Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1913-04-17
WASTE IN THE DITCH
Development in Irrigation Has
Been MarveIousIy Rapid.
Some Of Works Recently Constructed
Should Be in Service Thousand
Years From Now-Many Ca
nails Being Lined With
Concrete.

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 tt
get water to the land. So long at
there was an abundance in the stream
loss of fifty per cent. or more BY
seepage from the bitches was mattel
OF small concern and to have consider
ed structures OF masonary or concrete;
or lining canals with cement at $lt
a barrel. would have been ridiculous
The history of this state has been re
peated in most other districts, and the
pioneers in canal building and irriga
ton did well and deserve great credi
for what they did, says the Denver
Field and Farm. But conditions are
now not what they were twenty-five
years ago, or even five years ago.
General development has been mar
velously rapid; almost beyond oui
power to realize. The old. leaky ane
temporary wooden fumes and otheI
structures have served their purpose
and about had their day We are now
In the beginning OF new epoch in ir
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 a star
has already been made. Some of tn,
works that have gone in during The
last five years should be in service 6
thousand years from now. Ia some
places the open bitches have beer
abandoned and pipe lines substituted
at great expense, thus eliminating
seepage losses altogether.
Several irrigation companies have
begun to line their canals with con
crete and more OF it will be done each
year until finally a large percentage
Of the irrigation bitches all over the
west will be doubtless rendered water
light in this way and the present waste
from seepage stopped OF reduced &c
the minimum. Besides the saving Of
water there would be other important
benefits and objects in lining the chan
nels The danger from disastrous
breaks would be reduced; less Inspec
ton and fewer ditch walkers would
be required: the common trouble ant
expense due to the growth and neces
sary removal of aquatic plants would
be eliminated and the growth of swee
clover willows, thistles and other nox
ious weeds usually found a nuisanc'
along canal banks would be largel.
prevented: all tending to material.
reduce the cost OF maintenance an
operation
In building the more important sys
TENS concrete lining will be general.
considered as a necessity. but the i'm
provement OF existing canals is goinl
to be a matter more difficult OF &C
complishment especially where all tn
land under them is developed an
there is no opportunity for the owner
q To make use OF water on other land
$ Although the lining would save thirt
to fifty per cent. OF the water diverte
3 from the streams and make il avail
I able for other lands, the owners vii
B not voluntarily go to the expense O
e making the improvement. and Their
8 is now no means OF compelling II
d Future legislation will doubtless pre-
9 vent the requirement of rights 81
n large that the appropriation can amor
e to waste II in transit and II woul
I seem only fair to make provision ais
: whereby water which has already bee
b acquired materially in excess OF res
b sonable need can be condemned an
8 used where it will do most good. Il
I many places much better use OF Wa
e ter would obtain by abandoning smal
o parallel bitches and combining tn
!. flow OF all in one well built canal VI
Il der single management. BY in
: provement also in systems OF ditc
& management great savings OF waite
< are possible.