PULSE OF IRRIGATION. 



GOVERNMENT BUILDING OFFICIALS 

 MAKING WATER RECORDS. 



Prof. Elwood Mead, who for the past 

 two years has been the Government expert 

 in charge of the work of irrigation experi- 

 ments, is in Washington and will remain 

 there during the remainder of the winter. 

 While there he will have charge of the is- 

 suance of various reports of his depart- 

 ment, material for which was gathered 

 during the last season in the field. In 

 speaking of the work of the irrigation in- 

 vestigations, Prof. Mead says that two 

 general lines of investigation are being 

 pursued. First, the study of laws and in- 

 stitutions relating to irrigation in different 

 regions; and, second, the determination of 

 the actual use made of the irrigation 

 waters. 



This work is clearly differentiated from 

 that of the geological survey, which deals 

 with the determination of the. water sup- 

 ply of steam gaugings, and the location of 

 reservoir sites by topographical surveys. 

 The survey deals with questions of irriga- 

 tion above th canal; this office deals with 

 those below the canal. That is, the De- 

 partment of Agriculture deals with the 

 distribution of water and its use by farm- 

 ers and horticulturists. Every effort is 

 made to avoid duplicating the work of the 

 survey. In several States this office is 

 working alongside the survey, and a defi- 

 nite field of work is being covered by each 

 agency. Work has been done or is in 

 progress this year in seventeen States and 

 Territories. 



Arizona Measurements of the duty of 

 water in the Salt River valley by a special 



agent and in co-operation with the Arizona 

 experiment stations. 



California A comprehensive study of 

 the water rights, irrigation laws and prac- 

 tices, and the distribution and duty of 

 water on eight typical streams in different 

 parts of the State,' as follows: Salinas 

 river, San Joaquin river, Yuba river, Los 

 Angeles river, Susan river, Sweetwater 

 river and Cache river. 



This work is conducted by special agents 

 of the department, and in co-operation 

 with the California Water and Forest As- 

 sociation, the University of California and 

 Leland Stanford University. The Califor- 

 nia Water and Forest Association has con- 

 tributed over $5000 to these investigations. 

 This is the most comprehensive investiga- 

 tion regarding irrigation laws, customs and 

 conditions which has been undertaken in 

 this country. A report on this work is 

 now ready for publication. 

 * * * 



Colorado A report on the rights of 

 water from the Big Thompson river, show- 

 ing how water rights are established and 

 protected in Colorado by the State engi- 

 neer, and a study of the system of the 

 storage of water on the Poudre river, by a 

 special agent of the department. 



Hawaii A report on the irrigation sys- 

 tem of Hawaii by the director of the 

 Hawaiian experiment station. 



Idaho Measurements of the duty of 

 water on canals in southern Idaho, in co- 

 operation, with the State engineer's office. 



Montana Measurements of the duty of 

 water on canals in different parts of Mon- 

 tana, and special experiments regarding 

 the amount of water required by different 



