Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-07-24
NEW PUBLICATIONS.


The living importance and the intense
present interest in the questions relating to
irrigation make the advent of State Engi-
neer VIM. Ham. Halls volume from the
State press), on g Irrigation Development"
a matter OF more than passing noteworthi-
ness In the first place. be it noted the
Superintendent of State Printing has en-
cased this valuable work of over GOO pages
in a fitting casket of binding, and has
printed the pages in style entirely in
keeping with the high value of the book.
The volume is the first of the final report
of the State Engineer. When the office
Mr.. Hall fills was established, in 1878. the
experiment had the warm approval of
this journal. We take it that the State has
not had cause to regret the step it took, nor
can there be made any reasonable obiec-
tons to the officer who hiss filed the sta
ton. He has proven fully capable, indus
trious, and painstaking, and has done the
State full and faithful service Whoever
examines the work in hand will be con-
WINGED OF its exhaustive character, and the
patient energy and untiring devotion to the
task that underlaid the labor. The book
is thus divided Roman water laws and
administrative policy with respect TO waters
and water courses French irrigation de-
velopment, including right of property and
water courses, water privi eyes and admin
istration of nayigable streams and non
hoatable streams, right in springs and use
OF spring water, right TO conduct waters and
right 10 abut dam, irrigation enterprise
and organization, Governmental policy and
concessions Italian irrigation develop
ment, with much the same subdivision of
treatment as in the case of the history Of
irrigation III France Spanish irrigation
development, with similar exhaustive treat
ment of all phases of the question. The
appendices are three in number, and pre-
sent the articles of the Civil Codes of France
and Italy and the general water law and
irrigation code of Spain. Under each
there are elaborate subdivisions of the laws,
irrigation definitions, statutes and regula-
tlons in the countries named relative TO
the dominion of territorial waters, of chan
nels, works and drainage; of servitudes on
the subject of waters of useful employ
ment of public waters, and generally of the
administration of waters.
We have taken quite two weeks in which
to give the book thorough examination.
and while referring to the foregoing sched-
ule as indicating its scope, We confess that
it but feebly conveys the wide-reaching
and exhaustive character of the volume.
Nor do we find it possible within the limits
available to convey to the readers of the
REcoRD-UNIoN an adequate idea of the
scope of the text and its immense import
ance. 1t is, in brief, concise, clearly
stated orderly prepared and exhaustive
history of irrigation development in three
chief countries of Europe, with PREDATORY
and upleading historical reviews from the
earliest era of Roman irrigation legislation.
And no portion of the volume is more
enjoyable to the inquiring mind
kla,, Ia fatn tnv n naa fiF ON
tiers upon its reading will hesitate to con-
fess the importance OF such an introduction
as essential to a clear understanding and
rational comparison of the irrigation sys-
TENS of Europe, and lucid comprehension
of their evolution. We apprehend that this
treatment in a distinct volume of the his
tory of the customs. laws aid water-admin-
istrative systems of Rome, France, Italy
aud Spain will develop even greater value,
when the second volume, Irrigation in
California" shall have appeared. 1t was
scarcely expected that an engineers report
on irrigation would be readable with pleas
cerned in irrigation systems and pro-
iects but this expectation is disappointed
by Mr. Halls work. For he makes it of an
interest in large degree that attaches
usually TO historic narrative. OF course
the elaborate citation of laws and recital OF
regulations do not address the fancy or
quicken the imagination, but their rela
ton to the text is so close and their intro
duction so necessary to the full compre-
hension of the subject that even these
unimpassioned pages have an interest of
living character. No division of the book
is more important than that relating to the
history of Spanish irrigation legislation.
In no country of Europe is artificial irriga
ton such a necessity as in Spain The
central elevated plateaus of that country,
cut by mountain ranges, and characterized
bv uncertain and low-limited rainfall,
closely resemble portions of interior Cali
fornia, while the products of the CORE
spondent regions are largely similar. The
physical conditions there, as here, are ex-
ceedingly varied. the natural waters scat
tered, and the annual precipitation of
water insufficient Where the points of
resemblance are so strong, the history of
the irrigation laws of Spain and their eyo-
luton from the experienced necessities of
the people becomes of deep interest in Cal
ifornia, where we are in the very throes of
travail that is to give us Discriminate
system of visiting the soil artificialy with
needed water We should very much like
to dwell upon the leading characteristics of
the general water laws of Spain, but the
breadth of the subject renders it impossible
in the space that can be accorded in these
columns. Mr.. Halls work honors not
alone the State, but himself and his corps
of assistants 1t is an epitome of irriga-
ton literature such as has not before been
undertaken so Complementary and at the
same time with so much of detail. 1t is
treatise of highest value to this people and
superior in its exhaustive character to any
that has preceded it, and testifies TO depth
of research and patient industry but in
frequently paralleled in official position.
The volume is procurable from Secretary
of State Thomas L. Thompson, Sacra-
mento, for 50 rs, the price fixed by the
State, and if to be mailed, % cents addi-
tional must be advanced. The volume
may also be had of booksellers at 81 10.
Ordinarily such book, issued by private
enterprise, would readily command s..
The Atlantic Monthly for August
(Houghton, Miffiin & Co., Boston, has
these leading papers in addition to the
regular reviews and departments: "The
Indian Question in Arizona" by Robert X.
Evans On the Benefits of Superstition"
by Agnes Repplieri Endymion, by
Samuel V. Cole; Six Visions OF st. Au-
gustine," by Octave Thanet g. To the Mem
Thomas; The Two Browns, by Sarah
Orne Jewett "a Volume of Dante by
Caroline Wilder Fellowes; Domestic
Economy in the Confederacy." by David
Dodge; " In the Clouds (XIX., XAI.l, by
Charles Egbert Craddock ITO Q. H. f"
BY Charles Gayiey; individual Continu-
ity," by Andrew Hedbrooke.
From Cassell & Co. New York, London
and Paris we have the August number of
the " Magazine of Art 1t is richly illus
trated. One of the chief full plates is a re-
production in print of RaphaeIS Christ
Bearing the Cross !" (Spasimo di Silicia1,
and another is superb study of head in
red chalk, by L. Loefftz. A paper on The
Pictorial Arts of Japan" from the works 81