Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1912-08-08
PREVENTION OF WASTE
Development of West Depends on
Full Water Supply.
Larger Saving Will Be Effected In Flu
ture as II is Found That Less lrrt-
cation Is Needed-Measure-
ment Checks Loss.

lBy L. G. CARPENTER. Colorado Agri
cultural College.)
The prevention of waste of watel
is a matter of public Importance. The
land suitable for irrigation so much
exceeds the water supply, not only in
Colorado. but throughout the West
that the agricultural development de
ponds on the use of the supply to Its
fullest capacity. Though the building
of storage reservoirs, the stopping OF
waste. improved methods of irrigation
which were all recommended in Bull
letin IS $500 have been carried out
10 a great extent and the agricultural
products, If not the agricultural area.
has greatly increased, and much i'm
provement in measurement has come.
the pressure remains about the same.
A larger saving will be effected in the
future as it is found that less quanti-
ties of water are needed; subdivision
into smaller and smaller streams be
m necessary and measurement
will become more exact, and it will
be j%ustiiable to eXpend larger sums
for exact devices.
Aside from the accuracy, a good
system of measurement saves a large
amount of water. A careful account is
known to be the basis Of sound
finance. An accounting, in itself, pro-
duces economy for it causes an arrest
OF thought, and directs attention to the
matters under consideration. and re-
yeals the source of waste. 1t is also
true in water administration. The
very fact that water is measured
checks extravaganza. If It be not
measured the idea is easily fostered
that it is not valuable enough. The
mere fact that measurement is made
and an account kept, makes each user
more careful. In bitches where no al
tempt has been made to control the
use by individuals, it is surprising TO
notice the saving caused by keeping
an o and Illus showing how
much each has used and to compare
n with another. In cities II is we'll
known that the mere installation of
water meters and keeping account of
the water used by each individual,
often reduces the consumption to one
third what it was before, and yet no
one has suffered. When water is plen-
tiful, a system, or lack Of system,
works without trouble. The practice
then is to give water enough to stop
complaint. When the water becomes
scarce, then ~inexactness in measure
ment means that some one gets more
his share. This means that some
else gets less, and the result may be
upon the crops.
In all parts of the state where the
pressure for water is felt, there has
been a great increase in the value of
land, and this is almost entirely from
he increase in the value Of water.
Reservoirs have been built at an ex-
pense of millions of dollars to take ad-
vantage Of streams of water that a few
since were considered to be in
significant. This increase in the value
or water has only begun, and therefore
the conditions which justify pains and
to obtain measure
.ents will increase. Companies will go
to much greater expense for this par
ocular purpose than they now consider
.lustiiable. 1t is true that the present
practice is generally behind what
could reasonably be expected from
conditions.
Even now in the exchange between
reservoirs in northern Colorado. the
companies have found 1t justifable to
employ a skilled person for that par
ocular work. at considerable expense.
The statement made in the first edi-
ion may be repeated:
Their will never be an easier time
or arranging satisfactory measure
nents than now; for the demand will
lot be less, and with time and the in
:rease in the value of water, there will
De many who will feel that they have
lights vested in certain methods of
measurements which may be intrin-
iically unjust"