The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-05-30
BAYOU WATER SUPPLY
Mr.. D. p. SHEPHERD GIVES SOME
FURTHER FACTS
Regarding the Danger OF the Supply
Being Reduced by Rice Farm
Irrigation.

/
TO the Editor ~ The Post.
iiorston, Texas. May 20. In this morn
ing's Post Mr. Beriug choracicrlzos as
absurd the idea that tho bayou is IN
danger OF bcihe$reduccd to 'stagnant
pools by draughtA If rirc planters J re-
lterate that the danger Is imminent II a.
iowtd to proceed. lie owns up tn pumping
1000 gallons per minute Or 1.in,VO gallons
per day. He estimatrs the flow at 1000
gallons per minute aud thus, according to
MS own acknowledgement. he conc partyl is
using nctenth Of stream that belongs
to $4,000 o. more people. lie Is quite in
consistent 10 his Statement. throughout;
notwithstanding The above figures he starts
out ny saying he Is using only about one
fifteenth Of the stream.
lie says there Is no likelihood Of others
starting rice furms that The land is not
Suitable, etc. Has he not largely iucrensed
his own faan since last YEAR, From what
hear he has land enough Of his own 70
exhaust all the water Of the bayou II put
into cultivation, and right under this state
mcnt he says 200 or more northern plant
crs have visited his farm with view o.
engaging In rice culture In this section
and that land has Increased ~ per cent ~
value ihcrcabont IN consequence,
Taking these two statements together
where is the conslstcncy1
am curious to know how MIR. licrng
gets al the estimate Of 10000 gallons per
minute in Buffalo bayou. He states that
II Is twelve feet wide and one aud halt
ieoi deep where he Is pumping. think
II If probably more than that but Is 1t
| running waterf No, II Is standing water
almost the current being hardly pcrccp-
tihle, How wide and how deep is the
rlNu!ct that Is passing over his dam after
OF It'
The only place to measure or estimate
tho flow of water is whore II Is narrow and
shallow and has a current
have made about twcnt measurements
III my dam. wherc the watcr runs through
= chntc aud other places one ut what is
known ns Eureka crossing. whore tho
water was narrow and shallow. and sns-
ccptihle of measurement | aid this by
constructing weir or experimental dam.
This Is some miles below Mr. Boring ;
pumping station, and consequently larger
stream by reason of the springs below him,
together with Sprlng branch, and found
not the half of MIR. Behring'S estimated
10000 gallons per minute. And repeat my
statement that at low stage there Is not
more than from two to three thousand gal
IONS per nitrate at his pumping station,
probably less, When Houston doubles her
population, which she viii come near doing
IN another decade, she viii not only need
all Of this water but win have to think
nhort thar san Jaclnto canal once more
Meantime she should look to the icgisll
turc 90 prevent the pollution OF the stream
above the city in the future.
No, Mr.. Editor there is no ahsurdity
about this matter; it is hard facts. aud
the city in common with other riparian
owners should put It's foot HAT down on
any attempt Ia divert the water Of Ennalo
bayou aud set abonl ways and means OF
Increasing the flow IL practicable, aud /
take hand In the matter
d. p. shepherd