The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1910-06-16
Important Work That Is Being Done in Idaho This Year
Concluded from three of SUPPLEMENT-

ton season 1909 and from the first realized the
sty of better knowledge of the requirements OF
crops. He Immediately set about formulating plans for
the largest and extensive investigation which has
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 says: ''There is yet very little reliable
data of scientific to the proper and economic
amount of irrigation water which 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 at
hand when this factor must be better known if ga
ton systems be built up and the most possible good
derived from the water which is at command.
''When the rich valley lands Of southern Idaho
first being settled there abundance of water for
everyone who could it. and the first settlers appropr
ated enough their lands from ten to thirty feet
deep during the two three times much
they could possibly utilize When the later settlers
in and the water supply became exhausted the question
naturally to whether the old settlers not
using much water than they really needed and
thereby cutting short the supply OF the with
receiving any additional benefit themselves The old
settlers have the priortes and without shadow of
doubt have right to all the water that can be put bene
fetal use but they should not be allowed to two
three times much they need and cut the other fellows
off without at all.
Now that the United States Irrigation Investigation
Department has stepped accurate data 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 allotments
Of much wider Importance however will be the results
in determining the duty OF water when the time to
ao water for the big Carey Act projects which will
be brought under irrigation There millions of acres
of rich fertile land in Idaho that need but the touch
of water in right amounts to make it very productive
Immense quantities of flood waters that to
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 is abundance Of
land which cost the companies nothing, it is but natural
hat they should wish allow little water possible
that they have the to sell the settler On
the other hand if allotted the settler will
innate irrigated acreage of the will be cut down and
state will not be able support the number of families
that it should do readily be that it is mper-
ave that the State Land Board should know the proper
and economic amount of water which necessary
different soils that they may be able to allow the proper
amount for maximum crop production and 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 parts of
the state and is carefully measuring and VARYING the
water used upon them Each fifteen unit is divided
into three equal parts and the allowed rrigate
one OF the using the amount and irrgang at the
same time has been his usual CUSTOM This amount is
measured very carefully by Mr. Bark and his assistants
and then put upon tract and less upon third
This will make three veacre tracts planted cultivated
md handled in the manner but upon which different
amounts of water used and with the tabulaton of all
laa which may have any bearing upon the subject and
he careful weighing of the crops the fall an accurate
dea of the proper and of water for the
soil and crop III question will be secured