Source: 49th CONGRESS, SENATE 49th CONGRESS,2d Session SENATE MIS DOC. No.15.
IRRIGATION In The UNITED STATES
A Report Prepared by Richard J. Hinton, Under the direction of the COMMISSIONEER OF AGRICULTURE.
WASHINGTON:
Government Printing Office
1887.
LETTER From THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE Transmitting, In response to Senate resolution of August 4, 1886, a report on irrigation.
December 17, 1886. Referred to the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, and ordered to be printed.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
United States Department of Agriculture
Commissioner's Office
Washington, D. C.,
December 15, 1886
Sir:
I have the honor to transmit herewith, in accordance with a
resolution of the Senate of
August 4, 1886, certain information
on the subject of irrigation which has been gathered and prepared for
publication by this Department.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
Norman J. Colman,
Commissioner of Agriculture.
Hon. John Sherman, President pro
tempore of the United States
Senate
The following table (mud from the Colorado
having been collected) exhibits a comparative analysis of the mud of these
rivers:
|
Colorado |
Rio Grande |
Nile |
Hygroscopic Water |
3.27 |
1.800 |
--- |
Chemically bound water, soluble in hydrochloric acid |
1.14 |
3.122 |
--- |
Potash |
0.103 |
0.284 |
0.106 |
Soda, with trace of lithia |
0.074 |
0.064 |
0.022 |
Lime |
--- |
1.479 |
1.725 |
Carbonate of lime |
12.50 |
5.190 |
--- |
Magnesia |
0.69 |
0.080 |
0.046 |
Oxide of iron |
--- |
8.640 |
8.804 |
Alumina |
2.26 |
1.908 |
8.804 |
Phospheric acid |
0.146 |
0.092 |
0.148 |
Sulphuric acid |
Trace. |
Trace. |
Trace |
Oxide of maganese |
Trace. |
--- |
--- |
Insoluble in hydrochloric acid |
78.1 |
82.56 |
--- |
As to the extent to which the Colorado River
could be rendered available for irrigation, it has been appropriately remarked
by geologists that the country bordering on the Colorado
is the most conspicuous example in the world of over-drainage; for nowhere else
do we find a stream that for hundreds of miles cuts its way 500 to 600 feet
deep through solid rock. The Colorado, supplies by
streams from the mountains and therefore desert region, in which the only
changes are those resulting from the direct action of the atmosphere, so that
no appreciable debris of any kind is furnished to fill up the excavations
continued through millions of years, and only limited by an approximation of
the level of the river bed to that of the waters of the Gulf
of California. Lieutenant Wheeler estimates the
area of land drained by the Colorado River and its
tributaries to aggregate 242,065 square miles, mostly still owned by the
Government.
The Salt River Valley is 25 miles in length by
about 14 in width. With its estimated quarter of a million acres of rich,
alluvial soil, capable of producing 25 to 50 bushels of grain to the acre, it
ought easily to support 50,000 inhabitants, if there were a sufficiency of
irrigating ditches and artesian wells to fully utilize its natural
capabilities.
Near Phoenix an old canal, 8 miles in length
by 20 feet in width, has been discovered, which has recently been cleared out
and utilized. The remains of this and many others, together with numerous
mounds whose surfaces are covered with fragments of pottery, prove that a race
skilled in husbandry, irrigation, and manufactures many years age appreciated
the fertility of this valley, but left behind them no other records than their
work.
The valley of the Gila, though cultivated
along most of its course, is not available for semi-tropical productions in its
upper part on account of October frosts. The White Mountain
Indian Reservation (San Carlos) interferes with a continuous white
settlement above Florence, as the lands
of the Pimas and Maricopasa do below it. These latter Indians have
cultivated wheat, corn, pumpkins, melons, &c., for centuries, and have
always been self-supporting, as well as the Papagoes, farther south, who, however, depend
principally on stock.
From Yuma eastward the valley is extremely
fertile.
At Oatman's Flat a large area is now being
reclaimed.
The Gila bottom merges imperceptibly into the
foothills, and has an average breadth of from 5 to 10 miles. It is soil
principally alluvial and will produce two crops yearly. Irrigation is easily
effected. The river averages 600 feet in width, and 3 to 6 feet in depth when
there is no rainfall and no water from the mountains. The banks along the whole
of this tract are so low and sloping as to afford unusual facilities for the
construction of ditches. Excellent crops of wheat, barley, and vegetables are
grown. In the vicinity of Florence is an extensive tract
of rich bottom and second mesa or table-land, which are now grown the cereals,
alfalfa, the sugar cane, and vegetables and fruits generally including orange
and lemon trees. Fruit culture in the Gila Valley is
extensive. Cottonwood, ash, and locust are abundant. Further up the valley the
Pueblo Viejo has, with its tributary valley of
Ash Creek and others, at least 100,000 acres of good
farming land.
On the uplands and farther up the valley itself, near the line of
New Mexico, the daily variations in temperature are much
less and the frosts begin later. Still further up its course, within the
borders of New Mexico, the Gila
River has upon it margins much good agricultural land. The bottom lands
generally are quite rich in potassa and phosphoric acid.
>The valley of the Francisco River, a
tributary of the Gila, near the line of New Mexico, is good for grazing and timber, and has in
general a rich soil. The San Pedro River is a tributary
of the Gila, its mouth being between Florence and San Carlos, and its source
in the Huachuca Mountains, near the Mexican line. There is good land, good timber, and excellent
range for stock. Considerable valley land is now under cultivation, and
irrigation is generally required.
The Santa Cruz Valley, through smaller in
extent, is equally productive in proportion to its area. It is more compact,
and all of it is adapted to semi-tropical fruits, as well as to the vegetables
of the temperate zone.
According to information received about 250 miles of main canals
have been completed during the past two years , or are under rapid
construction. With the tributary feeders and laterals Southern
and Central Arizona now has completed, or very nearly so at least, about
700 miles of irrigation works. As this Territory has always been considered on
of the most unpromising in the dry and mountain regions of this country, these
facts are of a cheering character. The most astonishing reports are made of the
fertility of the areas "under water". The physical configuration of
Arizona shows it to be, as already stated, an
over-drained region. This is in itself sufficient to account for the
unquestioned aridity of a large portion of the Territory, but settlement and
time are proving there, as well as elsewhere within our mountain area, that the
supplies of water, with proper conservation and distribution, will be found
more important and available than has generally been considered at all
probable. In the narrow and precipitous valleys, of Central
Arizona there are natural reservoirs, of which, with comparatively little
outlay, valuable storage basins may be created and force obtained to raise the
water high enough for reaching extensive portions of the mesa or table-lands
adjoining the river valleys. Several of the minor streams are known to sink,
and their recovery and use for industrial purposes will be found a task not
difficult to engineering skill.
In the southeastern portion of this Territory
there are extensive grassy plains or broad intervals known as "cienegas on
account of the nearness of water to the surface. The cattleman have taken
advantage of this fact. It would seem to argue the existence of subterranean
waters. There are two rainy seasons, in the winter and summer months,
respectively. In the summer the rains are often violent and torrential in
character, disappearing almost as suddenly as they come. In April and May there
are often neighborhood showers, seeming to be limited in area, as if the
currents in their passage from the Southern Pacific,
coming through the Gulf of California, were broken by
higher peaks and whirled in circular eddies over the sections visited. They are
known by the Mexicans and Indians as "shepherd rains."
No artesian wells have yet been sunk, but at several points the
Southern Pacific Railroad has obtained water at
comparatively moderate depths. The following tabular statements, forwarded by
the railroad administration, are a valuable presentation of the results of
these endeavors:
They determine claims relative to the use of the water, oversee,
either personally or by agents, its distribution, and determine questions of
right of way.
They also issue certificates showing the extent of water rights.
A person first taking water from any source of supply, or having the
upon, peaceable, and continuous use of the water for seven years, has a primary
right therein to the extent of the reasonable use thereof.
Whenever persons having the primary right use the water for a part
of the year only, the person appropriating it for the balance of the year
acquires a secondary right.
The person appropriating the surplus above the average of seven
years also acquires a secondary right.
Water rights may be measured in inches or by fractional parts of the
whole supply. Water rights may pertain to the land or may be personal property,
as the owner may elect, and a change of place shall not affect the right to use
the water; but no change of place shall be made to the injury of another owner
without just compensation. Neglect for seven years to use water, or keep in
repair the means of conveying it, is regarded as an abandonment of the
right.
Water rights are exempt from taxation, except for the purpose of
regulating the use of the rights, but the increased value of the land may be
regarded in making the assessments.
Surplus water must be returned to the natural channel, and any
person wasting it, is liable to have his supply shut off, and to pay damages to
any person injured.
Any person using water lawfully appropriated to another, or
diverting the flow of water lawfully distributed, or injuring any dam, ditch,
is guilty of a misdemeanor.
Whenever the supply is not sufficient for all purpose, the use for
domestic purposes and for irrigating purposes taken precedence in that
order.
Corporations may be formed under general laws for distributing water
to their stockholders.
ARIZONA
All streams are public and available for irrigation purposes.
All holders of arable land may construct ditches, and have the
necessary right of way, paying therefor a just compensation.
No obstruction of irrigation is permitted except for mining
purposes.
Foot-paths across fields are prohibited and all animals must be in
care of a shepherd in order that no injury may be done to the ditches.
All persons holding land which may be benefited by public ditches
shall furnish labor for the ditches in proportion to the amount of their land,
whether they cultivate it or not; and failing to do so are subject to a
fine.
Land owners and tenants interested shall seek one or more overseers
who shall have general supervision of the construction and care of ditches,
shall apportion the work to be done, and the amount of water to be allowed to
each person, having regard to the kind of crops to be cultivated.
In case of scarcity, users of water take precedence according to the
date of their titles.
For neglect of duty, overseers may be fined, and, for the second
offense removed from office.
Injury to ditches, or unauthorized use for water, is punished by
fine and any injured party may recover damages.
All fines for violations of the irrigation laws are applied to the
maintenance of the ditches, bridges.
When a ditch is constructed across a public road, the owners must
erect and maintain a substantial bridge, and, for failure to do so are subject
to a fine.
Plants on the banks of ditches belong to the owners of the land.
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