Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-18

CanalS cover muCH H6Is ldHu tHdH
they now supply with water. The
department can, of course. do nothing
to enforce economy in use. 1t can
only point out the fact that equally
good returns from the land now irri-
gated can be secured with half the
water, in the hope that self-interest
will induce farmers to use the smaller
quantities. One method has, however,
been suggested by our investigations
That Is. to base charges for water on
the quantities used rather than on
the acreage irrigated.
Conditions in New Mexico.
A report from New Mexico shows
that farmers who paid according %
the quantities they received used II
per cent less water than others un-
der the same canal who paid a fiat
rate per acre. and used what they
wanted. A similar test in Idaho show
ed that those who paid for the guam
titles received used % per cent less
than those paying the acreage rate
an average for the two sections Of 25
per cent. A large majority Of farm,
ers receive water from ditch compan'
les of some kind, and whenever they
do this means of inducing economy Is
available. But most farmers use these
excessive quantities of water In the
belief that 1t Is necessary to do 50
The department, therefore, has large
opportunity for usefulness in showing
them the benefits of more economic
al use.
The estimate that farmers are usins
twice as much water as Is necessary
Is based on the measurements pre-
viously referred to, which show the
some farmers use from five to tel
times as much as others. But we ar,
not stopping with this study Of what i
being done. We are carrying on ex
periments to get at the actual necessi
ties of different crops under differen
conditions. To establish the minimum
quantities which must be supplied 4
plants, we are making determination,
of the quantities of water actual.
used in the processes of growth. Il
| these quantities must be added enoug1
To supply the losses which are una
voidable under field conditions, Thrs
losses will vary with different soil
and with different methods Of cultiva
tion, but it is believed that an approx
innate duty can be scientifically deter
mined in this way. We are attackin
the same problem from The other diraf
tion. Fields similar in other respect
are being served with different quaint
!, ties Of water to determine what quar-
. titles give the best results. Thi
, work has not gone far enough to just
. fy conclusions. but there Is every rel
sion to believe that the duty thus e
tablished will be much higher tina
that now secured even by the NOR
economical farmers. thereby maxim
/. rassiria still furthar extension Of th
: area which can be reclasaed.
New Possibili:isr.
] But the possibilities v y not the
be exhausted 1t Is we known fa'
' that plants will adapt themselves
new climatic conditions. There al
I great possibilities along the line Of d
! veloping plants which will produc
equally good results with less watt
!. than is required by the plants no
{ grown In the arid region. In cooper
! tion with the state experiment ST
+ tions we are working on the produ
!. ton and introduction Of such vari
4 ties.
s To sum up what the department
. agriculture Is doing 10 further u
/. prime object OF this congress q
L greatest possible extension 81 the ar'
j irrigated
$ Our measurements show losses fro
). main canals and laterals of more thl
y half Of the water diverted fro
j. streams. We are studying ways
r stopping these losses. which means
!. doubling Of the area which can be !
IL claimed.
Ii Our measurements OF the quantitl
I of water used Indicate that the dli
y Continued on page two.