—Damages.]
If the owner or owners of such ditch refuse to pay the bill of expenses so presented,
the supervisor may go before any justice of the peace in the township or precinct and
make oath to the correctness of the bill, and that the owner or owners of the ditch
refuse payment; and thereupon such justice of the peace shall issue a summons
against such owner or owners, requiring him or them to appear and answer to the
wATER AND IRRIGATION UNDER COLORADo LAws, 423
complaint of such supervisor in an action of debt for the amount sworn to be due,
such summons to be inade returnable and served, and proceedings to be had thereon
as in other cases; and in case judgment shall be given against such owner or owners
the justice shall assess, in addition to the amount sworn to be due as aforesaid, the
sum of $10 as damages arising from the delay of such owner or owners, such judg-
ment to be collected as in other cases, and to be a fund in the hands of the supervisor
of roads for the repairs of roads in such precinct or district. (Sec. 12, p. 365, R. S.
Sec. 1383 (12), p. 517, G. L.)
2988. Allowing Water to Waste on Roads.]
No person or persons, or corporation * * * shall cause waste water, or the
water from any ditch, road, drain, or ſlume or other place, to flow in or upon any road
or highway so as to damage the same, and any such person or persons or corporation
so offending or violating any of the provisions of this section or any of the Sections
of this act, for which there is no specific penalty provided, shall pay a fine of not less
than $10 nor more than $300 for each offense, and a like fine of $10 for each day that
such obstruction shall be suffered to remain in said highway, and shall also be liable
to any person or persons or corporation in a civil action for any damages resulting
therefrom ; and it shall be the duty of the road overseer in the district in which such
violation shall occur to prosecute any person, persons, corporation, or corporations
violating the provisions of this act. (As amended, p. 326, Session Laws, 1885.)
2990. Bridging Ditch at Road-Crossing.]
Any person or persons, corporation or company, owning or constructing any ditch,
race, drain, or flume, in, upon, or across any highway, shall keep the highway open
for safe and convenient travel by constructing bridges over such ditch, race, drain,
or flume ; and within five days after any ditch is constructed across, in or upon any
highway at any point thereof so as to interfere with or obstruct such highway, the
person or persons owning or constructing such ditch shall erect a good and substan-
tial bridge of not less than 20 feet in width across the same, which shall thereafter
be maintained by the county: Provided, That all such bridges which shall be of
greater length than 20 feet, shall be constructed as herein provided, and thereafter
maintained in proper condition for safe travel by the owner or owners of said ditch.
Any person or persons, corporation or company, constructing any ditch, race, drain,
or flume, in, upon, or across any highway, and failing to keep the highway open for
safe and convenient travel, as in this act provided, shall forfeit the sum of $25 to the
county for each and every day of failure to keep the same open for safe and conven-
ient travel as aforesaid. And any person or persons, corporation or company, who shall
fail to erect a good and substantial bridge across any ditch, race, drain, or flume,
within five days after the same is constructed in, upon, or across any highway, and
keep the same in proper condition and repair, as herein provided, shall forfeit the
sum of $25 to the county for each and every day of failure to erect such bridge and
keep the same in repair, as aforesaid, together with the cost of constructing there a
good and substantial bridge, or making necessary repairs, which the road overseers
of the district shall at once proceed to build or repair, and such party or parties so
neglecting shall also be liable in damages to any person or persons damaged by such
neglect. (As annended, Session Laws, 1885, p. 324.)
1733. Owner of Ditch must Prevent Waste.] •
The owner of any irrigating or mill ditch shall carefully maintain and keep the
embankments thereof in good repair, and prevent the water from wasting. (Sec. 1,
p. 78, Acts 1876. Sec. 1385 (1), p. 518, G. L.)
1734. Running ExceSS of Water Forbidden.]
During the Summer season it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to run
through his or their irrigating ditch any greater quantity of water than is absolutely
necessary for irrigating his or their said land, and for domestic and stock purposes;
it being the intent and meaning of this section to prevent the wasting and üseless
º,” running away of water. (Sec. 2, p. 78, Acts 1876. Sec. 1386 (2), p.
18, G. L.
1735. Penalty for Wielation of this Act.]
Any person who shall willfully violate any of the provisions of this act, shall, on
conviction thereof before any court having competent jurisdiction, be fined in a sum
of not less than $100. Suits for penalties under this act shall be brought in the name
of º people of the State of Colorado. (Sec. 3, p. 78, Acts 1876. Sec. 1387 (3), p.
518, G. L.)
1736. Owner Keep Head-gate—Size of Timbers.]
That the owner or owners of every irrigating ditch, flume or canal, in this State
shall be required to erect and keep in good repair a head-gate at the head of their
ditch, flume, or canal; . Such head-gate, together with the necessary embankments,
shall be of sufficient height and strength to control the water at all ordinary Stages.
424 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The frame-work of such head-gate shall be constructed of timber not less than A
inches square, and the bottom, sides, and gate or gates, shall be of plank not less thal.
2 inches in thickness. (Sec. 1, p. 165, Acts 1881.)
1737. Liability of 0wner for Neglect, Refusal.]
Owners of all ditches shall be liable for all damages resulting from their neglect or
refusal to comply with the provisions of section 1 (G. S. 1736) of this act. (Sec. 2, p.
165, Acts 1881.)
Ditch owners are also required to construct and maintain a weir or measuring de-
vice at the heads of their ditches. (Ch. XIV.)
1755. Interfering with Head-gate, etc.]
Every person who shall willfully open, close, change, or interfere with any head-
gate or water box, without authority, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con-
viction thereof shall be fined not less than $50, nor more than $300, and may be im-
prisoned not exceeding sixty days. (Sec. 44, p. 108, Acts 1879.)
1759. Destroying Head-gate, Bank, etc.]
Any person or persons who shall knowingly and willfully cut, dig, break down, or
open any gate, bank, embankment, or side of any ditch, canal, flume, feeder, or reser-
voir in which such person or persons may be a joint owner, or the property of another,
or in the lawful possession of another or others, and used for the purpose of irrigation,
manufacturing, mining, or domestic purposes with intent maliciously to injure any
person, association, or corporation, or for his or her own gain, unlawfully, with in-
tent of stealing, taking, or causing to run or pour out of such ditch, canal, reservoir,
feeder, or flume, any water for his or her own profit, benefit, or advantage, to the in-
jury of any other person, persons, association, or corporation, lawfully in the use of
such water or of such ditch, canal, reservoir, feeder, or flume, he, she or they so of—
fending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be
fined in any sum not less than $5 nor more than $300, and may be imprisoned in the
county jail not exceeding ninety days. (Sec. 1, p. 163, Acts 1881.)
1760. Jurisdiction of Justices Of the Peace.]
Justices of the peace shall have jurisdiction of all offenses under the provisions of
this act (G. S. 1759), saving to any party defendant the right to be tried by a jury,
as in other criminal cases before such justices now provided for by law; and also the
right to appeal, in manner and form as by law now, or hereafter to be provided for
by law, in criminal cases before such justices. (Sec. 2, p. 163, Acts 1881.
Session LaWS 1885. Trespass.]
Every person who shall willfully commit any trespass by entering upon the im-
proved or inclosed land of another, without the permission of the owner thereof, with
intent to cut, injure, or destroy any dam, dyke, or embankment kept or maintained
for the purpose of storing water in any lake, creek, or reservoir, shall, upon conviction
therefor, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not less than ten days nor
more than one year, or by a fine not less than $50 and not more than $1,000, or by
both such fine and imprisonment. (P. 165.)
903. Malicious Mischief.]
If any person shall unlawfully, wantonly, willfully, or maliciously cut down, break
down, level, demolish, or otherwise destroy or damage any bridge, embankment, mill-
dam, or ditch, being the property of another * * * , where the value of the per-
sonal property destroyed or injured shall exceed $20, shall, on conviction, be pun-
ished by imprisonment in the State penitentiary not more than five years, or by a
fine not exceeding $1,000; or where the value of the personal property destroyed or in-
jured shall be $20 or under, shall, on conviction, be punished by a fine not exceeding
$100, or imprisonment in the county jail not more than three months, or both such fine
and imprisonment in the discretion of the court. (As amended Session Laws 1885,
p. 167.)
3.15.]
Any person who shall willfully or maliciously damage or interfere with any " " "
ditch, flume, * * * or any of the fixtures, tools, implements, appurtenances, or
any property of any company which may be organized under the provisions of this
act, upon conviction thereof before any court of competent jurisdiction in the county
where the offense shall have been committed, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and shall be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both at the discretion of the court,
said imprisonment not to exceed one year, and said fine not to exceed $500, which
fine shall be paid into the county treasury for the use of the common schools, and
said offender shall also pay all damages that any such corporation may sustain, to-
gether with costs of suit. (Sec. 297 (107), p. 180, G. L.)
water AND IRRIGATION UNDER COLORADo LAWS. , 425
882. Polluting Stream or Ditch.] ---
If any person or persons shall hereafter throw or discharge into any stream of run-
ning water, or into any ditch or flume in this State, any obnoxious substance; such
as refuse matter from slaughter-house or § or slops from eating-houses or saloons,
or any other fleshy or vegetable matter which is subject to decay in the water, such
person or persons shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not less than
$100 nor more than $500 for each and every offense so committed. (Sec. 1, Acts 1874,
p. 99. Sec. 165, p. 307, G. L. In force Feb. 13, 1874.)
3259. Damage to Ditches, etc., by Persons Floating Timber.]
That it shall be lawful for any person or persons to float any and all kinds of tim-
|ber, such as saw logs, ties, fencing poles or posts, and firewood down any of the
streams of this State: Provided, That any person or persons desiring to float any
such timber down said streams shall first execute a bond running to the people of
each county through which such timber is floated, in a sum sufficient to cover all
damages that may be done to any bridges, dams, or irrigating ditches that are now Or
may hereafter be constructed in or across any streams of this State, such bond to be
approved by the board of county commissioners of the county, or counties through
which such timber is to be floated. (Sec. 1856 (1), p. 643, G. L.)
3472. How Measured.]
Water sold by the inch by any individual or corporation shall be measured as fol-
lows, to wit: Every inch shall be considered equal to an inch square orifice under a
5-inch pressure, and a 5-inch pressure shall be from the top of the orifice of the box
put into the banks of the ditch to the surface of the water; said boxes, or any slot
or aperture through which such water shall be measured, shall in all cases be 6
inches perpendicular, inside measurement, except boxes delivering less than 12inches,
which may be squaré, with or without slides; all slides for the same shall move hor-
izontally, and not otherwise; and said box put into the banks of ditch shall have a
descending grade from the water in ditch of not less than one-eighth of an ingh to
the foot. (Sec. 2779 (3), pp. 926–7, G. L. Sec. 6, p. 638, R. S. Amd. Sec. 1, pp. 308-9,
Acts 1874 and 1877.)
3478. Illegal Measurement.]
All persons for the purpose of weighing or measuring goods, wares, merchandise,
water, or other articles actually sold by him, not in accordance with this chapter,
shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof may be im:
prisoned not exceeding one year, or fined not exceeding $1,000, at the discretion of
the court in which the conviction shall be obtained. (Sec. 2785 (9), p. 928, G. L.
Sec. 9, p. 309, Acts 1874.)
Colorado Constitution, Art. XVI, Sec. 8. County Commissioners fix Rates for Water.]
The general assembly shall provide by law that the boards of county commissioners
in their respective counties shall have power, when application is made to them by
either party interested, to establish reasonable maximum rates to be charged for the
use of water, whether furnished by individuals or corporations.
311. When Corporation must furnish Water.] *}
Any company constructing a ditch under the provisions of this act shall furnish
water to the class of persons using the water in the way named in the certificate, in
the way the water is designated to be used, whether miners, mill men, farmers, or
for domestic use, whenever they shall have water in their ditch unsold, and shall at
all times give the preference to the use of water in said ditch to the class named in
the certificate; the rates at which water shall be furnished to be fixed by the county
commissioners as soon as such ditch shall be gompleted and prepared to furnish water.
(Sec. 277 (87), p. 172, G. L.)
1738. Regulating Charges—Proceedings before Oounty 00mmissionerS.] -
The county commissioners of each county shall, at their regular January session in
each year, hear and consider any and all applications which may be made to them
by any party or parties interested in procuring water for irrigation by purchase from
any ditch or reservoir furnishing and selling water, or proposing to furnish water for
sale, the whole or upper part of which shall lie in such county, which application
shall be supported by such affidavit or affidavits as the applicant may see proper to
present, showing reasonable cause for such board to proceed to fix the price of water
to be thereafter sold from such ditch or reservoir, and [if such board of commis-
sioners shall, upon examination of such affidavit or affidavits, or from the oaths of
witnesses in addition thereto, find that the facts sworn to show the application to be
in good faith, and that there is reasonable grounds to believe that unjust prices are,
or are likely to be, charged for water from such ditch or reservoir, they shall enter
an order fixing a day, not sooner than forty days thereafter nor later than the third
day of the [next] regular session of their board, when they will hear all parties
directly or indirectly interested in said ditch or reservoir, or in procuring water
w
426 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
therefrom for irrigation, who may appear, as well as all the testimony by witnesses
or depositions taken on notices as hereinafter provided, touching the said ditch or
reservoir, and the cost of furnishing water therefrom, at which time all persons or
corporations interested in said ditch or reservoir, as well as all interested in ob-
taining water therefrom, or in lands which may be irrigated therefrom, may appear
by themselves, their agents, or attorneys, and said commissioners shall then proceed
to take action in the matter of fixing such price of water; provided the applicant
shall, within ten days from the time of entering such order, cause a copy thereof,
duly certified, to be delivered to the owner of such ditch or reservoir, if it be owned
by one person, or each of the owners if it be owned by several persons, or to the
president, secretary, or treasurer of the company if it belongs to a corporation or as-
sociation having such officers, or if such owner can not be found he shall cause such
copy to be left at his usual place of residence, with some person or member of his
family residing there, and over fourteen years of age, and if such ditch officer cannot
be found, he shall cause such copy to be left at the office or place of business of the
company of which he is such officer, or at his residence if such company have no
place of business, and if such ditch is owned by several owners, not an incorporated
company, it shall be sufficient to serve such notice by delivering one such copy each
to a majority of them, and such applicant shall make affidavit of the manner in
which such copy or copies have been served. Depositions mentioned in section 1
hereof, to be used, before said commissioners, shall be taken before any officer in the
State authorized by law to take depositions, upon reasonable notice being given to
the opposite party of the time and place of taking such depositions. (Sec. 1, pp. 94-
5-6, Acts 1879.)
1739. Powers and Duties of Board—Subpoenas—06mpulsion—Adjournments—Examinations—
FactS—0rder—ProViso as to 00ntractS.]
Said board shall hear and examine all legal testimony or proofs offered by any of
the parties interested, as before mentioned, as well concerning the value of the con-
struction of such ditch and reservoir as the cost and expense of maintaining and
operating the same, and all matters which may affect the just price and value of
water to be furnished therefrom ; and they shall have power to issue subpoenas to
witnesses and compel their attendance, which subpoenas shall be served by the sher-
iff of the proper county when required ; , and also to compel the production of books
and papers required for evidence in as full and ample a manner as the district court
now has. They may adjourn the hearing from time to time to further the ends of
justice or suit the general convenience of parties. Upon hearing an [and] consid-
ering all the matters and facts involved in the case, the board of commissioners shall
enter an order naming and describing the ditch or reservoir with sufficient certainty,
and fixing a just price upon all water to be thereafter sold, which price shall not be
thereafter changed oftener than once in two years: Provided, That no price so fixed
shall effect [affect] the rights of parties, or their lawful assignees or grantees, who
may have contracts with the company, association, or person owning such ditch or
reservoir, or their lessees, grantees, or successors, nor the rights of such owners, les-
sees, or grantees under such contract, nor shall it in any way affect or hinder the mak-
ing of such contract. (Sec. 2, p. 96, Acts 1879.) !
1740. Right to continue Purchasing Water–Tender of Price—Stockholders—Rights, l
Any person or persons, acting jointly or severally, who shall have purchased and
used water for irrigation for lands occupied by him, her, or them, from any ditch or
reservoir, and shalſ not have ceased to do so, for the purpose or with the intent to
procure water from some other source of supply, shall have a right to continue to pur-
chase water to the same amount for his, her, or their lands, on paying or tendering the
price thereof fixed by the county commissioners as above provided; or, if no price
shall have been fixed by them, the price at which the owners of such ditch or reser-
voir may be then selling water, or did sell water during the then last preceding year.
This section shall not apply to the case of those who may have taken water as stock-
holders or shareholders after they shall have sold or forfeited their shares or stock,
unless they shall have retained a right to procure such water by contract, agreement,
or understanding, and use between themselves and the owners of such ditch, and not
then to the injury of other purchasers of water from or shareholders in [the] same ditch.
(Sec. 3, pp. 96, 97, Acts 1879.)
1741.]
The lands now irrigated, or which may be hereafter irrigated, from ditches now
taking water from the following described rivers or natural streams of the State of
Colorado, are hereby declared to constitute irrigation districts. (See 5, p.97, Acts
1879.)” &
*The act of 1879, by which the first ten districts were created, also provides: “Other
irrigation districts may be formed from time to time by the governor on petition of
parties interested.” Several districts were formed under this power and commis-
sioners appointed, and these new districts were incorporated into the new act.
wATER PROVISIONS UNDER THE LAws of color ADo. 427
For the better regulation of the distribution of water for irrigation among the sev-
eral ditches, canals, and reservoirs into which such water may be lawfully taken in
times of scarcity thereof, the water districts now or to be hereafter established by law
shall be constituted into water divisions, as follows. [Boundaries of districts are
omitted.]
1752. Water Commissioners—How Appointed—Vacancies--Removal.]
There shall be one water commissioner for each of the above-named districts and
for each district hereafter formed, who shall be appointed by the governor, to be
selected by him from persons recommended to him by the several boards of county
commissioners of the counties into which water districts may extend, and the water
commissioner so appointed shall hold his office until his successor is appointed and
qualified. The governor shall, by like selection and appointment, fill all vacancies
which may be occasioned by death, resignation, or continued absence from the dis-
trict, removal or otherwise. Said county commissioners may, from time to time,
recommend persons to be appointed as above provided, and the governor may at any
time remove any water commissioner in his discretion. (Sec. 16, pp.98, 99, Acts 1879.)
1753. Oath of 0ffice within ten dayS.]
That within ten days after his appointment, and before entering upon the duties
of his office, such water commissioner shall take and subscribe the dath of office pre-
scribed by the constitution of this State. (Sec. 17, p. 99, Acts 1879.)
1754. Duty of Water Commissioners—0pen and shut Head-gates.]
It shall be the duty of said water commissioners to divide the water in the natural
stream or streams of their district among the several ditches taking water from the
same, according to their prior rights of each respectively; in whole or in part to shut
and fasten, or cause to be shut and fastened, by order given, to any sworn assistant,
sheriff, or constable of the county in which the head of such ditch is situated, the
head-gate of any ditch or ditches heading in any of the natural streams of the dis-
trict, which, in a time of a scarcity of water, shall not be entitled to water by reason
of the priority of the rights of others below them on the same stream. (Sec. 18, p.
99, Acts 1879.)
1756. Pay of Commissioners—Duty to keep Accounts—How Paid.]
The water commissioners herein provided shall be each entitled to pay at the rate
of $5 per day for each day he shall be actually employed in the duties of his office,
not to exceed eighty days in any one year, to be paid by the county or counties in
which his irrigation district may lie. Each water commissioner shall keep a just and
true account of the time spent by him in the duties of his office, and shall present a
, true copy thereof, verified by oath, to the board of commissioners of the county in
which his district may lie, and said board of commissioners shall allow the same;
and if said irrigation district shall extend into two or more counties, then such water
commissioner shall present his account for his said services, verified as aforesaid, to
the board of county commissioners of each county into which such district extends,
and each board of county commissioners shall allow an equal part thereof. (P. 254,
Acts 1885.) s
1757. Commissioner to Appoint ASSistant—0ath—Pay.]
Said water commissioner shall have power, in case of emergency, to employ a
suitable assistant to aid him in the discharge of his duties. Such assistant shall
take the same oath as the water commissioner, and shall obey his instructions, and
shall be entitled to $3 per day for every day he is so employed, not to exceed
twenty-five days, to be paid upon the certificate of the water commissioner, in the
same manner as provided for paying water commissioners. (Sec. 41, p. 107, Acts
1879.) ,
1758. Commissioner to begin Work When called On.]
Said water commissioners shall not begin their work until they shall be called on
by two or more owners or managers, or persons controlling ditches in their several
districts, by application in writing, stating that there is necessity for their action ;
and they shall not continue performing services after the necessity therefor shali
(269.S6).
1722. Pro rata Division among 0Wners.]
If at any time any ditch or reservoir from which water is or shall be drawn for
irrigation shall not be entitled to a full supply of water from the natural stream
which supplies the same, the water actually received into and carried by such ditch,
or held in such reservoir, shall be divided among all the consumers of water from
such ditch or reservoir, as well as the owners, shareholders or stockholders thereof,
as the parties purchasing Water therefrom ; and parties taking water partly under
428 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF-ARID. LANDS.
and by virtue of holding shares, and partly by purchasing the same, to each his
share pro rata, according to the amount he, she or they (in cases in which several
consume water jointly) shall be then entitled, so that all owners and purchasers
shall suffer from the deficiency arising from the cause aforesaid each in proportion
to the amount of water which he, she or they should have received in case no such
deficiency of water had occurred. (Sec. 4, p. 97, Acts 1879.)
1807. Governor Shall Appoint—May Remove—0ſlice—Salary.]
The governor shall appoint a state hydraulic engineer, who shall hold his office
for the term of two years, or until his successor may be appointed and qualified.
The governor may at any time, upon good cause shown, remove said state engineer.
Said state engineer shall have general supervision over the water companies [com-
missioners] of the different water districts in the State. He shall have his office at
the Statescapitol, in an office to be provided for him by the secretary of state, and
be subject to his direction and control ; who shall also furnish him with suitable
furniture, postage, and such proper and necessary books and instruments as will
best enable him to discharge the duties of his office. He shall be paid a salary of
$2,000 per annum, payable quarterly, by the state treasurer, on warrants drawn by
the state auditor. No person shall be appointed as such hydraulic engineer who is
not known to have such theoretical knowledge and practical skill and experience as
shall fit him for the position. (Sec. 6, pp, 119–20, Acts 1881.)
1808.—Engineer shall Measure Streams—Collect Facts—Report on Reservoirs—Record.]
Said state engineer shall make, or cause to be made, careful measurements and
calculations of the maximum and minimum flow in cubic feet per second of water in
each stream from which water shall be drawn for irrigation, as may be best for
affording information for irrigating purpose, commencing with those streams most
used for irrigation; also, to collect facts and make report as to a system of reservoirs
for the storage of water, their location, capacity and cost; and he shall keep proper
and full records of his work, observations and calculations. (Sec., 7 p. 120, Acts
1881.)
1809–0ath—Bond—00ndition.]
Said state engineer shall, before entering on the discharge of his duties, take and
subscribe an oath before some officer authorized by law to administer oaths, to faith-
fully perform the duties of his office, and file with the secretary of state said oath
and his official bond, in the penal sum of $2,000, with sureties to be approved by the
secretary of state, and conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his of
fice, and for delivering to his successor or other officer authorized to receive the same,
all moneys, in plements, books and other property belonging to the State then in his
hands or under his control, or with which he may be legally chargeable as such of
ficer. (Sec. 8, pp. 120–1, Acts 1881.)
1810. May appoint Assistants—Pay—Certificate—Warrant.]
Said state engineer will have power to employ assistants at an expense not to ex-
ceed $1,500 in any one year, who shall be paid out of any moneys appropriated for
that purpose, on certificate of said state engineer, showing the services rendered and
the amount therefor [thereof, and on presentation of such certificate to the state
auditor by the person entitled thereto, he shall issãe his warrant on the state treas-
turer for the amount thereof, to be paid out of any appropriation as aforesaid, and not
otherwise. (Sec. 9, p. 277, Acts 1883.) -
1811. Annual Report—When to be made.]
Said state engineer shall prepare and render to the government [governor] yearly,
and oftener if required, full and true reports of his work, touching all the matters
and duties devolving upon him by virtue of his office, which report shall be delivered
at the time when the reports of other State officers are required by law to be made,
in order that they may be laid before the general assembly at each regular session
thereof. (Sec. 10, p. 121, Acts 1881. .”
1812. Shall measure Ditches’ Feeders—Reservoirs.]
Said state engineer shall, on request of any party interested, on payment of his
per diem, charges, and reasonable expenses, measure and ascertain the carrying capac-
ity of any ditch, canal, or feeder, or any reservoir, hereafter constructed or enlarged,
and give to the party or parties requiring his services an official certificate of the size,
and carrying capacity of such ditch, canal, or feeder, in cubic feet per second, as he
shall finá it to be at the time of measuring the same. (Sec. 11, p. 121, Acts 1881.)
1813. Owners of Ditches shall construct Weirs—State Engineer shall compute Water per second.]
For the more accurate and convenient measurement of any Water appropriated pur-
suant to any judgment or decree rendered by any court establishing the claims of pri-
ority of any #. canal, or reservoir, the owners thereof shall construct and main-
tain, under the supervision of the state engineer, a measuring weir or other device
**.
wATER PROVISIONS UNDER THE LAWS OF COLORADO. 429
**
for measuring the flow, in cubic feet per second, the water at the head of such ditch,
-canal, or reservoir, or as near thereto as practicable. The state engineer shall com-
pute and arrange in tabular form the amount of water that will pass such weir or
measuring device in cubic feet per second, at the different stages thereof, and he shall
furnish a copy of a statement thereof to any water commissioners having control of
sach ditch, canal, or reservoir. (Sec. 12, pp. 121-2, Acts 1881.)
308. What Certificate must 00ntain.]
Whenever any three or more persons associate under the provisions of this act to
form a company for the purpose of constructing a ditch for the purpose of conveying
water to any mines, mills or lands, to be used for mining, milling, or irrigating of
lands, they shall, in their certificate, in addition to the matters required in section 2
of this (corporation) act, specify as follows: The stream or streams from which the
water is to be taken out; the point or place on said stream at or near which the water
is to be taken out; the line of said ditch, as near as may be; and the use to which
the said water is to be applied. (Sec. 274 (84), p. 171, G. L.)
309. Right of Way and Water.]
Any ditch company formed under the provisions of this act shall have the right
of way over the line named in the certificate, and shall also have the right to run the
water of the stream or streams named in the certificate through their ditch ; Provided,
That the line proposed shall not interfere with any other ditch whose rights are prior
to those acquired under this act and by virtue of said certificate, except the right to
cross by flume; nor shall the water of any stream be diverted from its original channel
to the detriment of any person or persons who may have priority of right. (Sec. 275
(85), p. 171, G. L.) |
310. ASSèSSment of St.0Ck.]
Any corporation owning any ditch or canal for conveying, or reservoirs for storing
water for irrigation purposes, and the capital stock being fully subscribed and paid
up, and when such corporation shall have no income sufficient to keep its ditch, canal
or reservoir in good repair, such corporation shall have power to levy an assessment
upon the capital stock thereof, to be levied pro rata on all the shares of stock, pay-
able in money or labor, or both, for the purpose of keeping the property of such
corporation in good repair, and for the payment of any claim against said corporation
not otherwise provided for. But no such assessment shall be made unless the question
of making such assessment shall first be submitted to the stockholders of such cor-
poration at an annual meeting, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, and a
majority of the stockholders, either in person or by proxy, voting thereon, shall vote
in favor of making such assessments; and an action may be maintained to recover any
assessment against any delinquent shareholder as provided in section 2 of this act.
(Sec. 276 (86), p. 172 G. L.) *
313. 00nsolidation.] * -
Companies organized under the laws of this State, holding ditches or canals by
virtue of their organization, which derive their supply of water for their respective
ditches or canals from the same head-gate or gates, or the same source or sources of
supply, may consolidate their interests and unite their respective companies under
one name and management, by filing a certificate of that fact in the office of the
secretary of this State, and a counterpart thereof in the office of the recorder of the
county or counties in which such ditches or canals are situated, which certificates
shall be signed by the presidents of the companies so uniting, with the common seals
of the companies affixed thereto, and shall set forth the fact of such union of interests,
* §: º name of the new company thus formed. (Sec. 1, Acts 1876, p. 68—omit-
ed in G. L.) *
1761. When Free from Taxation.]
All ditches used for the purpose of irrigation, and that only when the water is not
sold for the purpose of deriving a revenue therefrom, be, and the same are hereby,
declared free from all taxation, whether for State, county, or municipal purposes.
(Sec. 1, p. 143, Acts 1872. Sec. 1384 (1), p. 517, G. L.)
3472. Measurement of Water.]
Water sold by the inch by any individual or corporation shall be measured as fol.
lows, to Wit: Every inch shall be considered equal to an inch square orifice under a
5-inch pressure, and a 5-inch pressure shall be }. the top of the orifice of the box
put into the banks of the ditch to the surface of the water; said boxes or any slot or
aperture through which such water shall be measured shall in all cases be 6 inches
perpendicular, inside measurement, except boxes, delivering less than 12 inches,
which may be square, with or without slides; all slides for the same shall mové
horizontally, and not otherwise; and said box put into the banks of ditch shall have
*...* grade from the water in ditch of not less than. one-eighth of an inch to
6) IOO15,
430 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
3312. May Construct Reservoirs, Ditches, etc.]
The city council and board of trustees in towns shall have the following powers:
Seventy-second. They shall have power to construct public wells, cisterns, and reser-
Voirs in the streets and other public and private places within the city or town, or
beyond the limits thereof, for the purpose of supplying the same with water; to pro-
vide proper pumps and connecting pipes or ditches; to regulate the distribution of
Water for irrigating and other purposes, and to levy an equitable and just tax upon
all consumers of water for the purpose of defraying the expense of such improve-
ments.
Seventy-third. They shall have the right and privilege of taking water in sufficient
quantity for the purpose hereinbefore mentioned, from any stream, creek, gulch, or
spring in the State: Provided, That if the taking of such water in such quantity shall
materially interfere with or impair the vested right of any person or persons or cor-
poration heretofore acquired, residing upon such creek, gulch, or stream, or doing any
milling or manufacturing business thereon, they shall first obtain the consent of such
person or persons or corporations, or acquire the right of domain by condemnation,
as prescribed by the constitution and laws upon that subject, and make full compen-
sation or satisfaction for all the damages thereby occasioned to such person or per-
Sons or corporation.
Seventy-fourth. When it shall be deemed necessary by any municipal corporation to
enter upon or take private property for any of the above uses, the same shall be
examined, appraised, and the damages thereon assessed, and the proceedings in con-
nection there with shall be in all respects the same as is now or may hereafter be pro-
vided by general law for the taking of private property for public or private use.
(Sec. 2655 (14), pp., 879–892, G. L.)
4317. May Lease or Purchase Canal.]
Any incorporated town or city in this State shall have power to purchase or lease
any canal or ditch already constructed, or which may hereafter be constructed, and
all the rights, privileges, franchises of any person or persons, or corporations owning
the same or having any interest or right therein, and to hold or operate the same in
the same manner as the persons or corporation from whom the same may be pur-
chased or leased might otherwise do: Provided, That such purchase or lease shall be
made for the purpose of supplying, by said ditch or canal, water for the use of said
city or town: And provided further, That a majority of the qualified electors of such
city or town, who shall vote at any regular election which may be held for the elec-
tion of town officers, shall vote in favor of said purchase. (Sec. 1, p. 198, Acts 1879.)
3418. Obligations—Repair—Management.] *
Any town or city making such purchase or lease shall thereby assume all obliga-
tions and other duties which by law devolve upbm the owner or owners of such ditch
or canal, of whom the same may be purchased or leased by virtue of this act, and
shall have power to repair, improve, or enlarge the same, or any flume, dam, or gate
connected there with, and for such objects may levy and collect taxes in the same
manner as other taxes are levied and collected by law. The management of such
ditch or canal shall be under the control of the board of trustees or councils, as the
case may be, of such city or town. (Sec. 2, pp. 198,19, Acts 1879.)
A municipal corporation will, of course, have the same general rights, and be sub-
ject to the same general liabilities and duties as any other owner of a ditch or reser-
WOII’.
2724. Sale of Arid Lands Conditioned on the Construction of Ditches, etc.]
For the purpose of encouraging cultivation and the making of irrigation ditches, the
State board of land commissioners are hereby authorized to sell at public sale, at not
less than the appraised value, not more than one-half of any tract of arid land be-
longing to the State, except the school land, in alternate quarter sections as nearly
as may be, to any responsible person or corporation, on condition that said person or
corporation dig an irrigation ditch in such location, and of sufficient capacity to fur-
nish water for the entire tract. All contracts for the sale of State lands under the
provisions of this section shall be drawn by the attorney-general, and signed by the
governor and the secretary of the board, in behalf of the State, and by the other
parties in interest; and in no case shall the titles to any of said lands pass from the
State until such ditch is completed in a manner Satisfactory to the State board, and
the purchasers have given, in addition to such price as may be fixed by the State
board, a suitable contract or agreement, secured by a sufficient bond, that they will
furnish water for the remaining portion of the tract of land, as aforesaid, at not to
succeed [exceed] such rates as the State board may agree. Upon the fulfillment of .
the above conditions patent may issue for not more than one-half of said tract, and
the remaining portion of said tract may be subsequently disposed of in the same man
ner as other State lands. . (Sec. 8, p. 226, Acts 1881.)
f -
THE MORE RECENT LEGISLATION OF COLORADO. 431
/ r
2744. Sale of Lands Conditioned on the Construction of Ditches, etc.]
The State board of land commissioners may sell in parcels of not more than 5,000
acres, at public sale, at not less than its appraised value, any of the lands granted to
the State for public improvements, under the act approved September 4, 1841, condi-
tioned upon the location of colonies thereon, or the construction of extensive lines of
ditches covering such lands: Provided, That not more than one-half of any one sec-
tion of land shall be sold, in alternate half sections: And provided further, That every
alternate one-half section unsold shall not be sold for three years thereafter. (Sec.
2196 (22), p. 728, G, L.)
Sec. 1. Purification of Water—00mmission.]
By and with the consent of the Senate, the governor shall appoint a commission,
consisting of two persons, as follows: One person engaged in farming in this State
where irrigation is practiced, and one person engaged in mining in the State. Such
commission shall make practical and Scientific tests and experiments in attempting
to settle and purify the water after being used by stamp mills and smelters, and shall
report the results of such tests and experiments to the next general assembly of this
State: Provided, That all scientific and chemical tests shall be made by the employés of
the State school of mines, without any expense to the State : Provided further, That
the commissioners shall receive no compensation, other than their actual expenses,
which shall in no event exceed the sum appropriated by this act.
SEC. 2. The sum of $600, or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appro-
priated to defray the expenses incurred in carrying out the provisions of this act.
(Session Laws, 1885, p. 260.)
316. Flume—What Certificate Shall Specify.]
When any company shall organize under the provisions of this act to form a com-
pany for the purpose of constructing a flume, their certificate, in addition to the
matters required in the second section of this act (G. S. 238), shall specify as follows:
The place of beginning, the terminus, and the route as near as may be, and the pur-
pose for which such flume is intended, and when organized, according to the pro-
visions of this act, said company shall have the right of way over the line proposed in
such certificate for such flume, provided it does not conflict with the rights of any
former fluming, ditching, or other company. (Sec. 279 (89), p. 173, G. L.)
COLORADO STATUTES, 1888.
AN ACT to regulate the mode of fixing the rates of compensation by boards of county commissioners
for water furnished and delivered for irrigation and other lawful purposes from ditches, canals, con-
i. and reservoirs, and to repeal laws inconsistent therewith, and punish offenses contrary
theretO.
Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Colorado :
SEC. 1. The county commissioners of each county shall, at their regular sessions in
each year, and at such other sessions as they, in their discretion, may deem proper,
in view of the irrigation and harvesting season and the convenience of all parties
interested, hear and consider all applications which may be inade to them by any
party or parties interested either in furnishing and delivering for compensation in
any manner, or in procuring for such compensation water for irrigation, mining,
milling, manufacturing, or domestic purposes from any ditch, canal, conduit, or res-
ervoir, the whole or any part of which shall lie in such county; which application
shall be supported by such affidavits as the applicant or applicants may present,
showing reasonable cause for such board of county commissioners to proceed to fix
the rate of compensation for water to be thereafter delivered from such ditch, canal,
conduit, or reservoir within such county.
SEC. 2. Every such board of commissioners shall, upon examination of such affi-
davit or affidavits, or from the oaths of witnesses in addition thereto, if they find
that the facts SWorm to show the application to be in good faith and that there are
reasonable grounds to believe that unjust rates of compensation are, or are likely to
be charged or demanded, for water from such ditch, canal, conduit, or reservoir
shall enter an order fixing a day not sooner than twenty days thereafter, nor later
than the third day of the next regular session of their board, when they will hear all
parties interested in such ditch or water works as aforesaid, or in procuring water
therefrom for any of the said uses, as well as all documentary or oral evidence or
depositions, taken according to law, touching the said ditch or other work as afore-
said, and the cost of furnishing water therefrom. -
SEC. 3. At the time so fixed all persons interested as aforesaid on either side of
the controversy, or in lands which may be irrigated from such ditch or other work
aforesaid, may appear by themselves, their agents, or attorneys, and said commis-
432 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
*
Sioners shall then proceed to take action in the matter of fixing such rates of com-
pensation for the delivery of water: Provided, The applicant or applicants—if the ap-
plication be made by a party or parties as aforesaid, desirous of procuring water—
shall, within ten days from the time of entering the said order fixing the hearing,
cause a copy of such order, duly certified, to be delivered to the owner or owners of
such ditch, canal, conduit, or reservoir, or to the president, secretary, or treasurer of
the company, if it be owned by a corporation or association having such officers. If
any such owner can not be found, a copy shall be left at his usual place of abode,
with some person residing there, over twelve years of age, and if such officer of any
corporation or association can not be found, such copy shall be left at the usual place
of business of the company of which he is such officer, or at his residence, if such
Company have no place of business, and if such ditch or other work aforesaid shall
be owned by several owners, not being an incorporated company, it shall be suffi-
cient to serve such notice by delivering one copy each to a majority of them. If the
applicant be the owner or party controlling such ditch, canal, conduit, or reservoir,
such notice shall be given by causing printed copies of such order, in hand-bill form,
in conspicuous type, to be posted securely in ten or more public places throughout
the district watered from such ditch or other work aforesaid—if the water be used
for irrigation—and one copy shall be posted for every mile in length of such ditch;
but if such ditch or other work be for the supply of water for milling or mining, it
shall be sufficient to serve such copy on the parties then taking water therefºom. The
person or persons making such service or posting such printed copies shall make
affidavit of the manner in which the same has been done, which affidavit shall be
filed with the said board of county commissioners. Depositions mentioned in section 2
hereof, to be used before said commissioners, shall be taken before any officer in the
State authorized by law to take depositions, upon reasonable notice being given to
the opposite party of the time and place of taking the same.
SEC. 4. Said board of commissioners may adjourn or postpone any hearing from
time to time, as may be found necessary, or for the convenience of parties, or of public
business; and they shall hear and examine all legal testimony or proofs offered by
any party interested as aforesaid, as well concerning the original cost and present
value of works and structure of such ditch, canal, conduit, or reservoir, as the cost
and expense of maintaining and operating the same, and all matters which may
affect the establishing of a reasonable maximum rate of compensation for water to be
furnished and delivered therefrom; and they may issue subpoenas for witnesses,
which subpoenas shall be served by the sheriff of the county, who shall receive the
lawful fees for all such service; and said board may also issue a subpoena for the por-
duction of all books and papers required for evidence before them. Upon hearing
and considering all the evidence and facts and matters involved in the case said
board of commissioners shall enter an order describing the ditch, canal, conduit, res-
ervoir, or other work in question with sufficient certainty, and fixing a just and rea-
sonable rate of compensation for water to be thereafter delivered from such ditch or
other work as last aforesaid within the county in which such commissioners act;
and such rate shall not be changed within two years from the time when they shall
be so fixed, unless upon good cause shown. The district court of the proper county,
or the judge thereof in vacation, may, in case of refusal to obey the subpoena of the
board of county commissioners, compel obedience thereto, or punish for refusal to
obey, after hearing, as in cases of attachment for contempt of such district court.
Sitc. 5. Every person who shall swear or affirm falsely in any matter or testify
falsely after being duly sworn or having affirmed as a witness in any proceeding pro-
vided for in this act shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and on conviction shall be
punished accordingly.
SEC. 6. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed;
but such repeal shall not work any interference with any proceeding by any board of
county commissioners now pending, saving that any such proceeding may, at the re-
quest of either party, be carried on to completion under the provisions hereof.
SEC. 7. In consequence of the near approach of the irrigating season it is deemed
that an emergency exists, and therefore this act shall take effect from and after the
time of its approval.
Approved and in force April 4, 1887.
AN ACT to define, prohibit, punish, and restrain extortion and other abuses in the management of
ditches, canals, and reservoirs.
Be it enacted by the General A836mbly of the State of Colorado :
SEC. 1. It shall not be lawful for any person owning or controlling, or claiming to
own orcontrol, any ditch, canal, or reservoir carrying or storing, or designed for the
carrying or storing, of any water taken from any natural stream or, lake within this
State to be furnished or délivered for compensation for irrigation, mining, milling, or
domestic purposes to persons not interested in such ownership or control, to demand,
***
THE MORE RECENT LEGISLATION OF COLORADO. 433
bargain for, accept, or receive from any person, who may apply for water for any of
..he aforesaid purposes, any money or other valuable thing whatever, or any promise
or agreement therefor, directly or indirectly, as royalty, bonus, or premium, prerequi-
site or condition precedent to the right or privilege of applying or bargaining for or
procuring such water; but such water shall be furnished, carried, and delivered upon
the payment or tender of the charges fixed by the county commissioners of the proper
county, as is or may be provided by law. Any and all moneys, and every valuable
thing or consideration of whatsoever kind which shall be so as aforesaid demanded,
charged, bargained for, accepted, received, or retained contrary to the provisions of
this section shall be deemed and held an additional and corrupt rate, charge, or con-
sideration for the water intended to be furnished and delivered therefor, or because
thereof, and wholly extortionate and illegal, and when paid or delivered, or surren-
dered may be recovered back by the party or parties paying, delivering, or surrender-
ing the same from the party to whom or for whose use the same shall have been paid,
delivered, or surrendered, together with all costs of suit, including reasonable fees of
attorneys of plaintiff, by proper action in any court having jurisdiction.
SEC. 2. Every person owning or controlling, or claiming to own or control, any ditch,
canal, or reservoir, as is mentioned in the first section of this act, who shall, after de-
mand in writing made upon him for the supply or delivery of water for irrigation,
mining, milling, or domestic purposes, to be delivered from the ditch, canal, or reser-
voir owned, possessed, or controlled by him, and after tender of the lawful rate of com-
pensation therefor in lawful money, demand, require, bargain for, accept, receive, or
retain from the party making such application any money or other thing of value, or
any promise or contract or any valuable consideration whatever, as such royalty,
bonus, premium, prerequisite, or condition precedent, as is by the provisions of the
said first section of this act prohibited, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and
on conviction thereof shall be punished by fine of not less than one hundred dollars
nor more than five thousand dollars, or imprisonment for a term not less than three
months nor more than one year, or both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion
of the court.
SEC. 3. Every person owning or controlling, or claiming to own or control any
ditch, canal, or reservoir such as is mentioned in the first section of this act, who
shall, after demand in writing made upon him for the supply or delivery of water for
irrigation, mining, milling, or domestic purposes, to be delivered from the ditch,
canal, or reservoir owned, possessed, or controlled by him, and after tender of the
lawful rate of compensation therefor in lawful money, refuse to furnish or carry and
deliver from such ditch, canal, or reservoir, any water so applied for, which water
can or may be by use of reasonable diligence in that behalf and within the carrying
or storage capacity of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, be lawfully furnished and
delivered, without infringement of prior rights, shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by fine of not less than one
hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or imprisonment for a term of
not less than three months nor more than one year, or both such fine and imprison-
ment in the discretion of the court.
SEC. 4. When any corporation in defiance or by attempted evasion of the provisions
of this act, shall after tender of the compensation hereinbefore provided for, refuse to
deliver water such as is mentioned in the third section of this act, to any person
lawfully entitled to apply therefor, it shall be the duty of the attorney-general, upon
request of the county commissioners of the proper county, or upon his otherwise
receiving due notice thereof, to institute and prosecute to judgment and final deter-
mination proceedings, in quo warranto for the forfeiture of the corporate rights,
privileges, and franchises of any such corporation so offending, or by mandamus or
other proper proceedings to compel it to its duty in that behalf.
SEC. 5. The word person as used in this act shall include corporations and associa-
tions and the plural as well as the singular number; and every officer of a corporation
or member of an association or co-ownership, and every agent violating any of the
provisions of this act, shall be liable to restore the unlawful consideration extorted,
and be punishable under the penal provisions of this act, the same as if the thing
done in disobedience to its provisions were done for his own sole benefit and
advantage,
SEC. 6, All laws and parts of laws in conflict with any of the provisions of this act
are hereby repealed.
Approved, April 4, 1887. In force, July 3, 1887.
138 A L–WOL III 28
* i &
434 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
AN ACT to amend section 42 (16), chapter LVII, of the general statutes of the State of Colorado,
entitled “Irrigation,” requiring the water commissioners to give bond in an amount to be fixed by
the board of county commissioners, and providing for the governor to fix the amount of such bond
in the event that the county commissioners disagree thereon.
Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Colorado :
SEC. 1. That section 42, of chapter 57, of the general statutes of the State of Col-
orado, entitled “Irrigation,” the same being general section 1752 thereof, be, and the
same is hereby, amended so as to read as follows:
SEC. 42. There shall be one water commissioner for each of the above named districts,
and for each district hereafter formed, who shall be appointed by the governor, to be
selected by him from persons recommended to him by the several boards of county
commissioners of the counties into which water districts may extend, and the water
commissioner so appointed shall, before entering upon his duties, give a good and suf-
ficient bond for the faithful discharge of his duties, with not less than three sureties,
in a sum not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars; the
amount of said bond to be fixed by the county commissioners and approved by the
governor and state engineer. The commissioner so appointed shall hold his office
until his successor is appointed and qualified: Provided, however, that if such water
district shall be embraced in more than one county, and the several counties in
which such water district is situated disagree as to the amount of the bond as herein
required of water commissioners, then and in that event the governor shall fix the
amount thereof, with the same effect as though fixed by the county commissioners.
SEC. 2. The governor shall, by like selection and appointment, fill all vacancies
which may be occasioned by death, resignation, or continued absence from the dis-
trict, removal or otherwise. Said county commissioners may, from time to time,
recommend persons to be appointed as above provided; and the governor may at
any time remove any water commissioner, in his discretion.
Approved March 15, 1887. In force June 13, 1887.
AN ACT regulating the distribution of water, and the superintendence of canals or ditches used for
the purpose of irrigation, and providing a penalty for the violation thereof.
Pe it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Colorado:
SEC. 1. Every person or company owning or controlling any canal or ditch used for
the purposes of irrigation shall, during the time from April 15th, to November 1st, in
each year, keep a flow of water therein, so far as may be reasonably practicable for
the purpose of irrigation, sufficient to meet the requirements of all such persons as
are properly entitled to the use of water therefrom, to the extent, if necessary, to
which such persons may be entitled to water, and no more : , Provided, however, That
whenever the rivers or public streams, or sources from which the water is obtained,
are not sufficiently free of ice, or the volume of water therein is too low and inad-
equate for that purpose, then such canal or ditch shall be kept with as full a flow of
water therein as may be practicable; subject, however, to the rights of priorities
from the streams or other sources, as provided by law, and the necessity of cleaning,
repairing, and maintaining the same in good condition. ſº
SEC. 2. The owners or persons in control of any canal or ditch used for irrigating
purposes shall maintain the same in good order and repair, ready to receive water by
April 15th in each year, so far as can be accomplished, by the exercise of reasonable
care and diligence, and shall construct the necessary outlets in the banks of the canal
or ditch for a proper delivery of the water to persons having paid up shares, or who
have purchased rights to the use of the water: Provided, however, That a multiplicity
of outlets in the canal or ditch shall at all times be avoided, so far as the same shall
be reasonably practicable, and the location of the same shall be under the control of,
and shall be at the most convenient and pººl. points consistent with the protec-
tion and safety of the ditch for the distribution of water among the various claimants
thereof; and such location shall be under the control of a superintendent.
SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of those owning or controlling such canals or ditches
to appoint a superintendent, whose duty it shall be to measure the water from such
canaſ or ditch through the outlets, to those entitled thereto according to his or her
pro rata share. g s = | * * *
SEC. 4. Any superintendent or any person having charge of the said ditch who shall
willfully neglect or refuse to deliver water as in this act, provided, or any person or
persons who shall prevent or interfere with the ºp. delivery of water to the person
or persons having the right thereto, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon convic-
tion thereof j be subject to a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hundred
dollars for each offense, or imprisonment not exceeding one month, or by both such fine
and imprisonment, and the money thus collected shall be paid into the general fund
of the county in which the misdemeanor has been committed, and the owner or own-
ers of such ditches shall be liable in damages to the person or persons deprived of the
use of the water to which they were entitled, as in this act provided.
THE MORE RECENT LEGISLATION OF COLORADO. 435
SEC. 5. Any water commissioner, or his deputy or assistant, who shall willfully neg-
lect or refuse, after being called upon in accordance with section 1758 of the general
statutes of the State, to promptly measure water from the stream or other source of
supply into the irrigating canals or ditches in his district, according to their respect-
ive priorities, to the extent to which water may be actually necessary for the irriga-
tion of lands under such canals or ditches, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and shall be subject to the same penalty as provided in section four of this act.
SEC. 6. In all cases declared misdemeanors by this act, any justice of the peace of
the county in which the offense was committed, may, upon complaint being made as
is now required by law, issue a warrant directed to any proper officer of the county,
for the arrest of any person so charged with any such misdemeanor, and upon the ar-
rest of such person or persons, the justice of the peace before whom such person or
persons may be brought for trial shall hear and determine the cause, and if he find
the accused guilty, shall assess the fine, and if imprisonment be a portion of the sen-
tence, then to fix the term of imprisonment, or both, as provided in section 4 of this
act: Provided, The accused may have a trial by jury, which shall be summoned as in
cases before justices of the peace for assault and battery.
Approved March 19, 1887. In force June 17, 1887.
AN ACT providing for the appointment of superintendents of irrigation for the water divisions of this
State; fixing their compensation and providing for the payment thereof; prescribing their duties,
and requiring a bond for the faithful performance of such; requiring clerks of district courts to
º superintendents with certain certified decrees, and providing for the payment of such
CIOTRS’ 1688.
Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Colorado:
SEC. 1. That the governor shall appoint a superintendent of irrigation for each of
the water divisions now existing within the State, or which may hereafter be created.
Such superintendents of irrigation to hold office for a period of two years from the date
of their respective appointments, or until their successors may be appointed and quali-
fied. The governor may at any time in his discretion remove said superintendents of
irrigation, or any of them and appoint others in their stead for the remainder of said
term of two years: Provided, That the governor shall not appoint a superintendent of
irrigation in any district [division] until the board of county commissioners of some
one or more of the counties whose territory or any part of whose territory is included
in such water district [division] shall have at a meeting regularly called and held,
adopted a resolution requesting such appointment to be made, and have had the same
certified to the governor.
SEC. 2. Said superintendent of irrigation shall have general control over the water
commissioners of the several districts within his division. He shall, under the general
supervision of the State engineer, execute the laws relative to the distribution of water
in accordance with the rights of priority of appropriation as established by judicial de-
cree, and perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the State engineer.
SEC. 3. Said superintendent of irrigation shall, in the distribution of water, be gov-
erned by the regulations of this act and acts that are now in force, but, for the better
discharge of his duties, he shall have the authority to make such other regulations to
secure the equal and fair distribution of water, in accordance with the rights of pri-
ority of appropriation as may in hisjudgment be needed in his division: Provided, Such
regulations shall not be in violation of any part of this act, or other laws of the State,
but shall be merely supplementary to and necessary to enforce the provisions of the
general laws and amendments thereto.
SEC. 4. Any person, ditch company or ditch owner who may deem himself injured
or discriminated against by any such order or regulation of such superintendent of
irrigation, shall have the right to appeal from the same to the State engineer, by filing
with the State engineer a copy of the order or regulation complained of, and a state.
ment of the mannerin which the same injuriously affects the petitioner's interest. The
State engineer shall, after due notice, hear whatever testimony may be brought for-
ward by the petitioner, either orally or by way of affidavits, and through the super-
;. of irrigation shall have power to suspend, amend or confirm the order com-
plained Or.
SEC. 5. Said superintendent of irrigation shall commence the discharge of his duties
in his division as soon as the first water commissioner in any district within his divis-
ion shall be called out, and shall continue to discharge his duties until the last water
commissioner in any district of his division ceases to be needed. Each water commis-
sionershall report immediately to the superintendent of irrigation of his division when
he is called out and when he ceases to be needed, and shall, during the continuance of
his duties, be under the control of the superintendent of irrigation of his division. The
superintendent of irrigation shall receive as compensation five dollars per day for every
day during which he is employed in the discharge of his duty. -
SEC. 6. Within thirty days after the appointment of said superintendent of irriga-
tion, it shall be his duty to give bond to the amount of ten thousand dollars for the
436 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
;
faithful discharge of his duty, said bond to be approved by the board of county com-
missioners of the county wherein said superintendent of irrigation may reside, and to
be filed in the office of the county clerk and recorder of such county.
SEC. 7. Within thirty days after his appointment, said superintendent of irrigation
shall send to the clerk of the district court, within his division, of such counties as
have had rendered by the district court of such county, judicial decrees fixing the
priorities of appropriation of water for irrigation purposes for any water district, a
notification of his appointment to such office, and shall request of the said clerk a cer-
tified copy of every decree of the district court establishing priorities of appropriation
of water used for irrigation purposes within that district. Thereupon it shall be the
duty of the clerk within ten days after the receipt of such request from said super-
intendent of irrigation, to prepare a certified copy of all decrees of such district
court establishing priorities of water rights made within that district, under the pro-
visions of the general statutes of the State of Colorado, and transmit the same to the
superintendent of irrigation requesting it. Said superintendent of irrigation shall
then cause to be prepared a book to be entitled “The register of priorities of appro-
priations of water rights for water division No. , State of Colorado,” within
which he shall enter and preserve such certified copies of decree. Said superintend-
ent of irrigation shall then, from such certified copies of decree, make out a list of all
the ditches, canals and reservoirs entitled to appropriations of water within his di-
vision, arranging and numbering the same in consecutive order according to the dates
of their respective appropriations within his division, and without regard to the
number such ditches, canals and reservoirs may bear within their respective water
districts. Such superintendent of irrigation shall then enter from his register a tab-
ulated statement of all the ditches, canals and reservoirs in his division, whose prior-
ities have been decreed, which statement shall contain the following information
concerning each ditch, canal and reservoir arranged in separate columns: The name
of the ditch, canal or reservoir, its number in his division, the district in which it is
situated, the number of it in its proper district, and the number of cubic feet of water
per second to which it is entitled, and such other and further information as he may
deem useful to the proper discharge of his duty. In case any decrees of court estab-
lishing priorities of appropriation of water for irrigation purposes are made after the
transmittal of the copy of previous decrees to the superintendent of irrigation, it
shall be the duty of the clerk of the court wherein such decree is rendered, to trans-
mit to the superintendent of irrigation of the division within which such county, is
situated, within ten days after it is rendered, a copy of such decree, and the superin-
tendent of irrigation shall enter the same in his register. Such register to be filed
and kept in the office of the State engineer.
SEC. 8. Said superintendent of irrigation shall have the right to call out any water
commissioner of any water district within his division at any time he may deem it
necessary, and he shall have the power to perform the regular duties of water commis-
Sioner in all the districts within his division.
SEC. 9. All water commissioners shall make reports to the superintendent of irriga-
tion of their division as often as may be deemed necessary by said Superintendent.
Said reports shall contain the following information : The amount of water necessary
to supply all the ditches, canals and reservoirs of that district; the amount of water
actually coming into the district to supply such ditches, canals and reservoirs; whether
such supply is on the increase or decrease; what ditches, canals and reservoirs are at
that time without their proper supply; the probability as to what the supply will be
during the period before the next report will be required; and such other and further
information as the superintendent of irrigation of that division may suggest. Said
superintendent of irrigation shall carefuſly file and preserve such reports, and shall
from them ascertain what ditches, canals and reservoirs are, and what are not, receiv-
ing their proper supply of water, and if it shall appear that in any district in that
division any ditch, canal or reservoir is receiving water whose priority post dates that
of the ditch, canal or reservoir in another district, as ascertained from his register, he
shall at once order such post-dated ditch, canal or reservoir shut down and the water
given to the elder ditch, canal or reservoir. His orders being directed at all times to
the enforcement of priority of appropriation, according to his tabulated Statement
of priorities, to the whole division, and without regard to the district within which
the ditches, canals and reservoirs may be located. The reports of water, commis-
sioners, by the superintendents of irrigation, shall be filed and kept in the office of the
State engineer. tº gº tº tº 8 °º ºf
SEC. 10. In case any ditch, canal or reservoir, in any district within Such superin-
tendent of irrigation's division, shall fail to receive its regular supply of water, the ,
owner of such ditch, canal or reservoir may report such fact to the Water commis-
sioner of that district, who shall immediately apportion the water in his district,
and send forthwith, by telegram if necessary, a report of such fact to the Superin-
tendent of irrigation of his division; and thereupon it shall be the duty of the super-
intendent to compare such report with his register, and if any difich, canal or reser-
THE MORE RECENT LEGISLATION OF COLORADO. 437
vºir of any other district of his division is receiving water to which any ditch, Canal
or reservoir of any other district is entitled, he shall at once order the shutting down
of the post-dated ditches, canals or reservoirs, and the water given to the ditches,
canals or reservoirs having the priority of appropriation: Provided, however, That
nothing in this act shall be construed as interfering with the priority of water for
domestic use. e *
SEC. 11. Such superintendent of irrigation shall, in the discharge of his duties, be
clothed with the powers of justice of the peace, and any person violating his orders
relative to the opening or shutting down of head-gates, or the using of water for
irrigation purposes, shall be deemed guilty of contempt, and summary punishment
may be inflicted, not exceeding ninety days' imprisonment, or three hundred dollars
fine, or both. *
Siec. 12. The expenses and salary of the superintendents of irrigation shall be paid
pro rata by the counties interested, in the same manner as the ſees of water commis-
sioners are paid; and the fees of the clerks of the district courts, for services ren-
dered under the provisions of this act, shall also be paid by the counties interested,
upon the said clerk rendering his account, certified by the district judge, to the
boards of county commissioners of the counties embraced in the water divisions, in
case of which the services have been rendered.
SEC. 13. That it is the opinion of this general assembly that an emergency exists;
therefore, this act shall take effect and be enforced from and after its passage.
Approved and in force April 4, 1887.
AN ACT to provide for the better protection of water rights and to declare a liability in damages for
the infringement thereof.
Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Colorado :
SEC. 1. That it shall be the duty of every person who is entitled to take water for
irrigation purposes from any ditch, canal, or reservoir to see that he receives no more
water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir through his head gate or by any ways or
means whatsoever than he is entitled to, and that he shall at all times take every
precaution to prevent more water than he is entitled to coming from such ditch,
canal, or reservoir upon his land.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of every such person taking water from any ditch,
canal, or reservoir to be used for irrigation purposes, on finding that he is receiving
more water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir either through his head gate or by
means of leaks or by any means whatsoever immediately to take steps to prevent
his further receiving more water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir than he is enti-
tled to, and if knowingly he permits such extra water to come upon his land from
such ditch, canal, or reservoir and does not immediately notify the owner or owners
of such ditch, or take steps to prevent its further flowing upon his land, he shall be
liable in damages to any person, company, or corporation who may be injured by such
extra appropriation of water for the actual damage sustained by the party aggrieved,
which damages shall be adjudged to be paid together with the costs of suit and a
reasonable attorney’s fee to be fixed by the court and taxed with the costs.
SEC. 3. That it is the opinion of this general assembly that an emergency exists;
therefore, this bill shall be in force and take effect from and after the day of its
passage.
Approved and in force April 4, 1887.
AN ACT to compel the owners of canals and ditches situated within cities of the first class, or cities
existing by º charter of a population equal to or exceeding said cities of the first class, to con-
fine flume and cover the same at their own expense.
Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Colorado :
SEC. 1. That every corporation and company, whether created by special act or
organized under the general incorporation laws of this State, and every partnership,
person, or persons who now, or may at any time hereafter, own or control any canal
or ditch, or any part thereof, being two feet in width or over, and carrying water to
the depth of twelve inches or over, which canal or ditch or any part thereof is within
the corporate limits of any city denominated in the law as of the first class, or any
city existing by Special charter of a population equal to or exceeding said cities of
the first class, or any of the additions thereto, shall, at their own expense, within
sixty days after this act shall take effect, confine flume, and cover all or any part of
such canal or ditch, whether located on, or across private property, public highways
or alleys in said city or additions thereto in a reasonable and sufficient manner and
with such materials as will render such fluming or covering safe and a sure protection
to the lives and property of the inhabitants of said city; and any such corporation,
company, partnership, person, or persons shall at all times thereafter keep and main.
tain any and all such structures confining fluming and covering of such canal or
ditch in good order and repair at their own expense.
3.
**-
438 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
..º.
SEC. 2. Such corporation, company, partnership, person, or persons shall, at their
own expense, safely and securely lattice or slat the head of such flume or covering
with proper materials, so that persons or animals can not accidently enter such flume
or covering at the head thereof and pass or be carried down the current of said ca-
nal or ditch, and shall thereafter maintain and keep the same in good order and
repair at their own proper cost and expense.
SEC. 3. If any such corporation, company, partnership, person, or persons shall
ſail or refuse to comply with any of the provisions of the two preceding sections, such
Ҽrporation, company, partnership, person, or persons shall forfeit and pay to the
“ounty, for the use of the common School fund the sum of fifty dollars for each and
every day such failure or refusal shall continue; to be recovered by a civil action in
he name of the people of the State of Colorado, in any court of competent jurisdic-
tion : Provided, That nothing in this act shall be construed to bar an action for spec-
ial slainages by any º who shall have suffered such damages by reason of any
failure to comply with any of the provisions of this act.
SEC. 4. Whereas in the opinion of this general assembly an emergency exists;
therefore, this act shall be in force from and after its passage.
Approved and in force March 29, 1887.
AN ACT to amend section two of an act of the general assembly of the State of Colorado, entitled
“An act to provide for the extension of the right of way for ditches, canals, and feeders of reservoirs
in certain cases, and requiring registration of all such hereafter made or enlarged,” approved Feb-
ruary 11, 1881, being general section No. 1720 of the general statutes of the State of Colorado, which
is section 10 of chapter LVII of said general statutes, entitled “Irrigation.”
Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Colorado:
SEC. 1. That section two (2) of said act (approved February 11, 1881, being general
section No. 1720 of the general statutes of the State of Colorado, which is section 10
of chapter 57 of said general statutes, entitled “Irrigation,” be, and the same is
hereby, amended so as to read as follows:
SEC. 2. Every person, association, or corporation hereafter constructing or enlarg-
ing any ditch, canal, or feeder for any ditch or reservoir for irrigation, and taking
water directly from any natural stream, and of a carrying capacity of more than one
cubic foot of water per second of time, as so constructed or enlarged, shall, within
ninety (90) days after the commencement of such construction or enlargement, file in
the office of the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the head-gate of
such ditch or feeder may be situated, and also in the office of the State hydraulic en-
gineer a map showing the point of location of such head-gate, the route of such ditch
or canal, or the high-water line of such reservoir or reservoirs, and the route of the
feeder to and ditches or canals from such reservoir or reservoirs; the legal subdivis-
ions of the lands upon which such structures are built or to be built, if on surveyed
lands; the names of the owners of such lands as far as the same are of record in the
office of the county clerk of the county in which they are situated; such courses, dis-
tances, and corners, by reference to legal subdivisions, if on surveyed lands, or to
natural objects if on unsurveyed lands, as will clearly designate the location of such
structures. Upon or attached to such map shall be a statement showing:
First. The point of location of the head-gate above mentioned.
Second. The depth, width, and grade of such ditch, canal, or feeder.
Third. The carrying capacity of such ditch, canal, or feeder, in cubic feet per sec-
ond of time, and the capacity of such reservoir or reservoirs in cubic feet when filled
to the high-water mark.
Fourth. The time of commencement of work on such structures, which time may
be dated from the commencement of the surveys therefor. In case of an enlargement,
such statement shall also show the matters required in items second, third, and fourth
above, as to the enlargement, apd state the increased capacity arising from such en-
largement. If such statement be filed within the time above limited priority of right
of way and water accordingly shall date from the day named as the day of com-
mencing work; otherwise only from the date of the filing of the same : Provided,
That nothing herein contained shall be taken to dispense with the necessity of due
diligence in the prosecution of such structures on the part of the projectors of the
same. Such statement shall be signed by the person, association, or corporation on
whose behalf it is made, and the truth of the matters shown in such map and state-
ment shall be sworn to by some person in whose personal knowledge the truth of the
same shall lie. *
Approved April 20, 1887. In force July 19, 1887.
WYOMING DIVISION.
CHEYENNE, Wyo., September 17, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present: Mr. Stewart (chairman) and Mr. Jones, of Arkansas; also
Director Powell.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES BELLAMY, OF LARAMIE,
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. BELLAMY. I am a civil engineer and a surveyor.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in Laramie City ?
Mr. BALLAMY. Off and on for ten years.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the topography and water
supply and the land to be irrigated in any portion of Wyoming ; if so,
what portions are you familiar with ?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; I am familiar with the two Laramie rivers and
their tributaries.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there two Laramie rivers ?
Mr. BELLAMY. The Big and Little Laramie. They join 10 or 12 miles
north of Laramie City, and then it is the main Laramie River from there
OIl. -
The CHAIRMAN. Of what altitude are the Laramie Plains 3
Mr. BELLAMY. The altitude of Laramie City is 7,123 feet, and the
plains average; I should say, from 7,000 to 6,000 feet where the Laramie
River enters the hills.
The CHAIRMAN. What crops can you produce in the Laramie Plains
at that altitude 3
Mr. BELLAMY. I am not very familiar with the raising of crops, not
being a ranch man.
The CHAIRMAN. You have been surveying there?
. BELLAMY. Yes. I know that oats can be raised, of the very best
quality. *
The CHAIRMAN. Do they raise wheat there 3 -
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; very fair wheat has been raised, although not
in any great quantity. It has been mostly experimental.
The CHAIRMAN. Do they raise vegetables of any kind? .
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; they raise all the vegetables, such as potatoes,
cabbage, Onions, etc. -
ºnanºs. Do the Laramie Plains require irrigation to produce
crops t
Mr. BELLAMY. Certainly.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the chance to irrigate on the plains, and
what is the water supply?
Mr. BELLAMY. I could best show that with the map. I have pre-
pared a large map of those two rivers.
439
440 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
The CHAIRMAN. How is the map marked ? , ,
Mr. BELLAMY. It is marked “Map of the irrigating ditches of t
Laramie Plains.” [Describing the map.] The black lines show the
rivers and the blue lines the ditches; the blue spots are the lakes or
ponds. It is divided into townships and subdivided into sections. The
Scale is 1 inch to the mile. The map begins at a point 3 miles north of
hºlorado line and runs to where the Laramie River enters the Black
IllS.
The CHAIRMAN. That river passes through the Black Hills, does it?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. It enters into the North Platte?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; on this side of the Black Hills.
The CHAIRMAN. How far north from here is the Laramie River when
it gets through the hills 3
Mr. BELLAMY. From 60 to 65 miles. That is, where it passes into
the Black Hills it is that much, and where it enters the Platte River it
is, I guess, 85 or 90 miles.
The CHAIRMAN. It is the largest fork of the Platte, is it?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You raise grass crops there, do you ?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes. J
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of grass crops can you raise there with
irrigation ? * to
Mr. BELLAMY. I could not tell the names of them; I know there is
blue grass, and timothy, and alfalfa, and also red-top. I do not
know the names of the other kinds.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the supply of water in the
streams for irrigation ; how extensive is it? *
Mr. BELLAMY. There is a supply on both the forks of the Laramie
that could be stored so as to be used when wanted, but it comes down
with Such a rush that it can not be used at all.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there other streams entering into the Laramie ;
has it many branches?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; quite a number.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they represented on the map *
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes. t
The CHAIRMAN. Do they furnish much water in the spring time?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; when the spring freshets are on almost all these
little creeks furnish water enough for irrigation, but they last only two
weeks, sometimes, and that is not long enough for irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there opportunities for storing the water ?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; quite a number. In Sand Creek, for example,
which heads in Colorado, there is a chance, in two or three different
places, on each farm on Sand Creek, by just damming across the caſion
to store a considerable quantity of Water.
The CHAIRMAN. Has the land in the valley been entered; that is,
the even sections 3 The railroad, I suppose, has the other sections or
most of them *
Mr. BELLAMY. Most of them. º
The CHAIRMAN. And along the creeks, how is it?
Mr. BELLAMY. It is pretty much taken up on the Creeks.
The CHAIRMAN. As to the plain between the streams the even sec-
tions are still Government lands, are they 3
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes. g
Senator JONEs. How much land is irrigated of the sixty-six townships
that you show on this map *
* -
wATER when stoRED For HALF A MILLION ACREs. 441
Mr. BELLAMy. I have not figured that out, but I should think there
are about 500,000 acres under ditch.
Senator Jon Es. I mean what is actually irrigated ?
Mr. BELLAMY. That I can not say,
Senator JONES. Is it three-fourths, or one-half, or 10 per cent., or
what %
Mr. BELLAMY. Perhaps a little more than 10 per cent.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be about 50,000 acres?
Senator JONEs. Actually in irrigation and under cultivation ?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes.
Senator Jon Es. Are they actually under irrigation and under culti-
vation ?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes.
Senator Jon Es. Is there water enough in the country to irrigate the
balance of the 500,000 acres 3
Mr. BELLAMY. I think there is, if it were stored.
Senator JONES. There is not enough in the season 3
Mr. BELLAMY. At present there is enough, but during the freshet
there is more water than they can use, though it does not last long.
Senator JONES. That is, in the spring 3
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes.
Senator JONES. I am speaking of the water in the ditches. Do the
ditches, during the irrigating season, furnish water enough to irrigate
the land 3 -
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes. They would, during the high water, if they had
a full supply and were running full.
Senator JONES. Do they run full during the entire irrigating season 3
Mr. BELLAMY. Not during the entire irrigating season; only about
two weeks. .
Senator JONES. The difficulty then is, that there is not enough
water in the streams to furnish the water required for the ditches &
Mr. BELLAMY. No.
Senator JONES. Would storage be the remedy for that?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you made any calculation to see how much
could be irrigated if it were stored?
Mr. BELLAMY. I will tell you some work I have done. Here is a
ditch in township 14 north, range 77 west. It comes out on the south
boundary of the township, on the left bank of the Big Laramie River.
The ditch at present is constructed, for about 24 miles, 16 feet wide on
the bottom, and 5 or 6 feet deep. The carrying capacity of that ditch
is not large enough for the land it could irrigate. From the present
terminus of the ditch, if there were water enough in the Big Laramie
River to last long enough, that ditch would irrigate almost the entire
body of the land between the Big and Little Laramies.
Senator JONES. How long would that ditch have to be, to accomplish
that which you suggest ?
Mr. BELLAMY. The main ditch would have to be about 45 miles long,
with, I should say, 100 miles of laterals.
Senator JONES. That would irrigate how much land 7
Mr. BELLAMY. That would irrigate very nearly six townships.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there water enough at present to irrigate any
such amount of land 7
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes, by storage.
The CHAIRMAN. I mean without storage, is there enough 3
442 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
§
Mr. BELLAMY. I think not. It don't last long enough. It comes
down with a rush and all is gone; not the whole of it, but there is not
enough left in two weeks to supply all. The center of Lake Hattie, in
the southwest corner of township 15 north, range 76 west, could be
turned into a reservoir from this ditch, and then, from that lake the
water could be carried over quite an extent of country.
Senator JONES. That lake would not be big enough to do anything,
if it is correctly shown on the map.
Mr. ºrmany. It could be made a great deal larger from the ground
21'0NIIIC. -
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any place higher up on the Laramie 3
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; in Colorado there are quite a number of places.
Above Cumming City, which is about 5 miles north of the Colorado line
the river runs into a cañon, and from there on back it would spread
over quite a large extent of country. *
The CHAIRMAN. Would it be private land or public land?
Mr. BELLAMY. I can not say just how much of that is filed on and
how much is not. *
The CHAIRMAN. What other operations might be had in the valley?
Mr. BELLAMY. With regard to the Little Laramie, that is a stream
that is causing much trouble with the ranchmen. The people up above
wanted to take the water and deprive the people below altogether. At
the foot of the Snowy Range there are a number of lakes. Some of them
run into the Little Laramie and other places, and I think there is the
greatest chance for a large amount of storage of water.
The CHAIRMAM. What other streams are there?
Mr. BELLAMY. There is Rock Creek. . .
Senator JONES. If all the water coming down the Little Laramie
should be stored in the lakes at the head of the river, would there be
more than enough water to fill the ditch 3
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes.
Senator JONES. How much would it increase in quantity ?
Mr. BELLAMY. This ditch, in range 78 west, could be continued in to
Lake James. That would irrigate all this land in between the lake and
the Little Laramie. l
Senator JONES. Would there be water enough for all of it?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes. Even now, when the the Little Laramie is up
in the spring, with all these ditches running full, there is still the
bank-full besides, for a little over two weeks. t
The CHAIRMAN. How much of a lake is that ?
Mr. BELLAMY. It covers fully two sections.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you draw the water from it?
Mr. BELLAMY. No; the banks all around it are too high.
The CHAIRMAN. What stream is there immediately beyond that ?
Mr. BELLAMY. There is Seven-Mile Creek and Four-Mile Creek. These
two creeks have ditches on them, but they have no particular chance
for reservoirs. Four-Mile Creek does not run into Lake James, but into
the Laramie River.
The CHAIRMAN. There is another lake below that, is there not ?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; Cooper Lake. t
The CHAIRMAN. Can that be made a storage reservoir 3
Mr. BELLAMY. I think it might be, but to supply that lake the .
water would have to be taken either from the Little Laramie or Rock
Creek. - …”
Senator Jon Es. Is the level of Cooper Lake high enough to irrigate
the land on the level of it? -
. . . . what THE TERRITORIAL ENGINEER HAS To SAY. 443
Mr. BELLAMY. It would have to be raised up 20 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Could you run a cut or tunnel into it?
Mr. BELLAMy. I believe it is a little higher than the river, but I do
not know that anybody has ever made a survey of it.
Senator JONEs. Has there ever been any survey made of the Water
running down the Big and Little Laramie Rivers?
Mr. BELLAMY. Yes; Mr. Mead has that.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further that you wish to Say?
Mr. BELLAMY. I would like to add that in township 18 north, range
74 west, on this side of the Laramie, and for a distance of about 15
miles, there is a space for reservoir use that will irrigate a whole town-
ship. There is fully a half township under irrigation there.
STATEMENT OF ELWOOD MEAD, CIVIL ENGINEER, OF CHEYENNE.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your profession ? .
Mr. MEAD. Civil engineer.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any official position ?
Mr. MEAD. I am the engineer of this Territory, and have the general
supervision of the waters of the Territory and of the officials in the en-
gineer's department.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you given attention to the subject of irriga-
tion, the water supply, and the lands to be irrigated in the Territory of
Wyoming?
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you prepared any statement on the subject of
irrigation ? t
Mr. MEAD. I have one report here dealing with some of the general
features of the subject and two supplementary reports giving statistics.
The CHAIRMAN. State generally what your report contains.
Mr. MEAD. A general statement of the character of the irrigation de-
velopment here and some of the difficulties that we have encountered;
also some criticisms of the present methods and recommendations as to
suitable measures to improve them. The supplementary statements
give the statistics.
The CHAIRMAN. Of what has been done.
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
Senator JONES. Does it give the quantity of land under cultivation by
irrigation? -
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
imator JONES. And the quantity under ditch that is not in cultiva-
tion
Mr. MEAD. No; it is impossible to determine between the two. It
gives the quantity under ditch. -
ti jator JONES. It does not give the quantity under actual cultiva-
IOIl
Mr. MEAD. No ; there is no way to arrive at that.
Mr. JONES. In Some instances nine-tenths of the land under ditch
is not in cultivation and it is important to know when there is any ma-
terial difference.
Mr. MEAD. Yes; but it would be impossible at the present time to
ascertain that.
Senator JONES. Do you approximate it.
Mr. MEAD. No; I can not attempt that... The statistics given of
ditch Construction are of the ditches actually constructed and which
are in a condition to Water these lands, as far as we could make it so.
444 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the different localities, having
passed over the country personally * w w
Mr. MEAD. Yes; I am. Between two-thirds and three-fourths of the
territory, or nearly so, has been visited by me personally.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the Laramie Plains?
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you made a report on those?
Mr. MEAD. Not a specific report on those.
The CHAIRMAN. Are they capable of producing crops with irrigation?
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of crops?
Mr. MEAD. All the hardier cereals and hardier vegetables.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it as to grasses 2 t
Mr. MEAD. They will produce excellent grass.
The CHAIRMAN. We have had a map of the Laramie Valley presented
here. What proportion of the valley is susceptible of irrigation, that is,
that you could get a water supply for 3 Have you made a calculation
On that ? .
Mr. MEAD, No, I have not made any estimate. I would not under-
take to say.
The CHAIRMAN. You have never gauged the streams ?
Mr. MEAD. Yes, I have a complete record for this year.
Senator JONES. Is that information in the statistics that you will pre-
Sent to the committee 3
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you examined the valley with a view of ascer-
taining the opportunities for storage, to increase the supply of water
by saving what water does flow %
Mr. MEAD. I have only made a partial examination of that. I went
over every part of the streams and there are a number of favorable
places for reservoirs—a number that are not shown on the map that
Mr. Bellamy showed you. The country is not sufficiently settled for
me to locate them with sufficient accuracy to mention them on the
Iſlal). * t
#e CHAIRMAN. What are the other basins or water sheds 3
Mr. MEAD. I have a statement covering this matter in type, that
will be presented to you describing these drainage basins. I can go
over it now if you desire it.
Senator JONES. I think it will be as well to have the statement filed.
The CHAIRMAN. You need not go over it particularly, but I would
like to ask some questions about the different basins.
Mr. MEAD. Very well, I will commence with the first. Here [refer.
ring to the map) is an outline of division No. 1, comprising the drainage
of the Platte River, which is absolutely independent of any other por-
tion of the Territory.
The CHAIRMAN. The Platte River and its tributaries 3
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What tributaries are there to the Platte, within its
drainage basins & tº º f tº
Mr. MEAD. Several hundred streams that are used for irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. They are already used, are they, for that purpose ?
Mr. MEAD. There are almost two hundred Streams in that one basin
that are used for irrigation. Many of them are Small.
The CHAIRMAN. About what amount of land lies so that it can be
covered by the water in that basin &
Mr. MEAD. It would be impossible to state at present how much of
THE NORTH PLATTE AND ITs IRRIGATION CAPACITY. 445
it would be covered, for it would take an examination of almost every
one of those streams to determine that matter and it has been impos-
sible to make it. - -
The CHAIRMAN. Is it large or small, the amount that is susceptible
of irrigation ?
Mr. MEAD. Quite a large area. In the eastern portion, nearly the
whole capacity of the tributaries of the Platte has been utilized.
The CHAIRMAN. Has there been any storage resorted to for its in-
crease ?
Mr. MEAD. Not to any considerable extent; only a few small basins.
The CHAIRMAN. You say they have exhausted the Water that runs
through the basin in the irrigation season, in the eastern portion ?
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. But no effort has been made to save the water?
Mr. MEAD. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any idea of the amount of the water that
runs to waste?
Mr. MEAD. There has not been much this season, but generally there
is. Quite a considerable portion runs to waste in the early spring,
when there has been much snow-fall, but it has been practically all
utilized this year. On the main stream of the Platte but very little has
been done. The main channel itself has had no considerable irrigation.
The principal development has been in the upper portion where it could
be done cheaply. -
The CHAIRMAN. Give us a description of the Platte River from the
time it leaves the mountains, where the Laramie River enters into it,
down into Nebraska.
Mr. MEAD. From the time it leaves Colorado, in the upper portion,
there are great facilities both for diverting ditches and for constructing
storage reservoirs. That is one of the best sections of this country that
I have examined for that purpose. There are large numbers of natural
basins situated from half a mile to a mile from the stream. One com-
pany has been incorporated to irrigate a large quantity of land there.
Nothing has been done about the incorporation yet, but it is feasible.
After the stream enters the territory, for about 100 miles, the banks
become higher.
The CHAIRMAN. What is its character where it leaves the territory
and enters Nebraska?
Mr. MEAD. It follows a country where it could be diverted, but at
more expense. It becomes broader and has a more extensive bend. .
I should say about 150 miles of it would be of that character.
The CHAIRMAN. Above that it has a rocky bottom so that you can
take it out.
Mr. MEAD. It is not exactly a rocky bottom. It has a rocky bottom
in some places and earth bottom in others. Nearly all the streams
come back to the surface. Next to the Little Laramie the next import-
ant tributary of the Big Laramie is the Sweetwater, with 1,000 cubic
feet per Second.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you put the Sweetwater in that division ?
Mr. MEAD. Yes. The Little Laramie and the Sweetwater are the two
important tributaries, although there are a number of other smaller
streams that are excellent streams for irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the next division on your map *
Mr. MEAD. The next includes the streams that are east of the Big
Horn Mountains. It is northeast on that map, but there is a very slight
curve. All the streams that leave the Big Horn are good streams.
, i
:
.
.
º
:
:
:
:
:
446 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION or ARID LANDs.
The CHAIRMAN. Where do they discharge their waters?
Mr. MEAD. Into the Missouri and its tributaries. -
The CHAIRMAN. They all get into the Yellowstone pretty much, do
they not? -
Mr. MEAD. Those streams that have their heads north of the Big
Horn Mountains have not so much importance for irrigation. There
are a number of streams in the northeastern portion of the territory in
which it needs as little water for irrigation as any.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the altitude of that section?
Mr. MEAD. From 3,500 feet to 6,000 feet. Sheridan is the lowest
point I know of.
The CHAIRMAN. That section is lower than the Laramie plains?
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there much population in that section?
Mr. MEAD. Yes, Johnson and Sheridan Counties are the principal
farming districts of the State at this time.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you visited those counties?
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land is irrigated in that division.
Mr. MEAD. Let me describe the situation and you will understand
the difficulty of making an estimate. & -
The CHAIRMAN. Describe it.
Mr. MEAD. Each one of the valleys of these streams will vary in
width from half a mile to 3 or 4 miles. Then you go over a divide. In
Some places, owing to the immensefall of the country, they have carried
the water over those ridges; they are not too steep to preventirrigation
but you can not get a view of the country. You can not form any esti-
mate of it. You will look at one valley and you can See a certain pot-
tion of it, but it is impossible to form any estimate.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there nobody who knows how much, whether it
is a large quantity or a small quantity ?
Mr. MEAD. I should say that there are 100,000 acres, perhaps, that
are being farmed there, but I may be mistaken. That includes the hay
that is cut as well as the grain. ,
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the crops grown over in
that Section ?
Mr. MEAD. Everything that is grown in Iowa and Kansas.
The CHAIRMAN. Are the crops good?
Mr. MEAD. Yes, the finest yield of wheat I have ever seen is in John-
son County. I understand that it yielded 90 bushels to the acre last
year, and that the yields are uniformly large. The yield of all small
grains, however, in this whole territory is large. The finest timothy I
ever saw is grown there—6 feet high. It seems to be peculiarly adapted
to that crop. --"
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anybody present who farms over there?
Mr. MEAD. Both Mr. Burt and Mr. Coffeen can give you that infor-
mation, I think. *
The CHAIRMAN. What is the other district 7
Mr. MEAD. The third district is the Big Horn and its tributaries.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that all in your statement”
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
Senator Jon Es. It seems to be better to have it in that shape?
Mr. MEAD. On the Big Horn, this part of the country north of the
reservation, I have never examined, but I have had a number of re-
ports from surveyors. * º
Senator JONES. Are those included in the statements you are going
to file? -
ExTENT OF CULTIVATABLE AREA IN wyoming. 447
Mr. MEAD. No; not the reports. I have had no time to include du-
plicates of them. It is included in correspondence running over a
couple of years.
Senator JONES. Is there anybody here who can explain the Big
Horn country?
Mr. MEAD. Yes; but I can describe the general features of that coun-
try. I am familiar with it, although I have never been over it.
Senator JONES. That is not in your report, is it?
Mr. MEAD. No. A great many of those streams have banks of con-
siderable height, so that it would be expensive to divert the water, but
in the southern portion there are large areas that can probably be re-
claimed in time, whenever they will justify the expense of constructing
the headworks. I think there will be no difficulty in utilizing the flow
of the Big Horn basin. There is a large valley 60 miles by 30 miles
that could all be watered from one system. One canal would water the
whole tract. The third division is the Greene, the Bear, and the Snake
Rivers.
Senator JONES. That is in the western portion ?
Mr. MEAD. Yes. The waters of the Greene can best be diverted in
the upper portion. -
Senator JQNES. North of the railroad?
Mr. MEAD. North of the railroad; from 50 to 125 miles north.
Senator JONES. What is the character of the country up there ?
Mr. MEAD. It is a fine country—as fine as you ever saw.
Senator JONES. The Greene is a good river, is it, up there ?
Mr. MEAD. Yes. And there are a large number of storage basins
there. You will see the natural lakes that exist on the head-waters of
those streams. After you get down below the country becomes rolling
and is of no value for irrigating purposes. All those streams on the
west side of the Greene have narrow valleys and there is quite a consid-
erable settlement in them, but no large areas can be brought under
cultivation on the west side of the Greene. The Bear River flows out
of Colorado into Wyoming and crosses over into Idaho, then re-enters
the Territory and again leaves it and passes again into Idaho.
Senator JONES. Is there much water on the Bear?
Mr. MEAD. All the water on the Bear River was diverted this year
by a Utah corporation.
Senator JONES. Where does the Bear empty its waters ?
Mr. MEAD. It finally empties them into Salt Lake. The valley varies
in width usually from 2 to 3 miles. In many places it is wider than
that and in some places it is narrower. It is easy to divert the water.
It was all utilized this year.
Senator JONES. Have you never heard any estimates made as to the
amount of land in Wyoming that may ultimately be brought under
cultivation ?
Mr. MEAD. Yes, all the way from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 acres.
Senator JONES. The estimates vary that much, do they
Mr. MEAD. Yes. *
Senator JONES. You are not prepared to say which is the nearest
correct, the 5,000,000 or the 10,000,000?
Mr. MEAD. I would not want to state unless with modifications. I
have stated that in my report.
448 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
STATEMENT OF M. C. BROWN, OF LARAMIE CITY.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know the character of the crops that may be
produced in the Laramie Valley 7
Mr. BROWN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Please state them.
Mr. BROWN. All of the hardier cereals and vegetables, and with per-
fect success. They grow abundantly. I think that the best quality of
barley that I have ever seen in my life I saw grow near Laramie City,
on the plains; also as fine oats as have ever been grown in any country
on earth. f *
The CHAIRMAN. Is that regular 7 Are the crops reliable?
Mr. BROWN. Every year when there is sufficient water.
The CHAIRMAN. There is no other difficulty than want of water?
Mr. BROWN. No.
The CHAIRMAN. The altitude and frost do not affect them?
Mr. BROWN. I have never known frost to affect grain or the hardier
vegetables.
The CHAIRMAN. It is too high to raise corn ? f
Mr. BROWN. Yes; corn has been grown there, but not.with success.
The CHAIRMAN. What is regarded as a good crop of wheat, barley,
and oats?
Mr. BROWN. From 30 to 40 bushels an acre of wheat; from 30 to 50
bushels of oats to the acre.
Senator JONES. Is that an average crop year after year?
Mr. BROWN. Yes.
Senator JONES. The average over the entire country and for a num-
ber of years?
Mr. BROWN. The extent of farming in that country is limited ; the
people have never indulged in that business to any great extent, be-
cause they have never had water sufficient to irrigate their crops.
Senator JONES. I understand that; what I mean, are your estimates
the general average over the country that is irrigated for a series of
years?
Mr. BROWN. Yes. }
The CHAIRMAN. Do you raise good potatoes there?
Mr. BROWN. Yes; as good as grow anywhere on the earth, and in
large quantities.
The CHAIRMAN. You have lived there sometime 3
Mr. BROWN. Twenty years.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed the flow of water in the streams ?
Mr. BROWN. Somewhat. I am not very familiar with the flow of
water, but have visited the streams frequently through the year and
know something of them.
The CHAIRMAN. Do they have considerable floods?
Mr. BROWN. Yes. In the early spring, say from the middle of April,
the water begins to flow in considerable quantities, increasing from
week to week until July. I think it reaches its height in the early part
of July.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the irrigation season º
Mr. BROWN. From the 1st of June on.
The CHAIRMAN. To how late a period &
Mr. BROWN. Up to about the middle or last of July.
The CHAIRMAN. And you want irrigation during that time?
Mr. BROWN. Yes. In some years they need to irrigate in May.
gº
IRRIGATION IS NECESSARY TO MAKE HOMESTEADS. 449
The CHAIRMAN. Not to exceed sixty days, then?
Mr. BROWN. From sixty to ninety dayS.
Senator JONES. At what time do you harvest your wheat there?
Mr. BROWN. In August and September, usually.
Senator JONES. You have no trouble with early frost 3
Mr. BROWN. We have early frosts, but the grain usually ripens be-
fore that; sufficiently so that the frost does not harm it.
Senator JONES. Has there been any effort made to increase the effi-
ciency of your streams by reservoirs?
Mr. BROWN. No, not to any great extent.
Senator JONES. Has there been any resort to artesian Wells in the
Laramie Plains?
Mr. BROWN. Yes, there are quite a number of artesian wells, but the
flow from such wells is not large.
The CHAIRMAN. Not large enough to be of any value for irrigating
purposes?
Mr. BROWN. I can not say that it would not be of any value, but it
would be of no very considerable value unless the Wells were of greater
depth than any we have made up to this time.
Senator JONES. Do you know how deep they are, as a rule %
Mr. BROWN. The deepest I know of is about 1,500 feet.
Senator JONES. Do you know anything about the volume of the
waters afforded by those wells 3
Mr. BROWN. I do not as from measurement. I can say nothing about
that except to say that a number of Wells produce quite a stream of
Water.
Senator JONES. Is that water used for irrigating purposes 3
Mr. BROWN. I think in a few instances, to a very limited degree. It
is used for irrigating trees, plants, and things of that kind more than
for any other purpose.
Senator JONES. There is no idea prevailing there that artesian wells
can be made a material factor in the question of irrigation ?
Mr. BROWN. I think not.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you wish to make any further suggestion ?
Mr. BROWN. I want to make this suggestion in answer to some re-
marks of Senator Jones: If the United States can distribute the water
in such a way as to irrigate these lands then homesteads are possible,
and I agree with him that those lands should be distributed among the
citizens of this country as homes. But they can not have homes without
water on those arid lands. In Illinois and Iowa, the lands were valuable
without irrigation. Let the United States make these lands, by irriga-
tion, what the lands of Iowa are without irrigation, and we will be satis.
fied with the same amount of land as homes for our people.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES W. BURDICK, OF SARATOGA. ,
The CHAIRMAN. In what part of the Territory is Carbon County
º BURDICK. In the Southern portion, at the head of the Platte
1V6I’.
The CHAIRMAN. How far from here?
Mr. BURDICK. One hundred and ninety miles west. I believe that is
the distance by railroad. It is a little shorter by the overland line.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any irrigation practiced in your locality ?
Mr. BURDICK. Yes; the Small streams are used to the extent of their
capacity. The Platte is not used to any great extent.
138 A L–WOL III 29
450 IRRIGATION AND RECIAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any water running to waste in the flood
time usually 3
Mr. BURDICK. There is water that runs to waste.
The CHAIRMAN. Has any effort been made to retain it 3
Mr. BURDICK. No, never.
The CHAIRMAN. Has there been any digging out of the streams in
the mountains or hills above to make them flow more Water &
Mr. BURDICK. N.O.
The CHAIRMAN. In the Territory of Utah they have increased their
Supply immensely by Scraping out the stream beds and thereby Opening
the streams. They have not stored any water. Is there opportunity to
do that in the small streams that come into the Platte'?
Mr. BURDICK. I do not recollect any places where it could be done.
Possibly I am not familiar enough with the method.
Senator JONES. That can only be done where the streams go back to
the caſions. They could go to the caſions, remove obstructions there
and in the stream beds, so as let the water flow better.
Mr. BURDICK. I do not believe that that would have any material
effect. The only thing I think of that would have an effect there would
be the cutting down to bed-rock and obtaining the water that flows un-
derneath. *
The CHAIRMAN. Is that one of the things that is done *
Mr. BURDICK. I do not know that that is done here, but I think it
might be done. It is a fact that in low-water seasons the water sinks
and then rises in places; then sinks again for a mile or so, and then
again rises to the surface. -
The CHAIRMAN. What is the extent of irrigation in your county &
Bow much ground is under irrigation ? *
Mr. BURDICK. I estimate that in what we call the Platte Valley
there are now probably 200,000 acres under ditches. I do not mean by
that that it is all irrigated.
The CHAIRMAN. How much of that is irrigated and cultivated ?
Mr. BURDICK. Not over 25,000 acres, I think. That includes what
you call hay land and river bottom.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there water for the ditches &
Mr. BURDICK. There is water for the ditches, but there would not be
water enough in the ditches to cultivate and irrigate the land lying
below the ditches.
The CHAIRMAN. Do the ditches come from the Small streams or
from the Platte %
Mr. BURDICK. From the small streams principally. I think all the
land is cultivated now that can be cultivated by the Water that runs in
the ditches, unless we waste the Water.
The CHAIRMAN. It is usually the case that two-thirds of the water is
wasted. You do differently from most people if you do not Waste it.
What kind of crops do you raise there? |
Mr. BURDICK. Small grains and vegetables. The elevation is about
7,000 feet. I have never noticed any effect of the frost on our crops.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you raise fair crops of small grains?
Mr. BURDICK. Fair; about 30 bushels to the acre of oats and 25 of
wheat.
Senator JONES. How much of potatoes'
Mr. BURDICK. Thirty-five bushels is the average, but we raise them
very fine and very large. The soil seems to be particularly adapted to
potatoes.
The CHAIRMAN. But your crop is only 35 bushels?
THE GREENE RIVER WALLEY AND TRIBUTARIES. 451
Mr. BURDICK. Only that. I am giving you the exact figures from
my own experience. I do not believe in exaggerated figures. I have
raised all those grains myself.
STATEMENT OF MARK HOPKINS, OF ROCK SPRINGS.
The CHAIRMAN. In what part of the Territory is Sweetwater County 2
Mr HOPKINs. In the southwestern part of the Territory; it is in what
is called water district No. 4.
The CHAIRMAN. On what stream do you live 3
Mr. HOPKINS. I live on Bitter Creek.
The CHAIRMAN. On what part of Bitter Creek 3
Mr. HOPKINS. Within 20 miles of the mouth of the stream.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any cultivation on Bitter Creek 3
Mr. HoPKINs. Very little; in fact, none that I know of.
The CHAIRMAN. There may be a little up in the mountains in the
springs, where the creek comes out 3
Mr. HOPKINS. No, I do not think there is any land in cultivation on
Bitter Creek whatever. The water that would have to be relied on for
cultivation in Sweetwater County would be on Greene River and its trib-
utaries.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know anything of that river and its tribu-
taries 3 .#
Mr. HOPKINS. Yes, there is plenty of water in the river and the land
seems to be productive. -
The CHAIRMAN. Have you examined it 3
Mr. EIOPKINS. I have seen some small gardens.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anybody here who is familiar with the Greene
River north of the road 3
Mr. HoPIKINs. The country is uninhabited.
The CHAIRMAN. Entirely uninhabited ?
Mr. HOPKINS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you been over it 3
Mr. HOPKINS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it fit for habitation ?
Mr. HoPKINS. Yes; there is a very nice valley about 40 miles long
located between Sandy Creek and Bitter Creek, about 3 to 5 miles wide
and about 40 miles long.
The CHAIRMAN. Can that be irrigated ? -
Mr. HOPKINS. I am not prepared to say. It would be a matter of
survey to determine whether it could be irrigated. The waters of the
Sandy, as I understand, could be diverted into that valley, and instead
of following the regular course of Greene River Valley they could be
flumed across a sandy district there.
Senator JONES. Could the water be carried out of Greene River into
that valley & -
Mr. HOPKINS. I think it could be done, but only a survey could de-
termine that.
Director POWELL. There would be no trouble about it. Itcan be
done. I have personally surveyed that country.
Senator JONES. Is there any farming at all in the locality you live
in 3
Mr. HoPKINS. There is some farming, though it is not what you
would call farming. There is some grass grown by water that they get
from the Springs, but nothing of any amount. It would be a great boon
452 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
to have some farm lands in that district. In other words, there is a
home market for productions of that character.
The CHAIRMAN. It is an extensive coal-producing district 3
Mr. HOPKINS. Yes.
STATEMENT OF c. W. HOLDEN, OF UINTAH COUNTY,
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside 7
Mr. HOLDEN. I reside on the Fontenelle, in Uintah County.
º gammas. Into what stream does the Fontenelle discharge its
WaterS'
Mr. HOLDEN. It empties into Greene River.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that country inhabited much 3
Mr. HOLDEN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there farmers there ?
Mr. HOLDEN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there much irrigation there ?
Mr. HOLDEN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of land is under irrigation in Uintah
County ?
Mr. HOLDEN. I have a statement here prepared under the auspices of
the board of county commissioners of that county, bearing directly on
that question, furnished me for use before this committee. I think this
Statement is more to the point and contains less that you do not care to
know. I would like to read it.
The CHAIRMAN. You can read it if is not too lengthy.
Mr. HoLDEN. I think it contains all the information I could give my-
Self, and perhaps much more.
The following is the letter:
EvansTON, WYO., September 13, 1889.
DEAR SIR: Your letter of the 10th instant, addressed to I. C. Winslow, chairman
board of county commissioners, was handed to me with the request that I should
furnish you with such data as I could gather regarding the number of irrigating
ditches constructed in the county of Uinta, together with the amount of land being
and proposed to be irrigated by water therefrom. The total claims for water rights
of record is about 400. There has been over 65,000 acres of land entered under the
provisions of the desert-land act ; about 25,000 acres under the homestead act; about
9,000 acres under the timber-culture act, and over 6,000 acres pre-emption cash
entries. There are valid pre-emption filings of record, covering about 8,000 acres.
Besides the foregoing, there is a large area of land embraced in the grant to the Union
Pacific Railway Company, a portion of which is susceptible of irrigation. There are
also many settlers living upon unsurveyed lands, holding squatters' claims.
In the summer of 1886, I measured one hundred and eight ditches in this county, to
ascertain their carrying capacity. This work was done by order of the board of
county commissioners under Territorial law. I found the aggregate carrying capac-
ity of said ditches to be 516 cubic feet per second of time, being sufficient to irrigate
about 50,000 acres of land.
A great number of ditches have been constructed since the date of my official sur-
vey, of which I am unable to give you reliable data.
I think it would be safe to say, however, that fully 100,000 acres of lands in this
county are now covered by irrigating ditches, but during the present unprecedented
dry season the water supply has been deficient, and a partial failure of crops has been
the result. It is surprising how productive some of our Sage-brush lands can be
made by proper cultivation and irrigation. I will cite the case of a small tract of 22
acres adjoining our town site, owned by A. V. Quinn. This tract has been carefully
prepared and seeded to timothy and alfalfa, and thoroughly irrigated; two crops of
hay have been harvested therefrom the present season, the first crop yielding about
3 tons per acre, and the second crop 2 tons per acre. The hay is worth $15 per ton.
There are many available sites for reservoirs for the storage of water to be used
during the latter part of the irrigation season when the natural flow in the streams
become deficient.
AVAILABILITY OF THE FONTENELLE AND BEAR. 453
In my judgment these storage reservoirs should be located as near the head of the
natural stream as practicable. Using small valleys for reservoirs at points where the
fall in the stream is but slight, by the erection of dams of moderate height, storage
room can be made for large bodies of water.
I know of one point on Bear River where it is practicable to construct a dam not
exceeding 25 feet in height at a cost of less than $5,000, where storage room can be
obtained for over 800,000,000 cubic feet of water, not interfering with any vested
rights. Doubtless suitable sites for reservoirs can be found upon the most of the
large natural streams of our county.
As to the amount of land within our county, which would or could be made suscep-
tible of irrigation by additional water supply, it is a question that can only be solved
by ascertaining the amount of water that can be stored for that purpose.
With our present and prospective water supply it is probable that over one-half of
the arable lands in our county will ever be reclaimed and cultivated.
WM. HINTON.
Mr. HoDDEN. Mr. William Hinton, who signs that letter, was the
surveyor of the county at the time those ditches were surveyed.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the crops produced in that
county? There is nothing said in that statement about the production
of wheat.
Mr. HOLDEN. The altitude of that county has rather been considered
too great to make grain-growing a profitable branch of farming, and for
that reason not a great deal of grain has been sown as compared with
the vast amount of ground used for meadow-land.
The CHAIRMAN. Has the experiment been tried?
Mr. HoDDEN. Yes. On the Fontenelle, last year for the first time, a
neighbor of mine raised about 30 acres of oats. I have lived the greater
part of my life in the State of Illinois, and I can safely say I never saw
a better crop of oats in Illinois than was grown there. As a result,
there was about 100 acres put out on the Fontenelle this present season.
Director POWELL. Whereabouts on the Fontenelle is that?
Mr. HOLDEN. The Fontenelle is only settled up from the mouth about.
12 miles. There is a cañon in the foot-hills, and this settlement is all
below the foot-hills. The creek is fenced for about 12 miles. Theranches,
average in width from a half a mile to a mile wide, and those lands are:
nearly all of them under irrigation. It was estimated last year that
there was in the neighborhood of 1,500 tons of hay raised on that creek.
Senator JONES. The land under cultivation is devoted mostly to hay?
Mr. HOLDEN. Yes; but, as I say, there were about 100 acres of
wheat this year, and it turned out all right. I put out about 12 acres
myself, and part of that was upon sage-brush land. We worked off
that sage-brush with a machine moved by ten horses, and after break-
ing and tearing down the sage-brush and grease-wood the ground was
then, without plowing, sowed with timothy and red-top. For that rea-
son I did not plow it. Upon that ground I am thoroughly satisfied
that I had about 2 tons of feed to the acre, grass and oats. The oats
did not come up regularly. There would be spots that would be as nice
as any place in the world, but there were vacant spaces also. If all
was like the grown spaces there would be, I think, 50 bushels to the
a CI'é.
The CHAIRMAN. The small grains can then be raised in that county 2
Mr. HOLDEN. Yes; and on the Bear River there is a great deal of
oats, barley, and wheat raised.
The CHAIRMAN. At about what altitude 3
Mr. HOLDEN. I think between 6,000 and 7,000 feet, from Evanston
down to Cokeville, where the stream goes down into Idaho.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further you wish to say?
Mr. HOLDEN. There is a point that perhaps I might mention. At
454 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. \
the upper end of this cañon (I speak of the foot-hills) a reservoir might
be constructed at a small cost, and an immense body of water might
be stored. There is a basin 4 or 5 miles wide and 10 or 12 miles long,
and a reservoir there would not interfere with any vested rights.
STAMEMENT OF JOHN W. HOYT, OF LARAMIE.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you be good enough to give the committee any
facts in your possession that will be of interest in connection with the
inquiry on which we are engaged ?
Mr. Hoy T. I may not be in possession of the exact facts which you de-
SII’62.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed that crops can be raised on the
Laramie Plains ?
Mr. HOYT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Tell us what you know about that.
Mr. HOYT. I simply know that the experiment has been made of pro-
ducing the different cereals, wheat, rye, oats, and barley. The work was
begun five years ago and proved successful; in some places even with-
Out irrigation. I presented more than five years ago, at the exposition
at Denver, specimens of grains grown on the bottom lands just outside
of Laramie City by Mr. Fee. That was a very large production of those
grains. The experiment was not a large one, covering only perhaps 10
or 20 acres, but it was very satisfactory.
The CHAIRMAN. Has it been tried elsewhere in that valley &
Mr. HOYT. Yes, it has been tried elsewhere.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it with the vegetable crops?
Mr. HOYT. It is always successful. Potatoes are grown in the garden
plats of the city of Laramie. The product is very fine and the yield
Very large. ©
The CHAIRMAN. Have you observed the flood waters of the Laramie
that run to waste; are they large or not ?
Mr. HOYT. There is a large amount of water in the spring season.
The CHAIRMAN. A good deal of snow falls upon the mountains 3
Mr. Hoy T. Yes; the streams have their sources in the Medicine Bow
Range, and the streams very often are flooded and overflow at the
banks, so that a very large amount of water could be saved at that Sea-
son of the year that now goes to waste. If that could be stored (and
there are natural basins in which it could be stored) the waters of the
Big Laramie would be able, from a reservoir supply, to irrigate a large
body of land. There are about 200,000 acres of beautiful land lying
between the Big and Little Laramie Rivers, very rich, productive soil,
which would produce very handsome crops of nearly every sort except
Indian corn, if watered. There is already a ditch there taking some
of the water of the Laramie, but there is a large quantity of Water still
in reserve, and there are natural basins in which the Surplus could be
stored when not needed.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, according to your observation, the Laramie
|Plains make a fair agricultural country &
Mr. Hoy T. I have no question as to the possibility of producing fine
crops there.
Senator Jon Fs. What yield of crops do you get per acre 3
Mr. Hoy T. The specimens that I saw must have yielded 40 bushels
to the acre, and they have claimed 50 bushels, I think, of wheat. Oats
were produced in very large yields.
FERTILITY OF ARID LANDS UNIDER, IRRIGATION. 455
Senator JONES. Have you seen one crop of wheat grown 2
Mr. EIOYT. I have seen patches of wheat in a number of places.
Senator JONES. Is wheat grown to any considerable extent there ?
Mr. Roy T. No ; none of those crops, I ought to say, are grown to any
Considerable extent as yet. The Water supply has not been sufficient
and the persons who own the lands and would be encouraged under
favorable conditions to commence the cultivation of crops have been
delaying on account of the condition of the Water supply.
Senator JONES. What is the yield of potatoes to the acre 2
Mr. HOYT. I hear extravagant accounts. I may not be able to fur-
nish exact data on that subject, but I hear of 300 and 400 bushels to
the acre. No finer potatoes have ever been seen, I think.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further that you wish to say ?
Mr. [IOYT. I do not know that there is. The vegetable crop, I ought
to say, is very remarkable. The root crops are very fine. There is a
beginning also in the cultivation of small fruits and even with apples,
So that many of our people are beginning to think of planting fruits. I
am Speaking of the Laramie Plains especially.
STATEMENT OF H. A. COFFEEN, OF SHERIDAN.
The CHAIRMAN. In what part of the Territory is that ?
Mr. COFFEEN. It is in the central north part.
The CHAIRMAN. On what stream 7
Mr. COFFEEN. At the head of the Town River and branches of the
Poudre River.
The CHAIRMAN. Into what streams do Town River and Poudre River
discharge their waters ?
Mr. COFFEEN. Into the Yellowstone, I believe, in Montana. We are
next to the line thereof on the north of this Territory.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you describe the county in which you live?
Mr. COFFEEN. The character of the soil is surprisingly rich under
irrigation, as compared with the land in Illinois and Indiana, where I
have formerly lived. The surface is undulating, so that the farms are
mostly in Valleys on the Small streams, but the table lands on the hill.
sides are equally fertile when irrigated.
The CHAIRMAN. And they are not too precipitous to be cultivated 2
Mr. COFFEEN. Not in many parts. In some places they would be too
precipitous to be cultivated.
º CHAIRMAN. You Say the Soil is rich ; what crops do people raise
there
Mr. COFFEEN. We are raising grains of the usual kinds, vegetables
of high quality and in great abundance; also fruits. I wish to refer
particularly to fruits. Wheat, oats, and barley are raised there by
many farmers who have settled there. Our region is known in this
Territory as a specially fine agricultural country. Corn is being raised
now sufficient to supply almost all home needs for fattening pork. The
increase of the growth of corn is doubling. Five years ago they
scarcely knew that they could raise corn. I have heard people in the
northern part of the County stating that they raised 60 to S0 bushels
to the acre. It was rather astonishing, but I know the gentlemen and
I think they are correct. Fifty to 53 bushels to the acre of wheat is
accounted an average. Of barley I can not speak as to the average.
Oats average 45 to 50 bushels to the acre, but there have been iO0
bushels to the acre raised there in many instances. On Prairie Dog
456 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Creek and some of the other smaller streams the average has been
Well up to 60 and 75 bushels to the acre.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you raise potatoes 7
Mr. COFFEEN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN: What is a good crop of oats?
Mr. COFFEEN, I fear I may not be able to state precisely the aver.
age, but they have been as much as any crops I have known in the
Country.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it as to fruits 7
Mr. COFFEEN. Our farmers have been experimenting on fruits for a
few years, and they find they can raise strawberries and raspberries.
I am a little doubtful about blackberries. As to apples, at our agričult-
ural fair last year one of my neighbors exhibited a half bushel or
more of Very fine varieties, such as the Duchess, the Oldenburg, and
others, good sized apples. This year there will be many farms where
they will have from 1 to 6 and more bushels on very small places.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the quantity of land suscepti
ble of irrigation in your county ?
Mr. COFFEEN. I do not feel competent to state that with any degree
of correctness. We have probably 50,000 acres of land now under irri.
gation, much of it, however, in grasses.
The CHAIRMAN. You have as much as that under actual irrigation ?
Mr. COFFEEN. I think we have. And we have probably 300,000 or
400,000 acres of land that can be irrigated with great profit.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a water supply for this amount of land 3
Mr. COFFEEN. Not without storage.
The CHAIRMAN. But with storage, have you?
Mr. COFFEEN. With storage, I believe we have an abundant water
supply for that.
The CHAIRMAN. How many acres?
Mr. COFFEEN. I wish to give that with many degrees of allowance;
300,000 or 400,000 acres is what I have estimated.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the streams you have in
your county; are they large and numerous or otherwise?
Mr. COFFEEN. they are numerous, and are small streams, rushing
down from the mountains.
The CHAIRMAN. From what range of mountains do they come 3
Mr. COFFEEN. From the Big Born Mountains. That is the first range,
from which the snows melt away in May, generally. Then there is the
back range, of which Cloud's Peak would be a representative, from which
the snows melt away chiefly in June, but not entirely during the whole
year. The Snows remain in part during the whole year.
STATEMENT OF CHARLES H. BURRITT, OF BUFFAL0.
The CHAIRMAN. In what part of the Territory is Buffalo 3
Mr. BURRITT. In the northern portion, in the Poudre River drainage
basin. º
The CHAIRMAN. What have you to say of that county in regard to
irrigation ?
Mr. BURRITT. I can not give you any statistics of any value in ref.
erence to Johnson County alone. Johnson and Sheridan Counties, as
the drainage map of Wyoming on the wall shows, are all in one drain-
age basin. During the last three years, as secretary of the North
Wyoming Fair Association and secretary of the Immigration Board
THE LAKES AND LANDS IN NORTHERN WYOMING. 457
for that part of the Territory, I have prepared careful statistics on that
drainage basin.
The CHAIRMAN. Showing what %
Mr, BURRITT. Showing the number of acres under ditch, the num-
ber of ditches, and the number of acres irrigated, the number of acres
graded, the amount of crops raised, etc.
The CHAIRMAN. And the amount of land susceptible of irrigation ?
Mr. BURRITT. Yes. k
The CHAIRMAN. Have you anything in the form of a Written docu-
ment 3
Mr. BURRITT. I have a part of my immigration report.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it cover the whole Territory?
Mr. BURRITT. It covers all of Johnson and Sheridan Counties both
east and west of the Big Horn Mountains. That west of the Big Horn
is in the drainage basin of the Big Horn, but there is but a very Small
portion of that territory cultivated as yet.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you file your report 2
Mr. BURRITT. Yes. ©
The CHAIRMAN. I would like to have you speak of the Big Horn
country if you are familiar with it.
Mr. BURRITT. I am not so familiar with it as with the eastern side of
the range.
The CHAIRMAN. Make to the committee such statement about it as
will be useful to them.
Mr. BURRITT. As to the eastern side of the range, the creeks or prin-
cipal streams, which are all forks, center about Cloud's Peak. It is the
highest point of the Big Horn range of mountains. That range is a
very wide and big range at the top. Around Cloud's Peak are a series
of lakes from which all the streams coming down on the Big Horn and
the Poudre River have their source. There is a large range of those
mountains. Some of them are so arranged as that they could be used
for storage reservoirs with very little expense. There are already four
ditches taken from those lakes by private enterprise and dropped over
into various branches of the “Clear Fork of Poudre River,” or “Clear
Creek,” as it is called. By small expenditure a considerable number of
acres of land could be irrigated in addition to what is already irrigated
in the two counties on the east side of the range. The same is true of
the west side of the range. The rivers that run into the Big Horn prac-
tically head in those lakes. -
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever made an estimate of the land that
could be irrigated in the two counties by storing water?
Mr. BURRITT. In the two counties there are 6,200,000 acres. By pre-
serving the Water I have no doubt that it could be increased at least
five times what it is at present. There are about 450,000 acres at
present under irrigating ditches.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there water enough to supply that 450,000 acres?
Mr. BURRITT. There is, in an ordinary season. There has not been
this season, on aecount of the light fall of snow last winter.
The CHAIRMAN. Can it be increased to that by conserving the water?
Mr. BURRITT. The present water supply, if properly distributed,
would irrigate at least 640,000 acres. I think that by the construction
of storage reservoirs in the Big Horn and preserving the waters,
2,000,000 or 2,500,000 acres can be irrigated, counting both sides of the
range in Johnson and Sheridan Counties.
* CHAIRMAN. What do you say in regard to the character of the
SO1
458 IRRIGATION AND RECIAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. BURRITT. On the east side of the range it is a black sandy loam,
Very righ. On the western side of the range it is principally a red gyp.
Sum Soil, Very deceptive to look at, but very rich in the production of
Crops, being mixed with the loam. **
Senator JONES. There are 45,000 acres under ditch you say?
Mr. BURRITT. Yes.
Senator JONES. How much is irrigated?
Mr. BURRITT. That is all under ditch and between 300,000 and 350,000
acres are already practically irrigated. The other portion—100,000,—
is not yet fully reclaimed. It is mostly the second or third bench or
mesa land.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know what proportion of the 300,000 acres
under irrigation is in grass and how much in other crops ?
Mr. BURRITT. I have the exact figures for it. In 1887 there were
1,729 acres cropped to wheat; 7,816 cropped to oats. The amount
Cropped to barley was quite small—perhaps not over 150 or 200 acres.
The Oat and wheat portion has been increased very nearly if not quite
100 per cent. Since that time. The barley area has probably been in-
creased to 1,000 acres. About one-half the balance of the land was,
in 1887, cropped to hay. That has been increased to about 75 per
cent., owing to the lack of facilities for getting the products out of the
country on account of the long distances from the railroads. The people
have Complied with the law, so far as is necessary, by the reclamation of
the land, but have not expended much beyond, because they have not
the opportunity to market the product. This is a short statement from
my report.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you your report complete %
Mr. BURRITT. I have it here.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you furnish a copy of it to the committee'
Mr. BURRITT. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You may state the average crops shown by it.
Mr. BURRITT. The average crops in Sheridan and Johnston counties
vary from 20 to 60 bushels of wheat; as high as 80 bushels of wheat
has been raised to the acre, but of course such a crop as that was under
particular cultivation. The average crop of wheat is about 30 bushels,
to the acre. It is a class of wheat that grades in Minneapolis and St.
Paul as “A No.1,” and makes a superior quality of flour. The average crop
of oats is 50 to 60 bushels to the acre. On 5 acres on Crazy Woman
Creek 105 bushels to the acre were raised. On Prairie-Dog Creek, north
of Buffalo, 85 bushels to the acre was the crop of 1887, on 40 acres of
ground. Barley was cultivated quite largely in the immediate vicinity
of the town in which I live, and the crop runs from 40 to 60 bushels to
the acre. The average is higher than the medium between those two. A
common crop of potatoes is 200 bushel to the acre. A not extraordi-
nary crop is 300 bushels, and on one tract of land near the city of Buffalo
650 bushels were raised on one acre which had been sage-brush and grease-
woodland. I saw it cleared myself and knew what it was. Corn was about
as stated by Mr. Coffin. In the northern Wyoming fair we had five
specimens raised in five dfferent parts of Johnston and Sheridan
counties of pieces of corn. The fair was held on the 7th and 8th days
of September. All small fruits are easily cultivated. I do not think
that the apple cultivation of Johnston and Sheridan counties, except in
favored localities, will be a success; the winters freezing out the trees.
I am not, however, as competent a judge of that as I am of other things.
FREMONT COUNTY AND ITS RECLAIMABILITY. 459
#
STATEMENT OF NOYES BALDWIN, OF LANDER.
The CHAIRMAN. In what part of the Territory is Fremont County º
Mr. BALDWIN. In the northwestern portion. The northern boundary
of our county is Montana. It embraces the headwaters of the Big
Horn River.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a map of that county 2
Mr. BALDWIN. I have a map, of a portion of it.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it marked ? -
Mr. BALDWIN. It is marked “Plat of Popo Agie River and tributa-
ries.” The most thickly settled portion of the County is the vicinity of
Lander.
The CHAIRMAN. Is Lander your county seat 3
Mr. BALDWIN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What streams run through your county &
Mr. BALDWIN, The Popo Agie, the Big Wind River, and the Little
Wind River, which, after it passes through the caſion in the Big Horn
range, is then called the Big Horn River. It has many tributaries.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you irrigation in your county 3
Mr. BALDWIN. We have 108,000 acres under ditch now, in this sec-
tion. Then there is a considerable portion north that I know very little
about.
The CHAIRMAN. How much of the land under ditch is actually culti-
Wated ?
Mr BALDWIN. Probably 50,000 or 60,000 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the crops raised there 3
Mr. BALDWIN. All the small grains and vegetables grown in other
portions of our Territory. The vegetable crop is a very productive crop.
The CHAIRMAN. What is about the altitude of that valley &
Mr. BALDWIN. About 5,500 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. That is about the average altitude of the valley
portion of it *
Mr. BALDWIN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. All the small grains and vegetables are raised there ?
Mr. BALDWIN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the soil &
Mr. BALDWIN. Excellent. The bottom land is loam and the bench
lands are sandy and gravely soil.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a water supply to irrigate all the 108,000
acres under ditches 3
Mr. BALDWIN. Yes, we have an ample supply of water.
The CHAIRMAN. What amount of land in Fremont County is suscep-
tible of cultivation'.
Mr. BALDWIN. There is a very large portion of it. It will be difficult
to estimate it all. *
The CHAIRMAN. Compared with what is under ditch, how much º Is
one-half of it under ditch 3
Mr. BALDWIN. It is, in this immediate vicinity of Lander; but the .
county is a very large county. It embraces about two thousand square
miles. The northern portion of it. I am not very well acquainted with.
The CHAIRMAN. Are the valleys large?
Mr. BALDWIN. Yes; very large.
The CHAIRMAN. Is the water supply good?
Mr. BALDWIN. It is abundant. The streams are mountain Streams,
and are fed from the mountains.
460 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there lakes there? r
Mr. BALDWIN. There are large lakes at the heads of those streams.
The CHAIRMAN. Furnishing opportunities for storage 3
Mr. BALDWIN. Yes. There are narrow cañons from which these
streams mostly flow.
The CHAIRMAN. You have no means of actually estimating the extent
of country that could be brought under cultivation ?
Mr. BALDWIN. No; but it would amount to many hundred thousand
a CI’éS.
The CHAIRMAN. You may add anything now that you desire.
Mr. BALDWIN. We raise all manner of grasses here, such as alfalfa,
timothy, red-top. We raise two and three crops of alfalfa each year.
The yield of wheat each year is about 40 bushels to the acre, and about
45 to 50 bushels of oats to the acre. Potatoes and every kind of veg-
etables grow to great perfection and the yield is abundant.
STATEMENT OF ANDREW GILCHRIST, OF CHEYENNE.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. GILCHRIST. I am a banker, a ranchman, a cattle-raiser, and an
agriculturist.
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside?
Mr. GILCHRIST. In Cheyenne.
The CHAIRMAN. In what portion of the Territory are you pursuing
agriculture ?
Mr. GILCHRIST. In Laramie County.
The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be glad to hear any statement
you may wish to make in regard to the water supply, the land to be
irrigated, and the crops that can be produced in Laramie County.
Mr. GILCHRIST. In the spring of the year, when there is a flood, the
water from the mountains comes down, and there is sufficient for about
a month or six weeks. In that period we get considerable water from
Dale Creek, Crow Creek, Pole Creek, Horse Creek, Bear Creek, Sybille
Creek, the Laramie River, and the Platte.
The CHAIRMAN. Are the waters of the Platte exhausted ?
Mr. GILCHRIST. No ; the water of the Platte is not exhausted at pres-
ent through Laramie County, for the reason that it flows through quite
a cañon and in a deep Valley, and there is very little of the land along
the Platte River in Laramie County that is susceptible of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. You have to go lower down on the Platte to use these
WaterS'
Mr. GILCHRIST. Either lower down or higher up; probably lower
down. Before it enters into Nebraska there are some lands susceptible
of irrigation in the Goshen country.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any opportunity to increase the Water Sup-
ply so as to furnish sufficient to irrigaté these 300,000 acres that are
under ditch.
Mr. GILCHRIST. Yes; there are good opportunities at the head of the
Laramie River and also at the head of the Platte. I believe there are
good storage basins there that could be used to preserve the waters in
the flood time and bring it down to Laramie County to utilize on the
land susceptible of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. Have any efforts been made to store the water ?
Mr. GILCHRIST. Not any up to this time, of any consequence.
The CHAIRMAN. How much land is actually under cultivation in Lar-
amie County &
Mr. GILCHRIST. There are about 150,000 acres actually irrigated.
FARMING IS SLOWLY SUPERSEDING RANCHING. 461
STATEMENT OF DELEGATE JOSEPH M. CAREY, OF CHEYENNE.
The CHAIRMAN. You are the Delegate to Congress from this Terri-
tory {
Mr. CAREY. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in the Territory of Wy-
oming %
Mr. CAREY. Twenty years.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with its general characteristics as
to the lands susceptible of irrigation, the Water to irrigate it with, and
the land that is already irrigated, and what has been done in that line 3
Mr. CAREY. I have a general knowlege of the Territory. Of course
I have no statistics at hand, but tables have been prepared by the Terri-
torial engineer showing the acreage under cultivation, etc.
The CHAIRMAN. He has the acreage under ditches, but not the
amount cultivated.
Mr. CAREY. Owing to the prevailing business of the Territory a very
large portion of the land that is irrigated is cultivated for hay, espe-
cially in sections of the country where there are no markets for grain.
A good deal of time is spent in cropping it, storing it, and baling for
the market, when there is a market, and feeding it to the stock in the
winter. I can not tell the acreage that is actually plowed and culti-
vated during the year. I think Professor Mead can approximate that.
Mr. MEAD. I could do so with a little time. I have not prepared that
for the Committee now.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you send it to the committee ?
Mr. MEAD. Yes.
The CEIAIRMAN. The cattle industry is a large industry in this Terri-
tory.
Mr. CAREY. Cattle-raising was, I believe, the first business in this
Territory, with coal mining.
The CHAIRMAN. You have other mines besides coal mines 3
Mr. CAREY. We have gold and some silver and copper deposits and
very large iron deposits.
The CHAIRMAN. The farming, as I understand you, in the portion of
the Territory best adapted for farming, is remote from the railroads.
Mr. CAREY. The best country for farming in this Territory (because
it is easy to irrigate it) is, I should say, comprised in Sheridan, John-
ston, Fremont, and Crook Counties, which, as you see, are in the north-
eastern portion of the Territory. Sheridan is in the northern part and
Johnston comes down toward the center. Fremont County is being
cultivated south of the Wind River Reservation, which you see in the
outline of Greene. There is some farming up north of the reservation
on the Big Horn River.
The CHAIRMAN. The stock-raisers in the Territory are, then, turning
their attention to cultivating the land and raising forage for stock '
Mr. CAREY. There is a great deal of forage raised by the stockmen.
The CHAIRMAN. They have ceased to rely wholly on the range for
their winter supply 3
Mr. CAREY. There is still a great deal of range business in the Terri-
tory, where cattle and horses are kept without putting up any hay what-
ever. Other stockmen put up considerable material which they feed
to their cattle in Winter. . It is becoming quite general in this Territory,
where men have cattle of more than ordinary value, or cattle that hap.
462 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
pen to be thin in the fall of the year, that they wish to be in such a posi-
tion as that they can have their own feed.
The CHAIRMAN. The cattle industry is growing, is it?
Mr. CAREY. Yes, very rapidly. The greatest number of people em-
ployed for strict farming, is, I suppose, in the counties I have named.
There are a good many people carrying on the grange business in Con-
Verse County and Laramie County and Albany County—in fact almost
all the counties.
The CHAIRMAN. Has any considerable attention been paid to the
º of Water and increasing the water supply for irrigating pur-
pOSes
Mr. CAREY. Not to any great extent. I can not say that there has
been a great deal of attention given to it, yet it is carried on to some
extent, especially around this town.
The CHAIRMAN. From what has been done around this town, what
do you say of the opportunities in this Territory of increasing the water
Supply by the various methods suggested for storage % w
Mr. CAREY. There is every opportunity for it. So far as I have been
able to see, nature has favored us in that respect, because there are
SpaceS where great storage and great lake basins can be found at very
Small cost. Natural depressions are found where the construction of a
dam will, if placed across a very narrow caſion, make a very large basin
in which large quantities of Water can be accumulated.
The CHAIRMAN. It was stated by the Territorial engineer here that
the amount of arable land that can be brought under cultivation by
irrigation, if the water were stored reasonably well, was estimated at
from 5,000,000 to 10,000,000 acres of land. Have you known anything
about the estimates ?
Mr. CAREY. I place every reliance upon Professor Mead's estimate.
He is a very conservative man.
The CHAIRMAN. He has given himself 5,000,000 acres by way of
latitude. {
Mr. CAREY. He is not as liable to exaggerate about such things as
Some people who are holding up to the World all the time the natural
wealth of the Territory in which welive; but I heard Major Powell make
an estimate before the Committee on the Territories of the EHouse of Rep-
resentatives at Washington. He estimated that there was enough
water precipitated in this territory, if it could all be accumulated and
saved, to reclaim about one-fifth of the area of the Territory, or what
would amount to 12,000,000 or 13,000,000 acres. From what I have seen
right at this town, as to the amount of water that we can store up from
a very small stream, I am inclined to believe that Major Powell has not
overestimated the amount that may be reclaimed.
Mr. MEAD. The question which the Chairman asked me was what
was the opinion in the Territory.
The CHAIRMAN. That is so. I understood you as not making any es-
timate yourself.
Mr. CAREY. If you examine that map of Wyoming you will find that
most of those streams that come into the Territory, or which are in Wyo-
ming, have their origin within our boundaries, take their rise in the
ridges and mountains within this Territory, and right at the place, or
near the place where these basins can be readily constructed. For that
reason I think a very large portion of our land can be Watered by water
rising in our own Territory, if we can save it.
The CHAIRMAN. Is your population increasing %
Mr. CAREY. Yes; our farming population is increasing.
PRACTICAL VIEWS AND RESULTS OF IRRIGATION. 463
STATEMENT OF LIONEL SARTORIS, OF LARAMIE.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever been engaged in irrigation in Albany
County ?
Mr. sºrroris. I have been irrigating there for the last six years.
Mr. CHAIRMAN. How near Laramie City ?
Mr. SARTORIS. About 20 miles west of Laramie City, on the Little
Laramie River.
The CHAIRMAN. What crops do you raise?
Mr. SARTORIs. For the last two years, oats, wheat, and a little barley.
We tried alfalfa this year for the first time. Oats have been our prin-
cipal crop there. Last year 44 bushels to the acre was the yield. That
was the first year and we were very short of water. This year I am
just cutting oats (we have not thrashed out yet), but I do not think it
will be very much better on account of the early frost we had about a
week ago. In a good year I think we could thrash 60 to 80 bushels to
the acre.
The CHAIRMAN. Would wheat succeed here?
Mr. SARTORIs. Wheat would be an undoubted success, but of course,
people will not grow what they can not get a market for.
The CHAIRMAN. How about barley 3
Mr. SARTORIS. We grew such a small piece last year that we did
not measure it.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you grow potatoes 2
Mr. SARTORIS. About 15 acres this year.
The CHAIRMAN, How much did you get of those 3
Mr. SARTORIS. I have not measured them.
The CHAIRMAN. Is the water supply abundant?
Mr. SARTORIS. Yes, when there is plenty of snow in the timber. This
year the Water has been somewhat short.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it run to waste in the flood season 2
Mr. SARTORIS. Yes; because there is hardly anybody up in the coun-
try that knows anything about how to irrigate the land properly. If we
had people there that understood irrigation there could be ten times the
amount of land used that is irrigated now.
The CHAIRMAN. How much water do they use to irrigate 2
Mr. SARTORIs. I do not know exactly.
The CHAIRMAN. They flood the land, do theyº
Mr. SARTORIS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever been engaged in irrigation elsewhere?
Mr. SARTORIS. No.
º, CHAIRMAN. Have you any other remark which you desire to
make? s
Mr. SARTORIs. No ; except about the possibility of storing water up
there. There are enormous facilities in that part of the county for mak.
ing reservoirs. It can easily be done.
The CHAIRMAN: Is there enough snow falling and enough precipta.
tion generally to fill reservoirs if they were constructed 2
Mr. SARTORIS. Yes; except in very exceptional years such as last
year, When scarcely any snow fell at all. The soil there is as good as
any part of the World I think. It is a light sandy loam, composed chiefly
of silica and lime, and will grow anything you please except corn. *
464 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
STATEMENT OF M. M. GRANT, OF LARAMIE.
The CHAIRMAN. We would like to have such information as you pos-
º in regard to irrigation in this Territory, and the opportunities
or it.
Mr. GRANT. In Albany County I think there could be about 400,000
acres of land irrigated by ditch and by storage reservoirs. I believe it
could even be doubled.
The CHAIRMAN. You think 800,000 acres could be brought under cul-
tivation ?
Mr. GRANT. Yes, by storage reservoirs.
Thº CHAIRMAN. Could sufficient water supply be got for 800,000
a CI'êS '.
Mr. GRANT. I think so. There's another thing I wanted to state in
connection with that, which I regard as being very important. That
is, the preservation of the timber from forest fires. Timber has a greater
bearing on the preservation of water than anything else; it holds the
Snows. I think I can safely say that in our county there has been at
least twenty times as much timber destroyed by fire as there has been
cut by settlers. Those fires are very destructive, and I think should be
guarded against. I regard that as being very important.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any suggestion to make as to how to ac-
complish that ?
Mr. GRANT. I think there should be timber reservations set aside in
these mountains. I think there should be a timber commissioner, and
that he should be vested with authority to employ men to help him to
Suppress forest fires when they start and, if possible, to compel the
people to assist him. Of course they should have proper compensation.
I believe that with proper watching these fires if taken in time are easy
to stop. There are millions of dollars' worth of timber that has been
destroyed in the Territory. It is a matter that I think bears very
strongly on the question of irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. It undoubtedly does.
Mr. GRANT. As to the storage of water in Albany County. There are
a great many places where dams could be placed for storing water. In
fact, in nearly all of those streams where they come out of the mount-
aims there are good opportunities for water storage. I believe that the
area that could be irrigated would be doubled.
The CHAIRMAN. You think it could be increased to 800,000?
Mr. GRANT. I think so.
The CHAIRMAN. And it is good land for all sorts of crops, small
grains and vegetables?
Mr. GRANT. Yes; especially for hay. There is no place anywhere in
the world where you can grow finer hay than in that section. I should
think from 30,000 to 40,000 tons of hay are grown in that county. I
have been over nearly all the Territory and I am satisfied from my ob-
servation (and I have lived here for twenty years) that there could be
at least 5,000,000 acres of land irrigated without storage reservoirs, and
I believe that by storage reservoirs that it could be doubled.
The CHAIRMAN. Ten millions, you think, could be irrigated by storage
reservoirs?
Mr. GRANT. Yes. *
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Mead did not make an estimate himself, but
stated what the estimate of the people was 3
Mr. GRANT. Yes,
POSSIBILITY OF RECLAMATION BY ARTESIAN WELLS. 465
The CHAIRMAN. Your estimate then is, that through storage, there
are 10,000,000 acres of land in the Territory that can be brought under
cultivation ?
Mr. GRANT. Yes; and I think this could be further increased by bor-
ing artesian wells. *
The CHAIRMAN. That is a new experiment, but probably might be
done to some extent.
Mr. GRANT. Yes; probably 300,000 or 400,000 acres, if the water
could be had. It would depend upon whether the water could be had
Or not.
STATEMENT OF J. A. JOHNSTON, OF LARAMIE.
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside 3
Mr. JoBNSTON. In Laramie, Wyo.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. JOHNSTON. It has been for the last twelve or fourteen years con-
structing and Operating irrigation Works.
The CHAIRMAN. And in what portions of the Territory &
Mr. JoBNSTON. I have operated in Colorado; but for the last five
years I have been employed in this Territory.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say in regard to the water supply for
irrigation, the land to be irrigated, and the result of irrigation in Wyo-
ming generally 3 * *
Mr. JOHNSTON. I am not familiar with any portion of it but Laramie
County and some little in Albany County.
The CHAIRMAN. State what the opportunities are there for obtaining
water, and what the land is that is to be irrigated.
Mr. JoHNSTON. That has been covered pretty well by Mr. Gilchrist,
who has spoken before me. He has stated the number of streams, etc.
The Laramie River is the place where I was operating. I constructed
works to reclaim about 60,000 acres of land about 100 miles north from
here.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you a sufficient supply of water to irrigate the
60,000 acres 3
Mr. JOHNSTON. In ordinary seasons we have.
The CHAIRMAN. Without storage 3
Mr. JOHNSTON. Yes, in ordinary seasons. The water is taken out in
what is known as the Laramie range. We also get seepage from the
lower plains, after the water has been used there, and from the small
streams that come in from the Laramie range.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your opinion in regard to developing more
water—as by Storage and improvement of the streams ?
Mr. JOHNSTON. It could be greatly developed, not only by storing
the waters, but by securing the waters that have under-currents. My
observation has been that most of the streams are underlaid with bed-
rock, and that by tapping the streams at the bed-rock we could secure
an increased flow of water almost invariably. We have an example of
that in the water-works of this town. We would be practically without
water to-day on account of the dryness of the season if it were not for
having applied that system. I made some observations recently on the
heads of the North Platte and the Laramie Rivers, and I believe there is
in that victnity at high altitudes on the summits of these ranges and
on the plateaus great facilities for storing water, immense facilities at
very slight expense. I have also had some experience in crops in this
county. I have raised crops on these lands that I speak of for the last
138 A L-WOL III—30
466 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
tWO or three years, and have demonstrated to my satisfaction that they
Will produce all the ceréals—rye, wheat, oats, and good corn—that is,
north of here, at the altitude of about 4,800 feet. We have raised there
from 30 to 60 bushels of oats, 30 to 40 bushels of wheat; barley we
have never tried, but we have raised from 30 to 60 bushels of corn of
good quality; some of it is on exhibition at the fair at this present
time; also potatoes and other vegetables in that vicinity, which will
Compare favorably with anything grown east or west.
--
STATEMENT OF GOVERNOR FRANCIS E. WARREN.
The CHAIRMAN. You are the present governor of this Territory "
Mr. WARREN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided in the Territory 3
Mr. WARREN. Nearly twenty-two years.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you directed your attention to agriculture by
means of irrigation ?
Mr. WARREN. To some extent, yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You have heard the statements made here this even-
ing. The committee would be glad to have from you any statement
that you think would be useful in the inquiry that it is making on this
subject.
Mr. WARREN. My observation of the Territory of Wyoming has been
that while there is a great deal of land under irrigation and the smaller
streams and valleys have been quite generally utilized, yet as a matter
of fact the Territory has been scarcely scratched as to the possibilities
that may result from a system of irrigation which would provide for the
use of the waters that rise within the boundaries of the Territory. And
when I speak of using the Waters that rise within the boundaries of the
Territory, I do so without prejudice to the States and Territories around
us in cases where the streams flow out into them. On the other hand,
I think it would be as much a benefit to them as to this Territory if a
system of irrigation and storage could be devised that would provide
for the storage of our waters, and also provide for the taking out of the
large streams where expensive work is required, and for the storing
back of the flood waters in the winter, and allowing the water necessary
for crops to flow out during the summer or irrigating Season. That
would not only secure the flood waters at the time they come, but would
also secure the waters to our contiguous Territories and States. We
have in Wyoming the heads of almost all the streams that run to the
Mississippi. They run largely into both Montana and Nebraska.
The CHAIRMAN. You have the sources of the streams in very high
mountains, too, have you not %
Mr. WARREN. Yes. One-fifth to one-seventh of this Territory is
capable of raising crops if water is provided. I believe one-seventh
would be a safe estimate. There are about 64,000,000 acres in the Ter-
ritory. (I am not giving this from statistics or close figuring, but as a
matter of observation and general information.) The greater portion
of the waters run away at flood times—run down the large streams and
sink in the sand outside of the Territory and are not used at present.
Irrigation has heretofore been confined principally to small ditches
easily taken out. That arises first from the fact of its being a newly
settled country, and secondly from the United States land laws, which
have not provided for corporate work. When I say corporate work I
mean that the expenditure of large sums for reservoirs and canals for
A
CORPORATIONS AND LAND AND WATER OWNERSHIP. 467
taking out the water from the large streams would certainly be the
most successful way of irrigating, but the land can only be procured at
the present time by various claims under the law, and it is difficult to
assemble enough land at any one point to guaranty and make profit-
able the taking out of large ditches and the storing of the waters.
The CHAIRMAN. We have found some instances where corporations
and individuals have constructed ditches and sold the water rights
sometimes in advance of construction at so much money for a quantity
of Water or so much money for enough to irrigate a given quantity of
land, selling it outright to those who hold the land, making the con-
tracts as they went along and arranging it so that when they got
through the water belonged to the land-owners. Has that been tried
in this Territory 3
Mr. WARREN. Not to a large extent, and I do not think it would be
as successful in the early portion of the settlement of the Territory as
in Would be later on. We have not yet arrived at that stage. If a com-
pany can get a guaranty that they can get a profit on their money by
immediate introduction of the water on their land they will expend
money for the purpose. -
The CHAIRMAN. Would you think it wise to have the land owned by
One Set of owners and the ditch by another, who would rent the water.
from year to year?
Mr. WARREN. The most successful schemes that I have observed
have been where the corporation has been prepared to do both. It has
had some land of its own and has sold such water as there was a demand
for, using the residue upon lands that it might itself own. Of course
I do not speak of that to recommend the ownership of large blocks of
land by private individuals and private corporations in advance of the
actual taking out of the water. But if the State or Territory could own
bodies of land which might pass into the hands of others as soon as re-
claimed by them, I think no harm could come from its being passed out
in larger bodies than 40 acres, or 80 acres, or 160 acres.
The CHAIRMAN. The result that you would want would be to get
Settlers on Small quantities.
Mr. WARREN. That is it. But that result is hard to attain at pres-
ent under the land laws and with the water so that the ditches, etc.,
can only be taken out in a small way.
' The CHAIRMAN. Would a careful survey, determining where reser-
voirs could be located, ascertaining the amount of the water supply by
gauging the rivers and measuring the rain-fall and also determining as
nearly as practicable the amount of land to be irrigated, the estimate of
cost, etc., be valuable to this Territory º
Mr. WARREN. It would be valuable, but to get that definite informa-
tion would probably require a good deal of time, whereas sufficient
knowledge is already had to warrant the feasibility of a storage system
and the taking out of water from the large streams by canals, etc. While
the Survey Would be valuable as I say, the practicability of the work is
already proved. We have the natural basins and we bave good soil.
The CHAIRMAN. Would the reservoirs or basins be generally on pub-
lic land or would they be on private land in this Territory º
Mr. WARREN. Those that are nearest to the head of the streams and
on the mountains would be on public lands entirely.
The CHAIRMAN. The designation of those, then, would be important to
private enterprise at once %
Mr. WARREN. Yes. It might sometimes appear that those reservoirs
should be in the valley where the streams would run through, yet it
468 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF AIRID LANDS.
often happens that a canal, by rounding the bluffs, flows into large nat-
ural basins that would be more successful in every way than to have
reservoirs placed on the stream.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it not important to have these surveys made to
show the storage sites as they are to be reserved 3
Mr. WARREN. Yes.
Senator JONES. I believe you said awhile ago that the use in the
Territory of Wyoming of all the water lying in the Territory of Wyom-
ing would be beneficial to other States.
Mr. WARREN. Yes; 1 certainly think so.
Senator JONES. Please explain your view in detail in regard to that.
Mr. WARREN. Take the case of a stream flowing water enough when
the ditches are first taken out to irrigate, we will say, 500 acres. By
taking the water out farther away from the stream and higher up, irri-
gating little by little, the land that is irrigated forms itself to some ex-
tent a reservoir. That is, I have in mind now a stream in Colorado
which was barely sufficient to irrigate 1,000 acres ten or twelve years
ago, but which now, by the establishment of a system of ditches carried
wider out, irrigates 30,000 or 40,000 acres. While they are all the time
taking out water from above the lands below are becoming more wet.
The water soaks into the land and gets out again and goes on down,
and the water is more continuous in the season by being used. Take
any stream where the water passes down at 10 or 12 miles an hour and
a shower comes up. It is only a little while until it has passed down.
There may be floods in the rivers or the water may be taken into the
soil in the process of irrigation ; uearly all of it finds the level of the
stream again and therefore makes a continuous flow.
Senator JONES. That is on the hypothesis that all the Water taken
from the stream finds its Way back 3
Mr. WARREN. Partly.
Senator JONES. I thought the fact was that considerable water was
taken up by the plant life, that with much irrigation there was a mate-
rial decrease in the amount of water, and that if the process was kept
on long enough not a drop of water would, after awhile, be found. So
that, if my idea is correct, it would seem to be possible that if all the
water rising in Wyoming should be used to the fullest extent that it
might be used there would be a deprivation of the other States.
Mr. WARREN. I do not propose to explain it Scientifically, but obser-
vation demonstrates what I have said. I have observed this also, the
plant life appears to provide in great measure for itself. We have no
dew here, for example, on the prairies, yet if we go into a growth of
wheat or grass in the morning We find that there is considerable moist-
ure. The plants are wet. Explain it as we may, the plant seems to
provide for itself. º
The CHAIRMAN. Your idea is that it would increase the rain-fall or
the amount of moisture in the atmosphere?
Mr. WARREN. I believe there is no question of that. With irrigation
a certain percentage of it will be taken up at first by the soil, but al-
most all of it will get back to the river if we save the water at times
when all along the stream there is a Superabundance of it, and use the
spare water on the land. tº * * *
The CHAIRMAN. The advantage, then, you think is in the uniformity .
of the flow %
Mr. WARREN. Partly. I suppose you have visited Fort Collins and
probably you have evidence from there, but I remember when all the
water of the Poudre River was used to irrigate less than 1,000 acres.
NO DANGER OF INTERSTATE COMPLICATIONS. 469
You know what a vast territory it irrigates now. The head-Waters
have not increased at all. Go to the head of Cachéla Poudre and if
anything, you will find less water there now than formerly, owing to
the destruction of timber.
Senator JONES. Then how is the water increased ?
Mr. WARREN. It is increased in its irrigating capacity.
Senator JONES. Do you mean to say that the volume of Water has
been increased or that it is used over and over again }
Mr. WARREN. I mean to say that it is used over and over again ;
and that the soil takes it in the spring, at the flood time, while it for-
merly went down the stream uninterrupted.
Senator Jon Es. I have no doubt that your idea is correct, that there
will be more uniformity in the flow.
Mr. WARREN. I do not mean to assert that it will make the aggre-
gate flow in twelve months any larger. I do not believe that any more
water will reach the sea in the course of a year, but it will flow more
uniformly.
Senator JONES. And your idea is that it will be an advantage to all
the States outside of Wyoming 3
Mr. WARREN. Yes.
Senator JONES. If it should be the fact that plant-growth and aerial
evaporation do lessen the volume of water to such an extent that the
arid lands of Wyoming would consume all the water in the Territory,
then there would be no benefit to the other States from the use of the
Water here?
Mr. WARREN. No matter how fully we would use the water in Wyo-
ming, I can not conceive of any system that would not benefit the sur-
rounding States and Territories. It is possible that some evidence may
have been adduced, or may be offered, showing that the Platte River
has less water east of here on account of irrigation. In answer to that,
I should say that if it is so, it is because the water is largely taken out
in the first year’s irrigation of large tracts of land. If you take out a
stream and distribute the water over a great area, it will show less
water the first season for a few miles below, but it never fails, later, to
irrigate sufficiently with less water. There is one stream I know of that
has been controlled by one company for eight or ten years. Originally
that was a stream coming from springs that wºuld run down about fifty
rods, probably, and sink again. At many points that stream would be
totally dry for three months in the year. They have taken out the water,
and at the present time the water is not used at all upon what was for-
merly irrigated land, but is spread on the hillside. What was formerly
irrigated is now ditched, and the water is taken from there. That is a
surplus of water which is carried down the hill, so that the purpose is
to drain out the water down below.
Senator JONES. There have been a number of instances where
streams have been dried up before irrigation, but which have since be-
come full.
Mr. WARREN. I say this very frankly that if I were a citizen of
Nebraska or any other State, and had interest in the waters that flowed
from Wyoming, I would be glad to see irrigation practiced just as ex-
tensively as the water would warrant.
The CHAIRMAN. In other Words you would like to have the waters
kept back and stored in the land rather than have them come down in
the flood time.
Mr. WARREN. Yes.
Mr. Hoy T. You would expect to suffer for a year or two 3
470 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION or ARID LANDs.
Mr. WARREN. Yes, except on some large stream where very large
operations could be conducted. But as a general thing the operations
On any One Stream would not be felt.
The CHAIRMAN. While you are filling the soil it would certainly be
felt, but when you got the soil once filled it would Operate to make the
land need less irrigation ?
Mr. WARREN. Yes.
Governor Warren filed with the committee the Irrigation laws of
Wyoming, which are as follows:
TITLE 19, IRRIGATION.
CHAPTER 1. Rights to use of water and right of way for ditches.
CHAPTER 2. Appropriation of water—Procedure.
CHAPTER 3. Official survey of ditch.
CHAPTER 1.
RIGHTS TO USE OF WATER AND RIGHT OF WAY FOR DITCHES.
Sec. Sec.
1317. Rights of riparian owners. 1324. Wested rights preserved.
1318. When land owner entitled to right of way— | 1325. Ditches to be bridged.
Damages. 1326. When commissioners to bridgo ditches—
1319. Extent of right of way. Expenses.
1320. Petition to commissioners—Notice of ap- || 1327. Claim for right of way may be arbitrated.
pointing appraisers. 1328. Appointment, and proceedings of arbi-
1321. Proceedings of appraisers—Payment of as- tratorS.
SeSSIſ) elit. 1329. Appeal to commissioners.
1322. Owner may raise water from stream. 1330. If no appeal taken, award is final.
1323. Ditches to be kept in repair.
SEC. 1317. All persons who claim, own, or hold a possessory right or title to any
land or parcel of land within the boundary of Wyoming Territory, when those
claims are on the bank, margin or neighborhood of any stream of water, creek, or
river, shall be entitled to the use of the water of said stream, creek, or river for the
purposes of irrigation and making said claim available to the full extent of the
soil for agricultural purposes. [C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 1.]
SEC. 1318. When any person owning claims in such locality has not sufficient
length of area exposed to said streams to obtain a sufficient fall of water to irrigate
his land or his farm, or land used by him for agricultural purposes is too far re-
moved from Said stream, and he has no water facilities on those land he shall be
entitled to a right of way through the farms or tracts of land which lie between
him and said stream, or the farms or tracts of land which lie above and below him,
on said stream, for the purposes hereinbefore stated : Provided, That, in the con-
struction, keeping up, and using any ditch through the lands of another person, the
person or persons constructing or using said ditch, or whose duty it shall be to keep
the same in repair, shall be liable to the person owning or claiming such land, for
all damages accruing to such person by reason of said construction, keeping up,
and using such ditch. [.C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 2. I
SEC. 1319. Such right of way, shall extend only to a ditch, dyke, or cutting suffi-
cient for the purposes required. I C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 3.] *
SEC. 1320. Upon the refusal of the owners of tracts of land, or lands through
which said ditch is proposed to run, to allow of its passage through their property,
the persons desiring to open Stich ditch may present to the county commissioners of
the county in which said lands are located, a petition, signed by the person or per-
sons, describing with convenient accuracy the lands so required to be taken as
aforesaid, setting forth the name, or names of the owner or other person interested,
and praying the appointment of three appraisers to ascertain the compensation to
be made to such owner or persons interested. Upon the receipt of said petition,
the said county commissioners shall give notice, at least thirty days prior to the ap-
pointment of said appraisers, by public notice in a newspaper, when published in
the county or by posting three or more notices in three different places in said county,
stating that such appraisers will be appointed on the day of [C. L. 1876,
Ch. 65, Ó 5. *
Šgo. #! The said appraisers, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall
take an oath to faithfully and impartially discharge their duties as said appraisers.
They shall hear the proofs and allegations of the parties, and any two of them, after
reviewing the premises, shall, without fear, favor, or partiality, ascertain and certify
WATER LAWS OF THE TERRITORY OF W YOMING. 471
the compensation proper to be made to said owner or persons interested, for the lands
to be taken or affected, as well as all damages accruing to the owner or person inter-
ested, in consequence of the condemnation of the same, taken or injuriously affected
as aforesaid, making such deduction or allowance for real benefits or advantages
which such owner or parties interested may derive from the construction of said ditch
or flume. They or a majority of them shall subscribe a certificate of their said as-
certainment and assessment, which shall be recorded in the county clerk’s Office of
the county in which said lands are situated, and upon the payment of the compen-
sation (if any), the said person or persons shall have the right of way of construct
said ditch or flume. [C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 6.]
SEC. 1322. All persons on the margin, bank, neighborhood, or precinct of any
stream of water shall have the right and power to place upon the bank of said
stream a wheel or other machine for the purpose of raising water to the level re-
quired for the purpose of irrigation, and the right of way shall not be refused by the
owner of any tract of land upon which it is required, subject, of course, to the like
regulations as required for ditches and laid down in the last preceding section.
[C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 7.1
SEC. 1323. The owner or owners of any ditch for irrigation or other purposes shall
carefully maintain the embankments thereof, so that the waters of such ditch may
not flood or damage the premises of others. [C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 8. I
SEC. 1324. Nothing in this chapter contained shall be so construed as to impair
the prior vested rights of any mill or ditch owner, or other person, to use the waters
of any such water-course. [C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 9.]
SEC. 1325. Any ditch company constructing a ditch, or any individual having
ditches for irrigation or for other purposes, whenever the same be taken across any
public highway or public traveled road, shall put a good substantial bridge (not less
than fourteen feet in breadth), over such water-course where it crosses said road.
[C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 11.]
SEC. 1326. When any such ditch or water-course shall be constructed across any
public traveled road, and not bridged within three days thereafter, it shall be the
duty of the county commissioners of the county in which said ditch and road are lo-
cated to put a bridge over said ditch or water-course, of the dimensions specified in
the foregoing section, and call upon the owner or owners of the said ditch or water-
course to pay the expenses of constructing said bridge, and if payment therefor be
refused, a civil action may be maintained for the recovery of the same, together with
all accruing costs. [C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 12.] *
SEC. 1327. Upon the refusal of the owner or owners of land or lands through which
any person or persons are desirous of constructing any irrigation ditch or ditches,
then it shall be lawful for the parties interested to settle the matter by the appoint-
ment of a board of arbitration consisting of three men as hereinafter provided. [S.
L. 1882, ch. 57, § 1.] .*
SEC. 1328. The creation of the board of arbitration shall be as follows: The person
or persons desiring the construction of such ditch or ditches and the owner or own-
ers of the land or lands through which the construction of such ditch or ditches is
contemplated shall each choose one disinterested resident property holder of the
county in which the land or lands mentioned above are situated, and the two so
chosen shall designate a third person with like qualifications as themselves, and it
shall be lawful for these persons to immediately proceed to hear the proof and alle-
gations of the parties concerned. It shall be lawful for any two of such board of
arbitration to make such assessment of damages as may in their judgment be deemed
just and right, taking into consideration the benefits, if any, that may accrue to the
owner or owners of the land or lands through which the construction of such ditch
or ditches is contemplated. [S. L. 1882, ch. 57, § 2.]
SEQ. 1329. Should the verdict or assessment of such board of arbitration be unsat-
isfactory to either or both of the parties interested, then recourse may be had by an
appeal made in writing within ten days from the rendering of such verdict by such
board of arbitration, addressed to the board of county commissioners of the county
in which the contestants reside, in which case the party taking the appeal shall give
bonds for all the costs; then the case shall stand as though no action had been taken
in the matter and the parties may then proceed under this chapter in the same man-
ner as though the proceedings to ascertain the compensation to be given had been
taken before the county commissioners in the first instance. [S. L. 1882, ch. 57, § 3. ]
(For proceedings before commissioners see \\ 1320 and 1321.)
SEC. 1330. In case no appeal be taken as above provided by either of the parties
interested, then the finding of such board of arbitration shall be binding and final;
Provided, The sum of money agreed upon by the board of arbitration has been
tendered or paid, or a deed for such right of way executed and delivered or ten-
dered by the party or parties over whose land the right of way is Sought. [S. L.
1882, ch. 57, W 4.]
*
472 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARIl) LANDS.
l
CIIAPTER 2.
APPROPRIATION OF WATER—PROCEDURE.
Seo. Sec.
1331. Irrigation districts defined and numbered. 1346. Notice of trial of rights to water.
1332. Appointment of water commissioners. 1347. Destroying water improvements—Penalty.
1333. Oath of commissioners. 1348. Appeal to supreme court—Notice—Under
1334. Duties of commissioners. taking.
1335. Molesting head-gates, etc.—Penalty—Com- || 1349. Service of notice in case of appeal.
missioners may make arrests, 1350. Transcript to be filed in six months.
1336. Compensation of commissioners. 1351. I) ecree of supreme court.
1337. Employment of assistant commissioners— | 1352. Effect of failing to offer evidence of priority
Compensation. of water rights.
1338. Commissioners to perform duties only when | 1353. Effect of failure to file statement of water
necessary. right.
1339. Jurisdiction of courts to sottle water rights. 1354. Decision may be reviewed in district court.
1340. Statement of existing water rights to be filed, 1355. Right of persons constructing reservoirs.
6t;C. 1356. Liability of owners of reservoirs.
1341. Filing and index of statement. 1357. Fees of witnesses.
1342. Fees of clerk of court. 1358. Rights of incorporated companies to take
1343. Statement of contemplated ditch—Appor- Watol’.
tionment of water—Construction to begin 1359. Water commissioners to prevent waste of
in sixty days. Watel'.
1344. Streams open to appropriation. 1360. Ditch owners to protect fish.
1345. Manner of determining priority of water | 1361. Wested rights preserved.
rights in district court.
SEC. 1331. The lands now irrigated, or which may be hereafter irrigated, from
ditches taking water from the following described rivers and natural streams of the
Territory of Wyoming, are hereby declared to constitute irrigation districts:
District number one shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches from the North.
Platte River and its tributaries, except the Laramie River, between its intersection.
with the boundary line between Nebraska and Wyoming and its intersection with
the western boundary line of Laramie County, Crow Creek, Lone Tree Creek, Pole.
Creek, Horse Creek, Chugwater Creek, Cheyenne River, Niobrara or Running Water
River, and their tributaries.
District number two shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the Laramie River and tributaries, except Chugwater Creek, North Platte
River and its tributaries, between its intersection with the western boundary line
of Laramie County and the mouth of the Sweet water, Sabille Creek and North Lara-
mie Creek; and also the following-named streams, situate in whole or in part in the
County of Albany, namely: Douglass Creek, Lake Creek, the three Beaver Creeks,
Four-Mile Creek, Dutton Creek, Cooper Creek, Rock Creek and tributaries, Sabille,
Sheep Creek, Deer Creek and tributaries, Antelope Creek, Fish Creek and its tribu-
taries, Dale creek and its tributaries, and also the following-named lakes, to-wit :
Cooper Lake, James Lake, Ione Lake, Sportsman's Lake, Lake Hutton, Lake Creigh-
ton, Lake George, Steamboat Lake, Horse Creek Lake, Lake Hattie, and Lake Owen.
District number three shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the North Platte River and its tributaries to the line of Carbon County, and all
streams or continuations of streamus lying within Carbon County.
District number four shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the Green River and its tributaries.
District number five shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the Powder, Tongue, and Big Horn Rivers and their tributaries, except Wind
River. º
District number six shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the Little Powder River, Little Missouri River, and the Belle Fourche and their
tributaries.
District number seven shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from that portion of Green River lying within Uinta County and Bear River.
District number eight shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from Wind River to j County line.
Other irrigation districts may be formed from time to time by the governor, on
petition of the parties interested, comprising territory not within any of the above-
established irrigation districts. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 1. )
SEC. 1332. There shall be one water commissioner for each of the above-named dis-
tricts, and for each district hereafter formed, who shall be appointed by the governor,
to be selected by him from persons recommended to him by the several boards of
county commissioners of the countles into which water districts may extend, and the
water commissioners so appointed shall hold their office for two years, or until their
successor is appointed and qualified. The governor, by like Selection and appoint-
ment, shall fill all vacancies which may be occasioned by death, resignation, or con.
WATER LAWS OF THE TERRITORY OF WYOMING. 473
tinued absence from the district, removal or otherwise, and the governor may at any
time remove any water commissioner for failure to perform his duties, or for any other
cause. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 2. J e
SEC. 1333. Within twenty days after his appointment, and before entering upon the
duties of his office, such water commissioner shall take and subscribe an oath to
faithfully and impartially perform the duties of his office, which oath shall be de-
posited with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction over the priority of rights to
use of water in his district. [.S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 3.]
SEC. 1334. It shall be the duty of the said water commissioners to divide the water in
the natural stream or streams of their districts among the several ditches taking
water from the same, according to the prior rights of each, respectively, in whole or
in part, and to shut and fasten, or cause to be shut and fastened, the head-gates of
any ditch or ditches heading in any of the natural streams of the district, which in
time of a scarcity of water, makes it necessary, by reason of the priority of the rights
of others above or below them on the stream. [.S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 4.]
SEC. 1335. Every person who shall willfully .# close, change, or interfere with
any head-gate or water-box without authority shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred dollars,
or imprisoned in the county jail for a term not exceeding six months, or both fine
and imprisonment. The water commissioners or their assistants, within their dis-
tricts, shall have authority to arrest any person or persons offending and turn them
over to the sheriff of the proper county. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 5.
SEC. 1336. The water commissioners herein provided shall be entitled to pay at the
rate of five dollars per day for each day he shall be actually employed in the duties
of his office, not to exceed fifty days in any one year, to be paid by the county in
which his irrigation district may lie. Each water commissioner shall keep a just and
true account of the time spent by him in the duties of his office, and shall present a
true copy thereof, verified by oath, to the board of county commissioners of the
county in which his district may be, and said board of county commissioners shall
allow the same, and if said irrigation district shall extend into two or more counties
then said water commissioner shall present his account for his said services, verified
as aforesaid, to the board of county commissioners of the county in which sits the
district court having jurisdiction over the priorities of the rights to use of water
; the purposes for which it was appropriated in such districts. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61
6. T
SEC. 1337. Said water commissioners shall have power, in case of emergency, to
employ suitable assistants to aid him in the discharge of his duty ; such assistants
shall take the same oath as the water commissioner and shall obey his instructions,
and each shall be entitled to four dollars per day for every day he is employed, not
to exceed thirty-five days in any one year, to be paid upon the certificate of the
water commissioner in the same manner as is provided for payment of water com-
missioners. t; L. 1886, ch. 61, § 7.]
SEC. 1338. Said water commissioners shall not begin their work until they shall
be called on by two or more owners or managers, or persons controlling ditches in
the several districts, by application in writing, stating that there is a necessity for
their action, and they shall not continue performing services after the necessity there-
for shall cease. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 8,
SEC. 1339. For the purpose of hearing, adjudicating, and settling all questions con-
cerning the priority of appropriation of water, between ditch companies and other
owners of ditches, drawing water for beneficial purposes, from the same stream, or its
tributaries, within the same irrigation district, and all other questions of law and
questions of right growing out of or in any way involved or connected there with,
jurisdiction is hereby vested, exclusively in the several district courts, as follows:
For district number one, in the district court of Laramie County; for district number
two, in the district court of Albany County; for district number three, in the district
court of Carbon County; for district number four, in the district court of Sweetwater
County; for district number five, in the district court of Johnson County; for dis-
trict number six, in the district court of Crook County; for district number seven,
in the district court of Uinta County; for district number eight, in the district court
of Fremont County. All streams, lakes, and reservoirs not herein enumerated shall
be, for all purposes, attached to and belong to the irrigation district in which the
greater portion of its water is, it being the intent and meaning hereof to add to each
irrigation district all waters not hereinbefore enumerated the majority of which lie
in their respective are as, for the purposes of acquiring rights to the appropriation
and use thereof and adjudicating the same. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 9.
SEC. 1340. In order that all parties may be protected in their lawful rights to the
use of water for beneficial purposes, every person, association or corporation, own-
ing or claiming any interest in any ditch, canal, or reservoir, within any water dis-
trict shall, on or before the first day of September, eighteen hundred and eighty-six,
if such statements are not already matters of record at the time this act is approved,
474 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
file with the clerk of the district court having jurisdiction of priority of rights to the
use of Water for irrigation, in such water district, a statement of claim, under oath,
entitled of the proper court, which statement shall contain the name or names, to-
gether with the post-office address of the claimant or claimants claiming ownership,
as aforesaid, of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir, the name thereof (if any), and if
without a name, the owner or owners shall choose and adopt a name, to be therein
stated, by which such ditch, canal, or reservoir, shall thereafter be known. The de-
Scription of such ditch, canal, or reservoir as to location of head-gate, general course
of ditch, the name of the natural stream from which such ditch, canai, or reservoir
draws its supply of water, the length, width, depth and grade thereof, as near as may
be, the time, fixing a day, month and year, as the date of appropriation of water by
original construction, also by any enlargement or extension, if any such thereof have
been made, and the amount of water claimed by or under such construction, enlarge-
inent or extension, and the present capacity of the ditch, canal, or feeder, or reser-
Voir, and also the number of acres of land lying under and being, or proposed to be,
irrigated by water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir; or if such waters have been
appropriated for other beneficial purposes than irrigation, a statement of such pur-
pose; such statement shall be signed by the proper party or parties; and shall file
with the county clerk and ex-officio register of deeds a like statement, which shall be
be recorded by him in a book kept for that purpose. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 10.]
SEC. 1341. Upon the filing of such statement, the clerk of the court shall endorse
upon the back thereof the date of filing, and shall prepare an index of the same, in a
book to be provided for that purpose by the county commissioners, which said index
Shall contain the date of filing, the name of the party, association, or corporation,
the llame of the ditch, the stream from which the water is taken by such ditch, canal,
or reservoir, in general terms, the location of the head-gate, the date of the appro-
priation of the water, by construction, enlargement or extension; said index shall be
prepared alphabetically, by reference to the name of the ditch, canal, or reservoir.
[S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 11.] f
SEC. 1342. For filing and indexing such statement, the clerk of the court shall re-
ceive a fee of one dollar, to be paid by the party or parties filing the same. [S. L.
1886, ch. 61, § 12. T
SEC. 1343. Hereafter every person, company, or corporation, constructing, enlarg-
ing, or extending any ditch, canal, or reservoir, for beneficial purposes, and intend-
ing to use or appropriate any water from any natural stream within a water district,
for such beneficial purposes, shall file with the county clerk and ex-officio register of
deeds and the clerk of the district court, of the proper county, before the commence-
ment of the construction, enlargement, or extension of such ditch, canal, or reser-
voir, a statement showing the stream or streams from which the water is to be taken ;
the point or place on said stream at or near which the water is to be taken out ; the
line of said ditch or ditches as near as may be ; the use or uses to which said water
is intended to be applied ; the dimensions of such ditch or ditches, and each thereof,
giving width on bottom and top, slope of banks, and grade of ditch; and likewise
of any and all enlargements thereof; which statement shall be filed and indexed as is
provided in section thirteen hundred and forty, and from the time of filing any such
statement water sufficient to fill such ditch or ditches, and to subserve the use or uses
aforesaid, if a lawful and just use, shall be deemed and adjudged to be appropriated ;
Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be permitted to interfere with a prior
right to said water, or to any thereof; And provided further, That such person or per-
sons, or corporation, shall within sixty days next ensuing the filing of such statement,
begin the actual construction of said ditch or ditches, and shall prosecute the work
of the construction thereof diligently and continuously to its completion; And pro-
vided further, That the beginning of all necessary surveys of such ditch shall be con-
strued as the beginning of said work of constructiou. [.S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 13.]
SEC. 1344. The water of every natural stream not heretofore appropriated within
this Territory is hereby declared to be the property of the public and the same is ded-
icated to the use of the people, subject to appropriation as herein provided. The
provisions of this chapter shall apply to all cases where water of natural streams is
appropriated for beneficial purposes, whether the water be conducted through ditches,
canals, flumes or tunnels, and shall apply also to cases where for irrigation purposes
the water is stored in reservoirs and the owner or owners of any ditch, canal, flume
or tunnel through which water is conducted for irrigation purposes, and also the
owners of reservoirs may conduct the water therefrom into and along any of the nat-
ural streams of the Territory, but not so as to raise the waters thereof above high
water mark, and may take the same out again at any point desired, but due allow-
ance shall be made for evaporation and seepage, the amount to be determined by the
water commissioner of the proper district, subject to review and determination by
the court having jurisdiction over priorities in such district. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 14.]
SEC. 1345. Whenever any person or persons, association or corporation, interested
as owners of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, in any district, shall desire a determina-
WATER LAWS OF THE TERRITORY OF WYOMING. 475
tion of the priorities of rights to the use of water fromia stream or streams, from which
they draw the water for their ditch or ditches, canals or reservoirs, they shall pre-
sent to the district court having jurisdiction over the rights in such water district,
or to the judge thereof in vacation, a motion, petition or application in writing,
moving or praying said court to proceed to an adjudication of the priorities of rights
to the use of water for irrigation, between the several ditches, canals or reservoirs in
such district, on the stream or streams named in the motion, petition or application.
The said motion, petition or application shall state the names of the ditches, canals
or reservoirs, claiming water from said stream or streams, as appears by the final
statements in the clerk's office, together with the names of the persons, associations
or corporations interested therein, taken from said statements, and shall set forth the
nature of the claim or claims of the applicant or applicants, and such motion, petition
or application shall be entitled “in the matter of an application for an adjudication
of the priorities of rights to use water for beneficial purposes in water district num-
ber —, on ” (stating the stream or streams). Upon the filing and docket-
ing of such application, the court, or judge thereof, in vacation, shall without un-
necessary delay, by an order to be entered of record, upon such motion, petition or
application, appoint a day, in some regular term of said court, or in vacation thereof,
for commencing to hear and take evidence in such adjudication, at which time it
shall be the duty of the court, or judge thereof in vacation, to proceed and hear all
evidence that may be offered by or in behalf of any person, association or corpora-
tion interested in such stream or streams in such district, in any ditch, canal or res-
ervoir, either as owner or consumer of water therefrom, in support of or against any
claims of priority of appropriation of water made by means of any ditch, canal or
reservoir, or by an enlargement or extension thereof in such district, or on such
stream or streams, and consider all such evidence, also the arguments of the parties
or their counsel, and shall ascertain and find from such evidence, as near as may be,
the date of the commencement of such ditch, canal or reservoir, together with the
original size and carrying capacity thereof, as originally constructed, the time of the
commencement of each enlargement or extension thereof, if any, with the increased
capacity thereby occasioned, the time spent severally in such construction, enlarge-
ment, or extension and re-enlargement, if any, the diligence with which the work
was in each case prosecuted, the nature of the work as to the difficulty of construc-
tion, and all such other facts as may tend to show the compliance with the law in
acquiring the priority of right claimed for each such ditch, canal or reservoir, and
determine the matters put in evidence, and make and cause to be entered, a decree
determining and establishing the several priorities of right, by appropriation of
water of the several ditches, canals and reservoirs, in such water district, in such
stream or streams, concerning which testimony shall have been offered, each accord-
ing to the time of its said construction and enlargement or enlargements and ex-
tensions, with the amount of water which shall be held to have been appropriated
by such construction and enlargement, or extensions, describing such amount by
cubic feet per second of time (which shall also be the method of measurement for
the sale of water), if the evidence shall show sufficient data to ascertain such cubic
feet, and if not, by width, depth and grade, and such other description as will most
certainly and conveniently show the amount of water intended, as the capacity of
such ditch, canal or reservoir in such decree. Such court or judge thereof, in vaca-
tion, shall further order that each and every person interested or claiming any such
ditch, canal or reservoir, shall receive from the clerk on payment of a reasonable
fee therefor, to be fixed by the court or judge, in vacation, a certificate under seal of
the court, showing date or dates, and amount or amounts of appropriations adjudged
in favor of such ditch, canal or reservoir, under and by virtue of the construction,
extension and enlargement thereof severally, also specifying the number of said
ditch as determined by the court, with reference to priority, and of each priority to
which the same may be entitled by reason of said construction, extension and en-
largement ; Provided, That any party or parties claiming any right to the use of
water for beneficial purposes in such district, and on such stream or streams, by
reason of being owner of or interested in any ditch, canal or reservoir, who is not
mentioned in the motion, petition or application filed and presented to the court, shall
be notified by the clerk of such application, and shall become parties to such pro-
ceedings, and shall have their rights adjudicated therein. The court or judge thereof,
in vacation, may, instead of taking the testimony orally or in open court, refer the
matter to some person to take and reduce to writing the testimony to the court or
judge thereof, in vacation, and the person to whom such cause shall be referred for
that purpose, shall have the same power and duties concerning the taking of testi-
mony, and compelling the attendance of witnesses, as masters in chancery. [S. L.
1886, ch. 61, § 15.]
SEC. 1346. Upon the order of the court fixing the time of hearing being made, the
clerk shall place a certified copy of such order, which order shall contain the names
of all the parties alleged in application to be interested in the matter, in the posses-
476 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
sion of the sheriff of the proper county, which shall be thereupon served upon each
of the parties therein named in the same manner as a summons, and a return of the
service shall be made and filed with the clerk within fourteen days after the delivery
of said order to the sheriff, or if served by any other person, in cases where a sum-
mons could be served, then return shall be made within fourteen days after date
of order. It shall be the duty of the clerk also to give public notice of such applica-
tion and order, by publication in a newspaper, if any be printed and in circulation,
in some county wherein such water district is situated, which notice shall be pub-
lished at least once each week for two consecutive weeks, and which said notice
shall contain the date of the filing of said motion, petition, or application, the name
or names of the parties filing the same, a copy of the order made by the court for
hearing, and shall notify all parties interested as owners in any ditch, canal, or reser-
yoir on such stream or streams in such water district, as well as the persons named
in the motion, petition, or application, to appear at said court or before the judge
thereof, in vacation, at the time appointed and stated in the order, and that all per-
Sons interested as owners or consumers may then and there present his, her, or their
proofs for or against any priority of right of water by appropriation sought to be
shown by any party, by or through any ditch, canal, or reservoir (either as owner or
Consumer of water drawn therefrom), and in case any party mentioned in the
motion, petition, or application can not be personally served in any county embraced
in such water district, the published notice above provided shall be deemed sufficient
Service of notice: Provided further, That in addition to such publication the clerk
shall mail such published notice to each party mentioned in the motion, petition, or
application, directing the same to the address of such parties as stated in the sworn
statement on file. Proof of the proper publication shall consist in the sworn certifi-
cate of the publisher of the paper in which notice is published, to which shall be
attached a printed copy taken from such paper. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 16.]
SEC. 1347. Any person or persons who shall knowingly and willfully cut, dig, or
break down, or open any gate bank, embankment, or side of any ditch, canal, or res-
ervoir, flume, tunnel, or feeder in which such person or persons may be joint owners,
or on the property of another, or in the lawful possession of another or others, and
used for the purpose of irrigation, milling, manufacturing, mining, or domestic pur-
poses, with intent maliciously to injure any person, association, or corporation, or for
his or her own gain, unlawfully, with the intention of stealing, taking, or causing to
run, or pour out of such canal, or reservoir feeder, or flume, any water for his or her
own profit, benefit, or advantage, to the injury of any other person, persons, associ-
ation, or corporation lawfully in the use of such water, or of such ditch, canal, tun-
nel, feeder, or flume, he, she, it, or they, so offending, shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one
hundred dollars, and may be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding six months,
or both, at the discretion of the court. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 17.]
SEC. 1348. Any party or parties, representing any ditch, canal, or reservoir, or any
number of parties, representing two or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs, which are
affected, in common with each other, by any portion of the decree rendered by the
district court, by which he, she, it, or they may feel aggrieved, may have an appeal
from said district court to the supreme court, and in such case the party or parties
joining, desiring an appeal, shall be the appellants, and the parties representing any
one or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs affected in common, adversely to the in-
terests of appellants, shall be appellees. The party or parties in such appeal shall,
within sixty days after the date of the decree, file in the district court wherein any
decree is entered under this chapter a notice of appeal in writing, stating that such
party or parties appeals to the supreme court of the Territory from the decree ren-
dered in the case, or any part thereof. When only a part of the decree is appealed
from the notice of the appeal should so state, and shall also in that case specify the
portion or part of the decree appealed from. Upon filing of such notice of appeal the
cause shall be deemed to be appealed to the supreme court of the Territory: Provided,
however, That the party or parties appealing as aforesaid, shall, within sixty days
aforesaid, enter into an undertaking, to be approved by the district court, or judge
thereof, and to be given to all parties in said suit or proceeding, other than the parties
appealing, and to be in such an amount as the court or said judge shall fix, condi-
tioned that the parties giving their said undertaking shall prosecute their appeal to
effect, and without unnecessary delay, and will pay all costs and damages which the
parties to whom the undertaking is given, or either or any of them may sustain in
consequence of such appeal. [S. L., 1886, ch, 61, § 18.]
SEC. 1349. The order last aforesaid shall be entered of record, and the appellant
or appellants shall cause a certified copy thereof to be served on each of the ap-
pellees, by delivering the same to him or her, if he or she may be found, or otherwise
serving the same, in manner the same, as may be provided for serving summons from
the district court by the laws then in force. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 19.]
SEC. 1350. The appellant, or appellants shall, within six months after the appeal
be allowed as aforesaid, file in the office of the clerk of the Supreme Court of this Ter-
WATER LAWS OF THE TERRITORY OF WYOMING. 477
ritory a certified transcript of the proceedings had in the case in the district court
containing the pleadings and the statements of the parties filed herein and all evi-
dence of record offered on the hearing of the cause, or so much thereof as shall effect
the appropriation of water claimed by the means of construction, enlargement, or re-
enlargement of the several ditches, canals, and reservoirs mentioned in the order
allowing the appeal. When the evidence has been taken in the open court, or before
the judge, in vacation, such evidence, or the substance thereof, reduced to writing
and signed by the judge, or in case notes of said testimony have been taken by the
official stenographer, a transcription of the same, signed by the stenographer and at-
tested by his official seal, filed with the clerk of the court, shall be deemed a record
of the evidence taken in said court. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 20, 1
SEC. 1351. The supreme court, in all cases heard before it under this chapter, shall,
where it can properly be done, render such decree as the court, or the judge below,
should have rendered. It may either reverse or modify the decree of the court or
judge below, and in cases where the decree of the court below is reversed, in whole or
in part, it may direct the court below as to its further proceedings therein. [S. L.
1886, ch. 61, § 21.]
SEC, 1352. No claim of priority of any person, association, or corporation on ac-
count of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, as to which he, she, it, or they have failed or
refuse to offer evidence, under any adjudication herein provided for, shall be regarded
by any water commissioner in distributing water in times of scarcity thereof, until
such time as such party shall have by application to the court having jurisdiction
obtained leave and made proof of the priority of right to which such ditch, canal,
or reservoir shall be justly entitled, which leave shall be granted in all cases upon
terms as to notice to other parties interested, and upon payment of all costs, and
upon affidavit or petition sworn to, showing the rights claimed, and the ditches,
canals, and reservoirs, with the names of the owners thereof, against which such
priority is claimed, nor until a decree adjudging such priority to such ditch, canal, or
reservoir has been entered, and certificate such as mentioned in section thirteen hun-
dred and forty-six shall have been issued to claimant and presented to the watcr
commissioner. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 22. I
SEC. 1353. No person, association, or corporation representing any ditch, canal, or
reservoir shall be permitted to give or offer any evidence before said court until he,
she, it, or they shall have filed a statement of claim in substance the same in all re-
spects as is required to be filed under the provisions hereof. . [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 23. ]
SEC. 1354. The district court, or judge thereof, in vacation, shall have power to
order for good cause shown, upon terms just to all parties, and in such manner as
may seem meet, a re-argument or review, with or without additional evidence, of any
decree made under the provisions of this chapter, whenever said court or judge shall
find from the cause shown for that purpose by any party or parties feeling ag-
grieved, that the ends of justice will be thereby promoted, but no such review or
reargument shall be ordered unless applied for by petition or otherwise within two
years of the time of entering the decree complained of. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 24.]
SEC. 1355. Persons desiring to construct and maintain reservoirs for the purpose of
storing water shall have the right to take from any of the natural streams of the
Territory and store away any unappropriated water not needed for immediate use,
for domestic or irrigation or other beneficial purposes, to construct and maintain
ditches, canals, flumes, or tunnels, for carrying such water to and from such reser-
voirs, ditches, canals, tunnels, and flumes, in the same manner provided by law for
the condemnation of lands for right of way for ditches: Provided, No reservoir with
embankments or a dam exceeding ten feet in height shall be made without first sub-
mitting the plans thereof to the county commissioners of the county in which it is
situated, and obtaining their approval of said plans: And provided, further, That no
such reservoir shall be constructed or made in or across the channel of any natural and
running stream. [.S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 25.7
SEC. 1356. The owners of reservoirs shall be liable for all damage arising from leak-
age or overflow of the waters therefrom, or by floods caused by breaking of the em-
bankments of such reservoir. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 26.)
SEC, 1357. Every witness who shall attend before the court, or the judge thereof in
vacation, or before the person appointed to take testimony, in the causes provided
for in this chapter, under subpoena, by request of any party, shall be entitled to the
same fees and mileage as witnesses in civil cases in the district court, and shall be
paid by the party requiring his testimony. [.S. L. 1886, ch, 61, § 27.]
SEC. 1358. It shall not be necessary for any corporation heretofore organized and
now existing, or for ally corporation hereafter organized, under the laws of this Ter-
ritory, which has heretofore, or shall have hereafter constructed, operated, or main-
tained any ditches, canals, flumes, tunnels, or reservoirs, or other appropriations of
water, for the purpose of irrigation, mining, manufacturing, domestić uses, or for any
beneficial purpose whateyer, to incorporate as a ditch company, or companies, if the
objects or purposes for which such corporation shall have been formed or incorporated,
478 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
\
imply, permit, or make necessary, or advantageous, such use or uses of water; and
Such corporation for all the purposes of this chapter shall have all the rights of a nat-
aral person as defined herein, and shall have its rights determined in the same
manner: Provided, No priority of water right shall take from any city or town the
Water required for the use of the the residents thereof. [S.L. 1886, ch. 61, § 28.]
SEC. 1359. Said water commissioners shall so divide, regulate, and control the use
of the Water of all streams within their respective districts in such manner, as near
as may be, as will prevent unnecessary waste of water, and to that end such com-
missioners shall so shut and fasten the head-gate or gates of all ditches so that no
more Water will flow into said ditch than is actually required and will be used for the
uses or purposes for which such water was appropriated, and any person who may be
injured by the action of any water commissioner or by his failure to act pursuant to
this chapter, may resort to any court of competent jurisdiction for such relief as he
may be entitled to... [S.L. 1886, ch. 61, § 29.j
SEC. 1360. It shall be the duty of every person, corporation, or company, who shall
construct, maintain, or operate any ditch or canal under the provisions of this chap-
tier to construct and maintain, at the point and place where the water is diverted from
its natural channel, some fit and proper obstruction whereby all fish will be prevented
from entering said ditch or canal. Any person, company, or corporation violating
the provisions.of this section shall be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con.
Viction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundréd dollars or
by imprisonment in the county jail not less than ten nor more than sixty days, or by
both such fine and imprisonment. [S.L. 1886, ch. 61, § 30.]
SEC. 1361. This chapter slıall in no wise be construed as impairing or abridging any
rights already vested in any person or persons, company or corporation, by virtue of
the law heretofore in force. [S.L. 1886, ch. 61, § 31.]
CIIAPTER 55.
IRRIGATION.—APPROPRIATION OF WATER—TERRITORIAL ENGINEER.
AIN ACT creating the office of Territorial ongineer and concerning appropriation of water.
Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives of the Territory of Wyoming :
SECTION 1. There shall be a Territorial engineer, who shall be appointed by the
governor, by and with the consent of the legislative council; he shall hold his office
for the term of two years, commencing on the first day of April, A. D. eighteen hun-
dred and eighty-eight, and until his successor shall be appointed and shall have
Qualified.
I The governor may at any time, upon good cause being shown, remove the Terri-
torial engineer, and fill the vacancy occasioned by such removal from office.
The Territorial engineer shall receive a salary of two thousand and five hundred
dollars per annum, payable in monthly installments by the Territorial treasurer, upon
warrants drawn by the Territorial auditor.
The Territorial engineer shall keep his office at the Territorial capitol, in a room in
the capitol building, to be set aside for his use by the governor. ſº
Before entering upon the duties of his office he shall take and subscribe an oath
before some officer authorized by the laws of this Territory to administer oaths, to
faithfully perform the duties of his office, and file with the secretary of the Territory
said oath and his official bond, in the penal sum of five thousand dollars, with not
less than two sureties to be approved by the governor of the Territory, and con-
ditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and for delivering to
his successor, or other officer, appointed by the governor to receive the same, all
moneys, books, and other property belonging to the Territory then in his hands, or
under his control, or with which he may be legally chargeable, as such officer. No
person shall be appointed as such Territorial engineer who is not known to have such
theoretical knowledge and practical skill and experience as shall fit him for the
osition.
p SEC. 2. The Territorial engineer shall have general supervision of the diversion
and division of the water of the various natural streams in the Territory, and shall
have supervision of the work of the water commissioners of the different water dis-
tricts of the Territory, and shall do and perform any and all work for the Territory
which comes within the nature of his profession as an engineer, when called upon
by the governor to do so.
SEC. 3. The Territorial engineer shall make, or cause to be made, careful measure.
ments and calculations of the maximum, minimum, and ordinary flow, in cubic feet
per second of time, of the waters flowing in each stream from which water shall be
drawn for irrigation purposes, commencing such work upon those streams most used
for irrigation; he shall collect facts and make a report as to a system of reservoirs
IRRIGATION, APPROPRIATION, AND ENGINEERING. 479
for the storage of waters in those portions of the Territory where such a system is
practicable, stating in such report the location, capacity, and cost of such reservoirs:
he shall become conversant with the water-ways of the Territory, and needs of the
Territory as to irrigation matters, and in his report to the governor he shall make
such suggestions as to the amendment of existing laws, or the enactment of new
laws, as his information and experience may suggest ; and he shall keep full and
proper records of his works, observations, and calculations, all of which shall be the
property of the Territory.
SEC. 4. The Territorial engineer shall, onrequest of any party interested, measure
and ascertain the carrying capacity of any ditch used for irrigation or other bene-
ficial purposes, which may be now, or which may hereafter be constructed or en-
larged, and give to the party or parties requiring such services an official certificate
of the size and carrying capacity of such ditch, expressed in cubic feet per second of
time, as he shall find it at the time of measuring the same. For such services he
shall be entitled to receive from the party or parties requiring the same his per diem
charges, not exceeding ten dollars per day, and his reasonable traveling expenses:
Provided, That all per diem charges for such services received by the Territorial en-
gineer shall be delivered by him to the Territorial treasurer, who shall credit the
same to the general ſund. If the applicant or applicants for such engineer's certifi.
cate shall state in writing to the engineer that the ditch to be measured is so remote
from the office of the engineer as to render the expense of the engineer's personal ex-
amination too great, or if in the engineer's judgment such ditch is too far distant to
prevent him, consistently with his public duties, to make such personal examination,
it shall in such cases be his duty to appoint some competent civil engineer, residing
in the vicinity of such ditch, to make a sworn statement setting forth the width
on top and bottom, depth, grade, and slope of the bank of such ditch or its enlarge-
ment, and all such other data concerning such ditch so to be measured as the Terri-
torial engineer shall direct. Such civil engineer shall receive for his services such
sum as may be agreed upon between himself and the party requiring his services, but
in the absence of any agreement in writing such compensation shall not exceed ten
dollars per day and his reasonable traveling expenses. The Territorial engineer shall
furnish the person so appointed with blank certificates upon which to enter the neces-
sary data concerning the ditch or its enlargement, so to be measured, which blank
shall be properly filled out and verified by the oath of the party making such meas-
urements and returned to the Territorial engineer, who shall make his own calcula-
tions of the carrying capacity of such ditch or enlargement, expressed in cubic feet
per second of time, and certify to the same. The certificates provided for in this sec-
tion shall set forth the time of making the measurement, the location of the headgate
of the ditch measured, the name of the natural stream of water from which such ditch
draws its supply of water, the width of such ditch both on top and on bottom, its
depth and grade, and its carrying capacity expressed in cubic feet per second of time,
and also the name of the ditch and of the owner or owners thereof, if known. All such
certificates shall be recorded at length in the office of the said Territorial engineer,
and copies of such record duly certified to by the said engineer, shall be received in
all the courts of this Territory, as prima facie evidence of the fact therin set forth,
as hereby required.
SEC. 5. The Territorial engineer, with the consent of the governor, shall have
power to employ assistants at an expense not to exceed one thousand dollars in any
one year, who shall be paid out of any moneys appropriated for that purpose, on the
certificate of said Territorial engineer, approved by the governor, showing the rea-
son for such employment, the services rendered, and the amount thereof, and on
presentation of such certificate to the Territorial auditor, by the person entitled
thereto, he shall issue his warrant on the territorial treasurer for the amount thereof
to be paid out of any appropriation, as aforesaid, and not otherwise.
SEC. 6. When the Territorial engineer is called away from his office in the discharge
of his public duties, he shall be entitled to his actual traveling expenses, which
shall be paid out of any money appropriated for that purpose, on the certificate of
the said engineer; such certificate shall be presented by the said ºngineer to the Ter-
ritorial auditor, who shall thereupon draw his warrant upon the Territorial treasurer
for the amount thereof, to be paid out of such appropriation : Provided, That this
section shall not be so construed as to authorize the payment of traveling expenses to
said engineer when called away from his office to perform any of the work mentioned
in section four of this act.
SEC. 7, The appropriator of any of the public waters in this Territory shall con-
struct and maintain, under the direction of the Territorial engineer, a flume or other
measuring device, at or as near the head of his ditch as is practicable, for the pur-
pose of assisting the water commissioners in determining the amount of water that
may be turned into the ditch or the amount that may be by his ditch diverted from
the stream. In case any owner or appropriator of public waters that have been
adjudicated upon neglect or refuse to put in such measuring device, after thirty
480 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
days' notice to do so by the Territorial engineer, the said engineer may direct the
water commissioner, of the district in which the ditch may be situate to put in such
flume or measuring device, which being done by the water commissioner, he, the
said commissioner, shall present the bill of the cost of such flume or measuring de-
vice to the owner or owners of the ditch, and if such owner or owners shall refuse
or neglect, for three days after presentation of such bill, to pay the same, the said
water commissioner may maintain a civil action in his own name, in any court of
the Territory, for the recovery of the same, with all accruing costs. Said suit shall
be prosecuted by the county and prosecuting attorney for the county wherein such
suit may be brought, free of any charge against said commissioner.
SEC. 8. The Territorial engineer shall prepare and render to the governor yearly,
and oftener if required, full and true reports of his work, touching all the matters
and duties devolving upon him by virtue of his office, which report shall be delivered
to the governor on or before the thirtieth day of November in each year, in order that
the same may be laid before the legislative assembly at its regular sessions.
SEC. 9. In all cases in which the priorities to the right to the use of the waters of
any of the streams of this Territory have have been adjudicated by any of the district
courts of this Territory under the provisions of chapter two of title nineteen of the
Revised Statutes of Wyoming, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the district court
wherein such adjudication may have been -made to forward a certified copy of such
decree to the Territorial engineer immediately after the rendering of a decree in the
matter of such adjudication, and for such copy there shall be paid to the said clerk,
out of the treasury of the county wherein such decree was rendered, compensation at
the rate of ten cents for each one hundred words contained in such decree. On re-
ceipt of such copy of such decree it shall be the duty of the Territorial engineer to
cause the same to be recorded at length in a suitable book, to be provided for that
purpose, and as soon thereafter as practicable to forward to the water commissioner
of the water district wherein the stream adjudicated upon is situated a statement
showing the title of the court in which such decree was rendered, the date of the de-
cree, the name of each ditch the priority of which has been by such decree deter-
mined, its capacity, showing the width, depth, and grade of the said ditch and the
quantity of water per second of time to which said ditch is declared by such decree to
be entitled, to be expressed in cubic feet per second of time, and thereafter, in the su-
pervision of the distribution of the waters of such streams by said ditches so adjudi-
cated upon it shall be the duty of the said water commissioner to be guided by such
statement. It shall be the duty of the Territorial engineer to procure and cause to be
recorded in his office a description of the flume or other measuring device at the head
of each ditch so adjudicated upon, showing the width, depth, and grade of each flume
or other measuring device, and to calculate and determine the quantity of water,
expressed in cubic feet per second of time, which will flow through suck flume or
other measuring devide at various depths, and furnish the proper water commissione
with a statement of the same. i
SEC. 10. The water of every natural stream not heretofore appropriated, within
the Territory of Wyoming, is hereby declared to be the property of the public, and
the same is hereby dedicated to the use of the people of said Territory, subject to ap-
propriation as hereinafter provided.
SEC. 11. Every person, company, or corporation hereafter constructing, enlarging,
or extending any ditch, canal, or reservoir for irrigation or other beneficial purposes,
and intending to use or appropriate any water from any natural stream within a
water district for such purposes, shall, within ninety days after the commencement
of the construction, enlargement, or extension of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, file
and cause to be recorded in the office of the county clerk and ex-officio register of
deeds of the county in which is situated the district court having jurisdiction of all
questions concerning the priority of rights to the use of water in such water district,
a statement of claim under oath, setting forth the name or names, together with the
post-office address of the owner or owners of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir; the
name thereof, if any, and if without a name, the owner or owners shall adopt a name
to be therein stated, by which such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall thereafter be
known; the number of the water district in which the same is situated; a description
of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, as to location of head-gate and the general course
of such ditch; the name of the natural stream from which such ditch, canal, or reser-
voir draws its supply of water; the length, width at top and bottom, depth, grade,
and carrying capacity thereof, expressed in cubic feet per second of time, as near as may
be; the time, giving the day, month, and year when work was commenced thereon
by original construction, enlargement, or extension, as the case may be, and likewise
the date when water was actualy appropriated therefrom for irrigation and other
beneficial purposes; the number of acres lying under and being, or proposed to be,
irrigated by water therefrom, and a map or plat on a scale of not less than one inch
to the mile, showing the location or route of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, and the
natural stream from which it draws its supply of water, and also the legal subdi-
THE USE OF WATER UNIDER WYOMING STATUTES. 481
visions of land through which they ſlow : Provided, That in case the said statement
gives the direction or route of such ditch by courses and distances, according to
the field-notes of the survey thereof, it shall not be necessary to include in any such
statement the map or plat above referred to. Such statement shall be signed by the
person owning such ditch, canal, or reservoir, or, in case of a copartnership, by any
member thereof, for and in behalf of such copartnership, or in case of a corporation,
by the president or secretary thereof, and such statement shall be recorded as afore-
said in a look to be kept for that purpose.
SEC. 12 If the owner or owners of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall prose-
cute the work of construction thereon diligently and continuously until completed,
and shall otherwise comply with the provisions of law, such owner or owners shall,
as regards the owner or owners of all other ditches subsequently constructed and
drawing their supply of water from the same stream, have a priority of right to the
use of such water from and after the date of the commencement of the construction
thereof, but not otherwise The beginning of all necessary surveys of such ditch
shall be considered as the commencement of such work of construction.
SEC. 13. When the waters of any natural stream are not sufficient for the service of
all those desiring the use of the same, those using the water for domestic purpose
shall have preference over those claiming water for any other purpose, and those
using the water for agricultural purposes shall have the preference over those using
the same for manufacturing purposes.
SEC. 14. The priority of right to the use of such water shall be limited and re-
stricted to so much thereof as may be necessarily used and appropriated for irriga-
tion or other beneficial purposes as aforesaid, irrespective of the carrying capacity of
the ditch, and all the balance of the water not so appropriated shall be allowed to run
in the natural stream from which such ditch draws its supply of water, and shall not
be considered as having been appropriated thereby ; and in case the owner or owners
of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall fail to use the water therefrom for irri-
gation or other beneficial purposes, or shall refuse to furnish any surplus water to
the owner or owners of lands lying under such ditch as hereinafter provided, during
any two successive years, they shall be considered as having abandoned the same, and
shall forfeit all water rights, easements, and privileges appurtenant thereto, and the
waters formerly appropriated by them may be again appropriated for irrigation and
other beneficial purposes the same as if such ditch, canal, or reservoir had never been
constructed ; neither shall the owner or owners of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir
have any right to receive from others any royalty for the use of the water carried
thereby, but every such owner or owners having a surplus supply of water and fur-
nishing the same to others from any ditch, canal, or reservoir as hereinafter provided,
shall be considered common carriers and shall be subject to the same laws that gov-
6TD COIOIn OIl Call'I’leIS.
SEC. 15. The owner or owners of any such ditch which carries a greater quantity of
water than the owner or owners thereof necessarily use for irrigation and other bene-
ficial purposes in connection with their own lands shall, when application is made
to them for that purpose, furnish such surplus water at reasonable rates to the own-
ers of lands lying under any such ditch for the purpose of reclaiming such lands and
rendering the same, productive, and in case of refusal so to do the owner or owners
of any such ditch may be compelled by injunction suit to furnish such water on such
terms as to the court may seem meet and proper: Provided, That the board of county
commissioners in their respective counties shall have power, when application is
made to them by either party interested, to establish reasonable maximum rates to
be charged for the use of water, whether furnished by individuals or corporations.
SEC. 16. The cubic foot of water per second of time shall be the legal standard for
the measurement of water in this Territory, both for determining the flow of water
in natural streams and ditches and also for the purpose of distributing water there-.
from.
SEC. 17. Nothing in this act contained shall in any wise interfere with any prior
right to the use of said water; neither shall the owner or owners of any such ditch,
canal, or reservoir who have heretofore complied with the laws relating thereto
enacted by the ninth legislative assembly of Wyoming be required to file any addi-
tional statement of clailm under the provisions of this act.
SEC. 18. Section thirteen hundred and forty-three of the Revised Statutes of Wyo-
ming and all laws and parts of laws inconsistent here with are hereby repealed.
SEC. 19. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
Approved March 8, 1888.
138 A L–WOL III—31
482 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROvISIONS.
[FILED WITH THE COMMITTEE BY JOHN K. JEFFREY, SECRETARY OF STATE CON-
STITUTIONAL CONVENTION.]
ARTICLE I.—Declaration of rights.
SEC. 31. Water being essential to industrial prosperity, of limited amount, and easy
of diversion from its natural channels, its control must be in the State, which in pro.
viding for its use shall equally guard all the various interests involved.
SEC. 32. Private property shall not be taken for private use unless by consent of the
owner, except for private ways of necessity, and for reservoirs, drains, flumes, or
ditcheson or across the lands of others for agricultural, mining, milling, domestic, ow
sanitary purposes, nor in any case without due compensation.
ARTICLE VIII.- Irrigation and water rights.
SECTION 1. The water of all natural streams, springs, lakes, or other collection of
still water, within the boundaries of the State, are hereby declared to be the property
of the State. -
SEC. 2. 'There shall be constituted a board of control, to be composed of the State
engineer and superintendents of the water divisions, which shall, under such regula-
tions as may be prescribed by law, have the supervision of the waters of the State and
of their appropriation, distribution, and diversion, and of the various officers con-
nected there with. Its decisions to be subject to review by the courts of the State.
SEC. 3. Priority of application for beneficial uses shall give the better right.
No appropriation shall be denied except when such denial is demanded by the public
interests.
SEC. 4. The legislature shall by law divide the State into four water divisions, and
provide for the appointment of superintendents thereof.
SEC. 5. There shall be a State engineer, who shall be appointed by the governor of
the State and confirmed by the senate; he shall lold his office for the term of six
years, or until his successor shall have been appointed and shall have qualified. . He
shall be president of the board of control, and shall have general Supervision of the
waters of the State and of the officers connected with its distribution. No person shall
be appointed to this position who has not such theoretical knowledge and such prac-
tical experience and skill as shall fit him for the position.
sº
ARTICLE X.—Corporation3.
SECTION 1. The legislature shall provide for the organization of corporations by
general law. All laws relating to corporations may be altered, amended, or repealed
by the legislature at any time when necessary for the public good and general wel-
fare, and all corporations doing business in this State may as to such business be reg-
ulated, limited, or restrained by law not in conflict with the Constitution of the
United States.
SEC. 2. All powers and franchises of corporations are derived from the people, and
are granted by their agent, the government, for the public good and general welfare,
and the right and duty of the State to control and regulate them for these purposes
is hereby declared. The power, rights and privileges of any and all corporations
may be forfeited by willful neglect or abuse thereof. The police power of the State
is supreme over all corporations as well as individuals.
SEC. 3. All existing charters, franchises, special or exclusive privileges, under which
an actual and bona fide organization shall not have taken place for the purpose for
which formed and which shall not have been maintained in good faith to the time of
the adoption of this constitution, shall thereafter have no validity.
DIFFICULTY OF COMBINING FOR IRRIGATION. 483
FURTHER STATEMENT OF ENGINEER ELW00D MEAD.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you wish to add anything to what you have
already said?
Mr. MEAD. I wish to say that there is a condition of affairs that pre-
vails here that your questions do not touch directly. I do not know
whether it is peculiar to this territory or riot, but I think it is important .
that it should be understood. The land laws at the present time make
it difficult for the individuals who take the land to combine to make a
ditch. A large expensive ditch takes a large amount of Capital to build
it, and a considerable length of time to complete its construction So that
the people can get water from it. The settlers will starve to death
before thé ditch can be completed because they can not raise anything
on the land while they are doing it.
The CHAIRMAN. That is not always the case. I have known in-
stances where individuals, by combining together, have gone into
gigantic enterprises.
Mr. MEAD. They can not do it here. I believe it is best for the set-
tler and best for every one that these ditches should be built in advance
of settlement. If we could by some mean secure the proper location
for large canals, so that a few canals would distribute the Water, we
would get the water on better land, there would be a great Saving in
the water supply and it would be a manifest advantage to the people
who came here to settle. I have seen many attempts by actual Settlers
to settle on these arid lands. They had to wait until the ditch was
built. I have seen too much of the privation of their families to believe
that that is a satisfactory method. If the ditch were built, so that a
man could at once begin farming, there would be no suffering.
Senator JONES. What is your plan &
Mr. MEAD. I want to say first, what has been the development of
this Territory, before I give the plan. We have found it impossible and
unsatisfactory to combine under the present system of land owning.
The result has been that people have combined and built a ditch to
water merely their own claims. We have in this Territory to-day prob-
ably three thousand ditches built, though there are on record only two
thousand five hundred and fifty. The great majority of those are in-
dividual ditches. Each settler who went on a stream built an individ-
ual ditch to Water his own claim. Another settler came and did likewise.
I can show you on the office maps twenty-six ditches on one stream in
one township. The Territory is charged with a division of water be-
tween those several claimants. Take a stream 80 miles long and un-
dertake to divide the water between eighty claimants, and you will
understand the difficulty. That plan is immensely wasteful of water
and of everything. It is Very difficult to maintain those ditches. The
average expense of Watering land by that system is over $10 an acre.
If we could have highland channels that would water those areas, it
should not cost half that much to get the water on the land, and more
Water would get on it. My idea is to turn this land over to the Terri-
tory or to the local government, under such regulations as will secure
its final disposal to actual settlers, and the Territory could put the com-
panies under such restrictions as would secure ditches, and could also
manage the Work of their being settled by actual settlers. We would
then have a system that could be intelligently planned.
484 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know of any State or Territory that has
managed its lands well that has adopted that plan?
Mr. MEAD. Yes, I think that on the whole the management of the
land by Colorado has been fully as wise as the management of the land
by the Government.
Senator JONES. Would you advise the Government to authorize the
States to make any other disposition of those lands except by home-
Stead settlements?
Mr. MEAD. This would be my pian: To turn these lands over to the
States. The proper procedure would then be, either for the State or
the National Government to locate these canals on the streams, say
Where they ought to be. Then it can make a close estimate as to the
Cost of construction and what it would cost to operate the same. I would
then allow private capital to build that ditch, and would permit the
companies to charge (to have an agreement in the first place that they
might charge) a fair rental for the water, and I would provide for that
to be continued subsequently, if necessary. Then in regard to the land,
I would do this: I would permit the ditch companies, perhaps, to have
the management of the settlement. I would make them colonization
agents, but I would have the State itself pass the title to the settler. I
would not make any title absolute until I knew that it was a bona fide
settlement; but I would put the settlement of it in the hands of the
ditch companies. They will have the greatest interest in Securing set-
tlement. What the ditch company needs is an assurance that the land
will be settled when the water is there. They want to be in a position
so as soon as the dftch is built, to run it the next year to its full capacity.
If they can do that they can furnish water at a much less rental.
Senator JONES. That is true; but get back to the main question.
Would you authorize or advise the National Government to convey this
land to the State for any purpose except to be used for homesteads?
Mr. MEAD. No; nothing else. *
The CHAIRMAN. Then the State would get nothing on earth by the
conveyance from the Government to the State, because the land is now
within the State, and it is already subject to homestead settlement.
Mr. MEAD. I do not understand your question. Do you mean that
you would not permit the State to derive any revenue whatever from
this land 3 -
Senator JONES. I want to know whether you would allow the State
to mortgage the land to the ditch companies, for instance?
Mr. MEAD. I would not allow the Government to transfer to the State
only under the condition that it was to be disposed of to an actual set-
tler and cultivator; but I would permit the State to charge for it and
Sell it.
Senator JONES. Then your idea is to turn the land over to the States
to enable them to create a fund to build the ditches &
Mr. MEAD. To create a fund to manage and, if necessary, to create a
fund to build the ditches. I state in my report that I do not think
reservoirs can be built unless conditions change. If they are built
they must be subsidized.
The CHAIRMAN. They are building them in some places.
Mr. MEAD. That is my judgment in regard to this Territory. There
are but few favored places where they will be built, but I have in view
a comprehensive system. The places where reservoirs can be built as
a business proposition are restricted.
The CHAIRMAN. You speak of selling the Water. Do you think it
HOMESTEADERs' WATER RIGHTS AND RENTALS. 485
will be advantageous to have the water owned and controlled by cor-
porations?
1Mr. MEAD. No; the water would not be owned at all. It would be
a common carrier that had built the ditch and that carrier could only
make a charge for transportation.
Senator Jon Es. Suppose it did not result as you anticipate it would,
what would happen?
Mr. MEAD. In what way do you mean 2
Senator JONES. How is the ditch company to get its money? Sup-
pose this State makes a contract for a company to go out into one of
the valleys and expend a million dollars to bring water on the land;
that money is expended, and suppose the place did not settle up, then
What ?
Mr. MEAD. The company would lose. But the difficulty at the pres-
ent time is that the ditch companies have no control over Settlement.
Senator JONES. And they ought not to have.
Mr. MEAD. I should not want the ditch companies to have it in their
power to prevent settlement, but I would wish them to assist Settle-
ment.
Senator JONES. I am something of a crank on the idea that the re-
maining lands of the United States should be made into homes.
Mr. MEAD. That is right.
The CHAIRMAN. How would you regulate the price of water?
Mr. MEAD. Land upon which there is no ditch in this Territory will
have a price varying from 15 cents to $1.50 per acre—I mean grazing
lands. If you construct a ditch over such land, say a large ditch, so as
to make it certain that there will be a considerable settlement there,
that land is ultimately reclaimed, and the result will be that the land
will enhance in value from the construction of that ditch from $5 to $15
per acre. Suppose a ditch company goes in at the present time to build
that ditch and make it possible for the pre-emptor or homesteader or
any one with a timber claim to go and file on the land, settle down, and
get a title to the land, without in any way contributing to that en-
terprise of the ditch company, it makes it possible for him to reap that
unearned increment.
Senator JONES. But he does not get any value from the ditch.
Mr. MEAD. Suppose a man files on the pre-emption claim and lives
on it six months; if that land enhances in value he can sell it. Now,
does he not reap the benefit?
Senator JONES. Not a bit. He has to get the water. The possibility
of getting the water is one thing, but when he gets the water he has to
pay for it. The water may be there and, when he buys the ditch, he
figures that up in connection with the possibility of getting the water.
But the truth is there is not any value in any of this land. The value
is in the water.
Mr. MEAD. Exactly; and we want a system that will distribute that
water to the best advantage and save it.
ºnto: JONES. There is no doubt that there ought to be some changes
Iſla (10.
486 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANI)S.
N.
REPORT SUBMITTED BY ELWOOD MEAD, TERRITORIAL ENGINEER.
IRRIGATION IN WYOMING.
NO. I.
1.—WATER SUPPLY,
The mountains are the great condensers of moisture and the conservators of out
summer water supply. The more extensive and elevated these are the more abundant
and long-continued the summer discharge. The extent of the mountain area is
therefore as important as that of the plain in estimating the ultimate extension of
our irrigated area.
The mountains contributing to the water supply of this Territory are the main
range of the Rockies in Colorado and southern Wyoming, the Big Horn and Wind
River Mountains in the north, and the mountains of Uinta County in the west. In
addition there are the minor ranges, including the Sweetwater and Rattlesnake
Mountains in the central portion, the Laramie Range in the east, and the Black
Hills Range in the northeast. Taken as a whole, the mountains which form the cul-
mination of the water-sheds of our streams are equal in area to fully one-third of the
Territory, or about 35,000 square miles, or 22,400,000 acres.
It is difficult to arrive at a satisfactory conclusion as to the amount of precipitation
which falls on these mountains owing to no regular observations having been kept.
That it is unusually heavy is known. The reports of the explorations of the Yellow-
stone Park region state that the snow-fall of that section is above the average for
the Rocky Mountains. From this and other data I am led to believe that the rain
and melted snow must cover these mountain summits to an average depth of between
2 and 3 feet, giving approximately 60,000,000 acre-feet of water deposited each year.
If we suppose that two-thirds of this disappears by evaporation and in other ways
there still remains 20,000,000 acre-feet passing down the streams and available for ir-
rigation. Taking the average duty of water at 1 cubic foot per second for 80 acres,
this is sufficient water to serve 10,000,000 acres, and it only requires the utilization
of the resources here to see our agricultural area extended to this limit.
2.—LOCATION AND DISTRIBUTION.
The location of these mountain areas is such as to cause the Territory to be excep-
tionally well watered. The streams flow down from their slopes in every direction
and penetrate all portions. Although there are over four hundred streams from
which wateris diverted for irrigation, they form themselves into four natural divisions
or drainage systems. These divisions, although differing from the water districts de-
fined by law, will, for convenience, be used in this statement, being designated as
1, 2, 3, and 4.
' of these, the Platte River and its tributaries form the first, the North Platte being
the principal stream, and is one of the most important leaving the eastern slope of
the Rockies. Having its source on the western slope of Long's Peak, in Colorado, it
drains an extensive mountain area before entering this Territory. Owing to its de-
tour to the north it waters a large district within our borders; its length from the
Colorado to the Nebraska border being about 350 miles. Of this distance there is
robably no section 50 miles in length where its waters can not be diverted, but ow-
ing to the expense involved in constructing the necessary head works to withstand
the floods of a stream of such volume the principal development has occurred on its
tributaries. Maps showing the ditches on three of these streams, the Laramie River,
Horse and Crow Creeks, accompany this statement,
Division No. 2 comprises all the streams east of the Big Horn Mountains. In this
division irrigation has attained its greatest success and importance, the counties of
Johnson and Sheridan having a fine water supply from the streams flowing from the
Big Horn Mountains. The rapid fall of this region to the east and north offers unu-
sual facilities for diverting water; a peculiar feature in this section being the large
number of canals carrying water across the divides from the stream into the valley of
another. The stability of the water supply and the enormous fall which can be
readily obtained marks this as a suitable location for the developmont of extensive
water-powers when the country is made accessible by railroads. As yet the develop-
ment has been restricted by the lack of capital to undertake the construction of large
canals to rent water, but there are fine opportunities throughout this region for such
enterprises. The main reason for the delay in their inauguration being stated in my
main report.
A REPORT FROM THE TERRITORIAL ENGINEER. 487
The third division includes the Big Horn River and its tributaries. It is one of
the best watered portions of the arid region, as it drains both the Wind River and
Big Horn Mountains. Owing to the enormous discharge of these streams, and the fact
that the uplands can only be watered by costly works, the settlers have had thus far
but little apprehension of any scarcity in the supply, and have consequently been
negligent in recording their ditches. Hence the statement of the ditches diverting
water from the streams of this division, given further on, is much below the truth.
The Green, Bear, and Snake Rivers are the tributaries from the fourth division.
Considerable work has been done on Bear River and a few of the tributaries of Green
and Snake Rivers, but this division as a whole, like number 3, is practically un-
touched as compared to the possibilities here presented. The large surplus of water
here has operated, as in division 3, to make ditch owners neglect to record their claims.
The records of Sweetwater County being so manifestly below the truth, I have omitted
all statistics from that county. e
The valleys of the Green and Big Horn offer to-day the best opportunities for the
construction of a system of irrigation works, according to a pre-arranged plan, of any
section with which I am familiar. To a large water supply and immense tracts of
valuable public land there is added the total absence of vested rights to interfere
with the construction of the necessary works. It is to be hoped that suitable meas-
ures may be taken for the designing and construction of such system of works. It
. prove a valuable object-lesson when placed in contrast with some of our former
effort.S. &
No attempt has been made to estimate the extent of irrigation possible in each sec-
tion, since the absence of stream gaugings gives no data on which to base one.
3.—IRRIGATION WORKS.
Under the Territorial laws the owners of the ditches are required to file, in the offices
of the county clerks of the various counties, a statement showing their capacity, lo-
Cation, acreage watered, and such additional facts as are required to make a complete
record. As there is no penalty attached to a failure to comply with this requirement
many ditches are not recorded, probably five hundred in the whole Territory, and,
Owing to defective blanks used at first, many that are recorded have made incomplete
Statements, so that it is impossible to state accurately the area reclaimed. Below is
given a table giving the present extent of our irrigation development as shown by
the recorded statements, the majority of which have been verified by engineer's cer-
tificate as to the dimensions and capacity. It is an extraordinary record when it is
remembered that it is principally the work of the past ten years. In extent the irri-
gated area exceeds the average of the land farmed in each of the New England States,
and should forever put at Test the cavil or question as to the ultimate wealth and
greatness of this commonwealth. If the pioneers in this work can, unaided and under
great disadvantages, produce such results, what may not be accomplished through
the intervention of ample capital or of State or national aid :
4.—EXPENSES OF RECLAIMING LAND.
Some time since there was issued from this office a letter of inquiry to ascertain the
cost of reclaiming the arid lands. These inquiries were addressed to farmers of
known intelligence and of considerable practical experience. The replies are of great
value in throwing light on this subject, and I have had them arranged and copied,
and they are here with submitted as Appendix B.
Representing the views of all sections of the Territory, and based on actual experi-
ence their statements are entitled to a careful consideration, especially as to some of
the perplexing questions which now confront us. While the views as to the proper
course to be adopted are somewhat at variance there is a unanimity of sentiment as
to the desirability of a more liberal policy in respect to the disposal of the public
land. Their statements are also valuable in indicating the amount of money which
has been expended in reclaiming the land already under ditches. The amount varies
in the different statements from $5 to $25 per acre, so that $10 would be a low aver-
age, making the total expenditure for this work over $15,000,000.
5.—TERRITORIAL SUPERVISION.
The irrigation laws of this Territory are very largely copied from those of Colorado,
but are in some respect in advance of the parent legislation.
The control of the water by the State is affirmed, and ditches are by law made com-
mon carriers. Priority of use gives the better right, and provision is made for settling
disputed cases in the courts. &
The engineer is the chief executive officer of the system and is charged with the
“supervision of the diversion and distribution of the public waters, and of the offi-
488 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
|
cials connected there with.” The Territory is divided into nine water districts, in
each of which a water commissioner controls the diversion of the water. The impor-
tant defect of the system is the failure to exercise any control over the streams prior
to construction of ditches, and to take steps to secure the proper location and con-
Struction of distributing works. The constitutional convention now in session has,
however, provided a remedy for this when we become a State.
6.—FUTURE DEVELOPMENT.
The problems to be solved in connection with this subject are the obtaining of
means for the construction of canals of too great magnitude and expense for combi-
Inations of farmers to attempt, and the improvement and utilization of storage reser-
yoirs to hold the waste water of winter and the surplus from the summer floods.
There are great possibilities in either direction. On all the important streams there
are splendid opportunities for the construction of extensive works to water the up-
lands, and an abundance of water to supply them when built. With the building of
these will come an era of growth and prosperity to our agriculture of which we can
Scarcely form a conception at the present time. These canals can and will under
proper conditions be built by individual or co-operative enterprise, but I am persuaded
that if any extensive system of reservoirs is to be brought into use it must be under
different auspices. -
On many of our streams is already felt the pressing need of an auxiliary summer's
Supply which the reservoir would furnish, but the expense of improving and making
available these storage basins prevents the work being undertaken as a business en-
'terprise. The value of the land and of the products grown thereon will only justify
a certain outlay for water, and this, with us, must always be less than in the semi-
tropical portions of the country where the higher-priced products will warrant a far
greater outlay.
There are sites for such storage basins on nearly every stream and there would come
an immense extension of cultivated area from their improvement. The chief benefi-
ciary of such extension is the State and nation, since it results in an increase of the
productive capacity of the country and makes a perpetual addition to the public
revenue. I believe that the benefits to be derived therefrom will amply warrant and
justify the giving of aid in this work by the National Government, and in fact renders
this course the only sound public policy.
Should such aid be extended, it will result in such an irrigation development here
as will, with the exception of Snake River, prevent the passage of any unutilized
water beyond the borders of the Territory.
Summary of irrigation development by districts.


Total No. of claims, No. of ditch No. of ditch
N. . Total with State- Total claims, omit- Total acre-, claims, omit.
T}istrict. 2. . d length as ment of capacity as ting state. age watered ting state-
. 6 stated. length omit- given. ment of Ca- as given. ment of acre-
(lit. Ches. ted. pacity. age.
1 *------. 643 | 1,322.385 39 6,911. 584 48 482, 434.00 80
2 -------. 327 582. 793 31 6, 649, 844 53 379, 164.64 (;2
3 - - - - - - - - 282 317. 419 91 3, 644.078 72 395, 563.00 114
4t. ------|----------|- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tº as sº us * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
5 -------- 502 996. 398 32 10, 422. 70 57 440, 540.00 50
6 - - - - - - - - 124 196. 955 46 1, 556, 325 36 58, 162.00 55
7 -------- 322 518. 24 50 1,658, 905 96 108, 976.78 95
8 -------. 182 212, 41 52 3,095.487 79 35, 395.00 96
9 -------. 49 91. 43 1 342. 00 25 42, 460.00 3
f - - - - - - - - 7 11.905 -------------. 136.8 |-------------- 4, 180.00 -------------
Total.. 2,438 4, 249. 935 242 20, 381. 723 466 1, 946, 875. 42 564
* Seven reservoirs additional. e
# District No. 4 omitted because of incomplete record.
f Unorganized district.
1,OCAL DISTRICT IRRIGATION AND ITS EXTENT. 489
Ditch record, water district No. 1. *
5 . 5 g, 5
a; --d ... 3-2 9
Qi.) G2 --> dº & ºt a bſ.
º 3 * | } 3 .# 3
Name of stream. 3 |Length. Capacity. Acreage. §§ 3 ă #3
rt; & pºt tſ: ;: • *
‘5 .# ##| | | #
c :* | *ā ºf
©
2. Z. 24 2.
Miles. | Cubic feet.
Alkali Creek------------------------------- 2 . 933 10.8 1,760 ------|------|------
Antelope Creek ---------------------------- 2 2.35 6.5 320 ------|------|------
Alum Creek-----------------------, -------- 1 1.5 50. 100 ------|------|----- g
Badger Creek------------------------------ 1. 1.5 !------------|----------|------ 1. I
Bear Creek. -------------------------------- 40 53. 282 374, 27 11,480 3 2 10
Bear Creek, South fork--------------------- 2 26. 6 15.2 10, 220 ------|------|------
Beaver Creek -...---------------------------. 1 1. 6. 80 ------|------|-----.
Blue Grass Creek..... ---------- * * * * * * * * = = * 1 2.5 16. 77 800 | -----|------|------
Box Elder Creek ---...---------------------. 3 3. 281 9. 1 3, 360 ------|------|-----
Big Springs.------.. * = s = • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 2. 6, 66 360 l.-----|------|------
Cabin Creek ------------------------------- 5 1. W5 26.27 1----------|------|------ §
Canon Creek------------------------------- 5 4.314 22. 14 1,420 ------|------|------
Cherry Creek -----------------------------. 2 11. 5 19.2 8, 320 l.-----|------|------
Cheyenne River.--------------------------. 8 36.4 29.3 21, 220 ------|------|------
Chugwater Creek -------------------------- 40 98.25 529. 87 26, 405 1. 2 3
Clear Creek -------------------------------. 11 8.5 18. 11 2, 520 ------|------|--,- - - -
Corn Creek.-------------------------------- 2 2. 2 3.44 |------- --|------|------ 2
Cottonwood Creek ---...--- ge e s m e º as ſº e = * * * * * * 5 4.3 25.56 1,280 2 2 1
Crow Creek -------------------------------- 38 96.35 377.02 38,486 |.. -- - - 1. 3
Deadhead Creek---------------------------- 2 1. 95 3.91 l----------|------------ 2
Dry Creek---------------------------------- 8 15. 75 66.35 370 l------|------ 6
Davis Springs----------------------------- 1. 1. * . T56 200 ------|------|------
Donkey Creek ----------------------------. 1 2. 9. 320 ------|------|------
Dry Laramie Creek -----------------------. 1 4. 7, 17 ----------|------|------ 1.
Duck Creek-------------------------------. 10 12. 625 44. 625 3, 680 ------|------ * * sº gº tº
East Beaver Creek ------...------------------ 4 18.5 59. 11 3,900 ------|------ 1.
Fish Creek--------------------------------- 4 ----------------------|---------. 4 4 4
Four-Mile Creek --------------------------. 3 4.96 13.8 1, 840 1 1 |------
Fox Creek --------------------------------- 4 23.7 21. 12, 995 ||------|------|------
Goose Creek ---...- tº sº as an as e º as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8 7. 60 44.32 3,800 ------------|-----.
Hay Creek ----- tº E sº º gº tº tº s tº º sº nº º is as ºn tº P tº e º ºs -e ºs º º ºs ºf 2 3. 6 33.3 1,920 ------|------|------
Hanson Creek------------------------------ 1 1. 35. 200 l.-----|----- * | * * * * * *
Herrick Creek ----------------------------- 2 1. "5 10. 8 250 ------|------|------
Horse Creek-------------------------------- 58 227.525 | 1,041.23 109,658 2 1 2
Horseshoe Creek--------------------------- 10 23. 74. 3 12,675 ------|------|-- * * * *
Lance Creek ------------------------------- 2 8.25 77. 4. 1,400 |------|------|------
Laramie Creek----------------------------. 7 21. 152.78 4, 280 ------|------|-- --.
Little Bear Creek -------------------------- 16 13.75 21.8 2,405 7 7 7
Little Horse Creek ------------------------. 6 16, 25 92. 55 5,670 ------|------|------
Lodge Pole Creek-------------------------. 18 71, 575 243.86 30, 910 ||------|------ l
Lone Tree Creek--------------------------. 38 51. 175 190.95 13,620 ------|------|-----.
Maginnis Creek---------------------------- I . 75 1. 62 160 ------|------|-----.
Main Beaver Creek ------------------------ 2 18.1 10.8 5,850 ------|------|-----.
Marble Creek -----------------------------. l . 625 5. 5 20 ------|------|-----.
Maxwell Creek----------------------------- 9 4. 34.9 720 ------|------|-----.
Middle Crow Creek -----------------------. 15 14.528 221. 89 2,560 2 1. §
Middle Lodge Pole Creek -----...----------. 1 1. 4.92 160 |------|------|-----.
Mills Creek -------------------------------- 7 12. 44.43 l, 985 ------|------|-----.
Mountain Lion Creek--------...------...--. 4. 3. 1 11.2 1, 200 ------|------|------
Muddy Creek ------------------------------ 8 10. 25 32. 35 1, 170 ------------|-----.
Mule Creek -------------------------------. 4. 3. 75 19. 3 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * = 4
Muskrat Creek----------------------------- 1 1.5 2.08 160 |------|------|-----.
McShane Springs -------------------------- 4 3. *14. 2 640 2 2 2
North Bear Creek-------------------------- 2 4. 6.84 550 ------|------|--|--|--
North Chugwater Creek ......------------. 9 5, 679 48.81 1,085 ||------|------|-----.
North Crow Creek-------...------------...-. 9 15.5 95. 5 2,000 ------|------|-----.
North Horse Creek......... tº ſº tº as sº º ºs a sº º sº tº º sº is a 9 25, 25 67.1 3, 105 ------------|------
North Laramie River ---------------------- 4 9.5 84.86 3, 100 1. 1 I
North Old Ditch Ranch Springs. --...------. ? ----------|------------|---------- 2 2 2
North Platte River.-------------------...-- 5 32. 248.5 23, 280 1. 2 l
|North Pole Creek. ----------------...--...--. 10 17. 611 56.67 270 ------|------|-----.
North Reshan Creek.---------...----------. 2 1. 75 13. 92 200 ------|------|------
North Richard Creek----------...-...--...-, 1. 2.5 4-2 |----------|------|------ l
North Spring Creek------------------------ 1 . 75 (i) 160 - - - - - - 1 ------
Oil Creek----------------------------------- 3 13. 5 130. 4 8, 720 ------|------|-----.
Old Woman Creek. --...--------...--...--...--. 1 ----------|---------------------. 1. 1. l
Pappoose Creek---------------------------- 1. .75 4. 5 100 l------|------|-----
Pine Bluff Creek--------------------------- 1 1. 25 . 14 360 |......l......l....I.
£9te Creek--------------------------------. 1 . 75 5. 25 160 |............|......
Plum Springs ------------------------------ l 1. . 256 160 l------|------ sº


*Also two reservoirs containing 7,128,000 cubic feet.
f 360 square inches,
490 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID TANDS.
Ditch record, water district No. 1—Continued.


8 E g 8 tº
tº, Žiš | #| #
GD d; 80 || 35 º do §
, c. w ;: ; ºf $. 3
Name of stream. 3 Length. Capacity. Acreage. §§ 3 & S :
#5 #5 # 5 ..., |* ºn
's ‘sº s : ‘s.5
es c c. * | Sº
2. 2. 24 2.
Miles. | Cubic feet.
Porter Creek------------------------------. 2 1. 6. 140 l.-----|------|----- &
Rawhide Creek----------------------------- 10 25. 833 92.68 7, 240 l.-----|------|------
Reshaw Creek. ----------------------------. 2 2.25 27, 61 70 l.-----|------|------
Richard Creek.----------------------------- 14 30. 175 115. 49 9,960 ||------|------|------
Running Water Creek ------...--------...--. 7 8, 24.8 1, 480 2 2 2
Sage Creek--------------------------------- 3 6. 05 12, 9 640 ------|------ 1.
Sand Creek -------------------------------. 3 2. 375 6. 38 ----------------|-----. 3
Seven Mile Creek --...* = a s a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 75 3.32 360 i.-----|------|------
Scratch Creek-----------------------------. 4 2, 25 12. I.---------|------|------ 4
Skull Creek -------------------------------. 5 10 47.1 3, 140 l.-----|------|------
South Crow Creek. --...-...--...--...--------- 16 24, 25 102. 14 6, 790 l 3 1
South Horse Creek------------------------. 6 4. 75 15. 36 • * * * * * : * * * * * * { * * * * * *
South Fork Fish Creek--------------...----- 2 ----------|------------ sº tº sº 2 2 2
South Chugwater Creek. --------------...--. 12 19.25 148, 25 1,825 |.-----|-----. 1
South Branch South Chugwater Creek. . . . . l 5. 125 1. 33 | 85 1.-----|------|------
South Pole Creek -------------------------. 6 14. 43. 69 2, 204 |.-----|------|------
South Sundance---------------------------- 2 . 75 13. 1 260 l.-----|------|------
South Spring Creek ------ dº º ºr is sº º sº se as sº s = me tº as as sº * l 1, 2 (*) 160 ſ. ----- 1 - - - - - -
Summit Spring. ---------------------------- l 5. I.----------- s sº sº * * * * * | * * * * * * 1 1
Springs (Dyer)----------------------------. I . 25 . 62 40 ------|------|------
Springs (not named).----------------------. 2 2. * 350 l------|------|-----.
Spring Creek------------------------------- * 25 18. T81 109. 757 2,855 5 6 7
Spring Branch Creek----------------...----. 5 3. 30. 1 1, 310 |------|------|------
Spotwood Creek. --------------------------. I 2. 2.4 | 400 ------|--|--|--|------
Stockade Beaver -----------------...-------. 3 22.95 60. 8 10, 920 ------|------|------
Three-Mile Creek.------------------------. 5 10. f16, 58 870 - - - - - - 1 ------
Upper Richards Creek----...--...----------- 2 . 933 4. 120 ------|------|-----.
Van Tassel Creek-------------------------. 3 2.25 37. 32 600 ------|------|------
Willard Creek-----------------------------. 1 1.5 i------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 1
Wyatt Creek------------------------------. I 2. 4. 57 280 ------|------|------
Total.---------------------------- ---. 643 |1, 322.385 5, 911. 584 || 482, 434 39 48 89
* 360 square inches. f Also 190 square inches.
Ditch record, water district No. 2.
Alkali Creek ------------------------------- 1 . 75 & 140 ------|------|------
Antelope Creek ---------------------------- 7 5, 2 49. 922 | 1, 240 2 ------|------
I}arbour Creek ------------------------- * tº º ºs 1 1. 33 25.5 1,200 l.-----|------|------
Bear Creek--------------------------------- 1 1. 25 39.5 | 160 |------! ----. I.-----
Big Laramie River ------------------------. 37 || 136. 64 1, 899. 644 |166,830 3 3 3
Blue Grass Creek-------------------------- l 2, 5 16. 77 800 ------|------|------
Body of Springs ---------------------------- 1. . 5 1.22 ||----------|------|------ 1
13oneder Creek----------------------------. 1 . 75 160 l------|------|------
J3ox Elder Creek --------------------------- 5 13.85 163. 33 6,070 ------|------|------.
Branch of Box Elder Creek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1. . 5 . 93 60 ------|------|------
Brown Creek.-----------------------------. 4 9.75 7 3, 800 1 1 2
Cabin Creek ------------. ------...--------- * = 1 ... 4 36.7 l,000 |------|------|------
Camp Creek-------------------------------- 1. • 33 1. -----------|----------|-----. 1 1
Cañon Creek------------------------------. 2 . 875 16. 100 ------|------|------
Carroll Creek -----------------------------. l 2.5 23.46 680 ------|------|------
Claude Creek ------------------------------ l 1. 3, 59 500 I.-----|------|------
Clear Spring Creek ---------...------------. 1 ... 5 4, 67 60 ------|------|------
Cooper Creek -----------------------------. 4 1.2 34. 18 3, 200 ------|------|------
Deep Gulch -------------------- • sº gº º ºs sº sº º e º 'º - 1 . 25 1. 50 ------|------|------
Deer Creek -------------------------------- 2 4.08 70. 81 1, 200 l.-----|------|------
Duck Creek-------------------------------. 6 3. 58 13. 11 1 2 ------
Dutton Creek.----------------------------- 4 11. 75 82.9 2, 600 l.-----|------|------
Dry Creek : - ... ----------------------------- 1 6. 68. 16 3, 200 ------|------|------
Dry Muddy Creek ------------------------- 2 4.4 81. 1,000 |.-----|------|------
Fish Creek --------------------------------- 8 10. 18. 87 1, 290 4 4 4
Five Mile Creek---------------------------- 5 8.1 228. 1 1,000 ------|------|------
Four Mile Creek --------------------------- 4 3.35 24. 1, 280 ------|------|------
Tox Creek --------------------------------- 3 12. 126, 84 4, 900 ------|------|------
Garden Creek.----------------------------- 3. 8, 18 308, 7 0,000 |------|------|------
Goose Egg Creek--------------------------- 1 1. Tº 8. ()7 240 ------------|------
Grant Creek-------------------------------. 2 : . 8.19 4. 90 ------|-- tº sº * * | * * * * * *
Harney Creek------------------- ge e º as ºn s = e º sº * 4 4.5 56.3 1, 860 J ! 1.
LOCAL DISTRICT IRRIGATION AND ITS EXTENT.
Ditch record, water district No. 2–Continued.
491


ºf 2.
ă .5 clás
tº, g: g: £ 3
3 * 3: ###
Name of stream. 3 | Length. | Capacity. Acreage.[333 3:33
:3 *3 bil-5 °|3
C4-4 2.É.- ::: #
O 33 o.3 o.º.
e; 3 sº | < *
24 2, 2, 2.
Milee. Cubic feet.
Hay Creek ---------- & º ºs ºr tº ſº gº tº sº tº º is ºw ºw ºn tº e º 'º us tº sº me & © tº * * * I 1.25 1.02 50 l. ---|--|--|----
Indian Creek..... • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2 1. I------------ 180 --.] 2 ſ. ---
Iºnight Creek -----------------------------------. 3 1.75 8. 214 e = * * * * * * : * * * *
La Bank Creek----------------------------------. 7 15.5 100. 1,800 2 : 4 6
La Prelle Creek---------------------------------. 12 11. 125 45. 37 2,900 8 || 10 || 10
Little Box Elder Creek ---------...--...--...- ... --. 3 2.35 33. 320 1 || 1 2
Little Laramie River.--...----------------------- 48 76. 415 706. 918 45, 825 1 || 4 || 4
Meadow Creek----------------------------------- 1 . 75 |-----------, ---------- ... 1 1.
Mill Creek --------------------------------------- 17 19. 975 285. 58 6, 215 ---|--|--| 1
Middle Fork Chug Water. --...-...--............. l 2.5 2. 160 ar as a * * * * : * * * *
Mountain Creek---------------------------------- 2 ... 5 5. 200 1 || 1 1.
Muddy Creek------------------------------------ 4 1.9 58. 2,000 3 || 3 3
Muddy Wagon Hound Creek ....... --...---------. 1 1. 10. 640 • sº s * * * * * * * * *
Mule Creek -------------------------------------- 2 1. 25 13. 32 1, 038. 64. ---|--|--|---
North Bed Leek.-----------------. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 , 25 1. ----------!. * * * I w is -
North Fork Little Laramie River ---------------- 4 7.2 42. 49 2,400 * = e : * * * * * * * *
TNorth Laramie River .------------------...-------. 1 15. 124. 10,000 a = e i < * * * i • * *
Morthwest Branch Fox Creek-----...--------...-- 1 1. 2.5 160 s = e i s = * * I - - -
Pine Gulch Creek -------------------------------. 2 1, 75 3.3 300 [....| 1 |. --
Plumbago Creek --------------------------------. 2 2.5 3.28 640 ---| 1 1
Poison Spider Creek ----------------------------. I 2. 12. 1,000 ----|--|--|--|--
Red Mountain Creek----------------------------- 2 4. I.-----------|---------. ---. 2 2
Sand Creek -------------------------------------. 4 7. 55 104.41 5,050 • * = a i = * * : * ~ * *
Seven Mile Creek-------------------------------. 6 5. 524 53.81 2, 920 .---| 1 |---
Sheep Creek-----...-- * * * * * * * s = e, as as e º - e º sm • * * * * * * * * * * 2 .33 l -----------|---------- 1 2 2
Shell Creek -------------------------------------. 1 1. 22.38 1, 200 || --..!. --. ---.
Slate Creek -------------------------------------. 5 2.08 8, 8 300 l. --...---|--|--
Soldier Creek -----------------------------------. 3 3. 6 45. 78 320 • * * * : * * * 2
South Sybille Creek.----------------------------. 3 2, 75 19, 61 347 l. ---|--|--|--|--
Spring ------------------------------------------- 3 1. 17 3.5 215 • = ** as i < * * r * * * *
Spring Creek------------------------------------- 5 5. 415 18. 26 720 | . . . . . 2 3
Steam-boat Lake --------------------------------. l 2. 8. 400 • * * * * * - - - - - - - -
Sward Creek ....... tº º º sº º ºs ºs e º sm - sº - - * - sº - e s tº sº tº dº sº º ºs º º sº 3 2.5 28.60 l------...--. ----|--|--| 3
Sybille Creek ----------------------------------. 21 81, 55 1, 124.83 71, 130 2 5 8
Three Mile Creek ...... * * * ſº * * tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4 1, 28 17. 520 ----|--|--|--|--
Trail Creek -------------------------------------. 1 1. ------------ 140 ---.] 1 1. --
Wagon Hound Creek-----------------------...----- 5 10. 99.78 3,040 • * = * : * * * * : * * * *
Ward's Gulch Creek ----------------------------- 5 12. 125 52. 92 4, 220 • * * * * * - - - - - - - -
Weber Mills Creek....-- & º ºs = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3 2. 55 23. 860 * * * * * * * - - - - - - -
Willow Creek...... * - - ºn tº º ºs sº tº s ºn is ºn e º a s gº ºn s as tº sº a sº e º 'º - e. 12 10.82 74. 01 2,300 --------|----
Total.------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 327 | 582. T93 6, 649.844 379, 164.64 31 53 62
Ditch record, water district No. 3.
Austin Creek ------ * - ºn tº º º ºs as as is º ºs º º ºs ºr e = ea e s tº e s m º ºs • * * 2 2.25 80, 66 520 ----|--|--|---.
Alemoosa Creek---------------------------------- 1 1.25 !------------ 160 ||--|--| 1 |....
Padger Creek -----------------------------------. 1 ----------|------------|---------. 1 || 1 1
*angs Creek ------------------------------------- 1 ... 5 5. 160 |----|--|--|--..
Pates Creek-------------------------------------. 4 8.776 74.18 3,040 ----|--|--|--|--
Pattle Creek ------------------------------------. 1. . 75 25. H----------|- * * * | * * * * l
Bear Creek--------------------------------------. 2 ---------. 7.5 !---------- 2 | 1 2
Beayer Creek ------------------------------------ 7 3. 89.79 825 || 4 || 2 4
#9teek ---------------------------------------. 3 4. 784 198. 42 4,900 || 1 || - - - . l
Big Creek, South Fork. ---...-------------...----. I , 25 7.88 40 l. ---|--|--|---.
Prush Creek ------------------------------------. 8 10, 5 135.3 6,960 || 4 || 3 2
Brush Creek, North Fork'. ------------...--------. 1 ----------|------------|---------- 1 || 1 l
Bush Creek . .--...- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 ----------------------|---------- 1 || 1 1.
£ig Bear Creek----------------------------------. 2 1.5 45. 200 || 1 || 1 1.
Pig Squaw Creek -------------------------------- l .5 6. ---------|--|--|--| 1
9°lf Creek --------------------------------------. l 1. 2.82 400 l. - . . . . . . . . . ---
Carbon Creek -----------------------------------. l ... 5 2.5 160 |--|--|--|--|--|--
Carp Creek--------------------------------------. 1 1. ------------|----------|. * * * * * - - - - - - - *
9edar Creek-------------------------------------. 6 5. 55. 570 || 3 || 2 3
Centennial Creek -----------------------......... * !----------|------------|---------- 1 || 1 1.
Charley Catlin's Creek.-------...---------...... © 1 ---------. 14.4 I.--------- 1 I. -- 1
gº º * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * !----------|------------|---------- 1 || 1 1
°rry Creek -----------------------------------. 1 1.25 * * * * i < * * * r * * * *
Claude and Elkhorn.----------------............. 1 I.---------|------ ** * = . As a - - - - * 1 | 1 1
Cole Gulch-----------------------------.......... l • 5 12.5 160 l----|----|-- º º
492
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. '
Ditch record, water district No. 3—Continued.


# § |:
O • § S, §
re: 3 || 3 ºf
Name of stream. 3 | Length. Capacity. |Acreage. § 3. § § § §
re 25 bers ... rº
Cº- ... 5]. Sºl. Sº
Q §§§ 3 ||3.3
es 3 | 6’ 6”
2. 2 |z| |2.
Cole Springs ------------------------------------. 1 Miles tº º ouisfeet. ---------| 1 | 1 1
Carroll Creek -----------------------------------. 2 i.334 || ii. 99 320 ----|--|--|--|--
Cotton Creek------------------------------------. 1 1.--------. . 174 |.--------- 1 1. ---| 1
Cottonwood Creek ------------------------------. 3 . 416 2.5 l---------- 2 2 3
Cow Creek--------------------------------------- 6 6. 881 29. 835 985 || 2 | . . . . . 2
Difficulty Creek ---------------------------------. 1 2. , 8. § 200 ſ. ---|--|--|---.
Dobyns Spring----------------------------------. l . 75 2 160 l. ---|--|--|- - - -
Dry Creek --------------------------------------. 4. 4.5 64.64 938 || 2 | 1 2
#. J§. º: e ºf ºs º º ºs as was e ºs s as sº º sº es sº sº gº as sº tº gº tº a tº sº ºn as sº we tº a 1 I.---------|------- ...l.-----… I | 1 1
Ult UOn Creek - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 . 29 tº * * * : * * * *
East Elkhorn Creek-------------------...--------- 2 #. 3 ; *g, * * * * * w sº º sº a sº sº dº ;
East Qualey Creek ------------------------------. 1 ... 4 4. 320 - - - - - - - -]. ---
Elkhorn Creek----------------------------------. 3 5. 5 43. 55 1, 240 | . . . . . . . . . . 1
Pureka Creek.----------------------------------. j . 625 4, 5 '880 ||...}...
Field House Creek ------------------------------. 1 1. 25 4. 74 320 ! ----|--|--|--|--
Rish Creek --------------------------------------- 1 ... 5 3. 160 - - - -]. ---|---.
Foot Creek--------------------------------------- 4. 4. 28. 847 2,080 || 1 || 1 l
Fort Halleck Creek -----------------------------. 7 l.-------- 105. 573 . . . . . . '...| 7 || 3 || 7
Grand ºpment River------------------------ 7 12. 80. 632 2, 300 || 4 || 1 4
Goshart Creek ---------------------------------. 1 ----------|------------ ...'...| 1 || 1 1
Hat Creek---------------------------------------. 2 2. 19. 47 800 I. ---|--|--|---.
Horse Creek-------------------------------------- 2 1.5 9. 2 360 | . . . . . . . . . . . .
Hurt Creek -------------------------------------. 5 - - - - ----- 33.5 ---------| 5 |. --- 5
Jack Creek--------------------------------------- 5 11. 25 7. 5 200 | . . . . 3 3
Johnson Creek ----------------------------------. 2 $ 6. 48 640 || 1 || 1 1
Joe Creek ---------------------- dº º sº we is dº ſº º is ºn tº tº tº dº sº is º is I . 31 |------------|------ - - - - - - 1 1.
ICinney Creek------------------------------------ 1. 2. W5 5.4 1,000 }. --.]. ---|--|--
Lederhind Creek --------------------------------. 1 . 75 1.65 500 |....]. --.]. --.
Lake Creek--------------------------- tº º ºs tº ºn tº me tº sº º ºs & 3 3, 25 76. 62 940 !----|--|--|---.
Lake Creek (Smith Fork) ------------------------ 2 2.25 3. 290 l. ...!....". --.
Little Bear Creek -------------------------------. 3 1. 19. 08 240 || 1 || 1 1
Little Beaver Creek ---------------...- tº º gº º is e º sº us ºs tº wº 5 . 5 16.41 320 || 4 || 2 4
Little Medicine Bow ----------------------------- 1 8. 45.1 3,000 |. ---|--|--|--
Little Red Creek -------------------------------- 1 ----------|------------ ----- . 1 . . . 1 || 1 1
Little Sand Creek -------------------------------- 2 1, 36 5.83 300 1 l 1
Little Squaw Creek ------------------------------ l . 66 4. 240 l. -- . . . . . . . . .
Loomis Creek ------------------------------------ 1 . 75 1.25 80 l. --.]. ---|- - - -
Medicine Bow River.--------...-----------------. 7 12. 34 84.2 1, 360 1. 3 4
Mike Hanley Creek ------------------------------ 2 . 25 1. 5 160 | 1 || 1 1.
Milk Creek--------------------------------------- 2 2. W5 (*) 520 ----|--|--|---.
Mill Creek --------------------------------------- 2 1. 7.5 160 | 1 1 1
Muddy Creek ------------------------------------ 8 5.48 70. 5 1, 110 || 3 || 3 5
North Platte River. -----------------------------. 14 25, 01 596, 54 8,095 5 4 6
North Spring Creek. ----------------------------- 7 7. 5 68.43 1,930 1 - - - - 2
North Spur Creek-------------------------------. 1 3. 875 7. 760 | . . . . . . . . . . . .
North W. L. Creek-------------------------------. 4. 2.95 12.95 540 l. ... [...]. --
Otto Creek --------------------------------------- l 2. 1. 400 . . . . . . . . . . .
Overland Creek ...... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 3. 5 26. 500 - - - - - - - - - -
Park Creek -------------------------------------- 1 ---------- s & J = as as * * * * * * * 1 - - - ,
Pass Creek --------------------------------------- 17 28.5 343. 56 15,798 || 5 || 5
Pete Creek --------------------------------------- 4. 3, 5 21, 0.75 600 l. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pine Grove Creek ---------------...--------------- 5 1. T5 3. 61 160 || 3 || 3 3
Rattlesnake Creek ------------------------------- 1 1, 4 11.9 200 l. - ... [- - - - - - - -
Roaring Creek ---------------------------------- I 1.5 9. ()8 820 ----|----|---.
Pock Creek -------------------------------------- 1 1. 5 26. 500 [....!----|--|--
Sage Creek. -------------------------------------- 4. 1.27 7.6 65 || 2 || 2 2
Sage Creek (South Fork). ------------------------ 1 |----------|------------|---------- 1 | 1 1
Sand Creek ------------------------------------- 2 3, 44 52. 32 l, 050 |----|--|--|---.
Savery Creek ------------------------------------ 5 6. 56 53. 760 |.... 1 2
Separation Creek--------------------------------- 4. 2, 405 36.79 740 || 1 || 1 l
Snake River.------------------------------------- 12 19, 53 353.81 7,900 || 3 || 2 3
South Spring Creek ------------------------------ 3 14. 122. 332 8,500 ----|----|---.
Snow Shoe Cañon ---...--------------------------- 1 1. ---------|------------|---------- 1 | 1 1
Spencer Creek----s------------------------------- 1 ----------|---------------------- | | 1 1.
Spring Creek---------, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 2. . 86 400 l. ---|----|---.
Sullivan Creek. ---------------------------------- 5 7. 4 36, 1 1,000 ----|--|--|--|--
Supply Creek ---, -------------------------------- 2 . 63 9, 95 150 l. ---|---
Supply Lake.-------------------- gº as we as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 1, 2 7.37 240 l.---|----|---.
Sweetwater River -------------------------------. 3 13, 25 22, 26 6,440 ||----| 1 |....
Thode Creek ..... an an ºn in many sº *s as as a s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 1. ------------ 80 l. ---| 1 ||---.
Three Mile Creek ------------...----------------- 2 3. 5 24, 24 825 !... stºº
* Also two roservoirs containing 7,128,000 cubio feet.
, LOCAL DISTRICT IRRIGATION AND ITS EXTENT.
Ditch record, water district No. 4.—Continued.
493



& tº ă ..a ãº ă §
tº gº tº gº of 3
3) q) # 2 : ; 32 35
Name of stream. 3 Length. Capacity. Acreage. 3 .32 3 g 2 3
25 #3 #3 & :3 ©ſ)
Cº- *::::: *- : *- :
o • *|25 |e:s
Ç C © ©
- 2. 2, 2, 24
Miles Cubic feet.
Trent Creek ------------------------------------. l 1. ------------ 200 |....| 1 |....
Troublesome Creek -----------------------------. 5 1. 89 39, 75 250 || 2 || 2 2
W. L. Creek-------------------------------------. l I. 5 4.25 250 ----|--|--|--|--
Upper Creek ------------------------------------- 1 • 17 || -----------|---------- ----| 1 I
Wagon Hound Creek----------------------------. 4. 3. 79 67.1 1, 200 . . . . . 1 1
Willow Creek ------------------------------------ 1 ---------- 15. I---------. 1 1. ... 1
Total.-------------------------------------- 282 317.419 3,644.078 395, 563 91 | 72 114
Ditch record, water district No. 5.
Alkali Creek ------------------------------------- 4. 3. 3 7. 13 760 - - - 2 |--|--
Amsdem Creek ---------------------------------- 3 4.75 ------------ 300 || - - - - 3 2
Ashworth Creek --------------------------------- 1. 2. 12. 160 | . . . . . . . . . . . .
Bear Gulch--------------------------------------. 1. 1.5 3. 320 sm is º ºs ºs & * * * *
Beaver Creek ---...------- * & = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 11 23. 61 177. 07 3,985 l 1. l
Beek's Ditch ------------------------------------. 1 3. T5 . 17 240 l. . . . . . . . . --.
Big Goose Creek -------------------------------. 18 35.78 252. 79 12, 795 || 2 || 6 5
Big Horn River.---------------------------------. 1 | 18.5 220. 16,000 |- - - - - - - - - - - -
Big Rapid Creek --------------------------------. 4. 9. 58. 22 980 ! ....l.... ---
Big Piney Creek --------------------------------- 2 2.25 17.39 320 ----|--|--|--|--
Billy Creek--------------------------------------. 2 1.5 18. T5 260 ----|--|--|---
Blue Creek--------------------------------------. 2 2. 6 81.2 910 |. ---|--|--|---.
Box Elder Creek --------------------------------. 3 3. T5 29. 23 380 || 1 |....]. --
Broken Back Creek -------------------------...--. 3 4. 99 49. 660 - - - -]....!----
Buffalo Creek -----------------------------------. 3 28.5 236. 92 5, 540 |.... [.... [- - -
Buffalo Springs ---------------------------------. l ... 1 5. 1 40 l. ---|--|--|---
Buffalo Flat Creek ------------------------------- l 1. 2. 160 |. --...---|---
Bumdage Creek ---------------------------------- 1 ---, ------|------------ 400 | 1 || 1 |- - -
Cat Creek ---------------------------------------. l 2. ------------|----------|. - - - 1 l
Cano Creek -------------------------------------- 2 1. 9, 5 200 ----|--|--|--|--
Chako Cherry Gulch ----------------------------. 3 1.25 ------------ 80 ||----| 3 |....
Clear Creek -------------------------------------- 26 93. 66 765. 59 31, 250 l 2
Coal Creek --------------------------------------. 2 9.5 26. 3, 280 - - - -] 1 |....
Columbus Creek --------------------------------- 4 11. 75 80. 2,500 |....| 2 ||---.
Coon Creek -------. s: as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as * * * * * * * l . 75 3. 80 ----|---. ---
Cottonwood Creek -------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - 2 3. 57. 2,620 ----|....|---.
Crazy Woman Creek----------------------------. 4 10. 75 155. 4, 100 tº gº 1.
Crocked Creek ----------------------------------. 3 2.95 84.84 3, 500 ----|--|--|--|--
Cross Creek -------------------------------------. 1 3. T5 20. * * * * * * * * * | * * * * : * = s. l
Davis Creek-------------------------------------- 5 2.25 14.04 475 . . . . . . . . ]. --
Day Creek --------------------------------------- 3 4.75 9. 83 600 - - - - || 1 2
Dutch Creek ------------------------------------ 5 10. I 131.8 1,040 || 1 || 1 2
East Pass Creek. ------------, ------------------- l 6. 375 68. 2 45,000 ----|---.]. ---
East Branch Dutch Creek. ---------------...------. 1 ----------|------------|---------. 1. l
Eureka Creek -----------------------------------. l ... 6 4. 5 880 - - - - - - - - - - - ,
Five Mile Creek. --------------------------------. 3 7. 2.5 720 !----|--|--|---.
Five Springs Creek ----------------------------- 3 5.31 76. I.--------- * * * * * * * * 3
Four Bear Gulch. ------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * = & & a ºn as use a tº a sm tº a 1. l. 37 1, 25 320 ----|---...--.
Flume Gulch. -----------------------------------. 1 |----------|------------|---------- 1 l
Tranks Forks Creek , ---------------------------. 2 6. 37 46.6 1,800 I.---|--|--|....
Trench Creek ---. ------------------------------- 13 20. 95 243. 41 10, 605 |........]. --.
Goose Creek-------------------------------------. 1. 4. 38. 1, 200 ---...--|---.
Gooseberry Creek-------------------------------- I . 568 6. 80 l.--. [....!---.
Grass Creek-------------------------------------. l 1. 3 25. 100 |--|--|--|--|---.
Grey Bull River---------------------------------. 12 23. 29 261, 2 8,390 2 3
Hanna Creek-----------------------------------. 2 2. T5 5. 320 ! ....] 1 |... --
Hurlbut Creek ----------------------------------- 3 4.25 6. 31 740 l.--...}.---|--|--
Herb Creek -------------------------------------. 1 2.5 ! ------------ 500 [...] 1 |. --.
Herford Creek------------------------------------ l ... 2 3. 180 ----|--|--|---.
Hewes Creek------------------------------------- 2 ---------- 24,06 140 || 2 |, ...!---.
Horse Creek------------------------------------. 2 1. 3.5 100 l. ---|--|--|---.
J. A. Creek--------------------------------------- 3 1. 52 16.85 220 !----|--|--|---.
Jackson Creek ----------------------------------. 1. . 125 .15. 200 ----|----|---.
Johnson Creek ----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5 8, 95 52. 31 1,860 ---...--...--.
Telly Creek-------------------------------------. 8 7.5 40. 55 1,660 ---...--...---
ICruse Creek ------------------------------------- 4. 4.5 8, 53 1,840 ----|--|-- * * * tº
Large Spring------------------------------------- l .5 4, 5 20 !....l....l....
494 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARLD LANDS. ,
Ditch record, water district No. 5—Continued.


o º # = § * ă §
Name of stream. 3 | Length. Capacity. Acreage. 33 3 g 5 à
rº :5 # re: s is ºn
‘s ‘s; ‘s; 's 5
6 6 5 * | 6
2. º 2. 2. 24
Miles. | Cubic feet,
Little Horn (branch of) -------------------. 1. 5.5 ------------ 1, 500 || ----- 1 |------
Little Canyon Creek ----------------------. 2 6. 32 800 ------|------|----- gº
Lake Creek -----. -------------------------- 1. 2. 5 20. 1, 200 ------|------|-----.
Little Fork, Left Branch Dutch Creek----. 1 1.5 6. 160 l. -----|------|------
Little Goose Creek------------------------- 13 67. 2 434.38 20,975 ||------ 1 2
Little Muddy Creek------------------------ 1 ... 2 g J80 ------|------------
Iittle North Fork Crazy Woman ---------. 1. 6, 75 26. 5 1,500 ------|------|------
Little South Fork Crazy Woman. -- - - - - - - - - 1 ... 6 2. 15 75 ------|------|------
Little Piney Creek------------------- tº gº sº º sº * 6 7.25 78, 4. 1, 140 2 ------ 1.
Little Rapid Creek------------------------- 1. 1. 160 ------|--|--|--|------
McKee Gulch------------------------------ 1 .5 ! ------------|----------|------ l l
Mead Creek ------------------------------. 4 3. 26. 77 460 ! ------|------|------
Medicine Lodge---------------------------- I 3. 6 14, 360 ------|------|-- - - - -
Meteetse Creek --------------------------- 6 7. 16 63. 5 980 l l 1
Middle Fork Crazy Woman.--------------. 8 15. 85 327, 24 11, 160 2 2 l
Middle Fork Powder River ---------------. 2 2.4 49. 2,000 ------|------|-----.
Mill Creek. ----- tº sº sº as ºr as as m. s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 ... 1 36. 39 I----------|------|------ l
Muddy Creek ------------------------------ 6 8, 1 90. 1 2, 240 |------|------|------
Murphy Creek----------------------------- I 1. 5. 60 | " " " " " " |. - - - - - - - - - - -
Natural Springs.---- e = e º s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4. 2.465 45. 22 1, 180 ------|------|-----.
No Wood ---------------------------------- 2 1 75 36. 0 ------|------ * * * * *
North Fork Twin Creek ------------------- 1 - 5 ------------ 100 |------ 1 ------ *.
North Fork Piney Creek---- -------------. 3 1. 25 525, 9 15, 125 2 |. ----- 1
North Fork Powder River . ---------- tº º sº sº º s 3 3, 9 52.83 2,600 ------|------|------
North Fork Crazy Woman ----------------. 8 19. 1 406. 55 31, 100 ------|------|-----.
North Fork Clear Creek ------------------- 3 8. 5 291, 2 , 700 ------|------|------
North Fork Pass Creek -------------------- 3 1.5 9. 5 l 1. 2
North Fork Rock Creek ------------------- 3 2, 205 16, 58 620 ------|------|------
North Fork Broken Back -----------------. 1 1. 3. 160 l------|------|------
Owl Creek ------------ tº e º sº sº gº tº e º me is tº us ºr as as * * * * * 7 8. 95. 6 3,860 ------|------|------
Paint Rock Creek. ------------------------. 6 11.06 168. 1 2, 120 !------|------|------
Pakee Flat Springs ------------------------ l 1, 6 14.1 0 ------|------|------
Park Creek -------------------------------- 4 3. 46 34. 650 ------|------|------
Papypo Creek------------------------------ 1 ... 6 15, 33 120 ------|------|-----.
Parker Creek -----------------------------. 1 ... 6 17, 15 600 -----, ------|------
Pass Creek. -------------------------------- l J. 5 18. 1,000 ------|------|-----.
Pickett Creek------------------------------ 1. ... 3 11. 0 ------|------------
Piney Creek ------------------------------- 18 55.05 849. 35 35, 105 ------4------|------
Pale Creek. --------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * 2 1, 5 8. 235 | ------|------|------
Powder River-----------------------------. 3 14.5 144, 9 4, 300 ------|------|-----.
Prairie Dog Creek-------------------------- 6 11. 60, 46 2,030 I l l
Rapid Creek ------------------------------- 6 10.45 54, 33 1, 630 ||------ l 1
Red Cañon.--------------------------------- 1. 1.5 4. 100 ------|------|------
Itock Creek -------------------------------- 29 69. 115 883. 2 42, 290 1 2 2
Sage Creek--------------------------------- 3 5.5 31, 6 1, 500 ------ 1 ------
Sagles Creek------------------------------- 8 7. 625 70. 02 1, 445 |------|------|------
Say Ho Creek ------------------------------ 1. .4 18.2 |.---------|------|------ I
Shell Creek -------------------------------- 2 4.25 33.5 725 1------|------------
Sheep Creek ------------------------------. 2 6. 77. 6,000 ||------|------|------
Sheridan Creek ---------------------------. 2 2. 19.9 200 ------|------|-----.
Smith Creek ------------------------------. 1. . 25 7. 5 240 l.-----|------|------
Soldier Creek ..... sº is as s = m, sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 15 30. 65 86. 65 6,020 !------|------|-----.
South Owl Creek. -------------------------- 3 3, 55 19, 1 1 1
South Pass Creek -------------------------- 5 13. 7 64.4 6, 460 ! ... -- - - 3 |------
South Fork Crazy Woman - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6 5. 68 40. 78 1,055 ------|------|------
South Shell Creek-------------------------. 3 2, 75 21. 55 560 ------|------|------
South Fork Rock Creek-------------------. 1 1. 5 25. 1,500 ------|------|-----.
South Fork South Twin Creek - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1, 2. I.----------- 300 --- - - - 1 ------
South Fork Tongue Creek ----------------. 6 9. 05 16.93 10, 110 |- - - - - - 1 -----
Spring Creek------------------------------- 9 10.6 232. 54 4, 925 1 I.----. l
Steel Creek -------------------------------- 1 1. 25 5, 5 200 l------|------|-----.
Stinking Water River.--------------------. 2 1, 5 10. 80 1 |1 1.
Taffner Creek. ----------------------------- 1 2. 8, 200 ------|------------
Ten Sleep Creek----------- º is sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4 4. 55 232.25 1, 860 ------|------|------
Taper Creek ------------------------------- 1 4. T5 25. 1, 300 ------|------|------
Timber Creek.----------------------------- 3 3. 66 74. 1, 320 ------------|-----.
Tongue River------------------------------ 7 16. 375 90.63 2,030 ------|------ l
Traburg Creek. -------------- -------------- 1 ... 5 16. 5 100 l------|------|------
Trail Creek -------------------------------- § 3.5 23.5 560 ------|------|------
Trapper Creek-------------------- as sº ºp s sº º me tº * 1. . 875 14. 820 ------|------|------
Twin Creek---------------- tº gº tº sº º e º ºs º is as s tº gº tº º 1 | 1.5 |- ſº gº tº as sº tº º sº tº 440 l.----- 1 ------
Wild Cat Creek---------------------------- 3 2.25 6. 260 l 1 l
*s
LOCAL DISTRICT IRRIGATION AND ITS
Ditch record, water district No. 5–Continued.
EXTENT.
495


g ă = ää. g %
Naine of stream. 3 | Length. Capacity. |Acreage. # 3 || 3 º' # :
rº He co E . . .3 º:
sº ~ eſ; 8ſ)
‘s 35 | ##| ##
o s & * | <
2. 24 24 2.
Miles. | Cubic feet.
Willow Creek-----------------------------. 5 16. 025 138. 71 7,900 ------|------|------
Wind Camon Creek ------------------------ 1. . 33 3. 120 ------|------|------
Wolf Creek -------------------------------- 21 37.295 545, 96 10,845 2 1. 2
Young Creek------------------------------- 4 7.25 1. * 570 l. - - - - - 3 2
Spring Branch Park Creek--------...-----.. 1. . 4 3.4 150 l------------|------
Total.--------------------------------- 502 || 996. 389 10,422.70 || 440, 540 32 57 50
Ditch record, water, ditch, No. 6.
Alkali Creek------------------------------. 2 . 93 10.8 1,760 ------|------|------
Arkansas Creek --------------------------. I 1. 1.8 65 ------|------|------
Beaver Creek -----------------------------. 7 11. 5 193. 1 4, 820 4 2 4
Benton Creek ----------------------------. 2 ---------. 5.42 |---------- 2 1 2
J3elle Fourche River ----------------------. 5 H----------|------------|----------|------|--|--|--|------
T}lack Tail Creek ---, ---------------------- 1 |----------|------------|---------. 1 I 1.
Cheyenne River. --------------------------. 1 4. 3. 67 3,840 ------|------|------
Cañon Branch Sundance - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. 2 1.5 3. 40 31 |------|------|------
Dickenson Creek--------------------------- 1 |----------|------------|---------- 1. 1. 1.
East Fork Skull Creek----------------...--. 1 |----------|------------|---------. I l 1
East Beaver Creek. ------------------------ 3 14.5 66. 3,900 ------|------|------
Fisk Cañon Creek-------------------------. 1 ---------- - 5 ---------. 1 ------ I
Government Creek------------------------. 2 ----------|------------|---------- 2 2 2
Garden Spring ----------------------------. 1 |---------- 5. gº º sº sº me se 1 ------ I
Hay Creek ... ------...-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2 3. 6 33.3 1,920 ------i------|------
Houston Creek ---------------------------- 3 2. 18, 47 200 l... ---|------ 2
Inyon Kara Creek ------------------------. 5 12.5 66. 22 2, 341 1 ------ l
Little Beaver Creek------------------------ 3 3.5 3. 800 1 1 l
Little Powder River ---------...----------.. 2 7. 24, 65 135 ------|-----. l
Lytle Creek.-------------- tº ſº º º ºr * is tº º ºs º ºs e º sº tº s 1. 1, 5 5, 18 400 ------|------|-----
Lost Cabin Creek -------------------------. 1 25. 2.5 |---------- 1 ------ I
Main Beaver Creek ------------------------ 2 18.1 10.8 5, 850 ... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Mail Oil Creek----------------------------- 1 !----------i------------|---------- 1 1. l
Mason Creek------------------------------- 2 2. 4.23 ----------|------ l 2
Medicine Creek ---------------------------. 1 |----------|------------|---------- l l l
Miller Creek------------------------------- 3 2. T5 10. 25 450 1 1. 1.
Middle Redwater -----------------...-------. 1. 1. 14. 80 ------|------------
Missouri Butte Lake----------------------. 1. 3. 20. 200 ------|------|------
North Redwater --------------------------. 2 1. 10. 98 275 1 |------|------
Mountain Spring--------------------------- l 2. 12. 160 ------------|------
Oak Grove Springs.------------------------ 1 1.5 ------------|----------|------ l 1
Oil Creek ---------------------------------- 3 3. 5 200. 1, 280 2 2 2
Plumb Creek ------------------------------ 2 .5 !------------|------...--. J. 2 2
- Redwater Creek --------------------------. 1 ----------------------|---------- 1 l 2
Sand Creek -------------------------------. 4 1.85 211. 27 160 l - - - - - - 2 2
Sandstone Cave ---------------------------- 1. 4. I------------|----------|------ l l
Shepherd Cañon. --------------------------. 1. . 5 72. 10 ------|- ----|------
South Fork Beaver Creek............. ----. 2 36. 5 15.2 10, 220 ------|------|-----.
South Beaver Creek.------------...--------. 1 1, 7 5. 85 200 l.-----|------|------
South Sundance Creek --------------------. 4. 2.25 47. 680 ------|------|------
South Redwater Creek --------------------. 2 l. 75 30. 280 ------|------------
South Branch Redwater Creek------...----. 1. 2. 6.85 ----------|------|------ 1
Stockade Beaver --------------------------- 3 20. 2 9, 6 10, 530 l l 1
Sweetwater Creek-------------------------. 1. 2. 30. 100 ------|------|------
Spring Creek------------------------------- 4 3. 625 9. 6 575 |. -- - - - l 2
Spring Branch ----------------------------- 4 ----------|------------|---------- 4. 4 4.
Springs -----------------------------------. 6 ---------- 2.375 l.--------- 6 3 6
Stream or Springs ------------------------. 1 ----------|------------|- * * * * * * m ms tº 1. 1. I
Sundance Creek---------------------------- 7 1. 7 73. 55 560 4 1. 3
Skull Creek -------------------------------. 9 17. 301.86 6, 160 l l 1
White Tail Creek -------------------------- l , 5 3.4 80 l------|------|------
Unnamed ---------------------------------. 4 2.5 3. 5 100 3 2 3
Total -------------------------------. 124 196. 955 1, 556. 325 58, 162 46 36 55

496
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Ditch record, water district No. 7.


8 || 8 . 8 .
23|2|& 2.3%
a; 3 #|33 ||3:
.# * 3 #3 §: g
Name of stream. 3 | Length. Capacity. Acreage:33:31.33
#5 #3 #3 jº bø
$4- SH -- $4– 2 &#- g
Q • *|25 |2+.
o o o || O
24 2, 2, 2.
te Miles Cubic feet.
Alkali Creek ------------------------------------- 1 6. I.------------|---------- ---| 1 1
Antelope Creek ---------------------------------. 2 3. 4. 64() ...| 1 || 1
Rear River --------------------------------------. 71 || 140. 32 423. 269 || 37,226.78 13 22 23
Big Muddy Creek --------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * = as ºn tº s 5 3, 3 19.5 300 2 2 2
Beaver Creek : ----------------- 4} - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1. 1, 25 4. 160 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Birch Creek -------------------------------------- 5 5. 5 1.4 2,880 - - - -| 3 |- - - -
Bridger Creek------------------------------------ 2 ---------|----------- 2, 444 2 || 2 |- - - -
Burnt Forks - - - - - - - - - ---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * 2 2.5 66. 1 900 -------| 1
Byrnes Creek ------------------------------------ 2 3. 3. 80 1 | 1 1
Byrnes Creek (branch of) -------------------. . . . . I 1. 75 ------------|---------- ---| 1 l
Boiler Springs.------------------------------...--. 3 ----------|------------|---------- 3 3 3
Coyote Creek ------------------------------------ l . 5 2. 160 sº sº s | * * * * | * * * *
Chalk Creek ------------------------------------. 1 . 5 3. 5 160 = sº a s as sº a * * * *
Clear Creek -------------------------------------- 5 4.5 27. 1, 380 1 | 1 2
Cedar Creek ------------------------------------. i 3. 2. 1, 280 s a s e ºs º a º * *
Cottonwood Creek ------------------------------. 2 8. 86. 3, 200 * * * | * * * * | * * * *
Chappo Creek-----------------------------------. 2 ---------|------------ 160 2 || 2 l
Dry Piney Creek.--------, ----------------------. 6 ----------|------------|----- - ---|- * = e i = m, a s * * * *
East Branch Sulphur Creek---------...-- - - - - - - - - - 1. 1. 25 3. 5() s = | * * * * * * * * *
Fontello Creek ----------------------------------. 11 15.5 62.91 2,500 - - -] 4 3
Hawkes Cañon.---------------------------------- 1 . 25 . 75 80 • * | * * * * | * * * *
Green Canyon Branch --------------------------. 1 ---------- 2. 125 - - - - - - - - - - 1 |.... 1
Grape Canyon. ----------------------------------. 1 |----------|------------ 160 1 | 1 |. --.
Hydraulic Creek --------------------------------- l 8. 3. 1, 280 a s = | s = as s : * * * *
Henry's Fork Creek------------------------------ 2 2, 25 8. 02 320 a. * * * * * * * | * * * *
Hams Fork Creek. ------------------------------- 18 33, 5 102.875 8,040 - - - 4 2
Bard Creek -------------------------------------. l . 5 g 160 * as a s as m = | * * * *
ICisto Creek. .----- -----------------------------. 2 4. 5. 280 ---| 1 l
La Barge Creek ---------------------------------- 9 27. 113, 83 5,830 -. 1 l
Little Creek-------------------------------------. I 1. 5 6. 100 sº º ż sº as sº e º 'º º 'º º
Little Muddy Creek------------------------------ 13 33, 875 39.5 3, 120 --. 2 2
Muddy Creek ------------------------------------ 5 7. 31.808 2, 280 -- | 1 1.
Mill Creek --------------------------------------. 14 || 32.2 94.86 4, 780 |....| 4 || 6
North Lake -------------------------------------. 1 4. I-----------. 1, 300 -- . 1 i----
North Piney Creek -----------------------------. ~ 3 6, 5 22. 612 1, 480 - - - 1 1
North Fork Muddy Creek. --------------...----... 2 ----------|------------ 160 2 || 2 |. . . .
North Twin Creek -------- ---------------. ------ 4 3. 5 8.5 720 - - - 1 - * * * *
North Spring Creek-----------------------------. 1 . 5 4. 5 60 ...'...l....
North Branch Clear Creek --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.. * 1 ---------- 4. 375 ---------. 1 ... --. a
, North IBranch of South Fork Little Muddy Creek. 3 i.----, -- ------------|---------. 3 || 3 3
Quackenasp Creek ------------------------------. 1 . 33 3. 120 ! . . . . . ---|- - - -
Pine Creek -------------------------------------. 6 4. 35 42. 2, 440 1 || 1 1
Pine Cañon -------------------------------------. l 1.5 |------------|----------|-- -. | 1 1.
Pleasant Valley ---------------------------------. 1 ----------|----------. 16 1 | 1 |- - - -
Pine Grove Valley ------------------------------. l . 5 . 083 120 * * * | * * * * : * * * *
Poison Creek------------------------------------- 1 . 75 2.5 160 |. . . . . . . . . . . . .
Piney Creek ------------------------------------. 9 6, 5 16, 921 320 7 2 8
Raymond Creek---------------------------------. 1 |----------|------------ 280 1 || 1 ||-- - -
Rock Creek -------------------------------------. 2 4. 6. 400 1 - - - - || 1
Republican Creek -------------------------------. l 1. 1 13.02 1. --...----- ---|--|--| 1
Sulphur Creek ----------------------------------- 10 9. 48.5 1, 210 3 || 5 5
Sulphur Spring Cañon --------------------------. l 1. I------------|----------|- ---| l 1
South Spring Creok. ----------------------------. l 1.5 2. 160 * * * : * * * * * * * * *
South Twin Creek ------------------------------. 2 2. 3, 5 360 ---| 1 1
South Fork of Twin Creek. --...--...--------...--. 5 8. 14, 8 1,670 1 | 1 l
South Piney Creek --------------------------...--. 1 8. 8. 64() * * * : * * * * * * *
Spring Creek. -----------------------------------. 9 8. 20, 5 1, 200 | 1 || 5 4
Sucker Springs.---------------------------------. 2 3. T5 17.354 2, 640 s sº s : * = * * 1 s a s wº
Springs -----------------------------------------. 10 11. 5 38. 18 825 2 || 4 3
South Branch Smith. Fork Creek-----...- ... ----. 1. • 75 ------------|----------|. --. 1 1.
South Fork Smith Fork Creek. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - -. 7 8.5 57. 2,795 * * g : * * * * : * * * *
• Smith Fork Creek------...------------------------. 9 12. 65. 3, 500 * * * * * * * * : * = &º sº
Shurtleff Creek ---------------------------------- 1 1. ------------ 200 ---| 1 |- - - -
Sublett Creek ------------------------------------ 8 5.75 9. 41 480 --. 5 6
South Lake Creek-------------------------------. 1 5.5 ! ------------ 13() -- . 1 1. ---
Samson Creek-----------------, --------- A- - - - - - - - - 1 5. 8. 120 sº as e º 'º ºr e º sº º ºs
Salt Creek --------------------------------------- 1. 1. 5 4. 240 * * * | * * *
Slate Creek -------------------------------------- 2 2.75 3. 320 sº we w I ºf sº as tº 1 s sº sº ºf
Twin Creek -------------------------------------- 4 14. 75 43. 703 || 5, 520 * * * | * * * * | * * *
Taumers Creek ---------------------------------- 1. . T5 8, 240 s = F * sº sº I sº me tº e
West Branch Twin Creok. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 1. 2. 5 320 * s sº I ºr sº is a tº sº sº sº.
Willow Creek ------------------------------------ 3 14.5 l5. 800 sº sº. s 1
Yellow Creek -----------------------------------. 7 7. 765 51. 1,080 - - - - - - - -
Leads Creek ------------------------------------- l 5 !------------|---------. ... 1 1
Total.-------------------------------------- 322 || 518, 24 1,658.905 |108, 976.78 50 | 96 || 95

LOCAL DISTRICT II: RICATION AND ITS EXTENT.
Ditch record, water district No. 8.
497

Name of stream. 3 | Length. Capacity. |Acreage. Šáš ###
: ######
* - 2 = |* = | 2:5
© •) c o
2. 2, 2, 24
Miles Cubic feet.
Ashworth Creek. --...---------------------------- 2 1. 8 12. 116 160 * * | * * * 1.
Alkali Creek. --------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1. 2.7 2. 1ſ;0 | . . . . . . . . - -
Big Popo Agie ---------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------ 14 28. 424 291. 19 6, 355 || 1 || 3 5
Big Popo Agie and Middl. Fork ---------------- 1 |--------- ------------|---------. 1 | 1 1.
Big Popo Agie and New Fork-------------------. I 04 ------------|--------- - - - | 1 1.
I3ig Hermit -------------------------------------. 2 . . . . . . . . . . . -----------|--- . . . . . 2 | 2 2
Baldwin Creek ----------------------------------- 13 16. 814 159, 02 2, 435 | . . . . 3 3
Beaver Creek ------------------------------------ 5 10. 75 60. 2, 600 || 2 || 3 3
Badwater Creek---------------------------------- 2 2. 300. 160 |... - | 1 I
Bridge Creek ------------------------------------ 2 . --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --------- 2 2 2
Bonner's Creek. --------------------------------- I 1. 062 13. 5 160 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Bigº Sandy River -------. ------------------------. 1 - - - - - - - - - ----------- - --------. 1 | 1 1.
Big Beaver. -------------------------------------- 1 1. ---------|----- *---------------- 1 : 1 1
Bohack Springs. --------------------------------- 1 . . . . . . . . . . . ----------, --------- 1 | 1 1
Big Spring Creek -------------------------------. 1 . 75 3. 80 l. ---|---. ----
Big Sulphur Springs ---------------------------- I . 875 1. 120 |. ---|----|---
Buffalo Creek ------------------------------------ 1 3.333 ------------|------- - - - 1 1.
Cherry Creek -----------------------------------. I 1. 4 10. 2 100 ----|- - - - - - - -
Cottonwood Creek ------------------------------- 2 1. 75 7. 120 ! --- 1 I
Crocked Creek ----------------------------------- 1 1. 3 10. 5 250 ||--|--|--|--|--|--
Carter Creek. ------------------------------------ 1 . 25 125. W. --------- * * * 1. 1.
Christiana Lake and Big Popo Agie-------------. 2 6. 140. ----------|- tº º & a sº sº * 1
Dry Creek --------------------------------------. 1 ---- - - - - ------------|---------- 1 | 1 l
East Cottonwood.--------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 1 . 75 25. 40 ----|--|--|----
East Long Creek. -------------------------------- 4 2.4 12. 59 620 - - - - - - - - - - -
East Timber Creek -----------------------------. 1 2. 3 . 579 * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * 1.
Four Bear Creek -------------------------------- 3 4. 75 13, 194 320 - - -. 1 2
Frank Forks Creek -----------------------------. 2 4. 925 31. T37 1, 200 - - - -]. - .. 1
Grass Creek. ------------------------------------. 1 1. 3 25. 100 - - - - - - - - - -
Gray Ball River. --------------------------------- 4 4. 27.2 1, 280 || 3 || 3 3
Little Popo Agie --------------------------------. I1 15; 412 177. 1 2 860 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Little Cañon Creek ------------------------------ 2 ----------|------------|---------- 2 2 2
Little Sandy Stream ------------------------------ • 1 || --------. 75. ---------- 1 | . . . . . 1
Mexican Creek ---------------------------------- 1 || -- . . . . --|----------- |---------- 1 | 1 1.
Meeteeke Creek. --------------------------------. 9 8.45 80. 007 1, 130 | 3 || 3 4
Meadow Creek ---------------------------------. 1 25 ------------|------------- 1. 1.
Marguette Creek. -------------------------------. 1. 1. -------------------------- l 1
North Fork Willow ------------------...----------- I • 75 ------------|----------|-- -- | 1 I
North Fork Big Popo Agie ---------------------. 3 1.7 17. 06 240 # 2 2 2
North Fork ----- -------------------------------- 5 17. 05 167. 25 5, 120 |. --. 1 I
North Fork Owl Creek --------------------------- I 2. 640. ---------|--|--| 1 ||----
Owl Creek. --------------------------------------- 3 2. 90. 157 600 | 1 |. - - - - - - -
Oregon Ditch ------------------------------------ 2 4.5 ! ------------|---------- 1 2 2
Picketts ------------------------------------------ 2 . 4 11. 80 || 1 || 1 1.
Papypo Creek-----------------------------------. 2 1. I5, 561 120 - - - - - - - 1.
Pat O'Hair Creek -------------------------------- 4 10. 75 32. 1 1, 660 . . . . . 1 || - - - .
Rock Creek -------------------------------------. 8 10. 25 183, 857 3,040 || 3 || 3 5
Squaw Creek ------------------------------------- 6 2.7 30. 1 115 || 2 || 3 4
Silver Creek ------------------------------------. 1 ----------|----------- --------- 1 | 1 1.
Sheep Creek ------------------------------------. 2 1. 1. 3 |---------- 1 | 1 2
Sage Creek. -------------------------------------- 4 8. 29, 178 800 || 1 || 2 3
South Fork Owl Creek --------------------------. I 1. I-----------. 600 | . . . . | 1 | . . . .
South Owl Creek --------------------------, ------ 1. 1.5 ------------|--------- - - - 1 1.
Stinking Water ---------------------------------- 1 ---------|------------|---------. 1 | 1 1.
Sweetwater -------------------------------------. 2 5 29.1 !---------. 1 1 2
Trib Rock Creek --------------------------------. 1 |--------- ------------|- ---------| 1 | 1 1.
Spring Branch North Fork Willow Creek - - - . . . . . ! ------ - - ------------|--------- 1 | 1 1.
win Creek -------------------------------------- 13 7.25 36. 55 470 || 7 || 8 9
Timber Creek -----------------------------------. 3 3. 6 74. 1, 320 ||--|--|---. |- - - -
Willow Creek ------------------------------------ 12 8. 375 66, 59 480 || 3 || 7 8
Warm Spring -----------------------------------. 1 ... 8 5. 5 100 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
West Timber Croek------------------------------ 1. ... 6 • 231 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - l
Wood River.------------------------------------- l 1. 9 28. 400 | . . . . . . . . . . . .
Total.--------------------------------------- 182 | 212. 41 3,059.487 35, 395 52 79 96
138 A L–WOL III—32
498 IRRIGATION AND RECLA MATION OF ARID LANDS.
*
Ditch record, water district No. 9. *
& Ée # E. ă Šh
3 §§§§§§
&llin 6 Oi STI'C3, Dºn. : Length. Capacity. |Acreage. §§ 3 ;|& §
r: 13 bſ +5 9 :5 bſ)
<!- Cº- .8 $4—t oſ. St— ºl
C 3 g|3.3 o s
c d 6 "| 5
Z! 24 |z| |z.
Miles. Owbic feet.
Birch Creek. ------------------------------------. 2 3. 5 27. 1,440 || --. ----|....
Cottonwood Creek ---------------. . . .----...------. 2 7. ------------ 3, 360 |. --. || 2 |. - - -
Clear Creek -------------------------------------. 8 16. 15. 6,080 |. ... 7 2
Cedar Creek Springs ------------...--------------. 2 1.5 68. 480 ... ---|--|--|---.
Crow Creek ------------------------------------- 3 13.5 -----------. 17, 560 . . . . 3 |. --.
Dry Creek --------------------------------------. l l. 25 7. 320 * * * * : * * * *
Elkhorn Creek . . . . . . . . . .----------, ------------- 1. 76 .----------- 160 1 ---.
Lost Creek -----------------------------------. - l 4. 18. 160 * * * * | * * * *
Nicholas Spring Branch - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -----------. 2 2. 10, 160 | . . . . . . . . . . . .
Red Creek--------------------------------------- 3 3.25 ------------ 840 l. --. 3 |. - - -
Springs -----------------------------------------. 2 . 75 2.5 160 |....| 1 |....
Slump Creek. --...------------ : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3 2.5 ------------ 740 ! ....| 3 ||....
Salt Creek---------------------------------------. 8 18. 56.5 7, 480 . . . . 4 | . . .
Spring Branch ----------------------------------. 1. . 5 3. 160 * * * * : * * *
Sulphur Creek ----------------------------------. 2 2. 5 28. 320 | . . . . . . . . . . .
Spring Creek. ----------------------------------- 1. 1.5 15. 820 |. -------|--|--
Strawberry Creek. ------------------------------. 3 8.5 61. 1, 760 |. --.]. --, ---.
Swift Creek -------------------------------------. 2 3.68 25, 800 |. ---|--|--|---.
Vail Creek --------------------------------------- 1. . 75 6. 160 - - - * * 1 s = º ºs
Willow Creek --------. . . . . . . . . . . --------- sº sº sº a s = * * 1 ----------|---------------------. 1 | 1 1
Total.--------------------------------------. 49 91,43 342.00. 42, 460 | 1 || 25 3
Ditch record, water district winnamed.
Alkali Creek------------------------------------ 1. 2, 53 2. 160 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Big Spring --------------------------------------. l . 75 l. 3 80 ----|--|--|--|--
Big Sulphur Spring -----------------------------. 1 . 875 J 120 |. ---|--|--|--|--
Cottonwood Creek ---, -------------. ---------- 1 2, 25 50 2,500 . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Pacific Creek------------------------------------ *| 1 1. 3. 320 |. --, ----|---
Sage Hen Creek---------------------------------- 1 2. 4.5 400 l. . . . . ---|---
Stinking Water River . . . . . . . . . t - - - - s • * * - - - - - - - - - - 1 2. 5 75 600 . . . . . . . . . . .
Total.----- , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7 11, 905 136.8 4, 180 |. ---|--|--|....


IRRIGATION, PUBLIC LANDS, AND CANAL CONSTRUCTION.
NO. II.
[This paper was read by Engineer Meade to the committee.]
As the official head of the irrigation systems of this Territory, I have the honor to
present this statement describing its agricultural resources and possibilities by the
aid of irrigation, the character and extent of the work already performed, and of
explaining the views of our people as to the measures necessary to secure the full
utilization of our water supply in reclaiming the unoccupied arid lands. |
Among the arid Commonwealths Wyoming stands the third in the extent of her irri-
gated land, while in the excellence of her laws and the legislative measures for the
promotion of this interest she deserves even a higher rank. Although the youngest
of the Territories and suffering greatly from the lack of railroad facilities, particu-
larly between the agricultural districts of the north and the mines in the south, only
California and Colorado surpass her in the mileage of canals or the area of land,
watered therefrom. This rapid development has been due to two causes, the first be-
ing the exceptional natural advantages of the Territory as a grazing region, and
which at an early date made the raising of cattle its most important industry. With
the cattle man to open the way and make settlement possible, the farmer soon fol-
lowed. And as the necessity for winter feeding became apparent, the profits of the
cattle business were invested in the construction of ditches to enable such food sup-
plies to be grown.
WHAT SHALL BE DONE IN AID OF CONSTRUCTION. 499
The second reason is found in the abundance of the water supply and the ease and
cheapness with which the waters of the streams can be diverted. The description of
these streams and the nature of the works already built to divert their waters is given
in Appendix A, attached to this report. It will be sufficient here to state that the
principal streams have their sources in mountains of sufficient elevation and extent
to make them abundant accumulators and conservators of the needed moisture, and
that from these natural reservoirs these fruitful arteries of our agricultural life pen-
etrate every section of our broad area. No other arid State or Territory equals
this in the number of its streams whose waters can be diverted or in the uniformity of
their distribution over its entire area. The location of the natural water-courses is
such that if they carried sufficient volume of water all the lands could be easily and
cheaply watered, while, on the other hand, there is but little land which would not
be made productive if the water could be had. Hence it is that no subject has to
this Commonwealth the same ultimate importance as the proper conservation and use
of all water that falls on its surface.
The solution of the problem of how best to accomplish this involves an inquiry
into two matters,first, the proper distribution of the water over the land, and, second,
the conservation and storage of the flood water and the water running to waste in
the non-irrigating season. In considering these questions regard Inust be had of the
works already built and of the methods adopted and in practice among the farmers
of the Territory, since no methods can be successfully carried out which do not ac-
cord in a measure with the views and interests of those already in the work. While
the area irrigated is far less than that awaiting reclamation it is too important to be
lost sight of in any plans for future work. The ditches now in operation and the
acres of land which they water have involved the outlay of many millions of dollars
of the earnings of our citizens. When they began their work the success of agricult-
ure by irrigation was problematic. It was through their confidence and energy that
the country now understands and appreciates its value and importance, and it is their
efforts which has given the arid region whatever value it has. Hence, no action
should be sanctioned which does not promise to promote the financial success and
prosperity of the works already constructed. While the northern part of the Terri-
tory has outstripped all other portions in the extent and value of its irrigated lands,
in all sections the construction of ditches has reached a surprising degree of impor-
tance and there is no portion in which the agricultural lands do not form an important
part of the natural resources.
Much of the work done is faulty, resulting in heavy and unnecessary expenses for
operation and maintenance and great loss of water in distribution. We have too
many small canals watering the bottoms and not enough large canals watering the
uplands. Our methods and system need reforming to prevent this in the future work.
It is the result in part of the lack of means and experience on the part of the pioneer
ditch-builders, but very largely of late years of the unfortunate circumstances of our
land laws being wholly unsuited to the conditions of this region, and of their admin-
istration being in the hands of men ignorant of these facts.
It is a well-settled principle that lessening the number of ditches by building large
high level canals results in both economy of water and saving in operating expense.
It also, as a rule, secures the watering of more fertile and productive land. To build
large ditches, however, requires either a community of effort on the part of the
farmers owning the land or the introduction of capital to build canals to rent water.
The first plan has seldom been successfully pursued. The length of time re-
quired to prepare for and complete the construction of a large canal, and the fact that
farmers can produce nothing to support themselves or their families until this is ac-
complished, has prevented its successful adoption. Hence the majority of the large
irrigation works have been built as common carriers of water, this plan seeming to best
meet our conditions and needs. There is no objection so far as I am aware and
many things in favor of this plan, provided the canals are properly built and furnish
water at a reasonable rental. They are a necessary and valuable feature of our irri-
gation development, and we should have such laws as will make the investment a
safe one and secure their construction under such conditions as will enable them to
furnish water to farmers at a minimum cost.
Unfortunately, however, the building of large canals to furnish water to the set-
tlers on the public lands gives rise to a condition of affairs which, while well under-
stood here, is apparently not appreciated elsewhere. Before the canal is built, these
lands are Valuable only for grazing purposes, which value in most cases does not ex-
ceed 50 cents per acre. The construction of the canal, however, carries with it the
assurance of their reclamation, enhancing their value to that of farming land, so
that without the purchase of a Water right or without the owner of these fands hav.
ing in any Way contributed to their improvement their value is increased at a low
estimate from $5 to $15 per acre. This unearned increment is due entirely to the ex-
penditure and efforts of the ditch company which expects its return from the rentals
of water to the settlers on the lands thus made susceptible of cultivation. If there-
500 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
^.
fore all filings under the ditch were made by persons expecting to become cultivators
of the soil, and who would at once become users of the water, no harm would ensue.
Unfortunately, however, our land laws make possible an entirely different result.
The increase in value resulting from the construction of the ditch is a rich field for
the speculator. Parties having no desire or intention of becoming farmers can
through the pre-emption law, the homestead law, and the timber-culture law obtain
possession of 480 acres of this land without having to rent a gallon of water from the
ditch company or in any way contributing to its maintenance or advantage. By
the expenditure of 25 cents per acre they can in the same way obtain a three years'
option on 640 acres additional by desert entry. Thus it is that over a thousand acres
of land are withdrawn from honest settlement and the speculator or entryman is in a
position to blackmail the ditch company, as it is only by its buying him out and dis-
posing of these lands to bona fide farmers that it can derive any income from the
Water supply. This situation of affairs has made it impossible in this Territory to
construct large ditches simply as common carriers of water. The success of the en-
terprise makes it necessary that the lands should at once be brought under cultiva-
tion, and to accomplish this there must be some control over their settlement. This
neither the ditch company nor the Territorial authorities can attempt at present.
There are in the Territory a number of important canals built to rent water and all
have suffered from the difficulty of securing a prompt settlement of the land reclaimed.
Some of these have endeavored to protect their investment by securing this control
of the lands, the most important instance of this being the Wyoming Development
Company, its field of operation lying about 90 miles north of this city. It began orig-
inally with the intention of furnishing water to the farmers, but it soon became man-
ifest that unless they could control the settlement of the lands that the only parties
to derive any benefit from their efforts would be the parties filing on the land, and
that if the lands were to be actually made productive they must take steps to con-
trol their settlement. This was done and in this work and in the construction of their
canal about $500,000 was expended. The enterprise has been in every respect a most
praiseworthy one. Over 50,000 acres of land have been watered by one of the best
systems of canals to be found anywhere in the arid regions, yet owing to the lack of
appreciation of the real situation of affairs and of the necessities of this region
these landslie idle and unproductive in the hands of the Government, and the project-
ors of one of the best enterprises yet inaugurated in this Territory have been put to the
expense and annoyance of maintaining for five years a system of costly and unproduct-
ive irrigation works. The unfortunate outcome of this company’s operation has been
in the widest sense a disaster to the Territory. Its example is a menace and a virtual
barrier to the inauguration of other enterprises of special magnitude, and has resulted
in a return to the original practice of building small ditches, where each individual
could manage and control his own claim, the opportunities presented for the divert-
ing of water making possible an extraordinary development of this nature. The evil
consequences of this state of affairs are Imany. It creates a system difficult to control,
expensive to operate, and wasteful of water. Not only that, but many of our best
lands can only be reclaimed through the medium of extensive and costly works. If
during the past five years we could have had a system of land laws that would have
enabled ditch companies to have secured actual settlers on the lands reclaimed, the
number of important irrigation works and the extent and wealth of the irrigated ter-
ritory would be fourfold that which exists.
A proper utilization, however, makes it desirable that additional changes, besides
reforming our land laws, should at once be made. Since the area of land which can
be irrigated is greater than the available volume of water, it is desirable that our
irrigation works should be so located as to serve the best of these lands, and that the
water supply should be so distributed as to insure the utmost economy in its use. To
do this it is necessary that a careful examination of the streams should be made in
advance of irrigation construction, and that these works should be built in accordance
with an intelligent system and plan. It is further to the interest of the State that
this should be done, since it is charged with the responsibility and expense of super-
vising these works after they are built and with the division of the water among the
various claimants. Under the haphazard system which has heretofore prevailed,
where there has been no limitation or supervision as to the number, location, and
character of the works for diverting water, it becomes a practical impossibility to
secure a just or satisfactory distribution of the water supply in a time of scarcity.
The ill results of this policy become more pronounced the longer it is pursued.
They are more notorious in Colorado than with us, and will be felt here in ten years
far more than at present. It is a gounterpart of the old land system, or lack of sys-
tem, which formerly prevailed in this country and in some of the Eastern and South-
ern States, where each settler blazed out his domain according to his inclination,
regardless of the boundaries or rights of his neighbors. The litigation and ill-feeling
which followed as a legacy of this practice in Kentucky and other States promises to
be repeated in our water-right troubles if some more enlightened policy be not
TRANSFER OF PUBLIC LAND IS SUGGESTED. 501
adopted. That our system is what it is is not due to the lack of appreciation of its
defects on the part of our people or the want of the knowledge of a remedy. It is a
system forced upon us by necessity, not choice. A Territory sparsely settled, with its
resources undeveloped, was not in a situation to undertake any systematic pnblic
improvement or investigations, nor can we accomplish anything satisfactory towards
this end with the public lands owned and controlled by the General Government. It
is useless to make any investigation or examination as to the proper location of irri-
gation works while no control can be exercised over the settlement of the land.
The most satisfactory remedy for this state of affairs, and, in my judgment, the only
efficient one, is for Congress to grant to each State of the arid region, or to each Ter-
ritory upon its becoming a State, all the irrigable lands within its borders held by
the General Government, such States to be charged with the supervision of their
reclamation and with their disposal to actual settlers.
The reasons for asking this donation were stated in a letter prepared by a com-
mittee appointed at a conference held in this city in July last, and I can do no better
than repeat them here:
“First. The reclamation of the lands of this region lays upon the people engaged
and upon our local or State government requirements and expenses not encountered
by the pioneer of the humid portion of the country. Not only does the construction
of ditches and other distributing works add greatly to the first cost of a farm,
but with their multiplication comes the necessity of the State assuming control
of the distribution of the water supply, and its failure to do so leads inevitably
to expensive litigation or to personal controversies which impair both the success
and the growth of our agriculture. A further incentive to prompt action is the
fact that the area of land susceptible of reclamation exceeds the amount of water
supply. The water, therefore, possesses a greater value than , the land, and on its
economical distribution rests the limit of our future agricultural wealth. It is of the
utmost importance, therefore, that no wasteful or improper diversions be permitted,
and that the State should control the appropriations of water as well as its subse-
quent division among the various claimants. The expense of this work must of
mecessity be heavy. In Wyoming there are already two thousand five hundred
ditches drawing their supplies from four hundred water-courses, and this work is yet
in its infancy. In Colorado, with its greater advancement, the single work of regu-
lating the division of the water supply requires the employment by the State of
nearly one hundred men. This regulation is a necessity not to be avoided, but the pre-
liminary examination of our streams and an efficient supervision of the construction
of works to divert the water therefrom is of equal importance to our future wel-
fare. In our present condition it will, however, be a practical impossibility for
many of the States and Territories to provide means for this work by taxation; but the
funds for its prosecution can be easily provided for in the disposal of the lands whose
donation is asked.
“Second. Our experience during the past five years has shown the evils growing
out of the control of the land being under one authority and the water under another.
“If this Territory could during the past five years have controlled the disposal of
the irrigable lands within its borders, it could, while disposing of it to actual settlers
only, have afforded such protection to canal companies as would have given our agri-
culture four times its present importance, and more than doubled our population.
Instead of this there have been repeated instances where arbitrary and unreasonable
rulings have subjected our people to heavy and wholly unnecessary expense, and to
cause the whole land policy to be regarded as oppressive. It was, however, the inev-
itable result of land laws wholly unsuited to the needs of irrigation, and of their en-
forcement by officials in Washington whose experience had not prepared them to deal
with the conditions which exist here.
“It is also impossible for Congress to pass a general law which will operate with
equal justice and success on the arid belt as a whole. The conditions differ in the
different sections as do our water laws. Wyoming differs from Utah, and Arizona
from Montana or Idaho. The people of each section are the best calculated to de-
termine the system best suited to their needs and should be given the means of carry-
ing it into effect.
“Third. The results already achieved are a sufficient guaranty of what can be ac-
complished under favorable circumstances. Our legislation as to water has, on the
whole, been wise, but it can never have the stability or success which would
come with the control of both water and land. Our engineering works have elicited
the praise of experts from other, irrigated countries for both their economy of con-
struction and adaptation to their use. . At present the practical knowledge of the
subject is almost wholly confined to those engaged in the work. The information
gained through the labors and investigations of the geological survey can be utilized
by local legislatures, while by placing the responsibility for this work upon our peo-
ple a great impulse will be given to the diffusion of intelligence on the subject and to
local pride in the character of our irrigation works. It will put the solution of this
502 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
problem in the hands of the people best informed on the subject and most interested
in its success. &
“We will say further, that our people are aſpaid of the proposed withdrawal of the
irrigable lands from settlement or the placing of the construction and control of our
irrigation works under the charge of the National Government; the reason, being in
both cases that the delay and uncertainty which would be inseparable from such
action would be disastrous. While the passage of laws to encourage individuals or
Companies to reclaim large bodies of arid lands would most speedily accomplish the
desired end, namely, reclamation and settlement of the arid regions, yet public sen-
timent seems to be so adverse to this plan that we feel that it is scarcely worth our
while to advance it.”
The dangers attendant upon national legislation is shown in that clause of the law
creating the irrigation survey which provides for the repeal of all land laws except
the homestead act. This change has met with the disapproval of all persons ac-
quainted with the situation in this Territory. To limit the acquirement of title to
the public lands to the provisions of the homestead act would be disastrous restriction
on settlement and there is no valid reason for its adoption. It offers no aid toward
the construction of better works or the more economical diversion of water, the most
innportant consideration connected with the whole subject. In this respect the desert
land law was the best ever enacted, if it had been liberally construed or if the rulings
of the land office had been uniform as to its meaning. The difficulty has been that
the changes in the rulings have been of so radical a character as to practically con-
stitute new legislation and to cause much hardship and expense to those honestly en-
deavoring to comply with the law. So onerous have been some of the restrictions that
it has seemed as though the authorities regarded every claimant of the public lands
as an object of suspicion who was guilty until proven innocent. It is time that more
sensible and just conception prevailed. Every settler on these lands which in their
present condition have no agricultural value, and who reclaims them and u, akes them
productive, is a benefactor of the whole country and should receive the most liberal
treatment. Instead, however, after having expended from $5 to $15 per acre in bring-
ing the water on his land and preparing it for irrigation, he is compelled to pay the
same price therefor that the settler on the broad prairies of Iowa and Kansas paid for
land already prepared for the plow. *
The commonwealths who are charged with the duty of guarding the public wel-
fare should be aided in their efforts. Every consideration which justified and secured
the donation of the swamp lands to the States of the humid region applies with greater
force to the advisability of a similar donation of the arid lands to the several States
and Territories interested. Not only are our local governments charged with heavy
duties and responsibilities which none of the humid States had to confront, but the
settlers who come here to engage in farming undertake the practice of an art whose
mastery is both complicated and difficult, and of which they have had no previous
experience. Our climatical conditions are exceptional, making much of our agricult-
ure and experiment, and making certain that we are far from pursuing the best
methods or that we are achieving anything like the results which are possible. The
local government should aid private effort by conducting experiments to determine
the best methods, and by disseminating information which will enable new comers to
obtain their knowledge of the subject by some less difficult and costly road than that
of experience. The success of irrigated agriculture enormously increases the value
of the arid domain, and will be an important contributor to our national wealth and
prosperity. The best results can only be secured through the nation’s aid. I trust
it may be generously extended.
TERRITORIAL ENGINEER'S REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR OF
WYOMING.
{Copy with the committee, by Engineer Mead.]
NO. III.
The work of this department may, for convenience, be divided into four classes, as
follows:
(1) Preparation of instructions for water commissioners to enable them to perform
their duties in accordance with the court decrees determining priorities.
(2) The gauging of canals and preparation of tables showing discharges of the va-
rious ditches; these tables to be furnished to both the commissioner and ditch-owner.
(3) The recording of decrees and recording and calculation of engineer's certificates
as required by law.
(4) The gauging of streams, examination of reservoir sites, collection of data show-
ing the location and extent of our irrigation resources, and such other work as will
extend our knowledge of irrigation and advance our agricultural interests.
CONDITIONS AND EXTENT OF WYOMING IRRIGATION. 503
A beginning has been made in the work of each of these divisions. Three degrees
have been rendered in District No. 1 and one in District No. 8, all of which have been
recorded, and the proper instructions have been given the commissioners.
No gauging of ditches have as yet been made, but plans and instructions for the
construction of measuring flumes have been prepared and furnished to the various
ditch-owners, and the work of gauging these will be the first work to engage my time
next spring. º
A part of the present irrigating season was given to the gauging of streams and the
examination of irrigation work. The tour of investigation began in May and ended
in August, and included a large part of Laramie, Albany, Johnson, and Sheridan
Counties, together with visits to Sweetwater and Uinta Counties.
Without attempting a detailed report of this examination it may be well to mention
some of the conclusions to which it led.
The soil wherevor examined is fertile, and wherever irrigated becomes exception-
ally productive. Grasses and the hardier grains and vegetables do well in all parts
of the Territory, but in some localities the elevation is too great to successfully grow
corn and some kinds of vegetables. The eastern and northern portions of the Terri-
tory are able to produce nearly all kinds of fruits and vegetables grown in temperate
regions, the lower elevation of the northern part (3,500 feet at Sheridan) compen-
sating for the difference in latitude.
A distinctive feature of Wyoming’s irrigation is that it outstrips all the States and
Territories of the arid region in the number of its streams available for irrigation.
The valleys bordering most streams are narrow, varying in width from one-half to 5
miles, and the uplands between these valleys too high to be watered, and which must
remain as grazing land. This contiguity of large tracts of grazing land to that de-
voted to farming, affording as it does free summer pasturage for the farmer's stock,
is a material advantage and is destined to increase the profits of the farmer and
greatly enhance the value of the irrigated lands.
The counties of Albany and Laramie furnish the best examples of ditch building,
the largest and best constructed ditches being found there. The irrigation works of
these two counties also must nearly utilize the waters of their streams, on a majority
of which the aggregate capacity of the ditches exceeds the average discharge of the
stream during the irrigating season, and the further extension of the irrigated terri-
tory can only be accomplished through the construction of reservoirs to store up the
surplus water of the spring floods. The fertility of these lands, and their nearness to
a market for their products, make it extremely desirable that such works should be
built, but their cost puts the work out of the field of individual effort.
In hearly every part of the Territory visited there are favorable locations for the
investment of capital in the construction of irrigation works of too great magnitude
for farmers to attempt; these no doubt will be utilized in the near future. It will
loe seen, however, in the statistics given further on in this report, that if the lands in
this territory now under ditches, and susceptible of being irrigated, were being culti-
vated, Wyoming would take rank as an important agricultural commonwealth. At
present, not one-twentieth part of this land has ever been tilled, the reason being
found in the lack of railway facilities for transporting the produce of the farms to
market, and in the lack of means on the part of the farmers to bring their lands under
cultivation. Construction of laterals, and other work necessary to reclaim arid lands,
entail a heavy burden of expense the first few years. In no part of this country,
however, can agriculture be pursued with more success and profit than in this Terri-
tory, and the present condition of affairs must soon disappear.
DITCH STATISTICS.
One of the first needs which impressed itself upon me in the discharge of my duties
was the almost indispensable necessity for having in this office a record of the ditches
already built, together with the data showing their size, location, and data of con-
struction. This information could only be had through an examination of the
“claims to water” recorded in the offices of the various county clerks throughout
the Territory. To properly examine these records, and make the necesssary abstracts
from them, required the expenditure of considerable time, but the importance of the
record seemed to justify its being undertaken.
Below is given a tabular summary of the irrigation development of the Territory
as far as the records have been completed; the statistics for Carbon and Fremont
Counties having not as yet been compiled.
In preparing this summary, wherever the length, capacity or acreage of a ditch
was omitted in the statement of claims, no attempt was made to supply the omission,
nor has any addition been made to the totals on account of such omissions, while the
tendency of statements is to exceed the actual facts, the fact that 20 per cent. of the
statements failed to give the acreage and about 10 per cent. omitted giving the length
e A- *3
will make the totals rather below than above the truth.
504 IRRíGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
When the statistics of Carbon and Fremont counties are added to those below, it
Will increase the acreage under the ditch, and capable of being irrigated, to over
1,500,000 acres.
Table showing extent of irrigation in Wyoming.
§ #3 # 3 || 3 || 3 & 3
E tº a 2, 3 || 3 2 3 Q =
3 O 5 QQ ºn's 3 +- &- --> of H
tº re; 3 : J. S2 ... - gº & rº * :
Q * .5 + 2 * Fi 2 : *. J.
+3.3 ~! Go tº 5+. F. o 35 tº 5 3 Q) "º.
... 3 | ##| | | | = #2, ºf ###| 3 &
Ç “– 8ſ tſ. •º-e *— S -- Q *— 4- — =
© E. E. 8:0 © Tº $2 cº; 33 g; & 4-
es c S.S. º s: ä. Q4 3 : :" | .
24 || 2: º Ž & 2. É
- Cu. ft. pr.sec.
Albany----------------------- 288 27 496, 32 45 6,024, 99 62 345, 241
Crook.----------------------. 115 46 198. 90 40 562. 17 64 58, 937
Johnson --------------------| 4:34 33 729.86 55 9, 117.30 48 .303, 360
Ilaramief. -------------------. 500 30 1, 122.38 42 4, 300.00 79 390, 803
Sweetwater f... --------------. 21 4 179. 3 15 || ----. . . . . . . . I2 4, 350
Uintah ... --------------------- 270 27 482. 2 95 1, 202.87 82 107,452
Carbon S ---------------------|--------|--------|------------|------- a * * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * w tº * * * * * * * * * *
Fremont S --------------------|--------|--------|------------|--------|--------------|--------|------------
Total.------------------ 1, 718 167 3, 208.96 292 21, 207. 33 347 1, 210. 143
Ç
* Includes Shoridan County. # Includes Converse. {Statistics very incomplete. § Not complet od.
In the examination of these statements of claims it was found that in many of them
essential facts were omitted and immaterial and irrelevant matter included, thus
lessening the value of the record and greatly increasing the labor of examining it.
Believing that these incomplete statements were due to ignorance of what our law
required, rather than to carelessness, or neglect, and realizing that these imperfect
records were likely to prove a fruitful field for controversies and expensive litigation,
I took what steps lay in my power to Secure the filing of complete statements in the
future, by preparing a standard form of statement, which was mailed to the various
county clerks with the following letter:
To the appropriators of water :
“An examination of a large part of the claims to water, now on file in the offices
of the various county clerks of the Territory, has disclosed the fact that a wide di-
versity exists in the character of the statements contained in these claims.
“This is shown in the different orders in which the essential facts are arranged :
in the use of the different units to designate the volume of water claimed, and in the
various forms in which the dimensions and grades of ditches are expressed. This
Jack of uniformity proves a source of serious annoyance and perplexity to those who
have occasion to examine the records. To reduce these varying units to a common
standard, which becomes necessary whenever any use is made of these records, is a
work involving considerable time and labor, which could be avoided by the use of a
standard form in the original Statements. r
“Another, and more serious, defect which has been observed in these claims, is the
failure of any to state all the facts necessary to the determination of the claimant's
rights or his protection in them. These omissions include nearly every portion of
a complete claim, but the most serious and numerous are the failures to state fully or
properly the dimensions of the ditch or the volume of water claimed. The unit
employed for the latter is often so indefinite as to be practically valueless. Claims
for square inches,’ ‘agricultural, inches,’ ‘California inches,’ or ‘miners inches'
are decidedly out of place in this Territory, where the law recognizes no unit except
the cubic foot per second.
“These incomplete statements are destined sooner, or later to prove a source of
serious annoyance, if not of expense, to the parties filing them, since, whereover an
adjudication is had, the missing facts will have to be supplied.
* As an aid to secure the proper ſiling of these claims in the future, and the conse-
quent protection of the rights and interests of claimants, I have prepared a stand-
àrd form of claims, the use of which throughout the territory is strongly urged. The
advantages of unifornity and systems to be secured by this means are so many and
important that if is hoped that this request will, in all eases, be complied with.
tº copies of this form have been furnished to all the county clerks and county sur-
veyors of this Territory, who will doubtless make arrangements for their being
readily obtained.”
wATER RIGHTs—DIFFICULTY OF DETERMINING THEM, 505
All the county clerks have co-operated with me in this matter with a resulting
gain to the public in the convenience, system, and reliability of our water records,
which only time will enable us to properly appreciate.
The volunteer weather service has also been established in connection with this
office, the signal service loaning the necessary instruments. Five stations have been
thus far established, each in an agricultural district, at which observations of tempera-
ture and rainfall are being made.
Before closing this report I wish to call attention to one or two matters which
seriously embarass the working of our irrigation system, and which will require the
early attention of our lawmakers.
The irrigation laws of this territory, taken as a whole, are perhaps in advance of those
of any other State or Territory of the arid region. All irrigation legislation in this
country has, however, been tentative and fragmentary. There has been no attempt
to frame a complete irrigation code, but only to enact such laws as the immediate ne-
cessities of the irrigation interests seemed to demand; the result of which, owing to
the rapid growth of the irrigation interest, is that legislation calculated for its regu-
lation and protection has not kept pace with the conditions developed by its growth.
While the evils resulting from this state of affairs have not been so serious or appar-
ont here as in Colorado or California, our present laws are in some respects wholly in-
adequate, and will need to be supplemented by additional legislation.
Over two thousand ditches have already been completed in this Territory, and have
their claims to water on file in the offices of the various county clerks. These ditches
water an area equal in extent to the whole of the irrigated district of France and
Spain combined, and one half that of Italy. They are distributed throughout a region
almost as large as the whole of New England; yet, at the time I entered upon the per-
formance of my duties, the service of only one man was available for the work of di-
viding the water supply in accordance with their claims, and his time of service was
limited to fifty days.
The scarcity of water which prevailed in many locations made the need of proper
supervision unusually urgent. w
Requests from prior appropriators, who were unable to secure their rights, came
from all parts of the Territory asking for the service of water commissioners to regu-
late the division of the water supply. As there were no commissioners to act, and
their authority to act in such cases was doubtful, nothing could be done. The need
of Some action was, however, so apparent that I referred the matter to the attorney-
general, asking if there was any authority by which the water commissioner could
divide the wator of streams whose ditch rights had not been adjudicated. I append
below an abstract from his reply.
“I have carefully examined the Revised Statutes of Wyoming, as well as the late
laws enacted, and I find nothing either directly or by implication on our statute
books which will give you as Territorial engineer authority to determine the priori-
ties on any streams of this Territory, nor is there anything in the laws that would
permit the water commissioner to divide the waters of any stream whose priorities
have not been determined as directed by law, nor can he perform his duties previous
to receiving the instructions set forth in section 9 above referred to.”
This law, therefore, as it now stands, limits the work of water commissioners to
those ditches whose priorities have been determined by the court. The right of less
than 5 per cent. of the ditches of this Territory bave been so determined, and to leave
the rights and interests of the remaining 95 per cent. without protection or regulation
until the courts can attend to them, will inevitably give rise to bitterness of feeling
and to conflicts which will not only seriously retard our agricultural progress, but
will for the next quarter of a century embarrass the introduction of proper super-
V1S 101).
As ditches are now being built faster than their rights are being determined, it is
manifest that some provisional measure should be adopted to secure proper regula-
tions in the interregnum. The plan which would best subserve this purpose would
be, I think, for the Territorial engineer to be authorized to instruct the water com-
missioners to divide water on all streams where regulation is necessary, the en-
gineer basing his instructions as to the manner of division on the statement of claims
now on file.
It is not designed that this should do away with the final settlement of the rights
of claimants by the court. There should be the right of appeal to the court from the
engineer's decision at all times, and the final decree of priorities should be rendered by
the same authority. What is needed, and what it is believed the proposed step will
accomplish, is the protection of the rights and interests of the pioneers of our agri-
culture until such time as the courts can properly attend to these matters. W-
In fact it is desirable in many cases that the determination of priorities should be
deferred until the era of rapid ditch construction has ended, in order that all the
ditches of a stream may be included in the adjudication, and that a second’ or third
consideration of the matter, due to subsequent ditch construction, be avoided. Another
advantage of delay in adjudication will be that farmers will be better informed as to
506 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the nature of the laws and the importance of having their interests properly repre-
sented before the court renders the decree. That this is not now the case is shown in
two of the decrees already rendered, where a large number of ditches already built
Were not represented in the proceedings nor included in the decrees.
Attention has been called to the defect in the present method of filing claims to
Water and the means employed to improve them. I am convinced, however, that the
only effectual remedy lies in change from our present system which will provide for
the examination of every claim before the filing. The tabular statement in a preced-
ing part of this report illustrates the large number of omissions of essential facts
exhibited in these statements. It does not, however, exhibit the imperfections of state-
ment nor the irrelevant matter which encumbers so many and makes their examina-
tion or utilization so difficult.
While writing this report I was told by a farmer that in the filing of his claim he
Was obliged to make three visits to the county seat, a distance of 40 miles, and to pay
for the recording of three statements before a correct record was secured. I have
heard so many statements of the same character and have seen enough duplicate rec-
ords to convince me that some radical change is necessary.
The remedy I would suggest would be—
First. To make it the duty of the Territorial engineer to prepare a standard form
of water claim which shall embody the requirements of our present law; this form to
be used by all persons filing claims to water.
Second. Every person wishing to file a statement of claim shall first forward a copy
of such statement to the Territorial engineer, whose duty it shall be to examine this
claim. If correct, he shall approve it and record it in his office and return the state-
ment with his approval to the party making the claim, who shall then have recorded
the approved claim in the office of the county clerk. If the statement forwarded to
the engineer is imperfect or incomplete, it shall be his duty to return it for correction,
designating the errors or omissions, which when remedied, shall be returned for exam-
ination as before, and if approved, to be recorded and returned as before stated.
The advantages which would accrue from this change would be, the engineer's of
fice would at all times have a complete record of the location and progress of ditch
building, and the public a source of information of the extent and character of our
irrigation development. It would greatly improve the character of the record, mak-
ing it more convenient to examine and preventing the filing of worthless statements.
It would, by the correction of imperfect statements, serve as an educator, showing the
ditch-owners the purpose and requirements of the law and would protect him from
any annoyance and expense incident to the filing of such imperfect statements.
In calling attention to these features of our irrigation laws that need legislative
revision, I have been more remindful of the demands of the future than of the disad.
vantages of the present. The subject of comprehensive irrigation legislation will be
one of the most important to engage the attention of our next general assembly. The
future development of our agricultural interests is certain to be rapid and important.
As it is, with our irrigation system scarcely established, we have enough land under
(litch and ready for the plow to make twenty thousand 80-acre farms, and to engage
the efforts of a purely agricultural population of more than twice the number of all
the people now in the Territory. Many of these ditches have been built under ex-
ceptionally unfavorable conditions; the best watered and most extensive agricult-
ural districts being in the central and northern portions of the Territory, while, until
within the past two years, all the materials and implements required in the construc-
tion of ditches, together with a large part of the provision for men and teams had to
bo hauled from the stations of the Union Pacific which traverses the southern border.
The transportation by wagon of all this material for distances varying from 100 to
300 miles almost doubled the cost of the work and materially lessened the prospect
of profitable returns. So also the remoteness of a staple market and the difficulty
and expense of obtaining the conveniences of life have been a serious drawback to
many of our pioneer farmers. Where it required a three weeks journey to buy a
plow, as it did until recently, in many cases there was not much plowing done.
The Territory still suffers from the lack of adequate railway facilities. There is a
surplus of agricultural products in the north for which there is a ready market and
good prices in the south. The completion of the railroads projected to bring these
sections together will result in increased prosperity for both. It will encourage the
cultivation of an increased acreage, and will make accessible to the capitalists a coun-
try now practically unknown.
In the counties of Johnson and Sheridan alone, the surplus water of the streams
gauged by me this season would irrigate 500,000 acres, and I am reliably informed
that there is double that extent of land susceptible of being watered. Were it nec-
essary other illustrations of the same character could be given. It is certain, how-
ever, that agriculture is destined to be one of the most important, as it is one of the
most stable, of the Territory's material interests and the perfection of the methods
and practices on which its success and progress so largely depends should receive the
most careful consideration.
STATISTICS OF FREMONT AND CARBON COUNTIES. 507
AIDDENDA TO TERRITORIAL REPORTS.
Attention is called to the table in the report giving the statistics of our irrigation
development. Since that was written the corresponding statistics for Fremont and
Carbon Counties have been compiled, and the result which follows more than justi-
fies the statement in the report that there is land enough under ditches and suscep-
tible of being irrigated to make twenty thousand 80-acre farms. The statistics are
below the actual development, as many ditches have been built since the records
were began and are not included, and a larger number have never been recorded.
An addition of 25 per cent. to the totals would probably be nearer the actual situation.
Abstract from ditch records of Fremont and Carbon Counties.

No. of Capacity
ditches. Length. p.a. Acreage.
Miles. Cubic feet.
Carbon Company ---------------------------------------- 304 421. 60 4, 451, 64 1,084. 44
Fremont Company. ------------------------------------- 181 226.27 l.----------- 44.1. 81
This makes the totals for the Territory, so far as completed, as follows:
Total mileage.---------------------------------------------------------- 3, 852.83
Total acreage under ditch ...----------- j = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1,413, 404
Four-fifths of these ditches have been completed within the past five years. It is
probably the most rapid development yet recorded in any State or Territory, and
when considered in connection with our unfavorable conditions incident to lack of
railroad facilities, and to the fact that the present land laws are not suited to the
conditions of the arid region and their technical enforcement has oftentimes caused
great hardship and unnecessary expense to the pioneer farmers, it furnishes a grati-
fying evidence of the superior inducements of our agriculture and the facilities here
presented for the economical construction of ditches. Nearly the whole of this is
the result of the efforts and expenditures of the farmers and cattlemen of the Territory.
Water district No. 8.-Claims to water as taken from the records of Fremont County.

---,
Dimensions. ; £:
F+ º:
. e rº-3 dº
*g rt QD * ~: © .
is º: : 5 : . § 5
t r: * .: 3 '3. Sº C -->
Name of stream. | Name of ditch. ‘g 5 P: 5 º; § Date. ‘sº
* §: Ç * 2. -à-º 2- -
# § t # rt: Ç 5 3 *
<!--> © * rº Ç º:
§ | 3 || 5 || $ g § § p
tº gº | H | <! P Cb <! 2.
\ Miles, Feet. Feet. Feet. Feet. Feet. Cw.feet.
• Ashworth Creek Ashworth Creek # -----|----- 3 l 15.8 **) §: *; ; 160
Sll WOT Teblº is - - - - -j- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * ept. 2, 1885 . . . . . .
Alkali Creek . . . . Alkali Ditch... #. 8 3.5 | ----. 3. 9 6. 33 2 §. 12, 1888, 160
} || 7 |10 ! . . . . . . 3 |--------|-------- ec. 4, 1883 ... -- - -
Big Popo Agie---|--------------- i i ſi.5 |...... 8 1. -------|-------- July 13, 1885 : - - - - -
* lib 1. ----|-----|------------|-------- (i) ; Nov. 13, 1885 . . . . . . .
Last Chance . . . . 2 |. --...]. - ... 4 1.5 5 14.3 July 29, 1886 180
Gaylor Ditch ... ----- 3 5 ! ------------ 5.3 -------- Mar. 4, 1887 ------
Cemetery::---| 4 5 || ----|------ 1.5 10.5 32. 1 || May 5, 1887 960
West End I)itch # . . . . . . . . . . 2. T | 1.5 47.5 18 May 23, 1887 I5
Dutch Flat ----| 2 | 6 |. . . . . .----. 2. 5 4, 2 48 June 6, 1887 2,000
Nicoland Mey- 21's 4.5 || 7 |.----. 1.2 5. 2 9.5 May 18, 1888 .400
GI’S. --
º c ker | 33 || 3 5 ! ------ 2.5 17. 16 21 June 22, 1888 600
It C
Big Popo Agie |-----------------|-----|-----|-----|------|-- * * * | * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * Jan. 29, 1886 |...----
and Middle
Fork.
New Fork. ----------------------. 3's -----|----- 2.5 | 2 |.--------------. Jan. 29, 1886 - - - - - -
Big Hermit ------|-----------------|------|-----|-----|------|- 8.3 * * * * * * * * * * = | * * * * * * * * June 12, 1885 . -- - - -
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 s º ºs º ºs s a * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * & ------- |--------| Aug. 12, 1885 -----.
Baldwin Creek...l.---------------- * -----|-----------|------|--------|-------- June 17, 1885 - - - - - -
Fº º Upper | # -----|----. 2.5 1.25 |--------|-------. Feb. 12, 1886 |......
itch,
sº *Low: § -----|----. 2.5 1.2 ---------------- I'eb. 12, 1886 ------
©!" Ult Ct).
hº g a n d 1; -----|---.. 3.5 2 35 46 July 10, 1886 254
arp.
rºl Yºlº 23' || ----|----- 4.5 1. 25 36 38 July 10, 1886 351
3.11( a r p
I)itch.
St. John Ditch | 13 s ]. --...]. --.. 3 1.5 11.06 || 15.02 || July 27, 1886 160
Jones Ditch ---| 3 ||-----|---.. 1. 7 , 7 31. 7 5.2 July 15, 1887 80
* Claim 200 inches. i Claim 1,800 inches.
508 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
NO. IV.
EVIDENCE PREPARED THROUGH CIRCULAR LETTER TO CITIZENS.
CHEYENNE, August 17, 1889.
Mr. :
DEAR SIR: I desire to place before the Senate Committee on Irrigation a correct
and impartial statement of our present agricultural development, together with the
circumstances and conditions under which it has been accomplished.
As an aid in doing this I wish to obtain the statements of a large number of farmers
in different parts of the Territory of the difficulties and expense attending their efforts
to reclaim the desert and the results which they have obtained.
I mail you with this a list of questions which I trust you can find time to answer.
I am particularly desirous of learning your experience under our present land laws
and your views as to what changes thereto are needed. The evidence thus collected
will be arranged and presented to the comunittee.
The modifications of our land laws effected by the last Congress and the probability
of further action by the coming one makes it of the highest importance that our wishes
and necessities be properly presented and understood.
I trust I shall have your aid and co-operation to this end.
Respectfully,
ELWOOD MEAD,
Territorial Engineer.
TERRITORY OF WYOMING, ENGINEER's OFFICE,
Cheyenne, September 22, 1889.
I hereby certify that the accompanying letter, asking for testimony to be used be-
fore the Senate committee, and the responses thereto, are a full, true, and exact copy
of the originals now on file in this office.
ELWOOD MEAD,
Territorial Engineer.
Name, ANDREw GILCHRIST : county, Laramie ; post-office, Cheyenne.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3—About fifteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–In 1877.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—Personally, about 2,000 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—Lands en-
tered under the desert, pre-emption, and homestead acts, and lands purchased from the
Union Pacific Railroad.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 2,000 acres.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–By nine ditches, named “Gilchrist No.
1 to No. 9.”
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 8–South, Middle, and North Crow
Creeks.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Names of owners.-Andrew Gilchrist and Mary Gilchrist.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building.—Began April, 1877; the last ditch
was completed in 1887.
(c) Dimensions.—The nine ditches are of various dimensions.
(d) IIow many acres does it water ?—The nine ditches water about 2,000 acres.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—About $10,000 for the nine ditches.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs 2–About $200.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received.—I neither sell nor
buy.
i0. Have you all the water needed ; iſ not, state the reason.—No, not every year.
In dry seasons there being but little snow in the hills the supply of water in the
creeks is therefore limited, and the city of Cheyenne claims first appropriation for do-
mestic purposes.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—About $10 per acre.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper con-
dition for farming 7–I'rom two to three years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of time required 2 If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—Cost from $8 to $10 per acre. Diſticulties encountered in obtaining title from
EVIDENCE GIVEN BY FAIRMERS AND RANCHMEN. 509
the Government are many, principally on account of the tardy action of the General
Land Office after final proof has been made.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre 3 This to include cost of prov-
ing-up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fencing,
and all permanent improvements.-See answers to previous questions. *
15. What is its present market value per acre 3–Probably it could not be sold for
more than $10 per acre, on an average. º
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No crop can be raised without irrigation.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory 3 If not, what changes would you suggest ?—I do not think the present land
laws are well adapted to this Territory. My opinion is that if the land, like the
water in the streams, was under the control of the Territory or State much more Sat-
isfactory results would be obtained, as under the present existing conditions they do
not work harmoniously, and large irrigating enterprises suffer a great deal of injustice,
and the progress of the settlement of the lands and the development of the resources
of the Territory are retarded.
18. What should be done with grazing land which cannot be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—I would suggest that the lands of that nature should be sold to
parties having irrigable lands contiguous thereto for grazing purposes. I estimate
their value at from 25 cents to $1.50 per acre, according to their grazing qualities, lo-
cation, and water facilities for stock.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–I regard that such action would be detrimental to the prog-
ress of the Territory, as it would practically prevent the settlement of all agricult-
ural lands and put a stop to further irrigation enterprises.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–I
would recommend that all agricultural and grazing lands be donated by the General
Government to the Territory.
Name, JOHN A. FISHER: county, Albany; post-office, Laramie City.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3—Nineteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming ?—I am not farming as yet.
3. How much land have you under ditch 7—About 1,200 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—One-half
section desert, part of a school section, and one-half section railroad land.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—[See answer to question 2 above.]
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–By the Fisher ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken ?—From the Big Laramie River.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Names of owners?—John A. Fisher.
M& * begun and time occupied in building 3–It was begun in the month of
ay, 1884.
(c) Dimensions: length, miles, 75; depth, 2 feet; width, 9 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Twelve hundred acres.
(c) What was the cost of construction ?—About $5,000.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—About $50.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received.—I do not.
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason.—I have.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—Don’t know as yet.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper con-
dition for farming ?—I can't tell.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required 3 If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.--I have not proved up as yet.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This is to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.--INo answer.]
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—[No answer.]
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory 3. If not, what changes would you suggest ?–[No answer.]
18. What should be done with grazing land which cannot be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre 3—[No answer.j
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–I do not believe in it. &-
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory t—I do,
510 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Name, LUKE VOORHEES; county, Laramie; post-office, Cheyenne.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Fifteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1878 in a small way.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—About 4,000 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—Luke
Voorhees, desert 640, October 10, 1880; George M. Drake, desert, September 15, 1880;
George D. Jenks, desert 280, May 24, 1880; Florence L. Voorhees, desert 600, No-
vember 5, 1882; Am. Jenks, desert 640, June 19, 1883; William Jenks, desert 640,
June 19, 1883; J. G. Huling, pre-emption 160, January 2, 1885; A. G. Lourey, pre-
emption, November, 1883, 160. r
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 4,000 acres in hay land and
other crops.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered—L. Z. ditch and Voorhees ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–L. Z. ditch, Rawhide Creek;
Voorhees, Niobrara Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch.-Commencement of ditches were in 1880,
completed 1883.
(a) Names of owners, Luke Voorhees & Company.
º Date begun and time occupied in building 3–1880, about three years in com-
pleting.
(c) Dimensions.—Voorhees, 4 feet on top, 3.6 on bottom; length, miles, 64; depth,
2 feet average; width, 5.4 feet top, 3.6 bottom.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Four thousand acres.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—About—
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—Am not able to state
I] O.W.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received.—Neither buy nor
sell.
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reasons.—Have sufficient
water except in some very dry seasons.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—From $7 to $25.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper con-
dition for farming ?—One to three years. *
13 What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required ? If any difficulties were encountered state what they
were.—From six months to three years in proving up. The usual difficulties of con-
structing ditches and other labor.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre 3 This to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements?—About $23 per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Under the rulings of land com-
missioner for the five years from 1884 to the present time I can hardly say, as it has
a market value, no titles.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—Can raise no crop without irrigation.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory # If not, what changes would you suggest ?—I can suggest no changes to the
land laws that were passed prior to 1881. It is the rulings of land commissioners that
are dangerous to settle. •5.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—On an average not to exceed 10 cents per acre; should be do-
nated to the State or Territory for schools and public buildings.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–I regard it as very dangerous and detrimental to the best in-
terests of the citizens and Territory in general.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3—I do.
I believe it would be better for the General Government to donate to State or Terri-
tory.
Name, BENJ. F. Lowe ; county, Fremont; postoffice, Lander.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twenty-one years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1870.
3. How much land have you under ditch 7–Thirty acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—Cash en-
try for N.E. 4, Sec. 18, Town. 33, Range 99 west Sixth principal meridian.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 30.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered 3–By two ditches taken out of the Big
Popoagie.
EVIDENCE GIVEN BY FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 511
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 7–The Big Popoagie River.
8. Give history of construction of ditch.-Were made by me in the year 1875.
(a) Names of owners.—Self.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building.—Three or four days.
* § Dimensions, 150 inches; length, one-half mile ; depth, 10 inches; width, 18
1I] CIl€S.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Ten.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—Twenty dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—One dollar.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid on received.—Sell no water;
buy none.
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason.—No ; the Lander Mill
Company has taken the water from its proper channel for their own use.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—About $10 per acre.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming 3–Good as ever first year.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required ? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—About $600. The town of Lander is located on N.E. #, Sec. 18. There were
some persons other than myself living on the land, hence some additional cost. Time
in obtaining title, sixteen months.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre” This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fencing,
and all permanent improvements.--About $2,000; 160 acres.
15. What is its present market value per acre 2–Erom $50 to $500.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—Some of the bottom land on the streams of Big Popoagie will produce
average crop without irrigation; 95 per cent. of Wyoming requires water, more or less.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory # If not, what changes would you suggest ?—The laws are all that could be
asked as regards homesteads and desert entries; tree culture is a failure.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre –They might be leased by stockmen; artesian wells put down at
great expense would bring the lands up to a rate that would re-imburse the State.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation Survey 3–Do not think it necessary; new settlers will not be in the
Way.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory?—Yes.
^+.
Name, JOHN O. D. O'BRIEN; county, Converse; post-office, Douglas.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twenty-two years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1877.
3. How much land have you under ditch?—About 80 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—No filings
made on account of Government survey of Fetterman Reservation, includes my claim,
and no filing can be made until act of Congress is carried out.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—Fifteen acres.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–O'Brien’s Ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–La Prele Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Names of owners. O’Brien & Wallace, Burt Elder, and W. H. Powell.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building.—November 11, 1887. One month.
(c) Dimensions, 4 feet; length, 3 miles; depth, 1 foot; width, 4 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water?—Two hundred and forty.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—About $1,000.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—Forty to fifty dollars.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received 2–No.
10. Have you all the water needed ; if not state the reason 3–Yes.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—Ten dollars per acre.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming 3–Three years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were 3–Congress passed an act to sell the reservation of Fetterman, except what
land was occupied by settlers, January 1, 1884, but it seems we are no nearer to-day
to file than we were five years ago.
512 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
14, What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ; , This to include cost of
ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fencing, and all per-
manent improvements.-Ten dollars per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Nothing until patent is obtained,
to which I should have been entitled at least eleven years ago.
16, Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained ?–No. sº
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory & If not, what changes would you suggest ?–No; an extra grant of, say, 160
acres of hilly land for pasture of grangers' cattle adjoining creek bottoms. -
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre 8–Answered in question 17. Could not say; but very little.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–I hardly understand the question, but am not in favor of any
public land being withdrawn, for it hinders settlement.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–No;
the United States land Jaws are good enough for me.
Name, T. M. HERRICK ; county, Laramie ; post-office, Goshen.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 2—Fourteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 2—1885.
3. How much land have you under ditch 7–Four hundred and fifty acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made,-Desert.
* ºw many acres are now under cultivation ?—Two hundred in hay ; forty
plowed.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered?—Spy and Herrick and Bolcom.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Big Horse Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Names of owners.--T. M. Herrick and wife.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building.—Spy ditch, March, 1885; five months.
(c) Dimensions, Spy ditch, length, 1% miles; depth, 1 foot; width, 5 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?–Three hundred. º -
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—Light hundred dollars,
... (f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs ?—Twenty-five dollars.
9. Do you buy or sell water ? If so, state price paid or received.—In the Spy Ditch,
110.
10. Have you all the water needed. If not, state the reason.—Because the water
Is taken out above me.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation; this to include
plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.?--Some $1; Some $5.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper con-
dition for farming?—Two.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of time required ? If any difficulties were encountored, state what they
were.—Four dollars per acre; two years.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre; this to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fenc-
ing, and all permanent improvements?—Six dollars.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Nothing.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No. Q
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory # If not, what changes would you suggest ?—All but pre-emption and timber
claims; they ought to be repealed.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—Sold in 1,000-acre lots; 50 cents per acre.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–It would ruin the Territory for the time continued.
A 20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–Yes.
sºmº-º-º-º:
Name, CALEB M. LA GRANGE ; county, Laramie ; post-office, Goshen.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 7–Twenty-two years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 7–1871. -
3. How Inuch land have you under ditch 7–Eight hundred acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made,-Under
the desert land laws,
EvidencE GIVEN BY FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 513
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—Six hundred. i.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–Brown & La Grange Ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken.—Horse Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Name of owners.-D. E. Brown, C. M. La º:
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building.—March 23, 1883; one year. ..., "
(c) Dimensions; length 4 miles; North Fork 2 miles; depth, 2 feet; width 13
feet on top and 6 feet on bottom.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Twenty-three hundred.
& What was the cost of construction ?—Main ditch, $1,600; my own laterals
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—$150.
9. Do you buy or sell water 2 If so, state price paid or received.—Do not buy or sell.
10. Have you all the water needed? If not, state the reason.—Have not ; water
taken by other ditches above.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation; this to include
plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc. ?—Four dollars.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming ?—Two.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.-Made proof in two years and six months after filing; cost $1,200.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre; this to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fencing
and all permanent improvements?—$6%;}.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—From $5 to to $15.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No.
17. Do you think the present laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter.
ritory : If not, what changes would you suggest ?—Free gift of 320 acres to every
man or woman that will live on it for five years.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated? What is
its value per acre 3–Fifty cents. It should be sold to highest bidder, section at a
time.
19. How do you º the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
º lºgation survey 3–It would act on the Territory like a wet blanket on a buffalo-
Cnlp Tire.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–On
condition, no.
Name, LIONEL SARATORIS ; county, Albany; post-office, Laramle; manager of the
Douglass, Willar and Saratoris Company.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3—Seven years.
2. In what year did you begin farming ?–1887.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—Twelve thousand acres irrigated, 25,000
acres under ditches not irrigated through scarcity of water.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—About
8,000 obtained from Government, balance railroad land. -
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—Five hundred and fifty acres in
oats and other grains, 800 acres in timothy hay, 3,000 native hay, balance of irrigated
land as pasture.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–Snake Ditch and Taback Ditch and
Sernatatle Snake Ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Little Laramie, Big Laramie,
Mill and Dutton Creeks.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Names of owners—Douglas, Willar, and Saratoris Company.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–Snake Ditch, 1886; Taback
Ditch, 1888. *
(c) Dimensions: 6 miles, 14 miles; depth, 3 feet, 33 feet; width, 8 feet, 12 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—See question 3.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—Taback $1,200 per mile, Snake $675.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs ?—About 3 per cent.
original cost first year, afterwards 1 per cent.
9. Do you buy or sell water ? If so, state price paid or received.—[No answer.]
10. Have you all the water needed? If not, state the reason.—Not for the last two
years, on account of mild winters, when there is no snow on the mountains.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—One hundred and twenty-five dol-
138 A L-WOL III 33
514 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
lars per mile... I have never grubbed sage-brush, as I have so much good land with--
out any that it does not pay to grub the land. *
... 12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming 3–Two years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of time required 3 If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—Three dollars and fifty cents per acre to $4.50. Two years in most cases. No
difficulties except gross ignorance on the part of the Cheyenne land office. .*
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.-A very hard question. I answer, about
$9 to $15 per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre 3–I consider good meadow $15 per
acre, cultivated land $35 per acre, with crop on land.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—I am confident that crops can be raised without irrigation if land is
plowed and allowed to fallow for one year, then to sow some quick-growing crop.
Have it all so as to collect snow, and thus permanently loosen up the subsoil.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory 3. lf not, what changes would you suggest ?—All laws are satisfactory, but I
think that people who control a large amount of land should be allowed to take up
in some several Sections of high land for purposes of pasture. I mean lands that are
impossible to irrigate and that the “honest settler” has no use for. This will be
better than the present unsatisfactory conditions of Government uplands. This
quality of land is of no value except to large land-owners who have many cattle,
and they should be allowed to control it either by lease or sale. These lands have
always been the great impediment to Eastern capital coming into this Territory.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–I see no use for doing this.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–Yes;
as long as the Territory is not allowed to put exorbitant prices on the uplands they
should still in some way be controlled by Government, and county commissioners
should have nothing to say in the matter of selling or trading these lands.
Name, JOHN R. SMITH ; county, Johnson; post-office, Traburg.
1. How long have you been in the Territory?—-Twenty-three years.
2. In what year did you begin farming?–1879.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—One thousand two hundred acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—One home-
stead, one timber culture, two desert claims.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 800–400 pasture.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–The John R. Smith Ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken ?—Crazy Woman’s Fork of Pow-
der.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Names of owners, John R. Smith, Agnes Smith.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building ?—10th day of April, 1879.
(c) Dimensions: Length, 6 miles; depth, 2 feet ; width, 7 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Ten thousand.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—Six hundred dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—On average, $75.
9. Do you buy or sell water? If so, state price paid or received.—[No answer.]
10. Have you all the water needed? If not, state the reason.—I have not this year;
and 1886 and 1887 was short, caused by other ditches using it.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to include
plowing, grubbing sage-brush, fencing, etc.—Mine has cost me about $850, not includ-
ing Government cost.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
&ion for farming 3–Two years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—One thousand dollars on 640 acres; $350 on 240 acres; and $20 on 160; timber
culture, not proved upon, 160 acres; three years and five years.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.—Thirteen thousand and eighty-five dol-
lars, in full.
", EVIDENCE GIVEN BY FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 515
15. What is its present market value per acre –There is no land selling at any
T1C0.
p 16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—You can not raise anything here without water to irrigate with.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory # If not, what changes would you suggest.—I do not think the Territory should
own and control her own lands.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated? What is
its value per acre ?—Five to 20 cents per acre, sold to any one wishing to purchase.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey?—It will be an injustice to the public.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory ?—I do ;
strongly.
Name, GUSTAVE E. A. MoELER; county, Johnson; post-office, Buffalo.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twelve years.
2. In what year did you begin farming ?–1879.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—One thousand two hundred and eighty
3.CIOS,
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—Home-
stead, pre-emption, and two desert filings.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 800.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered 2–North Fork and French Creek Ditch
Company’s ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken ?—North Fork of Clear Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
§ Names of owners, North Fork and French Creek Ditch Company (a corpora-
tion). *.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–January 3, 1886; five months.
ºpimensions, 112 square feet per section; length, 2 miles; depth, 3 feet ; width,
7 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Three thousand.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—Two thousand dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—Two hundred dollars.
9, Do you buy or sell water? If so, state price paid or received.—[No answer.]
10. Have you all the water needed ? If not, state the reason—I have.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage-brush, fencing, etc.—The cost to me has been about
$12 per acre.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming ?—Three years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required ? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—I paid the United States $1.25 per acre for 1,120 acres. It took nine years to
get title to my homestead; six years for my desert. For 800 acres I have no title
yet, although final proof has been made.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre This to include cost of prov-
ling up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fencing,
and all permanent improvements.--Answered above.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Ten to twelve dollars.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained ?—Not a spear of grass long enough to cut with a mower.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory # If not, what changes would you suggest ?—I have none to suggest. Desert
law ought not to be repealed.
18. What should be done with *::: land which can not be irrigated # What is
its value per acre ?–Might be sold without restriction as to quantity salable to one
man. About 50 cents to $1.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement durin
the irrigation survey 3–Might be a good plan to head off speculators. .#
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–Yes.
Or
to
Name, JOHN DARBIN ; county, Carbon; post-office, Darbin.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twenty-one years.
2. In what year did you begin farming?—1875.
3. How much land have you under ditch?—The company in which I am interested
has 400 acres, . -
516 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
i If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made?—Desert
C13bliſle
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—One hundred.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?—Darbin Nos. 1, 2, and 3. '
7. From what stream or streams is water taken ?—Muddy Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Name of owners, Darbin Cattle Company or Union Darbin Company.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building?—[No answer.]
(c) Dimensions: Length, east, 23 to 3 miles; depth, No. 1, 2 feet; No. 2, 2 feet;
No. 3, 2 feet; width, No. 1, 5 feet; No. 2, 4 feet; No. 3, 4 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Four hundred acres.
(6) What was the cost of construction ?—Two thousand dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—Fifty dollars.
# Do you buy or sell water. If so, state price paid or received.—Neither buy nor
$011.
10. Have you all the water needed ? If not, state the reason.—Have not. Failure
of stream in summer is the cause.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage-brush, fencing, etc.—Eight to twelve dollars.
Planting and grubbing sage-brush is alone worth $8 per acre.
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming?—Three to five years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what .
they were.—It was hard work to get the ditches completed within three years.
The expense of getting witnesses to Cheyenne was also heavy.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.—Fifteen dollars.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—[No answer.] * *
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—Can not raise anything.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory 3 If not, what change would you suggest ?–More time should be given
on the desert land proofs.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—I hardly know as to the first. Its value does not exceed 5
cents per acre.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the Irrigation Survey ?—It would be detrimental.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 7–[No
answer. I
Name, JoHN H. GoRDON ; county, Laramie; post-office, Little Horse Creek.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twelve years.
2. In what year did you begin farming?–1871, in Colorado.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—About 1,400 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—Most of
the land I obtained by purchase which was taken up under the pre-emption, home-
stead, and desert act.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 1,000 acres.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–These lands are watered by nine ditches.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Little Horse Creek Mills, Her-
rick Creeks, Mills Creek Ditch No. 1, and No. 2, and No. 3.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Names of owners, Springdale Ditch Company, Herrick ditches No. 1 and No. 2.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–The oldest, 1873; the balance
since that time. e º -
(c) Dimensions, from 3 to 8 feet wide; length, 1 to 5 miles; depth, about 18 inches;
width, 2 to 8 feet wide. -
(d) How many acres does it water?—About 1,000 acres.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?–In the neighborhood of $7,000.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—About $400.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–I neither buy nor
sell water for the above lands.
10. Have you all the water needed? If not, state the reason.—No ; the waters in
this section not adjudicated yet.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage-brush, fencing, etc.—From $15 to $20 per acre.
EVIDENCE GIVEN BY FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 517
12. How many years' cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming ?—Three years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of time required ? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—As I said before, I purchased most of the above lands.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre * This to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.--About $20 per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—About $15 per acre. t
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory # If not, what changes would you suggest ?–No ; I should think the Territory
ought to be allowed to make laws to govern the settlement of her lands.
18. What should be done with grazing land which cannot be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—It should be left, as a common ; but there is very little land
which can not be irrigated.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all irrigable public land from settlement
during the Irrigation Survey 3–I think it would be a calamity to the Territory.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–Yes.
Name, D. E. BROWN; county, Laramie ; post-office, Goshen.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Fifteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming?—1885.
3. How much land have you under ditch 2—About 1,400 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—Two
desert, homestead, and tree claim.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—One hundred under plow.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered 7–By Brown and La Grange ditches.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Big Horse Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Name of owners—D. E. Brown and C. M. La Grange.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–March, 1883; two years.
(c) Dimensions, 13 by 6 by 2; length, about 6 miles; depth, 2 feet; width, top 13
feet, bottom 6 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—About 1,800.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—My interest $2,000, on main line.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—One hundred dol-
lars will cover all repairs.
9. Do you buy or sell water ? If so, state price paid or received.—No.
10. Have you all the water needed? If not, state the reason.—At all times, not.
Because the water is used above us in the newer ditches that have been infringing
on our priority of right.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
elude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—From $4 to $6 per acre.
. ...12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper con-
dition for farming?—For small grains, etc., just as soon as ditches are completed,
with water ready for use.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required 3 If any difficulties where encountered, state what they
were.-The land cost me from the Government, including all expense in making
final proof, about $1.50 per acre.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of
proving up; cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing and all permanent improvements.—Nine dollars per acre.
15. What is the present market value per acre 3–I value it at $15 per acre.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—We can not raise crops without irrigation.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory? If not, what changes would you suggest ?—I would suggest four years for
making final proof on desert entries and that homesteaders be allowed 320 acres where
they prove five years’ continuous residence.
... 18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated # What is
its value per acre?—Fifty cents per acre. I would favor its being leased subject to
settlement.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all irrigable public land from settlement
during the Irrigation Survey 3–I do not approve of the withdrawal of all public lands
during survey, only in sections where they are commencing to operate.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory —On
* certain conditions, I do. t
518 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Name, A. M. MCLAUGHTIN; county, Laramie ; post-office, Davis Ranch.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twelve years.
2. In what year did you begin farming?—1878. 3. - **
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—One hundred acres. -
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—Home-
stead entry.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—One hundred.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered?—McLaughtin, Nos. 1, 2, and 6.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken ?—North Horse Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Names of owners. A. and J. McLaughtin.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 7–1874.
(c) Dimensions. Length, 23 miles; depth, 15 inches; width, 2% to 3 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—One hundred and sixty.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—One thousand dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs ?—One hundred dollars.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–No. -
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason ?—Used to have water
enough, but now failing on account of dry weather.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—Eight to ten dollars per acre.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming ?—Three years. -
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—Five years time and cost of $1.25 per acre.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fencing
and all permanent improvements.—Twenty-two dollars per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre 3—Fifteen dollars per acre. **
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory # If not, what changes would you suggest ?—Government should give each
man one section of land in fee simple, when he has reclaimed the same.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—Sell it in limited tracts at from 8 to 12 cents per acre.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all irrigable public land from settlement
during the irrigation survey 3–It would stop all settlement of the Territory.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3—INo
answer. I
Name, EMMA M. LATHAN ; county, Laramie; post-office, Davis Ranch.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Eighteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1873.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3–Eighty acres. *
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—Pre-
emption.
º How many acres are now under cultivation ?—Eighty.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered?—Ditch not named.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3—Spring Creek, a branch of Horse
Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Names of owners.-Emma M. Lathan. t
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building?–1879; about three years.
(c) Dimensions.—Length, 1 mile; depth, 8 inches; width, 3 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water?—Eighty.
e) What was the cost of construction ?—Two hundred and fifty dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—Fifty dollars.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–No.
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason ?–No. Water was not
in the creek. * * .
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—From $7 to $10. *
13. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming ?—Two to four years. 3 --
13. What did it eost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
EVIDENCE GIVEN BY FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 519
- were:-Two dollars and twenty-five cents, and took about three years. A mistake
sº-
of date was made by the land office and I had to offer proof a second time.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ?, This to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.-Sixteen to twenty dollars.
15. What is its present market value per acre 3—About $15. e
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No. & g & • *
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
...tory # If not, what changes would you suggest ?—I do not know, but I think every
settler should have one section of land for reclaiming it. * &
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—Should be sold at auction or at fixed value; 10 to 25 cents per
à, CT6.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey*—Unfavorably, for it would stop the settlement of the Terri-
tory. -
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public lands to the Territory —I do.
Name, T. W. RUTLEDGE: county, Laramie ; post-office, Little Horse Creek.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twenty-two years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 2—1833.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3–Four thousand eight hundred acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—Home-
stead, timber-culture, and mostly desert entries.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—One hundred and fifty plowed;
2,000 to hay.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–Rutledge and Hellman Ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 7–Horse Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Names of owners.-Rutledge and Hellman.
b 1% Date begun, and time occupied in building.—1883; and was three years in
uilding. -
f (c) Dimensions.—Length, 50 miles; depth, 4 feet to 1 foot; width, 17 feet to 3
eet. - --
(ºw many acres does it water ?—Three hundred acres really watered this
year, fe
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—Thirty thousand dollars.
l (f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—One thousand dol-
à TS, -
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–No.
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason ?–No, the last three
seasons have been uncommonly dry, and we have no way of holding the water in time
of a freshët. -
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—Seven dollars and fifty cents per
acre. No grubbing is necessary. *
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming 7–Three to five years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was the
length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they were.—
º and twenty-five cents for land, and $2.00 for each of the six entrymen on
6, 18.0 Cl.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre: This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, feng-
ing, and all permanent improvements.--Fifteen dollars per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre 3–Twenty-two dollars per acre, but
can not sell for $12.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are, and yields
obtained.—No.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory? If not, what changes would you suggest ?–No; any man that reclaims a sec-
tion of land should have a free title, and be exempt from taxes for five years.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated? What is its
value per agre?—Hold it as a public range; value, 25 cents per acre.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
- the irrigation survey 3–As extremely detrimental to the Territory.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–I do.
520 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Name, JNO. MCLAUGHLIN; county, Laramie; post-office, Davis Ranch.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twelve years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 7–1878.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3–Two hundred and forty acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—Desert
entry.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—Two hundred and forty acres.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered?—McLaughlin ditch, No. 5.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–North Horse Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Names of owners.-A. and J. McLaughlin.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–1874; by Mr. Sanders, about eleven
years. .
(c) Dimensions. Length, 3% miles; depth, 1% feet; width, 5 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Six hundred.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—One thousand seven hundred dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—One hundred dollars.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–No.
10. Have you all the water needed ; if not, state the reason ?—Not for the last two
seasons, as they have been exceedingly dry.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing Sage brush, fencing, etc.—Eight dollars to ten dollars per
3,CI'6).
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming ?—Three years. .* -
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of time required ? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—Three years time, at a cost of about $2.50 per acre.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ; This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fenc-
ing and all permanent improvements. Fourteen dollars to fifteen dollars per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Ten dollars.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory 3 If not, what changes would you suggest ?—Any man that reclaims a section
of land should have it in fee simple.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated 3 What is
its value per acre ?—Should be sold at 10 cents per acre, and no man or company to
have over one section.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all irrigable public land from settlement
during the irrigation survey 3–I think it would stop the settlement of the country.
20. º you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–INo
3.13 SW61'. s
Name, LIZZIE D. JOHNSTON ; county, Laramie ; post-office, Little Horse Creek.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Eight years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1881.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—Two hundred and forty acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state tho filings which were made 3–Desert
entry.
5. 'How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 200 acres.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?—Johnston Ditch, No. 1.
Z. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Little Horse Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch : Af
(a) Names of owners.-J. R. Johnston, Lizzie D. Johnston, Geo. D. Johnston.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–Commenced 1882; about one year.
§ Dimensions.—Length, 33 miles; depth, 18 inches; width, 33 feet. *
(d) How many acres does it water?—About 1,000 acres.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—About $3,000.
(f) What is the cost per year for managment and repairs ?—Two hundred and
dollars.
9. Do you buy or sell water. If so, state price paid or received.—No.
10. Have you all the water needed ? If not, state the reason.—All that is needed.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ?—This to include
plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—From $8 to $10.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper con-
dition for farming 3–From one to four years.
EvidencE GIVEN BY FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 521
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—Not less than $2 per acre. No difficulties, as I had fully complied with the
law.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fenc-
ing and all permanent improvements.-Ten dollars.
I5. What is its present market value per acre ?–Not over $3 per acre. º
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No. wº *
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory ? If not, what changes would you suggest ?—ſ No answer. J
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—I do not know.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all irrigable public land from settlement
during the irrigation survey 3–Very unfavorably.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory ?–No.
Name, DONALD CLARK; county, Laramie ; post-office, Davis Ranch.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Fifteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1874.
3. How much land have you under ditch 7–One hundred acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—Home-
stead.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—One hundred acres.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?--Horse Creek Ditch, No. 8.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Main fork of Horse Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Names of owners.—Donald Clark and Cheyenne Land and Live-stock Company.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building ?–1875; about two years.
(c) Dimensions.—Length, 23 miles; depth, 1 foot; width, 3 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water # Töne hundred.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?–Five hundred dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—Seventy-five dollars.
9. Do you buy or sell water? If so, state price paid or received.—No.
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason ?—Some seasons there
is plenty, but the last two have been short on account of drought.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—From $10 to $12 per acre.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper con-
dition for farming 3–Four years.
13. What did it cost you to.prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required ? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—Cost about $1 per acre and five years time.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fenc-
ing, and all permanent improvements.--Not less than $14.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—From $8 to $10.
16, Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No. -
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory; if not, what changes would you suggest ?—I do not know.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated: What is
its value per acre 3—From 10 to 25 cents per acre and limit the amount that each ac-
tual occupant shall be allowed to purchase not to exceed one section.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all irrigable public land from settlement
during the irrigation survey 3–Very unfavorably.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–I do.
Name, R. P. MULL; county of Laramie; post-office, Davis Ranch.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twenty years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1878.
3. How much land have you under ditch 7–One hundred and twenty-five acres.
º º obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—Home-
Sū08,Ol.
522 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation?—One hundred and twenty-five.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered?—Mull Ditch, No. 1. -
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Horse Creek. -
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Names of owners.—B. P. and Mary Mull. *
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–1879; three years.
(c) Dimensions; length ?–1% miles; depth, 1 foot; width, 43 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water?—One hundred and twenty-five.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—One thousand dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—One hundred dollars.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–No.
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason ?—No; where my dam
is there is so much sand that the water runs underground.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to include
plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.?—Nine dollars per acre.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming?—Four to seven years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were ?—Twelve dollars per acre.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of prow-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fenc-
ing, and all permanent improvements.-Thirty-two dollars per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Twenty dollars per acre.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained ?–No.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory ; if not, what changes would you suggest ?—No ; every citizen that reclaims the
land should have, in fee simple, a title to one section of land.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated? What is
its value per acre ?—Should be sold at 8 to 10 cents per acre, and each person to
have not over two sections.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all irrigable public land from settlement
during the irrigation survey 3–Unfavorably, as it would stop all settlement of the
Territory. - sº
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–I do.
Name, AUGUSTUS TRABING; county, Albany; post-office, Laramie.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twenty-one years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 2—1886.
3. How much land have you under ditch 7–Sold out; had 800 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—I bought
it from the Wyoming Central Land and Improvement Company.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?–Twenty acres. Rest in grass.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–Pioneer Canal.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken ?—Big Laramie River.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Name of owners —Pioneer Canal Company.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–Completed in 1886.
(c) Dimensions: Length, 35 miles; depth, 4 feet; width, 16 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Twenty thousand.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—Fifty thousand dollars. -
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—Twelve hundred
dollars. - -
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received?—Buy; 50 cents
€T 2, CI’6. g
p 10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason 3–Did have.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—Five dollars per acre.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming 3–Three. •
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of tiue required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were 3–I paid $10 per acre, as it was only 2 miles from Laramie, Wyo.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fenc-
ing, and all permanent improvements?—Twenty dollars, but I made extensive im-
provements.
Evidence given by FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 523
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Sold for $40 last May, with all
stock and improvements, net about $30 per acre. &
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained ?–No. # = s. º
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory if not, what changes would you suggest ?–No. Let each man have a sec-
tion of desert-land for homestead on reclamation.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?–Give it to Territory, value about 25 cents. e
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–A withdrawal for one year is all right. •
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory?–Yes.
Name, C. W. Hold EN ; county, Uinta; post-office; Fontenelle.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory —Nearly thirteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1877.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—About 800 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 7–Home-
stead and pre-emption, desert, and timber-culture, also lease of School land.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 800 acres.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered 3–Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Fontenello.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Names of owners—C. W. Holden.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building?—No. 1 was commenced in 1878.
(c) Dimensions: Length, 4 miles; depth, 1 to 2 feet; width, 4 to 6 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—About 800.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—About $1 per rod.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs?—Not far from $200.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–No.
f 10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason ?—Yes. Have had so
3,I’.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.?—About $10.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper-con-
dition for farming 3–About two.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required ? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—My homestead cost two usual fees and about $50 for incidental expenses;
have not final proof on the other entries.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.--Twelve dollars to fifteen dollars.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Don’t know.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained ?—No.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory # If not, what changes would you suggest ?–Give the desert land to the man
who reclaims and reduces it to cultivation upon final proof that he has done so.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated? What is .
its value per acre 8–Lands not susceptible of irrigation are of little value for any
purpose; after the water-courses are all fenced.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–It would virtually stop immigration and could only benefit
wealthy grazers.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory —Yes.
Name, EDWIN C. SMITH; county, Converse; post-office, Douglas.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Since April 4, 1873; sixteen
years.
–2. In what year did you begin farming ?–1881.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3–Three hundred and twenty acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—One hun-
dred and sixty homestead, 160 pre-emption.
* How many acres are now under cultivation ?—Thirty plow, 50 hay, balance
pasture. • f
524 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–My own ditch.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken?–Laprelle Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Names of owners–First ditch made by Joseph Hornbeck in 1887; I bought and
reconstructed it.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building 3–1881; have forgotten exact date
when finished.
(c) Dimensions: Length, 2 miles; depth, 1 foot; width, 5 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—About 100 acres.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?–Five hundred dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs ?–Can't state exactly.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–Do not sell.
. 10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason 7–Have when ditch is
in good order, sometimes have breaks in ditch.
11. What is the usual eost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—About $10.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming 3--Three.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered state what they
were.--Distance from land office when filings were made; received every courtesy
from officials of land office. g
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre 3 This to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.--About $12.
§ What is its present market value per acre 3–Can’t state, as no sales are being
IOO ºl, Ci (9. -
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ; if so, state what they are and yields
obtained ?–No ; sometimes potatoes, but very seldom. -
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory; if not, what changes would you suggest ?–Haven’t any suggestion to make;
am satisfied with the present land laws. &
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre ?—Leave them, as they are a benefit to the settlers for grazing pur-
poses. *
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–Favorable; don’t exactly understand it.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–Can't
Say.
Name, A. L. SUTHERLAND ; county, Albany; post-office, Sherman. --
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3—Eleven years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–In 1881.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—One hundred and twenty acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—Home-
stead and also railroad lands. -
5. How many acres now under cultivation ?—One hundred and thirty-five.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered 3–Private.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Dalo Creek, Pump Creek, and
STOIII]. QºS.
P. čive history of construction of ditch.-It was begun in 1872, and lengthened
from time to time.
(a) Name of owner.—A. L. Sutherland.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building.—1872, time of building not known.
(c) Dimensions.—Length, 3 miles; depth, 2 feet; width, 3 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water?—Forty.
(e) What was the cost of construction?—Six hundred dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs ? [No answer. T
9. Do you buy or sell water. If so, state price paid or received.—Do not sell.
10. Have you all the water needed ? If not, state the reason.—Have not, as those
who have taken out ditches about me use all there is at times.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to include
plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—Ten dollars. . .. .
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming 3–Two. g - ... *
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required 7 If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.—Cost $72.60. Had the best of proof, but patent is delayed over three years. . .
Has not arrived yet.
EVIDENCE GIVEN BY FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 525
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fenc-
ing, and all permanent improvements.—Twelve dollars.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—Twelve dollars.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained ?–Can not. -
17. Do you think the present laws are adapted to the conditions of this Territory 3 If
not, what changes would you suggest ?—That patents should be issned within six
months after final proof.
- 18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated? What is
its value per acre 3—One dollar and seventy-five cents. Thrown open to all not
fenced in with railroad land. -
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–I think there should be restrictions on it.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the territory 3–I do.
Name, J. F. ROCHE; county, Laramie ; post-office, Wendover.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Three years.
2. In what year did you begin farming?–1886.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3–Three hundred acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3—Home-
stead and desert. -
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—Fifty.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–Jumbo.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Cottonwood Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch :
(a) Name of owner.—J. F. Roche.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building.—September, 1886. Completed
in 1887.
(c) Dimensions.—Length, 24 miles; depth, from 1 to 8 feet; width, 8 feet.
(d) Howſº acres does it water?—Covers about 300 acres, but water is in-
sufficient.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—Five hundred dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs ?—Twenty-five dol-
lars. -
9. Do you buy or sell water ? If so, state price paid or received.—No.
10. Have you all the water needed ? If not, state the reason.—No water in the
stream after about July 1.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brûsh, fencing, etc.—Six dollars.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
...tion for farming 3–Three years.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land, and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered state what they
were.—Not proved up.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre 3 This to include cost of prov-
ing up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fenc-
ing, and all permanent improvements.-Six dollars.
15. What is the present market value per acre 7–No fixed value.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—Yes; have raised corn, wheat, oats, alfalfa, potatoes, and vegetables.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Ter-
ritory : If not, what changes would you suggest 3–No. I should suggest that all
lands redeemable by irrigation should be given to parties redeeming the same with-
out the necessary $1.25 per acre.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated? What is
its value per acre 8—Should be leased to settlers at nominal figures.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–Do not think it proper.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory —Yes.
Name, HAINES BROS.; county, Carbon; post-office, Saratoga.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 7–Six years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–1883.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3–Two thousand five hundred acres.
526 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARLD LANDs.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made 3–Desert
and pre-emption-filings.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 250. -
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?–Haines Ditch and other small ditches.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3—North and South Spring Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch:
(a) Names of owners.—J. G. Haines, H. W. Haines, and M. Haines. w.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building ?—May 1, 1885; time, four months.
(c) Dimensions.—11 by 8 by 2; length, 11 miles; depth, 2 feet; width, 11 feet.
Five miles of this ditch on a grade of 4 feet to the mile is of above dimen-
sions; 3 miles natural water course; balance, owing to heavier grades, smaller.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Two thousand.
(6) What was the cost of construction ?--Four thousand dollars.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs ?—Fifty dollars,
9. Do you buy or sell water ? If so, state price paid or received.—No. rº
10. Have you all the water needed ? If not, state the reason. —During high water
have plenty, but last of the season not enough water in creek to fill ditch.
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.—From $5 to $10 per acre.
12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming 3–Most land a fair crop first year. -
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required 7 If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were.--Cost, $1.25 per acre, with addition of advertising and agents' fees.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include cost of
proving up, cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation,
fencing, and all permanent improvements.-Ten dollars per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?–Thirty dollars per acre.
16, Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained.—No.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory 3 If not, what changes would you suggest ?–Let them remain as they are.
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated 3 What is
its value per acre ?–Left open to the public. Varies from nothing up.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–Do not regard it favorably. & *
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory?—No.
&ºmº sº.
Name, ED B. CHAPLIN; county, Johnson ; post-office, Buffalo.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3—At intervals since 1867. Contin-
uously thirteen years.
2. In what year did you begin farming ?—In Wyoming in 1879.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—About 200 acres, originally 320 acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made. —Desert.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—One hundred and eighty nearly ;
garden 20, hay 160.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered ?—Snider Ditch No's 1 and 2, Four Lakes
and French Creek Ditches and Flume Company's.
7. From what stream or streams is water taken 3–Clear fork of Powder River and
French Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditch: --
(a) Names of owners, Snider Ditch No. 1, E. M. Snider and myself ; Four Lakes
and French Creek O. J. Wastman, R. S. Hopkins, H. R. Mann, F. Meyers, P.
Georgen.
§ºte begun and time occupied in building?—Three months; three and a half
months. *
(c) Dimensions: 5 feet, 10 feet; length, 3 miles, 1% miles; depth, 2 feet, 24 feet;
width, top, 9 feet, top, 15 feet.
(d) How many acres does it water ?—Seven hundred acres. Don’t know how many
acres Four Lakes and French Creek Ditch waters, but think about 5,000 acres.
(e) What was the cost of construction?—Snider No. 1, $600; Four Lakes and French
Creek, about $1,000. - *
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repairs ?—Snider No. 1, about
$50; Four Lakes and French Creek, $350.
9. Do you buy or sell water; if so, state price paid or received ?–INo answer.]
10. Have you all the water needed; if not, state the reason ?—Have this season
had all the water needed, but not in former years at times, because it was appro-
priated by parties above me, who had no right to it.
Evidence givKN By FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 527
11. What is the usual cost of *...* wild land under cultivation ? This to in-
clude plowing, grubbing sage brush, fencing, etc.--Ordinary hay land $12 to $25
per acre, garden $150 approximated. - -
-12. How many years cultivation are required to bring wild land into proper condi-
tion for farming?—Three to five.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered, state what they
were ?–Actual cost was $550 to get final receipt. Have not received patent yet,
although I proved in May, 1883. -
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre ? This to include proving up,
cost of ditches and laterals, expense of preparing land for cultivation, fencing, and
all permanent improvements.--Thirty-two dollars and sixty three cents per acre.
15. What is its present market value per acre ?—About $50.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ? If so, state what they are and yields
obtained ?–Nothing without water.
17. Do you think the present land laws are adapted to the conditions of this Terri-
tory? If not, what changes would you suggest ?—[No answer.]
18. What should be done with grazing land which can not be irrigated ? What is
its value per acre 3–Should lease to stockmen. It is very difficult to fix value.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public land from settlement during
the irrigation survey 3–If the survey does not continue too long lands should be
withdrawn to guard against speculation in reservoir sites.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory 3–I do.
Name, CHAS. A. POLLARD, county of Converse; post-office at Labonte.
1. How long have you resided in the Territory 3–Twelve years.
2. In what year did you begin farming 3–In 1878.
3. How much land have you under ditch 3—Six hundred acres.
4. If obtained from the Government, state the filings which were made.—Pre-emp-
tion No. 1341, November 10, 1883; settlement made in spring of 1883, 160 acres; des-
ert filing No. 633 in 1883; number of acres proved upon three years afterwards, in
-
summer of 1886, 440 acres.
5. How many acres are now under cultivation ?—About 400 acres.
6. By what ditch or ditches is it watered?—By Labonte Road Ranch Ditch No. 1 and
Labonte Road Ranch Ditch No. 2.
7. From what stream is water taken ?—From the main Labonte Creek.
8. Give history of construction of ditches.—Labonte Road Ranch Ditch No. 1 was
begun in 1880 and partly completed and water run through it in the spring of 1883;
but the ditch and ditch-head was very unsatisfactory at that time, owing to the fact
that none of the excavation was “down to grade” and would only carry water dur-
ing a “stage of high water.” At this juncture my associate and myself purchased
the ditch and entire ranch property and all improvements, paying $5,000 in cash for
same. The parties we purchased from had made no land entries up to that time, but
they were about to do so. Since the date of our purchase in 1883, we have enlarged
No. 1 ditch, put it “down to grade,” and kept it in constant repair at a very heavy
annual cost, and it is now a permanent ditch, as all banks are grass grown.
Labonte Road Ranch Ditch No. 2 was commenced in the fall of 1883 and work has
been done constantly upon it up to date, and the ditch has been in operation about
one-half the time since the spring of 1885, and it is now in perfect order, but requires
constant labor at a heavy expense to keep it in condition.
(a) Name of owners—Charles A. Pollard and Sophia E. Pollard.
(b) Date begun and time occupied in building—1880 and 1883. All of two years
and three years.
(c) Dimensions—5 by 2 feet; length, about 12 miles; depth, 2 feet; width, 5 feet
on bottom, 8 feet at top.
(d) How many acres does it water?—The two ditches will water more than 1,500
8,016S.
(e) What was the cost of construction ?—The original cost per mile was over $250
per mile at a rate of 16 cents per cubic yard for earth; 25 cents per cubic yard for
#. 35 cents per cubic yard for bowlders and all loose stone; $1 per cubic yard
Wor all solid rock. Since the ditches were completed it has cost double the above
amount to maintain them and to repair them.
(f) What is the cost per year for management and repair 3–All the way from $50
to $150 per mile, according to the number of “water spouts” and “cloud bursts” that
happen to strike the banks.
9. Do you buy or sell water ? If so, state price paid or received.—We have sold
Some water at $1 per acre per annum for land actually irrigated during the season.
- We have also sold some other water at about the same rate.
528 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
10. Have you all the water needed?—Yes, during the irrigating season. -
11. What is the usual cost of bringing wild lands under cultivation ? This to in
clude plowing, grubbing off sage brush, fencing, etc.—Anywhere from $10 to $25
per acre. Any kind of reclamation will cost $10 per acre.
12. How many years are required to bring “wild land" into a proper condition for
farming f–Fröm three to six years, according to the sage brush, alkali, prickly pear,
and general character of the soil and “lay º theiandº if very gravelly and sandy
it requires time for the sediment or wash in the water each spring to flow out upon
the sand alid gravel and form a soil that can not be excelled by any known process
of fertilization. Say six years for this latter kind of land, and after the six years I
firmly believe the land could be successfully cropped to the same product each and
every year forever, as the soil is constantly renewed by the rich sediment or wash
that comes down the stream with the spring freshets.
13. What did it cost you to prove up and obtain title to your land and what was
the length of time required? If any difficulties were encountered state what they
were f—I made final proof upon my land entries under very great hardships, such as
travel overland through heavy snows and storms more than 138 miles to the then
nearest land office, viz, Cheyenne; at great expense for road ranch bills en route for
myself and witnesses, and, as all the witnesses were taken from their daily labor at their
homes, I naturally had to pay them for the time consumed going to and coming from
Cheyenne land office. My pre-emption proof cost not less than $400, my desert
proof cost not less than $640. This includes the money paid to Government and
cost of time paid for, and cost of transportation of all witnesses to Cheyenne land
office and return, and advertising land proof, and expense en route and at
Cheyenne. I was also subject to a four days' delay at Cheyenne after we had sup-
posed the officials were all through, by their demanding a “copy of my marriage cer-
tificate,” which at that time was hard to procure. As yet I have no land title other
than the final receipt. It took about three years.
14. What has your cultivated land cost you per acre f—Not less than $20 per acre
for the best, and all of it has exceeded a cost of $10 per acre.
15. What is the present market value per acre ?—No land in this part of the
country having changed hands at any price for a long time, owing to the uncertainty
of our ever seeming to be able to secure titles and a consequent depressed state of
affairs with all land entry men, it is impossible for any one to state any price with
any kind of certainty, but I should judge any land thoroughly reclaimed and under a
ditch to be worth $30 to $40 per acre.
16. Can you raise crops without irrigation ?—No, most assuredly. No one can raise
a crop or anything like a crop without irrigation, and after a residence of twelve
years I have yet to see the crop raised without irrigation any where in Wyoming, and
I have tried each and every season for twelve seasons. The trouble with our fair
Territory is, that all the reports about raising crops without irrigation are made by
the ever increasing majority of new-comers who are always welcome to our arid land,
but with them the wish is “father to the thought ° or rather belief (for they hon-
estly believe so), for about all sections of our Territory put on a “splendid mantle of
green” along in April and May, each year, but in June and July it all turns to a
“golden yellow" invariably long before maturity.
It can not be termed a drought for it is the rule and not the exception; perhaps once
in five years or once in three years a few potatoes or a small garden can be grown or
partly grown without irrigation along some mud bar or bank, too, or island in the
stream, but all such crops or so-called crops are irrigatad naturally and not grown by
rain-fall by any means. During the year 1883 a good crop could no doubt have been
raised by rain-fall in certain parts of Wyoming. But as the farmer can not possibly
tell in advance what the rain-fall for the coming season will be, and as whenever
there is sufficient rain-fall it only bappens once in five years, it is utterly impossible
to depend upon anything other than artificial irrigation, except in Some of the mount.
ain parks where there are such heavy winter snows that they melt very late in the
spring and the ground there stays moist until after the middle of July, but here the
crops fail, too, as often as they succeed.
17. Do you think the present land laws adapted to the conditions of the Territory?—
No, I certainly do not think the laws are adapted to the conditions of our Territory
or to anything like it to a small degree.
Among the changes I would suggest are, to allow each individual, reclaiming
land in a bona fide manner, to enter 2,000 acres or less. This amount should be so
allowed him to secure the cost and maintenance of the ditches and as an incentive
to build the ditches. In other words, give title to 2,000 acres or less of good irriga-
ble land as a premium to any one reclaiming, in order to partly re-imburse the entry
man for the extraordinary cost of, and what is more important the maintenance of
the ditches in the future years. -
Let the State or Government officials determine by actual survey all the worthless
hill-tops and other lands lying too high and rough to ever have water conducted
Evidence given BY FARMERS AND RANCHMEN. 529
upon them by any means, and when this fact is positively ascertained allow the entry
man as a free gift five acres (of all such worthless land and hill-tops lying adjoining
to his good irrigable land) for each and every acre of land actually reclaimed, pro-
vided such worthless land must lie adjoining his 2,000 acres or less of irrigable land,
on each side or along on one side and provided further, the entry man to pay
Government the real cost of all such surveys. Also to allow all companies or corpora-
tions each alternate section of land (along under any ditch or canal) actually re-
claimed by said company or corporation.
I am aware that the changes suggested by me as above will be looked upon
with suspicion by some good people, but it must be remembered that these good peo-
ple know nothing at all about what is really necessary to a successful reclamation of
our arid Territory, and it is, to say the least, very unfair that they should have
anything at all to say in the premises until after a residence of three to five years, en-
gaged at an actual effort to cultivate the soil.
As the land is, in its natural state, it must lie forever worthless for ages. By a
liberal policy, and allowing land enough to be entered to make it an inducement to
capital to reclaim it, poor men will be constantly employed, and by their employ-
ment will be able to subsist and carry out in their turn their own plans and land en-
tries on a smaller scale and in accordance with their means, whereas, as it now is, the
poor man must obtain employment from some source or fail in his land entry
entirely, as witness the many changes from one entry to another entry upon the
same piece of land without attempting to prove up at all, thus exhausting two rights
upon really one entry. And then, too, without any assurance that they will be
any better able to prove up at the expiration of the second entry. *
Allow no alien to enter any land until he has been a law-abiding citizen for five
years, but allow any alien to acquire any lands by purchase from citizens, if he con-
tinues or keeps up the reclamation of such land by water.
Allow no contests for the right to enter lands or for the possession of title to same
under any circumstances until three years after the original entry man had either
failed to prove up or had really and actually abandoned bis claim. Let all parties
who have acquired a so-called title to land or any kind of a pretended possessory
right whatever to improvements thereon or to the land or any part thereof “by con-
tests” withont first recognizing the original entry man, be forever barred and de-
prived of all their land rights as now existing or that may hereafter exist under the
laws of our country.
I would modify the present land laws as they now stand by not requiring any actual
residence upon any of them, but in lieu thereof insert a clause making the reclama-
tion of all of the rights to lands by water compulsory, and not require any actual res-
idence upon any of the claims where they had been honestly reclaimed with water.
By honest reclamation of the land is meant the ownership by purchase or of appro-
priation of about 1 cubic foot flow of water per second of time for each 100 acres
during the irrigating season, viz, during the months of May, June, and July, each
year.
The central and best part of our Territory is traversed for its entire length by the
“old Mormon trail,” made when they left Nauvoo, Ill., more than forty-four years
ago. Here, over the same old route, the California gold-hunters first traveled. Also
the pony mail, and then the telegraph line to San Francisco, and afterwards Wells,
Fargo & Co.'s overland stages.
The hundreds of mountain streams and small watering places, all crossed by this
trail, all bear the plainest kind of evidence of having been quite thickly settled more
than thirty years ago—old wells and old cabin foundations and stone chimneys all
gone to decay, places where they had plowed for gardens and for grain, and some of
the streams have from twenty-five to fifty graves scattered along their banks. There
is almost any amount of evidence that Wyoming from the east to the west, through
its entire length and best part, was all at one time fairly well settled upon its many
streams more than thirty years ago. The question naturally arises why did not these
old settlers stay upon their lands if crops can be grown without irrigation ?
There are quite a number of people living in the Territory to-day who have been .
here from thirty to forty-five years, and it will be found upon investigation that all
these old settlers have made their living in many other ways than by cultivating the
soil. It is very doubtful if a resident of Wyoming can be found to-day who has,
strictly speaking, taken his living from the soil for from three to five years, either
with or without irrigation. . They have all been trappers, hunters, employés of the
Government, or had cattle, horses, or sheep, have been miners or freighters, any and
everything other than tillers of the soil. The many hundreds of “deserted hearth-
stones” scattered all along the many water-courses of the Territory everywhere ought
to convince the most skeptical that the desert-land entry man of to-day is right, and
that our wise land-law-makers at Washington made no mistake on the side of liber-
Slity. The fact stands forth patent to all who are willing to make observations of
tº e plainest character, that to remove our desert-land entry men and the cattle indus-
138 A L–WOL III 34
530 IBRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Å;
try from our midst the Territory must go back and become comparatively deserted
again by its people as it once was thirty or forty years ago.
Should the Government allow the entry man 2,000 acres of the best irrigable land
at each filing, it is very doubtful then if the entry man would have anything like
500 acres of available land for cultivation. Will any one say it is right and justice
to allow 480 acres of good agricultural land to be entered in the humid regions under
the three old land rights of homestead, pre-emption, and timber-culture, and not
allow an equal amount entered in the arid region ? The entry man in Wyoming
should have four times as much land as elsewhere.
18. What should be done with the grazing land which can not be irrigated; what
is the value per acre ?–All grazing lands and other worthless lands adjoining any
good irrigable land actually reclaimed should be given to the land entry man adjoin-
ing at the rate of 5 acres of all such grazing land for each and every acre of irrigable
land actually reclaimed by said entry man, provided the entry man pays the Govern-
ment the actual cost of survey of such grazing land. The balance of the grazing lands
that are left upon the hands of the Government should be leased to the highest bid-
der for cash for a period of five to ten years, with the privilege of a renewal of the
lease at its expiration at the same rate if desired and there is no higher bid meantime.
Grazing lands are worth from 5 to 50 cents per acre, and there are thousands of acres of
such land that are entirely worthless and will probably always remain so, owing to
their sterility and roughness.
19. How do you regard the withdrawal of all public lands from settlement during
the irrigation survey 7–If the lands can be restored to entry under our present land
laws again after they are so withdrawn or after the irrigation surveys are completed
I certainly should be very much in favor of withdrawing all lands from entry, or if
the lands can be restored to entry under a more liberal system of laws than we now
have, I certainly should favor the withdrawal. But if they can only be restored to
entry under the homestead law, and that, too, with a new requisite for an actual resi-
dence of seven years, I certainly should think it unwise to add that increased hard-
ship, and should not by any means favor their withdrawal in the last case. The
desert-land law as it now stands is by far the wisest law ever passed by Congress,
not excepting any of them, and it should not be touched at all unless to allow more
access to the entry man and the land to conform in a body to the entry man's ditch as
regards grade of ditch.
We have in the “far West” a very large class of migratory citizens who do noth-
ing but travel overland from some of the older States to Washington Territory this
year, and from there to Montana the second year, and from Montana to New Mexico
the third year, and so on, the greater part of their lives. Constantly on the move,
over thousands of miles of wagon-roads, and they subsist upon and live off the broad
generosity of their settled countrymen generally. If they do happen to settle down
upon a claim they do not as a rule stay longer than six months or a year. This class
would certainly give the Irrigation Survey trouble if the lands were open to settle-
ment by coming in by the thousands to get a location long before the Government
was ready, and this is the class, too, that gives the honest entry man any amount of
worry and vexation by always putting in an appearance and wanting no other land
only such as has been filed upon in good faith, and also by writing constant com-
plaints to the officials at Washington.
It is my belief that for every bona fide settler now occupying public lands there are
twenty-five of this migratory traveling class, on the move. And if, as is said to be
the case, the Eastern people generally are opposed to the rapid settling up of the West,
I beg to respectſully call your attention to the state of affairs all over the far West.
In a country where less than seven years ago was an entire vast wilderness from
old Mexico to the British possessions and from the Missouri River to the coast, with
the exception of a narrow strip along the Northern Pacific Railway and small parts of
Texas and Colorado. I repeat that a very short time ago all, or about all, of this
vast stretch of country was uninhabited except by Indians and some military posts,
and is now completely overrun with people and towns, cities, and villages, railroads,
civilization, and the honest settler can be seen upon any stream, brook, and little
spring of water, go where one may, all over this vast far West. Oklahoma is a case
in point, viz, 10,000 settlers to 10,000 land entries.
Let me say that the land legislators of our beloved country at Washington have
made no mistake in so far as they have got. They certainly “builded better than
they knew,” but as applied to this alid country they did not go far enough. They
certainly were not liberal enough. In other words, the wise and liberal provisions
of our generóus land law-makers at Washington could hardly be broad enough and
liberal enough, so long as the many wide gates of our Castle Garden stood for so
many years wide open to all the world.
Let us shut them up tight before it is too late, and bar them shut, too, with
the strong bars of protection, and remember the old principle of “first come, first
served.” If by any chance any of our land entry men should acquire too much land,
THE WATER INCORPORATIONS OF WYOMING. 531
the evil of it is imaginary, as it will cure itself if let alone, and as soon as they have
acquired title they will dispose of it reclaimed. Unreclaimed, it will never be dis-
posed of or benefit any one.
If the desert-land entry man made any mistake at all it was in not stopping to
consider the value his capital and vast labor would give to a hitherto lot of worth-
less land, and consequently came a grand rush of people to all try and do the same
thing in a country where for more than thirty years, the Government at Washington
had asked the oft repeated question of what shall be done to cause the arid country
to become an agricultural country, and at last, after many repeated inquiries and
long years, the cattle industry has answered that question and answered it fully, and
as a man naturally loves the country where he has succeeded in gaining a competence
so the capital was forthcoming to build the irrigation ditches and canals. But it
must not be forgotten that Bill Nye spoke the truth when he said, “It takes a great
many acres of thin grass to make a fat beef steer,” and it also requires large capital
and any amount of the hardest kind of labor to reclaim desert land.
20. Do you favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory?—Most
assuredly I do favor the donation of all irrigable public land to the Territory, for
then we should all stand some sort of a show of having justice done to a long-suffering
and most patient lot of land-entry men the world has ever known. If the Territory
owned all the lands the Territorial officials would (no matter of what political party
or creed) be the judges of our wants and needs, and we should stand a fair show at
least ; whereas now the average man from any other section of our gountry knows
nothing at all about our wants and seemingly can’t be made to understand us, and
really fie can’t be expected to help us .# after a residence of from three to five
years, trying to reclaim some of our arid lands and then, when he is won over (as
they all are), his voice is drowned too by the ever-increasing majority of new-comers.
Incorporated Water Companies of Wyoming.
[Furnished by the secretary of the Territory.]
Principal office or Date of in-
Name. Place of business. corporation.
The Wºº. and Water Company -------------------- -----| Cheyenne. -------. July 9, 1869
The Laramie Water and Ditch Company .......... tº sº, º ºs º ºs e º e º ºs e º sº me ºn e Laramie ---------- Mar. 27, 1871
Do. -- -------------------------------------------------------- --- do ------------. Sept. 13, 1874
The Albany County Ditch Company ..... tº ºn tº º tº ſº ºn e º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs tº E a sº e º e º gº tº ----do -----------. Oct. 1, 1874
The Big Laramie River Water Company ---...--------------------. ----do ------------- Apr. 28, 1875
The Evanston Ditch and Water Company-------------------------. Evanston ----...--. July 27, 1878
Pioneer Canal Company of Albany County, Wyo ------ 2- - e = • * * * ~ * = • Laramie ---------- Apr. 22, 1879
Laramie River Ditch and Water Company, No. 1.----...--...----. ----do ------------- June 19, 1879
The Rocky Mountain and Bear River Ditch Company. -------...... Almy------------. Aug. 19, 1879
Union Ditch and Water Company, of Albany County, Wyo. --...- Cheyenne. ---...-- Jan. 8, 1881
The Jack Creek Irrigating Company-------------------------------. Warm Springs.... June 14, 1881
The Utah and Idaho Land and Irrigation Counpany ...........----. Evanston - - - - - - - Dec. 23, 1881
Hurlbut Creek Ditch Company------------------------------------- Johnson County -- Jan. 25, 1882
The Upper Goose Creek Ditch and Irrigating Company.----------- ----do ------------.l. - - - ClO - - - - - - -
White and Jackson Creek Ditch Company ------------...... tº º ºs º ºs º ºs ----do ------------- Mar. 8, 1882
Big Piney and Prairie Dog Ditch and Tunnel Company....... * * gº tº gº tº ----do ------------- Apr. 3, 1882
º: Ditch Company------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e ----do ------------. Aug. 14, 1882
North Piney and Prairie Dog Irrigating Canal and Tunnel Com-
pan * - Lºs tº e º 'º - tº tº tº us º º sº ºn ºn tº º tº ºs º gº º ºs ºn tº tº ſº tº ºs º ºs e º º ſº º is sº º ºs & ſº tº º º sº e º e º 'º º sº e º me as as s = ----do * * we º ºs º ºs º ºs e º 'º Ang. 21, 1882
The Wyoming Five-Mile Ditch Company. -------------------------. Bingham---------. Aug. 23, 1882
Upper East Side Goose Creek Ditch and Irrigating Company...... Johnson County ..] Nov. 13, 1882
Chugwater Ditch Company. ------------------ tº gº tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * Cheyenne --------- Dec. 9, 1882
East Side Ditch and Irrigating Company----...----...----------..... Johnson County ..] Dec. 11, 1882
Wyoming Development Company ---------------------------------. Cheyenne. . . . . . . . . May .17, 1883
Helman Ditch and Irrigation Company----------------------------. Laramie County --| June 18, 1883
Wyoming Development Çompany --------------------------------- Cheyenne......... Aug. 10, 1883
Rutledge and Hellman Ditch Company-----------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ----do.------------- Aug. 21, 1883
The North Platte Irrigation and Ditch Company................ --. Fort Collins, Colo. Sept. 22, 1883
Goshen Hole Ditch Company.------------------------------------- Cheyenne ...... .. Oct. 3, 1883
The McKuen Ditch and Reservoir Company-----------............. ----do ----- * * * * * * * Oct. 5, 1883
The North Platte Irrigation and Ditch Company ........-----...... Fort Collins, Coloe Oct. 12, 1883
Littlo Horse Creek Irrigating Company. --------------............. Cheyenne -------- Nov. 1, 1883
Bordeaux Ditch Company ------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = ----do ------------. Dec. 29, 1883
The Deer Creek-Canal and Improvement Company.................| Laramie ....... -- Jan. 15, 1884
Prairie Dog Water ..º. Company ---------------- .* * * * * * * * * * * * * Sheridan.......... Jan. 19, 1884
The Sherman & Wood Ditch Company----------------------------. Big Horn ...... --. Feb. 18, 1884
The Horse-shoe Creek No. 1 Ditch Company ... ---.................. Laramie County --| Feb. 28, 1884
Springvale Ditch Company----------------------------------------- Cheyenne......... Mar. 10, 1884
The §. Pole Ditch and Reservoir Company .................... ----do ------------. Mar. 22, 1884
The Gordon Ditch Company---------------------------------------. ----do ------------ Apr. 10, 1884
Clear Creek Land and Ditch Company.........-- tº º tº gº tº º sº e º ºs ºº e º ºs ºn tº gº ºn tº Buffalo ------..... Apr. 22, 1884
532
wº.
→ *... -
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION or ARID LANDs.
Incorporated Water Companies of Wyoming—Continued.
Principal office or Date of in-
Name. place of business. corporation.
The Crow Creek Ditch and Reservoir Company.... ---...---------- Cheyenne.-------. Apr. 25, 1884
Gall and Culver Ditch Company. --...--...-...-------...--...----...-----|. ---do ------------- Apr. 26, 1884
The Phillips Ditch Company. ----------------------------...---------|- ---do ----- `... • = • - - - - ay 9, 1884
The South Side Ditch and Reservoir Company .............. -- . . . |--|----do ------------- May 20, 1884
J. H. Gordon Ditch Company---------------------------------------|. ---do ------------- Aug. 26, 1884
The Cloud Peak and French Creek Ditch Company - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Johnson County ... Ang. 30, 1884
Beaver Dam Ditch Company ..... * tº tº sº º ſº e º ºs º ºr º e º as a s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Cheyenne .--...---. Oct. 1, 1884
The Organ Ditch Company......... tº º tº e º sº me ºn as sº sº is º ºs s a se e s sº us º º is sº sº s a s m sº I a ---do ------------- Oct. 4, 1884
Bear Creek Ditch Company ----------------------------------------|.. --do ------------- Oct. 13, 1884
The North Lodge Pole Ditch and Reservoir Company...... . . . . . . . . ---do ------------- Nov. 12, 1884
The Whitehead Ditch Company-------. -----------------...----...-. ----do ------------- I)ec. 22, 1884
The North Platte Irrigation and Ditch Company ... ---...--......... Fort Collins, Colo- Jan. 23, 1885
The Rawhide Irrigation Company ... ---...---------------. -- - - - -. Cheyenne. ...------- Feb. 14, 1885
Little Medicine Bow and Richard Creek Irrigating Ditch Company. [....do ... ---...----- Feb. 27, 1885
The Payson Hutchinson Ditch Company ... ----------------...- ...... ---do ------------- Feb. 28, 1885
Mead Ditch Company ---------------------------------------------. Big Horn --------- Mar. 10, 1885
The South Spring Creek Irrigation Company - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. Carbon County ... Mar. 16, 1885
Ontario Water, Ditch and Irrigating Company ...... --------...----- Cheyenne. -------. Mar. 25, 1885
Goshen Hole Irrigation Company. ---------------...-----------------|. ---do ------------- Mar. 27, 1885
The Little North Fork Ditch Company. --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Buffalo ----------. Mar. 28, 1885
South Clear Creek Ditch and Flume Company..... --..... ---------|- ---do ------------- Apr. 3, 1885
North Laramie Ditch Company------------------------------------- Cheyenne. -------. Apr. 4, 1885
Big Goose and Soldier Creek Ditch Company---- - - - - - - , . . . . . . . . . . . . Johnson County. - Apr. 9, 1885
Piney Prairie Dog and Mead Creek Irrigating Company. - . . . . . . . . . . . -do ------------. Apr. 11, 1885
North Crow Diteh Company---------------------------------------- Cheyenne......... Apr. 20, 1885
The Four Lakes and French Creek Ditch and Flume Company..... Buffalo ...--------. May 8, 1885
The Lake DeSmet Ditch Company. -------------------------------.]. ---do ------------- May 28, 1885
The Central Ditch º, * e º sº tº gº ſº º is us tº ſº gº º * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ----do ------------- June 18, 1885
The Willow Creek Ditch Company--------------------------------. Cheyenne ... --...--. Aug. 5, 1885
Hillsdale º Company ----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * * ----do ---------- - - - - C10 - - - - - - -
Agricultural Ditch Company---------------------------------------|--- -do ------------. Aug. 8, 1885
La Bonte Ditch Company -----------------------------------------. Albany ----------. Aug. 31, 1885
Wagon Hound Ditch Company ...----------------------------------- Cheyenne. -------. Sept. 1, 1885
Tongue River Ditch Company-------------------------------------. Johnson County ... Sept. 5, 1885
Muddy Creek Ditch Company-------------------------------------- Cheyenne. -- . . . . . . Oct. 5, 1885 .
Hereford Home Ditch Company -----------------------------------. ----do ------------- Oct. 7, 1885
Bates Creek Irrigating Ditch Company-----------------------------|. --do ------------- Oct. 12, 1885
The Bresnahen Ditch Company -----------------------------------. --do ------------- ---do -------
La Prele Ditch Company ------------------------------------------. ----do ------------. Oct. 13, 1885
Big Goose and Beaver Ditch Company ----------------------------- Sheridan----. . . . . . Oct. 16, 1885
The Maverick Ditch Company------------------------------------- Cheyenne. -------. Oct. 17, 1885
Big Horn Ditch Company.-----------------------------------------|- ---do ------------- Oct. 21, 1885
The Willow Creek Ditch Company--------------------------------. ---do ------------- Oct. 29, 1885
The East Beaver Ditch Company. ----------------------------------|. ---do ------------- Oct. 30, 1885
The Blue Grass Ditch Company------------------------------------|. ---do ------------- 3Dec. 4, 1885
North Bear Ditch Company ---------------------------------------|- ---do ------------- Dec. 12, 1885
Colorado Colony Ditch Company ------------------------------------|. ---do ------------- Dec. 29, 1885
Valley Ditch Company --------------------------------------------- -- do ------------- Dec. 30, 1585
The North Fork and French Creek Ditch Company ............. --. Buffalo - . --...---- Jan. 2, 1886
Fetterman Ditch Company ------------, ---------, ----------------- Cheyenne. --...--- Jan. 4, 1886
The McDonald Ditch and Irrigating Company---------------------- Chugwater ---.... Jan. 25, 1886
Silver Crown Ditch Company ------------------...------------------. Cheyenne-...------. Feb. 8, 1886
Muddy Creek Ditch Company. ------------------------------------. - - - -010 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Feb. 26, 1886
The Butte Ditch Company ----------------------------------------. - - - ClO - - - - - - - - - - - - - Mar. 6, 1886
Darlington Ditch Company----------------------------------------- Fort Laramie - . Mar. 10, 1886
Tetterman Ditch Company. --------------------...------------------- Fort Fetterman. --| Apr. 6, 1886
The Forney Ditching Company------------...----------------------- Saratoga ---------. Apr. 6, 1886
Laramie Peak Ditch Company. ------------------------------------. Denver, Colo. . . . . . June 5, 1886
Little Box Elder Ditch Company. ---------------------------------. Cheyenne. -----... une 16, 1886
The Douglas Ditch and Water Company.----------------...-------. Douglas ---------- Juue 17, 1886
Colorado Ditch and Reservoir Company.--------------------------. Cheyonne. -------- June 19, 1886
Niobrara Ditch Company------------------------------------------ usk ------------ July 2, 1886
Union Ditch Company---------------------------------------------- Cheyenne ...... --. July 14, 1886
The Big Sandy Colony and Canal Company. ------------------------ Green River - - - - - . July 23, 1886
Home Irrigation Company----------------------------------------- Cheyenne. --...--. Aug. 23, 1886
South Clear Creek Ditch and Flume Company.............. . . . . . . . . Buffalo ----------. Aug. 31, 1886
The Piney Divide Ditch Company --------------------------------- Johnson County - - || Oct. 30, 1886
The EIighland Ditch and Water Company - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. Dixon ------------ Nov. 11, 1886
Enterprise Irrigating Company -----------------------------------. Saratoga ---------. Mar. 8, 1887
Rialto Ditch Company---------------------------------------------- Cheyenne. . . . . . . . Mar. 12, 1887
The Mesa ; anal Company------------------------------- Dixon. ------------ Mar. 31, 1887
The Belle Fourche Irrigation Ditch Company.-----------...-----.... Sundanco --------- June 20, 1887
The Fort Taramie Irrigating Canal Company ...----...--------------. Fort Colllna, Colo. June 27, 1887
The Mead Ditch, Company...... -----...----. \- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Fort Laramie - - - - Oct. 31, 1887
The Baggs Ditch. Company----------------------------------------- ££S- - - - - - - - - - - - - Jan. 12, 1888
The Murphy-Collins Ditch Company -...----------------------------. Laramie----------- Aug. 11, 1888
Glenrock Land and Canal Company.----------------- ------------. Glenrock..........] Mar. 20, 1889
The Crown Ditch Company ---------------------------------------- uffalo. ---------.. Apr. 5, 1889
The Mammoth Canal and Improvement Company..... --...-------. Green River.----. June 10, 1880
goverNMENT AID REQUIRED BY LAND OR MONEY. 533
STATEMENT OF STEPHEN W. DOWNEY, OF LARAMIE.
With the mass of statistics before you, it is hardly necessary that I should dwell
upon the practical benefits of irrigation, as that point has been fully examined by your
committee; but I desire to suggest some plan of action in reclaiming the vast areas
of sterile lands in the Rocky Mountain region and on the plains to the east of it.
Government land is becoming scarce, and it is a serious question what to do with
our surplus population and how to preserve the equilibrium between the thinly and
thickly settled portions of our common country. The nations of the Old World have
been compelled to resort to vast and expensive schemes of colonization in Order to
provide for the excess of their population, and it will be but a short time, probably
before the twentieth century arrives, when this question must be met by the Congress
of the United States, as we have but little vent for our restless and enterprising popu-
lation. The only solution is to render available the vast domain which at present
lies sterile and useless to the home-seeker, who can not have means sufficient to se-
cure water for the thirsty soil, which he could cultivate and upon which he could es-
tablish his home. I believe it to be the duty of Government to assist him and those
who will accompany him in finding a home and in the consequent development of the
country. There is surely sufficient warrant in this action, as Congress has for de-
cades expended vast sums of money in the improvement of rivers and harbors, in
protecting the lands adjacent to the Mississippi River from overflow, in providing
for the reclamation of swamp-lands, and in a multitude of directions. º
Either one of two plans should be adopted.
(1) Congress should appropriate yearly a considerable sum of money to the purpose
of establishing reservoirs, diverting useless waters to streams where irrigation is
practicable, and take upon itself the reclamation of the arid lands. Where the
streams have deep beds and precipitous banks, and where the land through which
they flow can not be made susceptible of irrigation, the waters should be diverted
to streams and sections where the water can be made available for irrigation. If this
plan be adopted, the Government could part with its lands at an enhanced price,
covering the outlay and a reasonable compensation over the cost of constructing
ºrs and maintaining a system of reclamation, and thus recoup the amount ex-
pended.
(2) If this plan is not deemed feasible, the lands should be donated to the State,
Territory, or county within whose limits the same are, for the purposes of reclamation,
with authority to issue bonds for reclamation purposes, to be paid from the proceeds
of the rental or sale of these lands, under a maximum and minimum price.
In either of these cases, so far as is possible, the purchase of lands by any one indi-
vidual, association of persons, or corporation, should be limited in extent, and safe-
guards should be established, which shall prevent the absorption of these lands by
speculators. This limit should not be less than one section of land for agricultural
purposes, with a larger area for grazing purposes.
I can not imagine any other methods by which this great domain can be settled
and its settlers made prosperous. There will always be a home market for the prod-
ucts of the soil, and with the increase of our population the surplus will all be
needed at home.
The great stride in the right direction made by the passage of the homestead law
would be supplemented by this step. We must do something to satisfy the land hun-
ger of the people. It is conceded that the most intelligent, prosperous, and valuable
portion of our communities is the farmers. What the peasantry is to France, its
great conservative and moral class, the tillers of the soil are to this nation.
The rapid increase of population at our commercial centers, composed largely of
Wage-workers and those who are dependent upon the employment of others, creates
a class which, being dependent, will be discontented and subject to the wind of doc-
trines and the appeals of doctrinaires, and the stability of our Government, and the
permanency of our institutions and the preservation of our Government must rest in
the future, as it has in the past, with the agricultural classes of the country. While
all branches of the industries have been protected by Congress and guarded to the
utmost by the Government, the great farmer class of the country have received but
little aid compared to the efforts which have been put forth on behalf of the com-
mercial and manufacturing interests of the country.
The present time is most propitious for this undertaking on behalf of the Govern-
ment, and it is but in harmony with the generosity of the Government towards the
people of the Territories. A continuation of this policy would achieve grander re-
sults and afford an outlet to our rapidly-increasing numbers, increase our wealth
and the prosperity of the country, and found in the shadows of the mountains a mighty
empire, whose sons in time of war would defend their generous mother with their
service, savings, and blood.
534 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
ADDITIONAL STATEMENT OF CHARLEs EI. BURRITT
[As corresponding secretary for Johnson County Mr. Burritt prepared the followin
for the Territorial Board of Immigration. It was submitted to the committee an
ordered filed:]
Only a few years ago agriculture in Johnson County was not considered an indus-
try worthy of consideration. This was the fact in 1881, as the following figures of
assessed valuation for that year show :
9attle in 1981 --------------------------------------------------------- $1,047,688
*nds in 1881 ---------------------------------------------------------- 34,485
The great distance from railroads and the demand for vegetables and grain for home
consumption forced the people to experiment with crops. The result was startling,
- and the sequel was that the business of farming became a leading industry within the
next five years. Land “proved up " in Johnson County is assessed for taxation at à
value of $3 per acre, including improvements. It is easily worth an average of $10
per acre. The following table of values from the assessment roll of lands shows the
increase from 1881 to 1887 in farming lands:
1881 ---------------- e tº º ºs º ºs º sº º ºs $34,485 || 1885 ----------...--------------- $166,032
1889 -------------------------- 51, 195 || 1886 -------------------------- 229,644
1883 -------------------- ------ 66, 160 || 1887 -------------------------- 485, 439
1884 -------------------------- 147,785
The real taxable value of this taxable land is at least three times this amount, or
in 1887 $1,456,317, which is $408,649 more than the value of the cattle in 1881.
But one-fifth of the lands in Johnson County susceptible of irrigation have been
artificially watered. The total area of irrigable lands is estimated at 953,000 acres,
and at an average value of $10 an acre would be worth $9,530,000.
The county is in the northern part of Wyoming. Its elevation is only about 4,000
: Its streams are more frequent and available than any other portion of the Ter-
r1LOry.
It is also one of the best watered counties in Wyoming, being well supplied with
innumerable streams heading in the Big Horn Mountains and flowing generally to
the northeast and northwest. The water along the foot-hills is clear, cold, sparkling,
and soft. The Soil is black and sandy loam, and appears to be capable of producing
Wonderful crops, with irrigation, of any thing that is planted in it.
AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS.
The agricultural products of the county are wheat, oats, barley, corn, rye, hay,
potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. The yields are: Wheat, 20 to 50 bushels per acre;
oats, 25 to 75 bushels per acre; barley, 40 to 75 bushels per acre; rye, 20 to 40 bushels
per acre ; potatoes, 200 to 500 bushels per acre ; hay, native blue stem, 1 to 24 tons
per acre; timothy, 2 to 3 tons per acre; alfalfa (lucern), 4 to 6 tons per acre.
The wild fruits are strawberries, raspberries, plums, choke cherries, service berries,
wild currants, etc. Tame fruits are strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, currants,
crab apples, etc. Strawberries especially grow to perfection. Wheat may be sown
in March or April; even that sown in Mayfully matures three years out of four. In
1887 there were approximately 1,729 acres of wheat cultivated, and the total produc-
tion was 38,000 bushels, or 2,228,000 pounds. The wheat raised is classed as A1. This
cereal is being raised largely in Johnson County to fattell hogs, and even in this way
is made to yield a good return. Barley, if sown in early April, can be raised on valley
soil without irrigation and of the finest quality. Seventy-five bushels, have been
raised on an acre. The approximate number of acres in cultivation in the season of
1887 was 345, with a total production of 25,525 bushels, or 1,225,200 pounds. In 1888
a much larger crop was raised.
The malt used by the local breweries is made from home-grown barley and is fully
equal to the eastern product. Oats are usually sown in April or May. Oats sown
June 20 or 25 have returned fully matured crops of 50 to 60 bushels per acre. While
the yield is, as usually, from 25 to 60 bushels per acre, as high as 95 and 105 busheſs
have been produced. The best crops of Johnson County in 1887, according to location
as to valleys, were : Powder River, 373 bushels per acre on 15 acres; Crazy Woman,
67 bushels per acre on 12 acres; Clear Creek, 65 bushels per acre on 10 acres; Piney,
60 bushels per acre on 25 acres; on French Creek, 75 bushels on 10 acres; on Rock
Creek, 70 bushels on 100 acres. The approximate number of acres in cultivation in
the year 1887 was 7,861; total production 234,475 bushels, or 8,441,130 pounds. The
average weight of a bushel of oats is from 38 to 40 pounds. Corn was the last of the
cereal crops introduced in the country. While not the most remunerative thus far
THE POSSIBILITIES UNDER IRRIGATION, 535
it has been successfully grown. The Yellow Dent corn fully matures on our soil, and
larger fields are planted every year. As this is the home of the solanum family of
plants the potato grows to perfection; it is nothing uncommon to see potatoes weigh-
ing from 1 to 4 pounds, dry, mealy, and solid all through, . The average yield of the
tuber is about 200 bushels per acre; but under favorable conditions there have
been 300, 400, and, on rare occasions, 600 bushels per acre raised on ground not ma-
nured.
Cabbage grows in very large size and the yield per acre is simply enormous.
Heads of 25 and 30 pounds are common; 10 to 15 tons are often raised per acre. Cauli-
flower is also easily grown owing to the cool nights and the system of irrigation by
which the plant can be watered at just the right time to perfect them in growth and
development. Onions are an excellent crop, yielding from 300 to 500 bushels per
acre of perfect bulbs. The celery raised here is pronounced to be superior in flavor
to the famous celery of Kalamazoo, Mich. All other vegetables, such as beets, carrots,
parsnips, etc., grow to a large size and yield immense crops. Melons, cucumbers,
tomatoes, peppers, egg-plant, broom-corn, tobacco, Sorgum-cane, beans, and many
other vegetable productions are successfully grown in Johnson County. In 1888,
according to thrashers' figures, the oat and wheat crop of Johnson County and Sheri-
dan County was 400,000 bushels; estimated at 350,000 bushels of oats and 50,000
bushels of wheat, which would equal, oats 12,000,000 pounds and wheat 3,000,000
pounds; a total of 15,000,000 pounds or 700 car-loads. The oat and wheat crops of
Johnson County alone will equal that amount in 1889. Johnson County can produce
equally as good potatoes as Greeley, Colo.
As to the future: If one-third of theirrigatedlands of this county were sown in wheat
at at an average of 30 bushels per acre it would yield 2,340,000 bushels or 130,400,000
pounds, equal to 7,244 car-loads. If one-third of the area was sown to alfalfa it would
produce 192,000 tons annually, and would fatten 58,400 steers, equal to 2,900 car-loads.
Not more than one-fifth of the lands of Johnson County susceptible of irrigation have
been watered. The possibilities that may be attained when development is complete
become enormous. Johnson County will soon have railroads. For its agricultural
products there is a ready market in the south.
STATEMENT OF H. B. PATTEN, ENGINEER OF THE WYOMING
DIVISION, UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY.
In cases of aridity water is obtained by sinking wells, which, in some cases, are
deep enough to be called artesian. Some wells supply large quantities and others
only limited. Difficulty is to find water at all under ground; or, when found, to se-
cure quality. Much that is found is extremely poor, being strongly alkaline.
Eighteen artesian wells have been driven, averaging 907 feet in depth. These vary
in depth from 300 to 2,300 feet. They cost from $5 to $16 per foot, according to nature
of boring, depth, and difficulties experienced, etc. Average cost of those driven is
$6,700 per well, or per foot, $7.39.
Of those driven, a total of eighteen, nine are now furnishing fair to good supply
for engine use. The other nine are either poor in quality or limited in quantity.
Do not know of any water storage system in use in this country.
Can furnish no direct observations for precipitation, etc., but can refer you to
United States Signal Observatory at Cheyenne and to records of observations made
at Rawlins by Union Pacific Railway. Subterranean water supply is of not infre
quent occurrence. The dry beds of creeks usually have underground flow. The
direct appropriation and immediate distribution of water from flowing streams in sur-
face ditches for irrigation is the common and well-nigh only method used.
Irrigation enterprises are common. Large ditches are increasing in size and num-
ber. In Wyoming, what are generally known as the Sybille ditch, Pioneer Canal
from Laramie River, and Bear River Canal are amongst the largest schemes.
For agricultural purposes water is essential. . There are large tracts of land, of very
fertile soil, which are now utterly non-producing. Water is the lacking element to
the growth of large crops.
STATEMENT OF LOUIS BRECHEMIN, ASSISTANT SURGEON, U. S.
ARMY, OF FORT LARAMIE,
For the eastern half of Wyoming Territory it may be stated that farming without
irrigation can not be successful and can not be made fairly remunerative under the
most favorable circustances and with the best lands. In looking over this part of
the Territory it is at once evident that but a small proportion of the land can receive
by irrigation a supply of water sufficient for its needs owing to the fact that the
streams are small, insufficient in number and capacity, and so situated that hardly a
hundredth part of the land ean be utilized. The valleys generally are narrow (the
soil in many places sandy) and are surrounded by hills on each side. In order to irri-
536 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
gate successfully, that is, to get the water up on these high lands, it must be brought
from a great distance and necessarily therefore at great expense. In consequence
of this no combination of small farmers can afford to advance the large amounts re-
quired to construct these ditches and an association of capitalists for this purpose is
imperative.
. In examining the valley of the North Platte River, from the hills to the Nebraska
line, it is seen that even in this valley, watered by the largest stream in the Territory,
irrigation up to the verge of the banks of the river is necessary in all instances in
order to raise crops. Occasionally the native grasses grow in spots, due to subirri-
gation from overflow of the river when it is high.
In rare instances, on second bench land where the prickly pear is plenty and where
these are turned over thoroughly by the plow and left to remain under the fallow,
not being disturbed by the harrow, there is moisture sufficient created by them to
produce a medium crop. This is known as the sod crop and is always better than the
Second crop, unless the land is irrigated the second season.
When we take into consideration the high winds so prevalent in this county, the
danger to ditches by occasional cloud-bursts, the extreme shortness of the season for
anything but bulbous vegetation, &c., it may be stated with justice that the eastern
portion of Wyoming is not an agricultural country.
These opinions are not altogether the result of personal experience, but have been
formed and strengthened by inquiries made of those engaged in ranching in this sec-
tion. One of my informants has had twenty-two years' experience and has expended
large sums of money in experiments of various kinds during that period.
STATEMENT OF J. A. OLMSTED, CAPTAIN, NINTH CAVALRY, COM-
MANDING, OF FORT WASHAKIE.
From my experience in Texas, Utah, Kansas, New Mexico, and Wyoming I be-
lieve there is very little if any land in the United States that can not be profitably
cultivated if water can be obtained to irrigate. When there is no surface water to
be obtained wells, common or artesian, will always reach it. But the latter are too
expensive for private individuals and will have to be made by the Genenal Govern-
ment.
STATEMENT OF A. H. JACKSON, CAPTAIN, SEVENTH INFANTRY,
U. S. ARMY, OF FORT WASHAKIE.
Information upon the subject of reclaiming waste lands by irrigation, derived from
actual experiment and observation, extends little beyond the primitive cultivation
of sage-brush lands employed by troops in the Northwest and ranche people in their
vicinity.
Land of this character will usually produce good crops of grain and vegetables,
with little expenditure of labor after that, of constructing the system of ditches for
its irrigation.
In the selection of land, its adaptability to artificial irrigation is, of course, the
first consideration. Sage-brush will soon disappear in the process of irrigation alone,
which also serves in a large degree to relieve the soil from alkali deposit, provided
there be a sufficient incline to carry it off.
A settler will do wisely, however, in avoiding land of the latter description alto-
ether. i
g I have no practical knowledge of the larger systems of irrigation sometimes car-
ried out in the Northwest at great expense and necessary in reclaiming the arid
plains of the Southwest.
STATEMENT OF WILLIAM QUINTON, CAPTAIN.U. S. ARMY, FORT
"WASHAKIE.
Can only give the result of observation from the management of company gardens
in Montana and Wyoming. The result of such observation is—
(1) No one single thing can be raised in the Territories referred to without irri-
ation.
g (2) The soil is very rich, and although the growing season is rather shorter than
the east, everything can be raised by means of irrigation.
(3) Ditches ought to be of sufficient depth to prevent the overflow of the soil in-
tended to be irrigated—as the presence in the soil of large deposits of alkaline salts
causes, from the action of the sun, over-hardening of the soil if overflowed. However,
feeding the soil with a liberal supply of stable compost, coupled with frequent irri-
gation, will in the course of a few years' cultivation remove these salts.
*
WESTERN NEBRASKA DIVISION. .
OGALALLA, NEBR., September 19, 1889.
The committee met pursuant to call of the chairman.
Present: Mr. Stewart, (chairman), also Director Powell.
STATEMENT OF ALFRED HOLLINGSWORTH, OF OGALALLA.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. Hollingsworth. I am a physician and am engaged in farming.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided here.
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. Since the spring of 1885.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say as to the sufficiency of the rain-fall
to produce regular crops here?
Mr. HoDDIGSWORTH. My experience has demonstrated to me that it
is entirely insufficient. -
The CHAIRMAN. You do occasionally raise crops here I suppose ?
Mr. HoDDINGSWORTH. In certain localities, where local showers hap-
pen to come at the right time. But taking the amount of acres the
country over in these parts, the crop is very light. -
The CHAIRMAN. Can you mature all sorts of crops here ?
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. As a usual thing the crop dries out and burns
up for want of moisture before it comes to maturity.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the State farther east 3
Mr. EIOLLINGSWORTH. I have seen people from the extreme eastern
part of the State. I have traveled about a good deal by private con-
veyance and have always made inquiry about the crops.
The CHAIRMAN. How far east of here does this deficiency of rain-fall
interfere with the regular production of crops. •
Mr. BOLLINGSWORTH. I would place it about 100 miles east of here.
The CHAIRMAN. And they sometimes have failures east even of that?
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. Yes, two years ago they did have.
The CHAIRMAN. Have any measures been taken here to increase the
moisture by irrigation or by the artificial storage of water?
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. There is an effort being made at the present
time to do that. - -
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any land under irrigation here ?
Mr. HoDLINGSWORTH. No, not in this county. There is irrigation
in the western part of Lincoln County, the adjoining county on the east,
on the Platte Valley.
The CHAIRMAN. Where do they get their water from ?
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. From the North Platte River.
The CHAIRMAN. How far is it from here to the North Platte‘.
Mr. HOLLINGSworTH. Six miles straight north.
h º: CHAIRMAN. Is there any irrigation on the North Platte opposite
©Te -
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. No.
537
538 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
The CHAIRMAN. Nor west of here?
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH, I think not. There is none that I know of.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you ever live in an irrigated country ?
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. No; but I have been investigating the water
Supply for irrigating purposes for the last six weeks or two months.
The CHAIRMAN. You have seen no storage of water or any irrigated
country yourself?
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. No.
. ºnannas. How have you investigated the question of water
Supply
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. We have been working up an irrigation scheme
for the South Platte River here about twenty-five miles.
The CHAIRMAN. Is your engineer here?
Mr. HOLLINGSWORTH. Yes.
STATEMENT OF L. E. HICKS, OF LINCOLN.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. HICKS. I am professor of geology in the Nebraska State Univer-
sity.
The CHAIRMAN. I presume you are pretty familiar with the State,
and have given some attention to the subject of irrigation. We shall
be glad to hear any statement on that subject which may be of use to
us in our inquiry.
Mr. HICKS. I have given attention to the subject of irrigation ever
since I came to reside in Nebraska. I have felt a deep interest in it,
and have had and now have a very strong conviction of its necessity
and importance. -
There are certain things that I had prepared to say at Cheyenne
which I will say here, though I will not now say all that I intended to
say there, because that place would have been appropriate for certain
things which it is not necessary to say now. To a certain extent, how-
ever, the scope and direction of my remarks will be influenced by the
fact that I prepared to speak at Cheyenne.
I have prepared hastily a map, which may be marked “Hicks, A.”
All that I did had to be done hastily because I had very short notice.
I prepared this map as exhibiting the Platte River and its tributaries,
as the main feature of the map, although it includes the whole of the
State of Nebraska. The State boundaries are indicated by dotted
lines to a portion of Kansas, a portion of Colorado, and a portion of
Wyoming. The political divisions are not conspicuous upon the map
and I did not intend to make them so. -
The CHAIRMAN. You regard political and State lines as having noth-
ing to do with irrigation ? r
Mr. HICKs. That is the point I wished to make by exhibiting this
map of the State. Political boundaries should be non-existent so far
as irrigation is concerned. I do not think I need to dwell upon that
after simply stating it and calling attention to the physical features of
this region, which emphasize the fact that State boundaries ought not
to be considered as having anything to do with the question of where
the water is to go or where it is to come from. We ought to consider a
certain region (without regard to State boundaries) in its physical as-
pect as a hydrographic unit.
The Platte River is a remarkable stream in many respects. It is one
of the large rivers of the world, considered with respect to its length.
DESCRIPTION OF THE NORTH PLATTE AND ITS USES. 539
The South Platte, rises in the southern part of the Rocky Mountains,
and the North Platte in the northern part. Each of those branches of
the Platte is an important and valuable stream for irrigation. Not only
so, but the numerous tributaries of the North Platte and the numerous
tributaries of the South Platte are all valuable streams for irrigation.
I do not propose to speak at any length of the South Platte. We
have a great interest in the South Platte, and the people of Ogalalla
are particularly interested in it, but I propose to speak more particu-
larly of the North Platte, because I think there is more value and more
hope for Nebraska in the North Platte than in the South Platte. The
State of Colorado includes a large portion of the South Platte. There
are about 80 miles of the South Platte in Nebraska. I hope the com-
mittee will take a ride across the South Platte, and see it for themselves.
The CHAIRMAN. You may explain the condition and capacity of that
Stream.
Mr. HICKS. I have not proposed to say very much about the South
Platte, as it would take me some time to say about it all that I should
like. I should like to say why I believe that in the long run the use of
the waters of the South Platte is going to benefit the people along here,
because it will fill up, soak up, the lands in Colorado so that the
lands themselves will become a great reservoir to gradually and con-
stantly yield waters to fill the Platte along here and all the way down
to its confluence with the North Platte and ultimately be beneficial.
That, however, would take a lofig time. It will be hastened by the
measures now being prosecuted under the authority of the General
Government by the U. S. Geological Survey under the direction of Ma-
jor Powell. •
The taking out of the surface waters—the flowing waters—in the
streams during irrigation season has deprived the people here on the
South Platte of water, and has been an injury to them by taking the
water which otherwise would flow through the South Platte. The ben-
eficial result which is ultimately going to come from irrigation in Colo-
rado will be hastened by this irrigation survey and by the construction
of hydraulic works in the places which will be indicated by the survey.
I understand that the survey conducted by Major Powell is not to con-
struct anything but to indicate the places where reservoirs for the stor-
age of Storm waters may be advantageously placed, and how much it
Will cost to build the dams and make the reservoirs. I understand the
intention is to furnish information so that individuals or companies
may do the work.
The North Platte is a stream which has not yet been used up by ir-
rigation in Wyoming as the South Platte has been in Colorado. The North
Platte is a larger stream than the South Platte. It possesses many
great advantages for irrigation. The whole Platte Riverin fact presents
great advantages for irrigation; in one respect greater I think than
any river of the same size in the world, namely its high gradient. For
the size of the Platte River it is slow, the amount of fall in it is very re-
markable. From Fort Steele away up in Wyoming—not at the head of
the North Platte, but within 150 miles of the source of it—down to the
mouth, the average fall for the whole distance is over 7 feet to the
mile. If you carry the measurement up to the very sources of the
Platte, of course it would be much greater, because the upper waters
have a steep slope. The slope in different parts of the river vary a
great deal, but it may be of interest to you to hear the details of the
gradient of the Platte in different portions of it.
540 IRRIGATION AND REGLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
From Fort Steele to the Wyoming line the average gradient is 8.6
feet per mile; from the Wyoming line to the town of North Platte it is
7.4 feet per mile. I do not think you can find any other river of that
Size Which has so high a gradient as the North Platte for so long a dis-
tance. That is certainly a very high gradient and, you know very well
What that means in respect to its value for irrigation. If a stream has
Very low gradient and you take a ditch from it you have to go a long
distance before you can get the water in. From North Platte to Kear.
ney the grade is much less, being only 5.6 feet per mile and from Kearney
to Fremont, singular to say, the grade is higher than it is from North
Platte to Kearney, being 6 feet. The average for the whole distance
from North Platte to Fremont is 5.8 feet. -
There are many characteristics of this stream and of the country
which it waters which I should like to point out in detail, but I think
I have said enough to indicate what admirable provision nature has
made for furnishing water to a very large piece of country, and it only
needs the guiding hand of man to pour out its beneficent results on
these plains to produce values in agriculture which can be expressed
only by millions of dollars. -
I shall return now for a moment to the subject of this map to illus-
trate the physical features of the Platte.
The CHAIRMAN. I should like you to state what the topography of
the country is on each side of the river. *
Mr. HICKS. I had intended to speak of that but do not want to make
my remarks too long. If I speak of the lay of the land I shall be get-
ting at that important point with respect to a very large section of
Nebraska, and therefore it is perhaps as pertinent here as to speak of
it in detail with regard to other streams. -
The CHAIRMAN. I should like, if you are familiar with that stream,
to have you state the elevations, and the opportunity for getting at the
water also the extent of land that could be covered by it, commencing
with the point at which you begin with the fall or grade of the river.
Mr. HICKS. With regard to that part of the river that is in the Terri-
tory of Wyoming you have had the facts from the engineer of that
Territory, Mr. Mead.
The CHAIRMAN. That was as to the deep channel, but you commence
where the channel is low. -
Mr. HICKS. In the upper, or Wyoming, portion of the Platte a great
deal of it flows through cañons, so that the taking out of the water
would be difficult, but near the place where it crosses the west line of .
Nebraska (the Nebraska-Wyoming line) it comes out from the caſions
and flows through a comparatively level country ; in some places high
banks on one side or the other, and on the whole, its Valley is deep.
The hills, when you get back to the crest, are high all along, but the
slope is gradual, especially on the north side. It is no longer a Cañon
at that point, and therefore it can be taken out for irrigation in western
Nebraska and to some extent in Wyoming, on the north side. On the
South side there are bluffs all around here. *
The CHAIRMAN. How far?
Mr. HICKs. To a distance of 30, 40, or perhaps 50 miles from the Ne-
braska line.
The CHAIRMAN. About midway between Platte and the Wyoming
line?
Mr. HICKs. Yes; between North Platte and the Wyoming line the
water can be taken out on the north side. There is one point to which
I wish to call attention, which in the end may be a point of very great
* * *…*-
~,
RECLAMATION POSSIBILITIES IN NEBRASKA. 541
importance, although it will probably involve engineering operations
and an expenditure of money on a very large scale. -
Speaking of the facility of taking out the Platte, there are two theo-
ries of it. The question is whether it is easier to take it out in short
ditches to water the lands that lie at a moderate elevation above the
stream, or whether to take it out and carry its waters upon the high
plateaus, upon the divides or table ſands. If you take it out in the lat-
ter aspects, if it is proposed to carry the Platte upon the table-lands
north of the Platte, you have to contemplate engineering operations
upon a large scale—I will not say upon a vast Scale, because in India
they take out ditches as long as 500, 600, or 700 miles. To take out the
waters of the Platte and spread them upon the table lands-would re-
quire a ditch at least 150 miles in length, which is a great undertaking
and would involve the expenditure of large sums of money, and it could
only be done by a great corporation, or by national or State authority.
The CHAIRMAN. State which would be the most economical way in
the end, per acre.
Mr. HICES. To carry it out on the table-lands, or to use it in the val-
ley 3
The CHAIRMAN. Yes; which would be the most economical, taking
into account the quantity of land that would be benefited ?
Mr. HICKS. My conviction on that point is that the proper thing to
do is take it out on the table-land.
The CHAIRMAN. Where would you take it out?
Mr. HICKS. I would go as far as the mouth of the cañon in Wyo-
ming—the North Platte cañon, West of the Nebraska line.
The CHAIRMAN. If you had a ditch running out on the north side,
explain where it would run?
Mr. HICKS. There is a vast body of table-lands between the Niobrara.
and the North Platte. - --
The CHAIRMAN. That river runs nearly parallel to that north line we
call the Niobrara. Ž *
Mr. EIICKS. Yes. - 22
The CHAIRMAN. What is the average distance between the Niobrara
and the North Platte, at about the one hundredth meridian 3
Mr. HICKS. About 100 miles.
The CHAIRMAN. What length of ditch would it take to run it out at
the mouth of the cañon and run it to the meridian Ž
Mr. HICKS. That would be well on to 200 miles.
The CHAIRMAN. And if you went down to the ninety-eighth meridian
you would have something further to go?
Mr. HICKS. About, probably, 320 miles.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the soil on that plateau ?
Mr. HICKS. It is excellent. It is of the character which generally
prevails upon the table-lands and in all this belt of country. The table-
lands have a soil which is very rich in all the elements of fertility and
has a Subsoil Compact enough to hold the water without being hard
pan to prevent the water from entering it and being retained by it. It
has the necessary porosity to have that quality to a useful extent, with-
out having it to such an extent as to waste water. Therefore in every
respect the table-lands are excellent for containing water and for its
application to irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. And for retaining water in the ditch 3
Mr. HICES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. They are better for retaining water in the ditch than
the gravelly bottoms? ...-
542 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. EIICKS. Yes.
ºnaianas. It would be an economical use of water to take it out
OTO *
Mr. HICES. Yes. *
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say as to the quantity of water in the
North Platte to supply such a ditch?
Mr. HICKS. I have never gauged the North Platte, and can not speak
with any positiveness as to that. Major Powell could inform you better
than I can on that subject.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you ever seen the North Platte in flood time?
Mr. HICES. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it a large stream, then 7
Mr. HICKS. It is an immense stream.
The CHAIRMAN. What would be the opportunity of storing the water
to supply such a ditch 3 -
Mr. HICKS. There are good places for storage basins to contain the
flood water.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you have it on the summit of a ridge,
would you be able to make reservoirs to catch the water in flood time
&n sº followed the Niobrara on one side and the Platte on the
Other
Mr. HICKS. Yes; there are such places.
The CHAIRMAN. So that you could enlarge the quantity ?
Mr. HICKS. You could enlarge the quantity by retaining the waters
that fell along the course of the ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. What do you say of the flood waters with which
you could augment the stream between the Niobrara and the Platte?
Do the rains fall there to a considerable extent 3
Mr. HICKS. The rain-fall has never been carefully investigated in
that region. The stations for the investigation of rain-fall are none of
them so situated as to do that, and it is impossible to say with posi-
tiveness what the rain-fall is, but I am safe in declaring that it is cer-
tainly 15 inches or over. With that amount of rain-fall you can form
an idea of the amount of the flood waters which might be saved.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the surface—has it got
basins and ravines and unevenness enough to find storage places or
places to catch water?
Mr. HICKS. The topography is extremely favorable for storage. I
might perhaps qualify that word “extremely.” It is favorable. It is
certainly as favorable as the average conditions over the county, if not
In OI'ê SO. g
The CHAIRMAN. I observe by that map that between the two rivers
you have other streams marked. 4 * -
Mr. HICKS. Yes. Those are the Loup rivers and their tributaries—
the whole being tributary to the Platte.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you got on the map all the rivers and ravines
that are between those rivers ? .
Mr. HICKs. No. This map was hastily constructed to bring out cer-
tain points especially the point that State lines ought not to come into
account. There are many streams that are not on the map. I have
not put in any tributaries of the Niobrara River.
The CHAIRMAN. Independently of taking the water from the Platte,
which of course must ultimately be done (that would be a great enter-
prise), what are the opportunities for storing the storm water, to begin
with %
Mr. HICKS. Do you mean over the surface generally *
THE MANNER IN WHICH A DITCH COULD GROW IN DUTY. 543
The CHAIRMAN. Over the surface generally.
Mr. HICKS. In my belief the opportunities are good.
Director POWELL. Will you please state a little more fully the ad-
vantage of taking the North Platte out upon the divide between the
Niobrara and the Platte itself—the advantage of taking it out upon a
high line to the region between that high line and the Platte itself?
Mr. J. J. McINTOSH (of Sidney, Nebr.). I would suggest that the
examination be confined to the country west of the one hundredth me-
ridian, as east of that line it is not claimed that it is necessary to have
irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. I think that irrigation is not confined to that me-
ridian any more than it is to State lines. Let us have the facts.
Mr. HICKS. I am going to answer the Question, but I wish to get at it
by a circuit. The proposition I have made about taking out the North
Platte may seem to be a rather startling proposition because of its mag-
nitude, but if it can be shown that there are certain great advantages
that can not be secured in any other way, then we will contemplate
that proposition.
In answer to a suggestion of Major Powell's, I will bring out one of
the things which constitutes a great argument for attempting work on
a large Scale like that. It is that by taking out these waters upon the
high divide here you have them at an elevation above the stream, and
with a slope between the main ditch and the stream, which includes a
vast body of land—land that is well suited for irrigation, almost every
acre of it, and which lies upon this slope between that main ditch and
the Platte in such a way as that when you have used the water up here
next to the ditch, upon the highest part of that divide, and irrigated
your fields there, the same water will come on down and irrigate the
fields which lie a little lower, nearer the Platte. Then, after irrigating
those fields you take it again and irrigate other fields, and so on, using
the water of that main ditch over and over again. That is one of the
great advantages of attempting things on a large scale.
The CHAIRMAN. If you had the ditch, need it necessarily be on a
very large Scale to irrigate some lands?
Mr. HICKS. No. -
The CHAIRMAN. And as you extended it along here you would cover
a great deal of land with every mile, would you not?
Mr. HICKS. Yes. & ---
The CHAIRMAN. The work done would be a great deal larger as you
Went along. When you irrigated this land along the ditch and filled
it with water, would not that filling of water work along down and fill
the land towards the river, saving the water all the time?
Mr. HICKS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And go of itself down towards the river?
Mr. HICKS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. And if you were up here on the high divides could
you not start your ditches and make reservoirs below it, to save your
surplus water and do a good deal more work with it than if you took it
out on the low beds; would it not get right back into the river there 3
Mr. HICKS. Yes, and there are other reasons why it is not so good.
I may introduce some qualifications here. Job said, “Oh + i + *
that mine adversary had written a book.” I wrote a pamphlet about
this subject once. I contemplated taking out the North Platte and am
in a measure going back on my record. .*
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the facts as to how far east
the Water would be useful if that ditch was extended ? I am not put-
544 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
ting it at the bare point of necessity where you could eke out life on
that land, but how far would it be useful to extend that ditch? -
Mr. HICKS. If I should answer that question just as it lies in my
mind I should take it out clear to the Missouri River. I maintain that
the use of water in irrigation would be advantageous on account of its
increasing the yield and making the yield certain, giving you the oppor
tunity to put the water on the land just when it needed it, instead of
Waiting for the clouds to pour it on. They do not always bring it when
it is needed. Therefore, on account of the certainty of the results and
of the increased yield of the fields, I say that water for irrigation could
be profitably used all over the State of Nebraska, but I do not believe
you intended the question exactly in that sense.
The CHAIRMAN. I wanted to know fully where it would be useful.
Mr. HICKS. I will answer it now in another way: “What is the east-
ern limit of the arid region?”
The CHAIRMAN. What I want to know is where the division line is,
if there be one, between poverty and comfort, without irrigation ?
Mr. HICKS. I would rather answer it in the form in which I put it,
“What is the eastern limit of the arid region?” My conviction is that
So far as you can define the eastern limit of the arid region by mathe-
matical lines the boundary is the one hundredth meridian.
The CHAIRMAN. In Nebraska ž
Mr. HICKS. Yes, in Nebraska. I would limit it a little more yet. I
would say in central Nebraska. In central Nebraska, the one hundredth
meridian is the limit. For instance, in Custer County the one hun-
dredth meridian runs right through the western part of that county.
Good crops can be raised in central Nebraska up to the one hundredth
meridian, and very fair crops in some districts even west of the merid-
ian. Custer County is crossed by the one hundredth meridian, cutting
off about two tiers of townships from the west line.
The CHAIRMAN. To what meridian does Custer County extend east-
Ward 3 --
Mr. HICKS. It extends east to about 999 30', and that county which
lies there mainly between the ninety-ninth and the one hundredth me-
ridian extending over west of the one hundredth meridian took the first
premium for county exhibits at the State Fair of Nebraska which has
just closed.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know where those exhibits were obtained ;
in what portion of the county ? >
Mr. HICKs. Somebody here will be better able to give you that in-
formation, but I will say that in regard to the character of Custer
County it is in the Loup River country. Several Loup rivers pass
through it, and along those rivers the bottom-lands generally are sandy
and poor. The good land is on the divides between the rivers. These
divides or table-lands between the rivers occupy by far the greater por-
tion of the county. It was on these divides that the crops were raised
that took first premium and therefore upon land which is the prevailing
and characteristic land of Custer County and not upon select patches
of remarkable fertility, or upon land any more fertile than the rest of
the county. So that it is not like the case of crops raised in some
particular portion of the county which was a great deal more fertile
than the rest.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know whether that county has had uniform
crops for a series of years? \
Mr. HICKs. Custer County is new ; the oldest lands in that county
(those that have been plowed the longest) have probably not been
$
THE NEBRASKA CURVE OF EQUAL PRECIPITATION. 545
plowed more than five years, and during that time the yield has been
uniformly good. The first plowing of those lands does not yield the
best crops as it does in other parts of the country.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with Brown County ? If so, what
can you say as to the land there ?
Mr. HICKs. The land in Brown County is not very good.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it situated as to rain fall ?
Mr. HICKs. The rain-fall is not perhaps quite so great, because the
lines of greatest rain-fall do not pursue mathematically straight courses,
but make curves. The line of greatest rain-fall would be something
like this [indicating upon the map).
The CHAIRMAN. Commencing at the southeast corner of Harlan
County 2
Mr. HICKs. Yes, and passing out here to the one hundredth meridian
and curving off.
The CHAIRMAN. Commencing at the southeast corner of Harlan and
then going in a northwesterly direction, crossing the Platte River at the
western part of Dawson, and then continuing north to Custer and Brown
about on the one hundredth meridian, and when it strikes Brown it
would then be a sharp angle to the east through the corner of Brown
and Holt up into Knox County and to the Missouri River. That would
be about the line of equal precipitation, according to your observation ?
Mr. HICKS. Yes; and therefore the boundary of the arid region
would not be the mathematical line of the one hundredth meridian ac-
cording to my opinion, but the line of equal precipitation would be a
curve and not a straight line. Westward of that line irrigation is
needed.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it a necessity'
Mr. HICKS. It is not an absolute necessity in many portions.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it a necessity to general prosperity ?
Mr. EIICKS. Yes; it is a necessity to general prosperity and highly
advantageous for the certainty and the greatness of the yield which
would result from irrigation—the certainty of a production of a fair
crop and a greatly increased yield per acre.
The CHAIRMAN. About what proportion of the State would that take—
about one-half of it 3
Mr. HICKs. Something more than one-half.
b º CHAIRMAN. Then something more than one-half is in the arid
elt;
Mr. HICKS. Yes; about one twenty-fifth of the whole arid region of
the United States is in Nebraska. I want to emphasize that fact to this
committee, that Nebraska is entitled to attention in this matter, and
We are very glad that you came here to Nebraska to look into the sub-
ject.
The CHAIRMAN. In addition to the large ditch that you have sug-
gested, what other modes would you suggest for supplying this arid re-
gion with water 3
Mr. HICKS. Before leaving the question of the large ditch north of
the North Platte I want to say that the water can be taken out on the
divide South of the North Platte also. I say that particularly for the
benefit of people who are interested on the south side of the North
Platte rather than on the north side. Your inquiry now is with respect
to additional methods.
The CHAIRMAN. What other streams or means beside the North
Platte could be used for irrigation ? t
Mr. HICKS. It would take me a long while to detail them.
138 A L–VOL. III 35
546 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not want them in detail. How is it in regard
to the Niobrara; is that useful?
Mr. HICKS. Yes; I will speak somewhat fully of the Niobrara with
your permission, and then more briefly as to the other streams, because
what I say of the Niobrara will apply to many others. The Niobrara
River carries quite a large volume of water. I never gauged it low
down, but away up here in this region—in the northwest corner of the
State—I found about 125 cubic feet per second.
The CHAIRMAN. At what season of the year 3 ºr-
Mr. HICKS. About this time of the year two years ago, at nearly th
driest part of the year.
The CHAIRMAN. How is it about the wettest parts of the year.”
Mr. HICKS. I never gauged it then, but I know it carries an immense
volume of water.
The CHAIRMAN. Has it been utilized at all for irrigation ?
Mr. HICKS. Not to my knowledge.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the country along the Ni-
obrara on both sides? That river would irrigate some lands in Dakota,
would it not %
Mr. HICKS. Near the north part of Cherry County it might possibly
be used in Dakota, but there is a great body of land which might be irri-
gated by the Niobrara River in Nebraska—in that portion of it which
lies in Cherry, Sheridan, Dawson, and Sioux Counties. Below that, for
instance in Brown County, the Niobrara River flows in a caſion, and can
not be used. - -
The CHAIRMAN. You would have to rely on the Platte and the smaller
StreamS.
Mr. HICKs. Yes, but below the Platte the facilities of the Niobrara
River are excellent.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the land and the topog-
raphy Ž n
Mr. HICKS. The land there lies sloping up with a gradual slope from
the Niobrara River on both sides all through the counties I name, so
that the water taken up by ditch upon that slope could be used be-
tween the ditch and the river with the greatest possible efficacy.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the grade or fall of the river ? .
Mr. HICKS. The Niobrara has a much steeper grade than the Platte.
It is a smaller river, and would be expected to have a steeper grade.
. The characteristic of the Platte River is its remarkable gradient. For
a medium sized or small stream the Niobrara River is remarkable for
having a high gradient. I will remind you of the French name of the
Niobrara River as you have seen it on the old maps, D'eau qui cowr,
the water that runs. The swiftness of the stream so impfessed itself
upon the French voyageurs that they called it “The water that runs.”
That of course depends on the grade. It has a high gradient and low
banks. The water can be easily taken out. The land lies favorably,
and in every respect it is an excellent stream for irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. In addition to that, the different forks of the Loup
extend up into Brown, Cherry, and Holt. Can the waters of the Loup
be utilized ?
Mr. HICKs. Undoubtedly. They are good streams for irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. Into what does the White River discharge its
water ?
Mr. HICKS. Into the Missouri in Dakota.
The CHAIRMAN. What kind of a stream is it 3
Mr. HICKS. The White River is not so good in irrigation time as the
THE REPUBLICAN RIVER As A WATER SUPPLY. 547
Niobrara. Some of its tributaries for small streams are excellent. The
White River, however, in the main stream is not so good a stream for
irrigation. But on the whole, taking the Upper White River and the
tributaries of the White, there is a large body of land in upper Ne-
braska which could be irrigated. A stream which is one of the very
best in the State of Nebraska for irrigation is the Republican River
and its tributaries.
The CHAIRMAN. Where is that ?
Mr. HICKS. In the southwestern part of Nebraska. As far east as
irrigation is needed the Republican River is a source of much water for
irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. In what State does the Republican River rise &
Mr. HICKs. In Colorado, but very near the State line. It flows into
Kansas. The Republican, therefore, is a Nebraska river. It is not a
mountain stream. It rises on the plains not far from the Nebraska line
in Colorado.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it carry water in the dry season 3
Mr. HICKs. A great volume of it. I gauged it in Furnas County
and found 570 cubic feet.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your theory as to the remarkable supply of
water in the Republican—it does not come from the immediate rain-fall
does it? …”
Mr. HICKS. I am not able to say with any positiveness that there
is any other important Source.
The CHAIRMAN. I have heard it suggested that it was probably
supplied from underground water; Water that was passing through
Colorado under ground.
Mr. HICKS. I think it is probable. Observe what I said, that I am
not able with any positiveness to ascribe any other source for the
water of the Republican but the rain-fall of the region which it drains.
I know that the rain-fall on the Republican basin furnishes most of
the water that runs into the Republican. Whether there is any other
source of any considerable importance (while I think it highly prob-
able) I do not know any facts that would give me any means of making
a positive statement.
The CHAIRMAN. A considerable country could be irrigated by that ?
Mr. HICKS. A very great area could be irrigated by the Republican
and its tributaries. While I described the land along the Niobrara
as lying favorably for irrigation, I think that I could speak with more
emphasis still of the land of the Republican. It lies admirably to
receive the water.
The CHAIRMAN. As to the South Platte; you have about 80 miles
of that in Nebraska. Can a supply be obtained from that; and, if so,
how ! You have already explained that, by natural process, if the
water is stored above, so that it will fill the soil, it will naturally
work along down and finally benefit Nebraska; but, not waiting for
that, is it possible to take out the water from the South Fork?
Mr. HICKS. I do not want to monopolize the business of giving in-
formation to this committee; and, while I might have something to say
on that point, the engineer who is now constructing a ditch to take out
the water of the South Platte, in this immediate locality is here, and I
should like you to ask him that question.
The CHAIRMAN. I wish you would speak at greater length of the
storm-water and the facilities for utilizing it in Nebraska generally, ac.
cording to your observation, by reservoirs?
548 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. HICKS. Do you mean the flood-waters of the streams, or the pre-
cipitation upon the general surface? -
The CHAIRMAN. Upon the general surface, in the ravines and small
Streams in the highest portion of the State—anywhere where it could
be done without regard to streams. How much of an aid will that storm-
Water, kept in small ponds and reservoirs, be *
Mr. HICKS. In my judgment it will be of the utmost value; while,
Compared with many parts of the earth the rain-fall over this region is
what you would call light, still, the aggregate of water falling on say a
Square mile of land in this region, supposing the rain-fall to be 15 inches,
can be easily computed; and any one who makes the computation will be
astonished at the amount of rain-fall that reaches the land. If the waters
that fall on the surface here were collected in small reservoirs, such as
might be constructed at moderate expense by indvidual owners on their
own lands, and for the construction of which the topography is favora-
ble, an immense area might be irrigated from these storm-waters.
The CHAIRMAN. How much water do you require in addition to the
rain-fall generally in western Nebraska to produce all-around crops ?
Have you given that particular subject any consideration ? ^
Mr. HICKS. I am not prepared to answer that question definitely as
to quantity. I could, however, make an estimate in general terms.
The CHAIRMAN. Do so.
Mr. HICKS. In my judgment, through a large part of the area west of
the curve which I have already indicated, the rain-fall and the climatic
conditions generally are such that the amount of the artificial aid re-
quired from irrigation is comparatively small. For instance, in Colorado
it requires 12 inches of water each year on the irrigated fields to produce
crops, while, I should say, that in some parts of Nebraska, 2 inches
ould be enough, in other parts 3, and in other parts 5, and so on, accord-
ing to the proximity to this line that I have indicated. Further west,
you must have a greater number of inches and during a greater length
of time. In many parts west of the line I indicated, if water could be
put upon the land only for a few days at a critical time, it would save
the crop and make a good crop. So that the amount required varies
with the location, and with many local conditions and circumstances.
But generally my answer would be, that the amount required is not
more than one-third of full irrigation in a great part of this region.
The CHAIRMAN. What effect in Nebraska does thorough cultivation
have upon the moisture ?
Mr. HICKS. It has the effect of retaining that which falls from the
heavens, and of attracting more moisture from the atmosphere in the
form of dews, and also probably, locally, in the form of rain. I do not
consider it an established fact that the rain-fall of Nebraska is increas-
1I] Oſ.
#he CHAIRMAN. Is it generally supposed that rain-fall is increasing %
Mr. HICKs. Yes; it is generally supposed that it is, and that the
rain-fall is traveling westward. As I say, I do not regard that as an
established fact; but, owing to the conservation of the moisture in the
soil, resulting from cultivation and the protection of the surface by the
vegetation that grows upon it, its protection from the heat of the Sun's
rays, so that it does not become so intensely hot, and so that it does not
immediately discharge the water put upon it, the effect of cultivation
is manifest. As to the increase of moisture, it comes principally in the
form of dew. In the great plains it was often stated and believed by
many that there was no dew. In all this region, wherever crops are
cultivated, if you go into a field of wheat, oats, barley, or tall grass in
THE CLIMATIC EFFECTS OF CULTIVATION. 549
the evening you will get your feet wet, and you will find plenty of dew,
Where the soil is cultivated and where vegetation is growing there is
dew. The reason why there was no dew before cultivation is that the
surface, baked by the sun's rays during the day, becomes so intensely
hot that at no hour of the night did it become much colder than the air;
and the precipitation of dew depends on the condition of a difference
between the temperature of the objects which receive the dew (the
ſower temperature of the earth or of the plants on which the dew col-
lects), than the temperature of the surrounding air. When the surface
is protected by vegetation the earth itself does not become so hot—is
not so intensely heated by the rays of the Sun—and the plants Stretch-
ing up into the air from the surface of the earth are so situated as to
lose their heat rapidly by radiation. As soon as the sun goes down in
the evening they begin to cool off, and speedily become colder than the
circumambient atmosphere, and in that way form dew. Thus, without
any increase in rain-fall, but by the increase in the dew-fall, or the con-
servation of dew, we have, as a practical result of breaking the surface
of the soil, what is the same in effect as if there had been an increase
in rain-ſall.
The CHAIRMAN. There is another question which I wish to ask you :
It has been suggested that by the cultivation of the soil and the pro-
duction of vegetation over a large surface the rain-fall is equalized and
is not so spasmodic and erratic so far as concerns its falling all in a
body in a single place as in the case of a cloud-burst. Have you ob-
served in Nebraska any effect of that kind?
Mr. HICKS. Nebraska at present is not afflicted with sudden bursts
like that.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, the cultivated portion of it?
Mr. HICKs. The cultivated portion of it. Whether that is due to the
cultivation, and whether storms were formerly more spamodic here I am
not prepared to answer. -
The CHAIRMAN. You have not lived here long enough and observed
the changes so that you could not say whether that is a fact or not ?
Mr. HICKS. I could not say personally whether it is or not.
The CHAIRMAN. How are rains in this part of Nebraska; do they
form cloud-bursts in places, or do they fall pretty evenly over the whole
surface 3
Mr. HICKS. There are not many “cloud bursts,” but there are many
local storms.
Director POWELL. What would you suggest as the line of investiga-
tion for the arid region of Nebraska º
Mr. HICKS. I believe that the scientific study of the special charac-
teristics of this whole region, pursued long enough and thoroughly
enough to give systematic and tolerably complete results, is the proper
method of procedure, and in fact the only method, regarding this region
as a Whole, and that may be done most economically under the author-
ity of the General Government. If it is not so done it must be done at
the expense of communities, corporations, or individuals, in a spasmodic,
irregular, incomplete, and often inaccurate and inadequate manner;
whereas a general Survey of this whole region would be in the hands of
the most skillful engineers who would present the subject in its com-
pleteness and in all its connections, and would be far more valuable in
any given locality, so far as it pertains to that locality than if the most
thorough survey of that locality had been made by itself.
As to the method of doing that, it seems to me that this region de-
mands a line of investigation different from any other. And when I
550 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
speak of this region I do not simply mean this portion of Nebraska,
or this county, or even this belt of Nebraska in which we now are,
or of which I have been speaking, but the whole belt that lies
approximately in the same meridian— a belt of one, two or three hun-
dred miles in width, which lies upon the margin of the arid regions,
where physical conditions are so different from those which prevail in
the mountainous districts that a different line of investigation must be
pursued, and a line of investigation which in some respects must be
more costly and elaborate than would be required in the mountain re-
gions. There Ought to be a great deal of attention given to this region
in this Irrigation Survey, and money ought to be expended upon it
Without stint, all that is necessary to bring out the best possible results.
The reason why it is going to be a more costly survey in this region
than in Some other parts of the arid regions, is that the streams are in-
adequate to water this region. While I have described a number of
streams for irrigation, I believe I have said nothing beyond what the
facts will bear out in regard to the value of those streams; yet, taking
them altogether, they are inadequate to the demands of this region for
irrigation. You can not get the water out of all the streams in Nebraska
to water all the lands that need water here. Nebraska is so happily
situated, and its physical condition is so happily adjusted in respect to
the character of the surface, that there are very few acres of all this re-
gion that are not good arable land. Of all this region that needs irri-
gation the percentage of it which would not kindly respond to the efforts
of the irrigator and farmer is very small, indeed—remarkably so as com-
pared with other regions. We have no mountain ranges. We have a
few sand-hills and other places that can not be irrigated. But I sup-
pose the amount of arable land in Nebraska is one-half the land of the
State; that is, we will say in round numbers, 40,000 square miles.
There is, I should say, not more than 5,000 square miles of that that
would not respond to operations to redeem it. We will say there are
35,000 square miles, then, that are suitable to receive the water.
The water of the storms is insufficient to supply that body of land,
and therefore the storm waters must be stored in numerous little reser-
voirs all over the country. To find the places for these numerous little
reservoirs, to ascertain the configuration of the surface, and to “place”
those reservoirs will take careful and accurate work. In my judgment,
the Irrigation Survey should proceed upon those lines in this region to
indicate by their careful work where those reservoirs can be constructed,
not only how the streams may be used, but how the storm-waters which
fall upon the general surface of the country and run off can be saved
up and made to water the largest amount of land. In general, that
would be my notion of what an Irrigation Survey ought to be for this
belt.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any artesian water any where in the State 8
Mr. HICKS. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You are aware of the existence of a belt of artesian
water in the two Dakotas. Is the artesian water of Nebraska good
water ?
Mr. Hicks. Yes; the best I ever saw. The belt runs somewhat west
of north. That belt strikes Nebraska. In Knox County there is ex-
cellent artesian water to be found and at very moderate expense, but
it is not in the belt that needs it. That artesian Water is going to be of
great value for power, if for nothing else. You can get a great water-
power by boring into the earth. In the western region, where irriga-
tion is most needed, the results of exploration for deep artesian Waters
have So far been negative.
LAKES, WELLs, AND UNDERFLOW OF NEBRASKA. 551
The CHAIRMAN. How deep have they bored in any one place in the
western part of the State % -
Mr. HICKS. I do not know exactly as to that. No very deep wells
have been bored in this region.
The CHAIRMAN. Have any of them kept a record of the conformation
in the case of those wells that have been found *
Mr. HICKs. I have no record of wells in this region of greater depth
than 500 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any portions of Nebraska where the water
is near enough to the surface to make the use of pumping machinery
cheap enough to be practiced to any extent 3 - -
Mr. HICKS. I think there are.
The CHAIRMAN. In what portions of the State is the water near the
surface &
Mr. HICKS. I might adduce the facts that have come to your own no-
tice as we traveled along this section. The water is standing on the
surface in some places as we came along, and I have been informed that
here at Ogallalla the water is only three feet from the surface.
Near the headwaters of the Loup River the water lies very near the
Surface. In many parts there are salt lakes. The water collects in the
depressions and makes little salt lakes. In the sand-hills (all things
considered the least Valuable of all), there are small lakes and the water
generally lies near the surface (I do not mean the summit of a sharp
peak of a Sand-hill), but you can get water and it is remarkable how
near the Surface you can get it. Wherever there are depressions the
water lies very near the surface for wells.
The CHAIRMAN. May not the fact that the water lies near the surface
on the Loup and other rivers have something to do with the production
of crops there and with extending the belt 3 w
Mr. HICKS. That is an explanation of the productiveness of that re-
gion but you would have to go farther to show that the water is there.
The CHAIRMAN. The water is there. It would be increased by addi-
tional rain-fall but the water is on the surface. What is the price of
coal in this town 3
nºi HICKS. Some gentlemen living in Ogallalla can tell that better
than I. *.
Mr. NEEVES. We do not get it very cheap. We pay $7 a ton for it.
STATEMENT OF ROBERT B. HOWELL, OF OMAHA.
The CHAIRMAN: What is your occupation ?
Mr. HOWELL. I practice engineering.
º ghatswan. In What engineering enterprise are you now en-
gaged #
Mr. How ELI. In hydraulic engineering. We are considering the
construction of a canal here in Ogallala.
The CHAIRMAN. From what stream and to cover what land 3
Mr. HOWELL, I'rom the South Platte River to cover the land
}. between the town of Brewell, about 10 miles above here, and this
OWI). *
pº ghairman. How do you expect to get the water out of the
atte %
Mr. HOWELL. By Seepage from the sand.
The CHAIRMAN. How are you going to get seepage?
Mr. HowL.LL. Either by digging a drainage ditch or by means of
galleries.
552 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Explain how you would do it.
Mr. HOWELL. The gallery would be a wooden structure made of
Wood scantling and made in the rectangular form, and placed on the
hard pan to form a sort of sewer as it were to carry off the drainage of
the sand. This would be laid down and the water led off the pipe.
The river falls at the rate of 8 feet to the mile. The pipe would be
laid out about 2 feet to the mile.
The CHAIRMAN You would go into the sands and sink these galleries
to form a body of water, and you would draw that water off by means
of pipes and by gravitation with sufficient grade until you got it so that
you could turn it into a ditch 3
Mr. HOWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you prospected the river to find out how
much water there is below the surface & What means have you taken
to ascertain that %
Mr. HOWELL. No means. We have examined and know that the
stratum is about 18 feet. By digging anywhere from 6 to 18 inches
below the surface the water fills up the cavity.
The CHAIRMAN. How wide does the water flow near the surface 3
Mr. How ELL. At this point it flows across the whole surface of the
I'l Weſ.
The CHAIRMAN. About how wide is that ?
Mr. HOWELL. About 3,000 feet at some places.
The CEIAIRMAN. Does it also flow beneath the surface in the low bot-
toms ?
Mr. HOWELL. Yes. The water seems to be higher in borings that are
made below the river bank than in the river itself.
2.The CHAIRMAN. For some distance from the river on either side this
water is as wide as the river bed 3
Mr. EIOWELL. Yes, it seems to be a little wider.
The CHAIRMAN. How wide at this place is the bottom where you can
get the water?
Mr. HowL.LL. For three-quarters of a mile on each side of the river
you could get water for a distance of about 30 miles, I should think, at
the highest point.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it not best to make a ditch deep in proportion to
the width 3
Mr. HOWELL. Yes, the theoretical form for a ditch is a deep ditch.
The CHAIRMAN. The practice in Colorado and this country seems to
be to make a shallow ditch. Do you agree with that practice as to the
economical preservation of the water?
Mr. HowL.LL. No ; I think a deeper ditch would be the best, but
deeper ditches are more expensive, and it is only in cases of high water
that they would carry a maximum amount.
The CHAIRMAN. How far up the river are you going to take out this
ditch 3
Mr. HOWELL. About 12 miles.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you going to continue it a considerable way
down.
Mr. How ELL. No, we are going to stop at this point. - *
The CHAIRMAN. There is land below to which it may be carried down
if you should wish, is there not ?
Mr. HOWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it possible to get the water of the South Platte,
commencing in Nebraska, onto the table-land *
Mr. HOWELL. Yes, that can be done.
CONSERVING THE WATER FLOW BY SUB-DAMS. 553
The CHAIRMAN. Beginning in Nebraska and extending up and
down 3
Mr. HOWELL. Yes, I think it can, without doubt.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any places in the river between here and
the mountains where there is rock formation to bring the Water to the
surface # * .
Mr. HoweLL. Yes; there is one place that I know of.
The CHAIRNAN. How far up is that ?
Mr. HOWELL. Near Fort Morgan.
The CHAIRMAN. How much water runs in the river at that point %
Mr. Howe, LL. About 122 cubic feet per second, but the rock is only
exposed on one side. Over that rocky place there are 122 cubic feet
per second running.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not know what the inclination of the rock is
on the other side of the river ?
Mr. HOWELL. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Or whether the rock rises again so as to form a
dam—that has not been prospected ?
Mr. HoweLL. No. In Colorado they are constructing a canal to take
the water out, and there is a point above where a dam has been Con-
structed across the river, from bed-rock to the surface, to force the
water in the river to the surface.
The CHAIRMAN. It follows the bed-rock &
Mr. HOWELL. Yes. -
The CHAIRMAN. How much water does that force to the surface in
ordinary times &
Mr. How ELL. The gentleman who constructed it calculated that it
was 100 cubic feet per second that was running through the canal, but
there was some being lost at the same time going down the river.
The CHAIRMAN. The dam did not stop it all ?
Mr. How ELL. No. The dam was just up to the surface of the sand
The CHAIRMAN. How far is that from the State line 3
Mr. HOWELL. That was at Fort Morgan. I do not know exactly
where it is. . It is beyond Sterling.
The CHAIRMAN. How long a ditch have they run from that down 3
Mr. HOWELL. I think it is about the neighborhood of 64 miles
altogether.
The CHAIRMAN. It is getting down pretty well to the State line 3
Mr. How ELL. No. The main or supply ditch follows the contour of
the surface and there is a lateral. Altogether, I think, it is 64 miles
long.
The CHAIRMAN. On which side of the river is it taken out 3
Mr. HOWELL. On the south side.
The CHAIRMAN. Why would it not be a good plan to unite with those
people and take out all the water and bring it down as far as it will
come 3
Mr. HOWELL. Because 122 feet per second would be insufficient.
The CHAIRMAN. But in flood-time there is a good deal more?
Mr. HOWELL. Yes; but they have not practiced much the saving of
Water in winter.
The CHAIRMAN. Water saved in winter is just as good as that saved
at any other time, is it not?
Mr. HoweLL. Yes. *
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you make reservoirs along on the highest
points, could you not irrigate a good deal of your land in that way ?
Mr. HOWELL. Yes; not only there, but upon the tables. There are
554 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
many natural reservoirs where water might be stored, and, although
it could not be used for irrigating, it could be left there to temper the
winds. --
ºnanºs. But it could be stored and used for irrigation when
Wanted.
Mr. HOWELL. It might. If you could not get the water on the land
to irrigate, it would be good to let it stand around in small lakes.
The CHAIRMAN. Taking the river out at the point where the rocks
º what would be the lay of the land, of the topography, from there
down 2 -
Mr. HOWELL. There is a gradual slope to the river. The slope ends
at the table-land above.
The CHAIRMAN. How does the land on the South Platte along here by
Fort Morgan and Sterling compare with the land on the other side as
Iregards its natural fertility ? -
Mr. HOWELL. The soil seems to be sandy about Fort Morgan.
The CHAIRMAN. On which side 3
Mr. HOWELL. On the South side.
The CHAIRMAN. Much more so than on the north side 3
Mr. How ELL. Yes, *
The CHAIRMAN. Is that true all along for a considerable distance
that this is really somewhat of a sand-hill region on the south side 3
Mr. HOWELL. I think it is.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there any other views you wish to present 3
Mr. HOWELL. There is one point which I think is a good one, that
is, to make a series of reservoirs or lakes on the table-lands, using the
spring water. Although the water can not in many cases be used to
irrigate land, at the same time it would be making innumerable lakes
which would increase evaporation and dew. Whether it would have
any effect on the rain-fall is uncertain.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you get reservoirs and use the storm water ?
Mr. HOWELL. I think the storm water is all held there now. I think
there is only one draw that extends up to the table-land between here
and Grant, about twenty miles south of this. It does not seem that any
great quantity of water ever passes at that draw.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there a lake there?
Mr. HOWELL. No. There is sort of dry lake but the water is stored
in the shallow lakes until about this time. Then evaporation takes the
greater portion of it. There are wells there 200 feet deep and the strata
there are ordinarily pervious to a great extent.
STATEMENT OF C. H. BROWN, OF KEITH COUNTY.
The CHAIRMAN. How far from this town is your county &
Mr. BROWN. Seven miles Southeast.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of the county on the other
side of the river ?
Mr. BROWN. It is very level and smooth. It has a fine soil. It is
also indented with what are called in this country lagoons. You Will
find a lagoon on an average to a quarter section and from that more.
Those lagoons in extent will run up from 4 acres to 160. *-
The CHAIRMAN. Does much water collect in those during the Storms ?
Mr. BROWN. Some seasons they have been partly filled with Water
but never full.
The CHAIRMAN. Do they discharge the water into the Platte?
MAP OF A PORTION OF CHEYENNE AND KEITH COUNTIES, NEBRASKA.
S-gº Clark.
S.
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&
• Q Rºss Sºz.
&. e?
s sº ſ
c | H E YN E | N NYSE,
º Lodge Pole. _--
Rºž ####$
* Lºss PAC
Chapje $ UNIQ
§ Iłig Springs Platte JR:
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53 52 5/ SO 49 48 #== 45 SA-º/º 42
C O L O Fº O |
Report on Irrigation.

