422 KEPOET OF OFFICE OF EXPERIMENT STATIONS. 



law has not kept pace with irrigation engineering or agricultural 

 practices. As the need and value of water has increased, engineers 

 and farmers have found ways to conserve the supply and economize 

 in its use. But it is too often the case that this increase in value has 

 only added to the uncertainty as to titles, since it presents greater 

 inducements or temptations to those holding inferior rights to try to 

 secure a larger share of the supply. The absence of tribunals for 

 the final establishment of water titles, and the lack of public control 

 over the division of streams, puts upon the holders of the older and 

 better rights the burden of protecting their interests either by force 

 or in the courts. The greatest need of irrigation is legislation which 

 will end this uncertainty and controversy, but from the nature of 

 things such legislation is hard to secure. Conservative legislative 

 bodies are slow to act, and the} 7 - often have not the information on 

 which to base intelligent action, even if they have the desire to do all 

 that should be done. The conflicting views of appropriators of water 

 make it impossible to enact any effective law which will not be 

 strongly opposed, or which will not work hardship to some individual. 

 The work of this Office is limited to collecting and publishing infor- 

 mation, with discussions by experts whose broad views enable them 

 to better interpret the facts than is possible where details and local 

 interests obscure the general policies which should prevail. 



Studies of irrigation laws and customs have been made in connection 

 with the measurements of water in all the arid States and Territories. 

 Comprehensive studies of irrigation laws and customs have been made 

 in California and Utah. A report dealing with the agricultural situa- 

 tion in California has just been published. This study was under- 

 taken in response to a petition from the citizens of that State in the 

 hope that a clear statement of existing conditions would help toward 

 the enactment of a comprehensive code of irrigation laws. 



A similar study has been made in Utah, and the reports of the differ- 

 ent observers are about ready for publication. These reports will 

 show that titles to water in that State are far from being stable or 

 secure, and that there is urgent need of a cheaper and simpler method 

 b} 7 which they can be permanently settled. 



The conditions found in California and Utah are not peculiar to 

 those States. They are common to nearly all the arid States. Their 

 betterment is the first step in the successful or the complete use of 

 Western water supplies. As has been said, the work of this Office can 

 not extend to the enactment of laws. It must stop with showing 

 existing conditions and pointing out remedies for the evils found. 

 With this end in view the laws of not only our own States, but of 

 Canada, Australia, Europe, and Egypt, are being studied in order that 

 the best lessons from the experience of all the world may be within 

 the reach of those who must enact the laws which will protect and 



