The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-20
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IRRIGATION PROJECTS.

AS soon as it began to be realized that
the Salton Lake had received a considerable
supply of water, projects for lis utilization
were formed by engineers. Some of those
projects are now taking shape. One of
them, which owes its authorship to George
w. Merton. an engineer OF San Diego, con-
templates The irrigation of l75.000 acres of
land i'll Arizona by diverting the water
which row flows into the Colorado Desert.
Mr.. Nort0n's idea is TO tap the Colorado
River al a point about twenty eight miles
north of Yuma, where an island-Steven-
sons Island-causes a local rise in the river
waters. His canal would then pursue a
soutbeasterly course until it struck the
ella, which it would cross in pipes or fumes.
South of the ella it would spread through
the table lands as long as the water would
last, at any rate up to the Mexican line (;
and in this way Mr. Norton reckons that it
might be made to irrigate 175,G00 acres of
good land in Arizona which are now barren
for want of water. Mr.. \, rton estimates
the cost of his canal at 5000. coo and he
leaves 1t 10 be inferred that this sum would
be subscribed by the owners OF the Arizona
land which would be benefited.
Tie scheme is a good enc, if it is praeti-
cable. But 100000 is a large sum of
money. and the owners of land in Arizona
are net repuied to be wealthy in money,
though they may be rich in land, herds and
tiocks. As TO outside capitalists, who have
no acquired interests to serve, it may posi-
bly, occur 10 them that smaller expend-
ture than S2,C00.G00, bestowed on the mouth
of the Salton River. might reclaim as large
territory in San Diego County, Cal. as Mr..
Norton proposes to reclaim In Arizona. All
that is necessary to insure steady flow of
water from the river into the Colorado
Desert, so as TO tffset the loss from evapOr-
alton, is properly constructed canal head
at or near Algcdones, which would guard
the new channel from silt blOckades, and
keep the stream flowing in the dry season.
Such a work would not cost two million or
half that sum, and the local canals TO irrigate
the desert would ma tural!y be built at TIE
cost OF the land o wners who would be bene-
flied by them.
Whenever the people of California realize
that Irrigation IS so vital TO the develop
ment OF this State, they will bestow upon il
the intelligent thought which has enabled
them to accomplish other objects. The
Wright law is admirably calculated TO en-
able occupants of small districts 10 concen-
trate their forces 10 irrigate their farms. 1t
Is an adaptation to this State of the plan
which has been so successful in l tab. But
when the time comes to adopt more COM
prehensiye schemes, embracing whole
watersheds, broader principles will have
to be applied And Caifornans can hardly
fail to take lessons from nations which have
been compelled in the past, to resort to
irrigation to feed their people - such as
Spain, Italy, Algeria and India. They will
Ertd hat IN al r
irrigation have been based upon the prin-
ciple that there can be no such thing as
individual ownership OF water, and that all
bodies Of water capable of supplying irri-
eating canals belong OF right to the people
at large. 1t follows from this that all
schemes for the distribution of water must
be under the management of the Govern
ment, and must not in any case pass under
the control of individuals or corporations.
There IS one country in which irrigation
has been brought 10 perfection, tie laws
which regulate 1t having been The gradual
outgTowth OF many centuries Of experience.
That is Japan-a country not quite as large
as California, yet which, though a large
portion of its area is mountain and rock,
contains a population of 3S,0O00OO. Iu
Japan, at period so remote that history
had hardly diseniangled itself from legend,
the MikAdos of tie day commenced the con-
structioD of reservoirs and irrigating canals.
They have been the constant care of the
Government ever since, and through them
almost every portion of the great island of
Nippon has been supplied with water
enough to insure regular crops Of rice. 1t
is to this that Japan owes its present popu-
lation. By the abortion of the same methods
California can achieve the same result