Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-11-02
FAST COMING TO 1T
Every Indication Points to Rotation
System for irrigated
Lands


struction upon irrigation in Idaho.
While the case is likely to be re-
viewed by the court, the Statesman
in quite an exhaustive review of the
present decision, among other
things says:
The recent case of the state Of
Idaho against the Twin Falls Canal
company, decided by the supreme
court of this state, appears to have
been of such reaching effect
that it has aroused general interest,
not only in every state where irriga-
ton prevails, but has attracted the
attention Of the United States gov
ernment on account of the fact
that it contains a direct discussion
OF the rotation system of delivery
of water.
1t also discusses the necessity and
advantages of such system, and
takes more advanced ground in
favor Of requiring the installation
of the rotation system than the
courts have heretofor assumed.
This decision is stirring irrigation
circles in every western state, as it
forms 4 precedent for judicial recog-
milton of the rotation system as the
most practicable, economical and
necessary system of irrigation.
Because of this fact the Idaho de-
cision bids fair to work a revolution
in irrigation law, if the courts of
other states follow it in that branch
of cases, it is believed.
Following a long and interesting
discussion of the rotation system
and the necessity therefore, and adj
vantages to.be derived from the in
stallation of such system, in which
the court quotes at length from nu-
merous authorities, both legal. and
engineering, the court says in con-
clusion:
The rotation system is recog-
nized by the leading writers on irri-
CATION and irrigation engineering as
"a most efficient and desirable meth
: cd and az producing the highest
duty of water of any method in use. y
The court holds that the present
system of delivery of water by con-
tinuous flow is not economical use
that a system by rotation is required
, both by the general law as to econ
omical use and by the terms of the
>, contract in the Twin Falls case
and the fact that the limit of capa
city under the present system o
e continuous flow has been reached il
= no defense for refusal to sell waite
r to additional lands when create
. economy could be maintained b,
installation of the rotation system
y and sufficient water could become
>. available for the additional land i
e such a system were installed.
The court says of the rotation
q system:
: 1T is a well recognized fact tina
o in order to properly irrigate land
! the irrigator must have prope
y stream, or head of water, and tn
question arises as to how muc
water is necessary to furnish Il SUI
&c ficient head or stream of water fc
II that purpose. | think it will nC
y be disputed that an inch to the acl
l. if measured out in continuor
10 flowing stream, is not sufficient fC
, the proper irrigation of a sma
! tract; so for the proper irrlgatio
y of small tracts of land there is neet
s. ed head, or stream of water of su
N ficient size to be efficiently handle
- and flowed over the land. 1t
more CONVENIENT and economical
10 use water in as large heads or va
X umes as can be CONVENIENTLY us'
id by the irrigator. Much of the lal
n in the Snake River valley is of Il
character or kind that unless "
have a sufficient head of water
X rush it over the land, the san'
in and gravelly soil will absorb all
at it and not permit it to pass on oN
in the land. A second-foot of watC
-, which consists of about 80 mine
~ inches, is as small stream of wal
he as can he efficiently used in the
'rs rigation of the lands in the Sna
i'll River valley"
Irt That the decision in this Ida
nut case has made the United States n
le- lamation service sit up and take
n tice is indicated that in the cure
he number of THE Redemption Il
ire ord" the official publication
on that bureau, the courts opinion
discussed at length and various
tations of its vital remarks ON
he rotation system are set forth.
So AS to the particular points
ms volved in the Idaho case, it may
explained that the Twin Falls Ca
' company is II corporation act
ri under the Carey act, and the act
hi was brought to compel the deiel
IL