El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-02-20
EXPERTSDISGJ5S
CARE Of CANALS
Government Engineers Urge
Proper Printing Before
Lands Are Settled.

Saturday mornings session of the
conference of the United States recla-
nation service officials with the water
users was largely devoted to discus
sions as to the proper methods of car
ing for canal banks.
Representatives from the Elephant
Butte, Carlsbad, Yuma and Salt river
projects were present and all had va
riOus theories to advance or expert
ences to relate in handling the canal
banks and some valuable facts were
brought out.
One of the most important facts ad-
vanced at the session was that it is
not advisable to urge the early set
Element of land along a new canal as
it viii take from three to five years
to get the full value of any canal, Ow-
ing to leakage, etc, during the first
two or three years. once a canal is
properly primed, water users can count
on a proper supply but when the canal
is first put in use, those at the greatest
distance from the source of supply are
likely to be without water until the
first. stretches have been primed and
are leak-prOOf, the engineers said
silt Is aid to Printing.
This fact came out in the discussion
on the proper printing of canals. Some
thought that the water in this district
carries so much silt that printing would
be unnecessary, but it was pointed out
that while the spring water is full of
silt, the water later in the season will
be clear. Water should be turned into
new canals or laterals slowly and slow
ly let out This retains a great per-
centage of the silt and serves to prime
the canal
The general protection of ditch banks
brought out some interesting discus
sion. 1t was pointed out that the Chi
nese seem to have some secret meth
DDS of pudding their canal banks with
clay, which serves equally as well as
cement The Mexican willow protec-
ton was also discussed but the gen
eral opinion prevailed that the best
protection was brush and willows tied
in bundles and then put in when and
where needed. Pudding by driving
sheep along the banks was also re-
ported as a success.
Sheep Are Used.
ORC McDermith, of the Salt River
project advised the use of sheep and
goats to keep the canal banks free
from weeds and told of the success in
his section with that method The
Arizona station is now experimenting
with Tunis sheep. These appear to be
practically all weeds. Others suggest
ed the growing Of white clover along
the banks to keep down weeds.
Down with the gopher" was the
motto when the determination of bur-
rowing animals was reached. GOpherS
have been giving trouble in all sec
lions, judging from the discussion, and
no method of complete determination
of these pests could be advanced. Re
ports that planting castor beans drove
out the gophers caused several to an
nounce their intention of giving this
method a trial Another speaker had
tried burning dynamite in the holes. It
drove out the gOphers for about three
weeks, but they returned.
L D. O'DonneIl. supervisor Of irriga-
ton, gave an address on general farm
ing this afternoon. Other discussions
will be on the marketing Of crops, loans
for livestock feeding and farmers CO.
operative organizations and a general
discussion on subjects pertaining to
farming.
To Develop Western Resources.
Proper development of the mineral
and water power resources Of western
states, and a percentage of the royal
ties therefrom going to the reclamation
fund, will place the reclamation fund
in position to carry on its work in a
vigorous and extensive manner, accord