A PROMINENT CALIFORNIA

W

ENGINEER.

E herewith present to our readers a likeness of F. C. Finkle, C. E., who is the author of the article on "Water Supplies for Irrigation," the publication of which is begun in the present issue of THE AGE. Mr. Finkle intends at some time in the near future to publish an exhaustive work on irrigation engineering, of which the present chapter "Water Supply for Irrigation" will form a part substantially as it is published herein. THE AGE has made arrangements to publish this one chapter in advance of the issuing of the book, which will contain eight or nine other chapters equally as complete and interesting for students of irrigation engineering and irrigation engineers as well as for practical irriga

on

F. C. FINKLE,

Mem. Am. Soc. Irr. Engs. of San Bernardino, California.

tors, but dealing with other topics of irrigation engineering, so that the whole subject will be fully covered in the book. From a perusal of this chapter it will be readily seen that the book to be published by Mr. Finkle will be wholly different from any book heretofore published on the subject. It will contain all the scientific matter applicable to the subject, all results of experiments, all rules and formulæ applicable to irrigation engineering and a full discussion of the best practice in all the branches of the science, including a large amount of matter heretofore never published, or entirely original. Such a work is now in urgent demand and the publication of Mr. Finkle's book will be eagerly looked forward to by all interested in irrigation and irrigation engineering.

In this connection it is proper to give a short sketch of the accomplished hydraulic engineer, F. C. Finkle, who is the author of this work. Mr. Finkle is undoubtedly one of the most highly-educated and able men in the engineering profession at the present time. He is a very fine mathematician as well as a man thoroughly well versed in the classics, and modern languages. His knowledge, therefore, does not alone cover the subjects connected with his profession, but includes a thorough knowledge of Latin and Greek as well as a reading, writing and speaking knowledge of English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Danish, Swedish and Norwegian, in all eight modern languages. This knowledge has aided him very materially in collecting the material for his book.

Mr. Finkle first prepared for his profession by taking a special course in the University of Wisconsin, after which he completed his knowledge by studying and traveling abroad for over two years. Since that time he has been located at San Bernardino, Southern California, one of the most important irrigated sections in the world, where he has been actively engaged in the practice of irrigation engineering. His practice has extended all

over Southern California as well as some parts of Mexico and the Western States and Territories. Some of the important works of which Mr. Finkle has had exclusive charge as Chief Engineer are the Jurupa Canal, Water Works of the City of San Bernardino, the irrigation systems of the Grapeland Irrigation District, and of the East Riverside Irrigation District, and the Vivienda Pipe Line, all of which are in Southern California. In these and other enterprises he has had a great deal to do with developing water supplies, designing works and superintending construction and surveys. During all the time he has practiced his profession he has been engaged in doing consulting and expert work for companies for which he has not been chief engineer and has experted some of the most important litigated cases and water properties in the west.

He has also contributed at various times to irrigation literature, although his practice has prevented him from doing as much of this as he would like to have done.

Mr. Finkle desires any one having criticisms on the chapter on "Water Supplies, etc.," to correspond with him, and due acknowledgment will be given. in the book, when published, to all who may discover errors in the manuscript or

GEN. J. H. MCLEARY, OF TEXAS. President of the State Irrigation Association. STATE CONVENTION AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

THE 'HE general interest and progress in irrigation in Texas was well indicated by the representative State meeting held at San Antonio. It was the second annual convention of the Texas State Irrigation Association, and the deliberations occupied two days, with night sessions. Prominent gentlemen in attendance were J. H. McLeary, San Antonio; T. M. Paschal, San Antonio; P. J. MacMahon, Laredo; W. B. Parish, Seguin; A. Sinclair, G. Q. A. Rose, San Antonio; F. Vandervoort, Carrizo Springs; W. S. Marshall, Fort Worth; W. D. Kingsbury, Boerne; Prof. A. E. Blount, Las Cruces, New Mexico; J. M. Mathews, W. W. King, A. F. Dignowity, N. T. Ayres, J.

W. Watters, Edwin Chamberlin, G. S. Simons, T. W. Woodruff, San Antonio; I. M. Cline, Galveston; James C. Atkins, Portland; W. J. Hollingsworth, Brownwood; Marshall Burney, Kerrville; John Hord, Rio Grande City; J. A. Bell, Laredo, and others.

