4 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



general public, as well as students and 

 practical farmers, for in no other way can 

 such a desirable and fundamental knowl- 

 edge of irrigation be obtained. 



The first installment appears on page 16 

 of this number. 



A Scientific "Modern Mexico" that 



Short-Cut. keen observer of the prog- 



ress of events irr the Land of the Sun, says 

 suggestively: 



"Irrigation has been practiced in many 

 parts of Mexico for centuries, but within 

 the last few years the use of iron and vit- 

 rified pipe has made it possible to put 

 many acres under water that are inaccess- 

 ible for the gravity ditch. Today many 

 plans are in embryo for taking water over 

 hills by means of syphons and reclaiming 

 thousands of acres that could not be 

 watered except at a prohibitive cost under 

 the old systems. 



There are innumerable oppportunities 

 still to be found in Mexico where a moder- 

 ate expenditure for the installation of an 

 irrigation pipe line would quickly repay 

 the outlay by bringing many added acres 

 into sure and profitable production." 



The irrigation canals and conduits of 

 old Mexico stand as unexcelled monuments 

 to the ambition and perseverance of the 

 early Spanish invaders while the Aztec 

 and prehistoric systems from which the 

 conquerers gathered their ideas are mar- 

 velous achievements of engineering skill. 



But tne laborious effort of countless 

 slaves thro' the unknown centuries could 

 not remove the stupendous mountains or 

 span the yawning barrancas at their feet. 

 And now comes science with a simple prin 

 ciple and a hollow tube and lo! by her 

 magic the imprisoned waters of cloudland 

 lakes hasten to thirsty valleys over hither- 

 to unsurmountable walls of unyielding 

 granite. The sun no longer levies tribute 

 on the passing flood and the waving fields 



rejoice in the fulfilment of their desires. 

 The practical application of the syphon 

 idea need not be confined to Mexico and 

 as it possesses some superior advantages 

 in economy, facility and expediency should 

 be seriously considered in a commercial 

 light. We invite the opinions of practical 

 irrigationists, experts and scientfic minds 

 on the pipe line plan. 



to Promote 

 Education. 



Commenting on one of the 

 tho thousand opportunities 

 for development in the mountain territory 

 up and down the Rockies a correspondent 

 says: 



"A ride over the stage line between 

 Casa Grande and Florence does not bring 

 to the view of the traveller many range 

 cattle, but the occasional few seen are in 

 excellent condition. The feed in the val- 

 ley is very short, which forces the cattle 

 into the hills at this season of the year. 

 There is a valley, when the water develop- 

 ment is brought about, as it must be ere 

 long, that will be second to none in the 

 southwest as a livestock section. Live- 

 stock farming will be the future, to a very 

 large degree, of all the irrigated valleys, of 

 the southwest. That most succulent of 

 forage crops alfalfa, produces to perfec- 

 tion, and in no other way can it be so prof- 

 itably disposed of as by feeding it to the 

 cattle of the surrounding territory." 



This is a common observation by trav- 

 elers, always quick to see the possibilities 

 of valley lands when well watered. 



A well chosen committee representing 

 colony enterprises in overcrowded cities 

 would make the same report with the ad- 

 ded force of official authority which would 

 give their report an educational value of 

 great importance. 



Send out your committees, and let edu- 

 cation begin. 



