352 Annual Report Agricultural Expp:kimlnt Station 



a state water commission is jeopardizing the interests of this State 

 in the waters of the Colorado River. In Yuma County the water 

 rights have never been adjudicated and in the other counties, with 

 the exception of Maricopa, the adjudications have been only partial, 

 are admittedly ineffective, and in many instances are counter to well- 

 established irrigation law. Moreover, there are scores of small 

 sources of supply, where a few farmers struggle for the water and 

 not infrequently a murder is the inevitable result. 



Water rights should be as well protected by the State as are 

 land rights, and the irrigation supplies which belong, and always 

 will belong to the State, should be administered by the State. This 

 department has exerted its efforts to stimulate a demand on the 

 part of the agriculturists for the modern code. It is hoped that the 

 coming legislature will attack this problem and enact a code based 

 on the principles of the Wyoming and Oregon codes but with such 

 modifications as are needed to meet the needs of this State. 



In the absence of any workable method of adjudication of the 

 water rights of the Gila watershed, the conflicting interests of Pinal 

 County have endeavored to settle their priorities b}' mutual agree- 

 ment, but so far without success. This department is assisting in 

 the negotiations. 



CAISSON WELLS 



The type of well, originated b}' this Station in 1907, has 

 proved to be well adapted to the groundwater conditions of such val- 

 leys as the Santa Cruz, and these wells are being adopted increas- 

 ingly. The station is called upon frequently to plan and start the con- 

 struction of wells, — sometimes in emergencies where the ground- 

 water must be developed quickly in order to save a crop. The high 

 cost of steel casing during the past year has increased the preference 

 for concrete caisson wells. 



PUMP IRRIGATION 



The acreage of land irrigated from wells has been increased 

 greatly during the past two years. The location of the best ground- 

 water supplies is being ascertained and the high prices of agricul- 

 tural products have warranted even a high cost for irrigation. Prob- 

 lems of pumping machinery are being given more attention. No 

 new types of machinery have demonstrated any advantages over 

 older types, but more care is being observed in designing pumping 

 plants to fit the conditions of lift and discharge. 