There was the enthusiasm and good feeling which is always evinced in a Texas gathering of any kind, especially when the people are united in a great cause.

Judge J. H. McLeary presided. After a brief address of welcome he said this was not a convention but a meeting of the Texas State Irrigation Association. "The objects and aims are to dot this country with irrigated farms, to make the desert blossom and to make that part of the country heretofore considered as only a stock range an agricultural country. When conducted by irrigation, crops are the most reliable, because whether it rains or not they can make the country rich and prosperous."

The secretary announced that the number of members in the association was 205.

A communication from the Southern Irrigation Congress was read, inviting Texas to send delegates to the next meeting of the Congress, at Nashville, in October, 1896.

A large number of interesting papers were read and discussed. Professor Hill of the United States Geological Survey read a paper on Artesian Well Irrigation, and explained at length the general subject of the economies of irrigation.

Like El Paso and the surrounding country, San Antonio being in the semiarid region needs irrigation fully as much, from the fact that rains there are seldom, if ever, opportune. They come in quanti ties sufficient for all crops did they fall when needed most. The burden of all the papers read and the speeches made seemed to have been upon the conservation of the storm waters and the manner of conducting them out upon the land.

Mr. Bell, of Laredo, offered a resolution requesting all the Texas representatives in Congress to endeavor to have some of the government geological survey work provided for done in Texas, the purpose being to ascertain the amount of the State's water supply, information of exceeding value when a system of water storage is contemplated. Adopted.

EDWIN M. CHAMBERLIN,
of San Antonio,

Secretary of the Texas Irrigation Association.

After deliberation a plan was adopted for the thorough organization of the State by counties, the county associations to be part of the general State Association.

The election of officers resulted as follows: President, J. H. McLeary, San Antonio; first vice-president, F. A. Swinden, Brownwood; second vice-president, Edwin Chamberlin, San Antonio; secretary, W. D. Hornaday, San Antonio; treasurer, J. N. Brown, San Antonio; sergeant-at-arms, J. C. Carr.

The chairman named the following to comprise the committee on legislation: Henry Suyles, Abilene; C. E. Dutton, San Antonio; P. J. MacMahon, Laredo; F. A. Swinden, Brownwood; J. S. Taylor, Laredo; W. W. Turney, El Paso; William Casson, Zavalla county; J. L. Slayden, San Antonio; John Willacy, Portland; Robert W. Stayton, San Antonio; Albert Urbechn, Laredo; J. O. Nicholson, Laredo.

Authority to recommend to the governor appointments as delegates to the meeting of the Southern Irrigation Congress at Nashville was given to the executive committee.

Laredo was chosen as the place for the next meeting.

IRRIGATION IN THE SOUTH.

IRR

at

RRIGATION was carried on here and there in various Southern States the past season. A Southern Irrigation Congress has just been organized and preparations are being made the present winter for general irrigation in 1896. The meeting and organization Atlanta was a great event. The City Council chamber was crowded. Dr. H. C. White, president of the Georgia State Commission of Irrigation, called the assemblage to order and delegates responded from all the Southern States. Hon. John Triplett, in behalf of the State of Georgia, the city of Atlanta and the Cotton States and International Exposition, welcomed the Congress in eloquent speech.

The constitution adopted, among other things, provides that the organization. shall be known as the Southern Irrigation Congress, and shall meet annually, officers being elected on the first day of each session.

State Commissions of Irrigation shall be created in each State represented in this Congress in the following manner: The delegates

from each State shall recommend to the Executive Committee five proper persons in their State for appointment as members of the State Commission of Irrigation, and, if the Executive Committee approve, proper certificates of their appointment, for the term of three years, shall be signed by the President and Secretary.

The members of the Executive Committee are instructed to furnish the secretary of this Congress, from time to time, with statistics of irrigation in their respective States, that he may disseminate this information for the enlightenment of the people.

The work of this Congress is educational, and designed to bring out fully every fact connected with irrigation, embracing the proper drainage of land, the terracing of farms, the preservation of the forests and the utilization of the water-power at our command.

