Rocky Ford enterprise., 1894-06-07
Electrical Water Measurement and
gricultural Notes

Last week the editor of the ENTER
PRISE accepted an invitation from Irriga-
ton Superintendent Matthews to acom-
pany him on water-measuring trip up
the river. The occasion of the expedi-
tion was the presence in the valley OF L.
H. Newell, OF the U. S. geological sur
vey, who was making measurements OF
the flow of water in the Arkansas and the
various canals taken from it. Senator
Swink and Mr.. Newell had some hour
the start OF us but we caught up with
them at John Vroman's big ranch on the
banks OF the river near Catlin. From
there the party drove to th, fume of the
Otero canal over the Apishapa. Here
Mr.. Newell got out his complicated appa-
ratus for ascertaining the amount of
water flowing therein. One portion of
the s1plant" consisted OF q small brass
wheel to which the current gave a rotary
motion. Weights were attached to keep
the apparatus in an upright position while
q rudder attachment kept its head up
stream. From this rotary wheel two
copper wires, similar to telephone wires,
extended to the shore. These were attach
ed to an electric appliance, not unlike a
telegraph instrument, in connection with
which was counting machine and stop
watch showing only seconds and minutes.
The apparatus is medication Of that
used for measuring the speed Of vessels
at sea. Tho revolutions OF the submerg-
ed wheel each minute were thus faith
fully recorded. Duplicate observations
were taken near the top of the water, and
the same number near the bottom.
These measurements were taken every
three feet of tho width of the canal,
which when averaged would give the
amount passing each minute. The data
for making the estimate was, of course,
completed by measuring the depth of
the canal at each point tested. The rule
is that the flow of water in the bottom of
a canal is slower than at the top, but the
hume of the Otero canal showed just the
contrary situation. When these meas
urements were finished it was about the
noon hour and highly enjoyed picnic
dinner WIS served under the shade of the
large cottonwoods which beautify the
Apishapa at this point.
From the Hume we drove over to the
Catlin canal dam and headgate where we
were met by R. o. McClain, Supt The
flow of this canal was measured at a
point about mile below the headgate.
t
Newell started westward for similar
measurements further up the river, while
Mr. Matthews and the ENTKRPR1sE re-
turned home.
NOTES BY THE WAY.
A. P. Kouns' is acres of tomatoes were
in Gp-top condition.
J. G. Kain's orchard looked fine from a
from distance and we are going to give
it closer inspection soon.
W. L. Sickenberger's wheat was out in
full head and made fine show for gen.
erous harvest.
Santa Fe section men were busy put
ting in new ties, large numbers of which
were seen scattered along the route.
We were frequently reminded OF Max.
well Bros. by many brilliant illustrated
signs on the fences, the product of the
skill of E. S. Richard.
B. F. Powell's 20 acre orchard adjoin-
ing Catlin is most promising one. He
has added largely to his fruit interests
during the past spring.
In the distance was seen the 80 acre
orchard set out this spring by w. II
Gibson for himself and the Otero Fruit
and Land Co. All varieties OF fruit have
been planted and the report is that the
entire orchard is quite prosperous.
Among tho largest fields Of alfalfa seen
were those OF John Nroman and Beaty
Bros, each of whom have about AGO acres.
The alfalfa everywhere was beautiful
sight, hundreds of acres Of deep, rich
green, as level as floor. This, one of
the leading crops OF the valley, was new
er more promising than now.
R.O. McClain has one OF the best or
chards in Otero county. As we drove
through it the capacity of the Arkansas
valley for fruit growing was fully proven.
The orchard contains all varieties of
frrlits-apples, pears, plums. apricots,
prunes, and small fruits. The apple and
plum trees are very heavy laden with
fruit and all other trees have good crop.
A variety of plum which Senator Swink
was unable to obtain fruit from in Rocky
Ford, Mr.. McClain has almost bending
with small plums at this early part of
the season. This particular tree is an
imperfect blooomer, but when planted in
ciump of trees of other varieties it yields
abundantly. Mr.. McClain has great
faith in prunes and is going to largely
increase his orchard in that line. What
Mr. McClain has done, and is doing in
the horticulture line is valuable illus
tration of the fruit resources Of the Ark
kansas valley,