The Washington times., 1901-12-08

gress, recommended the protection OF for
est reserves and the building of great
storage works for the benefit OF the
farmer in the arid regions Of the West
The forests he says. are national
reservoirs. Thev cannot. however. fully
regulate and conserve the waters OF the
arid regions. Great storage works are
necessary to equalize the 1ow o; streams
and to save the floodwaters.
For Artificial irrigation.
The problem of artificial irrigation deals
with the question Of storing the surplus
of water of one season for the deficit Of
the other. 1t is said that the solution Of
this problem in its practica' md universal
application is only being begun in the far
Western region. In several places, how
ever. lofty and expensive dams have been
built across the canyons Of mountain
strea. is. such as the Parley's Creek Res
ervoir. in Utah. The perfecting OF such
works requires the construction Of canals
to all them and of outlets for drawing
of the water and transmitting it to the
land to be irrigated.
The system of artificial irrigation. with
all the perplcxities 1t involves, depends
primarily upon the law of gravity. The
point at which the stream, canal. reser-
voir, or basin is tapped being higher than
the field to be watered. sends the water
down throughout a channel to ditch in
the highest part of the farm. When ii
has thus been brought to a level with
the most elevated points to be irrigated
1t can be made to flow out over the land
without any assistance from the irrigator
beyond such manipulation as may be re-
quired to effect its uniform dis tribution
over the minor Irregularities of surface
which latter are usually provided for be-
fore irrigation is attempted.
Many Natural Basins
Many natural basins are found in the
form Of a great bowl completely enclosed
on all sides, so that no dam or embank-
ment is necessary. In such cases there
has to be constructed either an open cut
or a tunnel through tie surrounding
rim, through which a pipe or some other
form of conduit is placed for drawing
of the water whenever 1t is required.
Many OF these reservoirs are at pres
ent in course of construction. and ar
rangements are being made for a gigan-
tic and complete system Of water supply.
Although this viii. aocord ding to sgricul-
turists. prove a great boon to farmers,
it will also. It is said, lead to many COM
plications- 1t viii greatly increase the
difficulty. now largely felt, OF dividing the
water among the different claimants to
common supply. and viii make it neces-
sary to have additional legislation TO de-
fine the character Of the rights t. these
stored waters
Benefits of the System.
The benefits which have already ac-
crued from the construction of reser-
voirs have so far il is said. been most
gratifying but their Improvement and
operation have also added largely to the
annual cost OF water, and the settlers
show a decided preference to the canal
with an early priority right. Neverthe-
less, the necessity for the reservoir and
an adequate system Ola storage is uni
versally felt throughout the Rocky Noun
tatn region, and the opinion is almost
universal that the extension Of the sys-
tenn viii prove an immense benefit to the
agricultural interests OF the country.
The lack of rainfall in such States as
Colorado. Wyoming. Utah. Idaho. and
Montana, naturally resulting in aridfty Of
the soil, is in curious contrast with the
moisture Of climate and rich productive-
ness OF the States OF the Pacific Slope.
The reason for this is very plainly found
No EfrH~r-a a., u
act as bulwarks to the rain clouds which /
drift from the Pacific Coast, and prevent
the moisture reaching the more easterly 4
of the Western States.
Must Depend on -she Earth.
The settler in the latter region. there
fore, must be dependent upon the earth |
instead Of the clouds for the means Of (
irrigating his land.
The conditions under which agriculture /
IS carried on in the Rocky Mountain |
States differ radically from those prevail
ing in any other section Of the country 1
and have no small effect in altering the /
customs Of the people, raising new issues
OF national importance. and placing def (
mite limit 20 the population which the re-
Eion will support The basis Of these ef-
fects is the method Of irrigation employed.
The magnificent rivers throughout the
country, with their tributary streams,
form the source which Is relied upor TO (
furnish the farmer with the rneany nee
essary for the cultivation Of his crops.
Natural Streams Inadequate
Bat with the immense tide Of settlers
IT became some years ago apparent that
the natural streams alone would not ac-
this purpose 1t tLen became
necessary to foster and preserve the
bounteous gifts Of nature at one season,
in order to provide fer the drought which
prevails when the rivers are at their low
est ebb. by the building of artificial res
ervoirs, which, placed at convenient To-
cations, receive and distribute their sup
ply by means OF the rivers themselves
and canals.
This system OF artificial water supply
Is admitted to have its disadvantages. The
farmer who locates in the Rocky Noun
tain region has first to establish his wa
ler-right claim, and the neglect Of this
may cause him considerable trouble dur
Ing his future occupation Of the land
Priority of Water Rights.
The priority OF the various water rights
and the volume Of water OF a stream re
determined in the Rocky Mountain States
Jy court decrees. or Ia Wyoming and
Sebraskal upon the orders of the boards
'f control. The enfsscement OF ,hese
rights OF priority and the distribution OF
water under them is accomplished by
water commissioners or water masters. as
hey are called.
The Streams PatroIIed.
That this supervision OF the distribu-
ion of the water may be effective, IT