Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-06-21
Facts for the Arid Lands Committee

Facts fOr the ArA0 Lahus COWniittee'
Perhaps nothing could more strlkingly
convey to the minds of the people the
ignorance which generally prevails in
the United States on the subject of irriga-
ton, than to cite the committee appointed
by the Senate to make inquiry into the
best means of reclaiming and irrigating
our arid lands. Of the seven Senators
constituting the committee, Hon. VIM.
M. Stewart, Of Nevada, the Chair
man, is the only one who may
be said to have had the slight
est experience with irrigation. The
others are from States where irrigation
is unknown, and it is to be presumed
that the gentlemen, with perhaps the
exception of Judge Reagan, of Texas,
have never seen an irrigating ditch, or
water artifcially applied through canals
to cultivation, in their lives. Nor is this
strange. Until late in the sixties the
only part of the United States in which
crops were raised by irrigation was
Southern California. For over one hun
dred years the waters OF our rivers have
been carried in bitches to moisten the
vineyards and orchards of this section.
For twenty years irrigation has been
extensively applied to agriculture in
Colorado, and that State has the credit of
having built up the best system of water
laws of any State in the Union.
The Senate Committee have probably
everything to learn with reference to
irrigation, and they have therefore ad-
dressed circular to the newspapers, in
which they ask for their cooperation
and aid in making clear the
best methods to carry out the
object of their mission. As this COM
mittee will exercise super ior influence in
securing national legislation upon this
all-important subject, it stands US in
hand to start them out right, and to give
them the benefit of all the knowledge
which our experience has brought to us.
In order that those of our eaders who
possess special information of value to
the committee may know what is
wanted, we would advise them to direct
their attention to the following subjects,
as suggested by the State Board of Horti-
culture:
The average precipitation, rainfall, ETC.. the
sources of water supply and the means which
in the Judgment Of practical men, can be
applied for its utilization by storage and dis
tribution
The present extent of irrigation. If any, mum.
Der of canals reservoirs, weirs. dams, head
gates, etc. their extent, length, cost, etc, and
the area served, the duty OF water per acre. the
measure thereof, the manner of holding water
properly and of regulating its distribution,
the rental or cost OF water and all other related
facts.
irrigation. Relations of pastoral and tree life
TO these questions, and, In general, any data
that bears u ron the subject
But perhaps the cultivators OF this Sec
ton of the State will contribute some
hints on the subject of irrigation which
will enable the Committee to realize that
much less proportion of water is needed
for successful cultivation than is
generally supposed. Whoever visits
this part of the State will find
that vineyards and orchards are flourish
ing everywhere. Now, if that same per-
son could carry himself back twenty or
twenty-five years, and see this same
country as it was then, he would find it
mostly an arid, parched, desert country,
freshness and vegetation only appearing
in isolated places near the rivers. AT
that time the task Of finding running
water in the rivers eight months in the
year was hopeless one. To develop
water in the mountains, or anywhere
away from the rivers, would have
seemed an impossibility. Yet now
the most fourishing settlements and
the finest orchards and the best vine
yards in Southern California are in
places where twenty years ago the lands
would have been pronounced arid, deser t
and worthless.
The Government has undertaken q
very benefcent task in taking hold of
this irrigation question. 1t can, by de-
termining the best peints for the erection
OF storage reservoirs in the mountains,