1904 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 39 



The character of the canal where it and ruin property whose owners have 

 follows the bluff, the flume, tunnel, no redress in civil courts. This ques- 

 siphon, and cement-lined ditch are tion of the damage to lands by seepage 

 shown by the photographs taken in waters has been thoroughly considered 

 April, 1903, when water was being by prominent engineers, and the con- 

 turned into the canal for the first time sensus of opinion is that the water lost 

 since the completion of the reconstruc- by seepage from canals and constantly 

 tion. running laterals is far more a cause of 



The cementing of canals to save water the rise of the subsoil water than is the 

 and to reduce expenses from breaks has water from over-irrigation. The loss of 

 a wide importance in irrigated areas this water is the fault of the owners of 

 and one which is coming more promi- the canal, and in justice they should be 

 nently before the people each day. The held responsible for such damage. The 

 water which is lost may be of little im- difficulties of proving the facts before a 

 portance to the canal company, particu- court have prevented many such cases 

 larly in good seasons, when the rivers being tried, and even were such de- 

 contain an abundance for all ; but this cisions handed down, it is a question 

 water in its journey underground back whether draining the damaged land 

 to the stream courses may work excess- would not be cheaper than the cost of a 

 ive harm to land lying along its course suit to recover damages. 



TO SAVE THE PUBLIC LANDS. 



REASONS FOR THE MOVEMENT IN THIS 

 DIRECTION ONE OF THE MOST IMPOR- 

 TANT MATTERS NOW BEFORE CONGRESS. 



BY 



GUY ELLIOT MITCHELL, 



EDITOR OF THE HOMEMAKER. 



THERE is a reciprocal connection first,, because it is near at hand, and see- 

 between the American farm and ond, because we control it, and the for- 

 the American factory which is, of eign manufacturer cannot get it away 

 course, well understood by every manu- from us. The same holds equally true of 

 facturer. For this reason the proposi- arid America. It is part of ourselves, 

 tion to create some additional millions and while its development, through 

 of farms and homes in the West through great government irrigation works, must 

 irrigation has met with the earnest sup- necessarily be slower than was that of 

 port of eastern merchants. The support the more eastern prairie states, yet the 

 of the eastern business interests made settlement, when it comes, will be far 

 possible the passage of the National Irri- more dense. The average farm unit in 

 gation Act, and that act has opened up Utah is but 27 acres, and in southern 

 western possibilities for American facto- California prosperous farms can be found 

 ries as greater greaterthan occurred in of 5 and 10 acres. 



the throwing open to settlement under The work of the government in irriga- 



the Homestead Act of the great and fer- tion construction is something that wall 



tile Mississippi Valley. This great and endure for centuries; the great dams 



prosperous agricultural area, as Secre- will become parts of the eternal canyons 



tary Wilson has said, is worth more as which they wedge. The communities 



a market to the manufacturers of the which their stored waters will create 



country than all foreign lands combined, will be substantial, prosperous, and per- 



