The times., 1901-04-14
WATERING DESERT WASTES
Ruins of Irrigating Canals in West
ern America.
Proofs of Enterprises of People Not
Mentioned in the COuntry's His
tory Efforts to Develop Arid
Regions Into Productive Gardens

The vast possibilities for irrigation in
arid regions seems only lately recognized,
and that principally in this country. Yet
il is fact that, throughout great part
of the western portion Of the United
States. found the ruins of irrigation
canals of considerable size, built by for
gotten people. The more intelligent of the
early explorers who visited these regions
and saw the ruins were impressed with
the idea that white men might make
homes where these earlier peoples had
succeeded. 1t was not, however. until the
systematic surveys of Major J. w. Powell,
Of the Geological Survey, were undertaken
that the Importance Of the subject was
fully realized. Major Powells first report
on the subject Glands of the Arid Re-
gion') was printed in 1873 and the pub
lie then realized for the first time what
could be done by irrigation in an nprO-
ductive country a lesson learned from
the remains of works of a people who
faded from the earth many thousands Of
years ago.
Ten years after the publication Of Ma
jor PowelIs report authority was granted
by Congress for a systematic examination
of the arid lands of the West Field work
was begun by the agents of the Geologi-
cal Survey, being directed toward the
mapping of the catchment basins and the
detailed surveys of reservoir sites and of
canal lines. The surveys of reservoir
sites inaugurated in 1855, the year In
which the first appropriation was made.
have been since prosecuted with signal
energy. The work has been confined prin-
cipally to the States of California, Ne
vada, Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming
Without going into the details of these
surveys" says Chief photographer Fred
erick II. Newell. OF the Geological Sur
vey, lit may be said that the results
were as a whole disappointing, particu-
larly to professional promoters, who had
in contemplation schemes involving gi-
gantic enterprises. whose stocks and
bonds might be manipulated. These men
seemed TO feel a personal animosity to-
ward the organization conducting the
surveys. because glowing accounts OF
wonderful wealth were not supplied to
stimulate the waning interest in Western
development.
1t was found besides that the con-
struction of these reservoirs not only in
voIved considerable expenditures. but that
the cOnal.ions of ownership were such
that they could not be considered paying
propositions. There was no question as
to the benefits that would result 10 the
country at large from their construction,
but there seemed to be little opportunity
for private profit. OF the reservoirs sur
veyed, few have actually been construct
ed Cooperative enterprise has in few
cases brought them to completion, and in
other instances corporations owning large
canals have been compelled by circum-
stances to build storage works. The great
reservoirs. for the most part located in
California have been built by corpora
tiOus maiuly through some extraordinary
of circumstances or throusi
misrepresentation OF the actual colul-
The Investigations that have been
made have been carried on Tor the pur-
pose of asCertainiug the extent 10 "nlch
tbe arid lands could be redeemed by irri-
gation The object was to bring out the
broad facts concerning the probabilities
of the ultimate development OF thS dtid
reoion There were of course, many To-
cslities where il was self-evldent that wa
ter could be held TO advantage, as, Ioz
instance in southern California, Where
the climatic conditions We're such that the
seTni-troDical fruits flourished TO perfec-
ton The valleys of this part OF the state,
relatively small in size, are protected on
the north bv mountuins which rise abrupt
Iy from sea-leVel. and from these sfnaiI
streams flow in tOrrential channels Ihe
rapid development OF Popul9tion III SheSe -
small valleys, due 70 the Saiubflty OF the
climate and the great profits derived from
the cultivation of fruits and nuts re-
suited early in all the available water sup
ulv being utilized, and in compelling the
of methods of storing some
of the food waters. The utillzaticn OF
these storage sites was further promoted
by the fact that most OF the desirable
land in this part of the country was COW
cred by the early Spanish land grants, the
title TO which had been confirmed by the
limited States Thus these tracts We're
not portions OF the public land and did not
depend upon favorable legislation for the
inau gura ton of private enterprise. From
these and other reasons it has happened
that the actual construction of storage
in Southern California has been
far ahead of similar work within what Is
more strictly the arid region