The advocate., 1897-09-08
RESERVOIRS FOR STORM WATERS.

taken from Prof. E. B. Cowgill's article
on Irrigation Practice on the Great
Plains" lately published by the Depart,
ment of Agriculture:
Artificial reservoirs have been found
a necessity in the irrigation Of the plains.
Storm waters cannot be controlled or
directed upon the land as they fall. They
run off from the hard, sun-baked prai-
ries in torrents, especially in those pOr-
tiOns of the country where reliance must
be placed chiefly on such waters. For
the storage of this water reservoir sites
are easily found, and are usually Sc
lected with a view to impounding the
water from a considerable drainage area.
The retaining dams are of various sizes,
according to the needs and the means OF
the person constructing them. A reser-
VOir to contain an acre or so of water Is
easily made by placing an earthern dam
across the outlet Of the drainage area,
even though the slopes may be very
gradual. The dam has not usually to be
built very high, and the principal pre-
caution necessary is to provide against
washing out in time of freshet. The
larger reservoirs differ in no essential
lEOul JuC bAuGllClJ CANVPb bAAGSb bhO oANSo
must be selected with reference to larger
areas of drainage, and the dams usually
require more work, both as to engineer
ing and construction.
"a typical example Of this kind is the
reservoir Of George M. Munger of Green
wood county, Kansas. Mr.. Munger is
engaged extensively in orcharding, haV>
ing 500 acres of fruit trees ready to bear.
Notwithstanding his location near the
Goth meridian, far within what is usu-
ally designated as the rain belt he has
concluded, after careful investigation of
the subject, that the realization Of the
expected profits of his orchard is depend
ent to large extent upon the artificial
application of water. There are no sur
face streams near from which to obtain
water in the usual way. There is on his
farm, however, an eligible site for a
stOrm-water reservoir. But most Of his
orchard and farming land is at higher
level than the reservoir site, so that,
after collecting the water, he is obliged
to pump it.
"The dam is 1852 feet long, 1872 feet
broad at the widest part of the base, and
little less than 40 feet at the highest
point above the bottom Of the valley.
The estimated area of water when full
is 100 acres, and the estimated capacity
1000 acre feet. 1t was expected that
two years of average run-Off would fill
the reservoir.
I'm the construction of the dam, which
was built exclusively of EARTH the sod
was entirely removed and placed at the
rear face The old water channel was
alo of ho cd In,
gravel, and the work begun with new
earth. The soil is of heavy clay, with
the usual variations, including probably
a full supply of gumbo and alkali.
"The matter of seepage through the
dam and the method Of correcting it was
considered by Mr.. Munger, who states in
general terms that while the authorities
on the construction Of earthen dams
recommended that the earth be espe-
cially selected for the face, and puddle
trench be placed in the heart of the
work, it seemed difficult to formulate a
scheme for so doing that did not involve
too great expense. Earth was taken as
it came in the borrow pits and in each
successive pit was used as deep as it
could readily be obtained. All earth was
taken from inside the work, except
where it could not be had without too
great haul. Several smaller dams had
been previously constructed on the place,
and in each and every place there was
a seepage along the toe of the dam, but
in no case was it sufficient to endanger
the stability of the work. The same
trouble developed in this work, and on
account of the magnitude Of the dam it
was deemed expedient to correct it. This