The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1904-11-16

stood inches higher than it was found
in the field at the east 100 feet distant.
The quantity of water to be provided
for was found to be greater than was
generally suspected. A covered drain
about 1900 feet long, put in for the
purpose of draining the house cellar,
when measured in July was found to
be discharging l:5 cubic feet per Sec
ond. The drain passes through the
gravel and apparently intercepts the
supply of ground water from the hill
land at the northwest. Judging from the
topography, this drain intercepts water
from about l60 acres of land which
slope toward it. After the land be-
came saturated and the surplus water
was flowing through the shallow drain
above mentioned into Wide Hollow
creek, the quantity was measured near
the outlet and was found to be So cubic
feet per second. There were approx
mately GAO acres of land which dis
charged drainage water through this
ditch. In addition to the drainage wa
ter there was some waste from irriga-
ton.
In determining this quantity, the area
which contributes the water should be
considered rather than the land imme-
diately injured. This is difficult to do
satisfactorily, for in addition to the
acreage there should be considered the
nature and direction of the slopes, the
porosity of the subsoil, and the en-
tent and manner of irrigation practiced
upon the adjoining land. From figures
obtained from measurements at various
points it was found that the drainage
to be provided for in land having gray
ell subsoil would be | cubic foot per Sec
Ond for each 100 acres. In some sandy
loans through which the water flows
less freely, measurements indicate that
0.5 cubic foot per second for eacn 100
acres would be sufficient, while others
show that O.S cubic foot per second
for each 100 acres would be required.
A plan for the drainage of this farm
was made. Owing to the peculiar top
ography and the conditions surrounding
the land, two drains are provided The
one on the west will cut off the water
coming from the Mob Hill territory,
and the one on the east will intercept
the water coming from that side and
also from the north. Another purpose
of the east-side drain will be to collect
any water that might pass under the
drain on the west. The outlet drain
for this system will follow the right
Of way and will be 1900 feet long. 1t
Will be deep and expensive. but it has
been arranged that the cost shall he
shared by the parties owning land
through which the drain will pass. The
iii AIMS are to be covered boxes. The ca
parity of the main drain is estimated
at e cubic feet per second when flowing
under the head due to its own grade.
~ 10 piopoSeu " tNCluue All
water from this system as far as pos
sible. The land that will be drained
has not been injured seriously by aka
Ii, for the reason, probably, that the
excess of water has dissolved and car
ried away the larger part of it.
The position which this land occupies
with reference to higher land surround
ing it is such that waste and seepage
water is concentrated upon it and is
thence distributed through the soil of
land lying to the southeast in the line
of the natural drainage slope. 1t is
quite evident that intercepting soil and
surface water in such a way as to divert
it from the land first and most immedi-
ately affected will prove of great value
to land lying beyond it in the line of
natural drainage. 1t is doubtful if any
further drainage will be required on
this farm than that outlined for inter-
cepting the water coming upon it from
outside territory.