Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1905-06-12
HOW |! !! 10 IR |! /! 1T.
SMALL FARMS
Continued from page 81

In a wider stream in shallow bed
enough water can often be diverted
to wing dam, starting just.below the
head of the ditch and running oblique,
ly up the stream toward its center.
SuchSa dam can be easily constructed
of posts and brush, or Of any coarse,
heavy material which is ready at hand
or most cheaply secured. It raises
part of the water sufficiently for out.
flow into a ditch and is not enough OF
an obstruction to be torn out in high
water, or, If the dam is partly destroy.
ed, it can be cheaply replaced.
At the point of diversion from the
stream head gate should be put in
This is very simple construction of
plank with a sliding gate capable Of
being raised and lowered. 1t will pro-
tect the ditch by keeping the water
out in time of high water. It should
have a cross plank on the stream end,
so that the water shall fall over the
plank, as this will prevent much heavy
sediment from entering the ditch.
Obviously the dam must raise the
water sufficiently to sunmount this
obstruction. ii u...
All precautions should be taken to
prevent water from working along the
outside of the headgate. The struc-
ture may be undermined in a short
time If only small stream finds it's
way between the planks and the earth.
The f1aring wings and submerged plat
form are built to prevent this action,
and also to make the structure secure
in case of high water. ~,
Development Of Water in Dry Stream
Development of water in dry stream
0eds Is frequent recourse where the
BED is largely composed of sand. grav-
Ell, or rock debris of various kinds. In
the arid region especially the visible
stream is often only fraction of the
water moving along stream bed. and
when no water is in sight there is
frequently considerable underflow dur
ing the dry season. On large streams
water enough has been interceptel to
supply large irrigation enterprises, and
IN many cases small stream will
yield a valuable farm supply.
The first thing is to determine by a
prospect in the dry season whether an
underfow exists when surface flow has
ceased. Select a point in the stream
bed where it seems to be confined to
a deep, narrow channel, as we'll as can
he judged by the steep, rocky banks,
and excavate a hole or well down IN
water and open out the. bottom so as
to obtain a water surface like that in
well. By observing this 1t can he
determined whether a water pocket or
an underground stream has been
struck. In case of stream the move
ment can be detected by the collec-
ton Of light litter, etc., on the down.
stream side, or, in case of a consider.
able movement, the flow Of the water
can be detected by the action of The
lighter sediment. II no movement can
De detected, the effect OF pumping
from the hole will give an idea OF the
amount OF water available by the
length of time the hole will stand.
pumping. r.. = =
supposing the prospect is promising
by the tests applied, the stoppage Of
underfow by a submerged dam is the
next step. To construct this an exca-
Vation must be made across the
stream bed to rock or hard clay on the
banks, and must be carried down to
bed rock or hardpan at the bottom Of
the channel. Ordinary precautions
against caving of the sides of this wide
trench must be taken according to the
nature of the material found. The
water must be, temporarily damned
and forced to flow through a pipe Or
box. Then the closest possible con.
tact must be secured by effecting a
Judgment in fmpervious material at
the sides and bottom, and the dam
should be constructed of concrete rich
IN cement, the upstream face being
well plastered with cement or with a;
coating Of asphaltum, If available
When the work has set we'll the tenn
porary escape of the water NAV he
stopped and the loose material re-
placed on both sides of the dam. The
top OF the dam usually rises sufficient
~ above the stream bed to hold back
a certain depth Of visible water and to
deliver 1t at a level where It can be
conveniently taken into pipe or
hume and carried to ditch below.
where firm ground is reached. or
course the water can often be taken
out by IAN underground pipe from a
low point in the dam 80 the grade to