Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1905-05-06
TEiH CHICAGO EAGLH.
Conquest d a: Great
American Desert
The Had Use of Water.

OF all the features In connection
with irrigation upon which campaign
Of education is 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 as pro.
ductive 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 a 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 a grand proposition, and
they are right in so 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 1t to run to waste
upon the land. often Keeping 1t 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
ideal farm or ranch.
The proper definition Of irrigation Is
to insure having moisture or water
when needed. and not to use IL at any
and all times because 1t is 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 practica,
irrigationist. whose duties would be
confined to instructing users of water
In It's intelligent distribution. Canal
and irrigation companies could not
make more profitable Investment
than to have in their employ an Off.
cial whose duties should consist in
constantly comforting with and I'm.
structing water users as to how and
when water should be applied.
Is there any excuse in an irrigated
district for farmer or rancher TO
squandcr enough water during sea-
his land to n depth Of nine feet. when
his contract with the canal company
calls for only one-fourth of this guam.
tity? Furthermore. 1t Is acknowledged
by all that one.fourth the quantity Is
ample to secure n crop. Is there any
excuse for the use of nine feet Of wa
ter In one locality and only two feet I'm
another, where conditions are similar
AMI where the man using only two
feet raises larger and better crops ?
The only excuse Is negligence. lack Of
intelligence and laziness. and the man
using nine feet will find when Il Is
too late that his land Is ruined and his
efforts have been for naught. He will
probably seek n new location and
damn the country he is leaving. when
40 one Is at fault except himself. The
irrigation Of land by means OF pump.
ing Is now receiving marked attention,
and people are beginning to realize
that the vast area so located as to
make 1t impossible to irrigate by canal
systems, on account of the cost being
90 much in excess of the benefits re-
ceived. can he reclaimed and made eX-
tremely productive and valuable.
II II the irrigatonst under this
method Of whom we have the most
fear. lie is absolutely master Of the
situations: he owns his plant. can op.
crate 1t when he sees fit. and Is not
subject to even caution or suggestion
from any company from whom water
Is purchased. 1t Is true the expense
involved In coal. wood, gasoline, oil
or other fuel may check him to GER.
tain extent in the operation of his
pumping plant. but devices have
proved practicable for pumping water
that require no fuel or expense In op.
Grafton. What does the possessor Of
A device Of this character purpose do.
ing? Start his machine In operation
let II run night and day. flooding his
land until ruined? Or will he exercise
ludgmcnt-deliver his water into a res.
ervOir. tank. box fiume or other re-
ceptacle, and allow 1t to remain there
for use when needed. thereby proper
~ eXemplifying the correct definition
Of irrigation? He should provide his
head ditch with gates wherever later
ais occur. irrlgate to-day five or ten
acres Of his land, refill his box. ditch
Or reservoir by again setting his pump
Mt work while he sleeps. ana t0-mor-
row look after the irrigation Of some
other part Of the land by pursuing
some such policy one is not required
to invest in a large ana expensive
plant capable of dlscharging enough
water to food all the land Mt one
time and can accomplish the proper
irrigation at minimum cost. - +. w.
VII M,