The Globe-republican., 1891-01-21
irrigation By Private 1ethels Of
From Wells.

State Board OF Agriculture. January 18th,
lsel. by John Goodwine. OF Dodge City,
| kanSaS.
Irrigating canals, like railroads, are
not, and cannot be built along the border
of every farm. When all the land is irri-
gated that can be reached BY canals, there
yet remains in southwestern Kansas the
larger portion of the farms without water,
and yet sheet of water, known as the
underflow seems to be under the whole
surface of that portion of the state.
The Gilbert Bros. are utilizing this I'M
derfiow to supply the South Dodge canal.
but as stated. canals cannot reach all the
farms. and mine happened to be one of
them. With unlimited power over our
heads. and soil that can scarcely be
surpassed. it seemed to me to be worth
while to try to use the wind power to
bring the underflOw to the soil. Hence.
for convenience as well as economy in
time and power. thought to store the
water in reservoir, to be drawn on as
necessity requires. l began about one
year ago to try my experiment by build
ing reservoir 1O0x150 feet. seven feet
deep. 1t is on the highest land that is
near the orchard and vineyard. By the
side of this reservoir a well was dug. five
feet wide at the top and widened to six
feet at the bottom. The underflow was
reached at the depth of 50 feet. and the
well sunk three feet in the water. giving
a basin in the underflOw of six feet wide
by three feet deep. The ground being
sandy the well was curbed from top to
bottom with two inch lumber. A 6x24
inch cylinder was placed about four feet
from the water. and three inch suction
and discharge pipes used. TO get the
water into the reservoir it had to be rails
ed five feet above the top of the well. A
22-fOOt windmill was put up and start
ed about July 1st. 1890, but the mill was
Ia poor one. 1t broke soon after starting
and several times afterwards. and it did
no work until about the last of Septem-
Der. For a month it did considerable
pumping. and again broke. During this
time the water was discharged into the
reservoir, but on account of the sandy
soil it failed to hold it. Loan was then
hauled into the reservoir at leisure times
and the sandy portion of the bottom
covered about six inches thick. The mill
was again started about the middle of
November. and the water run directly
where it was wanted. Since then two
acres of grape vines have been well wa
tered and some trees besides. The mill
has an eight inch stroke and throws about
one gallon Of water to the stroke. and
makes from Is to 30 strokes per minute.
Recently pat on the Zerbe adjustable
stroke attachment and heightened it to
II inches giving one and half gallons
per stroke. Have not had time to test it
thoroughly. but feel certain that it will
be success. With the short stroke |
think can irrigate ten acres the dryest
year we have had. and with the length
ened stroke can thoroughly water fifteen.
With bunch of cattle to eat the buffalo
grass and forage crops we can grow, and
fifteen acres we'll watered we need not
run from the drouth but partially at least
run the drOuth from us. We Kansans are
inclined to want to do whatever we un-
dertake on large scale. We figure on
paying the mortgage off in one year. The
result we all know. Thus in looking for
large things and methods we are inclined
to overlook many things that we might
accomplish. and because we fail to reach
our expectations we become discouraged
and go to wife's people. 1t is our duty to
adapt ourselves to our surroundings and
use such methods as will best serve our
purpose. Let us not. like the Prophet
Elijah, give up in despair, because the
surroundings are not what we we would
like. or what we thought they were. If
our farms are not under the canal that
taps the undertlOw. let us tap it with a
well. and harness the wind to make our
own little part of Kansas blossom rs a
rose. Two Of my neighbors are now at
work on the same general plan and will
soon have the underflow running out on
their farms. and others are investigating
and planning to do likewise. But I be-
lieve that much better things are in store |
for MS. l refer now to the Regain Vapor
Engine. 1t is claimed that it can be run
at a total cost of l-2 cents per hour for
each horse power. With this new power
we can raise water in sufficient quantity
to produce the ordinary farm crops if we
prefer. We will be enabled to view with
pleasure our crops of alfalfa, corn and
wheat. Indeed shall not be surprised
If in very few years vapor engines are