Santa Fe daily New Mexican., 1897-12-17
WELLS FOR IRRIGATION.
country.

Professor Fred H. Newell, chief hydro
gra pher In the corps of the United States
geological survey, contributes paper to
| a recent report of that department upon
the subject of irrigation from wells upon
the semi-arid lands of the west. He points
out that there is reason to believe that
considerable areas will be irrigated by
gravity systems from the rivers and from
storage reservoirs built to catch and hold
the waters of intermittent mountain
streams, but taking all things into consid
Grafton he ia of the opinion that ordinarily
wells can be had over large area and
possess such advantages that they must
come first in the development of agricul-
ture by irrigation on the plains.
Continuing he declares that irrigation
by water from we'll, If the latter yields
a good supply at moderate depth from
the surface, possesses certain advantages
over that from gravity supply in spite
of the usually greater annual cost of pro
ducing the water. The wells and the
source of water are, as rule, under the
individual control of the irrigator. 1t is
often possible for the farmer to dig or
drill the we'll himself and he can purchase,
sometimes on credit if necessary, the ma
chinery, windmill or pump for bringing
the water to the surface. Being under
his own supervision, he can apply the
water whenever in his judgment the
plants need it, not being compelled to
wait his turn or to take water at moon
veLient times, whether day or night, &C.
oording as it may be allotted under large
irrigating system.
Where too great depth is not req uired
In order to reach an adequate water sup
ply, the plan suggested by Professor
Newell would appear to be practical and
of considerable value, but in many locsli
ties, where it is necessary to sink to
depth of 100 feet or more, the cost of
raising the water has been found to be
entirely too great to warrant the employ
ment of this method, except in case of
gardens or small truck farms. Expert
ments have been extensively made in this
state, and especially in the eastern coun.
ties, in the line of irrigation from wells
with windmills and horse power for
raising the water. Successful results
have been attained where only depth Of
80 feet or less is necessary, but beyond
this limit it is doubtful 1t this method Of
In determining the permanency and
volume of water supply from wells and
the depth necessary to secure it in any
given locality, Professor Newell suggests
that it is often possible for the farmer TO
Judge from the experience of his neigh
bors whether he can sink we'll success.
fully at one point or another. II, how
ever, his place differs widely in general
location or in other conditions so that he
cannot safely use the experience of others,
then he must either trust to chance and
dig his we'll at point where 1t will be
most convenient, or, II practicable, con-
suit some geologist or other person who
has made scientific study Of such mat
ters.
As TO the value of the we'll water for
irrigation purposes, he takes exception
to the familiar assertion that water from
wells is not as valuable for purposes of
irrigation as that from rivers, because
the latter bring q considerable amouut
Of silt which, during irrigation, is carried