68 DEPAKTMENTAL REPOKTS. 



which iuvariably carry Avater. The soils are naturally free from 

 alkali, and the irrigation waters are good, containing about 100 i^arts 

 of salts per 100,000 parts of water. The irrigation of the mesa lands, 

 however, has caused the water in the lower lands to rise to withiu 1 

 or 2 feet of the surface in years of plentiful supply of water, and con- 

 siderable areas of what were the most fertile lands are now liable to 

 be too wet to cultivate, and, besides, have accumulated an amount of 

 alkali detrimental to all cultivated crops. The question of under- 

 drainage was considered in connection with the damage already done, 

 and it is believed it is quite possible and practicable to reclaim the 

 damaged lands and prevent further loss. 



Similar conditions were found to exist In the 250 square miles sur- 

 veyed on the north side of the river, except that the alkali is here 

 confined to a narrow strip along the river, which, however, is con- 

 stantly widening. Special problems were encountei'ed here as well as 

 in an area under the Buckeye canal, which will be fully treated in 

 the final report on the work. The results of the work are highly' sat- 

 isfactor}' in showing on the maps prepared the conditions actually 

 prevailing, and in indicating that the alkali question can easily be 

 controlled and the fertility of the land be assuredly maintained. 



The party then went to California, where a short time was spent in 

 tracing, with our electrical method of salt determinations in soils and 

 waters, the main underground channel of the Los Angeles River from 

 the canyon in the granite mountains, where the pure water sinks into 

 the ground, to the river proper, which is the source of the water 

 supply of the city of Los Angeles. The definition of the channel or 

 zone through which this water passes between the more saline sup- 

 plies from the mountains of shale or slate on either side bearing 

 alkali salts, is the subject of legal proceedings between the city of Los 

 Angeles and a certain water company, which has developed a con- 

 siderable Avater supply by constructing a tunnel in the zone through 

 which the i^ure water from the granite mountains has been traced. 

 It is believed that evidence was collected which will have an important 

 bearing upon the court proceedings. 



A short time was spent in a reconuoissance at Oxnard, Cal., where 

 an extensive irrigation plant is proposed for the development of the 

 sugar-beet industry. It was found that the underground water w^as 

 already so near the surface and so charged with alkali that serious 

 trouble and damage were predicted if the land Avas irrigated Avithout 

 adequate proAision for underdrainage. The company jjroposes fol- 

 loAving this adA'ice, and it is planned to return there later in the season 

 and spend some time studying the efficiency of this method of pre- 

 Acnting the rise and accumulation of alkali, an opportunity not 

 before liaA'ing come to this Division of testing j)ractically some of our 

 recommendations. 



The part}' then Avent to Fresno, Cal., whei'e on June 30 about 450 

 square miles had been surveyed and mapi^ed, comprising practicalh' 

 all of the irrigated lands of that immediate A'icinity. FiA'e maps 

 liaA'e been prepared, shoAving: (1) The character and distribution of 

 the soils; (2) the amount and distribution of the alkali in the soil; 

 (3) the amount and distribution of the black alkali or sodium car- 

 bonate; (4:) the depth to standing Avater, to show A\diere drainage is 

 imperatiA^ely needed; and, (5) the depth and character of hardpan 

 Avhich underlies much of the land. Alkali has damaged large areas 

 of what AA'ere once thrifty vineyards and fruit orchards, causing a loss 

 of at least a million dollars in laud values alone. Plans and estimates 



