Weekly national intelligencer., 1852-05-29
THE SUBJECT OF IRRIGATION.

THE SUBJECT OF IRRIGATION.
We copy from the New York Evening Post the,
annexed notice of a recent work, to which we are
msved in part by motive of personal nature and
that is, some acquaintance with the estimable and
accomplished author of the book referred to. The
subject, however, is an important one, and the no
tice itself interesting:
FROM THE NEW YORK EVENING POST
ITALIAN IRRIGATION, being report the - Agri-
cultural Canals Of Piedmont and Lombardy addressed to
the honorable the Court of Directors of the East India
Company, by r. Baird Smith, F. G. s. Captain in the
Army, and First Lieutenant of Engineers Bengal Presi-
dency. Printed by order volumes octave Volume
l. Historical and Descriptive; volume H. Practical and
Legislative. Wm Blackwood Sons, Edinburgh, 1852
This the title of forthcoming volumes accompanied by
an illustrative atlas not yet published in London but Of
which or two advance copies have been sent to
America.
The great works for the Improvement Of agriculture
throughout British india recently completed and now in
progress Of execution have attracted the attention Of
the Government of India and its officers to the systems Of
land irrigation which have made the plains of Northern
Italy, for ages past the richest in the world The East
India Company in December 1850 detached Capt Baird
Smith upon the service of investigation "to study the
system, remarks the author in its various relations
examine the details of its works. famous in the his
tory ofhydraulic engineering to investigate the priDci-
pies and note the practical application Of these legislative
enactments which, by universal consent held to be
the most perfect at present in exstence become ia
mar with the actual operation of that machinery for the
distribution Of water to the cultvators which is consd
cred by most observers to to the typed
theoretical perfection the history Of which will be found
hereafter to have almost romantic Interest," and fnay,
to observe carefully those sanitary arrangements which
the continued experience Of may have suggested for
preserving the public health with the least possible 2cri-
fee of individual interests"
Capt Baird Smith, who had for several ye4rs served
gallantly in the army Of the Punaub unde Lord Har-
dnge, Sir Harry Smith, Lord Cough, and been engaged
in the ercest battles fought in the Punub and had been
employed also in the Irrigation Department Of Northern
India have entered upon the duties assigned
him with the truest interest alike in the subject and the
object Of the work. snd spared no personal exeron to
give full effect to the views of his Government.
The first part Of his report is interesting personal
narrative Of his abors in Piedmont the Lombardovene
tan kingdom and Tuscany where he constantly received
valuable assistance from the courtesy Of the Italians OF
oil grades and in every position, private or official
The second part consists Of historical and descriptive
details Of the canals of irrigation in Northern Italy, Win
remarks the photography, SOIL climate and popuia-
ton of the irrigated districts and historical summary
Of the of the modern system Of irrigation intro
duced in the twelfth century by the Cstercan monks of
Chiaravalle The extent and number OF the canals OK
irrigation, and the amount Of capital involved IN them,
viii generally be read with surprise The entire length
of these canals in Lombardy including the great line and
their first class branches, exceed 1900 miles, and when"
the great map Of the country is examined 1t seems as
though scarce of the entire surface OF the Manese
were without several intersectng canals The expendi
ure for these canals spread hundred years,
has been enormous and is estimated at ESQ the acre.
The present from the irrigated provinces
$500 000 representing acaptal Of fully fourteen millions
sterling ninety millions Of dollars due to the employ
ment of water in this fertile region.
"The expenditure" says Capt Baird Smith, has
presented in the form of bare money its results
not great yet its real effects to be traced and its
history read the face of the land and in the ma
teral condition Of its two and half millions Of inhabi-
tants"
The appendix to the first volume contains voluminous
list of native authors the history practice and legis
laon Of irrigation in Northern Italy, and next valua
bic sketch, which will be TO the Anercan reader OF
the irrigation system Of Northern and Central India
This commences with notice Of the first India canal
dating from the middle Of the fourteenth century, in the
reign Of the enlightened and benevolent Fcroze Toghak,
a monarch Of whom it is recorded that he built hfty
dams across rivers to promote irrigation forty mosques
thirty colleges hundred caravansaries thirty reser
yors for irrigation hundred hospitals hundred
public baths one hundred and fifty bridges besides many
other edifces for pleasure or ornament"
The past and present efforts Of the English Government
to improve the irrigation of British India stated st
length. The cost, history, and results of the Jumna
canals the canals of the valley Of Dryrah the canal of
the Suej; the Grand Ganges canal, and other works
completed and projected the annual amount Of water
rent; their beneficial influence during the famine Of
1873, and their influence land revenue and popua
tion clearly given and this part Of the work. to tho
general reader will be by the least attractive.
The second volume contains part third, the prac
tice Of irrigation in Northern ITALY, and part fourth,
on the legislation Of irrigation in Northern Italy, and
these portions are more purely professional in their
character.
The whole subject is Of great interest and one that
in this country has been comparatively but little studied
Capt Baird Smith isnow travelling in the United states,
and visited few days since the Military Academy AZ
West Point where he received with the most friendly
courtesy. The dedication pre6xed to the work marked
by striking frsnlness and simplify; - ded'ca'e TINS
work my Brother Officers in the Irrigation
Of Northern India, because respect and love them.
NAvAL-The frigate Congress, Commodore MckkEvrR
i remained AT Mnntayideo. March "a.