Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1910-06-10
Important Work That Is Being Done Idaho This Year
Concluded three SUPPLEMENT-

SUPPLEMENT-
sty of better knowledge of the water requirements OF
crops He Immediately set about formulating plans for
the largest and most extensive investigation which has
ever been carried along these lines and this being
carried by his department with the financial assist
of the Idaho State Land Board the Oregon Short
Line railroad, and the various irrigation companies OF the
state.
Mr.. Bark saws: s.There as vet very little reliable
data of scientific nature to the proper and economic
amount of irrigation water which is necessary for maxi
crop production upon the different classes of Idaho
SOILS 1T is certain that different soils require different
amounts of water but this matter which has been Civ
very little attention in the past and the time is at
hand when this factor must be better known if rriga
ton systems to be built and the most possible good
derived from the water which is at command.
s'When the rich valley lands of southern Idaho
first being settled there abundance of water for
everyone who could it, and the first settlers appropri
ated enough to their lands from ten to thirty feet
deep during the season. two three times much
they could possibly utilize When the later settlers came
in and the water supply became exhausted the question
naturally to whether the old settlers were not
using much water than they really needed were
thereby cutting short the supply OF the with
out receiving any additional benefit themselves The old
settlers have the priorities and without shadow of
doubt have right to all the water that be put to bene
fetal use but they should not be allowed to use two or
three times much they need and cut the other fellows
off without any at all.
Now that the United States Irrigation Investigation
Department has stepped data as to the actual
amount necessary will be secured. All guess
work will be eliminated and both sides will be amply pro-
tected and get their just alotments.
Of much wider Importance however will be the results
in determining the duty of water when the time comes TO
ao water for the big Carey Act projects which will soon
be brought under irrigation There are millions of acres
rch fertile land in Idaho that need but the magic touch
OF water IN right amounts to make it very productive
Immense quantities of flood waters that now run to waste
will be controlled stored and applied to these arid
lands But the Carey Act companies sell this land TO the
settler by the unit and there an abundance OF
land which cost the companies nothing it is but natural
that they should wish to allow little water as possible
that they may have the to sell the settler On
the other hand too much water is allotted the settler will
no doubt aka and Waterog his land and then too the u
innate irrigated acreage of the state will be cut down and
state will not be able support the number of families
that should do it readily be that is mper
alive that the State Land Board should know the proper
and economic amount OF water which necessary for our
different soils that they may be able to allow the proner
amount for maximum crop production and no more
For the purpose of determining the duty of water Mr.
Bark has selected large number of typical fifteen acre
tracts OF the staple standard field crops various parts of
the state and is carefully measuring and VARYING the
water used upon them Each fifteen acre unit is divided
into three equal parts and the allowed TO rrpat
one OF hem using the amount and irrgatng AFT he
time has been his usual custom This amount is
measured very carefully by Mr. Bark and his assistants
and then more is put tract and less pon third
This will make three fveacre tracts planted cultivated
and handled in the manner but upon which different
amounts OF water used and with the tabuIaon Of ali
data which may have any bearing upon the subject and
the careful weighing OF the crops in the fall an accurate
idea of the proper and economic amount Of water for the
!, soil and crop in question will be secured.