524 ANNUAL REPORTS OF DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



the latter the Ventiiri flume seems to possess tlie greatest promise of 

 future success. Although scarcely beyond the experimental state, 

 several thousand of these meters are likely to be installed next season. 

 One irrigation company in Texas is contemplating the use of 2,000. 



In all new enterprises, such as irrigation districts and cooperative 

 companies, the amount of water available and the amount required 

 to irrigate the crops to be grown are vital factors which need to be 

 determined before bonds are issued or construction begun. The 

 various conditions which influence decisions of this nature have been 

 studied by members of this division for a score or more years and 

 the knowledge and experience which they have acquired create a 

 demand for their services and enable them to render valuable assist- 

 ance at a stage of proceedings when sound advice is urgently needed 

 to attain success. A bulletin on The Western Farmer's Water Right 

 has been published. 



Several million acres of what formerly constituted the finest irri- 

 gated lands of the W^est are to-day partially if not wholly valueless 

 through the rise of ground water and alkali. In nine cases out of ten 

 the individual farmer is powerless to remedy this condition. To be 

 successful it is something which communities must undertake, but 

 before the necessary funds can be raised the State legislature must 

 provide the requisite authority in the form of proper drainage district 

 laws. The members of this division are aiding in the preparation of 

 such laws, and in the organization of drainage districts. They also 

 make preliminary surveys and estimates of cost and frequently su- 

 pervise the construction of drainage systems. 



Owing to the reduction in the appropriation it has been necessary 

 to limit much of the work to States which are cooperating with the 

 bureau by furnishing a portion of the funds. Among the important 

 studies carried on under cooperative agreements have been the 

 preparation of sectional maps showing the irrigated areas of Cali- 

 fornia, an investigation of the irrigation of deciduous orchards in 

 California, observations on the South Platte River in Colorado to 

 determine the number and extent of diversions and the amount of 

 seepage and return waters, keeping records of the fluctuations of 

 the water table in New Mexico as a guide in planning for the drainage 

 of water-logged lands, and studies of the use of water in western 

 Texas. 



f^ The more extended use of concrete; pipe to convey and distribute 

 water for irrigation purposes is being urged in order to lessen the 

 waste of water occurring in earthen channels. Two years a^o the 

 concrete-pipe industry of the Pacific coast was not on a creditable 

 basis. Much of the pipe made was inferior in quality and little had 

 been done to standardize the output of the various factories. As a 

 result of two years' investigation by members of this division better 

 materials are being used, the mixture better proportioned, the 

 strength and durability of the pipe greatly increased, better facili- 

 ties provided for the making of the pipe, and better methods recom- 

 mended for laying it. A bulletin on The Use of Concrete Pipe for 

 Irrigation has been submitted for publication. 



Progi-ess has been made in assembling data for the preparation 

 of a report on the flow of water in metal pipe, which is to form part 

 of the series of publications on the flow of water in various tyjies of 

 conduits. 



