The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-02-20
IRRIGATION BY wrNp-MILL.

To the Editor of the Eagle
Irrigation IS needed and what this coun-
try must have if it is to prosper. II the
people will use as good judgment as id
the Aztecs and Toltecs at the time Cortez
discovered Mexico they Will not be long
in finding a way. There are more quar-
ter sections of land in Kansas OF which
ten or more acres can be irrigated than
there are where no irrigation is possible.
either by conserving or storing the run-ofr
waters or by pumping from either wells
or streams.
The windmill as a power for pumping
water in connection with storage reser-
voirs is what l want 10 call attention to
at this time There is no doubt in my
mind that 1t Is ne most practical for the
purpose. The cost comes within the reach
of everyone. 1t works while you sleep.
eat, and are at church, without running
up an expose account. 1t does not need
an attendant. 1t does not use a sub
stance that costs ten to twenty cents a
gallon. or wo to five dOha- ton. and
transportation from some distant town.
but is given as free as the air we breathe
or the water we drink, and Is for everyone
TO use who will. It also gets the water
where II can be used at a great deal better
advantage than direct from the pump. for
there is a great deal better control over
the head Of water through the headgate.
Any amount OF water can be allowed 10
flow that is desired, from FIVE gallons per
minute TO thousands, while with the gasO-
line or steam power pumps with a capac-
ity of six hundred gallons per minute, II
more is wanted IL cannot be had II
single head is wanted for short time IL
cannot be had except a a greater expense
than will justify. For instance. In irri-
CATION Of corn and meadows. a man Is
able TO take care OF from five 10 eight
times as much water as in iTr.gating small
garden plots.
Again the water pumped into reservoirs
and allowed 10 stand for time becomes
tempered, aerated and charged with fer
tile matters that are valuable az plant
food Fish grown in the reservoir will
add 70 the profit OF the investment Ice
cut in the winter and stored will be found
of great advantage to the culinary and
dairy department OF every farm. The
plant furnishes water for the stock. and
household purposes.
A twelve foot bsck-geared windmill Il
capable OF lifting three and hsh million
gallons OF water in three months where II
does not exceed a heighth OF twenty-five
feet, and should have a reservoir capable
OF holding nearly that amount. (as have
made liberal allowance for losses. This
reservoir would have 70 be two hundred
feet BY four hundred feet, rounded on the
corners and fully FIVE feet deep. \ plant
OF this kind is capable Of taking care Of
thirty acres and the entire cost VII not
exceed three hundred and twenty-five dol
lars (S35.00, even though the farmer pays
for building the reservoir. II the reser-
voir can be located In a depression or
draw where run-off water can be caught.
the size Of the reservoir should be In
creased IN proportion 20 the eatchment
area tributary 70 the draw. and IN pro-
portion 20 the average annual run or IN
the section where q is located. For sz-
ample. II there = a catchment area %
fifty acres and the annual run OF - ap-
proxlmstely SIX inches. there would be
twenty-five acre feet % water or enough
to cover Eve acres FIVE feet deep. or
enough 20 irriRafs one hundred acres
once. Halfway attempts have bean made
II this Line. 20 that there are a very Few
examples before the people. But enough
has been done 90 that We car knoT that
where ne work g. done thoroughly ard
perfectly success Is assured.
L. r. SHERWOOD