GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR GAGE, ELLIS 

COUNTY, OKLAHOMA. 

By DAVID G. THOMPSON. 

INTRODUCTION. 

PURPOSE OF INVESTIGATION. 

This report is the result of a field examination to determine the 

possibility of obtaining water for use in irrigation from deep· wells 

near Gage, Ellis County, Okla. The region is one in which the 

average precipitation is only about 20 inches a year, an amount barely 

sufficient for farming. During the two or three years preceding 1918 

the precipitation was deficient and the farmers were therefore impelled to consider the possibility of obtaining water for irrigation. 

In August, 1918, in a well that was being drilled for oil half a mile 

east of Gage, Okla., a large flow of water, reported to be 40,000 to 

50,000 barrels a day, was struck at a depth of 508 feet. In response 

to a request made to the United States Geological Survey the writer 

was detailed to investigate the flowing well at Gage and other sources 

of water in the region which might be available for use in irrigation. 

A short time was spent in the vicinity of Gage, and reconnaissance trips were made as far south as Arnett and as far east as 

Woodward. Data concerning thQ present sources of water were 

collected, and logs of deep wells drilled for oil at several places 

within a radius of 30 miles of Gage were obtained. Several samples 

of water from different sources were sent to the laboratories of the 

Geological Survey to be analyzed. Unless otherwise indicated the 

statements made in this report apply only to the region within a 

radius of 15 or 20 miles of Gage. The logs of several wells that are 

farther away from Gage, obtained by R. K. Bailey in connection 

with potash investigations by the Geological Survey, were also 

studied. 

Acknowledgments are due to Messrs. C. H. Holmes, C. J. Minton, 

and R. M. Sowers, of Gage, to officials of the Home Producers Oil 

& Gas Co., of Woodward, and to others for information furnished. 

CONCLUSIONS REACHED. 

As the result of a study of the data obtained in the field the conclusion is reached that there is no reasonable prospect of obtaining 

water for irrigation in this region, except in small areas. Water 

33 
34 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES, 1921. 

could probably be obtained from deep wells in sufficient quantities 

for irrigation, but this deeper water is generally so salty that it 

would probably not only kill the crops but spoil the land for future 

crops. The water obtained from shallower wells on the uplands is 

much better and is generally suitable for irrigation, but in many 

places the depth from which it would have to be pumped would be 

too great for profitable irrigation. No wells of large diameter have 

been drilled, and the possible maximum yield of wells on the uplands 

is not known, but it is believed that the yield would not be sufficient 

for irrigation. Probably the only part of the region in which good 

water can be obtained at a reasonable cost is on the flood plain of 

Wolf Creek, a small area in which water can be found in sufficient 

quantities at depths of less than 50 feet. The farmers can probably 

find relief from drought not so much by irrigation as by a careful 

study of the crops and farming methods best adapted to the climate. 

The data on which these conclusions are based are given in the following pages. 

GEOGRAPHY OF THE REGION. 

The region is reached by the Panhandle line of the Atchison, 

Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, which crosses it from northeast to 

southwest. The Wichita Falls & Northwestern Railroad extends 

northwestward along the east side of the region. The principal 

towns are Shattuck (population 1,365 in 1920), Gage (804), Arnett 

(404}, and Fargo (258).1 (See fig. 5.) Arnett, the county seat of 

Ellis County, is not on the railroad but can be reached by automobile 

from Gage. Woodward (population 3,849), the county seat of 

Woodward County, lies 24 miles.northeast of Gage, outside of the 

region considered. 

The region is primarily agricultural; it contains no factories or 

mines. The land in Ellis County and in the western tier of townships of Woodward County generally is better suited to agriculture 

than that in the region farther east, where the soil is derived from the 

Permian "Red Beds," which in many places contain so much gypsum 

or salt that they form soil unfit for raising. crops. The erosion of 

the "Red Beds" has in some places resulted in badlands too rough 

to be farmed. Along Wolf Creek there are sand hills, which are 

generally covered with wild grasses and unfit for agriculture. The 

soils in the region west of that in which the "Red Beds" are exposed 

are derived from Tertiary sands and sandy clays and are fairly 

fertile. It is reported that no public lands remain unsold in Ellis 

County, and probably about half the area of the county is under 

cultivation. 

1 Fourteenth Census Bull. Oklahoma, 1921. 
GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR GAGE, OKLA. 35 

The principal crops raised in the region are wheat, Kafir corn, 

Milo maize, feterita, cane, and broom corn. Sudan grass has yielded 

good crops but so far has not been planted extensively. Broom corn 

V ~/ zjzs _li~~ J ) ) ~~~~= --~~-- ~ a6 OKL ~f!OM ~I ~-t .......... ! r , v~A ~ 3o'r- _..;'TEXA.s- --1 1 f.... ~~ Jo 

EXPLANATION :

23 _ I"\ iJ "\ ,.--. ~Wood.wilrd 

D : [\_ Fa.-g~X .... ~ ~. ~ Wells penetrating i a~ ! .-. lJC.... \-? 

under artestan pres- 121 ~~~~ "\ , 1::> 1 

"Red Beds. :· Water I~ -vr31.J ~ I • 'f "' ' 

sure but salty .fSha tuCf, l 1 ,....e'~ .... 

~ : 0 26;BJ 25 v2• 1/ 23 ! 22 lrl ~ 2~ ! 't'~\ 

~ I [E L IL I s " ;; . I 

App~o hmtt ximatewestern of .outcrop of 'V\ '!" ,• oArT · • ett - \ il r 0~ "Red Beds." Water 19 

from shallow wells 1 r.1 ~~ 

east of this line is 1 '\. ( \ X"\ . 36 likely to be of poor 1a '\._ ~ fl,i,;-d1 \~ 6 

oo i~~~~~~l ~~du~~lt~f II / v I oo 

Water from shallow I ( \) I .i \ wellswestofthisline :

17 ~ jl ~ isgenerallyobtained i t 

from Tertiary de- If--: /,.LJ-br----'-.'-c-~"c,~,_----'-,1-.L f-1-'.----'.-+-<=---~'-----l posits and is of good l't ~l<zftV r I l 

quality j~ R G E R 1 MI L I S \ l I- 1\ 

10 o 10 20 30 Miles 

~~======~~~====== 

Fmur.E 5.-Map of northwestern Oklahoma showing location of certain wells near Gage. 

Only the wells referred to in tills report are shown. 

is one of the most valuable crops; as many as 300 carloads of it are 

reported to have been shipped from Gage in a single season. 

·As the rainfall is small only a little corn is raised, and for the same 

reason very little fruit is grown. Lands that are too hilly or rocky 

to be cultivated are used for the pasturage of cattle and sheep. 
36 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES, 1921. 

