anaheim-gazette 1906-09-20

Bird V. Beebe. Vehicle Farming Implement Buggy Robes, Best Makes of Bugg All kinds of Repair work. Pattons Sun-proof Paints. First National Bank ANAHEIM, CAL. Drafts sold direct on all European Countries Interest Paid on Time Certificates OFFICERS W. F. BOTSFORD, President JOHN HARTUNG, Vice Pres.-Cash. FRANK SHANLEY, 2d Vice Pres. O. ZEUS, Assistant Cashier DIRECTORS W. F. BOTSFORD JOHN HARTUNG FRANK SHANLEY A. S. BRADFORD PETER WEISEL, Sr DRINK PRIME BEER DRINK PRIME BEER It makes you healthy. Keg and bottled Beer delivered to all parts of the city. UNION BREWING CO. Phone 30 Anaheim Beer on Tap Telephone THE PEERLESS A. FUHRBERG, Proprietor Fine Wines, Liq ANAHEIM, Cal and Cigars California Wine Co. F. Conrad & Son, Props. Center Street - - Anahei Watch this Space Next Week. O. LAGMAN Choice of Watch this Space Next Week. O. LAGMAN Builder and a Graduated Architect Having 28 years experience in building constructions and thoroughly versed in designing Artistic Homes. Consult me before building and I will submit Plans, etc., of new ideas right up to date and save you money. RESIDENCE NO. 207 HERMINE STREET P. O. BOX 253 Joseph Backs Undertaker Embalmer Furniture Bedding Repairing Done Anaheim Bakery PETER SYRE, Prop. Fresh Bread Cakes and Pies Confectionery. Etc. Wedding Cakes a Specialty. LOS ANGELES and CYPRESS ST. Choice of Many Routes SOUTHERN PACIFIC EAST and WEST “Sunset” Via New O. and El “Ogden” via San Fran “Shasta” via Portland Pullman Vestibuled Trains D Personally Conducted Touris cursions via all routes every day week, at REDUCED RATES The SOUTHERN PACIFIC you choice of many routes from northern boundry of the United to the Atlantic Coast, so that you go one way and return another varied scenery and climatic conditions. Full information from any agency Value of a High Duty of Water and the Means of Obtaining It Prof. Samuel Fortier, Irrigating Engineer, in charge of Pacific District, Irrigation and Drainage Investigations, at the Irrigation Congress at Boise, Idaho. IN TWO PARTS—PART I. Amount and Value of Irrigation Water.—The irrigated portions of the United States now use about five million miners' inches of water annually. The cost of this for each miner's inch varies all the way from 50c to $150, and would average in the neighborhood of $5 per miners' inch. This represents a yearly expenditure of $25,000,000 for water to irrigate land. Assuming that the area irrigated is 10,000,000 acres, and that the average cost of applying water each irrigation season is $2.50 per acre, the yearly expenditure for this purpose on all the land irrigated would aggregate an additional $25,000,000. Thus it appears that the farmers of the irrigated districts of America are expending annually about $50,-000,000 for water and for the labor and equipment necessary in applying it to cultivated crops. The sole purpose of spending so vast a sum each year is to produce food stuffs for the subsistance of man and the domestic animals under his care. It is, however, no exaggeration to state that in the accomplishment of this purpose fully 70 per cent of the money and labor spent in securing and applying water is wasted. Acres. On account of the size of the water supply, the shape of vegetable growth, and distances between many cultivated tracts and the next only a small part of the area of Montana can ever be estimated. This estimate of a total of acres is based on an average water of 2 acre-feet per acre; average use of water in the now over 4 acre-feet, and provements in the use of it brought about the limit reached when 3,000,000 acres irrigated. This shows what mate difference in one of ern states will be between low duty. It is the diff between 3,000,000 irrigated and 6,000,000 acres. It is the difference between a total yearly revered irrigated agriculture of and $90,000,000. Finally, the excessive use on irrigated lands water soil in low-lying places, alkali, and creates disease every irrigated district in has its abandoned farms, which been rendered non-productive excessive use of water. Fields which at one time were per acre, vineyards which usually for $350 per acre, and groves which gave large on a valuation of $1000 per acre now be purchased for from per acre. The accumulated seepage waters caused by erosion and leaky ditches, w accompanying evils, have damaged about 10 per cent. and equipment necessary in applying it to cultivated crops. The sole purpose of spending so vast a sum each year is to produce food stuffs for the subsistance of man and the domestic animals under his care. It is, however, no exaggeration to state that in the accomplishment of this purpose fully 70 per cent of the money and labor spent in securing and applying water is wasted. We believe this fact has been fully demonstrated, that for every 100 miners’ inches diverted from natural streams and storage reservoirs, less than 30 miners’ inches are utilized by cultivated plants in a beneficial way. This means that out of an expenditure of $50,000,000 a year, less than $15,000,000 is put to a beneficial use. How to save a part of the $35,000,000 worth of water which is now wasted, is one of the problems connected with this subject of irrigation. If you were to ask me if it were possible to save all of the water which is now wasted and all of the money now used in furnishing and applying it, I would answer—No. It is, however, possible and entirely within the province of feasibility and profitable investment to save a large part of this waste. Some Reasons for Increasing the Duty — Many reasons might be advanced in favor of a more economical use of irrigation water. To begin with, there is the question of cost. If it be a fact that nearly three-fourths of the water taken from streams for irrigation purposes is wasted, then a saving of even one-third of this loss would represent an immense gain. It is likewise true that water is every year more difficult to secure and of higher value. The rapid growth of western