The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-11-01
DRAINAGE TALKS.

wet and alkali lands what irrigation
is to the dry lands. There are several
branches of the one general subject,
such as land drainage, road drainage,
drainage for the collection of water
for water supplies, drainage for san
itary purposes, and many other forms,
all involving more or less different
principles For the present. we will
confine our attention to the subject OF
land drainage.
It's purpose is to better the condi-
ton of the soil for the production
of agricultural products. This is &C
complished in the case of water-logged
lands by removing the cause which
produces the wet land, either by re-
moving the water direct from the field
or by preventing the water from reach
ing the land. In the case of alkali
land, when not water-logged, under
drains are used that the alkal1 may
be leached from the soil.
Historically, this subject is inter
esting from the fact that the princi-
pies of drainage are about as little
understood for the age of the question
as any other agricultural subject of
as much direct benefit to the farmer.
mans. and it's benefits appreciated at
that early date. Since that time the
subject of drainage has received the
attention of eminent engineers, both
in this and other countries, but I'M
der conditions such as we OF the west
enjoy, the question is almost new and
the principles not well demonstrated.
Prior to 1904, there had been very lit
IN. In h
iect under Western conditions and
the practice in the West had made the
mistake of following the methods ap-
plicable to humid conditions and, as
we sha see these practices were not
applicable to our requirements. In
1904 the writer of this article, in CO.
operation with Prof. c.. G. Elliott,
Chief Drainage Engineer of the U. ).
Department of Agriculture. undertook
an elaborate scientific study OF the
subject Some of the general prlncl-
pies have been worked out and the
causes of failure in many of the older
Western drainage systems determined
It is not my intention to say that all
the older systems are failures, but
many of them have proven unsatisfac-
tory and at least partial failures. viii
others have done good work.
In the articles which I am prepar-
ing for The Ranch readers it is the
intention to outline the general prin-
ciples of drainage and give the best
known practice under numerous con-
ditions. The subject will be treated
from the practical side, but enough
discussion given to Reasons why
that student of drainage may &C
auire the information that will enable
him to apply the practice to various
conditions and fee, confident OF sue
cess.
One of the first lessons I learned
was the fact that there are thou
sanu and one natural conditions which
modify the installation of drainage
system, and it is one OF the hrSt
truths that I desire to impress upon
the reader. 1t may be that in this
and following articles some principle
may be stated which appears of uni
versal adaptability, but which may
later be found applicable to only
few conditions Therefore, do not con-
denim my views if they are at variance
with your own, as we may have two
entirely different conditions in mind
1t is the intention to discuss a great
many different conditions and your
problem may or may not be among
the first. Another fact which was i'm
pressed upon my mind was the diff
Guilty of keeping out of trouble with
the farmer who had seen drainage
systems installed in New England.
Iowa, Europe or some other humid
section. There are many drainage
practices in the Eastern part of the
United States which are not satisfac-
tory under our conditions, and many
of these differences will be noted. with
the reasons.
One of the first questions to be con-