272 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



of climate as measured by the temperature and rainfall. 

 The following is taken from a meteorological tabula- 

 tion covering a period of twelve years: 



Altitude. Annual Jan'y July Seasonal Precipi- 

 mean. mean. mean, range, tion. 



Kennewick 350 54.1 29.7 76.5 46.8 6.64 



Sunnyside 750 54.1 29.4 73.1 43.7 6.36 



North Yakima... 1,078 5.3 29.2 71.7 42.5 8.55 

 Ellensburg 1,500 46.2 23.8 65.6 41.8 9.05 



In general, however, it may be said that the sum- 

 mer climate of the Yakima valley resembles that of the 

 California valleys in the length of the growing season, 

 the number of sunny days, the absence of late spring 

 and early fall frosts and the immunity from destruc- 

 tive storms. The winters are short and mild. 



Water Supply for Irrigation. Prof. 0. L. Waller, 

 agent and expert of the State Experiment Station and 

 the United States department of agriculture for irri- 

 gation investigations, says upon this subject: 



"The situation of Yakima County so near the slopes 

 of the Cascade range possibly provides a more abundant 

 supply of water than is enjoyed by any other irrigated 

 section in the West. The enormous rain and snow fall 

 upon the mountains gives rise to a large number of 

 small streams which course down the watershed with 

 rapid fall to join the swift currents of the Yakima and 

 Natches, which in turn descend at the rate of thirty to 

 forty feet to the mile. By reason of this step grade of tfie 

 natural water courses the irrigating canals draw rapidly 

 away from the streams, and with a minimum of length 

 and expense, reclaim a maximum of land. The slope 

 of the bluffs inclosing the valleys being for the most 

 part gradual the difficulties of construction are corres- 

 pondingly decreased. These conditions of an abundant 

 water supply and its economical development have pro- 

 moted irrigation enterprises and hastened the settle- 

 ment of the country. The pioneers, attracted by the' 

 ease of the undertaking and the promise of rich results, 

 dug small ditches and reclaimed small tracts along the 

 rivers. For many miles the results of their labors may 

 be seen in beautiful fields and orchards. Following 

 them came the canal companies with ample means, and 

 the work which was accomplished by the pioneers on a 

 limited plan has been advanced on a broad scale by the 

 latter, and there now exists a continuous line of irriga- 

 tion systems from Kennewick to the Selah valley." 



Maj. J W. Powell, director of the geological sur- 

 vey, said some years ago in an address at North Yakima : 



"There is more than waier enough, flowing through 

 Yakima County, to irrigate every acre of arable land ; 

 and in this respect the Yakima valley is especially and 

 exceptionally favored, as its water supply is superior to 

 that of any other region in the West, with but one ex- 

 ception, that of Boise, Idaho." 



It is only during the latter part of July and the 

 month of August, a period of about six weeks, that the 

 demands upon the river in future may possibly exceed 

 the present minimum run-off. Before September 1 the 

 hay and vegetable crops of the country are made, so 

 far as irrigation is concerned, and the demand for water 

 after that date is for the comparatively small area of 

 orchards, and for new seeding, which also represents 

 but a small percentage of the area to which water is 

 supplied during the season. During the first half of the 

 irrigation season the normal flow of the river is more 

 than sufficient for any possible future requirements. 



It will be apparent therefore that by utilizing the nat- 

 ural reservoir sites at the heads of the Yakima, Natches 

 and Tietan Rivers for storage, as now contemplated by 

 the national Government, to be drawn upon only during 

 the period of minimum flow of the river, the supply of 

 water, which is now, without storage, ample for exist- 

 ing requirements, will be sufficient for any possible de- 

 mands of the future. 



Irrigated Areas. The following table shows the 

 locations, names of the principal canals of the valley, 

 when constructed, the length of main canal, the acres 

 covered thereby and the areas now under cultivation: 



Location and name 



When Length Acres Acres In 

 con- miles, covered, cultiva- 

 str'ct'd. tion. 



Kittitas County 

 "Cascade Canal" . ,.1903 42 



15,800 



10,000 7,000 



1,300 1,200 



6,784 5,356 



2,200 2,200 



5,000 5,000 



"Town Ditch" 1887 30 



"Olson" Ditch 1892 6 



"West Side" Ditch 1889 15 



"Bull" Ditch 6 



"Tanum" Ditch 6 



Yakima County 

 "Selah Valley" Ditch ...1892 21 9,000 5,500 



"Wapatox" Ditch 1884 9 2,850 1,180 



"Congdon" Ditch 1894 25 4,200 3,500 



"Gleed" Ditch 14 2,000 1,850 



"Natchez & Cowyche" 



Ditch 1881 12 1,500 1,400 



"Union" Ditch 1884 6 2,700 2,300 



"Schanno" Ditch 1,600 1,000 



"Selah Koxee" Ditch ....1900 26 6,000 55,000 



"Taylor" Ditch 1880 4 1,400 1,000 



"Fowler" Ditch 1885 12 3,000 2,750 



"Hubbard" Ditch 1880 10 



"Moxre" Ditch 1880 10 5,000 4,000 



"New" Reservation Canal 1903 4 24,000 



"Old" Reservation Canal. 1898 12y 2 700 700 



"Sunnyside Canal" 1891 57 64,000 30,000 



"Gilbert" Ditch 1900 7 2,500 2,500 



"Toppenish" Ditch 1897 4 500 500 



"Prosser Falls" Ditch ...1894 10 3,500 1,502 



"Kiona" Ditch 3,000 300 



"Kennewick" Canal 1902 35 14,000 1,000 



"Grosscup" Ditch 6 3,000 



Towns. The towns of the valley starting from the 

 lower end and following up and enumerating only such 

 places as are almost entirely dependent upon the irri- 

 gated areas for their support, are as follows: Kenne- 

 wick, Kiona, Prosser, Mabton, Sunnyside, Alfalfa, Top- 

 penish, Zillah, Wapato, Yakima City, North Yakima, 

 Ellensburg and Thorpe. The aggregate urban popula- 

 tion will approximate 12,000 persons and many of the 

 places named are important distributing and shipping 

 centers. 



[In our August issue will appear an article by Mr. 

 Granger on the Sunnyside Irrigation District. EDITOR.] 



THE IRRIGATION AGE, 1 year $1.00 



THE PRIMER OF IRRIGATION, a finely illustrated 



300-page book. 2.00 



II both are ordered send .... 2.50 



Address, IRRIGATION AGE, 



112 Dearborn Street, Chicago. 