Roads have been laid out on nearly all the section lines, and those 

in the area underlain by Tertiary rocks are usually in good condition. 

The roads in the "Red Beds" area are rougher, and those in the sand 

hills may be very sandy. 

The wild plants of the Gage region constitute a typical semiarid 

flora. The characteristic plants are a variety of white sage, the cactus known as prickly pear, and a plant locally called soap weed, 

which has long, slender blades and resembles a stunted form of the 

Spanish dagger or yucca of California and Arizona. Wild grasses 

are abundant. Trees are found only along the streams and where 

they have been planted, as at farmhouses. The prevailing types are 

willow and poplar. 

SURF ACE FEATURES. 

The Gage region lies almost entirely in the physiographic province 

known as the High Plains, at the eastern edge of the province. It 

was once a plain sloping eastward, but it has been much dissected 

by streams, which now reach all parts of it. It is more dissected than 

that part of the High Plains which lies farther west, in the Panhandle of Texas. The high land north of Shattuck stands about 800 

feea above the North Fork of Canadian River, but the relief in any 

particular square mile generally ranges only from 25 to 100 feet. 

The only large stream in the region is Wolf Creek, which flows 

northeastward, uniting with the North Fork of Canadian River about 

25 miles northeast of Gage. Wolf Creek is a typical stream of the 

semiarid plains of the West. Its channel is about 300 feet wide and 

is cut 5 to 10 feet below a nearly level valley floor, which ranges in 

width from half a mile to 2 miles. The stream is usually only about 

100 feet wide, occupying but a small part of its wide channel, and it 

follows a meandering, braided course. Sand from the dry parts of 

the channel is blown to the uplands and is added to the sand hills. In 

times of flood the river fills its channel from bank to bank and sometimes overflows the adjacent lowlands. It is said that the stream has 

never been known to go dry, and that on the other hand even in flood 

times it seldom reaches more than a few hundred feet beyond its 

channel. 

Several minor streams enter Wolf Creek; the largest is Twenty-five 

Mile Creek, which heads about 14 miles northwest of Gage. After 

heavy rains these streams rise rapidly and do considerable damage 

to roads a:p.d bridges. Most of them cease flowing in dry seasons, but 

water is said to stand in pools in their beds, even in the driest years. 

In the lower parts of their courses they are bordered by flats a few 

hundred feet wide, but for most of their length they have no flood 
GROUND WATER FOit IltltiGATION NEAlt GAGE, OKLA. 37 

plains. The valleys of these:minor streams are cut 10 to 50 feet below 

the adjacent uplands, but the slopes are nowhere very steep .. 

The floor of the valley of Wolf Creek is underlain by alluvium. 

At some time in the past Wolf Creek excavated its valley deeper than 

it is at present and later partly refilled it with sand and gravel and 

formed an extensive flood plain. The creek .is now flowing in a 

channel which it has cut a few feet into the alluvium. In parts of 

the valley the alluvium is covered with wind-blown sand. 

The upland reaches elevations of 300 feet or more above the valley 

floor of Wolf ·Creek. Some parts of it are nearly level, but other 

parts, particularly those near the minor streams, have a slope of 50 

to 100 feet to the mile. Most of the upland is underlain by sand 

or clay, but in some places hard rocks crop out in prominent ledges 

that cap hills. 

GEOLOGY. 

Permian, Tertiary, and Quaternary deposits are exposed at the 

surface in the Gage region, and possibly also some Cretaceous rocks.2 

PERMIAN DEPOSITS-THE " RED BEDS." 

The oldest rocks exposed in the region are the " Red Beds," of 

Permian age. . They. are at the surface in the eastern part of the 

region, but they disappear under younger, light-colored deposits 

about 3 miles west of Woodward. The "Red Beds" have been 

divided into several formations. Those at the surface near Woodward belong to the Woodward formation, which consists essentially 

of shale, sandstone, and dolomite and is characterized by the absence 

of gypsum. I~ other parts of the " Red Beds" area the Woodward 

formation is overlain by the Greer formation, which consists of red 

clay, shale, and sandstone, interbedded with layers of gypsum and 

dolomite. The presence of gypsum is especially characteristic of the 

formation, and in many places it contains salt. The Greer formation crops out i,n, the southeastern part of Ellis County, and it may 

occur above the Woodward formation in the region west of Woodward, where the "Red Beds" are covered by Tertiary beds. The 

Woodward formation overlies the Blaine formation, which, like the 

Greer, contains thick beds of gypsum. Gypsum-bearing beds were 

penetrated in the deep well at Gage and in at least two other deep 

wells drilled fo~ oil in the region. It is npt possible to correlate 

• Practically no detailed work has been done on the geol~y of the Gage ·region, and the 

writer had opportunity to make only hasty observations. iThe statements made concerning the geology are based mainly on the following reports : 

Gould, C. N., Geology and water resources of Oklahoma: U. S. Geol. Survey WaterSupply Paper 148, pp. 22-84, 1905. 

Snider, L. C., Geography of Oklahoma: Oklahoma Geol. Survey Bull. 27, pp. 43-56, 1917. 

Aurin, Fritz, Geology of the Red Beds of Oklahoma : Oklahoma Geol. Survey Bull. 30, 

1917. 
38 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES, 1921. 

definitely the beds penetrated in these wells, partly because the logs 

of the wells are not strictly reliable and partly because the " Red 

Beds" vary considerably in character within short distances. It is 

believed, however, that the gypsum-bearing beds penetrated in the 

wells belong to the Blaine formation, as they lie at depths of about 

450 feet, above which are considerable thicknesses of "Red Beds " 

that apparently do not contain gypsum and are probably part of 

the Woodward formation. In the Gage well "gyp " rock was reported at 144 feet. The writer found that ordinary sandstone or 

sandy shale is often called "gyp" in the Gage region and that in 

some places gypsum is not recognized, so that the statement as to 

the Gage well may be without particular significance. If, however, 

gypsum was penetrated at 144 feet it probably belongs to the lower 

part of the Greer formation. 

~ .!;! 

APPROXIMATE. SCALE. 

0.__.~~~_,_5o _____ 1;:00 MILES 

];'IGURE 6.-Diagrammatic cross section between Gage, Okla., and Wagon Mound, N. Mex. 

(after Gould), showing probable structure of " Red Beds," source of water, and cause 

of artesian flow at Gage. Arrows show movement of water. Well at Gage will flow 

because of pressure of water from the west. Well at A, on higher ground, may not 

flow, but water will rise l:o level W, which Is sligiltly above surface elevation at Gage. 

There may be local folds that a re not shown. Vertical scale greatly exaggerated. 

