Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1906-04-20

70
sible on account of cost being pro-
hibitive, can be reclaimed and made
extremely productive and valuable.
1t is the irrigationist under this
method of whom we have the most
to fear. He is absolute master of the
situation. He owns his plant, can
operate it when he sees fit and is not
subject to even caution or suggestion
from any company from whom water
is purchased
The wind being tickle jade. we
have long ago eliminated it as a
factor In producing power for pump
ing purposes, 50 the expense involved
in wood, coal, gasoline, oil or other
fuel may check him to great extent
in operating his plant, but we have
in our midst, and easy of access, a
new factor to reckon with, to-wit:
Electricity, which can be applied
at our wills, in addition to irrigating
our lands, to ministering to our com
fort and happiness, at cost, that
according to facts and figures are
minimum. What does the possessor Of
pump purpose doing2 Start his ma
chine in operation-let it run night
and day, flooding his land until ruin.
ed? Or will he exercise Judgment
deliver his water into q reservoir,
tank. box, fume or other receptacle 9
and allow 1t to remain there for use
when needed. thereby properly ex-
employing the correct definition OF
irrigation, namely-insure having
water when needed. Experience has
proven that the only mistake the ir.
rigator can make under this system
Is that Of the size of the plant OF
pump required to irrigate tract
comprising more than 10 OF 10 acres
and that he can very easily over
come by applying for costs and size OF
plant required for any given number
OF acres from any Office or officer of
an electric company operating in or
near his section. By pursuing some
such policy he is not required to in
vest in a large or expensive plant
capable OF discharging enough water
to flood all his land at one time and
can accomplish the proper irrigation
Of ibis land at minimum cost. lie
further gets the benefit Of every gal
Ion of water his pump delivers, as nc
seepage takes place between pump and
where he wants to use water. He in.
sures himself against running his crops,
against excessive flooding and he ir.
rigates his land a. il should be irri.
gated, thereby insuring. If properly
cultivated, the raising of better
crop, both as to quality and quantity,
than though he pursued the slip shod
methods of using water simply be.
cause he had it TO use
AS to electricity in this valley OF
ours being the most economical and
the most practicable owing to a large
and well managed company now iu
our midst extending throughout the
length OF our valley and reaching oui
in different directions as fast as pos.
sible, the following facts will show.
To irrigate in the above mentioned
successful manner, let us take "a acres
as an average farm. This would re.
quire one one-H. =. motor aud trans.
former aud one-inch centrifugal
pump at a total cost OF $l32. This
outfit will cost to run per irrigation
season OF four months, $50. The
pump working from sunrise to sunset
will throw approximately 5000 gal.
Ions OF water to height of 40 feet,
or more to a less height. Now, sc.
cording to all known facts and the
testimony Of experts, an acre of
ground does not require 5000 gallons
OF water to irrigate 1t successfully
for period of eight days. so it can
readily be seen that this small ma
chine can very easily irrigate three
acres per day. On the Sth day the
tract would be completed. The care
aud time occupied by the farmer or
gardener each day in arranging his
hume or discharge pipe to his furrows
might occopy him did he feel lazy. A
half hour; the time occupied in caring
for the motor aud pump might take
up three or four minutes time to drop
little lubrioating oil on the bearings
IT the pump, aud starting and stop.
ping the motor morning and evening
~ throwing a switch or pressing =
,utton.
1t does not cost any more to run the
machinery steadily day after day for
he full season than it would were II
lsed only onoe or twice week. Al.
slfa fields do not require irrigation
my more than three times season
preferably three irrigations to produce
he best results Instead of do;n, tha