Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-01-02

county, and runs through the county
southwesterly and about parallel with the
American, dividing the portion of the
county lying south of the American river !
into two nearly equal sections. The /,
Costumes carries large body of water in |
the rainy season, and also maintains good
supply in summer, which will furnish am
pie for irrigation purposes, however extern
sive.
OTHER WATER COURSES AND SUPPLY.
The section of the county lying between
the Costumes and the south boundary is
again divided in about the center by
water-course known as the Laguna, run
ming nearly parallel with the Costumes.
This stream has large flow of water in
the wet season, and during the greater
portion OF the year is quite stream, but
IN the latter part of the dry season is gen
orally dry.
Dry creek, which forms the southern
boundary of the county for a distance of
about twenty-five miles, or one-half of the
southern line, is also quite prominent
stream. In the winter season it flows
strong volume, and in the driest portion of
the year affords ample supply for the pur-
poses of the ranchers having lands along
its course, and much that might be utilized
for irrigation.
sUBTERRANEAN WATER SUPPLY.
In addition to the numerous rivers and
streams which traverse and water Sacra-
mento county, an inexhaustible supply of
pure and excellent water for domestic and
| all other purposes underlies the entire area
of the county, and throughout the greater
portion may be easily appropriated by use
of slight lifting power. South of the
American river, the entire western half of
the county has this supply within eight to
ten feet of the surface. while east the
center the depth at which water is reached
somewhat increases. By reason of this
abundant subterranean supply the farmer
or trult-grower of Sacramento county who
wishes to use water for irrigation of fruits,
vegetables, etc, in dry seasons, may do so
without being dependent upon irrigation
ditch companies and furnish himself With
all needed supply at far less cost.
IRRIGATION FROM WELLS.
For instance, a windmill, with two six
inch pumps attached with ten-foot beam.
will cost only about 500. This will be
ample TO irrigate five acres of land in
fruit, and is often made to answer for
eight acres. Those who make use of this
method bore their wells from IS to so feet
IN depth. Thus the distance the water
has to be lifted is comparatively so slight
that wind power is fully sufficient and
very economical.
RAISING WATER BY STEAM POWER.
If, however, it is desired to raise water
for irrigation or other purposes upon a
more extensive scale, it NAV be down bv
steam power. Several parties have all
ready adopted this method, and the results
are not only entirely satisfactory, but show
the inexhaustible supply of this subter-
ranean water flow.
For instance, there are in the vicinity of
Sacramento several parties pumping water
by steam for irrigation W. r. Strong &
Co. have on the high ridge in their nursery
grounds, just east of the city, No. ) cen
trifugal pump with which they irrigate
l2O acres of nursery grounds, and have
water to spare. The well used is of eight
inch bore, and 100 feet Deep An excaya-
ton about II feet in diameter and IS feet
deep Is made at the top, in which the
pump Is set so as to get it down to the
water level. The engine used is of four
teen-horse power, but ten-horse power
would be ample to do the work. The en-
tire cost of well and plant was about 81
900. The cost Of running it, for help and
fuel, Is about 81 per day, and 700 gallons
OF water are pumped per minute, or over
l,O00,O0O gallons in twenty-four hours.
Nearly adjoining the above premise, are
tie orchards of H. g. Smith, which are
irrigated by steam rotary pump, the
works having been mt in nv tho forp,ar
owners, {. W. Reed & Co. The well at
these pump-wcrks is a 10-inch, and 100
feet deep. 1t is placed at the point of
highest ground on the premises, and water
rises to within sixteen feet of the surface
An excavation l0x12 feet, and If feet
deep, was made to set the pump in. at
near water-level. The pump is run by
ten-horse engine, and $4,000 gallons of
water are raised per hour, without the
least show Of exhaustion being made to
the supply. The entire cost of well ma
c'inery, etc, was al cut 81, 300 and Mr..
Reed states will furnish ample water to
irrigate 800 acres.
These cases show that every landowner
in the county who desires to irrigate trees,
vines or other growths, can do so indie
pendently of any ditch company and at
comparatively small cost per acre. and
this is being extensively done. The plants
OF windmill and steam pumps are numer-
Gus throughout the county, and all give
most satisfactory results 1t will be seen.
therefore, that every acre of Sacramento
county can be easily irrigated, either from
the numerous rivers and streams with
which it abounds, or from the subter-
r11pan SI1ppIy