The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-08-17
KANSAS NEWS.
Work of an Irrigation Plant in
Hamilton County.
A Gasoline Pump and Small En-
CINE Are Factors.
ABOUT 10 ACRES A DAY
Gallon of Gasoline Per Hour
Waters an Acre.
Cost Shown to Be Considerably
Less Than bitches.
ABOUT 10 ACRES A DAY

Syracuse, Aug. 1.-THE News says:
On last Friday afternoon. in company
with 1. ]. c. Guy. we drove down to the
ranch of Rev. DR.. w. J. Martindale. six
miles east of town to see his irrigation
pump work.
1t is certainly a remarkable and con-
vincing demonstration of irrigation with
q plant of this kind. Any one skeptical
regarding irrigation with gasoline en-
zine and pump need only see this one
work to be convinced that it is the most
feasible and practical method of irriga-
ton, as it is the most satisfactory, all
things considered.
This plant was put in some seven
years ago by H. c. Price and his broth
er. Ash Price. who secured a charter
under the name of the Spring Creek IT.
rfgation company Ash Price sold out
last winter to Rev. w. J. Mart1ndale,
presiding elder the Dodge City dis
trict of the M. L. church. and the com
pany is now, therefore. composed of II.
{. Price and Rev. Mr.. Martindale.
The plant is composed of nine horse
power Weber gasoline engine and
pump The pump raises solid column
of water 21k feet by 21@ feet, and throws
a stream of water into the ditch almost,
II not quite, as large.
Messrs. Clay and Ash Price put IN
this plant at a cost of about 81, 900.
1t takes about one gallon of gasoline
per hour. which will irrigate about one
acre of ground. From eight to ten acres
a day can be irrigated with this plant
Some may object to the cost of put
ting in the plant, but it costs no more,
A as much. as building a ditch and is
far more satisfactory. Besides, the
saving in cost after it is in operation
will go far toward paying the expense
OF putting it in. BY this method 1t costs
about * cents an acre for each irri-a-
fion. making about rs cents for the sea-
son with three irrigations. This is
about half what it costs to irrigate
from a ditch.
Another advantage in irrigating by
this method is that you can get water
on your own ground whenever you
want it, without waiting on anyone or
getting anyone's permission, and when
crops can be irrigated when they need
1t is a great advantage: besides. you
are in no danger of being shut off be-
fore you get through
Still another advantage is in winter
irrigation. You can put on one or two
winter irrigations. which will save
nearly or quite half the work of irri-
eating in the summer. The advantage
OF winter irrigation will appeal to
everyone. This cannot be done. or at
least is not, with the bitches to de-
pend on.
We are Saying HOlnliAS against Tic
bitches, only they have seldom met the
needs of the people depending upon
them, and we are pointing out method
which will meet their needs and in
point of expense will be no greater, and
we believe not as great, as irrigating
from a ditch.
The bitches do not furnish water in
the winter time. and it is usually late
in the spring before they are ready to
furnish it, and then often during the
summer the oft-repeated cry, mo
water in the river" This is all obvi-
ated and met by the gasoline engine
and pump.