cities has multiplied the demand for water for municipal purposes, the development of water privileges for electric transmission lines has utilized the streams for mechanical purposes, and the extension of the irrigated area has fields which at one time wilt for $350 per acre, and groves which gave large amounts on a valuation of $1000 per acre. The accumulated seepage waters caused by erosion and leaky ditches, accompanied evils, have damaged about 10 per cent of irrigated lands of the west. The Moisture Require Cultivated Plants. — The plant must be satisfied to maintain a vigorous growth this does not mean a computation of the soil around the plants require air as well and if other conditions are comparatively small per moisture in the soil will supply pounds of free water in pounds of soil is ample crops. By “free water” is soil moisture which the roots absorb and which a capable of evaporating from the application of 4 inches over the surface of a field plants are growing fairly wiles sufficient moisture for soil, providing it is evenly di without loss. Most of the irrigator arise from being able to either apply butte this water evenly and loss. Good soils and subnever water-tight. If they pervious to the downward flow of water they would not crops. The irrigator is thus to spred water over a more porous mass which may large part to pass through attempts to keep the water length of time near the suw will speedily pass off as vapor atmosphere. His task, approaches in difficulties keeping water in a vessel ends open. On the one layer of warm, dry air, ever suck up moisture; on the It is likewise true that water is every year more difficult to secure and of higher value. The rapid growth of western cities has multiplied the demand for water for municipal purposes, the development of water privileges for electric transmission lines has utilized the streams for mechanical purposes, and the extension of the irrigated area has made increased drafts on all sources of water supply. Another reason for insisting upon a higher duty of water in irrigation at the present time is that customs soon crystalize into law. Men who appropriate and use water in slip-shod manner for a number of years will lay claim to not only to that portion which they use, but to that larger portion which they waste. Furthermore, the prosperity and material greatness of Western America is founded upon the water supply, and every gallon that is wasted detracts that much from the possibilities of this region. The State of Montana may serve to illustrate what I mean. Montana occupies the crest of the continent, and, compared with other arid states, is well watered. Its total area of 93,000,000 acres contains some of the finest agricultural lands on this continent. These arable lands would probably exceed 15,000,000 acres in extent, and might reach 20,000,000 acres. Yet the total area that is ever likely to be irrigated from streams, reservoirs and wells, will not exceed, we believe, 6,000,000 porous mass which may large part to pass through attempts to keep the water length of time near the surface will speedily pass off as vapor atmosphere. His task, approaches in difficulties keeping water in a vessel ends open. On the one layer of warm, dry air, even suck up moisture; on the other porous sub-soil through which is drawn by force of gravity against these and other losses of irrigation where western farmer must possess accurate knowledge of the fertility and extent of the chief soil waste. It is not enough ample, to spread a certain water over a field. He shall deavor to find out how much volume passes through the and collects, it may be, in labor's low-lying tract, where kali salts are rising to the and how much of it passes the atmosphere from the soil during the interval irrigation. The Chief Sources of Water—By beginning with the loss take place on the irrigated tracing other losses back the network of ditches and canals source of supply, I hope to you that for every 4 gallons from the streams, little more 1 gallon subserves a useful in nourishing crops. On account of the limitations in water supply, the short period of stable growth, and the long times between many of the irrigated and the nearest rivers, small part of the arable land can ever be irrigated. An estimate of a total of 6,000,000 acres based on an average duty of 2 acre-feet per annum. The use of water in that state is for 4 acre-feet, and if no imprints in the use of water are about the limit will be when 3,000,000 acres are irrigated. This shows what the ulti-difference in one of the west-sides will be between a high and dry. It is the difference between 100,000 irrigated acres and 50 acres. It is the difference in a total yearly revenue from agricultural of $45,000,000,000,000. Dry, the excessive use of water irrigated lands water-logs the low-lying places, brings up and creates disease. Nearly irrigated district in the west abandoned farms, which have undered non-productive by an use of water. Alfalfa which at one time worth $100 in vineyards which sold read-$350 per acre, and orange which gave large dividendsation of $1000 per acre, may purchased for from $10 to $30. The accumulation of waters caused by over-irrigation leaky ditches, with all its buying evils, has already about 10 per cent of the ir- You will admit, I believe, that water is more skillfully applied and more economically used in Southern California than in any other portion of the west, and perhaps of the world. The office of experiment stations at Washington is now printing some results of experiments in evaporation losses conducted last year in the vicinity of Riverside, California. We selected for our investigations the lands under the Gage canal, which irrigated last year 8500 acres of orange and lemon orchards, and we chose for our experiments some of the most skillfully irrigated tracts in that large area. I might say, in passing, that the average duty of water on the orchards under the Gage canal for the past seven years, has been 25 inches, and the irrigation water combined with the rainfall has averaged 33½ inches. This means that these orange and lemon trees have keen kept growing continuously the year round on an amount of water less than the rainfall of Iowa. Regarding the evaporation losses, it was shown that a heavily irrigated orchard soil lost by evaporation at the rate of over 4 inches per week; that a soil that was fairly moist on the surface and in good condition crop growth lost about 1 inch per week; while a dry soil lost only one-fourth of an inch per week. The usual custom in this part of California is to water only once in every four to six weeks; to apply the water in deep furrows; and to cultivate thoroughly after each watering to Moisture Requirements of Fed Plants.