The Delta independent., 1901-05-31
FARMING MATTERS.
Me..ur,nx the rlou of Rl,er.

|
ber of Commerce few days since on
the subject of irrigation, and the flow
OF rivers. 1t was at the weekly lunch
OF the Real Estate Exchange, and
/ there was n large attendance.
Mr.. Newell was followed by A. A.
| Fellows, the Colorado member of the
survey, who said that there We're thr-
ty-five experimental stations in Colo
RADIO to determine the amount of water
| in the state.
Mr.. Newell, in the course of his talk,
| said:
When We speak Of the minerals of
Colorado the thoughts turn first to
gold, silver. iron, coal or copper; but
| the mineral of even greater value in
the continued prosperity of the state
| Is one concerning which business men
have given little thought; it. however,
underlies all values and is not exhaust
fble, as is the case of the gold and sill
yer. for it cannot be carried away and
sold. but is perpetually renewed. This
mineral upon which so much depends
and upon whose conservation rests the
future of the state, is water.
The water resources of Colorado
VIII in future count for more than all
the other minerals combined. But, as
We well know. 1t is not unlimited in
quantity, and as various industries de-
velop the demand and need of water
supply rapidly increases.
The most striking change noted in
a recent visit to the Pacific coast was
the rapid extension of all irrigation by
means Of pumping. Much of the land
beyond the bitches. although dry on
the surface. is underlain by great
quantities of water, which has accuu.
~ Inv f,.nt r1,x, oII
fields. This water is from ten to fifty
feet beneath the surface, and unless it
can be lifted by pumps is valueless.
Wells are sunk into this water and
centrifugal pumps lowered into the
wells; on the upper end of the shaft
of these pumps is small electric mo-
tor. Whenever water is needed a
switch Is turned; the pump at once
begins operation and delivers water to
the land at a cost which in many in
stances il below that paid by land un-
der the gravity canals.
Colorado possesses all of the req
uisites for success in water storage
and in pumping, and by following the
example set by California enormous
areas can be made productive and fur
nish opportunity for thousands of
homes. These things. however. do not
suit of forethought and careful plan
ming on the part of business men. 1t
is impossible to start in at once and
realize these ideal conditions, for much
preliminary work must be DONE and
in particular facts must be made
known as to the opportunities for wa
ter storage and for power develop
ment. 1t is not possible to begin work
at any point selected by chance and
accomplish successful results We
must know the amount of water
available not only this year, but for
many years. and plan all of the work
with reference to such knowledge; 1t
is very easy to make at the outset a
vital mistake by which all of the labor
and capital may be sacrificed through
lack of such knowledge. The history
Of enterprises of this character in this
state and elsewhere shows that devel-
opments are surrounded by uncertain
ties unless these preliminary facts are
made known.
-''These vital facts as to reservoir
sites and rivers are being obtained by
the division of photography of the
United States geological survey. Their
work is distributed from Maine to
California. and with the funds avail
able it is possible to do only a small
amount of work in each state. The
amount for the whole United States
could be well and economically spent
in the state of Colorado alone in find
ing out the conditions so essential to
the upbuilding of the state. The work
which has already. been accomplished
has been of great benefit and 1t has
been stated on the authority of good
business men that investments aggre-
eating many millions of dollars have
been made in Colorado because of the
facts put on record by this division of
the geological survey. Other millions
might have been invested If the work
had been carried on more largely in
all parts of the state. for. although
much has been done. in comparison
with the needs it seems insignificant.
"As an example of the loss which
comes through lack of complete knowl-
edge may be cited the pending suit in
the Supreme Court of the United States
between Kansas and Colorado. While
we cannot predict what course this
suit will take nor anticipate the re-
suits, yet 1t is safe to assert that a
case of this kind cannot have stand
ing excepting through ignorance of the
physical conditions. The attempt will
doubtless be made to show that the
diversion of water in Colorado has re-
suited in drying of the Arkansas river
at certain seasons of the year. but If
measurements had been made show
ing the actual condition of the stream
through ten years or more and the ac-
tual influence of irrigation in Colorado
on the river. it is hardly conceivable
that such suit would be brought.
From the measurements which have
been made on Arkansas river and sur
veys of reservoir sites, it is safe to
assert that with complete water con-
servation such as is possible. the rights
of all persons in Kansas and Colo
RADIO could be protected and the pop
ulation along the river greatly in-
creased"
From 1.5OO.OOO to 2.OO0.OOO Oregon
sheep will be fed on the ranges east of the