WESTERN NEBRASKA REQUIRES IRRIGATION. 555
Mr. Brown. But very little.
The CHAIRMAN. They have no outlet 3
Mr. BROWN. No.
The CHAIRMAN. There are depressions in the earth.
Mr. BROWN. Yes. There is not water enough falling to overrun these
lagoons at any time.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you not build a dam across them and make a
pond 7
Mr. BROWN. There are already ponds.
The CHAIRMAN. But you say they are so low that you can not get
the water to use"
Mr. BROWN. In some places. Some of them are too low, and you can
not drain them on to the land, but others on the high points could be
used for irrigation. There are several ridges of land that are a little
higher than the balance, and those ridges generally have the most
lagoons.
The CHAIRMAN. The lagoons are almost too large to make ponds of,
are they not ? You do not have water enough to fill them 3
Mr. BROWN. We never have had them all filled in the six years that
I have been here.
Thº, CHAIRMAN. Could you not make ponds or small lakes and fill
them " ^-
Mr. BROWN. We could if we had the water.
The CHAIRMAN. Some water comes down I suppose?
Mr. BROWN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How is the lay of the land between the Republican
River and the Platte % -
Mr. BROWN. There is a natural fall to the south.
The CHAIRMAN. And there are table-lands extending along between
the Republican and the Platte, are there 3
Mr. BROWN. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. About what elevation is there above the Platte‘.
Mr. BROWN. About 200 feet from the water-bed. That is about the
depth of our wells—from 150 to 200 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it good land 3
Mr. BROWN. The nicest I ever saw.
The CHAIRMAN. Bo you raise regular crops there without irrigation ?
Mr. BROWN. No. *
The CHAIRMAN. Can a farmer prosper there without irrigation ?
Mr. BROWN. N.O.
The CHAIRMAN. It is not a good place for homes, then, without irri-
gation?
Mr. BROWN. No.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you tried it thoroughly to ascertain?
Mr. BROWN. I have tried it for six years.
º: ºnauwas. Do you know anybody who knows it any longer than
you (10
Mr. BROWN. No. I plowed the first acre of land that was plowed in
this country.
The CHAIRMAN. And during the six years' experience you have come
to the conclusion that it will not do to try to farm without irrigation?
Mr. BROWN. I have.
The CHAIRMAN. Is that the experience of your neighbors ?
Mr. HOWELL. Yes, as far as I know.
d º: CHAIRMAN. You came here under the expectation that you could
o it
556 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Mr. BBOWN. Yes. -
The CHAIRMAN. And you have been disappointed?
Mr. BROWN. Yes. Some years we have raised a particularly good
crop and some years nothing. This year we have nothing at all as far
as corn goes, though we have a middling fair crop of wheat and a par-
tial crop of rye.
STATEMENT OF W. L. GOULD, OF OGALALLA.
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you resided here?
Mr. GOULD. About three years. -
The CHAIRMAN. You may state anything that occurs to you in refer-
ence to storm-water and other water for irrigation.
Mr. GOULD. My experience has been this, that when we have abun-
dance of rain through the winter, enough to soak up the ground well,
there is no trouble about certain classes of crops growing; but if we
have a dry winter we are apt to have a dry spring following, and not
sufficient rains to grow crops. I know this, that in these table lands
between the two rivers nature has provided a number of places, if util-
ized, to fill up with an abundance of water during the winter, which
could be utilized during the summer. I have driven extensively over
the country.
The CHAIRMAN. You think reservoirs would be filled if they were
made 3
Mr. GOULD. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Eſave there been any experiments made here to show
what reservoirs can do?
Mr. GOULD. We have seen farmers who have built dams on small
streams and have used that water for irrigation on wbatever surface
was below, and with good results.
STATEMENT OF FRANCIS M. SMITH, OF OGALALLA.
The CHAIRMAN. Where do you reside 3
Mr. SMITH. In Ogalalla. º
The CHAIRMAN. Are you a farmer ?
Mr. SMITH. I have had experience in farming this season.
The CIIAIRMAN. Have you ever constructed a reservoir here to save
water ?
Mr. SMITH. Yes, we constructed an irrigating ditch, and have been
using the water this season, and it has been successful.
The CHAIRMAN. Give us some information as to it.
Mr. SMITH. We have our farm over on the north side of the North
Platte River, about 15 miles northwest of this. There is a small stream
called Sand Creek running a couple of miles on Our property. My ex-
perience is that, in this section of country, farming is unsuccessful. I
have never seen a full crop grown yet for the three years that I have
been here. We went to work and constructed a dam across this stream
and put in a canal for a distance of about 3 miles (myself and my
neighbor), and we have been using the water on 40 acres of ground that
we oroke this spring. We put that to corn, and it is a very heavy piece
of corn. We consider it a full crop. My neighbor also uses it on 40
or 50 acres, and he got a good crop. Where the water failed to reach
the crop the corn was a failure.
NOT suffICIENT PRECIPITATION TO SECURE CROPS. 557
The CHAIRMAN. How much water did you store by your daim"
Mr. SMITH, I think we have about 1,400 cubic inches.
The CHAIRMAN. Per second or what?
Mr. SMITH. All the time.
The CHAIRMAN. Does the stream furnish that, or did you increase it
by your dam ? -
Mr. SMITH. We increased it by the dam. We turned the stream.
The CHAIRMAN. Did you make a lake'
Mr. SMITH. No, we did not mean to make a lake. We live on the
, bottom, on the north side of the river, in the valley, and We constructed
a dam there and turned the stream simply.
The CHAIRMAN. How is that stream in winter ?
Mr. SMITH. There appears to be just as much water there in Winter
as in Summer.
The CHAIRMAN. If you had a reservoir in there, so that you could
save that water the year round, you could do a good deal more, could
you not ? -
Mr. SMITH. Perhaps so, but we use it as it is to irrigate about 80 acres.
Director Powell. What did you mean by 1,400 inches of water ?
Mr. SMITH. That would mean 1,400 inches of solid water; what the
ditch would carry. -
Director POWELL. In how much time? -
Mr. SMITH. It would carry that by the minute or second, just as it
would run.
Director POWELL. Have you ever mined 3
Mr. SMITH. No, I never did mine.
Director POWELL. You do not know what a miner's inch is "
Mr. SMITH, NO. cº
Director POWELL. How wide is your ditch 3
Mr. SMITH. I think it is about 3 feet in the bottom.
Director POWELL. And how deep does the water run ?
Mr. SMITH, I hardly know the depth. We have never measured it,
but when we filed our right under the irrigating law there were men who
appeared to understand the nature of irrigation that we consulted, and
they said that there were about 1,400 cubic inches of water in that
Stream.
STATEMENT OF J. J. McINTOSH, OF SIDNEY.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you require to irrigate your land in order to pro-
duce crops?
Mr. MCINTOSH. We irrigate there as much as we can Irrigation is
not carried on there, however, to any very great extent.
The CHAIRMAN. Could you produce crops there without irrigation ?
Mr. MCINTOSH. No, not a full crop.
The CHAIRMAN. What efforts have been made to irrigate there, and
what are the chances to irrigate %
Mr. MCINTOSH. The chances are good to irrigate there, as stated by
Professor Hicks. There was no attempt to do any farming there until
the year 1884. The people that came there to settle came with the
understanding that irrigation was not required, and it was not expected
at all that people would have to irrigate. They supposed that there
was sufficient rain-fall to produce a fair crop after the land was properly
tilled. . But many settlers came in and many went away, and at no time
since then have they succeeded in raising a full crop of anything. That
558 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
is about the truth of the matter in few words. I have lived in that
county on and off since 1870. &
º CHAIRMAN. They have irrigated some in your county, have they
In Ot
Mr. MCINTOSH. They have irrigated some along the Lodge Pole.
The CHAIRMAN. What have been the results of irrigation there?
Mr. MCINTOSH. When they have irrigated the results have been very
Satisfactory.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the facilities for irrigation ?
Mr. MCINTOSH. The facilities are good there.
The CHAIRMAN. The Lodge Pole furnishes some water, I suppose.
Mr. MCINTOSH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Does it have floods?
Mr. MCINTOSH. We have heavy rain-falls there. Our rain-falls are
§. Spasmodic than the rain-falls in the center or eastern part of the
State.
The CHAIRMAN. The water runs to waste then considerably, does it 3
Mr. MCINTOSHI. Yes. .5 -
The CHAIRMAN. If that water was stored in proper places would the
Lodge Pole furnish any considerable amount of water for irrigating the
land 3 -
Mr. MCINTOSH. It would furnish enough water to irrigate the valley
in which it is. My idea about irrigating the table land between the
Lodge Pole and the North Platte River would be to take the water from
the North Platte River at some point in Wyoming. Then it can be
stored in ravines so as to be used in the valley if necessary.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you familiar with the North Platte %
Mr. MCINTOSHI. NO.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not know how much of an undertaking that
would be * *
Mr. MCINTOSH. No ; but I have been informed by a practical engineer
who went out there about ten days ago, that it is perfectly practicable
to take the water out of the North Platte River on to the table land.
The CHAIRMAN. If that were done and the flood waters were saved
you could irrigate considerably &
Mr. MCINTOSH. We could irrigate the whole divide.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the opportunities on the divide for storing
storm water in the ravines &
Mr. MCINTOSH. There are a number of natural basins on the table-
land where water stands the whole season round. I have been all over
the table land there.
The CHAIRMAN. These natural basins are not always the best places.
Sometimes you could save water better by making your own basin in
the ravine. They are apt to have underground communication and
leak badly. Besides, you would need to make the places deep or the
evaporation would be bad. Are there opportunities to make ponds
there so as to have water”
Mr. MCINTOSH. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. How deep is the water under the surface 3
Mr. MCINTOSH. On the table land it varies. It runs from 75 feet to
250.
The CHAIRMAN. How deep is it in the Lodge Pole Valley 7
Mr. MCINTOSH. Twenty-three feet in the center of the valley and then
as you go back toward the table land the depth is greater. -
The CHAIRMAN. Is there much of a flow of the underground water in
the Lodge Pole at 23 feet 7 *
SECURING water BY STORAGE AND sub-DAMs. 559
Mr. MCINTOSH. Yes, the wells are inexhaustible.
The CHAIRMAN. Something might be done, perhaps, by pumping
there?
Mr. MCINTOSH. Yes, I think so.
STATEMENT OF THEODORE MENGES, OF KIMBALL.
The CHAIRMAN. On what stream do you reside 3
Mr. MENGES. On the Lodge Pole.
The CHAIRMAN. Has there been any irrigation from the Lodge Pole
in your vicinity ?
Mr. MENGES. Yes, to Some extent.
The CHAIRMAN. With what success %
Mr. MENGES. With the best of success. They have gardened some.
They have farmed barley and some oats (60 bushels to the acre). The
barley was 35 bushels to the acre. They have got excellent corn and
all kinds of vegetables in great abundance. .
The CHAIRMAN. What are the opportunities for irrigating on the
Lodge Pole in your neighborhood?
Mr. MENGES. They are good.
The CHAIRMAN. How can they be utilized ?
Mr. MENGES. By damming the valley.
The CHAIRMAN. Does much water flow in the Lodge Pole at any sea-
son of the year?
Mr. MENGES. An average of about 12 cubic feet per second flows on
the surface. At Kimball we have been at considerable expense to make
surveys to find out how much water we have there, expecting to con-
struct a dam and create a water power. It was estimated by an engi-
neer we had there that we had five times as much water flowing on the
surface as flood in the stream itself.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any opportunity to get that water to the
Surface º
Mr. MENGES. We have made soundings across the valley, a distance
of about 400 feet, and we find that the distance to rock bottom varies
from 11 to 17 feet. About from 2 to 3 feet, beneath the surface of the
soil we come into water, and from there all the way down into the rock.
To bring that water to the surface is very desirable, and we believe it
can be done by putting down a dam of some sort on this rock bottom
and building it up.
The CHAIRMAN. They have not resorted to pumping there at all 3
Mr. MENGES. No. We do not know how it is possible even to get
down to that rock-bottom. We have sounded with augers but we need
to get down so as to make a larger excavation.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any other possible water supply for you ex-
cept the Lodge Pole 3
Mr. MENGES. That is all, excepting the storm waters. With refer-
ence to those storm waters we find these lagoons on the divide, and,
as stated by yourself and others, I think they are not the best places
for catching these waters. Take the whole of Kimball County and you
will find it more or less rolling. We have “draws” there in places
varying from 20 to 500 feet. They will sometimes have enough water
during these storms to swim a horse across them. I know that passing
my house and passing the rauch in which I live there is a place that
looks perfectly dry generally. It drains a distance of two miles. We
have Our heavy freshets in July and August and the water was five and
560 *. IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
six feet deep towards the end of July and first of August. Take the
town of Kimball and for two or three hours after a heavy storm you
could row a boat through its streets. Kimball drains a body of land
of two or three townships, I should say, and when the heavy floods
come it makes the whole town practically a lake. -
The CHAIRMAN. If that water was stored it would do considerable
good.
Mr. MENGES. Yes, an immense amount of good.
The CHAIRMAN. Would you regard surveys and examinations as to
the best points for designation for reservoirs as desirable %
Mr. MENGES. Very desirable and exceedingly valuable to the people.
The CHAIRMAN. We want to know whether money spent in that way
will be useful.
Mr. MENGES. Very useful and it will be very highly appreciated.
In the town of Kimball we have been attempting to develop a water-
power and have been at an expense of $500 or $600, which demon-
strates the desire of the people to have better water facilities.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the fall of the stream &
Mr. MENGES. It is 14.4 feet to the mile.
The CHAIRMAN. Then a mile of a channel or cut would bring you to
the level of the bottom of it, will it not ?
Mr. MENGES. Yes. i.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you would not have to build the dam so high 3
Mr. MENGES. No, although we get power of course in proportion as
we raise the dam. We have made an examination 10 miles Westward
from the town of Kimball, and we find that the average will be 15 feet
to the mile. In some places the fall would be greater than at others.
We had intended to take out a canal, and went up 10 miles and found
it 15 feet to the mile on an average. Then we made accurate measure-
ment for 5 miles and for that distance it was 14.4 feet to the mile.
The CHAIRMAN. In a couple of miles you would get to bed-rock”
Mr. MENGEs. Yes. Immediately west of the town of Kimball you
will find the bed-rock and all water flows over the rock itself. w
The OHAIRMAN. Why would that not be a good point %
Mr. MENGES. It would be an excellent point, but it Would not be
at the place where the town wants it.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you built your dam there and brought
the water through the town by a flume or pipe?
Mr. MENGES. That would do. We want it to make a lake near the
town, however, and were willing to put in a little extra expense. In
that stream wé have 12 to 14 cubic feet to the second. It is supposed
that we can have about 25 to 30 by putting this dam down to bed-rock,
and possibly more than that. One estimate was that we could have
about 60 by putting it down to bed-rock. If we could save the flood
water we would have all the water we wanted for the Whole Valley and
a portion for the divide.
The CHAIRMAN. You could build a dam and Save the Water by that
means. I should build a dam where the rock is and I should bave a
pipe at the bottom—an iron pipe—cemented in so that you could draw
the water out and irrigate a great deal of the land. You Would Want
to draw water off in the summer, would you not, for irrigating pur-
oses 3
p Mr. MENGES. I think you would not want it all. By taking the
North Platte and going 20 or 30 miles into Wyoming, that is a magnifi-
cent divide lying between the Lodge Pole and the North Platte. There
are 1,500,000 acres that could be utilized and utilized well. There is
practically no waste land at all.
NATURAL DEPRESSIONS IN WHICH TO STORE WATER. 561
The CIHAIRMAN. The Platte River is a large river.
Mr. MENGES. Very large.
The CHAIRMAN. A great deal of it runs to waste.
Mr. MENGES. Yes; a great deal of it. In the spring as much as 14
to 4 feet in depth over a half to three-quarters of a mile was flowing
down.
STATEMENT OF J. A. PHILLIPs, OF GRANT,
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any stream of water in your county 2
Mr. PHILLIPs. No ; the nearest stream of water we have is 20 miles
away. I live 20 miles south of this.
The CHAIRMAN. How would you suggest that this section might be
redeemed by irrigation?
Mr. PHILLIPs. We would like to have a ditch commence in Colorado,
20 miles from the Nebraska line. º
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any place at which you could get the water
out 3
Mr. PHILLIPS. There is such a fall that it will come along.
The CIIAIRMAN. Suppose you went still farther up? -
Mr. PHILLIPs. There is a sand region farther up that would make it
difficult to get the water through 3
The CHAIRMAN. You want to get below the sand 3
Mr. PHILLIPs. We will have to do that, we think.
The CHAIRMAN. You can not raise crops in your vicinity without ir-
rigation ?
Mr. PHILLIPS. We can not raise corn.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you raise any other kind?
Mr. PHILLIPS. We can raise wheat, rye, and a half a crop of oats.
The CHAIRMAN. How much wheat"
Mr. PHILLIPS. Eight to 18 bushels per acre, but there is more of it
at 3 and 5 bushels per acre than there is at 8.
The CHAIRMAN. Eſow deep is it to water where you are?
Mr. PHILLIPS. One hundred and eighty-five feet.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not tried artesian water?
Mr. PHILLIPS. No. *
The CHAIRMAN. Is there an abundance of water when you get down
185 feet 3
Mr. PHILLIPs. Yes; we can run a wind-mill constantly with a 2-inch
pipe and can not exhaust the supply of water at the bottom of the pipe.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you irrigated any land with wind-millsº
Mr. PHILLIPs. Not to any great extent 2
The CHAIRMAN. Have you irrigated gardens º
Mr. PHILLIPS. People have irrigated their gardens that way. In the
south, part of the county there is a kind of surface spring water, and
- they had some little crops there. In the eastern part of the county it
is lower and they have some better crops there. We do not see our
Way to farming there unless we can see our way to water.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any way to store storm water there?
Mr. PHILLIPS. Yes; there are natural reservoirs all over there.
The CHAIRMAN. In these large natural depressions the water evapo-
rates. You would have to find smaller ones. *
Mr. PHILLIPS. We could get them of any size.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not tried to make ponds &
Mr. PHILLIPS. I have a small pond which is used somewhat for a
fish pond.
138 A L–vol. III––36
562 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. If it would do for fish it would do for irrigation.
Mr. PHILLIPs. Certainly. We can pump water into it.
The CHAIRMAN. You can not fill it from storm water, then.
Mr. PHILLIPS. No. Our rains in the spring are heavy. From Jan-
uary to June We have had for three years past plenty of rain and after
that time we have had scarcely any rain. If we had reservoirs pre-
pared we would be able to store that early spring water.
The CHAIRMAN. And irrigation at the critical time would enable you
to raise crops?
Mr. PHILLIPs. Yes, without any trouble.
The CHAIRMAN. If that section were surveyed carefully and places
; ºvoirs located by Scientific men of experience would it be useful
O you."
Mr. PHILLIPS. I think it would. The majority of our farmers now
think that the only thing to be done is to store the storm water.
STATEMENT OF JAMES ROBSON, OF JULESBURG, COLO.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. ROBSON. I am in the banking business there.
The CHAIRMAN. Has your attention been called to the deficiency of
moisture here for the purposes of growth of crops.
Mr. ROBSON. It has. -
The CHAIRMAN. How long have you been here?
Mr. ROBSON. About two and a half years.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you looked over the country to see what the
conditions were by Which farming might be improved and moisture ob-
tained ?
Mr. ROBSON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. We shall be glad to have any statements you think
proper to make in regard to the matter.
Mr. ROBSON. The land I speak of is between the North Platte and
the Lodge Pole Creek, and between the one hundred and second and
the one hundred and fourth meridians. From the time I have been in
this country I have become convinced that to make a success of corn
it is necessary to have more moisture. We have for that purpose, in
our town, discussed the matter in our board of trade. There was a
committee formed to investigate it and see whether there was any
possibility of irrigating the region which I have mentioned, from Jules-
burg west and northwest. The committee engaged the services of an
engineer of Denver, named Wilson, to go across this country and see
whether there was any possibility of taking the Water from the North
Platte and bringing it over toward Julesburg and irrigating there.
To make my remarks shorter, I will read a short paper that the com-
mittee prepared yesterday, after they learned that your Committee was
to meet here.
The paper is as follows:
Our object in laying this scheme before the committee is to call your attention to
it, and give it prominence and recognition as an undertaking of great importance
and value to a large number of people in one of the most fertile regions of western
Nebraska. The practicability of ditching from the North Platte River, at a point
northwest of Julesburg about 100 miles, across the table-land, has been established by
a preliminary survey. The proposed route is from a point on the North Platte River,
near Camp Clark, on to the table-land, and in a Southeast direction to Julesburg.
In regard to the quality of the section Of country to be irrigated, We would Say
that we believe that no stretch of country approaching this to any degree in scope
and richness has been irrigated in the West.
the GREAT WALUE OF A GOVERNMENT SURVEY. 563
The soil is first-class; no sand or gravel to be found in the entire distance except in
the river bottom. te
From the point where the projected route strikes the table land to the terminus
there is not one acre of inferior land, and no area can be found that will irrigate to
better advantage. -
A ridge or divide extends almost the entire route, thus allowing the water to be
conducted both ways for many miles. The river bluffs are composed of soil and soft
rock. The river bottom contains some sand, the same as is found all along either
valley of the Plattes. The survey, which was made by Mr. C. A. Wilson, a civil
engineer of Denver, found the fall of the North Platte River to be 10 feet to the mile,
and the height of the bluffs about 350 feet. The fall of the table-land is about 7 feet
to the mile, the general trend being to the southeast from the starting point. . The
scope to be irrigated is on an average about 25 miles in width; beautiful, level-lying .
land, with a ridge running along the center, this making it easy to irrigate the whole
Scope.
The committee believe that this project bids fair to open up the richest part of the
West, and make the whole tract embraced within the scope of the ditch a perfect
garden, and the people a rich and prosperous community.
That no ditch in the West would be more profitable to its constructors and satis-
factory to its operators. - -
|Mr. ROBSON. I would say in regard to the water supply that the North
Platte has always afforded an abundance of Water, and that the engin-
eer at the time he was there, just about a year ago, said that there was
then an abundance of water for the supply of three or four or half a
dozen such ditches as would be necessary to irrigate that region, prob-
ably, at that time. The inhabitants around the river there have
been there for a great number of years; they said they never knew the
river to be so low, although it is probably lower now than it has ever
been. Still, if the river did not afford enough surplus water running, I
think the possibility of obtaining water enough by creating dams in the
gravel is very great, and would be successful. All through this whole
region of country there is an underlying stratum of water that is prac.
tically inexhaustible. That has been demonstrated without any dis-
pute. It is necessary that dams should be built if anything is to be
made out of that country in the way of agriculture. I think that by
building dams and running down into this gravel-bed a water supply
can be obtained. It may be expensive, but the water is there.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think an investigation by the Government
as to the best mode of doing it, and where the water can be obtained
and estimates of cost and reservations made for reservoir sites would
be valuable to the people here ? -
Mr. ROBSON. Very valuable, indeed.
STATEMENT OF C. A. WALKER, OF OGALALLA:
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation ?
Mr. WALKER. I am county surveyor of this county.
The CHAIRMAN. You are familiar, I suppose, with the water supply
about here? -
Mr. WALKER. Yes.
º CHAIRMAN. Have you made any surveys in reference to irriga.
tion
Mr. WALKER. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. You may state, in your own way, what you have
done, and give us your views with regard to irrigation.
Mr. WALKER. I made one preliminary survey on the south side of
the South Platte River, beginning at the Colorado line and extending
it about 23 miles east. From what I have done I should think a water.
supply could be easily obtained at that point, and a ditch could be built
*r-
*~
564 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
at very little expense. There are about 30,000 or 40,000 acres of land
- that could be put under ditch. &
The CHAIRMAN. If a ditch were commenced at that point would it
get onto the table-lands 3
Mr. WALKER. Not so far down as I came.
take 30 or 35 miles to do that. -
The CHAIRMAN. Can you not go up higher to better advantage, and
get a ditch on to the table-lands, or are you in the sand belt 3
Mr. WALKER. No. I could have gone 30 or 35 miles further up the
river, and by that means it would get to the table-land.
The CHAIRMAN. Would not that be a better place?
Mr. WALKER. I think likely it would.
The CHAIRMAN. How would you get the water from the river ?
b ºr. WALKER. By means of a gallery going down into the gravel
€(1. -
The CHAIRMAN. Is that ditch going to be constructed ?
Mr. WALKER. I do not know.
The CHAIRMAN. What chance is there for storing storm-water on the
south side of the river ?
Mr. WALKER. There are very good chances. On the south side—in
fact, on both sides—of each of the rivers, the North and South Plattes,
there are lagoons, the lower parts of which could be dammed up, and I
think a great deal of storm-water could be saved. -
The following papers were received and filed. The committee then
adjourned, to meet at Washington, D.C., on the call of the chairman :
I should think it would
STATMENT OF A. D. SCHERMERHORN, ENGINEER NEBRASKA
DIVISION OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY. -
The main line of the Union Pacific Railway, from the one hundredth meridian west
to Cheyenne, passes through the western part of Nebraska and eastern part of Wyo-
ming. Along this line the water supply of the road is, with two exceptions, derived
entirely from wells, which give a supply ample for all uses of the company. The road
lies along the South Platte River and Lodge Pole Creek, and the wells are sunk on
this line, varying in depth from 12 to 30 feet east of Potter Station, and west of
there from 35 to 120 feet deep. In sinking these wells trouble was often llad on
account of quicksand.
Following is a list of wells along the above line, with depth, quantity, and quality
of water, etc. :

Station. Depth.|Diameter.|Quantity. Quality.
I'eet. Feet.
Willow Island --------------------------------------------------- 12; 12% Ample..] Tair.
Brady Island ---------------------------------------------------- 12 1.2 - do ... [...do.
Maxwell --------------------------------------------, -, ---------- 10 12 . . . . do . . . . . do.
North Platte. ---------------------------------------------------- 7() * Limited | Good.
O'Fallon's.------------------------------------------------------- 15 9% |.... do . . . . . . do
Paxton.---------------------------------------------------------- 19 12 || Ample..]. . . do
Ogalalla-----------. ---------------------------------------------- 10 12 |.... do . . . . . . do
Julesburg.------------------------------------------------------- 18 12 || - do - - -]... do.
Weir. ------------------------------------------------------------ 17 9; Ilimited ... do.
Lodge Pole .--, ------------------------------------------- ------ 17 9% |.... do . . . . . . do.
Sidney.--...------------------------------------------------------ 35 12 || Ample do
Potter ------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30 9š |. -- do ---|--|-do
Bushnell.------------------------------------------- ---------- 40 9% Limit 6d. |... do.
Pine Bluffs ------------------------------------------------------ 40 9% Ample. . . . . do.
Tºgbert.----------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 35 93 ||--- do . :-)---do.
Hillsdalo ---------- -->e------------------------------------------ 60 9 || Limited. . . . do.
Atkins.--------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12() 12 | . . . . do ... Fair.
* Four 3-inch pipes.
More or less alkali is found in the water of all the above wells. At Big Springs the
supply is derived from a spring on the hill, from which a pipeline is laid
wº
to the tank,
§:
GENERAL - VIEW OF RECLAMATION POSSIBILITIES. 565
it being a gravity supply. The water is of good quality, but the supply, is limited.
At Kimball the water is pumped from Lodge Pole Creek, about 1 mile from the
road, direct into the tank. The supply is ample and the quality good.
No storage system in use on the road. No record has been kept by this department
of the rain-fall in this part of the State. The rain-fall is light, and what there 1s gen-
erally occurs between the months of January and July.
There are no irrigation enterprises in successful Operation, though several plans for
the same have been talked of.
At Kearney there is a canal running from the Platte River, which furnishes water
power, but is not used for irrigation purposes.
STATEMENT OF ABBEN WOODCOCK, GENERAL LAND COMMIS-
SIONER OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY.
The Union Pacific Company has never made any surveys relative to irrigating its
lands. Neither has it at any time published maps or reports on the subject of irri-
gation. We have nothing in print relative to the matter.
The subject of irrigation is a very important one. The solution of the problem,
“How can the millions of acres of our arid lands be irrigated?” may well engage the
best minds of our eountry, and especially enlist the attention of Congress.
There is no more beautiful country in the world than that which lies between the
Missouri River and the Rockies, “The great divide of our continent.” Richer land
the sun does not shine on. The west third of this lovely country is mostly unpro-
ductive for the want of water. Where water has been applied to its soil vegetation
springs up like magic and grows and blooms with all the luxuriance of a flower gar-
den. Its yield of vegetables, the cereals, and of fruits is very prolific, and the
quality is of the very best.
In Colorado, the land to yield must be irrigated. This is also true of Wyoming,
Idaho, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and the south of California.
In Colorado, east of the mountains, the rivers and streams are already tapped by
irrigating ditches; and in the driest part of the season hardly furnish sufficient
water to irrigate the lands that are already under cultivation. The South Platte, in
its meandering course through Nebraska, is but a bed of sand, the water having been
taken from it in Colorado. The same may be said of other streams that have their
source in the Rockies. In the dry season but little water through these channels
reaches the Missouri.
It is supposed that if the few floods that swell those streams in summer were gath-
ered into reservoirs, sufficient water would be furnished to irrigate the lands which
are now under cultivation. At present this is not the case. But how can water be
procured to irrigate the millions of acres in Colorado that are yet uncultivated and
can be used only for grazing land?
In the spring-time of the year the melting snows of the mountains come thunder-
ing down the rocky defiles of the mountains in cascades, and the rain-storms at times
pour in torrents. These swell the creeks and streams to overflowing, but soon are
carried away in swiftly-running currents and are lost in the great rivers on their
way to the sea. How can the priceless waters of these spring floods be saved to the
parched up and thirsty country? By collecting them into numerous and extensive
reservoirs throughout the country. . These reservoirs must be strongly and scientific-
ally built. Large canals and ditches must be so constructed that the waters in
flood time may be carried from the creeks and rivers at a high elevation into these
reservoirs. No water of flood-time must be allowed to escape as long as there may be
room in the reservoirs.
There would, of course, be a constant loss of water from the reservoirs by seepage
into and through the ground. The water that would escape by seepage would again
appear to the surface in the form of springs and little rivulets. These would break
out in low depressions of the ground, in ravines, and small valleys.
These springs and rivulets would be utilized by the farmer in watering his stock or
in irrigating his orchards and garden.
Reservoirs might be made in the creeks and rivers themselves by building good and
substantial drains at certain available places along their courses. -
Mr. Gilmore, general manager of the Platte Land Company, Denver (who, by the
way, has studied this subject for years), says that in Colorado they estimate that a
stream of water equal to 1 cubie foot per second of time is sufficient for irrigating
50 acres. It is believed that could the vast amount of water that falls in spring and
occasionally at intervals during the year be saved for irrigation, it would be âmpiy
sufficient to make the States and Territories above named bloom like a rose agricultu-
rally. The cost of the construction of such reservoirs, canals, and ditches would be so
great, that capitalists, as yet, have not dared to undertake the enterprise. Should
our General Government lead off in this great enterprise by making the required sur-
566 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
veys in the different States and Territories where irrigation is a necessity, and in-
augurate that great work, capitalists, and the people generally, would enthusiastic:
ally join in and give every aid in their power.
THE LANDS OF THE UNION PACIFIC RAILWAY COMPANY.
Nebraska.-As far west as North Platte, on the Union Division of the Union Pacific
Railway, the country is agriculturally rich and most prolific in crops, and for some
distance beyond Julesburg crops are raised successfully without irrigation. In the
extreme western part of the State “dry farming” (as cultivation without irrigation
is called) has not thus far been entirely successful. Good crops, however, at some
seasons in the western part have been raised. The settlers have confidence and be-
lieve that ere long in the future the rain-fall will be amply sufficient. The amount of
rain-fall from year to year has gradually increased. The rain-fall this year has been
abundant and the prospects for an abundant crop are splendid. The company has
practically sold its lands in Nebraska. It has but few pieces unsold. Irrigation I
do not think is needed in any part of Nebraska.
Wyoming.—The company has sold all its land in this Territory as far west as Fort
Steele, with the exception of a few sections. The land was sold for grazing purposes,
with few exceptions, to men engaged in raising cattle. We have yet a large body of
land in the western part of the Territory, at least 2,500,000 acres, lying on either side
of Green River. I have no doubt that a great portion of this land lying west of Green
River can be made highly productive and capable of sustaining thousands of people
by constructing a canal that will tap the river high up towards its source, by means
of which at least two-thirds of the company's as well as the Government's lands can
be successfully irrigated. I ask that your committee investigate this subject when
in Wyoming. There is no question about the richness of the soil; even that upon
which the station of Green River is situated, which seems so sterile. When at that
station, please look at the little inclosure of a Mr. Johnson, just south of our track.
It is as green and beautiful as a Washington City park—the effects of irrigation. Ow-
ing to the high altitude of Wyoming, Indian corn can not probably be raised, but
other crops will be a success. Eastern Wyoming is very similar to western Nebraska,
and but little irrigation will be necessary. I am of the opinion that the North Platte,
flowing through the southeast of this Territory, can be made to yield its waters to por-
tions of land in that part of the Territory. The same may be said of Bear River, in
the western part of the Territory. The unsold Wyoming land has up to this date
been a source of outgo to the company in the shape of fees paid for obtaining patents
and the yearly taxes, and has furnished no income. . It now seems probable that these
payments will have amounted to so much by the time this land is sold as to largely
reduce the net revenue of the company from this portion of its grant.
Colorado.—The company has over 2,500,000 acres of land in this State. The greater
portion can be used alone for grazing purposes unless irrigated. In the extreme
eastern part of the State settlers on quite a large area adjoining Kansas and Neb-
raska have been trying farming, but with varying success. To insure crops even
here irrigation is necessary. I have written more fully of this State in the com-
mencement of this letter.
Idaho.—The company had no land grant in this Territory, but owing to its Oregon
Short Line, and Utah and Northern Railway, it has great interest in the Territory.
The land is very rich. The Snake River, having its source in our National Park, and
meandering through the central and west portion of the Territory, is capable of ir-
rigating millions of acres, and of making the south half of this Territory as produc-
tive and rich as any part of our country. The climate is admirable, and when water
touches its soil vegetation seems to spring up spontaneously.
Utah.—The company has a little over 400,000 acres of land in Utah. The greater
part of this land is situated in the eastern part of the Territory, adjacent to Wyo-
ming, and is very broken and mountainous. At present the greater portion Of it ls
fit only for grazing purposes. The land in Utah, without exception, must be irri-
gated to produce agriculturally... The surface of the country is broken into high
Éills and mountains, very rich valleys intervening. . Much of the land can never be
reached with water, but many valleys can be irrigated, by the outlay of capital,
and when irrigated will become surpassingly beautiful like that of Salt Lake. As
is well known, the climate of this Territory is superb, and in salubrity can not be ex-
celled. A great many of the valleys are well settled, but there is a large body of
land in nearly all of these which can not be farmed either because water is scarce, or
can not be got upon it from the streams. A system of water supply from Utah for
irrigating purposes would unquestionably open up large and fertile areas in many of
the very productive valleys in which the Territory abounds, and be the means of
adding a large population to a country blessed with an invigorating and healthful
climate and a capacity for producing many and varied crops, not the least of which
are fruits of the best quality known.
VALUE OF THE NIOBRARA FOR IRRIGATION. 567
Iſangas.—The company has sold a vast amount of land in Kansas, there remaining
yet unsold upwards of 700,000 acres. This land is first class, and lies in the western
part of the State. Here irrigation is not needed. The maturing crops at this season
of the year were never better, and there is every indication of a very abundant har-
vest. The air is pure and bracing and the climate healthful.
I am well aware that I have not treated this subject in the manner you wish.
What you desire is succinct and definite information as to the practicability and feas-
ability of irrigation in these different States and Territories. . As I said, this depart-
ment has never made any surveys or studied the subject relative to irrigating the
company’s lands. I am therefore unable to treat the subject in the practical manner
it should be.
STATEMENT OF AUGUST V. KAUTZ, COLONEL EIGHTH INFAN-
TRY, COMMANDING AT £oRT NIOBRARA.
The Niobrara River flows near the northern line of the State almost its entire length
from west to east. The current is very rapid and the volume of water may be
roughly calculated by assuming an average depth of 2 feet and an average width of
150 feet. It is a remarkably constant stream, subject neither to droughts or floods. In
the past two years it has not varied more than 2 feet between the highest and lowest
water. A large portion of the country through which the river flows is sandy and
subject to drought, and its value would be vastly increased if the land north and
south of the river could be irrigated. The highest areas are not more than 200 feet
above the stream, but many large areas are not half so high. The fall of the river is
so great that it would seem highly probably that much if not all the land in the vicin-
ity of the river could be reclaimed.
The constant character of the river is due to the fact that it is supplied entirely by
springs. The country is underlaid by an impervious strata which forces the surface
water it has passed through the sand that overlies it to drain into the river through
the springs, thus making the water supply constant and unvarying. The river-bed
has cut down into this strata about 100 feet in the cicinity of this post. Beyond this
fact the thickness of the strata is not known. Its impervious character, however,
suggests the great probability that artesian water could be obtained by boring
through it. The material of the strata is a white earth, alkaline, and sufficiently
firm to present a perpendicular wall along a great portion of the river, but as far as
known it can be bored as easily as chalk. The nearest flowing well to this point is
at Fort Randall, on the Missouri River, about 125 miles east of this post. Its depth is
said to be something over 600 feet. If the fact could be demonstrated that artesian
water could be obtained within 1,000 feet of the surface it would be of incalculable
value to this portion of the State.
STATEMENT OF J. S. POLAND, LIEUTENANT-COLONEI, TWENTY-
FIRST INFANTRY, U. S. ARMY, OF FORT SIDNEY.
My experience in this department is not extensive enough for me to make any valu-
able suggestions, but I wish to remark that while stationed at Fort Bridger it oc-
curred to me that portions of the country near that post could be made fertile by
raising water from an unfailing stream, the Black Fork of Green River, into reser-
voirs at suitable places along its banks, as can be determined by barometric survey,
and large portions of the country reclaimed by irrigating ditches. The soil is fertilé
and needs only proper moisture to produce anything. I am not prepared to confirm
the assertion of a prominent geologist that the plains of southwest Wyoming may
yet furnish a valuable fertilizing soil for worn-out districts.
STATEMENT OF E. W. STONE, CAPTAIN comp ANY A, TwPNTY-
FIRST INFANTRY, U. S. ARMY, OF FORT SIDNEY.
My experience in irrigation has been such only as applies to the cultivation of a
company garden. For the successful cultivation of a garden, growing of trees, in
fact any product of the earth, on the plains, and I might say through the entire
West, irrigation to a certain extent is necessary. In the few places that have
come under my observation no organized system has been adopted. Generally
streams of water have been tapped, and water, without regard to quantity required,
allowed to flow over the surface without means being provided for conducting that
not required back to the stream, thus allowing great waste which, as the country
settles, causes a scarcity, and in many cases trouble.
568 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
In many sections irrigation by flooding the surface is common, which, in my opin-
ion, is injurious. When the flow of water is stopped, the heat and dry atmosphere
converts the surface into a hard crust, thus preventing the air from penetrating to
the roots of the plants, etc., which is essential to a healthy growth. I have met with
the best success in irrigation by means of narrow trenches leading from a main ditch,
whereby the water is absorbed in the earth around the roots of the plants and the
surface left free and opened.
At this post means of irrigation are furnished from Lodge Pole Creek, the water of
which is conducted to the post by a military ditch tapping the creek about a mile
and a half above the post, by which means 20 acres in vegetables are sucessfully cul-
tivated; fine grass plats and a luxurious growth of trees are maintained about the
garrison. In this section, as settlers increase, additional acreage comes under cul-
tivation, and timber claims planted, the rain-ſall sensibly increases ever year, thus
decreasing the demands for irrigation.
At the fair of the County Agricultural Society held at Sidney last year many fine
Specimens of vegetables and small grains, raised without irrigation, were exhibited.
Prizes are only offered for such exhibits as are raised without irrigation in this
county.
STATEMENT OF H. L. BAILEY, FIRST LIEUTENANT AND REGI-
MENTAL, QUARTERMASTER TWENTY-FIRST INFANTRY, U. S.
ARMY, OF FORT SIDNEY.
Observed the system and results of irrigation over wide tracts of dry, deserts in
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Utah, and elsewhere. In Utah, lately, capitalists are
forming companies to construct and control great ditches or canals, which will give
thern power to heavily tax thousands of farmers. Such projects are in contempla-
tion, I believe, in this vicinity of Nebraska. The South Platte River throughout this
State is destitute of water in summer in consequence of the use of its water in irri-
gation in Colorado. The taking of the water should be regulated by law. The soil
of these deserts I have mentioned is very rich in agricultural ingredients, and needs
only water. The North Platte, 70 miles north of this place, could, I doubt not, be
made to irrigate many thousands of acres of Wyoming and Nebraska. I have not
been over the ground personally, but I think it would be easy to conduct its waters
to these little valleys along the Union Pacific Railway. The benefit of such spread
of the water would extend beyond mere wetting of the soil, as the effect of the moist-
ure and resulting vegetation would in time so modify the climate as to produce more
rain and dow.
SESSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
El Paso, Tex., September 6, 1889. ------------------------------------------
Santa Fé, N. Mex., September 7, 1889.--------...----...----. --- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On train at Las Cruces, N. Mex., September 8, 1889. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On train at Pecos, Tex., September 9, 1889- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On train at Colorado, Tex., September 9, 1889 -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
On train from Midland, Tex., September 9, 1889 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Toyah Tex., September 9, 1889 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Fort Worth, Tex., September 11, 1889 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
. On train near Dodge City, Kans., September 11, 1889. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dodge City, Kans., September 12, 1889. ------...--- - - - - ---------------------
Garden City, Kans., September 13, 1889.-----...----- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Pueblo, Colo., September 14, 1889 -----------------------------------------.
Colorado Springs, Colo., September 14, 1889.-------------...---...----- - - - - - - - -
Denver, Colo., September 16, 1889 ---------------------...------------------.
Fort Collins, Colo., September 17, 1889 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Greeley; Colo., September 17, 1889.--------------------------. -- - - - - - - - - - -.
Cheyenne, Wyo., September 17, 1889---------------------------------------
Ogalalla, Nebr., September 19, 1889.-------------------...-------------------
IN DE X.
A.
Page.
º features and resources ------------------...--------------46, 130,534,535
Altitudes, in and Region:
Abilene --------------------------------------------------------------- 106
Baird ------------------------------------------------ ----------- - * sit sº tº & 106
Bear River, near ------------------------------------------------------ 453
Big Horn Valley ----------------------------------------- ------------ 459
Brazos River, changes westward from -----, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---------- 106
at the Texas and Pacific railroad crossing - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 118
Texas ------------------------------------------------ 21
crossing ------------------------------------------------------- 106
Breathing Well in Texas --------...----. -------------------------------- 108
YC16- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 106
Colorado River crossing, Texas.--------------------------------------- 104, 106
Deeming, New Mexico ------------------------------------------------ 65
Doña Aña, New Mexico ----------------------------------------------- 85
Douro Station, Texas - - - - - - - - - - - - - ... as a tº sº, ºr a sº a se as sº sº, sº as e º sº º sº, sm ºf sº º º sº sº, sº ºn s = * * * * = 118
Eastland, Texas------------------------------------------------------- 106
Fort Collins, Colorado, near--------------------------- --------------. 307
Gordon ---------------------------- ----------------------------------- 106
Jornado del Muerto, New Mexico -------------------------------------- 89
Lamber, at ----------------------------------------------------------- 106
Laramie and plains, at ------------------------------------------------ 106,439
Marienfeld, at -------------------------------------------------------- 118
Merkel, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 106
Midland, at ----------------------------------------------------------- 118
Midland County, in ---------------, -------------...------------------- 124
Monahans, Texas------------------------------------------------------ 119
Mountains of, extreme ------------------------------------------------ 65
Northern New Mexico, in ---------------------------------------------- 39
Odessa, Texas--------------------------------------------------------- 118
Panhandle, Texas- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 104
Panhandle region ----------------------------------------------------- 138
Pecos, Texas---------------------------------------------------------- 56
Pecos Valley, Texas ---------------------------------------------...----- 132
Ranger--------------------------------------------------------------- 106
Rio Grande, above the ------------------------------------------------ 27
San Luis Valley, Colorado. ------------------------------------------- 326
Southern Colorado---------------, --------------------------------- 39
Staked Plain, Texas-------------------------------------------------- 105,137
Strawn --------------------------------------------------------------- 106
Sweetwater----------------------------------------------------------- 106
Texas, Various parts of.----------------------------------------------- 104
Trent ---------------------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 106
Warfield------------------------------------------------------------- 118
IB.
Basins, relating to :
Ancient lake, known as the “White Sand Hills”. ... ---. --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 119
Big Horn.--------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 447
Cache la Poudre, the----------------------------------------------- 408,456, 457
Catchment, Rio Pecos, of---------------------------------------...----. 100
Penver.-------------------------------------------------------------- 365
Land-locked---------------------------------------------------------. 124
572 - - INDEX.
te º tº- Page.
Basins, relating to—Continucd. - -
Natural.------------------------------------------- 42,134,445,454, 467,468,558
Natural storage, the ----------------------------------------------, ---- 99 |
Paris and London.---------------------------------------------------- 365
Storage. ------------------------------------------------------------ 542
Tennessee, of.-----, * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ - - - - - e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 288
Plaek Hills --------------------------------------------------------------. 440
C. :
California big trees.------------------------------------------------------. 281
Camps, U. S.; -
Pina ----------------------------------------------------------------- 54
Canals for irrigation, and relating to:
American and Mexican irrigation.--------------------------, ---------. 50
Beat River.----------------------------------------------------------- 535
Cachola Poudro------------------------------------------------------ 389
Casa Grande, at------------------------------------------------------ 62
Construction of.------------------------------------------------------- 128, 120
about Socorro ------------------------------------------- 59
Del Norto, map of the ---------------------------. --------------------- 328
Pureka --------------------------------------------------------------- 161,216
Grand Valley - - - - - - - - - --------------------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 377
High-line -------------------------------------------- * * * * * * s sº as sº sº we - as as a • 47, 48
Irrigating -------------------------------------------- 24, 27, 30, 39, 41, 55, 60, 129
Lariet ---------------------------------------------------------------- 304
Larimer and Weld ---------------------------------- ------------------ 392,405
La Tempo -----------------------------------------------------------. - 62
Lincoln County, in ---------------------------------------------------- 60
Main------------------------------------------------------------------ 30, 55
Miles of.----------------------------------------------------------- 314, 315, 325
Natural, relating to -------------------------------------------------- 148,149
Northern, tho - - - - - - was º ºs º ºn tº ºr º º sº º ºs º is sº e º 'º - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8, 100
Pecos Investment Company------...------------------------------------ 55, 110
Pioneer, Texas. ------------------------------------------------------- 56, 535
Platte, rules for employés on the . . . . . -----...-------------------------- 374,375
Reeves County, in . ----------------------------------------------------
Rio Grande ----------------------------------------------------------- 325
Rio Grande Valley, in the ---------------------------------------------- 54
Southern, the ------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 100
System of.--------------------------------------------------- tº tº sº tº ºn º ºr as 7, 8,84
Union Colony--------------------------------------------------------- 39:
Cañons.-------------------------------------------------- 34, 45, 46,66, 70, 138,268
Animas, the ---------------------------------------------------------- 82
Cherry Creek --------------------------------------------------------- 353
Colorado Rivor, on the ------------------------------------------------ 37
Cuchillo Negra, the --------------------------------------------------- 82
Dolaware------------------------------------------------------------- 103,
Fraser---------------------------------------------------------------- 53
Port McCrea---------------------------------------------------------- f 82
Langtry-------------------------------------------------------------- 36
Las Vegas Hot Springs, 4 miles above --------------------------------- 91
Lympia -------------------------------------------------------------- * 53
Northern New Mexico.------------------------------------------------ 7
North Platte--------------------------------------------------------- 541
Nueces River --------------------------------------------------------- 8
Olympia------------, ------------------------------------------------- 103,115
Palmas, tho---------------------* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 82 .
Perches, the ---------------------------------------------------------- 82
Quitman ------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * es as ºn tº º ºw. - - - - 6
Red River -------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 72
Regions of.----------------------------------------------------------- 18
Rosebud------------------------------------------------------------- 53
Sandia Mountains.------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - 87
Staked Plain --------------------------------------------------------- T16
Vermejo -------------------------, ----------------------------- ----- , 98
Yellow Horse ---------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * 20
Chalk Blnffs -------------------------------------------------------------- 402
Chesapeake Bay ---------------------------------------------------------- 64.
index. - - 573
- - Page.
Cities and towns:
Abilene, Kansas---------------------------------------------------. 117,308, 312
Adelaide---------, ---------------------------------------------------- 70
Albuquerque ----, --------------------------------- 5, 6,42, 75,80, 81, 86, 87, 88,90
Aleman -----------------------------, ------------------ * * * * * *s ºr sº - - s is sº º 88
Artesian City ---------------------------------------------------- * * * *- 166
Austin -------------------------------------------------------- 102, 107, 115, 134
Baird ---------------------------------------------------------------- 140
Hºg. * = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sh;
ig Spring------------------------------------------------------------
#º::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 249
Boston --------------------------------------------------------------- 73
Boswell -------------------------------------------------------------- 97
Brazoo------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 117
Breckinridge----------------------------------------- J as tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 261
Brewell -------------------------------------------------------------- 551
Brighton.---------------------------------------------, ---------------- 403
Buffalo ------------------------------------------------------------ 456, 458, 526
Cañon City---------------------------------------- 263,205, 207,269,286,288,289
Cerrillos:--------------------------------------, ---------------------- 96
Chamborino ----------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30
Cheyenne------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * 443, 460, 461,538, 564
Cimarron, Kansas.--------------------------------------. ------------- 185
Cisco -----------, ---------------------------------------------------- 139
Ciudad Juarez-------------------------------------------------------- 51
Cokeville --- - - --------- * * - * * * * * - we tº sº gº sº was º º ºs sº * * * * * *s as a 4- tº as * * * * * * * ss tº * * * * * * * 453
Colorado City------------------------------------------------------19, 121,275
Coolidge ------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 173, 174, 197
Coronado ------------------------------------------------------------ 62
Cumming City-------------------------------------------------------- 442
Dallas.------------------------------------------------ 21, 55, 118, 121, 124, 128
Darbin --------------------------------------------------------------- 515, 564
Dawson.--------------------------------------------------------------- 545
De Dios--------------------------------------------------------------- 30
Del Rio ---------------------------------------------------------- 36, 51, 52, 54
Deming ------------------------------------------------------- 63, 64, 82, 90, 95
Denver---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 33,265,274,276,289,290,
341, 342, 344, 345, 346, 351,353, 365, 372, 374, 379,383,397, 404, 454, 562
De San Lorenzo. ------------------------------------------------------ 30
Dodge City--------------------------------- 147, 149, 152, 154, 157, 184, 209, 212
Dolores--------------------------------------------, ------------------ 54
Douglas ---------------------------------------- '• - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 523
Douro ---------------------------------------------------------------- 119, 142
Dryden--------------------------------------------------------------- 11.2
Eaton ------------------------------------------------------------- 391, 402,405
Eddy----------------------------------------------------------------- 110
El Canton del Bravo'-------------------------------------------------- 48
El Paso.----------------------------------------------- 5, 6, 9, 12, 13, 15, 21, 26, 28,
29, 32, 34, 38, 40, 41,42, 44, 46, 48,49, 50, 75, 83, 89,90, 115, 116, 122, 141
El Rato--------------------------------------------------------------- 87
El Real.-------------------------------------------------------------- 30
Epernay, France-----. ------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1:37
Epworth ------------------------------------------------------------- 138
Espanola ------------------------------------------------------------- 75
Estacado ------------------------------------------------------------- 138
Evans ---------------------------------------------------------------- 388,403
Evanston.------------------------------------------- ---------------- 452,453
Fabens-------------------------------------------------------------. -34, 37, 48
Fontenelle.----------------------------- & tº ºr sº tº e- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 523
Fremont-------------------------------------------------------------- 540
Fruita---------------------------------------------------------------- 379
Garden City------------------------------ 181,183,186,187, 190, 191,200,210,215
Germania----------------------------------------------------- -------- 119
Golden ----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 366
Goshen --------------------------------------------------------------- 517
Grand Junction.----------------------------------------------- 326, 377, 378,379
Grant ---------------------------------------------------------------- 554,561
Granite------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = ... e. 267
Great Bend * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - -, * * * * * . . . . 153
574 - INDEX.
& 2 - * Page.
Cities and towns—Continued. º
Greeley, Colo.----------------- 228,355,381,385,388,394,395,396,398,402,403,405
Guadalupe --------------------------------------...-----------------. 26, 49
Hartford ------------------------------------------------------------- 73
Hillsboro ------------------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 82
!gnacio--------------------------------------------------------------- 372
Pgalls --------------------------------------------------------------- 101,208
Jetmore -------------------------------------------------------------. 154
Juarez---------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30, 41, 44, 47, 48
Julesburg -------------------------------------------------------- tº s • * 562
Junction City -------------------------------------------------------- 210,229
Kansas City ---------------------------------------------------------- 183
Kearney-------------------------------------------------------------- 540,565
Kimball ----------------------------------------------------------559,560,565
Kingsley ------------------------------------------------------145, 146,207,208
Pabonte -------------------------------------------------------------- • 527
Tº Junta ---------------------------------------------------------- 184, 185, 309
Lake ----------------------------------------------------------------- 05
Lamar---------------------------------------------------------------- 185,309
Lander --------------------------------------------------------------- 459
La Massile.----------------------------------------------------------- 30
La Mesa.------------------------------------------------------------- 30
Laramie----------------------------------- 439, 448, 454,463,464, 465, 509, 513, 533
Larned --------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Las Amoles ----------------------------------------------------------- 30
Las Animas, Colorado------------------------ ------------------------ 185
Las Cruces ----------------------------------------- 6, 30, 32, 59,63,81, 87,88, 111
Las Vegas -----------------------------------------------------------, 72, 91
La Union------------------------------------------------------ * - - - - - - 30
Leadville------------------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 261,267,286,287,344,354
Lincoln ------------------------------ * * * * * - as we ºn s sº me sº s g º se e º 'º º º sº º sº tº as as is as as ºn e - - 538
Littleton ------------------------------------------------------------- 344
London --------------------------------------------------------------- 365
Los Angeles.----, --------------------------------* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 17
Lubbock-------------------------------------------------------------- 113
Manhattan, Kansas ---------------------------------, ----------------- 247
Mansfield------------------------------------------------------------- 113
Marfee---------------------------------------------------------------- 37, 53
Marienfeld.-------------------------------------------. 119, 121, 134, 135, 136, 137
Mariposa ------------------------------------------------------------- - 54
McKinney ------------------------------------------------------------ 132
Meade Center --------------------------------------------------------- 154
Merkel---------------------------------------------------------------- 133, 134
Mesilla ---------------------------------------------------------------- 6, 64
Mexico City.---------------------------------------------------. . 8, 24, 40, 43,44
Midlands ------------------------------------------------------------- 23
Midland.--------------------------------------------- . 109, 117, 118, 119, 121, 122
Miles City ----------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * ------ 26
Mineola. ----- .-------------------------------------------------------- 107
Minneapolis -----------, ---------------------------------------------- 458
Montagu -------------- • * * * * * * a se - es s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 33
Murphyville --------- ------------------------------------------------ 37
Naples.--------------------------------------------------------------- 79
New York City.------------------------------------------------------- 17, 73
Nombre------------------------- ... • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -'----------- 3ſ)
Oberly --------------------------------------------------------------- 208
Odessa ---------------------------------------------------- 113, 117, 119, 122,132
Ogalalla.-------------------------------------------------- 537, 539, 551, 556,563
Oklahoma -------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12
Paris ----------------------------------------------------------------- 365
Paso del Norte -------------------------------------------------- 26, 30, 31, 32, 47
Pecos City -------------------------------------- 8, 55,56, 57,97, 101, 112, 117, 132
Pena Blanca ---------------------------------------------------------- 75
Philadelphia----------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 73
Platteville--------------------, --------- • e s a sm sº as as a sº as sº - a tº a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * 397,403
Pueblo -------------------------------- 261,263,265,267,268,269,270,273,354, 355
Quitman --------------------------------------------------------------
Raton --------------------------------------> -- * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - 97
Richville ------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * tº sº ſº º ſº - - sº tº º --------------------------- 170
INDEX, 575
* - Page.
Cities and towns—Continued.
Roswell ------------------------------------------------------------ 96, 100, 110
Salt Lake City.------------------------------------------------------- 208
San Angela ----------------------------------------------------------. 21
San Angelo -------------------------------------------------------- 113, 130, 132
San Antonio.-----------------------------------------------8, 17, 35, 51, 104, 134
San Francisco ------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 67
San Ignacio. ---------------------------------------------------------- 49
San Marcial ---------------------------------------------------------- 6, 75,88
** San Pedro - - - - - ‘. . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * ~ * * 96
San Saba. ------------------------------------------------------------ 126
Santa Fé --------------------------------------- 65, 66, 68, 75, 78, 94, 96, 100, 176
Salitiago. ------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Saratoga ------------------------------------------------------------- 449
Scott Center-----, ---------------------------------------------------- 205
Scott City--------------------------------------------------------- 179, 185, 186
Seni Cu -------------------------------------------------------------- 30
Sherman ---------------------------------------------------------- 446,455, 524
Sidney --------------------------------------------------------------- {,
Socorro. ---------------------- wº, º ºs me as a sm • * * * is as as sº sº º sº ºr sº tº as tº sº º ºs º º ºs º ºs s is ºn tº as ºr * * * 28,75
Spearville ------------------------------------------------------------ 209
Speerville ------------------------ s ºr - - - e º sº tº º ºs - - - - e º e tº dº - - - - * * * * * * - - - - tº º 149
Springer ------------------------------------------------------------- 98
Sterling--------------------------------------------------- 292, 403, 458, 553,554
St. Paul -------------------------------------------------------------- 58
Syracuse -------------------------------------------------- 173, 197, 189, 199,212
Traburg ---------------------------------------------------------- - - - - 514
Tres Jacales ---------------------------------------------------------- 30
Topeka -----------------------------------------------------------. 241,256,310
Toyah -----------, --------------------------------------------------. 113
Trinidad-------------------------------------------------------------- 355
Ulysses --------------------------------------------------------------- 196
Valley---------------------------------------------------------------- 205
Victoria -------------------------------------------------------------- 53
Waco.----------------------------------------------------------------- 137
Washburn ------------------------------------------------------------ 113
Washington -------------------------------- 38, 39, 50, 117, 279, 285, 286, 462,564
Weatherford---------------------------------------------------------- 106, 107
Wendover -------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 525
West Las Animas----------------------------------------------------- 268
Wichita -------------------------------- as sº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 250
Worcester ------------------------------------------------------------ 39
Zaragoza ----------------------------------- w - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * * 49
Climate ---------------------------------------- 44, 69,70,98,99, 132, 139, 152, 199,208
Dry ------------------------------------------------------ ** * * * * * * * * * * *g 70, 116
Extreme heat--------------------------------------------- * * * * * * - - - as Ҽ s 43
Humid region.--------------------------------------------------------- 105, 120
Moist----------------------------------------------------------------- 135
Semi-arid in Texas---------------------------------------------------. 104
Sub-lathmid region.----- - ---------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 104, 105,107,133
Temperate.----------------------------------------------------------- 262
Warm ---------------------------------------------------------------- 42
Water, effect of on------ --------------------------------------------- - 18
Wintet of.------------------------------------------------------------ 56, 89
Colony:
Lumia---------------------------------------------------------------- 18
Quacker the -------------------- -------------------------------------- 138
Colorado forest legislation and suggestions ---------------------. ---------. 284
Constitutional provisions:
Colorado, State of ---------------------------------------------------- 410,411
New Mexico, proposed.-----------------------------------------------. 94
Wyoming, proposed --------------------------------------------------. 482
Counties:
Albany -----------------------------------------. 462, 463, 464, 465, 513,522,524
Andrew.--------------------------------------------------------------
Andrews.------------------------------------------------------------- 21
Arapahoe ------------------------------------------------------------. 404
Barton --------------------------------------------------------------- 153
Bent -- . . • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º ºr e º sº e º 'º' w ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • * * * * * 264
576 . . . . . . . Noex.
Page.
Counties—Continued. *
Bernalillo---------------------------------------------------------80, 81, 86,87
Brown --------------------------------------------------------------- 545, 546
Callahan ---------------------------------------------------------- 106, 107,140
Carbon --------------------------------------------------------------- 449,515
Cherry --------------------------------------------------------------- 546
Cheyenne.------------------------------------------------- s ºn sº º ºs º ºs º ſº º 249
Colfax---------------------------------------------------------------- 71, 72
Conºjos-------------------------------------------------------------- º 404
Concho--------------------------------------------------------------- 130
Converse -----------------------------`- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 462, 523, 527
Costilla ------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s ºr use º sº sº tº sº ºn s sº nº 404
Coulees in ---------------------------Tº sº sº w we as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 133
Cowley --------------------------------------------------------------- 170
Crane ---------------------------------------------------------------- 119
Crook ---------------------------------------------------------------- 461.
Crockett-----------------------------------------------------------. 35, 112, 110
Crosby ---------------------------------------------------------------- 113, 138
Custer-----------------------. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 544
Dawson -------------------------------------------------------------- 546
Dickens -------------------------------------------------------, ------ 119, 138
Dona Ana ------------------------------------------------------------ 59, 83,85
Douglas -------------------------------------------------------------- 353
Eastland ---------------------------------------------- a sº gº ºs tº gº º ºs e º 'º º 106, 107, 139
Eddy -----. y - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11.1 -
Edwards ------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 145,207
El Paso.------------------------ * * tº gº tº tº º is 22, 28, 35, 48,84, 104,105,106, 108, 112, 116
Finney ------------------------------------------------------- 158, 199,206,209
Floyd ---------------------------------------------------------------- 138
Fremont------------------------------------------------- --------- 459,461,510
Furnas -------------------------------------------------------------- 547
Gaines ----------------------------------------------------------- 134, 136, 137
Garza ---------------------------------------------------------------- 38
Grant ------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * *s, sº tº sº e º sº tº sº sº º ºs º ºs ºs º wº º ºs º º sº 196,206
Gray --------------------------------------------- 159, 160,161, 165, 167, 172,174
Greeley--------------------------------------------------------------- 179
Hale ----------------------------------------------------------------- 113, 138
Harlan --------------------------------------------------------------- 45
Hamilton ----------------------------------------------------- 113, 173, 197, 198
Hansford ------------------------------------------------------------- 104
Haskell-------------------------------------------------------- 176, 177, 178, 184
Hockley ----------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 112
Holt------------------------------------------------------------------ 545
IIoward --------------------------------------------------- 21, 102,118, 119, 139
Huerfano ------------------------------------------------------------- 404
Jefferson ------------------------------------------------------------- 364, 404
Joacum --------------------------------------------------------------- 137
Johnson.--------------------------------- 446,456,457, 458, 461, 514, 515, 526, 534
Kearney -------------------------------------------------------------- 194
Keith ---------------------------------------------------------------- 554
Kimball -------------------------------------------------------------- 559
Kinney --------------------------------------------------------------- 54
Knox--------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 545, 550
Llano ---------------------------------------------------------------- 117
Laramie ----------------------------- 460,462,465,516, 517,518, 519, 520,521,525
Larimor -------------------------------------- * * * * * * * g. s is as we & sº tº sº sº gº sº me is sº ºn tº 340
Las Animas.---------------------------------------------------------- 264, 404
Lincoln ----------------------------------------------- ----------- 60,83, 110,537
Lubbock. ------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is º º sm ºn sº tº sº sº, ºr sº as sº se 138
Martin ------------------------------------------ 21, 22, 103, 119, 134, 135,136, 137
Meade------------------------------------------------------------. 161,211,212.
Mesa ------------------------------------------------------------------ 378
Midland ----------------------------------------------- , tº dº ſº º º ſº tº ſº º ſº & tº gº tº gº 124
Mitchell. ... ---------------- m e º º ºs º ºn tº º ºs º ºs tº * * * * * * * > gº tº sº tº gº tº tº 104,106, 114, 119, 140, 141
Montague ----------------------------------, ------------------------- 104
Montgomery -------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s sº nº use ºn as tº me tº as sº tº * * * * * * * as 193
Morton--------------------------------------------------------------- 170,212
Motley --------------------------------------------------------------- 138
Navarro -------. ------------------------------------------------------ 114
.* INDEX. 577
Page
Counties—Continued.
Nolan ---------------------------------------------------------------- 140
Pan Handle----------------. ------------------------------------------ 128
Pecos----------------------------------------------------------------- 55, 112
Rains----------------------------------------------------------------- 22
Reeves ---------------------------------------------------------- 22, 57, 102, 112
Rio Grande----------------------------------------------------------- 404
Routt----------------------------------------------------------------- 307
Saguache ------------------------------------------------------------ 404
San Saba------------------------------------------------------------- 126, 127
Scott---------------------------------------------- 179, 180, 184, 193,200, 204,205
Shackelford ---------------------------------------------------------- 107
Sheridan ---------------------------------------------- 446, 456, 457, 45°, 461, 546-
Sierra ----------------------------------------------------------------
Sioux. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 546
Socorro. -------------------------------------------------------------- 78, 81
Stevens--------------------------------------------------------------- 167, 168
Sweetwater---------------------------------------------- tº sº sº º º is º gº ſº tº º &º º 451
Taos------------------------------------------ ----------------------- 77
Taylor--------------------------------------------------------. 117, 118, 133, 134
Terry----------------------------------------------------------------- 37
Tom Green.-------------------------------------------- 201, 104, 112, 113, 116, 130
Uintah --------------------------------------------------------------- 452, 523
Valencia.------------------------------------------------------------- 62, 81
Ward----------------------------------------------------------------- 57
Weld ---------------------------------------------------------------- 340
West Las Animas.---------------------------------------------------- 266
Wichita -------------------------------------------------------------- 179
Countries:
Africa ---------------------------------------------------------------- 80
Arabia --------------------------------------------------------------- 95
Asia------------------------------------------------------------------ 95
Australia ------------------------------------------------------------- 69,70
China ---------------------------------------------------------------- 70
Chickasaw Nation ---------------------------------------------------- 11
gypt ---------------------------------------------------------------- 80
England-------------------------------------------------------------- 365
Europe --------------------------------------------------------------- 70
France ------------------------------------------------------------- 79, 137, 365
Germany ------------------------------------------------------------- 281
India---------------------------------------------------------------- 70, 80, 365
Italy ----------------------------------------------------------------- 137
Japan -----------------------------------, ---------------------------- 70
Mexico. ---9, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 24, 29, 30, 33, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 50, 51,84, 122, 139,328
Persia ---------------------------------------------------------------- 95
Spain---------------------------------------------------------------- 25, 69
United States------- 6, 17, 20,29, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, 47, 48,49, 50, 54,63, 69,78, 104,107,
120, 139, 140, 178, 187, 189, 190, 200,281,388,449, 466,485, 545
Creeks:
Beals----------------------------------------------------------------- 140, 141
Bear------------------------------------------------------- 196, 197,206,344, 460
Beaver--------------------------------------------------------------- 263,269
Big Beaver--------------------------------- ------------------------- 403
Big Crow.------------------------------------------------------------ 403
Bijou.--------------------------------------------------------------- 403
Bitter------------------------ --------------------------------------- 451
Box Elder------------------------------------------------------------ 140
Camp---------------------------------------------------------------- 140
Champline----------------------------------------------------------- 140,144
Cherokee------------------------------------------------------------- 126
Cherry------------------------------------------------------------ 345, 353,403
Clear----------------------------------------------------------------- 315, 316
Clear Fork----------------------------------------------------------- 143
Coal----------------------------------------------------------------- 315,317
Cold----------------------------------------------------------------- 366
Comanche------------------------------------------------------------ 20
Coon.---------------------------------------------------------------- 145
Crazy Woman-------------------------------------------------------- 458
Crooked.--------------------------------------------------------- 160, 162, 165
138 A L–WOL III—37
578 - index.
Page.
Creeks—Continued.
Crow----------------------, -----------------------------------99, 396, 403, 460
Dale----------------------------------------------------------------- 46()
Deep--------------------------------------------------------------- * 141
Dove--------------------------------------------------------------- 53, 127, 130
Dugent----------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * 140
Escordido------------------------------------------------------------- 119
Four Mile ------------------------------------------------------------ 442
Hackberry------------------------------------------------------------ 140,141
Horse------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - 460
Kannah -------------------------------------------------------------- 378
Kiowa---------------------------------------------------------------- 403
Labonte -------------------------------------------------------------- 527
Las Moras ------------------------------------------------------------ 54
Lewis ---------------------------------------------------------------- 403
Limpia --------------------------------------------------------------- 119
Little Beaver--------------------------------------------------------- 403
Little Crow----------------------------------------------------------- 403
Little Horse ---------------------------------------------------------- 516, 519
Lodge Pole---------------------------------------- 558,559, 560,562, 564, 565,568
Lone Tree ------------------------------------------------------------ 403
lone Wolf------------------------------------------------------------ 140, 144
Lost------------------------------------------------------------------ 403
Mexia ------------------------- € s m = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 143
Monument------------------------------------------------------------ 288
Morgan.----------------------------------------------------------- 140,141, 144
Mud------------------------------------------------------------------ à4
Olympia-------------------------------------------------------------- 115
Palo Pinto------------------------------------------------------------ 143,144
Palo Pinto (north fork) --------------------------------------------. -- 144
Palo Pinto (south fork) ----------------------------------------------- 144
Pawnee--------------------------------------------------------------- 403
Pinto ----------------------------------------------------------------- 54
Prairie Dog---------------------------------------------------- * - tº º ºs º ºs 456, 458
Pole ------------------------------------------------------------------ 460
Rainbow ------------------------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * 54
Ralston -------------------------------------------------------------- 364
Rendrebrook --------------------------------------------------------- 140
Richland ------------------------------------------------------------- 127
Rock ----------------------------------------------------------------- 442
Sand ------------------------------------------------------ 309, 403, 440, 451, 556
San Juan ---------- * e s = * * * * * * ~ * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 86
Seven Mile ----------------------------------------------------------- 442
Scurry.--------------------------------------------------------------- 141
Silver ---------------------------------------------------------------- 141
Spring --------------------------------------------------------- 53, 127, 130,211
Sweetwater.---------------------------------------------------------- 143
Sybille ---------------------------------------------------------------
Toyah------------------------------------------------------------ 22,55,56, 119
Willow Creek--------------------------------------------------------- 4
Wild Cat ------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * 403
Crops:
Mention of ------------------ - - - - - - - 12, 20, 21, 23, 24, 27, 30, 49, 51, 55, 61,
63, 65,66,68, 69,72, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 86, 87, 88,91, 96,
99, 104, 106, 108, 109, 111,116,118, 120, 121, 122,123, 126, 127,
131, 134, 137, 138, 145,146, 147, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 157, 158,
160,163, 164, 165,168,169, 170, 171, 172, 182, 189, 193, 195,196,
198,201,204,206,207,208,211,213,261,262,266,271,272,273,
277,292,293,294,307, 327,340,341,343,346,347,352,363,379,
380,382,387, 390, 397,444, 446,453,458, 465,537,544, 556, 562
Alfalfa------------- 55, 56, 57, 61,63, 79, 82, 84,99, 117, 119, 131, 135, 174, 193, 196,207,
341, 342, 34,3,353,379,382,384,385,388,390,391,403,440,452,460,463
Barley---------------------------------------------------------------- 6, 8,
56,63, 66, 72,79, 131, 133, 147,352,448, 454,458,463,466,534,548,559
Beets -------------------------------------------------------------- 55, 132, 384
Broom corn----------------------------------------------------------- 177.
Cabbage--------------------------------------------- 166, 208, 342, 384,439, 535
Cereals--------------------------------------------------------------- 448, 466
Corn--------- 6, 8, 9, 12, 21, 27, 28, 51, 63, 66, 68, 69, 72, 81, 82, 86, 105, 106, 107, 108,
111,116,119, 127, 131, 133, 135, 140, 145, 146, 166, 174, 175, 177, 182, 193,
196,201,205,206, 208,383,384, 886, 448,463,466,534,556, 559,561,552
INDEX. - 579
Page.
Crops—Continued.
* Corn, Indian.---------------------------------------------------55, 56, 141, 169
Corn, for cattle.---------------------------------------------- 177, 182, 193, 196
Torage --------------------------------------------------------------- 138, 141
Grains ----------------------------. 52, 55,56, 70,99, 132,133, 145,174,200,277, 342
Grains, small------------------------------ 6, 21,72, 107, 131,446,450, 453, 459,464
Grasses -------------- 51, 52,55, 131, 132, 137, 140,278,340, 440, 444, 451, 456,468, 548
Grasses, blue stem ---------------------------------------------------- 175,440
Grasses, buffalo-------------------------------------------- 138,154, 164, 175, 178
Grasses, granuma.-------------------------------------------- 64, 89, 100, 106, 112
Hay--------------------------- 108, 138, 140, 180,277,288, 446,453,458, 461, 464, 534
Johnson grass-------------------------------------------------- - - - - 119, 140, 177
Mesquite grass------------------------------------------------- 106, 112, 124, 138
Native grass ---------------------------------------------------------- 120
Natural grass - ,----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 68, 79
Red Top grass ----------------------------------------------------- 440, 553,460
Sedge grass----------------------------------------------------------- 106
Timothy grass --------------------------. ---------------------- 440, 452,463,460
Wild rye grass -------------------------------------------------------- 180
Maize --------------------------------------------------------------- 211
Millet ----------------------- t = < * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * = = • 55, 56, 119, 138, 140, 174, 177, 182
Oats.--------------------------- 56,63,68, 69,79, 106, 107, 118, 119, 127, 131, 133, 140,
147, 156, 160, 163, 169, 193, 196,205,211,277, 340,343,352,384,
439, 448,450,453,454,456,458,460,463,466, 534, 548, 559, 561
Onions ----------------------------------------------------- 69, 122, 134, 182,439
Potatoes.------------------------- 63, 66, 95, 96, 111, 119, 131, 132,133,134, 141, 146,
- 156, 157,161, 166, 168,169, 182, 193,383,384,385, 386, 387,
388,398,403, 439,448,450,454,455,456, 460,463,466, 534
Rye ------------------------ 56, 63, 66,80, 83, 119, 131, 13 3, 135, 158, 166, 169, 182, 193
Vegetables, general mention of.--------- 21,43,47, 55,79, 82,85,90,95,99, 107,109,
112, 121, 131, 132, 134, 135,136, 137, 138,140,145, 146, 147,154, 161,
200,277,341,380,382,448,450,454, 459,464,466,554,556, 559, 561
Rhubarb------------------------------------------------------------- 95
Tomatoes ------------------------------------------------------------- 134
Turnips--------------------------------------------------------------. 55
Wheat-...--------6, 8,21,56,63, 66,68, 69,80, 81, 82,86, 106, 107, 108, 111,116, 119, 127,
131,133, 139,142,146, 147, 160,163, 166, 169, 170, 171, 177, 193, 199,205,
208,209,210,211,277,278,340,342, 343,352,384,385,387,388,390, 439,
446, 448, 449,450, 453,454,455,458, 460,463,466,468,534,548,556,561
D
Dams, for irrigation purposes------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * * * * * * * 9, 22, 32, 43
Bowlder stone-------------------------------------------------------- 47
Brush---------------------------------------------------------------- 27
Coffer---------------------------------------------------------------- 46
Construction of------------------------------------------------------- 48
Curvilinear ----------------------------------------------------------- 46
Earth of.------------------------------------------------------------- 53
Fort Selden, site at ---------------------------------------------------- 16, 28
French, Algiers in ---------------------------------------------------. 25, 26
General outline, International, Rio Grande, El Paso, near - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 39–42
Location for a ------------------------------------------------------- 14, 15, 16
Masonry, in Spain ---------------------------------------------------- 25
Memorandum on the general character of the project (dam at North Pass) 19
Mexican -------------------------------------------------------------- 14, 46
Necessity for---------------------------------------------------------- 19
Paso Del Norte, above------------------------------------------------- 31
Pena Blanca---------------------------------------------------------- 8
Proposed, International, Rio Grande on-- - - - - - - - - - -----. 9, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,
24, 28,29,80, 38,41, 44, 45
Relative merit of sites - - - - - - - -!--------------------------------------- 46
Rio Colorado, Yuma at -----...----...-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 44
Rio Perches, on the --------------------------------------------------- 85
Scouring galleries, description of.----...----------...------------------ 25
System of ------------------------------------------------------------ 20, 132
- Willow----------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * * * * * * * * e = * * * * * * = a, e s = e - - - 40
Ditches, names and relating to:
Abstract from records of Fremont and Carbon Counties -- - - -* - - - - - - - - - - - 507
Agricultural---------------------------------------------------....... 200
580 - INDEX.
p
Page.
Ditches, names and relating to—Continued. g
4t Amazon ------------ -------------------------------------------------- 193
Area of land under -----------------------------------------------. 296, 313, 458
Bessemer-------------------------------------------------------------- 263
Blanks and forms used in management of -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 374,375, 376, 377
Cache La Poudre------------------------------------------------------ 392, 410
Cañon City, line of -------------------------------------------------- 271
Colorado of.------------------------------------------------. 9, 47, 178, 201, 202
Concho County, in ---------------------------------------------------- 130
Construction of------------------------------------------------------ 129, 128
Construction of, cost -----------------------, -------------------------- 393
Del Rio, near---------------------------------------------------------- 54
~ Distributing ---------------------------------------------------------- 98
Dove Creek on-----------------------------------------. -------------- 130
Grand River---------------------------------------------------------- 379
High-line---------------------------------------------------- tº sº º tº gº & 46, 48, 356
Ileff. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 292
Irrigating -------------------------------------- 53,60, 126, 127, 173, 186, 203, 308
Laboute Road ranch -------------------------------------------------- 527
Lariet---------------------------------------------------------------- 304
Larimer County, in . ------------------------------------------------- 392 -
Laterals ---------------------------------------------------------- 203, 204, 269
Lines of.----------------------------------------------- - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 10
Lower Pecos, at ------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7
Main------------------------------------------------------------- 51, 52, 53, 54
Mileage of.----------------------------------------------------------- 313, 325
Mesilla Valley in ------------------------------------------------------ 61
Mexican system of.----------------------------------------------- sº ºr º ºs 52
Miller.----------- * as sº º sº ºn tº sº see as sº sº sº º sº, º sº e º sº º sº se ºn m ºn as sº as sº tº gº tº mº sº ºne is tº sº tº as tº º ºs ºne is sº gº º is m º ºs 55
Monte Vista ----------------------------------------------------------- 328
Murphy--------------------------------------------------------------- - 55
North Concho River on ------------------------------------------------ 130
North High-line --------------------------- ,- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 98
Partial list of the principal irrigation.---------------------------------- 130
Pecos Valley in --------------------------- * tº sº tº gº sº tº ſº º ºs º º ºs º º ºſ º º sº º ºs tº gº tº tº ºn e º ºs 142
Pioneer Company’s report -------------------- tº as nº gº ºn º º ºn º us ºn e º sº sº as s = e º ºn sº em º ºs 22
Pony ----------------------------------------------------------------- 291
Proposed.------------------------------------------------------------- 149
Record of, Colorado Water Districts No. § * * * * * * s sº me º ºs º ºs º º tº sº º ºs º ºs º ºs ºs tº s vº 489, 490
§ tº ºs s m sº sº s ºr is sº tº ſº tº º ſº ºn tº º sº sº tº ſº º º ºs º ºs 490,491
(3) --------------------------- 491,492
(4) --------------------------- 93
(5) ------------------------ 493,494,495
(6) --------------------------- 495
(7) -------------------------- * 496
(8) --------------------------- 497
(9) --------------------------- 498
Rio Grande, from the ------------------------------------------------- 32
Rooney - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------------------------------------------- 55
San Felipe ------------------------------------------------------------ 51
San Luis Valley, in --------------------------------------------------- 6
Saragosa Manufacturing and Irrigating Company's.------------------- 55
Secondary ------------ , , - e ... • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 51,54
Seepage - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------------------------------------- 405
Soule -------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $208
South Concho River, on ----------------------------------------------- 130
Spring Creek, on------------------------------------------------------ 130
Statistics ------------------------------------------------------------- 503
Style ----------------------------------------------------------------- 55
Sybille --------------------------------------------------------------- 535
System of.-------------------------------------------------------- 61, 71.96,468
Union ---------------------------------------------------------------- 303
Victoria, at ------------------------------------- * c s e º e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 53
Water, capacity of --------------------------------------------------- 201, 360
Ditch owners:
Cochran & Wynn. ---------------------------------------------------- 130
De Long Bros.-------------------------------------------------------- 130
Gardner, A -------, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - sº tº º ſº e º e º sº e º ºs ºs e e s as 130
Foulkes, J.------ a sº sº, e s = e º 'º ºr e s e s sº as a s we e º 'º e º is º & a dº º ºs e is ºn tº e º is ºn ſº º sº dº e º º & ſº sº sº º º sº a 130
Page.
Ditch owners—Contiuued. *.
Lee. P. C. ----------- -------------------------------------------------- 130
Locky, William------------------------------------------------------- 130
Miles, Jonathan ------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 130
Middle Conche River.-------------------------------------------------- 130
Metcalf, C. B.----------------------------------------- 6 ºn a s = * * * * * * * * * * * 130
Morris, P. H---------------------------------------------------------- 130
McLane, J. T-------. * * * * * * * * * * * * *s an ºn tº a ºn e º ºs s as ºs • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *-* * * * * * * * * 130
McDonald, T---. ------------------------------------------------------ 130
Nasworthy, J. R. ------------------------------------------------------ 130
Neill, James ---------------------------------------------------------- 130
Phelan & Glenn.------------------------------------------------------ 130
Sims, W -------------------------------------------------------------- 130
Scott & Ryan -------------------------------------------------------- 130
Stilson, B ------------------------------------------------------------ 130
Tankershy, R. F------------------------------------------------------ 130
- E.
El Paso:
Proposed dam at, Mexican testimony.--------------------- - ---...----. 49, 50,51
Report on, Major Mills, extracts from -----------------------. 42, 44, 45,46, 47, 48
Engineers, mention of:
Follet, W. M---------------------------------------------------------- 14, 44
Garfias, Senor.----. s sº s º ºs e º e s is e s - sº me as sº º ºs e º sm as as as s m - º e s is as * * * * * * s as tº sº - e s sº * * * * 43, 44, 48
Hinton, R. J.------------------------------------------------- 15, 79,97, 103, 124
Humphrey, J. S.---------------------------------------------------- 185, 186,217
Nettleton, Edwin S.----...----------. ----------------------------- 7, 44, 276, 359
Stewart, Henry. ----------. * * * * * * * * sº tº a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 214
Trull, W. E.------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * 186,217
Wilson, C. A.---------------------------------------------------------- 562, 563
Wood, Mr.------------------------------------------------------------ 111
F.
Flumes --------------------------- 26, 55,98,90, 114, 119, 128, 129, 195, 196,204,309, 311
Wooden -------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 121
Forts, United States:
Bascom ----- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------------------------------------- 72
Bliss ------------ ----------------------------------------------- 13, 33, 38,46, 52
Brown---------------------------------------------------------------- 53
Bridger--------------------------------------------------------------- 567
Clark-------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 54
Collins -------------------------------- 291,294,306,379,382,385, 389, 408, 410, 468
Concho ------------------------------------------------------------- 53, 104,130
Crawford ------------------------------------------------------------- 371,372
Davis -------------------------------------------Nº e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 11, 20, 53, 115
Hancock ---------------------------------------------- - º 'º - - - - - - 24, 26, 34, 37, 48
Keogh ---------------------------------------------------------------- 26
Laramie -------------------------------------------------------------- 535
Leavenworth --------------------------------------------------------- 244
ewis ---------------------------------------------------------------- 369,370
Lupton --------------------------------------------------------------- 403
Pyon ----------------------------------------------------------------- 371
Marcy ------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 96
McCrea--------------------------------------------------------------- 82
Morgan-------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - 291, 553,554
Niobrara ------------------------------------------------------------- 567
Quitman------------------------------------------------- 18, 25, 28, 31, 34, 36,39
Riley----------------------------------------------------------------- 244
Ringgold ------------------------------------------------------------ 53
Selden.------------------------------------------------------ 16,28, 29, 33, 89,90
Sidney---------------------------------------------------------------- 67,568
Stanton.-------------------------------------------------------------- 96, 97
Steele ---------------------------------------------------------------- 539, 540
Stockton.--------------------------------------------------. --------- 8, 20, 57
Sumner---------------------------------------------------------------
Sumpner.------------------------------------------------------------- 100
Supply --------------------------------------------------------------- 245
582 - ?-- INDEX. *
Forts, United States—Continued. *. Page.
Worth------------------------------------------------"----- 108, 112, 113, 121,144
*** ---------------------------------------------------------------- 30
Fremont, John C. --------------------------------------------------...---- 370
Fruits, small, mention of.----, -------------------------------------. 82,455,456,458
Blackberries--------------------------------------------------- 133, 139,456, 534
Cherries -------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 132, 133, 139, 145
Currants----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 133, 138,534
Gooseberries ---------------------------------------------------------- 133, 139
Melons ------------------------------------------------. ---.55, 132, 138,141,169
Raisins ----------------------------------------------------------- 21, 57, 80, 121
Raspberries---------------------------------------------------- 133, 139,456, 534
Strawberries------------------------------------------------------- 133,456, 534
Truit trees, under irrigation ------------------------------------. 8, 12, 21, 22,49, 52, .
55, 57,61,63, 65, 68,72,78,79, 82,85, 89,90, 95, 96,99, 106, 107, 109,111,
116, 120, 121, 131, 133, 134, 135, 136, 137, 139,141, 142, 145, 147,277, 341
Almond.------------------------------------------------------. 55, 57, 132, 139
Apple----------------------- 8,28,63, 68,90, 1:21, 133, 138, 139, 140,145,384,456,458
Apricot.--------------------------------------------------- 8, 63,90, 132, 133, 139
Banana --------------------------------------------------------------- 133
Pate ----------------------------------------------------------------- 63
Pig--------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 90,133, 139
Lemon---------------------------------------------------------------- 109
Mulberry ------------------------------------------------------------- 70
Nectarine---------------------------- P- - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - 63,90, 133, 139
Olive ----------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Orange ------------------------------------------- * - - - - - - sº ºn tº sº e º sº tº dº - - - - 8, 133
Peach ----------------- 28, 63, 64, 90,96, 109, 121, 132, 133, 135, 138, 139,140,145,384 -
Pear ----------------------------------- 28, 63,64, 68,90, 109, 121, 133, 138, 139, 140
Pecan ----------------- © º ºs m. ºn s is e ºs e s tº a sm ºn e ºs e º sº me as e s sº we we me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 130
Persimmon ---------------------------------------------------------------- 133
Plmm ---------------------------------------- 68,90, 109, 121,132. 133, 138,139,140
Pomegranate ----------------------------------------------------------- 63, 133
Prune -----, ---------------------------------------------. 55, 57,63, 120, 121, 132
Quince ----------------------------------------------------------------- 63, 139
Walnut, Black-------------------------------------------------------------- 95
Walnut, English--------------------------------------------------------- 55, 57
G.
Government aid to irrigation.-------------------------------------------- 41, 92,349
General ------------------------------------------------ 29, 31, 33,49, 55, 122, 360
Mexican ---------------------------------------------- 13, 24, 29, 43,44, 48,49, 50
Spanish ------------------------------------------------- - ------------------ 52
Gulch, McNulty’s --------------------------------------------------------- 262
Gulf of Mexico --------------------------------- 39, 40, 42,48, 53, 104,107,118,313,314
H.
Head-gates------------------------------------ 25,26, 41,55, 100,268,202,309,348, !
lap.------------------------------------------------------------------
Flood ---------------------------------------------------------------- 52
Iron Valve ------------------------------------------------------------ 98
Pecos River, on -------------. ----------------------------------------- 57
Ripples at ------------------------------------------------------------ 57
Sluice-gates ------------------------------------------------- -------- 185
Valves.-----...--------------------------------------------------------- 19
Waste ----------------------------------- ---------------------------- 53,287
I.
Indian Reservations: -
Southern Utes -------------------------------------------------------- 372
Wind River. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * 461
Irrigation, character and effects of. ---------------------- 122, 134, 183, 188, 498,502 º'
Acequia, by. ---------------------------------------------------------- 54
Acres under----------------------------------------------------------- 54
Act to encourage. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 128
Advantages of. --------------------------------------- ** - - tº º me sº sº º is a tº as 51,259,260
Agriculture by.----. ------------------------- • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 63
Arkansas Valley in ---------------------------------------------------- 185
INDEx. *- 583
Page.
Irrigation—Continued.
Amount of land under-...----------------------------------------------- 263
T Ancient works-------------------------------------------------------- 62
Arid lands of.--------------------------------------------------------- 9
Artesian water, value of, for ------------------------------------------- 213
Artificial -------------------------------------------------------------- 83, 147
Bed work. ------------------------------------------------------------ 51
Clear Fork of the Brazos, on the .------------------------------------- 117
Colorado, in ---------------------------------------------------------- 291
Commission----------------------------------------------------------- 50
Cost per acre--------------------------- e is e s = e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 51,52
Dams by ---------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - 35
Decadence or loss of. -------------------------------------------------- 30
Del Rio, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 52
Districts---------------------------------------------- a < e < * * = * * * * * * * * * 323
Ditches, system of.--------------------------------------------------- 54
Divisions ------------------------------------------------------------- 313,314
Dry Creek, on. ------------------------------------------------------- 346
Effect of upon Crops.-------------------------------------------------- 117
Enterprises ------------------------------------------------------------ 130
Facilities for ------------------------------------------------ 21, 30, 103, 139, 558
Farming without ----------------------------------------------------- 119, 158
Flooding, by---------------------------------------------------------- 368,568
Furrows, by---------------------------------------------------------- 131
Future development of.----------------------------------------------- 488
Government aid in ---------------------------------------------------- 203
Idaho, in ------------------------------------------- • gº & sº sº sº gº º º ºs e º ºs º sº º is tº 246
Kansas, S. W., in ------------------------------------------------------ 250
Kern County, Cal., effects of on. -------------------------------------- 364
Ilands subject to-------------------------------------------------- * * gº º 195
Local----------------------------------------------------------------- 164,212
Maxwell grant in northern Mexico, development of -------------------- 7
Means of.--------------------------- • gº tº ºs º º ºs ºs º ºs º º ºs é º º tº sº * * * * * *º º sº sº tº e & º sº º ºs & 145
Method of ------------------------------------------------------------ 130
Mexicans, depend on ---------------- --------------------------------- 78
Moisture gained by--------------------------------------------------- 200
Necessity for.-------------------------4------------- 32, 145, 174, 199,200,201,207
New Mexico, in------------------------------------------------------- 5, 7
Observation as to----------------------------------------------------- 176
'On public lands and canal constructions.------------------- 498,499, 500, 501, 502
Over-irrigation, effect of ---------------------------------------------- 363,364
Particular streams that would furnish water for. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
Pecos Valley, in. -----------------------------------------------------> 54,132
Period of-------------------------------------------------------------- 293
Plan for using the river underflow in Kansas.256,257,258,259,260,261,262,263,264
Possibilities of -------------------------------------------------------- 10, 44
Preferred to dry culture----------------------------------------------- 135
Regions, Colorado, map of -------------------------------------------. 296
Reservoirs. ------------------------------------------------------ ‘- - - - - - 20, 139
Resolution of State of Texas ------------------------------------------- 101
Results of.--------------------------------------------------- 189, 369, 374, 378
Rio Grande, Valley in ------------------------------------------------ -38, 39,80
San Angelo, Tom Green County, near---------------------------------- 113,
Small orchards and vineyards ----------------------------------------- ~ 138
Staked plains, Texas, on ---------------------------------------- 23, 104, 118, 124
Sub-irrigation ----------------------------------------------------- 109,372, 368
Summary of, district development in Wyoming. 488,489,490,491,492, 493,494,495
.* * 496, 497, 498
Supply of Water for---------------------------------------------------- 211,264
Surface------------------------------------------------------------- 53, 109, 141
Systems of.------------------------------------ -------------. 51, 71,98, 180, 186
Systems of, on Maxwell grant ----------------------------. - --...----- 97
Table showing extent of, in Wyoming. --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 504
Texas, in -----------------------------------------------------. 8, 11, 34, 115,126
Underground, system of. ---------------------------------------------. 141,209
United States Senate, committee on ...---......... -------------------- 44, 97,134
Upper and lower Rio Grande, effect on-...... ---. --------...- .......... 1.
Wasteful method of.---------------------------------. ---------------. 131
Water used for...---------...-- .* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 41, 120, 134, 171,273
Wells, by---------------------------------- 116, 128, 129, 131, 134, 135, 136, 138, 139
– 584 - INDEX.
Irrigation—Continued.
Western Texas, in----------------------------------------------------- 35
Works---------------------------------------------------------------- 487
Wyoming, in --------------------------------------------------------- 486
Irrigation companies, name of.-------------------------------------- ------ 49, 50, 73
Arkansas River, Land, Reservoir and Canal.--------------------------. 297, 308
Arkansas Valley ------------------------------------------------------ 303
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Railroad ---------------...------------- 222,267
Aztec Irrigation ------------------------------------------------------ 56
|Berrendo stock-------------------------------------------------------- 130
Denver Reservoir and Canal------------------------------------------- 353
Ditch (New Mexico) list of -------------------------------------------- 94,95
Fort Morgan Land and Canal ... ----------------------------------. ---- 337
Incorporated, Wyoming of -------------------------------------------- 531,532
Incorporated.------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - 54
Ingalls, ditch --------------------------------------------------------- 209
Jornado and El Paso Canal and Reservoir .... ----...----...------------. 90
Kansas Water Works ------------------------------------------------- 152
Land Grant-----------------------. ---------------------------------- 60
Larimer and Weld ---------------------------------------------------- 303,392
Marienfeld Fruit-growing, Gardening, and ----------...------------- 21, 102, 121-
Marienfeld Fruit------------------------------------------------------ 132
Maxwell Land Grant-------------------------------------------------- 97
Mineral Land--------------------------------------------------------- 364
Northern Colorado.--------------------------------------------------- 374, 376
North Poudre Land and Canal ----...---. -------...--------------------- 306, 307
Pecos----------------------------------------------------------------- 61
Pecos River.---------------------------------------------------------- 57
Pecos Valley Irrigation and Investment - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------ 7
Pioneer Canal-------------------------------------------- 54, 55, 57, 102,132, 142
San José Irrigation and Power ---------------------------------------- 130 -
Sante Fé Railroad ---------------------------------------------------- 157
South Dodge Canal --------------------------------------------------- - 255
Southern Pacific Railroad --------------------------------------------- 64
L.
Lagoons-----------------------------------------------------------564,555,559,564
Lakes, names and mention of-
Ancient beds---------------------------------------------------------- 72, 179
Artificial ------------------------- * * * * sº ºr sº as a m sº sº a º ºs as a m = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 92,127
Beaver ----------------------------------------------- sº sº gº gº º gº ºne º is tº ſº tº º º º tº 35
Boyds ---------------------------------------------------------------- 386, 389
Chamber's ------------------------------------------------------------ 390
Cooper --------------------------------------------------------------- 442
Hattie---------------------------------------------------------------- 442
James ---------------------------------------------------------------- 442
Moccasin --------------------------------------- as as ºn as sº an as sº, sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * . 98
Natural -------------------------------------------------------- 98, 191, 192,447
Old beds between mountains ------------------------------------------ 11
Salt ------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 124, 135,447
Seven ---------------------------------------------------------------- 269
Subterranean --------------------------------------------------------- 96
Tulare------------------------- * * * ~ * = a- - - - - - sº se e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 404
Twin -------------------------------------------------------------- 267,286,287
Underground --------------------------------------------------------- 1
Utah ----------------------------------------------------------------- 404
Lands—
Acreage of, tillable in Mexico - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6
Acreage of, under cultivation in New México - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 76
Acres of, actually irrigated.-------------------------------------------- 313
Acres of, under canals and ditches ------------------------------------- 314, 315
Acres of, under canals------------------------------------------------- :
Acres of, irrigated and cultivated.-------------------------------------- 50
Acres of, actually irrigated by canals and, ditches----------------------- 314, 315
Agricultural- - - - - ------------------------------------ 100,280,296, 313,340, 404
Alkali ------------------------ s sº sº, s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 35
Arable ---------------------------------------------------- 138,271,383,462,550
Arable, susceptible of irrigation-------------------------------------- . . 197
Area of, irrigated ---------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 51
INDEX. 585
- Page.
Lands—Continued.
Arid -------------------------------------- e e s ∈ e º sº * * * * 19,80,91, 120,388,449,469
Arid, total area of. ---------------------------------------------------- 313
Arid, of Colorado ----------------------------------------------------- 98
Arid and semi-arid.---------------------- J e s ºr ºn as e º ºs e e s e º sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * 190
Arid regions in-------------------------------------------------------- 89
Arid belt in.--------------------------------------------------------- * > 341
Arkansas Valley---------------------------- ºr e º e = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 26;
Artesian City, irrigated at .------------------------------------------- 166
&TP60 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 83
Bench ---------------------------, ------------------------------------ 459
Bench, cultivated without irrigation. ---------------------------------- 76
Black and chocolate colored stiff - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---------------------- 56
Bottom --------------------------- 17, 39, 54,91, 100, 197,203,263,404, 454,459,544
Brown County in ----------------------------------------------------- 545
Buffalo --------------------------------------------------------------- 170
Buffalo sod ----------------------------------------------------------- 167
Character of, on the Pecos in New Mexico and Texas- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 111
Chocolate-colored----------------------------------------------------- 57
Clay------------------------------------------------------ - - - - - * * * * * * * 384
Colorado ------------------------------------------------------------- 49
Crow Flats, Little----------------------------------------------------- 403
Cultivated, in El Paso County----------------------------------------- 28
Cultivated.------------------------------------------------------------ 343
Cultivation, under --------------------------------------------------- 52, 59, 139
Cultivation, formerly under --------------------- ---------------------- 31
Desert---------------------------------------------------------------- 350
Desert, Yuma --------------------------------------------------------- 44
Donations of.--------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 54
Dry -------------------- 2- e < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 340
Dry farming---------------------`------------------------------------- 131
Eagle Flat------------------------------------------------------------ 108
Elevated ------------------------------------------------------------- 135
Enriched, by irrigation ------------------------------------------------ 83
Examination of.------------------------------------------------------ 44
Expenses of reclaiming------------------------------------------------ 487
Farm--------------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 21,452
Farming ------------------------------------------------------------- 10, 86
Farming, on the Platte------------------------------------------------ 352
Fertile --------------------------------------------------------------- 91
Fertile and productive ------------------------------------------------ 271
Flooded -------------------------------------------------------------- 290
Foot-hills, ----------------------------------------------------- 366,402,408,453
Francisco Garcia Grant.----------------------------------------------- 14, 19
Fruit----------------------------------------------------------------- 56, 84
Government------------------------------------ 19,74, 75, 76, 78,80, 82, 85,92, 440
Grand Valley, area in ------------------------------------------------- 328
Granted free by the Spanish Government ---...------------------------- 52
Grazing ------------------------------------------------------------ 98,509,530
Hay ------------------------------------------------------------------ 450
High ------------------------------------------------------- 53, 187,202,291, 389
Higher --------------------------------------------------------------- 149
Higher lying---------------------------------------- • ‘º º ſº º tº - e º e = &º º ºs º º º º 138-
High table ----------------------------------------------------------- 140
Improved------------------------------------------------------------- 52
Irrigable ------------------------------- s sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * 11,26, 28, 53, 127,263,288
Irrigated.------------------------------------------------ 52, 61,191,277,279, 367
Irrigated, acres of -----------------------...--------------------------- 126
Irrigated, at foot of mountains ------------------------------------ ---- 66
Irrigation, cultivated by ------------------- -------------------------- 61
Irrigation, under. - - - - - - * * * *-* * - - - ea º ºr * - - - - - • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 132
Irrigated, valure and rental of - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 131
Jornado del, Muerto, on - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = s. 59,72, 82,85,88
Laramie Plains---------------------------------------- 439, 440, 444, 446,454,455
Laramie County, actually under cultivation -----...--...--------------- 460
Lower mountains and foot-hills ------------------------------...-------- 65
Lipan Flat ------------------------------------------- --------------- - 128
Low-lands -------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 47, 66
Made, Wash from the foot-hills -----------------------...------------. -- 384
Maxwell grant------------------------------------------------------- 60,71, 79
586 • . - Index.
Lan
ds—Continued. k
*Whard Flats.------------------------------------------------- tº ºs º gº º ºs 403
*gas --------------------------------------------------------------, 131
Meadow ------------------* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 453
Mesa ---. . 20,28, 35,66,81, 82,83, 86, 87,88, 89,90, 100, 105,116, 126,263,270,343, 458
Mesquite Flats, uplands on-----------...----...-------------------...----. 106
Midland and odessa, estimates on.--------------...-------------------. 121
Mississippi Basin.----------------------------------------------------- 120
Mountain and prairie-------------------------------------------------- 97.
Won-irrigated, loans on-----------------------------------------------. 340
*lying ------------------------------------------------------------ 275
Owners------------------------------------------ 203,303, 311,357,358,359, 365
Pan Handle region.--------------------------...--------. 11, 20, 72,73, 116, 117, 138
Plateau of salt.---------.... ------------------------------------------ * 153
Platte Valley, under ditch in -----------. --...------------------...----. 296, 450
Ponce de Leon, tract of ----------------------------------------------- 15
Prairie --------------------------------------------------------------- 98, 154
Price of, in Pecos Valley ----...----...-----...----------------------------- 56
Private---------------------------------------------. 41,76, 129,278,288,326,365
Private owners, Spanish and Mexican grants of .----...----...----...----- 74
Productiveness of.----------------------. tº º ºs º ºs º ºs º sº as as sº e º ºs ºr m sº s ºs s = * * * * * * * 52
Public--------------------------------------------- 73,76, 83, 84,278, 326,350, 467
Public, of Texas ------------------------------------------------------ 49
Public timber-------------------------------------------------- 279,280,281,312
Public, on Jornado del Muerto -------------------...------------------- 90
Quality, in Ward County, Tex----------------------------------------- 57
Pailroad-------------------------------------------------------------- 56
Railroad, Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé------------------------...----. 87
Railroad companies.-------------------------------------------------- 355
Refugio Colony, Spanish grant -------------------...------------------. 14, 19
Rich------------------------------------------------------------------ 157
River bottom --------------------------------------------------------- 51, 130
Rolling--------------------------------------------------------------- 150
Rolling and hilly ----------------------------------------------------- 106
Roswell, near--------------------------------- & sº as tº gº º ºs º ºs ºs ºs º º sº wºn nº sº tº e s sº * * * 96
Sage brush -------------------------------------------------------. 453, 458, 536
Sand-bars ------------------------------------------------------------ 18, 83.
Sandy -------- -------------------------------------------------------- 170,208
Sand-hills -------------------------------------------- s ſº gº º sº sº sº tº as sº sº, º me 550, 551, 554
Sandy loam ----------------------------------------------------------- 167
Santa Fé, near-------------------------------------------------------- 96
Segregation of .------------------------------------------------------- 368
Settlement of unoccupied -----...--------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 91
Shin oak ------------------------------------------------------------- 106
Spanish, grants of.---------------------------------------------------- 14
Springer---------------------- -------------------------------------- 98
State ----------------------------------------------------------------- 326
State School --------------------------------------------------------- 19
Staked plains -------------------- 18, 21, 22, 100, 103,105,119, 121, 122, 124, 127, 128
130, 132,133, 135, 137, 142,178, 181
Sterile---------------------------------------------------------------- 533
Streams on tributary to the Rio Grande in Taos County - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 77
Submerging ---------------------------------------------------------- 41
Swamp -------------------------------------------------------- ------ 198, 350
Tables, of . - - - - - .10,64, 141, 195, 198,202,455, 541, 544, 552, 554, 555, 556, 558, 562, 564
Table of Great Plain.--------------------- ------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 118
Tartary, plains of ----------------------------------------------------- 95
Texas, reclaimable in ------------------------------------------------- 7
Tillable--------------------------------------------------------------- 204
on the Rio Puerco--------------------------------------------- 86
Uintah County, acres under ditch in -----------------------...--------- 452
Unappropriated.----------- ----------------------- ... • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 44
Union Pacific Railway, of.----------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - 566,567
Unreclaimed---------------------------------------------------------- 349
Uplands.------------------------- ---------------------- tº º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs º sº sº is sº 66,200
Upland Plains -------------------------------------------------------- 95
Upper ---------------------------------------------------------------- 17,359
Valley---------------------------------------------------------------- 48,200
Value of ------------------------------------------------------------- 54
Value of increased by cultivation ------------------------------------- 79
Page.
Page
Lands—Continued.
Value of increased by irrigation --------------------------------------- 29, 51, 52
Value of before irrigation.---------------------------------------------- 51, 53
Valueless without Water -------------------, -------------------------- 59
Valueless, by being submerged -------------------------- as º ºs s as a º ºs s sº sº * * * 48
Waste ---------------------------------------------------------------- 404
Water facilities, with good -------------------------------------------- 79
Water, investment in -----------------------2- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 75
Water, under --------------------------------------------------------- 54
Wild ----------------------------------------------------------------- 311
Larned District ----------------------------------- - as as me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 187
Laws, references to—
Ante alien act -------------------------------------------------------- 74
Contract labor act ---------------------------------------------------- 48
Desert-land act ------------------ . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * 312
Homestead law ----------------------------------------- 10, 154,280, 311,349,352
Spanish water laws and customs -------------------------------------- 61
Timber culture law --------------------------------------------------- 312
Laws on irrigation, Colorado, statutes of---------------------------------- 410–438
Abuse and mismanagement of ditches, punishment for.---------------- : 432
Appeals from referee provided for ------------------------------------- 418
Appropriation of water regulated.------------------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * - 411
Arbitration provided for -----------------------------------------. ---- 415
Arid lands only for those who construct ditches. ----------------------- 431
Assessment on stockholders.---------------- - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 429
Charges for water regulated.------------------------------------------- 425
Claims, filing of regulated.---------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 418
Collecting damages provided for. -------------------------------------- 423
Commissioners of water, how appointed.----. -----. tº a wºn as me & sº sº, sº we as ºr e = * * * * 427
Commissioners, their pay and duty------------------. ----------------- 427 º'
Compensation for private property provided for.----------. ------------ 411
Condemnation of right of way----------------------------------------- 421
Compensation of referee provided for. - - - - - - - - - - - - - * ºr º º ºs ºs e º - as sº sº tº º se is as * * * 420
Corporations compelled to furnish water------------------------------- 425
Court, its power to make just rules------------------------------------ 418
Court proceedings defined --------------------------------------------- 426
Damage by canals prohibited.----------------------------------------- 4:37
Damages for bursting reservoirs --------------------------------------- 422
Damages to ditches from floating timber, and its regulation. -----...----- 425
Damages, liability for--------. ---------------------------------------- 422
Distribution of water regulated - - - - - - - - -----------. - * * * * * * * * * = * * * * * * * * 434
Ditch companies, their right to condemn real estate. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 421
Engineers, duty and pay---------------------------------------------- 428
Evidence defined.----------------------------------------------------- 416
Exemption of ditches from taxation.--------------------------...------- 411
Governor, power of appointment, removal, etc.----------------------- 428
Highways protected.--------------------------------------------------- 422
Incorporation of irrigation company provided for-----------------. ---- 413
Jurisdiction of courts defined------------------------------------------ 413
of justice of peace. ---. ------------------------------------ 424
Land owners near stream, their right of way---------...----...---------- 421
Limitations for suits-------------------------------------------------- 420
Malicious mischief defined-------------------------------------------- 425
Meadows provided for------------------------------------------------- 413
Measurement of Water------------------------------------------ • * * * * * * 429
Mill owner's rights defined.--------. ºn º Es ſº - - - - - - - - º sº sº º * - tº sº sº º dº º sº º ºs e º ºr ºf ſº ºn a 411
Numbering of ditches by the court.------------...----------...--------- 415
Owners, duty of.------------------------------------------------- & sº * * * 423
Owners of ditches, liabilities for neglect and refusal-------------------. 424
Penal statutes in regard to water -----------...----. s sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 432
Polluting stream or ditch, penalty for.----...--------------------...----. 425
Price of water regulated.---------------------------------------------- 431
Priority rights provided for------------------------------------------- 411
Private property may be condemned for public irrigation use.---------- 411
Purification of Water provided for ...--...----...------------------------- 431
Rates for water provided for .----. * * * * * * * - sº sº º gº º º ºs º º & tº º tº º º we - as sº as sº ºn tº a sº sº, sº sº. 411,431
Referees, duties and powers------------------...------------------------ 417
Report, annual, When to be made-------------------------------------- 428
Reservoirs provided for---------------........... ------...-- we ºn ... dº º ºs º dº sº º me tº gº 422
Rights to purchase water.----. * * * * * * * * * * * * > s tº e º e º sº a ºn as we e s we s tº a me we sº * * * * * * sº 426
588 * INDEX.
Page.
Laws on irrigation—Continued. - g
Rights of parties against referee for neglect and oppression.----...------ 418
Right of way for ditches, etc.----...-----...--...----... - - - - - - - - - - ------ 411
Riparian rights defined ----------------------------------------------- 411
Sheriff's and clerk's fees defined.--...---------------------------------- 420
duy of -------------------------------------------- 420
Superintendents of irrigation provided for.----...----...-----...--...---. 435
Supreme court jurisdiction------------------...------------------------ 419
Taxation, free from, when ------------------------...------------------- * 411
Unappropriated water, the right to divert and use, never denied. - - - - - - - 410
Waste of water to be prevented.--------------------------...----------- 423
Water declared public property --------------------------------------- 410
Water for domestic purposes, the preference over.-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 410
Witness fees provided for---------------------------------------------, 417
Laws on irrigation—Texas -----------------------------------------------. 128-130
Appropriation of water for irrigation provided for - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 128
Incorporation of ditch companies provided for.-----------...----...----. 128
Incorporations authorized to borrow money.-----------...-------------- 129
Right of way for ditches provided for. --------------------------------- 129
Trespass on canals declared a misdemeanor -----------...----------...-- 129
Laws on irrigation—Wyoming, statutes of. -- - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * tº gº ºs º sº º tº ºm sº tº º ºf 470-481
Adjudication provided for... ------------------------------------------- 480
Agriculture to have preference of water over manufacturing. -- - - - - - - - - - 481
Appeals from arbitration.--------------------------------------------- 471
Appropriation of Water------------------------------------------------ 474
Arbitration provided for - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 471
City rights to water protected.----------------------------------------- 478
Compensation for damages provided----------------------------------- 470
Commissioners of irrigation provided for.----. ------------------------- 47.3
Commissioners’ duties defined ---------------. --------------------- tº sº tº tº 474
Damages for leakage, etc ---------------------------------------------- 477
Districts provided for ---------------------------------------------- * * > * 472
Domestic use of water to have preference.------------. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 481
Engineer for the Territory provided for and duties defined ...----...--- - 478
Fish to be protected -------------------------------------------------- 478
Incorporation provided for -------------------------------------------- 480
Jurisdiction of courts ------------------------------------------------ 477
Land and water rights defined----------------------------------------- 470
Prior rights guarantied ----------------------------------------------- 481
Prior rights protected.----------------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 471
Rights of way for ditches defined.----- tº sº º sº tº º ſº tº dº sº * is as tº º tº º sº sº sº, sº tº tº was ºf tº sº gº tº gº º º 470
Surplus water to be sold ---------------------------------------------- 481
Water declared public property --------------------------------------- 480
Witness fees, mileage, etc --------------------------------------------- 477
Laws on irrigation—New Mexico, statutes of ------------------------------ 92–94
Apportionment of labor on ditches---------------------------. -------- 93
County and district jurisdiction regulated.---------------------. ------ 92
Cactus.----------------------- as sº tº sº e º 'º ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 112
Canaigre plant-------------------------------------------------------- 95
Election of directors of ditches provided for--------------------------- 93
overseers of water provided for. --------------------------. 92
Fibers, cotton - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 20, 83, 106, 107, 108, 116, 127, 131, 140, 141, 142
Forage plants--------------------------------------------------------- 119
Freedom of water for travelers---------------------------------------- 93
Impediments to irrigation prohibited.---------------------------------- 92
Manner of appropriating land for ditches------------------------------ 93
Majority rights guarantied , ------------------------------------------- 92
Overseers of ditches to prosecute trespassers--------------------------- - 93
Prior rights guarantied by constitution -------------------------------- 94
Pueblos of Indians regulated.------------------------------------------ 93
Right of way for canals----------------------------------------------- 92
Yucca or amoil-------------------------------------------------------- 95
M.
Mountains, mention and names of
Big Horn. ------------------------------------------- 445, 446, 456, 457, 459, 534
Black range ------ as a sº sº as a sº a se s is sº ºr sº e º sº, sº s as as e º ºs tº dº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 85
Blue range - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- 8
Bross (Mount) -------------------------------------------------------- 262
Caballo. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 89
index. - 589
Page
Mountains, mention and names of Continued.
Capitan -------------------------------------------------------------- 100
Castle ---------------------------------------------------------------- 119
Cloud's Peak.--------------------------------------------------------- 456, 457
Cook's Peak ---------------------------------------------------------- 64
Crestobal ----------------------- * º gº tº sº, ºr ºn tº me ºr sº dº sº s º ºs º is ºne º 'º as sº * * * * * * * * * ... as sº w = * * 89
Dona Ana ------------------------------------------------------------ 89
El Capitan------------------------------------------------------------ 96
El Paso.-------------------------------------------------------------- 105
Foot-hills------------------------------------------------------------- 307
Greenhorn range------------------------------------------------------ 263
Guadalupe------------------------------------------------------------ 100
Jaemos range --------------------- e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 86
Laramie range-------------------------------------------------------- 465
Lincoln (Mount).----------------------------------------------------- 261,262
Medicine Bow range -------------------------------------------------- 454
New Mexico.---------------------------------------------------------- 105, 118
Oregon --------------------------------------------------------------- 83, 89,90
Pike's Peak----------------------------------------------------------- 289
Quitman. ------------------------------------------------------------ 115
Raton ---------------------------------------------------------------- 265
Rio Puerco------------------------------------------------------------ 86
Rocky-------------------------- 40, 53, 82,88,97, 181, 183,214,264,326,533,539, 565
Sacramento ----------------------------------------------------------- 83, 100
San Andreas.--------------------------------------------------------- 89
Sandia---------------------------------------------------------------- 87
San Juan------------------------------------------------------------- 86
San Marcial----------------------------------------------------------- 35
Sierra Blanca--------------------------------------------------------- 11, 100
Snowy range---------------------------------------------------------- 442
Tajaemos ------------------------------------, ------------------------ 87
Wasatch-------------------------------------------------------------- 208
White ---------------------------------------------------------------- 83
N.
Newspapers:
Colorado Farmer-------------------------------------- & º ºs e º ºs e º as ºn e º ºr sº as wº 341
New York Tribune---------------------------------------------------- 388
O.
Orchards, reference to------------------- 49, 53, 55, 68, 84, 111, 132, 133, 138, 200, 342
© - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 72
Established at Odessa and Marienfeld.------------------. dº º sº tº se & sº * * * * * * * 120
Peach ----------------------------------------------* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 379
Trees---------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 68
P. -
Pass, Eagle----------------------------------------------------------- * * * * 54
North--------------------------------------------------------------- 13
Ponds :
Abilene, at------------------------------------------------------------ 143
Artificial ----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = s. 191, 192
Baird, at-------------------------------------------------------------- 143
Delmar ------------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 143
Westbrook.------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 143
Powell, John W., Director U. S. Geological Survey - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5, 20,29,
38,39,42,43, 59, 87,88, 101,102, 108, 110, 112,147,158, 182, 183,190,261,
262,275,285,325,379,383,409,410,439,451,462,537,539,542,543,549,557
Pumps, for irrigation:
Chain and bucket----------------------------------------------------- 136
Public ---------------------------------------------------------------- 49
Steam ------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 23, 145, 169
• Steam Vacuum ---------------------------------------- 395,396,397,398, 401, 402
Knowles steam. ----- w" * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a- - - - e = = - - - - - - 122, 124
590 isors.
R Page.
Ranches, mention of -
Davis-------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 518, 520, 521
Five Well ------------------------------------------------------------ 136
Mallet---------------------------------------------------------------- 136
Slaughter, C. C., of -------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 103
Railroads:
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé------...----------------------. 14, 15, 42, 69,89,90
Atlantic and Pacific--------------------------------------------------- 76
Chicago, Kansas and Western. --------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 223
Denver and Fort Worth.------------------------------------...------. . 113
Denver and Rio Grande ---------------------------------------------- 286
Galveston------------------------------------------------------------- 16
Kansas Pacific-------------------------------------------------------- 185
Memphis, El Paso and Pacific.-------------------------...----. -------- 40
Mexican Central.----------------------------------------------------- 53
Northern Pacific -------------------------------------------. ---------- 530
Santa Fé --------------------------------------------------- 12, 16, 40, 46,78, 184
Santa Fé, reconstruction of-------------, ------------------------------ 19
Southern Pacific. ---------------------. 14, 15, 20, 35, 36, 37, 40, 44, 46,47, 53,90, 112
Texas and Pacific.----------. -----------. 8, 21, 22, 34, 55, 102, 106, 116, 118, 142, 143
Topeka and Santa Fé----------------, ---------------------------- * * * * * 14
Union Pacific. --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --222, 248,289, 310, 372, 508, 535,564, 565, 566, 567
Rain-fall --------------------------------- 21,23, 39, 56,65, 73,78, 79,80, 81,98, 99, 103,
104,106, 113, 115, 116, 119, 120, 124, 132, 137, 138, 139, 145, 146,
147, 160, 163, 164, 168, 170, 175, 178,202,204, 212,213,257,266,
275,277,282,288,289, 312,329, 341, 349,358, 359, 363,367, 369,
372, 380,467,468, 537, 542, 545, 547,549, 551, 554, 557, 558, 565
Annual ------------------------------------------------------------39, 53,56,69
Average -------------------------------------------------------------- 104
Average, on mesa lands----------------------------------------------- 105
Baird, Callahan County, at .------------------------------------------- 104,140
Black Wax Belt of Texas, at -------------------------------2- - - - - - - - - - - 107
Brackettville, Kinney County, at -------------- tº sº º sº as sº tºs is gº tº ſº ºn tº ſº dº ſº as º ºs º ºs ºs as ºr 104
Coleman, Coleman County, at ----------------------------------------- 104
Decatur, Wise County, at.-------------------------------------------- 104
Denver, at --------------- e ºr s sº as tº we sº a sm is as s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 294
Distribution of-------------------------------------------------------- 294
Dodge City, at -------------------------------------------------------- <211
Easter, Kans, at .----------------------------------------------------- 211
El Paso, at---------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * '• * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - 122
Fort Concho, Tom Green County, at ----------------------------------- 104
Fort Davis, annual, at ---------------------------------- as gº ºs ºn sº ºr sº º gº º ºs tº gº tº 11
Fort Elliot, Wheeler County, at --------------------------------------- 104
Fort Griffin, Shackelford County-------------------------------------- 104
Fort McKavett, Minard County--------------------------------------- %. 104
Fort Wallace, at --------------- ‘e e s = e = e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 211
Gauge of.----------- ------------------------------------------------- 23, 62
Graham, Young County, at-------------------------------------------- 104
Henrietta, Clay County, at-------------------------------------------. 104
Insufficient ---. ----------------------------------------------------- 20, 128, 198
Increase of.----------------------------------------------------------- 134
Jacksborough, Jack County, at --------------------------------------- 104
Light ---------------------------------------------------------------- 84,201
- Local -------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22, 43,45, 107, 118
Marienfeld, annual, at ---. -------------------------------------------- 122
Martin County, on Stalked Plain-------------------------------------- 137
Midsummer---------------------------------------------------------- 133
Mountains, on the ----------------------------------------------------- 19
Natural -------------------------------------------------------------- 131
Nebraska, at.--------------------------------------------------------- 548
Plain, of the .----------- 's m ºn at s = as a s is nº me as sº us as sº is as at e º sº us sº sº es sº nº sº a º ºs s sº * * * * * = w is e º ºs 119
Precipitation --------------------------------------------------------- 233
Precipitation, annual ------------------------------------------------ 98, 130
Precipitation, average------------------------------------------------ 193
Precipitation, irregular----------------------------------------------- 119
Precipitation in — and dew.---------------------------------------- 43
Precipitation in Texas---------. -------------------------------------- 104
Recapitulation of.----------------------------- ---------------------- 137
INDEX, 591
Page
Hain-fall—Continued.
Rio Grande Valley, average, in ---------------------------------------- 88
San Martin Station, annual - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº sº se as ºs ºs º º se ºs º ºs 142
Santa Fé.------------------------------------------------------------ 177
Southwest Kansas---------------------------------------------------- 250
Spring --------------------------------------------------------------- 133
Storage of.----------------------------------------------------------- 193
Subhumid regions---------------------------------------------------- 104
Summer-------------------------------------------------------------- 105
Taylor County, of.---------------------------------------------------- 133
Texas, in ----------------------------------------------------------- 21, 104, 105
Texas, Eastern and Southern ------------------------------------------ 106
Ravines, mention of.------------------------- ---20, 45,53, 70,96,99, 149, 150, 170, 184,
t 195, 198,202,272,362,363,396, 542,558
Damming, for water storage ------------------------------------------ 139
Draws, known as-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 119, 123, 137, 149, 150, 172, 194,208,55
In Valleys ------------------------------------------------------------ 11
Irrigated, and growing trees ------------------------------------------ 161
Sulphur, draw-------------------------------------------------------- 118
Western Kansas ------------------------------------------------------ 156
Western Texas.------------------------------------------------------- 161
Reports, special—
Military officers, from, on western Texas.--------------------------- 51, 52, 53, 54
Northwest Kansas, on - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -229, 230, 231,232,233,234
Southwest Kansas, on --------------------------------- 234,235,236,237,238,239
* Territorial engineer of Wyoming to governor. ----------502,503, 504,505, 506, 507.
Rivers, names, and references to—
Alamosa.-------------------------------------------------------------- 85
Arkansas -----------------... -- 145,147, 150, 153,154, 156, 159, 160, 165,166, 173,174,
176, 177,179, 180,181,182, 183,186,193, 194, 195,196, 197, 199,200,201,
203,206,207,200,211,212,213,214,218,261,262,263,264,266,267,268,
269,270,271,274,276,285,286,309, 313,314, 344,345,352,355, 362,404
Bear ---------------------------------------------------------- 206,397, 447,453
Beaver --------------------------------------------------------------- 181,291
Berendas ------------------------------------------------------------- 97, 100
Big Horn.----------------------------------------------------- 446,447, 459, 461
Big Laramie----------------------------------------------- 439,441,443,445, 454
Big Thompson -------------------------------------------------------- 402
Boulder -------------------------------------------------------------- 276
Brazos.--------------------------------- 11,21, 106, 107,118, 133,138,140,142,144
Cache La Poudre -------------------------------------- 294,295, 402,405, 406, 469
Colorado-------------- 9, 10, 11, 12, 20, 21,22, 24, 103,106, 107,114, 116,119, 127, 130,
133, 140,141, 142, 144, 262,308
Concho---------------------------- 21, 22, 47, 50, 107, 116, 117, 118, 127, 130, 132, 133
Cuchilla Negra.------------------------------------------------------- 85
Danube-------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - 69
Canadian------------------------------------------------------------ 66,73, 181
Cimarron----------------------------- 71,98,99, 165,170, 172,173, 177, 181, 196,211
Clear Fork------------------------------------------------------------ 117
Clear Fork, Brazos River.--------------------------------------------- 144
Clear Fork, Poudre River.--------------------------------------------- 457
Clear Fork of Trinity River.------------------------------------------ 144
Devils---------------------------------------------------------------- 35, 36
Encarnacion -------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - e. 53
Fontenelle-----------------------------------------------------------. , 452,453
Fountain ---------------------------------------------------------- 275,286,289
Gallinas ---------------------------------. Tº e º 'º - as me * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 91, 92
Gila ------------------------------------------------------------------ 7
Grand ------------------------------------------------------------- 261,328,330
Great Bend---------------------------- -------------------------. *s tº dº nº 5
Greene -------------------------------------------------------- 447, 451,452, 461
Guadalupe-------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 10,22, 118
Hondo---------------------------------------------------------------- 100, 110
Laguna Madre.-------------------------------------------------------- 98
Lampasas --------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 126
Laramie----------------------------------------------- 439,440,442,445,460,465
Llano ---------------------------------------------------------------- .
592 INDEX.
* age. "
Rivers, names, and reference to—Continned. JP
*P---------------------------------------------------------. 542, 544, 546, 551
Lower Rio Grande ---------------------------------------------------- 5, 70
Marquis -------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---------- * * * * 10
Middle Concho ------------------------------------------------------ 21, 53, 130
Mississippi ---------------------------------------------------------92, 118,466
Missouri-------------------------------- 66, 181, 183,381,446, 530, 544, 545, 546, 565
Monument----------------------------------------...----------...--- 275,286,289
Mustang-------------------------------------------------------------- 21
Wile ----------------------------------------------------------------- • 69
Niobrara ---------------------------------------------. 212, 541, 542, 543, 546, 547
Nueces ------------------------ … • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * 8, 9, 10, 11, 118
North Concho --------------------------------------------------. 21, 53, 127, 130
North Platte- - - - - - - - -. 292, 308, 313, 314, 440, 465,536,537, 539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 545,
556, 558,560, 562, 563, 564
North Poudre-------------------------------------------------------- 292
North Spring --------------------------------------------------------- 96, 100
Palomas -----------------------------------. * * * * * * as s ºr us sº use ºr sº us - ºn tº sº as a s sº * * * 76
Pecos ------- 7, 8, 10, 11, 22, 24, 34,35, 36,47, 54, 55, 56, 57,66, 69, 73,76, 77, 83,96, 103,
Pint, 104,105,107, 110, 112, 116, 117, 118, 119, 122, 132, 137, 142,144
into----------------------------------------------------. ----------- 54
Platte - - - - - - - - 276,291, 343, 344, 345, 352, 355, 361, 396,297,440, 444, 445,449, 450, 460,
469, 538,541, 543, 544, 545, 546,561
Popo Agie ------------------------------------------------------------ 459
Poudre------------------------------------ 379,387, 391, 393, 405, 455, 456,457, 468,
Puereo--------------------------------------------------------------- '8,
Red -------------------------------------------------- 72, 76,98, 106, 107, 118, 181
Red Fork of the Colorado---------------------------------------------- 17
Republican ----------------------------------------------- 181,211,292,547, 555
Rio Grande. - - - - - -5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 13, 17, 24, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42,47, 48, 49,
51, 52, 53, 54, 59, 60,62, 65,66, 75,76, 77,78, 82,84, 85,86, 89,90,
96, 100, 103, 104,115, 116, 118, 122, 142, 313, 314, 325,359,403, 404
sº 8
Rio Las Animas ------------------------------------------------------ 5
Rio Pecos------------------------------------------------------------- 100, 403
Rio Polomas ---------------------------------------------------------- 5
Sabine---------------------------------------------------------------- 107
Sabinal --------------------------------------------------------------- 118
Saline ---------------------------------------------------------- = sº sº tº º ſº 211
San Antonio ---------------------------- sº s m = ± = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 10, 11,22,36, 118
San Cruces ------------------------------------------------ as tº sº tº sº is sº ºs º ºr tº 10
Santa Cruz ----------------------------------------------------------- 370
San Marcos ----------------------------------------------------------- 118
San Pedro --------------------------------- * gº is is sº º tº ess sº gº tº sº sº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * 22
San Saba --------------------------------------------------------- 11, 117, 126
Santa Fé ---------------------------------------------------------- 70,74, 75,96
Seven ---------------------------------------------------------------- 100
Smoky Hill----------------------------------------------------------. 181,211
Snake ---------------------------------------------------------------- 447
Solomon -------------------------------------------------------------- 211
South Concho -------------------------------------------------- 53,127, 128, 130
South Platte - - - - - - - - 5,292, 308, 313, 314, 402,403, 404, 538, 539, 547, 551, 554, 564, 565
South Spring River---------------------------------------------------- 97, 100
St. Charles ----------------------------------------------------------- 368
Sweetwater----------------------------------------------------------- 445
Tennessee Fork, Arkansas --------------------------------------------- 286
Ten Mile Creek or Blue------...-----------------. s - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 261,262
Thompson ------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 387
Town. ---------------------------------------------------------------- *455
Trinity, South Fork of ------------------------------------------------ 144
Underground --------------------------------------- 22, 103,108, 119, 124, 148,156
Vermejo -------------------------------------------------------------- 98, 99
Washita -------------------------------------------------------------- 12
White ---------------------------------------------------------------- 546, 547
Yellow Fork --------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 20
Yellowstone ---------------------------------------------------------- 181,446
Rocks, mention of
Bed-rock---------------- 11, 14, 40, 43 45,46, 163,345,359,402,403, 450, 465,553,560
Bituminous. ---------------------------------------------------------- 1
Bottom -------------------------------------------------------------- 25, 36,559
- Page.
Rocks, mention of Continued.
Dikes of -------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Flint ----------------------------------------------------------------- 136
Formation.----------------------------------------------------------- 5
Limestone ------------------------------------------------------------ 110, 127
Pecos County in ------------------------------------------------------ 112
Trap ----------------------------------------------------------------- 33
Resº, sites -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10, 11, 13, 15, 18, 19, 25, 34,42, 43,44, 48, 59, 65, 66.71, 72,
78,81, 82, 83, 85, 89,90,91,98, 102, 103, 111, 115, 122, 126, 127, 128, 129,
131, 150, 151, 164, 173, 190, 195, 196, 199, 202,203,207,208,210,271,
277,278,288,289,290, 325, 326,344, 345, 346, 353, 354, 369, 452,454,563
Arkansas Valley in -------------------------------------------------- - 292
Capacity of.------------------------------------------------, --------- 19
Clear Lake----------------------------------------------------------- 286, 287
Cold Creek, at------------------------------------------ -------------
Cranes----------------------------------------------------------------
Estimates of cost of.-------------------------------------------------- 10
Fort Collins, north of.------------------------------------------------ 308
Hayden.--------------------------------------------------------------- 286,287
Hondo, on the ------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * ~ * * * * * * ~ * ~ * 100
International --------------------------------------------------------- 90
King ----------------------------------------------------------------- 309
Leadville ------------ ------------------------------------------------ 288
Local----------------------------------------------------------------- 172
Mountains in --------------------------------------------------------- 10,389
Natural ---------------------------- 70,71,78,91, 96, 152,206, 267, 309, 344, 554,561
Old Glacial Period, of the --------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - 286
Ralston Creek, on----------------------------------------------------- 364
Storage, for--------------------------- 7, 9, 10, 69,70, 73,74, 75, 77, 84, 86, 88,90,96,
116,120, 124, 129, 138, 184, 193, 197,206,213,215,256,263,264,266,268,
272, 274,275,282,306, 307, 328,354, 335,371, 378, 442,445, 453, 457, 464
Storm-Water---------------------------------------------------------- 355
Sugar Loaf ---------------------------------------------------------- - 286,287
Surface--------------------------------------------------------------- 194
Tabulated statement of, Colorado. -------------------------- 318, 319, 320, 321,322
Tanks -------------------------------------------------------------- 23, 103, 149
Earth ---------------------------------------------------- 21, 134, 135, 136
San Martin.---------------------------------------------------- 142
Storage ----------------------------------------------------- 121, 138, 142
Wooden ------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 114
Tennessee ----------- ------------------------------------------------- 286,287
Texas Salt Company, at the Works of ---------------------------------- 142
Twin Lake.----------------------------------------------------------- 287
- S.
Seasons and aridity----------------------------------------- 43, 45,60, 68,70,108, 117
Average precipitation of moisture, of -------- ------------------...----- 131
Clear water, Rio Grande, of. ------------------------------------------ 85
Critical--------------------------------------------------------------- 96
Crop ----------------------------------------------------------------- 66
Droughts ----------------------------------------------------------5, 22, 39,47,
49, 52,62, 84,98, 100, 106, 107,118, 120, 124, 135,139, 146, 163, 170,346
-- 12, 15, 53,62,
Dry ------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - -------------------- y
y 131, 133, 135,148, 155, 157, 192,196,262,281,291, 352, 364,367, 406,547
Farming-------------------------------------------------------------- 89
Field ------------------------------------------------- --------------- 286
Flood -------------------------------- 32, 39, 52, 155, 164,264,265,267, 380,387, 463
Growing------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 195,207
Harvest ------------------------------- ------------------------------ 311,390
High Water. ---------------------------------------------------------15, 75,269
Irrigation ---------------------- --------43,75,99,100.264,273,294,295,306,309,
310,316, 317,329,344,359,380,381,383,396,409, 441,445, 448, 466, 539
Low Water --------------------------------------------------------- 46,329, 450
Non-irrigating -------------------------------- * * * * * *`------------------ 359
Rainy ----------------------- * * * 4 = tº gº tº gº tº * * * 9, 20, 53,64,71, 77, 83, 87.96, 127, 133, 139
Spring ---------------------------------- 55, 63,66,71, 77,79, 105, 122, 130, 151, 454
Storm ------------------------------------------------------------. 110, 149, 150
Summer -------------------------------------------------------------- 130
Tillage --------------------------------------------------------------- 275
138 A L–WOL III—38
594 - Index.
…-
* * * * º Page.
Seasons and aridity—Continued. g
*ential ---------------------------...------------------------------. 20
W*------------------------------------------------------------------ 116, 133
Winter---------------------------------------...---------...-------70,73, 87,133
Senators, United States, special mention of
Jones, J. K. (Arkansas) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... 145,158, 163,
164, 165, 168, 169, 170, 178, 192, 196, 203,203, 204, 205,261,263,264,
265, 266, 267, 268,272,275, 276, 277, 278, 281, 282,285,286,288,289,
290,291,294, 295, 296,297, 303, 305, 307, 308, 309, 310, 312, 313,316,
317, 323, 324, 328, 329, 330, 346, 348, 349, 351, 353,354,358, 359, 360,
361, 368, 369, 376, 381, 382, 383,388, 391, 392,393, 394,395,397, 439,
440, 4 11, 442,443, 444, 447,448, 449, 451,463,455,458, 468,469,484,485
Plumb, P. B. (Kansas) -----------------------------------------------.
:-- 151,159, 160, 161,162, 165, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172,173, 174, 175, 176,
177, 179, 180, 181, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 193, 194, 195,196, 197,
198, 199,200,201,202,203,204, 205,206,207,208,209,210,211,214,215
Reagan, John H. (Texas)--------------------------------. 5, 10, 11, 13, 18, 19, 20, .
27, 30, 31, 32, 33,35, 59, 73,88, 101, 102, 108, 110, 112, 113, 116, 117, 118
Teller, Henry M. (Colorado) -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...- ... . . . .369,393, 394,396, 397, 405
Stewart, William M. (Nevada) ----------------------------------------.5, 19, 59,
88, 101, 102, 108, 110, 112, 145, 147, 158,261,275,285,379,383, 439,537
Silk culture. -------------------------------------------------------------- 70,79
Sinall farms -------------------------------------------------------------. 61,99
Snow-fall.-------------------- - - - - - - - 39, 62, 66, 77, 99, 195, 280, 329, 389, 445, 454, 457
Defective supply of. ----------------------...----. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e • * * * * * 201
Kansas, in ------------------------------------------------------------ 105
Melting, Bpring in ---------------------------------------------------- 71, 77,96
Melting, Rocky Mountains, in -----------------...----------------------- 88
Mountains, in - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 173
Mountain (New Mexico and western Texas) of..... --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 118
Mountain-side, on the------------------------------------------------. 105
Staked plain, on---------- : ---------------------------------------------- 105
Soils, reference to -------------------------------------------. 16, 18, 42,43, 51,65, 69,
78,96, 98,122, 123, 126, 127, 132, 137, 164, 172, 180, 198,206,209,211,
272,273, 278, 28.2326, 327, 357, 363, 367, 368,405, 406, 408, 536,541,563
Adobe ---------------------------------------------------------------- 290 .
Alkaline-------------------------------------------------------------. 112
Alluvial ---------------------------------------------------- 53, 57,80, 82,95, 132
Aluminous shale ------------------------------------------------------ 276
Analysis of Pecos Valley. -------------- -----------------------------. 56
Black Sandy loam - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 57, 106, 126,458
Black river-bottom ---------------------------------------------------- 106 .
Black Waxy----------------------------------------------------------- 140
Bluish clay ----------------------------------------------------------. 212
Character of Kansas in. ------------------------------------------, --. 150
Chocolate loam ---------------------------------------- 106, 124, 130, 137, 141, 142
Clay ---------------------------------------------------- 53, 99, 112, 124, 130, 134
carboniferous formation of -----------. -----. -------------------- 127
joint------------------------------------------------------------ 119
waterproof. ----------------------------------------------------- 124
yellow---------------------------------------------------------- 124
Cultivation of ----------- -------------------------------------------- f, I
East, of the ----------------------------------------------------------- 73
Examination of------------------------------------------. ------------ 23
Fertile ------------------------------------------------ 120, 154, 160, 171, 182,203
Gravel ... ----- ty º ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 53, 112, 130, 183, 396, 397
Howard County, of.------------------------------------ -------------- 139
Lake bottoms, on----------------------------------------------------- 116
Light, Sandy alluvium ------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 39
Limestone --------------------------- 8, 22, 100, 111, 118, 119, 123, 124, 126, 127, 130
Loam ------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 459
Loose red------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Mexican ---------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº 43, 46
Mineral matter------------------------- F - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 341
Natural --------------------------------------------------------------- 53
New Mexico of.------------------------------------------------------- 73
Productiveness of.------------------. ----------------- * * * * * * * * ---. 89,90, 369,454
Pecos Valley, of the -------------------------------. ------------------- 56
Quicksand.--------------------------------------- 40, 45, 47, 123, 145, 153,403, 564
INDEX 595
Page.
Soils, reference to—Contiuued.
Red clay--------------------------------------------------. 110, 116, 124, 138, 141
Red sand, known as Shinneries---------------------------------------- 106
Red, Sandy---------------------. ----------------------------------- 96, 133, 137
Rich------------------------------------------------------------------ 65, 152
* Sand -------------------- 46,53, 112, 114, 148, 168, 183,184, 195, 384,403, 406, 459,554
Sandy loani------------------------------- a. * * * * * * * *s as sº * * * * sº sº as us º 8, 56, 106, 138,463
Sandstone. -----------------------------------------------------. 53, 124, 136, 138
San Luis Valley, condition and character of. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 325
Silica and lime, contained in. ------------------------------------------ 56
Subsoil ---------------------------------------------------- 124, 126, 200, 367,395
Surface --------------------------------------------------------------- 124
Texas, western in . ----------------------------, ----------------------- 11
Triassic strata.-------------------------------------------------------- 213
Uplands or table lands, on. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * 106
Virgin ---------------------------------------------------------------- 69
Volcanic ash---------------------------------------------------------- 70
Water-bearing sand.------------------------------------------------- 186
Western Kansas, in ---------------------------------------------------- 154, 170
Whitish loam ----- ----. ------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 56
White Sand ---------------------------------------------------------- - 80,124
Sorghum ---------------------------------------- 55, 56, 119, 131, 132, 134, 135, 136,
138, 140,141, 147, 158, 174, 177, 182, 196
Springs: &
Antelope.------------------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 142
Apache ------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 142
Big --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is ºs ºr sº me º 139, 142,564
Caballo Mt. ----------------. as sº sº ºn tº as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * g º ºs º 89
Cherokee ---------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 126
Clear Water Fork-------------------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
Colorado --------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - 279,286,288
Comanche ------------------------------------------------------------ 119
Flemming. ----------------------------------------------------------- 126
Hubbard.-------------------------------------------------------------- 126
Lampasas------------------------------------------------------------ .* 126
Las Vegas Hot----------------------------------------, --, ------------ 91
Live Oak ------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Lower Pecos---------------------------------------------------------- 7
OSS Denaio----------------------------------------------------------- 89
Reck ---------------------------------------------------------------. * 124
Permanent, of great volume --------------------------------...---------- 100
Richland.-----------------, ------------------------------------------- 127
Rock -----------------------------------------, ---------------------- - 451
San Felipe-----------------------------------------------------------. 36, 52
San Saba, Texas-------------------------- as sº sº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * 126, 127
Soda-------------------------------------------------------, --------- 136
Staked Plains--------------------------------------------------------- 119, 130
States, references to--
Arkansas ------------------------------------------------------------- 72
California.---------------- 8, 17, 21, 22, 61, 70,90, 114, 120, 1:34, 135,139, 175,364,565
Chihuahua, Mexico -------------. -----------------------------------. . 84
Colorada - - - - -----. 5, 7, 9, 13, 27, 32, 39,47, 48,49, 54,66, 69,71, 88,89, 9 ),98, 104,108,
109, 110, 140,141, 172,174, 178,179, 180, 184, 185, 186,187,200,206,
208,210,212,213,261,262,264,265,270,274, 275,277,278,279,281,
283,288,308, 312,323,325,341,342, 343,344, 345, 347,348,351.355,
357, 362,365,367,372,383,384,391,395,396,402,404, 440, 442,445,
447,466,468,484,530,538,539, 547,552, 553,561,562, 563, 565,566
Dakota.-----------------------------------------------------------. 178, 187, 546
Illinois --------------------------------------------------- 159, 352,449, 453,455
Indiana ------------------------------------------------------. 167, 173, 199, 455
Iowa -------------------------------------------------------------. 112,446, 449
Kansas. ----------- 79, 104,105,143,146,150, 151,155, 157, 163, 165, 166, 176, 178,181,
184, 185, 191, 193, 194, 198,206,210,212,228,261,266, 274,277,28s.
292,308,310,345,354,355,359,362,368,386,397,446, 538, 547, 567
Louisiana -----------------------------------------------------------. 79, 107
Maine --------------------------------------------------------------- 178
Massachusetts -----------------------------------------------------. 39, 170,305
Michigan-----------------------------------------------------------. wº 35
Minnesota ---------...------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * G5
596, INDEX.
States, references to—Continued. - Page.
Missouri------------------------------------------- -------- º, º as a ºn as * * * * 197
Montana ---------------------...----. • - - - - * * > tº us tº º ºs ºn 26,280,281,397,455,459, 466
Nebraska----------------------------- 104,105,112,212,292, 362,386,396,397,445,
460,466,469,535, 536,537, 538,539,540,541,544,545,
546, 547,548, 549,550, 551, 552,553,561, b02, 564,566
Nevada.----------------------------------------------------------------135,565.
\ew York --------------------------------------------------------------. 25, 65
9hio ----------------------------------------------------------------- 165,199
9regon --------------------------------------------------------------- 135
Pennsylvania ----------------------------. ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 355
Texas ---------------- 5,7,8,9, 10, 11, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21,24,26,29, 32, 34,35, 38,39, 40,
42, 46,47, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54,55, 56, 57,72,73,85, 88,89,
90,100,101,103,106,107,108,111,112,117,118,122,124,126,128,
130, 132,133,134, 135,136, 137, 138,139,142,148,164,397, 530
Washington ---------------------------------------------------------- 135,281
Wisconsin ------------------------------------------------------------ 350
Stock-raising ---------------------------------. 96, 112, 115, 120, 122, 128, 135,138,461
Cattle ranges ------------------------------------ tº º ºs - - - - - as sº º sº sº gº was em e º - - - 52, 64 .
Horses, raising ----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -------------------------- 120, 132, 461
Sheep raising--------------------------------------------------- 97, 120, 132,391
Streams, names and mention of:
Badger ------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 366
Beaver -------------------------------------------------------------. - 179
Bijou ------------.---------------------------------------------------- 291
Bijo ------------------------------------------------------------------ 366
Brazos (upper).-------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
Cache laRoudre.----------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 355, 362,380, 301,388
Colfax County, in ----------------------------------------------------- 70
Double Mountain Fork. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 11
List of, on Texas and Pacific Railroad.--------------------------------. 144
Llano ---------------------------------------------------------- * = r^ - * * 117
Main ----------------------------------------------------------------- 54
Mora ----------------------------------------------------------------- 92
Mountain------------------------------------------------------------- 66
Natural -------------------------- ... • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 402
Natural, in portion of Texas------------------------------------------- 128
Natural, flow of.------------------------------------------------------ - 102
Nueces.--------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 9
Pecos City, at --------------------------------------------------------- 8
Perennial streams ----------------------------------------------------- 53
Plains of New Mexico, on - - - - - - - - -------------------------------------- 91.
Roswell, near --------------------------------------------------------- 96
Running Water of.---------------------------------------------------- 119
Salt Fork at, charged with brine -----------, --------------------------- 11
Santa Fé, at north and east of city.------------------------------------ 75
Sapello -------------------------------------------------------------- 92
Seepage, from -------------------------------------------------------- 405
Shook's Run -------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 279
Southern Texas, in ---------------------------------------------------- 22
Subterranean --------------------------------------------------------- 131
Tom Green County, in ------------------------------------------------- 116
Underground -------------------------------------------------------- 108
Upper Rio Grande, along ---------------------------------------------- 92
Vermejo-------------------------------------------------------------- 71
White Woman -------------------------------------------------------- 179
Wild Horse ----------------------------------------------------------- 140
Yellowstone ---------------------------------------------------------- 455
Surveys for irrigation, etc ------------------------------------- 33, 37,43,44, 50,87,98
Ancient river-beds worthy of ------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 103
Arkansas River, about Lamar, Colo ------------------------------------ 176
Concho River, headwaters of the --------------------------------------- 132
El Cantilo --------------------------------------------------------- , - - - 39:
Fountain River ------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Government----------------------------------- 10, 67, 83, 84, 187,326,327,354,358
Land.---------------------------------------------------------------- 39, 40
Land, Government------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 355
Marshall Pass, through ------------------------------------------------ 267
Pecos, of the • - - - - - - - s , as p = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * v * * * * * * * 37 - .
}:
INDEx. 597
Page
- Surveys for irrigations, etc.—Continued.
Platte River, on the -----------------------, --------------------------- 563
Preliminary ---. ------------ * * * * * * - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 45,90
Railroad-------------------------------------------------------------- 56,267
Rio Grande, of the .--------------------------------------------------- 48, 60,81
Santa Fé River, for storage reservoirs ---------------------------------. 74
United States geological ------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 33,38, 42,43, 44, 50,90,
122, 123,214,329, 367,369,539
United States irrigation.---------------------------------------- 44, 111, 362, 550
T.
Territories:
Arizona -------------------------------------------------- 62,'65, 80, 126,379,565
Idaho -------------------------------------------------- 61,281,447, 453, 565, 566
Indian---------------------------------------------------------------- 12,245
New Mexico - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -5, 7, 9, 13, 15, 19, 21, 22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 32, 33,
39, 47,48, 49,55, 59,60,62,63,65, 67, 69,73, 74,78,80, 87,88,90,91, 94,
96, 97, 100, 101, 104, 105, 107, 108, 110, 111, 126, 136,359,397,404,555
Utah.----------------------------------- 61,98, 161,213,326, 328,397, 450, 565, 566
Wyoming-------------------------------------------- 351,439,443,447, 456,458,
t 461, 462, 465,466,468, 469,508,534, 538,540, 541, 558,560,564, 565,566
Tobacco ------------------------------------------------------------------ 83, 136
Topography, in connection with irrigation--------------------------------- 137,
140, 197,270,288,344, 354, 540, 542, 546, 548,554
Colorado, of .--------------------------------------------------------- 269
Country, of ------------------------------------------------- 21, 149, 194, 205, 232
Mitchell County, of --------------------------------------------------- 140
Nueces, the ----------------------------------------------------------- 9
Rio Grande, sources of .----------------------------------------------- 7
Subhumid regions, of.------------------------------------------------- 106
Western Texas, of.----------------------------------------------- 10, 35, 115, 135
Treaty of Guadeloupe Hidalgo ---------------------------------------- 29, 30
Trees------------------------------------------------------------ 49,95, 121, 138, 139
Ash ------------------------------------------------------------------ 27
Black Jack ----------------------------------------------------------- 53
Brush -------------------------------- * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - s: 53
Cedar ---------------------------------------------------------------- 97, 107
Chittim-------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 106
Cottonwood -------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 95, 106, 109
Elm ----------------------------------------------------------------- 106, 130
Greasewood----------------------------------------------------------- 100
Hackberry------------------------------------------------------------ 106
Live oak ---------------------------------------------------------- 106, 130, 133
Mesquite ---------------------------------------------------- 23, 51, 106, 133,404
Peoan ---------------------------------------------------------------- 106
Pine--------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 97, 99
Pinon ---------------------------------------------------------------- 97
Post------------------------------------------------------------------ 106
Red oak -------------------------------------------------------------- 106
Shin oak ------------------------------------------------------------- 106
Spruce --------------------------------------------------------------- 97
Timber growth -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -89, 95,97, 106, 129, 132,250, 280,281,312, 464
Wild China----------------------------------------------------------- 106
V.
Walleys: - * -
Arkansas.----- 145,147,148, 166, 173, 184, 187, 194,265,266,270,274,288,343,354,403
Peaver --------------------------------------------------------------- 187
Brazos.--------------------------------------------------------------- 142
Cachela Poudre------------------------------------------------------- 296, 402
Cimarron------------------------------------------------------------- 172,187
Crooked Creek-------------------------------------------------------- 212
Pl Canutilo----------------------------------------------------------- 39
Grand ---------------------------------------------------------------- 326
Green--------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * *s a “tº º - tº 326
Green River ---------------------------------------------------------- 451
Laramie ----------- * - - - - - e s = • * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 444, 448
Las Cruces ---------------------------------------------------------- 6
Lodge Pole -------------------------------------------------------, --- 558
598 - INDEx.
Valleys—Continued. Pago.
Mesa ------------------------ ----------------------------------------- 65
Mesilla------------------------------. 59, 60, 61,81, 82,83, 85,88, 89,90,91, 122, 181
Mountain------------------------------------------------------------ 122
Paul's ------------------------------------------------------------ ºw is us tº 11
Pecos-------------------------------------------------------- 56,60, 118, 132, 142
Platte ---------------------------- .* - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * 190,292, 342,362,260,537
Red River ----------------------------------------------------------- 98
Republican ----------------------------------------------------------- 397
Rio Grande--------------. 5, 6, 11, 12,28, 38, 52,66, 72, 75,78, 79,80, 81, 82,85, 88,328
Salt River - - - - - - - - - - * - - - * * * * - * * * * * * * * * * * * * - tº e a s sº as sº - e º ºs = ea - a - m. s is a s - ºn e s is as 62
San Bernardino ------------------------------------------------------- 366
San Juan ------------------------------------------------------------- 264
San Luis ------------ 5,6,7,296,303,304,325,326,327,328,330,340, 342,359,363,366
San Martine ---------------------------------------------------------- 142
San Marcial----------------------------------------------------------. 7
Santa Fé River ------------------------------------------------------- 70
South Platte---------------------------------------------------------- 403
Willage:
Granite of.----------------------------------------------------------- 286
Indian-------------------------------------------------------...------- 47, 87
Marfa, of -------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 53
Vineyards-------------------------------- 12, 19, 33,63, 64, 80, 82, 106, 121, 122, 133, 137
Grape of.--------------------------. 8, 21, 28, 55, 57,63,64, 66,68, 79,80, 81,90, 110,
111, 120, 121, 122, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 1:36, 137, 138, 139, 140,141,142
Hops of.-------------------------------------------------------------- 107,241
W
Water supply, reference to :
Abundance of.---------------------------. 6, 7, 27, 31, 61,63, 113, 118, 136,210,563
Acre, system of.-------------------------------------------------------^ 129
Alkali ---------------------------------------------------------- 11, 119,273,564
Ample, of.------------------------------------------------------ 44, 141, 165,459
Amount of, required for ditches---------------------------------------- 295
Amount of, thrown out by Wells--------------------------------------- 109
Analysis of Pecos River.--------------------------------------------- 56
Annual rent of.----------- --------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 100
Appropriator of, protection to the. --------- - - - - - - - - - - - -...-------55, 504,505, 506
Arkansas River, quantity of.------------------------------------------ 270,273
to irrigate with -------------------------------------- 149
Arkansas water division, Colorado ---------------. -------------------- 313, 315
Artesian ---------------. ------------------------------ 108, 132,140, 156, 166, 168,
171, 173, 174, 175, 177, 178, 180, 194,196,205,212,214,255, 365, 550,561
Batavia, supplied with---------------------------------------- 365
belt of.------------------------------------------------------- 56
flow at Larned------------------------------------------------ 213
in the San Luis Valley---------------------------------------- 326
Artificial supply of -. -------------------------------------------------- 171,
181, 183, 191, 193, 194, 196, 197, 199,201,204,205,206,207,275, 537
Average flow of.------------------------------------------------------ 39.
Average, line of the ----------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * 124, 125
Brazos, at silt in ------------------------------------------------------ 142
Capacity of.---------------------------------------------------------- 316
Carrizo Pass, at ------------------------------------------------------ 142
Catchment areas------------------------------------------------------ 53
Clear and fresh ------------------------------------------------------- 29,42
Cloud-bursts---------------------------------------------------------- 282, 549
Coleman, at ----------------------------------------------------------- 117
Colorado, of.---------------------------------------------------------- 368
Commissioner------------------------------------------------------ 291, 343,362
Consumption of, for crops.--------. ---------- as tº gº º - - - as ºn sº sº - - - as tº º ºs º ºs º as dº tº º 259
Contract for---------------------------------- As sº as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 303,361
Control of.------------------------------- " * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 44, 346, 347, 340
Courses.-----------------------------------------. 53, 60,98, 106, 123, 133, 138,196
Decreed, amount. ------------------------------------------------------ 323,324
Deep ----------------------------------------------------------------- 181,366
Demand for.---------------------------------------------------------- 40
Depth required to sink for-------------------------------------------- - 145 .
Devastating floods of ------------------------------------------------- 92
flow of.------------------------------------------- tº m s us ºn tº 41
sprx 599
Fage.
Water supply—Continued.
Disappears, how it.-------------------------------------------------- 62,206,291
Distribution of-------------------------------- 100, 142,278,304,342,343,348,363
Distribution of, in valley of Rio Grande -------------. ------------------ 13, 67
Districts in Colorado--------------------------------------. 313,314,348,451, 507
Diversions of, in Colorado.-------------------------------------------- 62
Diverted.------------------------------------------------------------- 50
Divisions in Colorado, No. 1.----------------------------------------- 296, 313, 315
Drainage of.--------------------- • * * * * * * 39, 53,243,273,275,363,364,368, 395,406
area of ------------------------------------------------------ 100,288
basins or surface lakes--------------------------------------- 113
Crooked Creek----------------------------------------------- 236
east slopes of Capitan --------------------------------------- 100
farm on, by ditching and tiling-----...----------------------- 107
Kansas of natural-----...----------------------------------- - 244
North Fork of the Cimarron---------------------------. -- - - - 237
Republican and Smoky Rivers - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * > * * * * * * * * * * * * * 230
Salt Fork of the Arkansas.-----------------...--------------- 239
surface ------------------------------------------------------ 241
underground ----------------------------------------- ---. 113, 118, 123
Division No. 3, Rio Grande (San Luis Valley). ----------------...----. -- 313, 315
Dry, courses ---------------------------------------------------------- 122,404
Duty of .-------------------------------------------------------------- 67,71,
99, 131, 313, 314,315,316,327, 342, 348,367,379,382,384,385, 393,405
Economy in -------------------------------- 67, 102,206, 269,316,348, 408,409, 542
Evaporation of .----------------------------------- ------------------------ 39
213,271,273,275,290,292, 309, 317, 352, 365, 386,409, 554, 558,561
Water-course, from dry ------------------------------. ---- 105
Measuring of ----...----...---- ---------- * - - - -ºº º º - - - - - - - - - - - - 19, 39, 45
Total.----------------------------------------------------- 293,294
Evaporating, pans ---------------------------------------------. * * * * ºr tº 45
Experiments for, by boring wells------------------------------...------ 124
Facilities of -- . ------------ as sº as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 277
Falls, during summer ------------------------------------------------- 275
Fall of.-------------------. * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 365
Famine, a------------------------------------------------------------- 47, 96
Fertilization of lands by---------------------------------------------- 49
“Fills” built to retain -------------------------------. ---------------- 306, 307
............37.46, 47,48,64, 69,99,100, iii,
Flood--------------------------------
131,273,325,328,346,353, 362,386,409, 448, 460,542, 553,558,559, 560
annual in Rio Grande------------------------------------------- 42,72
annual ------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 39
control of.------------------------------------------------------ 39
height of Rio Grande-------------------------------------------- 88
in the Mesilla Valley in spring -----------------------------. ---- 82
saving of early season.------------------------------------------- 89
time, amount of ---------------------------------------8, 29, 31, 33,60,344
time at Pecos --------------------------------------------------- 36
annual period of ,----------------------------------------------- 41
Flow of .-- - - - - - - - 43,47, 70,71, 126, 128, 141, 148, 155, 160,161, 176,305,346,365,366
annual --------------------------------------40, 41,42, 45,46, 131, 132,295
Flowing to Waste.--------------------------------------------- * - tº º sº tº - 60
Pecos City, at-----------------------------------------------. 112
Sandy Mountain, out of- - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 87
Near Gomez, Tex. -------------------------------------------- 142
Forms of Colorado water contracts----------------------------- 300,302,330,339
Forests, largely to conserve the --------------------------------------- 279
Freshet of.----------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 53,208
Gauging station------------------------------------------------------ 43, 45
Gauging station at Denver.------------------------------------------- 314
Graves' spill-box for measuring------ `--------------------------------- 304.
Head of.---------------------------- 72,97,114, 130, 140,142,180,281,447, 469,551
Arkansas, of.------------------------------------------------- 262
Colorado, of.------------------------------------------------- 118
Rio Grande, of.----------------------------------------------- 62
High --------------------------------------------- * * * * * * = 45,91,98,267,272,288
Highland, depressions on . -------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 199
How obtained.------------------------------------------------------- 218,219
600 INDEx.
Water supply—Continued. -
How Water runs up-hill.----------------...---------- ----------------- 22t)
"on ------------------------------------------------------------------
Lack of.----------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30, 49,86
* ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Lateral system of.---------------------------------------------------- 99
Leakage of.------, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 131
Liberal supply of ----------------------------------------------------- 107
line------------------------------------------------------------------ 179
Limestone, found resting on ---- -----------------------. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 138
List incorporations, New Mexico.-------------------------------------. 94
Location and distribution of.------------------------------------------ 486,497
Local flood of--------------------------------------------------------- 317
Pocal Spout----------------------------------------------------------- 317
PoW stage of.-------------------------------------------------------- 39, 62
Marienfeld, at -------------------------------------------------------- 134
Measurement of.----------------------------------- 124, 125, 304,305, 315, 367, 368
by boxes------------,---------------------------------- 304
by Weir method.-------------------------------------- 305,306,
Means of obtaining-----------------------------------------. ---------- 32
Means of restoring, suggested.----------------...--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13
Mechanical power in elevating. ----------. ---------...----------------- 404
Mexican system of.--------------------------------------------------- 5
Miles of Ways--------------------------------------------------------- 57
Mode of distributing-------------------------------------------------- 407
Moisture economy----------------------------------------...--------- 80,241,244
Mountains------------------------------------------------------------- 107,292
Natural basins for, Grant County, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 206
Natural flow of.--------------------------------------. 115, 130, 131, 194, 275,344
Necessity for---------------------------------------------------------- 11, 24
Obtained by irrigating ditches...----. ------...------------------------- 96
Occupation of----------------------, ---------------------------------- 50
Overflow of.------------------------ 39, 40, 41, 53,96, 173, 172, 199,202,366,389, 390
annual --------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 39
lands by----------------------------------------------------- 19
Owners of .----------------------------------------------------------- 311
Passes into Cañon ----------------------------------------------------- 72
Paso Del Norte, insufficiency of, at - - - - - - - -----------------, ------------ 31
Pecos, of the ---------------------------------------------------------- 100
Percolation of ---------------------------------------- 119,268,276,363, 365,366
Pepetual, right in. ----------, ---------------------------------------- 340
Pioneer canal, permanent right of ------------------------------------- 56
Pipes for saving------------------------------------------------------- 77,368
Pipes of Wood.------------------------------------------------------- 99
Plan of disposing of--------------------------------------------------- 61
Platte, of the----------------------- ºs ºs ºs º 'º -> * * -------------------------- 276
Ponds of, Mitchell County--------------------------------------------- 114
Power of ------------------------------------------------ 17, 27, 29, 31, 41, 42,46
Precipitation of -. ------------------------------------------ 39, 195,197,202,209
Pressure of.----, ------------------------------------------------------ 26
Price of. -------------------------------------------------------------- 188, 485
Prior right to------, -----, -------------------------------------------- 48,328
Prior appropriation of. ------------------------------------------------ 55, 323
Privileges of.--------------------------------------------------------- 51
Proximity to---------------------------------------------------------- 51
Questions of supply--------------------------------------------------- 49, 120
Quantity needed for irrigation -------------- 51, 121, 122, 123, 128, 129, 150,349,359
Railroad on ------------------------------------------------------- 222,223,224
Rain.----------------------------------------------------------------- 135
Rentals of.---------------------------------------- * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * 311
Removed by pumping------------------------------------------------- 53
Reserve of.----------------------------------------------------------- 41
Rights --------------...-- 13, 17, 32,33, 46,56, 57,61, 71, 74.91, 94,128, 129, 131, 203,
290, 303, 310,311, 327,329, 341,348,351,352, 354,356,360,361, 365,392
9
ancient -------------------------------------------------------- 32
form of agreement for ----------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 297,300
price of -------------------------------------------------------- 100
Rio Grande, of.------------------------------------------------------- 28, 48, 49
Riparian rights in ------------------------------------------- 40, 69,126. 127, 142
Riparian laws.------------------------------------------------- ----- 47
*
* INDEx. 601
- '- Page.
Water supply—Continued. -
Running wild over the sod-------------------------------------------- 98
Salt ------------------------------------------------------------------ 171
Samples of.----------------------------------------------------------- 45
San Saba, of the------------------------------------------------------- 127
Saving flood, Rio Grande, of the...--------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - 90
Search for------------------------------------------------------------ 123, 124
Scarcity of.----------------------------------------------------------. 27, 31, 32
sedimentary deposit of.......... ifi, 19,35,35,42, 43, 45.53, 84,85, i48,202,203,272
Seepage of ... --77, 103, 114, 119, 124, 148, 151, 201,202,203,204, 269,292, 307, 309, 314,
49. 317,346,359,362,363,368,381,384,386,390,395,402,406,465,551
Service of -----------------------------------------------------------. 56
Shallow pools of.----------------------------------------------------- 238
Sheds - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 130, 262,266,267,270,290,292, 308, 354, 408,444
Arkansas and Cimarron-...--------------------------------------- 238
Platte, of the--------------------------------------------------- 343
Smoky Hill ----------------------------------------------------- 194 -
Sheet-------------------------------------------------- 183, 185, 194,202,217, 270
Shortage of.------------------. ----------------------------------- 393, 394, 404
Sinks into sand ------------------------------------------------------- 5,270
Small pools of -------------------------------------------------------- 45
Snow ----------------------------------------------------------------- 5
Source of, supply --------...----. 30, 32, 51,77, 126, 180, 197, 199,200,207,263,269,276
re issue of ------------------------------------------ 346
Jornado del Muerto --------------------------------- 89
New Mexico, in ------------------------------------- 74
Rio Grande, Valley of ------------------------------- 88
Spouts -------------------------------------------------------------. * 328
Spring----------------------------------------------------------- 5, 100, 554, 562
Springer System of.--------------------------------------------------- 98
Staked Plains, amount needed on -------------------------------------- 120
Stations, experimental, suggested -------------. ----------------- 23,223,224, 373
Dodge City and Cañon City, between ------------------------ 223
Texas and Pacific, on ---------------------------------------- 143,144
Agua Zarea, at ---------------------------------------------- 224
Benson, at--------------------------------------------------- 224
Brooklyn, in ------------------------------------------------ tºº. 224
Caibo, at ---------------------------------------------------- 224
Caddoa, at--------------------------------------------------- 223
Calatasas, at ------------------------------------------------ 224
Car, at ------------------------------------------------------ 403
Carlin, at---------------------------------------------------- 223
Castle Rock, at ---------------------------------------------- 223
Cimarron, at .------------------------------------------------ 223
Clear Creek, at ---------------------------------------------- 223
Clelland, at-------------------------------------------------- 223
Clyde, at ------------ .*-* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 106
Codman, at-------------------------------------------------- 223
Coolidge, at ---------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * tº gº tº gº tº º 223
Colorado Springs, at ---------------------------------------- * 223
Crittenden, at ----------------------------------------------- 224
Denver, at-------------------------------------------------- * 223
Dodge City, at----------------------------------------------- 223
Promo, at ----------------------------------------------- • * * * 116
Elgin, at ---------------------------------------------------- 224
El Paso, at -------------------------------------------------- 39
Fountain, at ----...------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 223
Garfield, at -------------------------------------------------- 208
Granada, at ------------------------------------------------- 223
Hermosillo, at ------------------ ----------------------------- 224
Imuris, at --------------------------------------------------- 224
Kendall, at -------------------------------------------------- 233
Kent, at----------------------------------------------------- 142
La Junta, at------------------------------------------------- 223
Lakin, at --------------------------------- Tº me • * * * * * * we as e e s m = * * * 223
Lamar, at --------------------------------------------------- 223
Las Animas, at ---------------------------------------------- 223
Llano, at ---------------------------------------------------- 224
Lavº, at----------------------------------------------------- 224
602 INDEX.
Page.
Water supply—Contiunod. ge
Stations—Continued.
Miami, at------------------ tº a s m sº e º e s an e s e tº º tº tº tº e º e º 'º - - tº as ºn e º sº sº gº tº sº. 223
*Pe*, *--------------------------------------------------- 223
Wogales, *--------------------------------------------------- 224
Pan Handle City, at------------------------------------------- 223
Pesqueira, at. --------...-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 224
Pierceville, at ------------------------------------------------ 223
* * :-------------------------------------------------- 223
**, *----------------------------...---------------------- 564
*g, * :--------------------------------------...----------- 223
Prowers, at -------------------------------------------------- 223
Pueblo, at ---------------------------------------------------- 223
* *---------------------------------------------------- 89
Salton, at ---------------------------------------------------- 44
San Martine, at ----------------------------------------------- 142
Sedalia, at---------------------------------------------------- 223
Sherlock, at -------------------------------------------------- 223
Syracuse, at-------------------------------------------------- 223
Taylor, at --------------------------------------------------- 223
Upham, at --------------------------------------------------- 224
Statutory inch, sold by ------------------------------------------------ 327
Stealing of----------------------------------------------------------- 347, 353
Stock ---------------------------------------------------------------- 349,351
Storm -------------------------- 7, 53, 69,88, 89, 149, 151, 175, 177,215, 216,272,343,
344, 355, 363, 539, 550, 554, 556, 559, 561, 562, 564
Storm, storage of ---------, -------------------------------. 150, 170,318, 352,362
Strata of.---------------------------------------, 22, 34,64, 121, 185, 186,402,403
Dacota formation in.----------------------------------------- 212
limestone in------------------------------------------------- 123
Band in ------------------------------------------------------ 162
Sand or gravel in------------------------------, -------------. 124, 185
tertiary grit in ----------------------------------------------- 211,212
White gravel in ----------------------------------------------- 110
Storage, mention of..7,8,9, 15, 19, 39, 40, 41, 44, 57, 59, 60,83, 84,85,86, 96, 98, 111, 125,
127, 133, 138, 139, 173, 194, 195, 202,262,274,277,279,283,
284,290,292,294,309, 328,344, 386,408,442,463,466,467
Albany County, in ------------------------------------------------ 464, 465
Capacity for----------------------------------------------- ------- 41, 45
Dams in --------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 66
Facilities for, Jornada del Muerto. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2
Flood water, of -------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 82, 152, 153, 155, 175,209,316
Natural----------------------------------------------------------- 202
Pecos, on the ------------------------------------------------------ 34
Ravines in-------------------------------------------------------- 146
Reservoirs in.----------------------------------------------------- 380, 301
Sink-holes or sand beds, for ---------------------------------------- 276
Springs in -------------------------------------------------------- 210
Subhumid region, capacity for ------------------------------------ 107
Surplus of -------------------------------------------------------- 70, 131
Subterranean.--------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 81, 186, 209,228, 397, 402
Supply of.----------- 5, 7, 8, 22, 26, 36, 40, 49, 52, 53, 59, 67,73, 90,96, 98, 99, 103, 106,
108, 112, 115, 116, 119, 121, 122, 124, 127, 133, 134, 135,141, 147,148,
158, 162, 166, 167, 168, 170, 171, 172,173, 174, 176, 182, 184, 185, 190,
195,202,214,215,216,217,222,223,224,245,258,261,264,266,273,
277,289,291,292,296,310,318,325, 326, 328,347,349,350,359,396,
403, 404, 405, 440,445, 456,460, 462, 465,483,486,559,561,563, 564
Supply, Arkansas Valley in ------------------------------------------- 185
damming at -------------------------------- tº gº º sº tº me º ºr sº sº º ºs e º as as ºr 64
description of ------------------------------------------------ 222
El Paso at --------------------------------------------------- 83
Government aid for ------------------------------------------ 189
gradually increasing supply ---------------------------------- 342
how to increase - - - - - - - - - - • a gº ºn sº as a we as sº as sº as as sº tº dº sº º sº tº e s tº º ºs º dº º sº * * * * * * * 240,241
increased by storage------------------------------------------ 102
Rio Grande, from --------------------------------------------- 59, 88
Santa Fé River, from ----------------------------------------- 75
source of ------------------------------------------------ ..... 35, 143
Sterling, at -------------------------------------------------- 291
Wells, from -------------------------------------------------- 222
INT) EX. - 603
Page.
Water supply—Continued.
Surface-------------------, ---------------------- 43,55,78,119, 133,172,539,561
Surplus of.------------------------- 27, 69, 127, 129, 181,295,310,385,469,543,563
Supply of, in Arkansas River ----------------------------------------- 202
System by gravity ---------------------------------------------------- 54
System, Western Texas, in -------------------------------------------- 20
Tanks :--------------------------------------------------------------- 53, 113
Tenure of property in ------------------------------------------------- 297
Tidal flow of--------------------------------------------------------- 40, 41, 130
Tub, exhausted in ---------------------------------------------------- 98
Unappropriated ------------------------------------------------------ 128
Unburdened by silt -----------------------------. --------------------- 47
Underflow, the .----..... --119, 148,149, 152, 183,187,208,210,398,404,465,547,558
chief domain of ------------------------------------------- 221
Upper Arkansas------------------------------------------- 255,256
Under-ground channels.----------------------------------------------- 107
reservoir of -------------------------- as s as sº * * * * * * * * * * * --- 403
supply of --------------------------- 107,119, 122, 186, 190,228,229
supply from Sandstone strata - - - - - ---------------------. 229
Underlying bottom-lands---------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * 197
Under limestone strata.------------------------------------------------ 118
Use of ---------------------------------------------------------------- 55, 324
Use of interstate streams.--------------------------------------. ------ 101, 102
Users of -------------------------------------------------------------- 350
Utilized in arroyos for power -----------------------...----------------- 100
Utilized for irrigation purposes. -------------...------------------------. 126
Utilizing the natural supply ---------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 126, 184
Vast power of.-------------------------------------------------------- 47
Velocity of ----------------------------------------------------------- 274
Vermejo, System of ---------- --------------------- ---------------. 98
Wested rights in --------------------------------------------------- ... 19, 47, 84
Volume of.------------------------------------- 26, 27,28, 29, 45,60, 66, 75,86, 96,
111, 138, 140,141,153,174,295,359,469,546
Pecos, in the .------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * 73
Platte, in thº----------------------------------------------- 366
Want of.------------------------------------------------------------ 39, 49
Waste of.------------------ 6, 7,27,28,41, 69, 75, 77, 82,83, 86,91, 124, 126, 129, 131,
175, 194,200,201,261,262,264,269,275,278,288,290,291,316,
317,345, 351,363,381,383,386, 407,408,450, 454,463, 558,561
In floods------------------------------------------------------- 90
Ways ------------------------------------------------------- 20, 179,987
Ways of getting----------------------------------------------------- $202
Wells, raised by------------------------------------------- 34, 138, 149, 142, 176
Works ------------------------------------------- 22, 34, 75, 126, 141, 186,210,465
at Atlanta, Ga ------------------------------------------------- 53
Croton, New York---------------------------------------------- 25
bydraulic ----------------------------------------------------- 74
Lone Star salt------------------------------------------------- 141
Wells :
Artesian, reference to ...-------- 10, 52,53,96,97, 102,135,140,162, 166, 167, 170, 173,
176, 184, 193, 194,196,214,329,365,366,372,373,374, 465,535
Artesian City, at --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 165, 175
Coolidge, at---------------------------------------------- 174, 197,212
Colorado, at------------------------------------------------- 143
flowing ---------------------------------------------------- 56
Fort Worth, at ---------------------------------------------- 143
Great Bend, at ---------------------, -----------------------. 213
Laramie Plains, in the ------------------------...------------- 449
Pecos, at---------------------------------------------------- 142, 143
Richfield, at------------------------------------------------. 212
southwestern Kansas, in ---------------------------.. 250,251,252,253
Toyah, an abandoned artesian, flowing ---------------...----. 142
Van Horn, at------------------------------------------------ 143
Albert Howard, the --------------------------------------------------. 397
Aledo, at ------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 143
Aleman or Martin's---------------------------------------------------- - 89
Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fé Railway, on.--------------...--------- 226,227
Barn-yard, in --------------------------------------------------------. 108
Beeler, at----------------------------------------------------......... 223
604 index.
* Page.
Wells—Continued. -
Boring for.-----------------.-------------------------------- 21, 23, 134, 135, 141
Boring, proposed experiments in -------------------------------------- 124
Breathing, Eagle Flat, at -------------------. * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 108
Clyde, at--------------------------------------------------------------- 143
Colony Fork, at------------------------------------------------------- 143
Colorado, at ---------------------------------------------------------- 141, 142
Concho County, in ---------------------------------------------------- 131
Crisley, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 223
Crooked Creek, on ---------------------------------------------------- 162
Denver Pacific district, in--------------------------------------------- 373
Diagram of proposed -------------------------------------------------- 126
Dighton, at ----------------------------------------------------------- 223
Description of between Wakeeney and Denver...----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 222
Pug ------------------------------------------------------------------ 136
Dug or bored into underground water ---...----...----------------------. 119
Existing-------------------------------------------------------------- 122
Flowing -------------------------------------------------------------- 366
in Hockley County ------------------------------------------- 113
in Meade County--------------------------------------------- 161
at Washburn------------------------------------------------ 22
Garden City water-works, at -------. ------------------------------ 185, 186,217
Glazier, at -----------------------------------------------------------. 223
Hale County, in - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 113
Hancock, failing about----------------------------------------------- 47
Haas Farm, on the ---------------------------------------------------. 126
Hungary, in ---------------------------------------------------------- 135
Iowa, in-------------------------------------------------------------- 113
Jim Crow------------------------------------------------------------- - 23
La Junta------------------------------------------------------------- 185
Leon ----------------------------------------------------------------- 119
Lorraine, at----------------------------------------------------------- 143
Marienfeld, at -------------------------------------------------------- 143
Mallet Ranch, on ----------------------------------------------------- 136
Martin County, in. --------------------------------- *- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 136
Meade County, in----------------------------------------------------- 213
Merkle, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 134, 143
Midland, at.---------------------------------------------------------- 109
Modoc, at - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 223
Monohaus, at--------------------------------------------------------- 142, 143
Mustang Draw, in ---------------------------------------------------- 136
North of Dryden, on Pecos -------------------------------------------- 112
Railway, at Monahans---------------------.. ------------------------. 119
Union Pacific, on -------------------------------------------------. 373,374, 564
Rock Creek, at-------------------------------------------------------- 143
Servia, in------------------------------------------------------------- 135
Size and capacity of. -------------------------------------------------- 121
Shallow, change of formation in ------...------------------, ------------ 112
Slaughter, C. C., belonging to----------------------------------------- 136
Staked Plain, on ,----------------------------------------------------- 110
Steely, B. E., owned by----------------------------------------------- 168
Stevens County, in ---------------------------------------------------- 167
Strawn, at------------------------------------------------------------ 143
Sulphur Draw, on. ---------------------------------------------------- 136
Surface, a few of the -------------------------------------------------- 119
System of. -------------------------------------- as gº ºn tº e º ſº º º ºr º nº ºn tº * * * * * * * * 20
Van Horn, at ----------------- x * * * * * me sº e s m = m, ºr a s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 142
Weirs ---------------------------------------------------------------- 19,41,98
Winds : *
Blizzard -------------------------------------------------------------- 56
Dry * = sm º ºs s º ºr ºv is sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 133
Gulf. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 105
High -------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * sº ºn tº 43
Hot --------------------------------------------------- 152, 154, 164, 178,211,213
Local---------------------------------------------------------------- º 105
Northers-------------------------------------------------------------- 6,234
Prevailing, the ------------------------------------------------------- 104
South -------------------------------- , ºn as use - e s sº ºn a m ms as ºn s as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *::
Wind-break --------------------------------------------------------------
INDEX. -- - 605
* ~
Page. .
Windmills ----- ... --21,23, 107,108,112,113, 114, 120, 121,134, 141, 158, 166, 168,169,561
At Bird ----------, --------------------------------------------------- & 135
At Challenge ------------------------------------------------------ 134, 135,136
At Deeming ------------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . .64
At Eclipse ------------------------------------------------------------ 136
Grist, a ------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 27
At Halladay------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * 134, 135, 136
Iron turbine, with. --------------------aſ “ - - - - e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * 135, 136
José Caribal's, at.----------------------------------------------------- 31
Juan Gilas, at -------------------------------------------------------- 31
Kirkwood, at ------------------------- F - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 136
Midland, at ------------------------------------ * ~ * * *s a s m sº ºn tº as * * * * * * * * * * 109, 113
Montoyas, at ---------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 31
Star, the --------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 136
Vacante Provencios, by----------------------------------------------- 31
Witnesses' names: Tv
Allen, G. H.----------------- * e s º ºs º ºs e º me sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - sº is sº 70, 171, 172,173
Alford, N.C.--------------------------------------------------------- 37
Allen, Martin --------------------------------------------------------- 240,241
Amies, F. J. ---------------------------------------------------------- 382
Alexander, W. E.----------------------------------------------------- 353, 354
Ameson, J ------------------------------------------------------------ 136
Arnold, Joseph. ------------------------------------------------------ 136
Ashton, William------------------------------------------------------ 372
Bailey, H. L.---------------------------------------------------------- 568
Bailey, L. D------------------------------------------------------ 181, 182, 183
Baker, S ------------------------------------------------------------- 370, 371
Balwin, Noyes-------------------------------------------------------- 459, 460
Bartlett, Robert------------------------------------------------------ 135
Bauer George.------------------------------------------------------- 139
Baxter, O. H. V.----------------------------------------------------- 269,270
Bell, George---------------------------------------------------------- 136
Bell, D. J. ------------------------------------------------------------ 206,207
Bellamy, Charles----------------------------------------- 439, 440, 441, 442, 443
Bodfish, Sumner H--------------------------------------. 285,2S6,287,288,289
Borden, W. C.--------------------------------------------------------- 51
Booth, Levi---------------------------------------------------------- 345
Bowman, John B------------------------------------------------- 88, 89,90,91
Boyd, David---------------------------------------------------------- 391
Boyle, Arthur ------------------------ * e = ** - - - * * * * * - - - ºr as is sº tº - ------------ 68, 69,70
Brackett, A. G-------------------------------------------------------- 54
Brant, R. K. --- ----- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 101,102
Braul, B. K--------- -------------------------------------------------- 54, 57
Brechemin, Louis----------------------------------------------------- 535,536.
Bristol, Warren -------------------------------------------------, 63,64, 65,80
Briggs, George E----------------------------------------------------- 109
Bronson, Edgar B------------------------, ---------. 5, 6,7,8,9, 10, 13, 19, 20, 28
Brown, M. C--------------------------------------------------------- 448, 449
Brown, Fred---------------------------------------------------------- 206
Brown, C. H------------------------------------------------------ 554, 555,556
Bryant, Willis.------------------------------------------------------- 193, 194
Burdick, Charles W-------------------------------------------------- 449, 450
Burton, J. R.---------------------------------------------------------- 308, 312
Burritt, Charles H---------------------------------------- 456, 457, 458, 534,535
Byers, W. N.---------------------------------------------------------- 283, 284
Campbell, Joseph----------------------------------------------------- 136
Carey, Joseph M.----------------------------------------------------- 461, 462
Carpenter, Louis G. ---------------------------------------------- 291,295,296
Catrou, T. B------------------------------------------------- 65, 66, 67, 68,70, 84
Chamberlin, H. B. - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - -, * * * * * * 289
Churches, John ------------------------------------------------------- 364, 365
Clark, R. J.----------------------------------------------------------- 159, 164
Clark, B. J.------------------------------------------------- " * - - - - - - - - - 172, 175
Clark, J. Max-------------------------------------------------------- 385
Cloud, H. H---------------------------------------------------------- 110, 111
Cochrane, A. B ------------------------------------------------------- 204,205
Coffeen, H. A.......... * * * * * * ----------------------------------------- 455, 456
Conyers, G. W------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - 158, 159
Crosby, J. F.. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * v * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = ..26, 27, 28, 29
606 - murx.
---- P
Witnesses' names—Continued. age.
Crowley, A. F-------------------------------------------------------- 136
Cruse, Thomas------------------------------------------------ 96, 9
tº a s ºf its as * * * , 97
Cummins, W. F---------------------------------------...-----------126, 127. 128
. De Witt, P. M-------------------------------------------------------- {36
Dill, Robert G. -----------------------------------------. • * * * * * * * * * * g. 354, 355
Downey, Stephen W----------------------------------...--------------- 533
Dumble, E. T. ----------------------------------------------------- 115, 116, 117
Dunbar, Thomas P-------------------------------------...------- e sº º sº sº tº 340, 341
Barnest, C. H--------------------------------------------------------- 140
Eaton, Benjamin H-----------------------------...----. ---. 388, 380,390, 391, 405
Pmigh, A. L.---------------------------------------------------------- 382, 383
Ensign, Edgar T-------------------------------------------------- 279,280,281
Escobar, Senor J-------------------------------------------------- •er - 12
Estes, T. C.----------------------------------------------------------- 136
Eubauk, J. W. ----------------------------. - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 34
Follett, W. W-------------------------------------------------------- 33, 34
Fountain, Albert J.--------------------------------------------------- 81
French, W. H.------------------------------------------------------- 207,208
Fugate, J. C.-------------------------------------------------------. 210
Gardener, Isaac.------------------------------------------------------ 135
Garfias, C. I.----------. -------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24
Gettinger, Joseph. ----------------------------, ---------------------- 134
Gilbert, J. W.-------------------------------------------------------- 147–152
Gilchrist, Andrew.----. ---------------------------------------------- 460
Gildersleeve, Charles [1---------------------------- ---------------. 73,74, 75,76
Grace, W. R.------------------------------------------------- * - - - - - - - - 210
Grant, M. M---------------------------------------------------------- 464, 465
Grant, James B.------------------------------------------------------- 344
Graves, Walter H.----------------------- --------------- 325, 326, 327, 328,339
Greene, J. S.------------------------------------------------------ 367, 368,369
Gregory, J.W ------------------------------------------------------- 183,
184, 185, 186, 187 188, 189, 190, 191,214, 215, 216,217,218, 219, 220
Grierson, Henry F----------------------------------------------------. 78, 79,80
Griswold, John S------------------------------------------------------ 371
Gould, W. L.---------------------------------------------------------- 556
Guy, J. C.-------------------------------------------------------------- 197, 198
Hall, E. D----------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 199,200
Hare, L. R.------------------------------------------------------------ 244
Hay, Robert.---------------------- 210,211,212,213,214,229,230,231,232,233,234
Heldt, Ludwig-------------------------------------------------------- 35
Helm, Jos. C---------------------------------------------------------- 323, 324
Hicks, L. E.----------- 538,539, 540, 541, 542, 543, 544, 545, 546, 547, 548,549, 550, 551
Hills, Victor G------------------------------------------------ ---. 261,263,264
Hilton, H. R.--------------------------------------------------241, 242,243,244
Hobart, Edward F. ----. . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 91, 92
Hobson, W P -- . . . . . . ------...---------...------------------------. 270,271, 272,273
Holbrook, Henry R.------------------------------------ 261,265,266,267,268,269
Holden, C. W------------------------------------------------------ 452, 453, 454
Hollingsworth, Alfred -------------------------------------------------- 537, 538
Hopkins, Mark. ------------------------------------------------------- 451, 45°
Howell, Robert B---------------------- - ----------------------------- £61-564
Hoyt, John W-------------------------------------------------------- 454, 455
Hughes, Cyrus L.---------------------------------------- -------------- 379
Hutchinson, W. E.---------------------------------------------------- 196, 197
Jackson, A. H.-------------------------------------------------------- 5:36
James, R. O.--------------------------------------------------- 167, 168, 169, 170
Jarvis, N. S.----------------------------------------------------------- 370
Johnston, J. A.---------------------------------------------------- - ~ * * * 465
Jones, R. O.--------------------------------- ----------- * & s ºr * * * * * * * * * 175
Jones, T. J.. ---. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 200,201, 902, 203, 204
Karl, Joseph---------------------------------------------------------- 135
Kautz, August V---- --------------------------`---------------------- 567
Keliog, Geo W---------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 95
Kellog, E. H.---------------------------------------------------------- 97
Kelly, J. H.-------------------------------------------------------- 165, 166, 167
Kirkpatrick, E. W. --------------------------------------------------- 132
Kochs, Louis.--------------------------------------------------------- 135
Kouz, J. B.----------------------------------------------------------- 134.
INDEX. - 607
.” - Page
Witnesses' names—Continued. -
La Grange, B. S.--------------------- sº e º sº sº º ºr e º 's sº w w tº º sº ** se e º w w = * * * * * * 295, 405–410
Lacey, F. E.---------------. ----- ------------------------------------ º 371
Lauderdale, J. V------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 53
Lester, H. K.--------------------------------------------------------- 198, 199
Llewellyn, W. H. ----------------------. -------. 58, 59,60, 61, 62,63, 64, 65,66,67
Livingston. James I.C. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 87
Logan, Thomas H----------------------------------------------------- 24, 25, 26
Lowry, Austin P----------------------------------------------------- 249,250
Luce, J. E. ----------------------- " * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ------ 139
Magoffin, Joseph ------------------------------------------------------ 32, 33
Malrany, A. D. -------------------------------------------------------- 379
Maltby, W. J.-------------------------------------------------------- * 140
Mankart, Charles----------------------------------------------------- 22:
Marshall, W. S.-------------------------------------, --------------- 112, 113, 114
Matzeo, George.------------------------------------------------------- 135
Maxwell, J. P. -------------------. 312,313, 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319, 320, 321,322
McCaw, Walter D. ---------------------------------------------------- 372
McCune, A. J.--------------------------------------------------------- 377,378
McCunniff, Thomas.------------------------------------------------- - 379
McIntosh, J. J.. -------------------------------------------------- 557,558,559
Mead, Elwood---------------------------------------- 443, 447, 483,486,592, 508
Menges, Theodore-------------------------------------------------- 559, 560,561
Mills, Anson -----------------------------. 6, 9, 13, 19, 24, 25, 29, 38, 39, 42, 44, 52, 53
Moller, L. N.---------------------------------------------------------. 131, 135
Mohler, M------------------------------------------------------------ 220
Moon, A. T.----------------------------------------------------------- 191,192
Morgan, George H.----------------------------------------, ---------- 54
Morton, Charles------------------------------------------------------- 54
Nettleton, Edwin S.--------------------------------------------------- 362,363
Newsom, John Q. A ------------------------------------------------ 170, 180, 181
Nichols, J. Clayton---------------------------------------------------- 379
Olmsted, J. A.--------------------------------------------------------- 536
9tero, M. S.---------------------------------------------------- * - - - - - - 86,87
Pagendarin, John ------------------------------------------ ----------- 136
Parsons, George H----------------------------------------------------- 281,282
Patten, H. B -------------------------. ------------------------------- 535
Poland, J. S.--------------------------------------------------------- 567
Powell, J. L. ---------------------------------------------- --------- 245,246,247
Phillips, J. A.-------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 561, 562
Pratt, Charles B ------------------------------------------------------ 117, 118
Prince, I. Bradford---------------------------------------------------- 92
Provencio, E - - - - - - - - •+ v e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 30, 31
Quebedeaux, W. A.---------------------------------------------------- 136
Quinton, William ---------------------------------------------------- º 536
Randall, B. M--------------------------------------------------------- 53
Rawlins, A -------------------------------------------------- '- - - - - - - - - 135
Ritch, William G. ---------------------------------------------------- 77,78
Robertson, J. B.------------------------------------------------------- 134
Roesler, F. B ----------------------------- 21, 22, 23, 102, 108, 118, 124, 126, 128, 134
Robson, James-------------------------------------------------------- 562,563
Roof, Stephen--------------------------------------------------------- 209
Rogers, Platt-------------------------------------- 355, 356, 357, 358, 359,360,361
Routt, John L.-------------------------------------------------------- 383
Rumbough, D. J.----------------------------------------------------- 51
Rynerson, W. L. ------------------------------------------------------- 84
Sartoris, Lionel ------------------------------------------------------- 463
Schermerhorn, A. D.-------------------------------------------------. 564,565
Schmitz, N. S -------------------------------------------------------- 134, 137
Seymour, G. H. ------------------------------------------------------- 135
Sheldon, A. Z-------, ------------------------------------------------- 275,278
Shelton, F. M------------------------------------------------------ 247,248,249
Shrophire, R. W----------------------------------------------------- it. 378
Sidlow, John W ------------------------------------------------------ 157
Sloan, William B ----------------------------------------------------- 76, 77
Sloan, J. M-------------------------------------------------------- 173, 174, 175
Smith, James---------------------------------------------------------- 136
Smith, Francis M. ----------------------------------------------------- 556
Smith, H. D. W.------------------------------------------------------ 142
608 - - INDEx.
Witnesses' names–Continued. Page.
Sommers, Frederick - - - - - - - - - - ... t
southworth, Royal A.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. 135
Springer Frank - - - - - - ...I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.70. 351, 352
Siangèr, j. Sº III. ................ .............................. 70,74,72,73
Stanton, Irving W ------------ º:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 341, $43, 343
§ 3...º: §:
tº º Aº’ - i. 1 . . . A \º s sº sº ºr - - - - - - - - - - 3. $. : : y : **, * } ; ºt)
Steele, 6. W I.................... 234,235,236,237,238,239
steemwitz, w if .................................................... 378
Stone, E. W. . . ----. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 10, 11, 12
stover, E. S. ......................................................... 567,568
Stubbs, A. W. . . ----. ... ...I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. 176.-: , 39.84
suiton, M. w ................................................. 176, 177, 178, 17
Świnº, Geo. M.I.............I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. 152
Symington, John :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 138
Taylor, Edward D.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. 96
Towle, Geo. F - - - - - - - - - .…........ 145, 146
Trimble, i. s........................................................ 53
Tweedy, Joseph ...................................................... 87
Tweeddale, C. E ..........................................: kg oxy or 130
tjirich, j. "C.T...I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.......... .I. 256,257,358,259,260
van Biett, F. H. .......................... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 306, 307, 308
vaughan, j. L...................................................... 365,366
W. 8. A.............................. ... .I.I.I.I. * * * * * * * * * * * 563 ;
arren, Francis E........................................a66,467, 46: ,564
W. O. : ..................... .I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. 466,467, 468,469, §
est. George iſ........................................ 35& Go: Sº on: &
wheeler, Byron Sº…" 228,395,396, 397, 398, 404
wit. R. N.T...I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. 346
widox. E. T.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I................... 85
Williams, B. F.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. 369,370
Wilson, J. A ......................................................iº. 108, 109
woodcock, Abden.................................................. 194, 195, 196
Woodward, Alfred A ------------. º:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 565, 567
wight. R. M. ............................................ ișā, i 2: 244
wyomijóði reports by `` 154, 155, 156, 157
Brown, E. D. -----------------------
Čhapin, Ed B ........................................................ 517
Čijonald ........................................................ 526, 527
iºn, join......................................................I. 521
Fisher, John A........................................................ 515,516
Gilchrist, Andrew :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 509
Gordon, John H----------------------- :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: §5?
Haines Bros ---------------------- :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 516, 517
Herrick, T. M---------------------- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 525, 526
j. G. W.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: ;
Sººn, Lizzie B.I................................................. &
La Grange, Čači, M.I............................I.------------------ 3% 521
iºnºi................................................... 512,513
Lowe, Benjamin F.----------------- ......… 518, 519
Mºjohn ................................................... 510,511
ji, º, .................................................. 520
Mºjºaveſ. A............................ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 518
§§§..................................................... ălă
Obrien, John O. D------------------ :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: #3:
Fºrd, Charles X.................................................... §§
i...................................................... 527–531
Rutledge, T. M.----------------------- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 525
Sartoris, Leonel ---------------------- … ::::::::::::::::::::::::::: e 519
śāº; ...................................................... §§
Smith, John R.---------------------------- …: §§
§ji. A. L...................................................... 34,53
Trabing, Augustus - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - :::::::::::::::::::::::::: §§
Voorhees, Luke----------------------------- :::::::::::::::::::::::: *:
REPORT
of THE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE
OF THIS
UNITED STATES SENATE
ON THE
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
WOL, IW.—STATEMENTS BY DIRECTOR POWELL AND OTHER OFFICERS
OF THE U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURWEY.
CONSULAR REPORTS,
GENERAL REPORT ON IRRIGATION IN UNITED STATES.
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS.
WASHINGTON:
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICI.
1890.
TV O L. T. V.
STATEMENTS BY DIRECTOR POWELL AND OTHER
OFFICERS OF THE U. S. GEOLOGICAI, SURVEY.
REPORTS OF UNITED STATES CONSULS IN COUNTRIES
USING IRRIGATION.
MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS ON SUBJECT OF RECLAMA-
TION.
EIINTON'S REPORT ON “IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED
STATES.” RE-EDITED BY ORDER OF THE COMMIT-
TEE.
W ASEHINGTON DIVISION.
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 17, 1890.
The committee met pursuant to the call of the chairman.
Present, Mr. Stewart (chairman), Mr. Plumb, Mr. Casey, Mr. Moody,
Mr. Reagan, and Mr. Jones of Arkansas.
STATEMENT OF J. W. POWELL, DIRECTOR OF THE GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY. *
Director POWELL. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee,
since the return of the committee from the West, having ascertained
special questions in which the members of the committee were inter-
ested, I have devoted almost all my time to the collection of the data
which they seemed to require, and to assembling those data in Such
manner as to present to the committee a body of material that should
as far as possible be a repository of facts in relation to arid lands. . For
this purpose I have not only devoted most of my own time but have
employed from five to twenty-five men in the office of the Geological
Survey getting together the facts.
I now present before the committe a map of the arid region exhibit-
ing the distribution of the land already irrigated. The committee will
See on this map a red line along the eastern border.
The CHAIRMAN. How is that map entitled? .
Director PoWELL. It is entitled, “Map showing the irrigated areas
of the United States.”
Senator PLUMB. That corresponds to the line drawn on other public
maps, I suppose; for instance, the one at the White House, separating
the arid from the subarid regions?
Director POWELL. That map at the White House I made some fifteen
years ago. I have more complete data now.
Senator PLUMB. Do the lines run to the same places 3
Director POWELL. Not quite, -
Senator CASEY. Is that line drawn at about the one hundredth
meridian?
s Director POWELL. It is very near to it, but not exactly at the one
hundredth meridian. There is a border zone along the eastern side of
5
6 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the line—a doubtful region—the region in which at some times rain
falls in quantities sufficient for agriculture and at other times in
quantities not sufficient for that purpose. The line itself is drawn
conservatively, so as to include only those areas now generally, perhaps
universally, recognized as being arid to such an extent as to require
irrigation from year to year. * *
The greatest change I have made since the old maps were constructed
is in the Western border. We are able to trace out more accurately the
lines on the western border where irrigation is necessary. I have also
left out the northern portion of the valley of California in which
irrigation is not absolutely necessary.
The CHAIRMAN. In the northern Sacramento Valley 7
Director POWELL. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Irrigation districts are being rapidly organized there.
Director POWELL. Yes, but I have only indicated here the area where
irrigation is absolutely necessary. The total area of the regions thus
embraced within the two lines is about 1,340,000 square miles. If we
include the subhumid zones on either side, where irrigation must be
practiced some years to secure crops, the total area will be about one-
half of the United States exclusive of Alaska.
A glance at the map will exhibit the districts of country where irriga-
tion is now in progress. From the data we have collected we find that
about 8,000,000 acres of land have been irrigated and are under cultiva-
tion, and that a little more than 10,000,000 acres of land are under ditch.
I have that all plotted on the map, except some few places yet to be com-
pleted—little outlying districts where 10, 20, or 30 acres are irrigated
by little springs, etc.—a few in Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon, and some in
Wyoming. They will very soon be completed.
I here present a table by States, setting this forth:
IIRRIGATED AREAS–TOTALS.

Under Percent-
ditches con- Irrigated age irriga-
States.and Torritorics. structed and under | ted to total Authority.
or pro- ditch. a rea of
jected. Stato,
Alcres. Acres.
Arizona.---------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 455, 600 175,000 0, 2 | T. E. Farish,
California. ------------------------------------- 6,000,000 3,000, 000 3.0 R. J. IIinton.*
Colorado. ---------- * * * * * * * * * is sº sº us sº is is m ºr a sº e = * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * 2, 250,000 3. () Do.
Idaho----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 740,000 400,000 0.7 J. C. Straughn.
Moutuna. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------------------|------------ f348,000 0.3 || R. S. Tarr.
evada.---------------------------------------|------------ 75,000 0.1 || R. J. Hinton.*
New Mexico. ---------------------------------- 1, 360,000 638, 000 0.8 | T. B. Mills.
Oregon. ---------------------------------------. 191, 000 119, 000 0, 2 | W. G. Sueel.
Utah...-----------------------------------------|------------ 802,000 1.5 | F. H. Newell.
Wyoming. ------------------------------------- 1, 227, 819 f500, 000 0.8 | E. Mead.
Total ------------------------------------|--------- •--| 8, 307,000 ------------
* Mr. Hinton's estimates are based on various Ieports and figures, the details of which are not
now accessible.
# Including large areas of hay lands in Wyoming, probably 90 per cent, meadow.
The figures above are not comparable among themselves, as they are derived from
many sources and made by various persons, each having different purposes and ideas
as to what constitutes irrigation.
NotE.—Mr. Hinton's figures are those of his report on “Irrigation in the United States" made in
1885–86 and published in 1887 by order of the United States Senate.
PowPLL's STATEMENT.
ARIZONA.
7.
The estimates for Arizona are based on the report of Mr. T. E. Farish, Commis-
sioner of Immigration, bearing date May 25, 1889.
figures:
Following is a summary of his
Iłecl Und (Newell)
Reclaima- In (ICI’ e estimated
County. ble. ditch Cultivated | *. €I’
• irrigation.
Acres Acres Acres. Acres.
Mohave.-----------------------------------------------|---------------------- 1, 000 1,000
Yavapai -----------------------------------------------|---------------------- 11, 680 10,000
D2Cl10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9,000 9,000
Graham-----------------------------------------------------------. 47,000 . . . . . . . . . . . . 10, 000
Gila----------------------------------------------------|---------------------. 6,600 5,000
Pinal ------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 71,600 12, 000 10,000
Maricopa ----- tº e º sº s ºr ºr e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1, 250, 000 || 300,000 132, 800 100,000
Yuma--------------------------------------------------|---------. 30, 000 5,000 5,000
Pima ..... ---. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 300,000 7,000 5,000 5,000
Cochise --------------------------------- * -------------- 100,000 j.--------. 20, 000 20,000
Total -------------------------------------------- 1, 650, 000 455. 600 203,080 175,000
COLORADO.—PARTIAL STATEMENT.
District. Under ditch. Irrigated. District. Under ditch. Irrigated.
|
i
Acres. Acres. i. Acres. Acres.
1, State engineer's report, "15.----------------------- 2,771 4, 544
1888 -----------------. 150, 000 30, 720 | 16------------------------ 32, 623 12, 713
2, State engineer's report, | 20.--------------------- * 396, 360 100, 610
1888.-----------------------------. 46, 150 ' 21-----------------------. 57, 920 45, 183
3 ------------------------|------------ 108,900 22.----------------------- 46, 21 33, 855
4 ------------------------|------------ 69,910 : 41 and 60, Montrose Coun-
5 ------------------------------------ 86,635 | ty. ---------------------|------------ *5,000
6 ------------------------|------------ 50,909 || 40. Delta Cºunty--------|-----------. *2,000
7 --------------------- * * * 0S, 558 68,905 || 4; and 63. Messa County..]. ----------. 10,390
8 ---------------------------------- * - 3,000 || 43. Garfield County ...... [- - - - - - - - - - -. 1,000
9 ------------------------ 6,915 3, 740
14------------------------ 13, 694 7, 264 i Total --------------|------------ 699, 539
* |

t
* Assessor.
The above comprises all the figures, official or otherwise, that are at present in this
It is evident, on inspection, that these estimates are very incomplete, far be-
office.
low the actual irrigated acreage even in the districts given, while many districts are
not mentioned.
IIDAHO.
[From tho report of the governor, 1889.]
: Irrigated s: The irri. Total
Counties. Approxi- ja I, d in rºle gable area re-
mate area, process as ... land now | claima-
reported. | P irrigated. ble.
Sq. miles. Acres. Acres. | Per cent. | Per cent.
Ada ------------- tº s - tº e = * * * * * * * * * * s = * * * * * wa e s sº * * * * * 2, 424 60,000 900, 000 6.25 2
Alturas".-------------- & as e º me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3, 100 14, 500 268, 000 5, 13 21
Bear Lake-------------------------------------- fl, 300 21, 500 40, 000 35. 5 74
Bingham :------------------------------ tº sº º sº e s sº * * 12, 364 284,750 2, 503, 500 10. 5 35. 5
Boisé------------------. * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3,024 83, 500 262,000 24 18
assia. --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 5, 100 82,000 || 655, 000 11, 1 22.5
Custer..... * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4, 350 24, (\00 446,000 5. I 17
Plmoro----------------------------------------. 2,700 10, 000 || 2:0, 000 4. 2 14
Lemli..... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4, 300 10,000 600, 000 1. 64 22.2
£ogº. ------------------------------------------- 5, 200 50, 000 ||, 250, 000 2, 6 39
Oneida ..... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a- - - - - - - 2, 600 38, 800 || 1:48, 000 20.8 11.2
Wyhºe ---------------------------------------- 7, S12 21, 300 248, 500 8 42
Washington.-----------------------------------. 2, 900 40,000 || 500, 000 7.4 29
Total.------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 56, 174 $740, 350 (8,051,000 9, 2 24
from the
ditch.
* Much on Lost River and lava bed.
Ś The land actually under ditch at pres
t This area incl udes the lake.
#Much of this is “in process.”
ent can not be much over one-half of this amount evident
amount of Water known to be used in certain counties. Estimated 400,000 acres now under
8 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
MONTANA.
[From assossor's returns.” I

County. Cultivated. ‘County. Cultivated.
Acres. Acres.
TXeer Lodge...... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 49,875 || Fergus -----------------------------. 12,696
Gallatin ---------- tº dº º ºs º ºs º ge ſº tº gº tº º ſº º ºs dº ºn tº º 47, 330 || Cascade. ----------------------------- 9, 020
Madison ------------------------------ 44, 204 || Yellowstone....--------------------. 7, 357
Jefferson ----------------------------. 37,000 || Park. -------------------------------. 6, 759
Meagher.----------------------------. 32, 300 || Silver Bow.-----------...---------...--. 4,461
Lewis and Clarke .................... 25, 908 || Dawson ----------------------------. 109
Custer------------------------- * e s as a • * 21,812 || Choteau . ---------------------------- 14, 378
Beaver Head.-----...------------------. 20,971 *-i-
Missoula.----------------------------- 13, 862 Total --------------------------. 348, 102
*As the statements, mpon which this table is based were made by an assessor, and were to form
the basis of taxation, it is probablo that they are considerably under-estimated. I think that it is
safe to say that in 1888 thero were 500,000 acres of land under, ultivation, and the amount is probably
Inot much greater the present year. (Report of R. S. Tarr, Júne 21, 1889.)
It should be noted that this estimate is based on the assessor's returns of all lands
under cultivation.
The largest item of this is 209,000 acres of meadow.
Total acreage of crops (nearly all irrigated).----. ---- ge e s a se e s sº as “ sº sº e º a s a m ---. 348,000
Total acreage of meadow. ---. tº º sº ºn tº gº tº me * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - 209,000
139,000
This gives 139,000 acres of small grains and vegetables. This latter figure should
be taken in comparison with other States and Territories, since in these latter
meadow or grazing lands form but a small item.
NEW MEXICO.
[Estimate of land and ditches by T. B. Mills, June 24, 1889.]
Under w TJnder
Acres. Acres.
Bernalillo----------------------------. 12,421 || Santa Fé. ------------------------- * * * 9, 820
Colfax -------------------------------- 13), 400 || Sierra. ------------------------------- 8, 673
Doña Aña ---------------------------. 37,621 || San Juan ---------------------------. 20,000
Grant.----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8, 721 || Socorro ------------------------------ 73, 464
Lincoln ----------------- & sº tº sº e º s ºr e º 'º - tº º 100,000 || Taos --------------------------------- 88, 763
Mora --------------------------------. 51,279 || Valencia --------------------------- tº sº 26, 429
Rio Arriba --------------------------. 29, 623 +--——
San Miguel ------------------- tº e º sº e - - - 38, 241 Total --------------------------- 638,455
Projected ditches and ditches under construction will serve in addition, 722,000
* CI’OS.
OREGON.
[Report of W. G. Steel, June 27, 1889.]

Irrigable Irrigable
County. Irrigated. under' County. Irrigated. under
ditches. ditches.
Acros, Acres. Acres. Acres.
Baker----------- & - * * * * * * * 5,000 10,000 || Lake -------------------. 5,000 5,000
Crook-------------------- 8,000 8,000 || Malheur ----------------. 40,000 60,000
Gilliam ----------------- 3,000 5,000 || Morrow------------...----- 6,000 18, 500
Grant.------------------- 10, 000 10,000 || Umatilla....... -----...--. 5,000 7,000
Harney------------------ 20,000 20,000 || Union-------------------. 5,000 8, 000
Elamath.---------------. 5,000 30,000 || Wallowa. ---------------. 7,000 10,000
Total -------------. 119,000 101,500
TJ.S., IRRIGATION SURVEY
A R J D REGION
OF THE
UNITED STATES
Showing
|R RIGATED AR EAS.
e Irrigated areas
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Report on Irrigation.







POWELL’s STATEMENT. 9
TJTAH.”
1889 Arable land
Land under # Dry irri-
County. irrigation. ºš. farming •º
Acres. Acres. Acres. Alcres.
Beaver.---------------------------------------------- 14, 670 7, 450 4 48,080
Box Eldor ------------------------------------------- 88, 695 11,740 24, 090 159. 046.
Cache ------ • * * * * * * * * * * * is e s m = w - sº as a s as sº e - a - e º ºs = * * * * * * * 89, 025 53, 489 18, 65. 68, 91?
Iºmery----------------------------------------------- 44, 140 22, 400 ------------ 298, 68t
Iron ------------------------------------------------- 9, 107 6, 937 100 56, 200
Gutfield ----------------- e e s e º ºs e a e e s is e º sº e º sº e º e s tº a s • * * 13, 365 7,635 - - - - - - - - - - - , 33,046
Juab ------------------------------------------------ 9,000 5,300 400 33,006
Kano (county survey).------------------------------ 1,625 ------------|------------ 1, 750
Millard -------------------------------------------- 104, 428 11, 150 450 488, 77:
Morgan.-------------------------------- © e º 'º as ºr e º sº e º a w 8, 804 6, 687 624 2, 823
Pi Uto ---------------------------------------------. 29,080 15, 285 || ----------- 22, 260
Rich (county court) --------------------------------- 40,811 - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------- 44, 749
Salt Lake (partial)----------------------------------. 44,489 22,082 6,875 80, G27
an Juan - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - } 770 500 -----------. 750, 000
San Pete -------------------------------------------- 45, 506 24, 0.14 1, 350 68, 605
Sevier ----------------------------------------------- 32, 87 24, 914 I. - - - - - - - - - - - 30, 150
Summit.----------------------- * = a s m e º 'º - e. e. e. a s sº sº * * * * * * 24, 115 20, 825 800 14, 950
Tooele -----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6, 122 4,080 1, 340 120, 343
Uintah ---------- ------------------------------------ 33,750 18, 818 .----------- 12, 810
Utah ------------------------------------------------ 96,097 (50, 530 - 6, 9:0 112,680
Wasatch--------------------------------------------. 21, 500 15, 200 10 21, 000
Washington ---------------------------------------- 7,433 6, 235 10 22, 250
Weber----------------------------------------------. 37,048 25, 270 4,405 26, 265
Total (except Davis County)................... 802, 456 371,437 G6, 191 2, 525,403
* Statistics derived from Mormon Church Tceords.
WYOMING.
[From Meade's letter of May 9, 1889.]
Statement.—November 1, 1888, amount of land under ditch, 1,227,819 acres (1,918
square miles). “Probably below the truth.”
Actually irrigated (including hay lands), 500,000 acres; (agricultural, 50,000acres).
Duty, 1 section foot to 80 acres.
Director Powell (continuing). Do the Senators wish to ask any
questions in relation to any special districts? I thought I could as-
semble on a map a large amount of information and Save much oral
description. I have had this map engraved. The plates on copper are
now in the Geological Survey, and, if desired by the committee, the
maps which I present can be incorporated in their report, so that the
whole matter may be presented in one body. (See map.)
I have also prepared a map entitled “A map showing the wooded
area of the arid region,” in which I have delineated in two colors all
the forest areas of the region, and it is done with some minuteness and
care. The dark green represents all the areas the forests of which are
Valuable for timber for commercial purposes. Those forests are com-
posed of pines, Spruces, hemlocks, firs, and sequoias. (See map.)
The area covered by forests in this manner in that region is less than
one-tenth of the arid region, that is to say, one-tenth is covered with for-
ests of commercial value. It must be understood that these forests are
ail at a great elevation. They are all on the mountains or very high
plateaus. The forests grow invariably in regions either where agricult-
ure is impossible or where agriculture pays but very poorly. They are
in regions where snow accumulates through many months of the winter,
and where frosts may be expected in almost any month of the summer.
For that reason the regions where merchantable and valuable timber
grows, such as I have been speaking of, have not lands that are suscep-
tible of practical agriculture. They will grow some grains, it may be,
and some potatoes, some rye, and a few other things, but in the main,
agriculture is impossible there, and the crops which can be cultivated
are few. The growth would compare with that of Norway and of south-
ern Alaska.
WA
10 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
&
The CHAIRMAN. What is the altitude 3
Director POWELL. It varies. In the north the lower margin is about
5,000 feet, and that margin rises southward to about 7,500 feet, while
the upper margin is about 9,000 feet at the north and about 11,000 feet
at the South. It is about at that elevation that the timber is found.
This timber, in the main, however, is scant. There are some places
where the forests are dense. Usually, the pine and fir and sequoia
forests are open. The trees are scattered and the forests are inter-
spersed with glades and prairies in such manner that all the timber
could grow advantageously on one fourth of the area they now occupy,
and still the ground would not be crowded—the trees would be scant.
Not only are those forests interspersed with prairies and with naked
glades and “parks,” as they are very often called in that country, but
the forest area being, in the main, mountainous area, there are many
cliffs, crags, and mountain sides of naked rocks which are not covered
with timber. So that on the map an amount of forest area appears
much larger than it actually is. On this scale it is impossible to ex-
clude these small tracts which are treeless.
In addition to the forests of commercial value, forests composed in
the main of piñons or nut-pines, of cedars, and of small oaks are found
in California. These trees are valueless for ordinary commercial pur-
poses. That is, they can not be cut into timber; they are too small for
that purpose, but they have great value fºr fire-wood, fencing, and
many domestic purposes. These lie much below the pine forests.
These piñon and cedar forests are on the low plateaus and on the rocky
hills. In addition to those along some of the streams, as on the Upper
Missouri, the Yellowstone, and other streams, down on the bottoms are
found forests of cottonwood. Of these all that are worth mentioning
are delineated on the map.
The area covered with forests of this class, where the trees are valua-
ble only for fire-wood and other domestic purposes, is slightly greater
than the other. A little over one-tenth of the area is covered with
forests of this character. Some of the lands covered with this descrip-
tion of forest are valuable for agricultural purposes, but not all. Some
are high, others are on rocky hills, and in situations where they can not
be used for agriculture. , *
I wish to incorporate the following table showing by States and Ter-
ritories the area and character of these forests.
A
Appro.cimate area in square miles of timbered lands in the arid region.

ſ
º Mer-
Tire-
State. chantable
| wood. . .
Sq.miles. Sq. miles.
Washington ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,050 1,080
Idaho. --...-------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8, 600 9, 800
Montana. -----------. -------------------------------' - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6, 500 21, 000
Oregon --------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3, 500 8, 700
Wyoming----------------, --------------------------------------------------------- 7, 300 15,700
South Dakota. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -------------------------------------------------- 2, 400 400
North Dakota (river bottons). -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 200 ----------
California. --...--...----------------------------------------------------------------- 20, 300 11, 000
Nevada. ---------- . . . !------------------------------------------------------------- 5, 400 700
Arizona. --...--------...------. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------------------- 26, 510 11, 700
New Mexico. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21, 540 14,490
Colorado. . . . . . . . . --------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 15,000 23, 500
Utah. . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ‘. . . . 14, 000 7,700
ill - - - - - - - - s sº sº e º sº s tº sº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a as a s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 132, 300 125, 970
Total 132,300
258,270
Total area of arid region, square miles.------------------------------------------------------ 1, 335, 126
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 11
Senator REAGAN. Did you extend your inform ation down to the
Texas territory ?
Director PowIELL. I have not hitherto done so. I have only a small
portion of the information, such as I gathered this summer, but I have
been for twenty years gathering these data in the other regions.
I wish now to say a word or two with regard to the preservation of
forests.
The forests are destroyed frequently by fire. The amount of timber
used by man is comparatively inconsiderable. I witnessed one fire
twenty years ago in Colorado which destroyed more timber than the
people of Colorado have used since the settlement of that country, and
I have myself witnessed five or six fires in Colorado of equal magni-
tude. I have witnessed elsewhere in the mountains Very great fires.
They are well known. As some of you will remember, during the jour-
ney of the committee this past season we passed through the mount-
ainous region of Montana, eastern Washington, eastern Oregon, Idaho,
and down into Utah before a mountain was seen, because the whole
country was enveloped in smoke as in a dense fog.
These fires are exceedingly destructive. I have with me a map of
Utah which will show how destructive they are. This map was made
twelve or fifteen years ago and shows simply the areas which were
destroyed by fire at that time. I will present it to you for a moment
so that you may see how it looks. (See map.)
The blue represents the standing timber at that time—twelve years
ago. The brown represents the burned timber at that time. I have
no doubt that if a map were made to-day of that same region it would
show that much of that blue area has been destroyed in twelve years.
The green exhibits the irrigable areas as determined at that time.
The forests are chiefly coniferous and needle-bearing, and are charged
highly with resin, and so exceedingly inflammable; and for this reason
fires are greatly destructive. Then, since the white man has come into
the country, the forests have not been annually burned. In old times,
when the Indians occupied that country, they systematically burned
the forests every fall. By so doing they unconsciously, though not for
that purpose perhaps, prevented the total destruction of those forests.
If a forest of coniferous trees is protected from fire for a series of
years until the ground is covered with an accumulation of cones,
needles, twigs, and brush, then the fires have something on which they
may feed. If then, by accident or design, a fire is kindled in such a
forest it sweeps through and destroys it. So the forests are being
destroyed not for want of protection, but because they are protected
from fires. The only proper preservation of those forests consists in a
Systematic annual burning. If this burning is accomplished at a sea-
Son of the year when the ground is not too dry the whole accumulation
on the surface of the ground may be burned up and destroyed and the
trees remain.
Senator JONES. Do you think it would now be practicable (with the
accumulation of underbrush that years have produced) to burn any of
those forests without destroying the timber 3
Director POWELL. Yes; if burned in seasons of dampness, when the
forests are not too dry. Fires are destructive in seasons of great dry.
ness or aridity.
Senator JONES. Then, in the districts where the forests have been
destroyed by fire, the annual burnings would have to be dispensed with
§. º young trees got sufficiently large to be safe from destruction
y Ilre
12 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Director POWELL. If the burning were done at a dry time the smaller
trees would be burned; but if the fires were set at a comparatively wet
and moist time, and systematically, and if small areas were burned, and
burned out, and started again when not too dry, they could be burned
Without destroying the small trees. In this matter I have had some
experience, for I Was a farmel's boy in a prairie region and have taken
part in such matters. I have burned forests for their protection many
times in my life.
The arid region, as I have shown, has already been developed to a
great extent for agricultural purposes. In that region there are mines
of gold, silver, lead, iron, coal, and so forth, so that a great deal of the
country is being settled and in some places it is comparatively densely
Settled, so that population is now distributed in every valley of impor-
tance throughout the region.
In the progress of irrigation and development of that country by
which 10,000,000 acres of land have been put under canals, and provis.
ion made for the irrigation of that quantity, a large experience has
accrued, so that the problems involved—scientific, industrial, and polit.
ical—have been pretty well developed.
I now show you a map of the arid region exhibiting the areas under-
laid by coal, so far as the coal of that country has been determined.
You will observe that in the northeast there is a very great area, in
the Dakotas and Montana, but that these areas decrease elsewhere in
size, and that in Nevada and the western part of the arid region the
Coal areas, So far as they are known, are small. You will see them scat-
tered about in various places on the map. (See map.)
This coal is all of a comparatively late age; that is, it is of a late age
as compared with the coal of the eastern part of the United States.
The coal of the East is of the Carboniferous age. The coal of the
West is of the Cretaceous and Tertiary ages, but it varies in character
very much. It Varies from a brown, soft, friable lignite, found in many
places, to the most valuable, dense, hard, anthracite.
Senator CASEY. Where are the anthracite fields”
Director POWELL. In Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico, so far as
I yet know. They may be elsewhere, but we do not know of them else.
where at present.
All these coals are valuable for domestic purposes. They are all val-
uable for the creation of power by steam. A large part of them are
valuable for metallurgical purposes. In this connection it must be un-
derstood that all coals, wherever found, present in each case a distinct
problem for their utilization. When a new coal-field is discovered it is
never known to what extent it may be used for metallurgical processes
until experiments are made and a new method of coking is devised. A
new method has to be invented for every new coal-field. A slight vari-
ation in the constant part, such as the bituminous or other quality,
compels a change in the processes, and when a new region is discov-
ered it is not known whether it is valuable for metallurgical purposes
or not. This knowledge has been gathered now in the arid region.
Ten years ago it was supposed there was only one field of coking coal
in the West. One after another, however, the fields have been brought
in as new methods were invented. I have no doubt that ultimately, as
new methods are discovered by chemists and others, the fields of coal
will one after another be brought in. In addition to that the fields of
anthracite coal are being multiplied by discovery from year to year.
Senator CASEY. The gray lignites may be coked to advantage, may
they not? - h
POWELL’S STATEMENT. 13
Director POWELL. Many of them may be. We have not discovered
that all can be; but probably experience will prove that processes wlil
be discovered for the coking of all gray lignites. It is doubtful about
the brown lignites, however. 3.
These coal-fields are very rich. They usually have from two to
twenty and in some places even fifty beds of coal in one field. These
vary in thickness from a few inches to 20, 30, 40, 50, and even 100 feet
in some places. So that the coals are, for all practical purposes for Our
present civilization, inexhaustible.
These areas are such as, it is found by geological examination, are
coal-bearing; but they do not always have the coal lying near the sur-
face. In Dakota and Montana part of this coal-field is near the surface
and part of it is deeper down at a depth of 2,000, 3,000, 4,000, or 5,000
feet, so that under present conditions not all of that coal area is availa-
ble. The expense of getting at the deep coal is too great under present
conditions in this country. But, notwithstanding all this, there is
enough coal show II to exist near the surface in the hills, foot-hills, and
mountains to give an ample supply for this country for many centuries.
The CHAIRMAN. They have some coal supply in the new State of
Washington, west of the arid region, have they not ?
Director POWELL. Yes, but you will notice that in these maps I have
nothing to do with the humid region at all. There is a very valuable
lot of coal in this space that I now indicate [indicating]. The red spots
over the blue indicate the more important places where coal is mined;
I could not get them all on this map.
Senator REAGAN. There are coal-fields in the Indian Territory and in
northern Texas which are not shown on that map; but that is explained,
I presume, by the fact that that region is outside of the line.
Director POWELL, Yes.
Senator MOODY. Have you had your attention called to the recent
developments of those coal-fields lying west of what is known as the
Black Hills 3 -
Director POWELL. Yes; we are annually collecting the statistics of
the coal mines. We have a corps of men engaged on that work.
Senator MOODY. Are you acquainted with the bed of coal that the
Burlington and Missouri River Railroad people have been developing
recently 3 - ---
Director POWELL. Not from personal observation. I know it only
by description.
Senator MOODY. Have any of your force examined it 3
Director POWELL. Yes; they have analyzed it.
b * MOODY. Is that what you call an upper bed, or is it a lower
€(1 : &
Director POWELL. The terms “upper bed” and “lower bed,” as used
by miners, have no special significance. The coal is Lower Cretaceous
coal, but beds are tilted and brought up to the surface in various ways.
In one district beds which are geologically low will lie high in the
mountains, and beds a few miles away which are geologically high
Will appear in Valleys, because the dipping of the rocks has so placed it.
Senator MOODY. You are aware, I Suppose, that there is a very great
difference between those strata of coal? -
Director POWELL. Very great; but the difference does not in the
least depend upon the geological horizon of the coal. The coals at Rock
Springs, in Wyoming, belong high in the Cretaceous age and are very
fine coals. The coals of the Sulphur Creek, 25 or 30 miles away, belong
5,000 feet lower in the geological series, and are not Quite So good. In
14 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
other districts it will be vice versa, varying in character, and that vari-
ation is owing to the manner in which the coal beds are accumulated
1n basins.
Senator REAGAN. What are the brown spots indicated on the map *
Director POWELL. Those brown spots indicate the regions where coal
is mined in large quantities for commercial purposes. I could not put
all of them on the map. They are multifarious, but I put the most im-
portant mines in by dots on the map. (See map.)
Senator CASEY. Are there not extensive mining operations in Mon-
tana farther north than your map indicates ?
Director POWELL. Perhaps there are, but the facts come to my office
Only once a year.
The CHAIRMAN. These coal areas may be found, on further develop.
ment, to be larger than are indicated on the map *
Director POWELL. Yes. These that I show are the coal areas as they
are known.
The map which I now place before you represents the drainage basins
of the arid regions, and indicates to the committee the more important
problems which have arisen in each one of these drainage basins rep-
resented on the map. For this purpose I will commence with the Ar-
Ransas basin, that is, I will set forth some of the more important prob-
lems that have arisen in the utilization of the Arkansas and its tribu-
taries. (See map.)
This [indicating] is the basin as outlined on the map. The Arkansas
River heads in the great mountains of central Colorado, in regions of
perpetual Snow, and flows down through the mountains until it de-
bouches into the plains and runs through a great valley across the State
of Colorado into IKansas and across a corner of ICansas down into the
State of Arkansas.
The mountain region above is cold and inhospitable by reason of its
great altitude. Great bodies of snow accumulate there during the win-
ter and frosts may occur during any month of the summer. When it
leaves the mountains and strikes the plains a warmer and more beauti-
ful region is reached. In this upper region there are many beautiful
Valleys, valuable especially for pasturing purposes, and the mountains
and hills on either side are covered with valuable forests. But when it
reaches the plains it has a broad open valley for its course, and it is
below where the waters are chiefly used for irrigation.
During the season of irrigation and in years of scarcity of water and
small accumulation of snow, the entire volume of the Arkansas is now
utilized. Any increase of irrigation on the Arkansas River hereafter
must arise from the storage of the waters which now run to waste from
nine to ten months of the year. The great body of the irrigable lands
under Canal — *
The CHAIRMAN. Let me interpose at this point just one question.
Does not a large portion of the water run under ground in the sand 7
Director POWELL. Yes. I will come to that point in a moment, if
the Senator please. *
Senator PLUMB. Speaking of the storage of water there, what is the
actual average evaporation in that area each year }
Director POWELL. Trom standing bodies of water it will vary from
56 to 82 inches per annum, depending upon exposure to winds and upon
altitude.
Senator PLUMB. What is the difference between the altitudes in that
matter? Is there a greater evaporation in the lower altitudes 3
Director POWELL. The higher the altitude the less the evaporation;
Powel.J.'s STATEMENT. 15
the greater the exposure to wind the greater the evaporation, and
SO OI).
The Arkansas has irrigable lands, then, in the Imountain region, but
they are valuable chiefly for grasses. Below, on the Arkansas, and on
its tributaries—and what I say in relation to the Arkansas itself is
practically true of most of its tributaries—the lands are situated some-
what lower than the land now irrigated in the State of Colorado from
this river and its tributaries.
There is a very important and interesting condition which must be
explained at this point, for it is a governing condition in the utilization
of the waters of most of the rivers of the West. I wish to. Set it forth
somewhat in full that it may be clearly understood. The Waters of the
West usually head in the mountains. The mountain streams are clear
and deep, and in the main run in caſions. When the streams leave the
mountains, and reach the plains or valleys below, their character is Sud-
denly changed. The dry plains on either side are covered with dust,
and the winds and storm waters blow and wash this dust into the
stream. Thereupon, the river or creek immediately changes its charac.
ter. While above, it was clear and deep and swift, below it becomes
broad, shallow, and muddy. You are all familiar with the Platte River
and know what the waters of that river are. It is a thin sheet of tawny
mud, rolling down to the Missouri. Sometimes it is only 10 to 20 inches
in depth, varying in places as you cross it. Nearly all the rivers of that
country thus change their character when they leave the mountains,
but there are important exceptions.
The point where this transformation occurs in the character of the
streams is a critical and important point in the utilization of these
waters. If the waters are taken out above this point they are used on
land of less value by reason of climatic conditions, as already explained.
If they are taken out below this point they are charged with silt and
mud, and under these conditions they rapidly silt the ground and in-
jure the lands on which they are placed, and they are especially bad in
destroying the irrigation works. Water can not be taken out below
this point beeause in some places the reservoirs will be filled up and
the canals choked, and in other places they will be eroded and cut So
that they are practically destroyed by the presence of the silt.
Senator CASEY. That is a matter of practical experience?
Director POWELL. Yes. So that it is always highly advantageous
to take the Water out of the stream at this critical point.
But, more than that; when the waters come down to this point they
spread in valleys, like the Arkansas, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 10 miles in width.
A low sandy valley is found with a wide channel running through it;
a low sandy “bench” on either side. Out into the sands on either side
the water runs for miles and is rapidly evaporated, so that in a dry
Season no Waters are used in irrigation. A large stream may come
from the mountains of Colorado which may be lost before it reaches the
Colorado-Kansas line, and no water whatever pass beyond that line.
In general there is a vast waste of the water in these sands. Only a
part, however, of this water in the sands is evaporated; the other part
remains in the sands. These sands can be tapped by wells and other
methods and the Water brought out on the surface, so that it is not all
lost in this manner, although the larger part is lost by evaporation.
In the valley of the Arkansas irrigation commenced in the State of Col-
Orado. The people of that region are anxious to increase the area of
irrigation, and settlers are going into the upper creeks and into the .
mountains and upper Valleys, and are taking out the water in those
16 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
upper Valleys, to be used in the irrigation, in part, of hay-fields, and are
raising some few other crops that may be grown in that cold climate.
Senator CASEY. Some wheat included ?
Director POWELL. Not much wheat; the climate is almost too cold for
that. There are some valleys where wheat may be grown, but not very
many. The use of water in these upper regions is a great waste of the
Water, because of the climatic conditions, as I have explained. But a
man may go on a stream above, and another farther up, and cut off the
Water from where it is used in the region below. It is a difficult mat-
ter, under the present laws of Colorado, to correct that condition of
affairs, because it is difficult for the farmer in one county to enjoin by
Jaw the farmer above him in another county from using the water.
HOW is he to say to the court that the water which the man above has
taken is part of the water which he, below, should get for the use of
his farm * Both are using the water that flows in the same stream. To
identify the water used on a farm below is a very difficult matter. So
that, at present, the tendency is to settle the mountain valleys, and thus
to drive the agriculture of Colorado into the mountains, and away from
the sunny valleys below. That tendency has only begun in Colorado;
but elsewhere the evil is of great magnitude, and is accounted a matter
of exceedingly great importance, and will, within the next five or ten
years, become a matter of still greater importance to Colorado. The
result is the driving of the people into the snowy mountains to live,
instead of permitting them to live in the sunny plains below.
These problems that I have mentioned are inter-county, inter-com-
munity, and inter-farm problems. A new set of problems arises from
the fact that the Arkansas passes the Colorado line into Kansas, and in
Ransas the people have to resort to some extent to irrigation. In the
past year they have developed some irrigation in that region. The
water which they use flows from mountains far away; and the people
of Kansas desire that the water shall be allowed to flow in its natural
channel until it reaches their State, while the pecple of Colorado insist
that they themselves have a right to the water in their State. This
brings up an inter-state problem which has come to be a serious one.
Works have been constructed in Colorado, near the line of Kansas,
and across the line in the State of Kansas, to irrigate lands to the
amount of over 100,000 acres, and works are projected to be constructed
this season, and are in part now constructed, to irrigate four or five
times that amount. Should there be one, two, or three wet seasons on
the upper Arkansas, and the present season is one of great Snow-fall up
to the present time, the river will supply water to those lands, but only
on condition that it is not used above in Colorado. . In this State, how-
ever, they are constructing works on a very much larger Scale, and if
these works are finished the waters of even a season of great precipi-
tation will be used in Colorado, and no supply will be afforded to Kan-
sas, except such waters as are taken from the sands of the valley.
Passing from the Arkansas to the Pecos we find problems of the same
character. The Pecos rises in New Mexico and flows through a portion of
Texas until it reaches the Rio Grande. This is the drainage basin of
the Pecos, as shown on the map. The waters of the Pecos are now, and
have for years been, used in New Mexico, in part, and to some extent in
Texas. Within the last eighteen months or two years the development
of irrigation on the Pecos, in New Mexico, has very greatly increased.
There has been some increase of irrigation development in Texas, as the
maps I have presented will show. There are companies at work this
winter, with sufficient capital, engaged in the construction of canals in
POWELL’S STATEMENT, 17
New Mexico, and of dams, and to some extent of reservoirs, which,
when completed, will take the waters of the Pecos, in New Mexico, and
cut off the entire supply from Texas, and as the matter now stands all
irrigation, ancient and modern, on the Pecos, will be swept out of ex-
istence in two years, unless some supply is provided other than that of
the Pecos during the season of irrigation. It is, therefore, an inter-state
problem. (See map.)
I will proceed to explain some of the problems which have arisen on
the Rio Grande. For two or three centuries the Spanish people who
settled on the Rio Grande have been irrigating the soil of that valley,
and there are many Spanish or Mexican settlements scattered along its
course. The Rio Grande heads in Colorado. It passes into New
Mexico and runs southward across that State until ultimately it becomes
the boundary line between Texas and the Republic of Mexico. It is in
New Mexico, in Texas, and in old Mexico that this ancient irrigation is
found. In modern times, or within the last five years, the waters of
the Rio Grande have been taken out, and are now being taken out, in
Colorado.
1 am informed by the engineer of that region, who has just come
here, and who has general charge of those works, that it is proposed,
before the end of another season, to have canals and works ready for
the irrigation of 1,500,000 acres, and that already works are prepared
for the irrigation of more than 1,000,000 acres. The irrigation of that
region and the waters of that region, in the main, are under the control
of an insurance company, which goes into that region, takes out the
water, establishes rights to the waters of the country, and sells those
rights to the people and in part buys up the land, so that the company
owns not only the water and distributes it to the people, but it in part
owns also the land.
Passing into New Mexico, then, the water that practically heads in
the high mountains of Colorado is largely, almost wholly, cut off from
the Rio Grande, so that no portion of the water that heads in these
mountains where there is a great precipitation will cross the line into
New Mexico. Aiready the effect of that is seen in Mexico along the
lower Rio Grande. During the past season the Rio Grande was dry
for many miles below El Paso, which is situated near the line of New
Mexico, Texas, and the Republic of Mexico. The Rio Grande was dry
there, and dry for 360 miles above that point; so that the people of the
lower valley of the Rio Grande in New Mexico, and the people of Texas
below, and the people of the Republic of Mexico, had no water. The
Sand was blowing across the channel of the river, and instead of the
space being covered by waves of water it was, when I saw it last, filled
with Sand dunes.
Senator PLUMB. Was not that due more to the absence of snow in
the upper mountains at the head of the stream than to the taking out of
the Water from the upper stream 7
nºtor POWELL. It is a complex problem. It is due in part to
at.
Senator PLUMB. Has there not been a lack of snow during the last
year, compared with former years 2
Director POWELL. There has not been as much snow as usual.
Senator JONES. Is the Gila a tributary of the Colorado 3
Director POWELL. It is a tributary of the Colorado.
The taking out of the water in Colorado subtracts from the river the
Volume of water Which might come from those mountains. In a wet
Season there is water enough for all, as irrigation is developed to-day,
138 A L–WOL IV 2
18 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
alike in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, and the Republic of Mexico. '
ut in a dry season the supply is entirely insufficient for all the lands
now under Canals. If in such seasons the water is used in Colorado and
in upper New Mexico it is entirely cut off from lower New Mexico and
from the valley of the Rio Grande immediately below El Paso. In a
dry Season nothing can be raised in the lower region, and sometimes
dry seasons come two or three together. One dry season When lands
are dependent upon irrigation is disastrous, because fruit trees, vine-
yards, and all perennial plants are killed. One or two such destructive
Seasons drives all the people away from the country.
Senator PLUMB. Is any part of that water returned to the river by
Seepage?
Director POWELL. Yes.
Senator PLUMI3. What proportion do you know %
Director POWELL. About 50 per cent. e
Senator PLUMB. About 50 per cent. taken from the canal would be
returned to the river in the seepage?
Director POWELL. Yes, in careless irrigation. In careful irrigation,
like that practiced in Southern California, a much smaller amount is
returned. With the best irrigation, none is returned.
Senator REAGAN. I put questions to some witnesses with regard to
that return of water. It was stated that no provision of law had been
made to compel persons taking the water for irrigation to return it to
the river.
Senator PLUMB. The question I asked Major Powell was on a some-
what different line. I referred to the return of water by seepage, what
would be returned to the river by soaking through the ground into the
subterranean channels and be then returned to the river. -
The CHAIRMAN. That water does not return or reach the river for
the first year or two.
Director POWELL. Being asked by a committee of the Senate to in-
vestigate that subject I have for the last eighteen months been investi-
gating it, and I have some facts to set before you in their order when I
COme to them.
. . Irrigation has also been greatly developed in New Mexico. The trib-
utaries of the Rio Grande are being taken out in many places. Many
streams are being taken out and the water spread upon the land. The
Rio Grande is a clear stream, until it passes Embudo Cañon, in northern
New Mexico. From the mouth of the Chama downward it is a river of
mud like the Platte, the Chama being also a river of mud.
Senator CASEY. Will you indicate on the map just about Where that
Occurs?
Director Powell. There [indicating on the map) is Embudo Cañon.
It is a clear stream above that point; it is a river of mud below that.'
It is suddenly transformed, like the Platte, the Arkansas, and many
other streams in the West. (See map).
Senator CASEY. That is after it has left the mountains?
Director Powell. Below where it leaves the Embudo Cañon and
receives the Chama. The water of the upper Valley is being used to such
an extent that the water of the lower valleys is being taken a Way from
those who have been using it.
As long as no water is being stored in lakes, natural or artificial, or in
reservoirs, irrigation in any district, depends upon the flow of water
through the season of irrigation. ...That season varies in different por-
tions of the United States from a little less than two mouths to a little
more than three months. Perhaps on the Lower Colorado it Will be five
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 19
months, but in general it varies from two to three months. The irriga-
tion practiced in this manner has a practical limit placed upon it by the
dry season. For if in seasons of greater humidity larger areas are
brought under ditches, when seasons of greater dryness or aridity come
the farmers depending on such waters are destroyed. The trees and
vines that are growing become dried up and the seeds go to Waste and
the canals are filled with sand by the winds. The limit of agriculture
is set by the dry season. Hence it may happen, and will happen on the
Rio Grande and elsewhere, that in seasons of great humidity there will
be sufficient water flowing during the season of irrigation to supply the
wants of all the people now engaged in irrigation there and of the
people who will want water under the works projected during the past
year. But during the season of drought the amount of water is insuffi-
cient to serve the land already provided with canals.
A part of the waters that are spread upon the land are returned to
the rivers, as shown by the investigations that your committee have
been making this year. We have in Colorado and elsewhere studied
certain streams that were all taken out and spread upon the land. We
have measured the waters thus spread upon the land while being spread.
We have then gone below, where these waters have been recovered—
where the waters flowing from the irrigated land have been used again—
and We have measured the Waters thus used again, and have found that
the conditions for the recovery of the water vary greatly ; that they
vary greatly for very important reasons; that in extreme cases 70 per
cent. of the water returns to channels immediately below the place where
it is used, and 30 per cent. Only is evaporated. But that is undercondi-
tions where an excessive amount is put on the lands by the farmers.
Growing plants evaporate three hundred times their own weight of
growth annually. Whatever the crop may be, whether corn, grass, or
wheat, that grows in one year, it will evaporate into the heavens three
hundred times its own weight of water. If, then, a crop is raised on a
field which is irrigated, and a farmer is careless to such an extent that
the field is covered not only with the corn or other crop he desires to
raise, but also with a dense growth of weeds, the evaporation from
that surface will be enormous. But if his field of corn is well cultivated,
and if speedily after each irrigation he turns, with a harrow or raking
tool, the ground between the rows, so as to have the ground mulched
with a thin surface of Soil, the evaporation is at a minimum. The great
duty of water which they have secured in Southern California is secured
by perfect cultivation, but when the cultivation is bad it requires two
or three times the amount of Water that is required when the cultiva-
tion is good.
There are some other conditions affecting the return of the water
besides the two mentioned. Something in the nature of the soil and
something in the condition of the slopes determine how much of this
water can be recovered, but under the most favorable conditions we
find that about 70 per cent. Can be recovered to be used again. Under
some conditions, however, only 30 per cent. can be recovered. That
depends in part on the condition of the slope, in part on the subsoil
itself, and in part on the condition of the soil, as well as on the con-
ditions of the channels below in which it may be gathered. Under the
best conditions and With thorough cultivation nothing is returned.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there not another condition—the condition of time
when getting the ground Saturated in the first instance?
Director POWELL, Yes.
20 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
i. CHAIRMAN. We had an illustration of that at Fresno and other
places. t
Director POWELL. Yes; and it is universal. It will be noticed all
over the country, where it is properly studied. A very large amount
of water is necessary to Saturate the soil the first year. The maximum
duty of water is not reached until two, three, four, or five years of culti-
vation have been had. So that the claims which the people set up to
the amount of land which can ultimately be redeemed by the irrigating
works already constructed are well maintained by the fact, because al-
though to-day the water may be used to the utmost extent, next year
larger areas can be irrigated, and the year after still larger areas, and
this for a term of years will increase until after a few years the whole
duty of water can be secured. When the whole duty of water is se-
cured, the land well cultivated and economically irrigated, but little
will return to the Streams.
In the valley of the Rio Grande the greater portion of the water dur-
ing the season of irrigation is lost in the sands, as in the valley of the
Arkansas. If the Water of the Rio Grando is compelled to flow across
the line from Colorado into New Mexico, it will destroy from 1,000,000
to 1,500,000 acres of agriculture above, in order to save 200,000 or
300,000 acres in the valley below. The water can not be used below
for the benefit of the greatest Inumber of people. It is important that
irrigation in Colorado which is already established and in progress of
establishment should proceed.
But what remedy have the people below to save their property from
destruction ? The lateral streams which come in are being taken out
above in the same manner. Some provision ought to be made by which
the waters of these lateral streams, and the waters which flow into the
Rio Grande below the Colorado line, should be made first to serve the
irrigation already established. As the matter now goes on the new ir-
rigation is destroying the old. When we come down to El Paso we
find mountains in that neighborhood the waters of which are competent
to serve all the lands on the Texas side and on the Mexican side if they
can be utilized—if they can be stored. The Waters which can be stored
in that region are ample for that purpose, but all the storm waters of
the immediate region must be stored.
The CHAIRMAN. You would add to that the flood waters that come
down every winter ? i
Director POWELL. I am supposing that there will be no flood waters
in dry seasons when the water is properly used above. The people will
become better skilled in using the water and there will not be so much
waste of the flood waters.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you think it would be a possibility to use all the
flood waters ? & *
Director POWELL, I think ultimately it would be possible to use all
the flood waters. I think the waters which flow from the mountains of
New Mexico are ample to supply the irrigation already established and
much more.
Senator PLUMB. What is the valley area of the Rio Grande above
this cañon which was spoken of a while ago?
I)irector POWELL. The Embudo Caſion ?
Senator PLUMB. Yes; give us a rougll calculation as to that.
Director Pow BLL. Roughly speaking it would be 5,000,000 acres
above Embudo Cañon, good and bad. It is estimated by an engineer
of skill and ability that about 1,500,000 acres can be redeemed by irri-
gation there,
Powell's STATEMENT. 21
Senator CASEY. The conditions are such as you spoke of a While
ago—the land not being adaptable, you think, to cereals.
Director POWELL. Oats and wheat can be raised there but not corn.
It happens to be just in the border region between the upper and the
lower climates.
Senator PLUMB. Then your opinion is that all the waters that origi-
nate either by creeks or otherwise and all the storm Waters of that
area will be used within the area when this maximum of irrigation is
reached.
Director POWELL. That is my judgment.
Senator PLUMB. And then that there will be no water to be utilized
in the lower Rio Grande. e
Director POWELL. None from this source.
Senator CASEY. Especially if they raise wheat.
Senator PLUMB. They can raise fine, potatoes in that country too.
Senator CASEY. There is not the same salability for potatoes.
Director POWELL. Serious troubles are arising in the Rio Grande
Valley now and the valley is all aflame. The people are petitioning the
Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of War for troops to pro-
tect the old rights from invasion by those who are developing new sys-
tems in that country. The difficulty is that at present there is no way
by which any court or authoritative officer can say whether a canal shall
or shall not be constructed. There is at present no determination of
specific waters to specific lands and the area which it is possible to irri-
gate is six or twelve times as great as the waters will ever serve. What
is needed is something by which somebody may be able to say that the
waters shall be used on particular lands, so that the valley shall not be
left open for anybody to construct a ditch above that of his neighbor and
take away from him the water that he has been using. That is the same
problem that has arisen on the Pecos.
The CHAIRMAN. What would be your suggestion as to saving the
lower waters for the benefit of those people in the Republic of Mexico
and in Texas %
Director POWELL. I think a reservoir can be constructed at El Paso.
I have had a reservoir planned, and have had the surveys begun in that
region, so as to discover the areas that would drain into it, the amount of
water in the catchment area, and the amount that would accumulate in
the immediate region if it were all cut off above. I find already that
there is a large flow into the river in the immediate neighborhood suffi-
cient to fill a great reservoir there which, I believe, would support all the
irrigation which has been already developed along the lower river.
The catchment area is not fully surveyed ; its extent and the character
of its slopes are not fully determined; and I can not yet say how much
water can be caught.
The CIIAIRMAN. Would it be enough for an addition of some new
land on the Texas side &
Director POWELL. I believe it would.
The CHAIRMAN. You have stated that it was difficult to have reser-
voirs on the lower levels. EIow would you free that reservoir from
i. Would that be practicable & Have you considered that ques-
tion
Director POWELL. Yes, I have considered that question with great
care. That seemed to be a serious problem. If the reservior is to de-
pend on the bed of the river it is one problem; if on the mountains
adjacent it is another problem. If it is to take all the silt of the river,
and the Waters are not cut off by irrigation above, it will fill in about one
22 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
hundred years if the flow of the river should be continued for the future
as it has been in the past. We have measured the silt of the river
from day to day for some months so as to determine that question.
There is another source of débris in the hills and mountains that stand
about the reservoir sites, the amount of which is yet undetermined, and
can not be until the topographic survey is completed. *
The CIIAIRMAN. Has any method been discovered or devised where-
by to free the reservoirs from silt? t
Director POWELL. Yes; but nothing that is not somewhat prob-
leumatical as yet. If filled by the brooks and creeks that flow from the
adjacent mountains it can be constructed with dikes or wings on either
side so that every stream can be checked on the bench above before
it is turned into the reservoir and its flow turned around a long course,
and it may be thus forced to deposit its silt on the benches above so
that the water can come into the reservoir itself comparatively pure.
The reservoir under those conditions would be comparatively perma-
'ºn It would last two or three hundred years if the silt above were
cut off. e
The CHAIRMAN. What would be the probable cost of that?
Director POWELL. I have not the figures before me at the moment
and I dare not speak from memory. I have the figures at my office.
The construction of the reservoir might be the minor cost. The right
of Way might be the major cost, because two railroads run across the
site.
Senator REAGAN. Regarding the exhaustion of the waters of the
Rio Grande, the people tell me that during the flood season the Rio
Grande is very great in size. -
Director POWELL. It is.
Senator REAGAN. And that it carries a great volume of water. Is it
likely that that water could be so stored that it would not flood the
country?
Director POWELL. In my judgment it is likely that that can be done
in time. It is my belief that it is possible to store all the waters of the
Rio Grande in lakes; cut off all the tributaries from Colorado down to
the Texas line; and if all the tributaries are cut off and the water of
every tributary is stored there is very little water for the valley of
drifting sands. But that will not be done to-day or next year. It may
be twenty years before all the water is stored. If, however, irrigation
should develop for twenty years as it has developed for the past two
years in that country the water will all be cut off in less time, that is,
all the flood waters of the dry season. \
Senator ItEAGAN. If storage would do they might get the waters of
the wet season and lold them over for the dry season.
Director POWELL. Yes, that will ultimately be done, to some extent,
Senator PLUMB. When you say “season” do you mean “year?”
Director POWELL. Yes, I mean the dry year. I think the waters
will be ultimately stored in that region. They are already in that re-
gion providing reservoirs to store the water and hold it over from the
wet year to the dry year.
. Senator CASEY. Elave you formed any estimate as to the number of
dry years in a number of given years?
Director POWELL. They will come pretty evenly. There will be two
or three or four years dry, and two or three or four years wet; not in-
variably so, but frequently so. -
I place before you to-day a map of the Rio Grande, including all the
area drained by that stream north of the Texas line. There are some
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 23
important facts relating to the utilization of the arid lands which can
be well elucidated by considering that region of country, and I present
the map again for that reason. In talking to you about the irrigation
problems presented in the valley of the Arkansas, I called your atten-
tion to the fact that that valley could be divided into districts, each
one an independent unit. The whole arid region may be divided in
like manner into natural districts or drainage basins, each one of which
has its problems so interwoven that the entire district must be so con-
sidered in planning its system of irrigation works, but which is prac-
tically independent of all other districts. These hydrographic basins,
as I call them, are of three classes, viz, headwater districts, river-trunk
districts, and lost-stream districts. The headwater districts commence
in the mountains and extend down the streams far enough to include
catchment areas and farming areas. These headwater districts are not
only found on the main streams, but on all perennial laterals or tribu-
taries. Usually each lateral or tributary forms a natural district by
itself. But the great rivers flow on across the plains and down the
great valleys, and their trunks must be divided into districts, each one
of which presents an independent system of Works. These I call river-
trunk districts. Then in the arid lands there are many streams which
do not flow into great rivers and ultimately to the sea, their waters
being lost in the sands or emptying into salt lakes. These I call lost-
stream districts. All of these classes are represented in the Rio Grande
region, the map of which is before you.
In considering this subject and planning the work of the Irrigation
Survey, it has been found that a natural district or hydrographic basin
must be considered as a unit in which all the problems must be solved.
In order to report upon the district and recommend a plan of works,
we must know in such a district how much water will be supplied for
irrigation where the diverting dam sites, reservoir sites, and canal
sites are situate and where the lands to be irrigated lie. And it has
been found, after a careful examination and from the best data we have
on hand, that there will be two or three bundred such districts in the
arid region, and that if the survey is carried out it will need a separate
report on each. I have therefore found it necessary, for the adminis-
tration of the Survey, to consider these hydrographic basins, and have
been studying them for some time—in fact for years before the survey
was organized, for I early recognized that ultimately these natural
features would present conditions which would control the engineering
problems of irrigation and which would ultimately control the institu-
tional or legal problems. The study which I have made in the survey
in this direction of course can not be considered final. An actual sur-
vey on the ground is necessary to define the limits of each basin, and
a very careful survey is especially necessary to define the limits of the
trunk districts. The headwater districts, or those of the first class,
and the lost-stream districts, or those of the third class, are quite
easily discovered; but the districts of the second class require very
careful study for their determination. The meaning of this will more
fully appear from the illustrations which I am able to present to you
to-day in considering the Rio Grande Valley.
Tirst, we have the Saguache River, a river with tributaries—a num-
er of beautiful creeks. The river flows into a sink, and the drainage is
lost in the sands. Now, the utilization of that water affects that valley
only. It is independent of all the other regions of country. The region
of country at the sink is one of sand, and it sinks in these sands and is
evaporated. It is only on very rare occasions, many years apart, that
24 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
there will be a great flood which will cause it to overflow and open a
channel to the Trio Grande. In all ordinary years all the water which
is used must be in the valley here [indicating], hence it is an independ-
ent basin. This is what I call a district of the third class, a lost-river
district. It will be noticed that in this district the people who engage
in agriculture here can not possibly have any conflict about water
rights with the people of any other district. They may use all of this
element which they can catch and spread it upon their lands, and
nothing will be cut off from any other district; nor can they obtain
water from any other district to put upon their lands. And they are
interested not only in the water; they and they only are interested in
the forests about the fountains whence their waters coune, and they are
the people who should be interested in the grasses which grow in the
valleys and on the hills and mountain slopes.
The Saguache district, therefore, is clearly defined in nature. Its
boundary is marked everywhere by the parting of the waters.
Passing over to the Rio Grande proper, we have the San Luis dis-
trict, which is also a headwater district. The San Luis park is a beau-
tiful tract of land, and high mountains stand around it and gather great
Quantities of water. This is a region lately redeemed for agriculture, but
already all the flow of critical years with extreme dry seasons is used
in agriculture, and the companies that are specially interested in these
water rights are preparing to store and use all its waters which flow
through this season. It may be possible that they can use all and that
the area of good land to be cultivated will be sufficient. We do not yet
know the amount of water that flows in the streams, nor do we know
the amount of good available land. Be that as it may, we are able to
state that this great district is a unit, and that it must be considered as
such in planning the proper system of irrigation works, and that its peo-
ple will be as a body interested in the management of its waters, its
forests, and its pastures. And they are the only people to be interested
except to this extent, that if the waters are not used here they will flow
into trunk districts below, to be used there. If the people of the districts
below, in New Mexico, could lay an embargo upon irrigation in the San
Luis Valley, larger areas in New Mexico could be cultivated, but the
loss of water on the way would be such that they would not equal in
area the lands that could be irrigated in Colorado. It is therefore
manifest that it is to the advantage of the agricultural interests of the
country that the people of Colorado who live in the San Luis Valley
should be permitted to develop their agriculture to the utmost, and use
all the waters that they can put upon good agricultural lands.
The Rio Grande, in crossing the line between Colorado and New
Mexico, enters a caſion and flows for about 50 miles through the gorge,
and its waters can not be taken out along this stretch. This calion
ends where Taos River, coming from the east, joins the Rio Grande.
The Taos is a beautiful stream and all of its Waters can be used in its
own valley. All that run during the season of irrigation and all that
run throughout the year can be stored, so that the waters of the Taos
may ultimately be cut off from the IRio Grande.
The region of country on either side of the caſion of which I have
made mention—Embudo Cañon—has lava-fields and is not agricultural;
but some fair timber grows there and much water comes down into the
caſion, so that when the river emerges into the valley at the foot of Em-
budo Cañon it is a fine stream, and must always be so whatever water
is taken out in Colorado above. Some 40 or 50 miles below the river en-
ters another caſion. Between these two calions lies the Valley of San
POWELL'S STATEMENT. 25
Ildefonso, into which come some small Creeks from the east, and the
water of the Rio Grande can be taken out at the foot of Embudo Cañon
and spread over the San Ildefonso Valley and make here a river trunk
district, or district of the second class. This is a district also well de-
fined in nature. Its catchment area is lava-fields above and mountains
on every hand, and its irrigable or farming area is the low valley
stretching back from the Rio Grande on either side.
Near the foot of San Ildefonso the Chama enters from the west. The
Chama is at large river for that country, and its smaller tributaries
drain great mountains, and there are many beautiful Valleys Scattered
about through the region. The lower portion of the Chama runs
through a sand plain, and these sands are volcanic ashes which drift
and blow into the river and fill it with sediment. The Rio Grande
above the mouth of the Chama is a clear, beautiful river, but at the
mouth of the Chama it is transformed by the mud of the Chama itself.
It then becomes a river of mud and continues such to the Gulf, as it
takes up sands along its way. The Chama Basin is another natural
basin, having timber lands, pasturage lands, and agricultural Jands.
At the foot of San Ildefonso Valley the Rio Grande enters White
Rock Cañon and continues its course through a deep gorge for 40 or
50 miles. Along this course its waters can not be used for irriga-
tion. The Cañon walls are hundreds of feet, and in some places more
than a thousand feet, above the waters. But the high volcanic pla-
teau on the east furnishes a notable amount of water to this stream,
and on the West there is a group of great volcanoes from which many
beautiful streams flow; so that if all the water should be cut off at the
head of White Rock Cañon, there would still come into the Rio Grande,
through the course of this gorge, a vast body of water to be used below
—Water which can not be used elsewhere, as none of the streams above
on either side of the cañon have agricultural lands along their courses.
But they have great forests. Here some of the finest forests of New
Mexico are found. This is the great catchment area for the valley
below White Rock Cañon.
Some flood waters will always come down the Rio Grande from San
Ildefonso Valley, however thoroughly the country may be utilized, and
additional water will be caught in the cañon itself, and so the valley
below will have a good supply. White Rock Cañon empties below into
a valley which I shall call the Albuquerque Valley. In it lie Bernalillo,
Albuquerque, Los Lunas, Socorro, and other towns. Now, all the water
... that comes out of White Rock Cañon can be used in the Albuquerque
Valley, as it may be diverted below the White Rock Cañon and carried
out and stored on the flanks of the valley. There is now much agricult-
ure in this valley, and some of it is very ancient. Including the
catchment area about White Rock Cañon and the hills and mountains
on either side, and the valley where agriculture can be carried on, we
have another natural district or hydrographic basin—a district of the
second class, or stream-trunk district. Now, it will be seen that all the
water to be used in this great Valley comes from the mouth of White
Tock Cañon. Whoever has control of that point owns that dam site
and has the right to take the water out of its natural channel and carry
it into canals—has command of all the agriculture of that great district.
I wish to explain further that the people who have settled here have
taken out the waters of the Rio Grande and utilized them during the
season of irrigation, but they have not yet resorted to storage and the
waters which they use are used to very poor advantage. The flood plain
or strip of country next to the river which is sometimes overflowed is
26 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
broad and sandy; the river itself is shallow and is a river of mud, and it is
Very Wide; So it flows into these sands and is evaporated to a very large
extent and thus lost to agriculture. Then the people have constructed
low-lying ditches near to the Rio Grande and take out the water by a
System which is exceedingly wasteful and which is destroyed more or
less with every flood. Ultimately they will find it to their advantage
to take the water higher up, near the mouth of White Rock Cañon, and
Carry it out by high line canals and store the surplus in the lateral val-
leys. By this means the area of agriculture in the valley” can be in-
creased five or ten fold.
It is possible to take all the water of the Rio Grande there during the
Season of irrigation. It is also possible to take out all the water there
during the non-irrigating season. If the water for the non-irrigating
Season is to be stored, you are compelled to take it out there. You can
not take it out by the present ditches, for they do not flow on high
enough ground; but if a canal is constructed from the mouth of White
Rock Caſion, and a diverting dam built there and lakes made—there
are good places—all the Water could be used in the valley. So, not
only is it necessary to take the water out at that one point and utilize
the entire flow during the season of irrigation, but it is also necessary
to take it out at that point in order to store the water which now runs
to waste. So that if the water is taken out at this one point of which
I speak altogether, the area of irrigation will be multiplied ten times.
But that can not be done without considering the rights of the people
who now use some of the Water by improvident and obstructive dams.
Off to the east here, as you see on the map, is the Santa Fé Creek, on
which the city of Santa Fé is situated. It also constitutes a distinct
basin with irrigable lands, timber lands, and pasturage lands, and all
its waters can be caught and used in the Santa Fé Valley, so that no
considerable amount will ultimately flow from the Santa Fé Creek into
the Rio Grande.
On the west we have the Jemez River, where another natural dis-
trict of the first class is found. The Jemez River drains the Tewan
Mountains and plateau. The catchment area is well wooded. Fine for-
ests are found and great mountain meadows are seen, but the land
above is cold and is hot valuable for agriculture, except for pasturage,
and perhaps a little hay may be cut with advantage. The many streams
which head in the Tewan Mountains and plateau find their way into
deep cañons. On leaving the mountains nearer Jemez Pueblo the
whole body of the stream can be taken out and put on the mesa above
Albuquerque, or west of Albuquerque and Bernalillo. It is another
natural hydrographic basin of the first class. 4
Below Albuquerque we have the Rio Puerco. All of its Waters can
be used in the upper portion of its valley, and there is much more land
than the water will serve. Very little water ever runs into the Rio
Grande from the Puerco, and that comes only at flood-time. It is a
hydrographic district of the third class, with irrigable timber and pas-
turage lands, and with many fine sites for reservoirs.
Where the Albuquerque district should end and the next district
embracing the Mesilla Valley and the El Paso Valley should begin, I am
not able to state, but from such information as I have been able to
collect, I believe that below Socorro a new natural division can be
made.
Let us go on to consider the region of the Rio Grande below, from
Socorro to a point on the river 30 or 40 miles below El Paso. Here
there are two valleys, Mesilla Valley above El Paso and the valley, be-
PowrDL’s STATEMENT. 27
low, a part of which is in the Republic of Mexico and a part in Texas.
Now it is possible to cut off from these two valleys all of the waters
which flow during the season of irrigation in critical years and destroy all
the agriculture in those two valleys unless the waters of the non-irriga-
tion season are stored. During the non-irrigating season large bodies
of water come into the Rio Grande from the mountains on either side.
There are high mountains to the west and high mountains to the east,
but there are few perennial streams, and they are only small Creeks.
The principal body of the water comes in as storm water. Iłut the
area is pretty large and its waters can be stored immediately above El
Paso and at the head and along the flanks of the Mesilla Valley. At
the Point of Rocks, at the head of Mesilla Valley, all of the waters of
the IRio Grande can be captured again and they can be taken out into
the Mesilla Valley and used once more.
The waters of the non-irrigating season can be stored on the flanks of
the valley, and there is more land than all the waters will serve. Still
there is a mountain catchment area on either side of the Mesilla Valley,
the waters of which will flow through the valley at 121 Paso at flood
times, and these waters can be stored to be used in the valley below in
Texas and Old Mexico. But I do not think there is enough of these
waters to support all the agriculture now developed if the waters of the
Rio Grande are all taken out at the Point of Rocks. To maintain the
irrigation now developed in the El Paso and Mesilla Valleys, some di-
vision of the waters must be here made. The catch from Socorro down,
coming from the mountains on either side, and the surplus which may
come down in great floods from the Rio Grande above, must be divided
between the Mesilla Valley and the El Paso Valley to maintain the
agriculture already established and to give some development to the
same. Just how this can be done to advantage is not known ; the
topographic survey has not proceeded far enough. We know where
the waters can-be stored for the El Paso Valley, and I have already
explained that to the committee some days ago. We can create a great.
reservoir with reasonable economy immediately above El Paso ; we can
also create a reservoir, or series of reservoirs, in the Mesilla Valley; but
how much Water can be caught and held in these reservoirs we do not
know, and can not know until the topographic survey is completed, for
on that we depend to determine the water supply.
It is safe to say, however, that the reservoir at El Paso may be con-
structed, and I incline to think that the rights to the present irrigation
in the Mesilla Valley may be maintained, the rights in the El Paso
Valley maintained, and that irrigation in both districts may be in-
creased—but to what extent and to what size these reservoirs should
be constructed is yet unknown. It will require another year's survey
to determine these facts. This, however, is certain, that there can be
no development of irrigation in these valleys through the use of the
waters of the irrigating season only; in fact the present agriculture
can not be maintained unless the waters are stored. The irrigation
already developed in Colorado and the upper valleys of New Mexico is
destroying the agriculture here. Two more years of development will
cut it all off when dry seasons come. The only hope for these valleys
is through storage, and how the entire problem is to be solved by stor-
age is not yet known. Nor can it be done without some interference
on the part of the United States. If the General Government does not
step in and by definite legislation assign specific waters to El Paso and
the Mesilla, the El Paso Valley will surely be destroyed, and the Me-
silla Valley can be almost ruined by the people of the Albuquerque
28 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID IANDS.
Valley. What is needed is the construction of storage reservoirs and
their protection, and the assignment of speciſic catchment areas to
those reservoirs. The Government must say that a certain catchment
area can be used for the Mesilla Valley and that the remaining catch-
ment area can be used for the Albuquerque Valley.
A State, a Territory, and a foreign country are involved, and they
Can not settle the problem for themselves. There is only one way to
protect this ancient irrigation in the El Paso and Mesilla Valleys and
their right to use the water of the irrigating season, and to proceed as
they have heretofore done without storage, and that is to destroy all
irrigation in Colorado and all of the lately developed irrigation in the
Valley of the Rio Grande in New Mexico above, and to prohibit forever
the use of the waters there; and this would mean that to maintain
seventy-five to one hundred thousand acres of agriculture, several mil-
lion acres of development must be stopped. Of course this can not be
done. They must resort to storage, and somehow storage rights must
be fixed and maintained.
The area drained by the Rio Grande above El Paso is a little more
than 23,500,000 acres, or about 37,000 square miles. But much of the
region is mountainous. Even if there was water enough it would not
be possible to irrigate one-half of the land; of the arable lands only a
portion are irrigable, from the fact that there is not water to supply
them all. It may be that when all the waters of the Rio Grande are
used in Colorado and New Mexico and in the valley of El Paso, in
Texas, and the Republic of Mexico, from three to four million acres
Can be cultivated ; but this can be done only by using all of the waters
and storing all those that now run to waste. And then the irrigable
lands must be properly selected, so that the waters can be used to the
best advantage. That none may be wasted they must be stored where
there is the least evaporation, and the lands must be selected near
Where they are stored, and the waters must not be permitted to run
through sand valleys, where they are evaporated. They must be taken
Out from the streams and stored to the best advantage and used with-
out waste. Then it may be possible to irrigate from three to four mil-
lion acres. Of course the estimate is rough, because the surveys have
not been perfected, and it may be too great; I do not think it is too
Sinall. Now the problem which you ask me to solve is this: How can
these waters be used to the best advantage; how can they be divided
among the best lands; and how can the rights of the present irrigators
be maintained ? I shall try to answer these questions, and certain
collateral problems that are involved; and to do so, shall go over the
the ground again, district by district.
Commencing then at the head of the Rio Grande Valley, we first meet
with the Saguache. This river sinks in the sands; except in very great
floods it discharges no water into the Rio Grande. Its valley there-
fore is an independent district, one of the minor class; all that can be
done in the Saguache district is to select the best irrigable lands and
provide that the waters shall not be used where they will be largely
Wasted.
Then we have a district drained by the headwaters of the Rio
Grande—a district of the first class. All or nearly all of its waters
can be used within the district on good lands, but they must be selected
or the waters will be wasted. The district lies wholly within the State
of Colorado. *
The next district below on the river is the San Ildefonso. This is a
trunk district and thus belongs to the second class. I'or 60 miles down
Powell's STATEMENT. 29
below the Colorado line the river can not be taken out, as it runs in a
cañon. The lands on either side are of little value and should be used
only for pasturage and forest purposes. This upper portion of the San
Ildefonso Valley is naturally the catchment area for the waters to be
used in the valley below the mouth of Embudo Cañon. There are some
creeks that come into this valley from the mountains on the east. This
district, therefore, has a great catchment area which will supply a large
quantity of water, which should be dedicated to the use of the farmers
of the valley below. But they should understand that they can not
maintain rights to use water coming from the San Luis district; that
they should develop their agriculture wholly from the supply of their
own catchment area. The best lands lie on either side of the river in
the valley below Embudo Cañon and along sections of the eastern trib-
utaries. These lands should be selected in sufficient amount to use all
the water for irrigation, then there could be no controversy about the
water rights in the district. Settlers could not go upon the non-irriga-
ble lands and illegally take the water; farming could be developed in
the valley to the greatest extent and on the best lands, and the farmers
would be secure from depredation by other farmers going above them
and pirating the water—to use a term common in the Western country.
Midway in this district, and at the head of the irrigable lands, the
Taos joins the Grande. It is a fine stream and its drainage basin con-
stitutes a district of the first class. All the waters of the Taos can be
used in its own valley, and it should be established that the people of
that district have a right to use all of those waters, and that the people
in the San Ildefonso Valley below can never maintain the right to have
those waters flow down to their valley; that the Taos Valley is not a
part of the catchment area of the San Ildefonso Valley.
In the lower part of the San Ildefonso Valley the Chama joins the
Rio Grande. The basin drained by this river constitutes a district of
the first class. All its waters can be used at home, and it should be
established that the people have a right to use them there, and that
no right can be maintained to the use of its waters outside the district.
At the foot of the San Ildefonso Valley the Rio Grande again enters
a deep cañon for a course of 50 miles. Along this course it receives
many important tributaries that drain high mountains, and on these
and timber region, and is a catchment area for a district below. The
irrigation can not be practiced to any advantage. It is a pasturage
cañon is known as White Rock Cañon. At its mouth the waters can
be taken out again and spread over a large valley. In this walley there
are already a number of considerable towns. Albuquerque is the prin-
cipal city, and we will call it the Albuquerque Valley, and the district,
Including the Valley and the catchment area above, the Albuquerque
district. It is, of course, a trunk district, and hence belongs to the
Second class.
Now, it should be established that the people of the Albuquerque dis-
trict can not maintain rights to use water not caught within their dis-
trict; that all the volume of the Rio Grande in the San Ildefonso above
belongs to the people of that Valley; that the only waters which the
Albuquerque farmers can use and permanently maintain rights to are
those falling from the heavens over their district. The irrigable lands
of the Albuquerque district are in excess of the water supply. The
nearer to the mouth of the White Rock Cañon they can be used, the
greater the area that can be irrigated. Perhaps this district should
terminate at Socorro. Perhaps it should go down to San Marcial. A
Careful topographic and hydrographic survey is necessary to determine
30 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
this boundary. The district would, at any rate, be more than 150 miles
in length, and it is a long sand basin. If the irrigable land should be
Selected in the Southern end of the district, much of the water would
be lost on its way; if it is selected in the northern end of the district,
this Water could be saved. The Rio Grande will irrigate 200,000 acres
in the northern end of the valley. But there are lands already irrigated
in the Southern end of the valley and their rights should be maintained,
at least until they are justly extinguished. Doubtless this will ulti-
mately be done. It is of prime importance that no more rights be estab.
lished in the Southern region of the district. t
To the east of the White Cañon lies Santa Fé Creek. It is a beautiful
Stream of Water and the region which it drains forms a district of the
first class. Here the city of Santa Fé is situated, and the waters of
the great Creek are all used in irrigation during the summer months.
An attempt has been made to store water, but it has proved a failure.
The site of the reservoir was among hills that had been denuded of
their forests and grasses, and the reservoir was destroyed by the
enormous and rapid accumulation of debris. Other and better reser-
Voir sites have been found where the forests are not yet destroyed.
The farmers of the district should have control of these forests, or they
Can not greatly increase the area of irrigation in the district. The lands
to be irrigated lie on a plateau in the neighborhood of the city and are
already of great value. The principal catchment area is in high moun-
tains where there are extensive forest lands and where there should be
pasturage lands, but these are largely destroyed by over-feeding. The
pasturage and timber lands greatly need protection in the interests of
agriculture below. *
Just above Bernalillo the Jemez joins the Rio Grande, and here we
have another district of the first class. The Jemez now discharges a
part of its Waters into the sand, for there is a long stretch of dunes ex-
tending from Cia down to the Rio Grande. Still the river has a Vol-
ume sufficient to carry part of its waters over the sands and discharge
them into the Rio Grande. The catchment area is the Tewan Mount-
ains and the Tewan Plateau, a lofty region covered with beautiful
forests and the rich grass lands yet uninjured by fire or over-feeding.
The mountain meadows are abundant and beautiful, and the forests are
among the best in New Mexico. The lands to be cultivated by this
river lie on the mesa west of the Bernalillo and Albuquerque. The
waters can be stored in the mountain meadows and elsewhere very
cheaply, but it will be expensive to take the water across the sand
dunes on to the irrigable lands of the mesa. The mesa itself and the
catchment area both should constitute one district. The Waters of the
mountains should be attached to the lands of the mesa, and the right
to use the water should permanently inhere there. The Settlers in the
valley of the Rio Grande should not be able to acquire rights to the
waters, for in so doing they will be chiefly wasted. The catchment area
is a volcanic district, and volcanic cinders and ashes abound; and these
conditions make it necessary to carefully protect the lands, otherwise
they will sink the streams and fill the reservoirs. The forest area is,
therefore, chiefly valuable as a catchment area, and which should never
be denuded of its trees.
The next stream is the Puerco, which comes in below from the West.
It heads in the Nacimiento Mountains, on the western slope of the
Tewan group. Along this range of mountains there are Several beauti-
ful streams that flow into a distant valley into the channel of the Puerco
and here land in the sands and pass only in extreme floods into the
PowrDL’s : STATEMENT. 31
Rio Grande. Practically it is a district of the first class. Its waters
have been used in irrigation in the settlements near the mountains,
which are, to some extent, well situated for such purposes. But farm-
ing is chiefly carried on in the valley of the Puerco, and in that region
can not be permanently maintained to advantage. The rights to irri,
gate so far from the mountains must be permanently extinguished if
the Puerco is used to the best advantage. The catchment area is the
slope of a great mountain range covered with fine forests, and there
are many good reservoir sites. The pasturage is also extensive, but
the pasturage and the forests must be protected to save the agricult:
ure. The irrigable lands of the Puerco should be carefully selected
and no other lands should be cultivated. The reservoirs must be Se-
lected in the valleys and on the slopes of the mountains, where they
will be subject to destruction by silting if the forests and grasses are
not carefully preserved.
From Socorro southward to El Paso is a distance of about 200 miles
by the river. There is already irrigation in the Mesilla Valley above
El Paso, and there is also much farming below El Paso in Texas and
the Republic of Mexico. Through much of the way from Socorro to
the head of the Mesilla Valley the river caſions again and there is
a natural catchment area for the country below. This upper region
should be declared the catchment area for the Mesilla Valley. At
the mouth of this caſion there is a place called Point of Rocks, near
Fort Selden. Now it is possible to take out all the waters of the Rio
Grande derived from the catchment area above, which has already been
described at this point, and there is land enough in the Mesilla Valley
to use it. But this would cut off all the water from the El Paso Valley
below. There is a short pass or gorge just above El Paso through which
the Rio Grande runs. This divides El Paso Valley from Mesilla Valley.
To maintain the rights of the present irrigators in Mesilla Valley and
El Paso Valley alike, it becomes necessary to unite these two valleys
into one district, and to divide the waters between them. There is
water enough coming in the catchment area described to maintain all
the agriculture yet developed and to increase it somewhat. How much
we do not know, as the survey is unfinished. Nor do we know how to
divide the waters. The El Paso Valley is partly in Texas and partly
in the Republic of Mexico. The Mesilla Valley is in New Mexico. It is
thus that the waters of the Rio Grande in this district must be divided
between three peoples, and unless some authority steps in and makes
this division the irrigators of the Mesilla Valley can take all the water
and destroy all the farming below in Texas and old Mexico.
The survey has developed the fact that we can store water with rea-
sonable economy and in sufficient amount immediately above El Paso,
at the gorge of which I have spoken, to supply the wants of all the
farming in the valley below in both countries, and from the same reser-
voir an additional area can be served; but there is no wisdom in con-
structing this reservoir unless steps are taken to provide a catchment
area for it, and to protect that catchment area from spoliation. It is
thus that the El Paso problem can not be solved by the construction
of a dam at El Paso and the establishment of a reservoir to hold Water
for the valley below. A catchment area must be provided, and on
providing this the rights of the Mesilla Valley must be maintained.
It is true that if the dam is constructed at El Paso now flood waters
in sufficient quantities will come down to serve present wants, but these
flood Waters can be caught above and ultimately will be caught above,
and it would be unwise to pay no heed to the ultimate conditions.
32 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
How many years ere this will be I do not know. It will depend upon
the rate of development, an uncertain factor. But schemes have been
projected and begun in the Rio Grande Valley within the last eighteen
months to take one-half of the ultimate supply of water. Most of
these schemes have been projected without any proper consideration
of the conditions to be met in order to utilize the greater amount of
land. If they are completed and rights finally established on the
ground selected, then one-half of the value of the Rio Grande Valley
is forever destroyed. The rights and interests thus established will be
So Wasteful of water that the Rio Grande will sustain only one-half of
its possible population. This statement is very conservative. It may
be and it is even probable that the water will be able to do only one-
third of its duty. And the Rio Grande is a fair illustration of the facts
and Conditions pertaining to every great river on the arid lands.
This, then, is needed in the Rio Grande Valley, that its agriculture
may develop normally and that all rights established may be main-
tained. In each district the catchment area and the irrigable lands
should be determined and deſined. To define the irrigable lands it is
necessary to measure the waters, in order to discover how much land
can be used. Then the irrigable lands should be declared such, and
the law should prevent any other lands being irrigated. Then the
catchment areas slıould be defined, and settlement on the catchment
areas for agricultural purposes should be prohibited, and the people
farming on the irrigable lands should have a right to control the catch-
ment areas and to protect and use the forests and grasses. Then, in
each district the storage basins should be segregated and reserved from
sale and occupation, so that they may not fall into the hands of specu-
lators, whose rights would have to be purchased before the waters were
stored; but the people who live in the district, as a body politic and
corporate, should have a right to control these storage basins for the
common use. The dam sites and the canal sites ought in like manner
to be designated and preserved from sale to individuals and held for
the common use of the people. By this plan the irrigable lands would
be held in severalty by the people; the sites for reservoirs, canals, add
dams, and the catchment areas would be held in common in such dis-
trict. But in the El Paso district, in which the catchment area is in
New Mexico and the Mesilla Valley, and a part of the irrigable lands in
New Mexico and a part in the El Paso Valley of Texas and Old Mexico,
some means must be provided to divide the waters. It is an interstate
and an international problem; but the rights of all of the people now
cultivating the soil must be maintained. -
To define the districts, a topographic survey is necessary; to define
the catchment areas and irrigable areas, and to select the reservoir,
sites, canal sites, and dam sites, a topographic survey is necessary;
to divide the waters, a hydrographic survey is necessary, and a hydro-e
graphic survey is based upon and can be most economically made
through the agency of a topographic Survey. In Selecting the lands
in the headwater districts, they should be taken in regions low enough
to have a good agricultural climate. In the trunk districts the land
should be as near to the points where the waters are taken from the
rivers by diverting dams as possible, that these lines may be the short-
est, and that the least water may be wasted. The reservoir sites, other
things being equal, should be selected on the highest lands, where the
evaporation is least. As far as possible, reservoirs should be main-
tained at the least cost and where the danger of destruction is least.
The principal lines of canals should all be designated in advance, in
order that impedimentary and obstructive rights may not be estab-
$2.
Powell's STATEMENT. 33
lished. These obstructive rights are of two classes. First, where a
lateral stream joins a main stream, the waters of the lateral should be
taken to lands sufficiently high up its course to be out of the way of
the development of irrigation on the principal stream.
The principal stream usually has a lower gradient, and its waters can
not be taken to very high lands; and if the waters of the lateral stream
occupy the low lands, the waters of the principal stream can not be
used. This condition of affairs has arisen in many cases already in the
development of irrigation in the West. The obstructions of the second
class relate to low line canals taken out along the course of the stream
which runs in a sand plain. If the canals are taken out here, the whole
length of line is extravagantly great, and the loss of water is corre-
spondingly great. All canal lines which relate to the utilization of
Water for irrigation and to the development of agriculture in arid
lands—they are all of great importance; no one can be neglected
Without doing serious injury to agricultural industries. If these things
were done in advance of more dense settlement, and then the people
permitted to control their affairs in their own way—divide the water
among themselves in each district as they please, protect and utilize
their forests in obedience to their own judgment, corrected by experi-
ence as time goes On, use the pasturage for their flocks and herds, and
protect it from destruction that they may thus use it, the arid lands
Would furnish homes to prosperous, peaceful, and happy people.
Senator PLUMB. Are you going to deal with the question of the un-
derflow or subdrainage? I wish to ask you some questions in regard
to that.
Director POWELL. I am ready to answer any question at once, so far
as I am able.
Senator REAGAN. That subject will come in better order when he
comes to discuss the Gila River.
Senator PLUMB. Very well.
Director POWELL. The Gila heads in the mountains in the eastern
part of Arizona and in New Mexico, but the main part in northern
Arizona. Running along this line in Arizona there is a line of cliffs
rising from 2,000 to 5,000 feet high, so that the region above is from
2,000 to 5,000 feet higher than the region below. This indicating by
the map) is the plateau of Arizona and this the lowland of Arizona.
There is a general difference of altitude of 3,000 to 5,000 feet. The
streams all head on this plateau or in these high mountains, and as they
flow westward, to unite with the Colorado, every stream becomes gener.
ally less and less, so that while there may be in dry seasons a great body
of water coming from the plateau and the mountains and there may be
Scores of beautiful Creeks and some small rivers that are perennial
(even in the dry seasons), yet in dry seasons the low part of the Gila
will be a series of sand hills. (See map.)
Senator CASEY. In the dry season of every year 2
Director POWELL. It is only in the very wet years that there is water
running in the Gila during the dry season.
Senator CASEY. The dry season of the average year?
Director POWELL. In the dry season of the average year the lower
Gila is dry. The rain-fall above is 20 inches or more, and in the moun-
tains it may be 24 inches in some places. Below, the rain-fall is from 3
to 10 inches only.
Senator PLUMB. Where does the rain-fall come from in that region ?
Is it from local evaporation ?
138 A L–WOL IV—3
34 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Director POWELL. Partly so, but in the main most of the moisture
of this region comes from the Pacific Ocean and Gulf of California,
though it is used over and over again. It is evaporated and then falls,
is again evaporated and again falls, and so on. It is used over and over
again in that manner as it passes eastward with the great upper cur-
rents of air.
Now, in all these mountains and cliffs from which beautiful streams
run out many are found which never reach the Gila at all.
Senator PLUMB. Is that not a feature of mountain drainage every-
where, as in the upper Rocky Mountain region, for example?
Director POWELL. It is common but not universal. It is a special
feature of this region. w
Senator PLUMB. I have seen many streams in the Rocky Mountains
that were rushing torrents for 3 or 4 or 5 miles and then disappeared
entirely.
Director POWELL. Yes; but I will show you where nearly all those
occur. They nearly all occur in this great basin lying around here [in-
dicating by reference to the map). That is the great region of lost
streams. Within this region there is no drop of water that runs to the
sea—the region colored green and olive on that map. All of the Water
is lost.
Senator JONES. Is there much rain-fall in that region ?
Director POWELL. It varies from 3 to 16 inches.
Senator PLUMB. Is it carried by subterranean streams ?
Director Powell. No ; it is all evaporated.
Senator PLUMB. Then that is not aided by the moisture carried there,
but is simply evaporated and falls again } -
Director POWELL. It gets a good deal of moisture from the West.
Moisture evaporated in this region [indicating] is carried over on to the
Rocky Mountains here. The progress of moisture across the continent
from west to east is by steps. It is precipitated and evaporated, and
again precipitated and again evaporated, and passes across the conti-
nent in that manner, by steps, and it is chiefly thrown down on the
mountains.
As to the Gila drainage basin—the lower portion of the Gila is a
region where the mountains gather the main part of the moisture, and
where these waters flow down and are lost in the Sand, ultimately to be
evaporated; so that the irrigation of the Gila region depends on three
things: First, the utilization of the running streams abounding in these
mountains and along Salt River, and streams which head in the mount-
ains. Secondly, it depends upon the utilization of the storm Waters;
less than one-half of the mountains of the region give rise to living
streams. The streams of the mountains of the lower land are in the
main intermittent streams. When the rains of the Spring start the
streams start and run out to the valleys until they are lost, and When
the dry seasons come all the streams of the mountains, dry up and the
waters roll down into those lands and can be recovered in Various Ways,
but in the main, in that country, in part by artesian Wells and in part
by wells that must be pumped. º º
While on that subject I will say that the pumping of water from
wells is a peculiarity of American industry. I never appreciated its
magnitude until this past Season. This fall I Sent Mr. Nettleton to
Spain to investigate some questions. He has just returned, and tells
me that there is nothing in France, in Italy, or in Spain to Correspond
with the industry growing up in this country by the use of pumps for
the recovery of water. American genius has done this; it has invented
Powell's STATEMENT. 35
pumps that can be run so cheaply and of such power that it is possi-
ble, at an expense of $200 or $300, to irrigate a good farm in any part
of the country where good wells are found, by the use of pump-water.
Senator CASEY. The pumps being run by steam 3
Director Powel, L. By steam one way or another.
Senator CASEY. And it is in this region that they are using those
pumps? *
Director POWELL. In this region they are beginning to develop the .
pumping process. -
Senator PLUMB. You saw some of those pumps in operation in Col-
orado this past year, did you?
Director POWELL. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. Did they seem to be successful there?
Director POWELL. Very successful.
Senator PLUMB. Not only on the ground of work but of expense?
Director POWELL. Yes. They have made the expense trivial. A
boy or a woman can run such pumps. They are very simple.
Senator JONES. Did they not say they had some pumps in operation
to which they sent somebody only once or twice a day to look after
them?
Director POWELL. Yes, they sent somebody to feed them once or
twice a day.
The genius for invention has solved the problem for the irrigation
of a very large district of country in this Southern region, which is of
great importance for this reason: that is the region in America of
the highest temperature, the region where the date, the palm, and the
orange grow, and where cotton and sugar can be cultivated, and all
the products of a subtropical climate grown.
The CHAIRMAN. Would not that remark apply to the places east of
the Rocky Mountains in Kansas and Nebraska where the waters are
Jost?
Director POWELL. Yes; but there are few countries where it is lost as
it is there. It is lost in the valley of the Arkansas and in the valley of
the Platte and in many other places, but there is only a portion lost
there, while here it is wholly lost, and the people will have to depend
upon the lost water entirely for irrigation or the region will be abso-
lutely desolate.
The CHAIRMAN. They have some irrigation in the Salt River Valley.
Director POWELL. Yes, on the streams above, as I have explained.
Senator REAGAN. The mountain streams all dry up in that place 3
Director POWELL. Yes.
Senator REAGAN. But you remember that it was a dry season when
we were at Phoenix? g
Director PowrDL. Yes. I excepted the Salt River, and Gila River
regions in what I have been saying. All through California and around
here [indicating], there are short north and south ranges, which do not
rise wery high, which furnish no perennial streams. It is in that region
of country that they must depend on pump-waters for irrigation, and
to some slight extent on artesian Waters. |
Senator REAGAN. Senator Plumb made an inquiry about the under-
streams that flow through the Sand. If you remember, some witnesses
had a good deal to say to us about there being underground rivers in
Some places.
Director POWELL. Yes. If you wish me to talk on that subject I
shall be pleased to explain the matter.
Senator PLUMB. If you have finished with what you wished to say
§
36 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
about the surface waters I shall be glad to ask you some questions
about the other.
Director POWELL. I shall be glad to answer any questions.
Senator PLUMB. In your judgment is this under-deposit of water a
standing body of water merely, or is it a flowing stream ?
Director POWELL. I do not believe it is a flowing stream.
Senator PLUMB. That is to say, is it a great cavity into which those
Streams flow %
Director POWELL. It is rather a complicated question. I will explain
it. There are two problems with regard to it. Where the waters dis-
appear in the sand, as they do here in the Great Basin, they spread out
in what is known as a “sink.” Where they spread out in the sands
along a great river, as in the case of the Arkansas and the Rio Grande,
the valleys of which descend 4, 5, 6, 8, or 10 feet to the mile, the waters
gradually creep down these valleys with a distinct forward movement.
Senator PLUMB. And are replaced by waters coming behind 3 e
Director POWELL. Yes; but not in the sense that there is a stream or
flow of water. The water simply percolates through these sands.
Senator PLUMB. That would be important as affecting the quantity
of this water?
Director POWELL. Precisely.
Senator PLUMB. As to whether any of those waters if removed by a
ditch would be instantaneously replaced by a pump, what have you to
say ?
Director POWELL. I am very glad you have brought that question
up. But let me go on One moment. When you pass the mountains of
Colorado along these streams for the first hundred miles there are per-
haps only 10 or 15 inches of rain-fall, while on the mountains there is
an excess of rain-fall. The Water is gathered on the adjacent mount-
ains and precipitated. But when you get from 100 to 200 miles away
from the mountains the attraction of the moisture is not to the mount-,
ains, but is again eastward, and again the precipitation is greater; so
that at some distance away from the mountains you get a greater rain-
fall than you do nearer the mountains. It therefore requires less water
for irrigation there than it does above, because nature supplies a greater
share. On the other hand, the snows of the valleys are forever supply-,
ing a local rain-fall, and the people do not depend on that which comes
from the mountains. The increase of local rain-fall to 20 or 22 inches
across that country produces rain-water in the valley much faster than
it can be pumped out. The quantity of water is ample, but the Supply
will come from the adjacent country, and not from above, if the water is
used in irrigation above. The lands of the valley will be supplied with
water by the storms of the plains.
Senator REAGAN. At one place the people described to us an under-
ground river. They said they were ptutting in tubes farther up and
gradually raising them so as to pour the water out on the surface.
Director Powell. It is a good illustration of one of the “sinks” that
I have been describing. Here is a river running down from the mount-
ains—mountains on this side and mountains on that—with Springs, etc.,
all gathering into a valley, which at last debouches into a plain below.
Right by Tucson is a sink in which the water disappears. If you go
into that valley you will find that in one place it opens out quite wide,
while in other places it narrows up into a cañon. Wherever it is nar-
rowed by the solid rock you will get a good flow of water.
Senator PLUMB. A large portion of the water supply of the city of
Denver is derived in the same way. But my idea was to inquire Whether
º
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 37
that was a deposit of water or a flowing stream. Suppose, for instance,
you should take out 50,000 cubic inches of water in a given moment of
time, the question is whether this flow of water that is back of it, com-
ing from this hidden source, will immediately replace it 3
Director Powell. Such questions are properly answered by ex-
perience, and so what I have to say—
Senator PLUMB. I understand that, but I thought you had made
some observations on it.
Director POWELL. I have.
Senator PLUMB. There is no doubt about water being there, and no
doubt as to the possibility of getting it out, because the average slope
in western Kansas is about 7 feet to the mile, while 2 or 3 feet is suffi-
cient for that purpose.
Director Powell. My judgment is this, that the supply of water is
permanent; that it is permanent by reason of the storm-waters of that
region, which are great. Many times in the last twenty-two years I
have been over that ground and witnessed storms. When the rains do
come the sheet of water that comes down from the adjacent hills is
enormous. I am confident the source of water is perennial for that
reason, even though the waters of the river should be cut off in Colo-
rado.
Senator PLUMB. That is to say that acts practically as a reservoir
for the storm-water ?
Director Powell. Yes; and on the other hand I do not believe that
the supply is inexhaustible. I believe there is a limit to it.
Senator CASEY. It might be carried off by constant drainage. You
have often seen water where the drainage is constant and where the
water, although very full at one time, becomes exhausted.
Director POWELL. As to that section of the Arkansas River that
runs through the State of Kansas and has a valley several miles in
width, I believe that a large area can be redeemed by irrigation by the
use of its underground water, yet I believe it has its limits.
Senator PLUMB. You think that the taking away of the water will
have the same effect underground as it has on the surface streams, that
is to say, it will dimish the supply below 3
Director POWELL. Yes; that is to say you can not irrigate illimitably
with it, but it will irrigate perhaps two or three hundred thousand acres.
Adjourned.
SECOND DAY'S SESSION.
WASHINGTON, D. C., January 21, 1890.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment. Present, Messrs. Stew-
art (chairman), Casey, Jones, and Moody.
FURTHER STATEMENT BY DIRECTOR POWELL.
The CHAIRMAN. Major Powell, you may resume your statement.
Director POWELL. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, I
propose rather briefly to review some facts relating to important drain-
age basins, and to continue the statement which I was making at the
adjournment of the last meeting of the committee, but in the main I
shalf omit the engineering problems and confine myself more exclusively
to the problems of civil administration.
38 IRRIGATION AND fºGLAMATION OF ARID f, ANDS.
The next basin in order, continuing from the point where I left off at
the last meeting, is the drainage basin of the Colorado.
The Colorado is one of the great rivers of the continent, being more
than 2,000 miles in length. It runs in the main from north to south
and from highlands to lowlands, so that it passes in its course through
many climatic zones. It heads in the Wind River Mountains and drains
a large region in the Territory of Wyoming. It also drains a portion of
Utah and a portion of Colorado. The regions drained in Wyoming are
very cold, because they lie at a great altitude. All the lands in Wyo-
ming that can be irrigated by the tributaries of the Colorado or Green
River are lands valuable mainly for the cultivation of potatoes, hay,
oats, and perhaps Tye. In some few of the low places wheat may be
cultivated. But I will designate for our purposes at the present time
the potato zone of the Colorado. p
Following down the Colorado to the lower regions in Utah and some
few valleys in the State of Colorado we get into a region where wheat
is cultivated, but the areas that can be redeemed along the Grand and
Green Rivers for these purposes are not very great. Still farther down
the Uintah Valley, in Utah, and the Grand River Valley, in Colorado,
corn may be cultivated. There are some minor valleys for the next
700 miles along the Colorado that can be used for the cultivation of corn. .
More than four-fifths of the upper drainage basin of the Colorado lies
from 5,000 to 8,000 feet above the level of the sea. About the rim of
this basin stand the Wasatch and Uintah Mountains on the west, the
Wind River Mountains on the north, and the great Rocky Mountain
system on the east; all that vast area, as shown in the map before you,
is all drained into the Colorado River.
As there are great gorges from 200 and 300 feet to 5,000 feet in depth,
in general the streams run so far below the surface of the country that
they can not be used for agriculture. But nearer to the mountains, on
each side, there are high valleys in the potato region that I have de-
scribed. ** *
In the regions below the cañons, at the mouth of the Grand Caſion,
as it is called, the Colorado falls into a great valley, across which some
mountains stand, but in the main it is a low and very Warm Valley, and
a region where rice can be cultivated. And throughout the World the
great rice regions in general are where irrigation is practiced. In this
valley ultimately rice and the vegetables and fruits of that Zone can be
cultivated in great abundance. On the lower Colorado there may be
cultivated to advantage, also, cotton, sugar, and especially the date
palm, because the country is far to the South and low.
Now these are the problems involved in the civil administration: A
part of the waters are in Wyoming, a part in Colorado, a part in Utah;
a part in Arizona, and a part of California, and they are to be divided
between those States and Territories. But there will be no difficulty in.
dividing them in the upper regions because the land which can be covered
is less than the water will serve. So that all the upper region of the Col-
orado that can be irrigated may be by the streams, and there Will arise no
necessity for a division of the water between States, counties, districts,
and people. But when we come to the lower portion of the Colorado there
they will have to be divided. A small portion of Utah, of Nevada, and
California on the west, and Arizona on the east can use these Waters, and
after all the waters have been used above, as I have described, after all
the region is irrigated that it is possible to irrigate, there will still be a
vast volume of water in the Colorado that can be utilized and divided
between the States and Territories that I have mentioned. But at the
-3 POWELL’s STATEMENT. 39
present time there are no means by which those waters can be divided
between them. It is probable that 5,000,000, 6,000,000, or 7,000,000
acres of land can be irrigated in this lower region. So that ultimately
it becomes a problem of great importance to divide these waters. j
Passing then from the Colorado drainage, I will omit some of these
minor areas and speak of the Sevier drainage.
The Sevier heads in plateaus in southern Utah and runs northward,
then turns westward, where it is lost in the desert. The people of Utah
have already taken out the waters of the Sevier below the lower part
of the valley to irrigate very large areas, and until within two or three
years, settlements have been crowded on the head of the Sevier, and the
people above are beginning on the upper portion of the Sevier to take
out water from its tributaries, and already they have done this to such
an extent as to cut off the water from the farms below. So that the
problem now is to divide the waters of the Sevier in such a manner as
that there will be no conflict. The people above are taking out the
waters of the stream on to land which is of comparatively little value for
agricultural purposes because it is cold and in the region designated as
the “potato region.” *
The lower valley of the Sevier is warm, and agriculture is practiced
there with great success. But, if the process of abstraction of the wa-
ters from above continues, as it has been for two or three years past,
much of the water of the Sevier will be cut off and the lower settlements
destroyed.
Senator CASEY. What are the people above on the Sevier raising?
Director POWELL. Hay, potatoes, oats, etc.
Senator CASEY. Do they raise any wheat 3 -
Ditector Powell. No ; not that I know of. It is possible that there
is a small portion where wheat can be raised, but the most valuable lands
are in the lower valley.
I will speak next of the Jordan drainage, the Jordan being one of the
upper rivers flowing into Salt Lake, and from which the irrigation of a
large tract in Utah is had.
Utah Lake cuts in two the valley of the Jordan. Above, the Provo
and Spanish Fork, and a number of other small streams flow into Utah
Lake. The Waters in these upper streams are taken out to irrigate the
valleys they pass turough. But not all of their waters are used above;
a very large amount, in the season when irrigation is not practiced,
flows into Utah Lake. Utah Lake is a natural reservoir for the Jordan.
Now, irrigation has been carried on and developed in the valley of the
Jordan to such an extent that practically the waters of the irrigating
Season are already utilized. So that, the development or increase of the
area of irrigation in the valley of the Jordan, including the whole val-
ley, is to be made by storing the Waters, and they can be largely stored
in Utah Lake. But if Utah Lake is used as a reservoir, it must be
used in part by cutting down the outlet and in part by damming the
outlet so that the Waters of the Winter may be stored therein.
To do this the lands belonging to people above will be flooded. Al-
ready there has been conflict there, but the church authorities stepped
in and Settled the matter. The last time there was conſlict, a commit.
tee of arbitration was formed, and each of the two counties involved
paid one-third of the expenses of the damage, and the church from the
tithes paid the other third. They settled the difficulty in that manner.
But the difficulty still remains, if any increase is to be made in the
area to be irrigated in the valley of the Jordan.
§
40 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
And on Bear River we have another difficulty which is more than an
intercounty and intercommunity difficulty. Bear River heads in
Wyoming, flows northward into laaho, makes a great circuit in Idaho,
and then returns to Utah, where it ultimately empties into the Great
Salt Lake. It is therefore an interstate problem, and the people of
Idaho and the people of Utah are now in constant conflict. During
the past season the governors of those Territories and their citizens
have been petitioning the Secretary of the Interior on the subject.
There has been much newspaper warfare about the matter, and meet-
ings and conventions have been held to determine how the waters of
the Bear shall be divided. A large portion of the valley of the Bear—
the warm and valuable portion of the Bear—lies in Utah. The region
drained by the Bear—the valley of the Bear—which lies in the Terri-
tory of Idaho is cold. There is a small area of good land, but in the
main the lands are grass lands and potato lands, such as I have de-
Scribed. So that, there is now pressing upon the Department, Congress,
or some authority, the problem of dividing the waters of the Bear
between Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah. 4.
Passing to the west side of the Great Basin, I will say one word in
general of the Great Basin.
The streams which head in the Great Basin, or drain it, do not run
to the sea. So that there are many small streams, like the Jordan and
the Sevier, which head in the mountains standing about the Great
Basin and are lost in the sinks and salt lakes, and many of them in the
sand. Of the several drainage basins in Nevada. I shall not stop to
Speak now, except a few.
Here another problem arises peculiar to the region itself. The
Truckee, the Carson, and other rivers of Nevada, head in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains within the State of California. The main waters
used in the western half of Nevada have their sources in California.
Nearly all the reservoirs for the storage of waters of these streams must
be constructed in California. The people, therefore, who live on these
rivers and depend on irrigation have their sources of Supply in another
State.
If they are to increase the area of irrigation from these streams—
and it may be very largely increased ; we have already made the sur-
vey showing that a very large amount of water can be stored in Lake
Donner, Independence Lake, Tahoe, etc., in California—if the people
are to utilize these waters in irrigation on their lands below, they will
have to go into another State to do it—they will have to construct their
canals and reservoirs outside of their own State. It makes a Very
serious interstate problem, therefore.
I shall pass hurriedly over all these points simply to bring out here-
after the interstate problems in the main. Perhaps I had better refer
to the Humboldt River.
The Humboldt River heads in low mountains in central Nevada from
many small streams and springs. It is largely supplied with Storm
water, so that during seasons of storm a great flood of water rolls
down the Humboldt River. During exceedingly dry seasons it is
almost dried up. The problem of the Humboldt is, therefore, to store
the storm waters immediately along this basin and to utilize the small
streams on which they now depend in dry seasons.
We have here the great valley of California [indicating on the map).
I shall make no mention of the waters of the San Joaquin and its trib-
utaries, but wish to say a few words about the waters of the Sacramento.
The Sacramenio Valley is a region in which irrigation is practiced to
POWELL'S STATEMENT. 41
some extent, but in which, it is not absolutely necessary. During the
last two or three years especially the people of that region have come
to understand that irrigation would benefit them very greatly, and they
are now developing irrigation in that valley. Ultimately they Will use
a large part of the waters of the Sacramento for that purpose.
There is a double problem involved here. The Sacramento and its
tributaries have heretofore been used for hydraulic mining. When the
miners and farmers of this region come to understand that it is Wise
for them to use the waters of the streams for irrigation, the conflict be-
tween the farmers and the miners will cease. The works necessary to
utilize the Sacramento for irrigation and the works necessary to utilize
the waters for hydraulic mining will be common works, and both parties
will be interested; so that the problem that has divided the interests
of that valley between the miners and farmers can ultimately be settled
to the advantage of both.
The CHAIRMAN. I am afraid that is a little overstated. It will never
be settled until they get the gold out.
Director POWELL. Perhaps I had better dwell upon that point a little.
First, on the American River and all those rivers used for mining pur-
poses they have learned enough to know that the waters can be stored
there. If the waters are stored above in the lateral valley to be used
in irrigation below in the valley of the Sacramento, an equable stream
can be preserved along the Sacramento. A flood stream need never be
allowed to run in the valley; the waters can be controlled in such a
manner that floods will not spread over the valley.
The CHAIRMAN. I believe that can be done.
Director POWELL. Then the destruction to the land which is some-
times done in two or three weeks of flood-time will not happen.
The CHAIRMAN. The great conflict is that they have a great many
storage reservoirs. They can work these mines with these waters by
the hydraulic process, but it will not pay to work them by any other.
It is estimated that, in the old river beds which run north and south
at an elevation of 600 feet above the level of the sea, there are a thou-
sand millions of gold. That is the estimate of experts based on results
obtained prior to the injunctions against hydraulic mining. But in
working the mines by that process they cover up the land below and
that is the controversy.
Director POWELL. The land is covered in this manner: The streams
that are used in hydraulic mining tear the hills down and distribute
débris over the low lands—the materials of which the hills are com-
posed. The bowlders and gravel of these hills are carried a short dis-
tance, finer material much farther, sand a somewhat greater distance,
and part of the material, exceedingly fine, is carried very far down the
river and there deposited. The rivers, therefore, run like rivers of mud.
That débris accumulates along the course of the river, chokes the river,
and forms dams and bars from point to point. So that, when the spring
rains come and the snows melt the flood comes down all at once, and, the
channels of the river being choked, the flood spreads itself over the
valleys, and the débris from the channels of the river bury the land
many feet. The Senator knows how that is. I have traveled along
there for miles when there was a good stage road and telegraph line,
and a few years after along that same road the telegraph poles were
. Here and there one would have its top protruding above the
débris.
Senator JONES. How large an area was covered in that way ?
42 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Director POWELL. I remember indefinitely, the area that I saw cov.
ered from 2 and 3 to 30 and 40 feet in depth, but as well as I can re-
member—it is several years since I was theré—it was from 300 to 400
Square miles.
The CHAIRMAN. The Bear and the American Rivers when I first saw
them had deep banks—40 or 50 or 60 feet deep. The beds of the streams
are now above those banks. The highest estimate is that it has covered
up 1,000,000 acres of land. Some have put the estimate higher, to
1,500,000 acres of land. But a great deal of that land has become good
again by exposure, and it has helped the land that was back from the
river by raising the water-bed and moistening that land. So that what
Was dry land back of the river has become moistened land. But the
farms near the river have been all covered up. The miners were en-
joined from proceeding with this kind of mining. There is a vast
amount of money in these mountains, estimated by the best experts at
a thousand millions, and until these injunctions are removed this gold
Will never be utilized.
Director POWELL, I pass from California directly to the Snake River
or Shoshone River, where some important problems exist. The Snake
River has its origin in Wyoming, passes into Idaho, crosses the Terri-
tory of Idaho, becomes the boundary line between Oregon and Idaho
for a long reach, finally passes across the State of Oregon, whence it
proceeds north to Washington Territory, and thence turns westward
through Washington Territory until it joins the Columbia.
The Snake is a river of great magnitude. Its waters can be stored
in part in Wyoming, in part in Idaho. Lakes have already been dis-
Covered as sites for reservoirs, by which a large amount of water, 2,000,-
000, or 3,000,000 acre-feet—that is, water enough to irrigate 2,000,000
or 3,000,000 acres of land—can be stored at very small expense. That
is in the upper part of the Snake River Valley.
The Waters of the Snake River must be divided between Wyoming,
Idaho, Oregon, and Washington, and interstate problems have arisen
in part, and will arise hereafter, of great importance; because it con-
templates the irrigation of 6,000,000 or 7,000,000 acres of land.
Senator Casey. What products can be produced there ?
Director POWELL. It is a wheat and corn region.
Senator CASEY. Throughout its whole length 3
Director POWELL. This is a warm valley, a valley in which it is
desirable to live on account of its low altitude; but the upper part of
Wyoming is high and cold.
In the utilization of the waters of the Snake arise some problems
which are found elsewhere, but which can be stated very well here; and
perhaps I had better dwell upon them at this point.
If the Waters of the Snake should be taken out at points near together
by Small canals along the river and used on lands near to the river it
will be much easier to develop the first, perhaps, 1,000,000 of acres of
irrigation along that river. That is to say, it is possible to construct
diverting dams and to take the water out of the river by piece meal
along the river here [indicating on the map) for the irrigation of the
first 1,000,000 acres of land. If the water should be taken out high up
on the river and carried far back over the valley, an area of four, five,
six, Seven, or eight times as large as I have mentioned—I can not say
exactly how much larger until the surveys are completed—can be irri-
gated by those waters, and if they are taken out in this manner the
cost per acre will be much less than if they were taken out by piece-
meal. w
Powel L's STATEMENT, 43
But further than that, if it should be taken out piece-meal to irrigate
1,000,000 acres of land, then the rights become vested in irrigation works
there, and then they can not go above and take the water out, because
it will cut the water out from the people below, and they will have to
be bought out to increase the area of irrigation. So that it becomes
important, if all the waters of the Snake River are to be ultimately used
for irrigation, and many million acres of land redeemed which can be
redeemed in this manner, to provide now, before little canals are built
along its course, that the Snake be taken out higher in a few places in
great bodies, or we shall get into the same condition they are in in the
valley of the Nile.
It is estimated that the waters of the Nile, which are now irrigating
5,000,000 acres, will serve three times that amount with an annual ex-
penditure less per acre than it now costs to serve the 5,000,000 acres.
But if works are to be constructed and the waters of the Nile taken Out
from the supplies above on the lands where drainage is not so necessary,
it can be done only by buying out the interests on the Nile entirely. The
English are now working at this problem of how to meet the necessity
now existing and drain the lands that are now becoming swamp lands,
and make the annual expenditure per acre much less and increase the
area to be irrigated. The problem which I stated about the Snake River
appears again and again in all the great streams of this country.
The Columbia River heads in British territory. It is a great river
and carries a vast volume of water. After it crosses the boundary line
between British territory and our own there is a great valley which can
be ultimately irrigated, and there is abundant water which can be used.
But a large part of the water that is to be used in the United States can
be used only by constructing works on British territory; that is to say,
a large part of the area which could be irrigated in the United States
could not be irrigated without building works on British territory. But,
on the other land, the problem is not so serious. There is more water
than the people of the British territory need.
The Kootenay River, one of the important tributaries of the Colum-
bia, in British territory, flows into the United States and returns to
British territory, and there arises an international problem; and so it
is with a great many of the smaller streams along the border, streams
which I need not stop to mention, where international problems are in-
volved. - -
Passing over to the leadwaters of the Missouri River, we find that
the Milk River heads on Dritish territory and flows down into the ter-
ritory of the United States, and with regard to that river international
problems are involved. Beside the international problems on the Mis-
souri River we have these interstate problems: That river heads in
Montana partly, in Wyoming in fact, and flows through both the Dakotas
Southward, so that ultimately there is to be devised some means of
dividing its waters between Montana, North and South Dakota, and
perhaps a part may ultimately be used in Nebraska. The Big Horn and
Powder Rivers head in Wyoming and run northward into the Yellow-
Stone, and the Waters of each of these rivers have to be divided be.
tween Wyoming and Montana. -
The Yellowstone itself presents some interstate problems. The chief
Storage area of the Waters of the Yellowstone is in the National Park.
The Yellowstone Lake is a natural storage basin. In it can be stored
waters for the irrigation of 300,000 or 400,000 or 500,000 acres of land.
Along the Yellowstone River is an important problem worthy of brief
mention here. The Yellowstone has its course through Montana in a
44 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
deep caiich 400, 500, or 600 feet below the mesa above. Along its
Course is a valley varying from 2 and 3 to 6 and 7 miles in width.
A part of that lower valley is valuable for irrigation; a part is not
valuable, and if water were used over the whole of that valley it would
be largely wasted. But the mesa lands above are good, and it would
be necessary to take the waters of the Yellowstone above this re-
gion, high up, and spread them over the mesa lands on each side. The
Cheyenne and Niobrara Rivers involve problems between Wyoming,
the Dakotas, and Nebraska. The waters are to be divided between
those sections, and the people are in conflict. Some very interesting
letters have passed between the governors of those localities protesting
against the use of these waters, and Congress has been appealed to.
Senator CASEY. Between Wyoming and Nebraska?
Director POWELL. Colorado and Nebraska, and likewise between the
governors of Colorado and Kansas. Then below, along the Cimarron
and Red Rivers, we have interstate problems. wº
I think I have dwelt long enough on this point; but I wanted to
bring out the fact that something must be devised by the United States
to Solve these interstate problems which are imminent—some common
Scheme for dividing the waters between these States and Territories.
The CHAIRMAN. Before leaving that point I wish to ask a question.
You spoke of the Missouri and Yellowstone. Have sufficient explora-
tions of the Missouri been made to determine whether that river can
be taken out or not ?
Director POWELL. A very large part of the Missouri River can be
used in Montana, a part in North Dakota, and another part in South
Dakota. It can be used alike in Montana, North Dakota, and South
Dakota. I will only mention here the major streams.
Captain DUTTON. The Missouri River can not be taken out below the
Great Falls for a distance of 300 or 400 miles.
The CHAIRMAN. It will have to be taken out above the falls 3
Director POWELL. It will have to be taken out above. The Yellow-
stone, like the Snake River, is a great river, and the ultimate utilization
of these waters is to depend upon great canals.
Senator CASEY. Can the Missouri be taken out above the falls?
Director POWELL. It can be taken out between Bismarck and Helena.
Senator CASEY. That is the Yellowstone Ž
Director POWELL. No; the Missouri.
The CHAIRMAN. The Missouri has three forks there.
Senator CASEY. Can it be taken out just above the Great Falls.
Director POWELL. That is one of the questions to be examined this
SUIDO 1116I’.
I will very briefly call attention to another problem—the great plain
extending from British territory to Mexican territory. There is a region
of four or five degrees in width, on a part of which irrigation is abso-
lutely necessary, and on a part of which irrigation is conditionally
necessary; that is to say, some years they need irrigation, While in other
years the land can be cultivated without irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. And always beneficially 3
Director POWELL. And always beneficially. I have a map exhibit-
ing the artesian wells of the arid lands, extending somewhat over the
arid area and the plain east of the well-defined arid lands. This map
needs a little explanation so that you may understand it. º
Artesian wells have been found in great numbers. The geological
basins, in which these wells are found and known are colored in the
main, as this [indicating on the map). We have here a basin with many
artesian wells in it [indicating].
POWELL’s STATEMENT.. - 45
We have another here ſindicating]—the Colorado Basin, the Denver
Basin, one in southern Colorado, one in southern Arizona, and one in
southern California; another basin there findicating], and those basins,
the geology of which is pretty well known, are in Utah. You see them
here [indicating on the map). In addition to this the people have gone
out of the basins geologically known and have experimented elsewhere.
Among all those experiments are failures which do not appear on the
map; but the successful wells appear and are represented by the dots
you observe here [indicating on the map). A dozen or fifteen wells have
been found in that locality. Each dot does not necessarily represent a
single well, but sometimes a small group of wells. In Some places a
single well is found and is represented by a dot. (See map.)
The CHAIRMAN. What is that group of wells there?
Director POWELL. That is in Texas, a part in the arid region and a
part in the subhumid region.
Senator JONES. Are they flowing wells?
Director POWELL. Yes. I have not put in the non-flowing wells.
There are a great many wells used for irrigation which do not flow over
the surface, but the waters rise near the surface and are taken out by
pumps. They do not appear on this map, however. The region of
country of which I speak, stretching through there [indicating], is one
of great interest because of the attempts which have been made to set-
tle the country without resorting to irrigation. During the past fifteen
or twenty years in many places other attempts have been made to set-
tle the region. But the settlers who have gone in there have in the
main left, settled and left, settled again and left, and so on from year
to year. The region of country is on that border land which will be
forever attempting cultivation without irrigation. But two, three, or
four wet years will occur in succession, when agriculture will be quite
successful; then will come two or three bad years and they will be dis-
astrous and the people will migrate. Now, however, the people are
appreciating the benefits of irrigation, and when they come to realize
that irrigation is necessary for permanent success and prosperity the
difficulties will disappear. But while the water supply is not sufficient
to irrigate all that country, it is sufficient to irrigate large areas.
Now, I speak first of these artesian waters not because they are of
the most importance or of greater magnitude, but because the people
are looking in that direction more than any other.
The regions of country underlaid by artesian waters are not at all
known from a geological stand-point—we can not say to what extent
they are so underlaid. But there is sufficient evidence to lead one to
believe that artesian Waters are somewhat abundant.
A geological survey is necessary in order that the geological basins
may be mapped, and then experimentations in the areas thus mapped
will confine the work to regions where there is prospect of water, and
by experiments in part and by geological examinations in part, it will
be possible to determine what artesian waters are found in that
region. When they are found they will be valuable for domestic
and horticultural purposes. And though the cost of boring wells is
large, and the cost of redeeming lands will be comparatively great,
greater than the utilization of flowing rivers, yet the great value given
the land by irrigation will warrant the expense.
Artesian reservoirs can never furnish waters for agriculture on a
scale of sufficient magnitude to be considered as an important source
of supply. The amount of waters which porous rocks will supply is
always very insignificant compared with the amount necessary for
46 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
irrigating any great tract of land. More than half the agriculture of
the World is dependent on irrigation. Of this, a very insignificant
amount depends on artesian Wells. There are wells here and there in
Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, and in some of the great islands,
but altogether they furnish a very small amount of water for agricult.
ure. If all the artesian wells used for irrigation in the world were
assembled in Dakota, they would not irrigate a county of land. But
there are other serious reasons why the attention of the people of the
great plains should not be directed too confidently to this resource.
It is the experience with artesian wells everywhere throughout the
World that if too many are bored in any basin all . are destroyed
thereby. In the northern Illinois district, it was hoped that the
great city of Chicago could be supplied with water for domestic pur-
poses by artesian Wells, but experimentation has proved that, while a
few good wells could be secured, a great number was impossible; that
the supply of Water would be absolutely inadequate for the wants of
the city; and so the authorities were compelled to resort to the lake
for their supply. Now, to irrigate the site of the city of Chicago
would take more water than to supply it for domestic purposes; so
that the artesian wells of that district would be entirely inadequate
to irrigate an area as large as the city, or perhaps one-fifth or even
one-tenth of the area. Some years ago it was pointed out that the city
of Denver and the region round about was the site of an artesian
basin. The first well site proved to be very valuable, and the desire
to secure water for domestic purposes therefrom led to their multipli-
cation. More than three hundred have now been bored, and grad-
ually with the progress of the boring the collapse of the wells has
resulted, and now all the wells have to be pumped; there is little or no
flowing water from them. These instances might be multiplied all
over the world, and the experience of mankind testifies that it would
be unwise to encourage the people of any district of country to de-
pend upon artesian Waters for irrigation on any large scale for farm-
ing. , Waters for domestic purposes, for irrigating gardens, and for
supplying stock ranches may thus be obtained in many regions, and
the supply of water that can thus be furnished is of value; but when
considered as a source for agriculture, for the cultivation of fields and
large tracts of country, it will always be inadequate; and it is unwise
to encourage any people to engage in agriculture on a large Scale and
depend on irrigation from artesian Wells.
For the district of which I am now speaking, extending from the
British to the Mexican line in a broad belt across the plains on both
sides of the hundredth meridian, the people will ultimately be com-
pelled to depend upon another source of supply, and one so important
that in comparison there with the artesian supply sinks into insignifi-
cance and seems hardly to be worthy the mention. I refer to the use
of the storm waters. One-third of the agriculture carried on by irriga-
tion throughout the world is prosecuted by the storage and use of storm
waters, and the experience of mankind in this respect is replete with
lessons that can not be neglected. The region to which this is espe-
cially applicable is the sub-humid region. It differs from what I have
called the arid region in that it generally has a greater rain-fall, dis-
tributed more evenly over the country, as it is not interrupted by great
mountains where the precipitation is concentrated, having from 15 to
22 inches of rain-fall in the average year; sometimes more, Sometimes
ress. There are many years when agriculture is prosperous without
PowrDL’s STATEMENT. 47
irrigation; there are others when it fails without an artificial supply of
water. Gradually with the progress of agricultural development it is
possible to cover the country with storage basins, or tanks as they are
usually termed, in which water may be held to be used in seasons of
drought. By this means the farmers may be able to tide over the dry
years, and farming may be made prosperous and highly remunerative
thereby from year to year. It is in this direction that the attention of
the people of that region should be turned. *
There is another source of water for that country of far greater im-
portance than that of artesian fountains, but far less than that of the
storm waters. I refer to sand reservoirs along the channels of the
streams, especially of the great rivers. In that region of country the
stream valleys are often great beds of sand, into which sinks the Water
which comes from the distant mountains, and into which sink the Storm
waters that come from the adjacent hills. Experience in other coun-
tries shows that this source of supply is worthy of consideration, and
the experiments now in progress in the Arkansas Valley give indica-
tions of like character.
Mr. Chairman, I bave prepared a statement in relation to the artesian
wells of the Great Plains which is partly in tabular form, with a brief
explanation of the geologic conditions under which these artesian for-
mations exist. With your permission I will present it.
G. E.OLOGICAL DATA IºELATING TO ARTESIAN WELLS IN THIE SUB-
IIUMID REGION OF THE GREAT PLAINS.
THE DARCOTAS.
Location.—The artesian wells in the Dakotas are situated east of the
one hundred and first meridian, and, with the exception of the one at
|Pierre, they are east of the one hundredth meridian. They occur in
great numbers in the Red River Valley, making a belt through the
Dakotas, with adjacent portions of Minnesota and Manitoba, and mak-
ing a second nearly parallel belt running from Yankton northward to
Devil's Lake.
Classification and reference to geological horizons.—The successful wells
thus far bored in the Dakotas and adjacent regions, may be arranged
in four groups, with reference to the geological horizons from which
they derive their water supply. These are, (1) wells of little depth
which do not pass through the drift ; numerous in the Red River Val-
ley; (2) those which penetrate to the Cambrian rocks, as at Grafton,
N. Dak. ; (3) those deriving their water supply from the middle or up-
per portion of the Cretaceous, illustrated by a single well in the western
part of Cass County, and by several wells in the Red River Valley
which pass through the drift; (4) those penetrating to the Dakota sand-
stone, the basal member of the Cretaceous. This group is important,
and is illustrated by numerous Wells ranging from Vermillion and
Yankton northward to Devil's Lake.
Wells in the region adjacent to the Dakotas.—Artesian wells have been
bored in the States and Territories bordering the Dakotas on the east,
north, and west, a knowledge of which is valuable in discussing the
possibilities of the Subterranean Water supply in those States them-
selves. The favorable conditions for Supplying water in the Red River
Valley extend northward into Canada, as far, at least, as Winnipeg,
and eastward into Minnesota.
48
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The successful wells in Manitoba, with the exception of one at Rosen-
feld, about 20 miles northwest from Emerson and St. Vincent, are all in
The well forming the exception has a depth of
superficial deposits.
1,037 feet, and penetrates to the Cambrian.
is Saline.
The shallow wells of Manitoba are as follows:
The water flowing from it
Location. Depth. Strata penetrated. Water supply.
I'eet.
Near Letellier.-------------. 250 * (150 feet?) and Crotaceous or | Saline and alkaline.
11tl I'1810.
12 Manitoba Wells of Morris. 250 || -- . . . do. -----------------------------. Do.
Dominiou City.-------------. 107 | Drift till undor lacustrine and allu- || Brackish.
vial beds.
N º Nºville (about twen- 40–170 | Drift, nearly all till------...-----------. Good, fresh water.
y wells).
Winnipeg (several wells). --. - 50-100 |.... -- do. ------------------------------ Do.
The successful wells of eastern Minnesota which penetrate strata
below the drift are as follows:

Location. Depth. Strata penctrated. Water supply.
Houston County: Foot.
Brownsville ------------. 590 | Cambrian.------------------ tº tº sº tº sº e ºs e º e
Wabasha County:
Jako City---------------- 820 |. ----- do.------ gº is ºn us as w = e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Goodhue County:
Ited Wing --------------- 450 - - - - - - do.-------------------------------
Dalcota County:
Hastings ---------------- 1, 160 |...---- do.-------------------------------
Mondota. ---------------- 867 ------ do-------------------------------- ITresh, rising 10 feet
above surface.
Freeborn County:
Albert Lea-------------- 300 l Devonian.---------------------------.
I}lue Parth County: &
Minniecpa Falls. --------- 1,000 | Cambrian.----------- tº e º sº sº us tº is tº up tº gº º ºs s sº sº
Nicollet County:
Saint Potor. ------------. 200 |.----. do.-------------------------------
IIennepin County:
Minneapolis ------ • * * * * * * 205 || Lower Silurian and Cambrian, i. e., | Fresh, abundant.
Trenton and St. l’eter sandstone.
St Louis County:
Tower ----------- tº sº m s m sº ºn is 400 | Archean schists.---- tº s º ºs º ºs º gº tº as º is sº sº º ºs as Do.
Traverse County:
I}rown's Valley. --------. . 465 | Cretaceous (Fort Benton shale), to | Saline and alkaline.
Dakota sandstone.
ICittson County: * I ºw
IIumboldt --------------. 644 | Cambrian.----------------------------- Do.
The unsuccessful Wells of
eastern Minnesota are as follows:


Location. Depth. Strata penetrated. Water supply.
Feet.
Mankato -------------------- 2,204 || Cambrian----------------------------- Rose to 90 feet below
surface.
Minneapolis ----------------. 622 | Trenton and Cambrian --------------.
Do.-------------------- 1,431 |- - - - - - do -------------------------------
120--------------------- 2, 150 |.----. do ----------------------------- * *
St. Paul.--------------------- 671 ... --. do ------ * * * * * * * * * * * * sº tº g º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 850 |... --. do -------------------------------
I’reeborn ---...---------------- 950 | Dovollian. ---------------------------.
Stillwater ------------------. 3, 500 | Through Potsdam into IKeweenewan.
J)nluth ---------------------- 1, 507 || Archean. --...-------------------------
Tracy ----------------------- 724 . Through Cretacoons to granite. ... ---
Moorhead.------------------- 1,425 | Drift, 220; Cretaceous, 150; Archean,
1,
TABLE OF IMPORTANT wells IN MINNESOTA.
49
The wells of Minnesota which are successful but do not penetrate below
the drift are as follows:
*
Location.
Depth.
Strata peaetrated.
Water supply.
Q
Blue IBarth and Faribault
Counties:
Sterling, Mapleton, Wells,
etc. (about two hundred
wells in the vicinity of
Maple River, on the
area of the Glacial Lake
Minnesota).
Douglas County:
Osakis
Hudson.----- tº us is me tº as ge ºs s as as º
The following are in the Red
Itiver Valley, on tho area of
the Glacial Lake Agassiz:
Traverse County:
Near Wheaton ......
Tintah. ------- * * * * * * *
Do. ------- tº e º ºs ºs º ºs
O. - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Neal' Tintah. ---...--.
Wilkin County:
Champion. To w n-
ship, many Wells.
Atherton
Do
Do------------ ge is s
Clay County:
Near Barnesville ---.
Near Sabin
Near Moorhead......
ICragnes
Near Georgetown. ...
Becker County:
Hamden
sº sº tº e s º ºs º º º
Do ---------------
Norman County:
Perley -----. * * * * ºn e º as s
Halstead.-------------
Eight miles northeast.
of: alstead
Ada -----------------
Lockhart
Lockhart vicinity. --.
I'rom Ada to Crooks-
ton many wells ---.
Polk County:
Near Kittson
Do
is sº º ºs º º sº tº s = * *
Carman.------------.
Near Crookston......
Do--------- Jº ºn tº un tº se
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Vicinity of Crooks-
ton, probably one
hundrod wélls.
Fisher--------------.
Near Angus ---------
Do. --------------
South Angus
Marshall County:
Arº
tº e ºs º sº sº º & sº * * * * * *
gº º º ºr tº sº º gº º sº º ºs ºº &
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * g g g tº tº º tº º
Feet.
25-120
60
35
119–182
55
18
100–228
155
180
75
110
200
250
1
125–150
100–200
205
236
165–24
285
45
70
253
150
285
74
95
218
220
240
Till, with included seams of water-
bearing sand and gravel.
s = s. s. as sº *- : *-ºſ is sº º sº as as º ºs º º ºs e s ºn º ºs º ºs º is is sº tº e º sº as us e º &
as a tº sº gº º ºr e º ºs e º sº e º ºs º º is ºr sº s tº ºn as tº e º dº º sº
• * * * * s sº - e ºs ºs º ºs e s is a sº * * * * * * * us tº ºn tº s
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
s sº º ºs ºs º º sº tº gº ºn ºn is tº a gº sº ºn tº sº e º ºs tº º ºs s is tº º e
All these go through thin lacustrine
and alluvial beds. then aro for most
of their depth glacial drift (till),
with seams of water-bearing sand
and gravel.
Alluvium and lacustrine beds, then
glacial driſt (till), in which are
water-bearing seams of sand and
gravel
* * * * * * * * * * * = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * g º ºs
sº tº gº tº º ſº tº s º º sº we º sº tº gº º ºs º ºs º gº º ºs sº º ºs e º sº &
s sº º ºs e º sº as as as tº ea º º sº sº ºn tº as sº wº, º is a wº s tº as we es &
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s me was sº
s sº e s sº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * g º º ſº we gº º ºs g º ºs º as sº ºn tº
• * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * *s ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * g º me tº sº sm º ºs e e º a
as sº º ºs º ºs º ºs as º is e º ºs º tº º º ºs º gº & º º sº * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * g º 'º we g º nº æ is ºs º º sº tº
Fresh, copious.
Fresh, scanty.
Do.
Fresh, abundant.
Do.
L)0.
Do.
Do.
Tresh, very copious.
Fresh.
Do.
Do.
ſ
| All fresh, with oo.
pious supply.
l
Fresh, copious,
Do.
Do.
Do.
Alkaline and saline,
copious.
Do.
Mear Kennedy.......
Near Hallock..... --.
Near Northcote. -- - - -
St. Vincent
45
95
119
30
165
* * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > *- : * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Do.
Tresh, copious.
I}o.
Saline, copious.
50
LANDS. º
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID
*
West of the Dakotas wells have been bored in search of artesian
Water at the following localities : . -
i–

Location. Depth. Strata penetrating. Water supply.
- I'ect
GºndiXQ ------------------------------------|....... Laramio or Fox Elills
Miles City (fourteen Wells).................. 180–550 | Laramio (?) . . . . . . . . . . .
Billings ------------------------------------. ,000 l------------------------ Not ſlowing.
Pozeman -----------------------------.. * * * * * | * * - - - - - - - I - - - - - - - - 4 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Helena ---------------- tº º dº e º e s = e s s a s - sº as a s • * * * 160 IRivor gravels......... 200 gallons pof minute.
Wells in the Dakotas.-The deep wells of the Dakotas, with exceptions
noted later, are situated in a belt ranging from Vermillion and Yankton
northward to Devil's Lake, and derive their water from the Dakota
Sandstone. The available data concerning these is given in the follow-
ing table :
Tem I?ressure | Elevation | Surface of
Locality. Depth. §ºf º per- | (per squaro (surface Dakota.
e e attlle inch). above Sea). (above sca).
I'ect Inchcs. o I'ah I’ownds. I'go?. I'ect
Vermillion ....... * * * * * * ~ * ~ * 950 --------|------------|--------|-----------. 1, 150 -----------.
Yankton --------- tº º ſº tº ºn tº a * * * 610 15 62 32 1, 196 616
9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 165 |--------|------------|---...--. 140 1, 196 |.----------.
Yankton vicinity ..... * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 15 --------------------|-----------. 1, 190 l.----------.
TVndall -------------------- 000 --------|------------|-------. 122 1,418 -----------.
itchell ------------------. 1,300 l--------|----- tº tº ºn a º ºs º T ~ * * * * * * * h = * * * * * * * * * * l, 30! -----------.
Plankinton-...-- * * * * * * * * * * * 1,500 --------|---------------..... 140 1, 528 |.-----------
Rimball--------------- “---| 1, 100 --------i------------|-------. 95 1,788 |------------
Chamberlain ---------------|--------|--------|------------|------...----------. l, 363 |. ----------.
Letcher -------------------. 000 --------|------------|--------|- • s • * * * * * * * * 1,300 || ----------.
Woonsocket---------------. 1, 300 |--------|------------|-------. 250 1, 308 |.----------.
Artesian City--------------|--------|--------|------------|-----...l............ 1, 313 |- - - - - - - - - - - -
ilas----------------------. * * * * * * * * : * ~ * - - - - - I - - - - - - - - - - - - I - - - - - - - - ) - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,480 - - - - - - - - tº ºn tº sº
Huron --------------------. 863 |..... --. Ö 60 17() 1, 285 422
Brookings.-- tº gº dº ſº ºn sº e º ºs º dº º ºs we ºn 900 • * * * - - - - I - - - - - - - - - - - - I - - - - - - I - - - - - - - - - - - - 1, 630 * - - - - - - - * * * *
Miller.--------------------- 1, 148 ||-------. 5 80 125 1, 587 4.38
Highmore----------- - - - ºn as tº me 1, 552 -------. {} 68 2.5 1,890 338
Harold • * * * * tº ºs º gº tº º & tº tº e - - - nº e a 1, 300 * * * * * * * * : * * * • * * * * * * * - I - - - - - - - - 80 1,801 • * * * * * * * ~ * ~ *
Hitchcock.------------ is * * * * 965 1. ------. 33–43 |. ------. 186-218 1, 189 |:-----------
Redfield.---. tº 8 s tº ºn tº * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * 1, 300 -----------.
Frankfort ------------------|-----... • * * | * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * : * * s as a s is a • * * * 1, 290 ------------
Faulkton------------------- 1, 800 --------|------------|--------|-----------. 1, 595 |.----------
Gettysburgh.--------------. 1, 800 --------|- tº ſº * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * 2,082 |-----------.
shton.-------------------. 915 1.------- 0. 55 50 1, 296 381
Andover. ------------ * * * * * * 1,070 -------- 4} 64 00 1,476 406
Groton --------------- * * * * * * 960 l.------- 5 1.----- - - 187 1, 301 341
Aberdeen ------------------ 008 || Many 51%. 60 140–100 1,300 306
Columbia ------------------ 965 -- - - - - - - 4. 60 176 1, 304 33ſ)
Inswich -------------------. 1, 270 - - - - - - - - 6 65 70 1, 530 260-300
Bllendalo. ------------------ 1,087 - - - - - - - - 4–5–6 ($5 125 1,453 366
Jamestown. ---------------- 1,476 2 6 70 05 1,400 50
Jamestown vicinity ........ 1, 321 |--------|------------|--------|-----------. --------|-----------.
Devil's Lake----------...-- 1,511 ||-------. 3% |--------|-- d as s = * * * * * * 1,470 39
Can be irri-
Artesian § gated #. di-
Locality. ( ..., º: i.º4 Character of Wator,
Sea.) º *: inches for 3
lit,0 miles.
Feet Galle Acres -
• Vermillion ---------|... --...--. 80 95 - - º ..
Yankton ----------. 1, 270 || 3,000 3, 570 | Slightly bard, drinkable, used in boilers.
Letcher ------------|---------. Largo. -------------.
Vilas...... * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * In process.
Huron ------------- 1,678 1,400 1,666 - *
Brookings.---------|---------- Notie -l, ------------- Said to end, in granite, Minnesota, Geological
- Survey thinks this doubtful.
Miller.------------- 1,876 | 1,000 1, 190 Excellent; good for all purposes.
Highmore.--------. 1, 948 14 16. 6 | Soft and of good quality.
Pierre.-------------|----------|--------|-------------- In process.
Hitchcock. ---------|---------- ... ....!--------------| Used for irrigation.



DEPTH, suPPLY, AND PRESSURE OF DAKOTA WELLS.
51

*
Can bo irri-
Artesian Yºº gated by di-
Localit joad -*PPº "rect ſiów, Character of water
Ocality. (above . allowing 4 g
Sea). ". inches ſor 3
* milles.
Faulkton. ----------|----------|------- 71 | Abandoned ; drilling another.
Ashton------------- 1,411 00 -------------.
Andover ----------. 1, (;84 300 357
Groton ------------- 1, 733 1. - - - - - - -}. gº ºr g, sº gº º sº tº sº tº sº a sº
Aberdeen ---------. 1,670 3, 500 4, 165
Columbia . --------. 1, 708 || 4,000 4, 760 | Soft.
Ipswich. ----------. l, 692 | . . . . . . . . . . . . . Soft (slightly brackish).
Ellendale ---------. l, 742 (.00 714 | Soſt ; not pleasant to the taste.
Jamestown. - - - - - - - - I, 690 375 446 Analysis given on pago 11.
Jamestown vicinity ----------|--...-----|- - - - - - - - ------ Abandoned.
Devil's Lake. ------ 1, 575 40 47
{
One hundred gallons per minute will give 4 inclies of water to 110.3 acres in three months.
The wells enumerated above derive their water from the Dakota sand-
stone. Those at Vermillion and Yankton were begun in the Fort Ben-
ton. The remainder were begun in the Fort Pierre and pass through
the Fort Benton.
Chemical composition.—The water in the Wells indicated in the above
table is generaliy brackish or alkaline, not therefore adapted for drink-
ing or culinary purposes, and objectionable for use in steam boilers on
account of the mineral salts deposited from it.
The water in the artesian well at Jamestown has been analyzed with
the following result:
|LIardness, 21 degrees.]

&
Parts per ºg
million. ..i.…"
gallon.
Test for organic matter:
Froo ammonia -------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = e s = as e 2.4 l------------
Albuminoid ammonia.----------------------------------------------------. .046 ,----- * * * * * *
Permanganato test: *
Oxygen consumed by carbonaceous oxygenic matter in three hours. . . . . . . . . 6, 7 l.-------- tº º sº.
Nitrates ------------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * None. ------------
Nitrates -------------------------------------------------------------------. Trace. I.------- * * * *
Silica --------------------------------------------------------------------------. 35, 7
Alumina -----------------------------------------------------------------------. 3, 5 2. 0823
Carbonate of iron --------------------------------------------------------------. 2. 2 . 2041
Carbonate of lime--------------------------------------------------------------- 188.0 . 1283
Sulphato of lime ---------------------------------------------------------------. 240. 0 10, 6743
Sulphate of magnesia.---------------------------------------------------------. 154, 2 14. 5241
Sulphate of sotta. ------------------------------------------------------ & sº * * * * * * * 1139. 4 8. 9044
Sulphate of potash.------------------------------------------------------------. 81.5 66. 3602
Chloride of sodium-------------------------------------------------------------. 369, 1 4, 7523
Phosphates ----------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * s a s = e, e s - - - - - s • s = * * * * ~ * n is ºn s sº a s. Trace 21, 5296
2222, 6 129. 2496
Professor Dodge, the chemist who made the analysis, states that in
his opinion this water would not be suitable for regular use as a drinking
Water. -
A qualitative analysis of the water in the well at Devil's Lake has
also been made by Professor Dodge, which shows that it is of about the
same composition as the Water in the Jamestown well. -
The following notes from report of Irrigation Committee, Vol. I, 1883,
in reference to the Water ſtom other Wells of the same class as those
just mentioned, is here inserted: *
Yankton-Water slightly hard; pleasant to the taste; is used in boilers and gives
good satisfaction.
Highmore.—Water very soft and of good quality.
52. IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Miller.—Water excellent and good for all purposes.
Ipswich.-Water very soft ; contains soda, potassium and allied salts ; tastes slightly
brackish. -
Columbia.--Water contains mineral properties; very soft.
Ellendale.—Water not pleasant to the taste; very soft.
These analyses and notes indicate that the water derived from the
Dakota Sandstone does not contain sufficient alkaline salts to be inju.
rious to Vegetation, especially in a region that has a rain-fall as great as
that of the eastern part of the Dakotas.
In various portions of the testimony before the Irrigation Commission,
the beneficial effects of irrigation with the water of Dakota Sandstone
Wells are mentioned.
The temperature of the water derived from these wells in general in-
º with the depth of the boring. This is shown in the following
table:

Tempera. Tempera-
"Well. Depth. ture. Well. Depth. “...i.
I'eet. O Fah. I'cct. OF'ah.
Highmore -------------------- ... 1,890 68 || Columbia --------------------. 1, 304 60
Miller-------------------------- 1, 587 80 || Aberdeen --------------------. 1, 300 60
Ipswich ------------------------ 1, 530 65 || Ashton------------------------ 1, 296 §5
Andover ----------------------- 1,476 04 || IIuron ------------------------ 1, 285 60
Iºllendale------------, ---------- 1, 453 65 || Yankton ---------------------. 1, 196 62
Jamestown -------------------- 1, 400 70
Pleistocene wells.-The wells which do not penetrate belów the drift
are situated in the Red River Valley, principally in the bed of Lake
Agassiz. The formation a few miles back from the river is glacial till,
nearer the river the till is overlain by lacustral salt. Fresh water is ob-
tained from the wells south of Blanchford, N. Dak., and Crookston, Minn.
Farther north their waters are almost invariably brackish and alkaline,
and not suitable for household use or drinking, although they are liked
by cattle and horses, and are not injurious for this purpose.
The wells in the Red River Valley number more than one thousand.
Of these about one-half are in North Dakota. They range in tempera-
ture from 460 to 500 Fah. in the south, to 420 Fah. at the north. The
available data concerning a few of those in North Dakota is here in-
serted: *

Location. Depth. Strata penetrated. Water supply.
Feet
Richland County:
Tarmington -------------------- 93
T)wight, vicinity (ten wells). --. as tº
Colfax.------------------------- 85
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 125
Do ----------------------- 128
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 135
Walcott. ----------------------- 110
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 120
Walcott, vicinity -------------- 104
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 131
Do ----------------------- 227
Cass County: *
Durbin -----------------------!-- 160 | | Thin alluvial and lacus-
Everest ------------------------ 160 ; *: i then the prin-
Argusville --------------------- 157 cipal thickness consists
g 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - #} .*.*. drift (till), in Fresh, copious.
Argusville, vicinity.----------- 130 which are water-bearing
Do ----------------------- 153 seams of sand and graveſ
Gardner.----------------------- 125
Gardner, vicinity, (many wells). 90–200
THE SOURCES OF THE ARTESIAN WELL WATERS. 53
Location. Depth. Strata penetrated. Water supply.
Cass County—Continued. Fº |
Grandin (within an area of 50 158
rods). 187
248
Traill County:
i uincy------------------------- 213
elso -------------------------- 109
Do ----------------------- 1 I 0
Kelso, vicinity.---------------- i;
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 175 e *
Blanchald (tcm wells) ---------. 175–404 || Partly in Cretacecus........ Brackish, copious.
Hillsboro ---------------------- 105
Do ----------------------- 125 |
Do ----------------------- 175 |
Do ----------------------- 198
Grand Forks County:
& Grand Forks ------------------. 265
Do ----------------------- 270
Manvel -----------------------. 166
Walsh 0 ----------------------- 175 Thin º i. lº.
alsh County: trine beds; below these a * &
Ardoch yas sº tº gº º we ºn tº g º ºs º gº tº º is tº e º º ºs pe 164 great thickness of glacial Alº
Minto -------------------------- is drift (iii), in which are? "...º.
Do ----------------------- 200 water-bearing seams of & gº
Grafton ------------------------ 156 sand and gravel.
Auburn ------------------------ 175
Pembina County:
St. Thomas ---------. * * * * * * * * * * * 175
Glasston ----------------------- 200
Hamilton ---------------------- 179
Bathgate ----------------------- 143
Bathgate, vicinity (eleven wells) 130–160
Neclie, vicinity ---------------- 220
The wells not ingluded in the classes already noted are as follows:

Location. Depth. Strata penetiated. Water sº per min-
I'eet. Gallons.
Grafton ---------------------------- 915 Passed through stratified | 1,000
$ rocks to granite.
Tower City ------------------------- 670 | Fort Pierre shales to Nio- 9s; rises 33 feet.
brara horizon. -
Casselton and vicinity ..... dº e s sº e s = * 317–350 Passca through the drift | Brackish alkaline, co-
ln to cretaceous rocks. pious.
A menia and vicinity --------------. 250–279 |. - - - - - do ---------------------- I)o.
Blancbard and vicinity (six wells). 300 ------ do ---------------------- I)o.
Mayville --------------------------- 395 | -- - - - - do ... -------------------- Do.
All of the wells enumerated in the last table, excepting the one at
Tower City, are situated in the Red River Valley, and passing through
the glacial drift enter older formations. *
The one at Grafton passes through the Cambrian and into the gran-
ites beneath. Water was first reached at the depth of 503 feet; 400
feet deeper and resting on granite, a second sandstone stratum was
reached which contained Saline water. The well was continued 12 feet
into the granite, but was subsequently filled so as to receive water only
from the first water-bearing strata reached.
The remainder of the wells in the Red RiverWalley which pass through
the drift are supposed to derive their supply from the middle portion of
the Cretaceous.
Sources of water supply.—The Source of the water in the wells which
do not pass through the drift, although indefinite and perhaps impos-
sible to determine accurately, owing to the irregular stratification of
the deposit, is certainly not distant, and depends on the rain-fall and
54 "IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
topographic configuration of the immediate region. It is possible, how-
eyer, that the salt wells in this region may be supplied from springs in
older rocks which are deeply drift-covered. The principles applicable
to Continuous Water-bearing strata included between impervious beds
and conducting Water from distant sources, can not be applied to wells
of this class. -
The wells which derive their supply from the Fort Pierre, Fort Ben-
ton, Dakota, and Cambrian formations, on the other hand, penetrate
evenly bedded strata, and depend for their supply on the hydrostatic
preSSure of Water derived from distant sources.
In order to determine the source of the water in these wells, one
must ascertain where the water-bearing strata out-crop at an elevation
Sufficient to insure a flow at the surface where the wells are situated.
The Cambrian and Silurian rocks underlying the eastern portion of
the Dakotas come to the surface in Minnesota and adjacent portions of
Canada. It is barely possible, as I have been informed by C. R. Wan
Hise, that these strata may derive their water from the eastern out-
Crops indicated. A general western inclination of these rocks from
their outcrops west and north of Lake Superior seems probable from
What is known concerning them, but the data in hand are not sufficient
to Warrant positive conclusions.
The eastern outcrop of the Cretaceous system coincides in North Da-
Rota with the eastern escarpments of the Coteau des Prairies along the
western border of the Red River Valley. Its western outcrop is along
the eastern bases of the various front ranges of the Rocky Mountains
and about the Black Hills.
The elevation of the region in which the wells penetrate the Dakota
sandstone in the eastern part of the Dakotas is from 1,000 to 1,900 feet
above the sea. The Water comes to the surface under a pressure of
from 15 to 187 pounds per square inch. The maximum is at Groton,
the altitude of which is 1,300 feet above the sea. The pressure in this
well is sufficient to raise the water 432 feet, and even if the loss of press-
ure by friction is not considered it is evident that the source of the Sup-
ply must have an altitude of at least 1,700 feet above the sea. The
pressure in other wells in the same series indicates a source of Supply
at an elevation of 1,950 feet. It is known from răilroad surveys and
other sources that there is no land to the south, east, or north of Groton
at a sufficient elevation to furnish water under the pressure given, even
if the water-bearing strata outcrop at the surface under the most favor-
able conditions. The eastern outcrop of the Dakota sandstone in South
Dakota and the adjacent portion of Nebraska has a maximum elevation
of about 1,500 feet. It seems evident, therefore, that we must look to
the west for the fountain:head of the wells which reach the Dakota
sandstone. The nearest outcrop of that formation at the west is about
the Black Hills at an elevation of approximately 3,300 feet above the
sea. It comes to the surface again still farther West, about the eastern
base of Big Horn Mountains, at an elevation of about 4,500 feet.
The general inclination of the Dakota sandstone and of the strata
which rest upon it is known to be eastward from the eastern base of
the Rocky Mountains, although a secondary structure producing anti-
clinals probably exists. From what is known of the succession of strata
in the eastern and western outcrop of the Cretaceous, and from the Sug-
gestion furnished by the high pressure of the water derived from the
lower member of the series in eastern Dakota, it seems exceedingly
probable that the Dakota sandstone forms a continuous stratum beneath
the Great Plains. If the water obtained from this stratum is derived
from the Rocky Mountain region as indicated by our present knowledge,
t
wATER-BEARING ROCKS AND STRATA of THE DAKOTAs. 55
it follows that success might be expected if wells were bored in the re-
gion between the Red River Valley and the eastern basin of the Rocky
Mountains.
The thickness of the Dakota sandstone as given by F. W. Hayden at its
outcrop about the Black Hills is 400 feet. At Lincoln, Nebr., as stated
by Professor Hicks, it is 204 feet. Along its outcrops it is a porous
sandstone sometimes passing into a conglomerate, and where it has been
penetrated by borings in the Dakotas it is very friable and open in
structure. Its thickness, porosity, and extent, as well as its attitude, so
far as is known are all in favor of its being an abundant source of arte-
sian Water. w
Thickness of strata above the Dalcota sandstone,—The formations which
occur in the general region under discussion, as given by F. W. Hayden,
are as follows: -
JName. Character of strata. Thickness.
Feet.
Loup River beds.........] Fine loose sand, with some layers of limestone -------------. 300–400
White River group -----. White and light drab clays, with some cavities of sandstone 1,000
and local layers of limestone.
Wind River deposits ----| Exposed principally in Nebraska.--------...------------. ... 1, 500–2, 000
“Fort Union,” Laramie. - Sandstone with shale ---------------------------------------- 2,000–10,000
Box Hill. ---------------. Gº ferruginous and yellow sandstone and arenaceous 500
C1%l W. S. -
Fort Pierre.------------. D.' gray plastic clays above; dark beds of very fine 700
unctuous clay, containing much carbonaceous matter with
veins and seams of gypsum, etc., below.
Niobrara ---------------. Lead gray calcareous marls above; light yellowish and 200
whitish limestones below.
Fort Benton ------------- Dark gray laminated clays, sometimes alternating near the '800
upper part with layers of light gray limestone. º
Dakota -----------------. Yellowish, reddish, and occasionally white sandstone, with 400
alternations of various colored clays and beds of lignite.
The surface throughout the region occupied by the Dakotas has
been greatly eroded and it is not probable that the entire series as
given above anywhere exists. It is to be expected also that the strata
above the Dakota sandstone may be found of variable thickness and
lithological character. These considerations as well as the secondary
structuré of the Great Plains would have to be investigated in order to
predict for any locality at what depth the water-boring strata might be
reached. Some of the Wells in eastern Dakota derive their water sup-
ply from middle Cretaceous. The conditions to the west of where these
Wells are located seem equally favorable for obtaining flowing water
from this horizon. It is to be expected, however, that water derived
from these strata would be less pure than from the Dakota sandstone
and consequently of doubtful value for irrigation. The Laramie may
also be expected to yield artesian water.
Beneath the Dakota along the Western outcrops there are shales and
other impervious strata belonging to the Triassic system. It is to be
expected that these coarse Triassic beds will carry water, but the great
depth at which they occur underneath the Great Plains probably ren.
ders their consideration as a source of water supply necessary; besides,
the Triassic strata are so highly charged with easily soluble salts that
Water derived from them would be too alkaline and saline for irrigation
or domestic use.
NEDRASIKA,
The geological formations of this State comprise the Upper Coal
Measures, and possible Permian; the Cretaceous, but including only
the Dakota, Fort Benton, Niobrara, and Fort Pierre, and the White
River Tertiary of Hayden.
56 . IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Lithological composition.—The component beds of the Coal Measures
are shales, limestones, and sandstones, in alternating bands; the lime-
Stones of greater or less thickness form a prominent feature of the out-
Crops along the Missouri and in the numerous railroad and water cuts
leading to this river.
The Cretaceous formations present the following composition: The
Dakota, from 300 to 400 feet of a soft, loose textured, white sandstone,
separated by narrow beds of shale into bands of from 50 to 80 feet; its
width of outcrop in Nebraska is about 60 miles. The Fort Benton, a
Series of dark black or bluish gray, compact, argillaceous, shales, with
a few narrow limestone bands; in thickness between 300 and 800 feet,
but probably nearer the former figure in Nebraska. The Niobrara, be.
tween 200 and 400 feet in thickness, composed of shales and limestones,
the latter a most prominent feature of the formation, and in Dakota,
Nebraska, and Kansas of a decidedly chalky nature rather than that of ,
a massive, hard limestone, as along the foot-hills of the Rocky Mount-
ains. The Fort Pierre, essentially a formation of light gray, plastic,
clay shales, of variable thickness in Nebraska, owing to its deposition
in undulations of the Niobrara below, and to erosion from its summit
prior to the laying down of the White River Tertiary above.
The White Tiver Tertiary is a formation of sandstones, conglomer-
ates, and interbedded shales. It is the surface formation of western
Nebraska and southwestern Dakota, where it rarely shows a thickness
of over 400 or 500 feet.
A real distribution.—The areal lines of division between the Tertiary,
Cretaceous, and Carboniferous ages are clearly defined. That between
the Cretaceous and Coal Measures, which also constitute the eastern
limit of the Dakota formation in Nebraska, crosses the Missouri River a
short distance below Dakota City, follows down the west side of the river
a few miles inward from its bluffs to a point on the Platte about 8 miles
above its mouth, when it inclines to the southwestward, passes through
Cass, Otoe, Johnson, and Gage Counties, and joins the eastern bound-
ary assigned the formation in Marshall County, Kans. The line of
division between the Cretaceous and Tertiary crosses the northern bound-
ary of the State in longitude 100, the southern in 99, and within these .
limits has a broad convexity to the east, crossing the Platte a little to
the east of the ninety-eighth meridian; with the exception of a Small
area of erosion on the upper Republican, in which the Pierre Shales are
exposed, the entire State west of this line is occupied Superficially by
the White River Miocene. ,
Non-conformities exist both above and below the Cretaceous, the Da-
kota resting in uneven lineupon the Coal Measures or Permian, the White
River upon the greatly eroded surface of the Pierre; furthermore, here
as elsewhere there also exists abundant evidence of a prominent break
in the continuity of deposition between the Niobrara and Fort Pierre
formations, within the Cretaceous itself. y
Geological structure.—The geological structure of Nebraska is that of
gently inclined strata, having a general dip to the eastward somewhat
less than the slope of the surface, with a slight “basining up’ of the
formations in the eastern part of the State, the dip there being to the
northwest in continuation of that of the corresponding beds in Dakota
and Kansas.
The following altitudes in Nebraska, which are of use in connection
with the geological structure, are from Aughey's “Physical Geography
and Geology of Nebraska” and Gannett’s “Dictionary of Altitudes in
the United States.”
THE WELLS AND WATER STRATAS OF NEBRASKA. 57

* Locality. Altitude. Remarks.
I'eet,
Scott's Bluffs, on State line. ---------------------------------- 6,051 ||
Niobrara River, southeast of Fort Robinson.--------------... 4, 118
Indian Creek, northwest corner of State ..... :--------------- 4, 0.13 ©
Port Robinson, 103° 30' meridian. --- . . . . . . . . . . .--------------. 3,781 | X Northern line of State.
Mouth of Snake Rivor, one hundred and first meridian - - - - - - 2, 690 |
Mouth of ICeya Paha, ninety-ninth meridian ---...----------- 1,900
Niobrara, ninety-eighth meridian. :--------------------------- 1, 240 J
Pine Bluffs, one hundred and fourth meridian.... --...--------. 5,061
Sidney, one hundred and third meridian.-----...------------. 4,095 In tho southern half of
Ogallala, ono hundred and second meridian . -----...--------- 3,210 State.
IKoarney, ninety-ninth meridian ------------------------------ 2, 157
Average of five, on ninety-seventh meridian ..... ------------ 1, 203 || Northern to southern bound-
ary.
w
Central City, the lowest point on the eastern line of the Tertiary, has
an altitude of 1,708 feet. The eastern boundary of the Cretaceous will
lie between 1,000 and 1,200 feet, a fall of at least 3,000 feet from the
western line of the State.
Artesian wells.—Nebraska has apparently been but slightly explored
with reference to the possibility of artesian wells. Record has been
found of but four, one at St. Helena, a short distance below Yankton;
one at Omaha; one at Lincoln, a mineral water; and one at Brownville,
in Nemaha County, in the southeastern part of the State.
That at St. Eſelena derives its waters from the Dakota sandstones, at
a depth of 400 feet, and in reality belongs to the system of South Dakota.
The flow is copious. e
The wells at Omaha, 750 feet, Lincoln, 985, and Brownville, 1,001 feet,
derive their water from various strata in the Coal Measures. Of these
the well at Omaha affords pure, fresh water. The Lincoln well yielded
fresh water (not artesian) at a depth of 100 feet; a strong brine at 244
feet, the base of the Dakota, and medicinal water at 544 feet. The
last is the water used. The flow is strong. Of the Brownville well no
record of its water can be found.
From the above facts it is observed that the great water-bearing
formation of the eastern part of the prairie region has been tapped at
but one advantageous point in Nebraska, at St. Helena. Although the
geological structure of Nebraska does not afford the confining beds of
granite, quartzite, etc., to the easterm rim of the Dakota formation as
it does in the Dakotas, nevertheless it is reasonable to presume from
the success attending boring in the State of Kansas to the south, where
the conditions are approximately the same as in Nebraska, that water
may be obtained at numerous points over this belt; furthermore it is
not impossible that the Tertiary beds themselves may afford flows at
advantageous points within the area covered by them.
Tabular statement relating to the artesian wells of Nebraska.

