OPPORTUNITIES FOR IRRIGATION IN CALIFORNIA. 



In this connection it is of very great importance that the people of 

 the State at large as well as of the various localities directly interested 

 should study carefully and give their best thought to overcoming those 

 difficulties which must of necessity under present conditions hamper and 

 somewhat delay irrigation development in the State, whether by the Na- 

 tional Government or by private enterprise. 



One of the obstacles to early and complete irrigation development in 

 some localities in the State will no doubt sound strange to the average 

 Californian: That is the absence of a united public opinion favorable to 

 complete irrigation development and appreciative of its very great benefits. 

 That such a condition should exist in any arid or semi-humid portion of a 

 State which has made more splendid progress and achieved greater tri- 

 umphs under irrigation than possibly any region in the world seems pass- 

 ing strange; but in some important localities it is a factor to be reckoned 

 with. 



Another feature of the situation in some localities not favorable to 

 early and cornplete irrigation development is the existence of vast tracts of 

 land in a single great corporate or individual ownership, a condition which 

 must be changed before irrigation can be accomplished under the Reclama- 

 tion Law. This division of large estates seems somewhat difficult of ac- 

 complishment in some localities by reason of the failure to appreciate 

 fully the great increase in values which irrigation will bring. 



But of vastly greater importance to the future development of the 

 State by irrigation and to the peace and prosperity of the lands already 

 under irrigation than are the features of the situation above referred to 

 is the question of the equitable, speedy, and final settlement of the ques- 

 tion of rights to water already acquired and the adoption of some method 

 and procedure for the just, orderly and economical acquirement of future 

 rights. From an irrigation standpoint this is the paramount question in 

 California to-day, and the extension of the irrigated area of the State 

 whether under government auspices or private enterprise must of necessity 

 be at least retarded if not in many instances prohibited by conditions under 

 which it is impossible to determine absolutely in advance of expensive liti- 

 gation the exact nature or extent of rights now established and therefore 

 the amount of water available for further extension of the irrigated area. 

 The friends of California and her future irrigation development cannot 

 afford to ignore or attempt to minimize the difficulties that the present 

 uncertainty as to the extent or volume of acquired rights, and therefore as 

 to the amount of water in streams still available for irrigation in certain 

 districts, place in the path of future development. 



Each of the arid States presents some special favorable conditions 

 as each has its peculiar difficulties in the further considerable extension 

 of her irrigated areas. Perhaps none of the States and Territories to 

 which the Reclamation Act applies presents on the whole and taking 

 into consideration every factor such magnificent opportunities for exten- 

 sive development as does California; and with the removal of the obstacles 

 to which I have referred California will have a splendid future development 

 under irrigation both through the agency of the National Government and 

 by private enterprise. 



Only those who have seen the marvelous changes wrought in the West 

 through irrigation can appreciate the full significance of the National Re- 

 clamation Act. In building great storage reservoirs and diversion dams; 

 in constructing huge canals, laterals and headgates, the National Govern- 

 ment purposes to make homes for homeseekers through the bringing of 

 water to the dry but fertile soil. 



It is hoped that every newspaper, every organization and every citizen 

 in California will co-operate with the Government movement for National 

 irrigation. Publicity of the great work the Government is doing in the West 

 to make more room for the homesteader will secure the desired result. 



