454 FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION October 



amount available for irrigation is in- pump more water, and reclaim more 



creased by an unknown but certainly land. It is difficult and requires patience 



not great amount. The algebraic sum and self-restraint to check development 



of all these factors, of which the prin- until it is determined how far this pro- 



cipal are the rainfall and the direct cess can be carried without permanent 



drafts upon supply, has without ques- depletion of the reserves and resultant 



tion been a loss for the ten years past injury to the communities. In some 



in most parts of southern California. districts in the valley of southern Cali- 



In a few cases the lowering of the fornia the responsible far-sighted citi- 

 plane of saturation has been serious, a zens are endeavoring to create a con- 

 drop of 60 or 70 feet being recorded ex- servative sentiment, opposed to the fur- 

 tremes for the period from 1900 to 1904, ther reclamation of virgin lands until 

 during which the deficiency of rainfall the effect of a series of years of abundant 

 has been roughly 20 per cent. In other rainfall upon the falling water plane can 

 sections, where the body of saturated be determined. Evidence already exists 

 gravels drawn upon has been larger, or to show that in particular localities, at 

 where the drafts have not been so least, average rainfall will check the rate 

 great, the diminution of supply has been of the decline, but will not stop it. In 

 less marked, but the phenomena of a the face of this fact, economy in the use 

 lowering ground- water level, shrinking of water and conservatism in its develop- 

 artesian areas, and a diminishing artesian ment are imperative, 

 flow are general. This fact is not in The abundance of water in the moist 

 itself enough to justify alarm. It is lands has generated in their owners 

 recognized that the proper function of habits of wastefulness and prodigality 

 these stored supplies is to tide the com- which are out of place in communities 

 munities through the dry periods. The} 7 in semi-arid regions, whose future de- 

 will be most heavily drawn upon when pends entirely upon the stability of the 

 the rainfall is lightest, and will then in- water supply. California is prodigal in 

 evitably shrink, just as a nation's gold many things. Habits of economy do 

 reserve will shrink in the stress of not come easily to her. She has always 

 war. received and dispensed with equal lav- 



As a compensating influence, they ishness, and a part of her great charm 

 should be subject to comparatively light is due to this abounding generosity, 

 drafts when the rainfall is heavy, as Her citizens must learn, however, that 

 less water is required for irrigation then, any natural resource less inexhaustible 

 and the surface streams, flowing near than sunshine and pure air may/ be de- 

 their maximum, are supplying the pleted if spent too freely ; that much 

 greater part of this minimum required more may be accomplished with it if its 

 amount. It is during such periods that value is appreciated and due care is ex- 

 the ground-water level should be re- ercised in its use. She must come to 

 stored, and the artesian areas expand to understand unequivocally that the citi- 

 their original outlines. As the past zen who uses unnecessarily or otherwise 

 decade has, on the whole, been one dur- wastes her water supplies, which are as 

 ing which the precipitation is well below essential as her balmy air and bright 

 the general average, a decline is not a days to the extension of that hospitality 

 matter of surprise. The danger to irri- in which she takes such pride, is a public 

 gating communities which depend upon enemy who will sacrifice the interests of 

 subterranean waters whose amount can his neighbors, his community, and his 

 not be directly measured, and is there- state to his own thoughtlessness, his own 

 fore peculiarly liable to overestimation avarice, or his own indolence, 

 by our optimistic American communi- Care is just as essential where the life- 

 ties, is that they will not restrict them- giving fluid seems most abundant as in 

 selves in their use of these reserve sup- those other localities where its scarcity 

 plies during dry years to an amount makes an admonition to economy trite. 

 which will be restored during wet Indeed, the greatest shrinkages in arte- 

 seasons. It is easy to sink more wells, sian basins are due particularly to the 