Geological horizon. Location. Depth. Delivery. Temarks.
Feet.
Dakota -------, ---. St. Helena, Cedar County ... 466 | Copious...} Pure.
( Omaha, Douglas County - - - 750 | Good.----- DO.
|Lincoln Lancaster County. 985 Copious...] (1) Drine #. 244' (Dakota),
e cased off. Mineral from
Carboniferous...... º 544 Carboniferous.
Brownvillo, Nemaha County 1, 001 ............ (2) No other data ..... tº º is º º tº º
Deatriou, Gago County..... 1, 200 ------------ (3) No flow.
58 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
*
ICANSAS.
The geological formations included within the area of Kansas comprise
the Subcarboniferous, the Coal Measures, the Upper Carboniferous and
Permian, the Trias, the Cretaceous, including, however, only the Dakota,
Fort Benton, and Niobrara, and a Tertiary formation, probably Mio-
Cell (2.
Lithological composition.—The Subcarboniferous is recognized in the
well-known Subcarboniferous limestone, and occurs only in the very
Southeastern corner of the State.
The Coal Measures, Upper Carboniferous, and Permian are an alterna-
tion of sandstones, limestones, and shales. In the Coal Measures the
shales are often locally developed to great thickness; the limestones are
very persistent, and the sandstones are rather subordinate. In the
higher formations the sandstones become more prominent. The thick-
ness of the Coal Measures is at least 1,000 feet, while the Permian and
Upper Carboniferous comprise about 2,000 feet.
The Triassic shales, limestones, and “Ted Beds” (shales with narrow
sandstone bands), of a variable thickness up to 300 feet, succeed the
Permian and Carboniferous rocks. It is probable that this formation is
wanting in the northern portion of the State towards the Nebraska
line. -
The Dakota formation, as in Nebraska, is largely composed of sand-
stone, but with a somewhat greater development of shales; it varies in
thickness between 300 and 500 feet.
The Fort Benton ranges in thickness from 50 to 260 feet—a wide va-
riation—and in its component beds departs a little from the normal
composition further north. According to Professor Mudge its upper 60
feet is a bed of limestone, in layers from 1 to 3 feet thick, underlain by
60 feet of bluish-black shale aboundiug in concretions of a calcareous
nature, this series underlain in turn by 140 feet more of shales, some-
what variable in composition and with several narrow bands of lime.
stone distributed through them.
The Niobrara is of nearly its usual character, but is rather more
chalky in appearance. Its thickness in Kansas varies from 75 to 200
feet.
The maximum thickness of the Cretaceous in Kansas is estimated by
Professor Mudge to be about 900 feet. The basal member, the Dakota,
rests unconformably upon the Carboniferous below.
The Tertiary of Kansas consists of cemented coarse-grits and sand-
stones. Its age is regarded by Robert Hay as Miocene. It is every-
where unconformable with the Cretaceous.
A real distribution.—The areas covered by the several formations of
Ransas are: for the Trias, Permian, and Carboniferous the Southeastern
third of the State; for the Cretaceous, a broad median belt lying in a
northeast-southwest direction; for the Tertiary, the northwestern fifth
of tho State, together with a small extension from Colorado into its
Southwestern Corner.
The line of division between the Cretaceous (Dakota) and the forma-
tions below starts at the Nebraska line, in Marshall County, follows a
somewhat irregular line through Washington, Clay, Dickinson, Morris,
Marion, McPherson, Rice, Reno, Pratt, Comanche, and Clarke Coun-
ties, where it crosses the southern boundary of the State. Its western
boundary, or the line between it and the Tertiary, starts in Jewell or
Phillips Counties, and passes with irregular trend west-southwestward,
leaving the western boundary of the State a short distance north of
the Arkansas River,
KANSAS GEOLOGY AND ITS ARTESIAN WELLS. 39
Of the Cretaceous formations the Dakota occupies a belt along the
eastern border of about 50 miles' width, the remainder being occupied
by the Fort Benton and Niobrara, but largely by the latter.
The geological structure.—Although both the Carboniferous beds and
the eastern half of the Cretaceous exposures have a gentle dip to the
westward, there is nevertheless a general rise of the beds to the West-
ward, especially well brought out in the Cretaceous series itself by the
exposure of its several members along the Western border of the State.
This rise, so far as the Cretaceous is concerned, amounts, according to
O. St. John, to from 1,100 to 1,700 feet, the altitude of its exposures in
Hamilton County being in the vicinity of 3,150. There is, therefore, as
in Nebraska, a general eastward fall of the water-bearing beds, with a
in slight though pronounced “basining up’ to the eastward, with the
axis in the region of Larned, extending northeast and South West.
Artesian wells.—The artesian wells of Kansas derive their waters
from four different formations: The Miocene, Dakota, Trias, and Car-
boniferous. Of these the Miocene wells—with two possible exceptions
in Norton and Sheridan Counties in the northwestern part of the State
—are at present confined to Meade County on its southern boundary;
the Trias wells occur, one at Richfield in Morton County, and one at
Larned in Pawnee; the Carboniferous, one at Russell, Russell County,
and one at Winfield, Cowley County, while the remaining or Dakota
wells are distributed over the Cretaceous belt from near the Nebraska
line to that of the Indian Territory.
The Miocene wells of southwestern Kansas have their source in the
Miocene grits and sandstones already mentioned as present in this por-
tion of the State. These coarse, arenaceous, and pebbly beds are cov-
ered by a soft, bluish, putty-like clay or gumbo, which forms the sub-
soil of the region, is thoroughly impervious, and is the effective confin-
ing stratum for the waters beneath. The gravelly beds receive their
waters at their outcrops in the very western part of the State and in
Colorado into which they extend. The wells number about sixty or
seventy and vary in depth from 50 to 185 feet. A number of them
flow from 18 to 36 gallons per minute, and a still greater number flow
only from 1 to 6 gallons. None of them are strong wells, though the
Water of some of the lower ones will rise from 15 to 20 feet above the
surface. Concerning the Wells in Norton and Sheridan Counties noth-
ing of detail is known.
The wells of the Trias, at Richfield and Larned, derive their waters
respectively from depths of 570 and 750 feet. The Richfield well yields
6.3 gallons per minute, but is somewhat mineralized. The Larned
well flows over 250 gallons per minute, and rises as a fountain between
10 and 15 feet. Its waters are a strong brine with medicinal properties.
Of the Carboniferous wells, that at Russell is 977 feet deep, the one
at Winfield 1,200 feet; both have good flows, but are strongly saline.
The Cretaceous wells of Hamilton County are the only ones of which
detailed data exist. They are numerous, range from 200 to 300 feet in
depth, and flow from 45 to 100 gallons per minute. Some of them are
used for irrigation purposes. The well at Great Bend is 1,400 feet deep,
but receives its waters, which are saline, from the Dakota sandstone at
|al º of 344 feet. It has a strong flow, which rises 30 feet above the
Sll I’I31C0.
From the geological structure of Kansas and the results of borings
in other States it is quite possible that the Coal Measures may be found
productive of artesian Waters whenever attempts with this special
dbject in view shall be made.
60
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARII) LANDs.
Tabular statement relating to the artesian wells of Kansas.



$4
Qly
* ſº
º te 3 -
No. Geological hori- Location. ,3 ; § à Temarks.
-º- ;3 | P: 3
à || 3 | #5
P Ö F.
I'eet. Im. || Galls
1 | Tertiary...----- Edward's well, Meade Co. 155 ....] 36.00 | Puro.
2 ----do -----------|------ O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 165 |.... 32.4 Do.
3 ----do -----------|------ 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 185 . . . .] 29, 6 Do.
4 |----do ----------- Mart's well, Meade Co. --. 140 - - - - | 66.6 Do.
e e r:
5 (.---do ----------- Bower's well, Meade, C22- # ----| 3.3 } Pºiº †: tº:
6 ----do ----------- Norman's well, Meade Co. 127 37, 3 ture Meade Co. Wolls 600 F.
7 l.---do ----------- Cox well, Meade County.. 175 9 Pure.
8 ----do ----------------- do ------------------- 142 [... 9 DO.
9–681. -- do ----------. 60 other wells, Meado Co.. 50–175 . . . . . 1–30 Do.
69 | Tertiary 3-...----. Norton, Norton County---|-------. |. • * * I e - a mº e - - A {N} data; may be Dalkota;
70 ----do ----------. Hoxie, Sheridan County..]- - - - - - - -]. * * * * * * * * * * * * depends on depth, -
71 Dakota ---...--- Smith Centre, Smith Co --|--------|. * * * r * * * * * * * * No data; may be Tertiary;
- depends on depth.
72 I.---do ----------- Great Spirit Spring, ....----|. '- - - - - - - - - - - Natural artesian flow.
Mitchell County.
73 ||----do ...........] Miltonvale, Cloud County-|-------. • * e i = - e, as a dº a sº No data as to water.
74 ----do ----------- Wa Keeney, Trego Co....!-------...}. • * * : * * * * * * * * Do.
75 ----do ----------- Hays City, Ellis County...|..... . . . . - * s - - - e - - - a Do.
76 ----do ----------- Great Bend, Barton Co . . . 344 - - - 6.75 | Saline; well bored to 1,400
feet, but water from 344
feet; rises 30 feet above
surface. -
77 ---. do ------ z----| ICinsley, Edwards County. -------. * * * : * * * * * * * * No data as to Water.
78 ----do ----------. Dodge City, Ford County. --------|. * * * : * * * * * * * * IDO.
79 ----do ----------- Santa Fé, Haskell County.[...----. • * * * * * * * * * * * Do.
80 l.---do ----------- Ulysses, Grant County - - - - - - - - - --|-- * * : * - * * * - - * I}o. se
81 ----do ----------- Opera House, Coolidge, 239 45 Pure; water rises 15–20 foet
Eſamilton County. above surface; now choked
owing to opera-house fire.
Temperature 619 F.
82 I.---do ----------, Peck’s well, Coolidge, 298 || 6 || 100 Pure and medicinal; water
Hamilton County. rises 15–20 feet above sur-
face; medicinal properties
slight. Temperature 619 F.
83 1. ---do ----------- Border's well, near Cool- 200 | . . . .] 8 Pure; water rises 15-20 feet
idge, Bamilton County. above surface; used for ir-
rigation. Temperature 61°
F.
84 ----do ----------- Burt's well, near Coolidge, 275 | . . . . 35 Do.
Hamilton County. -
85 |. ---do ----------- Nolan's well, near Cool- 240 l. - ..] 53 T}o.
idge, Hamilton County.
80 l. ---do ----------- Rich's well, near Coolidge, 240 50 Do.
JIamilton County. •
87 ----do ----------. Syracuse, Hamilton Co. --| 1,000 ----|---...--. Water rose only to 90 feet be-
low surface.
88 1. ---do ----------. Ashland, Clark County...|- - - - - --. • * * * * * * * * * * * No data as to water. .
89 | Triassic ..... --. Richfield, Morton County. 600 . . 6.3 | Pure and medicinal; mineral-
ization slight. Tempora-.
ture 660 IT. Dakota fur-
Lisbed no flow; penetrated
Trias 265 feet; water from.
S § * dicinal t
gº tº e º ºs e - Lar Pawnee County. . 750 . . . . . 250 alimo and medicinal.; Water
90 l. ---do ... •. ned, y spouts 10–15 feet high Tem-
- S (31'ature º *; - -
arboniferous ..] Russell, Russell County - - 977 |.... Good... Saline; may be Triassic.
§ c . º • * * * * * - as as * * Winfield, Cowley §. 1, 200 ----|--do - - - sº rises 6 feet abovo Sur-
tlC6).
TEXAS.
The geological formations of Texas involved in the areas of artesian
wells include the Coal Measures, the Cretaceous, and the Tertiary.
Lithological composition.—The Coal Measures consist principally Of
limestone, sandstone, millstone-grit, and shale. º
sandstones exist in about equal proportions and constitute the chief
part of the formation.
The limestones and
The sandstone is both massive and thin bedded,
is fine grained or course, passes intô grit, or conglomerate, and exhibits
****
THE ARTESIAN WATERS IN TEXAS. 61
every degree of hardness. It is interbedded with shales in successive
strata reaching 100 feet in thickness.
The Cretaceous of Texas differs considerably from that at the north.
According to Shumard it consists of an upper and lower member. The
former consists of limestone and sandstone, in Southern Texas the lime-
stone predominating, but being largely replaced by Sandstone in north-
ern Texas, the limestone here occurring in thin bands separating the
heavier beds of sandstones.
The Lower Cretaceous is composed chiefly of marly clays With Some
limestone, sandstone, and gypsum. The clays and sandstones occur in
alternating beds of variable thickness. The sandstone is fine-grained
to coarse, thinly laminated, is often calcareous, and usually quite soft.
Both Upper and Lower Cretaceous vary greatly in thickness, the
former reaching a maximum of 1,000 feet on the San Pedro River, the
latter 2,500 on the upper Red River.
The Tertiary formation to be considered in this connection occurs as
a bed of soft, white sandstone 200 feet thick, known as the Carrizo
sandstone. It rests unconformably on the Cretaceous, as does the Cre-
taceous upon the Coal Measures.
Areal distribution.—The Coal Measures, not less than 2,000 feet thick,
are confined to the northern half of the State. They are overlaid by a
narrow belt of Permian on their west, the area of the two being inclosed
on the east, south, and west sides by the various strata of the Creta-
ceous, chiefly those of the lower division. The western boundary of the
Permo-Carboniferous formation passes through Baylor, Throckmorton,
Jones, Taylor, Runnells, Concho, and Menard Counties, the eastern
through Montague, Palo, Pinto, and Lampasas Counties.
The Cretaceous series as a whole is of wide extent, the portion west
of the Carboniferous area reaching far beyond the Western boundary of
the State into New Mexico. The prevailing dip of the Cretaceous and
Carboniferous formations from near the eastern edge of the latter west-
ward is to the northwest; east of this point it is to the eastward.
The extent of the Carrizo Sandstone is at present unknown. Its
western boundary has been traced for a distance of about 100 miles,
from near the town of Uvalde, southward to the Rio Grande River. Its
dip is to the southeastward.
Artesian wells.-The artesian wells of Texas derive their waters from
the sandstones of the Coal Measures, from those of the Cretaceous, and
from the Carrizo sandstone of the Tertiary. -
Of the depth or flow of the wells within the limit of the Coal Measures
nothing is at present known, but it is probably somewhat variable from
the very nature of their component strata.
Of the depth or flow of the greater number of the Cretaceous wells
likewise nothing is known. ... In the southern part of the State, however,
existing data enable the following statement:
The wells of San Antonio, two in number, 225 feet and 450 feet in
depth, probably both derive their waters from the lower portion of the
Cretaceous, though it is possible the deeper one, to the east of the city,
may find its supply in the Coal Measures. The former of the two wells
affords an excellent drinking water and has a steady, though not strong,
flow; the latter has also a steady flow, stronger than that of the shal.
lower well, and its waters, although used for ordinary drinking pur.
poses, have medicinal properties that may render them of special value
in the future.
The Cotulla well, 1,008 feet deep, is also probably of lower Cretaceous
origin, though it may extend a short distance into the Carboniferous;
its Waters have a strong flow and are of Superior medicinal properties.
62
IRIRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS. -
In the northern portion of the State, the wells of Fort Worth and
Dallas derive their waters from the basal sandstones of the Cretaceous,
at a depth of 350 and 750 feet, respectively. The dip is to the eastward.
In this Section the upper confining stratum is apparently the limestones
of the chalk formation (Niobrara?). -
The Tertiary well at Carrizo Springs penetrates the Carrizo saud-
Stone to a depth of 175 feet, and has an excellent flow of fresh water
four inches in diameter.
Tabular statement relating to the artesian wells of Texas.


Remarks.
| *
- g º * $–
No. Geologº hori. Location. 5 || 3 || $:
& ſº : :-
© cº QX
Q O Q
e Feet. Im.
1 | Tertiary. --...--. Carrizo Springs, Dimmit 175 || 4 || Good .
County.
2 || Lower Cretace- | Cotulla, Ila Salle County...| 1,008 |....|..do ...
ous (probably
Dakota).
3 |. 0 - - - - - - - - - - - San Antonio, Bexar Co - .. 225 |....l.. do .
4 |----do ------ .....] San Antonio (near), Bexar 450 |. ---|--do -
County.
5 -do ----------. Dallas, fallas County .... 750 ... do
6 --- do ----------. Fort Worth, Tarrant Co.. 350 . . . . . . . do .
7 ----do ----------. Weatherford, Parker Co..|........ [.. sº a dº tº ºn an º ºs = -
8 ----do --------- ... Canadian, Hemphill Co...]. -------|. * * * 1 s ºr * * * * * *
9 |----do ----------- Tascosa, Oldham County..........|.. * - I tº gº ºn e º ºs & tº
10 l----do ----------. Armstrong, Armstrong Co.). -------|--|--|--------
11 ----do ----------. iMobeefie. Wheeler County ........ſ. ºr ºf ſº I sº ºr ºr * * * *
12 -do ----------- Clarendon, Donley County ........ * * * * | * * * * * * * >
13 ----do ----------- Childress County...... ---|-----...}. sº tº a s m a. º. ºº tº º º
14 1----do ----------- Cottle County ........ me ºn tº ºn I e º e s as is º e i sº s = - I e s as ſº dº tº as
15 .do ----------- Floyd County ------------|--------|- * * * : * * * * * * * *
10 !----do ----------, Margaret, Hardman Co...]. ----...}. * * * * * * * - & ſº dº -
17 -do ----------- Crosby County -------...---|--------|- * - * 1 sº º sº - º & º -
18 ----do ----------. Pepper's Ranch, ICent Co.)........ * * * | * * * * * * * *
19 |. ---do ----------. Baskell, Haskell County..........]. * * * i e º º º sº e º a
20 --do ----------. Anson, Jones County ----|--------|----|-------.
21 --, -do ----------. Roby, Fisher County -....]........!. * - * 1 s º ºx - s e º e
22 -do ----------- Snyder, Scurry County---|--------|-- * * : * * * * g º ºs a
23 -do ----------. Dawson County ----------|--------|. * * * * * * - we gº tº gº -
24 |. --- do ----------. Trent, Taylor County . . . . . -------|.. * * * * * * * * * * *
25 -do ----------- Sweetwater, Nolan County [........ [. * * * * * * * ~ e º ºr a
26 -do ----------. Colorado, Mitchell County |...... --|-- • * r * * * * * * * *
27 ----do ----------. Big Springs, IIoward Co..]........ * * * : * * * * * * * *
28 -do ----------. Mariënfold, Martin Co. --.]........]. as a • i s tº - as sº tº e e
20 .do ----------. Midland, Midland County.[........]. * * * * * * * * * * * *
36) .do ----------. Glasscock County --------|---.....!. * * * I e º e º e & ºr -
31 -do ----------- Coke County ...-----------|---- * * * * : * * * * | * * * * * * *
32 ----do ---------. San Angelo, Tom Greon |.-------|----|------..
County.
33 |....do ...........! Centralia, Tom Green Co...!--------|--|--|------- e
84 || ---do ----------. A roya, Ward County ..... [........|. * * * h is tº e ºs e tº º e
35 l----do ----------. Toyah, Reeves County ---|-------. * * * | * * * * * * * º
36 ----do ----------. Wild Horse, El Paso Čo --|........|. * - e i is ºn e º e º a •
37 | Carboniferous ... Wichita Falls, Wichita |........ . * * * r * * * * * * * *
County.
38 1. ---do ----------. Archer, Archer County ...}........}. * * * : * * * * * * * *
39 |.... do .........., | Henrietta, Clay County---|--------|. * * * h as s = * * * * *
40 .do ----------. Montague, Montague Co...!.-----.. * * - e ] sº ºn º º us ºn as º
41 ----do ----------. Throckmorton, Throck- |--------|----|-------.
morton County.
42 1. ... do ----------. Jacksborough, Jack Co...]........). as a e i s sº * * *s tº dº tº
43 |.... do . . . . . 4 * * * * * IPalo Pinto, Şalo Pinto Co. [........I. sº as s i s sº e º ºs e - e.
44 ----do -----------|-----. do -------------------|--------|- * * * : * * * * * * * *
45 do ----------- Albany, Shackleford Co...|........]. * * * r s ºr e º sº gº º º
46 ----do ----------. Abilene, Taylor County. . . . ... ----|- * * * 1 s is sº us is tº º º
47 l. ---do ----------- Tebo, Taylor County.----. |........ [. * * * I s we tº se sº tº e o
48 do ----------. Baird, Callahan County. ... [........|. * * g I a tº - ºn tº ºn ºn -
49 |....do ----------. Eastland, Eastland Co....]........}. * * * : * * * * tº tº ~ *
50 ---. do ----------. Eastland County.---------|--------|. * * * | * * * * * * * *
51 --- do -----------|------ do ... ---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * | * * * * | * * * * * * * *
52 ----do ----------. Stephenville, Erath Co....] ..... -- * * * i s is tº as e s - e.
53 --- do ----------- Comanche, Comanche Co..]........]. * * * : * * * * * * * *
54 -do ----------- Coleman, Coleman Co----.]-..... --|-- - a | * * * * * * * -
55 1. ---do -----------|------ *10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I - - - - - - - - - • sº I a sº sº gº e º 'º -
56 -- do - .--------. Runnells, Runnells Co . . . . . . f......|. * * * r * * * * * * * *
57 ----do ----------. San Saba, San Saba Co............|. * * * * * * * * sº tº e º
Pure.
Medicinal; jets abovo surface
6 ft. ; water alkaline-saline.
Temperature 860 Fah.
- Pure. º
-| Pure and medicinal; could be
used for medicinal purposes.
- | Puro.
Do.
No data as to water.
Power, L’s STATEMENT. - . 63
In the hasty review which has thus been made of the various drain-
age basins of the arid region, I have pointed out that there are a num-
ber of international questions involved in the use of the rivers for irri-
gation. One of these questions you have already had presented to you,
namely, that of the Rio Grande Del Norte, where the rights of the peo.
ple of the IRepublic of Mexico as well as the rights of the people of Texas
are threatened and almost destroyed by the people of Colorado and New
Mexico. Already claim has been made for more than $1,000,000 by the
people of the lower country to re-imburse them for their lost values, or
to restore to them by some means the volume of Water necessary to
carry on their long-established industries of agriculture. Ultimately
the problem on the Colorado will be of far greater magnitude. The Colo-.
rado itself can be used in our territory, or in Mexican territory, and
can be made to irrigate in one or the other country, or in both, many
millions of acres. Above, it is in the United States; behow, it is in
Mexico. Who shall divide the waters between the two nations 2 On
our northern boundary line similar questions are asked. The Columbia
and some of its tributaries, some of the tributaries of the Missouri, and
others of the Saskatchewan running northward, cross the boundary
line, so that their waters must be divided between the two nations.
Altogether the problem of the utilization of the rivers for irrigation in
the western half of the United States presents international questions,
that must ultimately be settled, far exceeding in importance and in
values those that relate to fisheries, or any other international subject
affecting the industries of the country. In some localities the questions
press for solution now; in others they will arise in the immediate future,
and must be solved if peace is maintained.
The international problems sink into insignificance in comparison with
the interstate problems. Every great river and every great tributary
of the entire arid region and of the subhumid region, or more than
one-half of the area of the United States, exclusive of Alaska, runs
through two or more States and Territories. In a few cases they are
boundary lines, in others they head in one political division and run
through another. In all these cases the Waters must be divided on
some equitable and wise principle. In general the headwater States
and Territories have it in their power to control the situation. They
can take the water and laugh at the rights of the people lower down
the rivers. The North Platte is to be divided between Wyoming and
Nebraska; the South Platte between Colorado and Nebraska; the
Arkansas between Colorado and Kansas; the Canadian River between
New Mexico and the Indian Territory; the Pecos between New Mexico
and Texas; the Rio Grande del Norte between Colorado, New Mexico,
Texas, and the Republic of Mexico; the Colorado between Wyoming,
Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and California.
All the principal rivers of Nevada head in California. The Bear
River is to be divided between Wyoming, Idaho, and Utah; the Snake
is to be divided between Wyoming, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington;
the Columbia is to be divided between Montana, British America, and
Washington; the Missouri and its tributaries are to be divided between
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and perhaps Nebraska. In
this enumeration I have only taken up the more important streams and
have omitted many minor ones that involve severally great interests.
Many of these in single cases will involve values of one to five millions
of dollars. It is Safe to say that the distribution of industries between
the States through a division of the waters to be used in irrigation in-
volves industries now established or to be developed of not less than
(34 IRRIGATION AND RIECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
$1,000,000,000. These problems are already pending in many places to
the extent of many millions of dollars and they must all be solved in
the immediate future if peace is to be maintained.
The history of interstate feuds in the United States relating to the
boundary lines and fishing interests in dividing waters is replete with
lessons showing that even such small interests kindle animosities and
create difficulties of serious importance. Shall State arm against State
over disputed questions relating to the use of water? Will it not be
an act of wisdom to settle these disputes in their incipiency before the
passions of the people are inflamed and before rights and interests are
established. If neglected it will result in the establishment of agri-
cultural industries in various regions that must inevitably be destroyed.
The development of these industries, the growth of vast interests,
is now in progress, and the people in many districts are already piling
up claims against the Government of the United States which will ulti-
mately amount to Vast sums; and if it shall continue for twenty years
more as it has progressed for the past five years, claims against the
Government will be pressed involving many hundreds of millions of
dollars; and if such claims are rejected, hundreds of thousands of
people will have their industries destroyed, and will be left in abject
poverty to abandon their homes and fields and to migrate to new re-
glonS.
Again, if the development of the country is to go on in the present
method. without regulation and without prevision, agriculture will
largely be driven to the mountains, about the sources of the great
rivers which ought to be used in the valieys below. If, on the other
hand, the right to take out the waters above is overthrown, through
the courts and through legislation, and the right to the flow of the
stream at the lowest points in the valley where irrigation is necessary
is established, the waste of water will be enormous, and not one-fifth,
and perhaps not one-tenth, of the possible area of agriculture will be
realized. For the ultimate prosperity of the agriculture of those lands,
and for the avoidance of conflict, it is necessary that the Waters of the
entire arid region be divided and relegated by drainage districts to the
best lands, in such a manner that the people of each district will know
what lands can ultimately be irrigated and what waters can ultimately
be utilized; and it is possible by some simple measures of prevision to
anticipate nearly all of the difficulties which I have pointed out, in so
brief and imperfect a manner, and have them all solved in advance of
dense settlement. I have already alluded to the improvident and Ob-
structive rights which are being established along the course of many
streams—rights which must ultimately be extinguished, and Some of
which are now in process of extinguishment. A proper administration
of this trust, this heritage of wealth and homes for the people, may be
devised. Millions of wealth of this nature may be created which must
necessarily be extinguished in the near future. Is it Wise to permit its
creation ?
There is still one other very important class of facts which must be
mentioned. The reservoir and canal sites should remain in public pos-
session, in trust for the people who will need them. The statutes
already provide for their discovery, segregation, and reservation, but
some provision must be made for their utilization. It is manifestly not
the purpose to reserve them from use, but to reserve them for use, and
to prevent them from falling into the hands of individuals or corpora-
tions for speculative purposes. But to whom shall they be turned over
for use, and under what conditions shall their utilization be permitted,
is the problem yet to be solved. tº
Y
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 65
Equally important with the reservoir and canal sites are the sites for
diverting dams along the courses of the streams. It is often the case,
and perhaps generally the case, that the Waters of a stream may be
taken out at a particular place, and the entire volume controlled thereby,
and the owner of such a site would have the Command of all the agricult-
ure dependent upon that stream. All reservoir sites and canal sites
and diverting dam sites should be the property of the agriculturists and
not of water companies. The waters themselves should be the prop-
erty of the farmers and not of companies. If the water for agriculture
is to be supplied by companies organized under national statutes or
other charters they should be organized only as common carriers of
water. It should be established that the land Which is irrigated appro-
priates the waters, and that they are not appropriated by canals, but
the water belongs to the farmer and not to the Water Company. And
I believe still further that in the interest of peace and prosperity the
farmers should not only own the waters and lands but they should also
own the irrigating WorkS.
Such are some of the more important institutional problems relating
to the arid lands. The conditions of agriculture in the western half of
the United States are unlike the conditions prevailing in the eastern
half of the United States, and unlike the conditions of western Europe,
from which our people came. The new conditions demand new insti-
tutions.
I have reviewed somewhat at length in the two examinations which
you have given me the principal problems involved in the arid lands.
But I have presumed, and I wish to present it modestly, to formulate
in the shape of a bill the ideas which I wanted to present, thinking I
could do it in a more systematic and concise manner in that Way. I
think that this bill, if adopted or enacted into a law, Would inaugurate
a system that would solve the particular problems which I have indi-
cated. Already some of the members of the committee have heard me
talk on this subject. But I will give you an outline of the bill:
First, it is incumbent upon the Government of the United States to,
and it is necessary that it should, divide the waters among the differ-
ent States and Territories, from the fact that in twenty or thirty cases
the problems are interstate problems, and in some of these cases the
problems have arisen and the people are now in conflict. This conflict,
too, is bitter. In other cases they involve only different districts within
the same State or Territory. The theory of this bill is that the waters
ought to be divided by the General Government.
Senator MOODY. Upon what principle of constitutional power do you
attribute the authority of Congress to make these regulations and divide
the water ?
Director POWELL. I provide for it in my theory, not on a principle of
law but on a principle of policy, and the last section of the bill provides
that certain sections of the bill shall have no force nor effect until the
State or Territory involved accepts it.
Senator MOODY. Congress would have the right to legislate for the
Territories in those particulars undoubtedly. But the query was, what
authority would Congress have to legislate upon such a subject for the
States. Of course, if you take that theory, that the State will have to
accept, that ends the matter.
Director POWELL. I have adopted that theory to meet that point.
I have also shown to the committee that all of the lands can not be
irrigated, and that it is necessary to select the best.
138 A L-WOL IV——5
66 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
I have presented to the committee a brief outline of the timber lands
of the arid region, and have shown how the timber lands are being de-
vastated by fire. There is before Congress a number of bills providing
. a forestry Organization by the General Government to protect these
Orests. *
There is still another interest in these arid lands that I may mention
before reading the provisions of the tentative bill. -
In the area of the arid lands there are vast regions valuable only for
pasturage. But if all the rivers, all the creeks, all the brooks and the
Springs, and all the artesian Waters, and all the storm waters are util-
ized that we hope may be utilized in that country, there will still re-
main two classes of lands which will not be irrigated for agriculture.
There will be large areas valuable for pasturage and valuable for the
growth of timber. The timber lands are unfit for agricultural purposes.
Waters, in the main, can be found there, but they are so high that agri-
culture is not profitable. Where timber grows frosts may be expected
any month of the year. This tentative bill includes all the interests
of that country—the pasture land and timber land, and provides a way
for the use of that timber land and the use of that pasturage by the
people, and provides further that only the irrigable lands shall be dis-
posed of by the General Government. w
If you will pardon me, I will read the bill through, first without com-
ment, and then take up the Various divisions and explain their purport
and purposes.
(The proposed bill was then read to the committee.)
l)irector POWELL. Mr. Chairman, the theory of the bill is that there
are natural hydrographic basins or drainage areas; that the people of
each of these districts should be organized into bodies corporate and
politic and constitute commonwealths for the regulation of irrigation,
the division of waters, the protection of forests, and the protection of
the pasturage lands, and for the utilization of all of these values.
The CHAIRMAN. How would you manage where there are wested
rights and you want to get grants to give the districts power to in-
stitute proceedings for condemnation; where you want water rights;
where you want to take out a ditch to coverland, and where you would
have a conflict of water rights? -
IDirector POWELL. I have concluded that that Would be a matter for
State regulation and not for the United States, and the bill provides
that the States must enact the necessary laws. With the knowledge
already at hand it is possible to outline most of the natural basins
which are described as irrigation districts in this tentative bill. I
place before you a map of the arid region outlining such natural dis-
tricts. It also exhibits the county lines and the State lines, and shows
how such districts would be relegated to counties and to States. Most
of the districts embrace portions of two or more counties. The county
lines, like the State lines, are artificial. In the main they follow par-
allels and meridians, as do the State lines, and hence usually do not
coincide with the natural district lines. A number of districts embrace
lands in two or more States or Territories.
The CHAIRMAN. How do you manage to give a district jurisdiction
when it is partly in two States ?
I)irector I’OWELL. I propose that the people of a district embraced
in two States organize under United States laws and under State laws
which are specified in the bill after the States and Territories have
|provided for such action, and by the consent and authority of the in-
terested States and Territories.
WHAT THE BILL PROPOSES TO DO. 67
Section 1 of the bill provides for the survey and designation of the
irrigation districts, and three classes of districts are provided. They
may be called head-water districts, river-trunk districts, and lost river
districts.
Section 2 provides that the irrigation survey shall select the irrigable
lands, and to be governed in the process by the following rules: First,
the conditions necessary to secure the greatest area of irrigable land;
second, the conditions necessary to secure the most valuable lands for
agricultural purposes by reason of climate; third, the conditions neces-
sary to secure the most valuable agricultural lands as determined by
soil and subsoil; fourth, the conditions necessary to secure lands that
can be irrigated and cultivated with the greatest economy.
Section 3 provides that all lands heretofore irrigated in the arid
region or for which irrigating works have been constructed, and all
lands selected for irrigation by the Survey, shall be considered as irri-
gable lands. -
Section 4 provides that the United States Survey shall designate the
trunk sections of rivers and large creeks, and determine and locate the
places on such trunk sections where dams may be constructed, and the
routes to be followed in thre construction of Callals from such trunk sec-
tions, and that all shall be done in such a manner as to protect the water
rights of the several districts and to prevent the construction of im-
provident and obstructive works of irrigation, and that it shall be un-
lawful to construct improvident and obstructive works.
Section 5 divides the waters among the irrigation districts, so that
the people of each district will know definitely what waters they are
entitled to.
Section 6 provides that whenever a source of water supply and the.
necessary irrigation works in any district lie within the boundaries of
another State or Territory than that where the lands irrigated are sit-
uate, the people of the district shall have the right to construct and
maintain their works in the State where they are situate, and that it
shall be unlawful to levy any tax on or establish any obstruction to the
use of such waters, sites, or works by the State or Territory in which
they are situate.
Section 7 provides that the irrigable lands may be homesteaded in
tracts of 80 acres. It re-affirms the laws relating to mining lands, coal
lands, and town-site lands, and provides that all other lands shall re-
main in the possession of the General Government, to be used by them
as catchment areas for the waters of irrigation, for the forests which
they grow, and for the pasturage which they furnish, and that the sites
of reservoirs and other irrigating works shall remain the property of
the General Government, to be used by the people in their corporate
capacity.
Section 8 affirms the right of every man who owns an acre of land to
his portion of the waters set apart for the irrigable lands of his district.
Section 9 makes it unlawful for any person or corporation to con-
struct irrigating Works except in conformity with the statutes of the
State or Territory and of the United States.
Section 10 provides a general form of organization for irrigation dis-
tricts.
Section 11 relegates to the commissioners of each district the authority
and duty to provide laws and rules for the use of the waters of the dis-
trict in irrigation and for other purposes, for the protection and use of
the timber and fire-wood of the district, and for the protection and use
of the pasturage of the district.
68 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Section 12 provides that such irrigation districts shall be organized
under State or Territorial laws, and further provides four methods by
which irrigation works may be constructed: First, by co-operativelabor;
second. by taxes levied on the lands irrigated ; third, by the issuance
of irrigation-district bonds; and fourth, by contract with companies.
But when constructed by the last method, the irrigating Works shall
after a term of years become the property of the district. It also pro-
vides that the State or Territory may enact general laws for the pro-
tection and use of forests, and for the protection and use of pasturage.
Section 13 provides for State supervision of irrigation.
Section 14 provides that cities and towns may be excluded from the
irrigation districts, and that the waters used for domestic purposes
may be designated by State statutes.
Section 15, which is the last, provides for the general consent of the
States and Territories involved.
It will thus be seen that the proposition is to organize irrigation dis-
tricts with natural boundaries, and to relegate to each district the great
body of the problems which are involved in this new industry of agri-
culture; and it divides the waters between the districts in a simple and
effective manner. It also proposes that the irrigable lands shall be
selected in the interest of all the people, that the greatest amount of
agriculture may be carried on ; and it provides for the protection and
use of the forest and pasturage lands by the people who are interested
therein. The vast increase in the Value of lands by irrigation makes
them an object of speculation. We are starting in a speculation in the
West which I believe if unregulated by law, as it now is, with rights
to waters undetermined, as they now are, will result in disaster to the
.farmers and the investors alike; and it will further result in this: that
the water and the lands will go into the hands of a few persons, namely,
the promoters of irrigating schemes. Be that as it may, the problem of
fixing water rights somewhere, so that the farmer and the investor alike
may be secure, remains, and is one of the serious problems that must
be met; and I propose in the plan which I have presented that the
Government of the United States interfere in the matter to the least
possible extent; that it divide the waters—not to the farmers—but be-
tween districts and States, and then, under guarded provisions, turn
over the whole subject to the States and districts and allow them to
work out the matter to their satisfaction.
The committee here adjourned, to meet on Friday morning, the 24th
inst., at 10 o'clock.
THIRD DAY'S SESSION.
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 24, 1890.
The committee met.
Present: Mr. Stewart, chairman; Mr. Plumb, Mr. Casey, Mr. Moody,
Mr. Reagan, and Mr. Jones, of Arkansas.
STATIENIENT OF DIRECTOR POWELL–Continued,
Mr. chairman and gentlemen of the committee, the work of the
Irrigation Survey is naturally divided into three parts and organized
into three branches, for there are three classes of work which are best
accomplished by three classes of specialists. These are designated as
topographic, hydrographic, and engineering branches. Topography is
POWELL’S STATEMENT. 69
the basis of the work, and on it the hydrography and engineering de-
pend. This will plainly appear when loome to describe those branches.
Topographic work is map-making. On the passage of the act of
October 2, 1888, parties were immediately put in the field and work has
been continued up to the present time, chiefly in the field, but to Some
slight extent in the office. The maps have not all been constructed, but
are in part in manuscript. None of them have yet been engraved.
The sheets of the map, or the several maps in detail, are constructed
with grade curves, or contours, having a vertical interval of 25 feet in
the valley and over the more level grounds.
Every 25 feet of elevation above the level of the sea is determined
over the entire surface, and the lines on the map represent every 25 feet
of change, so in passing from upper to lower heights you have a
descent of 25 feet from curve to curve or line to line, as shown on the
map. In the foot-hills the lines are 50 feet apart in altitude, and in the
mountains they are 100 feet, and yet in any steep regions they are 200
feet apart; so they vary from 25 feet to 50 feet, 100 feet and 200 feet,
depending on the nature of the declivities. Such contour maps are
very easily understood and express the chief or important facts of
natural topography in the simplest manner. It is thus that Valley, hill,
and mountain, with all necessary detail of relief, are expressed to the
eyes in definite quantity. The map shows that the summit of the slope
is distant from the foot of the slope say a quarter of a mile, and that
the summit is 25 feet above the foot. In this manner the altitude above
the level of the sea of every portion of the country is represented, and
the whole form is presented at a glance. With a little experience a map
of this character is read as easily as a page of print—more so; it is in
fact interpreted as a picture. Such are the maps we are making, and
I wish to show where they have been made under the two appropria-
tions for the Irrigation Survey.
With the appropriations that have been made it has not been possi-
ble to prosecute work in each of the States and Territories of the region
and we were compelled to make a selection of districts. In doing so it
was thought best to inaugurate work in the most densely peopled regions
and where the scarcity of water was most keenly felt. For this reason
the Arkansas Valley in Colorado, portions of the Rio Graude in New
Mexico, the Truckee and Carson in California and Nevada, the Snake
or Shoshone River in Idaho, and other important districts were chosen.
I place before you a map of the arid region upon which are colored the
districts which have been surveyed up to the present time, and will go
on to describe them in detail, commencing on the Arkansas River in the
State of Colorado. All of this district as shown on the map, extending
from the headwaters of the river in the high mountains of central Colo-
rado nearly down to the Kansas line, and embracing the entire drain-
age, has been surveyed. We have had two seasons of work in this
valley. The first season commenced in October, when there were only
a few weeks of good weather left. Still we pushed the work through
the winter. In the main the parties beginning in October, 1888, did
not return to the office until this fall. It chanced to be a warm and
dry winter in the country and we pushed the work through the cold
season. The area surveyed in Colorado in 1888 was 13,000 square miles;
the area surveyed the present summer was 9,900 square miles; making
altogether 22,900 square miles. The area surveyed in Colorado on the
Arkansas embraced all the drainage of the Arkansas nearly (but not
quite) to the Colorado-Kansas line. You will see by the map to which
I now point that there is but a Small part yet remaining.
70 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS
Other parties were put in the field in New Mexico, in the region about
Santa Fé and Albuquerque on the Rio Grande, and in the region near
El Paso on the Rio Grande.
In New Mexico we have mapped 6,370 square miles; in California
We did 6,680 square miles; in Idaho we did no work during the last
year; this Summer we have, however, done in Idaho 1,900 square miles,
made a topographical survey of that; and in Montana we did 5,200
Square miles. So that under the act creating the Irrigation Survey
and the appropriations made therefor we have already made topo.
graphical maps over an area of 43,050 square miles.
I have another map hanging before you which will set forth certain
other facts bearing on this subject. -
The survey under the present organization and surveys previously
prosecuted under the control of the present Director of the Survey
have been made with a view that they might ultimately be used for this
purpose. . So that we now have a topographic survey ready for the use
of the Irrigation Survey of an area of 250,000 square miles, and all of
that Work is finished, in the field and in the office. To this must be
added the 43,530 square miles accomplished by the Irrigation Survey. .
The maps aré in part in the engraver's hands, under contract by the
Public Printer, for their engraving. About two-thirds of them are
already engraved, and we have proof-sheets.
Senator REAGAN. What surveys are those ?
Director POWELL. The surveys previously made under my charge.
All the areas in blue are surveyed in this manner, covering altogether
250,000 square miles.
Th; CHAIRMAN. Do you reckon in that the King and Wheeler sur-
veys 3
Director POWELL. I am going to speak of those because they are
also shown on this map. The Hayden surveys are marked in light
blue. Those maps were not constructed to be used for this specific pur-
pose, but the work of the EIayden surveys was done in such a manner
that some additional cost is necessary to prepare them for use for this
purpose. There are about 120,000 square miles to be completed in this
manner. Again, the King survey is colored yellow. The King survey
is not so well adapted to this work, and more has to be done on the
area surveyed by King, that his maps may be utilized for this purpose;
but probably the work can be done at one-half the cost of carrying on
original work. The Wheeler survey, which is colored brown, as you
see, and is scattered over the country, was done in the main on a scale
of 4 miles to the inch, and for our purposes we need a scale of 4 and 2
miles to the inch. Then it was not constructed in contours, and hence
is unavailable for the irrigation survey. The Wheeler survey serves
as a general reconnaissance for planning topographic work, but not for
irrigation work. So then altogether, besides what has been done under
the appropriation for arid lands, we have 250,000 square miles of map
ready for use; 140,000 square miles partly ready for use; 80,000 square
miles on which much work is yet to be done, and about 100,000 square
miles of reconnaissance Work.
Senator PLUMB. In that connection let me ask you what if anything
in the shape of monuments have been put on the ground which would
indicate the altitude or meandering of the lines?
Director POWELL. In the work over which I have had control my-
self all the triangulations of the work in blue are marked in Such man-
ner that they can be re-discovered, are marked and described in the
report.
Powell’s STATEMENT. 71
Senator PLUMB. With the aid of these maps a local surveyor could
identify them without resurveying them, I Suppose ?
Director POWELL. Yes.
Senator PLUMB. These maps would be, I suppose, what are called
topographic maps, that is, they would indicate the slope and elevation,
the contour, etc.?
Director POWELL. We divide the work into three classes, each of
which is dealt with ; the hydrography, which describes the courses of
all streams, with all their meanderings; second, the hypsography, as
it is called, the elevations of all the hills and mountains; third, the
culture. The lines of all high roads, of all railroads, canals, town sites,
cities, etc., the boundary lines of States and Territories, counties, etc.,
those things which man has put on the country and are represented on
the map, we call “culture.” These maps represent the hydrography,
the hypsography, and the culture, or that which man has put on the
ground.
Senator PLUMB. Then with the use of those maps the local author-
ities, or any one interested in the development of the country, would
be able to understand the lay of the land just as though he himself had
made the map?
Director POWELL. Precisely; the object is to construct maps in such
manner that any man may go upon the ground, take the map in his
own hand, and select the sites for reservoirs, and select the routes for
canals with the map before him. On selecting the routes for canals, a
subsequent survey would be needed for the purpose of determining the
constructive elements —the fills, the grades, the cuts, etc., that would be
necessary for a canal, but the general route of a canal can be planned
on the map without going on the ground. That is true not only for
every canal, but for every road and for every railroad. So that wher-
ever, in the United States, the surveys have been carried on as shown
On the map, no railroad company has to make a preliminary reconnais-
sance or trial-line survey. From our maps all such enterprises may se-
lect their routes before they go onto the field, and they systematically
do that, and have been doing it for several years, and as far as our sur-
Veys have progressed. *
There is one thing of importance that I wish especially to call atten-
tion to in relation to the topographic maps. That is, that in general
the reservoir sites in any region of country are in excess of the wants.
There are usually more reservoir sites than will be needed. The topo-
graphic survey reveals all practical reservoir sites, and hence reveals
more than will be needed. There comes then to be a necessity for a se-
lection of the best sites. And the topographic maps furnished then prac-
‘tically the chief data necessary for this purpose, as well as for other
purposes which I have mentioned.
I am passing very rapidly, Mr. Chairman, and briefly over these
points, because there is so much of the matter. If the members of the
ºittee Wish to ask any questions as I go along I shall be glad to
reply.
In planning a system of irrigation.work we are at once confronted
With the question, What is the amount of water to be controlled and
used ? The lands are abundant, the water is scarce. The entire arid
lands are naturally divided into irrigation districts, each one composed
of a catchment area and a farming area, for in farming regions, where
agriculture is carried on by irrigation, the lands which catch the rain
and Supply the Water are not those which are cultivated. To select from
a large tract a smaller one to be irrigated, it must first be determined
72 IRRIGATION AND RECLA MATION OF ARID LANDS.
how much water the catchment area will furnish for the purpose, for
on this will depend the quantity of lands to be reclaimed. The amount
of Water also determines the character of the irrigation works. More
Water requires larger dams, canals, and reservoirs; less water needs
Smaller works. The water running in the channels in each of these
Catchment districts—and there are many thousands altogether—is vari-
able from year to year, from month to month, and even from hour to
hour at flood time, and it becomes necessary to determine the mean
annual Volume, the minimum annual volume, the maximum annual vol-
ume, and the maximum volume of the floods. The mean annual flow
gives the limit of general agriculture from year to year; the minimum
annual flow limits the agriculture in seasons of drought; the maximum
annual flow controls the plan of the works, for they must be constructed
in such a manner that they will not be destroyed when it comes; the
maximum flood volume also must be known, for this ultimately brings
the greatest Strain upon the Works, and they must be constructed to
Withstand it. º º
In the plan of the survey the volume of water running in the streams
of the catchment districts, and which is furnished to the farming dis-
tricts, is determined by making a topographic map as a basis for a hy-
drographic survey. -
The first process is stream gauging. The measurement of the streams
is accomplished by a twofold process. First, a river-gauge is estab-
lished, with a float, by which the height of the river is recorded 'auto-
matically during the year. That is to say, a nilometer, as it is called,
is established in such manner that the rise and fall of the stream lifts
or lowers a float, and in lifting or lowering this float it records the rise
or fall upon a paper by a little machinery attached to it; so that we have
the record from day to day and month to month and year to year auto-
matically recorded of the height of the stream. Then, the cross-section
of the stream where the nilometer or river-gauge is used is determined
for different heights of Water. A continuous section from low Water to
high water is made, so that if we know how high the Water is at any
moment of the year we know the cross-section at that time. -
Senator JONES. Does the nilometer show the length of time at which
the river stands at any particular stage %
Director POWELL. Yes. It has clock-work, by which the whole his-
tory of the rise and fall is preserved.
Senator JONES. Does it show the velocity also }
Director POWELL. No, sir; I am coming to that. The next is the
velocity of the water passing the cross-section. That varies in the dif-
ferent portions of the stream. It varies from side to center and from
top to bottom, and it varies with every rise and fall of the river. It
becomes necessary therefore to have another class of instruments, known
as current-meters. By finding the mean Velocity of the passing Water
and the cross-section of the stream we determine the Volume of Water
passing for a given stage. Then we must find it for each stage
marked upon the river-gauge or nilometer. This gives us the flow of
the river. It is all plotted. If you remember, a plat of that kind was
presented to you in Arizona.
With this river-gauging, then, we steadily gather the data to show how
much water the river will carry—not at one time, but at all times, Vary-
ing from day to day through the year.
It is in this manner that we gauge the rivers and Creeks. The num-
ber of places where such “gaugings” must be made is very great. We
have estimated that about 20,000 would be needed. To make that num-
&
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 73
ber of gaugings, each one for a series of years, so as to obtain the mean,
maximum, and minimum annual flow and the maximum flood volume,
would take a long series of years and would be enormously expensive.
But a cheaper, shorter, and it is believed a more accurate mothod has
been devised. ' This method involves the construction of a topographic
map and the gauging of a few typical streams.
It is thus that attention is first called to the catchment area, and of
this we must have a topographic map, which will show its superficial
area, its declivities, and its altitude above the level of the sea. Other
things being equal, the greater the area the greater the amount of
rain caught. Other things being equal, the greater the declivities the
greater the amount of water furnished to the streams, for flat lands
with accumulated soils and sands hold the water back and by evapora-
tion return it to the heavens. Lands with great declivities have less
soil and sand, and their slopes gather more water into the natural chan.
nels. In the arid region of the United States there are altogether vast
tracts, perhaps in all one-fourth of the entire area, where no considera.
ble water runs off. There are other regions, altogether very extensive,
where the slopes are so steep and rocky that the greater part of every
storm runs down; and between these extremes all gradations are found.
The water supply, therefore, is dependent upon declivity. The altitude
of the catchment area is also an important factor, for within limits, other
things being equal, the greater the altitnde the greater the rain-fall. To
obtain altitudes, declivities, and areas, a topographic Survey is neces-
sary, and the topographic survey having been made, the cheapest and
best method of assembling the facts, so that they can be understood,
is to construct a contour map. The entire area of the arid country—
including the low deserts where no waters flow away—is composed of
catchment areas. Each tract or district is a catchment area—not for
itself, but for some other district, which in turn is a catchment area
for still another. It is thus that a map must be made for all parts of
the country but the flat deserts, and they are included in the others,
and in some cases constitute the irrigable lands to be farmed, for while
they are desert without water, they are the best farming lands when
irrigated. Hence, practically, the entire country must be mapped, and
the flat lands are mapped without expense worthy of mention.
Now, to make this map serve for hydrographic purposes something
more is needed. A few streams must be gauged. Suppose we have
found a drainage area of 10,000 square miles with maximum declivities,
so that most of the water is gathered into channels and passes from the
catchment area to irrigable lands below. Here, where the water is all
brought together in One stream, We gauge it and find how much water
an area of that size having determined declivities will afford. Now,
wherever we have another catchment area with similar declivities if the
rainfall is the same we have to make but the topographic map to deter-
mine the water which it will supply. It is in this manner that the prep-
aration of a topographic map is a part of a hydrographic survey. A
few streams are gauged, the general rain-fall is determined, and the
Catchment areas are measured topographically so as to obtain horizontal
and vertical dimensions. -
The next part of the hydrographic work is to determine the amount
of evaporation. When water is stored in reservoirs an amount, known
in a general way but not known in a very close way, is lost by being
returned to the air. In order to know how much water can be saved it
is necessary to know how much will be lost in this manner, and at these
74 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
gauging Stations we establish evaporating stations for the purpose of
determining the amount of evaporation from day to day through the
§ The machinery for this need not be described; it is very
Simple. sº
The next element in the hydrographic survey is the determination of
the quantity of sediment carried in the water. All streams carry with,
them the drift of the slopes and hill-sides of the catchment area. Some
Streams Carry much, others little. Some streams carry much at one
part of their course and less at another part.
The life of a reservoir is an important factor to be determined, and
this must be determined by discovering how long it will take under the
Conditions to fill that reservoir with sediment. In order that this may
be provided against it must be determined how much material must be
removed from the reservoir annually in order to make its life contin-
uous. The streams therefore have to be gauged for sediment, and an
apparatus is provided for the purpose. Connected with these stations
We have rain-fall gauges wherever we have established work of this
character. The reading of the rain-fall gauges takes practically but
Very little time, and we can do it without expense. But in the main
We are assisted in this work by local enterprise. In most of the States
and Territories the people have organized weather bureaus, or some
System for determining temperature, rain-fall, winds, etc. We have it
SO arranged that all this material is aggregated in our office. In most
of the States and Territories ultimately people will work uniformly
On our system. They are asking us already to take general control of
their plans and are gathering the facts necessary for our work, so that
We do not have to perform that work ourselves to any great extent,
§ addition, we avail ourselves of the material collected by the Signal
€rVICe, *
Besides the organizations to which I have referred, there are indi-
viduals who of their own will have organized such observation systems
for themselves; and especially I may mention, in this connection, rail-
road companies. So that there is pouring in upon us from all parts
of the arid lands a vast amount of information in relation to rain-ſall,
to temperature, and to the course of the winds.
I shall not weary the committee with a detailed statement of the hy-
drographic stations we have established; but I have the results of the
work up to the present time in tabulated form in this paper, and with
your permission I will simply hand it to the reporter that it may be
incorporated with my remarks.
Summary of lºydrographic results,
. The daily average ſlow in cubic feet per second has been obtained for the following
TIW618 :
COLOIRADO.
IRiver. Station at— Results.
Arkansas. --------. Cañon City --------------------- Apr. 17, 1880, to end of year.
Do.------------ Seven miles above Pueblo ...... May 1 to Sept. 1, 1889.
Do.------------ La Junta. ----------------------. May 20 to Sept. 1, 1889,
Do.------------ Lamar -------------------------. May 26 to Sept. 1, 1880.
Purgatoire. . . . . . . . . I,as Animas -------------------- May 22 to Oct. 1, 1889.
Liuerfano. ---- -----| Hermosilla---------------------. Julio 30 to Sopt 1, 188.9.
whAT IIAs BEEN DONE BY THE HYDROGRAPHERS.
75
Summary of hydrographic results—Continued.
NEW MEXICO.

River. Station at— IRcmarks.
Rio Granáe........ Del Norto. ------------ .......... July 1 to end of year. (Discharges at intervals,
also measurements of canals.) s
Do.------------ Embudo ----------- as as tº e ºn tº as º a ... - Dec. 20, 1888, to Nov. 30, 1889. (Daily dis-
charge complete.)
Do.------------ San Marcial -------------------- One gauging, only.
Do------------- Ll Paso, Tex --------------- .... May 10, 1889, to end of year (complete). .
Jemes ------------- Jemes Pueblo. -----.. m** * * * * * * * * * Mar. 20 to Nov. 5, 1880. (Dischârge partially
computed.)
ARIZONA,
Verde ------------- Above junction of Salt River ... Discharge from Aug. 15 to Sept. 30. *
Salt.--------------- Above junction of Verde River. Discharge from Aug. 1 to flood at end of Nov.
Gila --------------- Fifteen miles above Florence. . . Lischarge from Aug. 30 to end of year.
NEWADA.
Truckee ----------- Essex, New ..................... Discharge from May 20 to Sept. 30.
Carson-------------|----------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * Few gaugings.
Purser Creek, ------------. es s a sm sº e s a s sº ºn tº sº as m ºn a sº * * * Gauged in high water.
Squaw Creek,
Little Truckoe,
and all import-
ant tributaries. -
IDATIO.
Wood.------...----. Hailey. ----------- q is a sm as a sm ºn ... --. Discharge from June 23 to end of year.
Snake-------------- Eagle Rock--------------------. July 1 to end of year.
o, ------------| Above Fall River.-------------. One gauging,
TOTAIBI
Bear. --... yº w w w e º ºs s = Battle Creek-------...---- tº ºn tº sº º º sº. I)ischarge Oct. 15 to end of year.
0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - Collinston ---------------------- Discharge July 22 to end of year.
Ogden ------------. Ogden Cañon :-----------------. Discharge Aug. 20 to end of year.
Weber. -----------. Weber. ------------------------. Discharge Oct. 15 to end of year.
American Fork. --- American Fork. ... -----...-----| Discharge Aug. 1 to end of year.
Provo ------------. Provo.---------- * u, º º º e º 'º º e º E tº º º sº. I)ischarge July 15 to end of year.
Spanish Pork.----- In caſion. ------.............. ---| Tischarge Aug. 1 to end of year.
Sovier ------------- Joseph City -------------------- Discharge Aug. 20 to end of year.
o.-----...-----| Loamington ----- * p * * * * * * * * * * * * * Discharge Aug. 20 to end of year.
MONTANA.
Yellowstone.------ Horr, Mont--------------------. Aug. 12 to Nov. 30, 1880.
Do. --...-...--. Springdale-------------- * * * * * * * * Special gaugings.
Sun. --------------- Near Augusta ---.... * * * * * * * * * * * Aug. 5 to Nov. 30.
West Gallatin. ..., Bozeman, Mont..... tº e º ºs º gº as a s - ºn º Aug. 16 to Oct. 30.
Missouri. ---------- Cañon Ferry........... p = as a • * * * * Sept. to Nov. 30.



Also various canals, small tributaries have been
use of division engineers.
gauged to furnish spocial data for
I’ain-fall measurements,

Locality, Stations. Measurements.
Arizon:------------------------------------.. * ºn tº a - º e s tº º ºs * - * * * * * * * * * 80 June to Dec., łº
Solorºo::----------------------------------------------...-...----. 10 June to Dec., 1889.
New Mexico.----...- tº º sº º 'º tº sº nº dº º ºr ºn * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - tº gº E. & º tº tº ºn tº º sº tº dº º º 35 | March to Dec., 1889,
76 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Evaporation estimates. * *
[Monthly evaporation in inches.]

|
|1888, 1889.
Dec. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. |May. |June, July. Aug. ||Sept. Oct. Nov.
Montana:
#ºn * * * * * * * * * * i " " " " " - I - - - - - - I - - - - - - I - - - - - - I - - - - - - I - - - - - - | . . . . . - I - - - - - - | . . . . . . . . . . . . . *3.2 2.9
*... -----------|------|------|------|------|------|----..l.----. I.-----|-----. 4. 4. 3 , 9
9reat Falls.---------|------|------|------|............l............l......l..... [... 5. # 2, 7 # 0
$pringdale-----------|------|------|------|------|--|--|--|......l............ # 6, 8 | f 7.1 |.-----|------
9** ---------------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|------|.‘..... 0 1 1.-----|------
TJtah :
Fort Douglas--------|------|------------|------|-----------|......l...... 10.5 5. 7 || $4.8 |......
*Y* ---------------|------------|------|------------|-----.......l.................. # 3. 3 1. -----
Arizona + º
*P*---------------|------------|------|------------|------|-----. 13, 7 || 14. 1 || 11.0 | 6.4 4.4
Texas: º
*ort Bliss -----------|------|------|------|------|------ 11. 0 || 10. 7 || 9, 6 || 11.4 9.2 | 6.8 4. 6
Colº -
erry Creek--------|------|------|------|------|------|------ 8, 1 || 7.9 || 8, 6 || 6, 2 || 4, 2 | # 2, 6
New Moxico: 4. #2
Dmbudo ------------- f0.0 | 3.0 2.9 3.6 4.9 |------|------|------|------|------|------|----- º
* Dased on 16 days' observations.
i 13ased on 14 days’ observations.
1 Based on 8 days' observation.
SILT.
The amount of silt carried by the Rio Grande at Embudo, N. Mex., was measured
from January 15 to April 15, and by the Rio Grande, at El Paso, from June 10 to the
end of the year (when the river was flowing).
Average volume of water (according to the assumption that a cubic foot of dry sediment
weighs 85 pounds).

Embudo, El Paso,
N. Mex. Tex.
Per cent. | Pe)' cent.
Minimum-------------------------------------------------------- tº as a sm as m º ºs ºn as a m = * * * * 00.14 . () 139
Maximum ------------------------------------------------------------------------ . 0413 1. 4167
Average -------------------------------------------------------------------------- . 0101 . .3865
The third part or branch of the survey relates to the locating or
planning of irrigation works—the engineering branch as We call it.
So that we have three branches—the topographic, the hydrographic,
and the engineering—under different managements, in general, in the
field, needing men specially trained in each to accomplish the Work
properly. -
The basis of the work of the engineering branch is the topographic
survey and the hydrographic survey. The outcome of the work, the
purpose for which it is all done, is not realized until the work of the
engineering branch is finished. The organic statute of the survey pro-
vides that we shall select diverting dam sites, canal sites, and reservoir
sites, and withdraw the same from market that they may remain in the
possession of the General Government. It also provides that the lands
to be irrigated shall be segregated that they may be obtained only
under the provisions of the homestead act. All of these sites and lands
have to be discovered. In their discovery, the entire country has to be
overlooked or surveyed, and this is the work of topography. Usually
there are many more reservoir sites than are needed and the best should
POWELL’s STATEMENT. sº 77
be selected; for this purpose all must be discovered; water should be
stored in the mountains whenever it is possible, as there is less loss by
evaporation there. All the mountain reservoir sites must, therefore,
be discovered; but a part of the water falls upon the foot-hills and val-
leys, and that also must be stored. So there must be reservoirs below,
and this lower region must be examined. Wherever it is possible we
must store the water away from the streams so that the reservoirs may
not be destroyed by floods. But this is not always possible, so the
whole ground must be studied for reservoir sites, then the stream chan-
nels themselves must be studied for dam sites.
Then there are canal sites from the diverting dams to the reservoirs
and from the reservoirs to the lands to be irrigated, and these canal
lines must be discovered. In any basin many possible lines may be
found; the best should be Selected, to make this selection all must be
known. When there is more land than can be served by the water, the
best should be selected; to do this all must be known. Now the topo-
graphic survey discovers all possible reservoir sites, all possible dam
sites, all possible canal sites, and all possible irrigable lands, then con-
structs a map with all these facts shown upon it. The engineering
survey now steps in to complete the work and the selections are made
by an examination of the map, which is a miniature counterpart of the
country with quantitative elements represented by contour lines. It
will sometimes happen that two lines or two reservoir sites have ad-
vantages so nearly balanced as shown by the topographic map that a
choice can be made only by a more refined examination. But in gen-
eral the special sites will be discovered on the map. Now, these special
sites must all be examined in a detailed manner in order that the works
may be planned, and such refined surveys are expensive and it is neces-
sary to reduce them to a minimum, which the preliminary topographic
survey accomplishes—the topographic survey is a preliminary or recon-
naissance survey to discover what the refined and costly work of the
engineering Survey must do, and is a great Saving of expense.
While I can not go over all the ground which we have covered in this
work, I have brought a few examples to illustrate what is done, and
have brought this map with me to show what the survey will be when
it is finished. I would like to have you consider first the Arkansas
Valley. (See map.)
All the works on the Arkansas are not yet planned, but something
has been done, and one illustration may be presented. On the Ar.
kansas we have discovered a number of reservoir sites. This is the
first reservoir which We planned on the Arkansas, and it is incomplete.
Here we have a map with grade curves of the Twin Lakes, high up on
the Arkansas River. These are 5-feet grade curves, showing the outlines
and the outlet to the lakes. Here [indicating] is the outlet, and a sec-
tion across here shows Where the dam is to be constructed. In Ar-
kansas twelve reservoirs like these have been surveyed in detail, maps
drawn of them, and data Secured for all estimates of capacity and cost,
but the data has only been collected, and it has not yet been assembled,
so that I can not report it. The Twin Lakes which you see here havé
a capacity of 100,000 acre-feet. That is a capacity, under proper con-
ditions, to store Water for the irrigation of 100,000 acres. The cost of
the reservoir will be about $60,000, and the cost of the canal, to bring
the drainage of another stream into this, so that all may be stored into
one after awhile, Will be about $75,000. The total cost therefore will
be about $140,000 for the whole system of works, to store 100,000 acre-
feet of water, or about $1.40 cents per acre-foot.
78 . IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator REAGAN. By acre-feet, do you mean a foot deep on an acre
of ground? *
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; an acre-foot of water is an acre of water
1 foot deep. When irrigation, under average conditions, is practiced
with economy, it is believed that an acre-foot of water will supply an
acre of land for one year, and we adopt that as being convenient for
many purposes. Q
The CHAIRMAN. That will vary somewhat, of course?
Director POWELL. It will vary very greatly. I am giving only a gen-
eral and mean figure. &
On the Arkansas now fifty reservoir sites have already been discow-
ered. Of these, twelve of the most promising have been studied with
much care and the data collected, as I have said, for their plans.
The data collected show that we can store, on the sites for the reservoirs
already selected, water enough to irrigate three times the amount of
land now cultivated, so that the whole area cultivated on the Arkansas
will be three times as much as that now cultivated.
Senator CASEY. And that total would be what, do you remember 3
Director POWELL. I have the figures at my office, but I have not
them with me.
The Rio Grande is the next that I shall present to you. The other
work, as I told you, is unfinished and it would be difficult to present
the real work without the figures and papers. g
I now show you a plan of the work for the storage of water on the
Itio Grande, immediately above El Paso. The Rio Grande flows from
the left to the right of the map. The dam is to be constructed at this
point [indicating a point on the right of the map) and a topographic
survey has been made, not only of the sites of the reservoirs, but also
of the larger part of the region above El Paso, for the purpose of de-
termining the region of country upon which this reservoir must in dry
seasons depend for its water. The maps are not constructed in the
office, but the data is at hand and draughtsmen are at Work on them at
the present time. With a 60-foot dam this reservoir will store 537,000
acre-feet, and we expect to find water sufficientfor that purpose, but of
this we are not yet sure, as the survey of the entire area is not yet finished.
The estimated cost of this reservoir is $1,100,000.
The CHAIRMAN. That is, the reservoir, without the condemnation of
land 3
Director PowLLL. No, sir; with a detailed project.
The CHAIRMAN. Covering all ?
Director Powell. Covering all. There are, running along the course
of the Rio Grande, two railroads, and I have had the engineers of the
survey run lines outside of the reservoir sites (for the railroads run
into the reservoir sites) and to compute the cost of the construction of
such roads, and have assumed that the reservoir would cost not only
the amount necessary for the construction of the dam, but for the
construction of lines of roads which would take the railroads out of the
reservoir sites.
The CHAIRMAN. Does that embrace the land to be condemned?
Director Powº LL. That embraces the land to be condemned.
Senator Jones. Where on this map is the dam to be constructed ?
Director Powell. Along here, at this point [indicating].
A final report of the irrigation district to be served by this water,
will embrace, first, a map of the district where the water is to be caught,
extending over the district where the water is to be used—the irrigable
land, as you see; second, a map of the region on a large scale. Then
Powell’s STATEMENT. * 79
plans for dams, canals, and all the engineering work necessary to go
With it. &
The CHAIRMAN. That will only include the portion on our side of the
United States ?
Director POWELL. On our side. *
The CHAIRMAN. The other side will be about the same but a little
larger, probably.
Director POWELL. In California, we have discovered a good many
reservoir sites. The best one is on the Monaco Meadows, in Kern
County, which has a capacity of 320,000 acre-feet. The survey of one
site has been completed, that of Clear Lake, near San Francisco. The
results are not yet finally on paper. An extended reconnoissance has
been made in California, in Butte and Lassen Counties, and two large
reservoir sites have been discovered there. Altogether fifteen reser-
voir sites have been reported for withdrawal, and about forty more
will be reported soon, in California. Iłut I have them tabulated else-
where.
In Nevada, surveys have been made on Weber Lake, Independence
Lake, and Donner Lake, in the Truckee Basin, and also in Hope Valley
and Long Valley, in the Carson Basin. A canal line has been surveyed,
to extend for some miles above Wadsworth. It was intended at the
beginning of the season this year to make a careful study of Talloe Lake
to be used as a reservoir. A study was made of it, but it was unsatis-
factory and the work will have to be done over—the theory on which
it was made being wrong. &
In Idaho the work has been done on the Snake River and its tribu-
taries. The Snake, or Shoshone, River, is one of the great rivers of
the Western region, and a series of reservoirs has already been discov-
ered. EIere on the map is the Snake River. It heads, as you see, in
Wyoming. A large part of the water of the Snake River must be stored
in Wyoming, in the high mountains where the rain and snow are accu-
mulated. In that region of country we have discovered three very fine
reservoirs. The Jackson Lake reservoir, which you see here, will store
1,000,000 acre-feet of water at a cost of $250,000, or at the rate of 25
cents per acre-foot. The Swan Valley reservoir, which you see here,
Will store J,500,000 acre-feet of water, at a cost of 25 cents per acre.
foot. We have plans for these dams ready. The Fall River reservoir,
which you see here, and which will be partly in the Yellowstone Park,
partly in Wyoming, and partly in Idaho, will store 500,000 acre-feet of
Water With an inexpensive dam, but the cost of construction of the dam
is yet unknown. Several canal lines have been run along the Snake
River at different places, to find out where this water can be used,
The water stored above must be used below on the plains, here, in the
main in Idaho. The region of country in Wyoming and in Yellowstone
Park is not an agricultural region.
Senator JONES. Is there water enough in the water-sheds of these
reServoirs to fill them ż
Director POWELL. Yes, there is ample water; much more than we
are yet able to store.
The waters of the Snake River and its tributaries, properly taken
out, and taken to the high lands, first, and recovered after irrigating
the high lands and again used on the low lands—from the facts which
we are now in possession of we are able to say that at least 10,000,000
acres of land can be redeemed. º
Senator JONES. That is, as it now is 3
80 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Director POWELL. No ; but by the utilization of the river, by canals,
and reservoirs, complete. This will involve the construction of a num-
ber of reservoirs, the sites of only three of which are now planned or
known, though in a general way we know of others.
I shall pass from the Snake, rapidly, to speak of the Montana work.
In Montana. We have done work on the Gallatin, the Madison, and the
Jefferson Rivers—the rivers which unite to form the Missouri—and we
have done work on Sun River to the north of them, and we have done
work on the Yellowstone River, during the past season. I can not de-
tain you long enough to explain all of these works. The plans which
I have brought with me this morning relate to Sun River, and I shall
be able very briefly to lay before the committee a very interesting sys-
tem of works. i
The general plan of the Sun River is here on a very small scale, be-
cause the topography is not finished. On the first map the course of
the river, the lands that can be irrigated, and the sites of the canals are
delineated.
The second map which I present shows the plan of reservoir No. 1,
marked on the first map. The reservoir itself is illustrated by this map.
The dam on the river is at this point. These are grade-curves of 4 feet
elevation; passing from one line to another you rise 4 feet; so that any-
where you can make a section across the reservoir that will enable you
to compute the capacity of the reservoir. The site of the dam is at this
point [indicating]. The capacity of this reservoir is 43,000 acre-feet.
The plan of the dam itself it shown on this diagram.
These maps which I now show you of the Sun River illustrate the
character of the report we are going to make of that region. The first,
the general topography on which are placed all reservoirs and canal
sites; second, a sheet exhibiting such reservoir and each canal by itself;
and third, a sheet like this (exhibiting the elements of construction in
the works themselves), and all to be accompanied with text or written
explanations, including the elements of cost, etc., with directions of how
to construct the dam.
Reservoir No. 2, on the Sun River region, is represented on this
sheet. It has a dam shown on the corresponding sheet, which I hold
in my hand.
The CHAIRMAN. How large is that ? .
Director POWELL. It has a capacity of 65,000 acre-feet.
On the map we have a plan of the waste-weir. I need not exhibit to
you all these plans; we have plans of waste-weirs, of dams, of reservoirs,
and of canals, and the course of the river and a part of the topography.
I think that is sufficient. I need not go into details. It is a small
river and we were able to complete it in a short time.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you figured up the expense of those dams ?
Director POWELL. Yes. That will be inserted in the record also. I
have it in my tables.
We find that the water of the Missouri can be taken out below Helena,
near a town called Toston, a very favorable point, so that at that point
all the water that is not used above in the Gallatin, Madison, and Jef-
ferson ſtivers can be extracted from the river and poured out on lands
of great value.
The CHAIRMAN. How much of the river is above that point %
Director POWELL. It is a very large river above that point.
The CHAIRMAN. There is a large water-shed above that ?
Director POWELL. Yes, a very large water-shed. The whole of the
valleys of the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson lie above it, and the
POWELL'S STATEMENT. 81
whole drainage area from Yellowstone Park down to that place. At
that place it is possible to take out all the water stored in the reser-
voirs above.
The CHAIRMAN. How extensive is the region that would be covered ?
Director POWELL. The canal line is about 72 miles in length, and will
cover a broad section of country, varying from 20 to 30 miles in width.
Below that point the river caſions in places, and I do not really know
much about it except from general topographical information; practi.
cally we have no engineering data on which to speak.
On the Yellowstone, the chief reservoir on which we have worked is
the Yellowstone Lake, which lies in the park. A magnificent reservoir
can be made out of it at a cost comparatively trifling—simply opening
up 2 or 3 miles of channel below and putting in a head-gate and con-
trolling the river, so as not to lift the lake at all, but to drain it down
2 or 3 or 4 feet each year, so that it will never be higher than it is now.
The CHAIRMAN. That would be very cheap then 3
Director POWELL. Yes. The chief cost of the work will be in the
construction of the canal. The immediate valley of the Yellowstone
furnishes only in places favorable sites for irrigation. It is in part
subject to floods now, and in part subject to cloud-bursts that strike
the cliffs and bad lands on each side, and these cloud-bursts on the
cliffs and bad lands destroy irrigation works below. Then there is not
enough land lying in the immediate Valley to utilize all the waters of
the Yellowstone or any very considerable part of them when they come
to be stored. We hope to be able to carry the water out near Living-
ston on to the mesa lands above without serious engineering difficulty.
The CHAIRMAN. What is the character of those lands generally *
Director POWELL. They are partly rolling; many of them have
gentle slopes. Altogether these lands are as good as there are in the
world for agriculture.
The CHAIRMAN. They are not too high up 3
Director POWELL. No ; they are good wheat lands. The operations
of the survey have been extended in another direction. The statute
requires that we shall determine sites of reservoirs—segregate them
from the public lands, and report them to the Secretary of the Interior
and to the land, department, and under that statute they are with-
drawn from sale that they might be used by the people as reservoirs.
We have made a number of these selections, and all of them I have in
a table before me, but I shall not read them now. It would take too
long, and the matter is too statistical for an occasion like this, but I
will hand the table to the stenographer, and he can insert it in my re-
marks. The table embraces only a very small part of the reservoir
sites that have been discovered, and includes only those which the en-
gineers have selected. Many others will be selected out of those already
discovered.
138 A L--WOL IV—6
82
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS,
COLORADO.
(r
No. Name. County. Pºe Capacity. Delivery. Cost.
* - Acre-feet. Acre-feet,
| | Twin Lakes". ---...--. Lake ------------. Arkansas. Very jarge, 125,000 | Very moderate,
2 Leadville” -----...-..l. --do ------------- ---do ----- , 000 7, 000 Do.
3 | Clear Creek No.1” ---| Chaffee ...........]. ---do ----. 10,000 10, 000 • Do.
4 || Hayden” ----......... ake -------------|--..do ----. 62, 000 62,000 | Very large.
5 | Sugar Loaf".--------.l. ---do ------- ------|--|--do ...-- 18, (.00 10, 000 Moderate.
6 | Crame---------------. ---do ------------. --do ----. 2,000 2,000 || Rather large.
7 | Tennessee ----------.l. ---do ------------|. ---do ----. 20, 000 12,000 || Moderate.
8 || Cliff Creek" . . . . . . . . . . ----do ------ tº º te e º an e -- " -----|------------|-----------. ©
9 || Cottonwood Lake"...! Chaffee ...... -----|----do ----. 15,000 15,000 | Very large.
10 | Clear Creek No. 2....!. . . do ... ------..... ---do ----, 2, Ç00 2,000 || Moderate.
11 || Wilson Creek. --...-. Fremont.---- -----|----do ----. 4, 500 4, 500 | Very large.
12 Oil Creek Valley. . . . . ----do -------------l. ---do ----. 7, 500 7, 500 I}o.
13 | Slate Creek. --------. IS! Paso ----------- ---do ----. 3, 500 3,500 | Prohibitory,
14 | West Oil Creek . . . . . . . . ---do -------------l. --do ----. 2,000 2,000 || Large.
15 | High Park. --- - - - - - -. ---do ------------- ---do ----. 30, 000 30,000 Very large.
16 cºwood Creek | Fremont .......... [. - - , (10 - - - - - 3,000 3,000 || Moderate.
O. l.
17 | Cottonwood Creek doº-------------|. ---do ----- 2,000 2,000 | Prohibitory.
O, 2. •
18 Beaver Creek No. 1..i. . . do ........ -----|----do ----- 2,500 2,500 | Large.
19 | Beaver Creek No. 2..!. -- do . -----------. ----do ----. 2, 000 2, 000 DO.
20 | Middle Beaver....... Dl Paso. ---------. ----do ----. 1, 200 1, 200 | Very large.
21 | Seven Lakes.........!.. --do ------------- ----do ----. 6,000 6,000 || Large.
22 | Yorkville - ...--------. Fremont..... -----|----do ----. 3, ()00 3,000 | Prohibitory.
23 | Big Turkey Creek - ...| Pueblo -----...--. ----do ----. 5, 5(;0 5, 500 | Very large.
24 | Six Mile Creek ... - - - Tremont.--------. ----do ----. 3,000 3,000 T}o.
25 | Eight Mile Creek....]. ...do ------------. ----do ----, 13, 500 13, 500 Do.
* A thoroughly good site.
2 Good º
*Cost probably $1,000,000 OI. In OTO,
4 Fair site.
‘Small site; its delivery can be made part of Sugar Loaf Reservoir,
*Possibly not prollibitory but doubtful.
CALIFORNIA,
1 | Clear Lake'...... ---.] Lake ----- * * * - ºn s = - Clear Lake|Very great. Small... --.
2 | Independence Lake”. Nevada.---------. Truckee . . 35,000 20, 000 || Modera
3 | Weber Lake” ........ Sierra ---. --- •----|----do ----, 15,000 10,000 O.
4 | Donner Lake". --...--. Nevada ----------.]. -- do ...-- 45, 600 25,000 T}o.
5 i Monache Meadows”..] Tulate....... -----| Kern ----. 350,000 (?) Do. Vº
6 || Big Meadows" ... -----|. -- do -------- ---------do -----|------------|-----------
7 | Little Yosemite"..... Mariposa ... ------. 'Merced ---|------------|------------
8 | Tenaiya Lake°. -----. Tuolumne --------|----do -----|------------|-- * * * * * * * * *
9 Tuolumne Meadows". I.--. do ------------- Tuolumne |..... - e as tº es a m i e s tº ºn as tº tº º ºs º- ºn tº
10 | Eteanor Lake” ....... ---do ------------- ----do ----.l. ºr ſº tº gº tº as tº es as tº º ºt tº º sº ſº tº º g º ºn tº ge
11 Kennedy's Meadows. |. --- do -...-- --------| Stanislaus I.-----------|----- tº ºn as as ºn e sº
12 || Kennedy's Lake” ....|----do ----- tº º ºr ºs e º tº º f * ---do -----|------------|------------
13 || Bear Valley. -- - - - - - -. Alpine.----------- ---do -----|------------|------------
14 | South Highland Lake --- do ------------. --- do -----|------------|------------
15 Rattlesnake Creek | Modoc ............ Pit River . Very large. Large. . . . . Moderate,
No. 1.7
16 || Rattlesnake Creek |.... do ..... * * * * * * * * ---do ----.l. ---do -----|- ---do ----. Do.
No. 2.7



1 This lake has been thoroughly surveyed, but
stage of estimates. - -
2 A very good reservoir site.
8 A good site,
* A very good site. * * * a tº e - -
6 Delivery will probably be very large; present indications are that this is the most effective site
now known in California. - - - e *
o These reservoirs have been reported worthy of examination and survey, No estimates practicablo
at present. In a general way most of them will be costly in proportion to delivery; some probably too
costly. * - e
7 Hºsent indications are that these two are very valuable rescrvoir sites of large delivery. Not yet
surveyed.
reports not yet received. Office work has not reached
THE RESERVOIRS THAT HAVE BEEN SELECTED, 83
IDAEIO AND WESTERN WYOMING."
[Snake River Basin.]

No. Name. County. Prºse Capacity. Delivery. Cost.
Acre-feet, Acre-feet.
1 | Jackson Lake'....... Fremont County, S n a k e, ]. ----...----- 1,000, 000 Small. g
Wyo. So u t h
Fork,
2 | Swan Valley”.-------|-------------------. ----do ----. 1, 500,000 | 1, 500,000 Do.
3 | Falls River? .........] Yellowstone Park. S In a k e, ] ............ 500,000 Do,
N or t h
º Fork. *
4 | Blind Creek . . . . . . ... Elmore ------ ----. Boisé -----|----- tº ºn tº gº ºs º ºs 160,000 Do.
5 Fair Creek. ----------|----do ------------- .--do -----|-----------. 60,000 Do.
* Capacity much greater than possible delivery. The delivery depends upon unsettled questions. If
the proportion of precipitation which runs off from the water shed is nearly as large as in the case of
Yellowstone Lake its delivery may exceed considerably 1,000,000 acre-feet. tº
* There is no question that the water supply is ample, and more than sufficient to fill this basin,
*Capacity probably much exceeds the inflow. t
*The storage capacity in the Payette and Weiser Valleys is known to be large, but has not been sur-
veyed. There is also a large portion of the Upper Snake Basin which remains to be even reconnoitered
: º, there is no reason to suppose that the above approximates the limit of storage possiblli-
ties in that basin.
MONTANA,i
1 | Sun River System, Lewis and Clarke Sun River. 12,000 12,000 Moderate.
No. 1. and Cascade.
2--------------- ----do ------------- ----do ----. 13,000 13,000 Do.
3. -------------. ----do ------------- ----do ----. 63,000 63,000 Do.
4--------------- ----do ------------- ----do ----. 42,000 42,000 I}o.
5--------------- ----do ------------- ----do ----. 65,000 65,000 Do.
6.-------------- ----do -------- ---------do ----. 12,000 12,000 Do.
7------ tº ºne tº º sº tº sº º ºs ----do ------------- ----do ----. 3,000 3,000 Do.
8 * * * * * * = tº º sº G = * * * ---. do • * * * is ºs º is ºn tº us tº a ----do sº a sº ºn tº 3, 500 3, 500 I)o.
9--------------. ----do ------------- ----do ----. 2,000 2,000 Do.
Yellowstone Lake ---|----...--------..... Yellow- [...--------. 1, 300,000 Small.
Stone *.
Logan Valley. --...--...... º e º ºs º ºn as sº sº a s sº e s a --do ----|-----------. 250, 000 || Moderate.
Beaver Head, No. 1 ...}........... tº gº tº gº tº dº º ºs & E # 3. . O I' 500,000 400,000 Do.
€3.0, º
tºthere are a large number of great reservoir sites not mentioned here which have been reconnoitered,
but only to a sufficient extent to determine the fact that they have good dam sites, and a large water
supply. Any estimate of their actual capacity and delivery would at present be premature. On the
Madison River, Mr. H. M. Wilson is of the opinion that there is storage capacity with full delivery for
at least 800,000 acre-feet at a low cost per acre-foot. On the Jefferson and its forks there is nearly as
much. , Sixty-two reservoir sites, all of which are believed at present to be practicable and moderately
costly have been reported for withdrawal in Montana. Their united delivery may be roughly esti.
mated at not less than 4,000,000 acre-feet.
TJTAH RESERVOIR, SITES.

1 | Utah Lake!...... ----| Utah --------- ----| Salt Lake. Very great Not great. Small.
2 Gunnison* -...-------...] San Pete..........] Sevier .... 2, 000 , 000 Do,
3 || Bear Lake” ----...--. Rich ------- ------. Bear River Very great Proble | Large.
k matical -
4 Desert* ---...-------. Millard. ------.... Soviet .... S00 800 Small.
5 | Cottonwood" ... - - - - - -. Salt Lake --------. Salt Lake. Small . . . . . Small . . . . . Large.
6 Panguitch Hayfield... Garfield ........., Sevier ---. Very large 5,000 || Moderate.
7 | Plateau Valley ...... --do ------------- !---do ----. Moderate . 2,500 Do.
8 || Panguitch Lake°..... Iron -------------. ----do ----. 25,000 11,000 || Very small.
9 || Marysvale' ...... ----i Pi Uto.----... ----|----do ----. J 0, 000 10,000 || Rather largo.
10 | Otter Creek.......... ----do ------------. ----do ----. 25,000 25,000 || Moderate.”
* Surface 140 square miles; lake shallow ; maximum depth only 14 feet.
tºº. dIn Ot º to lake rel
âter-shed now, draining into lake relatively very small; area of lake, 20 square miles, tº
doubtful; can be filled by diverting Upper Bear River. 130 Square miles, Dam sité
#; not º ucted. f l
aluable as possible source of supply of water for use of Salt Lake City. T
for irrigation. y oo COSUly and too small
6 An excellent site, -
* Cost probably not prohibitory.
84 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator REAGAN. That is a list of the reservoirs that have been se-
lected? e -
Director POWELL. That is a list of those already selected and defined.
The list is arranged by States. It will be seen that there is a large
number.
Irrigable lands have been segregated in the same manner, and all
segregations have been completed in Montana.
The total amount of lands selected as irrigable in Montana is 11,500,000
acres; in Idaho the total amount of land selected as irrigable is 10,900,000
acres; in Utah the total amount of land selected as irrigable is 2,200,000
201'éS.
There will be reported in a few days in our office for the State of
California 1,800,000 acres; and for New Mexico, on the Rio Grande and
in the Rio Grande Valley, 5,200,000 acres, all of land segregated as irri-
gable land. ©
I thought I would bring here our method of record. I have brought
a map showing where irrigable lands of Montana are situated which
have been designated. They are colored green. In the aggregate about
30,000,000 acres of land have been segregated and withdrawn from the
market to be offered to the people for homestead entries, as the statute
provides. There have also been withdrawn many miles of canal lines.
The sites of these lines remain, under the statute, in the possession of
the Government, as I understand it. In the same manner many hun-
dred reservoir sites have been withdrawn from the market, enough to
store water sufficient to supply many millions of acres.
In a very brief manner that outlines the work that has been accom-
plished with the appropriations that have been made in the last two
years, amounting in all to $350,000. It is not all expended; there be-
ing a sufficient amount of money on hand to continue the work until
the 1st of July, partly in the office and partly in the field.
The CHAIRMAN. What length of time would it take to do the engi-
neering work, or how early could you do it so that the people may know
where to locate the reservoirs, etc.? Eſow long would it take to do
sufficient work in each State for all practical purposes, so that they
could have it in hand 3
Director POWELL. That is a difficult question to answer; it depends
on the rate of appropriations. *
The CHAIRMAN. Of course I do not expect exactness in the answer;
but I would like to know about what rate of progress you can make.
Director POWELL. I think it would take a long term of years at the
rate at which we are now going. It would take fifteen to twenty years
at the rate at which we are now going. It was understood when the
estimates were made that that Work would go on very much faster
hereafter than now—I would like to get it all done in six or seven
years. At the rate of appropriation on which the original estimates
were made we ought to get the material practically ready in seven
years, and one-seventh of the work can be done each year.
Senator JONES. With what amount of annual appropriation ?
Director POWELL. About $1,000,000 a year; that is if we have to
segregate the lands and do all those things which the act of 1888 and
the subsequent act of 1889 impose upon us.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you were to leave out all except the reser-
voirs, and the points at which the ditches were to be taken out, how
long would it require, how rapidly could you designate the reservoirs
and the points, leaving out the surveys of lines further than would be
necessary to designate the proper places 3 t
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 85
Senator Jon Es. You have to have the survey made, I suppose, before
you can tell definitely 3
Director PoWISLL. I can not do final work in any one basin without
completing it all in that basin, and no part of the work is available for
the people of such basin until it is all finished. We can not plan a system
of works by piecemeal. We can not commence at the wrong end and
plan backwards. We can not plan a reservoir and then afterward dis-
cover its site; we must know its site first. We can not plan until We
know the amount of water which will be furnished to it, and by What
diverting dam and what canal the water can be brought to it, and What
lands can be irrigated by it, and what canals must be constructed from
the reservoir to the lands. That is, we must discover the facts upon
which the plan is to be based before the plan is made. We can not
make the plan and afterwards discover the facts to fit it. The topo-
graphic survey must eome first. The facts must be discovered by Some
niethod or other, and the topographic method is the cheapest Way of
discovering the facts, and the most accurate, and the most speedy. It
would be possible to plan works by guessing at the facts, but when the
plans were finished they would be worthless; perhaps they would be in-
adequate to serve the purpose; perhaps they would be extravagantly
expensive because made on too elaborate scale. But the greatest
danger of all would be to plan works which would not withstand the
floods and be destroyed. The fortunes of the people depending thereon
would then be wrecked, and in all probability many lives lost. It
would be foolish and dangerous to plan the works ignorantly without
regard to the facts which should govern their construction. Such a
course should not be contemplated. The only question which can arise
is, what is the best method of obtaining the facts; how can they be
accumulated economically, thoroughly, and speedily 3
Senator JONES. The surveys may show that such preliminary loca-
tions are bad. You have to make the surveys before you can know %
Director POWELL. I do not think it is wise to give to the people
plans for reservoirs and canals, and designate lands on which these
waters may be used, until the surveys are completed, except to say that
“these places are reserved.” I mean as it is completed from year to
year; certain areas can be ready every year, but the whole of the
States and Territories would take seven years, as I have said.
The CHAIRMAN. We will have a number of different localities in
which the people will be anxious to get to work, and a good deal of
pressure will be brought to bear upon us all the time. I want to see
how this can be relieved.
Director POWELL. We propose to relieve the whole situation by tak-
ing the most densely settled areas first ; then it must be understood
that there is a certain amount of irrigation in every country which can
go on independently of all surveys. There are small streams, springs,
creeks, etc., on which the people can go ahead themselves. ' This gen-
eral survey has its chief importance in connection with the great rivers,
and with large creeks and streams, where large reservoirs may be con-
structed.
In some places the people's work is carried as far as possible, and
where irrigation has been developed as far as possible by this means
we are pushing in, first to show how that industry may be developed
by the larger projects. But none of these will cut off the minor irriga-
tion work. The Imajor irrigation, the larger enterprises, will be devel-
oped from region to region in each State and each Territory as these
86 IRRIGATION AND TECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
regions become more important. The minor undertakings are already
under way.
Senator REAGAN. Did you have any plan for distributing this work,
So that the various new States and Territories may have their relative
advantage %
Director POWELL. I shall estimate by States and Territories this
year. The first year it was supposed to be experimental, and the mat-
ter Was made at my request in bulk and not distributed, allowing me
to Sefect particular places to illustrate what could be done. The esti.
mates will come in this year by States and Territories, so that it will
be divided among them all. * 3
Now, Mr. Chairman, on this subject I want to say something in rela-
tion to the plans. The work which we have done relates to the control
of the stream water. What we have done does not relate to waters
Which are to be derived from artesian and other sources,
The CHAIRMAN. And it does not include storm water ?
Director POWELL. It does not include storm waters. When esti.
mates were originally made and planned for the survey, under the di.
rection of a resolution of Congress I planned only for the control of
the stream waters, and made no plan for the use of storm waters or
for the use of well waters. The people of that region of country seem
to demand that the other subject should be investigated. If that is
done, the areas to be covered must be mapped in the same manner and
Somewhat more minutely, and a geological survey is necessary.
Artesian waters are found in geologic basins, where the formations
are turned up—bent into basins or great geographical bowls, that hold
the water, and where there are formations or strata of harder rock,
practically impervious to water, and between which are sandstone or
shales pervious to water. If there is to be anything done of value
to the people it involves geological survey, and if that is done the basis
of it is, like the rest, to be a topographic survey, for the maps are
necessary. It is impossible to marshal the facts and understand their
meaning without having them asemsbled on maps to show their proper
relation. So that, as for the plains, they must be topographically and
geologically surveyed. That will develop the basins. In addition to
that, provision should be made for a little experiment in boring. As
these basins are developed, experiments may be made from time to time
in boring to test the accuracy of the geological conclusions. It would
require, first, a geological survey; second, experimentation by boring,
to be of any real and permanent value.
The CHAIRMAN. Your survey has not included boring ?
Director Powell. No ; the law does not provide for geological work
or survey under the appropriations for the Irrigation Survey.
Senator CASEY. What is included in a geological survey 3
Director Powell. The formations that underlie the country are to be
discovered by going along the streams and by examining in that coun-
try the wells, every exposure, and every quarry for the purpose of find-
ing strata and observing their relations, their position, where they dip
under, and where they come up, etc.
Senator CASEY. That is, a geological survey involves a determination
of what is under the surface &
Director Power.L. Yes; what is revealed only to the eye of the geol.
ogist.
"senator Jones. You have to make a tographical survey before that?
Director Powell. It should be made at least pari passu with it; and
to show the meaning of all the facts they must be assembled on maps.
It is better to make it in advance.
Powell’s STATEMENT. 87
Senator CASEY. But no such detailed topographic survey is neces-
sary where the water can be found in wells, as in the case of running
streams, because the water is generally used where it is taken out. Is
not that SO % -
Director POWELL. Yes. The topographic survey for the use of the
artesian waters is not necessary. That is a very simple matter, because
that is seen by the man who stands by the well. The topographic Sur-
vey for the discovery of artesian waters is another thing—not for the
use of them but for the discovery of them. -
Senator CASEY. The Geological Survey has an attaché, Summer after
summer, in our State, driving over the country and ascertaining all the
facts, has it not %
Director POWELL. Yes.
Senator CASEY. Are not the data already collected by that attaché
sufficient for topographical purposes?
Director Powell. No, sir. The topographic survey which we have
been conducting in that country has not been on the plains, but in the
mountains. The topographic survey heretofore has been chiefly valua-
ble to the mining people.
Senator CASEY. But you have had in eastern Dakota a man for Seve-
ral summers, at least, examining the country north and south, tier by
tier, until he has been over all of Dakota; is not that true?
Director POWELL. Tor the purpose of discovering the succession of
rocks.
Senator CASEY. Does he not take the altitude?
Director POWELL. Not for the purpose of making maps.
Senator CASEY. What I want to know is, if the cost of a topographic
survey could not be dispensed with until the facts underlying the water
Question are ascertained ?
Director POWELL. I think they should go on together. I do not
think we could make reports satisfactory to the people without a topo-
graphic survey. The work could not be made satisfactory without
. and the map making and the geological Work should go on to-
gether.
Senator CASEY. The one thing we and our people desire to know is,
what is the extent of the artesian basin underlying that country; they
care nothing for the topography of the country, because their hopes and
their courage are dependent on what they ascertain in regard to the
water that may be obtained. Now, as this is a question of expense,
and the money to be appropriated for the purpose has to be granted
by Congress, we want to make the expense involved as trifling as
possible until we ascertain those essential facts. Therefore I suggest
that perhaps an expensive topographical survey may be dispensed with
until We know the facts about the water. Would not that be tho
better plan & Mr. Chairman, would not that strike you so *
The CHAIRMAN. We will discuss that after hearing all the facts.
Senator CASEY. It was by Way of discussing it that I have stated
what I have. -
Director POWELL. If the artesian waters are to be discovered in such
a manner that We may predict Something of them—so that we can say
to the people, “Bore here and you will get water,” or “Do not bore
there because you can not get Water"—that would be of value. To do
that a geological Survey based on topography is the cheapest and the
quickest method. If We go into that country and write books about
guesses as to how the strata lie, about the sandstone and the limestone
here and there without having determined definitely where they lie and
88 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS,
at what depth they lie and as to their character, whether they be per-
Violis or impervious to water, but go in with a general statement to the
people that it seems to be a good country for the boring of artesian
Wells, and if it should afterwards turn out that it is not a good country
for that purpose our reports would be of no practical value. Unless
we should be able to say positively “Bore here, and you will succeed;
if j bore there you will fail,” the reports would be of no practical
V2, U16.
In order to be able to say to the people “You can do this and you
Can not do that,” you will require a map based on a survey. Geology
is expressed in topographic features. The map-making collects and
arranges these facts of geology in a manner the most economic. All
Sound geology is based on topography. No good conclusive geologic
Work is done in the world without this basis.
The CHAIRMAN. In passing through that section of the country the
committee took all the testimony that it could get regarding the condi-
tion and the character of the rocks. Suppose now that the United
States should make a reasonable appropriation for additional wells to
determine the extent of that basis, and an intelligent man, a geologist
if you please, were to diligently inquire and make a careful record of
what had been discovered—of course your experimental wells would de-
termine in other places—might you not with one or two intelligent men
to observe and record what has been done, and with the Government
making some more Wells, determine with considerable certainty so that
the people might see where they could sink wells, so as to be making a
practical move? -
l)irector POWELL. We can take the artesian basins that we know of.
Some of these basins are pretty well discovered and defined, as I have
said before. We can say to the people as to certain places, “Bore here.”
or “Bore there.”
There are other places where the artesian basins are not well known,
but experiments have been made in them. There are others it is prob-
able now entirely unknown. We know that there are some artesian ba-
sins, but we do not know their outlines. One man bores in One place
and gets no water. The money of the man who gets no water is there-
fore lost. To trace the outline of that basin and be able to say to the
people “You can bore and get water but if you bore 1 or 2 miles away
you can not get water,” that we can not do until we have studied the
geological structure.
The CHAIRMAN. Yes, but that takes a good deal of time. The people
are on the ground, and they are boring wells. Their hope is predicated
on the prospects of getting water. My idea is to aid them in What they
are now doing by collecting the facts as to the penetrations—
Director POWELL. That we are doing.
The CHAIRMAN (continuing). Doing that carefully—ascertaining
the levels at which they will have struck water, formulating the infor-
mation as fast as possible, and giving them all the knowledge availa-
ble; and then, under an intelligent man, having some Government
money expended in boring other wells to relieve them of the experi-
mental expense. I have received I suppose twenty of thirty letters from
enterprising men in that section, and one from a gentleman in New
York, the other day, who said that he owned some land, there and
wanted to sell it to settlers. He wanted to know what information
there was to be had as to the developments that had been made there .
in artesian wells, and what the Government could do or would do. It
occurred to me that it would be well if you could have Somebody Who
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 89
was a good geologist to classify what has been done, without Waiting
for the topography—without waiting for the general geological Survey ;
simply to classify what well-sinking has been done; and then to let
some chances be taken, without speaking with absolute certainty, but
giving them all the facts, as to where water is found. . They Will not
want to wait until you have done all your work, so as to be able, as you
say, to speak positively. They want to do something right away. The
people are there and want immediate relief.
Senator CASEY. Will you be able to determine the limits of that
basin without the experimentation?
Director POWELL. No, sir; not fully.
Senator CASEY. Is it not better to immediately proceed with experi-
mentation to ascertain the expanse of those basins, instead of Waiting
for the topographical survey that will involve considerable time and
expense? The very fact that the Government is taking an interest in
this matter will be of great value to the people of that country. Their
courage will be greatly aided. As to a topographical survey, the aver-
age citizen knows nothing of it. If he sees a hole being bored in the
ground he knows what that means; he knows that it means business.
The more important part of the country to water is the uplands, away
from the river. What the people desire is that they shall know whether
they can have water. Coming over this country, for instance toward
the Red River, they will want to know whether they can get water,
and at what expense. Can not that be ascertained by experiment, and
can not the other work be followed up as inaugurated 2 That is to
say, can not the beginning of the work be the boring of experimental
Wells'
Director POWELL. The Work which is to be done there can be con-
sidered from two stand-points. It can be considered from the stand-
point of what will be known when it is finished, or it may be consid-
ered from the stand-point of its progress—what will be known in the
stages of its progress.
While the topographical work is going on, as I should work, the geo-
logical work is going on, the experimentation is going on ; and the
geological work is confirmed, as it is going on, by the experimentation.
And when it is finished we will know the whole thing; but we will only
know parts, as we finish the work in parts, as we go along. But as we
go along the work will be developed pari passw.
Senator MOODY. The people who have sunk these wells are not scien-
tific people, but mere well-diggers. The information which they have
obtained they have not preserved.
The CHAIRMAN. Some of them have.
Director POWELL. We have more facts than they dream of.
Senator MOODY. They have not the facts which would enable them,
or enable a scientific man, to determine the strata and the extent of
the basin and all that. Of course you are aware that right here on the
banks of the Missouri River, the very southernmost point of South Da-
kota, they have several wells. We know the fact, of course, that they
were obliged to go only from 450 to 650 feet, according to the elevation
On Which they started, to strike that basin which brings the water to
the surface with force, and of course we know the fact, for it is a famil-
iar one, that the pressure there is from 60 to 80 pounds to the square
inch. The other day they struck a well at 760 feet at Huron. They
had to go 900 feet elsewhere. They got a well at Redfield at about
1,100 feet, and so on. They had to go as far as 1,300 feet on the divide
between the Jim River and the Missouri River.
90 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Here is a quartzite stratum along the castern side of North and South
Dakota. That red quartzite which they call jasper, sometimes granite,
they have attempted to go through, but they have never found any
Water at any depth that they have gone through that. So we call that
the “rim,” or the “rim-rock.” No experiments have passed over the
Missouri River, or over the divide, in fact they have not got quite on
the divide.
. Now, the query is whether it would not be advisable to put a force
into the field at once for the purpose of making a fairly good survey to
show What area of this country can be utilized for irrigation—to experi.
ment With this water—to see for example whether there is anything in
the Water which would be detrimental to crops.
The CHAIRMAN. I think the water is very good.
Senator MOODY. And then to dig experimental wells over west and
agross along the Missouri. Where we get across into the western part
of the country we know there is plenty of surface water, and people are
using the surface water for irrigation; they are constructing ditches
in this region of country. One of these ditches is 25 miles long. But
going farther north, into the western part of North Dakota, we do not
know how much use can be made of the waters. What we want is that
these people already there on the ground—600,000 people are located
there—may know where they can get water. The farmers will have to
depend upon bringing water to the surface to furnish moisture either
in the atmosphere or upon the lands, because there comes sometimes a
Series of years in which they do not have sufficient rain-fall.
Senator OASEY. And four-fifths of the people are farmers and directly
dependent on their farms.
Senator MOODY. Now, as Senator Casey has said, what these people
Want is courage. The courage of conviction is what they greatly de-
sire, and if the Government will give them sufficient money to dig ex-
perimental wells they will take care of the rest.
Senator CASEY. But their courage must be built on that which is
palpable to their eyes. They can not be expected to look upon this
question from a scientific stand-point at all.
Senator MOODY. They want results.
Director POWELL. But what shall the people be given courage to do,
to bore wells where they will ultimately fail or to bore wells where they
Will meet with success % Suppose they are advised to bore wells on bar-
ren ground; the first failure of that kind would react and all courage
would be lost. I do not wish to give the people courage to lead them
On to failure, to waste their energies in seeking disaster.
Senator MOODY. Will not the expenditure of a fow thousand dollars
there by the Government absolutely determine the question as to where
that artesian belt exists and where to bore ?
Director POWELL. Artesian water can be discovered in part by ex-
perimentation and in part by tracing out the formation of the ground.
Senator MOODY. And one must go with the other, you think, or ought
to go with it? &
Director POWELL. Yes, precisely. The geological examination with-
out the experimentation wiłł more or less be futile. The experimenta-
tion without the geological examination will be wasted. That matter has
been up before Congress again and again, and appropriations have been
made for Texas and Colorado. Tifty thousand dollars has been ex-
pended by the Government and thrown away, and yet there are artesian
waters in that State. But the wells were bored without the examination
of the geological structure and were not placed where the Water was
to be found.
Powell's STATEMENT. 91
Senator MooDY. Is it not practical with a comparatively small ap-
propriation or expenditure for you to put into that country a corps of
engineers and others right at once 3
Director POWELL. I have estimates sent to the Secretary for each of
the Dakotas of $50,000, with the idea that the work there was pending,
that it was necessary, and that they wanted the work done at the earliest
possible day. f
Senator MooDY. Fiſty thousand dollars for each of the Dakotas?
Director POWELL. Yes.
Senator MOODY. Is that enough 3
Director Powell. I have asked for $50,000 each for North Dakota,
South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas, to be used in this work.
With that amount of money I propose to take up, first, the study of
the artesian waters and storm waters, My judgment is that the Storm
waters will be most valuable. I want to be frank with you. I think
the people are mistaken, but the people believe in the artesian Wells
and I am going to meet them.
Senator CASEY. And the population lies where the storm water is
not available without very great expense, such as the tapping of the
Missouri, or something of that kind.
The CHAIRMAN. Oh, no.
Senator CASEY. I am living in that region and am familiar with it.
Director POWELL. My idea is that the people are looking to the ar-
tesian waters, and I should push artesian examination first ; but I be-
lieve that it will be but a small resource, and that the great resource
will be in the storm waters and river waters.
Senator CASEY. The experimentation is different in our case, because
there are facts that exist from which you may proceed, and the exami-
nation of the basin should be from what is known outward.
Director POWELL. Yes; you have artesian basins but how much
water will they supply is the vital question.
Senator CASEY. That is a different thing from an examination in a
country where no well has ever been discovered.
Director POWELL. Already we have facts in relation to the two Da-
kotas upon which we can proceed with a great deal of confidence about
the artesian waters. There has been sufficient study of the geology and
sufficient experimentation to make a basis from which to start.
Senator CASEY. The confidence of the country with regard to the
James River Valley itself is established; but, the notion exists in the
minds of the people that when you have left the particular formation
which makes that valley (of which they know nothing, but which they
suppose is the formation inclosing the valley) they will not be able to
get water. They have not the courage to expend money for wells there,
If the Geological Survey will ascertain that the basin is not confined to
that particular valley, experiments will go on by the people in all di-
rections, but they must have some one thing to give them that courage.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose that, taking the places that are known, ex-
perimental wells were sunk outside, where the probabilities are great,
but where people are not willing to make the experiment, the Govern.
tnent money would not be wasted, would it.”
Director POWELL. Some would be wasted and some not.
The CHAIRMAN. If where you succeeded and gave courage then pri-
vate enterprise would take hold of it; even if you did waste some money
the information would be valuable. By sinking the well the formation
would be discovered as you went down. What would be the average
cost of these Wells 7
92 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator MOODY. The well at Redfield, complete, 1,050 feet in depth,
cost $3,100.
The CHAIRMAN. What did the well at Huron cost?
Senator MOODY. That will cost more, although it is not quite so deep.
Senator CASEY. That well at Jamestown cost $7,000. But there is
nobody Who knows just what a well is going to cost.
The CHAIRMAN. I should like to get at a general average, to see how
much money is necessary to accomplish any useful purpose. º
Senator MOODY. Mr. Holt, whom you met at Huron, I suppose, gave
the matter a great deal of attention, from the fact that he has had the
management of a farm mortgage company there. He told me that they
had received an offer from a responsible company to sink thirty-five
wells in that region of country for $35,000.
The CHAIRMAN. What would be the average depth of those wells 3
Senator MOODY. The average depth would be about 800 feet.
The CHAIRMAN. If they went to the higher lands they would have to
dig deeper wells? 3.
Senator CASEY. That would be relatively more expensive. I saw Mr.
IIolt and other people at Huron quite late in the season, and the people
On the ground were quite doubtful as to whether it could be done at
that price. So that I think that you will need to reckon on these wells
costing $5,000 each, taking the average of the country up and down.
Senator MOODY. Possibly, if you reckon on the divide, that may be
SO.
The CHAIRMAN. Major Powell has got $250,000 for the plains.
Director POWELL. Yes; if the work is to proceed on the theory that
the basins are to be discovered by the boring of wells then the appro-
priation should be larger. If you want immediate results and want to
proceed on the theory that the investigation must be made by experi-
mentation, the appropriation should be larger and it should be expected
that much of it would be wasted.
Senator CASEY. That could not be avoided.
Director POWELL. With that understanding we can go ahead experi-
menting.
Senator MooDY. If every experiment was to be a success we would
not want you to make any experiment. We would make it ourselves.
It is for the very purpose of determining absolutely that it is no longer
an experiment that we want this done.
The CHAIRMAN. The situation out there is very pressing.
Director POWELL. If you will give me sufficient money, I can, within
one year, put a corps of geologists and engineers boring on the plains,
but it must be understood that much would be wasted, and when the
work is finished not a very great supply for agricultural purposes will
be given. The amount of water to be obtained from ärtesian wells is
very small, but what there is will be of value.
Senator MOODY. That is what We Want.
Senator CASEY. That is what we want, so far as North Dakota is con-
cerned.
Director POWELL. Many of the wells bored would be failures; others
would be successes. A double corps would be needed—a corps of en-
gineers and a corps of geologists.
The CHAIRMAN. There is a vast population there now that are suf-
fering, and the Government can afford to give them courage, if it is
possible to do so. If it could relieve them at once and stop their suf-
ferings, it would be a great blessing to that country, for it is really
suffering. There are 600,000 people there and they have lost their cour-
Powell’s STATEMENT. - 93
age. They want immediate knowledge in order to give them courage.
They are a vigorous and active people and only want encouragement.
Senator CASEY. They want the knowledge that the Government is
taking an interest in this matter. They want it in a palpable form.
Senator MooDY. Of course we know the existence of this rim-rock. I
believe you call it Sioux quartzite 3
Director POWELL. Yes.
Senator MooDY. It is a formation by itself. Of course we know there
is a little out-crop of that quartzite on the Jim River, which is not very
material, and there is nothing of it as you go west. The limit of this
artesian basin, west, has never been found. In other words, it has never
been a total failure to find the artesian basin. So we think, or at least
we hope, that the proper investigation by Scientific men—by the men
that you will be able to send out—would supply sufficient facts, so that
it would hardly be an experiment to dig a well.
The CHAIRMAN. How much of an examination would it be necessary
to * examine the Missouri River as to where it could be taken
Out, etc.
Director POWELL. If any ordinary appropriation is made we will be
able to do that next year.
The CHAIRMAN. I do not mean a general survey, but to ascertain the
particulars?
Director POWELL. I understand. The single fact could be deter-
mined easily; it is a question of levels.
Senator MOODY. The situation of the country is such that after get-
ting out of the influence of the Jim River, you have to take the water
from the Missouri. You can not climb this ridge.
The CHAIRMAN. Oh, no. That is the thing we want investigated.
Senator CASEY. The bulk of the population of North Dakota lies
east of what is known as the Coteaux.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you through with your general statement, Major
POWeil 3 -
Director POWELL. Let me say just one word more, Mr. Chairman.
If I beg for thorough work, which will not ultimately lead to disap.
pointment, I want you to understand my motive in the matter. We
can do work that will be valuable to the people at once, in some cases,
but in many cases it would bring disappointment. If we are hurried
in doing it, instead of doing it in a careful, scientific manner, many
people will fail and will say. “We have failed because we followed the
recommendations that were given.” We know of three artesian basins
in the Dakotas: That on the Red River has been carefully surveyed.
Its supply of water is limited; but it is in a region of country where
irrigation is not necessary. Farther west there are two other basins,
imperfectly known ; one of them gives no evidence of being of great
Value; the other gives evidence of being one of the finest basins in the
world and is worthy of the most thorough examination; and yet we
can not hope for a great supply of water for irrigation from it. Water
for towns, Villages, gardens, ranches, and even for powers, may be ob.
tained, and perhaps some small amount of water for farming purposes ;
but artesian waters are always limited, and excessive boring destroys
them. The great basin of the Dakotas should be utilized to its fullest
extent, but it must not be tapped beyond tha or the whole thing will
collapse. That has been the experience of many artesian basins ; and
it seems to me that it would be wise to direct the attention of the people
more to the storage of Storm waters. There are many portions of the
Dakotas where this can be done advantageously and cheaply. Yet I
94 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
do not wish to discourage the use of artesian waters to the utmost ex-
tent of the supply.
The principal supply of artesian waters in the two Dakotas is from
the Dakota Sandstone. All the great wells are found in it. We do
not have to discover that sandstone; we know its extent throughout
the country, but we do not know how much water it will yield. We
do know that the supply is limited, that it can not be great; that it will
be impossible to multiply wells indefinitely; and we do not know but
that this source has been drawn upon nearly to its limit. Should I say
to the people that this sandstone is found from north to south through-
out the Dakotas and from the ninety-seventh meridian westward nearly
to the Rocky Mountains, and that you can in most places find artesian
Waters in it—which is a fact—it would give the people courage to bore,
and many Wells would be immediately sunk, and the probabilities are
that the supply would soon become exhausted and all existing wells
destroyed. What we want to know is to what extent this source can
be drawn upon and when the boring of wells into it must be stop. But
What is still more important, we wish to discover whether there are
any other water-bearing formations. All this can be determined in the
most Speedy and most economical manner by a geological survey based
On topography and by an occasional experiment to verify the inferences
of the geologist. The geologist is able to say that such and such rocks .
and such and such districts will not afford artesian waters. Eiis first
conclusions are therefore negative, excluding certain rocks and certain
districts. Then he discovers other districts where the character of the
rocks and the geological structure give probabilites that artesian waters
may be ſound, and these probabilites must be tested by experimenta-
tion. - -
And finally, Mr. Chairman, I wish to be understood as expressing the
opinion that when all the artesian waters are discovered and all utilized
there will still not be a sufficient, amount of water for the region of
country of which we have been talking, extending along the plains from
our northern to our southern boundary, greatly to affect the industries
of agriculture. Artesian waters have always been and must be inade-
quate to meet the wants of irrigation, except here and there for gardens,
orchards, vineyards, and for stock purposes. The great fields of Dakota
can never be cultivated by artesian waters. To encourage the hope for
success in this direction, on any scale adequate to the needs, is to give
the people a false hope that will lead them to disaster. I know that the
people see streams of water bursting out of the ground here and there,
impelled high into the air, and in times of drought these are beautiful
scenes. I know that they have reached the conclusion that there is a
lake of water underground, and that rivers flow beneath their feet, and
that they have but to tap these sources to receive an abundant supply.
But I also know that these opinions are groundless; that the Waters
which they obtain are only those which percolate through porous sand-
stone from a long distance away, and that the Supply is exceedingly
limited. I know that the sandstone in which it is found is widely
spread, but I dare not tell them of its extent lest they be tempted
thereby to spend vast sums of money in vain, and reach still worse re-
sults by destroying the ſountains already developed. ... It is my opinion
that the resource is not exhausted, that Some more Wells can yet be suc-
cessfully sunk into the Dakota sandstone, but to what extent it is safe
to go on as they have begun I dare not say until a proper examination
is made. I am not willing to deliberately face the facts before me and
encourage the people as you desire.
POWELL’s STATEMENT. 95
Mr. Chairman, the discussion of this subject of artesian Wells has
come at the end of a long hearing, and little time has been given to it
in view of its importance. I should be much pleased to be heard by the
committee at greater length on the subject, and to prepare myself with
maps and diagrams, that the question may be fully understood. g
Is it wise to encourage the people to gamble for water with the dice
loaded against them *
IFOURTII DAY'S SESSION.
WASHINGTON, D.C., January 31, 1890.
The committee met. Present: Mr. Stewart, chairman; Mr. Plumb,
Mr. Casey, Mr. Moody, and Mr. Teagan. e
The CHAIRMAN. I will say to those who are here to-day that We have
gone over generalities sufficiently. We have collected a vast amount
of general material. What we want now is to hear from any person
present who has practical ideas as to what can and ought to be done
to facilitate irrigation; how it can be directly got at; what aid the Gov-
ernment can give most advantageously and With the least expense to
make a profitable development of the arid regions. We would like to
confine gentlemen to that. I would like to hear from two or three on
that point. Mr. Nettleton is a practical man ; and we will hear from
him; also Mr. Hinton. (Addressing Mr. Hinton.) The committee would
like to hear your views as to the practical methods of procedure desir-
able on the part of the Government to aid irrigation. We have already
gone over a great deal of ground, and have collected the general his-
tory of the subject from the testimony taken throughout the country.
Major Powell also has given us a good deal of the general history. We
will, therefore, necessarily limit those whom we are to hear to-day to
practical suggestions as to What ought to be done.
STATEMENT OF RICHARD J. HINTON, IRRIGATION ENGINEER,
U. S. GEOI,00ICAL SURVEY.
Mr. HINTON. In the work before us, Mr. Chairman, at present there
seems to be two distinct points to be aimed at, for largely the running
waters within the arid region are being daily and almost hourly con-
sumed. By that I mean the streams and the waters in sight. The
points to which I should direct then my attention would be: first, that
we should aim at the conservation of the storm or surplus waters,
which must necessarily be stored in the high altitudes of that region,
and, Secondly, the restoration for use in agriculture of the waters under
the earth.
These two divisions at the present moment seem to me to be the es-
sential purposes for which engineering efforts should be made. I sug-
gest then that the great area lying east of the Rocky Mountains—the
plains and foot-hills—from the 97th practically to the 104th degree of
West longitude must come first, because of the great population that
has gone in there, and of the large amount of struggle and of pecuniary
effort that have been made by them; also, owing to the condition in
which they are being constantly placed by reason of the insecurity or
uncertainty of the Water Supply. These severe conditions arise not so
96 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
much by the deficiency of the water supply—taking the years through—
as by its unequal and unsuitable division. What we call the great plains
region, then, has for the work of reclamation to be first considered, upon
the ground that the largest part of the population to be benefited by
irrigation are to be found therein. -
The problems involved in that fact are, of course, two-fold, as in the
whole field: These are the storage of the surplus waters in the Rocky
Mountains proper and in the valleys of the streams flowing there, and
the obtaining of an adequate knowledge of the waters within the earth,
So as to make plans and lay out the best methods for their economic
use in the near future.
In the two Dakotas, our journey last summer, and the evidence that
has been taken by the committee, show the most remarkable artesian
water-belt, I think, known in the history of the world. The statistics
are very limited thus far as to its definite limits, but I have obtained a
list of about forty of what I would call town-wells, having depths from
1,600 to 1,800 feet and a pressure of from 80 to 220 pounds to the square
inch. These are within a comparatively limited area, which, with per-
haps two or three exceptions in the James Valley, would be below a
level that would allow them to be supplied from the seepage or perco-
lation of the Missouri River. I do not say that they are so supplied,
because no one can tell that at present, but the levels are such and the
geological indications, so far as known, are such as to give reasonable
ground for the belief that some of those wells may be so supplied.
Senator CASEY. From the Missouri River?
Mr. HINTON. From the seepage and percolation of the Missouri River.
From my observation, covering many years, and of late years very
closely applied, Iam convinced that we know very little as to the practi-
éal extent of percolation or loss, the underflow some call it, from the
waters of the great rivers flowing across the plains, and through the
arid region generally. That is the field of observation that we have to de-
velop. I believe that under this so-called underflow is in a large degree
the source of a very great many of the springs and of the wells that we
find in those regions.
Senator CASEY. Of the artesian wells, also, do you think?
Mr. HINTON. Of the artesian wells, also. I could not put that for-
ward as anything more than a reasonable suggestion, because there
has yet been no investigations of a character sufficient to warrant
anybody in positively stating such a theory. *
It has been said that we need a topographical survey for experimental
work in that region. Against the able and distinguished gentleman
who assumes that, I hate to place myself as hostile, but I believe that
the experience of all engineers testifies that it is a fact that topography
can not indicate clearly or definitely where any artesian or other water
may be found. Geology certainly can help in that direction and it cer-
tainly will help. The Dakota basin seems to be geologically delimited,
so that its eastern rim is well defined ; its general formation is under-
stood, and if there can be an appropriation for the purpose of definite
experiment in regard, first, to the artesian Water supply, its area and
sources, and second, to the gauging of the great stream that runs through
the Dakotas that is the Missouri River, so that we may know definitely
the amount of water, of the volume, etc., that flows through its chan-
nel at any given time, we shall have accomplished a piece of work
that, well done, will be done for all time, and does not depend upon a
topographical survey or even upon a more definite geological examina-
tion.
REGION OF WELLs, UNDERFLOW, AND SPRINGS. 97
If I am asked to recommend the way, I beg to suggest a consider-
able appropriation for these definite purposes: first, of ascertaining the
character, through the boring of experimental wells, by the river gaug-
ing suggested, and by the location of tanks or small reservoirs, of the
water supplies of the two Dakotas; secondly, to place the States of Kan-
sas and Nebraska, with their Arkansas and the Platte River Valleys,
in another district, find out the same class of facts therein, and in ad-
dition investigate the best manner of recovering the great body of
water which sinks into the earth——the water which flowing from the
mountains spreads through the broad channels I have named, and
finally sinks into and is extensively retained by the stratum of gravel
and sand, immediately below the Soil.
There are artesian wells in northern and central Nebraska. Reaching
over into northern Kansas, in the Republican Basin, will be found a
large body of water lying near the surface, which can be made of great
agricultural value, at little expense, by experimental Work and develop-
lment.
When we come to southern Kansas, we find that there has already
been some work done in the way of ascertaining the value of the seep-
age or percolation of the Arkansas as it flows eastward. At Dodge City,
though the work has been temporarily stopped by the winter storms,
they have already run some 20 miles of tunnel or drift. The average
fall of the Arkansas River from the mountains is about 7 feet to the
mile. This insures the possibility of putting in levels for the purpose
of obtaining that under-supply and distributing it over the land at no
great expense. *
Senator CASEY. Point out on the map the regions to which you re-
fer, as you go on.
Mr. HINTON. This is the Arkansas River [indicating], here is Dodge
City. At Dodge City they are running a tunnel in Westward. The
average fall from the mountains, then, is at least 7 feet per mile. The .
project is to take it out on either side by reservoirs and laterals, and
distribute it on the land. In the counties to the south, there is a con-
siderable artesian well region. There are a number of artesian wells in
Meade County and elsewhere in that section; of this, the committee has
taken evidence.
In eastern New Mexico there is an extensive region of large springs,
showing the existence of water under ground that comes with great
force to the surface, We find when we come to northern Texas, and to
what is known as the Staked Plains and the Panbandle region of that
State, that there are in existence to-day a great body of wells. Some are
artesian in character, but there are many that flow so near to the sur-
face and With such force that it is evident that if these wells were sunk
deeper they would have the artesian quality; they would strike that
stream. It is a general belief there, among both engineers and practi.
cal observers, that the water under the Staked Plains, the water from
which these Wells are supplied, has the character of a flowing stream.
Some experiments have been made in the neighborhood of Marienfelt,
Odessa, and Midland, on the Texas Pacific Railroad, which seem to in-
dicate the correctness of that theory. The altitude lowers abruptly,
and the land is of a totally different character. Beyond the westerly
limit of the Staked Plains the land is all of a distinctively arid charac-
ter, as arid as Nevada or Arizona. It has no precipitation exceeding 8
to 11 inches of fall per annum. But throughout northwestern Texas
there is unquestionably a large underground water supply. The springs
138 A L-WOL IV—7
98 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
* |
which come to the surface, the evidence of the wells upon Staked
Plains and in the Panhandle region, indicate this. Indeed, the testi-
mony all goes to show that there is a supply sufficient if it could be
brought to the surface to answer the purposes, by small storage, of almost
that entire region. The rain-fall will average 20 inches per annum.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not mean by that statement to say that it
would be sufficient to irrigate all the land, do you ?
Mr. HINTON. No ; not all of Texas west of the 97th meridian. By
no means. Of course the valleys of the Colorado and of the Pecos
Rivers must largely be a surface-irrigation region, supplied by those
streams. But still a large portion of the area can be supplied by a
small storage system that may be made by conserving the local rain-fall
from the surplus of the Wells, by their storage, and by that of seepage or
drainage Water also. My own judgment is that on these great plains
running through, east to West, between 97 and 103 degrees, in the main,
Small storage rather than great works will for a long period of time to
Come be the reasonable and safe means of supply for the people living
therein. -
Looking at the Great Plains region practically, and as a matter of
legislative recommendation, I should say that this Government may
reasonably and properly expend sufficient money to find out the water
Supplies thereof; to ascertain how they can be most economically con-
served and used ; in short, to learn definitely to what extent these
plains may be made permanently available for agriculture, or whether,
in fact, they must be in large part retained only for pastoral purposes.
This knowledge may be obtained, rapidly and with sufficient accuracy,
without the delays necessarily incidental to a full topographical survey,
or even of a minute geological survey. The pioneers will go onto these
lands. They should have accessible the information requisite to their
proper direction. *
Of course, I beg leave to say, that it is the business of legislators to see
that a proper topographical and proper geological survey shall be car-
ried on, but I do not think the Irrigation Survey is necessarily depend-
ent on their progress. On the contrary, I suggest, with all deference to
abler men than myself who express a contrary opinion, that the delays
incident to their completion will result in a positive injury to the irriga-
tion work. There are competent engineers in the Survey, and there are
facts sufficiently known as a basis for their action, so that it would be
possible to commence at once the work of investigation for experimental
artesian wells in certain directions; the work of developing the quality
and the character of the percolation of the great valleys I have named,
the Arkansas, the Platte and others, the flow and character and vol.
ume of the Missouri, as it runs through these regions. All this is ab-
solutely necessary. Engineers and geologists may arrive rapidly at
proper conclusions. The railroad surveys made across the plains will
give all the needed altitudes. A series of field reconnaissances can be
vigorously pushed. All the preliminary facts can be arrived at in a
proper manner some time before this Congress adjourns, and at a day
early enough to enable it to have some definite information before it
on which to base any other action that it might deem desirable. I
want to add that whatever money expended experimentally on these
lines will not need to be continued. A topographic Survey, or rather a
series of topographic maps, is not a precedent condition.
The CHAIRMAN. Your attention has also been called to Arizona.
There are a large number of petitions from there for experiments such
as you Suggest,
THE UNDERGROUND WATERS OF THE SOUTHWEST. 99
Mr. HINTON. Arizona is a region over which I have traveled and ob-
served almost as much, in days past, as I have in Kansas and the central
region. In southern Arizona there are areas of underground Supply
that can be developed. The Santa Cruz River, for example, flows under
ground to Maricopa, in the Gila Valley. It runs into the Gila River
near that point. The Santa Cruz River rises a few miles below the
southern line of the United States, in Mexico. It runs almost directly
north to Tucson. Nine miles beyond Tucson it is lost under ground,
and then, for some 87 miles it flows under ground, until it enters the
Gila and helps to swell that river. The valley of the Santa Cruz con-
tains about 1,140,000 acres, a very large proportion of which, if there
were water for it, could actually be brought under the most efficient
horticultural use. It is a region admirably adapted for fruit. At the
Mission of Tumacacori, and at Tubac, Calabasas and other places, there
are the remains of fruit gardens that the missionaries planted and used.
I have seen, in years past, all the semi-tropical fruits growing oll farms
that were maintained there against the Apaches. The Santa Cruz
River should be taken out, as near its source as possible, and distributed
by means of high-line canals.
The land is very fertile. The river has a great drainage area at its
head. It is fed by several very important small streams on both sides,
and if it were taken out and placed in a new channel, and distributed
over the valley, the entire region at and below Calabasas could, I believe,
for some 10 or 12 miles wide and 150 miles long, be made a perfect gar-
den. We used to fancy in years gone by, in traveling over the Cienega,
Inorth of Tucson, that we could hear the waters running under ground. I
do not know whether that was a correct inference or not. Eastward,
and lying beyond the Dragoon Mountains, will be found the San Simon
Valley, or plain, known in the olden days as the principal route south-
Ward of the Apaches. You can get water in the San Simon and Sul-
phur Valleys anywhere at from 8 to 40 feet below the surface. All
through, in this low table-land, you will find wet places—the Mexicans
call them cienegas. There are a number of ranches in that valley now
supplied by such waters, from either wells or tanks and ponds. The
San Pedro River also, between the San Simon and the Santa Cruz, rises
in Mexico, as the Santa Cruz does, and can be, by storage near its head,
made of much greater service than is now the case. Upon the plateau
on which Tombstone is situated they have some artesian water, and I
understand there are two flowing wells at that place.
Crossing into New Mexico, over the Chiricahua mountains, and be.
yond the eastern foot-hills of that range, you reach Deming and the ta-
ble-land around it. Water has been found there from within 25 to 40
feet of the surface. It is an important railroad junction. It is so near
that Slight pumping brings it to the surface, and makes it valuable for
the small irrigation, for fruit and gardens, that is going on in that
region.
From what I can learn in relation to it, it would be possible to de-
velop the whole well or artesian water-power there, and create a small
storage system which would bring a large proportion of that mesa, or
bench land, under cultivation for grass and root crops, as well as for
fruit. Through this region and up to the lower foot-hills, water can
almost always be found a short distance from the surface. Most of
these little Valleys of that region could be reclaimed by the use of
Small storage.
The CHAIRMAN: What have you to say as to Salt River and the Gila,
and their valleys?
100 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. EIINTON. The Salt River and the Gila are necessarily to bo de-
Veloped by large systems of irrigation. I do not believe that the Gov-
ernment/of the United States will have to expend any large sums of
money in the direction of assisting Arizona or the capitalists who may
interest themselves in the reclamation of those two valleys. When I
first visited Salt River, years ago, there was considerable land in the
hands of small farmers with little ditches. The same thing can still be
seen in the Mesilla and the Rio Grande Valley. Within a few years, as
the evidence taken last summer will show, the Salt River Valley has
passed under the control of a large corporation. The supply is better
managed and of a much better character. If their propositions are car-
ried out it will still further increase. There is probably no region, even
in California or any other State within our borders, that presents a
larger future as a horticultural or fruit-raising region than the valley of
the Salt River and the valley of the Gila. On the Gila there are points
where storage reservoirs should be maintained—at the buttes, near
Florence, and above. Large irrigation systems are always desirable.
This region through here is a cañon region [indicating on the map).
It is not itself of much use for agriculture or even for pasture, but it is
of great service as a source of water supply. In this region [indicating]
the irrigation would be accomplished largely by local storage, some of
which will be quite extensive, as at Walnut Creek; but it will be what
in the future will be known as a secondary system. It Will not be the
high altitude storage system. **
ſn regard to high altitude work we must bear in mind that what we
now really know of the precipitation over the whole of this region relates
more to the valleys and the table-land than to any other part. All the
meteorological or weather seryice reports that we have had have been
simply for the purposes of local trade and traffic. We have had no
system of observations of a definite and distinct character in regard to
the mountain ranges. The rain chart presented in the last census by
Mr. Gannett, and of which I have a copy here, and which has been im-
proved by later observations, shows that the only record we have of
rain-fall definitely from the ninety-eighth degree to the Pacific Ocean
will range, going from the east to the west, from 20 inches down to 8 and
9 in the basin, and up again to 18 and 20 or 24 on the Pacific coast.
At some points it will fall as low as 3, 4 and 5 inches. This is the record
at Yuma, in the Colorado Desert, at Mojave and elsewhere. We know
as a matter of fact, though not from a recorded series of observa-
tions, that the rain-fall and snow precipitation on the mountains is as
from 3 to 5 inches in excess of what it is in the valleys below. The
average snow-fall on the Sierras will be from 60 to 70 feet of loose
snow, giving us on the basis of 11 inches of snow to 1 of water from 5
to 6 cubic feet of water. All, or nearly all, of this water runs to Waste.
At least 90 per cent. of it passes away in evaporation, or largely in the
ground. The largest portion disappears below.
The first great feature of an irrigation survey proper will be the con-
servation of these storm-water supplies. I take it for granted that it
is not necessary to accompany a survey for that purpose by an attempt
at an accurate topographical survey of the lay of the land. I have
never seen or heard of any country in which a topographic Survey has.
been considered a condition either precedent or subsequent to Success-
ful irrigation. The chief objects, then, of a United States irrigation sur-
vey to my mind are, first, to delimit, so as to be known of all men, the
drainage areas; secondly, to define the available reservoir sites within
those areas; and thirdly, to indicate the channels by which they can
be most economically distributed when made.
THE FIELD of work FoR AN IRRIGATION SURVEY. 101
So far as the Government of the United States is concerned, it being
definitely understood that there is no work of construction to be under-
taken, the object that it should have in the establishment of an irriga-
tion survey is to achieve those definite and distinct points, the delimit-
ation of the drainage areas, the definition of the reservoir sites, and
the indication on the maps, the simplest and clearest that can be made,
of the leading, most economical, and safest methods of storing and Sub-
sequently distributing the waters that are to be conserved.
The work I have indicated as that which in my judgment should be
done east of the mountains would be largely in the way of experiment.
Some of it might fail; other portions of it would, I believe, succeed. I
do not know positively; no one does; but I believe so. But, when the
wells are once sunk so that we have found the definite basis of supply;
when the rivers and streams are gauged; when we have examined into
the question of the value of the percolation of the great streams like the
Arkansas and the Platte, the money expended on that would have
settled the questions at issue. The encouragement which will be thus
given to industry and effort will be quite sufficient to induce private
capital to go in with them. Behind that and beyond it the work of
the great storage basins must go on. Each drainage basin is supplied
in the main only by its own local precipitation. We do not get any
more water practically than falls upon it. In, therefore, developing
such a region as the Arkansas Valley, while we do not necessarily now
have to establish, and might not this year or the next have to estab-
lish, the high storage basins, we must expect to see them developed
and completed finally in order to insure continuous security and safety
to the entire valley. *
First, then, I would take the Arkansas Valley as one practical fact.
I would take the valley of the Rio Grande, which is in peril, as another.
Both of them, owing to the great snow-storms of the passing winter, may
be very well situated next summer, yet all the time they are in peril.
This is owing to the use of the water in Colorado, the State wherein
they both rise. The proper use of the Colorado use is water. It is nec-
essary to develop the facts indicated by the Director of the Geological
Survey. I believe they are facts. In the Rio Grande Valley there will
be found to be a series of great storage and drainage basins, each por-
tion of which can be served by its own high altitude precipitation by the
Snow and storm waters stored in the mountains that mark the drainage
rims and outline these great basins. -
Utah comes next in my judgment. The people of that Territory have
developed the primary forms of irrigation in a manner and to an extent
unknown elsewhere in the country, but they have reached pretty nearly
the limit of their capacity in that direction. And with the recurring
arid or dry seasons they are always in danger of losing their prosper-
ity through the loss of crops. They have 600,000 acres of land under
water, and usually irrigate that much. Last year, as the testimony be-
fore your committe shows, not more than 350,000 or 400,000 acres of that
land were in cultivation. Utah needs deliberate and definite work in
regard to defining and delimiting, as I have said, the drainage areas
and their reservoir sites with a view to the encouragement and support
of those people. It will also need some work in the development of the
underground Supply, because in the basin of Utah Lake and elsewhere
to a limited extent there is an underground supply produced by the
drainage of those great waters, and the United States might profitably
sº ſº little money in testing the capacity and extent of the areas
thel'COf.
*
102 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The same is true of Nevada. Nevada, perhaps the chairman will
permit me to say, is looked upon as rather the lost sheep of the Ameri.
Can Union ; as having very little capacity for anything now except the
possible discovery in years to come of a new bonanza, I do not hold
that opinion, and I have passed much time traveling through Nevada
in the last fifteen or twenty years, and have studied it closely, and I
believe it is possible to make Nevada, by a comparatively moderate
expenditure, by means of the reclamation of its arid lands from water
Supplies that are in sight, a State that will support a population of at
least a million of people in the comfort which irrigation produces to
the community wherein it is practiced, I should like to say here that
farming by irrigation produces a more comfortable life, more prosper-
ity, and, so far as my observation goes (and it extends from America to
Egypt and from there to China), it produces more food supplies, more
sustenance from the land, and brings more comfort, prosperity, and
Certainty to those who work by it than any other system of farming
does. It makes the production of food almost as certain as the weav-
ing of cloth.
I have gathered a few items regarding Nevada which will take but a
moment or two to state, because there are some problems involved
there in the question of reclamation that need consideration.
The area of that State is 71,737,600 acres, of which the water area is
but 1,081,600 acres. The timber is estimated to cover 2,600,000 acres;
the pastural area is estimated to be 30,000,000 acres, the mineral area
15,000,000 acres; the desert and saline deposit, 3,656,000 acres, and the
agricultural area is placed at 20,000,000 acres. That is the area to be
reclaimed, if water can be obtained.
The State board of reclamation appointed to consider the question
of irrigation therein, in the report embodied in your testimony, pre-
sents a series of statements by counties, which will show an area of
17,981,000 acres as possible for reclamation, of which area 2,198,000
acres can, in their judgment, be reclaimed by Wells and springs that are
known to exist. In Esmeralda County, in the southwest, there is an
area considered to be reclaimable, and also in White Pine and in Nye
County, in the southern and eastern part of the State. There are sixty-
five artesian wells in Nevada. The average altitude of the State is con-
siderably over 4,000 feet above the sea-level. It is a mountain bowl,
Surrounded by high ranges, and the fact that there is found even that
limited number of artesian Wells would indicate the necessity at least of
examining into the character of the drainage or underground water Sup-
plies. There are a large number of important springs.
The trouble with Nevada is, in the main, that the drainage area that
will most surely supply the water needed for reclamation is found largely
within the limits of other States and Territories. In the north, the
rivers head up in the northerly and northwesterly territories. On the
west, the easterly slopes of the Sierras are unquestionably part of the
drainage area of Nevada. I am not speaking of political lines, but of
the natural features. The great lakes that lie upon the Sierra Nevada
are mainly upon the eastern slope of those mountains and the waters
naturally and properly belong to the people of Nevada. Take Lake
Tahoe, 78.square miles of its surface (that is, two-fifths), are within the
lines of the State of Nevada; the remainder is within the lines of the
State of California. Lake Tahoe is ranked with navigable waters and
belongs then to the Federal Government. It is all on the eastern side
of the mountain. The ranges rise from 3,000 to 6,000 feet above it.
Lake Tahoe has a dražnage area of at least 1,200 Square miles; the
THE PLACEs, MONEY, AND THE TIME THAT IS NEEDED. 103
valley of the Truckee has a large drainage area. From Lake Donner
and the other lakes that are known along that range water can be ob-
tained. Lake Donner has been surveyed and its boundaries meandered.
It is now reserved for irrigation purposes. Sufficient water can be ob-
tained for western Nevada without the loss of a single cubic inch to
California. By the storage of water in the mountain lakes alone enough
can be obtained to reclaim from 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 acres of land.
Even if it be but 1,000,000 acres it will amply repay all its cost and
double at once the values of the State.
That land is worth nothing, or very little more than nothing now. It
would be worth from $15 to $30 an acre if it were watered. That would
make as prosperous a community as could be formed within the bor-
ders of the Union. Nevada was born during the war, and by her
mines hundreds of millions in precious metals have been added to the
general wealth of the country. The larger proportion of those who have
bepefited by that development have left Nevada to struggle through the
póverty and indifference that are now surrounding her people. I think
it is within the range of legislative action to consider whether this child
of the mountain and of the war can not be benefited by some special
work and special appropriation to carry on that work. I hold that
Nevada stands first with New Mexico and the Dakotas, with Kansas
and Utah, as among the earliest regions to be considered.
The committee will understand that I am an officer of the Geological
Survey, and that I am not placing myself—not intending to, at any
rate—in direct opposition to the Director in any of my suggestions.
I design only to do my duty to those on whom falls the responsibility of
legislation. I am obeying orders to me imperative. My observations
and my knowledge then, such as they are, lead me very strongly to
the conviction that a topographical survey, a platting of the entire arid
region upon the scale of 4 or 20 feet to the square mile, is absolutely un-
necessary for the carrying on of an irrigation survey such as I have
understood Congress to have designed in the making of its appropri-
ations. I have seen irrigation practised from Utah to Egypt and from
California to China, and I have studied its entire history, but I have
never yet seen or learned of a region in which a topographical survey
was a condition precedent or even subsequent, so far as success was
concerned.
I believe the Irrigation Survey should take on very largely the feature
of a great reconnaissance, conducted by civil engineers competent for
that purpose. I have in my own mind framed a little idea as to what it
might possibly cost to put such a work for the next year under way. Of
course, I do this without having that definite knowledge of the admin-
istrative needs which come only from the direction of a large office and
of the handling of the expenditures thereof.
I have placed the total appropriation at $750,000, of which I should
expend, or should indicate the expenditure of, $350,000 for the develop-
ment of the underground water supply—the wells and the river under-
flows in the region lying east of the mountain. The other $400,000 I
Would expend in as rapid and as complete a series of surveys as pos.
sible—Surveys or reconnaissances by proper engineers competent for
that purpose. I think that ten or twelve such parties could be put into
the field and practically a large part of the work of delimiting and de-
fining could be done. The need of rapid work is shown by the fact that
Seven-tenths of the arable portions of our remaining public domain is
now found within the arid region.
The Irrigation Survey divides into three parts, as a method of admin.
104. IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
istration, in my mind: First, the civil engineers, whose work it is to
obtain the information; second, the hydrographic engineers, whose
Work is of a delicate and important character, in the ascertaining of
the water supplies, their extent, their volume, etc.; and third, the cre-
ation practically of a new division, which has never yet, in any large
Sense, been attempted. We want a small corps of trained observers in
climatology. We ought to have a small number of stations at least,
in the highest altitudes in which they could be placed with safety to
those who are to work therein. We ought also to have an appropria-
tion large enough—it would not be a great amount of the total—to en-
Courage the taking of volunteer observations in mining and lumber
Camps and in other places where labor and human habitation go on in
those high altitudes, and we should have some persons to superintend
and to gather and obtain this knowledge. It has been suggested to
me by a gentleman who has studied this question and is familiar with
the work that $10,000 or $12,000 expended properly in that direction
would be as beneficial as anything that could possibly be done.
This is not simply weather service observation. Weather service ob-
Servation is a minor division really of, the greater service suggested.
What is needed is the study of climate in its largest aspects; in these
regions and under those circumstances that will bring the most return.
First, then, I say, that an irrigation office wants a competent civil en-
gineer and staff; second, it wants a competent, but small staff of by-
drographers, and third, it wants a small staff of students or observers
in climatology.
Senator REAGAN. Would you not extend that to the valleys as well
as to the mountains &
Mr. HINTON. I would, of course; but the valley observations can be
properly carried on by the Signal Service, now in existence, and so
that there could be perfect co-operation. A very large proportion of
the lower altitude work can be carried on by a little extension of the
present weather service machinery, but the law and appropriations for
the present machinery do not embrace that of which I am Speaking—
they are not intended to embrace it—they are not designed to cover it,
and Signal Service men are not properly or particularly well trained to
do it. I would simply supplement their work and bring the two into
harmony. That is why I say it does not require a very large sum of
money.
In carrying out the work of an irrigation survey during the present
year, at least, it is not necessary to press this class of work in the regions
where the population, so far as is known does not immediately demand
it. I should aim to carry that work out in the regions Where it is
mostly to be required for immediate necessities. I have indicated in
part what those are. At the same time I believe it will be possible
within three or four years to close up entirely the field-work of the irri-
gation survey proper. If I am not mistaken the topographical Survey,
which is doubtless a necessity for the future, which every great country
will carry on, and should carry on, is a question of time, so that if the
irrigation work is to depend on the progress of the topographical Sur-
vey according to areas covered as presented here it would take Some
twenty years or more to complete it at the present rate of expendi-
ture. It would take less than that at a larger rate of expenditure, but
it would take not less than $8,500,000 or $9,000,000 to complete in con-
Junction with the irrigation work a topographical survey of the region
west of the one hundredth meridian of longitude. It is estimated to
cost $5 per square mile, and I have heard so competent an engineer as
f
THE NECESSITY FOR THE EL PASO RESERVOIR. 105
the able officer in charge of the irrigation survey declare that he
can do the work needed for 1 per cent. of the lowest cost estimated for
a complete topographical Survey.
I think, then, that this topographical work may well wait on the prog-
ress of the population and the growth of wealth. I do not believe
either that it can now be done with that sufficient accuracy by the means
now in hand that will warrant the attempt. The makers of maps who
have had the handling of the topographical maps made by Wheeler and
Hayden, and others in the West heretofore, find the grossest errors.
At various times I have been told of localities in which a difference of
as much as 1,000 feet has been found. The topographical survey that
is now being carried on is certainly in the largest sense a much more
accurate attempt at that work than has ever been attempted before in
the country. But it can wait, as I suggest, upon the progress of popu-
lation.
I want to call attention, if I may be allowed to do so, to the necessity
of action on the part of Congress at this present session with regard to
the boundary matter and the international dam at El Paso. It was
once my fortune to live in that city for twelve months. At the time I
thought it was an ill fortune, but I have got over that idea since. I
have traveled through northern Mexico a good deal and have studied
the condition of the people there, and have been up and down that val-
ley and I know something of the circumstances that surround it.
Unless some action is taken to definitely determine the boundary-
lines between the Republic of Mexico and that of the United States at
the point where they come together at El Paso and below it is quite
certain that there will be continued trouble, disorder, and want of peace
from year to year. It is not a question primarily of irrigation; it is a
Question of international obligation. Under the treaties of the United
States the people of Mexico are entitled to certain rights. Under the
circumstances which surround the flow of the water in the Rio Grande
they are deprived at present of those rights, and they are deprived not
by their own action, but by the action of that portion of the American
people who live within the upper boundaries of the Rio Grande. It is
not, of course, an intentionally hostile action, but its effect is the same.
It is therefore necessary that action should be taken. There have been,
as you are well aware, surveys made and plans devised which are ad-
mirably adapted for the establishment of an international dam and
reservoir at El Paso. In a little publication which I have received this
morning (I think it has not been made a matter of record even) Major
Mills estimates the total cost of the dam—the purchase of the land and
the railroad removals that would be required *
The CHAIRMAN. I think Major Powell gave those figures.
Mr. HINTON. The total amount is $1,007,599. I did not know whetlier
they had been given. - -
So far as the survey is concerned the work has progressed. I take
the liberty of urging that such legislation be had as will bring about
at an early day the appointment of an international commission for the
purpose of Settling that difficulty. I shall be glad to answer any ques-
tions which the committee may ask.
Senator CASEY. In the matter of experiments, in my State, for in-
stance, how many Wells would you guess would be required to make
that test as to the extent of the irrigation basinº
Mr. HINTON. Colonel Nettleton, who is the engineer of the Rocky
Mountain portion of this present survey, is here with us, and I think
106 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
he can give you, because he is an experienced well-man, a better hypo
thetical statement than I can.
Mr. NETTLETON. I never was in Dakota in my life.
Senator CASEY. Major Hinton has made certain estimates of the
proper amount to be expended for work of that kind. There should be
Some basis for those estimates. Of course work in our country would
depend entirely on the number of wells necessary to be put down. As
he has named an amount that would be proper for the work, I suppose
he has given some thought to that.
Mr. HINTON. I would myself suggest this: that a special appropria-
tion be obtained at once for the purpose of putting it into the hands of
the proper persons and making a reasonable inquiry into all the facts,
and reporting thereon, at the earliest moment. I have the names of
Some forty wells.
Senator CASEY. Mainly in South Dakota ?
Mr. HINTON. Yes. But there is hardly a single fact upon which we
can predicate any definite statement.
Senator CASEY. Do you know the depths of those wells 3
Mr. HINTON. Yes; we have the profiles, and can give the widths
across. We know the geological formation, largely, and can obtain
Very much of that information. Some of it can be obtained here with-
out going to Dakota.
STATEMENT OF E. S. NETTLETON, SUPERVISING ENGINEER,
The CHAIRMAN. Please state to the committee your occupation, and
whether, in your profession, you have had experience with the work of
irrigation ; if so, how long.
Mr. NETTLETON. I have been for forty-five years in the profession of
civil engineering—twenty years in irrigation and hydraulic engineering
in the West, mainly in Colorado. For the last twenty years I have been
connected with the Department of Irrigation, mainly in Colorado. I
have been connected principally with large corporations, and for four
years I was State engineer in Colorado, creating and organizing the
department of water engineering. I have also assisted in draughting
our State laws relating to irrigation. I joined the United States Irri-
gation Survey last May, as supervising engineer, for the eastern half of
the arid country.
The CHAIRMAN. I wish particularly to inquire, from your experience
and knowledge of the country, what is the best and cheapest Way, from
an éngineering point of view, to complete a survey sufficient for the
uses of agriculture by irrigation, also how it can be most speedily pros-
ecuted and with least expense—in fact, what ought to be done to Secure
such a survey and what is necessary to accompany it.
Mr. NETTLETON. As I understand the law upon which the appropri-
ations are made for this purpose, it seems to me that the Whole of this
work can be accomplished by what I would call an irrigation engineer-
ing survey—including sufficient topographical work and sufficient hy-
drographical work. It seems to me that the whole can be done under
one head or in one department— *
The CHAIRMAN. Would you have the engineers do the necessary
topographical work as they proceeded ? gº º
Mr. NETTLETON. Simply do what topographical Surveying is neces-
sary—not surveying any pasture lands or mining sites outside. The
hydrographic work is a part of irrigation engineering, and that can be
THE DEPENDENCE OF ENGINEERING ON HYDROGRAPHY. 107
done under the same management. So I do not see any necessity for
separating or making three divisions, all working separately from each
other in the field, none knowing the work of the others until the next
year, perhaps longer. - -
It is a fact that the engineering work is dependent largely on the
hydrographic work. In many localities we find a large number of res-
ervoirs and it is a question whether there are not more reservoirs than
water. It is only by the hydrographic work that we can determine
whether the basin is too large. The hydrographic and the topographic
work should go together,
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose you should reserve temporarily more reser-
voirs than are required, and you found you did not have water suffi-
cient, you could only utilize those that you had at first water enough
for; the others could remain reserved, and if you found, by experience,
that there was a deficiency of water supply, and you got people into the
Country, then you could make other reservoirs and increase your supply.
It would not be necessary to know the full extent of the Tain-fall, etc.,
before making the reservation. -
Mr. NETTLETON. I was basing my suggestion on doing the work in
the quickest time possible and with the least money.
The CHAIRMAN. That is what I want to get at—the Government work
that should be done to enable the people to carry out the rest.
Mr. NETTLETON. In the arid country the first thing would be the
finding of reservoir sites—ascertaining their extent and estimating the
capacity of the dam to impound the water, I believe it is in the law
that We are obliged to make estimates of the cost. That necessitates
the making of a thorough survey.
The CHAIRMAN. Of the reservoir sites?
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes; also of their capacity. Ithink it is also neces-
sary to have the drainage matters established. Then it is necessary to
run the preliminary lines of high-line canals.
. The CHAIRMAN. You would not make a working survey, but run the
general lines and leave monuments. -
Mr. NETTLETON. I am not certain whether the law does not require
the cost of these irrigation canals, and if it does, it needs something
more than a rough high-line to determine the cost of an irrigation canal.
The CHAIRMAN. If they had a reservoir site set aside and the high--
line run, the people then could understand the situation.
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Might not the estimates of cost on the ditches be
postponed and that work done afterward? -
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes; I think that if either was dropped out the
estimates of the cost of canals might be.
The CHAIRMAN. Might be postponed?
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes; I think it would be well to make surveys of
the reservoirs So as to make pretty close estimates of the cost.
The CHAIRMAN. And of the high-line ditch 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Then the people would go into it and make their
own estimates of the cost of the other parts 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Certainly,
The CHAIRMAN. What expenditure, if you have estimated it, would
be necessary per annum, to prosecute this work with vigor or as fast
as it is required ? * *
Mr. NETTLETON. Covering the whole arid country do you mean?
108 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Yes, leaving out the experiments for wells, because
that is temporary, and we have to estimate that separately. I mean for
a Survey for the arid country, locating reservoirs and indicating the lines
of ºne-how much per annûm would be necessary to carry on that
WOI’k # g
Mr. NETTLETON. That will depend on the time given to complete the
Work. The best and most economical way would be to extend it through
a Series of years—five, eight, or ten years—beginning in a small way
With small appropriations and gradually increasing the appropriations
as we get a better knowledge of what to do. This is all new work to all
of us, and my idea would be that commencing in a smaller way and
feeling our way along. would be better than to expend a large amount
at first, part of which might be useless.
The CHAIRMAN. And you would use that money where the immedi-
ate demand is to arise, for use by the people?
Mr. NETTLETON. Everything else being equal, I would.
The CHAIRMAN. You would distribute it then in different localities,
where they have population ?
Senator PLUMB. That is, you would use the money in sections where
people are already on the land rather than to entice them into new
2,I'ê81S.
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes; I would try to develop that country where
the people are—where it is possible to do so.
The CHAIRMAN. You would develop the inhabited localities?
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes; and if such development was not possible I
would let the people know it.
The CHAIRMAN. I wish you would think it over carefully and par-
ticularly, then make a short statement in writing after you have looked
over the field, and see where money is required. You have a knowledge.
of the country and how money can be expended to advantage. Give us
a short paper on that. Take your time to do it.
Mr. NETTLETON. Do you wish me to name the localities and the
amounts? -
The CHAIRMAN. The amounts that would probably be required, yes.
Mr. NETTLETON, For one year }
The CHAIRMAN. For one year. *
Mr. NETTLETON. I will do so.
STATEMENT OF EDWIN WILLITS, ASSISTANT SECRETARY OF
AGRICULTURE. *
The CHAIRMAN. The committee will be glad to hear any statement
you may have to make that is of interest in regard to irrigation.
Mr. WILLITs. You sent to the Department of Agriculture last Sum-
mer, Mr. Chairman, inquiring if we had any information on this subject.
I will simply say that from the time I came to the Department irriga-
tion was a matter of great interest to me. The first question I asked
was, what was being done about it. I called upon the heads of divis-
ions for information. They reported to me, and I had it in writing, but
unfortunately it was on the general subject. Some of the gentlemen
have come here this morning with information in Writing. I do not
know that we have anything to say in reference to the Specific questions
that you want answered. -
I desire simply to emphasize the fact that the Department of Agri-
cultúre is highly interested in the subject. Some of its chiefs have
THE NECESSITY FOR STUDYING CLIMATOLOGY. 109
been across the country this year, but they have not, after all, specific
knowledge. Their knowledge is general; therefore we can not answer
many of the questions that you desire. I would like, however, to
present the papers, and you can file them. We did not come here to
make speeches, but to gather information for ourselves on the subject.
I have nothing further to say except this: Colonel Hinton has referred
to the absence of any study of climatology. I have seen the perfect
weakness of all the information we have now on that subject. It is
the great impending question in the Department of Agriculture.
The whole weather service has been confined to the mere skirmish of
weather forecasts, etc., without studying the great broad question of
climatology. I will emphasize what the colonel has said, that the sub-
ject is much broader than the question of ordinary rain-fall.
The CHAIRMAN. Is your Departmént doing anything in that line?
Mr. WILLITs. Nothing. To tell the truth we are waiting to see
whether the weather service is to be transferred to us. If it is, one of
the things that we shall do will be to organize it in that direction.
The CHAIRMAN. It seems to me that the Weather service, if it is to
extend all over the country, should be placed in your Department.
Mr. WILLITS. I have nothing to say on that subject, but I have sim-
ply said that if you do not transfer the Weather service to us, and we
should come at the next Congress and ask that you give us the power
to study this question and its effect on vegetation and plant life, I hope
you will do so. It is a great question. It is the most important ques-
tion pending as a scientific and practical question. I have merely
spoken of it because Colonel Hinton has referred to it.
Years ago I was very much interested in Colonel Hinton's Report on
Irrigation. We had no information except what his report furnished to
us. So I wrote a letter to you, asking that in some way or other that
report might be incorporated into the report of this committee in some
shape, modified as it might be. It is full of instruction generally. -
That is all I have to say this morning, except to add that I would like
to be permitted to have some papers filed.
I would also like to have Professor Fernow make a statement on the
subject of forests. I should also like to have Doctor Merriam talk a
little to the committee on Ornithology and manumalogy—on the ques-
tion of what effect irrigation will have on animal life and bird life—
what new animals will probably be brought in or old ones driven out
by irrigation. I do not ask that he be heard to-day, but at any time at
your leisure.
Doctor Riley made a very important report on the influence of irriga.
. on vegetation and on Rocky Mountain life. I will present that
alSO.
STATEMENT OF B. E. FERNOW, CHIEF OF THE FORESTRY
DIVISION.
Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, you are discussing
here a question of the building of a stable, and my subject has only to
do With the feeding of the horse. That question you have overlooked.
It is a question it seems to me of considerable importance, and, although
apparently subsequent to the building of the stable, I think it will be
desirable to take it into consideration, as it will become absolutely nec-
essary to feed the horse when you have him.
I do not want to go into any discussion of the relation of the forests
to Water supply, but the practical question whether it has any influ-
110 IRRIGATION AND RECIAMATION OF ARID IANDS.
ence or not has been called into doubt. The intelligent and practical
man who does not wish to listen to arguments on the subject can go and
See What other nations have done. France, Italy, Germany, Austria,
all have done something for irrigation. The people of France have ex-
pended $50,000,000 for reforesting their country, for water supplies,
and propose to expend $50,000,000 more. They expend it on a very
Small part of their territory—the southeastern mountains only. The
º of the Work that they have done has shown that it was the proper
WOPR.
I Call the attention of the committee to the fact that this work is
being done, because propositions have been ventilated as to the desir-
able effect of getting rid of the forest area which the United States pos.
sesses. Italy, a small and poor country, has found out that 1,000,000
acres of their mountain districts must be reforested, and in their
budget will appear $1,000,000 for their forests alone. Austria has
found out that a portion of her territory must be reforested. Prussia,
with a very good forestry department and area, expends $250,000 every
year to rebuy the waste lands which must be reforested. All those
Countries are spending these large amounts of money through their for-
estry administration. France appropriates $5,000,000 a year for the
forestry administration. Prussia appropriates $6,000,000 a year for the
Same purpose. I call attention to this only to show that these nations
that are poor and must look after every penny, having no surplus to
expend, expend this money because they deem it absolutely necessary.
The United States has 70,000,000 acres of forest. They pay no atten-
tion to it. It is being devastated and burned up. That is the only
point I was anxious to make before the committee. *
But with regard to the feeding of the horse. I believe it is now well
established that it is not so much a deficiency of rain-fall in the arid
region or so much a deficiency of water supply as it is the difficulty as
to the amount of water that is being lost by evaporation. In Denver
there are 69 inches of evaporation and 49 inches of deficiency. That is
about the way it is throughout the whole arid region. The question
then is, when you have the stable and the horse, where will the feed
come from. Anything that will decrease evaporation is of impôrtance.
And it is important that it should be attended to now, while it is pos-
sible to preserve that which will decrease evaporation—namely, our
forests. -
In order to aid in looking after those in the broader areas you should
have timber belts all through your arid region to help irrigation.
The CHAIRMAN. The great problem now is to reserve the timber belts
that we have and to preserve them from the dreadful destruction by
fires to which they are subject each year. The fires in Summer make
alarming havoc in the forests. This committee rode from the Yellow-
stone, where we struck the mountains, in Montana, to Tacoma, through
so thick a smoke, for 1,000 miles, that we could not see a mountain on
either side. Have you anything practical to suggest as to how, before
the country gets settled up, and gets it under control, as they do in
older countries, to check those forest fires? Have you studied that
Question ?
Mr. FERNOW. Yes.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you mentioned it in your report?
Mr. FERNOW. I have done so in various reports, though I do not
think I have done it in this report. It can be done, however. It is
only a matter of good-will. It has been said that it could not be done
on account of the expense. We have the money and We have the peo-
INFLUENCE OF FoRESTs on WATER CONSERVATION. 111
ple. It is a very easy thing in mountain regions to control a large area
with a small force, even against fires. . It would be easy to use fire for
the purpose of checking fire. By burning over some parts at the proper
time, taking proper pains to have guards established in certain belts,
whenever a fire should break out—and it will be impossible to prevent
it—there should be a possibility of controlling it. At present it is a lack
of possibility of controlling these fires that makes them so detrimental
and makes them sweep over so large an area.
The forestry people have proposed for Canada a system of guards—
a body of Government servants, The Government of Ontario has
adopted the proposition—has appointed certain forest guards, whose
duty it shall be to look through the country, each guard having his
beat and putting out any fires that may be detected, the Government
acting in cooperation with the lumbermen. One-half of the expense is
borne by the lumbermen and the other half by the Government. The
appointment of the men is made by the Government on the nomination
of the lumbermen. The Government in Canada owns the forest area
and only leases out the right to cut the timber.
Mr. Fernow submitted the following paper:
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE.
FORESTRY DIVISION.
Washington, D. C., June 30, 1889.
SIR : In obedience to your letter of April 21, referring to a request of the chairman
of the Senate Committee on Irrigation, I have the honor of Submitting the following
report on those points of the inquiry which fall more more or less directly under the
observation of this division, namely, in answer to the following proposed questions :
(5) The area of timber land within the dry section of the United States, west of the
laundredth meridian.
(6) The extent and effects of tree planting.
(7) The influences of forests and forest culture on the conservation of water and
their known or probable effects on the distribution of the water for irrigation pur-
OSèS. -
P The time which could be devoted to the preparation of this report having been ex-
ceedingly brief, not much new material could be brought together, and the report is,
therefore, mainly a condensed restatement of what has been discussed before in vari-
ous reports from this division. In fact, the statistical material on hand for the an-
swer of these questions is only meager and does not allow much direct and positive
statements, which may cover the ground in all cases, nor could I attempt to use the
material on hand exhaustively without unduly lengthening the report. Most of the
report is therefore devoted to the general discussion of the relation of irrigation
schemes to forcs conditions, and to a statement, as concise as possible, of what is
known of the influence which the forest exerts upon water conditions.
In the form of appendiges I have tried to furnish more special answer to the ques-
tions propounded and information which leads to their answer.
I append, also, as containing information directly bearing upon the subject of this
report, Bulletin No. 2 from this division, which gives detailed information on the
forest conditions of the Rocky Mountains, and a copy of my Annual Report for 1888,
which discusses at length one of the claimed forest influences, namely rain-fall.
Through the courtesy of Mr. Abbot Kinney, late chairman of the California State
Board of Forestry, I am enabled to append a clear and concise statement of the forest
conditions and forest influences experienced in southern California. Thanks are also
due for statements received from Col. E. T. Ensign, Forest Commissioner of Colo-
rado; and G. C. Bracket, secretary of the State Horticultural Society, Kansas; and
from Prof. Mark W. Harrington, of Ann Arbor, well known as authority in meteoro-
logical questions.
It is to be hoped that the subject of the relation of forests to water supply, as yet
but little understood in our country, will receive the attention which its importance
in connection with irrigation problems deserves, and that this division will be enabled
to make a more careful survey of the forest conditions of the region and their relation
to water supplies than has been possible with the limited means at its disposal.
Respectfully,
B. E. FERNow,
• Chief of Forestry Division,
!
Hon. EDWIN WILLETs,
488istant Secretary.
112 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS
THE RELATION OF IE&RIGATION PROBLEMIS TO FOREST CONDI-
TIONS.
By B. E. FERNOw.
The following report has been written under a full realization of the importance
which the discussion on the relation of forest-cover to water conditions must assume
at the present juncture.
The importance and magnitude of the investigations into the problem of irrigation
for the Western arid regions can not be overrated; it may be likened to the discovery
of a new continent, not by a lucky adventure, but by knowledge, skill, science, and
art. *
In such an enterprise every factor bearing upon the problem must be carefully con-
sidered, every means which may help to increase and properly utilize the scanty sup-
ply of moisture must be employed, if we expect to produce the highest attainable re-
sult, if we intend to bring the largest possible area into fruitful condition. -
The main question of the problem is, by what means can the precipitation falling
over the area comprised in the arid region be made to do the most duty ? And the
special proposition to be discussed in the following report is whether, in what man-
ner, and to what extent a forest cover may be expected to assist in the thorough
utilization of the precipitation and atmospheric humidity for agricultural purposes;
although, in the consideration of a great national enterprise which like the one pro-
posed is to promote the development of a poorly timbered or treeless country, the
significance of the forest in all directions, as a source of raw material, of health, of
comfort, etc., should also find proper recognition.
The relations of water conditions of the earth and vegetation in general is graph-
ically expressed in the words of a poet who speaks of “Afric's arid sand where noth-
ing grows, because it does not rain; and where no rain does fall, because there noth-
ing grows.”
This interdependence of vegetation and moisture conditions has been experiment-
ally proved; it is only an apparent paradox when we say that the presence of vege-
tation is at the game time a necessary condition of its existence.
This is especially true of the forests. The forest, by its growth, creates its own
favorable conditions of growth. The treelessness of the plains and of much of the
arid region may possibly explain itself in this way. By the destruction of the forest
which originally covered this region, the very condition of its existence and of its
natural recuperation was destroyed; and thus in a reverse manner, reforestation of
parts by artificial means may make natural reforestation over the whole area possi-
ble by and by.
“A tree by itself is doomed where a forest once established is comparatively se-
cure.”
The failures in forest culture on the Western plains may be considered mainly due
to the fact that tree-planting and not forest planting has been attempted.
The discussion of forest influences has, unfortunately, become a popular one, before
a proper and positive basis has been established for it by scientific investigation and
observation. This is unfortunate, because the consequence has been that extrava-
gant claims have been made by popular writers without proper basis, and, on the
other hand, the overstatements have created a distrust in the offices claimed for the
forest, even in the minds of some scientific men. The very popularity of the theory
of forest influences seems to be sufficient reason for these to deny and scorn their ex-
istence. A competent writer, presenting a popular treatise on this subject, says, with
proper emphasis, “Nobody is entitled, at the present stage of our knowledge, to de-
clare the question of forest and water settled one way or the other. Nobody who has
not the fundamental knowledge of meteorological Science and scientific observation
is entitled to participate in the discussion, and the public at large, especially, can only
be called upon to study and reflect, but not to take sides in blind partisanship.”
Unfortunately, again we are called upon to act upon the strength of our convic-
tions in this question; we are called upon to conserve, perpetuate, and husband care:
fully our remaining woodlands, on account of their influence upon climate, soil, and
water conditions; or else to disregard this claimed influence.
Those who doubt the existence of such influences—some of which are proved be-
yond doubt—should not forget that the first conception and rational explanation of
the existence of forest influences originated with the profoundest student of nature
that this century has produced—Alexander von Humboldt—and such able observers
as Buffon, Boussingault, and Becquerel sided with him; and in our own country the
ablest writer on the subject, George P. Marsh. . Let them also consider that forest de-
struction is the easily and reqqily accomplished task and is the tendency of mankind,
while forest conservation is possible only to the rationally-thinking, the civilized,
and progressive mall.
THE WALUE OF WIND-BREAKS ON EVARORATION. 113
It is, therefore, at present, still the duty of a government to give preponderance to
the weight of opinion on the positive side, which seems well supported by experience
as well as argument, and to shape its policy accordingly... º
Considering the relation of forest conditions and irrigation problems with reference
to the special case of the arid regions of the West, the writer, aſter much study and
a hurried and partial inspection of the ground, feels justified in stating briefly and
boldly, without being able to argue them at length, the following conclusions:
(1) Reforestation on the plains and forest preservation on the mountains is of greater
national concern than the location of irrigation reservoirs.
(2) While the location, construction, and systematic regulation of such reservoirs,
under Government control is, under given conditions, feasible and desirable, their
purpose will be better subserved, if, at the same time, attention be given to forestry
in connection with the irrigation systems.
(3) While forest preservation and extensive reforestation not only are coadjutators
of irrigation system, but supply in part the conditions which irrigation and reser-
voirs are designed to accomplish, neither the one nor the other will invite private en-
terprise, at least for a long time to come ; on the other hand, the location of irriga-
tion reservoirs and ditches has been and will be, as need arises, accomplished by pri-
vate enterprise. This statement is made without disparaging any attempts on the
#. of the Government to assist such private enterprise and to give it systematic
irection.
(4) Certain difficulties and dangers which attend the construction of reservoirs will
be increased by continued forest destruction in the mountains, induced by the neg-
lect on the part of the Government to rationally administer this valuable property of
the nation; and these dangers and difficulties will be avoided or reduced by a national
forest administration and reforestation.
Such conclusions are based mainly on the assumption that a forest cover exerts
certain influences which affect conditions of water supply and other climatic condi-
tions.
When considering these influences, especially with reference to agricultural pur-
suits, it is a mistake to discuss them separately, since vegetation does not depend on
any one factor of climate, but is rather the balancing of several factors which pro-
duces favorable conditions of growth. Vegetation does not, as is so often stated, de-
pend on rain-fall—certainly not on the mean annual rain-fall—but on conditions of
atmospheric as well as Soil humidity and conditions of transpiration and evaporation
respectively.
The simple mechanical impediment, then—a timber-belt or even a single row of
trees opposed to the progress of a drying wind—is sufficient to affect the crop under
the shelter of a windbreak, lowering the rate of evaporation and transpiration.
Therefore agriculturists in regions with plenty of Tain-fall yet find it advantageous
to have recourse to irrigation in order to supply the exhaustion by rapid evaporation
and transpiration. The wonderful growth of the Sequoias on the Pacific coast and
Sierra Nevada finds certainly not its explanation in the amount of rain-fall, which in
the former locality is less than on the Atlantic side, and occurs nearly all in winter
with hardly any in summer. But the mists and fogs coming from the ocean reduce
the rate of evaporation and help to economize the moisture of the soil during the long
period of vegetation. One of the most important studies in connection with irriga:
tion problems will be that of the rate of evaporation and of the influences promoting
or retarding it. -
In this direction hardly any data are as yet collected, and we can hardly anticipate
how much a single “chinook” of twenty-four hours' duration may waste the water
of a reservoir or dissipate the snow which lacks the protective forest cover.
If, as is claimed, there has been observed in the plains region any effect of tree-
planting on water-supply, it is most likely this mechanical effect which the timber-
belt or wind-break exerts, allowing a better utilization of the moisture by the CropS.
At first sight this mechanical shelter may appear of too restricted a character to de-
serve motice, yet many facts concur in showing that it is a most important element
in local climate. According to Becquerel, a simple hedge 6 feetin height will give pro-
tection for a distance of 70 feet; and, according to Hardy, a belt of trees every 300 feet
will defend vegetation against the action of the wind. Every traveler in the prairie
will have experienced the calm which a small growth of shrubs not higher than 6 feet
creates, while the wind is blowing many miles an hour outside of this shelter; Quite
a number of instances can be cited where the crop thus protected had outlived the
parching blast from the South, while the neighboring field was destroyed by the rapid
evaporation. In fact, this influence of a wind-break as a mechanical barrier to the
progress of winds is so well understood that it requires no discussion, no argument.
That a timber-belt, and more so a succession of timber-belts, will afford so much bet-
ter protection is evident.
Thus, if no other influence were conceded to the forest in the plains, this one,
138 A L–WOL IV.--8
114 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS,
which tends to conserve the moisture within the range of its protection, would make
systematic forest plantations a most desirable adjunct to irrigation systems,
Summer and Winter drought, i.e., rapid evaporation, is thobano of the farmer in the
plains; and this is due to the continuous dry winds, which can be checked by ra-
tionally disposed timber-belts,
Another merely mechanical influence which needs no argument or discussion with
the observer of natural phenomena, is that which the forest cover on the mountain-
sides exerts in retarding the melting of the snow and the drainage of the water, thus
prolonging the period during which the same may be made available, Complaints
that the Snows do not lio as long into the summer as they used to, before the forest-
cover was removed, may be heard all along the eastern Colorado Slope, where irrigation
has been practised in the most rational manner and the waterſlow the best observed.
By the rapidity with which the water now flows off the bared mountains the effect-
iveness of the ditches is reduced by four to six weeks, there being an accumulation
of flow at a time when it can not all be utilized and a dearth later on when it could
Well be used,
Some one, evidently but little conversant with the economies of nature, has sug-
gested that in connection with the reservoir system it would be desirable to remove
the forest cover, so that the snows may drift into the caſions, there to slowly give up
their waters to reservoirs and ditches, Even if the favorable results thus anticipated
could be reasonably expected to follow, the dangers invited by this method of storage
are simply incalculable. These have been over and over again, and ad mauseam pointed
out in various reports, and the consequences of deforestation have so palpably been
experienced by European countries not only, but even in our own, that it seems a
waste of energy to rehearse them again. They are briefly the following: First, more
rapid melting of the snows, especially under the marvelously exhausting influence
of a “chinook;” secondly, the more rapid flow of surface waters, which carries with
them the thin mold and earth, gradually baring the rock and ending up in tho Gre-
ation of destructivo torrents, which in Trance have carried débris over fertile lands
150 to 200 miles into the plain, to correct which an expenditure of more than $50,000-
000 has been necessary. By the destruction of the natural storage which the forest
offers for snows and rains, giving up their waters gradually and for a longor period,
we invito floods and droughts alternately.
The conditions, in the Rocky Mountains at least, aro quite similar to those of the
French Alps, and, in fact, the experiences, although only limited on account of the
undeveloped state of their territory, have been quite similar, especially around
Greeley and Colorado Springs. Among the dangers and difficulties which attend the
construction and maintenance of reservoirs are, in the first place, their incapacity of
taking care of flood waters and their liability to unforeseen bursting. In regard to
both these points I call attention to the experiences of French engineers, related in
the “Annales des Ponts et Chaussées,” Some of which are also given in George P.
Marsh's classical volume, “The Earth as modified by Man,” These dangers are
particularly increased by the conditions of rain-fall in the region under discussion,
the rains being occasionally very heavy and in the nature of cloud-bursts. Professor
Harringfon reports one such cloud-burst, which resulted in a flood, carrying away
miles of railroad track on the level at the 15ase with such violenge that the rails were
bent. The recent experiences in Pennsylvania, Virginia, and other parts of the
country will serve as testimony of the force of such water accumulation,
The reservoirs must be built on such contingencies, and a study of the cloud-bursts
in the irrigation area is therefore highly desirable, especially as they are not as yet
matters of regular record. That cloud-bursts, like all violent exhibitions of meteoro-
logical plenomena, seem to occur more often in large unwooded areas, may also
point again to the employment of reforestation, as a preliulinary or concomitant of
the construction of irrigation reservoirs in the prairies and plains, as a measure of
rotection.
p The following passages from good authorities exhibit pretty Well the relation of
forest cover to irrigation problems, - -
Mr. Hubert Wischer, engineer to the 8tate Forestry Board of California, uses the
following language in his report to the board;
“The agricultural development of the uplands of º the coast rango—and there is
little else but uplands—will be as dependent upon irrigation in time as are the lands
of the southern portion of the State now. º tº 1 º' º
“Referring to our notes upon the goneral hydrographic conditions of the range, it
may be inquired how water can be procured ? The location of the main streams
being depressed and their grade slight, to bring Water, upon uplands would imply
outlays which the walne of the lands will never warrant. Storage of water in tho
tributary streams and gulches can not succeed, owing to the precipitous slope of their
channels and the consequent lack of storage depth. Storage of water upon higher-
lying lands may, in special cases, succeed, but generally will be unfeasible, as the
arable lands which it is sought to Water are themselves in most cases situated at
THE INFLUENCES OF FORESTs. ON CLIMATE, 115
considerable elevations. Wells and the development of springs will be found, like
the last expedient, only applicable in exceptional cases. -
“Of all the means of storing water only one remains—nature's own means. It is
only necessary to prolong the flow of natural channels for a short period—a month or
a fortnight would often suffice—and to accomplish this is within the power of being
effected by stimulating tree growth upon very limited area of ground, especially if
due regard be had for impounding suow where practicable;” and Mr. E. S. Nettleton,
former State engineer of Colorado, says in regard to forest conditions and Water
supply: “The fact that our system of farming has changed within the past few
years by substituting for the summer crops those which require water earlier in the
spring and later in the fall, makes it more important than ever to Secure as uniform
a flow of water in our irrigation streams as is possible to do throughout the whole
irrigating season.
“To accomplish this end, I call your attention, first, to the importance of the pres-
ervation of our mountain forests, and the recovering of the mountain districts with
a new growth of timber. The details of how this work is to be accomplished, and the
arguments proving the benefits to be derived therefrom, I will leave for abler ones to
discuss. I take it for granted that some will say, ‘This forestry subject is one of the
future; we want something of immediate benefit and relief.” While this may be true
in part, yet the protection and preservation of the mountain forest of the present day
is an immediate necessity, if we desire to protect our streams from an intermittent
and diminished flow.
“Neglecting to take steps toward preserving the forests and encouraging the re-
covering of the mountain sides with timber, because we can not see immediate, and
profitable Teturas, is no good excuse.
“We should do this much for the benefit of those who are to follow us, and who
will make this country equal at least to any of the irrigated countries in olden times,
which history tells us have supported a much denser population than is possible to
support in a country where the people have to depend on rain-fall for a more or less
successful agricultural industry.”
Another important influence of the forest, in connection with irrigation problems,
is its tendency to raise the water-level in its immediate neighborhood; a well estab-
lished fact.
The forest influences, which may reasonably be claimed to exist, have been discussed
in my report for 1886, which is here with appended. Such forest inſluences are claimed
to exist in the following directions:
(1) On sanitary conditions.
(2) On local climate.
(a) On temperature conditions.
(b) On humidity of atmosphere.” º
(c) On distribution of rain-fall in time, and, locally perhaps, on quantity.
(3) On soil conditions, on water-level, and on water-flow.
The question of forest influence on the amount of rain-fall has been discussed at
length in my report for 1887 also appended ; from which it will appear that there
are no data as yet on hand upon which the questions may be even qualitatively settled,
There is one point to which the writer would call special attention and which has
too often been lost sight of when discussing the influence of the forest on climatic
conditions, namely, that the condition of the forest itself plays a very important part
in determining its influence. Such conditions are given in the extent, the density,
the position, the composition of the forest and the age or height of the tree.
It has been very generally overlooked that these conditions of the forest are of
greatest moment and may alter absolutely the nature of the influence, so that the
exact opposite of the expected influence may become apparent; when, for instance,
a forest on the leeward of a water surface deprives the open land beyond of the ben-
efit of this water surface.
The influences exerted by the forest can, almost all, be referred to the mechanical
barrier which it interposes either horizontally or vertically to the action of the sun or
the winds, or to the percolation of water; hence the nature of this barrier, its extent,
density, and continuity must needs determine the nature of its influence,
In conclusion, the Writer deems it proper in this place to call attention to the cul-
pable ignorance of the bearing which the forests of the Rocky Mountains and Cali-
fornia have upon the water supplies and irrigation problems, as exhibited in the
management or rather absence of management of the same on the part of the Govern-
*Definite statements of the observed influence of deforestation on the conditions of
atmospheric humidity will be found in the report of Hubert Vischer to the California.
State Board of Forestry, where the effect of the removal of the redwood forests
around Humboldt Bay is noted. This report deserves special attention for the clear
and business-like manner in which it treats of the present conditions and future of
the north California forests and their relation to the development of the country.
116 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
{
ment. This matter has formed the basis of the appended report on the forest condi-
tions of the Rocky Mountains, where the deplorable state of affairs has been set forth
in unequivocal language.
It would be indeed a most irrational proceeding to promote the establishment of
irrigation reservoirs, without at the same time arresting the irrational forest destruc-
º which is invited by the neglect of Government to administer its property ration-
ally.
APPENDIX A.
AREA OF TIMBER LAND WITH IN THE DRY SECTION OF THE UNITED
STATES WEST OF THE EIUND RED TH MERIDIA.N.
This section comprises regions of widely different character topographically and
climatically, and the distribution of forest areas is accordingly a different one in the
various regions.
PLAINS REGION.
The plains region, which may be said in general, to comprise the area east of the
7,000-foot level, is practically without timber lands; the only trees are found liming
the banks of the larger streams, sometimes in clumps or even groves of from 100 feet
to one-half a mile in width, the species found belonging to the Atlantic forest and
consisting mainly of cotton-wood, elm, green ash, box-elder, hackberry. Going west-
ward even these fringes of trees cease and the only occasional trees seen are cotton-
woods.
This timberless region may be estimated at, roughly, 400,000 square miles.
The only mountain islands within this region, which are forested, are the Black
Hills in Dakota and Wyoming, with about 2,400 square miles more or less wooded,
and some of the mountain ranges in Southeastern New Mexico of similar extent.
Altogether it would be difficult to find as much as 2 per cent, within this vast area
that shows what may be fairly called a timber growth.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION.
The area of the Rocky Mountain region proper has been carefully canvassed and
set forth in the acöompanying report on the forest conditions of the Rocky Mountains.
From the data given in the report, the following table is constructed, which ap-
proximates the ratio of mountain land and plains and gives the forest area which is
found in the region by counties. From this we find, that of the 269,881 square miles
which fall within the mountain region proper, 22.23 per cent. is reported as timbered,
representing 60,075 square miles (38,400,000 acres).
MONTAINA.,
Counties. Area. | Mountain. Plains. §. Mººn
Sq. miles. 2,800 1, 100 1, 100
Beaver Head.--------------------------------. 2,800 || 2,800 |... . . . . . . . j
tºº:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 26,000 |.-----. '.....| 26,000 350 l-------- ...
Custer ---------------------------------------. 20,000 ||------------ 20, 000 200 1------------
Daw8OD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , 700 ------------ 2,700 200 l.-----------
Deer Lodge ----------------------------------- 5,000 5,000 - - - - - - - - -. 2,400 2,400
I'ergus.-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7, 500 |-----------. 7, 500 700 ------------
Gallatin. -------------------------------------- 7, 100 7, 100 ---------- 1,600 1, 600
Jefferson.------------------------------------- 2, 200 2, 200 - - - - - - - - - - 350 350
Lewis and Clarke ----------------------------. 2, 100 1, 100 1,000 400 400
Madison - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4, 500 4, 500 - - - - - - - - - - 900 900
Meagher ------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5,700 3,000 2,700 1, 100 1, 100
Missoula ------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24, 500 24, 500 ||---------- 16, 200 16, 200
Silver Bow ------------------------------------ 57 576 1.-- - - - - - - 60 60
Yellowstone--------------------------- - - - - - - - :--#: * * * * * * * * * * * * 3, 6% 25 -----------.
Crow Indian ----------------------------------- 7, 200 4,000 3,200 700 700
Indian reservations--------------------------- 24, 300 ------------ 24, 300 ----------|------------
Total.----------------------------------- 145,776 54,776 91, 000 26, 285 24, 310

Mountain forest, 24,810=45, 4 per Cent,
- &
THE TIMBER AREAs west OF THE 100TH MERIDIAN. 117
COLORADO.
Counties. Area. | Mountain. Plains ;: *
Sq. miles.
Arapahoe ------------------------------------- ; : * ~ I - - - - - - - - - - - - 4,700 l.---------|------------
Archuleta.------------------------------------- 1,026 1,026 |.... -----. 450 450
Pent ------------------------------------------ 9,070 ---...--. ---. 9,070 ----------|------------
Boulder --------------------------------------- 768 768 .--------. 275 275
Chaffee---------------------------------------. 900 900 ---------- 500 500
Clear Creek----------------------------------- 450 450 ---------- 200 200
Conejos --------------------------------------- 1, 320 1,320 ---------- 300 300
Costilla --------- & sº sº a sm º ºs º º 'º as º ºs º is º ºs º ºs e º sº gº º ſº tº sº me * * 1,450 l, 450 ---------- 450 450
Custer ---------------------------------------- 750 750 ---------- 200 200
Polta------------------------------------------ 1, 150 730 - - - - --- & ſº is 500 500
Polores --------------------------------------- 800 800 ---------- 150 150
Pouglas--------------------------- º º sº gº ºn tº dº º sº tº * * 850 850 ---------- 300 300
Page ----------------------------------- tº s = ºn sº is 1, 750 1, 750 |---------. 300 300
Plbert ---------------------------------------. 5, 800 ------------ 5, 800 100 ------------
Pl Paso --------------------------------------. 2, 650 1,300 1, 350 500 ------------
Premont -------------------------------------. 1, 450 1,450.|---------. 450 450
Garfield--------------------------------------- 7, 250 7, 250 |.----- - - - 800 800
Gilpin-------.* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 140 140 l---------- 50 50
Grand----------------------------------------- 1,800 1,800 ---------- 700 700
Gunnison ------------------------------------. 4,000 4,000 ---------- 1, 200 1, 200
Finsdale -------------------------------------- 1,440 1,440 ---------- * 450 450
Puorfano-------------------------------------- 1, 160 1, 160 ---------- 250 250
Jefferson-------------------------------------. 760 760 ---------- 175 175
*9------------------------------------------ 420 420 ---------. 200 200
Tº Plata -------------------------------------- 4,000 4,000 ||---------. 1, 500 1, 500
Larimer.--------------- tº sº sº gº º as a s = º sº sº de nº sº º is sº as sº as as is 4,000 4,000 |.----- - - - 700 700
* Animas----------------------------------- 6, 500 ------------ 6, 500 500 ------------
Pogan----------------------------------------- 3,000 ------------ 3,000 |.---------|------------
Mesa.--...-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3,850 3, 850 ---------. 275 275
*ontrose-------------------------------------. 2,040 2,040 ||---------. 640 640
Quray----------------------------------------- 190 190 ---------- 110 110
Park-----------------------------------------. 2,000 21,000 ---------. 600 600
Pitkin ---------------------------------------- 1,090 1,090 |---------- 540 540
Pueblo --------------------------------------- gº 2, 350 1, 200 1, 150 1% l------------
Rio Grande.----. ------------------------------ 1,300 1,300 ---------- 275 275
*outt ----------------------------------------- 6, 200 6, 200 ---------- 1,050 1,050
Saguache ------------------------------------. 3, 150 3, 150 ---------- 1, 175 1, 175
San Juan.------------------------------------- 450 450 ---------- 100 100
San Miguel.----------------------------------. 1, 375 1,375 ---------- 260 260
Summit --------------------------------------- 750 750 i---------- 275 275
Washington.----------------------------------- 2,220 ------------ 2,220 !----------|------------
old.-----------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5,300 ------------ 5,300 |----------|------------
Total.----------------------------------. 100, 200 61,129 || 39,070 | 16,625 15,400
Mountain forest, 15,400=25 per cent.
WYOMING. §
Albany --------------------------------------- 6,922 6,922 ||---------- 840 840
Carbon-------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13, 526 13, 526 ---------- 1, 360 1, 360
rook---------------------- tº g º ºs sº me is sm ºr sº as s as tº e s is sº as 10, 709 ||------------ 10, 709 400 l------------
Fremont -------------------------------------- 20,957 20, 957 |...... ---. 3,300 3,300
Johnson--------------------------------------- 11, 121 11, 121 |---------- 1,800 1,800
Laramie.-------------------------------------- 11, 200 -----------. 11, 200 80 ------------
Sweetwater ----------------------------------- 10, 550 10, 550 ---------. 40 40
intº ----------------------------------------- 12, 140 12, 140 l.--------- 2,400 2, 400
Yellowstone Park -----------. ---------------. 3, 250 3, 250 ---------- 1, 840 1, 840
Total.----------------------------------- 100,366 78, 466 21,900 12,060 11, 580
Mountain forest, 11,580=14.8 per cent.
NEW MEXICO.
Pernalillo ------------------------------------- 8, 350 8, 350 ||---------- 1, 450 1,450
Colfas----------------------------------------- 7,000 ||------------ 7,000 1, 275 -----------.
Dona Ana.------------------------------------ 10, 260 10, 260 ---------. 75 75
Grant ----------------------------------------- 10,090 10,090 * º ºs tº sº ºn 800 800
Lincoln --------------------------------------- 24, 450 -----------. 24, 450 920 ------------
OT8. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , 830 -----------. 3,830 720 ------------
Rio Arriba------------------------------------ 7, 500 7, 500 l.--------. 175 175
San Juan-------------------------------------- 7, 200 7, 200 ---------- 250 250
§ºn. Miguel.----------------------------------- 11,630 ------------ 11, 630 1,300 ------------
Santa Fé -------------------------------------- , 490 2,490 ---------. 1,375 1,375
Sierra.--------------------------- tº gº ºn as º ºs º dº tº e º 'º º & 3, 200 3, 200 ---------- 250 250
Socorro.------------- as º ºs e s s sº as sº sº as tº e* * * * * * * * * * * * 16, 500: 16, 500 ||------...--. 2,050 2,050
Taos ----------- tº s ºn sº sº tº ºr sº sº tº sº m e ºs º ºn º ºs e º º sº tº º º sº, sº sº sº dº is 2, 300 2,800 ---------. 900 900
Valencia -------------------------------------. 7,700 7, 700 ---------. 960 960
Total --...-------------------------------| 122,500 75, 510 46, 990 12, 500 8, 285



Mountain forest, 8,285=11 per cent.
Q
* . f t
118 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
SUMMARY.
Square
miles. Acres.
Total area -----------------------------------..................--...---------- 468, 851 300, 064, 640
Total mountain area.------------------------...--...-------------------------- 269, 881 172, 723, 840
Total plains area. -----------------------------------...--...------------------ 108,970 127, 340, 800
Total forest -------------........................ as m = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 65, 470 41, 900, 800
Total mountain forest.------------------------...--...--...------------------- 60,075 | 38,448,000
Mountain forest equals 22.23 per cent. of total mountain area.
Mountain forest equals 92 per cent of total forest.
INTERIOR BASIN,
The area of timberland in the States which partly make up the Interior Basin is
approximately as follows:
Washington.—Total forest area estimated at 30,000 square miles. The bulk of this
lies in the eastern part of the State west of the Cascade Range. The couñties which
may be referred to as parts of the arid region, the timber land in which is confined
to the spurs and ridges and to the east slope of the Cascade Range and to the Blue
Mountains, namely, Spokane, Whitman, Walla Walla, Columbia, Yakima, Klick-
itat, contain approximately 6,500 square miles or 23 per cent. of their area more or
less forested. The interior, however, is entirely destitute of tree growth, the few
trees along the rivers baving mostly been cut. The yellow or bull pine is the main
timber, with red fir, hemlock, spruces, and other conifers added on the better sites.
Oregon:—The total timbered area of the State is estimated at 30,000 square miles,
confined mainly to the Western mountain ranges and the Blue §ſountains in the
northeastern part of the State.
The counties which fall within the dry section, namely, Umatilla, Union, Grant,
Wasco, Lake, and Baker, a total area of round 63,000 square miles, have about
12,000 square miles timbered, or less than 20 per cent. Yet, with the exception of the
forests of Wasco and Lake Counties on the eastern slopes of the Cascades, the timber
growth is mostly open and scattered, even on the Blue Mountains, and the trees of
stunted growth. Yellow pine, red fir, and larch are the principal trees, with lodge-
pole pine on summits.
Idaho.—With the exception of four counties—Kootenai, Lemhi, Nez Pérces, and
Shoshone—which belong to the Rocky Mountain region proper, or are otherwise cli-
matically outside of the dry region, the rest of the State, with over 69,000 square
miles, may be considered part of the Interior Basin. This part contains of timbered
land an estimated area of 9,140 square miles, or about 13 per cent. The bulk of this
lies north of the Snake River; the counties south of this river may be said to be al-
most timberless, containing less than 1 per cent. of forest area in conſined localities
and of scattered growth.
Utah. —The area west of the Wahsatch Range with round 30,000,000 square miles
may properly be considered as part of the Interior Basin and counted practically
timberless, excepting a few mountain ridges which bear a stunted growth of juniper
and piñon in their recesses. The forest area of the State which is found in the mount-
ain ranges and on the high plateaus extending in a Southwesterly direction, is esti-
mated at 6,000 square miles, or less than 12 per cent. of the area within which it is
fonnd, the timber being found of inferior size and quantity and mostly confined to
the caſions. The Colorado River plateau is for the most part untimbered.
Arizona. –The total forest area is estimated at round 15,000 square miles, or less
than 14 per cent, , and is confined to the high Colorado plateau above the 7,000-foot
level, where a considerable body of continuous though open timber growth is found,
and to the mountain ranges in the southeast. Along the streams and caſions are also
found scattered deciduous trees. The yellow pine is the most valuable timber tree.
The southern part shows in its tree growth Mexican types like the acacias, mesquites,
and others. A scrubby growth of oaks and junipers furnishes needfn1 fuel for domes-
tic use and in mining operations.
Nevada.--This State, as a whole, is treeless, the most barren and naked in the
whole region, with less than 3 per cent, or only 3,000 square miles bearing a timber
growth, and that of little account, except around Lake Tahoe, where it has been,
however, largely cut. In other parts the tree growth is confined to the recesses of
the mountain ridges in the central and southern portions of the State, consisting of
a stunted growth of Pinus flewilig (white, pine), scrubby piſion on the lower slopes,
mountain mahogany, and occasional junipers.
California occupies part of the Interior Basin, with portions of all the counties
which cross the Sierra Nevada and which mostly also form part of the Sacramento
fºLFECTS OF TREE PLANTING IN DRY AREAS, 119
and San Joaquin Valleys. A separation of the area of timber land which occupies
the . under discussion from that on the Coast Ranges and Sierras, is well-nigh
impossible. ->
r #. southern counties of California south of the interior valleys, with about 50,000
square miles, are estimated to have 1,000 square miles timbered, occupying the
caſions and the tops of mountain ranges above 3,000 feet. The area absolutely or
nearly timberless east of the Sierra may be calculated at about 23,000 square miles,
of which perhaps 2 per cent. has a timber growth on the mountain ridges and slopes.
The interior valleys, comprising a total area of about 34,000 square miles are more or
less timbered; 4,000 to 5,000 miles may be estimated as entirely destitute of timber,
and 15 per cent. of the balance—or 4,500 square miles—may be considered well tim-
bered, while an open growth of oak of little value is found to cover, more or less,
all the land that is not cleared.
There are, however, no data on hand which allow even a reliable estimate of these
conditions. The map of the State Forestry Board of California, which promises to
analyze the forest areas, is not yet available for this report.
APPENDIX B.,
THE EXTENT AND EFFECTS OF TREE PLANTING IN THE DRY I'EGION.
Forest planting, or rather tree planting—for the planting is as yet hardly anywhere
done in such a manner as to deserve the name of forest planting—has been practiced
to a limited extent ; enough, however, to show that it can be done, with or without
irrigation, if properly attended to. The twenty-five counties of Kansas which are
entirely and seven more which are partly within this region, report 39,810 acres of
timber trees, seedlings, and older plants, growing in 1888. Most of this is cotton-
Wood, walnut, honey locust, green ash, box-elder, elm, backberry, catalpa, mulberry,
Osage orange, and some few other varieties; all of the Atlantic forest trees have been
grown successfully. Some successful tree planting has also been done without irri-
gation in Colorado and Nebraska west of the one hundredth meridian, but its extent
is not known. A small amount of timber planting has also been done in the region
of the Interior Basin, and a larger amount in California, where groves of consider-
able extent are in existence. -
Statistics, from which to estimate the area of artificial timber, are not on hand ou
side of those given for Kansas. A canvass, to ascertain how many plantations over
5 acres in extent there were in existence, was attempted two years ago, but the re-
turns give, evidently, no reliable result, and are therefore here omitted.
It would seem that the entries under the timber-culture act should furnish, at least
approximately, an idea of the area planted to timber, but since it may be said that
the majority of these entries have not only changed hands and thus appear in the an-
nual statement repeatedly, but have also been changed to entries of other kind, no
result can be obtained from the study of these figures. -
The status of timber-claim planting is exhibited in the appended table. From
this it will appear that 38,985,910 acres were entered under the timber-culture act
up to June 30, 1888. This should represent a planted area of 2,436,620 acres, if the
law were complied with and the entries not changed. Allowing ten years for timber-
claim planters to prove up their entries (the law places it at eight years, allowing
extensions on account of failures), the entries of the first six years—from 1873 to 1878
'—alone § us some point of comparison for the estimation of result. During that
time 4,394,256 acres were entered, while only 783,838 acres or 17.8 per cent. of these
entries were proved up, representing an area assuredly planted of less than 50,000
a CI’éS.
It is asserted that a better percentage will be obtained from the entries of later
years. Altogether, however, the consensus of unbiased testimony goes to show that
timber-claim planting, as a rule, does not produce the results sought after and has
mostly been used as a means for speculation in Government lands.
There is also considerable planting of wind-breaks and groves done on homesteads,
which is said to be attended with better results.
Altogether, however, the amount of tree planting is infinitesimal if compared with
what is necessary for climatic amelioration, and it may now be recognized as well as
Iater, that the reforestation of the plains must be a matter of national enterprise,
which can not be expected from the individual citizen.
120 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANI)S.
The reforestation of the plains as well as the preservation of the forests on the
Western mountains, is, in fact, of greater national concern, and requires in greater
degree national action than the proposed irrigation surveys. -
As to the effects of the tree-planting on climatic conditions but little can be said,
and the statements of opinion which refer any climatic changes to this factor must be
taken with caution. There is, however, one influence which can be claimed without
dispute, that of breaking the force of winds locally and protecting houses and single
fields that lie within the cover of a windbreak or grove against the deleterious influ-
ence. I call especial attention to the observations on this point in the appended let-
ter of Mr. Kinney. The experience there recorded is that had in all parts of the re-
gion, and records are on hand showing the distance to which a windbreak would pro-
tect a field against a burning southwester, while the neighboring unprotected field
would succumb to the blast. The consequence of this mechanical action of the trees
would also tend to diminish the rate of evaporation. This is probably all the effect
—and one not to be underrated—which is due to the tree-planting in extensive shelter-
belts and occasional small groves. To produce considerable changes in temperature
or increased precipitation, the planting is done in too small parcels and the growth
not old enough, and is also mostly too open to effect that marked difference of inso-
lation over the forest and the field which makes the former a factor in climatic
influences.
To produce great climatic changes the operations must be on a larger scale, more
contiguous, and with more intent to shade the soil than has been hitherto the
practice.
In this region are situated several military reservations, which could be devoted to
no better purpose than planting them to forest many sections at a time. Such plant-
ing would not only furnish an incentive for imitation by settlers and supply them
with plant material, it would improve conditions in the immediate neighborhood and
form a nucleus for the national forest administration, which is now a necessity and
whose inauguration can only be a question of time.
Entries under timber-culture act.
Initial en- Ti *
Years. tries. IT'inal entries.
Acres
1873------------- s sº as a sº se s m a sº ºn e 50, 246
1874-------------------------- 851, 225
1875-------------------------- 493, 694
1876-------------------------- 607, 984
1877-------------------------- 520,673
1878-------------------------- 1, 870, 434
1879-------------------------- 2,766, 573
1880-------------------------- 2, 193, 184
1881. ---. tº as a sm s s - sº tº us me • * * * * * * * * * 1, 763, 799
1882-------------------------- 2,566,686 23,371 acres, or 46.5 per cent. of entries of 1873.
1888-------------------------- 3, 110,930 | 97,836 acres, or 11.5 per cent. of entries of 1874.
1884-------------------------- 4,084,464 91,600 acres, or 18.5 per cent. of entries of 1875.
1885-------------------------- 4, 755, 006 || 90,301 acres, or 14.8 per cent. of entries of 1876.
1886-------------------------- 5, 391, 309 || 141,694 acres, or 27.2 per cent. of entries of 1877.
1887-------------------------- 4, 224, 398 204,620 acres, or 10.9 per cent. of entries of 1878.
1888-------------------------- 3,735, 305 || 134,416 acres, or 4.9 per cent. of entries of 1879.
38,985,910 || 783,838 acres, or 17.8 per cent of entries first six years.
Acres.
Entries first six years ---------------- * = e s = e. a = w is a a sº w w = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * & R & º dº sº ..... 4, 394, 256
Entries last ten years.-------------------------------------------- - - - - - - alº - m = s. s - ºn s is sº sº e s a sº as sº * * 34,591, 654
The year 1882 was the first in which, under the terms of the act, final entry could
be made. The original act of 1873 required 40 acres of every 160 to be planted with
trees, “not more than 12 feet apart each way.” By an amendment of 1878, only 10
acres of every 160, and the same proportion for smaller sections were required to be
planted, but 2,700 trees were required to be planted on each acre instead of the 302
under the original act; and on final entry at least 675 thrifty trees were to be growing
on each acre. The amendment was made applicable to all final entries, obliging
those who had made entries under the act of 1873 to have trees enough growing at
the time of final entry to make the number of acres required by the act of 1878.
LAND-OFFICE FIGURES ON TIMBER CULTURE.
121
Original and final entries under the timber-culture laws from 1873 to 1888.

1873. 1874, 1875. 1876. 1877. 1878. 1879. 1880.
States. -
Initial. Initial. Initial. Initial. Initial. Initial. Initial. Initial.
Arizona ------|--------. 196. 51 320. 10) 1, 197. 15 2, 440.00 1,600.00 3,280.00 719. 65
(‘alifornia. . . . . 329.75, 8, 878.06. 29, 065.53 20, 524, 23 10, 586.05 8,029.42 14,458. 81 12, 120.31
Colorado.-----|---...--. 2, 272.24; 3, 453.82 6, 514, 22 3,343.33. 17, 436.73| 16, 142.03| 30, 302. 14
Dakota.------- 3, 560.00|124,997. 29 61,969. 75.119,835. 23 68,266.92 579, 804.04 728, 687, 83 868, 748.39
daho. --------|--------. 180.83| 2, 583. 25] 1,973. 89 7,035.91 22, 169.53 22,013. 93 23, 300.04
Iowa --------. 145.90 3,816. 05, 9, 127. 52, 8, 563. 42, 4, 791. 56 7, 535.47 6, 577.67 4, 714. 05
ISansas ------. 9,642. 17282, 479.07|168,269. 06:185, 590. 43238,020.44 593,295. 171, 167, 582.77| 408, 261. 74
Louisiana-----|---------|----------|----------|---------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 80. 43 40. 00
Minnesota,....]14, 710. 15||113, 131.63 63,673. 73140, 126.30 76,021. 53. 377,017.78) $257, 642. 50 123,735. 36
ontana.-----|---------|----------|-------------------. 398. 59 960. 0 3, 134. 20 6, 835. 32
Nebraska ----. 21,858. 07:312, 712.09||130, 894. 26.106,499.74. 90, 812.90. 195, 306.68| 465, 968. 94 475, 275. 87
Nevada.-------|---------|----------|----------|--------. 240, 00 600.00 160. 00 560. 00
New Mexico --|---...--...---------|-- * tº L. º. º. 1, 128.00 - - - - - - - - -. 320. 00 1, 891.93 2,887.95
Oregon -------|---------|---------. 882.68. 1,793. 18; 2,509. 37] 18, 446.21, 17,046. 59: 73,061. 66
Utah ---------|---------|----------|---------. 399, 88 338, 50 1, 280.00 2,328.93 4,044. 05
Washington as º. 1 s sº gº tº ºr e º º ºs 2, 482. 22 3,324. 14' 5, 374, 28, 19, 746.75 78,237.00 68, 506. 10 134, 637. 65
Wyoming-...---|--------- 80.00 130, 47 100.001----------|-----------. I.----------- 240. 00
Total ...|50,246.04|851,225. 99.473, 694. 53,599, 917. 97 524, 551.851, 902, 038. Q32,775, 502. 66.2, 169, 484, 18
1881. 1882. 1883. 1884.
States.
Initial. Initial. Final Initial. Final. Initial. Final
Arizona-------------- tº. * * ‘760. 00 1, 352.77|- - - - - - - -. 4, 336.85]. - - - - - - -. 5,483. 10.... ----.
Arkansas ---------------|--------------------------------- 160.001. - - - - - - - - 80.00]. - - - - - - - .
California --------------- 24, 538. 28 39, 882.99. - - - - - - - - 44, 190.05 160.00 72, 340.65 160.00
Colorado ---------------- 26, 473.31; 47,436.05] 160.00. 58,685.02 . . . . . . . . . 137,933. 07] 160.00
akota.------------------ 868, 400. 36|L 446, 532. 34 521. 681, 745, 419. 5814,968. 121, 748, 640. 2221, 870. 93
Plorida.-----------------------------|------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , , - - - - - - - - 320.00 - - - - - - - - -
Idaho ------------------- 28,680.26 33,965, 61|- - - . . . . . . 40, 105. 17]. - - - - - - - - 56, 171.52 80.00
Iowa ----- * P º º ſº tº º g º º sº º ºs .* * 3, 644, 25 6, 235. 62]. - - - - - - - - 3,373. 40; 2, 165.33 3,346. 17 2,794. 93
Kansas------------------ 268,575.09: 273,053. 55, 9,915. 52 237, 860.95|24, 965. 06 397, §5.25 23, 093. 70
Louisiana --------------. 2, 293.40 1,004. 02]. - - - - - - - - 7, 754. 26|. - - - - - - - - 38, 788. 8S . . . . . . . . .
Minnesota--------------- 167, 582. 16, 176, 741. 42 2,998.50) 12:2, 750.39|11,495.25 95, 538. 5012, 324.75
Montana ---------------- 16, 535.20 35,409. 9.4|- - - - - - - - , 53, 952. 71]. - - - - - - - - 63, 283. 23}. - - - - - - - -
Nebraska ------...-------. 240, 306.94 298,520. 11; 9, 975. 42 481, 704. 7043,522.321, 068, 806. 6630, 040.91
Nevada ----------------- 1, 040.00 1, 520.00]. - - - - - - - - 280.00|- - - - - - - -. 159.79: .... - - - - -
New Mexico ------------ 2,039.26 3,351.93|. - - - - - - - - 22,091.82|- - - - - - - - - 17, 94.5.83]. - - - - - - - -
Oregon -----------------. 31, 176. 40 88, 038. 77 . . . . . . . . . 116,334, 14 240.00. 148, 356, 16. 160.00
Utah -------------------- 3,921. 52 3, 831. 71}--...---. 7, 509.99ſ. - - - - - - -. 11, 192.09|- - - - - - - - -
Washington.------------- 77,008.62 87, 524. 76|- - - - - - - - - 139,737, 05 320.00) 173, 142. 27 914. 44
Wyoming --------------- 784. 30 , 284.44|--------- 14, 204.15]. - .... --. 46,027. 62|- - - - - - - - -
Wisconsin...--- tº tº gº tº sº tº º sº dº tº 49.09|------------|---------------------|---------|------------|---------
Total.-------------- 1, 763, 799. 352, 546,686. 0923,571. 123, 110,930. 2397,836. 084,084,463.8791, 599.66
1885 1886. 1887. 1888.
States.
Initial Final. Initial. I'inal. Initial. Final. Initial. Final.
Arizona .... 19,542.87. 160.00 15,772.93 160.00. 20, 199.99 320.00. 45,374. 52---------.
Arkansas... 640.001-- - - - - - - - 2,025.22|---------- 840, 001. ----. . . . . 600.001---------.
California. . . 94, 064. 73 480.00 155,674, 29.--------. 165, 382. 29 40. 00 240,216.76 49, 82
Colorado ... 204,983. 61| 240.00; 719, 947.95 480.001, 437, 636, 59 559.00. 970,281. 39 760. CO
Dakota ..... 1, 328,966. 24.21, 207. 06:1, 116,250.72: 39, 591. 67 650, 420. 88 57, 311. 41 626, 629.79| 29, 996. 36
"lorida -----|------------|---------|----------------------|------------|---------. 160,00l.--------->
Idaho ------ 48, 255.01|- - - - - - - - - 49, 959. 92 240, 00 38,912. 89 400. 00 51, 717, 37 891. 92
Iowa ------- 3,647. 43.1, 437. 63. , 2,869. Q3; 1,014.00 - 2, 187, 30 2,888. 56 4,945.80) 1,207.26
Kansas ---...- 1, 169,303.3427, 183. 161,920, 802.22 42,657.93| 732,545.85 56,502.34 689,256.24 26, 202.86
Louisiana -- 15, 598. 16|- - - - - - - - . , 914, 50---------. 9,402. 56.---...--. 11, 469. 63|----------
Minnesota... 79,410. 4713,618.07. 65,026, 14 24, 311. 44; 52, 306.69| 25,009. 52 56,622.65 15, 003.25
Montana ...] 41,207. 881. --...--. 43,031. 12 160.00, 38,847. 15 280.00 36, 407.58 39.68
Nebraska...]1,468,114.2824,767.25 969,706.78 28,278.93| 794,047. 24 52,541.82 660, 915.58||48,264. §
Nevada.-----|------------|--------. 120.001---------- 640.00. --...-----|. 560. 50l.--------.
New Mexico | 16,286. 10..... . . . . 15, 603.08. --------. 23, 695. 75]. --------. 39, 692. 37 326.96
Oregon ----. 97, 331.30, 160.00. 93, 160.05 880. 00. 93, 137.44 920, 00 126,979.96 4, 436.68
Utah ...----- 15, 842.86 80.00 25, 632.56 - - - - - - - - - - 21, 638.09 160.00 30, 234.71 420.40
Washington 84,568.21| 1,017.49 85,745.23 3,920.00 67,568, 02 7,686.47 S9, 980.09 6, 816.41
Wyoming -- 67,243. 20..... ---. 100, 167.64|---...----- 74, 989, 10.--------. 53, 260.16|----------
Total -4, 755, 005. 57.90, 300. 665, 391, 309. 38:141, 693. 974, 224, 397. 83.204 619.623,735, 305. 10134,416. 12
Total number of acres entered from 1873 to 1888, inclusive, 38,958,558.45.
Total number of acres entered from 1873 to 1880, inclus;
might have been made in 1888 or earlier.
Total number of acres on which final proof was ma
Total number of acres planted, 784.037 -- 16 = 49.00
Total number of trees declared to have been
for each acre entered for timber culture. ,
ive, 9,346,661.03; on which final proof and entry
le, 784,037,23, or 8.4 per cent. of possible number.
planted and cultivated, 38,076,350, or less than one tree
122 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
APPENDIX C.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.
“This portion of California is divided by parallel ranges of mountains, which here
and there coalesce and become a confused mass of peaks. Between these ranges are
valleys of various extent, but all of any agricultural value within 60 or 70 miles of
the sea. To the east of the main Sierra Range lie the great deserts of Mojave and
Colorado. . These are broken by low barren hills devoid of any verdure whatever.
“The rain-ſall veries between 25 inches at some points on the sea coast and mountain
ranges, to 3 or 4 inches at points on the desert. The desert rain-fall usually occurs:
in summer. These conditions, as far as the United States are concerned, are peculiar
to the Pacific slope. The result of this distribution of the rain-fall makes the use of
water for irrigation essential for most crops not maturing in winter or the rainy sea-
son, and adds a great value to permanent water supplies for domestic as well as for
agricultural puposes.
“The climate in this country is divided into a wet and a dry season. In the wet
season it ought to rain but it often does not. In the dry season it ought not to rain but
occasionally does. --
“Timber Area.—Area of timber land in southern quarter of California—an area,
say, of 50,000 square miles—timber 1,000 square miles, or one-fiftieth of the whole.
This timber is confined almost exclusively to the tops of the mountain ranges, and to
an altitude varying between 3,000 and 8,000 feet. There is also a small amount of
timber in the narrow caſions which carry the water from the mountains to the valley.
“While the forests of timber trees are thus shown to be very Himited in extent, and
far below the proportion which has been demonstrated in European countries to be
needed for the best productive capacities of a country (about one-quarter), the brush,
or chaparral, covers extensive areas in southern California. In Los Angeles County,
which is the great agricultural producer of the soutb, timber trees cover one-twenty-
fifth of its area, and are so inaccessibly situated in the mountains as to supply none
of the immense demands for Humber of the community. One-third of the total area
of the country is in chaparral. This brush-growth is from 2 to 12 feet in height. In
some places it is so thick as to be almost impenetrable, while, as we pass to the back
ranges and the desert, it becomes so thin and scattered as scarcely to be deemed of
importance on the water-sheds.
“San Bernardino County has one-fiftieth of its area in timber, which is sufficiently
accessible to be considerably used for local purposes; one-fifth of the area of this
county is in brush.
“San Diégo County has about one-fortieth of its area in timber, which is used
locally in a small way, and about one-fifth in brush.
“The other counties composing the district have a somewhat smaller proportion of
covering of forest and brush. -
“The chaparral throughout the entire area is confined to the mountains and foot-
hills.
“On the western and southern slopes of the first important ranges from the ocean
it is densest. As we go back towards the desert the brush-covering decreases in
density, until, on the desert itself, all the ranges are perfectly bare. . The natural cov-
ering, as it now exists, is a reliable indication of the extent of the rain-fall, modified to
some extent, perhaps, by the exposure of the mountain-growth. That on the north-
erm, or shaded side, is proportionately greater than that on the southern.
“I.jects of deforestation.—On the other hand, extensive areas of brush land have
been denuded by fire, and some waste in this way has taken place among the timber
trees. These have also been much thinned out in the localities named, from which
Humber is being taken. The effects of this destruction of brush and timber have been
plainly appreciable in every case. *
“There have been two effects which have followed the destruction of the brush or
forests on the mountains of this district. The first-production of torrential action
from such denuded water-sheds. Great numbers of these cases have been noted,
where the rain-ſall has been delivered with suddenness and with great volume, to-
gether with a large amount of débris, sand, bowlders, and gravel, from burned-off
places. The results have been disastrous, sometimes in a smaji and sometimes in a
jarge way, according to the area denuded. Some lands have been cut and gullied,
others have been covered with dèbris and injured in this way. A number of orchards
and other agricultural lands in the San Gabriel Valley have become the beds of tor-
rents, owing to the destruction of brush on the foot-hills of the Sierra Madre Range.
“The second effect of the destruction of the mountain covering, and the conse-
quent rapid discharge of the rain-water, has been the diminution and sometimes en-
TREE PLANTING AND FIRES IN souTHERN CALIFORNIA, 123
tire drying up of the springs and streams coming from injured water-sheds. The
most notable cases of these results, easy of access and examination, are as follows:.
“Fire on the Mission Cañon water-shed at Santa Barbara ; subsequent destruction,
of the company's works situated in said caſion, and diminution of summer flow of
Water.
“Fire in Tejunga Cañon; subsequent injury to lands of E. L. Wicks by flood and
cutting, and probable augmentation of damage by great flood of Los Angeles City in
1882 and 1883.
“Fire on the water-sheds of Soledad Cañon; subsequent destruction of bee ranches
by ſlood, and of roadway and property of Southern Pacific Railroad. The damage to
this railroad involved an interruption of travel for nearly six weeks, and in the neigh-
borhood of $1,000,000 in money. This fire was set by stock-herders, nominally to
benefit pasture. & 1 &
“Edwards' fire on Precipice Cañon water-shed ; subsequent diminution of summer
water supply from this cañon. Destruction of brush on foot-hills on Sierra Madre
Mountains near Pasadena; subsequent appearance of two torrents, which have con-
tinued to do great damage to orchards, agricultural lands, etc. -
“Fires on Santa Anita, San Gabriel, Sawpit, San Dimas, and San Antonio Caſions,
and in many other localities, with similar results.
“The destruction of small wood at Los Coyotes Ranch; subsequent disappearance
of spring in said locality. & º
“For further detailed accounts see page 27, First Biennial Report of California.
State Board of Forestry.
“Notice may be called, in a general way, to the fact that where the rain-fall is the
heaviest—say 25 inches on the steep chaparral-covered Sierra Madre Range—floods
have done no damage except from burned water-sheds; while from the bare hills of
the Colorado Desert, with a rain-fall of 4 or 5 inches, extensive damage is done every
year or two to the only thing there to damage—the road-bed of the railway.
“The consideration of these facts makes it apparent that the brush and forest
mountain lands of southern California of no direct value to agriculture, are of great
indirect value to every industry in that section.
“I’rtent and effect of Tree-planting.—Tree-planting throughout this area has been
carried on to a considerable extent. It has, however, been limited to the fertile val-
leys upon the western water-shed. In a few places on the edge of the desert, but
where water has been brought down, as at Riverside, San Jacinto, Antelope Valley,
etc., considerable areas have been planted to fruit trees, with forest trees as wind-
breaks to protect them.
“The effect of this tree-planting has been to diminish the force of the winds. The
orchards planted along the edge of the Sierra and cultivated area, planted up to and
during 1880, suffered a great deal from the hot dry desert winds. I have seen the
bark of the trees and the fruit frequently excoriated by the sand carried by the wind,
so that the tree and fruit gave the appearance of having been subjected, on the
windward side, to a sand blast. Since 1882 I have not known of anything of this
kind on the westward side of the mountains.
“Another effect of the plantations has been to diminish the efficiency of the wind-
mills—at Riverside, for instance,—which is a colony reclaimed from the desert and
now shipping about 2,000 car-loads of product annually, the domestic water being
taken by wind-mills from deep wells. When the colony was first started the wind-
mills set up to pump this water did more work than was necessary. I am informed
now, by some of my friends having orchards at this point, that they experienced
the greatest difficulty in getting from their wind-mills a sufficient supply of water.
“The hot desert winds have been undoubtedly lessened in force in our valleys, and
so also have what We call trade winds.
“This trade-wind is one which blows in the dry season from the ocean towards the
desert. . In some places it blew very strongly, so much so as to stunt and disfigure
trees subjected to it. One of these places was the Santa Maria Valley. The settlers
in this locality have planted wind-breaks of great extent, with the effect of doing
away with the damage of this wind. The only place where forest culture has been
undertaken to any considerable extent is in Los Angeles County. Several large plan-
tations have been made here with a good profit to the experimenters. There has,
however, been no sufficient forest work, in the proper sense of the word, to modify
anything, except in a very local way.
“Recommendations.—A forest policy should beinaugurated to maintain the integrity
of the forest-covering for the purpose of preventing the formation of torrents or de-
structive floods, and the protection of the permanent water supplies of the country.
“Wherever the desert lands have been brought under water; that is, had water
brought so that they could be irrigated, as at the great and productive colony of
Riverside, they have proved very fertile. If the policy be adopted by the Govern-
ment of making valuable and habitable vast extents of the Mojave and Colorado
Deserts by irrigation, the storage of water for this purpose would necessarily be in
124 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
.*
the high ranges receiving considerable rain-fall. If the brush covering, or forests, be
burned or destroyed on the water-sheds furnishing the supply of such reservoirs, the
unimpeded rain-fall flowing off more rapidly must carry great quantities of débris,
sand, gravel, etc., which will destroy the efficiency and value of the reservoirs by
filling them up. Consequently, co-incident with the adoption of such a policy, a
rational forestry system should be inaugurated.” (Abbot Kinney.)
Mr. Fernon also called attention to the annual report for 1889 of the
forestry division on “The Forest Conditions of the Rocky Mountains,”
etc. He filed a printed copy of the same. It is already printed for the
Department of Agriculture. *
STATEMENT OF C. V. RILEY, ENTOMOLOGIST DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE. *
The CHAIRMAN. Please state your position.
Mr. RILEY. I am Entomologist of the Department of Agriculture.
The CHAIRMAN. On what subject is the paper which you submit 3
Mr. RILEY. On the general subject of the importance of extending
any System that may be adopted of irrigation from the entomological
Stand-point; that is, with the view of checking the ravages of some of
those insect pests that do so much damage in the West, particularly
the Rocky Mountain locust, or so-called grasshopper, and chinch-bug.
As these matters have been published and the recommendations of
the Entomological Commission, which had the study of the grasshopper
question in charge, are on record, I have referred to those recommenda-
tions. I will only say in a few words that there is nothing concrete to
say to you except this, that we dealt with the Northwestern region.
Practically these facts stand out boldly, that the native home of that
grievous pest is this extreme Northwest region, the permanent breed-
ing ground of that insect.
The only way in which it will be possible in time to overcome this
pest is by an extension of settlement. The mode of irrigation that will
enable you to extend your settlements is the mode I believe to be the
feasible mode. So far as this country is concerned, we have simply
suggested some system which must be taken up by the Government,
because it is beyond the power of private enterprise—some System that
will enable you to save in reservoirs the immense waste of Waters from
the chief arteries, like the Missouri, and the waste that comes from the
overflow system, by building reservoirs that shall hold it.
The CHAIRMAN. We have considered that subject very much, but
after we shall have accomplished all that we can accomplish in regulat-
ing the irrigation of the arid lands there will be a large area of land
above the lines of the ditches that will be liable to be the breeding
ground still of those insects.
|Mr. RILEY. What is called the permanent region, which is essen-
tially the arid region, trenches upon the subarid region. I have not the
time, even if I had the ability, to discuss the points that should be
brought up for consideration before you as to what the irrigation sys-
tem should be. It should of course embrace the underground currents
as well as others.
We made a suggestion ten years ago—now somewhat antiquated
perhaps—which was that the Government should donate a strip of land
running from the Black Hills to the northwest line--light to the bound-
ary—to any company that would undertake to develop a system of irri-
gation and improvement; believing that that region once thoroughly
developed, these pests would be got rid of. If you can retain suffi-
LOCUSTS AND THEIR RELATIONS TO ARIDITY. 125
cient water to enable you to cultivate trees or any other crop in this
settlement you would at once solve the question of the vast devastating
Swarms of grasshoppers.
I believe that Government aid should come in only where private en-
terprise will end. In all valleys which give promise of development I
think we can depend on private enterprise developing as much as possſ-
ble; but Government aid should come in when that will end.
That is why I think Government service should consist largely, as has
been well said, of locating possible reservoirs, indicating what they will
cost and availing ourselves of the large bodies of water that are annu-
ally sent into the sea during the high tide seasons.
The CHAIRMAN. Then your idea is that as the country west of the
great plains is developed and brought into cultivation the home of the
grasshopper will be limited gradually or cease to exist?
Mr. RILEY. Without question, in proportion as settlements extend.
Anything that will permit settlers to live and cultivate the soil, in pro-
portion as that settlement encroaches on the arid land we shall have
º: and less of those grievous periodical devastations of the grass-
Opper. º
Mr. Riley submitted the following:
REPORT TO THE SECRETARY BY THE DIVISION OF EN TOMIOLOGY
IN REPLY TO INQUIRIES OF THE COMMITTEE.
The question of the proposed reclamation of the arid lands of the West by irrigation
is of great importance from the entomological stand-point, and particularly in view
of its influence upon the destructive appearances of the Rocky Mountain locust, or
Western grasshopper, which at irregular intervals has greatly damaged the agriculture
of certain of our Western States and Territories. The last important invasion of this
pest occurred during the years 1874, 1875, and 1876, and the devastation which it oc-
casioned at that time is so fresh in the minds of all as to require no elaboration of the
importance of the subject. The roports of the United States Entomological Commis-
sion, an organization founded in March, 1877, and composed of Profs. C. W. Riley, A.
S. Packard, and Cyrus Thomas, consider the question of the influence of irrigation of
a large extent of the arid territory upon the increase of this pest, and from the first
report of this Commission, published during the year 1878, and the second report,
published in 1880, can be drawn a complete summary of the writings on this subject
and the views in full of the Commission. Copies of these reports would accompany
this statement, but they have been long out of print. They may be found, however,
in the library of the Geological Survey.
One of the important results arrived at is the conclusion that an extensive system
of irrigation upon a scale of greater magnitude than any which can be undertaken
by a pioneer population will be not only necessary to the carrying on of agricultural
operations within the belt of territory mapped out as the permanent breeding ground
of the locust, but that the prime result of such an introduction of diversified agricult-
ure into these regions will be the abolishing of the conditions necessary to a per-
manent reproduction of the species, and a consequent reduction to a minimum of the
danger of the appearance of destructive migratory swarms. The one fact, that ac-
cording to the careful statistics gathered by the Commission the loss from this pest
during the years 1874 to 1877 amounted to upwards of $200,000,000, is a mighty argu-
ment for the expenditure of the sums which it is proposed to devote to the purpose
which Senator Stewart's committee has now under investigation. The words which
follow are quoted from the first report above referred to :
“It is evident, therefore, that the final and complete solution of the locust problem
depends to a certain extent upon the possibility of modifying, to some degree at
least, the aridity of the great plains of the Northwest, which undoubtedly form the
native breeding grounds of these insects.
“By most persons this will be considered equivalent to saying that the locust
problem will never be solved. It would scarcely be proper for us here to enter into
a discussion of the question of the possibility of modifying the condition of the dry
area, but we can not refrain from placing upon record our protest against any such
conclusion as this. That man, with a mind that can bring art, science, and mechanics
to the perfection now Visible on every hand, must be forever unablé to convert the
126 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
desert into fertile fields or to redeem the waste places of earth we can not believe,
unless we are shown that the moisture which once supplied these areas has forever
taken its departure from our globe.
“To What extent these dry areas of the West can be supplied with water and
rendered fertile must be determined by those who are proficient in this particular
branch of Science; but that large sections can be redeemed by proper efforts, if made
of a scale of sufficient magnitude, we have no doubt.
“By utilizing all the water that flows down from the mountains for the purposes
of irrigation; by collecting in reservoirs the winter supply and distributing it in the
growing season, a very large section of these plains might be brought under cultivation,
and extensive forests grown where now the surface is naked and barren. Every field
brought into cultivation, every grove planted, is just so far a step toward the ultimate
Solution of the locust problem; and the nearer these can be brought to their native
home the more effectual will they be in rooting them out. If extensive efforts in this
direction were made in British America, north of Montana, also in eastern Montana,
Western Dakota, and the regions around the Black Hills, it would not only be of
immense benefit in supplying new agricultural fields for omigrants but solve the locust
problem. It would also be a most effectual method of settling the Indian question in
this region. Just what can be done in the way of redeeming these areas we can not
say, but when their settlement depends upon it, and the welfare of a much larger area
South and west also depends upon it, certainly the question is worthy of considera-
tion by our national authorities,
“The day is not far distant when our National Government will be compelled to
meet this important question and to test the ability of man to accomplish the work,
“The progress of settlement westward must necessarily be slow when it, as is
now beginning to be the case, impinges upon the sterile area; it can only push on-
ward when the front line is backed by a dense population and farms studded with
groves. It is possible that if there were no other impediments to overcome than this
sterility, formidable as it is, the gradual filling up of the border area with an active
population would modify the conditions sufficiently, at least, to allow the pushing
into and redemption of a belt of considerable breadth. But when to this difficulty is
added the devouring locust the hope of success is greatly diminished.” (First Report
U. S. Entomological Commission, pp. 126-127.) -
Further quotations from this and the second and third reports of the Commission
are appended and should be studied to enable a full understanding of the probable
influence of such a course as the Commission has recommended, The desirability of
forest planting is frequently mentioned in these extracts and the influence of such a
move in altering for the better the conditions of the permanent breeding grounds of
the locust can not be overestimated.
Tho eſſect of irrigation upon the Rocky Mountain locust dwarfs into comparative
insignificance anything which may be said concerning its influence on other de-
structive species, yet there are many forms which depend for their existence and
multiplication upon a dry climate and which a thorough system of irrigation would
render comparatively harmless.
This has been recognized by the prominent writers upon economic entomology,
and I may quote the words of my chief, Professor Riley, as follows:
“I have repeatedly laid stress in my writings on the importance of irrigation in
combating several of our worst irisect enemies, and aside from its benefits in this
direction every recurrence of a droughty year convinces me of its importance as a
means of guarding against failure of crops from excessive drought. I am glad to
know that many farmers, and especially small fruit-growers in the vicinity of New
York, are preparing in one way or another for irrigation whenever it becomes neces-
sary, and I was pleased to hear Dr. Hexamer, at the late meeting of the American
Pomological Society, urge a general system of irrigation as the most profitable in-
vestment the cultivator can make in a climate subject to such periods of drought as
ours is known to be.” e
Perhaps the most striking example among this class of insects is the chinch-bug-
a species which damages certain cereal crops to the extent of upwards of $50,000,000
in years of abundance. This insectis directly influenced by moisture and seldom occurs
in numbers in the more eastern States, except after two or more Successive seasons of
drought. After a year of successive multiplication these insects will often be found
to have hibernated in immense numbers, and it is a well known fact that heavy rain-
fall the succeeding spring will destroy them almost completely. This being the case,
the artificial system of irrigation will enable the agriculturist to hold this insect com:
pletely in check, and such a system as it is proposed to introduce in the West will
render the grain-growers of the reclaimed regions independent of the damage which
may be done by this insect and will enable them to compete on miost advantageous
terms with the grain-growers of th9 more eastern localities whose crops are occasion-
ally subject to almost total loss by this insect enemy. I again quote from Professor
Riley:
*
IRRIGATION A DESTROYER OF INSECT PESTS. 127
“Irrigation, where it can be applied—and it can be in much of the territory in the
vicinity of the Rocky Mountains where the insect, commits sad havoc, as with a lit-
tle effort in many regions in the heart of the Mississippi Valley—is the only real
available practical remedy after the bugs have commenced multiplying in the spring.
I wish to lay particular stress upon this matter of irrigation, believing as I do that
it is an effectual remedy against this pest, and that by overflowing a grain field for
a couple of days or by saturating the ground after as many more in the month of
May, we may effectually prevent its subsequent injuries.” (Seventh Rept. Ins. Mo.)
We may mention also the case of the grape-vine phylloxera and may again quote
from Professor Riley: -
“Submersion, where practicable, and where it is total and sufficiently prolonged
is a perfect remedy. This is what even the closest student might expect, as he finds
that excessive moisture is very disastrous to the lice. M. Louis Faucon, of Graveson
(Bouche du Rhône), France, has abundantly proved it8 efficacy, and has, by means
of it, totally annihilated the insect in his vineyard which was Suffering from it four
ears ago. From his experience we may draw the following conclusions:
“(1) The best season to submerge is in autumn (September and October, when the
lice are yet active and the vines have ceased growing. Submergence for twenty-five
to thirty days at this season will generally rout the lice. (2) A submergence of
forty to fifty days, in winter, is required, and even where the water is allowed to re-
main during the whole season, the vineyard does not suffer. (I should consider this
very doubtful.) (3) A vineyard should never be inundated for a longer period than
two days in summer, or during growth; and though these brief inundations at that
season affect only the few lice near the surface, and are by no means essential, they
are nevertheless important auxiliaries to the more thorough fall or winter submer-
sion, as they destroy the few lice which are always invading a vineyard in infested
districts. These summer inundations will be necessary only after the winged insects
begin to appear; and three or four, each lasting less than two days, made between
the middle of July and the fall of the leaf, will effect the end desired. (4) An em-
bankment should be made around the vineyard in order that the water may evapo-
rate and permeate the earth, but not Tun off and carry away any nutritive proper-
ties of the soil.
“The varied success which has attended the different attempts to rout the enemy
by inundation, is owing to the lack of thoroughness in many of them. The ground
must be thoroughly soaked for a suffieient length of time, Temporary irrigation
does not accomplish the end for the reason that it does not reach all the lice, and does
not break up tho numerons air bubbles which form in the soil and prevent the drown-
ing of many of the insects.” (Sixth Rept, Ins. Mo.)
Too much in fact can not be said of the advantages of a system of irrigation in
fighting many insect pests. A good instance occurred in our experience in the spring
of 1879 when the Army worm appeared in great force upon a large grass plantation
near Portsmouth, Wa. The plantation was divided into sections by irrigating ditches
and it was only necessary to turn on the water to isolate a badly infested section and
to devote it by rolling, fire, or some other means of destruction preventing ready
spread of worms to other sections. In the same way rice planters have a ready means
of fighting imsegt pests at hand. ſº
Other insects might be particularized, but the general statement that from the
stand-point of the economic entomologist irrigation in general is a great help in fight-
ing insect pests, and from the marked illustration of the great good to be accomplished
by the reclamation of the arid regions in connection with the damage done by the
Rocky Mountain locust, it will probably be considered that further elaboration will
be unnecessary.
Respectfully submitted, May 13, 1889,
L., O. HowARD,
Acting Entomologist
EXTRACTS FROM THE REPORTS OF THE UNITED STATES ENTO-
& MOLOGICAL COMIMISSION.
In the permanent region which embraces the Rocky Mountain plateau and the bor.
dering plains from the middle of Colorado northward the rain-fall is insufficient for
agricultural purposes, and hence irrigation has to be resorted to. In the temporary
region this is unnecessary. . The plains and plateaus of the pormanent region are to a
large extent distinguished by the presence of Artemisia, Chenopodiaceous plants, and
what is usually termed ‘‘ bunch-grass; ” in short, by all the characteristics of a drier
climate. One other peculiarity which should not be overlooked appears to mark
roughly tho southern boundary of the permanent home of the Rocky Mountain locust,
and that is the isothermal curve or line of the fiftieth degree of mean annual tempera-
ture, which also corresponds very nearly with the isothermal curve or line of summer
©
128 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
temperature of seventy degrees. But this applies only to that portion of the region
which extends upon the plains east of the mountains.
If any practical means of exterminating the locusts in this permanent region could
be devised the whole locust problem could be solved, and nothing further would be
necessary. But when we take into consideration the vast extent of this area, and the
fact that a very large portion of it can not be brought under cultivation without a
material change in the climatic conditions, there appears but little hope that such a
means of actual oxtermination will ever be devised, however much we may hope to
check the injurious increase of the pest by the means recommended in the concluding
chapter of this report. Our discussion of the future prospects of this region in refer-
ence to agriculture may as well, therefore, proceed on this basis. (Second Report
United States Entomological Commission, pp. 15–16.)
% * * 3. * * *
A careful investigation of this subject for several years and repeated visits in per-
son to this region have served to convince us that, with the advantages afforded by
the system of irrigation necessarily adopted, there is no reason why the agricultural
area lying along the east flank of the range should suffer any more from these pests
than portions of the temporary regions. (Ibid., p. 19.)
% +% #
* * % *
This agricultural belt, extending from Colorado into British America, is partly along
the margin of and partly in the very heart of the permanent breeding-grounds where
the swarms that invade the temporary region originate. It follows, then, as a natural
consequence, that just so far as the numbers are lessened by the operations in this
section, just so far will the agriculturists of the temporary region be benefited, and,
as we will hereafter see, like operations in the latter region will benefit those in
the permanent region. We are fully aware of the fact that the part of this vast
region which can be irrigated and cultivated is Small in comparison with the whole
area which forms the native home of the species, but, fortunately, in one respect this
eultivated belt occupies in part, at least, the point of departure of the swarms which
invade the temporary region. This fact, therefore, renders it more important that
it be occupied by an agricultural population.
Although we have admitted that we are unable to present any plan of exterminat-
ing the locusts that holds out sufficient promise of success to justify the General Gov-
ernment in undertaking it, it does not necessarily follow that there is no plan of
modifying the evil which the Government would not be justified in undertaking.
On the contrary, if the views we have advanced be correct, they suggest a means by
which the General Government might greatly aid in bringing about the desired result;
and, fortunately, the result would be beneficial even should we be mistaken in the
opinions advanced.
As will be seen by what bas been stated, the great desideratum is to settle the cul-
tivable belt alluded to as rapidly as possible With an agricultural population.
Wherever valuable and permanent mines are discovered in the neighboring mount-
ains, the arable areas in the vicinity will be taken up and cultivated to an extent
at least sufficient to supply the demand for agricultural products, as in parts of
Colorado. But there are large sections where no such influence will be brought to
bear, and this is the case along that portion of the belt where the agricultural pop-
ulation is most needed for the purpose Inentioned.
An examination of map No. 1, in our first report, will show that a comparatively
limited belt in central Montana, extending from the Big Horn Mountains northwest
to the British line, a little west of Cypress Hill, forms the turning-point of the locust
movements. Without now repeating the data which may be found in that report,
we may summarize it by saying that from this region a large portion of the Swarms
come which visit Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska, and Kansas; from this area also
proceed a large portion of the swarms that move southwest into Idaho and Utah.
This appears to be the point to which most of the returning swarms from the tempo-
rary region direct their flight. sº -
That there are other areas in the permanent region which appear to be special
breeding-grounds, as points of departure, is certainly true, but none to such an ex-
tent as this, and none affecting an agricultural area bearing any comparison with the
area affected by the locust Swarms originating in this belt.
Even should it be shown by Subsequent investigations that as a rule the swarms
falling on the temporary regions come from intermediate points, as central and south-
ern Dakota and northwestern Nebraska, the facts already ascertained warrant us in
asserting that, as a Very general rule, they originate in the belt mentioned.
It is evident, therefore, that if any method can be devised by which an agricult-
ural (not pastoral) population can be thrown into this belt, it will form one of the
best possible means of modifying the evil. If they can be effectually distributed in
this area the result will be of immense value to the agricultural interests of Dakota,
Minnesota, Nebraska, Iowa, and Kansas, in fact of the entire temporary region. We
*
THE LOCUST PEST, AND IRRIGATION As A CURE. 129
do not pretend that it will wholly relieve this area from locust invasions, but it will
very materially lessen their extent and injury. - -
In order to carry on agricultural operations to any great extent in this belt, an
extensive system of irrigation will be absolutely necessary. It will have to be on
a scale of greater magnitude than any that will be undertaken by a pioneer popula-
tion. Wo doubt the propriety of the General Government undertaking such a work,
directly, if it is possible to accomplish it in any other way. This, we think, may
possibly be done by giving the land for this purpose. We are fully aware of the op-
position at present to the Government's donating any more of the public land, but
the circumstances of this case bring it out of the general rule. If donating the en-
tire body of public land in the belt described would suffice to settle it with an
agricultural population, not only would the very purpose for which it is held be
accomplished, but, if our views are correct, the result would be of immense benefit to
the border States.
We therefore suggest the following as probably the most feasible plan of accom-
plishing the desired end: Let the United States donate a belt of 50 or 60 miles in
width, running from the Black Hills west-northwest, so as to strike the Yellowstone
River a short distance above the mouth of the Big Horn River; from thence north-
northwest, by way of Fort Shaw or the mouth of Sun River, in the direction of
Fort Hamilton, in British America ; this to be granted on condition that the com-
pany to which said land is granted shall, within a given timo, construct a railroad
from the Black Hills along the line designated, to the international boundary, shall
undertake and carry out, to an extent to be designated, a system of irrigation, and
shall equip and keep in operation said road for a certain number of years.
Whether such grant will be sufficient inducement for any competent company to
undertake the work specified is probably the chief difficulty in the way of success-
fully carrying out this plan. On this point we do not feel qualified to express an
opinion. That such a road, starting from the Black Hills, if once built, would soon
be connected southward and eastward with other roads, can not be doubted. That
it would be the best possible means of bringing an agricultural population into this
belt can not be doubted. It would also be an important factor in settling the trouble
Some Indian problem in this section of the West.
If the plan should be adopted it might be well to colonize, if possible, with Russian
peasants who are accustomed to fighting locusts.
The advantage to be derived from this plan consists chiefly in the fact that it is
possible to destroy the young to a very large extent by the use of the proper
means. If this is done in the very heart of their breeding-grounds, it greatly les-
sens the numbers that will migrate. Not only does it prevent the number de-
stroyed from migrating, but for each one killed, so to speak, an entire family brood
of the next or migrating generation is destroyed. In other words, the destruction of
thousands there would be as effectual as destroying millions of the migrating swarms.
The means of destroying the young, as before stated, can be made more effectual in
the sections where irrigation is carried on than where it is not. -
As shown in our first report, the destruction of the young locusts bred in the tem-
porary region from the invading hordes not only gives immediate relief, but also
tends to postpone future invasions by so lessening the numbers in the returning
swarms that a longer time is required for development. With an agricultural popu-
lation in the area designated, the work of destruction would then be carried on at
each end of their migratory route.
Here we may also remark that the present idea of making that fection of our
country peculiarly pastoral area, while doubtless profitable to the present and for
two or three generations to come, will in the end entail hardships upon those to fol-
low. It can no longer be doubted that while the destruction of forests was the chief
agency, yet the pastoral habit of the people of Western Asia and other oriental coun-
tries, once so fertile but now, so barren, was one important factor in producing the
present dry and barren condition of those countries. No country in the interior of a
continent, unless supplied with numerous lakes or numerous and permanent rivers,
can remain permanently fertile and productive if given up largely to pasturage of
sheep, goats, and cattle without cultivation. The rapid destruction of mountain
forests and pasturing their slopes and bordering plains will most certainly have a
tendency to render that portion of our country more dry and barren.
Unless, therefore, our Government adopts some policy by which an agricultural
population can be thrown into that area the day will most assuredly come when it
will be as barren and desolate as the plains of Arabia. The development of the lo-
custs is but an incident of the change from a former condition of abundant moisture
to the present dry one. But this branch of the subject we propose to omit at
Tesent.
p It will be seen, therefore, by the foregoing that we think it is possible to modify to
a very large extent the operations of the locusts so far as these relate to the area
138 A L–WOL IW 9
130 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
along the east flank of the mountains, and that the General Government may, with-
out any very great expense, very greatly assist in the work. (Ibid. pp. 19–22.)
* # * * * * % *
This certainly shows a very moderate climate for this northern latitude. Wheat,
oats, rye, and barley grow well, and Indian corn is also raised without difficulty and
produces good crops. Such fruits as apples, plums, cherries, currants, Taspberries,
. gºveries may be grown and matured here, the climate presenting no Serious
obstacles.
The amount of land that can be brought under cultivation depends wholly upon
the amount of water that can be obtained for irrigation. If the plan for making res-
ervoirs for preserving the winter supply should ever be adopted, the breadth of the
agricultural belt would be very largely increased, and this would be doubly beneficial
in assisting to destroy the locusts and tending to increase the moisture in the atmos-
phere by forming a larger evaporating surface. The growth of trees and shrubbery
around these reservoirs would also be beneficial in the same direction.
But experience in the settlement of these mountain regions and Western Territories
shows that no such extensive works will, or in fact can be, undertaken by a pioneer
agricultural population. Some efficient aid of some kind must be given if such a
scheme is ever carried into effect, and if the land itself will do this, the Government
will act wisely in giving it for this purpose. (Ibid., p. 23.)
*
* 35 $4 $ * *
As shown by our first report, the region around Salt Lake is subject to repeated lo-
cust invasions from the north, apparently the resulting broods of the swarms that
originate in that portion of Montana of which we have been speaking, and which,
º over the mountain pass at the head of Jefferson River, move down Snake
iver Valley.
If the scheme we have suggested should be carried out and should prove beneficial
in reference to the eastorm area, it would have, to some extent at least, a like effect
as to this section. If it is possible to establish and maintain an agricultural popula-
tion in the Upper Snake River Valley, this would have a strong tendency to modify
the evil. But the present barren aspect of this region would seem to forbid any hopes
of ever accomplishing this desired end. Still there appears to be one possible means
of bringing this about, at least to a limited extent. The demand of trade will doubt-
less complete the railroad already started in that direction, which is one step toward
the desired ond, but something more is required in this case.
Snake River affords a large body of water which, if properly utilized, would irri-
gate a large breadth of land, and, notwithstanding the barren appearance of the soil,
is really fertile when irrigated. It is possible, with a moderate expense, to throw
dams across this stream at certain favorable spots, and by this means to spread the
water over the adjoining plains. A work of this kind would, of course, have to be
done by the General Govornment. The ſeasibility of this project could easily be as-
certained by an officer of the Engineer Corps of the Army; and as this is on the line of
the chief intermontane thoroughfare and also of the locust invasions of this region,
the subject is certainly worthy of the atteution of the Government.
As will be seen by what we have presented on this subject, the philosophy of our
plan for modifying the evil is to place an agricultural population in the very home
of the species, which from necessity would be compelled to wage a constant warfare
against them.
By stirring the soil their nests would be disturbed ; by fighting the young their
numbers would be diminished; and as irrigation would be necessary the effect of dry
seasons on the crops would not be felt as in the temporary region. The possibility of
inundating to a considerable extent their egg deposits by the winter supply of water
would tend to diminish their numbers. The fact that their breeding-grounds are
chiefly in the limited agricultural areas is also another argument in favor of the plan.
That large areas would be left where locusts breed and pour down on the nearest
cultivated areas, as in western Colorado, is certainly true; but this does not lessen
the value of the plan proposed, nor is it a reason why it should not be put into oper-
ation. (Ibid., pp. 24, 25.)
* * º # # * *
Naturally with the fncrease in the number of farms and advance of the settlements
upon the frontier the devastation by locusts will be felt less. They will divide their
ravages among more farmers, and hence none will feel the losses nearly as much as
did tfiose who were isolated from their neighbors during past invasions. Thinly-set-
tled districts suffered much more than those which were more thickly settled; and
those lying out upon the prairie than those adjoining and interspersed with groves.
During these invasions there was no year but in which a portion of the crops was
saved and harvested by the farmers of the extreme eastern portion of Nebraska and
other sections of country that were comparatively thickly settled, and that were sit-
uated near some natural timber-belt and interspersed with planted groves; while, on
the contrary, those that were far away from these natural and artificial groves, and
BIRD AND ANIMAL LIFE IN OUR ARID REGIONS. 131
thinly settled, were entirely devastated by the hordes of ravenous insects. Hence we
are compelled to acknowledge that the settling of a country in which the settlers are
tree-planters has a tendency to diminish the ratio of locust injury.
Tree-planting is not only a matter of great importance to the inhabitants of a
country like ours in supplying a much-needed material for fuel during our severe
winters, when at times it is impossible to obtain coal—either from the failure of a
sufficient supply at the mines, or from the impracticability of reaching towns where
it can be obtained—but it is also of untold benefit as a moderator of climatic ex-
tremes. By planting trees throughout the Temporary Region wherever they will
grow, in time the area in which the locust is capable of continuing its existence
but two or at most three generations, without having recourse to the arid regions
hitherto referred to as the permanent breeding-grounds, will be increased. Aside
from the greater amount of humidity that would naturally follow tree-planting, the
spread of locust-feeding birds would be correspondingly increased, and the amount
of good thus accomplished could hardly be estimated. As long, however, as there
are no retreats or building places in which these little feathered friends of ours can
rear there little ones, we need not look for their aid in fighting insect enemies.
The increase in the number of settlers would also add to the number of individuals
to fight the locusts, and hence help to increase the sum total of their dead and to
diminish the swarms otherwise remaining to do damage and to increase at the ratio
of a hundred-fold. (Third Report U. S. Entomological Commission, pp. 44, 45.)
Mr. WILLITs. Dr. Vesey was to have been here, and he had a state-
ment, too, but I will send the paper up.” Dr. Merriam is here, and I
would like the committee to hear from him. #
The CHAIRMAN. We will hear from Dr. Merriam.
STATEMENT OF C. HART MERRIAM, ORNITHOLOGIST.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your position?
Mr. MERRIAM. I am chief of Division of Ornithology and Mammalogy
of the Department of Agriculture.
I was desired by Secretary Willits to come here and speak of the
availability of certain areas of the arid lands for the introduction of
certain agricultural crops and certain birds and animals which are in-
jurious or beneficial to mankind.
In the southern part of the arid lands camels have been already in-
troduced. Many years ago the War Department introduced camels in
this country, and herds are now supposed to be living in western Texas
and in Arizona.
Nothing has been done to utilize them as beasts of burden, but there
can be no doubt that enormous good and enormous value would result
to the arid land by the proper introduction and domestication of the
camels of those regions. The herds now roaming wild over considera-
ble areas in the arid lands could be put to very useful service. Our
arid lands extend from the Mexican border to the plains of the Sas-
katchewan and embrace a number of distinct climates. Each of those
climates is adapted to the wants of certain classifications of animal and
vegetable life. We find that we are able to subdivide the West into a
number of areas which We call life areas, because each of those areas
possesses associations of plants and mammals, birds, reptiles, insects,
etc., that are not found in continuous areas, and we find in applying
agriculture to those areas that the same areas that support definite as-
sociations of plants and animals in a wild state are adapted by nature
to definite kinds of agricultural crops and to definite breeds of animals.
This is a subject that has been almost entirely overlooked in studying
the question of the relation of climatology, particularly of temperature
and humidity, to the relations of life; it is one of the utmost importance.
I think it is not saying too much to state that agricultural science in
this country is going to be completely revolutionized whenever it is
studied in connection with the natural life areas and the climatology of
the country. Experimental agriculture will cease.
* Dr. Vasey's paper was not received.
132 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you to any considerable extent classified the
Sections, and the animals belonging to them 2
- Mr. MERRIAM. I have been engaged in that work for the last four or
five years, and have a number of maps now in progress of the whole
United States, showing the primary, secondary, and tertiary life areas
in which the country is subdivisible. That is the work in which I am
now engaged.
The CHAIRMAN. That would not come within the scope of our report;
but I agree with you that it is a very important subject of inquiry, if
you can ascertain as to each region when developed what will be the
products, and what animals will thrive there, and what will be suitable
for them for food. That information will be most valuable to settlers
in order to inform them what animals they may keep.
Adjourned.
FIFTH DAY'S SESSION.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 13, 1890.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: Mr. Stewart (chairman), Mr. Moody, Mr. Casey, Mr. Reagan,
and Mr. Jones, of Arkansas.
STATEMENT OF CAPT. C. E. DUTTON, U. S. ARMY, CHIEF ENGINEER
II. S. IRRIGATION SURVEY,
The CHAIRMAN. Captain, you are an officer of the Army
Captain DUTTON. I am, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. And assigned to the Geological Survey?
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. State what connection you have had with the Irri-
gation Survey, what your position has been in that survey, etc.
Captain DUTTON. When the survey was first authorized by law
Major Powell requested me to take charge of the field-work of the en-
gineering and hydrographic parties. The details of the field-work were
drawn up and submitted by myself to the director, and were approved
by him, and, since the passage of the law and since the time when the
appropriation became available, I have had charge of the engineering
and hydrographic work. *
The CHAIRMAN. EIas there been any other work than hydrographic
and engineering work done in connection with the survey 3
Captain DUTTON. Within the limits of the appropriation ?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes. -
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir. There has been a large amount of topo-
graphic work, with which I have had nothing to do.
The CHAIRMAN. Of the $350,000 that have been appropriated how
much has been expended for hydrographic and engineering Work, and
how much for topographic work &
Captain DUTTON. Out of the first appropriation—you will remember
there were two—
The CHAIRMAN. (Interposing.) There were two.
Captain DUTTON. Out of the first appropriation of $100,000 $36,000
were allotted for the work under my charge. -
The CHAIRMAN. The engineering and hydrographic work?
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir; there was a contingent fund reserved for
expenditure under the immediate charge of the director, for office expen
EXPENDITURES OF THE IRRIGATION SURVEY. 133
ses, and for special expenses which could not beforeseen in the original
estimates, and also to be a kind of insurance fund against any deviation
which might compel us to exceed this allotment or else sacrifice val-
uable work. The amount of that, I think, was $6,000. The remainder
of the $100,000, that is, $58,000, I understand was applied to topog-
raphy. -
The CHAIRMAN. As regards the second appropriation ?
Captain DUTTON. As regards the second appropriation, the original
allotment to the work under my charge, that is, the engineering and
hydrographic work, was $110,000. There was a contingent fund of
$20,000, and $120,000 was allotted to the topographic work.
The CHAIRMAN. Has all of that appropriation been expended ?
Captain DUTTON. The last appropriation ?
The CHAIRMAN. Yes, sir.
Captain DUT TON. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. How much has been expended of what was allotted
to the hydrographic and engineering work
Captain DUTTON. I can not give the exact figures, but I can approx-
imate to them off-hand. There still remains available for expenditure
about $29,000, reckoning from the 1st of March, for the work under my
charge. As regards the work in the topographic branch I am unable
to say how much remains unexpended. " .
The CHAIRMAN. The $29,000 will be expended as you go along, in
completing the work 3
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir; to complete the office work, and more
especially to keep the hydrographic work going, which it is absolutely
necessary to maintain constantly, without any intermission, in the field,
that is, to a certain extent. The great bulk of the remainder now un-
expended is being applied to the hydrographic work.
Senator REAGAN. That is, the remainder of the $120,000.
Captain DUTTON. The remainder of the $110,000. That is a class of
work which requires more constant and steady expenditure than the
engineering work, because it is necessary to keep up stations in the
field constantly.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any connection, in practical operations, be-
tween the topographic Work and the engineering work; how do they
co-operate, if at all ?
Captain DUTTON. There is a certain amount of general utility for en-
gineering and hydrographic purposes to be found in a good topographic
survey. According to my understanding there is no absolute depend-
ence upon topographic work for the proper conduct of good engineering
and hydrographic work; in other words, an engineering and hydro-
graphic survey could be conducted with good results, meeting the pur-
poses and requirements of the law, if there were no topographic survey.
Our results probably would be in some measure better spread upon the
record, better published, and made more intelligible, if we had good
topographic Work in advance, and good topographic work would un-
doubtedly be accompanied by certain conveniences; but the question
of necessity is one of degree. -
Senator REAGAN. I do not understand these things very well.
Will you define the difference between what you call engineering and
lıydrographic work and topographic work, so we can see what the dif.
ferences between the two classes is %
Captain DUTTON. In order to carry out the purposes of this law, as
it has been understood in the survey, and in order to meet all the special
requirements of the law, Which provides for investigating the extent
*A
134 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
to Which arid lands can be redeemed by irrigation, one of the first things
Which is necessary to know is the available water supply, and not
merely the Water supply, but also what the water can do—how much a
given quantity of Water can do, both in general and in particular—as
a general rule and in particular cases. It is therefore necessary to make
What We call a hydrographic investigation to know how much water
We have at our Command. The hydrographic work has been understood
to include the measurement of the waters flowing in the streams, and to
ascertain the rate or distribution of the flow of streams during dif.
ferent parts of the year, to know when the waters are at a maximum
and When at a minimum. It is also necessary to know what we term the
“duty” of the water, to know how much land the water can irrigate,
and if, as is actually the case, it waries from place to place, to know the
causes upon which that variation depends—what influences the duty
of the water.
There is one other very important matter in this connection which it
is necessary to investigate, and that is the subject of evaporation, which
becomes a highly important one in reservoirs, and especially in the
largest reservoirs, for reasons that will readily suggest themselves to
you. A large reservoir is generally a shallow one, and a very large
basin can not under any ordinary circumstances receive a sufficient quan-
tity of water to cause a great rise and fall in that reservoir. Now, if the
proportion of evaporation to the amount of available inflow of a reser-
Voir is very large it becomes a very important question to know how
much that evaporation is, and there are very many cases where the value
of a reservoir will turn upon the ratio which exists between evaporation
and inflow, Therefore it is necessary to make an accurate investiga-
tion of the rate of evaporation. There is still one other question which
We consider—a hydrographic one—which we have not as yet taken up
Systematically, but have only investigated in one or two localities, and
that is the quantity of sediment which the streams transport. That
becomes a matter of very great importance in determining the life of a
reservoir, how long it will take to fill it. These are practical matters
Which the hydrographic service is expected to investigate. The engi-
neering survey investigates questions of a different character, but into
the investigation of the engineering survey the hydrographic survey
enters as an important factor. The engineering survey is required to
first investigate the possibilities of diverting water from streams, stor-
ing water, and the amount of land which can be irrigated by works of
a specific character. I think it will appear quite clearly that if we are
to obtain the information as to the amount of land which is susceptible
of being irrigated we must have for each locality and each district some
definite idea of the kind and the extent of the works which are to irri-
gate them. Therefore the engineering survey is required to form some
definite project of works for the irrigation of each district. Their in-
structions have been to endeavor to select the best. I can perhaps con-
vey to you that idea more forcibly by reading to you a portion of the
instructions which were given early in this investigation to some of the
engineers: *
I desire here with to place before you certain governing considerations of a general
character with reference to the surveys you are expected to make and to the results
you are expected to accomplish. In each hydrographic basin it is desired to take the
problem ; what are the available sources of water supply, and by what means the
water may be most fully utilized : A hydrographic basin may mean the water-shed
of a large stream or of a small one, or a great river or one of its tributaries; but whether
it means a trunk stream or a branch of it (a question to be decided by the engineer),
it is assumed that there is some form of development and construction of the work
whAT IS REQUIRED OF THE CIVIL ENGINEERS. 135
which may be judged to be the best that the engineer can devise. The engineers
should take no account of works which are already constructed; nor should their
judgment be swayed by any opinion on their part as to what works private enter:
prises and capital are likely to undertake in the next few years. They should
rather address themselves to the question already propounded ; what is the best Sys-
tem, the one which will utilize the greatest amount of water and produce the great-
est amount of irrigation ? It is not forgotten that as a practical matter irrigation
development in each district starts with a small beginning, with works proportional
to that beginning; that it advances through successive stages, by more costly works
superseding the prinitive ones. But of these the engineer should take no account,
His project should embrace what is in his judgment the best system, irrespective of
what is or actually may be constructed. At the same time his project should be a
practical one, involving no extravagances of engineering, nor transcending the
possibilities of attainment, or of maintenance after attainment. The plans should
also have a certain unity, and should contemplate a single system of works for
each irrigation district. If both reservoirs and canals are required, the reservoirs
should be, if possible, projected as adjuncts of the canals. No doubt it will hap-
pen sometimes that the rivers alone are more than sufficient for the available land,
as in the northernmost States and Territories, or that reservoirs alone are possi-
ble, as in parts of the southernmost Territories; but still, even in such cases, unity of
plan should, so far as practicable, be kept in view. Engineers should seek to mini-
mize the extension of their projects of #iº, works by which water is taken
from oanals and reservoirs and put upon the land. With a given high line canal it
will generally be possible to propose many ways of distributing its water, but the
distributive system will in other cases probably be of a distinctive character, form-
ing a vital part of the entire project, and its development in the project will then be
necessary.
This instruction was deemed necessary in order to meet the require-
ments of the law for investigating the extent to which the arid lands
are capable of being redeemed by irrigation. &
Senator REAGAN. You have stated that there would be some conven-
ience in a topographic survey. Is not a topographic Survey to some
extent indispensable to this work in ascertaining the altitude of the
place where you locate your reservoir, the relative altitude of the ground
to be irrigated, and to run the lines of the canal?
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir; to know the line of the canal it is neces-
sary to have an exceedingly minute and very carefully detailed topo-
graphic Survey on a very large scale. It is also very necessary to have
a thorough-going survey of the reservoir site itself, and most particularly
of the dam site. For this purpose a topographic survey is an absolute
necessity; but in speaking I had reference to a more general topographic
survey of the whole country. A topographic survey to show the lines
of a canal would have to be made upon a scale never less than 1,000
feet to the inch, and is more frequently 100 or 200 feet to the inch,
whereas a general topographic map of the very largest size means a
survey upon a scale of about 10,000 feet to the inch ; that is, our scale for
engineering purposes would have to be ten, fifty, or even one hundred
times as large as that of a general topographic map. And there is
another point in that connection, The most important feature of an
engineering Survey for engineering purposes deals with the vertical
element; that is, with altitudes. The horizontal elements, although im-
portant, are far less so than the vertical elements. Now, it would be
impracticable to construct a topographic map, at a reasonable cost, with
a degree of accuracy at all commensurate with the accuracy which is
demanded by the engineering Surveys of a canal, or even of a reservoir.
Senator REAGAN. Is not such a topographic survey as is being made
in the country where you have been a very great convenience to the
engineers when they come to arrange the details of the hydraulic part
of the Work 7
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir; it is a convenience; there is no question
about that. *
136 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator REAGAN. And it is of great convenience in considering the
engineering problems ?
Captain DUTTON. It is a great convenience. I notice that all my
engineers are calling very largely for maps, and the best maps they
Can get.
Senator REAGAN. Are you advised as to the extent to which the
topographic Surveys have been made and how near they are to comple-
tion throughout that Western country generally *
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir; I have a pretty good knowledge of that
subject. I know where they have been made and I know their general
character.
Senator REAGAN. State to the committee about the extent of those
Surveys.
The CHAIRMAN. And also state their general character.
Captain DUTTON. Well, sir, you are aware that topographic surveys
of various qualities have been going on the Western country for
twenty years. They have been made by different organizations of the
Government. Some have been made with much more care and much
more skill than others. A very large portion of the West has already
been so surveyed. There has been a topographic survey made of that
portion of the State of Colorado which lies west of Denver. The en-
tire portion of the State west of Denver was surveyed under Dr. Hay-
den. There has been a very large portion of New Mexico surveyed,
by what we are in the habit of calling a mere reconnaissance survey,
under Captain Wheeler, of the Engineers. It is on a much smaller
scale and much more hurriedly done than a topographic survey, and it
has but little of the vertical element in it. We do not consider it a
topographic survey. But some portions of New Mexico have been sur-
veyed by the Geological Survey, perhaps about one fourth of the Ter-
ritory. Nearly one-half of Arizona has been surveyed by the Geologi-
cal Survey, that, however, being the northern portion of the Territory.
About two-thirds to three-fourths of Utah has been surveyed by the Geo-
logical Survey. The Wheeler survey made extensive surveys in Ne-
vada, while the Geological Survey has made none there except in the
extreme western portion of the State. The Wheeler survey has made
very extensive surveys in California, and the Geological Survey has
followed them up with their topographic survey, which now embraces
about one-fourth, perhaps one-third, of the State—a very fine map.
Southwestern Oregon has been surveyed by the Geological Survey, but
probably not more than one-eighth or one-tenth of the State has been
surveyed.
No surveys of any kind have been made in Washington, and the Geo-
logical Survey has made no surveys in Idaho until within the last year,
and very few surveys of any kind have been made there excepting in
the southeasternmost portion. In Montana, a survey was made by the
Northern Pacific Railway, known as the Transcontinental Survey, em-
bracing a belt of territory which was adjacent to the Northern Pacific
Railroad, mostly within the limits of its land grant, and other portions
have within the last three or four years been under survey by the Geo-
logical Survey. Perhaps one-fifth or one-sixth part of Montana has been
surveyed. In Wyoming there has been very little topographic work
done, although a survey was begun there by Dr. Hayden during the last
few years of the existence of his own survey, but only a small amount of
progress had been made upon it. In the States and Territories east of
the one hundredth meridian, within the arid belt, the Geological Sur-
vey has been making surveys in the valley of the Arkansas River, and
CHARACTER OF NEEDED HYDROGRAPHIC work. 137
still more extensive ones in the eastern portion of Kansas. It has also
been making some extensive surveys in central Texas, gradually ex:
panding its work there. That carries us into the humid region, and
there has been a great deal of surveying done, of course, in the Missis-
sippi Valley,
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose a corps of engineers, having a report of the
hydrographic work, so that they would have an approximate knowledge
of the precipitation and evaporation, and the amount of water flowing
in a stream, should go into a valley to locate a reservoir and the lines of
ditches for the purpose of conveying the water to such lands as could be
irrigated, how much information could they obtain from any topograph-
ical map that has been made of any portion of the country 3 Would
they be able to rely on such a map, or would it be necessary for them to
do their own work independent of that?
Captain DUTTON. The most valuable information they would get
from a general topographic map would be a more accurate means of
Computing the area of the different water-sheds. I know of no other
purpose which would be an indispensable one which would be served
by such a map as that. But it becomes a matter of very grave moment
to know what the water-shed is. It can be very readily ascertained by a
few days’ labor, or, if it is a large one, by a labor of a week or two; but
as a general rule the exactions of accuracy in the size of a water-shed are
not so great but what they can be made fairly and with a sufficient
degree of approximation by existing data.
Senator JONES. Why do you have to know the area of a water-shed?
Captain DUTTON. In order to form some judgment in advance of the
amount of water which is likely to run off from it in flood-time.
Senator JONES. Then you rely on the area of the water-shed and the
average rain-fall to make your hydrographic examinations; or do you
measure the streams for the purpose of making your estimates?
Captain DUTTON. Both.
Senator JONES. You do not rely on either one, absolutely 3
Captain DUTTON. We place our main reliance upon stream-gauging.
Senator JONES. That is much less expensive than the other?
Captain DUTTON. No, sir; far more expensive. Stream-gauging is
Very expensive work.
Senator JONES. Is it more expensive than a topographic survey in as-
certaining rain-fall ? --
Captain DUTTON. Oh, no, sir.
Senator JONES. That is the question I asked.
The CIIAIRMAN. The captain meant sufficient topographic work to
ascertain the area of the water-shed. That amount of topographic
Work Would not cost as much as the topographic work.
Captain DUTTON. I think I can get a rough approximation of almost
any water-shed from existing maps.
Senator JONES. Is that sufficient for practical purposes 3
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Then there is another thing which, it seems to me,
you would want to know in planning for a dam. You would not only
Want to know the amount of water that would come down in flood-
times, approximately, but you would want to know the declivities of
the Water-shed, to determine how rapidly it might come down.
-Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Could the engineers in the field also make allowance
for the declivities of the water-shed and judge of the probabilities of
Strain upon the dam, so as to make allowance for it 3
138 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Captain DUTTON. They could get some light upon that subject—
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). Would a topographic map give you
some light 3
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
Senator JONES. Is it indispensable?
Captain DUTTON. It is not indispensable.
The CHAIRMAN. When they were making the survey could they take
º altitude with sufficient accuracy to form a reasonable judgment of
I - w
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir. We have no difficulty in getting alti-
tudes in a few hours, or in a day or two at the farthest, with all the ac.
curacy that topographers get it, because the country is now so com-
pletely covered with railroads. Topographers are obliged to rely on
the railroads as a starting point for their data, and engineers can do
that as well as topographers. If a case arises where the locality is very
remote from a railroad he can get his altitude in precisely the same way
the topographer gets his, that is, by a mercurial barometer. That is a
rough way, but it gives the altitude with a fairly satisfactory degree of
approximation.
Senator JONES. How long a system of observation does it require in
the basin of a stream to determine the minimum water-fall and the
maximum water-fall; I mean for practical purposes?
Captain DUTTON. It takes a great many years, Senator. Hydro-
graphic observations once begun should be conducted without inter-
mission for a long period of years, and I think that as soon as practi-
cable the States themselves, or possibly the irrigation districts, should
have that business gradually turned over to them and devolved upon
them. It is their business, their province. Sooner or later all the irri-
gation Imust come—
Senator JONES (interposing). What do you think was the cause of
the accident in Arizona the other day ?
Captain DUTTON. An insufficient waste-weir.
Senator JONES. That is not the point I had in mind. What was the
cause of the engineer making that mistake 7 I assume that he was
competent, that he knew his business, that he knew the size of waste-
weir necessary to carry off the water; but it seems that more water
came down than he calculated on. Now, no matter if he had been gaug-
ing that for a long while, he could not, of course, know how much water
would come down in an excessive flood unless a flood came during his
observations. The question is whether you can arrive at such informa-
tion by observations of the flow of the stream as to enable you to rea-
sonably guard against accidents to works of this character, or whether
it is necessary to have an examination of the country and know the
area drained and the steepness of the water-shed, the amount of water
that falls in an average year, and all that—whether that would be a
more accurate way of guarding against destruction from floods than to
depend on the gauging of the streams.
Captain DUTTON. The case of the Walnut Grove Dam, I think, brings
out your suggestion very forcibly. There was a water-shed of about 325
square miles. Under any ordinary circumstances, under any ordinary
rain-fall, there would have been no danger of overflowing that reser-
voir; but, on the other hand, those who have been acquainted with Ari.
zona for a considerable number of years are aware that every now and
then there comes an exceptional storm, and engineers who have made
a special study of the subject of reservoirs and the storing of reservoirs
are well aware that when the precipitation comes very rapidly and very
ALLOTMENT AND ExPENDITURE OF APPROPRIATION. 139
suddenly there is a tendency to a definite ratio between the amount of
rain-fall and the amount of run-off, so that there is a possibility of mak-
ing a computation of the amount of water that is likely to flow into a
reservoir when the rain-fall exceeds a given amount in a given number
of hours; and, now, it seems to me that the engineer who had charge of
that work should have studied that problem more than he did; that he
could have foreseen that there was a liability of such a rain-fall, and the
precedents which have been given by the English engineers in India
and by the Italian engineers in the Piedmont should have been ample
to warn him of the possibility of such an accident as that.
Senator REAGAN. Was there not some defect about the masonry 7
Captain DUTTON. I think not.
Senator MooDY. How large was that dam 3 What was the length,
width, and height of it?
Captain DUTTON. The dam was 110 feet high. The bottom of it I am
not accurately informed about. I have made some inquiries on the sub-
ject, but have as yet received no reply. I understand, however, that
the basal dimensions were ample. It belongs to a type of dam which
has become very popular in California of late, which is known as the
loose-rock dam. There are some great advantages about a loose-rock
dam. A leak is of very little consequence.
Senator MOODY. For what reason 3
Captain DUTTON. Because the water which flows through the front
of the dam flows through the back, through the interstices of the stones,
and exercises no internal pressure. If water gets into a dam constructed
of masonry—gets inside—it is likely to burst it by hydrostatic pressure
tº estroy it; but in a loose-rock dam there is no danger of that
IIl Cl. e
Senator MOODY. No danger of undermining 3
d Captain DUTTON. No danger of the undermining or bursting of the
& Iſl.
sºlator MOODY. At what point from the bottom did this bréak oc-
CUII?
Captain DUTTON. It occurred at the top, by the overflow of the dam.
The waste-Weir being insufficient to carry off the water, it began to
overflow. If you have a darn of such great height as that and the wa-
ter is permitted to overflow it, its destruction is absolutely certain.
Senator MOODY. A fall of water 110 feet makes a pressure of how
much to the square inch 3 *
Captain DUTTON. Well, it depends whether it falls unchecked or is
checked.
Senator MOODY. Unchecked, as it would flow over a dam.
Captain DUTTON. The pressure would be terrible It would be a dif.
ficult matter to compute. Its destructive power would be great.
Senator MOODY. I desire to ask a question on another branch of the
subject. You say there was $110,000 of this $250,000 that was assigned
to the engineering and hydrographic surveys *
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
snator MOODY. And $120,000 was assigned to the topographic sur.
vey -
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. Can you state generally for what the balance of the
$110,000 was expended ?
Captain DUTTON. There was allotted to Montana, $9,500; to Colo.
rado, 819,500; to New Mexico, $8,500; to Idaho, $10,000; to Nevada,
$15,500; to California, $13,000; making $76,000 for engineering work.
140 IRRIGATION AND RECIAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Thirty-four thousand dollars was allotted for the hydrographic work,
making $110,000.
Senator MOODY. Commencing with Montana, please state where and
in what work that was expended ? Ço
Captain DUTTON. A large proportion of it was expended in making
surveys of the Sun River Valley and in making reconnaissances of the
Yellowstone and the Three Forks of the Upper Missouri and the country
lying between the Yellowstone and the Missouri Rivers.
Senator MOODY. What practical work was done in the Sun River
º ? Were any reservoir sites selected or lines of canals or ditches
I’UII] *
Captain DUTTON. There were ten reservoir sites first selected, of
which one was rejected, as being impracticable. The remaining nine
were carefully surveyed, and the dam sites were thoroughly contoured
On a very large scale, and the survey brought to such a condition that
estimates of the cost of construction can be made at any time, whenever
a Board of Engineers can agree upon what is the most suitable form of
dam to be constructed. There is a high-line canal, taking water from
six to nine reservoirs, which constitute a system, and bringing the
water out upon the bench lands above Sun River, where it can be util-
ized. *
Senator MOODY. Do you take the water from all those reservoirs into
one canal—one general canal—or do you run a canal from each one of
these reservoirs ?
Captain DUTTON. A high-line canal takes the water from all the
reservoirs; so they are practically one system.
Senator MOODY. Is that the mode of expenditure of the balance of
the money, generally speaking, in all the States and Territories you
have mentioned ?
Captain DUTTON. That is not the exclusive method of the engineer-
ing work. In the Arkansas Valley the work has been somewhat differ-
ent. It has there been devoted partially to the same end, that is, to
devising a unified scheme for the maximum development of the irriga-
tion possibilities of that hydrographic basin. "
Senator MOODY. That is, selecting sites ?
Captain DUTTON. Selecting sites and estimating the cost of construc-
tion. $
Senator MOODY. Carefully surveying the sites ?
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir, &
Senator Moody. Locating the sites of dams ?
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. What else?
Captain DUTTON. Preparing surveys which can be utilized at any
time.
Senator MOODY. Which can be utilized for the distribution of the
WaterS.
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
Senator MooDY. Outside of that what special work has been done?
Captain DUTTON. In addition to that there has been the selection of
a large number of possible reservoir sites, which up to the present time
have not been co-ordinated with any particular system, but which may
be co-ordinated at any future time. Furthermore, there has been a Con-
siderable amount of money expended in the segregation of irrigable
lands. * *
Senator MooDY. What do you mean by the segregation of irrigable
lands º Do you mean the ascertainment of the areas of the lands that
are susceptible of irrigation ?
THE LAND-OFFICE MAPs ARE THE NECESSARY ONES, 141
Captain DUTTON. The law provides, as you will remember, that all
of the lands which are rendered susceptible of irrigation by such
hydraulic works as are mentioned in the law are withdrawn from occu-
pation, sale, and entry. Of course it is necessary to specify what those
lands are, giving the township, range, section, quarter Section, etc.
Now there are a great many lands about which we are uncertain, but
there are still others, of very large extent, about which no uncertainty
exists, and it was deemed best to take those instances where no uncer-
tainty existed at all and have them reported to the Secretary of the
Interior for withdrawal from entry, occupation, and settlement, and do
it promptly.
Senator MOODY. You have ascertained, then, by your surveys, the
areas of lands susceptible of irrigation and that can be brought under
irrigation by means of this system of reservoirs and distributing Works
that you have been planning 3
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir.
Senator MooDY. And marking upon the ground?
Captain DUTTON. We took the Land {}ffice surveys. They are
marked on the ground, in most cases. We took the Land Office plats,
and from draughts of the Land Office plats we made our own draughts
and certified them to the Department.
Senator MooDY. Do you do that by survey or mere observation ?
Captain DUTTON. By sending a competent party upon the ground to
identify the corners.
Senator Moody. Will you state generally, as briefly as you can, how
the $120,000 which was assigned to the topographic service has been
expended ?
Captain DUTTON. I only know in a general way where the field-work
has been Ž
Senator MOODY. I am only asking for the information you have
gathered from your familiarity with the office work.
Captain DUTTON. I can only state that from my general knowledge.
of where the work has been carried on. There have been a number of
field parties at work in the Sierra Navadas, along the boundary line be-
tween California and Nevada. There has been a field party at work in
the Snake River Valley, in the vicinity of Idaho. There has been a
very large field party, or series of parties, at work in the Arkansas Wal-
ley in Colorado. There has been another large party at work in the
valley of the Yellowstone and on the upper forks of the Missouri,-
and a year ago—I am not certain whether it is within the present year or
not, but a year ago there was a party at work in the Rio Grande Valley,
in New Mexico. I am not certain whether they have been continued
during the present fiscal year or not.
Senator MOODY. What work do these parties do that is of value so
far as the purposes of irrigation are concerned, except to furnish these
information maps that you have spoken of, that you take and then go
upon the ground to locate absolutely the reservoirs by actual surveys 7
What service have they performed in the direction of irrigation ?
Captain DUTTON. Well, there are two stand-points from which that .
question can be answered.
Senator MooDY. I would like your views upon it.
Captain DUTTON. I think I had better answer it—
Senator MOODY (interposing). What I am trying to get at is this:
I would like to know, if the Committee has the patience to allow me——
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). Certainly.
Senator MooDY. I would like to know how much of this $250,000 has
142 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
been expended for the purpose of irrigation and how much has been
expended for the purpose of mapping and platting the country. In that
º I Would ask you, captain, what work the topographic parties have
OI] 0.
Captain DUTTON. I think the best answer I could give you would be
º to explain the matter from the stand-point of the Director him-
Self.
The CHAIRMAN. Give the engineers' views and the Director's, both.
Senator JONES. It seems to me that you are likely to bring about
confusion here. A topographic map may have great value in many
different ways. It may or may not be necessary to have it for the pur-
poses of irrigation. I do not believe you can have an intelligent method
of irrigation without a topographic survey; but when a topographic sur-
Vey is made it can be
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). We want his view.
Senator MOODY. I understood the captain to say—and I may have
misunderstood him—that the topographic surveys which were impor-
tant for irrigation purposes were made by the engineering surveys.
Senator JONES. He said those that were indispensable.
Senator MOODY. They must have these vertical surveys.
Captain DUTTON. And on a very large scale.
Senator MOODY. On a very large scale; in other words that the mere
togographer does not undertake to fix with any degree of accuracy the
line of any canal or the altitude of any place, except for mere topo-
graphic purposes, and that after he is through with his work, or if he
does not do the Work, the engineering corps that is engaged in locat-
ing dams and reservoirs, and canals for the distribution must go upon
the ground and make exact and accurate surveys. Of course every
man understands that if you are going to run water from a reservoir
you have to run some sort of levels, and run them with accuracy, and
that a mere topographic survey will not do; but the topography you
speak of, as I understand it, is that topography which comes from these
accurate survey by engineers. Am I Correct $
Captain DUTTON. That is correct; entirely so. To answer your ques-
tion as you originally put it, I would say this: It was the Director's idea
originally to have a topographic map constructed with a degree of ac-
curacy which would be sufficient to enable engineers to dispense with
costly and cumbersome parties of transitmen and levelers, and to pro-
duce maps which, taken in the hands of the engineer and carried into
the field, would enable him to lay down his canal lines with as fair a
degree of accuracy and certainty as if they were actually run by transit
and level. That was his way of making an irrigation Survey. I think
that the Director was under a misapprehension as to the degree of ac-
curacy, in his maps which was attainable by the methods actually used
by the topographers and under the requirements which were laid upon
them. My belief is that no such degree of accuracy as would be neces-
sary for the engineer was at all attainable by the methods adopted by
the topographers, and I am quite confident that the topographers think
the same way themselves, with the possible exception of Professor
Thompson. That was the Director's desire in having a topographic
map made.
The CHAIRMAN. Now, give the engineers' side of the question.
Captain DUTTON. The engineers' side of the question, I suppose,
would be this: That a topographic map can not by any possibility be
made with any such degree of accuracy as is required for the crudest
and most general purposes of the engineer. In the next place, the
TOPOGRAPHICAL WORK NEEDED , BY ENGINEERS. 143
requirements of the engineer are for a very large Scale map, a map
merely of a strip of ground a few hundred feet wide along the path of
his traverse; also for a very detailed map, on a scale never less than
200 feet to the inch, and most generally 100 feet to the inch, sometimes
50 feet to the inch for dam-site purposes. This minute Survey On a
very large scale is to enable the engineer to take the map into his
office and estimate quantities, as we say. Similarly, also, the Survey
along the line of his traverse on a very large Scale is necessary for pre-
cisely the same purpose as the railroad engineer makes it, in order to
be able to estimate the quantity of excavations he has got to make and
how to adjust his cuts and fills.
Senator MOODY. Pardon me for referring to another subject. What
is the lowest grade of flow which you provide for in the canals or
ditches to which you have referred?
Captain DUTTON. The lowest grade that I know of for a canal is
about eight-tenths of a foot to the mile. The tendency among engineers
is to adopt lower grades than they used to in high line canals, and if
the country and economy of work will admit of it, they now prefer
rather lower grades than they have ever used before.
Senator MOODY. How much is that to the rod?
Captain DUTTON. I should have to apply the arithmetic to it. It
would be a very minute fraction of an inclu.
Senator MOODY. Now, with that fall of grade what is the percentage
of evaporation as the water passes through the canal; or let me ask,
primarily, what is the degree of evaporation ?
Captain DUTTON. There is no way of stating evaporation, Senator,
except— $
Senator JONES (interposing). In proportion to the surface.
Captain DUTTON. There is no way of stating evaporation except by
ascertaining the amount of water evaporated in a given time, so many
hundredths of an inch in a day, or so many inches in a month, or so
many feet in a year. That is the only way in which we can state evap-
oration.
Senator MOODY. I have heard it asserted by hydraulic engineers that
the average evaporation in a canal or ditch running slowly, as you have
indicated would be the case, of course with a fall of eight-tenths of a
foot to the mile, was about 3 per cent. a mile.
Senator JONES. Three per cent. of the volume of the water ?
Senator MOODY. Yes, of the water in the canal or ditch.
Captain DUTTON. When I say that eight-tenths of a foot to the mile
is the smallest grade that I know of I do not wish you to understand that
is the grade for any great length of a canal. It is for only a certain por-
tion or Section of the canal, where certain reasons necessitate the use of
a minimum grade. A minimum grade should not be resorted to in all
cases. What the engineer Wants is a grade which will enable him to
get his water from the source of supply to where it is required in the
shortest possible time. If he gets his grade too great, it will wash out
his canal; if he gets it too low, it will increase the cost of construction.
Senator MOODY. The extent of evaporation depends largely upon
the surface which is covered by a given amount of water?
Captain DUTTON. It is always in proportion to the surface, other
things being equal. We consider that evaporation depends on three
quantities: The first is the temperature of the water; the second is the
absolute humidity of the air. There is still a third, the rate at which
the wind is blowing, the wind factor being really the most important
and the most difficult to handle.
144 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CHAIRMAN. I desire to ask one or two questions, and I want to
call the attention of the committee to this matter. In constructing
dams in northern Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, parts of Utah, and
parts of Idaho, where they have cloud-bursts in summer and violent
Storms sometimes in winter, that produce unusual floods, would any
general topographic survey be of as much use to you as a particular
examination of a given stream, with a view of ascertaining the evidences
of What had happened there in the way of floods in the past 3 For ex-
almple, if you have been through that country you have seen places
Where these cloud-bursts to which I have referred have occurred, car-
rying down immense rocks weighing hundreds of tons and gullying out
deep ravines in the bald mountains, where the precipitation generally
Starts. Are there not evidences on the ground which would warn a per-
son familiar with the country to build no dam under any circumstances
in certain places, no matter what the topography might indicate" Are
there not such places 3
Captain DUTTON. Plenty of them.
The CHAIRMAN. Where any dam would be torn out. I have in mind
a caſion in California—Panamint Caſion—which is very narrow and
very steep. At the foot of that cañon there are immense rocks, some
of them 50 or 60 feet high, which have been carried down through the
cañons by the floods, by these cloud-bursts which prevail there, which
occur frequently. To build a dam there would be folly. Now, when
you deal with that country is it not more necessary than anything else
to observe the evidences on the ground, ascertain the experience of those
who lave lived in the region, and if you are going to utilize that water
take the water out of the "stream and build your reservoir somewhere
else? In dealing with a country like Arizona, is it not one of the first
things to do to see what nature has already done and avoid those places
where these cloud-bursts have occurred, and would a topographic map
be of very much use to an engineer who is sent on the ground to find a
Safe place to locate his dam :
Captain DUTTON. It would not be of any special use.
The CHAIRMAN. It would be convenient to show the geography Ž
Captain DUTTON. Yes, sir; but when it comes to practical work, it
would not be of any particular use.
The CHAIRMAN. What delay would be necessary in this work if we
should wait for sufficiently accurate topographic surveys to precede the
engineering work?
Captain DUTTON. A good many years, unless the topographic Sur-
vey was conducted so as to meet the wants of the engineers at the Very
Start.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any topographic survey now in existence
that is sufficiently accurate for use in locating a dam and line ditch
without this same engineering work which you speak of ?
Captain DUTTON. I think that probably some of the English ord-
nance survey maps might
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). I mean in this country that has been
made by any of the surveys you have mentioned?
Captain DUTTON. I do not think there is.
The CIIAIRMAN. You are familiar with what has been done. Take
for example this district. Do you know of efforts having been made to
secure an accurate topographic map of this?
Captain DUTTON. I know the Coast Survey made some good maps
during the war, and I think the city engineer has run some careful sur-
veys.
VALUE OF TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS. 145
The CHAIRMAN. Has not the Coast Survey been at work for the last
few years in trying to make an accurate map *
Captain DUTTON. Possibly they have.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not seen that map *
Captain DUTTON. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you know whether that map of the District of
Columbia, on which they have spent so much money, is sufficiently ac-
curate for locating a line of railroad, or a ditch, or a dam ? Could you
do those things by that map without engineering work? I suppose
that is the best map we have in the United States.
Captain DUTTON. I would have to study the map before I could form
an opinion.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not studied the map *
Captain DUTTON. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Then we need not, in your judgment, wait for the
topographic survey to prosecute what surveys are necessary for im-
mediate use.
Captain DUTTON. I do not think it is necessary.
Senator REAGAN. Captain, has the hydrographic and engineering
work covered the whole ground of the topographic work? If it has
not, what proportion of the topographic work has been covered by the
hydrographic and engineering work?
Captain DUTTON. While the topographic and engineering work are
in most cases in the same neighborhoods, the only case of actual coin-
cidence is in the Arkansas Valley. The topographic work was com-
menced there about a year and a half ago, I think, and the engineering
work only last summer. In all other portions of the West the two fields
of labor have not coincided. -
Senator REAGAN. If you should take a topographic map, according
to the way the work is now being done, could you not lay down a com-
mon road or railroad by it? *.
Captain DUTTON. You could point out in a general way, perhaps,
where a common road might be laid out. I think, however, there are
Some portions of a topographic map where that would be very doubt-
ful. As to a railroad, I should say no. It would not dispense with the
necessity of a railroad survey.
Senator REAGAN. You could get the general line of a railroad from it?
Captain DUTTON. Well, in a general way you could. I think so.
Senator REAGAN. Can you take a topographic map and select any
particular stream and determine the catch basin of that stream by it
and the amount of land that would be irrigable? *
Captain DúTTON. No, sir; you would have to go over the ground to
ascertain the amount of irrigable land.
Senator REAGAN. Where it is above 4 feet altitude you could get
the place where your reservoir would have to be located, you could get
the size of your catch basin, and you could determine what lands are
lower than your dam ?
Captain DUTTON. They only make the maps with 20-foot contour.
Senator REAGAN. Then I have been wrongly informed at the Depart.
ment, for I was told there that they had made the maps on a 4-foot
COntOur. *.
Captain DUTTON. Possibly it may be that in the Mississippi Valley.
Senator REAGAN. No, I am talking about the Western country.
Captain DUTTON. It is a 20-foot contour, unless they have changed
without my knowledge very recently. I know a few months ago it was
understood to be 20-foot contours in the valleys, 50-foot in the foot-hills,
and 100-foot in the mountains. *
138 A L–WOL IV——10
146 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
&
Senator JONES. You say a topographic map is of very little value to
the engineer in locating irrigating works.
Captain DUTTON. I think they are of only general value.
Senator JONES. And are by no means necessary.
Captain DUTTON. I do not think they are necessary within the mean-
ing of the law, and yet there is this to be said about it: The term “ne.
cessity” has a practical interpretation; is not easy to define. We are
every day certifying that certain things are necessary on our bills and
On Our Vouchers. While in a certain sense and in the ordinary accepta-
tion of the term they are necessary, in an absolute sense they are not.
Senator REAGAN. What is the use of a topographic survey 3
Captain DUTTON. To furnish general information about the country
and a knowledge of the laws of distribution.
Senator REAGAN. Has the Government made a mistake in authoriz-
ing these topographic surveys?
Captain DUTTON. No, sir; I think not. I think no money has been
better spent.
Adjourned.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVI.Y,
Washington, D. C., March 31, 1890.
DEAR SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of 29th in-
stant, desiring me to inform you concerning the expenditures made in the Geolog-
ical Survey under the appropriations made in 1888 and 1889 for irrigation surveys, viz:
First. Of the exact amount of the two appropriations of 1888 and 1889, the first for
$100,000 and the second for $250,000, which was assigned to topographical work and
to engineering Surveys for irrigation purposes, and how much has been used in the
office for topographical work and how much for the work of irrigation.
Of the first appropriation for $100,000, the sum of $40,000 was at first allotted for
engineering and hydrographic work, but at a later period $4,000 of this sum was
transferred to the allotment for topographic work, making the allotment for engi-
neering and hydrographic work $36,000 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889. A
sum of $4,000 was understood to be reserved by the director for office expenditures.
The amount finally allotted for topographic work I understand to have been $60,000.
As regards the last two items, however, my statement is not necessarily conclusive,
since I have had no formal or official notification thereof. As to how much has been
used in the office for topographical work and how much for irrigation work, I can
not give a complete answer except by stating the general nature of the case.
There are numerous expenditures, such as heating, lighting, watchmen, messen-
gers and clerks in the Director's office, purchase of stationery, printing, express
charges, carpenter work, repairs, etc., which are for the common benefit of all
branches of work under the Director's administration, and it would be impracticable
to charge these expenses to the several allotments except in an arbitrary way. They
become, therefore a charge against the reserve funds which are divided off from each
appropriation. Moreover, it is usually the case that expenses slightly overrun the
the allotinents, and the excess is paid from the reserve fund at the end of the fiscal
year. The work under my charge overran the $36,000 allotted by the amount of
$743.33. How much the topographic work overran its allotment I do not know.
During the present fiscal year the sum of $110,000 ha sbeen allotted for the engi-
neering and hydrographic work. My understanding is (though I have not been in-
formed officially to that effect) that $120,000 has been allotted to topography and
$20,000 held as a reserve fund. To what extent the allotments will have to draw on
the reserve fund at the close of the year can not, of course, be exactly foreseen at
present. Up to this date there are charges for work under my control amounting to
$3,667.44 which were not estimated for at the beginning of the fiscal year and which
will become a proper claim against the reserve fund. I do not now see any reason
to expect that this amount will be materially increased. Of the state of the topo-
graphic allotment I have no information: tº tº
If I rightly apprehend the purport of your first inquiry, your dosire is to know
what disposition has been made or is intended to be made of the three portions
(engineering, topography and reserve) into which the appropriation has been divided
by the discretionary action of the director. With that understanding, the nearest
approach which I can make to the exact information you seek is as follows:
IRRIGATION FIELD ORGANIZATION AND WORK. 147
From the first appropriation of $100,000, $36,743.33 have been explicitly expended
for the engineering and hydrographic work. For the topographic work, I understand
that $60,000 have been allotted and presumably expended. Of the remaining $3,492.23
I have no knowledge beyond the fact that there have been numerous, sources of
necessary incidental expenditure to which it may have been applied for the common
benefit of both the engineering and topographic work without being distinctly charge:
able to either one alone. A portion of it might also have been available at the end
of the fiscal year to meet expenses in excess of the allotment for topography.
Second. You further inquire how much of the entire expenditure was for topo-
graphic work during the last fiscal year in the region west of the one hundredth
meridian and whether the topographical work of the arid region since the appropria-
tions for irrigation has been carried on with money for topography or with money ap-
propriated for irrigation.
I have not the full information and knowledge which are necessary to give an exact
answer to this question or to furnish the figures. But in general terms, I understand
that on July 1, 1888, topographic parties were at work in the arid region under the
appropriation for topography only, and continued to work so during the remainder of
the summer. The first appropriation for irrigation became a law on October 2, 1888,
and within a very few weeks parties were put to topographic work in the Arkansas ba-
sin at the expense of the irrigation appropriation, and in the spring other parties took
the field in California, New Mexico, and Montana under the same appropriation.
During the current fiscal year my understanding is that all of the topographic work
of the arid region has been at the expense of the irrigation appropriation and that no
portion of the fopographio appropriation has been expended there.
Third. In what section was the first $100,000 appropriated for irrigation expended
in engineering work for irrigation and what amount of irrigation survey was com-
pleted with the first appropriation and what area of land was covered? Where has
such portion of the second appropriation as was assigned to irrigation been expended,
and what was accomplished in each district 7
Immediately after the passage of the appropriation October 2, 1888, measures were
taken for organizing the hydrographic work. As the funds could not become avail-
able until the 1st of November, when the winter would be upon us, it was deemed
unwise to immediately organize the engineering work. For the hydrographic work
skilled men of high intelligence were necessary, and there were probably not two
dozen men in the United States who knew how to gauge a stream, and not one of the
few who did know were available. It is an art requiring manual skill, the intelli-
gence of an educated hydraulic engineer, and the temperament of a somewhat scien-
tific observer and manipulator. Neither was there any well-established and generally-
accépted method of stream gauging, nor any standard instruments. In short, there
was no regular practice. It was necessary, therefore, to create men, methods, and
instruments... It was believed that good gauging would be impracticable in winter-
time, and of little value even if it were practicable, and hence that no better course
could be followed than to select promising, well-educated, and ambitious young men,
put them into a camp of instruction in a moderately warm climate during the four or
five months of winter, and let them acquire the necessary skill, work out methods of
gauging, and ascertain by trial the best kinds of instruments to be used. This was
done. A good comfortable camp was established on the Rio Grande in New Mexico,
and fourteen young men sent there early in December. They applied themselves
with great zeal and interest, and with two or three exceptions proved to be most ex-
cellent men. When the spring approached I had about a dozen men at my command
who knew what was wanted of them and how to do it. Up to the 1st of April the
expense of the work for all purposes was $10,400. The men were then distributed to
their stations; two in New Mexico, two in the Arkansas Valley, one in California,
one in Nevada, two in Utah, one each in Arizona, Idaho, and Montana, and one at El
Paso, Tex. Gauging stations were established in the following basins:
Rio Grande and tributaries, 6 stations; Gila and Salt Rivers, 3; Carson and Truckee
7; rivers of Utah, 14; Snake River basin, 5; Upper, Missouri and Yellowstone, 12;
Arkansas basin, 6.
Evaporation stations were also established at El Paso, Phoenix, Yuma, Clear Lake,
California; at several localities in Utah, two in Idaho, five in Montana, and two in
Colorado. About seventy special stations were established at high altitudes in Arizona,
New Mexico, and Colorado for observing rain and snow fall at places not reached by
the Signal Service. Many hundreds of gaugings were performed and a large amount
of special inquiry made into the duty of water. At the close of the fiscal year the
work was progressing in a highly satisfactory manner except in the Casson and
Truckee basins, and though the work here was not what was expected it has proved
to be less faulty than was at one time feared. Everywhere else it has been better
than was anticipated for the first season.
The engineering Work was not organized until spring, first, because winter work
is undesirable unless an emergency demands it, and, second, because the allotment at
148 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
my disposal was insufficient to accomplish any work of much value. In May two
supervising engineers, Messrs. Hall and Nettleton, were appointed, and four division
engineers, Messrs. Foote, Bodfish, Bridges, and Wilson. The funds remaining avail-
able would not admit of more than buying the outfits and putting the parties in the
field in time to accomplish three or four weeks' work, i. e., just make a beginning of
their work, by the time the fiscal year closed. The parties were launched in the Ar-
kansas basin under Mr. Bodfish about June 1 ; in the Snake River basin under Mr.
Foote about the middle of May; in Montana under Mr. Wilson about June 1; and
in the Truckee basin under Mr. Bridges about the middle of June. At the close of
the fiscal year it may be said that something had been begun by the engineers but
nothing had been completed.
The only segregation work was the withdrawal of Utah Lake and Bear Lake as
; sites, which were carefully surveyed for that purpose by two of the hydro-
graphers.
The total cost of the engineering work, including all expenses, direct and indirect,
up to June 30, 1889, was $7,550.19, of which the greater portion was for the outfitting
of the parties The total cost of the hydrographic work and the expenses of my own
office, including also the purchase of a large number of new instruments of a costly
kind, was $29,193.14.
Under the second appropriation the following work has been done :
There have been practically seven divisions of engineering surveys, one of which
was not anticipated at the beginning of the year, viz, Utah, but was opened in con-
sequence of special orders of the Secretary of the Interior.
First. Montana. Mr. Wilson began his work by an energetic reconnoissance of the
valleys of the Yellowstone, the Gallatin, the Madison. and the Jefferson, the Mis-
souri between Bozeman and Great Falls, the Sun River, and the upper portion of
the Musselshell. He went alone on horseback, with only a hand-level in his pocket,
and in the course of a little more than three months reported sixty-three large reser-
voir sites for withdrawal, and about 11,000,000 acres of land for segregation. The
reservoir withdrawals were well done and satisfactory in every way. Question arose
in my mind concerning the segregation of so vast an area (about 17,500 square miles),
|but a careful examination of his report, in conjunction with a knowledge of the
country, satisfied me that the doubtful questions were whether he had not omitted
land which he should have included, rather than included land which he should have
omitted.
Mr. Wilson soon reached the conclusion that some of the best lands in Montana
might be watered by a system of reservoirs and canal, taking the flow of the Sun
River. He immediately began a survey there. In the course of the season his as-
sistant, Mr. J. B. Rogers, ran a preliminary line of a canal 80 miles long, surveyed
ten large reservoirs on a scale of 500 feet to the inch, and dam sites and waste-weirs
100 feet to the inch, with 2 foot contours, all in sufficient detail to enable close
estimates of cost to be made. It is a fine piece of survey work, and shows admirably
how much can be done by intelligent projects and how great are the possibilities of a
sound comprehensive, systematic development. The cost of the entire engineering
surveys in the Montana division up to March 1, including expenses in field and
office, is $6,574.71.
In the Arkansas division, Mr. Bodfish, under the immediate eye of Mr. Nettleton,
was instructed to investigate the possibilities of increasing the useful water supply
of that river by storage, and of utilizing its return waters upon the plains near the
Iansas line. He has surveyed in great detail ten large reservoir sites in the vicinity
of Leadville and Buena Vista, also one on Monument Creek, near the base of the front
range. He has examined all the tributaries on the north or left bank of the river for
reservoir sites, reporting twenty-five of them for withdrawal. The southern tribu-
taries would have been examined had not the premature coming of Winter buried the
country deep in snow. He has, I believe, exhausted the reservoir sites so far as be
has gone. He has also run a canal line, starting from near Granada, above Garden
City, a distance of 146 miles, to test the question of using the return waters in the
river upon lands of western Kansas. The project of utilizing Twin Lakes for a reser-
voir is a most promising one and the survey work has been done in a highly satis-
factory manner. The total expenditure in this division up to March 1 is $9,466. 13.
In the Rio Grande division the engineering work was not started until July. Mr.
W. W. Follett was appointed division engineer. He at once began the survey of a
project for a dam and reservoir at El Paso, and completed his survey about the last of
August. It included a contour and cross-section survey of the great reservoir basin,
with close estimates of capacity; sounding the quicksands in the bed of the river to
ascertain the surface of the bed rock in two sections of the river ; a close survey
of the two dam sites, and a relocation survey of the Southern Pacific and Atchison,
Topeka and Santa Fé railroads. His report of a project, with estimates of quanti-
ties and of cost, has been Submitted. -
During the winter Mr. Follett has been engaged in the segregation of irrigable lands
in the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico. He was instructed to proceed to the office
FIELD WORK FROM NEW MEXICO TO CALIFORNIA. 149
of the Surveyor-General in Santa Fé and prepare a compilation of the Land Office
plats of that valley, and to then make a close detailed segregation, denoting all land
grants, railroad grants and all claimed lands, section by Section, and to verify the segro-
gations upon the ground. Also, to select all possible reservoir sites and report them for
withdrawal, and all natural dam sites, whether on the main river or its tributaries. He
was to begin his work at Fort Seldon and work northward to the Colorado boundary,
cleaning up as he went. He has sent weekly reports of his itineracy and lists of specifica-
tions of selected lands, and is now within about 60 miles of the Colorado line. He has re-
orted about sixty reservoir sites. The amount of land reported I have not computed,
ut it will be some millions of acres. This careful segregation was deemed necessary
here by reason of the tangle of land grants and other claims in various stages of ad-
judication. The cost of the El Paso Reservoir surveys was $2,210.59. The cost of th9
segregation work up to March 1 was $1,744.10.
n California a survey was made of Clear Lake to ascertain its possibilities as a
storage reservoir. This was an extensive survey and the work was of a high order
and in the most thorough detail; in fact, I think it will rarely happen that so exten-
sive a survey will be called for.
A well-equipped party was also sent into the mountains around the headwaters of
the Stanislaus, Tuolumne, and Merced Rivers to search for reservoir sites. Eight good
sites were found and were surveyed. Some doubtful ones were also discovered and
marked down for further examination.
A reconnoitering party of two men was sent into Lassen and Modoc Counties, east
of the Sierras, to search for reservoir sites, and found two very large ones with a con-
siderable water supply. This party expended a large amount of money and accom-
plished but little.
A fourth party was sent to Owen's Valley to segregate irrigable lands and examine
the headwaters of the river for reseruoir sites. They were instructed to make a close
segregation in the same manner as Mr. Follett was in New Mexico. They completed
the segregation work in the lower valley for a distance of about 100 miles along the
river front and were about to proceed to the upper valley when the early severe
storms set in and put an end to the work. Their results have been reported in a sat-
isfactory Inanner as far as they went. The total cost of the work in California was
$11,483.47 to March 1.
In the Truckee and Carson basins Mr. Bridges made detailed surveys of Donner,
Independence, and Webber Lakes as reservoir sites. A survey was made for a reser-
voir in Long Valiey, with canals taking water across the Carson River to the lands on
the east side of the Carson Valley. This last survey was not approved, nor was it
authorized or intended. A survey was also made of Hope Valley at the headwaters
of the west fork of the Carson. A trial line was surveyed from a point about 5 miles
above Wadsworth to the lands southeast of that town to ascertain the possibilities of
earrying water to them from the Truckee River. A large amount of canal line was
surveyed by Mr. Bridges, but as none of the others was authorized or approved no fur-
ther mention is made of them. His management of his division being very unsatis-
factory he was relieved from duty by me, and at my request was asked by the director
to resign. The Surveys of Donner, Independence, and Webber Lakes and of Hope
Valley are of some value, but not commensurate with the expenditure. The accounts
of the engineering work in this division were closed on the 30th of September, and at
that time the expenditures were $13,495.36. Since that time further office expenses
were incurred in the office of the supervising engineer, Mr. Hall, which bring the
total amount to about $15,500. The exact figures it would require considerable labor
to extract from the itemized vouchers. They appear on my books with the expenses
of the office of the supervising engineer.
In Utah it was originally intended to do nothing but hydrographic work, but cir-
cumstances forced other work upon us. Mr. Newell, as hydrographer, was found to
be an object of great interest to the people of the Territory, who sought his official
action with great eagerness. He was soon required by me to make a survey of Utah
Lake, which was done in the preceding year. It soon became manifest that numerous
other reservoir sites ought to be examined, and this was done and the sites were with-
drawn but not surveyed. . Later, an order was received from the Secretary of the In-
terior to segregate the irrigable lands in Bear River Valley. Instructions were there-
fore given Mr. Newell to make a close segregation, section by section, and to verify
his work on the ground, and also to add to it some traverse and level work to clear
up doubtful questions in some localities where disputes or complications by reason of
existing claims and filings might arise. The work was speedily accomplished. Over
2,000,000 acres were reported for segregation, and a plat of the work, based on the
Land Office plats, was furnished and duly certified. The cost of the Segregation work
was $1,579.56.
In Idaho Mr. Foote was instructed to survey thoroughly a project for a pair of
grand canals, taking water from the Snake River at Eagle Rock, one branch running
south to Pocatello, the other running west into the desert. This was to be only a
single feature of a comprehensive system of canals and reservoirs for utilizing as
150 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
much of the water of the liver as could be stored in addition to its natural flow. An
excellent dam site with an ample waste weir was found at Eagle Rock, and a loca-
tion survey was begun at once without any preliminaries on the left bank, and car-
ried 70 miles to Pocatello, where the line was tailed into the Portneuf.
The line was carried on to the westward nearly to American Falls, where it was
found to be impracticable to carry it further. A new line was started at American
Falls, and carried only 14 miles, as it was found to be impracticable. Another line
was surveyed from the Snake near Minedoka, but was not completed, owing to stormy
weather. It was found to be practicable. .8
Mr. Foote also made a reconnaissance up the forks of the Snake River in search of
storage capacity. An indefinite amount of it was found at Jackson Lake, but pres-
ent appearances indicate that the whole annual flow of the fork issuing from Jack-
Son's Lake would probably be not much more than 500,000 acre-feet, while the
º of the basin is probably four or five times that amount. The dam site is
excellent.
Another grand reservoir site was found in Swan Valley, much lower down, on the
South Fork. Here the flow of the river is very much greater. The capacity of this
site is more than a million, and may be nearly a million and a half acre-feet, with
plenty of water to fill it. A good dam site with an abundant waste weir exists.
Another immense site was found on the Falls River Branch of the Snake where prob-
ably 300,000 or 400,000 acre-feet could be very cheaply stored. Several other large
sites were found, but not sufficiently examined to enable statements to be made with
confidence concerning them.
Mr. Foote was further instructed to report all irrigable land in the valley of the
Snake above American Falls for segregation, and he has reported over 10,000,000 acres,
During the past month he has begun a location survey of the other canal, taking
water at Eagle Rock on the other side of the Snake, and his parties at last accounts
were in the field. Before the close of the present fiscal year it is expected that more
than 100 miles additional of canal line will be surveyed. These location surveys of
Mr. Foote are done in a very thorough manner, and his drawings are cross-sectioned
and afford the means of making estimates of cost. His plats have been received and
are apparently excellent work. The total cost of the engineering work of this division
up to March 1, has been $9,590, 19.
It remains to add the expenses of my own office and those of the supervising en-
gineers, of which separate accounts are kept. The salaries of the supervising en-
gineers are inclinded in them, my own salary being paid from the appropriation for
the Army: Chief Engineer's office $7,119.39; Mr. Nettleton's office, $4,966.87; Mr.
Hall's office, $7,151.50.
My own office includes a disbursing agent, who does all the disbursing under my
charge; a single type-writer; two draughtsmen, who prepare all the segregation work
for the General Läää Office, have charge of the engineering maps and drawings, their
proper recording and filing, also of the hydrographic records and reductions and mis-
cellaneous draughting work.
As regards the hydrographic work during the fiscal year I may speak more briefly.
Many of the chief rivers of the west have been put under thorough observation by
gauging and by continuous records of rise and fall. They are the Arkansas, the Rio
Grande, the Gila and Salt, the Carson and Truckee, all the rivers which flow into Salt
Lake and Utah Lake, the Sevier River in Utah, the Snake with its forks, the Wood
River and Lost River in southern Idaho, the Weiser, Payette and Owyhee, the Mis-
souri, the Yellowstone, the Gallatin, Madison and Jefferson, and the Sun River.
Many of these have observing stations at several points and on their minor tributa-
ries not specified. We now have continuous records worked out, computed and ex-
hibited in diagrams, showing their daily discharges for the whole summer and until
the rivers were closed by ice. In the southern territories the records are continuous
throughout the winter. The hydrographic work has, on the whole, gone on with
better success than was expected at the start, and much credit is due to the young men
who have accomplished it. The work, however, gives plain indications of being
somewhat starved by reason of excessive but unavoidable economy. But another
year will, if permitted to continue, show a very great advance. The total cost of
the hydrographic work from July 1, 1889, to March 1, 1890, has been $19,984,72.
The following is a summary of the work done and the cost :
I?eservoirs fully surveyed to estimates.
Montana --------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * > * * * * * * * * * * sº as is is ºs e º sº tº a sº º ſº tº e º sº tº e 10
Colorado ------------------------------ - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 10
El Paso.----------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.
California division---------------------------------- s sº ºn as ºn sº is as a sº me in we e s an º ºs º sº is we dº tº se is 9
Truckee and Carson - - - - - - - - - tº as tº e º 'º º ‘tº gº tº º º ºs º º ºs e º ºs e º is a sº e º º ºr a ºn e º ºs ºs º is ºn as is tº ſº º sº sº ºn tº dº is sº 5
Total.----------------------------------- ------------------------------- 36
Reservoirs reported for withdrawal...... … aſ sº s = • * * * * * ... ---. 144
RESERVoIR SITES AND CANAL LINEs SURVEYED. 151
Canal lines fully 8wrveyed to cstimates. A
- * Miles.
Snake River Basin ----------------------------------------------------------- 157
Arkansas River Basin.-----------...---- g is sº ºr e º as as a we as º at is as sº ºn tº º sº ºr is a a se sº is as ºr e s as as * * * * * * * 146
Total.------------------------------------------------------------------ 303
Canal line8 roughly 8wrveyed.
Miles.
Montana, Sun River ---------------------------------------------------------- 80
Truckee Basin ---------------------------------------------------------------- 22
Total.--------- s & a wº ºr a e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 102
NoTE.—About 160 miles of canal line were surveyed in the Truckee and Carson
Basins, but only 22 miles are accepted by this office.
Number of acres of land reported for segregation, about 30,000,000.
Cost of work.
First ap- Second ap-
propriation. propriation. Total.
Hydrographic................ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * $29, 193. 14 $10,984. 72 || $49,177.86
Engineering work : -
Montana division ---------------------------------------- 1,080. 11 5, 404. 60 6, 574.71
Arkansas division---------------------------------------- 1, 308.94 8, 157. 19 9,466. 13
Rio Grande division--------------------------------------|-------------- 3,954. 69 3,954.69
California division --------------------------------------- 605, 01 10, 878.46 11,483.47
Truckee and Carson ------------------------------------- 2, 314.01 11, 181. 35 13, 495. 36
Utah -----------------------------------------------------4-------------- 1, 579. 50 1, 579. 56
Snake River---------------------------------------------. 2, 242. 12 7, 348. 07 9, 590, 19
Supervising engineers -----------------------------------|------------- 12, 118.37 12, 118.37
Total engineering-------------------------------------- 7,550. 19 || 60,712.29 | 68,262.48
Chief Engineer's office---------------------------------------|-------------. 7, 119. 39 7, 119. 39
Aggregate --------------------------------------------- 36, 743.33 87, 810.40 | 124, 559, 73

