The ranch. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1902-1914, 1908-02-15
IRRIGATION IN WASHINGTON.

irrigation Investigations in this state,
recently made a report, which con-
tains much interesting information
and is as follows:
Irrigation in the state of Washing
ton has been practiced to some ex-
tent for nearly half century, but 1t
has been only during the last 15 or 70
years that the great development OF
irrigation and the awakening to it's
possibilities have taken place. In this
short period of years thousands of
acres of arid land have been re-
claimed as if by magic and the wealth
of the state has been increased by
millions of dollars.
"While this transformation has
been rapid and wonderful, and there
is scarcely a stream in the more arid
districts that does not relinquish at
least portion of it's flow for irriga-
ton purposes, still what has already
been done is only an indication OF the
greater possibilities in the way of de-
velopment in the state that may be
attained by scientific irrigation. 1t
would be unreasonable to expect that
in so short time anything approach
ing perfection should be attained in
the construction of irrigation works,
the administration of large irrigation
systems, or in the distribution of wa
ter among consumers and in the meth
DDS of it's application to growing
crops. 1t is but slowly that old ideas
and practices are given up, and it is
not uncommon to find irrigators still
adhering to the rule of an inch to the
acre which prevailed among the pio-
neer stockmen years ago.
"The earlier bitches, and in fact
most of the now existing ones, have
been more or less carelessly built,
while as rule the methods employed
in the distribution and application OF
the water have been such as to lead
to needless extravaganza and waste.
AS a result of the practices which
have obtained, thousands of acres OF
land have been ruined by over-irriga-
ton. while thousands more that might
have been providing homes and pro-
ducing wealth have been lying idle
and worthless for lack of water.
During the last five or six years
the work done in this state by lrrlga-
ton Investigations of the office or ex'
pertinent stations, especially IN the
Yakima Valley, has thrown much light
upon conditions existing in the irri-
gated districts and has pointed the
way to betterment along many lines;
and it is in the improvement OF canal
construction, in the administration OF
canal systems, in the methods of dis
tribution of water and practices of ir-
rigation that the state may look for
many of it's greatest possibilities OF
development by irrigation
'Irrhe valley of the Columbia Riv-
er, extending from the British posses
sions to The Dalles, is an empire in
itself with immense irrigation posi-
bilities. AS yet, however, they are
almost wholly unrealized with only
here and there small tracts of few
acres now under cultivation, but
which are sufficient to show the pro-
ductivity of the soil, and as a rule
the unusual adaptability of climatic
conditions to the growing of such
fruits and produce as have made the
Yakima and Wenatchee districts ia
nous.
'.The great handicap in the way OF
development of these lands tributary
to the Columbia has been the lack OF
transportation facilities. But now
with the construction of several lines
of railroad under way and fair prom
Uses of an open river in the not dis
tant future, this disadvantage will be
largely eliminated and the prospects
are that the next twenty years will
see as important changes take place
along this great river as have been
witnessed in the Yakima Valley dur
ing the twenty years just past.
"The benefit to the state that would
result from the development of this