—The thirst of it must be satisfied in order to gain a vigorous growth, but it not mean a complete satof the soil around its roots. Require air as well as water, other conditions are favorable relatively small percentage of in the soil will suffice.. Ten of free water in each 100 of soil is ample for most by "free water" is meant the misture which the fiberous orb and which a hot sun is of evaporating from the soil. Application of 4 inches of water surface of a field on which the growing fairly well, furnicient moisture for 4 feet of holding it is evenly distributed loss. Most of the troubles irrigator arise from his not e to either apply or distriwater evenly and without food soils and subsoils are water-tight. If they were imto the downward passage they would not produce the irrigator is thus obliged water over a more or less mass which may permit a t to pass through it. If he to keep the water for any time near the surface, it will lily pass off as vapor in the ore. His task, therefore, lies in difficulties that of water in a vessel with both on the one side is a warm, dry air, ever ready to moisture; on the other is a that a soil that was fairly moist on the surface and in good condition crop growth lost about 1 inch per week; while a dry soil lost only one-fourth of an inch per week. The usual custom in this part of California is to water only once in every four to six weeks; to apply the water in deep furrows; and to cultivate thoroughly after each watering to depths from 5 to 10 inches. In this way much of the water which would otherwise be lost by evaporation, is saved. This, however, is not the practice in many parts of California, and more particularly in many of the mountain states. Cultivated crops are frequently irrigated and then left uncultivated until the next irrigation water is applied. Summing up this question of evaporation losses in irrigation, it is safe to assert that about one-half of the water which is applied to fields, escapes into the atmosphere from the surface of the soil without in any way benefitting the plant. It is rather a positive injury, in that, during the process, it forms a crust on the surface which prevents air from getting to the roots and tends to draw up moisture from beneath. Some of the means that may be employed to lessen this great waste will be referred to later. In irrigating orchards under the Gage canal, another source of waste was the percolation of water into the porous sub-soil, and its subsequent passage to lower levels. In one orchard tract of 10 acres the part of one irrigation lost by percolation was 28 per cent, and by evaporation from the surface of the soil, 47 per cent, or 75 per cent in all. This would leave only 25 per cent to nourish the orange trees. The great waste of water caused by uneven and rough surfaces and careless application are too common to call for any extended remarks. Then, too, some irrigators are so generous that the have always water pass which may permit a t to pass through it. If he to keep the water for any time near the surface, it lily pass off as vapor in the surface. His task, therefore, lies in difficulties that of water in a vessel with both on the one side is a warm, dry air, ever ready to moisture; on the other is a sub-soil through which water by force of gravity. To bainst these and numerous uses of irrigation water, the farmer must possess more knowledge of the frequency of the chief sources of it is not enough, for exspread a certain volume of or a field. He should enfind out how much of this passes through the sub-soil sets, it may be, in his neighlying tract, where the alfare rising to the surface, much of it passes off into sphere from the surface of curing the interval between ief Sources of Water Waste running with the losses which be on the irrigated field, and other losses back through a of ditches and canals to the supply, I hope to convince for every 4 gallons taken streams, little more than subserves a useful purpose using crops. The great waste of water caused by uneven and rough surfaces and careless application are too common to call for any extended remarks. Then, too, some irrigators are so generous that the have always water to spare. They give the country roads a good soaking every time they irrigate the bordering fields. One can't find fault with the irrigator for working only 10 hours a day, but, unfortunately, while he is sleeping or resting, the water is usually running to waste. Lack of constant attention may, therefore, be reckoned as another cause of much waste. Next to the loss by evaporation, and frequently exceeding it, is the loss in transmission. In such channels as are used at the present time in the west for the conveyance of water, one has usually to discount the flow at the head 33 per cent. As a rule the cultivated fields do not receive more than 66 gallons out of every 100 gallons which pass through the upper headgates. In all these losses caused by evaporation, careless application and leaky ditches, it is not surprising that only a small part of the water diverted from the natural streams finds its way to the fibrous rootlets of plants and is drawn up by them through the stem to the foliage.