La Junta tribune., 1916-12-23

die, even though some OF 1t was
necessarily wasted.
For a typical irrigator the proceed
ure would be as follows: He would
have say one hundred and fifty acres
of alfalfa to water. this would be
divided into tablas. or strips. as de-
feet vide and the length OF the field,
or from one quarter TO one half mile
long He would call on the mayor
domo. or ditch rider. as he would
be called here. and ask for water
on certain day. II there were not
too many already irrigating. this
would be granted, or at any rate a
day would be set for him to begin
using. He would then employ n
to patrol the ditch TO watch for the
danger OF breaks, and as many as
were required TO handle the water
He would draw from thirty to fifty
feet OF water per second. These
men would work day and night till
the field was covered. say forty
eight hours A slight computation
will show that each irrigation used
from three quarters TO one acre foot
for each irrigation. 1t is usual to
give two irrigations to each cutting
of alfalfa. and four. and sometimes
five cuttings Of alfalfa are harvest
ed
The question naturally arises what
effect this amount of water has on
the land TIL recently conditions
were such that II did not seem to
do much damage The Rio Grande
being a flood-water stream, there
would be periods OF weeks. and
sometimes months at time. when
the river would be dry and no water
obtainable. The head works being
OF flimsy description, would be
washed out by floods. and again no
water could be secured. This gave
the land time 10 dry ont. and did
not seem to become waterlogged.
Recently the United States Recla-
nation Service built the Elephant
Butte Dam across the Rio Grande.
and has operated It year or two.
This protects the country below from
floods. and insures neyer-failing
supply OF water There is not a day
In the year but water can be secured
to fin the bitches. and as the old
system has been kept up. IL has re-
suited In disaster for much OF the
land Many fields which produced
good crops OF alfalfa In 1918 aud
previously. have been during the
past season covered with water. in
some cases four feet deep. Much
more has gone TO scopage. and 10
icry few places is the water tabl,
more than three to four feet below
the surface. OF the highest ground
perhaps eight to ten feet.
The long tablas mentioned above
and which have some slope from the
ditch at the upper end show the ef-
feots Of too much water, due TO the
water running so long. To cover the
field. and at the lower end. the
water backs up and stands till Il
soaks away or eyaporates. and on
this account the alfalfa Is largely
killed out and grown up with Wild
grass. II Is only through the cen
trail portions that the amount Of
water seems to be properly applied.
The rapid seeping Of the lands has
given great deal OF alarm TO the
land owners. and other methods are
being sought. that will not use so
much water II seems incredible
10 those who have always been used
10 these methods. that man could
raise crops with a limited amount
Of water, even should Il be running
all the time There are many things
OF interest to be found IN this re-
gion. but this article can only touch
on some of the irrigating practices.
Very truly yours,
=. T. LEWIS.
La Junta. December 10, 1916.