f
Very respectfully, sir,
Hon. WILLIAM M. STEwART,
The committe
United States Senate.
SIXTH DAY'S SESSION,
C. E. DUTTON.
Washington, D. C., March 14, 1890.
e met pursuant to adjournment.
Present, the chairman, and Senators Reagan, Jones, Moody, and
Casey.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF DIRECTOR POWELL.
The CHAIRMAN. Major Powell, the point that the committee desires
your views upon this morning is as to the necessity of topographic sur-
veys preceding the engineering surveys for irrigation, the relation of
the two classes of Surveys, and whether the engineering surveys can be
carried on independently of the other, or whether they are necessaril
connected. -
Director POWELL. Mr. Chairman, there are two branches of the sub-
ject which I wish to present: First, the plans and methods of the sur-
vey, as necessary to carry out the provisions of the statute; and second, I
152 IRRIGATION ANO RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Wish to call attention to and review the statutes and the reports which
I have made to Congress on calls from the Senate which represent the
needs of an irrigation survey, for the purpose of showing that the word-
ing of the statute and the representations made by me to the Congress
prior to the passage of the statute are in harmony with what has actu-
ally been done. That is, I wish to show, first, what the irrigation sur-
Vey should be, what is necessary to be done, and the information required;
and Second, to show that before the passage of the law I had fully set
forth the facts to Congress, and that the wording of the statute calls for
the work which has actually been done.
The CHAIRMAN. We are not complaining of what has been done.
. Simply want to know how these surveys are dependent upon each
Olſſler.
T)irector POWELL. These two lines I would like to be heard upon.
First, then, I wish to address myself to the question, what is necessary
to be done in an irrigation survey, and how can this be done in the
most economic manner ? The statute provides, first, that the extent to
which the lands can be redeemed by irrigation shall be determined;
Second, that reservoir sites shall be selected ; third, that canal sites
and sites of other hydraulic works, such as diverting dams, etc., shall
be selected; fourth, that the lands made irrigable by these hydraulic
Works shall be selected; and, finally, that all of these sites and lands
shall be segregated—that they shall be selected on the ground, as I
understand it, and be certified to the Land Office, in land-office terms
of township, range, section, etc., for the purpose contemplated in the
law. In order to accomplish the end a survey had to be prosecuted and
a series of discoveries made. These discoveries may be divided into
three classes: Those relating to the land—the catchment areas, the
sites for diverting dams and canals, the sites for reservoirs, and the
irrigable lands. These necessities give rise to the topographic branch
of the Irrigation Survey. Second, those relating to the water; that is,
it is necessary to determine the amount of water which can be used for
irrigation in each hydrographic basin or area drained by one important
stream and its tributaries. It is necessary to determine the mean
amount of water for the irrigating season in each basin, and also the
mean amount of water for the entire year, and it is also necessary to
determine the minimum amount in seasons of excessive drought and the
maximum amount in seasons of excessive rain-fall. It is also necessary
to determine the amount of water required to irrigate an acre of land,
that is, to determine the “duty” of water. The necessity for determin-
ing all of these facts in relation to water gives rise to the Second branch
of the Irrigation Survey, that is, the hydraulic branch. Third, those
relating to estimates of the cost of dams, canals, and reservoirs. For
this purpose the sites of the dams must be surveyed with accuracy and
the constructive conditions as to the proximity and character of mate-
rials must be studied. The sites of the reservoirs discovered by the
topographic survey must be carefully examined and plans for their con-
struction made. The sites of canals, the general routes of which are
previously discovered by the topographic survey, must be carefully run
upon the ground and marked, and the amount of cutting and filling
determined, and the ground minutely examined for the purpose of dis-
covering its character, whether it be in sand, clay, gravel, or Solid
rock, as all of these facts affect the cost of the work. Having studied
these facts the cost of construction can be properly estimated. These
three classes of work all relate directly to the Irrigation Survey. They
are all required by the provision of the statute, and no one can be neg-
THE DIRECTOR's ARGUMENT ON TOPOGRAPHY. 153
lected without disobedience to law. The three kinds of work give
rise to three branches in its organization, which we call the topographic,
hydrographic, and engineering branches.
The topographic survey is the work primarily necessary to the dis-
covery of sites, though it has another use in the hydrograpic Survey, as
will be shown when that point is reached. In investigating this subject
for the purpose of determining the best and most economic method of
discovering the various sites required, it was decided that a topographic
survey was proper. If a specific reservoir site is already known, and
the body of land to be served by the waters from that reservoir is
already known, the simple problem is to find a way for a canal from the
reservoir to the land. Such a survey would need only the work neces-
sary to run a number of trial lines on the ground and then to select the
best from these. But the problem before the survey was not to irri-
gate some one man's farm from some one stream or reservoir site; it
was not to irrigate some particular piece of land to suit some particular
person; but the problem was to discover all of the reservoir sites, all of
the canal sites, and all of the lands that could be irrigated in any given
hydrograpic basin. How this could be done in the cheapest manner
was the question which I had to solve. Having a specific reservoir in
sight and a specific body of lands in view, and wishing to take the
water from that reservoir to that piece of land, I can run trial lines and
find the best route at the rate of about $25 per mile for each of the trial
lines; but the final line selected must be run again with great care; the
whole ground must be studied, very exact levels must be run, and all
the characteristics of the line must be determined, in order that the cost
of the canal may be discovered. But in the work of the irrigation sur-
vey the reservoir sites, the canal lines, and the lands to be irrigated
have all to be discovered—ten, twenty, fifty reservoirs perhaps in one
hydrographic basin; scores of canal lines, 10, 20, 50, 100 miles in length.
To run many such trial lines over the ground for the purpose of select-
ing a few would involve great cost. The system of discovering canal
lines by a topographic survey instead of by a trial line survey is very
much less expensive. Certainly it would not cost more than one-third
of the amount. To discontinue the topographic survey and inaugurate
a trial-line system would be to increase the cost of the work fully three
times. In the same manner the reservoir sites are to be discovered, and
their relation to the streams which furnish them water and to the lands
which they are to irrigate must be determined. Some of these reser-
voir sites are in the mountains—the best are there; some are in the
valleys and on the plains. They are therefore widely scattered through-
out all parts of each hydrographic basin. To discover them by trial
lines instead of topographic surveys with contours would be to increase
the cost of the work at least three times.
A hydrographic basin may furnish only a half a dozen good reservoir
sites, or it may furnish two or three hundred, as the case may be. Some
will be small, sufficient for reservoirs to hold 1,000 acre-feet of water;
others will be great, sufficient for reservoirs to hold 1,000,000 acre-feet,
or even 2,000,000 acre-feet of water. One reservoir site may be exces-
sively expensive, another very economic; that is, it may cost $10 per
acre-foot of water to store it, or it may cost but 10 cents per acre-foot
of water to store it. It becomes necessary, therefore, for economy’s
sake, to select the best sites. In order to do this it is necessary to dis-
cover all of the reservoir sites of each hydrographic basin. If I were
to select a score of reservoir sites in a basin at random and have these
reserved to be used by the people in the future, and it should be found
154 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
that half, or many, or all of them were not as good as other sites in the
Same basin, and that a system of reservoirs could be constructed to store
the Water for one-half or one fourth of the cost that would be required in
the basins carelessly selected, the whole work would be repudiated by
the people; it would be misleading and injurious. It is therefore neces-
Sary for me to know in each basin all of the reservoir sites in the basin,
that the best may be selected. This means that I must know every
valley in the basin.
To illustrate the method of discovering these reservoir sites, I have
brought with me the maps constructed by the topographic survey in
the upper basin of the Arkansas in Colorado. These are the maps con-
Structed in the field. On examination you will see that they are in
Contour lines; that the vertical interval from one contour to another in
the Valley region is 25 feet, in the hill regions 50 feet, and in the moun-
tain regions 100 feet. It is not necessary to do the work in the moun-
tains With the same degree of refinement as in the valleys. For more
than twenty years I have been engaged in making topographic surveys
in connection with the other work under my charge. During that time
I have employed a corps of men of ability and genius, and during that
time I have topographically surveyed about a half million square miles
of country, on various scales and with varied degrees of refinement.
Through the inventive genius of the men who have been employed on
this work new methods of survey and new instruments have been de-
vised, so that the whole system of topographic surveying has been revo.
lutionized, and to correspond with it the method of map construction
has been greatly developed and improved. The work has been im-
proved in quality and enormously decreased in cost; and gradually
other nations of the world are adopting our system.
The topographic survey which we are making in connection with the
irrigation Survey is in most particulars the same that we are making
for the geological survey. The topographic work necessary for the one
is necessary for the other, and we were making these maps for the
Geological Survey before the Irrigation Survey was inaugurated. The
cost of the irrigation survey, therefore, was only the cost of what was
additional to the work already in progress. The work of the irrigation
survey is, for the reasons I have stated, in the first place a topographic
survey, because the sites for the works and lands are to be discovered,
and it is the cheapest and best way of discovering them. In the maps
before you you will see that the topographers have discovered forty-three
reservoir sites and marked them upon the maps. They are colored in
blue. The contour lines are colored in light red, as you see, and the
reservoir sites are determined by the contour lines. Each site repre-
sents a valley basin, and in general terms, the height of the dam, the
size of the basin, and its capacity are revealed by the maps which the
topographers have constructed. From these about twelve or fourteen
have been selected by the engineers as being, all things considered, the
most eligible. The twelve or fourteen must be surveyed with greater
care for the purposes already indicated, that is, to determine the cost of
construction and to mark them upon the ground. That is the Work of
the engineering branch of the survey. In the same manner these maps
reveal the general lines of the canals. They show, for example [indi-
cating on the map), that the water from this reservoir can be taken along
this line to this body of land. The map reveals other lines by which it
can be taken and shows that this one is the best, and the engineers
have selected it and have actually run it upon t_e ground and obtained
the facts necessary to estimate its cost. . O
THE ESTIMATES, MADE BY DIRECTOR POWELL, 155
When called upon by a resolution of the Senate for a plan for these
surveys, and by the appropriations committee for an estimate of cost,
I selected and recommended this method of prosecuting the work, be-
cause I believed it would be the most economic; and I estimated the
cost of the topographic work, in addition to what had already been done
in the country, to be about $4,000,000. In making this estimate I took
into view the fact that already work had been done under the general
appropriation for the Geological Survey, and that that work would not
have to be done again. Ifurther estimated that to determine the amount
of water in each hydrographic basin that could be used for irrigation
and the amount of land which could be irrigated thereby would cost an
additional sum of $1,500,000; and finally, when it was decided by the
Committee that the sites should be surveyed for the purpose of estimat-
ing costs and of segregating the lands and reporting them to the Land
Office as reserved under the provisions of the act, another $1,500,000
Would be necessary, making in all for the irrigation of the arid lands
the sum of $7,000,000. But this estimate was based upon the consider-
ation that the work should be done in the manner which I have pointed
out. If this cheap and comparatively accurate topographic method
developed in the survey had not been known, and had the old methods
of topographic surveying been in vogue, I should then have had to de-
cide whether it was cheaper to make the discoveries of sites by the old
method of topography or by the system of running trial lines; but hav-
ing developed a more economic topographic method, it was only neces-
sary to decide between this new method and the trial-line system ; and
the new method is by far the cheaper and in every way the more satis-
factory; for, having done it, the entire work can be published and sub-
mitted to the people—not as the opinion of men engaged in the work,
but as facts determined by instrumental survey—and presented by sim-
ple contour lines on maps, so that they can see for themselves all the
facts and conditions.
Senator JONES. What is the scale of those maps?
Director POWELL. One inch to 1 mile. That is the field scale. We
º not publish on that scale. It is reduced to 2 miles to 1 inch for pub-
ication. º
The CHAIRMAN. Right in this connection let me make an inquiry.
You have got these drainage basins mapped. Now, suppose an engi-
neer should go into one of these drainage basins with such maps as you
have, would it not be necessary, in order to do accurate work, to follow
up the stream and work carefully over this ground again, to determine
where to locate his reservoir and canals 3 *
Director POWELL. No, sir. I will come to that.
The CHAIRMAN. Then could not an engineer, with the boundaries of
the drainage basin indicated, go into the drainage basin and make
accurate surveys and locations; or, even if they were not indicated,
could he not determine the boundaries of the drainage basin and do
the mere engineering work with a view of practical work?
Director POWELL. No, sir; the engineer—
Senator JONES (interposing). This dotted line on the outside indi-
cates the water-shed. (Pointing to map.]
Director POWELL. The dotted line is the catchment area. That
shows what will feed this reservoir. [Indicating on map.] I will come
to that in the latter part of my statement. I want to answer the
chairman. An engineer who should go in there without the topo-
graphic map Would have to Select the site. If he went in to select the
site, he would have to select it by running trial lines, and to run trial
156 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
lines would cost three times this. Now, when he comes to this reser-
voir, the engineer surveys it, but not all this catchment area. Instead
of Surveying the area outlined here, he surveys this area, the dam site
itself, only, and surveys it in a minute manner. The topographic sur-
vey has found the reservoir site and the catchment area. The engineer
has all the facts. Now, the engineer who goes in there runs a more
careful line to find the amount of water that reservoir will hold, and the
length and height of dam necessary, and that is all he has to do.
Senator JONES. In order to make an accurate reservoir is it not nec-
essary to run those minute lines 3
Director POWELL. Certainly.
Senator JONES. Before the people can go in and occupy the lands
these lines have to be run ?
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; those in that little basin; but we have
saved him all that work [indicating on map), and have done it in the
cheapest possible Way. e
Senator JONES. This work of setting apart and getting the areas is
pretty much done all over the country, is it not ?
Director POWELL. No, sir; nowhere in the United States except
where I have made surveys. - -
Senator JONES. Have you not had the engineering work in certain
cases precede your topographic surveys?
Director POWELL. Yes, sir, I have, and that I wish to refer to. On
the passage of the act the people of the Western region were exceed-
ingly anxious to have results. In the general study of this subject for
the twenty years in which I have been engaged, and during which Mr.
Gilbert, my first assistant, has been engaged, I knew of very many
sites; they did not have to be selected. I knew that Providence Lake
was a site; I knew that Utah Lake was a site; I knew that Hope Val-
ley was a site; I knew that a number of other localities were sites; but
I did not know all, only a small number. I set the engineers at work
on places which I already knew, in order that I might meet a local want
at the very earliest day; but still they had in each of those cases to
run trial lines, and the money expended in those unnecessary trial lines,
if I could have had the topography of the sites which I already knew,
would have paid 50 per cent. of the cost of making the map. If I had
had a topographic map, even of the sites which I already knew, I could
have saved enough in the running of trial lines to have paid 50 per
cent., or one-half, of the cost of the map, and that has been demonstrated
over and over again on the Arkansas and on other rivers. The great-
est waste which I had in that manner was in Nevada. The engineer
who went there ran unnecessary trial lines, as the chairman knows.
He was the first man to raise an objection to this work; he organized
the movement against the topographic work and wasted money in run-
ning unnecessary trial lines.
The CHAIRMAN. When an engineer runs his trial lines for his ditch
he must be governed by something besides topographic maps, must he
not ?
Director POWELL. No, sir. Suppose that I have selected the reser-
voir and the land. That had to be done first. Now I want to know
how I am going to get the water from that reservoir to that land.
The CHAIRMAN. Can you select the land before you know definitely
where the ditch is to be located?
Director Powell. I can with a topographic map; otherwise I have
got to run trial lines, either one or the other. Without that map I
must run trial lines. To make selections by running trial lines is to in-
crease the cost of the Work three times.
HIS VIEWS ON ENGINEERING AND TOPOGRAPHY. 157
The CHAIRMAN. Can you select with sufficient accuracy to enable
people to locate on the lands?
Director POWELL. I can.
. Senator MooDY. In making these topographic maps you run these
lines, do you not?
Director POWELL. Yes, sir. I run them with plane tables by meth-
ods which we have developed in the Survey. To explain it would re-
quire a long trigonometrical statement. Let me further say that in ad-
dition to the discovery
Senator MooDY (interposing). Right here let me ask, can you run
a line with such accuracy as to enable the engineer to follow any line
without himself running levels and lines in the usual Way, With transit
and levels 3
Director Powell. Suppose that we have a reservoir at one point,
and some land at another point, 10 miles away. I can say from the to-
pographic map that the best line that can be made from that reservoir
to that land must run along that hill and meander down that valley, and
down that hill, through that valley, to that land—
Senator MooDY (interposing). You could do that with the eye.
Director POWELL. And having done that the engineer ultimately
runs over that ground, and from the reservoir site to the lands for the
purpose of doing one other thing. The statute demands that we shall
furnish an estimate of the cost. The engineer has to go over the ground
and determine the nature of the soil, the nature of the excavations
which will be required, what amount of cutting there must be in one
place, and what amount of filling in another place, and so on, in order
to get at the cost of constructing that canal ; but the site of the canal
is selected from the map, without any trial lines whatever. I have in
my office, Mr. Chairman, three classes of men
Senator REAGAN (interposing). That is the same method that is
observed where a preliminary survey of a railroad is made, the details
being attended to afterward” -
Director POWELL. The first thing is to make the selection, as we
would in the case of a railroad survey, by trial lines, or by topographic
surveying, ultimately selecting one, and then make an accurate survey
of it. I have adopted the method of discovering the sites, which is the
cheapest of all. But, Mr. Chairman, the topographic work is an im-
portant part of the irrigation survey for other reasons than those already
explained, and such reasons are even more potent. The amount of
water furnished by a hydrographic basin must be discovered. If a
reservoir is to be constructed it must be known how much water can
be furnished it annually before its size and the character of its works
are determined. To select the lands to be irrigated I must know how
much water thero is to serve and how much water each acre of land
will require; that is, the amount of water and the duty of water. In
general, there is more land than the water can serve. Only one-eighth
or one-tenth of the country can bo irrigated, because there is not water
enough to irrigate more. I must find out how much water can be got
to serve that land. How would I do this? This was the most difficult
and complex problem presented to me when the survey was inaugurated.
How could we gauge all the rivers, creeks, and brooks of two-fifths of
the area of the United States—all the waters flowing in the streams of
that region—in order that works for their control and use might be con-
structed and lands for them to serve might be selected ? There is a
Vast pumber of these streams, as will be seen by a review of the entire
ground. To gauge one stream means what? It means that we have
158 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
to discover the velocity of the current, which varies from shore to cen-
tral line and which varies from top to bottom, so it becomes necessary
to determine the velocity of the current in every part of the cross-sec-
tion of the stream, because the ſlow is not uniform, it being greater in
the center and less at sides and bottom, but exceeding variable for
different forms of cross-sections. Supposing it to be gauged in this
manner on One day of the year, that night a rain falls and the stream is
enlarged, the entire conditions are changed, the Gross section is larger,
and the Velocity of the current is greater. So it changes from hour to
hour and from day to day, rising with the rains and falling with the
drouths. tº
To find out how much water flows down the stream during the year
it is necessary to find out how much water flows in that stream at every
stage of its volume, from the lowest water to the highest water. This
is done by the use of current meters. Then it is necessary to employ a
river-height gauge to determine how high the water is at each hour of
trial, and having discovered how much water flows at each stage and
how much time it remained at each stage, we are able to determine the
total flow of the year. But some years are dry, other years there is
great rainfall; so the streams vary from year to year, and their volume
in minimum years must be determined, and their maximum volume,
and their average volume from year to year. To gauge the flow of each
river and brook in the manner which I have indicated would require
an enormous outlay of money, so great that when I studied the prob-
lem, as I did before the Survey was organized and before it was author-
ized by Congress, I reached the conclusion that the work could be done
in another and cheaper manner, and in a manner altogether more satis-
factory. I reached this conclusion after a very careful study of the
subject myself and after having submitted it to other gentlemen asso-
ciated with me. The same conclusion was reached by all the gentle-
men except one; that was Captain Dutton. The plan was to make a
topographic survey of the catchment basins which should determine
with reasonable accuracy their area, with reasonable accuracy their
declivities or slopes, and to gauge a few of the streams in the manner
which I have indicated and to find therefrom under varying topo-
graphic conditions, and varying altitudes, and varying rain-falls, the
amount of water which could be derived from each square mile of the
territory of the basin. *
Permit me to make this plain by the use of an illustration which will
serve well for that purpose and better than a long discussion of the
subject by which the scientific methods might be elaborated. Suppose
I wish to know how much water there is running annually from the
roofs of the houses of Washington. Shall I put a Water-Spout on every
roof and gauge each one for every day in the year and for a Series of years
in order to get the mean annual flow 3 Such was the plan advocated by
some of the engineers, but such was not the plan adopted by myself.
Now suppose I gauge the amount of water which falls from the roofs of
a dozen houses in Washington, or even a less number, So as to get a
good fair average of what every square yard of roof surface will deliver
during the year. I can then easily determine how much water a Square
yard of roof surface will furnish during a year; and having found that a
yard of surface, for example, on a general average, will furnish a yard
of water 30 inches in depth during a year, I have the means of deter-
mining the amount of water which any roof in the city will afford by
simply measuring that roof. This is certainly a very much simpler and
just as satisfactory a method as to put a current-gauge On eVery Water
y
THE ELEMENTS IN AN HYDROGRAPHIC SURVEY. 1.59
spout of the city. To do the work of the Survey by gauging all the
Streams would cost an unknown sum, but certainly not less than
$10,000,000. So I determined to gauge a few typical streams and
measure their catchment areas; that is, to determine the extent of
catchment area and to base the computations of water supply upon the
factors thus developed and upon the factors derived from the measure-
ment of rain-fall. But it is necessary not only to measure the super-
ficial area of the catchment basin, but also to determine the declivity
or slopes of the ground by which the water would be gathered into
streams and delivered to the irrigating works. The necessity for deter-
mining this element can be very simply explained.
The CHAIRMAN. The hydrographic survey is different from the topo-
graphic, to some extent, is it not %
Director POWELL. No, sir. A hydrographic survey is a topographic
Survey, but something more is added. A hydrographic survey deter-
mines the areas by a topographic Survey. I was trying to explain that
in my illustration of the roofs of the houses. I have to measure the
roofs of the houses, from which the area of the roofs, the catchment
area, is determined. It is the method of determining the areas which
supply these basins. But there is another thing
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). You have to approximate the area of
the basin, do you not ?
Director POWELL. It is not sufficient to approximate the area. It is
necessary to determine the declivities. That is a problem which seems
very simple when it is stated; but you will find that we have to deter-
mine the slopes of all the hills for the purpose. Suppose the rain falls
over a district of country that is level, or nearly level; in that arid re-
gion no great quantity of that water will flow into a reservoir. It will
be gathered up so slowly into pools that it will all evaporate. But
suppose it is like that of the Hassayampa, of which the dam has just
been swept away. Then all the water which falls upon the catchment
area, after the soil is once Saturated, will immediately be gathered into
the reservoir. It is a region of steep declivities. Here is the source
[indicating on the map). , Here is Mount Tritle; here are four great
mountains encircling the basin. When a great storm comes on those
mountains the Water rolls down into the basin. They sometimes have
storms in that Western country which will give 2 inches of rain-fall in
two or three hours. The Bassayampa dam drained a mountain decliv-
ity of 325 Square miles of nearly naked rock. When the big storm came
it only required seven or eight hours by my computation to bring the
maximum supply of water against that dam. The maximum supply of
Water against that dam was 64 acre feet per second. There was that
much water coming down every second for nearly an hour. Provision
had to be made for it, and the declivity had to be known in order to
construct the work properly. It was not only necessary to provide a
proper way to dispose of the surplus water when it came, but also to
know how much Water could be stored there. If it had been a flat
country there would have been no need to make a dam there, for no
water would come down; but it being a steep country, a vast amount
of water could be collected.
Now to make my illustration from housetops complete, suppose that
the flat housetop is covered with a great thickness of sand, so that all
the rains falling thereon are absorbed and finally evaporated by the
sun. Then from such tops no water can be caught in the spouts. Sup-
pose that others have Varying declivities, and that the greater the
declivity the less the amount of sand, until some are so steep that no
160 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
sand will remain on them. The steep roofs will deliver all their water.
Now similar conditions are found in the natural slopes of every drainage
basin of the West. Some regions are so flat and sandy that the waters
all evaporate, and nothing can be obtained from them ; others are so
steep and rocky that almost the entire rain fall is discharged into stream-
channels. It is wholly a question of declivities, and we are therefore
compelled to determine these declivities. We want areas of catchment
basins and declivities of catchment basins. To get these we make a topo-
graphic Survey, in the cheapest manner that it can be done to be useful
to properly solve the problems. The plan, therefore, is to measure
drainage basins and determine their areas and declivities, to see what
water they will shed in the streams; then gauge a few typical streams
with accuracy, and with these facts—and some collateral ones which
need not be here explained, as that would complicate the subject too
much for simple statement—we have the data necessary to plan the
works to control the water, so that it can be put upon the land.
The CHAIRMAN. I have heard it suggested by engineers that in some
portions of that arid region there are places where no dam could be
safely built, and that those places would be generally indicated by the
large bowlders and rocks at the mouths of the cañons, showing that
water-spouts had come down with such force as to carry those bowlders
through the caſions; and I have heard it suggested—and I want to
know what there is in that suggestion—that they would have to avoid
those places because of the evidences that water spouts are likely to
occur there. I have also heard it suggested that a good engineer in
constructing a dam on those torrential streams would always leave a
sufficient waste-way to carry the whole body of water at flood-time,
that there should be an ample allowance, so that there would be as large
a water-way as there was before the dam was constructed, and that on
the ground many things besides the declivities had to be taken into
consideration. -
Director POWELL. In the first place, as to water-spouts. I hold that
the suggestion which they make about water-spouts is valueless. You
might as well say you will find the places where lightning has struck
and will not build houses in such spots. The distribution of water.
spouts is now here and now there. I mean by “water-spouts,” torna-
does. Their distribution is not controlled chiefly by the topography of
the ground, but by movements in great bodies of air more or less loaded
with vapor.
The CHAIRMAN. Now, let me make a suggestion. At Eureka and
Panamint Cañons, the former of which has been known about twenty
years, there are bald mountains above, where clouds meet and cause
these cloud-bursts or water-spouts. In Eureka Cañon the town has
been destroyed once or twice, and they have had to build back on the
hills to get away from the floods. There have been four or five water-
spouts or cloud-bursts in that same place. Panamint Caſion has not
been known so long, but there is a similar formation there—bald mount-
ains, the tops of which are very high. Large bowlders have been car-
ried down and land-slides have been produced by these cloud-bursts.
We know from observation that they have appeared periodically and
that they are liable to occur again ; that there are a great many places
where they have repeated themselves.
Director POWELL. Let me make an explanation, Mr. Chairman. A tor-
nado is one thing; what is usually called in the West a cloud-burst is
another thing. The term “cloud-burst” does not mean anything, really,
to a scientific man except a big storm. Those occur in all lands, but they
DESTRUCTIVE NATURE OF MoUNTAIN CLOUD-BURSTs. 161
are peculiarly destructive and remarkable under the conditions you have
suggested. We have just as many cloud-bursts in Washington as they
have at Eureka or Denver. Let me explain further. Suppose there is
a region of country the declivities of which will gather all the water that
falls during a great storm suddenly; instead of days, it gathers in
hours or minutes, as is the case at Denver. If the declivities are ex-
treme and a great storm comes, the people call that a cloud-burst.
The CHAIRMAN. I have seen a great many of them. I have been in
the sunshine, and have seen a dark cloud off over the mountains, ac-
companied by thunder and lightning, and have seen the people run-
ning to the mountains to escape what was inevitable, because they
knew the place so well, and in half an hour the water would be 25 feet
deep where they had been. The friction of the water on the bottom of
the stream would make a column of water that was almost perpendicular;
a wonderful sight.
Director POWELL. I have walked before such a one, where a wall
of Water nearly as high as my head came down a dry stream bed. The
region of country most affected by those sudden storms on the face of
the globe is the region which I first explored, that of the Colorado River.
There the walls of the caſions are from 4,000 to 6,000 feet high, with a
labyrinth of caſions running into it from either side. When the rain
falls in that district of country the Colorado River is raised, sometimes
many feet in one night. The great storms which occur at the head-
waters of the river do not fill the caſion as full as the local storms do,
because in the local storms the water falls on the declivities, which are
like the roof of a house, and is discharged into the river in a few hours.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it be safe to build dams in those peculiar
caſions at all ?
Director POWELL. I think not. I am afraid the line of my thought
is so broken that—
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). I will not interrupt you again.
Director POWELL. I am very glad to have you ask questions. I
wanted to say that the topographic map, then, is the chief expense of
the hydrographic Survey, as the measurement of the roofs of the houses
of Washington, which I used as an illustration, would be the chief ex-
pense of determining the rain-fall. My hydrographic survey is primarily
a topographic survey. The selection survey is a topographic survey.
I have to determine catchment areas, reservoir sites, and irrigable lands,
and I have to determine the sites of diverting dams and lines of canals.
All these are done by the topographical survey, and, in my judgment, i
- 7 ******* y Judg ; In
the cheapest possible manner.
Adjourned.
138 A L-WOL IV—11.
162 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
SEVENTH DAY'S SESSION.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 18, 1890.
The committee met pursuant to adjournment.
Present: Mr. Stewart (chairman), Mr. Plumb, Mr. Moody, Mr. Casey,
and Mr. Reagan. *
FURTHER STATEMENT OF DIRECTOR POWELL.
The CHAIRMAN. Major, you can proceed. -
Director POWELL. I attempted at the last meeting to explain the
use of the topographic survey in carrying out the purposes of the stat-
ute in making the irrigation survey. The things which, under the law,
we are compelled to discover are, first, the , catchment areas and their
declivities, in order that the amount of water can be determined and
the method by which that water can be controlled and brought upon
the land. It was shown that we not only need the area of the catch-
ment basin, but its declivities, and the topographic survey economically
discovers the area and the declivities. The higher declivities are de-
termined in a more general way than the lower ones. The regions of
the reservoirs, of the canals, and of the irrigable lands are surveyed
topographically with a great deal more refinement than the others.
We also have to discover the sites of the reservoirs, and, as I believe,
of all practicable reservoir sites, for the purpose of selecting those
which are best and most economic, and which serve the lands the best.
The second purpose is to discover the sites of diverting dams along the
streams, or service dams, as they are sometimes called, and the sites of
canals. I'or this purpose, as there are a great many canal sites to be
discovered in any one district, it is necessary to overlook the entire dis-
trict in order that the best may be found and selected. Having dis-
covered all possible reservoir sites, all possible diverting-dam sites, all
possible canal sites, and all possible lands that can be irrigated, it be-
comes necessary, then, in view of all thefacts, so that they may be cor-
related one to another, to make selections. The discovery of these by
the use of trial lines, I stated, would cost at least three times as much
as to discover them by topographic methods. They must be discovered
by some method or other, and for the purpose of discovering them the
most economic method is used. Further than that, it is necessary to
determine the volume of water flowing in the streams, and for this pur-
pose it is found, after a careful examination, that this stream-flow can
be discovered by a combination of topographic and gauging methods
with very much greater economy, and I illustrated that by showing
how we would discover the amount of rain which could be gathered
from the roofs of a city. I suppose that the hydrographic survey, if
we had attempted to gauge each stream, would have cost from four to
ten times more than by the present method; so that, altogether, the use
of the topographic survey for discovering all these facts in relation to
the hydrography—the reservoir sites, the canal sites, and the irrigable
lands—very greatly reduced the cost of the Work.
Senator MooDY. Will you please describe how you execute this to-
pographic survey for such a purpose ? A
Director Powl:LL. Yes, sir; in the first place, we enter a hydro-
graphic basin—we will speak of one basin, as that Will illustrate them
all. n
Senator MOODY. Just select Some place,
THE MANNER or EXECUTING FIELD TOPOGRAPHY. 163
Director POWELL, I will take the Upper Arkansas, for example.
There we measure a base line tº
Senator Moony (interposing). Did you carry on any topographic
work there during this last year? *
Director PoWELL. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. Whereabouts 3
Director Powell. Through the basin, from the summit of the mount-
ains in Colorado nearly down to the Kansas line, so that we have
covered almost all of the Arkansas basin within the arid region.
Senator MOODY. In this connection, did you have any engineering
work done outside of the topographic work?
Director POWELL. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. What was that ?
Director POWELL. That was to measure the capacity of the reservoir
sites, to make plans for dams, and the construction of reservoirs, to run
lines of canals on the ground, and estimate their cost. That was the
engineering part of the work.
Senator MooDY. How did the topographic work aid that engineer-
ing work º
Director Powell. The topographic work practically discovered all
of the reservoir sites and all the canal sites. It also discovered the
hydrographic basin—the outline of the hydrographic basin and its
slopes.
Senator MooDY. Please give in detail, if you will, the manner of ex-
ecuting that topographic work at one single point where you discow-
ered reservoir sites.
Director POWELL. A base line is measured. From that base line a
system of triangulation is projected, which is exceedingly inexpensive,
Costing, perhaps, at the rate of fifteen cents per square mile. That
covers the basin with known points with far more accuracy than it
could be measured with chains at a hundred times the cost. Then the
topographer determines, at the bottom of the basin its altitude above
the level of the sea. He proceeds up the main stream and up its lateral
branches with a line of levels, so as to determine the gradients of the
streams themselves. As he proceeds in this way up the stream and
up the lateral streams, he locates himself from point to point by the
known points which are already established by the system of triangu-
lation, stops at this point or that point and finds out where he is at the
moment, and plots that upon a plane table which he carries with him.
From his station then with gradienters in part and alidades in part,
and With other instruments, he determines the altitude of the hills and
valleys about him and makes a map of the region on the ground then
and there, passing from point to point along the streams, as I have
mentioned.
Senator MOODY. What becomes of that map * Does he turn it over
to the engineers, so that they can measure and determine the capacity
of this basin 3
Director POWELL. Ultimately with all the data gathered in its con-
struction. As he goes along he runs grade curves in the valleys, in some
places 10 feet apart, but in general in the valleys where irrigable lands
are situated the grade curves are run 20 feet apart. Higher up in the
mountains they are run 50, 100, or 200 feet apart. It is not necessary
to do the work with a great degree of refinement in the mountain
regions. Thus he constructs a map as he goes of that drainage basin.
When that map is constructed he is enabled to outline upon the map,
first, the area and declivities of the drainage basiu, and, second, all
164 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
possible reservoir sites—the topographer has discovered them—all
possible irrigable lands, and all lines of canals from the reservoir sites
and the streams to these irrigable lands.
Senator MOODY. Does he form one of a general party, including the
engineers, who are running the actual levels and laying out lines 3
Director POWELL. No, sir. The work is carried on by three parties—
One a topographic party, one a hydrographic party, and one which is
Working upon the lines and canal sites, making plans and estimating
cost of construction. Those are three different functions, which are pur-
sued by three different classes of men. Shall I go on further with an
explanation of how the maps are made?
Senator MOODY. Yes; until you show the connection between the
topographic Work and the engineering and hydrographic work.
Director POWELL. The topographers having discovered the reservoir
sites, the Canal sites, the irrigable lands, and the basins that are drained,
the material is furnished to the engineers and hydrographers. The hy-
drographers do not go with the topographers, but we select in such a
basin Some point where one or two typical streams can be gauged, and
the hydrographer stops at that station and measures the stream from
time to time until he has determined the volume of water flowing in the
stream at its various stages. Then he selects a series of points on a
Series of streams and arranges his instruments in such a way that he
passes from one stream to another, visiting them once a day, once a
week, or once a fortnight, as the case may be, having stationary instru-
ments which record automatically for a part of the work. Finally the
hydrographer has discovered the flow of the stream, and from an exam-
ination of the topographic maps which have been prepared, which give
areas and declivities, he is able to say what water can be furnished for
irrigation and what works are necessary to control it. Having these
facts and the sites discovered and the lines discovered, the engineer
now enters upon his duty, and he decides that out of fifty reservoir
sites twenty of them, perhaps, are the best. Having determined that
these twenty reservoir sites are good, having marked the general routes
or lines of the canals which must be constructed from these reservoir
sites to the lands to be irrigated, he then runs upon the ground the lines
necessary to outline the basin with accuracy, cross-sections it to deter-
mine exactly how much water it will hold, he then examines the site
for the dam, and determines its foundation, length, and height. Having
these factors before him—the amount of water which can be supplied to
that reservoir and the amount of water which in great storms it must be
able to control so as not to be destroyed, all of which is furnished him
by the topographers and by the hydrographers, the engineer's duty
now is to plan the works, mark their sites upon the ground, and esti-
mate the cost of their construction.
Senator MOODY. Out of the appropriation of $250,000 how much
was assigned to topography 3
Director POWELL. About one-half—nearly one-half.
Senator MooDY. And how much to the engineering and hydrographic
Work 3
Director PoWELL. The other part—a little bit more than one-half.
Senator MooDY. Can you give the exact amount 7
Director POWELL. I can not from memory, but I think, perhaps, I
have the data here.
Senator MooDY. How much of the topographic assignment has been
expended ?
Director POWELL. About Seven-eighths of each.
wiſ AT DIRECTOR Power.L's SURVEY WILL COST. 165
Senator Moody. That is, seven-eighths of $350,000 } º
Director PowHLL. Seven-eights of the part of the $350,000 which
was assigned to topography. I have laid all those facts before this colm-
mittee heretofore. In the statement I made some time ago I gave the
cost per square mile, etc., as you will remember. That is all in my
testimony. ©
Senator REAGAN. One of the points made against this topographic
survey is that you have assigned a great deal more money to that than
to the hydrographic survey and the engineering work, and that you are
making it cost more than it ought. I wish you would let us know how
that is.
Doctor PowLLL. The engineering work of marking on the grounds
the lines discovered by the topographic survey and the sites of the res-
ervoirs and the computation of the cost of the work will, I Suppose,
require about three-fourteenths of the appropriation.
Senator MOODY. That would be about $60,000.
Director Powell. Yes, sir; of the last appropriation of $250,000. A
larger proportion was used this year because we had not the topogra-
phy in every locality; but I am speaking of what the plan will be in the
future. All this has been set forth to the Appropriation Committee of
the House, and is on record. The hydrography will cost, if carried on
by our present plan, about three-fourteenths, and the topography, as it
is called, will cost eight-fourteenths of the money. That is about the
proportion which it will be in the future. That has not been the pro-
portion this year. We chanced this year to know of certain reservoir
sites from previous studies of the country. These were already known,
and we did not have to go to the expense of discovering them.
Senator REAGAN. While you are on this branch of the subject I wish
to present a point which I think will be of interest to the committee.
It is alleged that by your plan of a topographic survey it will take many
years to complete with a very large expenditure. I have heard the
suggestion made before the committee that the cost will be $30,000,000,
and that it will greatly delay the development of the project of irriga-
tion. I would like to know what you have to say to that.
Director POWELL. To complete the survey of the arid region, which
is about 1,300,000 square miles, and which does not include the sub-
humid region where some irrigation is practiced, will cost $7,000,000
by following the methods which have been adopted. The time in which
it can be completed will depend upon the rate of appropriations. If
appropriations are made at the rate of $250,000 per year it will take
twenty-seven years; if made at the rate of $1,000,000 per year, as I
have recommended to Congress, it will take seven years. But if the
Imethods which we have adopted are abandoned and the more expensive
and less satisfactory methods are adopted, it will take five times that
amount of money; and if the rate of appropriations should remain the
same it will take five times as long. I have explained to the Appro-
priations Committee, and my statement is on record and I have it with
me, that the topographic branch of the work will cost $4,000,000 in
addition to what had been accomplished prior to the commencement of
the present fiscal year; that the hydrographic survey, as I have
planned it, will cost an additional sum of $1,500,000; and that the en-
gineering survey will cost another $1,500,000, making in all $7,000,000.
Senator REAGAN. What is it that will cost $4,000,000?
Director POWELL. The completion of the topographic branch of the
irrigation survey for the arid region, not including the subhumid region,
for which no estimates have ever been made, will cost $4,000,000 moré
166 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID iſ NDS.
for the construction of the maps; but in the construction of the maps
We discover all reservoir sites, all canal sites, all drainage basins, and
also discover by the same method the data upon which we determine .
the amount of water which each basin will supply. That will cost for
that region $4,000,000. The experience of this year shows that that
Was a liberal estimate. It was based upon the theory, as explained to
the committee, that it would cost from $4 to $5 a square mile. The
Work this year has cost $3.78 a square mile, and that will carry us to
the 1st of July and complete the office work; so that the estimate was not
too small, but was quite within bounds. Then I estimated to the com-
mittee that it would cost $1,500,000 more to segregate the lands; that
is, to run all township and section lines and discover, in Land Office
terms, what lands should be segregated, so that we could report to the
Land Office the particular lands which are selected under the law. The
law compels us to segregate them. The measuring of the reservoir
sites and the computation of the cost of works—all this for $1,500,000
more. Then $1,500,000 for the gauging of streams and the work of the
hydrographic branch; which makes $7,000,000; $4,000,000 for the dis-
covery of the facts——
Senator MOODY (interposing). That is the topographic work?
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; and $3,000,000 for the other.
Senator MOODY. For the engineering work º
Director POWELL. For the engineering and hydrographic work and
segregations.
The CHAIRMAN. As I understand you, the topographic work precedes
and is independent of the engineering work, and the engineers simply
use the maps prepared by the topographers and obtain the information
as to the flow of water from the hydrographers and then they proceed
afterward 3
Director POWELL. Yes, sir. º
The CHAIRMAN. What connection is there between the topographic
work and engineering work? Are the two classes of work done by sepa-
rate forces or by the same force; that is, is the work done by separate
divisions or one division ? Do the engineers simply take the maps from
the topographers when they are done and go on with their work alone?
Director POWELL. The engineers take the data which the topog-
raphers have prepared for them. They do not go over the ground to
discover reservoir sites, they do not go over the ground to discover
canal sites, they do not go over the ground to discover irrigable
lands, they do not go over the ground to discover drainage basins
or catchment areas. All these facts are determined for them, and they
go to the reservoir sites, the canal sites, and the dam sites, and make
their estimates of what it will cost to do the work, how the reservoir,
the canal, and the dam shall be constructed, and what it will cost.
That is the duty of the engineers.
The CHAIRMAN. Will the topography furnish them with data accu-
rate enough to enable them to locate the reservoir sites and the canals
without running over the ground with transit and level ?
Director Powell. Yes, sir; except on the lines selected, as I have
explained to the committee. The reservoir sites themselves have to
have a much more accurate survey, and the line which is selected to
take the water from a reservoir site to the land has to have a much
more accurate Survey.
The CHAIRMAN. What is to hinder the engineer from going upon the
ground and locating his reservoir site without the aid of topography
For instance, I go up into the mountains, and I find a stream of Water;
I follow that stream up, and I find upon it various flat places, Without
Is Topographical, survey NECESSARY? 167
any engineering at all, and I can see with the eye that I can build a
dam there. Then I find that an area of country below in the Valley is
irrigable. What is to prevent an engineer from first ascertaining about
where the water could be taken out at the foot of the mountain, and de-
termining what lands he could irrigate with his level, and without run-
ning any trial lines, and then going on up the stream and locating his
dam site? After he has determined the location, he has used his level,
and has the topographic part done. Why can he not do that without
any previous topography—diagnose the stream, as it were, and con-
Struct his dam 7
Director POWELL. I will explain that. I can make that clear. Here
is a stream coming down from the mountain. We wish to store the .
Water from that stream. We might go along that stream and dam the
stream itself, and make reservoirs along its course; but when it is pos-
sible to avoid it, we never do that. We never build a reservoir on the
course of the stream if it is possible to locate it anywhere else.
The CHAIRMAN. That is if it is a rapid stream 3
Director POWELL. No matter what kind of a stream it is. To store
the water upon the stream itself is to store it where the works have got
to be constructed in such a manner that they will withstand the great-
est storms. Wherever it is possible, and we find largely that it is pos-
sible, we store the water outside of the bed of the stream, making a low
diverting overflow dam in the stream itself, and throw the water out on
the mesa or Valley to one side, so that a torrent coming down the stream
can not destroy that reservoir; and the question you ask brings out one
of the most interesting things relating to the subject of the storage of
Water—that is, never to build a reservoir upon the course of a stream
When another site can be found. If you wish to construct a reservoir
to store the water of a stream of great volume, take the water out by a
diverting dam and a lateral canal, and store it in a basin on one side.
The CHAIRMAN. That our miners learned forty years ago in Califor-
nia; I among the rest. We found we could not make our storage res-
ervoirs in the streams without great dams, and the water was diverted
through ditches to storage reservoirs, built sometimes right above the
placers or on the top of a knoll by throwing up banks around it, al-
Ways where it would be protected from the floods. That has been the
experience in the mining regions. Now, the engineer is a pretty good
judge of what can be done in a torrential stream without any topog-
raphy. I recognize, Major, the convenience in entering into a district
of having the topography in advance, because you know then where to
go to work, but I do not see so forcibly its practical necessity. g
Director POWELL. Mr. Chairman, it is necessary for somebody to see
all of that ground before the plan is made; somebody must see it. The
engineer must see it, or somebody must see it for him. He must not
only see it with his eye, but he must see it instrumentally. No man can
properly estimate distances, altitudes, and slopes without instrumenta-
tion. Having seen it instrumentally, all that is needed after that is to
put it on paper, and if he puts his notes on paper, makes a record and
keeps a note-book, it takes just about as long as it does to make a map.
The map is all made on the ground right then and there. The map is
a note-book, the simplest and cheapest method of keeping the records.
There it assembles the facts so that they can be seen as a conspectus
and their relations known.
Senator MooDY. What is the difference between the topographic
work done under the specific appropriation for topography and the to-
pography connected With irrigation which you have carried on 3
I68 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Director POWELL. To the topography which we ordinarily do is
added for irrigation a more careful determination of the declivities or
gradients of the streams; that is all.
Senator PLUMB. Is the topographic survey which you have been mak-
§: º the Geological Survey appropriations suitable for the Irrigation
urvey -
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; except on one point; the gradients of the
Streams are not so carefully determined—
Senator PLUMB (interposing). What is it suitable for without this ad.
dition you speak of ?
Director BOWELL. For all purposes for which maps are used.
Senator PLUMB. Then all the work you have done for the geological
Survey of a topographic character, in order to make it adaptable to
irrigation has got to be supplemented by something else?
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; but at a cost which is insignificant. Not
Over 3 cents a mile is to be added to what has been done. t
Senator PLUMB. Then you have been doing under this last appropria-
tion practically what you were doing before?
Director POWELL. So far as the topographic work is concerned ; but
we have added to that the gradients of the streams. The organization
of the Geological Survey, prior to the foundation of the Irrigation Sur-
vey, provided that the Geological Survey should make a map of that
country. When that map was authorized by Congress a statement was
made by me—and the joint committee of the two houses has reported
fully on the matter, and I have the report here—that it would take, at
the rate at which appropriations were then in progress, thirty years to
make that topographic map. When I presented the matter of the use
of that topographic map to the committee I explained its importance,
its value, for irrigating purposes, and the commission have reported
upon that pretty fully, as you will see from a report which I have
brought with me. When the matter of the irrigation survey itself was
brought before Congress, session before last, I first was called upon, by
a resolution of the Senate, to reply to certain interrogatories as to how
this irrigation survey should be conducted, and I outlined in my report
to Congress just what I have been doing and what I have explained to
the committee, and my report has been published by Congress. I ex-
plained the use of a topographic map in relation to an irrigation survey
as I had explained it years before, and appearing before the Committee
on Appropriations to explain what would be done, I said to them that
we would have to add something to what we have been doing for the
purposes of estimating the cost and segregating the lands; and if ap-
propriations could be made in such a manner that the time of the work
could be shortened, and something more added to that—I said a mil-
lion and a half for the hydrographic work and a million and a half for
the engineering work—I said if $3,000,000 be added to the general esti-
mate heretofore made, we can do the whole work, for we are already
doing at this slow rate the topographic work necessary; and the com-
mittee on considering the matter understood very well—in their report
you will see that it was understood—that they were anticipating the
appropriation, that is, making larger appropriations to do what was
already authorized, and in addition to that, making an additional ap-
propriation to do these additional things. That was understood clearly
by the Committee on Appropriations, and is all a matter of record. The
topographic survey, therefore, is necessary, or something to take its
place. If the trial-line system is to take its place, the total cost of the
whole survey will be increased five times. The total cost of the discov-
ENGINEERS AND THEIR WORK. 169
ery of sites only—that is, a part of it—will be increased three times, but
the total cost of the whole survey will be increased five times; and then
the topographic map will still have to be made for the Geological Sur-
TVey. .#
It must be understood in this connection that I have submitted to
Congress a plan for an irrigation survey of the arid lands, which con-
templated an examination of the subject only so far as it related to the
use of perennial streams; that it was not contemplated to make a Sur-
vey relating to artesian waters, storm waters, or sand reservoir waters.
If the scope of the survey is to be enlarged the estimates must be cor-
respondingly enlarged. It should be further noticed that the esti-
mate was made for the arid lands where irrigation is generally neces-
sary, and not for the sub-humid lands where irrigation is necessary only
in unusually dry years. If the survey is to be carried over these sub-
humid lands the estimate must be correspondingly enlarged.
Now, gentlemen, the hour is nearly up, and I have hardly started on
the subject; but I wish to beg of you one favor in this matter. You
have heard two men connected with the Geological Survey who dis-
agree with me, whose opinions are not my opinions.
Senator PLUMB. Who are they #
The CHAIRMAN. Captain Dutton and Mr. Nettleton.
Director POWELL. I have a good many men on the Survey. The
men who are actually responsible for selecting the sites entirely disa-
gree with the men who have appeared before your committee, and
agree With me, and I want to beg of the committee to hear both sides
of this question, and if you are going to interrogate me and my assist-
ants, let those assistants be heard. Mr. Gilbert, who is practically the
assistant director of the Survey, who has been associated with me for
sixteen years in this work, and who joined me in the first report on the
Question of irrigation, has a better mastery of this subject, probably, than
any other man in the country. Mr. Thompson, who has been with me
twenty-one years in all the work, and who has charge of the map-mak-
ing, is another whom I would like to have appear before you. I should
like to have you call Mr. Gilbert, Mr. Thompson, Mr. Gannett, and Mr.
Johnson, all of whom have thoroughly studied this subject, and know
how to make maps and how to explain them, and are familiar with all
branches of this work.
The gentlemen in charge of parties in each branch of the work have
a tendency to exalt the importance of the special branch which they
themselves are pursuing, and are apt to claim that the bulk of the ap-
propriation should be given to them for their work. They are anxious
to accomplish as much as possible, and to do it in the best possible
manner, and urge their claims in what I think to be a very proper man-
ner. I am not sorry that my assistants thus become interested in the
work; but it is for me to co-ordinate it and to relegate to each branch
its due and proportionate part. This is the error which I think Captain
Dutton has committed. The magnitude of the work which he performs
and its immediate presence before his eyes obscure his vision, and he
fails to discover the magnitude and importance of the co-ordinate
branches.
The CHAIRMAN. Could they not make their statements in writing 3
Director POWELL. If so desired.
The CHAIRMAN. Have them make their statements in writing, and
present them to the committee as soon as possible. We are occupying
a great deal of time, and want to consider some other matters, and if
170 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the gentlemen you have named can make their statements in writing it
Will expedite matters. 4.
Director POWELL. You sought the opinions of two men who never
made a topographic map—
Senator JONES. (Interposing.) It seems to me like a one-sided affair
to allow men on one side of this question to come here and answer
questions, and now to have the men on the other side put their statements
in Writing, without giving the committee an opportunity to ask them
Questions. It is not right. I want to get the whole truth. -
The CHAIRMAN. If there is objection to the written statements of
Course We Will have the gentlemen come before the committee.
Director POWELL. I have been diverted from my line of thought by
side interrogatories, and I would like to be heard further. The things
Which I intended to present are not presented yet.
The CIIAIRMAN. We will have another meeting as soon as we can get
the committee together.
Adjourned.
EIGHTEI DAY'S SESSION.
Washington, D. C., March 21, 1890.
The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m.
Present: The chairman, and Senators Reagan, Moody, and Casey.
STATEMENT OF G. K. GILBERT, CHIEF GEOLOGIST OF THE U. S.
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. º
Mr. GILBERT. Is it your desire that I make a statement, or that I
shall answer some specific questions 3
The CHAIRMAN. The committee desire to ascertain from you your
Opinion as to the connection between the engineering survey for the
purpose of irrigation and the topographic survey, and whether the
topographic Survey is a necessity and must precede the engineering sur-
Vey. You can go on and make a statement on that subject, giving the
relation of the two surveys, the dependence of one upon the other.
Mr. GILBERT. It is my opinion that the information obtained by the
topographic survey is essential to good results from the engineering sur-
vey. If the same information is obtained by other methods the cost
will be relatively great ; if it is not obtained the engineering survey will
fail to achieve the best results. The topographic survey should pre-
cede in each locality.
The function of the irrigation survey, as a whole, is three-fold, as de-
termined by the law. It has first to determine what land shall receive the
scant water of irrigation; second, to plan the best system of works for
distributing the water to the land, and third, to plan the best system of
reservoirs for storing the water which falls in a drainage basin outside the
period of irrigation. For each locality, for each drainage basin, as a rule,
these three questions have to be considered together. They are So in-
timately related that they constitute a single complex question, which
has to be determined for each locality; nevertheless each one of the
Questions is in itself complex. -
In order to make the best selection of land it is necessary to know what
tracts of land are available for the purpose of irrigation; that is, what
ELEMENTS THAT ENTER INTo IRRIGATION work. 171
tracts of land belonging to a district lie so level that the water can be
conducted over them for the purpose of irrigation, and what are the areas
of these tracts. It is necessary in selecting from among such tracts to
consider their climatic conditions; in some cases there are great differ-
ences in climate. It is necessary to consider the soils and subsoils. It is
necessary to consider the local duty of the water. It is necessary to Con-
sider the waste of water incident to transfer from the source of supply,
that is, the distance from the source of supply with reference to the ques-
tion of waste; and it is necessary also to know the amount of water
which is available for some one or more of these districts, that is to
say, the annual run-off of the drainage basin. In order to plan the
best system of distribution it is necessary to know the positions of the
tracts of land which may be irrigated with reference to the reservoirs
in which the water for that purpose may be stored. These relations
must be known horizontally and vertically, and the character of the
intervening country must be known. It is necessary also to estimate
the cost of constructing works for distributing the water, and the cost
of maintaining such works. It is necessary to estimate the waste
through evaporation and seepage by different systems of work, and it
is necessary, in order to determine the magnitude of the works, to know
the run off of the basin.
Speaking in a very general way, a reservoir can be made anywhere;
but there is a great difference in expense, and the really available or
practicable sites are those where a relatively small dam will create a
reservoir containing a relatively large amount of water, and such sites
may be scattered throughout the basin. In determining the question
of reservoir sites it is necessary usually to consider whether there shall
be a single reservoir or a small number of reservoirs low down in the
basin or a larger number of reservoirs on the minor streams pertaining
to parts of the basin. In order to make a comparison of these and to
plan the best system of works it is necessary to estimate the cost of
Works, at least roughly, at the various places, and the cost of mainte-
nance, and to consider the waste through evaporation or seepage; these
differ with altitude and other conditions, and also with the form of the
reservoir. It is also necessary for the other purposes; that is to say,
Where a reservoir site commands only a portion of the basin, the water
which can be stored in that reservoir is only the water which flows
through or past that portion of the basin. So, for the study of the prob-
lem of reservoir sites it is necessary to estimate with a good degree of
approximation not only the run-off of the entire basin, but the run-off
of parts of the basin.
Now, in this plexus of factors there is one which is very important;
many of them are important, but there is one that is especially impor.
tant and which is at the same time especially difficult; that is, estimat-
ing and determining the run-off. That may be determined, theoretically,
at least, in various ways. In the first place, it can be measured directly;
the streams can be gauged and their heights at various times can bé
observed for a period of years, and in that way the amount of water
Which runs off can be actually measured. For large streams the obser-
Vations of one year give valuable information; the observations of two
years may perhaps suffice for some purposes; but for small streams, in
a region of very irregular precipitation, a greater number of years of
observation is necessary. There are certain things besides the average
annual run-off that need to be known. With reference to the determina-
tion of the amount of land it is advisable to put under ditch, the mini-
mum run-off should be known. With reference to the construction of
172 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
head-works and canals and dams that will stand against all floods that
may come, it is necessary to know the maximum run-off, and it is espe-
cially necessary to know the maximum rate of run-off for this purpose.
It is necessary to know separately the run-off of each stream that may
be separately used in irrigation, and it is necessary to know separately
the ſºon of each catchment area the water of which may be separately
Stored.
The direct measurement of the run-off is, in my judgment, a very
expensive matter. There must first be determined by a series of gaug-
ings how much water runs off at each stage, and observations of the
height of Water must then be made and recorded for a series of years.
For this purpose it is necessary to keep permanent observers, and such
observers can not maintain continuous observations of any considerable
number of streams. In my judgment the expense would be not far
from $1,000 for each such determination, carrying it on for a sufficient
number of years to make it of practical value.
Senator CASEY. What would you consider a sufficient number of
years to make it of value #
Mr. GILBERT. That would depend upon the size of the stream.
Senator CASEY. Well, generally. -
Mr. GILBERT. I think on an average three or four years would be nec-
essary; but that would not suffice for a great number of small streams.
In the case of large streams you could—
Senator CASEY (interposing). Would observations for three or four
years determine the maximum and minimum ?
Mr. GILBERT. No, sir; not in small streams. In the average run of
streams the maximum and minimum occur only at irregular intervals,
which may be short or long. That would be a matter more or less of
estimation, even after a long series of observations.
Senator CASEY. You spoke of it as necessary a while ago.
Mr. GILBERT. It is important. It is necessary to determine the best
Works.
Senator CASEY. That would probably take eight or ten years' obser-
Vation ?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir; it would bring the cost into competition with
the gain to be acquired through the irrigation of the land.
The CHAIRMAN. It is now twenty-nine years since there was a winter
similar to this last winter in California and the country West of the
Rocky Mountains.
Senator CASEY. Does that remark go back to last summer and include
the whole year }
The CHAIRMAN. Yes, sir; it includes the whole year. There was a
very dry year twenty-nine years ago, 1861–62, and this is 1889–90.
Senator CASEY. So that if this information as to maximum and min-
imum run-off were ascertained, it would take a long series of observa-
tions?
The CHAIRMAN. What is the difficulty in allowing the inhabitants or
inducing them to keep a sufficiently accurate gauge of the Water for
practical purposes? Could not some arrangement be made with the
people living in that region to keep a record which would be sufficiently
accurate %
Mr. GILBERT. That is the practical method of ascertaining the
greater part of the run-off—to gauge the streams through experts and
then employ local observers to watch the rise and fall. That is appli-
cable only to the districts that are actually occupied by settlers now,
There are great unsettled regions where the run-off would have to be
MEASUREMENTS OF RAIN-FALL. 173
determined in order to construct the best works, and these would have
to be occupied—
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). Take, for example, the districts in
Nevada that are actually occupied ; are they not index localities that
will do for the unoccupied districts 3
Mr. GILBERT. I think so. I was coming to that—
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). So that the Government would not
have to go to the expense ?
Mr. GILBERT. I was speaking of the method of gauging the water
in the streams. That method leads to large expense, in my, judgment.
The number of measurements that would have to be made in Order to
consider thoroughly the whole problem of land areas and of reservoir
sites would be as much as twenty thousand, leading to an expense that
would go into the tens of millions. Now, there are several indirect
methods of reaching the result, and I would like to Speak of three of
these. In the first place, it is possible, usually, by an examination on
the ground, to determine what is the magnitude of the flood channel of
a stream, and then, by considering the cross-section of the channel in
connection with its declivity, it is possible to estimate the rate of the
maximum discharge. -
The CHAIRMAN. An engineer can do that?
, Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir; and every one makes a crude estimate.
When one sees a place where water has run, he thinks “Some time
here has been a large stream.” The engineer can measure the gradient
and the cross-section, and can give an estimate of the rate of run-off in
the time of the most severe storm, which will be valuable. In a humid
region the rate of run-off is well related to the annual discharge. If
we were dealing with a humid region instead of an arid region we
might, by a consideration of the magnitude of the storm channels, make
an estimate of the annual discharge which would be really valuable;
but in the arid region the precipitation is so irregular that this is im-
possible. I have crossed on the Amagosa. Desert a river-bed that is a
mile broad. There was no water when I crossed it, and had probably
been no water for many years, but at Some time there was a great
stream ; yet that channel runs into Death Valley, and there is not
enough water flowing through it annually on an average to keep the
bottom of Death Valley wet. f
The CHAIRMAN. I have been there.
Mr. GILBERT. So the study of channels in the arid region will not
suffice for the determination of the annual run-off of the streams. An-
other indirect method is by analyzing the features that go to make up
run-off, and then measuring the factors and putting them together by
computation. We know that the run-off depends, in the first place, on
the rain-fall. Now, if we can tell What percentage of the rain-fall es-
capés, and measure the rain-fall, we have our problem solved. The
quantity that escapes depends particularly on two things—the declivity
of the surface, or the rapidity with which the water runs, and the con-
stitution of the surface or the soil. Some soils shed water; others hold
it and yield it to evaporation.
Senator REAGAN. Now, this is all very interesting; but it is not the
point we are trying to get at at all. We want to know, as I under-
stand it, whether a topographic Survey is necessary as a means of pro-
viding an irrigation system, or whether that can be done more cheaply
and quickly by an engineering and hydrographic survey.
Mr. GILBERT. If the Senator will pardon me, I was intending to
speak to that point.
174 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
~
The CHAIRMAN. Be as brief as you can.
Senator CASEY. We have been over all this two or three times, and
have become very familiar with it, and the practical question Senator
Reagan suggests is what we wish to consider.
Mr. GILBERT. The practical method depends on the third method of
getting the run-off. The second method, which I have just alluded to,
is impracticable, because of the difficulties of understanding the con.
ditions and putting together the various elements.
The third method is one of analogy. In the same general district we
have the same general rain-fall at the same altitudes; that is, the gen-
eral rain-fall varies with the altitude in the same district of country. If
We have two drainage basins in the same district of country at about
the same altitude, having the same character of surface as to declivities
and as to soil, then the run-off from those two basins will be propor-
tionate to their areas; and working on that principle, it is possible to
determine the run-off by, in the first place, actually measuring the run-
off from certain basins taken as types, and then measuring areas and
declivities and examining soil conditions of any other areas of which
We wish to know the run-off.
The soil conditions are usually similar through wide belts of country,
Or, more strictly, their variation is in sympathy with the variation of
declivity. Surfaces of gentle slope are more receptive, and steep sur.
faces less, so that classification of catchment areas by declivities is also
largely classification by soil conditions. The measurement of areas
and declivities and the determination of the general altitude are the
functions of the topographic survey. In my judgment the division of
the work into (1) a hydrographic survey which shall determine by
gauging the run-off of types of basins, and (2) a topographic survey, has
the additional advantage that it indicates the reservoir sites which are
to be considered ; that it indicates the tracts of land which lie in such
shape that they are susceptible of irrigation, and that it indicates the
alternative routes for canals and the alternative sites for the head-
i. of canals to be used in conducting the water to the irrigable
lands. w
The CHAIRMAN. If an experienced engineer, having general informa-
tion with regard to the storms that occasionally occur in a given section
of country, were to proceed into a drainage basin, follow up the streams,
and ascertain the places that are suitable for reservoirs, etc., after hav-
ing, of course, taken into consideration the general area of the basin by
observation, its declivities, etc., what would prevent him from locating
those reservoirs and segregating the irrigable lands from the other lands,
and doing all that work, with the maps that are already collected, with-
out waiting for the topographic survey to precede him 3
Mr. GILBERT. There is a class of streams—
The CHAIRMAN. Could that be done at all ?
Mr. GILBERT. It could be done with reference to a certain class of
streams, in which the catchment areas lie so high that the climate is
unsuited to agriculture, so that the streams will have to be handled low
down on their courses, of necessity, and where there are existing good
maps; but even in that case the engineer would need to go over the
ground, in order to satisfy himself that he has the best system of res-
ervoirs—that the system he adopts will not some time have to be re-
formed. IIe will have to go over the entire field thoroughly to discover
the available reservoir sites, in my judgment. Where there are maps in
existence exhibiting the available reservoir sites that is not necessary;
he can discover those that need to be considered from the maps; but in
general existing maps do not serve that purpose.
CLAIMED THAT TOPOGRAPHIC WORK IS CHEAPEST. 175
The CHAIRMAN. Are the topographie maps sufficiently accurate to
locate the reservoir and estimate the quantity of Water the reservoir
Would contain } *
Mr. GILBERT. The topographic map would give only a crude idea of
the quantity of water the reservoir would contain, not a sufficient es-
timate for final comparison; but it would give an amply sufficient esti-
mate of the area of the catchment basin, and through that, with the
aid of such a gauging system as I have mentioned of the amount of
water which would come to that point, it would give a preliminary es-
timate of the reservoir.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it not be sufficient for general purposes to
have a general estimate of the catchment basin, with a gauging System
carried on by the inhabitants, after the first instance 3 Would not that
be sufficient for ascertaining the amount of Water for practical pur-
poses 3
Mr. GILBERT. In my judgment, for practical purposes it is neces-
sary to examine the country tributary to each site or storage basin under
consideration in order to ascertain the run-off, and Such examination is
most economically made by a general work Which covers the Whole hy-
drography— -
The CHAIRMAN. (Interposing.) Can not an engineer make that ex-
amination ? w
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, he can make that examination, but he can not
make it as cheaply as the topographic survey can. A differentiation of
functions comes in here. The work of the topographer and the work of
the engineer are, to a certain extent, the same. They use the same in-
struments; they make maps, contour maps; but they work on different
scales, and when a man who works with one scale, be it large or small,
is diverted to do a piece of work on another scale, he works at a disad-
advantage.
The CHAIRMAN. Which is the larger scale, that of the engineer or
that of the topographer ?
Mr. GILBERT. The engineer's is the larger scale. The engineer, in
order to make his estimate of cost, etc., needs to go into minutiae.
Senator REAGAN. What is meant by a smaller scale %
Mr. GILBERT. A smaller map for the same area.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, as I understand you, the topographic work
would have to be done over again in order to get sufficient data for prac-
tical work & -
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir. On every site of an irrigation works—every
site of a reservoir, every line of a canal—a special survey would have
to be run. A topographic Survey, upon its small scale, and made in
the rapid manner that belongs to a small scale, will not afford the data
for final estimates as to cost. It serves as a reconnaissance for all those
purposes.
The CHAIRMAN. What use would an engineer, locating reservoirs and
laying out ditch lines, make of the topographic survey if it had preceded
him, leaving the hydrographic survey out of the question ?
Mr. GILBERT. He would, in the first place, know with a fair degree
of approximation the height above the stream of the land to be sup.
plied with Water and the point of the upper portion of the stream at
which the Water would necessarily have to be taken out in order to be
carried to that land. He would be enabled to consider alternate points
for diverting the Water without running trial lines. He would know
where to direct his final Survey and how to determine liis general course.
Senator MOODY. Mr. Gilbert, is a topographic survey an observation
176 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
survey in advance of the definite and particular survey that is neces-
sary in order to locate practically these works that are indicated?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. A topographic surveyor is ordinarily and usually an
engineer, is he not? *
Mr. GILBERT. The two classes of work are branches of the same pro-
fession, but in general the topographer has a different range of infor-
mation.
Senator MOODY. In organizing an effort to put a certain region of
country under water, that is to establish a system of irrigation, would
you organize two parties, one to go in advance of the other and make
these observations, or would you organize one party, who would make
the observations—a topographic map, or what is its equivalent—and
then proceed after they had done that to make the detailed measure-
Iments and observations and all that is necessary to locate the reservoirs
and carry the water to the lands?
Mr. GILBERT. I would organize two parties, and let one precede the
other, even if their work could be carried on together. Even if one did not
need the work of the other I would organize two parties. It has been
found in the history of Western exploration and survey (changing grad-
ually from exploration to survey) that it was necessary to bave different
lines of work separately performed. In the original Pacific Railroad ex-
plorations all kinds of observations and surveys were carried on together.
The resources of the country did not permit cutting up into small par-
ties, and it was necessary to travel in one body. The topographers,
the engineers, the naturalists, all went together; it was all reconnais-
sance. Afterward, when the Hayden, the Powell, the King, the
Wheeler surveys were organized, those methods were adhered to at the
start, but were finally departed from. Eventually there was one party
for triangulation, another for topography, another for geology, travel-
ing in the same district, but traveling independently, because it was
advantageous to have the movements of each controlled by the particu-
lar work to be done.
Senator MooDY. Supposing you were starting out originally to open
up a drainage district, what would be your plan? Would you not first
make these observations that you speak of, and then follow them up
with a survey or measurements and the requisite engineering work,
just as you would in locating a railroad through the country?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. In other words, you would select the general plan
by observation, by certain preliminary measurements, and then carry
it out by detailed work. Would that be it?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any further observations to make 3
Mr. GILBERT. I have not.
The CHAIRMAN. Before you go I wish to inquire what your profes-
SIOT) IS.
Mr. GILBERT. I am a geologist.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you engaged in the Geological Survey 3
Mr. GILBERT. I have been engaged in the explorations and Surveys
of the Government since 1871. I have been mainly occupied in geo-
logical work, but have done some geographical work and some survey-
ing, and I spent one year in the study of irrigation problems in Utah.
The CHAIRMAN. What position do you occupy in the Geological
Survey 3
Mr. ºnment. I am Chief Geologist. I have charge, under the Di-
rector, of the geological work.
A GEOLOGIST ON THE COST OF ENGINEERING WORK. 177
Director POWELL. Mr. Chairman, I would like to have you ask Mr.
Gilbert, the relative cost of doing the work of the irrigation Survey
with the aid of the topographic survey and without it.
THE CHAIRMAN. Mr. Gilbert may answer that question.
Mr. GILBERT. Mr. Chairman, I have not given sufficient considera-
tion to that matter to give a quantitative estimate of the cost. It is my
decided opinion that the cost would be much greater, several times
greater, if the determination of the sites, etc., were made by trial lines
and by reconnaissances of the engineers, instead of being made by a
general topographic survey.
Senator Moody. Will you state, as briefly as you can, the difference
between what you call trial work, the running of trial lines and observ-
ations by the engineers, and the topographic work?
Mr. GILBERT. That is easiest illustrated by considering a railway Sur-
vey. The railway engineers, wishing to go from one point to another,
inquire of the people as to routes, if they have no personal knowledge
of the country themselves, and in that way learn of several routes that
may be compared. They follow out each one, making a line survey,
similar to the survey that they would make for the location of the road
for the purpose of seeing where the opportunities are. Having done
that they then select one line as best, modify it perhaps, and make a
final survey. Now, in a country where there has been a topographic sur-
vey they run no trial lines. Take, for instance, the Appalachian regions
when the topographic work of the Survey is in progress. Where these
topographic surveys have been made the railway engineers study the
maps, and by such studying are able to compare the possible routes,
and usually to eliminate from consideration all but one and go to that
directly. *
The CHAIRMAN. Is there not a difference between a railway survey,
which passes through the Čountry over the lowest elevations, and a
survey for the purpose of conducting water, which is arbitrary and
which must be run where the elevations will permit 3 Does the engi-
neer surveying for the purpose of irrigation require those comparative
trial lines? Must he not go into a valley and ascertain by his eye and
by his level where water will run around the valley, and is not that the
trial line that he has got to run ? He has got to follow that line if he
is going to cover the land below with water; he has got to follow lines
that are easily found.
Mr. GILBERT. In simple cases, but not by the eye. He must do it
by levels. The eye always deceives. A ditch always runs up hill, ap-
parently. But where the problem is to consider whether several streams
shall be handled together for purposes of irrigation, or whether a stream
shall be taken out at some low point on its course or at some higher
point, by a route that offers better facilities for construction, then a
reconnaissance of Some sort is necessary. If it is not made, then the
most economical route may not be the one that happens to be found.
The CHAIRMAN. In that case would the topographic survey show the
engineer the levels and the difficulties of construction with sufficient
definiteness to relieve him from the obligation of examining the route
personally * If he is going to make estimates, has he not got to go
over the ground any way ?
Mr. GILBERT. It will eliminate all the possibilities, except one or
tWO.
The CHAIRMAN. Would it be very difficult, after you had the point
where the water could be diverted, to ascertain the possibilities as to
where the ditch might be run ? Could not that be determined by levels
138 A L–WOL IV——12
178 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
very readily, without much expense, and could not all the possibilities
of the stream be determined by levels at a minimum expense?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir; but the topographic survey is a determina-
tion with a very small expense indeed. While it figures up in the ag-
gregate to Some millions of dollars, its rate per unit is very small.
The CHAIRMAN. Is not a great proportion of the expense of the topo.
graphic Survey for Work in countries where you can not utilize the land
for irrigation and where you can not utilize the Waters for that purpose ?
Is there not a great deal of Surveying outside of the particular basins
that can be utilized for irrigation purposes 3
Mr. GILBERT. As I understand it, the future irrigation of our arid
region is going to be distributed over its Whole extent. It is going to
include districts where a few years ago the thought of irrigation did not
occur, but where storm waters gan be used ; and the general Survey is
going to be one of the means of indicating those districts.
Senator MOODY. So that the topographic survey will get the whole
country ready for irrigation in the future.
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir.
Senator REAGAN. So far as you go, does the topographic survey in-
clude the whole country or select districts 3 º -
Mr. GILBERT. As I understand the work it has been begun in vari-
ous States and Territories in basins where there is immediate need for
the determination of these irrigation questions. The selection of tracts
for initial Work has been made With reference to the earliest needs of
the greatest number of people.
Senator REAGAN. And that may be extended as necessity arises 3
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir. But at the same time complete blocks of
country have been surveyed; not small areas of a straggling nature, but
the general plan has been to complete the Whole area. The beginnings
of the work, however, have been made where the present need was most
urgent.
The CHAIRMAN. Does your topographic survey leave marks on the
ground indicating altitude and other signs which can be followed by
the engineer" -
Mr. GILBERT. No, sir. *
The CHAIRMAN. They leave nothing on the ground 3
Mr. GILBERT. They give the indications of altitudes of points which
can be found; of points that are otherwise fixed ; for example, the
junctions of streams, the crests of hills, etc. . -
Senator REAGAN. When you get that initial point you take the map
and it shows you ?
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. If it was not at the point where you wished to locate
your reservoir or your ditch it would be necessary to have an engineer-
ing survey from that point to ascertain the location of hydraulic Works,
would it not ?
Mr. GILBERT. I do not understand you.
The CHAIRMAN. When you get a fixed point you havo got to go from
that with the engineering Survey to ascertain the other point, have you
not ?
Mr. GILBERT. If we have indicated on a topographic map a piece of
plain country, indicated by contours far apart, and beyond that we have
a steep hill, indicated by the contours close together, then the contour
which skirts the bottom of that hill is the contour indicating the upper
portion of that 1Rane surface, the portion to be commanded by the ditch,
and that is something of practical Value, even if there is no absolute
WHAT A TOPOGRAPHER HAS To SAY OF SURVEY WORK. 179
point fixed. It is the edge of that plain. I do not know that I fully
understand you.
The CHAIRMAN. To determine a definite point at which to locate your
reservoir you will have to find a known point. The map will not show
You.
Mr. GILBERT. The expression of the map is through contours.
The CHAIRMAN. I know the expression; but does it not require actual
engineering to find other given points definitely 3
Mr. GILBERT. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. After you have the initial point from your topo-
graphic survey, it requires engineering to determine other points 3
Mr. GILBERT. The topographic survey gives the position and height
of definite points with the degree of precision of the map, whatever that
may be, and if you compare any two of these points by means of the
contours you have their relative heights. Take the upper edge of a
plain that may be irrigated. You have the height of that with refer-
ence to the stream at various places, and by tracing the proper contour
line you have an approximate idea of the course of the lowest possible
Canal route.
The CHAIRMAN. By what instruments do you ascertain altitudes 3
Mr. GILBERT. That is ascertained in different parts of the country
by a variety of instruments. In the present work of the Survey it is
obtained chiefly by angles of elevation and depression ; but it is also
ascertained for altitudes that are not very essential to the work of irri-
gation by means of barometers. It is also ascertained along the lines
of principal streams, I understand, in the present topographic work,
by spirit leveling, but the other gentlemen present are better qualified
to explain that than I. *
STATEMENT OF ALMON H, THOMPSON, IN CHARGE OF TOPO-
GRAPHICAL DIVISION OF U. S. IRRIGATION SURVEY.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Thompson, what is your profession ?
Mr. THOMPSON. I am a geographer, in charge of the topography of
the Irrigation Survey.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you state to the committee whether a topo-
graphic survey is necessary to an engineering survey for the purpose
of irrigation, confining yourself in as short space as you can to that
exact point % -
Mr. THOMPSON. A topographic survey is the cheapest and most ae-
curate way of obtaining the facts necessary to plan a system of irriga-
tion works for any natural district or drainage basin, and the results
can be given to the people in the shortest time by this method. There
are three well-defined phases or steps taken in engineering work.
The CHAIRMAN. Those steps have been explained a good many times
to the committee. State what use an engineer would make of a topo.
graphic survey in a given district 3
Mr. THOMPSON. It is supposed by the topographers and most engin-
eers that it will furnish him all the data necessary for a reconnaissance;
that he obtains in that reconnaissance most of the data for his lines,
which he then runs. It is not supposed that it will furnish him data
sufficient to make estimates of construction, such as cuts and fills. It
is supposed that he will have to do that particular step of the work
afterward. But it is supposed that it will furnish him with all informa.
180 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
tion necessary for the first two steps, with the exception of now and
then a single trial line. *
Senator CASEY. Suppose the data had not all been ascertained, what
course would he pursue to obtain that data; would it be the same course
that the topographic survey had already pursued ?
Mr. THOMPSON. Yes, sir; if he wished to obtain it over an extended
area of country. If he wished to obtain it as the topography is obtained
in a line survey, for a few feet on either side of the trial line he might
run, he probably would not cover the whole country with his map.
Senator CASEY. He would cover only that region that he had par-
ticularly under his eye.
Mr. THOMPSON. Yes, sir. But the practice of the best engineers of
the present day seems to be to obtain the topography of the whole
country, especially in regard to irrigation work; and in other coun-
tries— .*
The CHAIRMAN (interposing). In what other countries do the topog-
raphers precede the engineers? . 4.
Mr. THOMPSON. In India, and to a certain extent in California, in
cases that have coune under my observation, and in countries where new
irrigation works are located. g
The CEIAIRMAN. Have you any reports from the Indian surveys
where they insist on topography preceding the engineering surveys?
Mr. THOMPSON. No, sir; I have no reports, but such reports are in
the library of the Survey. s
The CHAIRMAN. You have no reports showing that ?
Mr. THOMPSON. No, sir; nothing in my hands. But there have been
topographic surveys conducted in India for a long time, and these sur-
veys are made use of by the engineers in constructing new works.
The engineers of that country, as in this, I believe, obtain maps to be-
in with.
g The CHAIRMAN. In southern California you say the topographic sur-
veys precede the engineering Surveys for hydraulic purposes. In what
instances?
Mr. THOMPSON. I was trying to think of the particular instance. A
year ago I was in San Francisco and an engineer came to me to ask me
about the topographic work, stating that he had been employed by some
company in San Diego County to construct works for irrigation pur-
poses, and that his first step was to make a contour map of the area
with intervals of 10 feet.
Senator CASEY. He made that in the particular region in which he
was working 3
Mr. THOMPSON. Yes, sir. I think he said the area of his map was
about 10 square miles.
Senator CASEY. Was it any more expensive for him to do that Work
for the purpose he had in hand than it would have been if it had been
done by a preliminary survey by the State 3 |
Mr. THOMPSON. In my judgment it was much more expensive than a
survey on a general plan.
The CHAIRMAN. Would he not make it more accurate having in view
the objects to be attained, and would he not direct the survey to the
attainment of those objects?
Mr. THOMPSON. That is a hard question to answer. If, on the general
survey a map was made having the same contour interval and detail, I
think it would be quite as accurate as he would make it.
Senator REAGAN. Would not the answer to that depend upon whether
the survey was made with greater or less detail 7
ExTENSION of LAND surveys To TOPOGRAPHIC work, 181
Mr. THOMPSON. Pardon me. I said if the map was made with the
same contour intervals, which means with the same details.
The CHAIRMAN. Would not the engineer, in making such a contour
survey as he deemed necessary, locate marks on the ground which he
could use in his survey, and which would not be found in a general
topographic survey 3
Mr. Thompson. It is possible that he might make some special marks
with reference to his construction work. Our surveys are all connected
with the Land Office surveys. The Land Office corners are marked
every half mile, and our surveys are connected with the Land Office
work; so that the Land Office lines can be drawn upon our maps, and
the connection between the topographic work and the Land Office Work
be determined.
The CHAIRMAN. Are the Land Office marks extended into the mount-
ains where there is no market for the lands 3
Mr. THOMPson. My remark relates to areas where the Land Office
survey extends.
The CHAIRMAN. They do not extend into the desert lands?
Mr. TFIOMPson. They do survey large tracts that are desert lands.
The State engineer of California, when he was planning a system of
works for that. State, made topographic maps with contour intervals of
10 and 20 feet and carried the work over a portion of the State, although
he was not planning a reservoir system but only canal lines to use the
waters running in the streams during the time of irrigation.
Senator MOODY. Have you charge of the work of the Topographic
Survey as well as the Geological Survey?
Mr. THOMPSON. Only of the irrigation branch.
Senator MOODY. In what regions of country has the work been con-
ducted under last year's appropriation ?
Mr. THOMPSON. In the Arkansas Valley, in Colorado; in New Mex-
ico, on the Mora and Gallinas Rivers, in the region of Santa Fé and
Las Vegas; and on the Rio Grande, in the region of El Paso ; in Cali-
fornia, in the region about Lake Tahoe, on the head-waters of the Amer-
ican and Uba Rivers, and the northern branch of Stanislaus, and the
head-waters of the Truckee and Carson Rivers; in Montana, on Yellow-
stone Lake and along the Yellowstone River, and in southern Idaho
along the Boisé and Snake Rivers.
Senator REAGAN. And on Sun River ?
Mr. THOMPSON. No, sir. My work did not extend to Sun River.
That was done under the engineers.
Senator MooDY. What work has been done by the Topographic Sur-
vey in connection with the engineering work under this irrigation
scheme and appropriation ?
Mr. THOMPSON. Over the same area.S +
Senator MOODY. Yes.
Mr. THOMPSON. The engineers were working in the Arkansas River
drainage basin in Colorado and about Lake Tahoe, in Nevada and Cali-
fornia. - -
Senator MooDY. Was that in connection with the topographic work?
Mr. THOMPSON. The topographic work was not immediately con-
nected with the engineering work. The engineers were engaged, as I
understand, in surveying I'eservoir sites.
p.” MOODY. Where was the engineering party under Captain
utton
b Mºnoursos. He had general charge of the whole engineering
TàIlCIl,
182 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator MOODY. Whereabouts did the engineers follow and use the
topographic work 3
Mr. THOMPSON. In no case that I know of. The topographic work
had not been finished.
Senator MOODY. All that the engineers did under last year's appro-
priation has been done independent of topographic work 3
Mr. THOMPSON. Of our completed work, as I understand it. They
have called on us for our field-notes in many instances.
Senator MooDY. Were you able to furnish them any field-notes of
your topographic survey 3
Mr. THOMPSON. I think none that were worked up so that we would
be Willing to say that they were reduced the best we could do. We
have furnished them preliminary notes, always stating that fact. We
have been engaged on office work in the reduction of our observations
but a short time. Of course the field-notes given were in a crude state.
Senator MOODY. Then, so far as the work has progressed under last
year's appropriation, the topographic work and the engineering Work
for irrigation purposes have been carried on separately 3
Mr. THOMPSON. Yes, sir; distinct organizations.
Senator REAGAN. Do you mean to be understood that the engineers
have not made any use of the topographic survey in the engineering
and hydrographic work 3
Mr. THOMPSON. Under this last appropriation ?
Senator REAGAN. Yes, sir.
Mr. THOMPSON. I do not know of instances, except information that
they have obtained from our field-notes, from questions they have asked
and photographs of field-work that have been given them. . The maps
have not been completed.
Senator REAGAN. Have you furnished them any ?
Mr. THOMPson. Not yet, sir; because they are not construeted. We
have not finished them. t
The CHAIRMAN. The lour is up.
Director Powel,L. Mr. Chairman, I would like to have five minutes'
time. Neither of the gentlemen who have been Speaking has seemed
to fully comprehend what the committee desire, and I would like to
have five minutes of your time. e
The CHAIRMAN. There will be another meeting as S00m as We ean
get the committee together, and you shall be heard.
Director POWELL. That is Satisfactory.
The committee thereupon, at 12 o'clock m., adjourned, subject to the
call of the chairman,
MAPPING OF THE UPPER ARKANSAS BASIN. 183
NINTH DAY'S SESSION.
WASHINGTON, D. C., March 22, 1890.
The eommittee met at 10.30 o'clock a. m.
Present: Mr. Stewart (chairman), Mr. Moody, Mr. Gorman, Mr. Rea.
gan, and Mr. Jones.
STATEMENT OF WILLARD D. JOHNSON, TOPOGRAPHER, U. S. GE0.
L06 f(JAL SURVEY.
The CIIAIRMAN. What is your profession or occupation, Mr. John-
Son?
Mr. JoHNSON. I am a topographer. Under the general direction of
Professor Thompson I have charge of the topographic work in the
Division of the Arkansas River Basin—of the portion of that basin lying
West of the Kansas line.
The CHAIRMAN. The present inquiry will be directed to the question
of the connection between the topographic survey and the engineering
survey for purposes of irrigation, and of whether and, if at all, to what
extent, the engineering survey is dependent upon the topographic Sur-
vey. Please confine yourself to that exact question. We have been
over the general ground sufficiently.
Mr. Johnson. So far in the Arkansas Basin, there has been little con-
nection between the topographic and the engineering surveys beeause the
engineering survey has entered upon its work in this field in advance
of the completion of work by the topographic survey. The outcome of
a topographic survey is a map and every step toward that end has its
place in a system. The data of field work, if considered separately,
necessarily appear fragmentary and incomplete. The parts must be
adjusted and co-ordinated by office work. In such work we are now
engaged. The area surveyed was large—22,000 square miles, and
the map sheets covering all of that area are now nearing com-
pletion. The topographic work began in the fall of 1888, and was car-
ried uninterruptedly, with gradually increasing field force, through the
following winter, the following spring and summer, and well into the
succeeding winter—the winter just ended. Office work then began,
five months ago, upon the whole mass of this material. Engineering
surveying was entered upon early in the summer of 1889.
In this basin I had charge of the topographic survey only, under
the direction of Professor Thompson; within the same limits there was
also an engineer—a division engineer—in charge of the engineering sur-
vey, under the direction of Captain Dutton.
The CHAIRMAN. Who was the engineer in charge of that work 2
Mr. JoHNSON. Mr. Bodfish. From beginning to close of his work f
was in continuous receipt, from this division engineer, of requests for
maps, for topographic maps, or for map data of any character. These
calls upon me for map data were continuous, urgent, and annoyingly
persistent—annoying for the reason that I have mentioned, that such
data as I had must, until we should have fitted together the mutually
dependent parts in office work, necessarily appear to others fragment-
ary, scarcely intelligible and misleading. g
Mr. Bodfish understood this, yet insisted, very reasonably I think,
that he nevertheless must have maps, that without them he could do lit.
tle, and that little at a disadvantage. I was finally directed to furnish
184 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
him with photographs of certain unadjusted pieces of map work. I re.
gretted the necesssity for this as I knew that he could not fully under-
stand them, that only those to whom they were of the nature of memor-
anda could understand them, and finally adjust them. I wish to em-
phasize the fact that I was repeatedly urged to furnish the engineer.
Ing ºnveyors With topographical map data as a guide in their special
WOTPC.
The CHAIRMAN. Is Mr. Bodfish in town now %
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir. This unfinished material, covering about
1,000 square miles on the plains of Colorado, the engineering surveyors,
as I expected, could not interpret. Thereupon pending the final com.
pletion of the maps, they entered upon work in the mountains, where
they had the benefit of the old Hayden survey maps, at least. To do
this was comparatively easy, for In addition to the Hayden maps,
this region afforded opportunities for several good sites, of which every
One knew. In every great river basin, as well settled as that of the Ar-
kansas, out of the great number of opportunities for storage and for con-
Veyance of water, to be discovered only through systematic study of the
grades of the ground over its entire surface, there naturally will be
certain obviously good sites, or seemingly good sites, about which there
Will be general knowledge. To such spots Mr. Bodfish went and there
ran his careful levels and made the accurate and necessarily expen-
sive special surveys. Aside from such work as this he engaged in what
Captain Dutton, in an earlier letter, of June the 10th, pressing me for
maps, described as reconnaissance work. Captain Dutton said: “Mr.
Bodfish's work during the present season can hardly be more than the
reconnaissance work. Ultimately, of course, we must have the
thoroughly completed map.”
Over the mountainous area covered by the old Hayden survey we
did revision work merely, adding only what would be necessary for re-
publication on the larger scale proposed. Here, when my principal assist-
ant, Mr. Bien, found himself carrying his general surveys over the
region in which Mr. Bodfish was making precise local surveys, we were
again met with calls for map data, and we again, of necessity, furnished
the unadjusted data. This, though confessedly incomplete, was found
a useful guide, and at other points in the same region similar data were
afterwards furnished at intervals.
Mr. Bodfish was even here working at a disadvantage, and it was, and
in myopinion, everywhere must be, only over such limited areas, where the
problems are of simple character, that such work can be conducted with
even limited success without that full knowledge of the entire area
under examination, which only a topographic map can give—make it by
what method you will, and call it by what name you will. Next Summer,
as Captain Dutton wrote me, they must have the thoroughly completed
map, and by July they may have it—more than 20,000 square miles of
it—an area nearly three times that of Massachusetts.
They have now, to be sure, the Land-Survey maps, but these maps do
not show the topography, and even as horizontal plans, they are imperfect
and misleading. It is the topography—the vertical departure from the
ideal level surface, that is all-important. A map becomes topographical
only when it shows this surface form; furthermore, it is now generally
agreed that the most satisfactory method of representing topography
is by means of contours, which have something of the graphic effect of
shading, and at the same time convey information in regard to elevation
and depression that is both definite and quantitative. It is a topo-
graphic map of this character that this survey is making.
OBJECTIONS MADE TO THE TRIAL-LINE METHOD. 185
The CHAIRMAN. The land-survey maps are of the plains regions Ž
Mr. JoHNson. Yes, sir; and of the valley areas in the mountains also.
The CHAIRMAN. You had nothing to do with the topographic Work
of other divisions ?
Mr. JoHNSON. No, sir. We did no work outside of the Arkansas
River Basin. The rim of that basin on the north, west, and South, and
eastward to the one hundredth meridian constituted the limits of Our
area. We have surveyed the greater portion of it, and much the more
difficult portion. Within these limits I conducted the general survey,
and within the same limits the engineers conducted here and there their
special and unconnected surveys of high precision (by comparison with
which the topographical work is approximate)—by widely different
methods, at relatively great cost, and yet surveys merely, none the less.
I deem it important to the general question, to which you ask me to
confine myself, that it be understood that all of this work is of the na-
ture of preliminary surveying. The several names for what are virtually
one thing and directed to a common end are here, I think, more mis-
leading than useful. In field work they serve in the division of labor.
The expensive trial-line work is conducted with a special object di-
rectly in view. The general and comprehensive survey, which achieves
a topographic map as its result, aims only indirectly to convey this
special information. For whatever purpose it may be made, to what-
ever purpose it may be applied, such a survey accomplishes nothing
more nor less than what I have described as a topographic map.
Whether by an irrigation survey, or by a geological survey, or by a rail-
road-lands survey, it answers to that definition—a map showing the form
of the surface, as a Tule by contours—and to each it is practically indis-
pensable, as it directs attention, without waste of energy, to such
special details as require minute investigation; and to each, as well, it
affords a graphic base for the record of multitudinous additional facts
in natural groupings.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it not possible for the engineers, in the mount-
ains, to follow up the streams, and to make locations by observation,
and with their instruments, without having the topography in advance 3
Mr. JOHNSON. It is possible, especially in the mountains, and along the
main stream lines; but even under such simple conditions the engineer
may, here and there, fail to discover important facts. Expensive mis-
takes must inevitably, in my opinion, follow a course which appears,
in view of the magnitude of the work contemplated, dangerously loose
and unsystematic. And I am speaking of the trial-line method under
favorable conditions. The best sites for storage will frequently lie to
one side of the main streams, and to these the waters must be led; the
great canals and the minor canals will run across the barren spaces be-
tween the main streams; and here also will be found the lands to be
irrigated. Failure to carry examination over these interstream areas
must occasionally result in wasteful work, and discreditable blunders.
The topographic map shows all the possibilities and all the impossibili-
ties. -
The CHAIRMAN. Is there any difficulty in having an engineer pass
along an ordinary stream and determine the possible and impossible
sites with his instruments in a short time—in a few days, for instance?
Mr. JOHNSON. Yes, sir; to determine all the possible sites for a given
stream basin; not simply the flat places along its immediate valley, but
in the adjoining and higher valleys as well; to determine the lines—the
best lines—of getting the Water there, and away from there, on to lands
in some less-Watered basin or unwatered table-land; to do these and
Sº
f86 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
other complex things, and at the same time to be sure that no fact has
been overlooked, would, without a topographic map, or its more expen-
Sive equivalent, be more than difficult—it would, in my opinion, be im-
possible.
The CHAIRMAN. If you were going to locate a reservoir would it not
be neeessary to run trial lines for that particular place 3
Mr. JOHNSON. Aſter the topographic map had been made 3
The CHAIRMAN. Yes. g .
Mr. JOHNSON. After the topographic map had been made it would
still be necessary to resurvey, by relatively precise and expensive meth-
ods, all actual sites chosen for reservoirs and canals, or provisionally
chosen with a small margin of doubt. These areas over which resur.
Veys would of necessity be made would, however, appear in the great
breadth of country represented by the map as spots merely. But the
map is the indispensable and unerring guide to these spots. It says:
Here spend your money; it will be wasted elsewhere.
The CHAIRMAN. The engineer has his levels with him, and can easily
make experiments and make his locations without spending much time
With trial lines?
Mr. JOHNSON. The area of country that a man can cover in that way,
at a fairly reliable distance from his base, is exceedingly small, although
it may appear to him large when on the ground. I find that, in criti-
cising and examining in the field the work of my assistants, map in .
hand and merely by eye, the area thus revised by me is insignificant as
compared with the body of land surveyed. The arid lands are of great
extent. Such rapid work as the engineer may do by his general over-
sight, the topographer does also at wonderfully small expense, and much
better and more rapidly, because his work is part of a system.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose we take a river that has a great many
tributaries. Each tributary, whether you have a topographic map or
not, must be examined to see if you can store its waters, and the engi-
neer follows up the tributary to its source. Would he not necessarily
be guided to the localities where there will be flat places, where he can
make reservoirs?
Mr. JoHNSON. He would not, with the map, need to do all this work
in the first place; and without the aid of maps, he would not be sure
to discover all the complex possibilities and impossibilities of the case
to which I have called attention. He could not be sure without much
more work than you refer to.
The CHAIRMAN. Take a mountain stream. Do they carry the water
out on a table-land from the heights where they store it, or do they let
it run down the channel, as a usual thing, to be taken out where it
opens out in a valley ?
Mr. JOHNSON. It is not so much a question where the water shall be
taken out, as where it shall be stored. In many cases they might do as
you describe; but my point is that years afterwards it might, in some
cases, be found that great blunders had been made, involving the
expenditure of vast sums, and that these blunders might have been
avoided by the early expenditure of a very small, relatively insignifi-
cant, sum.
In the Arkansas Valley we began work in the vicinity of Pueblo.
There irrigation work is actively carried on. Local engineers—men prac-
tically familiar with irrigation problems—had run trial lines all over that
country. There had been much talk of taking the Arkansas out at some
point far above Pueblo, to supply a large ditch and irrigate the country
along its course by tap-lines, but it appeared impracticable to do so.
A TOPOGRAPHICAL SURVEY NECESSARY. 187
Many thousands of dollars had been spent, however, upon trial lines
for various purposes over this same region, and had not discovered what
our maps revealed immediately. My assistant, Mr. Hays, after Working
for a week or more in that region, said to one of the prominent engineers
of Pueblo, “Why do you not take out a ditch at this place, and run it
across here, and here, and store your water on the top of this table-
land 7" It had not appeared before that such a route was practicable.
Appearances were against it. The gentle grades of that Country are
frequently misleading as to their dip. Mr. Hays urged, “Our maps
demonstrate that it can be done.” He showed the maps, rough pre-
liminary drawings, but they gave, after an expenditure of a few hundred
dollars only, what the local engineers had in vain spent thousands for.
The Teller Ditch Company, so-called, was at once organized. A special
survey, costing several thousand dollars, verified the prediction of the
maps. This carefully surveyed line does not in detail coincide with
that furnished by Mr. Hays, but it does coincide with fair approxima-
tion. It was enough that he had given them the general line. Construc-
tion work on this great ditch, to be the largest in Colorado, has already
begun.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you mean to say it would have cost many thou-
sands of dollars to have gone above, where it was suggested the water
might be taken out, and to have run a random level to ascertain the
practicability of doing so 3
Mr. JoHNSON. No, sir; I do not. It would have cost very much less
than the sum actually spent, and spent to no purpose. It would have
cost less, because Captain Dutton's assistants would have gone about
the work in a more systematic manner; but perhaps even they would not
have thought of the line at all without the map to point it out. I claim
for the topographic survey that we are doing it for the whole country.
The engineer accomplishes the same result, but only here and there, and
even then in a roundabout and expensive way. As we have the whole
country to cover our methods belong to a unified system. I have here
[indicating] a finished map showing the area covered by the preliminary
sketch referred to. Here appears the ditch line as finally surveyed,
practically coinciding with the line of the original, and demonstrating in
this particular case the usefulness of such topographic data.
Senator GORMAN. Do I understand you to say that it is absolutely
necessary, in your judgment, that this topographic survey shall be made
before the engineers go upon the ground to determine this question?
Mr. JoHNSON. I am convinced, after a year of work among a people
to whom irrigation questions are of vital importance, that it is in the
highest degree economical, even essential, that the topographic survey
precede the elaboration of plans for extensive and systematic storage
irrigation. I am convinced that the topographic survey is the most eco-
nomical means for ascertaining the necessary facts.
Senator GORMAN. How much more economical ? Take the Arkansas
basin. What would be your estimate of the additional cost of obtain-
ing this information through the engineers without a topographic map?
Mr. JoHNSON. In my opinion it would be several times more expensive.
Senator GORMAN. Then it follows, in your judgment, in view of econ-
omy and results, that the Special surveys should be suspended until
after the completion of your topographic work.
Mr. JOHNSON. For the engineer to undertake his special examinations
within a given area, in advance of the completion of the topographic
map of that area, can only lead, it seems to me, to confusion and waste
of money. * -
188 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Senator JONES. Will you please explain your method of work 2
Mr. JOHNSON. It has been so modified away from the prevailing meth-
ods of the text books as to be practically new. It is, in the main, that
of triangulation—at first with the transit, by trigonometrical methods,
but eventually, and chiefly, with the plane-table, by graphic methods.
By this triangulation distances are determined indirectly, but more ac-
curately than by direct measurement. Yet the work is initiated by a
direct measurement—by the measurement of one line, the initial base
line; and this initial base is measured with extraordinary care. One
line, several miles in length, is thus determined, and from this line the
triangulation scheme is expanded. The first triangle is obtained by
measuring the angles from either end of the base to a third point previ-
ously marked. By means of the only known distance and the two
known angles the two remaining sides of the triangle are found. This
triangle is the unit of the system, hence the name triangulation. Such
triangles are multiplied by computing additional sides, or distances be-
tween points, by measuring the angles only, and computing the dis-
tances. Such a system may be expanded over an area of 50,000 square
miles perhaps, such as that of the Arkansas basin, and the final triangle
with its computed distances may lie several hundred miles away from
the initial base. The last computed distance it then becomes necessary
to test by actual measurement, and the test of the last link is a test of
the whole chain. This second measured line is called the verification
base. I have indicated only the principles of procedure. The actual
practice is somewhat more complex.
Upon the points located in this net of triangles the detailed map-
work is based. The map is not made in one great sheet, but the total
area is cut up into atlas-sheet areas, as in the case of the Arkansas
basin, of about 1,000 square miles each. Speaking more accurately, the
positions and boundaries of these atlas sheets are determined by the
half-degree lines of latitude and longitude. Now, under the best con-
ditions, upon each of these atlas-sheet areas, of nearly 1,000 square
miles each, three of the precise locations of the primary triangulation
should fall. The positions of these points must be furnished, to the
map-maker proper, in terms of latitude and longitude, So that he can
plot them accurately on his map sheet. This map sheet, mounted on a
drawing board, and this again on a suitably constructed tripod, is then
taken into the field and the map is made directly upon it, and upon
similar, but smaller supplementary sheets. The drawing board, With
its tripod of special construction, is called a plane table, and the method
thereafter is, throughout, the plane.table method—a graphic method—
the most direct and simple method for making a map, Which is, itself,
a graphic product.
The three points plotted upon the map sheet are termed its primary
control. From these a secondary triangulation or control is spread di-
rectly upon the paper until many small triangles affording, perhaps,
two hundred secondary locations, are determined within the area of the
single primary triangle formed by the three primary points. This Work
is done by means of a telescope, with attachments similar to those of the
transit, but mounted on a flat plate or broad ruler base, and resting
directly upon the plane-table map sheet. Elevations are carried for:
ward from point to point by means of vertical angles—a method of
vertical triangulation.
So far, however, we have no visible map, merely control. The smaller,
supplementary sheets, are now furnished to traverse men, as they are
termed. The points of the secondary or graphic triangulation are
HOW UNITED STATES MAPS ARE MADE IN THE FIELD. dº 189
plotted upon these traverse sheets, as the points of the trigonometric
triangulation were plotted upon the larger sheet, and at these numerous
control points the traverse men start and close. The elevation above
sea-level of each of these points is also written on the smaller plane-
table sheet, at a fine pricked hole, representing the located point. The
method of the traverse man, as the name implies, is that of traverse, or
meander—the same in principle with that of the trial line, but far less pre-
cise, and astonishingly rapid. The precision of detail, such precision
as may be required, is attained by means of the check points. By
the trial-line method, also a map may be made, but at relatively great
cost, with great nicety in detail, but with gross inaccuracy in general
proportion. These check points furnish with accuracy, and at a mini-
mum of cost, that which line surveying, however carefully executed,
can not furnish at all—the skeleton plan. By this method of triangula-
tion a degree of closeness, in the determination of horizontal position and
of elevation, may be reached, beyond the possibilities of the map to ex-
press, on the scale adopted. In estimating the cost of such topographi-
cal maps, per square mile, that of the primary control, though executed
with great care, will be hardly more than 1 per cent., that of the
secondary control perhaps 20 per cent. The traverse, man, as stated,
starts his line from a known point, and runs to other known points,
checking and adjusting backward his error. The distribution of control
points is, or should be, such that the probable error, after such adjust-
ment, will be inappreciable or unimportant on the scale of the map.
In running his lines the traverse man depends for distances upon au-
tomatically counted revolutions of a wheel of his vehicle, and upon a
further graphic triangulation, which he carries down even into this detail;
for directions he depends upon his compass, and also upon this rough tri-
angulation; and for elevations—for the detail of the grades of the sur-
face, he depends upon the aneroid barometer. All of these approximate
means are directly dependent upon the control locations, and errors are
not cumulative. By running his lines close together and locating by
intersection—by his rude triangulation, intermediate points, and by
getting heights at such intermediate points by rude levels across be-
tween his lines, he surveys area and makes a map. I have here on this
map, or large progress diagram, the area of an atlas sheet of 1,000 square
miles, exhibiting the primary locations, the secondary locations, and the
lines followed by the traverse men. You here [indicating] see the whole
method graphically displayed. I have ruled this area into squares,
representing Square miles, on the Scale of one inch on the map to one
mile on the ground. It will be seen by following these red lines, which
stand for the meandered lines, how well they are distributed for the
control of area, as we say, and also the curious influence of the topo-
graphic configuration of the country upon this distribution. Within this
area the traverse men have meandered, covering by their intersections
belts of country on either side, a total distance of more than 3,000
miles. The total area must be covered by these belts and no blanks left.
No blanks can be left, because, the method being a graphic one, a blank
will appear as Such on the map.
Senator MOODY. What has been the total cost of this topographic
survey within the Arkansas basinº
Mr. JoHNSON. The total expenditure to date, for topography, in the
Arkansas Basin, since I began work in the fall of 1888, has been
$57,000. We surveyed 22,000 square miles, and, when completed, the
maps will have cost $3 per square mile. This statement includes the
aheavy expenditure for equipment. I had about fifty animals, and seven
190 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
or more separate camping parties. This expense for equipment, in this
new field, will not have to be incurred again. Omitting this large item,
the Cost per Square mile has been about $2.
Director POWELL. Let me add to Mr. Johnson's statement of topo.
graphic methods an explanation of the manner in which we get starting
points for elevations. There is a plexus of railroads all over the United
States. Lines now meander from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast, and
from city to city of the interior, and these lines are connected at their
termini, and they cross one another in various ways and at various
places, forming altogether a net-work of roads. In their construction
levels have been run, and by connecting their lines altogether we are
able to discover discrepancies in these levels. The roads of the country
have been very generous to us and have furnished us their profiles, so
that we have in the Geological Survey nearly all the profiles of all the
railroads in the United States. Whenever discrepancies between levels
of the different roads are discovered we report them to the engineers of
the roads, and the errors are soon detected. Having in this manner a
vast system of level lines run all over the country, we have a basis from
which the levels of the topographic survey can be reckoned.
Senator JONES. You select a height from which you desire to start a
system of elevations, and then you run a level from the railroad to
determine its elevation.
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; and check on other railroad levels from
time to time.
Senator MOODY. Mr. Johnson, you are, I understand, the topographer
for the Geological Survey 3
Mr. JOHNSON. Not exactly ; a topographer of the Geological Survey
assigned to special duty on the Irrigation Survey for irrigation topog-
raphy.
Senator MOODY. Is there any distinction between the expenditure
for topography in the Geological Survey and for topography in the
Irrigation Survey 3 w
Mr. JOHNSON. I know little about that, sir.
Mr. THOMPSON. (Interposing.) The expenditures are kept entirely
separate. Mr. Johnson's work was on the Irrigation Survey.
Senator MOODY. How do you keep the expenditures separate %
Mr. THOMPSON. The money allotted is drawn by requisitions on the
Treasury, and the account kept separately.
Senator MooDY. How do you keep it separate }
Mr. THOMIPSON. There was no geological work going on in that
region.
Senator MOODY. Can you tell me where this topographic work was
going on for purposes of irrigation ?
Mr. TIIoMPson. In Montana, Idaho, Colorado, California, Nevada,
and New Mexico.
Senator MOODY. All for irrigation ?
Mr. THOMPson. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. In putting your work on topographic maps do you
make any distinction between the irrigation topography and the gen-
eral geological topography &
Mr. THOMPSON. In this case it was all for irrigation. There was no
distinction, because it was all for one purpose, the Irrigation Survey,
Had we been making it for geological purposes it would have been Sub.
stantially the same. -
Senator MOODY. What distinction do you make when you come to
make maps? Do you have to go over the ground again for geological
purposes? - -
How THE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY IS ASSISTED. . 191
Mr. THOMPson. No, sir; the same topographical map answers for the
geological Survey.
Senator MOODY. Then the geological Survey answers for the irriga-
tion survey.
Mr. THOMPson. Yes, sir. As the geological survey was previously
Conducted— -
Senator Moody (interposing). I mean as it is now in that country,
Mr. THOMPson. I had charge of similar work of the geological Survey
before being assigned to this. The work was in principle precisely the
same. It is simply an extension in methods of the geological Survey
topography. w
Senator MooDY. That is, you add this specific detailed information as
to elevations, etc., for irrigation purposes to your topographic Suryeys
for geological purposes.
Senator JONES. Let me understand that. I understood Senator Moody
to ask you, if, as a matter of fact, there is a geological survey for a given
part of the country, this irrigation survey is naade to supplement the
geological Survey. -
Mr. THOMPSON. If the geological survey maps had been made in this
region we would not have had to go over it again for the maps of the
irrigation survey; but the geological maps had not been made.
Senator MOODY. Is it the intention to complete that whole country
in one map eventually 3 -
Mr. THOMPSON I can not speak as to what the intention is.
Senator MOODY. What I want to ascertain is this: Is it necessary, in
your pursuit of geological information, for you to go over this ground
again, after you have made this sort of topography?
Mr. THOMPSON. No, sir; not to make the map.
Senator MOODY. Now, can you put those divisions of the country to.
gether, where you have a map of one region on a scale of 1 inch to 4
miles and a map of another region, adjoining, on a scale of 1 inch to 2
miles' - *
Mr. THOMPSON. If we were to join these two maps, this map [indi-
cating] would show the country more in detail. Every other one of the
100-feet curves represented on the large Scale would exactly join with
the 200-feet curves on the small scale, which covers 4 miles to the inch.
They would join there. If the 4-mile map were photographed up so
that it would be on a 2-mile scale, they would join.
Senator MOODY. Is it not sufficient, for engineering operations in
irrigation, to take this geological Survey map instead of making this
irrigation topography &
Mr. THOMPSON. In my judgment, it would be sufficient.
Senator MOODY, You have this information, but you have to go on
the ground and locate with more detail ®
Mr. THOMPSON. Yes, sir. It is a mere matter of revision, quite
rapidly done, because We take the map right into the field and draw
the contour lines upon it. * r
Senator MOODY. Now, in your irrigation topography you do pre-
cisely the same thing in the first instance. That is the first work you
do—what may be called the reconnoissance, the preliminary or observa-
tion work. You do precisely the same thing in both cases, for irriga.
tion and geological topography. . -
Mr. THOMPSON. The same in method, but we obtain more refined
determinations in relation to the streams. -
Senator MOODY, It is important that we should understand what is
essential in the Way of appropriation for actual irrigation purposes and
192 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
What is essential for geological purposes, that is, for the geological ob,
Servation and survey that is going on, and what I want to know is
Whether we can use in this irrigation work the topographic maps that
you have already made or are ready to make. *
Senator JONES. As I understand, they are already made.
Director POWELL. This whole discussion is proceeding on a mistaken
notion on the part of Professor Thompson of the import of your ques-
tion. May I explain it 3 3.
The CHAIRMAN. Certainly.
Director POWELL. We have been doing work for a number of years,
making topographic maps in the arid region. The ones that we have
been making—
Senator MOODY. Did you make any topographic maps of this region
where Professor Thompson had charge?
Director POWELL. No, sir; this is new work. I wish to speak of the
relation of one to the other. A topographic map must be made for the
geological survey and one for the irrigation Survey, but they are one
and the same, not two maps. The same map serves both purposes.
There are certain areas of country where we need it on a scale of 4
miles to the inch; other regions on a scale of 2 miles to the inch. In
the regions we have surveyed heretofore we have gone farther into the
mountains. There we have made the maps on a smaller Scale, but
sufficient for our work in geology and irrigation alike.
Senator MOODY. What is the difference in paying the expense of
this sort of topography out of your geological Survey appropriation ?
Director POWELL. None at all, if Congress makes a sufficient appro-
priation. It makes no difference.
Senator JONES. If Congress makes a specific appropriation for a geo-
logical survey the director would be obliged to expend it for that, and
if there was a specific appropriation for an irrigation survey he would
have to expend it for that, but he can make a map for both.
Director POWELL. The cost of the map necessary for irrigation over
the cost of the map necessary for the geological survey is a trivial
thing. It is involved in the running of the gradients of the streams.
Senator MOODY. We have secured for actual irrigation purposes
$89,000 out of the $250,000, it seems, and the expense has gone toward
this topographic work.
Director POWELL. What I am trying to get at is—
Senator JONES. I should think that objection would lie to the Whole
amount. The engineering and hydrographic work are no more im-
portant to the irrigation survey than the topography. They are all a
means of finding out what is essential to the location of reservoirs and
dams. It seems to me if you object to one, you must object to the
other.
Senator GORMAN. Take this survey you have made. What Would
be the difference in the cost to the Government between using youl
topographic map for geological purposes and the one which includes
irrigation as well as topography &
Director POWELL. One map serves both purposes.
Senator GORMAN. What is the difference in the relative cost of pro-
ducing those two maps? º
Director POWELL. That which is necessary to be done for irrigation
purposes, over and above what is necessary for geological purposes,
would not exceed 1 per cent.
Senator GORMAN. It would not be more than 1 per cent 3
Director POWELL. No, Sir.
WHAT POLICY SHOULD GOVERN IRRIGATION SURVEY'S, 193
Senator REAGAN. All that would be necessary would be to narrow
the contour lines? r
Director Powell. No, sir; that is not necessary. The only addi-
tional work is the running of the gradients of the streams with accu-
racy.
Senator GORMAN. So that in this arid country you think it would be
Wise to make the appropriations to include both }
Director POWELL. Yes, sir. I do not think we ought to do the work
twice. By my method when it is done for one purpose it is done for all.
Senator GORMAN. I would like to ask you, in view of what Mr. John-
son has said, why is it, in pursuing this inquiry, if the geological sur-
vey was absolutely necessary to economy and results, that you put the
engineering parties into the field prior to the completion of the topo-
graphic work &
Director POWELL. I have explained that to the committee heretofore,
but I will explain it again. Four or five weeks ago I explained to the
committee that in the Arkansas Valley I knew of some reservoir sites,
So that it was not necessary to have a topographic survey to discover
what was already known. I knew that Twin Lakes was a reservoir
site, and I knew of others. I had been studying that country for twenty-
two years. I was at Twin Lakes twenty-two years ago.
Senator JONES. You had a topographic map of that country in your
head.
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; I knew certain sites, and I said to my
engineers, “We will not wait a year for a topographic map, but take
the sites we now know, and examine them while the topographic corps
is discovering the remainder.” So I sent a small engineering party to
make plans of those reservoirs, the sites of which were already known
or supposed to be known. º
Senator GORMAN. Is that the case with every engineering party that
you sent out 3
Director POWELL. Yes, sir. When we sent out an engineering party
We knew much of the Special ground it was going on.
Senator MOODY. Then for irrigation purposes you could have saved
this $57,000.
Director POWELL. No, sir. Only a few sites were known and many
had yet to be discovered; the topographic work had to be done to dis-
cover them and to find out how much water could be furnished by the
several catchment areas, and to discover canal sites, dam sites, etc.
The CHAIRMAN. This engineering work for the purposes of irriga-
tion only needs to proceed as the settlement of that region requires it.
It does not need to be done in a day, because the land can not all be
occupied in a day. . As I understand you, the engineering party pro-
ceeds in advance of the topographers where reservoir sites are already
known. Now, What is the difficulty in allowing the topographic sur.
vey to go on, and permitting the engineering to proceed independently
of it? Must the engineering Survey, particularly in localities where
they want the water immediately, be retarded by waiting for the topo.
graphic survey, or may the engineers go on, using what topography
you already have, and survey the known basins, make estimates, and
let the people use them ż
DiPector POWELL. Let me explain. There are two things that must
be determined before the ultimate plans for construction of works can
be approved and published to the people. We have got to know what
water is to be controlled. If we make an error in that the whole thing is
disastrous. If We plan a reservoir site and have not the data before us so
138 A L–WOL IV—13
194 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS,
as to know how much water has to be controlled for that reservoir site,
the reservoir may be constructed, and the first great storm that comes
along will destroy it, sweep it out. We must know what that drainage
area is, what the supply of water is. That can not be determined by
any other method than the one which I have adopted in less than ten
to twenty years. I have done it by topographic methods in part. I have
explained to the committee how I determined that. It is impossible
to do it in any other way as quickly or as cheaply. Second, if we do
not make a topographic map, we can not make reports until the end of
a series of years after the streams have been gauged. Then, by tak-
ing the other method we make it cost five times as much, as I have
already told the committee.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you mean to say that nothing can be done until
the topography is complete in each 3 -
Director POWELL. Let me illustrate. We can not put on the roof of
a house until the Walls are built. We can not erect the walls until the
foundation is laid, but while we are laying the foundation we can haul
the bricks and cut the shingles. For each particular basin or reservoir
we must have the complete topography before we can report upon it.
Suppose there is a little stream which will furnish 10,000 acre-feet of
water in a year. I must know the drainage basin of that stream before
I can plan that reservoir and know that there is 10,000 acre-feet of
water to be controlled.
The CHAIRMAN. That is the work of your engineer, is it not?
Director POWELL. No, sir. No railroad manager would put the
freight system, the passenger system, the ticket system all under one
man. A house-builder does not employ the same man as a mason, a
carpenter, and a plumber. My men are all engineers, but I have classi.
fied them, putting one class of work into one man's hands, and another
class of work into another man's hands, so as to get the best work from
each.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, I understand the work you have done in those
localities where the topography has not preceded will be useless %
Director POWELL. No, sir. I shall have the topography ready for
those districts before the plans are completed and the reports made. In
two or three months the topography will be ready, and we can then tell
what water the works will have to control by using the gauging of typi-
cal streams. The final report on the reservoirs of a stream can not be
made until they have the topography. The engineers can not make
their recommendations until they have. The work done in splitting the
shingles for a roof is not lost, though it be done while the workmen are
laying the foundations.
Senator GORMAN. Was the destruction of the dam in Arizona, the
other day caused by a disregard or lack of knowledge of these things?"
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; the same as at Johnstown. They had
miscalculated the amount of water they had to control, and When the
storm came the dam would not hold the Water.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you not think it was because there was not a
sufficient waste-weir?
Director POWELL, My idea is that the dam at Johnstown was a good
dam.
The CHAIRMAN. Had it a waste-weir 7 •
Director POWELL. It had one but it was not large enough, for they
had improperly computed the amount of Water which had to be com:
trolled.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it not easy to make an ample allowance
THE REASON why TOPOGRAPHY SHOULD Go FIRST. 195
Director Powell. Yes, sir; if you know what that ample allowance
should be, but suppose you do not know.
The CHAIRMAN. In torrential streams it would seem to be best to
leave as much waste-way as before the dam was constructed.
Director POWELL. There is something more on that point. There is
no use of building a dam to control 50,000 acre-feet of water if the basin
is not going to supply it. I want to know how much water is going to
come down, and the way to get that hydrographic information is by
using the topographic survey. There is no other way of doing that
except at great expense. Every gentleman who has spoken on that
point here has said it would cost from four to ten times as much to do
it by other methods than that adopted by me. My own judgment is
six times.
The CHAIRMAN. In gauging streams you gauge the actual amount of
flow % -
Director POWELL. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. You take the gauge of one stream and use that as a
basis for other streams in the same locality ?
Director POWELL. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. You do not use any topography in gauging streams ?
Director POWELL. No, sir. *
The CHAIRMAN. And the gauging of streams under any system would
be expensive.
Director POWELL. If I want to know how much water Will run off
of twenty-five roofs, I find how much runs from one roof, and then mul-
tiply——
The CHAIRMAN. Your explanation of that was very good, and I ap-
preciate the advantage of that method, Would not the experience of
people living on a stream indicate— >
Director POWELL. It is a very dangerous thing to depend upon the
experience of people for the data necessary to plan engineering works.
Ignorant guessing Will not do. ... }
The CHAIRMAN. You can not rely upon it; but you can see the marks
from floods, and gain some information from the experience of the peo-
ple who live on the stream. As I remarked yesterday, the storms in
that country have had no parallel since 1861–62, twenty-nine years
agO.
Director POWELL. We are very fortunate in having a wet and a dry
year together, and all over that country I have taken advantage of that,
and have been gauging the typical streams. Something was said the
other day by Professor Thompson about the maps made by other en-
gineers in California and I have brought the maps of California with
Ill (?, *
Senator GORMAN. I would like to have, for my own information, a
little more light on the question the topographer in charge of the Ar-
kansas Basin brought up, as to the administration of office details. He
states distinctly that in that case, where the engineers were put into
the field to locate the reservoirs and so on, their work was retarded,
and its expense greatly added to, because the topographic survey had
not been made. Now I understand you to say that you had general
knowledge of that particular locality. I would like to have further in-
formation about it, and I Will ask you whether it is not an absolute
necessity to stop the engineering surveys until the topographic map is
made.
Director POWELL. The actual surveys of the reservoir sites them-
selves should follow the topography. Last year they could have done
*A
196 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
R
so, for I had topography in other districts; but they did not go into the
districts in which I had topography already collected for a very potent
I'é2,SOOl.
Senator MOODY. What is that reason 3
Director POWELL. I am proceeding to give it. The people of the
Arkansas Valley were in conflict about water rights. It is a country
that is densely settled, and they were suffering for water, and I thought
it Was Wise to go and give speedy relief. So I went to the Arkansas
Valley. The legislature of Nevada had made an appropriation to con-
struct irrigation works, and they wanted to know where to put them,
and I went theſe to solve the problem as soon as possible. So, in all
the work I did, I went into densely populated districts, where the prob-
lem was pending over the people, believing the people were anxious for
the information at once; and I attempted to get that information in the
best Way.
Senator GORMAN. Then it was the local pressure that made you pur-
Sue a course which was not economical?
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; not the solicitation of individuals, but
the pressure that came from a knowledge of urgent wants of the people.
But these urgent wants were represented by governors, by members of
legislatures, by boards of trade, and leading men of the country. There
are certain districts of country in the arid region already highly de-
veloped by settlement, and where the water supply of the smaller streams
is already used during the season of irrigation. In these districts the
people desire to know how to control the greater streams, and especially
how to store the surplus water, which is very great, and I went into
those districts where the problems were pressing for immediate solu-
tion. In those districts I already knew some of the facts, but not all,
and I acted upon the basis of facts known. I knew certain reservoir
basins, and I said, “We will go on and get the information about these
basins and supplement our work by the topographic information which
we are already collecting,” for the topographic survey preceded the
engineering survey by about seven months.
For a year or two past there has been excessive drought in the arid
region and large areas of crops have perished by reason of them. In
those districts the people wanted early information and I believed it
was wise to give them that information and adjusted the Work to the
conditions existing. In entering upon the work I believed that Some
loss would be entailed, but that it would be entirely insignificant in
comparison with the good that would be done. One of the places which
I entered upon was the valley of the Rio Grande above El Paso, because
the people in the valley had had their agriculture destroyed. The values
involved amounted to millions, and I took up the problem to See What
could be done to save those people, and have discovered a practical
solution, and it has already been presented to this committee and to a
committee of the House, and that conclusion has received the approval
of both committees and they have introduced bills in both Houses to
apply the remedy proposed. I might have proceeded by the other method
to solve the problem in the same manner with a saving of $1,000 or
$1,200, but a speedy solution of the problem seemed desirable and I
shouldered the responsibility.
Senator GoRMAN. Then, I understand that in the administration of
this trust, if appropriations are made hereafter, you will complete the
topographic maps before putting the engineers at Work.
Director PowiśI.L. Yes, sir. I shall have enough topography this
year to employ my engineers for the next year.
.*
*q-,
Both Topography AND GEOLOGY REQUIRE MAPs. 197
Senator Jon Es. Has there been any waste of money in the location of
such reservoirs as you have located 3 © º
Director PowPLI. If we had had our topographic survey finished We
would have had less lines to run and would have saved something
thereby. .*
sºr GoRMAN. What was the difference in the Arkansas Basin
between the cost of making the survey in the way you made it and mak-
ing it after you had the topography Ž
birector Powell. It cost $1,500 or $2,000 more than it would have
cost if done the other Way. g
Senator GoRMAN. What was the total cost of the engineering party
in that basin’?
Director POWELL, I think about $19,500.
The CHAIRMAN. Has the work been completed ?
Director Powell. Only on certain reservoirs. The great body of
the engineering has yet to be done, and the engineers will proceed with
it with the maps in their hands, and do it right, and reach results that
can be given to the people with confidence because all the facts will be
discovered by the topographic survey.
The CHAIRMAN. I mean the topographic survey of the Arkansas
Valley.
Director Powell. It has been completed nearly to the one hundredth
meridian. ' - ... •
Mr. THOMPson. It is completed to 101.30.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the Arkansas Valley has been
completed ?
Mr. THOMPson. I am speaking hastily, but I should say that of the
Arkansas Valley out to the State line, about four-fifths has been com-
pleted.
Director PowrD.L. Now, Mr. Chairman, you have seen that we are
making topographic maps for the irrigation survey, and the reasons for
making them have been given. It has also been explained that the
same maps are to be used in the geological survey. The maps are made
once, and only once, and serve both purposes. In other regions we are
making the same kind of maps on the same scale for geologic purposes
and the geological survey is going on in some regions where irrigation
is necessary and the maps which are made for the geological survey
serve both purposes. The irrigation-survey maps are all that is neces-
sary for geology as well as irrigation; the geological survey maps are
all that is necessary for the geological survey and the irrigation survey.
In another region of the plains we are making topographic maps for the
geological survey, and I have brought them with me. You will see, as I
spread them before you, that they are made on the same plan as the others
and on the same scale, and in like manner reveal the storage basins. Here
in Kansas is one of the finest storage basins we have ever discovered
on the plains, and it has been discovered by the topographers of the
geological survey. The topographic work bad to be done for the geo-
logical survey, and in making these discoveries they added substan-
tially nothing to the cost of the work. I wish, Mr. Chairman, to make
it clear that the topographic Survey is done but once, and then done for
both purposes. I have explained this matter to the appropriations
committee and You Will find it in the report of that committee which I
hold in my hand.
º CHAIRMAN. Was that map made previous to the irrigation sur-
Wey *
198 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
Director POWELL. It was made last summer, at the same time that
the irrigation topography was in progress in another region.
Senator MOODY. You are making maps by the irrigation survey
which can be used in the Geological Survey?
' Director POWELL. Yes, sir. All the maps made by the irrigation
Survey will serve for the Geological Survey, and all maps made for the
Geological Survey will serve for the irrigation survey. [Refers to map.]
You see here is the Arkansas River. [Iere is a little basin, 5 miles
from the Arkansas River, at about the ninety-ninth meridian. This is
in the subhumid region. We are pushing the topography for the
Geological Survey in the subhumid region and pushing the irrigation
Survey in the region to the west.
Senator MOODY. [Indicating on map.] Is the water tāken out there?
Director POWELL, Yes, sir; it is taken out there. We can create a
lake there |points], and there is low land lying along there to which the
Water can be conducted.
º: CHAIRMAN. Is there anything else you wish particularly to pre-
Sent
Director POWELL. I have not yet had twenty minutes in which to
make a clear statement of the case. If I could have twenty minutes
I Would like very much to have it. I have been so frequently inter-
rupted that I have drifted everywhere.
Senator MOODY. Still you have given us much information, and it is
always a good thing for us to suggest questions, because then you
know what is running in our minds.
The CHAIRMAN. Could you condense what you have to say and send
it in writing 2
Director POWELL. I can.
The CHAIRMAN. Do that, and bring it in.
Director POWELL. I will attach it to my statement. If the committee
want opinions about this matter I should like to have the Superintend-
ent of the Coast Survey brought here. I want to say to you that I had
selected the present Superintendent of the Coast Survey to take charge
of this work. EIe had the matter under consideration when the Presi:
dent offered him the position he now occupies. He is one of the best
hydrograpbers in America.
The CHAIRMAN. What is his name 3
Director POWELL. Mendenhall. He is familiar with the problem,
and has discussed it with me.
The CHAIRMAN. I think we will call lim. I would like to hear what
he has to say.
Director POWELL. If you will address him a letter, asking him
whether my method, with which he is familiar, is the most economic,
most thorough, and most speedy, I think he would answer. *-*
Senator MOODY. Is there any necessity for topography for the sur-
veys you make out on the plains 3
Director POWELL. Whenever I am allowed I want to present to you
the question of what kind of a survey is needed on the plains; it needs
a slightly different survey from that of the mountain region.
Senator MOODY. Can you state, in a general way, whether there is
any necessity for the topographic survey 3
Director POWELL. Yes, sir; it is chiefly topography on the plains.
Professor Thompson told you that the British Government has made a
topographic survey in India. That government has covered much of
India with a topographic survey, and I can bring you many volumes
of the reports of that Survey. Everywhere in the civilized World, with-
Powell. FAvoRs RAPID work. 199
out any exception, they make topography the basis of an irrigation sur-
vey—in Italy, in Spain, in France, the French in Algeria, the Russians
in their arid regions, and the British Government in India and the
Prench and English engineers in Egypt, and I have specimens of the
maps which they made with me if you wish to see them.
The CHAIRMAN. Suppose the engineers took the same instruments
that you use, what would be the difficulty of their making the topo-
graphic survey that would be necessary for their work in the Same
manner that you make it preliminarily, but on a smaller Scale, to as-
certain where to locate their ditches, and all that ? #
Director POWELL. None at all if on the same scale; if on a smaller
scale it would not serve the purpose. But I would not take the man
who is to stand by the river gauging the water and break up his Work
by sending him away to discover reservoir sites or canal sites or the
area and declivity of drainage basins. He has all the work that he
can do on the rivers in measuring their flow. I would not take the
man who is to plan the dam and have him measure a river 20 or 30
miles away, and hunt a canal site perhaps 20 or 30 miles away in
another direction. I would divide the work among skilled men, so
that each one should do his part in the most economic and thorough
manner. All the men are engineers, all doing work of the irrigation
survey, but the work is divided among them on the economic princi-
ple well known as the division of labor. On a railroad one man is not
ticket agent, freight agent, engineer, brakeman, and surveyor, but the
work is divided among the men, and each takes his proper part. So in
the irrigation survey, the work is divided among the men and each
takes his proper part, one to do topographic work, one to do hydro-
graphic Work, and one constructive work.
Mr. Chairman, you have already received statements from myself
and my assistants of the amount of money allotted at the beginning of
the season to the topographic work, the hydrographic work, and the
engineering work, and you have learned that a sum of money was re-
served for subsequent contingent expenses. That reserve fund has
been chiefly used in two ways: the engineering and hydrographic
Work has been strengthened in some places, and a small amount has
been used in that manner; but the principal part of the reserve fund
has been used in making segregations of land as required by the stat-
ute. Everywhere throughout the country it has been found that the
people Were anxious that these segregations should be made at the
earliest possible date.
The statute reserves them from the 2d of October, 1888, the date of
the signing of the act, even though the selections are not made until
Some time later, Whenever they are made the date of reservation is
the 2d of October, 1888, and there were two reasons why the people
wanted these segregations made rapidly, first, that they might know
What lands were withdrawn from occupation and sale under the desert
land act, timber land act, and pre-emption act, and which could be set-
tled only under the homestead act; second, they are exceedingly anx-
ious that reservoir sites and canal sites should be withdrawn from
sale that they might not fall into the hands of individuals for specula-
tive purposes, and a great pressure was brought upon the Director of
the Survey to make these segregations speedily, and the work was
carried on with all the vigor possible. A great number of reservoir
sites, such as mountain lakes, etc., already known, were re-examined
through the aid of the Land Office plats and from the general geographic
information in the possession of the Survey; and such sites were cer.
200 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
tified to the Land Office as being reserved under the provisions of the
Statute. . The general information in the possession of the Survey also
indicated that certain great tracts of land should be reserved under the
Statute. A reconnaissance of such lands has been made, the Land
Office plats examined, and 30,000,000 acres of land have been selected
for final examination in the Land Office, so as to exlude all lands
on which legal filings have been made. In one case, on Bear River,
in Idaho, and Utah, the people were in conflict, and the governors
and people petitioned the Secretary of the Interior asking that lands in
that region should be protected from occupation at the earliest date as
important reservoir and canal sites were being occupied, and the Secre-
tary of the Interior, while I was in the field, telegraphed me a peremp-
tory Order to send officers to that region and make the necessary segre-
gations, and it was done.
For more than twenty years I have been conducting explorations
and Surveys in the arid lands. During the first year of my work in
that region my attention was directed to the arid land problem, and
from that day to this it has been my chief study. My field of study
has been threefold: First, I have studied the lands themselves and
the Waters which are to supply them, and the forest areas on which
they are dependent. Then I have studied carefully the practice of irri-
gation in the United States, and much of it has grown up under my eye
until 8,000,000 acres of land are now under canals in that region. Then
I have provided myself with the literature relating to irrigation, espe-
cially the engineering literature. From all of these sources, and aided
by counsel and advice from my assistants who are able men, I have
gradually developed a system of survey of the arid lands. More than
fifteen years ago I commenced the gauging of streams. More than
fifteen years ago I commenced the selection of irrigable lands tenta-
tively, and thousands of people—scores of thousands—have settled on
lands selected by myself and under my advice, given through the
agency of maps and reports.
The conclusions which I have reached are not hasty, for I have given
to the subject the best thought and energy of my life. In the solution
of these problems two men have been most intimately associated with
me and they have been considering them to a greater or less extent for
many years. I refer to Mr. Gilbert and Mr. Thompson. We have
sometimes disagreed about practical methods, but ultimately we have
arrived at substantially the same conclusions. And the plan which I
have submitted to the committee and which I previously submitted to
the Congress is the outcome of all that study. The theory was to make
a practical survey at the smallest expense which would give the great-
est amount of information to the Congress and to the people actually
engaged in irrigation, and to do the work not in the interest of particu-
lar individuals or of corporations, but for all of the people; so that if
the farmers were to control the waters for themselves they would know
how to do it in a thoroughly economic manner, and if they were to en-
gage corporations to do the work for them they would have the neces-
sary information to make their contracts with intelligence.
I have witnessed the wasteful expenditure of much labor and money
aggregating millions of dollars. I have witnessed the granting of rights
to companies to furnish water that were improvident and I have wit-
nessed the reaction from these unwise contracts expressed in conflict
with the water companies and expressed in unfriendly legislation and
local regulation by which improvident rights once granted were de-
stroyed. It has been in view of ali these facts that the establishment
WHAT MAJOR POWELL HAS DONE. 201
of water rights where they were improvident and wasteful, the growth
of the vast system of conflict from water rights which now exist, the
impairment of the catchment areas of water by the destruction of
forests, and the many other problems which I have already presented
to the committee, that the legal, industrial, and engineering problems
have all been considered, and I have for years been gathering all these
facts and from time to time have been presenting them to the Congress.
And the survey which I have gradually developed has been the chief
agency for the accumulation of facts for the people, and as finally organ-
ized, was intended to assemble them completely and thoroughly in
such a manner as to be of the greatest utility to the farmers them-
selves and to be of the greatest value to the States and to the General
Government in the regulation and establishment of rights under this
new industry. r
It has seemed to me that by far the most important thing to be dot;e
in the interest of the people was to make a topographic map on which
would be assembled in a graphic manner the principal tracts to be con-
sidered. I have, therefore, in the management of the early explora-
tions and surveys, and later in the conduct of the geological Survey,
thoroughly represented the purpose and importance of the topographic
map, and the subject has been examined by a joint committee of the
two Houses and met with its approval. It has also been considered
from time to time by the appropriation committees and moneys have
been granted for its construction. When a more speedy and special
survey was demanded and the statutes required that the lands and sites
should be segregated and the works planned and the cost thereof es-
timated, I stated that the basis of the work would be a topographic
map ; that the map which we were making in the geological survey
for its purposes would serve the purpose of the irrigation survey as
ordered by Congress, but that to wait for these maps much time would
be consumed; that as the work was then in progress it would take
about thirty years to complete it, and that if it were desirable to prose-
cute the irrigation survey speedily it would be necessary to do the top-
ographic work for the irrigation Survey, and that the maps then con-
structed would serve the purposes of the geological survey; that topo-
graphic work must be done for each and both purposes, and if done for
one would be done for both. -
With this understanding the appropriations for the irrigation survey
were made in terms requiring the preparation of the maps used—in the
same terms that required the preparation of the map for the geological
survey. The law, therefore, authorized the survey on the plan which I
had recommended to the Congress and it has been faithfully pursued
according to that plan. I represented, before the appropriation was
made, that the map was necessary and the appropriation was made in
terms authorizing its preparation. The question now arises, Was that
plan wise ? Is it the most accurate, the most economic, and will it give
results to the people in the shortest time & My views on this matter
have already been presented in part, but in a desultory manner from
the fact that they appear in interlocutory form and often complete an-
swers were not possible. I therefore desire to make a summary state-
ment of the necessity for a topographic survey as the basis of an irriga-
tion survey.
Under the survey I have to discover diverting dam sites, reservoir
sites, irrigable lands, and canal sites from streams to reservoirs and from
reservoirs to lands. All these are called for in the act. Some method
of discovery, then, must be adopted. To guess at them by riding over
202 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS
the country and then testing the guesses by trial lines is a very expen-
sive method. It costs on an average $25 per mile to run a trial line
on the ground. Altogether hundreds of thousands, perhaps more than
a million of miles of trial lines would have to be run if this method were
to be adopted, and the average expense of running a trial line, as shown
by the experience of railroad companies in this country, is about $25
per mile. But I had already demonstrated that a cheaper method could
be used. I had superintended the conduct of topographic surveys for
Several hundred thousand square miles and found that railroad engi-
neers could use those topographic maps and save the expense of trial-
lines. They could take a topographic map and select a line and survey
that one alone for construction purposes, and this is now the practice of
railroad engineers everywhere throughout the country where our maps
are made.
Let me illustrate the economy of this method by a single instance:
The Canadian Pacific Railroad ran trial lines which cost $3,000,000, and
then built the road along a route which was not the best, and then
changed the route over part of its course; and it is now discovered that
the best route was still not found. Had a topographic map of the
Country, 200 miles in width from the eastern terminus to the western
terminus, been made it would have cost much less money and the best
line would have been revealed and a great saving would have accrued,
and the map thus constructed would have served the purpose of all the
tributary lines within the district and the purposes of a geological sur-
vey and everything else for which topographic maps are needed.
I have stated to the committee, and have made the statement after a
careful consideration and years of study of the special problem, that
the trial-line system for the discovery of lands and sites would cost three
times as much as a topographic map system and when completed it
would be less.satisfactory. But if the topographic system were adopted
it would not only be cheaper and more satisfactory for the purpose,
but it would also serve the purpose of the geological survey and all
other purposes for which topographic maps are used.
But the use of the topographic survey does not end here. There is
yet another use of the topographic branch of the work equally impor-
tant with the one already given and which would require it to be done
were there no other reason for it. I refer to its use in the hydrographic
survey. The arid region is naturally divided into many thousand dis-
tinct drainage areas, each one of which must be considered separately
in planning irrigation works, as each one is a catchment area for the
water which is to be controlled and used in irrigation. That the Waters
in each basin must be measured in some manner is manifest for the fol-
lowing reasons: First, if works are to be planned the amount of water
to be controlled by the works must be known in each case. The dams
to divert water should not be too great, nor too small ; if too great an
unnecessary expense is incurred, if too small the entire catch may not
be secured. For the planning of dams also it is necessary to determine
the volume of the maximum flood. All this requires a knowledge of the
mean annual volume, the minimum annual volume, and the maximum
annual volume, and the maximum flood volume. Again, if Canals are
planned they should be neither too small nor too large; if too small they
can not perform the service, if too great they are made too expensive.
Again, the gradients of the canals must be determined, and this depends
upon the amount of water which they are to carry. If the Volume is
small the gradient must be large, if the volume is large the gradient
must be comparatively small. Then the reservoirs are to be planned.
A TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY LESSENS THE EXPENSE. 203
For this it is necessary to determine the amount of water which can
be stored. It would be unwise to plan reservoirs unnecessarily large for
the service, or so small that they would not perform the service. HOW,
then, shall these waters be measured ? Now, experience and long ob-
servation make it manifest that the gauging with meters and nilometers
of the waters of each of the many thousand districts could be done
Only at a great expense.
But a careful investigation of the subject had already revealed another
method, and when its cost was computed it was believed by myself to
be about one-sixth of the cost of direct gauging. This method has al-
ready been fully explained to the committee. It is proposed to use the
facts gathered in the topographic survey necessary for the other pur-
poses, and to gauge a few typical streams with great accuracy and to
derive from these factors and the general rain-fall tables in differing lat-
itudes, longitudes, and altitudes a system of formulae by which the water
supply can be computed for each district. Thus it is proposed to Solve
the problems in part by experimental demonstration and in Dart by
computation. I believe that by this method hydrometric results can be
obtained superior to the results by direct gauging, and it can be done
for a very much smaller amount, making a saving equal to twice the
cost of the topographic map. It is thus that the topographic method of.
doing the work as compared with the trial line and direct gauging
method will cost only about one-fifth of the amount which those meth-
ods would cost. If, therefore, it is considered that it is the most accu-
rate and the most economic method, it remains to be shown that it is
the most expeditious. This will appear from a consideration of the fol-
lowing conditions: A number of typical streams are gauged, the maxi-
mum rain-fall of any special stream may not be found without taking the
observations for a long series of years, but of a large number of streams
widely distributed throughout the country. Maximum and minimum
volumes will be repeated now here, now there, now elsewhere, from time
to time. We thus are able to get this maximum and minimum in a few
places in a comparatively short time, and by the use of the method
which we have adopted of measuring catchment areas and their decliv-
ities we can easily determine the general extreme conditions in each
case without waiting for the long period of time to elapse. It is thus
clear that results can be obtained in a much shorter time by the method
adopted. It was therefore believed to be more accurate, more economic,
and more expeditious.
It must, then, be remembered that the topographid work must be
done anyhow for the geologic survey. That question has already been
examined at great length by Congress and approved, and the law (ti-
rects it. Whatever is done for the irrigation survey is thereby saved
for the geologic Survey. But it seemed to Congress that the irrigation
Survey should be pushed forward more rapidly than the geologic sur.
vey, and therefore the expense of the map is charged to the irrigation
Survey and paid for out of the appropriations made for that work, ex-
cept in those regions where the geologic survey is in progress: there
the maps constructed are used for the irrigation survey.
There is yet one other question in this connection which has been
raised in the Committee and which deserves complete answer. It is
this: Would it not be possible to do a little work in each district from
year to year,just enough to meet temporary wants, but to supply those
wants fully Of the thousands of districts, which I have meetioned,
there is no one Which is not already settled, there is no one which does
not already require the information which this survey will give. It is
204 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
not possible to do a part of the work in any, one district and leave the
Whole unfinished and properly utilize that work. The entire district,
must be understood, surveyed, all the facts obtained, before any proper
plan can be presented. Each such district must be completed before
results can be reached which will be of value to the people and serve
their needs. But more, it is sometimes the case that two, three, or
more adjacent districts which lie in one great river system are inter-
dependent; that is, they are so related that the problems in one can
not be solved without at the same time solving the problems of the
Others. There will, therefore, be many cases where several districts,
each having a distinct system of works, will have to be completed to-
gether. As the work of the whole arid region can not in all probability
be done all at one time—because it can not be hoped that appropria-
tions will be made for it in that manner, and if made it would be diffi-
cult to find the trained necessary officers and difficult to administer—
there remains only the policy which has already been inaugurated, of
Selecting those districts where the problems are most pressing for im-
mediate solution and of taking them in their order according to the best
judgment of the Officer who has charge of the work and administers the
trust.
In conclusion, Mr. Chairman, I crave permission to earnestly urge
the importance of doing this irrigation survey work in the most thorough
manner. The extent of the area to be redeemed is involved in the ques-
tion. If the work is well and properly done the greatest area can be
brought under agriculture; if carelessly and badly done a much smaller
area of agriculture will ultimately be developed. The relative cost of
the construction of these works is also involved in good or bad work.
If the work is badly done it may easily cost two or more times what it
would if properly planned. This means ultimately differences of many
hundreds of millions of dollars in all; and there is yet another consid-
eration: All the waters of 1,500,000 square miles are to be used in irri-
gation; all the rain. that falls from the heavens above those lands; all
the waters that run in the brooks, creeks, and rivers. These waters are
enormous, almost inconceivable powers, and they are to be controlled.
It is possible to store these powers so that they will ſorever be a menace
to the people whose agriculture will depend upon them. India, in which
the waters have been stored for many centuries, is covered with breached
reservoirs; and the problem of making these reservoirs safe for the peg-
ple is considered the most important problem presented to the Britis
engineers in India. That same problem is committed to the Survey
under my charge, and I think I have some realization of its magnitude.
The officers associated with me in the work feel like responsibilities,
and I must beg of you not to diminish that responsibility by prescribing
methods of procedure in the work which must necessarily result in the
preparation of plans with insufficient data, and in leading the people
who construct the works astray, and submitting their property—their
fields and homes—to imminent destruction and putting them in peril of
their lives.
Mr. Chairman, for the long and patient hearing which you have given
me I can ouly express most profound thalukS.
O
AN ENGINEER'S VIEW OF TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS. 205
NINTH DAY'S SESSION.
WASHINGTON, D.C., March 28, 1890.
The committee met at 10.30 o'clock a.m. Present, Mr. Stewart (chair-
man), Mr. Plumb, Mr. Moody, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Reagan.
STATEMENT OF SUMNER. H. BODFISH, DIVISION CIVII. ENGINEER,
U. S. IRRIGATION SURVEY.
The CHAIRMAN. What is your occupation, Mr. Bodfish 3
Mr. BODFISH. I am an engineer in the Geological Survey, engaged in
the irrigation division. -
The CHAIRMAN. Were you engaged during last year in the irrigation
Work?
Mr. BoDFISH. Yes, sir; I was engineer of the Arkansas division.
The CHAIRMAN. Will you state what use you were able to make of
the topographic survey in the surveys which you made in the Arkansas
division last year, and also state what necessity there was for such a
survey in connection with your survey 3
'Mr. BODFISH. I have had no maps of the topographic Survey in con-
dition to use yet. The party has not yet finished its maps, as I under-
stand. s
The CHAIRMAN. Are topographic maps necessary for your engineer-
ing work in surveying for irrigation ?
Mr. BODFISH. They are not absolutely necessary. If I had good
topographic maps they would be very useful. Af
The CHAIRMAN. Can the engineering survey be carried on in advance
of the topographic survey 3 In other words, can an engineering party
do what topographic work is necessary for the purposes of irrigation ?
Mr. BODFISH. I think it can. I think the topography should be
under the immediate direction of the engineer, and such limited topog-
raphy as—
The CHAIRMAN. What topographic work is necessary for irrigation
purposes? Explain briefly how you carry on your engineering opera-
º to what extent you go into topography, and what use you make
of it.
Mr. BoDFISH. The irrigation problem, as I understand it, is simply
stated: The first step is the discovery of a location for storage; second,
the amount of water that you can store at that locality; third, the cost
of storing that water, building reservoirs, etc., and fourth, the means of
distributing the water over the country below and the cost of distribu-
ting it. In determining the location of a reservoir, if good topographic
maps were in existence, they could be utilized, first, in a negative way,
by keeping one from looking for a reservoir where there is great im-
probability of finding it; but as most of the reservoirs must be found
on the streams and not off of them, it is better, in my opinion, for the
engineer to search all streams, because unless a topographic map is
made with great detail it is not possible to delineate everything in that
map that might be utilized as a reservoir; this would be true, especially
of a small one. The engineer himself should search every stream for
the reservoirs, and having ascertained where they are, then make the
necessary surveys for determining the amount of water that can be
stored, and for estimating the cost of construction. Then he has to de-
termine the amount of Water that can be obtained there. If he knows
206 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the rain-fall, the topographic map would be of some assistance to him;
but from the map alone it is impossible to positively determinè the run-
Off; the true way to determine the run-off would be to measure it at the
point where the reservoir is to be located.
The CHAIRMAN. Must you necessarily go into detailed measurements
at all places you build reservoirs, in order to ascertain the run-off . Is
it necessary to obtain the details with that degree of accuracy”
Mr. BODFISH. No, sir; because the necessities of the reservoir site
would not require it. He can judge from the appearance of the stream
at the time he is visiting it, by the high-water marks, or by talking
with the inhabitants, or by comparison of the drainage areas above
that reservoir site that he finds on maps, whether it is possible to build
that reservoir. If it is a doubtful case, whether he shall build a great
or small dam, it is a question he must make a careful examination to
determine.
The CHAIRMAN. With regard to the construction of reservoirs on
streams that are violent and torrential in flood times, what circum-
stances does the engineer take, into consideration to determine what
kind of a dam it is safe to build 3
Mr, BODFISH. In almost all of those streams that are torrential there
are high-water marks, because the torrential currents are so swift that
they leave a mark; so he can determine whether it is a stream of that
character.
The CHAIRMAN. Can he, from the declivities of the surrounding hills,
without actual measurement, approximate the rapidity with Which Water
will be forced against the dam in flood time?
Mr. BODFISH. I do not think he can.
The CHAIRMAN. He can not do that ?
Mr. BODFISH. Not very accurately. *
The CHAIRMAN. Then it is not ordinarily safe to build dams in these
large torrential streams? -
Mr. BODFISH. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. When you go into a stream like the Arkansas to
build a dam high up, where it is torrential in flood time, how do you
avoid the danger, and when you do build one, What precautions do you
take? -
Mr. BODFISH. If you do build one, the precaution would be to make
it an overfall dam. The building of the dam would depend on the
amount of water it would have to carry. If the stream is a rapid-falling
stream, as is usually the case in those regions, the chances are very few.
of finding a good reservoir site; but you might find a gorge With a com-
paratively flat basin above, where you could store the water at a suffi-
ciently low cost to warrant the construction of a high overſall dam.
The CHAIRMAN. Is it not sometimes possible to build dams in such
places and turn the water over the rocks and give it as large a Water-
way as it originally had 3 - s
Mr. BODIFISH. Sometimes; but I should say it is rarely possible.
The CIIAIRMAN. In that country will not most of the dams neces-
sarily be built out of the main stream & i
Mr. BODFISH. In the Arkansas Valley 3
The CHAIRMAN. Yes.
Mr. BODFISH. As far as I have become familiar with the Arkansas
drainage basin, the reservoir sites are found on the streams.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there lakes on the streams which indicate reser-
voir sites ? t
Mr. BODFISH. Most of those I have found on the Upper Arkansas
{} i
WHAT ARE GENERAL AND SPECIFIC USES OF MAPS. 207
have been caused by glacial action. They have been caused by the
terminal moraines across the original drainage lines. They have been
natural basins in the past. Farther down the stream there are a few
small ones that have been made by the Washings-in from side gorges
into the larger cañon, making banks between which you might build.
Those are dangerous localities to build in, however; the foundations
are precarious, and the large cañon, as a general rule, falls rapidly.
The CHAIRMAN. In utilizing these rivers, which class of reservoirs do
you recommend the construction of first 3
Mr. BODFISH. Those built on the Streams.
The CHAIRMAN. They are much more expensive, are they not ?
Mr. BoDFISH. Well, that is to be determined. I have not seen the
others yet.
The CHAIRMAN. You have not seen any except those which are on
the streams ?
Mr. BoDFISH. No, sir; all I have found are on streams.
The CHAIRMAN. If you could find sites higher up, where the reser-
voirs could be constructed cheaply and safely, would it not be well to
commence there and make your cheap reservoirs first 3
Mr. BODFISH. I must say here, that the area that I have prospected
over lies within the mountainous district.
The CHAIRMAN. I am speaking of the mountain district.
Mr. BODFISH. In the Arkansas Valley mountain district reservoir
sites off the streams do not exist. It is a rapid-falling stream, and all of
its tributaries are rapid-falling streams. *
The CHAIRMAN. When you have surveyed and finished your work in
the mountain regions, What Surveys do you make for the purpose of
ascertaining ditch lines, so as to show what lands will be under water
When the Works are constructed 3 -
Mr. BODFISH. If the water is taken out of the streams directly below
the mountain region, a trial line—what I would call a “fly " line—
would be run from the point from which we wished to take the water
Out.
The CHAIRMAN. Would a topographic map be sufficiently accurate
to enable you to dispense with that “fly.” line or trial line 3
Mr. BODFISH. If it was a good topographic map, well constructed,
we might in some places dispense with the trial line.
Senator MOODY. You mean if it was a topographic map that was
constructed under the Supervision of an engineer, as an engineer would
construct it 3 §
Mr. BoDFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. It would have to be such a map, and not a mere
topographic map—a map of the surface?
Mr. BODFISH. A general map of the surface may be good for general
purposes, but not for Specific purposes.
The CHAIRMAN. What proportion of the work on the Arkansas, for
example, would be dispensed with if you had a good topographic map
to begin with ? How much cheaper would it be to make the irrigation
survey if that preceded it 3
- Mr. BODFISH, I do not think it would be any cheaper, sir, in the Ar-
kansas drainage basin.
The CHAIRMAN. You Would have to do about the same amount of
work at any event}
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator REAGAN. If you had a topographic survey, would you have
to make trial lines the same as you do without a topographic survey, in
208 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
order to ascertain the extent and character of a drainage basin and to
establish the lines for ditches 3 {}
Mr. BODFISH. No, sir; not necessarily. -
Senator REAGAN. If you would not, how do you make out that it
would cost as much to make the irrigation survey with a topographic
Survey as without it 3
Mr. BODFISH. As I understand it, a topographic survey means a
Survey of the whole district within the boundary lines of the drainage
2.I'623.
Senator REAGAN. That is what I mean, the drainage area and the
Country to be supplied with water and irrigated. -
Mr. BODFISH. Even having a topographic map of the entire area,
and even with the rain-fall given, I would not know the quantity of ab-
SOrption or evaporation on the surface.
Senator REAGAN. Would you know that by an engineering survey 3
Mr. BODFISH. I could not determine the run-off of any stream.
Senator REAGAN. You could not determine that in any way except
by hydraulic experiments.
Mr. BODFISH. I could determine, by measuring the streams, the
amount of water that runs off.
Senator REAGAN. What I am trying to obtain from you is an ex-
planation of the answer you made to the chairman, that it would not
save any expense to have a topographic survey precede your irrigation
Survey.
Mr. BODFISH. If I had to do the same work after the topographic
survey was made that I had to do before, it would cost more.
Senator REAGAN. But would you have to do it? -
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir. As I explained to you just now, I would
have to weigh the amount of water that passes a certain point, any
way, even if I had a topographic survey of the area.
Senator REA GAN. If you had a topographic Survey, would you not
know the drainage basin from that ?
Mr. BoDFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator REAGAN. Would you not know where you could fix your
dam from that ?
Mr. BODFISH. Not necessarily. It would depend upon how well the
map was made. I mean by that, that a map showing 20-foot contours
would not necessarily
Senator REAGAN. Would you not know the country that would be
supplied by irrigation from a topographic map *
Mr. BODFISH. Not until I had located the reservoir. If I could not
locate the reservoir from the map, I could not tell you what country I
could COWer. -
Senator REAGAN. How do you get the information as to where you
shall locate the dam and reservoir 3
Mr. BODFISH. By personal inspection on the ground.
Senator REAGAN. And not a Survey.
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir. *
Senator JONES. I understood you to say a while ago that a topo-
graphic survey would save you from making examinations where it
would be impossible to find reservoir sites.
Mr. BODFISH. It will in some cases, sir.
Senator JONES. Then there would be at least that shadow of differ-
ence between the cost of locating works with and without a topographic
Survey.
Mr. BODFISH. If the topographic map shows me the Water flows over
HOW AN ENGINEER FINDS A RESERVOIR SITE. 209
a drainage line that falls a hundred feet to the mile, it is very little use
for me to go there to find a reservoir site.
Senator JONES. It would be no use to go there to look for a reservoir
site %
Mr. BoDFISH. No, sir.
Senator Jon Es. If you found that out from a topographic map, even
if you could find it without the topographic map, then you would save
something by the use of the topographic map *
Mr. BODFISII. Yes, sir.
Senator JONES. Then you do save something by the use of a topo-
graphic map in such a case as that?
Mr. BODFISH. I stated that —
Senator Jon Es. I understood you to say that there would be no sav-
ing in having a topographic map.
Mr. BODFISH. I referred to the entire work of examination and coll-
struction and not to special cases. If I have a map of the entire area,
and by examining that I can ascertain that there is one-fourth or three-
fourths of that area that I need not consider, so much of my time is
saved, and even if I had to examine all of those streams, I think per-
sonal inspection would cost less than a topographic survey of the whole
drainage basin.
Senator REAGAN. If you should make a topograhpic survey on a
stream, would you not know from that topographic survey where the
narrowest gorge was ?
Mr. BODFISH. Certainly.
Senator REAGAN. The facts as to the character of the soil, of course,
you get by inspection ?
Mr. BODFSH. Yes, sir. t
Senator REAGAN. If you know the location of the narrowest gorge
which will create the largest basin, is that not where you will locate
your reservoir dam 3
Mr. BODFISH. Not necessarily.
Senator REAGAN. What would be the exception to that ?
Mr. BODFISH. The fall of the stream above, or other facts—whether
it will hold a sufficient quantity of water——
Senator REAGAN. You do not take my whole question. I say after
you have ascertained your basin by the survey is it necessary to go
Over that again, or do you suggest the idea of guessing at it?
Mr. BODFISH, I would not send an engineering party there to make
a special Survey of that reservoir site without having personally visited
and examined it to see whether it was represented right on the map.
Senator JONES. If you were making an examination of a given water-
shed for reservoir sites, without a map of any sort or of any description,
Would you have to make a personal inspection of the entire territory :
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir. •
Senator JONES. How would that be made 3
Mr. BoDFISH, First, by myself riding over the country, or by having
some intelligent assistant, to whom I could delegate part of that work,
do it for me. *
Senator JONES. By simply examining it with the eye?
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator JONES. Then, when you found the location, approximating,
according to your judgment, the conditions required, what more par-
* ºmination Would you have to make to ascertain the facts in
© C2SO
130 A L–WOL IV—14
210 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Mr. BODFISH. I send one of my parties there to make the actual sur.
vey and ascertain what different heights of dam are required—how
much water different heights of dam will contain, *-
Senator JONES. What does the party do 3 •
Mr. BODFISH. They make a minute contour map, showing 10 feet of
elevation, and they make a careful topographic Survey of the immediate
location of the dam.
Senator JONES. How would the topographic survey which you would
have made by that party differ from the topographic survey as made
now under the direction of the geological survey for the purposes of
irrigation ?
Mr. BODFISII. It is made in the same manner, but with a great deal
more detail. -
Senator REAGAN. More detail as to the actual place of the reservoir?
Mr. BODFISH. The contour of the basin is shown more in detail.
Senator JONES. The principal work would be at the particular place
where you intended to locate the reservoir 3
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir. -
Senator JONES, And the examinations of the outlying ground would
be less minute %
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator JONES. Would those outlying examinations be more minute
than the geological Survey 3
Mr. BoDFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator JONES. And you would examine the whole drainage basin?
Mr. BODFISH. No, sir; the Whole storage basin—the storage basin
caused by the dam. *
Senator JONES. You misunderstood my former question. I asked
you in the beginning as to whether your examination of the storage
basin would be more minute; then I asked you if your examination of
the outlying region would be less minute.
Mr. BODFISH. That would not be examined at all.
Senator JONES. You would not examine anything except the area of
the lake you intended to make 3 e
Mr. BODFISH. No, sir; but if I could not ascertain from the land
office survey the boundary lines of that drainage basin, I would me.
ander it in a crude manner sufficiently to determine what the drainage
area was; but I see no necessity of making a topographic survey over
that entire area, showing the contour.
Senator JONES. It would make no difference whether that was steep
or level, or slightly rolling or anything of that sort.”
Mr. BODFISH. Nothing more than my eye would show.
Senator Jon Es. Then, as I understand you, your idea is that the
topographic examination made in connection with the geological Survey
for irrigation purposes is entirely useless?
Mr. BoDFISH. It is not absolutely necessary at all, sir.
Senator Jones. And in the location of the reservoirs, you think all
that is necessary is to survey exactly and particularly the location of
the lake and nothing else, except to get, in a rough Sort of Way, a gen-
eral idea of the size of the drainage basin 3
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator JoMES. Without regard to its topography 3
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir. If I weigh the amount of water passing that
point, I can weigh it more cheaply, I can measure its flow and quantity
more cheaply there than I could make a survey of the reservoir basin,
and then I would know the amount of Water passing that point—
THE DISTINCTION BETWEEN THE TWO SURVEYS. 2 11
Senator JONES. Have you any definite idea what caused the destruc-
tion of the Bassayampa dam ?
Mr. BODFISH. I have never seen the place, or any good maps of it,
and I have no opinion as to the matter.
Senator REAGAN. In the construction of a dam is it a matter of any
moment to know whether the drainage basin from which the Water is to
be collected is precipitous or level ?
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator REAGAN. Do you get that information by the eye or by a
topographic survey 3 -
Mr BoDFISH. By the eye, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Is there anything further?
Senator JONES. I would like to ask a question or two. In locating
these reservoir sites as you indicate, after you get them located, you
then, in selecting a route for ditches to take the water to the land, run
trial lines to ascertain the relative elevations of the country, do you
not %
Mr. BODFISH. I have to determine approximately the fall per mile
that I can give that ditch when making the final survey.
Senator JONES. And would you not also have to find out where it
ought to be located 2
Mr. BoDFISH, That would be part of the preliminary work, to dis-
cover that point. &
Senator JONES. Would a topographic survey save any part of that
expense ?
Mr. BODFISH. That would depend upon the accuracy of that survey.
Senator JONES. Of course an inaccurate and worthless survey would
not be of any value in any way or anywhere. I was asking with refer-
ence to the topographic survey made by the Geological Survey in
this matter. The object of this inquiry is this: It has been stated
here by certain gentlemen that that portion of the money appropriated
by Congress for furthering this survey of the arid lands that has been
used for a topographic survey has been wasted and thrown away, and
that only that part has been Valuable that has been put into the hands
of the hydrographers and those doing engineering work as such. Now,
what the committee want to know is the opinion of the gentlemen en-
gaged in this work as to the relative cost of obtaining this information
by the two different methods. Your way, as I understand you, is to
secure the information by going onto the ground and making trial lines.
Others think that a topographic map of the entire country facilitates
matters. What we want to know is the relative importance of these
different branches of the work, and my immediate purpose in asking
the question I did was to find whether there would be a saving of cost
to your work or the work you did if you had such a map as is being
constructed in this matter, to indicate to you where you should locate
your lines from the reservoirs to the lands to be irrigated, or whether
it would be cheaper to ascertain that by making trial lines; that is, by
making a survey yourself.
Mr. BODFISH. I should prefer to make the trial lines.
Senator JONES. That does not quite answer my question.
Mr. BODFISH. Even with the maps in existence I should rather make
the trial lines for my own personal—
Senator JONES. I was asking about the relative cost. The point I
intended to ask you was whether the topographic survey would enable
you to make a correct and proper location of the ditch lines without
making all these trial line surveys?
212 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID IANDS.
Mr. BODFISH. I understand the question, sir, and when I said it
Would depend upon the quality of the map I stated the whole matter.
Senator JONES. What is the quality of the maps—
Mr. BODFISH. I do not know the quality of the maps made in the
Arkansas district. I have not bad a chance to test them.
Senator JONES. You know the quality of the maps being made by the
Geological Survey, do you not ?
Mr. BODFISH. I know what kind of maps they make elsewhere, but
I do not know what they have made there.
Senator REAGAN. This does not apply to any particular locality. It
is a general proposition.
The CHAIRMAN. You say you know the quality of the maps made by
the Geological Survey elsewhere than in your district. State what that
IS.
Mr. BODFISH. I know the quality of the maps made by the Survey
in the East and I know the quality of some of the coarser maps of the
West, but I do not know what they are doing on this irrigation survey
work in making topographic maps.
Senator JONES. If you are not familiar with the maps, of course you
Can not anSWer.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you examined any topographic survey maps,
IEast or West, that would be sufficiently accurate to be of practical use
in locating ditches 7 >
Mr. BODFISH. I do not think I have, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you examined many ?
Mr. BODFISH. I mapped, with my assistants, a fourth of the State of
Massachusetts.
The CHAIRMAN. Made a topographic survey ?
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you have been engaged in that work?
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir; for ten years.
The CHAIRMAN. And were none of the maps constructed under your
supervision or by you sufficiently accurate to select ditch lines by ?
Mr. BODFISH. No, sir.
Senator JONES. Of what value are those maps?
Mr. BODFISH, They are of general value. º
Senator JONES, Tell me something they can be used for.
Mr. BODFISH. You could locate a preliminary railroad line by one.
Senator JONES. Then why could you not locate a preliminary ditch-
line by it?
Mr. BODFISH. Because a ditch-line is a rigid line. A railroad line is
not a rigid line; it is covered by a variety of grades, steep and light.
A ditch line is comparatively a rigid line and can not be determined by
anything but the lightest grades.
Senator JONES. Do you not run a preliminary line for a ditch like
you do for a railroad and then make the permanent location of the
ditch 3
Mr. BODFISH. No, sir.
Senator Jon Es. You make the permanent location at once?
Mr. BODFISH. We make an approximate location by running a Com-
paratively rigid line first. a
Senator JONES. So that no secondary work is necessary.
Mr. BODFISH. Except for cross-sections and cost of construction.
For instance, if I am to run a preliminary line as I did in Kansas;
starting from near the Kansas and Colorado line, Iran a preliminary
line to see where ditches could be run to take Water from the Arkansas
NO PRACTICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE ENGINEER. 213
River just west of the Colorado and Kansas line. A grade of about a
foot and a half to the mile was determined upon before the line was run
and a line leveled out and meandered out on that grade to see where it
would go, how soon it would get on top of the bluffs, and where it would
pass through those bluffs—whether through bad or good cuttings—and
the deviation on the grade from one foot and a half was very little.
Senator JONES. If you had a similar survey to that you made in
Massachusetts for that particular section of country you went over
could you have determined with approximate certainty whether or not
that ditch was feasible, without making your survey 3
Mr. BODFISH. I should not have assumed to use my Massachusetts
work for that purpose without running a random line over the ground.
Senator JONES. Then if there had been just such a survey of that
country as you had made in Massachusetts, it would have been of no
practical use or value in determining whether or not that ditch line
was feasible %
Mr. BoDFISH, No, sir; it would not bave been of much value.
Senator MooDY. In your surveys in the Arkansas River district did
you make use of any topography that had been executed in that dis-
triot, 3
Mr. BODFISH, No, sir.
Senator MooDY. Then whatever work the engineer corps has done
With reference to irrigation has been done entirely independently of
any topography Ž
Mr. BODFISH. It has in the Arkansas division.
Senator MOODY. Do you know of any other division where topogra-
phy has been used?
Mr. BODFISH. I do not know anything about what has been done in
the other divisions, sir.
Senator MOODY. Of course I understand that you want to answer
accurately; your mind runs in that direction; but do you know, in a
general way, of any use that has been made of the topography that has
been going on under the geological appropriation or under the irriga-
tion appropriation ? “
Mr. BODFISH. I do not know of any use that has been made of it.
STATEMENT OF GEORGE E. CURTIS, METEOROLOGIST AND HY.
DROGRAPHER, U. S. IRRIGATION SURVEY.
The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Curtis, what is your occupation ?
Mr. CURTIS. Meteorologist and hydrographer.
The CHAIRMAN. Where have you been engaged in that occupation ?
Mr. CURTIS. In the Geological Survey.
The CHAIRMAN. How long 3
Mr. CURTIS. In the office since last June; in the field since the pre-
ceding December.
The CHAIRMAN. What section of the country were you in 7
Mr. CURTIS. Colorado and New Mexico. 4.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the duties of a hydrographer ?
Mr. CURTIS. The duties of a hydrographer are mainly to measure the
discharge of steams.
The CHAIRMAN. What particular duties did you perform * Were
you measuring the streams ?
Mr. CURTIS. While I was in the field my duties were in connection
With a camp of instruction for hydrographers, and after having finished
those duties I returned to the office.
214 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The CIIAIRMAN. What is a camp of instruction ?
Mr. CURTIS. It is for the instruction of young hydrographers who
are about to take the field in different parts of the West. My duties
}. to give instruction in meteorological and hydrographic observa.
IOI) S.
The CHAIRMAN. Explain, in brief, how you ascertain the flow or dis-
charge of water in a stream at a particular point.
Mr. CURTIS. A cross-section is selected at which the river has a uni-
form slope, and which is a region both of minimum deposition and of
minimum corrasion. Soundings are made, and the cross-section is di.
Vided into partial sections whose area is computed. The average veloc.
ity of the current is then measured with the current meter in each
partial section. From its known area, and from the average velocity
of the current, the discharge through each partial section is computed,
and the sum of the partial discharges is the total discharge of the stream,
The CHAIRMAN. Can you tell from what the velocity is when the
water is low what it will be when the water is high 3
Mr. CURTIS. No accurate determination can be made except by act.
ual measurement. w
The CHAIRMAN. The velocity of the water is influenced by the water
Coming into contact with the land, either on the sides or on the bottom
of the stream?
Mr. CURTIS. The friction and the slope.
The CHAIRMAN. When the river is high the middle of the stream has
less friction than the sides and bottom. How can you estimate for that ?
Mr. CURTIs. The velocity is determined in different sections of the
stream at every gauging, and gaugings are made at as many different
stages of the stream as possible,
Senator JONES. How do you determine that ? By actual measure.
ment 3 º
Mr. CURTIS. By actual measurement with the current meter.
The CHAIRMAN. Then you must examine the stream at flood times?
Mr. CURTIS. Yes, sir; at all heights.
The CHAIRMAN. That would take a great marty years?
Mr. CURTIs. No, sir; in a usual year the
The CHAIRMAN. There have been several great floods on the Pacific
Coast. There was one in 1849, another in 1861, and one this year—a
great flood, overshadowing the others. How do you ascertain the facts
for such years ?
Mr. CURTIS. Those are unusual cases.
The CHAIRMAN. But they must be obtained.
Mr. CURTIs. If not measured, the discharge at such times can only
be estimated, but frequently estimated with considerable precision.
Senator Jon Es. Do you find that the same amount of water is dis.
charged at the same flood-height at all times? For instance, if you have
a gauge in a river, would the discharge at the 20-foot mark be the same
at all stages }
Mr. CURTIs. Not necessarily; in fact, in some large rivers, as for
example the Mississippi, it has been found that the discharge is dif.
ferent in rising from what it is in falling water.
Senator Jon Es. Is there a difference at different periods of a rise
as to the amount of discharge at a given point %
Mr. CURTIS. If I understand you, those are fine questions that are of
little economic value; they are principally of scientific interest or im:
portant in connection with river hydraulics. * 1.
The CHAIRMAN. What use do you make of the topographic maps in
hydrography?
ERRORS FOUND IN TOPOGRAPHICAL WORK. 215
Mr. CURTIS. None, in the actual conduct of the Work.
The CHAIRMAN. You rely upon your measurements of the streams?
Mr. CURTIs. Entirely.
The CHAIRMAN. Are you a practical engineer ?
Mr. CURTIs. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. You are simply a hydrographer ?
Mr. CURTIS. Yes, sir; and meteorologist.
FURTHER STATEMENT OF EDWIN. S. NETTLETON, SUPERWISING
CIVIL ENGINEER, ROCKY MOUNTAIN REGION, U. S. IRRIGATION
SURWEY.
The CHAIRMAN. I believe you have already given your opinion that
it is not necessary that a topographic survey should precede the engi-
neering survey for irrigation.
Mr. NETTLETON. I have.
The CHAIRMAN. How much use could you make of an ordinary topo-
graphic survey in the engineering work?
Mr. NETTLETON. To an engineer entirely unacquainted with the coun-
try a good map would be somewhat of a guide to study in his office be-
fore entering the field, but after that I do not think it would be of
much or any value to him; that is any topographic map that I have seen
made in this country.
The CHAIRMAN. Have you examined the topographic maps that have
been made by the Geological Survey 3 s
Mr. NETTLETon. Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Pretty extensively 7
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir. I have lately looked over pretty nearly
all of the maps, including all the western ones that are published.
The CHAIRMAN. When they make a topographic survey of a section
and then of another adjoining section, how do they join their work to-
gether ?
Mr. NETTLETON. I am not familiar with the way only from what I
have been told and from some work I have seen in the office. The work
of making these surveys is done by a great many different small parties
who are sent out into the field. Their work is sent into the office in
sheets, covering small areas, and the sheets are adjusted one to another;
and it has been found in practice, I think, that different topographers
will not complete the contours on their sheets so they will join. Many
times there are considerable errors, and those have to be adjusted
in the Office.
The CHAIRMAN. They average them $
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir. #
The CHAIRMAN. Bring the lines together? w
Mr. NETTLETON. They are made to represent a picture with a rea-
sonable degree of accuracy.
The CHAIRMAN. That is done for the purpose of learning the general
geography and topography of the country?
Mr. NETTLETON, Yes, sir. *
The CHAIRMAN. Made up in that way, as I understand you, they
would not be of any practical use in the accurate survey needed for
irrigation?
Mr. NETTLETON, I consider the work of locating and surveying res-
ervoirs and establishing lines of canals as being work that requires
greater refinement than it is possible to secure with a topographic sur-
216 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
vey like we are doing or can afford to do. For instance, in the mount.
ains the contour lines are supposed to be 50 feet, vertically, apart. In
Computing a gradient of less than 50 feet in a mountain country, in
order to establish reservoirs or ditch lines, it is necessary to make ob-
Servations and computations of which no note can possibly be taken
from a topographic map. Contour lines 50 feet apart might omit to
Show a proper reservoir site, because the reservoir site might be only
40 feet high.
Senator REAGAN. You mean 40 feet of altitude 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir; vertical height.
The CHAIRMAN. That is the scale, I believe, on which they are mak-
ing their topographic maps in the mountains ?
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir; 50 feet.
Senator REAGAN. Do you know what scale is employed generally
by the topographic survey on the lower lands 3
Mr. NETTLETON. I think 20 feet is the smallest scale they are work-
ing on, but I am not certain about that. I think the scale is 20 feet
On the plains and 50 and 100 feet in the mountains. I am not positive
as to the exact scales.
Senator REAGAN. If the maps were made on a scale of 10 or 12 feet,
Would that make a difference, in your opinion ?
Mr. NETTLETON. I do not think that even would be sufficient.
Mr. REAGAN. I am not talking about the details.
Mr. NETTLETON. It would be of greater assistance. Ten or 12 feet
Contours in the mountains would show the possible existence of a great
many more reservoir sites than 50-feet lines would.
The CHAIRMAN. But after knowing the possible existence of sites,
what would be necessary to know actually what could be done in each
particular case?
Mr. NETTLETON. To make what we call the engineering survey, or
a topographic survey sufficient in detail to determine the area and hold-
ing capacity of that reservoir.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you invariably visit and inspect the ground be-
fore you make any survey 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir. In regard to reservoir sites in the mount-
ains, a practiced engineer can generally determine with his eye, With-
out the aid of instruments, what is a possible reservoir site and What is
not; but generally the engineer looking for reservoir sites or making
preliminary examination has a hand-level. He can get onto a suitable
point and tell very nearly with his hand-level where the water line Will
be; and standing on one side of a dam site he can trace pretty near the
water line. If that shows an area sufficient, and the dam can be made
without too great expense, then he orders a survey. That survey is
made accurately enough to determine quantities in the dam, the cost
of making the dam, and also the holding capacity of the reservoir.
The CHAIRMAN. Where you construct reservoirs sufficiently strong
to withstand floods, what elements or facts must be taken into consid-
eration ? {
Mr. NETTLETON. There are two ways of providing against floods.
One is by an overfall dam, which must, of course, be made Very Secure
on its back side and on its foundation. Another is, where the floods
are not very torrential and where the discharge of the stream can be
provided for by making a waste-way lower than the crest of the dam,
leading off to one side or one end of the dam. wº
The CHAIRMAN. Where you use a waste-way the question will be in
getting it large enough for all possible contingencies?
THE CHAIKACTER AND CONSTRUCTION OF DAMS. 2.17
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir. The experience of the last year or so
leads me to believe that that matter has not had sufficient study; that
we have not paid sufficient attention to the occurrence of heavy storms
and sudden floods; but the destruction of the two dams that have re-
cently occurred ought not to be used as an argument against construct-
ing reservoirs. #
The CHAIRMAN. Why not ? That is a question that concerns the
public very seriously.
Mr. NETTLETON. In the case of the Johnstown disaster, the waste-
way was evidently large enough to carry off the flood that caused the
destruction of that dam; but that was an unprecedented storm—seven
inches of rain fell within a few hours on that drainage area. The res-
ervoir was used for fishing purposes, and in the waste-way a grating
of iron rods an inch in diameter, set very close together, had been put
in to keep the fish from running down the stream. This tremendous
storm brought down leaves and brush, and one large log, which lodged
against this grating. The man in charge, or the only man Who Was
there having any authority, was a young engineer, who, instead of
blowing out the waste-way with dynamite or some other explosive, Com-
menced to raise the embankment of the dam, which had settled and
was low in the middle. He commenced putting loose earth on the top,
and the water raised faster than he could raise the dam; at the same
time the outlet was partially choked up with this rubbish. It is my
opinion that if that grating had been taken out and the waste-way kept
clear there would have been no disaster.
The CHAIRMAN. Then, in ordinary dams you would not have those
fish-traps?
Mr. NETTLETON. No, sir. I would do just the opposite. There are
places in the old country where they put the waste-way very consider-
ably below the crest of the dam. Then if they want to utilize nearly
the whole capacity of the dam, they put up posts and some kind of tem-
porary wicker work of straw, that will hold the water until it gets to a
certain height. When it gets to that height it will break away—go out
before the water rises to the top of the dam, and that leaves a very large
opening for the protection of the dam —
The CHAIRMAN. Have you any knowledge of this other disaster
which occurred in Arizona. ?
Mr. NETTLETON. Nothing except what reports I have seen in the
newspapers. But that was evidently caused by an insufficient waste-
way, causing the water running over the top of a loose-rock dam.
The CHAIRMAN. It was constructed for an overflow dam 3
Mr. NETTLETON. No, sir; it was not so designed—
*gnanºs. And the waste-way was not sufficient to lettle water
go by
Mr. NETTLETON. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. Do you not think that is one of the things you have
got to examine with great care ? *
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir. I think one of the most important things
in locating dams in running streams is in the first place to get the his-
tory of the stream, and if you can not get information in relation to the
greatest floods that have occurred, observe the highest water-marks
that can be found.
The CHAIRMAN. Mere gauging will not give you that information ?
Mr. NETTLETON. No, sir, except in an exceptionally high stage of
the water. I would provide for the greatest discharge ever known on
the stream, and that to make it safe, I would double that capacity, in
218 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
case there was a great deal of property or many lives depending on the
breaking of the dam. Such things do not cost very much.
The CHAIRMAN. You can in no stream make the waste-way sufficiently
large to take a flood through. * +
Mr. NETTLETON. A waste-way is not always the best way to get rid
of floods. Sometimes the best way is to take the water over the crest
in whole or in part.
The CHAIRMAN. The overflow dams are very expensive, are they not?
Mr. NETTLETON. If you have solid rock for the foundation of your
dam, and rock for the overflow water to strike on, a masonry dam is not
very expensive.
The CHAIRMAN. Are there not some streams in the West where any
dams, even masonry dams, would be unsafe; for instance, those streams
where they have landslides in consequence of cloudbursts, which bring
down immense bowlders ? |
Mr. NETTLETON. There are places in the mountains where I think it
is unwise to try to dam those torrential streams. In the first place, the
dams are of no use after you get them, filling up with sand and debris
and making an over-fall dam without any holding capacity.
The CHAIRMAN. Do those mountain streams carry evidences on the
ground that such floods have occurred, as a usual thing? t
Mr. NETTLETON, Yes, sir. An engineer can generally find high-
Water marks,
The CHAIRMAN. And large bowlders which have come down the
stream 3
Mr. NETTLETON, Yes, sir. Especially where there is timber growing,
you will frequently find the trees scarred and flood-wood lodged in the
Crotches of the trees, high above where one would suppose water ever
could have reached, but yet it is there.
Senator MOODY. You are acquainted with these topographic maps
that have been made by the Geological Survey 3 y .
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir; I have seen them.
Senator MOODY. What use can be made of those in the Land Office
i. *ing the boundaries and the area of the reserved lands provided
OT {
Mr. NETTLETON. These topographic maps show only the topography
of the country, without any reference to or connection with the Land
Office surveys; and they give no information as to the character of the
soil, whether or not it is a timber or rock covered country or irrigable
and agricultural lands. They just simply show its slopes, and what the
character of its slopes are. While a topographic map might show a
fairly good looking country, still the land might not be worth segregat.
Ing.
Senator MooDY. What use has been made of any of those maps in
the selection of irrigable lands in the Land Department?
Mr. NETTLETON. I do not know that any use has been made of them,
Senator MooDY. What sort of maps do they have to have, and what
sort of work do they have to do, in order to segregate the lands under
this last appropriation of 1888%
Mr. NETTLETON, The only use of any map that I know of is one
on which to make note of the lands segregated, the sections, etc. *
Senator MooDY. Do those segregations have to be made entirely in-
dependently of any topography &
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir; the segregations have to be described by
township, range, section, and fraction of section, and have no conned.
tion whatever with topographic maps, .
INFORMATION THAT GEOLOGICAL MAPs Do NOT GIVE. 219
The CHAIRMAN. In order to make the segregation, it is necessary to
make an actual survey on the ground, is it not ? -
Mr. NETTLETON, Yes, sir.
Senator REAGAN. Segregation for what purpose?
The CHAIRMAN. To ascertain what are and what are not irrigable
lands. In order to accomplish that you would have to run a line on the
ground any way ?
Mr. NETTLETON. To connect that land with the present surveys 3
The CHAIRMAN. With the Land Office surveys.
Mr. NETTLETON, Yes, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. If the topography were ever so accurate, it would
not indicate the character of the soil, would it? ~.
Mr. NETTLETON. No, sir.
The CHAIRMAN. And a line would have to be run to determine that?
Mr. NETTLEToN. Yes, sir.
Senator MooDY. Would a topographic map indicate the character of
the ground where the ditch has to be run ?
Mr. NETTLETON. Only as to the slopes, but not as to whether it is
Sandy or alluvial soil.
Senator MooDY. It would not indicate whether the soil was rocky
Mr. NETTLETON. It shows nothing except the slopes and the natural
Water courses. -
Senator Moody. In running the line of a ditch to carry water from a
reservoir, would you or would you not take into consideration the char-
º; of the soil as to rocks and so on through which that ditch would
TUII]
Mr. NETTLETON. Certainly we would have to consider that,
Senator MooDY. Would you not avoid, if possible to do so, in your
engineering determination a region of country where the soil is com-
posed of rocks, broken up or loose?
Mr. NETTLETON. I would avoid any country that would prevent the
building of a practical ditch.
Senator MOODY. What use could be made of one of those topographic
maps in locating the line of a ditch 3
Mr. NETTLETON. In the actual location of the lines of ditches it
would be of no use whatever. -
Senator MooDY. In locating a reservoir, would you not take into
consideration the character of the foundation of the banks 3
Mr. NETTLETON, Yes, sir; certainly. g
Senator MOODY. What use can be made of a topographic map for
that purpose ? -
Mr. NETTLETON. It furnishes no information whatever in regard to
the practicability of a dam site, or the character of its sides or bottom,
which is one of the most important things to be considered in the con-
struction of a dam. It simply shows what the slopes of the country are,
Senator MOODY. Can you not ascertain by the eye, with a sufficient
degree of accuracy for engineering purposes, the location of reservoir
sites preliminary to the actual and accurate survey & º
Mr. NETTLETON. An engineer with good judgment can very closely
estimate what is a reservoir site and What is not. He may not be able
to determine whether it is entirely practicable. Perhaps the dam may
cost too much for the amount of Water it will hold. He can not deter-
mine those questions finally unless he makes a survey.
Senator MOODY. I mean, would you gather those facts by observa-
tion, preliminary to the actual and accurate detail survey i
Mr. NETTLETON. Most certainly.
220 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
***
Senator MOODY. Of what service would a good topographic map be
in making those examinations?
Mr. NETTLETON. As I stated in the beginning, it might be of some
assistance to an engineer who was a stranger in the country, by enabling
him to get a general idea of the country; but in actually locating res.
ervoirs, I do not think the topographic maps I have seen would be of
any assistance.
Senator MOODY. Neither in locating reservoirs or in the line of
ditches, nor in the segregation of the irrigable lands.
Senator JONES. Nor in the ascertainment of the sites for reservoirs.
Mr. NETTLETON. There are some reservoir sites that might be shown
by such a map; for instance, take the one at El Paso. If there had
been a topographic survey of that, with 20-foot contour lines, it would
have shown without question that there was a reservoir site there;
but there are thousands of other localities where 50-foot contour lines
Would not show nearly all the reservoir sites.
Senator MOODY. Will you please state any instance where theirriga.
tion engineering service has reaped a benefit from the use of the topo.
graphic survey that has been going on ? º
Mr. NETTLETON. Well, I have had something to do with the starting
out of two or three of the engineers on this survey. In the first place
I sent to Washington (I was then at Denver) for all the maps of the
country that was in my division. I had the Hayden Atlas, which sur.
Vey covered Colorado, and I got some.topographic snaps of Arizona and
New Mexico, and a few of Montana up about the Yellowstone. Now,
I do not claim that I can read topography on a map as readily as some,
but I looked those all over, and with one or two possible exceptions I
could not find on any of them what I could safely say was a reservoir
site, so that I could direct or recommend an engineer to examine it.
Senator MOODY. In the process of exploring and developing the pos.
sibilities of irrigation through the means of artesian wells, of what use
will be the topographic work which is being carried on by the Geo.
logical Survey 3
Mr. NETTLETON. I think that perhaps in connection with artesian
wells it would be more tiseful than in the engineering work of selecting
reservoir sites and dam sites, because those maps show approximately
the elevation above the sea, and in studying an artesian country it is
quite desirable to know the altitude of the surface of the country above
the sea-level within a reasonable degree of accuracy.
Senator MOODY. In making those explorations and investigations
what would the engineer have to do 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Without a topographic survey he would naturally
get the profiles of the railroads crossing the country, all of which have
the elevations above the sea-level. From the railroad profiles it is pos.
sible to get the elevations at every mile, but you can always get them
without a great deal of trouble at every town along the line of a rail.
road. These furnish a good basis to work on. I did a good deal of
that work in 1868. Commencing in southern New York I carried it
down through the oil region in Pennsylvania, and I Worked up my Sur.
veys from the railroad elevations of the different stations.
Senator MooDY. Is that not entirely sufficient for making examina-
tjon in regard to irrigation by means of water obtained from the arte-
gian basins 3 *
Mr. NETTLETON. If you had a series of contours carried all over the
country, with benches established, that would be of great advantage
over the railroad elevations.
LOCATING AN IRRIGATION BASIN IS FIRST. 221
Senator MooDY. Is it essential in regard to practical demonstra-
tion ?
Mr. NETTLETON. No, sir.
Senator MooDY. Can it not be done very much more cheaply with-
out it 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir.
Senator MooDY. It would be a very expensive process to undertake
to carry contour lines all over that semi-arid region 50 or 100 feet apart,
would it not % g
Mr. NETTLETON. I do not know what the cost would be per Square
mile for such work. Do you, Mr. Bodfish?
Mr. BoDFISH. From $1 to $5 per square mile.
Senator JONES. It would cost that for a topographic survey 3
Mr. BODFISH. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. Do you regard it as essential in making the exam.
ination for artesian basins throughout North Dakota, South Dakota,
Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas, to have a topographic survey &
Mr. NETTLETON. No, sir; I have been considering that subject, and
have looked up the railroad lines crossing that country, and I find a
great number of railroads, especially near the Missouri River, through
the eastern part. There are several lines running east and west which
give an excellent opportunity of getting the profiles of that region.
Senator MOODY. So that you can make a pretty good guess as to the
depths at different points of this artesian basin 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir.
Senator MOODY. Now, has it not been your experience, after all,
that it requires the actual sinking of wells at different points to ascer-
tain accurately the facts as to the depth of that basin 3
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir; whatever data you find by a bore you
know to be true; whatever you theorize on you do not feel so sure about.
Senator MOODY. Is it not a fact that the roof of this artesian basin
is very irregular, so that in Some places you would have to sink very
much deeper than in others, although at the same altitude 3
Mr. NETTLETON. In my study of the oil country I found a very
uniform character of rocks 1,000 or 2,000 feet below the surface, but
nearer the surface they were more broken.
Senator REAGAN. If you were going to use the water of a particular
stream to irrigate a particular plain, supposing there was no topo-
graphic survey or anything else to aid you, what steps would you take
in order to apply the water to the land? .
Mr. NETTLETON. The first thing to be done is to determine what
land you want to irrigate; the next thing to be done is to determine
whether you have water that can be carried onto that land.
Senator REAGAN. Determine the irrigation basin &
Mr. NETTLETON, Yes, sir. Then, if there is more land than water,
and money Saving is an object, we seek the cheapest line, because thé
amount of irrigation that can be done is limited on account of the
amount of water; so we pick out the most economical canal. But
if it is the other way, if there is more water than land, and it is desira-
ble to cover every acre of land, then we try for the highest line possible
to get onto that land, without So much regard to expense.
Senator REAGAN. What steps do you take to ascertain the extent
and character of your catchment basin from which you get your water?
Mr. NETTLETON. We generally take the maps of the country. That
is one guide. Another is a knowledge of the character of the stream,
obtained by observations or by inquiring of people who have known the
222 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
stream for years, and who know about what its discharge is. For irri.
gation purposes it is not so much the size of the drainage area as its
character that we rely on.
Senator REAGAN. Do you regard it as essential to the success of such
an undertaking that you should know the extent of the drainage area?
Mr. NETTLETON. Yes, sir.
Senator REAGAN. How would you get that ? *
Mr. NETTLETON. I think in nearly the whole country in the arid
region We have maps of some kind that give very closely the drainage
system of the region. They are compiled, as far as they have been made,
by the Wheeler, the King, the Powell, and the Government land sur.
Veys. These maps show quite closely the areas of the drainage basins
of the streams. t
Senator REAGAN. Now, if there was a topographic survey made in the
Way that it is being made by the Geological Survey, could you not take
those maps and locate the drainage areas and the lands that are to be
covered by water? i.
Mr. NETTLETON. It would be relocating it. It would be simply con-
firming what has already been mapped ; but I do not think that as to
the areas it would change very much the areas of the drainage basins
of the maps already made. It would give more information, perhaps, in
regard to the slopes of the various parts of the country within those
drainage basins; but the exterior lines of the drainage areas would not
be changed very much, I think, by a topographic survey such as is now
being made.
Senator REAGAN. Would you regard it as important, in determining
a drainage basin, whether it was a level or precipitous country, with
reference to the construction of your dam ? *
Mr. NETTLETON. It would if a man went into that kind of work with.
out looking before and around him, and if he had no idea of his own as
to the country he was in ; but when an engineer is sent into a country
he can generally see pretty well its general character.
Senator REAGAN. You think a good engineer could judge of the coun-
try without the assistance of the map? +
Mr. NETTLETON. He ought to,
Adjourned,
STATEMENTS OF CHEMISTs. 223
STATEMENTS OF CHEMISTS REFERRED TO BY ASSISTANT SECRE-
TARY WILLITS,
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY,
Washington, D. C., February 3, 1890.
Hon. EDw1N WILLITs,
A88istant Secretary :
SIR. In addition to the information contained in the letter of May 7, which I hereby
return, I would desire to call the attention of the committee to the fact that the char-
acter of the water used for irrigating purposes has much to do with the ultimate influ-
ence of irrigation upon the soil. If the water used for irrigating purposes contain
much mineral matter, there would be a tendency for this matter to accumulate in the
soil in such quantities as to become injurious to the growing crops. In many places
where irrigation has been attempted with water charged with alkali it has had to be
abandoned on account of the effect of the alkali mentioned above. Any attempt, there-
fore, to store water for irrigation purposes or to irrigate on a large scale should be
preceded by a preliminary study of the nature of the water supply to be used.
The records of the Geological Survey abound in material of this description, that
institution having made a systematic examination of the waters in the region em-
braced in the description contained in the committee's letter.
If the water, which is to be stored for irrigation purposes, come in the rain-fall it
would usually be pure enough for irrigation purposes, provided; it did not fall upon
land already saturated with alkali. It is easy to see, however, that a body of water
collected from the rain-fall descending on lands thoroughly charged with alkali
might be wholly unfit for irrigation purposes. On the other hand, waters which are
derived from large rivers and other streams are usually pure enough for irrigation
purposes and could be used a long time on land without appreciably increasing the
mineral constituents thereof. &
Respectfully,
H. W. WILEY,
Chemist,
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,
DIVISION OF CHEMISTRY,
Washington, D. C., May 7, 1889,
Hon, EDWIN WILLITs,
A88istant Secretary:
SIR: Your communication of the 4th instant, addressed to Dr. Wiley, chief chemist
of this division, has been referred to Ine for a reply, Dr. Wiley’s trip to the West in
the interest of the sorghum experiments preventing him from taking up the subject
to which you refer.
I have examined the letter of Senator Stewart, which I return here with, and have
the honor to make the following report thereon:
That portion of the inquiry included under the character and constituents of soils
seems to be the only point which falls within the province of this division. In order
to enable you to furnish the contmittee with information which would be useful to
them on this point, I have examined all the literature which is here available for in-
formation in regard to the constituents and character of soils west of the hundredth
meridian of west longitude. I find several extensive investigations upon soils in
this area and considerable information upon their character, and will make reference
as follows to the sources where it can be found :
(1) The soils of the different districts in California bave been made the subject of
a very complete and important investigation by Prof. E. W. Hilgard, State chemist
of California and professor of agriculture in the University of California. This in-
vestigation was undertaken for the Superintendent of the Tenth United States Census,
and is embodied in Volumes 5 and 6 of the Tenth Census under the head of “Cotton
production.” The investigation was intended especially to make comparison of the
soils of California with those of the Southern cotton-growing States, with a view of
investigating the adaptability of the California soils to cotton production. It com-
prises a large number of analyses of California soils taken from various localities, and
a very complete and able discussion not only of the character and composition of
these soils, but also of their geological sources and formation. The composition of
soils of the various cotton-producing States is included in the investigation; also a
224 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDs.
large number of analyses of soils in the Indian Territory. Further elaboration and
discussion of the subject of California soils by Professor Hilgard will be found in the
different, reports made by him to the president of the tjniversity of California,
notably in the reports for 1882 and 1884. Appendix No. 7 to the report for the year
1886 contains a valuable treatise by Professor Hilgard upon “Alkali lands, irriga.
tion and drainage in their mutual relations.”
I can commend the general plan and character of this investigation to the Senate
* as a model of the manner in which such an inquiry may be profitably car-
T100 OD1.
(2) The annual reports of the United States Department of Agriculture contain
considerable information upon the subject of the composition of soils, and I have
searched them through to obtain all the data upon soils in the region which forms
the subject of the investigation by the Senate committee. ... The annual report for
1870 contains, on page 100, the analyses of three samples of soil from western Nevada.
A special report of the Department of Agriculture, issued in 1882, entitled “ Inves-
tigation of Sorghum as a Sugar-Producing Plant,” contains on pages 58 and 64 analy-
ses of a number of samples of soil from the Arkansas Valley in Kansas, namely, Great
Bend and Hutchinson, Kans., and from Rising City, Nebr. In the year 1886 Bulletin
No. 10 of the chemical division of this Department was issued, having for its subject
“Principles and Methods of Soil Analysis,” by Mr. Edgar Richards, assistant chemist,
This publication contains the analyses of a number of soils, including prairie soils
from Dakota, and also soils from Washington Territory. !
Besides the above I would state that the chemical division is at present engaged
upon the analysis of a large number of soils collected from different parts of the
country, among which are included four samples of soil from Arizona, one from Cali-
fornia, and three from the Territory of Wyoming. These analyses will be completed
some time during the course of the present year, and the results can be communicated
to the committee if they so desire.
(3) In addition to the above information on the subject of the character and com-
position of the soils within this region, it #. not be improper to suggest to you
that the attention of the committee be called to the sorghum plant as one peculiarly
adapted to certain portions of the region which forms the subject of the committee's
investigation. It might be well to forward to the committee, as part of the informa.
tion to be furnished from this Department, the special bulletins containing the re-
sults of the experiments of the Department upon sorghum as a sugar-producing plant.
Some of the best results in the growth of sorghum were attained last year in the
southwestern portion of Kansas at the station of this Department at Conway Springs.
Both these and previous experiments by the Department would seem to show that
the sorghum plant is peculiarly adapted to the arid or subarid regions of the West.
It resists drought much better than corn or the other cereal crops, and seems, more-
over, to attain a higher percentage of sugar in these dry regions.
I would also respectfully call your attention to the report, upon which, however,
I can give you no exact information, that the tropical sugar-cane is said to have been
raised with considerable success during the past season upon irrigated lands in
Arizona.
Respectfully,
C. A. CRAMPTON,
Acting Chemist,
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Report on Irrigation.
















MISOELLANEOUS PAPERS.
138 A L–WOL IV—15
225
ESTIMATE FOR EXPENDITURES OF SURVEY.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR,
UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY,
Washington, D. C., February 7, 1890.
DEAR SIR: Agreeably to a promise made you I here with submit for your consider-
ation an estimate of the cost of the field work of the Irrigation Survey for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 1891, which includes the cost of doing the work and collecting
the information that in my judgment is required by the law making appropriations
for this specific work.
The estimate does not include the salaries of administrative officers above the Chief
Fngineer, nor the expenses connected with the publication of the necessary maps and
reports, or the expenses for office rent in Washington and incidentals connected
there with.
After a careful consideration of the question regarding the time required to com-
plete the surveys, and the ultimate cost thereof, I am of the opinion that five years
will be ample time in which to cover the whole country with the necessary field
work. Another year will be required to finish the office work and make the final
field reports. In placing the time at five years I have endeavored to consider the im-
mediate necessity for pushing the work with due regard for securing good results
and with minimum expenditure of money.
I have designated the allotments for each State and Territory, but this may not be
considered as at all arbitrary. This can also be said in reference to the total amount.
The semi-arid portion of our country needs something more than is contemplated
in the present law. This section requires artificial water many times to tide over
a few weeks of scanty rain-fall. There are no “waters in sight,” and grave engineer-
ing difficulties present themselves when undertaking to supply it with the common
methods for irrigation. There are several theories as to how the waters not “in
sight” can be utilized. It is probably wise for the Government to undertake the so-
lution of some of the most reasonable of these theories.
If the subject of climatological observations are to be taken up by the survey, as
was suggested to the Senate committee at its last meeting, I would add at least $10,000
for this purpose.
If deemed wise, the appropriation could be made in bulk and then, if other consid-
erations were to be taken into account, the expenditures could be locally changed.
I should suppose $75,000 would cover fully all unprovided salaries, office rent, the
printing of maps, reports, etc., making in all $470,000. The appropriation for the
first year will be larger than that for subsequent years on account of the purchases
of instruments, field outfits, etc. -
f E. S. NETTLETON,
Supervising Engineer U. S. Irrigation Survey.
Hon. W. M. STEwART,
Chairman Senate Special Committee
on Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Lands.
Estimate of the cost of the necessary surveys in compliance with the act of October, 1888,
* jor the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891.
California.-------------- * * * * * * * $50,000 | Wyoming...-------------- & e m e º ºs e $25,000
Oregon ------------ tº sº is sº we we us e s tº ºn º ºs 15,000 || Montana. ------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 25,000
Washington. ---. tº e s sº º sº sº sº m sº tº º sº º sº gº 15,000 | Dakota (North) ----, ------------ 10,000
Idaho -------------------------- 30,000 Dakota (South).----...--------. 10,000
Nevada.---------------- # * * * * * * * * 30,000 | Nebraska ---------------------- ... 10,000
Utah.-------------------------- 40,000 || Kansas------------------------- 10,000
Arizona --------------- * * * * * * * * • 20,000 | Texas -------------------...----- 5,000
New Mexico.-------------------- 50,000 sºmºsºms
Colorado ----------------------- 50,000 º 395,000
227
228 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF, ARID LANDS.
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR HYDROGRAPHERS.
[The following instructions were issued by the chief engineer of the United States Irrigation Survey, J
The duties which devolve upon the hydrographers will be at once of a highly
scientific and practical character, and will consist in ascertaining by systematic ob.
Servations and measurements the values of numerous factors or qualitics which must
be known in order to fully carry out the purposes of the law, which requires an in-
Vestigation of the extent to which the arid lands can be redeemed by irrigation. They
may be mentioned in the following order:
(1) Measurements of water supply.
(2) Measurements of the loss of water by evaporation.
(3) The investigation of the climatology of the arid region with reference to
agriculture by irrigation.
§ Measurements of sediments transported by streams.
(5) The duty of water.
(6) Collection of general information.
(1) The measurement of water supply will consist primarily in the gauging of
streams. For this purpose the methods developed at Embudo will be followed ſor
the present, but with time and experience it is hoped that improvement will come.
For this purpose stations will be established on streams to be gauged at points
selected, and a systematic record will be kept of the rise and fall of the streams by
means of inclined graduated rods, and the stations will be visited by the hydrog-
raphers so as to gauge repeatedly at different stations of the water until a sufficient
number of stages have been gauged to admit of a formula for the stream and the s a
tion. . The stream beds will be plotted and the slopes ascertained by leveling. Full
records will be kept by the hydrographers of all their gauging work and the results
reported monthly to this office.
(2) This evaporation will also be measured by the general methods employed at Em-
budo. The quantity to be ascertained is the evaporation from water surfaces.
Wherever practicable it is desirable to combine station work by placing evaporiza-
ters at the same stations as river gauges; but this must be influenced by considera-
tions of economy and the intelligence of the observers.
(3) The study of the climatology of the West will be mainly the work of the cen-
tral office, as the data upon which it depends are of regional extent, and most
of them are collated by the Signal Service, whose records are accessible only
in Washington; but hydrographers are expected to furnish some accessory data, and
to cultivate in their divisions the interest of volunteer observers and to promote
the organization of meteorological societies. They are cautioned, however, not to
duplicate the work of the Signal Service, but to maintain a most cordial and co-oper-
ative attitude towards the observers of that bureau and to conform to its methods.
Rain gauges will be placed at stations not occupied by Signal Service observers,
and for the present localities at higher altitudes especially need investigating as to
the amount of precipitation, and as a general though not invariable rule preference
should be given to higher altitudes in choosing rain-gauge stations. It is deemed
unadvisable to use the sling psychrometer except in cases where the observer is known
to be a man of exceptional intelligence and skilled in the use of meteorological in-
struments. e º * &
(4) The measurements of sediments transported is a subject which must await
future development, and no instructions can be given for the present with reference
to it. tº t tº s
(5) Care should be taken to ascertain the duty of water in all localities where ir-
rigation is practiced whenever opportunity occurs. The subject should be investi-
gated personally, and too much reliance should not be placed on the mere statements
of farmers unsupported by careful measurement. As the duty will, Vary, much in-
quiry is necessary to ascertain upon what causes such, Variations attend. The fol-
lowing factors seem to be of prime importance: (1) Method of flooding lands, (2)
climate, (3) character of soil and subsoil, and (4) kind of crop raised. ...
(6) The central office will be frequently called upon to furnish information not only
to Congress but to thousands of individuals throughout the gountry upon the subject
of irrigation. In short, it must constitute itself a bureau of information. . The hy-
drographers are expected to have their eyes open to all facts relating to irrigation
and to keep the central office advised of everything of interest; & e
Reports must be made monthly, embracing, a full account of all operations during
the fonth. Records of gaugings, with the plates of the section at the station, and
records of soundings and leveling must be kept by the hydrographers and copies of
them farmished to this office at such times as will hereafter be stated and upon such
forms as shall be prescribed. They will also collate the reports of the rain gauge and
jobservers and consolidate them, forwarding the consolidated report to this
office.
* EQUIVALENTS OF UNITs USED IN MEASURING WATER. 229
EQUIVALENTS OF UNITs USED IN MEASURING WATER FOR IR- -
RIGATION PURPOSES.
[Prepared by E. S. Nettleton, supervising engineer U. S. Irrigation Survey.]
UNITED STATES GALLONS.
100 gallons per minute equals—
.44 acre foot in 24 hours.
13# “ feet in 30 days.
40 {{ & 4 3 months.
160 44 “ 1 year.
1 “ foot in 55 hours.
.223 “ 6 & 1 second.
11% California (miner's) inches.
84 Coloradó (miner's) inches.
1 United States gallon equals 231 cubic
inches, or 1.748 cubic foot.
COLORADO INCHES.
100 Colorado inches equals—
5% acre feet in 24 hours.
1 ** foot, in 4.2 **
155 “ feet in 1 month.
465 “ “ 3 months.
1,860 “ “ 1 year.
19% gallons per second.
1, 170 “ per minute.
2.6 cubic feet per second.
130 California inches.
º
CALIFORNIA INCLIES.
100 California inches equals—
4 acre feet in 24 hours.
1 * * foot, in 6 “
120 “ feet in 30 days.
360 “ “ 3 months.
1,440 “ 4 & 1 year.
15 gallons per second.
900 “ per minute.
77 Colorado inches.
2 cubic feet per second.
CUBIC FEET.
1 cubic foot per second equals—
2 acre feet in 24 hours.
60 * * “ 30 days.
180 < * & & 3 months.
720 << & & 1 year.
7.48 gallons per second.
449 & 4 per minute,
50 California inches.
38.4 Colorado inches.
230 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
THE SEEPAGE OF WATER.
ITY TRACTS FROM THE REPORT OF THE STATE ENGINEER OF COLORADO IFOR THE
YEARS 1885 AND 1886.
[Filed by E. S. Nettleton.]
Seepage is a subject which is beginning to assume definite importance in connec-
tion with the economic use of water for irrigation; but it is only within the last year
or two that any observations have been taken to accurately determine the volume in
the stream above when canals are taken out and at a given point below. The
amount returned to the stream by seepage through the soil was merely a matter of
conjecture.
It is a well established fact that before irrigation became so universal in Colo-
rado the water in the streams was greatly decreased in volume as it found its way
out upon the plains. This was more particularly observed in the time of low water
during the spring and fall season. Those who came up the South Platte Valley a
few years ago will remember crossing the river in the eastern part of Weld County
on the dry sand.
Within the last ten years at Platteville the river has vanished utterly at times, so
that people could cross and recross dry shod. But there has been a change in this
respect, and it has evidently been caused by the building of irrigating canals and
the distribution and suspension for a time of the water upon and in the uplands
adjacent to the streams. Observation and experience prove conclusively that seep-
age water is an important factor and adds largely to the volume of water flowing
in the channel. i
The increase in the lower valley of the South Platte has been a matter of notice, .
and becomes so distinct and certain that new canals have been constructed to take
advantage of this interesting and important condition of affairs.
It is well known that the bed of Cherry Creek, once utilized as a thoroughfare for
business in the city of Denver, has now a constant stream of water coursing through
it, which is unquestionably the resultof seepage from what is commonly known as
the High Line Canal of the English company.
In October, 1885, I instituted a series of measurements of seepage water in the
Cache la Poudre, in order to obtain some accurate information upon this subject.
Five points of observations were selected, the uppermost being at the measuring
flume in the caſion and the lowest at a point east of the town of Greeley, the two
points being about thirty-five miles apart. A request was issued to the canal owners
to close down the head-gates of all the canals, and so exclude all water; but in con-
sequence of head-gates leaking, it was found necessary to measure the quantity which
found its way into each canal and add this amount to that ſound flowing in the river
in order to obtain the total discharge.
The following table shows the results of the measurements made October 12 and
13, 1885:
[Cubic feet per second.]
Yº. *
the Ti Wei'a. º
W ; the points Increasein Increase in
º ator di- m" asured volume of river from
Places where measurements wore taken. Water in verted frºm iśā; tº the ca;.
I'l WeI’. river by dºt. by between to point
canale. || anals be: j. measured.
tween those te
points.
First river measurement. --- - - - - - - - - - - - - 127.06 1. -----------|------------|------------|------- * - tº ſº tº
Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal--------|------------ 1. 75 ------------|------------------------
Larimer County Canal ------------------|------------ 0. 58 ------------|------------|------------
Jackson Ditch ... --------------- * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * 0.27 l.-----------|------------|----------- &
Cache la Poudre Ditch ....... e = * * * * * in tº * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * 1.00 ------------|------------|----------- º
Larimer No. 2 Canal.----- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 s a • * * * * * * * * * 0. 54 I.-----------|------------|----------- tº
New Mercer Canal.-...-----------------|------------ 0.23 ------------|----------- |------------
Fort Collins Canal ---------------. dº º sº º sº tº sº as a s an is º sº tº * * * 1. 14 I.-----------|------------|------------
Second river measurement ......... cº e is a sº 134.00 I.----------- 139. 47 11. 86 11.86
Larimer and Weld Canal....... * * * * * * * * * r * * * * * * * • * * * * 1.73 l------------------------|----------- *
Judge Howes' Ditch--------------------|-----------. 2.60 ------------|------------|------------
Josh Ames' Ditch. ----- as a se e s se s a s a sº a s a = * * | * * * * * * * * * * * 0.99 ||------------|------------|------------
㺠* = a sm as e º as s a e s m as w a • * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * #. ; - - - - - - - - - - - - ) - - - - - - - - - - - - I - - - - - - - - - - - -
Cache la Poudre No. 2- - - - - - - - - ----------|- - - - - - - - - - - - s at aſ I - a sº e as as s. sº e - * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * 1 - " - - - * * * * * * *
Third river measurement. ...------------ 150.00 l.----------- 159, 47 25, 50 37. 40
The Y."...'.a s e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * ; ; • * * * * * * * * * * * r * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cache la Poudre No. 3 ------------------|------------ a C J i < * * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fourth river measurement.....--------. 161.86 . . . . . . 38.66 169. 32 19. 33 56.69
Ogilvy Ditch -------...-----------------|------------ s tº v i s m = a, e - - - - - * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fifth river measurement---------------. 153. 12 ------------ 192. 07 30, 21 86.90

SEEPAGE water MEASUREMENTS MADE IN COLORADO. 231
The following table is made up from measurements made of the same river but
four years later, or in October, 1889. These last measurements show that the seepage
has been increasing since 1885.
Table of measurements of 8eepage water in the Cache la Poudre IRiver, Larimer and Weld
Counties, Colo., October 14 to 17, 1889.
[Cubic feet per second.]


Water in Increage
º in ºr Increase
Water rºle Increase &#dº; in volume
*\ Water | diverted mººd iº from the #.;
Where measurements were taken. in from plus, that | jetºn gºging. | “...º.º.
river. ºby º points º º to point
4 canals. , Canals, be méasured.]_Qan ..] where
tween those point * measured
points. H168 SUIT&Ol. tº
Per cent.
Gauging station at caſion ..... -----. 68.7 l. ---------|------------ sº º sº e º sº sº as º ºs t < * * * * * * * * * * * 1 * * * * * * tº sº sº as sº ſº
Larimer County Ditch . . . . ----------|-------. 0.8 ------------|---------*- : - - - - - - - - - - - - J - - - * * * * * * * * *
Pleasant Valley and Lake Canal....]........ 14.8 |------------|----------|------------|------------
Jackson or Dry Creek Ditch...... --|---...--. 5.3 |------ * * * * * * : * as sº as ºn tº e º 'º - I s s m sº es sº gº sº º e s - I e º ºr e º ºn a ºn e º 'º º
Cache la Poudre Ditch.----------...]. --...--. 7.0 ------------|----------|------------|------------
Taylor & Gill Ditch .---------------|-------. 2.6 |------------|----------|------------|------. gº tº ſº tº tº
Larimer County Canal, No. 2 .......]. --...-. 12.4 ------------|----------|------------|--- º a s sº º ºs e as a
Fort Collins water-Works ----------|-------. 0.9 |------------|----------|------------|----------- -
Fort Collins Canal ------------------|-------. 0.6 ------------------ º as º - I e s tº gº us tº us e º an e º • * * * * * * * * * * *
Larimer and Weld Canal --------...l........ 3.0 ----------------------------------------- e = * * *
Second river measurement below
dam of Larimer and Weld ........ 32.6 I.--...----- 80.0 11. 3 11.3 16.4
Howe or Pioneer Ditch ...---...-----|--...... 1.7 ------------|----------|------------|----------- &
Josh. Ames Ditch -----------------.]-------. 1.4 l------------|----------|-----------. & as º is ºn tº ſº tº ſº tº tº sº
Lake Canal -------------------------|-------- 1.5 ------ * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº
Fort Collins Irrigation Ditch ............... 1.5 !------------|----------|------------|-----------.
Box Elder Ditch-------------...-----|---. tº dº º is 6.0 ------------|----------|------------|------------
Cache la Poudre Canal -------......!---...-. 95. 2 ------------|----------|--- • * * * * * * * * r * * * * * * * gº e s sº *
Thirdriver measurement below dam
of Cache la Poudre Canal......... 1.5 ---------. 116.8 36.8 48.1 70, 0
Whitney Ditch ---------------------|-------. 2.3 ------------|----------|------------|----------- tº
B. H. Eaton Ditch ------------------|-------. 9 8 |------------|----------|------------------ º ºg tº sº we ºw
TJnion Colony Canal, No. 3....... • * * * * * * is e e s - 9.8 l------------|----------|------------|------------
Ogilvy Ditch------------------------|-------. 30.1 !------------|- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Fourth river measurement below
dam of Ogilvy Ditch --- - - - - - - - - - -. 3.5 ---------. 161.3 44, 5 92, 6 134.7
Fifth river measurement near junc-
tion with Platte River............ 9.9 |---------. 167.7 6, 4 99, 0 143. 8
232
TION OF ARID LANDS.
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMA
r
Table of measurements of seepage water in the South Platte River, Colorado, Ootober
18 to 25, 1889.
[Cubic feet per second.]


P,
i
Where measurements were taken.
;
Tirst measurement—Gauging station at
Cañon.-------------.'------------------
Little Granger Ditch
High L
Platte Cañon Ditch
sº tº ºn tº º ºs - - - - - - e º ſº s ºr º – - -
is sº tº ºn tº º º º ºs sº m sº e º ºs º an -
* * * * * - - - - - tº * * * * * * * * *
City Ditch (Platte Water Company’s
Canal) ----------------- «» « º ºs tº ſº tº sº gº as sº * ~ *
Plum Creek---------------------------.
Marcy Gulch
Lee Gulch -----------------------------
Brown Ditch
Second measurement—South Platte River
at Littleton
Big Dry Creek ------------------------
Little Dry Creek ------------------ * - - -
Bear Creek ----------------- tº s a sº s º sº ºn tº sº º
Farmers and Gardeners ---..... ------.
Third measurement—South Platte at Den-
V6T - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Clear Creek------------------- e is sº e º ºs = - e.
Fulton Ditch -------------------------.
Brantner Ditch.....----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Brighton Ditch
Fourth measurement—South Platte River
at Brighton --------------------------
* Lupton Bottom Ditch-----------------.
Platteville Ditch
* - * * * * * as gº tº ºn tº - - - - - ſº tº sº se g º a tº -
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is as m = * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Big Dry Creek (seepage from Brantner).
Fifth measurement—South Platte below
IEllwood E. Wheeler Ditch
Beeman Ditch -------------------------
Meadow Island Ditch .....
Buckers' Ditch -----------------------.
Farmers' Independent Ditch
Sixth measurement—South Platte River
below Platteville
St. Vrain Creek------------------------
Big Bend Ditch....... fº = e - a tº a sº as * * is a s - - -
TJnion Canal
Seventh river measurement—South Platte,
low dams of Union Cana
Big Thompson Creek-----------------.
Mayfield Ditch
Eighth river measurement—South Platte,
below dam of Mayfield Ditch
Ninth river measurement—South Platte,
at head of Latham Ditch
Cache la Poudre
Tenth river measurement—South Platte,
at Hoovºr Ditch
Hardin Ditch. -------------------------
Eleventh river measurement — South
Platte, at head of K. and Big Ditch.
Small ditch (no name)
Putnam Ditch
Twelfth river measurement—South Platte.
Fort Morgan Canal
Thirteenth river measurement—South
Flatte, below Fort Morgan Canal.--.
Bijou Creek . . -------------------------
* * * * * g g º ºn tº *
* * * * * * * * * * *
s' s tº tº º – ºr • * * * * * * * * * * * *
a tº sº º sº as º 'º - a
- - gº º sº sº - - - - - - - - e º s = - - - - -
* * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * g º me tº e º º -
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * g º º v - * * *
• = * * * * * - * * * * * * * * * * * *
- -, º se is
- - - - - - -
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
* * * * as is a
3. 6
• - - - - - -
tº - - - - ºr *
a tº e - tº tº we
- - - - - - -
• * * * * * *
* * * * * * *
m a nº ºn at A *
e - as an º sº *
* * * * * *
• * * * * * * *
2.6 I.------.
3.3 || II.III.
1.4 l-------.
9.3 -------.
* º ºs tº º – 135.8
3.6 |-------.
0.9 |-------.
3. 1 |-------.
& sº *s ºr - - 181. 0
0.6 |. ------.
is ºn tº tº º e 207, 9
s tº gº - (- - 249. 9
s sº sº ºn tº º 264. 2
18. 1 |-------.
* * * * * * 277.7
6, 6 ſ. -------
* * * * * - 287.3
* F º ºs º- - - 327.8
14.8 |.. ------
tº º ſº e º ºs 887. 4
* † tº sº tºº & 407. 9
...] 437.6’
* * * * * 436.7
3.6 |----- a tº as
* * * * * *
e as ºn s - -
* * * * * *
* - - - - -
tº º - - - -
- - - - - -
* - - - - -
* - - - - -
* - - - - -
- * * * * *
w ºn tº º gº º
• * * * * *
* m º ºs º ºs
* - º E - is
- * * * * *
• * * * * *
: g: bſ +)
# |#3
§ 3 §§
o: & B:
# ºre sº
* 5 § gº
‘s: # £º
a $3 ... 8
5 goš # 8
E.5 GO B S
3 g; ; ; ; ;
* #3 $ §
.8 §: B. : t:
c.3: º o: g
###| ###
#3: #33
p: “… +3 ;: a 8
H-4 H
Per cº
5. 0 3. 8
50.2 38. 3
77. 1 58.9
119. 1 81.1
133.4 101.9
146.9 112, 3
156, 5 119.6
197.0 150, 6
256. 6 196. 1
277.1 211.8
276.2"| "211.0
305.9 233. 3
HOW CAN II&RIGATION CAPITAL BE OBTAINED, 233
Table of measurements of seepage water in the South Platte River, etc.—Continued.

* wº- & § $-1 50 go
* | g | ###| # # |#3 É
# | # #35 | # , || 3 | | Fă #:
P- cº § 3 ; ; ; Tº ; ; ; 2 3 § -
'; 3 | # 5:3 | # 3 | # 3 || 5 gº g
.d § 5 ; : ... : < 3 || 3 &
a # # ºf a # a 3 | "s; 3 || 3 Å.
O ~4- •: º 3 q) © q) q2 s: 3 *— o
3.3 || 3 || 3: # ă # 5 # 3.3 2*
Where measurements were taken. rtſ à É ## = | 3 # E # E #5 É g
; , ; ; Ś : .#3 ||33 || $3 ### | #3
: 3 §:35 P. a 2. : ; ; ; 3
º p- 5 | # 3 | H = | R = | 5 & 2 a 2-3
3 2 3: 43 <!) © o 2 | * * 5
.E. *—t .E #3 do SP GD do Sº, c : $2 c :
* | P: ſº 2 || 3: | # 3 || 32.É #3, #
Qi.) q2 P: § 2 = | 3 ° 3 ° | 3 = 3, 33 3
3 3 3 $ 3.5 ! : § § 5 P. : : 3
B: à || 3:5 || 3 || 3 || 333 || 3: ā
: 5 | E: F- ſº hº- *
Fourteenth river measurement—South Per ct.
Platte, at Denel ...------------------. 8.3 |-------|------ 437.8 | 1.1 - - - - - - 307. 0 234.6
Denel and Snyder Ditch........-------|-----. . 3.6 |------|--------|------|--------------|--------
Platt and Beaver Canal.-----...-----...------ 25.0 l.-----|--------|------|------|--------|--------
Lower Beaver Ditch-------------------|------. 17.5 !------|--------------|------|--------|--------
Beaver Creek. --...-------------- * * * * ~ * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7.0 l.-------|------|--------------|--------
Smits's or Island Farm Ditch................. 8.4 l------|--------------|------|--------|------- º
Tetsal Ditch---------------------------|------- 2.3 |-------------. * 4t gº ºs º l tº sº sº dº sº º º e º & sº º sº e ſ sº is º gº tº dº º tº
South Platte Ditch ----------------- as sº sº I • * * * * * = 24 k --------------------|------|--------|------- sº
Pawnee Ditch - - - - - - - - tº º is sº tºp º ºs ºf * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * 4.4 l------|--------|------|----------------------
South Platte, at Merino........... sº º ºs º ºs º ºs = e 8.5 ! ------------- 516.4 || 78.5 ...... 385. 5 294.7
Schneider Ditch------------------------------ • 12.8 |------|--------|------|------|--------|--------
Springdale Ditch ------------ tº º ºs ºs º 'º - E & & a tº dº º ºs e is 3.6 |------|--------|------|------|-------. * * * * * * * * *
Sterling Ditch No. 1 ------------------------. 10.1 !------|--------|------|------|--------|--------
Tow Line Ditch......... tº º º ſº tº º tº gº tº dº tº gº is tº ſº tº º ºs º ºs & 1.8 l------|--------|------|------|--------|--------
Smith and Henderson... ---------------|------. 6.8 ------|--------|------|------|--------|--------
South Platte, at Sterling......-- tº e º gº tº gº º ----| 6.4 -------|------ 549.2 32.8 ...... 418. 3 319. 8
Sterling Ditch, No. 2.----------------.]------- 1.9 |------|-------|------------|--------|--------
Arnette Ditch. ----...---- tº tº ºs e e º º ºs º ºs º ºr ºs º º ji e º sº e º ſº sº 8.9 |------|--------|------|------|--------|--------
South Platte, near Iliff ........ * tº tº gº tº dº tº gº º gº tº ſº tº gº ºn tº dº º is º Gº & º & --|------| 553. 6 1 4.4 |-----. 422.7 323, 1
NOTE.-The following are the distances, in an air line, from the different points of measurement:
& Miles. Miles.
First to second----------- & gº tº tºº & º dº º te sº º 'º º & ------ 11% Ninth to tenth ------------------------------- 10
Second to third -----. vº º ºs e º e º ºs º ºs º º sº º sº º sº tº º ºs tº sº sº & 11 Tenth to eleventh---------------------------- 4%
Third to fourth ------------------------------ 17% Eleventh to twelfth..... ſº tº º & E L = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7;
Fourth to fifth----...---- tº º tº gº ºn º º sº º 'º ºn tº º ºs º gº tº gº tº sº. 9 Twelfth to thirteenth. -- - - - tº gº tº º tº ºt iº gº tº º sº as tº sº e º sº tº 4;
Fifth to sixth ..... tº sº º ºs º ºs m. tº dº e º sº gº º ºs ºf wºº º ºs º dº tº ºn tº º ºs ºf 7 Thirteenth to fourteenth -------------------- 7
Sixth to seventh ......... tº gº tº e º sº tº dº is º º sº gº ºn tº ſº gº º gº ºs 7% | Fourteenth to fifteenth -----------. tº º ºs º 'º tº $º s tº º 18
Seventh to eighth....... * * g º ºs ºs º ºs º ºs e º sº º ºs e º ºs º ºs ºs 5 Fifteenth to sixteenth. ------------------...-. 7+
Eighth to ninth ------------------------------ 2 | Sixteenth to seventeenth ............. ------- 4%
STATEMENT BY CHARLES W. GREENE ON FINANCIAL POLICY.
[Made by request.]
CHICAGO, ILL., January 20, 1890.
Hon. WM. M. STEwART,
United States Senator, Chairman Special Committee on Irrigation:
DEAR SIR: When in Washington a few days simce you asked me to present in writ-
ing, for the consideration of the committee, my views in reference to the employment
of private capital for the development of irrigation in the arid region.
You suggested that I should wholly discard the idea that the Government shall un-
dertake the construction of any comprehensive and extensive system of reservoirs
and canals, and that I should present —
First. The inducements necessary to enlist private capital.
Second. The practical safeguards against the monoply of the public domain by in-
dividuals or corporations.
Third. The protection which should be accorded to such investments.
Whatever value may attach to my opinions on these several subjects will be wholly
due to the experience gained in almost two years of constant and reasonably success-
ful effort to secure capital for corporate irrigation enterprises, and to the careful
study of the subject which has been inseparable to such effort.
234 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
As to the first topic. The chief inducement to the investment of capital is the profit
which may be directly derived from it. The first question asked is, Will it pay
Those undertakings, considered as a class, which are proven by experience in dif-
ferent places and under varying conditions to have a reliable earning power, can com-
mand almost any sums of money that may be asked, at a rate of interest gauged by the
risks incurred. -
There must be, however, a public knowledge of such undertakings among the in-
Vesting classes to command attention. While many investors insist on having per-
Sonal knowledge of the management, or that it must be under their own eyes, others
Will take greater risks, provided the margin of profit is sufficient to justify. It is the
latter class who will make most of the investments until a better knowledge of irri-
gation has been disseminated. *
To state the difficulties may best suggest the requisites for success. The arid dis-
trict is localized west of the ninety-eighth meridian, distant from money centers. It
is but thinly settled and comparatively little known. There is a wide-spread preju-
dice, owing to the formerly prevalent idea that it was a “desert,” unfit for cultiva-
tion and practically worthless.
There is not much of it that is inviting to the casual observer. The natural prod-
ucts are of slow growth; but few of them have any value as food for either man or
beast. The tree-growth is shrubby and furnishes no desirable building material and
but little fuel. The natural grasses, though nutritious, grow so slowly that as much
as 30 acres is required to feed each animal ranging on them. It requires some
courage, born of knowledge and experience, to invest money in the reclamation of
such lands. Transportation facilities are limited. Settlements are few and far be-
tween. There is no inducement for settlement, indeed it is impossible until a water
supply is provided.
It follows, then, that a first necessity is to let investors know the truth in regard to
these lands. That they are exceptionally fertile. That the application of water
makes them wonderfully productive. That the 30 acres which will now support only
one animal becomes capable, when a water supply is provided and it is seeded with
tame grasses, of feeding from sixty to one hundred animals. That the choicest fruits,
and all the cereals, reach the highest perfection upon these apparently barren lands.
That agriculture or horticulture becomes there an exact science. That water, Sunshine,
and soil may be combined by the intelligent cultivator for the production of as cer-
tain results as the manufacturer can attain from the combination of labor and the raw
material in the various processes of industry.
Your committee has gathered a vast amount of reliable information that proves the
value of these lands and the falsity of the popular impression, and which proves,
too, the certainty of satisfactory returns for capital judiciously employed. The pub-
lication and general distribution of this information will, in my humble opinion,
exert a most potent influence to secure the investment of private capital. It is a lack
of knowledge which greatly delays such investments.
No greater inducement can possibly be offered than a statement of facts in regard
to this region. The term “desert” is a misnomer as applied to such lands as water
can be supplied for.
When compared with the granite hills of the East, with a scanty soil and a bleak
climate, or even with the prairies of the central West, it has manifold advantages.
There is a wealth of natural resources but little comprehended. There is money in
the bright warm sunshine; there is money in the water wherever it can be brought
and applied to the soil; there is money in the fertile surface soils; there is money in
the clays; there is money in the timber; there is money in the vast coal-fields, in the
extensive deposits of iron; there is money in the gold mines, in the silver mines, in
the copper mines, in the lead mines; there is literally money in the underlying rocks.
There is health and comfort in the dry, mild climate, in the mountain air, in the free-
dom from malaria and pulmonary ailments. These are among the inducements, for
investing money in irrigation and which will invite settlers to occupy every irrigable
àCTG, -
The area under discussion is of vast extent. It includes seventeen degrees of lati-
tude and twenty-four degrees of longitude. The altitude varies from sea-level to
about 8,000 feet. The temperature ranges from 40° below zero to 120° in the shade:
The products embrace all those of the temperate zone and the subtropical fruits and
l'a,SSGS,
g The sources of water supply are from running streams, from springs, and wells,
from artesian wells, from tunnels into the mountains, from reservoirs retaining flood
waters, etc. The distribution is by gravity through open canals and acequias, through
cement and iron pipes at various pressures, or water may be raised or forced by wind,
steam, or hydraulic power. The cost of water supply may range from a single dol-
iar per acre to a hundred dollars or even more, and under certain conditions the latter
cost may be justified by the returns.
DIFFICULTIES IN THE WAY OF CONSTRUCTION. 235
Each locality has its specific advantages and favoring conditions. Experience has
proved that irrigation enterprises have been successful in every part of this great
area and under all of the varying local circumstances. But very few have been un-
successful, and those were generally so from faulty management.
They are not all equally profitable. Some localities offer far greater advantages
than others, and the most signal successes, as to financial results, have been achieved
where the seasons are longest, where the sun shines hottest and most constant, and
where vegetable growth is rankest.
The inducements to be presented to investors will necessarily be suggested by the
conditions existing in each separate locality.
With a general knowledge of the underlying principles of irrigation, considered as
an industry, widely disseminated, each undertaking will commend itself by its own
peculiar advantages. These may be a specially fertile soil, a favorable climate,
adaptation to particular products, a good local market, the facilities for transporta-
tion, cheapness of construction, an active demand for water which makes it command
the higher prices, etc. -
The security for such investments is exceptional. The increase in value of the land
reclaimed is so positive and so rapid, and these values are so substantially based upon
land with its earning capacity, that deferred payments and annual charges, as well
as reasonable bonded indebtedness, are safe beyond all question. As compared with
railroads, water-works, gas-works, or other corporate undertakings where the growth
of traffic or patronage is comparatively slow and is contingent upon so many uncer-
tainties, irrigating enterprises increase the values of land reclaimed often many fold
within the brief time devoted to construction, and each item added to the income ac-
count becomes permanent and practically perpetual at agreed rates.
It will be very difficult to adapt general legislation to all the varied conditions
which exist within the arid region of the United States. In Egypt the Nile is the
one source of irrigation, and legislation may readily control every detail. In Spain
or Italy the area is comparatively small in each, the climate is uniform, and all the
conditions are similar, yet in these countries irrigation has presented many difficult
problems for solution. It may be here noted that it is everywhere successful and
profitable, and when once undertaken is never abandoned.
While the Wright law of California is admirably adapted to the needs of that State,
where the lands are nearly all owned by individuals, the titles perfected, and all sub-
ject to taxation, where transportation facilities are excellent, and where all industries
are well organized and specialized, it is wholly impractical for many localities, and
particularly where there are large areas of unoccupied lands. In such localities the
investment of capital must precede general settlement. The settler can not occupy or
cultivate the land until provision is made for supplying water. The homesteader is
not generally wealthy, and most of the localities where it is within the capacity of
individual or community effort to secure and distribute water are already occupied
and under improvement. •
It is those districts where large streams must be diverted, where engineering diffi-
culties are to be overcome, or where the water supply must be stored in expensive res-
ervoirs which are now requiring large sums of money for their development. These
are wholly out of reach for the land locator, and all the profit which could be de- .
rived under the most favorable circumstances from 100 or 200 acres of land would be
small inducement for any man to inaugurate such undertakings. They are clearly
beyond the capacity of individuals or communities. The individual can not live
there, nor the communities be formed, until the large expenditure has been made and
the water supply is actually provided.
Again, the municipal or public corporation system is impractical for such districts,
because there is little, if any, taxable property. The homestead is not taxable until
final proof is made, and that requires five years of actual residence. Pre-empted land
is not taxable until a final receipt is issued, and that may be more than two years
after settlement; and so with land taken under the timber-culture law or under the
“desert” act, the title remains wested for a longer or shorter time in the Govern-
ment, and the land is not subject to taxation during that time.
Whatever inducements may be offered to private investors to reclaim and make
these lands inhabitable by direct legislation, it appears to me, must be in the way of
providing some practical method by which capitalist and settler may co-operate.
While the one shall make available a water supply he must be entitled to a fair and
reasonable compensation, and the lands deriving a benefit should be held responsible
for the payment. This regardless of whether the title remains in the Government
after entry or has been perfected by the occupant.
* A literal compliance with some of the present laws—which were never designed for
the conditions under consideration—would render the construction of irrigation works
almost impossible, and of necessity these laws have been construed with some lib-
erality to the settler.
236 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The embarrassments which must attend such legislation are manifold. It is vari-
ously estimated that from $80,000,000 to $120,000,000 are already invested in irrigation
plants. They have been created under existing statutes, generally State or Territo-
rial enactments. Though any proposed legislation should not be retroactive, any
radical change might seriously affect present investments, as these undertakings re-
quire years of time for their development, and most of them are just at the beginning.
Based upon enactments now in force and calculated upon existing conditions, they
may be crippled or destroyed by adverse national legislation. Further investments
Would certainly be discouraged by injury to present investors.
Popular clamor denounces corporations and demands a scaling of the profits to be
allowed capital; but such clamor is not always reasonable or just. The undertakings
are too large for single individuals, and the aggregation of capital is only possible
under the corporate or company system which has been devised for its concentration
and employment and for the determination of personal liability. -
Because there have been abuses of corporate powers is no good reason for the de-
nunciation of a system which has accomplished so much that is beneficial.
. A law which shall limit the profits of one party where the facilities are specially
good and all conditions favorable, would destroy another less fortunately situated.
I shall therefore summarize as to the first topic :
There should be a general dissemination of reliable information to enable investors
to judge intelligently as to the merits of the industry as a whole and as to particular
localities. To this end the hydrographic and topographical surveys should be has-
tened. This is clearly within the province of the Government to provide. They
need not be accurate and complete surveys, but rather preliminary, only presenting
such general data as will determine the relative location of suitable dam sites, suffi-
cient storage capacity and available arable lands, and as to what reservations are
actually necessary. The extent of drainage area and average rain-fall should also
be determined. There are not so many of these favorable locations as may be Sup-
posed. Indeed, they are comparatively few.
The area to be reclaimed is of such vast extent and there is such a variety of soil,
climate, productions, of transportation facilities, of water supply and distribution,
that national legislation may easily prove prejudicial.
The land laws should permit of co-operation between capital and settler. There
should be positive assurance that the Government will not compete with nor embar-
rass private undertakings, though it may adopt all proper safeguards against the
abuse of granted privileges. *
With national legislation to protect the public land, while providing for its occu-
pancy; to determine as to suitable dam and reservoir sites; to prevent the occupancy
of sites adapted to reclaiming and utilizing a large area by parties who only im-
prove a fraction of it; to definitely determine the rights of appropriation of water
Íimited to its use only; to grant the use of designated reservoir sites and right of
way for canals and ditches on public lands, I submit that the legislation suited to
each locality for the inducement and protection of investors can be properly and
safely intrusted to the States and Territories.
The second topic: What are the practical safeguards against the monopoly of the
public domain by individuals or corporations?
So much more is heard of the abuses of granted privileges than of the benefits
derived that it is not unnatural if it creates an unfavorable opinion as to public
bonesty.
Yet it is quite safe to assert that the great mass of investors are really desirous of
acting within the law. Obedience to and regard for the law is a necessity to the
stability of investments. It is a small minority who are disposed to take advantage
of their associates or of the Government. With the experience of the past as a guide
it ought surely to be possible to guard against the schemes of the evil-minded with-
out unduly restricting the operations of those who in good faith are willing to, aid in
creating wealth from the vast undeveloped resources of the region in question by
the use of their capital.
There are four prominent methods under existing laws of acquiring title to the
public lands.
The homestead law provides for a long bona fide residence and the payment of only
nominal fees to acquire title. As I have before suggested, a homestead settlement
can not very well precede a permanent water supply, and is only possible where the
annual rain fall will permit of some cultivation of will produce partial crops: , If, is,
therefore, impracticable to adapt the present law to many large areas which it is
possible and desirable to irrigate.
The pre-emption law requires a shorter term of actual residence ºn the land, butt
exacts $1.25 an acre in payment for it. This law has been taken advantage of and
abused more than any other. If repealed as to the irrigable region it could probably
be substituted by a better enactment. º
The timber-culture law is objectionable in many respects, yet nowhere is there
greater need to encourage the growth of trees for timber and fuel. If such encour-
th
WEAT LEGISLATION IS BEST FOR ITRIGATION. 237
agement could be provided for in some other way, or if it should be required of canal-
builders, perhaps, as a condition to the granting right of way to plant trees along
the main canals and principal laterals and on the margin of reservoirs, it would be
of inestimable advantage to the public welfare. It would fully compensate the ex-
pense to the builders or owners of the canals by direct benefits.
The desert act has many good features and some bad ones. It gives inducement
for the reclamation of the land by allowing the acquirement of a full section to each
individual. It does not require residence either before or after the water is provided.
The entryman may not be a resident either of the State or Territory. It does not
stipulate as to what use shall be made of the land or how much shall be put under
cultivation. It only requires that permanent water shall be carried to each 40 acres,
and evidently assumes that when such expense has been incurred the self-interest
of the entryman will prompt him to cultivate it. Under this law great abuses have
been perpetrated, and yet it has some commendable features.
Can not a law be framed that will contain the good features of all these several
law8 and be the only one under which these lands may be acquired ?
It may provide:
(1) For a reasonable limit of area.
(2) Prohibiting more than one entry to each individual, and defining the qualifica-
tions of an entryman.
(3) That the entryman may mortgage it to secure a water supply to a certain limit
and to insure its maintenance.
(4) For a time limit within which the water supply may be secuted.
(5) For actual residence and cultivation after water is obtained.
(6) For the perfection of title when certain improvements have been made or when
a stated proportion has been brought under cultivation.
(7) For encouragement to tree-planting, not by the lacre of solid growth, but by the
number of thrifty trees, permitting the planting along ditches or fence rows and to
include either fruit or forest trees.
(8) Severe penalties for the violation of its provisions.
As to the limit of area, it must in great measure depend upon the class and locality
of the lands. While 5 acres of orange orchard, or other semi-tropical fruits, may
afford a handsome income, 5 acres of land, only adapted to grain or a single crop of
grass would not be worth having. Whether the lands shall be classified, and who
shall be authorized to make the classification, will require careful consideration.
The importance of rapid settlement and improvement of the reclaimed lands, and
the advantage of having it occupied by the greatest number of occupants, is so great
to a company providing water supply that it almost insures the exertion of every
energy to that end. If, then, there shall be a limitation put upon the acquirement of
extensive areas to be held for speculative purposes without improvement the returns
to capital will be made dependent upon legitimate efforts.
A combination of the irrigable and pastoral lands has been strongly urged by Major
Powell. Whether it can be practically accomplished throughout the entire region
and under all circumstances is a question for very careful consideration. A limited
area immediately adjoining a small tract of irrigated land could have no great value.
Take the gramma grass districts as an instance. After each rain-fall the stem of this
grass freshens and renews its growth. As the surface moisture is evaporated it dries
and growth ceases until the rain falls again. It is equally nutritious, dry or green.
It requires three years for a growth of 6 to 12 inches. If cut or fed close it may be
months before it will again furnish pasturage. Under the present system of range
feeding cattle can feed at any time over a range of 5 miles or more from permanent
streams or springs. As soon, however, as a heavy rain or snow fall permits them to
leave such permanent water they travel for long distances upon the plateaus or into
the mountains. When one section is covered with snow they drift to another, it may
be one side of a mountain where the snow melts soonest, so that localities many miles
from permanent water are now utilized for pasturage. That these cattle must have
access to the permanent water goes without saying, and the fencing in of such waters
can not be permitted. If they are prevented from reaching the river they must have
access to the canals or reservoirs. But if the pasturage shall be confined to the tract
immediately adjacent to the irrigated lands many districts of plateau and mountain
will be wholly worthless.
The third topic : What protection shall be accorded to such investments:
(1) A definite determination as to the rights which may be acquired in the use of
Water. * *
(2) Legal protection against subsequent locators who may seek to divert water
supply where provision has already been made for its distribution for such reason-
able time as will permit the settlement and improvement of the lands. ge
(3) A lien against the lands benefited to secure the payment of a just compensation
for constructing the Works and for their maintenance and for the use of the capital
+ºle
* * -
238 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
/ r
º Such lien only to apply as against the private ownership as acquired under
© 13, WS. -
(4) Protection against malicious injury to the works and against the improper use
or waste of water by the occupant of the land or others.
(5) Power to adopt and enforce such rules and regulations for the distribution of
water as may be necessary to conserve and to facilitate its economic use.
The subject is very broad and of great importance, and I appreciate that in the
brief time at my disposal and under the pressure of business engagements I have not
been able to do it full justice. z
REPORT BY E. M. McCLELLAN, C. E., ON ELKO COUNTY, NEV,”
Elko County, situated in the northeastern part of Nevada, is 155 miles in width,
east and west, and 120 miles in length, containing 16,670 square miles of land.
About 30 miles south of the north boundary, extending across the county from east
to west, is the water-shed, separating the waters of the Columbia and Snake Rivers
from those of the great basin.
This water-shed is composed of several different parallel mountain ranges which
trend north and south, having an elevation of 8,000 to 10,000 feet above the sea-level.
In many places the valleys between these ranges have such an even slope both ways
from their highest part that it is only by close observation a person can determine
when they have crossed the water-shed. At other points the ranges are connected by
cross mountains, nearly as high as the main mountain.
On the north side of this water-shed are six main streams, viz: Goose Creek, in the
east, Salmon River, Bruneau River, and the east, middle, and west forks of the
Owyhee River. In the northwest corner of the county, lying between the east and
west forks of the Owyhee River, is the Owyhee Desert, containing over 1,000,000
acres, 750,000 acres of which is fine agricultural land.
Four of the rivers now flow north, viz, the Salmon, Bruneau, and east and middle
Forks of the Owyhee, which show distinct traces of having office discharged their
waters in the opposite direction, and in the valleys at their heads can to-day be
traced the shore-line of old lakes. At that time also the water-shed was farther north
than now, and its course northeast and southwest. Subsequently the vast lava field,
which covers Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, flowed up to and in some places over
the divide. The consequent settling of the earth’s crust beneath the weight of the
lava caused an elevation of the country a few miles away from the edge; and also
the convulsion which broke apart the mountain near by, and which are shown to-day
by the deep, narrow cañons through which the rivers flow.
Upon leaving these caſions the rivers have worn away the lava to a great depth,
and now flow across the desert in precipitous gorges from 200 to 3,000 feet in depth.
'Where the mountains end and the lava field commences, the rivers are very near the
level of the desert and can be readily carried over it. And in each of these cañons,
which are not over 100 feet wide at the bottom, dams can be placed turning the
valleys again into lakes, and the water, now running to the ocean, will be utilized
in reclaiming land, which is the richest and most productive in the world, but, as it
now lies, is worthless. -
As most of the agricultural lands lying below the old lake beds on the Salmon and
Bruneau Rivers and Goose Creek are in Idaho I will not report on them, but will
mention a small lake bed, near the head of the Salmon (No. 18), which can be re-
flooded and 20,000 acres reclaimed in this State, and one on Goose Creek (No. 19)
which will irrigate 10,000 acres.
Upon the east fork of the Owyhee are two reservoir sites, Nos. 16 and 17, on
appended plat. tº - e.
No. 17 is at the upper end of the ancient lake bed and can be utilized in irrigating
4,000 acres of land below it, which will not be covered, by a reservoir 100 feet hig
at No. 16.
No. 16 will flood about 10,000 acres at the lower end of the old lake bed and store
sufficient water to irrigate 150,000 acres of land. It has 220 square miles of natural
water-shed, some of the mountains being 10,000 feet high. e
No. 15 is an old lake bed, now called Bull Run Basin, and is the finest small reser-
voir site in the country. It has about 50 miles of water-shed, is surmounted by high
mountains, and water can be stored for 50,000 acres.
* This report did not reach the committee in season to be inserted in the third vol-
ume of testimony. -
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TMI-A P º
OF
ELKO COUNTY,
NEVADA,
SHOWING PRINCIPAT,
RESERVO I R SITES,
PROPOSED CANALS,
AND
MAIN STREAMS.
E. C. McCLEIILAN, C. E.
1889.
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Elko County.






















































































































































RESERVoIR SITES IN ELKo county, NEVADA. 239
No. 14 is in the southern part of the State; same lake bed as 15, the mountain
having been broken open in two places, but the site for a reservoir is not good. It
is separated from 15 by a ridge 100 feet high.
No. 13 is the old lake bed near the head of the main Owyhee, and has a drainage
of 270 square miles. The storage capacity and wator supply is amply sufficient for
250,000 acres.
The Little Owyhee, heading west of Elko County and flowing across the northwest
corner, has a small lake bed near its head, not shown on the accompanying map.
The waters stored in these reservoirs, Nos. 13, 14, 15, and 16 and on the Little Owyhee,
can by canals be conducted upon the lava field at the highest places and conveyed
over all the land which water can be collected for. The necessary canals leading
out from the caſions and constructed along the base of the mountains would also
gather all the water coming from the mountains in the small streams which flow
own. The early spring flow from these streams alone will irrigate at least 50,000
acres during the flow, which lasts till July.
Heading in the water-shed and flowing south into the Great Basin are a large num-
ber of fine streams, the largest of which flow through ancient lake beds, which can be
converted into reservoirs. Commencing on the west, the ſirst one is the Little Hum-
boldt River, which rises upon the southern crest of the lava belt, flows north 18 miles,
then west and southwest. There are no lake beds along its course until after it
enters Humboldt County.
Rock Creek flows south through two old lake beds, each of which will be easily
flooded. The first, No. 12, at the lower end of Squaw Valley (the present name of
the old lake bed), has a drainage of 400 square miles. There are only about 10,000
acres of agricultural land in Elko County below this reservoir site. The second, No.
11, 12 miles below the first, in Rock Creek Basin, and partly outside this county, has
an additional drainage of 200 square miles.
About 200,000 acres of good agricultural land lies below these two in Eureka, Lan-
der, and Humboldt Counties, a part of which can be reclaimed by these reservoirs.
No. 9 is another lake bed, situated just outside of this county. It is not as good a
reservoir site as any of those so far named, but has a fine water-shed of 250 square
miles on Maggie Creek. About 10,000 acres can be reclaimed by this.
No. 10, on Susie Creek, is a small reservoir point; has a water-shed of 50 square
miles, with 3,000 acres of good agricultural land below.
The north fork of the Humboldt, with its tributaries, flows through five old lake
beds. Nos. 2, 4, 5, and 6 are comparatively small, and will flood about 2,000 acres with
dams 30 feet high. No. 3 is the largest and most important in the county south of
the water-shed. The old lake bed covers nearly 10 square miles, drains 750 square
miles of territory, and will irrigate 100,000 acres of land which lies below it.
No. 7, near the head of Mary’s River, on Hanks Creek, is also an important reser-
Voir site. It has 50 square miles' drainage of mountains 9,000 feet high, and nearly
200,000 acres fine agricultural land below it.
No. 8, at the head of Bishop Creek, is a second-class reservoir site, with a drainage
of 75 square miles. §
No. 1 is the only lake bed that can be used on the south side of the Humboldt River,
and a very important one, as into it can be put the drainage of 700 square miles, cov-
ering the highest mountain range in the State of Nevada (the Ruby Mountains,
Which are 13,000 feet high). A dam here 100 feet high would cover 10 square miles,
but it would take one at least 200 feet high to hold all the water now going to waste.
There are at least 1,000,000 acres of agricultural land below in the Humboldt Valley.
These lake beds, from Nos. 1 to 12 inclusive, lie in the Humboldt Basin. In addi-
tion to these, which are away from the main river, there are three places in this
county where the river has broken through mountain ranges—at A1, A2, and A3–
where are fine sites for large reservoirs but impracticable on account of the railroad
and towns in the valley. They also mark the sites of old lakes which were several
hundred feet in depth. tº
A1, at the junction of the northfork with the Humboldt River, is the largest. A2,
below the mouth of the south fork, is second in size. A3, in the western part of the
county, at the mouth of Maggie Creek, is third in importance. The break through
the mountains below A3 forms the Palisades, noted as the finest bit of Scenery along
the overland railroad.
Below each of these reservoir sites is sufficient land to be irrigated with all the
water that can be stored in it.
The Humboldt River is the most important river in the Great Basin, having nearly
1,500 miles of water channel. The entire water-shed of this river lies in Elko County,
except two tributaries of the Little Humboldt in the northern part of Humboldt
County, and Reese River, in Lander County, which flows north through the central
part of the State. *
The river in its course southwest, after leaving Elko County, flows across one
other larger lake bed than any of those above, and breaks through another chain of
*
&
240 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID "LANDS.
mountains at Iron Point, between Battle Mountain and Winnemucca. Battle Mount-
ain is built within this lake bed, and contains the only artesian wells that have been
* In * eastern part of the State. Reese River enters the Humboldt Valley at
1S polnt.
. Through Elko County the Humboldt River bottom is about a mile wide. On each
side are bluffs from 50 to 100 feet high, and extending back from these bluffs to the
foot of the mountains on both sides lie table lands, upon which the few farmers in
our County are located, and where all crops raised in the temperate regions can be
grown and harvested with far less work than in the countries not irrigated. At the
present date the farms are located along the small streams where they come from the
mountains, and where the only work necessary for reclaiming the land was to clear
off the brush at a cost of $2 an acre and run a plow furrow from the creek upon it.
Only one reservoir has been built in the county. It is located in Squaw Valley, in
the western part of the county, and a canal in connection with the reservoir has re-
claimed 5,000 acres. The company expect to irrigate as much more by it as soon as
the land can be cleared off. This land without the water was worthless, now it is
worth $100 an acre. The cost of constructing the dam and canal was $200,000. Cost
º acres of land cleared and planted was $25,000, which leaves a gain of
4 5 º
The cost of the next 5,000 acres will be only $25,000 which will net the company
owning it $475,000.
The reservoir site, utilized by them, is poorer than any which I have mentioned as
yet, being the only one which the company could utilize for their land. There are a
large number of reservoir sites throughout the county as good as the one utilized in
Squaw Valley.
In the northeast corner of the county the water-shed has turned north to within 12
miles of the north boundary, and on the south slope is the headwaters of Thousand
Spring Creek. The north branch, called Rock Creek, heads here 25 miles west of
the Utah line and flows south 20 miles. The South Fork, or main Thousand Spring
Creek, heads 35 miles south and 25 miles west of the head of Rock Creek, flowing
northeasterly to the junction.
Just below the junction the mountain has been broken through, and above it is the
reservoir site, marked No. 20 on the appended map. These creeks drain 450 square
miles of water-shed, one-third of which is mountain land. Twelve miles below this,
one, at No. 21, is another lake bed, which can be utilized, but the opening where a
dam would be built is nearly 300 feet wide. It has 125 miles of additional water-shed.
Below these two reservoir sites is 125,000 acres of fine valley land.
The waters of Tbousand Spring Creek and all east of the Ruby range of mount-
ains belong to the eastern part of the Great Basin in which Salt Lake is situated.
In the southeastern part of the county the mountain ranges are lower than elsewhere
and the precipitation of moisture far less. The prevailing storms are all brought
from the Japan current in the Pacific Ocean, northwest of us, and the water-shed on
the north and Ruby Mountains on the west catch most of the moisture as the clouds
go over them. - s
There are two ranges of mountains in this section, with valleys between, which
have no outlet and were lake beds at some period of greater precipitation than now.
Between the Ruby range and the first range east the valley is divided into two
parts. The southern part, lying close to the Ruby Mountains, is called Ruby Valley.
it is 5 miles wide at the lower end and 12 at the upper. At the South are two
lakes—Ruby and Franklin. The Ruby range is low at the south, furnishing com-
paratively little water, and Ruby Lake is fed by numerous springs which overflow
from the artesian belt beneath, created by the ancient lake. Franklin Lake, just
north, and about the same level as Ruby lake, is supplied from the surface streams
which flow into it and Franklin River.
Ruby Valley is 50 miles long. Northeast of Ruby Valley is the northern part of the
main vallev, which is subdivided into two valleys, called Clover Valley and Inde-
pendence Valley. g * * *
Clover Valley lies on the east of the mountains, which is here generally called
Clover Mountains. The valley is 20 miles long and 10 miles wide. East of Clover
Valley is Independence Valley, 40 miles long and 10 wide.
These two valleys once formed a lake of greater extent, but have now less pre-
cipitation of moisture than Ruby Valley, is tº º
just south of Independence Valley is Spruce Mountain, which has an elevation of
10,000 feet but is only 3 miles long on the summit. East of the south end of Ruby
valley are the north ends of Long and Butte Valleys; across the mountains lies Step;
toe Valley. It is divided into two parts, the northern part lying in this county and
being 60 miles long and an average width of 10 miles; it is called Goshute Valley.
The ancient lake bed in this valley is more extensive than in the Valleys west of it,
but at the present day the precipitation of moisture is far less. All of these valleys
show the presence of artesian beſts beneath, but no Wolls have ever been sunk and it
is not known what supply they will furnish.
THE RECLAIMABLE AREAS OF ELKO COUNTY. 241
There are no good reservoir sites in this section of the county, and although there are
over 1,000,000 acres of fine agricult.aral land in these valleys, not over 200,000 acres
of this can be irrigated without a large expenditure for storage. The Ruby and Clover
range have sufficient snow and rain-fall to irrigate all the land in the valleys if it
was stored.
The reservoir sites thus far described are the largest and best in the county, will
need an average expenditure of $100,000 each, and the work can only be done by the
Government or capitalists. Twenty of the twenty-one mentioned have an outlet
where the dam would be placed less than 100 feet wide, and a dam 100 feet high
would not be over 700 feet long at the top.
The bottom and sides of the cañons are, in all cases, solid rock, and stone for build-
ing can be quarried on the spot. The land to be irrigated below them still belongs to
the Government. Nearly all the land in, this county taken up is on the low bottoms
along the rivers and streams that were natural meadows, where the ground is too
damp and cold to raise anything but grass.
Owing to our poor transportation facilities and an unjust discrimination against
the whole State by the only through line of railroad in it, the farmers have been only
able to raise cattle for the markets abroad. The consequence is that in selecting
land the first necessity for the settler was to find a piece of meadow where he could
at once raise hay for his stock. Then if by a little work he could clear off and culti-
wate a small garden to raise enough vegetables for his own use he had to be contented.
Before the railroad was built connecting the mining town of Eureka, in Eureka.
County, with the Central Pacific Railroad the people had a good market for their
produce, and farms were taken up and vegetables and cereals grown for that market
along the slope of the Ruby Mountains. Upon the construction of the railroad and
a combination of the two roads produce of all kinds were shipped from California and
the East cheaper than the farmers could land it in town. For a number of years
rain was shipped from California to Eureka for $10 a ton; at the same time if a
evada farmer living near the railroad wished to ship his grain to Eureka he would
have to pay $30 a ton. On all other farm produce the same unjust discrimination is
used.
This has nothing to do with the amount of agricultural lands and reservoir sites in
our State, I know, but it accounts almost entirely for the lack of advancement we
have made. Neither capital nor settlers are attracted to a place where they know
exorbitant rates will be charged them for everything that can not be raised but must
be shipped in; where, when anything is raised, the rates for importing the same
thing is lowered till it can be sold within a few miles at a less price than it can be
raised and landed to the market for; and where, when a market for the produce is
found away from home, the rates are raised till it will not pay to ship it. These are
the actual facts in this State, and because of this the people have been confined to
the raising of cattle and horses, which could be sent to market without depending
upon the railroad.
The interstate law has helped us some, but there still remains high rates which
only a competing line of railroad will overcome.
A close estimate of the land in this county shows that we have nearly 2,500,000
acres of No. 1 agricultural land and about 1,500,000 acres of this can be reclaimed by a
proper storage and distribution of water. In doing this the reservoirs so far men-
tioned only form the principal points for storage. There are hundreds of small res-,
ervoir points where a small expenditure of capital and work will create a storage of
waste waters capable of irrigating from 100 to 10,000 acres of land each.
In calculating the agricultural acres I have only put in my estimate those lands
in the county where it appears the best results could be had. I have left out nearly
1,000,000 acres which have a rich soil but which lie in small tracts not easily reclaimed
compared with the rest. ... When this State has the population which its vast mineral
wealth and unrivaled climate will some day bring to it, most of this land will also
be utilized.
As I have stated before most of the lands taken up lie along the river and creek
bottoms and are too cold and damp to raise anything but hay. Along the Ruby
Mountains is the largest exception to this rule, and it is There that most of our farmers
have settled. Here at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet above the sea-level can be
raised all the products of the temperate regions, including grapes, peaches, cherries,
apples, and small fruits as well as all the vegetables and cereals.
The climate is so healthy that there are only four doctors in the whole county, and
most of the cases they have are caused by accident and not from disease.
Of this 2,500,000 acres of good land, only 90,000 acres is under irrigation to-day,
and 60,000 of this is natural meadow, leaving only 30,000 acres actually farmed.
All lands that are to be reclaimed are farming lands, being dry and warmer than
the bottoms. A very liberal estimate to be placed upon the cost per acre for storage
of the water and canals for conveying it upon the lands would not be over $20. The
cost of clearing it off ready for cultivation would not be over $5 per acre more, mak-
ing a total cost of $25.
138 A L–WOL IV—16
242 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
In the northwestern part of the United States, along the Pacific coast, where immi-
gration is now directed, the actual cost of clearing the land and getting it ready for
cultivation is $135 per acre. The land is no richer, the climate far inferior, and the
amount of work to harvest a crop nearly double what it is in this State.
There is also in all non-irrigating regions the liability every few years of drought
with consequent loss of crops or excessive moisture with equally bad results. Here
the farmer can tell before planting, even without storage, exactly how many acres
can be irrigated each year, and, supplying the growing crops himself with just the
amount of water needed for each product, he never misses a harvest, and the produce
of his fields and orchards is fully equal and in many cases superior to those of non-
irrigating countries.
The traveler crossing our State sees only the worst sections of the eastern part.
º line of the railroad along the river bottom under the bluffs is 50 feet or more in
€10 Vä,íl Oll.
Looking from the car window he can see in the distance the mountains covered
with perpetual snow, and can imagine that there must be streams ſlowing from them,
bit he does not see the miles of rich tablo lands intervening, across which flows from
April to June sufficient water to convert every acre of it into productive farms if held
in reservoirs until needed.
No measurement of the annual ſlow of water in the numerous streams in the county
of Elko is known, but the farmers who have been in the country the longest state
that they are positive the quantity of water flowing to waste every year is amply
sufficient to irrigate every acre of agricultural land in the county. If this be true, it
would bring 3,500,000 acres under cultivation instead of 1,500,000 as I have estimatcd.
The agricultural land and the water to irrigate it lie in close proximity in this
northern part of tho State. The only thing necessary to create a fertile and populous
county out of the seeming desert, is wise legislation founded upon a just appreciation
of the Inceds of an irrigation district.
All enactments of our law-makers, since the Organization of the United States, have
been founded upon the English common law, acknowledged to be the best in the
world, and as long as we had only a country to make laws for which did not need
irrigation the English riparian act was the one needed for that country. But now
we have a vast empire of arid lands for which an entirely different code of laws is
required, and to successfully meet these requirements it is absolutely necessary to
frame laws of a character wholly unprovided for by English common law. To do
this it is not necessary that experimental enactments be passed as though irrigation
was a new thing in the world.
The experimental stages of law-making for the successful roclamation of arid lands
have been passed through by other governments, both in the new world and the old,
and all we have to do is to adopt the best of these, or compile a code of laws from the
best parts of all or some of them with the very slight changes which might be neces-
sary to their introduction into a free country.
The main point upon which the successful solving of the irrigation problem de-
pends is the absolute ownership and control by each State government of all waters,
storage points, and right of way for main feeding and distributing canals, The State
could then construct the canals and reservoirs and rent the water (as done by other
governments) at rates determined by the cost of constructing and keeping in repairs
the nocessary works.
No time should be lost by the Government in securing all the water and storage
points in the arid regions. The history of other irrigating communities should be
sufficient for us to be assured that only evil will befall any section of our country
where one of the main elements of life is the property of any individual or corpora-
tion and can not be controlled by the people.
Our agricultural lands lie at a general elevation of 5,000 to 6,000 feet above the sea-
level. Our mountain ranges have varied elevations of from 7,000 to 13,000 feet in
height. Very few observations have been taken of the amount of rain and snow
fall at different elevations in the country, and at only one place have we any data
for a 8ories of ten years past.
At this place (Camp Halleck), situated at an elevation of nearly 6,000 feet, the main
precipitation for the ten years was 10.5 inches annually. That is the general average
of precipitation also over a large part of the agricultural lands of the same general
elevation, but it nearly all falls in the winter and spring and has mostly disappeared
before the irrigation season is over. This amount of precipitation is greater than in
many places in the United States where irrigation is unknown.
The precipitation in the mountains can only be estimated, but it can not be less
than three times that of the valleys.
THE YELLOWSTONE PARK FOR WATER STORAGE. 243
STATEMENT OF ARNOLD HAGUE, GEOLOGIST, U. S. GEOLOGICAL
survey, IN RELATION TO THE NATIONAL YELLOWSTONE PARK
AS A WATER RESERVATIOIN.
In the organic act of 1872, establishing the Yellowstone, Park, Congress declared
that the reservation was “dedicated and set apart as a public park or pleasure ground
for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” The wisdom and foresignt of those who
at that time urged the withdrawal from settlement of this tract of land from the
public domain has never been questioned.
The necessity for the protection of the geysers and hot springs and other unrivaled
scientific curiosities of the region, the importance of utilizing the park as a game
reservation for the larger Rocky Mountain animals rapidly becoming extinct with
the settlement of the country, and the natural advantages of the place as a Sanitarium
and health resort, have since been recognized by the steadily increasing crowds of
visitors who annually visit the place.
From these aesthetic points of view alone the value of the Yellowstone Park to the
nation have amply repaid for all cost of maintenance. Its advantages to the nation
in the future has scarcely begun to be realized even by those most familiar with its
charms and natural advantages. Notwithstanding all that may be urged in favor
of a liberal maintenance of the Park based upon sentimental considerations, the most
forcible argument for its preservation is an economic one far outweighing all others
in benefits to the people. *
In my opinion the object of first importance in maintaining the Park is the con-
servation and regulation of its water supply. By the natural configuration of the
country the Park is singularly adapted as a catchment basin for the storage of water.
It is doubtful if any region of the same extent in the arid regions of the Rocky
Mountains offers so many favorable conditions for receiving, storing, and distributing
through a few main drainage channels so large an amount of water.
The Park is situated in the extreme northwest corner of Wyoming, and covers an
area approximately 50 by 40 miles. The central portion of the Park. is an elevated
volcanic plateau between 7,000 and 8,500 feet above sea-level, with a mean altitude
of 8,000 feet. The surface of the plateau is diversified by undulating basins of varied
outline cut by numerous deep caſions and gorges. Strictly speaking, it is not a
plateau in the popular acceptation of the word ; at least it is by no means a level
plain, but a rugged country presenting bold escarpments, the edges of mesa-like
ridges. Rising above this plateau on the south, east, north, and northwest occur
mountain ranges whose culminating peaks tower from 2,000 to 4,000 feet above the
inclosed table-land.
The Gallatin Range slauts in the Park on the north and northwest. Spurs and out-
lying ridges of the Gallatin connect it with the Snowy lange, an elevated mountain
mass which bounds the Park on the north and pours a large share of its water into
the Yellowstone River. The Absaroka Range borders the Park along the entire east-
ern side and presents for more than 80 miles an unbroken barrier to all western prog-
ress. It is an exceptionally rugged region with volcanie, peaks and table-topped
masses rising from 10,000 to 11 º; feet in height. Only a few adventurous hunters
and mountaineers cross the range by one or two dangerous, precipitous trails, known
to but few. The early trappers found it a forbidding land; prospectors who followed
them, a barren one. The Absaroka Range, however, furnishes one priceless treas-
ure: from its western slope it sends numerous torrents into the Park, many of them
running directly into Yellowstone Lake. On the east side of the range an equally
large water supply make up the Stinking Water and Clark's Fork, which ultimately
flow into the Yellowstone River. The Absaroka Range is intimately connected with
the Wind River Range, which shuts in the plateau on the south. To the westward,
and separated only by the broad valley of the Upper Snake, lie the Teton Mountains,
whose northern outlying spurs project into the Park. On the southwest side of the
Park is situated the Madison Plateau, which stretches northward until it abuts
against the Southern end of the Gallatin.
From this incomplete sketch it will be seen that the Park country, although a high
table-land, stands relatively low to the rugged mountains which surround it on all
tº: From this outer rim of mountains innumerable streams pour their waters into
© ºr R.
Across the plateau from the southeast to the northwest, but with a very irregular
course, runs the Continental Divide separating the waters of the Atlantic from those
of the Pacific. On both sides of the Continental Divide and within a few miles of
the line, lie a number of large bodies of water which form so characteristic a feature
in the scenery of the plateau that the region has received the appellation of the lake
country of the Park. Hundreds of smaller lakes lie dotted over the surface, filling
244 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
irregular depressions in the lava flows or occupying shallow basins scooped out by
glacial ice. . Many of these lesser lakes are found as natural reservoirs higher up in
the mountains. In addition to these are found numerous ponds, marshes, and mead-
OWs everywhere scattered over the country. So numerous are they that the water
lield by them adds a very considerable amount to the total water supply. Two riv-
ers, the Yellowstone and Snake, receive the greater part of this water, the former
draining more than one-half the area of the Park and the latter the entire western
side of the Continental Divide. Falls River, a very considerable stream in the south-
West corner of the Park; empties into Henry’s Fork before its waters join the main
Snake River. On the north side of the Divide both the Madison and Gallatin drain
large areas of the Park, the former, running westward, cuts through the Madison
Plateau, while the Gallatin, although receiving none of its water from the Park
plateau, still carries off a large amount of water precipitated upon the reservation.
Both these latter streams unite with the Jefferson in Montana to form the Missouri.
Let us examine a little more clasely into this water supply. I can not do better
than to quote from an article on the physical features of i. Park which I published
not long since.
“Yellowstone Lake, the great reservoir for the river which gives its name to the
Park, is a body of water of great beauty, measuring 20 miles in length, with a breadth
across its greatest expanse of 15 miles. It has a very irregular outline, with an
indented shore of nearly 100 miles, and an area of 140 square miles. Not only is the
Yellowstone by many times the largest lake in North America at so high an elevation
above sea-level (7,741 feet), but it ranks among the first in the world at high altitudes.
Upon the western side of the Divide, less than 6 miles from the Yellowstone, and sep-
arated from it by a ridge not more than 200 feet in height, lie Shoshone and Lewis
Lakes; the former with an area of 12 square miles, and the latter 4% square miles.
Heart Lake, at the eastern base of Mount Sheridan, measures 3 square miles. These
three smaller reservoirs pour their waters into the Snake, which also finds its source
near the southeast corner of the Park.
“In the autumn of 1886, with a view of obtaining some data upon the amonut of dis-
charge, the largest bodies of water were accurately measured. Not only was the
time selected the driest period of the year, but all lakes and stroams stood at a
lower level than at any time during the previous five years. Yellowstone Lake
stood 20 inches below the high-water nuark of early Sulmmer. The measurements may
be said, therefore, to have been taken at the minimum discharge. Micasured just below
the outlet of the lake the discharge of the Yellowstone River was found to be 1,525
cubic feet per second, or, in other words, 34,000,000 imperial gallons per hour. The
out-flows from Shoshone, Lewis, and Heart Lakes colubined yielded 104 cubic feet per
second. The Lamar, Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison Rivers were gauged, and care-
ful estimates made of the Gallatin and Falls Rivers, based upon the size and flow of
the streams and the area of the country drained. According to estimates of Dr.
William Hallock, of the U. S. Geological Survey, who kindly undertook the gauging
of the streams, it was found that the minimum discharge was colual to 1 cubic foot
per second per square mile over an area somewhat more than 4,000 square miles, affa
that the amount of water running into the Park and leaving it through the five
main drainage channels would make a river 5 feet deep and 190 feet wide, with a
current of 3 miles per hour. While this may not indicate a large supply as com-
pared with certain highly favored areas, yet it is for the arid region of the West an
exceptional amount.” * 2
While there are many conditions governing both the amount of Snow and rain fall
in the far West, two important factors are found in the Park region which influence
in a large measure the precipitation of moisture. . These are the great elevation of
the culminating peaks surrounding the Park, and the exceptional broad mountain
mass. From Madison Valley eastward across the Park and the Absaroka Range the
country attains an elevation unsurpassed by any area of equal extent in the north-
ern Rocky Mountains. For 90 miles in an east and west line the country rises in a
solid block far above the adjacent country, admirably situated to act as a condenser
for the moisture-laden clouds. Meteorological records taken for a number of years
show a climatic condition unlike that observed elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains,
the amount of snow and rain fall being higher and the mean annual temperature
lower. Rain-storms occur frequently throughout the summer, while snow is quite
Iikely to fall any time between September and May. In an arid region and one of un-
equally distributed rain-fall, forests and moisture main tain reciprocal relations. The
abundant precipitation over the Park exerts a fayorable influence upon forest growth,
84 per cent. of the area being timber covered. This forest in turn protects the snows
and marshes from the intense heat of the sum and the dry westerly winds. By means,
of this protection the deep snows of winter lie upon the plateau, well, into midsum-
mer, while at still higher altitudes in sheltered places it remains throughout the
year, slowly supplying the springs and streams.
ENLARGEMENT PROPOSED FOR RESERVOIR USES. 245
By its topographical structure the Park is designed by nature as a reservoir to col-
lect an exceptional water supply. By its geological structure it is well adapted to
store this water, both on the surface and in the deeply buried rocks. From beneath
the layas of the plateau numerous streams and underground springs pour their waters
into the lakes and out upon the land surfaces.
For these reasons the present area should be enlarged to the east and south so as to
take in a dense forest region useless for agricultural purposes and destitute of min-
ing resources, but embracing a rough, mountainous country abounding in streams—
the real sources and feeders of Snake River, Yellowstone Lake and River. The area
proposed to be added to the Park would extend the boundaries about 25 miles to the
eastward and 9 Iniles to the southward of the present ill-defined limits which were
established at a time when the region had been but little explored. The proper con-
trol and distribution of the water is a necessity to the people of Montana, Dakota,
Wyoming, and Idaho. The protection of the forests, game, and marvels of the res-
ervation should be the desire of every one looking to the welfare of the country.
The interests of the Park should be zealously guarded by the nation.
REPORTS ON IRRIGATION
FROM
CONSULS OF THE UNITED STATES.
247
CORRESPONDENCE WITH STATE DEPARTMENT.
TJNITED STATES SENATE,
Washington, D. C., April 23, 1889.
SIR : Referring to your letter of the 2d instant, in which you state
that “our consuls will be instructed to prepare reports covering such
phases of the subject (namely, irrigation) as you may be good enough to
intimate,” I inclose herewith a draught of a letter which if you will have
sent to our consuls in the countries mentioned in the inclosed memo-
randum where irrigation is practiced, will greatly oblige the Senate
Committee on Irrigation and Reclamation of Arid Lands.
JPlease forward all reports received by you to Mr. R. J. Hinton, En-
gineer, U. S. Geological Survey, Washington City.
Yours, respectfully,
WM. M. STEwART,
Chairman Committee on Irrigation, etc.
The SECRETARY OF STATE.
DRAUGHT OF LETTER IN REGARD TOIRRIGATION TO BESENT TO CONSUIS,
WASHINGTON, D.C., April 23, 1889.
The questions connected with irrigation and the reclamation thereby
of arid lands are now attracting public attention. Congress has recently
made appropriations for surveys of reservoir sites, ditches, canals, etc.,
and the United States Senate has created a special committee to thor-
oughly investigate the general questions involved. The Department,
in response to an inquiry from the special committee, desires to aid in
its investigations, and therefore requests as early as practicable a report
on the subject of irrigation as practiced in the country in which you .
are stationed. Your inquiries should be directed in the main to the fol-
lowing points:
(1) Areas of land under irrigation; compare with the non-irrigable
and cultivable areas when possible. Also quantity and quality of crops
grown. -
(2) Sources of water supply, whether from rivers, streams, springs,
lakes, wells, reservoirs, catchment basins, or tanks, etc.
(3) Character of works used for storage and distribution of water.
Forward published reports, if obtainable, in regard to any important
irrigation and storage works.
(4) The system of water distribution, whether governed by laws,
rules and regulations, or customs. Give duty of water per acre, i. e.,
the amount used per acre and per season, the cost or rental to user;
&
249
250 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
tenure of ownership of water, and whether the same be public or pri-
Wate, national or community.
(5) Character of climate in irrigated region and nature of soil, an-
nual rain-fall or other precipitation.
(6) Antiquity or otherwise of irrigation systems within the section
treated of, and whether the same are maintained at public or private
expense.
The Department desires to obtain maps and any publications obtain.
able bearing upon this subject for the use of the Senate committee.
The committee states that it desires to place itself in communication
With competent experts and authorities on irrigation. These investi-
gations should be conducted diligently, and reports made as early as
possible.
MEMORANDUM FOR DISTIRIBUTION.
All Asiatic countries: Egypt, Tripoli, Tunis, Morocco, Algiers, Sene.
gambia, Orange Free State, Colonies of Cape of Good Hope and Natal,
Madagascar, etc. Also, Madeira, the Azores and other islands, the
Australian Colonies, Hawaii, South and Central American Republics,
the Empire of Brazil, Mexico, and European Colonies of South America.
The principal countries of Europe in which irrigation is practiced are
France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Holland, Turkey, Greece, Austria; also
Russia in Asia.
&
MEXICO.
REPORT BY UNITED STATES consul, John worsSMER, of SAL- .
TILLO, ON IRRIGATION IN COAHUILA, MEXICO.
A part of this section of this large and rich State is irrigated from
springs which generally rise in the mountains; the water is carried in
many cases and often many miles from these springs to level, fertile
land by means of narrow ditches. Other parts of this State, the lands
can not now be irrigated on account of no water, and the total absence
of the necessary implements for boring and the proper practical labor
to accomplish the required result. Where there are springs the water
should be carried through iron tubes; farther away from here, where
there are no springs, but “haciendas” of importance, the artesian
well, it seems to me, is what is needed. I would advise manufacturers
in the United States who desire to build up a trade of this kind to do
so with a direct representative who speaks the language, establishing
an office centrally located in the Republic, where attention may be given
to the wants and demands of such a trade.
Water is worth a great deal more than land in this country, and the
right to use it is fixed by laws. Much good land is not used because
of lack of water, and to depend on rain in some parts is too much of a
risk. With a good water supply much of the rich Soil of this State
would produce abundantly of nearly all kinds of products, which at
present are not enough to support the population. º
There are very few windmills used at present in this State, though
I think they might be successfully used, for the reason that good winds
blow nearly all the year. There is considerable water-power unused,
which, according to law, can be acquired by denouncement. If a spring
of water rises in the property of any one, the owner of the property
*
WATER USAGE IN THE REPUBLIC OF MEXICO. 251
also owns the spring. Rivers are owned and controlled by the State
through which they pass. Rights and privileges to public waters are
sold by the State.
The system of water distribution is as follows and is generally ac-
quired by purchase: A stream of permanent water is called thirty days
of water and the owner may sell the right to any one to use this water
for any length of time; say, for example, one day in every month,
which is called one day of water, worth very often as high as $1,000
per day. It is an understood right between all land owners that parties
owning any right or privilege in the water can pass same to their land
through the lands of adjacent owners by means of narrow ditches.
This system often causes many difficulties, particularly when the owner
of a day or two of water dies and leaves some fifteen or twenty heirs,
each of whom receives his share in hours, being an equal division under
the same right of the day or two of water inherited. The formation of
artificial lakes has already awakened attention, and a foreign company
of capitalists agitates at present the question of making a lake with
the waters of the Rio Grande, to be used for industrial and agricult-
ural purposes. . This project, however, involves difficulties, arising
from its international character.
REPORT BY U. S. CONSUI. A., WILL ARD,
UNITED STATES CONSULATE,
Guaymas, Mexico, August 14, 1889.
Up to the present time the lands cultivated in Sonora (this consular
district) are confined to the bottom or valley lands on the small streams
and rivers.
For the purpose of irrigating said lands dams of simple construction
of stone and earth, or brush and earth, are erected on the sides or in
the streams, and ditches are dug to convey the water to the lands cul-
tivated. These dams, as a rule, require repairs and some reconstrue-
tion each year.
The ditches require gleaning and repairing yearly, but are not expen-
sive to maintain.
REPORT BY U. S. consul-GENERAI, c. c. MoRE, CITY of MExIco,
on IRRIGATION IN MEXICo.
The system of irrigation has become very generally practiced in va-
rious portions of this republic, having been in vogue more or less
ever since the days of the conquest of the country by the Spaniards in
1521.
It may be stated as a general proposition that the natural supply of
water in Mexico is very limited as compared with that of other coun-
tries. The traveler in this republic notices the great scarcity of rivers,
running streams, lakes, and Springs. In the mountains of the country
many small streams take their rise, but soon after reaching the plains
they become absorbed in the Sandy Soil and sink into the ground.
Again, in Mexico during the rainy season there is a great abundance
of water (said rainy season may be stated, in a general way, as extend-
ing from June 1 to October 1), but for the remainder of the year the
rain-fall is very scant, water becomes very scarce, and the whole coun-
try becomes very dry, except in the regions along the sea-board (the
252 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Pacific Ocean, the Gulf of California, the Gulf of Mexico, etc.), in
Which localities the dews are very heavy and refreshing showers much
more frequent than in the upland regions.
. I will now take up the six points of interrogatory mentioned in your
Circular, and incorporate in my replies the information obtained from
the said department of public works and from other sources:
(1) “Areas of land under irrigation; compare with the non-irrigable
and enlivable areas When possible, and quantity and quality of crops
grown.
Answer. The department’aforesaid assured me that they had no
Statistics upon which to frame an answer to the first part of this ques-
º and that it would take months to collect the information in proper
Shape. *
The principal crops grown here with tie assistance of irrigation are
Sugar, Coffee, corn, wheat, oats, barley, beans, cotton, and tobacco;
also oranges, bananas, and other fruits. Without irrigation, except
near the coast, the yield would be very meager; with irrigation said
Crops are excellent, and will compare favorably with those of other
Countries, especially when consideration is had of the primitive agricult-
ural implements used and the inefficient cultivation as contrasted with
that practiced in the United States, England, France, and Germany.
(2) “Sources of water supply, whether from rivers, streams, springs,
lakes, Wells, reservoirs, catchment basins, or tanks, etc.”
Answer. The Water supply for irrigating purposes is drawn princi-
pally from rivers, streams, and natural lakes. In some instances bold
springs gush from the earth and furnish a constant, never varying sup-
ply for irrigation of thousands of acres, as in the case of “Atlacomulco,”
in the State of Morelos, a large, beautiful “hacienda,” or plantation, at
one time owned and operated by Cortez, the Spanish conqueror, and
still belonging to decendants; on the hacienda of “Coakinstla,” one of
the finest sugar plantations in Mexico, near the city of Cantla. Some-
times also large dams of solid masonry are constructed at great ex-
pense, which, however, form large reservoirs of water during the rainy
season, and which during the remainder of the year furnish the neces-
sary supply for irrigation. Artesian wells supply some of the Water used
for irrigation; also wells from which the water is raised and poured
into the irrigating canals by means of windmill pumps and buckets at-
tached to an “endless chain,” which are kept in motion by mule or
horse power.
(3) “Character of works used for storage and distribution of water.
Forward published reports, if obtainable, in regard to any important
irrigation and storage works.”
Answer. The works used for storage and distribution of Water con-
sist of dams constructed so as to elevate the level of the Water in
streams and rivers where they can not be tapped by the aqueducts
and irrigation canals at sufficient elevation to reach the destined fields
of cultivation; also large reservoirs are formed, as above stated, through
the instrumentality of massive dams, generally of Stone masonry, the
water being collected during the rainy season and held for use When
needed.
(4) “The system of water distribution, whether governed by laws,
rules and regulations, or customs. Give duty of water per acre, i. e.
the amount used per acre and per season, the cost of rental to user,
tenure of ownership of water, and whether the same be public or pri-
wate, national or community.
CLIMATE AND ANTIQUITY OF MEXICAN SYSTEMS. 253
Answer. As a part answer to the fourth interrogatary, the depart-
ment of public works handed me a copy of the decree of June 5, 1888,
which I herewith have the honor to inclose, accompanied by a transla-
tion of the same into English.
Each State of the Republic has its separate laws and regulations re-
garding the distribution of water. The duty of water per acre, or the
amount used per season per acre, varies according to the quality of the
soil, climate, and plants under cultivation. Moreover, the cost of water
is generally included in the rental paid for the lands, which varies ex-
ceedingly in different places, according to the peculiar circumstance at-
tending each locality.
The ownership of the water is both public and private, but generally
the latter, as the water privileges, being considered of quite as much
Value as the land itself, have in many instances been transferred or
transmitted by inheritance along with the title to the land.
(5) “Character of climate in irrigated region and nature of soil; an-
nual rain-fall or other precipitation.”
Answer. The climate of the irrigated region in this country corre-
sponds to the climate of the different States of the Republic, as in all
of them there exist irrigated lands, with this general statement, how-
ever, that on and near the sea-coast the climate is much warmer and
the rain-fall much greater than on the table-land and in the mountain
districts.
As a further answer to this question, the said department of public
works furnished me with a copy of the geographical, statistical, and
descriptive study of Mexico by A. Garcia Cubas, special attention being
called to the seventh and eighth chapters, relating respectively to hy-
drography and agriculture. -
The nature of the soil embraces every variety known to the country,
from the light, sandy soil of the table-lands to the rich, dark alluvial
of the valleys and the fertile, black loam of “the tierras calientés”—
the hot countries.
In regard to the annual rain-fall, said department handed me the tenth
number of the monthly bulletin of the meteorological, magnetic, cen-
tral observatory of Mexico in which is published a report on the rain-
fall in different parts of the Republic, running through a number of
years; also a table containing a comparative résumé on the subject for
the years et seq. to 1888, and both of which, in deference to the request
in said circular, I have the honor to herewith transmit—
(6) Antiquity, or otherwise, of irrigation systems within the section
of, and whether the same are maintained at public or private expense.
Answer. The antiquity of the various systems of irrigation in Mexico
varies with the different localities, they having been constructed and
put into operation not simultaneously, but at different epochs, as the
different sections became more, or less cultivated by intelligent, labor
and the necessity of irrigation became apparent. As a general propo-
sition, however, it may be stated that said systems date all the way
from the early part of the sixteenth century when the Spaniards took
possession of the country, introducing their splendid system of irri-
gation as rapidly as they began the cultivation of the various local-
ities.
The department of public Works further assures me that none of said
irrigation Worl’s are maintained by public funds.
254 IRRIGATION AND RECLA MATION OF ARID LANDS.
[Translation.]
[Department of public works, colonization, industry, and commerce. Third section.]
The President of the Republic has thought fit to direct to me the following decree:
Porfirio Diaz, constitutional President of the United States of Mexico, to its inhabi-
tants makes known :
That the Congress of the Union has decreed the following:
ARTICLE 1. There shall be considered as general, public highways, besides the in-
º roads, railways, etc., to the effect of section 22, article 72 of the constitution, the
ollowing:
The territorial Seas, marshes, and lagoons situated on the sea-coast. Canals con-
structed by the Government or by means of public money. Interior lakes and rivers,
if navigable. Whatsoever lakes and rivers situated and serving as boundary lines
between this Republic and other foreign nations or between two States. '
ARTICLE 2. The Federal Executive has the power and right to look after the afore-
named public roadways and to regulate the private and public use thereof, according
to the following basis:
A. The towns situated on the sea-shore or banks of a river shall have the gratuitous
use of the water necessary for all domestic purposes of its inhabitants.
B. There shall be respected and confirmed the rights of private individuals relating
to the use and profit of rivers, lakes, and canals, providing that said rights consist
in lawful titles or civil prescription exceeding ten years.
C. The concession or attestation of rights or titles to private parties on the lakes,
rivers, and canals relating to the present law, can only be made by the department
of public works, excepting the case where said concession shall change or threaten to
change the course of the rivers or canals aforenamed, or should deprive of the use of
their waters the inhabitants living down the stream.
D. The rights of fishing and pearl-diving on the territorial seas and the uses and
profits of marshes and lagoons situated on the sea-shore or national vacant lands,
shall be regulated specially by the executive power.
ARTICLE 3. All transgressions of the law comprised in the common jurisdiction
committed on interior lakes, canals, or rivers, as well as the controversies that may
arise between private individuals, relative to obeying the statutes issued by the
department of public works, shall be submitted to the competent local jurisdiction.
MEXICO, May 28, 1888.
Miguel Castellanos Sanches, senator president; Luis C. Cariel, deputy president;
Guillermo de Landa y Escandon, senator secretary ; A. Riba y Echeverria, deputy
secretary.
Therefore, I order it shall be printed, published, and circulated, and that due com-
pliance shall be given it.
Signed in the palace of the executive power of the Union, in the City of Mexico, on
this 5th day of June, 1888, Profirio Diaz. For General Carlos Pacheco, secretary of
State, and the department of public works, colonization, industry, and commerce.
I recommend it to you for your knowledge and corresponding efforts.
Liberty and constitution. -
Mexico, June 5, 1888.
PACHECO.
CUBA.
REPORT FROM OTTO E. REIMER, U. S. CONSUL, ON IRRIGATION
IN THE CONSULAR DISTRICT OF SAINTIA GO DE CUB.A.
|Before answering the questions propounded in your circular of May 2
it would be well to enumerate in brief the reasons which render irriga-
tion in this consular district almost unnecessary. I say “almost unnec-
essary " because all the crops, such as Sugar, cocoa, coffee, plantains,
and other crops of minor importance, are dependent on the changes of
rainy and dry seasons in this tropical climate. This consular district
is well watered by rivers and Small streams which irrigate the rich and
deep alluvial soil under cultivation. The largest river, the Canto, which
finds its source in the Sierras del Cobre, a mountain range to the West-
ward of this city, and after a tortuous and Winding course during Which
SPORADIC USE OF IRRIGATION IN CUBA, 255
it receives various tributaries, empties into the sea 14 miles north of the
town of Manzanillo. This river, choked up at its mouth by drift-wood
and sand bars, is about 180 miles long, of which 60 are navigable. Cap-
tain General Salamanca has caused studies to be made in view of form-
ing a plan to make the mouth of the river navigable, thus opening a
water-course which traverses some of the most fertile districts of this
province. The Canto, with its tributaries, constitutes the water system
of the south coast of this province. Between the Capes Maisi and Cruz
the coast line is very mountainous and only small streams find their
way to the sea.
The north coast is full of larger and smaller rivers which find their
way into the numerous and large bays. Notably the Mayari, Naranjo,
etc. So artificial irrigation has as yet not become a necessity except-
ing, to my knowledge, only in one instance. Messrs. Brooks & Co., an
English firm here, owning a sugar estate on the bay of Guantanamo and .
called “Los Canos,” have been compelled, owing to the curious fact that
although sufficient rains fall near and around the estate very little falls
on its territory, to introduce an artificial system of irrigation. This
system of open ditches irrigates about 10 caballerias (333; acres) of
cane fields, and as just commenced I cannot give you the results. The
water for this system is procured from the Guantanamo River, which is
dammed above the area irrigated and the water distributed by a system
of canals. The system was instituted after the necessary permission
was obtained from the Spanish Government; is a private enterprise,
and pays neither rental nor taxes.
The amount of water used per acre depends on the rain-falls of the
rainy season and can not be estimated, as the work has just commenced.
The character of the climate is tropical and the annual rain-fall, in the
absence of all scientific observation, I would estimate at 45 inches.
CENTRAL AMERICA.
..,"
REPORT OF U. S. CONSUL-GENERAL JAMES P. HOSMER, GUATE-
MALA, ON IRRIGATION THE REIN.
In reply I beg respectfully to state that there is no system of water
distribution for arid lands in Guatemala.
The practice of irrigation, in the very limited extent to which it ob-
tains, is that of ordinary ditclues fed from the nearest water source.
REPORT OF U. S. CONSUI, CHARLES H. WILLs, of MANAGUA,
NICARAGUA, ON IRRIGATION.
There is not, nor has there ever been, as far as I can learn, any sys-
tem whatever of irrigation. &
Wear Nandaime, a small Indian town in the department of Rivas,
three cacao (chocolate) estates are partially flooded in a primitive way
by their owners from Small rivers or streams being dammed to cause
the water to flow over the plantations, which are below the streams.
No system is practiced,
256 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
*
SOUTH AMERIC A.
REPORT of winFIELD s. BIRD, U. S. consul, LA GUAYRA, on
IRFIGATION IN VENEZUEL.A.
The subject of irrigation, to which the attention of consular officers
is directed by circular instruction from the Department of State, dated
May 2, 1889, is one upon which very meager information can be fur-
nished from Venezuela; for although, in a crude way, irrigation is
practiced to some extent, yet there are no available statistics to offer in
reference to the areas of land under irrigation, and no means of com-
paring these with the non-irrigable and cultivable lands. Of the small
area of cultivated lands in this consular district, exclusive of those
planted in coffee, perhaps the greatest part is devoted to sugar-cane;
and, from personal observation, it would appear that the crop generally
needs more cultivation and irrigation than is usually given it.
The small streams coming down from the mountains form the only
Supply of water for the purposes of irrigation, and in a tropical climate
like this the volume of water is so often reduced during the long and
hot summer season that the supply proves inadequate, and conse-
Quently the crops suffer to a greater or less extent. The present sea-
son has proved quite disastrous in this respect, so much so that crude
sugar, usually sold at 10 cents per pound, is now worth 25 cents per
pound. The importation of cane products being prohibited by law, it
seems that the use of Sugar and its compounds, so general in this cli-
mate, must be greatly curtailed, and, to many of the poorer classes, en-
tirely cut off.
The character of the works used for the storage and distribution of ,
water are of the simplest description and consist of ordinary dams and
trenches. There are no irrigation and storage Works of any importance,
every process of this nature being conducted upon the most inexpensive
and antiquated plan. It is no doubt true that even the Chinese are, in
this respect, far in advance of these people in the various appliances and
processes for irrigation; and it is equally true that if a more careful
and provident system were adopted, much of the water that now goes
to waste might be utilized for the reclamation of arid unproductive
lands. }
The system of water distribution is governed, according to the best
obtainable information, by custom only, although there are Some Stat-
utes in reference to it that, by common consent, have fallen into disuse.
The unwritten law is that each person shall have the right to Water
on a stated day for a certain length of time, when he must close his
flood-gate and again await his turn. Under such an arrangement, there-
fore, it is evident that the amount of water used per acre and per Season
and the tenure of ownership, etc., can not be intelligently stated.
Everything connected with the subject of irrigation in Venezuela is
of such primitive character that it can be of no special interest in the
elucidation of plans and processes for use in the United States. No
maps nor publications with any reference to it can be obtained or even
heard of, and it appears that the subject has never received the slight-
est degree of the attention that its importance to the agricultural in-
terests of the country So Seriously demands
souTH AMERICAN systEMs of WATER SERVICE. 257
REPORT OF O. McGARR, U. S. CONSUL-GENERAL, GUAYAQUIL, ON
IRRIGATION IN ECUADOR.
(1) A very small quantity of land is under irrigation in Ecuador, not
the thousandth part of the cultivable land. No grain Crops are grown
on irrigated land, which is used only for pasturage and for raising
alfalfa in small quantities. An infinitesimal part of the arid region,
which is extensive in northern Ecuador, is under irrigation.
(2) Small rivers, mountain streams, and springs are the Source of the
water supply. There are no basins, reservoirs, or tanks used.
(3) There are no works constructed for the storage of water. Its
distribution is by ditches. No reports on the subject have been pub-
lished in this country.
(4) The system of water distribution is governed by custom, except
in the few instances where water is carried over the land of adjoining
proprietors. In such cases the law regulates and defines the rights
and duties of the owner of the easement and of the Servient estate. I
have no means of ascertaining the amount of Water used per acre or
per season. It is not measured and it is not rented. The Water used
for purposes of irrigation belongs to the individual land owner using
it. There is no national, municipal, or community ownership.
(5) The climate is that of the winter-Andean region with an average
maximum temperature, with shade, of 62 to 68 degrees, the average mini-
mum being about 54 degrees. In some localities the soil is a sandy ſoam
and in others a dark, heavy clay, and very deep. The rains are ordina-
rily confined to the months between the middle of December and the
first of June, and are quite copious in most Seasons. I can not state
annual rain-fall.
(6) Under the Spanish rule there was something of an irrigation sys-
tem, regulated by laws, and at the time of the Conquest there was a
better and more extensive system than has existed since. That now in
use is maintained entirely at private expense.
REPORT FROM J. GRIERSON, U. S. CONSUI, COQUIMBO, ON IRRIGA-
TION IN THE PROVINCE OF COOUIMBO, CHILI.
This province is in a very backward and primitive state as regards
cultivation and irrigation, on account of the country being very barren
and mountainous, the only cultivation being along the Valleys running
down between the mountains which convey the snow-water from the
Cordilleras. Hay and barley are the principal productions, the former,
when green, being eaten on the ground by cattle.
Water is supplied by canals or large ditches cut at different places
from the rivers of snow-water, as mentioned above. Each canal,
from its leaving the river until it reaches the sea, belongs to the owners
of land along the upper part of which the canal flows.
No works are made for stowage of water. When the river is full the
sluice doors to the canals are open all the time, and water is sup-
plied in abundance; but in years when there is little snow on the
mountains, and consequently the river low, the sluices are opened, as
arranged by the canal committee.
Each canal has a president and a committee, elected from the cursors,
who superintend repairs, allowance of water, etc. The value of a farm
depends on the number of inches belonging to it; each proprietor of
land can buy or sell any or all the number of inches of sluice he has a
right to draw from the canal, each inch being worth about $3,000 (gold)
138 A L–WOL IV—17 gº
258 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
and is the same as tangible property. A sluice-wall 15 to 20 inches
makes a good farm worth about $3,000 to $4,000 yearly.
The climate is good and very mild. Up the Valleys grapes, oranges,
and pears grow well, and by irrigation five crops of hay may be cut
yearly. From 1872 to 1880 the rain-fall was only 3% inches per year;
latterly, with intermissions, it has been about 7 inches yearly.
The rivers are, of course, under Government control, but the canals
are private property and from time immemorial have been superin-
tended and kept in order by their owners. Every town, however, is
entitled to a proper proportion of Water.
REPORT FROM W. T. W.ALTHALL, U. S. CONSUL, DEMERARA, ON
IRRIGATION AND DRAIN.A.G.E IN BRITISH GUIANA,
No systematic irrigation exists in this colony. The need of it is felt
when the dry seasons are protracted beyond their ordinary limits, but
in such cases the only methods employed to water the crops are of the
simplest and most primitive description—by manual labor, without the
aid of machinery of any sort. The system of drainage, however, and of
the employment of artificial Water-ways for the transportation of
produce and plantation supplies is elaborate, costly, and extensive.
Although not strictly pertinent to the information sought by the De-
partment, the subject is somewhat akin, and a brief account of it may
not be irrelevant.
In order to understand the conditions, it must be borne in mind that
the rich agricultural region of the colony consists in general of the low-
lands adjacent to the sea-coast and the tidal parts of the larger rivers.
These lands are several feet below the level of the highest tides, for
which reason it is necessary to protect them from overflow by a con-
tinuous line of embankments, or “sea-dams” as they are termed.
This cultivable region extends back from the beach and the banks of
the lower rivers to a distance varying (by a rough estimate) from 2 to
5 or 6 miles, when it meets what is termed, in the language of the
colony—perhaps not very correctly—“the Savanna” or “bush” lands.
This is a belt of country between the rich coast lands and the hills and
forests of the interior, slightly more elevated than the former but lower
than the latter, partly open and partly covered with trees, vines, and
shrubs, but everywhere abounding in Swamps, ponds, and creeks of
fresh water.
The estates of the colony are laid off on the plan adopted by the
original Dutch settlers and still existing in its main features. They are
divided by parallel lines, approximately perpendicular to the line of
coast, and forming long, narrow, and somewhat irregular quadrilate-
rals, which would be parallelograms but for the sinuosities and irregu.
larities of the coast line. The unit of measurment of distance is the
Rhynland rood, still in habitual use, of 12 feet 4 inches. The original
width of each grant was 100 roods, or nearly a quarter of a mile, and
the length or depth from the sea-dam 750 roods, or about 1% miles.
Such is at this time actually the extent, inland, of the only lands owned
in fee-simple, though many of the estates have been extended toward
the “savanna,” or including parts of it, by grants of possession and
occupancy at the pleasure of the Crown, supposed to be practically
equivalent to ownership. Many of the original estates have also been
united and some of them divided, though the regular parallelism of
their side boundaries is still maintained.
In order to protect these estates from overflow in the rainy seasons
by the waters of the swamps, ponds, and streams of the “savanna,” .
GOVERNMENTAL REGULATION OF WATER SERVICE. 259
“back-dams” are erected in the rear of the cultivated area. On the
lines of division between the estates canals or trenches are dug for
drainage, the earth thrown out from these constituting material for
embankments, known as “side-line dams,” which also serve as road,
beds for walking or riding. Smaller cross-drains connect with these
side-line trenches.
Besidos the trenches for drainage, another system of trenches or
canals is employed for the internal navigation of the estate. Tor this
purpose a canal is generally dug through the estate, the excavated earth
forming alongside of it an embankment known as the “middle Walk.”
Cross-canals extend transversely from this toward the boundaries of
the estate but stopping short of them, so as not to communicate with
the side-line or drainage trenches, the terminus of the navigation cross-
canal forming a sort of cul-de-sac. These canals are used for the trans-
portation, by flat-bottomed barges or “punts,” of the crops, fertilizers,
etc., in One direction or the other.
These canals are supplied with fresh water from the swamps, Creeks,
ponds, and in some cases artificial reservoirs of the “Savanna,” the
water being admitted and the supply regulated, by means of water.
gates, or “kokers” as they are termed, in the back-dams. Stronger
and more elaborate kokers are employed in the Sea-dams, Which are
opened at low tide to permit the discharge of the drainage and other
fresh water, and closed at high tide to hinder the influx of the sea-water.
The coast lands of the colony consist of a stiff clay, interspersed with
veins of sand and covered with a superficial layer of Vegetable mold or
“pegass.” The clay being impervious to the percolation of water is
very favorable to rapid drainage from the surface.
The chief staple is sugar, though there are Some Cocoa-nut planta-
tions, and in certain parts of the colony large estates, or “cattle-farms,”
are devoted to pasturage.
I have spoken of artificial reservoirs. The advantages of these in
regulating the varying supply of fresh water during the wet and the
dry seasons are obvious. Besides those already existing, others are
projected on a still larger scale.
The cost of the works required for drainage and the supply of water
to the towns, villages, and estates is assessed on the proprietors and
others interested, though they are controlled and regulated by the
Government. The money is frequently advanced by the Government
with the understanding that it is to be repaid by taxes on the property
for the benefit of which it is expended. This, of course, does not apply
to the works undertaken by proprietors for the special benefit of indi-
vidual estates. In some cases, also, participation in the burdens and
benefits of public or corporate enterprises is to some extent optional
With the individuals interested,
The climate of the colony is torrid, but remarkably uniform, the ex-
tremes of temperature being about 73 and 90 degrees Fahr. The aver-
age is about 81 degrees. The average annual rain-fall is estimated at
about 100 inches.
REPORT FROM E. L. BAKER, U. S. CONSUL, BUENos AYREs, on
IRRIGATION IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC.
I am in receipt of the circular ºf the Department of State of the 2d
of May last, stating that the question of reclaiming the arid lands of
the United States is now attracting the attention of our Government,
and instructing me, in aid of its inquiries, to report on the subject of
irrigation in the Argentine Republic, and especially directing my 'at-
260 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
tention to the areas of land under irrigation, the sources of the water
Supply, the nature of the works, the system of distribution, the char.
acter of the climate, the annual rain fall, the antiquity of the works, etc.
ANTIQUITY OF IRRIGATION IN SOUTEI AMERICA.
In regard to antiquity, I have to say that the artificial waterin g of
the earth to increase its fruitfulness is of so remote an origin in South
America that its history is quite unknown. It has been generally as-
Sumed that the practice had its beginning in the Orient; and we know
that in the days of the patriarchs various contrivances for flooding the
fields and meadows were in general use. It was not, however, until the
end of the Seventeenth century that water meadows were constructed
in Europe upon anything like a scientific system; and only towards the
end of the eighteenth century that any great improvement took place
in this branch of agriculture. In South America, on the contrary, it is
evident that a scientific system of flooding, which consisted in spread-
ing a sheet of water over cultivated fields in such a manner that it
could be readily withdrawn was not only practiced by the aborigines
of the Country from the most remote periods, but that it was done with
an amount of precision and knowledge which even to this day are
matter of Wonder to those who inspect the remains of their works.
It seems hardly possible that the natives of Peru and Bolivia, and of
the eastern slopes of the Andes, which now constitute a part of the
Argentine Republic, could have acquired their skill from the nations of
antiquity beyond the Atlantic; and hence we are at a loss to understand
how Such a people, without a long-previous civilization, far in advance
of their condition when their Spanish conquerors arrived, could not
merely have solved the problem of the artificial watering of the land to
increase its productiveness, but constructed aqueducts and reservoirs to
that end, on Such an immense scale and in such an enduring manner
that they have defied the changes and vicissitudes of unnumbered cent-
uries. When they were built we do not know; but their remains
abundantly prove that the inhabitants from an unknown date were
well versed in many of the ways and means of civilized life; that they
pursued husbandry and practiced agriculture on scientific principles,
and that, in defiance of the general absence of rain, they succeeded in
providing bountiful harvests even on the precipitous sides of the sterile
sièrras. The historian of the conquest of the country refers to the knowl-
edge of agriculture possessed by the primitive inhabitants and the won-
derful works of irrigation constructed by them in such a manner as to
prompt me to make a quotation from his pages. He says of the “an-
cient works”:
Much of the country suffered for want of water, as little or no rain fell, and the few
streams in their short and hurried course from the mountains exerted only a very
limited influence on the wide extent of territory. The soil, it is true, was for the
most part sandy and sterile, but many places were capable of being reclaimed, and
indeed needed only to be properly irrigated to be susceptible of extraordinary pro-
duction. To these spots water was conveyed by means of canals and subterraneous
aqueducts executed on a noble scale. They consisted of large slabs of freestone
nicely fitted together without cement, and discharged a volume of water sufficient, by
means of latent ducts or sluices, to moisten the lands in their lower level through which
they passed. , Some of these aqueducts were of great length. Qne that traversed
the district of Condesuyu measured between 400 and 500 miles. They were brought
from some lake or natural reservoir in the heart of the mountains, and were fed at
intervals by other basins, which lay in their route along the slopes of the Sierra. Jn
their descent a passage was sometimes opened through rocks, and this without the
aid of iron tools; impracticable mountains were to be turned; rivers and marshes to
IRRIGATION IN THE ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 261
be crossed; in short, the same obstacles were to be encountered as in the construction
of their mighty roads. * -
Most of these beneficent works of the incas were suffered to go to decay by their
Spanish conquerors. In some spots the waters are still left to flow in their silent,
subterraneous channels, whose windings and whose sources have been alike unex-
plored. Others, though partially dilapidated and closed up with rubbish and, the
rank vegetation of the soil, still betray their course by occasional patches of fertility.
Such are the remains in the valley of Nasca, a fruitful spot that lies between loug
tracts of desert, where the ancient water-courses of the incas, measuring 4 or 5 feet
in depth by 3 in width and formed of large blocks of uncemented masonry, are con-
ducted from an unknown distance.
The greatest care was taken that every occupant of the land through which these
streams passed should enjoy the benefit of them. The quantity of water allotted to
each was prescribed by law, and the royal overseers superintended the distribution,
and saw that it was faithfully applied to the irrigation of the ground. (Prescott's
Conquest of Peru, Vol. I, pp. 131–133.)
Patches of these prehistoric works are still to be found in the prov-
inces of Mendoza, San Juan, and the upper Andine provinces of the
Argentine Republic, though the ravages of time and the reckless indif-
ference of the first conquerors of the country have in nearly every in-
stance reduced them to ruins.
IRRIGATION AFTER THE CONQUEST.
If, however, the early Spanish colonists were more intent in their
search for gold than in that for the riches which agriculture produces,
their descendants in those far Andine provinces slowly awakened to
the fact that the only return they would ever be able to get for their
labor would be from the cultivation of the soil. While throughout the
pampas, consisting of the provinces of Buenos Ayres, Santa Fé, and
Entre Rios, the people followed the lazy but lucrative employment of
breeding cattle to the entire neglect or abandonment of agriculture,
which exacted more hard labor and patience than they were inclined to
give it, in the far interior provinces, where, owing to the lack of season-
able rains, there was a general absence of pasturage and cattle were
unable to feed themselves, the colonists were compelled from necessity
to direct themselves to agriculture, but they did it in such a way that
compared with the science displayed by the aborigines the cultivation
of the soil actually retrograded. Mr. Nap, in his work on the Argen-
tine Republic, says: - w
While the country was a Spanish colony, agriculture was neglected to the greatest
degree, even in those districts where it had previously been the principal occupation
of the primitive inhabitants. 3.
Indeed the conquistadores of the Argentine Republic found there an indigenous
population more numerous than themselves, which, if it was not quite so far ad-
vanced in agriculture as the ancient inhabitants of Peru, had adopted many of their
ways and usages in regard to irrigation, and were especially experienced in the cul-
tivation of the soil. The Spaniards, failing in their search for gold, were compelled
to accommodate themselves to the circumstances which surrounded them. Thus they
adopted the customs and habits of life of the natives, and partially undertook agri-
culture; and though it was not vigorously exploited, yet it became of a certain im-
Ortance.
p Thus, when the towns increased and a greater consumption was required, the
pampa provinces were provided with cereals from the provinces of the interior. For
example, the far distant province of San Juan, as late as the year 1860, still sent flour
to the Atlantic coast ; and notwithstanding the high cost of the transportation by
º it was yet able to compete with that of North America, and even surpass it in
Quality.
But owing to droughts and the constant want of timely rains, it was absolutely
necessary to secure the necessary moisture by the artificial means of irrigation; and
yet it is unfortunately the case that in Some of those provinces so little attention was
paid to the proper systems of irrigation that these means for watering the fields
were actually worse under the Spanish dominion than they were before the period of
the conquest.
262 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Since the organization of the Argentine Republic as an independent
government, while agriculture was scarcely thought of in the pampa
provinces until recent years, the cultivation of the soil has continued to
be the principal occupation of the inhabitants of the interior prov-
inces. And it is only in those of Mendoza, San Juan, Catamarca, San-
tiago del Estero, Tucuman, Salta, and Jujing that any attention is at
all paid to the subject of irrigation. Indeed, but for such artificial
means, owing to the lack of rains, it would be impossible to raise crops
at all in any of them.
CLIMATE AND RAIN-FALLS OF THE INTERIOR PROVINCES.
In regard to the character of the climate it will be borne in mind that
the Argentine Republic extends from 56 to 20 degrees south latitude,
and consequently in such a wide Zone is subject to a very great variety
of climatic conditions. While the far northern provinces have quite a .
tropical temperature, and the Cuyo provinces have a temperate climate,
those portions of the country which extend towards the Straits of Ma-
gellan have about six months of quite severe winter. I may also add
that the mountain ranges gradually rising on the west to the regions of
perpetual snow have great effects upon the temperature even in regions
of the same latitude. On this account, in compliance with the instruc-
tions of your circular, I shall have to give the character of the climate
and the quantity of rain-fall for the different interior provinces sepa-
rately, beginning with— -
MENDOZA.—This province is bounded on the west by the line divid-
ing Chili from the Argentine Republic, and contains about 155,745
square kilometers. A large portion of it is without population. The
cultivated portions are mostly in the neighborhood of Mendoza, its
only city, which is in latitude 32° 55' and longitude 68°49', and stands
at an altitude of 799 meters above the sea. It is situated in the foot-
hills of the Andes. The meteorological office reports for the year 1886
the mean monthly temperature (centigrade thermometer) as follows:
O O
January ------------------------- 23.21 July ----------------------------- 7 85
February -----------------------. 22.83 August --------------------------- 9.79
March --------------------------- 20.02 | September ---------------- is * * * * * * 12.87
April ---------------------------- 15, 18 October -------------------------- 17. 04
May ----------------------------- 10.55 | November.----------------------- 20. 99
June.---------------------------- 7. 63 December------------------------ 23.65
The mean temperature was 15.900. The lowest temperature was 7.5°
below zero on the 8th of August, and the highest 41.5° above on the
12th of December, a variation of 499.
In regard to the rain-fall we have returns of the years 1877, 1878, 1879,
and 1880, as follows:

Month. * 1877. 1878. 1879, 1880.
January . . . . . . -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19. 0 0, 0 0.3 0. 5
#.y . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5. 5 11. () 3.3 9. ()
March ............ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.4 7. 0 97. 0 28, 2
April ---------------. ------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I8.5 2.0 5. 0 (), ()
May -........... --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - (). () S. () 0.0 0. ()
June........--------------------------------------------------------- (). () (). () 14, 0 7.5
July....... --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 0.2 13.0 (), () 9. 0
August..........---------------------------------------------------- (), () 9. 0 || 10, 0 0. 0
September........--------------------------------------------------- 0, 1 || 15.0 2. () 17. 0
October............... --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * (). () 3. () 65, 5 21.0
November - ..... ---------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *** * * 57.5 10. 0 8, 0 0.4
December - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *** * * * 0.0 (). 0 7. 5 41. 0
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TEMPERATURE OF THE ANDEAN PROVINCES. 263
The director of the meteorological office says:
From these figures will be understood the extreme aridity of the climate contigu-
ous to the foot-hills of the Andes and that the entire agricultural richness of the
Andine provinces depends directly upon the melting of the snows on the elevated
Deaks of the great Cordilleras. In the city, also, snow is accustomed to fall fre-
quently during the winter, but to no great depth. And yet, owing to the extensive
system of irrigation, the greatest part of the lands in the neighborhood of the rivers
has been made very productive, being devoted principally to the cultivation of alfalfa,
Wheat, maize, and the vine.
SAN JUAN.—The province of San Juan lies to the north of that of
Mendoza and its western boundary separates it also from Chili. Its
mountainous features, however, are more pronounced than those of
Mendoza, the Sierras there rising one behind the other in longitudinal
chains which form the system of the Andes. The city of San Juan lies
in latitude 31° 32' and longitude 680 35', and it is 652 meters above the
level of the sea. Twelve years of observations complete gives the mean
monthly temperature of the city as follows:
O O
January ------------------------ 26.43 July ------------------------ .... 10. 17
February-----------------------. 25.40 August -------------------------- 13. 30
March -------------------------- 23.41 September ---------------------- 16. 25
April --------------------------- 17.74 October . . . . . . tº º ºs º º º e - º ºs º º tº gº gº gº º ºs = 20.00
May -----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 13. 43 | November. - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 23. 64
June ----- * * * * * * * * * * * * tº e º tº gº ºn tº e º s . 9.68 December.----------...--------- 26, 12
The mean temperature is 18.800. The place is subject to very Sud-
den changes of temperature, the varation in the summer months being
Sometimes as great as 25 degrees in a few hours.
I have returns complete of the rain-fall for the years 1881, 1882, 1883,
and 1888, as follows:
Month. 1881 1882. 1883. 1888.
January -----------------------------------------------...--......... 35, 0 | 3.0 39, 0 40. 5
February-----------------------------------------------...----------. 55. 0 12. 0 12, () 16.0
March--------------------------------------------------------------. (), () 0.0 1, 0 8. ()
April ---------------------------------------------------------------- 0. 0 0. 0 0.0 0.0
Mºy----------------------------------------------------------------. 0.0 6. 0 1.0 (). 0
June--------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * (). () 4. 0 {}, () 0.0
Wuly. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 1.5 0, 0 1, 0 0, 0
August.------------------------------------------------------------- 15.5 0.0 0, 0 0.2
September----------------------------------------------------------- 0. () 0, 0 0. 0 (), 0.
October.-------...- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 0, 0 7. 0 6. 0 8.0
November ----------------------------------------------------------. 26, 0 0. () 0. () 2. ()
Decomber --------------------------.... # * * * * * * * * * * * * is sº is as tº e s a sm e º a dº sº s º 14, 0 0.0 23, 0 16.0
It will be seen from these figures that the climate is excessively dry.
The clearness of the atmosphere, however, is phenomenal, and although
in summer the midday heat is very severely felt, the nights are refreshed
by a cool breeze from the south. The “zonda,” as the northeast wind
is called, is the Sirocco of South America, and prevails during the
months of July, August, and September, generally beginning about 8
o'clock in the morning and continuing until Sundown, during which
time the heat is almost Suffocating and the air is a cloud of dust. The
“zonda,” however, is always followed by a south wind, which at once
causes a sudden fall of the temperature and re-establishes the atmos-
pheric equilibrium.
264 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
In reference to the climate the director of the meteorological office
SayS:
The quantity of water which falls is entirely inadequate to the requirements of life;
and thus it is not astonishing that great tracts of country (travesias) are found almost
entirely without vegetation unless the required moisture is supplied by irrigation.
With even a limited irrigation, however, these deserts are transformed into fertile
fields, which by the contrast seem, as it were, like islands of Paradise, where grow
luxuriantly all the products of the temperate zone. The few rain-storms which occur
are accompanied by violent winds and great electrical discharges, and hail frequently
i. in the months of October and November, causing at times great destruction to
e crops.
CATAMARCA.—The province of Catamarca is bounded on the west by
Chili and on the north by Bolivia and the Province of Salta. Its
Superficial extent is placed at 242,309 square kilometers. Its great
industry is mining, though considerable attention is also given to agri-
Culture and the dairy. The city of Catamarca is in latitude 28°28' and
longitude 65° 55', and its altitude is 545 meters above the sea-level. It
is situated in a small valley which on the south opens into a level arid
plain. The climate is very similar to that of San Juan, very hot in
Summer and temperate in winter. The “ zonda, " here is very frequent
and sometimes blows for forty-eight hours, in its progress frequently
parching and blasting all vegetation. Indeed the climate is so dry
that the drought sometimes continues for eight or nine months of the
year. Only on such spots as are moistened by irrigation is any abun-
dant vegetation to be found. The mean temperature for each month is
given as follows:
O O
January ------------------------- 28.27 July ----------------------------- 11.78
February ------------------------ 26.60 | August -------------------------- 16. 03
March --------------------------- 25, 18 September ----------------------- 19. 53
April ------------------------ S--- 18.77 | October -------------------------- 23. 70
May ----------------------------- 15.80 l November------------------------ 25. 76
June----------------------------- 10. 72 | December ------------------------ 27. 64
The temperature frequently rises above 40 degrees and scarcely ever
known to fall to freezing-point.
I am not able to give the rain-fall, but it is much less than that of
San Juan.
TUCUMAN.—The province of Tucuman is to the southeast of Cata-
marca, but in climate presents a very notable contrast to it, on account
of its great humidity and consequently the tropical character of the
vegetation. Indeed, owing to its innumerable farms and rich vegeta-
tion, it is called the “garden " of the Republic. Its superficial area is
about 70,000 square kilometers, a large portion of which is relatively
well cultivated the capital city of the same name is in latitude 26° 50'
longitude 659 12", and its altitude is 464 meters above the sea. I have
the mean monthly temperature of Tucuman for sixteen years, and there
is but little variation in the readings. I give that for 1885:
O O
January -------------------- ----- 25.0 July ----------------------------- 11. 3
February. ------------------------ 23. 1 | August.-------------------------- 15. 1
March --------------------------- 21.0 | September ----------------------- 19. 3
April.---------------------------- 17.4 October -------------------------- 20, 1
May. ----------------------------- 13.6 | November------------------------ 24. 5
June.----------------------------- 11.9 December.----------------------- 24.5
The highest temperature recorded was December 25, 1862, when it
went to 40 and on three occasions it Went down to 0.9.
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THE RAIN-FALL IN TEIE WESTERN PROVINCES. 265
The rain fall for the years 1886, 1887 and 1888 was as follows:

TMonth. 1886, 1887. 1888.
January---------------------------------------------------------- 307. 6 328.0 85.9
February -------------------------------------------------------- 241.2 95.1 48. 7
March ----------------------------------------------------------- 201.1 119, 6 211. 0
April------------------------------------------------------------- 26. 5 30.3 44, 4
*Y-------------------------------------------------------------- 8. 0 5.5 12. 0
June ------------------------------------------------------------- 21. 1 4.9 29.2
July ------------------------------------------------------------- 0.0 31.8 4.5
August ---------------------------------------------------------- 2.3 2. 0 1. 5
September ------------------------------------------------------. 5. 6 14, 2 65. 5
9°tober ---------------------------------------------------------- 40.5 10t). 4 83. 6
November-------------------------------------------------------- 93. 1 97.8 168. 3
Pecember-------------------------------------------------------- 115.2 106.0 221.4
The mean monthly rain-fall by seasons for the fifteen years was as
follows: Spring,205.3; summer, 488.2; autumn, 233.6; winter, 31.1.
CORDOBA.—The province of Cordoba is partly pampa and partly
mountainous, and, exhibiting great diversity in the quality of the Soil,
is admirably adapted for agricultural pursuits and grazing, the only
drawback being a tendency to droughts during the Summer months.
The city of Cordoba is situated on the banks of the Rio Primero, just
on the edge of the great plain which extends to the Atlantic Ocean,
the Sierras rising on the west to a height of 2,500 feet. I have the
mean monthly temperature for the last fifteen years, and there is a re-
ºble uniformity in the figures. I give the following for the year
1887:
O O
January--------------------------- 23.4 July ------------------------------ 10.5
February ------------------------- 22.4 || August---------------- tº e s we e º see sº ... 16.0
March ---------------------------- 21.0 | September ------------------------ 15.5
April ----------------------------- 16.3 October --------------------------- 17.7
May ------------------------------ 12.7 | November ------------------------- 19.7
June------------------------------ 12.7 | December ------------------------- 21. 6
The rain-fall likewise shows a remarkable uniformity. I have the .
returns for the last fifteen years, and the largest amount in any one
year was 988.7 millimeters, in 1878, and the smallest amount was 528.7,
in 1887. For the years 1887 and 1888 it was as follows:

Month. 1887. l888.
January ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 91.4 15.3
February --------------------------------------------------------------------- 47.8 66. 5
March ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 30.4 130. 1
April. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 68.4 0.0
May -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10.5 67.0
June-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.0 2.3
July -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 7 0 0.0
August ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 0.0 0. 0
September-------------------------------------------------------------------- 3.0 9.5
October----------------------------------------------------------------------. 49. {} 31, 6
November -------------------------------------------------------------------- 136. 3 119 5
December--------------------------------------------------------------------. 84.9 161.9
The mean monthly rain-fall by seasons for the last eight years was
º: follows: Spring, 194.3; Summer, 310.6; autumn, 144.3; winter,
16.1.
I might extend these meteorological returns, but they are quite suffi-
cient to show the character of the climate in the irrigated regions, and
the annual amounts of rain-fall. From an examination of them it will
readily be understood that without some artificial means of watering
the soil there would not be moisture sufficient for the production of
Crops With any certainty, unless, perhaps, in Tucuman and Cordoba.
266 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION of ARID LANDS.
SOURCES OF THE WATER, SUPPLY.
The Water supply in all these provinces for the purposes of irrigation
is almost exclusively from rivers, streams, springs, and small water
courses, coming down from the mountains. The great trouble, how.
ever, with those rivers which have their sources in the Cordilleras of
the Andes is their unequal volume of water. With the melting of the
Snows, or during the rainy season, they are generally full to overflow.
ing; but they soon run out and at the very times when their waters
are most needed. Indeed, with the exception of the system of rivers
which flow to the Rio de la Plate and which includes the Uruguay, the
Parana, the Paraguay, the Pilcomayo, the Vermijo, and the Salado,
there is not a single river in the entire Republic, until we come to the
rivers south of the province of Buenos Ayres, which has any outlet.
Those of the central system, most of which cross the province of Cor.
doba, after a dreary course to the eastward, are swallowed up in sands
before they reach the Parana. Those which compose the system of the
Cordilleras are all lost in quagmires and marshy lagunas before they
reach the ocean. With their shallow beds running down very slight
inclines, and their great evaporation from the high temperature of sum-
mer, many of them quite dry up during four or five months of the year,
and these streams are all in those belts of country which have the
greatest need of moisture. -
CHARACTER OF THE IRRIGATION WORKS.
In regard to the character of the works used for the storage and dis-
tribution of the water, as a general thing, it may be said that they are
of the most primitive kind. In most cases they consist merely in hold-
ing the waters by means of dams built at intervals along the courses .
of the streams and from the higher levels thus obtained, making canals
or aqueducts through which the water is allowed to pass by a gradual
descent as it is needed to the lands which are to be irrigated. From
these canals the Water is distributed by means of sluices and gateways
along a system of drains, trenches, or conduits to the fields and meadows
which compose the irrigation district. Where the surface is level or
flat it is frequently necessary to form artificial slopes for the water to
pass over. The whole of the ground is then laid in broad, undulating
beds, the upper part of which is quite level from end to end, where the
supply channel is cut. All the supply furrows are fed by a main chan-
nel at right angles to the beds and somewhat above them. When the
flood-gates are opened the water flows into all the upper channels very
regularly and evenly till it fills them to overflowing in their entire
length. In the case of those streams which come down from the heights
of the Andes and course through the valleys or caſions of the Sierras there
is no difficulty in holding the water at a higher level than the lands
to be irrigated, but where the sluggish rivers meander 8,OI’OSS Ø, Il almost
level plain, there is occasion sometimes for engineering and the taking
of levels. In some instances a channel receiving the water at a higher
point than that to which the river flows is dug at a less declivity than
that of the bed of the stream and made to carry the Water higher than
the banks of the river, from which level it is allowed to descend slowly
and irrigate the intervening district. In some parts of the Cuyo prov-
inces the works which serve as reservoirs for retaining the waters are
of solid masonry, and large sums of money have been spent in their
construction. In other provinces the Works are merely Wooden barriers
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THE IRRIGATION SUPPLIES OF THE REPUBLIC. ' 267
or earth embankments, which sometimes in sudden freshets are swept
away with great damage, thus leaving the people of the district, until
they are repaired, without the means of irrigating their lands. I give
below the various sources of the water supply.
JUJUY.—This province, which borders on Bolivia, is irrigated at Ya-
rious points by the waters of the river San Francisco, which, making a
semi-circle through the southern valleys, finally empties into the IRio
Vemejo. While it is the only considerable stream in the province, there
are a large number of small mountain riverlets, from which channels
also have been dug, and which greatly assist the necessities of agricult-
UIPO,
SALTA.—On the other hand, this province is supplied with water for
irrigating purposes from no less than three large rivers, the Juramento,
the San Francisco, and the Vermijo, and by a large number of mount-
ain streams, which are throughout their length utilized for agricultural
purposes.
TUCUMAN.—Owing to the chains of mountains which longitudinally
pass through the western portions of Tucuman, this province likewise
is quite well supplied with water for irrigation purposes; on the south,
the streams from the heights of the Aconquija range, from the river San
Francisco, and on the east the river Sali, afterwards called the Dulce.
These two rivers, together with an innumerable number of mountain
riverlets, furnish an abundance of water for irrigation purposes, and
..nearly all the farms and sugar plantations are thus supplied through
the means of ordinary conduits.
SANTIAGO DEL ESTERO,--In this province, the, principal source of
the waters for irrigating purposes is the river Juramento, afterwards
called Salado, which flows along the northern and eastern borders. As
far as Sepulturas the river is well banked and both sides are covered
with fine farms and sugar plantations, the artificial watering which
they receive from the stream producing a marvelous fertility in lands
which otherwise would be perfectly barren. Beyond that point, how.
ever, it spreads out into marshes or esteros (whence the name of the
province) over a country which is unfit for cultivation. Another con-
siderable water course is the river Dulce, which, after leaving Tucuman,
flows diagonally through the province, passing by the city of Santiago.
In that vicinity it is well banked, and by means of a series of canals
furnishes an abundance of water to the estancias and sugar farms on
each Slde. Afterwards, turning to the Southeast, it reaches the Salinas
or great salt desert, where no vegetation can exist. Beyond this its
several channels unite again and forms What is called the Saladillo.
Along this stream are to be found spots or “oases in the desert” which
have been redeemed by means of irrigating canals, thence coursing over
a barren plain the river finally loses itself in an immense salt swamp
called Los Porongos.
CATAMARCA.—This has no large Water courses, though it is crossed
by several small rivers, of which the principal are Santa Maria, the
Paelen, and the Piedra Blanca, the two last named forming the Rio del
Valle, on which the city of Catamarca is located. These streams and
their affluents, and indeed every gorge and valley in the province
down which courses a mountain torrent, are utilized ere they are swal-
lowed up in the sands, for the purposes of irrigation. But even then
the water supply is so inadequate, that there are throughout the
province immense districts without water courses and without rain,
which must continue to be little less than Sterile deserts.
268 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
RIOJA.—Its only river of importance is the Vermijo, and this waters
only a very small portion of its surface. This river, coming down from
the eternal snows of Mount Boneti, traverses the fruitful valley of Jaque,
is increased by the torrents which come from the Valle-Hermoso, and
turning its course to the south to receive the surplus waters of the val-
ley of Jacal, finally in latitude 32 degrees loses itself in the sand before
reaching the lagunas of Guanacache. Throughout its course it affords
excellent facilities by means of sluices for irrigation, but the volume of
water is wholly insufficient to meet the requirements of the people, and
during the summer months, for Want of moisture, there are but few
places which escape the wide-spread drought. Wherever there is a
thread of water, however, coming down from the Sierras, it has been util-
ized for irrigation, and in the last few years the Government has been
boring artesian wells in the hope of obtaining a better supply of water,
but thus far with very little success.
SAN LUIZ.—This province is as poorly supplied with water as Rioja.
The only river of any importance is the Rio Quinto, which comes down
from the mountains in a series of cascades, and after a southeast course
is finally lost in the pampa, in latitude 34 degrees, in an immense salt-
marsh called Juncal. There are several small streams whose waters are
also, by means of dams and canals, utilized for the purposes of irriga-
tion, but the great want in this province is more water; for although
in good seasons there is rain-fall enough for the crops, yet this can not
be depended on, and an adequate harvest is only certain in those parts
where they have streams for irrigation.
SAN JUAN.—This, province is in the midst of the rivers which com-
pose the water system of the Cordilleras. The most northward of these
is the Colorado, which is fed by several affluents from the far western
Sierras. The second is the Vermejo Chico, which also is formed by
several affluents in the snow-covered peaks of Copiapo, at whose foot
are a series of magnificent farming districts, all watered by canals from
these mountain streams. This river afterwards, turning to the South
as I have said, makes its way towards the Laguna Guanacache, but is
lost before it gets there. The third and most important of the group
is the river San Juan, which has its source in the summits of the Cor-
dilleras, in two affluents, and flowing to the east, down the valley of
Pismento, cuts through the mountains and, after passing by the city of
San Juan, turns to the south and empties into Lake Guanacache. For-
merly, on the breaking up of the snows, the floods which came down this g
river caused most destructive inundations in the vicinity of the city,”
and sometimes devastated leagues upon leagues of the most cultivated.”
parts of the valley. To guard against this, an immense dyke has been
constructed which acts as a reservoir for holding the water during the
summer months. From this reservoir have been constructed number-
less distributing canals and conduits all along that beautiful Valley;
and the water is now so abundant that there is sufficient for steady
streams along the gutters of the city. The San Juan all along its
course, however, offers marvelous facilities for irrigation. At Murallon,
its altitude is 800 meters, while at Lake Guanacache its altitude is only
600 meters, thus giving a fall of 200 meters in a distance of not OVer
40 miles in a straight line. The river, however, is wonderfully crooked,
and affords water for an unlimited number of canals and conduits for
fertilizing all the adjacent country. Besides this all the small streams
and rivulets which find their way down from the mountains are utilized
for watering the lands along which they course—indeed they are en-
tirely absorbed for agricultural purposes. z
PROVINCE OF CORDOBA AND ITS COLONIES.
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34. H
Report on Irrigation.




















































construction works IN ARGENTINE REPUBLIC. 269
MENDOZA.—The system of canals and conduits for irrigation purposes
is probably more complete in Mendoza than in any other of the Cuyo
provinces, and the absolute requirement of water for agricultural pur-
poses gives its rivers and water-courses a peculiar importance. The
most considerable of these is the Rio Mendoza, which is formed by two
short branches in the eastern slopes of the Andes, the northern conflu-
ent descending from Mount Aconcagua, under the name of Rio Las
Cuevas, while the southern, under the name of Rio los Horcones, receives
its waters from the peaks of Tupungato. After the junction the river
runs to the south through the valley between the Cordilleras, and the
Sierra Uspillata, and reaching the level plain near Lujan, shortly after-
wards doubles towards the north, in this way arriving at the Lake
Guanacache, into which, like the Rio San Juan, it finally disappears.
Throughout nearly its entire course, it furnishes the waters for an im-
mense amount of irrigation, while the complicated net-work of channels
in the immediate vicinity of the city, with their elaborate ramifications,
is one of the great attractions of the place. Heretofore the waters,
brought down and through the city in open trenches, was used indis-
criminately, also, for drinking and culinary purposes, but two years ago,
when the cholera visited this country, the epidemic was peculiarly
malignant in that city, Owing as the analysis proved, to the bad condi-
tion of the water in the canals. Since then, all water used in the city
has been brought to it in closed pipes and is separate and distinct from
that employed for purposes of irrigation; and the well-known healthful.
ness of Mendoza has once more been assured.
CORDOBA.—This province has probably greater facilities for extended
Works of irrigation than any other of the interior provinces, as it is
crossed by not less than five considerable rivers, the Primero, the Se-
gundo, the Tercero, the Cuarto, and the Quinto, all of which take their
rise in different parts of the Sierras, which range on the western bound-
ary of that province and flow to the east or southeast towards the river
Parana, but which only the last named finally reaches, allthe rest losing
themselves in the Sands of the pampa before they get there. These
rivers are all utilized for irrigating the different portions of the prov-
ince, as are also a number of still smaller rivers, which, rising in the
Sierras of Cordoba, have their course towards the west until they
finally also disappear in the sands.
With a view to increasing the agricultural facilities of the province
and thus inducing immigration, five or six years ago, under the instiga-
tion of Dr. Juarez Celman, of that province, now president of the Ár-
gentine Republic, there was initiated a series of very extended works
of artificial irrigation, the several rivers which run through its territory
offering peculiar advantages for the purpose. Surveys and scientific
inquiries to this end were made by corps of skillful engineers. The
first of these works, under the name of the “Irrigation works of the
heights of Cordoba”. (Obras de riego de los altos de Cordoba) compre-
hended the distribution of the waters of the Rio Primero, which passes
through the city of Cordoba. The work was commenced two years ago
and it is just now contemplated and with most satisfactory results.
The entire cost was $3,800,000. It is divided into four parts as follows:
(1) The dike of San Roque. This is a reservoir for holding the
Water of the river. It is located in a narrow caſion, with precipitous
mountains on each side, at a short distance from the confluence of the
rivers San Roque and Cosquin, which together form the Rio Primero.
It is 51 meters in height and 37 meters from the water-line. The
thickness of the wall is 51 meters at the base, laid in cement; 29
270 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS,
meters at the water-line and 5 meters at the top. Its length at the
base, being from bank to bank, is 30 meters, and at the top 135 meters.
It contains 50,000 cubic meters of masonry. It holds 260,000,000 cubic
meters of Water and converts the valley into a large and beautiful arti.
ficial lake. It contains two flood-gates, a pipe of discharge, and con.
trivances for removing the accumulations of sand. Upon leaving this
immense reservoir, the water flows down the channel of the river until
it reaches a spot called Mal Paso, a short distance from La Colera,
where a second dike has been built.
(2) The dike of Mal Paso, which forms a reservoir for the distribu-
tion of the water. This dike is 10 meters in height and 230 meters in
length, from bank to bank, and consists of 13,000 cubic meters of ma-
sonry. From this reservoir have been constructed two distributing
canals, one of which carries the water to the table-lands on the north,
and the Öther to those on the south side of the river.
(3) Main northern canal. This canal is 25 kilometers long and has
eleven acqeducts, one of which, that of Saldan, for its extent, its solid-
ity, and its elegance attracts general attention. The point of distribu-
tion is at a height of 37.25 meters above the threshold of the door of the
National Observatory in Cordoba. The slope or declivity varies between
0.02 and 0.03 per 100 meters. It has twenty secondary canals. The
amount of masonry employed in the construction is 44,000 cubic meters;
the excavations of stone and earth reached to 615,000 cubic meters.
Main southern canal. This canal is 374 kilometers in length, and
has twenty aqueducts. The point of distribution is in a plain, even
higher than that of the Northern Canal. The slope is the same. It has
89 kilometers of secondary canals. The amount of masonry employed
in the construction is 45,000 cubic meters. The earth and stone excava-
tions amounted to 842,000 cubic meters.
The area, which these colossal works will irrigate, amounts to 48,000
hectares at twelve floodings per year; and double that number at 6 per
€2.T. *
y Besides these, the surveys have been completed and approved for
similar works on the Rio Segundo, which will hold 350,000,000 cubic
meters of water and irrigate 60,000 hectares of land, at a cost of $4,500,-
000; also for works on the Rio Tercero, whose principal dyke will be 42
meters high and contain 286,000 cubic meters of water, at a cost of
$3,850,000; also for works on the Rio Cuatio for which two dykes are
to be constructed each 16 meters in height, which will hold 32,600,000
cubic meters of water and irrigate 17,500 hectares of land ; also for the
Rio de los Sances, which at a cost of $1,400,000 will irrigate 23,760
hectares of land.
The entire cost of the works completed and the Works projected is
estimated to be not less than $15,280,000. With a capacity to irrigate
1,209,250 hectares of land, which is equivalent to $73 per hectare. If
all these works are ever completed the territory of Cordoba, which now
in some parts, owing to the want of rain, is a desert, Will take a new de-
parture as an agricultural province. - up tº g
I regret that I have not been able to be more explicit or go into
greater detail in regard to the character of the works of irrigation in
all the different provinces; but I have found it almost impossible to ob-
tain any authentic information whatever. Upon the receipt of the cir:
cular of the Department, I at once applied to the interior department
of the Argentine Government, in the hope that it could furnish me with
printed reports, surveys or statistics in regard to the more important
irrigation or storage systems employed in the interior provinces, but I
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Report on Irrigation.




















































RULES AND REGULATIONS CB WATER DISTRIBUTION. 271
was informed that it had nothing of the kind at its command. I then
immediately addressed letters to the governors, stating the object I had
in view and asking for such data on the subject as I supposed of course
they would be able to send me; but although over a month has elapsed
I have not yet received a word from any of them, and it is hardly worth
while for me to delay my report any longer in the hope of obtaining
them. Under these circumstances I have had to depend solely on Such
outside information as I have been able to procure, and except in the
case of the works in the province of Cordoba, to speak only in a gen-
eral way. In regard to the latter I have had access to a book descrip-
tive of the province by Señor Santiago J. Albarracin, and which de-
Votes a few pages to the subject of irrigation. In regard to the other
provinces, however, the modes of irrigation employed are generally so
primitive and so simple, being in most cases mere trenches with slop-
ing slides, that I doubt if it would be of any service, even if I could
give more detailed statements in regard to them.
IDISTRIBUTION OF THE WATER.
In regard to the rules or laws which govern the distribution of the
water, of course it all depends upon the tenure of ownership. In many
of the provinces, if not indeed in all of them, there are numerous canals
cut for irrigating purposes which are the property of the owners of
the land, through or over which the canals are made. The province
has had nothing to do with their construction and of course collect no
rental or tax for the water used. Where the works have been con-
structed by the provincial governments a tax is paid by those who
make use of the water, and this varies in the different provinces
according to the expense or cost of the Works. I regret that only in
a few cases I am able to give the rates charged for the use of public
water, not having been able to procure the laws under which the irri-
gating canals have been constructed.
In the province of Santiago des Estero, it is provided that all agri-
cultural establishments and gardens which use the water of the public
irrigating canals shall pay a tax of $1.50 per hour; and manufacturing
establishments shall pay $2 each time they request the water, not to
exceed four hours each time; for a single hour 50 cents each time.
Subscribers for the use of the water for irrigation have the right to six
times per month during the year; and in case they do not receive this
amount in the course of the year, they are entitled to a proportionate
rebate, but the law does not appear to state what amount of water
shall be used.
In the province of Mendoza the annual tax is $30 per square (about
5 acres), the water to be used not oftener than one day in the week, the
tax to be paid quarterly. Tor each house situated on the canals, where
there is a service of water, a tax of 25 cents per month is charged.
Those who make use of the water surreptitiously, or who use it out of .
their turns, must pay a fine of $20 for each offense.
In the province of Tucuman the water of the “Western Canal” is
sold for the purpose of irrigation at the rate of $3 per mark per
twenty-four hours; and for brick making at 30 cents per 1,000 bricks.
In Catamarca 6 cents per hour is charged for the use of the water
from the Rio Tala, payable monthly.
In Cordoba the charge per square is $30 per year, payable quarterly,
the water to be used one day in the Week. Those who use the water out
of their turn or without permission are liable to a fine of $20 each time
272 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
wATER RIGHTS BY PRESCRIPTION.
These water-rates, however, it will be borne in mind, are only col-
lected in cases where the provinces are the proprietors of the works.
In many cases, as I have said, the canals are the property of the land
owners on each side of the stream. It is a part of the history of the
conquest that when the Andine regions came into the possession of
the Spaniards they occupied the country in the neighborhood of the
rivers in some cases, driving the original inhabitants away from their
settlements; and in others not only appropriating their settlements,
but even reducing the Indians to the condition of slaves and requiring
them to cultivate lands which were their own. These lands were held
in vast estates, and with the organization of the governments it was
found that all the arable places were in the possession of comparatively
a few persons, who either found irrigating canals already constructed
upon the lands or who compelled the enslaved Indians to dig them.
Thus all these landed estates have had from the beginning a right to
the use, if not the control, of the streams along which they are located.
And, as with the increase of population, these estates have gradually
been divided up into smaller properties and sold; a certain amount of
the water for irrigating purposes have been sold with them. Thus the
quantity of water which the different properties are entitled to is in
most cases fixed by their title deeds.
AREAS OF LAND UNDER, IRRIGATION.
In regard to the areas of land under irrigation, compared with such
as are cultivated without irrigation, together with the quantity and
quality of the crops grown, it is not possible to speak with exactness.
As no census of the country has been taken for the last twenty years
it is usual to base all calculations on estimated figures, and that is all
that can be done in this case. Fortunately I find in the message of the
President of the Republic to the present Argentine Congress a table of
statistics, “being the first ever attempted,” giving the amount of land
under cultivation in each province for the year 1888, compared with the
total areas. I reproduce his figures below:
Provinces which depend on irrigation.

Provinces. In ºve. Total area.
Electares. | Hectares.
Cordoba, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - 234, 395 17, 476, 700
San Luis - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10, 809 7, 591, 700
Mendoza ------------------ !-------------------------------------------------- 88, 546 16, 081, 300
San Juan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 79, 630 9, 750, 500
Rioja. . . . ...------------------------------------------------------------------- # #: ; 903, º
Catamarca . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * , 618 ! 964, £00
Santiago del Estero----------------------------------------------------------- 120, 400 10, 235, 500
Tucuman. ....... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 35, 943 2,419,900
Salta ---...------------------------------------------------------------------- 38, 525 | 12,826, 600
Jujuy --...------------------------------------------------------------------- 18, 994 4, 528, 600
Total - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 703, 077 98, 878, 200
Thus, out of a total area of 98,878,200 hectares of land in these inte-
rior provinces, we find that only 703,077 hectares are under cultivation,
being scarcely .07 per cent. of the entire area. It will readily be seen
from this that it is only along the water courses that there is any irri-
gation, or indeed any vegetation at all.
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IV.--AQUEDUCT No. 13, NORTHERN CANAL OF THE IRRIGATION WORKS OF THE PROVINCE OF CORDOBA,
Report. Om Irrigation.

PROGRESS OF IRRIGATION IN SANDWICH ISLANDS.
273
The provinces which, owing to the frequency of the rains, do not re-
quire irrigation for the production of crops, are the following:
Provinces which have no irrigation.

e In cultiva-
Provinces. tion. Total area.
FIectares. | Hectareg.
Buenos Ayres ---------------------------------------------------------------- 868, 658 || 31, 123, 700
Santa Fé --------------------------------------------------------------------- 586, 537 13, 158,200
Entre Rios-------------------------------------------------------------------- 136, 151 7, 545, 700
Corrientes-------------------------------------------------------------------- 46, 631 8, 114,800
Total ------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,637, 977 59, 942, 400
In these four riverine provinces out of a total area of 59,942,400 hec-
tares of land, there are 1,637,077 hectares under cultivation, being
about 2.5 per cent. of the entire area.
The President in his message calls attention to the difference in the
percentage of land under crops in the riverine provinces and in the
interior provinces, and says: “It shows the relation there is between
easy means of communication and the cultivation of the land.” There
is no doubt that the outlet the formor have to the sea-board does give
them some advantage, but the great advantage which they possess Con-
sists in their better climate and their more reliable supply of moisture
from fertilizing rains. A large percentage of the lands in the interior
provinces, owing to the limited supply of water they afford, beyond theim-
mediate banks of their water-courses, must continue to be what it now is,
an unproductive area of desert, unless the deficiency can some time be
made up by the sinking of artesian wells, a problem which the Argen-
tine National Government has for some time been trying to solve, thus
far, however, without any great success. Should artesian water, how-
ever, be finally reached in sufficient quantities to meet the requirements
of agriculture, all the interior provinces, most of whose areas are now
but waste places, would receive a new stimulus and have a more pros-
perous future in store for them. They would then be able to produce
crops not only of as good quality, but perhaps in as great quantities as
the more favorable portions of the Republic. Until then, however, the
provinces of the littoral must continue to be the chief centers of the
Argentine agricultural industry.
PACIFIC OCEAN.
REPORT FROM H. W. SEVERANCE, U. S. CONSUL-GENERAL, HONO-
LULU, ON IRRIGATION IN THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
This report has been delayed in order to include reference to a pub-
lished report, now inclosed, on water-supply for irrigation by Messrs.
Schuyler and Allard”. Thesee ngineers, being competent men, have ex-
amined the sources of Supply on the island of Oahu, as well as giving
valuable information concerning irrigation on the other larger islands
of this group; and although this information is limited, the fact is fully
established that irrigation is essential to success in the growth of the
leading product, Sugar-cane, as well as rice.
The only map bearing upon this subject is attached to the report of
Messrs. Schuyler and Allardt. It has been difficult to obtain the infor-
* Report not received.
18
138 A L–WOL IW
274 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
mation in an extended form but the points to which the circular alludes
have as far as possible been answered in this report.
Where irrigation is continuous the product of sugar has increased to
an average of 4 tons per acre, while the same lands without irrigation
formerly yielded only the average of 2 tons per acre.
The area of good cane land is limited; the most reliable estimates do
not exceed 90,000 acres. Of rice land 7,000 acres, and of land suited
for bananas at present under cultivation 3,000 acres; total, 100,000
acres. Of the came land about 45 per cent. is irrigated, the remainder,
except for rice land, which is all under irrigation, is subject to the an-
nual rain-fall, which is copious on the high lands on the windward or
eastern side, while it is limited on the leeward or western side.
The quantity of sugar produced in the year 1888 was estimated at
120,000 tons. Two-thirds of this of a good light color, polarizing
from 86 to 960, and one-third of the yield polarizing from 76 to 840, all.
of which was sold at good figures for refining purposes.
The estimate of rice was 20,000 tons, one-third of which, was exported
and the remainder consumed here. All of good quality.
Of bananas about 100,000 bunches; 75,000 exported, balance con-
Sumed here.
THE SOURCES OF WATER-SUPPLY,
t
From mountain streams, springs, artesian Wells, and storage reservoirs,
THE CHARACTER OF WORKS, DISTRIBUTION, ETC.
These consist of dams and basins, by which water is imponded and
then conveyed by wrought-iron and cast-iron pipes, flumes, and open
water leads and ditches at various distances from 5 to 40 miles. This
system of distribution is regulated largely by leases from land-owners
and by custom and common consent with Sanction of law.
AMOUNT OF WATER USED PER, ACRE AND PER SEASON.
For twelve months' irrigation per acre on the Spreckelsville plantation
on Maui 566,280 cubic feet were used, equal to 3 inches per acre, every
week, or say 5.8 cubic feet for 1 pound of sugar produced. This may
be a large quantity, as the usual estimate would be 1 cubic foot of
water per second to properly irrigate 45 to 65 acres of cane or 30 acres
of rice. *
THE COST OF RENTAL TO USER.
On page 21 of report forwarded the highest cost of pumping is esti
mated at $3 per acre per month, or $45 per acre per crop. No reliable
estimate can be found of cost of water-supply distributed by pipes,
ditches, flumes, artesian wells, or springs. This would depend on the
distance, the means of conveyance, the character of the country, and
the flow.
TIENURE OF OWNERSHIP OIT WATER.
Both private and by lease from Government.
CIHARACTER OF CLIMATE IN ITRIGATED REGION.
Variable, according to elevation; on the leeward or western side, in
proximity to the ocean, dry; the eastern side generally moist and cool;
good soil in the valleys, yielding fair crops.
THE USE OF WATER FOR AGRICULTURE IN CHINA, 275
ANNUAL RAIN-FALL.
Mean rain-fall on the island of Oahu from 1867 to 1883 was 62.6
inches (see page 24 of report inclosed), while the minimum rain-fall,
along the coast exceeds 24 inclies, and upon the mountain slopes from
40 to 90 inches, according to elevation; in the Hilo district on Hawaii,
120 inches.
ANTIQUITY OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM.
A system of irrigation has always existed among the Hawaiians '
throughout the Kingdom, conveying the water from the mountain slopes
and springs through the valleys over hill-sides for the production of
their chief article of food, the Arum esculentum or kalo, from which poi
is made. Many of the ancient Water leads are still maintained at pri-
vate expense by the owners of leases of the land running from the
mountain to the Sea.
ASIA.
REPORT FROM JOHN TYLER CAMPBELL, U. S. consul, Foochow,
ON IFRIGATION IN CHINA.
As the rain-fall is equally distributed throughout the year in this
province (Fohkien) there is no land dependent alone on irrigation; but
in the culture and growth of rice, which is generally understood to be
the principal crop grown here, irrigation is at times indispensable, and
is a subject which deeply concerns the farmer in this country. The
rice crop can not be made without a great deal of water, and in the
Seasons of drought its absence is Sorely felt.
TEIE CULTIVATION OF RICE.
In the first place a small piece of ground is highly fertilized, plowed,
or dug up and put in good order very much as cabbage beds are pre-
pared, then the rice Seeds are sown, after which the water is turned on
and the bed kept submerged with about a half of a foot of water until
the plants are sufficiently large to be transplanted to the fields. And
here again irrigation is required. The ground is plowed and put in
order for the plants, but before planting the fields are covered with
water about one-half of a foot deep and the soil is worked into mud; the
plants are then set into the mud and water in rows. Water is kept
standing on the land until the plants are well along. Irrigation is
therefore essential to rice growing.
HOW LAND IS IRRIGATED.
This country is well situated for the construction of reservoirs on a
large scale. Dams could be easily built across the gulches and deep
caníos in the mountains, and reservoirs could be made wherein im-
mense quantities of water could be stored and when needed for irriga.
tion could be turned on the fields in the valleys below by the force of
gravity, but this idea has never been acted upon by the Chinese, if it
ever entered their minds. Small ponds are made adjacent to the fields,
and the water is pumped from these and the natural water supplies
into the rice fields by man power alone.
276 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
THE MODE OF IRRIGATION,
The water used for irrigation is drawn up from the ponds and water-
courses by an endless chain, or rather an endless rope pump, which is
worked by one man or sometimes two men by treading upon a wheel,
made with a number of radiating arms, which causes the wheel to turn
upon its axis. A horizontal pole about 5 feet above the shaft is made
fast, and the men support themselves by leaning upon this pole while
treading the wheel. One end of the box through which the chain draws
the buckets is placed in the water at an angle of about 45 degrees with
the pond, river, or canal from whence the water is drawn into the field.
The box is open at both ends and is made strong and light. The whole
apparatus is easily carried by one man on his shoulders. The faster the
man treads the wheel the more water is pumped, and the machine is
kept going night and day when water is needed for irrigation.
The pump is run very much on the principle of the tread-mill so far
as the motor-power goes, and the water is carried up with the buckets
Something like wheat is raised in an elevator. In this province neither
horse nor steam power has ever been thought of, and the manner of
pumping water it is believed has not changed for three hundred years.
Water is conducted into the fields, which are usually marked off into
small compartments, according to the number of proprietors, by earth
embankments, the water filling one after another until all are covered.
Horses are never used in this province by the farmers, and in fact are
rarely seen here. Everything is carried by human beings on their
backs. The vegetable garden, flowers, and small plants are watered by
water carried on the backs of the laboring people—men, Women, and
children.
None of the modern appliances for conducting water over the land
have as yet found their way into China. No greater or stronger power
than human hands is ever called into requisition, nor is there any like-
lihood of any innovation to the long-established custom being per-
mitted in this land where farms are so small and labor so cheap. No
farmer will expend money in experiments for irrigation when he can
hire a laborer at from $10 to $12 per year to keep the time-honored
pump in motion. The working classes themselves would strongly op-
pose the introduction of labor-saving inventions that would take work
from them, and tend to cut off their employment. The farms are small,
less than 1 acre in many cases, but they have been tilled for perhaps
thousands of years, and by the skillful use of fertilizers and by care
and attention to each plant crops are raised that would astonish the
owners of rich soil.
THE watºrs of THE RIVER MIN.
The river Min runs diagonally through this province, and a few miles
above this city it divides into several branches, which, after pursuing
separate courses for 15 miles, unite a little above the pagoda anchorage,
and empty into the Pacific Ocean 2 miles below. Along the river are
numerous small valleys which can be easily irrigated from the river,
but the mode of irrigation is rude and simple. The pump is used for
the larger fields and small plants, and garden vegetables are Watered
by water carried on the backs of the laboring people. The everlasting
pole on the shoulder of the bearer, with buckets suspended from each
end, is rarely out of view. The water is carried in this way, in many
places a long distance, but no complaint is heard in any quarter. When
the rains cease water must be supplied to keep alive the growing Vege-
HOW THE CHINESE IRRIGATE THEIR LANDS. 277
tation so essential to the existence of the people. During a dry season
men, women, and children are engaged in carrying water which is care-
fully sprinkled over the vegetation, and the greatest patience and care
are shown in keeping moisture about the plants. In this part of China
the rain-fall is fairly distributed throughout the season, but if the rain
does not come at the needed time the water buckets are called into req-
uisition to supply the necessary water for the crops.
LAND UNDER, IRRIGATION,
There are no means of ascertaining the area of land grown in
rice. This seems to be the only product of the soil that necessitates
irrigation. There are no statistics available showing the quantity
of land under cultivation. As far as observation goes the whole face of
the country, excluding the precipitous mountains and running streams,
is used eitherfor farming purposes, for residences, or for cemeteries. The
water-supply is abundant for all purposes in ordinary times. There are
numerous rivers, streams, and springs in all parts of the province.
There are no laws governing the use of water. Custom rules in this as
in almost all the affairs of life in China.
REPORT FROM THOMAS F. PETTUS, U. S. ConSUL, NINGPO, CHINA,
ONT IRRIGATION.
(1) It is impossible to ascertain the areas of lands under irrigation or
cultivation, owing to the difficulty in getting at the records kept in the
tax office and the absence of published returns of land taxes. The
district is well cultivated, and every strip of land available is under
cultivation.
(2) The supply of water for bottom land is from canals. The supply
canals are run from the river to the hills, dug from 50 to 80 feet wide.
At the foot of hills all running water from springs is emptied into the
canals, so as to form a never-failing supply of fresh water. The canals
are not allowed to connect with the river, as the water in the latter is
salt or brackish. At the foot (or end) of the canal an embankment of stone
is made to a height above the sides of the river, this is covered with
moistened, slippery clay, so that boats entering or leaving the canal are
hauled over. A hawser of twisted split bamboo is fastened either to the
stern of the boat or a strong beam crossing it at the bows. The haul-
ing is usually done by capstans, sometimes by oxen.
These canals have no locks. The supply canals are from 2 to 4 miles
apart; minor canals are dug at right angles, and supplied with water
! from the main arteries, about 200 to 400 feet apart, from 10 to 30 feet
wide. Thus every farm and garden is supplied with free water.
(3) The farmers, when compelled to irrigate their land, use a wooden
chain-pump, which is as long as required, placed so as to draw water
from the canals, worked by cog-wheels, the ox performing the labor; so
a stream of water some 10 inches wide constantly flows. A field of 2 or
3 acres of rice is soon overflowed.
For gardens and small plots of ground a hand-pump of the same kind
is used, generally worked by two men.
The hill lands are terraced and are irrigated by springs, water being
conveyed by small ditches or by pipes made of bamboo.
(4) There are no laws or rules governing the water system. The
canals are free, and there are no expenses to the user beyond those of
drawing the Water from the Canals.
278 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
. (5) Climate damp and warm from April to 1st of July; July, August,
and September, hot and dry; November and December, dry and pleas-
ant; January, February, and March, damp and disagreeable.
The system of irrigation according to Chinese is over a thousand
years old.
The soil is alluvial. Rain-fall for 1888 was 68.31 inches.
REPORT FROM CHARLES SEYMOUR, U. S. CONSUI, CANTON,
CHINA, ON IRRIGATION.
(1) Irrigation of land is so general in southern China that a compari-
Son between irrigated and non-irrigated lands is impossible. Rice is the
chief crop on which cultivators rely for support, but near Canton and
Other large towns and cities a great diversity of productions may be
found, as vegetables of all kinds are cultivated, and the lands being So
Subdivided as to be devoted to small parcels, and under the manage-
ment of small owners, to many kinds of crops, with a view to early sup-
plies for immediate city consumption. -
The yield of good land,” which has been properly fertilized and irri-
gated, supports a family of five persons, who will each consume 2
pounds of rice, and other things in moderate variety and supply. Two
crops of rice and one of vegetables are produced annually when the
land is well tilled. A ton and three-quarters of rice per acre each year
is a fine crop. In tilling the small pieces of land about Canton, with a
generous use of fertilizers, the utmost vigilance is given to irrigation.
(2 and 3) The sources of water-supply are the small tributaries of the
large branches of great streams, and in many places where they are
inaccessible pools of water are held in reserve by hardening the bot-
toms and sides of pits and hollows and depressed or sunken lands.
Between rows of growing vegetables, trenches filled with water, ob-
tained from the creeks, brooks, or pools, are kept, and once or twice a
day the water is scooped from these trenches upon the raised grounds,
in which the roots have great depth of loose and moist soil to promote
growth. When these trenches of water are not available, owing to
scarcity of water or to porous land, the men and Women carry, Sus-
pended from a yoke across their shoulders, two large buckets with long
spouts, and sprinkle the rows of vegetables copiously. Sometimes the
water for this purpose is carried in buckets a considerable distance,
For the irrigation of rice lands, which have to be submerged, the lands
are divided into small patches at different levels, so that the appear-
ance is that of a beautiful system of terraces, near a bountiful supply
of water, which is raised to the upper level by chain-pump and tread
mill process with coolie power. From the upper to lower levels the
water descends so gradually as to avoid washing away the Substance
or fertility of upper to lower lands. *
(4) The system of water distribution is generally conducted and used
on the mutual or co-operative plan, which prevails in China in so many
branches of industry and business as to lead one to believe Co-operation
is reduced to a perfect system on the basis of equity.
(5) The character of the climate in this province is mild and warm.
The lowest temperature at Canton in winter is about 37 or 38° Fah.
The rainy season of March and April, with copious showers and rains
of considerable frequency during May and June, and occasional show-
*The consul makes no mention of the area required.
*
IRRIGATION on SMALL FARMS AND BY MAN POWER. 279
ers up to the end of August, supplying crops with abundant water when
most needed for the first and seaond rice crops. The actual measure-
ment of rain-fall is not known. During the rainy season the Water-fall
is torrential at times. &
The antiquity of the irrigation system in China is established. This
portion of China is favored with streams, and water-ways, sloughs, and
natural deposits of water for the temporary season of drought ; SO that
being abundance offertilizing properties available for agricultural and
horticultural operations, the excellent supply of water required for irri.
gation of land favors the production of the largest crops of which any
land is capable of yielding.
REPORT FROM A. C. Jon Es, U. S. constyr, CHIN KIANG, CHIN
ON, IRRIGATION. -
SIR: In compliance with the circular letter of instructions of the De-
partment of State, on the subject of irrigation, dated May 2, 1889, and
received on the 7th instant, I have the honor to inform you that, so far
as I can learn, there never has been any national or other governmental
system of water distribution in China. There are no reservoirs worthy of
the name in any part of the country. This province of Kiangsie, as its
name signifies, is the province of rivers and mulberry trees, and is per-
haps the best-watered section in the empire. The almost annual inun-
dations, caused by the overflow of the Yellow River and the Yangtsze
Kiang, fertilizes the submerged lowlands of the province and renders
unnecessary any artificial means for the cultivation of crops except that
of rice, which requires in the early stages of planting and growth a great
deal of water.
The methods of providing water for the rice and other crops in gen-
eral all over the country are very simple, and are governed by no laws
or regulations beyond the local customs of the people.
The farms, so-called, are rarely over 2 acres in extent, and are sepa-
rated by ditches or raised pathways. There are no fences and no rang-
ing Stock.
To provide a water-supply for the fields the farmers usually club to-
gether and make large pools to receive the rain for common use. It is
then when required supplied to the fields by pails. When a natural
streamlet exists, it is utilized by conducting it through ditches or bambo
pipes to the fields.
Sometimes the water is supplied from the streamlets by the most
primitive arrangement of a water-wheel worked by treading with the
feet. *
These are the methods in vogue since the earliest days in this dis-
trict, and no improvements on them have ever been attempted. In
other districts I have seen the water-wheel worked by buffaloes.
The rain-fall is very uncertain. Usually in May and part of June
there are heavy rains; but last year a long-continual drought almost
destroyed the whole rice crop of the district.
In reading of the astuteness of the Chinese and of their reputation
generally as to shrewdness and Sagacity, one naturally would expect
other things of them; but my observation of the working class and the
farmers leads me to the conclusion that while they are hard-working
and patient, they are a shiftless and hand-to-mouth people.
280 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
REPORT FROM J. D. KENNEDY, U. S. consul-GENERAL, SHANG-
HAI, ON IRRIGATION IN CHINA.
Following the Department's inquiries in their order I have to re-
port as follows:
(2) Rice fields are usually flooded from rivers, streams, and canals.
(3) There is no system of storage of water for irrigation.
(4) All irrigation throughout this section of China (if flooding rice
fields may be called irrigation) is carried on by individuals. No further
information under this heading obtainable.
(5) Warm, moist, and fertile.
(6) The present means of pumping water from streams into fields
has been practiced in China from time immemorial.
In general: From Mr. G. James Morrison, an English civil engineer,
who has had much experience in China, I learn that from observation
made during extensive journeys in the interior of this country he has
Seen no other means of irrigation than the system of pumping from
Streams directly into the fields, save the more laborious method he saw
in the northern sections of China of lifting water in buckets and throw-
ing it over the bank by hand. -
On the island of Formosa he saw a more extensive system of irriga-
tion, the water being conducted down the hills for some distance.
From Mr. John Fryer, a distinguished sinologue, to whom I applied
for assistance in making this report, and who obtained his information
from Chinese sources, I learn that in northern Shan-Si an arid tract of
land has been reclaimed by irrigation. The information is so meager
that I merely mention it. In many sections of China there is at the
present day extensive tracts of arid land and no attempts are made to
reclaim them.
REPORT FROM JACOB I. CHILD, UNITED STATES CONSUL-GEN-
ERAL, BANGKOK, ON IRRIGATION IN SIAM.
About one-half of the country is under cultivation, and of this portion
fully four-fifths is under irrigation.
Rice is the staple, consisting of two kinds, Va Suan, or garden rice,
which is tranplanted, and the second grade, Va. Muang, or field rice.
It is estimated that about 10,143,800 piculs are annually grown in
Siam. f *
Water is supplied to the fields by means of canals, which branch out
from the rivers in all directions. *
The water is conducted into the fields by small canals and ditches
(the fields are divided off into ris, containing about one-third of an acre),
around the four sides of each ri, in turn, until the whole number of ris
is full. -
There are no published works upon irrigation. This system is gov.
erned by laws and customs. There is no duty upon the water, but if
the land is government property there is an annual rental in the form
of a tax of 28 cents per ri, which includes the use of the water. The
large canals are built at the expense of the general government, but the
small canals leading to the fields must be dug by the individual.
The climate is tropical, with a wet and dry season. The average an-
nual rain-fall is 67.04 inches. º g
The system of irrigation has been in use from time immemorial and is
maintained partly by public and partly by private expense,
IRRIGATION IN THE LAND OF THE PHOENECIANs. 281
REPORT OF ERHARD BIssINGER, U. S. consul, BEIRUT, ON IRRI-
GATION, ETC., IN SYRIA.
(1) AREAS OF LAND UNDER IRRIGATION, ETC.—As there are no
statistics kept in Syria it is not possible to state with any degree
of positiveness the exact areas of land under irrigation, and the differ-
ent authorities competent to speak on so important a subject differ
Somewhat in their various estimates. A high government official in
Damascus, who has devoted much study and attention to the matter,
gives the approximate area of cultivated land in the vilayet or prov-
ince of Syria as 30,000 feddans—336,000,000 square feet. (A “feddan”
in Syria is understood to comprise that extent of land which can be
plowed and prepared for seed by a pair of oxen in one day.)
An equally reliable and competent authority in Beirut, from his own
Observations and knowledge of the country, estimates that only about
5 per cent. of the cultivated lands are irrigated in the province known
as Mount Lebanon, and probably not over 2 per cent. in all Syria, .
while the proportion of irrigable, as compared with non-irrigable, areas
is calculated by the former authority as equal to about three parts out
of twenty-four, or 12; per cent.
Quantity and quality of crops grown.—The total quantity of crops
grown is not ascertainable, not even approximately, and any attempt to
arrive at exact figures would be useless and a mere waste of time.
The quality of the crops varies according to climate, soil, and locality;
they comprise nearly all the cereals grown in the United States, besides
“durah " or maize (both yellow and white), Sesame, hemp, cotton, etc.,
also bananas, pomegranates, figs, dates, Oranges, lemons, mulberries,
olive, and other fruits, and all kinds of vegetables and other garden
products.
Orchards well watered, as those for instance at Sidon, Tripoli, and
other places in Syria, are reputed to be very remunerative in a pe-
cuniary point of view, yielding, it is said, as high as 10 per cent on the
capital invested, clear of all expenses.
(2) Sources of water supply.—The sources of water supply are lakes,
rivers, streams, and other Water-courses, springs, ponds, wells, and cis-
terms or tanks. The Waters of lakes for irrigation purposes are only
utilized in a few instances, such as Homs, Tiberias, etc., as will be seen
later on, and reservoirs, on a large scale, do not exist at all in Syria.
(3) Character of works used for storage and distribution of water.—Pub-
lished reports of irrigation and storage works do not exist; a wood cut
of a huge Persian Water-wheel in use at Hamah, with an accompany-
ing description in print published from notes furnished by a competent
authority here, is all I have seen.
Generally Speaking the character of the irrigation works is of the
most primitive kind. From rivers the conveyance of water is usually
by means of Canals or rough ditches badly leveled and aligned, often
without masonry except at the intake, the retaining weirs for obtaining
necessary head being remade every season of bowlder, stones, and
brush-wood, rarely over 3 feet high.
Irrigation from Springs is generally much the same as from the riv-
ers, though necessarily on a smaller scale.
From Wells the System universally employed is that of the “Na
'hura.”
The “Na 'hura” is of the simplest construction, cheap, quickly made
and repaired, and easily Worked, while it raises a comparatively large
quantity of Water. Its construction consists of a clumsy cog-wheel,
282 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
fitted to an upright post, and made to revolve horizontally by a donkey,
mule, or horse attached to the sweep; this turns a similar one perpen-
dicularly placed at the end of a heavy beam, which has a large wide
drum built into it, directly over the mouth of the well.
Over this drum revolve two rough hawsers, or thick ropes, often
made of “myrtle” twigs and branches twisted together, and upon them
are fastened small earthen jars or wooden buckets. One side descends
While the other rises, carrying the small buckets with them ; those de-
Scending are empty, while the ascending ones are full, and as they pass
OVer the top they discharge into a trough which conveys the water to
the cistern. The length of the hawsers and number of buckets de-
pend upon the profundity of the well, for the buckets are fastened to
the hawsers about 2 feet apart; the wells are of different depths, but
generally average from 10 to 15 feet. It is claimed that with good an-
imal power a bucket containing about 2 gallons of water can be raised
every second (see table in “Acca-Haifa” report).
The “Shaduf,” so conspicuous on the Nile, is not used in Syria, but
On the shores of Lake Tiberias an apparatus much like it has been
. at work, and the well-sweep and bucket is also met with in many
plaCeS. -
Another method (very common in the land of Philistia) may be ob-
Served on the plains of central Syria. It is a large buffalo skin so at-
tached to cords that when let down into the well it opens and is in-
Stantly filled, and being drawn up, closes up so as to retain the Water.
The rope by which it is hoisted to the crop works over a wheel and is
drawn by donkeys, mules, oxen, or camels that walk directly from the
well to the length of the rope and then return, only to repeat the proc-
ess until a sufficient quantity of water is raised; this is also a very
successful mode of drawing water.
The wheel and bucket, of different sorts and sizes, are much used
where the water is near the surface, and also along rapid rivers. For
shallow wells merely a wheel is used, whose diameter equals the de-
sired elevation of the water. The rim of this wheel is large, hollow,
and divided into compartments answering the place of buckets. A
hole at the top of each bucket allows it to fill, as that part of the rim,
in revolving, dips under the water. This, of course, will be discharged
into the trough when the bucket begins to descend, and thus a con-
stant succession of streams falls into the cisterns. The wheel itself may
be turned by donkeys, mules, oxen, or camels. *
Small water-wheels are sometimes turned by feet, but the process is
tedious, toilsome, and not productive of much result.
At Homs, in the Tripoli district, there is a lake or artificial basin of
about 4,000 acres in extent, formed by draining the Orontes River. It
is very shallow in summer, probably not over 10 or 15 feet at the deep-
est part, but will reach a depth estimated at from 30 to 40 feet in the
winter. The lake was made for the double purpose of regulating the
summer flow of the Orontes and for obtaining sufficient head of water
to irrigate the extensive gardens of Homs. This lake is the only artifi-
cial system of irrigation on a large scale in the country, but it is not
kept in very good repair.
The “Pools of Solomon,” at Tyre, may also be mentioned; they are
natural artesian wells of great volume, irrigating some 1,500 acres of
garden land from artificially raised conduits.
(4) The system of water distributio:v, etc.—In regard to this, Ottoman
law literally says:
In contestations relative to water-courses for drinking or irrigating purposes, the
customs and usages existing ab, antiquo only are to be taken into consideration.
TURKISH PROPRIETARY RIGHTS IN WATER. 283
These usages and established rules vary somewhat in different locali-
ties; but it is the almost universal custom that the water belongs to
the community and to the lands irrigated by it; the allotted quantities
of water can not be altered or alienated without the permission of
all the proprietors unanimously; nor can the lands be sold without the
Water, nor the water without the lands.
The amount of water used per acre—is estimated by a reliable author-
ity as varying from 25 tons in the plain for garden products to 4 tons
per acre in the high lands for mulberry trees.
The actual or precise quantity of water used per acre or season, can
not, however, be accurately stated; it varies greatly according to the
Soil and its products. Mulberry trees, for instance, need only to be
well watered three or four times during the dry season ; but the water
should penetrate the ground at least 3 feet. This would require the
the land to be inundated to a depth of at least 8 to 10 inches, Vege-
tables, cereals, etc., should be watered more frequently, at least once or
twice a week.
Where there is scarcity of water, judicious manuring would do much
towards assuring good crops; but this practice, outside of the vicinity
of Beirut and other large cities, is either wholly unknown in Syria or
only resorted to in very isolated cases.
Tenure of ownership of water, etc.—The Turkish regulations and laws
are very comprehensive and precise on this subject, and for a fuller
understanding of the same, a translation of the most pertinent para-
graphs is appended here with :
*
OttomLAN REGULATIONs coxcERNING PROPRIETARY RIGIITs of w ATER, Etc.
Water, herbs, and fire are things ex commercium ; all men enjoy them in common.
Water running under ground is the property of no one in particular.
Wells not sunk by any one in particular and which are used by the public in com-
mon, are ex: cominercium.
Seas and great lakes are things ex commercium.
Streams of the public domains, that is to say, those which do not specially belong
to any one, are those whose bed is not the property of a number of persons; such
streams are extra commercium, as for example, the Nile, the Euphrates, the Danube,
etc.
“Private” streams (Arabic, enharmumlouká), i. e., those whose beds traverse the lands
the property of private persons, are of two kinds.
First. Those whose waters are subdivided among co-proprietors, but which do not
empty or exhaust themselves completely into the lands of the latter and which run
afterwards into public rivers; such water courses are also designated “public,” be-
cause part of them is public domain. The right of pre-emption (chufaa) is not applica-
ble to these water courses.
Second. “Private” water courses (nehrihass) which run within the limits of the
property of a given number of persons and whose water is exhausted and disappears
upon such property without re-appearing to form another confluent. Pre-emption
rights are only applicable to such water-courses.
Alluvium deposited by a stream on the land of a private individual becomes that
person's property; no one else can lay claim to proprietary rights thereto,
Herbs of natural (wild) growth upon lands the property of no one in particular
are ex commercium ; the same with herbs that grow upon private property unknown
to the owner; but if the latter waters his land or incloses it with a view to prepare
it for cultivation, then the herbs growing thereon become his property; no one else can
appropriate them, and he who gathers them is held responsible therefor.
By herbs are meant such plants as are not artificially watered; mushrooms, for
instance, are included therein, but trees are not. Trees of natural growth (i. e., wild
growth) upon mountains which have no owners (djibali moubalra) are ea commercium.
Trees of natural (wild) growth upon the property of any one belong to the owner
of such property; nobody can cut them down without his authorization. He who
grafts a tree becomes the proprietor of the shoots and fruits thereof. t
it; ºbody occupies a thing & Commercium he becomes the exclusive proprietor
thereof,
284 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Examples: The water which a person draws from a stream with a receptacle be-
comes his undisputed property, and if a third person consumes it without the owner's
permission he is held liable therefor.
The occupation of a thing must show intent; consequently he who has placed a re-
ceptacle with the intention of collecting rain-water becomes the owner of such water.
The same with water accumulated in a basin or cistern ; but the rain-water found
in a receptacle not expressly placed for such a purpose is not the property of the
owner of the receptacle, and other persons may appropriate such water.
It is necessary in the occupation of water that it does not run continually; so for
instance, well-water which filters through is commercium. He who consumes the
Water thus obtained by infiltration, even without the proprietor's consent, is not held
liable for damages.
Again, water is not considered as having been appropriated where as much enters
a basin on one side as escapes on the other.
Every one may enjoy a thing ea commercium on condition that such enjoyment
causes injury to no one.
None can prevent a person from occupying or appropriating a thing ea commercium.
Everybody can utilize the waters of public streams for his lands, and may for this
purpose, or for the purpose of constructing a mill, dig canals and ditches or trenches,
on condition. however, of doing no injury to any one. Works which cause an inun-
dation, those which completely exhaust a stream or which prevent boats (barges) from
floating, are to be interdicted.
Man and beast may drink of the waters not the individual property of any one.
The right of “chirb” (i. e., the right to use water for irrigation and for the consump-
tion of animals) of water courses, not public property, belongs to the owners of these
streams (courses); any other persons, however, may drink therefrom. Thus no other
person than the owner can serve himself of the waters belonging to a community or
of a ditch, trench, or well, for irrigating purposes; but he may drink therefrom and
even water his animals, provided the number of these be not so large as to damage
the water course, the canal, ditch, trench, or conduit; he can likewise draw water
therefrom with a pitcher or pail, and carry it to his house or garden.
Those who possess a brook, stream, basin, or well upon their lands, whose waters
are renewed by nature, may prevent any one who wants to drink therefrom from en-
tering their property; but if there exists no other water ea commercium in the neigh-
borhood, the owners are obliged to either offer the use of their water or allow their
lands to be penetrated ; and, in case they fail to offer their water, those who wish to
drink may enter the property, provided no harm is done thereto by damaging, for
example, the edge of the wells or the water conduits.
One of the coproprietors of a common water course can not, without the permission
of the others, cut a channel, ditch, trench, or gutter; he can not change his “turn " or
share of the enjoyment of the water established ab antiquo nor cede such right to a
landed proprietor who has no right to the waters of such a river for irrigating his
field or watering his cattle. The authorization to perform these acts given by the
other coproprietors could be evoked by these latter or by their heirs.
In all contestations touching drinking water or water for irrigating purposes, the
rules, Fegulations, and usages established ab antiquo are to be enforced.
The waters of rivers, streams, springs, and other water courses, pass-
ing through the lands of a village or a city are the property of the
community and must be distributed, as has been the practice ab an-
tiquo in such a manner as to secure a supply to each landed proprietor
during certain hours, either weekly or fortnightly.
Every owner of land knows the exact time and quantity of water to
which he is entitled, and in almost every village there is a civil officer
who is charged with the duty of looking after the proper allotment and
distribution of the water among all the inhabitants.
As clocks and watches are not commonly in use among the peasantry,
the time is measured by various devices, such as hour-glasses, etc.
Besides the Beirut Water Works, noticed under the head of “gen-
eral remarks,” there exist in Syria no irrigation works which supply
water against payment, and the Turkish Government has no other in-
terest, nor claims any other right to rivers, streams, springs, and other
water courses than to place an increased valuation upon the lands
irrigated therefrom, and to levy a comparatively heavier land tax. t
(5) Character of climate in irrigated region and nature of soil.—The
climate of the coast region is warm and damp. Thermometer ranges
from about 40 to 90 degrees Fah. (in the Lebanon and other mountains
THE TEMPERATURE AND RAIN-FALL OF SYRIA. 285
the range is from 10 to 20 degrees less in the winter and from 5 to 15
degrees in the summer.)
The climate in the interior is generally dry, but with greater thermo-
metric range, say 25 to 30 degrees and 90 to 95 degrees Fah. The fol:
lowing table will show the average readings in Beirut during a period
of ten years:
Thermometrical observations taken at the Syrian Protestant College at Beirut, Syria, from
1879 to 1889.

Month. 1879, 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883, 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889.
O O O O O O O O O O
January------------------------ 60. 92 |52.20 (61.70 |56.70 |36. 20 |54. 60 56 60 |60. 20 |55. 54 55.30 57. 10
February & ar as e º ºs e s - - - - - sº º e s as sº e se e - 65. 24 58.60 |58. 00 53.20 |56. 60 55.30 |59. 30 |59.50 (57.52 |59. 60 | 60. 64
‘March------------------------. 62.33 |57.81 (61.70 |62. 30 |64. 40 |60. 10 62.40 |59.70 ||61. 10 |64. 50 63. 16
April • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 69. 26 55.70 |67. 40 |66. 00 |65. 60 |66. 40 |65.80 (64.60 67. 64 |66. 50 || 65. 84
May.--------------------------- 73. 38 |70, 30 71.70 |69. 60 |70. 78 |71. 16 |74. 60 |70. 70 |72. 36 70.80 71.06
June --------------------------. 81.35 |79. 50 77.40 |76. 10 |78. 65 77. 90 |78, 40 |78. 90 78.64 (76.60 | 78. 12
July.--------------------------. 85.79 |82.88 82.80 81. 40 81.90 (80.35 82.50 (81.70 |82.66 (83.75 82.87
August ------------------------ 84.20 (84.40 (85.60 (82.60 (83.47 |82, 00 83.30 (83.05 |83. 97 (83.60 |.-----
September --------------------- 82.05 |81. 20 |82.90 81,70 |81. 55 (76.30 (80.90 (81.30 (81.00 (81.60 |......
October -----------------------. 74. 96 |77. 90 |76. 50 74.64 (76.90 (74.20 76.80 75.40 |79. 77 |78. 22 || ------
November---------------------. 67. 55 |71.80 (67.40 (68. 16 |67. 30 |66.82 (68.90 (65, 00 70.84 |65. 22 |.---- tº
December ---------------------. 60. 58 |59.50 |60.80 (61.00 |60. 60 |63.80 |62. 40 (61. 60 (62.50 |58. 33 ...-- tº
No statistics for the interior are known to exist.
The soil throughout almost the entire Vilayet of Syria is of a heavy
clayey (argillaceous) nature, which, in drying up, becomes very hard,
causing it to crack. In Beirut and other localities the experiment of
using sand to improve the soil has been successful, but on a more ex-
tensive scale, and upon large tracts, this process would perhaps not
prove practicable or feasible. *
The character of climate is generally very good in the plains, but
better in the mountains; the lands not irrigated are of course the most
salubrious; the non-irrigated districts in the “Hauran” (east of Damas-
cus) are considered by far the best, next come the regions to the north,
then the Baalbek district, the plains of the “Bekaa” or “Cool Syria,”
and the districts of “Hasbaya” and “Rashaya.” The land around
Damascus is all irrigated and the soil is very fertile.
Annual rain fall or other precipitation.—Along the coast, near Beirut,
the annual rain-fall averages about 30 to 38 inches, but in the interior
it is much less. One authority estimates it as low as 15 inches, while
another makes it from 15 to 50 inches, or an average of 32% inches. The
rain-fall for Beirut for a period of ten years and six months is herewith
annexed.
t
Rain-fall at Beirut, in inches, from 1879 to 1889, observed by the Syrian Protestant College
at Beirut.
Month. 1879, 1880. 1881. 1882. 1883. 1884. 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889.
January....] 3.100 9.330 | 1.320 4.910 | 12.750 | 10.639 || 10.370 5.820 | 8, 910 | 6.065 6.930
February --| 2.230 4.205 9.440 10, 180 9.251 6.065 4.165 9.865 2.560 | 6,625 2.885
&ICEl - - - - - 5. 600 || 3. 585 5. 360 | 1.325 | 3.305 || 3, 650 | 1.640 | 8. 260 | 1.685 2.745 2. 590
April.------ . 540 || 2. 125 2.975 6. 250 | . 900 | 1. 654 3. 430 . 580 | . 350 || 5, 158 . 840
&W - - - - - - - - . 770 | . 480 - - - - - - - - 2.570 | .350 .547 .050 .420 | . 375 | . 170 | . 100
June -------|--------|-------- . 110 - 060 ---------------. 400 l--------|-------- . 905 | . 280
July -------|-------. 380 ----------------|-------- •010 !--------|--------|----------------|----- •e
August ----|--------|--------|--------|-------- . 290 •035 --------|--------|--------|------------- º
September. . 120 | 1,013 . 765 --------|-------. 1. 010 . 700 - 525 . 140 .045 l------
October - - -. 3.390 . 510 | | 1.385 || 3. 125 || 2. 115 1.936 . 080 2, 205 [...— ..... 1. 330 ! ----- º
November - 4.560 | 1.050 5. 540 || 3. 100 15. 304 || 4.350 3.910 || 3, 860 3.065 7. 220 ||------
December...] 13.375 9.665 |. 5. 760 | 6.357 | 6.448 .240 6, 910 5.460 | 10. 170 || 7.885 |-----.
32.685 32.343 32.655 37.877 || 50, 713 30. 136 || 31.655 36.995 || 27. 255 38. 148 ------

. 286 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
i
Annual average during ten years, 35.146 inches.
No statistics are kept of the amount of the annual rain-fall in the
mountains and the interior, but it is variously estimated at from 15 to
50 inches, according to locality.
The precipitations are: Dew during the summer and the fall more or
less plentiful. Very plentiful in spring, sometimes sufficient to ripen
the grain, when rains cease early.
In February, March, and April hail-storms are not uncommon. If
they occur late they are apt to destroy the mulberry leaves and the
VII, Q,
Snow falls on the mountains and in the interior, but no statistics are
kept of the quantity.
Generally the country is at least five months without any rain at all,
and a month after the last rain-fall the land is dried up to the depth of
the roots of the trees, causing a total cessation of all vegetable life, un-
less irrigation is resorted to. May is the last month in which rain falls,
but the copious down-pours really cease with the end of March or be.
ginning of April. - |
(6) Antiquity of irrigating systems, etc.—All the existing irrigation
works are of considerable antiquity, Some date from time immemorial.
On the right banks of the Dog River, about 5 miles north of Beirut,
there still exists an old aqueduct, built upon arches and partly cut
through the solid rock, running along the river side, which is said to
date back to the time of the IRoman occupation. The present use is to
convey water for the irrigation of a vast tract of land, and to furnish
the domestic supply for the village of Jumi, etc.
The ruins of another aqueduct, where the Water was conducted over
river and dale, are still to be seen in the valley of the Beirut River,
about 8 miles above its mouth.
The water-works and conduits of Damascus, Tripoli, Homs, and Ha.
math are also of great antiquity, and the Water is conducted by means
of canals of masonry; or where this was impracticable, through earthen
pipes and sometimes also through stones Scooped out for this purpose.
The ancient canals in the plains of Mesopotamia, between the Eu-
phrates and Tigris are still extant; but they are choked up with the
accumulated rubbish of centuries, Which, With a little energy and hard
work, however, could easily be removed. (See also the report of the
“Acca-Haifa” district and the annex to the “notes on irrigation” in
the Vilayet of Adana.) º º tº tº
No maps or publications bearing upon the Subject of irrigation, etc.,
exist in the province of Syria.
GENER AL REMARIKS.
Under irrigation are usually placed lands lying along the foot of a
mountain, from which rivers, streams, springs, or other water-courses
flow, and which, by reason of their gentle slope, adapt themselves ad-
mirably for irrigating purposes.
In Beirut the area under irrigation extends about 5 miles in one
direction and 8 or 9 in another, and the necessary Supply of Water is
furnished by the Beirut River, conducted through five canals. Another
strip of varying width and about 12 miles in length runs along the Med-
iterranean Sea, and is irrigated by the waters of the Dog River, the
powerful spring of Antelias and other springs of minor capacity. .
The irrigated lands in these districts are planted principally with
mulberry trees for the silk industry, besides all kind of Vegetables and
garden stuffs.
THE IRRIGABLE CONDITIONS IN THE LEVANT. 287
At Tripoli the irrigated lands consist mostly of orange groves, about
5 miles Square in extent, which, however, there is no lack, for the
river that flows down from Mount Sannin (of the Lebanon range) fur.
nishes an abundant supply, sufficient also for the ancient Tripoli city
water-works. From Tripoli northward there runs a narrow strip of
land between the sea and the mountains of about 1 to 24 miles in
breadth and about 16 miles in length, irrigated from the waters of springs
and rivulets which have their sources there. Onions are the principal
product of these lands; they are annually exported in large quantities
in small sailing vessels. In the interior of the country, wherever there
is artificial watering, “durah " or maize is generally grown, and is said
to be quite remunerative; but it will not prosper without water,
Between Tripoli and Homs, in the valley of the Nahr “Jabir.” (River
Eleutherus), large tracts of lands are thus year after year planted with
“durah.” The crop per acre it has not been possible to ascertain with
precision, but it is asserted by an eye witness that the best-looking of
these fields would compare very unfavorably with the corn fields in
Illinois, for instance, and that they would probably not produce much
more than one-half the average yield of American farms. Upon the
highlands (plateau) traversed by the river Orontes there is very little
irrigation, for the river itself has, in the course of centuries, imbedded
itself so deeply that the ancient water conduits can no longer be
utilized and new ones have not yet been constructed. The conveyance
of water in general is by means of canals or ditches expressly dug for
this purpose, where they do not already exist, or where the water does
not run of itself; the canals are usually very old, but are not kept in
very good repair.
The waters of Springs are carried into cisterns or tanks built of ma-
sonry, well cemented, which are usually emptied each day; large reser.
voirs are unknown in Syria, and the maxim among the natives in force
is : “That irrigation is Only profitable Where the water runs unaided
by man,” that is to say, where condicts and consequently pecuniary
outlays are unnecessary. Their ancestors were apparently of a different
opinion, judging from the numerous Works left by them scattered broad-
cast over the land.
Of modern irrigation and Water Works, the Beirut Water Works take
first rank; they are the property of an English stock company, which
furnishes Beirut with an excellent quality of drinking water at fixed
rates, as well as a needful Supply for irrigating purposes at reasonable
charges.
§. a few years since built a pipe line to convey the waters of a
spring or springs, situated, about 24 miles distant, into the city; and
the municipality of Homs, three years ago, also contemplated the intro-
duction of water works, but the project failed through the opposition
of the city of Ham ath, Which apprehended a decrease and even a
scarcity of water for its own Supply.
Several efforts have been made by an intelligent and enterprising
mechanic, established in business in Beirut, a citizen of the United
States, to introduce mechanical and steam power as a profitable means
of artificial irrigation. The first attempt made by him was in a region
lying between Tripoli and Antioch, a broad plain traversed by a num-
ber of rivulets, whose beds, however, had become so deep that canals
could no longer be made Serviceable as conduits or conveyances of their
waters, especially as there was not sufficient fall or headway.
A rich Arab who had seen the irrigation works in Egypt, conceived
the idea of applying them practically to his lands situated in the dis.
288 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
trict above mentioned and went so far as to order a machine of five
horse-power. The pump was a “pulsometer” with 4-inch pipes, and
the water had to be raised to an elevation of about 30 feet. The pump
was guarantied to lift 750 litres or 1663 gallons per minute; it worked
for forty days, fulfilled all its expectations, and would have been capa-
ble of irrigating an area of at least 80 acres in extent; but it appears
that the fuel proved too expensive, wood being scarce and coal very
...” that the experiment has been for the present at least aban-
OD162C1,
A second attempt was made in the spring of this year in “Hazmyeh,”
in the neighborhood of Beirut, and notwithstanding that the water had
to be elevated fully 130 feet, proved entirely successful.
The water is first raised about 10 feet from a well dug close to the
Beirut River, by means of a cylindrical pump worked by a steam motor
of three horse-power, and then forced through iron pipes along a hill
to the height of 120 feet into a basin holding about 90 cubic meters,
3,543 cubic inches of water, for irrigating purposes. The basin can be
filled in about six or seven hours, and the capacity per hourtherefore is
about 14 cubic meters, or 551 cubic inches. The investment seems to
have proven an entirely satisfactory one in every respect. &
A “Hallonday ’’ wind motor has also been in operation near Beirut
for over four years, which raises water to a considerable height and
works satisfactorily. In general, irrigation as practiced in Syria does
not entail any greater or other expense than the cost of maintaining
the canals, conduits, etc., in good repair; but this, it must be repeated,
is not always done. -
Irrigation, as has already been shown, is regulated entirely by usage
and well established rules, and every parcel of land has a right to the
use of water for certain well fixed length of time. For instance: A small
proprietor near Beirut has five acres of land; every Friday he can take
as much water during six hours as he may need to thoroughly saturate
his land; if he fails to take advantage of his privilege, he simply forfeits
it without being indemnified therefor. Where water is scarce, as in
many places in the mountains, it is often divided into hours and even
fractions of hours, and good care is taken that no one receives or takes
more that his allotted share. The sole owner of a Spring—a rare occur-
rence, however—may of course use the water thereofathis own pleasure.
It is worthy of remark that in Mount Lebanon the waters of every
spring, no matter how limited its capacity, is caught up into cisterns of
good solid masonry, and is utilized for irrigating and domestic purposes,
and no matter how steep the mountain sides or how poor the Soil, the
smallest available and tillable space is planted With Onions, Vegetables,
marrow, or egg plant, and three and sometimes even four crops are thus
produced each year. & ſe
The lands in Mount Lebanon are exceptionally Well kept, and the
population is principally composed of Christians (Maronites and Greeks,
etc.), and Druzes, who are quite prosperous, and whose destinies are
presided over by a Christian governor-general.
If the foregoing notes do not contain much of practical value or im-
portance for the purposes intended, they may at least serve to impart
some interesting if not useful information regarding the people of the
oldest country, and of their ancestors the Phoenicians, which may not
be generally known in the United States.
THE WALLEY OF THE JORDAN AND AROUND ABOUT. 289
ANNEX B.
IRRIGATION, ETC., IN THE DISTRICT OF ACCA-HAIFA (SYRIA).
From materials furnished by Consular Agent J. Schumacher and Civil Engineer
G. Schumacher.
The Acco-Haifa district and the region of the Hauran probably offer little in the
way of irrigation that will prove of much value or interest, for the purpose of the
State Department would appear to be to secure information of a practical character
on a larger scale.
Interrogatory No. 1, “areas of land under irrigation,” etc., of which the succeed-
ing five interrogatories are merely an elaboration, can be summarily answered by the
statement that there practically do not exist in Gallilee, in Nablus, or in the Jordan
Valley any irrigation works in the full sense of the word as understood in the United
States, and that land under irrigation in those districts is almost wholly unknown,
forming but an infinitesimal—probably not more than the two-hundredth—part of the
whole arable land.
In the Jordan Valley, on the Hūlé (sea of Merom), north of the Batilèa and south
of the Lake of Tiberias, also in the Wädel Arab and Wädel Tanjibe, the Bedouins
irrigate small parcels of about 10 to 60 acres, upon which “durah’ (maize) is grown,
yielding annually two and even three crops. This result is due in part to the excep-
tional climate of the Jordan Valley with its tropical heat—a perfect hot-house—to
the rich alluvial soil washed down from the basalt mountains, and also, perhaps,
chiefly to the great abundance of water in the Jordan and Huromax (Arab, Sheri'al
el Menidise); whereas the higher regions of Palestine and the littoral of the Mediter-
ranean Sea are comparatively too poor in water supplies to enable their inhabitants
to irrigate their lands to any great extent.
The irrigation process in all these districts supplied by water is of the simplest
and most primitive character. In the early morning or shortly before sunset, young
Bedouins in a semi-nude state may be seen roughly constructing from stones and
earth a temporary dam to obstruct the waters of a stream or wadi (valley) while
others provided with broad hoes dig little ditches, through which they lead the over-
flowing waters to be distributed over the parcels it is intended to irrigate, allowing
the water free course in the lower lying lands, thus inundating or rather completely
setting them under water. These manipulations are of daily repetition ; the dams
have to be regularly rebuilt, for the pressure of the water causes their daily destruc-
tion, and it is interesting to watch with what assiduity and perseverance these
Bedouins are continually remaking and renewing the little ditches or canals which
need their unremitting attention.
Reservoirs, basins, tanks, etc., do not exist, and the systems in practice here will
therefore scarcely commend themselves to the inhabitants of more progressive coun-
tries.
Here and there, along the sea of Tiberias, remnants of ancient Roman irrigation
works may be met with ; but they are in such a deplorable state of dilapidation
that of their original construction only a catchment basin remains near the head of
the spring and a portion of a conduit (in masonry) is also yet in a fair state of
preservation. The original character or the practical application of these ancient
works can, however, no longer be established or recognized ; for the Arabs not only
made no use of them, but allowed everything to fall into decay and ruin, preferring
the antediluvian ways of their own ancestors to the innovations of the Roman in-
truders.
In response to interrogatory No. 4, it may be said that “the system of water dis-
tribution,” etc., depends wholly upon local custom as regulated among the different
communities themselves. If several inhabitants of a village, for the purpose of irri-
gation, desire to utilize a spring in common they will use and distribute the waters
thereof in conformity with local tradition as sanctioned by the municipal authorities;
such at least is the custom or practice in this vicinity. In all cases the proprietary
rights of a village spring remain vested with the community, and the spring itself
can never be sold. ,
The climate (question 5) in the irrigated districts of the Jordan Valley and in the
arable lands bordering the Lake of Tiberias is, on the whole, rather insalubrious,
engendering malarial fevers caused by the evaporation (exhalations) during the heat
of the day and the rapid cooling off at night; in other words, owing to the sudden
change and wide range of temperature.
For habitation, irrigated districts are carefully avoided in these parts, and as a rule
only negroes are capable of withstanding the deadly effects of the miasmata.
According to careful observations and measurements in Haifa during a period of
twelve years, the Phiviometer registered from 19.69 to 34.04 inches per year; last
ń. it reached 33.86 inches. The yearly average, however, may be taken to be 26
lil CléS. &
138 A L-WOL IV——19
290 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
A draw-well in almost universal use in these regions, and by far the most practical
and cheapest method of irrigating small parcels and gardens, is the “Hanani,” a
Sketch of which in its improved form as in use by the Haifa German-American Col-
ony is annexed berewith. -
The “Hanani,” as used by the natives, is of a much more imperfect and primitive
construction than that of the colonists.
It may be worked by either donkey, mule, or horse (wholly unattended), and can
be utilized to a depth of 150 feet. The size of the well buckets decrease in proportion
to the profundity of the well to allow the “Hanani” to be worked by a single ani-
mal of either of the above species.
The amount of water raised diminishes in consequence with the increasing depth
of º: well, and the following table will serve to illustrate the practical results ob-
SôI'VOCl 2
Depth Amount of water raised per
Place of observation. of well. bour in gallons. p
- Feet
Haifa.----------- tº tº is ºn w w w we sº a sº is tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 25 || 5,200 liters * = 1,144 gallons.
Haifa -------------------------------------------------------- 30 4,000 liters = 889 gallons.
Gaza (Palestine).-------------------------------------------. 146 2,500 liters = 555% gallons.
Sea of Merim ------------------------------------------------ 15 6,500 liters = 1,444; gallons.
& * Four and a half liters equal 1 gallon.
Of course the employment of steam would greatly increase these figures.
These quantities will vary according to the working capacity of the different ani-
mals employed, and the above figures were obtained by well-nourished animals, rest-
ing one hour after every three hours of consecutive work. The principal basin is gen-
erally replenished in from six to eight hours. It is constructed of masonry and well
cemented, and ordinarily was 20 feet in length, 18 feet in width, and 7 to 8 feet in
depth.
#. main basin empties itself into a smaller one, 4 feet square by 2 feet deep, from
which the water is conducted directly into the main irrigating canal, made of ma-
sonry, and situated in the most elevated part of the land, which feeds the numerous
little ditches that distribute the water over the garden or field to be watered. The
‘‘Hanani "is of great durability and seldom needs repairs, especially if the water is free
from saline particles; it is of the simplest construction and can be handled by the
most inexperienced person.
REPORT ON II?EIGATION IN THE CONSULAIR DISTRICT OF MERSINA
(ASIA MINOR), SYRIA.
In the Vilayet of Adana, Syria, there are about 4,740,000 acres of land cultivable,
but no irrigation works. ©
In the plain between Mersina and Adana there are about 400,000 acres irrigable,
and between Adana and Missis about 350,000, through which there are three rivers,
the Cydnus, the Sarus, and the Pyramus flow, but up to the present there are no irri-
gation works. The consequence is that for the last four years part of the crops has
been completely destroyed, and what has succeeded could not be produced at prices
to compete against the American and Russian markets in Europe.
The Turkish Government, on the pressing demands of the agriculturists, have re-
cently taken the matter of irrigation in hand, and His Excellency the Wuli Sirri
Pacha asked me to assist him in making the necessary surveys and plans, and I have
just handed him the plans to irrigate a portion of the plain from Taraus towards
Adana for a distance of about 15 miles, which can be done at a very small cost. The
other parts of the plain, however, towards Adana and between this latter and Missis
will cost about £400,000 to irrigate properly, and although this sum would be com:
paratively nothing compared with the results, yet the Government, in order to avoid
this outlay, want to try to make these irrigation works “a la Turque” if possible,
but unless they are carried out by a competent company I am afraid it will be a fail-
III'é.
The principal crops grown are cotton of very short texture, about 16,000 tons; wheat
and barley of second quality, about 25,000 tons; sesame seed of first quality, about
4,000 tons; raisins of very inferior quality, about 4,000 tons. s
The soil is partly red and partly sandy. Rain-fall averages 22 inches per annum.
The antique irrigations simply consist of the cultivators in the immediate neigh-
borhood of the rivers and mill streams taking advantage of the Water passing their
farms.
ARound JERUSALEM AND SOUTHERN PALESTINE. 291
NOTE: BY THE BEIR. UT CONSULATE ANNEXED TO THE REPORT OF THE
“MERSINA CONSULAR AGENCY.”
In olden times the vast plains of the Vilayet of Adania, Syria, were entirely irrigated
by the rivers that pass through them. The Romans were in the habit of damming out
the required quantity from the waters of the Djihoun, Seihoun, and Cydnus, and, con-
ducting it to the foot of the mountains, form a high level on both sides of the rivers,
along the surface of the ground, accumulating earth on both sides of its banks, mak-
ing in this way a wide, high canal, extending from the mountains on both sides of
the rivers in various directions to the sea. The farmers had thus the water within
their reach and could easily, and at little expense, by means of subsidiary canals, con-
duct any portion of it to irrigate their lands.
These long and ancient canals, extending from the foot of the mountains to the Sea
in all directions, are still extant, and need but to be freed from the rubbish that cent-
uries have accumulated to be again serviceable.
REPORT FROM HENRY GILLMAN, U. S. CONSUL, JERUSALEM, ON
IRRIGATION IN PALESTINE.
With the exception of Jaffa and its immediate neighborhood, there is
no part of this consular district in which any extensive and systematic
attempt at irrigation according to modern methods is made.
THE JORDAN WALLEY.
In the Valley of the Jordan, which contains from 500 to 600 square
miles of some of the richest land in the world, and which is never
visited by frost, being from 700 to 1,300 feet below the level of the
Mediterranean Sea, and where, with its semi-tropical climate and facili-
ties for irrigation, several successive crops, may be produced annually,
only the most feeble and primitive methods of conducting the necessary
water to the few and ill-cultivated fields are followed. This unique
valley, capable, with proper agricultural treatment, of sustaining an
immense population, has no settlement worthy of the name. The wild
Bedouin Arabs range throughout its length and breadth, and in de-
fiance of the Turkish Government, which have in vain attempted to
drive them out, come and go at their own free will.
Small fields, gardens, or patches of ground are here and there culti-
wated in the neighborhood of some stream having its source in one of
the perennial springs of the region. Prom such a stream the water is
conveyed in shallow drains or ditches to wherever required, and is car-
ried through the fields or gardens by still smaller channels, the water
being shut off or let on simply by the action of the foot, opening the
tray inlet, or blocking it up with a few pebbles or masses of clay, as
may be desired. This is a habit as old as the oldest writings, and of
which mention is made in the Bible. “Where thou sowest thy seed,
and waterest it with thy foot, as a garden of herbs.” (Deut. 11, 10.)
Only the common farm crops are cultivated; but they are of specially
exuberant growth.
At Nablous, or Ancient Shechem, or Sychar, similar methods in gen-
eral are followed. The comparatively few fields and gardens are well
watered from the abundant streams which have their rise in the Mounts
Gerizim and Ebal, making it a spot of beauty in the midst of wild and
uñreclaimed surroundings. In one or two instances here there have
been made some efforts at a more enlightened system of irrigation, the
water from the clear and copious springs being conducted by aqueducts
of stone masonry, and more Satisfactorly supplied. The result in the
292 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
luxuriant gardens, in which most of the various kinds of fruits and
Vegetables suitable to the climate are found, testifies as to what might
be accomplished were more intelligent, systematic, and thorough meas.
ures adopted.
Throughout Palestine a very little water produces a wonderful result.
The Soil, naturally fertile, immediately responds to the effect of the per-
iodic rains. The bursting of the land into bloom after the first heavy
showers of the rainy season is a sight never to be forgotten. The hill-
sides and Valleys that through the dry season had lain burnt up and
barren, like a calcined bone, are suddenly, as if by miracle, turned into a
garden of the most brilliant blossoms; the scarlet ranunculus and
anémone, pomegranate, and many other flowers and shrubs only known
to us in cultivation, “making the wilderness and solitary place rejoice
and blossom as the rose.”
THE KING's GARDEN, JERUSALEM.
In the valley of the Kedron, on the southerly side of Jerusalem, is the
king's garden, which dates back to the time of Hezekiah, if not to that
of Solomon. It is mentioned in Nehemiah (3, 15) where it speaks of
“Siloah by the king's garden.” -
The few acres which are at present under cultivation here are irri-
gated in the usual simple manner. The source of the water supply in
the celebrated pool of Siloah, or Siloam, a reservoir 53 feet long, 18
feet wide, and 19 feet deep, which is fed through a subterranean con-
duit by the overflow of the pool of the Virgin, an intermittent spring
about one-quarter of a mile to the northward. The Water is conducted
from the former pool partly by underground drains, regulated by the
most primitive of sluices into smaller channels in the direction required,
where still finer ramifications or branches distribute it to the drills or
rows in which the crop is planted; much as in the other instances men-
tioned, and with as little regularity or system. t
In these garden plots all the ordinary vegetables and many kinds of
fruits are produced in good quantity and of fair qualify. And up the
terraced slopes, even to the very walls of Jerusalem, some of the largest
cauliflowers come to perfection, and are in the market in the months
of February and March. This vegetable sells at the rate of three heads
for 12 cents.
There is no special regulation as to the use of the water other than
that of the most patriarchal kind, the owners of the adjacent land hav-
ing free access to the pool for all requisite purposes, including house-
hold uses, and the watering of their flocks and herds. Much of the water
is also brought into Jerusalem for sale in goat Skins.
RING SOLOMON'S POOLS AND GARDENS.
About 8 miles to the southwest of Jerusalem are the Wonderful pools
of Solomon; while, below them, in the narrow valley of Urtas, lie the
renowned gardens of the wise king, except the garden of Eden, I Sup-
pose the oldest recorded gardens in the world. These works are men-
tioned in Eclesiastes (2–46) as follows:
I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; I made me
gardens and orchards, and I planted, in them, all kinds of fruits; I made me pools of
water; to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees.
There is little doubt, too, that the scenes depicted in that beautiful
oriental love-song—“The Song of Solomon,” found here their original.
THE POOLS AND AQUEDUCTS OF JERUSADEM. 293
Josephus also speaks of this place: “Very pleasant it is in fine gardens,
and abounding in rivulets of water,” and tells us that Solomon was wont
to visit it frequently, describing him as driving out there in the morn-
ing sitting on high in his chariot, clothed in white, and surrounded by
his handsome mounted guards, all of great stature, and in the flower of
manhood, arrayed in Tyrian purple, and in armor, their long hair sprink-
led with gold-dust. It would be difficult to overestimate the noble
character of those remarkable works, especially considering the periods
in which they were constructed.
. The pools consist of three enormous reservoirs, partly cut in the
rocks, partly built of massive marble masonry. Their dimensions are
as follows: The upper pool, 380 feet long; breadth at east end, 236
feet; at west end, 229 feet; depth at west end, 25 feet,
The middle pool, which is distant from the upper pool 160 feet, is 248
feet long; it is, at east end, 250 feet broad, and at west end, 160 feet,
while the depth at east end is 39 feet. The lower pool, 248 feet east-
ward of the middle pool, has a length of 582 feet; a breadth at end, of
207 feet, and at west end, of 148 feet; and a depth at east end, of 50
feet, having sufficient capacity, as Dr. Thomson has said, “to float the
largest man-of-war that ever ploughed the ocean.” Each pool over-
flows successively by regulated sluices into the next below it, in the
order here given, the last pool emptying its superabundant water into
the valley.
Those venerable structures are at the present time in an excellent
state of preservation. They are said to have been repaired by Pontius
Pilate, which would be about 1,855 years ago.
The source of the water supply is the sealed fountain of Solomon,
at the foot of a hill a short distance west of the upper pool. This
fountain is always kept locked, hence the name. A flight of twenty
steps descend from an arched doorway into an underground vaulted
chamber, where four streams of pure and cool water converge. This
fountain also afforded in former times a constant and abundant supply
of water to Jerusalem, a goodly stream being conveyed by the carefully
and skillfully constructed stone aqueduct of Solomon, which demon-
strates that they understood at that early day the principle of the
syphon, having introduced it into the EIoly Temple inclosure.
About two years ago, the less ancient Saracenic aqueduct being pilt
in repair, the water was once more brought into the site of the temple
area, and into the so-called Fountain of the Cup, which stands between
the Mosque of Omar and the Mosque Al Aksa, and doubtless marks the
site of the brazon laver made by Solomon for the ablution of the priests
in their sacrificial worship. -
13ut the aqueduct soon again lapsing into disrepair, the water is, at
present, barely conveyed in small quantity as far as Bethlehem, of which
town it is the principal Supply. -
Of the 75 acres of land below the pools, in the valley of Urtas, 25 are
under cultivation, and are irrigated.
Independently of the pools, the garden lands of the valley are also
largely watered from a separate copious spring, which has its rise in the
side of the mountain and at the foot of the village of Urtas. The soil
is a red clay, exceedingly fertile, and to this day the finest fruits and
vegetables in the Jerusalem market come from these gardens.
Of the fruits produced may be mentioned apricots, peaches, necta-
rines, apples, prunes, plums, citrons, lemons, pomegranates, mulberries,
figs, and grapes. . The vegetables include peas, beans, beets, ockra,
egg-plant, onions, leeks, garlick, potatoes, turnips, cabbage, cauliflower,
294 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID fMNDS.
º cucumbers, pumpkins, vegetable marrow, tomatoes, and rad-
1SF16S. w
About two-fifths of the land belong to three Europeans, and the re.
mainder is owned by the native Syrian fellahin (peasants).
The distribution of the water is regulated by the old custom or sys-
tem of “fassels;” a night and a day forming a “fassel.” Each family
owning land there knows, from time immemorial, its respective rights
and share in the “fassel” of water. Some have an entire “fassel,” and
again the same is divided among the different members of a family to
irrigate their respective shares of land. The water is carried from one
plat to another by drains in the usual simple manner already described.
The Europeans who own land there have made, however, a cemented
conduit to convey their share of water into their ground. No statistics
are obtainable, none ever having been kept, as to the duty of water
per acre. ©
No special rent or fee is paid for the water used, nor are there any
charges on the land in connection therewith, the only payments made
º usual government taxes, the werko. (land taxes) and ushur
IlléS),
Solomon's Park, the Sealed Fountain, and the Aqueduct are public
property, and are under the control of the Turkish Government.
JAFFA AND ITS ORANGE GROVES.
The town of Jaffa, looking down from its pleasant elevation, on the
one side on the deep blue Mediterranean and on the other on its multi-
tudinous palms and odorous orange groves, may well be considered
entitled to its name, which, softened in the Arabic pronunciation to
Jaffa, means “beautiful.”
The orange groves and gardens and their system of irrigation, though
they have been greatly extended within comparatively recent times,
have unquestionably an origin of quite respectable antiquity.
(1) The area of land under irrigation at Jaffa would exactly include
the space occupied by its orange groves, being nearly one-third of the
cultivable ground belonging to the community, that is, of 9,000 acres of
cultivable lands about 3,000 acres are under irrigation.
The orange and the lemon are the chief crops; but other fruits, such
as citrons, limes, peaches, apricots, grapes, pomegranates, and melons,
and all the ordinary garden vegetables are also produced in abundance,
and of fine quality. The vine especially is of late receiving much atten-
tion, and within the last few years extensive vineyards have been
planted. Neither the vine nor the olive, of the latter of which there are
many groves, require any water other than the usual rainfall:
The superiority of the Jaffa orange is world renowned, whether its
size, juiciness, or flavor is considered.
In an average season oranges and lemons, together with other fruits
and vegetables, to the amount of $335,000 have been exported from
Jaffa. Besides this is the immense home consumption, of which there
is no record.
(2) The sources of the water supply are wells which are fed by under-
ground springs. º dº º e
(3) The engine in use for raising the water is in every case without
exception the so-called bajara or bayara, a modern machine of the most
simple construction, driven by horse or mule. º º *
Its principal parts are a whim-beam or capstan, with horizontal wheel
attached moving a vertical wheel connected by shaft with a third wheel,
DUTY of WATER IN AND CLIMATE OF PALESTINE. 295
which carries at its circumference a chain of pendant reversible buckets.
A pole inserted in the whim-beam is fastened to the horse or mule,
with the monotonous circuit of which animal the entire machine is set in
motion, the wheel with buckets revolving in the well dipping up the
water and emptying it into the conduit or tank. The tanks are usually
close to the wells, and are cemented basins, built of stone. They are
filled during the day, the water being distributed from them, through
the various channels, during the night in order that the loss by evap-
oration may be reduced to the minimum.
There are about seven hundred of those bajaras at work at Jaffa.
(4) The system of water distribution, being entirely under private
control, is governed by neither law nor regulation.
The quantity of water used per acre during the season of twenty-
three weeks or one hundred and sixty-one days is 2.300 cubic meters,
at a cost of from 20 to 25 cents per diem. Thus, for instance, the
average expense for irrigating an orange-garden with an area of 5
acres would be for one hundred and sixty days, at 20 cents, $160. The
value of the crops might be estimated at from $500 to $700.
(5) Owing to the peculiarity of the climate, the orange groves are
obliged to be watered during the summer months, or rather during the
“dry season,” when no rain falls; that is, from May till October or No-
vember. The rain-fall in the winter months, or say from November till
May, varies from 17 to 30 inches. The average temperature is, in the
day-time, from 70 to 90 degrees Fah.; during the night from 53 to 56
degrees. -
The soil in the orange groves is of mixed clay and sand, with rather
more of the latter than of the former. Is exceedingly fertile, and is
particularly well suited to the orange.
(6) As to the antiquity of the system of irrigation, the close resem-
blance of the bajara to the Spanish “moria,” has induced many persons
to imagine its being introduced here at some early period from Spain.
But as the family likeness of these wheels to the ancient Persian wooden
water-wheel is equally great, and as the Crusaders, in the eleventh cen-
tury, are reported to have found the orange-tree (Citrus aurantium)
already in Palestine, the actual system of irrigation may as well belong
originally to this country, or to the East, and may have been intro-
duced from Persia.
GENERAL REMARKS ON THE CLIMATE,
In addition to the facts already given respecting the climate of Pales
tine, I add the following remarks: It is evident from the statements of
history, both sacred and profane, as well as from other testimony, that this
country in former ages was not only under a more general and thorough
state of cultivation as regards its agricultural districts, but also that it
possessed extensive tracts of forests, which have long since disappeared.
Consequently its rain-fall was more favorably regulated, being more
equable in its distribution. The result would naturally be not only the
temporary advantage of the improved growing crops, but the enrich-
ment of the soil and the permanent benefit of the land.
At present, seasons of almost tropical rain are followed by the long
dry period in which not a drop of rain falls, and nearly every green herb
perishes and burns up for the lack of moisture. Swept by the resistless
torrent of the “rainy season,” the higher lands are stripped of their soil
and entire districts are seen in which the bare and barren ridges of rock
crop out like the bones in the skeleton of Some gigantic animal.
296 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The phenomenon of the “air cushion” is seen here to perfection. Be-
fore a rain sets in it generally takes several days of incubatory prepa-
ration before the result comes. Great clouds roll up and cover the en-
tire heavens with their dense masses; but in vain they attempt to dis-
charge their contents, or if they succeed in dissolving, the thirsty at-
mosphere drinks up the moisture before it ever reaches the earth; and
this must continue until the intervening strata composing the “air-
Cushions” are sufficiently saturated to permit the rain to fall through,
Which then occurs in a violent and often injurious downpour. Deprived
of the gentle mediation of the growing crops, and especially of the for-
ests, which would have established the proper relation and a just equi-
librium, through their continual evaporation, the parched ground lan-
guishes for the rain that is denied it, or that, when given, comes in
almost an unwelcome shape.
During the serious drought of 1887 and 1888 this phenomenon was
Seen in an extreme degree, weeks, and even months, passing without
adequate rain, though the greater part of the time the heavens were
dark with clouds.
The intervening unsaturated “air cushion " drank up the contents of
the clouds, as already described, so that little or no rain could pass
through it.
It is thought that the agricultural colonies established here within
recent years have already begun to produce a perceptibly beneficial ef-
fect in this direction, but probably it is too soon yet to look for any
decided change.
REPORT OF W. C. EMMET, U. S. consul, SMYRNA, ASIA MINOR.
There is no irrigation practiced in this or any other district of Asia
Minor, except in kitchen or fruit gardens in the neighborhood of large
townS.
In these cases the supply of water is from wells on the premises, and
the machinery used is a large wheel-bucket pump, worked by a horse.
These wells are of various depths and the supply of water utterly
fails in some during long-continued droughts. *
No water-works or artificial lakes are to be found anywhere, although
there are numerous rivers, streams, and lakes which could be adapted
to overcome the effects of the dry season, which usually lasts from five
to six months.
These water sources belong mainly to the Government, in some in-
stances to religious communities (mosques), but the right to use the
same can be obtained at moderate cost.
In this section the yield of crops depends on a merciful Providence
in withholding rain during the growing and harvesting seasons; the
ingenuity or industry of mankind takes but an insignificant part in pro-
ducing large crops.
Although the largest revenue to the Government is derived from
tithes on agricultural products, the over-taxed peasantry labor under
great difficulties and receive no encouragement or assistance from the
Government.
The area of irrigated land does not amount to 1 per cent, of the
arable land in this province.
The annual rain-fall rarely exceeds 26 inches per square foot, in fact,
that is considered an ample Supply.
The proportion of irrigated surface is so small that no perceptible
effect is made on the climate of the district. The Soil is mainly a
Sandy loam.
HOW PHILIPPINE RICE LANDS ARE IRRIGATED. 297
THE INDIAN OCEAN.
REPORT FROM ALEx. R. WEBB, U.S. CONSUI, MANILA, ON IRRIGA-
TION IN THE PHILIPPINE (SPANISH) ARCHIPELAGO.
Owing to the numerous streams that rise in themountainous districts
and flow through the low lands to the sea, as well as to the copious
rains, which will average 100 inches during the year, irrigation is sel-
dom necessary in the Philippine Archipelago. When it is resorted to
the most primitive methods are followed. If the rainy season com-
mences later than usual the rice lands are sometimes irrigated by dam-
ming the mountain streams and turning the water over the paddy-
fields through small channels, and in some cases the very old-fashioned
chain-bucket windlass is used. This is a simple contrivance, composed
of a number of small, water-tight boxes, formed into an endless chain
by means of stout rope or leather bands, which run over a roller
anchored in a river or creek, and a windlass on the bank turned by
hand or cattle power. This is also used, in some cases, during the dry
Season on the lands where “Zacate” or swamp-grass, which is fed to
horses and cattle, instead of hay, is raised. On the low lands near the
coast, where the rivers and creeks rise and fall with the ocean tide,
sluice-ways and gates are sometimes used to flood the zacate lands
during the dry season. These fields are seldom more than an acre or
two in extent, and a comparatively small quantity of water is needed to
flood them. The sluice-way is usually about 1 foot or 18 inches square,
and when the tide rises the gate is left open until the required amount
of water has entered, when it is closed and remains so until more water
is needed.
On an estate belonging to the Dominican Fathers between Calamba
and Bruan, and on another owned by the Augustinian Fathers near
San Francisco de Malabon, both situated on this island (Luzon), some
irrigation is done during the dry season by turning aside the mountain
streams on the Zacate land, and near Carite, about 27 miles northwest
of Manila, a small stream is conducted through an iron pipe for about
one hundred yards for the purpose of irrigating the paddy and Zacate
fields when water is needed. As a rule, however, the only irrigation
received by the rice fields is from the rain-fall. The rice is planted
about the commencement of the rainy season and is harvested shortly
after the opening of the dry season, which seldom continues more than
three months. The atmosphere is always moist at night, and heavy
dews keep the earth damp and prevent the vegetables from drying up.
, There is no portion of the archipelago where irrigation is conducted
on an extensive scale and no means are known here by which the
total area can be ascertained. All the irrigation is done on small
patches of land and at private expense.
There are no storage works nor any general system of water distri-
bution for irrigation. The Spanish water laws are in force for the gov-
ernment of the water supply used for household and street-sprinkling
purposes in Manila, but among the general laws there are none upon
the subject of irrigation.
298 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
ATUSTRALIA.
REPORT FROM G. w. GRIFFIN, U. S. CONSUL, SYDNEY, on IRRI-
GATION AND WATER CONSERVATION IN NEW SOUTH WALES.
sa
*...
There is perhaps no question that has attracted so much general at-
tention throughout New South Wales and the other Australian colonies
as that of irrigation and the reclamation thereby of arid lands. Royal
commissions have been appointed in the colonies for the purpose of
conducting inquiries in regard to the best means for distribution and
conservation of water. The peculiar physical formation of this great
island continent, as shown in the absence of lofty snow-clad ranges of
mountains and great rivers, had added an element of difficulty to the
inquiries of the commissions.
In my report entitled “Irrigation,” transmitted to the Department of
State in 1887, I endeavored to summarize the results of the New South
Wales water commission inquiry. My report was republished by the
Government of this colony in book form, and a copy will be found along
with the publications I send herewith under separate cover, a detailed
list of which will be found at the end of this report. Since that date
the commission has made a final report, and a copy of this is also for-
Warded in the same manner.
It will be seen from the final report that a considerable portion is
taken up with a discussion of the various plans proposed for the utiliza-
tion of the waters of the rivers Murray and Darling. The following are
the conclusions at which the commission arrived as the result of their
investigations: -
(1) That on water conservation mainly depend the prosperity and
the development of the whole extent of the central and western divis-
ions of this colony, and that though less required in the eastern divis-
ion, it will add in many places there also in an important degree to the
productions, and therefore to the value of the land.
(2) That as the land-holders, as a general rule, are quite equal to the
task of providing sufficient water for the stock which the land can carry
under present conditions, Government works for supplying water to
stock are required only on a limited Scale, and generally only on travel-
ing stock routes.
(3) That the great object of water conservation in this colony, and par-
ticularly in the country west of the dividing range, is irrigation.
(4) That the purposes for which irrigation is chiefly required are (a)
to provide fodder and grain for horses, cattle, and stud sheep; (b) to
afford supplies to be kept in reserve for saving stock of all kinds in bad
seasons; (c) to produce fruit, vegetables, and miscellaneous crops, and
(d) to increase generally the productive powers of the land. * *
(5) That any well-considered and properly executed project for irri.
gation in the country west of the dividing range would afford a good
direct return on the capital invested, and Would be a distinct benefit to
the colony at large. «» e
(6) That legislation on the subject of water rights is a matter of press:
ing uecessity, both to protect the rights of the state and to foster and
encourage local and private enterprise.
The severe droughts in Australia, recurring periodically, constitute
the most serious diſliculty against Which the people have to coutend.
THE EXTENT AND ADVANCE of RECLAMATION. 299
AREAS OF LAND UNDER, IRRIGATION,
Irrigation works in New South Wales have only been carried out
on a very small scale by private enterprise by the squatter, a term
applied to the occupiers of land in Australia, to provide fodder for
working and stud stock, and by the culturist for orchards, vineries, and
gardens. I am informed by Mr. A. Pepys Wood, civil engineer, that
no attempt has been made to irrigate agricultural holdings as such.
The efforts, however, that have been made, limited as is their scope, have
been found valuable, not only to the parties directly concerned, but to
...the public, as showing the wonderful results to be obtained from the
soil and climate of the western districts, especially when a certain supply
of water is available for watering. When this supply has been constant
the results are said to have amply repaid the owners and to prove the
large profits to be derived from such works if carried out judiciously on
a lawful scale.
The area of irrigated land in New South Wales is at present so small
as to be scarcely worth taking into consideration. It is true enough
that a few individuals have irrigated portions of their lands at their
own expense, but the absence of any well-defined laws on riparian
rights goes far to prevent the people from utilizing the surplus waters
of the various rivers and creeks. The main dependence of the Aus-
º thus far, for their water supply has been on dams, tanks, and
WellS,
In the Lachlan district a number of farmers have practiced irrigation
on a small scale. Mr. T. Towser erected a pump about a mile from
Forbes where there is a bend in the Lachlan River. The plant cost
about £600 ($2,920). The plant consists of a six horse-power engine,
a five-inch centrifugal pump, and 75 feet of piping. *
The pump lifts the water to a height of 38 feet and has power to bring
up 2,500 gallons of water per hour. Mr. Towser, during the drought of
1888, irrigated 12 acres of vines and fruit trees. He flooded the land
four times. To water half an acre of land necessitated the use of the
pump nine hours and he estimated that the 12 acres absorbed 2,600,000
gallons of water. Mr. Towser, speaking of his experment, said:
I could hardly get props enough to keep my trees from breaking down under the very
heavy load of fruit, while other orchards not irrigated, in the district, yielded a very
small quantity of fruit.
The Lachlan soil, with the help of irrigation, will grow the finest fruit
in the southern hemisphere. The fruits produced are numerous and in-
clude many varieties of oranges, lemons, citrons, pears, peaches, apri-
cots, nectarines, quinces, figs, loguats, grapes, and strawberries. The
fruit, which had to be sent a long distance to market, is described as
unsurpassed in quality and, notwithstanding the high cost of freight
and poor facilities for handling it, realized a good profit. It is proposed
to reduce the cost of irrigation on this property by using a 10-inch in-
stead of a 7-inch pump. Irrigation is used in the same district by the
Messrs. Eadles & Co., who have a 9-inch pump for irrigating about 800
acres of grass land suitable for high-class stock, also a 7-inch pump is
used for a smaller tract. Both pieces of land have carried eight to ten
sheep to the acre, while other stock farms, not irrigated, were literally
ruined by the drought. wº
It may be well to mention that Forbes is a town on the river Lach-
lan, 250 miles west of Sydney. It has a population of about 3,000 in-
habitants and it is rapidly becoming a center for the trade of a large
300 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Section of the country around. The town is supplied with water fil-
tered from the Lachlan, laid on in pipes at a considerable cost. The
district contains about 10,000 inhabitants and carries 1,000,000 sheep,
10,000 horses, 5,000 cattle, and 2,000 pigs. In one year 8,315 acres
were planted in wheat and produced 100,519 bushels.
Mr. Gatenby, about 25 miles from Forbes, irrigated in 1888 90 acres
of land, which was laid down under grass, lucern, maize, and orchard.
He used a 6-inch pump and he estimates the cost of irrigation at £2
($9.73) per acre.
Mr. Gatenby stated that with a larger pump he could reduce the cost
to about 10 shillings ($2.43) per acre. He found that lucern only re-
quired half the quantity of water necessary for ordinary grass. His
grass land, which was watered once a month, carried eight sheep to the
acre, and his maize land produced 100 bushels to the acre.
I learn from the third and final report of the royal commission on
the conservation of water in New South Wales that at Windbar 7 acres
yielded 30 tons of lucern hay per annum, under irrigation, at a cost of
£3 ($14.60) per ton, during a drought when chaff delivered cost £23
($111.93) per ton. It was estimated that the experiment with irrigation
on his property resulted in a saving of £1,000 ($4,866) in the year.
Again, it is stated that at Tapio 18 sheep to the acre were main-
tained in splendid condition on a patch of 22 acres of irrigated land,
while on the surrounding country .13 acres barely sufficed to keep One
sheep alive; and further, Mr. N. Sadlier, of Albemarle, stated that on
an area of 3 miles square, irrigated by the flow of flood-waters over low-
lying land, he kept 8,000 sheep in the middle of summer and had a good
lambing, while the same land, when not irrigated, did not carry 1,200
sheep. The only difficulties which seemed to present themselves were
in regard to maintaining a permanent supply in the river to make
irrigation possible during the time most needed—a prolonged drought—
and the want of practical knowledge to employ the methods of irriga-
tion.
It will be well enough to mention here that the farmers who have tried
irrigation are highly gratified with the results, and in most cases their
profits have doubled and trebled more particularly where the irrigation
was used in the natural grasses of the country and with lucern, maize,
and Sorghum.
I could give many instances where irrigation has been adopted with
unvarying success, but the areas are mostly small, probably not exceed-
ing a total of 50,000 acres. In the colony of Victoria, however, very
large areas are being rapidly placed under irrigation.
souroES OF WATER SUPPLY.
The sources of supply of water for irrigation are from rivers, Creeks,
tanks, and wells. The shortage of water supply extends over such vast
areas of country as to be a source of astonishment that no Well-directed
effort has been made to conserve at least a portion of the supply falling
during the tropical rains, especially in the northern territory.
With reference to the works situated on the rivers, the requisite Sup-
ply of water has been obtained by pumping. For this work the centrif.
ugal pump is generally used, though in some cases, such as for orchard
and garden irrigation, direct acting pumps or the “Blake” or “ special”
type are used. It is said that none of the western rivers, except the
Murray, can be relied on for irrigating large areas, unless works be
constructed to impound an artificial supply. Certainly with some rivers,
SALT WATER USED FOR IRRIGATING LUCERNE. 301
such as the Namori the supply in long-continued dry seasons is even
inadequate for the small areas being dealt with at the present time.
The discoveries of subterranean fresh water north of the Darling River
and the immense supply being obtained from some of the artesian bores
point to a near developmont of irrigation on a more or less extended
basis in that region. In the country south of the Darling the water in
nearly all the wells that have been sunk is said to be brackish, which,
together with the mineral matter contained in it, is unsuitable for irri-
gation. Were this not the case the depth (averaging 100 feet) would
preclude its use for this purpose except when drawn by windmills, as
fuel for motive power in most places where these wells are is reported
to be scarce and expensive. It remains to be proved by boring whether
at a greater depth an artesian supply of fresh water can be obtained;
but as the geological formation is entirely distinct from that north of
the Darling, it is said to be very doubtful if the same results will follow
deep boring. r -
I have visited a property on Oxly street, Queensland, where water
strongly impregnated with salt was used for irrigating the soil for grow-
ing lucern. The owner of the land was gratified with the benefits of
such irrigation, and he held the opinion that many of the salt lakes in
Australia would not be looked upon as a misfortune in the future. It
was, however, pointed out to him that a continuation of the use of saline
water must sooner or later result in the destruction of his lucern crop.
The apparent benefit from the use of salt water was apparent from
the reason that lucern to a very large degree neutralizes Salt in the soil.
This has often been remarked in the alfalfa (lucern) field of Cali-
fornia, and farmers account for the fine crops of alfalfa in southern Cal-
ifornia to the alkaline soil there. It is possible that on the high dry
banks of a river where the soil is deep and good and with abundant
natural drainage, that saline Water might be pumped on lucern fields
for a number of seasons without materially injuring the soil. Of course
natural conditions would have to be taken into consideration, as for
instance, in the case of the land to which I bave lately referred, where
the subsoil is thoroughly washed over by the heavy tropical rains.
Mr. H. C. Russel, Government astronomer, who has, since his arrival
in the colony in 1870, devoted great attention to water supply, is very
decided in the opinion that there is an abundant supply of underground
water in the western districts of New South Wales. Many theories are
advanced as to its origin. Some attribute it to a flow of water from the
lofty mountains of New Guinea. When Mr. Russell pointed out,
about ten years ago, the remarkable relations existing between rain-fall
and the rivers of the West, he was told that his statements could not
be true. No rain that fell would wet the ground 18 inches deep, much
less afford water for underground supplies. With equal confidence it
was asserted that the water which did penetrate into the ground was all
dried out of it by evaporation, and further that the greater part of the
Darling River basin was so flat that the water would not flow, and the
rain, therefore, did not and could not find its way into the river. Mr.
Pusssell determined to wait the results of several years of patient inves-
tigation before speaking again. With regard to the first objection he
has affirmed that in heavy rains water reached the Darling from the flat
countries. &
Evidence as to this fact was found in the rain-storm during 1885. In
regard to the water from the mountains of New Guinea he said that,
even admitting the theory, the area was insufficient. He did not think
the water which flows into the Darling passed into the ground, although
302 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
it was in evidence before the royal commission that parts of the Dar-
ling River basin were exceeding porous and allowed the water to sink
down freely.
It is the opinion that irrigation in most parts of this colony from
tanks is practically impossible, as water conserved in excavated res-
ervoirs would cost about 6 shillings ($1.46) per 1,000 gallons, a price
practically prohibitive. The future of irrigation seems to be largely
dependent on the storage of some portion of the flood-waters now
running to waste, and this can not be effected by expensive works
confining such storage waters to the river channels, which, under the
most favorable conditions, would only provide for watering a narrow
belt on either side of the river channels, but must be effected by di.
Verting and storing the water in the basins or lakes that nature has
formed and into artificial basins or reservoirs constructed, as in Amer-
ica and other countries, among the hills, from whence it could be dis-
tributed by gravitation.
CHARACTER OF WORKS USED,
As already stated, irrigation in New South Wales has hitherto been
confined to lands bordering on or adjacent to one or other of the rivers,
and no works have been undertaken to increase or regulate the supply.
Where the country is suitable the distribution is effected by channels or
ditches laid out so as to conform to the features of the ground, and of
sizes proportionate to the duty they may be required to perform. Pump.
ing water for irrigation effected by Tangee centrifugal pumps, some.
times by windmills. The water is pumped up into storage tanks of
iron or brick and then run off by gravity on to the land to be irrigated
In plpes. o
This method is, I think, peculiar to Australia. I have never ob-
served it in California, or indeed in any other part of the United States
with which I am acquainted. In portions of the country where the rain-
fall is tropical, and the soil becomes so dry that every drop of water is
precious, tanks and pumps appear to work well, as there is no waste
from soakage, evaporation, or capillary attraction.
The expense attendant on the above method renders its adoption on
a large scale too costly. Orchards and the paddocks around many
homesteads are, however, irrigated in this manner.
On the Torrens River, in South Australia, one of the farmers uses a
pump with a four horse-power engine and the water is pumped to a
height of 35 feet into a square brick tank, 10 feet long, 5 feet wide, and
24 feet doep. Morethan half the tank is below the surface of the ground.
The water when needed is distributed through 2-inch pipes sunk under
ground and laid in different directions. At intervals of from 40 to 50
feet, stand-pipes communicate with the surface, and, being furnished
with stop-cocks, the water is turned on or off at pleasure. From the
stand-pipes canvas hose can be adjusted and laid on to the particular
spots where the water is required. To facilitate the operation shallow
trenches are scooped out near the trees requiring to be watered, and the
water is led from one depression to another when the lengths of hose are
insufficient. •
At Emu Plains an extensive orangery is supplied with water in a
somewhat similar manner, but here the water is received out of a well
about 30 feet deep. The Tangye pump is placed 20 feet above the water
and forces it into a number of 400-gallon iron tanks arranged on trestle-
work; 1,000 gallons of water are drawn from this well per hour. On the
SUBTERRANEAN WATERS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 303
Nepeau River a farmer has an irrigation plant which is worked by a
six horse-power Tangye engine, and the lift of water is 23 feet; from
thence it is forced a distance of 850 feet to the storage tanks. The cost
of the engine was £110 ($535), and the piping £50 ($243). The water
flows from the tanks by gravity; open furrows are used. In the Riverine
district, about Deniliquin, 481 miles southwest of Sydney, where the
summer winds are very hot, fruit trees are kept in full bearing by
mulching, i. e., spreading litter, whether leaves or other matter, around
the butts of the trees. Trenches 4 or 5 inches deep are opened in the
soil about 5 or 6 feet from the trees; water is let into the trenches when
required. It is said to pay to adopt these means even when the Water
has to be carted a considerable distance. The average rain-fall in this
district is only about 16 inches per annum, but nevertheless fruit is very
profitably grown.
The success attending artesian well-boring in various parts of Aus-
tralia led to an investigation of the subject by Mr. W. Anderson, geo-
logical surveyor, of New South Wales, and I learn from his report that
the Lower Cretaceous formation in which artesian water is known to oc-
cur extends over a vast area in the eastern half of the Australian con-
tinent, occupying the greater part of the interior of Queensland, a large
portion of central and south Australia, and the northwestern plains of
New South Wales. The southern extension of the Cretacis-Tertiary
formation occupies a considerable area to the north of the River Dar-
ling in the neighborhood of Bourke. Mr. Anderson says it is astonish-
ing that while this formation has been known for many years, pastoral-
ists on the northern plains did not until recently realize the fact that
they have beneath them an invaluable supply of water. He does not
recommend boring for water where Silurian slates occnr, for the reason
that all the Silurian rocks of the district have a general strike of E. 200
N., and stand nearly vertically, therefore they can not possibly hold
water in any abundance, and where Silurian formations occur there is
always a thinning of the Cretaceous beds.
The principles which govern the location of water in the deep-seated
beds of the formation, such as the Cretaceous and its subsequent rising
to the surface as artesian Water When tapped, are gravitation and the
fact that a confined and continuous flow of water must rise to the level
of its hydraulic grade. Mr. Anderson directs attention to five positions
in which water may be found in the flat western country :
(1) In the Cretaceous formation itself;
(2) Between the Cretaceous formation and the Silurian bed-rock on
which it rests;
(3) In the silted up Pleistocene river channels;
(4) In the immediate neighborhood of the present water-courses; and
(5) In the superficial portions of granite, as at Byrock.
The water in most of the wells that have recently been sunk is in
quantity sufficient to indicate a permanent flow.
Such water is used for irrigation by gravity at very little cost.
SYSTEM OF WATER. DISTRIBUTION, WHETHER GOVERNED BY LAWS
OR, CUSTOMIS.
All irrigation Works in New South Wales have hitherto been carried
out out by private enterprise. Each owner appears to be a law unto
himself, and so long as he does not interfere with his neighbors' water
rights is subject to neither rules, regulations, nor customs. In Victoria
there is an irrigation act, and the necessity for passing a similar act in
this colony is urged very strongly by both press and people.
304 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
It would be very difficult to form anything like a just estimate of the
Quantity of water used per acre in New South Wales. The consump-
tion of water on the River Murray, which is the boundary between the
Colonies of New South Wales and Victoria, for farms in Victorian ter-
ritory, and which cover a larger area, is, however, very considerable.
The peculiar river system of Australia has been explained in my pub-
lished Report on Irrigation, and I will not now refer to it further than
to say that the Murray is the most important river in Australia, and
together with its tributaries drains an area of 27,000 square miles.
The Murray is navigable for boats of light draught for a distance of
1,700 miles from its mouth. In making its way towards the ocean it
passes through a considerable portion of the colonies of Victoria and
South Australia. New South Wales, although by her constitution, re-
ceived from Great Britain, entitled to the control of the river, has
taken no effective steps to utilize its waters for the purposes of irriga-
tion.
Both the other colonies have, practically, taken possession of the water-
course, and I learn from a report just submitted to the New South
Wales parliament, by Mr. J. E. F. Coyle, civil engineer, who has inves-
tigated the condition of the Murray, its navigation and use of water for
irrigation, that out of one hundred and forty-three steamers engaged in
the river trade, sixty-seven are owned in Victoria, fifty-five in South
Australia, and only twenty-one in New South Wales. Mr. Coyle states
that the other two colonies have ignored New South Wales, not only
in regard to the trade on the river, but as to the use of the water for
Various irrigation Schemes.
A number of wharves have been erected on the Victorian side by the
Government there, together with sheds, plants of machinery, and other
works which Mr. Coyle considers inconsistent with the ownership of
the Murray by the colony of New South Wales. Since 1886, when the
Victorian act authorizing the construction of works on the Murray
for irrigation was passed into law, as many as sixty-three different water
interests have come into force for irrigation purposes, and the quantity
of water being now drawn from the river is exciting alarm among the
people of New South Wales. These Victorians consume in summer
102,000 gallons, and in winter 61,800 gallons per twenty-four hours;
also 46,579 cubic feet in summer and 161,618 cubic feet per minute in
Winter.
The Victorian Government has employed steamers in clearing the river
from Snags and other impediments.
The Government of New South Wales, of course, does not object to
that, and it is scarcely probable that she would claim, in spite of her
constitutional rights, a supreme control over all the advantages to
be derived from the river, but she will undoubtedly object very seri-
ously to any other colony doing so. The Victorians, however, contend
that they are simply using the water that otherwise would be wasted,
and besides that they have never been granted the right to use it for
an indefinite period, for their Government in licensing irrigation works
have expressly provided that water can be taken from the Murray only
So far as it is in the power of the Government to permit.
Sir Henry Parkes, premier of New South Wales, in a powerful speech
delivered in Parliament lately, pointed out what he deemed an aggres-
sion on the part of the Victorian Government upon the constitutional
rights of New South Wales and very earnestly urged further legislation
upon the subject. *
The trouble is the question of right to Control the waters of the Murray
LIMATIC CONDITIONS OF NEW SOUTH WALES. 305
can not be settled by one colony alone, and will probably have to be
dealt with at an intercolonial conference at which each of the colonies
interested can take part, and an agreement reached by which the ben-
efits of their principal water-way tribute may be shared alike.
CHARACTER OF CLIMATE, RAIN-FALL, ETC.
The colony of New South Wales extends through eleven degrees of
latitude, it being entered on the parallels 28° 10' and 37° 38' south lat-
itude, and between the meridians 1419 and 153° 38' east longitude.
The area embraced within these limits contains 310,938 Square miles,
or 199,000,000 acres.
The climate extending through so many degrees of latitute, Very
naturally permits almost any variety, from hot to cold.
The northern part of the colony resembles that of the South of Italy,
Spain, and Greece, while the southern portion is not wholly unlike that
of northern California. -
At Kiandra frost and snow prevail for a considerable part of the
year; but on the plains of the interior the thermometer rises to 1300
above zero, and sometimes there is no rain for eight months in the
year. -
The average annual rain-fall, according to a recent return supplied
by the Government astronomer, Mr. H. C. Russell, was 23.68 inches for
a period of fifteen years, from 1874 to 1888, the lowest average being
for 1888, when it was 13.40 inches, and the highest in 1887, when it
reached 34.39 inches. Mr. Russell has prepared the following table to
show the average rain-fall in New South Wales for each year from 1874
to 1888:

Year. Inches, Year. Inches.
1874--------------------------------------- 33.46 || 1883. --------------------- ---------------. 17. 96
1875. -------------------------------------. 29.38 || 1884.------------------------------------- 15. 86
1876 -------------------------------------. 27.66 || 1885.------------------------------------. 19. 48
1877. -------------------------------------- 20.48 || 1886.--------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 26. 04
1878--------------------------------------. 25.05 || 1887.------------------------------------- 34.99
1879--------------------------------------. 30.75 || 1888. ------------------------------------- 13. 40
1880--------------------------------------- 19, 93 ºsm---sºme
1881. -------------------------------------- 20, 73 Mean, fifteen years---------------. 23.68
1882.-------------------------------------- 20. 11
Mr. Russell States that the drought in 1888 was the most severe
ever experienced, but during November and December rain fell and
broke up the terribly dry weather.
During December, 3 inches of rain fell at upwards of two hundred
recording stations, chiefly along the coast line, while the great western
plains, which needed the rain most, remained to the end of the year in
a state of drought. Not once during the year did rain enough fall on
these plains to make water run on the surface of the ground.
On the Marano River the four months of winter passed with only .03
inch of rain. Even the native trees died for want of water in some
places. In Sydney the average rain-fall for a month is about 4 inches;
but Over large areas in the West the rain-fall for the whole of 1888 was
under that amount. - s
At South, on the Darling, it was 2.47 inches; at Menindie 2.82 inches.
Mr. Russell remarks, that living in a moist climate near the sea, it is
difficult to realize what such a record means in a dry, windy, hot place.
The Wonder is that plant or animal can live through it. Then, taking
the mean of fifty places, the rain-fall for the whole colony was 43 per -
138 A L–WOL IV—20
306 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
cent, below the average, and it is noteworthy that the rain-fall of 1887
exceeded the average by 42.7 per cent.; so the wettest and driest years
on record are side by side showing a difference in rain-fall amounting to
85.7 per cent of the average.
When forwarding some valuable publications, Mr. Russell remarks in
his letter to me of 28th September that, knowing what important ques-
tions could only be answered by statistics about rain, rivers, and
evaporation, he began to collect them and to educate the people to
keep rain records. In 1870 he found five meteorological stations at
work. Now they number nearly one thousand. Records of the heights
of the western rivers were begun in 1862 by Government officers, but
they were not kept up In the annual rain reports are to be found
every known rain-fall record for this colony. Mr. Russell has the con-
trol of the rain-fall records, and he states they are fairly complete for a
young country, but the Work of carefully gauging the output of the
rivers has not yet been commenced by the Government. The records
which he gives of the water at each place, the water velocities, are not
measured, because competent officers for that work have not yet been
Stationed on the rivers. The Velocities he has used were determined
years since, and are assumed to hold good for the same height of flood
for each year. -
Since 1887, however, officers from Victoria have been systematically
uneasuring the discharge of the river Murray, and have so far confirmed
the results which Mr. Russell had obtained in the way indicated,
ANTIQUITY OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS.
The remarks I have made in this report show that the various modes
of irrigation practiced in New South Wales are wholly of recent date.
The maps and publications which the Department of State direct me
to obtain for the select committee of the Senate on the subject of irri.
gation are enumerated in the following list :
Iist of printed documents and maps relating to irrigation and reclamation of arid lands ;
sources of water supply ; aystems of water distribution ; character of climate, and 80 far
as relate to the colony of New South Wales.
Royal commission. Conservancy of water. First report of the commissioners.
1885
1.
2. Maps, diagrams, and plans referred to in the above report, 1855. o
3, Royal commission. Conservation of water, Second report of the commissioners.
i885–86. (Maps and plans are attached.) º
4. Royal commission. Conservation of water. Third and final report of the com-
missioners. 1887. -
5. Maps, plans, and diagrams to accompany the above report. 1887. • &
6. Royal commission. Conservation of water. First report of the commissioners.
Abridged edition. 1886. • - -
7. Royal commission. Conservation of water. Third and final report of the com-
missioners. Abridged edition. 1887. º
8. New South Wales, her commerce and resources. By Consul Griffin. Report on
irrigation. Pages 13 to 21. 1888.
9. Climate of New South Wales, descriptive, historical, and tabular. By H. C.
Russell, B. A., F. R., A. S. 1887.
10. New south wales. Physical geography and climate. By H. C. Russell., 1884.
11. The river Darling. The water which should pass through it. By H. C. Russell.
1879.
12. Some facts bearing upon irrigation. By H. C. Russell, 1883.
13. Notes upon the history of floods in the river Darling. By H. C. Russell, 1886.
14. Notes upon floods in Lake George. By H. C. Russell... 1886.
15. The source of the underground water in the western districts. By H. C. Russell,
1889.
16. Notes on the experience of other countries in the administration of their Water
supply. By H. G. McKinney, C. E. 1887.
17, Rivers of New South Wales. By H. G. McKinney, C. E. 1888,
AUSTRALIAN water SYSTEMS AND IRRIGATION. 307
18. Water supply in the interior of New South Wales. By W. E., Abbott. 1884.
19, Forest destruction in New South Wales and its effects on the flow water in Water-
courses and on the rain-fall. By W. E. Abbott. 1888.
20. On wells in Liverpool plains. By T. K. Abbott, P. M. 1880.
21. Metropolitan water supply. By Mr. James Manning, 1875.
22. Comparison between the Prospect and Kruny Hill schemes, proposing a high-
pressure water supply for Sydney. By F. B. Gibbs, C. E. 1880.
23. Importance of a comprehensive scheme of water storage and canalyzation for the
future welfare of New South Wales. 1881.
24, Tanks and wells of New South Wales. Water supply and irrigation. By A. P.
Wood. 1883.
25. Results of rain, riyer, and evaporation observations made in New South Wales,
1879 to 1888. By H. C. Russel, F. R. S., Government astronomer of New South Wales.
1879 to 1888. (Ten parts).
The documents above enumerated are forwarded to the Department
of State in separate cover. &
Additional information, publications, maps, and plans have been
promised me in time for transmission by next mail. I have reason to
believe that the whole will form the most complete collection of litera-
ture on irrigation and water conservancy ever brought together relat-
ing to New South Wales.
LETTER FROM MR. JAMES WILSON TO CONSUI, GRIFFIN ON IRRIGA-
TION IN NEW SOUTH WALES.
COMMERCIAL, PASTORAL, AND AGRICULTURAL
ASSOCIATION OF NEW SOUTH WALES,
40 Hunter Street, Sydney, August 28, 1889.
SIR: I have received from you questions on the subject of irrigation and the recla-
mation thereby of arid lands, with information that a special committee has been
created by the Senate of the United States to investigate the questions involved.
2. The collation and systematic organization of reports on this subject from all parts of
the world which your consular system affords can not fail to be of the greatest public
utility, not only to the United States but to every arid corner of the universe, and it is
to be hoped the committee will produce a report on a comprehensive scale which,
when published, will prove of immense benefit to generations yet unborn.
For some time the Commercial, Pastoral and Agricultural Association of New South
Wales has been engaged in noting the steps taken in this colony to deal with the arid
lands in her vast interior and in collecting documents showing the great aid afforded
by the Royal Society of New South Wales and kindred scientific associations for deal-
ing with the local question, and in contrast with other countries, from more or less
unofficial sources. I shall have much pleasure in placing these records at your dis-
osal.
p To my mind the question to Australia of water conservation, distribution, the devel-
opment of underground reservoirs proved to exist, the economical adaptation of such,
and rain fall observations as will minimise waste from the effects of periods of
drought, by regulating supply, is as necessary as a mainspring to a watch. Upon
the satisfactory solution of water difficulties depends the future development of this
vast island continent, whose very existence a century ago was comparatively unknown.
Of this continent New South Wales embraces a territory of 195,882,012 acres, and her
present record of population is only a little over one million. To the United States
our population and occupancy of territory when compared must form an insoluble
roblem; but the key is to be fonnd in the pastoral stage of development in civiliza-
tion during the nineteenth century, as practiced in Australia, and when we compare
the numbers of the population actually outside our towns and cities the position will
appear more explicable why we can not in the present stage point to existin
irrigation and water conservation works and irrigable and non-irrigable areas an
their results. The works in existence at present are only the outcome of private
individual enterprise within freehold limits and bear no proportion whatever to the
exigencies or necessities of the country at large, its rain-fall or river systems.
#. mode of land tenure, the centralizing departmental form of government, and
political inability to deal with so extensive a public estate upon a broad and national
basis, are the true causes of neglect of and inertia towards our progress in this direc-
tion. It is from no want of consideration or inability on the part of our best men to
grasp the importance of the situation, but from the general laissez-faire of our politi-
cal economy which provides that all public works in the colony are conducted and
308 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
controlled by government departments centered in the city of Sydney, not in touch
with what might be termed local or district wants, and resenting interference with
their prerogative unless under political pressure—a system which ascribes drought
º disaster to Providence and fails to use means nature has provided for amelio-
Taylºl OIl.
A more valuable compendium of information from many sources on irrigation in
New South Wales than that presented in your consular report to the Department of
State, Washington, republished by the New South Wales Government in 1888, does
not exist, nor one more truthfully and fully describing this country; and I would re-
spectfully suggest that that report be laid before the committee of the Senate. You
have fairly pointed out the difficulty of riparian rights as they exist at present and
the incidence of common law as prohibitive to deal with water conservation on a
comprehensive scale, and you have cited the opinions of the water conservancy com-
mission, appointed in 1884; it only now remains to supplement this by reference to
their report in 1887, since published.
There have been no water-trusts created and no law changing riparian 'rights in
this colony. The first bill in New South Wales to provide a water-trust, a munici-
pality bill for the irrigation of a town common at Wentworth of 21,000 acres, on the
New South Wales side of the river Murray, is now before parliament. Successive
governments have for years past promised a scheme of local or district government
which will embrace powers for dealing with water and irrigation by local trusts.
Hitherto in this colony the public works for water conservation have been confined
to constructing watering stations on the traveling stock routes in arid districts, wells,
tanks, and dams. The government first recognized the necessity for such in 1869, and
in 1888 it would appear from a statement relating to watering places, one hundred
and forty-four in number, that an expenditure of over £270,000 (ś had been
made in construction and appliances, their maintenance costing over £25,000
($121,663) per annum. These works have no doubt exercised a large and beneficial
influence upon our pastoral progress.
I would suggest that you obtain from the government printer, Sydney, such offi-
cial documents bearing on the subject as have been printed from time to time.
It only now remains to state that the government has conducted preliminary steps
to carry out a scheme of irrigation and water-supply by canals, submitted to the
water commission by H. G. McKinney, civil engineer; surveys are completed and the
engineers are now taking levels for canals near Albury, on the Murray River. The
main Albury canal will be 176 miles in length Jerilderie branch canal 33 miles, and
the Tuppel branch 31 miles, a total of 240 miles. The estimated cost of this under-
taking is £1,500,000 ($7,299,750), and the area to be irrigated 570,000 acres.
..To water conservation and irrigation as presented in other countries, and especially
in India, all our New South Wales and Victorian schemes must appear insignificant;
lout we are only a young country and a small community anxious to profit by the ex-
perience of others, and will gladly benefit by the results of the inquiry being made by
the special committee of the United States Senate, embracing as it will consular re-
ports from all countries. º e tº º º
I shall have pleasure in forwarding your inquiries in any way in my power.
I remain, with much personal esteem, yours faithfully, -
JAMES WILSON.
G. W. GRIFFIN,
U. S. Consul, Sydney.
SOUTH AFRIC A.
REPORT OF GEORGE: F. HOLLIS, U. S. CONSUI., CAPETOWN, ON IR-
RIGATION IN SOUTEI AFRICA.
South Africa has been described by some one as a country in which
the rivers have no water. This is only too true during a portion of the
year, while during the rainy season the rivers have a torrential charac.
ter and the traveler must perforce halt at the river banks and Wait for
the rain to run by. º o -
Until recently irrigation has been a matter of private enterprise and
the works have been of the simplest and cheapest character. Wherever
springs have been found it has been the custom, to strengthen them by
the building of a primitive dam above the spring's source, and the Water
so consumed is then conducted by a system of furrows Over the area to
wATER systEMS AND THEIR USE IN SOUTH AFRICA. 309
be benefited. Where the water of rivers could be utilized the same
system of furrows is followed and narrow strips of land on either bank
of the stream are thus brought under a higher system of cultivation
and large crops are the result of such a system.
Irrigation in this primitive way may be said to be the rule in the
South African Republic, the Orange Free State, and in a large portion
of the Cape Colony. In 1877 the Government passed an act for the pro-
motion of irrigation, the principal provisions of which are as follows:
Any three or more owners of land within any area in which it is
deemed expedient to store water by artificial means for the purpose of
irrigation may petition the government to proclaim such area an irriga-
tion district, provided such petitioners shall be the owners of not less
than one-tenth of the land in such district to be proclaimed. The gov-
ernor may then dispatch an engineer or other competent person to the
locality, where a public meeting of land owners is called, after due notice,
and a report is sent to the governor as to the propriety of constitut-
ing such irrigation district. Should such report be favorable and re-
ceive the assent of two-thirds of the owners of land situated within its
area, the governor may proclaim such district an irrigation district.
The performance of all acts, etc., relating to irrigation and the storage
of water in such proclaimed district shall be vested in a board having
corporate powers, to be chosen from the land owners of such district.
Every owner of land is entitled to vote at an election for members of
such board, and shall have one vote for each $500 valuation of land,
The charge and conservation of every natural river, stream, creek,
and water-course, and of every dam, pond, and embankment within the
limits of an irrigation district which is by its nature common to two or
more of the owners of land within such district, and the absolute con-
trol and regulation so far as the same can be effected by artificial means
of the supply of water throughout the course of any such river, stream,
etc., within such limits, shall be vested in the irrigation board of such
district. Such board shall have power to cleanse, repair, and maintain
in a due state of efficiency any stream, river, etc., as above; to deepen
or otherwise improve such water-course, and to erect dams, reservoirs,
etc.; in fact, to maintain, improve, and construct any works that shall
be necessary for the proper storage and conservation of water for irri-
gation purposes.
Provision is made for full compensation for any injury sustained by
any person by reason of the exercise of the powers of the board. The
board may also enter and take possession of any land, covered or un-
covered by water, as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of
this act. The board may levy rates at so much per acre in all land
within the area which is irrigated or capable of being irrigated, provided
that no land shall be taxed that is otherwise irrigated or improved by
means contemplated by the act.
Bower is given the board to borrow money either by public tender or
from funds provided by Parliament, in which latter case the governor
may loan to the extent of one-half of the value of the lands; such loan
to be a first charge on the same, and he may appoint officers to inspect
such lands and Works.
IRRIGATION BY PRIVATE OWNERS.
Any owner of land, not within the limits of any irrigation district,
proposing to improve the same by the storage or conservation of water
and desiring a loan from the Government for such purpose, may make
310 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID f,ANDS.
application for such purpose, giving bonds for the payment of the cost
of investigation, and the governor may then cause lands, plans, esti-
mates, and specifications of proposed works to be inspected and re-
ported on. Provision is made for the loaning of money by the Govern-
ment under due restrictions, which becomes a first and preferment
charge upon the land at the rate of 8 per cent, for the term of twen-
ty-four years. ^
Any mortgagee having claim on land must join with the holder of the
title thereof in an instrument to be filed with the registrar of deeds.
Provision is made for arbitration, the making of by-laws and regula-
tions and penalities for the fraudulent taking or polluting of the water,
or for obstructing or impeding the flow of water within the area pro-
claimed.
Two years later an act was passed by which provision was made for
the loan of money by the colonial government to municipalities desirous
of such assistance in carrying out works of irrigation, the terms of
which are similar to the act of 1877, and provide that the interest in
such loan shall be provided from the rates levied by the towns availing
themselves of the provision of the act. The act of 1877 was amended
in 1880, providing for the advance by the Government of the loan made
by advances of one-fifth of the amount, and making provisions for
repayment of the loan according to the following schedule:
SCHEDULE A.
If the owner shall desire to repay the sum advanced in one year, the rent charge
for one year shall be per centum, £106; if he shall desire to repay it in two years the
annual rent charge shall be, per centum, £54.118.; if in three years, £37 8s. 6d.; if
in four years, £28 178. 6d. ; if in five years, £23 158.; if in six years, £20 78. ; if in
seven years, £17 198.; if in eight years, £16 2s., 6d. ; if in nine years, £14 148., 6.d.;
if in ten years, £13 12s. ; if in eleven years, £12 148. ; if in twelve years, £11 198.;
if in thirteen years, £11 68.; if in fourteen years, £10 15s. 6d. ; if in fifteen years,
#1068, ; if in sixteen years, £9 188. ; if in seventeen years, £9 118. ; if in eighteen
years, £958. ; if in nineteen years, £8 198. 6d. ; if in twenty years, £8 148. 6d. ; if
in twenty-one years, £8.108. 6d. ; if in twenty-two years, £868. 6d. ; if in twenty-
three years, £838.
SCHEDULE B.
The present value of every £1 per annum rent charge shall be :
For one year, £0.188. 11d. ; for two years, £1 168. 9d.; for three years, £2 13s.6d. ;
for four years, £398. 4d. ; , for five years, £4 4s. 3d. ; for six years, £4 18s. 4d. ; for
seven years, £5 118. 8d. ; for eight years, £648. 3d. ; for nine years, £6 168. 1d. ; for
ten years, £778. 3d. ; for eleven years, £7 178. 9d.; for twelve years, £878. 9d.; for
thirteen years, £8178. 1d.; for fourteen years, £958. 11d.; for fifteen years, £9148.3d.;
for sixteen years, £10 28. 2d.; for seventeen years, £1098. 7d. ; for eighteen years,
4, 10 16s. 7d. ; for nineteen years, £11 38. 2d.; for twenty years, £11 98. 5d.; for
twenty-one years, £11 158. 4d. ; for twenty-two years, £12 08. 10d. ; for twenty-
three years, £12.68. 1d.
As early as December, 1881, no less than sixty applications had been
made by the districts desiring to avail themselves of the terms offered
by the Government. Owing to the peculiar character of the topograph-
ical features of the country and the fact that most of the rivers of South
Africa are dry in the summer and flooded during the rainy season, a
vast deal of scientific labor must be expended in order to determine the
sites most advantageously situated for the construction of storage basins
and other irrigation works. Topographical and geological surveys are
being made under the direction of the Government.
It will probably be found necessary to make the formation of water
boards compulsory, so that those land-owners situated above areas
RAIN-FALL IN AND IRRIGATION of CAPE colony. 311
already proclaimed will be amenable to Government supervision in the
conservation of their water courses. Wherever irrigation has been
properly tried in the colony it has met with unqualified success, assuring
large crops to husbandman and guarantying the stock-raiser against
loss by drought.
From the lamentable reports now coming in from the up-country of
the great loss of sheep by reason of the almost total lack of rain-fall
this winter, I should judge a great impetus will be given to this ques-
tion. Many farmers have reported a loss of from 10 to 50 per cent. Of
their stock, which would not have occurred had the districts been se-
cured against drought by storage basins. Some idea of the enhanced
value of irrigated land may be seen in the report made by one owner,
who stated that his increased rentals would repay the loan for four
years.
The most complete storage work completed in this colony, and the
most important, is that of Van Wycks Valley, full reports of which
with accompanying maps, Nos. 1, 2, 3, and 4, I send by book-post
in to-day's mail. The rain-fall in this section is very irregular, the
average for eleven years having been 10 inches, and in some years fall-
ing to 3 and 4 inches. The reservoir has depended on the catchment
area of, say 240 square miles. This has been found to be insufficient
for a full supply, and a furrow is now nearly completed through which
the water of a neighboring river will be brought in, by which it is esti-
mated that the water-covered area will be increased to 19 square miles
with a depth of 27 feet.
The land under irrigation is held by the Government and is leased at
a minimum price of 10 shillings per acre. The bailiffin charge has the
sole control of the flow of water and uses his discretion in its supply,
Some land within the area requiring more water than other portions.
Owing to many causes, the chief of which was ignorance of the char-
acter of the land—fostered by the report of interested persons who
declared that the water would prove to be too salt for agricultural pur-
poses, and who desired the work should fail and be abandoned, giving
them a chance to acquire it—the poorest tenants, mostly assisted by the
Government supplying seeds, were alone secured. Their success has,
however, been so marvelous that the lands will soon be eagerly sought
after. It is estimated that last year 1,300 acres were irrigated at an
expenditure of an inch of water per month from the surface. The rain-
fall over the whole colony is so irregular that I have taken the subdivis-
ions of the colony for the purpose of comparison and have summarized
the reports from an average of six stations in each district. The rain-
fall for these districts for the year 1888 was as follows, in inches:
Inches,
No. 1. Cape Peninsula.----------------------------------------------------. 53.84
No. 2. Southwest ------------------------------ e tº º me º ºs º º sº pe e s sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 32.95
No. 3. West coast.-------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº tº dº as as sº º ºs º ºs º is ºn tº 15, 18
No. 4. South coast --------------------------------------------------------- 33. 60
No. 6. Southern Karroo --------------------------------------. tº e º sº sº me tº a s = * * * 17.59
No. 6. West Central Karroo--------------------------...----........------- 14. 12
No. 7. Past Central Karroo------------------------------...--...----------- 16. 15
No. 8. Northern Karroo ---...----............ & s • * * * * * * s e ºs e º as a • *e e s e s e s sº e s • * * * 11. 43
Wo. 9. Northern border ------------------------...----.............-------- 8, 84
No. 49. Southeast -------------------------------.....................------- 28. 17
Wo. 14. Northeast -------------------------------------.................----- 20. 39
No. 19. Tianskei--------------------------................. dº sº dº Pºs as as a e s m sº º is º a º " 25.00
The topographical features of South Africa are so peculiar that the
System answering for one district is not applicable to others, while the
rain-fall Varies greatly as one leaves the coast and ascends to the vari-
312 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
ous table-lands. . In general, it may be said that, the land being almost
entirely denuded of trees and bush, the rain is not drank up by the soil
but runs rapidly over the surface, seeking its natural outlet to the sea,
while the evaporation is very great, estimated at 6 feet at Van Wycks
Valley, necessitating deep storage basins.
Streams which are alive the whole year are very few.
Boring for water has not been attempted on a large scale, but the
ºriments made in certain Sections have given very encouraging re-
SultS.
SOUTH ATLANTIC ISLANDS.
REPORT FROM THOMAS C. Jon ES, UNITED STATES consul, FUN-
CHAL, ON IRRIGATION IN MADEIRA.
In answer to your circular and inquiries in regard to, the system
of irrigation now in practice on this island, I beg to submit the fol-
lowing report :
I can not answer your questions in as full a manner as I should like
owing to the meagerness of statistics.
The public works here are of the most primitive kind. The same
implements that tilled the soil and constructed the water-ways three
hundred years ago till the soil and construct the water-ways of to-day.
Stone is plentiful and labor is cheap ; the island is furrowed with water-
Ways, but the new is no improvement on the old.
(1.) The area of Madeira is about 240 square miles. About one-half
of the island is in cultivation. The Whole of the sea-board, is more or
less cultivated by irrigation.
Where water is plentiful such crops as sweet potatoes, beans, cab-
bages, etc., are grown as high as 3,000 feet elevation above the sea; but
maize is seldom grown above 800 or 1,000 feet, owing to the short sum-
mer season on the hills.
The area which is under cultivation by irrigation with sugar-cane, po-
tatoes, onions, maize, etc., and almost at all seasons, and where, there-
fore, the population is concentrated, varies between 500 and 1,500 feet
above sea-level, and may be estimated at a little more than one-third
of the whole area of the island. *
It is difficult to estimate the quantity of the crops grown, as the ex-
ports are pretty well limited to sugar, wine, onions, potatoes, and ba-
nanas. Sweet potatoes, which is probably the largest crop grown,
beans, cabbages, are consumed in the home.
Almost all the cereals and food plants are grown in Madeira.
The wheat is of the bearded kind, with a hard, semi-transparent grain,
and commands a better price than the imported. A large part of the
vegetable subsistence is derived from the pumpkin tribe.
The banana is one of the best paying crops. It is confined below the
500-feet line. Oranges grow at an elevation of 1,500 feet.
(2) The water supply is derived from perennial springs and from the
many gorges which carry off the water from the hills to the sea during
the rainy season. After May these gorge streams are quite dry long
before they reach the sea, their water having been drawn by the dif-
ferent levada.S.
The north side of the island, being more precipitous and Well-Wooded,
supplies its different levadas as well as Several of those on the South
side.
THE water systEM AND ITS USE IN MADEIRA. 313
There are no reservoirs or catchment basins. They would be expenS-
ive to make owing to the precipitous nature of the hills, and it is
doubtful whether the broken and rocky hillsides would hold the Water
unless the whole bottom were concreted.
(3) The character of the works used for distribution of irrigation
water is levadas or open culverts. These are constructed of masonry
or cut in solid rock at high levels. They pass through tunnels, over
bridges, and along the sides of precipitous mountains, carrying the
Water to the cultivated lands below.
Some of these levadas are a few miles in length while others are 60
and 70 miles long.
(4) The system of water distribution is governed by custom and the
flow is rated by the hour.
Some levadas deliver their whole contents during an hour or more
as the proprietors of the water may be entitled to it. Others deliver
say one-quarter of their contents at a time. The irrigator only re-
Quires the quantity of water at a time which will run along a furrow
without Washing the soil away.
The Sta. Lugia levada, for instance, contains 4,245 horns of water, to
which there are proprietary rights acquired by purchase from the orig-
inal makers or by inheritance. It now takes fifty days for each pro-
prietor, of one hour to have his turn again ; but he receives it instead
by the quarter, every twelve and one-half days.
Besides the proprietary right there is in all levadas a right of water
which belongs to the levada, and the committee of management for the
year sells this water in January for the benefit of the levada, for repairs,
etc., the water being plentiful at that season.
During the recent sugar-cane disease the price of an hour of water
fell 50 per cent. in the Sta. Lugia Parish, viz, from $6 to $3.
IEach piece of ground within the district of a given levad is entitled
to its hours of use of the stream. For eight or nine months of the year
the water is turned on to the proprietors as they may desire, but when
the dry season sets in the committee puts it a “giro’’ or space of time oc-
cupied in making the tour of the whole district, which giro varies.from
15 to 60 days, according to the extent of the district.
The “Levadeiro” or distributor of water is a salaried official, paid by
the committee. He also collects a small fee of about 3 cents per hour
per annum of the proprietary rights, and a higher fee on rented water.
These fees are fixed annually by the committee.
When extensions or repairs of any magnitude are undertaken the
money is bºrrowed, usually from the proprietors, and paid back in wa-
ter or by rates levied over preceding years.
The foregoing applies to the old levadas, which were constructed by
the proprietors.
No two levadas are alike in their volumes of water, in their veloc-
ity, or in their rates. In the neighborhood of Funchal the price of an
hours rain in the season is from $5 to $8, while on the north side of the
island it will never exceed $1 per hour.
The Government has, during the last fifty years, constructed levadas,
which collected the Waters in almost inaccessible gorges on the north
side of the island, and conduct it to the Warm south side. These
waters are distributed to the cultivators of the soil at a nominal cost.
But when the Government levada is completed, and leaves the hands
of the department of public works for those of the local, it gradually
falls into ruin for want of attention.
Q
314 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
No repairs can be made without estimates, and these have to be sub-
mitted to Lisbon for approval, and when approved, the time is gener.
ally so long that the original estimates are insufficient.
As Water is the most valuable property in Madeira there is more
quarreling about it than about anything else in the island. It is a fruit-
ful source between the well-to-do and the poorer class. More people go
to prison for stealing and tampering with water than for anything else.
One of the principal difficulties attending the management of the
levadas was the want of a legal standing as corporate bodies of their
Committees. A quarrel between two levadas, draining their supply from
the same valley, occasioned a lawsuit which has lasted now more than
forty years. Within the last few years a law has been passed enabling
the Committees to incorporate themselves, with power to acquire prop-
erty, and otherwise protect and improve their levadas.
They can purchase the land containing their springs, protect the for-
est and the trees along their lines. Every farmer of thrift has on his
land tanks to store his water, and from these tanks little levadas dis-
tribute it when and wherever he wants it.
Water rights are held under title deeds, which specify the intervals
at Which the supply shall be given and the length of time it shall con-
tinue. Water is always of ready sale. If a crop fails from any cause
the water for that land is sold to a more fortunate neighbor; though
Sometimes at a very reduced rate, as was the case in the time of the
Sugar-cane disease.
Under any system, it is hard for the poor. Their supply is scant,
and they must receive it when their time comes, seasonable or unsea-
sonable, day or night, and without tanks they can not care for or prop-
erly distribute it.
(5) The irrigated region is the coast belt, which during the summer
season will produce crops that will ripen before the early autumn sets
in. The nearer the seashore, with its consequent semi-tropical heat,
the more valuable becomes irrigation.
The annual rain-fall in Funchal is about 28 inches; but the hills which
supply the springs are almost always covered with clouds and wet
mist, the water contents of which can not be estimated.
The soil varies in quality. That of the coast belt is calcareous tufa,
with an admixture of vegetable matter, and is very rich. Wheat and
barley are grown on the same land from generation to generation with
hardly any application of manure.
The soil best adopted to the vine is a decomposed red tufa, especially
where there is an admixture of stone with it. The hill regions have a
stiff, clayey soil.
(6) There are levadas here probably 300 years old, but several of
these have had their courses changed during political troubles and from
Other CauSeS. .
The levada, for instance, which now irrigates St. Vincente on the
north side of the island, was constructed by the inhabitants of the
Brava Valley on the south side, and was lost to them during the in-
teregnum between the Spanish and Portuguese occupation. The Gov-
ernment is now constructing a levada, which will collect its waters in
the hitherto quite inaccessible Inferno Gorge for irrigating the St. Vin-
cente Valley, when it will restore to the Brava Valley the levada which
originally belonged to it.
The source of this new levada is at the height of 4,700 feet above the
sea, and after entering the valley it is intended to throw the water
down a series of cascades with a fall of more than 300 feet,
GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS FOR WATER USES. 315
A constant flow of a pint of water is sufficient to irrigate 5 acres of
ground; that is, the water must flow into a reservoir and be used from
that as required.
I have had translated the “Regulation for the Government of the
Government Levadas of the Island” and have had it attached to this
report. There are no maps or drawings of these works obtainable.
The engineers, contractors, and others who build our Government
levadas come from Lisbon, and the plans, estimates, etc., are kept there
in the office of public works. There are no publications that I can find.
Mr. John B. Blandy, of this city, is the largest land and water propri-
etor on the island. He has had more to do with the construction and
working of these water ways, and is probably more of an expert than
any person on the island. I am indebted to him for this report. He
Will take pleasure in giving the Senate Committee any facts that are in
his possession.
PROVISIONAL REGULATION For THE Government IN THE DISTRICT of FUNCHAL,
THEIR ADMINISTRATION AND THEIR RESPECTIVE REVENUES.
FIRST PART-THE LEV AIDAS.
ART. 1. The regulation of the government levadas in the district of Funchal and
the superintendence of the revenues of same are under surveillance of the treasurer
of the same district, according to the decree published on the 10th of November, 1849,
and the regulations for the administration of the public revenue, published on the
#; of January, 1850; also a Government grant, published on the 14th of September,
1 * &
ART. 2. The levadas that belong to the government in the said district are the
following:
Rabacal, in the parish of Calhéta, Fajaa dos Winhaticos, in the parish of Santa
Anna, Iuncal, and Furado, that irrigate Santa Cruz and Machico.
ART. 3. The Levada Rabacal will continue to be divided into two branches, one
3. ºrigates Calhéta and Estreito, the other that waters Prazeres and Fajaž da
V6118,
ART, 4. The Levada Fajaú dos Vinhaticos will continue to be divided into two
parts, each containing an equal quantity of water.
ART. 5. Levada Iuncal and Furado are also divided into two branches, one that
irrigates the parish of Santa Cruz, the other, Porto da Cruz.
ART. 6. To superintend the said levadas there will be appointed a staff of men, to
be paid by the treasury of the home government.
ART. 7. The number of men, their rank, and respective salaries for each levada
will be as follows:
Levada do Rabacal.
One director, with a salary of 17 per cent, on the revenues of the levada,
calculated to be .----------------- - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as is m me s is is as m = e º ºs º º $156.67
Two levadeiros (or Water men), at $24 each.............................. 48. 00
Two caretakers at 24 cents daily, each ................... tº ſº sº ºn tº º sº ºn a sº is us tº gº tº 175. 20
Total tº º e º º tº e º ºn e º 'º ſº ſº tº º º a s sº e º 'º º 'º º ºs e º 'º e s sº as a s a e is e ºs e e a s as a s a = e s as a e s an e s a e 379. 89
Levada Fajað dos Vinhaticos.
One director, with a salary of 8 per cent. on the revenne of the levada.... $43.00
Two levadeiros, at $16 each. -------------------------------------------- 32, 00
One caretaker, at 12 cents per day --------------------------------------- 43.80
Total.... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e s sº s a tº dº º tº ſº tº fºr tº tº gº 118, 80
Levada Iuncal and Furado.
One director, with a salary of 8 per cent. on the revenue of levada........ $44, 16
Two levadeiros, at $16 each ---------------------------------------------. 32. 00
One caretaker, at 12 cents per day -----...--...-- sº tº sº tº we me ------------------ 43.80
*ss=s****
Total ...-- * B º 'º e º ſº tº º sº tº º s is dº º is a ºn tº s m s a ºn a e s is a tº a ºn sº a tº a ºn a ºn a a ºn as a e º as a s a we sº sº a tº 119.96,
316 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
ART. 8. Besides the above items, which are for salaries, there will be anotheritem of
$180 yearly to compensate any deficiency in the salaries.
ART. 9. For directors of the levadas are appointed by government under the pro-
posal of the treasurer, and keep the appointment as long as they are worthy of it.
..., ART. 10. The levadeiros are appointed yearly by the delegate of the treasurer under
the proposal of their respective directors.
ART. 11. The caretakers are appointed by the delegate of the treasurer under the
proposal of their respective directors.
ART. 12. The duties of the director of the levada are permanent and are as follows:
..I. In the proper season for irrigation he is bound to see that the waters are fairly
distributed. *
II. To make as far as it lays in his power all the waters enter into the levada, so that
* ...” the water may have his share or more when his turn comes to irrigate
1S ground.
. III. To have repaired any small damage made to the levada when necessary, hav-
ing it in his power to call for help should he be unable to attend immediately to the
said repairs.
IV. To avoid the loss of water should he know it, and give notice, etc., of same to
the administrator of any damage done to the levada. If there are damages he may
appeal to the department of government works.
Y. To watch that the duties of the levadeiro and caretaker are properly carried
Ollife
The director of the levada is answerable for its good keeping and also of the small
canals that bring the water from the springs.
ART, 13. The duties of the levadeiro last during the irrigation season only. They
are bound to deliver to each lessee the quantity of water that he rents to irrigate his
ground according to a list given him by the clerk (or tax collector).
ART. 14. The duties of the caretakers are permanent and are as follows:
I. To live close to the levada.
II. To watch in summer and winter the levadas, that they are kept in proper re-
pair, and that the springs are drained so as to enter the levadas.
III. To keep all the traps of the levadas open when it rains.
IV. To clear all obstacles that are carried by the water that may cause overflow.
W. To see that the levada is in proper repair, and to have repaired any wall that
may have fallen over the levada, and to have removed any earth that may obstruct
its course.
VI. To walk the course of the levada continually, or the part that he takes care
of, to complain to his director of any theft of water, or if any damage that he can
not repair.
VII. To watch the good keeping of the trees close to the levada.
VIII. To fulfill all the orders given him by the director as regards the levada.
ART. 15. The caretakers of the levadas are considered as forest-keepers, and are
bound to watch the forest and bushes of his district complaining to the administra-
tor of the locality should there be any damage to the forest.
ART. 16. The director of Levada Rabacal is bound to live close to the same levada,
in one of the buildings, at a place called Rosadas, and to keep the houses clean when
visitors stay there on their way to see the levada, and he is also answerable for the
good keeping of the furniture, of which he has an inventory given him by the ad-
ministrator, which there is a copy sent to government department of the district
and one given to the caretaker of this levada. The director can have a house to live
in conditional that he keep the tools belonging to the levada, and also those of the
public works.
PART SECOND-TO LEASE THE WATERS.
ART. 17. To rent the water each levada must have a giro (that is a rotation of days)
so that each lessee during the irrigation season shall receive the quantity of Water he
bargained for or bought. - -
The giros are fixed.—For the Levada Rabagol is established every sixteen days or
three hundred and eighty-four hours in each branch.
For the Levada of Fajãá dos Vinhaticos every sixteen days or three hundred and
eighty-four hours in each branch. -
For the branch of Inncol and Furado, that irrigates Santa Cruz, the giro is twenty-
five days or six hundred hours.
For the branch of same levada that irrigates Porto du Cruz the giro is sixteen days
or three hundred and eighty-four hours.
ART. 18. The leasing the said waters shall take place yearly in the month of March
in the office of the administrator of the locality in the presence of the notary of the
crown, and besides these, the director and levadeiros chosen by him are to be present
to give any information that may be required.
WATER REGULATIONS IN ISLAND OF MADEIRA, 317
ART. 19. For the said leasing it is necessary that placards, signed by the adminis-
trator, advertising the day appointed for the lease, should be posted in the most public
places of the parish and at the church doors, stating the giro of the levada and the
price per hour.
A copy of these placards shall be sent to the vicars of the parish where the levada
runs, to be read before the mass is celebrated.
ART. 20. The giro of the waters in each levada can only be altered by the Govern-
ment after the civil governor has given his opinion and the delegate of the treasurer.
ART. 21. The price of water in each levada is annually fixed by Government, ac-
cording to information given by the different functionaries.
ART, 22. The lease of these waters are made so as to include the greatest number of
landed proprietors whose grounds require water, making a just and equitable distri-
bution of it according to the wants of each individual; those that in former years
rented water and paid for it have the preference, and that the quantity demanded is
indispensable to the soil under culture to be irrigated.
The water can not be rented to those who are in debt for any of the preceding
years.
ART. 23. The notary will take the names of all those that buy water, the quantity
of hours bought, the price which the lessee has to pay, all signing a document in
which they bind themselves to pay the amount as soon as it is demanded.
ART. 24. Of the document above mentioned copies are to be made so that they can
be sent, one to the treasurer by post, another to the director of the levada, and two
others to the levadeiros. These last need not have the amounts of money written on
them.
ART. 25. The original of the above document to be kept in the archives of the Gov-
ernment office after the necessary papers for collecting the amounts have been made
out. h -
ART. 26. The day on which the waters are distributed placards are to be posted in
the most public part of the parish, also on the parish church doors.
PART THIRD-TO COLLECT THE RENTS.
ART. 27. The collection of the water rent of the levadas takes place in August
and is collected by the tax-collector of the parish.
ART. 28. That the lessee may know when the rents are to be paid the tax-collector
must have placards posted up in the most public places, at least eight days before it
commences, giving notice of, first, the place where the rents are to be collected; sec-
ond, the day on which he commences to receive rents.
ART. 29. The lessee who can not pay during the said period has to pay 3 per cent.
on the same amount or a fixed sum of 4 cents when the said amount comes to $14.
The above is declared also in the placards according to Article 20.
ART. 30. The receipts given must be according to model No. 2 of instructions pub-
lished February 8, 1843.
The list must be made out according to Article 24, before mentioned, and must be
in the hands of the collector before the 15th of July of each year, according to prac-
tice already established. .*
ART. 31. The sums received from the rents of water will be booked as “revenues of
the levadas,” and the 3 per cent. On fixed rate as revenues of the levadas.
PART FOURTH-DIFFERENT DISPOSITIONS.
ART, 32. The administrator has the same duties to fulfill as regards the levadas
as he has toward other national properties, to see especially that the services of the
Ievadas are properly performed by those that are intrusted with it.
ART. 33. If the repairs of the levadas be so expensive as to call for the aid of the
public works, the administrator of the parish is obliged to inform the delegate of the
treasury * he may ask the civil governor of the district to have the necessary re-
3,11’S DOl3,016.
p ART. 34. The appointment of the levadeiros must be made yearly, by the adminis-
trator, during the month of February.
ART. 35. The salaries are to be paid every quarter. Other trifling expenses at-
tending repairs to be paid at the end of each month in which they are made.
ART. 36. To pay the salaries of the employés, as well as the different items attend-
ing the levada repairs, annual pay-sheets are to be made by the administrator and
sent to the treasurer to be paid. •
The balance-sheets, to be paid, must be accompanied by the directors' vouchers
signed by the administrator.
ART, 37. If at any season the irrigation water is not all sold, the giro can not be
altered, but the administrator must let the delegate of the treasury know.
3.18 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
ART, 38. If at any time there is not a competent director appointed, the delegate
of the treasury in the district may appoint a person ad interim until he gets one to ful-
fill the place definitely. The appointment of the director can be made by the adminis-
trator and in that case he receives the salary of a director.
ART, 39. If the place of care-taker becomes vacant the director can appoint a per-
son ad interim, until he definitely engages an individual, in the mean time he must
acquaint the delegate of the treasury of the person he proposes.
ART-TRANSITORY.
To proceed with the lease of waters for the current year the price of water is as
follows, subject to the approval of the Government:
In the Levada da Fajaú dos Vinhaticos and its branches, 70 cents; in Innool
branch, 60 cents; in the Furado branch, 50 cents.
If at any time the Levada da Fajafi dos Vinhaticos has not sufficient quantity of
water for irrigation, for example, in the height of summer, the two branches are to be
united by the mutual consent of both lessees the price then will be $1.40 each hour
of water; that the lessee receives.
The other levadas are subject to the same conditions when there is a dearth of
water and in that case the price is double.
HOME DEPARTMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF FUNCIHAL,
March 28, 1862.
The delegate of the treasury.
FRANCISCO HAVIN DE SONTA.
Approved.
HoME DEPARTMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF FUNCHAL,
April 7, 1884.
The first official.
FRANCIS CO JOAQUINN PESTANA.
REPORT OF HENRY PEASE, U. S. CONSUI, SANTIAGO, ON WATER
SUPPLY AND IRRIGATION IN CAPE VERDE ISLANDS,
The subject of irrigating arid and cultivated lands in this colony
is not varied or extensive enough to form the basis of a report such as
requested.
Nature has been so unbounteous in her supply of fresh water to the
Cape Verde Islands, that there are no lakes, rivers, ponds, or large
streams, except during the rainy months, which are August, Septem-
ber, and part of October. But there are many springs on the islands
of St. Antone, St. Iago, and St. Nickolas, issuing through the rocks at
the base of the mountains, in the bottoms of the deep valleys and ra-
vines. It therefore became necessary that the inhabitants should have
settled near a spring. Yet about half the towns and Villages on these
islands are so remote from fresh water that all their supply is brought
from 1 to 3 miles on donkeys or the heads of Women.
QUANTITY AND MODE OF IRRIGATION.
It would be difficult to obtain any precise information as to the
quantity of land under irrigation; as there are no. reports or statistics
on such a subject. Yet from observation, and information received
from some land-holders, I should not underrate the areas, by stating
that the only lands receiving irrigation during the dry season, which is
from November to August, are a few patches of flat ground in the Val-
leys below the level of the springs, cultivated as “garden plots.”
The mode of irrigating is by making with a “hoe” (the principal
agricultural implement used in this colony) a number of small trenches
leading from the springs through the cultivated grounds,
SPANISH USAGES IN IRRIGATION AFFAIRS. 319
EUROPE.
REPORT FROM DARIUS H. INGRAHAM, U.S. CONSUL, CADIZ, SPAIN.
I can not learn of any maps or works on the subject, though the
latter may exist translated flom the French, but are regarded as merely
theoretical and of no interest or value to a people who have from the
time of the Moors, and perhaps of the Romans, carried on practical sys-
tems of irrigation chiefly in the provinces of Murcia, Valencia, and Gra-
nada, and to a lesser extent in western Andalusia. In these provinces,
especially Seville, which is watered by the Guadalquivir, whose valleys
are rich not only in corks, grains, but in Olives, oranges, palms, grapes,
and other'semi-tropical fruits, ditches are dug through the lands and fed
from the river; and in other localities the irrigation is done by a sort of
Water raiser from Wells, called morias, consisting of a chain of buckets
going over and over as they come up from the well, filling and emptying
by the operation, and propelled by a blinded animal, a horse, cow, ox,
or mule, going round and round, and kept within the circle of the noria
by a pole running from the head of the animal to the pivotal post. Thus
Secured he goes along all day long around the circle without driver or
guide. In some cases a steam engine is in use among large properties,
but the noria is of great antiquity. In Damiel, La Mancha, 3,000 norias
§. used, only in Summer, and the same exist generally throughout
palm. e
In Lorca, a town near Carthagena, where the land is salty and the
river overflowed, an enormous dam has been built in recent years to
retain the water.
As no statistics are published, I am unable to reply to some inquiries
of the circular, but it is believed that the difference between irrigated
and non-irrigated lands is as one to twenty-five in value.
There is no Government system or control custom regulating all, as
it did in the time of those masters of irrigation, the Moors. For in-
stance, at Granada a sort of court called the water court has existed by
the customs of centuries, to pass on all questions of irrigation and
rights between owners, and this court is regarded as high authority,
dispensing exact justice and enjoying a reputation like none other in
Spain. It is organized from custom ; it sits at certain times at the Al-
hambra to hear causes, as it has done since the mediaeval ages, its mem-
bers coming on mules or horseback, and alighting before the bench
provided for the hearings.
In one of the towers of the Alhambra a bell rings at different times
of the night to indicate the flow of the waters of the Xenil and Darro,
which have their confluence at this point and irrigate the vast Vega of
Granada.
In this section I am not able to give the names of any experts on ir-
rigation, as in this consular district the operations are limited as above
described, but I would refer to Mr. W. Langdon, of Huelva, engineer
of the Rio Tinto mines, who once furnished me an interesting paper
on the teredo, a worm attacking submerged wood; and in Cadiz, Señor
Don José Maria Conte, a distinguished writer and interested in agri-
cultural Subjects.
320 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
REPORT FROM CLODOMIRO PEREz, U. S. CONSUL, CADIZ, SPAIN.
The immense importance and the successful solution of the irrigation
problem implies, has justly attracted, and no doubt will always attract,
a vivid attention in all agricultural countries, and as regards the Eu-
ropean continent perhaps more especially so in Spain, where, owing to
the heterogeneous character of the soil and climate, a judicious distri-
bution and utilization of the water supplied by abundant rivers, brooks,
and springs, or in certain regions, however not otherwise obtainable
than by storage from rain-fall and underground sources, is, together
with an obvious need, one of the most beneficial agents for general pros-
perity. §
Water, apart from satisfying the peremptory purposes of quenching
thirst, averting fire dangers, and contributing to public health and em-
bellishment, proves a cheap and useful auxiliary of industries, but more
principally a capital element, a solid guaranty to enhance and increase
the agricultural production and all other interests inseparably associated
with the yield of the soil, a branch that represents the most conspicuous
and positive wealth.
Since in remote ages this rich and so oftentimes coveted territory en-
tered the noble road of civilization and human progress, cultivators
could not fail to become perfectly aware of the favorable influence ex- .
erted on the growth of plants, and consequently on the result of crops,
through the opportune agency of irrigation, whether natural or artifi-
cial. It has been, therefore, the common aim of the Spanish people, as
well as of those patriotic and enlightened rulers who have guided the
destinies of the nation with a true devotion for the public welfare, to
give a constant aid and all possible impulse to everything that tended
to the protection and development of the water supply system.
The hydraulic works for irrigation carried out in Spain in ancient and
modern times, although not yet completed to all the extent of which
this country admits and even requires, show bold conceptions. They are
in many cases magnificent, practical monuments erected by intelligent
active minds, who thus have endowed large districts with the fruitful
and lasting germ of the luxuriant life there enjoyed by past and pres-
ent generations.
The treatise on “water and irrigation” (Aquas y Riegas, two vol-
umes), which, as instructed by circular, of May 2, 1889, I have the
honor to send the Department of State with the present report, Will, I
am confident, afford useful information to the Special committee ap-
pointed by the United States Senate to investigate into the matter of
irrigation as practiced in Spain, and perhaps excuse diverse omissions I
may incur. • e
While I respectfully call the attention of the Department upon said
book saying that it is the only Work published in this country which in
every direction treats the subject in a reliable and exhaustive manner,
I beg to mention that its author, Mr. Andrés Plaurado, is the chief
forestry engineer for the district of Madrid and a qualified authority,
both at home and abroad. He recently, in the name of the Spanish
“Ministerio de Fomento” (the department embracing public works,
agriculture, industry and commerce), took partin the discussion held at
the International Congress of Paris on the utilization of the Water of
I’é2,IDS. *
St. His views upon the subject “De l'avenir des canaua' d' irrigation,”
a remarkable essay, met the approval of eminent foreign Scientific men.
wATER LAws, CUSTOMs, AND REGULATIONS IN SPAIN, 321
Mr. Llaurado's work, “Water and Irrigation,” contains an elaborate
historical and technical description of the canals and reservoirs built in
Spain; also useful suggestions, resting upon his practical observations,
concerning construction, financial and economic results, and the best
means to secure the success pursued in enterprises for irrigation.
First of all, I will now point out the prominent conclusions arrived at
by Mr. Llaurado, nameiy :
It is an axiom that in northern countries irrigation increases the prod-
uct of cultivation, especially in summer.
In southern countries irrigation becomes absolutely necessary,
whether to remedy drought or to overcome the consequences of unequal
rain-fall.
Reservoirs become absolutely necessary in Spain to store up water
during the time there is rain, in order that the decrease produced in
streams just when agriculture is most in want of it might be restored.
Irrigation undertakings must divide in two different classes:
(1) Irrigation works which can be achieved by the single individual
effort.
(2) Irrigation schemes which necessitate the interposition and sub-
sidies of the Government.
Private activity, from a financial stand-point considered, will be able
to accomplish irrigation schemes, provided the rate consumers pay for
water covers the expenses of working them, the amount of interest cor-
responding to capital invested, and a fair profit. Otherwise the busi-
ness must result in a failure for private concern, while, though it can not
be absolutely asserted, it is advantageous for the Government, whose
ample unlimited means of action allow them to balance loss with profit.
What now is met with at the “Canal Imperial de Aragon” and at the
“Canal de Urgel,” under direct management of the public admin-
istration, clearly evidence that assertion. The construction of the first-
mentioned canal cost the Government about 20,000,000 pesetas
($4,000,000), and since the reign of Carlos III, when it began to be
worked, up to our days the immediate direct net produce earned by the
administration aggregates the sum of 37,000 pesetas annually ($7,400),
a notorious meager yield in proportion to the capital invested.
But the business, however, far from being ruinous for the State, has
largely compensated the outlays by creating great sources of wealth,sº
which deliver up to the public treasury a good part of their income." #
It must not be overlooked that, in order to render mutually advan-
tageous to companies and farmers the utilization of Water schemes the
irrigation tariff must be rated cheap.
The modest yet mighty sphere of private spirit is able to achieve
with Success many works in totality superior to the limited number of
enterprises due to the initiative of the Government.
That does not mean the Government should be allowed to monopo-
lize this kind of undertakings. They are not feasible for the Spanish
Treasury in its present circumstances, when it is rather too much influ-
enced by the oscillations of politics.
But the administration can promote such irrigation business as may
aid the private companies by affording facilities to individual action,
by making public the hydrological data, the investigation of which is
not consistent with private initiative, and by framing accurate statistics
on the rights for use of available public water.
As refers to the great works of canalization the Government ought
to undertake the construction for its own account, and when they are
finished cede them on fair terms to the irrigation syndicates, reserving
138 A L-WOL IV—21
322 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
f
itself the right of superintendence and protection, in order that the
Sacrifices made by the people may not result fruitless.
The Spanish Peninsula extends approximately over eight latitudinal
and upwards of twelve and one-half longitudinal degrees; its periph.
ery measures 3,300 kilometers; the surface of its soil comprises
about 50,000,000 hectares (123,500,000 acres), with elevations exceeding
3,500 meters above the level of the ocean, vast table-lands, deep Valleys,
and, nearly 2,000 kilometers sea-shores extending along four slopes,
wººd by different seas, and facing different cardinal points of the
globe.
The contrasting conditions of climate enjoyed according to local cir-
cumstances can Well be imagined; they are so manifold that in this sense,
\rather than a mere peninsular, Spain comprises by itself a vast conti.
nent joined to the rest of Europe through the mountain range of the
Pyrenees, and partakes the scale of subtropical up to sub-Alpine tem-
perature, with burning summers, as in the Sahara Desert, or glacial win-
ters, as in Scandinavia. . A glance at the hereto appended summary of
meteorological observations gives a fair idea on the physical conse.
quences which arise in various regions.
In the qualities of the soil all gradations exist, from the hardest and
most Compact clayish soil to that of the most loose and movable silic-
ious nature, in all possible shapes, the evenest as well as the steepest
and most rugged. It also differs in depth from the shallowest and most
naked soil up to the most covered with vegetable layers; and as to the
hygrometrical conditions from extreme moisture to the most complete
dryness, from the least fitted to irrigation, and to such as is perpetu-
ally condemned to receive no other water than from rain-fall.
Of the total area of Spain (50,000,000 hectares) 40,000,000 hectares
are cultivated for crops and pastures; about 2,000,000 thereof are bene-
fited by irrigation. g
Among other peculiar features common to the north coast of Spain
the provinces of Santander, Oviedo, Biscay, and Guipuzcod, in which
this consulate and its respective agencies of Gijon, Bilbao, and San
Sebastian are located, partake of the most frequent and greatest rain-
fall in any part of the Spanish peninsula or in Europe.
I quote what Mr. Llaurado says, referring to the above-mentioned
... provinces:
On account of the great moisture, the air being almost always in a state close to
saturation, ordinarily no other farming grounds but the meadows require a supple-
tory irrigation. In comparatively dry summers, however, some orchards will be irri-
gated, principally on alluvial soils of new formation where the underlying stratum,
consisting of loose pebble-stones, allows an easy permeability. Permanent meadows
constitute the main basis of the agricultural wealth, for they are calculated to sup-
ply food for 400,000 heads of horn cattle and a good number of horses and sheep, be-
sides, as refers only to the province of Oviedo, and nearly equal proportionate ciphers
are applicable for the remnant three provinces, especially for Santander.
In order to examine the cultivation of meadows as it is practiced here,
we must suppose them divided in two groups, namely, irrigated and
not irrigated meadows. tº B &
The first ones are generally lying on the declivities or on the Valleys,
in the neighborhood of some spring or brook, the water of which may
be easily drained; and the last-mentioned meadows occupy the table-
lands on the tops of mountains and all such places not much accessible
for irrigating them by artificial means, which enjoy no other irrigation
but that imparted by eventual rains. .
The irrigated meadows, in their turn, form two groups, in the first of
which are included those the products of which are consumed by Cat-
IRRIGATION AND FORESTAL REGULATIONS. 323
tle on the meadow itself, the summer harvest excepted, this being
mowed and stored for stable food. In the second group are comprised
the meadows the produce of which is mowed and cattle fed therewith
when yet green, and which furnish, besides, the summer harvest like
the meadow lands of the first group. In these irrigations last during
all the year, and are only discontinued as long as the cattle are kept
within the stable, this being done the months of April, September,
and October, on fine days in winter, when tardy frosts are feared, and
during twenty to thirty days before harvesting the hay.
Not irrigated meadows, in spite of the moist climate, yield considera-
bly less than the irrigated ones, irrigation being, therefore, indispensa-
ble if it is desired to obtain abundant pasture and hay. *
The remark has been already made that the water used for this kind
of cultivation is either drained from brooks or from little perenninal
springs, as well because of the continuity and facility of their utilization
as on account of the difficulties met with in the drainage from streams,
the most part thereof offering deep beds and an excessive slopeness.
The system for irrigation of meadow lands most commonly applied in
these provinces is that denominated “irrigation by inclined channels,”
or also “Spike channels” (riego por regueras inclina.das or regueras en
espiga). The distribution channels are devised nearly in the sense of
thé greatest slopeness of the ground; the irrigating channels connect
with them and spread out to right and left hand.
A rapid Sectional change takes place on the distribution channels at
the point where they separate into branches with the irrigating chan-
nels. The last-mentioned channels, by having a gradually narrowing
section from their parting point down to the opposite end, pour out the
Water by getting inundated. Another contrivance is also combined
with this briefly described distributive system which consists of col-
lecting channels called azarbes, dug on the natural lines of junction on
the meadow ground terminating in an outlet channel. Sometimes,
when the extent of the meadow is not considerable, or when the quan-
tity of water available is but small, the collecting channels are changed
into new feeding channels for the supply of other lots situated farther
down.
Within the four provinces above named discrimination of three dif.
ferent climates and regions must be made, depending from situation,
whether on the Sea-shore, inland valleys, and mountains. The climate
on the sea-shore is mild ; Orange trees can thrive in the open air. In
the valleys the climate is fresh; there orange trees, as also grape-vines,
only thrive on sheltered places. The climate on the mountains is cold;
they generally in Winter are covered with Snow. Here lies the center
of the Cantabrian Mountains, a branch of the Pyrenic Mountain range,
with lofty summits, some of them as high as 2,678 meters above the
level of the sea. r
The highest temperature at the inland valley of Cabuerniga, San-
tander, during a period of three years (1872–1874), as recorded by the
foresty engineer, Mr. Louis Calderon was 480 heat in the sun, 390 in
the shadow, and the lowest, which, like the other extreme temperature,
very seldom occurs, was 4° below zero. Many years the temperaturé
never exceeds Zero degrees. When the thermometer points out 80 or
10°, Water generally falls on the mountain pastures lying highest, called
puertos or “harbors,” in the shape of snow.
The forestal and cattle raising industries are the most genuine and
prominent riches in these provinces, especially in Oviedo and Santander.
The structure of the Soil consisting of narrow valleys surrounded by
324 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
mountains with varied but for the most part too steepy slopes for a
Safe and commodious cultivation, it is obvious to say that the agricult-
ure, limited to valleys and flat lands of small extent, can never attain
a great developement. But, in exchange for the forest and cattle in-
terests, there is proportionately innmense room in the best conditions for
Success, as the frequent rain and continuous mists, covering almost
Constantly and at all seasons of the year those mountains, maintain a
most Suitable, fresh, and moist character to vigorous spontaneous Veg-
etation.
The communal pasture grounds being abundant and of such good
Quality, natural meadows are, most of them, intended to harvest
fodder for feeding the cattle during the time the atmospherical inclem-
encies hinder a direct grazing. As the period when this occurs is no
longer than three or four months in the year, the cattle-raising industry
is certainly susceptible of a far greater increase as soon as the meadow
lands are more carefully cultivated and larger quantities of hay are pro-
duced. With the quantity of fodder indispensable for a head of cattle
in other provinces, three heads will then be fed here, because the period
Cattle have to be kept in the cow-house is much shorter. A permanent
keeping in the stall is not advisable unless the absurd principle should
be established to abandon the enormous wealth the beautiful and vast
grazing grounds of the high meadows (puertos) represent.
The system now partly prevalent in cattle-breeding is of course such
as arises from the local conditions; in the West region horn-cattle are
raised until two years old, whereupon farmers in the East region and
on the sea-shore devote themselves to raise the same up to full growth.
In the first-mentioned region natural as well as high meadows (puertos)
are abundant, while in the other parts that kind of meadows are scarce,
and consequently cultivation-meadows become necessary.
One should think that in the Cantabrian coast, one of the rainiest
countries of Europe, the system of drainage, rather than that of arti-
ficial irrigation, would often be applied. Yet irrigation is here of no
little importance, mainly to obtain natural meadows and repair the
irregularities of meteoric water used for other cultivators.
Irrigation is most frequently made use of here during the months of
March and April, when grass begins to shoot up. The soil is left al-
together inundated when strong frosts are feared, in order that the
covers of water might protect the soil against the consequences of frost
or ice. In normal years artificially irrigated meadow-lands produce
greater harvest than those called “praderas de secano” or “dry land
meadows,” but in exceptional years of drought the irrigated meadows
are the life-boats wherein farmers save their cattle.
Milk, so its products, butter and cheese, all of an exquisite natural
flavor in these provinces, it can be affirmed, have no rival of higher
standard in the world. It is obvious to reveal the Secret of such ex-
cellent qualities, which consists in nothing else besides a good cattle
race but the conditions of plenty of pure air and nutritive aromatic past-
ures. The cow breeds called “ of Tudanca” and of “Campoo,” in the
neighboring districts of Cabueeniga and Régnosa, respectively, San-
tander, and the “Asturian * race, province of Oviedo, justly enjoy a
great renown. -
For centuries the mountain woodlands of Santander have been pro-
viding with superior timber (oak) the Spanish navy and merchant ship-
yards, also (beech) cooperies for preparing barrels, or casks for Wine
and wheat-flour exportations to the Antilles. They scarcely have
escaped the total devastation that has been the fate of public forests in
Spain.
THE COST OF IRRIGATION CONSTRUCTION. 325
The planting of trees to replace those consumed or cut from the parish
forests was formerly compulsory for all citizens who enjoyed the rights
to use the same. That duty is completely neglected; though it has not
been repealed, it is not enforced as it ought to be.
I have thought it pertinent to make some digressions on the circum-
stances attending agriculture and cattle-raising, those two branches
which form the great wealth of the mentioned provinces, because of
their being so closely connected with irrigation.
On'the whole, the geological and climatic conditions in this northern
part of Spain keep the greatest resemblance with the counties compris-
ing the “wealden formation,” in the southeast of England, such as Kent
and Sussex.
An agent which considerably modifies the damp character of this
climate is the south wind. It acts like an enormous sponge to absorb
the humidity, and as a natural stove where both the air and the Soil are
Speedily dried up. The atmosphere acquires then such transparency
that Scarcely any gradual lines or shadows of varying distances on the
horizon are perceived. It is peculiar to the south wind that immedi-
ately it ceases to blow it is generally followed with rain, and that while
it is blowing on the coast, rain will most likely befalling on the elevated
plateau of Old Castile. The winds which prevail longest in the year
come from the West-northwest, succeeding the periods from the south.
The east-northeast winds are those blowing in summer until September
or October, when they maintain clear, dry weather for longer time.
In the provinces of the North, adjoining those where this consulate
and its agencies are situated, irrigation by artificial means is practiced,
more extensively at Leon, which borders on its northwest side with
Santander and Oviedo. The Ecla Canal irrigates there about 13,000
hectares (32,125 acres). When its construction began (1859), the es-
timates amounted only to 625,000 pesetas ($126,000), but ten years later
(1869) the sum of 3,250,000 pesetas ($650,000) had been expended. It
carries a quantity of 6,480 cubic meters water per second. This canal
was built by grant to a foreign private company. According to agree-
ment the annual rate farmers have to pay for water varies from 19.45
pesetas to 97.27 pesetas ($3.89 to $19.45) for each hectare of land irri-
gated. Notwithstanding the yearly aggregate cashed by the company
has been about 83 per cent. On the capital invested, it does not produce
sufficiently to pay the interest to capital, the expenses of maintainance,
management, and of interest necessary for amortization. The company
met with some embarrassment, perhaps, by not having secured through
a formal Written engagement how far they had to rely upon consump-
tion of water. Until a year when extreme drought prevailed in the
country, the attitude on the part of many farmers to subscribe for the
use of the water for this new canal was quite reluctant, but then they
obtained a practical conviction of the positive advantages derived from
artificial irrigation to supply the absence of rain.
On the vast plateau of Old Castile the “Canal de Castilla " crosses
a distance of 207,792 kilometers from Alar del Rey, Santander, dividing
in two branches at El Serron, Paleucia: one of them, the “Canal del
Sur,” 54.432 kilometers long, down to Valladolid, and the other, the
“Canal de Campos,” 78.929 kilometers long, to Medina de Rioseco,”
the center of cereal production in the North, called for this reason, by
Spaniards, “el granero de España,” or “the corn-barn of Spain.” The
section of the “Canal de Castilla” from Alar del Rey to El Serron takes
the denomination of “Canal del North,” and is 74.431 kilometers long.
The “Canal de Castilla” is an important water-road for transporta-
326 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
tion, navigated by barges carrying each about 33 tons; the water of it
Serves also as a motive force for a good number of large mills and fac.
tories. But the same is scarcely used as a means of artificial irrigation.
Its most noteworthy works are seven locks on the “Canal de Campos,”
twenty-four on the “Canal del North,” and seventeen on the “Canal
del Sur.”
On the “Canal del Norte” section, the canal carries 4.47 cubic meters
Water per second, being distributed between the two branches in the
proportion of 2,79 cubic meters to the “Canal del Sur” and 1.68 cubic
meters to the “Canal de Campos.” The uppermost part of the canal
in the last-mentioned section is 15.55 meters wide, at the surface of the
Water 11.66, and at the bottom of the canal 5.83 meters wide; it has a
depth of 1.93 meters. The towage-path along the canal measures 3.33
meters width in places where the earth had to be cut off, and 4.44 meters
at the embankments.
The Pisuerga and Carrion affluents of the river Duro, are the feed-
ers of the “Canal de Castilla,” the construction of which, begun in the
middle of the last century, was interrupted, and reached its completion
during the reign of Queen Isabel II.
In normal years the Want of moisture necessary to the growth of most
cereals, wheat, barley, rye, etc., seems not to be much felt on the bound-
less-looking corn-fields of the northern provinces of Castile. The arable
surface of the soil is deep and fertile, though the monotonous perspective
of vast plain land impresses the mind with aridness, seeing that it is
almost completely denuded of trees everywhere, for the prejudice is
most prevalent there among cultivators “ that trees are only good for
Sparrows to build their nests on and as places of shelter for the Vora-
cious winged enemies of plantations.”
During the war of Crimea the shipments of wheat-flour from Castile,
made at the port of Santander, amounted to enormous quantities. An
enthusiastic fever then existed throughout Castile. The boasting
phrase, “Agua y sol y guerra en Sebastopol,” (“Water and sun besides
war at Sebastopol,”) whereby Castilian farmers expressed their pros-
perous situation in those years, was so generally pronounced and re-
peated that it became a proverbial sentence.
A great number of flour-mills were erected on the canal, and the
largest possible extent was given to the production of cereals. Those
exceptional incidental causes by which the agriculture was favored
have passed long ago; they are now not more subsistent. Farmers in
Castile devote their care not only to cereals, but also to extend the
grape-vine plantations, and must adopt all improvements in modern
agricultural progress if they will keep pace with the cheap production
of other countries. Irrigation will be of course a means to the profita-
ble result of a varied cultivation.
The province of Logroño bordering with the back province Alava, is
one of the agricultural districts where great benefits are obtained
through artificial irrigation that makes it wery productive in all kinds
of fruits and vegetables. It is the richest orchard and kitchen garden in
the northern region of the river. Elbro, the source of which is at Fuen-
tibre (Fons Tiberus), near Reynosa, Santander. This river becomes
navigable at Saragossa, supplies water for the “Canal Imperial,” and
some other of the most important irrigating canals, and no other river
in Spain is more used for irrigation; the advantages it affords to agri-
culture are considerable. - *
At Logroño and the neighboring districts, known all under the de;
nomination of “La Rioja ” good wine is obtained and mostly exported
THE SARACEN METHODS AND SPANISH INDUSTRY. 327
to France, and also shipped to other countries by Bilbao and Santan-
der. Fruits and vegetables (capsicum, tomatoes, peas, etc.), are pre-
-pared in cans in important Quantities for house and export consump-
tion.
The practical and wise laws founded or issued by the Arabs during
their domination in the south of Spain, in the provinces of Valencia,
Murcia, and Granada, maintained there more specially by careful tra.
ditions, are the basis of the new laws framed for all irrigating corpora-
tion, who will enjoy certain privileges. These privileges consistsubstan-
tially in the right that when as prescribed they unite in “Sindicatos”
or Syndicates, they can appoint their own independent courts, all pro-
, Ceedings being public, verbal, and the decisions of these independent
Courts (Turados de Aguas) or water juries inappealable.
In Leon such syndicates exist, so in Logroño, but in none of the
above-mentioned provinces of the North, where, for the reasons I have
explained, artificial irrigation exhibits an individual, isolated aspect.
Engineers in the construction of some of their great hydraulic con-
trivances do, perhaps, only observe and copy the works of nature.
There are no “lakes” formed by rivers in Spain to collect water for
further distribution in “natural deposits; ” to supply the same on suit.
able elevated places, sometimes in the mountain gorges, reservoirs,
called “albuberas” or by the more modern name “pantanos,” are built,
where the water is stored up. Acequia (as many words of Arabic source)
means exclusively irrigation canal.
In Valencia farmers have inherited with the valuable irrigation sys-
tem of the Saracens also their good practical habits for agricultural.
There they know what great value water involves. They always care-
fully look that the ground be well leveled in order that both the water
coming from canals and from rain-fallis equally beneficial to the plants,
because otherwise some parts of the soil will become covered with wa-
ter while other parts remain dry, and in some others water will carry
away the humus, salts, and oxides, the richest elements contained in
manure to aid vegetation. Nobody knows as they do to retrench the
flowers and buds when the plants are too overcharged, as they are aware
that a smaller number makes fruits get ripe earlier and improves the
quality. Nobody else knows better than those farmers how to select
the precocious ears, one by one, with the purpose of ameliorating the
species and accelerating the period for ripeness. The Valencia farmers
remain constantly near their plantations, and through artificial irriga-
tion they realize in that climate an abundant and incessant crop of
rich products. *
REPORT FROM J. L. RATHBONE, U. S. CONSUL-GENERAL, PARIs,
ON IRRIGATION IN FRANCE.
(1) Areas of land under irrigation; compare with the non-irrigable and
cultivatable areas when possible. Also, quantity and quality of
crops grown 3 g
The surface of irrigated lands is roughly estimated at 2,350,000 hec-
tares. As cultivated lands are not generally irrigated, it is not easy to
compare non-irrigated with irrigated lands. Pastures are the only
lands generally irrigated.
The average production per hectare of irrigated and non-irrigated
pastures is: Irrigated pastures, 37 quintals; non-irrigated, 31 quinials.
This difference of 6 quintals represents a total value, in the first case,
of 230 francs; in the second, of 190 francs, per hectare. Among the
*-
328 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
areas devoted to cultivating the vine, some are submerged, while others
are irrigated. . But the value of their produce depends upon other
Causes than irrigation.
(2) Sources of water supply, whether from rivers, streams, springs,
lakes, Wells, reservoirs, catchment basins, or tanks, etc.
The canals cut for purposes of irrigation all flow from rivers. In
Some instances attempts have been made, by means of artificial reser-
Yoirs, to increase the quantity of water yielded by the river. It was
for this purpose, for example, that the reservoir of Oridon was con-
Structed in the department of the Hautes Pyrénées. Its object was to
increase the volume of water in the river Neste, from which flows the
Canal of the same name.
(3) Character of works used for storage and distribution of water. For.
Ward published reports, if obtainable, in regard to any important
irrigation and storage works.
The number of reservoirs above mentioned is still somewhat limited.
The works carried out in view of distributing the water generally con:
Sist, first, of a principal canal, or chief branch through which the vol.
ume of water to be distributed flows from the river; second, of a small
canal, fed by the principal one; third, of a network of streams, drains,
and ditches which provide each land-owner with the quantity of water
to which he is entitled,
(4) The System of water distribution, whether governed by laws, rules,
and regulations, or customs, give duty of water per acre, i.e., the
amount used per acre and per season; the cost or rental to user;
tenure of ownership of water, and whether the same be public or
private, national or community.
The use of water for irrigating is regulated by the French code. The
articles of the code bearing particularly on this point are the following:
643. The owner of the spring can not change its course when he provides the in-
habitants of a commune, village, or hamlet with the water necessary for them; but
where the inhabitants have not acquired or prescribed the use of the same, the owner
may demand a compensation, the exact amount of which is to be fixed by an expert.
644. The owner of a property skirted by a running water which is not national
property, according to article 538, has a right to the use of the water for irrigating
his lands while it flows past them. The owner of ancestral lands traversed by this
water may use it within the full limits of his lands, on condition he restores if to its
proper bed before it leaves his estate. g
645. If a dispute arises between the land-owners to whom this water may be useful,
the tribunal called upon to give its decision in the matter shall conciliate the inter-
ests of agriculture with tho respect due to the rights of property, and, in every case,
with the particular and local customs and regulations which pertain to the passage
and use of water.
The works executed for purposes of irrigation may be divided into
two classes:
(1) Those undertaken and carried out by companies called syndical
associations.
(2) Those undertaken and carried out by a contractor.
When a syndical association carries the work into execution, its
statutes usually determine on what lines the distribution of water
shall be regulated. But when the works are taken in hand by a con-
tractor, the distribution is fixed, either by a decree published after the
council of state has recorded its decision, or by a decree signed by the
prefect or chief magistrate of the department in which the works
have been, or are to be, executed. The prefect is empowered to sign
these decrees since August, 1886. -
The syndical associations are composed of land-owners whose inter-
f
FRENCH TAXATION FOR AND REGULATION OF WATER. 329
O
ests are affected by the want of irrigation. Their powers, privileges,
etc., are more or less determined by common law.
The French Senate is at present discussing a projected rural code,
which will contain a certain number of articles relative to irrigation.
In a general way the quantity of water required to irrigate a hectaro
is equal to an outflow of one liter per second all the year round. The
cost per hectare is apt to vary considerably if the works are executed by
a syndical association. In that case the average cost may be set down
at 40 francs per ånnum for a supply of water equal to about 1 liter per
Second. If, on the contrary, the works are carried out by a contract,
the cost is always a fixed one, it can never vary, inasmuch as it has
been determined by the deed of concession.
The following table shows the figures of the tax raised for some of
the leading irrigating canals:
Cost.
Canals. Departments.
A. B
f Francs. | France
Pierrelatte----------------------------. Drôme, Vaucluse.----------------------. 5
Bronne -------------------------------- Drôme ------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 50 60
Visubie-------------------------------- Alpes Maritimes.----------------------. 80 ---------.
Verdun ------------------------------- Bouches-du-Rhône ---------------------- 70 !----------
Saint-Martory ------------------------. Haute Garonne-------------------------. 35 50
&
When two figures are given for a single canal the figures in column
A show the tax due by the land-owners who subscribed before the
water of the principal canal (see Answer 3) was turned into its destined
channel, while the figures in column B denote the amount paid by those
who subscribed afterwards. In the case of the last-mentioned canal,
the figures shown in column A, the sum paid by land-owners who sub-
scribed before the deed of concession was promulgated, and in column
B the amount paid by those who subscribed after its promulgation.
Springs only may be owned either by private individuals, by the state,
or by the small districts called communes.
Running waters are considered res nullins, but the use of them is reg-
ulated according to law on the non-navigable water-courses.
The water of navigable water-courses is considered national property.
(5) Character of climate in irrigated region, and nature of soil, annual
rain-fall, and other precipitation. &
Although the practice of irrigating is as widely spread in the north as
in the South of France, it is chiefly in the regions bordering on the Med-
iterranean, where the Summer rains often fail, the most important irri.
gating canals have been cut. In the north, east, or west the works de-
signed to promote irrigation are nearly always carried out by private
individuals. This is especially the case in the department of the Vos-
ges. In the South they are, for the most part, the result of the com-
bined efforts of a certain number of individuals. They are mainly un-
dertaken where the soil is of a chalky nature and in lands formed by
alluvium.
Among the systems adopted to distribute the water may be men-
tioned an interesting one practiced in the department of the Bouchesdu
Rhône. It is a kind of irrigation by submersion. The lands subjected
to this method are constantly increasing in extent-
Theland owners whose properties are situated on the banks of the Rhône
obtain, when they require it, and by means of elevating machines, the
quantity of Water necessary for the process of submersion, which lasts
330 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Q
sixty days and consumes not fewer than 1,500 cubic meters per hec-
tare. The estates in the center of the island of Camargue, in the same
department, are less favored than those seated on the river banks.
The Water has to be conveyed to them from the river by means of small
Canals and side channels, which generally belong to syndical associa-
tions of a very remote origin. These side channels work during the
rising of the Rhône. As, however, the frame-work of their flood-gates
is almost on the same level as the low-water mark of the river, when it
is not higher, it often happens that, when the Rhône is low, the side
channels become dry. Besides this, the season for submerging the land
often coincides with this autumnal fall of the river, and irrigation is
practically brought to a standstill.
Numerous plans have been formed to find these side channels by
means of large canals cut in the north of the island. But none of
them have yet been carried out. Pending the execution of a plan
a society of land-owners, headed by the Count of Chevigne, recently
Set an example well worth following. Their project is not less remark-
able for the way in which it was conceived than from the results which
may be expected from it. They are thirteen in number, and their com-
bined estates contain some 1,500 hectares. In order to keep their
side channels constantly supplied with water they applied to several
mechanical engineers for machines, and finally adopted an apparatus
lººd by one of them, and which has given the most satisfactory
reSūltS.
Its characteristic feature is that instead of being a fixture it floats
and can be conveyed from one place to another. Thus it can be made
to work anywhere. It consists of a boat built wholly of iron, and
equally adapted to fluvial and maritime navigation. Its length is 24
meters; its breadth 5 meters; and its draught of water nearly 13
meters. It carries three engines on the compound System in juxtaposi-
tion, and of 200 horse-power. Two of them each turns a rotary pump
by bearing directly on its beam. The third, which can be made to
work either of the two pumps, is used only when one of the other en-
gines is out of order. On the one hand, these machines are condensing
engines; on the other, their steam is provided by boilers on the Bigot
system. These latter are used in the French Navy, and possess a col-
lective warming surface of 80 square meters. Their consumption of
fuel is therefore comparatively small. The pumps fixed up on board
are on the Decaeur system. They raise the Water from a depth varying
between 14 and 24 meters, according to the level of the IRhône, and dis-
tribute the water at the rate of from 750 to 1,500 liters per second.
The following table gives more ample particulars. To understand
its figures rightly it is necessary to know beforehand that they are given
when both engines are working together and distributing 500 liters per
second: e

