Arizona citizen., 1876-12-16
Facts and Statements abOut Irris a.
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 Among the many important questions presented to the people inhabiting and to inhabit the table lands between the eastern base of the Sierra and same base of the Rocky Mountains, is that of effective and economic use of water for irrigation. In some parts of the world, as in China, where the rainfall is about the same as in the Atlantic States, irrigation has been established for a thousand years, and now efforts are made to irrigate the meadows in England so as to insure crops in dry seasons. Much of our own land that is regarded barren is only dry and but needs water to make it very productive. A Denver correspondent of the New York Sun, lately presented many in Iteresting facts on the subject as expe- rienced in Colorado, and the following are interesting extracts therefrom:
 Nearly one-half of the world requires irrigation for growing crops. In one half of the territory ofthe United States it is also required. Irrigation has been practiced in New Mexico for over 200 years, and is well established in Colo rado, Montana, Idaho, Utah, Arizona and Nevada, as well as in much of California. Many rules and regula- tions are required, because the supply of water is not always in excess of the amount of land sought to be cultivated.
 In all old world countries weak farm CTS suffer Even in Damascus, where every drop of water runs by law, " i Christians are not allowed as much water IS Mohammcdans The con- plant is of water being shut off above, '" and this in hot dry weather is fatal to vegetation. In old Mexico are to be seen the ruins of cities that once were 1 Ifiourishing, and they met their doom because other cities were established above, taking of the water. The effect of depriving a town or farming com munity of water is comparable with that produced by an earthquake or plague Every earthly prospect dark ems, all kinds of business end, famine and death approach. In Italy and In dia, the Government regulates the sup | ply of water, but great difficulties exist upon final distribution. In no country has the system been so thoroughly studied and wisely managed as in Col orado, by improving upon the Mcorish laws Two principles have been plac- ed in the new State Constitution, winch are, first: "The water of streams be- longs 10 the people," and second: |" Priority of appropriation gives prior ! ity of right" This last provision hap billy and forever settles the right to water of those who came first and built cities and towns and made rural homes. The average cost of getting out water Is BIO an acre. Where an issolated farmer has command of small stream coming directly from the mountains, the cost | is much less. In the vicinity of Ogden, Utah, IS a plateau of several hundred
 
 acres, now covered with fine orchards, | and the cost of bringing water to 1t across a valley, was oyer $50 an acre. The land now sells for $1000 an acre. It is calculated that an inch of water, delivered at five inches pressure, to run day and night through the whole sea son, will be sufficient for enc acre.
 4 grain field is irrigated three times. The first tune after the ground is fairly covered with the growing crop; the last time just before ripening, and each time the ground is submerged, every inch being reached by the water. EX- cept in porous soils, water will not soak more than twelve inches. The farmer who invented the dividing Hume has so arranged the furrows running through his fields that he has turned on the water at sundown, and returned at an easy hour in the morning, finding fifty acres completely covered.
 At Greeley, Colorado, new system has been established; probably it has become as nearly perfect as possible. First, the land ofthc colony was bought at wholesale and sold to the members of the colony at cost. At the same time. two large Irrigating canals were dug with a common fund, and the use of the water was attached to the .. land in perpetuity, so that water IS as much part of an so or 1GO-acre farm as are the foundation rocks. The cost of the land and the water has been alto rether about S13 an acre. An annual tax is laid for superintendence and re- pairs of about twenty-five cents an acre. This is for farming land. For town and suburban land IL is Sl for lot and st for an acre. When enlargements of the canal are male, assessments are apportioned. and the work is done by the farmers themselves. Another pro vision is to be noted that is decidedly peculiar. While water in the commu