210 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS. 



have also been definitely pointed out. In this way the experience 

 already obtained by the experiment stations, State engineers, and 

 other experts in irrigation matters, has been brought to bear on the 

 public mind more effectively than heretofore. The result has been 

 a great quickening of interest in this matter throughout the West, 

 together with a lai'ger and more definite realization of the importance 

 of the proper development of our irrigation system and the intricate 

 nature of the problems involved. 



A great desire has been awakened to have an accurate and complete 

 showing of facts on which permanent improvement alone can be based. 

 This has led to hearty cooperation of the people and local authorities 

 in ourinvestigations wherever they have been undertaken, and demands 

 for our work far beyond our ability to meet. While the earnestness 

 with which these demands are pressed is very largely due to the urgent 

 needs of localities and individual farmers and ditch owners for the 

 remedying of evils affecting their immediate interests, it is also begin- 

 ning to be seen quite clearly that the questions involved in these and 

 kindred investigations have a direct bearing on problems which are of 

 national and international importance. On the supply of water for 

 irrigation and its equitable distribution depend the permanent exist- 

 ence of civilized life in one-third of the area covered by the forty-eight 

 States and Territories of the Union. Questions relating to irrigation 

 are vital, not only to the agricultural, but also to all the other interests 

 of this vast region, and the ultimate solution of the problems relating 

 to irrigation will be found not onlj^ in local and State legislation and 

 administration, but also in the action of the National Government. 

 Most of the streams used for irrigation cross State lines, and some of 

 them run partly in foreign countries. 



The nation still owns large areas, the development of which will 

 necessarily depend on national land laws recognizing the importance 

 of extending the irrigated region as far as possible. Sooner or later 

 these questions must be taken up by the United States as well as by 

 the individual States, and settled on a just basis and in accordance 

 with actual conditions. What is needed in this matter at the pre»ent 

 time above everything else is the impartial ascertaining and recording 

 of the facts relating to irrigation in this country. It is this task which 

 this Department has set for itself. It is hoped that an efficient organ- 

 ization for the prosecution of this work has been established, and that 

 in this way the basis has been laid for the prosecution and extension 

 of the work as rapidly as the necessary conditions of the investigations 

 and the available funds will permit. 