Horse-power. Consumption.
Height Ur tº 2+ *
㺠|º on the . ...;
Tiver. l # beam of . On the - * | Total pº ator
º OT the sucker. per hour, w
rought l] II.] brought
up. Ipump. Ulſ).
Meters.
1. 00 15. 0 24 32 140 35, 20 2, 340
1, 50 22.5 36 48 150 46.86 2. 348
2. 00 30. 0 48 64 160 70, 40 2, 340
2. 50 37.5 60 80 170 88.00 2. 340
COST AND CHARACTER OF FRENCH IRRIGATION WORKS. 331;
When the pumps distribute 1,500 liters instead of 500, these figures
remain proportionately the same. The suction is performed in a special
division provided with vases, and the water is thrust back into a col-
lecting pipe which serves for both engines at the same time the boat is
working; it is moored on the spot from which the water is drawn up.
The collecting pipe has a weir provided with a slat spout. It runs into
a sheet-lron reservoir placed at the head of the side channel and outside
the river dam. The connecting of the weir with the collecting-pipe is
accomplished by means of a link with a hinge to it which enables the
spout to remain constantly in position on the edge of the reservoir,
whatever the motion of the boat may be. By this arrangement the
work done by the pumps is limited to a height corresponding with the
difference in the level of the water, and with that fixed for submerging
the land. This second level is slightly below the height of the reservoir
itself.
The annual rain-fall for all France is estimated at about 77 centime-
terS.
(6) Antiquity or otherwise of irrigation systems within the section
treated of, and whether the same are maintained at public or private
expense?
The cutting of a certain number of canals for irrigation in the south-
ern districts dates from several centuries. The more important works,
however, are of comparatively recent origin. During the last ten years,
especially, a great impulse has been given to the construction of works
devoted to irrigation. Subjoined is a list of the most notable enter-
prises of this kind. It is taken from the “Journal d’Agriculture pra-
tique. -
Departments. * Description of works. Cost.
I'rancs.
Drôme.----------------------- Canal de la Bronne --------------------------------------- 13,000,000
Alpes-Maritimes. -- ---------- Canal de la Vésubie -------------------------------------- 7,000,000
Aude and Hérault. --...--...-. Canal to be used for submerging both departments....... 2,400,000
Duðmo and Vaucluse......... Canal de Pierrelatte -------------------------------------- 8, 000, 000
Basses-Alpes----------------. Canal de Tranasque -------------------------------------- 4, 500,000
Hautes-Alpes----------------. Canal de Ventaron---------------------------------------- 2,000, 000
Aude ------------------------- Canal de Canet ------------------------------------------ 1,000, 000
Bouches-du-Rhône............ Pºš up the Fos Marshes and purifying the waters of 18,000,000
© UTàIl.
Hérault ---------------------- Canal do Gignao ---------------------------------------- ...] 4, 200,000
Loire ------------------------. Canal de Farey-----------...----------------------------. 7,000,000
Alpas-Maritimes.-----...----- Canal de Toulon........----. ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e s as * > 1, 200,000
Auº * * * * * * * * is tº sº ºn as * * * ºn sº tº s ºr tº tº a he gº §: gº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2,000, 000
O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *Dal (16 Suð- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Do.----------------------- Canal de Fabrezarn. ------------------------------------ * * } 1, 160,000
The public treasury generally contributes one-third of the costs of
the works; the land-owners interested in them defray the remaining
two-thirds. In the case of the most important works, the state, be-
sides contributing its third, has guarantied for the space of fifty years,
to the parties who covered the loans raised for the purpose of carrying
out the works, the interest due on the sums lent to the contractors.
332 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
TRANSLATION BY UNITED STATES CONSUL DUFAIS OF HAVRE, OF A
LETTER ON IRRIGATION FROM MR. LUCIAN, CELIEF ENGINEER OF
ROADS AND BRIDGES, DEPARTMENT OF CALVADOS, FRANCE.
CAEN, August 30, 1889.
SIR : I beg to answer in the following order the several questions asked in your
letter of the 8th instant :
(1) Calvados being a cattle-raising country since a long time, the utmost has been
done to utilize the water. The new demands for irrigation are therefore very rare,
and it is to be supposed that the surface of the irrigable lands is already under irri-
gation. This surface, according to a statement made in 1870, was only 1,372 hectares
(3,390 acres). This small proportion of the surface of the department which contains
552,000 hectares (1,364,544 acres) is explained by the dampness of the climate, which
rather needs being made salubrious by drainage of marshes, etc., than by irrigation.
It is important to note that nearly 20,000 hectares (49,440 acres) are irregularly
watered by flood or wild waters.
Artificial irrigation is exclusively applied to permanent meadows.
(2) The water used for irrigation comes exclusively from the streams.
(3) The works constructed on streams for the distribution of the waters used for
irrigation generally consist of bars fitted with water-gates able to be lifted above the
highest water. These bars are authorized by a prefectoral commission prescribing
the dimensions and dispositions. Moreover, everybody may after an administrative
inquiry obtain the authorization of using a stream of which he is a borderer, said
water, after he has used it, to be returned to its natural course, under all reserves, how-
ever, of the rights of third parties.
(4) Nearly all irrigations in Calvados are of a private character; there are none of
a collective use to report but two.
Irrigation of the small valley of Aute (arrondissement of Falaise). A decree dated
February 11, 1881, rendered after inquiry, has authorized and located the establish-
ment of 16 bars constructed in the River Aute. A prefectoral decree settled the dates
and hours of irrigation for each bar. The surface of the land to be watered is 152
hectares (376 acres). *-
Irrigation of the valley of Orber within the limits of the department at Lisecua. It
is not a question in fact of irrigation exclusively. The land proprietors joined in a
syndical association to secure on one hand the irrigation of 286 hectares (707 acres) of
meadows, and on the other the working of the numerous factories situated in an in-
dustrious valley, where there are at least 85 streams and brooks. This syndicate is
regulated by a decree dated June 18, 1864, which stipulates the use of the waters and
settled the dates and hours of using the water, always considering the wants of the
factories.
A syndical commission, whose members are appointed by the prefect (according to
the statutes), manage gratuitously the interests of the association, the expenses, etc.,
by means of a roll rendered executory by the prefect and which is collected by the
“receiver of finance” of the district, commissioned to that effect. By means of
this roll the expenses are apportioned between the interested land-owners in propor-
tion to the value of their property. There are no fees for the use of the Waters,
which are common property of the adjoining landlords.
The syndical associations established previous to 1865 are under the rules of the
law dated June 21, 1885, modified by the recent law dated December 22, 1888.
(5) Climate damp; the yearly average rain-fall is 700 millimeters (27% inches).
Čálvados soil, heaths and waste lands, 12,000 hectares (29,664 acres); rich soil,
150,000 hectares (370,800 acres); calcareous soil, 150,000 hectares (370,800 acres);
gravel soil, 8,500 hectares (21,212 acres); stony soil, 5,000 hectares (12,360 acres);
sandy soil, 2,500 hectares (6,180 acres); marshy soil, 70,500 hectares (174,276 acres);
diverse soils, 173,300 hectares (429,092 acres). ſº
The most part of these soils is divided as regards agricultural purposes in 317,000
hectares (783,624 acres) arable lands, and 141,000 hectares (348,550 acres) of natu-
ral and artificial meadows.
REPORT OF CHARLEs B. TRAIL, U. S. CONSUI, MARSEILLES, ON
IRRIGATION IN THE DEPARTMENT DES BOUCHES DU RHONE.
Metric denominations and their equivalents:
Meter equals 39.37 inches.
Hectare equals 2.471 acres.
Liter equals .908 quart, dry measure.
Liter equals 1.056 quart, liquid measure.
Hectoliter equals 2 bushels, 3.35 pecks, dry measure.
Hectoliter equals 26.44 gallons, liquid measure.
CANAL - USE IN IRRIGATION AND THANSPORTATION. 333
Much attention has been given to irrigation in France during the
past century, and the Government has from time to time sought to in-
crease the public interest in this most important subject by publishing
scientific reports on the same, and, more recently, by instituting
“concours” and offering prizes to those adopting the best methods
and securing the best results from irrigation. In the north of France
irrigation is accomplished by simply inundating the land, and is con-
fined principally to submerging meadow lands in the autumn by turn-
ing off large quantities of water from the rivers and streams; in the
central portion, by the use of water from springs and wells distributed
over the land by hand and machinery; and in the south province, the
Department des Bouches du Rhone and its neighbors, by irrigating
Canals.
Irrigating canals of any importance are confined to the valley of the
Rhône, the foot of the Pyrénées, and to only a few other localities in
France. The canals of northern and central France are only used for
transportation.
Given sufficient water there is no reason why a canal should not serve
for both transportation and irrigation. This is done in Italy with the
addition of obtaining motive power from the current as well; but in
France the canals only fulfill one function at a time with but a few ex-
ceptions.
The use of canals for irrigation is of very ancient date in France.
The first canal in Provence that we know of was constructed by Marius,
the consul, in 103 B.C., for the purpose of transporting supplies to the
Roman army, then encamped near Arles, and it is probable that it after-
wards, when abandoned as a water-way, served to irrigate the land con-
tiguous with it. Arthur Young, traveling through Provence towards
the close of the last century, was particularly interested in the irrigat:
ing canals he there saw, and expressed his surprise that other parts of
France did not imitate the Midi in this most important of rural economies.
Irrigation of some sort is indispensable in the Midi. Without its aid
agriculture would have to be abandoned. Three months and occasion-
ally nine pass by without rain-fall. The summers are long and the heat
great and continuous, while the Sun shines through an intensely pure
air, unobscured by a single cloud, subjecting the land day after day to
a constant drying and Scorching process and causing every particle of
humidity to evaporate.
The department des Bouches-du-Rhône, to which the report is limited,
forms the southeast of France bordering on the Mediterranean and,
as its name implies, comprises the territory surrounding the mouth of
the Rhône. Its northern boundary is the river Durance, which, rising
in the Alps, flows Westwardly and empties into the Rhône not far below
Avignon.
From the Durance the irrigating canals are principally drawn. The
area of the department is 510,487 hectares. The entire surface artifi-
cially watered embraces 35,091 hectares, and of this the Durance con-
tributes water for 26,880 hectares, or—
* º Hectares.
Irrigation from the Durance--------------------------------------------- 26,880
Irrigation from Huveaune, Arc, La Touboulu, etc.----...--------. -------- 2,911
Irrigation from the Rhône. -------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5,300
tº 35,091
A glance at the map on page 12 of the “Rapport sur la Concours
ouvert eu 1875,” accompanying this report, explains why it is that
the Durance has been so heavily tapped to supply irrigation for this
department.
334, IRRIGATION AND' RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
Provence is composed of mountains, hills, and plains. The greater
part of the Soil is naturally very poor, it being detritus brought down
from the Alps by the Durance, and in flood-time spread over the
plains. Strong winds sweep over it at times. The soil naturally pro-
duces only stunted trees and coarse grasses; but by irrigation and the
liberal use of manure a maximum of fertility is obtained where from
the want of water absolute sterility reigned.
Geographically speaking, the department des Bouches-du-Rhône
presents three distinct features. First. A mountainous section to the
north and east, composed almost entirely of limestone of a dull gray
color and in part quite naked of vegetation, and in part covered with
Wood. Streams from the mouhtains descend to the Durance, to the
Rhône, and to the Mediterranean. Second. Two plains, la Crau in the
center of the department, very stony, and la Camarque to the west,
composed of mud and sand. Third. Marshes and ponds, shallow res-
ervoirs, whose waters flow slowly to the sea.
There was an old French proverb that said Provence had three curses
to contend with : Parliament, the river Durance, and the mistral.
Parliament was swept away by the revolution. The Durance, whose
Waters at times overflowed its lands and carried destruction in their
wake, has been tamed by man's ingenuity and from a curse its waters
have become a blessing; whilst the mistral, the northwest wind, the
great drawback to life in Marseilles, and in all Provence, that at times
sweeps with terrible force over the country up-rooting trees and destroy-
ing buildings, has, owing to the greatly increased humidity of the at-
mosphere, caused by the irrigations from the Durance, lost much of its
former force, is less frequent, and of shorter duration. It is Supposed
that the mountains here were once covered with timber, the rain-fall
regular, and the land fertile; but their denudation of timber deprived
the country of a storage for humidity; the rain-fall becoming irregu-
lar caused the volume of water in the streams to Vary greatly,
mountain detritus was spread over the formerly fertile plains; the heat
and duration of summer became greatly augmented, and the hot air aris-
ing from the parched arid earth originated the mistral.
There are five groups of mountains and they take up three-quarters
of the department. The topography in this section is the most varied,
the mass being twisted into peaks and chains, between which lie Valleys,
lakes, and ponds. The plains la Crau and la Camarque take up the
remaining superficies of the department. They incline slightly towards
the sea and the large rivers. La Crau, comprising 35,000 hectares, of
which 15,000 are cultivated and irrigated (1875), is formed mainly of
pebbles brought down from the Alps in the glacial period. Before the
construction of the canal de Craponne la Crau was one Vast uncultivated
tract, affording but a scant and coarse pasturage enjoyed in common by
the inhabitants. Since the coming of the canal this region has been
metamorphosed; rich farms spread over what was once but a desert.
La Camarque is that vast delta comprised between the two great
branches that the Rhône divides itself into before entering the Sea.
It keeps growing constantly from the additions made to it by the de-
posit of matter carried down by the river in suspension. In area it is
88,300 hectares; 50,000 are wild, uncultivated pasturage, and 23,000
márshes and ponds, and 15,300 under cultivation. There are Several
canals in this section, but the figures above show how much remains to
be done. The history of the formation of this plain by the river dates
back to 400 B. C. From statistics of 1855 it appears that of the Whole
area of the department about 7 per cent, is Water.
AGRICULTURE UNDER IRRIGATION IN FRANCE. 335
§ Hectares.
Ponds and irrigating canals.---------------- w e s sº we e s is sº e s s = * * * * * * * * * * * w w e tº 456. 75
Transportation canals----------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 44.38
Lagoons ---------------------------------------------------------------- 11,565. 34
Rivers, lakes, streams--------------------------------------------------- 23,270. 64
Total water area.--------. ---------------------------------------- 35, 337.11
Considerable tracts of land formerly under water have been reclaimed.
In some cases a canal for drawing off the water from Swamps and
marshes has also been used for irrigation. These reclaimed lands when
properly drained and watered have proved fertile enough to pay hand-
somely those who had the foresight to plan and execute the necessary
Work.
When we come to examine into the quantity and quality of crops
grown and the increase in and of the same due to irrigation, We are met
with the difficulty of statistics that are conflicting and at times irre-
concilable.
Even in the extent of the department we find—
Area of department statistics of Hectares.
1864.----------------------------------------------------------------- 512,232
1867 ------------------------------------------------ Qe is º ºs e º 'º ºf tº us ºn tº e s sº me • * 496, 464
1870 ------------------------------------------------------ ------------ 510,487
a difference for which no explanation is given.
A table of agricultural statistics was prepared by M. Villeneuve in
1820 and one by the Government in 1870, which are taken as reliable.
It will be seen that both these tables make the departmental area about
the same. In 1820 the cultivated land was 169,000 hectares to 341,000
hectares uncultivated, or as 1 is to 2; while in 1870, if we add the woods
to the uncultivated, we have : Cultivated, 201,000 hectares; unculti-
wated, 309,000, or as 2 is to 3, instead of as 1 is to 2, in 1820; a gain of
32,000 hectares of cultivated land in fifty years, or about 19 per cent.
Here are the tables:
I S 2 O.
Cultivaled : Hectares.
Arable land.---------------------------------------- tº gº º ºs sº us tº e as a 105,000
Meadows ----------------------------------------------------- 16,000
Vineyards --------------------------------------------------- 20,000
Olives -------------------------------------------------------- 24,000
Gardens and pleasure ground.--------------------------------- 4,000
— 169,000
Uncultivated:
Waste land --------------------------------------------------- 233,000
Lagoons and SWamps ---------------------------------------- - 47,000
Woods, bush, and Scrub --------------------------------------. 61,000
——— 341,000
Total area ---------------------------------------------------------. 510,000
L S 7 O .
IHectares.
Wheat ----------------------------------------------------------- 70,200
Rye ---, ---------------------------------------------------------- 390
Barley--------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1,000
Oats.------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 400
Corn ------------------------------------------------------------- 50
Seeds and dry vegetables.----------------------------------------. 6,65
Potatoes.--------------------------------------------------------- 5,900
Cabbages, carots, beets, etc --------------------------------------- 6,000
Madder----------------------------------------------------------- 1: 490
Tobacco ---------------------------------------------------------- 80
Hemp and teasels ------------------------------------------------- 980
Fallow land ------------------------------------------------------ 20,000
Arable land.-------------------------------------------------------- 121,140
336, IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDs.
Eſectares.
Olives -----. * * tº w w w w w w up as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *. 12,000
Vineyards -------------------------------------------------------- 29, 300
Mulberries-------------------------------------------------------- 3,000
Almonds and other fruit------------------------------------------- 13,000
Orchards --------------------------------------------------------- 1,300
Gardens and pleasure --------------------------------------------- 4,000
Tree cultivation . -------- ºf “ ” sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * = 62,600
Meadows, dry.------------- as sº º - - - - tº as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3, 400
Meadows, irrigated ----------------------------------------------. 5,900
Clover and other fields.------------------------------------------. 8,200
Grazing and fodder ------------------------------------------------- 17,500
Woods and forests ------------------------------------------------ 87,800
Willows and Wickers---------------------------------------------- 3, 200 -
— 91,000
Heath and Wild pasture----------------------------- * * - - * * * * * º º ºs - - 104,860
Taxable built property -----------------------------------, -----. - 1,800
Lagoons -----------. ---------------------------------------------- 35,000
Marshes ---------------------------------------------------------- 17,000
Roads, water courses, and uncultivated lands.----------------. ---. 59, 587
*3 — 218,247
Total area -------------------------------------------------------. 510,487
According to the Government report of 1875 it appears that this in-
crease of 32,000 hectares of cultivated land in fifty years was due solely
to irrigation, there being about that much more land irrigated in 1870
than there was in 1820.
Statistics in France are not obtainable for periods of more than fifteen
or twenty years at a time, then a break of a year or two occurs caused
by a revolution and a change in the form of government, so that we
have no statistics covering very long periods, we have them only in
sections. - -
Taking up the agricultural products somewhat in detail and making
a comparison of certain years as obtained from statistics, we have for
cereals in 1840, 70,312 hectares devoted to their culture, and after a
period of thirty-two years, 1872, 82,223 hectares employed in the same
culture.
Wheat shows an increase of over 30 per cent. ; oats remain about the
same; rye, which in 1840 was 2,711, in 1872 falls to 380; barley, in 1840,
4,211, to 2,507 in 1872; corn, in 1840, 56, to 30 in 1872, the tables
showing an increase in area sown in cereals of 16% per cent. in thirty-
two years.
L 8 4- O -
Hectares. Eſectares.
Wheat.------------------------------- 53,232 || Madder------------------------------ 4, 143
Maslin (wheat and rye).--------------. 1, 135 || Teasols -----------------------------. 1, 112
Rye ---------------------------------- 2,711 || Hemp -----------------------------. . 3]
Barley -------------------------------- 4, 211 || Mulberries -------------------------- | 1, 456
Oats ------ • * * * * *s s as as e s as as º e º e s e º ºs e º se m tº * * 8,967 || Natural meadows.------------------. 5, 47:
Corn and millet----------------------. 56 || Clover and other fields. --...--...----. 5, 470
——|| Fallow land ... ----------------------- 64,432
Total cereals ------------------ 70, 312 || Woods (commons and private) -----. 103, 421
Vineyards.--------------------------- 24, 991 || Orchards and plantations.----------- 6, 126
Potatoes. ----------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2,415 4- -*
Dry vegetables (beans, etc.) -------.. 2, 207 Total agricultural area ---...... 463, 697
Gardens ------------------------------ 2,042 || Roads, water-courses, etc. ---...----. 49, 294
Beet-root - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3)7 | *---
Olives -------------------------------- 24, 475 Total area ---------------------- 512, 991

wASTE LAND DISAPPEARING BY IRRIGATION. 337

1871. 1872.
Płectares. | Hectares.
Wheat.----------------------------------------------------------------------- 70, 858 71, 119
Rye--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 200 380
Barley.----------------------------------------------------------------------- 350 2, 507
(Maize) corn------------------------------------------------------------------ 40 30
Oats ----------------------------------------------------------------g--------. 7, 346 8, 187
Total cereals------------------------------------------------------------|------------ 82,223
Dred vegetables (beans, peas, etc.).-----...--- * * * * * * * * * g e º sº sº sº, sº * * * * s is sº us as s º ºs e e 3, 509 3, 650
Potatoes ---------------------------------------------------------------------. 6, 569 5, 729
Tobacco ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 100 217
Beet -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12.) 400
Madder.---------------------------------------------------------------------- 1,490 1,400
Hemp.-----------------------------------------------------------------------. 3
Olive orchards---------------------------------------------------------------- 12,000 12,000
Vineyards -------------------------------------------------------------------- 29, 397 28, 897
Fallow land------------------------------------------------------------------- *23,000 ------------
Natural meadows------------------------------------------------------------- 9,000 ------------
Clover and other fields (sown) ------------------------------------------------ *10.000 - - - - - - - - - - - -
Woods and forests f.---------------------------------------------------------- *58,000 |.-----------
Wild pasturage--------------------------------------------------------------- *140,000 ||------------
Otherlands------------------------------------------------------------------. *138, 206 ||------------
Total area. -------------------------------------------------------------. 510,487 |. ----------.
* Approximated.
t Woods and forests belong to the department, to public establishments, to commerce, and to in-
dividual owners.
The increased area devoted to wheat was obtained from cultivating
waste land. From 1820 to 1839, 65,000 hectares were anually sown in
cereals; from 1840 to 1859, a mean annual of 76,000; from 1860 to 1874,
a mean annual acreage of over 78,000.
As to the yield of wheat per hectare, it varies not only on different
farms, but on the same farm in different years. A good year returns
about 15 hectoliters to the hectare, or about 16; bushels to the acre.
In 1868 the yield per hectare was only 8.05 hectoliters, or about 9 bush-
els to the acre. The wheat, winter wheat almost exclusively, is sown
two consecutive years on the same land, which is then given a year's
TeSt.
Of fallow land—arable land permitted to lie idle—there was in the
department in 1840 60,000 hectares; in 1852 this had fallen to 29,000,
and since 1862 to less than 23,000.
The jury who examined the irrigated farms in 1875 and awarded the
prizes * state in the “rapport’” that the disappearance of idle land is
due to irrigation.
* The prizes referred to were offered by the French Government in 1875 to encour-
age the advancement of agriculture by irrigation. First prize, farms of over 4 hec-
tares showing, best results from irrigation, a gold medal and 1,000 francs; second,
700 francs; third, 600 francs.
For farms of less than 4 hectares: First prize, gold medal and 600 francs; second,
500 francs; third, 300 francs. A silver medal accompanied the second prizes and a
bronze one the third. It was intended that the “concours” should last for five
years, but it seems that it was given up after two years. The first year thirty-nine
farmers contended for the prizes, and the jury who visited their farms made a brief
report on each one ; their report is to be found in the #" rapport” for 1875 that accom-
panies this brief investigation.
138 A L–WOL IV——22
338
IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
The statistics for the cereals, 1860 to 1874, fifteen years referred to
above, are:

Areas sown with-
Year. s j F
º Total of
& Wheat. IRye, Barley. - Maize. Oats. ce.
Electares. Hectares. Hectares. Hectares, Hectares. Hectares.
1860------------------------------------. 78, 900 j , 937 ---------- , 00 91, 131
1861------------------------------------. 63,054 515 ,044 |---------- 8,066 | 72,679
1862.-----------------------------------. 61, 652 649 1,039 ||---------- 7, 557 70, 897
1863------------------------------------. 62, 539 646 2,072 |---------- 7, 891 73, 148
1864------------------------------------. 67,040 665 1,075 |------- ... 6, 717 75, 497
1805------------------------------------. 63, 875 462 1, 200 ------- gº as e 8,086 74, 423
1806.-----------------------------------. 67, 418 648 2, 183 |---------- 8,042 78,241
1867------------------------------------- 70, 100 350 500 l.--------. 8, 500 79, 450
1868. ------------------------------------ G8, 200 300 500 l. -...- ----| 8, 100 77,100
#; • * * is e º me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s a e - - - - sº es sº a sº ºn 70,000 300 492 l.--------. 8, 100 78,892
l "---------------------------- * * * * * * * * | * * * * * = • - - , j = * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • * * * * * * * * *
1871. ------------------------------------ 70, 858 290 550 40 7, 346 79,084
1872. ------------------------------------ 71, 119 380 2,507 30 8, 187 82, 523
1873. -----------------------------------. 69,975 450 595 65 11, 431 82,516
1874------------------------------------- 6S, 775 430 598 70 6, 56 76, 365
Average of fifteen years......... 68, 107 527 1, 160 51 8, 170 78,015
* No statistics by reason of the war.
[Quantities in hectoliters.]
Wheat. Rye. Barley. Oats.
Year. Per Per IPOT Per
Aggregrte. hec- | Aggregate. hee. Aggregate, hec- | Aggregate. hec-
tare, tare. taré, 3.E.6,
1860.-------------------. 1, 218, 358 15, 43 |A 11, 888 9.20 41,916 21.65 180,000 20, 00
1861.-------------------. 731, 426 11. 60 5, 834 11.33 5,971 5.72 141, 558 || 17. 55
1862. -------------------- 600, 490 9.74 7, 353 11.33 16,886 16.25 115, 547 | 15, 28
1863. ------- tº e s m = a s e s w as a e 750, 458 11.45 5,943 8.93 38, 559 | 18.60 133,674 | 16,04
1864. -------------------- 905, 040 13. 50 * 8, 795 || 13, 22 19, 511 | 18, 15 134, 407 || 20.04
1865. ---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 818, 878 | 12.82 6,929 || 15.00 21, 648 || 18.03 176, 920 | 19.91
1866--------------------- 968, 122 || 14.36 9, 849 15.20 30, 812 || 14.44 141,459 17, 59
1867--------------------- 829,984 11.84 5, 320 15. 20 7, 310 || 14.62 159,800 18, 80
1868. -------------------- ‘551,056 8.05 3,990 13.30 5,950 11.90 110, 573 13.65
1869.-------------------. 033, 100 | 13. 33 4, 500 15.00 10,627 21.60 110,573 º 13. 65
1870* • m as s sº as a s = - as ºs = ºw * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * I • * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * i • * * * * * * : * * w as a a ºn s = * * I = * * * * * * I w = º, º ºs = • * * * * v * * * * * *
1871--------------------- 1, 159, 945 | 15.54 3, 520 | 12, 14 11,880 21.60 189, 522 || 25, 80
1872--------------------- 1, 101, 795 15, 50 4, 856 12.78 44,488 17.74 195,424 33, 87
1873--------------------- 984, 548 14,07 5, 301 || 11.78 6, 878 11. 55 317,095 || 27.74
1874--------------------- 1, 152,732 | 16.75 6, 536 | 15, 20 8, 999 || 15.05 196,909 || 30.00
Average crop per →-y - —r—- r-rr--- H ------wºr- ºr-r-r-rrº- I ºr
hectare. --- . . . . . [...----------. 13. 14 -------.. •- 12.61 -----------. 16.20 ---........, 20.06


* NO statistics by reason of the war.
The other more important products of the department are: Potatoes;
vegetables, dried and fresh; the olive, vine, fruits, and tobacco. In
their cultivation arrosage from the canals is being used more and more
every year, as will appear later on.
For potatoes we have:
EIectares.
1840 tº gº º & e s sº is sº tº tº ºn tº ºs e º º ºs e º sº º ſº tº º tº tº º ºs º dº º º * as as as us tº s m ms tº tº us as ºs & wºº tº s 2,415
1852 --------------------------- tº e º sº tº ºn - tº º ſº s g º ºs e um sº a s e s m e º sº 3,446
1871 ------------------------------ ge is º sº tº º uſe º sº me tº º º tº -------- 6,569
1872 ---------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº sº gº ºs º ºn tº tº ſº ----. 5,729
No statistics as to yield per hectare,
DROWNING THE PHYLLOXERA. ON FRENCH WINES, 339
For dried vegetables, beans, peas, lentils:
Hectares.
1840 g is ºn g º ºs e º 'º me ºn tº dº ºn tº ºf • a s e s sº * * * * gº as s m º os s as a s s ºr is sº a s * * * is a us e e º e 2, 207
1852 --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2,608
1862 ---------------------------------------------------- 3,407
1871 ---------------------------------------------------- 3, 509
1872 ---------------------------------------------------- 3, 650
Fresh vegetables, market gardening, in 1862, 4,117 hectares. . Since.
that time the raising of “primeurs” for the London, Paris, and Mar-
seilles markets has greatly increased, so that the acreage now given to
fresh vegetables exceeds 6,000 hectares.
The olive fell off from 24,000 hectares in 1840 to half that figure in
1872. This was caused by the large importation of Italian olive-oil and
also to serious losses sustained by the French olive farmers, due to a
succession of heavy frostS. *
The vine has experienced many vicissitudes and shows great fluc-
tuation.
# Piectares.
1840 ------------------------------------- tº sº is as s as ºr a ºn wa w = w we 24,991
1855 ----------------------------------------------- ---. 44,069
1869 --------------------------------------------------- 61,303
1872 -------------------------- as x s e º se e s e s as s sº s a s sº e s s - s = e = 28,897
The old method of sowing wheat, etc., in the spaces, 1 to 2 meters be-
tween the rows of vines, is now regarded as very bad farming, neither
harvest being up to the full yield, and the land is rapidly impoverished
by the double work exacted of it. In 1866 a new enemy of the vine
made its appearance in Vaucluse, and from thence gradually spread
over the greater part of France, threatening the total destruction of
Viniculture. This was the phylloxera, a microscopically small bug,
prodigiously fecund, multiplying itself by myriads on the roots of the
affected vines, and exhausting the sap until the plant died. This insect
after destroying one vineyard migrates to the next to continue its work.
Various expedients were tried to kill the enemy, the object being to
find some substance that, mixed with the earth, would destroy the insect
without injury to the vine; but these efforts were not crowned with com-
plete success.
A viticulteur, M. Francon, of the Bouches du Rhône, conceived the
idea of drowning the pest, and it now appears that if the afflicted wines
are submerged under water for a sufficiently long time they are com-
pletely freed from it. M. Francon submerged his vines for thirty con-
secutive days immediately after the vintage and killed the phylloxera,
without injuring the vine. The quantity of water necessary to sub-
merge a vineyard depends on the permeability of the soil. About
864 cubic meters of water every twenty-four hours for each hectare was
sufficient in M. Francon's case. The earth must be completely satu-
rated to the depth of the roots. The submersion being accomplished
the vines should be pruned and manured. This, of course, in the
autumn after the Vintage.
Among fruits the almond has been increasing in favor steadily since
1860. From 1,500 hectares in 1860 the number went up to 7,000 in
1870. -
Other plantations of less extent and importance are: Figs, capers,
jujube, pistache, peach, apple, pears, cherries, apricots, pomegranates,
medlars, quinces, Walnut, prunes, and agerole. -
Much greater care and study is required for irrigating with good re-
sults the larger fruit trees than is necessary with the cereals and vege-
tables.
340 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
In 1863 there were seven hundred and fifty-two farmers, who raised
183,500 kilos of tobacco on 124 hectares, which the Government report
of 1875 says paid them 945 francs per hectare, or about $90 per acre.
In 1875 there were only two hundred and sixty-five farmers raising
tobacco on 43 hectares. These are the last statistics. Now as to cost
of production. Heavy manuring and frequent arrosage are required.
The decline in tobacco production is partly explained by Government
interference. A special permit must be obtained to raise it, and the
Government specifies the kind of tobacco to be grown. It can be sold
only to certain firms and at a fixed price. Its production in this depart-
ment is unimportant. -
One is led to compare southern California with Provence. The first
has a milder average climate and a richer soil, enabling it to produce
even a greater variety of fruit, in addition to the cereals, than south-
ern France. It is stated that the counties of Los Angeles, Santa Bar-
bara, Ventura, San Bernardino, and San Diego are alone capable of
producing all the figs, grapes, olives, oranges, lemons, nuts, and prunes
imported from Trance, Spain, and Italy. When land there is improved
with bearing vines and fruit trees it brings from $100 to $500 per acre,
while unimproved land can be had for one-fifth that price. Unim-
proved land in southern France means non-irrigable land, and can be
had for $15 per acre, while lands of identically the same soil that are
irrigated (qui sont arrosés), bring $500 per acre, devoted to the olive,
small fruits, etc. These are the land values given by M. Menestrel in
1822, and it seems they are about the same to-day.
Southern California presents a similar climate, bettef soil, doing away
with or greatly lessening the use of manure, one of the heaviest items in
French farming, and needing but one thing—irrigation—to make the
whole country as productive as the very choicest sections now are and
capable of supporting an immense population. The most important
question for southern California is irrigation, a rural economy that has
been studied and successfuly practiced here for centuries.
While the cereals seem to be suited to large farming (la grande culture,)
the vine, olive, small fruits, etc., pay better when produced on a small
scale (la petite culture). -
Southern California should be divided up into thousands of small fruit
farms. Freneh properties of this sort are frequently not more than 20
acres, sometimes much less, that being all the land one average family
can cultivate without the employment of hired labor. The products of
such a farm are raised on Small patches.
One frequently sees but one acre given to wheat, another to the vine
or olive, several for gardening, and the remainder in pasture on a 10
or 15 acre farm. The diversity of production prevents the farm work
from being over-exacting at any one period, enabling the family to work
on the different crops at different times, and keeping it busy all the
year round. Besides it is found, even on these small farms, marked
differences in the soil occur, so that experience has taught that it is
more profitable to divide up 10 acres in several cultures than to confine
them to but one. These small farms require little or no machinery in
the American sense of the Word.
Southern California should be covered with a net-work of irrigating
canals as is the Bouches du Rhône. It appears that the Santa Anna
is tapped to such an extent that in summer the river bed is perfectly
dry and the irrigating value of its waters quite limited. By the con-
struction of reservoirs for the storage of the waters that are allowed to
escape to the sea in winter the irrigable area can be increased to any
desired Oxtent.
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCIES IN IRRIGATION. 341
It is interesting to note that just as the water supply for arrosage in
the Midi was and is managed by companies, so we read in the San
Bernardino Times that “the Ontario Land Company has driven a tun-
nel in under San Antonio Creek a distance of nearly 1,800 feet at a
º of about $52,000, and they have about 250 inches of water, Worth.
$250,000.
Part II. Irrigating canals, their origin and management, will be for-
warded as soon as certain statistics can bo obtained.
REPORT FROM F. F. DUFAIR, U. S. CONSUI, HAVRE.
[WITH INCLOSURES ON IRRIGATION IN THE DEPARTMENTS OF MANCHE, ILLE-ET-VI-
LAINE, AND MAYENNE.
This service (irrigation) is under the immediate management of the
chief engineer of ponts et e chaussés (roads and bridges) in each depart-
ment of France and under the head control of the chief engineer,
director of agricultural hydraulics, Mr. Philippe, of the ministry of
agriculture, at Paris. - º *
The fact that Mr. Quinette de Rochemont, the head engineer of the
port of Havre, has been absent for some weeks, the only government
officer who could give me the desired information, must plead my excuse
for not reporting before this.
From him I learned that there is no system of irrigation in the arron-
dissements of Havre and Yvetot, in the department of the Seine-Infé-
rieure; the remainder of this department is under the management of
Mr. Vivenot, chief engineer at Rouen. The chief engineers of the de-
partments in my consular district, besides the above named, are Mr.
Lucau, at Caen, Calvados; Mr. Perrin, at Alençon, Orne; A. Gouton,
Cherbourg, Manche; L. Rousseau, Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine; Floueand de
Fourzeroy, Laval, Mayenne, to whom I addressed myself for the re-
Quired information, and, with the exception of the two first named, they
very obligingly answered my questions by the letters here with inclosed,
accompanied With my translation.
[Translation.]
LETTER OF A. GOUTON, CHIEF ENGINEER OF ROADS AND BIRIDGES OF
- THE DEPAIRTMENT LA MANCEIE.
CHERBOURG, August 17, 1889.
In answer to the request for information which you were pleased to address to me
on the 8th of this month, I have the honor to say that there is very little irrigation,
properly called, practiced in this department for summer watering. On the contrary,
the climate, which is a most temperate one, makes submersions of low meadows during
the winter months by means of brackish water very useful.
With these general remarks permit me to sum up the answers to questions 1 to 6
as follows: •
(1) I have no data as to the extent of irrigable compared with non-irrigable or cul-
tivated land in the department. It consists of pasture land for grazing cattle, or of
meadows furnishing mowed hay.
The quality of this pasturage is most excellent, such as that of Isigny, Bessin
(neighborhood of Bayen), Carentan (or, properly called, Cotentin), Valognés, etc.,
producing the famous butter of Isigny and Cotentin, the best in France.
(2) The Water producing this rich grass in the department of Manche is almost
exclusively rain-water. Rains are very frequent but rarely stormy or chilling, and
342 IRRIGATION AND RECIAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the average annual rain-fall at Cherbourg or Isigny reaches from 1 to 1.10 meter (398
to 42 inches).
There are numerous springs, brooks, and streams, but it is only in the winter time,
with rare exceptions, that lands are being overflowed.
(3) Therefore there are no reservoirs, only simple trenches, for the distribution of
the water on irrigated meadows. g
(4) The usage of water for irrigation is regulated by common law (articles 643, 644,
645, code civil) and the laws of April 29, 1845, and July 11, 1847.
Besides that, work of irrigation occasions syndical associations, subject to the law
of June 21, 1865.
(5) The climate of the soil is most variable in the department of Manche, present-
ing the greatest variety of geological formations next to tillable soil.
(6) The local habit of submerging lands in the winter months in sweet water is
Very ancient ; it is principally practiced on meadows and pastures near the sea,
where the soil is below the level of high tides.
Winter irrigation in other regions of the department is in the hands of individuals
without either rules or co-operation.
The general Service of the water-courses, useful as well as detrimental to agricult-
ure, devolves upon the department of ponts et chaussées (roads and bridges), having
charge of agricultural hydraulics and belonging to the minister of agriculture.
[Translation.]
LETTER OF LEON I’OUSSEAU, CEIIEF ENGINEER OF THE DEPARTMENT
OF ILLE-ET. VIDA INE,
RENNES, August 14, 1889.
SIR: Irrigation in the Department of Ille-et-Vilaine is of very small importance.
Here is in a few words my report to the minister of agriculture:
Regular irrigation, that is to say, such as permits the possibility to admit and to
draw off again the waters according to the requirements of cultivation at the proper
time, is extremely rare.
One single instance of this kind has been submitted to the engineers in 1888 con-
; the brook Français, on the confines of the departments of Ille-et-Vilaine and
£1,1] Cl6.
Elsewhere irrigation consists only in snbmersion, in consequence of the rise of
brooks, of natural meadows situated in the bottom of their valleys. The receding of
the waters into their beds after freshets is facilitated by a great number of trenches
dug at the confines of the several parcels of fields or traced according to the depres-
sions of the soil.
Submersions are also practiced in some dried up ponds which have been trans-
formed into meadows. These ponds having been drained by breaching a dike or high-
way to allow the water to run off, the system of irrigation consists in temporarily
ºng up such breach to allow the water to rise and to overflow the neighboring
©ICIS,
LÉON ROUSSEAU,
Chief Engineer of Road and Bridges, Ille-et-Vilaine.
[Translation.]
LETTER OF MIR. FLOUAND DE FOUZEROY, CHIEF ENGINEER OF ROAD
AND BIRIDGES, DEPARTMENT OF MAYENNI).
LAvAL, August 10, 1889.
SIR: You are pleased to send me an interrogatory regarding irrigation.
I should have been happy to answer it, as far as this department is concerned, but
it would be difficult to do so in a precise manner. t
Irrigation is frequent in this départment, where the soil is very much broken and
divided into a great many basins; ºthere are thus many small and rapid Water-cºurses,
where it is easy to construct small dams and to turn the water into trenches to irri-
gate numerous natural meadows; but there are no statistics existing to state the ex-
tent of land susceptible of irrigation compared with such as is non-susceptible.
fºLCLAMATION WORKS fM THE SOUTH OF FRANCE. 343
There are no reservoirs; there is only one syndical association of small importance
occupying itself, principally, with the draining of meadows with the view of making
them salubrious.
The climate is rather rainy, the subsoil impervious; there are no extended or deep
valleys, neither are there table-lands on heaths.
On the whole I don’t believe that the interrogatory which you did me the honor of
addressing to me can be answered in an interesting or precise manner.
Please accept, etc. d
FLOUAND DE FOUZE,ROY.
HEPORT FROM ALBERT N. HATHAVVAY, U. S. CONSUL, NICE, ON
IRRIGATION IN SOUTHERN FRANCE.
Irrigation here is applied for the most part to ornamental, horticultural,
and vegetable gardens, instead of to fields of general agriculture, and
to no grain lands whatever, and in but small extent to the vineyards
and orchards of oranges, lemon, and olive, The expense for flowage
Water, procured from the hydrants works of the city of Nice, renders
Such use largely unprofitable, and the scarcity of the natural supply
precludes its systematic application to any wide degree, except in the
Valleys of the War and lesser rivers. When irrigation here is practiced
production is doubled without injury to the quality of the crop; sterile
Soils, long useless, recover and yield abundantly, and in many localities,
to insure valuable returns to the husbandman, it is of absolute necessity.
The ordinary sources of water, for the purpose, are ancient wells from
which, during hours in each day, it is drawn by mule-power and quite
º machinery into distributing tanks and inherited slow methods
of labor.
The said company having obtained a concession, with an appropria-
tion therewith of two and one-half millions from the state, was organ-
ized in 1878 and its works established at a cost of 12,000,000 francs.
Its supply is obtained from the river Vesubie, in the valley of that
name, distant about 30 miles from Nice, from which river it is led, flow-
ing at the rate of 4,000 liters each second, in an open, cemented
canal to a distributing reservoir on the heights in the suburbs of said
city. In its treaty with Nice the company is bound to supply the city,
for the annual payment of 80,000 francs, with 60,000 cubic meters of
water daily for its abattoirs, sewers, fountains, and public works. ' The
water for domestic uses, also provided by said company, is derived from
a separate source, viz, the mountain springs of Sainte Thecle. Under
the aforesaid concession from the state the company covenants, during
the term thereof, viz, until 1972, to maintain the construction of their
works for the public utility of the region and to furnish flowage at fixed
prices therein stipulated. Otherwise than this, said corporation is un-
subjected generally to the Government control. The established tariff
for its continued use for irrigation on ordinary levels is as follows, viz:
For 1 cubic liter per day, annually, 30 francs; for 2 cubic liters per
day, annually, 55 francs; for 3 cubic liters per day, annually, 60 francs,
and for each additional daily cubic liter, 20 francs annually. The tariff
for its periodical use is proportionate to the above table, conditioned,
however, to an agreement as to quantity to be consumed. The service
pipes are in all cases at the charge of the proprietor.
The region, having thus facilities of irrigation, is by nature restricted
to the foot-hills and narrow valleys of this district, beyond and above
which are the mountains barren of or discouraging to cultivation. The
limits, owing to the configuration of the coast, the counter scarps of
Alps, and the proximity of the Sea, which serves as a vast reflector of
344 IRR1GATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
the Sunbeams, is semi-tropical in character. The soil, producing two
Or more Variable crops a year, is alluvial, with a humus surface and a
gravelly substratum, and quickly absorbs all moisture. In May the
temperature averages 649, in June 709, and in July and August 780 Fah.
In Winter it averages 529. From May to November more than one
hundred days are usually without clouds. The average rain-ſall is
from 80 to 100 centimeters per annum.
REPORT FROM EDWARD CAMPHAUSEN, U. S. Consur, NAPLEs,
ON IRRIGATION IN SOUTHERN ITALY.
I have the honor to report that on receipt of your circular instruct-
ing me to furnish information on the subject of irrigation as practiced
in this country, I immediately applied for statistics to the prefect of
the ten provinces composing this consular district.
In course of time, after the delay usual to these officials, they replied
that, owing to the scarcity of water-courses, there were no lands under
irrigation in their respective provinces. It is claimed that the geologi-
cal and lithological condition of the country are such that it would be
impossible to carry any system of irrigation into effect.
This country depends absolutely on the rain falling mainly during the
months from November to April. The average annual rain-fall is said
to be about 20 inches. There are some lands under private irrigation.
The water supply belonging to the respective land-owners is taken from
wells, at a depth varying from 25 to 100 feet, water being found in
abundance at that depth in most parts of the country. Near the coast
of the Adriatic and Mediterranean wells are formed by the infiltration
of salt water. Some of these belong to communities, but no definite
law or regulations appear to exist for the use or distribution of the
water, and there is no irrigated land, in the true sense of the word, in
this district.
I inclose a copy of the law concerning the derivation of public waters
and also a publication discussing a project for supplying the province
of Ban with Water for domestic purposes.
REPORT FROM EDWARD P. EARLE, U. S. CONSUI, COGNAC, ON
IRRIGATION IN THE DEPARTMENT OF L.A. CHARENTE.
I deferred answering the Department's circular of May 2, 1889, Con-
cerning the methods of irrigation in use in my consular district, until
I could fully possess myself of the facts of the case. To this end I sent
the circular, through Hon. Oscar Planat, the mayor of Cognac, to the
chief engineer of La Charente, at Angoulême. I received from him a
few days ago, through the mayor, a long, rambling reply to my inter-
rogatories, which may be summed up as follows: * * * *
(1) That the engineer has no knowledge of any system of irrigation
now in practical use in this department. e
(2) That all his information is derived from the library and archives
of his office, and finally that he refers me to the departments forming
the old government of Provence. There, he says, extensive systems of
irrigation are practiced. He also suggests that inquiries should be
addressed to the minister of agriculture, at Paris.
For my own part here are my observations:
This part of France is quite abundantly watered; the Charente, the
Nee, and many other smaller streams traverse it, and so far as my ob.
TRACES OF MAHOMMEDAN IRRIGATION IN SICILY. 345
servation extends the question with farmers here is what to do with
surplus water rather than any question of irrigation. All the canals,
dikes, and ditches are exclusively for the purpose of restraining over-
flows or for draining wet or submerged lands. The river and Creek
bottoms are generally broad and level and very subject to overflow, to
the great detriment of the grass planted thereon. The receding Waters
leave a fine deposit of mud on the stems and blades of the grass, which,
drying with the hay, becomes a dust very damaging to the stock eat.
ing it. At this moment, when the new hay crop is come into market,
almost all the horses of the arrondissement are affected with a Severe
cough like that of hay ſever.
The highlands of this arrondissement are quite out of the reach, in my
judgment, of any practicable system of irrigation, nor does it require it.
Some seasons are said to be very dry, but a protracted drought I take
it, is a rather rare occurrence. The principal characteristics of the climate
appears to be its humidity. The night moistures or dews seem to me
quite sufficient by themselves, the soil meanwhile being a little stirred
to furnish all the plant requires.
I send no maps, published reports, or books on the subject of irriga-
tion in France, as the consul at Marseilles, where that system of agri-
culture prevails, can make a more discriminating selection than I could
here. I content myself with saying, in fine, that no system of irrigation
prevails in my consular district. I do not know, nor have I been able
to find, any competent expert on that subject.
REPORT FROM WALLACE S. JONES, U. S. CONSUI, MESSINA, ON
IRRIGATION IN THE PROVINCE OF MESSINA, SICILY.
Irrigation in Sicily dates from the occupation of the island by the
Mussulmen. They took possession of Palermo in 831, and gradually
extended their sway. Ruins of the Emir's castles, agricultural terms
still in use relating particularly to irrigation, and numerous African
plants all testify to their former presence here. In the year 872 they
first began the use of the “moria” (senie), raising well water into water
towers (giarraton) or cisterns (giabiat), whence it was distributed by
means of small ditches (sajat), and this is the system in general use to-
day.
Irrigation did not attain the same development in this province as in
that of Palermo for the reason that water veins are not as numerous
here. Since 1850 the search for water has been steadily on the increase,
due to new methods of reaching it (by drilling) and of raising it (by end-
less chains of iron buckets instead of the old-fashioned moria with pad-
dles) and to improved gearing. Water is pumped up, and many of the
wells are 100 feet deep and over, by horse-power; oxen are also much
used for this work, and occasionally by steam-power. There is no coal
in Sicily, and the lack of roads makes its transportation from the sea-
shore too expensive.
According to the Italian civil code all waste under the beds of rivers
or torrents belongs to the State; but while this is the law it happens,
nevertheless, that owners of land along the Water-courses use the water
with more or less immensity, so that but a small quantity may be said
actually to belong to the public domain.
The supply of water for irrigating purposes in this province is small.
The extremely mountainous district of Val Demone is not adapted to
the percolation of rain-Water, particularly as a short-sighted policy has
346 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID i,ANDS,
destroyed the natural reservoirs, the forests, thus permitting the rain
to run off and waste. As a result not a single river is to be found in
the province, but we meet at every hand destructive torrents (their beds
are dry in summer), whose havoc is ever on the increase. There are tſo
less than thirty torrents in a stretch of country 45 miles wide in this
province. Natural springs are but few, so that the greater portion of
the water used for irrigation as well as for drinking purposes is ob-
tained by means of costly hydraulic works, tunnels, wells, cisterns,
The topography of the Messina district does not allow of the forma-
tion of lakes, and, with the exception of two small brackish sheets of
Water near the Faro and of a fresh-water pond in the commune of
Rouella Valdemone, we find no lakes here.
Owing to the deficiency in the water supply and to the greater por-
tion of this district being mountainous but one-sixteenth of the total
cultivable area (i. e., 14,000 hectares) is irrigated. Of the irrigated area :
Hectares.
Oranges and lemons occupy .------------------ A s sº a sº s s = • * * * * * * is sº as e a e s m is a we as as , 6
Market gardens" ----...---------------------------- sº dº e s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is sº ºn as a s 800
Flax and hemp --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 200
Indian corn.-------------------------------------------------------------- 1,000
Legumes (beans).--------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1,400
Fruit trees, peaches, pears, etc.---- * - - - - - - a • - - - - - - - - - - * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 500
Reed cane - - - - - R -...----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º is sº a s is is a s & s is a se is s dº sº sº º 2,000
Marshes. . . . . . d = e s - A = i < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = * * * - - - - a a s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 500
14,000
Irrigated land produces crops not only superior as to quality but
threefold as to quantity compared with non-irrigated land. Irrigated
open land sells for three times as much as the non-irrigated; near the
city of Messina it fetches from $780 to $1,230 per acre.
The water is pumped into well-cemented reservoirs or wats, generally
prismatic in form (because cheaper), rarely circular. We also meet
with covered cisterns. From the collecting reservoir the water is made
to pass into the distributing reservoir through gutters called “con-
dotti,” or “tubi,” conduits or pipes. The water is carried from the dis-
tributing reservoir to different parts of the grove, either by trenches
called “sajat,” or by brick conduits either closed or open on top. The
latter are known as “brinzi.”
The open conduits are to be preferred, because they do not choke and
because they are not liable to burst.
Should the grove be extensive, small distributing reservoirs called
tº bisternoli” are established here and there.
This distributing of water for irrigation purposes, when the Water is
private property (for by law the owner is allowed to make what use of it
he pleases, provided he does no damage to his neighbors), is not gov;
erned by law, but by special customs that vary with the locality and
which it would be impossible to enumerate.
The cost of water for irrigation purposes is so complicated a matter
that it can not be fixed precisely, but this much can be said: In this
province a penna (a goose-quill) of water, i. e., 36 gallons of water per
hour, costs from $200 to $260 per annum. t
Here, as a rule, water is private property. Some communes own
water either by purchase from private parties or because its Source is on
community land. - ſº
The title to water is acquired by bargain and sale, exchange, gift,
*It should be added that garden truck is very generally cultivated in the vacant
spaces in orange and lemon groves.
IRRIGATED SICILY witHouT “NECESSARY MAPs.” 347
and can also be acquired by prescription. Not less than thirty years
of undisturbed enjoyment are necessary to create title by prescription.
As to the climate of this province, the maximum of heat is 87° Fall.
Some winters the thermometer falls to 200 below freezing, but this
temperature prevails for a very short period. Snow covers the tops of
the mountains for several months during the winter, and nearly every
year reaches the sea-shore, covering the ground for a few hours. At
Messina the temperature changes with the currents (which are tidal)
that pass through the straits. From October to December it rains fre-
quently; in January and February it rains and snows; in March and
April it rains constantly. Open weather begins in May and lasts to
September with an occasional heavy down-pour. Annual rain-fall 22
inches. During the spring and autumn months fogs prevail on the
mountains; it rarely hails; dew and white frost occur frequently; frost
in April inflicts considerable damage.
No hydrographic maps or publications bearing upon irrigation in this
province exist. Less attention has been paid to irrigation in Sicily than
in any other potion of Italy; but little progress has been made since
the days of the Arabs. º
A few years ago a technical school for instruction in hydraulics was
opened in Palermo. If the water of the numerous torrents in Sicily
were to be controlled and utilized in irrigation, many localities now in-
fested by pernicious and malarial fever would become healthy and hab-
itable. Statistics shqw that one-fifth of this island is subject to the in-
fluence of stagnant water and of the dry beds of torrents during the
Summer and the organic matter accumulated for centuries in these low
spots breeds foul emanations that poison the air.
No works for the storage and distribution of water have as yet been
undertaken by the Government in Sicily. In 1858 a company with a
capital of $150,000 undertook, under a charter from the Bourbon
Government, to utilize the water of the River Simeto in irrigating a
portion of the plain of Catania, the total area of which is 65,506 acres.
A rough stone dam was thrown across the river at Paterno and two
principal canals, one to the right (20,000 yards long) and the other to
the left (30,000 yards long) of the river-bed were opened down to the
Ocean. Four secondary canals (leading from the principal canals) were
also opened, and these were intersected by numerous irrigation ditches,
the latter of a total length of 10,000 yards. The banks of the canals
are faced with stone or with logs whenever the land has a tendency to
slide. At the dam the canals are 6 feet wide at bottom, 29 feet wide at
top, and 6 feet deep ; the banks have an incline of 45 degrees.
The dimensions of the canals decrease as you go from the dam. The
depth of water in main canals should never exceed 43 feet. The average
mean amount of water that passes through the canals is 722 gallons per
second. The company charges $67 per 7 gallons a second from April
to October 1, and $33,50 from October 1 to April 1.
In the plain of Catania, on a calcareo, argillaceous soil, wheat legumes
and flax require 4; inches of water from October to April. Summer
pasture lands require 12 inches of water. The very stiff clay lands in
this plain appear to be adapted to rice culture only. Quite an area is
so flat that the water ponds on the land and the slime left by the water
impoverishes the land and makes it more difficult to cultivate. This
undertaking has been a failure financially; not only has the original
capital been sunk but a debt of $120,000 hangs over the company.
The only other work of importance in Sicily connected with irrigation
is the dam 2; miles above Ferranova, province of Caltanisetta.
348 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
This massive stone dam is 360 feet long, 24 feet wide at the base, 15
feet wide at the top, and 30 feet high, and was thrown across the River
Gela at a cost of $85,000 by the wealthy Duke of Montelevore, descend-
ant and heir of the great Cortes, as far back as the year 1788. An irri-
gation canal leads out from either wing of the dam ; area irrigated
11,800 acres. Below the dam the water falls on a stone platform 138
feet wide by 123 long, and then follows its old bed to the sea. At the
point where this dam is erected the river runs through a gorge, the
sides of which constitute natural stone walls. An elliptical gap, 80 feet
Wide by 10 feet deep, has been left towards the middle of the dam. At
this point fascines are thrown against the dam on the water side, and
earth is thrown on the facines, constituting as it were a floating island,
the surface of which is brought almost to a level with the dam on either
side of it. Pistachio trees, tamarack shrubs, and grass are set to grow
On this island, which serves as a tumbling dam.
As the Water rises it gradually rus off, overflowing the island, which,
in times of a strong freshet, is carried away bodily. It costs $500 per
annum to keep up this island; it would cost $800 to replace it. The land
irrigated by means of this dam produced from 1862 to #865, 5,000 bales
of Cotton (of 450 pounds) per annum. Cotton is still grown for home
Wants On a small scale.
Since 1865, the Italian Government has expended large sums in drain-
ing marshes, lakes, and ponds, and in controlling the course of rivers and
torrents in Northern and Central Italy. Valuable documents, not for
Sale, however, treating of these works have beenºpublished by the min-
ister of public works. As yet no government report has been published
treating of works of irrigation, and to get at figures it would be neces-
sary to apply to the several prefectures of the several provinces.
By the law of December 25, 1883, the Government is empowered to
loan funds (principal payable in thirty years) at 30 per cent. to irriga-
tion associations (consozzi) and to provinces and communes for the
purpose of carrying on works of irrigation, provided the supply of Water
to be obtained shall be not less than 25 gallons per second and provided
the province or commune advances an amount at least equal to one-
tenth of the sum loaned by the state.
REPORT FROM consul, Jon Es on IRRIGATION OF ORANGE AND
T.EMION GROVES IN SICII’ſ.
In Sicily, generally speaking, no attempt is made to grow oranges or
lemons unless it be possible to water the trees during the Summer
months. There are, however, favored spots (for instance near Aci Reale,
40 miles south of Messina) where, owing to water veins in the Subsoil,
the trees retain their vigor during the summer. The proportion of non-
irrigated to irrigated groves is as 1 to 15 (in extent).
One hundred ten-year old lemon-trees that are watered produce on an
average 15,000 lemons, whereas one hundred trees that receive no
water (other conditions being equal) produce but 10,000 or one-third
less.
The groves are watered from twelve to twenty-five times during the
summer, i. e., either once every two weeks or once a week, and at each
watering at least 350 cubic meters should be allowed to the hectare (1
hectare=2.47 acres). & tº
At the last spring working of the trees the land is trenched in order
to obtain an equal distribution of the Water.
EXTENT OF SICILIAN FRUIT AND IRRIGATION. 349.
Parallel trenches are opened (generally about 6 inches deep and 8
inches wide at the bottom) between the rows of trees, the intermediate
space being divided into symmetrical squares or divisions.
If the grove be very level the water is carried from the distributing
reservoir by lines of brick pipes (brinze) open on top, resting on narrow
stone walls built with the necessary incline to reach the most distant
point from the reservoir.
The system is applied to the irrigation of groves where the water
supply is abundant and is derived from a stream or spring. Often-
times when the water must be pumped up by horse-power the tenant,
unless it be otherwise stipulated in the contract, will so arrange his
trenches as to collect the water in a basin at the foot of the trees.
This method is not to be commended, for it retards the developement of
the fruit, of the lemons more especially, and predisposes to gum or foot-
I'Ot.
One-year-old orange and lemon trees should be watered once a week;
three-year-old require water once every twelve days; from the fourth
to eighth year, once every two weeks. With the bergamot, however,
weekly irrigation is required during the life of the tree. It is always
preferable to irrigate during night-time. Isolated trees are sometimes
watered by sinking an earthen pipe (3 feet long by 4 inches in diame-
ter) not far from the trees, and filling the same with water. This method
has the advantage of causing the tree to send its roots down. The beds
of the torrents suck down the water from the springs on the hill-sides.
To bring this water to the surface, oblique ditches are cut across the
torrent-beds down to the water veins, and a drain (provided with numer-
ous loopholes) in masonry is put in to collect the water. These drains,
following more or less the trend of the land, carry the water into the
groves to the right and left.
Bastard fruit, i. e., fruit maturing out of season, always commands
good prices; hence it frequently happens that tenants allow the trees
to go without water during June and July (the trees sicken badly; the
leaves turn yellow, and there is great loss of vitality), and begin water-
ing heavily and frequently in August, to form the trees to put on blooms
in September, and in that way produce late fruit.
REPORT FROM PHILLIP CARROLL, U. S. CONSUL, PALERMO,
SICILY.
(1) There are 508,601 hectares of land embraced in the Province of
Palermo, of which one-fortieth is cultivable and irrigable. Nearly 176,000
hectares are under irrigation, yielding on the average an eighth per cent.
CrOp.
(2) Water is derived principally from deep wells, pumps, and reser-
voirs, the latter being supplied by means of earthen and iron tubes or
pipes communicating with the adjacent mountains, as well as by rivers,
streams, springs, and falls in a very limited degree, during certain
months of the year. The supply of spring water is, however, said to be
decreasing.
(3) A pamphlet upon the System of irrigation in the Province of
Palermo, by Prof. Ferdinando Alfonso, kindly furnished by the prefect
of this province, is inclosed herewith, as to the character of the works
used in irrigation.
(4) The distribution of water is governed by its owners, viz, the
municipality, the Government, and private individuals, and is based
350 IRRIGATION AND RECLAMATION OF ARID LANDS.
upon the measures adopted by the municipality of Palermo centuries
ago. .
The amount of water used on the average is from 300 to 350 cubic
meters per hectare of land.
By the system in vogue nearly 17 liters of water can be conveyed to
a designated point per second, and an area containing nearly 13 acres
can be irrigated weekly, the charge therefor being 5 lire per hour.
Irrigation is commenced on April 15 annually. For obvious reasons
it is not resorted to during winter, excepting in prairie lands for pro-
moting the development of grass.
(5) The average annual temperature of the Province of Palermo is 17°
centigrade.
In the mountainous regions the climate is temperate, and on the Sea-
Coast very warm. -
A characteristic of the province is the almost absolute absence of rain
from May to September. -
The average annual rain-fall of the province is 59 centimeters. Rain
later than May is rare and generally meager, and should the usual copi-
ous spring rains fail to make their appearance crops suffer Severely.
(6) As stated, the present system, consisting of pumps, Wells, falls,
reservoirs, etc., has obtained for centuries, under the auspices of the
municipality of Palermo monasteries and private persons, but since
1866 the Government has controlled the water belonging to religious
bodies, it having in that year confiscated all property belonging thereto.
The Government either sells or rents this water. ...The expense is
defrayed by the respective owners. -
SESSIONS OF THE COMMITTEE.
Page,
Washington, D.C., January 17, 1890 --------------- tº gº ºn tº e s an e s s º e º is tº us ºn u ºn tº tº º ſº tº a 5
January 21, 1890. --------------------------------------- 37
January 24, 1890 ---------------------------------------- 68
January 31, 1890 ---------------------------------------- 95
March 13, 1890.----------------------------------------- 132
March 14, 1890 ----------------------------------------- - 151
March 18, 1890 ------------------------------------------ 162
March 21, 1890 ------------------- tº gº tº º º ºs º º º ºs º ºs º ºs º gº ºn tº ſº tº gº º º 170
March 22, 1890 ---------------------------- tº sº º ºs º ºs º º ºs º we tº a tº 183
March 28, 1890 ---------------------------------- tº º gº tº gº & tº as 205
351
; IND EX.
A.
Altitudes: º Page.
Angles of elevation and depression by ---------------- *A* as as sº º tº º ºs º º tº as ºn tº gº º 179
Arid region, north and south ------------------------------------------ 10
Central City. at ------------------------------------------------------- 57
Fort Robinson, Nebraska ---------------------------------------------- 57
Gila River, of the ----------------------------------------------------- 33
Groton, at --------------------------------------------------- & e º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs 54
Indian Creek, Nebraska ----------------------------------------------- 57
Hamilton County, in --------------------------------------------- * * * * * 59
High, observation of climate .----------------------------------------- 104
Instruments to ascertain --------------------------------------- * - - - - - 179
Kearney, Nebraska ---------------------------------------------------- 57
Keya Paha, Nebraska ------------------------------------------------- 57
Low, observations of climate---------------------------------- -------- 104
List of Nebraska, in ------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 57
Mouth of Snako River, at ------------------------------ tº º ºn tº º ºs e º e º 'º we m m e 57
Nevada ---------------------------------------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - 102
Niobrara River, Nebraska --------------------------------------------- 57
Ogallala, Nebraska ---------------------------------------------------- 57
Pine Bluffs, Nebraska -------------------------- & sº º º ºs e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 57
Scotts Bluffs, Nebraska------------------------------------------------ 56
Sidney, Nebraska------------------------------------------------------ 57
Topographic Survey, by ----------------------------------------------- 178
Yellowstone Park, Wyoming------------------------------------------- 245
Appropriations, allotment, and expenditures------------------------------- 139
Artesian Wells ----------------------------------------------------- 34, 35, 44, 45,46
55, 59,66, 86,87, 88,90,91, 92,93, 94,95, 96, 98,99, 169,220,221,238
Battle mountain at---------------------------------------------------- 240
Boring of.---- - - - - - - - -; - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ---45, 92,94, 97
Brownville at, in Nemaha County-------------------------------------. 57
Cambrian Rocks, through --------------------------------------------- 47
Cass County, in --------------- ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 47
Chemical composition of waterin ------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * 51–57
Cost of --------------------------------------------------------------- 92
§. on Dakotas, in ........................................7. 50. 47
y assification, Dakotas, in --------------------------------------- 47, 50, 51, 5
Dakotas, the data of ------------------------------------------------ 9.51, 52, :
sandstone, in ------------------------------------------ ** * * - - - 94
Devil's Lake, analysis of Water in-------------------------------------- 51
Exploration of-------------------------------------------------------- 89
Flowing -------------------------------------------------------------. 45
Toombstone, at -------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is e s s = e s = 99
Nebraska ---------------------------------------------------- 57
Geological formation, Kansas.---------------------------------------.. 57, 58
Grafton, at------------------------------------------------------------ '53
Great Bend, at ------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = e s = e = e, e. 59
Huron, at ------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 89, 92
Jamestown, at -------------------------------------------------------- 51.33
Kansas, of ------------------------------------------------------------ y 59
Larned, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 59
Lincoln, at ---------------------------------------------------------- 57
List of, West of the Dakotas.-------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 50
138 A L–WOL IV 23 353
354. T INDEX.
Rage.
Artesian well —Continued. ag
Pocating ------------------------------------------------------------- 87
Location, in the Dakotas.--------------------------------------------. 47
Manitoba shallow wells ----------------------------------------------- 48
Meade County, in ----------------------------------------------------- 97
Minnesota, region.-------------------------------------------- tº º sº us ºne sº me as 47, 48, 49
Nebraska, in---------------------------------------------------------- 57
in northern and contral -----------------------------------. 97
Nevada, in -------------------------- q, w tº º sº sº me is * * * * * * * * * * * * * is es us as e º ºs e º sº, º an e 102
Omaha, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 57
Pan Handle region, in the --------. * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 97
Pierre, at ------------------------------------------------------- 47, 50, 51, 52,53
Pleistocene ----------------------------------------------------------. 52
Pressure of, at Grafton --------------------- --------------------------- 54
Redfield, at ----------------------------------------------------------- 89,92
Red River Valley, in -------------------------------------------------- 47, 52
Region of------------------------------------------------------------- 97
Richfield, at ----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 50
Rosenfield, at--------------------------------------------------------- 48
Russell, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 59
Source of Wator in ---------------------------------------------------- 54
Staked Plain and Panhandle region, upon------------------------------ 98
St. Helena, at ------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * 57
Subhumid region of the Great Plains, geological data relating to -...-- . 47–61
Strata, Water-bearing, Carboniferous---------------------------------- 59
Cretaceous-------------------- ----------------- 59
Miocene ------------------------------ tº º tº º sº we us us ºn 59
Pleistocene ------------------------------------ 52
* 4 Trias ------------------------------------------ 59
Tables of, in Dakota -------------------------------------------------- 47
Kansas -------------------------------------------------- 60
Manitoba ------------------------------------------------ 48
Minnesota ----------------------------- © º ºs º ºs tº a s an e º ºs ºs e = e s an 49
Nebraska ---------------------------------- tº º ºs s tº * * * * * * * * * 57
Texas---------------------------------------------------- (52
Table of temperature (Dakota Sandstones).-------------------.. * * * * * * * º 52
Texas, of.---------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * , 45, 61,97
Tombstone, Ariz., at.------------------------- * tº tº º tº º is tº e s º ºs e s e s is e s us e º e s a 99
Tower City, at .-------------------------------- * e º e º ºs e º e s is e e s ∈ e = * * * * * * 53
Unsuccessful in Minnesota, list of.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 48
Winfield----------------------------------------------------------- * * * 59
Basins:
Artesian...... •-------------------------------------------------------88, 1,93 -
Arkansas drainage, the ---...-------, -,---------14, 147,148, 151,163, 181, 183,185,
187, 188, 195, 197,206,207
Carson, the ----------------- • ----------------------------------------- 79, 149
Chama, the • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 25
Colorado, the ---------------------------------------------------------, 38,45
Dakota, the ---------------------------------------------------------.
Denver, the-s--------------------------------------------------------- 45
Drainage references ... ---...---...---------...----.23, 37, 101, 155, 160, 163, 166, 170,
171, 174, 179, 199,208,209,210,211
Colorado, of the .-------------------------------------------. 38
Pecos, of the * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - w = • - - - - - - - - - v - - - 16
Taos, of the ----- * * * * * *4 aſ ºn as sº e s m tº e e s = sº as a e s as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 29
Geologic, tho---------------------------------------------------------.44, 45,86
Gila drainage, of.----------------------------------------------------- 34
Great storage --------------------------------------------------------. 101
Great, in the .--------------------------------------------------------- 36,40
Humboldt, the-------------------------------------------------------- 239
Hydrographic, references to..... .23, 25, 26, 32, 47,66, 140, 152, 153, 155, 157, 162, 163
175, 196, 197,210
Interior, the ---------------------------------------------------------- 118, 119
Irrigation ------------------------------------------------------------ 221
Natural -------------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ge as ºn a sm is sº e . 66,207
Republican, the. ----- tº tº º gº tº e º ſº tº tº º tº ſº tº sº º ſº tº º sº º gº ºn tº sº tº tº ºs º ºs º ºs ºs ºn tº º gº tº º ºs º ºs º we º 'º sº tº º 97
Page
Basins—Continued. *
Rim Rock of the Artesian --------------------------------------------- 93
Rock Creek, the ------------------------------------------------------ 239
Sand, White Rock Cañon ----------------------------------------... • - ~ * 30
Snake River, the -------------------------------------------------- 147,148, 151
Taos, the ------------------------------------------------------------- 29
Truckee, the -------------------------------------------------------- 79, 149, 151
Upper Arkansas, of the .----------------- & a tº º ºs ºn m ºr a ºn tº as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 163
Yellowstone Lake, natural storage ------------------------------------ 43
Bird and animal life in arid regions.--------------------------------------- 131
C.
Canals, mention of: *
High-line. -------------------------------- * º 'º - - ºr dº º sº tº gº tº ºp º sº º ºs ºg sº 26,99, 107, 140,228
Low-line ------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 33
New Mexico, construction of, in --------------------------------------- 17
, Sites for ------------------------- 23, 32,64, 65,76, 77,80, 152, 162, 163, 166, 193, 199
Cañons: -
Embuda -------------------------------------------------------- 18, 20, 24, 25, 29
Eureka --------------------------------------------------------------- 160
Grand --------------------- J - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - s - - - - - - - - - •º º ºs º º sº sº e º e 38
Panamint------------------------------------------------ * - - - - - - - - - - - - 144, 160
Santa Anita----------------- G w = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 123
San Antonia ---------------------------------------------------------- 123
San Dimas---------------------------------------------------------- r" - 123
San Gabriel ----------------------------------------------------------- 123
Saw pit-------- a- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 123
Soledad --------------------------------------------------------------- 123
Tejunga -------------------------------------------------------------- 123
White Rock-------------'------------------------------------------- 25,26,29, 30
Cities and towns:
Albuquerque------------------------------------------------------- 25, 26, 29, 70
Bernalillo ----------------------------------- vº º - º ºs & E tº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 25, 26, 30
Bismarck ------------------------------------------------------------- 44
Blanchford------------------------------------------------------------ 52
Buena Vista----------------------------------------------------------- 148
Calabasas------------------------------------------------------------- 99
Cambrian------------------------------------------------------------- 48
Chicago -------------------------------------------------------------- 46
ia ------------------------------------------------------------------- 30
Crookston ----------------------------------------------------------- 52
Deming--------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Denver -----------------------------------------------------. 36,46, 161,220,230
Dodge City -----------------------------------------------------------
El Paso --------------------------- 17, 18, 20, 26, 27, 31, 70,78, 105,147,148,181, 196
Emerson ------------------------------------------- ------------------ 48
Eureka --------------------------------------------------------------- 161,239
Florence-------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tº a 100
Fresno---------------------------------------------------------------- 20
Garden City ---------------------------------------------------------- 148
Grafton -------------------------------------------------------------- 47
Granada.-------------------------------------------------------------- 148
Greeley--------------------------------------------------------------- 230
Helena --------------------------------------------------------------- 44, 80
Jemez Pueblo---------------------------------------------------------
Johnstown----------------------------- * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 217
Las Vegas ----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s = * * * * * * 181
Leadville ------------------------------------------------------------- 148
Lincoln----------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -.* * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - 55
Livingston ------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 81
Los Angeles ----------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as a s e = * * * * . 123
Los Lunas.----------------------------------------------------------- 25
Maricopa --------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * 99
Marienfelt ------------------------------------------------------------ 97
Midland -------------------------------------------------------------- 97
Mojave ---------------------------------------------------------, ----- 100
Niobrara.------------------------------------------------------------- & 55
Odessa.---------------------------------------------------------------- 7
Pasadena------------ tº me m ºn e º tº ºs tº e º us tº e º ºs º ºs * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 123
356 INDEX.
I’ng
Cities and towns—Continued. age,
Phoenix ---------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s tº sº is us e º 'º is sº we we us ºn tº e s a s = ºn a 35, 147
Platteville ---------------- gº º ºs & tº tº º in e º 'º º ºn tº tº us e e º is an ºn tº º º sº º sº º gº sº º ºs tº º º ºs ºn e º ºs e º ºs 230
Pocatello ---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = e s s = e, 150
Point of Rocks.------------------------------------------------------. 31
Pueblo ----------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 186,187
Riverside.---------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 123
San Francisco --------------------- tº º 'º we as a s a tº as a w is sº as e s e º sº e º us as as w is e º us a e s = s. 79, 180
San Jacinto----------------------------------------------------------- 123
San Marcial ---------------------------------------------------------- 29
Santa Barbara.-------------------------------------------------------- 123
Santa Fé-----------------------------------------------------. 26, 30, 70, 149, 181
Socorro-------------------------------------------------------- -25, 26, 27, 29, 31
St. Vincent------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 48
Tacoma--------------------------------------------------------------- 110
Tubac ---------------------------------------------------------------- 99
Tucson --------------------------------------------------------------- 36,99
Tunvacacori --------------------------------------, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • 99
Vermillion------------------------------------------------------------ 47, 50
Wadsworth. -------------- & is sº º is sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s as we as 79, 149
Washington, D.C ----------------------------------------------------- 161,220
Yankton.---------------- 'as me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 47, 50, 59
Yuma -------- ------------------------------------------------------ 147
Climate, reference to ...... -- '- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 104,130, 171,242
Agricultural, the -----------------------------------------------------. 32
Arid, the -------------------------------------------------------------- 46,63
Cold, a --------------------------------------------------------------- 16
Southern California, in -----------------------------------------------. 122
Subhumid ------------------------------------------------------------ 46,63
Subtropical----------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * 35
Coal :
Anthracite fields -----------. tº sº tº º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs ºn tº º gº º ºs º ºn tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 19
Arid region in -------------------------------------------------------. 12
Component beds of---------------------------------------------------. 56
Rock Springs, Wyoming ---------------------------------------------- 13
Sulphur Creek, at ------ ---------------------------------------------- 13
Supply of.-----------------------------------------------------------. 12, 13, 14
Counties, Names:
Butte. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 79
Clark. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 58
Clay. -----...---------------------------------------------------------- 58
Comanche ------------------------------------------------------------ 58
Croley ---------------- 4 * sº sº º sº tº sº º sº me we as we as tº sº tº e º ºs º ºs º º ºs ºs º ºs º dº tº sº º sº e s m º ºs º ºs e º sº sº sº ºn 59
Dickinson ------------------------------------------------------------ 58
Elko. ---------------------------------------------------------- 238,239,940,241
Esmeralda ------------------------------------------------------------ 2
Eureka - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 239,241
Humboldt ------------------------------------------ gº ºs º ºr e ºs e º sº as a e º 'º e º e 239
Jewell ---------------------------------------------------------------- 58
Kern --- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 79
Lander ... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 239
Lassen.--------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 79, 149
Los Angeles-------------------------------------------------------- ... 122, 340
Marion - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - dº º º sº ºn tº dº º ºs dº º ºs º ºs º as sº sº ºn tº e ºs ºn tº sº s 58
McPherson. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 58
Modoc. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 149
Morris - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 58
Norton - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - dº º ºs e is us s sº as as 59
Nye - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 102
Phillips - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ,----- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - §:
Pratt - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - º:
On O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * 58
#:ii - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * .
Russell - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - *)
San Bernardino------------------------------------------------------- 122,349
San Diego - = e = a, e - a. s. as a s = e s = e s s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • 122, 180, 340
Santa Barbara.----------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 340
, Sheridan ------------------------------------------------------------- 59
Ventura - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - es e e º s ºr m e s m s s = e s s nº m s = e º is tº * * * * * * * 340
f INDEX. 357
Counties, names–Continued.
Washington ...-- tº s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e e g º me e s sº a s tº e s = e º sº w a sm e º as tº s ºn as º e º 'º sº º sº 58
Weld.----...--- tº ºs º ºs º dº gº ºs º dº º sº º ºs º ºs * e º ºs e e s sº sº a se is e s = * * * * is as s as sº º is s a sº * * * * * * * * * *
White Pine------------------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e e s is us 102
Countries, names and mention of:
Austria--------------------------------------------------------------- 110
British America.------...------------------------------------------------ 53
Canada.-------------- e ‘º º ºs e e as e º ºs º e s tº º sº e º as e º ºs s as sº º is ºn as a se as a sm is º ºs º º º ºs º ºs º ºs º º ºs 47, 54, 111
China----------------------------------------------------------------- 102, 103
Pgypt ------------------------------------ as e e a s as e s e s is a s e º e º e a sº a 102,103, 199,287
252
England------------------------------- e e a s tº e º e s sº as as we dº sº as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº
Europe -----------, -------------------------------------------------- 46, 65,260
France ------------------------------ • * * * * * * * * s = e is a se sº * * * * ------- 34, 110, 199, 252
Germany ------------------------------------------------------------- 110,252
• Great Britain--------------------------------------------------------- 304
Greece--------------------------------------------------------------- 305
India----------------------------------------------------------139, 180,199,204
Italy ----------------------------------------------------------- 34, 110, 199,305
7
Prussia --------------------------------------------------------------- 110
Russia---------------------------------------------------------------- 199
Spain.----------------------------------------------------------‘. . . .34, 199, 305
United States. --...-----. 5, 12, 18, 27, 43,44,63,64, 65, 66,71, 73,79, 88,99, 100,105,
110, 122,129, 132,145,156,157, 190,200,242,250,252,256,259,287,288,302
Creeks :
Bishop---------------------------------------------------------------- 239
Cherry --------------------------------------------------------------- 230
Goose----------------------------------------------------------------- 238
Hanks---------------------------------------------------------------- 239
Maggie------------------- tº sº sº º ºs º º sº is º ºs º ºs dº sº sº tº sº tº º sº m sº sº e º sm sº sº º sº º dº º sº as is tº sº º sº º sº sº 239
Monument ------------------------------------------------------------ 148
Rock ----------------------------------------------------------------- 239,240
San Antonio---------------------------------------------------------- 341
Santa Fé -----------------------------. ------------------------------- 26,30
Sulphur -------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 13
Susie----------------------------------------------------------------- 239
Thousand Spring------------------------------------------------------ 240
y Walnut--------------------------------------------------------------- 100
Crops.----------------------------------------------------------- 16,90, 101,196,238
Barley---------------------------------------------------------------- 130
Bunch-grass ---------------------------------------------------------- 127
Cereals --------------------------------------------------------------- 21,239
3. --------------------------------------------------------------19,21,38,42
rain ---------------------------------------------------------------. 9
Grasses --------------------------------------------------15, 19, 24, 30, 31, 32,99
HaY---------------------------------------------------------------16, 26, 38,39
§ºn COTD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 130
ats ------------------------------------------------------------- 21, 38, 39, 130
Potatoes -----------------------------------------------------------9, gi, 38, 39
38
Rice ---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = e = e s = s. s.
Roots----- ----------------------------------------------------------- 99
Rye -----------------------------------------------------------------. 9, 38,130
Sugar- ---------------------------------------------------. tº º ſº tº gº º ºs º º sº wº 35, 38
Vegetables------------------------------------------------------------ 38,239
Wheat.------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16, 19,21,38, 39, 42, 130
D.
Dams, mention of :
Arizona, lºl - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 194
at Walnut Grove.--------------------------------------- tº º se sº as a 138
Ditches, for, near Rio Grando ----------------------------------------- 26
Eaglo Rock, site at---------------------------------------------------- 150
El Paso, international at ---------------------------------------------. 105
Hassayampa -------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 159,211
358 ÍNDEX. i Y
* * IPage.
Dams, mention of-Continued º
Johnstown, at ---------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 194
Loose rocks------------------- * - as we sº e º us as as a tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 139
**--------------------------------------------------. 23, 32, 65, 76, 77, 162, 193
Tellor Ditch Company.--------------------------------................
Prainage areas --------------------------------------------------- 28, 32, 34, 23, 137,
43, 64,66, 69,73, 81,98,99, 100, 102, 103, 107,194,202,206,217,222
Albuquerque, at------------------------------------------------- . . . . . 26, 29
Arkansas, the --------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 212
Colorado ---------------------- • * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e. 39
El Passo, at-------------------------------------- tº se as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 32
Jordan, the.---------------------------------------------------------- 39
Headwaters of. --------------...----. R we ºn as sº tº e º 'º sº as a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as 23, 24, 32
Hydrographic -------------------------------------------------------- 26
Pake Tahoe, of ------------------------------------------------------. 106
Post stream ---------------------------------------------------- dº e as a sº s 23, 24
Rio Grande, on the --------------...----------------------------22,23,25,28, 32
Sagnache, the --------------------------------------- & = ** a me • * * * * * * * * * * * 5
San Ildefonso.-------------------------------------- < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
San Luis ------------------------------------------------------------- 24, 29
Sevier, the ----------------------------------------------------------- 39
Truckee, the-------------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 103
E.
Engineers:
Bodfish, Sumner H........ 183,184,205,206, 207, 208,209,210,211,212,213,214,215
Calderon Louis ...----....... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 323
Coyle, J. B.T --------------------------------------------------------- 304
Dutton, Clarence E ----...-------...-----...------ 132, 133, 134, 135,136, 137, 138,
139, 140,141, 142,143, 144, 145, 146, 147,148, 149, 150, 151
Follett, W. W. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
Hall, W. H. --- - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * 149
Hinton, R. J ------------------- 95, 96, 97,98,99, 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105,106,247
Langdon, W---------------------------------------------------------- 319
McKinney, II, G ---------------------------------------------------. 308
Morrison, James G---------------------------------------------------- 280
Nettleton, E. S. . . . . . . . . .34, 105, 106,215, 216, 217, 218, 219, 220, 221, 222, 229, 230, 231
Schuyler & Allard, Messrs - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 273
es e º - º tº - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
• * * * * * * * * * *
Thompson, A. H ---------------------...----------------------- 179, 180,181, 182
Wood, A, Pepys------------------------------------------------------- 299
Entomological Commission, extracts from ---------------------- 127, 128, 129, 130, 131
Entomology, Division of, report from -------------------------------------. -125, 126
Evaporation-------------------------------------------------------------14, 15,33,
26, 28, 32,33, 34,73,74,76, 77, 110, 134, 137,143, 160, 171, 173,208
Denver, at------------------------------------------------------------ 110
Growing plants, of.--------------------------------------------------- 19
High altitudes, at -------------------------------------------, -------. 14
Important study an -----------------------------------------, -----. . . 134
Low altitudes, at. --------------------------------------------------- 14
Stations, for measuring----------------------------------------------- 147
F.
Falls, river:
American.------------------------------------------------------------ 150
Great----------------------------------------------- ----------------- 44
Financial policy, for irrigation needs----------------------- 231, 232,233,234,235,236
Forts, United States: ©
Benton --------------------------------------------------------------- 51,54, 55
Hamilton ------------------------------------------------------------- 129
Pierre ---------------------------------------------------------------- 51,54, 55
Selden---------------------------------------------------------------- 31, 149
Shaw----------------------------------------------------------------- 129
Forests: -
Area in arid land------------------------------------ et as a sº e as as as a s a e s tº sº * * * 9, 10
Canada, in ---------------------------------------------------------- º 1, 11
Deforestation, Southern California, in . -------------------------------- 122
Fires ----------------------------------------------------------------- 11, 12
Map of destroyed by fire---------------------------------------------- 11
New Mexico, in ----------------------- e sº as sº ſº e s tº sº dº ſº e e º ºs s m = a a sa a s as tº dº tº dº * * * 25
INDEx. 359.
Page
Forests—Continued. -
Pine and cedar, of...-------- e e º sº se as as as an e s as as as as e º is sº º - e = * * * s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 10
Protect the, to......--- • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a s e º sº as sº e º sº e = * * * * * ... • * * * * * * * * * * * 110
Fruits, small, references to-------------------------------------------- . ... 38,99
Cherries------------------------------------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * 130,239
Currants.------------------------------------------------------------- 130
Gooseberries.--------------------------------------------------------- 30.
Grapes ------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 249
Raspberries----------------------------------------------------------- 13
Fruit trees, reference to----...-------------------------------------------- 18, 123
Apple ---------------------------------------------------------------- 130, 241
Date ----------------------------------------------------------------- * *
Orchards ....... * e = * * * * * * * g = a - tº e as e as a sº a sm • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * . . 94,122
9range --------------------------------------------------------------- 35
each ----------------------- tº e º sº de • * * * * * * * * * * * © e at tº tº us s as sº s is sº tº * * * * * * * * * * * 241
Plum--------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 130
G.
Geological formations in Kansas------------------------------------------- 58, 59
Nebraska ---------------------------------------- 55, 56,57
Texas-------------------------------------------- 60, 61
distribution, their area----------------------------------------- 56
Kansas, of -------------------------- * * * ~ * * º ſº, º ºs º -º as e 58
Texas--------------------------------------------- 61
Gulf of California -------------------------------------------------------- 34
Government aid to irrigation.---------------------------, ------- 27, 66,76, 95, 101, 125
Canada, in --------------------------------- de m e º sº as s dº sº dº sº am s tº sº ºn tº e º sº sº * * * * • * 111
FI.
Hills, mention of:
Black ------------------ gº ºn e º 'º tº e º is as sº dº e º us as ºr us is ºr as ºn e s is º was sº e º sm as ºr “ 13, 54, 55, 116, 124, 129
Cypress -------------------------------------------------------------- 128
I
Irrigation, reference to :
Acres in Rio Grande Valley --------------------------- tº s m as ºr º e * - e º ºs º ºr sº ºp 20
Ancient -------------------------------------------------------------- 17
at El Paso and Mesilla ---------------------------------------- 28
and modern on the Pecos-------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 17
Animal and bird life, effect on.----------------. wn tº m º ºr e º ſº tº gº ºn e º sº º ºs º gº º tº tº º ºs 109
Area of.-------------------------------------------------------------- 26
Areas, totals, States and Territories ----------------------------------- 6
Arizona, area of ------------------------------------------------------ 7
California, area in ---------------------------------------------------- 18
Canals and works for ------------------------------------------------- 17
Channels of distribution, for .----------...-- º º m sº e º sm º º sm ºn e º an as a ºn tº us tº tº & tº - sº º 100
Colorado, in -------------------------------------------------------- 7, 20,27,28
Elements that enter into work ...-------. tº e º an ºn a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 171
Entomological stand-point ... . .--------------...---------------------124, 127, 129
Forest conditions, relations to------...----------------------- 112, 113, 114, 115, 116
Gila region, of the .--------------------. . dº sº, e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 34
Hinton, R. J., report on, reference to----------------------------------- 109
Idaho, areas of.------------------------------------------------------- 7
Jordan Valley, in----------------------------------------------------- 39
Maximum of.--------------------------------------------------------- 21
Mesilla Valley, in ........ # = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 31
Montana, areas of.---... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8
New Mexico, in------------------------- - e º 'º - sº tº a sº º sº a tº e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18
* areas of.------------------------------------------------ 8
Nevada, in ----------------------------------------------------------- 102
Oregon, areas of -----------------------------------------------------. 8
Pecos on the, New Mexico.------------------------. • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 16
Problem, of.------------------------------------------ tº sº tº ºn ce s tº e º sº sº * * * * * 205,206
Problems of forestry------------------------------------------. 112,113, 114, 115
Pumps, by---------------------------------------------------------- * - 35
Salt River Valley, in-------------------------------------------------- 35
Seasons, of.----------------- tº we we m e º as as a ºn e º us wº 14, 18, 20,24,25,26,27, 39, 152, 196,242
360 INDEX.
te ſº Page
Irrigation, references to—Continued.
State Department, lettox to, on.----...-...--- tº gº sº sº as a ºn tº sº sº tº º ºs º ºs ºs º dº sº tº gº gº tº as e 249
circular from, on----------------------------------- 249,250
Systems of.----------------------------------------------------------- 124
}*ge, desirable----------------------------------------------. 100
high altitude storage, of.----...------------------------------. 100
Utah, areas of --------------------------------------------...----------- 9
Vegetation, effect on-------------------------------------------------. 109
Works, in general.-------------------...-----------------------------. 43
g L.
Lakes, names:
*** --------------------------------------------------------------. 52
9*----------------------------------------------------------------- 147
P*Y* --------------------------------------------------------------- 47, 50
P*--------------------------------------------------------------- 40, 103
9*Salt Lake------------------------------------------------------- 40
* ---------------------------------------------------------------- 244
*Pendence--------------------------------------------------------- 40
Jackson --------------------------- * * * * * = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º 'º º sm º º sº sº gº º & 150
* ---------------------------------------------------------------. 244
* ------------------------------------------------------------ 39, 130, 150,240.
Shoshone ------------------------------------------.*----------------- 244
* ----------------------------------------------------------. 40,79, 102, 181
**--------------------------------------------------------------. 77,148, 193
!!!” --------------------------------------------------------------- 39, 101, 150
W*peg -----------------------------------------------------------. 47
*ellowstone ------------------------------------------------ 43, 181,243, 244, 245
Land, references to:
Agricultural-------------------------------- 24, 25,28,73,99, 122,218,238,239,240
*------------------------------------------------------------------ 10
Area of timber land within arid sections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . tº nº m sº º ºs 10, 116, 117, 118, 119
Arid areas, of.------- 5, 23, 32, 33,44, 65,66, 71,97, 102, 124, 125, 131, 134, 135, 155, 169
\ 186, 200,211,242
Prush ---------------------------------------------------------------- 122
Catchment areas.------------------------------------------------- 21, 23, 25, 26,
27,28, 29, 30, 31, 32,71, 72,73, 152, 155,156, 158, 159,
160,161,162, 172,174, 175, 193,201,202,203,221,243
Bernadillo is a volcanic district.--------------------------- 30
Mesilla Valley--------------------------------------------- 31
Puerco, of the --------------------------------------------- 31
Tewan Mountains ------------------------------------- * * * * 30
Cienegas, or Wet places of Arizona------------------------------------- 99
Continental divide------------------------------------...--------------- 243,244
Coteaux -------------------------------------------------------------- 93
Desert, Amagosa.------------------------------------------------------ 173, 181
Colorado --------------------------------- a is tº sº sº tº gº ºs º gº gº tº dº tº º º is dº sº 100, 122, 123
Lands--------------------------------------------------------- 123, 181
Mojave.------------------------------------------------------- 122
Owyhee -------------------------------------------------------
Development of, inhabited localities ----------------------------------- 108
Flat ------------------------------------------------------------------ º
Forest---------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Foot-hills ---------------------------------------- * gº tº sº tº e º º sº 13, 77,95,99, 122, 145
Grass------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - 30, 40
Great Plains ---------------------------------------------------------- 54,98
reclamation of-------------------------------------------- 96
High ----------------------------------------------------------------- 38, 79,92
Irrigable --------------------------------- 14, 15,26,28,29, 30, 32, 66,73,77, 78,84,
140,145, 148, 149, 150, 152, 161, 162, 163, 164, 174,200, 201,219, 220
Bear River Valley, in ---------------------------------------- 149
Idaho, in ---------------------------------------------------- 84
Montana, in ------------------------------------------------- 84
Puerco, of the------------------------------------------------ 31
Utah, in -------------------------------------- ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 84
Lava fields, San Ildefonso Valley-------------------------------------- 25
Lost stream region.---------------------------------------------------- 34
Low lands------------------------------------------------------ 33, 34, 38,41, :
* 3
Arizona, of is sº sº e º ºs º gº tº gº tº º ſº s = ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
INDEX. * f 361
Page.
Land, references to—Continued.
Los Coyotes Ranch---------------------------------------------------- 123
Madison plateau ------------------ ------------------------------------ 243,245
Mesa ------------------------------------------------------- 26, 30, 44, 81,99, 167
Moistened ------------------------------------------------------------ 42
Montana—table of mountain, and plain and forest area by counties ----- 116
National Park -------------------------------------------------------- 43
New Mexico, mountain meadows of ---------------------------------- 30
table of mountain, and plains and forest area by counties-- 117
Non-irrigable --------------------------------------------------------- , 29
Pasturage ----------------------------------------------------- 25, 26, 30, 66, 106
Plains of Arabia ------------------------------------------------------ 129.
Plains region, timber.------------------------------------------------- 116
Plains of Saskatchewan ----------------------------------------------- 131
Plateau of Arizona ---------------------------------------------------- 33
Potato region.-------------------------------------------------------- 39, 40
Public---------------------------------------------------------------- 81,236
Rio Grande Mountains, area of ---------------------------------------- 28
Sand plains, Chama River .------------------------------------------- 25, 33
of the the Gila -------------------------------------------- 33
Sand hills ------------------------------------------------------------ 33
Sand dunes of the Rio Grande----------------------------------------- 17
Jemez ---------------------------------------------- 30
San Luis Park -------------------------------------------------------- 24
Slides ---------------------------------------------------------------- 160,218
Specific -------------------------------------------------------------- 21
Staked Plain --------------------------------------------------------- 97
Subhumid ------------------------------------------------------------ 169
Swamp --------------------------------------------------------------- 4.
Table -----------------------------------------. 99, 100, 185, 186,187,240,242,243
Tewan plateau.-------- tº º ºs º e s m 'm s s as s as sº s sº ºn as tº dº º is tº sº º ºs s a sº sº sº as º is is sº as as is s as as sº we s = * -
Timber------------------------------------------------------------ 25, 26, 30, 66
Total area of arid region ---------------------------------------------- 10
Valley------------------------------------------- --------------------- 36
area Rio Grande, of .----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 20
Wheat.--------------------------------------------------------------- 81
Wyoming, areas by counties ------------------------------------------ 117
actually irrigated ------------------------------------------ 9
Yellowstone Park.---------------------------------------------------- 79, 81
Laws:
Pesert land act ------------------------------------------------------ - 199,235
Entries under timber culture act --------------------...----------------- 120, 121
Homestead act, under --------------------------------------------- 76, 199,236
Pre-emption act, under.----------------------------------------------- 199,236
Provisions of Powell bill --------------------------------------------. . 67,68
Timber culture, foreign -------------------------------------------- tº s ºr 236
Timber land act ..... * s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is e a se is e e s m s = e s ∈ an as ºs e a e e º ſº dº ſº 199
M.
Maps, mention of :
Culture--------------------------------------------------------------- 71
Irrigated areas, showings --------------------------------------------- 5
Rio Grande, of.------------------------------------------------------- 22
Topographic ---------------------------------------------------------- 175
Wooded area of arid region.------------------------------------------- 9
Mines:
Arid region, in ---------------------------------------------- tº º as sº se sº sº as we 12
Hydraulio ----------------------------------------------------------- 41
Moisture from Pacific Ocean----------------------------...----...--...----.. 34
Mountains, names of:
Absaroka-...------- .* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ---------------- 243,245
Appalachian---------------------------------------------------------- 177
* ---------------------------------------------------------------- 24()
Big Horn ------------------------------------------------------------- 54, 128
9hiriouhua ----------------------------------------------------------. 90
919Wºr---------------------------------------------------------------. 241
Colorado, of ---------------------------------------------------------- 36
Pragoon.-------------------------------------------------------------- 99
* -------------------------------------------------------------- 243
362 r l INDEX,
*— Page.
Mountains, names of Continued.
Nacimiento ----------------------------------------------- * * * * * * ~ * * * * * 30
Rocky, the .--------------- 34, 35,38,54, 55,56,94, 95, 105,109, 124, 127, 172,243,245
Ruby------------------------------------------------ -------------- 239,240,241
Sheridan ----------------------------------------- -------------------- 245
Sierra Madre.------------------------------------ sº tº dº as tº a º ºn tº a tº as sº tº lº & º us tº tº * 122, 123
Sierra Nevada ----------------------------------------------------- 40, 102, 141
Snowy Range--------------------------------------------------------- 243
Spruce -----...---- • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 240
Teton ---------------------------------------... tº me e s m e º 'º - e º sº ºn tº me • * * * * * * 243
Tewan --------------------- - * * * * * * * * * * * ºf s is as e s is as as is ºn as sº as s as is sº se is s s a s sº a º º " 26, 30
Tritle ---------------------------------------------------------------- 159
Uintah --------------------------------------------------------------- 38
Wasatch-------------------------------------------------------------- 38
Wind River-----------------, --------------------------------------- ... 38,243
N.
Nettleton, E. S., reports on Colorado, filed by ............................. 230,231
R.
Railroads, reference to:
Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé.--------------------------------------. 148
Burlington and Missouri River ---------------------------------------- 13
Canadian Pacific.---------------------------- • ------------------------ 202
Central Pacific-------------------------------------------------------- 241
Northern Pacific ---------------------------------------- -------------- 136
Pacific --------------------------------------------------------------- 176
Southern Pacific ---------------------- * - tº º ºs º- tº dº sº ----------------------- 123, 148
Texas Pacific --------------------------------------------------------- 97
Rainfall ------------------------------------------------------------------ 6, 16, 17
33, 34, 36, 46, 53,73,90,97,98, 100, 107,109, 110, 122, 123, 141, 137, 139,144
152, 158, 159, 160, 161, 173, 174,203,206, 208,217, 225, 141,240,242,245
Colorado desert ------------------------------------------------------- 100
Colorado Mountains, inches of.---------------------------------------- 36
Eastern Dakota, in ---------------------------------------------------- 52
Evaporation, by ------------------------------------------------------ 34
Ganges Valley, in -----------------------------. . * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 74
Gila River, at--------------------------------------------------------- 33
Measurements of .----------------------------------------------------- 75,173
Mojare, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 100
Rocky Mountain plateau---------------------------------------------- 127
Subhumid regions, of the---------------------------------------------- 46
Texas -----------------. * * * * * * * * * * as s sm s tº tº - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - us tº * tº e ºs s as ºn e º - 98
Yuma, at --------------------------------------------------------. ---- 100
Reservoir sites. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - 22,23, 26, 30, 31, 32,42, 64, 65, 71,76, 77,80, 81, 84, 100, 101
107, 135, 140,148, 149, 152, 153,154, 156, 157, 161,162, 163, 164, 165, 166, 171
173, 174, 181, 194, 195, 199,201,206, 207,208,209, 211,216, 219, 239,241,242
Arkansas on the ------------------------------------------------------ 77,98, 193
Artesian -------------------------------------------------------------- 45
Bear Lake ---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 148
Bull Run Basin ------------------------------------------------ .e. sm sº as a 4. - 238
Butte and Lassen Counties, Cal., in ------------------------------------ 79
California, in ------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7
California, list of.-------------------------------- tº a se an º ºs • * * * s m is s as sº a e º as * 82
Clear Lake, near San Francisco.-------------------------------------- 79
Colorado, list of.----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * m ºr m mſ ºn tº sº m sº me as an ºn tº sº tº º * * * sº º tº gº & tº Gº tº 82
El Paso, at.----------------------------------------------------------21, 27, 220
Fall River Reservoir -------------------------------------------------- 79
Hope Valley ---------------------------------------------------------. 156
Idaho and Western Wyoming, list of.-------------...--------------...---- 79,83
Jackson Lake.-------------------------------------------------------- 79
Monaco Meadows, Kern County, on the --------------------------------- 79
Montana, list of.------------------------------------------------------ 80, 83
Nevada--------------------------------------------------------------- 79
Owyhee, on the ------------------------------------------------------- 238
Providence Lake------------------------------------------------------ 156
Sand, in the. ---------------------------------------------------------- 47
ÍNibelx, 363
Page.
Reservoir sites—Continued.
Storage---------------------------------------------------------------88.49, 44
on the Gila ---------------------------------------------------- 100, 167
Survey to estimates.-------------------------------------------------- 151
Squaw Valley, in------------------------------------------------------ 240
Susie Creek, on ------------------------------------------------------- 237
Sivan Valley ---------------------------------------------------------- 79, 139
Twin Lake ----------------------------------------------------------- 193
Utah Lake.---------------------------------------------------------39, 148, 156
Utah, list of.---------------------------------------------------------- 83
Yellowstone Lake.---------------------------------------------------- 81
Park ----------------------------------------------------- 79
Rivers, names and mention of:
American ------------------------------------------------------------- 41, 42
Arkansas ------------------------------------------------------------ 14, 15, 16,
18, 37, 58,63, 69,77, 97,98, 101, 136, 150, 156, 184, 186, 198,206, 207,212,213
Bear-----...- ------------------------------------------------------ 40, 42,63, 300
Big Horn ------------------------------------------------------------- 43, 129
Boise ----------------------------------------------------------------. 181
Bruneau ---- -------------------------------------------------------- 238
Cache La Poudre.----------------------------------------------------- 230
Canadian ------------------------------------------------------------ * 63
Carson -------------------------------------------------. 40, 69,147,149, 150, 181
Chama --------------------------------------------------------------- 25, 29
Cheyenne ---------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 43
Cimarron . ----. ºr e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 44
Clark's Fork --------------------------------------------------------- 241
Colorado.-------------------------------- * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * * * * * * * - - - - 33 38,63, 161,268
Colombia------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 42, 43, 63,238
*alls ----------------------------------------------------------------- 150,240
Firehole -------------------------------------------------------------- 244
Gallatin -------------------------------------------------------- 80, 148, 150,244
Gallinas ------------------------------------------------------------- 4
Gibbon --------------------------------------------------------------- 244
Gila ------------------------------------------------ 17, 33, 34, 35,99, 100, 147, 150
Green -------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Humboldt - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * a tº sº sº º ºs 40,240
Jefferson -------------------------------------------. * e º mº m º º 80, 130, 148, 150,244
Jemez ---------------------------------------------------------------. 26, 30
Jim ------------------------------------------------------------------ 89, 93
Jordon.--------------------------------------------------------------- 39, 40
Kootenay ------------------------------------------------------------- 43
Lamar---------------------------------------------------- s • * * * * * * * * * * 244
Paramie -------------------------------------------------------------- 55
Little Humbolºt.----------------------------------------------------- 239
Little OWyhee-------------------------------------------------------- 939
Post--------------------------------------------------------------- tº dº & 150
Lower Colorado -------------------------------------------...------- tº 18
Lower Rio Grande ---------------------------------------------------- 2
Madison -------------------------------------------------------. 80,148,150,244
Marys ---------------------------------------------------------------. 239
Merced.-----------. * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 149
Milk ----------------------------------------------------------------- 43
Mississippi-----------------------------------------------------------. 214
Missouri.----. 10, 15, 43,44, 63,80, 89,90,91, 93, 96, 98, 124, 140,147,148, 150,221,244
*ora ----------------------------------------------------...----------. 181
Yiobrara.-----------------------------------------------...------------- 44
North Platte -----------------. ---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * = • e - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 63
Owyhee ------------------------------- ---------------------------. 150,236,239
Payette. ---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = • * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 50
Pecos-----------------------------------------------------------. 16, 17, 21, 63
Platte ---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e. 15, 18, 98, 101
Powder----------------------------------------------------........... 4
Provo Fork ------------------------------------------------...----..... 39
Puerto ---------------------------------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 30
* -----------------------------------------------------------...---- 44, 89,93
Reese------------------------------------------------................. 239,240
Rio Grande--------------------------...--...-16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22,23,24,25,28, 30,
32,63, 69, 70,78, 84,105,147, 150, 181
364 INDEX,
Page.
Rivers, names and mention of-Continued.
Rio Puerco ---------------------------------------------- ge as a sº ºn s is º is sº * * * 26
Sacramento----------------------------------------------------------- 41
Saguache----------------------------- ... • e s = a tº as a sº a sº sº me • * is sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 23,28
Salt ------------------------------------------------------ 34, 35,99, 100, 147, 150
Salmon--------------------------------------------------------------- 238
San Pedro ------------------------------------------------------------ 99
Santa Cruz ----------------------------------------------------------- 99
San Francisco -------------------------------------------------------- 267
Saskatchewan ---------------------------------- ... a sº, is sº e s = a, e s sº e s = = * * * * * * 63
Sºviet -------------------------------------------------------------- 39, 40,150
Snake, or Shoshone.---------- 42, 43,44,63, 69,79,80, 130, 149, 150, 181.238,244, 245
South Platte---------------------------------------------------------- 63
Spanish Fork --------------------------------------------------------- 39
Stanislaus ------------------------------------------------------------ 149, 181
* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------ 80, 129, 140,148, 150, 151, 181
Taos------------------------------------------------------------------ , 2
Three Forks, Upper Missouri of ---------------------------------------- 140
Truckee ------------------------------------- is a se e s s e a • * * * 40, 69,147, 140, 150, 181
Tuolumne -----. ." - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * 140
Uba ------------------------------------------------------------------ 181
Underground --------------------------------------------------------- 35
Upper Arkansas------------------------------------------------------- 163
Weiser---------------------------------------------------------------- 150
Wood.--------------------------------------------------------------- sº 150
Yellowstone.---------------. 10, 43,44,80, 81, 110, 129, 147, 150, 181,220, 243,244, 245
Rocks, mention of-
Coal measures ------------------------------...------------------------- 51, 55
Cretaceous formation ------------------...--...- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 55, 56, 57
Cambrian.------------------------------------------------------------ 47, 54
Dakota sandstone-------------------------------------------------- 54, 55, 57,94
Limestone ------------------------------------------------------------
Porous---------------------------------------------------------------- 45
Quartzite stratum----------------------------------------------------- 90
Rin ------------------------------------------------------------------ 90
Sioux quartzite.------------- ------------------------------------- 93
Sandstone strata.----------------------------------------------------- 53,86
Silurian -------------------------------------------------------------- 54
Solid ----------------------------------------------------------------- 36
Strata of hard-rock --------------------------------------------------- 86
Tertiary ----------------------~--------------------------------------- 5
Triassic beds---------------------------------------------------------- 55
White River Tertiary ------------------------------------------------- 55, 56
Seasons, reference to
Drought... -- 11, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 24, 27, 33, 34,35, 40, 47,78, 101,123, 152, 196,242
18
Duration of irrigation -----------...------------------------------ º
Flood------------------------------------------------------------ º 22
Humidity of -------------------------------------------------- tº e º ſº 19
Non-irrigating -------------------------------------------------- ... 26, 27
Rainy ----------------------------------------------------------- 122
Spring------------------------------------------------------------ 230
Wet -------------------------------------------------------------- 16, 17, 22
Senators, references to : *
Casey, Lyman R., North Dakota-.5, 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 21, 22, 32, 33, 35, 37, 39,
*. 42, 44, 68, 78, 86, 87, 90, 91, 93, 95, 96, 97,
105, 106, 132, 151, 162, 170, 172, 174, 180
Gorman, Arthur P., Maryland - - - - - - - - - - - ---. 183, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197
Jones, James K., Arkansas - - - - - - - - - - 5, 11, 17, 34, 35, 37, 41, 68,72, 79, 84,85,
86, 132, 137, 138, 142, 143, 146, 151, 155, 156, 170, 187, 188,
190, 192, 193, 197, 205, 209, 210, 211, 212, 213, 214, 220
Moody, Gideon C., South Dakota ---.5, 13, 37, 65, 68, 89, 90,91, 92,93, 95,
132, 139, 140, 141, 142, 143, 151, 157, 162, 164, 165,
165, 167, 170, 175, 176, 177, 178, 181, 182, 183, 189,
190, 192, 196,198,205, 207, 213, 218, 119, 220, 221
Plumb, Preston B., Kansas ,----...------ 5, 17, 18, 20, 21, 33, 34,35, 36,37, 68,
70, 71, 95, 108, 162, 168, 169, 205
Reagan, John H., Texas -------- ---.5, 13, 14, 18, 22, 33, 35, 36, 68, 70, 78,84,
86, 95, 104, 132, 133, 135, 136, 139, 145, 146,151, 157,
162, 165, 170, 173, 174, 175, 178, 180, 181, 182, 183,
193,205,207,208, 209, 210, 211, 212,216, 219, 221, 222
INDEX. . 365
* - Page.
Senators, references to—Continued.
Stewart, William M., Nevada.------- 5, 37, 68, 95, 132, 151, 162, 183, 205, 249
Snow-fall------. ----------------------------------- wº sº sº e s tº sº sº º º ºs ºs º º - - - 16, 147,242,244
Precipitation, Sierras on ---------------------------------------------- 100
Valleys, in the Sierras------------------------------------------------- 36
Soil-------------------------------------------------- 19,32, 157,171, 173, 174,219,234
Clay.----------------------------------------------------------------- 152
Gravel.--------------------------------------------------------------- 7, 152
Sand.--------------------------------------------- 26, 41,73,97, 152, 160,219,230
Subsoil --------------------------------------------------------------- 19, 171
States, names and mention of
Arkansas ------------------------------------------------------------- 14
California.--------- 6, 10, 19, 35,38, 40,42, 45,63, 69,70, 84,100, 102, 103,122, 139,141,
144, 147, 149, 167, 172, 180, 181, 190, 195,235,241, 301, 302,305, 340
Colorado-...------- 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22,24,28,29, 37,38, 44, 45,63, 69,90,
101, 106, 130, 139, 147, 149, 163, 181, 184, 187, 190, 213,220,230
Dakota, North and South--------------- 12, 43,44, 46,47, 52,54, 56,63, 87, 89,90,91,
º 92, 93, 96, 97, 103, 106, 116, 128, 221, 244
Illinois --------------------------------------------------------------- 46
Kansas---------------------------------------------------------------- 14, 16,
35, 37, 44,56,58,63, 69,91, 97,99, 103,128, 137, 163, 183, 197,212,213,221
Massachusetts -- - ------------------------------------------------- 148,212,213
Minnesota ----------------------------------------------------------- 47, 54, 128
Missouri -------------------------------------------------------------- 141
Montana ... ----11, 12, 14,43,44,63, 70,80, 84, 110, 139, 140,147,181, 190,220,244, 245
Nebraska. ------------------------------------- 35, 43,44, 59,54, 63,91, 97,128,221
Nevada. .. 6, 12, 40,63,69, 79,97, 102, 103,139,141, 144, 156, 173, 190, 196,238,239,241
New York ---------------------------------------------------------- -- 88,220
Oregon -------------------------------------------------------- 6, 11,42,136,238
Pennsylvania --------------------------------------------------------- 220
Texas-------------- 11, 13, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22,27, 28, 31, 32,60, 63,90,91, 97,98, 131,221
Washington ---------------------------------------------5, 11, 13,42, 63, 136,238
Wyoming ------------------------- 6, 9, 13,38, 40,42, 43,44, 63,79, 116, 136,243,245
Stock-raising: *
Cattle ------ & sº º ºs º ºr * * * * r * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 52, 241
Horses.--------------------------------------------------------------. 52, 241
Ranches of ----------------------------------------------------------- 46
Surveys:
Area mapped in Nevada.----------------------------------------------- 70
Arid country, for ------------------------------------------------------ 108
Arkansas division, in -------------------------------------------------- 14S'
California, area mapped in -------------------------------------------- 70
Canal lines, rough --------------------------------------------------- 151
Canal lines, full------------------------------------------------------- 151.
Character of hydrographic needed.----------------------...------------- i87
Clear Lake, California, of --------------------------------------------- 149
Colorado, area in ------------------------------------------------------ 69
Coast, the --------------------------------------------------------- 144, 145,198
Donner, Lake of.------------------------------------------------------ 79
Donner, Weber, and Independence, of -. ---------...----------...----. ---- 149
Elements in a hydrographic--------------------------------...--------. 159
El Paso Reservoir ----------------------------------------------------. 148, 149
Engineer branch of irrigation.--------------------------. -------. 76, 77, 106, 134,
151,153, 156, 170, 178, 183, 193, 195,196, 199,205,215
Estimate for expenditures of -----. 8-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 133,227
Function of irrigation------------------------------------------------- 170
General instructions for hydrographers -----------...----...----. .... ---. 2367
Geological, the--5, 9,43, 86,87,91, 94,95, 103,154, 155, 168,169, 176, 183,185, 190, 191,
192, 193, 197, 198,201,202,205,210,211,212,215,220,222,243,244,246
Arizona, at ------------------------------------------------ 136
Texas central, in ------------------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e ºs 137
Utah, at ---------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * 136
Hayden, by . .----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * = 70, 184
Hope Valley ---------------------------------------------------------. 79
Hydrographic, branch of .-----...---------------------------------. 32,72, 74,76,
106, 134, 139, 152, 153, 159,161,162, 165,174, i99,203
Ida PS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 71
Idaho, in ------------------------------------------------------------- 149
Independence Lake, on. ---------------------------------------------. 79
Indian, &El * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 180
366 . INDEX.
- Page.
Surveys—Continued.
Irrigation, the ------...---------- 23, 68, 69,70, 86, 101,104,142, 152, 153, 154,162, 168,
169,170, 177, 185, 190, 191,197, 198, 199,201,203,208,216
field organization and Work -------------------...----...---. 147
King, Clarence-------------------------------------------------------. 70
Pand----------------------------------------------------------------. 185
Land Office---------------------------------------------------- 141, 181,218,219
Long Valley ----------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 79
Montana, transcontinental in --------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 136, 148
New Mexico, reconnaissance of ----------------------------------......
Object of irrigation by United States----------------------------------. 100
Railroad land.-------------------------------------------------. 98, 145, 177, 185
Reconnaissance; New Mexico, of.--------........ * * is © ºn tº º sº tº as ºr e º a es we we • * - - - - 136
Yellowstone, of the------------------------------------ 140
Reservoirs, full ------------------------------------------------------- 150
Rio Grande division, in the -------------------------------------------- 148
Summary, hydrographic----------------------------- tº ºs e º ºs e º is as * - - - - - - - 74, 75
Sun River Valley, in ... ... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s = e s m me • * * 140
Topographic, not necessary -------------------------------.!----------- 99
Topographic, branch of - - - - - 22,27,29, 32,68, 69,70, 73,76, 77,80, 85, 87,88, 89,94, 96,
98, 100, 103,104,105,133,135,136, 137, 139, 142,144,
145, 146,151,152, 153, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160,161,
162,163, 165,168,170, 174, 175, 177, 178,179, 180,181,
182, 183,187, 190,193,194, 195,196, 199,201,202,203,
r 205,208,210,211,212,215,216,220,221,222
Arkansas Valley, in ------------------------------------ • 197
Arkansas Basin, cost of the ------------------------------ 189
Arkansas Basin, upper ---------------------------------- 154
Colorado, of West of Denver------------------------------ 136
El Paso, region above ----------------------------------- 78
India, in --------------------------------- tº e ºa º me tº me tº us as sº º ºs - - 198
Yellowstone Park, of -----------------------------------. 245
United States irrigation------------------------------------ 100,106,132,213,215
Utah, Lake of ----------------------- & as as sº as sº sº sº as as e º ºr * * * * * * * * * * * > * * * * * * * * * 149
Webber Lake, on ----------- tº as ºn ºf tº its ºf ºs º ºs º ºs ºr sº º sm e º sº me tº gº º ºs º ºr tº º ºr tº e º sº tº ºn tº gº º sº ºr ºr º 79
Wheeler, the---------------------------------------------------------- 70, 136
Work, cost of ----------------------------------------------------- .... 151, 177
T.
Territories, mention of:
Alaska---------------------------------------------------------------- 7, 9,63
Arizona -------------------- 12, 33, 38, 45,63, 72,97, 98, 99, 100, 131, 138, 144, 217,220
Idaho ---------------------------------- 6, 11, 40, 42,63, 69, 70, 79,128, 136, 139, 141
144, 147, 150, 181, 190, 200,238,245
Indian Territory ------------------------------------------------------ 13, 59,63
New Mexico. ------------ 12, 16, 17, 18, 20,24,25,27, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33,63, 69,70, 84, 97
- 99, 103, 116, 139,141, 144, 148, 149, 181, 190,213,220
Utah ------------------------ 11, 38, 39, 40, 45,63, 101, 103, 128, 144, 147, 149, 176,200
Trees, arid regions--------------------------------------------------------- 19
Boxelder ------------------ tº w = e s as in my m º ºr m s m - as as tº sº e s º ºn tº sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 116
Cedar---------------------------------------------------------- à e as ºr e º ºs 10
Cottonwood ---------------------------------------------------------- 10, 116
Effect of planting, in dry areas------------------------------------ .... 119, 120
southern California.----------------------------- 123
Elm ------------------------------------------------------------------ 116
Fir ------------------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * 9, 10
Green Ash ----------------------- tº sº tº e º 'º ºf º ºs º gº tº sº as tº tº ºs º º sº tº gº tº º sº tº gº ºn tº dº tº & is tº º a ºn 116
Hackberry------------------------------------------- & as ºn as tº sº as ºn tº º sº e ºs e º sº a 116
Hemlock-------------------------------------------------- tº g an is is s m º ºs e º ºs 9
Palm --------------------------------------------------------------- 5 • 35
Pine ------------------------------------------------------------------ 9, 10
Pinons, or nut-pine--------------------------------------- tº tº sº tº ſº sº ºn tº dº º º º - 10
Sequoia, the -------------------------------------------- tº sº sº us tº 6 as ºn as & e º sº ºw 9, 10
Small oaks.------------------------------------------ º, º sº º me sº sº as tº use º º ſº ºn tº ºn tº 10
Spruce---------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Timber, of ----------------------------------- 9, 10, 11,24,29, 102, 110, 111,218,244
culture, Land Office figures. ---...---------- tº e º ºr ºs e º sm sº sº tº as sº s ºr e º ºs º º 121
areas, Southern California ------------------------------------- 122
of Interior Basin ---------------------------------------- 118
west of one-hundredth meridian .......-- ---------------- 117
INDEX, - 367
W.
Page.
Valleys, names and referenco to : -
Åibuquerque…....------------------------------------ 25,27,28, 29
Antelope --------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 123
Arkansas...15, 20,23,35,36, 47,77, 69,97, 101, 140,141,145,181, 186, 196, 197,206, *
€a T. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Butte--------------. -----------------------------------... -------------- 238
California, of -...--------- ------------------------------------------- 40
Carson.--------------------------------------------------------------- 149
Clover ---------------------------------------------------------------- 240
Colorado-------------------------------------------------------------- 98
. Death ---------------------------------------------------------------- 173
Iºl Paso.----------------------------- • e = s. sº a sm e º sº as sº e ºs º ºs º sº º sº sº tº s sº * * * 26, 27, 28, 31, 32
Gallatin -------------------------------------------------------------- 80
Goshute -------------------------- ?----------------------------------- 238
Grand River ---------------------------------------------------------- 38
Hope ----------------------------------------------------------------- 149
Humboldt ------------------------------------------------------------ 240
Independence --------------------------------------- '• • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 238
James River .--------------------------------------------------------- 91, 96
Jefferson-------------------------------------------------------------- 80
Jordon --------------------------------------------------------------- 39
Long ----------------------------------------------------------------- 149,240
Madison -------------------------------------------------------------- 80,242
Mesilla ----------------------------------------------------- 26, 27, 28, 31, 32, 100
Mississippi ----------------------------------------------------------- 137, 145
Nile ------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3
Owens---------------------------------------------------------------- 149
Pecos---------------------------- e - sº º e º is sº º is ºn - * * * * g º 'º - - - tº º º sº, sº e º 'º e º 'º e ºs e sº 98
Platte ---------------------------------------------------------------- 35, 97
Puerco --------------------------------------------------------------- 3
Red River -------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 47, 52, 53, 54, 55
Rio Grande--------------------- 18, 20, 21,23,28, 30, 32, 36, 84, 100, 101, 141, 148, 196
Ruby----------------------------------------------------------------- 238
Sacramento ---------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s s as a sº w w - sº es e s sº * * * * * * * * * 6, 40, 41
Salt River ------------------------------------------------------------ 100
San Gabriel----------------------------------------------------------- 122
San Ildefonso--------------------------------------------------------- 25, 29
San Luis ------------------------------------------------------------- 24
San Simon------------------------------------------------------------ 90
Santa Cruz ----------------------------------------------------------- 99
Santa Fé ------------------------------------------------------------- 26
Santa Maria ---------------------------------------------------------- . 123
Sevier ---------------------------------------------------------------- 39
Snake River ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 42, 130, 141
South Platte ---------------------------------------------------------- 230
SquaW---------------------------------------------------------------- 237,238
Steptoe--------------------------------------------------------------- 238
Sulphur -------------- • * * * * s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 99
Sun River ------------------------------------------------------------ 140
Taos-----------------------------------------------------------------. 29
Truckee -------------------------------------------------------------. 103
Uintah -------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 38
Upper Snake, of.------------------------------------------------------ 241
Yellowstone -------------------------------------------------------. 81,141, 148
Vineyards in and region.------------------------------------------------. 18, 19, 94
Witnesses and others, names of: -
Curtis, George E., meteorologist -----------------------...-- * - - - - - - - - 213,214, 215
Fernow, B. B., forestry -----------------------------------------------. 109, 124
Gilbert, G. K., geologist ... ------------. 170, 171, 172,173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179
Greene, Charles W------------------------------------- 231,232, 233,234, 235, 236
Hague, Arnold, geologist -----------------------------------------. 241,242,243
Johnson, Willard D., topographer...-----...-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as e 183, 204
Merriam, C. Hart ----------------------------------------------------. 131, 132
Powell, J. W., Director U. S. Geological Survey..... 5, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22,33, 34,
35, 36, 37, 41, 42,68,95, 132, 151, 170, 177, 190,192, 193, 194, 195,196, 197, 198, 199
Riley, C.V., entomologist.---------------------------------------...---- 124, 127
Willits, Edwin, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture.----...---- --------- 108, 109
368 INDEX.
Page.
Water :
Bed of.---------------- gº ºp tº º º ºs º ºr ºs ºr sº gº tº sº tº º ºs e º ºs º º 'º tº gº sº tº º * * * * * * * * * w = e is a tº m s tº e 42
Bear River, division of ------------------------------------------------ 40
Brackish, or alkaline-------------------------------------------------. 51, 52
Cloudbursts or spouts. -----------...-------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 81,144, 160, 161,218
Companies as carriers------------------------------------------------- 65
Conservation of storm or surplus.------------------------------------- 95
Current meters for measurement--------------------------------------- 158
Dakota Sandstones, derived from -------------------------------------- 50–52
Disappears in sand.----. `- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 36
Distribution of.------------------------------------------------------ 140
Division of the, through the States --------------------------. 27, 38, 39,63, 64, 65
Division of, by drainage districts -------------------------------------- 64
Donner Lake, from ---------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 103
Duty of ----------------* - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------------- 19, 20, 134, 152, 157,171
Equivalents of units used in measuring----------------...--------------- 229
Flood -------------- 20, 22, 24, 25,28, 31, 40,77,81, 138, 144, 160, 172,206,216,217,218
extreme -------------------------------------------------------- 30
Pacific coast, on------------------------------------------------- 214
time-------------------------------------------------------- 26, 41,72, 137
Flow of.------------------------------------------------------------- 18, 36,123
mountains of New Mexico, from -------------------------------- 20
Rio Grande, in the --------------------------------------------- 105
of, at a particular point, how ascertained-----...----------------. 214
Gauging, of ----------------------------------------------------- 72, 172,173, 199
stations, for-------------------------------------------------- 74, 147
river, height, of.---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 158
Gila, in the ------------ • a s m as as a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 33, 35
Head, American River, of---------------------------------------------- 181
Carson, of.------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 149
Colorado, of.---------------------------------------------------- 17, 161
Missouri, of -------------------------------------- © º ºs º we us is as we a e ºs tº - - 43
of, in mountains------------------------------------------------- 15
Rio Grande, of -------------------------------------------------- 27
International problem, at El Paso.----------------------------------32, 43,63, 105
Interstate problem, of - :--------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 63,65
Irrigation by storage of storm----------------------------------------- 46
lateral streams ------------------------------------------ 33
Jemez River, of, discharges into sand ----------------------------- * * * * * > 30
Lost in Sand, Saguache River, of --------------------------------------- 23, 28
Arkansas, of...------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 20
Maximum duty of. ---------------------------------------------------- 20
fall of, basins ----------------------------------------------- 138
Measurement of.----------------------------------------------- 171, 172,202,203
Minimum fall of, basins. we as ºs e º ºs e = * * * * * * * * * * * * : º as tº º sº º sº as s as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 138
Mountain of, flowing into Rio Grande---------------------------------- 27
National Yellowstone Park, of.---------------------------------------- 243–245
Nile, Egypt, of.------------------------------------------------------- 43
Overflow dams, of ---------------------------------------------------- 218
Percolation of, through sand ------------------------------------------ 36
- great Valleys ------------------------------------------ 98
Point of Rocks, non-irrigating Season.------------------- * * * * * e a ºn as ºn as ºr e a s 27
Puerco, of the ---------.-----> : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------ 30, 31
Pumping, an American invention.------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 34, 35
Quantity of sediment in ----------------------------------------------- 74
Return, conditions affecting ------------------------------------------ 19
Republican Basin surface --------------------------------------------- 97
Rights of --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 24, 29, 30, 66, 196,201
Sacramento, of the --------------------------------------------------- 40, 41
Sand reservoir, in------------------- • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 169
Seepage of.--------------------------------------------------- 18, 97,98, 171,228
or from Missouri.------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - º em e º sº gº º ſº sº as º º sº tº 96
table of measurement of.----------------------------------- 230,231
Sheds ------------------------------------------------------ 80, 137,209,238,239
in certain caſion ----------------------------------- * * * * s tº ºn m e º 'º an e 123
Silt ------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21,22
carried by the Rio Grande ---------------------------------------- 76
Sink at Tucson ------------------------------------------------------- 36
Sources of supply---------------------------------------- 45,46,47, 53, 54, 55,232
Page,
Water—Continued.
Springs, New Mexico ------------------------------------------------- 97
Storm.... ---...--...----------------------20, 31, 27, 40,46, 47, 86,91, 95, 101, 169,178
Storage------------14, 28, 30, 31, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43,93, 123, 154, 167, 184, 187,204, 241
Arkansas in, cost of.------------------------------------------ 77
El Paso and Mesilla Valleys, in -------------------------------- 28
mountains, in ------------------------------------------------- 77
mountain lakes, in -------------------------------------------- 103
reservoirs, in ------------------------------------------------- 73
rights to ----------------------------------------------------- 28
Rio Grande, of the --------------------------------22, 25, 78, 79, 100, 101
small, for the Great Plains ------------------------------------ 98
Storm Water -------------------------------------------------- 91, 93
surplus of, at high altitudes----------------------------------- 95
- Rocky Mountains, in ---------------------------------- 96
Utah, in------------------------------------------------------ 101
Strata-bearing-------------------------------------------------------- 54, 55
Streams lateral ------------------------------------------------------- 20
cause of.---------------------------------------------- 38
gauging ------------------------------------------------------ 195
mountain----------------------------------------------------- 35
nilometer or river gauge -------------------------------------- 72
Rocky Mountains, in ----------------------------------------- 34
Subterranean channels of ------------------------------------- -------- 18, 47
Supply of 25,29,32,93,98, 100,104,107,109, 110, 122,134,148,149, 159, 194,196,203,242
artificial -------------------------------------------- * ------- 47,225
New Mexico, mountains of ----------------------------------- 20
permanent --------------------------------------------------
Surface--------------------------------------------------------------- 36,90
Surplus ------------------------------------------------------------ 27, 159,196
Taos, of the ----------------------------------------------------------- 29
Tide season, in -------------------------------------------------------- 125
Underflow or drainage ------------------------------------------------ 33
Underflow of --------------------------------------------------------- 96
Under-ground ---------------------------------------------------- 37,94, 95, 102
* great basin---------------------------------------------- 36
sound of flowing, Arizona-------------------------------- 99
staked plains, Texas------------------------------------- 97,99
Utah Lake Basin ---------------------------------------- 101
supply, development of.-------- • * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 103
river---------------------------------------------------- 36
Utilization of.-------------------------------------------------------- 15, 33,34
Snake River, of the ------------------------------------- 42
Velocity of.----------------------- |- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 72,214
Volume of .--------------------------------------------------- 17, 63,96, 143,228
average of.------------------------------------------------- 76
Colorado, in the --------------------------------------------- 38
flood --------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * e 72,73
flowing-------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = as as . * 162, 164
Rio Grande, of the ------------------------------------------ 22
Waste ---------------------------------------------------------------- 100, 171
Missouri River, from ------------------------------------------- 124
Waste-Weir ------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 80, 138, 139, 150, 194
Way - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 160, 195,216,217,218
Well-irrigation committee's report, Vol. 1.------------------------------ 51,52
Work of experimenting at Dodge City. --------------------------. - - - - - 97
Wind--------------------------------------------------------------------- 143
Hot desert.----------------------------------------------------------- 123
Trade----------------------------------------------------------------- 123
Windmills at Riverside ------------------------------- tº sº tº º ºs º º º m ºn tº a ºn e º 'º º ºs tº gº 123
INDEX. 369
138 A L–WOL IV—24
IRRIGATION REPORTS OF UNITED STATES CONSULS,
NAMES AND POSTS.
Page.
Baker, E. L., Buenos Ayres, Argentine Republic --------------------------. 259
Bird, Winfield S., La Guayra, Venezuela----------------------------------- 256
Bissinger, Erhard, Beirut, Syria. ------. 281,282,283,284,285,286,287,288,289,290,291
Campbell, John Tyler, Foochow, China--------------------------------- 275,276,277
Camphausen, Edward, Naples, Italy--------------------------------------. 344
Carroll, Phillip, Palermo, Italy -------------------------------------------- 349,350
Child, Jacob I., Bangkok, Siam ------------------------------------------ • 280
Dufair, F. F., Havre, France.------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - $ sº se e s as tº 332
Earle, Edward W., Cognac, France ---------------------------------------- 344, 345
Emmet, W. C., Smyrna, Asia Minor ... ------------------------------------- 296
Gillman, Henry, Jerusalem, Palestine ---------------------- 291,292,293,294,295, 296
Grierson, J., Coquimbo, Chili --------------------------------------------- 257,258
Griffin, G. W., Syndey, New South Wales ------------------------------- 298,299, 300,
301,302,303,304,305,306, 307, 308
Hathaway, Alberto N., Nice, France--------------------------------------- 343, 344
Hollis, George F., Capetown, South Africa.---------------------- 308,309,310,311,312
Hosmer, James W., Guatamala -------------------------------------------- 255
Ingraham, Darius FI, Cadiz, Spain.---------------------------------------. 319
Jones, A. C., Chin Kiang, China. ----- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = ~ * * * * * * 279
Jones, Thomas C., Island of Madeira ------------------- 312,313, 314, 315,316,317, 318
Jones, Wallace S., Messina, Italy - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº is 345, 346,347, 348, 349
Kennedy, J. D., Shanghai, China----------------------------------------- * 280
McGarr, O., Guayaquil, Ecuador ------------------------------------------ 257
More, C.C., City of Mexico ----------------------------------------251,252,253,254
Pease, Henry, Santiago, Cape Verdi Islands.------------------. -- ---------- 3.18
Perez, Clodomire, Santandar, Spain...... --------- 320,222,322,323, 324, 325, 326, 327
Pettus, Thomas T., Ningpo, China. ------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * 277,278
Rathbone, J. L., Paris, France.-------------------------------- 327, 328, 329,330,331
Reimer, Otto E., Santiago De Cuba, Cuba. --------------------...----...----. 254, 245
Schumacher, J., Acca-Haifa, Syria ---------------------------------------- 289,290
Severance, H. W., Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands.-------.................. 73,274,275
Seymour, Charles, Canton, China. ----. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = • * = as s a 278,279
Trail, Charles B., Marseilles, France ------------------...-----------...------. 332,333,
334, 335, 336, 337, 338,339, 340, 341, 343,343
Walthall, W. T., Demorara, British Guiana - - - - - - - - - - ---..... --...----...-- 258
Webb, Alex. R., Manilla, Phillippine Islands ---...----. -------------------- 297
Willard, A., Guaymas, Mexico.----------. -------------------------------- 251
Wills, Charles H., Managua, Nicaragua ---------------------...----...----- 255
Woessner, John, Saltillo, Mexico ....... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = e s e e - e s - - - - - 250,251
INDEX TO REPORTS OF UNITED STATES CONSULS.
Page.
Africa, South, irrigation in ------------------- we at sº as ºn as tº as in ºn sº º ºs ºn s = * 308,309,310,311, 312
basins for storage ----------------------------------------------------- 311
Cape Town ---------------------------------------------------------- tº 308
Irrigation in : g
Act for promotion of ---------------------------------------------- 300
By private owners ---------------- m is sº gº is sº gº tº e º is a se as ºn e º sº ºn tº as as sº dº º tº º tº º 309, 310,311
Cape Colony, in--------------------------------------------------- 309
Land under------------------------------------------------------- 311
Orange Free State, in --------------------------------------------- 309
Van Wycks Valley, storage in ------------------------------------ 311
Rain-fall in :
Lack of.----------------------------------------------------------- 311
Table of, for districts, 1888 ---------------------------------------- 311
Rainy seasons ---------------------------------------------------- 308,310
Rivers of ------------------------------------------------------------- 310
Surveys :
Geological, of.---------------------------------------------------- 310
Topographic, of.----------------------------------------------- 310,311, 312
Table-land in--------------------------------------------------------- 311
Water :
Boring for .------------------------------------ ----. ------------- 312
Evaporation of ...----...-- º, º e º sº at a s se as s. sº e º e º sº e º sº as tº e as sº a sº a s is ºn tº is is e º sº * * * 312
America, Central, Irrigation of:
Guatemala, in -------------------------------------------------------- 255
Nicaragua,in --------------------------------------------------------- 255
America, North :
Mexico :
Cariel, Luis C., deputy president Senate...--------------- sº tº tº dº gº tº e º sº tº 254
Cities in: $.
Cantla-------------------------------------------------------- 252
Guaymas ----------------------------------------------------- 251
Mexico City-------------------------------------------------- sº 251
Saltillo ------------------------------------------------------- 250
Climate in, character of, in irrigated regions------------------------ 253
Crops, quantity and quality in ------------------------------------ 252
Cubas, A. Garcias, historian ------------------------------------- tº its 253
Dams of masonry in -------------------------------------------- tº dº 252
Department of public works in -----------------------------------. 254
Diaz, Porfirio, president of ---------------------------------------- 252
Fruit trees in.---------------------------------------------------- 252
Irrigation in------------------------------------------- 250,251,252,253,254
Antiquity of system of .------------- sº e º sº wº, as a ºn as ºn e º ºs • * * * * * * * * * * * * 251
Coahuila, in -------------------------------------------------- 250,251
Landa y Escandon, Guillermode, secretary------------------------- 254
Pacheco, Carlos, secretary of state -------------------------------- 254
Plantations in ----------------------------------------------- '• • * ~ * 25.2
Rain-fall in, annual ----------------------------------------------- 253
* Scant------------------------------------------------- 251
Riba y Echeverria, A., deputy president-------------------------.. 234
Sanches, Castellanos, senator president---------------------------- 254
Seasons, rainy, in --------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as . 251,252
Soils of: o
Alluvial Valley------------------------------------------------ 253
Black loam of.----. as º ºs ºs º ºs º º ºs º ºs ºn tº sº e º sº tº gº sº ºr sº sº gº tº dº sº sº tº ºs º ºs ºs & sº tº as ºn sº º ſº tº º 253
Rich land.---------------------------------------------------- 250
Sandy -------------------------------------------------------- 251
table lands, on------------------------------------------ 253
374 *. - INDEX.
America North–Continued. Page
Mexico—Continued.
States, of:
90°huila ---------------------------------------------------. sº 250
Mexico, federal district of.------------...-------...----...----. 251
*orelos----------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 252
Sonora---...--- * * * * * * * * * * * * * u, º, tº e º sº as a sº tº • - - * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - 251
Water w
Cost of . ---...-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 253
Distribution systems, of.-------------------------------------- 251,252
Pºty of.------------------------------------------------------ 253
Pack of.------------------------------- º ºs º ºs º º tº º sº use º º sº tº ſº dº º me tº ſº ſº tº º 250
Watural supply of-------------------------------------------- 251
Power of --------------------------------------------------- * * 250
Public-------------------------------------------------------- 251
Rights and privileges in-------------------...----------------- 250,251
Sources of supply of.------------------------------------------ 250,252
Storage and distribution works for -----------------...--------. 252
Wells, artesian ------------------------------------------------ ... 250,251
America, South, reports from :
Altitudes in— -
Cartamarca City, Argentine Republic-----------------------------. 264
Murallon, Argentine Republic-----------------------. ------------- 268
San Juan, Argentine Republic ------------------------------------ 263
Tucuman, Argentino Republic.----------------...----. ------ tº gº ºn tº as sº as 264
Canals in—
Main Southern --------------------------------------------------- tº 270
Western ---------------. tº & tº º is ºn tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * & us is in sº tº nº & & 271
Celman, De Jaurez---------------------------------------------------- 269
Cities in—
Buenos Ayres......... • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - º, e s m as ºs e º ºs e s is sº e s sº ºn as tº a s ... 259,261
Catamarca ------------------------------------------------------- 267
Cordova--------------------------------------------------------- 265,269
Demerara ---------------------------------------------------- * * * * 258
Guayaquil------------------------------------------------- tº gº tº º sº tº ſº 257
La Guayra ------------------------------------------------------- 256
Santa Fé ---------------------------------------------- tº sº e s tº dº sº tº s º ºs 261
San Juan --------------------------------------------------------- 263,268
Santiago ------------------------------------ tº as is is as a sº as as a he sº * * * * * * * dº sº 267
Climate of
Argentine IRepublic, its interior provinces in ....... ... ----- 262,263,264, ;
Catamarca, Province of -----------------------
Cordota, of ---------------------------------- 265
Mendoza, of ---------------------------------- 262
Tucuman, of ----------- tº e s m sº ºn tº dº sº se tº tº dº tº as me tº º tº dº sº * 264
- San Juan, of --------------------------------- 263
Chili; in ---------------------------------------------------- tº e º 'º º ſº 258
Ecuador, in ------------------------------------------------------- 257
Torrid, the ------------------------------------------------------- 256,25
Countries of, mentioned : tº ſº ºf º
Argentine Republic -------------------------------------------- 260,262,269
Bolivia -------------------------------------------------------- 260,254,267
Chili ------------------------------------------------------------- 264
Peru -------------------------------------------------- m e º ºs º gº dº sº * * * 260
Crops in --------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - 256,262,272,273
Alfalfa. ----------------------------------------------------------- 257
Barley------------------------------------------------------------ 257
Cocoa-nut -------------------------------------------------------- 259
Coffee ------------------------------------------------------------ 256
Grain ------------------------------------------------------------ 257
Hav.------------------------------------------------------------- 257,258
Sugar ----------------------------- as e = < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 251,259,267
Dams, their side-lines ---...---- - - - - - - - - - - * = e as a s = e e s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * gº ºn tº sº ºn º ©ſº (S 259
Flood-gates, of.------------------------------------------------------- 266,270
Fruit in -------------------------------------------------------------- 258
History of South America (Nap and Prescott).------------------------- 260, 261
Irrigation in countries of.----------------------------------.…: 256,257,258.259,
260,261,262,263,264,265,266,267,268,269.270,271,272,273
After the conquest -------------------- tº sº ºn as a s is a st as a e s = e º ºp e º a sº ºn tº e º 'º " " 261
fMDEX. - 375
* Page.
America, South—Continued. r
Irrigation in countries of Continued.
Antiquity of.---------------------------------------• - - - - - - - - - - - - - 260,261
Areas of land under---------------------------------------------- º 272
Argentine Republic, in .------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 259,260,261,
262,263,264,265,266,267,268,269,270,271,272
Argentine Republic, in non-irrigable provinces.-------------------- 273
British Guiana, in -------------------------- } • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 258,259
Character of works of provinces, Argentine Republic --- - - - - - - - - - - - - 266,271
Coquimbo province, Cbili in --------------------------------------- 257,258
Ecuador ---------------------------------------------------------- 257
Provinces depending on, Argentine Republic --...----...----...----- 27
Venezuela, in ----------------------- tº a tº e s is sº e º ºs e tº a º º ºs * a dº e º º º • As º nº sº º º 256
Works of Cordova------------------------------------------------- 269
Lake of Guancache .....-----. t-------------------f------------------- 268,269
Lands of:
Push ---------------------------------------------------- º, we ºn tº sº ºn a tº sº 258
Cultivated......... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 256,257
OW . . . . . * * * * * tº e s tº dº e º e e s as e e s a e º e º sº es e º e s as a e º we e ºs e s an e tº e º ºs ºs tº a s as º is as º ºs º º 258
Table --------------- © gº tº as sº e º º ºs tº Q s s a se e º a tº ºt tº s sº tº e º e º dº ºn e º sº e º e º º ºs e we º ºs s a 270
Mountains of:
Aconcagua.--------------- tº º ºs º º tº ſº ºn s e º is e º at tº º tº º sº is º ºs º ºs e º 'º e º º ºs º º º sº sº * * * 269
Aconquya -------------------------------------------------------- 267
Andes ----------- & e º sº º is tº e s s a sm º ºs ºn a s a s a s gº ºn tº a dº sº sº as we s m ºr as a º ºs e s m º º sº * * * 260,266,269
Boneto ----------------- tº º ºs ss º ºs ºr e º ºs ºs e as a sº w w e º sº e s s w e º 'º tº º ºs e is dº sº º 'º º ºs º º 'º "
Cordilleras --------------------- tº dº sº gº tº º ºs e º & sº * is nº sº tº e s ºr me a tº e º 'º º is ºw tº º ſº sº º tº 269
Sierra Uspillata.--------------------------------- a. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 269
Tupungato, peaks of.----------------------------- •º ºr e º ºs & ºr e º e a s an e s s 269
Provinces of
Buenos Ayres------------------------- • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e ºn e º 'º us is sº tº º 266
Catamarca ---------.................. ge e º ſº tº e º sº º ºr e º sº ºs s m = w º º ºs sº sº tº a 262,267,271
Coquimbo, Chili --------------------------------------------- gy ºn me s tº 257
Cordova------------------------------- tº gº ºs ºs º º sm º ºs º an ºr tº º sº s sº e º 'º - * * .266,260,271
Jujuy --------------------------------- tº º sº º sº dº º º tº as a se - e s as a e º e < * * * * * * 262
*jºy ------------------------------------------------------------ 267
* ------------------------------------------------------ 262,269,271
**------------------------------------------------------------- 268
***--------------------------------------- º e º 'º an e º 'º e e s s e e º 'º e º ºf 262,264,267
**---------------------------------------------- ** as tº º ºr tº º & 262,264,268
*** --------------------------------------------------------- 268
Santiago del Estero.-------------...--------- tº sº us tº ºr sº as ºn me tº sº e º ºs º ºs • * 262,267,271
**uman---------------------------------------- “sº º e º an e ºs e º e º sº as e 262,267,271
Rain-fall in—
British Guiana, avorage annual ----------------------------------- 259
Coquimbo, Chili in...---------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 256
Cordova, at.--------------------------...--------- ºws e e a s as a “* * * * * * * * * 265
*dor, in------------------------------------------------------- 257
Interior provinces, Argentine in------...-------------...-- . 262,263,264,265
*ndoza, at------------------------------------------------- • * * * * * 262
San Juan, at----------------------------------------------. tº e º e º & sº 263
San Luiz, at:------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * was sº w is a • 268
Tucuman, in------------------------------------------------------ 265
Want of.----------------------------------------------..... ºn tº º ºr tº gº 270
Reservoirs in—
Artificial ---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = • , 259
Pike of Mal Paso --------------------------------................ sº 270
Pike of San Roque-------------------------...----................. 269,270
Rhyland rood, unit of measurement.... .......... --- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 258
Rivers of
90squin ----------------------------------------------------. ** * * * 269
9tario --------------------------------------------.............. 269
Quatio.----------------------------------------................... 270
Jurament” -----------------------------------------.............. 267
Las Cuevas..... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 269
Mendoza. ---...-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * > * > . . . . . . . . . . . . . a 269
Paelen ...... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 267
Paraguay---------------------------------------.................. 266
Parana .
:-------------------------------------------------...----. 266 , 269
Piedra Blanca ---------------------............................... 66 ’257
376 INDEX,
§ Page
America, South, reports from –Continued.
Rivers of Continued. *
Pºcomayo--------------------------------------------------- & ſº ºn tº ºn 266
Primero * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e = sº as we sº a s is a 265,259
Quinto ::--------------------------------------------------------. 268,269
Rio los Horcones -------------------------------------------------- 260
Rio de la Plata.---------------------------------------------------- 266
Rio de los Sauces-------------------------------------------------- 270
Salado------------------------------------------------------------ 266,267
Sali or Dulce------------------------------------------------------ 267
San Juan --------------------------------------------------------- 268,269
Santa Maria ------------------------------------------------------ 267
San Roque-------------------------------------------------------- 269
Segundo ------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 269,270
Tala-------------------------------------------------------------- 271
Tercero----------------------------------------------------------- 269,270
Uruguay --------------------------------------------------------- 266
Vermejo.----------------------------------------------------- 266,267,268
Seasons of: *
Pºy -------------------------------------------------------------- 258,239
*iny ------------------------------------------------------------ 258
Summer --------------------------------------------------------- 256
Soils of: g
Clay.-------- , ſº º sº tº sº tº sº sº º gº tº us ºº e º ºs º sº gº ºn sº sº º ºs ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs º gº º is is sº sº sº º ºs º º sº tº * * * * * * * * - 259
Sandy loam------------------------------------------------------- 257
Strait of Magellan ---------------------------------------------------- . 262
Valleys of:
*ermoso.--------------------------------------------------------- 268
*que ------------------------------------------------------------ 268
Pismento --------------------------------------------------------- 268
*io del, the.------------------------------------------------------ 267
Sharacter of works, Venezuela, in--------------------------------- 256
Distribution of, Argentine Republic, in ---------------------------- 271
Drainage system, British Guiana.-----...----------------- * → • * * * * * * * * 258,259
Pvaporation in.--------------------------------------------------- 266
*loods of -------------------------------------------------------- 268
“Kokers” or "water gates.----------------------------------------- 259
Overflow of.------------------------------------------------------ 258
Public, cost of ---------------------------------------------------- 271
Quantity of.-----------------------------------------------------. 264
Rights by prescription -------------------------------------------- 272
Snow------------------------------------------------------------- 267
Sources of supply, Argentine Republic...-------- - - - - - - - - - - - 266,267–271,273
Ecuador, in ------------------------------------- 257
Venezuela--------------------------------------- 256
Storage in Chili--------------------------------------------------- 257
Surplus, Valles of Jacal.------------------------------------------ gº 268
Volume of.------------------------------------------------------- 268
Wells, artesian.------------------------------------------------------- 268,273
“Zouda,” northeast wind --------------------------------------------- 263,264
Atlantic Islands, South—reports from :
Cape Verde Islands, irrigation and water system in --------------------- 318
Madeira, in : k
Area of irrigation ------------------------------------------------- 312
Crops of irrigation--------------------------------------------- 312, 313,314
Fruit of ---------------------------------------------------------- 312
Funchal ---------------------------------------------------------- 312,314
Havin de Senate, Francisco---------------------------------------- 3.31
Laws and local regulations:
code of ------------------------------ ---------------- 315,316,317, 318
collecting rents --------------------------------------------- 317
Levadas, the -----------. . . as a sºrº ºr sº as sº as a ss ºn we as a s sº e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 315, 316
leasing Waters ---------- ------------------------------------ 316,317
prices of.--------- * * * * * * * * * * * arººm sº e º as sº as mºss e º ºs ºn sº e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3.18
public officers, duties---------------------------------------- 317, 318
Pesland, Francisco Joaquium -------------------------------------- 331
Seasons, rainy----------------------------------------------------- 312
Soil of.----------------------------- are as e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 314
Valleys of Brava and St. Vincente--------------------------------- 314
INDEX. 377
Page.
Atlantic Islands, South—reports from—Continued.
Madeira, in –Continued.
Water : g
Character of works, the Levadas------------------------------- 313, 314
Levadeiro or distributor of ------------------------------------ 313
Rights in ----------------------------------------------------- 314.
Supply of.---------------------------------------------------- 313
System of distribution ---------------------------------------- 313
Asia, irrigation in and reports from :
Acca-Haifa, Syria.------------------------------------------------ 282,290
Asia Minor ------------------------------------------------------- 296
Beirut, antiquity of----------------------------------------------- 286,291
area under ------------------------------------------------ 286
China, in ----------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 279
Formosa, in----------------------- gº us ºn e s as s is ºn sº as as e s = * * * * * * * * * * 280
land under------------------------------------------------- 77
methods of .------------------------------- 275,276, 277,278, 279,280
Fryer, John, Sinalogue.---- tº as ºn e º º as a sº e s m e º sº ºne e º º sº me is sº as e º 'º e º ºs º ºs e º º sº * * * 280
Hallandey, wind pump.--------------------- sº gº º sº me tº e s sº e ºs e º 'º dº sº º & = * * * 288
Jaffa, at ---------------------------------------------------------- 294,295
Jerusalem, at----------------------------------------------------- 292,293
Messina, at ------------------------------------------------------- 290
Mesopotamia, ancient canals in.----------------------------------- 286
Morrison, G. James, civil engineer--------------------------------- 280
Palestine, in-------------------------------------- 291, 292, 293,294,295, 296
Remarks on ----------------------------------------------- 275, 286,287,288
Shaduf The on Nile---------------------------------------------- 280
Siam, in ---------------------------------------------------------- 280
Syria, in -------------------- 281,282,283, 284, 285, 286, 287, 288, 289,290,291
Tripoli, land under.----------------------------------------------- 287
Wooden chain pumps---------------------------------------------- 277
Cities in—
Antioch ----- º as a s is we s is tº e º 'º º ºs º º ºs e g tº e º ºs e s m sº s as º is sº tº sº e s tº e s tº as as tº e º ºs º º º sº * * * 287
Bangkok ------------------------- * c e º sº me tº nº e s sº sº tº e º e º a se s as s a se e s º ºs º gº tº º
Beirut--------------------------------------------------------- 281,283,286
Bethlehem--------------------------------------------------------
Canton ----------------------------------------------------------- . 278
Chin Kiang------------------------------------------------------- 279
Damascus ----------------------- tº tº º ºn as e º ºs ºn tº dº e º sº sº us tº a ºn tº a ºn sº es sº me is º sº ºne tº sº * 281
Foochow --------------------------------------------------------- 275
Hamath ---------------------------------------------------------- 287
Hazmyeli--------------------------------------------------------- 288
Homs------------------------------------------------------------- 287
Jaffa ------------------------------------------------------------- 291,294
Jerusalem -------------------------------------------------------- 291
Nablous ---------------------------------------------------------- 291
Ning-Po ----------------------------------------------------- tº gº tº tº gº 277
Shanghai------------------------------------------------------- tº e 280
Sidon ------------------------------------------------------------ 287
Smyrna----------------------------------------------------------- 296
Climate in ------------------------------------------------------------ 278
Character of, in Canton------------------------------------------- 278
irrigated regions --------------------------------- 284
Palestine----------------------------------------- 295,296
Syria -------------------------------------------- 285
Semi tropical ----------------------------------------------------- 291
Thermometrical observations at Beirut, Syria.----------------. ---. 285
Tropical, in Siam -------------------------------------------------- 280
Crops in -------------------------------------------------------------- 291,296
Bean ------------------------------------------------------------- 293
Beet ------------------------------------------------------------- 293
Cabbage---------------------------------------------------------- 293
Carrot.------------ tº º ºs º dº e s sº º dº º ºs e º a s as sº a sº tº ºs e º is e s tº a tº º ºs e e º as as e as a sº º sº us as sº me 294
Cauliflower -------------.- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 292,293
Cereal ----------------------------------------------------------- gº 283
Citron---------------------------- ------------------------------- 293,294
Cotton ----------------------------------------------------------- 281
Cucumber ---------------------> x * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 294
Durah or maize --------------------------------------------------- 281,287
378 - INDEX.
Page,
Asia, irrigation in and reports from—Continued. te
Crops in—Continued.
*gg-Plant -------------------------------------------------------- 288,293
Garlic -------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 293
Hemp -------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * 281
Peek ---------------------------------------------------------- *** * 293
9°k” ------------------------------------------------------------ 293
Onion------------------------------------------------------------ 287,293
Peas-------------------------------------------------------------- 293
Potatoes ---------------------------------------------------------- 293
Pumpkins -------------------------------------------------------- 204
Radishes -----------------------------------------------. e sm as ºn tº us tº tº “e 294
* :----------------------------------------. gº ºn tº º ºr e º sm as e º 'º ºr * ~ * 278, 279, 280
the cultivation of --------------------------------------------- 275
Syria, in quality of ----------------------------------------------- 281
Tomatoes ------------------...------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 294
Turnips. ---------------------------------------------------------- 293
Vegetables------------...---- * * * * * * * * s sº e s sº a s e º an as a me • 278, 281, 283, 286, 293,294
Fruit trees in : •
- Apple---------------------- & s at s e º sº an as a tº ºn s e a tº e º 'º - e º ºs ºs º as ºn s s sº dº º 'º - s º ºr º º
Apricot --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * dº º º ºs º º 293,294
Panana---------------------------------------- ſº sº me & sº ºn sº e s as s sº e º as sº dº v. " 281
Pate -----------------------------------. • * * * * a s as s e a e = * * * * * * * * * * * * 281
Fig----------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * ~ - - - - - - - - - - - 281, 293
Lemon.-----------------------------. ------------------------ .281, 293,294
Lime ------------------------------- * * * * *s in e º e º a s e s e a se is ºr sº e º 'º - " sº * * -- 294
Mulberry ----------------- tº as a s is tº º e º 'º º '• - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 281,283, 286, 293
Nectarine--------------------------------------------------------- 293
Olive--------------------- tº s ºn tº as ºr m ºn a º Aº e º e º sº a sº tº a ºn ºn an º' e º sº as ºr sº s a w sº sº ºw * * * * 281, 294
Orange ------------------------------------------------------- 281, 287, 294
Orchards at Sidon.---------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº a 281
at Tripoli ----------------------------------------------- 281
Peach ------------------------------------------------------------ 293,294
Plum ------------------------------------------------------------- 293
Pomegranate----------------------------------- a * * * * * * * * * * 281, 292, 293,294
Tune - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , 293
Lakes in : -
Artificial, at Homs, Tripoli --------------------------------------- 282
Tiberias ---------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * as as a as ºn º a sm is sº sº e s sº sº * * 282
Land :
Arable------------------------------------------------------------ 296
Arid-------------------------------------------------------------- 280
Irrigated --------------------------------------------------------- 286, 296
Mediterranean, the --------------------- tº sº sº is sº º sm º gº tº º sº ºn ºn tº * * * * is e s sº * * * * 286, 291, 294
Mountains:
Ebal ----------------------------------------------- ſº gº a s tº me a º ºs e º is as a 291
Gerizim----------------------------------------------------------- 291
Lebanon -------------------------------------------- tº g º ºx a sm as as º º sº tº dº & 281,288
Sannin (Lebanon Range of) ----------- tº gº ºs e º ºn tº - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 287
Pools of Solomon.------------------------------------------------- 282
Rain-fall in -------------------------------------------------------- 278,279,294
annual ----------------------------------------------------------- 285,286
Asia Minor, annual ----------------------------------------------- 296
Beirut in inches from 1870 to 1889.... ------------------...---------- 285
Jaffa, at---------------------------------------------------------- 295
Siam at---------------------------- s as as as es e s m e a sm s m me as a m e º s m tº me • * * * * * * * 280
Rivers
Beirut----------------------------------- tº as as e a we a ºn e s a tº e as es us tº e s sº we sº * * * 286,288
Dog -------------------------------------------------------------- 286
Dleutherus ------------------------------------------------------- 287
Euphrates -------------------------------- * * * * = • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 286
Min ------------------------------------------------------------- 276,377
Orentes.---------------------------------------------------------- 282,287
Tigris ------------------------------------------------------------ 286
Yangtsze Kiang--------------------------------------------------- 279
Yellow ----------------------------------------------------------- 279
Schumacker, G., civil engineer -------------------- tº sº a sm as as s an e s sº as tº s ºn tº sº º sº * 290,291
Seasons in
* Drought------------------------------- tº g s sº e s m as e º ºs e s as as º a se e º 'º “ - * 265,279,296
Dry tº e º ºs º ºs & £ a ºn is a s a e º s : º a s a ----------- º gº tº gº tº gº tº gº tº tº s a ºn s sº tº e s = * * * 280,283,295,296
INDEX. 379.
Page.
Asia, irrigation in and reports from—Continued.
Seosons in—Continued.
Harvesting ----------------------------------- a m = a sº dº is a dº as e º sº dº º 'º a • * * 296
Rainy ----------------------------------------------------- 278,279,292,295
Wet, • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Snow-fall in ---------------------------------------------------------- 286
Soil in :
Alluvial ---------------------------------------------------------- 278
Clay and sand in orange groves, Jaffa.----------------------------- 293
Fertile -------------------- • . . . . . . . = • , - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * 280
Palestine, in ----------------------------------------------- 29:
Red clay------------ -- as as e = ... • * > → - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 293
Sandy loam ------------------------------------------------------- 296
Syria, at--------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 285
Springs at Antelias.--------------------------------------------------- 286
Valleys in: *
Jord n ----------------------------------------------------------- 291
Kedron, of the ---------------------------------------------------- 292
Nahr ------------------------------- s = • , as a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 287
Urtas.------------------------------------------------------------ 293
Vineyards in.--------------------------------------------------------- 294
Tape - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 293,294
Melon ------------------------------------------------------------ 294
Water in :
Abundant supply of.---------------------------------------------- 287
Amount used per acre, in Syria.----------------------------------- 283
Beirut works ----------------------------------------------------- 287
Character of works, Syrian---------------------------------------- 281.23%
Distribution of -------------------------------------------------- 294
Engine in use at Bajaras ------------------------------------------ £94,295
Evaporation of--------------------------------------------------- 296
“Fountain of the Cup” ------------------------------------------- 293
Ottoman Water regulations - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 283,284
Persian water-wheel at Harmale-----------------------------------. 281
Siloam, Pool of.--------------------------------------------------- 292
Source of supply, China, in ---------------------------. ------------ 278
Jaffa, in ----------------------------------------- 294
Fountain of Solomon ---------------------------- 293
Syria, in ---------------------------------------- 281
Supply for Asia Minor -------------------------------------------- 296
China ------------------------------------------------- 279
laſil - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 280
System of distribution, China-------------------------------------- 27
Jaffa -------------------------------------- 295
- Syria -------------------------------------- 2S2,283
Works, etc., at Damascus, Tripoli, Homs, and Hamatte ---...-...--- 286.
JAustralia, reports from :
Artesian well-boring in.... -------- 298,299, 300, 301,302,303,304,305,306, 307, 308
Cities of:
Albemarle -------------------------------------------------------- 300
Deniliquin -------------------------------------------------------- 303
Forbes ----------------------------------------------------------- 299,300
Sydney-------------------------------------------------------- 298,299,303
Tapio------------------------------------------------------------- 300
Windbar --------------------------------------------------------- 300
Climate, New South Wales, of------------------------------------------ 305,306
Colonies of:
New South Wales.------------------------------------- S$8,303,304,305,307
Queensland------------------------------------------------------- 301,303
South Australia.----------------------------- ---------------------- 304
Victoria -------------------------------------------------------300,308,306
Crops of:
TDSS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 300
Lucern (alfalfa) -------------------------------------------------- 300, 301
Maize ------------------------------------------------------------
Sorghum --------------------------------------------------------- 300
Wheat ----------------------------------------------------------- 300
Darling River Basin, the ..... sº me is sº a º ºs ºn u º is e s a tº a ºn s sº sº º m e º ºs º ºs e s a sm º ºs º ºs e º sº tº * * 301, ;
Fruits grown IIl tº tº tº º tº * * * g ºn it tº ºn tº e º sº ºn tº me ºn a tº ºn tº tº ºn e º is ºn tº as we tº sº tº e º 'º a tº gº tº º e º ºn tº * *
380 INDFX,
Australia, reports from—Continued.
Irrigation in :
Anderson, W., geological surveyor, on.----------------...---------.
Area under, New South Wales, in ...----------------.........-----.
Authorities on ---------------------------------------------------
99Xie, J. E. F., civil engineer, on----------------------------------
Pddler & Co., farmers, on.---------------------------------------.
Lachee district, land in .... --------
New South Wales, in -------------. 298,399,300,301,302,303,304,365,
Russell, H. C., astronomer, on.-------------------...--.........--.
Tangye Pump for ------------------------------------------------.
T. Towser, farmer, on ---------------------------------------------
Works for
Pand, grass and maize, in --------------------------------------------.
9*ds in----------------------------------------------------------.
*ins of Emu --------------------------------------------------------
Rain-fall in colonies:
Annual average---------------------------------------------------
Darling, on the
*enindie, at ------------------------------------------------------
Riverine district, average of. ---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Sydney, in--------------------------------------------------------
Tropical fall------------------------------------------------------
Rivers in :
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s as us s = • * ºr e º sº e º as s e º sm e º as
Parling -------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 298,
Pachlan ----------------------------------------------- -----------
*no-----------------------------------------------------------
Rooks, Silurian -------------------------------------------------------
Seasons of:
Prought ----------------------------------------------------------
Stock-raising in ------------------------------------------------------
Water in :
Artesian, in -------------------------------------------------------
PVaporation of---------------------------------------------------
Laws and customs, governing-------------------------------------
Riparian rights, in------------------------------------------------
Sources of supply----------------------------------------------300,
Storage of flood---------------------------------------------------
Supply of.--------------------------------------------------------
Surplus-----------------------------------------------------------
Underflow, abundant in. ------------------------------------------
Wilson, James, letter to consul-----------------------------------------
Cuba, irrigation of.------------------------------------------------------.
Bay of Guantanamo---------------------------------------------------
Capes of:
Crops of.-------------------------------------------------------------
Irrigation, Santiago de Cuba, in.-------------------------------------- tº
Mountains of Sierras del Cobre.---------...---------------------------
bain-fall of annual---------------------------------------------------
Rivers of:
Canto------------------------------------------------------------ e
Mayari -------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Naranjo --------------------------------------------------------- *
Soil of, alluvial -----...--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Seasons of ---------------------------------------- tº e º º ºs º is ºn as as as º ºs º º ſº e º ſº tº
Town of Manzanillo----------------------------------------- tº ºs º ºs º ºs m wº * ºn
Water system...... ..... • • - - - - - - - - - g is a dº sº dº dº tº gº tº º ºs e a dº sº as tº a s sº a s is tº ºn tº tº dº ſº º tº ſº dº
29.)
306, 307
301
302
209
299
300
300, 302
302
305,306
305
305
301, 302
301,303
299, 300
305
298
299, 305
301
200
201
300
30.}
301, 302
303, 304
299
301,302
302
301
307, 308
254, 255
255
255
255
255
254,255
255
255
253
255
INDEX. 381
Page.
Europe, countries in, reports from— *
Albarracín, Señor Santiago, J ------------------------------- º sº tº ſº º & & - º º 271
Canals, for irrigation—
Ecla, the --------------------------------------------------------- 325
De Campos, the -----------!---------------------------------------- 325,326
De Castilla, the --------------------------------------------------- 325
Del Norte, the ---------------------------------------------------- 326
Del Sur, the ------------------------------------------------------ 325, 326
De Urgel, the ----------------------------------------------------- 32I
Imperial, the ------------------------------------------------------ 321, 326
Provence, in ------------------------------------------------------ 333
Rhone and Pyrenees, in-------------------------------------------- 333
Taxes to maintain------------------------------------------------- 329
Cattle-raising------------------------------------------------------ 323,324, 325
Cities, in— -
Cadiz.----------------------------- tº us tº s tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 319
Carthagena ------------------------------------------------------- 319
Cognac -------------------------------------------- '- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 344
Havre ------------------------------------------------------------ 341
Lorca.------------------------------------------------------------ 319
Marseilles ----------------------------------------------------- 332,334,345
Naples------------------------------------------------------------ 344
Nice -------------------------------------------------------------- 343
Palermo ------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 347
Paris ---------------------------------------------------------- 327,341, 344
Saragosa --------------------------------------------------------- 326
Seville.----------------------------------------------------------- 319
Climate : *
Annual temperature, Palermo ------------------------------------- 350
Character of, in France ------------------------------------------- 329
Messina, in ------------------------------------------------------- 347
Northern Spain, condition in -------------------------------------- 325
Spain, of------------------------------------------------- tº e º an º ºr s - e. 322,323
£, Temperature, Cabuerniga, in -------------------------------------- 323
Countries, mention of:
England ------------------------------------------------------- º sº e
France---------------------------------------- 327,333,334,340,341,344,345
Italy ---------------------------------------------------------- 333,340,347
Scandinavia ------------------------------------------------------ 322
Spain.---------------------------------- tº º ºs º ºs ºs ºn tº un ºn a 319,322,324,325,327,340
Crops, in :
Agricultural statistics ---------------------------------329, 335,336,337,338
Barley------------------------------------------------------------ 326,336
Beans ------------------------------------------------------------ 339
Cereals ----------------------------------------------------------- 336,340
OTD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3484e
Cotton.----------------------------------------------------------- 336
Grass.--------------------------------------------------------- 324, 345,348
Hay.---------------------------------------------------------- 323,324, 345
Oats.-------------------------------------------------------------- 336
Pease------------------------------------------------------------- 327, 339
R 6 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 326,336
Tobacco ---------------------------------------------------------- 340
Tomatoes.--------------------------------------------------------- 327
Vegetables-------------------------------------------------------- 327
acreage of.--------------------------------------------- 339
Wheat.--------------------------------------------------------- 326,336,339
Dams, Ferranova, above.----------------------------------------------- 347,348
Paterno, at----------------------------------------------------- 347
Engineers, mention of:
Chevigne, Count, France--------------------------- tº º tº º tº e = e ºs e º as e a se 330
Fouzeroy, Flourand de, France--------------------------------- 341, 342, 343
Gouton, A., France------------------------------------------------ 341
Llaurado, Andres, Spain ------------------------------------------ 321,322
Lucian, Mons., France -------------------------------------------- 332, 341
Perrin, Mons., France--------------------------------------------- 341
Rochemont, Mons., France----------------------------------------- 341
Rousseau, Léon, France------------------------------------------- 341,342
Villeneuve, Mons., France---------------------------- Q = * * * * * * * * * * * 335
Wivenot, Mons., France s as as tº es e e s sº e s e º as ºn ºn tº tº º º * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 341
382 INDEX,
$ Page.
Europe, countries in, reports from—Continued. 1.
• Flood-gates----------------- tº e º 'º e º ºs º ºs º ºs º is tº ſº tº º ſº vº gº º ºs º ºs ºs tº tº wº, ºn tº as Głł sº e º ſº a us wa w in e 330
Francon, M., viticulteur ------...--------- gº tº ſº ºr tº º ºs º sº º sº tº º, º º º ſº tº ºf , is sº us tº w w us as ºf us 339
Fruit trees in :
Agerole----------------------------------------------------------- 339
Almond------------------------------------------------ ----------- 339
Apple ---------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 339
Apricots -----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s is as e º e s sº º sº sº º s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 339
Capers------------------------------------------------------- * tº sº sº º 339
Cherries ---------------------------------------------- & º ºs s as sº as as sº sº. tº gº 339
Tig--------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * 339, 340
Grenadine ------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - & e º 339
Jujute------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * 339
Lemon ----------------------------------------------------------- 333,340
Medlars ---------------------------------------------------------- 339
Olive---------------- & sº tº ºr sº g º º is sº us tº as sº º is tº ſº ºn tº tº º sº º sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * 319,339, 340, 343
Orange.------------------------------- tº dº e º sº tº wºn tº sº º ºs º ºs º ºs ºn sº sº sº us 319,323,340,343
Peach -------- "- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - 339
Pear------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is as s an e 339
Pistache---------------------------------------------------------- 339
Prunes ----------------------------------------------------------- 339, 340
Quinces ------------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº gº º 339
, Walnut.------------------------------------ tº º is a sº ºn e º is ºn we we s is a s nº e º is a s 339
Irrigation in :
Antiquity, France in ------------------------ * * * * * * * * tº tº me ºs º ºs ºn tº sº as e 325,326,331
Area under, in France---------------------------------- 322, 327, 343,344, 347
Bigot, System of ---------------------------------------- tº ºn tº me tº sº ºr se tº as 330
Classes of.---------------------------------------------------- tº º sm sº 321
Dacaeur system ------------------------ tº e º ºs º ºs º ºs & & tº º ºs º is sº tº e º sº º sº º ºs e º sº. 330
Department La Manche ------------------------------- tº º sº ºn tº gº e º as ... 341, 342
of Mayenne.------------ gº º m ºn tº as sº ºn tº me ºt tº us sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 342, 343
Ille et Vilaine ... -- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * tº sº e 342
Des Bouches-du-Rhone, in------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 332, 341
La Chavente, in ----------------------------------------- & us tº e º ºs --- 344, 345
List of Works.------------------------------ tº ºp ºf ºn tº ſº º & sº ºn e º sº ſº º ºs º ºs e º sº ºn 331
Meadows, of.--------------------------- &n gº ºn tº gº tº gº e º sº tº º * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 322,323
Messina, Sicily, in ------------------------------------ ------------- 345, 348
Orange and lemon culture, Sicily, in ------------------------------- 348, 349
Southern Italy, in is nº sº º sº tº dº e º ºs e º 'º is me as e º º ºr sº ºn tº º © º º gº tº dº sº º sº gº º ſº º ºs º ºr sº wº tº tº º º sº º | 344, 349
Spain, in ------------------------------------------------------ 320,322, 327
System of Palermo ------------------------------------------------ 350
Island of:
Camargue ------------------------------------------------ tº tº ºn tº dº sº sº º 330
Sicily ---------------- tº º ºf tº ºp ºf º ºn tº gº tº tº e º ºs º sº sº tº dº º º ºs º gº tº us sº ºn tº gº tº º sº º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºr ºt tº 347, 340
Land in : *
Crops on irrigated ------------------------------ tº sº sº sº tº º sº sº sº e º ºs º ºs dº º º ºs 346
Foot-hills ... - as a e s = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº ºn tº ºn 343
Meadow as as me as as as sº in e º 'º º ſº º ºs º º tº as º ºr sº e º sº tº as as tº ºn tº sº * is dº º sº tº gº tº e º nº sº º º tº sº ºn as sº e º ºs tº ſº tº ºn 324
Plateau of Old Castile------------------------------------------ --- 325
Southern France, in ------------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * s 340,
Metric denominations --------------------------------------------- tºp tº sº º 332
* Mountains of:
Alps -------------------------------------------------------------- 334, 343
Cantabrian ------------------------------------------------------- 323,324
Pyrenees.------------------------------------------------- tº ſº tº ſº º sº gº º 322, 323
Plains in :
Catania.------------------------------ & is tº gº º sº tº dº sº nº s º ºs nº ºn tº es us tº sº a se as º ºs º ºs º ºs 347
La Camargue ---------------------------------------------------- tº 334
La Cran ---------------------------------------------------------- 334
Provinces, Spanish, named :
Alava. as a s = s. s. s. sº * * * * * * * * * gº tº ºr ºs º º gº tº wº º sº º º ºs me tº tº * * * * * * * * * * * * tº ºne ºn tº gº tº º us gº tº gº º sº º 326
Andalusia -------------------------------------------------------- 319
Ban... ------------------------------------------------------------ 344
Biscay-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tº sº sº dº º tº º ºs º º 322
Granada.---------------------------------------------------------- 319,327
Guipuzcoa - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 322
Logrono ---------------------------------------------------------- 326
Messina ---------------------------------------- tº a ºn is a s s is e º sº us as tº º ºn º º ſº 345
Murcia gº w w w e ºf e gº tº gº tº tº ſº tº º ºs º gº ºn e * * * * * * * * sº e º ºs ºs º G ºr ºf tº as ºr w w tº gº tº e º 'º e tº - - - - - - - - - 327
INDEX. 383
Page,
Europe, countries in, reports from—Continued. §
Provinces, Spanish, named—Continued.
Oviedo --------------------------------------------------------322,323, ;
Palermo---------------------------------------------------------. *e
Santander ---------...---------------------------------------320,332,323, 325
Valencia---------------------------------------------------------- 319,327
Rain-fall ------------------------------------------------------ 322, 327, 333,334
Annual, in France ------------------------------------------------ 331
Messina------------------------------------------------ 347
Palermo ----------------------------------------------- 350
Southern France, in ----------------------------------------------- 344
Reservoir at Oridon --------------------------------------------------- 328
Rivers in :
Darro ------------------------------------------------------------ 319
Duro --------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 326
Durance-----------------------------------------------------------333,334
Elbro------------------------------------------------------------- 326
Gela-------------------------------------------------------------- 348
Guadalquivir ----------------------------------------------------- 319
Neste ------------------------------------------------------------- 328
Rhone ------------------------------------------------------. --829, 330,334
Santa Ana -------------------------------------------------------- 340
b Simeto ----------------------------------------------------------- 347
Vesubie ---------------------------------------------------------- 343
Xenil ------------------------------------------------------------- 319
Seasons of drought.--------------------------------------------------- 324, 325
Seas of:
Adriatic ---------------------------------------------------------- 344
Mediterranean -------------------------------------------- 329, 333,334, 344
Soils in--------------------------------------------------------------- 323,334
Alluvial ---------------------------------------------------------- 344
Deep and fertile -------------------------------------------------- 326
Nature of.-------------------------------------------------------- 32%)
Sterile------------------------------------------------------------ 343
Province, of ------------------------------------------------------ 334, 340
Qualities of Spain.----------------------------------------------- 322
Springs of Sainte Theole ---------------------------------------------. 34:}
Streams in :
Chavente--------------------------------------------------------- 344
Nee .--------------- • * * * * * - - ; : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -------- 344
Topography of Des-Bouches-du Rhône -------------------------------- 33A
Messina district --------------------------------------- 34(;
Trees in :
Beech ------------------------------------------------------------ 324
Oak -------------------------------------------------------------- 324
Palm ------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * we e 319
Pistachio --------------------------------------------------------- 348
Timber -------------------------------------------------------- - - - 33-f
Vineyards in ------------------------------------------ 339, 343, 319, 323,326, 34%
Water in : #
Character of storage works in France-----------------------------. 328
Court at Granada ------------------------------------------------- 310
Distribution at Messina ------------------------------------------- 346
Palermo------------------------------------------- 349
Flood ------------------------------------------------------------ 334
Storage of -------------------- gº º ºs º gº tº º sº * * * * * * * * * * * tº gº º tº a ºn tº sº e º sº me ºn sº e º ºs 340
Supply of, in France ---------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º ºs º ºs º me as * * * * * * * * 328,343
Italy, in ----------------------------------------------- 344
Messina, in ------------------------------------------- 345, 346
Palermo, in -------------------------------------------- 349
Surplus ---------------------------------------------------------- 345
System in the Bouches-du-Rhône -----...---------------........... 329, 330
France------------------------------------------------- 328,329
Total area of ----------------------------------------------------- 324, 325
Wind, South ------------------------------------------------------ 325
Indian and Pacific Ocean Islands, reports from :
Archipelago, Phillipine, irrigation in . . .------------------------------- 297
Cities in : Bruan, Calanda, Carite, Manila, San Francisco de Malabou .. 297
Dominican Fathers ----...----------... * * * * * * * * * * * s m e º sº e s s a se e s tº es e ºs e e º us e sº 297
384 INDEX.
- Pagé.
Indian and Pacific Ocean Islands, reports from—Continued. ag
Lands in rice and “Zacate” or swamp grass --------------------------- 297
Rain-fall in -------------- sº º sº gº º ºr º gº tº e º sº º tº sº º ºs º ºs e º ºs º º tº e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *e 297
Seasons of.----------------------------------------------------------- 297
Sluice-ways in . ------------------------------------------------------- 297
Hawaiian Islands, irrigation in ----------------------------------- 273,274,275
Allardt & Schuyler, engineer's report ----------------------------. 273
Antiquity of irrigation system. ...----------------------- ** * * * * * * tº sº º tº s 273–275
Climate of .---------------------- © e º sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a 274
Crops: * --
Bananas ------------------------------------------------------ 274
Rice ---------------------------------------------------------- 273,974
Sugar-cane --------------------------------------------------- 273,274
Honolulu, at--------------------------- © º is up º ºs e º ºs s us tº º is us º ºn v e e s sº us us e º me 273
Rain-fall: w
Annual ------------------ tº º ºs ºs º º * º ºs º º ºs º º º sº tº ºr sº tº us tº sº e º ºs ºs e ºs e º ſº, sº º ºs = s. 274
Island of Oahu, on -------------------------------------------- 275
Hilo district, in ----------------------------------------------- 275
Sprecklesville, plantation, at ----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º º ºs e º ºs ºn sº us tº tº us ºn º ºs e e s s 274
Water, in :
Cost of rental to users------------------ tº º ºs º ºs º ºs ºs º ºs º ºs º sº.* * * * * * * * = 274
Duty, of ------------------------------------------------------ 274
Source of supply-------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 273,274
Tenure of ownership --------------- tº gº º tº º ſº tº º tº º wº e tº see as as tº e tº ſº ºn sº tº gº ºne º 274
IRRIGATION
THE UNITED STATES.
BY
- RICHARD J. HINTON.
[Special Agent in charge of Artesian Wells Investigation, 1890,
Department of Agriculture.]
BEING A SECOND EDITION OF MISCELLANEOUS DOCUMENT No. 15, .
FORTY-NINTH CONGRESS,
WASHINGTON :
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICRC,
&r 1890,
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
EXTENT AND METHODS, AREA OF RECLAMATION, THE STATISTICS
THEREOF, ARTESIAN WELLS, LAWS OF STATES AND TERRI-
TORIES, WATER SUPPLY, RATES AND DISTRIBUTION:
WITH BRIEFSKETCH OF FOREIGN SYSTEMS, ETC., ETC,
PREPARED BY
RICHAED J. HINTON.
BEING A
SECOND EDITION OF SENATE MisCELLANEous D0CUMENT No. 15, 49th CONGRESS,
138 A L–AP WOL IV—1
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
[Prepared by order of the United States Senate Special Committee on Irrigation and
Reclamation of Arid Lands. I
PAIRT I.
THE ARID REGION.
An inquiry into the progress and present condition of irrigation in
.."this country necessarily involves a consideration of the extent and char-
acter of the area within which the annual rain-fall is not sufficient for
the industrial uses of the people. Such an inquiry, broadly defined, in-
volves the extent of the fall of rains or snow within the area indicated;
also the evidence obtained as to increase or decrease of precipitation
resulting from agricultural settlement or of pastoral Occupation, the
increase of humidity of earth or air, the destruction of the timber mainly
by its use for settlement purposes, the effect of the destruction of the
native grasses and the substitution of cultivated varieties; also the
sources of Water supply, their character, uses, conservation, the means,
natural and artificial, employed for their distribution, and what has
been and is being accomplished in the way of artificial methods of water
distribution and economy, and the laws and customs pertaining thereto,
More than any of these, however, it relates itself fundamentally to the
largest questions of physical geography. The topographical configura-
tion involves, indeed it controls, the whole matter of aridity, because
it determines all climatic considérations. The probability of reclama-
tion by means of irrigation is primarily by the configuration of a given
hydrographic area.
Incidentally, the questions arising from deforesting, on the one hand,
and of arboriculture, on the other, are related to the inquiry, and have
been brought out to some extent. The aim has been to give the actual
facts upon these subjects, so far as they could be supplied from obser-
Vation, experience, experiments, and realized results. This effort has
been measurably successful. It has brought together a mass of facts
and observations that shed much light on the questions involved, giv-
ing a broader idea of the importance of irrigation, and adding greater
value to a very large area of the United States, of whose agricultural
capabilities but small account has heretofore been taken. It will be
developed by the facts herein presented that the area of the irreclaim-
able arid lands within the boundaries of the Union is, comparatively
speaking, quite moderate in its extent. There is, however, a very large
area, embracing at least one-third of our total land service, wherein the
water supply, whether subterranean and surface-flow or in the form of
precipitation, is both inadequate and irregular in character. \
The eastern boundary of this great area may at present be assumed
to be the one hundredth meridian of West longitude. The western
boundary may be in part placed at the Pacific Ocean, though more ac-
3
4. IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES. **
curately the Coast Range of California would be the line. The north-
ern boundary is the British territorial line west from the one hundredth
degree to the summit of the Sierras, or the one hundred and twentieth
meridian. Following the summits of the main range, the northwest line
would deflect to the central portion of Oregon, following the southwest-
erly bend of the mountains down to the northern boundary of Califor-
nia. The Southern limit of this dry area would be the northern line of
Mexico, and thence south by east, along the Valley of the Rio Grande,
down to the Gulf of Mexico. The area then, east and west, through its
central and larger portion, runs from the one hundredth meridian to
the One hundred and twenty-fourth degree of west longitude, and in its
greatest prolongation north and south from the forty-third to the
twenty-Seventh degree of latitude. In its more northern portion it runs
east and West from the ninety-eighth to the one hundred and twentieth
degree of West longitude. The larger portion from north to south is
embraced between the thirty-second and forty-third degrees of latitude,
with the sub-arid or semi-humid area, the eastern line of which, though
irregular, may safely be stated as the ninety-seventh meridian, the
total area extends east and west for nearly twenty-eight degrees of lon-
gitude.
These lines cover nearly one-half of the States of Kansas and Ne-
braska, both States of Dakota, the whole of the States of Colorado,
Montana, and Nevada, with nine-tenths of California, one-third of Texas,
and about one-third of Oregon; also the Territories of Wyoming, New
Mexico, Utah, Idaho, and Arizona, with at least one-third (east of the
mountains) of Washington. This embraces about one-third of our whole
territorial surface, inclusive of Alaska. How much of the latter-named
Territory may be wholly or partially arid or desert in character can not
yet be estimated. The east and West lines of this dry region, then, are,
in the widest section, over 1,300 miles apart, and in its greatest length,
the northern and southern limits are about 1,000 miles apart. If the
whole region were compactly arranged it would make a block about 1,000
miles square. The area thus indicated may be subdivided again into
three broad divisions, as follows:
(1) The plains region, running north and south from the British
American line to the lower portion of the Rio Grande Valley in Texas,
and east and west from the one hundredth to the one hundred and fifth
degrees of west longitude. This division may be broadly declared to
have a general rise and altitude of from 1,500 to 5,000 feet, though it
will fall below that at either end of the area. It is but Sparcely Sup-
plied with streams, which are mainly fed from mountain sources; the
annual precipitation is nearly everywhere below a reliable amount for
economic uses. In the central portion this precipitation Will not, under
favorable conditions, exceed 18 inches per annum in the eastern part,
and as we go westward it diminishes to 12 and 15 inches per annum.
In the southern (Texas) portion of this area the rain-fall will some-
what exceed 20 inches on the east, decreasing until, on the northWest,
it will reach only 8 to 10 inches in the most favorable Seasons. In the
northern or Dakota portion the average is more evenly maintained.
This division will include the western half of Kansas and Nebraska,
one-third (or the eastern foot-hills and plains region) of Colorado, the
major portion of Dakota, the eastern half of Wyoming Territory, and
one-third or more of the Indian Territory and Texas, with about One.
fourth (or the eastern part) of New Mexico. It is drained by a number
of streams, some of them of importance, and is bounded on the east
and north by the Missouri River and its afluents, and by the Pecos and
THE CHIEF DIVISIONS OF THE ARID REGIONS. 5
Cimarron Rivers on the west and southwest. Its soil is almost uni-
formly fertile. Natural grasses of most nutritious quality are found
throughout its area. It is the most important grazing section of the
West.
Large farming settlements are moving steadily and compactly West:
ward from the eastern line. At various points in its Western portion
there are important farming communities, created mainly by the use of
water as applied through irrigation ditches and by other means of
storage and distribution. The valley of the Upper ſtio Grande, from
the San Juan Range in southern Colorado, to where the river de-
bouches from New Mexico into Texas and becomes the boundary-line
between the United States and Mexico, has for many generations been
the seat of local and unsystematized irrigation works. The Pueblo or
town-dwelling Indians have for centuries practiced it. Since the
Spanish conquest, in the sixteenth century, the mixed Mexican people
who have inhabited this district have always been obliged to irrigate
in order to cultivate. In these latter days our own more enterprising
people are inaugurating and carrying on larger enterprises and proj-
jects, whose advantages are already perceivable.
(2) The second great division can be more distinctly characterized
as the arid section of the United States. It lies between the one hun-
dred and fifth and the one hundred and twentieth meridians, taking in
the whole of our intra-mountain region, from the foot-hills of the Rockies
to the lower slopes and foot-hills of the Sierras Nevada in California,
and extending north and south from British America to Mexico.
Within this area, except on the higher and arid heights of the ranges,
principal or secondary, there is generally good pasturage for cattle.
The natural grasses are sun-cured, and afford ample food and range
for many million head of cattle.
The problem of water supply is, however, one for serious considera-
tion. There are desert tracts and areas within this great region which
are undoubtedly arid and desolate to the extent of irreclaimability.
Their extent is a matter yet unsettled, especially in view of the great
enterprises projected and in progress in both Colorado and California.
Even the mountain plateaus, which, from altitude as well as aridity
would seem to be undoubtedly sterile, may yet be found useful, not only
in providing for cattle, but, possibly under systematic plans of forest-
culture, they may be made the means of protecting the water sources
and otherwise favorably modifying climatic and terrene conditions.
The defined outlines of this second division embrace the great basin
section, of which Utah and its Water reservoir—the great Salt Lake—
are the dominating physical and geological features; the Colorado
plateau region, which occupies the larger portion of Southern Nevada
and Northern Arizona; the beautiful parks of the Rocky Mountains or
the eastern flank and ranges of the North American Cordillera system;
the table-lands of Southern Arizona, and the great valleys and basin
formed on the north by the Columbia River and its important affluents
in eastern Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. •
Arid and desert as this stupendous mountain system may seem to
be, it will be found on examination to have large sections capable of
agricultural uses, and also to hold withiu its borders such sources and
supplies of water as, properly conserved, protected, and distributed,
under the Wise and conservative direction of the national and State
Governments, will be found of ample utility for the purposes (1) of larger
pastoral uses; (2) of more limited and localized, but still extensive,
agricultural purposes; and (3) as storage and reservoir sources, from
6 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
which at no distant day the life-giving waters may be conveyed to and
distributed over vast areas, which even our present limited experiences
prove to be convertible into fertile farms.
A glance at a good topographical map will indicate to the observant
eye the areas under reference. For example, the central section of the
Rockies (in Colorado, Wyoming, and a portion of New Mexico) contain
the Sources of important rivers. This hydrological area is extensive,
as there are numerous lakes, some of considerable size, while the snow
precipitation is also quite heavy.
Inquiry and examination will satisfy the inquirer that in the extreme
West the higher Sierras yield from the snow precipitation alone an
amount of water which, under proper engineering conservation and
Wise plans of distribution, carried out for the common weal rather than
for corporate profit, would supply the whole great valley and foot-hills
region of central and southern California, now being so largely devel-
oped as a wheat and fruit growing region. The eastern slopes of the
Sierras belong as drainage area to the huge hydrographic basin of
which Nevada is the chief portion. The snows and storage of that
region should readily reclaim 3,000,000 acres in western Nevada.
In the northern portion of our intra-mountain area the hydrological
system, comprising the Columbia and Snake Rivers and their affluents,
will certainly give a sufficient water supply both for pasturage and
agriculture. b
East of the Cascade Mountains the climate and natural features of
the country are very different from those of the great basin lying west
of them, so that the popular divisions, eastern and western Oregon
and Washington, are fully warranted. In the eastern section the
thermometer is much higher in summer and lower in winter than in the
western section. The rain-fall is not half as heavy. From June to
September there is no rain. The winters are short, but occasionally
severe. Snow seldom falls before Christmas, and, though it sometimes
lies from ſour to six weeks, it usually disappears in a few days. The
so-called “Chinook,” a warm wind, blows periodically, and melts deep
snows in the course of a few hours. s
In Eastern Oregon and Washington spring begins in February, an
lasts until the middle of May. At this season rain falls in sufficient
quantity to give life to vegetation and insure good crops. The average
temperature is 529. The rain-fall of the year does not average more
than 20 inches. South of the Snake River it is not more than 15
inches, increasing gradually to the northward.
In the southern portion of this area, where the Colorado plateau
descends to the valleys of the Gila, Colorado, and Rio Grande, forming
the table-lands of Southern Arizona and New Mexico, there has already
been utilized a water supply sufficient for cattle, and in several extended
portions, as in the valleys of the Gila, Rio Verde, Salt, Colorado, Chi-
quita, San Pedro, and Santa Cruz Rivers, almost enough to meet the
present agricultural and horticultural demands has been turned to
account. e
It may be estimated, then, that, of our whole intra-mountain region
below the timber line as herein outlined, at least 60 per cent. affords
fair pasturage, with sufficient watering-places, though often at long in-
tervals apart, and subject to various limitations, which are rapidly be:
ing in a degree overcome, and will hereafter largely disappear as more
attention and skill are directed to the subject. The facts gathered from
Utah and Nevada will show how large are the possibilities of improve-
ment in this direction. No really accurate estimate can be made as to
THE INDUSTRIAL USE of water IN CALIFORNIA. 7
the proportion of this intra-mountain area that may be reclaimed for
arable and horticultural purposes; but it is not extravagant to claim
that when the accessible water sources shall be brought into use, One-
fifth of its acreage (as already defined) may be so utilized. In a very
large portion the per cent. will be quite small; in other portions it will
greatly exceed the general estimate here made. It must be borne in
mind that in both estimates the higher mountain sections, embracing
at least one-fifth of the whole region, are excluded. Yet, on the Summit
of the highest plateau region in northern Arizona, for instance, cattle
i. successfully wintered at an altitude of from 7,000 to 10,000 feet above
© Sea. t;
(3) The third division, which might fairly be ranked first in point of
interest, embraces the Pacific coast region from the western slopes of
the Sierra Nevada (in California) to the ocean, and takes in the great
transverse valley troughs or plains cradled between the Sierra foot-
hills and the Coast Range, the great wheat granary of the Golden State,
and also the fruit-growing section, yearly rising in importance.
In treating of these three divisions of the arid region more in detail
they will be taken up in inverse order, beginning with the one named
last in the above statement.
TEIE PACIFIC COAST DIVISION.
This division embraces the State of California, lying between the
one hundred and twentieth degree of west longitude and the Pacific
Ocean, east and west, and between the fortieth and thirty-first degrees
of north latitude. - %
In the San Joaquin Valley, at Fresno, and at different points in
Southern California, as Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Riverside, Anaheim,
San Diego, water is found to be attainable at moderate depths, and ap-
parently in all directions. This subterranean supply, wherever it has
been reached and utilized, is greatly reducing the need of surface irri-
gation. e
Fruit growers and wheat farmers in southern California unite in the
testimony that after irrigation has been practiced for some years a
given supply of water suffices for a largely-increased area, the expla-
nation being that when water is first applied to arid land a large part
of it sinks deep into the dry earth, or is carried away latterally by
seepage; whereas, when the lower strata and, to some extent, the
lands adjoining those under irrigation, are moistened, the amount of
water absorbed in excess of the actual needs of vegetation becomes
comparatively small. How much effect this increased humidity of the
soil may have on the atmospheric humidity is not yet known, but the
increase of evaporation due to this circumstance and to the cultivation
of trees and plants must ultimately produce a beneficial change in this
regard.
The full industrial use of water in California must necessarily be gov-
erned by the larger topographical and other physical conditions. The
precipitation seldom exceeds 22 inclies annually, and over a greater
portion of the State falls below that figure. The wide range of varia-
tion in rain-fall is illustrated by the following facts: At Fort Redding
the range of three years was from 15.9 inches to 37.4 inches; at Sacra-
mento the range of seventeen years was from 11.2 inches to 27.5 inches;
at Millerton, six years, from 9.7 inches to 49.3 inches; at Stockton, three
years, from 11.6 inches to 20.3 inches; at Fort Tejon, five years, 9.8
inches to 34.2 inches; at Monterey, five years, from 8.2 inches to 21.6.
8 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
inches; at San Diego, twelve years, 6.9 inches to 13.4 inches; at Benicia,
tWelve years, 11.8 inches to 20 inches. The above figures show the rain,
fall for calendar years; the following show the amount of precipitation
during the rainy season: Clear Lake, 1,300 feet elevation, six years, 16.2
inclues to 66.7 inches; Visalia, three years, 6.7 inches to 10.3 inches;
San Francisco, twenty-two years, 7 inches to 49.3 inches; Pillarcitos,
nine years, 39 inches to 82 inches; Sacramento, twenty-four years, 4.7
i. to 36.4 inches; San Diego, twenty-two years, 4.5 inches to 14.8
IIl Cºl OS. w
The importance of California warrants a fuller description of the State,
its topography, and other conditions bearing on the question of irriga-
tion within its limits. There are two great mountain ranges running
northwest and southeast, namely, the Sierra Nevada and the Coast
Range. The former is from 4,000 to 8,000 feet high and the latter from
1,000 to 6,000 feet. The two ranges are connected in the southern part
of the State at Tehachipi, and in the northern at Mount Shasta. The
Sierra Nevada Range extends along the eastern border of the State and
is about 450 miles long. The Coast Range extends along the coast to
the northern and southern boundaries of the State. The base of the
Sierra Nevada Range north of Fresno has an average width of about 80
miles. The Coast Range averages about 65 miles in width. Between
the two ranges are the great Sacramento and San Joaquin Valleys,
which together are about 450 miles long by 55 miles wide, and may be
termed the heart of the State.
In the northern part of the State, and north of the junction of the
two great mountain ranges, is the Klamath Basin, through which the
Rlamath River runs for a distance of 225 miles, between steep hills and
mountains and rocky cañons, in a Southwesterly course to the ocean.
The whole basin of the Klamath is very rugged for a distance of 40
miles from the coast, and along the main river there is very little valley
or bottom-land. However, there are several small rich valleys and near
the lakes there are large fertile tracts. Pine, cedar, and fir forests cover
the mountains, and there are other valuable trees, both on the mount-
ains and in the valleys. In the extreme southeastern portion of the
State is the Colorado Desert, about 140 miles long by 70 miles wide,
which is the dry bed of a former inland Sea. Another great basin,
called the Mojave Basin, lying north of the Colorado Desert, extends
into the southern part of the State, the surface of which is cut up by
many irregular ridges of mountains.
The Coast Range is composed of a multitude of ridges and is inter-
sected by numerous long and narrow valleys of fertile soil, comprising
those of the Los Angeles, Salinas, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Napa, and Rus-
sian Rivers. The State has numerous small rivers. In the central por-
tion are the Sacramento and San Joaquin, each in its meanderings about
350 miles long. These are the only navigable streams in the State.
From the Sierra Range westward into the Sacramento flow the Pitt,
Feather, Yuba, American, Consumnes, and Mokelumne Rivers. Into
the San Joaquin flow the Calaveras, Stanislaus, Tuolumne, Merced,
Chonechilla, and Fresno. Into Tulare Lake flow the Kings, Kameah,
Tule, and White Rivers, and into FCern Lake the Kern River. All of
these are considerable streams, with an average length of about 120
miles. The upper half of each is in the steep and rugged mountains,
where they are torrential in character. After reaching the plain their
currents are gentle, and the banks low, fringed With oak, Sycamore,
cottonwood, and Willow.
THE PEIYSICAL DIVISIONS OF CALIFORNIA. 9
The rivers of the Coast Range flowing westward into the ocean South
of San Francisco are the San Lorenzo, Pajaro, Salinas, Carmel, El Sur,
and Cuyama, Santa Inez, Santa Maria, San Buenaventura, Santa Clara,
Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Santa Ana, Santa Margarita, San Luis Rey,
and San Diego. Many of these are constant streams to within 10 or 15
miles of their mouths, and all of them pass through rich valleys. , North
of San Francisco the streams of the Coast Range which empty into the
ocean are the Russian, Eel, Elk, Mad, Klamath, and Smith Rivers, be-
sides many others of less importance, all of which are permanent
streams, bordered with narrow valleys at the foot of the mountains.
To all of the rivers of the State flow many small tributaries. There are
several important lakes, the Tulare, Owens, Kern, Clear, Klamath,
Goose, Fall, Eagle, Honey, Elizabeth, Tahoe, Mono, and Dry Lakes,
There are also a number of smaller ones.
The southern portion of the great interior basin of California is com-
monly known as the San Joaquin Valley, although it comprises the San
Joaquin, Tulare, and Kern Valleys. The Tulare Valley is separated
from the first named by a low ridge of land, scarcely noticeable, and in
times of high water the southern lakes and rivers find an outlet through
Fish and Fresno Sloughs into the San Joaquin River, thence to San
Francisco Bay. Properly, there is no division lying between the San
Joaquin and Sacramento Valleys. The greatest length of San Joaquin
Valley is 260 miles, the width varying from 30 to 70 miles. The area is
11,290 square miles, or 7,225,600 acres. The eastern and western sides
of the valley slope from the base of either range of mountains towards
the lakes or streams in the lowest part, at the rate of 5 to 8 feet per
mile ; also northward to tide-water in San Francisco Bay, with a general
fall of 1 foot to the mile.
The Mount Diable or main Coast Range on the west side of the Val-
ley has an average height of about 1,700 feet. The Sierra Nevada
Mountains on the eastern side of the valley rise to a much greater
height. Mount Whitney, in Tulare County, has an altitude of 15,056
feet, and is the highest peak within the United States. From this mount-
ain the summit-line of the range gradually lessens in height towards the
north and more rapidly to the south. These mountains are rugged and
broken, sharp, rocky ridges and granite spires rising abruptly to great
altitudes. In the small Valleys between these ridges is perpetual snow,
and about the base of Mount Whitney are a number of small glaciers.
This region has some of the wildest, grandest, and most beautiful scen-
ery in the world. The San Emidio, or Tejon Mountains, a spur run-
ning at right angles to the Sierra and Coast Ranges, and joining the two,
form the southern boundary of the San Joaquin Valley. The foot-hills
commence in the northern part of Fresno County at an altitdue of 300
feet above sea level, and in the extreme southern end of the valley at a
height of 400 feet. In the hills are many valleys, some of them large
and level, others more uneven.
In the Coast Range there are few valleys. About the base of the
range are gently-sloping table-lands at an altitude of 100 to 250 feet
above the walkey, from which the mountains ascend to sharp and narrow
ridges cut transversely at intervals of a few miles by natural passes
extending through the range. The flanks of the Sierra broaden towards
the south. The Sierra foot-hills in the portion of Tulare County, mid-
way between the northern and southern boundaries, rise suddenly from
the plain, but to the northward and southward, in Fresno and Kern
Counties, the slope is more gradual, the hills lower, and the belt wider.
10 1RRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE RAISIN WINEYARD REGION.
To the eye of the traveler the plain generally presents a very level sur.
face. In Fresno County, on the eastern slope of the valley, are scat.
tered hillocks 20 to 30 feet in height, with a wide base, rendering them
InCOnSpicuous even at a short distance. These are not observable else-
Where in the Southern San Joaquin Valley. Extending along the entire
length of the eastern side of the valley, near the foot-hills, is a belt of
uneven country known as “ log-wallow” land. These “hog wallows”
are little mounds ranging from a few inches to 3 or 4 feet in height, aver.
aging 1 to 2 feet, with a diameter of 16 to 50 feet. There are no deep
river-beds traversing the upper part of the valley, although further
north these are common. The beds of the southern streams, in fact, are
in almost every case higher than the general level of the plain, having
been built up into low, wide ridges, by the alluvium deposited during
the rainy season through a long series of years.
Fresno, Tulare, and Kern Counties form the southern part of the San
Joaquin Valley. The three counties have an aggregate area of 21,770
Square miles, or about 13,932,800 acres. Of this large extent of country
13,885 square miles, or 8,886,400 acres, are mountain and hill land; and
7,885 Square miles, or 5,046,400 acres, are in the valley, making a body of
arable land in these three counties (deducting the surface covered with
Water) equal to some of the larger Eastern States. The land is divided
among the counties as follows: Fresno, 4,480 square miles, or 2,867,200
acres, of mountain and hill land, and 3,520 square miles, or 2,252,800
acres, of valley land; Tulare, 3,835 square miles, or 2,454,400 acres, of
mountain and hill land, and 1,775 square miles, or 1,136,000 acres, of
valley land; Kern, 5,570 square miles, or 3,564,800 acres, of mountain
and hill land, and 2,590 square miles, or 1,657,000 acres, of valley land,
\
including the gently sloping plain skirting the base of the hills, There
is a more gradual ascent from the valley proper in Kern than in either
of the other two counties. The numerous valleys, large and small, in
the mountains and foot-hills are not estimated as valley land.
TEIE SAN JOAQUIN ARTESIAN WELLS.
There is a large portion of the southern San Joaquin Valley that is not
wholly dependent upon the streams for irrigation, considerable water be-
ing obtainable from artesian Wells. The artesian belt extends from one
end of the valley to the other. A good flow is usually obtained in boring
to a depth of 300 to 600 feet. The first successful boring for artesian
well water in Tulare County was made by the Southern Pacific Railroad
in 1879 near Tipton, and a flow rising half an inch above the rim of the
casing was secured at a depth of 310 feet. The well is on the eastern
margin of the belt. This water was used for irrigating a 40-acre tract
of forest trees, which it did successfully.
No rock is encountered in boring, strata of sand, clay, and gravel suc-
ceeding one another. It is therefore necessary to use iron casing the
whole distance, which is forced down after the auger. The depth at
which the first water-bearing stratum of sand or gravel is penetrated
is from 310 to 640 feet, although some of the wells have been put down
to a depth of 800 feet, passing through several of these strata. The
deepest in Tulare County are in the northwestern part, near Lemoore.
The section in which the greatest number of good, flowing Wells have
been obtained is west of the Tulare and near Tipton, the Water from Some
SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY AND THE FOOT-HILLS. 11
of them rising to a height of 5 or 6 inches above the casing. , Wells are
also shallower here than about Lemoore. The average depth in Tulare
County is about 450 feet. There are in Tulare County about three hun-
dred wells. It is impossible to give the exact number, as so many new
ones are being bored. In Kern and San Bernardino Counties the num-
ber is not less than five hundred. •
In Fresno County fewer wells have been bored. In the southern part
of the county water is obtained in one well at a depth of 152 feet.
Others have been bored in the region bordering on the San Joaquin
Biver, the depth of these averaging from 150 to 200 feet. In Kern
County, at the southern extremity of this great basin, artesian Wells
were bored several years ago and water was obtained at a depth of 200
to 250 feet, the average depth being less than in Tulare County. Some
fifteen or twenty wells have been bored in the county. One, 470 feet
deep, furnished about 30 gallons per minute. Others have been bored
north of Poso Creek, in the region about Delano and Alila, and else-
where in the county. The average flow from the wells of Tulare County
may be placed at 2% inches above the casing.
The quantity of water furnished by a well of this capacity is about
247 gallons per minute, or a little more than half of a second-foot. In
parts of the San Joaquin Valley shallow wells have been known to fail
after two or three successive years of light rain-fall and to flow again
after a wet season. This has not happened in the southern portion of
the valley. The deeper wells continue to flow regularly. It is claimed
that some of the wells in Tulare County will each irrigate 160 acres of
land thoroughly, and after the ground has been irrigated and cultivated
a number of years and the methods of applying the water perfected a
greater acreage can be successfully watered. More recent observa-
tions show that these wells are periodical as to flow, being larger and
With more power when the mountain snows are melting than at any
Other time.
The Mussel Slough region in Tulare County was the first to be irri-
gated on a large scale, and soon became famous for the productiveness.
of its land. In the foot-hills there is generally sufficient rain, except in
Very dry years, to mature crops. Where the soil is loose and sandy
and where irrigation has been in use for a term of years little water
is required other than that supplied by the rain-fall, the ground being
Sufficiently moist from seepage. In places moisture will permeate
the ground for miles from the ditches. In some portions of Kern County
the farms comprise from 640 to 1,800 acres, and the checks made for irri-
gating are surrounded by strong, low embankments, made with a view
to permanency. The ditches are made on the highest land, and the
levees inclosing these irregularly-shaped checks are built so as to take
advantage of the natural inequalities in the surface.
WALUE OF THE FOOT-EIILLS.
The foot-hill region contiguous to the great valley which has been
frequently referred to deserves more extended notice. This belt is of
varying width, extending along the Sierra Nevada Mountains. In the
mild climate of the Southern Joaquin plain it is most valuable for the
growth of citrus and other semi-tropical fruits. It is particularly adapted
to early fruits of all kinds. It has already been stated that fruit ripens
much sooner in the orchards of the Fresno and Tulare County foot-hills
than on the plains. The same is true of Kern County. Experience
demonstrates that in the Valley at the mouth of Kern River Cañon,
12 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
twelve miles from the Southern Pacific Railroad at Sumner, frosts begin
One month earlier than in the valley, and cease a month earlier in the
º and during the coldest period are less severe than on the
p1a1n. 4.
Peaches in the foot-hills have ripened a month earlier than on Kern
Island; all kinds of stone fruits mature early, while other kinds that
do not bear well or regularly in the valley grow to perfection here. An
isothermal line drawn through the axis of this belt would traverse the
lower and more easily cultivated portion of the foot-hills, and at the
Southern end of the valley would extend upward and inland to the
abrupt mountain wall where Kern River Cañon bisects the range,
Where it would approach nearer to the valley than farther north,
OWing to the topography of the mountains and not to other conditions
influencing climate. Above the thermal belt, extending through the
region of black oak to and into the pine and redwood forests, is an
extensive area adapted to the production of a great variety of crops,
and particularly to those fruits that require a cooler climate than that
of the lower foot-hills and plain. The soil is rich, but the greater part
of the hill land is covered with a dense growth of chamiso, manzanita,
chaparral, and other brush, which must be cleared before the land can
be cultivated.
Small clearings have already been made, and the result has been to
encourage others to enter or purchase and do likewise. At no distant
day this will be an important section of the agricultural and fruit-
growing portion of the three counties named. It is a healthy region.
The rain-fall is greater than in the valley, and by conducting water
from the mountain streams by the system of piping employed in other
parts of the State a sufficient supply can be obtained to irrigate all the
best cultivable land, and by the conservation of water in reservoirs
during the wet season the small streams could be depended upon to
furnish a sufficient supply for a large aggregate area not readily
reached by the main streams. Above an altitude of 1,200 feet in Fresno,
1,500 feet in Tulare, and 2,000 in Kern County there is sufficient rain-
fall to make irrigation useful but not an absolute necessity.
In the region midway between the plain and the mountains proper
the hills are generally precipitous, and although small valleys are uu-
merous, there are few of any considerable area. Land in the southern
San Joaquin Valley remote from water supplies has in only a very few
instances advanced materially above Government price; whereas that
lying contiguous to or supplied with water has advanced several hun-
dred per cent. in value, having been converted from grazing to pro-
ductive agricultural and fruit land. In Fresno County only has the
colony plan of settlement been carried to any great extent. At present
there are two colonies in Tulare County, and one or two large tracts of
land for sale in lots of 10 to 40 acres. Twenty acres are sufficient for
fruit growing, and 40 acres is the largest tract that one man or family
should attempt to cultivate, for it pays better to give careful attention
to 20 or 40 acres than to imperfectly work more. The first colony
started in Fresno County was the Central, near the town of Fresno, On
the west side of the railroad. The land on which it was located was a
treeless, uninviting plain, and, except in the wet season, verdureless.
Now the elm, fig, cherry, and other trees give names to the avenues
along which they are planted, and the tract presents a succession of
flourishing orchards and vineyards, with scores of beautiful and com-
fortable homes, surrounded by shrubbery, green lawns, and flowers.
Other colonies have since been started, and are in a more or less ad-
THE PRINCIPAL. HYDROGRAPHIC BASINS. 13
vanced state. The principal ones are the Washington, Nevada, Fresno,
Scandinavian, Easterby, and American, which follow in the order
named.
THE DRAINAGE BASINS.
The area of California in its relations to irrigation falls into the fol-
lowing divisions: -
(a) The natural area of sources, supply, and reservoirs; that is, the
higher portions of the Sierra Nevada, upon the Western flanks and sum-
mits of which the snow precipitation is heavy, whose physical forma-
tion creates the great catchment basins, and whose altitude is sufficient
to break, deflect, and desiccate the great moisture-bearing currents from
the Pacific Ocean.
(b) The foot-hills region, extending from Mount Shasta to the San
Bernardino Range. This is the seat also of the important mining oper-
ations of the State. It is, consequently, the area in which the water-
supply section has been largely drawn upon and made extensively avail-
able by means of catchment areas, dams, ditches, and flumes. It is also
especially in what is designated as the lower foot-hills where the altitude
is below 2,500 feet, an area in which these supplies and distributing
agencies, natural and artificial, have been extensively utilized for agri-
cultural and horticultural purposes.
Experience has proved that in this subdivision of the State, which for
all practical purposes embraces nearly all of Northern California, irri-
gation must, for such industrial purposes, be heavier and more contin-
uous than elsewhere. Irrigation enterprises therein have up to date
been largely of a personal and individual character, except where the
hydraulic mining companies have utilized their larger water-works
and channels, with the surplus waters they controlled, by selling the
latter to the farmers and horticulturists of the region.
(6) This subdivision embraces the great valley region of the State, its
most important wheat and grain growing section, and includes the exten-
sive drainage basins of the Sacramento, San Joaquin, Feather, Bear,
Yuba, American, Cosumnes, Mokelumne, Tuolumne, Merced, Kings,
Fresno, Kern, and other streams, large and small. It covers an area of
over 34,000 square miles, divided into sixteen counties, within which
every problem connected with the industrial use of water and its con-
servation, legal and practical, is in process of both application and
discussion. The most extensive canal system, and the combination of
farming interests in the control of supply, or the application of capital-
istic enterprise to induce land settlement primarily and water purchase
subsequently, are to be found therein.
There are also, as already noted, well-developed artesian belts in the
upper portions of this region. The lower portions are subject to tidal
overflow and river inundations, while the existence of water at a mod-
erate depth is being demonstrated in almost every portion of the great
valley areas. This region embraces not only the major portion of the
wheat-producing area, but is also the seat of large viticultural and hor-
ticultural activity.
PLANTING AND SUB-SURFACE WATER SUPPLY.
Perhaps the most gratifying as well as significant fact developed by
the irrigation experience of California, especially in the valley region, is
that connected with quality of the soils, which are generally of great
thickness and tenacity. Underlying the surface soils there are found
l4 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
almost everywhere at moderate depths, impervious strata, by which
the Water drawn too rapidly from the overdrained surface has been
happily preserved. Owing to this almost generally established condi-
tion of things, water throughout the northern as well as the central por-
tions of the State is being obtained from ordinary wells. It is pumped
to the surface and distributed by the agency of the peculiar wind-mills
in use, which are now known in all parts of the world. -
The altitude of the California valleys is nowhere very great, and
the lower portions are at but moderate heights above sea-level. That
of the foot-hills region is from 2,500 to 4,000 feet. California experience
brings into prominence the question whether the cultivation of the soil
in surface-dry and wind-desiccated areas, such as the valleys and lower
table-lands of that State were assumed to be but a few years since,
does not of itself tend directly to an increase of surface humidity by
Capillary attraction, or the drawing upon the water supplies that are
unquestionably found in the underlying strata. Another question sug-
gested is, whether such supplies are not to be found flowing below or
underlying considerable areas of the valley plains and table-land re-
gions of Central and Southern California and elsewhere within our dry
areas. The precipitation of rain and snow, with the annual melting of
the latter, would be in itself sufficient to feed such subterranean bodies.
It is evident that these aqueous supplies do not directly flow to the
ocean within the hydrological channels and basins that have been worn
through the surface and other strata. The streams and rivers of Cali-
fornia do not carry Volume enough to account for the amount of depo-
sition that must occur within the sub-division designated as the source
and supply area of the Sierras. If subterranean bodies of water exist
they will be utilized by borings. The high altitude at which waters
disappear into the earth must give them, when arrested under the
table-lands and plains below by impervious strata, a force ample to
propel the same up and above the surface, and to give them the Value
of living perennial streams or springs. In fine, there are two Sources
of subterranean waters to be utilized in California for fuller industrial
purposes. The first is the water arrested in its flow from the surface
at moderate depths, and which can be reached and drawn upward by
the loosening of the soil consequent upon cultivation, and by the hardy
and penetrative qualities of the plant roots. The other source is to be
found in the deeper bodies that are presumably the lost and Sunken
floods of the Sierras. That such bodies exist there is more than mere
conjectural data to indicate.
RECLAIMABILITY OF MESA AND DESERT LANDS.
Passing from these points, the other division of southern California
embraces some of the features of both the valley and foot-hills regions. It
is also affected in its western portion by the trade winds and other Coast
influences, and its extreme southern and eastern section is modified
and molded by the great Colorado plateau formation of which the
boundary mountains and mesas, or table-lands, are in fact a part. There
are great stretches of arid mesa, or secondary table-land, which must
be counted as desert, though the major portion has native grasses suf-
ficient to feed a large number of animals. There is also sufficient de-
velopment, especially in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, to
indicate the possibility of profitable reclamation in the case of consid:
erable portions of these so-called deserts, provided the waters now availa-
ble, explored, and in part utilized, can be distributed over their surface.
EvoluTION OF IRRIGATION LEGISLATION. 15
The southern California division approaches, in many of its products, a
semi-tropical fertility and luxuriance. It is the chief seat of the orange
culture. The lemon, olive, date, fig, almond, pomegranate, nectarine,
and other fruit trees requiring warm and fecund soils, grow in abun-
dance there. The upper or northerly part of this subdivision forms a part
of the great wheat-producing area of the State.
The table-land or mesa portions are also extensively utilized for the
pasturage of cattle and sheep. In the southern section of California.
the absence of any considerable hydrological basins with flowing Waters
in them makes the method of conservation of great significance. The
economic use of water therein has almost approached perfection. The.
conservation of the Los Angeles River and of other similar but Smaller
streams, within the three great counties into which Southern California
is legally divided, is in proof of this.
WATER LAWS AND REGULATIONS.
The practical legal issues involved in the conservation and distribu-
tion of water for economic uses within the State of California are of a
most serious character. -
There are district community methods of control, as seen in the laws
and policy found operative within the State. The first comes from the
admixture of the Indian community, or pueblo life, with that of the
Spanish conqueror, both being affected and shaped by the needs and
customs of people to whom irrigation has always been a prime necessity.
The Indian, with his tribal, clan, or village organization, has regarded
land and water as common or communal property, in the use of which
all had a right. The Spaniard regarded the land as his by conquest,
but held that the water, being necessary for its full utilization and
profit, must be controlled by the king, i. e., the state, and therefore
should be for the public use. The English common-law doctrine of ripa-
rian rights has no place in the economy of either people. The public
charge of the water supply at Los Angeles and elsewhere in southern
California illustrates the perfection to which the community may bring
control and distribution. The discovery of gold brought with it in Cal-
ifornia the rapid adoption of a miners' code, both as to the occupation
of mineral “claims” and the control of water rights.
This code has become the foundation of nearly all our legislation,
State and national, as to the disposition and use of the mineral lands,
and, in a minor degree, it has also dominated and shaped the water
usages So far as mining is concerned. The public use of water is fairly
established in that connection; but as to the other and larger utiliza-
tion of water in agriculture, the drift of events within the dry area
seems to have been for a long time in the opposite direction. This
tendency began early in the construction of large works in the upper
foot-hills and Sierra regions, for the purpose of obtaining a water supply
large enough to carry on the great hydraulic enterprises which, for a
Quarter of century past, have been so marked a feature of California
gold-mining. *
The United States Senate Committee on Irrigation sum up the legal
relations of Water and land as follows:
The legal questions involved in the beneficial uses of water have been strangely
complicated in California. The Indian community system prevailed before and
during the Spanish occupation, having been made useful by the missionaries, who
obtained such great control of that population. The Spanish conquerors were them-
selves original dwellers in an arid region, . When the State passed under the control
of this Republic, such small portions of it as were cultivated owed their fertility
16 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
entirely to irrigation. The modes of distribution were recognized as being properly
controllable by the community. Water was public property. The American miner,
with his new enterprises and enormous energy, created a whole code of laws in regard
to the use of water. Its basis was the pioneer principle of first come first served,
and that has been reproduced in our jurisprudence as “prior appropriation.”
in forming a constitution, the people of California incorporated the body of com-
mon law. Judges and courts have construed the common law to mean that the doc-
trine of riparian rights necessary in England and in our Eastern States should be
applied to the use and distribution of water to agriculture. It is easy to see that
this conflict of prior appropriation and riparian rights must create considerable
trouble. A large majority of the earlier irrigation enterprises, generally found in the
foot-hills region, were served with water secured under the miners' prior appropriation
laws. When the land-owner on a stream demanded his riparian use of the flowing
Water, litigation or worse at once ensued. At no time, however, were the commu-
Inities in the southern part of the State organized upon the old Indian and Mexican
control involved in this dispute. The prior appropriations had often, it is charged,
attempted to monopolize the water supplies, not for their own or immediate use, but
for speculative purposes, and as a lien upon the future. This gave some color of
equity to the absurd demands for riparian rights, as at times these were sought to
be exercised by small land-owners against the large appropriators of water and
owners of great tracts of land. A few years since the supreme court of California
brought the subject of riparian rights to a crisis by deciding in favor thereof.
As a result of this conflict, California has adopted a plan of co-operative or district
control which bids fair to wisely settle all questions of water and its use, of irriga-
tion, construction, and ownership, and of the methods and forces by which these shall
be managed and paid for. This is embodied in several legislative acts known as the
“Wright Irrigation District Laws.” Under these acts the people of any drainage
and arable area to be supplied by water from a common source, can, by obeying cer-
tain legal requirements, form themselves into an irrigation district, having a common
seal, the right to sue and be sued, to make, own, and control irrigation constructions,
to issue bonds therefor and pay interest on them, to levy taxes, to meet indebtedness
and maintain works, to regulate the use of waters and decide the cost thereof to the
farmer and consumer, to condemn lands and water rights, and in short to do all things
necessary for a civil organization. These acts have all been passed during the last
four years. -
The constitutionality of the bonds to be issued have been assailed, but were affirmed
and sustained by the Supreme Court. Since then, action under the district laws has
been progressing quite rapidly. Some twenty districts had been organized at the
time your committee was in California. The bonds of several had been successfully
negotiated. Since then, at least ten more have been set up in operation, the larger
portion being in southern California. . The 2 mount of bonds involved ranged from
$6,500 in a San Bernardino district to $3,000,000 in the district now forming in Fresno
County. The area, so far included will be over 3,500,000 acres. Probably one-sixth
of this area is already irrigated.
Under the present system every water user first pays a royalty for the right to use
of about $2,500, and thereafter an annual rental of $2.50 per acre. In condemning a
ditch system, the district may under the law regard the royalties paid as compensa-
tion, to their full extent, of the original outlay. They will pay, therefore, for the
ditches on the basis of their annual rental values. . The proposed new works will
have no charges to meet other than those legally established for the payment of in-
terest, the repayment of the bonds, and maintenance of the district irrigation works.
As the area of reclamation grows larger each year, the annual taxation must nec-
essarily grow much smaller to each individual. The cost under private or corpora-
tive ditch systems will certainly exceed at the end of twenty-one years that of the
district system, by the entire amount of royalty the private enterprises would have
exacted. And when the district debt should be paid off, the small annual cost for
maintenance and repairs would be all that irrigators would have to bear.
EFFECTS OF IRIRIGATION ON HEALTH.
There is another and very important question to be considered, and
that is as to the effect of irrigation on the general health. In California
considerable attention has been paid to this subject, and in 1884 a report
on the subject was made by the State board of health. There are con-
flicting opinions in the report made by the board. In certain counties,
as Ventura, Santa Barbara, San Bernardino, San Diego, irrigation has
been employed for over a century, and the absence of malarial disease
is noted, as well where irrigation is practised as where it is not.
THE IRRIGATION PRODUCTION AND ITS VALUE. 17
Other portions of California show a marked increase of malarial fever
where irrigation is practiced. It is not difficult to discover the reasons
for this. In Los Angeles and other valleys in extreme southern Cali-
fornia, where the soil is, as a rule, sandy or gravelly loam of unknown
depth, the water used in irrigating sinks into the ground or (on sloping
surface) drains off immediately. It does not remain to saturate the Soil
unless there be a stratum of clay (hardpan) near the surface. In such
sections of the country there is almost entire freedom from malarial
diseases. Along the bottom lands of rivers, and where the slope is in-
sufficient to insure good drainage, or where the soil is saturated con-
stantly, the case is different, and there are intermittent and remittent
fevers during the warmer seasons of the year. The fact that the peo-
ple living in these low, wet sections of country are dependent upon im-
pure or surface water for drinking and domestic purposes aggravates the
difficulty, for it has been demonstrated that people living in a fever-
and-ague country are tolerably exempt from the disease if they drink
only pure water.
From all portions of California letters from medical practitioners and
other residents are in singular accord in saying that irrigation, when
properly managed, does not produce any increase of malarial diseases.
IRRIGATION AND FEUIT RAISING.
The State Board of Trade reported in a careful paper that:
The peculiar productions of California is another reason why irrigation will soon
be a great feature in our agriculture. California is situated quite differently from
any other Pacific coast State or Territory. Indeed, many of the productions of its
soil are peculiar to it. For instance, there are planted in California, according to
authentic data, 50,000 acres in orange and lemon trees; all these must be irrigated.
Last year there were shipped East for sale 1,850 car-loads of oranges and lemons,
and about 600 car-loads ware consumed at home. There are over 20,000 acres of
olive trees planted in California. Most of these are not bearing ; some of them
are; but enough are in bearing to show that this remarkable fruit grows here
with wonderful luxuriance and bears abundantly. The olive thrives nowhere else
in the United States. Last year there were produced in this State 3,400 cases of
olive oil, and of the very best quality. There are 140,000 acres of land now planted
in grape-vines in the State of California; and for the year 1888 there were produced
18,000,000 gallons of wine, 20,500,000 pounds of raisins, and 1,000,000 pounds of dried
grapes. These vines are the European varieties, which will not grow where the
ground freezes; and they are not successfully cultivated in any other part of the
United States. Both our wines and raisins are successfully competing with European
productions. There are about 1,000,000 prune trees growing in California, outside of
the acreage planted during the winter of 1888–89. This most-needed fruit is not
produced in the United States except on the Pacific coast.
In 1858 California produced 7,000,000 pounds of prunes, and it will be observed
that there were imported into the United States for the same year, for consumption
in America, over 70,000,000 pounds. In a very short time California will be able to
supply the American market. There are 300,000 fig trees planted in California, and
the figs produced here are of the very best quality. . The trees grow luxuriantly and
thrive well. It must be admitted that it is of infinite importance to our country to
encourage the production at home of all these articles which otherwise we would be
compelled to import.
In this connection it may be added that California is a great nut-producing
country; the almond grows well and produces well. There are now over 25,000 acres
of land planted in almond trees, and this acreage is yearly increasing. In 1888 Cali-
fornia produced 180,000 pounds of almonds. The so-called English walnut is also a
most valuable California Inut, and grows well in nearly all sections of the State where
the soil is deep or irrigation possible. No mention is made of the peach, the cherry,
the pear, the apricot, the nectarine, the plum, or the apple. All these fruits are
grown in California in such abundance that the mention of them seems unnecessary.
Add to these fruits the whole berry family, conspicuous among them the strawberry,
the blackberry, and the raspberry, and we may well observe àe unlimited capabili-
ties of this State for fruit culture.
158 A L–AP WOL IV—2
18 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Its report presents the following facts, among others:
IS IRRIGATION ADVANTAGEOUS 3
The advantage of irrigation is twofold: first, the water is applied at a time when
it will do the most good, and when the ground is in such a condition that the grain
or the fruit trees will get the full benefit of all the water that is run upon the land;
and second, where irrigation is practiced there are no droughts. In countries where
there is ordinarily an ample rain-fall, the crops often fail by reason of droughts. This
arises from the fact that the rain falls in vast quantities, but at unpropitious times,
when it does little or no good to the crops.
In California, from about the middle of May until the last of October, we have no
rains. During this period grain is harvested.
The use of water is often more valuable for fruit growing than for small grains.
We doubt whether the wheat fields of California will ever be irrigated, because fruit
is more valuable and the irrigation of orchards is more readily accomplished than the
irrigation of the small grains; and because, as a rule, in the great wheat-producing
portions of California irrigation for the purpose of producing one crop of cereals is
not necessary. . But California is especially a fruit-growing country. Its adaptability
...to almost all kinds of fruit is peculiar. Perhaps no country in the world is its equal;
and in some of the great interior valleys of the State, and also in the foot-hill coun-
ties, successful fruit growing can be made certain only by irrigation. With the
orange and lenlon irrigation is a necessity. Where orchards require irrigation it
has been proved that to sustain the trees in their growth and fructification, water
need not be put upon the land more than from three to five times during the summer
and fall months. The practice is to run water in small ditches between the rows of
trees through the orchard about once a month, commencing in June and ending in
September. Then immediately after irrigating the ground, by allowing the water to
flow through these small ditches, the practice is to put in the cultivator, stir up the
ground anew, so that the evaporation will not be rapid, and the ground will not set-
tle down and become hard. The land thus remains friable, and the trees grow
with great rapidity.
The orchards and vineyards in the coast counties and in central and northern Cal-
ifornia have hitherto never been irrigated. Whore the size of the grape is an especial
and important factor, like in the making of raisins, the irrigation of the vines is ad-
vantageous, and especially where the vineyard is planted in very hot and dry situa-
tions, like at Fresno and Merced. Up to this time no grape vines nor orchards bawe
been irrigated in any of the counties of Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa, Solano,
Sonoma, Marin, or Napa, and the fruit trees and the vines grow there with great lux-
uriance and produce abundantly ; and yet in each of these counties vegetables and
the smaller fruits, like strawberries, are now irrigated during some of the summer
months.
THE AMOUNT OF WATER NECESSARY.
There will not be required the same amount of water for successful irrigation
in California, as is used in India. In India it requires about 1 cubic foot of water run-
ning every second to irrigate 200 acres of land to produce cereals. In Granada,
Spain, where cereals are produced, 1 cubic foot of water running per second irrigates
about 250 acres.
One inch of water running continually irrigates in southern California about 10
acres. Even less than this amount would be required in portions of central and
northern California.
THE RESULTS OF IRRIGATION.
Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties are conspicuous illustrations of what
irrigation can accomplish, Nothing can picture the change which has there been
made by means of irrigation. A great plain which once looked like a desert is now
covered with beautiful homes, surrounded with orange orchards and vineyards,
dotted with towns and cities, which have grown up everywhere as if by magic. The
population has more than quadrupled in a single decade. Lands which sold ten years
ago at from $5 to $25 per acre now sell at from $100 to $1,000 per acre, and these prices
seem to be fixed from what the lands actually produce. Nor is this condition of things
peculiar only to southern California. In Placer County water has for some years
been used for the irrigation of orchards and vineyards there planted. It is impossible
to describe the change thus created. Orchards of every variety of fruits, from the
orange and lemon to the apple, and vineyards of every rare variety of grape, and
nuts of all known varieties grown in semi-tropical climates, and the fig and the olive,
all seem to flourish in the foot-hills of Placer County ; nor does the result in Placer
County seem to be peculiar to that locality, for everywhere in the foot-hills of the
LAND AREAS TO BE REACHED AND RECLAIMED. 19
Sierra Nevadas, where irrigation has been introduced, the result has been equally
surprising.
The foot-hill country about Oroville, in the county of Butte, where water has been
introduced, is no less conspicuous for its luxuriant tree-growth. Within the last
four years 1,500 acres of orange orchards have been planted, and these trees seem to be
thriving well. The oranges are rich in color, luscious in taste, and attractive as to
size. This is mentioned only to show the effect of irrigation upon both the foot-hill
and valley lands of the State of California.
More marvelous still is that section of country lying about half-way between the
extreme northern and southern part of the State. Within the past few years a town
has been built there, which has a population of over 10,000; the surrounding coun-
try is cultivated in everything the farm can produce. Indeed, Fresno County is to-
day the great raisin-growing center of the State, and nearly every variety of fruit
grows abundantly. There a beautiful orchard stands side by side with an alfalfa or
grain field. Homes are literally hid away by the remarkable ornamental tree-growth
which irrigation has caused. Ten years ago the lands of Fresno sold at from $3 to
$20 per acre; now the same land with water on it sells at from $75 to $750 per acre.
This is all due to irrigation. Kern County is another conspicuous land mark on the
road to successful irrigation ; more than 80,000 acres of land is being irrigated in
that county. The production is generally alfalfa.
Everywhere in California during the summer months garden vegetables are raised
by irrigation. In the fall, winter, and spring months in most parts of the State they
require Ino irrigation, except such as they get from the natural rain-fall. So with
strawberries; this fruit is universally irrigated. In Santa Clara County alone it is
claimed there are 1,500 acres of land cultivated in berries, all of which are irrigated;
and that there are over 500 acres cultivated in garden vegetables, which are also irri-
gated. . Even in northern counties like Napa, where the annual rain-fall is almost
three times as great as in some parts of southern California, strawberries, other small
berries, and garden vegetables during the summer months are universally irrigated,
IRRIGABLE AND STORAGE AREAS.
Large areas of plain or bench lands, lying above the bottom lands of
the river, are to be found in Shatsa, Tehama, Butte, Colusa, and other
Counties. They are all within reach of the water flowing down the Sac-
ramento River and its lateral tributaries. Most of the streams emptying
into the Sacramento from the Coast Range sink and disappear during the
summer not far below where they debouch from the mountains into the
open country; but at their sources there are large quantities of water
that can be stored or impounded in the reservoir-sites that are avail-
able.
The irrigable lands of Lassen County, lying about 1,000 feet below
these sources of water, are not far from 500,000 acres; and east of these
lands, in the State of Nevada, is an area of like extent. The lands are
rich, sandy loam, productive with water, but comparatively useless with-
out. The climate of Honey Lake Valley is most delightful, being free
from excessive heat and not subject to very low temperatures. Here
is a region of nearly or quite 1,000,000 acres of public lands that can
not now be settled upon, but are nevertheless capable of sustaining a
arge population. A rough calculation shows that in Eagle Lake there
is stored enough water to irrigate 500,000 acres of land; and at the
head of Susan River comparatively cheap reservoir sites are available
to store water sufficient for a half miliion acres more. North of this
region lies Madelin Plains, a large area of good lands if irrigated. In
Modoc County like areas are lying idle and useless, yet are capable of
high cultivation and of Sustaining a large population.
Inyo County, Cal., is especially adapted to irrigation, particularly
that part of it known as Owens Valley. From Olancha to the head of
Round Valley is 100 miles; the whole of this distance, a strip of country
from 4 to 6 miles in width, is susceptible of irrigation. There are from
300,000 to 400,000 acres of land of unsurpassed fertility which are
utterly worthless without the use of water. It is claimed by experienced
*
20 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
engineers that the Owens River carries on an average, and during the
Summer months, water enough to place at least a surface depth of 15
inches upon an area of 300,000 acres of land, and this without prepar-
ing catchment reservoirs. A large portion of this country is still a
part of the public domain. Less than 12,000 acres of land are now
cultivated in Owens Valley.
In the extreme southern portions of California there is ample oppor-
tunity for storage on a large scale. There is a difference of opinion
among engineers. Some think there are many basins and cañons in
the mountains which are adapted to the purpose, and others think
these, on most streams, are wanting. Most, however, agree that the
bench lands furnish abundant opportunities for the construction of res.
ervoirs. There are a number of reservoirs of both kinds finished and
in process of construction, of capacity varying from a few thousand to
a billion gallons. One on Mormon Creek, in the rim of the San Fer-
nando Basin, is of more than the latter capacity.
The number of acres of good land which require irrigation are, south
of the mountains, according to the State engineer's estimate, 460,900.
North of the Sierra Madre range, Los Angeles County shares with
ICern and San Bernardino in the great Mojave desert, so called. This
desolate region contains many thousand square miles. In these three
counties one-half of this is probably arid beyond redemption; one-
half of the remainder is too rough and mountainous to be valuable for
cultivation, but the remainder is mostly highly fertile soil, lying favor-
ably for the application of water. Of this vast territory, Los Angeles
County possesses 250,000 acres, which can be made to comfortably sus-
tain a population of 100,000 people.
It is stated that the lowest summer flow of the Mojave River is about
5,000 inches. The average flow for six months in the year, the winter
and spring months, is from 20,000 to 30,000 inches; during. May, June,
and July more than 10,000, and for the rest of the season more than
5,000 inches. Of this the Hesperia Land and Water Company has filed
a claim of 5,000 inches.
The land is mostly Government land, and the profits thereon would
pay for enormous and elaborate works. Big and Little Rock Creeks,
which debouch upon the desert plain at higher elevation, West of the
Mojave River, are wholly within Los Angeles County. Their flow in
winter is thousands of inches, and in summer is Sufficient, as at present
handled, to irrigate several hundred acres. Facilities for Storage on
these creeks are as abundant as on the Mojave. The land below is
still owned, for the most part, by the Government. The universal tes-
timony is that it is as fertile as the best. It is covered with grass and
flowers during several months of the year, and is capable, under irri-
gation, of producing the most luxuriant and profitable crops. , Artesian-
well boring has proved successful in places on the desert, but the ex-
pense is of course greater than elsewhere. The region is one of the most
healthful on the globe. Its hot, dry atmosphere is found congenial to
many people. It is especially adapted to the production of certain
crops, as the fig and raisin grape. It produces in some places as fine
wheat as is raised anywhere, but to become habitable for any more
than a ſew scattered families or small communities, it must have Water
to save its crops in summer. Value of irrigable land, $50 per acre;
non-irrigable land, $1.15 per acre; the number of artesian Wells in the
region, seven, with an average depth of 340 feet and average flow of
12 inches. The cottnties of Los Angeles and Orange have all area of
4,812 square miles, or 3,079,680 acres, Their population is fully 150,000
ENTERPRISE AND INCREASE IN LAND VALUES. 21
souls. Without irrigation not one-quarter of this number would be
living there; and “this in spite of the fact that those two counties pro-
duce more than one-half of the corn of the State almost altogether with-
out irrigation; that there are nearly 90,000 acres of good land that re-
quire no irrigation.”
The land now irrigated is about 150,000 acres, and this is the basis
of maintenance of 113,000 people. Theoretically, no increase of this
population is wanted without a corresponding increase of irrigated
lands. Factories and mineral developments, travel and transportation
by Sea and land, and the healthfulness and delightfulness of the cli-
mate, would add to the population; but the cost of living would be
increased in proportion to growth, the homes of the poor would no
longer be those of people who control their own destinies; and this
Would become a rich man's paradise—a thing not to be desired.
Ten years ago the population of the counties was little over 30,000.
Fifteen years ago the land on which Pasadena now stands was held at
$7 per acre; in seven years it was valued and sold in large quantities
at from $500 to $1,000 per acre. This was for orchards—not city lots
—Orchards made possible only by a supply of moisture for the roots
of the trees during the long arid season of the year. So with the whole
of the great foot-hill region along the base of the Sierra Madre range
from Tejunga and Crescenda Cañada on the west through Altadena,
Sierra Madre, Lamanda Park, Santa Anita, Monrovia, Duarte, Ayusa,
Glendora, Alosta, San Dimas, Lordsburg, Cucamonga, Rialto, Red-
lands, and over the San Gorgonio Pass into the desert at Indio, and
again at Riverside and Arlington, and places too numerous to mention.
The growth has been proportionate to the extent to which irrigation
has been carried. The region mentioned was almost worthless even for
grazing purposes, and was as incapable of sustaining a population as
the Mojave Desert itself. Now visit it and you will find it the most
charming region and the most valuable land in all California, or in the
United States for that matter.
GROWTH OF ENTERPRISE AND VALUES.
In Fresno County there are 100,000 acres of land now irrigated.
This estimate is made by Mr. George Manuel, a well-known civil en-
gineer, but he adds:
“It is somewhat difficult to draw the line between irrigated and
unirrigated lands, for the reason that the effects of irrigation by filling
up the country affect and render fertile to a great extent lands lying
contiguous to irrigated lands, but not themselves subjected to irrigation
by the usual methods of application. Of this latter class of lands,”
says he, “there are about 200,000 acres.”
Thus it will be seen that the 200,000 acres are an area double in
extent of that which is actually irrigated, and is reaping the benefits
without being subjected to any of the burdens of irrigation. Irrigation
in Fresno County has heretofore been carried on wholly by the private
canal system. It is a Voluntary matter by this plan with each land-
owner whether or not he will contribute anything towards the expense
incident to the irrigation of lands. His lands may be surrounded by
irrigated lands, and thus in a short time they become sufficiently irri-
gated by percolation; but he may and does decline to buy water where
he can get it by absorption without. By the district plan this iniquity
is overcome; and every man who owns land that will be benefited is
compelled to contribute bis portion of the expense incident to the sys-
tem, and gets in return all the Water he may require. -
22 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
The following is the estimate made by Mr. Manuel of the amount of
land in Fresno County which is now not irrigated, but which is irri-
gable: .*
* Acres.
(1) In Madera irrigation district, about ---------------------------...--. 300,000
(2) Under Chowchilla Canal, excluding about 5,000 acres already irrigated. 60,000
(3) Land lying above or east of Madera district, but which can be irri-
gated by a branch of the main canal of said district (in Fresno County) 87,600
(4) Land lying above water in main canal of Maděra district, but which
is susceptible of irrigation by a system of storage reservoirs........ 38,400
(5) Land lying between San Joaquin and Kings Rivers, excluding about
60,000 acres already irrigated, and which can be irrigated by existing
Works or their extensions------------------------------------------ 684,960
(6) Land lying above or east of Enterprise ('anal, but which can be covered
by storage reservoirs or branch canal taken out high up in the
mountains -------------------------------------------------------- 40,000
(7) On west side of Fresno Slough, below Hall survey in Fresno County,
which can be covered with extensive irrigation works-------------. 113,000
(8) In Sunset irrigation district above Hall survey, proposed to be irri-
gated by a canal having levees 35 feet high at highest point, and
about 15 miles long, and which lie above Hall survey.............. - 190,000
(9) Between the 240 and 300 feet contour line on State engineer's map,
which can be irrigated by canal taken from Kern River, or by water
pumped by water power as proposed by Sunset district in Fresno
County ---------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * . 190,000
(10) Land lying above the 300 feet grade line in Fresno County on west
side, which can only be irrigated by storage reservoirs on the streams
flowing.from the Coast Range.------------------------------------ 293,000
Total • * sº dº e = e º e º gº • - - - - - - - - is a s • * a 4 = • * * * * * * * * * * a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1,996,960
Mr. Manual states further that—
In 1870, in township 14 south, range 20 east, sections 1 to 5, assessed to W. S. Chap-
man, at $1.01 per acre; section 36, at $1.13 per acre; that made an assessed valua-
tion of that township, in 1870, of a little over $25,500 in round figures. In 1880 the
Bank of California tract, a portion of these twelve sections, at $4 an acre, and Bank of
California tract, 240 acres, at $5 per acre. C. A. Towne, section 2; adjoining Fresno
City, at $5 per acre. C. H. Hoffman, section 12, near Fresno, at $5 per acre. E.
Jansen, six sections near Fresno City, at $4 per acre. In 1888, A. T. Cowell, in Wash-
ington Colony, 5 miles from Fresno, 60 acres, at $150 per acre. Sections 1 and 2 and
11 and 12 at $250 to $300 per acre, $250 per acre being about the average for unim-
proved land. And this increase in the value of land is due to irrigation. It is the
same land exactly, only in different years, as irrigation has progressed. -
Sections 6 and 7, at $100 per acre ; section 19, at $75 per acre; sections 5 to 8, un-
improved, and from one-half to 1 mile ſrom the city of Fresno, at $125 and $200 per
acre ; sections 17, 18, and 19, averaging $85 an acre, and Sections 23, 24, 25, and 26,
at $75 per acre. That is the valuation of that township. The first assessment was
$25,500 in round numbers, and the last assessment of the city, $6,800,000. And the
total valuation of that township is probably in the neighborhood of $9,000,000. Con-
cerning the value of irrigation, I know of one canal that was said to cost in the
neighborhood of $50,000. The first year after its inception the increased value of the
real estate along the line of the canal was $640,000—land that could before have been
bought at $2.50 per acre had increased in value sufficient to make that valuation. So
I could give other instances, but I suppose that would be sufficient.
Mr. Thomas Hughes, well known as a real estate operator, also tes.
tified that—
In 1881 I purchased 7,000 acres of land adjoining the town of Fresno, agreeing to
pay $40,000, and having 6 months to make the first payment of $5,000. I immedi-
ately had circulars printed, offering to sell land, with water for irrigation, to parties
who would move on the land and improve in trees and vines, without any cash pay-
ment. In this way I soon sold the most of this bract, and would borrow on my noté
with these mortgage notes as collateral security, getting about 50 cents advance on
the dollar. I sold the land at prices ranging from $40 to $75 d'. acre. This gave me
a surplus of money to pay what I was owing on the land, and money to make a small
payment on the purchase of other lands, which I continued to do from year to year,
until I was myself $350,000 in debt, and had mortgage notes due me to the amount
of nearly $500,000 for lands in most cases sold on a credit of one, two, and three years,
with interest at 10 per cent., payable half yearly. The settlers have all made their
AREAS OF IRRIGATION AND PROBABLE INCREASE. 23
laces worth to-day from $200 to $1,000 per acre, and all have paid me in full. I
É. sold thousands of acres of land on these terms, and I have never been compelled
to foreclose a mortgage in Fresno County. Men who will work can settle on irri.
gated land, pay their i0 per cent. interest, improve the land, and pay for their land
at prices ranging from $50 to $125 per acre inside of four years. And that, toº, on
land that before the irrigation system was started could not be sold for more than
from $1 to $5 per acre, according to location.
In Tulare County much progress has been made in the work of irri-
gation. The one criticism to be made on the work in that section is that
it is fragmentary and lacks uniformity and systematic methods. Irri-
gation is consequently patchwork, but enough has been done to demon-
strate the miraculous power of irrigation in the San Joaquin Valley.
Mr. P. Y. Baker, civil engineer, for many years devoted to the work,
says: “There are about 15,000 acres irrigated in this county, and
950,000 acres not irrigated. There are about 250,000 practically useless
without irrigation. Of the above 950,000 there are perhaps 700,000 that
produce some crops without irrigation, but very little of it produces
fair crops. That is to say, one year with another, the average would
be so low that it would be a serious question of making a bare living
on most of it. Experience has shown that the proximity of irrigation
has added much to the productiveness of non-irrigated lands.”
In Merced County provision has been made whereby a considerable
area of lands may be irrigated; but the acreage actually subjected to
irrigation is small. The Crocker Canal, which is said to have cost
$1,500,000, is situated in this county, and will eventually be applied to
a large area. The area of the plain lands which may be profitably irri-
gated is large. So far as irrigation has become an accomplished fact in
the San Joaquin Valley, it has been done through private enterprise.
Under the district irrigation law of 1887 a number of irrigation districts
have been organized, and by this means the irrigated area will soon be
rapidly extended. Twelve irrigation districts are reported as organ-
ized or in process of organization within the valley of the San Joaquin.
The total acreage involved is estimated at 2,000,000; the total amount
of the bonds to be issued will not be less than $10,000,000. The area
of the following irrigation districts can be given with accuracy:
Modesto ---------------- tº as s an a tº ºn tº m s tº t c s sº tº ºr * * * * acres... 108,000
Turlock ----------------- dº dº sº sº, sº a ºn tº --------------'do--- 176,000
West Side ... ----------------------------------'do--- 300,000
Madera----------------------------------------do--- 330,000
Alta-------------------------------------------do--- 160,000
White River----------------------------------- do... 60,000
Poso --------...-- -----------------------------do--- 48,000
Sunset (proposed) ....................... ------do--- 285,000
Fresno (proposed) ........................ -----do. -- 300,000
Total area San Joaquin Valley................. 1,767,000
The total area irrigated in the same section was given by State En-
gineer in 1885, at 251,140 acres. This area has certainly increased one-
fourth, and would therefore be not less than 313,670 acres. It is prob-
ably nearer 350,000.
T.OS ANGELES COUNTY.
The irrigable portions of Los Angeles County are embraced in the
San Gabriel and San Fernando Valleys and the coast plain region.
The San Gabriel Valley is 23 miles in length, east and west, 11 miles
in width, north and South, with a broad outlet somewhat west of the
t;
24 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
middle point on its southern side. It is but little less well-defined as a
basin than that of San Bernardino. At the lowest point on the higher
side of the Valley, next the mountain base, 11 miles north and 2 miles
east, the elevations range from 625 to 675 feet. At the extreme north-
West corner they are between 1,500 and 1,700 feet, and at the other ex-
tremity of the valley, next the mountain's base, the plain is 1,000 to
1,100 feet above the sea.
Together with its mountain and hill-side catchment areas the San Ga-
briel Valley embraces a territory about 500 square miles in extent. The
mesa, benches, plains, washes, and bottoms composing the valley itself
Cover nearly 200 square miles, or about 123,000 acres. Of this amount
about 92,500 acres are highly cultivable and productive lands, but re-
Quiring irrigation.
The San Fernando Valley occupies the western portion of the South-
ern California basin. It contains about 570 square miles. Of this area
there about 100,000 acres of really good irrigable lands. The coast
plain embraces an area of 1,472 square miles. Of the total, leaving out
hills, marshes, wet land, and 68,000 acres requiring irrigation, there
are about 270,000 acres fit for cultivation by irrigation. It is all below
500 feet in elevation. ſº
The rule as to distribution of rain-fall, as affected by the mountain
ranges, is emphasized in Los Angeles; the heavy down-pour is on the
Slopes of, and on the plains and bench-lands at the base of, the ridges,
On the side next the direction from which the storm clouds are brought.
On the coast plain and elsewhere on the lower elevation the down-
pour reaches about 15 inches per annum. In the San Fernando Valley,
from other causes, it falls to about 11 inches. At the base of these
mountains it rises to 15 again, and at Ravenna it falls to less than 11
inches, though the elevation is 2,300 feet above the sea. But as the
base of Sierra Madre is reached, the precipitation reaches 22 inches,
though the elevation is but 700 feet. On the mountain bench-lands the
rain-fall is from 50 to 100 per cent. greater in the valley, but 10 miles
distant and but 600 feet lower.
Of the irrigable portions of this county, the San Fernando Valley and
the coast plain are materially the driest sections, and the bench-lands
and mesas, at the bases of the Cahuenga and the Sierra Madre, receive
much the greatest rain-fall. San Gabriel Valley, as a whole, probably
receives 50 per cent. greater rain-fall than does the San Fernando, and 80
to 90 per cent. more than does the valley of San Bernardino. The rea-
sons for these differences are found in the following facts: San Gabriel
Valley has no high mountain range in front of it, and has a high range
immediately back of it. San Bernardino Valley, notwithstanding the
fact of the higher range behind it, has also quite a high range in front.
San Fernando Valley has a moderately high range in front of it, and
only a moderately high range behind it for more than half its length.
The streams all lose their waters in the underlying gravels, within a
few miles of their cañon mouths, during fully eight to ten months (in-
cluding the irrigation months) of almost every year. All but two or
three of the larger cañon streams do not, naturally, even bring their
waters outside the cañon mouths, for six months of almost every year.
The waters are lost in bowlders and gravels, but they reappear below
in the springs and cienagas of the Los Angeles Valley, or in those of the
San Gabriel basin. There are two classes of streams, then, serving ir-
rigation in this region—those which have their independent mountain
drainage areas, and come to the interior valley through deep gorges or
caſions, and then sink; and those which rise at the outlets of the three
* *
Tºss-
THE DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS OF LOS ANGELOS. 25
main divisions of the interior valley, namely, the Los Angeles, Lower
San Gabriel, and Lower Santa Ana Rivers.
There are eleven principal groups or systems of irrigation, the San
Gabriel and San Fernando basins being again subdivided into as many
more. The description of San Bernardino works will serve largely for
those of Los Angeles County. The artesian-well groups are numerous,
and their economic use is an entire and extended success. Sub-irrigation
by iron and cement conduits is a great feature, four systems alone using
240,013 feet, of which 3,005 feet are of iron piping. . There are also
3,607 feet of cement canals. The cost was $275,000, $90,000 of which
was for well-boring and water development. These systems belong to
the Pomona group of fruit colonies. In practice, a fixed and uniform
rate of 10 cents per hour for a run of water is charged, as a zanjero’s
fee, each time a head of wateristurned on to an irrigator. The “heads”
used in irrigation are 30, 45, and 60 inches in volume, but the rate
charged is the same for all, so that the double volume afforded by the
60-inch head costs no more than that afforded by the head of 30 inches,
for the twenty-four hours. The actual cost of water to the irrigators
per acre ranges between 72 cents and $1.92, and averages about $1.30
per year.
There are in Los Angeles County a large number of settlements made
On the colony plan, and a more considerable area occupied by large and
small ranches, vineyards, and orange groves. The water system, Serv-
ing the city and for domestic as well as neighborhood and irrigation
use, is as typical as anything in the land, being based on the old Span-
ish-Indian community plan, as modified by modern use and growth.
The 2dnjas have a total service and length as follows:
High and low service.
Feet. Miles.
Open earth ditches.---------------------------------------------------------- 140, 135 26. 5
Cement pipes or conduit-------------------------------------------, ---------. 91, 490 17.3
Iron pipe --------------------------------------------------------------------- 28, 836 5. 5
Wooden flume, and tunnel.--------------...----------------------------------. 15, 900 3.0
Total ------------------------------------------------------------------- 276, 361 5.2. 66

This summary shows that the total length of conduits maintained by
the city is 52.3 miles, of which 25.8 miles, or nearly 50 per cent, con-
sists of tight conduits—wooden flumes, cement and iron pipe, cement
or masonry-linéd canals, brick culvert, etc.—and the balance consists
of open canal and ditches of various kinds and sizes.
There are 40 miles of ditches outside this system, but receiving their
water supply from the city Zanjas, making in all over 93 miles of con-
duit, connecting with as many more miles of private distributory ditches
; pipes. The cost has been during the past fourteen years about
300,000.
The irrigation system of Los Angeles is under the direct control of
the city council, from the heads of the zanjas on the river to the south-
ern limits of the city, and from there on the distribution is managed by
several associations of outside irrigators.
The council appoints a general Zanjero, or ditch overseer, and assist-
ants, fixes the rates for sale of Water, orders all zanja improvements
that are made within the city, and maintains entire control over diver-
sion from the river. In times past the council has apportioned the
26 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
water to the land within city limits at the rate of an irrigating head
for twenty-four hours to one acre for every thirty days. This was when
the acreage irrigated inside the city limits was greater than it now is.
This city allotment is now, however, a dead letter, as the inside irri.
gators have more than they require, and the council has no concern for
distribution of the water after it leaves the corporation limits. Every
individual irrigator whose lands are inside the city bounds is allowed
all the water he wishes to buy and pay for without restriction, and the
surplus waters are sold to the outside associations.
Outside the city limits the irrigators are organized in regularly de-
fined districts on the extension of each zanja. These districts abut on
the city, and when organized were considered to embrace all lands
which could be reached by the spare water of the river. Some of them
have been much extended, however, and in one or two instances sec-
ondary districts subject to and buying water from the primary districts
are found adjoining the latter. With the improvement of the Zanjas
and the diminution of cultivation within the city the irrigable area has
extended year by year, and is now carried even beyond the secondary
outside districts. The outside organizations are incorporated associa-
tions of irrigators, which elect officers, are governed by sets of by-
laws, and appoint zanjeros, whose duty it is to purchase surplus
water of the city and sell it to the irrigators, each of his own district,
at a premium fixed by the association, which constitutes its compensa-
tion.
Water is sold by the irrigating head in measure of time. The rates,
always subject to change, are at present in the city $3 per head per
day (sunrise to sunset); $2 per head for half day (sunrise to noon, or
noon to sunset), and 50 cents per hour. Current rates charged the out-
side districts by the city are $5 per head per day, $3 per night. Single
hour permits are not sold outside. These rates are 50 per cent. higher
than they were two years ago. In 1880 the city rates were per day $2;
half day, $1.25; night, $1.50. In 1873 they were $1.75 per day, $1.25
per half day; $1 per night, inside city limits. Outside they were $3 per
day; $2 per night. In 1870 in the city they were $1.50 per day and $1
per night from March 1 to October 1. After the latter date 75 cents
per day and free at night.
The area irrigated under this system is about 12,000 acres, of which
nearly 3,000 is within the city limits.
Engineer Hall mentions in his last report 250 different systems of
irrigation works within the three southern counties of California; also
i. different artesian water and well basins, the total acreage of which is
arge.
SAN BERNATRIDINO COUNTY.
Mounts San Bernardino and Grayback are the culminating points in
the topography of southern California. From them, trending south-
east, start the San Diego ranges, which enter Mexican territory. Ex-
tending west, the Sierra Madre ranges reach away over a hundred
miles through Los Angeles and into Ventura County. Standing at the
meeting of these masses the San Bernardino peaks are the highest and
most commanding objects in the landscape, and play a very important
part in modifying local climatic phenomena and regulating irrigation
water supply. *
From the northwestern end of the San Diego range, or plateau, begins
what is known collectively as the Coast Range, extending northward
into and beyond Los Angeles County. Its face to the Sea is a sloping
DRAINAGE BASINS ANI) SOURCES OF SUPPLY. 27
plain or mesa. East of this range and between it and the Sierra Madre
lies the smaller counterpart of the great San Joaquin Valley to the
north of it. From the coast to the San Bernardino Peak westward is a
distance of 110 miles. Broken by two small, low groupings, it com-
prises the most valuable fruit region of the State. Within this area
will be found at least 100 colony towns and villages; the growing and
prosperous city of Los Angeles, and a population of over 250,000 per-
sons, all of whose prosperity depend upon irrigation. In Los Angeles
County the coastwise mesa becomes a broad alluvial plain. Engineer
Hall, in his volume on irrigation in southern California, says:
North from the Sierra Madre chain stretches away to the Sierra Nevada mountains,
a distance of over 50 miles, and from the Colorado River on the east to the Santa
Barbara Mountains on the west the desert plain of the Mojave, comprising an area.
of 15,000 to 16,000 square miles. On this broad plateau there are extensive tracts of
rich soil; but from the want of rain they are barren, and from the absence of water
supply they are, except in very limited localities, non-irrigable. The Mojave, then,
is not, save in a very much restricted sense, a part of the irrigation field present or
prospective, although locally irrigation flourishes there and many small utilizations
of water remain yet to be carried out. -
It is the Sierra Madre range of southern California which, passing
through Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, constitutes a mount-
ain wall, that, intercepting ocean breezes and storm clouds, precipi-
tates their moisture upon high and rugged peaks, thereby regulating
climate and making possible that high degree of cultivation which is
necessary for successful horticulture.
The effect of an intercepting mountain range upon rain-fall is most
distinctly marked in this region. The San Bernardino section offers no
gradations as in San Diego. The clouds drifting inland from the sea
are broken on the summits of the Sierra Madre and precipitate their
contents upon its bald slope. They cover the crest with snow, and
send great rains down the western slopes in heavy torrents. The val-
ley below will have a rain-fall of barely 8 inches per annum. The
mountain peaks and spurs above will receive from 70 to 100 inches in
the same period. The slopes are exceedingly steep.
The accumulation of vegetable molds and soils, which are recognized
as water-holding, are limited in extent. In an earlier geological era
the rain-fall was immensely greater. Vast mountain torrents in those
days poured through the cañon, carrying great masses of bowlders
before them. The operation of the forces thus created have made deep
bed-rock cuttings that are now filled with masses of broken matter.
Into these flow and disappear the waters that pour from the mountains
above. In this wiso the artesian waters of the San Bernardino basin
are collected. *
The Santa Ana River, with an independent mountain area drainage
of 220 square miles, is the main surface drain of this irrigable region
and also its chief irrigation feeder. There are some twenty smaller
and tributary creeks, caſions, or washes. In addition to these drainage
areas the northern face of the San Bernardino range is drained by the
Mohave River. The basin slope from east to west is about 26 miles in
length, and comprises 120 square miles in all. Its future importance
in irrigation is considered large. At present it is lost in the sandy
waste 40 miles from its source. Engineer Hall classifies the San Ber-
nardino lands as follows:
(1) The wet and marshy lands of the San Bernardino and Rincorn artesian basins,
and the Chino; (2) the moist and semi-moist lands bordering the wet lands of the
Rincon on the north, and bordering those of the San Bernardino on the north and
east; (3) the moist bottom-lands bordering the Santa Ana River in its course through
the Jurupa from the upper to the lower basin; (4) then, going to the other extreme,
28 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
the bone-dry red mesa lands, which fringe the entire valley more or less completely;
(5) the bowlder and cobble-filled alluvions, which form the ancient dumps of the
©ation Greeks, and which, along the base of the main mountain range, to a great ex-
tent take the place of the red mesa lands; (6) the intermediate plains—dry, sandy,
frequently gravelly, and with broad “washës” in parts, but in others with fine,
light, rich, and deep soils.
The topographical features of the basin, with its great slopes in the
ground surface ranging from 30 to 120 feet per mile, renders impossible
any system of irrigation by “cheeks,” such as is practiced in the San
Joaquin Valley. It also compels the grouping of irrigation works and
areas, deriving their supplies from limited and distinct sources. Three
of these groups, embracing a large number of small works, obtain their
Supplies by diversions from the Santa Ana River or its main tributaries.
Four other groups are fed from mountain caſions, the waters in which
are derived mainly from subsoil supplies in the strata already described.
Other groups obtain water by means of artesian wells, by tunnels driven
into the mountain and securing thereby the drainage waters by liſting
the sub-Water of the cienagos or wet plains, or by other sub-dam works,
raising to the surface supplies that would otherwise be lost. It is esti.
mated that the great storage project of San Bernardino County, the
Bear Valley reservoir, will very materially change the irrigation possi-
bilities, or greatly enlarge the area of land under cultivation.
The value of water has enormously increased. The North Fork
Water Company, which is under guaranty by the Bear Valley Reser-
Voir Company, sold in 1865 at the rate of $30 per share, the water being
Valued at $18 per inch. In 1880 the value per share was $50, and that
of Water $26.40 per inch. In 1885 the value per inch of water was $360,
and in 1888 $720. In another enterprise $40,000 is reported to have
been paid for perpetual right to one cubic inch of water. The South
Fork Canal valuation is given at $6 per miner's inch in 1872, and at
$615 in 1887.
The different sources of supply, and the character and extent of areas
Served, compel as great a variety in the systems of distribution. One
Of the most notable of these systems is that made by tunneling into
the mountain cañon walls and securing the drainage waters that pass
through them. At Redlands, one tunnel delivers about 30 miner’s
inches, another about 130. The Ontario Colony enterprise, whose en-
gineers, the Chaffee Bros., have since become known all over the world
by their connection with great Australian projects, is the most famous of
these tunnel works.
The water company at Ontario, after conserving all the surface sup-
ply by means of cemented canals and underground pipe-line, bave
driven a tunnel into the gravel and bowlders of the cañon bed a dis-
tance of 2,850 feet. Nowhere in the world is the duty of water so high
as at Ontario. The supply is less than 800 miner's inches per annum,
of which the tunnel will furnish from 50 to 60. The whole distribution
is conducted through cement pipes. The work of distribution is in
charge of a 2anjero, or watermaster, who delivers Water to each irri-
gator in heads of thirty inches for twenty-four hours each thirty days,
for each ten acres owned, which is equivalent to a continuous flow of
one inch to ten acres. The secretary of the company and the 2anjero
are the only regularly paid employés, but laborers are at times em-
ployed to work under the 2anjero’s direction in caring for and repair-
ing the works. The cost of assessment for maintenence has not ex-
ceeded, so far, more than 70 cents per acre. The duty of water is
claimed to range as high as one inch to ten acres; it is probably about
One inch for seven a CreS.
THE COMBINATION OF RIVER CANALS AND WELLS. 29
The Riverside Colony enterprise and its associates are the most
prominent and best known of the fruit colonies in southern California.
The works of the Riverside Water Company consist of three main canals
and diversions, an extended irrigation distribution system, and a main
pipe-line, and branches for the delivery of water, chiefly for domestic
purposes.
The supplies are derived from the Santa Ana River and Warm Creek,
and from an extensive system of artesian wells. The canal works are
thoroughly constructed, provided with 2,400 feet of main flume, dams,
head-gates, waste-gates, regulators, measuring-boxes, etc., having a
total length of 33 miles of main canals and 50 of laterals. The area of
Riverside proper is about 7,000 acres. With other and adjoining enter-
prises, the total area in the Riverside group will be 26,000 acres. It is
the largest single orange-growing section in the State, and is Second
only to Fresno for raisin vineyards. In 1870 the land was assessed at
75 cents per acre; every acre of it will now average from $800 to $1,000.
Originally begun as a land colony or co-operative enterprise, the pro-
jectors designed to keep the water supply separate as a continued
source of income. Great dissatisfaction followed that plan. The land
and water supply now go together. The entire cost of works within
the old colony bounds, including legal expenses, is about $500,000.
This does not embrace the domestic pipe-line supply. The cost of
maintenance is about $30,000 per annum. There is a deficit between
receipts and expenditures, however. The number of irrigators is about
four hundred; acres owned by them, 6,500. The average holding is
16.12 acres; the highest acreage in one holding is 196. The cultivators
of citrus trees is 360; number of wine-growers is 260. The average
irrigated holding is 15 acres.
SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
The extreme southern division of California is one of the most re-
markable of the arid areas within the Union. Along its eastern
borders for a hundred miles or more flows the Colorado River, whose
turbid waters drain from the heart of the continent. In comparison
with all other water-courses it is a mighty flood, the greatest river of the
Pacific coast, the Columbia alone excepted, flowing on undisturbed
to the sea, past a vast desert which now challenges the power of man
to utilize it. Nearly all of California that slopes toward the Colorado,
and drains into it, if there be any drainage from a region so seldom and
so sparingly visited by rain, is an absolute desert, within whose limits
is included nearly three-fourths of the entire area of San Diego County.
The remainder contains the arable portion. A series of mountains
separate it from the desert; their axes are generally parallel to the
trend of the coast and distant from it 60 to 80 miles. These mountain
masses, looked at from Sea, do not form a continuous high chain or
range, but a succession of peaks and ridges along the upper margin of
a sloping plateau. This reaches an altitude of 4,000 to 5,000 feet, and
the peaks and Spurs maintain an elevation of 6,000 to 6,500 feet, and in
one instance, that of San Jacinto Mountain, nearly 12,000 feet.
San Jacinto descends without a break to the edge of the desert
basin, whose center is over 300 feet below sea level. Towards the
Ocean, the slope is gradual and open Valleys are met with whenever
the contours permit. The coast line is marked by a broad mesh or
plain rising from 50 to 200 feet in the first mile, and continuing from
5 to 15 miles until it reaches an altitude of 5,000 feet, where it blends
30 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
into the ranges. Immediately beyond and generally lower in elevation
will be found a series of land locked-valleys drained by separate water-
ways that cut their courses deeply to the sea. These valleys are be-
coming the seat of important irrigation enterprises. The mountain
landscapes to the east are more attractive and gentle in outlines than
those of the Sierra Madre in Los Angeles County or the more ragged
aspects of the San Bernardino range. San Jacinto rises to an altitude
of 12,000 feet, and by that fact compensates for an extreme aridity
produced by the intervention of other mountain ranges to the south
and west, which break the course of the rain clouds. The precipita-
tion on San Jacinto, owing to its heavy snows and the lateness of their
melting, maintains the flow of streams and springs by which the plains
are in a large part supplied.
The streams which drain the western slope of the county seldom flow
continuously to the sea during the dry months of summer and fall. The
Volume of their flow depends, in each case, not so much on the area as
on the altitude of their water-sheds. Precipitation over the country is
in a marked degree proportional to altitude; least upon the coast, great-
est upon the mountain tops. This rule of proportion is very potent in
its effect upon irrigation water supply.
The country is naturally divisible into three rain-fall belts, the first of
which comprises all the mesas and Valleys adjacent to the coast below
an elevation of 1,000 feet, and covers an area of about 1,113 square
miles. Within this belt are by far the greater portion of lands irrigable
that require irrigation, and the greatest area which is generally free
from frosts. The rain-fall in this belt is unreliable in character, sub-
ject to great fluctuations, the records showing that thirteen years out
of twenty-three the rain-fall was less than 10 inches, and during five
years was less than 6 inches per annum, while, with one exception, it
never exceeded 16 inches. The effect of altitude is made quite plain
by the fact that at Poway, 550 feet elevation, the precipitation in 6
years shows an annual average of 17 per cent. greater than on the coast,
while at a further elevation of 200 feet more this rain-fall was 42 per
cent. greater than at San Diego.
The Second belt, an area about 1,400 square miles, has an elevation
of from 1,000 to 3,000 feet. The rain-fall is estimated at from 18 to 24
inches. Ex-State Engineer Hall, who is the authority for these state.
ments, puts the rain-fall at from 14 to 20 inches per annum.
The third belt, lying above an altitude of 3,000 feet, has a climate
similar to that in some of the South Western States, except that summer
rains are very rare and light, and the Snows of Winter not so deep nor
long-continued. Its area is about 1,654 Square miles, of which, perhaps,
three-fourths is less than 4,500 feet in elevation. There are many fer-
tile valleys, heavily-wooded slopes, and a small area of commercial
timber within its borders. The rainfall of this section is often in ex-
cess of its tillage duty. It is in this region that the great storage res.
ervoirs must be constructed, The larger streams of the coast all head
in it. There are eight of these in the county of San Diego having a
total water-shed area of 3,567 square miles. In the first belt the water-
shed is 630, in the second 1,282, in the third 1,655 square miles. The
higher part of the mountain plateau and northern slopes of its ridges
and peaks are wooded with varieties of pine, oak, and madroña. The
upper caſions and valleys have sparse growths of oak, laurel, aspen, and
madroña. The main ridges and frequently the northern slopes and
lesser spurs are covered with dense low growth, commonly known in
California as chaparral or chemisal. Along the Streams—in the me.
dium range of valleys—there are growths of cottonwood and Willow,
THE SAN DIEGO WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS. 31
principally; and along the main streams and on the Sandy bottom-
lands adjacent to them, similar vegetation abounds, in Some places
Quite densely.
But the entire coast mesa, the broadest parts of the river valleys,
the large valleys just within the line of the mesa formation, the greater
portion of the plateau region, and a considerable portion of the mount-
ajn ridges are treeless and devoid of vegetation, such as is generally
thought to conduce to the conservation of waters for the supply of
streams. The light rains are all absorbed; and up to a point where
the ground becomes well saturated there is but a small flow of sur-
face drainage water finding its way to the rivers; but when this point
of Saturation is reached, then a large proportion of the waters of pre-
cipitation are shed off, and torrents form, which rush to the main
drainage lines, and contribute to sudden and excessive freshets in those
streams, carrying great loads of Sand and finer sediments. The rains
ceasing, and there being but a small amount of snow to melt, on a
limited mountain area, the streams soon run down.
For reasons given heretofore, there are no large springs or areas of
summer drainage of living waters. This, then, is a country where, in
the aggregate, an amply sufficient rain-fall may be had to supply an
abundance of water, but where, for the most part, it runs uselessly
away to the sea. It is pre-eminently a country where the storing of
Water on a large scale is necessary to maintain any great irrigated area.
The irrigation systems practiced in San Diego County comprise the
simplest known, being such as the Indians and Mexicans are accus.
tomed to, as well also the most scientific and thoroughly well organized
plans known to irrigation engineering. Several of the largest reservoirs
that have been constructed are now in operation. Plume projects have
been completed or are under way involving daring irrigation engineer-
ing. The reclamation of the irrigable territory of San Diego County,
comprising an area of at least 450,000 acres, depends upon the degree
of success with which the waters of six streams and the storm supplies
above may be conserved by extensive reservoir systems. These rivers
are the Tia, Juana, with five Small Valleys; the Sweetwater, with the same
number; the San Diego, the San Diequito, and the San Luis Rey, with
three valleys each, and the San Jacinto, with the Hemit Valley. In the
first drainage system eight reservoir sites have been selected, with two
great conduit flues connected with them. The Otay River projects
comprise two large dams and reservoirs, having a capacity of 1,100,000,.
000 gallons.
The Sweetwater River system is the most extensive of all. Mr. Hall
SayS:
. The engineering works would be notable in any country, and the lesson which the
enterprise is working out on the subject of large storage reservoirs for the conservation
of winter water for suummer irrigation in this dry country is already highly instruct-
ive. It is now looked to with sat Staction by San Diegans as a type of what may
be accomplished, under even unfavorable circumstances, upon nearly all the streams
of this region.
The Sweetwater dam, a short distance above National City, is one of
the boldest pieces of engineering in the country. The dam is con-
structed as a crown arch, and it is the largest of its character in the
World.
The San Diego Flume Company proposes a system which, when com-
pleted, will consist of a storage reservoir, a diverting masonry dam,
and a line of flume 36 miles in length. The method of distribution will
probably be by pipes under pressure or by pipe cement channels. The
Cuyamaca reservoir, 43 miles northeast of San Diego, covering 1,000
32 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
acres and having a full capacity of 499,880,930 cubic feet, is the chief
dependence of this system. The diverting dam has a maximum height
of 34.5 feet and a length of 447.5; the width of base is 18 feet and the
top is 5 feet. The flume has a full length of 36.6 miles. The main pipe
line will have a length of 9 miles. A branch pipe will be 1 mile in
length and enter the main city reservoir, which has a capacity of 761,-
000,000 gallons and covers 100 acres. The cost of these works will be
a little less than $1,700,000.
The Mission Valley Storage and Delivery Works will embrace eight
reservoirs having a total storage capacity of 9,002,000 gallons. The San
Diequito system will consist of a reservoir with masonry dam 80 feet
high, 400 feet long on the crest, 170 on the bottom, with a capacity of
about 3,000,000,000. There will be a second reservoir, with a capacity
of 2,000,000,000 gallons, connected by an iron pipe of 30 inches with the
upper one. The San Luis Rey flume provides for the construction of a
mammoth reservoir dam, a canal from the cañon of the river some miles
below, extending about twenty miles along the mountain and rolling
hill-sides South and west of the river, and a secondary storage reservoir
at the terminus of the canal in Bear Valley at an elevation of 1,300 feet.
From this commanding elevation, but 20 miles from the sea at the
nearest point, and 35 miles from the city of San Diego, the territory
that may be served is only limited by the supply of water available.
Pipe lines are projected in various directions. The main conduit drops
into this secondary reservoir with a direct fall of seven hundred feet,
and the utilization of this water-power and transmission by electricity
to points of use are contemplated. |
The Temecula Cañon storage reservoir will have control of 800 inches
of running water besides its storage capacity. The same will be dis-
tributed by means of 10 miles of flume and 2 miles of iron pipe over a
considerable irrigable area. The Hemit Valley system is quite exten-
sive; its principal reservoir will be at an elevation of 4,300 feet, 20
miles above the town of San Jacinto, and in a most favorable location.
Its largest reservoir surface will be nearly 600 acres and its capacity
will then be about 6,000,000,000 gallons. These comprise the modern
projects and systems west of the Colorado Desert, in San Diego County.
There is a considerable area served by the old style, neighborhood
ditches, and by means of wells from which the water is lifted by wind-
mills. In the desert itself, at the eastern base of Mount San Jacinto, a
town has been laid out and 6 miles of railroad constructed to connect
with the Southern Pacific at the Seven Palms station. The flow of the
White Water River is appropriated, and some 200 acres are laid out in
orange trees. This is in the desert region proper, and it is probably
the forerunner of many similar projects. That any extensive Scheme
for the reclamation of the desert as a whole will be attempted for many
years is hardly probabie.
THE STATE ENGINEER'S OFFICIAL DATA.
The following summary was made by Engineer Hall in 1888, and
presented to the United States Senate Special Committee on Irriga-
tion in the summer of 1889:
Area irrigated in San Diego County, 1888.
JAcres
San Diego and San Diequito Rivers.-------------------------------------- 360
San Luis Rey River.-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 480
San Margurita River ------------------------------------------------------ 312
San Jacinto River ... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 965
Total.-------------------------------------------------------------- 2, 117
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA IRRIGATION SYSTEMS. 33
*.
Area irrigated in San Bernardino County, 1888.
Santa Ana River irrigations:
Santa Cañon: A cres.
Group----------- se e s ºr tº e º ºr sº º tº gº sº ºn tº sº ºn tº as º ºs º dº ſº dº is sº us tº as tº sº me tº sº tº º is tº º º ºs º ºs º ºs º me tº 4,435
Basin diversion:
Group Riverside Mesa subgroup- ---------------------------------- 7,686
South side Santa Ana subgroup ----------------------------------- 799
Warm Creek subgroup ------------------------------------------- - 1, 353
Lytle Creek and City Creek subgroup ------------------------------ 384
North side Santa Ana subgroup------------------------------------ 881
Jurupa Valley group -------------------------------`------ * e º m º ºs e º 'º º ºs º º 1,202
Rincon group --------------------------------------------------: - - - - - - - 933
San Bernardino Valley irrigations: -
South Caſions group ----------------------------------------- iſ º ºs º dº ſº gº . - 1, 466
North Cañons group ------------ as an º ºs º º º sº gº tº ºn tº º sm ºr ºn sº sº. 2 - - - - - - - - - - ---------- 1,590
Cucamonga Plains irrigations:
Cucamonga Plains group----------------------------------- ----------- 5, 361
Total for all groups ------------------------------------------ & º sº º sº tº ſº. 26,070
Area irrigated in Los Angeles County, 1888.
Cucamonga Plains irrigations: Acres.
Pomona group ------------------------------------------- ... gº tº º tº tº E tº sº tº sº º º 5, 375
San Gabriel Valley irrigations:
Sierra Madre Cañons group -------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
San José subgroup ---------------------------------------------------- 225
San Gabriel River subgroup ------------------------------------------- 5, 150
Santa Anita River subgroup ----------------------------------- ------- 350
San Pasquel subgroup ----------------------------------------- tº s ºs º ºs º ºs s. 765
Basin group. --------------------------------------------------------- 7, 590
San Gabriel and San Fernando group ---------------------------------- 1, 550
San Fernando Valley irrigations:
San Fernando group - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------------------------------- 4,875
Los Angeles Valley and Coast. Plains irrigations:
Los Angeles group ---------------------------------------------------- 13,987
Coast Plainstirrigations:
Cahuenga-Ballona group --------------------------------------- .------ 1,535
Lower San Gabriel group ---------------------------------------------- 15,600
Lower Santa Anita River group---------------------------------------- 21,000
Santiago Creek group ------------------------------------------------- 2, 100
San Juan Capistrano group ------------------- tº ºr * * * * * * * * * * tº ºs º ºs º º ºs ºs º º sº sº 800
Total for all groups.------------------------------------------- e = * * * * 80,902
Area irrigated in the three lower counties, 1888. Acres.
San Diego County--------------------------------------------------------- 2, 117
San Bernardino County --------------------------------------------------- 26,070
Los Angeles County-------------------------------------------------------- 80,902
Grand total.-------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * .... 109,089
This area has increased by at least one-third since 1888.
Sources of and areas irrigated in the San Joaquim Falley. *
[Swmmary for 1885.]
Irrigated
Supply from Name of canals. 3.I'ê3.
Acres.
Rern River.---------------------------. Kern River canals. ------------------------------- 63,365
Poso Creek ----------------------------. Poso Creek canals. ---------- * - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * ~ * 400
Deer Creek----------------------------. Deer Creek canals ------------------------------- 1, 635
Tule River ----------------------------. Tule River canals.------------------------------- 8,075
IXaweah River.-------------------------. Kaweah River canals----------------------------. 33, 371
Rings River.--------------------------- Kings River canals -----------------------------. 99, 57.1
San Joaquin River . .------------------- San Joaquin River canals.----------------------- 31, 795
Fresno River. ------------------------- Fresno River canals. --...---------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5,766
Chowchilla River.----------- ----------. Chowchilla River canals ------------------------- 890
Merced River ------------------------. Merced River canals ----------------------------- 5,946
Tuolumne River------------------------ Tuolumne River canals.------------------------- 50
Stanislaus River. ----------------------. Stanislaus River canals -----. * * * * * * g º we º se tº º ºs tº sº * * * * * 184
Mokelumne River.--------------------- Mokelumne River canals -----...---------------- 112
Total -----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------- 251, 140
* The area has been increased by at least one-third.
138 A L–AP VOL IV 3
34 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
PIRODUCTS AND THEIR, WALUES.
California is estimated to now have a population of over 1,200,000,
of which one-third is found within the semi-tropical and southern por.
tions of the State. Another third or more is found in San Francisco,
Ten counties will contain over one-half the population.
The immigration increase in 1889 was 30,557.
In 1889 the California wheat product was 42,000,000 bushels,
Value of Wheat.------------------------------------------------------ $32,000,000
That of fruit --------------------------------------------------------- 16,000,000
Barley --------------------------------------------------------------- 9,000,000
Cereals unspecified --------------------------------------------------- 7,500,000
Wine and brandy ---------------------------------------------------- 8,000,000
* 72, 500,000
Out of a total of raw products that include gold, silver, coal, etc........ 144,704,000
This leaves a balance of... --------------------------------------- 72,204,000
The entire agricultural products of California since 1848 have been
as follows:
Wheat -------------------- tº ºn tº e º ºs e º sº tº sº sº º ºs ºn tº m s e s is sº tº e º 'º sº s tº tº sº ºr us ºs s is a s is sº as $732,000,000
Dairy ----------- Q is is ºs ºs ºr ºn u º ºs e º us is as as as º ºs e º sº sº sº, ºr nº sº as ºr ºn u º ºs º ºs ºn s is sº tº e º sº tº e º ºs e º se is 200, 500,000
Barley ------------------------------------------------------------- 184,000,000
Wood -------------------------------------------------------------- 161,000,000
Fruit--------------------------------------------------------------- 106,000,000
1,383,500,000
e California—1888–89.
Acres.
Area of oranges.------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 50, 195
Area of lemons------------------------------------------------------------ §§
Area of Taisin grapes -- - - - - - gº º ºs º sº tº ------------------------------ 20,000
It is in the great diversity of altitude and precipitation that the
irrigation needs of California and the means of supplying them are
found. Storage in the mountains and good engineering in the way of
distribution will add enormously to the irrigable area of this wonderful
State. Every system of water usage and distribution can be found
therein; its practices illustrate the primitive wastefulness common to
early irrigation, and the remarkable economy in the use of water which
intensive farming and horticulture have already produced in the ex-
treme southern portions of the State. Nowhere else in the World,
except Madeira, portions of China, and Central Asia, has the “duty of
water” been so thoroughly extended. As a consequence the price of
land, the cost of water, and the security of crops have all grown in a
steadily increasing ratio. Within twenty years land which the owner
protested against being taxed at 75 cents per acre has been sold and is
now selling at from $500 to $1,500 per acre. On the tract referred to
more people are supported per acre and in greater comfort than else-
where in the World.
The areas of fruit-producing lands on which this occurs are Small in
extent at present, though they are quite numerous. These areas may
be greatly increased by proper systems of water storage. They may
be largely added to by the restoration and conservation of the under-
ground supplies so steadily fed by the neighboring mountain drainage.
It is difficult to make anything like a close approximation of the re-
claimable area of California. With the water “in sight” certainly
12,000,000 acres will be a low estimate. Water storage on a grand
scale, such as the conditions warrant, will insure the reclamation of at
35
least 20,000,000 acres. A large proportion of whatever area may be
reclaimed will necessarily be devoted to the raising of products pos-
sessing a high market value. Its fruits are among the best in the
world. It bids fair to become the successful rival of the oldest Wine-
growing and wine-making lands; its nectarine, prune, grape, and Orange
are already found in the markets of the World. The olive, fig, lemon,
date, and other semi-tropical fruits are fast becoming of great commer-
cial importance. Nearly all these products are the direct results of
irrigation, and they are all benefited by its judicious use. There were
1,537,000 fruit-trees reported in the State at the beginning of 1890.
The enormous addition to the wealth of the State and to the com-
mercial prosperity of the whole country, which is the direct result of the
high culture produced by irrigation, warrants a close attention to the
united appeal of the people of California for such a survey of the public
lands remaining therein and of the State's capacity for water storage
as will insure to them that accurate knowledge which enterprise and
THE INCREASE IN WEALTH AND POPULATION.
investment require in the conduct of great affairs. .
TAXABLE VALUES OF CALIFORNIA, 1879–1889.
A careful tabulation of the assessment valuations in some of the
counties of the State illustrates very forcibly the great increase of wealth
produced by the practice of irrigation.
GROUP NO. I.-Counties enriched by irrigation.
[Total taxable values.]
It must be borne in mind that
the figures given are not over 50 per cent. of the real values.
Counties. 1879. 1889, lncrease 1889,
Fresno. ---------------------------------------------------. $6,354,596 $35, 387, 173 $29,032,787
Kern ------------------------------------------------------- 6,005, 460 | 11, 831, 780 5, 826, 320
Los Angeles.---------------------------------------- * * * * * * * 16, 368, 649 | 84,376, 319 68, 007, 670
Merced. ---------------------------------------------------. 5, 208,245 14, 146,845. 8,838, 600
Qrange----------------------------------------------------. 2,317, 700 9, 270, 767 6,953,067
San Bernardino -------------------------------------------. 2, 576, 072 23, 267, 955 20,690, 982
San Diego--------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3, 525, 253 || 31, 500, 918 28,034, 265
San Joaquin. ----------------------------------------------. 17, 377, 129 38, 802, 606 21, 425, 477
Stanislaus.------------------------------------------------- 6, 232, 367 15, 594, 003 9, 361,636
Sacramento -----------------------------------------------. 18, 416, 338 34, 464, 174 16,047, 836
Solano.----------------------------------------------------. 2, 651, 367 6, 966, 007 4, 314.640
Tulare ----------------------------------------------------- 5, 204, 777 24, 343,013 19, 138,236
Yolo ------------------------------------------------------- 10, 177, 427 | 20, 911, 325 10, 733, 898
Total.-----------------------------------------------. 102, 516, 281 350, 922, 885 248, 405, 414
Orange County was not formed in 1879. It was then part of Los
mated for increase is on one part in 1879 to four parts in 1880.
GROUP No. II.-Counties increasing in irrigation activity.
[Total taxable values.]
Angeles County. The ratio esti.

Counties. 1879. 1889. Increase 1889,
Butte.------------------------------------------------------ $10,743, 426 $20,730, 252 $0, 986, 826
Colusa.----------------------------------------------------. #2, 420, 508 || 24, 365, 995 11, 945, 487
Lassen ----------------------------------------------------. 1, 230,764 2, 527, 449 1, 396, 685
IlyO - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1, 353, 300 l, 548, G95 185, 395
San Bonito ------------------------------------------------- 3,947, 728 6,332, 911 2, 385, 183
Shasta ----------------------------------------------------. 1, 961, 436 6, 594, 603 4,632, 567
Siskiyou. --------------------------------------------------. 2,651,367 6,966,007 4, 344, 640
Sutter ------------------------------------------------------ 4, 120,451 | 19,070, 808 5, 959, 417
Tehama ---------------------------------------------------- 4, 199,998 || 11, 901, 255 7, 701, 257
Trinity ---------------------------------------------------- 868, 496 1, 153, 344 284, 848
Yuba--------------------------------------------------- ...--. 4, 293, 630 7,046, 316 2,752,686
Total ------------------------------------------------. 47, 791, 104 || 99,246,095 51,544, 991
–r
36
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
I !
GROUP No. III.-Foot hill counties partially irrigated.
[Total taxable values.]

Counties. 1879. 1889. Increase 1889,
Amador ---------------------------------------------------. $2,468,642 $4, 281, 969 $1,813, 327
Calaveras -------------------------------------------------. 1, 871, 850 4, 315, 461 2, 443,611
El Dorado -------------------------------------------------. 2, 312, 590 3,879, 887 1, 567,297
Mariposa ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1, 295, 048 l, 849, 641 554, 593
Nevada.----------------------------------------------------- 6, 205,000 6,926, 218 621, 128
Placer-----------------------------------------------------. 5,774, 8CO 10, 118, 060 4, 343, 200
Plumas. ---------------------------------------------------- 2, 115, 173 2, 309, 441 194, 268
Tuolumne-------------------------------------------------. 1, 596, 0.15 2, 716, 465 1, 120, 450
Total.------------------------------------------------- 23,739,268 36, 397, 142 12,657, 874
The bay counties of San Francisco, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin,
San Mateo, Sonoma, and Napa present the following comparisons:
Valuation in 1879, a total of.---------------------------------...----. $333, 146,966
Valuation in 1889, a total of.---------------------------------------. 449, 992, 603
Making an increase of.---------------------------------------- 116,841,637
These counties are partly affected by irrigation, to the direct extent
at least of one-tenth part of the valuation given.
The remaining fourteen counties, of which nine are coast counties,
show the following results: -
Valuation in 1879 ---------------------------------------------------- $70,755,631
Valuation in 1889 ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as a tº m ºn we sº e 156,039, 572
Increase in ten years.------------------------------------------ 85,283,941
Thus it will be seen that from 1879 to 1889 the taxable valuation in-
creased from $577,949,250 to $1,092,598,297, an addition of $514,649,047.
Of this increase nearly one-half, or $248,405,414, was made in thirteen
counties, or one-fourth of the State, and is almost wholly due to irriga-
tion. It may be fairly estimated that to the increase of irrigation in
California and the rise in land values, etc., as a consequence, is due at
least $350,000,000 of the total taxable increase in valuation. That will
be a marketable increase of $700,000,000.
THE IRRIGATED AREAS OF CALIFORNIA.
California, though foremost in the extent and variety of its irrigation
interests, enterprises, and methods, is behind several other communities
within the arid region as to its statistics and data.
A full, clear, succinct statement of the irrigated areas, number of
ditch systems, and the mileage, with the cost thereof, is not accessible.
The best average estimate obtainable, consulting therefor the State
engineer's reports, the State board of trade, evidence offered by local
witnesses, and county assessors' returns to the State board of equali-
zation, is the following:

º Cost per
* Ditches. mile. Total cost.
g
f F Merced, IK | Miles.
the San Joaquin Valley, counties of Fresno, Merce ern, an
Iº. - - - - - - * quº yºu yºunge * -º-º-º-º: 800 $5,400 || $4,320,000
In the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino. --...--. 500 6,000 3,000, 000
In San Diego County. ------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , :- - - - - - - - - - 36 19, 613 706, 068
In the remaining part of the State, twenty-four counties, where
irrigation is practiced. ----, -:----,; : - ; - - - -... . . . . . . . . . . . . . II ... ;-- - - 1,700 640 1, 128,000
Counting one-third of the mining ditches in the State as available,
and used for small irrigation, wo have. ----------------------------. 289 3, 188 921, 221
Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 3,825 ---------- 10,375,289
THE GRAINs, VINES, AND FRUITS OF CALIFORNIA. 37
The total valuation or cost given is below the true figures. Much of
the data on which the estimates are based is taken from the assessors'
returns made for the purpose of taxation. They can therefore be
doubled. That will give a total cost of at least $20,000,000.
The acreage is also difficult to arrive at with certainty, but it is fairly
Covered as follows:
Acres.
In the San Joaquin counties:
In farm crops.------------------------------------------------------ 1,000,000
In vines ------------------------------------------------------------ 13,000
In fruit trees ------------------------------------------------------- 16,000
1,029, 000
In the southern counties:
In farm crops.------------------------------------------------------- 580,000
In vines ------------------------------------------------------------ 45,000
In fruit trees ------------------------------------------------------- 85,000
710,000
In the balance of State (irrigated):
In farm crops.------------------------------------------------------ 1,500,000
In Vines ------------------------------------------------------------ 25,000
In fruit trees-------------------------------------------------------- 30,000
1,555,000
The total acreage wholly under ditch and now irrigated is fairly
within the annexed totals:
Acres.
In farm crops----------------------------------------------------------- 3,080,000.
In Vines ---------------------------------------------------------------- 83,000
In fruit trees ----------------------------------------------------------- 131,000
Total -----------------, ----------------------------- ------------- 3,294,000
If all the areas directly cultivated by the aid of natural sub-irrigation,
etc., be added, the total area in California will certainly be not less than
3,500,000 acres. The point of interest, however, in these figures is the
profitable character of such cultivation, especially in the matter of
fruit-raising. Land formerly worth $1 now sells at from $500 to $2,500
per acre. The area of California is reported by the statistician of the
Department of Agriculture to be divisible as follows: Tillable, 39.8 per
cent. ; grassland, 11.5; Woodland, 35.5; unproductive (valuable, though,
because largely mineral in character), 11.4. These areas compare
favorably with the whole country, the per cents for the same divisions of
which are as follows: 41.6; 11.5; 35.4; 11.4. In productive character
California shows on grain the following:
[Bushels per acre.]

For
sº United
* e States.
Corn-------------------------------------------------------------------------. 26. 5 24.2
Wheat.-- -------------------------------------------------------------------- 13.0 12.3
Oats -------------------------------------------------------------------------. 28. 2 27.0
THE INTRA-MOUNTAIN DIVISION.
Within the limits of the second great division of the arid region ex-
tending east and West from the one hundred and fifth to the one hun-
dred and twentieth degree of West longitude, and north and south from
the British to the Mexican boundary, irrigation works and experiments
38 IRRIGATION IN TEIE tſNITED STATES.
of Value Will be found in progress, small in extent, perhaps, in most
cases, but extensive when aggregated.
The larger portion of Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming are within
the limits assigned. The whole of Nevada, Utah, Montana, Idaho, and
Arizona, and the eastern half of Oregon and Washington Territory are
also included. The region comprises 15 degrees of longitude and about
17 of latitude, and makes a total area of 1,100 by 900 miles square.
IRRIGATION AND STOR, AGE IN IDAEIO.
The condition of Idaho, as to the hydrographic facts, the available
area for reclamation, the facilities for artificial storage, and the awak-
ened interest of the people, was found to be among the most satisfactory
of the communities visited by your committee. A considerable area to
the north and to the west of the Sawtooth and Bitter Root ranges is
considered in the Territory as outside of the arid range. This area em-
braces the counties of Idaho, Latah, Nez Perces, Kootenai, and Sho-
shone. A portion of Lemhi is also included. Unquestionably, however,
this section will also be benefited and farming pursuits rendered more
secure by water storage and distribution. The remainder of the Terri-
tory embraces 32,183,040 acres, of which about 7,000,000 acres are esti-
mated to be irrigable and arable, fertile in soil, and having accessible
storage capacity and an available Water supply.
. The counties wherein are found the largest irrigated areas, as well as
the great number of ditches with the smallest service to each, are those
in which so large a number of Mormon citizens have settled. The
smallness of the ditches constructed indicate the limited area cultivated
by each individual or family. It is, however, always sufficient to sup-
port them in that primitive plenty which constitutes their standard of
life. The primary nature of this work can be seen when an estimate
is made of the COSt per acre.
In Bear Lake County the total cost for the 21,500 acres irrigated is
given at $73,500, or a fraction over $3.00 per acre. The ditches of the
northern portion of Bingh um County cost $435,000, or a cost per acre
of $1.775. Small as this price appears to be, it is necessarily costly,
because wasteful. As the Water in sight is absorbed, storage becomes a
necessity, and the result is the abandonment finally of the small ditches,
and the reconstruction of service works on a larger, and of necessity,
costlier (at the outset) scale. Taking the medium befween the two
rates given, and the cost per acre of irrigation in Idaho may be set at
$2.66 per acre, or a total for 715,500 acres of $1,187,000.
The extensive river system of Idaho renders the reclamation of its
arid lands a very interesting problem. The need of storage is insisted
upon. The importance of the river system of Idaho can hardly be ex-
aggerated from the stand-point of reclamation; the number and volume
of minor mountain streams must also be considered. Some slight idea
of the water supply may be obtained by the presentation of a few of
the estimates made in the testimony:
Cubic foet
per second.
Flow of Snake River (at Eagle Rock).--------------------------------------- 5,000
Flow of Salmon River (in Cassia County) ------------------------------------ 1,820
Flow of Boisé River.-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - --------------------------------------- 6,000
Flow of Payette River ------------------------------------------------------ 1,000
Flow of Weiser River.------------------------------------------------------ 180
Flo , of Big Wood River.----...----. * * * * * * • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * at e º as sº sº a me s we sº s ºr 154
Flow of Raſt River --------------------------------------------------------- 745
WHAT MAY BE Don E witH LAND BY water IN IDAHO. 39
These estimates are necessarily partial. They embrace with tolera-
ble accuracy the surface drainage flow above the point of measurement,
but they take no account, of course, of the addition to the river volume
accruing from the remainder of its other local areas of precipitation and
drainage. The average annual rain-fall is about 13 inches. The snow-
fall is given at an average of 6 cubic feet of packed snow on the ranges.
This will give at least, in melting, about 2 cubic feet of water. The
Capacity, then, of Idaho for storage by main reservoirs at high altitude
and at or near the sources of its great streams becomes one of the
problems that may be approximately measured and calculated upon.
The Hon. E. A. Stevenson, of Boisé City, Idaho, presented to the
Senate Committee on Irrigation, at their Idaho session, valuable tes-
timony as to the value, character, and results of irrigation. A brief
Summary of its chief points is given. Mr. Stevenson said:
This town was settled in 1833, but very little agriculture was attempted until 1864
or 1865. When I first saw this town this portion around here was as poor a sage-
brush place as you would find in Idaho-a miserable sandy place that nobody imag-
ined would grow anything. It was that way all along this valley. There was a little
strip along the river where some grass grew and where there were some willows and
trees. The first men who came here settled on that low bench-land, and they have
the poorest farms in the country. Those who went back on the sage-brush plains
have land that is worth five times as much as the other. And so it is in Washington
Territory, at Walla Walla. All those men who went on the Touchet, and all those
streams, have poor farms; those who went on the high lands have good farms. But
this land without irrigation would produce nothing. It might, if it should rain in
the fall, produce a crop of rye, but there is no dependence to be placed on it. But
rye will grow almost any place. I have had some experience with irrigation. My
partner and I dug a ditch 22 miles long down on the Payette River. We took some
water on to some desert land that we have there, and in five years we have raised
orchards with lots of fruit, I have cut the grass there twice this year already, and
there is a regular forest where there was not a tree in sight in the country. In a short
time, five years, these trees were 5 inches through.
The trees are apple, pear, plumb, peach, apricot, prune, and poplar trees; box-
elder, walnut, locust, and all the different varieties. I took small trees in a two-
horse wagon down there. I told some persons that five years ago I took in a two-
Ihorse wagon all the trees that are growing there to-day, and they were thunder-
struck. A man can not imagine that it could be done. But it is marvelous how
the trees grow there. I do not think you can raise cereals where you have to irrigate
and compete with a country that does not. But in all other kinds of crops, vegetables,
I think we can raise all kinds of fruits and vegetables. An irrigated country re-
quires more population. The holdings should be small. A small farm will support a
good family if it is well irrigated. The system of irrigation is crude. They do not
understand it. Some give too much water and some too little. Some farmers might
live on 60 acres. But I think it would be better for the country to cut it up into 80
acres; 40 acres would make a good home if well cultivated. Now, on the Payette
River the supply of water is abundant without storage, and will water all the land
on it. There is a largo amount of water there now. But on the Boisé River it would
need storage. There is plenty of water here with proper storage facilities to cover the
whole country. I am speaking of Lewiston. Around the city of Lewiston they could
not raise fruit in the garden without irrigation. They irrigate there altogether.
L. F. Cartee, formerly surveyor-general of Idaho, and a practical
horticulturist by irrigation, gave to the Senate committee the results
of his own Work and observations. EIe said in substance that—
Idaho Sage-brush land is capable of producing anything that can be raised in this
latitude anywhere, not only all the varieties of fruits, but all the cereals. I have
forty different varieties of grapes on my place, and they nearly all ripen except the
Catawba. That does not ripen because of the shortness of the season. Our grape
is of fair quality; better than any of the eastern grapes that we have. A fair crop
of wheat on our irrigated land is from 25 to 50 bushels; of oats it is from 30 to 60
bushels; occasionally 70 to 80 bushels, but that is exceptional; barley is the same
as wheat—25 to 50 bushels. Timothy, hay averages about 2 tons to the acre, and
alfalfa returns 6 tons. Red clover will give the same. Potatoes return 600 bushels
to the acre. This is the finest apple country in the world. All do well here; you
40 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
gan hardly find an exception. They grow to a large size and the trees are heavily
loaded. Peaches do well, but plumbs and prunes do remarkably well, better than in
any country in which I have been. Pears are very good also.
. At the same session fruit, still on the branches, was exhibited. One
limb, 2 feet in length, had on it 29 peaches, one of which taken off at
random measured 8% inches one way and 8; another. On a branch 14
inches in length 27 large plums were counted. . A pear was measured
and found to be 11; and 10% inches in circumference. These are re-
ported as taken without selection from a large variety.
MONTANA AND WATER STOR.A.G.E.
Montana, with its 93,349,200 acres, is not only one of the three larg-
est States—the others being Texas and California—but it is without
Question the best Watered one west of the one hundredth meridian. It
is heavily timbered also; its pastoral area is great, and, according to
the estimate of Statistician Dodge, its tillable area is not less than
32.9 per cent., or close to one-third of the total.
The river courses that drain the central basin of our land find their
beginnings in the sources of the Upper Missouri, with its great tribu-
taries of the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Jefferson, Madison, and a score
more important streams that all head in and receive their primal sup-
ply from the precipitation and drainage of the upper Rocky Mountain
ranges. The valleys are usually narrow and long. The Yellowstone is
an example, presenting as it does a tillable valley or bottom area of
about 400 miles in length, with an average width of not to exceed 3
miles; in all about 780,000 acres. Such streams, large or small, usually
present similar features of deep, narrow valleys, in which the waters
appear to be slowly but steadily eroding deeper channels; then comes
a precipitous rise to the mesa or bench land of from 25 to 100 or more
feet in height. The mesas will widen their sections of the several
hydrographic basins to from 8 to 12 miles in width. The secondary
table-land or plateau is then reached by Steep ascent, making them
often as high as from 600 to 1,000 feet above the bottom-land. These
mesas and table-lands are everywhere covered with succulent grasses.
They are everywhere found to be fertile in capacity, if water can be
obtained. It is these facts that make Montana a typical region in
which to conserve the waters by storage and subsequent distribution
for purposes of irrigation.
The Yellowstone Basin, from a reclaimable area in the lower valley
of 780,000 acres, will rise rapidly under a system of scientific engineer-
ing to an agricultural capacity of from 3,000,000 to 8,000,000 acres.
When storage shall be so advanced and distribution. So Systematized
that the secondary table-lands may be reached and quickened, the
largest area named will be readily compassed. Nor does this state.
ment close the possibilities of the drainage or hydrographic basin of
the Yellowstone. The tributary valleys found there, many of which
are quite large, will furnish an additional 4,000,000 acres to the area of
reclamation. This is illustrated in a report made by the authorities of
Custer County, within which a large portion' of the main Yellowstone
Valley is located. That report gives the valley land area at 384,000
acres, and for fifteen other tributary valleys within the county, includ-
ing the Tongue, Powder, Rosebud, and Otter, it gives their valley areas
at 501,600 more acres. º
The volume of water to be supplied from the Yellowstone alone is
estimated by the same authority for use in the areas under consideration
RECLAIMABILITY AND FERTILITY OF MONTANA. 41
at 906,000 miner's inches per second, flowing under a 6-foot pressure.
The testimony warrants the statement that the Yellowstone alone can
furnish for irrigation purposes some 4,000,000 miner's inches. With
proper storage this may be greatly increased, perhaps doubled. The
wisdom of the policy which reserved as a national park the wonderland
in which the Yellowstone finds its ample sources may yet be proven in
ways heretofore unexpected. The storage of its quickening waters will
be greatly simplified by the inability of speculative occupiers of the
public lands to exploit those valuable sources. Hundreds of millions
of dollars may yet be added to the nation's wealth as a consequence of
the National Park reservation.
The Yellowstone is taken as an illustration of the fact that the earlier
or primal attempts at irrigation are decidedly wasteful and often pro-,
vocative of contention, disorder, and litigation. The valley or bottom
lands, though the most readily reclaimable by simple local ditches, are
seldom, perhaps never, the most desirable for farming purposes. It is
always the warm red loams and soils of the mesa and table lands that
will furnish the largest crops as a return for industry. . It is on these
benches, open to the sun, made up of the most fertilizing components
and readily washed by water of alkali salts, that the Western farmer
will in the not distant future, wherever water is accessible, make from
his occupation a return almost as certain and controllable as does to-day
the carder of wool and the weaver of cloth.
No cultivation of the soil is possible in Montana without irrigation.
Without ample storage of water the reclaimable area will be a limited
one; with ample storage it will rise, according to different witnesses and
reports, from 20,000,000 to 30,000,000 acres. With irrigation an acre of
ground in Montana will exceed in productive value from 3 to 5 acres in
the humid or rain-fall States. The average production per acre is
estimated as follows: Wheat, 35 bushels; oats, 50; barley, 45; corn,
28; alfalfa, from 4 to 6 tons. The percentage of productive capacity
for Montana per acre may be stated as follows:

Products.
Wheat. Oats. Corn.
Average number of bushels per acre in Montana-------------...--...--------. 17.8 34. 2 26.2
Averago for the United States ----------------------------------------------. 19. 3 22.3 27. 0
Average per acre for Whole arid region ------------------...------------------. 18, 9 24. 9 28.9
The number of farms is 1,519, the percentage of agriculturists 20,
and the average value of land is a little less than $8 per acre. During
the past ten fiscal years 6,904,461 acres of public lands have been dis-
posed of in Montana, of which total 5,304,778 acres have been settled
upon, Sold, or patented during the past four fiscal years ending June
30, 1889.
The statistics presented as to irrigation ditches were very imperfect.
It appears that there were in 1869 of mining ditches 2874 miles, con-
structed at a cost of $806,500. The present extent, including these, as
many have been used for irrigation purposes also, is now estimated at
1,000 miles. There are now partially or wholly completed the following
larger or district Systems, constructed for rental investment by corpo-
rations :
42 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
& g Acres to bel Estimated
Ditches. Miles. Served. COSt.
Denton Lake --------------------------------------------------------- 35 50,000 || $175,000
Clarke Fork---------------------------------------------------------. 38 100,000 140,000
Chestnut Valley-----------------------------------------------------. 10 25,000 7,000
Pearborn. ------------------------------------------------------------ 45 51,000 150,000
Plorence ------------------------------------------------------------. 50 10, 000 200,000
Gallatin -------------------------------------------------------------. 25 50, 000 75,000
Sun River------------------------------------------------------------ 75 300,000 500,000
Teton ---------------------------------------------------------------. 40 35,000 80,000
Total.---------------------------------------------------------. 318 611, 000 1,327,000
Under a proper system of irrigation, storage, and distribution land
now worth but little beyond the Government price of $1.25 will rise
rapidly to $20 and $30 per acre.
EASTERN WASEIINGTON AND OREGON.
The States of Washington and Oregon present interesting irrigation
and reclamation features. In an area well within the arid region, the
extensive mountain lakes found in northwestern Montana, northeastern
Washington, and northern Idaho subdue to a considerable degree the re-
gional aridity. The extreme eastern quarter or third of Washington
from north to south may properly be classified as subhumid, while the
central portion clear to the eastern foot-hills of the Cascades ap-
proaches more nearly to a general arid character. Washington, from
1179 to 1219 of west longitude, or four degrees, will be found a section
in which the storage and distribution of water, while not at all times
and places therein an absolute necessity, will always need such facili-
ties and find them to greatly enhance its land values and industrial
progress. There is a great area almost wholly unreclaimed, formed by
the mesa or table-land of the Columbia River Valley and its great
tributaries. The Columbia River Plains to the northwest of the North
Pacific Railroad will probably require for their arable use an extended
series of hydrographic works. That they can be so reclaimed is testi-
fied to from many sources. One estimate is made of 8,000,000 acres,
another of 12,000,000. Irrigation by private parties or companies has
been successfully tried in a number of valleys, viz: The Klamath
l{iver Valley, both in Oregon and northern California; the Boisé River
Valley, Idaho; the Snake River Valley, Washington and Idaho; the
Colville River Valley, Washington, and in the Rogue Tiver Valley,
Oregon. The rivers of this region are large and furnish enough water
to supply systems of irrigation ditches, which could be supplemented
by storage reservoirs if necessary, or when the demands increase. The
region around Walla Walla is rich and productive. The Great Plains
of the Columbia, although not so well known, is a promising Country.
Both regions are poorly supplied with water during the Summer months,
at least. The Snake River above Lewiston has falls and rapids, and
may afford an opportunity of running irrigation ditches to the lower
lands below.
All of the great bodies of water named present the usual character-
istics of the arid region—deeply eroded channels, low, narrow Valleys,
abruptly rising bench lands opening widely one or the other side of
the river, but seldom on both sides, and then again rising into grass-
clad table or plateau lands. At North Yakima and Ellensburgh can be
seen the results of irrigation on an extensive scale. The Moxie ranch
ADVANTAGES OF THE EXTREME NORTHWEST. 43
at the first-named place illustrates in its 7,000 acres, irrigated from the
Yakima River at an average cost of $8 per acre, what may be accom.
plished by private enterprise backed by capital, while at Ellensburgh
the Kittitas Valley offers a splendid evidence of neighborhood energy
and self-dependence. The Yakima Valley people estimate 200,000 acres
of bottom lands for reclamation and at least a miſlion more in available
bench lands. The rain-fall of the region is also sufficient to Secure a
large area of “subirrigated" land. That is to say, where the soil re-
tains below the surface much of the precipitation and drainage that
percolates into it.
The production per acre is given of wheat at from 35 to 50 bushels;
of oats at 60; of barley from 50 to 80; alfalfa yields from 6 to 10 tons
per year, while potatoes will return more than 500 bushels to the acre.
One half of eastern Washington needs storage and full facilities of
irrigation. The cost will range from $3 to $5 per acre, and there may
probably be found an abundance of water for storage. The cost of
water in irrigation is about $1.50 per acle.
The Kittitas Valley without water is but a sage-brush desert; irri-
gated, it becomes a garden spot and produces bountifully of cereals, fruits,
and vegetables. About 22,000 acres of land are now under cultivation.
All small fruits, as well as apples, plums, pears, etc., grow to perfec-
tion; peaches do not do so well, except in localities bordering on the
Columbia and Wenatchee Rivers. Vegetables of all kinds and of the
finest quality are grown upon every farm.
In these valleys of the Yakima, including the Nachez Valley and the
Yakima Valley proper and the valleys tributary to the Yakima, the
irrigating season commences in the months of May and June princi-
pally. Very little land west of the Columbia River, in what is known
as the Columbia River basin, is susceptible of cultivation without irri-
gation except, perhaps, for hay. Many people produce hay along the
river by Subirrigation or percolation. The firrest store-bouse of water
is the snow-clad mountains. Fort Adams is an everlasting store-house,
The waters of the Yakima and the Tietan flow in there in ordinary sea-
Sons, and Without any storage Whatever those would irrigate an ex-
tremely large area of country.
In the extreme southeastern section, around Pasco, Walla Walla, and
east to Lewiston, in Idaho, there is a region famous for fine fruits and
vegetables, in which the use of irrigation adds enormously to the value
of the land. It is a region also of accessible and not very deep artesian
water, and it illustrates, too, the rapid increase of precipitation at ris-
ing altitudes. The average annual rain-fall at Walla Walla is given for
five years past at 18 inches; at Dayton, 30 miles distant, it reaches 27
inches. That is a rise of less than 700 feet. To be accurate, the height
above sea-level at Walla Walla is stated at 1,000 feet; at Dayton, at
1,675 feet. The advantages offered by this region are testified to by
some State census figures, Which show that the proportion of settlement
in Washington during two years past has been in favor of the section
east of the Cascade range. In 1887 there were in Washington 144,000
persons; in 1889 the estimate made from county returns showed 240,-
000. In the western counties the total population was 142,132; in the
eastern counties it was 97,868; an excess for the west of 44,264. The
total increase for two years is given as 95,991. Of this, the region be-
tween 117 degrees and 121 degrees, or East Washington, got 41,298,
while that west of the Cascades got 35,693.
Oregon is estimated to have received 100,000 new settlers during the
same two years or less, of Whom 60,000 at least have remained east of
44 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
the one hundred and twenty-first degree of west longitude. During
the past twelve fiscal years ending June 30, 1889, these two States show
a public land settlement as follows: Washington, 13,335,937.03, and
Oregon, 6,149,540.05 acres, or a total of 19,485,477.08 acres. The amount
paid into the land offices during the fiscal year of 1888–89 was, for
Oregon, $35,332; and for Washington, $39,538, or $74,870; or a total
of one-eighth of the receipts for the whole arid region. Washington
has made natural waters public property by constitutional provision.
The arid and subarid sections of Oregon are somewhat more exten-
Sive than the similar ones in Washington. Their great feature is the
drainage basin of the Columbia River, in the north, with its extensive
tributaries—the Deschutes, John Day, White, and Powder Rivers—
and on the east the lower valley of the Snake River, which forms the
Western boundary line of Idaho for two-thirds of its length. Below
that is the Oregon portion of the Owyhee River and its branches. In
the Southwest, the Klamath River and lakes form an extended drain-
age basin, in which large irrigation operations have already commenced.
IMPORTANCE OF TREIGATION IN UTAEI.
Utah presents an extensive system well under way. A large area
has been reclaimed. The value of the work accomplished is seen not
only in the valleys near to Salt Lake City, but in all the Mormon set-
tlements within the Territory. The influence of the Mormon polity in
directing industrial activity has often been commented upon. In no
One thing is it more apparent than in this great work of the conserva-
tion and distribution of the water supply. It exhibits several note-
worthy features. They are:
(a) The treatment of natural water supplies, under legislation, as
public property, to be used for the common benefit.
(b) The construction of all distributive agencies (artificial) at the cost
necessarily of those to be benefited.
(c) The incorporation of the expected beneficiaries by neighborhood
companies, under general law, and the assessing of costs co-operatively,
by means of share purchasing and holding, according to the number of
acres to be served by the water so utilized.
(d) The distribution of water under stated regulations, which have
the effect of law, under the supervision of an officer specially chosen
for the purpose.
(e) The payment for this authorized use by means of stated rates,
levied upon the volume of water used.
The Mormon irrigation laws provide for the proclamation as a water
district of any piece of territory which can be commanded by an irri-
gating ditch, the nomination of water masters, penalties against wast-
ing water, the giving of permission to carry the ditch through any
private property upon a fair valuation for the land used, authority to
tax for maintenance of channels, and to appoint taxation trustees, whose
powers are made very broad with respect to determining what shall be
described as land benefited by the construction of the irrigating chan-
nels. The law also gives protection to primary water rights, which
means that any person who has drawn water from a water-course by
means of an irrigating Work previous to the proclamation of any
locality as a water district, has his right protected as a primary claim
up to the quantity of water he was in the actual use of at the date Of
proclamation. Having covered these points the law has made the way
open for the action of private enterprise, which in all cases undertakes
the construction. The next step is the formation of a joint-stock Com-
WATER USE AND DISTRIBUTION IN UTAFI. 45
pany, which may be formed of mot less than three individuals, and not
more than seven, and further provides that such corporation work shall
be exempted from general tax for county and State purposes, to which
all other kinds of property are subject. The farmers and others inter-
ested then meet in public and arrange the formation of the company
and the distribution of shares, and then vote as to whether the tax for
maintenance and management purposes, after the main ditch has been
completed, shall be upon all the land within the water district or upon:
“the land to be benefited.” They can also confer arbitrary powers
upon the assessing trustees, as a difficulty had been found to occur
with parties who refused to contribute to the maintenance tax on the
plea that they are not taking water, although, owing to favorable
positions in relation to either the main or subsidiary ditches, their lands
are being effectually irrigated by means of seepage. The shares are
always $10 each, and each share represents an acre of land with a per-
petual water right to that acre, subject only to the maintenance tax.
The company being formed, the farmers, or intending farmers in most
cases—for many of the tillers have just arrived as immigrants—of the
water districts take up all the shares they can. This is usually a very
small percentage of the Whole, as they are poor, and their shares are
mainly paid for by work in the ditch. After the farmers have taken
their shares, the wealthy citizens take the balance amongst themselves,
and on goes the making of the ditch, the intending farmers working on
their farms at the rate of $20 a month, and the non-working share-
holders putting on labor by contract, which amounts to an average of
10 cents per cubic yard, the beavier work in the caſion being by special
agreement, according to the difficulties of the work. When the work
is completed the farmers have as many Water rights as they have taken
out shares, and they who have furnished most of the capital then begin
to make their profit.
Small farmers generally secure a water right for each acre, but others
who hold, say, from 40 to 80 acres, sometimes only take water right suf.
ficient for half their area, working one-half as a tillage-farm and the
other as a grazing-block, alternately. A water right means the priv-
ilege of taking as much water as the land requires during the irrigating
season, and the maintenance tax varies from 10 cents to 16 cents per
acre per annum, according to “easiness” or otherwise of the channels.
Subsidiary ditches, called laterals, are made by the farmers at their own
cost, from side heads fitted with sluices, through which the water-
master lets out as much water as may be required during any particular
day. Thus there may be ten farmers along a certain latoral holding
from 5 to 40 acres of land each, and they may have water rights to
cover the whole or any part of their holdings. The water-master knows
how many water rights are along each lateral, and every morning he
looks at his notice boxes, which are attached to the sluice-heads at the
place where the laterals leave the main channel. The farmers generally
arrange to irrigate day about, each at the proper time posting up the
notice, “I intend to irrigate to-day,” and as the water-master knows
how many acres are possessed by the person signing, and how many
water rights, he is able to make his arrangements accordingly. His
water-gauge, which is simply a Wooden slat in the lateral sluice-head,
graduated so as to let a certain number of cubic feet run through in a
given time, is then liſted to the necessary mark, and the water laid on
until the irrigation is completed. The gauge is arranged so as to let
a cubic foot per second flow through for each hundred acres of land.
Thus: If A's notice represents five water rights, B's ſiſteen, and C’s
46 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
thirty, the Water-master knows that fifty water rights want water, and
he sets the gauge to run at the rate of half a cubic foot per second.
This is not for the purpose of measuring the water, but only as a gauge
to arrange the flow to suit the irrigation requirements of the several
farmers situated along the lateral.
The time occupied in flooding a certain area differs according to the
“lay” and quality of the soil. The water-master soon learns how much
time each irrigator usually occupies, and his knowledge on that point,
together With the law against wasting water, which is strict, operates
to prevent the flow of water longer than is absolutely required. The
Water-master notes in his book the time of letting the water on, to-
gether with the number of water rights that are drawing, and it is his
business to visit the irrigators about the proper time, and see about
shutting off. -
THE WATER, LAWS AND PRACTICES.
The legal aspects of Utah irrigation are thus as remarkable as the
economic ones. Indeed, they are related to each other, and the laws
could hardly have been framed by any other community. But their
Value extends beyond the locality for which they were framed. Prior
appropriation is the foundation, but so modified by the uses of water
in the interests of the community as to make of that principle some-
thing quite broader and more equitable than has elsewhere been the
case. In other words, priority has not been abused in Utah. The
county selectmen are ex officio water commissioners, with the power to
record all appropriation and regulate the distribution of natural water.
Appropriators can be persons or corporations. Rights are divided into
primary and Secondary, the latter being a feature of water legislation
peculiar to Utah. A primary right vests under the following circum-
Stances:
(1) Whenever any person or persons shall have taken, diverted, and
used any of the unappropriated water of any natural stream, Water-
course, lake, or spring, or other natural source of supply.
(2) Whenever any person or persons shalſ have had the open, peace-
able, uninterrupted, and continuous use of water for a period of seven
years.
A secondary right to the use of Water for any of said purposes is
hereby recognized and acknowledged to have vested and accrued (sub-
ject to the perfect and complete use of all preliminary rights) to the ex-
tent of and reasonable necessity for such use thereof, under any of the
following circumstances:
(1) Whenever the whole of the waters of any natural stream, water-
course, lake, spring, or other natural source of supply has been taken,
diverted, and used by prior appropriators for a part, or parts, of each
year only; and other persons have subsequently appropriated any part,
or the whole, of such water during any other part of such year, such
person shall be deemed to have acquired a secondary right.
. (2) Whenever, at the time of an unusual increase of water exceeding
seven years’ average flow of such water, at the same season of each
year, all the water of such average flow then being used by prior ap-
propriators, and other persons appropriate and use such increase of
water, such persons shall be deemed to have acquired a secondary right.
The measurement of water is definitely provided for by “fractional
parts of the whole source of supply” or time limit, or by a specific ratio
of measurement, or this combined with time limit. Provisions are made
for repairs, damages, continuous use and Service, against Waste, and
for the return of unused Water to its proper channel; also for pro rata
HOW LAND AND WATER ARE MADE INSEPARABLE. 47
distribution when supply fails in volume, as to equal right of Way,
and for the organization of local copartnerships or corporate direction.
Another act provides for irrigation districts and their lawful control,
with trustees, and the powers as to water and its control and use, of
any subcivic or county body.
There are two or three systems of distribution. First are the incor-
porators on the streams, controling it themselves—they agree how it
shall be manipulated; second, the county courts that matured and or-
ganized irrigating companies; and, third, private corporations, taking
out charters the same as any other corporation would, as, for instance,
a person or a company of men settle upon a stream and appropriate the
water in it. In early times they had sufficient to irrigate what land
they would break up. These may be termed the primary owners of the
Water. Afterward others, finding a surplus of water in the stream, ap-
propriated still further water, and so on until all the water of that
stream is taken out. In establishing some streams there is then what
is known as the first, second, and third right. The third right, when
there is a scarcity of water, shuts off the entire stream, and the second
and first rights take the entire stream. The owners of each of those
ditches meet and appoint what is called a “water-divider” or “water-
master,” who has control of the ditch for that year, and whose duty it
is to divide the water of the streams into ditches. For instance, if there
were four streams drawing water, the farmers would appoint a divider
to turn the water of those streams into the ditches, and the water-master
take the water as it flows into the ditch and give it to the owners as
their rights appear. The private companies so called are incorporations
where certificates of Stock are issued under the general laws of the Ter-
ritory. They elect their board of trustees and manage the affairs of the
company. Those trustees appoint a water-master, who takes the num-
ber of shares each owner of has and divides to each his proportion of the
Water that comes through a certain ditch from the stream. Those
streams are mostly artificial streams, having been taken out from some
large body of Water. That system prevails largely on the west side of
Salt Lake. The stockholders have the land, but the water right can
be transferred without transferring the land. It is a water right inde.
pendently of the land.
Yet the water must be “in place,” and in order to use it, the land
served by that Way must be obtained. As a practical fact a water
right, that is, One share in a corporation, represents only the service of
water for 1 acre of land. And it is a particular acre in a special place.
Therefore the one share of Water can only serve that 1 acre of land, or
rather any 1 acre within the area to be irrigated by that particular body
of water in the Service or duty of which one share has been obtained.
In the distribution of water the horary or time system has been
adopted. The irrigation survey engineer states that the following
forms indicate the method of distribution by “the hour,” as is the case
in Spain: +
No. —. No. —.
TIMPANOGOS IRRIGATION TIMPANOGOS IRRIGATION TIME TICKET,
TIME TICKET. Mr. —-- : You are entitled to the use of water
Mr. * . On — from the Timpanogos Ditch on every alternate
every alternate week, from week, from — o'clock — m., and until —
— o'clock — m., and until o'clock — m., — ; amount of stream, all of the
— o'clock — m., water in said ditch; when you are required to discon-
amount of stream, all of the tinue to use and turn it off.
water in said ditch.
sºmºsºm-
P —, Water-master.
€I’ º, Deputy.
—, 18—. }
y
Water-master. PROVO CITY, UTAH,
48 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The annexed blank receipt shows the manner of meeting the water.
tax levy on proof of labor performed. }
O. — No. —
Am’t of labor, Received of days' labor, $
Am’t of cash, $ Cash’---------------------------------------
Total, $ Total.--------------------------------
Issued to and received by In full for his water-tax, for the year ending March
*—. 1, 188—.
Date, , is 8–. y , Water-master. .
PROvo CITY, UTAH, — —, 188—.
THE PUBLIC DOMAIN IN UTAH.
Within the Territory of Utah will be found several varieties of cli-
mate, ranging almost from semi-temperate in the north to semi-tropical
in the South. The production of corn is limited ; that of wheat and
Oats is large. Wheat brings 80 cents a bushel and runs from 25 to 30
bushels per acre. Oats bring from $1.16 to $1.60 per hundred pounds.
Potatoes will give 300 bushels to the acre. A farm of 40 acres is quite
sufficient for profitable cultivation. In the southern portion of the
Territory the raising of fruit is claimed to be a success. Artesian
water is found in several counties and over large areas.
The disposition of the public land domain in Utah for the past twelve
fiscal years outside of mineral lands has been 2,681,605.96 acres. The
percentage of Utah in farms is 1.92 of the whole. The entire arid re-
gion has but 2.85 per cent. Of tillable land Utah has (whether or not
there be water for the same) 45.5 per cent. of its whole area. Of grass
it has 18 per cent ; of wood-land but 3 per cent. The unproductive
area is set down at 11.4 per cent. Of the whole. The question of rec-
lamation in Utah then is, as elsewhere, one of mountain precipitation,
of subterranean supply, and of artificial Water storage and subsequent
distribution. The rain-fall ranges from 7 to 17 inches per annum. The
snow-fall is from 5 to 25 feet. In the mountains the precipitation is as
3 to 1 in quantity over the lower lands. The average yield of corn per
acre is given at 22.5, of wheat at 17.8, and of oats at 26.3 bushels—an
average which is close to the normal mean for the whole country.
With these figures, it is evident that Utah holds larger promises than
its past has achieved. .*
The most expensive thing in connection with an irrigating work in
Utah, as elsewhere, is the main head, where the water is taken from
the stream. Sometimes the channel is taken sufficiently far up the
Cañon to tap the stream without a dam; but in other cases it is found
the lesser of two expensive works to dam the stream at a lower point
rather than undertake the heavy quarrying or tunneling required higher
up. The dams are of various kinds, according to circumstances, but
that known to engineers as “the mud-sill” is mostly built over broad,
shallow streams, and “the crib” used for deeper and narrower torrents
up the caſions. #
The usual plan of irrigation is to go well up the cañons and start a
channel 20 feet wide by 4 feet deep, and carry this along the side of the
caſion, and then around the side of the main range so as to command as
large an area of level land as possible. The ditching, except in the
rocky portions at the head of the cañon channel, is done by plow and
scoop, one of the lightest of the latter implements, worked by a pair
of mules, being invariably used. There are two 30-mile-long II] ºblºl
ditches led along each side of the Jordan, and one 35 miles long is con-
LAND VALUES, RECLAMATION, AND CLIMATE. 49
ducted from a mountain caſion in the direction of Provo, along the foot
of the range towards Salt Lake City, thus providing water for a con-
siderable area of country under the ditch. -
Each acre of land brought within the influence of the canal is in-
creased in value, and the $10-shares go up in the market. The water
enables the working farmer to pay fils passage-money back to the Mor-
mon Church, together with the tithe of all he raises, and further the
expenses of his maintenance advanced to him during the construction
of the ditches; and yet, after paying all these charges, in addition to,
say, 10 cents an acre for maintenance of the ditches, he makes money.
Each share in the Provo ditch, for instance, costs $10. That represents
an acre of land, with a perpetual water right. Without the water right
the land was absolutely valueless. It is now quoted at from $25 to $60
per acre, according to situation.
CONDITIONS AND POSSIBILITIES.
In 1875 there were in the twenty organized counties 2,0954 miles of
principal canals, costing $1,918,174, and 4,888; miles of tributary canals,
costing $503,320. This was a total construction of 6,984 miles of canals
and ditches, at a cost of $2,421,494. The total cultivated area within
the district “under water” was 302,766 acres, of which 106,184 acres
did not require the application of water at all. Mr. Caine, Delegate in
Congress from Utah, under date of December, 1884, estimated that
there were in the four most prosperous counties of that Territory irri-
gation (main) canals, as follows:
g Main Estimated
Counties. canals. CoSt.
Ilſiles.
Weber ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1.65 $300,000
Utah------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 150 250,000
Cache. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 175 550, 000
Salt Lake. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 190 1, 250,000
Total estimate -------------------------------------------------------------- 680 2, 350,000
CLIMATOLOGY OF UTAH.
Prof. Marcus C. Jones, of the Deseret University, at the request of
Governor Thomas, presented, in 1889, to the Senate Committee on Ir-
rigation, among other papers, the following review of the Territory: .
The annual rain-fall of this Territory will not exceed 8 inclues per annum, and
were it not for the lofty mountains storing up the water in snow the Territory could
not be inhabited. Therefore the settlements are to be found along the streams which
are fed by the snow, and they sºre located chiefly at the bases of the mountains,
though running out into the valleys as far as there is water.
The Wasatch, rising over a mile above the valleys, run from north to south through
the Territory, a little west of the middle, till they reach Iron County, where they
turn to the southwest and fade away in Nevada. Their average height will not fall
far below 10,000 feet above the sea. *
Nearly east of Salt Lake City the Uintabs, still loftier than the Wasatch, abut on
them and run eastward till they pass out of the Territory. These are so close to the
northern edge of Utah that we get little benefit from them, while to the south of
them is an Indian reservation. Nearly due east of Utah Lake, and about 40 miles
from the Wasatch, the Coal range starts from the Uintahs and runs southward paral-
lel with the Wasatch for 160 miles, when it joins them at Panguitch Lake. These
three ranges form the water-shed of Utah, the Coal range and the Uintahs forming the
rim of the Great Basin, while the Wasatch performs a similar part below Panguitch.
138 A L–AP WOL IV 4.
50 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Wasatch and Uintahs are narrow, lofty, and rugged, while the Coal range is
younger, lower, and broad. The Coal and Wasatch inclose between them some of
the most fertile Valleys of Utah. The Wasatch reach their culmination near Salt
Lake City, and, aided by Great Salt Lake, give the greatest water supply in the Ter-
ritory. The streams from this source irrigate the bulk of the cultivated area of Utah.
For ease in comprehension Utah may be divided into three divisions, the moist
counties, whose rain-fall exceeds 12 inches per annum, the dry counties, with a rain-
fall of 6 to 12 inches, and the hot counties, with a slight rain-fall and great heat.
The moist counties are Cache, Box Elder, Rich, Morgan, Weber, Davis, Summit,
Salt Lake, Utah, Wasatch, Uintah, San Pete, Sevier, and parts of Emery, Garfield,
Pi Ute, and San Juan.
The dry counties are Tooele, Juab, Millard, Beaver, Iron, and parts of others.
The hot counties are Washington, Kane, and parts of San Juan, Pi Ute, and Garfield.
THE MOIST COUNTRIES.
Cache County is situated in the middle of the northern end of the Territory, at an
elevation of 4,533 to 5,000 feet above the sea. All the arable land is in Cache Valley,
which lies between two ranges of mountains, the Wasatch forming the eastern bound-
ary. Th9 water Supply is 420.13 cubic feet per second, and comes from eight streams
and rivers. The whole supply will be in use next year. The area of the county is
633,600 acres, of which 43,154 were cultivated this year. One thousand seven hun-
dred and ten acres were dry-farmed, and 14,335 acres of crops were lost by lack of
water. There are forty canals reported, aggregating 110.5 miles. The irrigating
season is 122 days long, and land is irrigated 35 hours per year. The duty of water
is less than a cubic foot per second to 100 acres. The average depth of snow in the
mountains is 3 feet. The committee report water storage as the only means of in-
creasing the cultivated area, since there are more than 420.13 cubic feet per second
running to waste for 243 days, enough to irrigate from 50,000 to 75,000 acres. Many
good reservoir sites are mentioned, but details are not given. It is probable that arte.
sian wells can be obtained in Some parts of this valley.
Box Elder County.—This lies in the northwest corner of the Territory. The eastern
part is very fertile and well supplied with water, but the western and greater part
belongs to the dry counties. The area is 2,767,360 acres, of which 53,280 acres are
cultivated, and of these latter 19,190 acres are cultivated but not irrigated. The ele-
vation of the fertile parts is 4,215 to 5,000 feet above the sea. There are 12 canals
reported, length 76 miles. A branch of the Great Bear River canal is to irrigate a
large area in this county. Large quantities of fruit are raised here, and still greater
amounts of small grain and hay. The extensive valley of the Bear has been for half
a century the recruiting place for overland travelers by team. Artesian wells are
very numerous and add greatly to the productive area. Water storage is the main
question here. Five reservoir sites are reported in detail, and several others in gen-
eral. Bear Lake is the natural reservoir for this and Cache County, and will store
all the water that will ever flow into it.
Rich County.—This lies at an elevation of 6,000 to 7,000 feet above the sea, in the
northeast corner of the Territory, at the eastern base of the mountains. It is high
and cold, raising only small grain, hay, etc. It lies all in one Valley; is Watered
chiefly by the Beaf River and some streams that flow into the lake. This land takes
little water to mature crops, and much produce is raised without irrigation. The
soil is sandy, The area of the county is 497,280 acres. There is no report from this
County.
#; County.—This lies south of Cache, extending from Great Salt Lake through
the Wasatch to the headwaters of Ogden River. The best portion lies in Salt Lake
Valley at an elevation of 4,315 feet, while Ogden Valley, lying along that river, lies
east of the Wasatch and is more elevated. The water supply of the county comes
from 17 streams and rivers, flowing 323,66 cubic feet per second. . There are 117,600
acres under cultivation, of which 29,400 acres are fully irrigated, while the rest is
partially irrigated or dry-farmed. The soil is sandy, with clay, close to the lake.
five thousand one hundred and seventy-two acres are irrigated from artesian Wells.
The duty of water is one cubic foot per second for 80 acres, or thereabouts. There
are 25 canals, length not given. The irrigating season is 122 to 152 days long. This
county is one of the most productive that we have, raising all kinds of fruit and prod-
uce that is raised in the Great Basin. The only solution of the water question here is
storage. There are over 323,66 cubic feet per second going to waste for 213 days, onQugh
to irrigate 30,000 to 40,000 acres. One reservoir site is reported, of small dimensions,
while others are reported from Huntsville and Wheeler's Creek, and there are nu-
merous sites at the head of the Weber.
Davis County.—This county lies wholly west of the Wasatch, being South of Weber
and north of Šalt Lake Counties and between them and the lake. There is very lit-
tle waste land in this smallest county in the Territory, whose arable land lies Wholly
CHARACTERISTICS OF UTAH COUNTIES. 51
in Salt Lake Valley. This county is well watered close to the mountains by numer-
ous small streams, and lower down by multitudes of artesian wells. Many acres arº
not irrigated. This county is full of orchards, gardens, and fields, while roots, small
grain, and hay are raised in abundance. The elevation is 4,215 to 4,500 feet above
the séa. The area is 160,000 acres. The soil is sandy but with clay near the lake.
There is no report from this county.
Morgan County.—This lies directly east of Davis, on the east side of the Wasatch,
and occupying Weber Valley as far as Croyden. This is elevated nearly 6,000 feet
above the sea, and is only adapted to small grain, root crops, and hay. The Water
supply is fair and the opportunities for storage good. The area is 675,840 acres, of
which about 10,000 acres are cultivated. The soil is chiefly Sandy.
Summit County.—This county lies almost wholly in the upper valley of the Weber,
and includes Pärley's Park. It occupies the angle between the Wasatch and the
Uintahs, and lies north of the latter. Its ultivated land is elevated 6,000 to 8,500
feet above the sea. It is cold and best adapted to small grain and hay. Much prod-
uce is raised without irrigation, and only a small amount of water is required per
acre to mature crops. The valley of Weber is a succession of green fields for many
miles, while on Chalk Creek and 6ther tributaries are scattered many farms. The
area of the county is 2,419,200 acres, of which 7,500 are under cultivation. This
county also reports storage of water as the only means of increasing its cultivated
area. Deep artesian wells might be successful here. The soil is sandy.
Salt Lake County.—This county lies between the south end of the lake and the
Wasatch Mountains, occupying all of the southern end of Salt Lake Valley and lying
between the Oquirrh and Wasatch Mountains. This county takes the lead in water
supply and position, since the valley is 10 miles wide and 20 miles long, runs north
and south, and is watered by the Jordan and by numerous large streams that flow
down from the heart of the Wasatch. There are also a few streams flowing from the
Oquirrh Mountains. Throughout the lower part of the valley thousands of artesian
wells are flowing. The soil is sandy in the upper and clayey in the lower part of
the valley. The elevation is 4,215 to 4,500 feet above the sea. The area of the
county is 614,400 acres. The cultivated land is 38,587 acres. The water supply is
365.5 to 425.5 cubic feet per second, all in use. The irrigating season is one hundred
and twenty-two to one hundred and fifty two days long, and the duty of water is
about 1 cubic foot to 80 or 100 acres. The rain-fall during the irrigating season is
only 7.882 inches, being more than double that in many other parts of the Territory. .
There are 13,668 acres of lucerne raised; hay, 2,215 acres; small grain, 13,566 acres;
roots and vegetables, 3,470.5 acres, and fruit, 1,628.5 acres. There are thirty-seven
canals with an aggregate length of 213.8% miles. There is enough water running to
waste outside of the irrigating season to redeem 44,000 acres. There are eleven res-
ervoir sites in the mountains reported in detail, aggregating 50,250,000 cubic feet,
and several others of good size not reported. There are four sites reported in the
valleys, and one of them, Utah Lake, if raised 2 feet would irrigate 53,000.acres, and
if raised 5 feet would irrigate 133,000 acres. But this lake can never be filled in a
dry season; the total inflow last winter was only enough to raise the lake a foot, and
for other reasons hereafter given it will never cut much of a figure as a reservoir.
The average depth of snow in the mountains is 4 to 10 feet. The relative humidity
for the year is 48.3 per cent,; during the irrigating season it is 42.3 per cent. The
annual temperature is about 51.2 degrees. -
Utah County.—This county lies chiefly in the beautiful Utah Valley with its large
fresh-water lake in the center, 80,000 acres in area. Most of the arable land is in this "
valley, but there is considerable arable land on the Spanish Fork River. The eleva-
tion is about 4,600 to 4,800 feet above the sea. . Though it is some higher than Salt
Lake Valley it is nearly as warm, because of sloping toward the sun. The area of
the county is 1,344,000 acres, of which 69,126 acres are cultivated. The irrigating
season lasts about 122 days. The duty of water is reported as 40,000 cubic feet per
year, but it is probably not less than 1 cubic foot per second for 100 acres. The water
supply comes from fourteen streams and one river, whose flow in July was 308 cubic
feet per second. There are sixteen canals reported; length, 66.2 miles. There are
many artesian wells in the valley. They lost 28,985 acres of crops this year by lack
of water. There are eight reservoir sites given in detail in the mountains and two
in the valleys; capacity 791,000,000 cubic feet. There are five additional sites given
in the valley and nineteen in the mountains; capacity not specified. Enough water
runs to waste to irrigate 50,000 acres. About the same amount of rain falls here as
in Salt Lake Valley. The average depth of snow in the mountains is 4 feet. The
soil in this county is mostly sandy. Along the Spanish Fork River are many farms
with an elevation of 5,500 to 6,500 feet above the sea whose supply of water could be
greatly increased by deep artesian wells.
Wasatch County.—This lies east of the Wasatch, and the inhabited portion is west
of the Coal range, being south of Summit and east of Utah County. The settled
part is a triangular Valley at the eastern base of the Wasatch, called Provo Valley,
*
52 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
since it lies along the Provo River. This is some 6,000 feet above the sea, has 18,000
acres of cultivated land, and 32,000 acres that could be reclaimed by more water.
The water supply is not given, but one-half the crops were lost this year by lack of
Water. There are 14.5 miles of canals reported. Five reservoir sites are reported,
capable of irrigating 14,000 acres. This valley raises small grain and hay chiefly.
Water storage is a necessity iſ the present acreage is to be preserved, to say nothing
of extending it: , The greator portion of this county of 1,344,000 acres lies east of the
Coal range on the reservation. There are hundreds of acres there that produce
abundant crops of hay when stock is kopt off from them.
Uintah County.—This county is situated east of Wasatch, Summit, and Emery Coun-
ties. It is mostly an Indian reservation ; but just south of the Uintahs is a small cul-
tivated area not on the reservation. The area of the whole county is 4,000,000 acres.
The cultivated area is 8,932 acres. The soil is partly sand and partly clay. The
elevation of Ashley Valley runs from 4,400 to 5,000 feet. The irrigating season is
from 178 to 198 days long, and the duty of water is given as 20,000 to 50,000 cubic
feet per acre, but this is doubtless far too small. It takes a trifle more water for
clayey than for sandy soil. It takes the same amount of water for small grain as
for lucerne, a trifle more for root crops, and one-half as much for orchards. There
were 970 acres of crops lost this year from lack of water. The average depth of
snow in the mountains is 6 feet. Several good reservoir sites are mentioned. The
supply of water in Green River is unlimited, and much land could be reclaimed by
proper dams in this river. The supply of water on Ashley and Brush Creeks is quite
limited, but could be greatly increased by reservoirs. :
San Pete County.—This county occupies an elevated valley between the Wasatch
and Coal range, and south of Utah County. It is the valley of the San Pitch River
and a part of Thistle Valley. The former runs southward from the head of Thistle
Creek for 45 miles till it joins the Sevier Valley. The elevation is perhaps a thou-
sand feet or more higher than Salt Lake Valley, and the rain-fall is less. The water
supply come from both sides of the valley in numerous small streams, but the greater
number come from the east. This has been called the granary of Utah. The chief
product is small grain. The irrigating season lasts 107 to 183 days. The duty of
water is about 1 cubic foot per second to 90 acres. Each acre is irrigated 120 hours.
Many acres of crops were lost this year through lack of water. The average depth
of snow in the mountains is reported as 6 feet. Several reservoir sights are men-
tioned. The area of this county is 1,164,800 acres. The amount under cultivation
is not reported.
Sevier County.--This county occupies the southern part of thé great valley which
lies east of the Wasatch and west of the Coal range, running from Thistle on the
north to Panguitcl on the south. This great valley, over 125 miles long, is called
the San Pete on the north and the Sevier on the south. It is lowest in the middle
where the southward flowing San Pitch and the northward flowing Sevier Rivers
unite, and breaking through the Wasatch pass out westward upon the desert in Mil-
lard County. The only arable land in this county lies in the Sevier Valley, which in
this county is several miles wide and 50 miles long. It is watered chiefly by the
Sevier River, but there are many small streams and springs coming from the mount-
ains on either side. The river measured 70 cubic feet per Second at Joseph City on
July 26, 1889. No other measurements are reported. There were reported eleven
canals aggregating 107.5 miles in length. The area of the county is 993,280 acres, of
which 25,000 acres are under cultivation; all but 7,000 acres are watered by the
Sevier River; 100,000 acres could be irrigated if there were more water. There are
2,634 acres of lucerne raised, 11,982 acres of small grain, 710 acres of roof crops and
vegetables, and 178 acres of orchards. The elevation of the lower part of the Valley
is about 5,500 feet and the irrigating season is 244 days long. Some fruit is raised
Here. The upper part of the valley is from 6,000 to 7,000 feet above the sea, the
irrigating season is 122 days long, and small grain and hay are the chief products.
The soil is sandy and very productive. There are none of the thinly populated coun-
ties that have such possibilities before them as this; for there is enough Water to
irrigate the whole valley if it is properly stored. The depth of snow in the mount;
ains in winter is about 6 feet. Six reservoir sites of great capacities are reported
in the mountains. All the present water supply is utilized. Deep artesian Wells are
possible in some parts of the valley. & 9 - -
Pi Ute County, The cultivated portion of this county lies in or near the heart of
the Beaver Mountains, south of Sevier County, and at the junction of the Coal range
with the Wasatch. The valleys are elevated and cold, being 5,400 to 7,000 feet above
the sea. The irrigating season never exceeds one hundred and seventy-three days,
The duty of water is not more than one cubic foot to 100 acres. The land is irriga ted
from twenty to forty-eight hours per annum, The water supply is 217 cubig feet per
second ; comes from eleven creeks and rivers, and in some localties is not all in use,
while in other places 400 acres were lost and many more injured by lack of Water.
There are 31 canals. Ten reservoir sites are reported of such capacity as to irrigate
SECTIONS OF UTAH WITHOUT WATER. 53
15,000 additional acres, more land than there is to cultivate. The average depth of
snow in the mountains is 4 to 5 feet. The area of the county is 2,368,000 acres. The
cultivated area is 12,135 acres, lying in Sevier, Grass, and Rabbit Valleys. But little
fruit is raised in this county.
Garfield County.—The western part of this county also lies in the heart of the
Beaver Mountains, and its cultivated valleys are all elevated 5,835 to 6,273 feet above
the sea and cold ; best adapted to hay and grain. The irrigating season lasts ninety-
seven days, and the duty of water is slight; the land is irrigated but twenty-five
days during the year. The water supply is not given. There are 34 canals. The
area of the county is 2,892,800, of which about 5,000 acres are cultivated. Four reser-
voir sites are definitely reported, and many others are mentioned ; enough to irrigate
several times all the arable land in the county. Some of these sites could be used to
help out Kane and Washington Counties.
Q THE DRY COUNTIES.
The larger part of these counties is arable land, and can never be reclaimed be-
cause of being destitute of any water, either present or prospective, while the east-
ern edge of these counties might almost be classed with the moist group.
Box Elder County.—This county lies in the northwest corner of the Territory and
is the least arid of them all. The western portion has a few farms and some meager
streams, while that portion next to the lake is susceptible of artesian wells and is
quite productive. The mountains in this portion are so low and lose their snow so
early that water storage is out of the question. -
Tooele County.—This county lies west of Great Salt Lake and Salt Lake County.
It is very large, containing 4,140,800 acres, of which only 6,250 acres are cultivated,
and these lie chiefly in one valley (Tooele). This valley is a broad one, lying be-
tween the Oquirrh and Aqui Mountains, from which it receives its water in eight
small streams aggregating 78+ cubic feet per second. These mountains do not rise
high enough to give water all the season. This valley is being greatly developed by
artesian wells. Rush valley is a magnificent one, being the southern extension of
Tooele Valley. There are 200,000 acres that could be redeemed here alone, but there
is no surface nor artesian water to be had. Reservoirs might catch some water.
Skull Valley is another large tract lying directly west of the Aqui Mountains
This is capable of artesian wells, and has a small supply of surface water. It is un-
developed. On the western edge of the county near Deep Creek is some cultivated
land. There are 1,000,000 acres of good land that could be redeemed if there were
water for it, but by fully developing all resources by storage and otherwise-100,000
acres is an outside limit of the acres that will ever be cultivated in this county with
the present rain-fall. The elevation of the valleys is 4,400 to 5,000 feet above the
sea. All kinds of fruit and produce can be raised here that are raised in Salt Lake
County. The duty of water is 1 cubic foot per second to 80 acres, and the irrigating
season runs from 122 to 200 days. Several good reservoir sites are reported. The
average depth of snow in the mountains bordering Tooele Valley is 3 feet. The soil
is so gravelly near the mountains that fully one-half of the water is lost by seepage
before it gets to the fields. Water storage and fluming the canals are the crying
needs of this county.
Juab County.—This county lies south of Tooele and runs from the Wasatch to the
western boundary. The area is 2,457,600 acres, and fully one-half of it is level land
that could be redeemed by water, but outside of artesian wells there is no hope for
most of this county. Four thousand acres are reported under cultivation beneath
the shadow of Mount Nebo. All kinds of fruit and grain are raised here that the
Great Basin produces. The elevation of the valleys is from 5,000 to 5,500. The
average depth of snow in Mount Nebo is 3 feet. Several good reservoir sites are re-
ported. Nearly one-half of the crops were lost this year by lack of water. Water
storage and artesian wells are the only hope of this county.
Millard County.—This county lies south of Juab and runs from the Wasatch to the
western boundary. This is one of the largest counties in the Territory and has the
largest amount of arable land of any, if there were only water for it. The area of
the county is 4,492,800 acres, and over one-half of it is good land. Artesian wells are
being developed in this county, but generally the flow is so slight that the water is
valuable only for drinking. The settlements lie along the western base of the
Wasatch and along the Sevier River. They are from 5,000 to 6,000 feet above the sea,
and produce large quantities of fruit, small grain, and lucerne hay. The irrigating
season runs from 90 to 122 days. There are 13,500 acres reported as under cultiva-
tion; 1,000 acres were reported as lost and much more as injured by lack of water
this year. The soil is sandy near the mountains and clayey in the Sovier Valley.
There are 42 miles of canals reported. ... Water storage is not only an imperative
necessity in this county, but it is practicable. Much water runs to waste in the
Sevier River; probably triple what is used. There are many good sites along the
54 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
river Where from 1 to 3 Square miles of water several feet deep could be held back.
Back of Scipio a natural lake, now used as a reservoir, could hold 5 square miles of
Water of considerable depth. It is said that the Sevier River could be turned into it.
There are several good sites in the Wasatch.
Beaver County.—This county has an area of 1,689,600 acres, of which one-fourth is
good land; 9,500 acres are reported under cultivation. This county lies south of
Millard and runs from the Wasatch to the western boundary. The upper valleys are
6,000 and the lower about 5,000 feet elevation. The irrigating season lasts ninety-
one to one hundred and twenty-two days. The land is irrigated twenty-nine to
thirty-two hours per year. There are 45 canals; length not given. The settlements
lie chiefly along the Beaver River and its tributaries. The average depth of snow in
the mountains is reported as 8 feet. The Wasatch here rises to a great height and
Snow lies on the mountains all the year round; 25 reservoir sites are reported in dé-
tail, aggregating 17 Square miles, sufficient to irrigate 20,000 acres at least; about
10 of these reservoirs are in the valleys and the remainder in the mountains
Iron County.—This county lies south of Beaver, on the rim of the Great Basin, run-
ning from the Wasatch to Nevada. Its area is 2,102,400 acres, and nearly half of it
is arable land, some of it capable of artesian wells, but most of it destitute of water;
6,997 acres are reported under cultivation. The irrigating season is given as 142 to
269 days. The elevation of the valleys runs from 5,400 to 6,100 feet above the sea.
The duty of water is given as 1 cubic foot to 65 acres in the more arid valleys and
from 160 acres to more than double that in the moist valleys. The water supply
comes from 8 small streams, capacity 67.63 cubic feet per second. The land is irri-
gated from fifteen to forty-two hours per year. If the water could be saved, from
10,000 to 20,000 acres could be redeemed; 14 reservoir sites are reported in detail.
Water storage is the only means of developing the agricultural resources of this
county. The soil is chiefly clay.
Emery and Uintah Counties.—To this group belong parts of these two counties, which
lie between the Green and Grand Rivers. There are many thousands of acres of clayey
soil that could be reclaimed by great canals running from these rivers, whose unlim-
ited water supply, greater than all the rest of the Territory put together, will run to
waste without assistance is given in constructing such canals. There is no part of
the Territory that needs developing more than this. Very deep artesian wells might
be successful here.
Emery County.—But a small part of this county belongs to the Dry Counties, still
nearly all of the cultivated area lies in that section on the extreme western side of
the county. This lies directly east of San Pete and Sevier Counties at the foot of the
Coal range. The rain-fall does not exceed 10 inclies per annum. The water supply
comes from ſour creeks and one river, breaking through the precipitous eastern face
of the Coal range in narrow caſions. The ſlow of water is 171.15 cubic feet per sec-
ond. The area of the county is 5,603,680 acres. The cultivated land is 14,825 acres.
The soil is a very refractory clay. The duty of water is 1 cubic foot to about 35
acres. Castle Valley is 4,500 above the sea, and the irrigating season is 229 days
long. Little Grand Valley is 3,900 feet above the sea, and its irrigating season is
244 days long. There are 34 canals; length not given. One-quarter of the crops was
lost this year through lack of water. All the water is in use. The average depth of
snow in the mountains is 4 feet. Twelve reservoir sites are definitely reported, and
many others are mentioned. There is enough storage to use double the total water
supply. Probably 10,000 to 15,000 acres more could be irrigated by saving the waste
water. Great suffering often results from scarcity of water in this county. All kinds
of crops are raised in this county, even sugar-cane, fruit, pea-nuts, etc. Figs could
be raised in the hotter portions. t
THE HOT COUNTIES.
These counties aro far more arid naturally than the dry counties, since they are
farther from the lofty mountains, and most of the arable parts are 2,000 or more feet
lower, lying in deep valleys shut out from winds and surrounded by great fields of
lava, with red hills and a red, sandy soil of unknown depth. The heat here is almost
unendurable and the rain-fall is almost nothing. This region is valuable for the fruit
and cotton that it raises.
Washington County.—This county is situated in the southwestern corner of the Ter-
ritory. The area is 1,649,920 acres. Of this, 18,892 acres are cultivated. These are
situated along the Virgin River or its tributaries chiefly. It is estimated that 18,900
acres could be redeemed by an increase of the water supply. The lower valleys are
2,700 and the upper 4,000 feet above the sea. In the lower valleys the irrigating sea-
son is 197 to 228 days long, in the upper 122 to 177 days. The water supply comes
from the Virgin River, four streams and many springs, capacity 191.8 cubic feet per
second. In the lower valleys the land is irrigated 84 to 90 hours per year, and the
duty of water is 1 cubic foot per second to 20 acres. In the upper valleys the land
tjTAH AND ITS CLIMATIC CONT)ITIONS. 55
is irrigated 26 hours per year and the duty of water is 1 cubic foot per second to 60,
80, and 128 acres. There are 31 canals; length not given. One-third of the crops were
lost this year by lack of water. It is probable that water enough could be stored to
redeem most of the arable land in this county. Vast quantities of water go to waste
in the Virgin River in the winter and flood time in spring. The depth of snow in the
mountains is 2 to 6 feet. This county raised 30,000 pounds of cotton last year. The
Sultana, seedless grape is grown here and produces from 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of the
finest quality of raisins. Both the hard and soft shell almonds are raised in quanti-
ties here as well as figs. It is believed that oranges can be raised bere. Olives are
grown in this county. Peaches and apricots from this region are very fine. They
raise 4 to 5 crops of lucerne per year. A crop of small grain and another of corn are
raised from the same land.
Iſame County.—This county is more rugged than Washington and more elevated ex-
cept along the Colorado River. It lies east of Washington. The area is 2,659,200
acres, of which 1,825 acres are cultivated, and 13,350 acres are said to be arable. The
irrigating season is 182 days long, and the duty of water is from 37% to 75 acres to
the cubic foot per second. The water supply, exclusive of the limitless Colorado
River, is 31 cubic feet per second. There are nine canals; length not given. The crops
are greatly damaged by lack of water. Sufficient reservoir sites are reported to irri-
gate all the arable land in the county. The average depth of Snow in the mountains
is 4 feet. The crops in this county are much the same as in the foregoing, though
more small grain and hay are raised in proportion to the area cultivated.
San Juan County.—This county lies in the southeastern corner of the Territory. Most
of it is now proposed to be made an Indian reservation. Its area is 5,809,920 acres.
There is a narrow strip of land along the Colorado and San Juan Rivers that will pro-
duce the crops of Washington County, and has an unlimited water supply. Most of
the cultivated area is 5,000 feet above the sea, near the La Sal Mountains. There are
1,025 acres cultivated. Dry farming is successful in some localities in the mountains.
There are good facilities for storage of water.
Other counties.—Small parts of Garfield and Pi Ute Counties situated along the Col-
orado are capable of raising the same products as Washington County.
To sum up we find there are about 500,000 acres of land under cultivation at the
present time. This area could be doubled from the present canals if there were more
water and by new canals, etc. The various counties estimate that about 3,500,000
acres could be redeemed. This is doubtless three and a half times too large. The
average depth of snow in the mountains is 4 feet. The length of the irrigating sea-
son in the moist counties is one hundred and fifty-two days; in the dry counties it
is about the same in cultivated areas; in the hot counties it is about two hundred
days. The returns are very unsatisfactory in this, respect and must be, wholly re-
vised. The duty of water is about 80 acres to the cubic foot per second in the moist
counties, in the dry counties it is uncertain, and in the lower hot counties it is
about 20 acres. The water supply is about 3,000 cubic feet per second for the moist
counties, 250 for the dry counties, and 250 for the hot counties; total 3,500 cubic
feet per second. This is probably our minimum water supply throughout the dryest
years in the counties reported. If we were to add the supply in the Green and Grand
Rivers this amount would be more than double. Almost all of the present supply is
appropriated during the irrigating season and our Territory must remain at a stand-
still without water storage. There are 150 reservoir sites reported in detail and
nearly as many more mentioned. They vary in capacity from 130 square miles to 1
acre, and from 2 feet to 100 feet deep. About one-third of the crops were lost this
year through lack of water. & ge {}
Utah, Nevada, and Arizona are the most arid portions of the United States, and
therefore the preservation and economical use of all their water supply is an impera-
tive necessity. To show how we differ from Colorado and the East, I have prepared
a diagram of the average monthly rain-fall of Salt Lake City for thirty-three years,
and of Denver, Colo., and Des Moines, Iowa, since the beginning of observations
there
During the irrigating season here Des Moines, a place where irrigation is not nec-
essary, has a rain-fall of over 2 acre feet and Denver almost 1 acre foot, while Salt
Lake has less than two-thirds of an acre foot, which would make a difference of about
11,000 cubic feet to the acre, which must be made up by that much more water from
the streams to irrigate our land as well as that of Colorado is irrigated. But during
the same period the relative humidity of Denver is 3 degrees higher and the temper-
ature 2 degrees lower, which would greatly increase the amount of water required to
irrigate an acre of land in Utah in proportion to that of Colorado. . Besides this,
Denver is nearly 50 miles from the crest of the mountains, from which a part of its
moisture is derived, while Salt Lake City is but 10 miles and has a lake of 2,000 square
miles in area within 7 miles on the other side. These things make Denver fairly rep-
resentative of northern Colorado in general, while they show Salt Lake City as the
place with at least 50 per cent, more rain-fall than the rest of the Territory (save the
56 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
mountains themselves) and with a very abnormal humidity. Therefore what applies
to Salt Lake in the great amount of water required per acre will apply with redoub
led force in the dry and hot counties.
We have had evaporating pans located in various parts of the Territory for the last
two months, and though these were of necessity placed out of the reach of the wind
the evaporation averaged three-tenths of an inch per day, often running up to five-
tenths of an inch. Had they been placed where the winá could have reached them
the evaporation would have equaled 15 inches per month. The enormous drain upon
our water supply can therefore be well understood. This militates against shallow
reservoirs in the Valleys. If Utah Lake were raised 3 feet its water would all be evap-
orated during the irrigating season if none flowed in or out. Enough to irrigate
83,000 acres would go up in the air. From records kept in the mountains the evapo-
ration there during the same period was only eight-hundredths of an inch, and never
exceeded seventeen-hundredths per day. Therefore reservoirs in the mountains are
at least, four times as valuable as those in the valleys. We do not yet know the
rain-fall in the heart of our mountains, but it will not fall far short of 40 inches
nor more than 60 inches per annum. It should be observed that though we have 2
inches more rain-fall in Salt Lake than in Denver, yet but 46 per cent. of it falls dur-
ing the irrigating season while 73 per cent. of Denver's rain-fall comes when it is
needed most.
The possibility of reclaiming Utah by artesian wells has been greatly overestimated.
All the wells so far obtained have been found in some one of the basins of the ancient
lake of which Great Salt Lake is the saline remainder; the area of that lake never
exceeds 18,000 square miles. The clay sediment from that lake makes the impervi-
ous cap of those subterranean reservoirs, whose rims are but slightly elevated above
the villages, and the reservoirs are fed from the bases of the mountains where the
surface water runs over the gravel débris between the mountains and the clay rim.
The average depth of these artesian wells in Salt Lake Valley is about 100 feet, in
Utah Valley 200, and in Tooele about the same. In Millard County a few wells have
been driven with a depth of about 200 feet and a flow of one-half to 10 gallons per
minute º 1+ inch pipe. Since no solid rock is struck in driving these wells
they are very liable to clog up in a few years. The flow in Salt Lake Valley will not
average 25 gallons per minute, though some wells far exceed that. A well flowing
5 gallons per minute will irrigate an acre of ground.
ARIZONA AND ITS IRRIGATION CHARACTER.
Turning Southward, Arizona is found to be making considerable pro-
gress. The Southern, or Gita Valley portion of the Territory, and its
smaller central valleys, offer a considerable area for the farmer when
irrigation is applied. The difficulties of the problem are found not only
in the newness of the region, as to settlement, but in the want of Sys-
tem and the confusion of ideas as to the lawful use and control of Water.
The Mormon system would probably bring about in both Arizona and
New Mexico the same admirable results that it has secured in Utah.
It is estimated that there are in the Territory about 2,800,000 acres of
land of the best quality, with surface water sufficient to irrigate the
same by a reasonable expenditure on ditches. Of the above area not
Quite 300,000 acres are in cultivation. There are at least 10,000,000
acres of rich land that could be reclaimed by means of artesian and
other wells, if they can be obtained.
Eor convenience of arrangement in considering its agricultural capa-
bilities, Arizona may be divided into: (1) The Colorado Valley; (2) the
valley of the Gila and those of its tributaries, including the Salt River
as far north as the thirty-fifth parallel; (3) the Santa Cruz Valley, the
isolated locations of Pinal and Pima Counties, and the vicinity of the
New Mexico line; (4) the Colorado Chiquito Valley; (5) the Southwest.
ern portion of Yavapai County, surrounding Prescott, and the valley of
the Rio Verde, with its tributaries.
In one of Lieutenant Wheeler's reports of exploration in Arizona,
California, and Nevada, a comparison is made between the capabilities
of certain portions of the Territory and those States, which brings to
light some important facts. The Arizona portion compared is bounded
- FERTILITY OF THE COLORADO WALLEY. 57
in longitude by the meridians of 111 degrees and 113 degrees 45 min:
utes, and in latitude by the parallels of 34 degrees and 35 degrees 40
minutes, which include the southwestern portion of Yavapai County
and a small strip of Mohave County, by no means the best agricultural
region of the Territory, and scarcely up to the average. . This is com-
pared with the eastern portion of southern California, and the Southern
portion of Nevada, in the same latitude:
California,
and Arizona.
Nevada.
Pe)' cent. | Per cent.
Agricultural, irrigable, and arable land----------------------------------------. 2 25
Timber ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 10
Grażing------------------------------------------------------------------------ 88 30
Parren -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4. 35
In the Colorado Valley the soil is rich in the chemical combinations
requisite for fertility, and only in small patches contains too large a
proportion of clay. In some places it has also small amounts of chloride
of sodium and sulphate of lime. The fertilizing reddish mud resembles
that of the Rio Grande and of the Nile, and its quantity varies from
0.1 to 0.5 per cent. (1–1000 to 1–200) of the water, which is good to
drink even when considerably colored by the mud. As compared with
the aboved-named rivers, it contains less potassa, more phosphoric
acid, and much more carbonate of lime, the presence of the latter valu-
able ingredient being due to the immense limestone beds through which
the river flows in the upper part of its course.
The following table (mud from the Colorado having been collected)
exhibits a comparative analysis of the mud of these rivers:

Colorado. Rio Grande. Nile.
Hygroscopic water ---------------------------------------------- 3, 27 1.890 ------------
Chemically bound water, soluble in hydrochloric acid. --...-----. 1. 14 3.122 ------------
Potash. --------------------------------------------------------- 0. 103 0.284 0, 166
Soda, With trace of lithia ---------------------------------------. 0.074 0.064 0.022
ime ------------------------------------------------------------|-----------. 1. 479 1, 725
Carbonate of lime----------------------------------------------- 12, 50 5.190 ------------
Magnesia ------------------------------------------------------. 0, 69 0. 080 0.046
Oxide of iron.---------------------------------------- ** * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * 3. 640 ; 8. 804
Alumina -------------------------------------------------------. 2. 26 1, 308
Phosphoric acid ------------------------------------------------- 0.146 0.092 §
Sulphuric acid--------------------------------------------------- Trace. Trace. Trace.
Oxide of manganese--------------------------------------------- Trave. I.------------|------------
Insoluable in hydrochloric acid. --------------------------------- 78.1 82.55 ------------
As to the extent to which the Colorado River could be rendered
available for irrigation, it has been appropriately remarked by geolo-
gists that the country bordering on the Colorado is the most conspicu-
ous example in the world of overdrainage; for nowhere else do we find
a stream that for hundreds of miles cuts its way 500 to 600 feet deep
through solid rock. The Colorado, supplied by streams from the mount-
ains, where rain and snow are abundant, cuts its Way through a rain-
less, and therefore desert, region, in which the only changes are those
resulting from the direct action of the atmosphere, so that no appre-
ciable débris of any kind is furnished to fill up the excavations contin-
ued through millions of years, and only limited by an approximation of
the level of the river-bed to that of the Waters of the Gulf of California.
58 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Lieutenant. Wheeler estimates the area of land drained by the Colorado
River and its tributaries to aggregate 242,065 square miles, mostly still
Owned by the Government. tº - ſº
The Salt River Valley is 25 miles in length by about 14 in width.
With its estimated 250,000 acres of rich, alluvial soil, capable of pro.
ducing 25 to 50 bushels of grain to the acre, it ought easily to support
50,000 inhabitants, if there were a sufficiency of irrigating ditches and
artesian Wells to fully utilize its natural capabilities.
The Valley of the Gila, though cultivated along most of its course, is
not available for semi-tropical productions in its upper part on account
of October frosts. The White Mountain Indian Reservation (San Car.
los) interferes with a continuous white settlement above Florence, as
the lands of the Pimas and Maricopas do below it. These latter Indians
have cultivated wheat, corn, pumpkins, melons, etc., for centuries, and
have always been self-supporting, as well as the Papagoes, farther south,
Who, however, depend principally on stock.
The Gila bottom merges imperceptibly into the foot-hills, and has an
average breadth of from 5 to 10 miles. Its soil is principally alluvial,
and will produce two crops yearly. Irrigation is easily effected. The
river averages 600 feet in width, and is 3 to 5 feet in depth when there
is no rain-fall and no Water from the mountains. The banks along the
whole of this tract are so low and sloping as to afford unusual facilities
for the construction of ditches. Excellent crops of wheat, barley, and
Vegetables are grown. In the vicinity of Florence is an extensive tract
of rich bottom and second-mesa or table-land, on which are now grown
the cereals, alfalfa, the sugar cane, and vegetables and fruits generally,
including orange and lemon trees. Fruit culture in the Gila Valley is
extensive. Cottonwood, ash, and locust are abundant. Farther up the
valley the Pueblo Viejo has, with its tributary valley of Ash Creek and
others, at least 100,000 acres of good farming land.
On the uplands and farther up the valley itself, near the line of New
Mexico, the daily variations in temperature are much less and the frosts
begin later. Still farther up its course, within the borders of New
Mexico, the Gila River has upon its margins much good agricultural
land. The bottom-lands generally are quite rich in potassa and phos-
phoric acid.
The valley of the Francisco River, a tributary of the Gila, near the
line of New Mexico, is good for grazing and timber, and has in general
a rich soil. The San Pedro River is a tributary of the Gila, its mouth
being between Florence and San Carlos, and its source in the Huachuca
Mountains, near the Mexican line. There is good land, good timber,
and excellent range for stock. Considerable valley land is now under
cultivation, and irrigation is generally required.
The Santa Cruz Valley, though smaller in extent, is equally pro-
ductive in proportion to its area. It is more compact, and all of it is
adapted to semi-tropical fruits, as well as to the vegetables of the tem-
perate Zone.
According to information received, about 250 miles of main canals
have been completed during the past two years, or are under rapid con-
struction. With the tributary feeders and laterals southern and cen-
tral Arizona now has completed, or very nearly so at least, about 700
miles of irrigation works. As this Territory has always been considered
one of the most unpromising in the dry and mountain regions of this
country, these facts are of a cheering character. The most astonishing
reports are made of the fertility of the areas “under water.”
ARIZONA's RAINY SEASON AND PRODUCTION. 59
RAINY SEASONS AND PRODUCTION.
The physical configuration of Arizona shows it to be, as already
Stated, an overdrained region. This is in itself sufficient to account
for the unquestioned aridity of a large portion of the Territory, but set-
tlement and time are proving there, as well as elsewhere within our
mountain area, that the supplies of water, with proper conservation and
distribution, will be found more important and available than has gen-
erally been considered at all probable. In the narrow and precipitous
Valſeys of Central Arizona there are natural reservoirs, of which, with
Comparatively little outlay, valuable storage basins may be created and
force obtained to raise the water high enough for reaching extensive
portions of the mesa or table-lands adjoining the river valleys. Sev-
eral of the minor streams are known to sink, and their recovery and
use for industrial purposes will be found a task not difficult to engineer-
ing skill.
There are two rainy seasons, in the winter and summer months re-
Spectively. In the summer the rains are often violent and torrential in
character, disappearing almost as suddenly as they come. In April and
May there are often neighborhood showers, seeming to be limited in
area, as if the currents in their passage from the Southern Pacific, com-
ing through the Gulf of California, were broken by the higher peaks
and whirled in circular eddies over the sections visited. They are known
by the Mexicans and Indians as “shepherd rains.”
The population is rapidly increasing, especially in the southwestern
and central portions of the Territory. The immigration into these sec-
tions aggregates 5,000 persons yearly, and the increase for the Territory
for the last ten years will average fully 10,000 per annum. The returns
from the different counties to the Territorial auditor for the present year
show a total valuation of $27,231,424,47.
Arable land with water that sells at from $20 to $75 per acre is as-
sessed at from $5 to $15 per acre. There are assessed 5,985,358 acres
in the Territory, about 5,000,000 of which is embraced in the grant to
Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, and assessed at 20 cents per acre, which
is being sold at from $1 to $10 per acre. The entire valuation on land
is $3,285,212.60, on landed improvements $1,931,440.83. There are as-
sessed 552,718 head of cattle; the actual number in the Territory will
fall a little short of 2,000,000. The estimated population is by counties
as follows:
Yavapai ----------------------- 16,000 | Cochise ------------...----------- 14,000
Maricopa ---------------------- 16,000 | Pima -------------------------- 14,000
Apache ------------------------ 12,000 | Pinal -------------------------- 8,000
Mohave ------------------------ 5,000 | Yuma-------------------------- 3,000
Gila ---------- d = e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * 5,000 - *
Graham. ----------------------- 12,000 Total -----............... 105.000
The lands covered by canals and ditches is in—
. Acres. Acres
Apache County...-------------- 6,900 | Yuma County ------------------ 40,000
Yavapai County. -------------- 40, 360 | Pima County - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7,500
Gila County-------------------- 7, 600 | Cochise County -----...----. ---- 23,500
Pinal County. ------------------ 71,600 | Mohave County ................ 1,000
Graham County ---------------- 47, 000 *-*º-ºsmºgº
Maricopa County--------------- 321,000 Total ------------ * * * * * * * * 566, 460
Of land requiring no irrigation the amount entered and occupied is
estimated at 100,000 acres, lying principally in the counties of Apache,
Yavapai, Graham, Pima, and Cochise, of Which one-half has been cropped
the present SeaSOD.
60 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Value of the agricultural product varies according to locality. In
this Valley the Salt River hay is baled at $5 per ton; in Yavapai and
Apache Counties at $20 to $25. Barley is worth here 75 cents per
laundred ; in other counties from $1 to $2.50. Fruit here is worth from
$20 to $40 per ton; in other counties from $40 to $200. Land in alfalfa
or grain here gives a return of from $15 to $25 per acre; in other coun-
ties from $39 to $50. Fruit in this and the Gila Valleys gives a return
of $100 to $200 per acre, and in other localties more or less according to
yield. The value of product from every acre of land cultivated in Ari-
Zona can safely be placed at $30, which will be largely increased in the
Southern Valleys as the orange, fig, grape, apricot, and other fruit-trees
and vines now being planted come into bearing.
The value of the products of the Territory for 1889 was as follows:
Agricultural and horticultural -----------------------...--------------. $9,207,000
Live-stock-horses, sheep, and cattle.-----...----...----...--------------. 6,000,000
Gold and silver -----........---- • * * * * * * x e º nº Sº tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 4,431,500
Copper ------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º ºs e e s a e e º e s m e º ºs e s = e s m e º sº as us as 2,000,000
Lumber, wool, etc -----------------...---- º, º ºs º º a s a s sº me s an e º m sº sº e s as tº e º s as es ... 1,500,000
‘Total ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * v e º e a s = e s m e 23, 138,500
In the Territory the amount of land that can be reclaimed through a
proper System of reservoirs and canals, conserving the storm-water for
irrigation, is very large, being variously estimated from 6,000,000 to
8,000,000 of acres, fully two-thirds of which, lying below the thirty-
fourth parallel and not in the mountains, can be made available for the
cultivation of those citrus and deciduous fruits that make horticulture
most profitable in all semi-tropical countries.
Mr. Farish, immigration commissioner, from whose report the fore.
going is Condensed, testified as follows as to fertility:
We grow as fine lemons as you would wish. Along at Florence they have grown
splendid olives. In this valley our olive trees are not far enough advanced to tell any-
thing about ; but they have grown them up there. We have planted out here some
22,000 orange trees, experiments in growing that have been successful. Peaches,
pears, and apples are not so good. They grow to great perfection so far as size is
concerned, but they lack flavor. ... We grow the crab-apple, prunes, and dates. Every
Variety of figs is a natural product here. The date is produced here seven years
from the seed, and in bunches of from 5 to 25 pounds. And we grow wheat here—
I should think about 1,800 to 2,000 pounds to the acre. The yield of barley is from
2,000 to 2,500 pounds to the acre, and sometimes as high as 3,000 and 4,000 pounds.
Alfalfa is the principal crop. We cut that from three to four times a year, and we
cut from 6 to 8 tons to the acre.
The total area of ditch construction and acreage under water is esti-
mated as follows:

No. Of Area under
y County. cºats. Length. “ºt.
lſiles. Acres.
Apache.----------------------------------------------------------------|-------. 24; 12, 500
Cochise.-----------------------------------------------------------------------. 51" 8, 300
Črniam ............................................................... • * * * * * 6() 35,000
Maricopa--------------------------------------------------------------- 23 30.4% 194, 400
Pima ------------------------------------------------------------------- 36 52 30, 000
º r 78,000
Pinal • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = n e º sº a e < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 28 50 R * 50, 000
Yavapai.---------------------------------------------------------------|-------- 78 40, 000
Yuma ------------------------------------------------------------------ , 10 120% $1,000
Total.-------------------------------------------------------------|-------- 740% $29,200
* In Pima Reservation.
These figures are entirely taken from county reports. The ditch sys-
tem constructing in Yuma County will, when completed, have a total
IXISTRIBUTING DITCHES OF MARICOPA. 61
length of 241 miles and an acreage of 207,000. The total cost will be
$1,318,000, or nearly $5,500 per mile. The canals under way in Mari:
copa County will, when completed, cover 404,900 acres and have a total
length of 425 miles. Apache County reports 150,000 acres reclaimed,
Pima County 2,500,000 acres, and Cochise 310,000 acres. Of the area
“under ditch" about two-thirds are actually cultivated.
THE - FERTILE SALT RIVER, WALLEY.
Maricopa County is the central and, agriculturally speaking, the most
important section of Arizona. Prom a report the following Statements
are quoted :
In the Salt River Valley the following canals have been taken from the Salt River:

Name. Length. Name. Length.
!
l
Miles. || Miles.
Arizona.-------------------------------, \ 41 || Utah ---------------------------------- 6
Grand ---------------------------------. 22 || Karmers............................... 5
Maricopa ------------------------------- 14 || Highland ------------------------------ 22
Salt River Valley ----------------------. 18 i Dutch Ditch--------------------------- 4.
San Francisco -------------------------- 9 || Monterey------------------------------ 4
Tempe---------------------------------- 19 | Griffin --------------------------------- 3
Mesa ----------------------------------- 9
These water-ways cover in the aggregate 250,000 acres of land, of which 187,500
have been reclaimed and 125,000 acres are annually cultivated.
On the Gila are the following canals which have been completed:

Name. Length. Acres. Name. Length. Acres.
Miles. Miles.
Buckeye --------------------. 30 20,000 || Gould & Bro.'s ---...--------. 8 3,000
Gila River-------------------- 8 5,000 || Palmer ---------------------- 22 12,000
Enterprise. ------------------ 12 6,000 || Citrus ----------------------- 14 5,000
Besides which are the following canals now in process of construction: The mon-
arch ditch, 8 miles long, which will cover 2,000 acres; the Gila River Irrigation
Company, which takes the water at Black Butte, below the mouth of the Hassa-
yampa River. The company lave 12 miles of their canal completed and propose to
put in a dam 1,755 feet long and 75 feet high, and carry the water south and south-
west, taking in the entire valley on the south and east sides of the river to the line
of Yuma County, making a canal 75 miles long and covering 500,000 acres. The Gila
Bend Canal Company starts from Gila Bend on the south side of the river. They
have completed 223 miles of the canal, which is to have a total length of 30 miles and
cover 18,000 acres. Under this canal about 3,400 acres have been cultivated this sea-
son. The same company are building a large canal, taking the water about 2 miles
above and running southwesterly a distance of 50 miles, intending to reclaim 80,000
acres, much of which has been filed upon.
Owing to the dryness of the atmosphere, the evaporation is very great in the val-
leys. During the summer months it will average about four-tenths of an inch every
twenty-four hours, so that reservoirs should, wherever possible, be constructed in tho
higher altitudes.
In the irrigation of lands it is the general policy of our people to flood them in
winter, when water is abundant, Wllich, by creating a reservoir of absorption, make
frequent and heavy irrigations unnecessary during the months of June and
July, when water is scarce. Since the first settlement of the valley of the Salt River
the water has risen 30 feet nearer the surface. In some places fruits and alfalfa are
grown without irrigation. It seems reasonable to suppose that when the lands on
the high mesas along the foot-hill mountains are more generally cultivated the area
of land requiring no irrigation will be very largely extended. Another fact is notice-
able: The water used in irrigation, except that lost by evaporation, percolates through
the soil and finds its way back to the river. More water flows into the Gila from the
Salt River in the dry season, covered by the months of May, June, and July, than
before the first canal was built in the valley. Forty miner's inches of water is calcu-
lated to make a cubic foot flow per second. One miner's foot is sufficient to cultivate
3 acres in grain or alfalfa, and 5 acres in fruits or vineyard.
62 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
|
The principal grain crops of the county are wheat and barley. The past season there
has been produced about 40,000,000 pounds of barley and about 30,000,000 pounds of
wheat. The yield of wheat is from 1,200 to 1,800 pounds per acre, and of barley from
1,800 to 3,000 pounds per acre. Sorghum and sugar came are grown to a considerable
extent for the sugar they contain and for feed. Coru is not extensively raised, being
confined to a few hundred acres each year. Oats are a native of the soil, and are cut
in quantities evey year for hay. Timothy, Bermuda, and blue grass do well, but al-
falfa is the principal grass grown. Once rooted, it requires no attention except to ir-
rigate it three or four times during the year; grazed, an acre will support two and
a half head of horses during the year, and from ten to twelve head of sheep or hogs.
It can be cut from four to five times annually. and yields from 6 to 8 tons to the acre
The hay is very ºutritious, and as a pasture for all kinds of stock can not be surpassed.
Three and four year old steers driven from the ranges upon alfalfa pastures gain, if
poor, two pounds per day for the first three months, becomming at the end of that
time, most excellent beef in any market. -
The mesquite and cottonwood are native trees, but the ash, cork elm, pepper tree,
catalpa, Willow, umbrella, lombardy poplar, North Carolina poplar, mulberry, palm,
magnolia, locust, and tamarack have been introduced with marked success.
Up to five years ago very little fruit of any kind was grown in the county, and
that only by way of experiment. Since then the planting of orchards and vineyards
has increased every year. It has been fully demonstrated that no better section
exists for the growing of nearly all citrus and deciduous fruits. In the Lower Gila
Valley lemons, oranges, figs, grapes, and pomegranates can be grown in greaf per-
fection, but it is not well adapted to the culture of other fruits. In other portions
of the valley, and through the valley of the Salt River, peaches, pears, apricots, pome-
granates, figs, French prunes, apples, oranges, almonds, quinces, dates, blackberries,
and strawberries, and every variety of grapes, grow in perfection,
There are now planted through the Salt River Valley 8,000 acres in vineyard and
3,000 in orchard trees. Of oranges 200 acres are in cultivation; from experiments
made the growing of this fruit will be a success. Olives have been planted in an
experimental way. It is too soon to speak confidently as to the results, but as they
have been successfully cultivated near Florence, in Pinal County, there seems to be
no reason to doubt that good results will attend their culture in this county. Apri-
cots, peaches, and kindred fruits bear heavily, yielding from 300 to 500 pounds per
tree. Vineyards in full bearing give from 6 to 8 tons to the acre. Raisins have not
yet become an export commodity with us, but will be in a short time; the muscat of
Alexandria grown in this valley, contains a greater quantity of Saccharine matter
than elsewhere, and from experiments made in raisin making we are justified in the
statement that 3 pounds of this grape will make 1 pound of raisins, which is greater
than in any part of this habitable globe. Another advantage which our county has
in the prosecution of this industry over raisin districts of Spain or California is
that the drying and curing can be done in the open air without damage from rain or
dew.
Some experiments have been made in the manufacture of Sherry wine, with satis-
factory results. All our wines have a strong, sherry flavor, and expert viticulturists
who have examined into the matter claim this to be the only port and sherry district
in America. On this subject the Hon. J. De Barth Shorb, commissioner at large of
the State Viticulturist Society of California, writes: “I directed what should be done
with one barrel of so-called white wine, from the Salt River Valley, as a matter of
experiment, and upon examination a few months later, found, as anticipated, it had
turned into a sherry of most excellent quality. I have no hesitation in Saying that
the Phoenix country is the only port and sherry country in America; so far as known,
and with trained judgment in the selection of proper varieties of grapes adapted to
your conditions, wines of the highest commercial value, if scientific methods be sub-
stituted for those now in vogue in the manufacturing of the wines, will be the inevit-
able result.”
The growing of early and late vegetables will also, when railroad facilities are
general, be a source of great profit to the people of this country—a country that pro-
ãuces fresh fruits and vegetables every month in the year; where grown in the open
air peaches, figs, tomatoes, and gantaloupes can be gathered in December, and where
the soil, a rich alluvial, varying in depth from 10 to 12 feet, inexhaustible in
its durable fertility, will assuredly be the center of a great and prosperous community.
Such are the mesa lands of this county. When reclaimed all vegetation has most rapid
development. º
The cottonwood and North Carolina poplar grows from 18 to 20 feet in a season,
fruit trees from 12 to 15 feet, grape-vines from 25 to 40 feet. g t
The Indians occupying a reservation in this county have cultivated their land for
two hundred years without apparent injury to the soil and without change of seed.
After their crude method of farming they raise better crops of grain than are harvested
in any of the wheat-growing districts in the Mississippi Valley.
LAND AREAS CULTIVATED IN COLORADO. 63.
COLORADO AND IRRIGATION.
Colorado is as notable for the physical data it offers in relation to irri:
gation as it has already been shown to be in the legal aspects thereof.
Prof. L. G. Carpenter, of the State agricultural college, reported in
January, 1890, the following as the
Approximate areas “wnder ditch” in Colorado.
\ * / Area. Total area.
Division I (Platte Division): Sq. miles. Sq. miles. Acres.
Platte Valley, below the Poudre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . --------------------- 283. 21
Platte Valley, above the Poudre, including Bear and Clear Creeks. 551.64
St. Vrain and Boulder Creeks. ------------------------------------- 294. 59
Big and Little Thompson. ... ---------...- . . . . . . . . . . . ----------------. 134. 22
Cache La Poudre -------------------------------------------------- 393, 54
Total from South Platte.------------------------------------- 1,657.20 | 1,060, 608
From North Platte in North Park. --------------------------------. ---. 101.23 64, 787
Division II (Arkansas Division):
East of Huerfano Itiver -------------------------------------------- 489. 08
Cucharas . ---------------------------------------------------- 94. 40
La Veta and Apache ---...-...------------------------------------- 84, 17
Upper Arkansas and Fontaine ------------------------------------- 106.91
——l 774. 56 495, 718
Division III (Rio Grande Division) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . * * * - - - - - - - * * * * * * : * * * * - - - - - - 1, 564. 00 | 1,000, 960
Divisiºn IV (San Juan Division), including Doloros, Mancos, Pine,
Florida, La Plate Rivers . . . . . . . . . .-----------------------------------|---------. 135.00 86,400
Division V (Grand River Division) ------------...-----------------------|------. --. 210. 00 134, 400
Division VI (Bear and White River Division). . . . . ... ----.........-------------. 110.00 70, 400
Total.--------------------------------------** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4, 552.00 2, 913, 273

By this table the total amount of land under ditch in Colorado at
present is not far from 4,500 square miles, or 3,000,000 acres. The
amount of land actually irrigated can not be so reliably estimated at
present. . It is much less than that under ditch.
Professor Carpenter estimates the total irrigated as not over one-
third. This is apparently below the actual results. State Engineer
Maxwell had presented in September, 1889, the following figures as a
careful, statement of the area east of the Rocky Mountains: -
Acres.
* * > No. of Miles of
Divisions. districts. ditches. TJnder Actually
ditch. irrigated.
No. 1 Platte --------------- - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 14 2,067.36 1, 126,800 631,036
No. 2 Arkansas. ----------------------------------------- 13 943. 30 440, 240 116,047
No. 3 Rio Grande ---------------------------------------- 8 1,033.68 596,097 250,263
Total ---...----- • e s sº e g º ºr ºr e º - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 35 4,044, 34 2, 163, 137 997, 346
In the three eastern divisions there are also one hundred and sixty-two
reservoirs, with a record capacity of 5,319,939,788 cubic feet, capable of
furnishing one acre-foot of water to each of 122,199 acres. The total num-
ber of ditches, large and small, in the State is estimated at 2,000, and
their mileage at 5,000. The duty of water is placed at 1.45 cubic feet per
second for 80 acres. In some sections it is over 100 acres, however,
The State engineer, Mr. Maxwell, has reported the following:
For the distribution, under the irrigation laws of this State, of the water from the
natural streams to the irrigating canals, ditches, and reservoirs, the State is divided
into six irrigation divisions and sixty-eight water districts.
In a general way, the first division comprises that portion of the State which is
drained by the North and South Platte Rivers, the second division of that portion
drained by the Arkansas River, and the third division of that portion drained by the
Rio Grande, - *
These three divisions compose the “Eastern Slope,” or all that part of the State
which drains into the Gulf of Mexico. -
64
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
EASTERN SLOPE.
Tabulated 8tatement showing the number of miles of irrigating canals and ditches, the nwm,
ber of acres of land under such canals and ditches, and the number of acres of land actu-
ally irrigated by 8wch canals and ditches.
ſCompiled from data in the State engineer's office.]
SOUTEI PLATTE DIVISION, No. 1.

