Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1911-02-28
VALUE OF IRRIGATION
VIEWS OF STATE ENGINEER
LEWIS ON THE SUBJECT.
Cost Per Acre of Using Water In
Willamette Valley, and Extra
Yield.

That irrigation is necessary and will
pay has been demonstrated beyond
any possibility of doubt. And the fear
that the soil will bake and refuse to
yield readily under the new treatment
i is rapidly disappearing.
i There are approximately 100000
acres in the Willamette Valley water
shed, 100000 of which are in the
floor of the valley, including adjacent
low foothills. To say that 1000, 900
! acres in this valley will be under irri-
| cation in the next twenty years, is
not an extravagant statement. The
project under construction contem-
plates the irrigation of 10000
acres in Marion County, and there are
five other projects in contemplation
which will be undertaken If the first
attempt is successful. Knowing many
of the men behind this first enter
prise and being acquainted with the
lands, there is no need of fear as to a
successful outcome. says State Engi-
neer Lewis.
Cost Per Acre.
The Willamette Valley is better
supplied with water for irrigation
purposes than any other valley in Or
egon, and there are practically no nat
ural obstacles to overcome in the
diversion of this water. Where stor-
age is not required, land favorably
situated should be irrigated at cost
ranging from SIS to $25 per acre, or
.x,sAt q 2 d1o
Drainage in some districts should
go hand in hand with irrigation. The
quick removal of excessive spring
moisture would prevent water logging
of the ground and increase by several
weeks the length of the growing sea-
son. In other districts the drainage
through the porous, gravely subsoil is
so perfect that the lands are consid-
cred of but little value under present
conditions. These lands when irrigat-
ed, will become the most valuable.
Less than seven per cent of the to-
tai precipitation in the Willamette
Valley falls during the summer
months. During this same period in
an irrigated country the equivalent
of the entire annual precipitation is
applied to the growing crops 1t may
be surprising to know that the sum-
mer precipitation at Denver, Colorado,
is "A inches; at Cheyenne, Wyoming,
inches, and at Santa Fe, New Mexi-
co, 62 inches, as compared with 2.25
inches at Eugene. The summer con-
ditions are, therefore, more arid in
the Willamette Valley than in these
arid states. During the spring sea-
son terminating period, which is the
most difficult season for the irrigator,
nature supplies and distributes the
moisture.
Summer Deficiency.
At Milan, Italy, where irrigation has
reached a high state of development,
and has been practiced for many
years, the summer precipitation is 1912
inches, as compared with 2.3 inches
at Eugene. 1t is believed that these
comparisons concluslvely demonstrate
a deficiency of summer precipitation.
From four cuttings Of irrigated al
falfa, z tons of green feed was Sc
cured per acre, as compared with five
tons from two cuttings on unirrigated
land, or a gain of - tons per acre
increase due to irrigation. The in
crease of yield in this case was 240
per cent. Less than one acre foot of
water (10.42 ac. in.) was applied to
produce this remarkable result at a
total annual cost of 81 per acre. At
an average price of 81 per ton for
such feed, the net profit due to irriga-
ton would amount to $37 per acre,
or 342 per cent on the money actu-
ally invested to secure such increased
yield. If this water had been applied
by gravity canal at first cost of $25
per acre, the actual profit in this case
would amount to S5S per cent on the
money invested, including interest at
G per cent on first cost, and distrIbu-
ton of water estimated at $3.50 per
acre
Increase of Yield.
From three cuttings of irrigated
clover 1912 tons were secured, as
with 4.3 tons from two cut
Ilngs OF unirrigated clover, or a gain
Of SO tons This is an increase of
1873 per cent due to the application of
30 acre inches of water, at a total
annual cost of $40 per acre. The clo-
YER was weighed when partly cured.
At 81 per ton the net profit due to
his increase Of yield would amount
10 1885 per acre, or 135 per cent OF
The annual cost. By gravity canal
he net profit due 10 irrigation could
be increased TO $1S.55 per acre, or
871 per cent of the annual cost.
BY applying 5.s5 acre inches OF
water TO a potato crop. 14O bushels
of potatoes were secured. as compared
with 5s bushels per acre from sim
larIy unirrigated field. This gain OF
- bushels per acre. or $50 per cent.
was secured at total annual cost for
irrigation OF $3.50. At so cents per
Dushel the net profit due to irriga-
ion amounted to s36.46. or 656 per
,ent Of the cost Of producing such