DUTY AND DIVISION OF WATER 365 



just as he does with his money in the bank. The chief 

 objection to this method of distribution is that if many 

 farmers should call for water at the same time, more 

 water might be demanded than the canals could carry. 

 When this method is used under ordinary diversion canals, 

 it is generally for the purpose of compelling the most 

 economical use of water. The tendency of the irrigator to 

 use too much water is increased whenever a continuous 

 flow of water is supplied, or under methods of rotation, 

 when water is given for longer periods than is actually 

 needed. If the irrigator feels that he has a limited quantity 

 of water in the system, on which he may draw at will, he 

 is more likely to practice greater irrigation economy, and 

 the surplus water may then be applied beneficially else- 

 where. The method of distributing water on the appli- 

 cation of the farmer is an ideal system, but of extremely 

 limited application. Even under reservoir conditions it 

 will probably be found that the rotation method will in 

 the end give the greatest satisfaction. 



220. Organization for distribution. The proper dis- 

 tribution of water from great canals can be accomplished 

 only by an organization for the purpose. In the early 

 irrigation days, when water was relatively plentiful and 

 the population small, little attention was given to super- 

 vision. Each man drew what he needed from the coopera- 

 tive canal. The increasing value of water has made the 

 the proper distribution of water more and more important. 

 Large canals that serve 3,000 to 20,000 acres, especially, 

 are justified in exercising very careful supervision of the 

 distribution of the water. It should be insisted upon by 

 those who have the best interests of the system at heart. 

 Experience points to the conclusion that the success of 

 an irrigation system is in direct proportion to the super- 



