Lyon County times. [volume] (Silver City, Nev.) 1874-1907, 1905-08-05

The dry season is at hand, and it
has caught many of the farmers in
this valley with their wearing ap-
parel disarranged. With the best
and most equitable disposition of
the water that now flows in the
Walker River there will be a short
age for many to the extent of their
garden crops drying up, their stock
suffering for water, and a loss of
many hundreds of dollars in not be-
ing able to secure second crop OF
hay. For years past the TIMKs has
advocated the pumping of water for
irrigation at this season OF the year,
but as yet no one has had faith
enough IN our reasoning to install
plant and demonstrate that the thing
can be done. In the two weeks past
many have visited the TINES office to
witness the working of the little
gasoline engine and centrifugal
pump recently installed to secure
water for our yard and garden pur-
poses. They have all been surpris-
ed at the amount OF water such
small machine will throw as they
have seen water raised at the rate
of 100 gallons minute at the small
cost of so or 20 cents per day.
The obstacle which seems to be in
the way of installing plants of this
kind, only of larger capacity, is the
doubt about obtaining sufficient
water. Water is close to the sur
face in this valley, but how much OF
it is question that no one farmer
seems to want to demonstrate by
going to the expense of putting in
expensive machinery, and the only
way to ascertain the quantity of
water to be obtained is by sinking a
well and putting in good sized
plant to test it's capacity. There Is
no question about an engine and
pump raising water enough to irri-
gate a roo acre farm provided the
supply of water is sufficient. Such
plant could be put in for moder-
ate sum, also, and the cost OF run
ming it would be much less than the
cost of keeping bitches in repair
during the season.
We should very much like to see
a test made of this matter, and
would suggest that number of
the farmers club together, sink a
large, deep well on the premises of
one of their number, secure a five or
six horsepower engine and fair
sized pump and test the well, with
the understanding that the person
upon whose ranch the well Is locat-
ed purchase the outfit and reim-
burse all other parties who go into
the venture, provided the we'll gives
a stipulated flow of water. In this
way no one would be out any great
insufficient for practical purposes,
10 ~ fha oF 20
adequate for all requirements the
would be willing to pay good
price, and others could then install
plants with some certainty of de-
sired results.
1t is possible that an agreement
could be made with the Samson
Iron Works to send man here
with an engine and pump to test a
well that might be dug or bored by
an association of farmers, and that
reasonable terms could be made
with the concern for such test
there is no doubt, for it is certain
that if a number of our farmers
were sure of obtaining sufficient
water they would install plants.
This article is not an advertise
ment. We simply mention the
Samson engine and pump because
we know from experience that they
will do what is claimed for them.
We know our farmers are losing
thousands of dollar every year by
the shortage of water for a few
weeks at the end of the season, and
we would like to see these condi-
tons changed. 1t would mean much
more money in their hands, the i'm
provement of their property, and
above all escape from all litigation.
The matter is worth your consider
alton, Mr.. Farmer.