EXTRACT FROM REPORT OF 

 SECRETARY OF AGRI- 

 CULTURE. 



Much progress has been made during the past year, in the 

 organization and development of the irrigation investigations con- 

 ducted through the Office of Experiment Stations. 



In accordance with tho terms of the appropriation act, two 

 general lines of investigation have have been pursued: (1) The study 

 of the laws and institutions relating to irrigation in different regions 

 and (2) the determination of the actual use made of irrigation waters. 



The largest single enterprise connected with these investigations 

 has been in the State of California. The growing value and increas- 

 ing scarcity of water in that state are creating imperative need of 

 better laws to control the distribution of streams, and there is much 

 public interest in this subject. This local interest has been shown in 

 a most substantial and gratifying form by the co-operation of the 

 California Water and Forest Association in our work and the contri- 

 bution of several thousand dollars to be expended under the direction 

 of the agents of the Department. The University -of California and. 

 Leland Stanford University have also given efficient aid to this enter- 

 prise, and have been represented on the staff of agents employed in 

 the prosecution of the work. 



Eight typical streams in different parts of the state have been 

 thoroughly studied with reference to the conditions under which the 

 water for irrigation is owned, distributed, and used. A compre- 

 hensive report on these investigations is now in course of preparation. 

 It is believed that this is the largest and most comprehensive inquiry 

 regarding irrigation laws, customs, and conditions which has been 

 undertaken in this country. Similar investigations, though on a 

 smaller scale, have been made in Utah, Colorado, and other States. 



The measurements of the duty of water undertaken last year 

 have been extended this season, regular stations for this purpose 

 having been maintained in eleven States and Territories in the 

 irrigated region. A detailed report on the observations of the 

 previous season is now in press, which includes a larger amount of 

 data on this subject than has ever been brought together before. 

 Studies of the losses from evaporation and seepage and of the amount- 

 and character of sediment contained in irrigation waters have also 

 been carried on in a number of localities. 



