160 LAND DRAINAGE 



adjacent to the Jordan River in Utah, by seepage waters 

 from higher adjacent irrigated areas. 1 In a similar 

 manner it was charged that the raisin grape industry in the 

 vicinity of Fresno, California, was ruined. 2 



Extended areas of vineyard have been discarded and 

 planted to grasses, which contribute some feed to dairy 

 animals. Land values of these orchards have fallen from 

 $350 to $15 an acre. The destruction of the vines was 

 charged to the presence of alkalies. Investigation has 

 shown that the ground water now stands within three 

 feet of the surface. A recent investigator says : " But 

 it is clear that the alkalinity of the soil alone would 

 have done little damage had it not been for the rise of 

 ground water so near to the surface. Sixty thousand 

 acres have thus been affected. It has been found that 

 this same difficulty occurs in irrigated areas where the 

 presence of alkalies do not exist in injurious amounts. 

 It is admitted, however, that where alkali salts do 

 occur in seepage ground waters, they undoubtedly do 

 injury, and especially from the incrustations resulting 

 from surface evaporation, and that this incrustation 

 may be so severe as to require heavy flowing of water 

 for a few times in irrigating. It has been found that 

 where drainage methods can be established, and the 

 ground water lowered, even a few feet, beneficial effects 

 are quickly apparent." 



The installing of tile drains on such lands will not differ 

 materially from that in other lands. The following facts 

 are offered : 



It is not advisable to use less than 4-inch tile for 



*Part 1, 12th Annual Report, United States Geological 

 Survey. 



2 Bulletin 217, Office Exp. Station. 



