Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-06-12

/ N o.NDAY,, yusssE ~, 1905. ss4.
beds; development OF springs; catch
ment from outcroppings Of water-bear-
Ing strata; tunneling to intercept such
strata when deeply covered; flowing
wells; pumping from wells, lakes, or
streams, and storage of storm water
from surface flow or from drainage
systems. III. .&
49, Diversion from Streams. l..
Diversion from perennial streams is
the most common method of securing
irrigation water, and it is available for
either great or small UNDERTAKINGS
Wherever unappropriated water flows
In sufficient amount. In the regions
Where irrigation is most widely prac-
uced there may no longer be such
supplies available, but in the newer
parts of the arid region and quite
widely in the humid regions. farms are
SO situated that stream water can he
readily secured.
After assuring himself in the man.
ner described that a nearby stra,n,
carries sufficient water for his MR.
pose, the next step for the farmer is
to determine whether the water can
be brought to his land at a reasonable
expense. This will depend principa71v
upon the length of the ditch which
must be constructed. The simnlest
way to find out how long the ditch
must be is to run line having the
necessary grade from the highest point
OF the land to be irrigated unstre.n
tlil 1t strikes the stream. The grade
on which the ditch should be bui1t
and consequently upon which this nre-
llmlnary line should be run, will do
pend upon the quantity of water to he
carried and the nature of the soi,
over which the ditch will run. In een-
eral, the larger the ditch and the
lighter the soil the smaller the fall
which can be given to the ditch. and
ene shorter the ditch the smaller the
1all. However, the grade should not
ne too light, for the ditch NAV have
to be made larger to carry the desired
supply of water. On the other hand
one grade can not be very heavy or the
strong current will. wear awav tho
ditch banks. Therefore the range of
the grades which may be given to q
ditch is limited. In ordinary soils
grade 2 inches in 100 feet NAV be
given to small bitches. and in CLAW
soils as much as to 5 inches in 100
feet may be given.
Building the Ditch.
Having decided upon the point NJ
diversion and located the ditch line
the farmer is ready to build the ditch
experience in making drain ditches
Will help in this. But there is +bis
difference: Drain bitches mus+ h.
kept IN the ground as deep as prac-
ucable, while irrigation bitches mus+
De kept as near the surface as nav
oe' In order that the water can he
easily taken out. The line of tho
o1och should first be marked bv fur-
row: 70 do this, let one man o,,;de
the team, walking between the heads
OF the horses, holding a bit in eacb
nand' While another holds the n1ov
II the surface of the ground is such as
~ permit wagon to pass along the
ilne' the plow may be attached to tho
rear axle, the driver directine tho
team from the seat of the wagon. The
1urroW should be turned to the lower
side OF the ditch. If the surface Of
cne ground is comparatively level
acfoss the line of the ditch, it is NOT
necessary to follow the stakes closely
IN the bends. The ditch will he batter
1or being straightetned little, which
may be done by going above the
stakes that locate the bends neares+
the stream and below the stakes
rafthest away. If the ground stones
very much across the ditch line the
stakes must be followed closely
After the line is marked, two or three
burrows are plowed, all being turned
10 the lower side. A farm ditch can he
made almost wholly with an ordinary
ploW by going over the line a. number
OF times. The loose earth in the bot.
tom OF the ditch may be removed wifi
q scraper or shovels.
"A small stream can be easily divert
ed lnto ditch, If it is running in a
shallow bed, by a cross-stream dam of