Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-01-21
STATE ENGINEERS REPORT.
The First Part of it Submitted to the
Lesisiature-The Irrigation Problem.

The First Part of it Submitted to the
Legisiature-The Irrigation Problem.
The State Engineering Department was
intrusted by Act of the Legislature with an
investigation into the irrigation interests of
the State. In accordance with the other
duties of that department, this work has
been in progress for number of years
The importance of the irrigation question
is recognized from one extreme of the State
to the other. 1t was the purpose of the State
Engineers report that it should ultimately
become basis for the adjustment of the
many conflicting claims to water through
out the State. As will be seen by the report
the consideration of the subject has not
been confined to our own State, but in deal
ing with the legal part of the question
the light of experience in other countries
has been extensively drawn upon. The re-
suit will be the supplying of a valuable
help to those intrusted the framing and in
terpreting of statutes upon irrigation.
There has been transmitted to the Legis-
lature part of the first volume of the State
Engineers report, in the form of advance
sheets, of which he says in the notice:
THE 304 pages of matter within these
covers have been thus brought together
and bound for transmission to the Legisla-
ture as an exhibit of the extent and char
acter of the report on the problems of irri-
CATION, now in course of preparation and
publication by the State Engineer.
The first thirty-two pages contain a
table OF contents, or outline of matter, for
each chapter of the entire work, from
which fair idea may be formed of its
scope, system of arrangement, degree of
completeness and general character.
The 272 pages thereafter-32 to 304-con-
tain the text of about three-fifths of the
first book of the worll-namely, the papers
on the irrigation legislation and admins
tration of the Romans, of the French and
of the Italians-from which Il fair idea
may be formed of the character of the
matter and its treatment in detail
" AS planned, the work consists of three
parts made up of seven books, with sub
ject-matter as indicated by the following
tides:
Part Title Social, Political and Legal
Problems of Irrigation.
i" Book 1.-The laws Of waters and water
courses and the customs, lawsssand policies
with respect to irrigation, in civil law coun-
tries.
Book II.--The laws, of water and
water-courSeS. so far as these directly affect
irrigation questions, and the customs, laws
and policies, with respect to irrigation in
common law countries.
Part 1.-THE Physical, Practical and
Technical Problems of Irrigation
= Book III.-The physical questions of
water supply, conservation and division for
purposes of irrigation in California.
Book IV.-The existing works, practice
and possibilities of irrigation in California
Book V.-The technical questions of
water distribution and use in the practice
of irrigation in, and as applied to, Califor-
MIA.
:" Part III-The Planning, Construction,
Operation and Maintenance of Irrigation
Works:
Book VI.-Of works for the interception
and storage Of waters for irrigation.
Book NII.-Of works for the diversion,
conducting and applying waters in irriga-
ton.
The first five books of the work, with
their necessary appendices, will make up
four volumes, each of $50 to $50 pages, of
the size and style of the sheets now print
ed, varying with the provision which may
be made for printing. illustration, revising
and editing the matter now available.
The matter for the last two books is
being collected incidentally to the prepare
ton of the first five. 1t may be published
within the compass Of one volume or may
be extended to two volumes, according to
the provision made for completion and the
operations of publication as above"
The parts of the report now in hand EN-
brace large amount OF pertinent informa-
ton and give evidence of careful research.
The State Engineer, William Ham. Hall, in
his letter to Governor Stoneman thus al
ludes TO his report: