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THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



QUESTIONS FOR IRRIGATION ENGINEERS. 



How Men Are Tested as to Their Qualifications For Work in 

 Colorado. 



Mr. L. G. Carpenter, State Engineer of Colorado, 

 sends THE IKBIGATION AGE the following copy of the 

 probe for the examination of division engineers, includ- 

 ing questions asked at the second examination in Divi- 

 sion No. 1. They are especially interesting as showing 

 the general scope of the examination and the attempt 

 which this includes to get at the qualifications of , men 

 whose duty it will be to distribute water: 



MEASUREMENT OF WATER. 



What is a cubic foot per second? 



What is the statutory inch? What is its value in 

 cubic feet per second ? 



The gate of a headgate is 4 feet wide and is raised 

 6 inches from the floor; the water stands 4 feet deep 

 on the floor in front of the gate, what is the amount of 

 water discharged through the gate ? Give the full com- 

 putation. 



Describe how a weir should be placed and under 

 what conditions and how the depth should be measured 

 in order that the weir be reliable ? 



Describe (1) where the rating flume of a ditch 

 should be placed; (2) under what conditions; (3) 

 why and (4) what conditions to avoid? Why? 



How would you proceed to rate a ditch or canal? 

 Give the process in full. 



A weir is 3 feet long ; the water is 6 inches deep ; 

 compute the amount of water being discharged? 



A ditch takes out water in openings 9 inches deep 

 without pressure; the opening 10 inches wide is then 

 called 90 (ditch) inches, how much water is discharged 

 from such an opening 10 inches long? Are these inches 

 greater or less than statutory ? 



How much will a valve 40 inches in diameter dis- 

 charge if the head is 40 feet on the center of the valve ? 



If the depth over a wide-crested dam is 8 inches 

 and 100 feet long how much is the discharge? 



FIELD MEASUREMENTS OF WATER. 



Question 1. Each candidate will be expected to 

 estimate the flow of water in two ditches : (a) By eye ; 

 (b) by float or other approximate means, without in- 

 strument; (c) by current motor. 



Method. Make estimate (a) in writing, sign your 

 name and hand to the examiner, before (b). Likewise, 

 complete (b) and hand slips with your results to the 

 examiner. Give the method in full with the calcula- 

 tions; .(c) make measurement in full as you would in 

 measuring a ditch. Give full calculations. 



Question 2. Make the rating of a ditch, giving the 

 process in full and making the rating curve and rating 

 table. 



What is the basis for water rights in Colorado? 

 Does this apply to irrigation exclusively? 



What is the guide for the commissioner or engineer 

 to follow in the distribution of water ? 



If the stream is fluctuating, due to storms, snow 

 melting, etc., and the earlier priorities are down the 

 stream, how will you meet the practical problem of 

 recognizing priorities and still utilize all the water? 

 Suppose a rise of water occur in the river, how will 

 you proceed? 



What are the powers and duties of a division irri- 



gation engineer? What authority does he have over 

 water which is not given to the commissioner ? 



To what extent may a commissioner interfere with 

 the distribution of water from a ditch? What is the 

 legal basis for your statement? 



A person owns two shares in a ditch and also owns 

 an interest. in a certain reservoir. One share, Share A, 

 is used to irrigate a certain farm. Share B is unat- 

 tached. The court has specifically decided that Share B 

 can not be used for storage in the reservoir but has 

 never passed on Share A. The owner claims this holds 

 only because of failure to appeal. He proposes to irri- 

 gate the farm with Share B, setting free Share A, and 

 to store Share A. What is your decision and why? 



A ditch had an early appropriation for 60 cubic 

 feet per second. It habitually runs a large amount to 

 the lower end and wastes back into the river ; the ditch 

 claims it can because of its decree, others claim that it 

 is calling for water unnecessarily and should be refused 

 the water which runs back into the river. Which is 

 right and why? 



Suppose an early right is some distance down a 

 sandy stream ; likewise, suppose that because of the 

 absorption of the sand no water reaches the lower 

 ditches. The lower ones claim that the water should 

 be turned down, that even if it fails to reach them it 

 serves to fill the sand and when a rise comes it will be 

 more apt to reach them. On the other hand, those above 

 claim that this is waste and that the water should be 

 turned where it does the most good. What is your de- 

 cision and why? 



Two ditches, which we may call A and B, had 

 headgates near each other, A being above B, they united 

 in building a headgate, part of the gate being known 

 as A's and part B's. There was a stretch of canal 

 owned in common and then at the end of the stretch 

 each had his own gate. The priority of B is earlier than 

 that of A. A has bought some shares in B. The 

 water represented by these shares, however, transferred 

 to A. Now they claim the water for B should be meas- 

 ured in the common stretch of canal, and that, when 

 they desire it they will run it into A or B. What is 

 your decision in the case and why? 



LOCAL CONDITIONS. 



Give the limits of this division; the numbers of 

 the water districts constituting it and their location by 

 streams ? 



Describe three districts of the division, their prob- 

 lems of administration and the questions they are apt to 

 send up to the division engineer? 



Where is water storage used ? What problem does 

 it introduce into the administration and why? 



Suppose a ditch on the Platte river has stored 

 water in a reservoir on say Boulder Creek ; how is that 

 water to be delivered to the ditch below? 



Forest preservation and home building are hobbies 

 specialties of President Roosevelt. In his speech at Grand 

 Canyon, Ariz., he delivered this sound advice: "Whether 

 it is the forests, the water, the scenery, whatever it is, 

 handle it so that your children's children will get the benefit. 

 We have gone past the stage when we are to be pardoned 

 if we simply treat any part of our country as something 

 to be skinned for two or three years for the use of the 

 present generation. Apply irrigation under circumstances 

 that will make it of benefit, not to the speculator who 

 hopes to get profit out of it for two or three years, but 

 so that it will be of use to the home makers to the man 

 who comes to live and have his children stay after him." 



