Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-12-27
PRACTICAL IRRIGATION.
How to Construct q Working Irriga'
ton Reservoir.

ton Reservoir.
For the Reflector
At the Hutchinson convention, said
to be the largest gathering Of practi-
cal irrigationists ever assembled in
the United States, it was the conceded
opinion in that connection that the
only irrigation practical on the up
lands of Kansas would be developed
only by individual effort through
system Of catch basins and storage
reservoirs, supplemented by the un-
derhow and lifted by wind pump or
other force. In this connection it be-
comes a matter Of first Importance to
construct a reservoir that will yield
maximum Of duty at minimum cost.
For the following directions we are
indebted in part to Mr. Dusom ofGar-
den City, practical irrigationist OF
large experience and marked success
First, select a suitable location, one
that will occupy the land as high or
higher in elevation than any Of the
land you wish to irrigate; then lay off
the lines marking its dimensions. If
the land on which the reservoir is to
be built be OF fresh sod, it will be
necessary to pillow up or remove all of
the sod from the ground on which
the embellishments are to be construct
ed; then pillow within the lines of the
proposed embellishments and with a
scraper draw the earth from the in
side Of the reservoir to build up the
walls with. The wall should not be
less than 5 feet in height, measuring
on the on the outside, and very wide
or thick at the ground level. The
wall should be so carried up that the
slope from the inside will be very
gradual, not abrupt. Having built
the walls by using the earth from the
inside of the reservoir, and every
thing ready for pudding the earth to
hold water, the first thing in order is
to pillow up all of the land over the
whole bottom surface of the reservoir,
4 or inches deep, then with Il har-
row or drag, or other suitable imple-
ment, reduce the earth to very fine
pulveration, and after this shall have
been done, and thoroughly done, the
next in order is to make ready a
puddle.
Having your team with drags, or
harrows, or inverted scrapers, or
other suitable tools that will be best
adapted for working fine earth into
mortar. Turn the water into the
reservoir and begin to puddle at one
edge, pudding carefully along this
edge until the earth shall have been
reduced to perfect mortar and CON
tinue to work toward the other side
until you have completed the entire
bottom of the reservoir as far up on
the embankment as you can work
with your team to good advantage.
If you have done the work thor
oughly your reservoir will then
cement into a good solid bottom that
will hold water like q Jug. II it is
possible to impound the storm waters
by system of catch basins and stor-
age reservoirs as advised by Major
Powell, late of the United States
geological survey, and endorsed by
the Hutchinson convention; if it be
possible to raise the underllow by
means Of wind pumps or other force,
as demonstrated in Greeley and other
western counties, then it becomes
possible to irrigate from five to forty
acres and create yeritable oasis
upon every quarter section, prolific
in its yield Of fruits, cereals and veg
etables, assuring to the family liv-
ing and a large measure of independ-
ance Then will be realized the cher
ished dream Of Judge Emery Of Law
rence and central and western Kan
sas will evolve the most perfect sys-
TEN of agriculture, the highest
standard of civilization and the most
Independent rural population on the
continent Of North America. Let. us
irrigate. A. c. RoMIG.
No Change to Chicago.
TLa Ihrnunh cnrrino nlfnrnl fin