312 Transactions of the 



structions. The dams, head-works, and sluices of foreign works, are 

 made of masonry, and in the most thorough manner. In California all 

 of these constructions will for many j-ears he of wood. It is cheaper, 

 with the present rates of interest, to build of wood, and to rebuild when 

 the works decay, than to construct, once for all, of masonry. 



THE CHEAPEST CANAL 



That we find in Spain is that from the Esla, which cost fifteen dollars 

 per acre. The other modern canals in Spain have cost more than twice 

 as much. There are no longer in these old countries any lands which 

 admit of easy irrigation, and on all these lines there is a great deal of 

 ."heavy work, in excavating, tunneling, aqueducts, and in reveled walls, 

 w hich the valley works in California will not require. 



GENERAL CONCLUSIONS. 

 % 



The Commissioners conclude their report with the same conclusions 

 which are presented as a summing up of the whole matter. The princi- 

 pal ones not previously mentioned are as follows: 



That the experience of other countries appears to prove that no ex- 

 tensive system of irrigation can ever be devised or executed by the farm- 

 ers themselves, in consequence of the impossibilty of forming proper 

 combinations or associations for that purpose. That, while small enter- 

 prises may be undertaken by the farmers in particular cases, it would 

 not be in accordance with the experience of the world, to expect of tbem 

 the means or inclination to that cooperation which would be necessary 

 to construct irrigating works involving large expenditures. That en- 

 terprises of this character, if built at all, must be built by the State or 

 by private capital. 



LAND AND WATER SHOULD BE INSEPARABLE. 



As a matter of public policy it is desirable that the land and water 

 should be joined together, never to be cut asunder; that the farmers 

 shbuld enjoy in perpetuity the use of the water necessary for the irri- 

 gation of their respective lands; that when the land is sold the rights 

 to water shall also be sold with it, and that neither shall be sold sepa- 

 rately. That the State and county will be directly benefited by the ap- 

 preciation of land and by the increase of wealth in their revenues from 

 taxation. That consequently it may be good policy for them to aid such 

 enterprise. That there is this diffieulty in the way of the proposition 

 that the lands shall pay for the canals, namely: that in many places, 

 the lands at present are not worth more than five dollars per acre, if so 

 much, and that the irrigation works may cost ten dollars per acre. That 

 whatever aid is given by the State or county, should be extended in a 

 cautious way. That in many parts of the country where irrigation will 

 ultimately best repay expenditure, there are now no people; that the 

 population must be imported, the houses, barns, and equipments of the 

 farms must be created, before returns can follow investment. That for 

 these reasons, we must look for a comparatively slow development of 

 the country. 



PRIVATE ENTERPRISE SHOULD BE INVITED. 



That, while we believe, as we have already stated, that the best policy 



