ARID AGRICULTURE. 



385 



WATER 

 SUPPLY AND 

 WATER 

 BIGHTS 



THE LAY OF 

 THE LAND 



The water supply in most sections of the arid 

 region is limited. There is more land than 

 there is water. The water is the valuable asset 

 the land is practically thrown in. There are 

 different laws in the different arid States govern- 

 ing the appropriation and use of water. The 

 new settler should become familiar with these 

 hi\\s. He should satisfy himself in regard to 

 the water available for his use and know that he 

 has a right to that use which will be protected. 

 The laws in some States provide that the waters 

 of the State belong to the State ; that the water 

 belongs to the land for which a decree of appro- 

 priation is granted ; that this water can only be 

 used on this particular land, and that there shall 

 be no monopoly of or bartering and speculation 

 in water for irrigation. The principle of right 

 by prior appropriation is maintained and the 

 new home builder should be acquainted with the 

 significance of these laws. 



Some lands are so rough or rolling, or steep, 

 or flat, or hard, or leaky, that they can never be 

 profitably irrigated. Here, as under dry farm- 

 ing, the manner in which the soil will act toward 

 water is important, Some soils break up into a 

 loose dust that will be carried away by water; 

 others may dissolve like sugar or salt and others 

 may swell up or sink. Of course these soils are 

 rare and seldom occur over any extent of surface, 

 but the discriminating buyer will try to know 



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