BUREAU OF PUBLIC ROADS. 483 



ble to control conditions closely, and this permits the determination 

 of the effect of ditferent factors that influence evaporation. Consid- 

 erable progress has been made with the study, which will be con- 

 tinued. 



0. As a part of a comprehensive study of the growing of sugar 

 beets in the Arkansas Valley undertaken by various agencies, studies 

 were made in regard to the relation of soil moisture, drainage, duty 

 of water, and method of application of water to the production of 

 sugar beets. 



In cooperation with the Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station 

 a study was made to determine by means of pumping the capacity 

 of nonflowing wells in southern Nevada. In the cases of two non- 

 flowing wells of the artesian type it was found possible to increase 

 the yield from 2 to 8 miner's inches in one and from 2 to 10 miner's 

 inches in the other. As the water supply in southern Nevada is 

 limited and valuable and controls, to a large extent, the agricultural 

 production of that section, the development of even small supplies 

 is a matter of considerable importance. The work is to be continued 

 during the summer of 1923 with better equipment, and it is hoped 

 to secure even greater increases in yield. 



Studies of the duty of water for various crops are also in progress. 



In cooperation with the Utah Experiment Station the following 

 work was carried on : 



1. The reorganization and consolidation of irrigation enterprises. 

 On account of the peculiar conditions as regards irrigation practices 

 in Utah no other subject seemed so important as the merging in each 

 favorable locality of a number of small independent systems divert- 

 ing water from the same stream into one effective organization. To 

 carry out a task of this character successfully requires the consent 

 of the large majority, if not all, of the landowners involved. Satis- 

 factory progress has been made during the year in an effort to re- 

 model the irrigation systems of four communities. The nature of 

 this work can best be told by a brief reference to what has been ac- 

 complished in each of three localities during the year. 



(a) One locality, formerly s.rved by three separate irrigation 

 systems and three different classes of water right, has been placed 

 under one mutual water company and is operating as a single unit 

 with only one class of water right. To cite some of thy beneficial 

 results of such merging, the effective use of water has been increased 

 50 per cent, the reservoir has been enlarged 33 per cent, additional 

 storage facilities have been surveyed and planned, and a consider- 

 able extent of new land can now h& reclaimed by the more complete 

 conservation of the water supply. 



(b) In another locality which was formerly served by 10 irriga- 

 tion enterprises having 11 classes of water right, the number of or- 

 ganizations has been reduced to two, one covering all primary rights 

 and the other all high-water rights. In this way water can be de- 

 livered to the land more efficiently and the irrigated area increased. 



2. A special study has been begun to ascertain the best and most 

 economical means of constructing barriers across flood channels to 

 check gravel flow and to determine the surface slope and the nature 

 and extent of debris deposits laid down above such barriers. Many 

 streams from which irrigation canals divert water carry large 

 quantities of sand and gravel at high-water time during spring run- 