The gypsum and salt that are abundant in the " Red Beds " are 

readily soluble, and water that has passed over or through such 

beds is usually unfit for any use, owing to its high content of calcium sulphate. In the " Red Beds " area, therefore, the water obtained in wells is usually so highly mineralized that it can not be 

used, and the inhabitant~ must depend on cisterns for a supply for 

domestic and other purposes. In areas where the rocks from which 

the water is obtained are dolomite, sandstone, and shale, without 

gypsum, as in the region underlain by the Woodward formation, the 

water is usually of better quality. 

The" Red Beds " dip gently south of west where they are exposed 

east of Woodward and have a slight dip in the same direction where 

they disappear under the Tertiary deposits west of Woodward. Logs 

of deep wells west of vVoodward do not afford sufficient data to make 

it possible to determine accurately the structure of the " Red Beds" 

where they are overlain by later deposits. "Red Beds" similar to 
GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR GAGE, OKLA. 39 

those in Oklahoma are found in New Mexico, where they dip to the 

east at slight angles. These beds in New Mexico in part belong to 

the same series (Permian) as the beds in Oklahoma and are in part 

younger (Triassic). The fact that the "Red Beds" dip in a westerly 

direction where they disappear under the Tertiary deposits near 

Woodward and in an easterly direction in New Mexico suggests that 

in the intervening area the beds form a large syncline or trough. 

Figure 6 is a generalized cross section showing these conditions. 

It is probable that the regular eastward dip of the beds is interrupted in places by local folds. Such a condition is shown in figure 

7, which represents on a larger scale a possible interpretation of the 

structure of the eastern part of the region shown in figure 6. It 

should be borne in mind that the two sections are generalized and in 

part theoretical and should not be understood to indicate the presence or absence of oil. 

w. E • 

. O APPROXIMATE. SCALf: 

..._~~~_;.:.S ___ __:;SO MilES 

FIGURE 7.-Theoretlcal cross section showing possible ~tructure near Gage, Okla., and 

source of ''atet· In flowing well at Gage. Arrows indicate movement of water in the 

" Red Beds," which the water enters by percolation from the Tertiary deposits. Well 

at Gage will flow because of pressure from the west. Well at A, on higher ground, will 

not flow, but water will rise to lcved W, which is slightly above surface elevation at 

Gage. Vertical scale exaggerated. 

TERTIARY DEPOSITS. 

West and southwest of Woodward the " Red Beds" are overlain by 

deposits of sandstone and shale, usually light gray, that belong to the 

Tertiary system. Most of these deposits are rather soft and incoherent, but they include hard layers. The beds in general have an 

eastward dip, but it is so slight that it is not noticeable unless careful 

:measurements are made. Tertiary deposits may also occur on the 

uplands on the northeast side of the North Fork of Canadian River, 

but the geology of that region has not been carefully studied. No detailed investigations of the Tertiary deposits have been made, and 

their exact position in the geologic column is not known. 

QUATERNARY DEPOSITS. 

The Quaternary deposits consist of gravelly and sandy alluvium 

along the larger streams and of dune sand blown principally from the 

alluvium by the strong winds that occur in the region. 
40 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES, 1001. 

CLIMATE. 

PRECIPITATION. 

The Gage region lies in the semiarid belt of the United Statesthat is, the belt in which the average annual precipitation is between 

20 and 30 inches. No records of the precipitation at Gage for any 

extended period are available, but records have been kept for 10 years 

or more at several points within 60 miles of that town. The average 

annual precipitation at three of these places is given in the following 

table. Beaver is about 60 miles northwest of Gage, Mutual is about 

35 miles southeast of Gage, and Woodward is about 20 miles east of 

Gage. 

A'VfN'O,ge monthly and annual precipitation at certain points in northwestern 

Oklahoma." 

Period 

of Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May. June. July. Aug. Sept. Oct. Nov. Dec. Anrecord nual. 

(years). 

-------------------------- Beaver •••••• 21 0.60 0.41 0. 70 2.19 2. 71 3.19 2. 77 2.36 2.06 1.28 1.19 0.58 2o.04 Mutual... ... 10 .29 1.44 .68 2. 07 2.38 3.00 2.29 3.12 3.45 1. 70 1.66 .1.88 23.95 

Woodward •• 15 .51 1.22 .67 2.01 2. 70 2.52 2. 74 2.50 2.56 1.50 1.52 • 73 21.18 

a From records of the United States Weather Bureau, published in Climatological data for the Unfted 

States, by sections, vol. 4, No.13, pp.l01,102. 1917. 

The table shows that the average annual precipitation in the rf!\gion 

is less than 25 inches, and that for the three points at which records 

have been kept it is least at the westernmost point and greatest at 

the easternmost point. The average annual precipitation at Gage 

is probably not far from 21 inches. 

The table shows that most of the precipitation occurs in the six 

warm months from April to September, inclusive. At Beaver and 

Woodward the amount for these months is more than 70 per cent 

of the total, and at Mutual the percentage is only a little less. Some 

of the precipitation in the winter is in the form of snow, but the 

snow seldom remains long on the ground. · 

In 1918 there was a dry period during the summer. The Uni~d 

States Weather Bureau record for Woodward for the period from 

April to September, inclusive, showed a deficiency from the normal 

of 2.17 inches, all of which occurred during June, July, August, and 

September. The total deficiency for. these four summer months was 

4.46 inches, but for April and May there was a surplus of 2.29 inches. 

Heavy rains occurred in the last three months of the year, with the 

result that the precipitation for the entire year was 25.38 inches, a 

surplus of 4.20 inches over the normal 
GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR GAGE, OKLA. 41 

TEMPERATURE. 

The mean annual temperature of the Gage region is vrobably between 55° and 60° F., but. there is usually a considerable annual range. 

A study of the United States Weather Bureau records for a number 

of years at Woodward, the station nearest to Gage, shows ranges 

from at least 18° below zero to 110° above. 

The daily temperature range is often considerable. This is an 

important ~ctor in agriculture, especially in the winter, when it is 

not uncommon for the temperature to rise above 60° during the day 

and to falLto several degrees below the freezing point the following 

night. Ranges of more than 50° have been reported frequently during January and February. On February 3, 1917, at Woodward, 

the temperature ranged from zero to 67°, and on February 25 of 

the same year from 21° to 84°, These variations in temperature are 

detrimental to the raising of winter wheat, especially when th~ 

ground is not covered with a blanket of snow. Much of the wheat 

is often killed in the winter, requiring' a second seeding, with the 

result that it develops late and the planting of the following summer 

crop is therefore somewhat delayed. Frost may generally be expected from the latter part of October to the first part of April. 

High summer temperatures are common, the thermometer often rising above 90°, and temperatures of 100° to 110° are not rare. The 

daily range is generally somewhat less in the· summer than in the 

winter. 

WINDS. 

Strong wind is a characteristic feature of the weather in the Gage 

region, blowing for many days at a time. Practically all the wells 

in the region are pumped by windmills. _The wind often is warm 

and exerts a considerable drying influence on the soil, doing considerable damage to crops. 

