138 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



desert land and similar acts. Charles W. Irish, chief 

 of the Office of Irrigation Inquiry of the Department 

 of Agriculture, is continuing the collection of infor- 

 mation as to the best modes of agriculture by irriga- 

 tion, and is giving information by letter to individual 

 farmers of the country as to methods of constructing 

 small reservoirs, ditches, and other means of procur- 

 ing water. F. H. Newell, the secretary of the board, 

 is in charge of the hydrographic work of the United 

 States Geological Survey, is measuring the streams 

 and ascertaining the water supply, and has in prepara- 

 tion or already in print a number of reports relating to 

 the general subject of irrigation and of the quantity and 

 fluctuations of important streams. Milton Whitney, 

 chief of the Division of Agricultural Soils of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture, has been investigating the 

 relation of soils and water, the behavior and moisture 

 in various kinds of soils, and obtaining information of 

 fundamental importance to the farmer. Henry Gan- 

 nett, chief topographer of the United States Geologi- 

 cal Survey, has for twenty years or more been mak- 

 ing surveys in the West; has explored many of the 

 rivers of that region, and has written upon the agri- 

 cultural value of many districts. He now has general 

 supervision of the topographic surveys, including the 

 selection of reservoir sites. B. E. Fernow, chief of 

 the forestry division of the Department of Agriculture, 



is collecting information as to the relation of forests 

 to moisture and to protection of crops, showing the 

 dependence of irrigators upon proper preservation 

 and utilization of forest areas. B. T. Galloway, chief 

 of the division of vegetable physiology of the De- 

 partment of Agriculture, though coming last, has in 

 charge an investigation of great value, since it con- 

 cerns the actual behavior of plants in respect to 

 their supply of water. 



The Line of 

 Work to be 



Board of Irrigation has adopted 

 a constitution and a resolution which 

 indicate the general trend and scope 

 of its work. After consultation with prominent West- 

 ern men, the board will also cooperate with the vari- 

 ous States in encouraging development under/ the 

 Carey law. The constitution adopted is brief and is 

 reproduced here, as a matter of great interest to 

 readers of THE IRRIGATION AGE: 



Article I. Name. This association shall be known as "Board 

 of Irrigation, Executive Departments." 



Article II. Objects. Its objects are the correlation of the 

 several lines of distinct yet related work for irrigation carried on 

 by different departments of the Government, and the discussion 

 and rendering of opinions upon such matters pertaining to irri- 

 gation as may be brought before the Board. 



Ariicle III. Membership. The Board shall consist of the Di- 

 rector of the Geological Survey, the Chief of the Weather Bureau, 

 the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the Assistant Commissioner 



YOUNG ORANGE ORCHARD, NORTH ONTARIO, CALIFORNIA. 

 Through Courtesy of "The Land of Sunshine." 



