39§ 
period  of  construction  must  always  precede  a period  of  use  but 
the  importance  of  the  former  should  not  detract  attention  from 
the  latter.  The  building  period  is  always  the  most  popular  because 
money  is  then  being  expended,  often  with  a free  hand,  and  the 
building  of  engineering  monuments  makes  a strong  appeal  to  the 
engineer  and  fires  the  imagination  of  the  popular  writer. 
In  addresses  delivered  before  this  congress  at  Boise  in  1906  and 
at  Sacramento  in  1907,  I tried  to  sound  a note  of  warning  against 
placing  too  much  dependence  upon  the  construction  period  of  irri- 
gation and  too  little  on  the  period  of  utilization  which  is  to  follow. 
I tried  to  point  out  that  reservoirs  and  canals  are  only  expensive 
luxuries  unless  the  water  which  they  provide  is  fully  and  properly 
used.  It  is,  after  all,  the  labor  of  industrious  farmers  which  deter- 
mines the  value  of  such  properties.  Furnishing  an  adequate  sup- 
ply to  arid  lands  is  an  engineering  problem,  but  the  conversion  of 
such  lands  by  the  use  of  water  into  productive  fields  and  orchards 
involves  a broad  knowledge  of  many  subjects  and  particularly  that 
of  irrigated  agriculture.  It  is  not  beyond  the  region  of  probability 
to  state  that  of  the  many  irrigation  enterprises  now  being  con- 
structed by  private,  state  and  National  agencies,  a certain  per- 
centage will  prove  financial  failures.  In  case  failure  does  result, 
it  is  reasonable  to  conclude  that  it  will  be  due  to  the  same  causes 
which  wrecked  so  many  similar  enterprises  that  were  built  between 
die  years  1885  and  1895.  Settlers  are  being  lured  to  the  West 
by  the  presentation  of  the  bright  side  of  irrigated  farming,  only  to 
find  when  it  is  too  late  that  a great  deal  of  money  and  from  one 
to  several  years  of  unprofitable  toil  are  required  to  fit  their  fields 
for  irrigation  and  intensive  cultivation.  Meanwhile  the  payments 
for  both  land  and  water  have  to  be  met  and  the  expenses  of 
operating  and  maintaining  large  systems  intended  to  supply  water 
to  the  many  have  to  be  borne  by  the  few. 
To  insure  success  to  the  irrigation  enterprises  which  are  either 
completed  or  are  nearing  completion,  the  water  which  they  pro- 
vide must  not  only  be  applied  to  the  soil  by  the  right  kind  of  set- 
tlers, but  a reasonable  amount  of  economy  and  skill  must  enter 
into  its  use.  Water  is  by  far  the  most  valuable  asset  which  the 
West  possesses  and  if  a large  part  of  the  natural  stream  flow  is 
wasted  there  will  be  a corresponding  shrinkage  in  the  value  of  the 
products  grown  under  irrigation.  In  a former  address  before  this 
congress,  I stated  that  only  about  one-third  of  the  water  which 
was  diverted  from  streams  and  other  sources  of  supply  for  irri- 
gation subserved  a useful  purpose  in  nourishing  plant  growth. 
The  balance  is  wasted  in  various  ways,  chief  of  which  are  through 
transmission  losses  from  the  source  of  supply  to  the  place  of  use 
by  poorly  prepared  fields,  by  unskillful  application  and  by  faulty 
water  right  contracts  and  water  delivery.  In  the  brief  time  at  my 
disposal  I shall  endeavor  to  point  out  some  of  the  means  bv  which 
water  can  be  conserved  and  put  to  an  economical  use.  My  pur- 
pose in  calling  your  attention  to  these  matters  is  not  to  impart 
