340 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION July 



only a matter of getting water to them product. For examples of the great 



when large areas could be cultivated and size of these canals, we have the Eagle 



the industry could furnish a profitable Lake Rice Irrigation canal, 17 miles 



commercial venture, worth}' of the en- long and 200 feet wide ; the Trespalacios 



listment of capital. canal, 4^2 miles long and 200 feet wide, 



The introduction of the steam-pump and the Treadway canal, 25 miles long 



furnished the impetus which was needed. and 220 feetwide. Another canal, now 



After some failures with pumps of wrong under construction, will be 56 miles 



type or limited capacity, large centrif- long and 175 feet wide, 



ugal pumps were introduced to raise the Owing to the fact that these canals 



water from bayous to canals. From are practically on a level and have no 



these canals the water was pumped di- current in many cases, they are subject 



rectly on the fields, and the problem to obstruction through the growth of 



was practically solved. water weeds, and these constitute a se- 



Yet there were a number of local con- rious menace to the usefulness of the 



ditions which made irrigation very dif- smaller ditches, unless the growths are 



ferent from what it was elsewhere. For removed. 



example, it might be said that the only The water in these canals all has to be 

 point of similarity between the Louis- pumped, and in most cases from bayous 

 iana rice canal and the irrigation canal which are below the sea-level, onto lands 

 of the Western States is that both are which lie as high as 70 feet above. For 

 filled with water for the purpose of irri- such a raise it is necessary in most places 

 gation. Beyond that the comparisons to have several lifts, the first one being 

 are contrasts, to use a Hibernianism. from the bayou or stream, and the others 

 For instance, water flows in the western at intermediate points along the canal, 

 ditch and stands at a level in the rice The pumps are of two types only, both 

 canal ; the source of supply in the West suction pumps, however the centrif- 

 is above the field to be irrigated, and ugal and rotary. The former is the more 

 below it in Louisiana ; the canal of the popular, as it does not need direct con- 

 West is dug below the surface of the land nection with the propelling machinery, 

 through which it passes, while the rice being run by belt or rope transmission, 

 canal is built up on the surface of the The rotary pumps, when properly es- 

 ground, and on the highest ground to tablished, should be more efficient than 

 be had ; the western canal holds water the centrifugal, and as they are run 

 poorly, losing much through seepage much more slowly, there is less wear and 

 through the soil, and the levees of the tear ; but the increased cost of installa- 

 rice canal are impervious. tion, owing to the necessity for perma- 



The proper construction of these nent and strong foundations, limits their 



levees, however, is of prime importance. use. Boilers and engines are of varied 



The surface of the ground upon which patterns, but any that are good will 



the levees are to rest must be absolutely serve the purpose. 



clear of all vegetation, and must then Fuel is of three kinds coal, wood, 

 be plowed and pulverized, so that the and oil. Of these, coal is the most ex- 

 earth embankment placed above will pensive and oil the cheapest and most 

 make a good " joint." To aid in this, convenient to handle. Wood can be 

 deep furrows are plowed in the founda- had near at hand, as most of the bayous 

 tion earth, and the levee banks are built are in heavily wooded districts ; but the 

 up firmly and of good material. This cost of labor brings the price above that 

 has to be done to prevent devastating of fuel oil, which is delivered from the 

 breaks, as some of the canals are so nearby Texas oil fields at a low rate, 

 large that they appear to be rivers of no In Texas particularly, where much of 

 inconsiderable size. Indeed, it is pro- the irrigation is from artesian wells, 

 posed to navigate some of them with crude oil is the most important factor in 

 lighters and barges for the transporta- the fuel and power question, 

 tion of ' paddy ' from the threshers From the canals the water is distrib- 

 to the mills which turn out the finished uted over the fields through measuring 



