The record-union., 1899-06-02

truth, however much we dislike to adj
NIT 1T, is as generally recognized that
1t is worse than useless to attempt to
conceal the actual conditions. Many
instances can be cited where meritori-
Gus projects now under consideration
are awaiting definite action because it
is impossible to show to the investors
a single example of profitable invest
ment of this character. Millions Of
dollars could be had for the construc-
ton of irrigation works, if it could be
demonstrated to impartial and critical
experts that similar investments We're
now returning a fair interest on the
original capital employed.
I'VE have the anomalous condition
existing of great enterprises of State
or national Importance languishing for
need of capital. At the same time it
is admitted that these enterprises will
benefit the community to far greater
extent than the first cost. On the other
hand, millions of dollars awaiting an
investment, but deferred from the fact
that it cannot be shown that these en-
terprises will prove profitable to the
investors, although unquestionably
yielding returns far in excess of their
cost. Putting these things together,
the question arises, what shall be
done? And the answer must be that
the community benefited, whether the
State or nation, must in some way
either furnish the capital for building
these great works. or secure to the men
who take the risk Ia fair earning on their
investment. How this is to be done is a
matter Of detail, and cannot be worked
out until general recognition can be
had of the conditions just described.
1.-THE utilization of the vacant lands
now comprising a third of the whole
United States, and the consequent in
crease of population and of all indus
tries, is to large extent dependent
upon securing more water. It is not
possible, taking the year as a whole,
to secure & greater amount than now
exists, but it is possible to increase the
available supply many fold by saving
that portion which now goes to waste.
In order to increase the available sup
ply two methods are especially prom
inent. The first is that of storage of
the flood or winter waters, and the
second is by running water from under
ground, or from streams from which it
cannot be taken by gravity. Pumping
is essentially the problem Of the great
plains region, and to a less extent for
many parts of the West. It is par
ticularly important in many portions
Of California, where the conditions are
such that water storage cannot be
had
1.-THE great advantage, or one Of the
great advantages of pumping water for
irrigation is that the man who would
develop a tract Of land, or the farmer
who cultivates it. is practically indie
pendent. Most Of the successful pump
ing plants are and always will be small.
and matters of individual concern.
Pumping on a large scale, while it will
undoubtedly be done in many localities,
will, from the nature of the case. never
be as important as the raising Of water
by small, cheap, or home made devices.
A small pumping plant can be installed
by almost any farmer or mechanic, and
with little ingenuity and care can be
made highly profitable. If not success
ful the first time, it is capable of in
definite modification and change. A
ruin the whole enterprise, as in the
case Of water storage.
1.-The power used for pumping water
is as varied as the kinds of machine.
In some localities horses or oxen are
successfully employed, and in others
various forms Of motors operated by
gasoline or steam engines, by water
wheels, or by other devices. The most
common source Of power, and by far the
most important is that from the wind.
This is particularly the case on the
Great Plains, where thousands and pos
sibly millions of windnills have been
or are, about to be erected. The power
is sufficient for all purposes, and the
kind of mill and pump matters little, al
though in the long run the best must be
used. Every encoura cement should be
given to the increase of small pumping
plants suited to local circumstances, for
by the use of these farmers learn quick
ly how to produce the best results with
the least amount Of water, or Of wasted
energy. They thus become experienced
and competent to take up irrigation
farming On a larger scale.
THE reasons for the financial failure
Of large irrigation works need not be
discussed at this time, but it is impor-
tant to know that one of the causes, if
not the most important, has been the
fact that few farmers purchasing or
occupying lands under these great sys-
TENS have been competent, at first, to
handle the water and to successfully
raise crops. Many have failed or have
become discouraged, and the great ma
jority have not been able to make the
payments agreed upon. Those who
have succeeded have often done so by
using the water in the most wasteful
fashion, and have not only injured their
own lands, but have often ruined ada
cent tracts and have jeopardized the
success Of the others by the lavish
spreading Of water over the surface.
Using water from the pumping plant, it
is not possible for a man to be as
wasteful as when he obtains his sup
ply from gravity system, and thus the
thousands of farmers who are depend
ent upon windmills or other forms of
motors, for raising water, are becom-
ing adopts in the art of producing the
largest crops with the least waste.
Whenever large body of such exper-
fenced men can be induced to settle
under a great irrigation canal one Of
the principle causes Of failure will be
removed.
The development of the vacant lands
by pumping can be left largely to it
self, as it is a matter of growth and
of the spread of information. But the
providing of great storage works is an
entirely different question; it can come
only through sustained effort and in
terest on the part of the public as a
whole. Pumping water may suffice for