SOURCES OF WATER SUPPLY. 

The water supply of the Gage region is at present nearly all obtained from dug or drilled wells a few feet to about 200 feet deep. At 

a few places water is obtained from springs. In the following pages 

the present sources of supply, and others that might be used for irrigation are considered. 

ALLUVIUM: OF STREAM VALLEYS. 

The alluvium underlying the valley floors of the larger streams is 

unconsolidated, and as it is composed principally of sand and gravel 

it is very porous and can hold a large quantity of water. Much of 

the water that runs off from the hillsides adjoining the valley floors 
42 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES; 1921. 

percolates into the porous beds, and some water is added to them from 

the streams that flow across them. If water is pumped from such de~ 

posits there is opportunity for -the supply to be replenished.· These 

deposits will therefore yield large amounts of water year after year. 

Water is usually obtained in them at slight depths and stands near 

the surface in wells. Definite information was procured concerning 

only two valley wells, both of which have good yields. 

The public supply for Gage is obtained from a gang of six driven 

pipes about one-third of a mile south of Wolf Creek. These pipes 

are in a pit 10 feet in diameter, dug 10 feet deep, and are driven to 

a total depth of 39 feet from the surface. The 10-foot pit was dug 

through sand and clay. Water was encountered at 11 feet, and below this was clay to 33 feet. This clay was saturated, but it was so 

fine that it would not yield water rapidly. A g9od supply of water 

was obtained in sand between 33 and 39 feet, and the bottom of the 

water-bearing bed apparently was not reached. Each pipe is 2 inches 

in diameter and is equipped with a 60-gage screen 6 feet long. The 

well is pumped with a centrifugal pump, and the six pipes together 

have yielded as much as 200 gallons a minute, which is the capacity 

of the pump. They are usually pumped at only 135 gallons a minute. 

When the well is not being pumped the water stands 11 feet from. the 

surface, but when it is pumped at the rate of 135 gallons !t minute the 

water level is lowered 13 feet. An ~ay of a sample of wate.r from. 

this well shows it to be of fair quality for domestic use and good for 

irrigation but poor for use in boilers. (See No. 1, p. 50.) 

At Fargo the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co. has a 

dug well 20 feet in diameter and about 35 feet deep. This well is 

fully a mile from Wolf Creek, at a point where the flood plain of 

the creek is widened by Boggy Creek, which enters it from the south. 

The depth to the water level is about 23 feet. No l<>g of the well is 

available. The well yields 10,000 gallons an hour (about 165 gallons a minute). When it is pumped at this rate the water level is 

lowered 10 feet in 10 to 12 hours. No analysis of the water is available, but aside from ~he fact that it is hard: it is said to be of. good 

quality. 

It is believed that water can be obtained from wells on the valley 

floor of Wolf Creek in sufficient quantity and of good enough quality 

for irrigation. Along tributaries of Wolf Creek, however, the 

alluvium is not extensive, and good supplies adequate for irrigation 

probably can not be obtained except near their junction with the 

main stream. 

TERTIARY DEPOSITS. 

In· the vicinity of Gage all the wells on the uplands derive their 

supply from Tertiary deposits. ·· Practically all these' wells are' 
GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR GAGE, OKLA. 48 

drilled, because of the depth to which it is sometimes necessary to 

go to obtain water. The wells range in depth from less than 50 feet 

to 200 feet or more, but most of them are probably between 50 and 150 

feet deep. The depth to the water level in most of the wells is between 25 and 100 feet. The depth to water varies from place to 

place but in general is greatest on the highest land. When water is 

struck it does not rise more than a foot or two in the well. There 

are no indications o£ artesian conditions. 

Water is usually obtained in layers of sand or gravel, in places 

more or less consolidated, overlain and underlain by clayey or shaly 

beds. The clayey beds may also contain water, but they are too fine 

grained to furnish adequate supplies to wells. The driller usually 

doe& not stop when he first strikes water but drills through the underlying clay and penetrates the next water-bearing bed, the supply 

of which is less subject to contamination and less likely to be greatly 

diminished in times o£ drought. It is probable, however, that here, 

as in the Tertiary deposits in other parts of Oklahoma, the waterbearing beds are not continuous for great distances but form irregular lenses or stringers. For this reason the depth to the waterbearing sand or gravel may differ considerably in places only a mile 

or two apart. 

No adequate information is available in regard to the maximum 

quantity of water that might be obtained from wells on the uplands. · 

Most of the wells are used only for domestic purposes and for watering a few head of stock, and no attempt has been made to obtain 

large supplies. Practically all the wells are pumped by windmills 

or hand pumps, and it is difficult to get a good test. Furthermore, 

most of the wells are only 2 inches in diameter. The maximum 

yield reported in any well on the uplands was estimated at 7 to 

10 gallons a minute from a 3-inch pipe. This well is on the place 

of L. Zahn, in the NE. ! sec. 12, T. 21 N., R. 23 W., about 35 feet 

above a creek. The depth of the well is 55 feet, and the depth to the 

water level is 27 feet. The only well equipped with a gasoline engine 

£or which data were obtained is one at the county courthouse at Arnett. 

This well is 130 feet deep, and the water level is approximately 90 feet 

below the surface. The well is 6 inches in diameter, but the pump 

pipe is only 1t inches in diameter. This well yielded only 5 gallons 

a minute in a test. It is reported that when the well is pumped the 

water level is lowered about 20 feet. It is believed that most of the 

wells with 2-inch pipes will yield not more than 5 to 10 gallons a 

minute. If the wells were of larger diameter they might yiel<l 

more freely, but with heavy pumping the supply would probably be 

seriously depleted. 
44 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES, 1921. 

Springs occur at a number of places in the Gage region, and their 

water comes from Tertiary deposits. None of these were visited, 

however, and no definite information in regard to them is available. 

Most of them occur on streams, where valleys have be'en cut across a 

water-bearing stratum. At some of them the owners have built 

dams and impounded the water; at others the water is allowed to 

run freely. . 

The water from the Tertiary deposits is generally of good quality. (See assay of a typical sample (No.3) on p. 50.) In the eastern 

part of the Gage region, where the Tertiary deposits are comparatively thin and are underlain by the " Red Beds," if a well is drilled 

too deep it may penetrate the "Red Beds." Water from the "Red 

Beds " is likely to be of somewhat poorer quality than that from the 

Tertiary deposits. 

PERMIAN "RED BEDS." 

Except near the eastern edge of the region, where the Tertiary 

deposits are thin, no wells that are used for water supply penetrate 

the" Red Beds." They have been reached, however, in several wells 

drilled for oil, but as the search for oil was the primary object in 

the drilling of these wells, the drillers paid little .attention to the 

quality or quantity of water struck at various horizons, and the 

information afforded by the logs of the wells is meager. 

