10 THE IRRIGA TION A GE. 



mendation, are rendering valuable service to the West by their in- 

 struction in irrigation engineering and an investigation of its prob- 

 lems. This should be supplemented by equally thorough instruction 

 in the laws and methods which should control the ownership and dis- 

 tribution of streams. If Jefferson was right in believing that one of 

 the functions of universities is to form the statesman, legislators and 

 judges on whom public prosperity and individual happiness so much 

 depends there is no question that the state universities of the arid 

 region can in no way more effectively serve the commonwealths which 

 support them than by instructing their students in the principles 

 which should govern the disposal of the commodity which is destined 

 to exercise a larger influence ovt>r the prosperity and growth of the 

 western third of the United States than all other influences combined.' 



The splendid work which El wood Mead and his assistants are do- 

 ing throughout the West along irrigation lines, is becoming well 

 known. As state engineer of Wyoming, Mr. Mead achieved for his 

 state such an enviable reputation throughout the irrigated region 

 that his broader work of investigation under the general government 

 is meeting with much favor and is being watched with deep interest. 

 His first annual report on "Irrigation Investigation" is just issuing 

 and will be found of great value to the West. 



It deals with the methods in use in the arid states in the distribu- 

 tion and use of water in irrigation, and gives a large number of meas- 

 urements made to determine the duty of water, the losses from seep- 

 age and evaporation [in canals, and describes the methods by which 

 the water supply may be more effectively and economically applied 

 to crops. It contains papers discussing the results of the year's in- 

 vestigations by El wood Mead, expert in charge, Clarence T.Johnston, 

 assistant, and reports and discussions by special agents Thomas 

 Berry, Colorado; W. M. Reed, New Mexico; W. H. Code, Arizona; W. 

 Irving, California; R. C. Gemmell and George L. Swendsen, Utah; 

 D. W. Ross, Idaho; Samuel Fortier, Montana, and O. V. P. Stout 

 Nebraska. It is illustrated by views, diagrams and maps showino- the 

 location and character of the investigations made. 



"The investigation," says Mr. Mead, "deal with problems which 

 sorely perplex the irrigators and canal builders of the arid West. 

 Their comprehensive study is a new feature of national aid to irrio-a- 

 tion development in this country. Heretofore the leading object of 

 such aid has been to promote the construction of new canals, to show 

 how much land there was above existing ditches which could be re- 

 claimed, and the benefits which would come from such reclamation. 

 It is believed that this investigation also will tend to secure these 

 ends, but its primary purpose is to promote the welfare of the people 

 living under the ditches already built, to render the farms now irri- 



