The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-05-10
PROF. NAGLE'S STATEMENT
Mr. W. c. Moore Explains The Rice
Situation and Needs Of Planters.
THE VALUE OF WATER DEMONSTRATED
He Advocates the Appointment OF Com
missioners by the Legislature to
Stop Reckless Waste.

trim north into the rice country, was
interviewed yesterday concerning the state
nent recently made by Prof. Nagle Of tue
Agricultural and Mechanical college in ref
erence to the irrigation Of the Texas rice
lands
Mr.. Moore said: yes; have read Prof.
Nagle's statement regarding the water sup
ply from the Colorado and Brazos rivers.
an glad that he published his report, for
II calls public attention TO several very
important points. Prof. Nagle's calcula'
lions for rice irrigation are based upon the
total supply coming from the rivers. While
his figures are correct, his conclusions are
far fetched, since we do not depend wholly
upon the riyers-not once IN twenty years.
In fact, I doubt II this part Of the state
ever experienced as much dry weather as
during the past eighteen months, which
compelled the rice growers last summer
to depend almost entirely upon the rivers
for water for irrigation purposes. l have
discrssed the matter with all Of the rice
canal officials in South Texas livery oAe
OF them informed ME that when they com
u enced putting the water on the rice Gelds
the land was badly cracked as Ieauli
Of the unprecedented dry weather OF the
winter and spriug Of 1901, AZ thaL tline ~
took the canal men two or three weeks -
get the water from the pumping pant 70
the canals for distribution. Observe, III
this connection, that one good rain would
ave eHsily accomplished In three houta
what IL took twenty days 80 do.
The irrigatuE canals are not designed
10 totally irrigate tine fields, but merely
10 supply the deficiency ln rainfall lu the
cultivation Of rice. The Louisiana farmers
up 10 few years ago raised rice, de-
pending entirely upon rainfall This. how
ever. resulted in short crops probably $500
years out of five. hence the necessity for
irrigation canals 20 supply water dnuu-
dry years. The rainfall iu South Texas
and Southwest Louisiana varies from forty
70 si,tvl6va Inches and Tar tbr.I. war,
0yt ~ Bva Rico 4,n II. sgcrr~.tIIy cult.
S.rtad b, tainflu ryirbnut Fin, .....t.....r oI
st,,ti,y,s ID" ,,,i.ia,., l,-a S7-ilra-f
- vyr,o r,-, nr,iy ~ fsy d.u.. dririus
htAAs W. ~" V,it o. fg.fI g.. tl.,'i''
tne tItt'r 't"s,.' """N 49, t,,
bgsl p pclsr "rr1ir,l Elf,r. ia tbr 6l-fory
OF rice culture.
1ht OK lnt strong MN, it1 I "a '''.
OF NoulAe.h lsAd7 anu H.l'N " Vs., i-'A'7' '.'
n ne pIo'a.'.'E i.u',. wa, i, n,
Tor othcr crops ahl D." one Aa- ever le.
advocated total irris1llo" "N 80. ral"l com
panles. " lh1t ntSelhr H'',s7',9 ~ WYuv
tc iouua lhpn'Nlulv io 1fil-.i' nun ''
the lands along the river, W south Texas
= VAST quahufF oi wafer s. HHsttH ny
tenants ana lana owner, along ihe cAHAls
as well ms by que canal companies them
selves. in the irrigation of Icc. hay,
noted during the past few years thar j.
many nplds the water WAS from six TO NJ
teen inches IN deptn, when two inches OF
water would answer an purposes and b.
much better, owing TO the fact that whci
the water is dralued OF the rice where 4
has been standing at depth Of six Il
fifteen Inches, the stalk Is green and tcnde
aud unable TO support the ripe ana heAy
head This results In the falling down a
great quantities OF rice, always the rcsul
OF excessive irrigation lu many instance
have seen the water running over th
tops offthc acid leyees wasting out apo
the prairie. az the expense VI some az
Joining canal coiupanv This should neyt
be permitted The wnstc and extrayagau
use Of water should ne immediately chccke
BY law Take Caunl company with 1905
acres n greater norton oil which iy go,
cred with water from four To ten iuche
more than Us NECESSARY. and SON Will quirl
ly see WHAT Inc pr,ntr rceulHtiou of th
supply might ACCOMPLISH. YUr prone
t0u.ff las tno-. i'm grfh,ri,,' 1,.Ifn. ,,,t
missioncrs should hs auuant.l hr th
STATE vested v.lfb snffai,at .,.h,~'t,- =
- ifa % .If.