The question of the possibility of obtaining water from deep wells 

for irrigation was raised by the striking of a strong flow in a well 

drilled for oil about half a mile east of Gage, in theSE.! SW.! sec. 

2, T. 21 N., R. 24 W. (See Pl. IV.) The well was drilled by the Guarantee Development Co; It is 10 inches in diameter and when visited 

by the writer had reached a depth of 516 feet. The log of the well, 

from the driller's record, is given below. This log is not strictly 

reliable, however, for two reasons-first, the drilling was done with 

a rotary hydraulic rig, and it is impossible to get good samples when 

such a method is employed; second, a comparison of the log with 

samples studied by the writer shows that the presence of gypsum at 

several places was apparently not recognized, and there is reason to 

believe that material was called gypsum which was not gypsum. 

',: 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY WATER-SUPPLY PAPER 500 PLATE IV 

A. FLOWING WELL HALF A M ILE EAST OF 

GAGE, OKLA. 

B . NEAR VIEW OF FLOWING WELL NEAR GAGE, OKLA., SHOWING DISCHARGE. 
GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR GAGE, OKLA. 45 

Record of well in the SE. ! SW. ! sec. Z, T. 21 N., R. Z4 W., near Gage, Ellis 

Oounty, Okla. 

[Drilled June 2 to Aug. 19, 1918, by Gnatantee Development Co. From driller's record sheets.] 

---------- ";.~- Jepth.l ~!~- Depth. 

Band •...••.•..................... Sandrock •••••••.•............... 

g~cl.·::::::::::::::::::::::::::: "Pack" sand •.•••.•..•.......... Sandrock ...........•.•••........ Sand and gravel ..••••••.•.•...... Sandrock •..•...•.•.••••......... Sand ....•.......••.•••••.•....... Rock and sand ...••.••.••••...... Rock and clay .•.•••••••••••••.••• Sand-clay rock ...••...••••••••••. Red sandrock and clay ••••••••••• Rock and red sand and "gyp" ... "Oil sand" androck ••••.•....... '' Pack" sand ••••.•.•.••••.•..... Red shale ••••••••••••.•••........ Limerock .•••••••••••••••••....... Soft Ted shale ••••••••••••••....••. Sand ...•••••.•••••••..•.•••...... Sand and gravel ••••••.•....••.... Rock .•••••••.•••••••••••.•......• Sand ....•••••••••••••.•.•........ Sand and rock .••••••.•..•.••..... Sand and clay ••••••••••......•... Gravel .......••••••••.•..•....... Clay and gravel .••...••.•.••..••. 

Feet. 

20 

10 

2 

5 

4 

7 

10 

33 

25 

8 

4 

5 

11 

14 

20 

22 

14 

4 

14 

3 

3 

2 

5 

2 

2 

9 

9 

Feet. 

20 

30 

32 

37 

41 

48 

58 

91 

116 

124 

128 

133 

144 

158 

178 

200 

214 

218 

232 

235 

238 

240 

245 

247 

249 

258 

267 

OUsand .........•................ Sand and gravel. ................ . Red shale .............•.......... 

~~';id~~~~~~-- ::::::::::::::::::: 

Sand and clay ................... . Sand and gravel.. .•••............ Sand an<: shale .••................ Red sand ••.....•.....•........... Sand; nowater ..•..•.•••.•....•.. Redsand. ••••......•••••....•••.. Red shale and gravel .•........... Redshale ••••••.•..•••..••....... Red shale and gravel ••••••.••.•.. Shale and gravel .••••.••.•........ Hard shale .•...••.••••........... Redshale ...••••.•••.•..•.•...... Shale and gravel .••••••.••.•...•.• Gravel and sand; some water ..•.. Sand •••.....•.•.•..•....•.•.•.... Sand and shale .•••••••..•..•••..• Blueshale ......••.•••..•.•..•.•.. Red shale sand ..•••.•....•..•.•.. Shale and gravel ...•••••••••..•.•• Red sandrock .••....•.....••.•.•. Gas rock, blue shale ....•.••..•••. 

Feet. 

6 

12 

13 

10 

4 

13 

9 

11 

13 

12 

12 

12 

9 

13 

9 

6 

8 

6 

8 

4" 

11 

5 

8 

15 

12 . 

8 

Fut. 273 

285 

298 

308 

312 

325 

334 

315 

358 

370 

382 

394 

403 

416 

425 

431 

439 

445 

453 

457 

468 

473 

481 

496 

508 

516 

Samples from several different depths that were examined by the 

writer contained gypsum in varying quantities. Small amounts were 

found at 455 feet and 468 feet. A piece of rock about 4 inches in 

diameter that was said to have come from a depth of 508 feet contained a large percentage of gypsum. It was essentially a mass of 

gypsum crystals embedded in fine sand. Samples from depths of 512 

and 516 feet also contained gypsum, but at these depths the gypsum 

may have fallen in from higher beds. The strata from which the flow 

of water comes apparently contain aJarge amount of gypsum. 

Water was encountered in sandstone at 7 4 feet and again at 445 

feet. There is no information available as to the quality or quantity 

of the water found at these depths. When the depth of 507 feet was 

reached water was struck and rose to the surface, overflowing in large 

volume, and drilling was suspended for a few days. When drilling 

was resumed and had reached a depth of 515 feet the flow increased 

to about four times the amount yielded at 507 feet, and it was ne~essary to stop drilling until some means of shutting off the water was 

found. 

When the well was visited by the writer, in the middle of September, 1918, a 4-inch pipe had been connected to the 10-inch casing and 

extended vertically 70 feet or more above the surface, and a 4-inch 

pipe about 16 feet long was also attached horizontally as a discharge 

pipe about 8 feet above the ground. A strong stream flowed from 

31219°-22--4 
46 CONTRmUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES, 1001. 

the horizontal pipe, and it was stated that at the same time the water 

stood in the vertical pipe about 60 feet from the ground, but this 

statement was not confirmed. Approximate measurements of the 

flow under these conditions, made by the writer, indicate that the flow 

was at least 600 gallons a minute, or more than 850,000 gallons a day. 

Since the well was visited by the writer it has been drilled several 

hundred feet deeper, but the strong flow of the water interfered with 

the work. In the later drilling several large cavities were encountered. The flow increased when a large cavity was struck at 557 

feet, but it decreased again to about the original flow when another 

cavity was encountered at 574 feet. 

The water has a perceptibly salty taste. An assay of a sample in 

the laboratory of the water-resources branch of the Geological Survey shows that the water contains 6,200 parts per million of dissolved 

solids. (See assay No. 4, p. 50.) This assay shows it to be unfit for domestic and boiled use and bad for irrigation. (See pp. 48-51 for discussion of quality of water for domestic use, boilers, and irrigation.) 

