Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-18
Secretary Of Agriculture Tells irrigation Con-
gress Of Policy Of Department
MAKE BETTER USE OF WATER SUPPLY
Great Possibilities from More Economical Methods Double the
Area Of Land Can be Reclaimed. Study Of Plants
Suitable to Arid Regions

OGDEN, Utah, Sept. 1S.--Secra
tary Of Agriculture Wilson took as his
subject, Irrigation Investigations
made by the United States Depart
ment Of Agriculture He said in part:
THE outstanding Of our waters that
go to waste when the snow melts In
the mountains, through government
agencies, is new departure for
which we may thank President Roose-
Welt. All other influences combined
would have failed to secure the legis-
lation 1t was wise movement II
will result in making homes for mil
lions more people. 1t will make mar
kets for manufactures and business
for commerce. It will help to balance
off the growth of our cities. 1t will re-
suit in producing the hundred million
dollars worth of sugar we now buy
abroad. 1t will do all this and much
more, and still leave large areas that
can not be irrigated.
The principal object Of this con
gress in the past has been the securing
OF government aid in the building Of
irrigation works SO that the greatest
possible area Of the arid lands of the
west might be brought under cultiva-
tion. That object has been attained
but the most optimistic friend Of irri-
cation admits that when all the avail
able sources Of water shall have been
put to use, either by public or private
works, only small fraction of the
arid lands can be reclaimed: One is
to increase the water supply; the
other is to make better use Of what
we have. The work Of the agricultural
department as authorized by congress
is along the latter line. Some Of the
possibilities along this line which have
been suggested by our work up tc
the present time will be here pre-
sented, together with a general state
ment of what we are doing to realize
them.
Up to the present time a large part
Of the field work Of the department
has been measuring the quantities o.
water used in irrigation Measure
ments have been made at the head o.
canals, at the heads of laterals, and a
the margins or fields. The great DIFF
ferences between the quantities divert
ed by some canals and the quantitie!
delivered to farmers by them, led t
series of measurements to find ou
where the water taken from Tn,
streams but not delivered to farmer
Z went. Such measurements made u
to and including the season OF 1901
show that canals on an average los
CTS per cent Of the water enterinl
them in each mile Of their length, som
small canals losing in single mil
as high as GA per cent OF the waite
diverted by them. The general ayel
age Of the volume lost by canals ]
their entire length is usually given q
one-third of the volume diverted. a
though our measurements would ind
cate that 1t is even greater. The sa'
ing Of these losses from canals mean
an increase OF at least third In n
area which can ultimately be reclaim
ed. The measurements made sho
that in many canals the larger part
the losses occur In short sections
the canals, and the measurements |
cate these sections.
Great as are the possibilities OF sa
ing by stopping the losses from cana
and laterals, they are not 50 great !
the possibilities Of saving In use. 9,
measurements Of the quantities a
tualIy used by farmers show th'
some use from five to ten times
much water as others who are raisir
the same crops under similar cond
lions and who secure equally good
not better returns. There is no WI
Of telling what proportion Of farme
use too much water. but the measnr
ments referred TO seem to justi
the estimate that on an average fart
ers use at least twice as much wat
as Is necessary under present met
DDS II this saving can be made,
means a doubling Of the area whi'
can be reclaimed, and that with !
lie expense TO any one, since mo