, 1903-03-04
MEAD
ON THE IRRIGATION iNsTiTU.
TONS AND ECONOMIC AND
LEGAL QUESTIONS.
Well Known Civil Engineer and irrioa-
ton Expert Adds New Volume To
the Citi1ens' Library, Under the
Editorship Of Richard T. Eyre
view Of the Work.

OF the Economic and Legal Ques-
tons Created by the Growth Of IT.
rigated Agriculture In the West.
BY Elwood Mead, C. E., NJ. S. New
York: The Mcmillan company
SLIPS net.
This work is based on twenty years
experience in this development of irri-
gated agriculture in the arid west. Fiji
ten years OF this time were devoted to
the study and administration of irriga-
ton laws as assistant state engineer
Of one commonwealth and territorial
and state engineer Of another. The duties
of these positions brought the writer
into personal and official relations with
all classes OF men engaged in develop
ing the agricultural of the
arid west. These not only include far
mers, ditch builders and investors in
irrigation securities, but also legisla-
tors and jurists who were shaping the
legal principles which are to control
the distribution and use of western
water supplies and the social and
economic fabric under which mum
bered millions of people must dwell.
All phases of the subject had to be
dealt with.
The lesson Of these years is that the
vital agricultural problem of the arid
waut iu To actah1ich ;,,ut onI cfahIa
titles to water and provide for their
efficient protection in times Of need.
Every farmer in the arid west comes
to understand the overshadowing i'm
p%ortance of water.
In some sections material develop
ment has outrun the creation Of insti-
~tutions needed to insure enduring uc-
cess. Irrigation laws are so ambiguous
or contradictory that the finite intel
lect is not able to interpret their
meaning. The water rights which gov
ern the value OF farms have many
forms and are acquired by many meth
DDS. In one respect, however, they are
all alike: no mater whether acquired
by compliance with a statute or by pur-
chase from a ditch company, they are
a source of more perplexity at the out
set and OF more anxious thoughts af-
terw::rd than are all the other ques-
lions Of irrigation combined. The irri-
gator whose water right does not fur
nish grounds for either an inquiry or a
grievance is a rare exception.
Norareirrigators alone in finding the
issues created by the use Of streams
hard to define. Lawmakers and courts
have both found them equally perlex-
ing . They involve the determination
of the kind Of ownership which shall
be recognized in the rains and anows
which are gathered in rivers. in order
that each user shall receive his proper
share and monopolies in water prevent
ed.
The problems Of irrigation are not,
however, Of water alone, but of land
and water. In many parts of the arid
west ability to control the use of con-
tiguous grazing lands is absolutely nee
essary tothe success OF irrigation since
farming can only be carried On with
profit in connection with growing live
stock. Among farmers 30 situated.
range rights are almost as important
as water rights, but under existing
laws no such rights on the public do
main can be maintained except by
force.
The opening years Of the twentieth
century have brought a larger and
truer conception Of the value Of the
arid west and Of the part 1t is to play
in the Industrial life of this nation. 1t
is now realizing that its valleys are in
time, to be the homes Of many millions
of people. and that under Just and wise
policies, 1t is possible to create homes
which will represent a higher average
of human comfort and better social
and Industrial conditions that can be
found elsewhere save in few places on
the globe. The interest Of the nation
has been awakened to the opportuni.
ties here presented, and the civic pride OF
western communities has been aroused
to secure the creation Of irrigation
codes which will be worthy of a self
governing people. AS an aid to local
effort, the general government is en-
gagged in gathering facts on which fu-
ture developments should be based.
The department OF the interior is mea-
surfing the water supply and finding out
where 1t al be used to the best advan.
tage and with the largest return. The
department Of agriculture is studying
the methods Of distributing and using
water in order to promote its more
skillful and effective use. and is In
quiring into the social and legal ques-
lions created by the use Of streams in
irrigation, both in this country and In
investigation. It is hoped taht what
is here written will be an influence for
investigation. 1t is hoped that what
Is here written will be an innuenc for
good. The convictions expressed have
been more largely shaped by what has
been seen than by what has been read.
They are the result Of careful study.
haying 1t its foundation IN abiding
faith in the future Importance Of the
arid west. . pride in the success A.
ready won n heltef in the future treat