Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-08-09
PROBLEM OF DRAINAGE.
Of the Utmost Importance in Irriga-
ton Country.

The drainage OF lands is OF great inn
portance as the subject of irrigation
itself. We apply water to the soil
and call it irrigating we spread it
over the ground and see it sink from
sight; we see crops grow and forget
all about the excess water we apply
This water. however, is not lost and in
later years will return to bless us or
curse us. as the case may be, and it
usually comes in the form of a curse
rather than a blessing.
What is there that detracts more
from the appearance of a prosperous
farming community, as we drive along
the country roads and look at the
! magnificent crops, than to see here
and there large tracts of barren waste
covered with white alkali so common
in this State. producing absolutely
nothing and all on account OF a high
water table? Perhaps this ground used
to be as productive as any in the
community, but in later years farmers
have found it impossible to raise any
thing upon it. They have finally aban-
doned it. and there it lies worthless to
the farmer and worthless to the com
munity at large
Why this state OF affairs, 1t is due
as stated before. to the high water
table, or in other words. to the fact
that the underground water has risen
until it is within few feet OF the sur
face. Capillary action is then set up
and excessive quantities OF water work
from the water table to the surface
of the ground and there evaporate.
leaving behind the elements that they
in solution Thaca ca1te
the alkali which we see on the surface
of the ground
Can this land be reclaimed and can
1t ever be made hrst-class farming
land? The answer to this que stion is
yes 1t may be reclaimed in mum
Der of ways. but the only permanent
way is to thoroughly drain the tract
The laying out and installation Of a
drain is not the simplest problem in
the world. and it Is often attempted
by men who know nothing about it,
NV advice TO the farmer is 10 hire
some engineer who is capable of max
ing the necessary survey and who
knows how to lay out drain system
Have him not only set the necessary
grade stakes. but supervise the laying
of the drain. Many drains have failed
because OF improper installation.
There are a number OF different
drain tile on the market. and to say
that one is good and another is worth
less would be not only unfair. but un-
true. All OF the burned clay tiles. if
properly made, will last fairly well
and make a suitable pipe for this kind
OF work Wooden boxes also have a
long life, but | believe it is mistake
to place III the trench open botomed
wooden boxes. unless the fall is ample
TO give a good velocity to the water.
They clog more readily than do the
tile pipe and animals are continually
digging into them, when water is not
running. and filling them up to a
greater or less degree with dirt
Water Is becoming extremely valu-
able in eastern Colorado an din many
instances land may be drained, the
| outlet OF the drain being so placed
that the discharge enters some irriga-
ton canal. and after filing upon the
same the owner may sell il to or rent
it profitably. This has been done in
number of cases near Fort Collins. In
some cases the flow has been sufficient
to pay for the installation of the en-
tire drainage system. Drain water
makes good late water. as the flow
usually continues well into the fall
and when water in the bitches be
comes low The seepage water enter
ing the drain is maximum, hence the
value
The drainage of lands should be
considered whenever irrigation is con
templated. because. if the subsoil OF
the community does not of itself form
natural drain. it is only question
of time when the underground water
will be so increased in volume that the
water table will reach the surface in
the many low spots The worst alkali
and seeped tracts that could be found
in the country have been experiment
ed upon and reclaimed in such a man
ner that luxuriant crops have been
grown upon them. while surrounding
them on all sides was barren alkali
waste A drainage system properly in
stalled NAV he cOunted upou IN do the