Little Falls weekly transcript. (Little Falls, Morrison Co., Minn.) 1894-19??, 1897-02-26
WATER FOR IRRIGATION.

WATER FOR IRRIGATION.
Value Of Pumpi. & ~ Set Forth In . Goo
logical Survey Report.
The real Value Of pumping as q means
Of irrigation, and the extent to which il
may be employed, are "s yet scarcely
appreciated. A great many windmi.js
and some water wheels are utilized lA
or western states for this pnrpose, and
little pumping is done BY steam and
gasoline. But the value Of the water
supplies to be derived from lifting is
sure to increase greatly as the cheapness
and adaptability Of this method come to
be fully recognized. Herbert NJ. Wilson.
in report of the United States geolog-
ical survey, portions Of which are pub
lished in advance in the Kansas Farm
or, says:
1T is now well established fact that
pumping occasionally furnishes irriga-
ton water moro cheaply than does gray.
ity, both a. regards first cost of the
pumping plant, equivalent to the cost Of
water rights, and as regards the cost Of
maintenance and operation, which cor
responds to the annual water rental or
rate in the gravity system. In pumping.
the source of water supply ~ more d.
rectly under the control Of the irrigator,
while he's troubled by none Of the vex.
atlous controversies arising from ques-
tions of priority of right or Of water ap.
preparation, of time of supply, and Of
rotation in the bitches. nor ia he 40 like
~ to have his supply cut down in sea-
sons Of drought
In this connection figures are quoted
from report on agriculture by irriga.
ton prepared for the United States
census Of 1890 by F. Fl. Newell, which
makes it appear that the average first
cost Of water derived from gravity sup
plies. for the whole United States was
SO. Is per acre, varying between $3. SO,
the average Tor Wyoming, and $l2.95,
the average for California. The average
annual water rental was 81. OF per acre.
ranging between IA cents in Wyoming
and $l.6O in California. The average
cost per second foot of water on account
of construction of some of the great
gravity canals Of the west, and based
on the assumption that their whole sup.
ply was utilized, vsried between $125
for the Bear river canal. Utah, and $3.50
for the Turlock canal. California. The
~ost per acre irrigated for the same
works varied between IS for the Bear
river canal and $14. SO for the Turlock
canal. The average cost per acre irri.
gated by some of the greater Of the stor-
age reservoirs of the west varied be.
tween $40. 96 for the Helmet valley res.
ervoir in California and c$81. 80 for thu
Sweetwater reservoir in California.
On the other hand, numerous wind
mill pumping plants have been erected
in the west, the first cost Of which is
equivalent to a charge Of about $40 per-
acre irrigated or less, while tho cost of
maintenance, equivalent to annual wa. =
ter rental, is practically nil. Hydraulic
rams have been utilized in pumping for
irrigation at a cost Of about 81 Q per aure, /
irrigated, with practically no charge for
maintenance and operation. Gasoline
pumping engines are extensively used
in the west, the first cost Of which has
been equivalent to about $50 per acre
irrigated. with cost of operation of
$1.25 per acre. Water. power pumping
plants have been erected in the west at
costs ranging from 81 to $15 per acre
irrigated and with operating charges
varying between 81 and 81. so per acre.
OF steam pumping plants SO far erected
in the west the cost has ranged from IS |
to $40 per acre irrigated, with an oper.
ating charge Of from $3.50 to So per
annum per acre irrigated.