Presi

Officers were elected as follows: dent, Prof. J. B. Hunnicutt, Athens, Ga.; vice-president, Hon. H. C. Gardner, Nashville, Tenn.; secretary, Major W. G. Whidby, Atlanta, Ga.; treasurer, Hon. John Triplett. Thomasville, Ga.; sergeantat-arms, Hon. Wilberforce Daniel, Augusta, Ga.; postmistress, Miss Kate Brasington, Cincinnati. Ohio.

Executive Committee-Alabama, P. H. Mell, Auburn; Arkansas. Jeff D. Wellborn, Kerrs; Florida, O. Chute, Lake City; Georgia, C. J. Bayne, Augusta;

Addresses were made as follows: Hon. C. R. Pringle, "The Preservation of Our Prof. Forests;" J. B. Hunnicutt, "The Full and True Meaning of IrriFrank P. Chaffee, Alabama gation;" Frank P. State Weather Service, "Distribution of Rainfall and Moisture in the Southern States;" Percy Sugden, "Irrigation and Drainage of the Land from a Southern 99 Dr. W. C. Standpoint; Stubbs, Louisiana. "Irrigation."

Prof. H. M. Wilson of the United States Geological Survey gave a lecture on the all-absorbing subject. Lute Wilcox, by charts, illustrated the various methods of irrigating land, imparting valuable information.

66

Papers were read as follows: Prof. A. M. Son, "A Bit of Irrigation History;" Hon. J. S. Titcomb, S. Titcomb, Suggestions;" Hon. J. D. Wellborn, 'Irrigation in Arkansas;" Hon. J. E. Mercer," Reclamation of Land by State Authority." Numerous talks and addresses were made.

The National Irrigation Congress sent fraternal greeting by four delegatesH. E. Heath, of Nebraska; Lute Wilcox, of Colorado; Frank Woodford, of Arizona, and A. E. Blount, of New Mexico.

The Tennessee Centennial Exposition is to be held at Nashville from September 1 to November 10, 1896, and the next session of the Congress will be held at Nashville during that time.

Among the resolutions was one giving the thanks of the Congress and of the entire South to Major W. G. Whidby,

bench land between the Boise and Snake Rivers, at Roswell, Canyon county, Idaho.

The first idea of the promoters was to sell water rights and charge a fixed annual rental, as is the custom of similar enterprises in this State, but upon a careful study of the situation they arrived at the following conclusions:

ARTHUR W. PHILLIPS,

Of Douglas, Wyo. The author of the Mineral Wealth of Wyoming," in this number.

and control of the water.

2nd. That the annual maintenance fee should be charged on every acre of land for which water right is purchased, whether the land be cultivated or not, and that it should be sufficient for the proper operating and repair of the canal and no more.

In the absence of any State law authoriz ing an irrigation district (such a law has since been passed, but is practically inoperative pending the result of the California. litigation), a company was incorporated known as the Riverside Irrigation District, Ltd., which was stocked on the basis of one share of stock to each ten acres of land covered by the system.

Water can only be obtained by the purchase of stock in the company, and upon the face of each certificate is a description of the land to which the water is made appurtenant. Based upon this certificate of stock, the company issues a water deed, conveying to the holder of the stock his proportion of water, and making the same appurtenant to the land for which the stock is purchased.

Incorporated in the deed are some provisions considered necessary for the proper and systematic administration of the com

ment as to control of gates and measuring boxes; to prevent undue waste; to restrict assessments to actual cost of main nance; to provide method for levying assessments. By this means it is sought to guard against the sometimes loose methods of mutual or "farmers'" ditches.

This deed is duly recorded and is made binding on the successors to the parties in interest.

Stock can only be transferred on the books of the company upon the presentation of a duly executed deed for the land to which the stock is appurtenant. In case part of the land only is sold, it carries with it its proportionate share of stock.

It is sought to make the water belong to the land rather than to the individual, and this we believe to be the true theory of the appropriation of water.

When any land is sold, the stock belonging to it is simply transferred to the new owner and he holds the water right subject to the agreements and provisions of the original water deed.

Each purchaser of water stock is at once a full member of the canal company, entitled to vote, hold office and participate in all the company's business, and when