Large quantities of water have been struck in other deep wells 

within 40 miles of Gage, although so far as is known there has been 

no other well in which the water rose above the su:diwe. Practically 

every one of these wells was being drilled for oil, and little attention 

was paid to the water-bearing strata, to the quantity of the water1 

except as it interfered with drilling, or to the quality of the water. 

Two wells have been drilled on the farm of C. D. Schultz, in the 

NW. 1 sec. 1, T. 1.9 N., R. 25· W., about 3! miles northwest of Arnett. 

One of the wells was drilled by the Shattuck Oil & Gas Co. during 

the years 1914 to 1917 to a depth of 1,743 feet and subsequently 

abandoned. The "Red Beds" were apparently reached at about 

165 feet. · Water was encountered at 60 to 65 feet, 85 to 95 feet, 410 

to 450 feet (in red sand), and 565 to 575 feet (in brown quicksand). 

It is possible that water was encountered at lower levels but was not 

mentioned in the log. When this well was visited by the writer water 

was standing in it only 27 feet from the surface. It was said that the 

well was at that time cased to 475 feet, and the water therefore presumably came from a depth greater than that. It is possible, however, that the water entered from a higher level through holes in the 

casing. In a shallow well a few hundred feet distant the water 

stands at 60 feet below the surface. This water probably comes from 

the same strata as were penetrated in the deep well betwe.en 60 

and 65 feet. It comes from Tertiary beds, as is shown by outcrops . 

near by. The water in the deep well probably comes from the beds 

at 410 to 450 feet, or 565 to 575 feet, or possibly from a greater depth. 

The second deep well on the Schultz farm was being drilled by 

Mr. Schultz at the time of the writer's visit. The log of the well as 
GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR GAGE, OKLA. 4 7 

obtained from the driller is obvioqsly inaccurate. Water was reached 

at about 80 feet, as in the shallow well mentioned above. Water 

was also encountered at about 170 feet in red sandstone, and this 

water rose within about 100 feet of the surface. It could be bailed 

down . about 50 feet ( 150 feet from the surface) but no farther. 

Water was also encountered at about 685 feet and at 721 feet. · 

It is clear that in the wells· on the Schultz farm the water encountered in the " Red Beds" is under more or less artesian pressure. 

No samples of water were obtained from either of these two deep 

wells, and no definite information could be obtained in regard to the 

quality of the water at different depths. Salt crystals that had been 

precipitated from the dried sludge at the well which was being 

drilled indicated that the water had been rather salty, and there were 

similar but less pronounced indications at the abandoned well. 

In a well drilled by the Home Producers Oil Co. in sec. 3, T. 21 N., 

R. 21 W., about 8 miles southwest of Woodward, water was en~ 

countered in quicksand between 50 and 172 feet. This water was 

apparently fresh and probably came from Tertiary rocks. No mention is made in the log of this. well as to the quantity of water. The 

" Red Beds " were entered at 172 feet, and gypsum was encountered 

at 460 feet and at lower depths. At 852 feet salt water was encountered. The water rose within 100 feet of the top, and the inflow 

was so great that it could not be lowered by bailing. 

In a well near Lipscomb, about 30 miles ,southwest. of Gage, water 

was encountered at 430 feet and rose within 43 feet of the top. The 

water, which was salty, was pumped at the rate of 8 gallons a minute 

without being lowered. At this place the "Red Beds" were apparently entered at a depth of 92; feet. . . 

In a well about 3 miles southwest of May, 20 miles north of .Gage, 

salt water was encountered at 140 feet. The water rose in the well, 

but just how far is not known. This well was drilled to a depth of 

only 150 feet. 

In a well near Gate, about 40 miles northwest of Gage, water w~: 

struck in the " Red Beds " at a depth of 170 feet and rose to. the 

surface. Nothing is known as to the quantity or quality of the water. 

In every well concerning which information was obtain~d where 

water was encountered in the " Red Beds " the water rose in the well, 

and in some wells it was evidently under considerable pressure. Accurate information was not ayailable in regard to the relative eleva- · 

tions of the several wells, so that it is not possible to compare the 

head of the water at the different places. The wells on the Schultz 

farm are probably from 200 to 300 feet higher than the one at Gage, 

and the water in those wells probably stands higher than the ~urface 
48 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STA'TES, 1921. 

at Gage. The Home Producers' well, southwest of Woodward; is possibly lower than the Gage well. 

ARTESIAN CONDITIONS IN THE " RED BEDS." 

The facts indicate that artesian conditions occur in the " Red 

Beds,_ in the Gage region, but not enough 'information is available 

to determine the structure accurately. Two possible causes of the 

artesian pressure may be suggested. . 

Near Woodward the "Red Beds" dip gently in a westerly direction. The " Red Beds " are known to; continue to the west for many 

miles, coming to the surface in New :Mexico. At points in the Panhandle of Texas and in New Mexico they are known to dip eastward. 

The Gage region may therefore be in a great artesian trough or syncline in which water is inclosed under pressure. The " Red Beds " 

at their outcrop in New Mexico are from 2,000 to 3,000 feet higher 

than in the Gage region. They consist of alternate beds of porous 

sandstone and nearly impervious shale in which are included beds of 

salt and gypsum. Water that falls as rain or snow on the porous 

beds percolates downward, along the dip of the beds, and is confined 

by the overlying impervious beds. The water continues to percolate 

downward in an easterly direction until it reaches the bottom of the 

basin, or until it is preven~d from going farther by water that has 

previously accumulated. These conditions are illustrated in :figure 6 

(p. 38). At Gage, for instance, the flowing well is so much lower than 

the intake of the water-bearing bed that the pressure is great enough 

to raise the water 60 feet or more above the ground. On the other 

·hand, at the Schultz wells, northwest of Arnett, the surfaee is much 

higher, and the pressure is not sufficient to lift the water to the 

surface. 

An alternate explanation is that Gage stands on a local syncline 

and that the water in the " Red Beds " did not enter them at their 

outcrop in New Mexico, but that it entered them from the overlying 

porous Tertiary deposits. This condition is shown in figure 7 

(p. 39). . 

A small-scale topographic map of Oklahoma 8 indicates that all 

the outcrops of the " Red Beds " east of the Gage region are lower 

than the surface at Gage. It is therefore practically certain that the 

artesian water comes from the west, northwest, or southwest. 

QUALITY OF WATER. 

