The Alamogordo news. (Alamogordo, N.M.) 1899-1912, 1900-12-27
pumping WATER ON PLAINS.
Shallow Wells and the Pumping
System Will Prove Sue
cessful Here.
RECLAMATION OF THE ARID LANDS.
What Can Be Done with Wells Ranging
From Fifty to Two Hundred Feet
in Depth-A Feasible Plan.

Messrs. A. j. King aud Carl Rubeu of
the AIamogordo Improvement company
ave b,,en hooking up the irrigation prob
cm by pumping from shallow wells and
,he adaptability Of the plan for this re-
giou, and are Of the opinion that 10 will
prove very successful and cheap
method of transferring the arid plains
lands into garden spots and vineyards.
The method which they have been in
vestigating has met with signal success
In California, and with the immei Sc
v0lumn of water which underlies this
region, aud the proximity to the surface,
there is no doubt but what the plan, If
carried out, will prove the saving clause
Of the agricultural development Of the
county.
IE California almost every kind OF
pumps and engines are employed in
raising water to the surface, but in see
lions where water is close To the surface
and where it is found in large quanti
les, gasoline engines and centrifugal
pumps are the most extensively used.
In places where the water is deeper and
not SO plentiful, trlpex pumps and air
pressure plants are In operation.
The cheapest water obtainable is
where the water does not have to be
pumped more than twenty feet, and
then the gasoline engines and -centrilu-
gal pumps will raIse wainr at an expense
of one.half cent per Loco gallons. 1t ls
estimated that II plant for such water
supply, CONSISTING of a tenshorse power
engine and four inch pump, viii raise
$4,000 gallons of water per hour. The
plant requires practically no attention
other than Iilllng ell cups twice per day
The cost OF the pumps range from $l6o
to $3.50, according to horse power and
pumping capacity
In this region, where the soil Is par
TALLY adobe, II very small stream of
water will run a long distance aud Will
rrigate d great number of acres. con-
stant flow of one inch OF water will
successfully irrigate about ten acres of
ground.
A well giving 36.ooo gallons of water
per hour, such as mentioned IN tho pre-
ceding paragraph, Will irrlgate nearly
500 acres OF land. This figure is based
on fruit lands. For raising vegetables
about double the amount OF water is
required.
For wells of from twenty to fifty feet
depth it is els stomary to place the cen
trifngal pump in the well so that the
suction will not be more than twenty
feet For wells requiring more than
fifty feet lift to the water the single
cylinder, donble-aeting triplex pumps
and the air lift are the favorites.
In a country such as this, where water
is king. and where the basic industry
depends entirely on irrigation, tapping
aud elevating the underilow 10 the sur
face is the only feasible method Of oper-
ating The available water supply from
lowing streams has long since been cx-
hausted, and the extension of fruit cul-
ture forces the necessity OF adopting ar
tilicla methods for procuring water
The artesian we'll feature of irrigation
is expensive and uncertain, for the wells
often stop ilowing and are beyond the
reach Of the farmer and fruit grower
with limited means. Irrigation farming
Is a science and not a chance. aud those
who understand 1t and who have suli-
cient means to provide pumping outfit
can be successful here beyond the
dreams of avarce. IL is possible to
supply water by the pumping process at
The same rate nov required to keep up
a community ditch. Pumps are manu-
factured to iit~all sized wells and Of any
desired capacity. and the farmer and
fruit grower ca: easily adapt his needs
to his finances aud secure enough water
to successfully operate u few acres at
no start and gradually increase.
Wells IN California ranging from loo
10 25o feet IN depth, and from seven to
ten inches In diameter, will irrigatc all
the fruit land that one man can attend
to. IL IS not uncommon In that country
TO find wells dscharglng from 1000 70
$50 gallons OF water per minute raised
from depth Of $50 to 200 feeS. Pumo-
Ing water for irrigation Is used there foi
aiI manner Of farming as we'll as fruit
growing
That an unlimited quantity of water
underlIes the plains around Aamognrdt
is.conceded BY all beyond the question
OF doubt. Aud that II can be raised u
the snrface prodtably by the pumping
system will be demonstrated concluslyels
within the next year The pnssibilltIc,
OF The system are beyond computation
and with ench man his own rain uakel
and with an excellent market at homt
thare Is no reason why Alamogords
! should not some day becvpe tho cvatel