180 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



directions may the ordinary water user hope to 

 obtain proficiency without long preparatory study 

 and hard experience. 



There is no especial benefit in trying to antici- 

 pate the difficulties that may be met as the years 

 pass. Discussion of prospective expansion has a 

 tendency, at this time, to confuse the issue and 

 disorganize the general movement. 



Controversies that arise should not lead the 

 malignant opposition or personal criticism. When 

 community development is at stake, difference in 

 opinion should voice itself only in earnest argument. 



There is every reason to be proud of 

 Food the concrete reply given to the whole 



Problems nation when it made its supplication 



Stimulate at the altar of agriculture. Farmers 



Irrigation have unanimously responded by an 



appreciable increase of acreage under 

 cultivation this year. The results of this season's 

 harvest is now known. Fears have been dispelled. 

 The computation of the grain crop of America shows 

 that a bumper harvest will be gathered. 



The creation of the department for the con- 

 servation of food stuffs will prove of immense value 

 to the farming interests in general and the country 

 in particular. By guaranteeing the sale of the 

 entire grain crop at a fixed value, the uncertainty of 

 raising crops to be disposed of at fluctating prices 

 through unstable and spasmodic markets has been 

 eliminated. If only for this act alone the depart- 

 ment has demonstrated its raison d'etre. 



The outlook is very promising for further de- 

 velopment. An elaboration of this program of the 

 food conservation bureau might prove of inestimable 

 value to both producers and consumers. If further 

 guarantees were forthcoming as safeguards for the 

 actual marketing of the enormous production of 

 other staples during these abnormal times, the 

 farmer would then be protected against unforeseen 

 circumstances or glutted markets. 



The crux of the situation can be readily rec- 

 ognized. The farmer should not be induced through 

 a spirit of patriotism and duty to invest his time 

 and services in the mainstays of life upon even a 

 quasi speculative basis. 



For several years there has been a steady in- 

 flux to cities from the agricultural districts. Many 

 who migrated with the expectation of stretching a 

 dime into a dollar have experienced the difficulties 

 of making both ends meet. They now look with 

 eager and longing eyes at the success of their con- 

 freres who believed in agriculture and stayed with 

 the farm. 



Millions of acres of valuable farm lands are 

 still yearning the combings of the plough. If ever 



there was a real reason for the slogan "Back to the 

 Land," it is in this present year of grace. 



A review of the figures should convince any 

 man with a slight knowledge of farming that it is 

 one of the most lucrative industries. With the aid 

 of the automobile the farmer can enjoy all the so- 

 called privileges of townsmanship without any of 

 its disadvantages. He can give an affirmative 

 answer to a self-posed question. 



"Why NOT back to the land." 



From recent statistics we learn that in the 

 southwestern states the acreage given over to the 

 planting of winter wheat is fifteen per cent greater 

 than that of last year. Obviously the reason lies in 

 the belief that the demand will be of such character 

 that the increase will be totally absorbed regardless 

 of any conditions that may arise. 



It is to irrigated lands that we must turn in the 

 near future if we hope to solve the food problems 

 and furnish supplies with absolute regularity. The 

 climatic conditions in the irrigated districts are 

 admirably adapted to the raising of crops in definite 

 quantities. The encouragement of irrigating farm- 

 ing is a decisive step in the solution of a serious 

 economic situation. 



Experts 

 Study 

 Arizona 

 Project 



At the junction of the Salt and Colo- 

 rado rivers there is an extensive 

 tract of land eminently adaptable to 

 irrigation. It is an exceedingly 

 fertile territory with a semi-tropical 

 climate. From the reports of 

 analytical chemists it may be concluded that the con- 

 stituents of the earth in this district are far superior 

 to the alluvial deposits left on the soil when the 

 river Nile recedes after -the wet season. It may be 

 assumed that with this belt irrigated under scientific 

 conditions the crop value would be of great financial 

 import. 



The project is divided into three sections, the 

 upper Gila being an extensive tract laying above 

 the valley towards Florence. The middle Gila is at 

 the junction of the two rivers' and embraces the 

 valley of the Casa Grande. The lower Gila lies be- 

 low the junction of those rivers and comprises sev- 

 eral valleys nearly 170 miles in extent. 



There are many small areas that could be profit- 

 ably reclaimed at a minimum expense as the Gila 

 river is adjacent. The region is particularly adapted 

 to the culture of long staple cotton. 



This lower region of Arizona has been seriously 

 neglected for some years and it would appear that 

 conservative improvements offer good returns. Dur- 

 ing recent months it has attracted the favorable at- 

 tention of irrigation engineers. 



An irrigation and power plant engineer, Mr. 

 B. W. James, of Los Angeles, has made a very ex- 





