The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1954-07-22
BLUFFTON GIRL
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one man was hit over the head with
shovel during water arguments. |
see more evidence for than against
such stories. Water goes to the place
registered first and the rest on the
line takes what is left over right on
down the line. One can imagine what
happens when fellow down the line
sees one above using a seemingly un-
reasonable amount of water when he
himself can get none at time of need
or time of convenience. Some have
been caught right within the last few
years out at night running water on
their fields and away from another's
field.
By now the government has tested
land, built dams, built large canals
and spillwats so homesteaders are
farming many sections out of the
sagebrush. No longer are there only
hay, sheep, and cattle. Now there are
grain, silage, sugar beets, potatoes,
pinto beans, etc. in the valleys.
The newer government water sys-
TENS have come since 1880, | believe.
On government reclaimed land water
is given by acreage with ditch riders
and maintenance crews and meetings
to decide how to handle the problems
that come up. Recently some of the
sections have been turned over to the
users who hire their own managers
and support theFwhole system without
government finances. I'm told self
ownership is Cheaper than govern
ment service.
Irrigation is an immense engineer
ing feat. The water from the more
dependable rain and snow in the high
mountains is directed to lower levels
with people using it all the way on
down.
There are large and small bitches
everywhere-often in places | don't
expect to see them. Some spots which
look low to me can't be reached by
water and remain sagebrush while
other spots, which at first appear to
be higher than the feed ditch itself,
are nice green fields.
The large canals from storage
places are sometimes cement. The
large and small spillways are lovely
to see and heaf. In some places water
is syphoned under roads and creeks.
These large canals are kept running
constantly inForder to keep the water
level up for5 all who might need to
have water h'un into their individual
bitches. There is even a waste ditch
with a constant overflow in order to
hold steady level of water all along
the way.
There are cement and metal
gates" ever so often which can be
set to adjust the water level. The
ditch riders must check all gates, take
out, weeds and boards, check water
levels, watch forf weak spots and
washouts, besides turn off and on the
water for the farmers and ranchers.
Each farmer has a standard open
ing and an enamel measure plate.
The ditch rider sets the water so it
runs through at the level the farmer
orders ga hour notice is required so
the ditch rider can plan his sets).
Farmers work hard at irrigating all
summer. You see them out at most
any hour walking the fields in high
boots carrying a. shovel.
Some houses have only sand and
dirt lawns because water is so hard
to come by. One of the fellows at
Grange was Rlling the others give
figured it oqf; have only 80 more
irrigation days this year." So you
think your farming is long hours.
You think YOUR expenses are high.
Here a farmer must buy bridges,
ditehers, canvas, hire irrigators, use
Jewelers., and. BUY WATER.