Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1913-06-21
WASTE IN THE DITCH.
Development in Irrigation Has Been
Marvelouslv Rapid.

At the time most of our canals were
built no better construction as a rule
was possible or justified by existing
conditions. The prime object was to
get wafer to the land So long a.
there was an abundance in the stream
a loss of fifty per cent or more BY
seepage from the bitches was a matter
of small concern and to have consider
ed structures OF Missionary or con
crete; or lining canals with cement a
$40 a barrel. would have been ridicu
lous The history OF this state ha
been repeated in most other districts
and the pioneers in canal building anC
IRRIGATION did well and deserve great
credit for what they did. says the
Denver Field and Farm. But condi
tions are not now what they were
twenty-five years ago, or even five
years ago.
General development has been mar
velously rapid. almost beyond Our
power to realize The old. leaky anf
temporary wooden fumes and othet
structures have served their purpose
and about had their day We are now
in the beginning of new epoch in If
rigation development. one in which
the methods and practices of the
earlier day will have little part. We
are ready to build for the ages and
start has already been made Some 81
the works that have gone in duriua
the last FIVE years should be in service
a thousand years from now. In some
places the open bitches have beer
abandoned and pipe lines substitute
at great expense. thus eliminatin"
seepage losses altogether
Several irrigation companies have
begun 20 line their canals with con
crete and more of it will be done cacl
wear until finally large nerecntapc
OF the irrigation bitches all over the
west will be doubtless rendered waite
tight in this way and the prescr'
waste from loss stopped or reduced
To the minimum Besides the Savine
of water there would be other import
ant benefits and objects in lining the
channels The danger from disastrou'
breaks would be reduced: less insuec
ton and few ditch walkers would be
required. the common trouble and cN
Dcnse due TO the growth and neceS
sarv removal OF aquatic plants would
be eliminated and the growth OF sweet
clover. willows. thistlcS and othe-
noxious weeds usually found nui
sance along canal banks would be
largely prevented; all tending to ma
terially reduce the cost of mainte
rance andsoperation.
In building the more important syS-
tens concrete lining will be generally
considered as a ncccSsitv. but the I'M
provement OF existing canals Is gong
to be matter more difficult Of ac-
complishmcnt especially where all the
land under them is developed and
there is no opportunity for he owners
10 make use OF water on other land
Although the lining would save thirty
to fifty ncr cent of the water diverted
from the streams and make il avail
able for other lands. the owners will
not voluntarily go to the expense OF
makeing the improvement and there
is now no means OF compelling 1T
Future legislation will doubtless pre-
vent the aquircment of rights so
large that the appropriator can afford
To waste il in transit and II would
seem only fair TO make provision also
whereby the water which has already
been ACQUIRED materially in excess OF
reasonable need can be condemned
and used where it will do the most
good. In many places much better
use Of water would obtain by aband-
oning small parallel diches and com
bining the flow all in one well built
canal under a single management Rv
Improvement Also in systems of ditch
management great savings of water
are possible
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