208 DEPARTMENTAL KEPOKTS. 



this report, work has been most exteiisivel.\- undertaken thus far in 

 California and Utah. This has been made jjossible through the large 

 financial assistance received from local associations and State and 

 municipal authorities. The work already in hand in these States will 

 be pushed actively during the present year, and it will probably be 

 necessary to confine investigations in this line very largelj^ to these 

 two States. Meanwhile we have received requests for an extension 

 of these studies in other States, where iri-igators and ditch owners feel 

 more keenly, as time goes on, the need of such investigations as an aid 

 to the adoption of just laws before mistakes and abuses connected 

 with imperfect legislation sliall have become hardened into fixed 

 usage. Without doubt there is great force in their plea, but the mag- 

 nitude of the arid region and the complex nature of the subject will 

 prevent a very rapid extension of operations in this direction. 



Studies regarding the practical methods of irrigation and the duty 

 of water will be continued throughout the arid region and in a few 

 places in the humid region, as stated above. It is hoped that the agri- 

 cultural experiment stations will be able to engage more largely in 

 this work, and that it will soon be possible to extend these investiga- 

 tions so as to include definite experiments with reference to the 

 improvement of methods now in use. This is the Icind of work in 

 which the experiment stations, especially in the arid region, should 

 largely engage. Thej^ are coming to see more fully the importance of 

 this work and to seek for competent experts to undertake it. It is 

 hoped that through cooperation this feature of the work of these sta- 

 tions may be put upon a more permanent and efficient basis. This 

 enterprise easily leads to studies on which it Avill l)e necessary for 

 these stations to spend many years of investigation. The importance 

 of the solution of these problems to the irrigated region will, however, 

 justify all the work which the stations can devote to them. 



The investigations in this country need to be supplemented by 

 studies of the irrigation systems of other countries. This should be 

 done by persons who are thoroughly familiar with the conditions exist- 

 ing in our irrigated region, in order that Ave may glean from foreign 

 experience those things of which we can nmke the greatest use in the 

 improvement of our irrigation system. As tlie result of careful studies 

 of the irrigation legislation of the OKI World, Australia and Canada 

 have made codes of irrigation laws wliich, it is claimed, have put an 

 end to complicated legal questions regarding water rights and made 

 litigation on this subject as rare in those countries as controversies 

 over land filings are in our own. Without doubt a careful study of 

 irrigation systems of these two countries, as well as of the older coun- 

 tries of Europe and their colonies, would produce results of much 

 value to our people. It is hoped that at least a beginning of work in 

 this direction may be made by this Office during the present year. 



A report on certain features of the irrigation sj^stem of the new 

 Territorj' of Hawaii has alreadj' been obtained. This needs to be 

 supplemented by a special investigation regarding the pumping system 

 used in connection with irrigation there. The pumps used in this 

 region are very large and are said to be unusually efficient m their 

 action, justifying a very large expense in securing underground water 

 supply. 



The irrigation possibilities of Porto Rico should be studied by some 

 one thoroughly familiar with the irrigation laws and methods of the 

 United States,' and who will thus be able to point out the directions 



