THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



47 



he wants the windmill to run. Thus, taking it all around, 

 the surest and safest way to provide for the necessary 

 water is to install a gasoline or kerosene pump of the 

 proper size, and pump either into a small reservoir or 

 tank or directly into the ditch or flume to carry the water 

 to the fields which are in need of it. Here again the 

 special conditions of each case must be considered and 

 the observant farmer must use good judgment in planting 

 his fields so that the growing crops requiring most water 

 will adjoin the pump or reservoir as close as possible 

 so that the maximum amount of water can be given them 

 with the least expenditure of pumping. Again, a covered 

 tank or reservoir is much to be preferred over the open 

 type, as the evaporation is very much less, and a con- 

 crete or a timber-lined ditch is more desirable than an 

 .ordinary ditch where the water is lost by seepage and 

 evaporation, and also on account of the smaller grade 

 required, reducing the height to which water has to be 

 pumped in order to flow to the fields requiring irrigation. 



Some years ago the American Rio 

 The Grande Land and Irrigation Co. cut a 



Rio Grande channel across a wide bend in the Rio 



Controversy Grande river; the consequence was that 



' the waters of the river left the old bed 



and followed the new channel, leaving 

 the land on the Mexican side of the old channel high and 

 dry. The owners of the land have naturally objected 

 and, being citizens of Mexico, their government has ne- 

 gotiated with our government in Washington until now 

 a satisfactory and amicable solution of the problem is as- 

 sured. 



The terms of the settlement reached are that the Rio 

 Grande Land and Irrigation Co. pay to the Mexican 

 parties the sum of $5,000 as damages, and also transfer to 

 them the land thrown on the Mexican side by the change 

 of the river bed. This has practically the effect of en- 

 larging the domain of Mexico to the extent of about 400 

 acres, although in reality the land will still be under the 

 sovereignty of the United States, the old river bed being 

 the real boundary. 



The Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Co. will also 

 have to pay to the United States $10,000 as a penalty for 

 violation of the treaty agreement with Mexico and will 

 pay a further penalty of $2,000 to the United States for 

 costs and expenses incurred in surveying and fixing the 

 international boundary around the old dry bed of the 

 river. 



This seems to be the easiest and most satisfactory 

 method of settlement, although it forms an awkward con- 

 dition at this point by giving the United States territory 

 of 400 acres on the other side of the Rio Grande. The 

 channel causing this international problem was dug in 

 1906 by the Rio Grande Land and Irrigation Co., which 

 owns about 50,000 acres in Texas, for the purpose of 

 increasing the water supply for the irrigation of Its land, 

 but no sooner was the new channel cut than the in- 

 creased velocity in its new bed, due to the steeper grade, 

 cut the new channel still deeper and the waters of the 

 river followed the new channel. 



A careful study of the problem before the canal was 

 cut might have averted this condition; with proper precau- 

 tion and proper controlling works the Rio Grande Land 

 and Irrigation Co. might have obtained the additional 

 water desired and yet not interfere with the course of 

 the Rio Grande. 



During the past month we were honored 

 Irngators | )v d le visits of two prominent foreign 



from authorities on irrigation and allied 



Foreign branches, namely Mr. S. Mclntosh, Di- 



T j rector of Irrigation of South Australia, and 



Mr. V. Kadam, of Central India. Both 

 gentlemen have made their headquarters at THE IRRIGATION 

 AGE offices during their stay in Chicago. 



Elsewhere in this issue will be found discussions by 

 these two experts on the irrigation problems of our and 

 their own country, with many timely and valuable sug- 

 gestions. 



Both of these two gentlemen traveled enormous dis- 

 tances and expended much time, money and trouble in 

 order to see for themselves what is being done in the 

 way of reclamation in this and other countries in order 

 to compare conditions with those in their lands and, if 

 possible,' to improve the methods in vogue. Neither have 

 they confined themselves to just taking hold of the good 

 points they found in American practice, but they also have 

 good-naturedly pointed out to us our shortcomings so that 

 their visit really spells progress and advancement in our 

 own methods of irrigation and dry farming. 



One suggestion which Mr. Mclntosh of Australia 

 made is a very timely and appropriate one at this time, 

 while the Irrigation Congress is in session, and that is 

 the organization of an International Irrigation Congress, 

 somewhat along the lines of the Railway Congress, which 

 has a membership extending to all parts of the world 

 where railroads are. His idea is to organize local bodies 

 in the various states or provinces, with local officers; all 

 the locals in any one country to be known as the national 

 body of that particular country, and all the national irri- 

 gation associations to form together the International 

 Irrigation Congress. Then the local and national bodies 

 can hold their own meetings and discuss their own prob- 

 lems, independent of the International Congress; but when 

 this latter body meets, representatives from all the local 

 and national associations should take part in such meet- 

 ings. In this way the art of irrigation and farming 

 should be developed to its highest efficiency and all coun- 

 tries and nations will benefit each other by an exchange 

 of ideas and methods. 



Thoughts 

 That 



Come and 

 Go. 



Don't miss the National Live Stock Show 

 while you are attending the Irrigation 

 Congress. It is a splendid school to 

 attend for anyone interested in the im- 

 provement of live stock. 



The ruling that a settler can rid himself of excess 

 land he can not work or pay for is a good one and will 



help many a one who has bit off more than he can chew. 



* * * 



THE IRRIGATION AGE herewith extends greetings to its 

 many friends and patrons who are doing Chicago while 

 attending the Irrigation Congress. Chicago is a good 



town to visit occasionally. 



* * * 



The Idaho potatoes were taken up like hot cakes the 

 other day, and something like 40,000 packages were taken 

 from the Coliseum in one day. It shows that Idaho land 



is certainly making good. 



* * * 



Dp not ne.glect to send in your order for the new 

 book, "Primer of Hydraulics." It costs $3.00, cloth bound, 

 if order is sent with a one-year subscription. 