No. of - TJnd
Water Name of principal stream in distriot. Ditches. Jnder | Actually
district. ditches. irrigated.
Miles. Acres. Acres.
#| South Platte.---------------------------- - * * * * * * * * * * * g º a 238.00 | 150,000 39, 719
2 ------ do ------------------------------------------------- 150, 00 174,000 46,233
8 Cache le Poudre.---------------------------- * - ºn e s a • * * = a 340, 75 207, 360 103, 895
4 || Big Thompson------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 236, 66 80,690 69,908
5 St. Vrain.----------------------------------------------. 225, 50 92,460 86, 655
6 Bowlder Creek-----------------------------------------. 125. 00 89, 580 72, 895
7 | Clear Creek--------------------------------------------. 240, 00 98, 558 66, 405
8 | South Platte. ---------------------------------------, --, 206. 50 131, 537 53, 110
9 Bear Creek --------------------------------------------. 50.00 6, 915 3,742
23 South Platte.------------------------------------------- 61. 50 23, 270 20, 920
47 | North Platte ------------------------------------------- 124.00 46, 980 41,080
46 ------ do ------------------------------------------------. 61.45 24, 330 21,470
48 |-----. do ------------------------------------------------- 8. 00 800 4.
Total.--------------------------------------------. 2,067, 36 1, 126,800 631,036
$
ARKANSAS DIVISION NO, 2.
10 | Fountaine que Bouille ---------------------------------. - 53. 00 32,680 18,000
11 | Arkansas----------------------------------------------. 46. 10 39, 820 34, 780
12 |. ----. do ------------------------------------------------- 34, 00 33, 760, 25, 520
13 || Grape Creek-------------------------------------------. 3. O0 600 540
14 Arkansas------------------------------------------- * * * * 92. 50 13, 694 7,265
15 St. Charles---------------------------------------------. 91.50 7, 314 4, 543
16 Huerfano ----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 340. 00 32, 129 12, 547
17 | Arkansas. ---------, ------------ * * * * * * * * - - º ºs tº at - as ºr m at e º sº, º a 167. 50 224, 640 38,700
18 Apishapa----------------------------------------------- 24, 00 y 6,000
19 | Purgatoire ---------------------------------------------- 58. 10 33,380 25,660
49
; Various--------- us is a m = as w = w is sº a sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as gº º 20, 70 5,490 2, 492
67
Total.-------------------------------------- tº tº - ºr tº gº - 943. 30 440, 240 116,047
RIO GRANDE DIVISION, No. 3 (SAN LUIS WALLEY).*
20 | Rio Grande------------------------------------- tº º ºn tº us tº e wº 300, 00 398, 140 98, 515
21 | Alamosa.----------------------------------------------- 175. 00 57, 711 45,093
22 Concios. -- - - - - ---------------------------------------- 160.00 45, 711 33, 340
24 Culebra and Costilla---------------...-------------------. (j) (i) (#)
25 San Luis Creek----------, ------------------------------ 227.78 42, 425 31, 315
26 Saguache ----------------------------------------------. 143.80 33, 380 28,000
27 La Garita----------------------------------------------. 5. 60 570 500
35 | Trinchora ---------------------------------------------. 21, 50 18, 160 13, 500
Total ---------------------------------------------- 1, 033.68 596,097 250,263
* The records relating to this division are not complete. t No data.
IRECAPITULATION.
Division No. 1.--------------------------------------------------- 2,067.36 1, 126,800 631,036
Division No. 2.--------------------------------------------------- 943. 30 440, 240 116,047
Division No. 3.--------------------------------------------------. 1, 033.63 596,097 250, 263
Aggregato ------------------------------------------------. 4,044.29 2,163, 137 997, 346



Total area of arid land, 30,000,000 acres.
THE EXISTING RESERVOIRS IN COLORADO.
Colorado (eastern slope).-Tabulated summary of reservoirs so far as the came are of
º record in the office of the State engineer.
DIVISION N.O. 1.
65
No. of
District. reser- Area. | Capacity.
voirs.
Acres. | Cubic feet.
First ------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 l. ------. 27,419, 536
Second ----------------------------------------------------------------- 8 -------. 538,787, 000
Third ------------------------------------------------------------------ 5 1. ------- 188,994, 950
Fourth ---------------------------------------------------------------. 1 - - - - - - - - 180,000, 000
Tifth ------------------------------------------------------------------- .2 |-------- 165, 164, U80
Seventh --------------------------------------- e s s = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 21 l-------. 1, 114,089, 456
Biglath . . . . . . is * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 14 -------. 1, 688, 381, 817
Ninth ------------------------------------------------------------------ 13 |. ------. 203, 778, 940
Twenty-third --------------------------------------------------- * - - - - - 1 -------- 2, 214, 323
Total.-----------------------------------------------------------. 75 -------. 3, 168, 780,082
*NotE.—The above number of cubic feet of water would furnish 1 foot in depth for 72,746 acres.
DIVISION No. 2.
Tenth ------------------------------------------------------------------ 29 I.------. 115,937, 752
Bleventh --------------------------------------------------------------. 3 1. ------. 20, 613,408
Fourteenth------------------------------------ ------------------------ 17 l-------. 1,011, 596, 143
Sixteenth -------------------------------------------------------------. 8 I.------. 98, 329, 398
Seventeenth------------------------------------------------------------ 20 l. ------. 823, 524,005
Total.------------------------------------------------------------- 77 - - - - - - - , 2,069,000, 706
NOTE —The above amount would furnish 1 foot in depth of water for 47,495 acres.
DIVISION No. 3. .
&
Twenty-second--------------------------------------------------------- 4 |-------- 16,000,000
Twonty-fifth ----------------------------------------------------------. 2 -------. 66,000, 000
Twenty-sixth----------------------------------------------------------- 1 -------- 50,000
Twenty-seventh -------------------------------------------------------. 3 1. ------ 109,000
Total.------------------------------------------------------------ 10 I. ------. 82, 159,000
NOTE,--The above amount would furnish l foot in depth for 1,885 acres.
GENERAL RECAPITULATION.
- No. of
Division. reser- || Area. Capacity.
voirs.
©
Acres. Cubic feet.
Tirst ------------------------------------------------------------------. 75 - - - - - - - - 3, 168, 780,082
Second ----------------------------------------------------------------. 77 -------. 2,069, 0,0, 706
Third ------------------------------------------------------------------ 10 !-------. 82, 159,000
Grand aggregate ------------------------------------------------. 162 I.------. 5, 319, 939,788
tº
NoTE.—This total a?ount of water would furnish 1 foot in depth of water for 122,129 acres.
ITS AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVENESS.
Colorado is especially adapted to the production of the grains,
grasses, and roots of the temperate zone.
The eastern foot-hills are
found waluable for the fruits thereof, while in the valleys of the west-
ern slopes the finer fruits, such as grapes, apricots, etc., can be profit-
ably raised.
138 A L–AP WOL IV—5
In the San Juan, to the southwest, the semi-tropical
A. *
* *



i s : ... <
- : f -
* * w
66 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
fruits and crops will be cultivated successfully on the mesa and valley
lands. -
Of the area of Colorado, 98.2 per cent. is not in farms. Of tillable
land the area is 23.8 per cent. ; grass land, 29; woodland, 3.8; and the
unproductive is rated at 43.4 per cent. Colorado stands as to produc-
tivity as follows:

Bushels
per acre. Average. w
Corn------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 27.7 24.2
Wheat.--------------------------------------------------------------------------- 19. (3 12. 3
Oats ------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * tº tº as tº sº º sº tº e - ºn as ſº tº * * * * * G - e - as tº gº • * * ºn as º ºs ºs ºn as as sº us tº º ºs º is 31. 7 27. 0
From 1884 to 1889, the public domain lying within the borders of
Colorado has been occupied to the total of 9,155,561 acres. This is
within less than 1,000,000 acres of the total amount of arable land
which, in 1880, the public lands commission declared was the whole
arable area left for settlement. It is evident that the specialists do not
know all the facts or are able to accurately forecast the future.
ONE OF ITS LARGE IRIRIGATED AREAS,
In the San Luis Valley there is 468 miles of ditch. One canal, known
as the Rio Grande Canal, is the largest in operation at present in the
West. There is 312 miles of ditch system. The canal at the head is
80 feet wide on the bottom, and will finally supply water to about
240,000 acres of land. The conditions and character of the soil of the
, San Luis Valley, on the Rio Grande River, in the southern part of the
State, are different from other sections of Colorado. That valley
has an area of 5,000 square miles, and probably 3,000,000 acres could
be redeemed if the water is there to do it with. Altogether, in the San
Luis Valley, there are above it 1,150 or 1,200 miles of canal, supply-
ing about 1,500,000 acres of land. The water supply is not sufficient
to irrigate those lands at all times.
The Rio Grande River carries a large amount of flood water during
the summer months. There are probably six weeks during the average
year when there will be sufficient water to irrigate the entire valley, if
it could be relied upon. There are fine sites within the mountains adja-
cent to the valley for building reservoirs. !
In order to redeem that entire area it is necessary to conserve the
water. With that area 150,000 or 200,000 people can be supported, but
with the present irrigating facilities and water supply not more than
50,000 people. The soil is good. The altitude is about 7,500 feet, but
the latitude is such that it gives a good locality for irrigation. The San
Luis Valley, the largest valley in the Rocky Mountain region, has a Soil
somewhat peculiar and different from the Soil on the gastern slope of
the mountains. It is underlaid by a heavy stratum of drift.
Artesian water is found in the San Luis Valley at a depth of 800
feet, a very full flow of water that will cut a figure sometime in the
progress of irrigation; but even with such artesian and all the surface
water, the valley will not be reclaimed without storage.
Most of San Luis Valley is still public land, but the State has
some 200,000 or 250,000 acres therein. In order to induce capital to
vinest, the State has passed a law providing for the sale of the State
land in alternate quarter sections at $1.25 per acre to any company
{ STORY OF THE FIRST IRRIGATION COLONY. ' 67
that would build a canal large enough to supply the entire area. They
require the canal company to make a contract and give a bond and
supply that land. Capital is not, however, ready to go in and investi-
gate and make the expensive examination necessary to ascertain Whether
such canals are feasible. There are a number of canal and other irri-
gating projects, especially in the western and Southwestern portions
of the State, that would be undertaken if it could be demonstrated they
were feasable, but in order to demonstrate that it would require the
expenditure of considerable money.
If the information could be got and promulgated, showing that these
schemes are feasible, capital might be induced to go in and Construct
them. That is especially true in Grand Valley. This valley, extend-
ing from Grand Junction over to the valley of the Green, in Utah, em-
braces a fine section of land, but to build a canal that would reclaim
the whole of the land that is irrigable therein would require much
money. Reconnaissances have been made to ascertain that, and it
was ascertained that the canal would cost probably $2,500,000.
THE HISTORY OF GREELEY AND THE FIRST IRRIGATION COLONY.
Union colony is situated in Weld County, State of Colorado. It was
located in the spring of 1870, and the town of Greeley was laid out and
building and other improvements commenced at the same time. The
town is located in sections 5, 6, 7, and 8, township 5 north, range 65
west of the sixth principal meridian ; latitude 40° 25' north, longitude
270 48' west from Washington; elevation above sea-level, 4,800 feet.
At the time the colony and town were located the whole country was,
with few exceptions, in its natural state, no improvements having been
made except in a small way along the river. A few small irrigating .
ditches had been built to water portions of the low bottom-lands, and
sufficient farming had been done by the early settlers to demonstrate
the fact that good crops of all kinds usually grown in this latitude
could be raised successfully. -
The mesas or uplands were regarded as worthless for farming pur-
poses, and only valuable for grazing, many of the best informed ex-
pressing the opinion that large and long irrigating canals to Water the
higher lands would be a failure. In support of this view it was said
that the water would seep out and be lost before running in a canal any
great distance, and that the land would be quickly exhausted if farmed,
and various other reasons why upland farming would be liable to prove
unsuccessful were pointed out. º
Notwithstanding all the uncertainties that must be encountered, the
projectors of “The Union Colony of Colorado,” located in the Cache la
Poudre Valley, purchased the land they required from private owners,
and the Denver Pacific Railway Company homesteaded and pre-empted
Government land, laid out the town, and proceeded to build irrigating
canals to water the same. About 2,600 acres of land was bought of pri-
§ owners for $28,000 and 9,300 acres of the railway company for
31,000. &
The colonists contracted with the railway company for all the land
owned by them lying within the colony limits at an average price of
$3 per acre. The Government land was acquired by the colonists under
the homestead and pre-emption laws. The total amount of land orig-
inally occupied by the colony was about 30,000 acres, and remains about
the same. Soon after locating the colony built a fence some 40 miles
in length, inclosing all their lands, including the town. This fence is
68 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
still maintained, having been legalized by an act of the State legisla-
ture and being managed by a fence company. Each piece or parcel of
land pays an annual tax for its maintenance, the annual assessment
being about $16 for each 80 acres, and in like proportion for larger or
Smaller tracts. No stock of any kind is allowed to run at large inside
of this fence, and none have found it necessary to fence their premises,
either in town or outside, except for their own convenience. The colony
originally divided the land owned by them outside of the town limits
into lots of 5, 10, 20, and 40 acres each, according to their proximity to
town, and deeded them to members, with perpetual right to water from
the irrigating canals, for $150 each.
Other members bought land of the railway company for $3 per acre
Or homesteaded or pre-empted Government land. To these the colony
Sold right to water in perpetuity for $160 for each 80 acres. All water
rights are taxed annually a sufficient amount to pay for superintendence,
maintenance, and improvement of the main canals, generally from $12
to $24 annually for each 80 acres and in proportion for smaller subdi-
visions. Few of the colony farmers have more than 100 acres; gen-
erally they have 80, and in some cases as low as 40 or even 20.
The land occupied by the town, some 800 acres, originally cost the
colony about $10 per acre, or $8,000. It was subdivided into about
fifteen hundred lots of suitable size and sold to members at an average
price of about $300 for each ($50 for corner and $25 for inside lots),
making about $45,000 as the amount received by the colony for lots.
The cash value of such lots was lawfully $300 each, making $450,000.
The outside or farming land originally cost members about $5 per acre
with water, and is worth $30 per acre cash, with actual sales at $35
and over for land with no improvements except plowing and ditches,
including water right, the colony having long since sold all the land
and water owned by them and transferred all their right in the main
canal used by the farmers to a corporation composed of farmers
operating under it. This company issued its stock to the Water-
right owners on receiving a deed for their interest, each share of stock
representing water for 10 acres. In 1878, when this transfer was made,
the par value was $40 for each share, making the value of an 80-acre
water right $320. In 1881 the price rose to $100 per share, and it now
sells at $100 to $125. This stock has actually cost the original owners
about its par value, $40 per share. When land is sold including Water,
the stock is transferred. Nearly all the larger canals are now owned
and managed by corporations who have power to levy and compel pay-
ments of assessments and divide the Water equitably among the users,
thus preventing nearly all the trouble which formerly attended the
‘management of the earlier canals. The water costs the farmer the same.
whether he is situated near the head or at the terminus of the Canals,
and the same principle has been adopted in the management of the Sul)-
ditches or laterals, as it has been found that no canal from which a num-
ber of individuals receive their water can be successfully operated with-
out a competent head.
Union Colony constructed two irrigating canals and one for power
and irrigation. The first canal built was for the purpose of supplying
the town and adjacent lands lying along the South side of the river.
This is called canal No. 3. This canal was taken from the river about
6 miles west of town, and was run on a grade or fall of about 3 feet per
mile. Its original size was 8 feet in width at head, and Somewhat
smaller opposite town. Its length is 10 miles. It terminates, on the
delta between the Platte and Cache la Poudre Rivers. As originally
CANALs of THE CACHE LA POUDRE WALLEY. 69
constructed it would carry about 50 cubic feet of Water per second.
Original cost about $10,000. It has since been enlarged and im proved,
its present capacity being over 100 cubic feet per second. Cost to
present time, including dam at head, about $25,000. º
The second canal built by the colony was taken out the river, about
15 miles west of town, for the purpose of watering the farming lands
north of the river. As originally constructed it was 10 feet in width
on the bottom at the head and for the first 5 miles, and gradually di-
minished in size towards its terminus, its total length being 26 miles.
Grade or fall, 3.2 feet per mile; capacity, 110 cubic feet per second. It,
was calculated to water some 20,000 acres of land. Its first cost Was
$25,000; has been enlarged from time to time, its capacity now being
585 cubic feet per second. It will furnish water for 25,000 acres in cul-
tivation, with the usual variety of crops. Cost to date, $89,000, or
about $3 per acre for land watered by it. It is now 25 feet in width
on bottom at head, and for the first 10 miles carries water 4.6 feet in
depth, and is 30 miles in length. The number of water rights of 80
acres each is 320, giving over 1.8 cubic feet of water per second for each
80 acres, less about 10 per cent. for evaporation and seepage, or about
1.6 cubic feet per second for useful effect. As new land in Wheat, re-
quires about 1 cubic foot of water for each square foot of Surface for
first watering, it would take over twenty-five days to water 80 acres
with one water right, but generally only a portion of the tract is SOWn
or planted the first year and less water is required after the first thor-
Ough irrigation. -
Very much depends on the surface quality of soil and subsoil and
amount of natural moisture in the ground, so that no very definite in-
formation can be given as to the amount of water necessary to irrigate
a certain piece of ground. The usual experience is that a cubic foot of
water per second waters from 50 to 60 acres of land sown or planted
with the usual variety of crops. In town more than double that quan-
tity of water is used, as the more a stream of water is divided up the
less ground it will water. The farmers find it to their advantage to use
two or three water rights when irrigating a favorable piece of ground
by changing with their neighbors. The Cache la Poudre River, from
which the colony ditches are taken, generally furnishes enough water
when most is needed. There is generally sufficient snow or rain to start
crops in the spring and keep wheat and oats growing until the 1st of
June.
During June and July the maximum quantity of water is flowing in
the river, and it is during these months that most of the crops must be
watered. The amount of water flowing in the river each day is ascer-
tained at a gauging station located above all the canals, and the amount
or proportion of the water to which each is entitled being known, the
district commissioner or superintendent is enabled to divide the water
equitably to all. The river or district commissioner is not usually called
on unless there is a short supply of water, which usually occurs in the
latter portion of the season. The Water commissioner on each canal
divides the water to each subditch or lateral, and the users divide it
among themselves. Since the present State laws regulating the division
and distribution of Water were enacted and put in force very little trouble
has arisen in regard to the use of Water for irrigation purposes.
The maximum amount of Water flowing in the river each year is
very variable, ranging from less than 2,000 to over 6,000 cubic feet per
second. As the canals taken from the river have a capacity and use
for over 3,000 cubic feet per second, it will readily be seen that there is
70 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
an element of uncertainty as to Water supply and the future extension
of the irrigation system. Water has already been appropriated and
canals built sufficient to water over 200,000 acres in this valley, and it
is not probable that this amount will be very materially increased.
The total amount of water flowing in the river during the year would
Water more than double this quantity of land, but it can only be util-
ized by a system of storage reservoirs. Comparatively little has as yet
been done in the way of storing water in the State, and it is not proba-
ble that much will be done for many years to come. Some natural
depressions or basins of moderate capacity are used for this purpose
where they chance to be available, but no purely artificial reservoirs
worth mentioning have as yet been constructed.
The great expense of building and maintaining large reservoirs
makes it extremely improbable that our water system will be much
extended in this way. Reservoirs to be of any use must be situated
above the land to be watered, and where constructed in this vicinity
On a small scale the land lying adjacent to them has generally been
Spoiled by the seepage. The parties owning land which is damaged
by such seepage usually compel the owners of the reservoirs to stop
using them for storing water. The influence of irrigation on the
humidity of the atmosphere is very slight, being almost entirely local,
and on new lands, outside of the irrigating canals, farming would be as
certain to prove a failure as it would twenty years ago.
If any climatic change ever occurs in this locality whereby the humidity
and annual precipitation is permanently increased, it will not be due to
the feeble efforts of man. The annual precipitation about Greeley is
from 12 to 20 inches, the average being 15 inches for the last twelve
years, as observed in Denver. The destruction of the timber in the
western mountains must injuriously affect the water supply during the
irrigating season by leaving the snow exposed to the direct rays of the
sun, causing it to melt quickly and run off. The advance of the farmers
from the East with a solid front, plowing up the entire surface, may
produce some change. If the annual rain-fall was double what it now
is, farming could not be carried on successfully, except in favored lo-
calities, the evaporation being so rapid during the growing season. In
Greeley, situated on what is called the second bench or bottom, Some
25 feet above the level of the river opposite, gardens and lawns must
generally be watered every week or ten days in dry weather, and the
farmers do not stop irrigating on account of an occasional shower.
Much as such increase of natural moisture may be desired, there is no
good reasons for expecting it, though there is a reasonable certainty
of producing a more equalizing distribution of local rain fall, through
the effects of cultivation on the humidity of the soil, and by the influ-
ence of wind-breaks and other tree plantations in destroying the desicat-
ing effects of the hot winds. *
Although this town and surrounding country has been irrigated for
many years, raising the ground water, in portions of both town and
country, nearly to the surface, causing it to partially fill many of the
cellars under dwelling bouses, no malarial diseases have been prevalent.
The surface soil is generally a clay or sandy loam, from 5 to 10 feet in
depth, underlaid with clear sand or coarse gravel 25 to 30 feet in depth,
which affords a good natural medium for the rapid transmission of Sur-
face water to lower levels, but within the last few years more Water has
been run on the surface in town than the natural drainage will carry
away; and we are now constructing deep drains to prevent the Water
from rising above a certain level. Said drains are located from 8 to 10
THE CROPS AND SMALL FARMS NEEDED. - 71
feet below the surface and have a good fall to the river. Our farmers
do not keep much stock, as they do now, as formerly, have outside range
for them. Alfalfa is grown by nearly all our farmers and yields heavily.
It is usually cut three times, giving from 4 to 7 tons per acre annually.
The usual variety of crops is raised, wheat, corn, oats, and potatoes
being the principal ones. Wheat is still the main crop, and the quality
and yield are generally good. It produces on an average over 25 bush-
els per acre, when properly put in and attended to. Average of all
Sown, about 20 bushels. Corn is quite extensively grown, and yields
from 20 to 40 bushels per acre; oats about the same, and potatoes from
none to 100 bushels per acre, much depending on soil, season, water-
ing at proper time, blight, bugs, etc. In town and vicinity market
gardening is successfully carried on. Of fruits, strawberries and rasp-
berries are the ones mostly grown for profit. Standard apples are a
failure, but most varieties of crabs do well. It would be difficult to
give the aggregate amount and value of all crops raised in this colony
Without having the report of the State census, taken last year, which is
not now available. Nearly all the land in the colony has been farmed
continuously for the last ten years, and much of it longer, but its fer-
tility does not seem to decrease.
Crops, when properly rotated, do as well now as when the land was
first broken. Scarcely any fertilizers are used on the farming land,
and straw is usually burned to get it out of the way. The water used
in irrigating the land carries a great amount of fertilizing matter,
which is evenly distributed over the surface, fully replacing what is
taken from the soil by the crops grown on it; and it is the general
opinion of those most conversant with the subject that the soil is prac-
tically inexhaustible. e
*
THE IMPORTANCE OF SMALL FARMS.
Thomas P. Dunbar and J. R. Burton, witnesses before the Senate Com:
mittee on Irrigaton, stated as to small farms:
That they produce a better class of crops, fruit, vegetables, hops, and so on. There
is a large demand for hops. I know a man making $300 or $400 an acre on hops, and
a man can easily make $100 an acre on alfalfa. To get the best results a man must
have a small area and cultivate closely and have a supply of farm-yard manure. Our
soil here is very heavily charged with mineral matter and is very deficient in manure
material. He must grow a variety of crops. We do not want men to raise a large
surplus, but we want large communities and to have the land more closely culti-
vated, so as to bring our population nearer together, and have them produce every-
thing that men can and need to live upon. That is what brings wealth into any
State. All our immigration comes from non-irrigated districts. Everything here is
new to such immigrants. The conviction is forced on my mind that a man is better
off with 40 acres thoroughly cultivated than 160 acres half cultivated. You can not
convince the immigrant of it, however.
My observation is that a man is better off with 40 acres in the arid belt with every
foot of it well cultivated, and his crop thoroughly attended to, than he is to have
160 acres skimped over. The man with 40 acres in the arid belt, well cultivated, will
make more clear money in the end. I will lend him 25 per cent. more money on 40
acres of well cultivated land than on 160 acres half cultivated. The men that have
a section of land have to have machinery and all that. Then a man's water-right
will go farther on a small farm. His supply of water would have to be all put on at
the same time. One great thing is to protect the land from the rays of the sun to
prevent baking. You can not do that with a very large farm. I have often gone
into an alfalfa field where the alfalfa grows half an inch a day in the warm weather,
and within two or three weeks after it had been irrigated the crop was up 6 inches,
which would prevent the land from being dried up. I have picked up there as damp
a piece of soil as was wanted. On the other mand, I have been in a wet field that
had been irrigated a few days before, when there was nothing to protect it from the
rays of the Sun, and the soil was baked hard. -
72 * IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
With regard to the homestead law, I believe a man should not be allowed to pre-
empt more thºun 40 acres of land in the arid region, I believe the homestead law
ought to be amended so that one person could not acquire more than 40 acres of land
under its provisions in the arid region. My reasons for this position are, first, the
average farmer could make more money farming 40 acres of land by irrigation than
he can a larger amount. The bomesteader is a poor man, generally. He must bor-
row the money, at a very high rate of interest, with which to improve his laud and
live upon it, to provide himself with the necessary farming implements. He must
go in debt for water, and wait for the harvest season for any returns from his toil
and expenses. If he has 160 acres, lais great desire to improve it all causes him to
buy too much water, too much farming machinery—in short, it causes him to shoul-
der too much debt. His taxes and expenses are greater, and he is not capacitated to
farm so much land, and farm it well, and the result is his harvest is no greater than
it would have been had he carefully cultivated a smaller tract. Instead of getting
out of debt and saving a little spare money to invest in live-stock, or to help develop
Some other industry in his immediate locality, at the end of ten years he is above the
average farmer if his quarter section is not mortgaged and a large share of his earn-
ings does not annually go to the Ymoney-loaner. 4.
Then, again, it is far better for the ditch company for the farmers to have small
holdings of lands. They are enabled to pay out on their water-rights, or to keep up
the water rentals. But a still greater reason is that, if the homesteader could not
secure but 40 acres of land, the opportunity for speculators to secure the land in the
arid region by engaging professional homesteaders to prove up and obtain title would
be greatly lessened. There are localities where ditches or reservoirs could and would
be built but for the fact that speculators have obtained the land in this way. The
interest of the ditch company and the land-owner ought to be mutual. Where the
land is held by farmers for homes, and especially where the land is cultivated, it is
º: there is but little or no friction between the owners of water and the Owners
Oi R8,1] Cl.
I also think the law ought to be changed, so as to make the cultivation of the land
for a given time requisite to obtain title, rather than occupancy. Land that is culti-
vated in the arid region must have water. If the farm is once put into a state of
cultivation and has a water-right attachment there is no danger but that it will be
occupied and forever after be a home for somebody. But under the law as it now is a
homesteader may put upon the land a trifling building, ever so small and worthless,
sleep there occasionally, but in reality live elsewhere, and in a short time have
title from the Government, called a homestead, which in reality remains wild land.
The spirit of the homestead law is violated, there is no home upon the land; it is used
entirely for speculative purposes, I am not stating an exceptional case. In many
º it has been and now is the rule to obtain what is miscalled a homestead in
ls Way.
THE WATER-LAW SYSTEM OF THE STATE.
Colorado, through its courts as well as legislation, was the first State
to recognize the miner's law of prior appropriation of water as applica-
ble, with restraining interpretation, to beneficial use in agriculture. The
State has recognized as fundamental the principle of the public nature
and property of all natural waters lying within a region so arid that
agriculture can not be carried on without the artificial conservation and
distribution of the same. It has applied two qualifying interpretations
to the doctrine of prior appropriation. One is, that the beneficial use,
which is the basis of such appropriation of water, must necessarily be
limited in its application by the wants of all other subsequent users;
that is to say, that an appropriation made in days when necessity Was
unknown could not be construed to deprive the members of a growing
community of their pro rata share after the first or prior appropriator
had received his portion. The other is, that water being public prop-
erty, the carriers of the same by means of ditches or other methods
can claim no ownership or possession in the water itself. Their remun-
eration is derived from the transportation and distribution through the
channels they construct to the lands on which it is needed.
Colorado has also declared that water companies are Common Car-
riers, and their legal status to be the same as that of railroads or
other transportation corporations. The State, following these lines,
*
CoLoRADo's WATER LAWS AND SERVICE. 73
early assumed a direct supervision over the whole subject. Its area is
divided into six irrigation divisions which are again subdivided into
sixty-eight water districts, each one of these representing in the main
a distinct drainage or irrigable basin or region, deriving its supply
from some common source. The State supreme court announced this
doctrine before it was incorporated into the statutes, declaring it to be
the common law doctrine for their conditions. Such a decision requires
two acts to make it valid; that is, the diversion and use of water for a
beneficial purpose.
The statutes of Colorado, therefore, divide the State into irrigation
districts. Under these statutes the district courts, which are the high-
est courts of record next to the supreme court, adjudicate what We call
the priorities of right. These districts are generally arranged With
reference to the natural streams, and if from the principal natural
stream in a district one hundred ditches have been taken, the court pro-
ceeds in the method pointed out by statute to determine the dates at
which each of these appropriations were made when the ditches were
constructed; the size of the ditches; their capacity; the degree of fall
of the water. Then a decree is entered which declares these dates, de-
clares these facts, and assigns the priorities to these ditches in accord-
ance with the dates of the diversion. Under these views the use must
follow the diversion within a reasonable time. The decrees assign to
these ditch priorities in accordance with the dates of the diversion. The
use is thus connected with that diversion. The question of reason-
able time goes according to circumstances. If the ditch is dug with
due diligence and the water is applied reasonably soon the priority
relates back to the date of the commencement of the ditch. It must
remain a question of fact to be determined at each particular case. This
decree also determines the quantity going to each ditch. The decree
of a given district must be considered, and the quantity of water as-
signed to each particular ditch or to all the ditches taken together in
the aggregate would constitute the quantity in use or the quantity
assigned. If there is not water enough, those having priority under
the decree would get it first. In each district there is an irrigation
commissioner whose duty it is to superintend the distribution of water
according to the decrees of the court. The governor appoints a commis-
Sioner for each Water district.
FARMERS’ WATER SERVICE AND “It IGHTS.”
The organization of the Water-carrying companies is divided into two
classes. The mutual companies generally divide the ditch into shares—
each person taking a number of shares—depending upon the extent of
his property underneath. The amount of water he gets from the ditch
depends in that case upon the number of shares he has in the ditch.
It is divided according to the number of shares. The stock companies
generally sell the water, or water rights. “Water rights” is generally
taken to mean the Supply of water necessary for 80 acres of land. In
Such companies they agree, if they have Water, to give a definite amount
of Water, not exceeding a certain quantity. There are two general
types of Contract ; first, a contract made by the company with a man
to sell him a certain amount of water on certain conditions, provided
he keeps up his payments. The second is a water deed, which is given
to the man in exchange for the first, when he has carried out the pro-
Visions of the first contract. These contracts represent the provisions
of nearly all companies.
74. IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
In most cases farmers have a perpetual water right. Under a few
canals they rent water. The prices for perpetual water rights vary
with the different canals. In the San Luis Valley they pay $400–
that is, $5 an acre for the perpetual right. In the northern part of the
State the Larimer and Weld Company have a different price. In the
case of the North Poudre it is $15 an acre. The North Poudre also
has a charge of $1,200 for a perpetual right. Another prevailing price
is $800, and another one is for $1,000. The Arkansas Valley Company
charges that much. That is for a perpetual water right, but all sub-
ject to an assessment for maintenance. The farmers are assessed for run-
ning expenses, Very frequently there is a provision that an assess-
ment for maintenance shall not exceed a certain amount, say $10 for
80 acres, for ordinary assessments. Then there is a provision that in
case of a very extraordinary difficulty in that ditch, or extraordinary
repairs, they may be subject to a certain maximum assessment, $20 or
so. The ditch company is the judge. An extraordinary assessment
is rarely charged, even when there are extraordinary difficulties. In
Smaller ditches the assessment is more, depending somewhat upon
the local conditions or the difficulties the company think they may
meet. In the case of union ditches, the associates keep the ditches
in repair, and the prices are less, because generally the ditches are
Smaller and the expense of maintenance is less. A small ditch runs
itself almost. In the small ones it is perhaps from 5 to 15 cents per
acre per year, for maintenance. Each large ditch has a superintend-
ent, whose business it is to distribute the water. The stock owners
appoint, or in the case of a mutual company, they have a meeting, as
every company would have, and make their own arrangements. The
superintendent is an officer of the company, and he distributes the
water according to the farmer's holdings in the ditch. In the smaller
ditches, where they have plenty of water, each man takes all the water
he Wants. !
Colorado has hardly grasped the idea embraced by the district system
now being organized in California. To meet the evils and inequities
which have grown up in the State as elsewhere, under the corporation
system, an agitation has sprung into existence, on the part of the com-
bined farmers, which makes a demand for State possession and owner-
ship of all water ditches and their laterals. The State being a large
owner of land has already found it advisable to construct ditches in
certain localities in order to make its lands Valuable.
TEII, IIRRIGATION CAPACITY OF NEWADA.
The area of this State is 71,737,600 acres, of which the water area is
but 1,081,600 acres. The timber is estimated to cover 2,600,000 acres;
the pastural area is estimated to be 30,000,000 acres, the mineral area
15,000,000 acres; the desert and saline deposit, 3,656,000 acres, and the
agricultural area is placed at 20,000,000 acres. That is the area to be
reclaimed, if water can be obtained. *
The State board of reclamation, appointed to consider the question
of irrigation therein, in the report embodied in your testimony, presents
a series of statements by counties, which will show an area of 17,981,000
acres as possible for reclamation, of which area 2,198,000 acres can, in
their judgment, be reclaimed by Wells and springs that are known to
exist. In Esmeralda County, in the southwest, there is an area. COn-
sidered to be reclaimable, and also in White Pine and in Nye County,
in the southern and eastern part of the State. There are sixty-five ar.
sNow.FALL OF THE SIERRA NEWADA's, 75
tesian wells in Nevada. The average altitude of the State is consider-
ably over 4,000 feet above the sea-level. It is a mountain bowl Sur-
rounded by high ranges, and the fact that there is found even that lim:
ited number of artesian wells would indicate the necessity at least of
examining into the character of the drainage or under-ground Water
supplies. There are a large number of important Springs.
The trouble with Nevada is, in the main, that the drainage area that
will most surely supply the water needed for reelamation is found largely
within the limits of other States and Territories. In the north, the
rivers head up in the northerly and northwesterly Territories. On the .
west, the easterly slopes of the Sierras are unquestionably part of the
drainage area of Nevada. The great lakes that lie upon the Sierra
Nevada are mainly upon the eastern slope of those mountains, and the
waters naturally and properly belong to the people of Nevada. Take
Lake Tahoe, 78 square miles of its surface (that is, two-fifths) are within
the lines of the State of Nevada; the remainder is within the lines of the
State of California. Lake Tahoe is ranked with navigable waters and
belongs, then, to the Federal Government. It is all on the eastern side
of the mountain. The ranges rise from 3,000 to 6,000 feet above it.
Lake Tahoe has a drainage area of at least 1,200 square miles; the
valley of the Truckee has a large drainage area. From Lake Donner,
and the other lakes that are known along that range, water can be ob-
tained. Lake Donner has been surveyed and its boundaries meandered.
It is now reserved for irrigation purposes. Sufficient water can be ob-
tained for western Nevada, without the loss of a single cubic inch to
California. By the storage of water in the mountain lakes alone, enough
can be obtained to reclaim from 1,000,000 to 3,000,000 acres of land.
Even if it be but 1,000,000 acres it will amply repay all its cost and
double at once the values of the State.*
That land is worth nothing, or very little more than nothing, now. It
would be worth from $15 to $30 an acre if it were watered. That would
make as prosperous a community as could be formed within the borders
of the Union. Nevada was born during the war, and by her mines
hundreds of millions in precious metals have been added to the general
wealth of the country. ' The larger proportion of those who have bene-
fited by that development have left Nevada to struggle through the
poverty and indifference that are now surrounding her people. There
are now some 300,000 acres under fence and ditch, about 75,000 being
cultivated. -
* To the 16inches stored above the 6,000-foot elevation should be added that which,
falling below the 6,000-foot, melts and runs down in the spring and early summer.
The average depth of this snow is about 5% feet, and I estimate its quantity of water
from my average found for snow freshly fallen, viz, 1 incl of water to 11 inches of
Snow. * * * It can be safely estimated that 9,000 square miles of mountainous
surface will catch this amount of snow in average winters, thus giving 6 inches of
water; this added to the amount falling upon the higher altitudes gives 22 inches of
water, the greater part of which can be, by careful planning, made available for
irrigation purposes.
There is not less than 4,800 square miles of the Sierra Nevada Mountains which shed
water into Nevada. Of this area 250 square miles store annually 14 inches of water;
560 square miles store annually 19 inches of water; 1,330 square miles store annually
36 inches of water. All of which that is not lost by evaporation and percolation
comes down into Nevada, giving rise to the Truckee, Carson and Walker Rivers.
I estimate the agricnltural lands of Nevada at 21,000 square miles. This area will,
I believe, be increased in the future by the addition of many square miles of foot-hills
now classed as mountains. Be that as it may, the Water supply of Nevada, as I have
outlined, is sufficient to furnish each square mile of agricultural land in the State
with 42 inclues of water per annum.–U. S. Surveyor-General Irish.
76.
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
IRRIGATION CONSTRUCTION IN WYOMING.
Territorial Engineer Mead reported to the Senate Committee on
lrrigation the following tabular statement:
Irrigation development by districts.

Total No. of claims, INo. of ditch No. of ditch
* * - No. of Total with state- Total claims, omit- || Total acre- claims,
Districs. rejeal length as ment of capacity | 1 ing state- age watered omitting
dit Čies stated. length omit- as given. ment of ca- as given. statement
• . tC (i. pacity. of acreage.
1” ---------- 643 | 1, 322. 385 39 5,911. 584 48 482, 434, f() 89
2 ----------- 327 582. T93 31 6, (; 11. 844 53 379, 174. (; 1 62
#. * * * * * * * * * * * 282 317. 419 91 || 3, 644.078 72 395, 563.00 114
4f ----------|----------|------------| ------------- • I w = e º 'º - - - - - e s = * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * *
5 ----------- 502 996. 308 32 | 10, 422. 700 57 440, 540.00 50
6 :---------. | 2 | 196. 955 46 1, 556. 325 36 58, 162 U0 55
7 --------- 322 5 18, 2.40 50 | 1, 658.905 96 108,076.78 95
8 ----------- 182 212, 510 52 3,005. 487 79 35, 395.00 96
9 ----------- 40 91. 430 l 3 12, ()00 25 42, 460, 00 3
t ----------- 7 11.905 -------------. 136.800 l. ------------. 4, 180. (.0 |. -- - - - - - - - - -
Total 2, 438 || 4, 240,935 242 | 20, 38). 723 460 | 1, 946, 875.42 564
* Seven reservoirs additional.
f District No. 4 omitted because of incomplete record.
º : Unorganized district.
Of this area of nearly 2,000,000 acres not more than 80,000 acres are
under cultivation other than for stock purposes.
The best agricultural portion of Wyoming is the northeastern. Only
a few years ago agriculture in Johnson County was not considered an
industry worthy of consideration. This was the fact in 1881, as the
following figures of assessed valuation for that year show:
Cattle in 1881 $1,047, 68S
Lands in 1831 * 34,485
The great distance from railroads and the demand for vegetables and
grain for home consumption forced the people to experiment with crops.
The result was startling, and the sequel Was that the business of farm-
ing became a leading industry within the next five years. , Land
“ proved up” is assessed for taxation at a value of $3 per acre, includ-
ing improvements. It is easily worth an average of $10 per acre. The
following table of values from the assessment roll of lands shows the
increase from 1881 to 1887 in farming lands:
as sº me sº º sm ºr as a sº se sº º a tº ma s as ºs º ºs et e º me as we dº º sº e º sº se - *
* = a, e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
1881 -------------------------- $34,485 | 1885 ------------------------- $166,032
1882 -------------------------- 51.195 | 1886 ------------------------- 229,644
1883 .------------------------- 66, 100 | 1887 ------------------------- 485, 439
1884 --------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * 147,785
The real taxable value of this taxable land is at least three times this
amount, or in 1887 $1,456,317, which is $408,649 more than the value of
the cattle in 1881.
But one-fifth of the lands susceptible of irrigation have been arti-
ficially watered. The total area of irrigable lands is estimated at
953,060 acres, and at an average value of $10 an acre would be worth
$9,530,000. Its elevation is only about 4,000 feet. Its streams are more
frequent and available than ally other portion of the Territory. It is
also one of the best watered counties in Wyoming, being well supplied
with innumerable streams heading in the Big Horn Mountains and flow-
ing generally to the northeast and north West. The Water along the
AGRICULTURE IN wyoming AND THE DAKOTAS. 77
foot-hills is clear, cold, sparkling, and soft. The soil is black and Randy
loam, and appears to be capable of producing wonderful crops, With
irrigation, of anything that is planted in it.
The agricultural products of the county are wheat, oats, barley, Corn,
rye, hay, potatoes, vegetables, and fruits. . The yields are: Wheat, 20
to 50 bushels per acre; oats, 25 to 75 bushels per acre; barley, 40 to
75 bushels per acre; rye, 20 to 40 bushels per acre; potatoes, 200 to 500
bushels per acre; hay, native blue stem, 1 to 24 tons per acre; timo-
thy, 2 to 3 tons per acre; alfalfa (lucern), 4 to 6 tons per acre.
As to the future: If one-third of the irrigated lands of this county
were sown in wheat, at an average of 30 bushels per acre, it would yield
2,340,000 bushels or 130,400,000 pounds, equal to 7,244 car-loads. If
one-third of the area was sown to alfalfa, it would produce 192,000 tons
annually, and would fatten 58,400 steers, equal to 2,900 car-loads. Not
more than one-fifth of the lands susceptible of irrigation have been
watered. The possibilities that may be attained when development is
complete become enormous.
AGRICULTURE IN THE DAKOTAS.
The year 1889 was one of exceptional drought.* Even so, the Dakotas
presented in crops the following results:

North Dakota. South Dakota.
Acres. Bushels. A Cres. Bushels.
Wheat ------------------ º s = * * * * * * * * * * * s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2,655,991 26,721,660 2,013,726 17, 288,432
Oats ------------------------------------------------- 450, 563 || 9, 746,093 671, 839 11, 623,615
Corn ------------------------------------------------. 30,022 | 1,000, 175 784, 655 21, 831, 898
Barley ----------------------------------------------- 3, 167 45, 487 127, 338 | 1,694, 875
Buckwheat -----------------------------------------. 205 2,897 2,828 29, 667
Potatoes --------------------------------------------. 16, 119 1,401, 130 20, 537 2, 637, 132
Flax------------------------------------------------- 57, 511 495,202 345, 803 2, 792, 913
Rye--------------------------------------------------|------------|------------ 16, 587 255, 620
*Statement showing monthly, annual, and average precipitation, in inches, as recorded at the
U. S. Signal Office, Huron, Dak.



Total by
months Aver-
Month. 1881. 1882. 1883, 1884. | 1885. 1886. 1887. 1888. 1889. since ages by
Station | months.
opened.
January-------|------- 0.14 || 0, 17 0.09 || 0, 15 || 0.48 || 0.33 || 0.78 | 1. 20 3. 40 0.425
Tebruary - - - - - - - - - - - - 0, 25 || 0.47 || 0.58 || 0.22 || 0, 16 | 1. 11 || 0.52 0.93 4. 24 0. 530
March --------|------- 0.80 || 0.42 | 1. 53 || 0.12 || 0. 62 0. 64 | 1.22 0. J.9 5. 54 0.692
April.---------|------- 4, 18 2. 14 2.70 | 1, 06 || 3. 52 || 3. 72 || 0.88 3. 41 21. 61 2,700
May. ----------|------- 4.50 || 4.45 2.90 || 5. 20 | 1.58 | 1.39 4, 98 || 3.04 28. 04 3, 505
Juno ----------|------- 5.86 || 4.33 || 3. 18 5.43 | 1.90 || 3.98 || 1. 10 | 1.04 26.82 3, 352
July ---------- f3, 58 5.88 5, 20 || 5.11 || 4, 52 | 1.60 4.96 || 3. ] 1 || 3. 51 37. 47 4. 16?
August ------- 6, 31 | 1.44 1, 77 | 1. 18 || 3, 89 || 5, 62 6. 13 3.46 - - - - - - - 29, 80 3, 735
September ---. 3, 11 0.86 1, 68 1.26 2. 61 1. 59 0.15 0.19 |.. ----- 11. 45 1.432
October ------. 2, 10 || 3. 37 | }. 96 | 1.52 || 0, 08 || 1. 26 || 0, 79 (). 29 |....... 12, 27 1. 534
November. ---. 0.45 || 0, 61 0.05 || 0.17 | 1.50 | 1, 18 0.25 0.34 |....... 4. 55 0. 569
December. ---. 0.06 || 0, 23 0.61 || 0.62° 0. 10 || 0.74 || 2.09 || 0, 18 . . . . . . . 4, 63 0. 579
Total. ...} 15. 61 28, 12 | 23. 25 | 20.84 || 25.78 || 20, 25 25.54 17.05 || 13. 38 |.......... [...-...-----
Total inchès for seven complete years, 160.83. Average for seven complete years, 22.98.
f Station opened July 1, 1881.
Average monthly and annual precipitation (rain-fall and melted snow) in the two Dakotas for the periods and localities named below.
| Mean an-
* - w nual pre- &
Stations. Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. |cipitation Period covered by reports (dates inclusive).
or each
locality.
Im. In. Im. l In. Im. || In. In. In. In. In. In. Im. In. *
Fort Abercrombie..... 0. 50 | 0.09 || 0.63 | 1.70 | 1.80 | 1.73 1.79 || 2.18 1.85 || 0.37 0. 60 0.52 13.76 July, 1874, to Oct., 1877. Record of post surgeon (incomplete).
Fort A. Lincoln........ 0.44 0. 64 0.84 2. 30 2.45 2.96 | 1.75 2.14 || 0.80 | 1.04 || 0.49 || 0.79 16.95 July, 1874, to date. Record of post surgeon.
Alexandria -----------. 0.28 1.07 || 1, 12 3, 86 3.47 4. 20 5.26 3.20 | 1. 18 2.41 0.40 || 0.82 30.54 March, 1882, to Feb., 1884. Record of voluntary observer.
Fort Bennett.----...-. 0.73 0. 64 | 1.01 || 2, 20 2.58 3.97 2.17 | 2.21 1.24 0.69 || 0.29 || 0.45 17.85 Oct., 1880, to Nov., 1885. Record of Signal Service.
Bismarck.------------- 0. 54 || 0. 64 1.05 2.78 || 2.91 3.40 2.28 2.60 | 1.24 | 1.19 0.75 0.77 20. 10 || Oct., 1874, to date. Record of Signal Service. . gº
Fort Buford ........... 0. 55 0.45 || 0.50 | 1.28 || 2.32 2.79 | 1.75 | 1.62 0.72 || 0.96 || 0, 49 || 0.65 13.91 || July, 1874, to date. Irecord of post surgeon prior to Jan., 1879;
Signal Service since. tº gº
Deadwood ------------- 1.04 | 1.26 | 1.99 || 5.02 || 4.70 || 3.69 || 2.33 2.12 | 1.38 | 1.84 | 1.35 | 1.50 28.23 Jan., 1878, to date. Record of Signal Service.*
Firesteel -------------. 0. 55 0.28 5.18 2.12 || 3.87 2.92 || 4, 38 2.92 || 3. 10 | 1.00 0.78 || 0.32 27.60 | Feb., 1875, to June, 1877. Record of voluntary observer.
Fort Hale.------------- 0.39 || 1.00 0.96 1. 43 || 3.00 || 3. 71 || 2, 39 2.52 || 0.70 || 2, 32 0.25 || 0.49 19.62 Jan., 1879, to May, 1884. Record of §§ surgeon.
Huron.---------------. 0.21 || 0.34 || 0.70 || 2.72 3.73 || 4, 14 || 4.32 || 3. 37 | 1.85 | 1.86 || 0.66 || 0.39 23.65 July, 1881, to date. Record of Signal Service.
Lower Brule Agency ..] 0.20 0.18 0.82 | 1.86 1.81 | 1.80 || 3.27 | 2.91 2.01 || 0.44 || 0.34 0.79 15. 13 | Sept., 1875, to Dec., 1878. Record of post surgeon.
Fort Meade----...----. 0, 71 || 0.56 | 1. 18 || 2.80 || 4.43 2.73 | 1.98 || 1.82 || 0.49 || 0.73 0.51 0.49 19.22 July, 1879, to date. Record of post surgeon.
Morriston ------------. 0. 58 | 1.28 | 1.36 || 2.77 || 4, 26 || 4.69 || 4.51 || 3.44 2, 17 | 1.97 || 0.52 | 1. 04 31.03 || July, 1877, to July, 1884. Record of voluntary observer.
Olivet ----------------- 0.84 | 1. 14 0.94 2.51 || 4, 86 4, 57 2.93 3.02 || 2, 14 || 2.30 0.34 | 1.26 26.56 June, 1877, to Nov., 1882. Record of voluntary obseryer. .
Pembina -------------- 0.46 || 0.76 | 1.00 | 1.59 || 2.91 3.78 || 2.53 || 2.34 | 1.52 | 1. 67 | 1.42 0.99 21.91 July, 1874, to date." Record of post surgeon and Signal Service.
• Fort Randall ---...----. 0.44 0.87 | 1.58 || 2, 74 || 4.36 || 5, 18 || 3, 67 || 3.02 || 2.39 1. 83 || 0.55 | 1.35 28.99 || July, 1874, to date. Record of post surgeon. &
Fort Rice----------- *...] 0.24 | 1.23 1.04 || 3.60 4.15 2.64 | 1.51 | 1. 10 | 1.39 | 1.24 0.90 0.73 15.01 || July, 1874, to Oct., 1878. Record of post Eurgeon (incomplete).
Richardton -------...-. 1.50 0.87 | 1.00 3.41 2.65 4.20 | 6.98 || 3.53 1.30 0.83 || 0.93 0.97 28, 17 | Feb., 1884, to date. Record of voluntary observer.
Fort Seward---...----- 0.05 || 0.11 0.89 | 1.15 3, 23 || 3.37 | 1. 87 | 1.78 1.57 || 0. 65 0.08 0.10 15.08 || July, 1874, to Aug., 1877. Record of post surgeon.
Fort Sisseton ---...----. 0.37 0.40 | 1.05 || 2, 14 || 2.63 || 3. 58 || 3.46 || 2.37 | 1.37 | 1.99 || 0. 61 || 0.62 17.23 Sept., 1876, to date. Record of post surgeon.
Fort Stevenson ........! 0.37 0.44 1.09 | 1.34 2.33 4.13 | 1.70 | 2.91 | 1.40 || 0.96 0.49 0.43 19. 11 July, 1874, to May, 1883. Record of post surgeon to Feb., 1879;
Signal Service to 1883.
Fort Sully.-----------. 0.42 0.38 0.72 | 1.95 2.77 3.42 3.06 || 2. 13 || 0, 94 || 0.63 0.48 0.59 17.39 July, 1874, to date. Record of Signal Service and post surgeon.
Vermillion -------...--. . 96 || 0, 40 | 1.30 2.97 | 1.69 || 2.88 || 2.35 | 3.87 || 2. 18 || 1.58 || 1.35 | 0.52 19. 19 || Jan., 1884, to date. Record of voluntary observer (incomplete).
Fort Wadsworth ...--- 1. 86 || 0.58 2.65 || 2.35 | 2.26 | 1.87 1.95 || 4.12 | 1.33 1.63 | 1.45 2.19 25.73 || July, 1874, to Aug., 1876. Record of post surgeon.
Webster. --...---------. 1.58 2.89 2.46 4.87 | 6.18 7. 24 6. 30 2.53 || 3. 18 || 4.34 1.86 2. 11 44.61 June, 1882, to date. Record of voluntary observer.
Yankton -------------- 0. 56 0.82 i. 29 3.39 4, 45 4, 81 3.74 || 3.05 || 2.93 | 1.66 0. 67 || 0.72 28,43 || April, 1873, to date. Record of Signal Service. -
Fort Yates -------...-. . 34 0.23 0.46 1.84 || 1.51 3.34 2.57 | 1.87 || 0.75 0.50 | 0.32 0.57 14, 27 | Jan., 1882, to date. Record of Signal Service and post surgeon.
Fargo (Moorhead) -...-- 0.73 || 0.92 0.80 2.39 2.97 4.37 4.85 3.42 | 1.95 2.77 | 1.22 0.78 27. 17 Jan., 1881, to date. Record of Signal Service. *
Fort Totten ---...-- '- - - 0.36 0.57 || 0.90 1. 59 2.70 || 3.40 2.40 || 2.87 | 1.03 | 1.39 || 0. 68 0.62 18.34 July, 1874, to date, Récord of post surgeon to Jan, 1884; Signal
: Service since.
Mean monthly annual
precipitation for Ter- -
ritory---------------- 0.70 || 0, 72 1, 26 2, 50 || 3, 20 3.64 3. 10 2.65 1.59 | 1.47 0.71 || 0.81 22.35
*Observations taken at Lead City from June to October, inclusive, 1878.
NOTE.-The latest observations included in above calculation are those of Decembe
cipitation of 1889 was the smallest ever known.
r, 1887. The winter of 1888–89 not being normal, the figures are omitted. The pre-
{
&


HYDROGRAPHIC-AND-PHYSICAL, DATE. 79
These observations and others made show that the Dakotas have
sufficient rain-fall to mature all crops, if it comes at the right time.
This does not always occur, and crops suffer. The table shows 22.35
inches of rain-fall and melted snow for the year. Beginning with Jan-
uary, the month of the year when the least moisture is precipitated,
there is a slight increase of snow-fall in February, which is nearly
doubled in quantity by the rain and snow-fall in March. In April the
average rain-fall is 2.5 inches, or twice the dephth of moisture falling in
the preceding month. This is increased thirty per cent. in May, the aver-
age precipitation of the month being 3.2 inches, while in June, at just
the time the rain-fall is most needed to benefit the growing crops in this
region of late harvests, the maximum precipitation during any single
month of the year is reached, averaging 3.64 inches. During the Iast
half of the year the amount of moisture precipitated each month les-
Sens in about the same ratio as it increases during the first half. By
seasons we have the following result: In the winter months the total
precipitation averages 2.26 inches; in the spring, 9.96 inches; in the
Summer, 9.39 inches, and in the fall, 3.77 inches.
There is a difference between the eastern and western sections of the
two States. The line of the Missouri River will divide them enough.
On the West, irrigation will be needed on a large scale. Storage in
reservoirs, distribution by high line canals, is a necessity there. East of
the river, small storage, local impound, and wells will be of the greatest
Value.
The altitude of Dakota above sea-level ranges from 800 feet in the
Red River Valley to 2,000 on the high prairies between the large
rivers, the average of the Territory being about 1,500 feet. The most
elevated section is the Black Hills, where the prairies and table-
lands gradually increase in height from 2,000 feet to the culminating
points, 7,000 to 8,000 feet above the level of tide-water.
North Dakota has 74,312 square miles and South Dakota 76,620, each
one still larger than any one of sixteen of the States. The great size of
the Territory can be understood by comparing it with foreign coun-
tries, it being larger than England, Scotland, Ireland, and Wales com-
bined, larger than Norway or Italy, twice the size of Turkey, four times
as large as Portugal, and ten times the size of Denmark. -
The two new States are distinctly a prairie country, yet there are two
mountainous regions. The larger of these is known as the Black Hills,
and while it laps over into Wyoming, it covers an area in South Da-
kota of about 4,000 square miles. The highest point of the Black Hills,
Harney Peak, reaches an altitude of 8,200 feet above the sea, while
other peaks vary from 6,000 to 7,500 feet, the average elevation of the
entire region being about 5,000 feet, or from 2,500 to 4,500 feet above
the surrounding plains.
The Turtle Mountain region lies in Northern Dakota, and includes an
area of 800 square miles along the international boundary line. It con-
sists of ranges of hills hardly high enough to be dignified by the name
of mountains, rising, as they do, but a few hundred feet above the sur-
rounding prairies. There are only two prominent peaks, Butte St. Paul
and Bear Butte, each about 3,200 feet above the sea, and only 700 feet
higher than the rolling plains below. This region, as well as the Black
Hills, is well timbered.
The two States have a water surface estimated at about 1,500 square
miles. Their principal rivers are the Missouri, James or Dakota, Big
Sioux, Vermillion, Red, White, Green, Bad, Cheyenne, Moreau, Grand,
Cannon Ball, Heart, Sheyenne, Little Missouri, Mouse, and Maple.
The Missouri, varying in width from one-half of a mile to two miles,
80 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
is the most important. It flows in a general southeastern direction,
through a course, counting its windings, of fully 1,300 miles, dividing
the Dakotas into two nearly equal divisions. Analysis has proven the
water to be the purest river water in the world. Dakota, with the
#. River of the North, the Missouri, makes the navigable waters of the
akOtaS. fa
The area of the two Dakotas is computed at 96,596,480 acres. Indian
reservations take up 26,847,105 acres of this great area, soon to be re-
duced, however, 11,000,000 acres by the opening of the Sioux Reserva-
tion. Out of the total there is also to be deducted 7,000,000 acres
granted to the Northern Pacific Railroad, and 3,000,000 set apart for a
School fund. Up to September 30, 1889, according to report of the
Various.land offices, there has been disposed of 40,184,895 acres, under
the Various land laws. The unoccupied lands are distributed between
the various land districts, four in North Dakota and five in South Da-
kota, as follows:
North Dakota.
Acres.
Bismarckland district-------------------------------------------------- 11,622:500
Grand Forks land district ---------------------------------------------- 560, 200
Devils Lake land district ---------------------------. ----------------- ... 4, 182,930
Fargo land district ------------------------------------ ----------------- 263,833
Total number of acres-------------------------------------------- 16,629, 463
- South Dakota.
Huron land district ---------------------------------------------------- 189, 100
Yankton land district -------------------------------------------------- 14,097
Rapid City land district------------------------------------------------ 986, 189
Mitchell land district.-------------------------------------------------- 5,000
Aberdeen land district -------------------------------------------------- 747,940
Watertown land district. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - ſº º ſº tº tº º 44,960
Total number of acres.------------------------------------------. - 1,987,286
There are 3,431,000 acres of unsurveyed land in the Rapid City dis-
trict to be added to the total of South Dakota, an acreage, too, soon
to be increased by the opening of 11,000,000 acres of the Sioux Reserva-
tion. From the Aberdeen district, however, a deduction of 113,860
acres located in North Dakota must be made.
Prior to 1862 any land taken up in Dakota was by purchase or pre-
emption, the homestead law not becoming a law until May 20, 1862.
From that date to June 30, 1863, there were 75 entries under this act,
involving 11,829 acres; in 1864 there were 111 entries; in 1865, 64; in
1866, 154; in 1867, 187; in 1868, 614; in 1869, 523; in 1870, 576; in
1871, 861; in 1872, 1,009; in 1873, 1,297, and in 1874 1,778 entries,
involving 288,162 acres. From 1875 to 1889 the entries under the
homestead, pre-emption, and timber culture acts have absorbed land as
follows:
Acres. Acres. * Acros.
1875------------ 205,918 1880.......... 2, 268,808 1885. - - - - - - - - - - - 4,547, 749
1876------------ 391, 645 1881. - - - - - ---. 2, 673, 213 | 1886------------ 3,075,085
1877------------ 212, 555 | 1882 - - - - - - - - - - 4, 360, 131 | 1887 - - - - - - - - - - - - 2,069,668
1878. ----- - - - - - - 1, 377, 948 1883.--------- 7, 317, 236 1888. -- - - - - - - - - - 1,838, 142
1879------------ 1,656, 851 | 1884........ -- 11,082, 818 1889 - - - - - - - - - - - - 2, 382,948
AGRICULTURE AND IRRIGATION IN WESTERN KANSAS AND NEBRASIKA.
, The Great Plains, estimating as such the semi-arid and arid terri-
tory between 970 30' and 103° 30' and from British America to the
Red River south, that is over 6 degrees, or 400 miles east and West,
and north and south about 700 miles, will contain at least 180,000,000
3.CI'êS,
THE GREAT PLAINS AND ITS RECLAMATION. 81
Profs. Samuel Anghey and C. D. Wilbur, of the University of Ne:
braska, are scientists of repute, authors and teachers of recognized
capacity. Their opportunities of direct observation so well supplement
these qualifications that the testimony and views presented by them
must be esteemed of a weighty character. The conclusion they arrived
at as against the continued aridity of the Great Plains can be stated as
follows: - §
(1) The soil embraced within the area west of the one hundredth
meridian “is chemically equal to any similar area of Soil taken in any
part of the American continent.” The professors do not include either
Arizona or New Mexico, yet both are equal to the other portions of the
area indicated.
(2) Water is the only element lacking to insure complete productive-
Il CSS.
. (3) The homogeneous character of the soil is insured by the fact that
it is the result of “the decomposition of primary rocks, old Sea deposits,
and glacial agencies, acting through long ages over great areas of both
mountains and plains.”
(4) The practical question to be settled, then, is the supply of moist-
UI Pe.
Messrs. Anghey and Wilbur hold it to be proved beyond reasonable
question that “the present rate of increase in rain-fall will in a com-
paratively short time fit this region for agriculture without the aid of
irrigation.” They argued at length in the paper mentioned, as also in
other publications:
(a): “That the actual rain-fall from the ninety-eighth meridian west-
ward, over a considerable area, is sufficient to produce successfully root
crops, fruits, and the cereals.” Nearly up to the North Platte the rain-
fall averages 26 inches per annum, and beyond that for a long distance
west it amounts to nearly 16 or 17 inches. It falls, too, in the early
summer, when most needed. -º"
(b) That the presence of nutritious grasses proves the richness of the
soil. The buffalo grass as it disappears is everywhere followed by other
species, far more useful, belonging to the same family of plants as the
edible grains. The spontaneity and variety of the native fiora on the
Great Plains are also indicative of the richness and adaptability of the
soil. -
(c) Holding that the moisture and rain-fall are gradually increasing
from east to west, Messrs. Anghey and Wilbur declare—
(1) That actual tests, taken in large number, show the practicability
of “grass and grain growth in the major part of the lands of the United
States domain excepting actual rocky areas.
(2) It is also shown by “the western march of grass and grain growth”
in Nebraska almost to the western limits of the State, 350 miles from
the Missouri River; in Kansas clear up to the one hundredth meridian
and (except as to grain on the uplands, or water-shed regions, and in
some parts along the valleys of the Arkansas and Smoky Hill; a long
distance beyond that line, and in Dakota up to the foot-hill ranges of
the dorsal mountains.
(3) That the actual increase of the rain-fall is clearly demonstrated by
observations taken over a period long enough to give consecutiveness
to the deductions made.
After citing various authorities, Messrs. Anghey and Wilbur sum up
their conclusions in the following manner:
Observation, experiment, and the highest scientific authºrity demonstrate that
climates in the West are becoming moister and that rain-fall is increasing steadily.
138 A L–AP WOL IV—6
82 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
This increase must extend steadily until the plains east of Denver and Laramie re-
ceive sufficient rain-fall to produce farm products. . +
For these reasons we are compelled to say that any ovidence of present dryness,
where dryness exists, is evidence only for the present and should not be used to cover
these areas with the undeserved reproach or curse of desert lands.
By the term “these regions” Messrs. Anghey and Wilbur refer to the
area usually designated as the “Great Plains,” lying between the ninety-
eighth West meridian and the higher foot-hills of the frontal range of
the Rocky Mountains, though they appear to have more especially in
their minds the more limited but still great basin of the Republican
River, embracing a large portion of central and northwestern Ransas
and the area contiguous thereto in Nebraska.
IN SOUTEIWEST RANSAS.
Within the last ten years over 500 miles of irrigating ditches have
been constructed in the Arkansas Valley west of the one hundredth
meredian, in Ransas. These ditches are capable of supplying water
for the irrigation of more than 100,000 acres of land in Ford, Gray,
Finney, Kearney, and Hamilton Counties; but, owing to the failure of
the water supply in the Arkansas River for the last two or three years,
the ditches have not been used to their full capacity. This failure of
water was caused mainly by the paucity of snow-fall in the Rocky
Mountains in the winters of 1887 and 1888, and the severe droughts
which have prevailed between the one hundredth meridian and mount-
aims for the last three seasons. We think the current opinion that
the numerous irrigating ditches which have been recently constructed
along the Arkansas Valley in Colorado exhaust the water in the river
before it reaches the Kansas line is largely erroneous. During the
summer of 1889 there was more water in the Arkansas River at Dodge
City than at Coolidge, near the State line. There was more at Wichita
than at Dodge City, and more ſlowing water in the channel in the 200
miles in Kansas than in the 200 miles West of the Colorado line. That
the supply of water is inexhaustible has been frequently demonstrated
by pumping water from wells located in the valley. The two most
noted experiments were made last year at the Wells which supply the
water-works at Dodge City and at Garden City. These Wells are 22
feet and 19, feet in diameter; respectively, and about 20 feet deep;
the water rises to within 4 feet of the Surface of the ground. Over
1,000,000 gallons have been pumped out of the Dodge City well in a
single day without lowering the water to any appreciable extent. At
the Garden City well the water-Works pump, with a capacity of 600
gallons per minute, and a Huffer irrigation pump, with a capacity of
500 gallons per minute, were both worked to their utmost limit for a
period of four hours without lowering the water in the well. Numer-
ous other experiments of a similar nature have been made.
IRIRIGATION VALUES AND CONDITIONS.
Civil Engineer Tweeddale, of Kansas, writes as follows:
The question of the supply of any desired quantity of water for irrigation from the
underflow being assured, we will consider the subject of its procurement, etc.; in the
following order: First, the quantity of water required for irrigation, generally and
specifically; second, the manner of its procurement from the under-ground, current;
thira, the cost of plant for procurement and distribution; fourth, the results of irri;
gation and a comparison of it with “dry farming” when the rain-fallis deficient, and
ălso when it is ordinarily considered ample for “dry farming,” together with a com-
parison of the methods in general use of distributing the water from open ditches by
ineans of rills opened and closed with shovels or hoes; and of distributing pumped
water from pipes by means of hose and hydraulic monitors attached to plugs or
hydrants,
FERTILIZING QUALITY OF WATER. - 83
First. The quantity of water required for profitable agriculture depends upon the
nature of the soil, character of the crops, and the position of the district in relation
to the surrounding country. . Thus in the case of a permeable soil with considerable
declivity the water deposited upon it will pass off rapidly, perhaps even before serv-
ing for the germination of the seed or the nutriment of the plant. If, however, the
soil be retentive and the site low as compared with its surroundings, the soil may
become so saturated with water that germination and growth may be greatly im-
peded. The conditions necessary for the germination of seed and the growth of plants
are moisture, air, and a certain degree of heat. In a clayey, impervious soil an
excess of water will act injuriously by reason of the absence of air and heat. In the
case under consideration, the soil being impervious and the ground having sufficient
declivity to give surface drainage, the discharge will be large. Add to this an ele-
vated temperature, a clear sky, and dry air—in brief, a normal drought—and we have
all the conditions which require frequent and plentiful waterings. In the process of
vegetation water is the medium through which plants obtain nourishment. The
water, charged with the organic and mineral substances in a state of solution which
constitute the food for plants, is drawn up through the roots; these substances are
assimilated and the water thrown off through the leaves. Many experiments have
been made to determine the amount of water transpired by plants. M. E. Risler, a
Swiss philosopher, has recently given a good deal of attention to this subject. He
operated both in the laboratory and by observing the flow from the drains of a field
especially arranged for such observation. He gives the daily consumption of water
for different kinds of crops as follows: w
Inch.
Lucern grass ----------------------------------- 0.134 to 0.267
Meadow graSS ---------------------------------- 0.122 0.287
Oats ------------------------- tº e º 'º - we sº e º sº, sº --. ---- 0.140 0.193
Indian corn ------------------------------------ 0. 110 1.570
Clover ----------------------------------------- 1. 140
Vineyard--------------------------------------- 0.035 0.031
Wheat ----------------------------------------- 0. 106 0, 110
Rye -------------------------------------------- 0.091
Potatoes --------------------------------------- 0.028 0.055
Oak trees -------------------------------------- 0.038 0.030
Fir trees --------------------------------------- 0.020 0, 043
Schlieden, at Jena, found for a mixture of clover and oats grown in earth con-
tained in an iron box, which was weighed at intervals to determine the evaporation,
a consumption of about 0.0984 inch per day from the time of sowing until the time of
harvesting, a period of one hundred and twenty-nine days—13 inches nearly. Very
careful experiments on this subject have been in progress for several years at the
observatory of Mountsouris, in France. The grain is grown in earth contained in
metallic boxes, and similar boxes without grain are used to determine the evapora-
tion. In some cases the earth was dried and weighed both before sowing and after
harvesting. The results obtained were essentially as above given. It was found that
to produce one pound of wheat required the expenditure of from 800 pounds to 2,400
pounds of water, the lesser quantity being when the soil was fertile. In the case of
wheat the maximum consumption of water occurred at the period of flowering, after
which it diminished to the ripening, and then ceased.
From the above table it appears that a field of grain (as wheat, oats, or rye) may
absorb, between seeding and harvesting, 15 inches of water, while grass may absorb
37 inches during a period of growth of one hundred and thirty days. This question of
the effect of water on fertility explains the difference observed in the yield of differ-
ent fields of grain at the same time, and of different yields of the same field in differ-
ent years. It also serves to explain some points in hydrology, as to the effect of the
destruction of forests on the flow of streams. The table shows that the quantity of
water transpired by the leaves of cereals is greatly in excess of that by the leaves of
forest trees, which proves that the clearing and cultivating of forests do actually
diminish the quantity of water in the streams. It also explains how lands rich in
the chemical constituents of certain grains produce large crops with a small rain-fall,
as in the case of northern Dakota and Minnesota, where, with a rain-fall of but 17
inches, 30 and 35 bushels of wheat to the acre is not an uncommon yield.
# * * $$. * * *
The advantages in favor ºf irrigation are: not only are the crops much larger, but
they are entirely unaffected by drought or wet; and being harvested under a clear
sky are in good condition, and therefore, being of superior quality, command higher
prices. As a rule, persons living on irrigated lands, having regular occupation, are
more thrifty; their crops are certain, regardless of seasons; having larger and more
certain incomes, their earnings are expended in increased comforts—all of which in-
creases the business of railroads. And now that the competition between rival lines
has destroyed the profits of through traffic, dependence must be placed on local busi-
84. IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
ness, which for that reason must be developed, resulting in the charges for the haul-
ing of coal used for pumping being the least possible. As the effect of an extensive
System of irrigation is toward small holdings and a dense population, the result will
be increased business. It is estimated that 1 acre of irrigated land produces, directly
and indirectly, more than 1 ton of railroad freight annually, or more than two hun-
dred times as much as the same land used for grazing cattle, as the effect of any con-
siderable almount of irrigation would, by increasing the humidity, tend to a reclama-
tion of the unirrigated desert, and in a measure affect the humidity of the whole area.
. Perhaps the clearest and most simply stated description of irriga:
tion as at present practiced among us is the following, from the pen of
Orange Judd, the veteran editor of the Prairie Farmer:
Irrigation in the present use of the term means the artificial application of water
to the soil, by several methods. There is the “main canal” or ditch, which brings
water taken from streams that may be a mile or two or scores of miles away. A
“lateral” comes out of one side, and extends several rods, or even miles, to the upper
side of a field, into a plow furrow nearly on a level, and the water in this case spreads
out each way. I'rom this head ſurrow very small ones are made with a hoe, or
Quicker with a small single-horse plow. They are run in such direction, required by
the lay of the land, as will give them only a slight descent. A hoe or shovel full of
earth into the plow furrow at each entrance of these little ditches keeps them
closed. When the land needs water the little “gate,” or sliding board at the canal,
is raised as far as needed to let in the required amount of water. This is raised or
lowered from time to time, as seen to be necessary. The large plow furrow being
filled with water, the irrigator opens or closes the upper ends of the small furrows
by taking out a shovel or hooſul of earth. The operator walks over the field, and
where water enough is not flowing out in any place, he, with a shovel or hoe, clips
off a bit of earth from the side of the small ditch or ſurrow, or stops the flow at any point
by throwing in a trifle of soil. In this way he can, in an hour or two, give an entire
field what would be equal to a heavy soaking rain. This may be done so deeply
down, one or even two feet, that the growing crop may flourish through the hottest
season or drought without another irrigation.
Where water goes deep down it is only very slowly evaporated from the surface,
while the roots of the crop grow downward so far as to find a good deal of natural
moisture in the soil. Usually only two, or at most three, such irrigations are needed
on a wheat crop, grown on a soil which is literally a dry ash heap. The number of
irrigations and the amount of water at each flowing depend a good deal upon the
character of the subsoil. Some land requiros only a single flowing, along in May or
June. Sometimes a flooding about the heading-out time will produce very heavy
grain kernels. Sometimes the ground is well flooded before the seed is sown, and
once or twice afterward, unless there is an unusual fall of rain. Most farmers using
irrigation rather prefer no rain. Having a supply of water in the canal to use when-
ever needed, they prefer continual hot sunshine, which pushes growth forward most
rapidly. * •
In most of the irrigable, arid regions, these canals are taken out high up a river or
stream which is fed by the melting of snows on the mountain tops in May, June, and
July, just the time when plenty of water in the canal is most needed. The canals are
carried along with a descent of 13 to 2 feet per mile, winding around hills or uneven
ground to maintain a uniform grade. If the ground and the stream descend rapidly
the canal may thus be carried scores of miles, and at its end be 20, 50, 100, or more
feet above the parent stream. The side canals are taken out at different places, and
similarly carried over or around uneven land, so that a single main canal may irri-
gate tens or hundreds of thousands of acres, for example a canal from a stream in the
Rocky Mountains, by following the sides of knolls, valleys, and hills, may take water
hundreds of miles to supply the parched farms in Eastern Colorado.
It was asserted by the Public Land Commission in 1880 that the
arable area of the United States would be all taken up by 1883. Fran-
cis A. Walker said the same thing; other writers and publicists also
repeated it. Yet the Land Office reports show that since 1883, and
up to June 30, 1889, 109,377,858.14 acres of public lands have been dis-
posed, within the States of California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Kan-
sas, Nebraska, Washington, Montana, North and South Dakota, Idaho,
and Wyoming, and the Territories of Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah,
alone. Of this total certainly 60,000,000 acres are within the arid region
proper, and the major portion of the balance was located and settled
within the semi-arid sections, and all of this was classed as “agricult-
ural.”
à
IRRIGATION ENGINEERING PROBLEMs.
STORAGE OF THE STORM AND MOUNTAIN WATERS.—RESTORATION OF
DRAINAGE, UNDERFLOW, AND SEEPAGE SUPPLIES.–RESERVOIRS,
CANALS, WELLS, SUB-DAMS, FARM STORAGE, ETC., ETC. -
PAERT II.
In the work of irrigation survey, at present there seems to be two
distinct points to be aimed at. In a great measure the running waters
within the arid region are being rapidly consumed. The points are,
first, the conservation of the storm or surplus waters, which must
necessarily be stored in the high altitudes of that region, and, secondly,
the restoration for use in agriculture of the waters under the earth.
These two divisions at the present moment seem to be the essen-
tial purposes for which engineering efforts should be made. It is
suggested that the great area, lying east of the Rocky Mountains—the
plains and foot hills—from the 97th practically to the 104th degree of
west longitude must come first, because of the great population that
has gone in there, and of the large amount of struggle and of pecuniary
effort that have been made by them, and owing to the condition in
which they are being constantly placed by reason of the insecurity or
uncertainty of the water supply. These conditions arise, not so much
by the deficiency of the water supply, taking the years through, as
by its unequal and unsuitable division. What is called the great
plains region has, for the work of reclamation, at present, to be now
considered, upon the ground that a large part of the population to be
benefited by irrigation are to be found there.
The problems involved in that fact are, of course, two-fold, as in the
whole field: These are the storage of the surplus waters in the Rocky
Mountains proper and in the valleys of the streams flowing there, and
the obtaining of an adequate knowledge of the waters within the earth,
So as to make plans and lay out the best methods for their economic
use in the near future. -
The artesian water-belt, the most remarkable of which is found in
the central valley of the Dakotas, is first to be considered. Second,
comes the underflow or sheet water of the river valleys. Then one of
the most important is the general seepage or drainage waters found to
exist in the gravel and sandy strata just below the alluvium, all through
the central portions of the plains, and which, it is believed, by shallow
openings or Wells can be collected so as to be restored to the surface
and distributed by mechanical or pumping power. In this connection
the testimony of Mr. George H. West, of Greeley, Colo., relating both
to west Kansas and eastern Colorado is of great value in relation to
this purely American application of mechanical power in the use and
distribution of water for irrigation. Mr. West says:
85
86 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
THE DIRAINAGE SUPIPLY.
In the southwest Section of Kansas, south of he third standard parallel, and west
of the ninety-eighth meridian, embracing an area of 16,520,000 acres, it is claimed
that there are fully 15,000,000 acres suitable for agricultural purposes, relying for its
best results upon irrigation.
At least 90 per cent. of this land is underlaid by subterranean ſlows or reservoirs
of water, available from wells by means of mechanical power. The application of an
Sconomical method of raising this water would produce more immediate and general
benefits than any other system, making from 60 to 75 per cont. of the entire area at
once reclaimable by private enterprise.
Along the Cimarron River and its tributaries are 350,000 acres of first bottom lands,
with abundance of water within 20 feet of the surface; while at least 500,000 acres in
the Arkansas Valley will afford an exhaustless supply of water for ordinary irrigating
purposes at 10 feet...The valleys of the Beaver, White Woman, Pawnee, Walnut, and
their tributaries will afford 1,000,000 more acres of land, with an ample water supply
from 15 to 30 feet. Outside of the valleys sheet water is found, from 30 feet to 100
feet, with an average depth of about 60 feet; excepting limited areas, including por-
tions of nearly every county west of the ninety-ninth meridian. Embracing nearly
all of Haskell County and a narrow strip west through the counties of Grant and
Stanton, and east through Gray, Ford, Kiowa, and Pratt, extends what is known as
the deep-water belt, or high divide. Another such area extends west through the
counties of Garfield, Finney, Kearney, and Hamilton, along the fourth standard paral-
lel. In these belts water lies at depths generally exceeding 100 feet. Outside these
narrow belts the larger portion of the entire area is underlaid by a water supply,
available to a mechanical method of raising it. The water is almost universally
found running through gravel beds with a uniform current towards the east. Neither
coal or wood is ſound in this territory. Prices are governed by the length of haul
and competition between lines of railroad. At Garden City the best Cañon City coal
sells at the scales for $6.75 per ton, Trinidad coal $5.90, and Cañon City pea coal $4.65
per ton.
No pumping system or irrigation has been tried, and tho surface streams are totally
inadequate to furnish an extensive water supply for a system of canals. The Arkan-
sas River is the only stream that can be utilized in that manner. The present
demand upon it renders farming more hazardous than will justify further develop-
ment in that direction without the application of a storager-eservoir system, or in
tapping the water-bearing strata with underground canals—taking advantage of the
universal trend eastward. Such a system will be necessary to reclaim the high
divides mentioned in this report, and will call for reservoirs of enormous capacity, as
those lands being uniformly unbroken, storage-basins must be made at great distances
from the areas to be watered.
The underground water supply will rapidly increase instead of diminish, as the
water used will largely be absorbed by the soil and percolation from above be added
to the present sources. The water lost by evaporation will be replenished by the
rain that will be enabled to soak into the soil, instead of wasting upon the impene-
trable sod of our prairies. Kansas farming has demonstrated that breaking the Sod
and continued cultivation of the soil will eventually result in the complete satura-
tion of that dry soil, which almost invariably exists from the sod to the sheet water.
The almost entire absence of clay beds and other impenetrable substrata will permit
of the complete saturation of the soil down to the present water-levels, making a
storage-reservoir of incalculable magnitude, proportionately increased by each ad-
ditional demand upon it, and capillary attraction, now almost entirely absent, will
soon be established.
... By determining at once the practicability of mechanical means of raising water
from our Wells these results can be accoomplished by private enterprise in time to
benefit the classes who must need aid and encouragement, and who are utterly un-
able to wait upon the action of the Government in devising and executing a more
elaborate system of storage and canals. A pumping system will permit of individual
enterpriso and general adoption at once. Any system dependent upon the construc-
tion of expensive canals, reservoirs, sub-drainage, or other methods involves unavoid-
able delay of governmental action, or in inducing capital to come to our relief. To
demonstrate that a pumping system can be practically and economically applied will
greatly reduce the area of arid lands to be reclaimed, and afford a proportionate in-
crease of the available Water for that purpose.
TFIE WATER-IBEARING GRAVELS.
The valleys of Colorado on the eastern plateau have all been formed
by denudation ; the streams from the mountains have left on the bed
rock deposits of sand and gravel filled with water, varying in thick-
ness from a few inches to 64 feet at Eaton, Colo. This bed of water.
*
THE-watGR-BEARING STRATA OF COLORADO. 87
bearing sand and gravel in the Cache-la-Poudre Valley extends from
Greeley to the foot of Chalk Bluffs, 39 miles north and 1,220 feet
higher. This increase of altitude is of value. Near the foot-hills
large bowlders lie next the bed-rock, and farther east on the plains their
size decreases regularly to large stones, coarse gravel and sand, all
filled with water. From the surface to bed-rock the conditions are re-
versed, and below the soil we reach quicksand or sand, then fine gravel,
coarse gravel, large stones, etc. Water is usually found on the plateau
east of the mountains as soon as the gravel is reached, and back from
the rivers for miles in the valleys water is usually found beneath the
Surface at the same level as in the surface streams. The Water-bear-
ing strata near the surface is comparatively narrow at the foot-hills,
but widens out many miles as we reach the valleys, where the surface
streams have less fall to the mile. Since the construction and use of
irrigation ditches the amount of water in the gravel strata has greatly
increased, often standing much higher than the level of water in the
natural streams, and coming to the surface as seepage in lakes and
ponds.
The distance from the surface to the subterranean Water varies from
a few feet to more than 50 feet in the valleys of the Cache-la-Poudre,
South Platte, and Big Thompson Rivers and their tributaries. At
Greeley, in the river valley proper, water is found from 4 to 16 feet
from the surface, and the water-bearing gravel is 44 feet thick; at
Eaton, 8 miles north, this water strata is 20 to 25, feet from the surface
and is 64 feet in depth; at Pierce, 10 miles still farther north, this water
strata is 30 feet from the surface, and continuing 20 miles again north,
to the Maynard Flats, near Carr Station, water is but 8 feet from the
surface, in gravel. The depth of the water-bearing strata in the latter
locations have not been determined. Water is found also in gravel on
Crow Creek and Little Crow Flats, 40 to 50 miles northeast from
Greeley, at varying depths from 4 to 20 feet, in large quantities. At
Denver bed-rock comes to within a few feet of the surface, and good
results have not been obtained; but large amounts of water are found
in the sands of Cherry Creek and in the valleys adjacent thereto.
North from Denver, along the South Platte Valley, water is found at
varying depths from 8 to 30 feet, and the water-bearing gravel is 50
feet thick at Brighton, 55 feet at Fort Lupton, 60 feet at Platteville,
and 86 feet at Evans; 100 miles still east, at Sterling, Colo., water is 4
to 20 feet from the surface, in Sand and gravel. The gravel there is
much smaller than at other localities named, and there is more quick-
sand above it.
The amount of Water that may be stored in a cubic foot of sand or
gravel, when fully saturated, has been ascertained by careful experi-
ment to be as follows: Fine sand 2 gallons, coarse sand 24 gallons,
Sand and fine gravel 3 gallons, coarse gravel and small stones the sizé
of hen's eggs 3.6 gallons. As a cubic foot contains 7.5 American gal-
lons, it will be seen that very large gravel beds contain fully one-half
water. Water is found in all the dry creeks and the valleys adjacent
thereto in northern Colorado, east of the mountains, at varying depths
from 2 to 20 feet. Actual tests have been made verifying this matter
on Lone Tree, Big Crow, Little Crow, Wild Cat, Pawnee, Lewis, and
Cedar Creeks north of the South Platte River, and on Cherry Creek,
Sand Creek, Lost Creek, Box Elder, Kiowa, Bijou, Big Beaver, and
Little Beaver South of this river. As investigation goes on the area
of land known to have underground reservoirs of water at a nominal
depth from the surface is largely increased.
88 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
This gravel is very coarse, in places as large as your fist. That lies
together irregularly, and there are great spaces or cavities between the
pieces. . As We pump the tendency is to throw this stuff out and open
up great Channels, and then there is a rush in of water. On the Albert
Howard well, which is 70 feet deep and gives 22 feet of water for irri-
gation, there are two pumps for the 200 acres, and the water is lowered
about 11 feet in pumping twelve hours per day. That leaves 11 feet to
draw on. The amount of water underneath in these gravel beds seems
to be enormous. Where we have found 12 feet of water in that stratum
We have not put in any pumps yet that have pumped it dry. At Platte-
Ville, about 20 miles south of here, they have 60 feet of that gravel
Stratum, and nearer to Denver they have 50 or 55 feet in different
locations.
We have under Greeley 46 feet of gravel stratum filled with water.
We have first four to six feet of surface drift or soil, and below that
comes this gravel filled with water, which extends down 46 feet farther
to bed-rock. On the Platte Piver, east of here, we have 84 feet of that
gravel stratum filled with water. We find that in many of these dry
Creeks or arroyos there is water at a slight depth and also in the flats.
At Crow Creek, 40 to 45 miles northeast of here, where there is only a
little Water in places coming to the surface, they find large quantities
of Water there at from 4 to 15 feet below the surface over a large area.
In twenty counties in Colorado, lying east of the base line, which runs
through Pueblo, there are some 25,000,00 acres of land. Fully 20,000,000
acres of this is suitable for cultivation, and probably one-fourth of this,
or 5,000,000 acres, are underlaid with an ample water supply near the
Surface, available for use for irrigation by mechanical power—that by
lifting or pumping.
THE UNIDERFLOW WATERS.
Mr. W. Tweeddale, civil engineer, of Topeka, in broaching a plan for
distributing water for irrigation by means of electricity, has this to say
about the rain-fall on the plains:
In Texas, with 20 inches of rain-fall, “dry farming” is not profitable; while in
Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska 16 inches of rain-fall gives good results. The reason
for this is that in Texas the temperature is high, and the rain-fall uniformly distrib-
uted throughout the year, while in the above-named States the temperature is much
lower, and there is a well-defined rainy season giving 72 per cent. of the annual rain-
fall during the spring and summer, while Texas has but 50 per cent. during the same
time ; for which reason 15 inches in the above States will be equivalent to 20 inches
in Texas, with the further difference in their favor due to much lower temperature.
The relative value of rain-fall for agriculture in the different localities will appear
from a comparison of the tables of rain-fall at eight selected stations in Texas, three
in western Kansas, and eight in Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska. Of the annual
rain-fall of these several stations, the amount that falls during the spring and summer
is as follows: In Texas, 55 per cent. ; western Ransas, 65 per cent. ; Dakota, Minne-
Sota, and Nebraska, 72 per cent. ; from which it will be seen that the proportional
part of rain-fall in western Kansas during the growing season is intermediate between
that of Texas and the above-mentioned three States; and while that in western Kan-
sas is but 11 per cent. less than in the above three States, the difference in effective-
ness is much greater by reason of difference in temperature.
In a consideration of the subject of rain-fall, it must be borne in mind that in the
so-called “subarid" region there is a great liability for many seasons in a long Series
of years to be without sufficient rain-fall to make agriculture profitable, in which
case the whole supply of water for irrigation must be procured artificially. And as
it is the certainty of results alone that will justify the investment of capital,in new
enterprises, it follows that in any scheme for furnishing water for irrigation estimates
of cost must be based on being able whenever required to furnish the Whole amount
of water necessary for the profitable raising of any particular crop.
THE EARTH AS AN IMPOUNDER OF WATER. 89
. In designing storage reservoirs of limited extent, account must be taken of the
minimum annual and minimum periodic rain-fall. It sometimes happens that the
annual rain-fall continues to be less than the general mean through cycles of three or
four years. Computations based on a uumber of selected stations of largest observa-
tion in the United States, extending throughout the whole country, give the average
annual rain-fall of the least three-years cycle, at any one of these points, as 67 per
cent. of the mean annual rain-fall at the same point, and the greatest three-years low
cycle as 97 per cent. of the mean annual rain-fall at the same point. Taking 16 inches
as the mean annual rain-fall at Fort Dodge, the mean annual rain-fall of the low cycle
will be 67 per cent. of 16, equals 10 inches. Of this amount, favorably situated gath-
ering-grounds of unbroken prairie will furnish at least 60 per cent. This will give a
depth of 6 inches of water over the whole area drained for collection in a reservoir.
Taking 16 inches depth of water over the area irrigated as the requirement in addi-
tion to the proportional part of 16 inches of rain-fall, and we have 16 divided by 6,
equals 23; i. e., the water from 23 acres of drainage area will furnish sufficient Water
to irrigate one acre of land. Doubling this amount for contingencies (as evaporation
and seepage), and 5% acres will suffice for one acre. On this basis the owner of a
favorably-situated quarter-section of land can collect in a reservoir the required
amount of water to irrigate 30 acres, which will allow 15 acres for agriculture, 15 for
meadow, and 130 for grazing. The reservoir should be made deep, to prevent loss by
evaporation. Should the gathering-ground be large, and oyned by a number of per-
Sons, a reservoir of greater capacity might be constructed, and by purchase or
exchange with each other, a unit of forty acres of irrigable land might be secured to
each, with diminished cost per acre.
When, however, there is no suitable site for a reservoir, the rain-fall from the gath-
ering-ground will run onto and be absorbed by the porous soil of the bottom lands.
Pure sand, when saturated with water, will contain from 30 to 40 per cent. of its
bulk, while gravel contains 25 per cent. The eminent scientist, Sterry Hunt, esti-
mates that one square mile of sandstone 100 feet thick will contain, when Saturated,
water sufficient to sustain a flow of one cubic foot per minute for a period of thirteen
years. Sandy soil at a certain depth is always saturated with water, which rises,
after large accessions from rain, nearly to the surface of the ground, and falls again
during periods of drought. In a region of sand and gravel a fall of 6 feet in the ground-
water will give a discharge into the streams of from 40,000,000 to 50,000,000 cubic feet
per square mile of ground. The water so held constitutes the reserve which goes to
maintain the dry-weather flow of streams.
The water in the ground, like that in the streams, is in constant motion, although
its rate is by comparison with that of streams very slow. The quantity of water
flowing in an open channel 100 feet wide and 6 feet deep, with a fall of 1 foot per
mile, is about 1,000,000,000 of gallons per day. The quantity flowing through a chan-
nel of the same dimensions and fall, filled with gravel, will not exceed 600 gallons at
the same time. This extreme slowness with which the ground-water moves serves
as a regulating sluice to the ground reservoir, securing it against rapid exhaustion. •
From the above it is evident that the water stored in the porous soil of the bottom
lands is the source of the water supply of the Arkansas River valley, rather than the
flowage of the river, which in fact for a portion of the year acts as a drain to the
valley rather than as a supply to the under-current. The longitudinal fall of the
ground-water in the valley in western Kansas is about 7 feet per mile. The writer
found by measurement that the fall of the ground-water from the Arkansas River to
Cow Creek, a distance of 2 miles, near Hutchinson, was 8% feet per mile. Observa-
tions made during the construction of water-works for cities show that in ordinary
sand and gravelly soil a fall of 7 feet per mile will give a rate of motion of the ground-
water of about 1 foot per hour. tº
ARTESIAN WELLS AND THEIR ECONOMIC VALUE.
An artesian well is one in which an artificial vertical shaft is filled to
overflowing by water, which enters it at some distance below the sur-
face of the ground. The water may spout up with force and rise higher
than the surface or it may barely reach the point at which it flows over.
The conditions under which this can occur are the same as those which
govern the supply of Water to the upper rooms of buildings in cities.
The reservoir with which the water-maains are connected must be higher
than the place supplied; for the same reason the stand-pipe which takes
the place of a reservoir in towns located in a level country must be
90 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
higher than the tops of the highest buildings. This is made necessary by
a well-known principle in hydrostatics, that a fluid will not rise in an
iron tube higher than its source. There are some artesian wells whose
flow is due to other than hydrostatic pressure here described, viz, to gas
pressure and rock pressure, but these forces need no illustration. In
nature the channel through which the water flows is more like a sponge
than the orifice of a pipe. It is porous rock, sandstone, conglomerate,
gravel, Sand, or limestone more or less cracked or broken. The walls
of a natural pipe must be impermeable and usually beds of clay or clay-
Shale Serve this purpose. To get the head of water the beds of sand-
Stone, Shale, etc., must have a dip, i. e., they must be higher at one part
than another. The best conditions are when the rock strata take a basin
formation, highest on the edge of, circular area, and a well sunk in the
middle of the basin. It is to be understood that all the waters of the
land are meteoric waters, having their origin in the rains and snows,
If then the rain falls on porous rock on the upturned edge of a basin,
which within the basin is overlaid and underlaid with impervious clays,
a Well sunk at or near the middle would be artesian.
The basin form is, however, comparatively rare in nature, but contin-
UOuS dip of rocks in One direction is by no means uncommon, so that the
form of a trough is more often found. If the relative position of porous
and impervious rocks is the same, artesian wells may be found on the
slope or at the lowest point. The general dip of the geological strata
on the plains is from West to east, by south, as is also the slope of the
surface of the country. The conditions for finding artesian wells are
thus widely distributed. <
Prof. P. H. Van Diest, of Denver, Colo., who has had an almost world-
wide experience as an engineer in connection with artesian waters and
wells, gives some interesting data, as a basis for the consideration of the
economic uses of such supplies. TIe says:
I have had something to do in India with artesian borings and gathered some sta-
tistics about the amount of water which percolates the lower strata. In the Paris
and London basins, by careful observation it was ascertained that a third of the
water-fall on a certain extent of land gives a certain flow ; that another one-third
evaporates and is taken off by the plants, and that the last third percolates to
the lower strata. How far that is the case here is difficult to know because there are
no observations taken. That is the experience, however, in London, England, and
Paris, France, where considerable artesian water has been got. Similar observations
have been made in India. Batavia is now supplied with artesian waters after sur-
veys made by me. No observations are made here, and it is difficult to say what the
case is. From the very sandy condition of a great deal of the outcropping rocks in
the arable regions of Colorado, a good deal must percolate to great depths. That is
proven to be the case in Denver, the Denver basin having observations made in it to
Some extent.
The conclusion is that there must be considerable water running down to the lower
strata. By borings that have been made (about two hundred flowing wells having
been bored) we have observed that there are three different flows. Speaking of those
flows, I would say that the upper flows, to which many wells have been bored, are
very limited. The lower flows take water from a greater extent of country. Much
trouble has occurred in the artesian diggings by the bad construction of the tubing.
Thero are a great many of such basins here all along the foot-hills, and it has been
proven that there is much loss, as, for instance, in the San Luis Valley, where they
have had flows of water to a great amount. There would be a chance to apply water
for irrigation. The same is the case in the San Bernardino Valley, in California,
where over two thousand artesian wells are aiding in irrigation. They are under reg-
ulations, so that during the night they must be closed off with stop-cocks. Thus
there is no unnecessary water ſlowing off. There are many streams that run east from
here, such as the Bijo, the Badger, and other creeks, which at, their best are all run-
ning streams and have considerable water. “Over distances of 20 to 30 miles they are
entirely sunk and lost. The Platte Valley is increased farther down in its flow,
Without seeing it directly here, the volume of water in the Platte is increasing. It
THE EXTENT OF UNDERFLow SUPPLIES. *, 91
must be that the water from some of the mountains flows invisibly, away, probably +
not at a very great depth. Perhaps at 15 or 20 feet deep there may be an impermº,
able layer .# that it flows under the surface away. ... I think that that water could
be made useful by pipes from a distance out, carrying the pipes to a place where the
water is needed. Čertainly a great deal of Îand could be redeemed by the percolation
of water which is now lost.
SPRINGs, UNDERFLOW, AND LOST STREAMS.
In eastern New Mexico there is an extensive region of large springs,
showing the existence of water under ground that comes by artesian
force or otherwise to the surface. When we come to northern Texas,
and to what are known as the Staked Plains and the Panhandle region
of that State, there are in existence to-day a great body of Wells Some
of which are artesian in character, but there are many that flow So near
to the surface and with such force that it is evident that if these Wells
were sunk deeper they would have the artesian quality; they would
strike that stream. It is a general belief that the Water under the
Staked Plains, the water from which these wells are supplied, has the
character of a flowing stream. Some experiments have been made in
the neighborhood of Marienfelt, Odessa, and Midland, on the Texas
Pacific Railroad, which seem to indicate the correctness of that theory.
The altitude lowers abruptly, and the land is of a totally different char-
acter. Beyond the westerly limit of the Staked Plains the land is all
of a distinctively arid character, as arid as Nevada or Arizona. It has
no precipitation exceeding 8 to 11 inches of fall per annum. But
throughout northwestern Texas there is unquestionably a large under-
ground water supply. The springs which come to the Surface, the evi-
dence of the wells upon Staked Plains and in the Panhandle region,
indicate this. Indeed, the testimony all goes to show that there is Sup-
ply sufficient if it could be brought to the surface to answer the pur-
poses, by small storage, of almost that entire region.
In southern Arizona there are areas of underground supply that can
be developed. The Santa Cruz River, for example, flows under ground
to Maricopa, in the Gila Valley. It runs into the Gila River near that
point. The Santa Cruz River rises a few miles below the Southern line
of the United States, in Mexico. . It runs almost directly north to Tuc-
son. Nine miles beyond Tucson it is lost under ground, and then for
some 87 miles it flows under ground, until it enters the Gila and helps
to swell that river. The valley of the Santa Cruz contains about
1,140,000 acres, a very large proportion of which, if there were water
for it, could actually be brought under the most efficient horticultural
use. It is a region admirably adapted for fruit. At the Mission of
Tumacacori, and at Tubac, Calabasas, and other places, there are the
remains of fruit gardens that the missionaries planted and used. In
years past all the semi-tropical fruits have been growing on some farms
that were maintained there against the Apaches The Santa Cruz
River should be taken out, as near its source as possible, and distributed
by means of high-line canals.
The land is very fertile. The river has a great drainage area at its
head. It is fed by several very important small streams on both sides,
and if it were taken out and placed in a new channel, and distributed
over the Valley, the entire region at and below Calabasás, for some 10
or 12 miles wide and 150 miles long, could be made a perfect garden.
We used to fancy in years gone by, in traveling over the Cienega,
north of Tucson, that we could hear the Waters running under ground.
92 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES."
We do not know whether that was a correct inference or not. East-
ward, and lying beyond the Dragoon Mountains, will be found the San
Simon Valley, or plain, known in the olden days as the principal route
southward of the Apaches. Water can be got in the San Simon and
Sulphur Valleys anywhere at from 8 to 40 feet below the surface. All
through, in this low table-land, will be found wet places—the Mexicans
call them cienagas. There are a number of ranches in that valley now
supplied by such waters, either from wells or tanks and ponds. The
San Pedro River also, between the San Simon and the Santa Cruz,
rises in Mexico, as the Santa Cruz does, and can be, by storage near
its head, made of much greater service than is now the case. Upon the
plateau on which Tombstone is situated they have some artesian water.
There are two flowing wells at that place. w
Crossing into New Mexico, over the Chiracahua Mountains and be-
yond the eastern foot-hills of that range, Deming is reached and the ta-
ble-land around it. Water has been found there within 25 or 30 or 40
feet of the surface. It is an important railroad junction. It is so near
that slight pumping brings it to the surface, and makes it valuable for
the small irrigation, for fruit and gardens, that is going on in that re-
gion. From what can be learned in relation to it it would be possi-
ble to develop the whole well and under-flow water there, and create a
storage system which would bring a large proportion of that mesa or
bench-land under cultivation for grass and root crops as well as for
fruit. Through this region and up to the lower foot-hills water can
almost always be found a short distance from the surface. Most of
these little valleys of that region could be reclaimed by the use of small
Storage.
THE DAKOTA WELLS.
In no section of the United States can there be found so many arte-
sian wells, of as great pressure and supplying as immense a volume of
water, as those flowing in North and South Dakota. They are chiefly
in the valley of the James I&iver, and are in successful operation from .
Yankton on the extreme southern loundary of the territory to Grafton
on the north, covering a distance of nearly 500 miles. In Yankton Over
a dozen wells, from a depth of 550 to 600 feet, pour forth a bountiful
supply of water, the increase in the number of Wells uot having the
least effect on the flow or pressure from the underground source.
There is nothing strange in the flow of artesian wells. The principle
is precisely that of a reservoir system of water works, or of the artificial
fountain. By storing a supply of water in a basin at some high point
and carrying it in pipes to a lower level convenient water power is ob.
tained. Nature has constructed a vast system of underground Water-
works on the same plan, the pervious strata of Sand rock underlying
the earth's surface at various depths serving as pipes to convey the
water from a distant reservoir or source of Supply.
There are now more than one hundred wells in the two Dakota States,
of remarkable pressure and supply. This does not include numer-
ous flowing wells. At Yankton various factories now utilize the force
furnished by the pressure of the underground current. Wells cost from
$4,000 to $6,000. The pressure varies in different localities from 30 to
180 pounds to the square inclu, and the flow from 50 gallons to 4,000
gallons a minute. The Woonsocket well (South Dakota) is much larger.
The water is more or less mineralized, but the constituents are such as
THE DAKOTA ARTESIAN WATERS AND WELLS, 93--
have imparted to the water undoubted hygienic and remedial proper.
ties, analyses showing the presence of carbonates and sulphates of iron,
lime, magnesia, soda, sodium, potash, etc. Artesian Water is almost in-
variably soft, and of excellent quality for general household purposes.
The temperature of the water partakes of the internal heat of the
earth.
The records kept by well-borers, showing the penetration of various
strata, establish the fact that the Dakota geological formation con-
tains all the essential features which scientists state are pre-requisites.
to flowing wells. The water is found in coarse-grained sand rock, which
has above it a confining stratum of shale, clay, or lime rock.
WHAT THE BORINGS SHOW.
Yankton. Feet. Grafton. Feet.
Yellow clay ------------------------------ 45 || Black loam ------------------------------ 3
Chalk rock ------------------------------- 40 || White clay.......----- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25
Shale ------------------------------------- 160 || Blue clay.------------------------------. 250
Hald rock -------------------------------- 3 || Hardpan.------------------------------. 20
Shalo.------------------------------------ 105 || Limestone ------------------------------ 137
Sand rock . .------------------------------ 20 || Quicksaud .----------------------------- 20
Shale .------------------------------------ 37 || White sand.----------------------------- 45
Hard rock -------------------------------- 3 || Slate -----------------------------------. 3
Sand rock -------------------------------- 15 || Water-bearing rock.-----------...------- 25
Shale ------------------------------------- 17 || Red rock or shale.----------------------. 60
§. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 30 || Blue shale------------------------------- * 16
ard sand rock--------------------------- 4 || Pink shale -----------------------------. 11
Shale ------------------------------------- 27 || Gravel. ---------------------------------- 49
Hard rock.------------------------------- 2 || Red shale.------------------------------. 46
Coal -------------------------------------- 1 || Soapstone.------------------------------- 188
Shale ------------------------------------- 26 || Sandstone ....... w is tº * - - e º 'º we - º º ºs e - tº º ºs ºs º - e. e. 5
Sand rock -------------------------------- 10 || Granite---------------------------------- 12
Quicksand.------------------------------- 15 **
Shale ------------------------------------- 20 Total.------------------------------ 915
Soft sand rock. -------------------------- 30
Total ------------------------------- 610
According to Professor Chamberlin, president of the Wisconsin (Mad-
ison) State University, and other geologists, the artesian wells in the
Dakotas are situated east of the one hundred and first meridian, and,
with the exception of the one at Pierre, they are east of the one hun-
dredth meridian. They occur in great numbers in the Red River Valley,
making a belt through the Dakotas, with adjacent portions of Minne.
sota and Manitoba, and making a second nearly parallel belt running
from Yankton northward to Devil’s Lake.
The successful wells of the Dakotas, thus far bored, can be arranged
in four groups, with reference to the geological horizons from which they
derive their water supply. These are, (1) wells of little depth which
do not pass through the drift; numerous in the Red River Valley; (2)
those which penetrate to the Cambrian rocks, as at Grafton, N. Dak. ;
(3) those deriving their water supply from the middle or upper por-
tion of the Cretaceous, illustrated by a single well in the western
part of Cass County, and by several wells in the Red River Valley
which pass through the drift ; (4) those penetrating to the Dakota sand-
stone, the basal member of the Cretaceous. This group is important,
and is illustrated by numerous wells ranging from Vermillion and
Yankton northward to Devil’s Lake. The available data concerning
these are given in the following
94. IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
{
Table of elevations, depth, pressure, eto,
N Localit Depth No. of Diameter Tem. | Pressure * §. of
Cality. epth. & * per- |(per square (surface
wells. of bore. 8ture. inch). above sea). (alſº Sea).
ah.
I'eet, Inches. I'eet Pownds. JFeet. Feet.
Vermillion ----------------. 850 --------|------------|-------------------. 1, 150 |-----------.
Yankton --------- tº tº sº tº ºs º ºr tº ſº ºw 610 15 6 62 32 1, 196 616
9 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 105 |--------|------------|-------. 140 1, 196 ------------
Yankton vicinity.--------...-)..... --. 15 l------- ºn e º as tº i º ºn • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1, 196 ||-------- s ºf º gº
Tyndall -------------------- 600 l--------|------- tº tº tº ſº tº º 'º - ºn e º sº tº 122 1,418 l.-----------
Mitchell e wº º º ſº tº us * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1, 300 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * - - - - , ! - - - - - - - - - - - - 1, 301 is sº tº º ºs º gº is sº a sº º
Plankinton.---------------- 1,500 --------|------------|-------. 140 1, 528 ||----- • e º e º º ºr
ICimball -------------------- , 100 --------|--- * * * - - - as de e i < * * ~ * * as s 95 1, 788 |----------- º
Chumberlain ---------------|--------|--------|-----------.l. * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * 1, 363 |------------
Letcher ----- tº as is tº tº ſº * * * * * * * * * 600 l--------|------------|--------|--- tº tº dº º is a ºn at 6 } 1,300 ----------- º
Woonsocket.--------------. 1, 300 --------|------------|-------. 250 1, 308 |------------
Artesian City --------------|--------|--------|---. * - - - - - - - I - - - - - - - - • * * * * * * is e e º ºr 1, 313 |------------
Vilas.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * = a as ºn as ºr e º e s = e s a 1,480 l.-----------
Huron”--------------------- 863 1. ------. 6 60 170 1, 285 422
Brookings.----------------- 900 --------|------------|-------------------. 1,636 |------------
Mîler ---------------------. 1, 148 |-------. 6 80 125 1, 587 438
Highmore -----------------. 1,552 |. ------. 5 68 25 1,890 338
Harold ------------------ ---| 1,800 --------|------------|-------. 80 1,801 |------------
Hitchcock.----------------- 965 1. --...--. 33–43 |-------. 186-218 1, 139 |------- tº tº ºn tº tº
Redfield..... º, º me as as a es s a s * * * * * i • * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * I a sº e s • * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * * * * * * * 1, 800 ------------
Frankfort ------------------|--------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * f * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * a • 1,296 ------------
Faulkton.--------- -------->| 1,300 --------|------------|--------|-----------. 1, 595 |- .----------
Gettysburgh ---------- -----| 1,800 --------|------------|------ * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * 2,982 |------------
Ashton--------------------. 915 1. ------. 6 55 50 1, 296 381
Andover -------------------| 1,070 -------. 4} 64 90 1,476 406
Groton --------------------. 960 1. ------. 5 1. ------. 187 1, 301 341
Aberdeen ------------- tº ºr me • * 908 Many. 5%; 60 140–160 1, 300 396
Columbia ----- tº º º - - tº º is tº ºr tº º ºr 965 ------- s 43 60 176 1, 304 339
Ipswich -------------------- 1, 270 l.------. 6 65 70 1, 530 260-300
Ellendale.------------------ , 087 -------. 4–5–6 65 125 1, 453 366
Jamestown. -----------. tº & 1,476 2 6 70 95 l, 400 50
Jamestown vicinity ........ 1, 321 --------|------------|--------|------------|------------|-------- tº e º sº
Devil's Lake --------------. 1, 511 . . .N.--. 33 |--------|-----------. 1, 470 39
FIead, 8wpply, and irrigation duty.
Areas irri-
Aºn \; gable #. di-
4 hea rect flow,
Locality. (above § allowing 4 Character of water.
Sea). te) inches for 8
ll. miles.
I'eet. Galls Acres.
Vermillion---------|---------. 80 95 &
Yankton.--------- 1,270 3,000 3,570 | Slightly hard, drinkable, used in boilers.
Letcher----- tº º sº ºr tº ºn - I us * * * * * * * * * Large. 1.------- * & e º a *
Vilas ------------- 1. ---------|--------|-------------- In process.
Huron ------------- *] gº *I said to end ite. Minnesota geological
rookings ---------|----- • - - - - | NOD6. l. - - - - - - - - - - © tº º O end in granite. Innesota geologica
JB g survey thinks this doubtful. §
Miller ...... * * * * * * * 1,876 | 1,000 1,190 Excellent; good for all purposes.
Highmore. --------. 1,948 14 16.6 | Soft and of good quality.
Pierre - - - - - -'- - - - - - - I - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tº ºn tº * * * * * * * In process.
Hitchcock ---------|----------|---------------------- Used for irrigation.
Faulkton ----------|----------|-- * * * * * * 71 | Abandoned; drilling another.
Ashton ------------ 1,411 60 -------------.
Andover.-------- ..} 1, 684 300 357
Groton ... -- tº ſº * * * * * 1, 733 - - - - - - - -]------------ - -
Aberdeen - - - - - - - - - - 1,67 3,500 4, 165 *
Columbia ---------- 1, 708 || 4,000 4,760 | Soft. -
Ipswich ----------. / 1,692 |. -------|-------------. Soft (slightly brackish).
Ellendale .--. ------ 1,742 600 714 | Soft; not pleasant to the taste.
Jamestown - - - - - - - - 1, 690 375 446 º
Jamestown vicinity}. ---------|--------|------------ :- Abandoned.
Devil's Lake. ---- º e 1, 575 40 47


One hundred gallons per minute will give 4 inches of water to 119.3 acres in three months. +
*Two miles southwest is a large farm well, in depth, pressure, and volume, equal to the Huron town
well, which is to be used for the irrigation of a large farm.
THE GEOLOGY OF THE ARTESIAN BASINS. 95
The wells enumerated above derive their water from the Dakota sand-
stone. Those at Vermillion and Yankton were begun in the Fort Ben-
ton. The remainder were begun in the Fort Pierre and pass through
the Fort Benton.
The North Dakota wells not included in the classes already noted are
as follows:
Location. Depth. Strata penetrated. Water supply.
Fect. *
Grafton ---------------------------. 915 Passed through stratified | 1,000 gallons per minute,
rocks to granite. g
Tower City ------------------------ 670 Fort Pierre shales to Nio- 9% gallons per minute ;
brara, horizon. rises 33 feet.
Casselton and vicinity. ----...-...--. 317–350 | Passed through the drift into Brackish alkaline, co-
Cretaceous rocks. pious.
Amenia and vicinity - - - - - - - - - - - - - -. 250–279 |...... do ---------------------- Do.
Blanchard and vicinity (six wells).. 3U0 - - - - - - do ---------------------- Do.
Mayville --------------------------. 305 i... ---. do ---------------------- Do.
All of the wells enumerated in the last table, excepting the one at Tower City, are
situated in the Red River Valley, and passing through the glacial drift enter older
formations.
The one at Grafton passes through the Cambrain and into the granites beneath.
Water was first reached at the depth of 503 feet; 400 feet deeper and resting on
granite, a second sandstone stratum was reached which contained saline water, The
well was continued 12 feet into the granite, but was subsequently filled so as to re-
ceive water only from the first water-bearing strata reached.
The remainder of the wells in the Red River Valley which pass through the drift
are supposed to derive their supply from the middle portion of the Cretaceous.
The thickness of the Dakota sandstone as given by F. W. Hayden at its outcrop
about the Black Hills is 400 feet. At Lincoln, Nebr., as stated by Professor Hicks, it
is 204 feet. Along its outcrops it is a porous sandstone sometimes passing into a con-
lomerate, and where it has been penetrated by borings in the lakotas it is very
riable and open in structure. Its thickness, porosity, and extent, as well as its atti-
tude, so far as is known are all in favor of its being an abundant sourge of artesian
Water.
The formations which occur in the general region under discussion, as given by
F. W. Hayden, are as follows:
Thickness of strata above the Dakota Sandstone.
Name. Character of strata. Thickness.
e * * tº Feet.
Loup River beds......... Fine loose sand, with some layers of limestone . . . . . . . . ... --. 300-40%
White River group . ---.. White and light drab clays, With some cavities of sandstone 1,000
and local layers of limestone.
Wind River deposits .... Exposed principally in Nebraska. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -...----. 1,500–2, 000
“Fort Union,” Laramie--| Sandstone with shale --------------------------...--...--...-. 2,000–10, 000
Fox Hill ----------------- Gº ferruginous and Yellow sandstone and arenaceous 500
& Ciêys.
Fort Pierre ...... ; ------- Dark gray plastic clays above; dark beds of very fine unctu- 700
bus clay, containing much carbonaceous matter with veins
and scams of gypsum, etc., below.
Niobrara.---------------- Lead gray, calcareous marls above; light yellowish and 200
whitish limestones below.
Fort Bentor? ... . . . . . . . . . . Dark gray laminated clays, sometimes, alternating near the 800
* upper part with layers of light gray limestone.
Dakota. ------...--, ------ Yellowish, Teddish, and occasionally white sandstone, with 400
alternations of Various colored clays and leds of lignite.
The surface throughout the region occupied by the i)akotas has been greatly eroded
and it is not probable that the entire series as given above anywhere exists. It is to
be expected also that the strata above the Dakota Sandstone may be found of varia-
ble thickness and lithological character. These considerations as well as the second-
ary structure of the Great Plains would have to be investigated in order to predict
$.
96 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
for any locality at what depth the water-boring strata might be reached. Some of
the wells in eastern Dakota derive their water supply from middle Cretaceous. The
conditions to the west of where these wells are located seem equally favorable for ol)-
taining flowing water from this horizon. It is to be expected, however, that water
derived from these strata would be less pure than from the Dakota sandstone and
consequently of doubtful value for irrigation. The Laramie may also be expected to
yield artesian wator.
Beneath the Dakota along the western outcrops there are shales and other imper-
vious strata belonging to the Triassic system. It is to be oxpected that these coarse
Triassic beds will carry water, but the great depth at which they occur underneath
the Great Plains probably renders their consideration as a source of water supply
necessary; besides, the Triassic strata are so highly charged with easily soluble salts
that water derived from them would be too alkaline and saline for irrigation or do-
mestic use.
NOTE.—These statements were made up in the U. S. Geological Survey by various
geologists, gathered from many authorities, and presented by Director John W. Powell
to the United States Senate Special Committee on Irrigation as his conclusions.
WELLS IN NEBRASKA.
Record has been found of but four artesian wells, one at St. Helena,
a short distance below Yankton; one at Omaha; one at Lincoln, a min-
eral water; and one at Brownville, in Nemaha County, in the south-
eastern part of the State.
That at St. Belena derives its waters from the Dakota sandstones, at
a depth of 400 feet, and in reality belongs to the system of South Da-
kota. The flow is copious.
The wells at Omaha, 750 feet, Lincoln, 985, and Brownville, 1,001 feet,
derive their water from various strata in the Coal Measures. Of these
the well at Omaha affords pure, fresh water. The Lincoln well yielded
fresh water (not artesian) at a depth of 100 feet; a strong brine at 244
feet, the base of the Dakota, and medicinal water at 544 feet. The
last is the water used. The flow is strong. Of the Brownville well no
record of its water ean be found.
These statements are made on Director Powell's authority. Pro-
fessor Hicks, State geologist, says:
The artesian water of Nebraska is the best I ever saw. The belt runs somewhat
west of north. That belt strikes Nebraska. In Knox County there is excellent arte-
sian water to be found and at very moderate expense, but it is not in the belt that
needs it. That artesian water is going to be of great value for power, if for nothing
else. You can get a great water-power by boring into the earth. In the western re-
gion, where irrigation is most needed, the results of exploration for deep artesian
waters have so far been negativo. *
AN ESTIMATE FROM COMPETENT AUTHORITY.
Capt. George M. Wheeler, E. C., U. S. A., retired, expressed the be-
lief that of the reclaimable areas of this country 15 per cent. Will be
irrigated by artesian wells. He believes 200,000,000 acres can be re-
claimed.
ARTESIAN welIS AND WATER IN KANSAS. ,
97
The following table is the result of the observations of Geologists
Mudge, Hay, and St. John, and of evidence taken before the United
States Senate committee:
º
PA
g $8
No. Geologº hori- Location. tº g | ## Remarks.
§ -: © 9.5
E. 3 || 33
@ c; q2
ſº Ö | Q
t Feet. In. Galls
1 | Tertiary. --...--. Edward's well, Meade Co. 155 ....] 36.00 | Pure.
2 --do -----------|------ do ------------------- 165 |. -- 32.4 Do.
3 .---do * * * * * * * * * * * : * * * * * * (10 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 185 | . . . 29. 6 JDo.
4 I.---do ----------- Mart's well, Meade Co... 140 l. - - -] 66.6 p; t; ise 15–20 feet
5 ----do ----------- Bower's well, Meade Co - . 125 | . . . . . 37.3 dre; Waters rise 15–20 fee
r 7 y above surface. Tempera-
6 ----do ----------- Norman's well, Meade Co- 127 | - - - -] 37.3 } ture Meade Co. wells 609 F.
7 I.---do. ---------- Cox well, Meade County. . 175 |... 9 Pure.
8 l.---do -----------|------ 0 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 142 |- - - 9 Do.
0-68l.--.de ... --------- 60 other wells, Meade Co. - 50–175 |....| 1–30 Do.
69 | Tertiary 3.------ Norton, Norton County...|.----...}. * * * : * * * * * * * * {N} data ; may be Dakota;
70 ----do ----------- Hoxie, Sheridan County..]--------|. * * * * * * ºn tº gº tºº & ºs depends on depth.
71 Dakota ---...--- Smith Centre, Smith Co..]........]. tº gº is & E * * * * * = No data; may be Tertiary;
depends on depth.
72 ----do ----------. Great Spirit Spring, |. -------|- *ºs ºse is sº º sº tº gº tº º sº. Natural artesian flow.
Mitchell County.
73 .---do ----------- Miltonvale, Cloud County.[...---...}. is sº a 1 m sº º º e º as as No data as to water.
74 ----do ----------. Wa Keeney, Trego Co....]. ------- * * * * : º as sº tº º sº as sº Do.
75 ----do ----------- Hays City, Ellis County--|--------|. tº º ſº I e gº º ºs s = * * Do.
76 ----do ----------- Great Bend, Barton Co.... 344 l... 6.75 | Saline; well bored to 1,400
feet, but water from 344
feet; rises 30 feet above
* surface.
77 ----do ----------. Einsley, Edwards County. ...... --|- * * * * *s º º g sº e º s No data, as to water.
78 (----do ----------- Dodge City, Ford County.[........|. * * * : * * * * * * * * Do.
79 |----do ----------. Santa Fé, Haskell County ........ * * * * * * * * g º sº us Do. *is
80 l.---do ----------. Ulysses, Grant County ...]. -------|- * * > 1 g º sº e º ºs º ºs Do.
81 ----do ---------- Opera House, Coolidge, 239 |....! 45 Pure; water rises 15–20 feet
EIamilton County, above surface; now choked,
owing to Opera-Bouse fire.
Temperature 619 F.
82 ----do ----------- Peck's well, Coolidge, 298 || 6 || 100 Pure and medicinal ; water
Hamilton County. rises 15–20 feet above sur-
face; medicinal properties
slight. Temperature 619 F.
83 1. ---do ----- tº us tº º is s Border's well, near Cool- 200 |.... 8 Pure; water rises 15–20 feet
idge, Hamilton County. above surface ; used for ir-
igation. Temperature 619
84 ||----do ----------- Burt's well, near Coolidge, 275 |- - - - 35 Do.
Hamilton County.
85 1.---do ----------- Nolan's well, near Cool- 240 |....] 53 Do.
idge, Hamilton County.
86 I.---do ----------. Rich's well, near Coolidge, 240 |....] 50 Do.
Hamilton County.
87 ----do --------- -- Syracuse, Hamilton Co - - - 1,000 |............ Water rose only to 90 feet be.
low surfare.
88 1. ---do ----------. Ashland, Clark County ... [-...----|- * * * * * * * * * * * * No data as to water.
89 | Triassic ........ Richfield, Morton County. 600 }....! 6.3 Pure and medicinal; mineral-
ization slight. Tempera-
ture 660 F. Dakota fur-
nished no flow; penetrated
Trias 265 feet; water from
-- 570 feet.
90 ....do ...........] Larned, Pawnee County... 750 |.... 250 Saline and medicinal; water
spouts 10–15 feet high.
Temperature 650 F.
91 | Carboniferous ... Russell, Russell County... 977 |....] Good - Saline; may be Triassic.
92 ----do ----- tº sº º is is is Winfield, Cowley County. 1,200 |....]...do ... sº ; rises 6 feet above sur.
'ace.
138 A L-AP.WOL IV—7
98
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
WELLS IN WESTERN TEXAS,
List of wells.
tº |->
ologi i- e H ſº-
No. Geol 5. hori Location. # # É Remarks.
§ | H | 3
Q O ſº
- Feet. Im. |
1 | Tertiary........ Carrizo Springs, Dimmit 175 || 4 || Good ..] Pure.
ounty.
2 | Lower Cretage- | Cotulla, La Salle County--| 1,008 |.---|--do ... Medicinal; jets above surface.
ous (probably 6 ft. ; water alkaline-saline.
Dakota) Temperature 860 Fah.
3 |----do ----------. San Antonio, Bexar Co. --. 225 ....]...do ---| Pure.
4 ----do ----------. San Antonio (near), Bexar 450 |----|--do ---| Pure and medicinal; could be
County. used formedicinal purposes.
5 H----do ----------. Dallas, Dallas County..... 750 |....|--do. --| Pure.
6 |----do ----------- Fort Worth, Tarrant Co - . 350 l----|--do -- Do.
7 ----do ----------- Weatherford, Parker Co...]. -------|- • * * r * * - tº s tº a - No data as to water,
8 |---. do -----------| Canadian, Hemphill Co ---|--------|- • es e i s - a s as as a m
9 |----do ----------. Tascosa, Oldham County..........]. * * g : - - - - tº a º –
10 !----do ----------. Armstrong, Armstrong Col.-------|- * * g : * * * * * * * *
11 I----do ---------. Mobeetie, Wheeler County]-------- - * * g : - - - - * * * *
12 I----do ----------. Clarendon, Donley County |--------|. * * g : * * * * * * * w
13 ----do ----------. Childress County. --------|-------- * * * : * * * * * * * *
14 ----do ----------. Cottle County ------------|--------|- * = e i e is ºn a * * * *
15 l.---do ----------. Floyd County ------------|--------|- * * * : * * * * * * * *
16 |----do ----------. Margaret, Hardeman Co --|...... --|. * * I w tº º ºs º ºs ºs •
17 ----do ----------. Crosby County -----------|-------- - * : - - - - * > - -
18 ----do ----------. Pepper's Ranch, JKent Co. |...... --|. * * * I 4 º' - tº tº s ºn as
19 |----do ----------- Haskell, EIaskell County... [...-----|. * * * I wº e - * * * * *
20 !----do ----------- Anson, Jones County -----|--------|. ºn as e i s m = e s = * *
21 ----do ----------. Roby, Fisher County - - - - -|........|. * - w i s - as s ºr sº wº e
22 |----do ----------. Snyder, Scurry County ---|----. a • * : * * * * : * * * * * * * *
23 ----do ----------. IXawson County ---------.]...‘...---|- as as s i < * * e º ºs a •
24 |----do ----------. Trent, Taylor County.....|........]. * * * | * * * * * * * *
25 ----do ----------. Sweet Water, Nolancounty]--------|- * * s , s - - - * * * *
26 1. ---do ----------. Colorado, Mitchell County).------. • * * : * * * * * * * *
27 ----do ----------. Big Springs, Howard Co.. [...... --|. • * * | * * * * * * * *
28 |....do -----------| Marionſeld, Martin Co. --.l...... --|- * = e i s as e º sº sº sº º
29 |. ---do ----------. Midland, Midland County.|........]. - ºn as - - - - * * - -
30 l.---do ----------. Glasscock County --------|--------|. * me s : w - - - E * * *
31 ----do ----------- Coko County -------------|--------|- * * * * * * * * * * * *
32 ----do ----------. San Angelo, Tom Green |.----...}. * * * r * * * * * * * *
County. --------|- * * * 1 & sº - - ſº * * *
33 I----do ----------. Centralia, Tom Green Co |........]. • * * I dº nº º sº e º 'º e
34 --- do ----------. AToya, Ward County. ----|-----... * * * * i e - - e º e s -
35 ----do ----------. Toyah, Teeves County. ---|--------|. * * is tº se - as a º is a w
36 --- do ----------. Wild Horse, El Paso Co --|--|--|--|--|. * ºn tº & ſº tº º ºs s a tº
37 | Carboniferous --| Wichita Falls, Wichita ||--------|. tº e s : * * * tº e º 'º -
County. --------|- e is a ºn e º e º sº we ºn
38 1. ---do ----------. Archer, Archer County ...}.-------|- * * = 1 & e º 'º º sº ºn tº
39 ----do ----------. Henrietta, Clay County --|--------|. • * e i = * * * * * * *
40 -do ----------- Montague, Montague Co--|-----...]. * * * : * * * * * * * *
41 I.---do ----------. Throckmorton, Throck- |...... --|- * * as w tº º dº º ſº tº sº
morton County. --------|- * * g : * * * * * * * *
42 1.---do ----------. Jacksborough, Jack Co...!........ as as s : * ~ * * * * * *
43 |....do ...--------. Palo Pinto, Palo Pinto Co-|--------|-- as as tº º 'º º ºs º sº wº
44 |----do -----------|------ do -------------------|-------- • * as s i a ºn • * * * * *
45 --do ----------- Albany, Shackelford Co...|.-------|- * * g e - - º ſº tº a w
46 l.---do ----------. Abilene, Taylor County ...|........ • * * * * * * * * * * * *
47 l.---do ----------. Tebo, Taylor County. -----|--------|- * s sº * * * * * * * * *
48 |. ---do ------ .....] 13aird, Callahan County. --|--------|- * * * : * ~ * * * * * *
49 (.---do ----------- Lastland, Eastland Co. ---|--------|- * * is tº º & a gº tº * *
50 |.. --do ----------- Eastland County----------|--------|- * * * i • * * * * * * *
fill----do -----------|------ ClO - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * g : * * * * * * * *
52 |....do ----------- Stephenville, Erath Co ...|........]. * * e i < * * * * * * *
53 |----do ----------- Comanche, Comancho Co-l.-------|--|--|-------.
54 |----do ----------- Coleman, Coloman Co. ---. wºn tº º º ºs * * s I ºn as - e º sº ºn a
55 ----do -----------|------ O - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * : * * * * * * * *
56 |----do ----------- Runnels, IRunnells Co ---. ........|. - tº as - - - - - - - -
57 ----do ----------- San Saba, San Saba Co............]. * * * | * * * * * * * *
Mr. Frank E. Roesler, of Dallas, Tex., who has devoted much time
and study to questions involved in the economic uses of well-water, es-
pecially in irrigation, describes as follows the water supply by wells of
the Staked Plains region :
The “underground water” is generally found at varying depth. At Marienfeld, on
the eastern edge of the plain, at from 60 to 90 feet; at Germania, 10 miles west, at 45
SUBTERRANEAN water IN TEXAs. 99
to 60 feet; at Midland, 20 miles west, at 35 to 50 feet; at Odessa, 40 miles west, at
30 to 60 feet; at Douro, near western edge of the plain, none. In a few localities
“joint clay,” a water-proof material, on which the “underground' water rests,
comes close to the surface. No water was found, though this material has often been
penetrated to the depth of 500 feet. A.few of the surface wells are brackish and sev-
eral salty, but generally the water is good. Several springs containing soda, sul-
phur, or gypsum water, as well as a few, wet weather salt lakes, are also found on the
plain. The only permanent running stream on the Staked Plain is “Running Water,”
in Dickens County, a bright, sparkling stream that suddenly breaks out of the
ground, ripples over a pebbly bottom for a distance of 10 miles, and then mysteriously
disappears, like many other streams west of the Pecos River, notably Leon Wells,
Comanche Springs, Escondido, Limpia, and Toyah Creek, or the underground river
near Castle Mountain, in Crane County, which is working its way to daylight by
washing away the roof covering it, occasionally causing a part of it to fall in. A
similar stream exists in the northern part of Crocket County, which was not known
to exist a few years ago, though a recent cave in exposed an abundant water supply
20 feet below the surface.
Nearly all the wells dug or bored in the “underground” water, under the lime-
stone, show a tendency to rise above the point where the water was first reached. In
Some localitics a rise of 20 to 30 feet was observed, showing that the supply is under
considerable pressure. Borings at Odessa have shown five separate layers or deposits
of water to exist between the surface and the “joint clay” 100 feet below. Between
the Staked Plain and the Pecos River is an ancient fresh-water lake basin, known as
the “White Sand Hills,” which is covered with numerous ponds of pure fresh water.
The supply is permanent, and said to be inexhaustible. The railway wells at Mona-
hans, in this locality, furnish an immense supply. Altitude, 2,620 feet. The wells
west of this and to the Pecos draw their supply from the seepage of the Pecos River.
East of the Staked Plain the water supply in wells is variable as to quantity, quality,
and depth. In Howard County good water is abundant in the southern part, rather
deep in the northern part, and brackish in the town of Big Spring. In Mitchell
County generally good at 30 to 50 feet, sometimes strongly alkaline. Several wells
bored are capable of furnishing 9,000 gallons of water per hour continuously. At a
depth of 200 to 300 feet super-saturated salt brine, claimed to be chemically pure, is
found in inexhaustible quantity, and a fine grade of salt is manufactured. The Colo-
rado River carries water in its bed nearly all year round. Its water here is said to be
brackish and Salty. A chemical examination will have to determine whether or not
the water can be used for purposes of irrigation.
THE STAKED PLAINS.
Mr. Roesler gives in this connection some data bearing on the prac.
tical use of Wells:
On the Staked Plain but very little water will be needed, but when needed is
needed badly, Continuous irrigation is not required. In the history of every crop
there is a critical moment in which it is determined whether or not the farmer shall
have a full crop, a half crop, or a failure. A rain-fall to-day makes his crop, a rain-
fall two weeks hence does him no good. One or two, or possibly three, irrigations
during the year, each equaling a two-inch rain-fall, would bring him a great harvest.
More than that he will hardly need. In 1888 and 1889 he made a full crop without
irrigation; in 1886 and 1887 he did not get his seed back, though the rain-fall of each
year, if properly distributed, would have made splendid crops.
The acreage that can be irrigated from a 6-inch bored well in a dry year by using
a 10-foot windmill will be about five acres, varying with the rain-fall. By the use
of a suitable storage-tank the capacity of the plant may possibly be doubled, but at
all events the acreage irrigated is very small compared with the cost of the outfit,
which runs between $200 and $350. Five acres under irrigation by a $200 plant will
cost the owner $40 per acre, and if he borrows the money, paying 10 per cenf, interest,
he practically pays a water rent of $4 per annum.
This expense, is for. Water alone, . If the farmer plants trees and grape-vines he
must have rabbit-proof fencing, which may cost him $10 per acre additional. Com-
paratively few new settlers will be financially able to incur such expense as is nec-
essary, for a good water plant, and if they do succeed in securing their water supply
it will be at such cost per acre that very high-priced crops must be grown and suc-
cessfully marketed to meet, the interest on the investment to be profitable. The
raising of the cereals and forage crops by irrigation will, therefore, be entirely out
of the question, but if the cost of the water supply can be: reduced, the growing of
early vegetables, fine.table grapes, early fruits, raisins, prunes, and the making of
wine can be made profitable. -
100 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The estimates on a section of land near Mildland or Odessa, where the presence of
:. in sufficient quantity has been determined by previous tests, are given as
OLLOWS :
640 acres of land, at $3 per acre------------------------------------------ $1,920.00
704 fence posts, at 15 cents ---------------------------------...----------. 105.60
1,408 stays 1 x 6 (704 feet of lumber) -----. . . .----. -----...-------------. 35.00
7,200 pounds Glidden barbed wire, at 53 cents -----...--------------------. 396.00
21,220 feet 30-inch netting, 1% inch mesh, No. 19 wire. -------------------- 462, 00
Freight on same -------------------------------------------------------- 50.00
4 gates, staples, hardware----------------------------------------------- 75, 00
30 adobe or box houses, at $150 each. ---------------. ----...--------------. 4,500.00
27,040 young fruit trees and freight, at 10 cents, for 160 acres - - - - - - - ------ 2,704. 00
64,000 young rooted grape-vines, at 5 cents, for 160 acres.-------. --...--- 3,200.00
Office of superintendent------------------------------------------------- 250, 00
Salary of Superintendent three years, at $720 ---------------------------. 2, 160.00
Wages, five farm laborers two years of three hundred days, at $1.25 per day 3,750.00
Surveying, freights, commissions, advertising, etc.-----------.S.-...----. 2, 200.00
Farming implements, live-stock, etc.----...--- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 500, 00
22,307. 60
The total cost of improvement per acre will be $34,85, or $22,307.60 for the section.
All of the land is put in tillable condition, but only one-half is planted in trees and
vines. There is a delightful uncertainty as to quantity of water obtainable, size and
capacity of wells, windmills, and storage tanks required. The estimate will vary
with each sectton of land used, The estimate on a certain section of land which the
writer has in mind is as follows:
Seven dug wells, tunneled in water-bearing strata, at $1,200-----...-------- $8,400
Seven 30-foot windmills, pumps, towers, etc., at $700.----------------------- 4,900
Ten storage tanks, at $350-------------------------------------------------- 3, 500
Six miles of wooden flumes, etc.; 95,000 feet lumber, at $25. ----------------- 2,500
i 19,300
An average cost of $31.10 per acre for water. Adding together the cost of the im:
provements, $22,307.60, and the cost of water supply, $19,300, we have a total cost of
$41,607.60, or $65.01 per acre.
WELLS IN THE NORTHWEST.
At Miles City, Mont., fourteen artesian wells have been successfully
bored. The depth is from 535 feet or less. The average bore is 4
inches. On the other side of the Yellowstone River a flowing well was
obtained at 50 feet, the elevation being 600 feet above the river. The
water in these wells is chiefly used for garden irrigation and domestic
uses. At Helena the city is supplied from deep artesian Wells. In the
vicinity, however, artesian water has been obtained at a depth of 160
feet. It yields 200 gallons per minute, is of good, clear character, and
is used for irrigation to a limited extent. At Billings a well over 1,000
feet in depth is in Operation.
Artesian water has been found and utilized by wells at Oxford, Boise
City, Idaho, Pasco and Roslyn in Washington, and at Warm Springs,
Oregon.
WELLS IN UTAH.
This Territory furnishes some valuable evidence of the use of arte-
sian and flowing wells in agricultural operations, but it is stated by ex-
perts that such evidence is overestimated. The Wells so far found are
in some one of the basins of the ancient lake of which Great Salt Lake
is the present remainder. In his official report to the Senate committee,
Governor Thomas said: w
The clay sediment from that lake makes the impervious cap of those subterranean
reservoirs, whose rims are but slightly elevated above the villages, and the reservoirs
are fed frºm the bases of the mountains where the surface water runs over the gravel
débris between the mountains and the clay rim. The average depth of these arte-
ARTESIAN WATERS IN UTAH AND NEWADA. 101,
sian wells in Salt Lake Valley is about 100 feet, in Utah Valley 200, and in Tooele
about the same. In Millard Čounty a few wells have been driven with a depth of
about 200 feet and a flow of one-half to 10 gallons per minute through 14 inch pipe.
Since no solid rock is struck in driving these wells they are very liable to clog up in
a few years. The flow in Salt Lake Valley will not average 25 gallons per minute,
though some wells far exceed that. A well flowing 5 gallons per minute will ITI’l-
gate an acre of ground.
Utah County reported that artesian water can be had for all the land
on the west side of the valley. Prof. M. E. Jones does not think that
the Utah wells are of true artesian character. He said:
In Utah it is very different. The artesian wells or basins are very large, some of
them occupying, perhaps, 100 square miles ; but the water is obtainable only around
on the edge, and when you get out to the middle of the valley, you are so far away
from the source of the supply that you will get only about half a gallon a minute,
which is only enough for drinking purposes. We can not, therefore, depend on ar-
tesian wells in this vicinity for an increase of our water supply.
There are over five thousand of the small artesian or surface-flowing
wells in the Territory. Certainly 20,000 acres are now irrigated by
them.
WELLS IN NEWADA.
The State claims a considerable area of artesian waters. From a
report made by the State board of reclamation, after a reference to the
large number of mineral springs in the State, the following is quoted:
Nevada occupies a prominent place as a mineral-spring State; both hot and cold
springs are found in every county. The warm and hot springs are found mainly in
connection with geological fault-lines or fractures of the strata. Can we not, from
these facts, reasonably conclude that the sinking of artesian wells would not only be
..., but that the probabilities of obtaining large streams of water therefrom
are great
There were, in 1888, sixty-five wells sunk in our State, ranging in depth from 109
to 310 feet, twenty-five of which were 6 inches in diameter, averaging in flow about
20 gallons per minute.
The others have a diameter of 3 and 4 inches, and vary in flow from 11% to 33 gallons
per minute.

[From surveyor-general's report, 1887–'88.]
Artesian wells—1888.
County. wº
- Flowing
* Depth. Sººf #.
I’. P*P* 24 hours.
JFeet. Inches. | Gallons.
º 1. -- .300
Churchill ---------------------------------------------------- 2 { 1...2, 100 4 2,000
• - “y
Douglas------------------------------------------------------ 2|{ }:#;|} 3 43,200
Elko ---------------------------------------------------------|--------|--------------------------------
Esmeralda --------------------------------------------------- 1 l------------|----- • * : * * - - - - - - - - - -
Humboldt ---------------------------------------------------|------- |------------|-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Lander ------------------------------------------------------ 25 || 150 to 200 6 *28,800
Lincoln --------------------------------------------------------------|------------|--------|------------
Lyon --------------------------------------------------------|--------|------------|--------|------------
Nye----------------------------------------------------------|--------|------------|--------|------------
* § ----19. 48,960
Ormsby------------------------------------------------------ 35 1....150 : 3 # 000
\ i.i. 15,000
*Average.
102 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Three counties, Storey, White Pine, and Washoe, have no wells to re-
port. It is claimed that the following areas are underlaid with artesian
Water, which may be made available for irrigation :

©
* County. Valley. º
Diamond.…..------------------------. 500
Eureka ---------------...--------... §§ Monitor, and Antelope -----------------------. 500
White Pine ... -------------...--...--. Newark----------------------------------------------- 200
Nye -------------------------------. Pahrimp ---------------------------------------------- 1, 750
2,950
That is, a total of 1,888,000 acres. The number of springs (mineral)
reported in Nevada is 115. There are also a large number of non-
mineralized springs, some of which are of large size. One is reported,
the water from which irrigates 2,500 acres of land.
f
IN CALIFORNIA.
A large number of artesian and flowing wells are developed in this
State, and they are extensively used in agriculture and horticulture
for irrigation. The wells whose waters rise to the surface, flowing
probably from the primary and secondary water beds, are very nu-
merous in the foot-hills, central valley, and bay regions of the State.
They irrigate all gardens and considerable areas of orchard. In the
coast counties south of San Francisco such wells are common; their
sources being everywhere accessible. In the eastern sections or rims
of the San Joaquin, San Fernando, San Bernardino, and other valleys,
on the Mohave Desert, and along the edge of the Colorado Desert, ar-
tesian and flowing water belts have been extensively developed. Some
of them are of large extent and considerable volume. In Tulare and
Rern Counties there are large districts supplied entirely by artesian
water. Some of the wells are of great volumé. One at Delano, Kern
County, for example, is reported as capable of irrigating for alfalfa and
grain some 20,000 acres. Used for fruit land, then, the duty would be
nearly double.
In the San Fernando Basin, in both Los Angeles and San Bernardino
Counties there are already nearly two hundred Wells developed for irri-
gation use. They play an important part in Riverside and its related
colonies; at Chino, where 20,000 acres are irrigated by them ; at Ro-
mona, Cucamonga, Temescal, Vivienda, and in fact are found in all the
irrigated areas, colony lands, ranches, or small holdings.
The San Bernardino Basin is important as a well region, over five
hundred being made use of for irrigation purposes, At Old Riverside”
there are fifteen wells in use, flowing 300 miner's inches a Second. An
average flow of 20 miner's inches per second is sufficient for 1 acre.
*THE SAN BERNARDINO BASIN.
[From Hall'; Irri gation in Southern California.]
The water supply for the pipe-line works is derived and expected to be derived
from artesian wells in the San Bernardino basin, at a point three quarters of a mile
south of the river bank, and about 13 miles east of Warm Creek mouth. The ground
elevation here is about 995 feet above the sea, about 115 feet above the highest point
in, and 180 feet above the general elevation of the Central portion of Riverside town.
Here on a plat of 74 acres, just within the recognized lower limit ºf the artesian basin,
and near to the famous Hünt artesian spring, seven artesian wells, each 11 inches in
diameter, have been bored, six of them to depths Varying from 111 to 120 feet, and
one to a depth of 215 feet. Their flow ranges from 18 to 28 miner's inches to the well,
and the total supply is 163 miner's inches. The work of boring other wells is in prog-
ARTERIAL DRAINAGE OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 103'
The average flow per well in this basin has been estimated at over
47 such inches, making a service of 24 acres per well. With the careful
economy of water now practiced by small storage tanks and pipe dis-
tribution it is quite certain that the area of duty may be easily doubled.
The one thousand artešian wells now flowing in southern California
will therefore have an irrigated service of at least 5,000 acres. A
curious fact has been developed, showing the dependence on the moun-
tain drainage of the arterial veins and basins. The seasonal ebb and
flow of volume in these wells is quite regular and marked in amount.
Ex-State Engineer Hall thus describes the artesian supplies of the
region:
ITS RAINFALL AND AIRTERIAL DIRAIXAGE.
It is a known fact that along the upper edge of the plain—at Highlands, near the
extreme eastern end of the valley, at Etiwanda farther west, and other places, where
observations have been made—the rainfall is about double that which is found on the
plains but a few miles away. And so, precipitation is not here affected so much by
altitude as by the presence of the wall-like mass of mountains which obstructs the
movements of the clouds, and holds them until they bank up to the point of releas-
ing their vapors.
Speaking now only bf that portion of the mountains within San Bernardino County,
with the exception of the region lying on the sides of San Bernardino peak and Gray-
back, drained respectively by Mill Creek and the Santa Ana River, and the region out
of which comes Lytle Creek, all of the mountain catchment areas are such as shed
their waters with remarkable promptitude. The drain slopes are exceedingly steep,
oftentimes, in the main calions even, 200 to 300 feet per mile; and on the southern
face of the range, although in the caſions there is a wooded growth, those accumu-
lations of vegetable molds and soils which are recognized as holding waters, and
giving them out in the form of surface drainages, are limited in extent.
At some time, in the geological history of this country, it has been subjected to an
immensely greater rainfall than it receives at present ; such that enormous torrents,
comparatively speaking, have come out of these mountain caſions, and piled great
masses of bowlders and gravels before them. The principal streams have built ver-
itable ridges far out into the plain in front of their caſion mouths, which slope not
only forward, but sideways; and looking at the base of the mountain across the val-
ley from south to north, one sees the profile of the plain as it rests against the mount-
ain's base, with hills out upon which the streams come, and valleys in between. The
leads of these ridges, next the caſions are, of course, composed of specially permeable
detritus, which extends up into the caſions, filling the deep bed-rock cuttings with
ress, and it is intended to continue it until a flow exceeding 225 miner's inches is
secured. The wells are located at 50-foot spaces in two diverging lines 50 to 200 feet
apart. Their waters, received into a little cement basin around each well, are collected
by means of Small flumes into a shallow, masonry-lined, circular reservoir 30 feet in
diameter, across which is an overflow weir, and over this the water drops in a thin
sheet, thus becoming somewhat aerated before entering the pipe.
Summary.
- Aver
Group. No. Pºe. age | Flow.
* depth.
lſºner'8
Inches. | Feet. inches.
A -----------------------------------------------------------------------. 2 7 1 40 135
13 -----------------------------------------------------------------------. 6 7 150 256
C ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 4 7 150 44
n = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is a ſe s m = e s is ºn a s = e s m e º ºs e ºs e º ºs e ºa e 4 10 226 329
16 --------|-------- 764
Scattered ---------------------------------------------------------------. 4 7 -------. 60
unt ------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9 7 115 130
29 --------|-------. 95.


104. IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
masses of broken matter, ranging from sand grains up to rocks of many tons weight.
Into such, beds a large portion of the waters of these streams sink, and percolating
through the interstices, and running through the openings in the débris, find entrance
into the old channels of former streams in the permeable layers under the plain, long
since closed over by layers of material less permeable and which have become closely
gemented. Such is the source of artesian waters which are found to rise in the bot-
toms of the basins throughout the country. The San Bernardino valley, or basin as
We have called it, is a very well marked formation of this class. Again, the land at
the foot of the great Cucamonga plain and resting against the Coast Range, which is
herein called the Rincon basin, is another such formation.
Into the San Bernardino basin from the west a part of the waters of Lytle Creek
find passage through gravels, which it has deposited in channels here and there at
different periods in its existence, and which are more or less permeable. A large part
of those of the Cajon pass stream sink'farther up, and find their lodgment also in the
artesian Strata of this basin. From the east the Santa Ana river comes through a
Wide cañon, filled, no one knows how deep, with such débris; and a share of its
Waters contribute also by this means to the artesian supply. While the streams like
City Creek, Twin Creeks, Devil's Cañon, and others, which come to the valley at its
northern edge, seldom ever course beyond a few hundred yards into the plain, and
there sink to the same great receptacle—the subterranean gravel-filled channels.
The artesian basin of the Rincón and Chino is fed by the sinking waters of San
Antonio, Cucamonga, and other caſions which run into the upper edge of the Cuca-
monga plain, 10 miles or more away, and 1,000 feet higher. TWhile the uprising of
waters in the neighborhood of Pomona is but their liberation frºm some old channels
and beds of San Antonio Creek on their way down under the plain towards the Rin-
COI).
The arterial drainage of this whole country is one everywhere complicated by the
artesian feature thus outlined. The Santa Ana River sinks and rises, and sinks again
rapidly in its course, and receives tributaries under ground, so that it would be diffi-
Cult to identify waters rising below with those which have sunk at any specified
locality above. It is the main drainage way of all this country, however, and the
entire arterial drainage output of the great San Bernardino Valley, speaking now of
the whole region which has just been described, and not of San Bernardino basin
alone, is probably by way of the Santa Ana Cañon above or beneath its sands, through
the Coast Range.
IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY.
The Upper San Jacinto Valley, in San Diego County, is the only basin
explored. The limits of the artesian belt have been well defined by
borings, and comprise about 10,000 acres. There are now one hundred
and nine flowing wells, and as yet the flow of existing wells has been
slightly, if at all, affected by the new ones:
The characteristics of all the artesian basins of southern California are here repro-
duced. The water-bearing strata are six or more in number, and lie at a depth of
from 12 to 500 feet below the surface. They are not uniformly distributed over the
area of the belt; that is to say, they apparently follow old river channels, whose
courses are not clearly traced out, and there is a measure of uncertainty in boring a
well as to which of the water-bearing strata will be encountered. The generality of
the wells bored are about 200 feet in depth. Some of them have the strong flow of
20 to 50 miner's inches. The head of pressure forces the water to heights varying
from 5 to 18 feet from the surface, and it is customary to control the flow by extend-
ing the casing or pipe a short distance higher than the water will rise, and tap it
again when the water is required by a valve on the side near the surface, a con-
venient arrangement." Attempts have been made to strike flowing water on the
Lower San Jacinto plains, at various places, without success.
IN COLORADO.
A very marked artesian basin is that of which Denver is the center.
There are about four hundred wells within its limits, of which about
sixty are returned as used in irrigation Service. The area under them
is unreported at present, but it is known to be of considerable extent.
Other development is in progress in the State.
*.
THE USE OF WELL WATERS. 105
IN WYOMING.
On Laramie Plains, artesian water has been struck. Some thirty
wells are developed. There are other developments under way and
great hopes are entertained of the future economic value of artesian
Water in this State.
No such development has yet been had in New Mexico and Arizona,
yet the indications are excellent.
TEHE USE OF WELL WATERS. -
Prof. George E. Culver, of the State University, Vermillion, S. Dak.,
who serves the United States artesian well investigation as its Dakota.
geologist, has made some calculations of value in relation to the use of
water in irrigation, which are given here:
One inch of rainfall gives 860 barrels to the arce.
One inch of rainfall gives 550,400 barrels to the section.
One inch of rainfall gives 19,814,000 barrels to the township.
The average rainfall of the Missouri valley is about 20 inches, probably a little more
in the region under discussion. Multiplying the number in the above table by 20, we
have the following results:
Twenty inches of rainfall gives 17,200 barrels to the acre.
Twenty inches of rainfall gives 1,100,800 barrels to the section.
Twenty inches of rainfall gives 39,628,800 barrels to the township.
Suppose it is desirable to double this amount by means of wells, and suppose a well
flowing 100 barrels a minute be taken as a standard. . Such a well furnishes:
One hundred barrels a minute, 6,000 barrels an hour, 144,000 barrels per day,
52,560,000 barrels per year.
Making the division, we find that it would require seven such wells in each town-
ship, provided that all the water is used in the township, none escaping to the lower
levels. It is not probable that this latter would be true. Nor is it believed that it
would be necessary to double the present rainfall. One-half that amount under con-
trol would be ample.
Director Powell, of the U. S. Geological Survey, presented to the
Senate Committee on Irrigation, in offering data as to wells already
quoted, the following views:
ECONOMIC LIMITATION ACCORDING TO DIRECTOR POWELL,
Artesian reservoirs can never furnish waters for agriculture on a scale of sufficient
magnitude to be considered as an important source of supply. The amount of waters
which porous rocks will supply is always very insignificant compared with the amount
necessary for irrigating any great tract of land. More than half the agriculture of
the world is dependent on irrigation. Of this, a very insignificant amount depends
on artesian wells. There are Wells here and there in Europe, Asia, Africa, and
America, and in some of the great islands, but altogether they furnish a very small
amount of water for agriculture. If all the artesian wells used for irrigation in the
world were assembled in Dakota they would not irrigate a county of land. But
there are other serious reasons why the attention of the people of the great plains
should not be directed too confidently to this resource. It is the experience with ar-
tesian wells everywhere throughout the world that if too many are bored in any ba-
sin all are destroyed thereby. In the northern Illinois district, it was hoped that the
great city of Chicago could be supplied with water for domestic purposes by artesian
wells, but experimentation proved that, while a few good wells could be secured, a
great number was impossible; that the supply of water would be absolutely inade-
quate for the wants of the city; and so the authorities were compelled to resort to
the lake for their supply. Now, to irrigate the site of the city of Chicago would take
more water than to supply it for domestic purposes; so that the artesian wells of
that district would be entirely inadequate to irrigate an area as large as the city, or
perhaps one-fifth or even one-tenth of the area. Some years ago it was pointed out
that the city of Denver and the region round about was the site of an artesian basin.
The first well site proved to be very valuable, and the desire to secure water for do-
mestic purposes therefrom led to their multiplication. More than three hundred have
now been bored, and gradually with the progress of the boring the collapse of the
wells has resulted, and now all, the wells have to pumped; there is little or no
flowing water from them. . These instances might be multiplied all over the world,
and the experience of mankind entirely testifies that it would be unwise to encourage
106 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
the people of any district of country to depend upon artesian waters for irrigation on
any large scale for farming. Waters for domestic purposes, for irrigating gardens,
and for supplying stock ranches may thus be obtained in many regions, and the sup-
ply of water that can thus be furnished is of value ; but when considered as a source
for agriculture, for the cultivation of fields and large traëts of country, it will always
be inadequate ; and it is unwise to encourage any people to engage in agriculture on
a large scale and depend on irrigation from artesian wells.
For the district of which I am now speaking, extending from the British to the
Mexican line in a broad belt across the plains on both sides of the hundredth me-
ridian, the people will ultimately be compelled to depend upon another source of
supply, and one so important that in comparison there with the artesian supply sinks
into insignificance and seems hardly to be worthy the mention. I refer to the use of
the storm waters. One-third of the agriculture carried on by irrigation throughout
the world is prosecuted by the storage and use of storm waters, and the experience of
mankind in this respect is replete with lessons that can not be neglected. The region
to which this is especially applicable is the subhumid region. It differs from what
I have called the arid region in that it generally has a greater rain-fall, distributed
more evenly over the country, as it is not interrupted by great mountains where the
precipitation is concentrated, having from 15 to 22 inches of rain-fall in the average
year; sometimes more, sometimes less. There are many years when agriculture is
prosperous without irrigation ; there are others when it fails without an artificial
supply of water. Gradually with the progress of agricultural development it is pos-
sible to cover the country with storage basins, or tanks as they are usually termed,
in which water may be held to be used in seasons of drought. By this means the
farmers may be able to tide over the dry years, and farming may be made prosperous
and highly remunerative thereby from year to year. It is in this direction that the
attention of the people of that region should be turned. There is anothor source of
water for that country of far greater importance than that of artesian fountains, but
far less than that of the storm waters. I refer to sand reservoirs along the channels
of the streams, especially of the great rivers. In that region of country the stream
valleys are often great beds of sand, into which sinks the water which comes from the
distant mountains, and into which sink the storm waters that come from the adjacent
hills. Experience in other countries shows that this source of supply is worthy of
consideration, and the experiments now in progress in the Arkansas Valley give in-
dications of like character.
* REASON FOR AN INQUIRY. &
The need is imperative and the investigation one that should be car.
ried on even if appropriations are not made for the full topographical-
geological surveys alleged to be so absolutely necessary. There is an
immense area under cultivation in the arid sections of the world, the
waters for fructifying which are drawn from Wells and painfully dis-
tributed by the most primitive use of man and animal power. It has
been estimated that in British India alone 20,000 Wells are used for
agricultural irrigation. An estimate has been made that the areas So
watered support at least twenty million persons. Ceylon, Japan, China,
Persia, all settled portions of Central Asia, the entire plateau region
of Arabia (in which there is not a single surface stream and on which
several millions live, in comparative prosperity for an Asiatic people),
Syria, large portions of northern Africa, from Egypt to Morocco, are
all largely irrigated by water supplies drawn from Wells. It is a subject
that has never been investigated, but even a cursory examination will
satisfy an inquirer that at least fifty million persons are supported from
agriculture carried on by means of the use of wells in irrigation.
It is quite certain that there is no occasion to dogmatize in advance
of systematic examination for or against the economic value in arid
agriculture of wells and underſlow waters, artesian or otherwise.
THE STORAGE OF WATER.
The engineering questions involved in the distribution of the waters
“in sight,” in the preparation for and process of storing and impounding
of the high altitude supplies—snow, storm, and torrential—now largely
lost in the ground, and in the subsequent distribution are not so in-
107
volved and “scientific” in character that the “plain’” people may not
understand them when properly informed.
In regard to high altitude work it must be borne in mind that what
we now really know of the precipitation over the whole of this region
relates more to the valleys and the table-land than to any other part.
All meteorological or weather service reports have been simply for the
purposes of local trade and traffic. We have had no system of ob-
servations of a definite and distinct character in regard to the mountain
ranges. The rain chart presented in the last census by Mr. Gannet,
and which has been improved by later observations, shows the only
record that of rain-fall definitely from the ninety-eighth degree to the
Pacific Ocean will range from 3% inches at certain points, as at Yuma.
and on the Colorado Desert, or going from the east to the west, from
20 inches down to 8 and 9 in the basin, and up again to 18 and 20 or
24 on the Pacific coast. It is known as a matter of fact, though not
as a recorded series of observations, that the rain-fall and snow pre-
cipitation on the mountains is from 30 to 60 inches in excess of what
it is in the valleys below. The average snow-fall on the Sierras will
be from 60 to 70 feet of loose snow, giving us on the basis of 11 inches
of snow to 1 of water from 5 to 6 cubic feet of water. All, or nearly
all, of this water runs to waste. At least 40 per cent. of it passes
away in evaporation, and the remainder into the ground. Probably
the largest portion disappears below.
The United States Irrigation Survey reports up to the close of 1889
the storage capacity of reservoir sites so far surveyed to be as follows:
ARID REGION RAIN-FALL AND WARIATIONS.
Locality. Capacity. Delivery.
Acre-feet. Acre-feet.
Colorado---------------------------------------------------------------------- 228, 200 334, 200
California -------------------------------------------------------------------. 445, 000 55,000
Idaho and western Wyoming -------------------------------------...--------. 1,500,000 3, 220,000
Montana --------------------------------------- * - - - - - - - - - ... • * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * 715, 500 2, 165, 500
Utah ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 62, 800 56,300
Total ------------------------------------------------------------------. 2,951, 500 5, 831, 000
From the statement made before the Senate committee by the Di-
rector of the Geological Survey of the total amount of lands “selected "
as irrigable in the following States and Territories, the following fig-
ures (in acres) are given :
Montana --------------------------------------------------- 11,500,000
Idaho ---------------- at a tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 10,900,000
Utah ------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 2,200,000
——— 24,600,000
“Segregated” as irrigable: *
California - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1,800,000
New Mexico, on the Rio Grande and Rio Grando Valley. 5,200,000
* ——— 7,000,000
Total.----------------------------------------------------------- 31,600,000
FOREST TREES AND THEIR CONSERVATION.
The subject of forestry is a part of the investigation of the question
of the irrigation of the arid region and its importance can not be over-
rated, for “it is the discovery of a new continent, by knowledge, skill, sci-
ence, and art.” Possessing 75,000,000 acres of forests, little or no atten-
tion has been paid to the subject until very lately, and that only tenta-
tively, by Congress. Our forests are wasted by fire and neglect, which
by a judicious and economical management could be conserved and in.
108 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
creased, and by their conservation and increase humidity will follow
with new areas of rain. Trees act as a protection from the dry winds,
and when planted and cultivated in narrow belts of timber shelter the
crop from the wind-break and lower the rate of evaporation.
The following table, condensed from the report of Mr. B. E. Fernow,
chief of forestry division in the Department of Agriculture, approxi-
mates the ratio of mountain land and plains and gives the forest area:
Rocky Mountain region.

Total Mount.
forest.
Mount-
ain. Plains.
Area. all
forest.
Sq. miles. Sq. miles. Sq. miles. Sq. miles. | Sq. miles.
Montana ------------------------------------------ 145,776 54, 776 91, 000 º 24, 810
Colorado -----------------------------------------. 100, 200 61, 129 || 39,070 | 16,625 15, 400
Wyoming ----------------------------------------- 100, 366 78, 466 21,900 12,060 11, 580
New Mexico -------------------------------------. 122, 500 75, 510, 46,990 12, 500 8, 285
468, 842 269, 881 198, 960 67, 470 60,075
SUMMARY.
Square Acr
miles. ©8.
Total mountain forest ------------------------------------------------------ 60,075 38, 448,000

198, 960 | 127,334,400
269,881 || 172,723,840
468,842 300,058,880
67,470 43, 180, 800
Total forest --------------- • * * * * * * * * º ºs º gº tº º sº ºn a º ºs º ºs e º 'º e º sº e g º ºn ºn tº e s as ºn e º sº e º ſº us e s m is
Mountain forests equal 22.23 per cent. of mountain area.
Mountain forests equal 92 per cent...of total forest.
Little has been done in forestry planting. From the same report of
the chief of the forestry division the following condensed statement
shows the number of entries under the timber-culture:
Total number of acres entered from 1873 to 1888, inclusive.... ------. 38,958,558.45
Total number of acres entered from 1873 to 1888, inclusive, final proof
and entry could have been made in 1888 or earlier.----------...---- . 9,346,661.03
Total number of acres on which final proof was made, or 8 per cent. of
possible number -------------------------------------------------- 784,037.23
Total number of acres planted ----------- tº e º 'º me tº e º ºn e º nº º sº is sº a m = * * * 784,037-16=49,002
Total number of trees declared to have been planted and cultivated... -- 38,076, 350
or less than one tree for each acre entered for timber culture.
The valuable report of B. E. Fernow, chief of forestry division of
the Department of Agriculture, bristles with facts upon this most im-
portant subject, the handmaid of practical irrigation.
The intimate relation of the forests to the water supply necessary for
irrigation will soon force itself upon the consideration of those living in
the Rocky Mountain region, and it is well set forth in a recent state-
ment of Mr. Nettleton, State engineer of Colorado, who says:
It is estimated that 60 inches of water fall annually on, the eastern slope of the
Rocky Mountains in the form of Snow and rain; 80 per cent. of this falls during the
winter and spring months. That which falls late in the autumn and early in winter
is most available for irrigation, as it becomes solid, almost like ice, and melts slowly
under the summer's sun, affording a steady flow through the irrigating season. Snows
falling in late spring Imelt rapidly, and the waters run down the rivers unused. Al-
though about fifty mountain peaks in Colorado reach an elevation of over 14,000 feet,
yet the Snow nearly all disappears every season, small quantities only remaining in
. . . suMUING UP of ENGINEERING PROBLEMs. 109
small patches here and there. On this account there are at present no glaciers in
the Rocky Mountains. The cold mountains condense the moisture in the country ad- .
jacent, thereby robbing the plains of their quota of moisture.
Hence the necessity for irrigation. It is quite easy to foretell the probable amount
of water for irrigation purposes for the coming season by watching the amount of
snow-fall in the mountains.
Farmers living from 20 to 30 miles from the mountains, or where they can watch
the snow-fall on the main range of the mountains, have learned to gauge their crops
by the time the snow falls and the quantity. If the snow falls early, they expect
water for late crops. If the snow falls principally in the spring months, they fear
short water in summer and fall, and plant or sow accordingly.
There can be no doubt about the influence that cutting or burning the timber on
the mountains has on the flow of our streams. They will on this account become
more intermittent in their flow, which is a drawback to the irrigation interests of the
State. The preservation of the mountain forests should be encouraged.
To sum up simply, then; the questions concerned and issues involved
in the reclamation of our arid West, may be stated in the following
propositions:
First, The use of the rain-fall in what are properly known as rain
bekts, by the most effective methods of cultivation, and the selection of
suitable plants, especially those with long tap roots.
Second. The exhaustion of the supply furnished by rivers and creeks
in their passage through the drains, by means of irrigation works, such
as are already in extensive use. Most of our streams can be used up to
the full amount of their annual discharge.
Third. The enlargement of the existing supply by the storage at
higher elevations of water which passes away in spring floods. The
building of numerous catch-basins throughout the plains to save the
rain-fall which is wasted, so far as the lands near by are concerned, will
add greatly in the supply furnished by running streams. There are
natural depressions everywhere which can be utilized at very slight cost,
and with entire immunity from risks of dangerous floods. Congress has
already surveys to ascertain the most available sites and methods for
accomplishing this plan.
IFourth. The sinking of galleries or tunnels below the surface of
streams, even when they are practically dry, and utilizing by canals
the underground currents. Pure filtered water at Cheyenne, Wyo., for
the supply of the city, without pumping or much expense, is so furnished
from a small stream nearly dry in Summer. The utilization of surface
water does not exhaust the supply for irrigation. The application in-
volves waste. The fugitive waters sinking into the ground pass into
the depressions which make the water-ways, and gradually swell the
scanty streams at lower levels, or course their way toward the sea
through the sands below the river beds. Thus a part of the water of
irrigation canals is gathered a second time to do the work of irrigation.
Fifth. By the use of stationary pumps of sufficient power, in lifting
such underground currents to the surface from bed-rock, for applica.
tion to surrounding lands.
Siath. By artesian wells, which have hitherto proved too expensive
for use in irrigation.
To these six may be added the small storage or farm tank system,
which can be effectually utilized on our plains region.
IRRIGATION CONSTRUCTION.
ITS PLANS, PROJECTs, SYSTEMS, works, FORMS, CONTRACTS, AND MAN-
t AGEMENT, PRESENT AND PROSPECTIVE.
PAERT III.
PROJECT FOR A DAM ON SALT RIVER, ARIZONA.
Mr. Wm. M. Breckenridge, county surveyor of Maricopa, presented
a plan to the Senate Committee. He said the location settled on is at
the mouth of Tonto Creek, a little above the mouth of Mazatzan Cañon.
Mazatzal range cuts through the Upper Salt River. It makes a big
caſion, with mountains on each side 1,500 feet high. The slope is one
to one; that is, perpendicular for 100 feet. The water is thrown back
eastward 16 miles on the Salt River, where it boxes again in the Sierra
Ancha. For the first 2 miles from the mouth of Tonto Creek, point of
construction already suggested, the average width is 2,640 feet, and the
average depth would be 180 feet, calling the proposed dam 280 feet
high. The next 24 miles opens out into a valley, the average width
being 2 miles and depth 140 feet. The river then narrows up at Steam-
boat Rock, 44 miles above, so that it is only a quarter of a mile wide,
with an average anticipated depth of 130 feet. Then above the Steam-
boat Rock passage for the next 104 miles the average width is 2 miles,
and the average depth will be 70 feet. Tonto Creek, with a width of
14 miles, could be made to obtain an average depth of 80 feet. There is
ample space at a box caſion coming in from the south, where a waste-
weir could be built, so that the river, when it arrived at a certain height,
might run over that and not into the dam. By it, enough water can
be stored to reclaim all the desert mesa land lying north of the Gila
River between Phoenix and the Colorado River at Yuma. Sufficient
quantities of water annually flow through the Salt River to fill this
reservoir several times. It is our belief also that, by the selection of
suitable reservoir sites along the Gila, water enough can be stored to
reclaim all the lands south thereof in this county. The Agua Fria,
where it enters the Salt River Valley, in the dryest season carries a
stream of several thousand inches of water. If properly utilized there
is sufficient in this river to irrigate all the land, some 75,000 acres, lying
. it and Cave Creek, and by a reservoir the land could be made
available.
THE PROPOSED PANTANO RESERVOIRS.
Engineer F. W. Oury, of Tucson, Ariz., outlines an extensive project
for dams, reservoir, and diverting, at a point on the Southern Pacific
Railroad, a few miles from Tucson. He says:
Location.—The sites for the proposed dams are located on the water-course com-
monly known as the Pantano Wash. Dam No. 1 is situated at the junction of the
Cienega and Davidson's Caſion, about 23 miles Southeast of the city of Tucson, where
111.
112 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
still stand the ruins of the Cienega station on the old overland stage route. About
5 miles down the cañon, where the Southern Pacific Railroad track leaves the edge
of the wash to go onto the mesa, is the site for Dam No. 2. Dam No. 3 is still farther
down, about 2 miles from the preceding one.
Water supply.—Water runs throughout the year as far down as Dam No. 2, but in
such small quantities as not to be a very important factor as a source of supply.
Hence, it must depend on the freshets which come along this water-course, caused
by the rain-fall over the country which it drains and which occur during the rainy
seasons, summer and winter.
Drainage.—The Pantano Wash rises in a range of low mountains about 50 miles
Southeast of Tucson, known as the “Canelas,” and runs, with innumerable bends and
Crooks, in a northwesterly direction, until it empties, near Fort Lowell, into the
Rillito Creek; thence westerly until it reaches the Santa Cruz River. It thus drains
a portion of all the mountains in eastern and southeastern Pima County, with the
exception of the Patagonias. We shall refer, however, only to that portion of the
water-shed, the water from which flows into the Pantano Wash above the points
Selected as sites for dams.
Reservoir 8ites.—In examining the San Pedro Valley there are but two points where
reservoirs can be built to an advantage:
First. On the lower portion of the valley, at a point where the foot-hills come close
together, with solid rock upon each side and bottom. This is known as the Nigger
Ben place, and is about 15 miles below or north of the town of Benson, where a dam
350 feet in length and 40 feet high will overflow an area of a mile square and aver-
age 10 feet deep, or a storage capacity of 278,784,000 cubic feet. The area of bottom-
land and low table-land that could be irrigated by the construction of this dam
would be in Cochise County over 3,000. -
The second reservoir site on the valley, 1% miles above Charleston, and 26 miles
above Benson, where the foot-hills come down to the river forming solid rock banks
for over a hundred feet high, where a dam 60 feet in height and 400 feet long would
store over 300,000,000 cubic feet of water.
There are several places along this valley where there are broad stretches of almost
level bottom-lands where under-ground dams (that is, trenches at right angles to the
valley cut to bed-rock or clay and filled with concrete) could be placed, that would
raise the under-ground current to such a point that thousands of acres could be
brought under cultivation without irrigation and save the expense of ditches and
the great loss by evaporation.
A cursory glance at the eroded condition of the banks of the San Pedro will convince
a person at once that vast bodies of water run down this cañon. Great dykes of hard
rock have literally been cut through by the water, large cotton-wood trees have been
uprooted and carried down the stream, railroad ties, bridge timbers, iron bolts, and
even steel rails are to be found miles away from where they were originally placed.
So great was the damage done to the track of the Southern Pacific Railroad yearly
that the company had, for the sake of economy, at great expense, to elevate its road
beyond the reach of the waters from this wash. At a point where the cañon is over
200 feet wide water marks from a recent freshet still remain which are 20 feet above
the lowest point of the channel. These are conclusive proofs of the fact that enor-
mous quantities of waters flow to waste annually, whereas if it could be properly
stored in a system of reservoirs it would be sufficient to irrigate thousands of acres
of land which are now worthless, and which would forever remain so unless reclaimed
by the waters from this cañon, because the topography of the country would not
permit its being brought from any other stream or wash. w
Dams.—No. 1.-At this point a large dyke of hard volcanic rock crops out on the left
bank, continues on the surface until it reaches the bed of the creek, then sinks be-
neath the sandy bottom, to appear again on the right bank of the main channel. At
the extreme right end of the dam is also to be found solid rock, so that this dam, if
constructed, would have three natural and solid abutments upon which to rest,
namely, one on each end and one in the middle. Besides, the indications are such
that bed-rock can not be far distant from the surface of the Sand. Therefore at
this point a very strong dam could easily be built and, as we shall see afterwards, at
a comparatively moderate cost. o e te
The total length of this dam is 1,052 feet, and its greatest height is 67.5 feet. Its
heights at different points are as follows: Commencing from the left, the first 200 feet
in iéngth would average 20 feet, the following 50 feet would be about 45 feet high,
the next 200 feet, being the main channel of the wash, would reach a height of 67
feet, while the remaining 600 feet would average no more than 35 feet, º
In addition to the main dam, a small one would have to be built. Its length is 150
feet, and its average height through that distance would be about 6 feet.
Above the site of Dam No. 1, along the Cienega Cañon and for a short distance up
Davidson's Cañon, the waters have worn through the sediment which they had pre-
viously deposited, which averages 150 feet in width and 15 feet in depth. The fall of
SOME ARIZONA RESERVOIR PROJECTS. 113
the Cienega Cañon in this locality is about 40 feet per mile; that of Davidson's
Cañon about 50 feet per mile. The dam, then, being only about 34 feet above the
broad basin of the cañons, would back the water along the Cienega Cañon for about
4,400 feet, and up the Davidson Cañon for about 3,700 feet. The basin of the former
cañon averages about 2,000 feet in width; that of the latter about 800 feet. Hence,
to speak generally, this dam would create two rectangular sheets of water, one 4,400
by 2,000, and the other 3,700 by 800, or, more accurately, as found by survey, the
water would cover in the Cienega, an area of 9,160,073 square feet, or 210.3 acres to
an average depth of 26.47 feet, taking into account the deep channel already spoken
of. In the Davidson Caſion a lake would be formed containing an area of 2,784,340
square feet—63.92 acres—having an average depth of 20.50 feet. tº
Therefore the capacity of this reservoir would be equal to 299,580,795 cubic feet, or
2,241,019,947 gallons; in other words, it would take a ditch with an average width of
8 feet and an average depth of 2 feet, running at the average velocity of 35.6 feet per
minute, 365 days to empty the contents of this reservoir, it having been once filled
and no more water coming into it during the time that it is being emptied. Again, this
amount of water, if spread out over a level plain, would cover 82,529 acres, or 515 one
quarter sections, 1 inch deep. It has been mentioned that the waters have deposited
sediment in the basins of both the Cienega and Davidson's Cañon; in fact, the soil in
these basins is nothing more than this sedimentary deposit.
Dam No. 2.-This dam, too, would have solid abutments upon which to rest, and
although bed-rock is not seen upon the surface in the bed of the stream it is evident
that it is only covered by the sand. The span, besides, being so short, this dam
could be made not only the strongest, but the least expensive. . It will be seen from
the diagrams that its total length is 418 feet and its greatest height is 43.43 feet, and
as the banks on both sides are so steep, the dam will average a height of 40 feet
through its entire length. The fall of the wash at this point is something more than
40 feet per mile; hence, the dam would back the water up stream not quite 1 mile.
The basin also is comparatively narrow and therefore would not make a very large
reservoir. According to surveys the water would cover an area of 2,923,658 Square
feet, or 67.12 acres, to an average depth of 22.37 feet. Therefore its capacity would
be €5,391,298 cubic feet, or only about one-fourth as much water as that caught by
Dam No. 1. This is a small quantity of water, but it will be seen hereafter how this
dam is an indispensable accompaniment to the success of the large dam, No. 3.
Dam No. 3.-The banks of the Pantano Wash after leaving the point for Dam No. 2
are of a gravelly nature, more or less strongly cemented together. At places where
the current of the main channel cuts into the sides a hard conglomerate, Somewhat
of the nature of “caliche,” is exposed. At no point, however, do we find croppings
of solid rock. Dam No. 3 would not have the natural rock supports of dams Nos. 1
and 2. It is doubtful, too, whether bed-rock would be reached in the construction
of this dam ; hence we can anticipate a loss by seepage underground. However, if a.
puddle wall of clay or some other good material were built through the sand until
it reaches the conglomerate to which reference bas been made, and which is quite
impermeable to water, this loss could be, if not altogether stopped, at least very
greatly diminished. The red sandy clay from which the Indians make their “ollas”
and which abounds in the mesas in the vicinity, would be a most excellent material
with which to build such a puddle wall.
The total length of this dam is 2,640 feet, or exactly one-half mile, and its greatest
height is 73.96 feet. For 600 feet it would have an average height of about 50 feet,
and for the remaining distance its height would average nearly 70 feet. It would
back the water up the cañon a distance of 7,500 feet, the average width of the basin
being about 3,000 feet. As found by our surveys, this reservoir would extend over
an area of 22,400,017 square feet, or 514.23 acres, having an average depth of 33.53
feet ; that is, it would contain 752,169,384.8 cubic feet of water. It will be noted
that this amount is over twice as much as that which the other two reservoirs would
hold. It would take one year to discharge this, amount of water through a ditch 12
feet wide by 4 feet deep and running at a velocity of 29.42 feet per minute; or if
this quantiby of water were spread 6 inclues deep over a Jewel plain it would cover
34,484.26 acres, or 53.88 square miles; that is to say, it would flood a strip of level
land 25 miles long by 2% miles wide, 6 inches deep.
IN YUMA COUNTY, ARIZONA.
The most available site for a dam 100 feet in height is at a point on the river about
half a mile above the South Gila Canal Company's head-gate. Solid bluffs of dolo-
mite (limestone) 111 to 125 feet above the present water-level and distant 1,595 feet
from each other are found at this point. The width of 1,595 feet given is the distance
between the bluffs at the 100-foot, flow-line, or proposed top of dam. The storage
capacity of the caſion extending about 13 miles up the river from the dam to Oatman
138 A L-AP WOL IV 8
114 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Flat is comparatively small, for the average width on the 100-foot flow-line is but
one-half a mile, with steep bluffs on either side. *
Above this one-half mile point the bottoms widen out to an average width of 13
miles for 3 miles, forming what is called Oatman Flat, with an area of 4.7 square
miles on the 100-foot contour. At the head of Oatman Flat the bottoms narrow to
about three-quarters of a mile, and then widen out and form Cottonwood Flat, the
main storage basin, with a length of 8 miles and a width of 43 miles, with an aréa of
35.2 square miles. About 2 miles above the head of Cottonwood Flat, at Rock Isl.
ands, the bottom narrows to a width of about 2,000 feet, including an island 500 feet
wide, and above this point they again widen to 3 miles. The length of this basin
will be 84 miles, with an area of 84 square miles.
The depth of the water at the lower Rock Island will be 40 feet. The average fall
in the river from this point to the dam, some 14 miles by the river channel, is 4.3 feet
per imile. The river has a much greater grade above the Rock Islands.
The distance from the islands to Gila Bend is about 20 miles. The total area of the
three basins is as follows:
Square miles.
Oatman Flat......... -------------------------------------------------------- 4.7
Cottonwood Flat ---------------------- sº º ºs as tº sº as º ºs s tº tº us e º ºs e º e º ºr as es us e º ºs s as e s - us ºn e ºs es • - 35.2
Gila Bend Flat.---------------------.
• * * * * * * * * * v is wº e º sº º e º 'ºp º º ºs e w w sº s º ºs º ºs º we tº us tº a w as 8, 5
ºmmº-
Total flowage (with 100-foot dam)...............S.-...----........----. 48.4
As there will be considerable evaporation from a body of water in this hot summer.
climate, estimated at half an inch a day for six months, equal to 7% feet, I assume
the average available depth to be 35 feet, which with an area of 48.4 square miles
will store 47,227,009,600 cubic feet. This will give a daily supply for six months of
262,372,200 cubic feet, equal to 151,835 miners' inches of the California standard.
The proposed storage reservoir is situated on the Gila River about 100 miles north-
east of the town of Yuma and a few miles east of the boundary line of the county.
At this point the river is subject to heavy floods that will insure the filling of the
reservoir every winter and spring, the heavy flow lasting until the 1st of May.
About the 1st of June the works would be called upon to make good the diminish-
ing supply in the Gila. This draft would be at its maximum in July and August.
The evaporation in this climate is very great, but the engineer has allowed amply for
the losses thereby incurred. The depth of evaporation in inches averaged for every
month in the year, as shown by the Signal Service records at Yuma, is as follows:
Inches. Inches.
January - - - - - - - - - - tº ºn tº e º ſº tº gº tº º ºr ºn tº sº e 4.4 August.-------------------------- 10, 2
February - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5.2 | September --------- • ------------- 8.2
March --------------------------- 6.6 | October -------------------------- 8, 2
April ----------- & g º º ºs º º ſº tº º ſº dº º º ſº º tº 9.6 | November------------------- ----- 5.5
May ----------------------------- 9.6 | December ------------------------ 4, 6
June----------------------------- 12.6
July----------------------------- 11. 0 Total ---------------------- 95.7
‘The rain-fall is practically insignificant, The monthly fall in inches, averaged for
eleven years, is given here with :
"ºl August *;
January - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tº gº tº e º me as as e ll CºllSU - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - s - - - - - - U. 4;
#jºy as as as as a ºn as a nº me s tº ºn tº sº is ºn s tº as ºr sº * * 0. 532 September * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº tº gº º ºs º º sº 0.060
March --------------------------- 0.217 | October -------------------------- 0.124
April ---------------------------- 0. 120 | November.----------------------- 0, 180
May ---------- tº m ºr me ºn tº a tº as sº sº s sº ºn m sº º sº * 0.062 | December.... ... & sº e º nº sy gº sº e º ºs dº º 'º we ºn tº 0.403
June ------ .--------------Inappreciable tº-ºsmºssºmº-
July ----- • * * * * * * e s is me • * s m = * * * * * * * * 0, 155 Total ---------------------- 2,752
The drainage basin supplying the river is known to be enormous and its service gon-
stant during certain months. At the lowest rate of galculation in use in California.
Tinch to 4 acres—the amount of water stored would suffice to irrigate over 600,000
acres, Rock suitable for the construction of a masonry dam is found in unlimited
quantities adjacent to the proposed site. Elsewhere we have endeavored to show
that large and constant water supplies are imperatively needed. While it is true
that the several canals along the Gila cover considerable areas, it is also true that the
Öatman Cañon reservoir will bring very much larger tracts under control, and, there-
fore, an increased population, much larger property valuation, vastly augmented ag-
ricultural output, and consequently greater prosperity. With storage works of the
described capacity a permanent summer supply of Water could be relied upon to thor-
oughly irrigate most of the accessible arable land in southern Yuma County lying be:
ionºthereservoir, and thus remove the present cause of non-development of this fertile
jon. It has been explained that about 25 percent, of the valley land is overflowed
THE CROWN ARCH DAM AT SWEETWATER. 115
by the river during certain regular periods. The establishment of such works would
... reclaim the bottoms by storing the surplus water that would otherwise, at such
seasons, flood the surface, and do great injury. º
CoNCLUSION.—With this report a topographical map, drawn by Mr. Lewis A.
Hicks, C. E., is submitted, showing the entire lower Gila Valley from Qatman Caſion
westward to the Colorado River, and also all the lands between the Gila River and
the Sonora frontier. Two lines are drawn, the first indicating the extent of the area
that would be capable of producing at least one crop of cereals or forage each year,
supposing the dam to contain 25 feet of water. This second line shows the limit of
the fruit belt, but the area between these two lines will be valuable for the raising
of all forage plants, sugar-beets, etc. Below their junction all the land shown will
be available. The varied topographical features are faithfully and intelligently de-
#. and will greatly assist in a correct understanding of the subject treated in
these pages.
The . importance of the inquiries set in motion by the Senatorial committee,
and their direct bearing upon our own surroundings, are fully understood by the peo-
ple of Yuma County, who highly appreciate the opportunity of placing before their
distinguished visitors such data concerning the quantity and quality of the lands,
the necessity and future possibilities of irrigation, the number and extent of canals,
the rivers and water supply, the climate and its influence upon the early maturity of
crops, the products, the transportation facilities, and finally, the need of water-
storage reservoirs and selection of appropriate sites as, it is hoped, may meet their
purposes. If this has been accomplished, the citizens' executive committee will con-
sider their duty as satisfactorily performed.
That the western portion of valley or bottom lands of the Colorado
River, properly irrigated, can be made one of the finest farming Sections
of the United States is no longer a question among those who have in-
vestigated the subject. -
In the Annual Report of Indian Affairs in Arizona, 1867, I find the
following:
The experiences of this season have proved beyond doubt, were evidence on the
subject still wanting, the thorough capability of the lands of the Colorado River Wal-
ley for all the purposes of agriculture in every case where water can be made to reach
the surface. To depend upon the annual overflow is somewhat hazardous, for lands
reached by it one year may not be again for several, or they may be so deeply sub-
merged as to be unavailable for planting during the season. There are thousands of
acres in the reservation which the overflow from the river never reaches, but which
the artificial application of water would render as productive as any of the lands
that are naturally overflowed.
All experience from that time up to the present proves the correct-
ness of the ideas of that paragraph.
THE SWEETWATER DAM, SAN DIEGO COUNTY, CAL *
BY JAMES D. SCHUYLER, M. AM, SOC. C. E.
The question of an adequate water supply for irrigation as well as for the domestic
use of cities and towns is one which in San Diego County, Cal., necessarily involves
storage reservoirs. The streams of the county are of an intermittent character. The
mountain ranges in which they head ańd from which they flow to the coast do not
generally exceed 6,000 to 6,500 feet in elevation—an altitude too low in the latitude
of San Diego to maintain perpetual snow upon their summits, or even to retain such
proportion of the water precipitation as comes in the form of snow (not usually more
than 10 per cent.) for more than a few days or weeks. As a result the streams are
torrential in winter and carry large volumes of water, but in summer and fall, when
most needed for irrigation, are almost dry for 20 to 30 miles of their lower course, with
the exception of certain seasons of such unusual rain-fall that no irrigation is re-
quired—seasons that come at rare intervals. Ordinarily the streams in summer reverse
the usual order of nature, and are largest at the small end, and to get a water supply
the engineer must either go far back into the mountains and gather together a num-
ber of small living streams and springs and pipe them out long distances, or con-
struct dam and storage reservoirs to retain the winter floods. Fortunately nature has
*Summarized from “Transactions of the American Society of Civil Service Engi-
neers,” November, 1888,
116 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
compensated for the existing conditions by providing numerous favorable sites for such
construction, and every stream of importance in the county has available sites for
storage dams of large capacity. A number of water companies are engaged in pre-
paring for extensive works of this character, which, when completed, will provide
irrigation facilities for several hundred thousand acres of land otherwise unproduc-
tive.
This era of development was inaugurated but recently, and the first completed
work of the character is the Sweetwater Dam and Reservoir and extensive pipe sys-
tem. I eaching out from it.
The circumstances which led to the building of the dam were that the San Diego
Land and Town Company (a first cousin of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fé Rail-
way) owned a large body of fertile and desirable mesa and valley lands bordering on
San Diego Bay, adjacent to San Diego on the south, which were unsalable without
water to irrigate them. These lands constitute the greater part of the “Rancho de
la Nacion,” including the town site of National City, which also languished with
thirst. The Sweetwater River passes nearly through the center of the lands, and is
of the nature described—intermittent in flow, at least for many miles above its
mouth.
The first storm or two of the rainy season is absorbed by the thirsty earth, and the
stream generally does not begin flowing into the bay until late in December or in
January. After each heavy storm thereafter its volume will reach 500 to 1,000 cubic
feet per second for a few days, and within a fortnight recede to 10 cubic feet per
second.
The last severe storms of the rainy season are usually in March, and the flow of
the stream will generally dwindle to 1 or 2 cubic feet per second by June 1, which
amount may be maintained through the remainder of the year, but not always. The
large supply running to waste each year, followed by months of scarcity, naturally
suggested storage, and the first caſion above the mouth of the stream was selected as
the place to accomplish the object. This narrow gorge, 7 miles east of the bay, is a
deep and narrow cut, half a mile in length, through a dike of trap rock or trachyte
that intersected the valley of the Sweet water, leaving above it a broad level valley
some 3 miles long, one-quarter to three-quarters of a mile in width. This is the site
of the reservoir formed by the dam built at the head of the gorge.
The construction of this dam was decided upon and work begun in November, 1886.
The original plan designed was a narrow wall of concrete masonry, 50 feet high, 10
feet wide at bottom, 3 feet on top, arched up-stream. On the upper side an embank.
ment of loose earth was to be filled in against the masonry Wall to its full height.
After two months' work had developed the character of the design, the plan was dis-
approved by the management, and the writer was called upon to design a suitable
structure and execute its construction. Some $35,000 had already been expended,
and in order to utilize as much of the old work as possible the new structure was
planned to rest upon and incase the foundations already laid. This decision influ-
enced to some extent the radius of the arch of the new dam, as well as its position
relative to the axis of the cañon, and the location of the anchorage on the sides. In
other words, to avoid throwing away the work already done, the new work was
adapted to the old in a way that ultimately increased the length of the dam on the
crest somewhat more than would have been necessary by shifting the point of radius
to one side of the central axis of the cañon, and making the radius somewhat shorter
than it otherwise would have been. An engineer is sometimes driven to adaptations
of this sort against his judgment, to save, or to give the appearance of Saving, the
pockets of his employers. e tº tº -
The modifications of the original plan were radical ones. The combination of earth
and masonry was rejected, as it seemed to the writer that water alone was sufficiently
heavy for the masonry wall to support without adding the last straw on the camel's
back of a mass of saturated earth. A gravity profile was adopted, and rubble
masonry formed of blocks of stone up to 4 tons weight was substituted for bastard
concrete composed of cement mortar, with small stones rammed into it, which had
been previously used. So much of the old plan was retained, however, as to form an
embankment 50 feet wide on top, 10 to 15 feet high across the caſion, against the face
of the wall, but clay well rammed in layers was substituted for the silt, and quick;
sand loosely dumped, with which the dam was formerly being made. The object of
this clay filling was to cut off possible seams in the bed rock underneath, the dam
and reduce the pressure on the structure. The top of the embankment is 70 feet
below the top of the dam. o
The foundation.—Aſter the bowlders, Sand, and gravel had been stripped from the
base of the dam on either side of the old work, the bed-rock was found to be very
irregular in surface, presenting the appearance ºf a number of pyramids and cones
thrown heterogeneously together, but bound solidly in one mass and well polished
by attrition. The rock was very close in texture and exceedingly hard. No attempt
was made to cut out the bed in the level benches, as the unevenness of the bottom, as
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS OF THE GREAT DAM. 117
nature left it, gave the assurance that whatever movement might occur in the struct-
ure built on such a base there could be no possibility of its slipping or sliding on the
base. Wherever there were seams in the rock they were invariably occupied by roots,
and the excavation was carried down till the seams pinched out and the roots disap-
peared. The rock was then thoroughly scrubbed by hand, and a thin grout of pure
Cement applied with brooms, filling the minutest crevices and angles in the rock, be-
fore starting the masonry. º g
The side walls of the cañon required more excavation to reach a satisfactory anch9r-
age than the bottom. The north side was composed of shattered rock scored with
innumerable seams filled with red clay. In this material the excavation was carried
to a depth (perpendicular to the slope) of 20 to 25 feet before a solid ledge free from
seams was encountered. This ledge lay with a slope nearly parallel with the surface
slope, and in direction so nearly parallel to the radial line of the curve of the dam
that it could not have been better placed to receive the arch thrust and formed, u
natural skew-back. This was carefully stripped and treated with cement grout in the
same manner as the base.
The abutment on the south side was against the end of a dike of trap-rock, cross-
ing over the hills to the south in a direction nearly parallel to a line passing through
the center of radius and dipping westward at an angle of about 10 degrees from the
vertical. After cutting into the face of this rock 5 to 10 feet all seamy, loose mate-
rial was stripped away, and a bedding that was deemed sufficiently good was ob-
tained, although the rock was not as free from seams nor as solid in mass as the north
abutment. However, the entire foundation is an admirable one, of rock in place
throughout.
The plan.-The original height of 50 feet was arbitrarily adopted at the beginning
of the work, without any special investigation of the quantity of water to be stored
by a dam of that height, but was “guessed” to be sufficient for present necessities,
and the estimate of its cost was considered to be about the limit of the expenditure
the company cared to make on an experimental scheme. There was an immediate
and pressing need for water, the rainy season was passing, and it was desired to get
up a part of the structure as rapidly as possible in order to catch a partial supply for
the coming summer. Accordingly, in compliance with this desire, the foundation
was rapidly laid and the structure hurriedly carried up to a point where it was safe
to begin catchment. The base of the dam was laid with a width of 36 feet, and at a
height of about 15 feet above the lowest course it was drawn in to a thickness of
24 feet. At this level (whose elevation above tide is 140 feet) the lowest pipes pass
through the dam. Above this level the structure was carried to a height of 45 feet,
with a top width of 5 feet, base as stated of 24 feet, face batter (up-stream) of 1 to 6.
In anticipation of a probable addition to the height of the dam in future, the back
was built in three steps, to give an opportunity of bonding the new work to the old.
The profile of this portion of the structure is shown in Plate XXX. It was a gravity
profile, whose line of pressure passed within the inner third of the base. It was con-
structed in arch form, convex to the stream, on a radius of 225 feet on the face line
at top.
During construction the stream was carried in a conduit 30 inches square through
the masonry near the bottom of the original creek bed. But one storm of the season
of 1886-'87 (a dry one) swelled the creek sufficiently to exceed the capacity of this
conduit, and then it rose and ran over the top of the masonry for two days only, with-
out injury. This occurred February 14 and 15, 1887, when the flow reached a maxi-
mum of about 500 cubic feet per second. The gate at the upper end of the conduit
was finally closed April 20, 1887, and the conduit was filled solid with masonry from
below. From that time until June 1, the catchment was about 80,000,000 gallons.
By the 1st of June the structure, as planned, was completed to the height of 60 feet
above the bottom, 10 feet higher than the height originally contemplated. It con-
tained about 7,500 cubic yards of masonry and had cost, all told (including the pre-
liminary experiments), about $100,000. Meantime, surveys of the reservoir basin and
water-shed had developed the fact that the 60-foot dam would impound 1,221,000,000
gallons, whereas its extension to 90 feet in height would give a capacity of nearly
five times that quantity, or 5,882,000,000 gallons. Also that the area of the water-
shed tributary to the dam is about 186 square miles, of which one-third is above an
elevation of 3,000 feet, and between that elevation and 6,500 feet. The water-shed
was evidently ample to justify the hope that the greater reservoir would be filled
almost every year of ordinary rain-fall. The increased volume of water stored would
so largely extend the utility of the Works, and give so considerable increase in secur-
ify against the disasters following a severe drought, that the increased expense of ex-
tending the height of the dam While the working force and plant were on the ground
and fully organized, seemed to be immediately justifiable. These arguments were
embodied in a report, which was favorably considered by the directors of the com-
pany, and orders were given, about a fortnight before the 60-foot dam was com-
pleted, to extend the structure to a height of 90 feet. r
**
118 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
This somewhat extended account of the growth of the enterprise from small begin-
nings is necessary to an understanding of the causes that led to the building of the
structure in two sections rather than as a mass. The fact is that the work was nearly
half done before all the conditions were thoroughly understood—conditions which
ordinarily in works of such magnitude and importance are known, studied, and ex-
haustively discussed preliminary to the beginning of any work whatever. w
In designing the plan of the higher structure, greater reliance was placed upon the
arched form than in the lower dam, then approaching completion. The profile
adopted was one which theoretically gave stability by its own gravity, but without
as large a factor of safety. The line of pressure falls about the center of the lower
third. It was reasoned that, as the foundation was as near perfection as can be gen-
erally found, apprehension on that score was unnecessary—and the source of the
failure of such of the great masonry dams of the world as have given way—insecure
foundation—need not be regarded as a factor in this case. If one can imagine a
monolith to be carved in the form of a true arch, of such weight and dimension that
any section of it is capable of withstanding the pressure of quiet water against it to
its full height, without sliding or overturning, and such a monolith be firmly wedged
between the rock-bound walls of a narrow caſion, the possibility of its being ruptured,
displaced, or destroyed from water pressure alone can not readily be conceived. Now,
if by the use of rich cement mortar and the best of building stone a structure be
formed of the same dimensions and in the same position, which in time becomes vir-
tually a monolith, based on the firmest of bed-rock, its stability must be equally
assuring to the mind.
The dimensions adopted were the following: Base, 46 feet; top thickness, 12 feet;
height, 90 feet ; radius of arch, 222 feet on line of face at top. The face batter of i
to 6 was carried to within 6 feet of the top ; thence to the top of the parapet wall
vertical. The batter on the back started at the top with 1 to 3 for 28 feet; thence i
to 4 for 32 feet; thence 1 to 6 to the coping.
The construction.—When the new work was begun at the base of the completed
structure, special care was taken to secure a perfect footing for the toe. When the
foundation was stripped it was found that there was a slight leakage at various
points along the bottom of the masonry, amounting altogether to about 10,000 gal-
lons daily. The only perceptible leakage through the masonry was along the sides
of the waste conduit, which had been recently filled in, although there were moist
spots all along near the bottom.
All the leakage was entirely cut off by the new work, although it was necessary
to carry up small well-holes alongside the old masonry to within about 15 feet of the
level of the water surface in the reservoir, and keep them pumped out, before it was
safe to close them entirely. Water was standing in the reservoir at a height of about
35 feet above the base of the dam, and the small quantity of leakage, and the ease with
which it was stopped, was considered a favorable test of the superior quality of the
masonry. e
The stone used was of two grades, a dark blue and a gray metamorphic rock, im-
pregnated with iron. The gray stone is full of minute quartz crystals, and is of
slightly less specific gravity than the blue stone, which carries more iron. It was
obtained from a quarry opened in the face of a vertical cliff over 100 feet high, situ-
ated 800 feet below the dam. It has no well-defined cleavage, and broke out in
irregular masses, although generally having one or more tolerably smooth faces.
Numerous tests of its specific gravity gave its weight as 175 to 200 pounds per cubic
foot. The average weight of the masonry in place was estimated at 164 pounds per
cubic foot, which was the value used in the calculation of stability and strains.
Portland cement of the best obtainable quality was used in the proportion of one
part of cement to three parts of sharp river sand. For the upper 4 feet next to the
water a richer mixture of one to two was used. The sand was clean, sharp, and of
the most suitable degree of coarseness to make the best of mortar. i
# # * # * º #
The cost of the flowage tract for tho reservoir is not included in the above. A little
over one-half the land cost $16,426.93. The remainder is in litigation under an
action of condemnation. A San Diego jury, under the stimulus of “boom" prices,
awarded the owner $280 an acre, or a little over $100,000 for land, one-third of which
was worthless, and the remainder unimproved. This judgment is being contested be-
fore the Supreme Court. The clearing and grubbing of about 300 acres of the reser-
voir basin cost $10,808.46. º
The wasteway.—This important adjunct to the dam was carefully considered and
proportioned to carry the probable maximum flow of the stream that may be pre-
sented for discharge, with a full reservoir. It is located at the South end of the
structure, and is 40 feet in length by 5 feet in depth, divided into eight bays of 5 feet
each. These bays are formed by piers of masonry, set at right angles to the flow, and
provided with recesses on the upper face, in which loose flash-boards of 2-inch plank
rest on an incline of 35 degrees from the vertical. Any sel of boards may be removed
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS OF THE GREAT DAM. 119/
from top to bottom, or the water may be held at successive levels from the top to the
bottom of the weir by removing the top boards all the way across. The water falliºng
over the wier drops into a series of pools, 3 feet deep, which relieve the structurf, of
shock, and passes down an inclined plane with a fall of 1 to 10, until it is carried
away from the dam a distance of 50 feet, and then plunges into the caſion below. The
capacity of the wasteway is about 1,500 cubic feet per second. This may be increased
to about 1,800 cubic feet per second by opening a 30-inch blow-off gate in the main
pipe below the dam. . . . .
The inlet tower.—This structure is located 50 feet above the dam, nearly opposito its
center. It is built of masonry, with cement morter mixed two to one, plastered out-
side and in with two coats of mortar mixed with one of sand to one of cement. . It is
16 feet square at the base for a height of 10 feet, where its form is changed to a hexa-
gon, with walls of a uniform thickness of 3 feet to the top. Each of the sides of the
hexagon measure 3 feet on the interior face. Into the walls of the to ºver are built
seven cast-iron elbows, at an elevation of 10 feet apart from bottom to.{op, the upper
one being 10 feet below high-water line. . The bell-mouths of the Ålbows open up-
ward, and are ordinarily closed with a plain valve or cover of iron.” The design is to
draw water from the surface at whatever stage it may be. When any one cover is
removed, a basket screen is lowered in its place, fitting closely into the mouth of the
elbow. Three pipes pass through the dam and enter the tower aſt the bottom. The
two lowest pipes are of cast-iron, 14 and 18 inches in diameter 1/espectively, and lie
side by side. They are encased in concrete throughout, from the tower to the dam.
On top of them is built a conduit of masonry with a circular oriffice 40 inches in diam-
eter, formed of walls 30 inches in diameter, in double arches. This conduit leads from
the interior of the tower to the center of the dam, where it/joins a pipe of 3-inch
boiler-iron, 36 inches in diameter, leading to the main gatº immediately below the
dam, and from this gate is carried the main pipe line down the valley. The smaller
pipes are not at present used, except to supply a hydraulic fram throwing Ywater to the
keeper's house on the hill, 150 feet above, and to drain thºſ, tower when all the valves
are shut. They are intended to be used for supplying a turbine and pump to throw
water to a higher level than the dam will now reach.
As an illustration of the fact that masonry laid in Poſhtlyºd cement in the propor-
tion of two of sand to one of cement may be made water-tight with care exercised in
laying, this tower, and the conduit leading from it, may be cited. When they are
empty the pressure from the outside at present is some vist more than 20 pounds per
Square inch on the conduit and at the bottom of the floºer, and there is no leakage
in either of them.
The reservoir.—Red clay soil constitutes the bed of
portion, outside of the old river-bed and bottoms,
The following table of area and contents of reservo
ly reservoir basin, or the major
dy'is of an impervious nature.
rig presented:
Contour elevation. Area. Contents. Co 'ſº Area. | Contents.
* |-4
Feet, Acres, Gallong. Feet. * A cres. Gallons.
145 (level of lowest outlet 1807,...g. -----------------| 200. TT 835, 851, 000
valve in tower)........ --. 3.51 i.--------. . . . ... ... • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 272.22 1, 221, 355,000
150 ------------------------- 10, 72 11, 640, 00 ..... ------------------ 326.96 || 1,710, 583,000
155 ------ & e a e s s a • * * * * * * * * * * * 17. 12 30, 577, 000 5 ... • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 397, 85 2, 302, 261,000
100 ------------------------- 43. 10 || 79, 631, 000 0...-------------------- 463, 80 3,005, 642, 000
165 ------------------------- 75. 21 175, 819, 000 205.: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ..] 538.94 3,824, 197,000
170 ------------------------- 113.40 329, 546,000 || Z210;...................... 630.94 4,778, 549, 000
175 ------ • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 153.75 547,069, 000 º * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s as a s as a s as a • 721.86 5,882,278,000
--—#~~ -
The table shows that 80 per cent. of the cºp.city of the reservoir is within the up-
per 30 feet of height, and that 40 per cºnf. § within the last 10 feet. This fact re-
duces within small limits the fluctuation ºf head on the "mains after the reservoir is
once filled, and constitutes one of the reasºols for increasing the height of the struct-
ure, as it enables the establishment of the ºrobable limit of irrigation on the lands
below, at a line not lower than 25 to 85 fºſt from the top of the dam. The irrigable
area was thus largely increased, oy reasººl of the decrease in fluctuation of depth in
the reservoir.
* * # * - * * #
The distributing system.—"rom the laſm to the lower end of the canon, 1,600 feet.*-
the main pipe is 36 inches in diameter, and covered with masonry laid in lime mortar,
plastered with cement. Srom this poinft it is reduced to 30 inches diameter, and fol-
lows the valley for 5 miles, and, thenºe rises to the top of the Chula Vista mesa, 92
feet above sea-level. Its entire length is 29,800 feet, and at its terminus the water
is divided into two 24-inch pipes, Quéſ running south 1 mile, the other west half a mile,
where it is reduced to 18 inches diſſimeter, and is carried northward to and through
National City. g -
... }
2
:
;- s
º:



















120 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
At the teºminus of the 36-inch main a blow-off gate is located, to be used as a re-
lief to the Wasteway of the dam in case of a sudden flood which might exceed the
capacity of the wasteway, or to draw off the water from the reservoir if, for any
cause, it was desired to do so. a
... Wrought-iron pipes were used throughout. The total length of mains and laterals
that , lave been laid is 58 miles, with 54 miles on hand to be laid this season. They
are of three classes, viz, straight double riveted pipe; converse lock joint, kala-
mined lap-welded tube; and spiral riveted pipe. About 16 per cent. of the pipe was
of the first-class, 72 per cent...of the second, and 12 per cent. of the third.
The introduction of spiral pipe into the system was unfortunate, as it does not
stand the test of transportation across the continent, and will have to be taken up
and specially treated to make it water-tight. It will answer very well for subirri-
gation, if it could be properly controlled, but as it is laid in streets and avenues that
System is not desirable or conducive to comfort in traveling. -
The total cºst of the pipe lines was as follows:
Pipe---------------- -> ºr me tº me tº e º Gº Gº -> * > *g º ºs º ºs º 'º - - - - as s º as tº º sº a sº - - - - º tº gº º tº º sº º º tº gº º $301,928.80
£eight--------A------------------------------------------------- ..... 39,183.03
Distribution.---A. ---------. tº e º a º ºr a me ºn tº dº tº sº º sº º tº dº sº sº m sº gº ºn e º 'º º is ºne me tº me tº as º ºs we tº º º ºs 6,271.06
Gates.----------- &------------------------------------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1,849.62
**terials, tools, et\,--------------------------------------------------- 5,932. 57
Right of way and n\iscellaneous expenses------------------------------ 2,968.00
Pipe laying--------\----------- tº º m 'm a tº ºr a s a • * * * * * * = e ºs & a - sº gº º ºn tº gº tº e º ºs e º 'º º º . 144, 630.78
Total.---------\------------------------------------------------ 502, 763.86
Probable duty of the \
holders of the company is
irrigation from such a res'
three out of five, the wa
besides maintaining the colº ^*.
irrigation season about May 17 with a full reservoir. From May 1 to October 1
is the average season of irºgation—about 150 days. Where pipe distribution is in
use, a fair average allowancº in southern California is a duty of 10 acres per miner's
inch (500 acres per cubic flºpt per second). There are instances of a much higher
duty having been attained—a duty of even 40 acres per miner's inch having been ac-
complished in one place. All Ating 700,000,000 gallous for the annual consumption of
National City, and for loss by \vaporation during the summer months, the remainder
would yield a flow of 2,000 m).
nér's inches per day for 200 days; with a duty of 10
acres per inch, this amount wo, ºld irrigate 20,000 acres. In the course of time it is
expected that a duty as high as 20 acres per inch will be reached, in which event a
reservoir full may be extended \ver two years' time, and still irrigate 20,000 acres,
and afford a domestic supplyio the town of National City. -
Water rights, giving to theou N \haser simply the privilege of becoming a customer
for water, have been sold on hē San Diego Flume Company flume at the rate of
$2,000 per miner's inch. At th; rºy \e the value of the irrigation supply of the reser-
voir is $4,000,000. The constictiº \n of the works has already added a value of
$1,500,000 to the principal tract f 5.0 W00 acres which has been supplied with a com-
plete system of water-pipes, and amo, her million to the value of town property in
National City, and lands in its in-hedi. © e º
\
tº * PROJECT.
It is proposed to permanents lo) wer. Tulare Lake to 15 feet below the
present level, which will reclaim 3 '5,000 acres, including swamp land,
all now under water or subject toire huent overflow. This is to be effected
by a canal of 12 feet average We
Lake to a junction with the San ,
tion, distance about 40 miles nort]
will be through the present SWam]
The level of the river at the junct
lake, and thus affords a sufficient f
water of the lake proposed to be dr. Pººl. -
afforded by a projected west side irºgation Schºme, which is to take
water from the canal for the irrigatiºn of over 400,000 acres of valley
lands, the proposed canal forming, Wł th Tulare Lake, a continuous in-
land water way of over 70 miles. It is \ºpected by its affluent discharge
of water into the Upper San Joaquin\River to so improve navigation
as to utilize it for heavy freight.
orks.-One of the most interesting questions to the stock-
the result that may be reasonably expected in the way of
2rvoir. The assumption is made that in average years, say
er-shed will yield a sufficient supply to fill the reservoir,
§sumption through the rainy season, thus starting on the
ºquin River at the head of naviga-
*rom the lake. The line of the canal
* Which extends north from the lake.
Qº is 48 Šeet below the level of the
!!! for the discharge of the surplus
lined. An additional outlet is also































IRRIGATING SYSTEMS USED IN CALIFORNIA. 121
VALUE OF THE PIPE SYSTEM.
Civil Engineer F. Eaton, of Los Angeles, makes the following state-
ment relative to pipe service:
The duty of our streams would be extended by extending the present ditches by
pipe systems. Experience has taught us that by economizing the water it is not only
the water that we save in seepage alone, but the distribution. The convenience that
these pipe systems offer in the distribution of water is a great economizer. ...We find
that we can get along with a half or third the water that we get in running it around
in ditches. It was thought that the San Gabriel was being used up by irrigating
2,000 acres; but it has been used since for irrigating 12,000 acres; and it can be in:
creased by the pipe system. . The duty of one-fiftieth of a cubic foot per second
throughout the valley under the pipe system would be 1 inch to 10 acres; that is, for
vegetables and all kinds of crops. It depends altogether on the character of the soil.
A soil that is well subdrained, that is composed of gravel, will require much less
water. Such subsoil is a natural drain, and for that reason water will go a great deal
farther on that kind of land than it will on an impervious subsoil. Taking the aver-
age in the San Gabriel Valley, with 10 inches you can irrigate all kinds of crops, orange
trees, and all kinds of vegetables. The cost runs from $15 to $50 per acre. The
cement pipes are not cheaper than the pressure pipes, because it requires a good many
more of them, and they are not so convenient as the pressure pipes. We generally
use 16 iron. It is practically the sixteenth of an inch thick. A 4-inch pipe is more
difficult to make than a 16-inch. We put asphaltum on, but it is impossible to keep
it from being knocked off in spots, and those spots rust there. We can not inspect
them closely enough to get at them all and paint them over. In ordinary soil, where
there is no alkali, it will wear fifteen or sixteen years. I put in pipes fifteen years
ago that are doing service now. The Pasadena pipes were 11 inches with 18 iron.
That system was put in in 1873, and served up to this year. We have not many stor-
age facilities up in the mountains. They are confined practically to the foot-hills
and the valleys. We have to bring our water down and make our reservoirs in the
valley. In Bear Valley the reservoir will contain 60,000,000,000 cubic feet when it is
fully developed, and I am told there are a number of similar ones up there; but the
caſions are too precipitious. -
KERN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, AND ITS IRRIGATION WORKS.
The average discharge of Kern River is 2,700 cubic feet per second.
The maximum discharge during the rainy season and during the melt-
ing of the mountain snow is 19,041 cubic feet per second. There are
eight months of the maximum flow or high water, from December to
July, inclusive. The actual discharge of Kern River the last of May,
1883, by calculations made, was found to be equal to a depth of 1%
inches per month from the whole area or catchment of 3,445 square
miles. This gives a depth of 3 inches per month for irrigation over
1,200 square miles, or 768,000 acres. The discharge is doubtless much
larger from the middle of February to April, when water is most needed
for irrigation. By close calculation it is found that 1 cubic foot per
second will irrigate 160 acres.
In this valley, and mainly on Kern Island, are more than thirty
canals, some of them with branches and all with distributing ditches,
and several with many, the main canals aggregating some 300 miles
in length and covering nearly 475,000 acres, which can be irri-
gated. About 150,000 acres are now irrigated. On these irrigated
lands, with good care, alfalfa gives four and five crops a year, yielding
at least 2 tons to the acre each crop, making an annual yield of 8 to 10
tons to the acre besides affording some pasture. As a rule it is cut
every six weeks for eight months in the year. Several years ago, when
this irrigating System was first inaugurated, it cost 50 cents per acre to
irrigate land. Science and art, with much study and labor, have so far
perfected this system of irrigation that now the cost varies from 2 to 10
cents per acre, as a rule averaging from 2 cents or 3 cents to 5 cents
under favorable conditions.
122 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The canal of the Kern River Water and Irrigating Company, known
as the Beardsley Canal, the highest on the river, being the most north-
easterly of this great System, is taken from the northerly bank in the
Southeast quarter of section 3, T. 29 S., R. 28 E. It is 8 miles in length
15 feet wide on the bottom, and 24 feet deep. It has 10 miles of dis-
tributing ditches. It appropriates 47,030 miner's inches under a 4-inch
preSSure, equivalent to 938 cubic feet per second. This location was
made December 2, 1873.
The McCord Canal is taken from the northerly bank of the river in
the northeast quarter of section 18, T. 29 S., R. 28 E. The main canal
is 43 miles long, with three branches, having a total length of 10 miles
and 15 miles of distributing ditches. The main canal is 20 feet wide
on the bottom and 2 and 3 feet deep. This, with the Beardsley, is the
means of supply for that portion of the district above the Calloway
Canal. It appropriates 5,000 inches, equivalent to 100 cubic feet per
second. This location was made March 20, 1875.
The Calloway Canal belongs to the Kern River Land and Canal
Company, and is the largest and most important in the system. It
comes Out of the northerly bank of the river a short distance above the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company’s bridge, in the southeast quarter,
section 13, T. 29 S., R. 27 E. It is 32 miles long, 80 feet wide on the
bottom, and 120 on the surface, with banks 7 feet high and 10 to 16
feet wide on top, with inside slope of 4 to 1, and outside 2 to 1. On
the west bank there is a delightful driveway the full length. It has
a depth of about 6 feet. The grade is eight-tenths of a foot per mile.
In 30 miles it crosses Poso Creek by means of a weir 150 feet in length,
built in the bed of the creek, and connecting at either end with the
lower bank of the canal. This arrangement admits of the use of the
winter waters of Poso Creek by diverting them into the canal. It has
some sixty-five distributing ditches, from 8 to 20 feet wide on the bottom,
averaging 16 feet, and from 1 to 9 miles long, the aggregate length being
about 150 miles. These branches have banks 34 feet high, intended for
3 feet of water, with slopes 3 to 1, and a grade of 14% feet per mile,
giving to each a capacity of 1961%; cubic feet per second. The impor-
tance of this canal is seen when we state that it covers about 200,000
acres of land. The head-gate at the point of diversion from the river
is 100 feet long, built of redwood lumber, 6 by 6 struts, 4 by 6 side
posts, and 2-inch flooring. The foundation is 20 feet wide up and down
the stream, and has three rows of sheet piling, 4 by 8 Oregon pine,
driven to a depth of from 12 to 16 feet, with intermediate or anchor
piles of the same dimensions and material to which the Sills, 4 by 8,
redwood are spiked. There are 25 bays, and the gate-boards are 2 by
6 redwood. The top of the gate is 8 feet from the floor. The gate
extends from the right bank out into the stream, and is connected With
the weir by an artificial abutment. The weir extends from this abut-
ment southerly across the river, and is 400 feet long, being of similar
construction to the head-gate, the only difference being that the gate-
boards are twice as long, reaching across the bays. By means of the
gate-boards, which are movable, the water is under complete control,
and can be regulated at will. The Calloway appropriates 74,000 inches
of water, equivalent to 1,476 cubic feet per second. The location was
made May 4, 1875. -
The McCaffrey Ditch, sharing the head-gate of the Calloway Canal,
is 3 miles long, 7 to 8 feet wide on the bottom and is 23 feet deep. It
irrigates the land between the Calloway and the river. The appropri-
ation is 1,296 inches, equivalent to 26 cubic feet per second. The date
of location is October 31, 1874.
THE CANAf,S AND WORKS OF KERN COUNTY. 123
The head-gate of the Emery Ditch is in the northeast quarter of
section 22, T. 29 S., R. 27 E. It is 3 miles long, 6 to 8 feet wide on the
bottom, and 2 feet deep. It appropriates 2,000 inches, equivalent to 40
cubic feet per second. Located December 2, 1876.
The Jones and Tuckey Ditch begins in the northeast quarter of Sec-
tion 32, T. 29 S., R. 27 E. It is 4 miles in length, 10 feet wide on the
bottom, and 2 feet deep. The appropriation is 1,000 inches, equivalent
to 20 cubic feet per second. Located June 24, 1876.
The Railroad Canal, commencing near the corner of Southwest quar-
ter of section 31, T. 29 S., R. 27 E., is 3,000 feet long. It is 40 feet wide
on the bottom, and 2 feet deep. It empties into Goose Lake slough.
It appropriates 31,075 inches, equivalent to 620 cubic feet per second.
Its location dates July 24, 1874.
The head gate of the Wible Canal is in the northwest quarter of Sec-
tion 6, T. 30, S., R. 27 E., and running about 1,000 feet, it discharges
into Goose Lake Canal, and by means of this canal and Goose Lake
slough, its waters are conveyed to the lands to be irrigated. It is 40
feet wide on the bottom, and 2 feet deep. Its appropriation is 5,040
inches, and its capacity 300 cubic feet per second. Located May 1,
1875.
The property of the Goose Lake Canal Company is taken from the
northerly bank of Kern River, in the northeast quarter of section 1, T.
30 S., R. 26 E., and runs thence northwesterly 4% miles, emptying into
Goose Lake slough. Flowing through this slough the Water is taken
out at different points along the slough in ditches. It is 140 feet wide
on the bottom and 3 feet deep. It appropriates 90,000 inches, equiva-
lent to 1,795 cubic feet per second. It was located July 13, 1875. The
Railroad, Wible, and Goose Lake Canals all empty into the Goose Lake
slough, and use it as a common channel to carry their waters to the
adjoining lands as far down as Goose Lake, a distance of 22 miles.
The Pioneer Canal, owned by the Pioneer Canal Company, has its
head-gate in the northeast quarter of section 1, T. 30 S., R. 26 E. It has
a length westerly of 114 miles, being 60 feet wide on the bottom and 3
feet deep. This canal flows through the entire lengh of the McClung
ranch, which is wholly irrigated by it and its principal distributing
branch, the Pottinger Ditch, 16 feet wide. It also passes through the
Buena Vista ranch, furnishing mainly its irrigating waters. Its appro-
priation is 20,074 inches, equivalent to 400 cubic feet per second. This
canal was located April 26, 1873.
The head-gate of the Edwards Ditch is in the northwest quarter of
section 1, T. 30 S., R. 26 E. It is 2 miles long, 10 to 12 feet wide on the
bottom, and 1 foot deep. It appropriates 1,440 inches, equivalent to 20
cubic feet per second, and was located December 21, 1874.
The James and Dixon Canal is owned by the James and Dixon Canal
Company. It commences in the Southeast quarter of section 3, T. 30 S.,
R. 26 F., and runs in a Westerly direction about 12 miles. It is 30 feet
wide on the bottom and 3 feet deep. Its appropriation is 14,000 inches,
equivalent to 279 cubic feet per second. Its location dates April 19,
1873.
The Johnson Ditch is owned by the Lower New Kern River Irrigat-
ing Company, and begins in the southeast quarter of section 3, T. 30 S.,
R. 26 E., a few feet below the James and Dixon Canal, with which its
waters join in a shallow slough, a few hundred feet below. Its course
is southwesterly about 4 miles. It is 30 feet wide on the bottom and 3
feet deep. It appropriates 8,640 inches, equivalent to 172 cubic feet
per second. It was located June 12, 1873.
124 . IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Ash Ditch is near the Johnson, and is taken from the river in
Southeast quarter of section 3, T. 30 S., R. 26 E., and is 1 mile in length,
3 feet wide on the bottom, and 2 feet deep. It has a discharging capac.
ity of 24 cubic feet per second.
The May Ditch leaves a short arm of the river in the northwest cor.
ner of the Southwest quarter of section 18, T. 30 S., R. 26 E. It is 2
miles long, 8 feet wide on the bottom, and 2 feet deep. Its appropria-
tion is 4,000 inches, equivalent to 80 cubic feet per second. Its location
was made November 29, 1873.
The Joice Canal is taken from the river in the northeast corner of the
South West quarter of section 23, T. 30 S., R. 25 E. It is nearly 4 miles
long, 12 feet wide on the bottom, and 2 feet deep. It appropriates 6,250
inches of Water, equivalent to 129 cubic feet per second. Its location
was made May 26, 1873.
The Dixon Canal is a branch of the Joice Canal, diverting the water
from the latter for about 23 miles, and then it branches out to the north-
Ward, irrigating lands on the borders of the reclaimed swamp-land dis.
trict. It is 8 feet wide on the bottom and 4 feet deep. The appropria.
tion is 3,456 inches, equivalent to 69 cubic feet per second. Its location
dates April 13, 1875.
The foregoing canals and ditches are all on the north side of the New
Rern River, or now Kern River proper. Those on the south side, about
the Same number, are iocated on both sides of Old River. The first one
in order on the river, locating at the highest point on the left bank of
the Stream, is the property of the Kern Island Irrigating Canal Com-
pany, called the Kern Island Canal.
It is taken from Kern River near the southeast corner of the south-
West quarter of section 9, T. 29 S., R. 28 E., about 24 miles northeast of
Bakersfield, through which town it passes. It is 18 miles long, with a
width at the head-gate of 484 feet on the bottom and a depth of 4 feet.
It terminates at Kern Lake. At Bakersfield the canal makes a vertical
fall of nearly 20 feet, furnishing water power for a large flouring mill.
This important canal has two main branches, the town branch, supply-
ing Bakersfield and vicinity, having a length of 2 miles, and a central
branch, diverging from the canal south of the town, and running nearly
parallel to it, varying from one-half to 2 miles distant, for a distance of
10 miles in a southerly direction. This branch has a width of 20 feet
on the bottom, and a depth of 3 feet, with slopes of 3 to 1. The central
branch has nineteen drops in the distance of 10 miles, placed at inter-
vals of half a mile. The Kern Island and its branches have thirty-one
lateral ditches, besides a connecting ditch with the Stine Canal, having
a total length of over 80 miles. The Kern Island Canal appropriates
20,000 inches, equivalent to 400 cubic feet per second. Its location
dates from the latter part of 1870.
Next below the Kern Island is the Old South Fork Canal. It is taken
from the river in the central northern part of the northeast quarter of
section 17, T. 29 S., R. 28 E., about three-fourths of a mile below the
head-gate of the Kern Island Canal. It runs 3 miles southwesterly into
the bed of the Old South Fork of Kern River, in which its waters are
conveyed to Kern Lake in a nearly southerly direction. The canal has
a width of 26 feet on the bottom, and is from 2 to 3 feet deep. Its dis-
tributing ditches aggregate 7 miles, one of the principal of which is the
Cotton Ranch Ditch, irrigating 1,100 acres of alluvial bottom lands,
north of and adjoining Bakersfield. Most of the water diverted into
the Old South Fork is turned into the Panama Slough, and again ,
diverted below by the Panama Ditch. This canal is also used at times
THE CANALS AND WORKS OF KERN COUNTY. 125
as a feeder for the Kern Island Canal. The appropriation is 3,800
inches, equivalent to 75 cubic feet per second.
The Farmers' Canal, owned by the Farmers' Canal Company, takes
its water from the river in the northeast quarter of section 24, T. 29 S.,
R. 27 E., about 200 feet above the Southern Pacific Railroad bridge
across Kern River with a 48 feet opening, fronting parallel with the
river, the water entering the canal at right angles with the stream.
The first artificial channel to the Panama Slough is about three-quar.
ters of a mile in length. The total length of the main channel is about
15 miles, consisting wholly of natural sloughs. It has 4 miles of
branch constructions, varying from 10 to 20 feet in width. It has 30
miles of distributing ditches. The artificial channel is 50 feet wide on
the bottom and 3 feet deep, and the natural channel varies from 20 to
50 feet in width, with a depth of 6 to 10 feet, having nearly vertical
banks. The soil through which it passes is generally a firm, clayey loam,
and permits natural irrigation of adjacent lands by percolation. A
great deal of this land along the old channel is thus kept constantly
moist and requires no irrigation. It appropriates 14,400 inches, equiv.
alent to 287 feet per second. Its location was made April 29, 1873.
The Castro Ditch derives its water at the junction of Old and Kern
Rivers, in the northeast quarter of section 26, T. 29 S., R. 27 E. It is
16 feet wide on the bottom, 2 feet deep, and 5 miles long. It crosses
Panama Slough, and irrigates a small amount of land east of that chan-
nel. The appropriation is 1,000 inches, equivalent to 20 cubic feet per
Second.
The Stine Canal, belonging to the Stine Canal Company, has its head-
gate also at the junction of Old and Kern Rivers, adjoining that of Cas-
tro, in the northeast quarter of section 26, T. 29 S., R. 27 E. It occu-
pies the bed of Old River for the distance of half a mile. This canal is
80 feet wide on the bottom, 3 feet deep, and 15 miles long. It has two
main branches, with numerous forks, varying in width from 12 to 20
feet on the bottom, and having an aggregate length of 323 miles, and
41.3 miles of distributing ditches. It is next in importance, in this sys.
tem, to the Kern Island Canal, and shares with the Farmers' Canal in irri-
gating T. 30 and 31 S., R. 27 E., besides Supplying water for other lands
west and south. Its appropriation is 55,980 inches, equivalent to 1,117
cubic feet per second. It was located December 12, 1872.
The Anderson Canal heads also in the northeast quarter of section 26,
T. 29 S., R. 27 E., at the junction of Old and Kern Rivers. Its head.
gate connects with those of the Stine and Castro, and the same system
of wing dams serves for all. The canal runs southwesterly 4 miles, is
15 feet wide on the bottom, and 24 feet deep. This canal is used ex-
clusively for irrigating Stockdale ranch, located about 54 miles south-
west of Bakersfield. Its appropriation is 5,057 inches, equivalent to
101 cubic feet per second. The location was made October 9, 1872.
The Gates Canal, owned by the Gates Canal Company, is taken out
of Kern River, in the southwest quarter of section 26, T. 29 S., R. 27 E.,
and runs in a South Westerly direction 25 miles. It is 12 feet wide on the
bottom and 24 feet deep. . It also is used exclusively in irrigating Stock-
dale ranch. Its appropriation is 5,057 inches, equivalent to 101 cubic
feet per second. This canal was located originally without record early
in 1872, and relocated October 7, 1878.
The Buena Vista Canal belongs to the Buena Vista Canal Company.
Its head-gate is in the northeast quarter of section 33, T. 29 S., R. 27
E., and runs South Westerly through Bellevue ranch, located about 8
miles West of Bakersfield. It is 13% miles long, 30 feet wide on the bot-
126 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
tom, and 3 feet deep. It has numerous ditches of various dimensions.
Its appropriation is 14,000 inches, equivalent to 279 cubic feet per sec-
ond. Its location was July 15, 1870.
The James Canal, which is the property of the James Canal Company,
heads in the northeast quarter of section 33, T. 29 S., R. 27 E. It runs
South Westerly 173 miles, is 60 feet wide on the bottom the first 3 miles
and 40 feet the remaining distance, and is 3 feet deep. This canal also
flows through Bellevue ranch, supplying water for this ranch and all
lands still farther south and west. The amount of appropriation is
19,730 inches, equivalent to 394 cubic feet per second. Date of location,
October 15, 1871.
The Plunkett Canal, belonging to the Plunkett Canal Company, com.
mences in the northwest quarter of section 33, T. 29 S., R. 27 E. It
runs Southwesterly through Bellevue ranch, and is used exclusively
for it. Amount of appropriation is 5,057 inches, equivalent to 101 cubic
feet per second. Date of location, December 31, 1872. It is 33 miles
long, 12 feet wide on the bottom, and 24 feet deep.
The Meacham Canal is the property of the Meacham Canal Company,
commencing in the northwest quarter of section 6, T. 30 S., R. 27 E.,
and flows through Bellevue ranch southwesterly about 4 miles. It is
12 feet wide on the bottom and 3 feet deep. Its appropriation of water
is 1,500 inches, equivalent to 30 cubic feet per second. It was located
April 15, 1873.
The Wilson Canal commences at a point on Kern River, near the
head-gate of the Meacham Canal, in the northwest quarter of section 6,
T. 30 S., R. 27 E., and also flows through Bellevue ranch 24 miles in a
southwesterly direction, and is 5 feet wide on the bottom and 2 feet
deep. It appropriates 500 inches, equivalent to 10 cubic feet per sec-
ond, and was located August 15, 1874.
The Henley Canal begins in the southeast quarter of section 9, T. 30
S., R. 26 E., and runs southwesterly 23 miles. It is 3 feet wide on the
bottom and 2 feet deep. The amount of the appropriation is 2,880 inches,
equivalent to 57 cubic feet per second. Its location dates January 29,
1874.
The Frazer Canal takes its waters out of the Kern River, in the
northeast quarter of section 16, T. 39 S, R. 26 E. It flows southwesterly
24 miles, and is 5 feet wide on the bottom, with a depth of 13 feet. It
appropriates 2,600 inches, equivalent to 52 cubic feet per second. It was
located April 15, 1873.
The Kern Valley Water Company has two main canals for the re-
clamation of swamp land in District No. 21, in Buena Vista Slough, and
a distributing canal. The principal canal is that on the West side of
the district, following, generally, the border of the Swamp lands for a
distance of 24 miles. At its head it is 125 feet wide on the bottom, 7
feet deep, with sides sloping from 3 to 1 and from 7 to 1, and a grade of
nine-tenths of a foot per mile. The grade is very irregular, and we give
it in detail. For one-half mile the grade is nine-tenths of a foot; 9
miles, it is 2 feet; one-half mile, 2P, feet; and 14 miles, level; vertical
drop, 1 & feet; 1 mile, 8 feet; 2 miles, level.
Below this main channel, a parallel distributing canal, 30 feet Wide
on the bottom and 2 feet deep, was constructed about 10 miles long.
On the east side of the swamp a canal about 6 miles long was con-
structed for irrigation purposes, having a width on the bottom of 25feet,
a depth of 3 to 5 feet, and side slopes of 3 to 1. The appropriation of
water of the Kern Valley Water Company is 100,000 inches, equivalent
to 1,995 cubic feet per second, and its loºation dates April 7, 1877. The
W
IRRIGABLE CAPACITY OF KERN COUNTY. 127
appropriation of the Kern Valley, east side, is 30,000 inches, equivalent
to 599 cubic feet per second, and the location dates April 9, 1877,
Résumé of the canal 898tem of Kern Valley,

Name of canal. Length. Appropriation,
Miles. | Miner's inch. Cubic feet.
Beardsley---------------------------------------------------------- 8 47, 230 938
cCord ------------------------------------------------------------ 14; 5,000 100
Calloway----------------------------------------------------------- 32 74, 000 1,476
McCaffry---------------------------------------------- ------------ 3 1, 296
Emery ------------------------------------------------------------. 3 2,000 40
JonesTuckey ----------------------- ſº e s = * * s us as sº as as a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4 1,000 20
Railroad.----------------------------------------------------------- # 31,075 620
Wible -------------------------------------------------------------- # 5,040 100
Goose Lake -------------------------------------------------------. 4% 90,000 1,795
Pioneer -----------------------------------------------------------. 11% 20,074 400
Ldwards ----------------------------------------------------------. 2 , 440 29
James and Dixon -------------------------------------------------. 3 14,000 279
Johnson.----------------------------------------------------------- 4 8, 640 172
Ashe --------------------------------------------------------------- I 1, 200 24
May---------------------------------------------------------------- 2 4,000 80
Voice --------------------------------------------------------------- 4 6, 250 125
Pixon -------------------------------------------------------------. 2% 3, 456 69
Total.-------------------------------------------------------. 99% 315, 701 6, 293
Kern Island. ------------------------------------------------------- 30 20, 000 400
Old South Fork ---------------------------------------------------- 3 3,800 75
Farmers'. ---------------------------------------------------------- 193 14. 400 287
Castro-------------------------------------------------------------- 5 1, 300 20
Stine.-------------------------------------------------------------- 47% 55, 980 1, 117
Anderson ---------------------------------------------------------- 4 5,057 101
Gates -------------------------------------------------------------- 2% 5,057 101
Buena Vista.------------------------------------------------------. 133. 14, 000 | . 279
James. ------------------------------------------------------------- 17% 19, 730 394
Plunkett ----------------------------------------------------------- 3% 5,057 101
Meacham ---------------------------------------------------------- 4. 1, 500 30
Wilson ------------------------------------------------------------- 2% 10
Henley:------------------------------------------------------------ 2% 2,880 57
Frazer ---------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * , 24 2, 600 52
Rern Valley Water Company -------------------------------------. 40 130,000 2, 594
Total.-------------------------------------------------------- 1974 281, 561 5, 618
Grand total -------------------------------------------------- 297% 597,262 11, 911
v---—- &
The rains of winter and the melting snows of summer on the upper
Sierra thus maintain a full flow in Kern River for about two-thirds of
the year, the period covering the greatest demand for irrigation. Kern
River has a slope through the Valley of 6 to 8 feet per mile, and lies in a
shallow, sandy bed, with banks of sandy soil 3 to 6 feet high. These are
favorable conditions, and enable water to be taken out at almost any
point at comparatively small cost. Few permanent, costly dams, or
very expensive head-works have been found necessary; a simple wing-
dam of sand and brush, running out into the channel of the river at an
acute angle up the stream, serves every purpose, in most cases, for
diverting Water into the canals, there being only five weir extensions
across the river in the whole system.
Then, again, the slope of the irrigable lands of the valley is so great
there is no difficulty in running canals in almost any direction over them,
nor in distributing water in the smaller ditches, or in draining it off. It
is therefore peculiarly favorable for irrigation, yet the soil is too friable'
to permit of canals of any considerable size taking the natural slope of .
the ground without serious erosion and damage.
The grade over these sloping plains is regulated by “drops” or weirs,
placed at proper intervals, with movable Weir-boards, which are also con.
venient and necessary for raising water to enter distributing ditches.
l
's
128 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
These drops are constructed similarly to the canal head-works, and are
characterized by an absence of ponderous gates for regulating the wa-
ter and extreme lightness of timber used, studying the greatest econo-
my in material. Head-gates are a necessity when the water is taken
out of the river to control the admission of water to the canal. They
are made entirely of wood, there being no stone readily accessible in
this vicinity. The better class of these head-gates are constructed upon .
a foundation of anchor-piles driven into the sand as far as possible, with
sheet-piling of 2-inch planks at the upper and lower sides of the struct-
ll T6.
Weirs, as before indicated, are constructed not only for drops, but
for raising water for entering distributing ditches. Side gates are at
the head of distributing ditches for the purpose of admitting water from
the canal into such ditches. They are constructed upon the same prin-
ciple as head-gates.
The canal flume is the usually constructed flume for carrying one
stream of Water over-another across a gulch or ravine.
Wing-dams are built of brush and in the river, from the lower side of
the mouth of the canal up the stream, at an acute angle with the cur-
rent, to turn the waters of the river into the canal. *
Waste-gates are built at the heads of canals and also along their
course to let off any oversupply of water. Inverted siphons are put
into canals for the purpose of carrying their waters under another
canal.
A module is put into a gate or other structure for the measurement
Of water. º
There are four general classes of irrigation as conducted in California.
First method.—Constituting irrigation of vines and trees, as prac-
ticed in some portions of Los Angeles and San Diego Counties, under
which the water is conducted through pipes having openings at each
different vine or tree to be irrigated, all of these small distributing pipes
being supplied from one large pipe. This of course is a highly expen-
sive mode of irrigation, and one which can not be practiced except
where an exceedingly small amount of water must be utilized to the
greatest degree possible and where the results as derived therefrom are
of great benefit.
Second method.—By building ditches at stated distances apart, the
land being irrigated by the seepage or percolation of water through the
soil, from one ditch to another. This method is applicable only in dis-
tricts having a loose soil, through which the water can easily pass, and
is not to any extent valuable for use in Kern County, where such Con-
ditions do not exist.
Third method.—By building the ditches on the ridges or highest ground
in the land to be irrigated, and from them running the water downhill
and holding it back by means of small temporary checks, or, in cases
of vines or trees, running the water downhill through plow furrows.
This method of irrigating is well adapted to the irrigation of orchards
and vineyards, thereby utilizing the water to good advantage; but in
the irrigation of grass or alſalfa land, or in other cases where it is de-
sirable to cover simultaneously a large area of land, it has been found .
to be more expensive than, and in the irrigation history of Kern County,
has generally been supplanted by, the fourth method.
Fourth method.—By building ditches at stated distances apart, run-
ning downhill with the slope of the country, and between them building
permanent levees on contour lines, the latter being distributed with the
grade at varying distances of fall, as desired, 6f 6, 9, 12, 18, or 24 inches.
. DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS IN CALIFORNIA. 129
This is the cheapest method of irrigating where there is an abundance
of water and where the area owned, controlled, or irrigated by any one
man is large. •
The above descriptions under the first, second, and third modes of
irrigation clearly indicate the manner in which the water is handled,
and to the uninitiated no explanation is therefore needed, except as
connected with the fourth mode, which has most generally been adopted
in Kern County. In the second, third, and fourth modes of irrigating
the diversion of the water from the river, creek, spring, reservoir, or
other general source of supply where large areas are to be irrigated is
required to be made into one general conducting ditch, from which the
smaller distributing ditches diverge, conducting the water to the lands
to be irrigated.
DIFFERENT SYSTEMS.
Subsoils dams are frequently constructed in California with the object
of cutting off the subterranean flow of water in channels whose beds
soon become dry on the surface. It is first ascertained by sinking
shafts across the channel whether water is thus passing subterraneously.
This will be observable in some cases by floating substances traversing
the shaft, but if the flow is very slow it may not be detected by this
means, and coloring the water with a dye will show it by a replacement
of the colored by pure water passing through the shaft. A subterra-
neous water flow is frequently brought to the surface by impervious
strata traversing its course. . Localties in which this occurs are the best
sites for weirs. It is not probable that such natural bars are to be found
in tire plains, far removed from the source of supply, and to produce
them artificially in such situations would necessitate very deep and
probably very extended walls. The trial shafts should therefore be
made where the valley is well defined in character. *
Of course these submerged dams can only bring water to the surface
of the channel where the latter is of sand or gravel through which the
Water would rise, forming an artesian supply. Where the surface of the
bed is of Sand, in which the water could be again lost, the elevated
Water Would of course be diverted to an impervious channel provided
for it. Where such subterranean water can be intercepted a consider-
able Supply might be expected for some months after the water ceased to
flow previous to the interception, for doubtless in many cases a con-
siderable proportion of the rain-fall is absorbed and given off gradually
to subterranean strata.
Subterranean currents have also in several instances been interrupted
by means of tunnels run in from the surface 2,000 and 3,000 feet, the flow
being planked to form a flume and the water then conducted to open
channels. Tunnels of this character are at Ontario and at Passadena,
Where a second tunnel was driven at a higher level, completely cutting
off the supply from the first enterprise. At Riverside it has been as-
Certained that there is a large subdrainage in the low land forming the
bank of the river. A level channel for half a mile, cutting across this
drainage so that the flow shall be intercepted, will give perfectly clear
Water, sufficient for the canal supply. Should half a mile not be suffi.
cient it can be extended.
Flumes are used where it would cost considerably more to convey
Water in an excavated channel, or where the soil is gravelly, and the loss
by percolation would be great. Ravines are crossed by flumes or pipes.
The objection urged against flumes is their continual cost for repair, and
danger of destruction by fire. Where they are used, and practicable,
138 A L–AP WOL IV—9
130 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
they are set on a heavier grade than channels 30 to 35 feet per mile,
and are of proportionally smaller area than channels with less grade.
They should be constructed in straight lines if possible. Curves where
required should be carefully set out, so that the flume may discharge
its maximum quantity. , Many canals have miles of fluming in California.
In the ordinary style of construction sills, posts, and ties support and
strengthen the Work at every 4 feet. The posts are let into the ties and
sills. The sills extend 20 inches beyond the posts, to which side-braces
are nailed to strengthen the structure. Where flumes are not supported
on trestles, but rest on an excavated ledge, it is desirable still to use
the stringers, which should be placed just outside the posts, so that
water leaking from the sides will drop clear of them. Main supports,
such as trestles, are placed 8 feet apart. Planking should be either
redwood or heart sugar pine.
A flume at Riverside is 900 feet long, the section being 8 feet by 2
feet. 8 inches, the sills rest on concrete blocks made in situ, molds being
over the spot where the block is required, and concrete consolidated
into it. Its greatest height is 42 feet; the total cost, $6,200; waste-
gate at the upper end cost $200. This is necessary in case of repairs
being required. The connection with the land at either end is 15 feet
long, with sets of flanges projecting 5 feet on either side, and a 16-inch
plank underneath. The joints are covered with a solution of asphalt
in turpentine, which is elastic and does not crack. This protection
would not be necessary if carefully joined redwood were used.
A flume at Los Angeles, constructed by Mr. F. Eaton, is both econom-
ical of material and strong in design. Here Oregon timber was used.
The joints were left open one-sixteenth of , an inch, and chamfered, and
the inside swabbed with asphalt. The planks were 16 feet long, break-
ing joints at 8 feet. Cattle-troughs are made on the same plan from 8
to 16 feet long.
Flumes are often constructed, instead of small channels, where the
soil is porous and the quantity of water limited. These are made of
three planks, in lengths about 10 feet, and butt jointed (the joint being
covered and connected by a 3-inch by 1-inch piece), and are laid to a
grade of 10 feet to the mile or more. Holes are made in them opposite
each tree or furrow that requires water, a stop is placed in the flume
below the length to be irrigated, and the plugs removed from the holes
when the water is to be delivered.
The Bear River Canal flume is 500 feet long, with section of 5 feet by
3 feet, and a fall of 10 feet per mile. Flumes are extensively used in
hilly districts for drainage across the land, and a waste flume is inserted
opposite the drainage, permitting the water in excess of the channel's
capacity to escape. A flume is sometimes carried inside a larger one,
the smaller one delivering the water at a higher level, or to another
irrigator, so that the two supplies may be kept separate.
The asbestine system.—The inventors of this system hold that in a
region where no rain falls during the long summer the only proper
way to irrigate orchards, vineyards, etc., is to apply the water below
the surface of the ground, keeping the surface dry. The asbestine sys-
tem consists in conducting the water in concrete pipes below the reach
of the plow along each row of trees. At each tree a plug is Set in the
upper side of the pipe, each plug having a small hole through which,
and nowhere else, the water escapes, falling on the outside of the pipe
and being taken into the soil by capillary attraction. It saves from
three-fourths to nine-tenths the water used in surface irrigation. It is
under perfect control, and can be applied wherever irrigation is needed.
DISTRIBUTING SYSTEMS IN CALIFORNIA, 131
There is no need of summer cultivation, either before or after irrigat-
ing. The surface of the ground is always dry in summer, hence exempt
from the unavoidable chill of surface irrigation. The soil is never ex-
cessively wet and can not bake, but remains moist, loose, and at nearly
uniform temperature, promoting along summer growth. Anything that
the soil lacks as plant-food (manure, lime, etc.) can be easily, directly,
and economically applied in liquid form. The pest of the Vineyard,
phylloxera, can be thus easily reached. No grading is necessary, as the
system works as well on hill-sides and undulating land as on ground
uniformly sloping. r
If, through carlessness, muddy water is let into the pipe, and sedi:
ment collects, one or more of the lower plugs can be taken out, and
the water passed rapidly through. The pipes will thus be cleaned. If
the water is kept in motion, the sediment it contains should not be de-
posited. On the Briggs farm, in the Sacramento Valley, the pipes,
4 inches in diameter, are made on the place by an ingenious machine,
from cement and fine gravel in the proportion of three-fourths of the
latter to one-fourth of the former, and are laid at a depth of 20 inches
down the center, between each second row of vines, with an opening for
the escape of the water in the upper side of the pipe every 30 feet. .
The pipe-making machine is so constructed as to travel along the
trench, making and laying the pipe in one operation, after which the
earth is covered in with a guard over the vent-holes to prevent choking.
The water supply, raised when required from a neighboring stream by
steam-engine and centrifugal pump, is commanded by sluice-doors at
various points, to admit of the water being laid on or shut off at
pleasure; but excellent as the system is in theory, Mr. Briggs has not
yet managed to get it to work with thorough satisfaction.
Mr. Holt, of Riverside, has devised a different mode of letting the water
escape from the pipes. To prevent the holes in the plugs becoming
occasionally closed by roots finding their way into them, a section of
about 6 inches long is cut out of the continuous pipe where the plugged
hole would be, and a Square hole, about 6inches by 6 inches, sunk below
the gap in the pipe. A tile, in the form of a saddle, 9 inches long,
covers the gap, and the Water escapes between the two surfaces. The.
advantage of this plan is that if roots do find their way between the
two faces they are easily cleaned away by cutting them. The hole below
the gap catches any silt that may pass down the pipe. This most eco-
nomical system of irrigation should be especially suited to cases in which
water is very scarce, as where it is raised by wind-power. The water
will spread over a circular area of 16 feet diameter in four or five hours.
Subirrigation is practiced largely in Japan.
Pipes and conduits.--Where water is scarce, and has to be conveyed
long distances in channels excavated in the soil, exposing it to too great
a loss, impervious channels and pipes of various kinds have been re-
sorted to to convey it to land that was valueless without it. This has
caused the adoption of a variety of materials to render conduits imper-
vious and of various modes of application of water by their means.
The following impervious conduits are used: (1) Wooden flumes; (2)
lined channels; (3) wrought-iron riveted asphalted pipes; (4) wrought-
iron laminated asphalted pipes; (5) terra-cotta pipes; (6) cemented
pipes; (7) asphalt pipes. g
Lined channels.-The Zanja Madre Channel at Los Angeles was lined
with concrete, and had a cross-section of a segment of an ellipse, with a
diameter of 5 feet and a depth of 34 feet. The thickness of concrete was
6 inches. The ingredients Were hydraulic lime, two parts; clean, sharp
132 ERRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
sand, three parts; pebbles, 1 inch in diameter, four parts; small stones,
2 to 3 inches in diameter, four parts; large stone, not exceeding 5 inches
in diameter, four parts; cost $2 per linear foot.
A tunnel Conveying water to Los Angeles was lined on the bottom
with concrete 4 inches thick, forming a semicircle of 4 feet diameter.
The cost was 75 cents per linear foot, with cement at about $4 per cask.
Wrought-iron riveted and asphalted pipes are extensively used in Los
Angeles County for irrigation. They are jointed, stove-pipe fashion, and
when not subjected to too great pressure are set with red or white lead.
Wrought-iron laminated asphalted pipes are made of two shells of
sheet-iron. These shells are made of one sheet of iron 8 feet long,
rolled and lapped 1 inch, and united by a composition solder. They
are half the thickness of iron that would be necessary for the ordinary
sheet-iron pipe. The inner shell is telescoped into the outer shell whilst
immersed in hot asphalt, specially prepared, giving a thickness between
the sheets one-sixteenth of an inch, or more, if desired, thus making an
impassable barrier to corrosion from outside or inside. The outside and
inside coatings are also substantial. This produces a solid shell 8 feet
long, with an inner surface free from all excrescences.
The pipe is also made double, of one sheet, by rolling a sheet that is
twice the width of the single sheet until the edges will lap with a thick-
ness of iron between them ; the lap is riveted. This is dipped in as-
phalt, but it can not have the intermediate lamina of asphalt, which is
the main advantage of the laminated over the single sheet-iron pipe.
Both these descriptions of pipes are jointed end to end, an inner sleeve
being fixed in the shop. In laying, the end is dipped in hot asphalt
and an outer sleeve is also dipped and pressed on by a Clamp Over the
point until the asphalt is set. Bends and branches are of cast-iron, as
in the ordinary sheet-iron pipe, and the joints are made With cement.
The 4-inch laminated pipe has been tested up to 500 pounds per Square
inch. Its price is about 25 cents per linear foot. The double-rolled
pipe is about 17 cents per foot. The construction of the latter is much
simpler, and the asphalt has been found a perfect protection from rust,
so there is no necessity for the lamination. Terra-cotta pipes Would be
excluded by their price, except for some special purpose, such as sew:
erage or culverts, for use under roads, etc. . Concrete pipes, where good
sand is obtainable, and no pressure is required, are extensively used.
At Ontario Colony, San Bernardino County, an irrigation enterprise
has been started, which is mainly dependent on concrete pipes for con-
veying the water from the cañon. Thirty miles of 12-inch concrete pipe
have been laid here, at a cost of about 43 cents per linear foot for mak-
ing. The ingredients are cement, sand, and gravel, in the proportion
of one of cement to four of clean, sharp sand, and gravel. The gravel
may be as large as half the thickness of the shell of the pipe.
The pipes are formed in molds of sheet-iron. These consist of two
sheet-iron cylinders, an inner and an outer, both of which can be ex-
panded and contracted by means of a bar fixed parallel to the joint from
which four arms project, connected with the outer edge of the joint so as
to close and open it. Between these cylinders is a cast iron ring, form-
ing the base. This cast-iron ring is shaped to mold the end of the pipe
to form a socket. The inner cylinder or core is kept central at its base
by being inside the cast-iron base. It is centered above, by hand until
sufficient of the concrete mixture has been consolidated around it to
keep it so. The filling is then completed, being put in in small quanti-
ties at a time, and consolidated with an iron rammer. The upper end
THE SYSTEM IN USE AT Los ANGELOS. 133
of the pipe is shaped to form a spigot by means of a cast-iron ring that
is worked round by hand. A 6-inch diameter 2-foot-long pipe is made
at the rate of one length per minute by three men. Only as much of the
mixture must be made at oue time as can be used within ten minutes after
mixing, or its setting qualities will be injured. The newly-made pipe
is removed from the mold or the mold from it on the drying area, the
base being left for it to stand on until sufficiently set to handle. In
handling the larger-sized sections a clip with handles is used, and an-
Other for laying. §
The pipes made with mixture of one to four are not guarantied to
stand pressure, but with a slight increase, and well consolidated, they
will stand a considerable head. They are cheaper than any other pipes
when suitable sand and gravel are obtainable near the site where they
are to be used. A continuous pipe-making machine, for making a Con-
tinuous concrete pipe in a trench excavated to the required depth for
Subirrigation, consists of a cylinder of the size of the pipe required, in
which an india-rubber core is moved backwards and forwards by a lever,
the concrete material being thrown into a funnel fixed at right angles
to the pipe-making cylinder. By this means three men can unake over
1,000 feet of 2-inch piping in ten hours. This system is not much used.
Asphalt-concrete pipes are made as described for concrete pipes, and
are Superior to them, being perfectly impervious and capable of with-
Standing much greater pressure. The proportion of sand to asphalt
and the other ingredients could not be ascertained, but the quantity of
the sand need not be limited, as in cement concrete, for the larger the
Quantity of Sand used the harder and better the pipes. The pipes are
united by heating them so as to form a continuous pipe, as strong at
the joints as in another part. Where the ground is yielding they are
laid on piles driven 6 feet into the ground, and a plank laid on top of
the piles upon which the pipe rests. ty
The Highland Park Water. Works, Los Angeles, for irrigation and do-
méstic supply.—The source of the supply is the Arroyo Seco, a torrent
Which runs a few days only after each rain-fall, and springs, yielding
during the dry months about .08 cubic feet per second. There are 400
acres supplied by the system, which must necessarily depend for its ir-
rigation on the flood flow; hence a storage reservoir is necessary of suf.
ficient capacity to store the rain-fall as it occurs, to be applied to the
land during the intervals of dry weather, which through the rainy season
average about fifteen days each. Allowing 2 inches depth as the mini-
mum.for each irrigation, 400 acres would require eighteen and one-
Seventh million gallons. The reservoir capacity is 20,000,000 gallons,
and is connected with the main pipe, so that any excess over the dis.
tribution flows into the reservoir, and of course when the supply from
the Source is less than the pressure from the reservoir the distribution
receives the Water from the latter. The reservoir is therefore the head
to Which the supply pressure is due unless the reservoir main valve be
closed, when the head at the source would furnish the pressure.
This System is capable of supplying 12 inches depth of water over the
400 acres during the year, in addition to the rain-fall, which averages
12 inches, and falls between the months of November and May. The
land thus receives 24 inches depth of water, which is ample in this
country for Imost products required, excepting oranges and alfalfa. The
main pipe is 8 inches in diameter, asphalted wrought-iron, and the dis-
tribution pipes are of the same material, and from 2 inches to 6 inches
in diameter. Each lot takes its supply through a 2-inch pipe. The
134 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
effective pressure is 40 pounds per square inch. The land is irrigated
by furrows, and service-pipes are laid over the ground in some cases, so
that each tree can be watered from a rubber hose into a check of fºom
5 fººt to 12 feet diameter, according to the age of the trees.
The head Works are temporary, consisting of a wooden trough 100
feet long. This is laid in the bowlder bed of the channels, with the top
of the sides slightly below the bed line. It is anchored by cleats fast-
ened to its bottom, that extend 3 feet from the sides. These are coy.
ered, and the trough filled with bowlders, the water flowing between
the bowlders. The trough at its lower end is connected with a 10-inch
cement pipe. The temporary wooden flume will be replaced by a per-
forated wrought-iron pipe that will extend 100 feet, 5 feet below the
shingle and bowlder bed, the water being dammed back by a submerged
Wºlf, Cºusing the Water that the pipe is capable of carrying to be drawn
off by it; the water will thus be filtered of anything that can now pass
between the bowlders. The cost of this scheme was $21,300.
The Ontario colony.—This colony is an example of utilizing wasteland
and Water to the maximum of benefit. It is situated on the sloping
land from the foot-hills of the Sierra Madre Mountains, where San Ber:
nardino and Los Angeles Counties join, the San Antonio Cañon or Val-
ley giving a perpetual supply of water from the mountain snows in the
Summer, and from rain which falls on the lower slopes and hills in the
Cold months. The soil was analyzed and examined as to its productive
capability, and found to be peculiarly adapted for the growth of vines
and fruit-trees. The climate was also favorable. Having purchased
the land and the water rights, the colonists distributed the water by
means of cement pipes over the whole tract, divided into 10-acre lots,
S0 that each lot should be supplied at the highest point. To accom.
plish all this has cost about $170,000. This includes roads, streets,
railway station, hotel, college, dam, and 27 miles of pipes, masonry.
lined channel and tunnel, iron pipes for supply of township, etc.
A dam diverts the surface water from the channel, but as a large
quantity passes below the bed, a tunnel 3,000 feet long has been driven
across this drainage and leads it into a masonry-lined channel, which is
6,000 feet long. The water is taken from this channel by the cement
pipes, but a reservoir will be constructed to store the surplus water not
required during the non-irrigating season, and the pipes will then con-
nect with it. It is intended here to use the laminated wrought-iron
pipe, preferring it to the single-shell riveted pipe. The water is deliv-
ered and measured from the cement pipes by meaps of a vertical con-
nection, at which point a valve is fixed, consisting of a cast-iron plate,
with an aperture the size of the pipe in it, and a groove for the valve
to slide in. This valve is simply a plate of cast-iron with a wrought-
iron lifting rod. The tunnel referred to was decided on after sinking
experimental shafts across the Valley and then ascertaining that there
was such a subterranean flow that a light substance, such as a chip of
wood, would be carried to the bottom of the shaft.
This mode of intercepting water has been frequently resorted to with
the most surprising results. The quantity of water used for irrigating
by the pipe system is 1 cubic foot of water per second to every 50 acres.
The value of 1 cubic foot of water per second where it can be ap-
plied, as here, to fruit-growing, is estimated at $50,000. The unit of
measure is one-fiftieth of a cubic foot, and is termed an inch of Water,
and is measured by the discharge through an aperture 1 inch square in
THE WATER-WORKS IN SAN DIEGO COUNTY. 135
a 1-inch plank under a 4-inch pressure. The discharge of a stream, for
irrigating purposes is estimated for the mid-summer period, that is from
the 15th of July to the 1st of August, when it is at its lowest.
LAKE HEMET WATER COMPANY, SAN DIEGO.
District and work.-The general project of the Lake Hemet, Water
Company contemplates the storage of water in Hemet Valley for Sup-
ply to the stream at time of low flow, and the diversion of such waters,
together with other waters of south fork, from a point just above the
mouth of Strawberry Fork, and conducting them by means of pipe line
for the irrigation of lands at the head of San Jacinto Plain, in the
valley below the lands of the Fairview company. The district Com-
manded is, practically, nearly the entire San Jacinto Valley. ..
Delivery and distribution works.--From a temporary diverting dam
of brush in the south fork of the San Jacinto River, at the point above
indicated, a 214-inch sheet-iron pipe conducts water several hundred
feet to a large sand-box, arranged in various compartments; thence the
main pipe, 13 inches diameter, extends down the bed of the caſion a
total distance of 16,091 feet, to a relief box, into which it empties freely
at an elevation of about 500 feet below its head. From the reilef box
a 22-inch riveted iron pipe extends to a point beyond the mouth of the
caſion, a distance of about 10,250 feet. For purposes of temporary Sup-
ply, an 8 inch pipe has been laid thence, a distance of 22,790 feet, to
about a central point in a tract of 10,000 acres, owned by the Hemet
Land Company, which is an associate organization with the Lake Hemet
Water Company. But it is intended to replace this 8-inch pipe by an
extension of the 22-inch pipe at an early date. The total length of pipe
thus far laid, including some 5,000 feet of lateral distribution pipe, is
about 54,900 feet, or nearly 10.4 miles. The weight of iron used has
been from No. 16 up to No. 12 in thickness, and the total cost has been
about $45,000. The pipe-laying down the cañon of the river proved to
be a tedious and expensive job, for the reason that a succession of large
boulders was encountered in the trench, many of which had to be
blasted, and many removed with derricks and powerful pulleys, and for
the further reason that the bed of the creek had to be crossed four
times.
Storage reservoir ; Hemet Valley.—The main resource of the com-
pany in the way of water supply is to be the projected reservoir of
Hemet Valley, 20 miles above the town of San Jacinto, at an elevation
of 4,300 feet. The south fork leaves the valley through a cañon, only
about 60 feet wide at the bottom, with walls of granite, vertical on one
side for 100 feet in height, and on the other sloping at a very steep
angle. At a height of 120 feet above the base, at the most favorable dam
site, the width across the cañon is but 200 feet, and at 150 feet, it is less
than 300 feet. Granite of the best quality is at hand; sand, sharp
and clean, may be had convenient; an abundance of pine timber is
growing in the valley and on the hills all about the site, and water, whose
power may be utilized for much of the work, is flowing in the stream.
Taking all these convenient materials and facilities, and the character
of the dam site into consideration, there are few localities in the State
more favorable for the construction of a high-storage dam. The reser-
voir basin is a capacious one, but not notably so, as the following table
of contents, at successive levels, will indicate:
136 IRR16ATION IN THE UNITED STATES.

Elevations of water
plane. Correspond-
ing areas | Capacity of reservoir above
of reservoir base of dam.
Above basel Above lew. surface.
of dam. I est outlet.
Feet. Feet. Acres. Cubic feet. Mill, gallons.
30 * 10 . 37 112, 000 .84
40 20 2. 70 1, 769, 00 13. 23
50 30 12. 50 5, 342, 500 40.06
60 40 27, 94 14, 155,000 105. 88
70 50 50. 45 31, 232, 000 233. 62
f 80 60 90, 61 61,953, 000 463. 41
90 70 115, 96 111, 947, 000 837. 35
100 80 176. T6 175, 708, 500 1, 314. 40
110 90 238. 70 266, 197, 500 1,991. 16
120 100 349.80 389, 374,000 2, 911. 62
150 130 l ------ I ----------. f6,000
* Figures in this column are approximations only. f Approximation.
SAN DIEGO RIVER, WORKS AND PROJECTS.
The commanding position occupied by the works under construction
by the San Diego Flume Company, their far-reaching design in accumu-
lating from different sources the waters of distant streams, their costli-
ness, the wide extent of the district commanded, and the fact that they
terminate at the city of San Diego, which may receive its supply at high
pressure on the summits of its greatest elevations, render them in many
respects more important to the prosperity of the region than any other.
District and works.-As far as they have been outlined the works
consist of a storage reservoir on the headwaters of the Bowlder Creek
tributary of the San Diego River, a diverting dam of masonry in the
river proper, and a line of flume 36 miles in length—skirting the cañon's
side for 21 miles, then circling south of the valley of El Cajon, and
finally emerging upon the mesa 10 miles east of the city of San Diego.
The plans of the company contemplate the diversion of the headwaters
of the Tia Juana and Sweetwater Rivers on the south, and the San
Dieguito on the north, into the head of the main flume, the construc-
tion of various additional storage reservoirs in the mountains, and a
distributary reservoir at the end of the flume, the development of trib-
utaries of the San Diego by tunnels under their beds and gathering
them into the main conduit by smaller lateral flumes, and the distribu-
tion of the water from the end of the main flume by pipe lines over the
II].6S3.
Storage reservoir.—The main dependence of the works for a summer
and fall supply is at present the Cuyamaca reservoir, located 43 miles
northeast of San Diego in the Cuyamaca Mountains, at an altitude of
4,500 feet. The water.shed of this reservoir is about 15 square miles
in area, draining two of the highest peaks of the range. The reservoir
is formed by an earthen dam 635 feet long on top, 40 feet in height,
thrown across the outlet of a broad, flat mountain Valley. From the
eastern rim of the water-shed the country drops abruptly into the
desert. The hills on this side are low and barren. The two Cuyamaca
peaks on the west are clothed with forests of pine and oak.
Cuyamaca dam.—The site of the dam was one which had all the Sur-
face indications of solid rock. The whole surface was covered with
loose granite bowlders, and before sinking test pits, preparations and
plans had been made for building a masonry dam. The excavation for
foundation developed a bed of clay instead of bed-rock as anticipated,
and an abundance of good clay being found in the immediate neighbor-
THE DAMS AND FLUMES IN SAN DIEGO County. 137
hood, the plans were changed and an earth-work dam built. A puddle
trench was cut under the center of the embankment, and the clay fill-
ing built up in layers. The embankment has a base of 115 feet, inside
slope of two to one, outside slope of one and one-half to one, top width
15 feet. The high water mark is fixed at 5 feet below the top, at which
point a waste-way 50 feet wide is placed on one side. The water-face
of the dam is covered with stone riprap laid, dry, 8 inches in thickness.
The outlet culvert is of masonry 34 feet wide by 4 feet 6 inches high
inside, 120 feet long, its bottom placed at the level of the original sur-
face with a fall of 34 feet in its length. At the upper end it opens into
the base of a circular brick tower 8 feet in diameter outside, 5 feet in
diameter inside, and carried to the level of the top of the dam. This
tower is provided with two gates of wood, closing openings 3 feet wide
by 4 feet 6 inches high. The lowest opening is at the bottom of the
tower, the second 15 feet 9 inches higher, immediately above the lower.
These gates slide up and down in wooden grooves, and as they are to
be moved by chains or ropes, are not convenient, particularly when
they are to be closed quickly under pressure. An iron gate is provided
inside the tower to close the head of the outlet culvert.
Diversion and delivery works.-The diversion is made from the San
Biego River about 31 miles from its mouth, at an elevation of about 800
feet above sea-level, and where the stream, falling at the rate of about
30 feet per mile, is in an open cañon flanked by barren mountain slopes
rugged and steep.
San Diego diverting dam.—The diverting dam is built of masonry of
of the following dimensions: Maximum height, 34.5 feet; length, 447.5
feet; width at top, 5 feet; up-stream batter, 13 feet in 20 feet; back
batter, 7 feet in 20; width at base, 18 feet. The dam contains 4,000
cubic yards of masonry, and required 2,410 barrels of cement. The
average depth of excavation in the bowlders that formed the bed of the
stream was 10 to 12 feet, and the foundation rests upon the soft, dis-
integrating granite, forming the bed-rock of the country. This mate-
rial may be readily cut with the pick and crumbles on exposure to air.
After the dam was completed and tested, the leakage was considered
excessive, and the upper face was again stripped to the foundation, and
an apron of masonry 2 feet thick was sunk to a depth of some 6 feet
lower than the original base. The wall was then repointed and par-
tially plastered on the face. The top of the dam is at an altitude of 813.5
feet. In alignment the dam has an angle in the center whose apex is
pointed up-stream. Otherwise the structure is straight, depending upon
the weight of its mass for stability.
The head of the flume passes through the wall with wooden gates to
control the water. The level of the flume-bed is 9 feet below the top of
the dam, or 4 feet below the overflow weir. The main waste-weir is 210
feet long, with a secondary weir 20 feet long. The floor of these weirs
is of pine plank Spiked to timbers that are bolted to the masonry. In
addition to the overflow waste-weirs, there are two culverts passing
through the dam for draining the basin above. One of these is 2.5 feet
square, 7 feet below the grade of the flume, the other 3 feet square, 8
feet lower than the first.
Main conduit; flume line.—The flume is set on a bed cut in the mount-
ain side, except where it is supported on trestling. All fills are made
with loose rock laid with some care on the outer face. Its total length.
is 36 miles. The grade is 4.75 feet per mile.
Tunnels.-There are eight tunnels upon the work, lined with masonry
on the sides, timbered overhead, except in solid rock, and plastered
138 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
with cement on bottom and sides, of a total length of 4,168 feet. The
tunnels are finished 6 feet wide by 6 feet 1 inch high in the clear. In
loose material the sides are walled up with masonry 12 inches thick to
a height of 4 feet, on top of which rests timbering, 6 by 8 inches, with
lagging of 3inch plank; the bottom and sides being finished smoothly
With cement,
Elume-The flume is made in rectangular form, 5 feet 10 inches wide
by 3 feet 10 inches deep, in the clear. The bottom and sides are of
2-inch redwood plank, planed on the inside. The frames, placed at in-
tervals of 4 feet, consist of a sill 4 by 6 inches by 12 feet, two posts 4 by
4 inches by 4 feet, and two diagonal braces 2 by 4 inches, 3 feet 3 inches
long. The substructure where it rests on the ground consists of mud.
sills of redwood, 2, by 12 inches by 9 feet, two stringers 4 by 6 inches,
one under each side of the flume box, and a block 8 inches long sup:
porting the Sill in the center. Where on trestle, the sills of the flume
rest on three longitudinal stringers, two of which are 4 by 12 inches, and
one in center 6 by 12 inches. The trestle bents are placed 16 feet apart,
and for trestles up to 20 feet in height, consist of two posts 8 by 8 inches
Set on a batter of one to six, a cap 8 by 8 inches by 6 feet, a sill 8 by 8
inches of proper length, and two diagonal sway braces 2 by 10 inches.
For higher trestles, more posts are introduced, and trussed bridges
garry the flume over the deepest gorges that are crossed. Ten million
feet of timber will be consumed in the structure. The flume has a
theoretical capacity when filled within 3 inches of the top of 110 cubic
feet per second, or about 5,500 miner's inches. The flume for its full
length of 36.6 miles is now carrying water, with sideboards 16 inches
high : the remaining boards for full completion are to be added later.
Distribution system ; pipes and reservoir.—From the end of the flume
to San Diego the main pipe line will be 9 miles in length to the top of
the mesa overlooking the city. A branch pipe 1 mile in length will de-
liver surplus water to a reservoir to be constructed for storing the un-
used delivery. A main 4 miles long will be required to tap this reservoir
and join the through line below. This reservoir is called the city res-
ervoir, and will have a capacity of 761,000,000 gallons, covering an area
of 100 acres. It will be formed by a masonry dam 50 feet high, located
in a narrow gorge through blue trap rock, whose width at a height of
; feet is but 50 feet. Its elevation above sea-level is 400 feet at the
3.S6),
BEAR WALLEY LAND AND WATER COMPANY'S WORRS.
Bear Valley and Bear Creek.—Immediately north of the San Ber-
nardino Peak and Grayback Mountain, extending in an easterly and
westerly direction, at at elevation from 4,500 to 5,000 feet, lies the valley
of the upper Santa Ana River. Overlooking this and bordering it on
the north is a long rugged mountain ridge, whose crest-line holds 7,200
to 7,700 feet of altitude. Next north of this, with its axis in the same
direction and about 4% miles from the main mountains on the south, we
find Bear Valley, a remarkably large and flat mountain basin, about
6,200 to 6,300 feet above the sea, and 21 miles in a straight line from
San Bernardino. *
Storage reservoir.—This valley has the appearance of once having
held a lake whose waters, at an elevation of 125 feet above its bottom,
Overflowed at the east end into the head of a caſion which leads away
into the Colorado desert. Now, however, we find a deep and narrow
rock-bound gorge leading out of its other extremity, and, cutting South-
THE BEAR LAKE VALLEY RESERVOIR, 139
©
erly around the west end of the Central Mountain ridge, before men:
tioned, joining the cañon of the Santa Ana River about 10 miles above
its outlet into San Bernardino Valley. This gorge holds Bear Creek,
at whose point of departure from the valley a dam has been built,
whereby the basin has been made, or remade, a lake. º
The bottom plane of the valley is 12 miles long, and varies between
a few hundred yards and a mile in width. Its lower end was narrow
and rock-bound; then, a couple of miles or more above the dam site, it,
opened out into a couple of beautiful meadows, whose level plains, 700
to 800 acres in area, were 30 to 45 feet above the outlet; and at the
upper end of the valley is another such flat, covering about 800 acres,
and 20 to 30 feet still higher. At 60 feet of elevation above the base of
the dam a water-plane would reach 5.9 miles up the valley and have an
average width of .6 of a mile, covering 2,252 acres in area. At 120
feet of elevation the length would be 11.5 miles, the mean width 1.1
miles, and the area submerged 7,850 acres. e º
Water-shed and precipitation.—The water-shed tributary to this Valley
is 40 to 45 square miles in area. On the south lies the central ridge al-
ready described, and heavily timbered on its slope towards Bear Valley.
North and west is a well-timbered, but not abrupt, mountain 1,000 to
1,500 feet above the valley. Northeast are rolling hills, 500 to 700 feet
above the valley, and sparsely timbered; while the east end is closed
in from the desert slope by a comparatively barren range of hills, whose
altitude ranges from 200 to 500 feet above the valley.
The rock of the country is, for the most part, granite, of which huge
bowlders and massive ledges crop out around the slope, particularly
near the western end. Limestone is found near the eastern end, and
some good lime has been there burned. Although the country is much
broken and shattered in its rock formation, there is a good layer of soil
over most of it, and the bottom of the valley itself is well clothed in this
respect, as attested by the rich meadows which ordinarily remain moist
and green the year round—receiving little streams from the Wooded
hillsides, and having some springs along their margins. It was feared
in some quarters that the reservoir would not hold water—that it would
escape in enormous quantities through the rock rifts and Seams. But
this fear has proven groundless.
Bear Valley is in the midst of the heaviest down-pour belt in southern
California. The clouds collect around and bank up against the high
peaks of San Bernardino and Grayback, and spread over into the Bear
Valley water-shed. Holding so great an altitude, its precipitation is
largely received in the form of snow, which in the wooded and shaded
portions of its sides lies for several months. The data of local rain-fall
will be given in a division of this report devoted to water supply in
Southern California. \
Bear Valley dam.—The dam is at the extreme western end of the val-
ley, at the head of the narrow, rock-bound gorge, which drops rapidly
away. Founded on granite, where the channel was 60 to 75 feet wide,
and abutting against granitic mountain sides, at the top line it is about
300 feet in length, in the form of an arch, having a radius of 335 feet;
and it is 64 feet in height from extreme base to top of coping.
In cross section it is remarkable. The top is but 3 to 3.2 feet wide;
the lower face vertical for 48 feet, and the upper face battered so that
48 feet down the structure is 8.5 feet thick. At this plane there is an
offset up and down stream—the dam increases in thickness to 12 or 13
feet—and thence has a slight batter on both faces, so that at the extreme
foundation it has a thickness of 20 feet.
140 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
º ©
This structure is of granite, rough ashlar masonry on both faces, and
broken coursed rubble in the interior, all laid in a cement mortar and
grouting. The square stones show dimensions ranging from 3 to 5 feet
in length, 13 to 23 feet in width, and 1 to 2 feet in thickness, with others,
of course, smaller. Its total volume is about 3,300 or 3,400 cubic yards.
At the time construction commenced, in the fall of 1883, there was no
Water running out of the valley, and but little was encountered in sink-
ing 3 or 4 feet for the dam foundation, so that small difficulty was had
in this work. That season the wall was brought up to the level of the
bench, 16 feet above the extreme foundation plane, for about half of its
length. It was desired to make some show of impounding water the
first year and to test the water-producing capacity of the shed; so a
temporary earthen dam was put across the valley just below the wide
marshes, about 2 miles above the main dam site. This embankment
Was 5 to 6 feet high and was calculated to bank water over 500 to 600
acres to an average depth of 3 or 4 feet. The move was quite a fortunate
one, for the Water thus held back during the winter of 1883–84 furnished
a supply, which, being gradually let out from this temporary reservoir,
during the summer, enabled the constructors to keep a lake surface of
sufficient depth and extent behind the new wall to afford, by means of
flat-boats, an economical way of transporting stone from the quarries.
The rock was quarried from the outcropping masses of granite along
the edge of the valley and near the level of the proposed lake, from 100
yards to three-quarters of a mile above the dam-site. That for the first
Season's Work was obtained near at hand and delivered on sleds, but that
for the Second season’s work, comprising the great mass of the dam,
Was transported on flats and put into the work by means of derricks on
large rafts floated close against the upper face of the wall.
At the north end the dam foundation was cut into the loose, sloping
mountain side, to a bed-rock base. The south end abuts against a mass-
ive, nearly perpendicular ledge or point of granite standing near 100
feet out into the cañon. This point in reality forms a part of the dam.
Over it a flood escape-way has been cut 20 feet in width, and with a
plane 8.5 feet below the level of the extreme crest of the dam coping.
Through the bed-rock immediately below the foundation plane, about
one-third of the length of the structure from the southern end, about
9.5 feet above its extreme base plane, is a cutting which forms a cul-
vert 3 by 3.5 feet in aperture, opening out below into a masonry pool,
from which it was expected to measure the water over a weir. This cul-
vert gradually becomes narrower towards the upper end. On the upper
face of the structure the culvert is closed with masonry to a gate Open-
ing of 20 by 24 inches, over which is an iron sliding gate on brass bear-
ings, worked by a screw at the top of an iron rod, which extends up
through the water in a 6-inch lapwelded pipe, serving as a guide, to a
wooden platform built out from the coping of the dam. Subsequently
this culvert opening was lined over a movable mold with concrete, SO
that the opening is now 2 feet by 3 feet, with an arched top. There is
no gate tower; no provision for drawing water at less pressure ; no
safeguard or regulator on the one outlet provided other than the one
late.
8 In the matter of abutment, the dam for about 20 to 30 feet at each side
is gradually made thicker, so that it rests against the rock of the Country
at 1.5 to 2.2 times its normal thickness. The coping stones are 3 feet long,
generally 14 feet thick, and 2 to 23 feet wide, resting lengthwise across
the top of the structure. The finish work and coping stones have not
been put on for the full length, so that for more than half the length
the top is 3 to 4 feet below the intended plane of completion.
A
The first year after construction, with the water plane at 40 to 45 feet,
there was a little leakage at the south end, near or under the base, which
it is claimed came through rifts through the granite point against which
the structure there rests; and there was a remarkably free sweating and
efflorescence of lime on the lower face over the whole structure, nearly
up to the water-line. It is understood that the sweating phenomenon
has now to a great extent ceased. There has been some expansive
movement to the structure—attested by the reported fact that the Cope
stones which do not extend all the way across show a separation at some
of the joints, to be accounted for only as the result of expansion and
subsequent contraction. Otherwise the SUructure appears to rest just
as placed, and thus far serves its purpose; the water having been for a
time within a foot of the finished part of its top, and having constantly
stood well up on it for a considerable period, as hereinafter written.
The company, desirous of securing greater reservoir capacity, has in
contemplation an enlargement of this work. Indeed, it is proposed to
provide for storage to the 100-foot plane above the present foundation,
which, successfully and permanently done, would make this a truly no-
table reservoir and very valuable property. There have been no plans
or definite ideas, even, as yet put forward for the enlarged work. En-
gineers familiar with such construction will see that, under the circum-
stances, it is a problem not without much embarrassment and grave
responsibility. - *
Reservoir space and ºrater-supply.—The reservoir site was surveyed
preliminarily by the State engineering department in 1880, and it was
reported that a dam 45 feet in height would impound water over an area.
of about 1,500 acres, to a volume of about 650,000,000 cubic feet, and that
a dam 60 feet in height would create a reservoir space about 2,300 acres
in area, and about 1,850,000,000 cubic feet in volume. The dam subse-
quelltly built is not exactly at the location where the section of 1880
was made, so that the figures of the latter and more detailed survey
made by the Bear Valley Company do not tally precisely with those of
the preliminary reconnaissance, but they are close enough to prove each
substantially correct.
At different elevations of the water plane the areas of reservoir Sur-
face and capacities of reservoir space are as follows: -
condition of THE BEAR LAKE RESERVoIR. 141
Elevations of wa-
W ter plane. Correspond.
ing areas | Capacities of reservoir : To-
of reservoir tals above ground surface.
Above Above Surface.
base of l
dam. Outlet.
Feet. Feet Acres. Cubic feet. Mill, galls.
5 !---------. 0.75 65,000 . 48
10 0 4.95 631, 000 4. 72
15 5 10, 23 2, 271, 000 - 16, 99
20 10 34.93 6, 921, 900 51. 78
25 15 141. 36 17, 898, 450 133.87
30 20 2.94.54 67, 850, 660 507. 52
35 25 427, 79 145,808, 450 1,090. 65
40 30 1,060. 01 312, 153, 521 2, 334.91
45 35 1, 425.02 581, S55, 607 4, 352.28
50 40 1, 601. 41 920, 824, 487 6,887.77
53 43 1,858.99 1, 152, 729, 883 8, 622. 41
55 45 1, 960 49 1, 307, 277, 775 9, 778, 44
57 47 2, 069. 26 1,482,801, 898 l1, 091.36
(50 50 2, 25l. 30 1, 763, 166, 320 13, 188. 38
65 55 2, 532.00 2,283, 791, 020 17,082.76
70 60 2, 812. 00 2, 834, 253, 750 21, 199. 22
80 70 3,300.00 4, 161, 190,000 31, 125. 70
*

142 * IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
*
PROJECTS OF THE NORTH POUDRE LAND AND CANAL company.
The superintendent, Mr. J. C. Ulrich, states: Our principal work is
developing some reservoirs on the canal line up on the plains, located
40 miles north of Fort Collins. There are natural depressions on the
plains, and We make a cut from those natural depressions; then a pipe
is put in the cut and “fills” are built which will retain the water that
is afterward drawn off to irrigate the land. The object is to store the
excess and use the same when the need requires. They are to be filled
When the rivers are high, and the amount of water used by other ditches
is small. At present we have four reservoirs constructed, with an
aggregate capacity of 175,000,000 cubic feet. When the system is com-
pleted, We expect to serve probably seven or eight times as much as
We can at present irrigate. The North. Poudre Land and Canal Com-
pany's Canal is about 25 miles in length. It is 16 feet wide on the bot-
tom, With an average depth of about 4 feet. It has a grade of about 24
feet to the mile on the first 7 miles and 4 feet on the rest of it, on the
lower division. We estimate that it will carry about 300 cubic feet per
Second. The first 7 miles are in the mountains or foot-hills, and after
getting Out on the plains we strike the land which we expect to irri-
gate. One has an area of about 100 acres and a depth of 14 feet.
The next reservoir brings two “fills” together, containing each about
35 acres, about 9 feet deep. The third contains 160 acres 26 feet deep.
That is as far as we have completed the system at present. Then, be-
low the last one I have mentioned (south of it), is a chain of proposed
reservoirs, aggregating something like 2,500 acres. The total cost of
this ditch was about $175,000. It will take about $50,000 to complete
the reservoirs. By an expenditure of $50,000 we increase seven or
eight fold the capacity of a ditch that cost $175,000.
Dam at head of North Poudre Canal.—This dam is 30 feet 6 inches
Jhigh in the center, and 150 feet broad at the top, and is formed in two
parts. The face, which gives the necessary stability against floods, con-
sists of crib-work and stones; the back, which renders the dam water-
tight, is a vertical panel, or diaphragm of timber, backed with earth,
small stones, gravel and mud, thrown in without puddling. The crib-
work is formed of round logs 10 inches, at least, in diameter, joined at
ends, as in ordinary log huts, with dove-tail or tonguejoints. The Cribs
are 10 feet long on the face, and are fastened together with 18-inch tree-
nails, 2 inches in diameter. The cribs are radiated to form, when laid
close together across the stream, curved ties of 200 feet, 216 feet, and
232 feet radius on the face. There are three of these tiers 6 feet asun-
der. The interior of these cribs, and the spaces between the stones,
and the interior surfaces, are faced with large selected blocks of stone,
carefully laid so as to overlap each other like slates or tiles of a house,
and without mortar. The arrises are protected by 12-inch Square balks,
securely bolted to the cribs. The timber diaphragm is carried 4 feet
higher than the cribs and stone-work of the tallest tier, to form a slash-
board, which can be removed in sections in case it is found liable to be
damaged by ice. The center portion of the dam for a length of 60 feet
is carried 2 feet higher than the sides, to throw the bulk of the stream
onto natural benches of solid quartz rocks on the sides, and thereby to
protect the greater part of face, and especially the toe in the center
of the stream, from the abrading power of the Water.
The total cost of this dam was $7,250. The dam was founded on Stone
and débris, the depth of which had not been sounded, but it was hoped
that the clay thrown in the back of the dam, combined with the silting
PROJECTS OF COLORADO AND KANSAS. 143
up of the river, would have the effect of stopping the flow of the Water,
and the result justified the expectation. This dam is not intended for
storage purposes, but is simply a weir for raising the water high enough
to enter the flumes and tunnels. The canal regulators are ordinary
sluices, inserted in the flumes about 100 feet below the dam.
The objections that are urged against timbers being used are met by
the fact that the massive stone, or masonry in cement, which would
have been requisite to secure the mass of material used, would have been
too costly. The cost, $7,250, was very low for a weir 144 feet long, but
the foundations were not necessarily extensive, and the source of supply
of stone and timber was at hand.
Montezuma Valley, in southwest Colorado, is the seat of a great irri-
gation enterprise. It is described as follows: The valley is about 30
miles long, running from northeast to southwest, and is nearly 10 miles
wide. The water is to be taken out of the Dolores River at the north-
east end of the valley. The State has located about 26,000 acres of
land in the valley, and probably about 10,000 or 15,000 acres have been
located by actual settlers, leaving between 50,000 and 100,000 acres yet
unclaimed. The locations are principally at the upper end of the valley,
near the tunnel.
The Grand River canal, in western Colorado, has a width at the bot-
tom of 35 feet, on the top of 50 feet, and a depth of 5 feet for the first
10 miles. The size then diminishes until for the last 24 miles the width
is 16 feet on the bottom, and the depth 3 feet. The grade is .035 per
hundred, or a little over 22 inches to the mile. The banks are given a
Slope of 1% to 1, are 3 feet wide on top and 2 feet above the water sur-
face. There are several drops, one of 6 feet, one of 13 feet, and one of
35 feet, while down the Valley about 14 miles there is a final fall of
about 14 feet. . Just above the Second fall a lateral canal has been car-
ried out on the upper level, a distance of 17 miles down the valley, car-
rying 3 feet of Water. The location of the head is so favorable that a
full head of water can be taken out of the river at its lowest stage of
supply; so that Water in this canal, in consequence of the volume run-
ning in winter Season, can be in operation the year around, a fact very
important in Grand Valley, where it is assumed that late irrigation will
be advisable and early irrigation a necessity for the germination of .
seed. The flumes, head-gate and waste-weirs have been built in the
most substantial manner.
KANSAS AND THE UPPER ARKANSAS WALLEY “UNDERFLow.”
From records kept at Dodge City during the last eighteen years, and
from information gathered from other reliable sources, we believe it is
safe to depend on an abundant Supply of water for irrigation in the
Arkansas Valley in at least Seven years out of ten. If these same cli.
matic conditions are to be looked for in the future, would it not be wise
to make some provision for these three years of drought? Manifestly
so, if the conditions are present which will render such a provision pos.
sible. Various methods of utilizing the underflow of the Arkansas
River to supply the irrigating ditches with water, which the river failed'
to furnish during Seasons of deficiency in precipitation, have been dis-,
cussed. That the supply of water is inexhaustible has been frequently
demonstrated by pumping water from wells located in the valley. The
two most noted experiments were made last year at the wells which
supply the water-works at Dodge City and at Garden City. These
wells are 22 feet and 19 feet in diameter, respectively, and about 20 feet
*~.
144 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
deep; the water, rises to within 4 feet of the surface of the ground.
Over 1,000,000 gallons have been pumped out of the Dodge City well in
a single day without lowering the water to any appreciable extent. At
the Garden City well the water-works pump, with a capacity of 600
gallons, per minute, and a Huffer irrigation pump, with a capacity of
500 gallons per minute, were both worked to their utmost limit for a
period of four hours without lowering the water in the well. Numerous
other experiments of a similar nature have been made.
The South Dodge Canal Company was organized last year with a
capital of $250,000. The officers of the company are E. E. Soule, presi.
dent, G. G. Gilbert, vice-president, and J. W. Gilbert, secretary. This
company has secured the right of way for 35 miles of irrigating ditch
On the South side of the Arkansas River. Fifteen miles of the ditch
have already been completed. . It will be known as the South Dodge
Canal. Nearly 100,000 acres of valuable lands may be irrigated by this
canal. The ditch extends from Howell Station, 8 miles west of Dodge
City, to Ford City, a distance of about 35 miles. The original survey
provides for taking water from the Arkansas River at the south bank,
opposite Howell Station. It is at the head of the South Dodge Canai
that the experiments are being conducted for securing a flow of water
in an open channel from a reservoir to which the water is supplied by
the underflow of the Arkansas Valley.
The reservoir, or head of the canal, is located about 60 rods from the
river bank. At a point 13 mile from the head the ditch was built
exactly at grade—i.e., the bottom of the ditch is on a level with the
surface of the ground, the bank of the canal being levees about
8 feet high. Commencing at the grade point the excavation of
the upper end of the ditch was begun, due allowance being made for
the proper fall. At a distance of about half a mile the water-bearing
Stratum of sand was reached, the bottom of the ditch at that point being
about 4 feet below grade. After reaching this sand the soil was then
stripped off to the head of the ditch, the work all being done by teams
and scrapers. The ditch, at a point 2,000 feet from its head, is 30 feet
wide at the surface of the ground. This increases to 60 feet at the
head of the ditch. For this entire distance of 2,000 feet both sides of
the ditch are protected by sheet-piling.
The company did not expect to secure a flow of water at this stage of
the excavation, but contrary to their expectations the water began to
accumulate and run in a strong current down the ditch and in such a
Quantity that it was necessary to put in a head-gate and cut-off at the
grade point 13 miles from the head of the reservoir. The flow extended
over 8 miles, and as far as the ditch had been completed at that time.
Since the head-gate and cut-off have been put in no water is allowed to
pass below it in the ditch, but is turned off at the side of the ditch and
runs in an open channel to the river, which at that point is about 100
yards from the ditch. The writer measured the flow of water at the
point where it falls over the river bank, and found the stream to be 44
feet wide and 13 inches deep. It will be remembered that this result
has been obtained without any reservoir yet being constructed.
The head of the ditch, as before described, will constitute the reser-
voir, and will be 60 feet wide at the upper end, 30 feet at the lower, and
2,000 feet in length. The sand will be excavated by a dredging-machine,
which was placed in position on Saturday, February 1.
Owing to the extreme cold weather which has prevailed during a
greater part of that month the work of excavating the reservoir pro-
gressed very slowly. Over 200 feet was completed by the 7th instant.
pººr
THE SIERRA LAKES AS RESERVOIRS. 145
. The excavation was begun at the upper end. Two dredging-machines
are in operation, and if the weather is favorable the work will be com:
pleted by the 25th of this month. The flow of water has increased
jargely, and is now fully 2,000 gallons per minute. If the Water C9m.
tinues to rise to the same height at which it has been found impossible
to reduce it in small wells by pumping, the profile and survey of the
ditch provides for a stream of water 5 feet in depth at the grade point
before mentioned. The managers feel confident that this supply can
be secured.
As an experiment, the work has been a complete success; the Water
will, and does, flow in an open channel from the underflow of the Ar-
kansas Valley; the channel does not fill with sand, and manifests no
disposition to do SO. .
The Gilbert Bros. have had the general management of the Construct-
ing of these ditches. On the 7th the Eureka Ditch, 96 miles in length,
was full of water, besides over fifty storage reservoirs of from 5 to 40
acres in area. The Dodge City Canal and the Eureka Ditch will both
be furnished with reservoirs for supplying water from the underflow
of the Arkansas River this season.*
PROPOSED UTILIZATION OF THE SIERRA LARCES.
In western Nevada the use as reservoirs of the Sierra Lakes, etc.,
has been projected on a massive scale. Without indorsement the out-
lined plans are presented. In surveying Donner Lake and the Valley an
elevation of 20 feet above the present lake is obtained. This will make
a reservoir of over 5 square miles, with an average depth of 40 feet, hold-
ing an estimated volume of 5,575,680,000 cubic feet of water in a nat-
ural land-locked basin. The elevation is 5,885 feet above sea level.
The outlet will be by a high-line canal along the benches on the north
side of Truckee to the plateaus north and northeast of the place and to
the east of Boca and Verdi, crossing Prosser Creek and the Little
Truckee River. There can be selected reservoirs at that point in which
water enough can be stored to fill Dog Valley. This will ultimately
become available for the valleys and plateaus north and east of Reno.
A darn across the Truckee River about 1 mile above the Central Pacific
depot is also located to make a reservoir 3 miles in length along the
Truckee Valley. The outlet from this reservoir will be on the south
side of the Truckee River, along the benches and high foot-hills south
of Truckee City, around the Marquis plateau and meadows into Marquis
Creek, which flows into the Truckee River near Boca, about 10 miles
below Truckee. This canal through Truckee and along the hill-sides
may also afford an excellent water-power for mills, etc., for a mile or
more before being used on the plateaus, and again entering the Truckee
River offer an ample supply for Truckee meadows, or it can be carried
by a higher-line canal to and around the Washoe Basin here in Western
Nevada. *
This dam, with the reservoir it will create in the Truckee, taken in
connection with Lake Donner, will store, the two together, nearly or
quite 6,000,000,000 cubic feet; quite sufficient for the supply of all
lands now under ditch or available therefor; as well as the reclama-
tion of at least 1,000,000 acres more. Lake Tahoe, by a dam at its out-
let near Tahoe City, can readily be raised 8 feet. It has a drainage basin
tributary to its supply of at least 5,000 square miles. Lake Tahoe
*-*-
* Date of March, 1890.
138 A L–AP WOL IV—10
146 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
should be held in reserve—the great storage reservoir which will meet
extraordinary needs. Over one-third of its area is within the boundary.
lines of Nevada. A tunnel has been proposed to lead into the Carson
Valley, by which the water thus stored can be drawn from its depths,
at least 1,000 feet below its surface. Three lines across the Sierras
between Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley have been run, the best being
near the Southeast portion of lake Tahoe and the head of Carson Val-
ley, all in the State of Nevada, locating a tunnel 10 by 10 feet, with a
crown of 2 feet in center. The open, cut from Lake Tahoe to the en-
trance of the tunnel will be 4,200 feet; the length of tunnel 17,331 feet,
or 3.45 miles, the cut and tunnel having a grade of 2 feet per mile. The
exit of the tunnel on the Carson Valley or east side is to be 1,500 feet
above the valley.
The output of this tunnel can be carried both north and south along
the foot-hills and carried to any portion of the upper Carson Valley,
and thence into the Carson River. In addition to the great benefit to
be derived from the placing of this water upon the Carson Valley lands,
a magnificent water-power can be secured and utilized along the east
side of these mountains, and dynamos charged so that this power can
be transmitted to Carson and Empire where the Virginia City mills are
located, and the water used over again in Douglas, Ormsby, Washoe,
Lyon, and Churchill Counties, all of them in Nevada. It is a perfectly
feasible and not an expensive project either. A dam will have to be
located also at the outlet of Lake Tahoe on the west side at Tahoe
City to raise the lake 8 feet. The inlet to the canal and tunnel is
located so as to receive 20 feet depth of water at high-water mark.
This will give 200 square miles of surface water 20 feet deep, equal to
111,513,600,000 cubic feet. The lake will never be more than 12 feet
lower than the present height. This grand reserve reservoir can be
turned either into the Carson or Truckee basins. The elevation is
6,200 feet.
Hope Valley, at the head of the West Fork of the Carson, is found to
be an admirable location for a large reservoir. By making a dam 150
feet high a surface area of not less than 5 Square miles with an aver-
age depth of 50 feet can be secured. This dam we located at the foot
of the Carson Valley and at the head of Hope Cañon, which has a
granite ledge on both sides. For the first 100 feet in height it has a
narrow gorge of 200 feet at bottom and 800 feet in width at top, with
rock benches about 500 feet on either side above the first 100 feet.
This is a land-locked valley about 5 miles in length, an average of 1
mile in width, 7,658 feet above the sea, and will hold 6,969,600,000
cubic feet of water, with average depth of 50 feet. This reservoir will
require two outlets to be cut in rock on both sides, and the water can
be then turned into the river below. This is the West Fork of the
Carson River. It would conduct the water 6 miles down Hope Cañon
to a diverting dam to be located about 1 mile above the mouth of the
caſion, where a canal on the left or north side of the river would con-
duct the amount of water required along the foot-hills at the base of the
mountain and north of the caſion at any desired height as far north as
Sheridan or Genoa, and distribute it then down the foot-hills and into
the valley until it reaches the West Fork of the Carson River. From
this same diverting dam, 1 mile above the mouth of Hope Cañon, on its
right bank, another canal can be constructed along the right bank of
the West Fork of the Carson River, with a sufficient grade to conduct
any portion of this water from the Hope Valley Reservoir across Dia-
mond Valley 2 miles in length; this is located at the foot of Hope Cañon.
PROPOSED RESERVOIRS AMONG THE SIERRA. 147
with an elevation of 5,481 feet, then through Dutch Valley, with an
elevation of 5,277 feet, and this also about 2 miles in length; thence
into Long Valley, which has an elevation of 5,078 feet above the sea
and about 200 feet above the head of Carson Valley. There are already
three ditches running from Hope Caſion and conveying water through
Diamond Valley to Dutch Valley, whose natural drainage is into Long
Valley. One of these ditches can be enlarged into a canal, and the flood
and natural water from the West Fork of the Carson can be secured to
Long Valley, which is a good, natural, safe location for a grand receiv-
ing reservoir; all outside of any river channel.
With a dam 100 feet in height at a narrow neck of Long Valley about
1 mile above the head of Carson Valley nearly or quite 4 square miles
of surface water with an average depth of 50 feet can be obtained. This
will give 5,625,680,000 cubic feet of water for distribution by a canal on
the east side of the Carson Valley, which will supply not only the Em-
pire Mills, but also all that the 100,000 acres of land on the east side of
the Carson River (that now has no water for irrigation) may require. A
canal from the left side of this dam out on the benches at the head of
the Carson Valley may be supplied from this same source. The east or
main fork of the Carson River runs almost parallel with Long Valley
for the 3 miles east before debouching into the Carson Valley proper.
At Horse Shoe Bend, a point about 2 miles from its mouth, there is a
narrow saddle ridge, where with an overflow dam across the East Fork
or main river can be turned through a tunnel or cut of about 1,000 feet
in length. This will turn the water through a 10 by 10 feet tunnel or
cut 10 feet wide at bottom and with its slopes of 1 to 1.
Pleasant Valley, on the Middle Fork of the Carson, in Alpine County,
Cal., 12 miles south of Hope Valley, which is about 3 miles in length
and 1 mile in width, can be made from 40 to 50 feet in depth as a reser-
voir, with a water-shed of 50 square miles, and it has good rocky flanks
at the lower end of the Valley. This location is 3 miles above Markle-
ville, Cal., and in it can be stored 3,345,408,000 cubic feet of water.
Below this reservoir and above Markleville are the waters from Burn-
side Lake, Hot Springs Creek, Charity Valley, and other mountain
creeks. At Markleville, 18 miles above Long Valley, the East and Mid-
dle Forks of the Carson unite, thus making the East Fork the main
Carson River, so that by the diversion of the East Fork at Horse Shoe
Bend, Long Valley can receive the water of all the branches of the
Carson to its full or maximum capacity. Twelve miles above the junc.
tion of the Main and East Forks of the Carson River Silver Creek joins
the East Fork. Five miles farther southeast Wolf Creek empties into
the East Fork. One mile above the mouth of Wolf Creek is a meadow,
where from 1 to 2 Square miles surface of water can be stored with a
depth of 40 feet. Two miles above Wolf Creek, at Silver King Valley,
on the East Fork of the Carson, another reservoir can be located with
a water surface of 2 Square miles. Now, all the above-named reservoir
sites in Alpine County are above 6,000 feet elevation. Other sites have
been examined, but found impracticable. The water-shed for the Car-
son River and its branches is fully 1,000 square miles.
At Wadsworth, Nev., 34 miles below Reno, the Truckee River turns
north and sinks into Pyramid Lake, 15 miles from Wadsworth. At a
point on the Truckee 5 miles West of Wadsworth an admirable location
for a diverting dam is found, which can be built of stone in rocky bluffs
116 feet higher than the water surface at the Wadsworth bridge. A
dam and reservoir has also been located there, and our men are running
levels for canals on either side of said river to conduct the water out
X º, *
148 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
on the plateaus and benches north, east, northeast, and southeast from
Wadsworth. The bridge, which is now 30 feet high, can be filled up,
and a 10 by 10 feet outlet and canal put in on each end of the bridge to
guard against any possible flood or overflow or accident. This water
can be extended along the benches if required.
By storage of the flood waters at the head of the Carson and Truckee
Basins and other water-sheds along the eastern slopes of the Sierras at
least 500,000 acres of fertile lands in California and not less than
2,500,000 acres of good arable lands in western Nevada can be reclaimed
and cultivated; all this in addition to the area now under cultivation.
It will be seen that the aggregate amount of water in the reservoirs
already selected is estimated at 133,229,968,000 cubic feet of water, and
from the best information obtainable the reservoir can be filled annually
from natural water-sheds. The demand for Water in this State is at
the rate of 1 cubic inch per acre, and is much in excess of that generally
required in the State of California. The estimated amount for the
reservoirs now located will furnish an acre-foot for 3,000,000 acres of
land. I am convinced that we shall be able to find reservoir sites that
will hold an amount sufficient for another 2,000,000 acres of land; that
is, having an acre-foot of water for each acre. This will make 5,000,000
acres that can be reclaimed in this division by the storage of water
sufficient therefor. The waters of the Truckee and Carson and auxiliary
springs have been carefully gauged daily, giving the velocity and
quantity and discharge in cubic feet per second. A sample of the
gauging of the Truckee River at Essex above the ditches and canals is
as follows:

Name. vº. Discharge.
Cubic feet.
May 20 Truckee at Essex -------------------------------------------------- 2, 630 2, 336.67
22 ------ do. --. --------------------------------------------------------- 2,767 2, 511.94
28 |. ----- do. ------------------------------------------------------------ 1, 983 1,716.25
June 20 - - - - - - do------------------------------------------------------------- 358, 549 350. 49
May 22 Dog Creek ---------------------------------------------------------|------------ 6. 89
24 | Prosser Creek. ----------...-----------------------------------------|------------ 312. 52
June 21 - - - - - - do-...-----------------------------------------------------------|- - - - - - - - - - - - 64. 33
IRRIGATION ON THE RIO PECOS, NEW MEXICO.
The Rio Pecos rises in the northern part of New Mexico, northeast
Santa Fé. * *
It flows in a southeasterly direction to the neighborhood of Fort
Sumner, and then a little east of south across the Territorial line into
Texas, finally forming a junction with the Rio Grande. *
. It is a mountain stream, subject to alternate flood and drought, until
it reaches the neighborhood of Roswell, N. Mex.; thence for 100 miles,
in a due south line, it runs a tortuous course of probably 250 miles, re-
ceiving at intervals large quantities of Spring Water. g
These springs generally flow into it along its bed, following the gen-
eral limestone strata of the Country. sº *
They represent the drainage from the eastern slopes of the Capitan,
Sierra Blanca, Sacramento, and the Guadalupe Mountains, and the
waters of the upper river which disappear below Fort Sumner. º
Careful measurements show that the permanent supply is sufficient
to fill both of the canals now in course of construction, and calculated
to carry 1,600 cubic feet per second, or 80,000 miner's inches.
EASTERN NEw MEXICO AND IRRIGATION. 149.
The drainage area, or catchment basin of the Rio Pecos, within the
Territory of New Mexico, and available for irrigation purposes, is
approximately 20,000 square miles, at varying altitudes from 3,000 to
li,000 feet, and extending across four degress of latitude from the thirty-
second to the thirty-sixth parallel.
The lands of the valley between Roswell and the Territorial line Sub-
ject to irrigation are of the choicest limestone soil, and the total area
between the foot-hills on the west and the river is nearly or quite
1,000,000 acres. Of this fully 400,000 acres are below the level at which
it is practicable to deliver water from the Pecos.
The 40 miles of the Northern canal, now under contract, will cover
about 75,000 acres of bottom and mesa land, and more than that area
can be covered by extending the canal farther south.
The Southern canal is much the larger one, and will irrigate more
than 100,000 acres on the west side of the river, north of the Texas line,
while there is practically unlimited area that can be made available,
by extending south of that line. Several bodies of choice land can also
be covered on the east side of the river if desirable.
The Northern canal is being constructed 30 feet wide on the bottom,
with sides sloping 13 to 1 foot, and to carry water 5 feet deep, taking
its supply from the Hondo, the principal tributary of the Rio Pecos,
below the junction of the North Spring and Barenda Rivers, deriving
its chief supply from permanent springs of great volume. Three miles
from its head it crosses and receives the waters of the South Spring
River, and is deepened to 6 feet to accommodate the increased supply
at that point. These streams are all fed by permanent springs. '
The Southern canal was constructed a distance of 11 miles, with the
capacity to irrigate 30,000 acres. It is being enlarged to 45 feet wide.
at bottom, 63 feet at the top, and 6 feet deep, and by careful computa-
tion is intended to utilize all the available water of the river during
the entire irrigating season. Its length within New Mexico will be 55
miles.
lt is taken from the east side of the Rio Pecos a few miles below
Seven Rivers. Although the Waters of the Pecos are sometimes en-
larged by floods, at the point where this canal is taken from the river,
a dam 3 feet high, built at trifling expense, suffices to turn the water to
fill the canal. It is controlled by head-gates, and the fall of the river
is so great at that point that the rise does not exceed 6 feet—indeed, it
never gets out of its banks. The river is a succession of rapids, and
the fall within 6 miles amounts to as much as 50 feet. Very much of
the water can be utilized at the crossings of arroyos for water-power,
and then be discharged so as to cover large areas of agricultural land,
without any loss of Water. The canals are secure from floods. On
the Hondo the reservoir at the dam backs fully half a mile up-stream,
making dead Water, and giving perfect control.
150 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
BLANKS...AND FoRMS USED IN DITCH MANAGEMENT.
[Northern Colorado Irrigation Company, Denver, Colo.]
RULES FOR EMPLOYi’s ON THE PLATTE CANAL.
D. W. Payne, division superintendent.
Division No. 1.
This division of the canal commencos at - and ends at tº
You are specially under the orders and directions of the engineer, and you are to
carry out faithfully and promptly all his instructions. You will frequently and
closely examine every part of the canal in your division, and enter in your weekly
report any remarks that you may think necessary regarding the general condition of
the works. Should there be a necessity for immediate attention to any part of the
canal, report immediately on the telephone to the office, or if before 9 o'clock a. m.
or after 4 o'clock p. m. ring the number on the telephone for the engineer. Failing
to get an answer from the engineer ring the manager's number.
Should a serious leak, or break, or overflow occur, you will immediately make
every effort to stop it, and to accomplish this you may hire such assistance as may be
necessary and close at hand. Open the nearest waste gates above the leak, or break,
or overflow, and if necessary to have all the water shut out of the canal, telephone
to Denver to any of the three calls there. Should the accident be one that you can
overcome without great difficulty, do not lose time by leaving it and trying to tele-
phone, but get such assistance as may be nearest. If necessary, send or go to the
nearest telephone and give notice to the engineer.
All employés on the canal are required to promptly render assistance to each other
whenever there is any necessity for so doing. Each division superintendent shall
Reep a daily record of the depth of water on the guage or guages in his division, and
will report the same to the engineer by telephone daily.
Each division superintendent shall provide himself with a suitable horse and cart,
if such conveyance be required, and shall at all times carry with him a shovel, ham-
mer, nails, screw-driver, wrench, measuring rule, and telephone tools, all of which,
except the horse and cart, and feed for horse, will be provided by the company. In
addition to these tools, there should be on each division oakum and sacks, and divis-
ion yerintendents will promptly notify the engineer when additional supplies are
I1660, €Oi,
Jºaºpenses.—Except in cases of emergency, such as leaks, breaks, or overflows, or
danger of any of these, no materials or tools shall be purchased or obtained on the
credit of the company, except by the engineer or on his order, and no labor shall be
employed except in emergencies as above stated, without first having the authority
of the engineer. In all cases where laborers or mechanics are employed, the person
in charge of the division where the work is being done shall keep a full and complete
record of the time each person is employed and the wages to be paid, unless the
engineer shall place some other person in charge of the work.
All payments for wages or hire of any kind and for material shall be made at the
office of the company in Denver, and then only upon properly stated and certified
accounts first approved by the president or manager.
Care of property. —All property of the company must be carefully watched and pro-
tected on each division by the division superintendent, and he shall be responsible
for locks, keys, gate-pins, tools, bolts, bars, or other effects. . He shall report promptly
to the engineer or manager all cases where the property of the company has in any
way been tampered with or damaged, such as the cutting or breaking of gates or
weirs, or interference in any way with the banks of the canal or ſlumes. He shall
also report all cases where any damage has resulted to the property of others by
reason of overflow or breaks, or in any other way.
Distribution of water.—Such water as may from time to time be in the canal shall
be divided pro rata to all persons entitled thereto by reason of their ownership of
water rights, and each person in charge of a division shall in the most impartial and
careful manner turn water out of their respective gates in strict accordance with
the directions given from time to time by the engineer or from the manager's office,
and under no circumstances is any person to be allowed to open a gate or in any way
to obtain more water than the quantity stated in the directions. The gate on every
outlet must at all times be kept locked and the division Superintendent must at all
&
BLANKS AND FORMS USED IN DITCH MANAGEMENT. 151
times carry the keys with him. He shall carefully inspect all gates, weirs, and out-
1ets every day to see if all be in good order; also to discover if the gates are being
tampered with, and he shall measure and récord every day the depth of water flow-
ing over each weir, and enter the same in the reports prepared for such purpose.
Look sharply for persons having duplicate keys. e
All outlets are to be kept free and clear of drift-wood and all other floating matter,
and the gates should be frequently examined to see if there be a free flow under
them; also that no wedges have been driven under them by persons trying to get
more Water. * ,
Do not accept the statement of any person about water; all instructions pertain-
ing thereto will be given on the telephone, or in writing, from the proper authority.
Report promptly the name of any person who offers any bribe or any inducement
to get more water than is then being allowed under the directions given you.
Whenever there is a rise in the water in the canal, not caused by floods from the
prairie, the quantity running over the werſ, in the lateral ditches should not be al-
lowed to increase by reason of the greater pressure on the outlets. The gates in the
outlets should be partly closed down so as to give just the same depth of water over
the weirs as was running before the rise, unless orders contrary to this have been
given from proper authority. In almost every instance when more waste is taken
into the canal from the river, the extra quantity is intended for the divisions at the
end of the canal. When a sudden great rise occurs in the canal by reason of flood
water from the prairies, caused by a storm, make haste to the water gates and open
them, also let out at all the outlets in the canal as much water as the lateral ditches
will fairly carry without overflowing or doing any damage.
Whenever there are indications of a storm and a flood, the waste-gates should be
opened before the flood comes. Good judgment and prompt action in emergencies of
this kind will determine the efficiency and earnestness of the employé in the duties
assigned to him.
Whenever you see that water is being allowed to run to waste by any irrigator,
reduce the quantity running over the weir to the extent of such waste. ... If you see
that a lateral ditch is broken, and the water is running to waste, shut off the water
and notify the superintendent of the lateral or some person who is using water from
it. Make a record of your action in every case of the two above kinds, and state the
particulars in your weekly report,
NOTE.-There must not be any absence from duty unless permission first be obtained
from the engineer or manager.
There must not be any scolding with, or rough language applied to, farmers or
users of water. You can perform your duty better without this. If any one assaults
you without just provocation the company will assist you in a prosecution.
Any case of intoxication or any neglect of duty, or apparent indolence or indiffer-
ence on the part of an employé will be met with prompt dismissal.
All reports must be carefully and accurately made, so that, if necessary, they can
be sworn to.
S. J. GILMORE, Manager.
GEORGE G. ANDERSON, Engineer.
THE NORTHERN COLORADO IRRIGATION COMPANY.
Itecord of depths of water at the weir, at the city limits of Denver, for the week ending
Saturday, , 188—, at 6 o'clock p. m.
7 a.m., 6 p.m., Average | Discharge Total
Day. depth in depth in depth per in cubic quantity in
inches. inches. day. feet. gallons.

Sunday ---------------------
I certify that the depths of water entered above in the first two columns are true
and correct,
I certify that the depths given above in the first two columns and the average
depths given in the third column show a total delivery of water for the week ending
as above, of — cubic feet, or the equivalent of — gallons.
2
- -,
152
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Record of depth ºf water on weirs in third division for the week ending Saturday, Septem-
ber 16, 1888.
w

Outlet,
number.
Sunday.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Thursday.
Triday.
Saturday.
à
à
à
à
à
ă
I certify that the depths of water entered above are true and correct.
- TIIOS. IEVANS,
Division Superintendent.
Record of depths of water in flumes, etc., for the week ending Saturday,
t
18—.

E.
Location.
Sunday.
Monday.
Tuesday.
Wednesday.
Thursday.
Iºriday.
Saturday.
Dam
Cañon Flume ....
Plum Creek......
Bennett Gulch ...
Little Dry-------.
Cherry Creek. ...
Section 1 Check-.
Dryer's Check ...
* * * * * * * * * * * * *
I certify that the depths of water entered above are as telephoned to me daily by
the respective division men.
BLANKS AND FORMS USED IN DITCH MANAGEMENT. 153
I’eport of 8ervices performed during week ending Saturday evening, , 18–, by
Sunday,
Monday,
Tuesday,
Wednesday,
Thursday,
Friday,
Saturday,
The Northern Colorado Irrigation Company. Report of services performed by
——, for week ending Saturday evening,
-
&
7
[Fill in every evening, and not wait to end of week, when you may have forgotten
particulars..]
NotE.—This report may be made in pencil. It need not include all the little details
of work, but should be sufficiently full to clearly indicate what was done each day.
It should be sent by mail, or otherwise, at the first opportunity, to
S. J. GILMORE,
Manager, Denver, Colo.
*
BLANK WATER CONTRACT FORMS AS USED IN COLORADO.
No. I.
Know all men by these presents, that the Canal Company, a corpora-
tion existing under the laws of the State of Colorado, of the first part, and
, of the county of and State of Colorado, of the second part, for and in
consideration of the sum of $– to be paid as hereinafter specified, and in consider-
ation of the mutual covenants and agreements in this contract contained, to be per-
formed and kept, the said company hereby agrees to carry and convey for the use of
the second part—, statutory inches of water in and through the canal of said
company, subject to the following terms and conditions, to which the said part— of
the second part, — heirs and assigns, hereby expressly agree:
I. The said company agrees to carry and convey the said water in its said canal for
the use and benefit of the said second part—, — heirs or assigns, continuously dur-
ing the irrigating season, except as hereinafter provided, and at no other time, unless
with the consent of said company thereto in writing.
II. Said water shall be used only for irrigating and domestic purposes on the follow-
ing described tract of land, and none other, to wit: , and under no circum-
stances shall said water, or any portion thereof, be used for mining, milling, or me-
chanical power, or for any other purpose not directly connected or incident to the
purposes herein specified.
III. Said company expressly reserves to itself the right to distribute the water
from its said canal in accordance with such rights and priorities as are or may here-
after be established or decreed; and this contract is received by the part— of the
second part subject to such priorities.
IV. The said second part—, – heirs or assigns, shall not permit said water, nor
any portion thereof carried as aforesaid, to run to waste, but as soon as a sufficient
quantity shall have been used for the purposes herein allowed and contracted for,
the said second part—,-heirs or assigns, shall shut off said water and keep the
same shut and turned off until the same shall be again needed for the purposes afore-
said. But in no case shall the amount of water taken or received by said second
part—, — heirs or assigns, exceed the quantity first herein referred to, and said com-
pany hereby reserves the right at any time to shut off the water herein mentioned
whenever it shall find that the said part— of the second part — — wasting it or not
using it in accordance with the agreements herein contained on the 1and above men-
tioned. *
W. The said company shall deliver said water at such point or points along the line of
said capal or ditch, or from any of its reservoirs, laterals, either or all, as it may deter-
mine to be the most practicable, and the manner of withdrawing and regulating
the supply of said water from said company's ditch and reservoirs shall be prescribed
by said company, and shall at all times be under its control, as determined and di-
rected by the said company. The head-gates, flumes, weirs, or other arrangements
or devices, and all measuring boxes and devices through which the water hereby con-
tracted to be carried shall be drawn and measured from said company's ditch or res-
154 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
eryoirs, shall be made and placed in position by the said company but at the cost of
said second part—, who shall also be liable. for the expense of keeping the same in
good repair and condition ; and the said company may collect and enforce the pay-
ment of all Sulus expended for said purposes in the same manner as prescribed for
collecting and enforcing assessments.
VI. The said first party agrees to keep and maintain said main canal or ditch and
any and all of its reservoirs and laterals in good order and condition, and in case of
accident to the same, to repair the injury thereby occasioned, ag soon as practicable
and expedient; and the company shall have a right to assess the said second part—
for its expenses of maintaining, repairing, and operating said canal, and any and
all reservoirs and laterals connected there with, including taxes and legal assessments
On Said canal, a sum not exceeding per statutory inch bereby contracted to be
carried, per annum; and in addition thereto may, when necessary by reason of acci-
dent, assess all owners or holders of water rights, pro rata, such sums as may be nec-
essary to repair the injuries so occasioned, the amount of all assessments herein
provided for shall be determined and levied by said company by resolution of its
board of directors, and the company also reserves to itself the right by like resolu-
tion to establish and enforce such rules and regulations, and to provide and declare
such penalties as it may deem necessary and expedient for the purpose of enforcing
and collecting said assessments or any part thereof. Said assessments shall be due
and payable at such time as may be fixed by the board of directors of the first party,
and the second part— hereby agree— to duly pay the same, and further agree— that
the failure to pay the same or any part therof within sixty days after notice of the
levy of any assessment (which notice may be either personal or by registered letter
addressed to the second part—at , Colorado) shall, at the option of the board of
directors of the first party, constitute a forfeiture of all the rights of second part—
as provided in paragraph XIII of this agreement.
VII. The said first party shall have, and the said second part— hereby grant — to the
said first party, a right of way across said above described land of the width of
feet for the main canal as now located and a right of way for the laterals of said first
party as now located, of the width of — feet, and also the right of roadway on the
banks of the canal and main laterals; and in case a fence is constructed by said sec-
ond part — across said roadway shall construct and maintain a gateway across said
bank, when said first party requests, in which case said first party shall close said
gate when opened by it.
VIII. It is hereby distinctly understood and agreed by and between the parties
hereto, that in case the first party shall be unable to carry and distribute a volume
of water equal to the estimated capacity of its canal, either from casual, unforeseen,
or unavoidable àccidents, or from any cause beyond the control of said first party, or
if the volume of water prove insufficient from drought or from any other cause beyond
the control of said company, the company shall not be liable in any way for the
shortness or deficiency of supply so occasioned, or any loss or damage resulting there-
from by reason of any of said causes. ... If, however, by reason of such causes, or any
of them, the supply of water be insufficient to furnish an amount equal to all the
water rights them outstanding, the said company shall have the power and the right
to distribute such water as may flow through said canal to the holders of such water
rights pro rata, or may alternate the same; and for the purpose of so doing may es-
tablish and enforce such rules as it may deem necessary or expedient. And the second
part — for —— and—— heirs and assigns, agree—in consideration aforesaid, to waive,
and hereby do— waive, any claim for loss or damage by reason of any leakage, overflow,
or breaking of said company's canals, or any of its reservoirs, lakes, or laterals, either
upon the land aforesaid or any other tract belonging to the part— of the second part,
provided the same is not caused by the negligence of said company.
IX. The said company agrees that when it shall have sold and have outstanding
and in force a number of water rights equal to the estimated capacity of the com-
pany’s canal, or sooner, at its option, it will then transfer to the holder of each water
right, who shall have complied with the terms and conditions of this contract, with-
out further consideration, such a proportion of the number of shares of the capital
stock of the said company as the number of water rights held by —— bears to
the whôle number of water rights held or outstanding in the canal of the company,
or as near thereto as may be possible without making fractions of shares, and which
said shares the second part—agree—to accept: Provided, however, That such transfer
is to be made only on the express condition that the first party shall thereupon and
thereafter be absolutely released from any and all obligations or liabilities arising out
of the ownership, operation, management, or control of said canal, or out of any con;
tract (including this) pertaining to the distribution of water therefºom, which said
obligations shall be assumed by said holders of water rights, who shall pay all ex-
penses incident to such transfer; which said condition the said second part-, in con-
sideration thereof and of these presents, for — and — heirs, and assigns do--
hereby accept. Such transfer shall only be made when the canal is in good order .
and unencumbered. & •
X. It is furthor agreed that the irrigating season shall commence April 15 and
BLANKS AND FORMS USED IN DITCH MANAGEMENT.
continue to November 1st of each and every year, and that thereafter water sh all be
conveyed for domestic purposes whenever reasonably practicable; subject to the
right of said first party to shut off the water in order to repair or enlarge or extend
Said canal. {
XI. The payment of the consideration heretofore specified herein shall be as fol:
Iows: dollars upon the ensealing and delivery of this contract, payment of
155 . .
which is hereby acknowledged, and the balance in
in the manner following, that is to say:
payments at the times and

**-a.
Day.
Month.
Year.
Principal.
Interest.
Amount.
Bemarks.
First deferred
ayment. --.
Second ...;
payment. -
Third deferred payment...
Fourth deferred payment..
Fifth deferred payment....
Sixth deferred payment....
Seventh deferred payment.
Eighth deferred payment..
gº º ºs º is ºr
is ºs º gº tº ºr
s sº º is © tº gº tº tº a
e - tº ſº gº º ºs º is º
* * * tº gº tº gº º ºs &
* * g º ºs º º tº
s = * * * * * * * *
s º ºs ºn tº e º ºr º s
as tº dº º e º º $ tº º
e as º ºs º gº º ºs º sº.
e g º º ºr ºf sº * * *
* = & sº e º is tº e º
is e e º ºs tº º tº º is
* * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * *
• * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Said deferred payments shall bear interest at the rate of — per cent. per annum,
payable annually, and shall bear interest after maturity at the rate of — per cent.
per annum, and the second part— in consideration of the premises hereby agree—
that — will make punctual payment of the above sums, and each of the same, to-
gether with the interest thereon as the same respectively become due ; and that —
Will regularly and seasonably pay all assessments that may be imposed by said com-
pany for the purposes aforesaid as above agreed.
XII. In case the second part —, legal representatives, heirs or assigns, shall pay
the several sums of money punctually, and at the times above limited, and shall
strictly and literally perform all and singular the agreements and stipulations afore-
said after their true tenor and intent, then this contract shall be and operate as a
contract entitling said second part— in perpetuity to the enjoyment of the right
hereby granted, subject, however, to the same assessments and forfeitures for non-
payment as herein provided.
XIII. And it is hereby agreed and covenanted by the parties hereto that time and
punctuality are essential elements of this contract. And in case the second part— .
shall fail to make the payments aforesaid, and each of them, or shall fail to pay any
assessment which may be levied as provided in paragraphs V and VI hereof, punct-
ually and upon the strict terms and times above limited for the payments and assess-
ments herein provided for, or likewise to observe, perform, and complete, all and each
of said agreements and stipulations aforesaid strictly and literally, without any fail-
ure or default, then this contract, so far as it may bind the first party, shall become
null and void, the water may be immediately shut off, and all rights and interests
hereby created or then existing in favor of the second part, , — heirs or assigns, or
derived from this contract shall utterly cease and determine, and all equitable and
legal interest in the right hereby contracted for shall revert to and revest in said
first party, without any declaration of forfeiture or any other act of said first party
to be performed, and without any right of said second part—of reclamation or com-
pensation for moneys paid or services performed, as absolutely, fully, and perfectly as
if this contract had never been made: Provided, That said first party shall give to said
Second part— heirs or assigns, sixty days' notice, either personal or by mail, of the
said second part—, – heirs or assigns, being in arrears upon said payments, or any
of them, or the interest thereon, which notice, if by mail, shall be sufficient, if by reg-
istered letter addressed to said second part— at Colorado.
XIV. It is also stipulated and agreed that no assignment of the rights of the sec-
ond part- under this contract, whether by conveyance or lease of all or part of said
lands, or by operation of law, or otherwise, shall be binding on the first party, so
as to require it to carry for or deliver to such assignee any of the amount of water
herein contracted to be carried and delivered unless the first party shall consent
thereto in writing; and provided, that no assignment whatever shall be binding as
to the first party herein until the same is endorsed upon these presents and consented
to in writing upon these presents by the said company : And provided further, That
nothing herein contained shall be taken to bind the party of the first part herein to
release the second part— in case of such assignment, from any liabilities to said first
party under, this contract. The endorsement upon these presents of the company’s
consent to the assignment by the party—of the second part of this contract and of
-— rights hereunder will be made by said company upon request of the part— of the
second part, provided all payments, assessments, and charges herein provided for
which may have become due at or prior to the time of such request shall have been
fully paid,
156 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
XV. It is further stipulated and agreed that nothing in the foregoing provisions as
to relocation and assignment shall be taken to bind the first party to convey or deliver
Water in less amount than 5 statutory inclues for any one tract of land.
XVI. It is also stipulated and agreed that from and after the execution hereof, the
said second part—may enter into the use and enjoyment of water flowing through
said canal, its reservoirs or laterals, to the extent of the rights above contracted for as
fully as though fully paid for, but subject, however, to all the terms, limitations, and
conditions above set forth.
In witness whereof, the Canal Company, party of the first part, has
nereunto caused its corporate name to be subscribed by its president, and attested by
its secretary, and its corporate seal to be affixed hereto as well as to a duplicate
hereof, and the part— of the second part——hereunto subscribed—— name—and affixed
— seal—hereto, as well as to a duplicate hereof, this the –— day of A. D. 18–
- COMPANY.
By President.
Attested by: -
— Secretary
[SEAL.]
Address,
[SEAL.]
Address, smºsºm-ºw wº
ASSIGNMENT.
, the within-named purchaser, for and in consideration of dol-
lars, do hereby assign and transfer all — right, title, interest, and claim in and to
the within-described rights to water unto 3. , county of
and State of , heirs and assigns, forever; and — do hereby authorize and em-
power the Company to receive from the said all unpaid
balances due to said company, in part consideration for said water rights.
Given under — hand and seal this — day of , A. D. 18
It is expressly understood that in consenting to recognize this assignment the offi-
cers of this company do not exempt the original purchaser front any of his liabilities
under the contract, but will protect the rights of the assignee, provided he complies
with its obligations.
. [SEAL.]
Countersigned.
\ President.
9
Secretary.
STATE OF COLORADO,
County of , 88 :
Before me, in and for said county, this day personally came ——
——, known to me to be the identical person described in the within agreement,
and who executed the foregoing assignment, and acknowledged that — signed,
sealed, and delivered the same as – free and voluntary act and deed, for the uses
and purposes therein set forth,
Given under my hand and — seal of office this —— day of ——, A. D. 18-.
- *
My commission expires
Received , 189—, of -
deferred payment, on the within contract.
, 18–.
dollars, amount of first
the sum of
LReceipts similar to the above for the second to the eighth payments, inclusive,
follow.]
(Indorsement:) No.—. Agreement to carry — inches of water. The
with ©
No. II.
Know all men by these presents, that the Canal Company, a corpora-
tion existing under the laws of the State of Colorado, of the first part, and º
, of the county of and State of Colorado, of the second part, for and in
consideration of the sum of $– to be paid as hereinafter specified, and in consider-
ation of the mutual covenants and agreements in this contract contained, to be per-
BLANKS AND ForMs USED IN DITCH MANAGEMENT. 157
formed and kept, the said company hereby agrees to sell unto the second party, a
water right for – statutory inches of water flowing through the canal of said
company, subject to the following terms and conditions, to which the said party of
the second part, — heirs and assigns, hereby expressly agree :
I. The said company agrees to furnish the said water to the said second party, -
heirs or assigns, continuously during the irrigating season, except as hereinafter
provided, and at no other time, unless with the consent of said company thereto in
writing.
II. Said water shall be used only for irrigating and domestic purposes on the
following described tract of land, and none other, to wit: and under
no circumstances shall said water, or any portion thereof, be used for mining, milling,
or mechanical power, or for any other purpose not directly connected or incident to
the purposes hereinafter specified.
III. Said company expressly reserves to itself the right to distribute the water from
its said canal in accordance with such rights and priorities as are or may hereafter
be established or decreed; and this deed is received by the party of the second part
subject to such priorities.
IV. The said second party, - heirs or assigns, shall not permit said water, nor
any portion thereof furnished as aforesaid, to run to waste, but as soon as a sufficient
quantity shall have been used for the purposes herein allowed and contracted for,
the said second party, - heirs or assigns, shall shut off said water and keep the
same shut and turned off until the same shall be again needed for the purposes afore-
said. But in no case shall the amount of water taken or received by said second party,
— heirs or assigns, exceed the quantity first herein referred to, and said company
hereby reserves the right at any time to shut off the water herein mentioned when-
ever it shall find that the said part— of the Second part wasting it or not using
it on the land above-mentioned.
V. The said company shall deliver said water at such point or points along the line
of said canal or ditch, or from any of its reservoirs, laterals, either or all, as it may
determine to be the most practicable, and the manner of withdrawing and regulating
the supply of said water from said company’s ditch and reservoirs shall be pre-
scribed by said company, and shall at all times be under its control, as determined
and directed by the said company. The head-gates, flumes, weirs, or other arrange-
ments or devices through which the water hereby sold shall be drawn from said com-
pany's ditch or reservoirs, shall be made and placed in position by the said company,
but at the cost of said second part—who shall also be liable for the expense of keep-
ing the same in good repair and condition ; and the said company may collect and
enforce the payment of all sums expended for said purposes in the same manner as
prescribed for collecting and enforcing assessments.
VI. The said first party agrees to keep and maintain said main canal or ditch and
any and all of its reservoirs and laterals in good order and condition, and in case of
accident to the same, to repair the injury thereby occasioned, as soon as practicalle
and expedient; and the company shall have a right to assess the said second part—
for its expenses of maintaining, repairing, and operating said canal and any and all
reservoirs and laterals connected there with, including taxes and legal assessments on
said canal, a sum not exceeding per statutory inch hereby contracted to be sup-
plied per annum; and in addition thereto may, when necessary by reason of acci-
dent, assess all owners or holders of water rights, pro rata, such sums as may be
necessary to repair the injuries so occasioned. The amount of all assessments herein
provided for shall be determined and levied by said company by resolution of its
board of directors, and the company also reserves to itself the right by like resolu-
tion to establish and enforce such rules and regulations, and to provide and declare
such penalties as it may deem necessary and expedient for the purpose of enforcing
and collecting said assessments, or any part thereof. Said assessments shall be due
and payable at such time as may be fixed by the board of directors of the first party
and the second part— hereby agree— to duly pay the same, and further agree— that
the failure to pay the same or any y Tt thereof within sixty days after ſhotice of
the levy of any assessment (which ice may be either personal or by registered
letter addressed to the second party at , Colorado) shall, at the option of the
board of directors of the first party, constitute a forfeiture of all the rights of the
second part— as provided in paragraph XIV of this agreement. &
VII. The said first party shall have, and the said second part— hereby grant—to
the said first party, a right of way across said above described land of ths width of
for the main canal or laterals of Said first party as now located, and also the
right of roadway on the banks of the canal and main laterals; and in case a fence
is constructed by said second part—across said roadway — shall construct and
maintain a gateway across said bank, when said first party requests, in which case
said first party shall close said gate when opened by it.
VIII. It is hereby distinctly understood and agreed by and between the parties
hereto, that in case the first party shall be unable to carry and distribute a volume
-
158 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
of water equal to the estimated capacity of its canal, either from casual, unforseen,
or unavoidable accidents, or from any cause beyond the control of said first party, or
if the volume of water prove insufficient from drouth or from any other cause beyond
the control of said company, the company shall not be liable in any way for the
shortness or deficiency of supply so occasioned, or any loss or damage resulting there-
from, by reason of any of said causes. If, however, by reason of such causes, or
any of them, the supply of water be insufficient to furnish an amount equal to all
the water rights then outstanding, the said company shall have the power and the
right to distribute such water as may ſlow through said canal to the holders of such
water rights pro rata, or may alternate the same; and for the purpose of so doing
may establish and enforce such rules as it may deem necessary or expedient. An
the second part— for and — heirs and assigns, agree—, in consideration
aforesaid, to waive, and hereby do waive, any claim for loss or damage by reason of
any leakage, overflow, or breaking of said company’s canals, or any of its reservoirs,
\lº, or laterals, either upon the land aforesaid or any other tract belonging to the
part— of the second part.
IX. The Said company agrees that when it shall have sold and have outstanding
and in force a number of water rights equal to the estimated capacity of the com-
pany’s canal, or sooner at its option, it will then transfer to the holder of each water
right, who shall have complied with the terms and conditions of this contract without
further consideration, such a proportion of the number of the shares of the capital stock
of the said company as the number of water rights held by — bears to
the whole number of water rights held or outstanding in the canal of the company, or
as near thereto as may be possible without making fractions of shares, and which said
shares the second part — agree— to accept : Provided however, That such transſer is
to be made only on the express condition that the first party shall thereupon and
thereafter be absolutely released from any and all obligations or liabilities arising
out of the ownership, operation, management, or control of said canal, or out of any
contract (including this) pertaining to the distribution of water therefrom, which
said obligations shall be assumed by said holders of water rights, who shall pay all
expenses incident to such transfer; which said condition the said second part— in
consideration thereof and of these presents, for and — heirs and assigns do—
hereby accept. Such transfer shall only be made when the canal is in good order and
unencumbered.
X. It is further agreed that the irrigating season shall commence April 15 and con-
tinue to November 1 of each and every year, and that thereafter water shall be con-
veyed for domestic purposes whenever reasonably practicable; subject to the right
of º first party to shut off the water in order to repair or enlarge or extend said
Callal,
} XI. The payment of the consideration heretofore specified herein shall be as follows:
— dollars upon the ensealing and delivery of this contract, payment of which is
hereby acknowleged, and the balance in — payments at the times and in the manner
following, that is to say :
4

Day. | Month. Year. Principal, Interest. Amount. IRemarks.
First deferred º: * * >
Second deferred payment--
Third deferred payment...
Fourth deferrod payment..
Fifth deferred payment. ...
Sixth deferred payment. . . .
Seventh deferred payment.
IEighth deferred payment. -
Said deferred payments shall bear interest at the rate of — per cent. per annum,
payable annually, and shall bear interest after maturity at the rate of —-- per cent.
per annum, and the second part—, in consideration of the premises, hereby agree—
that — will make punctual payment of the above sums, and each of the same,
together with the interest thereon, as the same respectively become due ; and that
— will regularly and seasonably pay all assessments that may be imposed by said
company, for the purposes aforesaid, as above agreed,
XII. In case the second part — legal representatives, heirs or assigns, shall pay
the several sums of money punctually, and at the times above limited, and shall
strictly and literally perform all and singular agreements and stipulations afore-
said after their true tenor and intent, then the first party shall cause to be made and
executed unto the second part — heirs or assigns, a deed conveying the water-right
above described in ſee-simple; subject, however, to the same asscssments and for-
feitures for non-payment as herein provided, -
BLANKS AND FORMS USED IN DITCH MANAGEMENT 159
XIII. The first party claims and reserves a strip of land of the width necessary and
sufficient for the right of way of the canals of the first party, and for enlarging and
repairing and superintending the same where any such canal is located upon or con-
tiguous to the premises, hereby claiming and reserving the right of way across said
lands for lateral canals where the same are or may become necessary and expedient for
the purpose of conveying water from the main canals of first party to the lands below,
whether such laterals are constructed by the first party, or by persons owning such
lower lands; provided that the laterals aforesaid shall be constructed under the
Supervision of and upon such lands only as are selected by the first party.
XIV. And it is hereby agreed and covenanted by the parties hereto that time and
punctuality are essential elements of this contract. And in case the scond part—shall
fail to make the payments aforesaid, and each of them, or shall fail to pay any assess-
ment which may be levied, as provided in paragraphs V and VI hereof, punctually
and upon the strict terms and times above limited for the payments and assessments
herein provided for, or likewise to observe, perform, and complete all and each of
said agreements and stipulations aforesaid strictly and literally without any failure
or default, then this contract, So far as it may bind the first party, shall become null
and void, the water may be immediately shut off, and all rights and interests hereby
created or then existing in favor of the Second part — heirs or assigns, or derived
from shall utterly cease and determine, and all equitable and legal
interest in the water-right hereby contracted to be conveyed shall
revert to and revest in said first party, without any declaration of forfeiture or any
other act of said first party to be performed, and without any right of said second
part— of reclamation or compensation for moneys paid or services performed, as abso-
lutely, fully, and perſectly as if this contract had never been made: Provided, That
said first party shall give to said second part—, – heirs or assigns, sixty days' riotice,
either personally or by mail, of the said second part — heirs or assigns, being in
arrears upon said payments, or any of them, or the interest thereon, which notice, if
by mail, shall be sufficient, if by registered letter addressed to said second part— at
Colorado. f
And it is further stipulated that no assignment of the premises shall be valid unless
the same shall be indorsed hereon, and Ino agreements, or conditions or relations be-
tween the said second part— and — assigns, or any other person acquiring title
or interest from or through —, shall preclude the first party from the right to con-
vey the premises to the second part- or — assigns, on the surrender of this agree-
ment and the payment of the unpaid portion of the purchase money which may be
due to the first party. y
XV. It is also stipulated and agreed that from and after the execution hereof, the
said second part — may enter into the use and enjoyment of water flowing through
said canal, its reservoirs or laterals to the extent of the right, above contracted to be
conveyed, as fully as though fully paid for, but subject, however, to all the terms,
limitations and conditions above set forth. !
In witness whereof, the Company, party of the first part, has here-
unto caused its corporate name to be subscribed by its president, and attested by its
secretary and its corporate seal to be affixed hereto as well as to a duplicate hereof,
and the part— of the second part subscribed name— and
º — seal— hereto, as well as to a duplicate hereof, this the – day
* g 18—.
*
- COMPANY.,
By — President,
Attested by— -
— — Secretary.
*º [SEAL.]
Address: *
.*- ſº [SEAL.]
Address: s
3. [SEAL, I
Address:
ASSIGNMENT,
• *-* = , a e “* Y, .
º; the within-named pnrchaser, for and in consideration of dollars,
do — hereby assign and transfer all — right, title, interest and claim in and to the
within-described rights to water unto Of , county of , and
State of , heirs and assigns, forever, And — do — hereby authorize and em-
ower the Company, to receive from the said all unpaid
alances due to said, Company, in part consideration for said water rights and upon
the final payment of all the purchase money and a full compliance of all the require.
j 60 * IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
ments contained in the within agreement, to execute, or cause to be executed, to the
said — heirs and assigns, a deed of said water rights, instead of to'
Given under — hand and seal, this — day of , A. D., 18—.
It is expressly understood that in consenting to recognize this assignment, the
officers of this Company do not exempt the original purchaser from any of his liabi.
ties under the contract, but will protect the rights of the assignee, provided he com-
plies with its obligations.
* S g
Countersigned: , [SEAL.]
President.
*sºmeºs —,
Secretaru.
STATE OF COLORADo, !/
County of , 88.
Before me , in and for said county, this day personally came
, known to me to be the identical person— described in the within agreement,
and Who executed the foregoing assignment, and acknowledged that — signed,
sealed, and delivered the same as — free and voluntary act and deed, for the uses
and purposes herein set forth.
Given under my hand and — seal of office, this — day of
- º {º º A. D. 18—.
My commission expires , 18–.
Received , 189—, of —— the sum of — dollars, amount of first de-
ferred payment on the within contract.
f ſº similar to the above for the second to the eighth payments, inclusive,
O! O W,
(Indorsement.) No. —. Agreement for sale of water right. The
with for — statutory inches. \
No. III.
THE FORT MORGAN LAND AND CANAL COMPANY.
This agreement, made this — day of ——, in the year 18—, between the Fort
Morgan Land and Canal Company, a corporation existing under the laws of the State
of Colorado, as the first party, and , of the county of Weld, and State of
Colorado, as the second party, witnesseth :
I. That in consideration of and subject to the stipulations herein contained, and
the payments to be made as hereinafter specified, the first party hereby agrees to sell
unto the second party — heirs or assigns, – water right — to the use of water,
flowing through the canal of said first party; each water right to be sufficient to ir-
rigate 80 acres of land, but not to exceed 1.40 cubic feet of water per second of time,
which the first party agrees to furnish to the second party — heirs or assigns, dur-
ing the irrigating season, except as hereinafter provided, and at no other time, for
domestic purposes and for irrigating the following-described land, situate in the
county of Weld, and State of Colorado, viz: e
II. Said second party heirs or assigns, shall not permit said water or any
portion thereof, furnished as aforesaid, to run to waste, provided, however, that own-
ers of water rights from the said canal may temporarily, for mutual convenience for
irrigating purposes only, use their water in combination upon their several lands,
but never upon lands for which the first party has not sold its full quota of water,
on a basis of one water right to 80 acres of land.
III. Said first party shall deliver said water at such point or points along the line
of said canal, or from any of its reservoirs, either or all, as it may determine from time
to time to be most practicable; and the location of all headgates, and the manner of
withdrawing and regulating the supply of water from said company's canals and reser-
voirs, shall be prescribed by said company, and shall at all times be under its con-
trol. t
IV. Said first party agrees to keep and maintain said canal and any and all of its
reservoirs in good order and condition, and in case of accident to the same to repair
the injury thereby occasioned as soon as practicable and expedient; and the company
shall have a right to assess said second party, for the expense of maintaining, repairing
and superintending said canal and any and all reservoirs connected there with, a sum
tº
BLANKS AND FORMS USED IN DITCH MANAGEMENT. 161
not exceeding $10 per water right sold, per annum, and in addition thereto may, when
Inecessary by reason of accident, assess all owners or holders of water rights pro rata
such sums, not exceeding $10 in any one year for each water right, as may be neces-
sary to repair the damages so occasioned. The amount, manner of collection, and
time of payment of all assessments herein provided for shall be determined by said
company; and the company also reserves to itself the right to establish and enforce
such rules and regulations, and to provide and declare such penalties as are neces-
sary and expedient for the purpose of enforcing and collecting said assessments, or
any part thereof. 4:
V. It is further expressly understood and agreed that when the first party shall
have sold and have outstanding and in force water rights, fully paid up, equal to the
full capacity of its canal (or sooner at its option), it will distribute pro rata the stock
of said company among the holders of water rights so sold and the first party as
owners of unsold water rights (if any), and the second party agrees to merge —
water right — in this contract, and the first party, in the exercise of said option, to
Inerge all its water rights then remaining unsold, if any, severally, into the capital
stock of said company, in equitable proportions to the water right— so merged.
VI. It is hereby distinctly understood and agreed by and between the parties hereto,
that in case the canal of said first party shall be unable to convey and distribute a
volume of water equal to the estimated capacity, either from any accident, or from
lack of supply in the South Platte River, or from any other cause beyond the con-
trol of said first party, then the first party shall not be liable for the shortness or
deficiency of supply so occasioned, or any losses or damages resulting therefrom.
It is further agreed that during a deficiency in the water supply of such canal, from any
of the causes aforesaid, the first party shall have the right to divide the diminished
supply pro rata, among the holders of water rights under said canal, and for the pur-
pose of so doing may establish and enforce such rules and regulations as are neces-
sary and expedient. And the second party, for — and — heirs and assigns agree—
in consideration aforesaid to waive, and do hereby waive, any claim for loss or dam-
age by reason of any leakage or overflow of said canal, or any of its reservoirs,
lakes, or laterals, not resulting from the negligence of the first party, either upon the
land aforesaid or any other tract belonging to said second party.
VII. In consideration of foregoing promises, covenants, and agreements of the said
party of the first part, the second party agrees to pay unto the said first party the
sum of dollars with interest, payable annually, at the rate of 10 per cent. per
annum. Payment bas been made and received of dollars, and the reqaining
principal, with the annually accruing interest, shall be paid at the office of the first
party in Denver, Colo., in payments, at the times and in the manner following,
that is to say:

Day. | Month. Year. Principal. Interest. Amount. Remarks.
First deferred payment----|------|----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|------------------
Second deferred payment.-----------------------------------|----------|----------|------------------
Third deferred payment---|------|----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|------------------
Fourth deferred payment--------|----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|------------------
Fifth deferred payment ---|------|----------|--------|----------|----------|----------|------------------
Sixth deferred payment. --....... s e º e s e º sº - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * I e - * * * * * * v i < * * * * * * * = e i s vs ºn we as ºn e e º ºs as us a “s ºr se - ºn
And the second party, in consideration of the premises, hereby agrees that —
will make punctual payments of the above sums, as each of the same respectively be-
comes due, and that — will regularly and seasonably pay all assessments that may
hereafter be imposed by said company for the purposes aforesaid. And when the
said party of the second part or — assigns, shall have fully paid the consideration for
the water rights herein conveyed, with interest thereon according to the terms of
this contract, the absolute title to said water rights, free and clear of all incum-
brances, shall be thereby vested in the said party of the second part, and his assigns
without any further or other deed of conveyance whatsoever. -
VIII. The second party for — heirs and assigns further agree— to pay to the first
party or its assigns, on such terms and regulations as its board of trustees may from
time to time prescribe and determine — proportional part of the expenses of main-
taining and repairing the general fence, constructed to inclose a large tract of land
lying under said canal; and said second party for — heirs and assigns further ex-
pressly agrees, in consideration of these presents, that — will not permit any live
stock in possession or under — control to run at large within such general
fence; and any violation of this agreement shall render the second party — personal
representatives or assigns, liable in damages to the first party, as trustee for the
benefit of any persons and their privies in interest, who may be injured by reason of
depredations of live stock so allowed to run at large in violation hereof.
IX. And it is hereby covenanted and agreed by the parties hereto, that time and
138 A L-WOL IV. 11
162 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
punctuality are material and essential elements of this contract, and that in case said
party of the Second part shall fail or neglect to make the payments aforesaid, and each
of them, at the time and times herein stipulated, then all rights, privileges, and
benefits accrued or accruing under the terms of this contract in favor of said party of
the second part or — heirs or assigns, shall utterly cease and determine after thirty
days' notice of such default being given by deposit thereof in the post-office at Denver,
addressed to said party of the second part at his last known post-office address, or by
personal service of such notice, at the option of said party of the first part, and with-
out any right of said party of the second part of reclamation - or compensation for
moneys paid or Services performed, as absolutely, fully, and perfectly as if this con-
tract had never been made ; and all moneys theretofore paid by said party of the
second part to said party of the first part under the provisions of this contract shall
belong to, and be retained by, said party of the first part as liquidated damages for
the breach hereof.
It is further expressly and distinctly agreed and understood that this contract shall
not be construed or operate to convey or vest any interest whatever in the water
right hereinbefore mentioned until said party of the second part shall have fully per-
formed each and every of the covenants and agreements herein contained, for the
payment of the aforesaid consideration and purchase price, and shall not be assigned
until fully paid up, without the consent of the first party indorsed hereon,
In witness whereof, The Fort Morgan Land and Canal Company has hereunto
caused its corporate name to be subscribed by its president and attested by its secre-
tary and its corporate seal to be affixed, and the second party — subscribed —
Iname and affixed — seal hereto, the day and year first above written.
THE FORT MORGAN LAND AND CANAL COMPANY.,
By
President,
Attested by:
º
Secrétar3/.
[SEAL.]
[SEAL.]
[SEAL.]
tº .
*
ASSIGNMENT.
, the within named purchaser, for and in consideration of dol-
lars, do— hereby assign and transfer all — right, title, interest, and claim in and
to the within described rights to water unto , of , county of
and State of , heirs and assigns forever. And — do— hereby authorize and
empower The Fort Morgan Land and Canal Company to receive from the said
all unpaid balances due to said company, in part consideration for said water
rights, and upon the final payment of all the purchase money, and a full compliance
with all the requirements contained in the within agreement, to execute, or cause to
be executed, to the said , heirs and assigns, a deed of said water rights,
instead of to ©
Given under — hand— and seal— this — day of , A. D. 18–. #
It is expressly understood that in consenting to recognize this, assignment, the offi-
cers of this company do not intend to exempt the original purchaser from any of his
liabilities under the contract, but to protect the rights of the assignee, provided he
complies with its obligations. - - t
... [SEAL, I
Countersigned: -
- \ President.
Secretary.
STATE OF COLORADO,
County of , 88 5 •
Before me, , in and for said county, this day personally came —
, known to me to be the identical person— described in the within agreement,
and who executed the foregoing assignment, and acknowledged that — signed,
sealed, and delivered the same as — free and voluntary act and deed for the use
and purposes herein set forth.
Given under my hand and — seal of office this — day of , A. D. 18–.
Received 18 —, of
ferred payment on the within contract.
*=
dollars, amount of first ãe.
\
, the sum of
mºmºsº
* ©
ſReceipts similar to the above for the second to the sixth, inclusive, follow.}
(Indorsement :) No. Agreement for sale of water right. The Fort Morgan
Land and Canal Company Wit dº
AREAS UNDER DITCH AND CULTIVATED.
STATISTICS OF RECLAMATION IN ARIZONA, CALIFORNIA, COLORADO,
IDAHO, KANSAS, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW MEXICO, ORE-
GON, SOUTH DAKOTA, UTAH, WASHINGTON, AND WYOMING,
TART IV.
Reliable statistics of irrigation are as yet unknown. Approximate
statements, reasonably correct, are all that can be now obtained. The
recent (1889) investigation of the United States Senate special Commit-
tee on Irrigation and the Reclamation of Arid Lands have given a basis
for statements before impossible, in spite of statements that have been
widely published that inquiries have been made and data collected under
official scientific direction for the past ten years. Nothing of the sort
has been done, except as a very general incidence of certain geological
and topographical work carried on in the arid West.
The first real attempt to obtain data on American irrigation was
made in the preparation of this report, when in 1884–85 the Depart-
ment of Agriculture authorized such inquiry under the editor of this
report. In 1886 the Senate directed the publication of a first edition
thereof. In the following session of Congress an inquiry was ordered.
In the following year an appropriation of $100,000 was made for the
purpose of organizing an irrigation survey. The next session that ap-
propriation was increased to $250,000, making in all $350,000 up to the
date of this publication.
The Senate, upon the motion of Hon. William M. Stewart, of Nevada,
appointed a special committee to investigate the subject, Mr. Stewart
being made chairman. On the 1st of August, 1889, at St. Paul, Minn.,
the field inquiry began. In the following fifty-two days the com-
mittee visited eighteen States and Territories, held fifty-eight sessions,
heard several hundred witnesses, traveled in all over 15,000 miles,
closing their inquiry at Washington; holding eight sessions there for
testimony and hearing there eighteen witnesses in all; a majority and
minority report was made; bills introduced, and four volumes of testi-
mony, covering in all 1,990 pages, were printed. t
The following tabulations then are quoted from the report of the
majority, with additional data presented by other authorities.
Beginning with the Dakotas, it is estimated that there are about
100,000 acres “under ditch" in southwest Dakota—that is the Black
Hills section—of which about 15,000 acres are under cultivation, the
balance being in graSS. 163
164
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
Irrigation ditches and areas in Idaho.

tº ſº º No. of com- & Estimate
Counties in which irrigation now exists. leted | Ditches. ºl. No. of :
itches. Ill * | irrigable.
Miles, Acres.
Ada----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is wºn e ºs e e *62 *448 60,000 900,000
Alturas.----------------------------------------------- 10 18 14, 500 118,000
Bear Lake --------------------------------------------. 69 206 21, 500 30, 000
Bingham, north. --------------------------------------- flö 253 245,000 || 2,236, 000
Bingham, South---------------------------------------- 70 264 39, 250 267, 500
Boisé -------------------------------------------- º nº º te tº gº 120 60 83, 500 || ----------
Çassia * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 298 299 82,000 656,400
Tºlmore ------------------------------------------------ #50 f25 10, 000 230,000
Logan ------------------------------------------------. $65 # 125 50,000 1,250,000
Lem hi----- tº dº º º ºs º º ºs e º tº sº º tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = as as 250 #300 9, 715 500,000
Oneida------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * f65 #100 38, 760 196,000
Owyhee-----------------------------------------------. 6t; 153 21, 275 248, 500
Washington ------------------------------------------ 1270 } # } 40,000 500,000
Total ----------- tº ºn tº º ºs ºr sº we s tº fº º ſº us tº us tº ºs º ºs ºn tº ºr * * * * * * * * * s 1, 311 2, 418 715, 500 r 7, 141, 400
* This includes three ditch systems, embracing 207 miles, incompleted when estimates were made.
f The sixteen ditches given do not include the laterals. At an average estimate of 400 acres per
ditch the mileage would be over 600.
f Estimated on the basis of 2 miles per ditch serving 400 acres. This is near enough for an approxi-
mate estimate; below rather than above the facts.
§ The 34 miles are the definite lengths given of new ditch systems; the balance is an estimate.
The Geological Survey estimates 740,350 acres as irrigated in 1889.
The Society of Civil Engineers presented for Montana a report which
is tabulated as follows:
*
w
Irrigation ditches and areas in Montana.

Supposed
Supposed can be
No. County. Area. under oultivated
cultivation. by irriga-
tion.
Sq. miles. 4. *; on
Vr ead.------------------------------------------- tº sº ºn ºn º 3,740 0,000 (), 000
# gººd...:::::::::::::::::: * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2, 570 50, 000 60i), 000
3 Choteau - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24, § 50, 000 ; § §
* rvation -------------------------------------------- 7, is º º ºs ºr sº * * * * * * , 500,
#|gº::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: º º ºs º º ºs ºf 22, 300 30,000 3,000, 000
6 Dawson - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ze as º ºs º as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 25, 650 50,000 4,000,000
7 | Deer Lodge.-------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - 4, 760 100,000 350, 000
8 : Fergus ..... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7,415 100,000 1, 500,000
9 || Gallatin - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2,900 100,000 400, 000
10 || Jefferson . -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2,060 25,000 250,000
11 | Lewis and Clarke. ----------------------------------- gº tº e º sº us we was a 1,769 50, 000 400,000
12 || Madison -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - & e s as s a w s ºn s is as we sº sº sº e = * * * * * * * * * tº gº tº dº º sº 4, 546 100,000 400,000
13 | Meagher-------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7, 160 35,000 500,000
iſ Missoula......* - - - - - - - - - - - - e º gº tº g º º ºs º ºs º ºs º º sº as s ºn as e e º us ss s a sº e = * * * * * * * 19, 580 150, 000 600,000
15 | Park. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4,740 15, 900 500,000
16 || Silver Bow - - - - - a • * = a, e s = e, e a e s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 760 1,000 40,000
17 | Yellowstone.--------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3,390 50,000 500,000
Total.------ tº es us e = e s a sm as s a s sº * * * * * * * * * * sº º ºs º ºs º gº ºn tº tº sº tº e ºn tº sº e º ºs P. 146,000 986, 000 || 19,790,000
Other statistics show that there were in 1869, of mining ditches 287%
miles constructed, at a cost of $806,500. The present extent, including
these—as many have been used for irrigation purposes also-is now esti-
mated at 1,000 miles. There are now partially or wholly completed the
following larger or district Systems, constructed for rental investment &
by corporations:
DITCHES AND AREAS IN MONTANA AND UTAH. 165
& º i d
Corporation ditches. Miles Aº...” Esºte
Benton Lake...... tº s ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 35 50,000 $175,000
Clarke's Fork............. * * * * * * * * * sº as tº e º e º as a s sº se e s sº as a sº tº e s m s m ºr e º º ºs º sº sº as e 38 100, 000 140,000
Chestnut Valley ----------------------------- & e as dº e s = - tº º tº a sº e s is • * * * * * * * 10 25,000 3.
Pearborn ------------------------------------------------------------ 45 51,000 150,000
Florence ------------------------------------------------------------- 50 10,000 200,000
Gallatin-------------------------------------------------------------- 25 50, 000 75,000
Sun River -------...------- * * * * * * * g g º sº º ºs e º & e º e º e º 'º dº e º 'º & & & sº dº sº ºn tº e º ºr * * * * * 75 300,000 500,000
eton.---------------------------------e------------------ sº e s a s sº e º a s a 40 35,000 80,000
Total ...-- & ſº - tº - tº ºn tº e º ºs º º º tº gº tº sº e º ſº º e = • * * * * e e s is a e s e º ºs s as a e s sº a ºn e º 'º e s = 318 611,000 1, 327,000


Report to the U. S. Geological Survey by R. S. Tarr, estimates 500,000
acres under cultivation.
The statistics of the committee show the following:.
Irrigation ditches and areas in Utah.
Assessors return made the total 348,102 acres.
Irrigated | No. of Miles of
Counties reported. 3. išo canals. I canals.
Beaver ----------------------------------------------------------------. 9, 500 *32 * 96
Box Elder....... tº º ºr e º º sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 17, 500 12 * 76
Cacho------------------------------------------------------------------ 41, 444 40 110
Emery ------------- - * * * * * * * * * * * * * as a se s a m = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º sº sº, e - * * * * * * * * 14, 825 * 34 102
Garfield.-------- ºn as e - sº º sº º is sº e º sº - - - - as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º ºs e º e s - es s > * * * 5,000 * 17 * 51
Tron ------------------------------------------------------------------. 6,997 * 23 *69.
Juab --------. tº as * * * * * & º ºs º º sº e s ºn tº º * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4,000 * 13 * 39
*ame------------------------------------------------------------------- 1, 825 9 * 18
Millard --------------------------------------------------------------- 13, 500 42 * 120
Morgan ---------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 648 * 29 *87
Pi Ute ----------------------------------------------------------------. 12, 135 31 * 93
Rioh ------------------------------------------------------------------. 42,811 * 143 * 429
Salt Lake-------------------------------------------------------------- 38, 587 37 *213
San Juan -------------------------------------------------------------. 1,025 4 12
* Pete --------------------------------------------------------------. 3, 500 * 12 * 36
Sevier .--------. * * * * * * * * * * * e s a e s = e º e s sº e s e e e - º º ºs e as a e s - e - was ºn a s is as ºs º ºs º sº tº sº a tº ºn 17, 619 * 60 * 180
Summit---------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 500 * 28 * 84
Tooele----------------------------------------------------------------- 6, 250 * 21 * 63
Uintah----------------------------------------------------------------- 8,933 * 30 * 90
*------------------------------------------------------------------. 69, 126 * 346 * 1,488
Wasatch--------------------------------------------------------------. 18,000 60 180
Washington ----------------------------------------------------------- 18, 892 31 186
Weber----------------------------------------------------------------- 44, 052 25 5
º
Total.---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s sº as sº as * * * * * * * 412, 669 1,079 3,903

*These are estimates made on a uniform basis of 300 acres to each ditch and of laterals 3 miles in
length.
The Mormon Church returns of irrigation quoted by Major Powell,
for 1889, puts the land “under irrigation” at 802,456 acres, that is,
“ under ditch.”
by farming 66,191 arable, but not irrigated 2,525,403 acres.
For Oregon, estimates of the U. S. Geological Survey presented by
the Director to the committee are here given:
Actually irrigated that year the area is given at 371,437

Irrigation ditches and areas in Oregon.
[Report of W. G. Steel, June 27, 1889.]
o TJnder º TJ Inder
County. Irrigated. dit. County. Irrigated. di.
Acres. Acres. - Acres. Acres.
Baker ---------- * * * * * * * * * * 5,000 10,000 || Malheur................. 40, 000 60,000
Crook..... tº ſº ºne º sº sº gº as a a ºn sº º sº e 8,000 8,000 || Morrow................. 6,000 18, 500
Gilliam--------- tº º ºr sº as tº a tº ºn is 3,000 5,000 || Umatilla ................ 5,000 7,000
Grant -------------------- 10,000 10,000 || Union..... ,--------...-- 9 5,000 8,000
Harney------ e tº e º sº me • * * * * * * 20,000 20,000 || Wallowa................ 7,000 10,000
Klamath ------ º e ºa e º ºs e s m = * 5, 600 30,000
Lake --------------------- 5,000 5,000 Total.------------ 119,000 191, 500
166 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Eastern Washington's irrigated area is given by the committee, at
75,000 acres “under ditch,” and 50,000 acres as irrigated. That of
Nevada is stated at 142,000 acres under ditch, of which 75,000 are cul-
tivated by irrigation.
For the Golden States returns are conflicting, but the following is a
fair statement of
Irrigation ditches and areas in California.”

_*
O
Ditches. Cººper Total cost.
Miles. /
In the San Joaquin Valley, counties of Fresno, Merced, ICern, and
Tulare . . . . . • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 800 $5,400 || $4,320,000
In the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Bernardino. . . . . . . . . 500 6,000 3,000, 000
In San Diego Cºunty. -----------. . . . . . . . . . . . . .-----. -- . . . . . --------- 36 19, 613 706, 068
In the remaining part of the State, twenty-four counties, where
irrigation is practiced ----------- - - - - - -º º ºr tº dº .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1,700 640 1, 128,000
Counting one-tbird of the mining ditches in the State as available
and used for small irrigation, we have.----...-----...--------------- 289 3, 188 921, 221
Total.---------------------------------------------------------- 8,825 |------...--. 10,375,289
Without question the total valuation or cost is much below the true
figures. Much of the data on which the estimates are based is taken
from the assessors’ returns magle for the purpose of taxation. They
can therefore be doubled. That will give a total cost of at least
$20,000,000.
The acreage is as difficult to arrive at with certainty, but it can be
fairly and moderately stated as follows:
In the San Joaquin counties: Acres.
In farm crops ------------------------------------- v w = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1,000,000
In Vines ------------ .- - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 13,000
In fruit trees-------------------------------------------------------- 16,000
1,029,000
In the southern counties: • ' - -
In farm crops ------------------------------------------------------- 580,000
In Vines ------------------------------------------------------------ 45,000
In fruit trees.-------------------------------------------- gº tº º e º 'º tº gº ºn tº º 85,000
710,000
In the balance of State (irrigated):
In farm crops ---------------------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * 1,500,000
In vines ------------------------------------------------------- * * * * * 25,000
In fruit trees-------------------------------------------------------- 30,000
1, 555,000
The total acreage wholly under ditch and now irrigated is fairly
within the annexed totals:
- A cres.
In farm crops. ------------------------- tº ºr m as sº as as ºn e º us s º gº • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3,080,000
In vines ---------------------------------------------------------------- 83,000
In fruit trees.------------------------------------------------------- .... 131,000
Total ------------------------------------------------------------ 3,294,000
If all the areas directly cultivated by the aid of natural subirrigation,
etc., be added, the total area in California will certainly be not less than
3,500,000 acres. . The point of interest, however, in these figures is the
profitable character of such cultivation, especially in the matter of fruit-
ral Slng. ſ
* From report of majority of Senate Committee on Irrigation, 1890.
.* ARIZONA, NEW MEXICO, TEXAS, AND KANSAS. 167
Major Powell's statement, from “Irrigation in United States,” first
edition, 1886, gives these figures— -
Acres.
Under ditches, constructed or projected..... es e º e º 'º as as sº e s tº ºs e º s ºr sº e º º s sº º . .... 6,000,000
Irrigated, etc.----------------------------------------------------- ..... 3,000,000
The same authority reports the following—
Irrigation ditches and areas in Arizona.

No. of Area under
County. gºals. Length. ditch.
Miles. Acr
Apache ----------------------------------------------------------------|-------- 24 12,500
3. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s s º ºs as ºr e º e - sº e & e º e º ºs e º is sº as ºn tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * % s: ;
Taham - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5
* 1 * * * * * * * * * * * * As e º as a s a s as a º e º sº º e º ºs e º ºs e º as ºn e s sº as as a s e s sº s sº a tº ºn tº t e º is a dº ºf e 23 * #. §
ima------------------------------------------------------------------ 36 2. *
Pinal 28 50 78,000
Imal - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * 50, 000
Yavapai.---------------------------------------------------------------|-------. 78 40,000
Yuma ----------------------------------------------------------------- 10 120% 81,000
Total.------------------ r e < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | - - - - - - - - 740% 529, 200
* In Pima Reservation.
These figures are entirely taken from county reports. The ditch sys-
tem constructing in Yuma County will, when completed, have a total
length of 241 miles and an acreage of 207,000. The total cost will be
$1,318,000, or nearly $5,500 per mile. The canals under way in Mari-
copa County will, when completed, cover 404,900 acres and have a total
length of 425 miles. Apache County reports 150,000 acres reclaimed,
Pima County 2,500,000 acres, and Cochise 310,000 acres. Of the area
“under ditch " about two-thirds are actually cultivated. For Arizona.
the Geological Survey estimates all reclaimable, 1,650,000 acres; under
ditch,455,600 acres; actually cultivated, 203,080 acres. Engineer Newell
for the same territory estimates only 175,000 acres as cultivated through
irrigation.
Western Texas, that is the arid section west of the one hundredth
meridian, has been making rapid strides. Its total area irrigated and
under ditch, after careful inquiry is placed at 200,000 acres “under
ditch" and 125,000 actually cultivated.
Southwest Kansas in 1889 suffered largely from the drought. “Under
ditch” were 300,000 acres, nearly all in the Upper Arkansas Valley,
while but 75,000 acres were cultivated by actual irrigation.
The following table gives the official census figures of 1885:
Irrigation ditches and areas in New Mexico.
Number of farms ------------------------------------------------------- 10, 511
Number of acres (improved, estimated) -------------------------...----. 500,000
Area reclaimable in acres--------------------------...---------- 4 ºn e s e s as ºn a 13,965, 000
Under date of June 24, 1889, T. B. Mills, of Las Vegas, N. Mex, makes
the following estimate: .*

TOnder TJnder
County. ditch. County. ditch.
- * Acres. Acres.
Bernalillo.---------------------------. 12,421 || Santa Fé.--------..............------ 9, 820
Colfax ------------------------------. 183,400 || Sierra ------------------------------. 8, 673
Doña Aña ---------------------------- 37,621 || San Juan -------------...-...-----...-- 20, 000
Grant -------------------------------. 8, 721 || Socorro -------------...........------ 73, 464
Lincoln ------------------------------ 100,000 || Taos.--------------.................. 88, 763
, Mora :-------------------------------- 51,279 || Valencia.-----....................... 26, 429
Rio Arriba......... * * * * * * * is a s is a we tº º w w = * 29, 623 | ****
San Miguel.----...-----. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 38, 241 || Total -----------...----...-----. 638,455
s”
168 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Projected ditches and ditches under construction will serve in addi-
tion, 722,000 acres. *
A most careful student and engineer, L. G. Carpenter, professor of
irrigation engineering and meteorologist in the State Agricultural Col-
lege, presented in his annual college report (January, 1890) the follow-
ing approximate estimate of
Irrigation ditches and areas in Colorado.

Area. Total area.
Tivision I (Platte Division): Sq. miles. Sq. miles. Acres.
Platte Valley, below the Poudre ----------------------------------. 283. 21
Platte Valley, above the Poudre, including Bear and Clear Creeks. 551.64
St. Vrain and Boulder Creeks -------------------------------------. 2.94.59
Big and Little Thompson ------------------------------------------ 134. 22
Cache La Poudre -------------------------------------------------. 393. 54
Total from South Platte-------------------------------------. 1,657.20 | 1,060,608
From North Platte in North Park.---------------------------|---------. 101.23 64, 787
Division II (Arkansas Division):
East of the Huerfano River---------------------------------------. 489. 08
Cucharas. ---------------------------------------------------------- 94. 40
La Veta and Apache ----------------------------------------------- f 84. 17
Upper Arkansas and Fontaine------------------------------------. 106.91
774, 56 495, 718
Division III (Rio Grande Division) -----------------------------...-----|---------- 1,564.00 | 1,000, 960
Division IV (San Juan Division), including Dolores, Mancos, Pine,
Florida, La Plata Rivers.--------------------------------------------|---------- 135, 00 86,400
Division V (Grand River Division). --...-----...-...---------------------|---------- 210. 00 134, 400
Division VI (Bear and White River Division).----........-------------|---------- 110.00 70, 400
Total.------------------------------------------------------------|---------- 4,552.00 2,913,273
By this table the total amount of land under ditch in Colorado at
present is not far from 4,500 square miles, or 3,000,000 acres. The
amount of land actually irrigated can not be so reliably estimated at
present. It is much less than that under ditch.
Professor Carpenterestimates the total irrigated as not over one-third.
This is apparently below the actual results. State Engineer Maxwell
reported the following figures as a careful statement of the area east of
the Rocky Mountains:

Acres.
Divisions No. of Miles of
& districts. ditches. TJnder | Actually
ditch. irrigated.
. 1 Platte.--------------------------------------------- 14 2,067, 36 1, 126, 800 631,036
§: 2 Arkansas ------------------------------------------ 13 943. 30 440, 240 116,047
No. 3 Rio Grande ---------------------------------------- 8 1,033.68 596,097 250,263
Total ---------------------------------------------- 35 4,044.34 2, 163, 137 997, 346
In the three eastern divisions there are also one hundred and sixty-
two reservoirs, with a record capacity of 5,319,939,788 cubic feet, Capa-
ble of furnishing 1 acre-foot of water to each of 122,199 acres. The
total number of ditches, large and small, in the State is estimated at
2,000, and their mileage at 5,000. The duty of water is placed at 1.45
cubic feet per second for 80 acres. In some sections it is over 100 acres,
however.
West of the range in the Grand River, Mesa County, Uncompahgre;
and other sections, there were 110,000 acres actually irrigated. The
estimate of E. S. Nettleton, the leading engineer of the State, reached,
for 1889, one of water scarcity, to 1,300,000 acres. From the various
*
º
A GENERAL
*.
SUMMARY OF LAND UNDER. DITCH. 169
enterprises now in progress and for which it is claimed, water can be
obtained, the area under ditch in the present will not be less than
4,000,000 acres.
There are over four hundred mountain streams within the borders Of
Wyoming, and the mountain area from which they flow contains at least
35,000 square miles, 22,400,000 acres. The Territorial engineer, Elwood
Mead, claims as a moderate computation, that the annual precipitation
on these storm-condensers and moisture-stores will average not less than
3 solid feet of water. This estimate contains 60,000,000 acre-feet; an
amount sufficient, at the rate per annum of 1 acre-foot for 80 acres, to
irrigate 10,000,000 acres of land. The precipitation is there, the mount-
ains offer unequaled opportunities for storage, the numerous Water.
courses can be rendered available with added artificial facilities for full
distribution, and the land will present, with its broad levels and fertile
qualities, an easy work for the engineer and ample return to the farmer.
Irrigation ditches and areas in Wyoming.

