IRRIGATION FINANCIAL PROBLEMS. 143 



if the actual area under cultivation is not augmented, the trans- 

 ference of water from the foothills to the plains will usually result 

 in larger profits being derived from each irrigable acre, by an 

 increased output of produce and reduced expenditure of labour in 

 the cultivation of the soils. The possibilities for carrying out 

 projects of this description, financially feasible, along the two 

 ranges of the Langeberg and the Zwartberg are enormous. At 

 present most of the permanent streams upon these two ranges are 

 fully utilised for irrigation purposes, but their usefulness can be 

 immeasurably increased by development upon the lines initiated 

 in the Nuy Valley and other places previously mentioned. A 

 golden rule for irrigationists is : "Convey your water by gravita- 

 tion to the railway, and not your produce." 



Recent experiences have shown that a combined body of 

 farmers is fully alive to advantages likely to accrue by develop- 

 ment upon scientific lines, where the projects are financially sound. 

 The continual intercourse between landowner and the Irrigation 

 Engineer is bearing useful results, while the practical demonstra- 

 tion of actual facts as to the value of irrigable lands commanded 

 by well-thought-out schemes, is bringing men into line who would, 

 a few years ago, have exhibited strong opposition to large projects 

 constructed with state aid. 



The larger works now deemed necessary for the conveyance 

 of water over long distances require large sums of money, as well 

 as a considerable amount of patience to bring them to fruition. 

 These works are usually costly and beyond the scope of individual 

 effort, besides being impracticable for private enterprise. 



ANNUAL WATER RATES. 



Before any irrigation project can be accepted as feasible, the 

 cost per morgen for supplying the water must be considered. 

 Experience has shown that an annual water rate of one pound per 

 morgen per annum is a payment which does not prove burdensome 

 to the farmer. That sum is the highest water rate in force at 

 present in the Breede \'alley, including maintenance charges, which 

 the landowners are generally willing at this stage to entertain. 

 This water rate could be doubled with ease without the farmers 

 finding the water too expensive upon the best soils. 



However, as the landowners are unprepared to subcribe to 

 schemes where the water rate is likely to cost £2 per morgen per 

 annum, there is nothing to be done but allow the more costly 

 projects to remain in abeyance until the demand increases for 

 irrigable lands. This pertinent question of the annual water rate 

 is one which is uppermost in each project. It is a question which 

 must receive careful examination. An ideal form of payment 

 would be a graduated tax upon the various classes of 

 soils dominated by the project. But who is to decide which class 

 of soil must pay a 20s., and which class a los. water rate. 

 Naturally each owner would wish to pay the lowest sum. There- 

 fore, all lands pay one uniform rate, so the ground can only be 

 rated at a sum which meets the lowest classification of soils to be 

 irrigated. In a scheme where all the land to be irrigated is under 



