THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



of an important movement in the eco- 

 nomic development of the State, the 

 value of a study of California irriga- 

 tion districts is believed to be two- 

 fold. The disastrous mistakes made 

 under the original California irriga- 

 tion district act brought a tremend- 

 ous economic loss to California, and 

 a knowledge of those mistakes is the 

 most effective preventive of a repeti- 

 tion of them. Secondly, irrigation 

 districts are, as a rule, organized by 

 people unused to effective business 

 management, and the large general 

 interest the State has in fostering 

 right development warrants furnish- 

 ing to those who are operating, or 

 who contemplate organizing irriga- 

 tion districts, whatever assistance 

 available means will permit." 



The Result of Irrigation A May Scene in Colorado Apple Blossoms and Alfalfa. 



DRAINAGE" PUT UP TO UNCLE SAM'S RECLA- 

 MATION OFFICIALS 



From the Gunnison District 



Montrose (Colo.) Enterprise: When E. L. 

 Osborn was asked what are the chief necessities of 

 those engaged in farming in this valley, he replied : 



"The two greatest necessities are that the water- 

 logged lands of the valley should be drained and 

 that the farmers of the valley should get the use of 

 cheaper money." 



"Well, what can be done to get those two 

 things?" 



"In my opinion the questions should be con- 

 stantly agitated. Many thousands of acres are al- 

 ready made useful by seep and the only economical 

 way of draining the lands is by a comprehensive 

 plan that will make it certain that no work will be 

 wasted and no material lost. Individual tracts can- 

 not be effectually and economically drained. 



"The reclamation service is ready to consider 

 the question of running the main canals so that 

 when individuals or small companies of land owners 

 want to lay tile to drain their lands they will 

 have a place in which to dispose of the water. I 

 believe the reclamation service ought to be asked to 

 make a general survey and prepare maps and speci- 

 fications showing in detail just what would be neces- 

 sary to be done by the service and what could profit- 

 ably be done by individuals and by small companies 

 of individuals, and give the estimated costs, and 

 then the water users should vote on the question of 

 whether the lands shall be allowed to go to seep or 

 whether they want the valley drained. 



"It is my opinion that if the matter were put 

 up to the owners of land they would vote for the 

 drainage, particularly if the payment for the drain- 

 ing is not to begin till after the other project costs 

 have been paid off. 



A Drainage Meeting in Nevada 



Fallen (Nev.) Eagle: A meeting of the 

 Truckee-Carson Water Users Association was held 

 in Fallen early in March to discuss the drainage sit- 

 uation with Senior Engineer D. W. Cole, and Pro- 

 ject Manager F. G. Hough. 



Mr. Cole gave a very interesting account of 

 the drainage situation on other projects in his dis- 

 trict and of the work that is being carried on for 

 drainage of the Boise and Minidoka projects. 



Both of these projects have had drainage diffi- 

 culties similar to those on the Truckee-Carson pro- 

 ject, and the plan adopted and carried through are 

 similar in many respects, to the tentative plan pro- 

 posed for this project and submitted to an informal 

 vote in May, 1915. 



The work consists of the construction of open 

 drains a mile or more apart. Wherever possible these 

 drains are located in natural creek beds, similar to 

 the South Fork which the local project plan con- 

 templated utilizing to the fullest extent. 



The main drains were dug first, and later, when 

 their effect could be fairly well determined, spur 

 drains were constructed as needed. 



The Minidoka drains have been completed, and 

 have been very successful in unwatering seeped and 

 alkaline areas. In one instance a full crop of oats 

 was raised on a tract that only a year before was in 

 tules. 



The estimated cost per acre on these two pro- 

 jects ranged from $11 to $14 per acre, and these 

 sums were voted by the water users to be added to 

 their construction charges and repaid under the 20- 

 year plan on the Minidoka project, and in 10 years 

 on the Boise project. However, in building these 

 drains a considerable saving was made under the 

 estimates, and the water users have authorized the 

 expenditure of a part of these savings for drains. 



