Rocky Ford enterprise., 1913-01-31
IRRIGATION
IN THE
WEST

for irrigation purposes is usually
about one-third the value of the land
The actual value when measured by
the increased yield which it produces
is much greater. The reason why
water rights sell below their value to
the farmers is largely due to uncer-
-tainty regarding titles. In very many
cases water rights have never been
defined or established. and careful
examination is necessary before pur-
chasing such rights.
The water supply for farm in any
one of the western states and terri
tories may be obtained from the un-
appropriated waters of natural
stream, from a canal company which
has water to sell, or from one of the
government irrigation projects. but
usually a single tract can secure wat
er from only one source. Under ia
vorable conditions single farmer
may secure a water supply from a
natural source, but more frequently
it requires the united effort of a num-
Der of farmers. One of the best Or
ganizations for united effort of this
kind is cooperative or mutual wat
er company, in which the owners of
owners of the stock in the water COM
pany. Before diverting water from
stream the individual or manager of
a company should first seek advice
from the proper state officials. In
most of the western commonweafths
the appropriation, diversion. and dis
tribution of the public waters have
been placed under the supervision
and control of a state engineer or
state board OF irrigation. with quar-
tiers at the state capital. Information
may be obtained from these officials
regarding the regulations governing
the appropriation and diversion OF
water, the flow in any particular
stream, the volumes which have been
appropriated and used. and the bal
ance, if any, which is subject to ap-
preparation. Information may be al
so obtained from subordinate officials
who have immediate charge of distrib-
uting water. In states and territories
which have no officers to regulated nd
control the distribution of water. the
intending settler would do well to get
the opinion OF some reliable lawyer
who is familiar with existing rights
to the use of water in the neighbor
hood. Some local engineer may also
be proftably consulted with reference
to the amount and reliability of the
water supply from particular
source.
In the older districts. where the
stream flow in summer has been ap-
propriated, supply can often be OBJ
tanned by building storage reservoir
or by installing a pumping plant.
may be undertaken by individuals, as
sociations, or mutual companies. A
large number OF small and medium
size reservoirs have been built by the
farmers living in the basins OF the
Cache la Poudre and Big Thomuson
rivers. in northern Colorado. These
have been described in the Yearbook
of the Department of Agriculture for
1901 and in Bulletins Q, and I34 OF
the office OF experiment stations, and
the reader is referred to these pub
lications for information on this sub
ject. In southern California. in SAM
ia Clara valley and in portions OF the
San Joaquin valley. the greater part
of the water supply is obtained by
pumping water from wells. Results
of Investigations made on pumping
plants in these localities are contain
ed in Bulletin 1888 of the office OF the
experiment stations, to which the
reader is referred for information on
the kind of pumping plants used and
their cost and efficiency.
The most common source OF water
supply for the new settlers in irri-
gated districts is likely to be an irri-
CATION canal built by private enter
prise or by the government for the
purpose Of supplying water to farm
ers. Before completing arrangements
to take water from a private COM
pany one should make careful ex-
animation of its ability to furnish an
adequate supply at such times as will
best meet the needs fthe crops to
be grown. A few of the most import
ant features of canal water rights are
outlined in the following paragraphs:
~ When two or more canal COM
panies take water from the same
stream. which is subject to wide fluc-
tuations in flow. those whose rights
were acquired last are the first to sui
fer when scarcity exists. Between the
ditch owners who were the first to
divert water and those which were
last there is a wide range OF condi-
tions which vitality affect the value of
the water rights under each. Same
nails have an abundance of water
throughout the crop growing season;
others carry full volume during the
flood season and diminished volume
during the remainder of the time.
Some fail to provide an adequate sup
ply for the last irrigation OF SUCH
crops as alfalfa and potatoes. while
others are likely to have their entire
supply shut off after the spring floods
have subsidized. 1t is thus apparent
that there are all sorts of canal rights
to the use of water. and the value ot
water users right to a portion OF
the volume carried by canal will de-
pend, to a large extent. on the nature
of the stream from which the supply
is taken. the priority of the canal.
the number of water rights. sold, ire