Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-11

.PERPLExn& SUBJECT
tfT Hcse
Discussion g !. BY Reclamation
Enginedts Today.
QUANTITY ,ss0P WATER
AMOUNT WATTS ACCORDING TO
THE QUALITY OF LAND.
Much Sometimes Wasted by "Watsr
Hog''-Pleasant Call on Presi-
dent Roosevelt.
QUANTITY 0P WATER

IhofnaS II. Means, engineer OF SOILS, pre-
sided over conference OF the reclamation
Service engineers at the geological survey
this morning, the topic of discussion being
one of the most perplexing involved In the
irrigation work. It related especially to
the duty OF water, or the amount OF water
required to properly irrfgate the lands UNI
der project. This amount of water varies
according to the character of the land and
the crops raised, but most of all according
to the persons using the water. There is
in the west distinct type of irrigator 10
cally known as the water hog" whose
principal idea seems to be to secure as
much water from the irrigation bitches as
Is possible, without reference to the needs
of his neighbors or the amount demanded
by his crops.
His avarice often leads him to the de-
struction Of his own fields as well as those
OF his neighbors; indeed this is the most
fruitful source of litigation in irrigated
tracts In the west, and It's proper regula-
ton Is one of the most vexing questions
with which the irrigation engineer has to
deal. Under the terms of the irrigation
act 1t Is necessary for the reclamation
service to determine as closely as possible
the amount of wafer which may be al
lowed per acre, and as this varies with the
character of the soil and the actual de-
matter OF dispute even among engineers
who have had the best opportunity to pre-
ciseiy determine the question. /,
Decision Finally Rendered.
The decision finally rendered with ref
erence to the determination of farm units
and the amount of water to be used is
contained in the following set Of rules
adopted at the conference:
The farm unit classificat ton sheets shall
show in each farm unit the boundary of
the irrigable land and the area of irri-
gable land in acres.
A water right application shall state
the number of acre feet per annum to be
furnished per acre.
The charge for water rights shall be
the same per acre of irrigable land.
The land shall be classified into two
grades, irrigable and non-irrigable. and all
farm units shall contain the same area of
irrigable land as nearly as practicable, eX-
cept in the case of areas near towns and
those susceptible of growing more valuable
crops, thus providing for two sizes of irri-
gable areas in the farm units. The maxi
mum numbered acres of irrigable land fixed
for each class in. a project shall be adhered
to as closelyias possible.
Charge Per Acre.
The charge per acre for water rights on
private land shall b. the same as for pub
lie land, and the irrigable land in each
tract shall be determined in the same way
as for public land, the irrigable area al
lowed one man IN no case, to exceed 160
acres H0'tS u . '' 90
The duty of water las generally deter
mined supplies the<engineer with the in
formation upon which he can base the size
Of on MS storage rsssry9irs Or Ihe amount OF
supply of water In the design Of canals
for the delivery of this winter and pump
Ing plants it becomes necessary in addition
to know the rate and time of delivery OF
water to the lands. In each irrigation dis
trict there Is usually one time of the year
when water is used in larger quantities
than at any other, time in the year. The
Determinations Of this time and the maxi
mum amount of water which should be de-
Hvered are important in order that the ca
mails can be designed of the proper capacity
and pumping plants be given the size and
power sufficient to supply the right amount
of water needed by the crops.
Called on President.
The engineers had a pleasant call on
President Roosevelt at 1870 o'clock today
. They were introduced by Director Walcott
OF the geological survey and Chief En-
gineer Newell. The President said:
INC measure Of public Importance ex-
cept the Panama canal is Of deeper inter-
est to me than the work of the reclama-
ton service. I am greatly pleased to enjoy
this opportunity of meeting with the engi-
neers. who engaged upon this very
resources"
Those who called on the President were:
Cyrus c. Babb, engineer; S. X. Baker, hy-
geographic aid: H. X Barrows. engineer.
Morris Bien. engineer and legal adviser; c.
]. Blanchard; F. H. Cass. traffic agent: c.
c. Covert. assistant engineer: A. P Davis,
assistant chief; A. L. Fellows, engineer;
j. E. Field. engineer; J. NJ Giles, assistant
engineer; N. C. Grover. engineer; M. r.
Hall, photographer; R. w. HawIey assist
ant engineer; r. p. Horton, photographer;
Edward Kas,, J0hn nseineer r. engineer A
ger. craftsman; J. B. Lippincott, SUI
pervising engineer; l.. w. Mcconnell, engi-
neer: Thomas Fl. Means. engineer of soils;
6 7. Pran. engineer; J. H. ouin.
engineer; s. B. Robbins, engineer:
H. N. Savage, supervising engineer; w. W.
Schlecht, assistant engineer; H. A. Storrs.
electrical engineer: L. II. Taylor, engineer;
R. F. Walter. engineer; N. E. Webster.
Washington State Projects.
At yesterdays session T. A. Noble, in
charge of work in Washington state. spoke
of the Big Bend irrigation project, but he
said owing to the enormous area involved
and the great cost it has not been found
practicable to proceed with it's construction.
Mr.. Noble said, in part:
1.-THE Washington engineers, during the
past season have given particular atten-
ton to an - apparently feasible project
known as the Palouse in southeastern
Washington, qwhere Mt is proposed to divert
the waters of ,Paiouse river, and by means
Of storage reelaim-aPproximately 100000
acres of exceedingly fertile land. This pro-
ject presents few Engineering difficulties.
but requires Csomenexpensive canal con,
struction. The. average cost per acre for
Irrigation works will be about $35 The
climate. soil and elevation are particularly
adapted for a wide variety Of agricultural
products. and this price Is not considered
excessive"
Supervising Engineer J. B. Lippincott dis
cussed the KLAMATH irritation project. an
close to the borderslline between California
and Oregon. L The area, which 1t is believed
IL reclaimable amounts to about 100000
acres and the project is regarded as one OF
the most important now under considera-
ton by the government.
Mr.. Lippincott also told Of the project
known as the Yuma on the Colorado river.
a,,f ,,o ovpreased the Ouiuf0n that ufiJized