To obtain information in regard to the quality of the water in the 

Gage region samples were collected from the flowing well at Gage, 

from two shallower wells, and from Wolf Creek at Gage. These 

• Gould, C. N., Geology and water resources of Oklahoma: U. S. Geol. Survey Water· ·.._ Sup~ly Paper 148, pl. 1, 1901;. 
GROUND WATER FOR IRIUGATION NEAR GAGE, OKLA. 4i) 

samples were assayed in the water-resources laboratory of the 

Geological Survey. The results of these assays, together with a 

classification of the waters for domestic use, boilers, and irrigation, 

are given on page 50.~ Because of the pressure of war work complete analyses were not made. The assays, however, are sufficiently 

accurate to serve as a basis for the classification of these waters as 

given in the table. 

' WATER FOR DOMESTIC USE. 

The classification of the waters for domestic use given: in the table 

on page 50 is based on the dissolved solids which they contain, especially on the constituents that produce hardness. Local conditions and 

individual preference largely determine the significance of the terms 

" good " or " bad " as applied to the mineral quality of water for 

domestic use. For instance, a certain water in the Gage region, 

where water o:f good quality is obtained in the Tertiary deposits, 

might ,be classed as only fair or poor, but a water o:f the same quality 

in the " Red Beds " area, where most of the water is so bad that it 

can not be used, would probably be classed as good. It should be 

borne in mind that in this report the classification of a water :for 

domestic use is based on:Iy on its mineral composition and does not 

take into consideration the sanitary quality o£ the water. 

WATER FOR USE rN BOILERS. 

With respect to their quality :for use in boilers, waters are classified 

according to the amounts o£ scale-forming and :foaming constituents 

they contain and the probability of corrosion. 

In this report waters for use in boilers are classed according to the 

rating adopted by the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association. 5 

WATER FOR IRRIGATION. 

Certain chemical compounds, if present in water in too large quantities, may prove harmful to vegetation. The substances most common:Iy encountered are what are called" the alkalies "-that is, salts 

of sodium and potassium. The principal harmful alkali salts are 

sodium carbonate (sal soda), sodium sulphate '(Glauber salt), and 

sodium chloride (table salt). 

As a result of continued evaporation much of the mineral content of 

the water is deposited in the soil, so that unless special precautions 

4 See Mendenhall, W. C., Dole, R. B., and Stabler, Herman, Ground water 1n San 

Joaquin Valley, ,Callf.: U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 398, pp, 73-82, 1916, for 

a detailed discussion of the classification of waters for domestic use, boUers, and irrigation. 

• Am. Ry. Eng. and Maintenance of Way Assoc. Proc., vol. li, p. 595, 19()4; vol. 9, p. 

134, 1908. This classification is also given in Water-Supply Paper 398, p, 67, wttll the 

amounts of the constituents recomputed to parts per mllllon. 
50 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES, 1921. 

are taken to wash out the alkali the soil will become so impregnated 

with the injurious substances that plants will be stunted or killed. 

If conditions are such that the water can drain through the soil 

readily, as in a very sandy soil, and not deposit much of its alkali 

content, the water is less likely to injure the plants than if the soil is 

impervious, as in clay soil, where the alkali will be deposited in the 

ground. The classification of the waters for irrigation as given in 

the subjoined table is based on the rating prepared by Stabler.6 

QUALITY OF WATERs IN THE GAGE REGION. 

The samples of water collected for examination represent supplies 

from the various types of sources in the region. The analytical results given in the following table show that the waters as a rule are 

fair· or good for domestic use and irrigation except that from the 

de~p well at Gage, but that they are not so good for use in boilers. 

Results of laboratory assa,ys and classi(icatioo ot waters near Gage, Okla. 

[Parts per million except as otherwise designated; Alfred A. Chambers, C. H. Kidwell, and Margaret D. 

Foster, analysts.] 

Determined quantities: 

=ti-~r.-::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Carbonate radicle (COs) .........•.•••...••....•.... Bicarbonate radicle (HCOs) ............•..•........ Sulphate radicle (SO•) •••....................•..... Chloride radicle (Cl) ....•.•••..•.•.•............•.•. Total hardness as CsCOa •..•....•.................. Computed quantities: a Sodium and potassium (Na+ K) .................. . Total dissolved solids ...............•.•............. Scal&-for:ming constituents •......................... Foaming constituents ..•....•.........••.•.•..••... Alkali coeftlcient (inches b) ••••••••••••••••••••••••• 

Classification:" 

0 

Tr. 

.0 

261 

28 

21 

244 

14 

350 

290 

40 

94 

Mineral content ..••••.•..... ; . • . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . • . Moderate. 

Chemical character.. • • • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . Ca-CO. 

Probability of corrosion c. . . • . • . . . . . . . • . . • . . . . . . . . . (?) 

Quality for use in boilers •........•........••.... , . . Poor. 

Quality for domestic use. . . . • . .. .. .. .. . ... .. .. .... . Fair. 

Quality for irrigation............................... .Good. 

Date of collection (1918) .. : ............................... Sept. 17 

2 

15 

Tr. 

4.8 

259 

34 

107 

187, 

110 

480 

220 

300 

11 

Moderate. 

Na-COa. 

N 

Bad. 

Good. 

Fair. 

Sept. 20 

3 4 

0 ........................ .17 . ................... .o 0.0 256 83 27 2,000 14 1,935 

207 1,975 

25 1,500 

330 6,200 

260 2,000 

'70 

74 .. ~.0 

){oderate. ca-eo.. 

v high. eryNa-CL 

<iJoor. c 

Unfit. 

Good. Unfit. 

Good. Bad. 

Sept. 17 Sept. 20 

" See standards for·classJ:Iicl?,ti.on by R. B. Dole and Herman Stabler, in Mendenhall, Dole, and Stabler; 

Oround waters in San Joaquin VaUey, Calif.; U. S, Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 398, pp. 50-81, 1916. b Depth in inches of water wblcb would on evaporation yield suftlcient alkali to fender a 4-foot depth of 

soil inJuriOus to the most sensitive crops. c Based on computed quantity; C=corrosive; N ~noncorrosive; (?)=corrosion uncertain or doubtful. 

1. Public supply fOl' Gage, from driven wells 39 feet deep. 2. WolfCreek near Gage. 3. Drilled wellt_l56feetdeep, on farm of E.:,. La Lone, in theSE. hec. ~.1 ... T. 21 N., R. 24 W. 4. Flowing weu, 516 feet deep, half a mile east of Gage, in the s:El. i Sw. i sec. 2, T. 21 N., R. 24 W., drilled by Guarantee Development Co. 

Sample 1, from the driven wells that furnish the supply for the 

town of Gage, was taken as representative of water from the-alluvial 

deposits along Wolf Creek. -The water is rated as only fair for 

8 Stabler, Herman, Some stream waters of the western United State~, with Chii:Jlters on 

sediment carried by the Rio Grande and the industrial application of water a~ses : 

U. ·S; Geol. Survey W-ater•Supply Paper 274, pp. 177-179, ·1911 •. See also U. S. Geol. 

Survey Water-Supply Paper 398, p. 57, 1916. · · 
GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NE-AR GAGE, OKLA. 51 

domestic use because of its hardness. It will probably re<luire considerable soap for washing and may form a scale in kettles but is 

satisfactory for drinking and cooking.· It has been classed as poor 

for use in boilers because of the amount of scale-forming constituents 

it contains. The water is good for irrigation. 

