The Greeley tribune., 1909-12-09
WILL TALK IRRIGA.
TION AT CHICAGO

b. ID. 6anbOrn Of this city, VINO
will address the Western Passenger
association at Chicago Monday and
is acknowledged as one of the lead
ing irrigational experts In the cOun-
try. will say. AZ part Of the extern
sive paper which he has prepared:
THE state engineers report OF
1888 shows me that 100000 acres
OF land in the valleys OF the South
Platte and its tributaries were put
under cultivation and irrigation
within fifteen years from date of said
convention, and many people felt
that the limit Of irrigation had then
practically been reached, and 1t IL
certain that many bitches were in
sufficiently supplied In seasons of
drouth.
These shortages have been les
sened by the building OF reservoirs.
and acreage under irrigation has
constantly increased.
THE same will be true of all the
other parts of the state, and irriga-
tion development will continue to
Increase for many years to come. The
increase In water supply necessary
whenever the normal flow has all
been appropriated, will be obtained
as follows:
First. by the increase in amount
OF return or sepage waters, return
ing to draws and water courses in
the form of seepage or spring wat
ers. which can be again diverted into
bitches and reservoirs.
Secondly, by construction and en-
largement of reservoirs This work
| Is now going on as never before and
most of the cheaply constructed sites
| a hai in, ,ieci
will be opportunities to build more
reservoirs until the cost of construc-
tion is prohibitive. The higher up
these reservoirs are in the drainage
basin the less they suffer from evap-
oration, and the water. if applied
on the first agricultural lands ad
joining the foothills, will return to
| the streams higher up, and a portion
of the water used over and over
again.
Third. by constructing tunnels
from one to four miles in length
through the Continental Divide and
bringing surplus and otherwise un
appropriated waters from the west
ern slope or other watersheds. not
tributaries of the South Platte. The
difficulties of this development are
so great that such diversions have
been very limited. but large projects
are now in process of being financed
which will provide the money for
the purpose, and If carried out sue
cessfully. will make a very great in
crease to the available water supply
of the eastern slope.
Fourth, an increase in the
amount of water for new lands may
be made available, by greater care
and economy, in the use of water by
the farmers under the old bitches.
The careful application o. water to
crops without waste will result in
better crops and especially better
quality of sugar beets, potatoes, can
, talopes, fruits, ETC., and will con-
serve to such an extent as virtually
. to add wonderful resource.
Fifth, in case bitches shall even
tually be constructed in excess of all
n reliable supplies of water, it will still
! be possible to transfer water from
: old established bitches where con-
tinuous cultivation has been going
on for thirty or forty years, and
this water applied to new lands eth
er temporarily or for several years,
which lands can be made to produce
heavily of the more valuable crops,
while the older places on the lower
ltNtlS, are llllSdteu ny IhtdHs VI tiS'-
trio pumping plants, are being pas
: tured and rested. and then later on
: again brought into heavy production.
This would involve the paying of an
nual charges on both bitches under
court decisions
: I'm view of all these means of
increasing the water supply and be-
cause of the desire of people who
. visit our state to remain permanent
ly therein and enjoy the clear air,
beautiful mountain scenery and
healthful climatic conditions, there
is a great demand tor farm lands,
and the passage of the irrigation
: district law has made it possible
to raise vast sums of money for con-
Struction work.