Total - No. of claims, No. of ditch No. of ditch
No. of Total With state- Total claims, omit- || Total acre- |claims, omit-
District. re...d length, as ment of capacity ting state- age watered ting state-
i. S stated. length omit- as given. ment of ca- as given. ment of acre-
15CI16S. ted. pacity. age.
1*t------- 643 1,322.385 39 5,911. 584 48 482, 434.00 89
2 --------- 327 582. T93 31 || 6,649.844 53 379, 164.64 62
3 ---------. 282 317. 419 91 3,644. 078 72 395, 563.00 114
4f---------|----------|------ -----|--------------|------------ * * * * * * * * tº gº tº ºr * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * * * | * * * * * * * * * * * * *
#: * * * * * * * * * 502 996. 398 32 10,422.700 57 440, 540.00 50
6 ---------- 124 196. 955 46 1, 556. 325 36 58, 162.00 55
7 ---------. 322 518. 240 50 1, 658.905 96 108, 976.78 95
8.---------- 182 212.410 52 3,095.487 79 35, 395.00 96
9 ---------- 49 91. 430 1 342. 000 25 42, 460.00 3
§---------- 7 11.905 -------------- 186.800 -------------. 4, 180.00 l.------------
Total 2,438 4, 249.935 242 20, 381. 723 466 1, 946, 875.42 564
* Engineer Mead's report.
* {District No. 4 omitted because of incomplete record.
f Seven reservoirs additional.
§ Unorganized district.
Of this area of nearly 2,000,000 acres not more than 80,000 acres are
under cultivation other than for stock purposes.
For western Nebraska, an estimate is made (1889–90) of 50,000 acres
“unditch," and 6,000 under cultivation.
The Senate committee report as follows, as a summary:
Total area wnder ditch and irrigated.

t * - e. - Cultivated
States and Territories. Under ditch. by irrigation.
- Acres. Acres.
Arizona.-----------------------------------------------------------------. 455,000 225,000
California ---------------------------------------------------------------- 4,000, 000 3, 300,000
Colorado ----------------------------------------------------------------- 3,000, 000 1,600,000
Idaho -------------------------------------------------------------------- 715,000 500,000
lºansas ------------------------------------------------------------------- 300,000 75,000
Montana -----------------------------------------------------------------. 986, 000 350,000
Nebraska.---------------------------------------------------------------. 50, 000 5,000
Sevada.------------------------------------------------------------------. 142, 000 70,000
New Mexico.-------------------------------------------------------------. 800, 000 625,000
Oregon ------------------------------------------------------------------- 191, 000 150,000
South Dakota (Black Hills) ---------------------------------------------. 100,000 15,000
Texas -------------------------------------------------------------------. 200,000 125,000
9tal; "------------------------------------------------------------------. 700, 000 413,000
W*hington -------------------------------------------------------------- 75,000 50, 000
Wyoming ---------------------------------------------------------------. 1, 947, 000 75,000
Total ------------------------------------------ & ſº tº sº tº º sº e º ºs º ºs ºn tº sº a m = w = - 13,661, 000 7, 578,000
170 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The table presented on the authority of the Geological Survey makes
a total estimate of 8,307,000 acres, as “irrigated and under ditch;” cer.
tainly an aggregate below the fact. At date of this publication (June,
1890) the area “under ditch” west of the ninety-eighth meridian of
west longitude will not be less than 16,000,000 acres in extent; under
cultivation it will reach at least 9,000,000, and is probably a million
more. If the area “under ditch” is as reported in the forgoing, the
value for taxation purposes will not be less than $10 per acre, or a total
valuation of $186,610,000, while that actually cultivated may be placed
by a low valuation at $15 per acre, or a total of $125,270,000. And
these being considered as assessor's figures may fairly be doubled. The
cost of reclamation will certainly not exceed, all told, more than $7
per acre, or a total of $95,627,000. Indeed it is more probable that
$50,000,000 will cover the actual cost of reclaiming the area at present
irrigated. ?
The Senate committee made the following argument on the utility
of irrigation.
The amount of land that may be brought under cultivation in the arid region by
irrigation is variously estimated at from 75,000,000 to 150,000,000 acres. It is safe to
predict that at least 100,000,000 acres will be ultimately brought under cultivation by
irrigation, and that, too, by the water in sight which, when properly utilized, will
readily reclaim at least 10 per cent. of the whole arid area. It is worthy of remark
that land cultivated by irrigation is much more productive than land where the rain-
fall is sufficient to produce º The certainty of crops every year in an irrigated
country where the water supply is sufficient is a most important consideration. Be-
sides, in nearly every part of the arid region more than one crop can be produced each
year from the same land, and a good crop is always certain with a constant water Sup-
ply. Irrigation requires unremitting attention and high cultivation and with such
attention and cultivation it is calculated that in any given period of ten years irri-
gººd land will produce from three to five times as much as land cultivated by rain-
The question for consideration is: What action should be taken by the Govern-
mênt to enable the people to reclaim these desert lands? The reclamation must be
initiated and executed by the people, and not by their Government. In India, and,
in fact, in all countries under monarchial or despotic rule, the work of irrigation
has been carried on under Government control and largely with Government money.
The Government of British India has already expended several hundred millions of
dollars in constructing irrigation works, and is continuing such expenditures on a
most magnificent scale. The reports show that the investment has been profitable
to the Government and of the greatest possible advantage to the people.
But there is no necessity for the United States to engage in such expenditures.
If the opportunity is furnished to the people of this country they will reclaim these
desert lands so far as reclamation is necessary. The use of industrial co-operation in
developing the mineral resources of the far West demonstrates the capacity of the
people for great undertakings, which in Öt'aet &ountries require vast expenditures of
accumulated capital, #
tº
LEGAL CONDITIONS OF IRRIGATION.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL PROVISIONS AND LAWS OF THE SEVERAL STATES
AND TERRITORIES WITHIN THE ARID REGION IN RELATION TO WATER
RIGHTS, PUBLIC CONTROL, AND BENEFICIAL USES, WITH A LIST OF
CASES AND DECISIONS.
PAET V.
Those who desire to understand the progress of irrigation will do well
to carefully examine the constitutional provisions adopted by the several
States which are in whole or in part within the area of aridity. Until
within a few years past very little attention has been paid to safeguards
over natural property, such as water, and through the public control of
which, for beneficial uses, can the security of industry alone be achieved.
California, Nevada, and Oregon, the three States first formed west
of the eastern lines of industrial moisture, have made no constitutional
provision affecting the public character of this use. In their statutes
and before their courts the isues involved have constantly been acted
upon. There has grown up or evolved out of the necessities of the
people and the exigencies of the communities interested a great body
of law, custom, regulation, and judicial interpretation. These start in
general from the principle of prior appropriation as Wrought out by the
earlier miners, and embodied in Federal law, and then by the States
and Territories, being steadily sustained by the courts, with a few
exceptions, as the common law of an arid rºgion such as ours. The
development of the beneficial use of water has of course modified the
practice of prior appropriations to a first or prior pro rata share of the
natural waters, when taken from bed or source for industrial purposes.
The people of Colorado were the first to perceive both the just theory
and the exacting conditions embodied in the public nature of water.
Its constitution, therefore, becomes a starting point, as framed and
adopted in 1875–76. The sections relating to water rights and obliga-
tions are as follows: -
CONSTITUTION OF CALIFORNIA.
WATER AND WATER RIGHTS.
SECTION 1. The use of all water now appropriated, or that may hereafter be appro- -
priated, for sale, rental, or distribution, is hereby declared to be a public use, and sub-
ject to the regulation and control of the Siate, in the manner to be prescribed by law:
Provided, That the rates or compensation to be collected by any person, company, or
corporation in this State for the use of water supplied to any city and county, or city
or town, or the inhabitants thereof, shall be fixed annually by the board of supervis-
ors, or city or town, by ordinance or otherwise, in the manner that other ordinances
or legislative acts or resolutions are passed by such body, and shall continue in force
for one year and no longer. Such ordinances or resolutions shall be passed in the
month of February of each year, and take effect on the first day of July thereafter.
Any board or body failing to pass the necessary ordinances or resolutions fixing water
rates, where necessary, within such time, shall be subject to peremptory process to
compel action at the suit of any party interested, and shall be liable to such further
processes and penalties as the legislature may prescribe. Any person, Company, or
corporation collecting water rates, in any city and county, or city or town in this State,
otherwise than as so established, shall forfeit the franchises and water-works of such
person, company, or corporation, to the city and county, or city or town, where the
same are collected for the public use.
171
172 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
SECTION 2. The right to collect rates or compensation for the use of water supplied
to any county, city and county, or town, or the inhabitants thereof, is a franchise,
and cannot be exercised except by authority of and in the manner prescribed by law.
CONSTITUTION OF COLORADO.
WATER RIGIHTS–PRIORITIES AND RIGHTS THEREUNDER.
ARTICLE XVI. SEC, 5. The water of every matural stream not heretofore appropriated,
within the State of Colorado, is hereby declared to be the property of the public, and
is dedicated to the use of the people of the State, subject to appropriation as here-
inafter provided. e
SEC. 6. The right to divert unappropriated waters of every natural stream for bene-
ficial uses shall never be denied. Priority of appropriation shall give the better right,
as between those using the water for the same purpose; but when the waters of any
natural stream are not sufficient for the service of all those desiring the use of the
Same, those using the water for domestic purposes shall have the preference over those
claiming for any other purpose, and those using the water for agricultural purposes
shall have the preference over those using the same for manufacturing purposes.
ART. II, SEC. 14. Private property shall not be taken for private use unless by
consent of the owner, except for private ways of necessity, and except for reservoirs,
drains, flumes, or ditches, on or across the lands of others, for agricultural, mining,
milling, domestic, or sanitary purposes.
ART. II. SEC. 15. Private property shall not be taken or damaged for public or pri-
vate use without just compensation. Such compensation shall be ascertained by a
board of commissioners of not less than three freeholders, or by a jury when required
by the owner of the property, in such manner as may be prescribed by law, and until
the same shall be paid to the owner, or into court for the owner, the property
shall not be needlessly disturbed, or the proprietary rights of the owner therein
invested [divested J.; and whenever an attempt is made to take private property for
a use alleged to be public, the question whether the contemplated use be really public
shall be a judicial question, and determined as such without regard to any legislative
assertion that the use is public.
ART. XVI. SEC. 7. All persons and corporations shall have the right of way across
public, private, and corporate lands for the construction of ditches, canals, and
flumes, for the purpose of conveying water for domestic purposes, for the irrigation of
agricultural lands, and for mining and manufacturing purposes, and for drainage,
upon payment of just compensation.
ART. XVI. SEC. 8. The general assembly shall provide by law that the board of
county commissioners in their respective counties shall have power, when application
is made to them by either party interested, to establish reasonable maximum rates to
be charged for use of water whether furnished by individuals or corporations.
ART. X. SEC. 3. Ditches, canals, and flumes owned and used by individuals or cor-
porations for irrigating lands owned by such individuals or corporations, or the indi-
vidual members thereof, shall not be separately taxed so long as they shall be owned
and used exclusively for such purposes.
CONSTITUTION OF IDAHO.”
BILL OF RIGHTS.
ARTICLE I. SEC. 14. The necessary use of lands for the construction of reservoirs,
or storage basins, for the purposes of irrigation, or for rights of way for the construc-
tion of canals, ditches, flumes, or pipes, to convey water to the place of use, for any
useful, beneficial, or necessary purpose, or for drainage, or for the drainage of mines,
or the working thereof, by means of roads, railroads, tramways, cuts, tunnels, shafts,
hoisting works, dumps, or other necessary means to their complete development, or
any other use necessary to the complete development of the material resources of the
State, or the preservation of the health of its inhabitants, is hereby declared to be a
public use, and subject to the regulation and control of the State. e
Private property may be taken for a public use, but not until a just compensation,
to be ascertained in a manner prescribed by law, Shall be paid therefor.
WATER RIGHTS.
ART. XV. S.E.C. 1. The use of all waters now appropriated, or that may hereafter
be appropriated for sale, rental, or distribution; also of all water originally appropro-
ated for private use, but which after such appropriation has heretofore been, or may
* These provisions and those of Montana, North Dakota, Washington and Wyoming, were all
. adopted in 1889.
LEGAL Provisions IN IDAHO AND MONTANA. 173
hereafter be sold, rented, or distributed, is hereby declared to be a public use, and
subject to the regulation and control of the State in the manner prescribed by law.
SEC. 2. The right to collect rates or compensation for the use of water supplied to
any county, city, or town, or water district, or the inhabitants thereof, is a fran-
tº: and can not be exercised except by authority of and in the manner prescribed
y law.
SEC. 3. The right to divert and appropriate the unappropriated waters of any nat-,
ufral stream to beneficial uses shall never be denied. Priority of appropriation shall
give the better right as between those using the water; but when the waters of any
natural stream are not sufficient for the service of all those desiring the use of the
same, those using the water for domestic purposes shall (subject to such limitations
as may be prescribed by law) have the preference over those claiming for any other
purpose; and those using the water for agricultural purposes shall have preference
over those using the same for manufacturing purposes. And in any organized mining
district those using the water for mining purposes or milling purposes connecte
with mining, shall have preference over those using the same for manufacturing or
agricultural purposes. But the usage by such subsequent appropriators shall be sub-
ject to such provisions of law regulating the taking of private property for public
and private use, as referred to in section fourteen of Article I, of this constitution.
SEC. 4. Whenever any waters have been, or shall be, appropriated or used for agri-
cultural purposes, under a sale, rental, or distribution thereof, such sale, rental,
or distribution shall be deemed an exclusive dedication to such use ; and whenever
such waters so dedicated shall have once been sold, rented, or distributed to any per-
son who has settled upon or improved land for agricultural purposes with the view .
of receiving the benefit of such water under such dedication, such person, his heirs,
executors, administrators, successors, or assigns, shall not thereafter, without his
consent, be deprived of the annual use of the same, when needed for domestic pur-
poses, or to irrigate the land so settled upon or improved, upon payment therefor,
and compliance with such equitable terms and conditions as to the quantity used and
times of use, as may be prescribed by law.
SEC. 5. Whenever more than one person has settled upon or improved land with
the view of receiving water for agricultural purposes under a sale, rental, or distri-
bution thereof, as in the last preceding section of this article provided, as among such
persons priority in time shall give superiority of right to the use of such water in the
numerical order of such settlements or improvements; but whenever the supply of
such water shall uot be sufficient to meet the demands of all those desiring to use the
Same, such priority of right shall be subject to such reasonable limitations as to
the quantity of water used and times of use as the legislature, having due regard both
to such priority of right and the necessities of those subsequent in time of settlement
or improvement, may by law prescribc.
SEC. 6. The legislature shall provide by law the manner in which reasonable max-
imum rates may be established to be charged for the use of water sold, rented, or dis-
tributed for any useful or beneficial purpose.
CONSTITUTICN OF MONTANA,
WATER RIGHTS.
SECTION 1. The use of all waters now appropriated, or that may hereafter be ap-
priated, for sale, rental, or distribution; also, of all water originally appropriated
for private use, but which, after such appropriation has heretofore been, or may
hereafter be, sold, rented, or distributed, is hereby declared to be a public use, and
subject to the regulation and control of the State in the manner prescribed by law.
SEC, 2. The right to collect rates or compensation for the use of water supplied to
any county, city, or town, or water district, or the inhabitants thereof, is a fran-
º and can not be exercised except by authority of and in the manner prescribed .
y law.
SEC. 3. The right to divert and appropriate the unappropriated waters of any
natural stream to beneficial uses shall never be denied. Priority of appropriation
shall give the better right as between those using the water for the same purpose;
but when the Waters of any natural stream are not sufficient for the service of ali
those desiring the use of the same those using the water for domestic purposes shall
(Subject to such limitations as may be prescribed by law) have the preference over
those claiming for any other purpose, and those using the water for agricultural
purposes shall have preference over those using the same for manufacturing pur-
poses.
SEC. 4. All persons and corporations shall have the right of way across public, pri-
Yate, and corporate lands for the construction and maintenance of canals, ditches,
flumes, or pipes for the purpose of conveying water to the place of use, for any use-
174. IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
ful or beneficial purpose, and for drainage upon paying therefore a just compensation
in the manner prescribed by law.
SEC. 5. Whenever any waters have been, or shall be, appropriated or used for ag-
ricultural purposes under a sale, rental, or distribution thereof, such sale, rental, or
distribution shall be deemed an exclusive dedication to such use; and whenever such
waters so dedicated shall have ever been sold, rented, or distributed to any person who
has settled upon or improved land for agricultural purposes with a view of receiving
the benefit of such water under such dedication, such person, his heirs, executors, adº
ministrators, successors, or assigns shall not thereafter without his consent be de-
prived of the annual use of the same when needed for domestic purposes, or to irri-
gate the land so settled upon or improved, upon payment therefor and compliance
with such equitable terms and conditions as to the quantity used and times of use as
may be prescribed by law.
SEC. 6. Whenever more than one person has settled upon or improved land with
the view of receiving water for agricultural purposes under a sale, rental, or distri-
bution thereof, as in the last preceding section of this article provided, as among
such persons priority in time shall give superiority of right to the use of such water
in the numerical order of such settlements or improvements; but whenever the sup-
ply of such water shall not be sufficient to meet the demands of all those desiring to
use the same, such priority of right shall be subject to such reasonable limitations as
to the quantity of water used and times of use as the legislative assembly, having
due regard both to such priority of right and the necessities of those subsequent in
time of settlement or improvement, may by law prescribe.
SEC. 7. The legislative assembly shall provide by law the manner in which reason-
able maximum rates may be established to be charged for the use of water sold,
rented, or distributed for any useful or beneficial purpose.
CONSTITUTION OF NEW MEXICO.
[Proposed article.]
MINING AND WATER RIGHTS,
ART. XIV. SEC. 5. Whenever by priority of possession rights to the use of water
for mining, agriculture, manufacturing, or other purposes have vested and accrued
the possessors and owners of such vested rights shall be maintained and protected
in the same, and the right of way for the construction of ditches and canals for the
purposes herein specified is acknowledged and confirmed subject to the restrictions
of this constitution as to taking property for public or private use.
CONSTITUTION OF NORTH DAKOTA.
ART. XVII. SEC. 210. All flowing streams and natural water-courses shall forever
remain the property of the State for mining, irrigating, and manufacturing purposes,
CONSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON. .
WATER AND WATER RIGHTS.
ART. XXI. SEC. 1. The use of the waters of this State for irrigation, mining, and
manufacturing purposes shall be deemed a public use.
CONSTITUTION OF WYOMING.
[Proposed article.]
DECLARATION OF RIGHTS.
ART. I. SEC. 31. Water being essential to industrial prosperity, of limited amount,
and easy of diversion from its natural channels, its control must be in the State,
which in providing for its use shall equally guard all the various interests involved.
SEC. 32. Private property shall not be taken for private use unless by consent of
the owner, except for private ways of necessity, and for reservoirs, drains, flumes,
or ditches on or across the lands of others for agricultural, mining, milling, domestic,
or sanitary purposes, nor in any case without due compensation.
PROPOSED PROVISIONS IN WYOMING. 175
IRRIGATION AND WATER. RIGHTS,
ART. VIII. SEC. 1. The water of all natural streams, springs, lakes, or other col-
lection of still water, within the boundaries of the State, are hereby declared to be
*the property of the State.
SEC. 2. There shall be constituted a board of control, to be composed of the State
engineer and superintendents of the water divisions, which shall, under such regu-
lations as may be prescribed by law, have the supervision of the waters of the State
and of their appropriation, distribution, and diversion, and of the various officers
connected there with, its decisions to be subject to review by the courts of the State.
SEC. 3. Priority of application for beneficial uses shall give the better right. No
ºriation shall be denied except when such denial is demanded by the public in-
eTeStS.
SEC. 4, The legislature shall by law divide the State into four water divisions, and
provide for the appointment of superintendents thereof. º
SEC. 5. There shall be a State engineer, who shall be appointed by the governor of
the State and confirmed by the senato; he shall hold his office for the term of six
years, or until his successor shall have been appointed and shall have qualified. He
shall be president of the board of control, and shall have general supervision of the
water of the State and of the officers connected with its distribution. No person shall
be appointed to this position who has not such theoretical knowledge and such prac-
tical experience and skill as shall fit him for the position.
CORPORATIONS.
ART. X. SEC. 1. The legislature shall provide for the organization of corporations by
general law. All laws relating to corporations may be altered, amended, or repealed
by the legislature at any time when necessary for the public good and general wel-
fare, and all corporations doing business in this State may as to such business be reg-
ulated, limited, or restrained by law not in conflict with the Constitution of the
United States.
SEC. 2. All powers and franchises of corporations are derived from the people, and
are granted by their agent, the Government, for the public good and general welfare,
and the right and duty of the State to control and regulate them for these purposes is
hereby declared. The power, rights, and privileges of any and all corporations may
be forfeited by willful neglect or abuse thereof. The police power of the State is su-
preme over all corporations as well as individuals.
SEC. 3, All existing charters, franchises, special or exclusive privileges under which
an actual and bona fine organization shall not have taken place for the purpose for
which formed and which shall not have been maintained in good faith to the time of
he adoption of this constitution, shall thereafter have no validity.
LAWS RELATING TO IRRIGATION, WATER CONSERVATION AND DIS.
TRIBUTION,
ARIZONA IRRIGATION LAWS.
WATERS AND WATER RIGHTS.
CHAPTER 1.—Riparian rights.
3.198. (Sec. 1.) The common-law doctrine of riparian rights shall not obtain or be
of any force or effect in this Territory.
CHAPTER 2.-Irrigating canals and acequias.
3199. (Sec. 1.) All rivers, creeks, and streams of running water in the Territory of
Arizona are hereby declared public and applicable to the purposes of irrigating and
mining, as hereinafter provided. p
3200. (Sec. 2.) All rights in acequias, or irrigating canals, heretofore established
shall not be disturbed, nor shall the course of such acequias be changed without the
consent of the proprietors of such established rights,
3201. (Sec. 3.) All the inhabitants of this Territory who own or possess arable and
irrigable lands shall have the right to construct public or private acequias, and ob-
tain the necessary water for the same from any convenient river, creek, or stream of
running water.
3202. (Sec. 4.) Whenever such public or private acequias shall necessarily run
through the lands of any private individuals not benefited by said acequias, the
damages resulting such private individuals, on the application of the party inter-
ested, shall be assessed by the probate judge of the proper county in a summary
Iſla, DD 6P.
3203. (Sec. 5.) No inhabitant of this Territory shall have the right to erect any dam,
or build a mill, or place any machinery, or open any sluice, or make any dyke, except
such as are used for mining purposes or the reduction of metals, as provided for in
sections 6 and 7 of this chapter, that may impede or obstruct the irrigation of any
lands or fields, as the right to irrigate the fields and arable lands shall be preferable
to all others; and the justices of the peace of the respective precincts shall hear and
determine the question relative to all such obstructions in a summary manner, and
cause the removal of the same by order directed to the constable of the precincts or
sheriff of the county, who shall proceed to execute the same without delay.
3204. (Sec. 6.) Where reduction works or other mining apparatus shall be placed
upon lands previously held for agricultural purposes, or persons so holding such lands
shall be entitled to remuneration from person or persons erecting or owning said
reduction works or mining apparatus, the amount of remuneration shall be adjudged
by three or five disinterested persons, or by the probate judge, as the parties inter:
ested shall agree; and in case such agreement can not be made, then the party injured
may bring suit for damages, - º
3205. (Sec. 7.) When any ditch or acequia shall be taken out for agricultural pur-
poses, the person or persons so taking out such ditch, or acequia shall have the ex-
clusive right to the water, or so much thereof as shall be necessary for said purposes;
and if at any time the waters so required shall be taken for mining operations, the
person or persons owning said water shall be entitled to damages to be assessed in the
manner provided in section 6 of this chapter. g - º ºf e
3206. (Sec. 8.) All by-paths or footpaths across any cultivated fieśls are prohibited,
under penalty of a fine not to exceed $10 for the public acequia, to be assessed in a
summary manner by the justice of the peace of the precinct; and if the person so
offending shall not have where with to pay the fine, he shall be adjudged and sen-
tenced to ten days on the public acequia.
176
THE WATER LAWS OF ARIZONA. 177
3207. (Sec. 9.) All owners of arable and irrigable land bordering on, or irrigable by,
any public acequia, shall labor on such public acequia, whether such owners or pro-
prietors cultivate the land or not.
, 3208. (Sec. 10.) All persons interested in a public acequia, whether owners or les-
sees of land, shall.labor thereon in proportion to the amount of land owned or held
by them, and which may be irrigated or subject to irrigation. º
3209. (Sec. 11.) It being impracticable to properly inclose the fields in this Terri-
tory, all animals shall be icept under a shepherd so that no injury, may result to the
fields; and if any damage should result, it shall be paid by the owners of the animals
causing the same, to be assessed by the justice of whe peace of the precinct in a sum-
mary manner, and paid to the person or persons whose fields may have been dam-
aged, r
*.io. (Sec. 12.) In case a community or people desire to construct an acequia in
any part of this Territory, and the persons desiring to construct the same are the
owners or proprietors of the land upon which they design constructing the said
acequia, no one shall be bound to pay damages for such land, as all persons interested
in the construction of the said acequia are to be benefited thereby.
3211. (Sec. 13.) Immediately after the publication of this chapter, it shall be the
duty of the several justices of the peace in this Territory to call together, in their
respective precincts, all the owners and proprietors of land, irrigated by any public
acequia, for the purpose of electing one or more overseers for said acequia for the
corresponding year.
3212. (Sec. 14.) The manner of conducting such elections, and the number of over-
seers, shall be regulated by the justices of the peace of their respective precincts;
and the only persons entitled to vote at said elections shall be the owners and pro-
prietors of lands irrigated by said acequias.
3213. (Sec. 15.) The pay and perquisites of said overseer shall be determined by a
majority of the owners and proprietors of the lands irrigated by said acequias, and
paid by them.
3214. (Sec. 16.) It shall be the duty of the overseers to superintend the opening,
excavations, and repairs of said acequias; to apportion the number of laborers fur-
nished by the owners, and proprietors; to regulate them according to the quantity of
land to be irrigated by each one from said acequia, to distribute and apportion the
water in proportion to the quantity to which each ºne is entitled according to the
land cultivated by him; and, in making such apportionment, he shall take into con-
sideration the nature of the seed sown or planted, the crops and plants cultivated,
and to conduct and carry on such distribution with justice and impartiality.
3215. (Sec. 17.) During years when a scarcity of water shall exist, owners of fields
shall have precedence of the water for irrigation, according to the dates of their re-
spective titles or their occupation of the lands, either by themselves or their grantors.
The oldest titles shall have precedence always.
3216. (Sec. 18.) It shall be the duty of each of the owners and proprietors to furnish
the number of laborers required by the overseer, at the time and place he may desig-
nate, for the purposes mentioned in the foregoing section, and for the time he may
deem necessary.
3217. (Sec. 19.) If any overseer of any public acequia, after having undertaken to
serve as such, shall willfully neglect or refuse to fulfill the duties required of him by
this chapter, or conduct himself with impropriety or injustice in his office as overseer;
or take any bribe in money, property, or otherwise, as an inducement to act improp-
erly; or neglect the duties of his office, he shall be fined for each of said offenses in
a sum not exceeding $100 nor less than $50, to be recovered before any justice of the
peace of the county—one-half of which shall be paid to the county and the other
half to the person bringing suit for the same—the said suit to be brought in the
name of the Territory of Arizona; and said overseer, on being convicted a second
time, shall be removed from his office by the justice of the peace of the precinct, and
shall take such pay and perquisites as may be due him for services rendered.
3218. (Sec. 20.) Upon such removal, the justice of the peace shall order a new elec-
tion to fill the vacancy thereby occasioned, which shall be conducted in the manner
prescribed in the thirteenth and fourteenth sections of this chapter.
3219. (Sec. 21.) If any owner or proprietor of land irrigated by such acequia shall
neglect or refuse to furnish the number of laborers required by the overseer, as required
in the eighteenth section of this chapter after having been duly notified by the over-
seer, he shall be fined for each offense in a sum not exceeding $10 for the benefit of said
acequia, which shall be recovered by the overseer before any justice of the peace in
the county, and in such cases the overseer shall be a competent witness to prove the
offense or any fact that may serve to constitute the same.
3220. (Sec. 22.) If any person shall in any manner interfere with, impede, or ob-
struct any of said acequias, or use the water from it without the consent of the over-
seer, except as provided in section 7 of this chapter during the time of cultivation,
he shall pay for each offense a sum not exceeding $10, which shall be recoverable in
138 A L–AP WOL IV 12
178 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
the manner prescribed in the foregoing section for the benefit of said acequia; and he
shall further pay all damages that may have accrued to the injured parties, and, if
such person have not where with to pay said fine and damages, he shall be sentenced
to fifteen days’ labor on said public acequia. t
3221. (Sec. 23.) All fines and forfeitures received for the use and benefit of any pub:
lic acequia shall be applied by the overseers to the improvements, excavations, and
repairs which may be necessary on said acequia, and for the construction of bridges
where they may be crossed by any public street or road.
3222. (Sec. 24.) In all cases of conviction under this chapter an appeal shall be al-
lowed to the probate court, which appeal shall be taken and conductod as all other
appeals from the decisions of the justices of the peace.
3223. (Sec. 25.) The regulations of acequias, which have been worked according to
the laws and customs of Sonora and the usages of the people of Arizona, shall remain
as they were made and used up to this day; and the provisions of this clapter shall
be enforced and observed from the day of its publication.
3224. (Sec. 26.) All plants and trees of any description growing on the banks of
any acequia shall belong to the owners of the land through which said acequia may
I'll D,
3225. (Sec. 27.) Any person owning lands which may include a spring or stroam of
running water, or owning lands upon a river where there is not population sufficient
to form a public acequia, may construct a private acequia for his own uses, subject
to his own regulations, provided it does not interfere with the rights of others.
3226. (Sec. 28.) All laws conflicting with the provisions of this chapter are hereby
repealed. --
fº-The foregoing chapter is compiled and taken from the Compiled Laws,
Chapter LV, page 528. There was no legislation upon the subject by the fourteenth
legislature (1887), and this chapter remained unchanged.]
‘CIIAPTER 3–Ditch Crossings.
3227. (Sec. 1.) Any person, corporation or company, owning or using any ditch or
canal constructed for the purpose of conveying water, shall construct and maintain
suitable crossings wherever said ditch or canal crosses any public highway, or usually
traveled road of this Territory; said crossing shall be maintained as follows: s
|From the bottom of the ditch in the roadway there shall be a uniform rise of not
more than 1 foot in 3 to the top of the embankment ; either side the ditch shall be
graveled or macadamized with stone to a depth of not less than 10 inches from the
top of one embankment to the other, and the macadamized or paved road across any .
of said ditches shall not be less than 14 feet wide; provided, that any person or per-
sons, corporation or company may at any of said crossings construct and build a good
and substantial bridge to be approved of by the road overseers of the district.
3228. (Sec. 2.) The road overseer of each of the districts in the several counties in
this Territory shall have supervision of said crossings, and it shall be his duty to see
that the several ditch crossings in his district are constructed and maintained as pro-
vided in the preceding section.
3229. (Sec. 3.) For neglect or refusal of any person or persons, corporation or com-
pany, whose duty it shall be to construct or maintain such crossings as provided for
in section 1, for the period of ten days after being notified in writing by the road
overseer of the district in which any such crossing needs construction or repair that
such construction or repair is required, such person, corporation or company shall be
guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof before a justice of the peace
of any such precincts, shall be fined not less than $10 or more than $100 for the first
offense; and of not less than $25 nor more than $250, and the costs of prosecution,
for each subsequent offense; provided, that whenever such highway or road is con-
structed, after the construction of such ditch or canal, it shall be the duty of the
road overseer of the district to construct and maintain such crossing at the expense
of the road fund of the district, and if the same be at any time insufficient, the same
shall be paid out of the general fund in the county treasury, to be chargeable to and
thereafter collected from such road fund. tº -º º
3230. (Sec. 4.) All funds collected under the provisions of this act shall be paid into
the road fund of the district, wherever such crossings are required.
THE IRRIGATION LAWS OF CALIFORNIA. 179
THE IRRIGATION LAWS OF CALIFORNIA.
WRIGHT IRRIGATION BILL AND AMENDMENTS, 1889.
AN ACT to provide for the organization and government of irrigation districts and to provide for the
acquisition of water and other property, and for the distribution of water thereby for irrigation
purposes.
SECTION 1. Whenever fifty or a majority of freeholders owning lands susceptible
of one mode of irrigation from a common source, and by the same system of works, de-
sire to provide for the irrigation of the same, they may propose the organization of an
irrigation district under the provisions of this act, and when so organized such district
shall have the powers conferred or that may hereafter be conferred by law upon such
irrigation district.
SEC. 2. A petition shall first be presented to the board of supervisors of the county
in which the lands or the greatest portion thereof is situated, signed by the required
number of freeholders of such proposed district, which petition shall set forth and
particularly describe the proposed boundaries of such district, and shall pray that
the same may be organized under the provisions of this act. The petitioners must
accompany the petition with a good and sufficient bond, to be approved by the said
board of supervisors, in double the amount of the probable cost of organizing such
district, conditioned that the bondsmen will pay all said cost in case said organization
shall not be effected. Such petition shall be presented at a regular meeting of the
said board, and shall be published for at least two weeks before the time at which the
same is to be presented, in some newspaper printed and published in the county
where said petition is presented, together with a notice stating the time of the meet-
ing at which the same will be presented. When such petition is presented, the said
board of supervisors shall hear the same, and may adjourn such hearing from time to
time, not exceeding four weeks in all; and on the final hearing may make such
changes in the proposed boundaries as they may find to be proper, and shall estab-
lish and define such boundaries: Provided, That said board shall not modify said
boundaries so as to except from the operation of this act any territory within the
boundaries of the district proposed by said petitioners, which is susceptible of irriga-
gation by the same system of works applicable to the other lands in such proposed
district, nor shall any lands which will not, in the judgment of the said board, be
benefited by irrigation by said system be included within such district: Provided,
That any person whose lands are susceptible of irrigation from the same source shall,
upon application of the owner to said board, be entitled to have such lands included
in said district. Said board shall also make an order dividing said district into five
divisions, as nearly equal in size as may be practicable, which shall be numbered
first, second, third, fourth, and fifth, and one director shall be elected from each dis-
trict. Said board of supervisors shall then give notice of an election to be held in
such proposed district, for the purpose of determining whether or not the same shall
be organized under the provisions of this act. Such notice shall describe boundaries
so established, and shall designate a name for such proposed district, and said notice
shall be published for at least three weeks prior to such election in a newspaper pub-
lished within said county; and if any portion of such proposed district lie within
another county or counties, then said notice shall be published in a newspaper pub-
lished within each of said counties. Such notice shall require the electors to cast
ballots which shall contain the words, “Irrigation district—Yes,” or, “Irrigation
district—No,” or words equivalent thereto; .# also the names of persons to be voted
for to fill the various elective offices hereinafter prescribed. No person shall be enti-
tled to vote at any election held under the provisions of this act unless he shall pos-
sess all the qualifications required of electors under the general election laws of this
State. te
SEC, 3. Such election shall be conducted in accordance with the general election
laws of the State, provided that no particular form of ballot shall be required. The
said board of supervisors shall meet on the second Monday next succeeding such
election, and proceed to canvass the votesthereat ; and if upon such canvass it appear
that at least two-thirds of all the votes cast are “Irrigation district—Yes,” the said
board shall, by an order entered on their minutes, declare such territory duly organ-
ized as an irrigation district, under the name and style theretofore designated, and
shall declare the persons receiving, respectively, the highest number of votes for sucht
several offices to be duly elected to such offices. , Said board shall cause a copy of
such order, duly certified, to be immediately filed for record in the office of the county
recorder of each county in which any portion of such lands are situated, and must also
immediately forward, a copy thereof to the clerk of the board of supervisors of each
of the counties in which any portion of the district inay ne; and no board of super-
visors of any county, including any portion of such district, shall, after the date of
the organization of such district, allow another district to beformed including any of
180 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
the lands in such district, without the consent of the board of directors thereof; and
from and after the date of such filing, the organization of such district shall be com-
plete, and the officers thereof shall be entitled to enter immediately upon the duties
of their respective offices, upon qualifying in accordance with law, and shall hold
such offices, respectively, until their successors are elected and qualified. For the
purposes of the election above provided for, the said board of supervisors must es-
tablish a convenient number of election precincts in said proposed district, and define
the boundaries thereof, which said precincts may thereafter be changed by the board
of directors of such district.
SEC. 4. An election shall be held in such district on the first Wednesday in April,
eighteen hundred and eighty-eight, and on the first Wednesday in April in each sec-
ond year thereafter, at which an assessor, a collector, and a treasurer, and a board of
five directors for the district shall be elected. The person receiving the highest num-
ber of votes for any office to be filled at such election is elected thereto. Within ten
days after receiving their certificates of election, hereinafter provided for, said officers
shall take and subscribe the official oath and file the same in the office of the board
of directors. The assessors shall execute an official bond in the sum of ten thousand
dollars, and the collector an official bond in the sum of twenty thousand dollars, and
the district treasurer an official bond in the sum of fifty thousand dollars; each of
said bonds to be approved by the board of directors; and each member of said board
of directors shall execute an official bond in the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars,
which said bonds shall be approved by the judge of the superior court of said county
where such organization was effected and shall be recorded in the office of the county
recorder thereof, and filed with the secretary of said board. All official bonds herein
provided for shall be in form prescribed by law for the official bonds of county officers.
SEC. 5. Fifteen days before any election held under this act, subsequent to the
organization of any district, the secretary of the board of directors shall cause notice
to be posted in three public places in each election precinct of the time and place of
holding the election, and shall also post a general notice of the same in the office of
said board, which shall be established and kept at some fixed place to be determined
by said board, specifying the polling places of each precinct, Prior to the time for
posting the notices, the board must appoint for each, precinct, from the electors
thereof, one inspector and two judges, who shall constitute a board of election for
such precinct. If the board fail to appoint a board of election, or the members ap-
pointed do not attend at the opening of the polls on the morning of election, the
electors of the precinct present at that hour may appoint the board, or supply the
place of an absent member thereof. The board of directors must, in its order appoint-
ing the board of election, designate the house or place within the precinct where the
election must be held.
SEC. 6. The inspector is chairman of the election board, and may :
First. Administer all oaths required in the progress of an election.
Second. Appoint judges and clerks, if during the progress of the election any judge
or clerk cease to act. Any member of the board of election, Qr any clerk thereof, may
administer and certify oaths required to be administered during the progress of an
election. The board of election for each precinct must, before opening the polls, ap-
point two persons to act as clerks of the election. Before opening the polls, each
member of the board and each clerk must take and subscribe an oath to faithfully
perform the duties imposed upon them by law. Any elector of the precinct may ad-
minister and certify such oath. The polls must be opened one hour after sunrise on
the morning of the election, and be kept open until sunset, when the same must be
closed. The provisions of the Political Code concerning the form of ballots to be used
shall not apply to elections held under this act.
SEC. 7. Voting may commence as soon as the polls are opened, and may be con-
tinued during all the time the polls remain opened, and shall be conducted as nearly
as practicable in accordance with the provisions of chapter nine of title two of part
three of the Political Code of this State. As soon as the polls are closed, the judges
shall open the ballot-box and commence counting the votes; and in nº case shall the
ballot-box be removed from the room in which the election is held until all the ballots
have been counted. The counting of ballots shall in all cases be public. The ballots
shall be taken out, one by one, by the inspector or one of the judges, who shall open
them and read aloud the names of each person contained therein, and the office for
which every such person is voted for. Each clerk shall write down each office to be
filled, and the name of each person voted for for such office, and shall keep the number
of votes by tallies as they are read aloud by the inspector or judge. The counting of
votes shalj be continued without adjournment until all have been counted:
Sºc. 8. As soon as all the votes are read off and counted a certificate shall be drawn
up on each of the papers containining the poll list and tallies, Or attached thereto,
stating the number of votes each one yoted for has received, and designating the
office to fill which he was voted for, which number shall be written in figures and in
words at full length. Each certificate shall be signed by the clerk, judge, and the
THE WRIGHT IRRIGATION DISTRICT ACTS. 181
inspector. One of said certificates, with the poll list and tally paper to which it is
attached, shall be retained by the inspector, and preserved by him at least six
months. The ballots shall be strung upon a cord or thread by the inspector, during
the counting thereof, in the order in which they are entered upon the tally list by
the clerks; and said ballots, together with the other of said certificates, with the poll
list and tally paper to which it is attached, shall be sealed by the inspector in the
presence of the judges and clerks, and indorsed “Election returns of (naming the
precinct) precinct,” and be directed to the secretary of the board of directors, and
shall be immediately delivered by the inspector, or by some other safe and responsi-
ble carrier designated by said inspector, to said secretary, and the ballots shall be
kept unopened for at least six months, and if any person be of the opinion that the
vote of any precinct has not been correctly counted, he may appear on the day ap-
pointed for the board of directors to open and canvass the returns, and demand a
recount of the vote of the precinct that is so claimed to have been incorrectly counted.
SEc. 9. No list, tally paper, or certificate returned from any election shall be set
aside or rejected for waiit of form if it can be satisfactorily understood. The board
of directors must meet at its usual place of meeting on the first Monday after each
election to canvass the returns. If at the time of meeting the returns from each pre-
cinct in the district in which the polls were opened have been received, the board of
directors must then and there proceed to canvass the returns; but if all the returns
have not been received the canvass must be postponed from day to day until all the
returns have been received, or until six postponements have been had. The canvass
must be made in public and by opening the returns and estimating the vote of the
district for each person voted for and declaring the result thereof.
SEC. 10. The secretary of the board of directors must, as soon as the result is declared,
enter in the records of such board a statement of such result, which statement must
show:
First. The whole number of votes cast in the district.
Second. The names of the persons voted for.
Third. The office to fill which each person was voted for.
Fourth. The number of votes given in each precinct to each of such persons.
Fifth. The number of votes given in the district to each of such persons.
The board of directors must declare elected the person having the highest number
of votes given for each office to be filled by the votes of the district. The secretary
must immediately make out and deliver to such person a certificate of election signed
by him and authenticated with the seal of the board. In case of a vacancy in the
office of assessor, tax collector, or treasurer, the vacancy shall be filled by appoint-
ment by the board of directors. In case of a vacancy in the office of member of the
board of directors, the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the board of super-
visors of the county where the office of such board is situated. An officer appointed
as above provided shall hold his office until the next regular election for said dis-
trict, and until his successor is elected and qualified.
SEC. 11. On the first Wednesday in May next following their election the board of
directors shall meet and organize as a board, elect a president from their number, and
appoint a secretary. The board shall have the power, and it shall be their duty, to
manage and conduct the business and affairs of the district, make and execute all
necessary contracts, employ and appoint such agents, officers, and employés as may
be required, and prescribe their duties, establish equitable by-laws, rules, and regula-
tions for the distribution and use of water among the owners of said lands, and gen-
erally to perform all such acts as shall be necessary to fully carry out the purposes of
this act. The said by-laws, rules, and regulations must be printed in convenient form
for distribution in the district. And it is hereby expressly provided that all waters
distributed for irrigation purposes shall be apportioned ratably to each land owner
upon the basis of the ratio which the last assessment of such owner for district pur-
poses within said district bears to the whole sum assessed upon the district: Provided,
That any land owner may assign the right to the whole or any portion of the waters
so apportioned to him.
SEC. 12. The board of directors shall hold a regular monthly meeting in their office
on the first Tuesday in every month, and such special meetings as may be required
for the proper transaction of business: Provided, That all special meetings must be
ordered by a majority of the board; the order must be entered of record, and five
days' notice thereof must, by the secretary, be given to each membe not joining in
the order. The order must specify the business to be transacted, and none other than
that specified must be transacted at such special meeting. All meetings of the board
must be public, and three members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, but on all questions requiring a vote there shall be a concurrence of at
least three members of said board. All records of the board shall be open to the in-
spection of any elector during business hours. The board and its agents and em-
ployés shall have the right to enter upon any land in the district to make surveys,
and may locate the line for any canal or canals, and the necessary branches for the
182 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
Same, on any of Said lands which may be deemed best for such location. Said board
shall also have the right to acquire, either by purchase or condemnation, all lands
and Waters and other property necessary for the construction, use, supply, mainte-
malnce, repair, and improvement of said canal or canals and works, including canals
and Works constructed and being constructed by private owners, lands for reservoirs,
for the storage of needful waters and all necessary appurtenances. In case of pur.
chase the bonds of the district, hereinafter provided for, may be used at their par
Value in payment; and in case of condemnation the board shall proceed in the name
of the district under the provisions of title seven of part three of the code of civil
Procedure. Said board may also construct the necessary dams, reservoirs, and works
for the collection of water for said district, and do any and every lawful act neces-
Sary to be done, that sufficient water may be furnished to each land owner in said
district for irrigation purposes. The use of all water required for the irrigation of
the lands of any district formed under the provisions of this act, together with rights
of way for canals and ditches, sites for reservoirs, and all other property required in
fully carrying out the provisions of this act, is hereby declared to be a public use,
subject to the regulation and control of the State in the manner prescribed by law.
SEC. 13. The legal title to all property acquired under the provisions of this act
shall immediately and by operation of law vest in such irrigation district, and shall
be held by such district in trust for and is hereby dedicated and set apart to the uses
and purposes set forth in this act. And said board is hereby authorized and empow-
** hold, use, acquire, manage, occupy, and possess said property as herein pro-
W] (162C1. -
SEC. 14. The said board is hereby authorized and empowered to take conveyances
or other assurances for all property acquired by it under the provisions of this act in
the name of such irrigation district, to and for the uses and purposes herein expressed,
and to institute and maintain any and all actions and proceedings, suits at law or
in equity, necessary or proper in order to fully carry out the provisions of this act,
or to enforce, maintain, protect, or preserve any and all rights, privileges, and immu-
nities created by this act or acquired in pursuance thereof. And in all courts, ac-
tions, suits, or proceedings the said board may sue, appear, and defend, in person or
by attorneys, and in the name of such irrigation district.
SEC, 15. For the purpose of constructing necessary irrigating canals and works and
acquiring the necessary property and rights therefor, and otherwise carrying out the
provisions of this act, the board of directors of any such district must, as soon after
such district has been organized as may be practicable, estimate and determine the
amount of money necessary to be raised, and shall immediately thereupon call a spe-
cial election, at which shall be submitted to the electors of such district possessing the
qualifications prescribed by this act the question whether or not the bonds of said
district shall be issued in the amount so determined. Notice of such election must be
given by posting notices in three Fº places in each election precinct in said dis-
trict for at least twenty days, and also by publication of such notice in some news-
paper published in the county where the office of the board of directors of such dis-
trict is required to be kept once a week for at least three. successive weeks. Such
notices must specify the time of holding the election, the amount of bonds proposed
to be issued, and said election must be held and the result thereof determined and de-
clared in all respects as nearly as practicable in conformity with the provisions of
this act governing the election of officers: Provided, That no informalities in conduct-
ing such an election shall invalidate the same if the election shall have been other-
wise fairly conducted. At such election the ballots shall contain the words, “Bonds—
Yes,” or “Bonds—No,” or words equivalent thereto. If a majority of the votes cast
are “Bonds—Yes,” the board of directors shall immediately cause bonds in said
amount to be issued; said bonds shall be payable in gold coin of the United States in
installments as follows, to wit: At the expiration of eleven years not less than five
per cent. of said bonds; at the expiration of twelve years not less than six percent. ;
at the expiration of thirteen years not less than seven per cent. ; at the 'expiration of
fonrteen years not less than eight per cent. ; at the expiration of fifteen years not
less than nine per cent. ; at the expiration of sixteen years not less than ten per cent. ;
at the expiration of seventeen years not less than eleven percent. ; at the expiration
of eighteen years not less than thirteen per cent. ; at the expiration of nineteen years
not less than fifteen per cent.; and for the twentieth year a percentage sufficient to
pay off said bonds; and shall bearinterest at the rate of six per cent. per annum, pay:
able semi-annually on the first day of January and July of each year, . The principal
and interest shall be payable at the office of the treasurer of the district. Said bonds
shall be each of the denomination of not less than one hundred dollars, nor more than
five hundred dollars, shall be negotiable in form, signed by the president and secre-
tary, and the seal of the board of directors shall be affixed thereto. They shall be
numbered consecutively as issued, and bear date at the time of their issue. Coupons
for the interest shall be attached to each bond signed by the secretary. , Said bonds
shall express on their face that they were issued by authority of this act, stating its
How CALIFor NiA DISTRICTS ARE FORMED. 183
title and date of approval. The secretary shall keep a record of the bonds sold, their
number, the date of sale, the price received, and the name of the purchaser.
SEC. 16 The board may sell said bonds from time to time in such quantities as may
be necessary and most advantageous to raise money for the construction of said
canals and works, the acquisition of said property and rights, and otherwise to fully
carry out the objects and purposes of this act. Before making any sale the board
shall, at a meeting, by resolution, declare its intention to sell a specified amount of
the bonds and the day and hour and place of such sale, and shall cause such resolution
to be entered in the minutes, and notice of the sale to be given by publication thereof
at least twenty days in a daily newspaper published in each of the cities of San Fran-
cisco, Sacramento, and Los Angeles, and in any other newspaper, at their discretion.
The notice shall state that sealed proposals will be received by the board at their
office for the purchase of the bonds till the day and hour named in the resolution. At
the time appointed the board shall open the proposals and award the purchase of the
bonds to the highest responsible bidder, and may reject all bids; but said board shall
º no event sell any of the said bonds for less than ninety per'cent, of the face value
thereof. -
SEC. 17. Said bonds, and the interest thereon, shall be paid by revenue derived
from an annual assessment upon the real property of the district; and all the real
property in the district shall be and remain liable to be assessed for such payments as
hereinafter provided.
SEC. 18. The assessor must, between the first Monday in March and the first Mon-
day in June in each year, assess all real property in the district, to the persons who
own, claim, have the possession or control thereof, at its full cash value. He must
prepare an assessment book with appropriate headings, in which must be listed all
such property within the district, in which must be specified in separate columns
under the appropriate head :
First. The name of the person to whom the property is assessed. If the name is not
known to the assessor, the property shall be assessed to “unknown owners.”
Second. Land by township, range, section, or fractional section, and when such
land is not a Congressional division or subdivision, by metes and bounds, or other de-
scription sufficient to identify it, giving an estimate of the number of acres, locality,
and the improvements thereon.
Third. City and town lots, naming the city or town, and the number and block
ºg to the system of numbering in such city or town, and the improvements
thereon.
Fourth. The cash value of real estate, other than city or town lots.
Fifth. The cash value of improvements on such real estate.
Sixth. The cash value of city and town lots.
Seventh. The cash value of improvements on city and town lots.
Eighth. The cash value of improvements on real estate assessed to persons other
than the owners of the real estate.
Ninth. The total value of all property assessed.
Tenth. The total value of all property after equalization by the board of directors.
Eleventh. Such other things as the board of directors may require.
SEC, 19. The board of directors must allow the assessor as many deputies, to be
appointed by him, as will, in the judgment of the board, enable him to complete the
assessment within the time herein prescribed... The board must fix the compensation
of such deputies, which shall be paid out of the treasury of the district. The com-
pensation must not exceed five dollars per day for each deputy, for the time actually
engaged, nor must any allowance be made but for work done between the first Mon-
day in March and the first Monday in August in each year.
SEC. 20. On or before the first Monday in August in each year the assessor must
complete his assessment book, and deliver it to the secretary of the board, who must
immediately give notice thereof, and of the time the board of directors, acting as a
board of equalization, will meet to equalize assessments, by publication in a news-
paper published in each of the counties comprising the district. The time fixed for
the meeting shall not be less than twenty nor more than thirty days from the first
publication of the notice; and in the meantime the assessment book must remain in
the office of the secretary for the inspection of all persons interested. ~
SEC. 21. Upon the day specified in the notice required by the preceding section for
the meeting, the board of directors, which is hereby constituted a board of equali-
zation for that purpose, shall meet and continue in session from day to day, as long
as may be necessary, not to exceed ten days, exclusive of Sundays, to hear and dé.
termine such objections to the valuation and assessment as may come before them ;
and the board may change the valuation as may be just. The secretary of the board
shall be present during its sessions, and note all changes made in the valuation of
property, and in the names of the persons whose property is assessed; and within ten
days after the close of the session he shall have the total values, as finally equalized
by the board, extended into columns and added.
184 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
SEC.22. The board of directors shall then levy an assessment sufficient to raise the
annual interest on the outstanding bonds; and at the expiration of ten years after
the issuing of bonds by the board, must increase said assessment for the ensuing ten
years, in the following percentage of the principal of the whole amount of bonds then
outstanding, to wit: For the eleventh year, five per cent. ; for the twelfth year, six
per cent. ; for the thirteenth year, seven per cent. ; for the fourteenth year, eight per
gent. ; for the fifteenth year, nine per cent.; for the sixteenth year, ten per cent.; for
the seventeenth year, eleven per cent.; for the eighteenth year, thirteen per cent. ;
for the nineteenth year, fifteen per cent. ; and for the twentieth year, a percentagé
sufficient to pay off said bonds. The secretary of the board must compute and enter
in a separate column of the assessment book the respective sums in dollars and cents
to be paid as an assessment on the property therein enumerated. When collected the
assessment shall be paid into the district treasury, and shall constitute a special fund,
to be called the “bond fund of [naming the district] irrigation district.”
SEC. 23. The assessment upon real property is a lien against the property assessed
from and after the first Monday in March for any year; and such lien is not removed
until the assessments are paid or the property sold for the payment thereof.
SEC. 24. On or before the first day of November the secretary must deliver the assess-
ment book to the collector of the district, who shall, within twenty days, publish a no-
tice in a newspaper published in each of the counties comprising the district, if there be
lands situated in more than one county in such district, that said assessments are due
and payable and will become delinquent at 6 o'clock p. m. on the last Monday of
December next thereafter; and that unless paid prior thereto five per cent. will be
added to the amount thereof, and also the time and place at which payment of assess-
ments may be made. The notice shall also specify a time and place within each elec-
tion precinct of the district when and where the collector will attend to receive
payment of assessments, and shall be published for fifteen days, and a printed copy
of said notice shall be posted for the same time in some public place in each precinct.
The collector must attend at the time and place specified in the notice to receive
assessments, which must be paid in gold and silver coin. He must mark the date of
payment of any assessment in the assessment book opposite the name of the person
paying, and give a receipt to such person, specifying the amount of the assessment
and the amount paid, with a description of the property assessed. On the thirty-
first day of December of each year all unpaid assessments are delinquent, and there-
after the collector must collect thereon, for the use of the district, an addition of five
per cent.
SEC. 25. On or before the first day of February, the collector must publish the de-
linquent list, which must contain the names of the persons and a description of the
property delinquent, and the amount of the assessments and costs due opposite each
name and description. He must append to and publish with the delinquent list a
notice, that unless the assessments delinquent, together with cost and percentage,
are paid, the real property upon which such assessments are a lien will be sold at
public auction. The publication must be made once a week for three successive
weeks in a newspaper published in each of the counties comprised in the district.
The publication must designate the time and place of sale. The time of sale must
not be less than twenty-one nor more than twenty-eight days from the first publica-
tion, and the place must be at some point designated by the collector.
SEC. 26. The collector must collect, in addition to the assessments due on the de-
linquent list and five per cent. added, fifty cents on each lot, piece, or tract of land
separately assessed, one-half of which must go to the district and the other to the
collector for preparing the list. On the day fixed for the sale, or some subsequent
day to which he may have postponed it, of which he must give notice, the collector,
between the hours of ten o’clock a. m. and three o'clock p. m., must commence the
sale of the property advertised, commencing at the head of the list and continuing
alphabetically, or in the numerical order of the lots or blocks, until completed. He
may postpone the day of commencing the sales, or the sale, from day to day, but the
sale must be completed within three weeks from the day first fixed.
SEC. 27. The owner or person in possession of any real estate offered for sale for
assessments due thereon may designate in writing to the collector, prior to the sale,
what portion of the property he wishes sold, if less than the whole; but if the owner
or possessor does not, then the collector may designate it, and the person who will
take the least quantity of the land, or in case an undivided interest is assessed, then
the smallest portion of the interest, and pay the assessments and costs due, includin
two dollars to the collector for the duplicate certificate of sale, is the purchaser. If
the purchaser does not pay the assessments and costs before ten o’clock a.m. the fol-
lowing day, the property, on next sale day, before the regular sale, must be resold
for the assessments and costs. After receiving the amount of assessments and costs,
the collector must make out in duplicate a certificate, dated on the day of sale, stat-
ing (when known) the name of the person assessed, a description of the land sold, the
amount paid therefor, that it was sold for assessments, giving the amount and the
TAxATION OF PROPERTY FOR IRRIGATION. 185
year of the assessment, and specifying the time when the purchaser will be entitled
to a deed. The certificate must be signed by the collector, and one copy delivered
to the purchaser, and the other filed in the office of the county recorder of the county
in which the land sold is situated. g
SEc. 28. The collector, before delivering any certificate, must in a book enter a
description of the land sold, corresponding with the description in the certificate,
the date of the sale, purchasers' names, and amount paid, regularly number the de-
scription on the margin of the book and put a corresponding number on each certi-
ficate. Such book must be open to public inspection, without fee, during office hours,
when not in actual use. On filing the certificates with such county recorder the lien
of the assessments vests with the purchaser, and is only divested by the payment to
him, or to the collector for his use, of the purchase money and two per cent. per month
from the day of sale until redemption.
SEc. 29. A redemption of the property sold may be made by the owner, or any
party in interest, within twelve months from the date of purchase. Redemption
must be made in gold or silver coin, as provided for the collection of State and
county taxes, and when made to the collector he must credit the amount paid to the
person named in the certificate, and pay it, on demand, to the person or his assignees.
In each report the collector makes to the board of directors he must name the person
entitled to redemption money, and the amount due to each. On receiving the certifi-
cate of sale, the county recorder must file it and make an entry in a book similar to
that required of the collector. On the presentation of the receipt of the person
named in the certificate, or of the collector for his use, of the total amount of redemp-
tion money, the recorder must mark the word “redeemed,” the date, and by whom
redeemed, on the certificate and on the margin of the book where the entry of the
certificaté is made. If the property is not redeemed within twelve months from the
sale, the collector or his successor in office must make to the purchaser or his as-
signee a deed of the property, reciting in the deed substantially the matters con-
tained in the certificate, and that no person redeemed the property during the time
allowed by law for its redemption. The collector shall receive from the purchaser,
for the use of the district, two dollars for making such deed.
SEC. 30. The matter recited in the certificate of sale must be recited in the deed,
and such deed duly acknowledged or proved is prima facie evidence that—
First. The property was assessed as required by law.
Second. The property was equalized as required by law.
Third. That the assessments were levied in accordance with law.
Fourth. The assessments were not paid. -
Fifth. At a proper time and place the property was sold as prescribed by law and
by the proper officer.
Sixth. The property was not redeemed.
Seventh. The person who executed the deed was the proper officer.
Such deed, duly acknowledged or proved, is (except as against actual fraud) con-
clusive evidence of the regularity of all the proceedings from the assessment by the
assessor, inclusive, up to the execution of the deed. The deed conveys to the grantee
the absolute title to the lands described therein, free of all incumbrances, except when
the land is owned by the United States or this State, in which case it is prima facie
evidence of the right of possession.
SEC. 31. The assessment book or delinquent list, or a copy thereof, certified by the
collector, showing unpaid assessments against any person or property, is prima facie
evidence of the assessment, the property assessed, the delinquency, the amount of
assessments due and unpaid, and that all the forms of the law in relation to the
assessment and levy of such assessments have been complied with. Sº
SEC. 32. When land is sold for assessments correctly imposed, as the property of a
particular person, no misnomer of the owner, or supposed owner, or other mistake
relating to the ownership thereof, affects the sale or renders it void or voidable,
SF.C. 33. On the first Monday in each month the collector must settle with the
secretary of the board for all moneys collected for assessments, and pay the same
over to the treasurer; and within six days thereafter he must deliver to and file in
the office of the secretary a statement under oath, showing: e
First. An account of all his transactions and receipts since his last settlement.
Second. That all money collected by him as collector has been paid.
The collector shall also file in the office of the secretary on said first Monday in
each month the receipt of the treasurer for the money so paid.
SEC. 34. Upon the presentation of the coupons due to the treasurer, he shall pay
the same from said bond fund. Whenever, after ten years from the issuance of said
bonds, said fund shall amount to the sum of ten thousand dollars, the board of di-
rectory may direct the treasurer to pay such an amount of said bonds not due as the
money in said fund will redeem, at the lowest value at which they may be offered
for liquidation, after advertising for at least four weeks in some daily newspaper in
each of the cities hereinbefore named, and in any other newspaper which said board
186 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
may deem advisable, for sealed proposals for the redemption of said bonds. Said
proposals shall be opened by the board in open meeting, at a time to be named in the
notice, and the lowest bid for said bonds must be accepted : Provided, That no bond
shall be redeemed at a rate above par. In case the bids are equal the lowest num-
bered bond shall have the preference. In case none of the holders of said bonds shall
desire to have the same redeemed, as herein provided for, said money shall be invested
by the treasurer, under the direction of the board, in United States gold-bearing
bonds, or the bonds of the State, which shall be kept in said “bond fund,” and may
be used to redeem said district bonds whenever the holders thereof may desire.
SEC. 35. After adopting a plan of said canal or canals, storage, reservoirs, and
works, the board of directors shall give notice, by publication thereof not less than
twenty days in one newspaper published in each of the counties composing the dis-
trict, provided a newspaper is published therein, and in such other newspapers as
they may deem advisable, calling for bids for the construction of said work, or of any
portion thereof; if less than the whole work is advertised, then the portion so adver-
tised must be particularly described in such notice; said notice shall set forth that
plans and specifications can be seen at the office of the board, and that the board will
receive sealed proposals therefor, and that the contract will be let to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder, stating the time and place for opening said proposals, which at the
time and place appointed shall be opened in public, and as soon as convenient there-
after the board shall let said work, either in portions or as a whole, to the lowest re-
sponsible bidder, or they may reject any or all bids and readvertise for proposals, or
may proceed to construct the work under their own superintendence with the labor
of the residents of the district. Contracts for the purchase of material shall be
awarded to the lowest responsible bidder. Any person or persons to whom a con-
tract may be awarded shall enter into a bond, with good and sufficient sureties, to
be approved by the board, payable to said district for its use, for double the amount
of the contract price, conditional for the faithful performance of said contract. The
work shall be done under the direction and to the satisfaction of the engineer, and
be approved by the board.
SEC. 36. No claim shall be paid by the treasurer until allowed by the board, and
only upon a warrant signed by the president, and countersigned by the secretary :
Provided, That the board may draw from time to time from the construction fund and
deposit in the county treasury of the county where the office of the board is situ-
ated, any sum in excess of the sum of twenty-five thousand dollars. The county
treasurer of said county is hereby authorized and required to receive and receipt for
the same, and place the same to the credit of said district, and he shall be responsi-
ble upon his official bond for the safe-keeping and disbursement of the same, as in
this act provided. He shall pay out the same, or any portion thereof, to the treas-
urer of the district only, and only upon the order of the board, signed by the presi-
dent and attested by the secretary. The said county treasurer shall report in writ-
ing on the second Monday in each month the amount of money in the county
treasury, the amount of receipts for the month preceding, and the amount or
amounts paid out; said report shall be verified and filed with the secretary of the
board. The district treasurer shall also report to the board, in writing, on the first
Monday in each month, the amount of money in the district treasury, the amount
of receipts for the month preceding, and the amount and items of expenditures, and
said report shall be verified and filed with the secretary of the board.
SEC. 37. The cost and the expense of purchasing and acquiring property and con-
structing the works and improvements herein provided for, shall be wholly paid out of
the construction fund. For the purpose of defraying the expenses of the organization
of the district, and of the care, operation, management, repair, and improvement of
such portions of said canal and works as are completed and in use, including salaries
of officers and employés, the board may either fix rates of tolls and charges, and col-
lect the same from all persons using said canal for irrigation and other purposes, or
they may provide for the payment of said expenditures by a levy of assessments there-
for, or by both said tolls and assessments; if by the latter method such levy shall be
made of the completion and equalization of the assessment roll, and the board shall
have the same powers and functions for the purposes of said levy as are now possessed
by boards of supervisors in this State. The procedure for the collection of assessments
by such levy shall in all respects conform to the provisions of this act relating to the
payment of principal and interest of bonds herein provided for.
ŠEC. 38. The board of directors shall have power to construct the said works across
any stream of water, water-course, street, avenue, highway, railway, canal, ditch, or
flume which the route of said canal or canals may intersect or cross, in such manner
as to afford security for life and property; but said board shall restore the same, when
so crossed or intersected, to its former state as near as may be, or in a sufficient manner
not to have impaired unnecessarily its usefulness; and every Company whose railroad
shall be intersected or crossed by said works shall unite with said board in forming
said intersections and crossings, and grant the privileges aforesaid; and if such rail.
1) ETAILS OF THE CALIFORNíA f_AWS. 187
*
road company and said board, or the owners and controllers of the said property,
thing, or franchise so to be crossed, can not agree upon the amount to be paid therefor,
or the points or the manner of said crossings or intersections, the same shall be agger-
tained and determined in all respects as is herein provided in respect to the taking
of land. The right of way is hereby given, dedicated, and set apart, to locate, con-
struct, and maintain said works over and through any of the lands which are now,
or may be, the property of this State; and also there is given, dedicated, and set apart,
for the uses and purposes aforesaid, all waters and water-rights belonging to this
'State within the district.
SEc. 39. The board of directors shall each receive four dollars per day, and mileage
at the rate of twenty cents per mile, in attending meetings, and actual and necessary
expenses paid while engaged in official business under the order of the board. The
board shall fix the compensation to be paid to the other officers named in the act, to
be paid out of the treasury of the district: Provided, That said board shall, upon the
the petition of at least fifty, or a majority of the freeholders within such district.”
therefor, submit to the electors at any general election a schedule of salaries and fees
to be paid hereunder. Such petition must be presented to the board twenty days
prior to a general election, and the result of such election shall be determined and
declared in all respects as other elections are determined and declared under this act.
SEC. 40. No director or any other officer named in this act shall in any manner be
interested, directly or indirectly, in any contract awarded or to be awarded by the
board, or in the profits to be derived therefrom ; and for any violation of this pro-
vision, such officer shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and such conviction
shall work a forfeiture of his office, and he shall be punished by a fine not exceeding
five hundred dollars, or by imprisonment in the county jail not exceeding six months,
or by both such fine and imprisonment.
SEC. 41. The board of directors may, at any time, when in their judgment it may
be advisable, call a special election, and submit to the qualified electors of the dis-
trict the question whether or not a special assessment shall be levied for the purpose
of raising money to be applied to any of the purposes provided in this act. Such
election must be called upon the notice prescribed, and the same shall be held, and
the result thereof determined and declared in all respects in conformity with the pro-
visions of section fifteen of this act. The notice must specify the amount of Inoney
proposed to be raised, and the purpose for which it is intended to be used. At such
elections the ballots shall contain the words, “Assessment—yes,” or “Assessment—
no.” If two-thirds or more of the votes cast are “Assessment—yes,” the board shall,
at the time of the annual levy hereunder, levy an assessment sufficient to raise the
amount voted. The rate of assessinent shall be ascertained by deducting fifteen per
cent, for anticipated delinquencies from the aggregate assessed value of the property
in the district as it appears on the assessment roll for the current year, and then di-
viding the sum voted by the remainder of such aggregate assessed value. The assess-
ment so levied shall be computed and entered on the assessment roll by the secretary
of the board, and collected at the same time and in the same manner as other assess-
ments provided for herein; and when collected shall be paid into the district treasury
for the purposes specified in the notice of such special election.
SEC. 42. The board of directors, or other officers of the district, shall have no power
to incur any debt or liability whatever, either by issuing bonds, or otherwise, in ex-
cess of the express provisions of this act, and any debt or liability incurred in excess
of such express provisions shall be and remain absolutely void.
SEC. 43. In case the volume of water in any stream or river shall not be sufficient
to supply, the continual wants of the entire country through which it passes, and
susceptible of irrigation therefrom, then it shall be the duty of the water commis-
sioners, constituted as hereinafter provided, to apportion, in a just and equitable
§. a certain amount of said water upon certain or alternate weekly days to
ifferent localities, as they may, in their judgment, think best for the interest of all
parties concerned, and with due regard to the legal and equitable rights of all. Said
water commissioners shall consist of the chairman of the board of directors of each
of the districts affected.
SEC. 44. It shall be the duty of the board of directors to keep the water flowing
. h the ditches under their control to the full capacity of such ditches in times
of high water.
SEC. 45. Navigation shall never in anywise be impaired by the operation of this
act, nor shall any vested interest in or to any mining water rights or ditches, or in
or to any water or water rights, or reservoirs, or dams now used by the owners or
possessors thereof in connection with any mining industry, or by persons purchasing
or renting the use thereof, or in or to any other property now used directly or indi:
rectly in carrying on or promoting the mining industry, ever be affected by or taken
under its provisions save and except that rights of way may be acquired over the
|S&IIlêe
188 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
SEC. 46. None of the provisions of this act shall be construed as repealing or in
anywise modifying the provisions of any other act relating to the subject of irriga-
tion or water commissioners. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize
any person or persons to divert the waters of any river, creek, stream, canal, or ditch
from its channel to the detriment of any person or persons having any interest in such
river, creek, stream, canal, or ditch, or the waters therein, unless previous compensa-
tion be ascertained and paid therefor under the laws of this State authorizing the
taking of private property for public uses. . -
*.
CHAPTER XIX. AN ACT TO AMEND SECTIONs 10, 22, AND 27 of Fore:GOING ACT.
SECTION 1. Section ten of said act is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 10. The secretary of the board of directors must, as soon as the result is
declared, enter in the records of such board a statement of such result, which state-
ment must show—
d º: The whole number of votes cast in the district and in each division of the
istrict.
Second. The names of the persons voted for.
Third. The office to fill which each person was voted for.
Fourth. The number of votes given in each precinct to each of such persons.
Fifth. The number of votes given in each division for the office of director, and the
number of votes given in the district for the offices of assessor, collector, and treas-
l].Te I’.
The board of directors must declare elected the persons having the highest number
of votes given for each office. The secretary must immediately make out and deliver
to such person a certificate of election, signed by him and authenticated with the
seal of the board. In case of the vacancy in the office of assessor, collector, or treas-
urer the vacancy shall be filled by appointment of the board of directors. In case of
a vacancy in the office of director the vacancy shall be filled by appointment by the
board of supervisors of the county where the office of such board of directors is situ-
ated from the division in which the vacancy occurred. An officer appointed as above
provided shall hold his office until the next regular election for said district, and
until his successor is elected and qualified.
SEC. 2. Section twenty-two of said act is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 22. The board of directors shall then levy an assessment sufficient to raise
the annual interest on the outstanding bonds, and at the expiration of ten years
after the issuing of bonds by the board must increase said assessment for the ensu-
ing ten years in the following percentage of the principal of the whole amount of
bonds then outstanding, to wit: For the eleventh year, five per cent.; for the twelfth
year six per cent, ; for the thirteenth year, seven per cent. ; for the fourteenth year,
eight per cent. ; for the fifteenth year, nine per cent. ; for the sixteenth year, ten per
cent. ; for the seventeenth year, eleven per cent. ; for the eighteenth year, thirteen
per cent. ; for the nineteenth year, fifteen per cent. ; and for the twentieth year, a per-
centage sufficient to pay off said bonds. The secretary of the board must compute
and enter in a separate column of the assessment book the respective sums in dollars
and cents to be paid as an assessment on the property therein enumerated. When
collected the assessment shall be paid into the district treasury, and shall constitute
a special fund, to be called the “bond fund of irrigation district.” In case of
the neglect or refusal of the board of directors to cause such assessment and levy
to be made as in this act provided, then the assessment of property made by the
county assessor and the State board of equalization shall be adopted and shall be the
basis of assessments for the district, and the board of supervisors of the county in
which the office of the board of directors is situated shall cause an assessment roll for
said district to be prepared, and shall make the levy required by this act in the same
manner and with like effect as if the same had been made by said board of directors,
and all expenses incident thereto shall be borne by such district. In case of the neg-
lect or refusal of the collector or treasurer of the district to perform the duties im-
posed by law, then the tax collector and treasurer of the county in which the office
of the board of directors is situated must, respectively, perform such duties, and shal
be accountable therefor upon their official bonds as in other cases. *
SEC. 3. Section twenty-seven of said act is hereby amended to read as follows:
Section 27. The owner or person in possession of any real estate offered for sale for
assessments due thereon Inay designate in writing to the collector, prior to the sale,
what portion of the property he wishes sold, if less than the whole; but if the owner
or possessor does not, then the collector may designate it, and the person who will
take the least quantity of the land, or in case an undivided interest is assessed then
the smallest portion of the interest, and pay the assessments and costs due, including
two dollars to the collector for the duplicate certificate of sale, is the purchaser. If
the purchaser does not pay the assessments and costs before ten o'clock a.m. the fol:
lowing day the property on the next sale day must be resold for the assessments and
SUPPLEMENTARY ACTS TO DISTRICT LAWS. 189
costs. But in case there is no purchaser in good faith for the same on the first day
that the property is offered for sale, then, when the property is offered thereafter for
sale and there is no purchaser in good faith for the same, the whole amount of the
roperty assessed shall be struck off to the irrigation district within which such
ands are situated as the purchaser, and the duplicate certificate delivered to the
treasurer of the district and filed by him in his office. No charge shall be made for
the duplicate certificate where the district is the purchaser, and, in such case, the
collector shall make an entry, “sold to the district,” and he shall be credited with
the amount thereof in his settlement. An irrigation district, as a purchaser at such
sale, shall be entitled to the same rights as a private purchaser, and the title so ac-
quired by the district, subject to the right of redemption, herein provided, may be
conveyed by deed, executed and acknowledged by the president and secretary of said
board: Provided, That authority to so convey must be conferred by resolution of the
board, entered on its minutes, fixing the price at which such sale may be made, and
such conveyance shall not be made for a less sum than the reasonable market value
of such property. After receiving the amount of assessments and costs the collector
must make out in duplicate a certificate, dated on the day of sale, stating (when
known) the names of the person assessed, a description of the land sold, the amount
paid therefor, that it was sold for assessments, giving the amount and year of the as-
sessment, and specifying the time when the purchaser will be entitled to a deed.
The certificate must be signed by the collector, and one copy delivered to the pur-
chaser and the other filed in the office of the county recorder of the county in which
the land is situated.
CHAPTER XX. AN ACT AMENDATORY OF AND SUPPLEMENTAL.
SECTION 1. The boundaries of any irrigation district now or hereafter organized
under the provisions of an act, entitled “An act to provide for the organization and
government of irrigation districts, and to provide for the acquisition of water and
other property, and for the distribution of water thereby for irrigation purposes,”
approved March 7, 1887, may be changed in the manner herein prescribed; but such
change of the boundaries of the district shall not impair or affect its organization, or
its rights in or to property, or any of its rights or privileges of whatsoever kind or
nature; nor shall it affect, impair, or discharge any contract, obligation, lien, or
charge for or upon which it was or might become liable or chargeable had such
change of its boundaries not been made.
SEC. 2. The holder or holders of title, or evidence of title, representing one-half
or more of any body of lands adjacent to the boundary of an irrigation district, which
are contiguous, and which, taken together, constitute one tract of land, may file with
the board of directors of said district a petition in writing, praying that the bound-
aries of said district may be so changed as to include therein said lands. The peti-
tion shall describe the boundaries of said parcel or tract of land, and shall also de-
scribed the boundaries of the several parcels owned by the petitioners, if the petitioners
be the owners, respectively, of distinct parcels, but such descriptions need not be more
particular than they are required to be when such lands are entered by the county
assessor in the assessment book. Such petition must contain the assent of the peti-
tioners to the inclusion within said district of the parcels or tracts of land described
in the petition, and of which said petition alleges they are respectively the owners;
and it must be acknowledged in the same manner that conveyances of land are re-
quired to be acknowledged.
SEC. 3. The secretary of the board of directors shall cause a notice of the filing of
such petition to be given and published in the same manner and for the same time
that notices of special elections for the issue of bonds are required by said act to be
published. The notice shall state the filing of such petition and the names of the
petitioners, a description of the lands mentioned in said petition and the prayers of
said petition; and it shall notify all persons interested in or that may be affected by
such change of the boundaries of the district to appear at the office of said board at
a time named in said notice and show cause in writing, if any they have, why the
change in the boundaries of said district, as proposed in said petition, should not
be made. The time to be specified in the notice at which they shall be required to
show cause shall be the regular meeting of the board next after the expiration of the
time for the publication of the notice. The petitioners shall advance to the secretary
sufficient money to pay the estimated costs of all proceedings under this act.
SEC. 4. The board of directors, at the time and place mentioned in the said notice,
or at such other time or times to which the bearing of said petition may be adjourned,
shall proceed to hear the petition, and all the objections thereto, presented in writ.
ing by any person showing cause as aforesaid why said proposed change of the bound-
aries of the district should not be made. The failure by any person interested in
said district, or in the matter of the proposed change of its boundaries, to show cause,
in writing, as aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken as an assent on his part to a change
*,
190 IRRIGATION IN TEIE UNITED STATES.
of the boundaries of the district as prayed for in said petition, or to such a change
thereof as will include a part of said lands. And the filing of such petition with said
board, as aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken as an assent on the part of each and
all of such petitioners to such a change of said boundaries that they may include the
whole or any portion of the lands described in said petition.
SEC; 5: The board of directors, to whom such petition is presented, may require as
a condition precedent to the granting of the same, that the petitioners shall severally
pay to such district such respective sums, as nearly as the same can be estimated (the
several amounts to be determined by the board), as said petitioners or their grantors
Would have been required to pay to such district as assessments had such lands been
included in such district at the time the same was originally formed.
SEC. 6. The board of directors, if they deem it not for the best interests of the dis-
trict that a change of its boundaries be so made as to include therein the lands men-
tioned in the petition, shall order that the petition be rejected. But if they deem it
for the best interests of the district that the boundaries of said district be changed,
and if no person interested in said district or the proposed change of its boundaries
shows cause in writing why the proposed change should not be made, or if, having
shown cause, withdraws the same, the board may order that the boundaries of the
district be so changed as to include therein the lands mentioned in said petition, or
Some part thereof. The order shall describe the boundaries as changed, and shall
also describe the entire boundaries of the district as they will be after the change
thereof as aforesaid is made; and for that purpose the board may cause a survey to
be made of such portions of such boundary as is deemed necessary.
SEC. 7. If any person interested in said district, or the proposed change of its bound-
aries, shall show cause, as aforesaid, why such boundaries should not be changed,
and shall not withdraw the same, and if the board of directors deem it for the best
interest of the district that the boundaries thereof be so changed as to include therein
the lands mentioned in the petition, or some part thereof, the board shall adopt a
resolution to that effect. The resolution shall describe the exterior boundaries of the
lands which the board are of the opinion should be included within the boundaries
of the district when changed. *
SEC. 8. Upon the adoption of the resolution mentioned in the last preceding sec-
tion, the board shall order that an election be held within said district, to determine
whether the boundaries of the district shall be changed as mentioned in said resolu-
tion; and shall fix the time at which such election shall be held, and cause notice
thereof to be given and published. Such notice shall be given and published, and
such election shall be held and conducted, the returns thereof shall be made and can-
vassed, and the result of the election ascertained and declared, and all things per-
taining thereto conducted in the manner prescribed by said act in case of a special
election to determine whether bonds of an irrigation district shall be issued. The
ballots cast at said election shall contain the words “For change of boundary,” or
“Against change of boundary,” or words equivalent thereto. The notice of election
shall describe the proposed change of the boundaries in such manner and terms that
it can readily be traced.
SEC. 9. If at such election a majority of all the votes cast at said election shall be
against such change of the boundaries of the district, the board shall order that said
petition be denied, and shall proceed no further in that matter. But if a majority of
such votes be in favor of such change of the boundaries of the district, the board
shall thereupon order that the boundaries be changed in accordance with said resolu-
tion adopted by the board. The said order shall describe the entire boundaries of
said district, and for that purpose the board may cause a Survey of such portions
thereof to be made as the board may deem necessary.
SEc. 10. Upon a change of the boundaries of a district being made, a copy of the
order of the board of directors ordering such change, certified by the president and
secretary of the board, shall be filed for record in the recorder's office of each county
within which are situated any of the lands of the district, and thereupon the district
shall be and remain an irrigation district, as fully and to every intent and purpose
as if the lands which are included in the district by the change of the boundaries, as
aforesaid, had been included therein at the original organization of the district,
SEC. 11. Upon the filing of the copies of the order, as in the last preceding section
mentioned, the secretary shall record in the minutes of the board the petition afore-
said; and the said minutes, or a certified copy thereof, shall be admissible in evidence
with the same effect as the petition.
SEC. 12. A guardian, an executor, or an administrator of an estate, who is ap-
pointed as such under the laws of this State, and who, as such guardian, executor,
or administrator, is entitled to the possession of the lands belonging to the estate
which he represents, may, on behalf of his ward of the estate which he represents,
upon being thereunto authorized by the proper court, sign, and acknowledge the
petition in this act mentioned, and may show cause, as in this act mentioned, why
the boundaries of the district should not be changed,
CHARGEs UPON LAND FOR IRRIGATION WORKS. 191
SEC. 13. In case of the inclusion of any land within any district by proceedings
under this act, the board of directors must, at least thirty days prior to the next
succeeding general election, make an order re-dividing such district into five divis-
ions, as nearly equal in size as may be practicable, which shall be numbered First,
Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth, and one director shall thereafter be elected by
each division. For the purposes of elections the board of directors must establish
a convenient number of election precincts in said districts, and define the boundaries
thereof, which said precincts may be changed from time to time, as the board may
deem necessary.
CHAPTER XXI. AN ACT AMENDATORY OF AND SUPPLEMENTAL,
SECTION 1. The boundaries of any irrigation district, now or hereafter organized
under the provisions of an act entitled “An act to provide for the organization and
government of irrigation districts, and to provide for the acquisition of water and
other property, and for the distribution of water thereby for irrigation purposes,”
approved March seventh, one thousand eight hundred and eighty-seven, may be
changed, and tracts of land which were included within the boundaries of such dis-
trict, at or after its organization under the provisions of said act, may be excluded
therefrom, in the manner herein prescribed; but neither such change of the bounda-
ries of the district, nor such exclusion of lands from the district, shall impair or af.
fect its organization, or its right in or to property, or any of its rights or privileges,
of whatever kind or nature; nor shall it affect, impair, or discharge any contract,
obligation, lien, or charge for or upon which it was or might become liable or charge-
able had such change of its boundaries not been made, or had not any land been ex-
cluded from the district.
SEC. 2. The owner or owners in fee of one or more tracts of land which constiute
a portion of an irrigation district, may file with the board of directors of the district
a petition, praying that such tracts and any other tracts contiguous thereto may
be excluded and taken from said district. The petition shall describe the boundaries
of the land which the petitioners desire to have excluded from the district, and also
the lands of each of such petitioners, which are included within such boundaries;
but the description of such lands need not be more particular or certain than is re-
quired when the lands are entered in the assessment book by the county assessor.
Such petition must be acknowledged in the same manner and form as is required in
case of a conveyance of land, and the acknowledgment shall have the same force
and effect as evidence as the acknowledgment of such conveyance.
SEC. 3. The secretary of the board of directors shall cause a notice of the filing of
such petition to be published for at least two weeks in some newspaper published in
the county where the office of the board of directors is situated, and if any portion of
such territory to be excluded lie within another county or counties, then said notice
shall be so published in a newspaper published within each of said counties; or if no
newspaper be published therein, then by posting such notice for the same time in at
least three public places in said district, and, in case of the posting of said notices,
one of said notices must be so posted on the lands proposed to be excluded. The
notice shall state the filing of such petition ; the names of the petitioners; a descrip-
tion of the lands mentioned in said petition, and the prayer of said petition; and it
shall notify all persons interested in or that may be affected by such change of the
boundaries of the district, to appear at the office of said board at a time named in said
notice, and show cause in writing, if any they have, why the change of the boundaries
of said district, as proposed in said petition, should not be made. The time to be
specified in the notice at which they shall be required to show cause shall be the reg-
ular meeting of the board next after the expiration of the time for the publication of
the notice.
SEC. 4. The board of directors, at the time and place mentioned in the notice, or at
the time or times to which the hearing of said petition may be adjourned, shall pro-
ceed to hear the petition and all objections thereto presented in writing by any per-
son showing cause as aforesaid why the prayer of said petition should not be granted.
The failure of any person interested in said district to show cause in writing why the
tract or tracts of land mentioned in said petition should not be excluded from said
district, shall be deemed and taken as an assent by him to the exclusion of such tract
or tracts of land, or any part thereof, from said district; and the filing of such peti-
tion with such board, as aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken as an assent by each
and all of such petitioners to the exclusion from such district of the lands mentioned
in the petition, or any part thereof.
SEC. 5. The board of directors, if they deem it not for the best interest of the dis-
trict that the lands mentioned in the petition, or some portion thereof, should be ex-
cluded from said district, shall order that said petition be denied; but if they deem it
for the best interests of the district that the lands mentioned in the petition, or some
portion thereof, be excluded from the district, and if no person interested in the dis-
192 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES
trict show cause in writing why the said lands, or some portion thereof, should not
be excluded from the district, or if, having shown cause, withdraws the same, and
also, if there be no outstanding bonds of the district, then the board may order that
the lands mentioned in the petition, or some defined portion thereof, be excluded
from the district. -
SEC, 6. If there be outstanding bonds of the district, then the board may adopt a
resolution to the effect that the board deems it to the best interest of the district
that the lands mentioned in the petition, or some portion thereof, should be excluded
from the district. The resolution shall describe such lands so that the boundaries
thereof can readily be traced. The holders of such outstanding bonds may give their
assent in Writing to the effect that they severally consent that the board may make
an order by which the lands mentioned in the resolution may be excluded from the
district. The assent must be acknowledged by the several holders of such bonds in
the same manner and form as is required in case of a conveyance of land, and the
acknowledgment shall have the same force and effect as evidence as the acknowledg-
ment of such conveyance. The assent shall be filed with the board and must be
recorded in the minutes of the board; and said minutes, or a certified copy thereof,
shall be admissible in evidence with the same effect as the said assent; but if such
assent be not filed, the board shall deny and dismiss said petition.
SEC. 7. If the assent aforesaid of the holders of said bonds be filed and entered
of record as aforesaid, and if there be objections presented by any person showing
cause as aforesaid, which have not been withdrawn, then the board may order an
election to be held in said district to determine whether an order shall be made
excluding said land from the district as mentioned in said resolution. The notice of
such election shall describe the boundary of all lands which it is proposed to exclude,
and such notice shall be published for at least two weeks prior to such election in a
newspaper published within the county where the office of the board of directors
is situated ; and if any portion of such territory to be excluded lie within another
county or counties, then said notice shall be so published in a newspaper published
within each of such counties. Such notice shall require the electors to cast ballots
which shall contain the words “For Exclusion,” or “Against Exclusion,” or words
equivalent thereto. Such election shall be conducted in accordance with the gen-
eral election laws of the State : Provided, That no particular form of ballot shall
be required.
SEC. 8. If at such election a majority of all the votes cast shall be against the
exclusion of said lands from the district, the board shall deny and dismiss said peti-
tion and proceed no further in said matter; but if a majority of such votes be in
favor of the exclusion of said lands from the district the board shall thereupon
order that the said lands mentioned in said resolution be excluded from the district.
The said order shall describe the boundaries of the district should the exclusion of
the said lands from said district change the boundaries of the district, and for that
purpose the board may cause a survey to be made of such portions of the boundaries
as the board may deem necessary.
SEC. 9. Upon the entry in the minutes of the board of any of the orders hereinbefore
mentioned, a copy thereof, certified by the president and the Secretary of the board,
shall be filed for record in the recorder's office of each county within which are
situated any of the lands of the district, and thereupon said district shall be and re-
main an irrigation district as fully, to every intent and purpose, as it would be had
no change been made in the boundaries of the district, or had the lands excluded
therefrom never constituted a portion of the district.
SEC, 10. If the lands excluded from any district under this act shall embrace the
greater portion of any division or divisions of such district, then the office of director
for such division or divisions shall become and be vacant at the expiration of ten
days from the final order of the board, under section eight of this act excluding said
lands, and such vacancies shall be filled by appointment by the board of supervisors
of the county where the office of such board is situated from the district at large. A
director appointed as above provided shall hold his office until the next regular
election for said district, and until his successor is elected and qualified.
SEC. 11. At least thirty days before the next general election of such district the
board of directors thereof shall make an order dividing said district into five divis-
ions, as nearly equal in size as may be practicable, which shall be numbered first,
second, third, fourth, and fifth, and one director shall be elected by each division.
For the purposes of elections in such district the said board of directors must estab-
lish a convenient number of election precincts, and define the boundaries thereof,
which said precincts may be changed from time to time, as the board of directors
may deem necessary. º
SEC. 12. A guardian, an executor, or an administrator of an estate, who is appointed
as such under the laws of this State, and who, as such guardian, executor, or admin-
istrator, is entitled to the possession of the lands belonging to the estate which he
represents, may, on behalf of his ward or the estate which he represents, upon being
PROCEEDING IN COURT UPON PETITIONS. 193
thereto properly authorized by the proper court, sign and acknowledge the petition
in this act mentioned, and may show calise, as in this act provided, why the bound-
aries of the district should not be changed.
SEC. 13. In case of the exclusion of any lands under the provisions of this act, there
shall be refunded to any and all persons who have paid any assessment or assessments
to such district, or any lands so excluded, any sum or sums so paid. Such payments
shall be made in the same manner as other claims against such district, and from such
fund or funds as the board of directors may designate.
CHAPTER CLXXVIII. AN ACT SUPPLEMENTAL.
SECTION 1. The board of directors of an irrigation district now or hereafter or-
ganized under the provisions of the act entitled “An act to provide for the organiza-
tion and government of irrigation districts, and to provide for the acquisition of
water and other property, and for the distribution of water thereby for irrigation
purposes,” approved March seventh, eighteen hundred and eighty-seven, may com-
mence a special proceeding, in and by which the proceedings of said board and of
said district providing for and authorizing the issue and sale of the bonds of said dis-
trict, whether said bonds or any of them have or have not then been sold, may be
judicially examined, approved, and confirmed.
SEC. 2. The board of directors of the irrigation district shall file in the superior
court of the county in which the lands of the district or some portion thereof are
situated a petition praying, in effect, that the proceedings aforesaid may be examined,
approved, and confirmed by the court. The petition shall state the facts showing
the proceedings had for the issue and sale of said bonds, and shall state generally
that the irrigation district was duly organized, and that the first board of directors
was duly elected; but the petition need not state the facts showing such organiza-
tion of the district, or the election of said first board of directors.
SEC. 3. The court shall fix the time for the hearing of said petition, and shall order
the clerk of the court to give and publish a notice of the filing of said petition. The
notice shall be given and published in the same manner and for the same length of
time that the notice of a special election provided for by said act to determine
whether the bonds of said district shall be issued is required to be given and pub-
lished. The notice shall state the time and place fixed for the hearing of the petition
and the prayer of the petition, and that any person interested in the organization of
said district, or in the proceedings for the issue or sale of said bonds, may, on or be-
fore the day fixed for the hearing of said petition, demur to or answer said petition.
The petition may be referred to and described in said notice as the petition of the
board of directors of irrigation district (giving its name), praying that the pro-
ceedings for the issue and sale of the bonds of said district may be examined, approved,
and confirmed by said court. *
SEC. 4. Any person interested in said district, or in the issue or sale of said bonds,
may demur to or answer said petition. The provisions of the code of civil proceduré
respecting the demurrer and the answer to a verified complaint shall be applicable
to a demurrer and answer to said petition. The persons so demurring to of answer-
ing said petition shakl be the defendants to said special proceeding, and the board of
directors shall be the plaintiff. Every material statement of the petition not specif-
ically controverted by the answer must, for the purpose of said special proceeding,
be taken as true, and each person failing to answer the petition shall be deemed to
admit as true all the material statements of the petition. The rules of pleading and
practice provided by the code of civil procedure which are not inconsistent with the
provisions of this act are applicable to the special proceeding herein provided for. A
motion for a new trial must be made upon the minutes of the court. The order grant-
ing a new trial must specify the issues to be re-examined on such new trial, and the
findings of the court upon the other issues shall not be affected by such order grant-
ing a new trial.
SEC. 5. Upon the hearing of such special proceeding the court shall have power
and jurisdiction to examine and determine the legality and validity of, and approve
and confirm, each and all of the proceedings for the organization of said district
under the provisions of the said act, from and including the petition for the organi-
zation of the district, and all other proceedings which may affect the legality o: V8-
lidity of said bonds, and the order for the sale, and the sale thereof. The court, in
inquiring into the regularity, legality, or correctness of said proceedings, must disre-
gard any error, irregularity, or omission which does not affect the substantial rights
of the parties to said special proceeding ; and it may approve and confirm such pro-
ceedings in part, and disapprove and declare illegal or invalid other and subsequent
parts of the proceedings. The court shall find and determine whether the notice of
the filing of said petition has been duly given and published for the time and in the
manner in this act prescribed. The costs of the special proceedings may be allowed
and apportioned between all the parties, in the discretion of the court.
138 A L–AP WOL IV 13
194 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
º
SEC. 6. An appeal from an order granting or refusing a new trial, or from the judg-
ment, must be taken by the party aggrieved within ten days after the entry .# said
order or said judgment.” t
COLORADO IRRIGATION LAWS.
All persons who claim, own, or hold a possessory right or title to any land or
parcel of land lying within the boundary of the State of Colorado, as defined in the
constitution of said State, when those claims are on the bank, margin, or neighborhood
of any stream of water, creek, or river, shall be entitled to the use of the water of
said stream, creek, or river, for the purpose of irrigation and making said claims
available to the full extent of the soil for agricultural purposes. General Statutes,
1711, (1861).
N &thing in this chapter contained shall be so construed as to impair the prior
vested rights of any mill or ditch owner or other person to use the water of any such
Water-COUTSe. l -
Under the provisions of this act [eminent domain] private property may be taken
for private use, for private ways of necessity, for reservoirs, drains, flumes, or ditches
on or across the land of others for agricultural, mining, milling, domestic, or sanitary
purposes. (Session Laws of 1885, pp. 201, 202, 1729.)
Dvery person, association, or corporation hereafter, constructing or enlarging any
ditch, canal, or feeder for any reservoir, for irrigation, and taking water directly from
any natural stream, and of a carrying capacity of one cubic foot per second of time
as so constructed or enlarged, shall within ninety days after the commencement of
such construction or enlargement file and cause to be recorded in the office of the
county clerk of the county in which such ditch, canal, or feeder may be situated, or if
such canal, ditch, or feeder be situated in any water district, in the office of the county
clerk of such [each] county in which such water district may extend, a sworn state-
ment in writing, showing the name of such ditch, canal, or of the reservoir supplied by
such feeder, the point at which the head-gate thereof is situated (if it be a new con-
struction), the size of the ditch, canal, or feeder in width and depth and the carry-
ing capacity thereof in cubic feet per second, the description of the line thereof and
the time when the work was commenced, and the name or names of the owner or
owners thereof, together with a map showing the route thereof, the legal subdivisions
of the land, if on surveyed lands with proper corners and distances, and in case of an
enlargement the depth and width also the carrying capacity of the ditch enlarged, with
the width and depth of the ditch, canal, or feeder as enlarged, and the increased
carrying capacity of the same thereby occasioned, and the time when such enlarge-
ment was commenced, and no priority of right for any purpose shall attach to any such
construction or enlargement until record is made. (Sec. 2, p. 162, Acts 1881, 1720.)
This act shall apply to and affect only ditches, canals, or feeders used for carrying
water for the purposes of irrigation and for no other purposes whatever. (Sec. 3, p.
162, Acts 1881, 1721.)
Any company formed under the provisions of this (corporations) act, for the pur-
pose of constructing any ditch, flume, * * * shall, within ninety days from the
date of their certificate, commence work on such ditch, flume . * * * line as shall
be named in the certificate, and shall prosecute the work with due diligence until the
same is completed, and the time of completion of any such ditch " * * line shall
not be extended beyond a period of two years from the time work was commenced as
aforesaid; and any company failing to commence work within ninety days from the
date of the certificate, or failing to complete the same within two years from the time
of commencement as aforesaid, shall forfeit all right to the water so claimed, and the
same shall be subject to be claimed by any other company; the time for the comple-
tion of any flume constructed under the provisions of this act shall not be extended
beyond a period of four years: Provided, This section shall not apply to any ditch or
flume * * * constructed through and upon any grounds owned by the corpora-
tion: And provided further, That any company formed under the provisions of this
act to construct a ditch for domestic, agricultural, irrigating * * * purposes, or
any or either thereof, shall have three years from the time of commencing Work
thereon within which to complete the same, but no longer. (Sec. 296 (106), pp. 179,80,
G. L., 314.
Mººn. on the margin, brink, neighborhood, or precinct of any stream of Water
shall have the right and power to place upon the bank of said stream a wheel or other
machine for the purpose of raising water to the level required for the purpose of irri-
ation. (Sec. 8, pp. 68, 69, Acts 1861; sec. 6, p. 364, R. S.; sec. 1377 (6) p. 516, G. L.,
727,
ãºn. who shall have enjoyed the use of the water in any natural stream, for
the irrigation of any meadow land, by the natural overflow or operation of the water
* All these acts took effect from and after their passage.
SETTLING: PRIORITIES:of APPROPRIATION. 195'
of such stream, shall, in case the diminishing of the water supplied from such stream
from any causé prevents such irrigation therefrom in as ample a manner as formerly,
have right to construct a ditch for the irrigation of such meadow and to take Water
from such stream therefor, and his, her or their right to water through such ditch
shall have the same priority as though such ditch had been constructed at the time
he, she or they first occupied and used such land as meadow ground. (Sec. 37, p. 106,
Acts 1879, 1723.)
In case the channel of any natural stream shall become so cut out, lowered, turned
aside or otherwise changed from any cause as to prevent any ditch, canal, or feeder
of any reservoir from receiving the proper inflow of water to which it may be entitled
from such natural stream, the owner or owners of such ditch, canal or feeder shall
have the right to extend the head of such ditch, canal or feeder to such distance up
the stream which supplies the same as may be necessary for securing a sufficient
flow of water into the same, and for that purpose shall have the same right to main-
tain proceedings for condemnation of right of way for such extension as in case of
constructing a new ditch, and the priority of right to take water from such stream
through such ditch, canal or feeder, as to any such ditch, canal, or feeder, shall re-
main unaffected in any respect by reason of such extension: Provided, however, That
no such extension shall interfere with the complete use or enjoyment of any other
ditch, canal or feeder. (Sec. 1, pp. 161, 162, Acts 1881, 1719.) &
For the purpose of hearing, adjudicating, and settling all questions concerning the
priority of appropriation of water between ditch companies and other owners of .
ditches drawing water for irrigation purposes from the same stream or its tributaries
within the same water district, and all other questions of law and questions of right
growing out of or in any way involved or connected there with, jurisdiction is hereby
vested exclusively in the district court of the proper county; but when any water
district shall extend into two or more counties the district court of the county in
which the first regular term after the 1st day of December in each year shall soonest
occur, according to the law then in force, shall be the proper court in which the pro-
ceedings for said purpose, as hereinafter provided for, shall be commenced; but
where said proceedings shall be once commenced by the entry of an order appoint-
ing a referee in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter in this act provided, such
court shall thereafter retain exclusive jurisdiction of the whole subject until final
adjudication thereof is had, notwithstanding any law to the contrary now in force.
(Sec. 19, pp. 99, 100, Acts 1879, 1762.)
In order that all parties may be protected in their lawful rights to the use of water
for irrigation, every person, association, or corporation owning or claiming any inter-
est in any ditch, canal, or Ieservoir, within any water district, shall, on or before the
1st day of June, A. D. 1881, file with the clerk of the district court having jurisdic-
tion of priority of right to the use of water for irrigation in such water district, a
statement of claim, under oath, entitled of the proper court, and in the matter of
priorities of water rights in district number * * * , as the case may be, which
statement shall contain the name or names, together with the post-office address of
the claimant or claimants claiming ownership, as aforesaid, of any such ditch, canal,
or reservoir, the name thereof (if any), and, if without a name, the owner or owners
shall choose and adopt a name, to be therein stated, by which such ditch, canal, or
reservoir shall thereafter be known, the description of such ditch, canal, or reservoir,
as to location of head-gate, general course of ditch, the name of the natural stream
from, which such ditch, canal, or reservoir draws its supply of water, the length,
width, depth, and grade, thereof, as near as may be, the time, fixing a day, month,
and year as the date of the appropriation of water by original construction, also by
any enlargement or extension, if any such thereof may have been made, and the
amount of water claimed by or under such construction, enlargement, or extension,
and the present capacity of the ditch, canal, or feeder of reservoir, and also the pum'.
ber of acres of land lying under and being or proposed to be irrigated by water from
such ditch, canal, or reservoir, Said statement shall be signed by the proper party
or parties. (Sec. 1, pp. 142, 143, Acts 1881, 1763.)
The secretary of state shall, without delay, after the passage of this act, cause a
certified copy of the foregoing section, giving the date of the approval of this act, to
be published in one of the public newspapers published in such county in which part
or portion of any water district is or shall be established by law at the time of such
publication; and said section 1 shall be published, as aforesaid, once in each and
every week continuously in said paper until said 1st day of June, 1881, and in case
in the mean time any one of said papers shall cease to be published, then such publi-
cation shall be made in some other paper in same county (if any), and on conclusion
of such publication such publisher of such paper shall deliver to the secretary of
State his sworn certificate of publication in duplicate, showing that such publication
has been made in his paper in compliance with the preceding section hereof, and
stating the first and last day of such publication; and he shall thereupon be entitled
to receive from the secretary of state a certificate of the amount due him for such
196 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
publication, on presentation of which to the auditor of state he shall draw his war-
rant for the amount in favor of the holder on the State treasurer, who shall pay the
same according to law. (Sec. 2, pp, 143, 144, Acts 1881, 1764.)
When at any time after the 1st day of June, A. D. 1881, any one or more persons,
associations, or corporations, interested as owners of any ditch, canal, or reservoir in
any water district shall present to the district court of any county having jurisdic-
tion or priority of rights to the use of water for irrigation in such water district ac-
cording to the provisions of (sec. 19, G. S., 1762) an act entitled “An act to regulate
the use of water for irrigation and providing for settling the priority of rights thereto,
and for payment of the expenses thereof, and for payment of all costs and expenses
incident to said regulation of use, or to the judge thereof in vacation, a motion, pe-
tition, or application in writing, moving or praying said court to proceed to an adju-
dication of the priorities of rights to use of water for irrigation between the several
ditches, canals, and reservoirs in such district, the court, or judge thereof in vaca-
cation, shall, without unnecessary delay, in case he shall deem it practicable to pro-
ceed in open court, as prayed for, by an order to be entered of record upon such mo-
tion, petition or application, appoint a day in some regular or special term of said
court for commencing to hear and take evidence in such adjudication, at which time it
shall be the duty of the court to proceed to hear all evidence which may be offered by or
on behalf of any person, association, or corporation interested in any ditch, canal, or
reservoir in such district, either as owner or consumer of water therefrom, in support of
or against any claim or claims of priority of appropriation of water made by means
of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, or by any enlargement or extension thereof in such
district, and consider all such evidence, together with any and all evidence, if any,
which may have been heretofore offered and taken in such district in the same mat-
ter by any referee heretofore appointed under the provisions of said act above herein
mentioned, and also the arguments of parties or their counsel, and shall ascertain
and find from such evidence, as near as may be, the date of the commencement of
such ditch, canal, or reservoir, together with the original size and carrying capacity
thereof as originally constructed, the time of the commencement of each enlargement
or extension thereof, if any, with the increased capacity thereby occasioned, the
time spent severally in such construction and enlargement, or extension and re-en-
largement, if any, the diligence with which the work was in each case prosecuted,
the nature of the work as to difficulty of construction, and all such other facts as
may tend to show the compliance with the law, in acquiring the priority of right
claimed for each such ditch, canal, or reservoir, and determine the matters put in evi-
dence, and make and cause to be entered a decree determining and establishing the
several priorities of right, by appropriation of water, of the Several ditches, canals,
and reservoir [reservoirs) in such water district, concerning which testimony shall
have been offered, each according to the time of its said construction and enlarge-
ment or enlargements or extensions, with the amount of water which shall be held
to have been appropriated by such construction and enlargements or extensions,
describing such amount by cubic feet per second of time, if the evidence shall show
sufficient data to ascertain such cubic feet, and if Inot, by width, depth, and grade.
and such other description as will most certainly and conveniently show the amount
of water intended as the capacity of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, in such decree.
Said court shall further order that each and every party interested or claiming any
such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall receive from the clerk, on payment of a reason-
able fee therefor, to be fixed by the court, a certificate under seal of the court show-
ing the date or dates and amount or amounts of appropriations adjudged in favor of
such ditch, canal, or reservoir under and by virtue of the construction, extension,
and enlargements thereof severally; also specifying the number of said ditch and of
each priority to which the same may be entitled by reason of such construction, ex-
tension, and enlargements. (Sec. 4, pp.144–5–6, Acts 1881.)
The holder of such certificate shall exhibit the same to the water commissioner of
the district when he commences the exercise of his duties, and as such water commis-
sioner shall keep a book in which shall be entered a brief statement of the contents
of such certificate, and which shall be delivered to his successor, and said certificate,
or statement thereof in his book, shall be the warrant of authority to said water
commissioner for regulating the flow of water in relation to such ditch, canal, or res-
ervoir. Said certificate shall be recorded, at the same rates of charges as in cases of
deeds of conveyance, in the records of each county into which the ditch, canal, or
reservoir to which such certificate relates shall extend ; and said certificate or
said record thereof, or a duly certified copy of such record, shall be prima facie evi-
dence of so much of said decree as shall be recited therein in any suit or proceeding
in which the same may be relevant. (Sec. 5, pp. 146–7, Acts 1881, 1767.)
Notice shall be given by the clerk of said court of the time so appointed by pub-
lishing the same in one public newspaper in such county into which such water dis-
trict may extend, which notice shall be so published in such paper once in each week
until four successive weekly publications shall have been made, the last of which shall
ADJUDICATION OF RIGHTS BY THE COURTS. 197
be on a day previous to the day appointed as aforesaid... Said notice shall contain a
copy of said order, and shall notify all persons, associations, and corporations inter.
ested as owners in any ditch, canal, or reservoir in such water district to appear at
said court at the time so appointed and file a statement of claim under oath, in ºase
no statement has been before filed by him, her, or them, showing the ditch, canal; or
reservoir, or two or more such, in which he, she, or they claim an interest, together
with the names of all the owners thereof, which statement may be made by any one
of the owners of such ditch, canal, or reservoir for and in behalf of all ; and also that
all persons interested as owners or consumers may then and there present his, her, or
their proofs for or against any priority of right of water by appropriation sought to
be shown by any party by or through any such ditch, canal, or reservoir (either as
owner or consumer of water drawn therefrom). Ten printed copies of said, notice
shall also be posted in ten public places in such water district not less than twenty
days before the day so appointed, which copies shall be so posted by the party or
parties moving the adjudication. (Sec. 6, p. 147, Acts 1881, 1768.) º
Proof of the proper publication of said notice or notices in said public papers shall
consist in such case of the sworn certificate of the publisher of such newspaper, show-
ing the publication to have been made in accordance with the provisions of section 3,
of this act, which certificate shall be procured by the party or parties moving the ad:
judication at his or their expense, and on said certificate being filed the clerk shall
enter the amount of the printer's fee therefor as costs advanced by the party pro-
curing the same, which sum shall be counted to his, her, or their credit in distribution
of cost. Proof of the posting of said printed copies shall be made by the affidavit of
some credible person, certified to be such by the clerk or other officer administering
the oath, showing when, where, and how said copies were posted. (Sec. 7, pp. 147-8,
Acts 1881, 1769.) . .
The party or parties moving such adjudication shall cause a printed or written
copy of the notice aforesaid, published as aforesaid, to be served on every person, as-
sociation, or corporation shown by the statement of claim on file, as provided in Sec-
tion 1 hereof, which service shall be made within ten days from the time of the first
publication by the clerk, by any credible person certified by said clerk or referee to be
such, by delivering such copy as aforesaid to the person to be served, if such person
by due diligence can be found in the county of his residence. If such person can not
be found, as aforesaid, then by leaving such copy at his or her usual place of resi-
dence, if he or she have such residence, in charge of some person of the age of four-
teen years or over there residing ; and on any corporation by delivering the copy to
the president, or vice-president, or secretary, or treasurer thereof, or the manager or
superintendent in charge of their ditch, canal, or reservoir, or authorized agent or at-
torney, or by leaving such copy at the office or usual place of business of such cor-
poration, and the proof of such service shall be made by affidavit of the person or
persons serving said copies, showing when and how such service has been made on
such party. In case of parties not served in any manner as aforesaid the clerk shall
deposit in the post-office, duly inclosed in an envelope with the proper postage stamp
thereon, a copy directed to the address of such party, shown in the statement of
claim aforesaid, filed by him or her under section 1 hereof. (Sec. 8, pp. 148-9, Acts
1881, 1770.)
The court, in making such decree, as aforesaid, shall number the several ditches and
canals in the water district concerning which adjudication is made in consecutive
order, according to priority of appropriation of water thereby made by the original
construction thereof, as near as may be, having reference to the date of each decree as
Tendered, and shall also number the reservoirs in like manner separately from ditches
and canals, and shall further number each several appropriation of water consecu-
tively, beginning with the oldest appropriation, without respect to the ditches or res-
ervoirs by means of which such appropriations were made; whether such appropria-
tion shall have been made by means of construction, extension, or enlargement, which
number of each ditch, canal, or reservoir, together with the number or numbers of any
appropriations of water held to have been made by means of the construction, exten-
sion or enlargement thereof, shall be incorporated in said decree and certificate of the
clerk, to be issued to the claimants, as provided in section 1 of this act, so as to show
the order in priority of such ditch or canal; and of such reservoir, and also of such
successive appropriation of water pertaining thereto, for the information of the water
commissioner of the district in distributing water, such numbering to be as near as
; * having reference to date of decrees as rendered. (Sec. 9, p. 149, Acts 1881,
1771.
If for any cause the judge of said court shall deem it impracticable or inexpedient
to proceed to bear such evidence in open court, he shall, instead of the order men-
tioned in section 4 of this act, make and cause to be entered of record an order ap-
pointing some discreet person, properly qualified, a referee of said court, to whom
shall be referred the statement of claim aforesaid on file in said matter, the matter of
wº evidence and reporting the same, making an abstract and findings upon the
198 - IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
' 'º
same, and preparing a decree in said adjudication ; and also in case of any water dis-
trict in which a referee has been heretofore appointed, and evidence taken by him
under the provisions of the act, the title of which is recited in section 4 of this act;
such evidence so already taken, together with the abstract thereof and report of the
referee who took the same, shall be also referred to said referee, to be appointed as
aforesaid, and he shall proceed with his duties as hereinafter provided, first taking
an oath [of] office, such as is required to be taken by referees in other cases under the
provisions of the code of civil procedure. (Sec. 10, pp. 149–50, Acts 1881,1772.)
Said referee shall prepare and publish a notice containing a copy of the order ap-
pointing him, in which notice he shall appoint a time or times and place or places
suitable and convenient for the claimants in such water districts at which he will
attend for the purpose of hearing and taking evidence touching the priority of right
of the several ditches, canals, and reservoirs in said district, and notifying all persons,
associations, and corporations interested as owners or consumers of waters [water] to
attend by themselves, their agents, or attorneys, at the times and places appointed in
said notice, and notifying such owners to then and there file a statement of claim in
case such statement has not been already filed under the provisions of section 1 hereof,
such as mentioned in section 6 hereof, and present their proofs touching any priority
of right claimed by them for any ditch, canal, or reservoir in said district, which
notice shall be published in same manner and times and in all respects according to
the provisions for publication of the newspaper notices mentioned in section 6 of this
act, and proof of such publication shall be made in the same manner as is provided in
section 7 of this act; and he shall also post ten or more printed copies of such notice in
ten or more public places in said district, which copies shall be so posted at least
twenty days before the time of commencing to take said evidence. (Sec. 11, p. 150,
Acts 1881, 1773.) 3.
Proof of the posting of said copies shall be made by the affidavit of said referee or
other person certified |by him to be a credible witness, which shall show when, where,
and how the said copies were posted, and shall be filed by him with his report. (Sec.
12, p. 151, Acts 1881.)
Said referee shall attend at the times and places mentioned in his said notice, for the
purpose therein mentioned; and all persons, associations, choosing to do so, and
being interested as owners of or consumers of water from any ditch, canal, or reser-
voir in said district, and may also attend by themselves, their agents or attorneys,
before said referee, at some one or more of said times and places so appointed, and
shall have right to offer any and all evidence they may think advisable for their in-
terests in the matter to be adjudicated, as well in districts in which evidence has
been heretofore taken as in other districts. All such evidence as has been heretofore
taken, if any, in such district, shall be kept present by said referee, subject to in-
spection by any party desiring to examine the same for purposes of the investigation.
(Sec. 13, p. 151, Acts 1881, 1775.)
Said referee shall have power to administer oaths to all witnesses, and to issue
subpoenas for witnesses and subpoenas duces tecum, which subpoenas may be served by
any party, or gonstable, or sheriff, or deputy sheriff, and may require witnesses to ap-
pear at any of the places appointed by said referee for taking evidence. He shall
permit all witnesses to be examined by the parties calling them respectively, and to be
cross-examined by any party interested, and he shall take all testimony in writing, and
note all objections offered to any part of the testimony taken, with the cause assigned
for the objection, and shall proceed in all other respects as in case of taking depositions.
He shall certify all books and papers offered by any one in his own behalf, and pre-
serve them with the testimony offered concerning the same, and in case of books
and papers offered in evidence, which shall not be under the control of the party
desiring the evidence for which such books may be offered, said referee shall make a
true copy of the parts demanded and certify the same, and preserve the same, together
with the evidence offered concerning the same and concerning said books and papers,
as part of the evidence in the matter. (Sec. 14, pp. 151–2, Acts 1881, 1776.)
No person, association, or corporation willfully refusing to produce any book or
paper, if in his or their power to do so, when rightfully demanded for examination
and copying, shall be allowed the benefit of any testimony or proofs in his, her, or
their behalf in making final adjudication, if the court shall be satisfied, from all the
evidence shown concerning such refusal, that the same was willful. (Sec. 15, p. 152,
Acts 1881, 1777.) -
Said referee shall also examine all witnesses to his own satisfaction, touching any
point involved in the matter in question, and shall ascertain as far as possible the
date of the commencement of each ditch, canal, or reservoir, with the original size
and carrying capacity thereof, the time of the commencement of each enlargement
thereof, with the increased carrying capacity thereby occasioned, the length of time
spent in such construction or enlargement, the diligence with which the work was
prosecuted, the nature of the work as to difficulty of construction, and all such other
facts as may tend to show compliance with the law in acquiring the priority of right
ACTION AND PROCEDURE OF REFEREE, 199
claimed for such ditch, canal, or reservoir; and upon all the facts so obtained shall
be determined the relative priorities among the several ditches, canals, and reser-
voirs, the volume or amount of water lawfully appropriated by each, as well as by
means of the construction, as by the enlargements thereof, and the time when each
such several appropriations took effect. (Sec. 16, p. 152, Acts 1881, 1778.) g
Every person present before said referee at any time when he shall be engaged in
hearing testimony, who shall willfully disturb the proceedings; and every person
who shall willfully refuse or neglect to obey the subpoena issued by said referee,
when his lawful fees shall be tendered him for his attendance before the referee,
shall be guilty of contempt of the court appointing such referee, and on complaint,
under oath of the referee or other person, before the said district court, or judge
thereof in vacation, may be brought before the court or judge and dealt with accord-
ingly. (Sec. 17, pp. 152—3, Acts 1881, 1779.)
Every witness who shalſ attend before said referee under subpoena, by request of
any party, shall be entitled to the same fees and mileage as witnesses before the
district court in the county in which he shall so attend, and shall be paid by the
party requifing his testimóny. (Sec. 18, p. 153, Acts 1881, 1780.)
The said referee shall take all the testimony offered, and for that purpose shall
give reasonable opportunity to all parties to be heard, and may at any place, when
the time limited thereat shall expire, adjourn the further taking of testimony then
proposed or desired to be offered to the next place in order according to his said
Fº appointments, and at the last place may continue until all testimony shall
e taken or make further appointments at any former place or places as may seem
best and most convenient for all parties, giving reasonable notice thereof. (Sec. 19,
p. 153, Acts 1881, 1781.)
Said referee, upon closing the testimony, shall proceed to carefully examine the
same, together with all testimony and proofs which may have been heretofore taken
by any former referee in the same district, if any such shall have been taken under
the provisions of said act, the title of which is recited in section 4 of this act ;
he shall make an abstract of alſ the testimony and proofs in his possession concerning
each ditch, canal, and reservoir separately, and shall number each ditch and canal
in order, and likewise each reservoir, each class consecutively, and also number the
several appropriations of water shown by the evidence, all in manner and form as
provided in section 9 hereof, and shall make a separate finding of all the facts
connected with each ditch, canal, and reservoir, touching which evidence shall have
been offered; and he shall prepare a draught of a degree in accordance with his said
findings, in substance the same as the decree mentioned in section 4 of this act,
and conformable also to the provisions of section 9 hereof, so far as the same are
applicable, which decree, so prepared by him, shall be returned with his report to
the court, and he shall file his report with said evidence, abstract, and findings, and
said decree, with the clerk of the court, and inform the judge of so doing without
delay. (Sec. 20, pp. 153-4, Acts 1881, 1782.)
Upon the filing of said report the court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall cause
an order to be entered setting some day in a regular or special term of said court as .
soon as practicable, when the court will proceed to hear and determine the report, at
which time any party interested may appear, himself or counsel, and move exceptions
to any matter in the findings or decree made by said referee, and after hearing the
same the court shall, if the decree reported be approved, cause the same to be entered
of record, or otherwise such modifications thereof, or other decree as shall be found
just and comformable to the evidence and the true intent of this act, and to so much
of any and all former laws of the State as shall be adjudged consistent herewith.
(Sec. 21, p. 154, Acts 1881, 1783.)
No claim of priority of any person, association, or corporation, on account of any
ditch, canal, or reservoir, as to which he, or she, or they, shall have failed or refused
to offer evidence under any adjudication herein provided for, or heretofore provided
by this act, the title of which is recited in section 4 hereof, shall be regarded by
any water commissioner in distributing water in times of scarcity thereof, until such
time as such party shall have by application to the court having jurisdiction ob-
tained leave and made proof of the priority of right to which such ditch, canal, or
reservoir shall be justly entitled, which leave shall be granted in all cases upon
terms as to notice to other parties interested, and on payment of all costs, and upon
affidavits or petition sworn to, showing the rights claimed, and the ditches, canals,
and reservoirs, with the names of the owners thereof against which such priority is
claimed, nor until a decree adjudging such priority to such ditch, canal, or reservoir
has been entered, and certificate, such as mentioned in section 4 hereof, shall have
been issued to claimant and presented to the water commissioner. (Sec. 22, pp.
154–5, Acts 1881, 1784.)
Every party interested shall have the right to complain to the court of any act of
willful neglect or oppression on the part of the said referee in exercising his powers
under this act, whereby such party shall have been aggrieved, either by refusal of
200 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
said referee to hear or take evidence offered, or by preventing reasonable opportunity
to offer such evidence; and the court may order such proceedings in the premises as
Will give redress of the grievance, at the cost of said referee, if he appear willfully
in fault; otherwise, in case of accident or mistake, costs shall be awarded as to the
court shall seem just. (Sec. 23, p. 155, Acts 1851, iz85.)
The district court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall have power to make all
orders and rules consistent with this act which may be found necessary and expedi-
ent, from time to time during the progress of this case, for carrying out the intent of
this act, and of all parts consistent there with of the said act, the title of which is
Tecited in section 4 hereof; as well as touching the proceedings in court, as of the
acts and doings of said referee, for the purpose of securing to any party aggrieved
by the acts of said referee or any proceeding of the court, opportunity for redress;
and this act shall be construed liberally in all courts, in favor of securing to all per-
Sons interested the just determination and protection of their rights. (Sec. 24, p.
155, Acts 1881, 1786.)
No persons, associations, or corporation representing any ditch, canal, or reservoir,
shall be permitted to give or offer any evidence before said referee until he, she, of
they shall have filed a statement of claim in substance the same in all respects as is
; * ; be filed under the provisions of section 1 hereof. (Sec. 25, p. 155, Acts
3. e *
The district court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall have power to order, for
good cause shown, and upon terms just to all parties, and in such a manner as may
seem meet, a re-argument or review, with or without additional evidence, of any de-
gree made under the provisions of this act, whenever said court or judge shall find
from the cause shown for that purpose by any party or parties feeling aggrieved, that
the ends of justice will be thereby promoted; but no such review or re-argument
shall be ordered unless applied for by petition or otherwise within two years from
the time of entering the decree complained of. (Sec. 26, p. 156, Acts 1881, 1788.)
Any party or parties representing any ditch, canal or reservoir, or any number
of parties representing two or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs, which are affected
in common with each other by any portion of such decree, by which he or she or they
may feel aggrieved, may have an appeal from said district court to the supreme
court, and in such case the party or parties joining, desiring an appeal, shall be the
appellants, and the parties representing any one or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs
affected in common adversely to the interests of appellants shall be the appellees. The
party or parties joining in such appeal shall file a statement in writing, verified by affi-
davit properly entitled in such cause in the district court, which statement shall show
that the appellants claim a valuable interest in the ditch, canal, or reservoir, or two
or more of such, which are affected in common with each other by some portion of
said decree; also stating the name or names, or otherwise the description of the same,
and the name or names, or otherwise the description of any one or more other ditches,
canals [or] reservoirs, which by said decree derive undue advantage in respect of
priority as against that or those represented by appellants; and also setting forth the
name or names, of the party or parties claiming such other one or more ditches, canals
or reservoirs, affected in common by said decree adversely to the interest of appellant
or appellants, and praying that an appeal be allowed against such other parties as
appellees. If the court or judge in vacation, on examination, find such statement in
accordance with the statements of claim filed by the parties named as appellees, men-
tioned in section 1 of this act, he shall approve the same and make an order to be pre-
pared and presented by the appellants allowing the appeal and showing the name or
names of the appellants and appellees, with the name or names or description of the
one or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs claimed by the party or parties appellant
and appellee, as shown by their several statements of claim filed as aforesaid, before
the taking of testimony, and fix the amount of the appeal bond, which bond shall be
executed by one or more of appellants, as principal or principals, and by sufficient
securities, and approved by the court or judge in vacation, and shall be conditioned
for the payment of all costs which may be awarded against the appellants or any of
them in the supreme court. (Sec. 27, pp. 156–157, Acts 1881, 1789.)
The order last aſoresaid shall be entered of record, and the appellant or appellants
shall cause a certified copy thereof to be served on each of the appellees, by deliver-
ing the same to him or her, if he or she may be found, or otherwise serving the same
in manner the same as may be at the time provided for Serving summons from the dis-
trict court by the laws then in force, and shall also cause the said order to be pub-
lished in the same manner as the notices required to be published by the referee men-
tioned in section 11 of this act, and proof of the publication in any newspaper shall
be the same as in case of said referee's notice, and proof of the posting of the ten
printed copies in the district shall be by, affidavit of the parties posting the same,
with the certificate of the clerk of the district court appealed from, that the affiant
is a known and credible person. (Sec. 28, p. 157, Acts 1881, 1790.)
The appellant or appellants shall file the transcript or record of the district court
ACTION ON APPEALs AND DISMISSALs. 201
with the clerk of the supreme court at any time within six months after the appeal
shall be allowed as aforesaid. Only so much of the decree appealed from, and so mugh
of the evidence as shall affect the appropriations of water claimed by means of the
construction or enlargement or re-enlargement of the several ditches, canals, and res:
ervoirs mentioned in the order allowing the appeal, need be copied into the bill of
exceptions. (Sec. 29, pp. 157–158, Acts 1881, 1791.) e
The supreme court, on dismissal of such appeal, or on affirming or reversing the
parts of the decree appealed from, in whole or in part, shall award costs, as in its dis-
cretion shall be found and held to be equitable. (Sec. 30, p. 158, Acts 1881, 1792.)
The supreme court, in all cases in which judgment is rendered, and any part of the
decree appealed from is reversed, and in which it may be practicable, shall make such
decree in the matters involved in the appeal as should have been made by the district
court, or direct in what manner the decree of that court should be amended. (Sec.
31, p. 158, Acts 1881, 1793.)
The said proof of the service and publication of said order allowing the appeal
shall be filed with the clerk of the supreme court within sixty days after the making
of said order, and if not so filed the supreme court shall, on motion of the appellee
or any of the appellees, at any time after such default in filing said proof, and before
the said proof shall be filed, dismiss such appeal, and if the transcript of record be
not filed within the time limited by section 29 of this act, such appeal shall, on
motion, be dismissed. After the filing of the record and proof of service aforesaid
the cause on appeal shall be proceeded with as the rules of the supreme court, or such
special rules as said court may make in such cases, and their order from time to time
thereunder may require. Said court shall have power to make any and all such
rules concerning such appeals as may be necessary and expedient in furtherance of
this act, as well as to preparation of the case for submission as to supplying defi-
cier.cies of record, if any, and for avoiding unnecessary costs and delay. (Sec. 32, p.
158, Acts 1881, 1794.)
The district court, or judge thereof in vacation, in case of the death, resignation,
illness, absence, or other disability of the referee hereby provided for, or for any
misconduct in him, or other good cause to such judge appearing, shall appoint such
other properly qualified person in his stead as he shall deem proper, who shall pro-
ceed without delay to perform all the duties of his office, as herein pointed out, which
shall remain unperformed by his predecessor in office. (Sec. 33, p. 159, Acts 1881,
1795.)
Nothing in this act or in any decree rendered under the provisions thereof, shall
prevent any person, association or corporation from bringing and maintaining any
suit or action whatsoever hitherto allowed in any court having jurisdiction to deter-
mine any claim of priority of right to water, by appropriation thereof, for irrigation
or other purposes, at any time within four years after the rendering of a final decree
under this act in the water district in which such rights may be claimed, save that no
writ of injunction shall issue in any case restraining the use of water for irrigation in
any water district wherein such final decree shall have been rendered, which shall
effect [affect] the distribution or use of water in any manner adversely to the rights
determined and established by and under such decree, but injunctious may issue to
restrain the use of any water in such disirict not affected by such decree, and restrain
violations of any right thereby established, and the water commissioner of every dis-
trict where such decree shall have been rendered shall continue to distribute water
according to the rights of priority determined by such decree, notwithstanding any
suits concerning water rights in such district, until in any suit between parties the
priorities between them may be otherwise determined, and such water commissioner
have official notice by order of the court or judge determining such priorities, which
notice shall be in such form and so given as the said judge shall order. (Sec. 34, p. .
159, Acts 1881, 1796.)
After the lapse of four years from the time of rendering a final décree in any water
district, all parties whose interests are thereby affected shall be deemed and held to
have acquiesced in the same, except in case of suits before then brought, and there-
after all persons shall be forever barred from setting up any claim to priority of rights
to water for irrigation in such water district adverse or contrary to the effect of such
decree. (Sec. 35, p. 160, Acts 1881, 1797.)
The referee appointed [as provided] in this act shall be paid the sum of $6 per day
while engaged in discharging his duties as herein provided, and also his reasonable
and necessary expenses and mileage at the rate of 10 cents for each mile actually and
necessarily traveled by him in going and coming in the discharge of his duties as
such referee, which said per diem allowance, expenses, and mileage shall be paid out
of the treasury of the county in which such water district shall lie, if it be contained
'in one county, and if such water district shall extend into two or more counties, then
in equal parts thereof, shall be paid out of the treasury of such county into which
such district shall extend. He shall keep a just and true account of his services, ex-
penses, and mileage, and present the same from time to time to the district court, or
2O2 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
judge in Vacation, verifying the same by oath, and the judge, if he finds the same cor-
rect and just, shall certify his approval thereof thereon, and the same shall there-
upon be allowed by the board of county commissioners of the county in which said
Water district shall lie, but if said [water district] extend into two or more Counties,
he shall receive from the clerk of the district court separate certificates under seal of
the court, showing the amount due him from each county, upon which certificate the
board of county commissioners of the respective countiés shall allow the same on
presentation thereof. (Sec. 36, p. 160, Acts 1881, 1798.
All laws and parts of laws heretofore in existence inconsistent with the provisious
#º act, shall be and the same are hereby appealed. (Sec. 37, p. 160, Acts 1881,
Nothing herein contained shall be construed to authorize any sheriff to serve any
writ outside the limits of his own county, or give effect to any record by way of
notice or otherwise, in any county other than that in which it belongs. (Sec. 35, p.
106, Acts 1889, 1800.) * :
The fees of the clerk of the district court for a service rendered under this act shall
be paid by the counties interested in the same manner as the fees of the water com-
missioners, upon the said clerk rendering his account, certified by the district judge,
to the board OT boards of county commissioners of said county or counties jembracing
the Water district in case of which the services shall have been rendered. (Sec. 43,
p. 108, Acts 1879, 1801.)
Whenever testimony shall or may be taken in any district created by this act for
the purpose of procuring a decree as to appropriation of water and priorities thereof,
under the statutes of tfiis State, any testimony theretofore taken before any former
referee may be introduced, and shalſ be received as evidence. (Sec. 28, p. 259.)
Any ditch Company formed under the provisions of this (corporations) act shall
* º of way over the line named in the certificate. (Sec. 275 (85), p. 171,
• -a-, * : * > v v -
When any person owning claims in such locality (on the bank, margin, or neighbor-
hood of any stream) has not sufficient length of area exposed to said stream to obtain
a sufficient fall of water to irrigate his iand, or that his farm or land used by him
for agricultural purposes is too far removed from said stream, and that he has no
Water facilities on those lands, he shall be entitled to a right of way through the
farms or tracts of lands which lie between him and said stream, or the farms or tracts
of lands which lie above or below him on said stream, for the purposes hereinbefore
stated. (Sec. 2, p. 67, acts 1861. Sec. 2, p. 362, R. S. Sec. 1373 (2), p, 515, G. L., 1712.)
Such right of way shall extend only to a ditch, dike, or cutting sufficient for thé
gººd. (Sec. 3, p. 67, acts 1861. Sec. 3, p. 363, R. S. Sec. 1734 (3), p. 115,
• *-* * * tº
. Upon the refusal of the owners of tracts of land or lands through which said ditch
is proposed to run to allow of its passage through their property the person or per-
Sons desiring to open such ditch may proceed to condemn and take the right of way
therefor (“nder the provisions of the “eminent domain act”). (Sec. 1376 (5), p.
516, G. L., 1715.)
No tract or parcel of improved or occupied land in this State shall, without the
Written consent of the owner thereof, be subjected to the burden of two or more irri-
gating ditches constructed for the purpose of conveying water through said property
to lands adjoining or beyond the same when the same object can feasibly and prac-
ticably be attained by uniting and conveying all the water necessary to be conveyed
through such property in one ditch. (Sec. 1, p. 164, acts 1881, 1716.)
Whenever any person or persons find it necessary to convey water for the purpose
of irrigation through the improved or occupied lands of another, he or they shall
select for the line of such ditch through such property the shortest and most direct
route practicable upon which said ditch can be constructed with uniform or nearly
uniform grade and discharge the water at a point where it can be conveyed to and
used upon the land or lands of the person or persons constructing such ditch. (Sec.
2, p. 164, acts 1881, 1717.)
No person or persons having constructed a private ditch for the purposes and in
the manner hereinafter provided shall prohibit or prevent any other person or per-
Sons from enlarging or using any ditch by him or them constructed in common with
him or them upon payment to him or them of a reasonable proportion of the costs of
construction of said ditch. (Sec. 3, p. 164, acts 1881, eminent domain, 1718.)
The right of way shall not be refused by the owner of any tract of land upon which
it is required (by those who wish to place wheels upon the bank of a stream), subject,
of course, to the like regulations as required for ditches, and laid down in sections
hereinbefore enumerated. (Sec. 8, pp. 68–9, acts 1861. Sec. 6, p. 364, R. S. Sec.,
1377 (6), p. 516, G. L., 1727.)
If any corporation formed under this (corporations) act for the purpose of construct-
ing a * * * ditch " * * shall be unable to agree with the owner for the pur-
chase of any real estate required for the purposes of any such corporation or company,
GENERAL IRRIGATION LAWS OF COLORADO. 203
or the transaction of the business of the same, or for right of way, or any other law
ful purpose connected with or necessary to the operations of such company, Sugh cor-
pº may acquire such title in the manner provided by law. (Sec. 304 (114), P.
182, G. L., 338.)
Any company formed under the provisions of this act for the purpose of construct-
ing a * * * ditch " " " may cause such examination and survey as may be
necessary to the selection of the most advantageous route, and for such purpose, by
its officers, agents, or servants, may enter upon the lands of any person or corporation,
but subject to liability for all actual damages which shall be occasioned thereby.
(Sec. 305 (115), p. 183, G. L., 339.) te
Persons desirous to construct and maintain reservoirs for the purpose of storin
water shall have the right to take from any of the natural streams of the State an
store away any unappropriated water not needed for immediate use for domestic or
irrigating purposes; to construct and maintain ditches for carrying such water to
and from such reservoir, and to condemn lands for such reservoirs and ditches in the
same manner provided by law for the condemnation of lands for right of way for
ditches: Provided, No reservoir with embankments or a dam exceeding ten feet in
height shall be made without first submitting the plans thereof to the county com-
missioners of the county in which it is situated and obtaining their approval of such
plans. (Sec. 38, pp. 106-7, acts 1879, 1724.)
The owners of any reservoir may conduct the water therefrom into and along any
of the natural streams of the State, but not so as to raise the waters thereof above
ordinary high-water mark, and may take the same out again at any point desired
without regard to the prior rights of others to water from said stream; but due allow-
ance shall be made for evaporation and seepage, the amount to be determined by the
commissioners of irrigation of the district; or, if there are no such commissioners,
then by the county commissioners of the county in which the water shall be taken
out for use. (Sec. 39, p. 107, acts 1879, 1725.)
The owners of the reservoirs shall be liable for all damages arising from leakage or
overflow of the waters therefrom, or by floods caused by breaking of the embank-
ments of such reservoirs. (Sec. 40, p. 107, acts 1879, 1726.)
Every ditch company organized under the provisions of this (corporations) act shall
be required to keep their ditch in good condition, so that the water shall not be allowed
to escape from the same to the injury of any mining claim, road, ditch, or other prop-
erty; and whenever it is necessary to convey and ditch over, across, or above any
lode or mining claims or to keep the water so conveyed therefrom, the company shall,
if necessary to keep the water of said ditch out or from any claim, ſlume the ditch so
far as necessary to protect such claim or property from the water of said ditch. (Sec.
278 (88), pp. 172—3, G. L., 312.)
The owners of reservoirs shall be liable for all damages arising from leakage or
overflow of the waters therefrom, or by floods caused by the breaking of the embank-
ments of such reservoirs. (Sec. 40, p. 107, acts 1879, 1726.) y
The owner or owners of any ditch for irrigation or other purposes shall carefully
maintain the embankments thereof, so that the waters of such ditch may not flood
or damage the premises of others, and shall make a tail ditch so as to return the
water in such ditch with as little waste as possible into the stream from which it was
taken. (Sec. 7, p. 36, R. S., with first clause, amendment, 1872, p. 144, Sec. 1, second
clause, sup. by sec. 2, p. 78, acts 1876, 1728.)
Any ditch company constructing a ditch, or any individual having ditches for irri-
gation, or for other purposes, wherever the same may be taken across any public
highway or public traveled road, shall put a good substantial bridge, not less than 14
feet in breadth, over such water-course where it crosses said road. (Sec. 10, p. 364, R.
S. Sec. 1381 (10), p. 516, G. L., 1730.)
When any such ditch or water-course shall be constructed across any public traveled
road, and not bridged within three days thereafter, it shall be the duty of the super-
visor of the road district to put a bridge over said ditch or water-course, of the dimen-
sions specified in section 10 of this chapter, and call on the owner or owners of the
ditch to pay the expenses of constructing such bridge. (Sec. 11, p. 364, R. S. Sec.
1382 (21), p. 517, G. L., 1731.) -
If the owner or owners of such ditch refuse to pay the bill of expenses so presented,
the supervisor may go before any justice of the peace in the township or precinct and
make oath to the correctness of the bill, and that the owner or owners of the ditch
refuse payment; and thereupon such justice of the peace shall issue a summons
against such owner or owners, requiring him or them to appear and answer to the
complaint of such supervisor in an action of debt for the amount sworn to be due,
such summons to be made returnable and served, and proceedings to be had thereon
as in other cases; and in case judgment shall be given against such owner or owners
the justice'shall assess, in addition to the amount sworn to be due as aforesaid, the
sum of $10 as damages arising from the delay of such owner or owners, such judg-
ment to be collected as in other cases, and to be a fund in the hands of the supervisor
204 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
of roads for the repairs of roads in such precinct or districh. (Sec. 12, p. 365, R. S.
Sec. 1383 (12), p. 517, G. L., 1732.) -
No person or persons, or corporation * * * shall cause waste water, or the
Water from any ditch, road, drain, or flume or other place, to ſlow in or upon any road
or highway so as to damage the same, and any such person or persons or corporation
So offending or violating any of the provisions of this section or any of the sections
of this act, for which there is no specific penalty provided, shall pay a fine of not less
than $10 nor more than $300 for each offense, and a like fine of $10 for each day that
Such obstruction shall be suffered to remain in said highway, and shall also be liable
to any person or persons or corporation in a civil action for any damages resulting
therefrom ; and it shall be the duty of the road overseer in the district in which such
Violation shall occur to prosecute any person, persons, corporation, or corporations
Violating the provisions of this act. (As amended, p. 326, Session Laws, 1885, 2988.)
Any person or persons, corporation or company, owning or constructing any ditch,
race, drain, or flume, in, upon, or across any highway, S., all keep the highway open
for safe and convenient travel by constructing bridges over such ditch, race, drain,
or flume; and within five days after any ditch is constructed across, in, or upon any
highway at any point thereof so as to interfere with or obstruct snch highway, the
person or persons owning or constructing such ditch shall erect a good and substan-
tial bridge of not less than 20 feet in width across the same, which shall thereafter
be maintained by the county : Provided, That all such bridges which shall be of
greater length than 20 feet, shall be constructed as herein provided, and thereafter
maintained in proper condition for safe travel by the owner or owners of said ditch.
Any person or persons, corporation or company, constructing any ditch, race, drain,
or flume, im, upon or across any highway, and failing to keep the highway open for
Safe and convenient travel, as in this act provided, shall forfeit the sum of $25 to the
county for each and every day of failure to keep the same open for safe and conven-
ient travel as aforesaid. And any person or persons, corporation or company, who shall
fail to erect a good and substantial bridge across any ditch, race, drain, or flume,
within five days after the same is constructed in, upon, or across any highway, and
keep the same in proper condition and repair, as herein provided, shall forfeit the sum
of $25 to the county for each and every day of failure to erect such bridge and keep
the same in repair, as aforesaid, together with the cost of constructing there a good
and substantial bridge, or making necessary repairs, which the road overseers of the
district shall at once proceed to build or repair, and such party or parties so neglect-
ing shall also be liable in damages to any person or persons damaged by such neglect.
(As amended, session laws, 1885, p. 324, 2990.)
The owner of any irrigating or ml?l ditch shall carefully maintain and keep the
embankments thereof in good repair, and prevent the Water from Wasting. (Sec. 1,
p. 78, acts 1876. Sec. 1385 (1), p. 518, G. L., 1733.)
During the summer season it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to ruin
through his or their irrigating ditch any greater quantity of water than is absolutely
necessary for irrigating his or their said land, and for domestic and Stock purposes;
it being the intent and meaning of this section to prevent the Wasting and useless dis-
charge and running away of water. (Sec. 2, p. 78, Acts 1876. Sec. 1386 (2), p. 518,
G. L., 1734.
Any º, who shall willfully violate any of the provisions of this act, shall, on
conviction thereof before any court having counpetent jurisdiction, be fined in a sum
of not less than $100. Suits for penalties under this act shall be brought in the name
of the people of the State of Colorado. (Sec. 3, p. 78, Acts 1876. Sec. 1387 (3), p.
518, G. L., 1735.)
That the owner or owners of every irrigating ditch, flume or canal, in this State
shall be required to erect and keep in good repair a head-gate at the head of their
ditch, flume, or canal. Such head-gate, together with the necessary embankments,
shall be of sufficient height and strength to control the Water at all ordinary stages,
The frame-work of such head-gate shall be constructed of timber not less than 4
inches square, and the bottom, sides, and gate, or gates, shall be of plank not less than
2 inches in thickness. (Sec. 1, p. 166, Acts 1881, 1736.) - ---
Owners of all ditches shall be liable for all damages resulting from their neglect or
refusal to comply with the provisions of section 1 (G. S. 1736) of this act. (Sec. 2, p.
165, Acts 1881, 1737.) & 1 tº e e
Ditch owners are also required to construct and maintain a Weir, or measuring de-
vice at the heads of their ditches. (Ch. XIV.) - º
Every person who shall willfully open, close, change, or interfere with any head-
gate or water-box, without authority, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on con-
viction thereof shall be fined not less than $50, nor more than $300, and may be im-
prisoned not exceeding sixty days. (Sec. 44, p. 108 Agis, 1879, 1755.)
Any person or persons who shall knowingly and willfully cut, dig, break down, or
open any gate, bank, embankment, or side of any ditch, canal, flume, feeder, or reser-
voir in which such person or persons may be joint owner, or the property of another,
GENERAL IRRIGATION LAWS OF COLORADO. 205.
A
or in the lawful possession of another or others, and used for the purpose of irrigation,
manufacturing, mining, or domestic purposes with intent maliciously to injure any
person, assóciation, or corporation, or for his or her own gain, unlawfully, with in-
tent of stealing, taking or causing to run or pour out of such ditch, canal, reservoir,
feeder, or flume, any water for his or her own profit, benefit, or advantage, to the in-
jury of any other person, persons, associations, or corporation, lawfully in the use of
such water or of such ditch, canal, reservoir, feeder, or flume, he, she or they so of—
fending shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be
fined in any sum not less than $5 nor more than $300, and may be imprisoned in the
county jail not exceeding ninety days. (Sec. 1, p. 163, Acts 1881, 1759.)
Justices of the peace shall have jurisdiction of all offenses under the provisions of
this act (G. S. 1759), saving to any party defendant the right to be tried by a jury,
as in other criminal cases before such justices now provided for by law; and also the
right to appeal, in manner and form as by law now, or hereafter to be provided for
by law, in criminal cases before such justices. (Sec. 2, p. 163, Acts 1881, 1760.)
Every person who shall willfully commit any trespass by entering upon the im-
proved or inclosed land of another, without the permission of the owner thereof, with
intent to cut, injure, or destroy any dam, dike, or embankment kept or maintained
for the purpose of storing water in any lake, creek, or reservoir, shall, upon conviction
therefor, be punished by imprisonment in the county jail not less than ten days nor
more than one year, or by a fine of not less than $50 and not more than $1,000, or by .
both such fine and imprisonment. (P. 165.)
If any person shall unlawfully, wantonly, willfully, or maliciously, cut down, break
down, level, demolish, or otherwise destroy or damage any bridge, embankment, mill-
dam, or ditch, being the property of another * * * where the value of the per-
sonal property destroyed or injured shall exceed $20, shall, on conviction, be pun-
ished by imprisonment in the State penitentiary not more than five years, or by a
fine not exceeding $1,000; or, where the value of the personal property destroyed or
injured shall be $20 or under, shall, on conviction, be punished by a fine not exceed-
ing $100, or imprisonment in the county jail not more than three months, or both such
* and ºn-onment in the discretion of the court. (As amended Session Laws 1885,
. 167,903.)
p Any person who shall willfully or maliciouly damage or interfere with any “ ” *
ditch, flume, * * * or any of the fixtures, tools, implements, appurtenances, or
any property of any company which may be organized under the provisions of this
act, upon conviction thereof before any court of competent jurisdiction in the county
where the offense shall have been committed, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor,
and shall be punished by fine or imprisonment, or both, at the discretion of the court,
said imprisonment not to exceed one year, and said fine not to exceed $500, which
fine shall be paid into the county treasury for the use of the common schools, and
said offender shall also pay all damages that any such corporation may sustain, to-
gether with costs of suit. (Sec. 297 (107), p. 180, G. L., 315.)
If any person or persons shall hereafter throw or discharge into any stream of run-
ning water, or into any ditch or flume in this State, any obnoxious substance, such
as refuse matter from slaughter-house or privy, or slops from eating-houses or saloons,
or any other fleshy or vegetable matter which is subjećt to decay in the water, such
person or persons shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine not less than
$100 nor more than $500 for each and every offense so committed. (Sec. 1, Acts 1874,
p.99. Sec. 165, p. 307, G. L. In force Feb. 13, 1874, 882.)
That it shall be lawful for any person or persons to float any and all kinds of tim-
ber, such as saw-logs, ties, fencing poles or posts, and fire-wood down any of the
streams of this State: Provided, That any person or persons desiring to float any
such timber down said streams shall first execute a bond running to the people of
each county through which such timber is floated, in a sum sufficient to cover all
damages that may be done to any bridges, dams, or irrigating ditches that are now
or may hereafter be constructed in or across any streams of this State, such bond to
be approved by the board of county commissioners of the county or counties through
which such timber is to be floated. (Sec. 1856 (1), p. 643, G. L., 3259.) ty
Water sold by the inch by any individual or corporation shall be measured as fol-
lows, to wit : Every inch shall be considered equal to an inch square orifice under a
5-inch pressure, and a 5-inch pressure shall be from the top of the orifice of the box
put into the banks of the ditch to the surface of the water; said boxes, or any slot
or aperture through which such water shall be measured, shall in all cases be 6
inches perpendicular, inside measurement, except boxes delivering less than 12 inches,
which may be square, with or without slides. All slides for the same shall move hor.
izontally, and not otherwise ; and said box put into the banks of ditch shall have a
descending grade from the water in ditch of not less than one-eighth of an inch to
the foot. (Sec. 2779 (3), pp. 926–7, G. L. Sec. 6, p. 638, R. S. Aind. Sec. 1, pp. 308-9
Acts 1874 and 1877, 3472.) * j
206 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
All persons for the lºº of weighing or measuring goods, wares, merchandise,
water, or other articles actually sold by him, not in accordance with this chapter,
hall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof may be im-
prisoned not exceeding one year, or fined not exceeding $1,000, at the discretion of
the court in which the conviction shall be obtained. (Sec. 2785 (9), p. 928, G. L.
Sec. 9, p. 309, Acts 1874, 3478.) 4
Any company constructing a ditch under the provisions of this act shall furnish
water to the class of persons using the water in the way named in the certificate, in
the way the water is designated to be used, whether miners, mill men, farmers, or
for domestic use, whenever they shall have water in their ditch unsold, and shall at
all times give the preference to the use of water in said ditch to the class named in
the certificate; the rates, at which water shall be furnished to be fixed by the county
commissioners as soon as such ditch shall be completed and prepared to furnish
water. (Sec. 277 (87), p. 172, G. L., 211.)
The county commissioners of each county shall, at their regular January session in
each year, hear and consider any and all applications which may be made to them
|by any party or parties interested in procuring water for irrigation by purchase from
any ditch or reservoir furnishing and selling water, or proposing to furnish water for
sale, the whole or upper part of which shall lie in such county, which application
shall be supported by such affidavit or affidavits as the applicant may see proper to
..present, showing reasonable cause for such board to proceed to fix the price of water
to be hereafter sold from such ditch or reservoir, and [if such board of commis-
sioners shall, upon examination of such affidavit or affidavits, or from the oaths of
witnesses in addition thereto, find that the facts sworn to show the application to be
in good faith, and that there is reasonable grounds to believe that unjust prices are,
or are likely to be, charged for water from such ditch or reservoir, they shall enter
an order fixing a day, not sooner than forty days thereafter nor later than the third
day of the [next] regular session of their board, when they will hear all parties
directly or indirectly interested in said ditch or reservoir, or in procuring water
therefrom for irrigation, who may appear, as well as all the testimony by witnesses,
or depositions taken on notices as hereinafter provided, touching the said ditch or
reservoir, and the cost of furnishing water therefrom, at which time all persons or
corporations interested in said ditch or reservoir, as well as all interested in obtain-
ing water therefrom, or in lands which may be irrigated therefrom, may appear by
themselves, their agents, or attorneys, and Said commissioners shall then proceed to
take action in the matter of fixing such price of water; provided the applicant shall,
within ten days from the time of entering such order, cause a copy thereof, duly
certified, to be delivered to the owner of such ditch or reservoir, if it be owned by
one person, or each of the owners if it be owned by several persons, or to the presi-
dent, secretary, or treasurer of the company if it belongs to a corporation or associa-
tion having such officers, or if such owner can not be found he shall cause such copy
to be left at his usual place of residence, with some person or member of his family
residing there, and over fourteen years of age, and if such ditch officer can not be
found, he shall cause such copy to be left at the office or place of business of the company
of which he is such officer, or, at his residence if such company have no place of busi-
ness, and if such ditch is owned by several owners, not an incorporated company, it
shall be sufficient to serve sueh notice by delivering one such copy each to a majority
of them, and such applicant shall make affidavit of the manner in which such copy
or copies have been served. Depositions mentioned in section 1 hereof, to be used
before said commissioners, shall be taken before any officer in the State authorized
by law to take depositions, upon reasonable notice being given to the opposite party
of the time and place of taking such depositions. (Sec. 1, pp. 94–5–6, Acts 1879, 1738.)
Said board shall hear and examine all legal testimony or proofs offered by any of
the parties interested, as before mentioned, as well concerning the value of the con-
struction of such ditch and reservoir as the cost and expense of maintaining and
operating the same, and all matters, which may affect the just price and value of
water to be furnished therefrom ; and they shall have power to issue subpoenas to
witnesses and compel their attendance, which subpoenas shall be served by the
sheriff of the proper county whon required; and also to compel the production of
books and papers required for ev-dence in as full and ample a manner as the district
court now has. They may adjourn the hearing from time to time to further the ends of
justice or suit the general convenience of parties. Upon hearing an [and] consider-
ing all the matters and facts involved in the case, the board of commissioners shall
enter an order naming and describing the ditch or reservoir with sufficient certainty,
and fixing a just price upon all water to be thereafter sold, which price shall not be
thereafter changed oftener than once in two years : Provided, That no price so fixed
shall effect [affect] the rights of parties, or their lawful assignees or grantees, who
may have contracts with the company, association, or person owning such ditch or
reservoir, or their lessees, grantees, or successors, nor the rights of such owners, les-
sees, or grantees under such contract, nor shall it in any way affect or hinder the
making of such contract. - .(Sec.2, p. 96, Acts 1879, 1799.)
$
GENERAL IRRIGATION LAWS OF COLORADo. 207
Any person or persons, acting jointly or severally, who shall have purchased and
used water for irrigation for lands occupied by him, her, or them, from any ditch or
reservoir, and shall not have ceased to do so, for the purpose or with the intent to
procure water from some other source of supply, shall have a right to continue to pur-
chase water to the same amount for his, her, of their lands, on paying or tendering the
price thereof fixed by the county commissioners as above provided; or, if no price
shall have been fixed by them, the price at which the owners of such ditch or reser-
voir may be then selling water or did sell water during the then last preceeding year.
This section shall not apply to the case of those who may have taken water as stock-
holders or share-holders after they shall have sold or forfeited their shares or stock,
mnless they shall have retained a right to procure such water by contract, agreement,
or understanding, and use between themselves and the owners of such ditch, and not
then to the injury of other purchasers of water from or shareholders in [the] same
ditch. (Sec. 3, pp. 96, 97, Acts 1879, 1740.)
The lands now irrigated, or which may be hereafter irrigated, from ditches now
taking water from the following-described rivers or natural streams of the State of
§§ are hereby declared to constitute irrigation districts. (Sec. 5, p. 97, Acts
1879, 1741.)
Other irrigation districts may be formed from time to time by the governor on peti-
tion of parties interested. Several districts were formed under this power and com-
missioners appointed, and these new districts were incorporated into the new act. (Act.
1879, creating districts.)
For the better regulation of the distribution of water for irrigation among the sev-
eral ditches, canals, and resorvoirs into which such water may be lawfully taken in
times of scarcity thereof, the water districts now or to be hereafter established by law
shall be constituted into water divisions, as follows: (Ditto), 1802.
There shall be one water commissioner for each of the above-named districts, and
for each district hereafter formed, who shall be appointed by the governor, to be
selected by him from persons recommended to him by the several boards of county
commissioners of the counties into which water districts may extend, and the water
commissioner so appointed shall hold his office until his successor is appointed and
qualified. The governor shall, by like selection and appointment, fill all vacancies
which may be occasioned by death, resignation, or continued absence from the dis-
trict, removal or otherwise. Said county commissioners may, from time to time,
recommend persons to be appointed as above provided, and the governor may at any
time remove any water commissioner in his discretion. Sec. 16, pp. 98, 99, Acts 1879,
1752,
#!. within ten days after his appointment, and before entering upon the duties
of his office, such water commissioner shall take and subscribe the oath of office pre-
scribed by the constitution of this State. (Sec. 17, p. 99, Acts 1879, 1753.)
It shall be the duty of said water commissioners to divide the water in the natural
stream or streams of their district among the several ditches taking water from the
same, according to their prior rights of each respectively; in whole or in part to shut
and fasten, or cause to be shut and fastened, by order given to any sworn assistant,
sheriff, or constable of the county in which the head of such ditch is situated, the
head-gate of any ditch or ditches heading in any of the natural streams of the dis-
trict which in a time of a scarcity of water shall not be entitled to water by reason
of the priority of the rights of others below them on the same stream. (Sec. 18, p.99,
Acts 1879, 1754.)
The water commissioners herein provided shall be each entitled to pay at the rate
of $5 per day for each day he shall be actually employed in the duties of his office,
not to exceed eighty days in any one year, to be paid by the county or counties in
which his irrigation district may lie. Each water commissioner shall keep a just and
true account of the time spent by him in the duties of his office, and shall present a
true copy thereof, verified by oath, to the board of commissioners of the county in
which his district may lie, and said board of commissioners shall allow the same;
and if said irrigation district shall extend into two or more counties, then such water
commissioner shall present his account for his said services, verified as aforesaid, to
the board of county commissioners of each county into which such district extends,
and each board of county commissioners shall allow an equal part thereof. (P. 254,
Acts 1885, 1756.)
Said water commissioner, shall have power, in case of emergency, to employ a
suitable assistant to aid him in the discharge of his duties. Such assistant shall
take the same oath as the water commissioner, and shall obey his instructions, and
shall be entitled to, $3 per day for every day he is so employed, not to exceed
twenty-five days, to be paid upon the certificate of the water commissioner, in the
same manner as provided for paying Water commissioners. (Sec. 41, p. 107, Acts
1879, 1757.) & º
Said water commissioners shall not begin their work until they shall be called on
by two or more owners or managers, or persons controlling ditches in their several
208 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
districts, by application in writing, stating that there is necessity for their action;
and º shall not continue performing services after the necessity therefor shali
cease, 1758. º
If at any time any ditch or reservoir from which water is or shall be drawn for
irrigation shall not be entitled to a full supply of water from the natural stream
which supplies the same, the water actually received into and carried by such ditch,
or held in such reservoir, shall be divided among all the consumers of water from
such ditch or reservoir, as well as the owners, share-holders or stockholders thereof
as the parties purchasing water therefrom ; and parties taking water partly under
and by virtue of holding shares, and partly by purchasing the same, to each his
share pro rata, according to the amount he, she, or they (in cases in which several
consume water jointly) shall be then entitled, so that all owners and purchasers
shall suffer from the deficiency arising from the cause aforesaid each in proportion to
the amount of water which he, she, or they should have received in case no such defi-
ciency of water had occurred. (Sec. 4, p. 97, Acts 1879, 1722.)
The governor shall appoint a State hydraulic engineer, who shall hold his office for
the term of two years, or until his successor may be appointed and qualified. The
governor may at any time, upon good cause shown, remove said State engineer, Said
State engineer shall have general supervision over the water companies [commis-
sioners] of the different water districts in the State. He shall have his office at the
State capitol, in an office to be provided for him by the secretary of state, and be
subject to his direction and control; who shall also furnish him with suitable furni-
ture, postage, and such proper and necessary books and instruments as will best
enable him to discharge the duties of his office. He shall be paid a salary of $2,000
per annum, payable quarterly, by the State treasurer, on warrants drawn by the
State auditor. No person shall be appointed as such hydraulic engineer who is not
known to have such theoretical knowledge and practical skill and experience as shall
fit him for the position. (Sec. 6, pp, 119–20, Acts 1881, 1807.)
Said State engineer shall make, or cause to be made, careful measurements and cal-
culations of the maximum and minimum flow in cubic feet per second of water in
each stream from which water shall be drawn for irrigation, as may be best for afford-
ing information for irrigating purpose, commencing with those streams most used for
irrigation; also, to collect facts and make report as to a system of reservoirs for the
storage of water, their location, capacity and cost ; and he shall keep proper and full
records of his work, observations and calculations. (Sec. 7, p. 120, Acts 1881, 1808.)
Said State engineer shall, before entering on the discharge of his duties, take and
subscribe an oath before some officer authorized by law to administer oaths, to faith-
fully perform the duties of his office, and file with the secretary of state said oath
and his official bond, in the penal sum of $2,000, with sureties to be approved by the
secretary of state, and conditioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his of
fice, and for delivering to his successor, or other officer authorized to receive the same,
all moneys, implements, books and other property belonging to the State then in his
hands or under his control, or with which he may be legally chargeable as such of
ficer. (Sec. 8, pp. 120–1, Acts 1881, 1809.) e
Said State engineer will have power to employ assistants at an expense not to ex-
ceed $1,500 in any one year, who shall be paid out of any moneys appropriated for
that purpose, on certificate of said State engineer, showing the services rendered and
the amount therefor [thereof], and on presentation of such certificate to the State
auditor by the person entitled thereto, he shall issue his warrant on the State treas-
urer for the amount thereof, to be paid out of any appropriation as aforesaid, and not
otherwise. (Sec. 9, p. 277, acts 1883, 1801.)
Said State engineer shall prepare and renderto the government [governor] yearly,
and oftener if required, full and true reports of his work, touching all the matters
and duties devolving upon him by virtue of his office, which report shall be delivered
at the time when the reports of other State officers are required by law to be made,
in order that they may be laid before the general assembly at each regular Session
thereof. (Sec. 10, p. 121, Acts 1881, 1811.) * e
Said State engineer shall, on request of any party interested, on payment of his
per diem, gharges, and reasonable expenses, measure and ascertain the carrying
capacity of any ditch, canal, or feeder, or any reservoir, hereafter constructed or en-
larged, and give to the party or parties requiring his services an official certificate of
the size and carrying capacity of such ditch, canal, or feeder, in cubic feet per sec-
ond, as he shall find it to be at the time of measuring the same. (Sec. 11, p. 121, Acts
1881, 1812.) º &
For the more accurate and convenient measurement of any water appropriated
pursuant to any judgment or decree rendered by any court establishing the claims of
priority of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, the owners thereof shall construct and
maintain, under the supervision of the State engineer, a measuring weir or other de-
vice for measuring the flow, in cubic feet per second, the water at the head of such
ditch, canal, or reservoir, or as near thereto as practicable. The State engineer shall
GENERAL IRRIGATION LAws of COLORADo. 209
compute and arrange in tabular form the amount of water that will pass such weir
or measuring device in cubic feet per second, at the different stages thereof, and he
shall furnish a copy of a statement thereof to any water commissioners having con-
trol of such ditch, canal, or reservoir. (Sec. 12, pp. 121–2, Acts 1881, 1813.)
Whenever any three or more persons associate under the provisions of this act to
form a company for the purpose of constructing a ditch for the purpose of conveying
water to any mines, mills, or lands, to be used for mining, milling, or irrigating or
lands, they shall, in their certificate, in addition to the matters required in section 2
of this (corporation) act, specify as follows: The stream or streams from which the
water is to be taken out ; the point or place on said stream, at or near which the
water is to be taken out; the line of said ditch, as near as may be, and the use to
which the said water is to be applied. (Sec. 274 (84), p. 171, G. L., 308.)
Any ditch company formed under the provisions of this act shall have the right of
way over the line named in the certificate, and shall also have the right to run the
water of the stream or streams named in the certificate through their ditch : Provided,
That the line proposed shall not interfere with any other ditch whose rights are prior
to those acquired under this act and by virtue of said certificate, except the right to
cross by flume; nor shall the water of any stream be diverted from its original chan-
nel to the detriment of any person or persons who may have priority of right. (Sec.
275 (85), p. 171, G. L., 309.)
Any corporation owning any ditch or canal for conveying, or reservoirs for storing,
water for irrigation purposes, and the capital stock being fully subscribed and paid
up, and when such corporation shall have no income sufficient to keep its ditch, canal
or reservoir in good repair, such corporation shall have power to levy an assessment
upon the capital stock thereof, to be levied pro rata on all the shares of stock, pay-
able in money or labor, or both, for the purpose of keeping the property of such cor-
poration in good repair, and for the payment of any claim against Said corporation
not otherwise provided for. But no such assessment shall be made unless the question
of making such assessment shall first be submitted to the stockholders of such cor-
poration at an annual meeting, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, and a
majority of the stockholders, either in person or by proxy, voting thereon shall vote
in favor of making such assessments; and an action may be maintained to recover any
assessment against any delinquent share-holder, as provided in section 2 of this act.
(Sec. 276 (86), p. 172, G. L.,810.)
Companies organized under the laws of this State, holding ditches or canals by
virtue of their organization, which derive their supply of water for their respective
ditches or canals from the same head gate or gates, or the same source or sources of
Supply, may consolidate their interests and unite their respective companies under
one name and management, by filing a certificate of that fact in the office of the
secretary of this State, and a counterp art thereof in the office of the recorder of the
county or counties in which such ditches or canals are situated, which certificates
shall be signed by the presidents of the companies so uniting, with the common seals
of the companies affixed thereto, and shall set forth the facts of such union of interests,
and give the name of the new company thus formed. (Sec. 1, Acts 1876, p. 68—omit-
ted in G. L., 313.)
All ditches used for the purpose of irrigation, and that only when the water is not
sold for the purpose of deriving a revenue therefrom, be, and the same are hereby,
declared free from all taxation, whether for State, county, or municipal purposes.
(Sec. 1, p. 143, Acts 1872. Sec. 1384 (1), p. 517, G. L., 1761.)
Water sold by the inch by any individual or corporation shall be measured as fol-
lows, to wit: Every inch shall be considered equal to an inch square orifice under a
5-inch pressure, and a 5-inch pressure shall be from the top of the orifice of the box
put into the banks of the ditch to the surface of the water; said boxes or any slot or
aperture through which such water shall be measured shall in all cases be 6 inches
perpendicular, inside measurement, except boxes delivering less than 12 inches, which
may be square, with or without slides; all slides for the same shall move horizontally
and not otherwise; and said box put into the banks of ditch shall have a descending
§ from the Water in ditch of not less than one-eighth of an inch to the foot.
(347. \
For the purpose of encouraging cultivation and the making of irrigation ditches the .
State board of land commissioners are hereby authorized to sell at public sale, at not
less than the appraised value, not more than one-half of any tract of arid land be-
longing to the State, except the school land, in alternate quarter sections as nearly
as may be, to any responsible person or corporation, on condition that said person or
corporation dig an irrigation ditch in such location, and of sufficient capacity to fur-
nish water for the entire tract. All contracts for the sale of State lands under the
provisions of this section shall be drawn by the attorney-general, and signed by the
governor and the secretary of the board, in behalf of the State, and by the other
parties in interest , and in no case shall the titles to any of said lands pass from the
State until such ditch is completed in a manner satisfactory to the State board, and
138 A L–AP WOL IV 14
210 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
the purchasers have given, in addition to such price as may be fixed by the State
board, a suitable contract or agreement, secured by a sufficient bond, that they will
furnish water for the remaining portion of the tract of land, as aforesaid, at not to
succeed [exceed] such rates as the State board may agree. Upon the fulfillment of
the above conditions patent may issue for not more than one-half of said tract, and
the remaining portion of said tract may be subsequently disposed of in the same man-
ner as other State lands. (Sec. 8, p. 226, Acts 1881, 2724.) *
The State board of land commissioners may sell in parcels of not more than 5,000
acres, at public sale, at not less than its appraised value, any of the lands granted to
the State for public improvements, under the act approved September 4, išāi. Condi-
tioned upon the location of colonies thereon, or the construction of extensive lines of
ditches covering such lands: Provided, That not more than one-half of any one sec-
tion of land shall be sold, in alternate half sections: And provided further, That every
alternate one-half section unsold shall not be sold for three years thereafter. (Sec.
2196 (22), p. 728, G. L., 2744.)
When any company shall organize undor the provisions of this act to form a com-
pany for the purpose of constructing a flume, their certificate, in addition to the
matters required in the second section of this act (G. S.,238), shall specify as follows:
The place of beginning, the terminus, and the route, as near as may be, and the pur-
pose for which such flume is intended, and when organized, according to the pro-
visions of this act, said company shall have the right of way over the line proposed in
such certificate for such ſlume, provided it does not conflict with the rights of any
former fluming, ditching, or other company. (Sec. 279, 80, p. 173, G. L., 316).
ACT To REGUIATE RATES, ETC., 1887.
SECTION 1. The county commissioners of each county shall, at their regular sessions
in each year, and at such other sessions as they, in their discretion, may deem proper,
in view of the irrigation and harvesting Season and the convenience of all parties
interested, hear and consider all applications which may be made to them by any
party or parties interested either in furnishing and delivering for compensation in any
manner, or in procuring for such compensation water for irrigation, mining, milling,
manufacturing, or domestic purposes from any ditch, canal, conduit, or reservoir,
the whole or any part of which shall lie in Such county; which application shall be
supported by such affidavits as the applicant or applicants may present, showing rea-
sonable cause for such board of county commissioners to proceed to fix the rate of
compensation for water to be thereafter delivered from such ditch, canal, conduit, or
reservoir within such county.
SEC. 2. Every such board of commissioners shall, upon examination of such affi-
davit or affidavits, or from the oaths of witnesses in addition, thereto, if they find
that the facts sworn to show the application to be in good faith and that there are
reasonable grounds to believe that unjust rates of compensation are, or are likely to
be, charged or demanded for water from such ditch, canal, conduit, or reservoir,
shall enter an order fixing a day not sooner than twenty days thereafter, nor later
than the third day of the next regular session of their board, when they will hear all
parties interested in such ditch or water works as aforesaid, or in procuring water
therefrom for any of the said uses, as well as all documentary or oral evidence or
depositions, taken according to law, touching the said ditch or other work as afore-
said, and the cost of furnishing water therefrom.
SEC. 3. At the time so ſixed all persons interested as aforesaid on either side of
the controversy, or in lands which may be irrigated from such ditch or other work
aforesaid, may appear by themselves, their agents, or attorneys, and said commis-
sioners shall then proceed to take action in the matter of fixing such rates of com-
pensation for the delivery of water: Provided, The applicant or applicants—if the ap-
plication be made by a party. Or parties as aforesaid, desirous Of procuring water—
shall, within ten days from the time of entering the said order fixing the hearing,
cause a copy of such order, duly certified, to be delivered to the owner or owners of
such ditch, canal, conduit, or reservoir, or to the president, secretary, or treasurer of
the company, if it be owned by a corporation or association having such officers. If
any such owner can not be found, a copy shall be left at his usual place of abode,
with some person residing there, over twelve years of age, and if such officer of any
corporation or association can not be ſound, such cºpy shall be left at the usual place
of business of the company of which he is such officer, or at his residence, if such
company have no place of business, and if such ditch, or other work aforesaid shall
be owned by several owners, not being an incorporated company, it shall be suffi-
cient to serve such notice by delivering one copy each to a majority of them. If the
applicant be the owner or party controlling such, ditch, Qūnal, conduit, or reservoir,
sićh notice shall be given by causing printed copies of such order, in hand-bill form,
in conspicuous type, to be posted securely in ten or more ºblic places throughout
the district watered from such ditch or other work aforesaid—if the water be used
GENERAL IRRIGATION LAWS OF COLORADO. 211
for irrigation—and one copy shall be posted for every mile in length of such ditch;
but if such ditch or other work be for the supply of water for milling or mining, it
shall be sufficient to serve such copy on the parties then taking water therefrom. The
person or pººl. making such service or posting such printed copies shall make
affidavit of the manner in which the same has been done, which affidavit shall be
filed with the said board of county commissioners. Depositions mentioned in section 2
hereof, to be used before said commissioners, shall be taken before any officer in the
State authorized by law to take depositions, upon reasonable notice being given to
the opposite party of the time and place of taking the same.
SEC. 4. Said board of commissioners may adjourn or postpone any hearing from
time to time, as may be found necessary, or for the convenience of parties, or of public
business; and they shall hear and examine all legal testimony or proofs offered by
any party interested as aforesaid, as well concerning the original cost and present
value of works and structure of such ditch, canal, conduit, or reservoir, as the cost
and expense of maintaining and operating the same, and all matters which may
affect the establishing of a reasonable maximum rate of compensation for water to be
furnished and delivered therefrom ; and they may issue subpoenas for witnesses,
which subpoenas shall be served by the sheriff of the county, who shall receive the
lawful fees for all such service; and said board may also issue a subpoena for the pro-
duction of all books and papers required for evidence before them. Upon hearing
and considering all the evidence and facts and matters involved in the case said
board of commissioners shall enter an order describing the ditch, canal, conduit, res-
ervoir, or other work in question with Sufficient certainty, and fixing a just and rea-
sonable rate of compensation for water to be thereafter delivered from such ditch or
other work as last aforesaid within the county in which such commissioners act;
and such rate shall not be changed within two years from the time when they shali
be so fixed, unless upon good cause shown. The district court of the proper county,
or the judge thereof in vacation, may, in case of refusal to obey the subpoena of the
board of county commissioners, compel obedience thereto, or punish for refusal to
obey, after hearing, as in cases of attachment for contempt of such district court.
Sitc. 5, Dvery person who shall swear or affirm falsely in any matter or testify
falsely after being duly sworn or having affirmed as a witness in any proceeding pro-
vided for in this act shall be deemed guilty of perjury, and on conviction shall be
punished accordingly. &
SEC. 6. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed;
but such repeal shall not work any interference with any proceeding by any board of
county commissioners now pending, saving that any such proceeding may, at the re-
quest of either party, be carried on to completion under the provisions hereof.
ACT To PREVENT Extortion, ETC., 1887.
SEC. 1. It shall not be lawful for any person owning or controlling, or claiming to
own or control, any ditch, canal, or reservoir carrying or storing, or designed for the
carrying or storing, of any water taken from any natural stream or lake within this
State to be furnished or delivered for compensation for irrigation, mining, milling, or
domestic purposes to persons not interested in such ownership or control to demand,
bargain for, accept, or receive from any person, who may apply for water for any of
the aforesaid purposes, any money or other valuable thing whatever, or any promise
or agreement therefor, directly or indirectly, as royalty, bonus, or premium, prerequi-
site or condition precedent to the right or privilege of applying or bargaining for or
procuring such water; but such water shall be furnished, carried, and delivered upon
the payment or tender of the charges fixed by the county commissioners of the proper
county, as is or may be provided by law. Any and all moneys, and every valuable
thing or consideration of whatsoever kind which shall be so as aforesaid demanded,
charged, bargained for, accepted, received, or retained contrary to the provisions of
this section shall be deemed and held an additionai and corrupt rate, charge, or con-
sideration for the Water intended to be furnished and delivered therefor, or because
thereof, and wholly extortionate and illegal, and when paid or delivered, or surren-
dered may be recovered back by the party or parties paying, delivering, or surrender-
ing the same from the party to whom or for whose use the same shall have been paid,
delivered, or surrendered, together with all costs of suit, including reasonable fees of
attorneys of plaintiff, by proper action in any Gourt having jurisdiction.
Slºc. 2. Every person, owning or controlling, or claiming to own or control, any
ditch, canal, or reservoir, as is mentioned in the first section of this act, who shall,
after demand in writing made upon him for the supply or delivery of water for irri-
gation, mining, milling, or domestic purposes, to be delivered from the ditch, canal
or reservoir owned, possessed, or controlled by him, and after tender of the lawfui
rate of compensation therefor in lawful money, demand, require, bargain for, accept,
receive, or retain from the party making such application any money or other thin
of value, or any promise or contract or any valuable consideration whatever, as suc
212 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
royalty, bonus, premium, prerequisite, or condition precedent, as is by the provis-
ions of the said first section of this act prohibited, shall be deemed guilty of a mis-
demeanor, and on conviction thereof shall be punished by fine of aot less than one
hundred dollars nor imore than five thousand dollars, or imprisonment for a term of
not less than three months nor more than one year, or both such fine and imprison-
ment, in the discretion of the court. -
SEC. 3. Every person owning or controlling, or claiming to own or control, any
ditch, canal, or reservoir such as is mentioned in the first section of this act, who
shall, after demand in writing made upon him for the supply or delivery of water for
irrigation, mining, milling, or domestic purposes, to be delivered from the ditch,
canal, or reservoir owned, possessed, or controlled by him, and after tender of the
lawful rate of compensation therefor in lawful money, Tefuse to furnish or carry and
deliver from such ditch, canal, or reservoir, any water so applied for, which water
can or may be by use of reasonable diligence in that behalf and within the carrying
or storage capacity of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, be lawfully furnished and de-
livered, without infringement of prior rights, shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished by fine of not less than one
hundred dollars nor more than five thousand dollars, or imprisonment for a term of
not less than three months nor more than one year, or both such fine and imprison-
ment, in the discretion of the court.
SEC. 4. When any corporation, in defiance or by attempted evasion of the provisions
of this act, shall, after tender of the compensation hereinbefore provided for, refuse to
deliver water such as is mentioned in the third section of this act to any person law-
fully entitled to apply therefor, it shall be the duty of the attorney-general, upon
request of the county commissioners of the proper county, or upon his otherwise re-
ceiving due notice thereof, to institute and prosecute to judgment and final determi-
nation proceedings in quo warranto for the forfeiture of the corporate rights, privi-
leges, and franchises of any such corporation so offending, or by mandamus or other
proper proceedings to compel it to its duty in that behalf.
SEC. 5. The word person as used in this act shall include corporations and associa-
tions and the plural as well as the singular number; and every officer of a corporation
or member of an association or co-ownership, and every agent violating any of the
provisions of this act, shall be liable to restore the unlawful consideration extorted,
and be punishable under the penal provisions of this act, the same as if the thing done
in disobedience to its provisions were done for his own sole benefit and advantage.
ACT TO REGULATE WATER COMMISSIONER's BOND, ETC., 1887.
SEC. 1. That section 42 of chapter 57 of the general statutes of the State of Col-
orado, entitled “Irrigation,” the same being general section 1752 thereof, be, and the
same is hereby, amended so as to read as follows:
SEC. 42. There shalj be one water commissioner for each of the above-named districts,
and for each district hereafter formed, who shall be appointed by the governor, to be
selected by him from persons recommended to him by the several boards of county
commissioners of the counties into which water districts may extend, and the water
commissioner so appointed shall, before entering upon his duties, give a good and suf-
ficient bond for the faithful discharge of his duties, with not less than three Sureties,
in a sum not less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars; the
amount of said bond to be fixed by the county Commissioners and approved by the
governor and State engineer. The commissioner so appointed shall hold his office
until his successor is appointed and qualified : Provided, however, That if such water
district, shall be embraced in more than one county, and the Several counties in
which such water district is situated disagree as to the amount of the bond as herein
required of water commissioners, then and in that event the governor shall fix the
amount thereof, with the same effect as though fixed by the county commissioners.
SEC. 2. The governor shall, by like selection and appointment, fill all vacancies
which may be occasioned by death, resignation, or continued absence from the dis-
trict, removal or otherwise. Said county commissioners may, from time to time,
recommend persons to be appointed as above provided, and the governor may at
any time remove any water commissioner, in his discretion.
ACT REGULATING DISTRIBUTION OF WATER, ETC., 1887.
SEC. 1. Every person or company owning or controlling any canal or ditch used for
the purposes of irrigation shall, during the time from April 15 to November 1 in
each year, keep a flow of water therein, so far as may be reasonably practicable for
the purpose of irrigation, sufficient to meet the requirements of all such persons as
are properly entitled to the use of water therefrom to the extent, if necessary; to
which such persons may be entitled to water, and no more: Provided, however, That
SPECIAL IRRIGATION LAWS OF COLORADO. 213
whenever the rivers or public streams or sources from which the water is obtained
are not sufficiently free of ice, or the volume of water therein is too low and inad-
equate for that purpose, then such canal or ditch shall be kept with as full a flow of
water therein as may be practicable, subject, however, to the rights of priorities
from the streams or other sources, as provided by law, and the necessity of cleaning,
repairing, and maintaining the same in good condition.
SEC. 2. The owners or persons in control of any canal or ditch used for irrigating
purposes shall maintain the same in good order and repair, ready to receive water by
April 15 in each year, so far as can be accomplished by the exercise of reasonabée
care and diligence, and shall construct the necessary outlets in the banks of the canal
or ditch for a proper delivery of the water to persons having paid-up shares or who
have purchased rights to the use of the water: Provided, however, That a multiplicity
of outlets in the canal or ditch shall at all times be avoided, so far as the same shall
be reasonably practicable, and the location of the same shall be under the control of
and shall be at the most convenient and practicable points consistent with the pro-
tection and safety of the ditch for the distribution of water among the various claim-
ants thereof, and such location shall be under the control of a superintendent.
SEC. 3. It shall be the duty of those owning or controlling such canals or ditches
to appoint a superintendent, whose duty it shall be to measure the water from such
canal or ditch through the outlets to those entitled thereto, according to his or her
pro Tata share.
SEC. 4. Any superintendent or any person having charge of the said ditch who shall
willfully neglect or refuse to deliver water as in this act provided, or any person or
persons who shall prevent or interfere with the proper delivery of water to the person
or persons having the right thereto, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon con-
viction thereof shall be subject to a fine of not less than ten nor more than one hun-
dred dollars for each offense, or imprisonment not exceeding one month, or by both
such fine and imprisonment, and the money thus collected shall be paid into the gen-
eral fund of the county in which the misdemeanor has been committed, and the owner
or owners of such ditches shall be liable in damages to the person or persons deprived
of the use of the water to which they were entitled, as in this act provided.
SEC. 5. Any water commissioner, or his deputy or assistant, who shall willfully
neglect or refuse, after being called upon in accordance with section 1758 of the gen-
eral statutes of the State, to promptly measure water from the stream or other source
of supply into the irrigating canals or ditches in his district, according to their re-
spective priorities, to the extent to which water may be actually necessary for the
irrigation of lands under such canals or ditches, shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor, and shall be subject to the same penalty as provided in section four of this act.
SEC. 6. In all cases declared misdemeanors by this act, any justice of the peace of
the county in which the offense was committed, may, upon complaint being made as
is now required by law, issue a warrant directed to any proper officer of the county,
for the arrest of any person so charged with any such misdemeanor, and upon the ar.
rest of such person or persons, the justice of the peace before whom such person or
persons may be brought for trial shall hear and determine the cause, and if he find
the accused guilty, shall assess the fine, and if imprisonment be a portion of the sen-
tence, then to fix the term of imprisonment, or both, as provided in section 4 of this
act: Provided, The accused may have a trial by jury, which shall be summoned as in
cases before justices of the peace for assault and battery.
AN ACT FOR APPOINTMENT OF WATER DIVISION SUPERINTENDENTs, 1887.
SEC. 1. That the governor shall appoint a superintendent of irrigation for each of
the water divisions now existing within the State, or which may hereafter be created.
Such superintendents of irrigation to hold office for a period of two years from the date
of their respective appointments, or until their successors may be appointed and quali-
fied. The governor may at any time in his discretion remove said superintendents of
irrigation, or any of them and appoint others in their stead for the remainder of said
term of two years: Provided. That the governor shall not appoint a superintendent of
irrigation in any district [division] until the board of county commissioners of some
one or more of the counties whose territory or any part of whose territory is included
in such water district Ldivision] shall haye, at a meeting regularly called and held,
adopted a resolution requesting such appointment to be made, and have had the same
certified to the governor.
SEC. 2. Said superintendent of irrigation shall have general control over the water
commissioners of the several districts within his division. He shall, under the general
supervision of the State engineer, execute the laws relative to the distribution of water
in ageordance with the rights of priority of appropriation as established by judicial de-
cree, and perform such other functions as may be assigned to him by the State engineer.
SEG, 3. Said superintendent of irrigation shall, in the distribution of water, be gov.
erned by the regulations of this act and acts that are now in force, but, for the better
214 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
J
discharge of his duties, he shall have the authority to make such other regulations to
secure the equal and fair distribution of water, in accordance with the rights ef pri-
ority of appropriation as may in his judgment be needed in his division : Provided,
Such regulations shall not be in violation of any part of this act, or other laws of the
State, but shall be merely supplementary to and necessary to enforce the provisions
of the general laws and amendments thereto.
SEC. 4. Any person, ditch company, or ditch owner who may deem himself injured or
discriminated against by any such order or regulation of such superintendent of ir-
rigation, shall have the right to appeal from the same to the State engineer, by filing
with the State engineer a copy of the order or regulation complained of, and a state-
ment of the manner in which the same injuriously affects the petitioner's interest.
The State engineer shall, after due notice, hear whatever testimony may be brought
forward by the petitioner, either orally or by way of affidavits, and through the su-
perintendent of irrigation shall have power to suspend, amend, or confirm the order
complained of. --
SEC. 5. Said superintendent of irrigation shall commence the discharge of his du-
ties in his division as soon as the first water commissioner in any district within his
division shall be called out, and shall continue to discharge his duties until the last
water commissioner in any district of his division ceases to be needed. Each water
commissioner shall report immediately to the superintendent of irrigation of his di-
vision when he is called out and when he ceases to be needed, and shall, during the
continuance of his duties, be under the control of the superintendent of irrigation of
his division. The superintendent of irrigation shall receive as compensation five dol-
lars per day for every day during which he is employed in the discharge of his duties.
SEC. 6. Within thirty days after the appointment of said superintendent of irriga-
tion, it shall be his duty to give bond to the amount of ten thousand dollars for the
faithful discharge of his duty, said bond to be approved by the board of county com-
missioners of the county wherein said superintendent of irrigation may reside, and
to be filed in the office of the county clerk and recorder of such county.
SEC. 7. Within thirty days after his appointment said superintendent of irrigation
shall send to the clerk of the district court, within his division, of such counties as
have had rendered by the district court of such county, judicial decrees fixing the
priorities of appropriation of water for irrigation purposes for any water district, a
notification of his appointment to such office, and shall request of the said clerk a
certified copy of every decree of the district court establishing priorities of appropria-
tion of water used for irrigation purposes within that district. Thereupon it shall
be the duty of the clerk within ten days after the receipt of such request from said su-
perintendent of irrigation, to prepare a certified copy of all decrees of such district
court establishing priorities of water rights made within that district, under the pro-
visions of the general statutes of the State of Colorado, and transmit the same to the
superintendent of irrigation requesting it. Said superintendent of irrigation shall
then cause to be prepared a book to be entitled “The register of priorities of appro-
priations of water rights for water division No. —, State of Colorado,” within
which he shall enter and preserve such certified copies of decree. Said superintend-
ent of irrigation shall then, from such certified copies of decree, make out a list of all
the ditches, canals, and reservoirs entitled to appropriations of water within his di-
vision, arranging and numbering the same in consecutive order according to the dates
of their respective appropriations within his division, and without regard to the
number such ditches, canals, and reservoirs may bear within their respective Water
districts. Such superintendent of irrigation shall then enter from his register a tab-
ulated statement of all the ditches, canals, and reservoirs in his division, whose prior-
ities have been decreed, which statement shall contain the following information
concerning each ditch, canal, and reservoir, arranged in separate columns: The name
of the ditch, canal, or reservoir, its number in his division, the district in which it is
situated, the number of it in its proper district, and the number of cubic feet of water
per second to which it is entitled, and such other and further information as he may
deem useful to the proper discharge of his duty. In case any decrees of court estab-
lishing priorities of appropriation of water for irrigation purposes are made after the
transmittal of the copy of previous decrees to the superintendent of irrigation, it
shall be the duty of the clerk of the court wherein such degree is rendered to trans-
mit to the superintendent of irrigation of the division within which such county, is
situated, within ten days after it is rendered, a copy of such degree, and the superin;
tendent of irrigation shall enter the same in his register. Such register to be filed
and kept in the office of the State engineer. º
SEc. 8. Said superintendent of irrigation shall have the right to call out any water
commissioner of any water district within his division at any time he may deem it
necessary, and he shall have the power to perform the regular duties of water commis-
sioner in all the districts within his division. W &
SEc. 9. All water commissioners shall make reports to the superintendent of irriga-
tion of their division as often as may be deemed necessary by said superintendent,
SPECIAL IRRIGATION IAWS OF COLORDO. 215
Said reports shall contain the following information: The amount of water necessary
to supply all the ditches, canals, and reservoirs of that district; the amount of water
actually coming into the district to supply such ditches, canals, and reservoirs ;
whether such supply is on the increase or decrease; what ditches, canals, and reser-
voirs are at that time without their proper supply; the probability as to what the
supply will be during the period before the next réport will be required; and such
other and further information as the superintendent of irrigation of that division may
suggest. Said superintendent of irrigation shall carefully file and preserve such re-
ports, and shall from them ascertain what ditches, canals, and reservoirs are, and
what are not, receiving their proper supply of water, and if it shall appear that in
any district in that division any ditch, canal, or reservoir is receiving water whose
priority post-dates that of the ditch, canal, or reservoir in another district, as ascer-
tained from his register, he shall at once order such post-dated ditch, canal, or reser-
voir shut down and the water given to the elder ditch, canal, or reservoir. His orders
being directed at all times to the enforcement of priority of appropriation, according
to his tabulated statement of priorities, to the whole division, and without regard to
the district within which the ditches, canals, and reservoirs may be located. The
reports of water commissioners, by the superintendent of irrigation, shall be filed and
kept in the office of the State engineer.
SEC. 10. In case any ditch, canal or reservoir, in any district within such superin-
tendent of irrigation's division, shall fail to receive its regular supply of water, the
owner of such ditch, canal or reservoir may report such fact to the water commis-
sioner of that district, who shall immediately apportion the water in his district, and
send forthwººth, by telegram if necessary, a report of such fact to the superintendent
of irrigatioh of his division; and thereupon it shall be the duty of the superintendent
to compare such report with his register, and if any ditch, canal or reservoir of any
other district of his division is receiving water to which any ditch, canal or reservoir
of any other district is entitled, he shall at once order the shutting down of the post-
dated ditches, canals or reservoirs, and the water given to the ditches, canals or
reservoirs having the priority of appropriation : Provided, however, That nothing in
this act shall be construed as interfering with the priority of water for domestic use.
SEC. 11. Such superintendent of irrigation shall, in the discharge of his duties, be
clothed with the powers of justice of the peace, and any person violating his orders
relative to the opening or shutting down of head-gates, or the using of water for irri-
gation purposes, shall be deemed guilty of contempt, and summary punishment may
be inflicted, not exceeding ninety days' imprisonment, or three hundred dollars fine,
or both. ***.
SEC. 12. The expenses and salary of the superintendents of irrigation shall be paid
pro rata by the counties interested, in the same manner as the fees of water commis-
sioners are paid; and the fees of the clerks of the district courts, for services rendered
under the provisions of this act, shall also be paid by the counties interested, upon
the said clerk rendering his account, certified by the district judge, to the boards of
county commissioners of the counties embraced in the water divisions, in case of
which the services have been rendered.
*.
ACT To PROTECT WATER RIGHTs, ETC., 1887.
SEC. 1. That it shall be the duty of every person who is entitled to take water for
irrigation purposes from any ditch, callal, or reservoir to see that he receives no more
water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir through his head-gate or by any ways or
means whatsoever than he is entitled to, and that he shall at all times take every
precaution to prevent more water than he is entitled to coming from such ditch,
canal, or reservoir upon his land.
SEC. 2. That it shall be the duty of every such person taking water from any ditch,
canal, or reservoir to be used for irrigation purposes, on finding that he is receiving
more water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir either through his head-gate or by
means of leaks or by any means whatsoever, immediately to take steps to prevent
his further receiving more water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir than he is enti-
tled to, and if knowingly he permits such extra water to come upon his land from
such ditch, canal, or reservoir and does not immediately notify the owner or owners
of such ditch, or take steps to prevent its further flowing upon his land, he shall be
liable in damages to any person, company, or corporation who may be injured by such
extra appropriation of water for the actual damage sustained by the party aggrieved,
which damages shall be adjudged to be paid together with the costs of suit and a
reasonable attorney's fee io be fixed by the court and taxed with the costs.
, Q
216 IRRIGATION IN eTHE UNITED STATES.
ACT TO SECURE RIGHT of WAY, ETC., 1887.
Be it enacted by the general assembly of the State of Colorado :
SEC. 1. That section two (2) of said act (approved February 11, 1881, being general
Section No. 1720 of the general statutes of the State of Colorado, which is section 10
of chapter 57 of said general statutes, entitled “Irrigation,” be, and the same is
hereby, amended so as to read as follows:
SEC. 2. Every person, association, or corporation hereafter constructing or enlarg—
ing any ditch, canal, or feeder for any ditch or reservoir for irrigation, and taking
Water directly from any natural stream, and of a carrying capacity of more than one
cubic foot of water per second of time, as so constructed or enlarged, shall, within
ninety (90) days after the commencement of such construction or enlargement, file in
the office of the county clerk and recorder of the county in which the head-gate of
such ditch or feeder may be situated, and also in the office of the State hydraulic en-
gineer, a map showing the point of location of such head-gate, the route of such ditch
or canal, or the high-water line of such reservoir or reservoirs, and the route of the
feeder to and ditches or canals from such reservoir or reservoirs; the legal subdivis-
ions of the lands upon which such structures are built or to be built, if on surveyed
lands; the names of the owners of such lands as far as the same are of record in the
office of the county clerk of the county in which they are situated; such courses, dis-
tances, and corners, by reference to legal subdivisions, if on surveyed lands, or to
natural objects if on unsurveyed lands, as will clearly designate the location of such
structures. Upon or attached to such map shall be a statement showing:
First. The point of location of the head-gate above mentioned.
Second. The depth, width, and grade of such ditch, canal, or feeder.
Third. The carrying capacity of such ditch, canal, or feeder, in cubic feet per sec-
Ond of time, and the capacity of such reservoir or reservoirs in cubic feet when filled .
to the high-water mark. ;
Fourth. The time of commencement of work on such structures, which time may
be dated from the commencement of the surveys therefor. In case of an enlargement,
such statement shall also show the matters required in items second, third, and fourth
above, as to the enlargement, and state the increased capacity arising from such en-
largement. If such statement be filed within the time above limited priority of right
of way and water accordingly shall date from the day named as the day of commenc-
ing work; otherwise only from the date of the filing of the same: Provided, That
nothing herein contained shall be taken to dispense with the necessity of due dili-
gence in the prosecution of such structures on the part of the projectors of the same.
Such statement shall be signed by the person, association, or corporation on whose
behalf it is made, and the truth of the matters shown in Srich map and statement
shall be sworn to by some person in whose personal knowledge the truth of the same
shall lie.
DAKOTA IRRIGATION LAWS.
[The Territorial laws have been adopted in both North and South Dakota.]
WATER RIGHTS,
SEC. 2029. Any person or persons, corporation or company, who may have or hold
a title or possessory right or title to any mineral or agricultural lands within the
limits of this Territory shall be entitled to the usual enjoyment of the waters of the
streams or creeks in said Territory for mining, milling, agricultural, or domestic
purposes: Provided, That the right to such use shall not interfere with any prior
right or claim to such waters when the law has been complied with in doing the
necessary work. . * *
SEC. 2030. When any persons, corporation, or company owning or holding land, as
provided in section 2029, shall have no available water facilities upon the same, or
whenever such lands are too far removed from any stream or Creek to so use the
waters thereof as aforesaid, such person or persons, corporation or company shall
have the right of way through and over any tract or piece of land for the purpose of
conducting and conveying said water by means of ditches, dikes, flumes, or canals,
for the purpose aforesaid. - -, - .
SEC. 3031. Such right to dig and construct such ditches, dikes, flumes, and canals
over and across the lands of another shall only extend tº So much digging, cutting,
or excavation as may be necessary for the purposes required.
SEC. 2032. In all controversies respecting rights to "Water under the provisions of
this act the same shall be determined by the date of appropriation as respectively
made by the parties, whether for mining, milling, agricultural, or domestic purposes,
THE TERRITORIAL LAWS OF DAKOTA. 217
SEC.2033. The waters of the streams or creeks of the Territory may be made avail-
able to the full extent of the capacity thereof for mining, milling, agricultural, OT
domestic purposes, without regard to deterioration in quality or diminution in quan-
tity, so that the same do not materially affect or impair the rights of the prior appro-
priator. g • * *
SEC. 2034. Any person or persons, corporation or company, damaging or injuring
the lands or possessions of another by reason of cutting or digging ditches or canals
or erecting flumes as provided by section 2030, the party so committing such injury
; lºgº shall be liable to the party so injured for the actual damage occasioned
thereby.
SEC. 2035. This act shall not be so construed as to impair or in any Way or manner
interfere with the rights of parties to the use of the waters of such streams or Creeks
acquired before the passage of this act: Provided, That all water rights or ditches
that have not been used or worked upon for one year next prior to the passage of this
act shall be deemed abandoned and forfeited and subject to appropriation, anew.
Any person or persons, corporation or company who may dig any ditch or canal, dike,
or flume over or across any public road, trail, or highway, or who use the waters of
such ditch, dike, flume, or canal shall be required to bridge the same and keep the
same in good repair at such crossing or other places where the water from any such
ditch, dikes, flumes, or canals may flow over or in anywise injure any road, trail, or
higº, either by bridges or otherwise. e
EC. 2036. Any person or persons, corporation or company offending against Section
2035, on conviction thereof shall forfeit and pay for every such offense a penalty of
not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than one hundred dollars, to be recovered
with costs of suit in civil action in the name of the Territory of Dakota, before any
court having jurisdiction. One-half of the fine so collected shall be paid into the
county treasury of the county in which the offense was committed, and the other
half shall be paid to the person or persons informing the nearest magistrate that
such offense has been committed. All such fines and costs shall be collected without
stay of execution, and such defendant or defendants may by order of the court be con-
fined in the county jail until such fine and costs have been paid.
SEC. 2037. Any person or persons, corporation or company appropriating the Waters
of any streams or creeks in this Territory shall turn the water from the channel of
such creek or stream, and construct at least twenty feet of ditch or flume, within
thirty days from the date of appropriation, and turn the water therein; and construct
at least twenty rods of said ditch or flume, if needed, within six months from the
date of such appropriation, and turn the water therein; and within twenty days from
the date of location, the locator or locators of such water right shall file a location
certificate thereof with the register of deeds in the proper county within which such
water right is situated; a copy of such certificate shall be posted at or near the head
of such ditch, flume, or canal, and shall contain the name or names of the locators,
the date of location, number of inches of water claimed or appropriated, and the
purpose of the appropriation; and in no case shall the number of inches of water
claimed exceed the conveying capacity of the first twenty feet of the flume or ditch,
nor shall said ditch or flume be enlarged to the prejudice or injury of a subsequent
appropriator before such enlargement.
SEC. 2038. On failure to commence the construction of such ditch or flume for sixty
days after location, and prosecute such ditch, canal, or flume to final completion with-
out unnecessary delay, such appropriation shall be deemed abandoned.
}
SERVITUDES.
SEC. 2760. The following land burdens or servitudes upon land may be attached to
other land as incidents or appurtenances, and are then called easements:
+& +& $ # * º *
4. The right of way.
5. The right of taking water, etc.
* * 35. * {} * *
9. The right of receiving water from or discharging the same upon land.
10. The right of flooding land.
11. The right of having water flow without diminution or disturbance of any kind.
RIGHTS AND OBLIGATION OF OWNERS.
SEC, 2771. The owner of land owns water standing thereon or flowing over or
under its surface, but not forming a definite stream. Water running in a definite
stream, formed by nature over or under the surface, may be used by him as long as it
remains there; but he may not prevent the natural flow of the stream, or of the
natural spring from which it commences its course, nor pursue nor pollute the same,
218 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
ARTESIAN WELLS.
SECTION 1... [Commissioner created.] That for the purpose of carrying into effect the
provisions of this act, the judge of probate of each county shall be ex officio county
artesian well commissioner, which office is hereby created.
SEC, 2. [Application by ten resident freeholders..] Before the artesian well commis-
Sioner shall take any action toward creating or establishing any artesian well, there
shall be filed with him an application, signed by not less than ten resident freehold-
ers of any tewnship or townships in which such artesian well and the lands to be
benefited thereby and to be assessed therefor may be situated, giving a description
of the place where said well is proposed to be located, and also a definite description
of the beginning, the route, and the terminus of the water-way through which it is
proposed that the water from such well shall flow when the same is completed and
in operation, and offering the right of way for said well and such water-way through
their said land, and who shall be subject to direct assessment therefor.
SEC. 3. [Appointment of viewers—duties.] At the expiration of twenty days after
the filing of such application the said commissioners shall appoint three disinterested
perSons as viewers who shall without unnecessary delay proceed to personally ex-
amine the place where said well is to be located and the course, route, and terminus
of Said proposed water-way, and shall ascertain whether said location of such well
and establishment of said water-way is practicable and necessary and beneficial to the
public Welfare of the district in which the same is proposed to be located, and shall
report the result of such investigations in writing to said well commissioner, having
first been duly sworn to faithfully and impartially discharge their duties as such
viewers. If any person upon whose land the proposed well is located, or through
whose land any water-way therefrom may pass, shall have filed any protest against
the location of said proposed well and water-way, prior to the appointment of said
viewers, they shall assess the damages, if any, which such person may sustain from
the location of such well or said water-ways through his land, and shall report said
damages with the report of their proceedings made as heretofore provided.
SEC. 4. [Report when damages assessed.] If a majority of the viewers assess and
report damages in favor of any person protesting against the location of such well
or its water-ways, their report shall be presented to the board of county commis-
Sioners of said county, and if said board shall consider the proposed well of sufficient
importance to the public they shall order the costs and damages to be paid out of the
county treasury; but if a majority report against the claims for damages of such
person he shall be liable for the costs of such appraisement.
SEC. 5. [Power of county commissioners.] If it shall be made to appear to the board
of county commissioners that the damages assessed are unreasonable they may set
aside such assessment, and in such case the artesian-well commissioner may order
another appraisement by different persons, under the same regulations as provided
in the first appraisement.
SEC. 6. [Appeal to district court.] Any person aggrieved by any decision of any
board of commissioners had under this chapter may appeal therefrom to the district
court, the same as provided relating to highways, bridges, and ferries. (Section 29,
chapter 29, Political Code, 1217 General Laws.)
SEC. 7. [Fee of viewers..] The viewers appointed under the provisions of section 3
of this act shall receive the sum of two dollars per day for their services as desribed
in said section, to be paid by the persons who signed the application for said well,
who shall be severally liable to pay the same.
SEC. 8. [Survey after favorable report—plat filed.] If the viewers make and file a
written report with said commissioners recommending said location and route as
practicable, Inecessary, and beneficial the commissioners shall cause a survey and
measurement of the location of said well and the line of the proposed water-way to
be made by the county Surveyor, and a plat thereof shall be filed in the office of the
register of deeds of said county, and be subject to public inspection, and shall show
tºg location of the well and the lines and route of the water-way therefrom.
EC. 9. [Order of location by commissioner—damages.j Upon the filing of the plat
and the minutes of said survey as provided in said section 5, the said commissioner
shall make an order in writing in which he shall declare said well and said water.
ways therefrom to be located in accordance with said plat and survey: Provided,
That in cases where damages have been appraised and assessed, the same shall first
be paid to the person entitled thereto, or paid into the county treasury for their use,
before such lands shall be actually taken.
SEC, 10. [Railway'8 contribution to water-way—penalty—collection.] Whenever it is
necessary to construct a water-way from any artesian well across the right of way or
road-bed of any railroad company it shall be the duty of the railroad, when notified
by the commissioners to do so, to make and maintain the necessary opening through
said road-bed, and to build and maintain a suitable culvert. Notice in writing to
make such opening and to construct such culvert may be served on such company as
TEIE PROVISION IN DAKOTA STATUTES. 219
provided in the service of simmons, at least thirty days before such railroad company
shall become liable. * >
In case such railroad company shall refuse or neglect to comply with the provisions
of this section, it shall be liable to a penalty of ten dollars for each day's refusal or
neglect to make such opening and construct such culvert. The district attorney of
the county in which such railroad company shall have refused or neglected to com-
ply with the provisions of this section, shall upon complaint being made by the ar-
tesian-well commissioner bring suit to collect such penalty or fines, and it shall be
his duty to prosecute the same to a final determinatin in any court having competent
jurisdiction.
SEC. 11. [Duty of road overseers, etc.] All that part of such artesian well or arte-
sian-well water-course, which is laid and constructed within the limits of or across
any public highway shall be under the jurisdiction of the overseer of public highways
or road supervisors, and it shall be his duty to keep the same open and free from all
obstructions, and when any highway is subsequently constructed along or across
such artesian-well water-way then so much thereof as shall come within the limits of
such highway shall also be kept open and free from obstructions as above provided.
SEC. 12. [Name of well.] In his order locating any well under the provisions of
this act the artesian-well commissioner shall give the same a name by which it shall
be known and recorded. tº
SEC. 13. [Advertise for bids for construction—contract—security.] After inaking said
order locating said well and the water-ways thereof, the artesian-well commissioner
shall proceed to advertise for bids for contracts for sinking or making such well, and
constructing said water-ways. He shall give not less than sixty days' Inotice of the
time and place where such bids may be offered and opened, by causing a notice.
thereof to be published, not less than eight weekly insertions, in the official paper
of said county, such bids shall be filed with the county clerk of said county by the
parties making the same, and shall be taken subject to the approval of the board of
county commissioners of said county. No contract made by the artesian well com-
missioner shall be valid unless approved by the board of county commissioners of
such county, and their approval indorsed thereon by the chairman of said board.
The artesian well commissioner shall contract with the lowest responsible bidder
giving adequate security for the performance of the work. t
Such security shall cover the completion of the job in the manner and within the
time fixed in the contract, and the amount thereof shall be fixed by said artesian-
well commissioner. Said commissioner shall reserve the right to reject any and all
bids, and may adjourn the time for receiving such bids from time to time by publish-
ing a notice of such adjournment, but not in all more than sixty days from and after
the time named in the first advertisement for receiving such bids. The contract for
sinking the well may be separate from the contract for constructing the water-ways,
and may be let to different persons. Whenever any such artesian well shall have
been fully completed and final report thereof made by the well commissioner to the
board of county commissioners, the said board shall turn over the control and man-
º of said well and appurtenances to the board of supervisors of the township
wherein said well is situated. w
SEC. 14. [Board of assessment—meetings.]—Immediately after making his order
locating said well, the artesian-well commissioner shall notify the chairman of the
board of county commissioners and the county treasurer of said county, who shall,
together with said well commissioner, constitute a board of assessment herein. The
county clerk of said county shall be the clerk of said board of assessment. The
members of said board shall meet within twenty days after receiving said notice,
. ºny adjourn from day to day until their duties are performed as hereinafter set
orth.
SEC. 15. [Mode of assessment and apportionment—tax collection.]—The said board of
assessment, shall make an estimate of the costs of constructing said artesian well
and the said water-ways, for the purpose of raising the funds necessary for the con-
ºrion of Said well. They shall have power to apportion the costs thereof as fol-
OWS :
(1) They shall create a county fund to be known as the artesian well fund, and
may levy an assessment upon all taxable property in said county, not exceeding two
mills on the dollar, and the basis of value upon which the annual levy of the current
or preceding year was made: Provided, That not more than one-tenth of the cost of
any artesian well, or water-ways therefrom, shall be paid out of said fund, and the
amount so paid shall be applied to the payment of the expenses and per diem of
the well commissioners, the viewers, surveyors, members of the board of assessment,
damages for right of way, and other like incidental expenses.
(2) They shall determine what portion of the costs of said well and its water-ways
shall be paid by each of the townships in which said well or said water-courses there-
from are situated: Provided, That in no case shall the amount apportioned to any
one township exceed one-fourth of the estimated cost of such well and water-ways,
220 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
and the county clerk shall present a statement of such amount to the respective
clerks of such townships if organized; and said board of assessment shall establish
and determine the rate of assessment necessary in such townships to raise the amount
So apportioned to such townships. It shall then be the duty of the officers of such
townships, who have similar duties to perform in other matters of township revenue,
to levy, and they are hereby empowered to levy, an assessment upon the taxablé
property of Said township, not exceeding the rate fixed by the board of assessment
for such township, which shall be placed upon the tax list under the head of “General
township tax for artesian well purposes,” and collected as other township taxes
are collected, and shall be held by the county treasurer when collected as a distinct
fund to be disbursed, as hereinafter provided, to pay for constructing such well.
(3) In addition to the foregoing general township and county assessments, the said
board of assessment shall also make a special assessment against each piece and par-
çel of land directly benefited by said well and said water-courses, carefully adjust-
ing the per cent. and amount of such assessments with reference to the relative dis-
tance of such lands from the well itself and the water-courses, and the amounts so
apportioned shall be levied as a special tax upon said land, and shall be placed upon
the tax list by the county clerk or auditor under the head of “Direct tax for artesian
Well,” and shall be paid into the county treasury as other taxes, and kept by said
treasurer in a special fund to pay for the cost of constructing said well and said water-
Ways ; Said assessment shall be for a sufficient amount with the general county and
township tax aforesaid to pay for said well and water-ways. º
SEC. 16. [Annual installments.]—Said board of assessment may provide that the
entire amount necessary to pay for the construction of said well and water-courses
be levied and collected as above in one year, or they may divide the same into two,
three, four, or five equal installments, one of which shall be collected the first year,
and one installment each year following, provided that the portion designated as
county and township tax shall all be collected the first year.
SEC. 17. [Review of assessment—appeal. I-The owner of any lands directly assessed
for the construction of any artesian well under the provisions of this act, who may
feel aggrieved by such assessment, may at any time before such tax becomes delin-
quent appear before the board of county commissioners of the county in which such
assessment was made, and ask to have said assessment as to his property reviewed,
and said board shall have the right to raise or lower his assessment, so as to make it
just and reasonable, and an appeal may be taken from the action of said board as in
other cases.
SEC. 18. [Disqualifications by interest-vacancy—how filled.] No member of any county
board, and no county officer, whose lands have been directly assessed under this act,
shall act on the board of assessment. In case any member of such board is so dis-
Qualified, his place shall be filled by calling in the sheriff of said county, or, if said
sheriff is so disqualified, the county coroner may act on said board.
SEC. 19. [Benefits—principle of assessment. T All assessments of benefits under the
provisions of this act shall be upon the principle of benefits derived. All descriptions
of land under the provisions of this act shall be made by giving the legal subdivision
thereof whenever practicable, and when the tract of land which is to be benefited
or affected by such well is less than such legal subdivision it may be described by
designation of the lot or other boundaries, or in some way by which it may be known.
SEC. 20. [Additional assessment, J Whenever the amount assessed for the construc-
tion of any well shall not be sufficient to complete the same, and to pay all the costs
and incidental expenses, a further assessment shall be made to meet the deficit or ad-
ditional expense. Such further assessment shall be apportioned, assessed, levied,
and collected as provided in the first instance, and on the same percentage, and shall
be collected in one year.
SEC. 21. [Enrollment of tax by clerk. It shall be the duty of the county clerk to
spread on his roll the total amount of all the well taxes determined upon by the board
of assessment, to be assessed upon any township at large, as a part of the township
tax for the year, and he shall also spread upon said roll separately, and immediately
following the other descriptions, all tracts or parcels of land specially assessed for
benefits, and shall place opposite each description the amount of taxes apportioned
thereon for such benefits. All wells shall be entered separately, naming each well.
SEC, 22. [ Collection—mode of..] All taxes assessed under the provisions of this act
shall be collected in the same manner as Territorial and other general taxes are col-
lected, and collecting officers are hereby vested with the same power and authority
in the collection of such taxes as are or may be conferred by law for collecting gen-
eral taxes. All taxes levied under the provisions of this act, with all lawful costs,
interests, and charges, shall be and remain a perpetual lien upon the lands upon
which they are assessed, and a personal claim against the owner or owners of such
lands until they are paid. º º
SEC. 23. [Sale for delinquency.] If the taxes levied for the construction of any well
are not paid to the county treasurer as provided herein, he shall proceed to sell the
THE water LAws of DAKOTA AND IDAHO 221
said lands for such taxes, at the same time and in the same manner in every respect,
as in the case of any other tax and with like effect.
SEC. 24. [Compensation of officer8.J. The artesian-well commissioner and the mem-
bers of the board of assessment herein provided for shall receive for their services a
sum not to exceed three dollars per day for each day actually and necessarily spent
by them in the discharge of their respective duties as hereinbefore described. All
expenses, except on contract for constructing said well or such water-courses, shall
be paid out of the general fund of the county on the order of the board of county
commissioners, as other claims against the county are paid; said fund to be re-
imbursed out of the first money collected under the provisions of subdivision 1 of
section 15 of this act. -
SEC. 25. [Blanks drawn by attorney-general.] It shall be the duty of the attorney-
general to draught a complete set of all the blank forms that may be required under
this act, and county clerks are authorized, and it shall be their duty, to procure at
the expense of their respective counties the necessary books and blanks to carry out
the provisions of this act.
SEC. 26. [Mode of payment to contractor.] No payment shall be made to any person
contracting to construct or sink an artesian well or any water-course therefrom under
the provisions of this act except as follows: One-third of the amount to be paid for
the entire performance of the contract may be paid when one-third of said work is
done; one-third of said amount may be paid when two-thirds of said work is com-
pleted; but the balance of said amount shall not be paid until said contract has been
fully completed and the work accepted and approved by the artesian-well commis-
sioner. The said payments shall be made in the following manner: The contractor
shall make a statement of the amount claimed by him to be due under his contract,
and if the same is correct it shall be approved by the artesian-well commissioner, whose
duty it shall be to carefully examine the work done under said contract; said claim
so approved shall be presented to the board of county commissioners, and if correct,
they shall issue county orders or warrants upon the well funds of each particular well,
naming it: Provided, That if the assessment of taxes for such well has been divided
into installments, as provided in this act, said board shall Inot issue orders payable in
any one year for a larger amount than the said installment for that year, but shall
draw as near as may be to the exact amount of such installment. When such orders
or warrants are presented to the county treasurer for payment, if he has not yet re-
ceived sufficient funds to pay the same, then such orders may be indorsed and regis-
tered as other county warrants under the general law, and shall bear the same rate of
interest as other warrants.
SEC. 27. [I]escription of assessed lands filed with register—lien...] The clerk of the board
of assessment provided for in this act shall make a statement of the direct assessment
for benefits made against the several pieces and parcels of lands, giving a description
of such lands, the amount of the direct assessment against each piece or parcel, the
name of the well for which the assessment was made, and shall file the same with the
register of deeds of said county, and the same shall thereafter be a lien upon said
lands to Secure the payment of any orders or warrants issued as herein provided;
which lien may be foreclosed by the bolder of such warrants or orders, and shall be
prior to all other liens except for taxes.
SEC. 28. [Water-course unobstructed, duty of overseer of highways.] It is hereby made
the duty of every person through whose land any water-course constructed under this
act may pass to keep the same open and unobstructed. On failure so to do, any person
aggrieved may complain to the overseer of highways in the district where such water-
course is situated, and such overseer shall have the authority, and it is hereby made
his duty, to call out the persons residing in said district who are liable for road tax,
and open said water-way, and the expense thereof shall be entered by the county
clerk as a tax against said land.
SEC. 29. [Repeal...] All laws heretofore enacted on the subject of artesian wells are
hereby repealed: Provided, That all proceedings heretofore had and all contracts
made under the provisions of existing laws on the subject of artesian wells are hereby
º to be valid and may be continued and completed under the provisions of
is act. º
SEC. 30. [Effect whem.] This act shall take effect on the 1st day of July, 1889.
Approved March 8, 1889.
IDAHO IRRIGATION LAWS.
The general laws of Idaho, 1881, in an act regulating rights to the use of water for
mining, agricultural, manufacturing, and other purposes, contain the following pro-
visions, and which have been adopted as part of the State laws:
SECTION 1. The right to the use of water flowing in a river, creek, caſion, ravine,
or other stream may be acquired by appropriation, and as between appropriations
priority in time shall secure the priority of right.
222 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
4
SEC. 2. The appropriation must be in good faith, for some useful and beneficial
purpose, and when once perfected, may be converted or changed to any other bene-
ficial use than that originally designated or for which it may have been employed.
SEC. 3 The appropriator, or his or their successors in interest, may change the
place of diversion, if the rights acquired by others are not interfered with, and no
injury to others results therefrom, and may also extend any ditch, canal, ſlume, pipe,
or other conduit to points or places beyond such as may have accrued prior to such
extension.
SEC. 4. A person, company, or corporation desiring to appropriate water must post
a notice in Writing in a conspicuous place, at the point of intended diversion, stating—
First, the quantity of water intended to be claimed and diverted, giving the num-
ber of inches, measured under a 4-inch pressure, and accurately describing the point
of its diversion.
Second, the purpose for which the same is claimed or intended to be used, and the
point or place of such intended use.
Third, the means which are designed to be employed for diverting and conducting-
the waters, and the size or dimensions of the ditch, canal, pipe, flume, or other con-
duit. A copy of the notice, within the time allowed for a mining claim, must be
furnished to the county officer for record.
SEC. 5. Within sixty days after the notice is posted the claimant or his or their suc-
cessors in interest must commence the making, digging, or constructing of the ditch,
canal, flume, or other conduit, the work for the complete diversion and conducting
of the water shall be prosecuted diligently and without unnecessary interruption:
Provided, That when the work can not be carried on by reason of unavoidable natural
causes, such as the State of the Weather or action of the elements, this section shall
not be applicable.
SEC. 6. By “complete diversion” is meant the conducting of the water claimed to
the place of intended use, or to such other place as may have been adopted, and an
actual beneficial use made. sº *
SEC. 7. By compliance with the above conditions and requirements the appropria-
tion is perfected, and the right to the use of the waters claimed, which the ditch,
canal, flume, or other conduit is capable of conducting, is declared to relate back to
the time of the posting of notice of claim: Provided, That nothing contained in this
section shall be so construed as to ronder any person or party liable to damages or to
make compensation to any appropriator for any waters used prior to the time of a
“complete diversion.”
SEC. 8. All ditches, canals, and other Works heretofore made, constructed, or pro-
vided, and by the means of which the waters of any stream have been diverted and
applied to any beneficial use, shall be taken to have secured the right to the waters
claimed to the extent of the quantity which the works are capable of conducting,
and not exceeding the quantity claimed, without regard to or in compliance wit
the requirements of this act.
SEC. 9. In case where any person, company, or corporation have heretofore made
claim to divert the waters of any stream and the same has not been forfeited or
abandoned, and have not cut, excavated, made, or constructed the necessary ditch,
canal, flume, or other conduit to carry such waters and apply the same to a beneficial
use, such claimant must, within four months from and after the date of the approval
of this act, commence work in pursuance with the requirements, and carry the same
to completion, or at the expiration of the time or upon failure to prosecute the work
in the manner required, the claim shall cease to be of any validity as to the founda-
tion of a right to the waters of any stream.
SEC. 10. All persons, companies, and corporations owning or claiming any lands
situated on the banks or in the vicinity of any stream shall be entitled to the use of
the waters for the purpose of irrigating the land. So held or claimed.
SEC. 11. Whenever any such owner or claimant to land has not sufficient length of
frontage on a stream to afford the requisite fall for a ditch, canal, or other conduit in
his own premises, or where the land proposed to be irrigated is back from the banks
of tho stream and convenient facilities for watering the land can not be had, the
owner or claimant shall be entitled to the right of way through the lands of others for
the purposes of irrigation: Provided, That in making, constructing, keeping up, and
maintenance of the ditch, canal, or conduit through the lands of others, the person,
company, or corporation and those succeeding to the interest of the same shall keep
the ditch, canal, or other conduit in good repair, and shall also be liable to the own-
ers or claimants of the lands crossed for all damages which may be occasioned by an
overſlow or result from any neglect or accident (unless the same be unavoidable).
SEC. 12. In case of the refusal of the owners or claimants of any lands through
which such ditch, canal, or other works are proposed to be made or constructed, to
allow a passage, the persons, company, or corporation desiring the right of Way may
present a petition to the county commissioners describing the lands to be crossed, the
size of the ditch, canal, or works, the quantity of land required, giving the names of
WATER AND CANALS UNDER LAW IN IDAHO. 223
#he owners or parties interested, and º, for #ppointment of three appraisers to
ascertain the compensation to be made. When the petition is filed the county com-
missioners shall give notice, either by newspaper publication or notices in three pub-
lic places, one the county seat, that the appraisers will be appointed, unless good
cause be shown by the parties adversely interested why the petition should be de-
nied. The notice must be published or posted not less than thirty days prior to the
hearing, and the expense defrayed by the petitioners.
SEC. 13. The appraisers shall impartially hear the proofs and allegations offered
by the respective parties, and, after viewing the lands and premises, shall ascertain
and certify the compensation proper to be paid for the right of way to the parties
owning or interested in the lands to be crossed and the damages, if any, after making
allowance for real or direct benefits which the owner or party interested may desire
from the making of a ditch, canal, or other works. They, or a majority of them,
shall subscribe the certificate, and it shall be recorded in the county recorder's office,
and upon the payment or tender of the compensation and damages, if any, or the
deposit of such amount in the county treasury to the credit of the party or parties
interested, the persons, companies, or corporations shall have the right of way for
the proposed ditch, canal, or other Works.
SEC. 14. All persons, companies, or corporations owning or having the possessory
title or right to lands adjacent to any stream, shall have the right to place in the
channel of or upon the banks or margin of the same, rams or other machines for the
purpose of raising the water to a level above the banks of such heights as may be
requisite for its flow to and upon the lands, and the right of way over and across the
lands of others for conducting the Water may be acquired in the manner heretofore
mentioned.
SEC. 15. Where the owners of auy spring or the appropriators of any stream may
desire to conduct the waters to any lands for irrigation, or to any city or town for
the use of the inhabitants, or to any factory, or to any distant place, with the intent
to apply the same to a beneficial use, and where to accomplish the object it may be
necessary to cross with ditches, flumes, or other conduit the lands owned and occu-
pied by others than the owners or appropriators of the spring or stream, the right
of way over and across the lands of others may be acquired in the manner prescribed
in the preceding section.
SEG, 16. The owners or constructors of ditches, canals, works, or others agueducts,
and their successors in interest, using and employing the same to convey the waters
of any stream or spring, whether the ditches, canals, works, or aqueducts be upon the
lands owned or claimed by them or upon other lands, shall keep and maintain the
same, and the embankments, flumes, or other conduit by which the waters are or may
be conducted, in good repair and condition, so as not to damage or in any way injure
the property or premises of others.
SEC. 17. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as to interfere with or impair the
rights to water appropriated and acquired prior to the passage of this act, but this
reservation in behalf of existing rights shall not exempt such appropriations from lia-
bility as heretofore provided. -
SEC. 18. In case the Volume of water in any stream shall not be sufficient to Sup-
ply continually the wants for irrigating purposes of the owners or proprietors of land
in any district or neighborhood in which customs exist for distributing the waters
amongst such owners or proprietors, the water diverted shall, in such case, be held to
be a common right in those accustomed to a participation in the use and enjoyment of
the distribution, and such custom shall be upheld in all courts as Conferring the com-
mon right in the same : Provided, That this section shall not be construed to affect any
prior wested right.
SEC. 19. In case any person; company, or corporation shall have constructed a ditch
for the purpose of directing the water of any river, creek, cañon, ravine, or spring,
for the purpose of Selling the Water for irrigating purposes, the owners or cultivators
of land along the line of, and govered by, the ditch of canal shall be entitled to, and
have the right to, the use of water for the purpose of irrigating in the following
order: First, all persons through whose land the ditch or canal runs shall be entified
to the use of the Water in the order of their location; second, after those through
whose land the ditch or canal runs, those upon either side of the line of the ditchfor
canal shall be entitled to the use of the water; those equally distant from the line
shall be entitled to priority in the order of their location along the line: Provided al-
ways, That the owners or cultivators of such lands shall pay the usual and customary
rates for the use of the Water, and whenever any ditch or canal has been constructed
for the purpose of conveying Water and selling the same for irrigating purposes it
shall be unlawful for the owner or owners to change the line so as to prevent or inter-
fere with the use of water by any one who, prior to the proposed change, had used
water for irrigating purposes. And it is the duty of the owner or owners to keep the
same in good repair, and to cause the water to flow through to the extent of its ca-
pacity, provided so much may be needed during the entire time that water may be
224 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
necessary for irrigating purposes: And provided further, That the river, creek, cañon,
ravine, or spring from which the water is taken furnishes an amount of water suffi.
cient for such purpose, subject to the appropriation of the owner or owners of the
ditch or canal. For a failure to cause the water to flow, the owner or owners or les-
sees of any such ditch shall be personally liable to any one for any danger resulting
from the failure; and in addition to personal liability the damages shall be a lien
upon the ditch or canal, which shall continue in force until the damages are paid.
No person entitled to the use of water from any such ditch or canal shall, under any
circumstances, use more water than good husbandry shall require for the crop or
crops that he shall cultivate; and any person using an excess of water shall be liable
to the owner or owners for the value of the excess, and, in addition, shall be liable to
all damages sustained by any other person who would have been entitled to the use
of the excess of water.
The General Laws of 1881, in an act regulating the distribution of water for pur-
poses of irrigation, in substance is as follows:
SECTION 1. The inhabitants of any vicinity or neighborhood who use the waters
of any ditch, stream, or spring for the purpose of irrigation, or have or claim a com-
mon right to the same for such purposes, shall constitute a water district, and a ma-
jority of the inhabitants having the common right may annually, on the fourth Mon-
day of March, elect a water-master, whose duties shall be to superintend the distri-
bution of the waters among those having the common right. The water-master shall
file a bond, faithfully to perform his duties, in the sum of $500, with two sufficient
sureties in the county recorder's office of the county wherein the district is situated,
and he shall employ one or more deputies, as authorized by the inhabitants of his
district, and they shall receive such compensation as the inhabitants agree upon.
SEC. 2. The owner or owners of any ditch for the distribution and sale of water
for the purposes of irrigation shall employ a water-master for the distribution of the
water of the ditch to the persons purchasing the same for such purposes, and no ac-
count or demand for the use of the water during any time the water-master is not so
employed shall be valid or collectible.
SEC. 3. The water-master and his deputies shall regulate the distribution of water
among the several ditches of his district and among the several inhabitants entitled
and accustomed to the use according to their respective rights and necessities, and
when the quantity of water is not sufficient to afford a supply to those entitled to it,
the water-master and his deputies shall regulate the quantity to be used by each per-
son and the time at and during which each person may use the same : Provided, That
nothing in this act shall be so construed as to interfere with the individual right of
companies or corporations, or in any manner interfere with the rights of individuals,
companies, or corporations, to the use and control of water which is or may be their
private property.
SEC. 4. Where a ditch is common property, or there is a common right to the use
of the water of a ditch without payment, and any labor or materials are necessary
for the repair or cleaning of the ditch, or any gate or flume on or belonging to it, the
water-master may make a fair pro rata assessment of labor or materials against the
inhabitants of the district claiming the use of such water according to the benefits
received by each, and if any person so assessed shall nº or refuse, for the period
of ten days after notice, to furnish his just proportion of labor or materials, he shall
forfeit all rights to the use of the water from the ditch for the year in which he shall
make such defaults.
SEC. 5. The water-master shall see that there are provided the necessary and proper
head-gates and dams, and that the water is turned and runs into the ditches of his
district at the proper season of the year; and he may require all persons receiving
water to construct proper gates at the points at which they take water from any
ditch, dam, or reservoir; and he shall have such control of the location of ditches
and gates as may be necessary to secure the most equitable distribution of the water
among those entitled to its use: *
SEC 6. Any person who shall, without the consent of the water-master of the dis-
trict, divert any water from the ditch or channel where it was placed or caused or
left to run by the water-master and his deputies, or who shall shut or open any ditch,
gate, or dam with intent so to divert any water, and thereby deprive any person of
the use of the same during any part of the time he is entitled to it, or who shall cut
any ditch or the banks thereof, or break, or destroy any gate or flume, shall be fined
not less than five nor more than twenty dollars, and shall be liable to any person in-
jured in three times the actual damage sustained.
IN KANSAS.
Irrigation companies have the right of way through any lands or lots, and, with the
consent of the municipal authorities, through any street, alley, or public ground of
any city of the second or third class, and may use as much water as is necessary for
the purpose for which they were organized, but no injury shall result to milling or
THE WATER LAWS OF KANSAS AND MONTANA. 225
other improvements already constructed, Any such company may sell or lease any
portion of its water, transmit power by shafting, etc., borrow money necessary for
completing and operating its works, issue bonds therefor, and mortgage the company
property as security, enter upon any property for the purpose of making surveys, hold
voluntary grants made in aid of the construction and maintenance of the works, con-
struct a canal not more than 50 feet wide, and furnish water at such rates as its by-
laws may prescribe.
Any person or company furnishing water to irrigate any land shall have a lien for
payment npon the crops grown thereon.
Any person wilfully injuring any irrigating canal, the right of way having been
secured, is guilty of a misdemeanor and may be punished by fine or imprisonment.
MONTANA IRRIGATION LAWS. *
Revised Statutes, 1879, in the fifth division of general laws, Chapter XV, on cor-
porations for industrial or productive purposes, Article I, contains provisions in sub-
stance as follows: $
SIBC. 271. Whenever any three or four persons form a company for constructing a
ditch for the purpose of conveying water to mines, mills, or lands, for the use of min-
ing, milling, or irrigation of lands, they shall in their certificate specify as follows:
The stream or streams from which the water is taken ; the point or place on said
stream at or near which the water is to be taken out ; the line of said ditch, as near
as may be, and the use to which the water is intended to be applied. For other de-
tails of certification see section 244.
SEg. 272. Any ditch company shall have the right of way over the line named in
the certificate, and the right to run the water of the stream or streams through their
ditch: Provided, That the proposed line shall not interfere with any other ditch whose
rights are prior; the water of any stream shall not be diverted from its original chan-
nel to the detriment of any miners or mill-men or others along the line of the stream
who have priorority of right.
SEC. 273. Any company constructing a ditch shall furnish water in the way and
manner named in the certificate designated to be nsed, whether miners, mill-men, or
farmers, whenever they shall have water in their ditch unsold. They shall give the
preference at all times to this class of persons, the rates for furnishing water to be
fixed by county commissioners or the tribunal transacting county business as soon as
the ditch is completed and prepared to furnish water.
SEC, 274. Every ditch company organized shall keep the banks of their ditch in
good condition, so that the water will not escape and injure any mining claim, road,
ditch, or other property; and whenever it is necessary to convey any ditch over,
across, or above any lode or mining claim the company shall flume the ditch, if neces-
sary, to keep the water out or from any claim, so far as it is necssary to protect the
claim or property from the water of the ditch.
SEC. 275. When any company shall organize to form a company to construct a flume,
their certificate shall, in addition to details required by previous sections, specify as
follows: The place of beginning, termini, and route, as near as may be, and the pur-
pose for which the flume is intended; and when organized, the company shall have
the right of way over the line proposed for the flume, provided it does not conflict
With the right of any former fluming, ditching, or other company.
+& # , $. *} 3 * * ſº
SF.C. 279. Any company formed for the purpose of constructing any ditch or flume
shall commence work within sixty days from the date of their certificate, and shall
prosecute the work with due diligence until the same is completed; the time of com-
pletion shall not extend beyond three years from the time the work was commenced;
and the company failing to commence work within sixty days of the date of certifi.
cate, and failing to complete it within three years of commencement, shall forfeit all
right to the route claimed, and it shall be subject to be claimed by any other com-
full.W. t
SEC. 280. Every corporation formed has power, first, to have succession by its cor-
porate name for the period limited in its certificate of charter; second, to sue and be
sued, complain and defend in any court of law or equity; third, to make and use a
common seal and alter the same at pleasure; fourth, to hold, purchase, and convey
such real and personal estate as the purposes of the corporation may require; fifth,
to appoint such subordinate officers and agents as the business of the corporation
shall require, and to allow them a suitable compensation; sixth, to make by-laws,
not inconsistent. With any existing law, for the management of its property, the regu.
lation of its affairs, and for the transfer of stock: Provided, That no corporation
formed shall own or hold possession of more than six hundred and forty acres of land.
-sº
* Territorial laws adopted by the State.
138 A L–AP WOL IV 15
226 h IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
SEC. 281. The powers enumerated in the preceding sections shall vest i
ration that shall hereafter be created, jº. j may not be º * ź.º:
tificate; but no corporation shall possess or exercise any corporate powers except
such as shall be necessary to the exercise of the powers so enumerated. j
SEC. 282. Willful or malicious damages, or interference with property of any kind
belonging to any company organized, upon conviction before the county court where
the offense is committed, shall be fined not exceeding five hundred dollars, or impris-
oned not exceeding one year, or both, and the offender shall pay all damages the cor-
poration may sustain, together with costs of suit. -
* $ * $4 # iº #
SEC. 285. Whenever any organized company shall not have acquired, by gi
chase, the right of way required for the ... OI’ º, #.
itch, telegraph, or flume, or may be affected by the operations of the same, they may
present a petition to the probate judge of the county, describing the lands required
giving the name and residence of each owner, and praying for the appointment of ap.
praisers. The judge, having evidence that the owners have been notified ten days
previously by publication or notices in some public place in the county, shall appoint
three impartial appraisers, who shall take an oath to perform their duties faithfully.
Two of them shall review the premises, ascertain and certify the proper compensa-
tion to be made, as well as all damages accruing to the owners, after making a just
allowance for the real benefits or advantages which the owners may derive from "the
construction of the road, ditch, telegraph, or flume. They shall file a certificate of
their ascertainment and assessment in the county clerk's office. The probate judge
upon such certificate and proof that compensation has been paid to the parties
entitled to the same, or, deposited to their credit, shall have a certified copy of the
description of the lands and payment or deposit of compensation recorded in the
Tecorder's office of the proper county. The corporation shall have the exclusive right
of all such lands, during the continuance of the corporation, and may take possession
of, hold, and use the same for the purpose of the road, ditch, telegraph, or flume
and shall be discharged from all claims for any damage. If at any time after an act!
ual ascertainment of compensation the title acquired or the assessment should be
deemed defective, the corporation shall proceed and perfect the title by procuring
the assessment of the proper compensation to be made to any person who has an
interest in or lien upon the lands. The probate judge may authorize the corporation
if already in possession, to make payment in the manner hereinafter provided; if not
in possession to take possession of and use the premises until the final conclusion of
the proceedings, and may stay all actions againt the corporation on account thereof:
Provided, That the corporation shall pay a sufficient sum into court, or give approved
security to pay the compensation. When possession shall be so authorized it shall
be lawful for the owners to conduct the proceedings to a conclusion if the same shall
be delayed by the company. d
The substance of Article I, Chapter XXXIII, on rights of persons and corporations
is as follows:
SEC. 731. Any person or persons, corporation or company, who may have or hold a
title or possessory right or title to any agricultural lands as defined by the organic
act shall be entitled to the use and enjoyment of the waters of the streams or creeks .
for the purposes of irrigation, and making the land available for agricultural pur-
poses to the full extent of the soil: Provided, That in all cases where, by virtue of
prior appropriation, any person may have diverted all the water of any stream, or to
such an extent that there shall not be an amount sufficient left for those having a
subsequent right for such purpose of irrigation, and there shall at any time be a sur-
plus so diverted, over and above what is actually used for such purpose by prior ap-
propriation, such person shall be required to turn and cause to flow back the surplus
water, and upon failure to do so, within five days after demand being made upon
him in writing by any person having a right to the use of the surplus water, the per-
son diverting the same shall be liable to the person aggrieved in the sum of twenty-
five dollars for each and every day the water shall be withheld after the notice, to
be recovered by civic action by any person having a right to the use of the surplus
Water.
SEC. 732. When any person or persons, corporation or company, owning or holding
land shall have no available water facilities, and when it is necessary to raise the
waters of the stream or creek to a sufficient height to irrigate the land, or Whenever
the lands are too far removed from the stream or creek to use the Waters, the person
or persons, corporation or company, shall have the right of way through and over
any tract or piece of land for the purpose of conducting and conveyitg the water by
means of ditches, dikes, flumes, or canals.
Sºo. 733. The fight to dig and construct ditches, dikes, flumes, and canals over
and across the lands of another shall only extend to so much digging, cutting, or ex-
cavations as may be necessary for the purposes required.
Spo. 734. In all controversies respecting the rights to water the same shall be de-
termined by the date of the appropriation as respectively made by the parties.
THE LEGAL contROL OF WATER IN MONTANA. 227
SEC. 735. The waters of the streams or creeks may be made available to the full ex-
tent of the capacity for irrigating purposes without regard to deterioration in quality
or diminution of quantity, so that the same does not materially affect or impair the
rights of the prior appropriator; ..but in no case shall the same be diverted or turned
from the ditches or canals of the appropriator so as to render the same unavailable.
SEC. 736. Any person or persons, corporation or company, damaging or injuring the
lands or possessions of another by reason of cutting or digging, ditches or canals, or
erecting flumes, shall be liable to the party so injured,
SEC. 737. This article shall not be so construed as to impair, or in any way or man-
ner interfere with, the rights of parties to such use of the water of streams or creeks
as may have been acquired before its passage. - t
SEC. 738. This article shall not be so construed as to prevent or exclude the appro-
priation of the waters of the streams, or creeks for mining, manufacturing, or other
beneficial purposes, and the right also to appropriate the same is hereby equally
recognized and declared.
SEC.739. Any person or persons, corporation or company, who may dig and construct
ditches, dikes, fluńes, or canals over or across any public roads or highways, or who
may use the waters of the same, shall be required to keep the same in good repair at
such crossings or other places where the water may flow over or in any wise injure
any roads or highways, either by bridging or otherwise. *
SEC. 740. Any person or persons offending against the preceding section on convic-
tion shall pay for every offense not less than $25 nor more than $100, with costs of
suits in civil action; one-half the fine shall be paid for the benefit of the common
Schools of the county, the other half to the person or persons giving the information.
The defendant or defendants may be confined in the county jail until the fine and
the costs are paid.
SEC. 741. In all controversies respecting the rights to water, whether for mining,
manufacturing, agricultural, or other useful purposes, the rights of the parties shall
be determined by the dates of appropriation respectively, with the modifications
heretofore existing under the local laws, rules, or customs, and decisions of the
Supreme Court.
Article II deals with the regulations for the sale of water, and in substance is as
follows:
SEC. 742. Any person or persons, corporation or company, having the right to use,
sell, or dispose of water, and engaged in using, selling, or disposing of the same, who
shall have a surplus not used or sold ; or any person or persons, corporation or com-
pany having a surplus of water, and the right to sell and dispose of the same, shall,
and they or it are hereby required, upon the payment or tender to the person or per.
sons entitled thereto of an amount equal to the usual and customary rates per inch, to
convey and deliver to the persen, or persons, company or corporation, such surplus of
unsold water, or so much for which the payment or tender shall have been made, and
shall continue so to convey and to deliver the same weekly, so long as the surplus of .
unused or unsold water shall exist and the payment or tender be made.
SEC. 743. Any person or persons, corporation or company, shall, at their own cost
and expense, construct or dig the necessary flumes or ditches to receive and convey
the surplus water so desired by it or them, and shall pay or tender to those having a
right to the use, sale, or disposal thereof, an amount equal to the necessary costs and
expense of tapping any gulch, stream, reservoir, ditch, flume, or aqueduct, and put-
ting in gates, gauges, or other proper and necessary appliances, usual and customary
in such cases, and until the same shall be so done the delivery of the surplus water
shall not be required.
SEC. 744. Any person or persons, company or corporation, constructing the neces-
sary ditches, aqueducts, or flumes, and making the payments or tenders, shall be
entitled to the use of so much of the surplus water as the ditches, aqueducts, or
flumes shall have the capacity to carry, and for which payment or tender shall have
been made, with all the rights and privileges incidental thereto, so long as the unsold
or surplus water exists and the payment or tender shall be or have been made, and
may institute and maintain appropriate action, at law or in equity, for the enforce-
ment of such right or recovery of damages arising from a failure to deliver, or wrong-
ful diversion of the same. &
SEC. 745. Nothing in this article shall be so construed as to give the person or per-
sons, corporation or company, acquiring the right to the use of water, as hereinbe-
fore provided, the right to sell or dispose of the same after being so used by it or
them, or prevent the original owner or proprietor from retaking, selling, and dispos-
ing of the same in the usual and customary manner after it is so used. -
hapter XLV, on rights of way for the development of mines, Article IV, in sub-
stance is as follows:
SEC, 886. The proprietor, owner, or owners of mining claims, whether patented
under the laws of the United States or held under the local laws and customs, shall
have a right of Way for ingress and egress, for the necessary purposes, over and across
228 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
the º or mining claims (patented or otherwise) of others, as hereinafter pre-
SCTI. O601.
SEC. 887. Whenever any mine or mining claim shall be so situated that it can not
be conveniently worked without a road thereto, or a ditch to convey the water there-
to, or a ditch or a cut to convey the water therefrom, or without a flume to carry
water and tailings therefrom, or without a shaft or tunnel thereto, which road, ditch,
cut, flume, shaft, or tunnel shall necessarily pass over, under, through, or across any
lands or mining claim owned or occupied by others, either under a patent from the
United States or otherwise, then shall the first-mentioned owner or owners be entitled
to the right of way for the road, ditch, cut, flume, shaft, or tunnel over, under,
through, and across the other lands or mining claims.
SEC. 888. Whenever the owner or owners of any mine or mining claim desire to
work the same successfully, he or they shall have the right of way for the purposes
heretofore mentioned, and if it shall not have been acquired by agreement between
all parties, it shall be lawful for him or them to present a petition to the judge of the
district court of the county, praying that the right of way be awarded to him or
them. The petition shall be verified and contain a deseription of the character and
extent of the right sought, the mine or claim of the petitioner, and the claim or
claims, and the lands to be affected by the right, with the names of the occupants or
owners. It may also set forth any tender or offer hereinafter mentioned, and shall
demand the relief sought.
SEC. 889. Upon the receipt and filing of the petition with the clerk of the court,
the judge shall direct a citation to issue under the seal of the court, to the owners,
named in the petition, of the mining claims and lands to be affected by the proceed-'
ings, requiring each of them to appear before the judge on a day therein named,
which shall not be less than ten days from the service thereof, and show cause why
the right of way should not be allowed. The citation shall be served on each of the
parties in the manner prescribed by law.
SEC. 890. Upon the return day of the citation, or upon any day to which the hearing
shall be adjourned, the judge shall hear the allegations and proofs of the respective
parties, and if he is satisfied that the claims of the petitioner can only be conven-
iently worked by means of the privilege prayed for, he shall make an order adjudg-
ing and awarding the right of way, and shall appoint three commissioners, disin-
terested parties, and residents of the county, to assess the damages resulting to the
lands or claims affected by the order.
SEC. 891. The commissioners shall faithfully and impartially proceed to examine the
premises and shall assess the damages and report the amount to the judge, and if the
right of way shall affect the property of more than one porson or company, the report
shall contain an assessment of damages to each company or person. -
SEC. 892. For good cause shown, the judge may set aside the report of such commis-
sioners and appoint three others, whose duties shall be the same as above mentioned.
SEC. 893. Upon the payment of the sum assessed as damages to the persons to whom
it shall be awarded, or a tender thereof to them, then the person or persons petition-
ing shall be entitled to the right of way, and may immediately proceed to occupy the
same, and to erect such works and structures and make such excavations as may be
necessary to the use and enjoyment of the right. -
SEc. 894. Appeals from the assessment of damages may be made and prosecuted in
the proper district court by any party interested, at any time within ten days after the
filing of the report, and a written notice of the appeal shall be served upon the appel-
lee. The appellant shall file with the clerk of the court a bond, with sureties to be
approved by the clerk, in the amount of the assessment appealed from in favor of the
appellee, conditioned that the appellant shall pay any costs that may be awarded to
the appellee and abide by any judgmentt hat may be rendered in the cause.
SEG. 895. Appeals shall bring before the appellate court only the propriety of the
amount of damages and may be tried by the court or before a jury.
SEc. 896. The prosecution of any appeal shall not hinder, delay, or prevent the ap-
pellee from exercising all the rights and privileges heretofore mentioned: Provided,
That the appellee shall file with the clerk of the court in which the appeal is pending
a bond with sufficient sureties, to be approved by the clerk, in double the amount of
the assessment appealed from, conditioned that the appellee shall pay to the appellant
whatever amount he may recover in the action. te
SEc. 897. If the appellant recover $50 more damages than the commissioners shall
have awarded, or the appellee shall offer to allow judgment against him to be taken,
the appellee shall pay the costs of appeal, otherwise the appellant shall pay such
sts.
“s. 898. The costs and expenses of proceedings, except as herein otherwise pro-
vided, shall be paid by the party making the application : Provided, however, That
if the applicant shall, before the commencement of such proceedings, have tendered
to the parties owning or occupying the lands or mining claims a sum equal to or
more than the amount of damages recovered by the defendant or defendants, then all
RIGHT OF USE AND APPROPRIATION OF WATER. 229
of the costs and expenses shall be paid by the party or parties owning the lands.or
mining claims affected by the right of way and who appealed and resisted the claim
of the applicants. & &
The substance of Article I, section 1081 (Chapter LIV, on roads and highways), is
as follows: County roads running parallel shall not be nearer than one mile, and
upon the presentation of a petition'signed by at least five freeholders of any neigh-
borhood praying for passage to the various water-courses for stock purposes, the
commissioners may at their discretien establish such passage-way. This section
shall also apply to the opening and establishment of neighborhood roads running to
timber.
(Foreother details of roads, see section 1064.) &
The general laws for 1883 contain an act to punish persons for unlawfully divert-
ing water; in substance it is as follows:
SECTION. 1. Any person who shall divert from any water-course or ditch any water
flowing therein, and by such diversion shall deprive another of the use of water to
which he is entitled by law, and who shall refuse immediately to relinquish the water
so diverted, upon demand being made by the person, or the agent of the person, to
whom the water rightfully belongs, shrall, on conviction, be fined in any sum not to
exceed $100 or imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding three months, or by both.
SEC. 2. If any person, by force, threats, intimidation, or putting in fear with arms, or
otherwise, near or upon any water-course or ditch, shall prevent or seek to prevent
any person from possessing of obtaining any water which he desires for some useful
purpose, or by these means shall prevent any person lawfully entitled to the use thereof
from diverting the water, when and where he may desire, the person so offending
shall be deemed guilty of felony, and on conviction, be imprisoned in the Territorial
prison not less than one year, nor more than five years.
f . general laws of 1885 contain an act relative to water-rights, in substance as
ollows: •
SECTION 1. The right to the use of running water flowing in the rivers, streams,
caſions, and ravines may be acquired by appropriation.
SEC, 2. The appropriation must be for some useful or beneficial purpose, and when
the appropriator or his successor in interest abandons and ceases to use the water for
such purposes the right ceases; but questions of abandonment shall be questions of
fact, and shall be determined as other questions of fact.
SEC. 3. The person entitled to the use of water may change the place of diversion,
if others are not thereby injured, and may extend the ditch, flume, pipe, or aqueduct,
by which the diversion is made, to any place other than where the first use was
made, and may use the water for other purposes than that for which it was origi-
nally appropriated.
SEC. 4. The water appropriated may be turned into the channel of another stream
and mingled with its waters, and then [be] reclaimed ; but in reclaiming it water
º appropriated by another must not be diminished in quantity or deteriorated
in quality. -
SEC. 5. As between appropriators, the one first in time is first in right.
SEC. 6. Any person hereafter desiring to appropriate water must post a notice in
writing in a conspicuous place at the point of intended diversion, stating first, the
number of inches claimed, measured as hereinafter provided; second, the purpose for
which it is claimed, and place of intended use; third, the means of diversion, with
size of flume, ditch, pipe, or aqueduct, in which he intends to divert it; fourth, the
date of appropriation; fifth, the name of the appropriator. The appropriator shall
file with the recorder of the county, within twenty days after date of appropriation,
a notice, which, in addition to the facts required to be stated in the posted notice,
shall contain the name of the stream from which the diversion is made, if it has a
natue, and if not, such a description of it as will identify it ; also an accurate descrip-
tion of the point of diversion and reference to some natural object or permanent mon-
ument.
The recorded notice shall be verified by the affidavit of the appropriator, or some
one in his behalf, which must state that the matter and things contained in the no-
tice are true.
SEC. 7. Within forty days after posting the notice the appropriator must proceed.
to prosecute the excavation or construction of the work by which the water appro-
priated is to be diverted, and must prosecute the same with reasonable diligence to
completion. If the ditch or flume, when constructed, is inadequate to convey the
amount of water claimed, the excess claimed above the capacity of the ditch or flume
shall be subject to appropriation by any other person.
SEC, 8. A failure to comply with the provisions of this act deprives the appropri-
ator of the right to the use of water as against a subsequent claimant who complies
there with, but by complying the right to the use of the water shall relate back to
the date of posting notice.
230 1RRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
SEC, 9, Persons who have heretofore acquired rights to the use of water shall,
within six months after the publication of this act, file in the recorder's office of the
county wherein the water-right is situated a declaration in writing, except notice be
given of record setting forth the same facts required in the notice provided for in sec-
tion 6 of this act. The declaration shall be verified as before required in cases of no-
tice of appropriation of water: Provided, That a failure to comply with the require-
ments of this section may in no wise work a forfeiture of such heretofore acquired
rights, nor prevent any such claimant from establishing such rights in the courts. w
SEC. 10. The record provided for in the preceding sections, when duly made, shall
be taken and received in all the courts as prima facie evideuce of the statements
therein obtained. Q
SEC. 11. In any suit hereafter commenced for the protection of rights acquired to
water, the plaintiff may make any or all persons who have diverted water from the
same stream or source parties to such action, and the court may in one decree settle the
relative priorities and rights of the parties to such suit. When damages are claimed
for the wrongful diversion of water, the same may be assessed and apportioned by the
jury in their verdicts, and judgment may be entered for or against one or more of
º defendants, and may determine the ultimate rights of parties between them-
$61 VéS.
SEC. 12. In any action concerning joint water-right, or joint rights in water-ditches,
unless partition of the same is asked by parties to the action, the court shall hear and
determine such controversy as if the same were several as well as joint.
SEC, 13. The recorder of each county must keep a well-bound book, in which he must
record the notices and declarations provided for in this act, and he shall be entitled
to have and receive the same fees as are now or hereafter may be allowed by law for
recording instruments entitled to be recorded.
SEO. 14. The measurement of water appropriated shall be conducted in the follow-
ing manner: A box or flume shall be constructed, with a head-gate placed so as to
leave an opening of 6 inches between the bottom of the box or flume and lower edge
of the head-gate, with a slide to enter at one side of and of sufficient width to close
the opening left by the head-gate, by means of which the dimensions of the opening
are to be adjusted. The box or flume shall be placed level, and so arranged that the
stream in passing through the aperture is not obstructed, by backwater or an eddy
below the gate; but before entering the opening to be measured the stream shall be
brought to an eddy, and shall stand three inches on the head-gate and above the top
of the opening. The number of square inches contained in the opening shall be the
measure of inches of water.
NEBRASKA LAW.
Irrigation companies may be incorporated under general laws, and are declared to
be works of internal improvement, and, as such, towns may vote gratuities to them
to the extent of 10 per cent. of the assessed value of such towns, and by a two-
thirds vote to the extent of 15 per cent., and may issue bonds for the Same purpose to
the amount of 10 per cent. Of the assessed value.
NEWADA IRRIGATION LAWS.
AN ACT TO REGULATE THE USE OF WATER FOR IRRIGATION AND FOR OTHER PUR-
POSES, ETC.
SECTION 1. That the lands now irrigated, or which may hereafter be irrigated in
the State of Nevada, are hereby divided into the following irrigation districts: Dis-
trict No. 1 shall consist of all the lands irrigated from the Truckee River and its trib-
utaries. District No. 2 shall consist of all the lands irrigated from the Carson River
and its tributaries. District No. 3 shall consist of all the lands irrigated from the
East and West Walker Rivers and their tributaries. District No. 4 shall consist of
all the lands irrigated from the Humboldt River and its tributaries. . District No. 5
shall consist of all the lands irrigated from the Owyhee River and its tributaries.
District No. 6 shall consist of all the lands irrigated from the Rees River and its trib-
utaries. District No. 7 shall consist of all the lands irrigated from the White River
and its tributaries, District No. 8 shall consist of all the lands irrigated from the
Muddy River and #stributaries. Other irrigation districts may be formed from time
to time by the governor, on petition of the parties interested, comprising territory
not within any of the above-established irrigation districts. ſº
Sºo. 2. There shall be one water cornmissioner for each of the above-named dis-
tricts and for each district hereafter formed, who shall be appointed by the governor
whenever his service may be required, to be selected by him from the persons recom-
DUTIES OF DISTRICT WATER COMMISSIONERS. 231.
mended to him by the several boards of county commissioners of the counties in which
the water districts may extend, and the water commissioners so appointed shall hold
office for the period of two years, or until their successor is appointed and qualified.
The governor, by like selection and appointment, shall fill all vacancies which may
be caused by death, resignation, or continued absence from the district, removal or
otherwise, and the governor may at any time remove any water commissioner for
failure to perform his duties or for any other cause.
SEC. 3. That within twenty days after his appointment, and before entering upon
the duties of his office, such water conmissioner shall take and subscribe to an oath
to faithfully and impartially perform the duties of his office, which oath shall be de-
posited with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction over his district.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of said water commissioners to divide the water in the
natural lakes or streams of their districts among the several ditches taking water
from the same according to the prior rights of each, respectively, in whole or in part,
and to shut and fasten, or cause to be shut and fastened, the head-gates of any ditch
or ditches heading in any of the natural streams or lakes of the district, which in
time of a scarcity of water makes it necessary by reason of the priority of the rights
of others above or below them on the stream.
SEC. 5. Every person who shall willfully open, close, change, or interfere with any
head-gate or water-box without authority shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and on
conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding five hundred dollars, or
imprisoned in the county jail for a term not exceeding six months, or both such fine
nd imprisonment. The water commissioners, or their assistants, within their dis-
ricts, shall have authority to arrest any person or persons offending, and take them
before the nearest justice of peace in the county, to be dealt with as in other cases.
SEC. 6. The water commissioner herein provided shall be entitled to pay at the
rate of five dollars per day for each day he shall be actually employed in the duties
of his office, not to exceed ninety days in any one year, to be paid by the county in
which his irrigation district may lie. Each water commissioner shall keep a just
and true account of the time spent by him in the duties of hig office, and shall pre-
sent a true copy thereof, verified by oath, to the board of county commissioners of
the county in which his district may be, and said board of county commissioners
shall allow and pay the same out of the county treasury, and where irrigation dis-
tricts shall extend into two or more counties then said water commissioner shall be
aid for his services as follows: In District No. 2, Douglas County shall pay —,
rmsy County shall pay —, Lyon County shall pay , Churchill County shall
pay —. In District No. 3, Esmeralda County shall pay —, Lyon County shall
pay —, Douglas County shall pay —. . In District No. 4, Humboldt County shall
pay three-sevenths —, Lander County shall pay one-quarter —, Eureka County
shall pay one-quarter —, Echo County shall pay three-sevenths —. District No.
6, Lander County shall pay —, Nye County shall pay —. Said water commis-
sioner shall have power, in case of emergency, to employ suitable assistants to aid
him in the discharge of his duties; such assistants shall-take the same oath as the
water commissioner and shall obey his instructions, and each shall be entitled to
four dollars per day for cvery day he is actually employed, not to exceed thirty-five
days in any one year, to be paid upon the certificate of the water commissioner in
the same manner as is provided for payment of water commissioners.
SEC. 7, Said water commissioners shall not begin their work until they shall be
called by three or more owners or managers or persons controlling ditches in their
several districts by application in writing, stating that there is a necessity for their
tº: and they shall not continue performing services after the necessity therefor
shall cease.
SEC. 8. For the purpose of hearing, adjudicating, and settling all questions con-
cerning the propriety of the appropriation of water between ditch companies and other
owners of ditches drawing water for beneficial purposes from the same stream or its
fº or lakes, within the same irrigation district, and all other questions of
aw and questions of right growing out of or in any way involved or connected there-
with, jurisdiction is hereby vested exclusively in the several district courts as follows:
For district No. 1, in the district court of the State of Nevada, Washoe County; for
district No. 2, in the district court of the State of Nevada, Ormsby County; for dis-
trict No. 3, in the district court of the State of Nevada; for district No. 4, in the dis-
trict court of the State of Nevada, for either Humbolt or Elko Counties; for district
No. 5, in the district court of the State of Nevada; for district No. 6, in the district
court of the State of Nevada, Lander County; for district No. 7, in the district court
of the State of Nevada; for district No. 8, in the district court of the State of Nevada.
All lakes, streams, and reservoirs not herein enumerated shall be for all purposes at-
tached to and belong to the irrigation district in which the greater portion of its
waters is, it being the intention and meaning hereof to add to each irrigation district
all waters not hereinbefore enumerated, the majority of which lie within their re-
232 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
spective areas, for the purpose of acquiring rights to the appropriation and use thereof
and adjudicating the same.
SEC. 9. In order that all parties may be protected in their lawful rights to the use
of water for beneficial purposes, every person, association, or corporation owning or
claiming any interest in any ditch, canal, or reservoir within any water district
shall, on or before the first day of September, eighteen hundred and eighty-nine, file
with tho county recorder of the county a statement of their claim under oath, en-
titled of the proper county, which statement shall contain the name or names, to-
gether with the post-office address, of the claimant or claimants claiming ownership
as aforesaid of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir, the name thereof (if any), and if with-
out a name the owner or owners shall ch, ose and adopt a name to be therein stated by
which such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall thereafter be known; the description of
such ditch, canal, or reservoir as to location of head-gate, general course of ditch,
the name of the natural stream or lake from which such ditch, canal, or reservoir
draws its supply of water; the length, breadth, depth, and grade thereof as near as
may be ; the time, fixing a day, month, and year as the date of appropriation of water
by original construction, also by the enlargement or extension, if any such thereof
have been made, and the amount of water claimed by or under such construction,
enlargement, or extension, and the present capacity of the ditch, canal, or feeder of
reservoir, and also the number of acres of land lying under and being, or proposed to
be, irrigated by water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir; or if such waters have
been appropriated for other beneficial purposes than irrigation, a statement of such
purposes. Said statement shall be signed by the proper party or parties and filed
with the recorder of the county wherein the right claimed is situated, which shall
be recorded by him in a book kept for that purpose.
SEC. 10. Upon the filing of such statement the recorder shall indorse upon the
back thereof the date of filing, and shall prepare an index of the same in a book to be
provided for that purpose by the county commissioners, which said index shall con-
tain the date of filing, the name of the party, association, or corporation, the name
of the ditch, the stream from which the water is taken by such ditch, canal, or res-
ervoir, the location of the head-gate, the date of the appropriation of the water by
construction, enlargement or extension. Said index shall be prepared alphabetically
by reference to the name of the ditch, canal, or reservoir.
SEC. 11. For filing and indexing such statement the recordershall receive the same
fees as for recording deeds, to be paid by the party or parties filing the same.
SEC. 12. That hereafter every person, company, or corporation constructing, en-
larging, or extending any ditch, canal, or reservoir for beneficial purposes, and in-
tending to use or appropriate any water from any natural stream or lake within any
water district for such beneficial purposes, shall file with the county recorder of the
proper county before the commencement of the construction, enlargement, or exten-
'sion of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, a statement showing tho stream or streams
from which the water is to be taken ; the point or place on Said stream at or near .
which the water is to be taken out; the line or commencement of said ditch or
ditches as near as may be; the use or uses to which said water is to be applied; the
dimensions of said ditch or ditches, and each thereof, giving width on bottom and
top, slope of banks, and grade of ditch, and likewise of any and all enlargements
thereof, which statement shall be filed and indexed as is provided in section 9 of
this act; and from the time of filing any such statement water sufficient to fill such
ditch or ditches and subserve the use or uses aforesaid, if a lawful and just use, shall
be deemed and adjudged appropriated: Provided, That nothing herein contained
shall be permitted to interfere with a prior right to said water or to any thereof:
And provided further, That such person or persons or corporation shall, within sixty
days next ensuing the filing of such statement, begin the actual construction of said
ditch or ditches, and shall prosecute the work of the construction thereof diligently
and continuously to its completion: And provided further, That the beginning of all
necessary survey of such ditch or ditches shall be construed as the beginning of Said
work of construction. . .
SEC. 13. The water of every natural stream not heretofore appropriated within this
State is hereby declared to be the property of the public, and the same is dedicated
to the use of the people, subject to appropriation as h rein provided. The provisions
of this act shall apply to all cases where the water of natural streams or lakes is ap-
propriated for beneficial purposes, whether the water be conducted through ditches,
canals, flumes, or tunnels, and shall apply also to cases where for irrigating purposes
the water is stored in reservoirs, and the owner or owners of any ditch, canal, flume,
or tunnel through which water is conducted for irrigating purposes, and also the
owners of reservoirs, may conduct the water therefrom into and along any of the
natural streams of the State, but not so as to raise the waters thereof above high-
water mark, and may take the same out again at any point desired ; but due allow-
ance shall be made for evaporation and seepage, the amount to be determined by the
water commissioner of the proper district, subject to review and determination by
the court having jurisdiction over priorities in such districts.
PRIORITIES AND THEIR ADJUDICATION. a' 233
SEC. 14. Whenever any person or persons, association or corporation, interested as
owners of any ditch, canal, or reservoir in any district, shall desire a determination
of the priorities of rights to the use of water from any stream or streams from which
they draw the water for their ditch or ditches, canals, or reservoirs, they shall present
to the district court having jurisdiction over the rights in such water district, or to
the judge thereof, a petition or application in writing, moving or praying said court
to proceed to an adjudication of the priorities of rights to use of the water for irriga-
tion, between the several ditches, canals, or reservoirs, in such district, on the stream
or streams named in such motion, petition, or application. The said motion, petition,
of application shall state the names of the ditches, canals, or reservoirs claiming
water from said stream or streams as appears from the final statements in the re-
corder's office, together with the names of the persons, associations, or corporations in-
terested therein, taken from such statements, and shall set forth, the nature of the
claim or claims of the applicant or applicants, and such motion, petition, or application
shall be entitled “In the matter of an application for an adjudication of the priori-
ties of rights to use water for beneficial purposes inwater districts. District No. —,
on —” (stating the stream or streams). Upon the filing and docketing of such
application the court or judge thereof shall, without unnecessary delay, by an
order to be entered of record upon such petition or application, appoint a day
for commencing to hear and take evidence in such adjudication, at which time
it shall be the duty of the court or judge thereof to proceed and hear all evi-
dence that may be offered by or in behalf of any person, association, or corpora-
tion interested in stream or streams in such district, in any ditch, canal, or reservoir,
either as owner or consumer of water therefrom, in support of or against any
claims of priority of appropriation of water made by means of any ditch, canal, or
reservoir, or by any enlargement or extension thereof in such district, or on such
stream or streams, and consider all such evidence, also the arguments of the parties or
their counsel, and shall ascertain and find from such evidence, as near as may be, the
date of the commencement of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, together with the
original size and carrying capacity thereof as originally constructed; the time of
the commencement of each enlargement or extension thereof, if any, with the in-
creased capacity thereby occasioned; the time spent severally in such consuruction,
enlargement, or extension, and re-enlargement, if any ; the diligence with which the
Work was in each case prosecuted; the nature of the work as to the difficulty of
construction, and all such other facts as may tend to show the compliance with the
law in acquiring the priority of right claimed for each such ditch, canal, or reservoir,
and determine the matters put in evidence, and make and cause to be entered a
decree determining and establishing the several priorities of right, by appropria-
tion of water of the several ditches, canals, and reservoirs in such water district in
Such stream or streams, concerning which testimony shall have been offered, each
according to the time of its said construction and enlargements and extensions, with
the amount of water which shall be held to have been appropriated by such con-
Struction and enlargement or extensions, describing such amount by cubic feet per
Second of time (which shall also be the measurement for the sale of water), if the
evidence shall show sufficient data to ascertain such cubic feet, and if not, by width,
depth, and grade, and such other description as will most certainly and conveniently
show the amount of water intended as the capacity of such ditch, canal, or reservoir.
In such decree such court or judge thereof shall receive from the clerk, on payment
therefor, a certificate, under seal of the court, showing date or dates and amount or
amounts of appropriations adjudged in favor of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, under
and by virtue of the construction, extension, and enlargement thereof severally, also
specifying the number of said ditch, as determined by said court, with reference to
priority and of each priority to which the same may be entitled by reason of said
construction, extension, and enlargements; provided, that any party or parties
claiming any right to the use of water for beneficial purposes in such district and on
such stream or streams by reason of being owner of or interested in any ditch, canal,
or reservoir, who is not mentioned in the petition or application, and shall become
parties to such proceedings and shall have their rights adjudicated therein. The court,
or judge thereof, may, instead of taking testimony orally or in open court, refer
* the matter to a referee, with such powers as in other cases. The testimony may be
taken at any place ordered by the court, or judge thereof, or by the referee.
SEC. 15. The holder of the certificate provided for in section fourteen shall exhibit
the same to the water commissioner of the district when he commences the exercise
of his duties, and such water commissioner shall keep a book in which he shall enter
a brief statement of the contents of such certificate and which shall be delivered to
his successor, and said certificate, or statement thereof in his book, shall be the war-
rant of authority to said commissioner for regulating the flow of water in relation to
Such ditch, canal, or reservoir; said certificate shall be recorded at the same rates of
charges as in case of deeds of conveyance in the records of each county into which
the ditch, canal, or reservoir, to whieh such certificate relates, shall extend; and said
234 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
certificate, or said record thereof, or a duly certified copy of such record, shall be
prima facie evidence of so much of the decree as shall be recited therein in any suit
or proceeding in which the same may be relevant.
SEC. 16. Upon the order of the court fixing the time of such hearing being made,
the clerk shall make a certified copy of such order, which order shall contain the
names of all parties alleged in the application to be interested in the matter, which
shall be thereupon served upon each of the parties therein named, in the same man-
ner as summons. It shall be the duty of the clerk also to give public notice of such
application in a newspaper, if any printed and in circulation, it, each county wherein
such water district is situated, which shall be published at least twenty days, and
which said notice shall contain the date of the filing of said petition or application,
the name or names of the parties filing the same, a copy of the order made by the
court of hearing, and shall notify all parties interested as owners in any ditch, canal,
or reservoir, on such stream or streams, in such water district, as well as the persons
named in the petition or application, to appear at said court, or before the judge
thereof, at the time appointed and stated in the order; and all persons interested as
owners or consumers may then and there present his or her or their proofs for or
against any priority of right of water by appropriation sought to be shown by any
party, by or through any ditch, canal, or reservoir (either as owner or consumer of
water therefrom), and in case any party mentioned in the petition or application
can not be personally served in any county embraced in such water district, the pub-
lished notices above provided shall be deemed sufficient service of notice: Provided.
further, That in addition to such publication the clerk shall mail such published no-
tice to each party mentioned in the petition or application, directing the same to the
address of the parties, as stated in the sworn statement on file. Proof of the proper
publication shall consist in the sworn certificate of the publisher of the paper in
which notice is published, to which shall be attached a printed copy taken from such
paper.
SEC. 17. Any person or persons who shall willfully cut, dig, or break down or open
any gate, bank, or embankment or side of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, flume, pipe,
tunnel, or feeder in which such person or persons may be joint owners or which is
the property of another or in the lawful possession of another or others and used for
the purpose of irrigation, milling, manufacturing, mining, or domestic purposes, with
intent maliciously to injure any person, association, or corporation, or for his or her
own gain or with the intention of stealing, taking, or causing to run or pour out of
such canal or reservoir, feeder, pipe, or flume any water for his or her own profit,
benefit, or advantage, or to the injury of any other person, persons, association, or
corporation lawfully in the use of such water or of such ditch, canal, tunnel, feeder,
pipe, or flume, he, she, it, or they so offending shall be deemed guilty of a misde-
meanor and on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding $500, and
may be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding six months, or both, at the dis-
cretion of the court. &
SEC. 18. Any party or parties representing any ditch, canal, or reservoir, or any
number of parties representing two or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs, which are
affected, in common with each other, by any portion of the decree rendered by the dis-
trict court, by which he, she, it, or they may feel aggrieved, may have an appeal from
said district court to the supreme court, and in such case the party or parties join-
ing desiring an appeal shall be the appellants, and the parties representing any one
or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs affected in common adversely to the interest of
appellants shalf be appellees. The party or parties in such appeal shall, within sixty
days after the date of the decree is entered under this act, file a notice of appeal in
writing stating that such party or parties appeal to the supreme court of the State
from the decree rendered in the case or any part thereof. When only a part of the de;
cree is appealed from, the notice of the appeal shall, so state and shall also in that
case specify the portion or part of the decree appealed from. Upon filing of such
notice of appeal the cause shall be deemed to be appealed to the Supreme court of
the State: Provided, however, That the party or parties appealing as aforesaid shall,
within sixty days as aforesaid, enter into an understanding to be approved by the
district court, or judge thereof, and to be given to all parties in said suit ºr proceed:
ings other than the parties appealing, and to be in such an amount as the court of
said judge shall order, conditioned that the parties giving the said undertaking shall
prosecute their appeal to effect and without unnecessary delay, and will pay all costs
and damages which the parties to whom the undertaking is given, or either or any
of them, may sustain in consequence of such appeal.
SEC. 19. The notice last aforesaid shall be entered of record, and the appellant or
appellants shall cause a certified copy thereof to be served on each of the parties or
their attorneys, if they have one, as in other cases.
SEC. 20. The appellant or appellants shall, within six months after the appeal be
allowed as aforesaid, file in the office of the clerk of the supreme court of the State
a certified transcript of the proceedings had in the case in the district court, contain-
courT PROCEEDINGS AND THE RIGHT OF STORAGE, 285
ing the pleadings and the statements of the parties filed therein and all evidence of
record offered on the hearing of the cause, or so much thereofas shall affect the appro-
priation of water claimed by the means of construction, enlargement, or re-enlarge-
ment of the several ditches, canals, and reservoirs mentioned in the order allowing
the appeal; such statement to be served, filed, and settled in the same manner as
Statements on motion for new trials.
SEC, 21. The supreme court in all cases heard before it under this act shall, when
it can properly be done, render such decree as the court or judge below should have
rendered. It may eithér reverse or modify the decree of the court below. If reversed
in whole or in part it may direct the court below as to its further proceedings therein:
SEC. 22. No claim of priority of any person, association, or corporation, on account
of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, as to which he, she, it, or they have filed or refuse to
offer evidence under any adjudication herein provided for, shall be regarded by any
water commissioner in distributing water in times of scarcity thereof, until such time
as such party shall have, by application to the court having jurisdiction, obtained
leave therefor and made proof of the priority of right to which such ditch, canal,
or reservoir shall be justly entitled, which shall only be #. upon terms, as to
notice to other parties interested, and upon payment of all costs, and upon affidavit
or petition, sworn to, showing the rights claimed, and the ditches, canals, and reser-
voirs, with the names of the owners thereof, against which such priority is claimed, nor
until a decree adjudging such ditch, canal, or reservoir has been entered, and certificate,
such as mentioned in section fifteen thereof, shall have been issued to claimant and
presented to the water commissioner.
SEC. 23. No person, association, or corporation representing any ditch, canal, or
reservoir shall be permitted to give or offer any evidence before said court until he,
she, it, or they shall have filed a statement of a claim, in substance the same in all
respects as is required to be filed under the provisions thereof,
SEC. 24. The district court or judge thereof shall have power to order, for good
cause shown, upon terms just to all parties, and in such manner as may seem meet,
a re-argument or review, with or without additional evidence, of any decree made
under the provisions of this act, whenever said court or judge shall find from the
cause shown for that purpose by any party or parties feeling aggrieved that the ends
of justice will thereby be promoted, but no such review or re-argument shall be
ordered unless applied for by petition or otherwise within one year of the time of
entering the decree complained of. - 4.
SEC, 25. Persons desiring to construct and maintain reservoirs for the purpose of
toring water shall have the right to take from any of the natural streams of the
State and store away any unappropriated water not needed for immediate use, for
domestic irrigation, or other needful purposes; to construct and maintain ditches,
canals, flumes, and tunnels in the same manner provided by law for the condemna-
tion of lands for right of way for ditches, provided no reservoir with embankment or
a dam exceeding 10 feet in height shall be made without submitting the plans thereof
to the county commissioners of the county in which it is situated and obtain their
approval of said plans.
SEC. 26. The owners of reservoirs shall be liable for all damages arising from leak-
age or overflow of the waters therefrom, or by floods caused by the breaking of the
embankment of such reservoir.
SEC, 27. Every witness who shall attend before the court or judge thereof, or before
the person appointed to take testimony, in the causes provided for in this act, under
subpoena by request of any party, shall be entitled to the same fees and mileage as
witnesses in civil cases in the district court, and shall be paid by the party requiring
his testimony. All other costs of the proceeding shall be paid by the parties claim-
ing water, as may be adjudged by the court or judge.
EC, 28. Whenever, in actions for proceedings, for the determination of water
rights, it may become necessary to divide the water of any stream or ditch between
the different claimants, it shall be divided, as far as possible, by periods of time, in-
steau of fractional parts of the water.
SEC, 29. Said Water commissioners shall so divide, regulate, and control the use
of the water of all streams within their respective districts in such manner, as near
as may be, as will prevent unnecessary waste of water; and to that end such com-
missioners shall so shut and fasten the head-gate or gates of all ditches so that no
more water will flow into said ditch than is actually required and will be used for
the purpose or purposes for which such water was appropriated ; and any person
º to any court of competent jurisdiction for such relief as he may be en-
11,16(1 tº O, -
SEC. 30. Whenever testimony shall or may be taken in any district created by this
act for the purpose of procuring decree as to appropriation of water and priorities
thereof, any testimony theretofore taken upon the hearing of any former application
or petition under this act may be introduced and shall be received as evidence.
236 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
SEC. 31. This act shall in nowise be construed as impairing or abridging any rights
already Vested in any person or persons, company or corporation, by virtue of the
law horetofore. -
SEC. 32. All acts and parts of acts inconsistent with this act are hereby repealed.
SEC. 33. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
UNLAWFUL DIVERSION AND WASTE OF WATER.
SECTION 1. Any person or persons who shall, during the irrigating season, divert .
and conduct the water, or portion thereof, of any river, creek, or stream into a slough -
or sloughs, dam or dams, pond or ponds, and retain, or cause the same to be held or
retained therein without making any other use of such water, or who shall, during
the irrigating season, divert and conduct the water, or portion thereof, away from
any such river, creek, or stream, and run, or cause or allow the same to run to waste
on Sage-brush or greasewood land, such diversion shall be deemed an unlawful use
and waste of water. & s
SEC. 2. Any person or persons, company, corporation, or association who shall, dur-
ing the irrigating season, divert and conduct, or any person or persons aiding, abet-
ting, or assisting any such person or persons, company, corporation, or association in
diverting and conducting, during the irrigating season, the water, or portion thereof,
of any river, creek, or stream into any slough or sloughs, dam or dams, or pond or
ponds, and retain, or cause the same to be retained therein without making any other
use of such water, or who shall, during the irrigating season, divert and conduct the
Water, or portion thereof, away from any river, creek, or stream, and run, or cause or
allow the same to run to waste, contrary to and in violation of the provisions of this
act, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof, in any court of
competent jurisdiction in this State, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding five
hundred dollars or by imprisonment in the county jail of the county not exceeding
six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Approved February 28, 1889.
RECLAMATION COMMISSION.
Whereas the State of Nevada has received from the General Government a grant
of two million acres of land in lieu of the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections, pre-
viously granted to the State of Nevada, the proceeds from the sale of which are to
be placed to the credit of the school fund of the State; and
Whereas under an act of Congress approved September 4, 1841, and an act approved
March 21, 1864, a grant of 500,000 acres of land was made to the State of Nevada for
internal improvements; and
Whereas the selections of said lands are not confined to any particular section of
unappropriated land; and
Whereas the greater portion of unappropriated lands in the State of Nevada is
known to be desert, waste, and actually valueless and without sale, unless water, for
the purpose of irrigation, can be brought upon them, and the land properly and
systematically irrigated, crops of all kinds can not be succe-sfully raised; and
Whereas the permanent settlement, growth, wealth, and independence of the State
and people, as well as the sale of school lands, depend upon the reclamation of these
desert lands: Now, therefore,
The people of the State of Nevada, represented in 8enate and assembly, do enact as follows:
SECTION 1. A board of reclamation commissioners is hereby created, to consist of
four members, to be known as the “board of reclamation and internal improvements,”
for the storage of water and reclamation of arable desert lands in this State. Said
board to consist of J. F. Clark, of Humboldt County, Evan Williams, of Ormsby
County; J. R. Bradley, of Elko County, and Herman Springmeyer, of Douglas County.
The said J. F. Clark, of Humboldt County, and Evan Williams of Ormsby County, to
hold the position for the term of four years, or until the election of their successors,
and the said J. R. Bradicy, of Elko County, and Herman Springmeyer, of Douglas
County, to hold the position for the term of two years, or until the election of
their successors. The State of Nevada is hereby divided into seven internal im-
provement and reclamation districts, of which Douglas, Ormsby, Esmeralda;. Lyon,
and Storey, shall constitute the first district, Washoe County, the second district,
Churchill County, the third district, Humboldt County, the fourth district, Elko
County, the fifth district, Lander, Eureka, and White Pine Counties, the sixth
district, and Nye and Lincoln Counties the seventh district. . At the general
election in eighteen hundred and ninety, and at each general election thereafter,
there shall be elected from the State at large two reclamation commissioners,
one who shall serve for the term of two years, and one for the term of four
years, from and after the first Monday in January next succeeding such election.
DUTIES OF RECLAMATION COMMISSIONERS. 237
*
The office of said board shall be in the State capitol building, at the seat of govern-
ment. The board shall adopt rules and regulations for the transaction of its business.
SEC. 2. The board of reclamation shall invite, receive, and procure information
and statistics in regard to all public lands within this State, and the waters running
therein, which are or may become possible of reclamation, by means of conducting
upon them the unappropriated waters running through natural or artificial channels
within this State, and shall report the same, together with an approximate estimate
: costs and result of such proposed reclamation, at each biennial session of the legis-
ature.
SEC. 3. The board of reclamation shall also invite, receive, procure, and publish
facts and statistics regarding the natural water-courses of this State and several dis-
tricts, including source, supply, water-power, and other matters relating to the Yalue
of said waters, or the most practical methods of utilizing the same, either for milling,
mining, manufacturing, or agricultural purposes, in order that said information, may
*:::::::: for the attraction of dormant capital and the encouragement of individual
enterprise.
SEC. 4. It shall be the duty of the surveyor-general, ea officio, to furnish the board
of reclamation, within a reasonable time, maps, profiles, and estimates to determine
the cheapest and most economical and valuable routes for canals, reservoirs, and
other improvements for irrigation and milling purposes; and also to furnish maps,
plans, and estimates for the purpose of building reservoirs, dams, etc., connected with
the storing and preserving of waste water.
SEC. 5. The board of reclamation shall have the power to divide the State into dis-
tricts, and to appoint a superintendent for each reclamation district within the State,
which they may establish and refine, whose duty it shall be to superintend the build-
ing, constructing, and maintenance of the canals, dams, and other like works within
his district as so defined.
SEC. 6. The work of building and constructing any and all canals, dams, and other
improvements shall be done by contract, if done by private parties the contracts to
be let to the lowest responsible bidder. The work done by contract shall be let in
lots of one or more sections, said sections not being more than one mile in length, as
indicated by the maps, profiles, plans, and specifications prepared by the surveyor-
general and adopted by said board.
SEC. 7. The board of reclamation commissioners, of the State are hereby authorized
and directed to employ a competent civil engineer to ascertain and report the number
of irrigating ditches in each reclamation district, the capacity of the same in inches,
and amount heretofore appropriated and used through said ditches.
SEC. 8. Any irrigating ditch now constructed and hereafter carrying more water
than reported by said civil engineer, the owner or owners thereof of said ditch shall
pay to the reclamation fund of the State, for such additional water, such sums or
rates as the board of reclamation commissioners shall designate ; which sum so paid
shall constitute a part of the reclamation fund, and shall be available for demands
against said fund.
SEc. 9. Whenever the board of reclamation commissioners deem the reorganization
or division of any district advisable for internal improvements contemplated by this
act, they shall have power to make such changes and establish such additional rules
tº: government thereof as will not conflict with prior lights as now recognized
y law.
SEC. 10. The board shall have power to purchase or rent such lands for reservoirs,
sites, or ditches, as they may deem best, whether within or without the boundaries
of this State.
SEC. 11. The board of reclamation commissioners, on petition of ten or more per-
sons interested in irrigation ditches in any district in this State petitioning for the
issuance of bonds of said district for reclamation purposes, said board shall, at the
next general election, submit the question, together with amount of bonds to be is-
sued, to the voters of said district ; and, if carried at said election, the said board
shall issue and dispose of said bonds under such rules and regulations as they may
adopt, the proceeds thereof to be placed in the reclamation fund of the district, and
made available for reclamation purposes.
SEC, 12. The board shall advertise for and receive bids upon the work to be done
as soon as the surveyor-general can have surveys, maps, plans, specifications, and
estimates of the same in readiness for adoption by the board and inspection by bid.
ders, and shall fix a time when they will open bids and award contracts, which shall
not be done on less than four weeks' notice thereof, which said notice shall be given
for said time by publication in one newspaper in the reclamation district where the
work is to be done, or by posting notices,
SEC. 13. The terms of contracting may be to pay monthly, as the work progresses,
on the estimate of the surveyor-general or engineer of the amount of work done,
seventy per centum of its contract value, reserving to the district or State thirty per
W
gº
238 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
centum ºf the value thereof to insure its faithful completion according to contract,
When full payment shall be made, including the retained per centum.
SEC. 14. The board shall fix a definite day for the final completion of any canal,
dam, or other improvement, and require all contracts to be done and completed on of
before that day, and shall in any agreement reserve the right of forfeiture to the
State or district of any retained per centum, and to award the contract of any per-
son or persons who, in the opinion of the surveyor-general, confirmed by the board,
fails to make such monthly progress as will insure the completion of any such work
So undertaken or contracted for on the day named.
SEC. 15. The board of reclamation shall, upon organization as herein provided, be
authorized, empowered, and directed to construct a canal, ditch, or other proper work
at, from, or upon the most desirable and practical point on any river or water-way in
the State, or that can be procured—the said point to be hereafter selected by said
board—to connect with, and to be connected with, for the purpose of milling or irri-
gating the arable lands situate, lying, and being in the accessible vicinity of such
Selected river or water-way; and the said canal, ditch, or other work shall be built
or established upon a grade or plan in accordance with the configuration and neces-
sities of the shortest and most feasible route and safe carriage of the requisite volume
of water required to irrigate the lands within the scope of said ditch or work.
SEC, 16. The total cost of said canal, ditch, or work shall not exceed one hundred
thousand dollars, and the cost thereof is heréby limited to that sum.
SEC. 17. The board of reclamation shall audit and certify to the State board of
examiners the Several amounts that may become due from time to time for work and
labor done, services or material furnished in and about the location and building of
canals and other Works of reclamation that may be carried on, built, and completed
under the board, and when approved by the State board of examiners, the con-
troller shall audit the same and draw his warrant upon the State treasurer for the
º amounts of Such claims, to be paid out of the reclamation fund of the State
or district.
SEC. 18. The elective members of the board shall be paid their necessary traveling
expenses, and they shall receive no other compensation for their personal services.
SEC. 19. It shall be unlawful for any State officer, or any member of the board of
Teclamation, to be interested, directly or indirectly, or to take or have any interest
or profit, in any manner, in any work of constructing any canal or other improve-
ment for reclamation under this act, and upon conviction shall be fined in any sum
not less than one thousand dollars nor more than ten thousand dollars, or imprison-
ment in the State prison not less than one year nor more than five years, or both such
fine and imprisonment.
SEC. 20. The annual rent for water within the scope of any canal, ditch, or work
created and built by the board of reclamation shall be one dollar per acre per year.
Said rental of water shall be held as a lien against said lands.
SEC. 21. The annual rent of water shall be collected in the same manner and by the
same officers as taxes are now collected, and paid into the State or district treasury
without fee or abatemont and accounted for as the water rent, and placed to the
credit of the reclamation and internal improvement fund ; and it is hereby enacted
that all lands sold by the State under the provisions of this act shall be supplied
with the necessary water for reclamation whenever in the judgment of the board it
is practicable to do so, and the right of way for the secondary ditches is hereby re-
served by the State, and shall be reserved and excepted by the surveyor-general and
State land register, from every patent issued by the State, to take up, convey, and
deliver all waste water over and across any lands sold and conveyed by the State to
any person or persons. *
SEC. 22. One hundred thousand dollars is hôreby appropriated for the construction
and building of any canal, ditch, dam, or other work or works mentioned in this
act, and in no case shall a contract or contracts be entered into that shall in the ag-
gregate exceed the sum of one hundred thousand dollars for the construction and
building of said canal or work.
SEC. 23. The money herein appropriated shall be taken from the State school fund
and placed to the credit of the reclamation fund, herein credited, and in its place
shall be deposited one hundred bonds of one thousand dollars each, bearing interest
at the rate of four per cent. por annum. Said bonds shall run for twenty years, but
shall be redeemable by the State at its pleasure after two years. Said bonds
shall be signed by the governor and State controller, and countersigned by
the State treasurer, and authenticated with the great seal of the State, and shall state
in substance that the State of Nevada owes to its school fund one thousand dollars
the interest on which sum, at four per cent, per annum, it agrees to pay until said
bond is redeemed for the benefit of * common schools of the State. Said bonds shall
be lithographed, as is usual in such cases, and deposited with the treasurer of the
State. The interest on said bonds shall be paid semi-annually, on the first day of
January and July, on the written order of the State board of education to the State
controller, directing him to draw his warrant for the amount of such semi-annual in-
\
IRRIGATION STATUTEs, NEVADA AND OREGON. 239
terest on the reclamation interest and sinking fund herein created. All sums derived
from the interest on said bonds shall go into the general school fund for the support
of the common schools of the State, and for the regular and prompt payment of
which the faith and credit of the State is hereby pledged.
SEC, 24. There shall be levied and collected for the fiscal year commencing Janu:
ary first, A. D. eighteen hundred and ninety-one, and annually thereafter, an ad
Valorem tax of two cents on each one hundred dollars of all the taxable property in
the State, and all sums derived from this tax shall go into the reclamation interest
and sinking fund for the payment of the interest and redemption of bonds herein au-
thorized by this act.
SEC. 25. The reclamation fund is hereby made a permanent fund, into which all
revenue arising from the last-mentioned section, and from the water rent aforesaid:
in section fifteen, and from any other source provided by law, shall be paid and shall
be devoted as follows: First, to the payment of intereston bonds; second, to the re-
demption of the principal sum of the bonds at or before maturity; third, to the rec-
lamation of new districts that may be hereafter created; fourth, to be transferred to
the general fund of the State.
Approved March 3, 1889.
AIRTESIAN WELLS.
SECTION 1. Section one of said act is hereby amended so as to read as follows:
Section one. Every person, firm, company, corporation, or association, that shall,
after the passage of this act, commence the sinking of artesian wells, for stock or
agricultural purposes, shall be entitled for sinking such artesian well, where flowing
water is obtained, the following specified sums: For the first two hundred feet, one
dollar and twenty-five cents per foot; for the third one hundred feet, one dollar and
fifty cents per foot; for the fourth one hundred feet, two dollars per foot; for the fifth
one hundred feet, two dollars and twenty-five cents per foot ; for the sixth one hun-
dred feet, two dollars and fifty cents per foot; for the seventh one hundred feet, three
dollars per foot; for the eighth one hundred feet, three dollars and fifty cents per foot;
for the ninth one hundred feet, four dollars per foot; for the tenth one hundred feet,
four follars and fifty cents perfoot; for all depths exceeding one thousand feet, five
dóllars per foot for each and every foot below the said one thousand feet. And an
additional bounty of one thousand dollars for every well sunk to the depth of one
thousand feet or more: Provided, That such well shall furnish twenty thousand gal-
lons of water each twenty-four hours, flowing continuously for thirty days, said sums
to be paid in the manner provided for in sections four and five of this act : Provided,
That no bounty shall be paid on any well which does not furnish seven thousand gal-
lons of water in each twenty-four hours, flowing continuously for thirty days: And
provided further, That no two wells shall receive a bounty if located within the same
county. Where two or more wells within the prescribed limit apply for a bounty,
the twell which first furnished the amount of water required by this act shall be en-
titled to the bounty allowed by this act.
SEC. 2. Section six of said act is hereby amended so as to read as follows:
Section six. The sum of ten thousand dollars is hereby appropriated out of any
money in the general fund of this State for the payment of bounties herein provided
for.
OREGON IRRIGATION LAWS.
SEC. 4057. A right of way over any State lands belonging to the State of Oregon,
school or University lands, tide or swamp, and overflowed lands, is hereby granted to
any railroad corporation Who may coustruct Tailroad over such lands, on each side
of said road to the width of fifty feet. --
SEC, 4058. A right of Way for the construction of a water-ditch to be used for irri-
gation, manufacturing, or mining purposes, ditches or water-pipes for conveying
water to cities and towns for domestic purposes or for the extinguishment of fires, is
hereby granted to any individuals or corporations who may construct such water-
ditches or water-pipes over any of the State lands belonging to the State of Oregon—
tide, swamp, and overflowed lands, and school lands—for a distance on each side of
said ditches or water-pipes of twenty-five feet.
SEC. 4059. It shall be the duty of said railroad corporation or water company or
individuals constructing said railroads, water-ditches, or water-pipes to file a copy
of the field-notes of the survey of such railroads, ditches, or water-pipes with the sec-
retary of state of the State of Oregon, showing the location of said railroad, water-
ditch, or water-pipe.
SEC, 4060. All pºtents hereafter granted by the State of Oregon for any of the class
of lands heretofore mentioned shall be made subjebt to any vested rights of the own-
ers of such railroads, water-ditches or Waier-pipes as may have been acquired under
the preceding sections, -
§.
240 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
NEW MEXICO IRRIGATION LAWS.
The treaty of peace between the United States and Mexico in 1848 contains the
following provisions in Articles VIII and IX:
“ART. VIII. Mexicans now established in territories previously belonging to Mex-
ico, and which remain for the future within the limits of the United States as defined
by the present treaty, shall be free to continue where they now reside, or to remove at
any time to the Mexican Republic, retaining the property which they possess in the
said territories, or disposing thereof and removing the proceeds wherever they
please, without being subjected on this account to any contribution, tax, or charge
whatever.
“Those who shall prefer to remain in the said territories may either retain the title
and rights of Mexican citizens, or acquire those of citizens of the United States; but
they shall be under the obligations to make their election within one year from the
date of the exchange of ratifications of this treaty, and those who shall remain in the
said territories after the expiration of that year without having declared their in-
tentions to retain the character of Mexicans shali be considered to have elected to
become citizens of the United States. In the said territories property of every kind
now belonging to Mexicans not established there shall be inviolably respected. The
present owners, the heirs of these, and all Mexicans who may hereafter acquire said
property by contract shall enjoy with respect to it guarantees equally ample as if
the same belonged to citizens of the United States. O
“ART. IX. Mexicans who in the territories aforesaid shall not preserve the charac-
ter of citizens of the Mexican Republic conformably with what is stipulated in the
preceding article shall be incorporated into the union of the United States and be
admitted at the proper time (to be judged of by the Congress of the United States)
to the enjoyment of all the rights of citizens of the United States according to the
principles of the Constitution, and in the mean time shall be maintained and pro-
tected in the free enjoyment of their liberty and property, and secured in the free
exercise of their religion, without restriction.”
The Gadsden treaty between the United States and Mexico in 1853 contains the fol-
lowing provisions in Article V: A.
“All the provisions of the eighth and ninth, sixteenth and seventeenth articles of
the treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo shall apply to the territory ceded by the Mexican
Republic in the first article of the present treaty, and to all the rights of persons and
property, both civil and ecclesiastical, within tie same, as fully and as effectually as
if the said articles were herein again recited and set forth.”
The Kearney code of laws, 1846, contains in section 1 the following provisions rela-
tive to water-courses, stock-marks, etc.:
“The laws heretofore in force concerning water-courses, stock-marks and brands,
horses, inclosures, commons, and arbitration shall continue in force, except so much
of said laws as require the ayuntamientos of the different villages to regulate these
subjects. The duties and powers of such ayuntamientos are transferred to and en-
joined upon alcaldes and prefects of the several countries.”
IIRIRIGATION LAWS.
SECTION 1. No inhabitant shall have the right to construct any building to the
impediment of the irrigation of lands or fields, such as mills or any other property,
that may obstruct the course of the water, as the irrigation of the fields should be
paramount to all other uses of the water.
SEC. 2. All by-paths or foot-paths are prohibited across the fields under penalty of
fine or imprisonment.
SEC. 3. It being impracticable or absolutely impossible for the fields to be fenced
in, all animals shall be kept under a shepherd, so that no injury may result to the
fields, and in case any damage should result it shall be paid by the persons causing it.
SEC. 4. In case a community of people desire to construct a ditch or acequia, and
the constructors are the owners of all the land upon which the ditch or acequia is
constructed, no one shall be bound to pay for the land, as all persons interested in
the construction are to be benefited by it.
SEC. 5. The course of ditches or acequias already established shall not be disturbed.
SEC. 6. All rivers and streams of water heretofore known as public ditches or ace-
quias are liereby established and declared to be public ditches or acequias.
SEC. 7. From and after tha publication of this act it shall be the duty of the several
justices of the peace to call together in their respective precincts, wheneyer it may
be deemed convenient, all the owners of ditches or acequias, as well as the proprie-
tors of lands irrigated by any public ditch or acequia, for the purpose of electing one
or more overseers for the ditches or acequias for the same year.
©
THE IRRIGATION LAws of NEW MEXICO. 241
SEC. 8. All fines and forfeitures recovered for the use and benefit of any public ditch
or acequia shall be applied by the overseer to the improvements, excavation and to
bridges for the same, wherever it is crossed by any public road and bridges may be
IlêCêSSãI’W.
SEC. #y In all cases of conviction under this act an appeal may be granted to the
district court, which appeal shall be taken and conducted as all other appeals from
the decisions of justices of the peace.
SEC. 10. The regulations of ditches or acequias which have been worked shall re-
main as they were made, and have remained up to this day.
SEC. 11. All plants of any description growing on the banks of the ditches or ace-
quias shall belong to the owners of the land through which the ditches or acequias
TUIIl.
SEC. 12. If any person or persons intentionally make lagoons of water, whether on
their own or other land, after the gathering of the crops, from which lagoons dam-
age results to houses, common or private grounds or public roads, the person so offend-
# shall, on conviction, be fined in any sum not less than five nor more than ten dol-
3.18.
SEC. 13. Any person convicted of having committed injuries heretofore mentioned
shall pay to the party injured the damages assessed by three persons appointed for
that purpose by the justice.
S.Ed. 14. All fines arising from the provisions of this act shall be applied to the re-
pairs herein mentioned, and in case of not being so expended, they shall go into the
treasury of the county wherein they were collected.
SEC. 15. All acequias, public or private, when completed, shall be the property of
the persons who may have completed them, and no person or persons who may desire
the use of the waters of them shall be allowed to do so without the consent of a ma-
jority of the owners, and upon payment of a share proportionate to the primary cost
of the acequia or ditch to the amount of the land proposed to be irrigated, or the
quantity of water proposed to be used: Provided, That the provisions of this section
shall not apply to any acequias or ditches, public or private, that may pass from the
limits of any one county to within the lines of any other.
SEC. 16. Where any acequia or ditch, public or private, passes from within the
limits of any one county to within the lines of any other, such acequia, or ditch within
the proper precincts of the respective counties shall be under the exclusive control
and management of the officers of such precincts and counties.
SEC. 17. All the inhabitants shall have the right to construct either private or com-
mon acequias, and to take the water for them from wherever they can, with the dis-
tinct understanding to pay the owner through whose lands the acequias have to pass
a just compensation for the land used.
SEC. 18. If the owner or owners of lands where a new ditch for an acequia is to be
made should ask an exorbitant price as a compensation, which shall not be satisfac-
tory to the owner or owners of the acequia, the probate judge of the county shall
appoint three honest, skillful men to make an appraisement and fix the compensa-
tion, which once done shall be executed and without appeal.
SEC. 19. When any public ditch or part thereof shall be destroyed by rain, or in any
other manner, and it shall be absolutely impossible to reconstruct it where it ran be-
fore it was destroyed, the major-domo of the ditch, with the consent, should they
deem it necessary, of a majority of those baving a common interest therein, may cut
through the lands of any person or persons by first obtaining their consent, the com-
munity interested in the ditch offering to pay a compensation to be agreed upon be-
ºhem and the owner or owners of the lands through which the ditch is to be
opened.
SEC. 20. If the owner or owners who shall be solicited to permit the opening of a
new ditch through their lands should refuse or decline to accept the compensation
offered, or should ask a compensation which the interested parties consider exorbi-
tant, the major-domo shall lay the case before the justice of the peace of the precinct,
and he shall appoint three men, experts, to establish a just compensation to be paid
to the owner or owners through whose lands the ditch is to pass.
SEC. 21. Whenever three experts shall be appointed as appraisers, they shall file in
the office of the justice of the peace an oath impartially to discharge their duties, and
shall, proceed to the place where the land or lands are situated, and before apprais-
ing shall ascertain whether or not the ditch is destroyed, and whether the labor or
cost required to rebuild it would be so great as to render its reconstruction impossi-
ble; and if they think the injury done may be repaired they will so report to the
justice of the peace, and the land solicited for the purpose of opening the new ditch
shall in no manner be touched; but if they should think a part of the ditch irrep-
arably destroyed, they shall then examine the land or lands over which the new
ditch should be opened and the place where it should properly run.
SEC, 22. Whenever any land or lands of any person or persons are appraised the
appraisers shall file a report in the office of the justice of the peace who appointed
138 A L-AP WOL IV 16
\
242 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
them, giving the name of the person whose land was appraised and the sum to be
paid him by the parties interested in the public ditch for which the right of way
through the land is solicited; they shall also state, in the most distinct manner, the
place and point where the opening for the ditch is to be made, and the direction which
the ditch is to take through such land. !
SEC. 23. The parties interested shall possess the right of property in the land or
lands assigned to them, and in case of legal resistance being made they may in an
action of forcible entry and detainer, as provided by law, compel the person or per-
sons who interpose such resistance to desist therefrom ; but the parties interested
shall first pay the appraised value of the land or lands: Provided, That the appraisers
shall be impartial persons.
SEC. 24. In each F#. where public necessity requires it an election shall, on
the third Monday of February, 1880, be held, as hereinafter provided, for directors of
such of the acequias as irrigate different places.
SEC, 25. The manner of conducting the election, and the number of overseers, shall
be regulated by the justice of the peace, and the only persons entitled to vote at the
elections shall be the owners or renters of lands irrigated by the ditches or acequias. -
SEC. 26. The overseers shall Superintend the repairs and excavations on the ditches
or acequias; apportion the number of laborers furnished by the proprietors; regulate
them according to the quantity of land to be irrigated by each one; distribute and
apportion the water in the proportion to which each one is entitled according to the
land cultivated by him, taking into consideration the nature of the seed, crops, and
plants cultivated.
SEC, 27. If any overseer of any public ditch or acequia shall willfully neglect or
refuse to fulfill his duties, or conduct himself with impropriety or injustice, or take
any bribe in money, property, or otherwise, he shall be fined for each of such offenses
in a sum not exceeding $90, to be recovered before any justice of the peace in the
county, one-half the sum to be paid to the county and the other half to the person
bringing suit; and on a second conviction may be removed from his office on petition
of two-thirds of the proprietors of the land irrigated. -
SEC, 28. In all cases of removal the justice of the peace shall order a new election
to fill the vacancy occasioned by it.
SEC. 29. The pay and other perquisites of the overseers shall be determined by a
majority of the owners of the land irrigated by the ditch or acequia. - -
SEC. 30. In acequias of extended irrigation, and where the lands which they irri-
gate are unequal, and some persons have at once several sections and parts in other
sections, there shall be elected a chief major-domo, an assistant major-domo, and
three acequia, commissioners. The duties of the commissioners shall be to regulate
the number of laborers for the respective acequias for which they have been elected,
that shall be furnished by each owner or tenant of irrigable lands to be irrigated.
Should it be necessary, or should any three persons, owners, or tenants require it,
the commissioners shall measure the lands in order to better apportion the number
of laborers that each owner or tenant shall supply for the cleaning up of the acequias,
and for any subsequent work which public necessity may demand during the year,
the care of which is charged to the major-domos and assistant major-domos, the chief
major-domo being always the Superior officer; and he, with his assistant, shall take
care that the acequias shall be kept running in all their vigor from the time the
water is first let in after cleaning until the crops no longer require it.
SEC. 31. Whenever a list has been made by the acequia commissioners, as provided
in the foregoing section, at any of the acequias, or by any major-domo and his assist-
ant, where commissioners are not elected, another list shall be made and delivered to
the justice of the peace, who shall record it for the reference of all interested parties
and in order that the work may be so ordered.
SEC. 32. The chief majors-domo of all the acequias shall be the receivers and
disbursers of all the fines resulting from their respective acequias, and on the tenth
of October in each year they shall give an account to the justices of the peace of
their precincts of the fines received and the manner in which they have disbursed
any part of them.
ŠEo. 33, Should the commissioners be charged with the duty of measuring the
lands, they shall be paid at the rate of two dollars, per diem during the time they
may be so occupied, which sum shall be paid from the respective funds belonging to
the acequias.
SEC. 34. In the elections overy owner or tenant of irrigable lands irrigated by any
of the acequias shall be entitled to vote and be voted for... The persons receiving the
greatest number of votes shall be declared elected to their respective offices, and
shall receive a certificate of the same from their respective justices of the peace. All
such elections shall be held from and after the year eighteen hundred and eighty-one,
on the first Monday of January in each year. - f
SEc. 35. All persons interested in a common ditch or acequia, be they owners or
lessees, shall labor thereon in proportion to their land.
oBLIGATIONS OF LAND ownBRs or TENANTs. 243
SEC. 36. All owners of tillable lands shall labor on public ditches or acequias,
whether they cultivate the land or not. ps
SEC. 37. Each proprietor shall furnish the number of laborers required by the over-
seer, at the time and place he may designate and for the time he may deem negessary.
Séc. 38. If a proprietor of land irrigated by any such ditch or acequia shall ne-
glect or refuse to furnish the number of laborers required by the overseer after hav-
ing been legally notified, he shall be fined for each offense in a sum not exceeding-
ten dollars for the benefit of the ditch or acequia, and the overseer shall be a compe-
tent witness to prove the offense. •
SF.C. 39. If any person shall in any manner obstruct, interfere with, or disturb
any of the ditches or acequias, or use the water therefrom without the consent of the
overseer during the time of cultivation, he shall pay for each offense a sum not ex-
ceeding ten dollars and all damages that may have accrued to the injured parties,
and if the person or persons are unable to pay the fine and damages they shall be
sentenced to fifteen days’ labor on public works.
SEC. 40. All overseers of ditches shall see that the water currents run so that no
injury may result to the proprietors of lands or tenements or to the public conven-
ience; and in case danger is anywhere threatened by the ditches, either from in-
crease of water or by inundation, from which damage might result, the overseers
are required, if the damage might result to but one precinct, to report the danger
to the justice of the peace, and if to two or more, to the probate judge of the county.
SEC. 41. The probate judge, or the justice of the peace, shall appoint three suit-
able persons to make an examination, and if they shall sustain the report made by
the overseer the probate judge or the justice of the peace shall order all persons
owning real estate within the limits considered in danger to meet together, and, un-
der direction of the overseer or some other person appointed, set about the preven-
tion of damages by the construction of breakwaters, barriers, or any other work
deemed advisable as a means of a averting the threatened injury: Provided, That
the labor shall be performed in proportion to the property of each person interested
in the same. -
SEC. 42. In all cases where it becomes necessary to take any of the steps mentioned,
the person in charge shall direct the labor, notify the parties interested of the num-
ber of laborers to be furnished and the part of the work assigned to such parties re-
spectively, and informing them of the place where work shall cominence and the day
appointed for commencing it : Provided, That if after receiving the notice any person
or persons shall fail to comply, the person in charge may report to the judge or jus-
tice by whom he was appointed who shall cause the delinquent to appear, and fine
him in any sum not less than five dollars.
SEC. 43. Every person being a tiller of irrigated lands, who shall have commenced
the performance of his part in the common labor on any public acequia, is and shall
be obligated to continue on that work until the completion of the cleansing of the
3,000. Ullà.
§. 44. If any owners or lessees of lands shall attempt to abandon their co-laborers
without complying with sections forty-five and forty-six, they shall each pay a fine of
not less than five dollars, nor more than ten dollars.
SEC. 45. If any person having his fields on the upper portion of an acequia, having
reached such fields, shall propose for any cause or causes, reason or pretext, to aban-
don his co-laborers, or to withdraw his quota of laborers, he shall not be permitted
so to do until the completion of the cleansing of the acequia: Provided, That touching
the repairs and excavations to be made, the proper proportion of labor shall be fur-
nished by the owners, and the majors-domo shall superintend the work as heretofore
provided. If in any acequias already constructed there shall be included any dikes
and dams which may have been destroyed, and the parties interested in such dikes
and dams shall have agreed or contracted to work on the acequia, they shall remain
and fulfill their engagements.
SEC. 46. As in the excavation of such acequias, and in the first cleansing of some of
them, the work sometimes continues for thirty days, more or less, the different majors-
domo shall take into consideration the small amount of land tilled by some, and shall
not compel these to furnish as much labor as is required of those having larger inter-
eStS.
SEC, 47. Every owner or tenant of irrigable lands, irrigated by any of the acequias,
shall be compelled to hold at all times during the operations of any acequia to which
they belong, the number of laborers to them assigned, at the disposal and order of
the major-domo of such acequia, or his assistant, and it shall not be legal for any owner
or tenant of irrigable lands, to absent himself for a time exceeding three days with-
out informing the chief major-domo in regard to the persons remaining in his stead,
and he shall present them, so that in his presence they may assume the responsibilities
during the time of his absence. All the responsibilities of the absentees shall fall on
the substitutes, and no other persons shall be admitted as substitutes. And if any
owner or tenanſ, of irrigable lands shall absent himself from the precinct during the
l
244. IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
time the acequias are in operation, without complying with the duty imposed upon
him, he shall besides paying the penalty fixed by the major-domo, be responsible for
an amount equal to the value of the labor due at a just and common estimate per
diem for the time he was absent and for the number of laborers that may have been
assigned to him. Nor shall any proprietor, on account of having rented his lands
reserving a part for himself, be exempted from working on the acequia at any time
of the work.
SEC, 48. This section relates to the penalties for failure to perform work due on an
acequia, the disbursement of the sums collected as fines, etc.
SEC. 49. All currents and sources of water, such as springs, rivers, ditches flowing
from natural sources, shall be and they are by this act declared free, in order that
all persons traveling shall have the right to take water therefrom for their own use
and that of the animals under their charge; but the word traveler shall not in any
manner extend to persons who travel with a large number of animals; such persons
shall not use the water of any spring belonging to any individual, without having
first obtained the consent of the owner. And if any person in transit or traveling,
at the time of using any of the water mentioned, shall cause any injury to the fields,
to lands under crop, or to other property of any person, he shall pay to the injured
party all damages that may have been done: Provided, further, That this act shall in
no manner apply to wells: Provided, further, That this act shall not be applicable to
}. or reservoirs of water that persons may construct for their own proper use and
benefit, and no person under pretext of title to the sources, springs, rivers, or ditches,
shall have the right to embarrass or hinder, or molest any transient person or traveler
in or at the time of taking the water for his proper use and giving water to his
animals. -
SEC. 50. Hereafter, if any person or persons shall embarrass, hinder, and molest any
person or persons at the time they may wish to take water for their animals, and
shall claim or demand any compensation for the use of the same, the person or per-
sons so offending shall be fined not less than twenty-five dollars, nor more than fifty
dollars, and shall be liable to pay all the damages caused to the person hindered.
SEC. 51. Every person who shall foul the water of any stream, or throw into any
ditch, river, or spring of flowing water any dead or pestiferous animal or other filth,
dirty vessels, or other impurities that might injure the general health of the inhabit-
ants of any town or settlement, shall be fined notºess than one dollar nor more than
ten dollars.
SEC. 52. The major-domos of the ditches, and the commissioners of the same, shall
prosecute all persons violating the provisions of this act.
SEC. 53. All the salt lakes, with the salt which has accumulated or may accumulate
on their shores, are and shall be free to the citizens; and each one shall have power
to collect salt on any occasion free from molestation or disturbance. If any person
or persons shall prevent, or attempt to prevent, any other person or persons from
gathering salt, or going for or returning with it, or if any persons shall arm or em-
body themselves for any or either of the above purposes, or shall molest, disturb hin-
der, or annoy any person or persons while gathering, salt, or going to or returning
from any salt lake, or shall interfere with the salt gathered, or the animals, carts, or
wagons, or any other convenience used in its carriage, shall be guilty of felony, and
shall be punished by confinement in the county jail or Territorial prison not less than
two nor more than seven years, nor be fined not less than one thousand dollars.
SEC. 1305. The different communities or Pueblos of Indians residing within our
settlements shall be subject to render their services in Working the acequias and high-
ways in which they have the common use of the water of said acequias with the im-
mediate citizens to their Pueblos, and enjoy at the same time the benefit and commer-
cial traffic : Provided, That in such service they shall be entirely subject to the laws
now in force on both branches of roads and acequias.
In addition to the foregoing there prevails among the Pueblo Indians of New Mex-
ico the custom of annually electing a major-domo by all interested. He has control
over the distribution of the water and calls out the help required for repairs, etc.,
müch in the same manner as practiced among the Mexicans.
TEXAS IRRIGATION LAW.
CHAP. 88–ſs. H. B. No. 298.] An act to encourage irrigation, and to provide for the acquisition of
the right to the use of water, and for the construction and maintenange of canals, ditches, flumes,
reservoirs, and wells for irrigation, and for mining, milling, and stockraising in the arid districts
of Texas,
SECTION 1. That the unappropriated waters of every river or natural stream within
the arid portions of the State of Texas, in which, by reason of the insufficient rain-
fall, irrigation is necessary for agricultural purposes, may be diverted from its natural
channel for irrigation, domestic, and other beneficial uses: Provided, That said water
shall not be diverted so as to deprive any person Who claims, owns, or holds a posses-
THE IRRIGATION PROVISIONS OF TEXAS. 245
2
sory right or title to any land lying along the bank or margin of any river or natural
stream of the use of the water thereof for his own doinestic use. -
SEC. 2. That the unappropriated waters of every river or natural stream within the
arid portions of the State, as described in the preceding section of this act, are hereby
declared to be the property of the public, and may be acquired by appropriation for
the uses and purposes as hereinafter provided. -
SEC. 3. Thé appropriation must be for the purpose named in this act, and when
the appropriator, or his successor in interest, ceases to use it for such purposes the
right ceases.
SEC. 4. As between appropriators, the one first in time is the one first in right to
such quantity of the water only as is reasonably sufficient and necessary to irrigate the
land susceptible of irrigation on either side of ditch or canal.
SEC. 5. Every person, corporation, or association of persons which have constructed
or may hereafter construct any ditch, canal, or reservoir, for the purposes named in
this act, and taking water from any natural stream, shall, within ninety days after
this act goes into effect, or within ninety days after the commencement of such con-
struction, file and cause to be recorded in the office of the county clerk of the county
where the head gate of such ditch or canal may be situated, or to which said county
may be attached for judicial purposes, in a well-bound book to be kept by said clerk
for that purpose, a sworn statement in writing, showing the name of such ditch or
canal, the point at which the head gate thereof is situated, the size of the ditch or
canalin width and depth, and the carrying capacity thereof in cubic feet per second of
time, the name of said stream from which said water is taken, the time when the work
was commenced, and the name of the owners or owner thereof, together with a map
showing the route of said ditch or canal.
SEC. 6. Within ninety days next after the filing of said statement, the party claim-
ing the right to appropriate the water shall begin the actual construction of the pro-
posed ditch, canal, or reservoir, and shall prosecute the work thereon diligently and
continuously to completion. T
SEC. 7. “Completion,” as used in the preceding section, is hereby defined to be the
conducting of the water in the main canal to the place of intended use.
SEC. 8. By compliance with the preceding provisions of this act the claimant's
right to the use of the water relates back to the time when the work of excavation
or construction was commenced on said proposed ditch, canal, or reservoir: Provided,
That a failure to file said statement shall in no wise work a forfeiture of such hereto-
fore acquired rights, nor prevent such claimants of such heretofore acquired rights
from establishing such rights in the courts.
SEC. 9. When any person, corporation, or association of persons, by compliance
with the preceding provisions of this act, shall become entitled to the use of the
waters in any river or stream, it shall thereafter be unlawful for any other person,
corporation, or association of persons, except for domestic use by any one entitled
thereto, to so divert the flow of water in said river or stream in such manner and to
the extent of depriving said person, corporation, or association of persons in priority
of the use of the water to which they may be so entitled.
SEC. 10. Corporations may be formed and chartered under the provisions of this act
and of the general incorporation laws of the State of Texas, for the purpose of con-
structing, maintaining, and operating canals, ditches, flumes, feeders, laterals, reser-
voirs, and Wells, and of conducting, transferring, and furnishing water to all persons
entitled to the same, for irrigation and domestic uses, and for the purpose of building
storage reservoirs for the collection and storage of water for the uses before men-
tioned, and for mining, milling, and stock-raising. All persons who own or hold a
possessory right or title to land adjoining or contiguous to any canal, ditch, flume,
or lateral, constructed and maintained under the provisions of this act, and who shall
bave secured a right to the use of water in said canal, ditch, flume, or lateral, shall
be entitled to be supplied from such canal, ditch, flume, or lateral with water for
irrigation of such land and domestic uses: Provided, The party so entitled shall first
make available his said land for agricultural or grazing purposes, and shall provide
cisterns, wells, or storage reservoirs for water for domestic purposes.
SEC. 11. All corporations and associations formed for the purposes of irrigation as
provided in this act, are hereby granted the right of way, not to exceed one hundred
feet in width, over all public, university, school, and asylum lands of the State, with
the use of the rock, gravel, and timber on the right of way, for construction pur-
poses, and may obtain the right of way over private lands by contract. Any such
corporation may also obtain the right of way over private lands by condemnation by
causing the damages for any private property appropriated by such corporations or
associations to be assessed and paid for as provided in cases of railroads.
SEC. 12. All surplus water not used or disposed of, as provided for in the preced-
ing sections of this act, shall be conducted back to the stream from which it was
taken. And all water sold or disposed of may be measured in inches, feet, or frac-
tional portion of the whole supply, or distributed by the hour or acre system. But
246 ÍRRíGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
any person, corporation, or association of persons shall furnish water in the way and
manner named in the contract of certificate issued to the purchasers of said water, so
long as water remains unsold in the ditch: Provided, That the commissioner of agri-
culture, insurance, statistics, and history shall make a report to the legislature at its
next regular session, and at each regular session thereafter, as to the cost and expense
attending the construction and maintenance of canals, ditches, flumes, feeders, and
wells for irrigation in various parts of the State, and accompany the same with a
statement of the charges made for the uses of water by canal, ditch, and well com-
anies, and the legislature shall, at such times as it deems, proper, either by direct
egislation or by the creation of a commissioner or water inspector or inspectors, with
full delegated power, control and regulate the quantity of water which may be di-
verted by any water company or individual, when and in the manner in which it
may be diverted, and may establish and enforce all such reasonable rules and regula-
tions necessary and proper governing and controlling such corporations and water
Construction companies and persons operating under the provisions of this act, and
may also control, regulate, change, and fix the charges for the use of water made by
such ditch, canal, and well companies,
SEC. 13. All said persons, corporations, and associations shall have the right to
run along or across all roads and highways necessary in the construction of their
work, and shall at all such crossings construct and maintain necessary bridges for
the accommodation of the public, and shall not affect or impair the usefulness or
condition of said road or highway.
SEC. 14. Any person who shall willfully or through gross negligence injure any irri-
gating canal or its appurtenances, wells, or reservoirs, or who shall waste the water
thereof, or shall take the water therefrom without authority shall be deemed guilty
of a misdemeanor, and for each offense shall be liable to a fine not exceeding five
hundred dollars.
SEC. 15. Any corporation created and organized under the provisions of the gen-
eral laws of this State or the provisions of this act for the purpose of irrigation shall
have the power to acquire lands by voluntary donation or purchase or in payment of
stock or water rights, and to hold and dispose of all such lands and other property,
and to borrow money for the construction, maintenance, and operation of its canals,
ditches, flumes, feeders, reservoirs, and wells, and may issue bonds and mortgage its
corporate property and franchises to secure the payment of any debt contracted for
the same : Provided, All lands acquired by said corporation, except such as are used
for the construction, maintenance, and operation of said canals, ditches, laterals,
feeders, reservoirs, and wells shall be alienated within twenty years from the date of
acquiring said lands or be subject to judicial forfeiture.
SEC. 16. All laws and parts of laws in conflict with the provisions of this act are
hereby repealed.
SEc. 17. Whereas it is necessary that irrigating canals should be built at once to
afford water for irrigational purposes for the present year; therefore an emergency
exists, and an imperative public necessity demands the suspension of the constitu,
tional rule which requires a bill to be read on three several days, and that this act
take effect and be in force from and after its passage.
CHAPTER REGULATING THE MODE OF IRRIGATION,
ART. 2982. The commissioners' court are authorized to order, regulate, and control
the time, mode, and manner of erecting, repairing, cleaning, guarding, and protecting
the dams, ditches, roads, and bridges belonging to any irrigation farms and property
and the fences or other like protection in and around such farms: Provided, That such
farms, dams, ditches, and fences be owned conjointly by two or more different per-
sons: ‘And provided further, That the same be situated outside of a corporation hav-
ing jurisdiction thereof. º
Årst, 2983. Said courts shall have power to establish all needful police regulations
for the government and control of irrigation farms and property, and said courts
may assess and collect fines for breaches of any regulations established by them or by
the joint owners of such farms and property, or recognized by said court as consistent
with ancient usage and the law of the State; said courts may order meetings of joint
owners for the election of commissioners and other officers, and for the consideration
of any of their other interests, or the said court may proceed and elect said officers,
and may regulate the right of way, the stoppage and passage of the Water, and, the
right distribution of the shares of said water; they may forbid the running of slogk
at large on the common farm; they may fine for taking water out of turn and for
carelessness and wantonness in overflowing roads and neighboring lands, and gen-
erally they may do or cause to be done what they consider just and needful or bene-
ficial to the joint owners. © º º
ART. 2984. If any owner of a guerte or subdivision lot in said farm shall fail of refuse
to do or pay his proportion of labor and expense in and on any dam, ditches, fences,
PRIORITIES AND LOCAL CUSTOMS IN UTAH. 247
bridges, or other needful appurtenances to such irrigation farms, the commissioners'
court may lease said guerte: Provided, That such leasing shall be at public outcry,
after ten or more days of due public notice; and to the person bidding the shortest
term, not to exceed four years, who shall give good security to discharge faithfully all
such charge and work.
ART. 2986. Upon the application of the owners of any suitable lands and water and
the assurance and the proper security given the county, if required by said court, that
no injury will result to the public health, the commissioners' courts are authorized
by decree to license and permit any such owners to proceed and dam the water and
to ditch, fence, and irrigate their lands: Provided, That joint owners of all irrigation
farms shall be liable for damages done to the public or to any person by reason of the
overflow of such irrigation water; suit to be brought against the person occasioning
the injury or in such other way as may be sanctioned by said court.
ART. 2986. If, in the establishment of any new project of irrigation or the extension
thereof, the commissioners’ court deem it of sufficient importance to order a dam or
ditch to be made on the lands of any person refusing to consent thereto, the said
court, after giving such person actual notice in writing and full hearing and consid-
eration of his objections, may decree the making of the same and shall depute two or
more discreet and disinterested freeholders of the vicinage to arbitrate and fix the
amount of damage permanently sustained by such person, which shall, by that or
another such commission, be levied upon and paid forthwith by the applicants for
such irrigation project in the ratio of the interest and several shares of the said ap-
plicants and joint owners, and the said courts may, after like personal notice to par-
ties interested, order the multiplication or extension of any ditches for irrigation,
and of irrigation, and of irrigation farms at and below, or at the sides of other such
property, when it shall be the duty of such court to proceed and assess all just fines
and equitable damages, and to fix and direct the rate and amount and kind of work,
labor, and tax to be paid by any of such applicants and others, according to their
interest.
ART. 2987. Where the health of the public may be injured by irrigation or the dam-
ming up of water for any purpose it shall be the duty of the commissioners' courts,
after due mature hearing and consideration, to decree the discontinuance, and they
shall proceed and break up and discontinue all such dams, ditches, and irrigation,
sº the same have been heretofore ever so long in existence or may hereafter be
Started.
ART. 2996. All corporations for irrigration or navigation are hereby granted the
right of way, not to exceed one hundred feet in width, over all public, university,
school, and asylum lands, with use of necessary rock, gravel, and timber for con-
struction purposes, and may attain the right of way over private lands by contract,
or the damages for any private appropriated by such corporations shall be assessed
and paid for as provided for in cases of railroads.
ART. 3000. Whenever any canal or ditch for irrigation shall be constructed under
the provisions of this chapter, all persons owning lands adjacent to and irrigable
from said canal or ditch, shall have the right to use the water of said canal or ditch,
under such regulations as may be prescribed by law or by the commissioners' court
of the county where such lands are situated.
|UTAH IRRIGATION LAWS.
WATER RIGHTS.
SEC. 422. Whenever, by priority of possession, rights to the use of water for min-
ing, agriculture, manufacturing, or other purposes, have vested and accrued, and
the same, are recognized and acknowledged by the local customs, laws, and the de-
cisions of courts, àe possessors and owners of such vested rights shall be maintained
and protected in the same; and the right of way for the construction of ditches and
canals for the purposes herein specified is acknowledged and confirmed; but when-
ever any person, in the construction of any ditch or canal, injures or damages the
possession of any settler on the public domain, the party committing such injury or
damage shall be liable to the party injured for such injury or damage.
SEC. 423. All patents granted, or pre-emption or homesteads allowed, shall be sub-
ject to any vested and accrued water right, or rights to ditches and reservoirs used
in connection with such Water rights, as may have been acquired under or recognized
by the preceding section. º
SEC. 424. The right to the use of Water for the reclamation of desert lands, in ac-
cordance with the provisions of an act approved March third, eighteen hundred and
seventy-seven, shall depend upon bona fide prior appropriation; and such right shall
not exceed the amount of Water actually appropriated, and nécessarily used for the
purpose of irrigation and reclamation; and all surplus water over and above such
actual appropriation and use, together with the water of lakes, rivers, and other
248 IRRIGATION IN TEIE UNITED STATES..
j
Sources of Water supply upon the public lands and not Inavigable, shall remain and
be held free for the appropriation and use of the public for irrigation, mining, and
manufacturing purposes, subject to existing rights.
SEC. 425. All navigable rivers, within the Territory occupied by the public lands,
Shall remain and be deemed public highways; and in all cases where the Opposite
banks of any streams not navigable belong to different persons, the stream and the
bed thereof shall become common to both.
SEC. 2775. S 1. The selectmen of the several counties of this Territory are hereby
created ex officio water commissioners for their respective counties, whose powers
and duties shall be to make, or cause to be made and recorded, such observations,
from time to time, as they may deem necessary, of the quantity and flow of water in
the natural sources of supply, and to determiné, as near as may be, the average flow
thereof at any season of the year, and to receive, hear, and détermine all claims to
the use of water, and on the receipt of satisfactory proof of any right to the use of
Water haying vested, to issue to the person owning such right a certificate therefor
fºr recording, and to generally oversee, in person, or by agents appointed by them,
the distribution of water within their respective counties, from natural sources of
supply, to all the corporations or persons having joint rights in and to any natural
Source of supply, and to fairly distribute, according to the nature and extent of
recorded rights, and according to law, to each of said corporations or persons their
Several portions of such water; and in case of dispute between any of such per-
Sons or corporations as to the nature or extent of their rights to the use of water or
right of way, or damages therefor, of any one or more of such persons or corporations,
to hear and decide upon all such disputed rights, and to file a copy of their findings
and decisions as to such rights with the county recorder, and to distribute the water
According to such findings or decision, unless otherwise ordered by a court of compe-
tent jurisdiction.
SEC. 2776. S2. In cases where persons, or corporations, use water in different counties
from the same natural source of supply, the water commissioners of each of said
counties shall unite in appointing, either from among their number or otherwise, as
they may determine, a board of reference of not less than three competent persons, to
hear and decide all disputes in regard to water rights in and to such natural source
of supply, and they shall file a copy of their decision with the county recorders of
each of said counties; said water commissioners and members of the board of refer-
ence shall each, respectively, have power to administer oaths, and if any person who
may be duly sworn in any matter in relation to the nature, extent, or exercise of any
right or duty under any of the provisions of this act, shall falsely swear, such person
shall be deemed guilty of perjury.
SEC. 2777. s 3. The certificate of the water commissioners shall state generally the
nature and extent of the right to use water of the person, or corporation, to whom it
is issued, and must be filed with the county recorder for recording.
SEC. 2778, s 4. It shall be the duty of the county recorder of each county, upon
any certificate of water commissioners being filed in his office, as prescribed by this
act, and upon any findings or decisions of any commissioners, or board of reference,
as to the extent of any such rights, and upon payment of the fees allowed by law for
such service, to record, in a book, or books, to be kept by him for such purposes, all
such certificates, findings, and decisions, which said record shall be deemed to impart
notice to all persons whomsoever of the contents thereof, and shall be prima facie
evidence of the existence and verity of the facts therein recited.
SEC. 2779. , s 5. No person, or corporation, shall maintain any sult, at law or in
equity, for the determination of the existence or extent of any right, or rights, to
the use of water in this Territory, until after the decision of the proper county com-
missioners, or of the proper board of reference, as the case may be, unless said com-
missioners, or board, shall fail and neglect to bear and decide such person's claim of
right to use of water for more than three months after such person may have pre-
sented, in writing, his claim, or claims, and evidence in support thereof, for adjudi-
cation: Provided, This section shall not be construed to affect or impair the authority
or jurisdiction of any court in the issuance of a temporary injunction or restraining
order in such cases, or to abridge the right of any person aggrieved by any such
decision to maintain any lawful suit, or appeal, after such decision may have been
made. -
SEC.3780, s 6. A right to the use of water for any useful purposes, such as for
domestic purposes, irrigating lands, propelling machinery, washing and sluicing
ores, and other like purposes, is hereby recognized and acknowledged to have vested
and accrued, as a primary right, to the extent of, and reasonable necessity for such
use thereof, under any of the following circumstances:
1. Whenever any person or persons shall have taken, diverted, and used any of the
unappropriated water of any natural stream, water-course, lake, or Spring, or other
natural source of supply. tº
2. Whenever any person or persons shall have had the open, peaceable, uninter-
rupted, and continuous use of water for a period of SøVen years,
{
THE RIGHT OF USE AND DUTY OF REPAIR. 249
*.
SEC. 2781. s.7. A secondary right to the use of water for any of said purposes is
hereby recognized and acknowledged to have vested and accrued (subject to the per-
fect and complete use of all preliminary rights) to the extent of and reasonable
necessity for such use thereof, under any of the following circumstances:
1. Whenever the whole of the waters of any natural stream, water-course, lake,
spring, or other natural source of supply has been taken, diverted, and used by prior
appropriators for a part, or parts, of each year only ; and other persons have subse:
quently appropriated any part, or the whole, of such water during any other part of
such year, such person shall be deemed to have a secondary right.
2. Whenever, at the time of an unusual increase of water exceeding seven years
average flow of such water, at the same season of each year, all the water of such ay-
erage flow then being used by prior appropriators, and other persons appropriate
and use such increase of water, such persons shall be deemed to have acquired a
secondary right.
SEC. 2782. S 8. A right to the use of water may be measured by fractional parts of
the whole source of supply, or by such fractional parts, with a limitation as to peri-
ods of time when used, or intended to be used; or it may be measured by cubic inches
with a limitation as to periods of time when used or intended to be used; or it may
be measured by cubic inches with a limitation specifying the depth, width, and dec-
lination of the water at point of measurement, and, if necessary, with a further limi-
tation as to periods of time when used, or intended to be used, and such right may
be appurtenant to the land upon which such water is used, or it may be personal
property, at the option of the rightful owner of such right, and a change of the place
of use of water shall in no manner affect the validity of any person’s right to use
water, but no person shall change the place of use of water, to the damage of his co-
owners in such right, withous just compensation.
SEC. 2783. S 9. A continuous neglect to keep in repair any means of diverting or
conveying water, or a continuous failure to use any right to water, for a period of
Seven years at any time after the passage of this act, shall be held to be abandon-
ment and forfeiture of such right, and whenever hereafter a conveyance of any parcel
of land is executed, and a right to the use of water has been continuously exercised
from the time of its first appropriation, in irrigating such land, such right shall pass
to the grantee of such conveyance; and in cases where such right has been exer-
cised in irrigating different parcels of land at different times, such right shall pass to
the grantee of any parcel of land on which such right was exercised next preceding
the time of the execution of any conveyance thereof; subject, hewever, in all cases
to payment by the grantee of any such conveyance, of all amounts unpaid on any as-
sessment then due upon any such right: Provided, That in any of the cases men-
tioned in this section, any such right to the use of water, or any part thereof, may be
reserved by the grantor of any such conveyance, by making such reservation in ex-
press terms inserted in such conveyance.
SEC. 2784: s 10. All rights to the use of water, and means of diverting water, shall
be exempt from taxation, except for the purpose of regulating the use of the exercise
of such right in all cases where the land or other property upon which the pertaining
to such rights is assessable for taxation, but in making the assessment the assessor
shall estimate the increased value of such land or other property, caused by the use
of such water.
SEC. 2785, s 11. It shall be the duty of all persons using water from any natural
Source of Supply to provide suitable ditches for conveying surplus water again into
the natural channel, or other places of use, to the satisfaction or approval of the
Water commissioners; and if, through neglect so to provide such ditches, water is al-
lowed to form pools or marshes, or otherwise run to waste, and if any person shall turn
or use any water in a manner that damages the property of another, except when such
turning or using in the prudent, careful exercise of such person’s lawful right to so
turn or use, such person or persons so offending shall be liable for damages to any
aggrieved person entitled to the use of water from the same source of supply, and the
Water Commissioners may, on application, or of their own motion, cause the water sup-
ply to be diverted from such offending party until such waste ditches are provided.
SEG. 2786. S 12. Whenever the terms mentioned in this section are employed in this
act, they are employed in the sense hereinafter affixed to them, except when a dif-
ferent sense plainly appears:
1. The term “person,” when applicable, includes “firm,” “partnership,” “joint
stock company,” “association,” and “corporation.”
2. Words in the singular number may include the plural, and words in the mascu-
line may include the feminine.
3. The term “continuous use” includes use for that part of each year necessary for
the purpose used for.
SEC, 2787. S 14. Whenever the waters of any natural source of supply are not suffi-
cient for the service of all those having primary rights to the use of the same, such
water shall be distributed to each owner of such right in proportion to its extent, but
250 ~
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
those using the water for domestic purposes shall have the preference over those
claiming for any other purpose, and those using the water for irrigating lands shall
have preference over those using the same for any other purpose, except domestic
purposes: Provided, Such preference shall not be exercised to the injury of any vested
right, without just compensation for such injury.
SEC. 2788, s 15. All persons shall have the right of way across and upon public,
private, and corporate lands, or other right of way, for the construction and repair
of all necessary reservoirs, dams, water-gates, canals, ditches, or flumes, other means
of securing and conveying water for any necessary public use, or for drainage, upon
payment of just compensation therefor, but such right of way shall in all cases be
exercised in a mapner not to unnecessarily impair the practical use of any other right
of way, highway, or public or private road, nor to unnecessarily injure any public or
private property.
SEC. 2789, s 16. Whenever a majority of individuals owning several rights to the
use of water, and a joint interest in the means of diverting or conveying such water,
or who may desire to divert and use any unappropriated water, desire to organize
themselves into an association for the purposes of regulating the diversion and distri-
bution of such water, they may organize into a corporation in the manner provided
in “An act providing for incorporating associations for mining, manufacturing, com-
mercial, and other industrial pursuits,” approved February 18, 1870, and all amend-
ments thereto, with power to levy and collect all necessary assessments, and the dis-
tribution of water to each stockholder may be regarded as the payment of dividends,
and such corporation shall have perpetual succession, unless dissolved by three years'
non-use of its rights, or by a two-thirds majority vote of its members, at a meeting
called for that purpose; in all cases of dissolution, the property held by the corpora-
tion shall revert to the members in proportion to their rights therein, or they may
organize into an irrigation district, under “An act to incorporate irrigation compa-
nies,” approved January 20, 1856, as they may elect.
AN ACT COMPILING THE LAWS RELATING TO THE INCORPORATION OF IRRIGATION
COMPANIES.
SEC. 2403. s 1. Be it enacted, etc., That upon the majority of the citizens of any
county or part thereof, representing to the county couru that more water is necessary,
and that there are streams or parts of streams unclaimed or unused, which, if brought
out of their natural channels and thrown upon tracts of land under cultivation, or to
be put under cultivation, can be of value to the interests of agriculture, the county
court having jurisdiction may proceed to organize the county, or part thereof, into
an irrigation district; and thereafter the land-holders of such district shall be
equally entitled to the use of the water in or to be brought into such district, accord:
ing to their acknowledged rights: Provided, Such land-holders pay their proportion of
the expense incurred in the construction and keeping in repair of the necessary
canals, flumes, dams, or ditches,
SEC. 2404. s. 2. The citizens of an irrigation district, when so organized for the pur-
poses provided in the preceding section, may, in mass-meeting, proceed to the for-
mation of a company, by electing, viva voce, not less than three nor more than thirteen
trustees, a secretary, and a treasurer. Notice of the time, place, and object of Said
mass-meeting shall be given by the clerk of the county court at least ten days pre-
vious by advertising three times in some newspaper having general circulation in the
county, and by posting up notices in three public places in the district.
SEC. 2405. s. 3. It shall be the duty of the trustees so elected to locate the proposed
canal or ditch, determine the amount and quality of the land to be benefited thereby,
to estimate the cost, including dams, flumes, locks, waste-weirs, and all the appur-
tenances belonging thereto, the amount per acre of the percentage on taxable prop-
erty which will be necessary to construct the same.
SEC. 2406. s 4. It shall then be the duty of the trustees to make a report to the
county court of the location and estimate provided for in section 3 of this act; also
to call a meeting of the holders of the lands to be benefited by the proposed canal or
ditch, at which a copy of said report shall be presented, and the said land-holders
shall vote “yes” or “no "upon the following questions:
1. Do you mutually agree to pay — per acre, land tax, to construct the proposed
canal or ditch 3 -
2. Do you approve the action of the mass-meeting in the election of officers?
Notice shall be given by the trustees at least ten days previous to the time ap-
pointed for such meeting, by advertising at least three times in some newspaper hav-
ing general circulation in the county, and by posting up notices in three public places
in the district. Said advertisement and notice shall state distinctly the time and
place and object of such meeting, and be signed by a majority of the trustees and the
secretary. The voting at said meeting shaft be by ballot, and the chairman and see-
retary of said meeting shall be the judge and clerk of the election. A ballot-box shall
t;TAH frPIGATION BODIES AND HOW' FORMED. 251
be provided by the trustees, and each voter shall present his ballot to the judge of
election, who shall deposit it in the box, and the clerk shall write the name of the
voter in a poll-list or book, which shall also be provided by the trustees. No person
shall be entitled to vote at said meeting or election unless he is a land-holder in the
district. Immediately after the close of the election the ballots shall be openly
counted by the judge and clerk, assisted by two persons chosen by the voters present.
A certificate of the results of the election, signed by the persons who counted the
. shall be forwarded at once to the clerk of the county court by the judge of said
election.
SEC. 2407. s 5. If upon counting the votes it shall appear that two-thirds of the
votes polled have been answered in the affirmative, then the tax so agreed upon shall
be a law in the said irrigation district; and the tax when collected shall be paid
over to the treasurer of said company on his order: Provided, That not exceeding one-
half of the tax so agreed upon shall be collected at one time, and the residue to be col-
lected as the work progresses: Provided further, That if the first estimate prove in-
sufficient for the construction of the canal or ditch with its appurtenances, then ad-
ditional taxes may be assessed in the same manner as hereinbefore provided until the
said canal or ditch is completed.
SEC, 2408. s 6. If less than two-thirds of the votes polled are answered in the affirm-
ative, then all proceedings under this act shall be null and of no effect: Provided, That
if there are objections to the officers so elected by the mass-meetings, the electors may
write other names on their tickets; the persons having the most votes to be declared
elected, and it shall be the duty of the county clerk to notify such officers forthWith
of their election.
SEC. 2409. s. 7. Within twenty days after receiving such notice, the officers So
elected shall file bonds in the office of the clerk of the county court, conditioned for
the faithful performance of their several duties; the amount of such bonds to be de-
clared by the county court having jurisdiction.
SEC. 2410. s 8. The term of office of the first trustees, secretary, and treasurer shall
be till the next general election, and thereafter for two years, and until their suc-
cessors are elected and file bonds. -
SEC. 2411. S 9. All subsequent elections for determining the rate of tax shall be
held annually on the first Monday in December, and for the election of company offi-
cers, biennially, on the same day, at such time and place within the district as shall
be designated by the trustees, at which time the number of trustees may be changed
by a two-thirds vote to not less than three nor more than thirteen. Notice of said
election shall be given and the election conducted and certificates thereof returned,
as provided in section 4 of this act, and the officers elected shall give bonds as pro-
vided in section 7 of this act. The rate of tax determined at said election by a ma-
jority vote shall be a law in said irrigation district, and shall constitute a permanent
lien on the interest of the tax-payer in said canal or ditch and his right to the use of
the water therein flowing from the day of assessment: Provided, That no tax created
or payable by this act shall be or create a lien upon the land.
SEC. 24.12. s 10. The trustees at their first meeting shall elect one of their number
president, and it shall be their duty and they shall bave power to fill any vacancy
which may occur in the board by death, change of residence, or otherwise; and the
persons chosen for this purpose shall hold office until the next annual election. The
trustees shall also have power to meet at such times and places as they may deem
expedient to make by-laws, rules, and regulations necessary to carry into effect the
objects of the people; to appoint agents, subordinates, and officers, and employ such
workmen as may be requisite; to appoint assessors and collectors, or make agreement
with the county assessors to assess and collect the tax, and notify collectors when
additional installments of the tax will be needed; to construct and complete said
canals or ditches, with all necessary appurtenances thereto; to cause to be kept an
account of all receipts and disbursements, and to complete said canals and ditches,
and settle all accounts of the same. Said trustees shall make an annual report of
their proceedings under this act to the county court on or before the first day of Feb-
ruary, and shall file with the clerk of the county court a map of said irrigation dis-
trict, showing the location and subdivision of land therein, and of the company’s
canals and ditches.
SEC. 2413, s 11. The trustees shall have power to sue and be sued, plead and be im-
pleaded, to have and to hold all such real estate and personal property as may be
necessary to construct the contemplated ditch or canal, including all appurtenances
belonging thereto.
SEC, 2414. S 12. If any part of the lands to be benefited by the proposed ditch or
canal are not legally claimed, then such lands may be appraised by the trustees and
shall be held and the possession of them sold by the trustees, as opportunity may
offer, and the estimated amount of the funds necessary to complete such canal or
ditch shall be decreased by the estimated value cf such lands, previous to the levy
and assessment of any tax.
252 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
…”
SEC. 2415, S 13. Where the streams to be taken out for irrigation purposes come
from counties other than the one in which the district is situated, but where there
are no existing claims to the water and where no individual or settlement will be in-
jured thereby, then the power of said irrigation district is hereby extended to said
other county, insomuch as said extension may be necessary for the construction of
dams to turn the waters, and ditches or canals with all necessary appurtenances as
may be necessary to convey the same to where it is to be used.
SEC. 2416. S 14. Where lakes or ponds in matural basins have outlets, or where such
can be made by dams across hollows, such lakes or ponds may be used as reservoirs,
to store water for lands lying on lower levels; and the people of any irrigation dis-
trict may, under the provisions of this act, construct such artificial or use such natu-
ral basins for irrigation purposes: Provided, The waters of such lakes or ponds are in
no case to be raised, by dams or otherwise, so as to interfere with or damage settlers
upon the margin thereof.
SLC. 2417. s 15. Upon the construction or partial construction of any canal, ditch,
or reservoir contemplated in this act, they shall become the property of the irriga-
tion district ; and thereafter all funds necessary for repairs upon said canal, ditch, or
reservoir, and for keeping the same in order, or for altering or enlarging the same,
may be levied by a tax upon the lands benefited, the landholders in the district to
vote upon the same in the manner heretofore provided for in this act. And in case
of any sudden emergency, caused by inundation or otherwise, said trustees are
hereby authorized and empowered to make such repairs, or take such measures as
they may deem necessary to preserve the canals, or ditches or other works of said
company or district, and for payment of the expenses so increased the trustees are
hereby authorized and empowered to levy a tax for the necessary amount upon all
the lands of said district benefited by such canals or ditches, and said tax may be
collected in the same manner and at the same time, if necessary, as provided for the
collection of other taxes in said district.
SEC. 2418. s 16. All property or money belonging to any irrigation district, in the
hands of the trustees to be expended by them under the provisions of this act, is
hereby exempted from all city, county, and Territorial taxes.
SEC. 2419, s 17. After any canal or ditch shall have been laid out under this act,
or under any special charter where other provision has not been made, the trustees or
company may agree with the owners of land through which it will pass for the pur-
chase of so much thereof as may be necessary for the making of the canal or ditch
and the appurtenances thereto belonging.
SEC. 2420. s 18. In every case where the owner of the land so required shall absent
himself from the country, or shall not, from any cause, be capable in law so to agree,
or shall refuse to agree, or ask an exorbitant price, the value of such land and the
damages to the owner thereof shall be ascertained in the following manner:
1. The owner of or claimant to such land and the trustees may each select a referee,
and in case of disagreement the two may select a third, and these referees shall pro-
ceed to determine the value of the land under controversy, and assess the amount of
damages, if any, which each owner of lands or improvements has sustained, or will
sustain, in consequence of the canal or ditch.
2. The appraisal, with a description of the land so appraised, shall be acknowl-
edged by the referees signing it, before the clerk of the county court of the county
in which the lands are situated, and when so acknowledged it shall be filed in the
said clerk’s office within ten days after it shall have been made. In case the occu-
pant or claimant shall refuse or neglect to select a referee as herein provided, the
trustee may petition the district court of the district in which the land is situated
for the appointment of three or more commissioners to condemn the land and fix and
determine the damages; said commissioners to be appointed upon such notice to the
complainant or occupant as said court shall direct. Said commissioners shall report
to said court their award and determination for approval or disapproval. The mo-
tion for approval of said award shall be heard on such notice as the court shall direct.
SEC. 242i. s. 19. The trustees, upon payment to the rightful claimant of the several
sums assessed in the appraisal so made, or upon making a tender thereof when the
same shall be refused, shall be entitled to enter upon the lands described in the ap-
praisal, and have and hold the same for the use and benefit of such irrigation district
forever.
SEC. 2422. s 20. If on any parcel of the lands so described there shall be no person
then living authorized to receive payment for the damages assessed for such parcel,
and such damages shall not have been lawfully demanded within ten days after the
filing of such appraisal, the board of trustees may enter thereon without payment or
tender of such damages, but subject to such payment whenever the same shall be
thereafter lawfully required.
SEC. 2423. s 21. Any person who, in violation of any right of any other person; or
of said corporation, willfully turns or uses the water, or any portion thereof, of said
canal, ditch, or reservoir, except at a time or times when the use of such water has
WYOMING WATER LAWS AND RIGHTS UNDER. 253
º
been duly distributed to such person, or willfully uses any greater quantity of such
water than has been duly distributed to him, or in any way changes the flow of Water
when lawfully distributed for irrigation or other useful purposes, except when duly
authorized to make such change, or willfully or maliciously breaks or injures any dam,
canal, water-gate, ditch, or other means of diverting or conveying water for irriga-
tion or other useful purpose, is guilty of a misdemeanor. © g º
SEC. 2424. s 22. All compánies or districts organized under the provisions of this
act shall be liable for any damage which may occur by the breakage of any Çanal or
ditch. When any land in an irrigation district is benefited or damaged by the com:
pany's canals or ditches, from soakage or other incidental cause, and the owner of
said land and the company can not agree as to the amount of the benefit or damage,
the matter in dispute, as well as the question of damage through breakage, may be
referred and decided as provided in the preceding section of this act. . No irrigation
company organized under the laws of this Territory shall be entitled to divert the
waters of any stream to the injury of any irrigation company or person holding a
prior right to the use of said waters, and all cases of dispute arising from such un-
jawful diversion may also be referred and decided as provided in section 18 of this
act.'
SEC. 2425. s 23. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as to interfere with the
right of the legislative assembly to repeal, alter, or amend the same at pleasure.
ŠE.C. 2426. s?4. That persons who have constructed canals, ditches, or dams, and
taken out water for irrigation purposes before the passage of this act to which this
act is amendatory, are hereby authorized to organize under the provisions of said act,
and to enjoy all the rights, powers, and privileges guarantied therein: Provided,
They shall proceed in the same manner as is provided for the organization of new
companies.
SEC. 2427. s 25. Nothing in this act shall be so construed as to prevent any associa-
tion of persons incorporating under the laws of this Territory relating to private cor-
porations for general purposes. •
WYOMING IRRIGATION LAWS.
RIGHTS TO USE OF WATER AND RIGHT OF WAY FOR DITCHES.
SEC. 1317. All persons who claim, own, or hold a possessory right or title to any
land or parcel of land within the boundary of Wyoming Territory, when those claims
are on the bank, margin, or neighborhood of any stream of water, creek, or river,
shall be entitled to the use of the water of said stream, creek, or river for the pur-
poses of irrigation and making said claim available to the full extent of the soil for
agricultural purposes. [C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 1. )
SEC. 1318. When any person owning claims in such locality has not sufficient
length of area exposed to said streams to obtain a sufficient fall of water to irrigate
his land or his farm, or land used by him for agricultural purposes is too far removed
from said stream, and he has no water facilities on those lands he shall be entitled
to a right of way through the farms or tracts of land which lie between him and
said stream, or the farms or, tracts of land which lie above and below him, on said
stream, for the purposes hereinbefore stated : Provided, That, in the construction,
keeping up, and using any ditch through the lands of another person, the person or
persons constructing or using said ditch, or whose duty it shall be to keep the same
in repair, shall be liable to the person owning or claiming such land for all damages
accruing to such person by reason of said construction, keeping up, and using such
ditch. [.C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 2.]
SEC. 1319. Such right of way shall extend only to a ditch, dike, or cutting sufficient
for the purposes required. [C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 3.]
SEC. 1320. Upon the refusal of the owners of tracts of land, or lands through which
said ditch is proposed to run, to allow of its passage through their property, the per-
sons desiring to open such ditch may present to the county countnissioners of the
county in which said lands are located, a petition, signed by the person or persons
describing with convenient accuracy the lands so required to be taken as aforesaid,
setting forth the name or names of the owner or other person interested, and praying
the appointment of three appraisers to ascertain the compensation to be made to such
owner or persons interested. Upon the receipt of said petition, the said county coun-
missioners shall give notice, at least thirty days prior to the appointment of said
appraisers, by public notice in a newspaper, when published in the county, or by
posting three or more notices in three different places in said county, stating that
such appraisers will be appointed on the – day of —. [C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 5.]
SEC. 1321. The said appraisers, before entering upon the duties of their office, shall
take an oath to faithfully and impartially discharge their duties as said appraisers,
They shall hear the proofs and allegations of the parties, and any two of them, after
254 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
reviewing the premises, shall, without fear, favor, or partiality, ascertain and cer-
tify the compensation proper to be made to said owner or persons interested, for the
lands to be taken or affected, as well as all damages accruing to the owner of person
interested, in consequence of the condemnation of the same, taken or injuriously af-
fected as aforesaid, making such deduction or allowance for real benefits or advan-
tages which such owner or parties interested may derive from the construction of said
diſgh or flume. They, or a majority of them, shall subscribe a certificate of their
said ascertainment and assessment, which shall be recorded in the county clerk's
office of the county in which saidlands are situated, and upon the payment of the com-
pensation (if any) the said person or persons shall have the right of way to construct .
Said ditch or flume. [.C.L. 1876, ch. 65, § 6..] .
SEC. 1322. All persons on the margin, bank, neighborhood, or precinct of any
Stream of water shall have the right and power to place upon the bank of said
Stream a wheel or other machine for the purpose of raising water to the level re-
quired for the purpose of irrigation, and the right of way shall not be refused by the
OWner of any tract of land upon which it is required, subject, of course, to the like
Tegulations as required for ditches and laid down in the last preceding section.
[C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 7.] -
SEC, 1323. The owner or owners of any ditch for irrigation or other purposes shall
carefully maintain the embankments thereof, so that the waters of such ditch may
not flood or damage the premises of others. . [C. L., 1876, ch. 65, § 8.] &
SEC. 1324. Nothing in this chapter contained shall be so construed as to impair
the prior vested rights of any mill or ditch owner, or other person, to use the waters
of any such water course. [.C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 9.]
SEC. 1325. Any ditch company constructing a ditch, or any individual having
ditches for irrigation or for other purposes, whenever the same be taken'across any
publichighway or public traveled road, shall put a good substantial bridge (not less
than fourteen feet in breadth) over such water course where it crosses said road,
[C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 11.]
SEC. 1326. When any such ditch or water-course shall be constructed across any
public traveled road, and not bridged within three days thereafter, it shall be the
duty of the county commissioners of the county in which said ditch and road are lo-
cated to put a bridge over said ditch or water-course, of the dimensions specified in
the foregoing section, and call upon the owner or owners of the said ditch or water-
course to pay the expenses of constructing said bridge, and if payment therefor be
Tefused, a civil action may be maintained for the recovery of the same, together with
all accruing costs. [.C. L. 1876, ch. 65, § 12. I g
SEC, 1327. Upon the refusal of the owner or owners of land or lands through which
any person or persons are desirous of constructing any irrigation ditch or ditches,
then it shall be lawful for the parties interested to settle the matter by the appoint.
ment of a board of arbitration consisting of three men as hereinafter provided. [S.
L. 1882, ch. 57, § 1.j
SEC. 1328. The creation of the board of arbitration shall be as follows: The person
or persons desiring the construction of such ditch or ditches and the owner or own-
ers of the land, or lands through which the construction of such ditch or ditches is
contemplated shall each choose one disinterested resident property holder of the
county in which the land or lands mentioned above are situated, and the two go
chosen shall designate a third person with like qualifications as themselves, and it
shall be lawful for these persons to immediately proceed to hear the proof and alle-
gations of the parties concerned. It shall be lawful for any two of such board of
arbitration to make such assessment of damages as may in their judgment be deemed
just and right, taking into consideration the benefits, if any, that may accrue to the
owner or owners of the land or lands through which the construction of such ditch
or ditches is contemplated. [S. L. 1882, ch. 57, § 2.] 9 $.
SEC. 1329. Should the verdict or assessment of such board of arbitration be unsat-
isfactory to either or both of the parties interested, then recourse may be had by an
appeal made in writing within ten days from the rendering of such wordict by such
board of arbitration, addressed to the board of county commissioners of the county
in which the contestants reside, in which case the party taking the appeal shall give
bonds for all the costs; then the case shall stand as though no action had been taken
in the matter and the parties may then proceed under this chapter in the same man-
ner as though the proceedings to ascertain the compensation to be given had been
taken before the county commissioners in the first instance. . [S. L. 1882, ch, 57, § 3. ]
(For proceedings before commissioners see Şy 1320 and 1321.) tº
SEC. 1330. In case no appeal be taken as above provided by either of the parties
interested, then the nding of such board of arbitration shall be binding and final:
Provided, The sum of money agreed upon by the board of arbitration has been ten-
dered or paid, or a deed for such right of way executed and delivered or tendered by
the party or parties over whose land the right of way is sought, [S. L, 1882, ch. 57,
APPROPRIATION OF WATER AND PROCEDURE. 255
APPROPRIATION OF water AND PROCEDURE.
SEc. 1331. The lands now irrigated, or which may be hereafter irrigated, from
ditches taking water from the following described rivers and natural streams of the
Territory of Wyoming, are hereby declared to constitute irrigation districts :
District number one shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches from the North
Platte River and its tributaries, except the Laramie River, between its intersection
with the boundary line between Nebraska and Wyoming and its intersection with
the western boundary line of Laramie County, Crow Creek, Lone Tree Creek, Pole
Creek, Horse Creek, Chugwater Creek, Cheyenne River, Niobrara or Running Water
River, and their tributaries.
District number two shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the Laramie River and tributaries, except Chugwater Creek, North Platte
River and its tributaries, between its intersection with the western boundary line
of Laramie County and the mouth of the Sweetwater, Sabille Creek and North Lara-
mie Creek; and also the following-named streams, situate in whole or in part in the
county of Albany, namely: Douglass Creek, Lake Creek, the three Beaver Creeks,
Four-Mile Creek, Dutton Creek, Cooper Creek, Rock Creek and tributaries, Sabille,
Sheep Creek, Deer Creek and tributaries, Antelope Creek, Fish Creek and its tribu-
taries, Dale Creek and its tributaries, and also the following-named lakes, to wit:
Cooper Lake, James Lake, Ione Lake, Sportsman’s Lake, Lake Hutton, Lake Creigh-
ton, Lake George, Steamboat Lake, Horse Creek Lake, Lake Hattie, and Lake Owen.
District number three shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the North Platte River and its tributaries to the line of Carbon County, and all
streams or continuations of streams lying within Carbon County.
District number four shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the Green River and its tributaries.
District number five shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
†. the Powder, Tongue, and Big Horn Rivers and their tributaries, except Wind
IV6I’.
District number six shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from the little Powder River, Little Missouri River, and the Belle Fourche and their
tributaries.
District number seven shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from that portion of Green River lying within Uinta County and Bear River.
District number eight shall consist of all lands irrigated from ditches taking water
from Wind River to Johnson County line.
Other irrigation districts may be formed from time to time by the governor, on
petition of the parties interested, comprising territory not within any of the above-
established irrigation districts. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 1.]
SEC. 1332. There shall be one water commissioner for each of the above-named dis-
tricts, and for each district hereafter formed, who shall be appointed by the governor,
to be selected by him from persons recommended to him by the several boards of
county commissioners of the counties into which water districts may extend, and the
water commissio:lers so appointed shall hold their office for two years, or until their
successor is appointed and qualified. The governor, by like selection and appoint-
ment, shall fill all vacancies which may be occasioned by death, resignation, or con-
tinued absence form the district, removal or otherwise, and the governor may at any
time remove any water commissioner for failure to perform his duties, or for any other
cause. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 2. I
SEC. 1333. Within twenty days after his appointment, and before entering upon the
duties of his office, such Water commissioner shall take and subscribe an oath to
faithfully and impartially perform the duties of his office, which oath shall be de-
posited with the clerk of the court having jurisdiction over the priority of ri ghts to
use of water in his district. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 3.]
SEC. 1334. It shall be the duty of the said water commissioners to divide the water
in the natural stream or streams of their districts among the several ditches taking
water from the same, according to the prior rights of each, respectively, in whole o:
in part, and to shut and fasten, or cause to be shut and fastened, the head-gates of
any ditch or ditches heading in any of the natural streams of the district, which in
time of a scarcity of Water, makes it necessary, by reason of the priority of the Tights
of others above or below them on the stream. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 4.j
SEC. 1335. Every person who shall willfully open, close, change, or interfere with
any head-gate or water-box without authority shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and
on conviction thereof shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one hundred doilars
or imprisoned in the county jail for a term not exceeding six months, or both finé
and imprisonment. The Water commissioners or their assistants, within their dis-
tricts, shall have authority to arrest any person or persons offending and turn them
over to the sheriff of the proper county. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 5.]
256 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED SNATES.
SEC. 1336. The water commissioners herein provided shall be entitled to pay at the
rate of five dollars per day for each day he shall be actually employed in the duties
of his office, not to exceed fifty days in any one year, to be paid by the county in
which his irrigation district may lie. Each water commissioner shall keep a just and
true account of the time spent by him in the duties of his office, and shall present a
true copy thereof, verified by oath, to the board of county commissioners of the
county in which his district may be, and said board of county commissioners shall
allow the same, and if said irrigation district shall extend into two or more counties
then said water commissioner shall present his account for his said services, verified
as aforesaid, to the board of county commissioners of the county in which sits the
district court having jurisdiction over the priorities of the rights to use of water
§ º purposes for which it was appropriated in such districts. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61
SEC. 1337. Said water commissioners shall have power, in case of emergency, to
employ Suitable assistants to aid him in the discharge of his duty; such assistants
shall take the same oath as the water commissioner and shall obey his instructions,
and each shall be entitled to four dollars per day for every day he is employed, not
to exceed thirty-five days in any one year, to be paid upon the certificate of the water
commissioner in the same manner as is provided for payment of water commissioners.
[S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 7.]
SEC, 1338. Said water commissioners shall not begin their work until they shall
be called on by two or more owners or managers, or persons controlling ditches in
the several districts, by application in writing, stating that there is a necessity for
their action, and they shall not continue performing services after the necessity
therefor shall cease is, i. 1886, ch. 61, § 8.]
SEC. 1339. For the purpose of hearing, adjudicating, and settling all questions con-
cerning the priority of appropriation of water, between ditch companies and other
owners of ditches, drawing water for beneficial purposes, from the same stream, or its
tributaries, within the same irrigation district, and all other questions of law and
questions of right growing out of or in any way involved or connected there with,
jurisdiction is hereby vested, exclusively in the several district courts, as follows:
For district number one, in the district court of Laramie County; for district number
two, in the district court of Albany County; for district number three, in the district
court of Carbon County; for district number four, in the district court of Sweetwater
County; for district number five, in the district court of Johnson County; for dis-
trict number six, in the district court of Crook County; for district number seven,
in the district court of Uinta County; for district number eight, in the district court
of Fremont County. All streams, lakes, and reservoirs not herein enumerated shall
be, for all purposes, attached to and belong to the irrigation district in which the
greater portion of its water is, it being the intent and meaning hereof to add to each
irrigation district all waters not hereinbefore enumerated the majority of which lie
in their respective areas, for the purposes of acquiring rights to the appropriation
and use thereof and adjudicating the same. [S. L, 1886, ch. 61, § 9.]
SEC. 1340. In order that all parties may be protected in their lawful rights to the
use of water for beneficial purposes, every person, association, or corporation, own-
ing or claiming any interest in any ditch, canal, or reservoir, within any water dis-
trict shall, on or before the first day of September, eighteen hundred and eighty-six,
if such statements are not already matters of record at the time this act is approved,
file with the clerk of the district court having jurisdiction of priority of rights to the
use of water for irrigation, in such water district, a statement of claim under oath,
entitled of the proper court, which statement shall contain the name or names, to-
gether with the post-office address of the claimant or claimants claiming ownership,
as aforesaid, of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir, the name thereof (if any), and if
without a name, the owner or owners shall choose and adopt a name, to be therein
stated, by which such ditch, canal, or reservoir, shall thereafter be known. The de-
scription of such ditch, canal, or reservoir as to location of head-gate, general course
of ditch, the name of the natural stream from which such ditch, canal, or reservoir
draws its supply of water, the length, width, depth, and grade thereof, as near as may
be, the time, fixing a day, month, and year, as the date of appropriation of water by
original construction, also by any enlargement or extension, if any such thereof have
been made, and the amount of water claimed by or under such construction, enlarge-
ment, or extension, and the present capacity of the ditch, canal, or feeder, or reser-
voir, and also the number of acres of land lying under and being, or proposed to be,
irrigated by water from such ditch, canal, or reservoir; or if such waters have been
appropriated for other beneficial purposes than irrigation, a statement of such pur-
pose; such statement shall be signed by the proper party or parties; and shall file
with the county clerk and ea;-officio register of deeds a like statement, which shall be
recorded by him in a book kept for that purpose. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 10.
- SEC. 1341. Upon the filing of Bueh statement, the clerk of the court shall indorse
upon the back thereof the date of filing, and shall prepare an index of the same, in a
REGISTRATION OF IRRIGATION RIGHTS. 257
book to be provided for that purpose by the county commissioners, which said index
shall contain the date of filing, the name of the party, association, or corporation,
the name of the ditch, the stream from which the water is taken by such ditch, canal,
or reservoir, in general terms, the location of the head-gate, the date of the appro-
priation of the water, by construction, enlargement or extension; said index shall be
prepared alphabetically, by reference to the name of the ditch, canal, or reservoir.
[S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 11.1
SEC. 1342. For filing and indexing such statement, the clerk of the court shall re-
ceive a fee of one dollar, to be paid by the party or parties filing the same. [S. L.
1886, ch. 61, § 12.]
SEC. 1343. Hereafter every person, company, or corporation, constructing, enlarg-
ing, or extending any ditch, canal, or reservoir, for beneficial purposes, and intend-
ing to use or appropriate any water from any natural stream within a water district,
for such beneficial purposes, shall file with the county clerk and ea officio register of
deeds and the clerk of the district court, of the proper county, before the commence-
ment of the construction, enlargement, or extension of such ditch, canal, or reser-
voir, a statement showing the stream or streams from which the water is to be taken ;
the point or place on said stream at or near which the water is to be taken out; the
line of said ditch or ditches as near as may be ; the use or uses to which said water
is intended to be applied; the dimensions of such ditch or ditches, and each thereof,
giving width on bottom and top, slope of banks, and grade of ditch ; and likewise
of any and all enlargements thereof; which statement shall be filed and indexed as is
provided in section thirteen hundred and forty, and from the time of filing any such
statement water sufficient to fill such ditch or ditches, and to subserve the use or uses
aforesaid, if a lawful and just use, shall be deemed and adjudged to be appropriated:
Provided, That nothing herein contained shall be permitted to interfere with a prior
right to said water, or to any thereof; And provided further, That such person or per-
sons, or corporation, shall, within sixty days next ensuing the filing of such statement,
|begin the actual construction of said ditch or ditches, and shall prosecute the work
of the construction thereof diligently and continuously to its completion; And pro-
vided further, That the beginning of all necessary surveys of such ditch shall be con-
strued as the beginning of said work of construction. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 13.T
SEC. 1344. The water of every natural stream not heretofore appropriated within
this Territory is hereby declared to be the property of the public and the same is ded-
icated to the use of the people, subject to appropriation as herein provided. The
provisions of this chapter shall apply to all cases where water of natural streams is
appropriated for beneficial purposes, whether the water be conducted through ditches,
canals, flumes, or tunnels, and shall apply also to cases where for irrigation purposes
the water is stored in reservoirs, and the owner or owners of any ditch, canal, flume,
or tunnel through which water is conducted for irrigation purposes, and also the
owners of reservoirs, may conduct the water therefrom into and along any of the nat-
ural streams of the Territory, but not so as to raise the waters thereof above high-
water mark, and may take the same out again at any point desired, but due allow-
ance shall be made for evaporation and seepage, the amount to be determined by the
water commissioner of the proper district, subject to review and determination by
the court having jurisdiction over priorities in such district. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 14.]
SEC. 1345. Whenever any person or persons, association or corporation, interested
as owners of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, in any district, shall desire a determina-
tion of the priorities of rights to the use of water from stream or streams from which
they draw the water for their ditch or ditches, canals or reservoirs, they shall pre-
sent to the district court having jurisdiction over the rights in such water district,
or to the judge, thereof in vacation, a motion, petition, or application in writing,
moving or praying said court to proceed to an adjudication of the priorities of rights
to the use of water for irrigation between the several ditches, canals, or rese"roirs in
such district on the stream or streams named in the motion, petition, or application.
The said motion, petition, or application shall state the names of the ditches, canals,
or reservoirs claiming water from said stream or streams, as appears. by the final
statements in the clerk's office, together with the names of the persons, associations,
or corporations interested therein, taken from said statements, and shall set forth the
nature of the claim or claims of the applicant or applicants, and such motion, petition,
or application shall be entitled “In the matter of an application for an adjudication
of the priorities of rights to use water for beneficial purposes in water district num-
ber —, on ” (stating the stream or streams). Upon the filing and docket-
ing of such application the court, or judge thereof in vacation, shalf without Ull-
necessary delay, by an order to be entered of record, upon such motion, petition, or
application, appoint a day, in some regular term of said court, or in vacation thereof,
for commencing to hear and take evidence in such adjudication, at which time it
shall be the duty of the court, or judge thereof in vacation, to proceed and hear all
evidence that may be offered by or in Şehalf of any person, association, or corpora-
tion interested in such stream or streams in such district in any ditch, canal, or res-,
138 A L–AP. WOL IV 17
258 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITÉD-STATES.
ervoir, either as owner or consumer of water therefrom, in support of or against any
claims of priority of appropriation of water made by means of any ditch, canal, or
reservoir, or by an enlargement or extension thereof in such district, or on such
stream or streams, and consider all such evidence, also the arguments of the parties
or their counsel, and shall ascertain and find from such evidence, as near as may be,
the date of the commencement of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, together with the
original size and carrying capacity thereof, as originally constructed, the time of the
commencement of each enlargement or extension thereof, if any, with the increased
capacity thereby occasioned, the time spent severally in such construction, enlarge-
ment, or extension and re-enlargement, if any, the diligence with which the work
was in each case prosecuted, the nature of the work as to the difficulty of construc-
tion, and all such other facts as may tend to show the compliance with the law in
acquiring the priority of right claimed for each such ditch, canal, or reservoir, and
determine the matters put in evidence, and make and cause to be entered a decree
determining and establishing the several priorities of right by appropriation of
water of the several ditches, canals, and reservoirs in such water district in such
stream or streams concerning which testimony shall have been offered, each accord-
ing to the time of its said construction and enlargement or enlargements and ex-
tensions, with the amount of water which shall be held to have been appropriated
by such construction and enlargement or extensions, describing such amount by
cubic feet per second of time (which shall also be the method of measurement for
the sale of water), if the evidence shall show sufficient data to ascertain such cubic
feet, and if not, by width, depth, and grade, and such other description as will most
certainly and conveniently show the amount of water intended as the capacity of
such ditch, canal, or reservoir in such decree. Such court, or judge thereof in vaca-
tion, shall further order that each and every person interested or claiming any such
ditch, canal, or reservoir shall receive from the clerk, on payment of a reasonable
fee therefor, to be fixed by the court, or judge in vacation, a certificate, under seal of
the court, showing date or dates, and amount or amounts, of appropriations adjudged
in favor of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, under and by virtue of the construction,
extension, and enlargement thereof severally, also specifying the number of said
ditch as determined by the court with reference to priority, and of each priority to
which, the same may be entitled by reason of said construction, extension, and en-
largement: Provided, That any party or parties claiming any right to the use of
water for beneficial purposes in such district, and on such stream or streams, by
reason of being owner of or interested in any ditch, canal, or reservoir, who is not
mentioned in the motion, petition, or application filed and presented to the court, shall
be notified by the clerk of such application, and shall become parties to such pro-
ceedings, and shall have their rights adjudicated therein. The court or judgethereof,
in vacation, may, instead of taking the testimony orally or in open court, refer the
matter to some person to take and reduce to writing the testimony to the court, or
judge thereof in vacation, and the person to whom such cause shall be referred for
that purpose shall have the same power and duties concerning, the taking of testi-
mony and compelling the attendance of witnesses as masters in chancery. [S. L.
1886, ch. 61, § 15.]
SEC. 1346. Upon the order of the court fixing the time of hearing being made, the
clerk shall place a certified copy of such order, which order shall contain the names
of all the parties alleged in application to be interested in the matter in the posses-
sion of the sheriff of the proper county, which shall be thereupon served upon each
of the parties therein named in the same manner as a summons, and a return of the
service shall be made and filed with the clerk within fourteen days after the delivery
of said order to the sheriff, or if served by any other person, in cases where a sum-
mons could be served, then return shall be made within fourteen days after date of
order. It shall be the duty of the clerk also to give public notice of such applica-
tion and order, by publication in a newspaper, if any be printed and in circulation,
in some county wherein such water district is situated, which notice shall be pub-
lished at least once each week for two consecutive weeks, and which said notice
shall contain the date of the filing of said motion, petition, or application, the name
or names of the parties filing the same, a copy of the order made by the court for
hearing, and shall notify all parties interested as owners in any ditch, canal, or’reser-
voir on such stream or streams in such water district, as well as the persons aamed
in the motion, petition, or application, to appear at said court, or before the judge
thereof in vacation, at the time appointed and stated in the order, and that all per-
sons interested as owners or consumers may then and there present his, her, or their
proofs for or against any priority of Tight of water by appropriation sought to be
shown by any party by or through any ditch, canal, or reservoir ( either as owner or
consumer of water drawn therefrom), and in case ahy party mentioned in the motion,
petition, or application can not be personally served in any county embraced in such
water district, the published notice above provided shall be deemed sufficient service
of notice: Provided further, That in addition to such publication the clerk shall mail
DAMAGES To DITCHES AND THE PENALTIES. 259
such published notice to each party mentioned in the motion, petition, or application,
directing the same to the address of such parties as stated in the sworn statement on
file. Proof of the proper publication shall consist in the sworn certificate of the
publisher of the paper in which notice is published, to which shall be attached a
printed copy taken from such paper. [S.L. 1886, ch. 61, § 16.] º
SEC. 1347. Any person or persons who shall knowingly and willfully out, dig, or
break down, or open any gate bank, embankment, or side of any ditch, canal, or res-
ervoir, flume, tunnel, or feeder in which such person or persons may be joint owners,
or on the property of another, or in the lawful possession of another or others, and
used for the purpose of irrigation, milling, manufacturing, mining, or domestic pur-
oses, with intent maliciously to injure any person, association, or corporation, or for
is or her own gain, unlawfully, with the intention of stealing, taking, or causing to
run, or pour out of such canal, or reservoir feeder, or flume, any water for his or her
own profit, benefit, or advantage, to the injury of any other person, persons, associ-
ation, or corporation lawfully in the use of such water, or of such ditch, canal, tun-
nel, feeder, or flume, he, she, it, or they, so offending, shall be deemed guilty of a
misdemeanor, and, on conviction thereof, shall be fined in any sum not exceeding one
hundred dollars, and may be imprisoned in the county jail not exceeding six months,
or both, at the discretion of the court. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 17.]
SEC. 1348. Any party or parties, representing any ditch, canal, or reservoir, or any
number of parties, representing two or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs, which are
affected, in common with each other, by any portion of the decree rendered by the
district court, by which he, she, it, or they may feel aggrieved, may have an appeal
from said district court to the supreme court, and in such case the party or parties
joining, desiring an appeal, shall be the appellants, and the parties representing any
one or more ditches, canals, or reservoirs affected in common, adversely to the in-
terests of appellants, shall be appellees. The party or parties in such appeal shall,
within sixty days after the date of the decree, file in the district court wherein any
decree is entered under this chapter a notice of appeal in writing, stating that such
party or parties appeals to the supreme court of the Territory from the decree ren-
dered in the case, or any part thereof. When only a part of the decree is appealed
from the notice of the appeal should so state, and shall also in that case specify the
portion or part of the decree appealed from. Upon filing of such notice of appeal the
cause shall be deemed to be appealed to the supreme court of the Territory: Provided,
however, That the party or parties appealing as aforesaid, shall, within sixty days
aforesaid, enter into an undertaking, to be approved by the district court, or judge
thereof, and to be given to all parties in said suit or proceeding, other than the parties
appealing, and to be in such an amount as the court or said judge shall fix, condi-
tioned that the parties giving their said undertaking shall prosecute their appeal to
effect, and without unnecessary delay, and will pay all costs and damages which the
parties to whom the undertaking is given, or either- or any of them, may sustain in
consequence of such appeal. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 18.]
SEc. 1349. The order last aforesaid shall be entered of record, and the appellant
or appellants shall cause a certified copy thereof to be served on each of the ap-
pellees, by delivering the same to him or her, if he or she may be found, or otherwise
serving the same, in manner the same, as may be provided for serving summons from
the district court by the laws then in force. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 19.]
SEC. 1350. The appellant or appellants shall within six months after the appeal
be allowed as aforesaid, file in the office of the clerk of the supreme court of this
Territory a certified transcript of the proceedings had in the case in the district
court, containing the pleadings and the statements of the parties filed herein and all
evidence of record offered on the hearing of the cause, or so much thereof as shall
effect the appropriation of water claimed by the means of construction, enlargement,
or re-enlargement of the Several ditches, canals, and reservoirs mentioned in the
order allowing the appeal. When the evidence has been taken in the open court, or
before the judge, in vacation, such evidence, or the substance thereof, reduced to
writing and signed by the judge, or in case notes of Said testimony have been taken
by the official stenographer, a transcription of the same, signed by the stenographer
and attested by his official seal, filed with the clerk of the court, shall be deemed a
record of the evidence taken in said court. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 20.] t -
SEC. 1351. The supreme court, in all cases heard before it under this chapter, shall,
where it can properly be done, render such decree as the court, or the judge below,
should have rendered. It may either reverse or modify the decree of the court of
judge below, and in cases where the decree of the court below is reversed, in whole
or in part, it may direct the court below as to its further proceedings therein. [S.
L. 1886, ch. 61, § 21.] e
SEC, 1352. No claim of priority of any person, association, or corporation on ac-
count of any ditch, canal, or reservoir, as to which he, she, it, or they have failed or
refuse to offer evidence, under any adjudication berein provided for, shall be regarded
by any water commissioner in distributing water in times of scarcity thereof, until
260 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
such time as such party shall have by application to the court having jurisdiction
obtained leave and made proof of the priority of right to which such ditch, canal,
or reservoir shall be justly entitled, which leave shall be granted in all cases upon
terms as to notice to other parties interested, and upon payment of all costs, and
upon affidavit or petition sworn to, showing the rights claimed, and the ditches,
Canals, and reservoirs, with the names of the owners thereof, against which such
priority is claimed, nor until a decree adjudging such priority to such ditch, canal,
or reservoir has been entered, and certificate such as mentioned in section thirteen
hundred and forty-six shall have been issued to claimant and presented to the water
commissioner. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 22.]
SEC. 1353. No person, association, or corporation representing any ditch, canal, or
reservoir shall be permitted to give or offer any evidence before said court until he,
she, it, or they shall have filed a statement of claim in substance the same in all re-
* as is required to be filed under the provisions hereof. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, §
3. I
SEC. 1354. The district court, or judge thereof in vacation, shall have power to
Order for good cause shown, upon terms just to all parties, and in such manner as may
seem meet, a re-argument or review, with or without additional evidence, of any de-
cree made under the provisions of this chapter, whenever said court or judge shall
find from the cause shown for that purpose by any party or parties feeling aggrieved,
that the ends of justice will be thereby promoted, but no such review or re-argument
shall be ordered unless applied for by petition or otherwise within two years of the
time of entering the decree complained of [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 24.]
SEC. 1355. Persons desiring to construct and maintain reservoirs for the purpose of
storing water shall have the right to take from any of the natural streams of the Ter-
ritory and store away any unappropriated water not needed for immediate use, for
domestic or irrigation or other beneficial purposes, to eonstruct and maintain ditches,
canals, flumes, or tunnels, for carrying such water to and from such reservoirs, ditches,
canals, tunnels, and flumes, in the same manner provided by law for the coudemna-
tion of lands for right of way for ditches: Provided, No reservoir with embankments
or a dam exceeding ten feet in height shall be made without first submitting the plans
thereof to the county commissioners of the county in which it is situated, and obtain-
ing their approval of said plans: And provided further, That no such reservoir shall
be constructed or made in or across the channel of any natural and running stream.
[S. L. 1886, oh, 61, § 25. I
SICC. 1356. The owners of reservoirs shall be liable for all damage arising from leak-
age or overflow of the waters therefrom, or by floods caused by breaking of the em-
bankments of such reservoir. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 26. J
SEC. 1357. Every witness who shall attend before the court, or the judge thereof in
vacation, or before the person appointed to take testimony, in the causes provided
for in this chapter, under subpoena, by request of any party, shall be entitled to the
same fees and milcage as witnesses in civil cases in the district court, and shall be
paid by the party requiring his testimony. [.S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 27.]
SEC. 1358. It shall not be necessary for any corporation heretofore organized and
now existing, or for any corporation hereafter organized, under the laws of this Ter-
ritory, which has heretofore, or shall have hereafter constructed, operated, or main-
tained any ditches, canals, flumes, tunnels, or reservoirs, or other appropriations of
water, for the purpose of irrigation, mining, manufacturing, domestic uses, or for any
beneficial purpose whatever, to incorporate as a ditch company, or companies, if the
objects or purposes for which such corporation shall have been formed or incorporated,
imply, permit, or make necessary, or advantageous, such use or uses of water; and
such corporation for all the purposes of this chapter shall have all the rights of a nat-
ural person as defined herein, and shall have its rights, determined in the same
manner: Provided, No priority of water right shall take from any city or town the
water required for the use of the residents thereof. . [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 28.J
SEC. 1359. Said water commissioners shall so divide, regulate, and control the use
of the water of all streams within their respective districts in such manner, as near
as may be, as will prevent unnecessary waste of water, and to that end such com-
missioners shall so shut and ſasten the head-gate or gates of all ditches So that no
more water will ſlow into said ditch than is actually required and will be used for the
uses or purposes for which such water was appropriated, and any person who may be
injured by the action of any water commissioner or by his failure to act pursuant to
this chapter, may resort to any court of competent jurisdiction for such relief as he
may be entitled to... [S.L. 1886, ch. 61, § 29.] wº
Spc. 1360. It shall be the duty of every person, corporation, or company, who shall
construct, maintain, or operate any ditch or canal under the provisions of this chap:
ter to construct and maintain, at the point and place where the water is diverted
from its natural channel, some fit and proper obstruction whoreby all fish will be pre-
vented from entering said ditch or canal. Any person, company, or corporation vio-
lating the provisions of this section shall be adjudged guilty of a misdemeanor, and
TERRITORIAL ENGINEER AND HIS DUTIES. 261 T
on conviction thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than one hundred dol-
lars or by imprisonment in the county jail not less than ten nor more than sixty days,
or by both such fine and imprisonment. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, $30.] . . * - ſº
Sièc. 1361. This chapter shall in no wise be construed as impairing 9F abridging
any rights already vested in any person or persons, company or corporation, by Vir-
tué of the law heretofore in force. [S. L. 1886, ch. 61, § 31.]
IRRIGATION.—APPROPRIATION OF WATIER—TERRITORIAL ENGINEER.
SECTION 1. There shall be a Territorial engineer, who shall be appointed by the
governor, by and with the consent of the legislative council; he shall hold his office
for the term of two years, commencing on the first day of April, A. D. eighteen hun-
º #. eighty-eight, and until his successor shall be appointed and shall have
ualified.
Q1 The governor may at any time, upon good cause being shown, remove the Terri-
torial engineer, and fill the vacancy occasioned by such removal from office.
The Territorial engineer shall receive a salary of two thousand and five hundred
dollars per annum, payable in monthly installments by the Territorial treasurer, upon
warrants drawn by the Territorial auditor.
The Territorial engineer shall keep his office at the Territorial capitol, in a room in
the capitol building, to be set aside for his use by the governor.
Before entering upon the duties of his office he shall take and subscribe an oath
before some officer authorized by the laws of this Territory to administer oaths, to
faithfully perform the duties of his office, and file with the secretary of the Territory
said oath and his official bond, in the penal sum of five thousand dollars, with not
less than two sureties to be approved by the governor of the Territory, and condi-
tioned for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, and for delivering to his
successor, or other officer appointed by the governor to receive the same, all moneys,
books, and other property belonging to the Territory then in his hands, or under his
control, or with which he may be legally chargeable, as such officer. No person shall
be appointed as such Territorial engineer who is not known to bave such theoretical
knowledge and practical skill and experience as shall fit him for the position.
SICC. 2. The Territorial engineer shall have general supervision of the diversion and
division of the water of the various natural streams in the Territory, and shall have
supervision of the work of the water commissioners of the different water districts
of the Territory, and shall do and perform any and all work for the Territory which
comes within the nature of his profession as an engineer, when called upon by the
governor to do so.
SEC. 3. The Territorial engineer shall make, or cause to be made, careful measure-
ments and calculations of the maximum, minimum, and ordinary flow, in cubic feet
per second of time, of the waters flowing in each stream from which water shall be
drawn for irrigation purposes, commencing such work upon those streams most
used for irrigation; he shall collect facts and make a report as to a system of reser-
voirs for the storage of waters in those portions of the Territory where such a sys-
tem is practicable, stating in such report the location, capacity, and cost of such
reservoirs; he shall become conversant with the water-ways of the Territory, and
needs of the Territory as to irrigation matters, and in his report to the governor he
shall make such suggestions as to the amendment of existing laws, or the enactment
of new laws, as his information and experience may suggest; and he shall keep full
and proper records of his works, observations, and calculations, all of which shall be
the property of the Territory.
SEC. 4. The Territorial engineer shall, on request of any party interested, measure
and ascertain the carrying capacity of any ditch used for irrigation or other bene-
ficial purposes, which may be now or which may hereafter be constructed or en-
larged, and give to the party or parties requiring such services'an official certificate
of the size and carrying capacity of such ditch, expressed in cubic feet per second of
time, as he shall find it at the time of measuring the same. For such services he
shall be entitled to receive from the party or parties requiring the same his per diem
charges, not exceeding ten dollars per day, and his reasonable traveling expenses:
Provided, That all per diem charges for such services received by the Territorial en-
gineer shall be delivered by him to the Territorial treasurer, who shall credit the
same to the general fund. If the applicant or applicants for such engineer's certifi-
cate shall state in writing to the engineer that the ditch to be measured is so remote
from the office of the engineer as to render the expense of the engineer's personal ex-
amination too great, or if in the engineer’s judgment such ditch is too far distant to
prevent him, consistently with his public duties, to make such personal examination,
it shall in such cases be his duty to appoint some competent civil engineer residing
in the vicinity of such ditch to make a sworn statement, setting forth the width
on top and bottom, depth, grade, and slope of the bank of such ditch or its enlarge-
ment, and all such other data concerning such ditch so to be measured as the Terri-
262 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
torial engineer shall direct. Such civil engineer shall receive for his services such
sum as may be agreed upon between himself and the party requiring his services, but
in the absence of any agreement in writing such compensation shall not exceed ten
dollars per day and his reasonable traveling expenses. The Territorial engineer shall
furnish the person so appointed with blank certificates upon which to enter the nec-
essary data concerning the ditch or its enlargement so to be measured, which blank
shall be properly filled out and verified by the oath of the party making such meas-
urements and returned to the Territorial engineer, who shall make his own calcula-
tions of the garrying capacity of such ditch or enlargement, expressed in cubic feet
per Second of time, and certify to the same. The certificates provided for in this sec-
tion, shall set forth the time of making the measurement, the location of the headgate
of the ditch measured, the name of the natural stream of water from which such ditch
draws its supply of water, the width of such ditch both on top and on bottom, its
depth and grade, and its carrying capacity expressed in cubic feet per second of time,
and also the name of the ditch and of the owner or owners thereof, if known. All
Such certificates shall be recorded at length in the office of the said Territorial engin-
9er, and copies of such record, duly certified to by the said engineer, shall be received
in all the courts of this Territory as prima facie evidence of the fact therein set
forth as hereby required,
SEC. 5. The Territorial engineer, with the consent of the governor, shall have
power to employ assistants at an expense not to exceed one thousand dollars in any
one year, who shall be paid out of any moneys appropriated for that purpose, on the
Certificate of said Territorial engineer, approved by the governor, showing the rea-
son for such employment, the services rendered, and the amount thereof, and on
presentation of such certificate to the Territorial auditor, by the person entitled
thereto, he shall issue his warrant on the Territorial treasurer for the amount thereo
to be paid out of any appropriations, as aforesaid, and not otherwise. w
SEC. 6.. When the Territorial engineer is called away from his office in the discharge
of his public duties he shall be entitled to his actual traveling expenses, which shall
be paid out of any money appropriated for that purpose, on the certificate of the said
engineer; such certificate shall be presented by the said engineer to the Territorial
auditor, who shall thereupon draw his warrant upon the Territorial treasurer for the
amount thereof, to be paid out of such appropriation: Provided, That this section
shall not be so construed as to authorize the payment of traveling expenses to said
engineer when called away from his office to perform any of the work mentioned in
Section four of this act.
SEC, 7. The appropriator of any of the public waters in this Territory shall con-
struct and maintain, under the direction of the Territorial engineer, a flume or other
measuring device, at or as near the head of his ditch as is practicable, for the pur-
pose of assisting the water commissioners in determining the amount of water that
may be turned into the ditch or the amount that may be by his ditch diverted from
the stream. In case any owner or appropriator of public waters that have been
adjudicated upon neglect or refuse to put in such measuring device, after thirty
days' notice to do so by the Territorial engineer, the said engineer may direct the
water commissioner, of the district in which the ditch may be situate to put in such
flume or measuring device, which being done by the water commissioner, he, the
said commissioner, shall present the bill of the cost of such flume or measuring de-
vice to the owner or owners of the ditch, and if such owner or owners shall refuse
or neglect, for three days after presentation of such bill, to pay the same, the said
water commissioner may maintain a civil action in his own name, in any court of
the Territory, for the recovery of the same, with all accruing costs, Said suit shall
be prosecuted by the county and prosecuting attorney for the county wherein such
suit may be brought, free of any charge against said commissioner.
SEC. 8. The Territorial engineer shall prepare and render to the governor yearly,
and oftener if required, full and true reports of his work, touching all the matters
and duties devolving upon him by virtue of his office, which report shall be delivered
to the governor on or before the thirtieth day of November in each year, in order that
the same may be laid before the legislative assembly at its regular sessions.
SEC. 9. In all cases in which the priorities to the right to the use of the waters of
any of the streams of this Territory have been adjudicated by any of the district
courts of this Territory under the provisions of chapter two of title nineteen of the
Revised Statutes of Wyoming, it shall be the duty of the clerk of the district court
wherein said adjudication may have been made to forward a certified copy of such
decree to the Terrºtorial engineer immediately after the rendering of a decree in the
matter of such adjudication, and for such copy there shall be paid to the said clerk,
out of the treasury of the county wherein such decree was rendered, compensation at
the rate of ten cents for each one hundred words contained in such decree. On re-
ceipt of such copy of such décree it shall be the duty of the Territorial, engineer to
cause the same to be recorded at length, in a suitable book, to be provided for that
purpose, and as soon thereafter as practicable to forward to the water commissioner
ENLARGEMENT OF CANAL AND PRIORITIES. 263
of the water district wherein the stream adjudicated upon is situated a statement
showing the title of the court in which such decree was rendered, the date of the
‘decree, the name of each ditch the priority of which has been by such decree deter-
mined, its capacity, showing the width, depth, and grade of the said ditch and the
quantity of water per second of time to which said ditch is declared by such decree to
be ..º. to be expressed in cubic feet per second of time, and thereafter, in the sº-
pervision of the distribution of the waters of such streams by said ditches so adjudi-
cated upon, it shall be the duty of the said water commissioner to be guided by such
statement. It shall be the duty of the Territorial engineer to procure and cause to be
recorded in his office a description of the flume or other measuring device at the head
of each ditch so adjudicated upon, showing the width, depth, and grade of each flume
or other measuring device, and to calculate and determine the quantity of water, ex-
pressed in cubic feet per second of time, which will flow through such flume or other
measuring device at various depths, and furnish the proper water commissioner with
a statement of the same.
SEc. 10, The water of every natural stream not heretofore appropriated, within
the Territory of Wyoming, is hereby declared to be the property of the public, and
the same is hereby dedicated to the use of the people of said Territory, subject to ap-
propriation as hereinafter provided.
SEC. 11. Every person, company, or corporation hereafter constructing, enlarging,
or extending any ditch, canal, or reservoir for irrigation or other beneficial purposes,
and intending to use or appropriate any water from any natural stream within a
water district for such purposes, shall, within ninety days after the commencement
of the construction, enlargement, or extension of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, file
and cause to be recorded in the office of the county clerk and ex-officio register of
deeds of the county in which is situated the district court having jurisdiction of all
questions concerning the priority of rights to the use of water in such water district,
a statement of claim under oath, setting forth the name or names, together with the
post-office address of the owner or owners of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir; the
name thereof, if any, and if without a name, the owner or owners shail adopt a name
to be therein stated by which such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall thereafter be
known; the number of the water district in which the same is situated; a description
of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, as to location of head-gate and the general course
of such ditch; the name of the natural stream from which such ditch, canal, or reser-
voir draws its supply of water; the length, width at top and bottom, depth, grade,
and carrying capacity thereof, expressed in cubic feet per second of time, as near as may
be; the time, giving the day, month, and year when work was commenced thereon
by original construction, enlargement, or extension, as the case may be, and likewise
the date when water was actually appropriated therefrom for irrigation and other
beneficial purposes; the number of acres lying under and being, or proposed to be,
irrigated by water therefrom, and a map or plat on a scale of not less than one inch
to the mile, showing the location of route of such ditch, canal, or reservoir, and the
natural stream from which it draws its supply of water, and also the legal subdi-
visions of land through which they flow: Provided, That in case the said statement
gives the direction or route of such ditch by courses and distances, according to
the field-notes of the survey thereof, it shall not be necessary to include in any such
statement the map or plat above referred to. Such statement shall be signed by the
person owning such ditch, canal, or reservoir, or, in case of a copartnership, by any
member thereof, for and in behalf of such copartnership, or in case of a corpora-
tion, by the president or secretary thereof, and such statement shall be recorded as
aforesaid in a book to be kept for that purpose.
SEC, 12. If the owner or owners of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall prose-
cute the work of construction thereon diligently and continuously until completed,
and shall otherwise comply with the provisions of law, such owner or owners shall,
as regards the owner or owners of all other ditches subsequently constructed and
drawing their supply of water from the same stream, have a priority of right to the
use of such water from and after the date of the commencement of the construction
thereof, but not otherwise. The beginning of all necessary surveys of such ditch
shall be considered as the commencement of such work of construction. -
SEC. 13. When the waters of any natural stream are not sufficient for the service
of all those desiring the use of the same, those using the water for domestic purpose
shall have preference over those claiming water for any other purpose, and those
using the water for agricultural purposes shall have the preference over those using
the same for manufacturing purposes. tº
SEC, 14. The priority of right to the use of such water shall be limited and re-
stricted to so much thereof as may be necessarily used and appropriated for irrigation
or other beneficial purposes as aforesaid, irrespective of the carrying capacity of the
ditch, and all the balance of the water not so appropriated shall be allowed to run in
the natural stream from which such ditch draws its supply of water, and shall not
be considered as having been appropriated thereby; and in case the owner or owners
264 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir shall fail to use the water therefrom for irriga-
tion or other beneficial purposes, or shall refuse to furnish any surplus water to the
owner or owners of lands lying under such ditch as hereinafter provided, during any
two successive years, they shall be considered as having abandoned the same, and
shall forfeit all water rights, easements, and privileges appurtenant thereto, and the
waters formerly appropriated by them may be again appropriated for irrigation and
other beneficial purposes the same as if such ditch, canal, or reservoir had never been
constructed; neither shall the owner or owners of any such ditch, canal, or reservoir
have any right to receive from others any royalty for the use of the water carried
thereby, but every such owner or owners having a surplus supply of water and fur-
nishing the same to others from any ditch, canal, or reservoir as hereinafter provided,
shall be considered common carriers and shall be subject to the same laws that
govern common carriers.
SEC. 15. The owner or owners of any such ditch which carries a greater quantity of
water than the owner or owners thereof necessarily use for irrigation and other bene-
ficial purposes in connection with their own lands shall, when application is made
to them for that purpose, furnish such surplus water at reasonable rates to the own-
ers of lauds lying under any such ditch for the purpose of reclaiming such lands and
rendering the same productive, and in case of refusal so to do the owner or owners
of any such ditch may be compelled by injunction suit to furnish such water on such
terms as uo the court may seem meet and proper: Provided, That the board of county
commissioners in their respective counties shall have power, when application is
made to them by either party interested, to establish reasonable maximum rates to
be charged for the use of water, whether furnished by individuals or corporations.
SEC. 16. The cubic foot of water per second of time shall be the legal standard for
the measurement of water in this Territory, both for determining the flow of water
# natural streams and ditches and also for the purpose of distributing water there-
TOIO .
SEC. 17. Nothing in this act contained shall in any wise interfere with any prior
right to the use of said water; neither shall the owner or owners of any such ditch,
canal, or reservoir who have heretofore complied with the laws relating thereto
enacted by the ninth legislative assembly of Wyoming be required to file any addi-
tional statement of claim under the provisions of this act./
IRRIGATION, ANCIENT AND MODERN.
ITS PHYSICAL FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS.
POSSIBLE E VIL EFFECTS-PRINCIPLES OF LEGISLATION IN ANCIENT
TIMES-ITALY-SPAIN– FIANCE – MEXICO-A USTIRALIAN LEGISLA-
TION.—DEAICINS” IRE POI&T-JEG YPT.
DAERT VI.
Irrigation of land is an art that existed for many centuries previous
to any authentic written history. The traditions of the Chinese people
are very ancient, and irrigation is mentioned in their earliest history as
extensively practiced. In Egypt, Syria, and the ancient kingdoms of
Eastern Asia agriculture depended almost wholly upon irrigation, and
still so depends in those countries where the people have survived the
political changes of thousands of years. The irrigation of gardens,
vineyards, and fields is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures; one of
the earliest books speaks of it, and one of the prophets refers to “fur-
rows of the plantation.” The systems adopted in California, Texas,
New Mexico, and Colorado are of ancient origin, and are copied from
ancient models. They are not the best, but they are cheap and easy of
construction. The settlement of the drier regions of our territory adds
another instance to those of past history. The actual history of irriga-
tion in the United States begins with the construction of the Pacific
railroads.
The enormous sums expended by the British Government in India in
irrigating works, and the profit derived from them will serve to sus-
tain the arguments put forth by Mr. Cole and others, that while Great
Britain is engaged in India not only in the construction of reservoirs
for the storage of the waters and streams, but for gathering in the
rains and dews for the purposes of irrigation, spending millions an-
nually in such works, and in keeping them in repair, our own country,
possessing waster domains than any nation of the world, and of incom-
pºrable value, has only to enter upon her own possessions and, by
trenching her mountain sides, beget reservoirs as enduring as the foun-
dations of the earth.
USES, ABUSES, AND REMEDIES.
The late Hon. George P. Marsh, for many years United States min-
ister to Italy, in an exhaustive article on “IRRIGATION, ITs EVILs,
THE REMEDIES, AND THE COMPENSATIONS,” treats on all the phases of
this important Subject. In this article Mr. Marsh refers to the customs
and laws governing the use of water in every country of Europe. The
methods of accumulating and distributing the water of precipitation,
and of flooding Springs and streams for agricultural purposes, are read-
ily accessible, and in the practical employment of the system our engi-
neers and the ingenuity of our people will, he says, no doubt overcome
any Special difficulties arising from the peculiar geographical and me.
**
265
266 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
teorological features of our territory. The social, legal, sanitary, and
financial aspect of the subject in its appliciition to extensive tracts of
Qultivated land are not familiar to the American public. He says, cau-
tions of a not altogether obvious nature are more needed than instruc.
tion on points 9f practical method, or of adaptability to particular
branches 9f agriculture. He points out the evils and difficulties of the
pºtice of irrigation, and suggests precautions against the occurrence
of these evils and the means of palliating them, where they are to some
extent inevitable. In the introduction of new systems of industrial or
rural occupation in a scale large enough to affect the rights and inter-
ests of Whole classes of the population, equal regard should be paid to
the good of every class, and on all such occasions the moral, Social, and
Sºnitary Consequences of great changes in the habits and employments
9f large bodies of the people is of more consequence than the merely
financial results. In this, as in most questions of political economy, is
*ncountered the great enigma of the right relation between Capital and
labor, and there are not many instances where these relations are more
unsatisfactory than in the employment of irrigation on the great scale
in Which it is practiced in many parts of Europe. Mr. Marsh Says the
tendency of irrigation in the Old World as a regular agricultural method
is to promote the accumulation of large tracts of land in the hands of
Single proprietors, and consequently to dispossess the smaller land-hold.
ers. , Where a district derives its supply of water for irrigation from a
Single stream or lake not practicably inexhaustible, the interests of
production require that the husbandry of the entire district be admin-
istered in a uniform or harmonious system, and consequently that the
çontrol of the source of water-supply be vested in a single head; for it
is obvious that each land-holder can not be allowed to draw off at his
pleasure and appropriate to his own use the whole current or such parts
Of it as may suit his convenience. The cause, capacity, and channels
of division and of final discharge must be determined by some common
principle, and adapted to the branches of husbandry best suited to the
Soil and climate. The agricultural economy of each farmer must re-
main Substantially fixed and invariable, and even so simple a thing as
the rotation of crops would be almost impracticable, because it would
be impossible to change the whole system of supply. The canals of
diversion and distribution once established, the network must remain
immutable, “as the arteries and veins of the human system.” The
measurement of flowing water and its diversion between different occu-
pants are matters of extreme complexity, and jealousies and dissen-
Sions often arise between neighboring claimants in regard to the as-
Certainment of the quantity rightfully belonging to each and the amount
actually withdrawn by each from the common source of supply. The
Consequence of these interminable vexations is that the poorer or more
peaceably disposed land-holder is obliged to sell his possessions to a
richer proprietor, and the whole district gradually passes into the hands
of a single holder, family, or corporation. In the large irrigated plain
lands of Europe real estate is accumulated in vast tracts of single
OWnership, and farming is conducted on a scale hardly surpassed in
England or even on the almost boundless regions of our own West. In
illustration of this Mr. Marsh states that ten years ago a single pro-
prietor exhibited at an agricultural fair at Modena one hundred yoke
of oxen from his own estate. There are doubtless, he says, considera-
ble economical advantages in the system. The unity of administration
tends to increase production as well as to diminish the cost, but the
evils more than counterbalance this advantage. Pliny, the elder, com-
plained eighteen hundred years ago that great farms had been the ruin
Is IRRIGATION INJURIOUS To HEALTH% 267
of Italy. Next in importance to the moral and social aspects of the
system comes the question of the effects of irrigation on the health of
the population employing it in certain branches of agriculture where
water is largely used. The fact is established that the miasmatic ex-
halations are highly deleterious. The rice grounds of Lombardy are
almost as destructive to health as those of Georgia and other Southern
States. All irrigation, Mr. Marsh says, except where the configuration
of the surface and the character of the soil are such as to promote the
rapid draining of the water, or where special precautions are provided
against its influence, is prejudicial to health. The increased dampness
of the atmosphere is injurious to the respiratory system in some locali:
ties, and in others the exhalations from the watered soil and moistened
manure tend to develop malarious influences, and aggravate, if not oc-
casion, febrile diseases. Mr. Marsh says, in a foot-note:
There is no doubt the insalubrity of Rome is greatly aggravated by the abundantly
irrigated gardens within the walls of that city, and the increased prevalence of mala-
rious fevers in the neighborhood of New York and other American cities is due to in-
creased extent of market gardens, and consequently of irrigated lands in their vicin-
ity.
INFILTRATION OF THE SOIL,
Mr. Marsh notices the purely physical evils which he regards as in
many cases inseparable from this system of husbandry, and says the
first and most obvious effect of withdrawing water from its narrow nat-
ural channels and distributing it over the surface of the earth is a great
increase in the humidity of the soil watered, a like increase in the evap-
oration from it, and a corresponding reduction of the atmospheric tem-
perature, as in other cases of evaporation. The water imbibed by the
earth is generally estimated at about one-seventh of the quantity ap-
plied. This may not be sufficient to affect the consistence of the soil to
a serious degree, but of the remaining six-sevenths the portion not car-
ried off by evaporation, employed to irrigate lands at a lower level, or
discharged into running streams or lakes, frequently produces a very
prejudicial effect on the soil of adjacent lands over which the waterflows
or into which it percolates. Thus, he says, the infiltration of the super-
fluous water from the rice grounds of Lombardy sometimes renders the
lower fields adjacent unfit for any other husbandry to a distance of miles
from the land flowed for watering the rice. The division of brooks and
rivers and the final discharge of the current by remote outlets tends to
deprive the district originally watered by it of their proper supply, and
while on the one side considerable tracts of land are sometimes drenched
with superfluous moisture, on the other water-courses large enough to
drive mills and other machinery may be laid dry and their fish de-
stroyed, and even the subterranean conduits from their beds which fed
the springs and Wells at lower levels may cease to flow.
Irrigation always compacts and hardens the soil, and frequently to a
very inconvenient degree. This, of course, increases the labor both of
plowing and the Subsequent tillage with hoe or cultivator, and farmers
are tempted to rely too much on the fertilizing power of irrigation, and
consequently to use little manure, a liberal application of which renders
land less liable to become hard and tenacious by watering. A general
opinion prevails that Water employed for irrigation dissolves some of
the fertilizing ingredients of the soil, and carries them with it in its flow
or percolation through the adjacent fields into which it escapes. This
opinion was controverted by Liebig, who taught that none of the ma-
terial constituents of Vegetation were thus abstracted by water, and that
view has been confirmed by other observers. But later experiments
appear to show that the doctrines of Liebig and his followers are not
268 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
strictly true, for mineral and vegetable substances, which enter more or
less into the food of plants, have been detected in the field, drains, and
other currents from cultivated soils. There is, however, no satisfactory
evidence that land is impoverished by irrigation, though the consist.
ence of the Soil may be sometimes affected injuriously. The increase
of the natural humidity of the soil provokes the growth of aquatic
Weeds, and in all freely irrigated lands the borders of the channels of
distribution are fringed with water-plants, in spite of all efforts to de-
stroy them. In many localities irrigation can not be carried on upon a
great scale without the construction of large reservoirs. The objections
to these arise from the fact that it is almost impossible to make the re-
taining dams or walls sufficiently secure to prevent the waters from
ultimately bursting their barriers and overwhelming the country below
With ruinous desolation. Works of hydraulics are full of examples of
Such calamities.
THE NEED OF CARE AND CAUTION,
The quality of the grain roots and other vegetables cultivated by irri-
gation is a point of importance, and Mr. Marsh says he has not found
the meal of Indian corn or other cereals produced by irrigation less
SWeet or less nutritious than that produced on unwatered fields. There
are, he says, economical obstacles to irrigation, as it is seldom practi-
cable without considerable outlay. Dams, dikes, artesian boring ma-
Chines, pumping-machines, reservoirs, aqueducts, and canals are some
of them indispensable where irrigation is employed at all extensively.
The ground must be prepared to permit either a flow over it or its
gradual absorption and ill filtration, and a good deal of labor is required
in the way of grading before irrigation can be practiced with advan-
tage. On the Alps irrigation is practiced almost up to the limit of per-
petual frost. The water of the melting snows at its low temperature
is conducted immediately over the grass. There is danger, too, of enter.
ing into the system without previous careful inquiry as to the sufficiency
of Supply, and this involves experiments varied and long continued to
determine. There is another suggestion to make in estimating the eco-
nomical value of irrigation—namely, that in some parts of our own
Country production is now overabundant, and needs repression rather
than enlargement. Mr. Marsh says: “From all this it will be obvious
that considerable evils attend the practice of field irrigation, and they
would be sensibly felt in its introduction in a country which stands in
no special need of such a resource for increasing its agricultural pro-
duction.” The object of Mr. Marsh in pointing out these evils has been
to inculcate the necessity of caution in attempting a revolution in our
agricultural methods, but by no means to discourage careful study of
the subject, or judicious experiment in appropriate localities.
He points out the necessity of taking especial care that water shall
not be allowed to stagnate and poison the air. Hilly and Winding slopes
admit of a simple and efficient mode of irrigation, or a substitute which
is not available on level soil. This method has been practiced with suc-
cess in many parts of the United States, where it is known by the name
of “circling.” It consists in horizontally terracing the slopes, or fur-
rowing them with the hill-side plow, and leaving the Surface perma-
nently in this condition.
The duties of the general and local governments of the United States
in this branch of rural economy are by no means confined to the simple
protection of nature's waters from private encroachment. Govern-
ments ought to take steps for collecting and diffusing all knowledge
on the subject, and by encouraging and aiding experiments and by
STUPENDOUS CHARACTER OF ANCIENT WORKS. 269
special inquiry into the physical conditions and capabilities, the wants
and the means of all our territory. Much of the practical information
needed may be gathered from European experience and by the study
of the methods employed in those exceptional parts of our territory
where irrigation has been long practiced.
Mr. Marsh, speaking of the stupendous net-work of canals lately con-
structed by the British Government in India, says:
There are serious objections to the assumption of such burdens and responsibilitics
by republican government, but there are insuperable objections to any other system.
The literature of European legislation, customary law, and judicial action on this
subject is voluminous enough to form a library of itself, and of late years inuch has
been done to lighten the labors of research on water questions, and to facilitate the
application of law by codification and completion of digests and compends by private
jurists.
Mr. Marsh says he is thoroughly convinced, after much observation
and inquiry, that irrigation may be immensely extended among us with
great commercial advantage, and that by reasonable prudence, and,
above all, by a sufficient exercise of moral courage by our rulers,
nearly all the evils which ordinarily attend the practice may be avoided
or at least greatly mitigated.
On this subject the International Encyclopedia says:
The ancient works for irrigation were stupendous. The canal of the Pharaohs,
which connected Pelusuim with the Red Sea, was an irrigating canal. There existed
a work in Arabia long before the time of Solomon, which in some respects excelled
all works of the kind, modern or ancient, and corresponds well with tho fact that the
Arabians of that time were among the first mathematicians. In Yemen, Arabia,
there was an immense reservoir for holding water for irrigating the valley of Mareb.
The reservior was made by a dam 2 miles long and 120 feet high. It was constructed
of immense blocks of ashlar, and was so durable as to serve the purpose for which it
was built more than two thousand years. It then gave way, scattering ruin in the
course of the torrent which it let loose.
It must be borne in mind that one of the best examples in modern engineering is a
dam in France across the Furens which is 164 feet high but only 328 feet wide at the
top. This work almost sinks into insignificance when compared to the ancient
Arabian dam.
The plains of Assyria and Babylonia were intersected with a system of canals both
for irrigation and navigation. In many of them water was raised by mechanical
means somewhat like that practiced at present in Egypt.
The ancient Peruvians and Mexicans constructed immense aqueducts for irrigation
purposes whose existing remains, now partially used, astonish the traveler. The
same may be said of China.
THE WATER, LAWS OF OLDER, LANDS.
Rome, it may be said, once ruled all the countries of southern Eu-
rope, northern Africa, and western Asia, where irrigation had its birth
and its greatest development in ancient times. Like air, water was
regarded as a necessity to human life, of which every one might use so
much as Was requisite for personal requirements, but which was not ca-
pable of appropriation to private ownership farther than in this suffi-
cient quantity. Streams, rivers, ponds, etc., which were not in private
ownership were regarded as things which belonged to the people as a
nation. The roads, and rivers were specially counted as public things
by the Romans. The codes authorized the use of the rivers as ship-
ways, or for fishing, but the ownership itself was vested in the state.
They were not the property of the ruling sovereign, but of the sovereign
power of the people collectively, each one of whom could use them as
his own, but might not injure, neither segregate any portion or constit-
uent part of them for his own. And this right was extended to all
whether Roman citizens or not, who were at peace with Rome. y
Public rivers are defined to be such as were perennial or ever flow-
ing, but if located through private lands were not the property of the
270 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES, |
public unless navigable or capable of being made so by improvement, or
from some other cause of public importance. A river was distinguished
from other streams by its greater volume or more considerable local
importance. -
The bank of a river commenced at the limit of the spread of the
Waters at high tide, but when lands were not inundated, land below
that line was property in public or private ownership. In the case of
navigable rivers, and all streams which were public property, the beds
belonged to the state. Should the waters leave the channel and take
another, the river was considered to have moved, and the old bed be-
came the property of those whose lands were taken for the new channel,
While lands taken for this new channel became part of the public prop.
erty—the river. In the case of non-navigable rivers and streams not ,
regarded as public, situated on private property, the beds belonged to
the riparian proprietors. While the beds were covered with water the
rights of the proprietors were suspended, but revived when the waters
receded. The banks of the public river might belong to the riparian
proprietor to the extent that he had the right to take the fruits, cut
the bushes, and fell the trees which grew thereon, but not so as to preju-
dice the use of the river or its banks by the public.
The public had a right to the use of the banks of navigable rivers,
So that a qualified ownership of the soil of such banks was all that
could be acquired by private persons. The owner of lands which were
bounded by a ditch or wall following near the bank, or by a public road
on the bank of a public stream, was not a riparian proprietor; to be
Such, his lands had to be bounded by the stream itself. Roman law
made a marked distinction between rivers and other streams and the
waters thereof. A river-bed and the water was each regarded as a pub-
lic thing, the property of the state, necessarily excluded from private
ownership, control, barter, or sale; the use of both was to be enjoyed
by all.
The water of the river was the property of the people in common, and
each, if the enjoyment of the public property would not be impaired,
might divert a portion of the water from its natural channel for other
purposes than those of his own domestic necessities.
The state was guardian of the common property, the water, and no
person could use more than sufficient for his individual necessities and
those of his family and cattle without a special permit. In the case of
water sources and water-courses which were susceptible of private
ownership, the right to use their waters for purposes other than the sup-
ply of theimmediate animal necessities pertained primarily to the owners.
Springs and brooks being situated on private lands constituted parts
of such property, but the Water itself while running in its natural chan-
nel was the property of all the people. The banks and channels of pub-
lic rivers were specially guarded from injury; the construction of works
or the placing of obstructions, by the effects of which the current
might be made more or less rapid, was forbidden. The construction of
works upon the bank or in the channel of a public river, whether nav-
igable or not, whereby either the high or low water flow would be
affected, was also forbidden, and Works which might have an effect
such as described, erected without authority, were removed or abol-
ished at the expense of the constructor.
It was declared lawful, however, for ripalian proprietors, or those
who lived near the bank of the public river, to erect works for the
protection of a bank, provided that navigation was in no way impeded
thereby, and that the river or the other bank was not injured. If
damage resulted from any such work an official examination was made,
WATER PRIVILEGES AND THEIR CHARACTER, 271
and the works were removed or ordered changed, and security for ten
years was exacted from their owner or constructor. There Was a pro-
vision concerning the protection of river banks, whereby it was lawful
for riparian proprietors to construct works for the repair or protection
of the bank adjacent to their property.
If damage was threatened by such works to the lands of another, a
writ of inquiry was ordered, and security was exacted for ten years
against the results of such possible damage.
The diversion of water, whether of floods or low-water flow, from
public rivers, reservoirs, or tanks, without the sanction of a special
privilege in each case, was prohibited. -
The water privileges were of two kinds: First, those granted to indi-
viduals, of water for use on individual lands; second, those affecting
water for public use. When a joint right to divert was issued to sev-
eral persons, the division of the water was left to those holding the
right. The use to which water was to be put was not always stipulated
in grants, provided that it was to be used in good faith and not wasted.
The user of water was liable for damages “by reason of anything done,
dug, sown, delved, or built, whereby the river was corrupted.” It was
declared that water privileges should be “exercised in such a manner
as not to damage other persons having similar rights.”
Immemorial possession and use of running water by a private indi-
vidual, as for the operation of a mill or in irrigation, gave prescriptive
rights to the continued enjoyment of such use.
No possessor of water, though having held it from time immemorial,
had the right to use it wastefully to the prejudice of others.
Springs on private lands were the property of the land-owner, on the
principle that to such proprietor belonged all above and all below the
land and all it produced. The right to use spring water might be ac-
quired by others by agreement or prescription.
Spring waters flowing off, joining with other waters, and forming
brooks on other lands, became common property, but their use was dedi-
cated to the owners of the lands along their course, so that such waters
for purposes of diversion belonged to these riparian proprietors. *
Water rising out of the ground on a private estate, as being a part of
the spring, was the property of the owner of the land; but when any
portion of such water had escaped from the tract where it came to the
surface, it became a common property of all the people. But so long
as it remained in channels on private estates only the owners of the
banks of its channels could divert it from its course and use it, except
this right should have been acquired as a servitude.
But even these bank proprietors could not divert such waters if in so
doing other proprietors were injured.
Water drawn from its Source or diverted or drawn from its course
into an artificial and private channel, or when stored in a reservoir or
tank, itself in private ownership, became private property.
The user might do with it as he chose, providing his use was in good
faith—not wasteful. The rights to draw water from a private spring
or stream by others than its owners, and to conduct waters acrosslands
owned by others, ranked as Servitudes. A predial servitude under
Roman law was a definite right of enjoyment in some particular respect
of one person's property by the owner of other adjoining or neighboring
property. Such a Servitude could be held only as an appurtenance to
land owned, being called predial because it could not exist without an
estate. - *
The right of passage across the lands of another and the right of con-
ducting water through such lands appear to have been recognized as
lº. s
272 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
indisputable privileges from the earliest times of the Roman jurispru-
dence.
The right of way to construct a canal or other conduit through the
property of another, and to lead the waters through it, was one of the
chief rural servitudes. The right to take water through the property
of another in a ditch or other conduit could be acquired by prescrip-
tion use for a long period of years, or by agreement, or, in the case of
public works, title to the land necessary could be acquired by expro-
priation and payment therefor. When acquired as a title, of course
the right was complete. When as a servitude, the right was accorded
for a certain purpose only. A right to draw and use water from another's
Spring or rivulet might be imposed by agreement or prescription as a
Servitude thereon.
MODERN ITALY.
“In northern Italy the waters of all streams, whether navigable or
non-navigable, appertain to the royal or public domain.” The old estab-
lished claim of the cities, communes, and associations of proprietors and
of noble individuals in Lombardy to the supplies of water which they
had for long periods of time actually utilized, having been recognized,
the Government asserted and maintained its ownership to all natural
streams, whether navigable or not.
Diversions of water under the old claims were subjected to Govern-
ment regulations, but when the Government had come into control of
the Streams, so many claims had grown up that the proprictorship of the
State was almost a barren one.
In Piedmont the right of property in all running water was reserved
to the state. This reservation applied not merely to the large class o
rivers, but also to the streams and torrents, the water of which could
only be used under specific grants from the Government. After all
Italy had been brought under one Government there was promulgated
in 1865 the code of Victor Emanuel, of which article 427 is as follows:
The national roads, the shore of the sea, the harbors, bays, coasts, rivers, and tor-
rents, the gates, the walls, the ditches, the bastions of forts and fortifications form a
part of the public domain.
This provision of the code of 1865 is the law now in force in Italy, and
under it all running waters, except those of very small streams, are
claimed as property of the Government, representing the people as a
nation; and they are administered very much as are the waters of the
navigable streams of France.
Navigability itself was a ruling consideration in France, while a volume
of water for irrigation was the point of importance which made the stream
one of public utility in northern Italy. As a matter of fact, in northern
Italy every stream of perennial volume, other than very small stream-
lets, is regarded as a river; and every stream of intermittent flow from
the rain-fall or melting of snows, except the Smallest, is regarded as a
torrent.
The principle that ownership of the land carries with it all beneath
its surface and all it produces has prevailed from the times of the earliest
recorded laws in all the north of Italy. Waters rising out of the Soil
have always been regarded as the absolute property of the owner of the
soil so long as he retained them within the bounds of his estate and did
not permit his title to suffer abridgment by allowing some other proprie-
tor to acquire a prescriptive right to the use of the waters. The springs
always remain the property of the owner of the soil, but the right to use
their waters may be, wholly alienated and held by the owner of some
other property. The principle as to ownership of a spring is the same
RIPARIAN RIGHTS ARE NOT CONSIDERED. 273
in all Italy as it was for Piedmont and other parts of the Sardinian
Kingdom.
As the law now stands in all Italy, the owner of one or both banks of
a little stream may use its waters in irrigating his riparian lands, but
he must restore the drainage and residue of it to the Ordinary channel;
while he who is not a riparian proprietor can not take such waters at aii
without the consent of all the riparian proprietors; nor Can any One
riparian proprietor assign his right to water from such a stream to any
one else.
The riparian right to divert waters from a stream is confined to the
case of very small streams, and is scarcely known in the valley of the
Po. During the times of the ownership of the streams and waters by
the sovereigns of the states, and by the petty feudal rulers, and by the
sovereign power of the states, as the representatives of all the people
in each case, the right to divert water from any river or torrent could
only be acquired in the states of northern Italy by special grant or con-
cession of privilege made on a formal application, after due examination
and consideration of all the interests to be affected. And now that the
country is united under one government, and the Waters belong to the
royal or public domain, the same rule, and substantially the same for-
malities in applying it, exist.
It appears that the policy of the rulers in Lombardy, until the later
years of its existence as a separate state, has generally been either to
dispose of the waters of its streams in absolute property by gift or sale
to those who constructed the canals to lead them out, or itself to con-
struct such canals and sell the waters directly, or indirectly through
farmers of the canal revenues, to the irrigators. The Government of
Piedmont has generally been more conservative in the care of its waters.
Absolute grants of ownership of waters ceased in that country before
the beginning of the present century. Water privileges for all time have
been issued, but the full right of regulation was reserved to the Gov-
ernment, and the cession of proprietorship in the water was expressly
disclaimed. There are, however, important works whose proprietors
have absolute rights of ownership in the waters, acquired in the cent-
uries gone by. During the later years of the existence of the Pied-
montese Government its waters were disposed of only on long-term
leases. This last-mentioned policy is that pursued by the Government
of Italy since it has supplanted those of Lombardy and Piedmont, the
duration and terms of concession being similar to those of France.
FRANCE.
While under the dominion of Rome all matters pertaining to the
streams and waters of the country now called France were subject to
Roman law. Long before the close of the Roman rule the people had
the full protection due citizens of Rome, so that at the time of the con-
quest of Gaul by the Visigoths (A. D. 470 to 480) there was much land
held in individual ownership, with the consequent private rights, on
small streams; but under the Merovingian kings the freehold titles to
land disappeared, property was held by a different tenure under the
sovereigns, and all rights of ownership in water-courses and waters was
wested in the rulers themselves. The feudal system then grew up, and
the water-courses, from having belonged to the nation and the people,
or to private individuals, under Roman law, and then exclusively to
kings under Merovingian rule, became dependencies upon the liefs of
the feudal courts, who assumed almost complete ownership of and con-
138 A L-AP WOL IV—18
274 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
trol over them. A struggle was ever present between these nobles and
the kings for the control of the water-courses, and the conflict did not
cease until the Government had become centralized and feudalism over-
thrown, during the fourteenth century. In that century the study of
the Roman law was actively reviewed in France, and feudalism being
on the decline, the Roman law recognizing ownership of streams not of
public importance, non-navigable streams, by the riparian proprietors
became incorporated into the law of France.
The kings asserted their ownership of all navigable streams and left
the control and Virtual ownership of non-navigable ones to the bank-
owners, but really without any formal laws upon which to ground their
claim of title to them. The public possessions of the kings held for the
benefit of the nation became known, as the “public domain.” This
policy of holding fast to all the nation's property is still adhered to by
the Government, So that Water-courses and waters once declared navi-
gable and raftable can never be alienated from the public domain and
become in any Sense private property.
The changes in the form of government occurring a little less than
a century ago appear to have resulted in no completed action affecting
the laws or customs respecting waters until 1803–04, when the Code
Napoleon, which is the present civil code of the country, was promul-
gated. The only direct statement relating to the ownership of water-
courses or Waters in this code is as follows: Highways, roads, and
streets at the national charge, rivers and streams which will carry floats,
shores, ebb and flow of Sea (the land newly made by the sea), ports,
harbors, roadsteads, and generally all portions of the national territory,
which are not susceptible of private proprietorship, are considered as
dependencies on the “public domain.” A royal ordinance of 1835 enu-
merated all the streams and parts of Streams in France deemed naviga-
ble and claimed as of the public domain, and other ordinances of later
dates have added to the list.
The sovereign authority to declare streams navigable, and hence part
of the public domain, has not been disputed, but riparian proprietors
who have been dispossessed of their right to water for irrigation, by the
exercise of this power, have claimed and been allowed indemnities for
actual damage caused them. Although only certain streams and parts
of streams have thus far been added to the public domain, the admin-
istration may at any time declare other streams or parts navigable or
raftable, and thus make them public property, afterwards paying the
riparian proprietors for actual damage. The state owning these Water-
courses is, of course, owner of the waters forming them, and these, with
the beds, are alienable from the public domain; their use only can be
granted. According to the terms of the civil code, water-courses not
navigable are common property. If the ownership of non-navigable
waterc-ourses can not be fixed elsewhere, then these streams belong to
the nation, just as well as do those which have become part of the
public domain. *
Riparian proprietors claim the ownership of the channel bed to the
center line in front of their property, and the claim is allowed, when
the beds are permanently laid dry from any cause; alluvial deposits
along their banks accrue to the benefit of the land-owner adjacent to
whose field they form; islands forming in the channels belong to the
adjacent bank owners, and prior to the passage of a law specially to the
point in 1847 the owner of one bank, although he might have secured ad:
ministrative authority to build a dam in front of his own property, could
not carry it past the center of the stream, or connect it with the opposite
bank, without the consent of the bank owner. Until very recent years
%
CHANGES MADE BY THE CODE NAPOLEON. 275
the beds of streams of this class belonged to and were under control of
riparian proprietors, except where the Government has exercised a Su-
pervision of works and channels to insure a free flow for flood Waters.
The waters of non-navigable and non-raftable streams were formerly
claimed as the private property of the riparian proprietors. Their
origin and division and the necessarily common control of the streams
upset this theory. Then they were claimed by these proprietors as a
sort of property held in common by them for the exclusive benefit of
their lands and industries. It was and is still claimed by the owners
of lands not bordering the streams that the waters belong to the whole
people of France; and while the riparian proprietors are given a right
to use them in irrigation and otherwise, it is not exclusive, but the Gov-
ernment can grant concessions for the use of Some part of them on lands
not riparian, So long as rights already accrued by use be not unduly or
injuriously limited or their exercise inconvenienced by such action.
“The riparian proprietors now say, if the waters belong to the nation,
they, the bank owners, have a special and complete servitude on all such
waters, which right to use is continuous and not forfeitable by fail-
ure to avail themselves of it at any time or any length of time, except
as between themselves. The fact of the ownership of the waters of
non-navigable and non-raſtable streams by the nation is now pretty
well settled, and the tendency of decisions is towards a declaration of
ownership by the nation of the beds also so long as occupied by the
waters—so long as they are courses for public waters.
Starting several centuries ago with almost complete ownership and
control of the Waters and channels of the streams not navigable nor
raftable the riparian land owners have since been restricted in their
rights, and now find themselves without any recognized claim of owner-
ship in the waters, and only a semblance in the channel beds, until after
these shall have been laid dry, but with a preferred privilege to the use
of the WaterS.
We find irrigation constantly favored in the laws in preference to
manufacturing and many other uses of Waters, domestic necessities and
navigation alone ranking it in the Scale, and the first of these two uses
being the only one decidedly preferred to it in the administration of the
laws. w &
On non-navigable and non-raftable streams the administration in the
theory interferes with private operations conducted by those who as
bank owners have rights on the streams under the ancient usages and
civil code to regulate Works in the channels or on the banks with a
view to preserving the channels in the interest of the public and for
developing a free passage for flood waters, and with the view of pre-
serving the interests of navigation on the main stream below. -
On the water-courses of the public domain the policy of the Govern-
ment is actuated by a solicitude for the interests of navigation, and then
by an almost equal interest in promoting the economical and full use of
the waters in agriculture, manufacturing, and industrial pursuits gen-
erally, and finally by a realization of the pressing necessity for promot-
ing the arterial drainage of the country, in order that floods may be
prevented and valuable lands reclaimed, ".
On non-navigable Water-courses the administration is not authorized
to interfere between the owners of Works already constructed and those
proposed or newly constructed. The administration is bound to pre-
sume that the proprietor of lands on streams has a right to water there-
from, and can only interfere to the extent of regulating his works,
The engineers can advise the parties in interest and bring before them
276 . IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
all the facts as to measure of water supply and extent of use, etc., but
if on such showings agreements can not be arrived at, the administra-
tion has no alternative but to sanction the construction of any new
work proposed, provided the work itself is unobjectionable, leaving the
court to decide whether or not the new appropriator is entitled to water,
On navigable streams the administration is invested with full powers,
not only to regulate works of all kinds, but to consider all questions
relating to water privileges. In case of both classes of streams the
engineers are charged with the duty of collecting and arranging data
respecting the supply and use of waters.
The construction and management of all public works except those
specially confided to the minister of war, of the navy; of education, of
posts and telegraphs, and some others are delegated to the secretary of
state or minister of public works. The care of all waters and water-
courses, whether of public domain or not, their control and the control
of the acts of individuals on their banks, are regarded as of public con-"
cern, and the administration thus has to do with all affairs affecting
streams. It is now the intention of the Government that all water-
courses of public importance in France, whether navigable or raftable,
and consequently of the public domain, or not floatable even for rafts
and timber, but which are of public utility, shall be subject to the su-
pervising care of special agents of the Government called guards. On
non-navigable streams the guards are generally appointed on recom-
mendation of the riparian owners, and others interested.
No work of any kind, sort, or description may be erected upon a navi-
gable stream or river floatable for rafts, or timber, or upon any stream
so declared, nor can any water be taken from such streams, except it be
taken in a bucket or other similar hand vessel, without the project for
which it is required and the plan by which it is to be constructed, if a
work, or used, if a water privilege, having been first submitted to the
administrative authority and publicly made known, so that it may be
opposed, iſ necessary. Older rights and those of industries most need-
ful are always protected in the administration of affairs from day to
day; but no right is so old or use so pressing that its owners have the
power to control the diversion of the people's water, or use it in a waste-
ful manner, or in any way hinder the full development and prosperity
of other institutions dependent on Water Supply.
It is on rivers and portions of rivers where it has become necessary to
construct dams for navigation, and those still higher, which have been
dammed for purposes of flotation, that water privileges are chiefly
sought after for power purposes, irrigation, municipal supply, and in-,
dustrial use. Such water-courses are public property, under full Con-
trol of the administration. Non-navigable tributaries of navigable
streams, and these streams themselves above the points where they be-
come navigable, are also under the control of the administration. Still
or stagnant waters, those draining from marshes and ditches, that have
free communication from navigable or raftable streams, and whose
waters flow the year round, or waters where ferry-boats can enter at all
times, and those cared for at the expense of the state, make part of the
public domain, and a right to dispose of or use them may be had only
by special authorization. s
Projects requiring special privileges to use water or sanction of plans
to erect works in water-courses are undertaken either as private enter-
prises of individuals to water their own lands, to run their own mills,
or for other private purposes, or as speculative enterprises by indi-
viduals, associated landholders, or capitalized incorporated companies
THE FRENCH LAND AND WATER RIGHTS. 277
desiring to sell water to consumers. When water privileges or permits
to construct works are desired by individuals, for their own private
benefit, in the use of water or otherwise, on navigable streams, an ap-
plication must be made to the prefect of the department. Where the in-
ended work or diversion is to be made.
When water privileges on streams navigable and of the public do-
main are desired by individuals, companies, or societies, for Specu-
lative purposes, all permits or concessions have to be acquired by de-
cree deliberated upon in the council of state. Whenever possible, the
diversion of water for an irrigation canal or other use (requiring the
construction of a dam in the river) is effected by a work which serves
at the same time to hold back water for the promotion of navigation.
Works designed for taking water for any purpose of a holder of a Water
privilege are always constructed and maintained at his expense, and
when in close connection with a dam for navigation purposes, are carried
out by the administration. Upon non-navigable water-courses which
have not been declared to be dependencies on the public domain, in the
civic code, and which have not been improved in the interest of navi-
gation, the expense of cleaning and caring for the channel generally is
borne by the riparian land owners.
Works erected and acts committed in the channels or on the banks of
non-navigable or non-raftable water-courses, when they present no ob-
struction to free flood flow, are subject to regulation by the law as ad-
ministered by the courts; but works located upon navigable streams,
when not duly authorized by the administration, constitute infringe-
ments of the authority of the commission of public ways, and are sub-
ject to repression. Water-privilege rents for irrigation Works are rated
upon the basis of the increase in yield due to irrigation, and are fixed
at a sum annually paid, equivalent to one-tenth of the increase in value
of produce on the land irrigated over its produce before irrigation.
Without meaning to limit the duration of water concessions, the rents
are revised every thirty years, for, though revokable at any time, Water-
right concessions on public streams are given for an indefinite time.
Water privilege heads held in private control previous to the edict of
1566 declaring the inalienability of the public domain are free from the
charge of rents, as are also those whose holders have titles derived by
purchase from the Government.
The exclusive right to water for milling and irrigation purposes from
streams too small to be regarded by the kings as of public importance
were accorded to the owners of the bank lands, apparently on the
ground that they owned the beds and waters as well as the banks, pre-
vious to the time of the Code Napoleon. In later years it appears to
have become recognized that the waters were in reality a common prop-
erty, and that the bank proprietors had only a right to use them and
not a right of ownership in them.
Still there was the open question, to whom were the waters a common
property; the riparian proprietors claiming to be the owners in common
of the waters of each stream, and submitting to the control of the
streams by the Government only as it was based upon the general po-
lice authority of the nation; while the Government asserted its right
to control, not only because of its general police powers, but because
of the fact that the Waters were really common property of the whole
people, and not of the riparian proprietors alone, and that public inter-
ests were to be promoted, as well as other private interests guarded by
it, and that its mission was one to promote public utility as well as re-
278 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
press or prevent abuse of private privileges in the protection of other
privileges. *
The continued and growing abuse of the riparian water-right privi-
lege brought about an increased necessity for upholding this latter
view, so that it became a popular sentiment, and owners of lands not
riparian to the streams asserted a right to the waters for their irrigation
on the ground that such waters were a common property of all the peo-
ple; and asserting that the riparian owner's privilege of using them
was not an exclusive privilege, but that upon a grant or permit from
Government any land owner could divert them for use on his lands. In
this view of the case by far the greater number of land proprietors were
interested, so that the governmental policy of control was strongly up-
held. Now the manufacturing interests took alarm. The owners of the
hundreds of mills and manufactories depending upon water supply
for power and other purposes scattered along the streams all over
France, and holding rights, many of them dating back in the times of
the counts, and all valuing the riparian right as a protection to their
water supply, were arrayed against the advancing theory of the waters
belonging to all the people and due to all the people for use. The Gov-
ernment continued to uphold the theory of the waters of these small
streams being a common property of all the people, but no step was taken
§ accord land owners other than riparian proprietors any right to use
them.
The case appears to have stood this way when the Code Napoleon was
promulgated in 1804. This code contained provisions which in course
of time were recognized as placing the ownership of the waters of the
smaller class of streams in the nation, but declared the use of things of
this class to be common to all. Left with this provision only, the waters
of these streams would have been thrown open to use by all the people.
But an article, under the head of “servitudes,” seemed to place a special
servitude (right of use) on these waters for the benefit of riparian es-
tates. The Government had its hands strengthened in its policy of con-
trol and regulation, and the fundamental principle contended for by the
owners of lands not riparian, as well as by Government, was recognized.
The ownership of water belongs to the State, without prejudicing the
right to the same which corporations or individuals may have acquired
by legal title in conformity with the provisions of special laws in rela-
tion to public real estate. The enjoyment of the ownership of water is
subject to the following provision: No one may use the water of the
rivers in such a manner as to obstruct navigation, nor construct in them
works which hinder the free passage of vessels or rafts, or the using of
any other means of water transportation. In a similar manner the
hindrance or obstruction of the use of the banks is prohibited when
they may be necessary for the same ends. *
The proprietor of water, whatever may be his title, has no power to
hinder the use of so much as is necessary for the Supply of persons or
stockmen who are in possession of or living on real estate; nor to oppose
the indispensable works to provide for that necessity in such a manner
as shall be the least burdensome to the proprietor. He may have the
right to indemnity reserved, except from those inhabitants who have
acquired the use of water by prescription or by other legal title.
The provisions of this code relating to the servitudes Of water shall
not interfere in any manner with rights legally acquired up to this date
concerning the same. g º º
The proprietor of water has no power to divert its course in such a
manner as to cause damage to a third party from overflow or from any
THE LEGAL SERVITUDES OF WATER. 279
other cause. If any person dig a well on his premises, notwithstanding
he may diminish the flow of water upon the adjoining land, he is not
obliged to give indemnity. Every one who has acquired water, the use
of which he may dispose of, has the right to pass through the interven:
ing lands, subject to the obligation of indemnity to their owners, and
also to the owners of any lower lands upon which the water may leak
or descend; but edifices, their courts, gardens, and other appurtenances
are excepted from the servitude established by the foregoing provisions.
He who has the right of use has the right of way for water, and is
obliged to construct the necessary channel through the intermediate
lands, although there may be other channels for the use of other Waters.
He who has on his lands a channel for the use of water which belongs
to him may prevent the opening of another, offering to give passage
through his own channel, provided it does not cause damage to the
claimant. He must permit the passage of waters across canals and
aqueducts in the manner most suitable to the course of the Waters
which are to be conducted by them, and the volume must not be altered
nor the two waters mingled in both aqueducts. -
In the case of right of passage through intermediate lands, if it be-
comes necessary to conduct the aqueduct over a road, river, or public
stream, it is indispensable that permission should be previously ob-
tained from the authority to whose care the road, river, or stream is
intrusted. Such authority shall only grant permission, subject to regu-
lations binding the owner of the water for which passage is sought, not
to hinder the passage of the water nor injure the highway, nor inter-
fere with or stop the course of the river or torrent. He who without
previous permission makes a passage for water or causes it to flow upon
the highway shall be obliged to restore it to its former condition, and
give indemnity to any one to whom damage may have been caused, in .
addition to paying the penalties imposed by the public regulations,
He who seeks to use the privilege (right of way through intermediate
lands) must previously, first, prove that he can dispose of the water
which he claims to conduct; second, affirm that the route which is
solicited is the most suitable and the least burdensome to third parties;
third, pay the value of the land which he shall occupy by the cana
according to the estimate made by experts, with an addition of 10 per
cent.; fourth, compensate for all immediate damages, including those
which will result from dividing the land into two or more parts.
Where the use of a canal already built is offered, he who claims the
passage of Water must pay in proportion to the quantity of the same
and the Value of the land occupied by it and the necessary expenses
for the preservation of the canal, without prejudice to the indemnity
that must be given for any other expenses which may be occasioned by
the passage which is to be conceded. w
The quantity of Water which may be passed through the aqueduct
established on the adjoining land shall have no other limitation than :
that which results from the capacity of the water-way as determined
by its dimensions. Should the person enjoying the use of the water-
way be compelled to enlarge it, he must bear the necessary cost, and
pay for the land which is merely occupied, and for any damages caused.
The damage is to be estimated by experts with an addition of 10 per
cent, and account shall be taken of both immediate and resulting dam-
ages. The legal Servitude before mentioned carries with it, subject to
provisions hereinafter contained, the right of way for persons and ani-
mals and the transportation of the necessary materials for the use and
repair of the Water-Way.
280 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The provisions and same laws concerning the passage of water are
applicable to marsh lands requiring drainage or an outlet. The con-
cessions which may be obtained from the competent authority are to
be without prejudice to other rights previously acquired. Everyone who
has the use of an aqueduct, whether it passes through his land or through
lands adjoining, must construct and maintain the bridges, canals, aque-
ducts, subterranean and other necessary works, so that the rights of
others may not be prejudiced. Those desiring to enjoy the use shall
pay in proportion to that enjoyment, if there be no prescription or con-
tract to the contrary. The code contains provisions for keeping the
Water pure and for the construction of such works as may be required,
in order that the course of the water may not be interrupted.
The owner of land subject to the servitude of right of way may desig-
nate the place in which the servitude shall be constituted.
If the proper judge shall decide the place to be impracticable or very
burdensome, the owner of the land must designate another. If the place
is subject to the same objection as the first, the judge shall designate one
which shall be established, taking into consideration the interest of
both properties. *
If there are several pieces of property through which must be given
a passage or a public way, the servitude shall be that of the shortest
distance. If the distance shall be the same upon the properties, the
judge shall designate through which of them it shall be given passage.
The width of the right of way shall be such as the necessities of the
case may be deemed, in the discretion of the judge, to require, but shall
not exceed 5 meters nor be less than 2 meters, without the consent of
the parties interested. 24
The court of cassation and the council of state have each decided also
that the fall or slope of a channel is not the property of the land pro-
prietors, and that it enters into the class of things which, by the terms
of an article in the Code Napoleon, do not belong to anybody, the
use being common to all, and the enjoyment regulated by the police
laws; hence the administration grants a proprietor the right to back
water into the channel in front of lands above him by means of his
dam, so long as he does not injure or endanger the lands in any Way.
Here, again, was a step towards the abolition of the exclusive riparian
control of the smaller stream, and a movement towards declaration of
public ownership of the channels themselves. And thus the matter
stands. The riparian proprietors still monopolize the right to use the
waters from streams of this class. The code merely gives every riparian
owner a privilege of using the water. No matter how old a privilege
may be, the administration in the public interest has always the right to
turn sufficient water past the dam to satisfy the personal Wants of pro-
prietors below, and it can even compel the construction of a sluice-way
in the dam to be used for this purpose.
As a matter of fact, the streams are controlled and the Waters appor-
tioned out of those who have claims on them by administrative regula-
tions. The matter of the ownership of springs has been one full of Con-
tention in France; but it is now well settled by the provisions of the
code and the decisions under it. He who possesses a Spring Within his
field may make use of it at his pleasure. The code defines certain cir-
cumstances under which the control of springs is limited and qualified,
the causes being the necessities of communities for water for domestic
purposes, the necessities of the state for water for purposes of naviga-
tion, the rights which persons other than the owners of springs may
have acquired by purchase or by prescription. The courts can, in the
CHARACTER OF THE SPANISH WATER LAWS. 281
interests of agriculture in general and for the benefit of local agricult-
urists, prevent wasteful or selfish use of spring waters.
The ownership and control of springs is so complete and absolute that
so long as the waters remain within the property where they rise, even
though used as a power for manufacturing purposes or otherwise, the
administration can do nothing to interfere with the proprietor's use of
them.
But if spring waters be led across or into property other than that
containing the source, for whatever purpose, the stream is subject to
regulations, as in the case of others. The owner of a spring can not
change the course of its waters when they furnish the necessary Supply
to the inhabitants of a commune, village, or hamlet.
Government can take possession of springs to feed canals for naviga-
tion, but on condition that it pay a just indemnity.
The absolute right of ownership in a spring is also modified by pur-
chased titles, by prescription, and by servitude set up by the division
of an estate containing a Spring.
SPAIN.
The Spanish law of waters, as it now exists, is a code in itself, which
was finally determined and promulgated in 1866, after a study of the
whole subject for eight years by a commissioner appointed for the pur-
pose. The law of 1866 comprehends all that is treated in laws of wa-
rious kinds relating at all to waters, high seas, sea-shores, beaches, bays,
rivers, etc. The Spanish law makes the broad distinction between wa-
ters on private and corporate property, which it calls private waters,
and those on the public domain, which are called public waters.
With respect to the acquirement of right to divert water for irriga-
tion from streams on private or corporate property the law may be
summarized as follows: Waters which rise on private property belong to
the owner of the property, provided he does not forfeit his right by non-
use for twenty years.
Waters running through private property are private waters, subject
to use by Owners of the banks. They may appropriate them for the pur-
pose of irrigation on their estates, to be taken in their order from the
head of the stream down. *.
Works for the diversion of waters from a private stream may be con-
structed by the owner of the banks without official sanction, provided
always that the amount of water to be diverted does not exceed 10
liters (about one-third of a cubic foot per second) in any one instance;
but, if the proposed diversion exceeds this amount, notice must be
given through the alcalde for the information of the governor of the
province.
This notice is given for the purpose of setting before the people the
facts in the case, and in order that an investigation may be held, which
Will determine whether or not the proposed appropriation will interfere
With existing rights.
The Waters of public streams are held to be the property of the king-
dom. It is necessary to obtain an official sanction or grant of right
before such waters can be diverted and used in public or private irriga-
tion enterprise, except where the quantity diverted by any one appro-
priator does not exceed 10 liters per second, or where it is to be ab-
Stracted from navigable rivers by pumping machinery, or when the water
appropriated is only the rain or storm water which drains rapidly away
in the torrent beds. This grant of right is accorded only after ex-
282 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
tended and minute examination of the proposed project by the pro-
Vincial authorities, and after hearing all that may be said by those
Whose interests may be opposed to the diversion. There is no such
thing as unlicensed appropriation in large amounts, and no such thing
as unregulated diversion of waters from the streams.
The Waters are held by the Government for the use of the people.
Under the Spanish law water is diverted for irrigation in large volumes
from the public streams, but it is done under special sanctions from the
authorities of the district, in a manner not to interfere with or injure
other persons dependent upon its use.
IMEXICO,
The problems of rain-fall, water supply, and irrigation are of primary
importance in the Tepublic of Mexico. A study of the laws and sys-
tems pursued therein is of the greatest importance to American en-
gineers and agriculturists engaged in the practical Work of irrigation.
Mexico is essentially a dry country; its cultivation is dependent on
artificial distribution of water. Its indigenous vegetation presents all
the characteristics of an arid region. From all historical evidences it
is seen that irrigation was among its earliest necessities and was the
most prominent care of its people, of whatever race or condition. The
soil of Mexico, as well as of that portion of the United States which
formerly belonged to our neighboring Republic, is fertile and fruitful
when once vitalized by the application of Water. The table lands are
everywhere adapted for grazing, and water can generally be found in
quantity sufficient for the use of cattle. The forests are valuable and
abundant. That an increase in Water-storage capacity would largely
add to the agricultural value of Mexico is obvious, and such an increase
is becoming especially necessary in connection With the construction
and maintenance of railroads. *
The sources from which the water supply is derived along the line of
the Mexican Central are springs, Wells, storage reservoir, and perma-
ment streams, and these are all dependent upon the annual rain-fall. In
most cases the supply of water at Our Water stations is obtained from
wells dug by the company, and these vary in depth from 20 to 300 feet,
and the water is raised to the tanks either by hand or steam pump. In
a few cases they have springs that afford a gravity Supply, but they are
very few. In order to preserve the rain-fall, storage reservoirs have
been built, from which the water is distributed by open canals or ditches,
and in many places extensive aqueducts of masonry have been con-
structed to convey the water across Valleys So as to utilize it for irriga-
tion. This system of irrigation, by means of storage reservoirs, can to
good advantage be greatly increased, as where land can beinrigated two
crops a year are obtained; but at the present only a small portion of
the rain-fall is utilized. The season known as the rainy Season lasts some
two months, and is for the most part confined to the period between
June 15 and September 15. The following will Show you the average
amount of rain-fall at the City of Mexico for Seven years and the State
of Aguas Calientes for fifteen years : -
{
MExican USE AND contRol of water.
288 .

