Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-01-23

Continued from last 70eck)
WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DEM
ONSTRATE THE AGRICULTURAL
POSSIBILITIES OF CENTRAL
WISCONSIN.
The one great problem of
immediate and paramount im-
portance for Central Wisconsin
is the demonstration of it's
agricultural and horticultural
possibilities. How can this best
be done? 1t seems to me that
any effort in this direction which
does not take into account its
water resources and it's POSSIBLE
tiles in the direction Of cranberry
culture would be q great mistake
lift can be demonstrated that
there is an underground water
supply which can furnish to each
quarter section Of land in the
counties under consideration
quantity of water equal to that
which is now had at Babcock,
that is, 70 supply 10 acres with
81 inches Of water, then it seems
to me that the possibility of
profitable cranberry culture has
been placed beyond question. If,
III addition to this, it can be
shown that the higher sandy
lands will produce abundant
crops of other kinds when ade-
quately irrigated then there can
be no question but that the 40
government townships of fiat
land IN the counties under con-
slderatlon may be placed among
the richest agricultural lands III
the state.
1t has been pointed out that
the sands and sandstones which
underlic this district probably
contain from 5 to 20 feet of avail
able water for each 100 feet of
sandstone.
TO irrigate 0 acres of land on
each quarter section to the extent
Of "A inches each season, drawing
the supply from the ground water
beneath, it would only be necessary
to consume a mean of IS inches of
the 5 to 20 feet of available water
which lays beneath the district.
There seems to me promise
enough Of the amount of water in
question being available at SO low
a rate as to make it we'll worth the
while for all parties who have
large financial interests i'll these
counties to combine their resources
in an effort to demonstrate at one
or more we'll chosen localities in the
several counties what can be done
i'll the way Of utilizing this under
ground reservoir Of water in the
production of cranberries and other
agricultural products. And | an
authorized to say that the Expert
ment Station will gladly cooperate
III such demonstration, giving such
aid as lies within its power.
COST OF PUMPING TWENTY ACRE
FEET OF WATER.
1t is claimed that at the presen
prices of gasoline the gasoline en-
gines now made will produce on'
applied horse power at cost of
to Is cents per hour for fuel. TC
lift 20 acre-feet Of water 5 fee
high in 100 days of 10 hours eacl
would require an engine capabl
of yielding 81 horse power and til
fuel cost Of this power at Is cent
per horse power per hour woul'
be 5000. Stating the capacity c
gasoline engines in another way
IS claimed that one pint of goo
gasoline will develop one hors
power during one hour 1t is ful
Their claimed that when couple
directly to the pump as they ma
be they are 50 nearly automatic a
to require not more than 50 mir
utes attention during day of
hours.
Gasoline engines Of four hors
power are sold by different mani
facturers at from $500 to $500 eac
and centrifugal pump with fitting
for 200 gallons per minute woul
cost not to exceed 5000.
The cost Of we'll will Deepen
on its size and depth. Mr.. S.
O'Connor quotes the followin
prices to furnish all tubing and &
the work in hrst-class name
For 6 inch we'll, first 200 feet {
to rock, $500 per foot, from roc
to completion SI.75 pei foot. f
an 8 inch we'll $500 and s2.25; f
aIo inch we'll $500 and $500 ar
for I2inch we'll 5000 per foot