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CHAPTER XXVI. 



IRRIGATION IN THE SOUTHWEST. 

 By Jas. D. Schuyler, Hydraulic Engineer. 



In the arid portion of the United States embracing fully one-half of 

 the entire area, there prevails a climate of such marked healthfulness 

 as to afford a perpetual charm to the pleasure of living. Added to this 

 is an exemption from violent storms, destructive tornadoes, and ex- 

 cessive extremes of temperature. Furthermore, the arid region is us- 

 ually blessed with soils of great fertility, and a greater proportion of sun- 

 ny days than other less favored portions of the country. All of these 

 advantages, conducive to health, long life and comfort, are only offset 

 by the one disadvantage of unequal distribution of rainfall, by which 

 the arable lands of the valleys are left with an insufficiency of moisture 

 to mature crops without artificial irrigation, while the mountains alone 

 receive the amount of precipitation which in the east is distributed 

 impartially over mountain and valley as well. The mountains thus be- 

 come practically the sole feeders of the western streams, and these 

 streams become the main source to supply the lacking moisture re- 

 quired by the valley lands. The wealth and material resource.^ 

 of the country are thus dependent upon irrigation, upon the flow 

 of the streams, and upon the precipitation and run-off from the 

 mounains. Any influence which tends to diminish the power of the 

 mountains to supply water to the streams retards the development of 

 irrigation, and checks the progress of all agriculture, horticulture 

 and their dependent industries. Forest growth upon the mountains is 

 the mother of the springs and streams, and needs to be fostered and 

 maintained at all hazards if the population, which is naturally attract- 

 ed by the many charms of the arid region, is to continue to grow and 

 increase in wealth. 



There are no drawbacks to an irrigated country, provided the water 

 supply of the streams is maintained. Agriculture under a system of 



