Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1904-07-07
TOO MUCH WET, TOO MUCH DIR Y


The bad effects Of excessive Irrigation
have long been known and depored IN
Utah. While some large areas are USE
less for cultivation because there is no
water for them and they are too aka
line for dry farming there are many
places where the seepage from upper
lands has brought 20 the surface so
much "saloratus" that they are practi-
cally ruined. This is not always be-
cause those particular spots have been
over watered. 1t Is rather because OF
the irrigation on higher levels, Yet II
IA no doubt true that more water than
s. necessary is used on growing crops,
aud therefore two remedial measures
are called for. one is the proper dis
trlbution and application OF irrigatlng
water; the other is q good system Of
land drainage.
These needs have been brought into
pressing notice recently, through the
Investigations Of experts in the Depart
inent Of Agriculture, both local ana
national They have visited several lo-
callties in this State and given the pub
lc through the press, some results OF
their inspection. These establish the
two points we have presented above
The farmers OF Utah need instruction
on the evils of oyer-irrlgation. IT is IN
furious to their own lands, and often
works much greater harm to their
neighbors whose land lies lower than
thelrs. Anybody who has been through
Emery county with eyes open to the
situation there, must have deplored the
devastation that Is seen, near Hunting
ton for instance, whore homes have
had to be abandoned and fields vacated,
because OF the ruin wrought by alkali
coming to the surface through the irri-
cation Of lands above them
CultIyation--the repeated stirring of
the Soils OF more benefit to crops and
TO the land thus treated than so much
soaking such as they frequently re-
ceive where water Is plentiful A
scientific system Of irrigation viii have
10 take the place Of our present hap
hazard way Of water usage, and the
needs as well as the rights OF lands
of varied qualities and localities viii
have TO be definitely determined. This
must include the relative positions and
requirements Of all irrlgable lands
within each district.
Now as to drainage for surplus water
1t may be carried Off by open bitches
by tile or wooden under pipes, by turn
ing into canals or streams, but that
must comprehend some final outlet
Where there is a river or creek into
which drainage may be conducted The
task will De comparatively easy. But
what Is TO be done where there is n,
such outlet? Here is a problem fol
chemists and practical agricultural eN'
perlmonters to solve, That soakag'
causes allkall In the soil to come to the
surface Is well known, and It is q ques
tion whether the users of water to eN
cess are not liable for damages e
lands below that are thus made value
less.
But whatever may be done by way
Of remedy for the evil complained o
through excessive irrigation, 1t must b,
clear to everybody who understand
the subject that all talk about redeem
ing alkaline soils by drainage wher
there is no water for flooding or TO
irrigation, is fecber than am "irri
descent dream" It Is a waste Of word
and of space. Drainage implies mols
ture The dry lands whitened will
saleatus where no water can be con
Quoted, cannot be helped by under
thing or open dtchIng When the
can be washed by flooding, they ma,
be fortified by manuring, and thei
helped by draining whore an outlet cui
De had. Water is essential for sucl
areas. Prospects are Frightening 70
an increased supply in these parts
And while the plans and works for
are maturing, measures should be stud
led and adopted for IT'S accurate ant
just distribution, and for the proven
ton Of damage and the reclamation q
now worthless lands