Sample 2 was taken from Wolf Creek at the bridge a short distance north of Gage. This water has been classed as good fordomestic use; it is lower in total hardness than that from the town wells. 

It is, however, possibly subject to contamination, although such a 

condition can not be detected by the assay method. Moreover, the 

quality of the water in Wolf Creek probably varies with the stage 

of the stream. The water is classed as bad for use in boilers because 

of its high content of scale-forming and foaming constituents. It is 

of fair quality for irrigation. 

Sample 3 was taken from a well on the uplands in sec. 21, T. 21 

N., R. 24 W., about 3 miles south of Gage. It is believed to be 

representative of water obtained from wells in the Tertiary beds. 

It has been classed as good for drinking and.general household use; 

poor for use in boilers because of the amount of scale-forming con-

. stituents it contains; and good for irrigation. 

Sample 4, from the flowing well at Gage, is highly mineralized, 

containing more than 6,000 parts per million of total solids. It is unfit for either domestic use or boilers. If used for drinking it probably 

would produce very unpleasant if not serious effects. It can not be 

successfully used for irrigation. The water might possibly be used 

for a short period with apparent good effects, especially in a porous 

soil, but it would eventually deposit so much alkali that the land 

would be spoiled and could be brought back to productivity only by 

careful drainage for a considerable time, When the flow was first 

struck it was allowed to run through a fi,eld of broom corn near by 

for about two weeks. The broom corn that had been watered by the 

flow was noticeably in much better condition.than that in the other 

parts of the field, which were in poor condition because of the dry 

weather, but a white alkali crust appear~d at the surface after the 

flow was diverted, and undoubtedly. a co:qsiderable amount of alkali 

was mixed in the soil beneath the surface. 

IRRIGATION. 

In determining the feasibility of using ground water for irrigation several factors must be taken into consideration. These are 

principally the quantity o£ water available, the quality of the 

water, the cost of the necessary developments, and the probable 

return on the investment. So far as is known there have been no 

attempts at irrigation in the Gage region except possibly of gardens 

for household use. 
52 CONTRIBUTIONS TO HYDROLOGY OF UNITED STATES, 1921. 

The fit;St two factors may be considered together. What information is obtained from records of deep wells in the Gage region indicates that abundant supplies of water may be obtained from the 

" Red Beds " at depths of 150 to 500 feet or more, but the water 

obtained from these beds is generally salty and can not be used for 

irrigation without danger of spoiling the land for crops. It is therefore concluded that water suitable for irrigation can not generally be 

obtained from wells that penetrate the " Red Beds." Water fit for 

use in irrigation may occur in some portions of the " Red Beds " that 

do not contain salt or gypsum, as perhaps some parts of the Woodward formation. This, however, can not be proved in the absence of 

wells which penetrate the upper "Red Beds" and in which careful 

observations as to the quality and quantity of the water obtained at 

various depths have been made during the progress of drilling. Any 

deep wells that are drilled into the" Red Beds" can only be considered as experimental until proved otherwise. The high initial cost 

of such wells and the hlll'l:ard of encountering bad water preclude the 

undertaking of the experiment by the farmer of average means. 

The water obtained from wells in Tertiary deposits on the upland 

is of much better quality and probably is in general good for irrigation. As there is no information at hand, however, in regard to 

the yield of drilled wells of large diameter in this area, the possibility of obtaining water for irrigation from such wells is uncertain. 

The Tertiary formations probably will not yield large quantities of 

water for extended periods, and in some parts of the region the lift 

will be so great that the wells can not be pumped for irrigation. As 

windmills are used so generally in this region, the wind blowing 

steadily for long periods, it is possible to pump water for irrigation 

by windmills from a greater depth than would otherwise be· profitable. Because the yield of such wells is only moderate it would be 

necessary to provide storage reservoirs, and ·in any event the area 

that could be irrigated would be small. 

Computations based on the assay of the water from driven wells in 

the alluvium underlying the valley floor of Wolf Creek at .Gage show 

that it is of good quality for irrigation. The quality of the water from 

this formation may vary somewhat from place to place, but probably everywhere in the valley of Wolf Creek it is either good or 

fair and can be used if reasonable care is taken in watering crops. 

The wells that furnish the public supply at Gage and the railroad 

well at Fargo yield 150 gallons a minute or more, and at these places 

water is obtained at depths of less than 50 feet. It is reasonable to 

believe that wells of similar capacity can be obtained at other places 

in the ·valley and that the water can be used for irrigation, either 

to supplement the rainfall in dry years or as a regular supply. The 

water could probably be obtained from bored wells of large diameter, 
GROUND WATER FOR IRRIGATION NEAR GAGE, OKLA. 53 

from dug wells, or from a series of driven pipes. In addition to 

the water from wells on the flood plain some water could be obtained 

from Wolf Creek,~by pumping directly from the creek or from pipes 

driven into the creek bed. There seems to be no possibility of 

storing the flow of the creek, because no good dam site is available. 

In addition to the quality and quantity of the water available, the 

cost of the development is- an important item that must be carefully considered. It is not within the scope of this paper to discuss 

the cost of an irrigation system in the Gage region, but attention 

may be called to certain points to be considered in an estimate of the 

cost. The original cost will include the cost o:f sinking wells, installing the pumping equipment, leveling the land, and building 

ditches. The operating expenses will include the cost of the power, 

of repftirs, and of the distribution and application of water. In 

addition, the interest on the investment, depreciation, and taxes 

must be considered. It should be remembered that if an irrigation 

system is used only to supplement rainfall, the fixed charges, such 

as taxes, interest on investment, and depreciation, continue when the 

plant is idle and will therefore be relatively higher than if the plant 

were used regularly. 

A factor of some weight in determining whether irrigation will 

be profitable is the nature of the crop to be raised. Because of the 

cost of equipment and bf pumping, the \Ordinary field crops can· 

not be grown by irrigation to yield as great a profit as those raised 

without irrigation in wet seasons, or perhaps in seasons of average 

rainfall. Irrigation of alfalfa and other crops grown in semiarid 

regions, such as broom corn, kafir corn, feterita, and Sudan grass, 

would probably be profitable only in dry seasons. Irrigation by 

water from wells is most profitable when the crops grown are those 

that permit intensive cultivation and that bring good prices, ffilch as 

fruit and garden vegetables. In conclusion, it may be said that the 

prospects of obtaining water for irrigation in the Gage region are 

not bright, except in certain small areas.·