The Monte Vista journal., 1907-06-29
The Drainage Meeting.

Wes nlled by the meeting which nao
bsen called for the purpose Of discussing
drainage and to hear the explanation Of
what the U. 8. Department OF Agricul-
ture was ready to do to assist in the
matter. Not only was Monte Vista
we'll represented at the meeting, but .
large number OF interested farmers had
come in from every direction to attend.
Tho principal address was made by
Mr.. G. G. Elliott who has charge Of the
drainage Investigations Of the Office Of
Experiment Stations Of the national az
ricultursl department. For several days
Mr.. Elliott accompanied by his assist
ant, s. M. Woodward, has been looking
over the situation in this vicinity with
respect to the injury to some Of the
farming land by seepsge water and
alkali. The object Of his visit here At
this time is to find out by personal in
spsction the needs Of tho valley and to
plan for further work in this direction.
Mr.. Elliott is recognized as authority in
ShAO SOuuIiy Vh VAV ouo|O~s Us 0ks
cultural drainage. He has for over
thirty years given his entire time to this
subject having been associated with
such work since the very beginnings
OF drainage for agricultural purposes in
this country He is the author Of sew
eral books on the subject and before be-
coming associated with the government
service he published Il drainage journal
in addition to carrying on his extensive
private engineering practice.
Mr.. Elliott explained the attitude Of
the national government toward this
work and described some OF the things
which had been accomplished. Five
years ago the Department OF Agricul-
ture took up the investigation Of the i'm
provement OF agricultural lands by
drainage. From it's first beginnings the
work has steadily expanded until now
examinations OF localities have been
made in more than half the states in the
Union and recommendations have been
made which when carried out have pro-
duced beneficial results in soma cases sO
extraordinary as to be way beyond the
belief or even the hopes Of those inter
ested.
The appropriation made by Congress-
for this work is too limited to permit the
Office Of Experiment Stations TO take up
actual construction Of drainage works.
Like other branches OF the Department
Of Agriculture its work is rather advis-
0ry and educational.
As will he apparent to anyone, the
Of plans for securing drain
ags in any given locality. including the
methods 0f construction 70 be used. the
location and size Of the bitches 10 order
70 secure the desired results at the least
expense, il matter requiring careful
judgment and long experience. In the
early history Of drainage much work was
done which produced no proportionstcly
valuable benefit because improper
methods were used, and much useless
WSb uNNooDE WV
Fundamental principles and laws relating
TO land drainage were not understood and
followed. No two localities are exactly
alike IN their conditions and needs but
the general laws relating to drainage are
universal and 1t IL only their applica.
tions which vary. So far as its funds
V,ARs.it -. tk.. ~ ho n(1..~ ~
Experiment Stations to furnish the ad-
vice necessary 10 insure that any com.
munity intending To take up drainage
work shall proceed along right lines
lines which shall secure the relief de
aired At the minimum Of expense.
Under the advice OF Mr.. Elliott work
has been done in the Yellowstone valley
Of Montana relieving the accumulation
of excess Of slkAli which Threatened u
ruin large amount OF agricultural land.
Similarly ia the state Of Washington q
large area of cultivated land had been 10
injured by the rise Of ground water and
the accumulation Of Hlkali NJ 70 IN ON the
verge u abandonment and had become
practically worthless. When proper
methods Tor the reclamation Of this land
had been put into use the land Was
quickly restored aud some Of IL 10 nov
held ~ . value approaching 5000 an
acss. In the sAme manner work hus
bssu done around Fresno. California.
and In numerous places in Utah. rsuov.
inG ssepage water and relieving and
stopping the injuries To the land which
haA ihn~nlannd In k,.oosna rsss. .>..x...-