Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-05-29
THE PROPER USE OF IRRI-
CATION WATER.
Some Polnted Observations by Chief
AErlculturist Wlnteshaitcr.


AEriculturist Wlnteshaitcr.
While tho water was turned out Of tho
Rocky Ford ditch for the purpose Of in
stalling number Of now iron hcadgates.
several farmers made serious complaints
that the water was turned out Of tho
their noiRhbors had derived the benefit Of
few days irrigation. In fact. some
spoke Of serious damage. loss Of plants.
ete.. and conducted themselves as II tho
Rocky Ford ditch had been without wator
for number Of weeks.
A close observer Of the general irriga-
ton under tho Rocky Ford ditch can bu,
severely criticize such conduct. consider
ing the waste OF valuable water ,ha, has
occurred during tho irrigation season Of
this spring.
0uits fow seom 10 forget that tho
laws Of Colorado compel tho owner Of
watar rights to use tho water for tho ir-
rigation of. thoir crops only. and ,ha, their
legal right TO tho water ceases immedi-
atsly when Il is not directly applied 10
tho esopS.
Thousands Of gallons Of valuable water
are wasted every week on roads. aifai-
fa folds. and into TimpAs creek. when I,
could b used To advantage and grea,
profit on crops which arc suffering
through this easelessness and ogolsm Of
many farmers.
! know Of water being run In .sofno
lassrals day and night for number o!
days: ! have seen water stanting IN al
taifa folds from four TO six Iaehes deep
and still there was water running from
tho lateral into said ponds Il is nothing
unusual 10 SEQ ducks arise from tho mid
do Of alfalfa fields. and tho green scum,
Of growing aigae Is tho proof Of this in
adieioas use Of irrigation water.
| The river As well as all low places on
tho lands under bitches. bear og; this
statement because a large quantity o:
soopago watar Is appearing all over tho
country. Bi-monihly measurements o:
tho level Of tho ground water show .
heavy increase Of tho latter. which should
not Be the case 10 such an extoni u ~atas
were used economically.
Scientific irrigation consists Of applying
wasar In such . manner that tho roots Of
the plant as we'll as Tho capillary
attraction Of the soil arc fully satisfied
As soon as water Is applied beyond this
necessity tho ground and tho plants ara
unable to absorb or hold !; and tho sur
plus appears as seepsge in depressions Of
the ground. or al tho banks Of rivers. Of
small streams and drainage bitches.
While admit that such irrigation eanno.
be applied TO tho letter. ye. the waste Of
water could be considerably modified
through care and a,te~c iyins 80
How much moro rad been surprised
benefited BY a dist
amour, Of water into was horrible
tons which in mos, children were alta
one continuous aJdIcs dismcmbcrci.
How much more pof limbs lying abou,
II he would taksSot content with spru:
CATION water = every side. those who "
taking an ovsainst us rushed into the !.
How inuch-s and destroyed cvcrythiue
to close do find. In addition homcas
ones wscrcd and all our furnituo-
,inuing jashcd. Iral
into lal There was no protection tee-
privisthc police or soldiers. The nd ase
les,,i content to stand by and see the
'h,d of havoc and death. and ~ this
this Mc'e permitted 70 comc "your
,,,,. Thousands of Hebrews foNnear,
q q, in the home of Christiangpsyhs hsp
fore uhe" shei'et at inc r'sh ohAnos
,,a lives are no,