The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1905-06-17
Conquest u u: Great
American Desert
The Bad Use Of Water.

OF all the features In cOnnecuon
with irrigation upon which campaign
Of education 10 demanded, the proper
use Of water Is most important. Sta
tistics show that more water Is wasted
in conducting irrigation than Is actu-
ally utilized. Many an acre OF land
has been absolutely ruined by excess
i've water, which might become al pro-
duct1ve and valuable as land adjoin-
ing where water has been intelligently
and properly applied. Our Western
country Is fast being settled by East
ern farmers who decide to immigrate
to milder climate, where rich, pro-
ductive soil awaits tilling.
They have heard Of irrigation, and
conceive the idea that to have water
when needed, thereby incuring against
drought, is grand proposition, and
they are right in 50 thinking, but like
all good things, 1t must not be abused.
They come West purchase a tract Of
land under some canal, or adjacent to
some stream, from which water can
be elevated by the pumping process,
and because they have all the water
they can use, permit it to run to waste
upon the land, often keeping It flooded
and thereby raising inferior crops Of
fruit, grain or grasses, and gradually
bring to the surface all the salt sub
stances In the soil, forever running
what had the promise of making an
iAoaJ - or onoh
The proper definition Of irrigation is
to insure having moisture or water
when needed, and not to use it at any
and all times because 1t IL at command.
Therefore, users Of water must be ed
ucated either by experience or instruc-
ton, and every irrigated section should
employ an experienced and practical
irrigatonist, whose duties would be
confined to instructing users Of water
in its intelligent distribution. Canal
and irrigation companies could not
make a more profitable investment
than to have in their employ an OH
cial whose duties should consist in
constantly comforting with and in
structing water users as to how and
when water should be applied.
II there any excuse in an irrigated
district for a farmer or rancher to
squander enough water during q sea-
son, II used at one. time, to cover
his land to a depth Of nine feet, when
his contract with the canal company
calls for only one-fourth Of this guam
tity? Furthermore, 1t IL acknowledged
by all that one-fourth the quantity is
ample to secure a crop. Is there any
excuse for the use Of nine feet Of wa
ter in one locality and only two feet in
another, where conditions are similar
and where the man using only two
feet raises larger and better crops7
The only excuse is negligence, lack Of
intelligence and laziness, and the man
using nine feet will find when It is
too late that his land Is ruined and his
efforts have been for naught. He will
probably seek new location and
damn the country he is leaving, when
no one II at fault except himself. The
irrigation Of land by means Of pump
ing IL now receiving marked attention,
and people aH beginning to realize
that the vast area 30 located as to
make It impossible to irrigate by canal
systems, on account Of the cost being
50 much n excess Of The benefits re-
ceived, can be reclaimed ana made ex-
tremely productive and valuable.
It il the irrigationist under this
method Of whom we have the most
fear. He II absolutely master Of the
situation; he owns his plant can OPP
crate 1t when he sees At, and II not
subject to even caution or suggestion
from any company from whom water
Il purchased. It 10 true the expense
involved In coal, wood, gasoline, oil
or other fuel may check him to Z Ger
tain extent In the operation Of his
pumping plant, but devices have
proved practicable Tor pumping water
that require no fuel or expsnse n op-
GRAFTON. What does the pOaeessor Of
Z device Of this. character purpose do
inxf start his machine IA operation
let It run night and day. Aooding hfs
land until rnined7 or WIN hs exercise
Judgment deliver his watsr into -