Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1889-07-27

ing water claims IN the States ana
territories touching the mountains it
is evident that the irrigahle lands ~
ing closest to the foothills or in the
mountain valleys will have a natural
preference and be fully supplied
while equally good lands farther
away will be unable to secure water
except in occasional instances where
the supply is extraordinarily large,
Eastern Colorado and parts of
Nebraska and Dakota must suffer in
this way, for all the water available
the season through will be absorbed
before reaching them. As at present
conducted the irrigation schemes
show very little system and there is
great waste. No doubt the manage
ment of this important matter will
be improved as the necessity for im-
provement develops. The Legisla-
lures of States and Territories in
terested have given the subject much
attention without by any means APP
preaching a solution of the problem
involved. In many cases the great
ditch companies have become gil
gantic moAopolies with power to levy
a water tax out of all proportion to
their Investment power that pub
lie policy demands should be restrain
ed. The Representatives in Congress
of all the interested States have urged
the National Legislature TO take az
ton for their relief by taking control
of the headwaters of the mountain
rivers and constructing retaining
reservoirs. During the spring and
fall the melting SHOWS and falling
rains send down to the valleys great
floods of water when it is not needed
for irrigation. This water is lost to
agriculture. If it could be stored and
let into the canals when wanted it
would be a priceless treasure and the
means of reclaiming vast areas of
alkali and sagebrush desert
The U. S. Geological Survey now
has ar officer making an examination
into the feasibility of the various
plans proposed. The whole basin "
ing between the Rocky Mountains
and the Sierra Nevadas is in the dry
range and must depend solely on
irrigation for its future agricultural
development From the gigantic
works already in operation and the
many others projected it is evident
that the absorption of mountain
streams for this purpose will go on
as long as it can be made profitable.
This may mean the almost total reten-
ton of the waters of many consider
able rivers. In fact, not few of the
larger streams already show a marked
diminution in volume from the eff
fects of the drainage into great canals
that tap their head waters. The mat
ter thus becomes one of moment not
only to the people dwelling in the
range where irrigation is necessary,
but also to those farther East along
the great Western rivers that are
tributary to the Mississippi. Even
the volume of the Missouri itself at
ordinary stages could be easily alb
sorbed in irrigatihg the waste lands
along its banks.
The subject is one of the first i'm
portance and should be handled on
some comprehensive plan so that if
possible the greatest accessible area
of lands may be brought under cult
walton without destroying the rivers
that flow through so many fertile
States. Tn mountain reservoir system
should be thoroughly investigated
and treated on the broadcast principles
just at present 1T seems to be regard
ed as great opening into which the
surplus of the q. s. Treasury may be
dumped and sure passport to the
favor of the new States.