Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1900-08-23
80 $780, rsea,a.
AEARM.FogAD
49, ANN GARDEN
IRRIGATION SUPPLIES.
Pumping From Wells and Streams.
The Various Motors In Use.


The Various Motors In Use.
Sinking wells into water bearing
strata to secure irrigation supplies is
being resorted TO as never before.
Newer and broader conceptions of the
relation Of subtcrranean water to irri-
CATION have recently prevailed, says
Professor T.. J. Wickson of California.
This follows because IL may be much
cheaper to raise water to adjacent tow
ers than to catch il in n remote ravine
and pipe ii for miles. However this
may be, irrigation undertakings have
been recently established very largely
upon wells and pumps or upon flowing
wells wherever they could be bed.
In California during the last three
years there have been perhaps ten
times as many pumping outfits set up
for irrigation as had been en- ployed
during the whole earlier irrigation de-
velopment of the state. Large irriga-
tion companies sank groups OF wells
and pumped from them into their dis
tributing bitches and fumes when, for
lack OF rain. their immense reservoirs
went dry. Individual lrrlgators sank
wells and bought pumping plants when
the ditch water failed and have now
learned the superiority OF the home
supply, to be drawn upon just when 1t
can be used to the best advantage.
Large regions which had never Sc
cured irrigation systems were forced
by drought TO seek water, and, having
found II below ground In ample guam
titles, they will not fail In the future
to use irrigation as n supplement to the
rainfall.
over large areas OF the country wind
mills are used as motors for irrigation
pumps. They unduestionably serve an
excellent purpose, under favorable cir
cumstanccs, up to the limits of their
capacity but irrigation for fruit grow
Ing, except I'm the family garden or on
small areas Of small fruits, Is proceed
ing upon the basis of motors OF higher
efficiency. Gasoline engines are being
used even up to n capacity or 0,OOO
gallons OF water per minute. but the
ordinary plants are less than onc-tenth
OF that. Crude oil engines are also
used, and steam plants using small
stationary and portable engines are
pressed into service, while electric mo-
tors along long power circuits from
generators at waterfalls or other great
source OF power are being fully en-
ployed. Instances Of the profitable en-
ployment OF all these agencies are
abundant nil through the fruit growing
q 10. ,,,II
Where large streams are adjacent TO
fruit lands ana diversion at sufii-
clcntly high level tx not practicable ele-
vatlon by pump to proper point Tor
gravity now or direct application from
the discharge pipe OF the pump is being
largely resorted to. On the river bank
lands IN California very large steam
aud gasoline pumps are used both for
drainage ana irrigation Mt different
seasons Of the year as either Is dcslr-
ablc Recently 'apnclous pumping
plants Installed upon bnrgcs have been
used for custom pumping, delivering
water to riverside orchards.
Hydraulic rams are also used TO n
limited extent where conditions favor
them.
A very interesting way for taking
water for irrigation when the river Is
running high between levels which pro-
tect reclaimed land IL the use of 81
phons over the crowns OF the lcvces.
TO cut the lcvce would be dangerous.
and food gates are few. but water can
be delivered here aud there by sIphons
M desired. Made OF galvanized Iron
strong enough to resist the pressure.
the mir IL exhausted by n pump. ana
the water flows over. Some Of the 81
phons ARE two feet In diameter and de
liver lnrgc strcnm, though smaller
pipes nre generally employed.