The daily sentinel., 1914-06-16

ITIAT all the drainage work for
this valley might be done under
one comprehensive plan, and
that it may be possible for reclama-
tion service to do the work and let
the land owners under the present
improved districts repay the cost on
some plan similar to the plan of re-
paying the cost OF irrigation systems.
Is the opinion of Hon w. A. Ryan
comptroller of the reclamation serv-
ice, to a representative of The Sem
tine in an interview last night The
possibility. he says. is based ON
proper cooperation between the
holders OF land outside of the govern
ment project and the government
Experience has taught those en-
gagged in reclamation work that AN
ounce of prevention is worth a pound
OF cure and for that reason the gov
ernment is planning to work out Il
1 drainage scheme at once for the lands
TO be reclaimed by the High Line ca
nal. After spending several DAYS in
the valley in company with Sir Will
lam Willcocks, an irrigation and
drainage expert OF world reputation,
and d. w. Murphy, the drainage ex-
pert Of the reclamation service, Mr..
Ryan is impressed with the idea that
much more benefit would result to
the whole valley if one practical
drainage system can be made to take
In all the territory from Palisade to
Mack. He recommends that a drain
age district be formed, including all
the lands under all the other irriga-
tion districts, and If this Is done he
thinks Secretary Lane will approve of
including the 5000 acres of High
Line lands in such a district. He
thinks If this were done, arrange
ments may be made to finance the
work and have the cost repaid to the
government in easy annual payments.
However. the government will not
be Justified in undertaking any
drainage work OF a general nature.
nor could 1t apply any funds to such
work unless all the lands are in
lcluded in one drainage unit.
Mr.. Ryan advised II the people are
favorable to such a plan. that the
people of the entire valley perfect
plans for district organization
without delay.
Moreover. he suggested that the
city of Grand Junction be included
in the district in order to lessen the
cost on the bondholders.
In Egypt we have a saying that
the man who builds an irrigation
system without first providing for its
drainage is like a man who builds
a house with water supply and with
no means for sewage disposal" said
Sir William Willcocks He was
speaking at the banquet rendered
him by the water users association.
Sir William came to America to at
tend the drainage congress, but Sec
Iynt any ln,I
remain and make a tour of all the
reclamation projects in the west. and
to give the reclamation engineers the
benefit of his advice.
There is no doubt but that this
beautiful valley can all be reclaimed
with a proper drainage system But
you must proceed without delay. +
want to emphasize that because the
longer you wait the worse conditions
become and consequently more diff
cult will be the problem.
Undoubtedly you use water to ex-
cess here Sir William went on
l'Just to show you; We know from
experiments in Egypt that second
foot of water irrigates 100 acres
without rainfall in our dry summers
Anything in excess of that adds
ground water. How much more than
that do you use? Well, just that
much is adding to your wet land
troubles
200 Acres is Possible.
People who dispose of manure
freely like some do near Los An
geles make the manure do half the
work and second foot there sue
cessfully irrigates 200 acres, which
is the high water mark of irrigation
OF the world
when once you put in your drain
age system YOU Will find yourself us
ing less and less water. As the water
table rises without drainage the
roots of the plants spread near the
surface and the available soil from
which the plant can obtain food and
moisture is very shallow AS the wa
ter table lowers under drainage the
zone of plant growth increases In
depth and permits the roots to find
more available soil.
so you see as you add water
above what you need you are injur-
ing the growing conditions OF your
plants.
"All the lands / have seen here
under the old irrigation canals could.
think. be easily drained by open
drains running parallel to the ca
nails and streams, utilizing the exist
ing cuts between the high lands and
the low lands, and adding others
where the slope or natural barriers
make it necessary.
May Be Done for 81 an Acre.
Judging from my experience In
, Egypt such drainage ought to be
done for about 81 an acre. OF course
: II can't be sure, but I am simply Of
: ferfnp an example,
LET me again emphasize the need
| OF immediate action. There ought
to be no delay and when you act. act