70 RF.POltT OF OFFIi K OF KXPERTMF.NT STATIONS. 



anrl (^\]>(>ri(Mic(Hl men :iiiil ;i larLi'i' ("Xjx'iitlituic ol" (iiiic and monoy. It 

 is not simply a iiiicstion of rmdiiiji" out suitaldc iiictliods, hut of work- 

 iiit; out tlic lu'st detail and practice of tliose luclliods. It is one tliiii<4", 

 foi" exanipl(\ to detonniiu» that llic clieck system of ini<jfation is the 

 host foi' a particular locality, l)ut it is (|uite anotliei' to determine, the 

 details of the checks, hoxes. and laterals in order that the water ap))lie(l 

 to thousands of acres of land shall reach its surface with the least 

 loss and waste from seepa«^"e and e\aporat ion. The studies recpiired 

 in\()I\(' not simply th(> vai'ious methods, l>ut the comparative cost and 

 eflicicMicy of ditl'erent ])att(M"ns and diU'erent mat(M"ials used in i)ipes, 

 Humes, l>oxes, and other conti"i\ances which nuist be used in carrying; 

 out tliese plans. 



Closely associated with efficiency in a|)plyin<( water is elliciency in 

 cpei'atinfj ditches. We are learninj^ that certain soils are not suited to 

 the carr3'ing of water in earthen channels. The crossing of uidined 

 canals over gravel ])eds or soils impregnated with gypsum is too waste- 

 ful of water, and is also too great a menace to the fertilit}' of the lands 

 affected 1)}' the escaping water, to be continued. The construction of 

 irrigation ctmals will therefore soon have to h{\ supplemented by other 

 improvcMuents in iri'igation; either the lands ])elow canals which leak 

 will have to be drained or such canals will have to be lined to prevent 

 excessive leakage. We are aiding comnumities in overcoming the 

 injuries already wrought and in taking steps to prevent them in the 

 future, by measuring the water which escapes bj^ seepage, determining 

 the i)laces of excessive loss, and kc^eping records of the rise of water 

 in the soil. Sup])lied with these facts, irrigators will be aide to deter- 

 mine the location and sizes of drains m^eded to prevent the swamping 

 of large areas. So urgent is the demand for the information gathered 

 this year that we are issuing circulars giving the report of the past 

 season's measurements in advance of the regular reports. 



The conditions in the Yakima Valley, Washington, serve to illus- 

 trate the possible ))cnetits to come from the perfection of S3' stems of 

 distri))ution. The report of Professor Waller, who has charge of our 

 investigations in that State, shows that if a duty of 110 acres for each 

 cubic foot of water per second can be secured the water of the Yakima 

 Kiver w^ill serve to irrigate 800,000 acres of land, but if the low duty 

 now prevailing under a num})cr of canals is continued, not one-third 

 of that area can ))e irrigated. 



Cooperative arrangements for the conduct of these investigations 

 have been made with the State engineers' offices and the State experi- 

 ment stations in the following arid States and Territories: California, 

 Oregon, Washington. Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, and 

 NeW' Mexico; and in the following somiarid States: South Dakota, 

 Nebraska, Kansas, and Texas. 



