El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-10-06
IRRIGATE RIGHT.

Editor Fl Paso Herald:
have been more than interested in
reading your report Of the proposed
Great Dam to Stem the Pecos." which
appeared in your columns a few days
ago.
For a Greater Texas It should be
with feelings of Indebtedness that fu-
ture settlers will look back with sat
isfaction upon the noble efforts that
have been and are being made to bring
this project to a successful termina-
ton.
The writer is unaware whether Felix
MARTINEZ needs government engineers
Dam it, We used IT. but this slogan,
which he gave the Pecos project. GER
Iainly strikes a keynote that might
well he taken up by other districts.
This country is opening into an era
Of prosperity. If the money powers
can raise in a few weeks a half billion
dollars for war supplies, surely the
united efforts Of the prominent men in
the state, the government and the
banks can be shown that there are
land possibilities here that are par ez-
cellence.
1t was certainly a pleasure TO note
at the chamber Of commerce the fine
specimens Of fruit and cereals grown
in this valley, simply second TO none
Results OF the awards at the Denver
show last week, also prove this.
It has been the writer's good fortune
to have inspected q number OF the
larger dams in other countries and II
is here stated most unreservedly that
the Elephant Butte dam ranks among
the foremost in the world
To promote successfully the proposed
dam on the Pecos, there must be uni
son among the projects Selfish mo-
tives must be avoided. The primary
object is an assurance OF water at all
times. This is the Interior motive and
everyone must pull together TO achieve
the highest results
This brings up the all absorbing topic
among irrigatiOnists as TO The Duty
Of Water" Almost every farmer has
his own idea Of the duty OF water nee
essary for the maturing Of his crops.
There is only one way to settle this
contentious question and this has been
successfully accomplished by years OF
tests by the agricultural department.
OF course we haze still TO contend with
the farmer who continues TO defy sci
entific farming, but his class is grad
ually dying out. OF his prejudices are
being overcome.
Soil conditions vary. some soils be-
ing more retentive Of moisture than
others. Climatic conditions also enter
largely as a factor and so on But. II
must be remembered that whereas In
former years. and before the duty Of
water had been reduced TO a scientific
basis. n farmer took all the water he
1 thought he needed irrespective Of crop
requirements or his neighbOr's rights
! This measure is no longer tolerated.
( therefore, II should be the duty Of the
water users associations. through
their directors and engineers 10 see
I that the duty OF water is neither mis-
construed nor misanplied-
Duties Of water. Of course. vary very
greatly. but no irrigation project can
! be successfully and intelligently de-
signed without due regard being given
to the quantity Of water necessary to
the successful cultivation OF the crops
to be produced The principal fact to
he borne in mind by the association
members is how mucl water is needed
! for crops. when the latter are grown
under unfaTOrable circumstances and
not under favorable conditions, when
probably little or no water IS needed.
Again, the duty Of water is also in a
! great measure governed by the meas
I ure and skill in which the water is
] distributed not only by the farmers
/ but by the ditch or canal tenders them
! selves.
Excessive abuse OF water raises the
water table. This means drainage
! bitches and additional costs to the
/ farmers, all Of which can be avoided
| by the judiciOus use and not abuse Of
/ irrigation water.
] I therefore advise all water users to
] think very carefully before irTigating
/ without first giving due thought TO
! the crop. There is enough water for
! all Listen to the advice OF your as
ISOLATION specialist and then figure
! matters out for yourselves. Under nor
! nal conditions 7 believe the farmers
J should be given the opportunity OF
} working their teams on construction
Of bitches on force account. on the
, distinct understanding that failure to
[ move dirt" at a minimum contractor
I cost means dismissal. The money thus
] earned will help them TO develop and
! pay for their land very readily, and
/ no one Is more ready to appreciate
/ this than the farmer himself. The
| water users association must insist
| on good work being done throughout
/ the system. as this reduces both the
( cost of maintenance and operation.
I It means easy distribution OF water.
/ which. with good cultivation. insures
! excellent crops. and crops means dol
/ lars and boosters for Greater Texas
/ Get busy Mr.. Farmer, and boost with
{ good crops. your land from S35 to $3.50
! per acre, your fruit lands even more so
| What the natives on the Nile and
/ the HindOos in India can do under a
/ little instruction. surely you. a more
| highly educated and enlightened race,