THE IRRIGA 11 ON A GK. 149 



and irrigated by the cheaper and more easily constructed ditches of 

 the earlier settlers. 



This plan of conducting the business of irrigation development 

 has its good and its bad features. Through its agency great volumes 

 of capital have been invested in the development of the agricultural 

 possibilities of the arid region, much of which if dependent upon indi- 

 vidual or community resources would have remained unproductive for 

 many years. It is the corporation enterprises which enlist the inter- 

 est of a majority of intending immigrants. It is usually a part of their 

 business to effect the sale and settlement of the lands under them, 

 and their magnitude usually warrants the expenditure of large sums 

 in advertising for this purpose. In some cases the results achieved 

 under these systems not only prove satisfactory to the farmers, but 

 prove them to be safe and profitable investments for capital. In many 

 respects these large canals are the best and most economical systems 

 for the distribution of water to the lands covered by them. These 

 lands are usually in a large and compact body, which gives many 

 social and industrial advantages to the settlers upon them. A greater 

 area can be irrigated with a given volume of water than by means of 

 a multiplicity of scattered individual and community ditches. Taken 

 altogether, these large systems have many things to recommend them 

 and have materially advanced irrigation development and benefited 

 the land owners under them. 



In most instances, however, the investors in these enterprises 

 have not met with the success they deserve. Many causes have con- 

 tributed to this result, some of which have already been indicated. 

 The systems have almost uniformly cost much more than the- first es- 

 timates, while the area of irrigable land under them, the irrigating 

 capacity of the canals, and the rapidity with which their settlement 

 and the consequent use of the water could be accomplished have all 

 been almost as uniformly estimated. Many years often elapse before 

 the total discharge of the canal is utilized and before the income from 

 water sold even meets the fixed charges for management and opera- 

 tion. Their location is sometimes distant from railway lines, cities, 

 and local markets, which increases the expense and difficulties of se- 

 curing settlers. If they follow individual and community ditches near 

 settlements and markets already established they have later water 

 rights than the earlier and smaller ditches. This inferiority of 

 priority lessens the value of the property and is often a source of an- 

 noyance and expensive litigation with the earlier ditch owners and 

 with their own consumers, who may have their water supply reduced 

 or cut off in time of scarcity. Unless those charged with the design 

 and construction of the works have made a special and very careful 

 study of the lands, water supply, and prior rights thereto before be- 