w fifteen .
City of Mexico. State of Agu ºn”
Months. . A. º
- Inll In 190ſ verage In DIn Der
rainy days number #. rainy days *:::::" #. -
in seven rainy days. | * S’ in fifteen º
years. years.
Inches, Inches
January.------------------. 16 2 0.2 35 2 . 38
February------------------- 15 2 0.1 25 2 | . . 29
March * * * * 49 tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 32 5 0. 4 27 2 dº 17
April ----------------------- 40 6 0.3 8 1 . 05
*Y ------------------------ 94 14 2. 6 78 5 . 74
June-----------------------. 136 19 3.9 162 11 3. 62
July -----------------------. 167 24 4.5 216 14 3. 89
August --------------------- 149 22 5. T 219 15 4, 66
September -----------------. 115 16 3. 8 173 12 3.84
October--------------------. 76 11 1.1 99 6 1, 29
November.-------...------. 32 5 .4 42 3 .34
December ---...------------. 15 2 ... 2 35 2 .43
887 128 23, 2 1, 119 75 19, 70
The only artesian wells on the line of this road are at the City of
Mexico, where good water is found at the depth of from 200 to 500 feet
below the surface. These wells are usually flowing, but with only a
small head, and have to be pumped when a large supply is needed.
The laws and customs controlling water in Mexico, so far as the road
is affected, require the provision of suitable passages for all water used ,
for irrigation.
On February 14, 1856, a law was enacted controlling the distribution
of water. The old unit of measure for water was the surco (or sulco)
in the country, and the paja in cities, but an act of March 15, 1857, put
the French metrical system in force in the Republic, and a decree of
August 2, 1863, made the liter (0.26417 gallon)* the unit of measure
for water, fixing upon 63 liters per second of time as the equivalent of
a surco (or sulco), and forty-five one hundredths of a liter per minute
as the equivalent of a paja of the old measurement. In cases of legal
contest, wherein a right to a certain quantity of water was claimed un-
der prior titles, or documents, sanctioned by law, the measurement was
still to be given in surcos.
Engineers and surveyors were required to have regard, whether in
city or in country, to the degree of inclination (amount of fall) in water
channels, to take into account in each case the amount of pressure, and
to present in their statements both the formulas employed and the
reasons for their calculations.
The royal instruction of October 15, 1754, was passed to regulate the
sale and distribution of land and water rights in the Indies. Sub-
delegates were to be appointed by the viceroys and presidents of the
royal audiency, who were to have jurisdiction of such matters, and they
were directed not to disturb possessions in lands embraced in settle-
ments, or on which labor had been expended, or which were cultivated
or utilized for pasturage. It was also required that all persons who
desired to possess royal grants of unoccupied lands and water, and
* The metric system is founded upon the meter (about 39.37 inclies), which was in-
tended to be the ten-millionth part of the distance from the equator to the pole, meas-
ured over the surface of the earth, but in reality differs slightly from this measure-
ment. The liter is a cubic decimeter, the decimeter being tha tenth part of a meter.
The unit for land measure is the are, which is a square having sides of 10 meters in
length. The hectare (100 ares) is about 2,471 acres,
284 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
those owners who had possessed, without occupation or cultivation from
the year 1700 up to the date of the instruction, should present them-
Selves before the subdelegates and prove their titles within a period of
time to be designated by the same authority; and when they had titles
to allege which were not yet confirmed, but were issued before the year
1700, they were to be allowed pacific possession in conformity with the
law. They were, however, required to register the title. From those
who had no title there was required a sworn declaration of long pos-
Session, which was allowed to stand as a just title by prescription.
Those who desired to acquire title were required to expend labor upon,
cultivate, or occupy the grants for a period of three months; and if the
period expired without the requirements having been fulfilled by the
grantee, the grant might be denounced by any one who fulfilled them.
It was also provided that possessors of lands sold or distributed in or
after the year 1700 should never be molested, and their titles were thus
confirmed; but those who did not possess their property as aforesaid
were required to solicit confirmation of their titles from the audiencias
of their district or from the proper authorities, and if they failed to do
so within the period designated their possessions were forfeited to the
crown, although labor might have been expended on them.
The guiding and fundamental principle throughout the whole of the
regulations will be found to have been that all such property was an-
nexed to or incorporated into the royal crown to such a degree that in
order to hold possession it was necessary that individual possessors
must have alleged and proved that their water rights had been con-
ceded by special favor, because the law declares that to the prince, and
to no other, appertained the right of distribution of water. This is
still the controlling principle of Mexican law.” The waters must re-
main under the sole and absolute dominion of the Sovereign, all Waters
of the public rivers (or water-courses of public and common use) being
his rights. This principle was so far qualified that any one might take
what he needed for domestic use, but no one could take public Waters
upon his private grounds for irrigation without royal permission. A
torrent is a stream of water originating from snow and rain at certain
seasons, that is, when the snow and rain raise the streams. Rivers are
divided into public and private. The public river is one where all
enjoy the right to fish. The private stream is one by which Some Con-
tract or agreement has become private property, and differs in nothing
from other private property, and in describing it “it has no banks.”
Banks are the precise limits between which the streams run in their
natural course, which are as the shores to the sea. In concession of
land, if concessions are made jointly of the waters originating upon
it, they are appurtenances of the lands granted. Being a servitude,
waters had their place among the royal country servitudes. Fountains
and springs belong to the owners of the lands in which they rise as
parts and appurtenances thereof, for which reason they are conceded
with the lands.
A servitude is the right of doing something on the land of another,
or of preventing the owner from doing something.
The servitude is a property appertaining to the thing, so that it
adheres to it, no matter who may be the owner. Servitudes depend on
the proximity of two predial estates, that of the person entitled to the
servitude, and that of the person who has to submit to it. If for the
enjoyment of the servitude the estate on which it is imposed requires
* The rights of the prince descending to the Government of the Republic.
2 DISTRIBUTIVE METHODS AND MEASURES. 285
some repairs, they must be done by him entitled to the servitude. The
right of servitude is not susceptible of division, but its enjoyment may
be limited to days, months, etc. Such rights are acquired in the same
manner as other property, and are either continued or interrupted.
Continued servitudes are those which may be used daily; interrupted
ones, such as can not be so used.
In connection with the use of water there are both urban and predial
Servitudes.
The predial servitudes relating to water are, first, the right of con-
ducting water by means of canals or pipes over the land of your neigh-
bor for the purpose of driving a mill, or of irrigating your land; Second,
the right of drinking out of a fountain, or of watering there your
cattle.
The servitude of the aqueduct is the right of conducting Water upon
the ground or field away from the stream for irrigation or other use,
specified in the right of servitude, which carries with it the right of
way for the water-pipes, etc., and for those who have the care of them.
It is unlawful to construct any work damaging others. If the Con-
struction of any work on the banks of a stream causes damage to the
lands of a neighbor, the law gives him a right of action for the damage
occasioned, and the works constructed must be removed.
He who alleges his servitude is obliged to prove it; possession is not
sufficient. The right must be acquired in one of three ways: by agree.
ment, by inheritance, or by prescription. It is unlawful to alter the
natural course of a stream to the prejudice of third parties; but a per-
son through whose ground the water is conducted may alter the channel
for the sake of its more convenient use upon his land, provided that
other parties be not prejudiced thereby.
A servitude may be constituted not only at the source of the Water,
but upon any part of its course. It may be for a continuous flow, or a
flow at certain intervals of time—that is, stated days or hours. The
examination of springs must be made by experts, whose report must
state under oath that the truth has been faithfully given, without favor
toward either of the parties.
The measurements for distribution are regularly obtained from the
examinations, or measurements to determine the amount of the natural
flow, the distribution being made to each person according to his position
on a line. Hence, in measurements of examination, no changes are made,
whereas in those for distribution the water-ways are enlarged, dimin-
ished, and changed to conform to the letter of the grants of water.
Measurements of examination are to be conducted at the most favorable
distance from the reservoir or ditch, so that the water may run as nearly
direct as possible and without too great rapidity of current. The reser-
voir shall be made in conformity with some geometrical figure by which
its area can be calculated, to which shall be applied a ſmarking-board
in such a manner as to show the quantity of water that is withdrawn.
The marking-board shall have marginal numbers showing the available
height of the water, so that by multiplying this by the width the area
of the vertical section may be formed. It is to be understood that water
must always be taken in the manner in which it has been from the be-
ginning, so that no more can be taken, nor can it be taken by any longer
route. Those who are in possession of a water servitude must be main-
tained and protected. In order to constitute such a servitude the flow
of water must either be continuous or at certain intervals of time.
Dominion can not be exercisca upon the lands of another unless dis-
tributing tanks or aqueducts are built with separate basins, with aper-
*
286 f IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
tures in the sides, having gates of the proper size to give to each the
Quantity to which he is entitled. If the form given to the aperture is
that of a Square, the area being given, the square root shall be the
diameter of the orifice. If it should be circular, the diameter may be
found by the rule of Archimedes, that as 11 is to 14, so is the area of the
figure to the square of the diameter, the square root of which is the
diameter of the required orifice.
In distributing water from basins or reservoirs all the parties inter-
ested must obtain their amounts from apertures at an equal depth,
although the sizes of the openings may be different. In taking water
from a horizontal canal, through orifices in its vertical sides, a stop of
the same size and figure as the opening must be set into the wall on
the side of the opening towards which the current runs, so as to drive
the water into the orifices.
When various parties participate in the distribution of water, all
tanks and receptacles and all openings for drawing it off should remain
unchanged in their dimensions and proportions, so as to preserve to
each the quantity publicly granted. The builder of such tanks and
orifices shall be the judge of the shape most suitable, but they shall
have a uniform altitude, increasing or diminishing the bases, if rec-
tangular, but if circular their centers must be on the same horizontal
line. It is an inflexible rule that the water which issues from those
apertures should have the same fall, for two reasons—they start from
the same level line of base; or, if they take water from a fall, it is from
the same apron-stone upon which the waters fall, although carried away
from thence in different troughs or chutes. The gravitation of water
increases its velocity in proportion to the distance through which it falls,
The point of delivery must be below that of the source. The surface of the
water curves to correspond with the surface of the terrestrial globe, and
in using a kevel, to avoid the error of assuming the water-level to be a
straight line, the instrument should be set in the middle of each stretch
of the line to be leveled, which may be longer or shorter according to
the slope of the ground. All the proprietors who participate in the
benefit derived from the Works which have been treated of are under
obligation to contribute to the payment of the expense of their execu-
tion in proportion to their interest, according to an appraisement by ex-
perts. Those who by their own culpable negligence have occasioned
any damage must be responsible for it.
The owner of land in which there is a natural fountain or source, or
who has dug a running well, may cover it, or confine it by a pond or
dam, to detain its running waters for his own ground, and may use and
dispose of the waters freely. If he have surface waters which pass
upon another piece of land, the owner of such land, upon the lapse of
twenty years, reckoned from the date on Which he has constructed
works designéd to regulate their fall or course, may acquire property in
the waters so received. But this provision does not prohibit the owner
of the source of any water, or of a pool, or a dam, from availing him-
self of all of the enjoyment of the waters possible within the limits of
his estate. -
The lower lands must receive the waters which naturally, and with-
out the work of man, come from the upper or higher lands, as well as
the stone and earth which it takes in its course, nor Shall the owner of
the lower land make any works which obstruct the Servitude, nor the
upper any works that increase the servitude. The owner of the land
on which there are works to conserve the Water, or on Which for an alter-
ation of the water-course it becomes necessary to Construct new ones,
REGULATIONS OF MEXICAN STATES. 287
is required, in the absence of any special law to the contrary, either to
make necessary repairs or constructions, or without demanding remu-
neration to allow the same to be made by land owners who have expe-
rienced, or are immediately exposed to injury from the water which he
has arrested in its flow, or diverted from its natural course. The pro-
visions of the foregoing are applicable to the case in which it is neces-
sary to relieve any land of those materials which accumulate or hinder
the flow of water, resulting in damage or peril to a third party.
In distributing water among a number of claimants the following al-
lowances are made : For a flour-mill, 8 continuous sulcos; for a pulling
mill, 3 sulcos; for sugar-mills, 8 sulcos; and to irrigate a tract of land
of about 33% acres, 2 sulcos, or if it be a cane plantation of the same
size, 4 sulcos. The quantity is, however, not absolute, but depends on
the slope of the ground and other circumstances.
When the water supply is found insufficient to meet the requirements
of the parties interested, resort must be had to distribution by turns,
Some using water in the day-time and others at night, or any other way
which may be agreed upon, because that which belongs to the whole
public should be so controlled that all may have a share in the distri-
bution,
LOWER CALIFORNIA,
The sub-prefect of the northern part of Lower California, reporting
on the water supplies of that district, mentions the Colorado as the
only important river in the district, and refers to information in regard
to that stream already in possession of the Mexican Government. After
enumerating various smaller streams and a few ponds and lagoons,
which furnish drinking places for cattle, he says:
None of the waters to which I have referred are used for agricultural purposes, be-
cause the small grains—oats, wheat, and barley—which are cultivated in this district
belong to the temperate zone and are grown in winter. Corn, beans, and other
products of this nature are planted only in damp soil, which does not need irrigation.
DURANGO.
The political chief of Oro, in the State of Durango, writes to the sec-
retary of state of that commonwealth that in the district under his
authority there are thirteen hot springs, some of which are used to good
advantage in the irrigation of gardens. The rivers which fertilize a
large part of the district are the Ramos and the Sestin, which unite to
form the Nazas. The Sestin, from the neighborhood of Cerro Prieta to
its confluence with the Ramos, has a length of about 60 leagues (156
miles), its greatest breadth being about 328 feet, and its general depth
about 5 feet. The Ramos has a length of about 31 miles, with an ex-
treme breadth of about 260 feet and an average depth of somewhat over
3 feet. The Waters of these streams, whose volume may be estimated
at about 25 cubic meters (882 cubic feet), are utilized in agriculture
with very good results, wheat and maize being the favorite crops, and
yielding the best returns when the precipitation of the rainy season is
largest, Besides these rivers there are many small streams which,
without being permanent throughout the year, afford sufficient water
to make them useful in the irrigation of gardens. There are some un-
important ponds in the district, but no lakes or lagoons.
A law passed by the legislature of Durango, and dated November 11,
1881, contains substantially the following provisions:
No one is allowed to construct on the rivers or other waters belong-
ing to the public, or along their banks, any new Works, or to alter ex-
288 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
isting ones in such a manner as to change the direction, height, breadth,
or depth of the dams, dikes, or aqueducts, without previous licensé
from the public authorities. -
Any person desiring such a license is required to state in writing to
the proper local authority the kind of work which he proposes to exe-
cute, the materials of which it is to be constructed, its dimensions, and
other necessary particulars, and the place where it is to be made.
The authority receiving application for license to construct works on
the public waters or their aqueducts will note in writing the day and
the hour in which it was presented, and will give the desired record of
it. The same authority will publish the petition by posters in the lo-
cality in which the petitioner resides or by newspaper if there is one.
A copy thereof will be furnished to the corporation attorney, so that
Within eight days the latter may give his opinion whether the proposed
work will or will not be prejudicial to the public interests. This opinion
will then be sent with the petition itself to the State government. The
opinion of the attorney will be accompanied by that of an expert con-
Sulted by him, whose fees will be paid by the petitioner.
The petition, having been received by the State government, will be
published in the next three issues of the official journal. If during its
publication, or within eight days thereafter, no opposition is made to
the proposed work, and if no objection shall have been set forth in the
opinion of the corporation attorney, the State government will authorize
the execution of the work, and will cause copies of all records in the
case to be sent to the party interested, for whom they shall serve as
evidence of title. The same should also be inscribed in the public reg-
ister of property.
Any one desiring to oppose the execution of a work must present
himself in writing to the state government within the period indicated
in the last paragraph. On receiving such notice of opposition the gov-
ernment shall immediately have it sent, with a record of all its anteced-
ents, to the judge having primary jurisdiction in the locality to which
the proposed work appertains, in order that he may decide whether or
not he ought to prevent its execution on account of its being in conflict
with some acquired right, or causing, either to the public or to the in-
dividual opposing it, detriment for which indemnity can not be obtained.
If the damage which the work would cause is such as can be indem-
nified, the judge shall cite the person proposing to construct the work
and the person opposing it to a verbal conference, to the end that they
may mutually agree on the indemnity to be paid.
Whenever it shall appear that the opposition to a work is unfounded,
the person making the opposition shall pay the costs of the proceed-
ings thereby necessitated; and if there shall also appear to be rashness
or malice in the opposition its author shall indemnify the party opposed
for all the damages suffered through the delay in carrying out the work.
The amount of indemnity having been fixed, the Work shall not com-
mence until it is paid.
Judicial proceedings arising under this act will be in Summary form,
as provided by the code of civil procedure. º
A decree having been pronounced, the records received from the
State government must be returned, and with them must be sent an
attested statement of the action of the local tribunal.
Changing the course of a river or other stream of public use, or drain-
ing off its waters by means of works constructed in it or on its banks,
is absolutely forbidden. e -
In cases of urgent necessity, to prevent inundation, the destruction
THE STATE OF JALISCO AND ITS WATERS. 289
of embankments, reservoirs, or aqueducts, or other damages equally
serious, permission may be granted for the construction of such Works
as the authorities may deem necessary. But if any work constructed
under such circumstances would interfere with other works previously
existing, it can not remain longer than the circumstances continue
. which render it necessary, unless permission be obtained under the pro-
visions of this act, and such permission shall be applied for within three
days after that of the local authorities is solicited. The latter author-
ities are required to apprise the State government of their action in
cases of the class to which this paragraph refers.
The preceding provisions do not apply to the partial or total recon-
struction of works already existing, or which have been executed ac-
cording to this law, and which are not to be changed in their direction,
height, breadth, and depth. A person having occasion to make par-
tial or total reconstruction of any work conformably to this paragraph
must notify the local authorities, so that they may assure themselves
that the work proposed is really one of repair or reconstruction.
So far as they are not in conflict with the present law, the provisions
of the civil code and code of procedure relative to the use of public
waters, or to servitudes or works connected there with, are left in force,
This law was promulgated on the 10th of November, 1881.
JALISCO.
The principal rivers which traverse this State are the Cuitzeo (some-
times called the Tololotlan) of Santiago, or Grande, the Verde, the
Juchipila, the Lerma, the Zula, or Atotonilco, the Ayuquila, the Tux-
pan, the Chacala, the Ameca, the Bolaños, the Apazalco, the San
Pedro, the Acaponeta, the Cañas, and the Camotlan, most of which are
also known under other names. The largest of these streams is the
Cuitzeo, which rises in the town of that name, and after a course of
98 leagues (255 miles) enters the ocean to the northwest of San Blas.
Its average flow is about 111 cubic meters (3,920 cubic feet) of water
per second, and its use in irrigation, which is now small, might be
largely increased. Opposite the town of Juanacatlan there is a cata-
ract about 65; feet in height, which would furnish power to the amount
of about 30,000 horse-power, of which only the amount required for one
flour-mill is now utilized. . There are many points along this river, or
near it, where hydraulic wheels after Poncelet's system could be advan-
tageously used.
The Verde which rises in the State of Zacatecas, is a tributary of the
Cuitzeo, and for a distance of 47 leagues (122 miles) its course lies
within the State of Jalisco. Its waters, which have a flow of 50 cubic
meters (1,766 cubic feet) per second, are utilized in irrigation to some
extent, and by means of lateral canals they might be largely employed
in working hydraulic motors.
The Juchipila, another tributary of the Cuitzeo, rises in Zacatecas,
and its course lies within the State of Jalisco for only 17 leagues (about .
44 miles). It has an average flow of 16 cubic meters (565 cubic feet)
per second, and is utilized in irrigation. -
The Lerma, which rises in the Almoloya region of the State of Mexico
and empties into Lake Chapala al Oriente, flows through Jalisco only
12 leagues (about 29 miles). It has an average flow of 80 cubic meters
(2,825 cubic feet) per second, but is available for irrigation only when
its Waters are high. This stream presents more advantages in the
States of Michoacan and Guanajuato than in Jalisco.
138 A L–AP WOL IV—19
290 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The Zula rises within the State, and has a course of 30 leagues (78
miles) before emptying into the Cuitzeo. It has a flow of 8 cubic meters
(282 cubic feet) per second, and its waters are employed on a small
scale in irrigation. | - -
The Ayuquila rises within the State, and after a course of 70 leagues
(182 miles) empties directly into the Pacific. It has a rapid current.
throughout almost its whole length, and although it has an average .
flow of 30 cubic meters (1,059 cubic feet) per second, it serves to irrigate
only small areas. *
The Tuxpan rises within the State and empties into the Pacific, re-
ceiving in its course of 60 leagues (156 miles) the waters of numerous
tributaries which rise in the Spurs of the volcano of Colima. It is
somewhat rapid and has an average flow of 28 cubic meters (989 cubic
feet) per second. Its waters are employed to some extent in irrigation,
but not so much in this State as in Colima. º
The Ameca rises within the State, has a length of more than 55 °
leagues (143 miles), and empties into the bay of Banderas, on the Pacific
coast. It is a fine stream, having an average flow of 20 cubic meters
(706 cubic feet) per second, and is capable of being utilized in agricult.
UIT0.
The Bolaños rises within the State, and after a course of about 48
leagues (125 miles) empties into the Cuitzeo. It has a rapid current,
with an average flow of 15 cubic meters (530 cubic feet) per second.
Nt is utilized in agriculture. - -
Several other streams, with volumes ranging from 2 to 10 meters (71
to 353 cubic feet) per second, are more or less used in agriculture; but
the principal use both of these and those designated by name above is
in Stock-raising. There are also innumerable Small streams, tributaries
of the larger ones. -
The most noteworthy lakes in this State are those of Chapala, Magda-
lena, Mexcaltitan, Atemanica, Cajititlan, San Marcos, Zacoalco, Atoyac,
Sayula, Zapotlan, and Santa Maria del Oro, besides which there are
many others, which, although smaller and not so well known, are
nevertheless of great utility. º
Lake Chapala is 90 kilometers (56 miles) long, and has an average
width of about 17 kilometers (about 104 miles). It is the most impor-
tant lake in the State, whether considered with reference to the facili-
ties it affords for internal navigation or to its utility in agriculture and
stock-raising to the people along its shores; and by means of canals,
especially one connecting it with the Ameca River, its waters might be
more extensively utilized for both of these purposes. The other lakes
mentioned are much smaller than Lake Chapala. With the exception
of Lakes San Marcos, Zocoalco, Atoyac and Sayula, they all have
potable waters; and the same is true of the numerous Smaller ones not
mentioned by Iname. e - 4 º - -
There are few permanent irrigation Works in the State, mere tem-
porary appliances being generally used to draw off the water for irriga:
tion or for live-stock. The works at Bellavista, executed With great
skill by Señor D. º should, however, be mentioned as a
orthy exception to this rule. tº a tº
nº ... of Atemajac de las Tablas (in the district of the
same name) there are four reservoirs, but their chief use is the storage
of water power for flouring and saw mills. In the municipality of
fescuitatiºn there is a public reservoir known as the Santa Rosa, , in
which rainwater is stored. Its length is 502 meters and its breadth
260. In the municipality of Tizapan el Alto there is one reservoir-
RIVER SUPPLIES IN MICHOACAN. 291.
that of Las Cuartas—in which enough water is stored for the irrigation
of a small area on one ranch. *
Reports are published from many other municipalities, and numerous
Small streams and springs are referred to as furnishing water for the
irrigation of orchards, gardens, or fields. The aggregate area fertilized
by their water is quite large, but there are scarcely any among them
that have a volume of more than 1 or 2 cubic meters per second,
and no important works are reported for making an increased area
available to irrigation.
ſº MICHOACAN.
The principal streams which lie wholly or partly within the limits of
the State are the Lerma, the Balsas, the Marques, the Tepalcatepec,
the Duero, the Astula, the Apisa, the Rio Grande de Morelia, and the
Huetamo.
The Lerma is provided with dams and reservoirs to facilitate irriga-
tion, and several towns or villages and forty farms along that part of
the river embraced within the limits of Michoacan avail themselves of
its waters to irrigate wheat, maize, chick-peas, etc. In the Duero and
the Morelia there are some small dams. The other streams are turned
to little account partly because of the broken character of the districts
through which they run, and partly because of the limited extent to
which agriculture in those districts is carried on. The volume of water
in these streams is very large. The Balsas, for example, empties into
the sea with a volume of 132 bueyes, 12 Surcos of water;” and the Mar-
ques at a point called the Juntas, before receiving its last tributaries,
has a flow of 44 bueyes. In the Southern districts of the State irri.
gation is used in the cultivation of sugar-cane, indigo, and rice, each
estate having one source or more from which a supply of water is
obtained. The Water is conveyed to the fields in covered conduits.
The population is generally located near the streams, and there are
but few who have occasion to resort to Wells. Such wells as there are
range from 10 to 20 varast in depth in the case of the deep ones, while
the others range from 2 to 10 varas.
It is worthy of remark that in the higher and colder parts of the
State the Springs and fountains are permanent throughout the year and
maintain a medium temperature throughout the day. In the hot part
of the State the streams are more numerous, but many of them run
dry in October, and do not flow again until the end of May. The chief
cause of their disappearance is readily found in the rapid evaporation
which occurs in such bot climates. According to observations made at
Churumuco in May, 1883, a cubic meter of water exposed to a dry, hot
atmosphere, the temperature being about 100° Fahr., lost by evapora-
tion 2 to 2% liters per hour, while observations made at Lake Sirahuen,
with a temperature of about 59°, showed a loss of hardly one-fourth of
a liter in the same time.
The stream known in different parts of its course as the “Carame-
cuara,” “Las Joyas,” and “San Juan" is used for the irrigation of 20
caballeriasſ of land belonging to the different estates through which
, “The buey is a somewhat indefinite expression, meaning a stream of water as large
as the body of an ox, while the Surco is the quantity conveyed in a furrow made for #.
purpose in irrigating land... Some years after the adoption of the metric system a de-
cree was issued making 6% liters (a little less than 1.72 gallons) per second the equiv-
alent of the Surco.
iThe vara is a measure of about 2 feet 9 inches in length.
#A caballeria = about 107 acres.
292 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
it flows before uniting with the Tacámbaro; while the latter, which has
a Volume of 3 bueyes in the dry season and an average of 8 bueyes during
the rainy one, irrigates 6 caballerias of farming land, as well as the fields
and kitchen gardens near the city of Tacambaro. The Turivan has an
average Volume of 4 bueyes through the dry season, and in its whole
course through the district irrigates 12 caballerias of land. The Puru-
aran, or Caliente, has a volume of 5 bueyes and 4 surcos from November
to June, and from June to November its flow is considerably augmented
by the rains. It irrigates about 7 caballerias. These four streams, with
fourteen smaller ones, none of which irrigate more than a few hundred
acres of land, have an aggregate volume of about 26 bueyes of water, and
serve for the irrigation of an aggregate area of 55 caballerias (5,585
acres) of land. A small addition should be made to this total for areas
irrigated from Springs, ponds, and swamps.
MORELOS.
In the district of Coatlan there are three rivers—the Amacusac, the
Chalma, and the Tambermbe. The Amacusac is formed by the union of
the San Geronimo and the Chontalcuatlan, their confluence being a
short distance outside of the district. The waters of the San Geronimo
are utilized for irrigation on many wheat farms in the district of Villa
Guerrero, or Tecualoya. During the rainy season it has a flow of about
35 cubic meters (1,236 cubic feet). The Chontalcuatlan, which receives
a number of tributaries, furnishes water-power to many small factories,
and its waters are utilized to some extent in mining. After watering in-
numerable orchards and gardens along its banks it still has a flow of
25 cubic meters (883 cubic feet) in the wet season, and from 10 to 12
cubic meters (353 to 424 cubic feet) in periods of drought. The Ama-
cusac, formed by the union of the two rivers last named, has a flow of
60 cubic meters (2,119 cubic feet) during the rainy season, without in-
cluding freshets, and in time of drought it has somewhat less than half
that volume. Thus far but little use has been made of its waters in ir-
rigation except for the orchards immediately along its banks. After
receiving the waters of several tributatries this river takes the name
of Rio Grande, and still lower, after passing beyond the limits of
Morelos and uniting with the Pueblo, it is known as the Mezcala or
Balsas until it reaches the sea at Zacatula. w
The Chalma is the most important river in the district, not in respect
to size, but on account of the fertility which it confers on the many
towns and districts through which it flows. It rises in the State of
Mexico, rapidly increasing in size as it receives the waters of numerous
springs and rivulets, and becoming a considerable stream before enter-
ing Morelos. It waters extensive tracts of level lands in the vicinity
of the sugar mills of Cocoyotla, Actopan, Santa Cruz, San Gabriel, and
the estate of Ouachichinola, and at the same time irrigates the fields
in the towns of Coatlan del Bio, Tetecala, Mazatepec, San Miguel
Cuantla, Ouachichinola, and Puente de Ixtla. It has a flow of 25 or
30 cubic meters (883 to 1,059 cubic feet) during the rainy season, and
10 to 12 cubic meters (353 to 423 cubic feet) during the dry months.
The Tembermbe is scarcely utilized at all in irrigation. Its flow dur-
ing the wet season equals and often exceeds that of the Chalma, but
during the rainless months it runs almost dry. o tº
There is only one dam in the district of Coatlan del Rio. This was
constructed in the Tembermbe River, at a cost of about $20,000, for the
irrigation of the extensive fields of the Miacatlan estate; and it also
serves to supply the town of the same name With Water. It is con-
STREAMS AND SOURCES IN OAXACA. 293
sidered a meritorious piece of work in respect to its architecture, it;
extent, and its solid construction. The district being well supplied
with water, there are no reservoirs for its storage.
The laws which govern the distribution of water are understood by
the writer of the report to be those comprised in the civil code of the
federal district and of the Territory of Lower California, this code
being in force in Morelos.
OAXACA.
District of Cuicatlan.—A river known as the Rio Grande, which
empties into the Papaloapam, flows through this district and furnishes
water for irrigation at many points along its course. Its volume in the
rainy season amounts to 200 cubic meters per second, or more; but dur-
ing the dry months it falls to four or five meters. Of its smaller tribu-
taries there are many which dry up during the latter portion of the
year, but it also receives a considerable number of permanent streams,
most of which are more or less utilized in the irrigation of maize, sugar-
cane, or other crops.
District of Tiaamiaco.—Many small streams are enumerated, giving
their source, direction, estimated volume, etc., the latter in most cases
falling below one cubic meter per second during the dry season. Most
of these streams are utilized to some extent in the irrigation of crops,
‘besides furnishing water-powerfor mills. There are no large rivers in
the district.
District of Yautepec.—The most important stream within its limits is
the Rio Grande de Tehuantepec, which rises in the mountains of Qui-
echapa and Mixtepequez, and empties into the Pacific 10 or 12 miles
from Tehuantepec. The average flow at the lowest estimate is about 5
bueyes per second. It is utilized in irrigating sugar-cane and maize at
certain points along its course. There are also several smaller streams
which are turned to account for the same purpose. Owing to the small-
ness of the raiſi-fall the streams in this district have greatly diminished
in size, and there are no important bodies of water of any kind within
its limits, nor have any laws been enacted on the subject of water dis-
tribution.
District of Ocampo.—The principal rivers which traverse this district
are the Villa. Alta and the Rio Mudo. The character of the country is
not favorable to irrigation, and the streams which flow through it,
though many of them are constant, are not turned to account for that
purpose. The same remark will apply to the waters of a number of
Small lagoons found within its limits.
District of Choapam.—As regards rights to the use of water, the an-
cient Spanish ordinances in relation to lands and waters are in force.
District of Tuatepec.—No irrigation is needed because of the abun-
dant rain-fall. The provisions of the civil code of the federal district,
amended in Some few particulars, are legally in force under State author-
ity, but in the absence of any need for the appropriation of water diſ.
ficulties in regard to water rights seldom arise.
District of Juchitam.—There is scarcely any irrigation practiced. The
Astula, which is the principal river in the district, has a volume of 8
cubic meters during the dry season, and its plains are referred to as
“Wide and fertile.”
District of Teposcolula.-Reports from a number of municipalities
mention irrigation as practiced on a small scale, within their limits.
The mayor or president of each municipality annually appoints an of.
ficer, whose duty it is to distribute the waters in fair proportion among
those having fields or gardens to irrigate.
294 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
QUERETARO.
In the neighborhood of Juriquillathere arefour small and unimportant
reservoirs; one party is constructing one which will contain 1,100,000
cubic meters of water, and will command a large part of the valley of
Queretaro. On an estate to the north of Juriquilla there are two good
reservoirs, but they are dependent on the rains for their supply of
Water, and have only been filled six times in the last twenty-seven
years. The largest one, known as the Santa Catarina, is 2,500 meters *
long by 900 wide and 6 deep. The other, known as the Pinto, is 1,275
meters long by 600 wide and 4 deep. A reservoir of small size is found
on the San Miguelito estate, northwest of Juriquilla. It is of little
importance, but serves to irrigate some limited areas of tilled land,
There are many permanent streams whose Waters are used in irriga-
tion, but none having a volume of more than a few cubic meters.
There are also a number of small lakes and lagoons and some impor-
tant springs in the State.
There has been no State legislation especially bearing on the use of
water, which is regulated by the civil code, the Spanish laws, and the
ancient ordinances of land and water, according to their respective
dates.
TAMAULIPAS.
The situation of this State in the northeastern part of the Republic,
with the Gulf of Mexico bordering it on the east, renders it compara-
tively independent of any artificial means of supplying the crops with
Water. *
A report to the State government from the council of Nuevo Laredo
mentions the Rio Bravo as the only source of Water for live-stock in
the dry season. During the rainy season it is subject to heavy floods,
and overflows the bottom lands along its banks, on which the farmers
raise sure and abundant CropS. º
TLAXCALA.
The Zahuapan and the Attoyac are the only streams deserving the
name of rivers. The former, which is tributary to the latter, is utilized
between the town of Apetatitlan and its confluence with the Atoyac,
by eleven estates, six towns, and a number of small farms, while it also
furnishes water-power to several mills and factories. It is, however,
but a small stream, its volume during the dry season not exceeding 1;
cubic meters per second, after receiving the Waters of many Springs and
rills.
There is no place of any considerable population on the Atoyac, but it
furnishes-water for the irrigation of ten estates and the Supply of six
towns. In the rainy season it is a roaring torrent, Swollen by the Waters
which pour into it from the mountains, but during the dry weather it
dwindles to a volume of about 4 cubic meters per second. *
In the eastern part of the State reservoirs are used for the storage
of rain-water, that being the only means by which a reliable Supply for
man and animals can be secured. These reservoirs vary in size accord-
ing to the needs of the localities where they are situated. º
There has been no legislation in this State to regulate the appropria:
tion of water for irrigation or motive power. The proprietors of land
and manufacturing establishments use the Waters of the rivers in ac-
* The meter=39.37 inches, —r-
=-
wATER IN VERA CRUZ AND ZACATEGAs. 295.
cordance with the privileges conceded by the colonial government in
the original titles to their property; and those who do not enjoy such
rights have recourse to the authorities of the municipality controlling
the water, which they desire to use, and are allowed to take the Water
needed for irrigation subject to an annual tax, which goes into the mu-
nicipal treasury.
* WERA CRUZ.
The water courses are not utilized in agriculture or in manufactures:
In the former no machinery is used, nor is there any resort to irrigaº
tion, and when there is a prolonged drought the consequences are
severely felt, the agriculturists making no efforts to utilize the Waters
that are at hand, but contenting themselves with the hope of rain
while their crops perish. f
Legislation on the subject of water is only rudimentary. *.
The principal rivers of the district are the St. Peter and St. Paul
(one river) and the Cazones, both of which are navigable for short dis-
tances. No estimate is given as to their volume and no information as
§ irrigation, either on these streams or their tributaries, within the
istrict.
A return from the district of Acayrican enumerates many small
streams, including a number of arroyos which disappear during the dry
season, but no mention is made of any use of these Waters for irriga-
tion.
A report from Orizaba enumerates various streams, some of which
are used to a small extent in irrigation; but the largest (the Ingenio)
has a flow of only 54 cubic meters, while some of the others dwindle
during the dry season to less than 1 meter. &
From a list of the principal rivers which rise and flow through the
State of Vera Cruz, those having a length of 40 leagues (104 miles) or
upwards are presented below:
Panuco, Tamesi, Moctezuma, Calabozo or San Juan, De los Hules,
San Pedro, San Marcos or Cazones, Tecolutla or S. Pedro and S.
Pablo, Mautla or Rio Frio, Papaloapam or Quiotepec, Tesechoacan,
Zapotla or San Juan, Blanco, Coatzacoalcos.
ZACATECAS,
In the municipality of San Alto mention is made of two streams and
a number of Springs which are used to a considerable extentinirrigation.
The larger stream has a course of 6 leagues (about 16 miles) and a
volume of 30 surcos. As regards water rights, the rule is that the dif.
ferent landed proprietors “take what water they need where their
property is crossed by a stream, leaving the rest for others.” There is
some irrigation from small streams in other municipalities heard from.
In Nochistlan there are a few unimportant rivers and two small res.
ervoirs which serve to irrigate small areas of land. At Juchipila there
is a stream from which considerable water is obtained for the irrigation
of orchards and gardens along its course, the quantity being increased
at one point by a reservoir wherein water is saved for use during the
dry Season.
AUSTRALIAN IRRIGATION LEGISLATION.
The colonial governments of New South Wales and Victoria joined
in a conference to examine the Murray River drainage basin, in order
to arrange the terms on which this boundary area could be regulated.
To some considerable extent it represents the problems involved in the
296 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
flow and distribution of the interstate waters within our arid region.
The legal control of the Murray, banks and basin, seems unquestionably
to rest with the Colony of New South Wales, whose bondary line it is,
but the larger considerations of physical' geography, topography,
hydrography, and climate forced a consideration of the interests of Vic.
toria. . It was finally proposed and decided upon that a joint trust be
formed with these powers: +
(1) After defining the areas, it was recommended that said joint trust
“shall have power to regulate all diversions of water from the river
and its tributaries.”
(2) That certain tributaries may be regarded as feeders to the main
or. “Murray” river, or, as the term is, tº compensation water.” Other
tributaries “may be diverted and used by the respective colonies
through which they flow.”
(3) The whole waters of the upper and lower rivers (Murray) are
“deemed to be the common property of the " two colonies interested.
Dach colony in general to have the right to one-half the said waters,
Subject to reservation of “compensation water" aforesaid.
(4) “That all natural diversions” shall “be gauged” under the trust.
The portions of such diversions not returned to main river channels
“Shall be debited’ to the colony “diverting the same.”
(5) That the trust “fix and determine” the “high-flood levels,” and
have control of all waters flowing above them, using them as may be
deemed expedient. -
(6) That all expenses be jointly borne, and that as far as possible
united action be had in the construction of works.
The balance of provisions provide for the organization, etc., of said
trust, its members and officers.
AN AUSTRALIAN REPORT ON AMERICAN IRRIGATION.
The following extended series of extracts are from a report on
American irrigation to the governor of the Australian colony of Vic-
toria, made by the Hon. Alfred Deakin, M. P., chairman of the royal
commission on water supply, 1884–85. They will be of great interest
to the American reader, not only because of the author's lucid style,
but because his field of investigation covers in a remarkable manner
the lines of inquiry followed in collecting the materials for the first
edition of this report, while he presents in much detail precisely the
. of information which it has been the object of the Department to
COllect :
EXTENT OF AMERICAN IRRIGATION.
The extent of the area irrigated in the West is the more surprising since the practice
as compared with that of E rope is a thing of yesterday. In Mexico irrigation was
practiced before the Spanish conquest, and there are a few spots in its old provinces, now
forming the southwestern States of the Union, where, either at the Indian villages or at
the missions, plots can be seen which have been cultivated for a century by its means.
In Utah Americans began irrigating in a primitive way forty years ago, and their ex-
ample was followed in that fashion, especially near the Mexican border and under Mex-
ican tutelage, for a score of years. But the real development of American irrigation, now
so wide-spread, has taken place entirely during the last quarter of a century, and mainly
during the last fiſteen years. During that period it has been lifted out of its early
rudeness and carelessness into something like Science and skill. Its traditions date no
farther than this ; its records do not date so far. The strides, it has taken may be
judged from the now current estimate that, as against 4,500 miles of canal in Lombardy,
there are 12,000 miles of main canals in the West, and that the capital invested in
and about them is expressed in millions of pounds Sterling.
AN AUSTRALIAN VIEW OF OUR ARIDITY. 297
A VIVID DESCRIPTION OF ARIDITY.
The irrigated lands of America, though widely various, may be divided into two great
classes. The rolling prairies of Kansas and sloping uplands of Colorado belong to one
division. Poor and brown in ordinary seasons, their buffalo and bunch grasses are
often green after favorable spring rains, and it seems but natural that, when a constant
supply of water is secured, these treeless expanses should be gradually conquered by
the march of settlement from thickly-inhabited and closely-cultivated districts. Not
so with the sandy wastes stretching in a broad belt from the north to the south and
southwest of the arid region. Here there is no prospect.of any early invasion due to
pressure of population or overflow from crowded towns. Here there is nothing to at-
tract, and everything to repel. Here even the rich red mesa lands that lie under the
shadow oftbefoot-hills are desolate at all times and all seasons—so desolate that it seems
impossible they should ever sustain a living thing. From them the illimitable desert,
bare and blinding in its glaring barrenness, stretches far away to the mirage towers
that shift along a dull and undefined horizon. Much of the soil is so powdery, even
in winter, that it follows in a lazy trail of cloud the horse of the solitary rider, or is
sucked up in whirlwinds under the scorching summer sun. Elsewhere its gravelly
and gritty surfaces, strewn with splintered bowlders, are seamed into gaping gulches
and fissures of inappeasable thirst. There is no grass, the only vegetation being a
withered-looking brush resembling salt-bush, the thirsty-looking cactus, a juiceless
scrub like our ti-tree, or thorny variety of stunted palm.
Such is the Mapimi Desert in Mexico, the Maricopa Desert in Arizona, or the Mojave
Desert in California ; and such, without water, they must remain. As it is, these wastes
of sandy aridity and gray innutritious herbage, surrendered by nature to solitude,
surround oases created and sustained by irrigation. In the distance the track of a
canal, pleasantly breaking the dull level of the dried-up plain, is marked sometimes
for miles by a line of green bushes following its sinuous course. By and by this line
broadens as if into a great green plantation, dotted with houses, divided into gardens,
and decked with flowers. Its little fields, fringed with flourishing trees, are bright
with fresh-springing pasture, upon which stock are gazing, or else crowded with
dark orange groves and clustering vines. In the center of it is a tiny township, busy
with teams and traders, where the train stops for a moment or two. When it starts
again the houses and trees vanish as if by enchantment, and the engine rushes on
through the dreary desert once more.
It is thus that the eye bears testimony to the fruits of irrigation in the South; and
in the North, though in a less striking way, the lesson is the same. The unpreten-
tious ditches that wind along the #. or prairie ridges are not notable them-
selves until it is perceived that, where they are not, a scattered herd of rough cattle,
a small party of roving Indians, or a burly rancher are the only objects of interest,
while where they multiply are the buildings, the barns, and the business. A stretch
of open country broken by long ridges of canals, its paddocks plotted off into little
checks, with a barefooted Chinaman or high-booted European, spade in hand, direct-
ing the water from one to the other, are common features of the landscape, where
one beholds industry and intelligence transmuting barren surfaces into orchards and
fields of waving grain. Familiar, too, are the knots of active men, the little camp
of tents, and toiling teams, that mark the progress of a new ditch into the wilder-
ness, where it is to create a settlement and maintain it in the face of all seasons. The
Indian village, the Mexican pueblo, the American township, all cluster about the
natural stream, or the artificial stream which makes it serviceable; for in these
parched regions its progress is everywhere a triumphal march. It is here veritably
the water of life—life to the grass and flower, to the loaded tree, to man, and to the
city of men, whose homesteads and harvests follow in its wake.
HOW THE WATER SUPPLY IS PROVIDED.
In Western America the water supply is almost invariably provided by private com-
panies. In one instance, that of Los Angeles, California, where this rule obtains, a water
supply has been undertaken by the municipal body, but it is not employed for domestic
purposes, being applied, curiously enough, to irrigation only. The outlay incurred is
recouped by Sale of the water to the farmers, a great number of whom have their
plats within the city boundaries. The local governing body of Salt Lake, Utah, has
also undertaken a similar work, though this is flaintained out of the ordinary rates
instead of by sale of water. Local governing bodies, however, do not, as a rule, go so
far as this, even where, as in Los Angeles and Salt Lake, water for irrigation is as es-
sential to the maintenance of towns as is water for drinking purposes. The utmost
they do is to permit, as in Carson, City, Nev., a canal 6 feet wide to run along a
main road unfenced, or, as in Phoenix, Ariz, to permit ditches 3 feet and 4 feet
deep to cross their roads without requiring them to be fenced or bridged. Beyond
298 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
this, municipalities do nothing. State governments have never done anything in the
way of undertaking or assisting in the construction of irrigation works. They are
not expected to undertake them, and there does not appear any likelihood of their
ever having any proprietary connection with them, The Central (General) Govern-
ment maintains if possible an attitude of even greater indifference. All the irrigation
Works of Western America, with the exceptions above named, have been constructed
and maintained wholly and solely by private persons. Not only has the Government
spent nothing upon them, but it has known nothing of them. They have been con-
structed outside the law, extra legally, if not illegally. Even now only two States and
One Territory have attempted to deal iégislatively with any of the problems raised,
and it is not claimed that in more than one of these has anything substantial been
achieved. In Colorado the State engineer has issued one report, which includes a reg-
ister of water-rights. In California the State engineer has issued one report specially
dealing with irrigation, but there is no register of water-rights. In no other State or
Territory is there either report or register. These reports are of great intrinsic merit,
but have a further interest, inasmuch as they are the only official papers published
by any State bearing upon irrigation.
DIFFICULTIES OF THE INQUIRY.
Only the fringe of the subject having been touched officially, the visitor who desires
to study irrigation finds that the data upon which he must build his conclusions are not
to be obtained ready garnered in a State office, but that they are virtually uncollected,
and must be sought for in the fields of practical farmers. The officials of the Central
Government and of the State governments exhibit the most considerate courtesy, but
can only regret that they have been so hampered by want of means'and authority that
they have not been able to carry on their work in this direction, so as to place the mat-
ter upon a scientific basis. This condition of things is doubtless largely due to the new-
ness of the country, and will tend to disappear as these regions attain to the age, popu-
lation, and organization of the Eastern States. All that could be done to urge the leg-
islature of California to action has been done by the State engineer, who, with his col-
league in Colorado, has managed at last to partially educate public opinion as to the
duty of the State in this relation. But their best endeavors at present can only point
to the sources in which knowledge must be looked for. The farmers of America com-
pare favorably with those of any country in method, quickness, and caution, but they
are not given to recording exact quantities of water, or the special conditions of its
use, or yet the results obtained with the exactness required for professional investiga-
tion. Many of them have been their own engineers or have employed engineers who
either used no plans or have mislaid them. The many lawsuits as to the use of water
now pending in California naturally render capitalists who have engaged in great irri-
gation enterprises within its boundaries somewhat chary of giving their private Tec-
ords for publication. Again, partly because of the neglect of the various States to
collate facts and figures relating to irrigation, each district has grown up with its
own theories, prejudices, and customs, differing often to a noteworthy degree from
those of its neighbors. -
DIIFFERENT WORICS IN DIFFERENT STATES.
The circumstances of the several States also naturally lead to great differences in
their irrigation works. The mountain torrents of Colorado require to be grappled with
by large and powerful weirs before they can be raised, so as to cover the high rolling
uplands, while the shallow rivers of Southern California call for light structures only
capable of elevating water a few feet, so as to lead it across sandy plains. Farming in
the bottom lands of Arizona has led to the use of wing-dams, which can direct the flood
waters of spring along the ridges, and thence command the flats beneath, and a Some-
what similar class serve for the low levees of Kansas, while its bench or mesa lands .
(the secondary flats or table-lands running up to foot-hills) call for larger ditches and
stronger works, drawing their supply from the turbid Arkansas. In Utah, and New
Mexico we touch upon primitive works supplying small plats of land with little driplets
of the precious fluid, out of which, with care and economy, thriving settlements are
built up. The parent source of this system, and indeed of American irrigation, is
Old Mexico, where irrigation, from the simplicity of the Egyptian water-lifter to the
masonry weir and solid stone aqueduct of centuries ago, spreads its Way. Over the
whole of the territory closed in its temperate and tropic Zones, . If it is difficult to
arrºve at accurate information in the United States, in Mexico it is impossible. There
is no trustworthy measurement of water, and but the lowest measure of products; a
majority of those who till are too ignorant, and the minority who own the soil too in-
different to record their experience; the State does nothing to assist, and has no bu-
reau to take cognizance of this most important factor of its obief source of wealth.
Everywhere in the States or in Moxico private enterprise is supreme, and one learns
only from private persons. The general condition is scanty collections of facts, and
often opposite conclusions drawn from them.
ADVANTAGEs of MExico AND Colorado. 299
IRRIGATION STYSTEM AND LAWS IN MEXICO.
Remembering the immense extent of the arid area, and the magnitude of the irri-
#. already undertaken in it, one can not but be surprised at the nature of the legis-
ation under which it has been developed. Still the omissions and mistakes made in
the States furnish some valuable material. The Aztecs were experts in the art of
irrigation when Cortez landed upon their shores, and the Spaniards who conquered
them brought their “Law of Waters” into force in their possessions. Under the
Montezumas, water was the property of the commune; under the Spaniards it be-
come the property of the king. In both, the public interest was thus permanently
recognized. Private acquisition was permitted for domestic purposes, but not for
irrigation or industrial uses, except upon an authority derived from the crown or
its delegates as representing the public interest. Property in water, however, can
be acquired by uncontested possession for twenty years, and is superior to property
on land, since its owner has the right to carry it over any land which may lie be-
tween its source of supply and the farm to which he wishes to appply it, on pay-
ment of compensation and justification of the route. There are a great variety of
enactments relating to water in the several provinces and municipal districts; but
as the water available for private use has been almost all appropriated, there is now
little ground for litigation as to new diversions. Public rights are jealously guarded;
a land-owner near the head of a stream may not deprive a land-owner lower down of his
share. Unless he can obtain an official authority, he can use no water that is not de-
rived from springs upon his own property. . The chief measures of water are the sulco,
which is equivalent to a flow of 0-23 cubic feet per second; the naranja, which is one-
third of a sulco; and the paja, which is equal to 0-00053 cubic feet per second. In the
City of Mexico and other important municipalities the paja is the unit of measure-
ment nominally employed. Law suits relating to the use of water are not uncommon;
'but nevertheless the law, with all its defects, appears to be fairly comprehended
and obeyed. In what were Mexican provinces, California, Arizona, and New Mexico,
the practice of irrigation was established, though on a very small scale, before their
annexation to the tinited States, and has since developed to a considerable degree on
the same lines, the only cardinal principle recognized being that of one appropriator
over another in the order of priority of use, the issue of Mexican grants and the
wholesale incorporation of English common law having combined to confuse the legal
position of irrigation.
COLORADO AND ITS IRRIGATION LAWS.
In all matters relating to irrigation the knowledge of what is to be avoided is of equal
value with the knowledge of what is worthy of imitation, and this is particularly the
case in regard to irrigation law. The enactments which have proved advantageous,
and their particular deficiences, are both worthy of close attention. As the laws of
Colorado are by far the most successful, they may be fairly allotted the first place.
By the constitution of this State all streams within its boundaries were declared to be
public property. By this one declaration a thousand and one sources of contention as
to riparian rights were altogether closed. By special enactment it next provided for
the proving and registry of every water claim. These were allowed by the courts in
their order of priority, and to the amount of water which had been actually used.
When these points had been adjudicated upon the claims were then published as
rights." The consent of the state engineer was required before the issue of any further
rights. . Under a further provision the national value of irrigation was recognized as in
Mexico by the granting of a general power to any person to obtain an easement for his
canal over his neighbor's land upon payment of compensation, Twenty-six water
districts were defined according to the natural areas of drainage and supply, and a
water-master for each was appointed, whose duty it is to decide disputes between
appropriators and supervise the general distribution from a particular stream. By
these simple means a host of difficulties and complexities were escaped, permanence
was given to existing works, and encouragement offered for the construction of new
works. It is not surprising, therefore, that in mileage of canals or acreage irrigated,
Colorado more than doubles any other State, or that its works are the greatest and
most permanent, and are most Tapidly extending. The Territory of Utah has shown
its appreciation of such results by copying as closely as convenient the legislation of
Colorado. Its powerful church government has proved an invaluable administrative,
judicial, and organizing agency. In California a move has been attempted, and much
i. achieved. In that state there is no constitutional or statutory provision that the
waters shall be public property, but the common law of England has been incorpo-
rated in the civil code of the State, so far as it is not repugnant to or inconsistent with
the Constitution of the United States, or the constitution or laws of this State (sec-
tion 4468); as a consequence the doctrine of the right of a riparian proprietor to receive
from the riparian proprietor above, and his obligations to deliver to the riparian pro-
prietor below the water of the stream upon which his land abuts undiminished in
quantity and unimpaired in quality has been revived. -
300 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
CLIMATE AND IRRIGATION.
The irrigation area in America stretches from the snows of Colorado to the per-
petual sunshine of Mexico, and from the shores of the Pacific to the valley of the
Mississippi, embracing as great a variety of climate as is to be found in the whole of
Australia. Over the whole of this great surface are scattered patches of irrigated
land, and nowhere, north or south, east or west, does there appear to be any relin-
quishment of irrigation on account of climatic conditions. It is needless to add that,
compared with the whole extent of this territory, the irrigated area is infinitesimal,
but the fact stands that the high plains of Colorado, 5,000 feet above the sea, the
bleak prairies of Kansas, the sandy waste of California at the sea-level, or the arid val-
leys of the Mexican plateau, 7,000 feet above it and within the tropical zone, are all
Susceptible of irrigation. The only want is want of water. Climate limits the Colo-
rado farmer to a short season of one hundred days, while in Los Angeles or Leon cul-
tivation is carried on all the year round. Climate determines the class of products
that can be profitably raised, and temperature of course affects the quantity of water
Inecessary to be used.
THE WATER SUPPLY.
Rain-fall.—The arid area of the United States, by the terms of Major Powell's defini-
tion, includes only lands where the rain-fall is under 20 inches per annum. Over the
great belt in which irrigation has so far had its chief development the record for a
series of years gives but a little more than half that quantity, so that 10 to 12 inches
may be taken as a fair average, though the extremes show a much wider variation.
In northern California and among the mountains to the east the rain-fall rises to 40
inches, while in the deserts of southern California it falls to 4 inches. In western
Kansas the fall not infrequently reaches 20 inches, but this is so irregular that the
farmer who relies solely upon a natural supply loses more by the dry seasons than he
can make in those which are more propitious. The question as to whether settlement
increase the rain-fall in the West as it has increased it in the Mississippi Valley is still
undetermined, for though popular opinion is decidedly in the affirmative, the State
engineer of Colorado points out that official records so far do not support the assertion.
The exceptions to this are that Salt Lake, Utah, appears to be .# gaining in depth
and that dew is now observed at Greeley, in northern Colorado, a phenomenon quite un-
known until irrigation had been practiced for some years. Nor does the mere amount of
rain-fall indicate sufficiently the necessity for an artificial supply of water unless also
the seasons in which it falls are taken into account. In parts of Dakota and Minne-
sota, where the rain-fall only averages about 20 inches, dry farming is carried on,
while in districts of Texas, where the figures are as high, it would be impossible to
obtain the same results without irrigation.
The explanation is that in Dakota nearly 75 per cent. of the rain falls in the season
when the farmer needs it as against about 50 per cent. in Texas. Indeed a gradation
may be observed in this scale from north to south, since in Kansas some 65 per cent.
of the rain falls in the spring and summer, while in the extreme south, as at San
Diego, only half of the whole rain-fall of 9 inches falls in the spring, and is consequently
useless for agriculture. There is some irrigation in Dakota, as also in Iowa and
Wyoming, but not nearly so much as in the States to the southward, where even if
the rain-fall were as high its distribution would render it insufficient. The quantity
of water needed is also affected by temperature, for the higher it reaches the more
water is demanded. The loss by evaporation has not yet been determined for the
several States, but it is stated that in very arid tracts it rises to over 60 inches per
annnm. The fact that irrigation is resorted to under such conditions should be borne
in mind when we consider the wisdom of securing an artificial supply in places where
the yearly fall is often sufficient.
Rivers.--That great backbone of the North American continent, the Rocky Mount-
ains, traverses, with its companion, the Sierra Nevada, the whole of the Southwest,
pouring from its snow-fields permanent streams in greater profusion that Victoria
ossesses. They rush from the rocky gorges out into the open country, running often
ank high, and thus facilitating the diversion of their waters over the surrounding
lands. But the majority of them are small, and where the supply is one peculiarity,
of the utmost value in irrigation, is that they run along the ridges of the plain, while
the country slopes away from their banks. In the south the rivers which supply the
chief settlements are very shallow, and run in broad, sandy beds, often changing their
course. The States have, as we have, streams which are a chain of pools for one-
half the year, and often a torrent during the other half, while with them the melting
of the snow supplies the water in volumes, as in the Murray, just when it is most
required.
}. Colorado the San Luis and Saguache dissipate themselves in the plains, while
in southern California, the Kern, in Utah the Jordan, and in Nevada the Carson,
Truckee, and Humboldt terminate in lakes which have no outlet, thus furnishing
THE wells AND SPRINGS OF CALIFORNIA. 301
parallels to the Wimmera, Richardson, and Dumnunkle of our own colony. One
feature of many American streams, especially of those in sandy beds, is that they lose
a great quantity of their flow by soakage, which in some cases returns to them by
the same means. It has been observed of some rivers in New Mexico, as in Italy of
some tributaries of the Po, that the stream tapped by a large irrigating ditch and
robbed of a considerable share of its flood, regain it all again a few miles lower down.
It has been found also that old river-beds still carry a flow underground, and that some
running rivers have but a fraction of their streams above ground. In California
sometimes as much as two-thirds of a stream has been found below its bed, and con-
sequently what are called submerged or subsoil dams have been occasionally employed
with great success, as in the Santiago Valley and at Downey, to arrest these escapes
and bring the whole body of water to the surface. Another characteristic of Ameri-
can rivers is that no matter how clear the water may appear it almost invariably
carries with it a sediment, which is in the majority of cases a valuable fertilizer.
There are rivers, such as the King's River, California, which are said to carry no silt,
and yet to fertilize the land, in which case it is to be presumed that the water acts
as a solvent, disintegrating the coarser particles of the soil and preparing the fertiliz-
ing elements for absorption in plant growth. The topography of this State, Cali-
fornia, has been especially favorable to small schemes, and has induced the farmer,
by his opportunities of obtaining water when he most needs it at a minimum of labor
and expense, to commence experiments on his own land.
Springs and wells.-In the matter of the supply obtained from underground, Ameri-
can experience is, on the whole, encouraging. In Los Angeles and San Bernardino
Counties, Cal., there are springs or springy marshes called cienagas which irrigate from
20 to 400 acres each, and together supply an area of 7,000 acres of cultivated lands.
Such springs are an important source of supply in Italy, where they are styledfontanili.
Here some are so charged with mineral matter as to be unfit for use and have usually
so small, a flow as to be employed for orchard irrigation only. At San Gabriel,
Cal., a vineyard 1,200 acres in extent is supplied solely by springs or artesian wells,
of which there are twenty-one on the estate, ranging from 75 to 100 feet deep. In
southern California, altogether there are calculated to be one thousand of these
wells, varying in depth from 200 to 550 feet; some of them have a flow of 1.7
cubic feet per second, and suffice for the irrigation of small farms. On one estate
there are fifteen of an average depth of 200 feet, yielding water at the rate of
2.2 cubic feet per second. Artesian water has been, if anything, rather dearer than
canal water in California, but has the advantage of being at a higher temperature
than snow-fed streams. *
In Santa Clara County, Cal., there is an artesian tract yielding 2,000,000 gallons
every twenty-four hours, but the greatest supply from such sources is at Denver,
Colo., where a stream of 2,880,000 gallons per day is derived from eighty wells, which
range from 300 feet to 900 feet deep. In sinking these the “club-churn" drills have
been found cheaper and quicker than the diamond drill, sinking 45 feet in twelve
hours, as against 15 feet with the diamond drill, or 90 feet in twenty-four hours
as against 35 feet. When artesian water is used the wells are, where possible, put
down upon the highest part of the farm from which the water can be most easily distrib-
uted; when the wateris raised by means of a windmill from an ordinary well, which is
usually upon low ground, it is delivered into a light wooden flume, which conveys it into
a reservoir on some commanding spot. In California, and especially at Florin, water is
raised from depths of 10 to 20 feetin a steady stream by means of windmills, one of which,
as a rule, can supply 2 to 3 acres of land with water. Further south the water is raised
from more than twice this depth by the same means. In most cases the water is bored
for and struck, but does not rise to the surface, the windmill being employed to lift it
the extra distance. If water were found without boring at 10 feet deep irrigation for
vines or lucern would be considered superfluous. The utilization of such small quanti-
ties of water as can be obtained by these means attest the value set upon any supply,
however minute. Though the streams of the West are considerable in number, they
are small and far between in almost every district in which irrigation is necessary.
There are most extensive areas without appreciable rainfall, without rivers, and
without springs. The irrigable area is narrow and widely distributed, occurring,
except in Colorado and Kansas, in comparatively small allotments.
IRRIGATION WORKS AND THEIR CONSTRUCTION.
It is next desirable to consider the means by which water is diverted and the
methods of its application, so as to share any knowledge which Americans possess in
these directions. To comprehend the nature of their works it is desirable to bear in
mind their history, for they have rarely been the result of one foreseen plan, but
have, as a rule, been brought into their present condition piecemeal. It must be re-
membered that they are not State works, and that in many cases they were not con-
structed by companies or capitalists, but by the farmers themselves, either singly or
302 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
banded together. On the faith, perhaps, of a good season the settler had taken up
land and after his crop was in had seed himself in danger of losing it, or else in sheer
desperation he had settled without expecting a rain-fall and determined to try the
Mexican custom of flooding his fields. In either case his necessity has been the same.
He must have water or be ruined. If it did not fall from the clouds he has asked
himself why it should not prove as efficient if obtained from the nearest stream.
With this pressure upon him he has not waited to inquire into his legal rights or
seek for engineering skill or hold public meetings. He has hitched his team and with
plow and spade run a rough ditch to the river bank. By cutting this through, and
if necessary throwing up a slight wing-dam to turn the water in, he has been able to
soak his fields, save his. crop, and probably get half as much again as an ordinary
yield. Stirred by this gain, and by a strong sense of successful self-reliance, he has
made his work permanent. A neighbor has joined him in enlarging the ditch, and
then shared in its benefits. Others have been encouraged to face the same task.
Where several were interested they have joined their forces, apportioned the work,
and each carried out his share or paid for its being carried out for him. By these
means a great number of so-called works have been constructed, and, learning from
them, the small capitalist and the large capitalist have followed suit, and have built
canals to supply water for use upon their own lands or upon lands which they wish
to let or sell, or upon the lands of others to whom they intend to dispose of the water
thiſ have secured.
hese works have been built often without engineers, almost always without plans,
and their defects are patent. The weir head-gate or wing-dam, as the case may be,
has been carried away several times, and has probably cost more to replace than a
substantial structure might have cost. Then the easiest courses for the ditches have
been chosen, so that, instead of running on high land, they have even followed old
water-courses, and thus have commanded from the canal a much smaller area and
more imperſectly than they should have done. There have sometimes been no sur-
veys, and as a consequence curves have been too sharp and grades too º SO
that ditches gradually dostroy themselves, cutting out their own banks and filling
in their beds. Or, perhaps, an opposite fault has been committed, and there has not
been current enough to keep down the water weeds which spring up in the channel
and choke it.
Then, again, the natural result of individual effort of this kind has been that sev-
eral canals have been built where only one was necessary. For instance, there are
five ditches supplying the Mussel Slough district, California, where one would carry
all the water with far less loss in the carriage. There are thirty-two canals taken
out of the Kern River, where eight would have been abundant; and at Fresno half
a dozen where two would have sufficed. What loss this involves may be estimated
from a calculation of the State engineer, who, after a careful examination of two of
these canals, finds that their combined stream could have been carried in one chan-
nel at a saving of 20 per cent, of the water conveyed. The engineering defects of
such works are palpable, and are not disputed or disguised. At the same time it
would be a mistake to condemn them out of hand. At least they have served their
purpose for a time—it may be wastefully, but the waste could not have been pre-
vented. Crop after crop has been saved—the farmer has kept his land, has built his
house, and cultivated his plot comfortably by their means. If he now possesses the
knowledge needed to irrigate and build ditches, and has the money in his pocket to ºn
able him to use his knowledge, he owes it all to these first Tude efforts of his by which
he put the water upon his fields cheaply and without delay. , , , A o tº tº
Everywhere, however, engineering work is characterized by extreme simplicity
and economy; it is rarely massive and never ornamental. There is no attempt at
finish, but only at efficiency. Water-works in the West are like railways, often
made to pay for their own construction. At first just enough work is done to
enable them to yield a return, and then additions are made from time to time, until
at last they are brought into a condition of stability. In places where it is cheaper
to build a new weir or wing-dam of brush and sand every year than to pay in-
terest upon the sum required for a permanent structure the temporary work is inva-
riably resorted to. & º
It is rare also that any work is built strongly enough to endure all contingencies:
The practice is to put up a weir that will stand, in ordinary seasons, foreseeing that
it will be swept away by the first of the heavy floods which occur periodically every
few years. º * & e
There are many ingenious engineering devices for decreasing expenses, but this
principle of risk to save interest governs all, American engineers know, that these
works are not permanent when they build them. As a rule they have the profes-
sional dislike of building temporary works, and, not having to provide the funds,
refer structures that will prove a lasting credit to them; but shrewd capitalists
ave tested the principle in practice, and they find it pays to resort in many cases to
these slighter WorkS.
IMPORTANCE OF AMERICAN constEUCTIONS. 303
| SOME OF THE PRINCIPAL WORKS.
Among th eillustrations of this combination of risk with very clever engineering
there are none better than those to be found at Bakersfield, where Mr. James, as .
engineer for Messrs. Haggin and Carr, has had a large field for the display of his
ability. Timber is cheap in America, and California is favored with the redwood,
which is soft, easily worked, and yet durable; consequently it is almost wholly
employed by Mr. James upon his 250 miles of canal. His main gates cost from
:640 to £60, while his head-gates, controlling a flow of 30 feet or 40 feet of water
3 or 4 feet deep, are erected for £600. A wooden weir in the Callaway Canal,
costing only £2,600, is 700 feet long, can be put in place in a couple of hours, and
is ingéniously arranged so that its superstructure is rapidly removable. Many of
the contrivances employed on these ranches are well worthy of imitation wherever
shallow streams are to be dealt with in a level country. The combination of
weir and bridge in the same wooden structure is another feature of these works
well worth the attention of local governing bodies, one of these, 360 feet long, 20
feet wide, raising the water 5 feet, and reckoned to have a life of at least twenty
years, being built for less than £2,000.
In the streams of southern California, which are of no great depth as a rule, brush-
work is generally used for weirs and dams, sometimes being loaded with sand-boxes
or sand-bags or protected with fascines, loaded down with cobble-stones. Thus the
San Joaquin and King's River Canal, California, has such a wing-dam, 350 feet long,
as has the Larimer and Weld Canal, Colorado, where the dam is 177 feet long and 5
feet 8 inches high. Examples of this class of construction on a great scale, though
not for irrigation, may be found in the Yuba and Bear Rivers, where two dams
may be seen, one of them 8,900 feet long, and the other 5,875 feet long, ranging from
3 feet to 15 feet in height, and from 60 feet to 120 feet in width. Perhaps the largest
irrigation head-work in this style is that of the Eureka Canal, in Kansas, which is 1,500
feet long and 8 feet high, supported by a dike a mile long on the south side of the
river, and diverting 5 feet of water through a cut in the banks of the Arkansas, 16
feet deep, into a canal 28 feet broad at the bed and 80 miles in length. The dimen-
sions of these works, together with the stability of such head-gates as that upon the
76 canal, Fresno, Cal., which is also a bridge of 100 feet long and 20 feet wide,
and raises the water 5 feet at a cost of £1,000, and the ingenuity of the head-gate of
the Chowchilla Canal, resting upon a quicksand, as described in the engineer's re-
port, are evidence enough of the ability which is displayed in many works. In
northern California there are both dams and weirs, of great height and excellent
simplicity of structure, erected for mining purposes, and now, in a few cases and on
a small scale, utilized for irrigation as well as motive power. For the most subtsan-
tial of all head-works, however, we must look to Colorado.
There are some small stone weirs in the South, and some fine pieces of masonry work
of great antiquity in Mexico, but none of these are liable to such enormous strain as is
met with in the wild caſions of the Rocky Mountains. The South Platte Weir, for in-
stance, is 120 feet long from the cliff on the one side to its waste-gate of solid masonry,
24 feet wide, on the other, raising the water 14 feet by means of a frame-work of 12 by
12 timbers bolted into the bed-rock, filled with stones and planked on the face with 6–
inch boards. The apron extends 54 feet up-stream and 18feet below the weir, the water
having a perpendicular fall. The waste-gate and off-take are both protected by substan-
tial “booms” or “grids,” the latter 72 feet long, built of 12 by 12 timbers. These
admit the water through bars below the surface and protect the work from the trunks
of trees, which are carried down with great force when the stream is high. These
“booms” are in frequent use in Colorado, and are worthy of note for application upon
the many Australian streams in which heavy floods invariably whirl along with them
great quantities of timber with a force that would destroy an unprotected structure
as speedily as a battering-ram. The Weir across the North Poudre endures even fiercer
floods, and is more massive in structure, stretching 160 feet across a rugged cation,
from wall to wall in the form of an arch, bending up-stream, and composed of strong
cribs filled with stones; it raises the water 26 feet into its flumes. The lower face
consists of three steps pitched with stones, which are so keyed in each other that the
pressure upon them only serves to wedge them more firmly in. As it has stood two
or three severe floods without sustaining any damage it may be considered a success,
more especially as though situated in an out-of-the-way district over 20 miles from
the nearest station, and a mile up an almost inaccessible gorge, its cost was less than
#2,000. It was considered worthy of being made the chief subject of a special paper
read before the Institution of Civil Engineers in London.
Enough has been said here to indicate the character of the chief classes of head-
works, of which there are a great variety in each State. The minor works, such as
drops, gates, or regulators, are usually of wood, and of simple design. In the South
Platte Canal a much superior gate may be seen, the off-take from the main canal
being by means of an earthenware pipe set in stones, beyond which is the usual gate,
*
*
304 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES,
and a measuring weir. The head-gates, however, include but a small part of the
works undertaken in order to secure a supply of water. There is a prevalent idea
that in America the streams only require to be touched with a spade to pour them-
Selves upon the farmer's sown lands. That such is not always the case in Colorado
may be seen from the fact that the South Platte Weir referred to above, built at a
cost of £4,000, serves to raise the waters to the level of a tunnel 600 feet long, 20 feet
wide, and 12 feet high, hewn through the solid rock, at an outlay of £12,000, empty-
ing its tide into a wooden flume 2,640 feet long, 28 feet wide, and 7 feet deep, which
cost nearly £20,000, and is supplemented further on by other wooden flumes along
the 83 miles for which this artificial river has been excavated across the plains.
The North Poudre Canal has about a mile of wooden flumes, and three tunnels,
one of them 900 feet long, necessitating an outlay of £10,000 for its first milé
before it touches the open country, through which it flows for 50 miles. Nor is
expenditure of this character limited to great canals supplying large areas. The price
that can be paid for water may be better understood by noting what the outlay is
upon Small areas.
At Pasadena, where there are but 1,500 acres to supply, the water is carried from
the weir by a flume 700 feet long into an iron pipe 3 miles long, from 13 inches to 11
inches in diameter, to a reservoir with a capacity of 3,000,000 gallons, party rock-
walled and partly cemented. From this another iron pipe conveys it to the land to
be irrigated, while a lower portion is supplied from another source by a pump throw-
ing 30,000 gallons an hour into another 500,000-gallon reservoir, from which it is dis-
tributed by a mile and a half more of iron piping. The total cost of these works is
given as £8,000. The Lake Vineyard Company to the east have a concrete ditch
17,000 feet long and a quantity of iron piping simply to water their own vipes. The
supply to the neighboring colony of Anaheim is carried in a flume 6,970 feet in length.
At Redlands there are 6 miles of iron piping 1 foot in diameter, carrying 5 cubic feet
of water per second from the weir to the 2,400 acres which it is intended to irrigate,
upon which there are stand-pipes and iron measuring weirs to every allotment. At
Ontario, with its 8,000 acres, the arrangements are equally perfect, a large portion of
its supply being obtained by a tunnel nearly 3,000 feet long, upon which £10,000 have
been spent. An illustration of another class of water-works on a great scale may be
seen among the mountains of Nevada, where there are wooden flumes from 50 to 80
miles in length, down which sawn timber is floated from the forests among the hills.
The distance which great streams of water have to be carried before they can be
utilized may be judged from a few illustrations.
The Dodge City Canal, Kansas, is 90 miles long and 50 feet wide; the San Joaquin
and King's River Canal, California, 78 miles long and 68 feet wide; the South Platte,
Colorado, is to stretch 160 miles when completed ; while the Great Eastern, Kan-
sas; the 76 Canal, Fresno, Cal. ; the Larimer and Weld, Colorado; the Arizona
Canal, Arizona, all range from 40 to 60 miles in length, with a breadth of over 30
feet. In considering the length of these canals, it should be remembered that some
of them have been carried much farther than the natural circumstances required,
passing irrigable lands in their course just as rich as those they reach beyond,
but which are unsupplied because they do not belong to the proprietor of the
ditch. The area of irrigable land under canals of these dimensions amounts
often to from 50,000 acres to 250,000 acres each, but from none as yet is more
than the smaller quantity under cultivation. In Utah, Settlements have been
abandoned because they were located too far from the streams supplying them. The
higher up-stream an off-take of a canal is, and the shorter the distance water is car-
ried to land, the less the loss by soakage. The more favorably situated flats, however,
usually lie farther down-stream, and as these are always the first to be irrigated it be-
comes necessary for the later settler to take up higher ground, to water which he
must go farther up the river. There is thus a tendency for the canals to become
longer as the country is taken up. It is unnecessary to describe their construction,
for they are merely ditches of sizes and grades varying according to the soil in which
they are cut and the water they have to carry, which is from 1 cubic foot to 2,000 cubic
feet per second. The average cost of a 30-foot canal is reckoned in ordinary country
at from £200 to £300 per mile by Colorado engineers. The average grades chosen are
from 1 to 3 feet per mile; the banks, in most places, being on the slope of 4 or 5 to 1.
The breadth is adjusted so as to equalize the discharge, being greatest where the
grade is least. º º
The amount of money which private persons have invested in these works shows
that the prospects of profit are tempting. The San Joaquin Canal represents in direct
and indirect outlay £260,000; the Dodge City, £160,000; the South Platte, £150,000;
the Arizona, £100,000; the North Poudre, £50,000, and the City Ditch, at Salt Lake,
£45,000. Several of these are built by companies which have other canals of consid-
erable size and land purchases made in connection with them, in which even larger
sums are sunk. Two companies in Colorado control between them nearly 500 miles
of main canals, which, together with the land they were constructed to water, rep-
THE TOOLS EMPLOYED IN IRRIGATION. 305
resent an outlay of more than half a million sterling. As far as can be judged
there are no apprehensions entertained as to the future of such investments; their
proprietors appear satisfied with their returns up to the present time, and not unwill-
ing to enter upon extensions of their existing enterprises. Still the figures, even
now, should make it plain that irrigation in America is not the simple matter it has
been supposed, but one that taxes the capital and enterprise of even a speculative
people. e
THE PRINCIPAL IRRIGATION RESERVOIRS.
Next to head-works, the most important feature is the provision of storage, by means
of which the surplus of winterrains or spring floods may be retained for use in time of
need. The surveys made in California and Colorado sofar have discovered many nat-
ural depressions of no great extent, but still valuable in connection with irrigation
schemes. In Los Angeles County are to be found a number of reservoirs already built,
some of them cemented; others, such as those of the Lake Vineyard Association, com-
posed of the natural soil. Most of these are small, the largest containing 21,000,000
allons. The cost of excavation here was from 78. 6d. to 128. 6d. per thousand cubic
eet of storage. In New Mexico, by means of a series of earthen dams, one farmer
has created seven reservoirs, from which he can command, with a reserve supply, some
2,000 acres of his estate. In Colorado the mountainous character of the country has
been favorable to the construction of similar works, the State engineer recording a
number of them at 6 feet to 35 feet deep and 10 acres to 500 acres in extent. The
largest is that in connection with the Big Thompson Canal, which covers 427.35 acres
to a depth of 35.8 feet, of which 21.8 feet is available, and is expected to water
12,000 acres. A chain of such reservoirs is being added to the North Poudre works
previously referred to. But by far the greatest of these reservoirs is situated in the
. Bear Valley above Riverside and Redlands, Cal., where, by means of a wall of
masonry 300 feet long and 60 feet high, 8,000,000,000 gallons, or more than the con-
tents of the Yan Yean when full, are preserved, owing to exceptional natural advan-
tages, at a cost of £12,000. This will give a continuous stream of 150 cubic feet per
second for 100 days, which, on the scale of supply adopted at Redlands, should water
at least 50,000 acres. A still larger reservoir is projected in southeastern Colorado,
where water sufficient to supply 100,000 acres is to be stored, in connection with a
i. 80 feet wide, 7 feet deep, and capable, with the reservoir, of irrigating twice
that area.
CONSTRUCTION IMPLEMENTS.
. The implements themselves are various, and a considerable portion of the saving is
made in the knowledge when to use one and when to replace it by another. To begin
with the simplest kind of construction, that of field ditching, the farmer does this, as a
rule, with his plow, with which he can easily run a ditch of a few inches capacity across
the field. If he intends to widen it while keeping it shallow he employs the ditch plow,
which consists of a blade suspended behind the share so as to push the earth which it
cuts to one side. In many soils this is found to be an invaluable implement. When
the work is more roughly done, what is known as a V scraper is brought into play.
This varies from a mere log of wood with a couple of old spade heads nailed in front,
forming a sharp prow, which is its rudest form, to a triangle some 6 feet wide at its
wooden base, from which proceed two long iron blades forming the acute angle.
Its use is always the same. It is drawn by horses and steadied by the driver's weight,
so as to push the earth outward from a simple plow furrow or series of furrows, and
thus form a ditch. When this is over 6 feet in width a “side-wiper" is generally
substituted, which is a long iron blade, lowered from a frame which rests upon four
Wheels, so that when drawn by a powerful team it slants the plowed soil to one side.
In light, soils and for large ditches an elaborate machine is used, which not only
plows the earth but takes it up and shoots it out upon the banks a distance of 10
or 12, feet, to either side, at the rate of from 600 to 1,000 cubic yards per day.
But the implement most in use for operations of any extent is the iron “scraper,”
which is found in many forms, sometimes runs sledgewise, sometimes upon wheels,
add ingeniously fitted so as to be tilted without effort. For a long pull wheels aré
considered best, and for steep banks runners have the preference, but scoops are pre-
ferred without either for sandy soil. The kind of soil to be moved and worked upon
and the length of haul are always taken into account in determining the class of
Scoop used. In constructing a deep canal a haul of 1 foot upward is reckoned the
equivalent of 50 feet on the level, and with an experienced driver and a team or
two of horses or mules a scoop is expected to remove from 80 to 120 yards per day.
Sometimes in railway work one man is told off to every four teams to fill the scoops,
but in the majority of cases the driver does this himself. There is another implement
known as the buck scraper, which for ordinary farming use in light soils and in prac-
ticed hands accomplishes remarkable results. It consists of a strong piece of 2-inch
timber, from 6 feet to 9 feet long and 1 foot 3 inches high, with a 6-inch steel plate
138 A L–AP WOL IW 20
306 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES. s
along its face projecting 2 inches below its lower edge, and is strengthed with cross-
pieces at the back, where there is a projecting arm, upon which the driver stands.
Like the ordinary scraper, it is also found on wheels and runners and in many pat-
terns, and is drawn by a pair of horses. Instead of taking up the earth as the scoop
does, it pushes the soil before it, and when under good command does such work as
check-making, ditch excavating, or field leveling, in Sandy soils, with marvelous
rapidity. Work with the scoop costs, as a rule from 4d. to 6d. per cubic yard; when
the cost reaches 9d, it is considered time to Śot it aside,
With the buck scraper work has been done in favorable localities as low as 2d, and
even a penny, per cubic yard; and it is astonishing to note the number of uses to
which this simple implement is successfully applied. Where the leveling of fields is
difficult a machine is sometimes used which cuts off the tops of mounds or ridges and
drops the stuffin the first hollow over which it passes. The windmills for raising water
from wells have been already alluded to as have the boring machines at Denver.
Where the water is to be raised from a running stream a wheel is employed turned by
the current, raising little bucketsful and pouring them into a wooden flume from 12
feet to 20 feet high. Many little contrivances, such as a movable iron grate or “ta-
pon,” for diverting water at any point from field ditches, and shaped like a railway
disk, are to be met with.
DISTIRIBUTION BY PIPIES,
In this connection it may be well to notice the variety of pipes employed for water
supply and likely to be more employed as water becomes scarcer and fruit raising in-
creases. Where suitable material is at hand it is not uncommon to find ditches, as at
Lugonia, Cal., roughly paved for 6 or 7 miles, thus saving one-third of the water pre-
viously lost in this distance. Again, the South Fork ditch, from the Santa Ana, is
made in a similar way, by neatly fitting cobblestones together, and with an equally
satisfactory result. Near Passadena, as already mentioned, there is a concrete ditch
more than 5 miles in length. This mode of ditching, however, is not always possible,
and where such an outlay can be faced it is generally advisable to use pipes. The
greater profits realized from fruit-growing encourage such an expenditure, by means
of which a very small stream can be made to cover a comparatively large area.
Pipes can either be employed to bring water to land upon which it is to be used or
they can also be carried on so as to distribute the supply throughout the cultivated area.
This latter process, known as subirrigation, will be described at a later stage. When
it is practiced a simple machine is generally used, by means of which a cement pipe is
made in the ground and in position, thus saving the risk of transportation and some
cost of labor. The scale on which this has been attempted is not as yet sufficient to
demonstrate its universal efficiency. For main channels a concrete pipe, cheaper than
earthenware piping, is largely in use in the “colonies” of southern California, as at
Ontario and Pasadena, where it has proved durable and serviceable under low pressure.
In the San Demas Cañon there are 3 miles of this pipe, 5 inches in interior diameter,
carried along the face of a cliff. Its most formidable rivals have been a riveted and
asphalted pipe and a light laminated pipe, both of wrought iron, the latter, made by
telescoping one sheet-iron pipe into another when submerged in asphalt and tar, and
thus filling up the small space between them with the mixture. As a 4-inch pipe of
this pattern is supplied for practically the same price as that in cement, and has proved
itself capable of withstanding great pressure, the preference, on the whole, appears to
be given to the iron. Where it is found, as in Utah, that a ditch 3 feet deep, which
is 20 feet wide for the first 33 miles of its course, can in the next 2 miles carry all that
is left of its stream in a width of 12 feet, it becomes plain that where water is valu-
able there is a fair margin to pay for piping.
METEIODS OF IRRIGATION,
Flooding.—The earliest, easiest, simplest, and cheapest method of irrigation is by
flooding. The water is then directed so as to gover the whole area under cultivation
to a depth varying according to the crop and the quality of the soil. This plan is the
most wasteful of water, but can not be avoided in the cultivation of cereals. The only
work it involves in the field is that necessary to permit an even flow of water. With
a regular slope this work is sometimes trifling, but as a rule some preliminary Qutlay.
is required for leveling inequalities, or else providing for the equal distribution of
the stream from points of vantage. When the fall is slight, shallow ditches are run
in Colorado from 50 feet to 100 feet apart in the direction of the fall; when the land
is steeper they are carried diagonally to the slope or are made to wind around it, and
from these, by throwing up little dams from point to point, the whole field is inex-
pensively flooded. When the fall is still greater and the surface irregular ridges are
thrown up along the contour lines of the land, marking it offinto plots called “checks,”
on the whole of the interior of which water will readily and rapidly reach, an equal
depth. When one plot is covered the check is broken and the water admitted So as
in the same way to cover the next plot,
DESCRIPTION OFIRRIGATING METHODS. 307
The ridges or “levees” must have rounded crests and easy slopes, or else they in:
terfere with the use of farming machinery, such as the stripper. By means of diagonal
furrows and checks remarkable results are obtained, even in very broken country, By
their means it is claimed that in Colorado one man can irrigate 25 acres per day. Where
checks have not been used upon ground with an acute incline, the water has soon Worn
deep channels through it, utterly ruining it for agricultural purposes; or again, where
the water has been allowed to flow too ſreely the consequence has been that all the fer-
tilizing elements of the soil have been washed away. In ſlooding the aim is, therefore,
to put no more water upon the land than it will at once and equally absorb Or Qan
part with without creating a current sufficient to carry off sediment. The negleet of
these precautions has caused the abandonment of several settlements made in Utah
before the art of irrigation was propcrly understood.
In southern California checks are employed even more successfully than in Colo-
rado, the levees being built by buckscrapers, so as to prepare large areas for crop at
2d. per cubic yard of material moved, or 68. per acre.
The lands there are not so rolling as in the northern uplands, where the average cost
of preparing land for irrigation is from 8s. to 168, per acre. . As much higher estimates
have been given in Victoria, it should be noted that the higher price is for country
more difficult than the average of our northern plains. It would be possible, by grad-
ing and terracing, to water very steep slopes, but the labor would not be paid for by
any cereals that could be raised. Both the depth and number of floodings are varied
according to soil and crop. With a clay soil the waterings are light and frequent,
while with a sandier quality they are heavier and rarer. Much, too, depends upon the
distance and nature of the subsoil. There is considerable uncertainty with regard to
the measurements given for flooding. It is sometimes placed as low as will give a depth
of 2 or 3 inches, and at other times as high as from 5 inches to 10 inches at a single
watering. There are cases in which as many feet have been used. The number of
waterings is best determined by the crop itself, and the most skillful irrigators are
those who study its needs and take care to supply them without giving an excess of
water. The quantity used alters, therefore, from season to season, so that only an
average can be given. -
In Colorado, where water is used more lavishly than in any other State, some good
judges have agreed that an average of 14 inches should be ample, and this is certainly
not too low. Where the soil is liablo to become hard and will retain moisture, wheatis
often grown with two floodings, one before the ground is plowed, and the other when
it is approaching the ear. When two waterings are given after sowing, one is when the
wheat commences to “tiller,” and the other when it reaches the milky stage. Where
irrigation does not precede the plowing, it is postponed as long after the appearance of
the crop as possible. Sometimes wheat has three or even as many as four floodings; but
this is unusual, as overwatering occasions “rust.” Experience shows that it is easy to
exceed the quantity required by the crop, and that every excess is injurious. Ex-
travagance is the common fault, so much so that the most successful irrigators are
invariably those who use the least water. The less water, indeed, with which grain
can be brought to maturity the finer the yield.
Furrows.-Peas and potatoes are not irrigated by flooding, but from furrows 4 feet
to 10 feet apart, and this is found the more economical and more successful system for
vines and fruit trees.
Under the flooding system, the ground, if not protected from the sun, cakes quickly.
When the water is run down furrows drawn by a plow between the plants, this cak-
ing is avoided, and the water soaks, quietly to the roots. When flooding was prac-
ticed in orchards it was found to bring the roots to the surface and enfeeble the trees,
so that they needed frequent waterings. Sometimes the furrows feed a small bole at
the foot of the tree, from which the Water soaks slowly in. When this is done mulch-
ing is found desirable over the hole to reduce the loss by evaporation. The general
rule is to protect the trees by Small ridges, so that the water does not affect the sur-
face within 3 or 4 feet of them. The simple furrow, however, is most generally in
use. Oranges are watered three or at most four times in summer; vines, once, twice,
or often not at all after the first year or two; and other fruits according to the ca:
price of the owner, the necessities of the season, and the nature of the soil, one to four-
times. It is impossible to be more exact, An even greater difference, comparatively
in the quantity of water used, obtains in the furrow irrigation of fruit trees and vines
than has been noted in regard to cereals. To such an extent does this prevail, that
not only do districts differ, but, of two neighbors who cultivate the same fruits in con-
tiguous orchards, having exactly the same slope and soil, one will use twice or thrice
as much water as the other. Judging as far as possible from conflicting testimonies,
the cardinal principle appears to be just the same. To attain the best results the
trees must be carefully watched, and supplied with only just enough water to keep
them in a vigorously healthy condition.
Another all-important principle, as to which there is no question, and which is testi-
fied to on every hand, is that the more thoroughly the soil is cultivated the less water
308 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
it demands—a truth based partly, no doubt, upon the fact that the evaporation from
hard, unbroken soil is more rapid than from tilled ground, which retains the more thor-
oughly distributed moisture for a longer period. For the irrigation of cereals, works
are required on a larger scale proportionately than for fruit ; because in the first case the
Wateris demanded in greater quantities at particular times, while in the latter the sup-
ply can be more evenly distributed throughout the year, though of course the irrigating
Season With both is much the same. In the Northern States irrigation is limited to a
hundred days, while in the South it can be employed at discretion all the year round.
In both regions winter and autumn irrigations are growing steadily in favor. Land
Which receives its soaking then needs less in summer, and is found in better condi-
tion for plowing. It is argued that moisture is more naturally absorbed in that sea-
son and with greater benefit. Everywhere the verdict of the experienced is that too
much water is being used, and the outcry against oversaturation in summer is but
one of its forms.
Sub-irrigation.—Irrigation beneath the surface, if not excessive, is considered the
most perfect method of supplying water to vegetable life, and it has been the aim of
many to devise a scheme by which this can be done with the greatest economy. The
idea is to replace soakage from above, by either flooding or furrows, with what is
called “seepage;” that is, subterranean and lateral soakage, which, to be perfect,
should not wet the surface. The one advantage possessed by surface over sub-irriga-
tion is that, when carefully managed, irrigation by soakage is a perennial source of
fertilization, on account of the quantity of deposit which is obtained with the water
from most streams in certain seasons. Irrigation by seepage can not produce this
beneficial effect, but it can avoid the dangers of excessive saturation or surface cak-
ing, or of Washing out the richer elements of the soil, as well as accomplish an enor-
mous saving in the water used. Two difficulties have presented themselves to its
complete success. The first of these is the tendency of the apertures in the pipes to
become choked by the roots, which tend to form a mat about it. The main difficulty,
however, so far rather feared than experienced, is that the constant seepage of water
would have such a solidifying effect upon the soil, closing its pores and converting it
into an almost impenetrable mass, that it would become necessary, after some years,
to break it up to a considerable depth by cultivation. Of this it is too early to pro-
nounce, but it certainly appears that sub-irrigation is the hope of most intelligent
irrigators, because it promises a great economy of water, and the most direct appli-
cation of it to the thirsty tree that it is possible to devise. The average cost of mak-
ing and laying pipes for sub-irrigation is given by an authority at £5 per acre, a sum
which the owners of land under intense culture could afford to pay.
Open ditches are wasteful.—The present practice is the most wasteful that could be
devised. There is waste along all the miles of open canals, both main and secondary,
with a consequent loss to the owers of from 25 per cent. to 50 per cent. of the stream
they take in. Sometimes it is even greater, a canal in the San Joaquin Valley, which
took in 90 cubic feet per second at its head, only delivering 14 cubic feet per second on
the farms 28 miles away. Where the canal owner's loss ends, that of the farmer be-
gins. He loses all along his laterals tapping the secondary canal; all along his sub-
laterals intersecting his farm, and again, all that is not absorbed by the crop over
which he pours his periodic flood; besides which has to be added the loss from evap-
oration. As a matter of fact, therefore, he only receives the benefit of a very small
proportion of what he pays for. Some put the loss of farmer and canal proprietor
together as high as nine-tenths of the water diverted ; others at three-fourths,
and it is rarely calculated at less than the latter figure. There is certainly ample
room for saving at every turn. In Utah, as in Italy, another economy is effected by
requiring those entitled to water to take it at night as well as by day, so that instead
of the supply running to waste for eight to ten hours out of the twenty-four, the whole
capacity of the ditch is utilized every minute during the irrigating season. This
custom has the further advantage that the water is thought to act more favorably
upon the soil by night than if it were under the burning rays of the sun. The manual
labor or slrill required for controlling water is not great, and it calls for patience and
attention rather than activity. To see the irrigator, Spade in hand, engaged in a
leisurely way, directing the stream gushing from his ditch, it would scarcely be sus-
pected that upon so unimpressive a proceeding the whole future of the orchard in
which he is engaged entirely depended. There seems an incompatibility between
causes and effects which asserts itself in many ways, so that it becomes an effort to
realize that the rude ditches which wind their rugged banks across trim fields or
among regular rows of vines or orange-trees, are actually the generous source from
which all the profusion of foliage and fruit is being invisibly fed.
FERTILIZATION ESY IRRIGATION,
Part of this incompatibility no doubt arises from the fact that there is something more
than water conveyed in canals, and that this something more is extremely valuable,
though usually left out of the calculation. Water of itself can work wonders, but when
allied with sediment, which in nine cases out of ten appears to consist either of decayed
AS TO FERTILIZATION AND DRAINAGE. . 309
vegetable matter or to contain elements that replenish the soils by which it is absorbed,
the results become multiplied. In France the practice of pouring large bodies of Water
heavily charged with sediment upon inferior lands for the purpose of reclaiming and en-
riching them is extensively adopted. This is not systematically attempted to the same
extent in America, though the sandy sage-brush lands of Utah and Nevada have been
turned into rich meadows in the same way; but it is generally recognized that where
irrigation is so controlled as to admit of just as much water being placed upon the land
as it can drink at a draught, without allowing it either to stand or run away, then the
consequence is invariably a maintained or an increased production. Not only is the
crop secured, but whether it be grain, root crop, or fruit, the yield is often largely
enhanced so as to reach, in arid regions or upon poor soils, a yield equal to that ob:
tained upon fertile lands enjoying a plentiful rain-fall. Farmers' estimates of what
this gain actually is differ considerably, ranging from 30 to 100 per cent...That there
is a gain, and a great gain in many instances, no one thinks of disputing, though
there may be some looseness in the figures quoted concerning it. There seem to be
no products of which the crop may not be increased by irrigation, and there are none
that will not suffer from over-irrigation. The richest silty water, instead of having
a fertilizing influence, will be fatal if allowed either to stagnate or to rush too rap-
idly through a field. But with this danger provided against, irrigation may mean
fertilization to such an extent as to render any further artificial enrichment of the
soil unnecessary. In most parts of the West this has been the only fertilization which
has maintained land under years of cropping.
IRRIGATION DRAINAGE.
As a matter of fact there are no drainage works worthy of the name in America, the
farmer having quietly left the water to settle this problem for itself. Water is always
valuable in these regions, and what one farmer allows to flow by another is only too
eager to acquire. Canal proprietors have not found any necessity to spend money in
making provision for the surplus water which passes their area of supply, as it is gen-
erally extremely easy to let it find its way into the natural water-courses which run at
lower levels than the artificial stream. How to get water is the one question of im-
portance; how to get rid of it has been found in nineteen cases out of twenty only too
easy. With a deep subsoil or a good fall it seems as if drainage may always be unnec-
essary, and these are conditions very frequently met with. There are, however, lands
comparatively level in which, sooner or later, it will be required; and there are one or
two localities in which the need of drainage-works is rapidly becoming an imperative
necessity. Among these by far the most striking illustration is furnished at Fresno,
Cal., a district in which the same facts are also extremely valuable as indicating the
change in character of an arid plain submitted to years of extravagant irrigation.
Fifteen years ago its sandy soil, sparsely covered by struggling herbage, grassless
and treeless for scores of square miles, maintained only a few herds of cattle. There
was no sign of cultivation within its borders; water could only be obtained by sink-
ing from 40 feet to 80 feet, and the rain-fall was both irregular and insufficient. The
King River, which was its one available stream, sometimes carried no more than 500
cubic feet per second, and when the first “colony” was established it was stoutly
maintained that the whole of its waters would not suffice to supply this little plot
marked out in the midst of the wild.
For some time—indeed, even after the canal to supply this colony had been con-
structed—so rapidly did the open ditch absorb the intake that it was thought that
the water would never reach the settlement at all. Week by week the tiny thread
of fluid trickled and wound its way along; at last, it entered the fields prepared for it,
and, the flow steadily strengthening, crept farther and farther on, feeding an ever-
widening district, until to-day there are fifteen canals drawing their waters from
this river, irrigating 55,000 acres of land, which form a chain of settlement all around
the central Californian colony, and extending 16 miles beyond it. Water can now
be struck anywhere across the whole plain at 10 feet, and often at 6 feet. The seep-
age from the canals has been great indeed, for it seems to have filled the whole sub-
soil, which has sucked it up like a sponge until it can hold no more. One important
consequence is, that irrigation by flooding or furrows is being abandoned at Fresno,
as the irrigation by seepage maintains a constant supply within easy reach of the
roots of vines and trees.
The once arid region has become thoroughly moistened. Where till lately the con-
tention for water was keen and ceaseless, one hears now of suits against canals on ac-
count of their supersaturation of adjoining vineyards. Nor is this to be wondered at,
seeing that in the midst of the once parched plain there are now patches of artificial
morass created, as in the Poudre Valley, Colorado, by over-irrigation, and continued
for Want of drainage. For in Fresno, and Fresno alone, has drainage become a
Vital question. The largest vineyard in the district, that of Mr. Barton, has not
been Watered for two years, and the enterprising proprietor has actually ex-
310 IRRIGATION-IN THE UNITED STATES.
cavated ditches around his property so as to drain it, to a depth of 6 feet. The
Eisen vineyard close by, one of the oldest and best known in the district, is now
involved in a suit which its proprietor is bringing in self-defense against the canal
proprietors for flooding his land. . It is not only excess in flooding that has to be
avoided, but excess of seepage, which is just as bad. Not only is the creation of
a morass on the surface fatal, but the morass condition below is proportionately
injurious. Roots, of course, will not penetrate below the perpetual water line, and
thus, if the water rises in the soil the depth from which they draw their nourishment
is liable to be greatly diminished.
It has been suggested that if the pipermethod of Subirrigation were adopted the same
pipes might be made available for drainage. If this could be accomplished without
materially increasing the cost it should contain a solution of the difficulty in a few
cases, but, as a rule, where drainage is needed subirrigation in any season would be
superfluous if not injurious. A remarkable evidence of the rate of seepage in sandy
soils is notable in the Fresno district, and that is two little ditches, a foot or so apart,
each of them carrying a swift stream of water, which is soaking though the bank of a
small canal, and which they divert from the field beyond. A few ditches of this de-
scription compose the whole of the drainage work yet done in Western America. Iºven
here the drainage problem does not appear to threaten the requirement of works any
more expensive than those already in use, and, except in localities as peculiarly situ-
ated as Fresno, it is improbable that any outlay to provide them will be needed, at all
events for many years to come.
CAPILLARY ATTRACTION OF WATER.
For a complete comprehension of these facts, however, it is necessary to read them
by the light of a knowledge of a peculiar property possessed by many soils, and which
forms a most important factor in all calculations as to the limits of irrigation. It has
been ſound by experiment in California that water rises rapidly in coarse, sandy soils,
but only to a moderate height; while in finer soils, whether clayey or of a silty for-
mation, the rise is slower but higher. So that in a few weeks or months, as the case
may be, the water attains twice or thrice the height that it climbs to in the former.
This has been said to be accomplished by means of a “capillary attraction,” in which
heat may, perhaps, be an important agent, seeing that the phenomenon is not ob-
served in Colorado to anything like the same extent as in the California slope, and
presents the result of experiments made upon different soils to test their capacity in
this direction. A consideration of these results points to the Superior value in suit-
able soils of subirrigation, or irrigation by seepage from below, over all methods of
surface application, because it is thus possible to avoid caking the soil and loss by
evaporation.
EXTENSION OF THE IRRIGATING AREA.
Taking together the facts as to seepage of water from rivers or ditches, and those
relating to the rising of water by means of what is callecd capillary attraction, one is
furnished with the key to the gradual diminution of the water necessary for irriga-
tion of the same land, which has been noted in almost every part of the West. In
Colorado alone, in situations like that of Greeley, upon a deep porous soil, with a rapid
fall and quick drainage, as much water is said to be used to-day as in the initiation
of the practice of artificial watering twelve years ago. Everywhere else the verdict
of experience is that the water goes farther every year.
The Yanch-owner, who doubted if his spring or brook would suffice for 20 acres, ex-
tends the area of his cultivation bit by bit until it reaches 80 or 100 acres, and he still
has some to spare. & gº tº gº tº º
Bishop Musser, of Salt Lake, who has made an especial study of irrigation in Utah
and abroad, states that when the city was first founded there was only water enough
from a particular source for 800 or 900 acres, while now the same amount supplies more
than 5,000 acres. In another Mormon settlement, named Bountiful, where at first it was
supposed that only a few families could be placed on account of the smallness of the
stream of water available for irrigation, there are now between 4,000 and 5,000 peo:
ple, all maintained by means of the same supply. The whole of Utah has been peopled
and all its cultivation based upon little driblets of water in this Way. Yet the sandy
aridity, which is absolutely worthless without water, may be soon over-wet, and it is
found that where a piece of ground is fed by good seepage to irrigate it as well kills
the crop. Here, as at Fresno, Riverside, Mussel Slough, and in Tulare County, Cal.,
inaybe seen farms and vineyards up to 160 acres in size irrigated solely by seepage
from ditches which run along the upper edges of their fields. ...,
The distance that water will penetrate, even without any discoverablo dip in the
land, has been partially indicated by experiments in Subirrigation, when the pipes
and orifices, though 50 feet apart, have saturated the whole soil between them. With
p
;
WATER MEASUREMENTS, SERVICE, AND AREAS. 311.
a fall in the country the seepage extends for far greater distances, and, curiously
enough, an instance is reported in the San Joaquin Valley where, upon the construg-
tion of a canal, a well a mile or two on the upper side increased several feet in depth
after the canal had been some time running.
Another most instructive fact is that as the water supplied diminishes the crops tend
to increase. They now raise more grain in Utah with half the water than they did
when they concentrated double the supply upon a smaller area. For the first year
or so of irrigation the soil becomes soppy, but afterwards, while seeming drier, it is not
nearly so thirsty; when it is very shallow flooding ceases and seepage alone is relied
upon. Irrigation is said to close the pores of the soil with an infiltration of rich,
jºble silt, so that it absorbs moré slowly and retains what is absorbed much
onger. 4 } © e
Under good cultivation the soil thus enriched becomes far more fruitful than it orig-
inally was; but too much water makes the land cold, and eventually turns it into a
quagmire. When soakage, as from flooding, is accompanied by soakage upwards by
“capillary attraction,” the consequence in California is the formation of what is
termed “hard-pan,” an impenetrable layer which resists the entrance of roots and
yields them no nourishment. Where this is feared flooding is suspended and the sub-
terranean supply depended upon. Such is the rapidity with which roots push for
water, even where moisture can be found, 15 or 20 feet from the surface, no flooding
is needed after the first year or two. The roots of vines have been known to pene-
trate nearly 30 feet in a little over three years, while even lucerne roots travel 15 or
20 feet downwards to moisture. But the catalogue of facts, proving in a variety of
ways the injurious effects of over-irrigation, and the marvelous results to be accom-
plished in time by small streams of water, might be multiplied indefinitely.
THE DUTY OF WATER AND ITS CONDITIONS.
A preliminary doubt as to water measurements has to be taken into account, for
until recently different standards have been in use; and still there is, even in flour-
ishing districts, the greatest laxity in applying what standards they have. . In Los
Angeles, for instance, the zanjero, or water-master, has relied solely upon his eye to
judge of the stream a farmer was entitled to receive; and though practice Ino doubt
had enabled him to allot something like an equal share to each person concerned, it
is plain that any attempt to define the quantity in recognized measures could only
be an uncertain approximation. In every State the use of water for mining purposes
has preceded or, in the first instance, overshadowed that for irrigation; and, conse-
quently, what estimates have been made in the past have been expressed in “miners'
inches.” This was supposed to define the quantity of water flowing through an
aperture an inch square, but, as in some parts the pressure adopted was that of a
4-inch head, while in other places the head was 6 inches, there was evidently abund-
ant room for variation, even in the determination of the capacity of a single inch.
When, again, a number of inches came to be measured at once it became possible
either to adopt an aperture 1 inch high and the specified nnmber of inches in length,
or to take the square of the whole number of inches as giving the dimensions of the
orifice, in which case, again, there was another great cause of variation. The State
engineer of Colorado has calculated that the miner's inch in that State has been .026
cubic feet, or, roughly speaking, a fortieth of a cubic foot; and this is now generally
adopted as its equivalent, though, as a matter of fact, in more southerly States, where
water has been scarce, the miner's inch has only meant one-fiftieth of a cubic foot.
Taking into account this initial cause of confusion in the measurement of water, we
next find that the quantity of land which any given unit of water will irrigate is gov-
erned, first, by the kind of soil, subsoil, the rain-fall, temperature, and evaporation
of the particular area irrigated, next by the kind of crop grown, and the method of
watering it, as well as by the length of time which that ſand or neighboring land has
been irrigated, and lastly by its position with regard to seepage, and its capacity of
capillary attraction. It is plainly no easy matter, even when all the terms of the
special instance are known, to fix the duty of water under these circumstances. But
in almost every instance the records of American experience are wanting in respect
º one or more particulars, and hence, again, there is only room for the vaguest con-
Clül SlollS.
Instances can be quoted in which a flow of 1 cubic foot per second has supplied
9,000 acres, while in others it only supplies 50 acres. It is vain to attempt to arrive
at accuracy in the face of such extremes as these. The manner in which water is sold
in the States puts another barrier in the way. A water right there does not mean a
Tight to any given quantity of water, but a right to have a stream of a certain capac-
ity turned into the purchaser's lateral for as often and as long as he pleases. Each farmer
accordingly draws upon the Supply just according to his faiicy in each season. As yet,
as there is water in plenty, the Colorado companies do not restrict their customers to
the streamthey have purchased, but give them whateverflow they happen to have. The ,
312 - IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
farmer, for his part, does not measure the quantity he receives nor yet the quantity
which flows away from him, so that on neither side is there any opportunity of obtaining
exactitude as to the quantity actually absorbed by the land. Where measurgments have
taken place, as in southern California, it has usually been at the farmer's receiving
point, from which there is more or less loss, according to the nature of his soil, the
make of his ditch, and the distance to be traveled before the field is reached, which
renders these almost equally unreliable. g
In the face of this array of disturbing causes it is ut erly impossible to do more than
notice a number of rough generalizations, which have some force in special localities.
The more Sandy the soil the more readily it receives and parts with water, while, as
the soil becomes heavier, it absorbs less, and retains it longer; the deeper the soil, the
more Water is required in the first instance, while with a retentive subsoil succeeding
Waterings can be greatly diminished. The heavier the rain-fall the greater the duty
of Water in equal temperatures, and when evaporation comes into play the duty has
to be correspondingly reduced. Where the land is in a position to receive seepage from
higher irrigations, or is so porous as to draw a sufficient supply from its own laterals,
or is so saturated as to need for a time no water even in its canals, which are, per-
haps, as at Fresno, turned into drainage-ditches, the duty, of course, tends to become
nominally enormous. Then, again, small grains as a rule take twice as much water
as corn or potatoes, and many times as much per acre as orchards, which are watered
on an economical method. Even the waterings given to one grain, such as wheat,
Vary according to locality from one to four, oats requiring more and barley a littlé
less. In Riverside the orchards are often only watered once from ſurrows in winter,
and once, twice, or thrice, according to the idea of the owner, in summer. Where
flooding takes thousands of gallons the furrow system only requires hundreds, and sub-
irrigation tens of gallons for a similar area, though, of course, under different crops.
COMPARISONS AND CONFLICTS.
Setting aside the question of the actual quantity of water used or needed for navi-
gation, we find that, even comparing the flow of water allotted to farmers for as long
as they like, there are the widest differences. Taking the flow of one cubic foot to
the second (available during the season for cereals of Colorado, and all the year round
for the orchards of California), without making allowance for differing rain-falls, this
supplies in Colorado 53 acres; Italy, 70.2 acres (Col. Baird Smith); Utah, San Bern-
ardino, Cal., and France, 80 to 100 acres; San Gabriel, Cal., 120 acres; Fresno, Cal.,
160 acres; India, 150 to 200 acres (sira cotton); Los Angeles and Anaheim, Cal.,
rather over 200 acres; Riverside, Cal., nearly 300 acres; Ontario, Redlands, Cal., Al-
geria, and parts of India, 400 acres; Sierra Madre, Cal., 580 acres; Spain, as high as
1,000 acres; Pasadena, Cal., 1,665 acres; and by Subirrigation, according to one or
two experiments, from 1,500 to 9,000 acres.
In Kansas, Arizona, and Mexico the figures given are too conflicting to be quotable.
There are the same contrasts as to the depth of water which should be put upon land.
In Colorado two or three waterings are given of from 3 to 5 inches in depth; in some
parts of southern California waterings of 12 inches in depth have been given, and in
other parts a total sufficient in the year to make a depth of several feet. On the other
hand, there are farmers in these districts who, according to their own testimony, em-
ploy less than half the quantity used by their neighbors, and with equal if not supe-
rior results.
If the Colorado farmer were to use all the water at his disposal, he would cover his
fields nearly 4 feet deep. The practice appears to be, on the average, to use about
one-fourth of this, but there is such a difference in soils that this is but a poor guide.
Where a coarse sandy soil, with porous subsoil, can take 10 feet in the season, a fine
compact alluvial, with clay subsoil, would be injured with 1 foot; hence, 10 acres of
the latter can be irrigated to one of the former by the same quantity of water. A
natural measure of the duty of water in many places may be supplied by the rain-fall
of good harvest years, making allowance for the time of fall. In central California
13 inches during a frostless winter and spring have proved sufficient, and probably if
12 inches could be secured from rain-fall and ditch together during the Spring it would
prove more than ample for flooding cereals.
THE COST OF WATER—TBIE PRICES PAID,
The prices paid for water are so complicated by the conditions under which, it is
sold that it is almost impossible to do more than quote the rates in different localities,
The water itself costs the appropriators nothing beyond the expense of putting it
upon the land, which differs, of course, in every State and every district. This first out-
lay for works furnishes one clue of an uncertain character to the price of water. Where
farmers unite for the purpose of securing a joint supply, they work or pay their share
coST, RENTALS, AND VALUES OF WATER. 313
of the construction, and afterwards their proportion of the sum necessary to keep the
works in repair, so that it is difficult in many instances to determine exactly what their
water costs them. In Colorado it is considered that an irrigable area should be supplied
with an outlay upon main works of £1 or 258. per acre, an estimate which appears to
agree, on the whole, with experience elsewhere. &
Occasionally, as in Kansas, where very large canals run through very favorably sit-
uated country, main works of a temporary character can be built for as low as 108. per
acre, while on the other hand, where special difficulties intervene, as at Salt Lake,
in the price to be paid for easements over private lands one finds the canal costing
508. per acre to build. This is by no means the maximum of first expenditure.
With extra works, such as fluming or tunneling, as in Colorado, or wooden chan-
neling, as in the city ditch at Salt Lake, Utah, or expensive piping, as at Pasadena,
or the Highlands Canal in Los Angeles County, Cal., the cost may rise, as in the last
two instances, to £8 and £10 12s. per acre. Here, of course, the supply is for small
areas under intense culture. The greater the scale of the undertaking the less the
cost per acre.
The 150,000 acres at Bakerfield, Cal., can be watered by one proprietary for 108. 8d.
per acre, whereas, if divided into a number of different schemes, adapted here and
there to the condition of ownership rather than to the natural surface of the land, it
would probably have cost twice as much. Or, take the 76 canal beyond Fresno, Cal.,
which now supplies only 20,000 acres, at a first cost of about 258. per acre; with an
extension of its secondary canals, so as to allow it to supply the 40,000 acres lying
under them, the outlay per acre would be reduced to 208.; while if the complete plan,
which is for the irrigation of 180,000 acres, were carried out, this would be still fur-
ther brought down to 158. per acre. Water, therefore, is dearest where the schemes
are smallest; that is, where the works are relatively most costly.
The same fact is again illustrated by the price asked for water-rights, which are
almost invariably highest in small schemes. Thus, in such “colonies” as Ontario,
Etiwanda, or Pomona, Cal., where land is sold in 10-acre blocks, a water-right costs
from £15 to £20 per acre, while upon 80 acre blocks it can be purchased in Colorado
for £3, in Utah for about 508. and in Kansas for half that sum. Having a water-right,
the farmer is then liable only to a yearly assessment for maintenance. This, on the
other hand, is highest as a rule where the water-right is cheapest, ranging from 88.
per acre in Kansas, and 48. an acre in Utah, to 28. 6d. in Fresno, and 28. in several col-
onies in Los Angeles County.
In Colorado the maximum rate of 68. per acre per annum is rarely charged, the
water-right owners only paying the 6d. or 9d. per acre, which is actually spent on re-
pairs, and the same custom prevails in some parts of Utah; but in both of these in-
stances the schemes are large. *
The prices of water-rights vary from a variety of causes, such as whether the water-
owner has land of his own to sell or not, so that particular instances offer but little
guide to an exact estimate of their value; nor do they furnish any clew to the quan-
tity of water actually sold.
ln Kansas water is paid for according to the acreage of the purchaser, who takes as
much as he likes in return for his yearly rental. This most wasteful of practices was
tried and abandoned in southern California, as it will be abandoned in Kansas when
Water becomes more valuable. Meanwhile its steady increase in price is everywhere
noticeable. Thus, at the foundation of Greeley, Colo., 80 acres with water could be pur-
chased for £60; a few years later the water alone became worth £100; to-day the same
watering right is bring £200, and with the land is worth £600. In all the “colonies”
of California there has been as great a rise in the price of water, though there it is to
be found in almost every instance linked to the land. This puts another difficulty in
the Way of estimating the exact price of water, for though the water is really that for
which the money is paid some deduction has to be made for the area upon which it
is to be utilized. *
Land which in the arid state brings only £1 per acre, is sold at £10 or £15 per acre
When under a ditch, and something like this proportion is maintained even for higher
º: #y lands, which rise from £5 to £40, and from £15 to £100, when artificially
Waltere(i.
When the land and the water-right are sold apart the canal-owner makes two profits,
one in the tripling or quadrupling of the price paid for the land, which is his chief profit,
and the other upon the water-right, the price of which represents his outlay upon works,
with liberal interest added. The first profit, made nominally upon the land, which is
often greater than here stated, is, of course, really another profit upon the water, and as
the cost per acre of the works is, as a rule, less than the cost per acre of the land, the
gain upon the investment in water is much larger than appears. Where there is no sale
of land, that is, where the water has been brought to land already sold, or for sale by
persons other than the canal-owners, the price of the water is much higher, reaching
semetimes as much as 208, or 258; per acre per annum. At Los Angeles, Cal., water is
Sold by what is called a “head,” which under their loose measurement variés from 2
314 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
cubic feet to 4 cubic feet per second, at 88, per day or 68. per night in summer within
the city, twice that price outside of its boundaries, and half the price in winter,
At Orange and its neighboring settlements the price for a flow of about 2 cubic feet
per Second is 108. for twenty-four hours, or Gs, per day and 4s. per night, and in winter
68. for the twenty-four hours. At Riverside the cost is about 78. 6d. per day, or 5s. per
night, for a cubic foot per second, or 128, for the twenty-four hours. These prices, vary-
ing indefinitely as the conditions of sale vary, furnish but an insecure basis for any
generalization.
Possibly a better idea of the importance of water than can be derived from any list
of purchases and rentals in particular places may be obtained by a glance at its capital
value. It has been calculated that the flow of a cubic foot per second ſorthe irrigating
Season of all future years is worth from £15 to £25 per acre in grain or grazing country
to £30 in fruit lands. This is the price paid to apply such a stream to a special piece
of land for as long as the farmer may think necessary, the knowledge that an excess of
Water Will ruin his crops being the only limit. But if a flow of a cubic foot per second
Wore brought in perpetuity without any limit as to the acreage to which it might be
applied, or the time or circumstances of applying it, the capital value of such a stream
in Southern California to-day would be at least £8,000.
PRODUCTS AND THE WATER PRICE.
What price can be paid for water, or land and water together, depends upon the prod-
ucts raised and the price of those products at the bomestead, by taking which as a
guide consideration of complicated questions as to markets and freights may be
avoided. So far as American experience goes there appears to be no limit to the
scope of irrigation, which embraces the fruits and cereals of the temperate zone, as
well as the products that are raised only under a tropical sun. Apples, blackberries,
and barley are irrigated in Colorado or northern California, as are the rice, cotton, and
sugar in the hot lowlands of Mexico. Over a large area of the West it may almost be
said that as nothing can be grown without irrigation anything can be grown by irri-
ation. g
& Wherever water has been plentiful and the ground fairly level it has paid to grow irri-
gated grain. There are thousands of acres in Colorado and Utah which have never
grown any other crop, and are still growing it. The irrigated area under grain in
Mexico is very large and the yield heavy, while it is a moderate estimate that in the
States 5,000,000 bushels of wheat are raised by its means.
It is generally calculated that grain can be grown at a profit under irrigation for 28.
6d. periousfiel , and even where, as in Arizona, the crop has to be teamed 12 or 14 miles
across the desert at a cost of 7d. per bushel to railways, upon which the rating is all
against the local grower, grain is found to pay. Of course the chief prosperity in the
wheat districts was when 4s. and 58. a bushel were regularly realized and a profit of at
least50s. per acre was counted upon. All this has changed since the fall in prices, which
has brought profits down to 208. per acre, with a yield of 25 bushels. Grain pays still,
but very poorly, and even in better times it is generally considered the poorest paying
crop that can be raised. Still it does pay for irrigation, and this is an important fact to
the farmer who can not afford to wait for the higher returns from intense culture. Nor
does grain-growing noticeably impoverish the land where proper precautions are taken
against the washing out of the fertilizing matter in the soil and for the utilization of
any sediment there may be in the irrigating water.
In Utah a rotation of crops is adopted; but in Colorado are to be found instances
where grain has been grown every season for ten or fifteen years without perceptibly
injuring the land. In Arizona and Mexico the native population have raised their
wheat and Indian corn from the same plots for scores, if not for hundreds, of years, and to
them the idea of manuring is quite unknown. Here and there a farmer may be found
who takes the pains to use the droppings of his stock upon his fields, but this is the ex-
ception. As a practice systematic fertilization is unthought of, and sofar no serious
injury appears to have resulted from its neglect where any falling offin yield has been
followed by change of crop. This is of interest as showing at all events that the need
of expensive restoration of the soil is not likely to assert itself in our richer lands until
after some or perhaps many years of irrigation. Neither does the grain itself suffer if
the seed be carefully selected. In southern California irrigated wheat has a slightly
thicker skin, makes more bran, and to the practiced eye is slightly darker in hue than
that from the wet northern region, but it is said even there to be fully equal in quality
to unirrigated wheat, a testimony which was repeated by millers in Mexico, Arizona,
and Colorado. It is not from any such fallacious anticipations that grain-growing by
irrigation is condemned in the States. Though all kinds of grain can be grown well
and at a profit, the growing is considered a mistake, because the profit is too small.
Land and water that will grow grain will yield crops which are much more remuner-
ative. Grain may be taken in rotation with potatoes, which flourish under irriga-
tion in a sandy loam, or with peas or lucern, which act as restoratives to the soil.
pastortAL PURsuits AND IRRIGATION. 315
All kinds of root crops and all kinds of vegetables can be grown, and are grown,
usually at a somewhat higher profit than grain. These again have as a rule a smaller
profit than can be obtained from stock, which, in its turn, yields to the profits
derivable from grapes and fruit.
STOCK-RAISING ON IRRIGATED LAND.
It is a more remunerative occupation to grow beef and mutton or bacon, for which
there is just as steady a demand. Two-thirds of the 50,000 acres irrigated at Phoenix
is under grain, but this little valley also raises its 100,000 hogs. Dairy produce is
successfully raised in northern California by means of irrigation, where, indeed, it is
applied to little else on account of the regular and sufficient rain-fall which can there
be counted upon. Even in Australia many towns owe a considerable proportion of
their vegetable supply to the Chinese irrigator. It would be a mistake to ignore these
minor ways in which irrigation can be very profitably employed, especially in the
neighborhood of centers of population, but it would be an equally great mistake to
Suppose that irrigation is only practiced on this scale. A prevailing misconception
as to irrigation is that it is employed only for small areas under high culture. The
fact that great stock-growers in California, such as Messrs. Haggin & Carr, or
Messrs. Miller & Lux, irrigate thousands of acres for stock purposes appears to be lost
sight of. Much Mexican irrigation is carried on upon the same plan. Where the
great land-owners have their immense estates one can see not hundreds but thou-
sands of acres artificially watered; and where smaller proprietors enjoy a share of the
coveted irrigable area they cultivate so closely to each other's borders that the fence-
less area as far as the eye can reach appears one gigantic irrigated field. The great
valleys of the Ortiz, the Concho, the Florido, and the Nazas, the wide sloping plains
of the Laguna country in the neighborhood of Lerdo, and in the province of Leon,
exhibit the patient industry of the peasants and a marvelous fertility secured by
means of an artificial water supply of the rudest character. On the great cattle and .
sheep ranches of New Mexico the proprietors, some of them Australians, are enlisting
the same invaluable ally in order to protect themselves against the occasional ravages
made in their flocks and herds by bad seasons. It pays as a rule to irrigate natural
grasses, for by this means the carrying capacity of land is increased 33 per cent.
The Chowchilla Canal, in Fresno County, Cal., 30 miles long, 30 feet wide at its
mouth, and 23 feet deep, is used almost solely for this purpose, and there are 20,000
acres of natural-grass land irrigated in one property in Kern County.
THE VALUE OF ALFALFA.
But the mainstay of the American stockfarmer, large and Small, islucern, there styled
alfalfa, which, though unsuccessful in England, is highly prized in France. In every
Western State this is grown to profusion. There are 35,000 acres of it grown by irri-
gation at Bakersfield. In Yolo County, Cal., almost the whole of the 13,000 acres
watered from the Woodland Canalis under lucern; it is to be found upon almost every
colony plot in southern California, and is the surest source of revenue in Utah and New
Mexico. The area planted with this crop is increasing with marvelous rapidity. It is
said to carry 10 sheep or even 20 sheep to the acre if it be cut for them. It is not a new
growth in Victoria, but without irrigation its marvelous qualities have only partially
developed themselves. At Dookie, with only the natural rain-fall, it can be cut but
once a year, yielding about three-quarters of aton to the acre; while at Bacchus Marsh,
with irrigation or water within reach of its roots, it can be cut five or six times, yield.
iº or 8 tons, and lasts fifteen to twenty years.
here are some 300 acres of it in this locality, thriving upon a natural seepage, and
though rather delicate in its earlier stages, owing to the lack of irrigation, when once
firmly rooted it raises the value of the land to from £50 to £75 per acre. It is sown broad-
cast and freely, and with a little wheat, oats, or barley mixed in it; is rarely manured,
though better for an occasional scarifying and top dressing; is never fed down, but cut
early and often, and found to possess splendid fattenimg qualities. Under irrigation
lucern seems to flourish everywhere, particularly in sandy loam and in a warm climate
free from frost, and though the yields given vary they are all great. Three cuttings are
sometimes obtained in the first year, making a total crop of 4 tons to the acre but the
general thing is, as in Utah, to obtain only one crop in this period. After this 6 tons
are expected in the second year, and 8 to 12 tons in the third year. There are poor soils
where it is cut only twice or three times, and other soils on which its quality does not
keep pace with the quantity, but on those that most resemble our own plains the cut-
ting is rarely less than four times, and the yield generally over 10 tons per acre in the
course of the year.
©
316 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
FRUIT-RAISING BY IRRIGATION.
But the products for which irrigation is most necessary, and in which it yields the
largest, are grapes and fruit. The great land-owner in America not only plants his
thousands of acres of lucern and perhaps his ten thousand acres of grain, but, with in-
cessant enterprise, plants his hundreds of acres of vines and fruit-trees. When irriga-
tion is employed, however, the production is almost wholly in the hands of small
proprietors, men often of some education and some capital, who have found an attract-
ive field for the exercise of their intelligence in bringing small allotments into a
condition of the highest productiveness, Judging by the results obtained in southern
California, to which this class of cultivation is as yet chiefly confined, it has not
proved an unprofitable speculation. It is safe to predict that in a short time grain-
growing will be given up on all small areas of irrigation and that a commencement
will have been made upon the larger tracts to follow the same example. It pays
better to grow fresh vegetables for towns or can them for export, or to establish
chicken farms or bee ranches than to raise grain for export. Already in northern
California, the great farms, so famous a few years ago for their yields and extent, are
being cut up into vineyards and orchards, and where along the old mining ditches
any vintage ground can be secured it is being put to the same uses.
Twenty acres under vines or fruit-trees are preferred to 160 acres under grain. There
is more regular employment and more regular leisure, with less stress at a particular
season for adult male labor. An acre in raisins was reckoned as valuable as 5 acres
of wheat, when the price of wheat was nearly twice what it is now.
The fruits grown are oranges, lemons, limes, apricots, pears, figs, peaches, pome-
granates, nectarines, apples, plums, quinces, cherries, olives, almonds, walnuts, and
chestnuts. From some of these two crops a year are obtained, but of course none of
them bear for some time after planting. This is not all lost time to the American
farmer, who grows great crops of vegetables between his fruit trees until they are
ready for bearing. The period during which no return is expected, even under irri-
gation, is considerable; as, for instance, it is for peaches, apricots, almonds, and
vines, four years; for oranges, ten years from the seed, five years from the bud;
olives, from seven to ten years, unless the Spanish practice of planting branches is
followed, in which case it takes only two years; and walnuts seven years. When
the profits do come, however, they are proportionately large.
Nearly 50 per cent. of the fruit grown in California is canned, but only 5 per cent.
is dried. The production is increasing enormously every year. Vineyards are utilized
not only for the supply of grapes but of raisins and wine; and there is no branch of
production into which capitalists and small farmers are now entering upon a greater
scale or with more confidence than wine-growing. The clearest heads in California
consider the overproduction of wines or raisins an impossibility, and experience is
teaching them that at existing prices the investment is remunerative, although wine-
making is developed in the face of a prejudice quite as unreasoning as that which has
till lately faced colonial vintages. For other fruits, though drying is occasionally
adopted, the chief reliance is upon the canning process practiced in every fruit-grow-
ing center. The taste for fruit, whether fresh, dried, or canned, is one that appears
to grow by what it feeds on, for the demand in America seems to increase almost as
fast as production. The markets of the East are, of course, open to the irrigating
West, but rates of transports are relatively high, and cempetion from the West Indies
and the Mediterranean is keen, so that it can scarcely be said to be a home market
in the ordinary sense of the term.
The injurious effects of overifrigation are just as potent in fruit-growing as in every
other crop. It is claimed on the authority of a commission of experts, appointed by
the French Government to inquire into the remedies for phylloxera, that regular fur-
row irrigation in summer keeps the disease in check, but it has been proven in Fresno
that an excess of water injures both the wine and raisin qualities of the grape. There
is a special disease to which orange trees are subject which strips the tree of its
leaves, prevents the fruit from coming to maturity, and finally kills the tree, which
& jº committee of the Southern California Horticultural Society, after an ex-
haustive inquiry, has declared to be wholly due to overirrigation and deficient culti-
vation. The citrus family can endure more water than any other class of fruit-tree,
but it is clear that the limit of the water consumption of any of them is soon reached,
and that to go beyond it is injurious if not fatal.
PROSPECTS OF IRRIGATION IN AMERICA.
We have now taken a rapid glance at the products of 2,500,000 acres of Western Amer-
ica, watered by 12,000 miles of main canals and 120,000 miles of subsidiary ditches, at
an expense of many hundreds of millions of dollars. The estimates of the value of the
yield from irrigated vineyards and orchards are not official, but those engaged in sup-
plying the markets put the production of California vineyards this year at £1,000,000
and of the orangeries and orchards of the same State at half as much again.
/
RECLAMATION HEALTHY AND PROFITABLE. 317
A good deal of fruit is grown for home consumption in neighboring irrigating States,
but prohibitive railway rates have prevented the full expansion of this and other
classes of production. Utah and Colorado, entirely dependent upon irrigation, draw
their revenue from other classes of products—the latter, in 1883, raising in Value
21,100,000 of grain and root crops, the former £700,000. To assess the total value of
the products raised by means of irrigation, many of which could not be raised with:
out it, would be no easy undertaking; but it is quite clear from the statistics that it
must be expressed in millions sterling. Adding the enhanced stock-bearing capacity
of the country, and the value of industries not directly productive, which are de;
pendent upon the irrigating settlements, would make up a grand total that would
probably surprise the Americans themselves. There is no reason to suppose that the
iist of products capable of being profitably grown under irrigation is yet exhausted.
Experiments are continually being made with fresh crops, and the result is generally
favorable where climate and soil conditions are studied. Great as the produce of the
artificially-watered West now is, the prospects are that it will become very much
greater; and the opinion of those qualified to form a judgment is that irrigation,
marked as have been its successes, is yet in its infancy, and has given no more than
a promise of what it is destined to achieve.
HEALTHFULNESS OF IRRIGATED LANDS.
There are irrigated lands in which health seems entirely unaffected; there are others
where the influence of malaria is but too patent, and the task is to discriminate between
them. The river bottoms, as they are termed, flats, but little raised above the level of
streams, are, throughout the southern parts of the United States, recognized as
malarious whether irrigation is practiced or not. Fever, ague, and chills are preva-
lent in such localities in Missouri, in Louisiana, as in the southwestern area. From
their position these lands are easily irrigable, and hence settlers are tempted upon
them and become subject to the same complaints. Whether irrigation, as is probable,
increases the danger in such spots is not known, but in places similarly situated,
though not malarious previous to irrigation, it seems that the practice has acted
injuriously. Where the soil is saturated and artificial morasses are formed, as at
Fresno, fever is naturally found in the immediate neighborhood. Along the lower
lines of this district the miasma rises to a height of 10 feet, and here, as in the coun-
ties further south, the sleeping-rooms are always placed in a second story in conse-
quence. Much of this region was malarious before irrigation was practiced, and in
parts the formation of channels is said to have actually reduced the danger. This,
however, in such circumstances, can only be entirely removed by complete drainage.
Much importance is attached to the source of the water drank, and wells are sunk to
great depths so as to avoid all seepage and secure a pure supply.
On the bench or mesa lands of California or Kansas, in those of Colorado, with
their rapid matural drainage, or in the porous lands of Arizona and New Mexico, ma-
laria is as yet unknown ; nor does there seem much prospect of its appearing. It is
feared only in lands naturally swampy, or readily made so. It is not regarded as a
fatal complaint, though the repeated attacks to which its victims are subject neces-
sarily have a permanently weakening and depressing effect. There are many who
seem to escape even in these localities, but there are others whose sallow and sickly
looks only too plainly indicate the presence of malaria.
TONITY OF LAND AND WATER.
Another matter arising out of American experiences which it is desirable to notice is
the relation between the ownership of land and that of water. Where a farmer has his
own canal to his own land no question arises. Where a number of farmers excavate a
ditch and parcel the water out between them, the only question is as to whether the
water used by each can be applied where he pleases, or whetherit must be applied to
particular acres specified in the contract. If he can sell his water to another or turn it
upon new land, the business of the company becomes more complicated and the value
of the lands first irrigated is not so well maintained. If, however, as is often the case
the farmers have been unable to make the ditch without assistance and have called in à
capitalist to join them, he frequently arranges to take up a certain amount of unoccu-
pied land which can be served by the canal and from the sale of which he looks to derive
a considerable share of his profit. To prevent competition, therefore, he generally stip-
ulates that the water rights which the farmers receive in return for their investment of
labor or capital shall attach to their particular acreage and can not be transferred to any
other land. By this means he secures for himself the market for allirrigated land out-
side of these acreages. When he sells what land can be irrigated by his share of the
water his interest in the canal determines, and the works become the property of
those who own the various ear-marked acreages which it is confined to supplying
unless by common sensent the proprietors then decree otherwise. P
318 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Capitalists often construct canals into unoccupied country as a speculation, and sell
so much land with a right to so much water attached until rights covering the whole
flow of the canal are parted with, and the new owners of the land become joint plo-
prietors of the work which feeds it. In this way land and water are bought and sold
together, the area of the land being measured by the quantity of water; for in the
West all value may be said to inhere in the water. Land is plentiful and almost
worthless. The owner of the water really owns the land, for it is useless without
his supply. The quantity of available water, and not the area of a territory, defines
its agricultural extent ; consequently where capitalists have built canals to lands
which they do not own and have secured the water they have really acquired the
land too. They have the farmers absolutely at , their mercy, and enjoy a monopoly
of a most arbitrary kind. A land-owner who obtains a water-right can carry a
stream to his own property at a distance through land as good as his which never
can be cultivated except with his consent, and which will fetch only one-tenth of
what his irrigated land will fetch, though the two are only divided by a fence.
A recognition of the danger of allowing water to be monopolized without regard to
the land has led a commission appointed to inquire into Californian irrigation to de-
clare that, “as a matter of public policy it is desirable that the land and water be
joined never to be cut asunder; that the farmers would enjoy in perpetuity the use
of the water necessary for the irrigation of their respective lands; that when the
land is sold the right to water shall also be sold with it, and that neither shall be
sold separately.” Major Powell, in his careful draft of a land system adapted to the
arid region, most emphatically recommends that “The right to use water should in-
here in the land to be irrigated, and water-rights should go with land titles.” In
Colorado the feeling has gone so far that a proposal has been made in the legislature
to compel all canal owners to supply any persons with water which they are not
themselves using, at fixed rates; but as this would simply mean transferring to land
owners who had invested nothing in canals part of the profit to be made by those
who had so invested, the proposal was not entertained. Indeed, where the companies,
as at Denver, sell the water-right with the land, and then contract to maintain a
water supply in perpetuity for a fixed sum per annum, the System is unobjectionable,
providing that, as in these cases, the water-right has been properly obtained,
In Colorado and Utah, Inotwithstanding their peculiar situation, the water is given
to the first applicant, though he has to purchase the land to use it upon, which with-
out the water would be worthless. It would have been more economical and more
simple to have sold the water and given the land. Be this as it may it is essential
that they should always go together. The practice of tying water-rights to the land
has another argument besides that of avoiding monopoly, and this is that it tends to
a more careful use of the water by its concentration upon a smaller area.
THE COLONY SYSTREM
At first, as at Greeley, colonies were established upon something of a communal
basis beyond the joint ownership of water-works, but this is now very rare. It is still
frequently the case to find them organized upon a temperance basis, or by the union of
those of the same nationality, as in the Scandinavian and German colonies. The joint
interest in the sources of their irrigation supply remain, but all other kind of commu-
nity has disappeared. Under the most ſavorable plan a piece of irrigable land is
marked out into small holdings; either the land owner or a company construct works
to supply these with water, and the lots are then sold to any purchaser with water-
rights attached. By liberal advertising and easy terms of sale new centers of popu-
lation and production are created in this way in a very short time, so that the barren
plain in the course of a few years becomes dotted over with these oases until one
joins another, and at last they inclose and support a thriving and well-built city,
such as Fresno is to-day. Altogether there are some fifty of these colonies in Califor-
nia, some of them planned upon a large scale, such as Riverside, and containing
their township within themselves. It becomes the interest of the original owners
to make the advantages which their lands offer widely known, and, consequently,
they turn themselves into emigration agents of the most emergetic kind. The East-
ern States are deluged with pamphlets; even the Old World is reached by means of
the printing-office and by correspondence through the relations of those already set-
tled. The aim is to make the place attractive, and no expense is spared to insure
success. In one such enterprise at Ontario the proprietors have laid out nearly
£100,000 upon 8,000 acres of land, bought at 288 per acre; of this sum about £10,000
was spent upon head-works for the water supply, which is conducted in 26% miles
of cement pipes to the corner of each 10-acre allotment, and in 33 miles of iron pipes
to the township for domestic purposes, at a cost of over £10,000. More than £20,000
in land was given to establish an agricultural college now built in the center of the
settlement, nearly £4,000 spent in planting trees and making streets, and £700 in
securing a railway station. There is a double avenue running through the colony 7
SMALL HOLDINGS RULE IN IRRIGATION. 319.
miles ſong in a straight line and 200 feet wide, planted with eucalyptus trees, and
intended to contain a cable tramway, and from the masts of which will be suspended
electric lights, run by hydraulic power. Over £7,000 was spent in advertising this
colony, and the result is confidently awaited. Many persons, weary of city life, are
drawn from the New England States, while numbers are attracted from the Old
World by the inducements held out to them. t -
The colony enterprise has many advantages for those who engage in it. To join
in it does not imply so great a trial as that of facing the wilderness with no neighbor
less than miles away. It permits of society, of the establishment of schools, churches,
and libraries, and the enjoyment of comforts which can not be secured in isolation,
It furnishes, in fine, a frame-work for commercial organization an il the beginning of
local government. It appeals, too, to a larger class than that usually drawn to
agriculture. The physical labor required is not so severe; there is more scope for
intelligence, and if offers Temunerative employment for a small capital.
SMALL HOLDINGS UNIDER INTENSE culturE.
This is due not to the colony organization, but to the fact that by means of irrigation
small holdings under intense culture are proved to be profitable. The land and water
which will produce 25 to 35 bushels of wheat at 28.6d. per bushel will produce, under
fruit trees, a crop worth twenty or thirty times as much. One-twentieth or one-thir-
tieth of the area under fruit instead of grain will yield as great a return and a larger
percentage of profit. It has been found in parts of Europe where the water is the prop-
erty of one owner and the land of many others that the tendency of irrigation is to es-
tablish a monopoly in land. This is the case whenever the water is not attached to the
land, and owing to a defective code lawsuits are frequent. But where water is attached
to land and rights are indisputable there is exactly the opposite tendency—to cut up
the land into Small farms. It needs both men and money to prepare and plant 20 acres
of fruit trees at once. It is as much as a hard-working man can do to attend to 20 acres
of oranges or 25 acres of vines himself; and then he needs light assistance in the pick-
ing season. It is calculated that he can by frugality maintain himself and family
upon half as much. Hence in the colonies 40 acres is a large estate; it requires hired
labor and yields a considerable revenue. -
Whether colony life yields large profits or not, the visible evidences are all of pros-
perity. The little loldings are neatly tilled, with an air of perfect security, owing
to their being often unfenced or fenced only by a row of trees; the houses are neat,
well finished, well furnished, and of some architectural pretensions; the people are
comfortably dressed and well nourished, and their cattle in capital, condition.
Many of them brought their savings with them, and they are apparently content
with their investment. The poorest places in these colonies have a far greater
air of comfort than grain farms of 200 or 300 acres in extent. Whole colonies
have been settled direct from Europe by a peasantry trained to the most frugal and
industrious habits, and with these success is immediate. The much more extrava-
gant American has a harder time of it if he starts upon his 10 acres with less than
#500, as he must maintain himself by laboring for others the greater part of his first
three or four years. Still there are numbers who enter upon their little plots with-
out even the money to pay for them or build a house or buy their tools. Many of
these are dependent upon advances from the land companies, and, though interest
is charged, the general result is that in a few years the hardy colonist has his home-
stead clear and a profit from it which in a few years more suffices to maintain him
and employ him always upon his own land. Ten-acre blocks are gaining in favor in
some districts, and nowhere can one observe deserted colonies, or parts of a colony,
which show signs of the total failure of effort.
WHAT IIAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED UPON SMALL HOLDINGS.
The success of Small settlements in Utah is evidence of what can be accomplished in
the face of the greatest difficulties. The tide of immigration constantly pouring into
Salt Lake City consists of families often entirely destitute, and who have, as a rule, to
become indebted to the Church for their start. They have nothing but small plots of
bare land, barren by nature, and are obliged from the very start to yield tithes yearly
of all they produce; to give their labor to make the ditch which brings them water, and
buy back their debts to the Church with interest. Yet these peasants are enabled to
makes homes for themselves which, though plain, are not uncomfortable, and to steadily
improve their credit, though trading at the store established in the Church interest,
which is not obliged to offer the lowest prices.
With these lessons in the value of intense culture it is not surprising that the most
intelligent and most enterprising irrigators desert grain-growing for either stock-
raising or fruit-growing as quickly as possible, nor §: the newspapers and author.
320 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
ities of Weight are persistently bringing before the eyes of others the relatively un-
profitable character of wheat-growing, and urging them to attempt higher culture,
for its increase means the increase of population and of natural wealth. Railway
accountants in California calculate that an acre in vines gives as much freight as 9
acres of grain. A 640-acre grain farm can be managed by a farmer with two grown-
up Sons, except in harvest time, and at all other seasons the broad, bare fields and
rude homestead are not indicative of permanent improvements. .
On the Barton vineyard at Fresno, which has 540 acres under vines, thirty men are
employed all the year round, without pickers. The winery, which is to receive the
600,000 gallons upon which the proprietor calculates, is a great buildin g, 330 feet long
by 96 feet wide, besides which there is a distillery and office in addition to the usual
farm buildings surrounding a handsome residence and garden. The capitalinvested
is £60,000, and the amount spent annually upon the 330,000 vines nearly £5,000.
Thus under intense culture the same area as the grain farm is made to produce a
hundred-fold. With 640 acres under grain a farmer's position is precarious without
irrigation and but poorly profitable with it. Under fruit or vines it is a great estate
and its owner a wealthy man. The Barton vines are used to produce wine, while on
Small holdings they are usually employed to make raisins. It is calculated that the
value of the products of Riverside will in the course of a few years be £200,000 per
annum, and, though the oldest, it is not the best managed colony in California.
IN THE NILE WALLEY.
[This description of Egyptian irrigration is summarized in the main
from a report made to the colonial government of Victoria, Australia,
in 1887, by the Hon. Alfred Deakin.]
The cultivated area of Egypt is comprised within the Valley of the
Nile and its Delta, and are the entire creation of that river, built up
by its deposits during many cycles of time. “Aristotle plainly affirm-
eth the region of Egypt (which we esteem the ancientest nation of the
World) was a mere gained ground, and that by the settling of mud and
limous matter brought down by the river Nilus, that which was at first
a continued sea was raised at last into a firm and habitable country.”
Outside of the valley stretches the veritable Sahara, with but here and
there, amidst its endless desolation, the relief of a cluster of palms
and perhaps a little pasture. Even these oases are fed by subter-
ranean channels supplied from the same source, and their extent
altogether is comparatively insignificant. The Egypt of the past was
five times as large as the Egypt of the present, but both have been
virtually defined by the limits of the river's overflow, which has greatly
contracted since a natural dam, whose site is now marked by the first
cataract, was swept away. Political Egypt is two-thirds as large as
Itussia, the largest territory in Europe, but peopled and productive
Egypt is only the size of its smallest territory, Belgium, and, so de-
fined, is the narrowest country in the world. It consists of the Valley
of the Nile, 550 miles long, and varying in width from 14 to 32 miles,
but with an arable breadth nowhere exceeding 9 miles, until it reaches
the Delta at Cairo, from whence it expands in fan-shape to a width of
160 miles at the Mediterranean. The depth of the soil of the Delta,
which has all been deposited by the river, commencing sometimes
below the level of the sea, averages 33 to 38 feet, with a maximum of
50 feet near Kalvåb. It is estimated to be increasing in width and
depth of deposit per century average between 4 and 5 inches.
There are some springs of considerable flow, and a few lakes still used
for storage, but the Nile itself is practically the soke source of the
water supply. According to the estimate of M. Linant—which is .
probably too high—the discharge at the mouth averages 3,500,000
of cubic feet per minute at Low Nile, and 17,500,000 of cubic
* Sir Thomas Browne’s “Rendodoxia Epidemica.”
THE LIMITS OF AN UNREGULATED NILE. 321
feet at High Nile. The current at Low Nile averages 2 miles, and
at High Nile 3 miles an hour. A further approximate estimate
is that one-third of the river overflows at High Nile. This
is utilized in two ways. In Upper Egypt, except under the Ibrahimieh
Canal, the primitive system is still pursued. The country is divided
by embankments into a succession of great basins from 8,000 to 40,000
acres in extent. Sir Colin Moncrief says (1884):
As the Nile rises in August, these basins fill to a depth of several feet. The water
lies in them till October, depositing its fertilizing mud. It is then drawn off, the
land is plowed and sown, and a crop of wheat or beans obtained the following
March or April. This system allows of only one crop a year, and valuable sub-trop-
ical plants like sugar-cane and cotton can not be grown.
But in Lower Egypt, and in the lands under the Ibrahimieh Canal in
Upper Egypt, where the old system has been supplemented by the
modern ones of weirs, reservoirs, and permanently-flowing canals, the
supply flows throughout the year, to permit of the cultivation of rice,
sugar-cane, and cotton. The lands of Lower Egypt are, therefore, per-
petually under cultivation, and there is no time to flood the fallow fields
in the manner practiced in Upper Egypt. In the Delta there are three
seasons of four months each : Summer, from April to July, when the
estimated discharge of the river ranges from 720,000 to 1,500,000 cubic
feet per minute; the flood season, from August to November, with a
discharge of from 11,220,000 to 23,160,000 cubic feet per minute; and
winter, with a discharge of 1,500,000 to 3,300,000 cubic feet per
minute. Each of these Seasons has its crops and appropriate methods
of cultivation. Yet the Nile is somewhat capricious in its gifts,
and does not bestow them with that scientific precision required to
permit of permanent irrigation in all seasons of all years. In Lower
Egypt it is for three months too high, and for nine months too low. A
project has been broached by which the Wadi Rajan, suspected of being
the site of the Lake Moeris, which, according to Herodotus, Strabo, and
Diodorus, added so immensely to the prosperity of ancient Egypt,
should be converted into a reservoir half as large again as the Lake of
Geneva, covering nearly 400 Square miles, and containing more than
1,000,000,000,000 cubic feet. Until this stupendous work be under-
taken, says Cope Whitehouse, Egypt must continue to depend upon an
unregulated Nile, and can not hope to materially enlarge its irrigated
3.T63.
There are altogether about 6,000,000 acres under cultivation, that is,
under irrigation, for in Egypt the words are synonymous. The Delta.
contains 5,000,000 acres commanded by works, of which about 2,625,000
are actually irrigated, and 840,000 acres more are fit for irrigation,
while the balance consists of morass and desert which could only
be watered advantageously after considerable expenditure. As
during the inundation the water is above the level of the culti-
wated land, irrigation is rendered easy. The perennial canals,
which are employed at Low Nile as well, are of varying size and
depth, the larger carrying 3 feet deep of water in summer, and 20
feet in flood Season. They leave the river at from 3 to 5 feet below
mean low-Water level, and, in the upper valley, at about 28 feet below
ground level, gradually decreasing in depth until they run out on the
surface. In 1873 there were 1,917 miles of navigable, and 6,583 miles
of unnavigable canals. Some of the former are of considerable size, the
Ibrahimieh, for instance, being 93 miles in length, with a width at
ground-level of 230 feet for the first 38 miles, and of ió1 feet afterwards,
giving a net discharge of about 16,380 cubic feet per minute in summer,
138 A L–AP WOL IV—21
322 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
and of 70,140 cubic feet per minute for 100 days in time of flood. The
Nahran Canal is 167 miles, and the Yusufi overflow channel 166 miles
in length. Most of the workfs were built under Mehemet Ali, by the
forced labor of the Fellāhin, and consequently their true cost can not
be determined. The annual state outlay upon their maintenance
amounts to about 2 shillings an acre commanded. There is, in addi-
tion to this, the corvée, or compulsory labor, required from the villagers,
which was equivalent in 1884 to an army of 165,000 men working for
100 days, and in 1885 to an army of 117,700 men working for an equal
period. This practice is being gradually abolished.
The wator is diverted from perennial canals by permanent or tem-
porary dams through simple cuts in the bank. The former are
composed of masonry piers 8 feet thick, with openings 15 feet
wide, closed by timber beams set vertically, supported by the
masonry in the bed of the canal, and above by a cross-beam placed
from pier to pier. They are often surmounted by arches, thus forming a
bridge on the same structure. When the watering is over the beams
are lifted, and the stream passes on to the next dam. The temporary
work is of earth, occasionally a little strengthened with piles. There is
a little furrow irrigation in orchards and gardens, such as those of the
Khedive, at Gezireh, where, by simply fitting a ſlower-pot laid upon its
side with its mouth up-stream into little channels, the flow was delayed
so as to permit of sufficient soakage into the soil to supply the trees,
while the surplus water passed through the small aperture at the bot-
tom until stopped by another flower-pot. But, as a rule, all Watering
is managed by submersion, the fields being readily divided into plots,
by ridges made of Nile mud. The duty of water is estimated in the
roughest way. Rice requires a constant stream and much manure; cot-
ton and sugar are watered every two or three weeks; the first needing
a small, but the second a liberal allowance in each watering. The
Quantity of water said to be employed for such crops from perennial
canals in the Delta is uncertain, but appears to supply from 1% acres
to 24 acres per cubic foot per minute. With beans, lentils, and maize
a considerably higher duty is obtained. Under the inundation system
the one watering given appears to show a minimum of 6 cubic feet
per minute to the acre; but this varies greatly in different districts.
Cereals are grown chiefly in Upper Egypt, under the primitive system,
being sown in the ground after its inundation, without plowing, and
not needing to be irrigated. A considerable area is under pasture,
each group of cultivators having its small patch, upon which their sheep,
or usually tethered camels, asses, and buffaloes are fed; but much green
stuff is cut, always by hand, either for transport to the cities or for
feeding cattle. The canals are greatly used for carrying produce to
market or to the railway. But even the great advantages they offer
for this purpose have been hitherto but imperfectly enjoyed, owing to
the numerous illegal obstructions placed upon them, and unjust exact-
ions in the shape of tolls.
The great natural advantages of the country have their compensat-
ing disadvantages. The land near the river banks is about 17 feet
above its low-water level. The fall is very regular, and is reckoned at
5 inches to the mile along the river, and about the same away from it.
This renders the excavation of canals easy, as in Our northern plains,
but makes continuous cleansing necessary and drainage difficult, and
causes loss from soakage along the ditches. In Summer the regulators
upon them are closed, and they become storages. The Nile Water,
richly laden with fertilizing materials, deposits it in the channel as well
NILE DRAINAGE AND CONTROL WORKS. 323
as in the fields, sometimes, when they have been dammed to a depth of
8 feet. The dredging of the Ibrahimieh Canal costs over $200,000 a.
year, and on the other canals it is reckoned to occupy 60,000 men for five
months in the year. The annual state outlay upon the canals is $3,000,-
000, a large portion of which is spent in cleansing them. Mr. L. D’A.
Jackson, civil engineer (Hydraulic Works, 1885), calculates that the work
required to be done each year by private proprietors and by the State
is equivalent to the removal of 500,000,000 cubic feet of silt a distance
of 200 feet, and to a height of 40 feet, at an expense of $2,500,000 for
the perrennial canals of Lower Egypt alone. In 1884, $290,000, and in
1885, $305,000, was spent in works of protection against the Nile, which
is embanked for many miles by dikes of great antiquity. The drainage
difficulty is even more serious, and by the neglect of proper provisions
for the removal of the surplus Waters large tracts of land have been
soured or water-logged. The subterranean up-flow has to be provided
against as much as floods upon the surface. Indeed, it is water rising
through the soil that brings to the surface the salts which do the chief
damage. There are very few proper locks or sluices, and constant satu-
ration sometimes causes seed to rot in the Soil. Under present con-
trol these dangers are being faced; old drainage canals are being
straightened and cleared of obstructions; improper levels rectified, and
new arterial drains, 20 and 30 miles long, projected. The evil is prob-
ably aggravated by extravagance in the use of water. The soil has,
in places, those signs which, in America, would be considered distinct
evidences of over-watering.
The use of manure has grown, and is growing, since the perennial
canals do not carry the sediment which, coming down in the annual in-
undations, had hitherto acted as a fertilizer. Crops, such as cotton and
sugar, have already threatened to seriously impoverish the soil unless
systematic fertilization is resorted to. Owing to the common use of
cattle-droppings for fuel, it is only pigeon dung that is generally em.
ployed, and, of course, in but very limited quantities, though great
numbers of them are reared in every homestead for this purpose, and
large quantities are brought from Upper Egypt every year. A great
deal of fertilizing earth has been obtained from the ruins of ancient
villages, once built of unbaked clay, but this requires to be used with
care and discrimination on account of its Varying elements. It is some-
thing, however, to find the value of manure acknowledged by those
who use the rich waters of the Nile.
Fearing the failure of the immense masonry barrage which crosses
both branches of the Nile a short distance below Cairo at the head of
the Delta, upon which the supply of water to the perennial canals
largely depends, the government, in 1885, made an agreement with the
Irrigation Society of Behera, by which it undertook to pay $210,000 a
year for thirty years for a supply up to a certain level, with a maximum
of about 156,250 cubic feet per minute at Low Nile, lifted by two pow-
erful sets of steam pumps into the Western Canal or Rayah Behera.
The weir has since been rendered secure, but the agreement indicates
the value of water and the difficulty of obtaining it, even in parts of
Egypt. Owing to the defective alignment of some of the silting up of
other canals, the task of raising the Water a second time from the chan-
nels to the fields has been cast upon a large, if not the largest, body of
the cultivators. In 1864, according to Figari Bey, the number of säki-
yehs, or wooden water-wheels, used in Central and Lower Egypt was
about 50,000, turned by 200,000 oxen, and managed by 100,000 persons,
who watered 4,500,000 acres. The water-wheels are of several varieties,
324. IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
costing, on the average with the well, $150 each, that most in use suf.
ficing for 5 acres, or 10 acres if worked day and night, and employing
three bullocks and two men on each shift. In the estimate of Figari
Bey some steam pumps were probably overlooked, for, twenty years
later, there were 2,000 of these at work in Lower Egypt, with coal rang-
ing from $10 to $20 per ton. It can now be bought in Alexandria for
$5 per ton. The cost of steam pumping is about $1.50, but the price at
which it can be hired varies from $2 up to $5 per acre. If paid in kind,
the charge is one-fifth of a cotton, and one-quarter of a rice crop, as the
latter requires more water. A 10-horse power engine gives an ample
supply for 100 acres during the season. There are also “shadoofs'
(Egyptian water-lifters, or swing buckets) innumerable in constant em-
ploy, which require six men to keep watered 1 acre of cotton or sugar-
cane, or 2 of barley.
Over 1,000,000 acres of the irrigated land belongs to the State, the
Fellâhim upon them being its tenants, with a life interest and a title to
their improvements; half as much is included in great estates, while
the balance is in the hands of small proprietors. Omdehs, or notables,
and sheiks, who control the village communes, often own estates of
1,000 or even 2,000 acres, but the holdings of the great majority of
their constituents, who are working proprietors, are very small. The
Crown tenants, of course, pay rent, but all pay a “land tax” of from
$1 to $8 per acre, which might be more properly named a water rent,
as no tax is levied if no water is given. It is clear that, if in addition
to the taxes there is the cost of pumping and four months’ labor taken
by the corvée, the produce must be great to yield any profit to the cul-
tivator. The cost of the crop, including taxes and pumping, averages
$25 per acre. The value of land averages $60 per acre in Upper Egypt,
and from $100 to $125 in Lower Egypt, but it not infrequently reaches
$100 in the one and $300 to $350 in the other. Its variation may be
judged from the fact that rents run from 50 cents to $50 per acre.
Labor, of course, is plentiful and cheap—wages averaging from ten to
fourteen cents per day—but on the other hand the agricultural imple-
ments employed are of the most primitive character; the plow used is
made on the same model as is delineated upon monuments thousands of
years old, and the Nile mud, though freely and easily worked after the
subsidence of the water, requires constant attention throughout the
W628, I’.
y The principal products are cotton, wheat, barley, beans, maize, sugar-
cane, rice, and clover. In the Delta, those grown in Summer are cotton,
rice, sugar-cane, melons, cucumbers and clover. During the floods the
maize, cotton, rice, and sugar-cane are cultivated. The winter crops are
wheat, beans, barley, and clover. The common rotation is a first year of
cotton and clover, a second year of maize, wheat, and clover, and a third
year of maize, beans, and clover. Cotton is too exhausting to the
soil to be grown every year. It could be grown every second year if
the water supply were larger, but the present practice is to grow it
every third year only, or, what is the same thing, not more than one
third of a farm is put under this crop in each year. It is by far the
most profitable product in Egypt, an acre being worth from $75 to
$125, as against $35 for rice, $25 for wheat, and $20 per acre for fod-
der, beans, maize, or lentils. In Upper Egypt, Wheat, flax, and beans
are chiefly sown, while by the use of sākiyehs and Shaddoſs, millet,
cucumbers, and melons are grown in summer. The food of the coun-
try, which is grown by irrigation, of course does not appear in this re-
turn. Some fruit is grown, a great deal of forage, and a great variety
of vegetables. *
PRODUCTION AND THE CROP AREAS. 325:
Trees are comparatively rare in the Delta; but larger estates are
sometimes planted with figs, mulberries, acacias, and Sycamores, while
the growth of other varieties, notably of the weeping willow, myrtle,
elm, and cypress, are now being encouraged. Numbers of date palms
are grown upon its borders. Large estates are reckoned to return a
profit to their landlords, taking one year with another, of $25 per acre;
those of moderate size, also with hired labor, $22.50 per acre, while the
fellāhin, in their own plots and with their own family labor, gain as
much as $32.50 per acre, irrigation here, as in France and Spain, favor.
ing the small proprietors. The immense Khedivial plantations farmed
by the State with most expensive machinery gave a profit of only $6.25
per acre. Since they have been let to private proprietors they have
returned a rent of $7.50 per acre.
It should be noted that under despotic government and with the
state undertaking the chief irrigation works the local communes are
intrusted with the retailing of water. Where the state has attempted
to irrigate on public estates it has only achieved a miserable failure,
Beyond this the lessons of Egyptian experience, though somewhat
vague in detail, point clearly enough to the importance of the questions
of silt, drainage, and fertilization, as presenting the most important of
the difficulties to be surmounted.
A French estimate of the total population in 1800 was 2,000,000; it
is now nearly 7,000,000. The country, however, practically depends
for its resources upon the fellāhin, who are less than a third of this
number. Upon them and their labors rest the whole superstructure
of Egyptian society. The population of 5,000,000, and a national debt
of $515,000,000—all are supported by the fruits of irrigation and the
industry of 2,000,000 irrigators.
The total area of Egypt (land and water) is about 8,000,000 feddans,
or 8,240,000 acres (1 feddan = 1.03 acres). Of this, 4,963,460 feddans,
or 5,112,364 acres. Agricultural population forms 61 per cent. of the
total. Total population, 6,817,265. There is an annual increase of
population of 1.25 per cent.

No. of farm
No. of animals for
villages. every 103
3.CI'êS.
Population.
Lower Egypt.---------------------------------------------------- 3,965, 664 2, 359 17
Upper Egypt.----------------------------------------------------. 2,776,982 1,420 13
The crops of Egypt, wholly the result of irrigation in 1888, were:
Acres.
Wheat ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1,237,260
Maize and duri'ah------------------------------------------------------- 709, 180
Clover------------------------------------------------------------------ 1,236,515
Cotton ----------------------------------------------------------------- 994,743
Peans ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1,051,875
Barley.-------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 601,784
Lentils ----------------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 113,489
*-------------------------------------------------------------------- 166,822
All other crops---------------------------------------------------------- 294, 612
Total.------------------------------------------------------------- 6,386,300
In Lower Egypt the soil yields four crops in three years; in Upper
Egypt, Seven crops in eight years.
In 1888 the “double cultivation ” was 1,503,057 acres. In 1888 the
exports amounted to £10,418,212, or $52,091,065. In 1800, the popula-
326 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
tion was 2,000,000; by the census of 1882 it was nearly 7,000,000. It
is now fully that number.
IBRITISH INDIA.
Irrigation in British India sustains the largest population, and is
the most costly and extensive in the world. It has been practiced on
the Indian peninsula from time immemorial. During the past third of
a century, owing to the failure of the ancient works and the consequent
destruction of crops with accompanying famine, the British rulers have
been compelled to assume large risks and make great outlays. It is
estimated that about $120,000,000 have been expended under govern-
ment direction for irrigation work alone. As much more has also been
used in the construction of canals for navigation, highways, and coun-
try roads as well as railroads, for the purpose of making markets for
the crops raised under the new system.
The total population was estimated in 1888 at 269,477,728. The total
area in Square miles is 1,378,044. The average density per square mile
of population is 184.3. Over two-sevenths of the entire population are
connected with agriculture. Total area cultivated is given for 1888 at
144,006,000 acres. Of this area 24,836,000 acres are under irrigation.
The area most highly irrigated is the territorial divisions known as
the northwest provinces and Oudh. It includes the great canal system
of the Upper and Lower Ganges; other works of the largest magnitude
are found therein. There are 68,000,000 acres cultivated, of which only
5,000,000 are under ditch. Wells are used largely in these provinces;
they number several thousand and serve about 2,000,000 acres of land.
No statistics of well irrigation are kept. The Punjab includes an area
somewhat larger. The total irrigated by canal is now about 2,000,000
acres. About 1,500,000 acres cover, it is estimated, the area irrigated by
wells. In the Presidency of Bombay, with a total area of nearly 79,500,000
acres, the area irrigated from all sources does not exceed 1,600,000 acres;
the area irrigated from public works being less than 750,000 acres.
In the Madras Presidency, out of an area of 89,500,000 acres not
more than 3 per cent. is irrigated from public Works. The total area
under irrigation will not exceed 5,500,000 acres. Of the population
of Pritish India and its native dependencies it is estimated that at least
20,000,000 persons are supported from land irrigated by village and
neighborhood wells. The storage reservoir system is of enormous ex-
tent and great importance. In the island of Ceylon alone over 5,000
irrigation tanks and reservoirs are reported. In the province of M gº
sore, India, 20,000 such tanks are reported. The number, large and
small, will run into the hundreds of thousands. The average duty of
water will range from 200 to 400 acres, according to locality. The
snows from the Himalyan ranges afford a vast reserve against the
enormous evaporation, which is a consequence of the equatorial posi-
tion of British India. The great extent of the country and the differ-
ences in physical configuration and climate produce considerable variety
in rain-fall and Seasons.
Near the mountains irrigation is almost unnecessary, but the decrease
in quantity is extremely rapid. North of the Punjab, near the foot-
hills, the mean annual fall is 115 inches; 30 miles distant it is but 31
inches, descending to 20 inches at 70 miles, 15 at 100 miles, and 6 inches
at 350 miles from the mountains. In the Sind the average rain-fall will
be less than 7 inches, while in the southern portions of the peninsula it
will range from 80 to 100 inches.
The following table, though not of as recent date as desirable, will
give a clear view of the British Indian irrigation system :
327
THE INDIAN IRRIGATION CANALS.
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328 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
The legal regulations in British India rest largely upon the canal'
act of 1873, framed upon the reports made to the Imperial Government
by two prominent engineers who visited Egypt and southern Europe
for the purposes of investigation. This act relates to northern India
only. Madras and Bombay have their own government, organizing
such work under “Orders in Council,” and they do it very badly.
The northern India canal and drainage act asserts the right of the
State “to use and control for public purposes the water of all rivers
and streams flowing in natural channels, and of all lakes and natural
collections of still water.” The act is of an elaborate character, organ-
izing a great staff of canal officers, giving power to enter private lands,
defining compensation, procedure for granting water supplies, levying
rates, constructing works, and granting all the powers necessary to
carry on such vast stations. The Imperial administration has been a
success. All attempts to engraft local self-government are a conceded
failure. The general verdict unites favorably on the proposition that
the Government investment has paid in actual dividends as well as in
good order and prosperity to the people.
A BRIEF MEMORANDUM
OF THE
T) ECISIONS
OF THE
FEDERAL STATE, AND TERRITORIAL COURTS
\UPON
QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE USE AND CONTROL
OF THE WATER IN THE ARID REGION
OF THE UNITED STATES,
IP A R T V II.
TABLE OF CASES.
A.
Alder Gulch Con. Mg. Co. v. Hayes; 6 Mont., 31.
American Co. v. Bradford; 27 Cal., 360.
** water Co. v. Semi-Tropic Water Co.; 64
al., 185,
Anderson v. Fisk; 36 Cal., 625.
Atchinson v. Peterson; 20 Wall., 507.
B.
13aker v. Brown, 55 Texas 377.
Barkley v. Tieleke; 2 Mont., 59.
Barnes v. Sabron; 10 Nev., 217.
Basey v. Gallagher; 20 Wall.., 070.
Dear River & Auburn W. & M. Co. v. N. Y. M.g.
Co.; 8 Cal., 327.
Biddle Boggs v. Merced Mg. Co.; 14 Cal., 279.
Blaisdell v. Stephens; 14 Nev., 17.
Blanc v.I.Clumpke; 29 Cal., 156.
Bliss v. Johnson; 76 Cal., 597.
Boynton v. Longley; 19 Nev., 69.
Boynton v. Clear Lake Water Co.; 40 Cal., 396.
lłroder v. Natoma W. Co.; 101 U.S., 274.
Brown v. Evans; 18 Nev., 141.
Brown v. Muller; 65 Cal., 89.
IBrown v. Smith; 10 Cal., 508.
Bºnk v. W. Walker River Ditch Co.; 13 Nov.,
31
Burnett v. Whitesides; 15 Cal., 35.
Butte Canal & Ditch v. Waughn; 11 Cal., 143.
Bº: Table Mountain Co. v. Morgan; 19 Cal.,
609.
C.
Campbell v. B. R. & A. W. & M. Co.; 35 Cal., 679.
Caruthers v. Pemberton; 1 Mont., 111.
Cate v. Sanford; 54 Cal., 24.
Cave v. Crafts; 53 Cal., 135.
Charnock v. Rose; 70 Cal., 189.
Chiatovich v. Davis; 17 Nev., 133.
Clark v. Willett; 35 Cal., 534.
Coffin v. Left-Hand Ditch Co.; 6 Colo., 443.
Coffman v. Robbins; 8 Ore., 278.
Columbia, Mg. Co. v. Holter; 1 Mont., 296.
Coker v. Simpson; 7 Cal., 340.
Conger v. Weaver; 6 Cal., 548. º
Cole Silver Mg. Co. v. Virginia Gold Hill W. Co.;
1 Ilaw, 470.
Covington v. Becker; 5 Nev., 281.
Crandall v. Woods; 8 Cal., 136.
Crane v. Winson; 2 Utah, 248.
Crary v. Campbell; 24 Čal. 634.
Crisman v. Heiderer; 5 Colo., 589.
Cross v. Kitts; 69 Cal., 217.
D.
Taley v. Cox; 48 Cal., 127.
Dalton v. Bowker; 8 Nev., 190.
Davis v. Gale; 32 Cal., 26.
Denver v. Mullen; 7 Colo., 345.
Dick v. Bird; 14 Nev., 161.
Dick v. Caldwell; 14 Nev., 167.
Dilley v. Sherman; 2 Nev., 67.
Dodge v. Martin; 7 Ore.,456.
Dorr v. Hammond; 7 Colo., 79.
F. *
IEddy v. Simpson; 3 Cal., 249
Edgar v. Stevenson; 70 Cal., 286.
Ellison v. Jackson Water Co.; 12 Cal., 542.
Ellis v. Cone; 58 Cal., 289.
Esmond v. Chew; 15 Cal., 137.
F.
Fabian v. Collins; 3 Mont., 215.
Farley v. Spring Valley M & I Co.; 58 Cal., 143.
Farmer v. Ukiah Water Co.; 56 Cal., 11.
Farmers' High Line Canal v. Southworth (Colo.),
Lawyer's Rep. Annd., 1889, W. 767.
Ferrea, v. Knipe; 28 Cal., 340.
Feliz v. City of Los Angeles; 58 Cal., 73.
Fleming v. Davis, 37 Texas 183.
Fraler v. Sears Union Water Co.; 12 Cal., 555.
Frey v. Lowden; 70 Cal., 550.
I'risbie v. Whitney; 9 Wall., 186.
G.
Gale v. Tulumne Water Co.; 14 Cal., 25.
Gallagher v. Basey; 1 Mont., 457.
Gibson v. Pucha; 33 Cal., 310.
Ginocchio v. Amador C. & M. Co.; 67 Cal., 493.
Golden Canal Co. v. Bright; 8 Colo., 144.
Gould v. Stafford; 77 Cal., 66. -
Gregory v. Nelson; 41 Cal., 278.
Grigsby v. Clear Lake W. Co.; 40 Cal., 396.
H.
Hale v. McLea; 53 Cal., 578.
Hammond v. Rose; 11 Colo., 524.
Hanson v. McCue; 42 Cal., 303.
Harris v. Shontz; 1 Mont., 212.
Hayden v. Long; 8 Ore.,244.
Henderson v. Nichols; 67 Cal., 152.
Henshaw v. Clark; 14 Cal., 461.
Heyneman v. Dlake; 19 Cal., 579.
Higgins v. Barker; 42 Cal., 233.
Hill v. King; 8 Cal., 336.
Hill v. Smith; 27 Cal., 476.
IHill v. Smith; 32 Cal., 166,
Hill v. Newman; 5 Cal., 445,
Himes v. Johnson; 61 Cal., 259.
Hobart v. Ford; 6 Nev., 77.
Hobart v. Wicks; 15 Nev., 418.
Hoffman v. Stone; 7 Cal., 47.
Hoffman v. Tuolumne Co., W. Co., 10 Cal., 412.
Horn v. Jones; 28 Cal., 194.
nº Bybee; Ore. Lawyers' Rep. Ann'd (1889)
• vvve
Huston v. Leach; 53 Cal., 262.
Hutton v. Frisbie; 37 Cal., 475.
I.
Irwin v. Phillips; 5 Cal., 140,
Irwin v. Strait; 18 Nev., 436.
J.
James v. Williams; 31 Cal., 211.
Jennison v. Kirk; 08 U. S., 453.
‘Johnson v. Superior Court; 65 Cal., 567.
Jones v. Adams; 19 Nev., 78.
JunkaDS v. Bergin; 67 Cal., 267.
331
332
IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
R
Kaler v. Campbell; 13 Ore., 596.
Keeney v. Carillo; 2 N. M., 480.
ICelley v. Natoma Water Co.; 6 Cal., 105.
Kidd v. Laird; 15 Cal., 161.
Kimball v. Gearhart; 12 Cal., 27.
L.
Lake v. Tolles; 8 Nev., 285.
Larimer Co., R. Co. v. People ex rel. Luthe; 8
Colo., 614.
Larned v. Tangeman; 65 Cal., 334.
Ledu v. Jim Yet Wa; 67 Cal., 346.
Leigh Co. v. Independent Ditch Co., 8 Cal., 323.
Levaroni v. Miller; 34 Cal., 231.
Lewis v. McClure; 9 Ore., 273,
Lobdell v. Simpson ; 2 Nev., 274.
Lobdell v. Hali; 3 Nev., 507.
Logan v. Driscoll; 19 Cal., 623.
Lorenz v. Jacob ; 63 Cal., 73.
Lorenz v. Jacob ; 59 Cal., 292.
Los Angeles v. Baldwin; 53 Cal., 469.
Los Angeles Water Co., v. Los Angeles City; 55
Cal., 176. '
Tower Kings R. D. Co. v. Lower Kings R. & F.
Co.; 60 Cal., 408.
Lux v. Haggin ; 69 Cal., 255. .
Lytle Creek Water Co. v. Perdew; 65 Cal., 447.
M.
McCrary v. Beaudry; 67 Cal., 120.
McDonald v. Bear River & Auburn W. & M. Co.;
13 Cal., 220.
McDonald v. Askew; 29 Cal., 280.
1McGillevray v. Evans; 27 Cal., 92.
McKinney v. Smith ; 21 Cal., 374.
Maeris v. Bicknell; 7 Cal., 261. sº
Mathew v. Lerrea ; 45 Cal., 51.
Miller v. Vaughn ; 8 Ore., 333.
Minto v. Delaney; 7 Ore., 337.
Monroe v. Ivie ; 2 Utah, 535.
Moore v. Clear Lake Water Works; 68 Cal., 146.
Moore v. Willamette Transportation Co.; 7 Ore.,
355.
Mosier v. Caldwell; 7 Nev., 363.
N.
Natoma. W. & M. Co. v. McCoy ; 23 Cal., 491.
N. C. & S, Canal Co. v. Kidd; 37 Cal., 282.
Nevada Water Co. v. Powell ; 34 Cal., 109.
Norris v. Glenn ; 1 Idaho, 590.
O.
O'Connor v. North Truckee Ditch Co.; 17 Nev.,
245
Ogburn v. Connor; 46 Cal., 346.
Ophir Silver Mfg. Co. v. Carpenter; 4 Nev., 534.
Ortman v. Dixon; 13 Cal., 33.
Osgood v. El Dorado W. & M. Co.; 56 Cal., 571.
P.
Park's C. & M. Co. v. Hoyt ; 57 Cal., 44.
Parke v. Kelham ; 8 Cal., 77.
Phoenix Water Co. v. Fletcher; 23 Cal., 482.
Pope v. Krinman; 54 Cal., 3.
Price v. Riverside L. & I. Co.; 56 Cal., 431.
Priest v. Union Canal Co.; 6 Cal., 170.
Proctor v. Jennings; 6 Nev., 83.
Q.
Quirk v. Falk; 47 Cal., 453.
R.
Railroad Co. v. Schurmier ; 7 Wall., 272.
Reed v. Spicer; 27 Cal., 57.
Reno Smelting M. & R.Works”. Stevenson (Nev.);
Lawyers' Rep. Ann'd (1889), IV, 60.
Reynolds v. Hosmer; 51 Cal., 205.
Robinson v. Imperial Silver Mg, Co.; 5 Nev., 44.
Tominger v. Squires; 9 Colo., 327.
Richardson v. Kier; 34 Cal., 63.
Richardson v. Williamson; 24 Cal., 289.
Rupley v. Welsh; 23 Cal., 452.
S.
§
San Francisco & Alameda W. Co. v. Alameda W.
Co ; 36 Cal., 639.
Schilling v. Rominger; 4 Colo., 100.
Schultz v. Winter; 7 Nev., 130.
Schulz v. Sweeney; 19 Nev., 359.
Shaw v. Oswego Iron Co.; 10 Ore., 371.
Shively v. Hume; 10 Ore., 76.
Shoemaker v. Hatch; 13 New., 261.
Shook v. Colohan; 12 Ore., 289.
Sieber v. Frink; 7 Colo., 148.
Simpson v. Williams; 18 Nev., 432.
Smith v. Logan; 18 Nev., 149.
Smith v. O'Hara; 43 Cal., 371.
Spear v. Cook; 8 Ore., 380.
Spring Valley W. Works v. San Mateo W. Works;
64 Cal., 123.
Standard v. Round Valley Water Co.; 77 Cal., 399.
St. Relena Water Co. v. Forbes; 62 Cal., 182.
sº gºal Co. v. Kern Island Irr. Co.; 53
• ? ~ vu's
Stockman v. Riverside L. & T. Co.; 64 Cal., 57.
Strait v. Brown; 16 Nev., 317.
Swift v. Goodrich; 70 Cal., 103.
T.
Tartar v. Spring Creek M. & Mg. Co.; 5 Cal., 395.
Taylor v. Welch; 6 Ore., 198.
Tenney v. Miners' Ditch Co.; 7 Cal., 335.
Thomas v. Guirand: 6 Colo., 530.
Thompson v. Lee: 8 Cal., 275.
Titcomb v. Kirk; 51 Cal., 288.
Tolman v. Casey; 15 Ore., 83.
Tolle v. Coueth ; 31 Lex., 362.
Toombs v. Hornbuckle; 3 Mont., 193.
Tripp v. Overocker; 7 Colo., 72.
Tuolumne Water Co. v. Chapman ; 8 Cal.,392.
Turner v. Tuolumne County W. Co.; 25 Cal., 398.
The Mining Débris Case; 8 Saw., 628.
The Mining l'ébris Case; 9 Saw., 441.
a
U.
Union Water Co. v. Crary; 25 Cal., 504.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176.
TJnion M. & M. Company v. Danberg; 2 Saw., 450, .
V.
Van Sickle v. Haines; 7 Nev., 249.
W.
Ware v. Walker; 70 Cal., 491.
Weaver v. Eureka Lake Co.; 15 Cal., 271.
Weaver v. Conger; 10 Cal., 233.
Weill v. Baldwin, 64 Cal., 476.
Weis v. Oregon Iron & Steel Co.; 10 Ore., 496.
Western Pac. R. R. Co. v. Tevis & Kerr; 41 Cal.,
4
89. *-
Wheeler v. Northern Colo. Irr. Co.; 10 Colo., 582.
White v. Todd's Valley Water Co.; 8 Cal., 443.
Wilcox v. Hausch; 64 Cal., 461.
Wilkins v. McCue; 46 Cal., 606.
Winter v. Winter; 8 Nev., 129.
| Wixon v. Bear River & Auburn W. & M. Co.; 24
Cal., 367.
Wolfv. St. Louis Independent W. Co.; 10 Cal., 541.
Woolman v. Garringer; 1 Mont., 535.
Y.
Yosemite Valley Case; 15 Wall.., 77.
Yunier v. Nichols; ſóolo., 55.
Z.
Zimmler, adm'r, v. San Louis Water Co.; 57 Cal,
221. *
BRIEF OF DECISIONS +
Abandonment.
When the water of a stream leaves the possession of a party, all his right to and
interest in it is gone.
Eddy v. Simpson, 3 Cal., 249.
If an appropriator of water, after using the same, allows it to return to the
stream without intention of using it again, that water becomes a part
of the stream, and is subject to appropriation by another.
Eddy v. Simpson, 3 Cal., 249; Schulz v. Sweeny, 19 Nev., 359; Woolman v.
Garringer, 1 Mont., 535.
The prior appropriator can not claim water after it has been abandoned by him
and appropriated by another. -
Eddy v. Simpson, 3 Cal., 249; Barkley v. Tieleke, 2 Mont., 59.
Rights of a prior appropriator of water may be lost by his acquiescence in an ad-
verse use thereof by another during the period limited by the statute
of limitations. This would not apply to any portion of said water of
which the prior appropriator did within said period resume, and after-
wards, retain possession. *
Union Water Company v. Crary, 25 Cal., 504; Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26;
Smith v. Logan, 18 Nev., 149; Woolman v. Garringer, 1 Mont., 535.
The attempt to convey a water right by an imperfect conveyance, while it may
not operate as an absolute transfer, clearly operates as an abandonment
by the grantor of his right acquired by appropriation, and the right of
the buyer relates to the date of his taking possession as an original ap-
propriation by him.
Barkley v. Tieleke, 2 Mont., 59. -
One who has abandoned his prior right to the use of water can not by afterwards
making a sale of the same revive his prior right in favor of his grantees,
even if the same is made in good faith.
Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26.
Abandonment, evidence of
An appropriator of water who for many years makes no use of the water, allows
his ditch to become obliterated, and interposes no objection to the diver-
sion of the water by a subsequent appropriator, will be presumed to have
abandoned his right of priority.
Dorr v. Hammond, 7 Colo., 79.
The facts that water was appropriated for a particular purpose, and that the
purpose has been fully accomplished, and that when accomplished the
appropriators dispersed, and allowed a long time to elapse without using
the ditch, and then sold it for a nominal sum, may be received in evi.
dence as tending to show abandonment.
Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26.
A failure to use for a time is competent evidence on the question of abandonment;
and if such non-use be continued for an unreasonable period, it may
Aº fairly create a presumption of intention to abandon, but this presump-
tion is not conclusive, and may be overcome by other satisfactory proofs.
Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26; Sieber v. Frink, 7 Colo., 148.
Abatement of nuisance. *
See Actions for diversion of water, Nuisance.
Acquiescence.
See Abandonment, Estoppel, Prescription.
*This brief of decision is enlarged from one made for the United States Irrigation Survey and pub-
lished by the Interior Department, (1890). The table of cases and the digest of decisions down to
April, 1890, have been prepared under the direction of the editor.
333
334 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Act of Congress.
See Statutes.
Action against trespassers, who may maintain.
A party who is in possession of a ditch and the water incident thereto has an
equitable interest therein, and can maintain an action against trespassers.
Barkley v. Tieleko, 2 Mont., 59.
Action for diversion of water, tenants in common.
Actions for diversion of the waters of ditches are in the nature of actions for the
abatement of nuisances, and may be maintained by tenanis in common
in a joint action.
Parke v. Kilham, 8 Cal., 77.
In an action for the diversion of water from a ditch and land owned by the plaint-
iff and others, his co-owners are not necessary parties.
Himes v. Johnson, 61 Cal., 259.
Action for injury to water rights, who may maintain. -
One to whom lands have becn conveyed acquires thereby the legal title to such
lands, even though there may be an oral agreement to reconvey, and
may maintain an action to establish water rights connected with said
land.
Smith v. Logan, 18 Nev., 149.
Action for invasion of water right, who may maintain.
Until a claimant is himself in a position to use water, the right to the water does
not exist in such a sense that the mere diversion and use of the water by
another is a ground of action either to recover the water or damages for
the diversion.
N. C. & S. Canal Co. v. Kidd, 37 Cal., 282.
.Adverse use.
See Prescription.
Agriculturists and miners.
See Miners and Agriculturists, relative rights of, Miners' rights not superior to
others.
Application to beneficial use.
See Appropriation.
Appropriation.
The first appropriator of water from a natural stream upon the public lands for
a beneficial purpose has a prior right thereto to the extent of such ap-
propriation. -
Atchison v. Peterson, 20 Wall., 507; Basey v. Gallagher, 20 Wall., 670; Irwin
v. Phillips, 5 Cal., 140; Tartar v. Spring Creek M. & Mg. Co., 5 Cal., 395;
Hill v. Newman, 5 Cal., 445; Conger v. Weaver, 6 Cal., 548; Hoffman v.
Stone, 7 Cal., 47; B. R. and A. W. and M. Co. v. N. Y. Mg. Co., 8 Cal., 327:
Hill v. King, 8 Cal., 336; Butte Canal and Ditch Co. v. Vaughn, 11 Cal., 143;
Ortman v. Dixon, 13 Cal., 33; McKinney v. Smith, 21 Cal., 374; Union
Water Co. v. Crary, 25 Cal., 504; Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26; Osgood v. El
Dorado W. and M. Co., 56 Cal., 571; Himes v. Johnson, 61 Cal., 259;
Brown v. Mullin, 65 Cal., 89; Junkans v. Bergin, 67 Cal., 267; Ware v.
Walker, 70 Cal., 591; Schilling v. Rominger, 4 Colo., 100; Coffin v. Left-
Hand Ditch Co., 6 Colo., 443; Wheeler v. Northern Colo. Irr: Co., 10
Colo., 582; Golden Canal Co. v. Bright, 8 Colo., 144; Hammond v. Rose,
11 Colo., 524; Lobdell v. Simpson, 2 Nev., 274; Ophir Silver Mg.
Co. v. Carpenter, 4 Nev., 534; Dalton v. Bowker, 8 Nev., 190; Barnes
v. Sabron, 10 Nov., 217; Strait v. Brown, 16 Nov., 317; Jones v.
Adams, 19 Nev., 78; Atchison v. Peterson, 1 Mont., 561; , Barkley v.
Tieleko, 2 Mont., 59; Keeney v. Carillo, 2 N. M., 480; Farmers' High Line
Canal v. Southworth (Colo.), Lawyer's Rep. (1889) IV, 767; Crane v. Win-
sor, 2 Utah, 248; Monroe v. Ivie, 2 Utah, 535; Kaler v. Campbell, 13 Ore.,
596.
The diversion of the waters of a stream with the object of drainage simply, or
without the intention of applying them to Some useful purpose, does not
constitute an appropriation.
Maeris v. Bicknell, 7 Cal., 261; McKinney v. Smith, 21 Cal., 374; Thomas v.
Guiraud, 6 Colo., 530.
A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. - - 335
Appropriaticn—Continued.
One who uses the waste water from the mining operations of another acquires by
such use no right, unless that water had been turned back into the orig.
inal channel without any intention of recapture, and thus became public;
jurº 3.
Woolman v. Garringer, 1 Mont., 535. º
To constitute a legal appropriation, the water claimed must be applied to some
beneficial use or purpose.
Maeris v. Bicknell, 7 Cal., 261; Weaver v. Eureka Lake Co., 15 Cal: 271;
Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26: Sieber v. Frink, 7 Colo., 148; Larimer R. Co.
v. People, ea, rel. Luthe, 8 Colo., 614; Wheeler v. Northern Colo. Irr. Co.:
10 Colo., 582; Dick v. Caldwell, 14 Nev., 167; Farmers' High Line Canal
v. Southworth (Colo.), Lawyers' Rep. (1889), IV, 767, -
The true test of appropriation of water is the successful application thereof, to
the beneficial use designed, and the method of diverting or carrying the
same, or making such application, is immaterial.
Thomas v. Guiraud, 6 Colo., 530. º
If land be rendered productive by the natural overflow of water thereon without
the aid of any appliances whatever, the cultivation of such land by means
of the water so naturally moistening the same is a sufficient appropria-
- tion of such water to the amount necessary for such use.
Thomas v. Guiraud, 6 Colo., 530.
Appropriation completed, relates back:
Although the appropriation is not deemed complete until the actual diversion
or use of the water, still if such work be prosecuted with reasonable
diligence, the right relates to the time when the first step was taken to
Secure it.
Kelley v. Natoma Water Co., 6 Cal., 105; Maeris v. Bicknell, 7 Cal., 261;
Kimball v. Gearhart, 12 Cal., 27; N. C. & S. C. Co. v. Kidd, 37 Cal.,
282; Osgood v. Water and Mining Co., 56 Cal., 571; Ophir Mining Co. v.
Carpenter, 4 Nev., 534; Irwin v. Strait, 18 Nev., 436; Sieber v. Frink, 7
Colo., 148; Wheeler v. Northern Colo. Irr. Co., 10 Colo., 582; Columbia
Mg. Co. v. Holter, 1 Mont., 296.
Appropriation, diligence :
To acquire a right to water from the date of the diversion thereof, one must,
within a reasonable time, employ the same in the business for which the
appropriation is made. What shall constitute such reasonable time is a
question of fact, depending upon the circumstances connected with each
particular case.
Conger v. Weaver, 6 Cal., 548; Maeris v. Bicknell, 7 Cal., 261; Parke v.
Kilham, 8 Cal., 77; Kimball v. Gearhart, 12 Cal, 27; Weaver v.
Eureka Lake Co., 15 Cal., 271; Sieber v. Frink, 7 Colo., 148; Wheeler
v. Northern Colo. Irr. Co., 10 Colo., 582; Atchison v. Peterson, 1 Mont.,
§: ºney v. Carillo, 2 N. M., 480; Ophir S. M. Co. v. Carpenter, 4
ev., 534.
Diligence in the prosecution of Work Such as the appropriation of water by con-
structing a ditch for its use does not require unusual or extraordinary
efforts, but only such constancy or steadiness of purpose or labor as is
usual with men engaged in like enterprises, who desire a speedy accom-
plishment of their designs; such assiduity in its prosecution as will
manifest a bona fide intention to complete it within a reasonable time.
Kimball v. Gearhart, 12 Cal., 27; Ophir S. Mg. Co. v. Carpenter, 4 Nev., 534.
Appropriation, extent of
The appropriation of the Water of a stream for a particular purpose is an appro-
priation of only so much of the water as is necessary for that purpose,
and the surplus, if any, may be taken by others.
Ortman v. Dixon, 13 Cal, 33; McKinney v. Smith, 21 Cal.,374; Davis v. Gale,
32 Cal., 26; Nevada Water Co. v. Powell, 34 Cal., 109; N. C. & S. C. Co. v.
Kidd, 37 Cal., 282; Edgar v. Stevenson, 70 Cal., 286; Butte Canal &
Ditch Co. v. Vaughn, 11 Cal., 143; Barnes v. Sabron, 10 Nev., 217; Simp-
son v. Williams, 18 Nev., 432; Lobdell v. Simpson, 2 Nev., 274; Sieber v.
Frink, 7 Colo., 148.
The quantity of water appropriated in any given case is to be measured by the
capacity of the ditch or flume at its smallest voint; that is, at the point
where the least water can be carried through it.
Higgins v. Barker, 42 Cal., 233; Atchison v. Peterson, 20Wall., 507; Ophir Min
ing Co. v. Carpenter, 6 Nev., 393; Caruthers v. Pemberton, 1 Mont., 111.
N
336 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
.Appropriation, extent of Continued.
Appropriation of all water in a stream means as it ordinarily flows, and another
may take the surplus in times of extraordinary high water or freshets.
Edgar v. Stevenson, 70 Cal., 286.
In determining the quantity of water appropriated it is proper to consider the
acts of the appropriator, the manner in which the ditch was constructed,
the general size, etc. The appropriator would not be limited to the
quantity turned into his ditch in the first place, unless by the general
plan, size, and grade of the ditch it was not capable of carrying more
than was first diverted. If by reason of obstructions or irregularity in
the grade of the ditch it was not capable of diverting as much water as
its general size would indicate, the appropriator would be allowed a
reasonable time to remove such obstructions or adjust the grade, and
then fill the ditch to its capacity.
White v. Todd's Valley Water Co., 8 Cal., 443.
The erection of a dam across a natural water-course is an actual appropriation of
the waters of the stream to that point, but no farther. Any one may ap-
propriate the water found below the dam.
Kelly v Natoma Water Co., 6 Cah., 105.
If one appropriates a part of the waters of a stream for a certain period of time,
any other person may not only appropriate the residue and acquire a right
thereto as perfect as the first appropriator, but may also acquire a right
to the quantity of water used by the first appropriator at such times as
it is not needed or used by him.
Smith v. O'Hara, 43 Cal., 371; Barnes v. Sabron, 10 Nev., 217.
The right to acquire, by the prior appropriator is limited to the amount of water
appropriated. In subordination to his right thus limited others may ap-
propriate the remainder of the water running in the stream.
Butte Canal & Ditch Co. v. Vaughn, 11 Cal., 143; Ortman v. Dixon, 13 Cal.,
33; McKinney v. Smith, 21 Cal., 374; Nevada Water Co. v. Powell, 34
Čaj., 109; Higgins v. Barker, 42 Cal., 233; Brown v. Mullin, 65 Cal.,89;
Junkans v. Bergin, 67 Cal., 267; Lobdell v. Simpson, 2 Nev., 274; Proctor
v. Jennings, 6 Nev.,83; Barnes v. Sabron, 10 Nev., 217; Strait v. Brown, 16
Nev., 317; Chiatovich v. Davis, 17 Nev., 133; Thomas v. Guiraud, 6 Colo.,
530.
The prior appropriator has a right to have the water so appropriatel flow
down to the point of his appropriation undiminished in quantity and
quality. A subsequent appropriator would have the right to use water
from said stream in such a manner as not to cause any positive or sen-
sible injury to the former appropriator.
Bear River & Auburn W. & M. Co. v. N. Y. Mg. Co., 8 Cal., 327; Hill v. King, 8
Cal., 336; Butte Canal and Ditch Co. v. Vaughn, 11 Cal., 143; Phoenix
Water Co. v. Fletcher, 23 Cal., 482; Natoma. W. & M. Co. v. McCoy, 23 Cal.,
491; Nevada Water Co. v. Powell, 34 Cal., 109; Stein Canal Co. v. Kern
Island Irr. C. Co., 53 Cal., 563; Lobdell v. Simpson, 2 Nev., 274 ; Crane v.
Winsor, 2 Utah, 248. ſº tº
The right of a riparian proprietor to the waters of a river should be determined
by the application of the principles of prior appropriation. ~~~
Reno'smelting M. & R. Works v. Stevenson (Nev.) Lawyers' Rep., 18S9, IV, 60.
A subsequent appropriator from a natural stream has no right to destroy the
{litch of a prior appropriator, or to materially diminish the quantity or
deteriorate the quality of the water to which the latter is entitled ; nor
has the prior appropriator a right to extend his use of water to the preju
dice of the subsequent appropriator.
McKinney v. Smith, 21 Cal., 374; Nevada Water Co. v. Powell, 34 Cal., 109;
Higgins v. Barker, 42 Cal.,333; Stein Canal Co. v. Kern Island Irr. Co.,
53'éal., 563; Brown v. Mullin, 65 Cal.,89; Junkans v. Bergin, 67 Cal,
267; Lobdell v. Simpson, 2 Nev., 274; Proctor. 9. Jennings, 6 Nev., 83;
Sieber v. Frink, 7 Colo., 148; Larimer County R. Co. v. People, ea rel, 8
Colo., 614.
The right to use water for purposes of irrigation, when its use is not indispensable,
but for the purpose of increasing the products of the soil, must be subordinate to the
right of a co proprietor to supply his family, tenants, etc., their natural wants for
necessary and domestic purposes. *
Baker v. Brown, 55 Tex., 377.
A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 337
Appropriation, extent of, character of use considered in determining.
A beneficial use, without regard to the nature thereof, will sustain the right by
appropriation; but the nature of the use may be important as denoting
the extent of the water appropriated. Water taken for a mill is not taken
as an article of merchandise, to be sold in the market ; it is merely taken
for use as a motive power, and, having subserved this purpose, may be
taken by others.
McDonald v. Bear River & Auburn W. & M. Co., 13 Cal., 220. &
The appropriation of water to a beneficial use by consumers receiving it through
a ditch belonging to a public carrier of water is accomplished at the time
the water is actually used beneficially by the consumer, and consumers
thereof are not necessarily upon an equality, but may have different
priorities of right.
Farmers' High Line Canal v. Southworth (Colo.), Lawyers' Rep. (1889), IV, 767.
Appropriation, Indian may acquire right by.
An Indian may acquire a right to the use of water on the public lands by appro-
priation, and may maintain an action for diversion of such water. This
right would carry with it the right to repair a temporary damage to his
ditch or dam, and those who might obtain possession under him would
have the same right.
Lobdell v. Hall, 3 Nev., 507.
Appropriation, manner of making, may be regulated by the legislature.
The legislature can not prohibit the appropriation or diversion of unappropriated
water for useful purposes from natural streams upon the public domain,
but it may regulate the manner of effecting such appropriation or diver-
sion, and may designate how the water shall be turned from the stream
or how it shall be stored and preserved.
Larimer County R. Co. v. The People, 8 Colo., 614.
Appropriation, notice, effect of.
A notice of intention to appropriate is evidence of possession, but of itself alone
is not sufficient. Taken with other acts it amounts to sufficient evidence.
It forms one of a series of acts which, taken together, make the right
perfect.
Conger v. Weaver, 6 Cal., 548; Thompson v. Lee, 8 Cal., 275; Columbia Min-
ing Co. v. Holter, 1 Mont.; 296.
Appropriation of land and water requires different character of acts.
Public land is appropriated by one character of act, water by another. The dig-
ging of a ditch on public land is not an appropriation of land for a mill-
site, nor is the mere appropriation of a mill-site an appropriation of
water for milling purposes.
Robinson v. imperiaſ Silver Mg. Co., 5 Nev., 44.
Appropriation, right attaches when.
Although one may not have completed his work for diverting or using water,
and therefore has not completed his appropriation, yet he has a right to
the use of so much of the waters of the stream as may be necessary to
prevent his works from injury while in the process of construction.
Weaver v. Conger, 10 Cal., 233.
Appropriation, rights acquired by.
An appropriation of water at a given point carries with it an implied authority
to do all that shall become necessary to secure the benefit of such appro-
priation. To this extent the appropriator acquires an easement in the
adjoining lands. This right is, however, restricted to the narrowest,
limits, and It must be exercised in such manner as to occasion as little
damage as possible to the owner of the adjoining premises.
Crisman v. Heiderer, 5 Colo., 589.
The appropriation of water flowing through the public lands confers no right on
the appropriator, either against the Government or its grantees, in the
absence of Congressional legislation qualifying the effect of the Govern-
‘ment patent. And this is so, although the customs, laws, and decisions
of the courts of the States wherein, the land lies recognize and enforce
rights acquired by prior appropriation in controversies between occupants
of public lands without title from the Government,
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176,
138 A L-WOL IW 22
338 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Appropriation, rights acquired by—Continued. Q
By appropriation one acquires only the right of possession and use of water, quali-
fied by the right of others to its use, in such manner as shall not materi-
ally diminish or deteriorate it, at the place of his appropriation, in quan-
tity or quality.
Columbia Mining Co. v. Holter, 1 Mont., 296; Alder Gulch Con. Mg, Co. v.
Hayes, 6 Mont., 31.
Appropriators, prior and subsequent,
If two parties have acquired rights to the use of the water in a stream and the
volume of that water is increased by others turning into said stream the
water from their ditch without intention of retaking it, said increase, be-
coming publici juris, does not affect the relative rights of the appropri-
ators. Those rights remain the same as they would if the increase had
been due to a natural cause.
Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26. 3.
Priority of appropriation shall determine the right to water of a natural stream;
the water is not “appropriated” until it is applied to some beneficial use.
Farºgh Line Canal v. Southworth (Colo.), Lawyer's Rep., Ann, 1889,
1W., e
Appropriators, relative rights.
The question in controversies between two appropriators where the prior appro-
priator asks damages from the subsequent appropriator, or seeks to re-
strain him from using the water is, has the prior appropriator's use and
enjoyment of the water for the purposes for which he claims its use been
impaired by the acts of the subsequent appropriator ?
Atchison v. Peterson, 20 Wall., 507; Union Water Co. v. Crary, 25 Cal., 504;
Hill v. Smith, 27 Cal., 476.
Different users of water, obtaining their supply through the same ditch, may, un-
der some circumstances, have different priorities of right to the water.
Fariñº, High Line Canal v. Southworth (Colo.), Lawyer's Report, Ann, 1889,
iv, 767. *
The appropriation of mining water is open to all persons, and the legislature has
no power to enact laws that will permit an irrigating company to control
or manage the water of any part of the Territory in disregard of the rights
of individual claimants.
Monroe v. Ivie, 2 Utah, 535.
Where several parties who had appropriated water from the same stream at dif-
ferent times and in different amounts enjored into a contract to construct
a new ditch, their several interests in the water to be carried in such
ditch must, in the absence of any direct agreement, remain the same as
prior to such contract and construction of such ditch, both as to the
quantity to which each was entitled and as to the date his rights at-
tached.
Rominger v. Squires, 9 Colo., 327.
The use of water for mining purposes is one of the uses recognized and protected
by the laws, both of the State and Federal Governments, and while an
appropriator of the water of a natural stream is entitled to have such
water flow down to him undiminishcd in quantity, any deterioration in
quality occasioned by the use of it above for Imining purposes must be an
injury without consequent damages.
Bear River W. Cq. v. New York Mg. Co., 8 Cal., 327.
Appropriator's right co-extensive with his ditch.
The right to have water flow into a ditch is co-extensive with the ditch itself,
and when a water-ditch extends into two or more counties an action for
damages caused by acts preventing the water from flowing into the ditch,
and for an injunction to prevent such acts may be brought in any county
into which the ditch extends. Although the act complained of occurred
at the lead of the ditch, it was injurious to the whole length thereof.
Lower Kings R. D. Co. v. Lower Kings R. & F. Co., 60 Cal., 408.
Appropriator's rights in water in a natural stream usufructuary.
An appropriator of water so long as stich water continues to ſlow in its natural
course acquires no specific property in the water itself. His rights, like
those of a riparian owner, aro strictly usufructuary. *
Eddy v. Simpson, 3 Cal., 249; Kidd v. Laird, 15 Cal., 161 ; , McDonald v.
Askew, 29 Cal., 200; Alder Gulch Con. Mg, Co. v. Hayes, 6 Mont, 31.
A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 339.
Appropriator, right to remove obstructions.
An appropriator of the waters of a natural stream flowing through public lands
has a right, as against subsequent purchasers from the United States, tº
go upon the land of such purchaser higher up the stream than the point
of diversion and remove obstructions from the bed of the stream, so as
to cause its waters to flow in their natural channel to the point of diver-
SIOIl.
Ware v. Walker, 70 Cal.,591.
Appropriators tenants in Common,
Where different persons separately appropriate the waters of a stream and are
severally using the same under certain regulations as to the time an
manner of such use they are tenants in common, and each of them may
maintain an action to enjoin a tresspasser from diverting any portion of
the water thus appropriated. .*
Lytle Creek Water Co. v. Perdew, 65 Cal., 447.
Appurtenance.
See Water-right.
Covenant which runs with land. -
A.covenant between two adjoining land-owners to appropriate and convey the
waters of a stream into a reservoir for their joint use runs with the land,
and the successor of one on whose land the reservoir is situated can not,
by changing the point of diversion, claim all the water.
Weill v. Baldwin, 64 Cal., 476.
Customs, local, must be proved.
S60 Practice.
Dam, appropriation by means of.
When one appropriates water by means of a dam and ditch sufficient for the pur-
posé in the natural condition of the stream as it then existed, he may not
afterwards raise his dam higher to obviate obstructions to its use occa-
sioned by physical changes in the stream, whether natural or artificial,
if such action on his part would work an injury to subsequent appropri-
ators who were not responsible for the changes in the stream.
Nevada Water Co. v. Powell, 34 Cal., 109.
Dam, duty of owner.
The owner of a dam is bound to see to his property, and to so govern and con-
trol it that injury may not result to his neighbors.
Fraler v. Sears Union Water Co., 12 Cal., 555.
Dam, harmless when erected, may not be abated.
A dam erected on a stream in a manner nowise injurious or prejudicial at the
time of its erection to rights of others on the same stream, but which, by
reason of circumstances that could not have been anticipated, happening
subsequently and operating in connection with it, does cause injury to
others, is not such an obstruction as to authorize its abatement or justify
a recovery of damages against the person so building the dam for injury
thus occasioned.
Proctor v. Jennings, 6 Nev., 83.
Damages, actual, not necessary to an equitable relief against wrongful diver-
sion of water,
Equitable relief will be granted for a wrongful diversion of water, even though
no actual damage is shown. Every violation of a right imports damage,
and this principle is applied whenever the act done is of such a nature
as that by its repetition or continuance it may become the foundation of
an adverse right.
Barnes v. Sabron, 10 Nev., 217.
Damages, when actual, necessary to justify an action.
See Injury; not always necessary to justify, an action,
Damage by breaking of dam or ditch,
See Negligence.
340 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Damages from ravine adopted as part of a ditch, who responsible for.
One who adopts a natural water-course as a part of his ditch does so to the ex-
tent of the capacity of his ditch, and he is liable for injuries to lands
resulting from an overflow of that water-course caused by his failure to
have it properly cleared of obstructions or of his turning into it a quan-
tity of water whióh, added to the natural waters flowing therein, ex-
ceeded its carrying capacity.
Richardson v. Kier, 34 Cal., 63; Richardson v. Kier, 34 Cal., 263.
Damages, liability of corporation to stockholders.
Where several persons owning a ditch and water right form a corporation, the
express object of which is to own, keep in repair, and enlarge such ditch,
and to control and divide the use of said water for the benefit of the sev-
eral stockholders in accordance with their interests in the stock of said
corporation, that corporation is bound to discharge the duties prescribed
in the certificate of incorporation, and for any failure or neglect to dis-
charge these duties it would be liable to any stockholder who is injured
thereby to the extent of his damages.
O'Connor v. North Truckee Ditch Co., 17 Nev., 245.
Damages, when ditch-owner liable for. &
A ditch-owner would be liable for an injury caused wantonly or by gross negli-
gence; but he is not liable for a mere accidental injury, where no negli-
gence is shown, to a miner locating along the line of such ditch subse-
quently to the construction thereof, neither party claiming ownership of
the soil.
Tenney v. Miners’ Ditch Co.; 7 Cal., 335.
Damages, when prior appropriator entitled to recover.
A prior appropriator of water is entitled to recover damages for injuries caused by
the acts, of subsequent appropriators on the stream above in erecting
dams or other obstructions, by which the regularity of the flow of water
is so disturbed as to cause actual injury, or in diverting the water to
the use of which he is entitled.
Coker v. Simpson, 7 Cal., 340; Phoenix Water Co. v. Fletcher, 23 Cal., 481;
Natoma Water and Mg. Co. v. McCoy, 23 Cal., 490.
Deed, construction of.
A deed which conveys a certain tract of land, and also the prior right to the use
of a part of the water of a stream flowing through said land, must be
construed as conveying a right to water over and above that of a mere
riparian owner.
Dalton v. Bowker, 8 Nev., 190.
Diligence in perfecting appropriation.
In determining whether the work necessary to the appropriation of water has
been prosecuted with diligence, it is proper to take into consideration the
circumstances surrounding the parties which would affect any person who
might be engaged in the same undertaking, such as the nature and climate
of the country, the condition of the weather, and the difficulties of pro-
curing labor and materials.
Kimball v. Gearhart, 12 Cal., 27; Ophir S. M. Co. v. Carpenter, 4 Nev., 534.
In determining whether diligence has been exercised in prosecuting the work for
the appropriation of water, matters incident to the enterprise, and not
those incident to the person, such as the illness of the appropriator or his
lack of pecuniary means to prosecute the work, are to be considered in
excuse for great delay.
Ophir S. M. Co. v. Carpenter, 4 Nev., 534; Keeney v. Carillo, 2 N. M., 480.
Distribution of water for public use.
See Ditch-owners are public carriers.
Ditch, authority of court of equity over.
If one own a ditch, and right of way for same, a court of equity has no authority
by its judgment to allow the ditch to be washed away for mining pur-
poses, even after providing that such portion of the ditch as might be
destroyed should be replaced by a metal pipe or flume which would
answer all purposes of the ditch. The court should not license a trespass
on such property, or compel the owner thereof to exchange.the same for
other property for the convenience of a private person.
Gregory v. Nelson, 41 Cal., 278. *
A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. - 341
Ditch capacity, how proved. º
The carrying capacity of a ditch is a question of fact, which does not requº
for its proof unusual scientific attainments or peculiar skill. Men who
have acquired a knowledge upon such subjects from experience, in nº.
ing and in measuring and selling water to miners as non-experts are as
competent as experts to testify to the fact.
Frey v, Lowden, 70 Cal., 550.
Ditch, conveyance of.
See Right of way, conveyance of, water-right, when an appurtenance.
Ditch, enlargement of.
If one is entitled to all the waters of a stream at the point where his ditch starts
out, the capacity of that ditch or its enlargement is of no moment to
others having ditches on the stream.
James v. Williams, 31 Cal., 211.
Ditch, character of, as an excavation not changed by flumes at different points.
Flumes constructed at different parts of the line of a ditch can not change the
general character of the work as an excavation; such flumes are merely
connecting links and a part of the ditch. A statute giving a lien for
labor bestowed or material furnished upon buildings, wharves, or other
superstructures does not include ditches. Equity raises no lien in regard
to real estate, except that of a vendor for purchase money.
Ellison v. Jackson Water Co., 12 Cal., 542; Horn v. Jones, 28 Cal., 194.
Ditches, liability of owner for damages from.
See Negligence.
Ditch-owners and miners, relative rights.
The two rights to work the mines and to divert the water of steams from the
natural channels stand upon an equal footing, and when they conflict
they must be decided by the fact of priority upon the maxim of equity,
Qui prior 68t in tempore, potiorest injure.
Irwin v. Phillips, 5 Cal., 140; Wixon v. Bear River & Auburn W. & M. Co.,
24 Cal., 367; Levaroni v. Miller, 34 Cal., 231.
The owner of a mining claim and the owner of a ditch or water-right stand
upon the same footing ; that is, their respective rights attach from the
date of appropriation, the first in time being the first in right; but
where both rights can be enjoyed without interference with or material
impairment of each other, the enjoyment of both is allowed.
Jennison v. Kirk, 98 U. S., 453; Hill v. Smith, 27 Cal., 476; Clark v. Willett,
35 Cal., 534.
Ditch-owners are public carriers.
Owners of ditches or canals, as such, are carriers and quasi-public servants.
They are awarded certain privileges, and are charged with certain duties
and subject to reasonable control. -
Price v. Riverside L., & I. Co., 56 Cal., 431; McCrary v. Beaudry, 67 Cal.,
120; Wheeler v. Northern Colo. ltr. Co., 10 Colo., 582.
Ditch-owners as carriers, duties of
Ditch-owners, as such, are carriers, and must furnish water at the established
rate (the county commissioners being empowered to fix a maximum rate)
to the class of persons using it in the manner named in the articles of
, incorporation.
Golden Canal Co. v. Bright, 8 Colo., 144; Wheeler v. Northern Colo. Irr. Co.,
10 Colo., 582.
Ditch, right of way for.
See Easement, Right of way.
Ditch, water-rights co-extensive with.
See Appropriator’s right.
Ditch, repairs of, liability for.
See Estoppel.
Ditch, value of, how proved.
The ordinary way of proving the value of a ditch is by showing its capacity, the
value of the water in its vicinity, and the probable duration of the de-
mand.
Clark v. Willett, 35 Cal., 534.
342 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Diversion of water from reservoir will be enjoined, when.
One who constructs on the public lands a reservoir to collect and store, for the
purposes of irrigation, the water flowing down a ravine, acquires a
Wested right of property in the reservoir and water, of which he can not
be divested for mining or other private purposes, and a court of equity
will enjoin miners from injuring the reservoir or diverting the water
therefrom.
Rupley v. Welch, 23 Cal., 452.
Diversion of water illegal, may be prevented. -
One attempting to illegally divert water belonging to another may be ejected
from the possession of ground occupied by him for completing such illegal
diversion, and can not complain of the means taken to defeat his object. .
Butte Table Mountain Co. v. Morgan, 19 Cal., 609.
Diversion of water, liability for.
One who diverts the water of a natural water-course, that was accustomed to
ſlow through the land of another, and that other thereby suffers injury,
is liable to damages for the injury thus inflicted. *
Ellis v. Tone, 58 Cal., 289.
In an action for diversion of water, the defendant is not liable for damages to
another appropriator from the same stream resulting from a deficiency of
the water supply, unless he was diverting from the stream more water
than he was entitled to at the precise time the deficiency complained of
existed. -
Brown v. Smith, 10 Cal., 508.
Diversion of water, pleading in action for.
In an action for diversion of water, the fact that the diversion was accomplished
by one means or another is not important enough to require several
counts setting forth the different modes of diversion.
Gale v. Tuolumne Water Co., 14 Cal., 25.
Diversion, right of
See Appropriation.
Diversion, right of, as affected by recital in deed.
See Estoppel,
Diversion, riparian owner's right of.
See Riparian rights.
Diversion, sufficient allegation in complaint for.
The allegation, in a complaint for the diversion of water, that the plaintiff was
entitled by virtue of prior appropriation to all the water flowing in the
stream at the head of his ditch, entitles him to prove a diversion of
water from smaller branches of the stream supplying water to that
point. *
Priest v. Union Canal Co., 6 Cal., 170.
Diversion of water, wrongful, may be restrained.
Equity will restrain the continuous wrongful diversion of water at the instanee
of a prior appropriator thereof, although no actual damages are averred
or proved. Equitable relief is granted in such cases to prevent wrong-
ful acts from ripening into a right.
Moore v. Clear Lake Water Works, 68 Cal., 146.
Płasement for flow of water.
The rule that the owner of a tract of land has an easement in a lower adjacent
tract to the extent of burdening it with the water naturally flowing to
it from the upper tract applies only to waters naturally so flowing, and
the servitude of the lower tract can not be made more burdensome by
the acts or industry of man.
Ogburn v. Connor, 46 Cal., 346; Boynton v. Longley, 19 Nev., 69.
Basement for irrigating purposes.
All lands in this Territory are held in subordination to the dominant right of
others who must necessarily pass over them to obtain a supply of water
to irrigate their lands. It is not, therefore, necessary that there should
be a conveyance in writing to establish an easement for right of way for
a ditch.
Yunker v. Nichols, 1 Colo., 551.
&Y.
{
A*DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 343
Basement, grant of right of way for a ditch.
A grant of the right to all the water in a stream, and of the right to enter on
the land of the grantor and construct and maintain all dams, ditches,
pipes, or flumes necessary and proper for conveying such water over .
said land to the place of its use, vests in the grantee the right to con-
vey said water at different times and places, or to change or enlarge his
ditch, and to use it in any manner he pleases, if the grantor is not injured
by such use.
Spear v. Cook, 8 Ore., 380.
Eagement on public lands.
See Statutes, act of July 26, 1866, Appropriator, right to remove obstructions.
Basement, right of way for ditch.
A grant of the right of way for a ditch over a tract of land is an easement only,
and is not a grant of the land or water flowing over it, When an
easement is granted, nothing passes as an incident to such grant but
what is necessary for its reasonable and proper enjoyment.'
Miller v. Vaughn, 8 Ore., 333.
Basement, right of way under act of July 26, 1866.
To one who had, prior to the passage of the act of July 26, 1866, constructed
a ditch over public land and had acquired a right to the water carried
therein, recognized by the local customs, laws, and decisions of the
courts, that act operated as a grant of the right of way, and of the
ditch through which the water was running at the date thereof.
Broder v. Natoma Water Co., 101 U. S., 274; Broder v. Natoma Water Co.,
50 Cal., 621.
Eminent domain.
Statutes conferring the power to condemn private property to the use of another
without the consent of the owner are in derogation of the common law
and must be strictly construed.
San Francisco and Alameda W. Co. v. Alameda W. Co., 36 Cal., 639.
The supplying of the inhabitants of a town with pure, fresh water is a public
use, in behalf of which a corporation is authorized to exercise the right
of eminent domain. The right of an individual to enjoy the flow of
water in its natural channel upon or along his land may, under the laws
of this State, be condemned for public use. -
Heyneman v. Blake, 19 Cal., 579; St. Helena Water Co. v. Forbes, 62 Cal., 182;
Spring Valley W. Works v. San Mateo W. Works, 64 Cal., 123; Lux v.
Haggin, 69 Cal., 255.
The right of eminent domain is restricted to the taking of private property
for public use, . It can not be exercised in favor of the owners of mining
claims, to enable them to obtain water for their own use in working such
claims, though the intention may also be to supply the water to others
for mining and irrigating purposes. ;
Lorenz v. Jacob, 63 Cal., 73.
To authorize the condemnàtion of private property there must be a real neces-
sity; the mere fact that it would be convenient and profitable to the cor-
poration to acquire the property would not justify the exercise of the
right of eminent domain.
Spring Valley W. Works v. San Mateo W. Works, 54 Cal., 123, s:
The proprietor of an irrigating ditch has a property ownership both in the ditch
and the right of way therefor, which can not be taken or damaged for
public use, except upon payment of just compensation.
Tripp v. Overocker, 7 Colo., 72.
Histoppel, *-
One having a right by prior appropriation to the use of the waters of a stream,
who stands by and allows another to purchase from a third party wrong.
fully claiming to have the right to said water, without asserting or mak-
ing known his claim, is estopped from afterwards asserting that claim.
Fabian v. Collins, 3 Mont., 215. *
If a prior appropriator of the water of a stream stood by and saw another appro-
priate the Water of that stream at great expense, under the mistaken
idea that he was thereby acquiring a prior right thereto, and did not in-
form him of the mistake, he, the prior appropriator, and his vendors are
estopped from afterwards claiming such water.
Parke v. Kilham, 8 Cal., 78.
344 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Estoppel–Continued.
The facts that a ditch was constructed at heavy cost and was maintained and
used with the knowledge of the true owners, and without any objection
gº or opposition on their part, are not sufficient to operate an estoppel.
There must be some degree of turpitude in the conduct of a party before
a court of equity will estop him from the assertion of his title.
Biddle Boggs v. Merced Mg, Co., 14 Cal., 279; Anaheim Water Co. v. Seml.
Tropic Water Co., 64 Cal., 185; Stockman v. Riverside L. and I. Co., 64
Cal., 57; Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255.
Estoppel, recital in deed.
A recital in a deed to the effect that the grantee is about to divert the waters of
a certain stream (which flowed through the grantor's land), and to ap-
propriate the same, followed by a grant of the right of way to conduct
water over the land of the grantor, does not estop said grantor from
denying the right of the grantee to divort the waters of said stream.
Zimmler, adm’r, v. San Luis Water Co., 57 Cal., 221.
Estoppel, use of water, notice.
One who acquires a right to the use of a part of the water of a ditch, not to ex-
ceed a certain definite amount, upon condition of paying his pro rata
share of the needed repairs, has the option of using whatever amount be
may desire within the fixed limit and he will not be held liable beyond
the proportion so used ; if, however, he gives notice that he will require
a certain amount, he will be bound by such notice, and estopped from
showing that he did not need or use that amount.
Brown v. Evans, 18 Nev., 141.
Flumes do not change general character of a ditch.
See Ditch, character of, not changed by flumes.
Foreign water. %
See Water-course, natural, may be utilized.
Government, right of, as riparian owner.
..See Riparian rights, Government as owner.
Indian, appropriation by.
See Appropriation, Indian may acquire right by.
Injunction, decree construed.
A decree which forbids interference with the waters of a creek which rise above
a certain dam does not prohibit the use and enjoyment of the waters which
may remain and flow down after the ditch of the complaining party has
been supplied, but simply prevents interference with the water above the
dam or the amount necessary to fill such ditch.
American Co. v. Bradford, 27 Cal., 360.
Injunction, jurisdiction of superior courts.
The superior courts in California have jurisdicticu to grant a preliminary injunc-
tion restraining an alleged trespasser from diverting the waters of a stream
during litigation and to require him to remove the means by which the
diversion is made.
Johnson v. Superior Court, 65 Cal., 567.
Injunction granted to prevent acts injurious to a water right.
An appropriator of water is entitled to protection against acts which materially
diminish the quantity of water to which he is entitled or deteriorate its
quality for use to which he desires to apply it. Equity affords the appro-
priate remedy, by way of an injunction, for such wrongs.
Cole Silver Mg. Co. v. Virginia Gold Hill W. Co., 1 Saw., 470; Tuolumne
Water Co. v. Chapman, 8 Cal., 392; Ruploy v. Welch, 23 Cal, 452;
Phoenix Water Co. v. Fletcher, 23 Cal., 481 ; Moore v. Clear Lake Water
Works, 68 Cal., 146; Lakev. Tolles, 8 Nev.,285; Barnes v. Sabron, 10Ney,
217; Harris v. Shontz, 1 Mont., 212; Gallagher v. Basey, 1 Mont., 457;
Barkley v. Tieleke, 2 Mont., 59; Fabian v. Collins, 3 Mont., 215; Schill-
ing v. Rominger, 4 Colo., 100; Keeney v. Carillo, 2 N. M., 480; Crane ty.
Winsor, 2 Utah, 248,
* A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 345
Injunction the proper remedy for injury to a riparian right.
Equity, by way of injunction, affords to a riparian-proprietor the proper remedy
against the wrongful diversion or obstruction of the waters of a natural
Water-Course.
Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255; Shively v. Hume, 10 Ore., 76; Weiss v. Oregon
Iron and Steel Co., 10 Ore., 496.
Injunction, when issued to protect water rights.
Where it is shown that the injury to a water right is continuing or likely to be
continued, a judgment for damages may be sustained, but an injunction
should not issue. -
Coker v. Simpson, 7 Cal., 340.
Injunction, when, will be granted to prevent injury to a water right.
Whether a court of equity will interfere to restrain acts claimed to be injurious
to the rights of a prior appropriator of water will depend upon the
character and extent of the injury alleged, whether it be irremediable
in its nature, whether an action at law would afford an adequate remedy,
whether the parties are able to respond for the damages resulting from
the injury, and other considerations which ordinarily govern a court of
equity in the exercise of its preventive process of injunction.
Atchison v. Peterson, 20 Wall., 507.
Injury not always necessary to justify an action.
There may be an invasion of a right which will justify an action although actual
damage is not shown. But a distinction must be taken between those
uses of water which are the exercise of the riparian proprietor's natural
rights and those which are not ; in the former case actual damage must
be shown, but need not be in the latter.
Union M. & M. Company v. Dangberg, 2 Saw.,450.
Injury to joint property.
If one of two joint owners of a flume used for mining purposes consents to or di-
rects the cutting of a water ditch above the flume, whereby the water
from the ditch flows over and injures the flume, the parties thus opening
the ditch, in compliance with the request of one of the joint owners of
the injured property, can not be held liable for the injuries that followed.
Crary v. Campbell, 24 Cal., 634.
Injury to water used for mining.
Where a large number of persons are mining on a small stream and each dete-
... riorates the water a little, so that the combined acts of all render the
Water unfit for use, each of such persons can not successfully defend an
action on the ground that his act alone did not materially affect the
Water.
Hill v. Smith, 32 Cal., 166.
Injury, who liable for.
Where two or more parties act, each for himself, in producing a result injurious .
to another, they can not be held jointly liable for the acts of each other.
Blaisdell v. Stephens, 14 Nev., 17.
Invasion of water right, remedy for.
See Injunction granted to prevent acts injurious to a water right.
Irrigation.
See Eminent domain, riparian rights, use for street sprinkling.
Joint liability.
See Injury, who liable for.
Joint property, liability for injury to.
See Injury to joint property.
Jurisdiction of suit for injury to water right.
See Ditch, water right co-extensive with.
Land, oondemnation of, for ditch purposes.
See Eminent domain.
346 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Iland, Covenant which runs with.
See Covenant which runs with land.
Land, possession sufficient for maintenance of action for injury thereto.
See Possession,
Liability of corporation to stockholders.
See Damages, liability of corporation to stockholders.
Iainlitations, statute of
The statute of limitations does not commence to run with regard to lands held
under a Mexican or Spanish grant until the final confirmation thereof by
the Government of the United States.
Richardson v. Williamson, 24 Cal., 289; Reed v. Spicer, 27 Cal., 57; Anderson
v. Fisk, 36 Cal., 625.
Limitations, statute of, effect on action for diversion of water.
Actions for diversion of water must be brought within the period prescribed by
the statute of limitations after the date tho cause of action accrued.
The continuance of the wrongful diversion is a new cause of action or a
new nuisance.
'Toombs v. Hornbuckle, 3 Mont., 193. *
An adverse, exclusive, and uninterrupted use and enjoyment by one person and
those under whom he claims of all the water of a creek taken therefrom
by means of a ditch and conveyed to certain mining grounds for mining
purposes for twelve years, or for any period beyond that of the statute of
limitations prescribing the time of entry shall be made upon real prop-
erty, will bar the owner of the land through which the creek runs of his
riparian rights; but whore the ditch was constructed in which he re-
served the right to use the water a part of each year for his own purposes
such adverse use by grantees from the original appropriator can not be
established unless it is shown that the use of the water by them has been
in hostility to the use of it by the owner under such reservation.
Huston v. Bybee, Ore., Lawyer's Reports, 1889, II, 568. -
Maintenance of ditch, extent of liability for.
See Estoppel, Use of water, Notice.
Miners and agriculturists, relative rights.
Where the titles of two parties to public mineral land rest on possession alone—
one using it for mining and the other for agricultural purposes—the older
possession, as between the two, gives the better right. In the use of their
lands they are to be governed by the common-law rule applicable to ad-
joining land-owners, expressed in the maxim, Sic utere two ut alienum mon
ladas.
Wixon v. Bear River & Auburn W. & Mg. Co., 24 Cal., 367; Gibson v.
Puchta, 33 Cal., 310.
Miners' rights.
Miners have no right to enter upon private land and subject it to such uses as
may be necessary to extract the precious metals which it may contain.
These operations are calculated to destroy the entire value of the land,
and will be restrained by injunction.
Boggs v. Merced Mining Co., 14 Cal., 279; Henshaw v. Clark, 14 Cal., 461.
Miners' rights, injury to.
See Injury to water Tised for mining.
Miners' rights not superior to those of other appropriators.
The rights of miners and persons owning ditches constructed for mining purposes
are not necessarily paramount to other rights and interests of a different
character, but their superiority must rest upon priority in acquisition.
One who appropriates for mining purposes the waters of a stream must
take and use the same in such manner as not to injure the property
rights of others acquired prior to the time the water was thus appropri-
ated.
Wixon v. B. R. and A. W. & M. Co., 24 Cal., 367; Hill v. Smith, 27 Cal., 476;
Levaroni v. Miller, 34 Cal., 231.
^ A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 347
Miners’ rights to water of a stream.
The true rule governing the rights of several miners located on the same stream
is that each is entitled to use in a proper and reasonable mannor both
the channel of the stream and the water flowing therein, and where, from
the situation of the claims, the natural and necessary consequence of the
working of some will result in injury to others it will be damnum abaque
injuria, and will furnish no cause of action to the party injured.
Esmond v. Chew, 15 Cal., 137.
See Appropriation, rights acquired by.
Miners' rights, rule governing.
Miners who have located claims on the side of a hill subsequently to the location
of others in the bed of a stream in the vicinity must so use and work their
claims as not to injure those of the prior locators.
Logan v. Driscoll, 19 Cal., 623.
Navigable stream defined.
Where a stream is naturally of sufficient size to float mill-logs, timber, and small
boats, the public have a right to its free use for that purpose; nor is it
essential that such capacity continue through the year.
Shaw v. Oswego Iron Co., 10 Ore., 371.
Negligence, liability for, in construction of dam or ditch.
One who constructs a dam or ditch for the purpose of appropriating water is
bound to exercise in the construction and management thereof that de-
gree of care and prudence which men generally, or ordinarily prudent
men, use in like instances when the whole risk is their own. Both the
. and fact of prudence must depend upon the particular circum-
Slö3,Il C628.
Hoffman v. Tuolumne County W. Co., 10 Cal., 412; Wolf v. St. Louis Inde-
pendent Water Co., 10 Cal., 541; Fraler v. Sears Union Water Co., 12
Cal., 555; Burbank v. W. Walker River Ditch Co., 13 Nev., 431; Turner
v. Tuolumne County W. Co., 25 Cal., 398; Richardson v. Kier, 34 Cal., 63;
Campbell v. B. R. & A. W. & M. Co., 35 Cal., 679.
Notice of appropriation.
An appropriator of water who, after duly posting a notice of his intention to take
the water and while prosecuting the work for perfecting such appropria-
tion, posts a second notice of intention to take the same water, does not
thereby abandon his claim under the first notice. Notices of intention
to appropriate water are to be liberally construed.
Osgood v. El Dorado Co., 56 Cal., 571.
Notice of appropriation, W º
The notice of intention to appropriate, in order to cause such appropriation to
relate to the date of the notice, must be sufficient to put a prudent man
on inquiry.
Kimball v. Gearhart, 12 Cal., 27; Robinson v. Imperial Silver Mg. Co., 5
Nev., 44
Notice of nuisance, when necessary.
A party who continues a nuisance, but is not the original creator of it, is entitled
to notice that it is a nuisance, and a request must be made that it may
be abated before an action will lie for that purpose, unless it appear that
he had knowledge of its hurtful character; when the extent of the nui-
sance was increased by such party the rule is otherwise.
Grigsby v. Clear Lake W. Co., 40 Cal., 396.
Notice, what, necessary.
The inclosure of ground is not necessary to give notice of appropriation of public
land for a canal or ditch.
Conger v. Weaver, 6 Cal., 548.
Nuisance, diversion of water.
See Action for diversion of water.
The diversion of a water-course or of water from one rightfully entitled to the
use thereof is a private nuisance.
Parke v.Kilham, 8 Cal., 77; Tuolumne Water Co. v. Chapman, 8 Cal., 392.
348 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATEs.
Nuisance, pollution of water.
The owners of a water ditch are entitled to have the water flow therein in its
natural state when they claim such water by appropriation, and its
pollution by a stranger is a private nuisance.
Crane v. Winsor, 2 Utah, 248.
Nuisance, parties defendant.
Where several parties owning mines at different points on the same stream or its
tributaries discharge the débris from said mines into the stream, by which
it is carried down and deposited on the lands of another, said miners may
all be properly made parties defendant in a suit to enjoin such action.
The Mining Débris Case, 8 Saw., 628. -
Nuisance, public, a private person may maintain an action against.
A private person may maintain an action against a public Inuisance if it is spec-
ially injurious to himself or his property. *
The Mining Débris Case, 9 Saw., 441; Blanc v. Klumpke, 29 Cal., 156; Grigs-
by v. Clear Lake Water Co., 40 Cal., 396.
Nuisance, when notice before action to abate necessary.
See Notice of nuisance, when necessary. *
Nuisance, who may sue to enjoin.
One tenant in common of land injured by a public and private nuisance may sue
to enjoin the nuisance without making his co-tenant a party to such suit
either as complainant or defendant.
The Mining Débris Case, 8 Saw., 628.
Obstruction, right of appropriator to remove.
See Appropriator, right to remove obstruction.
Obstruction, right of riparian proprietor to place, in the stream.
See Riparian rights.
Overflow of land, prescriptive right.
See Easement for flow of water.
Owner of ditch, public carrier.
See Ditch-owners as carriers, duties of.
Parties, proper in action for diversion.
The several appropriators of the water of a stream have not that community of
interest that would qualify them to maintain a joint action for the diver-
sion of the water and for a settlement of the various rights of such appro-
priators.
Schultz v. Winter, 7 Nev., 130.
Parties, who necessary, in suits concerning water rights.
In an action to determine the relative rights of parties to the use of the water of
a stream, those persons above who have diverted water from said stream
and returned it undiminished in quantity before it reaches the party
claiming to be injured are not necessary parties to such suit.
Smith v. Logan, 18 Nev., 149. w
Partition of water. º
Water flowing in a ditch is not susceptible of division, and where such property
is held by tenants in common, the only partition the courts can make is
to order a sale and a distribution of the proceeds.
McGillivray v. Evans, 27 Cal., 92; Lorenz v. Jacobs, 59 Cal., 262.
Partners, conveyance by one does not affect the interests of the other.
One of two parties who appropriate water by means of a ditch can convey only
his interest therein ; he can not by his conveyance affect the interest of
the other in the water nor his right to the use of the ditch for the flow of
the water to which he is entitled.
Henderson v. Nichols, 67 Cal., 152.
Percolating water.
Percolating water, or water passing through the soil in any manner other than
in a well-defined channel, cannot be distinguished from the estate itself,
and the owner of the soil may use it as he may desire, free from any
usufructuary rights of others.
Hanson v. McCue, 42 Cal., 303; Huston v. Leach, 53 Cal., 262; Cross v. Kitts,
º Cal., 217; Mosier v. Caldwell, 7 Nev., 363; Strait v. Brown, 16 Nev.,
317.
A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 349
Percolating water.
When it does not appear that a spring is fed by any defined flowing stream, it
must be presumed that it is formed by the ordinary percolations of water
in the soil. -
Hanson v. McCue, 42 Cal., 303.
Personal property, when water becomes.
Water, when collected in reservoirs or pipes, and thus separated from the original
source of supply, is personal property, and is as much the subject of Sale
as ordinary goods and merchandise.
Heyneman v. Blake, 19 Cal., 579.
Place of use.
The right to water acquired by prior appropriation is not in any way dependent
upon the locus of its application to the beneficial use designed or to the
particular use to which it was first applied.
Atchison v. Peterson, 20 Wall., 507; Maeris v. Bicknell, 7 Cal., 261; McDonald
v. B. R. & A. W. & Mg. Co., 13 Cal., 220; Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26;
Coffin v. Left Hand Ditch Co., 6 Colo., 443; Thomas v. Guiraud, 6 Colo.,
530; Woolman v. Garringer, 1 Mont., 535. -
Point of diversion.
One entitled to divert a quantity of water from a stream may take the same at
any point on the stream, and may change the point of diversion if the
rights of others be not injuriously affected by the change.
Kidd v. Laird, 15 Cal., 161 ; Butte Table Mg. Co. v. Morgan, 19 Cal., 609;
Junkans v. Bergin, 67 Cal., 267; Sieber v. Frink, 7 Colo., 148; Hobart v.
Wicks, 15 Nev., 418. -
One entitled to divert a quantity of water from a stream can not change the
point of diversion, if by such change the rights of other appropriators be
injuriously affected.
Butte Table Mg. Co. v. Morgan, 19 Cal., 609; Nevada Water Co. v. Powell, 34.
Cal., 109; Columbia Mg. Co. v. Holter, 1 Mont., 296.
One having acquired a right to divert water, whether by express grant or by
prescription, whether such right rests in the parole license or the pre-
sumed consent of the proprietor, may change the point of diversion at
pleasure, if the rights of others are not injuriously affected by such change.
The difference as to the manner in which such a right was acquired re-
lates to the mode of determining the existence and extent of the right,
and not to the manner of its exercise and enjoyment.
Kidd v. Laird, 15 Cal., 161.
Pollution of water a nuisance.
See Nuisance, pollution of water.
Possession sufficient to maintain action for injury to land.
The rightful possession of land is sufficient to enable one to maintain an action
for an interruption to that possession or for any injury to the property.
Crandall v. Woods, 8 Cal., 136; McDonald v. B. R. & A. W. & M. Co., 13 Cal.,
220; Norris v. Glenn, 1 Idaho, 590; Simpson v. Williams, 18 Nev., 432.
Powers of water commissioners. *
See Water commissioners.
Practice, distinct causes of action.
An entry upon and ouster from a dam-site and dam in process of construction and
a canal-site, and canal in process of construction, and a diversion of the
water claimed by means of the daun and canal, are two distinct causes
of action, which can not be united in the same statement of cause of
action in a complaint, but should be separately stated,
N. C. & S. Canal Co. v. Kidd, 37 Cal., 282.
Practice, local customs must be proven.
Courts will not take judicial notice of local customs. One who alleges the ex- §
istence of a right to water appropriated under a local custom, such as is
recognized by the act of July 26, 1866, must prove the existence of such
Custom. *
Lewis v. McClure, 8 Ore., 273.
Prescription.
A right to the use of water may be acquired by an exclusive and uninterrupted
enjoyment of the water in a particular way for a period corresponding
to the time fixed by statute of limitations as a bar to an entry on land.
Crandall v. Woods, 8 Cal., 133; Union Water Co. v. Crary, 25 Cal., 504; Amer-
ican Co. v. Bradford, 27 Cal, 360; Los Angeles v. Baldwin, 53 Cal., 469.
350 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
/
Prescription—Continued.
One who was allowed, at a time when there was sufficient water in the stream to
supply the wants and demands of all parties, to divert and use water -
without objection by a riparian owner or former appropriator, but whose
use and diversion were objected to when the water became scarce and the
supply insufficient for all, does not by such use acquire a prescriptive
right to such water.
Feliz v. City of Los Angeles, 58 Cal., 73; Anaheim Water Co. v. Semi-Tropic
Water Co., 64 Cal., 185. •
No right by prescription can be acquired as against the Government
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw, 176; Mathow v. Ferrea, 45 Cal., 51; Og-
burn v. Conner, 46 Cal., 346; Wilkins v. McCue, 46 Cal., 656; Vansickle v.
Haines, 7 Nev.,249.
If one goes upon public land of the United States and appropriates water for a
lawful purpose, and is permitted to continuo in its adverse enjoyment and
use for more than ten years, such appropriation ripens into a title which
can not be disturbed by one succeeding to the rights of the United States.
Tolman v. Casey, 15 Ore., 83.
One who has acquired a prescriptive right to the use of water as against a pro-
prietor on a natural stream can not claim such right against the same
person as to lands lying farther down the stroam and afterwards acquired
from the Government by him.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176.
JPrescription, burden of proof.
The burden of proving an adverso use of water for the statutory period, with the
knowledge and acquiescence of the person having the prior right, is cast
upon the person alloging such adverse use. -
Union M. & M, Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw.; 176; the Mining Débris Case, 9 Saw.,441;
American Co. v. Bradford, 27 Cal., 360.
Prescription, extent of right.
The right acquired by prescription is measured by the right enjoyed; it is always
confined to the right as exorcised for the full period of time prescribed by
the statute.
Boynton v. Longley, 19 Nev., 69.
Prescription pleadings.
Ono claiming a right to water by virtue of the adverse use thereof for the statu-
tory period must set up said right in his pleadings in order to entitle him
to submit testimony in support of Such claim.
American Co. v. Bradford, 27 Cal., 360; Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255.
Prescription, what necessary to establish right by.
One who claims a right to water by reason of an adverse use for the statutory
period must show that such use was open, peaceable, and uninterrupted,
and under claim or color of right. -1
Union M. & M. Co. v. Dangberg, 2 Saw., 450; the Mining Débris Case, 9 Saw.,
441; Grigsby v. Clear Lake Water Co., 40 Cal., 396; Cave v. Crafts, 53
Cal., 135; Lodu v. Jim Yet Wa, 67 Cal., 346; Winter v. Winter, 8.Nev., 129.
To establish a right by prescription or adverse use, the acts by which such right
is sought to be established must operate as an invasion of the rights of the
party against whom it is set up. The enjoyment relied upon must be of
such a character as to afford ground for an action by the other party.
Union M. and M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176; Grigsby v. Clear Lake Water Co.,
40 Cal., 396; Anaheim Water Co. v. Semi-Tropio Water Co., 64 Cal., 185;
Dick v. Bird, 14 Nev., 161 ; Dick v. Caldwell, 14 Nov., 167; Boynton v.
Clear Lake Water Co., 40 Cal., 396. -
Prescription right to overflow land.
See Easement for overflow of Water.
Prior appropriation.
Sée Appropriation.
Private property may be taken for public use.
See Eminent domain.
Property of Government in stream.
The Government, as proprictor of lands through which a stream of water natu-
rally ſlows, has the same property right in the stream that any other
owner of land has, be it usufructuary otherwise.
Union M. and M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176; The Mining Döbris Case, 9 Saw.,
441; Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255; Vamsickle v. Haines, 7 Nev., 249,
A D1GEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 351
Protection of land against stream, right of
See Riparian proprietor.
Public land, eagement on,
Land claimed by a pre-emptor remains public land tuntil he proves up and pays
for it. Land upon which pre-emption filing is placed after the passage of
the acts of July 26, 1866, and July 9, 1870, may at any time before proof
and payment be subjected to the right of way for a ditch or reservoir
under the provisions of said acts.
Farley v. Spring Valley M. and I. Co., 58 Cal., 142.
See Statutes, act July 29, 1866.
Public lands, rights acquired by possession.
See Miners and agriculturists, Relative rights, Riparian rights.
Public land, rights of settlers on.
A tract of the public domain upon which one has settled with the intention of
acquiring title thereto under the pre-emption law remains public land
subject to disposition by the proper authorities, until such settler has
perfected his right by showing compliance with the requirements of said
law and payment of the purchase price.
1Frisbie v. Whitney, 9 Wall., 187; Yosemite Valley Case, 15 Wall.., 77; Hut-
§ Q), ºble 37 Cal., 475; Western Pac. R. R. Co. v. Tevis & Kerr, 41
al., 489.
Occupation and improvement of public land with a view to pre-emption confers
an inchoate right that may be protected by the courts against the claims
of other pèrsons who have not an equal or superior right. Such a settler,
however, acquires no vested right until the purchase Inoney has been
pººl and a receipt issued.
Frisbie v. Whitney, 9 Wall., 187.
Purchaser of land presumed to have notice of water rights.
One who buys land is presumed to buy with notice of the water rights in use on
the premises.
Coffman v. Robbins, 8 Ore., 278.
Real property, water in a natural stream is.
Although an appropriator may be entitled to the flow of the water undiminished
at the head of his ditch, yet the water in the stream is not his personal
property but a part of the Tealty, and he can not maintain an action for
the value of the water, as for personal property sold and delivered,
against one who has wrongfully diverted the waters of said stream.
7 Parks C. & M. Co. v. Hoyt, 57 Cal., 44.
Real property, water ditches and rights are.
See Water ditches are real property.
Reasonable use of water.
See Riparian rights, reasonable use.
Relation. s
See Appropriation, relation.
Reservoirs, natural depressions.
One may utilize as a reservoir for storing water a natural depression on the public
land which includes the bed of a stream, but he must see to it that no
legal right of prior appropriators or other persons is in any way interfered
with by his acts.
Larimer County R. Co. v. People ex rel. , 8 Colo., 614.
JRight of way, change of direction of ditch.
One who has acquired the right to go upon a tract of land and construct a ditch
agross the same may change the course of such ditch from the line origin-
ally surveyed, and if such diversion worked no actual injury to the owner
of the land, he will not be liable for even nominal damages.
Conger v. Weaver, 6 Cal., 548.
Right of way, conveyance of
A deed which conveys the right of way for an existing ditch is in effect a con-
veyance of the ditch itself.
Reed v. Spicer, 27 Cal., 57.
352 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Right of way through city.
A municipal corporation which accepts the dedication of streets across which a
ditch has been previously, located and right of way therefor acquired,
takes the same subject to the prior rights of the owners of the ditch; and
when the necessities of the public require that such ditch be bridged at
the street crossings, it is the duty of the city, and not of the owner of
the ditch, to construct such bridges.
Denver v. Mullen, 7 Colo., 345.
Right of way under act of July 26, 1866.
Under act of Congress of July 26, 1866, one has a right to construct a ditch across
the public lands of the United States, subject only to the liability of
paying for any damage to the possession of a settler on the land.
Hobart v. Ford, 6 Nev., 77; Shoemaker v. Hatch, 13 Nev., 261.
Riparian owner, boundary line of land.
Where a navigable stream has been meandered in making the public surveys the
meander line is run for the purpose of marking the sinuosities of the
stream rather than the boundaries of the tract of land bordering on
such streams, the stream itself and not the meander line as actually run
on the ground is the true boundary of tracts bordering on such streams.
Railroad Company v. Schurmier, 7 Wall., 272; Minto v. Delaney, 7 Wall., 337;
Moore v. Willamette Transportation Co., 7 Ore., 355.
Riparian proprietors.
The section of the civil code of California which provides “the rights of riparian
proprietors are not affected by tho provisions of this title * declares, in
effect, that those appropriating water under the previous sections shall
not acquire the right to deprive of the flow of the stream those who shall
have obtained from the State a title to, or right of possession in, riparian
lands before proceedings leading to appropriation were taken.
Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255. *
The common law doctrine of riparian rights is unsuited to the condition of the
State of Nevada.
Reno Smelting M. & R. v. Stevenson, (Nev.) Lawers' Reps. (1889), IV, 60.
Riparian proprietors, lease, estoppel.
An upper riparian proprietor, who enters into an agreement with a lower pro-
prietor, whereby the latter grants for a certain term the right to the use
of the waters of the adjoining stream for domestic purposes and irriga-
tion is not, upon the expiration of the agreement, thereby estopped from
asserting his rights as a riparian proprietor to the use of the waters of
such stream.
Swift v. Goodrich, 71) Cal., 103.
Riparian proprietors, rights as against appropriators of water.
An appropriation of water on public lands of the United States, made after the
act of July 26, 1866, did not give the appropriator any right as against a
riparian owner under a grant from the United States made prior to said
act.
Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255; Vansickle v. Haines, 7 Nev., 249.
Riparian proprietor, right to protect his land from injury by stream.
A riparian proprietor has a right to protect his land #om a threatened change in
the channel of an adjoining stream and to erect works to prevent the old
course of the stream from being altered.
Barnes v. Marshall, 68 Cal., 569.
See Waste,
Riparian rights, division of water by parol agreement.
Where the water of a stream which passes through the lands of different persons
has been divided by them by parol agreement, and each party has con-
structed ditches, and has received, cared for, and enjoyed his portion of
said waters for years, such parol agreement should be upheld in equity.
Coffman v. Robbins, 8 Ore., 278.
Riparian rights, extent of
The owner of land through or along which a natural stream flows has a right to
the reasonable use of the water of such stream during its passage, but has
no right in the corpus of the water.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Dangberg, 2 Saw., 450; Eddy v. Simpson, 3 Cal., 249;
Crandall v. Woods, 8 Cal., 136: Kidd v. Laird, 15 Cal., 161; Hale v. Mo-
Lea, 53 Cal., 578; Pope v. Kinman, 54 Cali, 3; Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal.,
255; Weiss v. Oregon Iron & Steel Co., 13 Ore., 496,
'A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONs. 353
Riparian rights, extent of Continued.
Every proprietor of land through which flows a stream of water has a right to
the use of the water flowing in its natural channel without dimunition
or obstruction, except so far as upper riparian owners may use said water
for domestic use, stock, and reasonable irrigation.
Taylor v. Welch, 6 Ore., 198; Hayden v. Long, 8 Ore., 244; Coffman v. Rob-
bins, 8 Ore., 278;Shively v. Hume, 10 Ore., 76.
The owner of land on a water-course has a right to the free flow of the water to his
land without obstruction, and an owner above in protecting his land
from injury can not cut off the water of the stream by a dam.
Bliss v. Johnson, 76 Cal., 597.
When a natural stream of water flows through lands belonging to different per-
sons, each usually has the right to enjoy it for the ordinary purposes of
life ; the right to drink it, to use it for culinary purposes, and to water
animals. Any surplus after these purposes are supplied may be used for
irrigation, and should be equitably divided between the several proprie-
tors.
Shook v. Colohan, 12 Ore., 239.
Riparian rights, extent of, necessities.
A riparian proprietor is entitled to take from the stream as much water as is nec-
essary for watering his cattle and for domestic uses, even though such
necessities may consume all the waters of the stream.
Union M. & M. Co., 2 Saw., 450; Ferrea v. Knipe, 28 Cai., 340; Hale v. Mc-
Lea, 53 Cal., 578; Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255.
Riparian rights, equitable title confers.
One who has entered and paid for his land under the pre-emption law and has re-
ceived a certificate of purchase, or one who has entered land under the
homestead act and has continued to reside thereon, has the equitable
title to such land, and is entitled to riparian rights.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176.
Riparian rights, Government as owner.
The Government, as proprietor of the land through which a stream flows, has the
same property and right in the stream that any other proprietor would
have.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176.
Riparian rights, grantees of Government.
The grantee or patentee of the Government acquires common-law rights in the
waters lowing through the land granted, except when such rights are
reSeTVeC1.
Lux v Haggin, 69 Cal., 255; Vansickle v Haines, 7 Nev., 249. §
A stream of running water is part and parcel of the land through which it flows
inseparably annexed to the soil, and the use of it as an incident of the
soil passes to the patentee of the land.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176.
Riparian rights, irrigation.
A riparian proprietor may take water from the stream and may make reasonable
use of it for purposes of irrigation.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176; Ellis v. Tone, 58 Cal., 289; Anaheim
W. Co. v. Semi-Tropic W. Co., 64 Cal., 185; Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255;
Swift v. Goodrich, 70 Cal., 103; Coffman v. Robbins, 8 Ore., 278.
A riparian proprietor is not entitled to divert and use all the water of a stream
for the purpose of irrigation without regard to the wants and necessities
of other riparian proprietors, although the amount so diverted and used
was no more than necessary for the irrigation of his lands.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176; Hale v. McLea, 53 Cal., 578; Ellis
v. Tone, 58, Cal., 289; Larned v. Tangeman, 65 Cal., 334; Gould v. Staf-
ford, 77 Cal., 66. e
Riparian rights, obstruction of stream.
While a riparian owner to whom the water first comes in its flow has a right to
use it for domestic purposes and for watering cattle, he has not the right
to so obstruct the stream as to prevent the water running jºš
as in a state of nature it was accustomed to run.
Ferrea v. Knipe, 28 Cal., 341; Lobdell v. Simpson, 2 Nev., 274.
138 A L-AP WOL IV—23
354 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Riparian rights, possession confers.
One who appropriates public land acquires a right to the use of water flowing
through it, and this right is good as against every one, except the Gov-
ernment and those who may have acquired prior rights thereto.
Crandall v. Woods, 8 Cal., 136; Leigh Co. v. Independent Ditch Co., 8 Cal.,
323; Huston v. Byhee (Ore.), Sawyers Rep., 1889, II, 568.
Riparian rights, possession of unsnrveyed lands.
A mere possessor of unsurveyed public land has no riparian rights.
Covington v. Becker, 5 Nev., 281; Lake v Tollos, 8 Nev., 285.
Riparian rights, reasonable use.
A reasonable use of the waters of a stream by a riparian proprietor may be de-
fined as any use that does not work actual, material, and substantial
damage to the common right which each proprietor has, as limited and
Qualified by tho precisely equal right of every other proprietor.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Dangberg, 2 Saw., 450; Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255.
Sale of water, effect on prior right to its use.
One who has built a mill on a stream thereby appropriates the water-power at
that point, and does not by the conveyance of the water at a point above
his mill lose his prior right over one who has claimed the water below
the mill for mining purposes.
McDonald v. Askew, 29 Cal., 200.
Springs.
The owner of a head spring is not justified in exhausting it, for purposes of irri-
gation, to the injury of owners lower down on the main channel of the
of tho stream.
Heming v. Davis, 37 Tex., 183.
Statutes, act of July 26, 1866.
The doctrine of right by prior appropriation was recognized by the act of Con-
gress of July 26, 1866.
Atchison v. Peterson, 20 Wall., 507; Basey v. Gallagher, 20Wall., 670; Union
M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176; Cave v. Crafts, 53 Cal., 135; Osgood
v. El Dorado W. & M. Co., 56 Cal., 571.
The act of July 26, 1866, confirmed rights already held under the local customs,
laws, and decisions of the courts; it did not introduce any new system
or any new or different policy on the part of the Government; it recog-
nized, sanctioned, protected, and confirmed the system already estab-
lished and provided for its continuance,
*Jennison v. Kirk, 98 U. S., 453; Broder v. Natoma Water Co., 101 U. S., 274;
Titcomb v. Kirk, 51 Cal., 288; Jones v. Adams, 19 Nev., 78.
The act of July 26, 1866, conferred upon parties desiring to divert water from a
natural stream the right to construct across the public lands ditches for
that purpose, subject only to the liability of paying for any damages to
the possession of a settler on such lands.
Hobart v. Ford, 6 Nev., 77; Shoemaker v. Hatch, 13 Nev., 261.
It is not necessary, in order that a right may be entitled to protection under sec-
tion 9 of tho act of July 26, 1866, that there should be a union of the
three conditions therein mentioned; that is, that said right should be
recognized by the local customs, laws, and decisions of the courts.
Basey v. Gallagher, 20 Wall., 670; Barnes v. Sabron, 10 Nev., 217.
The act of July 26, 1866, does not affect the rights of one who had acquired a
right to land and water ſlowing across it prior to the passage of said
act.
Union M. & M. Co. v. Ferris, 2 Saw., 176; Union M. & M. Co. v. Dangberg,
2 Saw., 450; Lux v. Haggin, 69 Cal., 255.
The act of Congress of July 26, 1866, was adopted simply to protect those who
were at the time diverting water from its natural channels on the public
lands and no diversion had been previously authorized. - --
Vansickle v. Haines, 7 Nev., 249.
One has a right under the act of Congress (July 26, 1866) to go upon Govern-
ment land and divert the waters of a natural stream, and to the extent
of his appropriation he acquires a vested right therein, and Whoever
afterwards purchases above or below him takes subject to such prior ap-
propriation.
Kaler v. Campbell, 13 Ore., 596.
A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 855
Statutes—General Statutes Colorado, section 1718.
That portion of section 1718, General Statutes of Colorado, which limits the
amount of compensation to be paid to the owner of a ditch by one who
desires to enlarge or use the same, under the provisions of said law, to
a reasonable proportion of the cost of construction of said ditch, is un-
constitutional. The compensation for taking or damaging private prop:
erty against the owner's consent must be ascertained by a jury or board
of commissioners,
Tripp v. Overocker, 7 Colo., 72.
Statutes, act of March 3, 1869, Nevada.
The statute of March 3, 1869, merely provides for a right of entry on the land of
another for the purpose of surveying for a ditch or flume and the man-
ner in which such lands may be condemned, and does not confer any
right of priority upon one complying with its provisions.
Barnes v. Sabron, 10 Nev., 217
Texas.
The colinization law of Texas and the statutos of the State recognize the right
to use water for irrigation purposes.
Tolle v. Correth, 31 Tex., 362.
Statute of limitation.
See Limitations, statute of.
Subterraneous streams,
See Underground streams.
Tenants in common, appropriators are.
See Appropriators, tenants in common.
Trespasser, appropriation by.
See Water right, when an appurtenance.
Underground streams.
The rules of law, which govern the use of streams flowing upon the surface of
the earth are equally applicable to underground currents of water flow-
ing in defined channels.
Hanson v. McCue, 42 Cal., 303; Cross v. Kitts, 69 Cal., 217 ; Keeney v. Ca-
Tillo, 2 N. M., 480; Strait v. Brown, 16 Nev., 317; Taylor v. Welch, 6
Ore., 198; Shively v. Hume, 10 Ore., 76.
Use, beneficial, is test of appropriation.
See Appropriation.
Use, by riparian proprietor.
See Riparian rights, extent of.
Use of water for street sprinkling is use for irrigation.
A contract by which it is agreed to furnish water to the inhabitants of a city “for
domestic purposes” does not include water for irrigation. Water used
for sprinkling streets is water used for the purposes of irrigation.
Los Angeles Water Co. v. Los Angeles City, 55 Cal., 176.
Use, place of
See Place of use.
Usufructuary rights.
See Appropriator's rights in water of a natural stream are usufructuary, Riparian
rights, extent of. •
Waste. -*. -
A person having the right to the exclusive use of the water flowing through a
ditch constructed across the land at any point, where he may desire to
turn it for irrigating purposes during the spring and summer months,
has the preference during the Season when, he requires the water for
irrigation, but he has no right to Waste it at any time, at other times the
owner of the ditch has the full right to use it.
Huston v. Byhee (Ore.), Lawyer's Rep. (1889), II, 568.
356 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Water commissioners, extent of authority.
A board of water commissioners, under the act of California of May 15, 1854, has
no authority to enter upon a private water-course and to disturb the
owners thereof in its use and enjoyment. •º.
Charnock v. Rose, 70 Cal., 189.
Water commissioners’ actions may be reviewed by the courts.
It is the duty of the board of water commissioners, upon petition, to locate and
lay out a proposed water ditch, and when it is constructed to apportion
the water among those interested according to their respective interests;
but the action of the board in making such apportionment is subject to
review by the courts.
Daley v. Cox, 48 Cal., 127.
Water companies, rights and privileges of. g
Corporations organized to furnish the inhabitants of a city with pure, fresh
water, like companies organized to furnish gas to the inhabitants of a
city, are engaged in a “species of trade and commerce,” and are gov-
erned by the provisions of the State law relating to such corporations.
Heyneman v. Blake, 19 Cal., 579; Price v. Riverside L. & I. Co., 56 Cal., 431.
Water-course defined.
To constitute a water-course there must be bed, banks, and water; the water
must usually flow in a certain direction and by a regular channel; the
water need not flow continually, but the stream must have a well-de-
fined and substantial existence.
Barnes v. Sabron, 10 Nev., 217.
Water-course, natural, used to carry water acquired by appropriation.
One who avails himself of a natural water-course to conduct water he has appro-
priated to the place where he designs to use it does not abandon the water
thus turned into the natural stream, and may divert the same quantity
at the place he desires to use it.
Hoffman v. Stone, 7 Cal., 46; Butte Canal & Ditch Co. v. Vaughn, 11 Cal.,
143; Davis v. Gale, 32 Cal., 26; Ellis v. Tone, 58 Cal., 289; Schulz v.
Sweeny, 19 Nev., 359.
Water-course, natural, used to convey water.
One who has brought water from a distance and emptied it into a natural stream
with the intention of taking it out again may not so reclaim it as to
diminish the quantity to which a prior locator or appropriator was en-
titled.
Butte Canal & Ditch Co. v. Waughn, 11 Cal., 143; Burnett v. Whitesides, 15
Cal., 35 ; Wilcox v. Hausch, 64 Cal., 461.
Water-course, natural, used to convey water, burden of proof,
Upon one who turns water into a natural water-course for the purpose of convey-
ing it to the place where it is to be used and there diverting it from said
stream is cast the burden of showing that he has not taken from the
stream more water than he turned into it. *sº
Butte C. & D. Co. v. Waughn, 11 Cal., 143; Wilcox v. Hausch, 64 Cal., 461.
Water ditches are real property.
A water ditch and the water right appurtenant thereto are real property.
Hill v. Newman, 5 Cal., 445; Lower Kings D. Co. v. Lower Kings R. & F. C.
Co., 60 Cal., 408; Dodge v. Marten, 7 Ore., 456.
Whether ditch property in the mineral regions of this State, although conceded
to be real estate, is to be regarded by courts of equity with the same
measure of favor that is bestowed by them upon land held and cherished
for itself, and whether such courts will interfere by way of injunction to
protect ditch property, admits of at least serious doubt.
Clark v. Willett, 35 Cal., 534.
Water ditch, when public property.
An irrigating ditch, constructed, repaired, and controlled by two or more persons
does not cease to be private property because they have not accurately
defined their respective rights therein, or because they have selected
some one to distribute the water among those interested therein. Such
ditch is not subject to the control of the board of water commissioners
for the district in which it is situated.
Cate v. Sanford, 54 Cal., 24.
ſº
A DIGEST OF LEGAL DECISIONS. 357
Water, diversion of
See Diversion of water.
Water, personal property.
See Personal property.
Water right, co-extensive with ditch.
See Appropriator's right co-extensive with his ditch.
Water right, deed of, does not convey mill-site.
A deed conveying the right to the use of the water of a river between certain
points does not convey the land of a mill-site on the river.
Robinson v. Imperial S. Mg. Co., 5 Nev., 44.
Water right, transfer of. *
An executed contract which passed the equitable title to a ditch to which a water
º: was appurtenant, is sufficient to insure the grantee the rights for
which he stipulated as against an adverse claimant.
Ortman v. Dixon, 13 Cal., 33.
The right to water acquired by appropriation is a species of realty, and requires
for its transfer the same form and solemnity as is required for the convey-
ance of any other real estate.
Barkley v. Tieleke, 2 Mont., 59; Smith v. O’Hara, 43 Cal., 371.
Right to water acquired by appropriation may be transferred like other prop-
€I'UV.
McDºña v. B. R. & A. W. & M. Co., 13 Cal., 220; Union Water Co. v. Crary
25 Cal., 504; Dalton v. Bowker, 8 Nev., 190.
The right to the use of a water-course in the public mineral lands, and the right to
divert and use the water taken therefrom acquired by appropriation, may
be held, granted, abandoned, or lost by the same means as a right of the
same character issuing out of lands to which a private title exists.
Union Water Co. v. Crary, 25 Cal., 504.
Water right, when an appurtenance.
A right which secures to the owner of a tract of land water for irrigating or
other purposes necessary to the beneficial enjoyment of the land becomes
appurtenant to said land and passes by a conveyance thereof.
Cave v. Crafts, 53 Cal., 135; Farmer v. Ukiah Water Co., 56 Cal., 11 ; Stan-
dart v. Round Valley Water Co., 77 Cal., 399.
If the right to use the water were acquired by appropriation for the purpose
of operating a mill on the stream, such right would pass by the transfer
of said mill property to a vendee.
McDonald v. B. R. & A. W. & M. Co., 13 Cal., 220.
The water supply of a mill will ordinarily pass with a conveyance of the mill, but
in order to do so it must belong to the mill, must be the property of the
owner thereof.
Ginocchio v. Amador C. & M. Co., 67 Cal., 493.
The purchase by a mining company of a water ditch and rights appertaining
thereto does not necessarily constitute said ditch and water rights ap-
purtenances of the mining claim. Upon one who asserts that a ditch and
water rights are appurtenant to a mining claim is cast the burden of
§º that such is the fact.
Quirk v. Falk, 47 Cal., 453.
The right to water appropriated to irrigate a certain tract of land by one who had
no title to said land, but was a mere trespasser, does not become appur-
fººt to the land, and does not pass to a purchaser from the owner of the
8)] (1.
Smith v. Logan, 18 Nev., 149.
To entitle one to recover in an action in ejectment he must show that he is en-
titled to possession of the premises; but he is not required to show that
he is entitled to the enjoyment of a stream of water running through the
premises or that he was damaged by the diversion of it.
Dilley v. Sherman, 2 Nev., 67. -
When a canal or aqueduct has been constructed in two separate parts by different
contractors at different times, the two sections being ſed in part from dif-
ferent sources, and the Supreme Court of the United States has decided
that the two sections constitute separate and distinct works, the water
supply of the one must be held not an appurtenance of the other section.
Reynolds v. Hosmer, 51 Cal., 205.
358 IRRIGATION IN THE UNITED STATES.
Water rights acquired under license to use.
One who takes possession of water under a verbal license to use the same, during
the time that the grantor did not need the use thereof, acquires no rights
which could be sold and transferred to another.
Fabian v. Collins, 3 Mont., 215.
Water rights are real property.
The right to running water may exist without private ownership of the soil upon
the ground of prior appropriation. The right to water must be treated
as a right running with the land and as a corporeal privilege bestowed
upon the occupier or appropriator of the soil, and as such it has none of
the characteristics of mere personality.
Hill v. Newman, 5 Cal., 445.
Water, use of, by those entitled may be regulated by a court of equity.
It is within the power and authority of a court of equity to ascertain and deter-
mine the extent of the rights of property in water, flowing in a natural
water-course, acquired by persons who hold and are entitled to them, and
to regulate between or among them the use in the flow of the water in
such a way as to maintain equality of rights in the enjoyment of the com-
mon property. i
Frey v. Lowden, 70 Cal. 550.
IIN ID THE X.
A. Tage
Altitudes, and their relations to irrigation—
California, of.------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * tº gº tº º tº 34
Coast Range table lands------------------------------------------------ 9
§. Mountains, of.----------------------------------- tº as as a se e º sº sº sº º 136
Dakota, of.----------------------------- e e s is as a 2 m e º an e s = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 79
Dayton --------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 43
Foot-Hills, Lower-...----...-------...-- * * * * e as s as e = e s s s as e e s s a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 13
Fresno County, in-...----------------------- as ºn an as e º sº e º e º e º we e º º is ſº as a se as as e º sº sº º sº 12
Harney Peak, Dakota.---------------------------------------------------- 79
Kern County, of.------------------------------ g = e ºs e e a s a sº w w e s s an e º dº sº º sº * * * * 12
Mount Whitney--------------------------------------------------.- - - - - - - 9
Nevada, State of.------------------------ sº e = e º e a e a we as s is e a se an e s w = * * * * * * * * * * 75
Plains region, of.------------------------------------------------------- 4
Plateau region, northern Arizona. -------...------------------------------- 7
Rain-fall, belt of.-------------------------------------------------------- 30
San Jacinto Mountain, of.---------------------------...------------------- 29,30
San Luis Valley, of.----------------------------------------------------- 66
Tulare County, of. ----------------------------------------------------- 12
Valleys, California, of.------------------------------------------------- 14
Walla Walla, at--------------------------------------------------------- 43
Artesian wells, relating to....... --20, 25,26, 27, 28, 29, 43,48, 50, 53, 58,90,92,93, 96,100
101,102,104,109, *g,
Albert Howard, Colorado, the -...-----...----------------------------------
Basins of --------------------------------------------------------------- 27
Belt of.--------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 13,85
Billings, at-------------------------------------------------------------- 90
Boring for, Grafton, Dak------------------------------------------------- 93
º for, Yankton, Dak------------------------------------------------ 93
cost of.---------------------------------------------------------- 25
in India and other countries-------------------------------------- 90
Boisé City, Idaho, at -----...--- a * * * * * * * * * *, - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 100
Box Elder County, in..... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 53
California, in --------------------------------------------------------- ... 102
City of Mexico, at------------------------------------------------------- 283
Colorado, in-...----. & º ºs º ºs º is tº as ºs e º sm as e º us is ºs s a º - a sº a tº ºn e º sº º sº as sº a tº a s m = - sº is & me • * * * * * * * 104
Dakotas, of the........... tº ſº e º sº º is a me as a e º a sº me º s ºn a s ea is a ga º ºs º = * * * * * * * * * * * * * 92,93, 94,95
Davis County, of.------------------------------------------------------- 57
Denver Basin, in-------------------------------------------------------- 104.
Dodge City, at ---------------------------- a me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 82, 143,144
Economic value of ------------------------------------------------------ 89,90
Estimate, an authoritative -----------------...----...-----...--------------- 96
Flowing, in California -------------------------------------------------- 102
Flowing, at Tombstone, Ariz -------------------------------------------- 92
Fresno County, of.---------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * 11
Garden City, at-...---... .- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - s = • - - - - - - - - - - - * * * 82, 143,144
Groups of ------------------------------}* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 25
Groups of, successful, Dakota.------------...----------------------------- 9,3
Geology of -------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * amºus ºn sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... 93, 95
Helena, Monto at ----------------------------------------------------- ... 100
Kansas, in ---------------------------- ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * a se e s sº * is a tº dº e º sº * * * * * 07
Kern County, Cal” in ------------------4--------------------------------- 11
Laramie Plains, on------------------. -rº-------------------------------- 105
Leon, Mexico, at --...-- * a s we we as a e e s = e tº me ~f~ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • * - - - - - - - - - - - º º ºr sº º 99
Los Angeles, at --------------------------------------------------------- 20
359
360 , • INDEX.
Page.
Artesian wells, relating to—Continued, ºag
Limitations of irrigation, by J. W. Powell.............. -------. -------- 105,106
Lift of, in western Texas.....---- e = ** as as sº as a m = m, º an as sº sº ºn s is sº ºn s sº e º sº s ºn is as º ºs º ºs º ºs º 'º " 98,99
Millard County ------------------------------------------------ tº gº º sº tº º gº tº we 53
Miles City, Mont., at--------...---- sº sº ºn sº, e = e s an e º ºs sº e me as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 100
Nebraska, of.---...- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº ºn as º ºs ºs º º ºs º sm ºn 96
Nevada, of .----------- & tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 75, 101,102
Northwest of the------------------------------------------------------- 100
9xford, Idaho, at ------------------------------------------------------- 100
Pasco, Wash. ---...--- tº º ºs s = e º a ºn m an e º is º ºs º ºs e e º sm an as e a sm as tº as a sº as sº se e s sº sº sº º sº * * * * * * * * * 100
Reasons for inquiry into.----------------------------------------------- 106
Roslyn, at -------------------------------------------------------------- 100 .
San Bernardino Basin, of.----------------------------------------------- 27
San Gabriel County, Cal.----------------------------------------------- 301
Santa Clara County, in----------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 301
San Diego County, in --------------------------------------------------- 107
San Joaquin, of.-------------- º as sº e º ºs e º ºs º e s m sº as ºn tº sº sº as we s = e s sº º ºs as sº sº º ºs º ºs º º sº sº * * * 14
San Luis Valley, of -------------------------------------------------- '* * * 60
Salt Lake Valley, of ---------------------------------------------------- 56, 106
Staked Plains region, on ---------------------------------------------- 91,98,99
Table of elevation, depth, and pressure ---------------------------------. 94
Table of observation by geologists -------...----------------------------. 97
Tulare County, average flow from--------------------------------------- 11,53
Use of ------------------------------------------------------------------ 105
Utah, in ----------------------------. ... sº me • * * * * * * * ſº es as s ºr ſº ºn tº º ºs ºf º ºs º ºs ºn tº * * * * 48, 100, 101
Warm Springs, Oregon -------------------------------------------------- 100
Wyoming, in----------------------------------------------------------- 10.5
B.
Basins—river, and irrigation—
Carson --------------------------------- sº a dº º ſº me tº sº e º sº sº ºn as tº º sº º sº dº º ºs º º sº tº gº º º ſº º 146, 148
Columbia River--------------------------------------------------------- 43, 44
Penver, artesian.------------------------------------------------------- 104
Prainage of ------------------------------------------------------------ 13, 114
Prainage of, in Oregon-------------------------------------------------- 44, 49
Hydrographic---------------------------------- tº is as ºn sº sº as we me us is sº as we ºn tº sº sº sº e s tº is sº dº 6, 40
Klamath, of------------------------------------------------------------- 8.44
*jave of.------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Murray River drainage------------------------------------------------- 295
*incon ----------------------------------------------------------------- 104
Rio Pecos catchment---------------------------------------------------- 149
San Bernardino--------------------------------------------------------- 27, 104
San Fernando ------------------------------------------------------- 20, 25, 102
San Gabriel---------------------- s sº ºn as º ºs e º sº as sº º me se as ºn s is sº sº sº ºn tº e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * 24, 25
Southern California, of.---------------------------------------------- '• * * 24
Total area of.--...----. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 114
Truckee --------------------------------------------------------------- 146, 148
Washoe----------------------------------------------------------------- 145
White Sand Hills --------------------------------------- a se e = w e s = * * * * * * * * 99
Yellowstone -------------------- An as a m = ± m. m. a. s. m. we as s an e ºs e as sº ſº me as sº º tº gº is dº nº ºn tº as sº ºn º gº º sº as 40
C.
Canals and º names of •
Anderson, the----------------------------------------------------------- 125
Arizona, the------------------------------------------------------------ 304
Beardsley, the ---------------------------------------------------------- 122
Big Thompson, the .--------------- •e e e s = e s = e s = * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 305
Buena Vista, the.------------------------------------------------------- 125
Cache La Poudre, the ----- tº sº sº gº sº, º ºr e º ºr e º sº º ºs ºs º ºs e s m = * * * * * * * * * me tº se tº ºn ºm º º sº tº º sº º ºs º 69
Calloway, the --------------------------------------------------------- 122,303
Chowchilla, the ------------------------------------ tº ºn dº º ºs º is m ºn tº gº tº tº ſº gº º me tº º sº 305,315
Crocker, the.----------------------------------------------------------- 23
Dixon, the ------------------------ tº tº me as sº e a m = n e º e º as me we e º as ºr e º e º ºs ºn as s ∈ tº sº º sº º sº º ſº 124
Dodge City, Kans, at.-------------------------------------------------- 145,304
Eureka, Kans., at.---------------- gº e s is sº º ºs e º sº sº tº sº e º e º sº ºn as sº sº me tº ºn as sº sº sº we ºn sº tº º ſº tº ... 303
Farmers', the .----------------- tº an º ºs º is us tº sº ºne tº * is e ºs e ºs e º ºs ºs e º 'º e º ºs ºn tº dº as as º an º us as sº tº & 195
Frazer, the ------------------------------------------------------------- 1%
Fresno (76), the -------------------------------------------------------303,894
INDEX. 361
Page.
Canals and irrigation, names of Continued.
Gates, the ---------------------------------------------------------- ---- 12;
Gila River, on the ------------------------------ tº as e º e s sº as a me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * 61
Goose Lake, the -------- -------------------------------------------- ... -- 123
Grand River, the ----...-- dº º ºs º º sº tº º ºs º ºr sº tº & e as a sº e s e s e as a s a us s et as e º us is e º 'º is sº * * * * * * * 143
Grand Valley, the---------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 67
Great Bear River, the --------------------------------------------------- 50
Great Eastern, the------------------------------------------------------ 394
Hurley, the--------------------------------------------------------------- ſº
Ibrahuniek, the------------------------------------------------------ :*;
James, the ------------------------------------------------------------- ?
James and Dixon, the--------------------------------------------------- 123
Joice, the----------------------------- gº as gº as an as ºn e ºs e s m e ºs e º ºs e º sº us is sº sº tº * * * * * * * * * 124
Kern Island, the--------------------------------------------------- 121, 124, 125
Kern County, system of.---------------- gº º as as an º' s e ºn tº º sº as as we e º is as ºn tº dº sº as dº e º ºs º e < * 127
Larimer and Weld, the------------------------------------------------- 304,305
List of.-------------- tº e º ºs º Lº tº ºn e º ºs e s m ºn as as a ºn as sº e s m e º a me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 33
Maricopa County, in---------------------------------------------------- 61
McCord, the------------------------------------------------------------ 122
Meacham, the------------------------------------- so e º ºs e º us is sº me tº as a sm sº * * * * * * * 126
Miles of, in Weber, Utah, Cache, and Salt Lake Counties -...-------------- 49
Nahran, the ---------------------- lº, º º º º sº tº gº sº sº gº tº º º tº tº gº ºs º sº º ºs º º ºs º º sº º ºs º sº º sº º ºs sº tº 322
North Poudre, the -------------------------- • * * me tº tº tº gº tº º ºs º ºs º ºs º gº tº sº tº º tº dº ſº ---- 304
North Poudre Land and Canal Company's, the --------- * * * * * *.* tº º ºs e º 'º tº sº e º 'º 142
Northern, the----------------------------------------------------------- 149
Old South Fork, the---------------------------------------------- tº tº º me tº º ºr 124
Pioneer, the------------------------------------------------------------ 1:23
Perennial, the------------------------------------ tº º sº º e º ºs º ºn tº sº tº as tº sº ſº tº dº tº º ºs º º 322
Plunkett, the .---- & º º ºs º ºs º dº ſº º cº, º ºs º ºs º gº tº tº º tº dº º ºs º º ſº º ºs º ºs ºne º sº tº dº º ºs º ºs ºn tº e º sº sº º ºs º gº is tº dº * 126
Railroad, the.------------------------- tº º ºs º º is ºn tº gº ºne º sº tº gº º sº º ºs º º ºs & tº e º sº ºne sº e º ºs s º 123
Résumé of Kern--------------------------------------------------------- 127
Rio Grande, on------------------------------------- tº º ſº dº sº as ºs º ºs as sº is sº ºn tº an is is sº sº 66
Riverside Works-------------------------------------------------------- 29
Salt River Valley, in---------------------------------------------------- 61
San Joaquin and King's River, in--------------------------------------- 304,305
South Dodge, at:------------------------------------------------------- 144
Southern, the ---------------------------------------------------------- 149
South Fork, the.-------------------------------------------------------. 28
South Platte, the------------------------------------------------------ 303,304
Statistics of Indian works----------------------------------------------- 327
Stine, the----------------------- dº º ºs º dº nº º ºs º º ſº tº º tº º m sº sº ºn gº an º ºs º ºs º ºs º º ºs º ſº ºne º sº gº ºn tº dº 124, 125
Tabulated statement---------------------------------------------------- 64
JPPer and Lower Ganges, of.------------------------------------------- 326
Union Colony, the ---...----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 68, 69
Western, the ----------------------------------------------------------- 323
Wible, the .---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s is ºn tº e e e º ºs s = e s e s ∈ e. e. e. e. e. g. a as sº e s a s as e º m s m e º ºs - 123
Wilson, the ----------------------------------------------------------- 126
Crops under irrigation—
Alfalfa or Lucern...19, 39, 41,43,51,55, 58,60, 61,62,71, 77,102,121,133,315,316,333
Barley------------------------ º º º sº º º sº gº º ſº tº sº º 34, 39, 41,43, 58,60, 62,77,287,314,324
* --------------------------------------------------------- 287,321,322,324
Bermuda grass ---------------------------------------------------------- 62
Blue grass --------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 62
Buffalo grass ------. vº º ºs º ºs º gº tº º º º º ºs º º sº a ºn sº, sº tº e º ºs e º sº tº gº tº º ºs º ºn º ºs º ºs º me ºn e º ºs ºs tº Gº tº gº tº º tº 81,297
* grass ------------------------------------------------------------ 297
9*---------------------------------------------------- 34, 39, 43,58, 308,322
9*P*------------------------------------------------------------.. 291
Clover----------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * 83, 324
Corn -------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 21, 41,48,55,58,62,71, 77,268,287
9* ----------------------------------------------------------.. 324
Grain------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - e - e s = q. º. º. º. º. ºº º tº sº º ºs º ºs sº 13, 50, 51, 53,65
*--------------------------------------------------------------. 40, 48, 65
*W--------------------------------------------------------------- 50, 51, 53,77
Hay, by Subirrigation or percolation -----------------------------------.
Hay, price per ton in Arizona.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is a sm as is as e 60
Hay, Salt River ----------...---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e = e, sº se e s s e s = e e s = e, e = 60
Maize -------------------------------- tº ſº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 287,291,293,322,325
Melons -------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º º ºs º º tº º gº tº ºn tº º sº e º sm as a ºn tº sº ºn e º e s is us is 58,324
362 INDEX.
& º g e Page.
Crops under irrigation—Continued.
Safive grasses.---------------------. & ſº tº º ſº sº tº º ºs º ºs ------------------------- 14
Native Blue-stem--------. * * * * * * tº tº we we we up tº sº º ſº ºn tº ºn tº as tº sº is * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 77
Natural grasses. as tº dº ſº ºn tº - - - - - * º ºs º gº * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºn tº sº as as e s is a s e s as as * * * * * * * * 5
9* -------------------------------------......... ii. 13, 48,33,63,71,77, 83,287
Peas * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e a e s dº we as a * * * * g º sº a dº tº dº is me as sº e º m sº tº as a º a ſº m dº º sº tº me as tº dº tº as as sº sº a me 307
Potatoes --------------..................... .... -------...--39, 43, 48,71, 77,307
Pumpkins------------------.......... 58
**Y*-------------------.......................................... 39
Rice------------......................................267,291,314,321,322,334
Root crops * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 51
ye - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e = e - - e. e. e. e. e = < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 77
Timothy (hay and grass)..............................................39, 62,77
*** -----------------------................................... ---. 62
Mºgetables -----------................................................43,58,77
Wheat ----------------------------.......6,7, 13, 15, 20, 34, 39, 41, 43,48, 58,60, 62
69,71, 77,287,291, 307, 319, 320, 321, 324
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Colonies, irrigation, references to—
American, the...... Q & tº º ſº tº is nº e as ſº e & ºn tº ſº tº º tº sº dº sº e º e as as as a s = e as a e s ∈ n. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * † 13
Central, the ......... tº º sº ºn e º sº as ºn tº as a tº me • tº ſº º ºs & gº º ºs sº tº tº º e ºs º ºs e º as sº e s sº in º º ſº & & º gº tº dº tº as de 12
Easterby, the * * * * * * * ºn e º ºs º is tº tº º sº sº º tº sº is ºt tº us tº as ºs e º º º is º ºs in & © tº e º sº, sº dº ſº sº it we tº * * * * > * * * * * 13
Fresno county, in..... -------------------------------------------------- 12, 13
Greely, the first irrigators..... dº its ºn tº e º e º ºs ºs e tº tº º ºs º º ºs º º º te tº gº tº dº tº dº sº a & e º as tº se de ºn as * * * 67
Land, co-operative * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 29
Nevada, in..... * * * * * * * * * * * & sº dº º ºs º ºs e º sº tº e s m = an ºr e º ºs e ºn dº º tº dº sº º is a se dº ſº dº ſº dº tº dº tº tº º, º Aº º º º 13
Ontario, at----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºn s is ºn e º ºs e e a sm e a we we se as w = e s as a tº e º sº e s we e ºn e º sº dº e 28, 132, 134
Riverside, at---------. * * * * * e tº in C as º as at is ºn tº a ºn tº as a s tº ºn tº as tº dº e º sº ºn tº dº tº tº s º it is is de • * * * * * * * 29
Scandinavian, the --------...-----........ tº º ºs s sº tº tº a tº is tº e we e º is a e º sº tº dº tº º s is ſº * * * 13
Union, the * * * * * > e se * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * g e s tº e º a ºn tº as tº a e º a s as a e º is is sº is a tº is tº dº ſº a tº * 67
Washington, the------ tº º tº º ſº gº tº º ºs º ºs e e s is e as a w is en e º ºs e º e s is a es e ºs e e s a s is fle is s a ſº tº * * * * * 1:
9|imate, references to------------.......................................... 19, 134
Past of Cascade Mountains ............................... & d’s é a s a ºn a tº & º dº º tº 6
Mi ( * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ** e as a sm as e º e s m e ºs e as e a • * * * tº a ºn sº tº a s tº m e º ºs s is sº is is s is a tº tº de & a tº 4 º' 1
Utah, of.----...---
tº ºn tº gº tº tº tº ºs ºn as e is e as is as a s as a s a sº e º is a e is a se me s tº a s a s as an is sº e s sº tº sº º ſº º a 4 º' 48, 49
- |
D.
Dams used in irrigation—
Bear Valley, at dº º ºn tº gº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ps sº as a tº sº tº as e s sº e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * 139, 140
“Crit,” the ------------------------------------------------------------ 48
Cuyamaca, the-------------. tº º sº tº e º dº e is is ºn g tº gº º is ºn tº tº as as a sº º ºs s is sº ºn e s sº as a m sº a tº º as as s 136, 137
Mud-sill, * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ë e º 'º º º ºs º º de & ſº e s a º ºs as me tº tº nº ºn as a e s tº dº sº s m tº dº nº sº & ſº e tº ſº e º sº sº º sº 4
North Poudre, at head of, the.................... gº º ºs º is tº º º ſº * * * * * * * * * * * * * 142, 143
Salt River, Arizona, at-------------------------------------------------, 111
San Diego, diverting, the..... ........... tº sº tº ºm º º * * * * e s is as as as e e º as as a sº sº a de & as as as a 137
Subsoil, a------------------------------- tº e me as sº e s as we s sº e s = ºr as ºn s = a as as sº as as sº sº * * * * * 129
Sweetwater, San Diego County, Cal. at ........ .31, 113, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120
Tambémbe, the ------------------------------------------------...---- 292
Tucson (Nos. 1, 2, and 3), at Pantano, near------------------------. 111, 112, 113
Wing, the.. * * * * * * * * * * * * * is as we s m a sm as as is a as as ºn a s an as as a as s as as a s & e º ºn a sº as sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * 12S
Districts, irrigation—
A*yrican, in Mexico.--------------------------------------------------. 295
Choapam, in Mexico.-----.... • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * . .293
90°tlan, in Mexico.------------------------------------------------------ 293
Cuicatlan, in Mexico ............... pe as ºn tº ºn a a tº as es at as a 9 ºn e º is s a s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 233
Jughitan, in Mexico----------------------------------------------------. §
Qeampo, in Mexico :---------------------------------------------------. §
Teposcolula, in Mexico.--------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * 293
Tiaxiaco, in Mexico.---------------------------------------------------- 393
Tuxtepec, in Mexico.-----------. tº us as as as a s a sº as a e s m e º is a sº e a s as as sº e s = * * * * * * * * * * * 29:
Yautepec, in Mexico.-------...-------- tº a s is as e s as a e s e = w = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 293
Ditches, irrigation—
Area under, total ....... & ſº tº gº º º tº sº, tº gº ſº e º ºs sº sº as ºn tº tº gº ºn tº sº e º me sº e º ſº sº ºn tº as sº e s m sº sº sº tº me sº e º ºs 169
Areas in Arizona -------------------------------------------------- . ... .60, 167
Black Hills-----------, ---------------------------------------- 163
California -------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 166
Colorado -----------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 63, 168
Dakotas -----------. & sº * * * * * * an ºe is sº a s is is is gº º sº sº, sº as sº g ºn sº sº a de s a ºn as e º ºs is tº is is a tº 163
Eastern Washington -------------------------...---- tº ºs e º sº as sº ſº º ſº º 166
Idaho ---------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - .... 164
INDEx. 363
\
Page.
Ditches, irrigation—Continued.
Teas in Kansas, Bouthwestern ----------------------------------------- ... 167
Montana ---------------------------------------------- ..----. 164, 165
Nebraska. tº º a tº dº º an as a tº as dº as a w is ſº º tº e º ºs º ºs e s is a • * * * * * * * * * s ºn as a dº nº e sº dº sº e is a “ ºr * 169
Nevada.----------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 166
- New Mexico.--------- tº as a ºn a sº a dº sº & & a sº sº a 4 tº º ºs s sº s = e º me as we 4 e º ºs e º is & sº * * * * 167
Ore On - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº a tº sº ºr as a 165
Rockies, east of.... ---------- a ſº e me • * * * & a tº ºn as w e s sº a me me as s w tº * * * * * . . . . .63, 168
Texas, Western. ------------------------------- e an as ºs e s sº we a * * * * * ... 167
U {l • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 165
Wyoming...... • * is e is a sº an as as a sº me s s - sº sº, e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 76, 169
Ditches-
Ash, the. tº dº gº tº dº sº * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * 124
Blanks and forms relating to......... as a ºn is a sº e as an º ºr se e s an ºn a • * * * * * * * 150. 151, 152, 153
Castro, the........ * * * * * * ‘e, as a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * . 125
Cost of shares in Provo-------------------------------------------------- 49
Cotton Ranch, the .---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... -- 124
Edwards, the ...... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as w us ºf * * c e s as e s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * . 123
Emery, the -----...---- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 123
Eureka, the.----...------- as s sº e º a tº e ºs e e º us tº s = e º s w = • - ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 145
Johnston, the -----...----. ---------------------------------------------- 123
Jordan, near the Utah, the .------------------------------------- tº tº us as as we w 49
Jones and Luckey, the.------------------------------------------------- 123
May, the --------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 124
McCaffrey, the...----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 122
Miles of ---------------------------------------------------------------- 23
San Luis Valley, in . ------------------------------------------- 66
Arkansas Valley, in ............ tº as º a sº tº sº a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 82
Mileage, table of.--------------------------------------------------…-- 64
Monarch, the -------. tº sº tº es as e as as as as a = a as e º an as as sº sº is a s as a tº e º ºs ºn s is an e s a s m is tº * * * * * * * * * * 61
Montana, in ------------------ tº º dº sº º is ºr * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 41, 42
Pottinger, the ---------------------------------------------------------- 123
Provo, the --------------------------------------------------------------
System of, in Yuma County...-------------------------------------------- 60, 61
in Montana.------------------------------------------------- 42
South Fork, the......... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ..... 306
Zanjero or overseer, the........... dº tº gº º ºs e e º sº e º 'º as a sº we sº * * * * * * * * de º sº sº, º me a e e s is is ºn 25, 26
Drainage— ,
Area------------------------- a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6, 43, 112,323
of the Rio Pecos----------------------------------------------------- 149
of Nevada.---------------------------------------------------------- 75
Arterial, of Southern California.----------------------------------------103, 104
Mountain. --...---...-- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 27, 34
Natural basins.------------------. * * * tº e a dº e º an a * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * & ºn tº as sm ºs ºn 71,317
Rocky Mountain ranges, of..................... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº tº 40
Supply the from--------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * • - - - - - 86
F.
Flumes and headgates ... -------...----. * * * e = * * * * * * * * * * * 32, 128, 130, 138, 149,306, 335
Foreign countries, irrigation in—
Africa ----- * = * * * * * * ---------------- tº sº º ºs e as s is a a sm as a s a ºn a s a s an e º ºs & a tº * * * * * * * * * * 10:5
Australia.--------------------------------------------------------------- 300
Arabia.----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - * * 106
Asia-------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 34, 105,106,265,269
Belgium-------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 320
British America.---------------------------------------------------------4, 5,80
British India........ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 328
ina. ------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * tº e º 'º tº e º tº as ºn as a e º a tº e um is sº e º a ºn tº a sº sº as a tº as a tº e 34
Denmark ------------------------ * - as e º ºs º a se tº º ºs e º e º be e s as s as a gº tº º sº a ºs º sº º gº st de gº dº ſº -e- 79
Durango, State of.----------------. * * is uſe tº is e as a de a ºn as sº e s m as a sº tº sº as as a dº tº * * * * * * * * * * 287
gypt.------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 265,266, 320,323,324, 328
England--------- * * * * * * * * * * * * tº we tº º dº º ºs º ºs * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 79,315
Europe-------- -----------------------------------. 105,265,266,269,296, 320,328
Tlaxcala, State of.-----------...------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 2.94
France ------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as in ºr m at e a m e º sm e º as as as a s = e 272,281,309, 315, 325
Gugnajuato, State of --------------------------------------------------- 289
India--------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 265. 269
Italy...................................................79,373,373,367,301,303
364 . INDEX.
Page
Foreign countries, irrigation in—Continued. agº,
Jalisco, State of.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº tº gº tº º ºx ºn tº gº tº ºne tº tº º sm º ºs º is nº e º us tº a º ºs ------.289-291
Lombardy---------------------------------------------------------267,273,296
Lower California -----------------------------------------------------. 287,292
Mexico.-------------------------------------- 4, 5,91, 92,282,269,296,300,303,314
Michoacan, State of.---------------------------------- O tº me ºf ºn tº gº tº º ºs tº ſº we tº sº, sº tº 289,291
Morelos, State of.------------------------------------------------------- 292
New South Wales.-------------------------- tº as a e º ºs º gº dº ºn e º sº º ſº e º ºs º we gº º ºs º we we .295,296
Norway ------------------------------------------- gº tº º 'º º sº sº ſº tº Gº tº gº º º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºn 79
Portugal ------------------------------------------ tº º & º º tº sº tº º ºs ºn tº wº º º sº, º ºs º º dº 79
Queretaro, State of.------------------------------------------------ ----- 294
Russia------------- tº & tº º 'º ºn tº e º ºs º ºs e º is tº º sº sº me tº sº, º ºs ºº e º ºs º º vº º ºs º ºs ºº e º º ºs º sº tº tº º sº. tº dº º me tº tº 320
Sardinian Kingdom ------------------------ tº e º ºs ºs e º sº ºn tº e º sº sº tº sº * tº ſº º º sº º º ºs º we & 27,
Scotland ------------------------ gº a ºn e º ºs e º as e s is a dº sº sº tº sº sº, º is us as as a s m º ºs º º tº sº e º ºs ºn m & *
Spain ---------------------------------------------------------- 62,281,282,325
Syria.------------------------------------------------------------------ 2
Tamaulipas, State of ---------------------------------------------------- 294
Turkey --------------------------------------- tº sº sa º ºn tº sº sº º me me a se e s is sº ºn tº ºn tº ºn º us sº 79
Vera Cruz, State of.----------------------------------------------------- 295
Victoria, Australia----------------------------------------------------- 295, 320
Wales ----------------------------------------------- tº dº º ºs e um e º ſº sº tº º ºs º ºs º º cº º 79
Zacatecas, State of ------------------- sº º ºs º ºs º ºs e º sº ºne º º ſº ſº ſº tº º tº tº sº sº tº º ſº º gº tº gº tº me tº * 289,295
Forts, United States irrigation at—
arms - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - º ºg º tº gº ºn º 43
Collins -------------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * ºn tº 142
Lowell ----------------------------------------------------------- ------ 112
Lupton----------------------------------------------------------------- 87
Sumner----------------------------------------------------------------- 148
Fruit trees under irrigation.-------------------- ---------------------------134, 316
Almonds.---- gº tº dº º ºs ºs º ºs º gº tº gº ºs ºn tº sº º e º sº tº sº º e º ºs sº me as gº ºne ºr dº sº is º sº tº gº tº gº tº sº es e º ºs e º ºs º ºr sm 15, 17,62,316
Apple -------------------------------------------------- 17,39, 43,60,62,314,316
Apricot-------------------------------------------------- 17, 39,55,60,62,65,316
Cherry -------------------------------------------------------------- 12, 17,316
Chestnut ---------------------------------------- gº ºn sº as º ºs e º 'º º sm º ºs ºn tº e s sº tº ºn as dº nº 316
Citrus ------------------------------------------------------------------ 11,29
Crab-apple ------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 60
Date ---------------------------------------------------------- 15, 35,60,62,325
English Walnut --------------------------------------------- gº e º us us ºs e º sº sº sº e 17
Fig----------------- gº as as a s m e º e s e e s = e e tº º dº tº º ºs e º sm is a 12, 15, 17, 20, 35,54,60,62,316,325
French prunes ------------...--------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºr e º ºr tº sº º º sº sº º sº º sº gº tº sº tº º 62
Lemon ------------ ºp sº as e e se as sº º º is e s • * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º ſº º ºs º º ºs ºf 15, 17,34,35, 58,60,62,316
Lime ------------------------------------------------------------------- 316
Mulberry ----------------------------------------------------- gº º sº as as s as sº º sº 62
Nectarine.-------------------------------------------------------- 15, 17,35,316
Olive------------------------------------------------------- 15, 17,35,55, 60,316
Orange --------------------------- 15, 17, 19, 25, 29, 32, 34,35, 58,60,62, 133,307, 316
Orange orchards---------------------------------------------------- ---- 18, 19
Orchards ------------------------------------------------------ tº a ºn tº sº º nº º - 11, 21
Peach --------------------------------------------- 12, 17, 39, 40, 43,55,60,62,316
Pear----------------------------------------------------- 17, 39, 40, 43,60,62,316
Plum ---------------------------------------------------------- 17,39, 40, 43,316
Pomegranate .---- º e e s sº se e s = * * * * * * * * * as a se e a e s e as a se e s is sº as s m e ºs = e s sº tº º 'º e s = - * * 5, 62,316
Prune ------------------------------- tº gº is nº e º sº sº sº em as º e º as º ºs s sº me us sº º º 17,35, 39, 40, 60,99
Quince------------------------------- tº º gº sº ºn as ºn tº dº sº tº tº ſº tº dº º & © º dº º ºn tº & © tº ſº tº º tº gº º tº ,816
I.
Irrigation—
Advantage of ----------------------------------------- gº ºs ºn tº e º us ºn tº º e º ºs ºº e º sº tº 18, 83
Alexandria, at ----------------------------------------------- sº e º º sº, ſº tº º tº dº ſº. 326
Alita, at -------------------------------------------------- e tº ºn tº º º tº dº º sº sº sº dº tº 11
Alosta, at---------------------------------------- tº º ºs ºs º ºp tº gº ºn e º sº tº dº º sº gº º ºs tº sº sº tº 21
Altadena, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 21
Analiena, at ------------------------------------------------------------
Ancient works of.------------- * > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º ºs ſº tº e º tº sº tº º sº sº º gº e tº ºn us sº º is º is 269
Apetatitlan, at ----------------- tº tº ºp ºf sº dº º tº gº tºº & º tº tº ºs ºs º gº tº as as e º ºn a ºn as ºn as a ºn ºn is e º sº tº tº dº * 294
Arlington, at ------------ • * * * * * * * * * Jº as tº me as is ſº e s m e º a m = a sº as ºn e ºs e º e º we s tº a e s e º 'º a sº º 21
Arizona, character of 1ts. ----------------. gº tº gº dº º sº sº sº nº dº tº • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 56,62
Australian legislation for ----------- ------------------------------------ *7
INDEx. p 365
Page.
Irrigation—Continued. ſº
. Australian report on Amgrican ------ 296,297,298,299, 300,301,302,303, 30,4305,306,
7,308,309,310,311, 312,313,314, 315,316,317,318,319,320
Ay usa, at ------------------- e as º ºs º º : * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - * gº sº tº º sº tº e º ºs º sº tº as as sº ºr ºt --- 21
Bakersfield, at- - - - - - - - - - - - - -------------------------------- 124, 125, 127, 303, 315
Benson, at ------------------ • e e º ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e 112
Big Springs, at ------- e gº ºn as ºn e º a we w tº e º me • * dº º sº º ºs e º 'º sº º º sº ºn sº º ºs º ºs º ºs º gº sº º tº gº tº gº º we tº º sº º 99
Boisé City, at---- sº e º e º ºs e º e s sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º ſº tº sº tº º * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º ſº nº tº e º ºs ºs º ºs 39
Bombay, at ------------------------------------------------------------- 530
Brighton, at ------------------------------------------------------------ b7
Brownsville, at --------------------------------------- & sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 96 .
British India, in -------------------- tº sº º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs © e º ºs º º sº e º 'º sº ºr º e º ºs--.326,327,328
Calabasas, at ----------------------------------------------------------- 91
Cairo, at ----------------------------------------- & is tº ſº sº gº º º is sº º sº º ºs e º us e s ºn m & 326,350
Capacity of Nevada for------------------------------------------------- 74, 75
Carson, at -------------- tº ºs e º use º ºs e º sº us tº e º 'º sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 297
Character of, in Arizona------------------------------------------------- 56
Chino, at ------------------ tº tº º ºr wº º ºs e º sº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 102
Classes of, California.------------------------- 128, 129, 130, 131, 132,133, 134, 135
Climate and, in America.-------- tº gº º ºs ºs ºn tº º sº º ºs º º sº º tº sº tº us as ºn e º sº dº e º ºs º is ºn e º me a sº sº, sº a 300
Colorado, in---------------- gº tº e º ºs º ºs ºs ºn tº sº tº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ---- 63
Coolidge, at --------- tº e º ºs º º ºs e ºs º sº º sº tº º sº me tº s º ºs º ºs º º ºs º ºs º º sº º ºs e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 82
Commissioner of-------------------------------------------------------- 73
Construction, plans, projects, etc -------------------------- 111, 301,302,305,306
Construction in Wyoming---------------------------------------------- 76, 77
Counties enriched by, in California-------------------------------------- 35
Crops of Egypt, 1888---------------------------------------------------- 327
Croyden, at ---------------- tº es sº º is dº sº ºn as º ºs º º sº º ºs º ºs º ºs e º ºs º ºs e s as as ºn sº, e = * * * * * * * * * * * 51
Cucamonga, at ----------------------------------------- tº & º sº tº º ºs e º ºr e º is a sm • * 11, 11.2
Dallas, the ------------------------------------------------------------- 98
Delano, at-------------------------------------------------------------- 11, 102
Denver, at is sº gº ºr e º ſº ºn º ºs º º ---- sº sº ºr sº e º ºs ºs sº º sº º is º ºs • * * * * * * * * * * * * -55, 70, 87, 88, 90, 301, 3.18
Deming, at------------------------------------------------------------- 92
Development of, by districts----------------------------------- & e º ºr w = s. 63, 73,76
Difficulties of.---------------------------------------------------------- 298
Different works in different States.------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 298
Distribution system, San Diego, Cal------------------------------------- 31
District law------------------------------------------------------------- 23
Divisions of California.-------- tº sº se s m e º s ºn as a sº s sº * * * * * * * sº tº e s sº se e is as sº us e as a me • * * * * 13
Divisions of the arid region-------------------------------------------- 4, 5, 6, 7
* of Arkansas No. 2.-------------------------------------------- 64
of Intramountain region.---- tº º sº me sº ºn ºn tº º ºs ºs e º 'º º tº sº º ºs º º sº º sº º sº us tº us e s = e, 37
of Rio Grande------------------------------------------------- 64
of South Platte----------------------------------------------- 64
Dodge City, at ----------- tº a ºn tº º ºs º we dº e º ºs s m s m = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a 82, 143,144
Douro, at --------------------------------------------------------------- 99
Drainage *I'ê88. - - - e s m is sº w = e º e ºs s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *e e º e º ºs e a 309, 310
*Duarte, at--------------------------- - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * ~ * 21
Eaton, at .-------------------------------------------------------------- 86
Eastern Washington and Oregon.--------------------------------... º sº ºn sº tº 42, 43,44
Effects of --------------------------------------------------------------- ... 7
Effects on health.----. -- tº e º e º ºs e er e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º e s m e = e = s. s 16, 17
Egyptian, the Nile Valley as a • e s = e = e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 320, 321, 322, 323, 324, 325, 326
Ellensburg, at ---------------------------------------------------------- 42, 43
Enterprise, northern California ------------------------------------- tº tº º is 13
Engineering, problems of ----------------------, ------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º se 85
Estimate of people supported by, in other countries ---------------------- 106
Etiwande, at ----------------------------------------------------------- 103
• Evans, at ------------------------------------ & e º sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 87
Extent of American---------------------------------------------------- 296
Extension of, in arid regions sº us º ºs º is a ºn tº e º & tº sº ºn tº sº dº sº º sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... 310, 3.11
Fertilization by--------------------------- © º º ºs º ºs º ºs ºs º º sº º tº dº sº tº º º ºs e º e s m is ºn e ºs 308,309
First colony of.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * u, º as us s is sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a s is as 67
Fruit raising by--------------------------------------------------------- 17
Flooding by------------------------------------------------------------ 306
Flooding, Arizona, in---------------------------------------------------- 61
Florence, at ---------------------------------------------------------- 58, 60, 62
Florin, at ----------------------------------------------------------- ---- 301
Flumes by gº º º sº º ºs º º ºs º gº tº º ſº tº tº º º cº- tº ºn tº e ºs e º º sº tº º ºs º ºr tº º tº º º sº tº ſº tº ſº tº º ºs º ºs e º ºs tº º tº º ºs º º ºs º ºs 31
366 * INDEX.
\
Irrigation—Continued. . Paga.
Ford, at --------------------------------------------------.............. 144
Fresno, at ------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e s s as e º me • * * * 7, 8,29, 309,310,317
Furrows --------------------------------------------- * Wº º ºf tº ºn a w ºn e º sm º - - - - - - - 307
Garden City, at----------------------------------. ----------------- tº tº sº ºn tº 86 -
Germania, at .--------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -------------------- & sº tº º 98
Glendora, at------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 21
Grafton, at------------------------ tº tº tº tº e º sm as s tº * * * * * * > * we es s us ------------ ---- 92
Grand Junction, at-----------------------------------------------------. 67
Greeley, at----------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * 67,70,85, 87, 88,300
Groups or systems of ------------------------------- tº e s as e º me * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 25
IIigh culture produced by ------------------------------------.......... w 35
Horse Shoe Bend, at -------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 147
Huntsville, at------------------------------------------ * W & sº e º 'º' s as we we * * * * * 50
Hutchison, at----------------------------------------------------------. 89
Idaho, in ------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s 38
Influence of, on humidity------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * was st 70
Joseph, at ---------------------------------------------- tº & ºn tº gº tº * * * * g º gº º ºs ºn 52
Juanacatlan, in --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * w e s • e s s as s ----------- 289
Kalvub, at.----------------------- © º tº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • * ~ * tº w tº as gº ... 320
Kern County Works ------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ------121, 129
Kern County, not a necessity in --------------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 12
Lake Donner Surveyed for, purposes --------------. & s m s m w tº tº me tº tº sue tº e º us tº sº tº tº º 75
Las Vegas, at ---------------------------------------------- s tº sº a s m e = * * * * * 167
Law CaSOS, table of tº ea tº ſº tº º º ºs º ºs º º º ºs º ºs º º tº ºn º º sº tº º tº tº º e º ºs e * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 330, 331
Laws in Colorado --------------------------------------- ---------------- 299
Legal condition of -------------------------------------------- ---------- 171
Legislation of Australia. ---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º º w w as • ------295,296
Lemoore, at----------------------------------- tº º tº dº e º tº tº s as e as as ºf ºn tº sº tº tº e s sº ºn --- 10, 11
List of districts of----------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º sº. 23
Lewiston, at ----------- tº º ºs tº gº tº gº º ºs º ºs & tº º sº tº dº * * * * * * * * * * * * * is sº e º sº es ºn s e º e tº tº as ºr ºn a 39, 42,43
Lordsburg, at ------------------------------------------ * * * * > * * * * * * * * * * * 21
Los Angeles, at------------------------------- tº º 'º gº tº as tº gº ºr --------7, 24, 27, 121,297
Madras, at .----. to as as a ºn tº e s ºr es s = e º tº as º a tº sº ºn as tº º * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * w as as e º is • ---. 328
Maricopa, at.------------------------------------------------------- tº º ºr ºn 91
Marienfeld, at .-------------------------- tº tº gº tº sº º ºs ºn tº ſº tº gº tº º ſº ---------------- 91, 98
Markleville, at---------------------------------------------- ------ - - - - - - 147
Mexico, laws of, on.--------------- ſº as we tº ºs º ºn me us ºn tº ºt tº º ſº º ſº ſº tº º sº º º • -------------. 299
Midland, at.-----. --------------------------------------------- --------. 91, 99
Modena, at.------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 266
Mormons, laws of on-------------------------------- tº dº tº º dº ſº tº º ºs º ºs º º us tº sº e sº 44, 45,46
Monrovia, at --------------------, ---------------------- & º ºs tº tº sº ºn tº e º es e as ºr sº me • 21
Mojave Desert, ODI - - - - - - - - - - - as ºn tº ºn tº wº ºn tº as us tº sº º ºs º ºr - - - - - - - - º º tº sº ºn tº º is © ºn tº tº º º ºs e º sº º sº. 27
Moxie Ranch, at ------------------------------------------- sº we s ºf it tº tº ſº tº nº ºn º º 43
National City, at -------------------------------------------------------.31, 116
Nile Valley, in the ------------- & º ºs º an º º is sº tº ºn tº tº ſº tº tº tº ºn tº ºn as tº º ºs sº tº es us as ------------320, 326
No cultivation without as e º me as sº tº º ºs ºn s ºs º ºs tº ſº gº ºn º ºs e º ºs º ºs º ºs º sº º ºs is tº tº gº º ºf e • * * * * * * * is e s sº º 41
North Yakima, at----------------------------------- º, sº ºn tº s a e s sº as as --------- ~ 42
Odessa, at. ---------------- tº us w tº e s ºf as ºn tº s ----------------------------------. 91, 99
Olancha, at- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 1
Omaha. ------ tº gº us tº ºn tº e º sº e º 'º º sº tº tº º º------------------------------- tº sº sº tº sº º ºs º ºs ºº 96
Ontario, at --------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº e º up º º te 129
-Open ditches wasteful for------------------------------------- ----------- 308
Pasadena, at.. • * * * * * ~ as a s a ºn as e º s is sº w is a tº w tº a dº º sº a tº as a • e s tº me • * * * w tº as w tº e as w e ----21, 129, 304
Pasco, at • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s & sº sº as sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is as ºn * 43
Pecos, on the ----------------------------------------------------------- 4
‘Percolation, by------------------------------------- tº sº e º ºr ºn as ºn tº ſº tº sº ſº tº º tº º ºs º gº 21
Phoenix, at ------------------------------- * ºn tº sº me as tº aſ sº º º is we as tº s s gº - as º ºs ------. 111,297
Piedmont, in ----------, ------------------------------ -----------------.272,273
Pipe system, Kern County. -----------. tº as sº tº gº º ºs º ºs * c s sº e º sº me • * * * * tº º sº tº ſº tº sº e º us * * 12
Platteville, at ------------------ tº º tº º ºs º ºs º ºr sº sº e º 'º º sº tº gº w tº º sº tº sº e º ºr tº: ------------ 87,88
Panama, at------------------------ tº ºn tº sº e º as as w tº e tº sº tº º ſº º gº º ºs º º º sº nº * - tº gº tº º e º sº ºn tº ... 104
Prescott, at------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 56
Private enterprise, by------ as sº sº an ºr se sº tº sº, º ºs º w w a dº sº s º ºn tº a sº tº it is sº as º ºs º ºs g º ºr sº e º ºs ºg º º ºx tº gº 42
Provo, at -------------- tº as w is sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º tº sº tº º tº º ºs ſº tº tº tº º tº ºp 4
Prospects of, in America.----------------------------------------------.316, 317
Pueblo, at -------------------------------------------------------------- 88
Pumping in southwestern Kansas, by ------------------------------------ 82
Redlands, at ----------- ------------------------------------------21,28,304,305
INDEX. - 367
Page.
Irrigation—Continued.
©º O at.----- • * * * * * * * = a, as e s s = < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ------145, 147
Result of, in California.--------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * g as tº w e s a m = w = w is sº *
in Idaho.----------------------------------------------------- 39
Rialto, at--------------------------------------------------------------- 21
Rio Pecos, New Mexico.------------------------------------------------- 148, 149
Riverside, at----------------------------------------- 21,29, 102, 131,305,310,320
Salt Lake, at -------------------------------------------------- 44,49, 50, 65,319
San Anita, at------------------------------------------------------------ 21
San Bernardino, at------------------------------------------------------ 21, 138
San Carlos, at.-------------- e sº us, sº as sº e º sº as e º us ºn tº sº e º e s sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 58
San Diego, at -------------------------------------------- 7,27, 30, 31, 32,136, 300
San Dumas, at------------------------ a s we as ºn g º ºn as as ºr tº s º me s sº º ºr s = m = * * * * * * * * * * * 21
San Francisco, at----------------------------------------------------- 9,34, 102
San Gabriel, at---------------------------------------------------------- 7
San Jacinto, at.--------------------------------------------------------- 32, 135
San Joaquin Valley-----------------------------------------------------
Santa Fé, at------------------------------------------------------------ 148
Season for.... -----------------...---------...-----------43, 45, 50, 52,53,54, 56,70
Sources of principal works.---------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * & 303
St. Helena, at--------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº w w w w w w w = e s as 96
St. Paul, at, session on -------------------------------------------------- 163
Sterling, at ... --- g s = e º as as sº as we sº sº e º sº us º ºs e s a w sº s º as e º te sº ºn tº sº tº as tº e º 'º º ºs e º wº º ºs e s sº * * * * * * 87
Sumner, at------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tº º º sº tº º 'º º ºs ºr ºr ºr sº º sº ºn tº º º ºs vs. º ºs 12
Survey for---------------------- tº we as s e º ºs ºr e º us w w e e s is a e s is ºn s sº e s sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * 85
Systems of --------------------------------------- tº as tº us tº e tº e º e º us as sº tº 25, 306, 307, 308
Abestine------------------------------------------------------ 328
canal, Fresno County, Cal.----------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * 21
circling-------------------------------------------------------
colony------------------------------------------- tº e º 'º me tº sº tº mº m ºr wº 318,319
distribution, San Diego-------------------------------- & a s • * * * *
different, in California ------------------------------- 128, 129, 133,134
Hermit Valley------------------------------------------------ o
North American Cordillera ---------------------------------- º, e. 5
pipe, value of.------------------------------------------------ 121
San Diego Flume Company ----------------- tº ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 31
San Dieguito-------------------------------------------------- 32
sinking galleries or tunnels for underground currents. ---------. 109
small storage or tanks ---------------------------------------- 109
Southwest Kansas, in ------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 82
Subirrigation, on ------------------------------------------------------- 308
Subirrigation by conduits-----------------------------------------------
Sweetwater River, aft.-------------------- tºp º º ºs e º ºs * * * s sº sº as tº sº * * * * * * as e e s m me • * 31
Tahoe, at---------------------------------------------------------- ----, 145
Tehachipi, at --------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8
Tehuantepec, at -----. tº sº gº sº me tº -------------------------------------------- 203
Tejunga, at ------- :- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tº º º ſº º º 21
Temescal, at ---------------- * * * * * * * * s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºn ... 102
Testimony at Boisé City------------------------------------------------. 39
Tipton, at --------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º 10
Tombstone, at ---------------------------------------------------------. 92
Tools employed in ------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 305
Tree growth, effects of, on ------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s we e 19
Truckee, at------------------------------------------------------------- 145
Tucson, at----------------------------------------------------------- :-.91, 111
Tulare Lake, proposed plan of lowering, for------------------------------ 120
Tumacacori, at---------------------------------------------------------- 91
United States survey--------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 107
Use of stationary pumps for-----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 109
Utility of, by the Senate Committee.------------------...---------------. 7
Utah, in ------------------------------- 44, 45,46,47, 48,49,50, 51, 52,53,54, 55,56
Value of.--------------------------------------------------------------- 5 V-2s
Value, character, and results of, Hon. E. A. Stephenson............ * * * * * * * 39
Vermillion, at --------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * .95, 105
Victoria, in ------------------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * 296
Vivienda, at------------------------------------------------------- • - - - - 102
Wadsworth, at--------------------------------------------------------- 147,148
Walla Walla, at * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºn tº * * * * us s a e s s sº e s as ºn tº º sº tº º e º º ºs º ºn s tº tº we we tº e us tº º an us ºº e e - 42, 43
Western Kansas, in * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº us tº e º us us us e º ºs e º 'º º s • * * * * 80
368 4. INDEx.
* - º e P
Irrigation—Continued. age,
ankton, at---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * us ºn tº w w w us us sº tº as sº w we a º ºs e º us us tº ſº as as tº a g -----.92,93, 95,96 º
º Yuma, at ------------------------ tº dº º ºr tº G ºr wº * * * * * * * * * * > is a s e a º ºs e e s we w e º us as e º sº. 107, 111
Irrigation companies, names of:-
Arkansas Valley -------------------------------------------------------. '74
Bear Valley Land and Water------------------------------- 129, 130, 131, 138,141
Bear Valley Reservoir.---------------------------- & º is ºn sº we e º me • * * * * * * * * * * * * 28
Buena Vista Canal.--------------------------------------------------- ... 125
Delivery and Distribution Works, at San Diego............ --...--------- 135
Denver Pacific Railway.----------------------------. tº se tº us tº º e º s sº ºn e º 'º e º ºs e e 67
Farmers'Canal---------------------------------------------------------- 125
Gate's Canal.------------------------------------------------------------ 125
Gila Bend Canal ----------------------------------------------- tº º w tº º sº e º e 61
River Irrigation.----------- e s tº s m ºn e º us tº e º e = * * * * * * * * * * e s - e. e. e. e. e. e. e. we e s = e a 61
Goose Lake Canal --------------------- tº tº a s us tº tº e º 'º º º sº e º ºs e e º as ºs tº e º ºr e º as ºn es as º as 123
Hesperia Land and Water ---------------------------------------------- 20
Highland Park Water Works, Los Angeles---...-----...---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * 133, 134
James Canal.---------------- º º ºs º º ºs º dº º º º ºr tº e e s is e º ºs ºn tº º ºs e º is As e s = e o e s • * * * * * * * * 126
James & Dixon Canal ---------------- tº e º ºs ºs º e º 'º e º sº sº e e s tº we wº * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s e 123
Kern Valley Water ----------------------------------------------------- 126
River Water and Irrigation.--------------------------------------- 122
Lake Hemet Water, San Diego ------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * 135
Lake Vineyard --------------------------------------------------------- 304
Larimer and Weld ----------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s 74
Lower New Kern Irrigation ------ & º ºs º º º a e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 123
Meacham Canal.------------------------ º e º as are sº tº º º ºs º ºs ºn tº gº © tº e º we e s sº ºn e º º tº º ſº º gº ºn 126
Mission Valley Storage and Delivery ----...-----------------------...----. 32
Northern Colorado Irrigation-------------------------------------------- 15I
North Fork Water.-- - - - - - - tº tº sº e s tº e º 'º e - , e s - e s = * * * • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - 28
Pioneer Canal ------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº e º 'º e º me ºn s is º se e º e º e ºs º we 123
Plunkett Canal -------...---- dº º ºs º ºs º ºs & sº w & sº tº a us sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº e º wºn º 126
Riverside Water Works ------------------------------------------------- 29
Riverside Water -------------------------------------------------------- 29
San Diego Flume.------------------------------------------------------- 31, 136
Land and Town ---------------------------------- tº de ºn tº ºn tº e º ºs ºs ºn 116
River Works and Projects------------------------------- 136,137, 138
San Luis Rey ----------------------------------------------------------- 32
South Dodge Canal.----------------------------------------------------- 144
Stine Canal------------------------------ tº e º 'º - - º s ºr e º 'º e º us tº e º 'º e º sº e º ºs e º 'º' tº wº º 125
L.
Land—
Acres requiring irrigation in Arizona-------------------------------- ſº tº tº 59
Acres under cultivation in Egypt ------------------------------------- --- 321
Acres unsurveyed in Rapid City district, Southwestern Dakota........ ---. 80
Actually irrigated, area------------------------------------------------- 63
Agricultural area. ------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 12, 58, 149
Alfalfa, for ------------------------------------------------------------- 128
Alluvial --------------------------------------------- _* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 124
Arable-------------------------------------------------- 10, 50, 53, 54, 59, 114, 148
Arable, price in Arizona. ----------------- tº as as m e ºs e º sm we s sº e o 'º as a tº e s m s m º ºs e ºn e º sº e 59
Arid ----------------------- a • * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - tº º ºs e º 'º. - * * * * * * * * tº e º is 3, 5, 7,38
Area irrigated in California.-------------------------------------------- 32, 33, 36
of Colorado ---------------------- º e º º ºs ºs e º me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 66
of Colorado River drainage.------------------- tº sº a sm º ºs • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 58
in Dakotas ------------------------------------ dº sº tº sº e º 'º an e s sº tº e s • * * * * * * 80
irrigable--------------------------------------------------------- 19,23,76
sub-irrigated ------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * 37, 43
total --------------------------- tº a ºn as a s sº us is ºn e s sº e º ºs º w w as ºn tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * 33
under ditch in Colorado --------------- • ---------------------------- 63
of water shed.----------------------------------------------------- º 30
Bench, area--------------------------------------------- 19, 20, 34,42, 43,298,317
Bottom, area ---------------------------- 8, 17, 19, 41,43, 58,67, 86, 89, 112,294,398
Cienagas or wet places---------------------------------------------24,28,91,92
Colony ----------------------------------------------------------------- 102
Colorado Plateau, on.--------------------------------------------------- 6, 14
Columbia River Plains, in . ----- e º us tº e º 'º an as as e s e e sº e s is º me s is tº as º ºr tº & sº tº me tº e s tº º ºs e º m so 42
Cottonwood Flat, on ---------------------------------------- - e s = e < * * * * * * 114
Cucamonga Plain, in ----------------- tº tº º º ºs tº us us ºn tº tº gº º ºs º º ºs º tº º sº tº º ºs º • --------. 104
INDEX. 369
* Page.
Land—Continued. * - 4, ** *
Deserts, the Colorado. -------------------------- w as dº us ºn is as as ... ---.8, 32, 102,107, 138
In dio. --------------------------------------------- gº ºn tº nº sº sº is sº 21
Mapimí, in Mexico.------------------------------------------ 297
Maricopa, in Arizona. -------------------------------------- 297
Mojave e = e = e = • , s = e = * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * -20, 21, 102, 297
Sahara.-------- sº e = s. sº, as a see e s we as e º is sº s ºs s = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... 320
Districts in North and South Dakotas.------ sºn & sº e º º ºs e º s ºr e º 'º se e s sº us as a ºn as sº as e º sº e 80
under water in Utah ------------------------- * ~ * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - 49
Estimated cost of improvement, Staked Plains--------------------------- 100
areas under artesion well irrigation.------------------ * & sº se is º gº º º 96
Farming areas---------------------------------------------- 58, 69, 71,76,91, 309
Fertility of, in Arizona --------------------------------------> ------------ 58
Foothills, the ---------------------- 6,9,11, 13, 21,58,65,81, 85, 87,92, 102,149,297
of Cascade.--------------------------------------------------- 42
of counties partially irrigated.--------------------------------- 36
of Orville, about.--------------------------------------------- 19
of Sierras Nevada.---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7, 18
value of, San Joaquin Valley---------------------------------. 11, 12
Fruit-producing, the ---------------------------------------------------- 34
Government, the ------------------------------------------------------ 20, 67,68
Great Plains, on.----------------------------------------------------- 80, 81,82
Growth of, enterprise and values, of------------------------------------ 21
Healthfulness of irrigated.---------------------------------------------- . .317
Hill, the ---------------------------------------------------------------- 10, 12
“Hog wallows,” in ------------------------------------------------------ 10
Homestead law ------------------------------------------------------- 67,72, 80
Hydrological areas, in -------------------------------------------------- 6
Idaho sage brush -------------------------------------------------------- 39
Irrigable -------------------------------------------------- 19, 21, 24, 77, 127,304
in Fresno County ---------------------------------------------. 21,22
in Los Angeles County-----------------------------------------
the value of non-irrigable -------------------------------------- 20
value increased under irrigation.------------------------------- 42
Lamanda, at ------------------------------------------------------------ 21
Little Crow Flats, at ---------------------------------------------------- 87
Mandelin Plains, at ----------------------------------------------------- 19
Marquis Plateau, at----------------------------------------------------- 145
Maynard Flats, at ------------------------------------------------------ 87
Mesa or bench------------------- 14, 15, 27, 31, 40, 42, 58, 59, 67, 92, 111, 149, 297
Mexican Plateau, a ----------------------------------------------------- 300
Mountain and hill-...--- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 10
Non-irrigated ----------------------------------------------------------- 23
Oatman Flat, at -------------------------------------------------------- 114
Pan-handle region, in-------------------------------------------------- tº 91
Parley's Park, at-------------------------------------------------------- 51
Plains º in -------------------------------------------------------- 4, 23
Porous, the------------------ x * * * * * * s an is sº * * * c as s e s a sm ºn as º ºs e º sº º ºs º is is e º ºs s as ºn tº sº º ºs 317
Public-------------------------------------------------19, 35, 41, 44, 48,49,66, 84
Riparian.--------------------------------------------------------------- 273
Rockies, the, ratio of mountain, plain, and forest area. ------------...----. 108
Sage brush, the --------------------------------------------------------- 39, 309
San Bernardino, classified, at ----------------- -------------------------- 27
San Jacinto Plains, on ------------------------------------------------- 104, 135
Sandy Bottom, the------------------------------------------------------ 31
Small farms and holdings ------------------------------------------- 71,319,320
Southern Joaquin Plains, in--------------------------------------------- 11.
Staked Plains, at, Texas ------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 91, 99
Stock-raising on irrigated.----------------------------------------------- 315
Sub-irrigated ----------------------------------------------------------- 43
Swamp ----------------------------------------------------------------- 120
Table, the --------------------------------. 5, 14, 15, 40, 42, 79, 92, 107, 112, 282
of Southern Arizona and of New Mexico.----...--...----------------. 6
Under canals and ditches, Arizona -------------------------------------- 59
Unity of land and Water ----------------------------------------------. 317,318
Valley, of the. --------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 10 -
Value of in Egypt ----------------------------------------------------- 324
Value of with perpetual water right------...----...--------...----------- tº tº 49
138 A L–AP WOL IV 24
370 INDEX.
Lakes, as irrigation sourceS- . . . Page.
Atomanicæ, at -----------------------------------....... ............... 290
Atoyae, at ------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 290
Burnside, at -------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a, e = e 147
Cajitiſan, at ---------------------------------------------------......... 290
Chapala, at----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ e s s as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 290
Clear, the ------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ſº tº us tº is tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 9
Devils, the ----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 93
Ponnºr, the --------------------------------------------------.........75, 145
Dry, the ------------------------ * * * * * *{As a s * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9
Eagle, the * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * > . . . . . . 9, 19
Elizabeth, the ----------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • • * * * * * * - - - -
Fall, the ----. tº ºr tº tº tº use º sº tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 9
Geneva, the ---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = - e. e. tº º ºs º ºr ºf - - - - - - 321
Goose, the -------------------------------------------- * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - 9, 123
Great Salt, the -------------------- -------------.5, 50,56, 50, 53, 100,297,300,310
Honey, the ------------------------------------------.. * * * * * * * * * * = e s e s = e a 9
Pyramid, the.--------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * e s = e s e e s = e, e. 147
San Marcos -------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 290
Santa Maria del Oro----------. ----------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 290
Sayula ---------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * - - - - - 2
Tahoe ſº tº ºr tº º ſº tº gº tº º ºs tº tº º ſº tº sº. & .e. s w an ºr e = * *** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * de ºn tº ----9, 75, 145, 146
Tulate----------------------------------------------------------- -----.8, 9, 120
Utah * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is as tº me as as e s = e s a * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * . . . .49, 51,56
Zacoalo -----------------------------------------------------...-----.... 290
Kern • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * ~ * = e s e s = * * * * * * * = ----8, 9, 124
Klamath------------------------------------------------------- * * * = * * * * * 9
Magdalena ----------------------------------------------- º ºn tº gº tº gº - - - - - - - - 290
Mercaltitan-------------------------------------------- -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 290
Moeris -...- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - . . . . . . . .321
Mono-----------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9
Owens -----. tº ºn tº e s ºn s a tº tº º ºs ºn tº e º ºs º ºne as sº º is tº sº use º ſº e º 'ºw tº ºf * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9
Pangwitch * * * * * * * * * as: º gº as sº º ºs e º ºs º ºs º ºs s sº º ºs º º º • *-* * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 49
Laws relating to irrigation and water—
Arizona, statutes of ----------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * 176, 177,178
Acequias, public and private rights in -----------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 176
when taken out by private persons, ....----. * * * * * * * * * * * * 176
not to be interfered with-------------. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 176
Animals to be controlled by shepherd----------...- * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s e e 177
By-paths prohibited over fields.--...----------- * * * * * s s we et as as * * * * * * * * * 176
Community ownership of ditches.----------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 177
Conveyance of waters, incorporation for-----------...- * * * * * * is tº dº tº dº as sº tº 178
Convictions, appeals allowed on ----------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - & sº dº sº dº is tº tº tº we & 178
Crossing of roads by ditches. -- - - - tº dº tº º ºs º dº ºn tº us tº ſº º ºs º ºs ºn as sº as tº us as • - - - - - - - - 177, 178
Customs of Sonora in force------------------------------.......... 178
Damages, how assessed.-------------------------------------------- 176
Dams, not to impede irrigation--------------------------- $ tº $ tº º ud is ſº tº 176
Elections, order and conduct. ---- {º s ºn as ºn tº a m = e s = e e s tº as as s a sm we as e * * * * * * * * * 177
Exclusive right to Water, when ----------------------------........ 177
Fines for refusal to labor......... dº º ºs º ºs tº dº tº sº º sº º º is ºn ºn as sº s • * * * * * * as * * * * * * 177
Funds, road-making for-----------------------------------------... 178
Inhabitants, right to construct acequias.----. & sº as sº sº tº us is as tº gº tº s as us ºn as • - - - - 177
Justices of the peace, their duties. ----...---- ał & s sº & tº a tº sº is sº s is e º us as e s e s as $ 177
Laborers, when required.-----------------------------------------. 177
Land-owners required to labor.---- tº º ºn tº gº ºn tº dº º ºs º ºs g º ºs * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 177
Overseers, pay and duties of.-------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 177
Reduction works, when prohibited.----------------------......... 176
Riparian rights, not recognized.---- * ºn as tº sº tº us as nº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 176
Scarcity of water, how met.----------...-- * * * * * * * * * w = e s sº º º sº. 4 º' is sº ºn ºf 177
Trees on ditches, owned by----------------------------------------- 178
Water regulations in force--------------------------------------- tº 4 178
California, statutes of “... --. .180, 181, 182, 183,184, 185, 186,187, 188,189, 190,191, .
192, 193, 194, 195
Acquisition of lands and water.---- • -------------------182, 189, 190, 191,192
Agents, power to appoint ----------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 181, 182
Assessments, how made and paid.------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * 180
Assessors and deputies, qualifications and duties of..... 180,183,184, 185, 187;
188, 189, 191
* Wright district act and acts amendatory.
INDEX. - 371
Page,
Laws relating to irrigation and water—Continued.
California—Continued.
Board of equalization, duties--------- ----------------...-----------183,188
Board of supervisors, powers of.--------------------- * * * * * * e s a us e º 'º - * * 179
Bonds of district, mode of issue, classes, and Sale.------. 183, 188, 135, 193, 194
Bonds, official amount of.---------- ºr e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * . ... 180,182, 188, 189, 193
Boundaries, changes of.-------------------------------- 179, 189, 190,191,192
By-laws, when framed and published.--------, ----------------------- 181
Canvass of votes, how made...-----180, 181, 184, 185, 187, 188, 189, 190,192
Certificates, when issued.-------------------------------------- 180,184, 185
Collector of taxes, election and duties of.--------- tº sº ºn tº sº º 180, 184, 185, 188, 189
Compensation of officers.-------------------------------- * - tº ºr * * * * * * * * 187
Construction of works.------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * 181,182, 186
Contracts, how made and enforced ----- tº m * * * * * * * * * * e º sm as ºn a sº a sº as as a “s ºf ... ... 186
Directors, election and duties of.--------------- 181, 186,188, 189, 191,192, 194
District for irrigation purposes, its powers.------ 179, 190, 191,192, 193, 194, 195
Divisions of district.----------------------------------- 179, 180,184, 190, 191
Elections, how held and what for .--------------- ---.99, 180, 181, 187, 189, 190
Electors, qualifications of.------------------------------------------- 180
Freeholders, right to form district ----------------------------- tº ºs - tº be tº 179
Interest on bonds, amounts of -------------------------------------- 182, 184
Newspapers, advertising in --------------------- 182, 184, 185, 186,189, 191, 193
* Oaths, use and administration of------------------------------------ 180
Resident board of directors. --------------------------------- * * * * * * * 181, 182
Property, assessment, sales, redemption of... 182, 183,184, 185, 186,188, 189, 191
Salaries, schedule of ------------------------------------------------ 187
Secretary board of directors of.--------------------- 180,181, 183,184, 188, 191
Treasurer irrigation district of.------------------------- 181, 182, 185, 186,188
Water rights, public control of.....-----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºr s 181,182, 186,187,188
Water rights, ownership of, by district ----------------------...--- ... 179, 182
Colorado, statutes of....191,192, 193,194,195,196, 197, 198, 199,200,201, 202,203,
204, 205,206, 207,208, 209, 210,211,212, 213,214,215,215
Certificates of priority, now issued.----...----------------. * * * * * & e º e º e 196
Claims to water must be filed.---- º as ºn e s we wº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº e s an e s s 191
Clerks of courts, duties, etc.----------------------- 197, 198, 199,200,201,202
Commissioner, for water districts ------------------------------ 199,207,208
bond of.--------------------------------------------. 212
powers of distribution, etc.------------------- 199,200,201,213
Construction of ditches, etc, time allowed.---------------------...... 191
Corporation ditches, control of ........ - - - - - 202,203,204,205,206, 209,210, 212
County commissioners, irrigation duties of.----------------. 202,206,210,211
Diminution of flow, rights of owners affected.----------------...----. 194, 195
by lowering of channel -------------------------. 195
Distribution of water, act regulating--------------------------.....212,213
District courts, required to adjudicate ------------------...---........ 195
filing descriptions with------------------------------ 175
powers of.-------------------------------------196, 197, 198
referees to be appointed by------------------...------ 198
powers given to.----------------------- 198, 199,200
Ditch owners as common carriers.---------------------.............. 206
Ditches to be kept in repair, penalties for failure -................. .203,204
Willful injury to, trespass on :-----------------------.......204,205
Eväporation and seepage, allowance for -...---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = s. 203
Fees, provisions for -----------------------------------------. * * * * * * 199,202
Foaling streams and ditches forbidden-...----............. •- - - - - - - - - - - 205
Flumes, construction and care of .------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 204,205
Governor, duties of ----------...--...------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * w sº e º e s = 208,212,213
Headgates to be maintained by owners-----------........ ............ 204
Irrigation districts, their powers.--------------------------------.... 207
Judges, their duties and powers ---------------...------198, 199,200,201,202
Measurement of water, mode of -----------. -----------......... 205,208,209
Newspapers, use of for legal notices.-------------------.......... . . 196
Numbering ditches, when and how-----------------.................. 197
Possessoryland title, conveys water...... ---------------------....... 194
River appropriations, provisions for........ 194, 195, 196, 197, 198, 199,201,202
Private ditches, regulation of.---------------...--...----. … " 202
Private lands, taken under eminent domain........ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
g
- y 191 .
Rates for Water, regulations of................... tº is tº ºn tº º gº º sº ºn ----.210,211,212
Referees, their fees and pay 3 * *-* } 2
* * * * * * * * tº a ºn tº us tº us e * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
372
INDEX,
Laws relating to irrigati w Page,
colº doº- º and water—Continued.
eservoirs, owners and construction of . . . . . '
Right of way, relating ------------------------------- 203
§º:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 195,202,203,209,216
State engineer, º in hydraulics :::::::::::::::::::::::::: 198, ;
uties of.................................I.I.I.:
State land commissioners------------- ::::::::::::::: * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 3. 209
Superintendents division of irrigation... II.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.313. 209, 210
Taxation, irrigation works free from º:::::::::::::::::::::::::: 213, 214, 215
wested rights maintained..................................... ^e we s sº m s 209
Water rights, act to protect ----- ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 191
Water wheels, right to use.......................................... 215
Dakota, statutes of...................................gi?.318,315. Son 3 191
- *: º º weis............................. ,218,219,220, 3. ;
andoned, right of way, when.................................... 218,
Additionai'assessments º tº - hº :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 218
Advertise for bids................................................I. 221
Appeals to district court ............................................ 220
Application by freeholders.......................................... 219
Appointment $f viewers....I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.: 218
Appointment, mode of.............................................. 218,219
Assessed fands, description of........................................ 220
Assessment, board of........................3* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * .222
meetings of............................................. 220
modes of.....................................I.I.I.I.I. 220
principies of............................................ 220
reviews of.............................................. 221
Attorney-general, duty of............................................ 221
pianº, aftorney general's office..................................... 221
#oard assessment meeting of........................................ 221
Čiº county, duty of ................. ---------------------------- 220
Čode, civil ....................................................... 221
Čode, political ...................................................... 221
ðieciſion of tax...................................................: 217
Čommissioners created ............................................. 220,221
Čompensation of officers ............................................ 218
Čonºrion, bias for........................................... ---- 221
Čºntract, security of................................................ 220
Contractors, mode of payment :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 220
imagingiands, penalty for........................................ 222
jºinºuency, sale for............................................... 217
is scription assessed lands........................................... 221
iºnion of inds.............................................. 222
Diminution of water................. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 217
Disqualification of officers----------. ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 217
iſſiºnalification is interest.......................................... 221
pºof overseers..................................................: 222
fºuré of compliance with law................. ſº e º sº º' - tº a me • * * * * * * * * * 219,220
Fee of viewers.----...--- "…::::::::::::::::::::: * * * * * * * * * * * * * 217
Fumi, arresian weii................................................. 219
Land-owner's rights----------------- :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 220
iºning right ºf way.............................................. 217
Location, order for............................................... 218
Mºssment..................................... * * sº e º e º sº tº º ºs 3.
Mºi fºr appointment.............................................. 220
Mºjżºiſºn............................................... :
Mºi fºr jiway collection......................................... 220
$.” of highways ---------------------- :::::: :::::::::::::::::: §
Sºnohºent...........................................: -
Plat, filing of º *:::::::::::::::::::::::::::: dº sº sº sº as gº w w tº e º as as ºs e e 219,222
Repeal of law ----------------------- .......:::::::::::::::::::: 3.4
Rºmages................................................. 3 222
Right of way -------------------- ...................:::::::::: 19–221
Sale of land for delinquency. ----. ------------ : ::::::::::::::::::: 4.
Tax, general township ------------------------- .........::::::::: 221
Tax, railway share of . --------------------- ......:::::::::::::::: 220
Water-courses unobstructed.----------------- : ::::::::::::::::::: #19
Water rights, under.--------------------------- :::::::::::::::::::: 216 #
Wells, references iO • s as a s = e, e s m sº sº e a s as e s s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 218, 219, 220. 221
INDEX." - 373
Page.
Laws relating to irrigation and water—Continued.
Idaho, statutes of. ------------------------------------------------- 222,223,224
Appraisers, to hear water cases-------------------------------------- 223
Appropriation of Water, right to use-------------------------------- 222, 223
Beneficial use to be defined.----------------------------------------- 223
Canals, construction and care of.----------------------------------- 222,223
Claim, notice of, to be posted.---------------------------------------- 222
Company or corporation, action of.--------. ------------------------ 222,223
Common property defined.------------------------------------------- 224
Damages, on what grounds----------------------------------------- 224
Distribution of water, how----------------------------------------- 223,224
Diversion to be complete-------------------------------------------- 222
Fines, when levied-------------------------------------------------- 24
Frontage on stream ---------------.. -------------------------------- 222
Husbandry, protection of.------------------------------------------- 224
Labor, when required.----------------------------------------------- 224
Necessary works to be provided ------------------------------------- 224
Newspapers, notices in---------------------------------------------- 223
Rights of owners to be protected ---------...---- & e e º sº, sº e º se e s se e s e s is sº sº º 223,224
Water district, how formed --...----...----------------------------- 224
master, how elected.----------------------------------------- 224
and deputies, powers --------------------------------- 224
Kansas, statutes of.----------------------------------------------------- 225
Montana, statutes of.-------------------------------------- 226,227,228,229,230
Agricultural use of water ------------------------------------------- 226
Appeals, when taken.----------------------------------------------- 228
Appraisers, appointment of------------------------------------------ 226
Appropriation, what is required by-------------...------------------. 229,230
Appropriation of water to be beneficial.----------------------------- 229
Certificates of appropriation ---------------------------------------. 225
Company or corporation, power and obligations of.----------------- - 228
Costs of suits---------------------------------------------. 225,226,227,228
County roads to be crossed.----------------------------------------- 228
Courts, appeals to, and powers of.-----------------------------. 226.227,228
Damages, how punished ------------------------------------------- 226, 227
Diverting water unlawfully----------------------------------------- 229
Fines, when levied---------------------------------------- - - - - - 226,227,229
Measurement of water-----------------------------------. * gº is ºm º ºs ºs º ºr gº º 230
Public highways to be repaired.------------------------------------ 227
Rights of way--------------------------------------------- 226,227,228,229
Sale of Water -------------------------------------------------. 226,227,228
Water, access for use not to be forbidden---------------------------. 229
Nebraska, statutes of.-------------------------------------------------. 230
Nevada, statutes of ---------------.230,231,232,233,234,235,236,237,238,239,240
Acts passed, titles of.-------------------------------------. 230, 236,237,240
Annual water rent, conditions of -------...--------------------------- 239
Appeals, when allowed---------------------------------------------- 234
APPropriations ----------------------------------------------------- 232
Arable lands, when irrigated.--------------------------------------- 241
Artesian wells, bounty for------------------, ------------------------ 240
Beneficial use of water ---------------------------------------------- 231
Board of county commissioners, their powers ---------...----...----.... 231, 232
Board of reclamation, its powers ------------------------...----. 237,238,239
Bonds, appropriation for ------------------------------------------- 238
issue and redemption--------------------------------------- 238,239
Certificates of priority, how issued.--------------...----...----...----. 233,234
Clerk of the supreme court.---------------------------------------- 233,234
Civil engineer, provided for, duty of.------------------------...----. 238
Construction of works, how provided for ---------...----. 232,234,235,238,239
Corporations, how regulated.--------------------------------------. 233,234
County, its relation to irrigation districts---------------------------. 231
Courts, Powers of.------------------------------------- 231,232,233,234,235
Damages, Willfully done -------------------------------------------- 234
District courts, their jurisdiction.----------...----------------------. 231
Ditches, owners of, their priorities------------------------------ 232,233,234
Ditches, their regulation ...----...----... ------------------------- ----- 235
Division of Water, when unlawful ----------------...----------------- 237
Diversion of water, when -------------------------------- tº dº º º sº º sº º ºs º º º 235
Elections, when held...---------. '-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 238
374, INDEx.
& $º º f tº Bage.
Laws relating to irrigation and water—Continued. g
Nevada—Continued. -
Headgates, use and protection of -------------------------..........231,232
Interest on bonds--------------------------------------. dº as sº sº is tº ºn e º sº a 239,240
Irrigation districts, how formed.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * dº sº ºn tº as º sº tº º sº - - - - - - - - 237 -
Newspapers, notices in------------------------------------...-------233,234
Priorities, water right----------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * .233,234,235
Public property in water reservoirs, provisions relating to....232,233,234,235
State, comptroller of, his duties...... • ------------------------------- 239
governor of, his duties....... tº e º sº tº as sº e s as es e e a tº sº. ------------- 230,236,239
officers, unlawful interest in .......----...---... * * * * * * tº ſº º sº dº º se tº 239
treasurer of his duties ------, ---------------------... . . . . . . . . . 239
surveyor-general, his duties --...--- --------------------------- *38
Water commissioners, their duties...................... --. .230,231,232,235
New Mexico, statutes of................. * * * * * * * * * * * * * is e tº as se se 240,241,242,243,244
Acequias, public -----------------...----------...-------------, -940,241,242
private --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *s e as ºn as as is tº m dº º Q as as tº dº º te ºf a 241,242,243
Access to water for cattle not deniable .---- is a sº s a s ºn ºn tº it tº as tº º º ... sº tº dº sº dº ... .243,244
All impediments to irrigation prohibited.----...---------------...---. 240
Appraisers, for compensation or damages, their duty ----------...---- 241
Compensation for right of way -------------------------------------- 241
*When refused ----------------------------------------- 241
Commissioners of ditches.------------------------------------------242,244
Community, construction of ditches ...----------...--...----. ..-------- 240
Elections for irrigation purposes....... tº as sº e º as ºn e ºs e º me as a s e º ºs ºn ... --------- 240
Fines, when levied.-----...------------------------------- gº tº as as a dº sº ... .242,243
recovered, used for ditch purposes. -----...-- • -------------- ... 241
Justices of peace, their duties.--------------------------------- 240,241,242
Major-domos, elected by people -----...----...---------...----. sº tº sº is tº s is sº * * 242
their duties, pay, etc ------------------------- 241,242,243,244
No payment for land when ditch is public ...---...---...-------- jº & we as as ºn tº 240
Obligation to labor enforced.----------------------------------------- 242
Overseers of ditch repairs, etc.----...----------------------- tº gº tº º sº sº sº tº 242,243
Property in ditches.---------------------- tº as a as as sº a m = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 241
when lying in different counties ------...-- - - - - - - - - - 241
Proprietors of land obligated to labor. ----. -------------------------- 243
Pueblo Indians, their community, rights to Water. -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - , 244
elect major-domos -----------. ---------------------- 244
Rivers and streams as public ditches.----------...-------------------- 240
Salt lakes, public property in.--------------------------------- tº ºn is tº gº º 244
Shepherds, to control herds.---------------------------------------- 240
Tenants of land.---------------- gº ºn as as as a s a s is es sº s = en as sº e s is is ºn e º dº sº * tº an as ºn e º as a 243,244
Water sources, all declared free. ---...-----...------------------------ 244
Wells, their use -----------...--------------------------------------- 244
Oregon, statutes of----------------------- é º a dº sº as a s a de & sº e s is tº º ºs º ºs tº a gº ºn as a s = * * * 239
Conveyance of water, right of way for. --...- . . . . . . . . . . . . ------------- 239
Patents for State lands, water rights of... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . -- ... ---. 239
Right of way granted ---------------------- tº dº sº dº sº it a dº nº me is dº tº ºn tº ...-------- 289
Use in irrigation ... --...-----. gº sº sº m s tº sº ºn tº s is º º & sº tº gº tº a º sº dº & e e s m ºn tº sº dº dº sº is a sº dº º º 239
Utah, statutes of .--------------------------------- 247,248,249,250,251,252,253
Advertising, provided----------------------- º e º us as as as a a sm is a dº sº a tº a dº is sº * * * 250,251
Agreement, to pay tax ------------------------------------------- ... 250 .
Appraisals of land -------- w = as me sº a ºn a s a e = * * * * * is e s = e s = e s in s is a s e º 'º e º 'º a º ... 252
Appraisement of land.--------------------------------------------- 251,252
Assessments, for irrigation.---------------------------------- .......251,252
Average flow of Water supply --------------------------------------- 248
Ballots to be counted by ------------------------------------- tº º is tº gº tº 250,251
Board of references ---------------------------... • * * * * * * * * * ------------ 248
Books of record, water rights in ... --............. & Jº as ºn as tº dº sº dº ſº a tº tº tº . .... 248
Bonds to be filed.------------------------------------- ... . .--------- 251
Canals in district ---------------------------------------- .......... 250,253
Canals for irrigation -------------------------------------------- ...247,253
Certificate, district election ---------........ sts as º sº gº ºn a ºn as ºn as sº º a se ſº s sº is sº sº * * 250,251
Certificates, water right ----------------------- gº tº º ºs º ºs & -------------- 248
Claims for Water or damages.---------------...-------------- ........248,249
Olerk of district ... -- tº ſº gº ºn tº º º ºs º ºs º me tº sº dº sº º sº tº º me tº gº tº dº de ------------- .... --.250,251
Commissioners, water --------------------.......--...--------------848,233
Certificates, liability of ...--...----------------...-...--------------- *
Constructions, U180 of Water as a sm as a s a e s as a sº e a a a e a dº a a a a a 4 & 6 tº a dº e º & 8 º' tº e º 'º º º 248
*
INDEX. 375
Page.
Laws relating to irrigation and water—Continued.
Ütah-Continued. t
Construct, Works to----- ----------------- :------------------------- 253
Construction of irrigation works, by whom .-----...------------------ 253
Corporations, how formed.-------------------------------------- 248,249,253
County recorder ---------------------------------------------------- 248
Dams, when to be constructed -------------------------------------- 252
Damages, payment for --------------------------------------------- 250,252
Definitions, in law - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * is s sº sº tº º ºs e º ºs ºs tº e º ºs º º is ºs º ºs e º sº tº nº º sº º ºs º is sº 249
Distribution of water, who by.-----------...--..... tº º ºs º ºs º we dº sº tº sº us us sº sº tº 248,250
District work.------------------------------ dº sº º ºs ºº e º e º sº º º ºs º ºs º ºs dº as as a we as 250,251
Ditch, right of way------------------------. & © tº º te tº dº º º is ſº 247,250,251,252,253
Ditches, construction of.----..... - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ------ 247,250,251,252,253
Diversion of water, when unlawful-------..........----------------- 253
Domestic purposes for.------------------...----...------------------ 349
Duty of county comptroller .----........ dº º ºs º ſº se tº sº we we nº sº dº º ºs º is tº tº sº as tº g º ºr we ge 250,253
Duty of district officers -------------------------------------------. 250,252
Duty of recorder.----------------...--- tº º e º ºs s e as ºs e º is is nº e º 'º º is © tº sº tº º & & º º ºs 248
Duties of Selectmen ................ tº is tº e º 'º e º ºs ºs e º an e ºs e º sº º ºs º ºs º ºs s sº tº º tº sº * * * 248
Duties of trustees.--------------------. • * * * * * * * s • * * * * * * * * * tº ne sº º ſº tº º sº * 250,253
Elections for officers -------------------------------- & © º ºs º º ºs e º is a m e º is 250,251
Estimates for works -----------------------------------------------250,331
Tºxemptions from --------------------------- gº ºn tº e º e s is we dº nº me s a s as sº se tº * * * * * 252
Homestead, lien on ------------------------------------------------- 247
Injury to settler ---------------------------------------------------- 247
Irrigation districts--------------------------------- tº a sº ºn sº tº e is as nº is nº s ... 250,253
Judges of election-------------------------------------------------- 250,251
Lakes, when used.--------------------------------------------------- 259
Landholders to form water districts ..... ---------------- tº e s is a s sº dº sº º is a 250,253
Location of districts -----------------------. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ----. 250
Maps of districts--------------------. tº º sº º Aº as e º ºn as as º e º 'º dº as ºs º ºs ºr as e º sº tº º is tº dº sº 251
Measurement of water -----. -----......... tº º is sº s º ºs tº as ºs as as a º ºs º- w as * * * * .... 249
Misdemeanor, when guilty of.... ........ e as ºn as a tº gº ºn as tº sº sº e º ºs e º sº ºr sº sº as a de me • * * 252
Notices, Water districts -------------------------------------------250,253
Officers of Water districts ----------............ as ſº sº as º g º sº º sº tº as a tº * * * * * * 250,253
Patents, for lands, lien on---------...----------. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 247
Powers of trustees --------------------------------------------- .... 250, 253
Pre-emption, allowed lien on ---------------------------------------- 247
Primary rights ----------------------. * * * * * c as º ºn s = e º s sº º ºs ºn tº sº--------- 247,249
Prior appropriation-------------------------------------------- 247,248,249
Priority of possession ---------------...----- -----------------------247,248
Public domain, references to----------------------------------------- 247
Public highways, navigable rivers are.---------...----....... ... ----- 248
Rate of taxation, how determined ...... ---... tº º sº tº ſº G = º gº tº gº tº -º, sº º sº tº tº ----- 251
Real estate, owned by Water district ------.............. ---.........250,252
Reclamation, water for desert land ---...----- jº º ºs º ºs º ºn sº m º we nº º, º us tº sº º ºs º ºs º ºs • 247
Right of Way ------------------------------------------- •º gº º ºs º ſº º ... .249,250
Roads, when used.-------------------------------------------------- 252
Roll-list required --------------------------------------- tº wº nº sº e º dº º ſº tº tº 250,251
Secondary rights --------------------------------------- •º gº º ºs º gº tº º us tº º 248,249
Selectmen, ex-officio Water commissioners ---...----...--------------. 248
Settlers on public domain------------------------------------------. 247
Streams in different counties---------------------------------------- 251
Streams, not navigable --------------------------------- tº as we º ºs º dº nºt gº tº º 247,248
Suits in equity----------------------------------------- * = º ºs º gº ºg º ºs º sº dº º jº 248
Surplus water, use of ----------------------------------------------- 249
Tax, for irrigation ------------------------------------- as tº we ºn tº sº e s m tº * * 250,253
Tax-payers, obligation of ------------------------------------------ 250,252
Terms of district trustees-------------------------------------------- 251
Treasurer of district.------------------------------------------------ 250
Trustees, for Water districts-------------------------------------- - .250,253
Unusual ſlow, secondary rights to.------------------------...------- 249
Uses of Water------------------------------------------------------- 248
Utah, laws of, sessions of 1878–1880 -----...--- * = -- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 247,253
Value of lands------------------------------------------------------ 250,
Water, when insufficient------------------------------...-----...------ 249
Water rights, how Secured ---------------------------------------. -247,250
Texas, statutes of -------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * *e as e as a sº-sº a ses, as a • * 244,245; 246,247
Act to encourage irrigation------------------------------------------ 244
376 INDEX.
Page
. Laws relating to irrigation and water—Continued. g
Texas-—Continued.
Appropriation of unused waters.----...----...---- tº sº gº tº º ſº tº gº º ºs º ºs tº º tº º tº º ºs 244, 245
of land for right of way ------------------------------ 245,247
prior, provided for.----------------------------------- 245
Canals, injury to--------------------------------------------------- 246
Commissioners' courts, powers of.--------------------------------- 246,247
* Condemnation of land ---------------------------------------------. 247
Construction works, when to begin ---...---------------- tº sº a m sº me s sº as sº me sº tº 245
Contract for right of way ------------------------------------------- 245
Corporations, forming of powers and duties. -------------------- 245,246,247
Domestio use, of way.---------------------------------------------- 245
Fares, When levied------------------------------------------- gº tº sº º ºs º º 246
Fences, regulation of.----------------------------------------------- 5.
Grant of right of way ----------------------------------------------- 246
Health to be protected.---------------------------------- * as ºs º gº tº ſº sº tº º tº tº 247
Irrigation works, how inaugurated.--------------------------------- 247
over public lands --------------------------------- 246
Owners of land, failing to protect works.---------------------------- 246
Police regulations, to protect ditches-------------------------------- 246
Use of water, public right to ,--------------------------------------- 247
Wyoming, statutes of.--...---. 253,254, 255,256,257,258,259,260,261,262,263,264
Adjudication provided for------------------------------------------- 262
Agriculture to have preference of water over manufacturing -- - - - - - - - 263
Appeals from arbitration-------------------------------------------- 254
Appraisers, their duties-------------------------------------------- 253,254
Appropriation of water -----------------------. 255,256,257,258,259,260,261
Arbitration provided for -------------------------------------------- 204.
City rights to water protected.-------------------------------------- 260
Compensation for damages provided.-------------------------------- 254
Commissioners of irrigation provided for -------------------------- - - 255
Commissioners' duties defined.---------------------------------- 255,256,257
Damages for leakage, etc.-------------------------------------------- 259
Districts provided for ---------------------------------------------- 255
*Domestic use of water to have preference.--...---------------------- 263
Engineer for the Territory provided for and duties defined..261,262,263,264
Fish to be protected ... --...---- e e º as as as as ºr m we sº e s is ºn e º e as ºn e º a ºn as as as as sº * * * * * * * * 200
Incorporation provided for ------------------------------------------ 262
Jurisdiction of courts ---------------------------------------------- 259
Land and water rights defined -------------------------------------- 252
Machines for raising wator, right to -------------------------------- 254
Possessory titles to land, water use attached ...---------------------- 253
Prior rights guarantied --------------------------------------------- 263
Prior rights protected --------------------------- tº º ºs ºs º sº º sº, º ºs º ºr • * * * * * as 253
Rights of way for ditches defined.-------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 253
Surplus water to be sold ------------------------------------------- . 263
Water declared public property------------------------------------ . 263
Witness fees, mileage, etc.------------------------- is sº is tº ſº gº ºn tº ſº ºn ------- 259
P.
Pipes— *
Asphalt concrete---------------------------------- tº e º sº e º sº tº gº tº gº ºn e º ºs º ºs tº º ºs ºs . 133
Conduit ------------------------------------------------------ ,s • * ~ * * * * * * 131
Wrought-iron laminated.----------------------------------------------- 132
Population—
Arizona (estimated), of.------------------------------------------------- 59
British India (total), of.------------------------------------------------- 326
California, of ----------------------------------------------------------- 35
Egypt, Upper and Lower.---------------------------------- is as a se - sº ºn s w we s tº º 325
Products, value of.- i
Arizona, in--------------------------------------------- sº e º 'º e º 'º º sº tº me tº º º sº º º 60
California, in ----------------------------------------------------------- 34, 37
cattle of.-------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 15
Colºrado, in------------------------------------------------------------- 65 .
Cotton, of ---------------------------------------------- 54,314,321,322,323,324
Pakotas, in the --------------------------------------------------------- 77
Indigo, of... --- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * se sº as sº as sº a s as as sº us tº as a sº e º a s s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 291
*ontana, in------------------------------------------------------------- 41
Nebraska, in---------------------- -------------------------------------- 80.84
INDEX. 377
Page.
Products, value of Continued. 15
§. of.. f..."- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - a 1 m as ºr a s ºr e º me • * = as as ºn a s s m e º is sº a • * * * * * * * * * * * * º
Sorghum, of ----------------...------------------------------------------
Sugar, of..................... ------------ 54, 58,62,291,293,314,321,322,323,324
R.
Rain-fall of and regions..3, 6, 11, 12, 27, 31, 34, 40, 43,48, 55, 58,70,83, 89,91, º
Bear Lake, at----------------------------------------------------------- 13
Betts....'.............................................................. 30
Penicia, at-------------------------------------------------------------- §
£ritish India, in ------------------------------------------------------- - 326
California, in -...-- e sº we we e º an e º ºs e º sm is a ºn as as e s tº m sº us as a s sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 103
Cascade Mountains, east of.--------------------------------------------- 6
Clear Lake, at ---------------------------------------------------------- _;
Pakota, in---------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 79
Payton, at-------------------------------------------------------------- 43
Pes Moines, at---------------------------------------------------------- 55
Pistribution of---------------------------------------------------------- 24
Effect on irrigation-------------------------------------------------- sy • * * 30
Emery County, in------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 54
Fort Redding, at-------------------------------------------------------- 7
Fort Lyon, at----------------------------------------------------------- 7
Great Plains region ----------------------------------- tº e º e º as ºn s e a es e s as as sº * * 81
Greeley, at, effects on--------------------------------------------------- 70
Idaho, average annual, in----------------------------------------------- 39
Increase, at high altitudes---------------------------------------------- 43
Increasing in West------------------------------------------------------ 3.
Kern River Caſion on.----...----. sº e s sº se s - as a sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ;
Los Angeles, at---------------------------------------------------------- º
Mexico.in...........................................I. -----------282,283
Millerton, Cal., at------------------------------------------------------- d
'Monterey, at------------------------------------------------------------ 7
'Mount San Jacinto, on-------------------------------------------------- 30
*ount Nebo------------------------------------------------------------ 53
Mountains, in Utah.-------------------...---- e as a s e º sº us e a ºn as a s an a sm ºn as us ... • * * * * * * 48
**--------------------------------------------------------------- º, tº 19
Piute County, in-------------------------------------------------------- 52
Pillarcitos, at.----... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * me us sº sº e º sº in a sº a sº ºn is a sº ºn tº sº * * * 8
**, on the----------------------------------------------------------- 88,89
Rocky Mountains, on the.----------------------------------------------- 108
*mento, Cal--------------------------------------------------------- 7, 8
* Diego, at----------------------------------------------------------- 8
Sº Francisco, at----------------------------------------------------- -- 8
****, *-----------------------------------------------------. 50, 51, 52, 56
*ons of Arizona------------------------------------------------------ 59
Shepherd rains, Arizona.-------------------------------------------- tº º ºs tº 59
Sierra (winter), on the.--------------------------------------------- ---- 127
Southern California, effect of intercepting mountains.--...--------------- 27
Southern Texas--------------------------------------------------------- 4 .
*ton, Cal----------------------------------------------------------- 7
Storage reservoirs, in relation to-----------...----.... º, ºr ea º me we s m e º ºs tº dº º sº * * * * 89
*** *---------------------------------------------------------------
Jºh annual of.------------------------------------------------------- 48,49
* *------------------------------------------------------------------ 109
United States, in the.--------------------------------------------------- 302
V*Y* in the --------------------------------------------------------. 27
Visalia, at------------------------------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8
Walla Walla, annual, at.-----------------------------------------------. 43
W*ington ----------------------------------------------------------. 43
** **------------------------------------------------------------- 114
Ranches—
*Y*-------------------------------------------------------------. 125, 126
* Vista.----------------------------------------------------------. 123
*g --------------------------------------------------------------. 123
* ------------------------------------------------------------------ 42
Reservoirs—
Alpine County, in * - tº ſº tº º ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * a s as s a tº sº e a wa w sº s 147
378 iN DEX.
e 1’age,
Reservoirs—Continued.
Areas of, surface and capacity............ -------------------------------- 141
Atemajac de las Tablas................ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... ---. 290
Bear Lake, at---------...--- • --------------------------------------------50, 141
Bear Valley, at-----------------------------............................. 28
9*P*ity of.----------------------------------------------------------. ſº 63
Divisions, at South Platte, No. 1.--........................................ 64
Arkansas, at No. 2.--...----------. * & e º 'º º ºs s as as ºn a s as a sm as sº as s as * - - - - 64
Rio Grande, at No. 3. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 64
Hemet Valley, in ---. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4 * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 135
Hope Valley, in --------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 146
Juriquilla, D68E - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 294
Las Cuartas, at * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 291
Pos Angeles County, in -------------------.............................. 305
Mormon Creek, at. ----- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e s is an e s w e s m is sº e º s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * 20
Natural, the * c e s sº tº sº ºn e. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 56,59
Oatman Caſſion, at . . . . * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 114
Pinto, at---------. * † = * * *s a e ge --------------------------------------------- 294
Proposed at Pantano.-----....... * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - 4 tº gº tº as º ... -111, 112
Prºposed ºf Sierra Lakes.---------------------...................------145,148
Principal irrigation, the--------------------------....................... 305
Quererato, Mexico, at---------------------------------.................. 294
Santa Catarina, at * * * * * * > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * a s e º w w we we s sº º ºr sº e s ºr a • * * * * e 294
San Mi elito estate, Oſł * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 294
San Pe r0 Valley, in * * * ſº tº ſº gº tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * w w = n = * * * 112
Santa Rosa, Tescuitatlan, at---. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 290
Sitesfor---------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * > * * * * * * * * * * * * * * as e e ........19, 31, 52, 66,111
head of the Weber, at-------- * * * * tº its tº tº º tº nº nº sº um sº as tº ſº tº at tº gº sº tº ---------- • * * * * 50
Space and water supply--------------------------------------------------- 141
Stora, e- - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ---------------.30,42, 70,89, 107, 133, 136
Bear ake Valley, at. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 138, 139
Subterranean ---------------- ------------------------------------------- 50.87
Sweetwater, at * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº ºn e s sº tº e s tº s is as ºs º ºr s is a sm sº tº a s = * * * * * ---. 119, 120
Tabulated summary of, in Colorado.------------------------...----------. 65
Temecula Cañon storage, at.-------------------------------------------- 32
Tlaxcala, in * * * * * * * * * * * º tº º ºs s is & Cº. & tº dº sº ºn sº gº ºs ºf tº g º be is is as ºn tº ſº a tº a dº º a tº sº * * * m e º ſº sº as º ºr nº sº w = 294
Wyoming, in * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is us a tº e sº e º s as sº tº gº a se e º 'º º a sm as º e º ºs e is e s tº sº w 76
Yuma County, Ariz., in-------------------------------------------------. 113
Rivers and valleys in irrigable regions— * 4.
Acaponeta...----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * e º e º a s as e as sº tº a te e º nº º at s s sº tº sº as we e º 'º ºn tº es us ºn dº ſº e º sº & & & ſº 291
Aqua Fria tº e - - gº sº tº tº º & Gº tº & e s e ºs e e e tº tº º sº tº tº e ºs e º ſº e s as is ºr ºn º ºs º as º tº º e sº tº gº tº e º º sº tº º se it tº se as ºn as sº 111
AmacuSac tº gº tº dº ſº tº e º 'º º ſº ſº & ºn tº e º ſº e s w e º 'º a $ tº sº tº e º tº tº º ſº tº e º ºs º a w ºr sº wº sº tº ºn tº at 4 ºn tº e º 'º is tº ſº as sº ſº * 292
Ameca --------------------------------------------------------------. 289, 290
American s a ſº e s s e ºs e º sº s & e º ºs e º ſº a s gº tº tº ſº e e º se e s as e º 'º e º sº tº º e s m w e s tº ºr 4 tº 9 º' sº sº º v is an e º sº a • y
Apazalco gº tº e º ſº ºn © es e º 'º e º ºs º ºs e º sº as e a s us e º ºs e º sº º sº e º s is e is º an º ºs º in tº e º 'º & © tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * 289
Apisa.----- * * tº ºn sº tº e º ſº tº 19 sº tº e º e º ºs º e º e tº as a se e sº tº e º sº sº sº e s tº º ºs º dº * * * * * * * * * * > * * * * tº tº * * * * 291
Arkansas....................... 63, 81, 82, 86, 89, 106, 143, 144, 145, 167, 298, 303
Astula---------------------------------------------------------------. 299, 293
Atloyag------- tº a tº sº is ſº e º e º a º ºs e e º ºs e s as sº we as e e s w tº a sº a s & & a tº a s sº as a s e º w = * * * * * * * * * * * * 294
Ayuguila.----. sº e º ſº. 4 º dº sº º sº ºn e º ſº tº s & e as a s a ſº tº as e as a tº sº sº e s sº ºn e º w = e º sº tº º ºs º ºs s a s sº a sº a ºn 289, 290
d 79
Balsas -------- & sº e º e º e as sº as sº tº gº is -------------------------------------------- 291
Barenda ſº its º ºs ºº tº as e a s as as e s m e º e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 149
Bear tº sº tº dº ſº tº tº tº tº dº as a A ºr a g º it tº we w w tº º e º ºs º º tº e º ºr º ºn e º sº tº º tº e º & tº is e as a e s tº dº ºn tº we a 13, 42, 50, 54, *:
al tº º ºs º º tº a s s as e ºs e as ºr a sº e a e e s sº e º a 9 s ſº e º º ºr s tº s e º 'º as we as a ſº tº e º dº sº, º Hº tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Bi Sioux & dº ſº tº ºi º ºs º • 2 e s sº me tº e º a s is us º e º sº * * * g we se e s as we as tº us e is sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 79
# Thompson.---------------------------------------------------------- 87
#. tº ºn tº º sº we º ſº tº º ºr º, º e º ºn tº tº tº sº is se we º ºs as tº gº º is tº º sº º tº e º ºn gº tº dº tº dº ſº º ºn as a s at e is as a s tº w a sº as as a sº a “ 295
O180 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - }
Bolanos -------------------------------------------------------------- jº
Cache La Poudre. -------------------------------------------- 50, 67, 08, 69, 87
Calabozo or San Juan------------------------------------------------ ... 295
Calaveras.---------- tº e º sº º a tº tº º e e º ºs º ºs º dº º is º º tº es dº tº as º tº gº sº sº as s as e s m me is sº as & as e º 'º me & sº º ºs w 8
Camotlan...------------------------------------------------------------ 289
Canas --------------------------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * tº º 289
Cannon Ball------------------------------------------------ e as sº me • * * * * * * * * 9
Carson -------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - ------------------------------
Castle.... a s m an as a m = a a s a a s a s a s a m = a C at e º a ºn tº ºn tº a a sº a sº a tº º sº dº tº tº s a g º a tº as tº s is tº dº is 8 s tº tº dº
1NDEx. 379
&
g Page.
Rivers and valleys in irrigable legions—Continued. 295
8%Oł16S • * * * is d = < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * d = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * t
Ch sº º as º is 6 & © e s & 4. & M aſ , is dº is a w ś & 4 m + & e s • * * * * & º ºs & e º sº a tº e º an is as a tº e º a sº a sº sº as * * * * 289 290
acala ... ’293
79
Chiquita...... s = • , s = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 6
Chonechilla.------------------------------------------------------------ 8
Chontalcuratlan.-------------------------------------------------------- *
Coatzacoalcos............ tº is e as dº is tº e s h tº 4 & e is tº 4 & s is e s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 295
Colorado ............................... 6, 29, 55, 56, 57, 58, 86, 99, 111, 115, 287
Columbia ----------------- & d \e a tº as & b & & sº dº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * , 0, 29, 42, 43
Qonsumnes -------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 13
Cunarron.....---- e as s as as s as dº sº as tº e as e s as as a tº e º & 4 & a s & º * * * * * * * * * * & e is a sº e º a se at is as sº se sº ºn tº 5, 86
3.......:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*Yama - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - dº e º sº º sº e º ſº dº ſº º is sº dº sº tº me as as as as º ºs e º as s & sº º is ºr
Dakota.-----,-------------------- sº tº gº ºn tº sº sº tº e s as sº e s s sº e s is a se s as a e s a sº a sº e > * * * * * * * 80
Pelos Hules------------------------------------------------------------ 295
Deschutes * * * * * * * s ºf e º 'º º is s as we s as as sº e a s tº e º 'º e tº sº se as e º as a se a s as as a tº sº a sm as we tº as a • * * * * * * * as & 44
Piamond --------------------------------------------------------------146,147
() * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºr tº e tº dº º º a s e º e º sº tº e º is tº a ºn tº sº a tº º & w sº s is tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Do Oreş- - - - - - - - - - - tº G e º 'º - és e ºs º e º ºs º ſº tº a s s a we as e s e is a m = * * * * * * * * • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 143
Chalma.... as as is tº e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Cheyenne.... s e º is dº e < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Feather ---------------------- tº gº ºn e sº e º sº ºn ºn e º as º e º 'º e º sº e º sº tº e º sº dº as e is a tº dº º ºs º ºr * * * * 8, 13
§::::::::: tº e º ſº dº e º s sº º e gº º sº e º º is ºs ºn tº as sº e s at e s m sº e º sº º sº sº e º 'º - * * 55, 67,79, 143, 1;
rass - - - - - - - - - - • * * = e º sm as e e º sm as as as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ©
Green ------------------------ m e = e e s as a se e s as s us tº e s s as ºn e s a s e º s is sº * * * * 52, 54, 55, 67,79
Hassayampa.......... tº as as ºn e º º sº tº sº tº an ºn e s is sº sº we tº a ºn as * * * as a m * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 61
Heart ----------. • - - - - - - - - - - - - - ----------------- ... • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 79
Hemet ---...--- tº tº tº sº sº tº gº e s sº sº e º sº sº tº ge e we as as ºs e º e º a tº a e º is sº as e º sº sº tº a e as as as a s º ºr a s = • * * * 31, 135
Houdo.... • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 149
Humboldt ------...---- & e º 'º º e s tº we g as e as a e is a e º sº e e a e as a s an e º a s is is tº dº a sº dº º a s = * * * * * * 300
James, or Dakota........ sº tº e e º nº ºne º e º we º º sº gº e e s as a e º e º e s as as sº s º gº tº dº sº dº º a • * * * * .... 79,92
Jordan -----------------. * & Gº e º 'º dº º ºs º º sº tº º ºs e e s tº a te sº tº a º ºs º ºr tº º º e º te me ºn tº a tº dº & .., 48, 51,300
John Day. -----------. * * * * * tº e º ºr º ºs e e s a e s sº e s tº sº e & s as sº as an e º ºs e º 'º me • * * * * * * * * * .---- 44
Kameah ------------- * * * *s e º º a ºn º ºs e ºn s is as tº º º ºs e º me tº sº e º ºs e º sº a us * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8
Kern ----------------------- tº º ºs ºs e º e º as a tº 8, 9, 13, 121, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127,301, 302
Kings ----------------------------------------------------, ---------- 8, 13,309
w Kittitas * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s m is e s s as as a was a e s as s a • * * * * * * * * * * * * s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * t 43
Klamath------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8, 9,42
Lerma---------- tº sº e º ºn tº sº. tº dº gº º 'º - tº e º ºs ºs s an as e º a ºn as e º 'º º tº tº e º sº gº tº sº * * * * * as a tº as a se sº ºn e º º 289,291
Little Grand..... tº us sº e s - º º tº as we ºn tº tº ºn tº * tº e s e º sº e s is e º sº ºn as as ºn a sm e º ºs e e º ºs ºn tº tº sº e a * * * * * is & 54
Little Missouri.............. -- tº sº e º 'º e º nº as a ºn as e e º 'º sº tº ºn ºn tº dº as a te tº a dº º is as a tº º ºs º is º º sº º ºs 79
Pittle Truckee---------------------------------------------------------- 145
Long------------------------ tº º ºs ºs º ºs sº ºn tº gº tº e º me an e º º nº sº ºn as s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 147
Pos Angeles.----------------------------------------------------- 8, 9, 15, 17,25
Power San Gabriel-----------------------------------------------------. 25
£º Santa Ana ----------.. gº tº ºn vs tº ºn as º me ºn & º ºs º º tº º 'º me º 'º - e º is º an ºn tº sº sº a º tº ºn at dº e º º sº tº º 25
!ºple •- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 79
Marques-----------------------....... & © & tº dº º º ºs tº as ºn tº º ºs º is a “s ºn tº s sº me tº sº is º is as sº ºn s is 291
Merced * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sure e a n e a a a e s e a s a • a s m a n e s a • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8, 13
380 w INDEX.
º / Pa
Riyers and valleys in irrigable regions-Continued. ge.
*--------------------------------------------------------- 4, 40,79,80, 81
Mississippi---------------------. tº sº tº º ºr ºr & eº an ºn tº as ºs ºr tº as ºn a ºn s sº sº º sº dº sº º ºs º is ºn an ºn as ºn as sº a " 62,300
Moctezuma ...---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 295
Mojave----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = as * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 27
Mokelumne. ------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ------- 8, 13
Montezuma.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * º, º sº as a sº gº tº ºn tº use º . --- 143
**------------------------------------------- a we e < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 79
*---------------------------------...--- ºn a a es e º ºs e e s sº as ºn e º sº, sº as * * * * * * * * * 79
*Y --------------------------------------------------------------- 296. 302
*-----------------------------------------------------------------
*P*------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
* ------------------------------------------------------------------ 289
*----------------------------------------------------- cº e s = * * * 57,320,321,323
North Platte.---- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * º is ºn an as sº ºr s--------------------------- 63,81
*9th Spring------------------------------------------------------- ---. 149
9" --------------------------------------------------------- ----------- 124
99"en------------------------------------------------------------------ 50
9*------------------------------------------------------------------ 40
() wons * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s we e s = • * ~ * * * * * * * - • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 19, 20
9Wyhee --------------------------------------...------------------ tº sº ºn tº º º 4
Pajaro ----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *z as ºn as as s an ºn e s s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9
* ---------------------------------------------------------------- 297
Papaloapam-----------------------------------. p = • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 297
**wnee ----------------------------------------. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 86
*Yette ---------------------------------------. aw • as a se - e s a e s m e º 'º as * * * * * * * * 39
* ------------------------------------------------------------ º, º an e º 'º 99
Pitt ------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is sº sº as as e º as e = * * * * * * * * * * * s e e s m w w is sº sº e º sº º e º 'º' 8
*------------------------------------------------------------------ 68, 88
Pleasant ----------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = a, e s as e e s as s a e s = e s - as s s as * * * * * * * 147
9 -------------------------------------------------------------------- 273,383
Powder ---------------------------------------------------------------- 40, 44
*Yo ------------------------------------------------------------------ 51. 52
Poudre----------------------------------------------------------------- 300
Querétaro -------------------------------------------------------------- 294
*abbit ----------------------------------------------------------------- 53
*mos ----------------------------------------------------------------- 287
Red---------------------------------------------------------------79,80, 92,95
Republican-------------- ------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * se as a ºn e º as a º sº sº e s sº * 82
Rio Bravo.---- * * *s ºr sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 29.4
Rio Grande-------------------------------------. 4, 56, 57,63,66,148,291,292,293
Rio Grande de Morelia.----------------...... P as as a sm as sº e s as a sº a sº s sº * * * * * * * * * * * 289
Rio Grande de Tehuantepee.----------------------------------. ºose tº e º 'º us tº º 293
Rio Mudo -------------------------------------------------------------- 295
Rio Pecos --------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * 148
Pio Verde-------------------------------------------------------------- 56
Richardson.----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 301
River systems in Idaho---------------------------------------------- e º so tº 38
Roque ----------------------------------------------------------------- 42
Rosebud---------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - 40
Round------------------------------------------------------------------ 19
Rush--------------------------------- tº a sº as ºn tº ºn as a w c = a as sº as a sº e = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 53
Russian ---------------------------------------------------------------- y
Sacramento ----------------------------------------------------- 8, 9.13, 19,131
Saguache--------------------------------------------------------------- 300
Salinas --------------------------------------------------------- as sº ºr e º sm is - y
Salt-------------------------------------------------------.6, 56,58,62, 101,111
San Buenaventura.---------------------------------------------------- º 9
San Bernairdno.---- tº sº as we we we w is sº we as a • * * * * * * * * * * * * e º sm as as a es e as as sº as w is º º 4 ºr * * * * 102,104,139
San Diego--------------------------------------------- he s as e º sº e s as as e s as s sº 9, 31, 136
San Diequito -------------------------------------------------------- ... 31, 136
San Fornando ------------------------------------------------------- 23, 24, 102
San Gabriel se sº sº e º as a º ſº a m = * * * * * * * * * * * e º es e º 'o as s sº ºne º ºs e ºs e º e º s sº s = º sº sº º sº * * * & sº tº ----9. 23,24
San Geronimo.---------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...----. 292
San Jacinto -------------------------------------------------------- 31, 104,135
San Joaquin ----------------...------..7.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13,23, 27, 28, 102,120, 308
San Juan --------------------------------------------------------- gº º e º º 55
San Lorenzo ------------------------------- as e º ºs e s ºr e ºn a mº as s a tº s sº e º sº * * * * * tº º ſº º 9
INDEX. 381
Page.
Rivers and valleys in irrigable regions—Continued. *
San Luis --------------------------------------- • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 66, 74,300
San Luis Rey ------------------------------------------------------ -----. 9, 31
San Marcos.----------------------------------------------------------- 295
San Pedro ...... .-- tº e º ºs ºn as º ºs is e º ºs º ºs º ºs e º sº sº tº sº as sº sº is tº as w nº us sº * * * * * * * * 6, 58,92, 112,289,295
San Pitch.-------------------------------------------------------------- 52
San Simon.------------------------------------------------------------- 92
Santa Ana.------------- tº as s as a sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 9, 27, 28, 29, 103,104,139, 306
Santa Clara ------------------------------------------------------------ 8, 9
Santa Cruz-------------------------------------------------- 6,56,58,91,92, 112
Santa Inez.------------------------------------------------------------- 9
Santa Maria ------------------------------------------------------------ 9
Santa Margarita ------------------------------------- as º ºs s sº s ºr º ºs º & Gº tº as a º sº. º. ºf 9
Santiago --------------------------------------------------------------- 301
Sestin ---------------------------------------------------------------J.-- 287
Seven ...-- tº ºs e º ºn e º sº ºn tº º º gº º ºs º ºr tº º 'º tº º sº sº sº º sº tº º sº º sº º sº º ºr º sº sº tº as º w º 'º º ºs ºn tº º sº sº tº sº tº e º 'º we as wº 149
Sevier.--------------------------------------------------------------- 52, 53, 54
Sheyenne------------------------ -------------------------------------d;"
Silver King--------------------------------------- ---------- tº º e º sº sº tº º e º 'º e 147
Skull.------------------------------------------------------------------ 53
Smith ------------------------------------------------------------------ 9
Smoky Hill----------------------------------------------- • - - - - - - - - - - - - - 81
nake --------------- tº a sm » tº as a sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 6, 42, 44
Sonoma ----------------------------------------------------------------
South Pablo --------------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * r * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - 295
South Platte.---------------------------------------------------------- 63, 87
South Spring -------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 149
Spanish Fork----------------------------------------------------------- 51
Stanislaus -------------------------------------------------------------- 8
St. Peter and St. Paul -------------------------------------------------- 295
Subphur ----------- as w w w e º us as ºr w w is sº sº sº me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 92
Susan ------------------------------------------------------------------ 19
Sweetwater -------------------------------------------------------- 31, 116, 136
Tambenba ------------------------------------------------------------- 292
Tamesi --------------------------------------------- & “º º º ºs º º sº ºn sº º sº is ºn m º ºr * * * 295
Tecolutla -------------------------------------------------------------- 295
Tepalcatepec ----------------------------------------------------------- 291
Tesechoacean----------------------------------------------------------- 295
Thistle ----------------------------------------------------------------- 52
Tie Juana -------------------------------------------------------------- 31
Tietan ----------------------------------------------------------------. 43
Tongue ----------------------------------------------------------------- 40
Toole.--------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 53, 56, 101
Truckee ---------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 75, 145, 147,148,300
Tulare------------------------------------------------------------------ 9
Tule-------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Tuobumie.--------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * ~ * 8, 13
Tuxpan---------------------------------------------------------------. 289,290
Upper Santa Ana ------------------------------------------------------- 138
Utah ------------------------------------------------------------------ - 51, 56
Vermillion-------------------------------------------------------------- 79
Villa. Alta.-------------------------------------------------------------. 293
Virgin------------------------------------------------------------------ 54, 55
Walnut----------------------------------------------------------------- 86
Weber------------------------------------------------------------------ 51
Wenatchee ------------------------- * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ° 43
West Fork of the Carson -----------------------------------------------146,147
White ----------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 44, 79
, White Water ----------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 32
White Woman - - - - - - - - - - - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * = 86
Winniera ----------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 301
Yakima-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yellowstone --------------------------- ----------------------------- 40, 41, 100
Yuba ---------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 8,303
Zahuapan--------------------------------------------------------------. 294
Zapotla----------------------------------------------------------------- 297
Zula -----------------------------------------------------------------. 289,290
Rocks and strata, Ieferences to ------------------- 10, 14, 17,85,86, 87,88,92,93, 95, 13
382 INDEX.
S Page.
Seasons, in relation to irrigation- “ *
Delta, in the s is tº ºn e º ºr tº gº tº tº tº º ſº tº ſº tº º * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 321
Drought, of .--------- tº we tº º ºs e º 'º ºf G we dº º sº º tº .51, 61,77,82,143,148,292,293,294,295,300
Non-irrigating, the --------------------------------------------------... 134
Rainy, the -------------- --------------10, 11, 12, 59, 116,121,133,282,287,292,294
Sloughs, used in irrigation-----------------------------.......9, 11, 123, 124,125,310
Soils and their irrigable character— º
Alluvial * * * * * * * * * * * > ºn tº dº tº º º ºs tº º º gº tº ºs s tº an º' ºn** * * * * * * * e º is tº ºf ºf º e º as as e ---.5, 8, 13, 57, 58,282
Black and Sandy loam -------- ºn tº sº tº as as up tº ºn tº • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *** * * v- w w w a w e < * * * * * 77
8. -------------------------------------------------------------. 51,54, 70,307
Infiltration, of -------------------- • ---------------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- .367,268
Limestone ------------------------ tº “e tº º tº e º sº º tº e º ------------' . . . . . . . .- .... 149
Mesa and table lands, on --------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * w s • * * * * * * * * * 41
Quicksand-- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºr e º e ºn tº e º e a se s • * ~ * ------87, 303
Red loam ------- w is a sº tº º sº w w w w w sº a s sº tº s º sº tº ºn tº s e = w w w sº tº as sº ºn e º sº ºn as w w w e ºs
-----------. 41
Sandy---------- -------------------------------------11, 17, 19, 50, 51,89, 127,310
69
Su Soil * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * tº e º 'º ºr ºp - a tº• * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * a w w ºr º º te ºr e º e is aw
Small ruit, under irrigation.. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e s 6 m sº se s is ºn a e s an e A as s ºr 4 + ... ----6,34, 43, 77
Blackberries--------------- e tº º tº a tº sº tº e º ºs e º ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 17, 62,314
Grapes ---------------------------------- ... ...----17, 34,35, 39,60, 62,65,99,316
Mulberries tº º 'º -º º - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - tº m sº up ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * e s as as e 325
Raisins * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * an es e s s tº e º e º se s tº e s e s m e * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº sº tº 17
Raspberries----------------------------------- s s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 17
Strawberries --------------- * * * * - - - - - - - - - tº me ºn e º 'ºw ºn ºn tº as ---. ------------17, 19, 62,71
States, references to—
California.-- - -4, 6, 7, 9, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 26.29, 30,34, 37, 40,56, 57,62,74, 75,84, 129,
139,148, 163,297,298,299, 300, 301,305,307, 310,314,316,317,326,333
Colorado .... 4, 5, 6,38, 55, 67, 73,74, 82, 84,85, 88,90,143,163,265,297,298,300,304,
305,307, 314,317,318
Dakotas, the, North and South. --...--- -----------------.4, 79,80, 84,85, 105,163
Georgia sº me as ºn tº as as ºn e ºs ºn tº us tº ºr tº s tº ºr us tº º tº sº ºf & tº º q e º ºs dº e G • * * * * * * * * * * * w w w w w y e = w w = y = e, as º ºs 267
Iowa ----------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * s • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 300
Kansas.... ---------. ------------------------4, 81, 82,85, 86, 163,297,298,300,317
Louisiana --------------------------------------------------------------, 31
Minnesota. ------ tº * * * * * * * * * • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s is ... .......88, 93,300
Missouri as as e º gº º sº e º me tº e s tº e s sº e º 'º, ºr ve & me tº tº tº º tº º ºs º º tº e - º º ºs is * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 317
Montana. is e º s vs sº a s w tº e º sº tº tº tº e º 'º & © & e tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...---4, 5,38,84, 163
Nebraska. ----. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... .4, 82,84, 163
Nevada ------------- 4, 5, 6, 19, 38,49, 55, 56, 57, 84,91, 145, 146,148,163,297,304,309
Oregon ----------------- tº a sº tº use at tº i as age ºn tº a º ºr tº gº tº tº sº tº e º 'º º sº dº sº tº º sº ºn tº 4, 5, 6, 38,43,44, 84,163
Texas ------------------------------------------ ... ... 4, 5, 40, 88,91, 148,265, 300
Washington -------------. tº e s as ºr as s º we e s ºn tº us as sm ºr s º º * * * * * * * * * ºr e º sº gº º º 4, 6,38, 44, 84, 163
Snow-fall, in arid region -------------------------------------------------...-6, 13, 14
cubic, feet of* * * ºr sº e º ºn tº dº © º ºs tº e tº dº ºn a tº sº dº º sº º tº ſº tº ºn as ºr ºn s sº ſº º tº e º & & w sº e º e º ºs º ºr e º an
Idaho, in ------------- ºn as tº tº an e º 'º - ºr e º ºs º ºs º ºs º º * - - - - - - - - - tº s ºr pe e º e º 'º w as tº gº tº 39
melting in Summer. ------------------------ ---------------------. 127
perpetual snow------------------------------------ • * * * * * jº º ºn tº ºn ºf a s us 9
Rocky Mountains, on----------------------------------. . . . . . .82, 108, 109
Sierras, on the ------------------------------- --------------------18, 107
Utah, in --------------------------------------------------------- 48
Nevada, average depth of .----------- to º tº e ºs º ºs e º sº e ºs e as as * s sº es e s e s as as as * * 75
T.
Thzable values of California -----------.,-------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * 35
Trees, in irrigable areas— 3.
Acacias ------------------ tº p * * * * gº as a me • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... .. 325
Ash. ------------------------ - * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ---------. 58,62
Black oak ------------------------------------------------- ------------- . 12
Box-elder.-------------------------------------------------------------- 39
Catalpa---------------------------------------------------------- • * * * * * * 62
Cedar ------------------------------------ e sº as sº sº e º a s s & m e º sº as sº sº sº ºn as * We e s a sm & wº e 8
Cork elm ---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * sº w tº ºn is a e º e º sº a dº º sº as a sº as s us • * * 62
Cotton Wood --------------------------------------------------- 8, 30, 58,62, 112
Cypress------------------------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... - 325
Lombardy ------------------- gº º ºs º ºs º º º ºr tº º -------------------------------- "
- * .INDEX. 383
* * g º Page.
Trees, in irrigable areas—Continued.
Magnolia --------------------------------------------------------------- 62
Mesquite ---------------------------------------- & sº as & sº sº tº tº dº sº tº sº me is tº us is ºn tº ºn as * * 62
Myrtle.---.. • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * r * * * * * * * * 325
North Carolina poplar----------- tº ſº is tº sº º sº dº tº º •- ---------------------------- 62
Oak • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 8, 136
Palm as we tº º sº ºn tº º ºs º ºr ºs tº e & sº º tº º ºr sº dº & the º º sº ºn tº * * * * * * * * > *-* * * * * * * * tº ºf ºr sº ºr tº e s tº sº ºw tº tº sº as ºr ºs e º ºs
Pepper as º ºr tº * * * * sº gº tº º e º sº e º sº is e º 'º e º & is a tº e º 'º is w tº º sº sº sº is us e º is is e º is us - w e º ºs s e s w tº sº º e s = e - * 62
ine------ • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * is e ...... 8, 12, 136
Poplar s a w w as ºr sº e º sº e º gº w tº us at s s is sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ºr * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * g º ºs e & ſº as as
Redwood * as as ºr as ºf s an e º e s e º e º sº e º is as a s sº e s sº sº dº is a tº º ºs º is sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... - . 12,303
Sycamore --------- & e & e º ºs e s sº is 6 tº e s tº ºr sº º sº ºf 6 tº dº tº “s & w ºf tº is we & is a w is ºf e ... ----------. - 8, 325
Tamarack ---------------------- tº º ºs s as tº ºn tº e s º ºr e º 'º e º º ºs e º ºs e s sº us sº s sº sº e º ºr sº ºn s is - - - &
62
Timber, forest ---------------------- * tº as sº e º 'º e s m = * * * * * 40, 58,70, 74,79, 107, 108,333
Umbrella ----------------- tº º ºs º ºs º ſº º ºs º gº & e s sº * * * * * * * e º us an us sº e s e s as a º ºr us m ºr ºr e = * * * * 62
Walnut.--- as sº sº º e º tº wº tº e º ºs s is tº is ºn tº tº sº tº gº dº tº e s sº a tº us tº s e s = e s is is a w is e s = e s = n is e º sº sº as e º e s & -39, 316
Weeping willow -------------------------------------------------------- 325
Willow---------------------------------------------------------------- 8, 30, 62
Territories, references to—
Alaska.---------------- {P º ºs º ºs e º as tº as º ºs tº e º e º 'º as ºn sº e º 'º º is sº is º as sº e s s as we sº e s m e º ºs e e º an e s 4
Arizona ------------------------ 4, 5, 7,38,55, 88,60, 81, 84,91, 105,163,297,309,317
Idaho -------. sº º e º ºs º ºs & e º we as ºs e º sº the we ºr e s m as s as º is---------- . . . . . 4, 5, 38,42, 43,44, 84, 163
Indian.---- º, º e º ºr w s as º ºs e as tº e s - ºr sº sº e º ºs e s s we we sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4
New Mexico ........ 4,5,6,38,56,58,81, 84,91,92, 105,148,149, 163,265,298,299,301
gº 305,315,317
Utah -------- 4,5,6,38,55, 56,67, 84, 163,296,297,298,299, 300,304,306, 308,309,310,
314, 315, 317, 318, 319
Wyoming ------------------- s = e = e s = < * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 4, 6,38, 76,79, 84, 163, 169,300
Testimony and statements as to irrigation-
Aughey, Prof. Samuel...---------- dº º ſº tº º ºs º º ºs tº e º s as e s is e s • * ~ e s e s sº e s tº us us e e s e s e a 81
Baker, P. G. e e s is as sº e º as sº as as us tº * * * * * * * $ as s e e s a s sº e = * * * * * * * * * * is s as s as a se e s s = e s as s = • 23
Breckenridge, William M....... tº tº gº tº tº tº º ---------------------------------- 111
Burton, J. R.----------------- * * * tº ſº tº tº ſº ſº tº tº gº tº º ºr tº • * * * e e s as tº as tº s is us e s s we us us s ºr s e = e e 71
Carpenter, L. G-------------------------------- • ------------------------63, 168
Castanos, Senor D. Gabriel ----...----- ------------------------------------ 292
Cartee, L. F ------------ tº tº º ºs º ºs º ºn tº tº gº tº º ºs º ºs º ºn tº ºr e º C tº º ºs ºs º gº º ºs is s > * * * * e s tº s is as e e º e 39
Chaffee, Bros ------------------------- º e s sº tº dº º s sº a s s as a e s e º e s is sº e s e e s sº * * * * * * 28
Chamberlin, Professor--------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 93
Cole, Mr s sº sº ºne ºr ºs º ºs as sº sº º sº e º º ºs º º dº ui e s is tº to dº º sº a se • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 267
Culver, George E ------------------------------------------------------- 105
Deakin, Hon. Alfred.----. 294,295,296,297,298,299,300,301,302,303,304,305,306,
-- 307, 308,309,310,311, 312,313,314,315,316,317,318
Dunbar, Thomas P.-------- tº º gº tº gº ºn tº gº tº dº sº º ºs e º ſº dº º ºs º ºs ºn tº es tº us ºn tº e * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 71
Eaton, F------------ ge we e s h tº w is º ºs e as ºn s tº dº tº as e e s tº * is ºn tº dº e º sm * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Le & e º ºs º me we 121
Farnish, Mr----------- • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * * * * * * * * * * = 60
Fernow, B, E ------------------ tº º sº º ºs º dº sº tº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s 108
Gilbert, G. G tº ſº, º sº º dº nº º ºs º ºs º ºs º sº tº & tº s tº e s = e º e s sº e s m e º ºs * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * = 144
Gilbert, J. W - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 144
Hall, William H. ------------------------------ tº º ºs é º ºs º ºs * * * * * * 26, 27, 30, 31, 32, 103
9
Hicks, Professor • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ~ * ~ * = < e < e s = - e. 6
Hughes, Thomas ----. sº we ºn e º is a s º ºs e º 'º & sº ºn tº e º ºs e e * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * - 22
Indian agent's report, Arizona-------------- 4 * * * * * * * * * * * e * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ... 115
International Encyclopedia, from -----------.... -------................. 269
Jackson, L. D. A.---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * is e e s is a e º e s = e, e = e = 323
Jones, Prof. M. E. ----------------------------------------------------49,50, 101
Judd, Orange-------------------------- * * * * * * * * e m e e • * * * * * * * * * * * * us e as ºn as sº m a 84
Linant, M ---------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 320
Manuel, George ------------------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21
Marsh, Hon. George P * = us tº sº * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * • * * * * * * * * * ~ * 265, 266, 267, 268,269, 276
Maxwell, State engineer, Colorado -------------...----------------...----. 63, 168
Meade, Elwood - - - - - - - ---------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 76, 169
Mills, T. B----------------------------* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * © tº º sº ºn tº me s sº sº sº ºn º ºs 167
Moncrief, Sir Colin -----------------------------------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 321
Nettleton, Edwin S -----------. ----. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * & w w = • * * 108, 168
Newell, Prof., U. S. G. S -------------- ---------------------------------- 167.
Powell, Director J. W. -------------------------------- *º sº ºn e º ºs º gº ºn º 96, 165,167,318
11
Oury, F. W.------------------------------------------------------------
Roseler, Frank B-------------------------------------------------------. 98
384 * INDEX,
Testimony and statements as to irrigation—Continued. Page.
Schuyler, James D ------------------------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * 115
Shorb, J. De Barth------------------------------------------------------ 62
Soule, F. B ----------------------------------------------------------. -- 144
Thomas, Governor ------------------------------------------------------ 100
Tweedale, W --------------------------------------------. 82, 83, 84,85, 86, 87,88
Ulrich, J. C. ------------------------------------------------------------ 142
Van Diest, P. H. -------------------------------------------------------- 90
Walker, Francis A ------------------------------------------------------ 84
West, George H--------------------------------------------------------- 85
Wheeler, George M------------------------------------------------------ 96
Wilbur, C. D.--------------------------------------- A • * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 81
|U.
United States, references to ---...--. 3, 5, 9, 17, 21, 55,81, 84,89,91,92, 115, 265,268,282,
298,299,300,317
V.
Value of product, California.-----------------. tº gº ºn tº ºn tº e º ºs º ºs e is sº º sº ºn tº as as w tº sº a tº wº, º me q tº 34
Vineyard, Barton, at Fresno------------------------------------, ------------ 319
Raisin region, in the ---------------------------------------------------- 10,
Phyloxera, pest of the--------------------------------------------------- 131
W.
Water, amount, character, duty, etc., of
Amount of, used in India, cubic feet ----------------------- tº s º ºs is tº sº ºn as ºs º we we me 18
Spain------------------------------------------------ 18
Appropriated for irrigation.--------------------------------------------. 70
Bearing strata -------------------------------------------------------- 86, 87,88
Blank contracts used in Colorado -- 153, 154, 155, 156, 157, 158, 159, 160, 161,162,163
Blank showing the manner of meeting tax ------------------- tº sº as ºn tº sº w sº º me m e 48
Capillary attraction of -------------------------------------------------- 310
Commissioner of -------------------------------------------------------- 69
Cost of per hour in Los Angeles County --------------------------------- 25,26
Cost of, Yakima Valley, Washington ------------------------------------ 43
Daily consumption of, for different kind of crops.----...------------...----- 83
Deed for, form of.------------------------------------------------------- 73
Depth of at Yuma ------------------------------------------------------ 114
Digest of decisions in United States State courts on appropriations, uses,
jurisdictions, in suitſ; -- - - - - - - 333,334,335,336,337,338,339,340,341,342, 343,344,
345,346, 347, 348, 349,350,351,352, 353,354
Distribution of, in Arizona ---------------------------------------------- 63
in Los Angeles County------- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 25, 26
methods and measures.------------- & Jº e s sº a s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * 285
by pipes ----------------------- • ------------------------ 306
Duty of.-------------------------- ë e s is a s = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 7, 15,28,63,311,312
Evaporation of ------------------------------------------ 7, 56,61, 70, 86, 107, 308
Fertilizing quality of --------------------------------------------------- 83
Flood, the ---------------------------- ** * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - `-------- 324
Flow of, Big and Little Rock Creek, in -----. ---------------------. ------ 20
Colorado River, in . . . . -------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 29
Mojave River, in ------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 20
southwest Kansas, in ----------------- • * * * * * * * * sº us ºs ºs º ºs º dº º sº sº e º º sº me tº º 82
Fort Adams as, store-house------------------------ - - - - - - - - - * tº ºn tº ºs º ºs º ºs º ºs º ºſ 43
Gauge of. ----------------------------------------- ---------------------- 45
Horary, or time distributory System of.------------ ---------------------- 47
Increase of.----------, --------------------------- tº gº º ºs º is sº e º 'º º m 'm sº sº, º ºs ºs º as as as we 7
Laws, Colorado, of, reference to ----------------------------------------- 72,73
France, of . ------------------------- 273,274,275,276,277,278,279,280,281
Mexico, of ------------------------------ 283,284,285,286,287,288,289,293
Modern Italy, of-------------------------------------------------- 272
Older lands, of ---------------------------------------------- 269,270,271
and practices---------------------------------------------------46, 47, 48
regulations ---------------------------------- sº tº us tº gº tº º tº tº tº tº ſº tº º sº º 15, 16
of Spain ---------------------- tº us us sº as ºn tº we as we we we us m tº º sº tº gº ºn as tº sº tº sº tº º º tº ºn tº º sº tº 281,282
g
3. INDEX. 385
z - **. w Page.
Water, amount, eharacter, duty, etc., of Contiuued. -
Legal relations of.----------------------------- •r’s ºn s m = * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 15, 16 .
t servitude of------------------------------------- ---------------- - 279
Liter, unit of measure for ----------------------------------------------- 283
Lost in bowlders ------------------ is as ºr as a sº a • * * * * * * * * * * * - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 24
Master or Zonjero ----------------------------------------------------- 28, 45,46
Maximum of, in Cache La Poudre. --------------------------------------- 6
Measurements of.------------------------------------------------- - - - - - - 46
Mexican use and control of.------------------------------------- .* w a s • * is a 283
Miner's, inches of, furnished by Yellowstone River------------------------ 41
Module for measurement of---------------------------------------------- 128
Natural public property in ---------------------------------------------- 44
Ogden, head of.-------------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 50
Percolation of-------------------------------------------------------- 21, 61, 125
Poncelet's system ------------------------------------------------------- 289
Price of ----------------------------------------------------------- 312, 313,314
perpetual rights ------------------------------------------------ 74
Primary rights of ------------------------------------------------------. 46
Privileges and their character------------------------------------------- 271
Pumping by ------------------------------------------------------------ 85,86
Re-appearing in Ciengas -------. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * _24
Regulations, State of Durango ------------------------------------- 287,288,289
* Jalisco ------------------------------------------- 289,290
Lower California ---------------------------------- 287
Michoacan.---------------------------------------- - 291
Rented ----------------------------------------------------------------- 74
Reservoirs, to prevent loss of.------------------------------------------- 89
Rights, farmers' service------------------------------------------------- 73,74
France, in ------------------------------------------ - * * * g e º 'º - ºr gº dº 277
under State constitutions—
California.------------------------------------------------- 171, 172
Colorado--------------------------------------------------- 172
Idaho (proposed) ------------------------------------------- 172,173
Montana --------------------------. ---------------------- 173, 174
New Mexico (proposed)-------------------------------------- 174
North Dakota ----------------------------------------------- 174
Washington------------------------------------------------- 174
Wyoming (proposed)---------------------------------------- 174
treaties United States guarantying Mexican customs. -- - - - - - - - - - - 240
Union Colony, of Colorado--------------------------------------- 68
Zacetas, at Mexico ---------------------------------------------- 295
San Simon Valley, in -------. ------------------------------------------ 92
Shadoofs or Egyptian lifters---------------------------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 324
Seepage of, in river, valleys, etc.......----. 7, 11, 53, 70,85, 87, 89, 125, 308, 310,311
Sheds of.--------------------------------------------------------------- 30, 136
Bear Valley---------------------------------------------------- 139
Carson River -------------------------------------------------- 147
- Utah ---------------------------------------------------------- 49
Springs of California---------------------------------------------------- 301
Comanche --------------------------------------------------- 99
Wevada ------------------------------------------------------ 75
Storage of
altitudes, at high --------------------------------------. ---- 39, 106, 107, 109
California, in -----------------------------------------------------. * 34
Carson and Truckee basins, in -------------------------------. ------. 148
*ontana, in ------------------------------------------------------ 40,41, 42
{ Wecessary----------------------------------------------------------- 31,66
Surplus in the Rocky Mountains ...----...---------...----...--...----. 85
Small Mexican streams: Caramecuara ----...--------------------...--...---- 291
Las Joyas--------------------------------------- 291
Oaxaca----------------------------------------. 293
Purnaran or Caliente -----------. ---------------- 292
San Juan ---------------------------------------- 291
Tacambaro-------------------------------------- -292
*~ Turivan----------------------------------------- 292
Supply of, in-
Arid mountain region.------------------------------...----. 5,29, 33,112,300.
By pumping, in Čaiifornia........I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.I.'... - - - - - 14
Colorado Plateau, on----------------------------------------...----. ^w 6 -
By drainage ------------------------------------------------------- 86.
138 A L–AP VOL IV—25
386 INDEX.
Page
Water, amount, character, duty, etc., of_Continued. g
Supply of, in-Continued.
Exhaustion of ------------------------------------------------------ 109
Foot Hill region, Mt. Shasta, and Sam Bernardino ranges.----...---. . 13
Idaho, in -----------------------------------------------------------
Montana, sources of in---------------------------------------------- 42
Wevada, in --------------------------------------------------------- 75
Owens Valley, in California -----------------------...---------------- 20
San Joaquin Valley, in .--------------------------------------------- 10
Sources of -------------------------------------------------------------- 297
Tamaulipas ------------------------------------------------- 294
Vera Cruz, Mexico.-------------------------------------------- 295
Subterranean. --------------------------------------------- 7, 13, 14,48, 129
Wyoming, in ---------- * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * s as m e º ºs e º sº sº se sº as we us ºn is sº as as a sm wº * 76
Surface, on --------------------------------------------------------- 70
Surplus of --------------------------------------------------------- 26, 323
System, distribution of.--------------------------------- * * * * * * º gº tº gº ºg tº 47
Los Angeles County, in California.---------------. ---------- 25
Tia, Juana, head of.------------------------------------------------ 36
Underflow or sheet water -------------------------------------- 85, 88,91, 92
Kansas and Upper Arkansas, in -----. -------------------. 143, 145
Texas, in ------------------------------------------------ 91
Use of wells ------------------------ * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * 105
Utilizing subterranean --------------------------------------------- 14
Value of.----------------------------------------------------------- 28
Vera Cruz and Zacatecas, at ------------ --------------------------- 295
Volume from Yellowstone River.--------------------...---------------- 40
Waste -------------------------------------------------------------- 107
Weirs or drops.-----------------------------------------------, --------- 127, 128
North Poudro------------------------------------------------------- 303
South Platte---------------------------------- … • - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 303,304
Wooden ------------------------------------------------------------ 303
Winds—
Chinook, a Warm----------------------------------------------------
Ty - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 108
Hot ---------------------------------------------------------------- 70
Trade -------------------------------------------------------------- 14
Windmills ---------------------------------------------------------- 14, 32
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