The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1905-06-14
Conquest :! .: Great
American Desert
The had Use Of Water.

The BAD Use Of Water.
OF all the features in connection
with irrigation upon which campaign
Of education 10 demanded, the proper
use Of water IL most important. Sta
tistics show that more water 10 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 ~ pro-
ductive and valuable as land adJoin-
ing where water has been intelligently
and properly applied. Our Western
country 10 fast being settled by East
ern farmers who decide to immigrats
to milder climate. where rich, pro-
ductive soil awaits filling.
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 4 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 1t at any
and all times because 1t 10 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
whose duties would be
confined to instructing users of water
in its intelligent distribution. Canal
and irrigation companies cnr!: not
Meke a .wc:c profitable investment
than to have in their employ an on
cial whose duties should consist in
constantly comforting with and in
structing water users as to how and
when water should be applied.
Il there any excuse in an irrigated
district for. farmer or rancher to
sQuander enough water during a sea-
son, II used at one time. to cover
his land to depth Of nine feet when
r. tyao NTH hA na~a1
calls for only one-fourth Of this guam.
tity? Furthermore. 1t is acknowledged
by all that one-fourth the quantity is
ample to secure 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
and laziness, and the man
using nine feet will find when It 10
too late that his land IL ruined and his
efforts have been for naught He will
probably seek q new location and
damn the country he Is leaving. when
no one IL at fault except himself. The
irrigatio Of land by means of pump
ing il now receiving marked attention.
and people are beginning to realize
that the vast area 90 located as to
make it impossible to irrigate by canal
systems, on account of the cost being
50 much in excess Of the BENEFITS re-
ceived, can be reclaimed and made ex.
tremely productive and valuable.
1t IL the irriga ZIONIST under this
method of whom we have the most
fear. He Is absolutely master of the
situation: he owns his plant, can op-
crate 1t when he sees at, and Is not
subject to even caution or suggestion
from any company from whom water
10 purchased. 1t 10 true the expense
involved in coal. wood. gasoline, oil
or other fuel may check him to 4 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
q device Of this character purpose do
ingi start his machine in operation
let 1t run night and day, flooding his
land until ruined1 Or will he exercise
judgment his water into res