The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1901-10-05
SHALLOW WELLS FOR RICE.
Best for Irrigating Purposes

4
Houston:
Mr.. John Linderhoim of Chester
vile, Texas, was i'll the city the
other day aud being one of the pio-
neeFs and most prominent promot-
ers of the lice industry west of
Houston, he was sought by Post
representative and submitted TO an
interview. Mr.. Llnderholm is here
on business connected with his rice
farm aud other interests at Chester
vile. He is well posted and gave
the information in manner which
showed bis deep. earnest interest
and full confidence IN the stable
success Of the rice culture IN this
section. He has large land interests
at Chestervllle, but none OF the
land Is on the market for the reason
that he feels certain OF the rapid
increase In the value of the lands by
the development of the rice and
sugar industries, and Will hold his
lands for the increase. He Is,
however, deeply interested In the
settling up of the country and de-
velopment of the lands, knowing
that with this accomplished his
holdings will be greatly increased
III value.
Mr. Llnderhclm began the cul-
ture of rice last year, putting III
loo acres. This land he irrigated
with three inCh pump run by a
twelve-horse power gasoline engine
from we'll sunk by hum on the
land. This pump irrigated the en-
tire 100 acres, which was acknowl-
edged by all to be the finest rice
they had ever seen. Mr.. LlDder-
holm says the yield on the best
portion of this land would have
easily been 100 bushels TO the acre,
which is an emmense yield, but the
great September storm of 1900
came and tore 1t to pieces. But not
Withstanding the devastation of the
storm, his rice yielded an average
of fifty bushels to the acre, which is
considerably above an average yield
This year he has 500 acres IN. 1t Is
also acknowledged the finest in that
entire section. He has already har-
vested about twenty five acres OF
the lightest portion of the tract,
and 1t has averaged aboat for,y-
five bushels TO the acre. A good
portion of the lard he is satisfied
will average from sixty 10 seventy
bushels to the acre.
"The beauty of this land says
Mr.. Linderholm. SIS the ability to
get water for irrigation from shall
low wells, none of my wells being
over forty five feet deep, and have
water IN the greatest abundance.
Even during the dreadfully dry
season this year, and it was terrible
with ns, we not having any rain at
all from the middle OF March nntil
along In the first of July, and then
only light shower. and no heavy
rain until August.
He was the first man to put III a
we'll west of Houston. 1t was an
idea entirely original with him, he
thinking it the bsst way and that
he could get water for his rice
| cheaper than he couli by the canal
system. He tried the plan and 1t
has worked very successfully. He
dug we'll ten feet until he reached
the sand. He then sunk sixteen-lnch
casing through twenty-five feet OF
sand to the next strata of clay. On
this clay he placed a screen pipe
about eight feet high and run the
pipe for the pump into this pipe,
aud then withdrew the casing. The
seepage from the sand furnishes al
Iinexhaustible supply OF water. Las
year he had only one pump ant
that tbree-inch, and yet ne irrlgat
ed 100 acres. When 1t is considered
that it takes l3, 600 gallons CT waite
every twen'y-four hours for eacl
acre OF rice II Can be seen the I'm
mense amount needed during tn
season for 100 acres. This year b.
has 500 acres in and has put i
three new wells. These wells ar
furnished each with six-lnch pun