216 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



massive structure of earth and of stone masonry ] 25 

 feet high. As there are very few higher dams than 

 this in the world it shows the immense progress 

 made in engineering work and in public opinion of 

 the advisability of such great structures. This 

 reservoir will store 60,000 acre feet of water. 



In summing up we find that there has been in- 

 augurated and under construction irrigation works 

 for watering over one-third of a million acres. Not 

 the least important feature of this progress is the 

 greatly improved character of all the works now 

 being built, whereby a saving in the cost of annual 

 maintenance is being brought about. Another pleasing 

 feature is that the younger generation of Utah, edu- 

 cated naturally to irrigation methods, is rapidly 

 settling up these newly opened regions. The vastly 

 improved methods of construction, moreover, has not 

 enhanced the cost of a perpetual water right; for in 

 Utah it is the rule that the land and the water go to- 

 gether and that the owner of the land eventually be- 

 comes the owner of the right to use the water. 



Another gratifying feature is that the duty of water 

 is being greatly enhanced, our people are learning 

 that much less water suffices for a given acreage 

 while an increase in products is also brought about. 



The year's record of active work has more than ever 

 emphasized the Utah system of building even great 

 irrigation works by association, by co-operation, by 

 swapping land for both labor and material, and by 

 making a beginning finally construct the whole with- 

 out debt. 



A forestry association, composed of some of the 

 best educated and thinking men of this region, who 

 are earnest workers, is already doing good work to 

 not only save what we have left of our forests, but 

 also by " parking " to promote forest growth all along 

 the lines of the headwaters of our streams. 



In this connection, however, the best results 

 effected has been the forming of the State Irrigation 

 Association of Utah. As a potent factor in promoting 

 irrigation and all cognate matters this will probably 

 do much to educate our people and keep them in the 

 front rank of irrigation agriculturists. The machinery 

 of this organization is simple but we believe effective. 



THE IDAHO EEPOET. 



IN his report to the Fourth National Irrigation 

 Congress, D. W. Ross, the member of the com- 

 mittee from Idaho, very clearly outlines the work 

 accomplished in his State during the past year. 



A portion of the report follows: 



The Idaho Legislature last winter enacted, not 

 without bitter opposition, three very important 

 irrigation laws. 



The first act emphasizes constitutional provisions, 

 defines more in detail the relation of the irrigator to 

 the company, prescribes for the care and supervision 

 of laterals and the compulsory election of Water 

 Masters by the irrigators themselves. In the case of 

 irrigation companies (not mutual) provisions are 

 made for an adjudication of rates charged for water 

 upon petition by the irrigators to the District Court. 

 Such companies are to furnish a release to the pur- 

 chaser of a so-called water right from all its liabilities 

 and bonded indebtedness. All payments due such 

 companies for the use of water shall become a first 

 lien against the land or crops upon which water has 

 been used. 



The second law enacted is a District Irrigation 

 Law, so similar to the " Wright Law " of California 



that it needs no description in these lines. This law, 

 based upon the local needs and natural conditions of 

 the State, was demanded by the people, and is be- 

 lieved to be just and proper. It has for its object the 

 construction and maintenance of canals for irrigation 

 by the district which is to be benefited by them, the 

 merging of corporate interests into that of the land 

 owners in the case of canals already constructed and 

 owned by companies. 



The effect on the State at large will be great, as 

 the speculative feature will be eliminated as nearly 

 as possible, and irrigation development in Idaho will 

 afford a safe investment to capital. 



The immediate effect, locally, will be an op- 

 portunity for the irrigator to secure water at actual 

 cost, a stimulation of the business instincts of the 

 people and a fostering of the spirit of co-operation 

 and home industry. 



The last but by far the most important measure 

 adopted was the acceptance by the State from the 

 United States of the million acre grant under the 

 provisions of the "Carey Act" and the adoption of a 

 business plan governing the reclamation of the same. 

 This act also creates the office of State Engineer. 



It would be impossible to even outline in this brief 

 report the far reaching effects to our State of the 

 developments made possible under this act. 



As agriculture will become one of the greatest in- 

 dustries of Idaho, as it is desired that all who live 

 in our State shall own their own homes, and as in 

 the greater portion of Idaho homes must be made by 

 means of irrigation, we advise the people, when 

 making application of these laws, to act in a con- 

 servative manner and to preserve, inviolate, one pro- 

 vision which is now incorporated in them, the pro- 

 vision which will ultimately lead to district owner- 

 ship of all canals and water for irrigation. 



The developments which are likely to begin soon 

 under provisions of the grant of Congress will em- 

 ploy many of the brightest minds in the State, will 

 furnish labor to thousands and homes for tens of 

 thousands. 



IEEIGATION PEOSPEOTS IN NEBEASKA. 



BY I. A. FORT. 



DURING the past two years the progress of the 

 development of the irrigation sentiment has 

 been rapid. Nebraska has taken a forward step 

 in the construction of irrigation canals, that have as 

 now constructed, a capacity to irrigate fully 1,000,000 

 acres. At the present time the question is not alone 

 one of irrigation but how can we irrigate. The Gospel 

 of Irrigation has become an accepted principle in this 

 state. 



A recent decision of the Nebraska Supreme Court 

 on a case that involved the rights of riparian land or 

 water-right owners has, to a limited extent, checked 

 the development of irrigation enterprises. Just how 

 far this decision will affect the Nebraska Irrigation 

 Law is a question to be decided soon by the same 

 court. There are now pending in this court two other 

 cases that will fully test the laws passed at the session 

 of the last legislature, the case of Paxton & Hershey 

 vs. the Farmers and Merchants Canal Co., of Lincoln 

 County, Neb., and the test case of the Alfalfa District 

 Irrigation Co. formed under the " Wright Act " of 

 Nebraska of Keith County. 



If the recent decision of the court that the rights 

 under our State constitution of riparian land owners 

 still exist then the irrigation laws and interest have 



