The Greeley tribune., 1908-02-27
MODEL FARM
SUCH Is THE ONE OWNED BY
G. M. HOUSTON.
Wonderful Irrigation System Is
Now Completed. Possibili-
ties of Soil to be Fully
Demonstrated.

George NJ. Houston has now prac-
tically completed his irrigation sys-
TEN for his 500 acre farm west of the
city, which will henceforth be
known as the Miami farm, named
after the little river in Ohio where
George used to wade and fish. Last
week Mr.. Houston had incorporated
the Miami Water company, to facili-
tate the handling of water on the
farm. The company is incorporated
with 500 shares, or one share to every
acre of the farm, SO that for renting
the farm in small tracts every acre
carries exactly enough water in the
model system.
The water Is piped in a twelve
inch main from the Miami reservoir,
a small storage basin that lies south
Of the farm about q mile and upon
considerably higher ground. Below
the reservoir dam and at other points
in the little valley, 5000 feet Of
drain tile has been laid, that gathers
up every bit Of seepage water, which
Is also turned into the pressure pipe
for distribution upon the farm.
Three small seepage streams supply
the reservoir the year around. and
the water is now being used for
watering stock and for some domes-
tic uses on the farm.
1t is the hobby of Mr.. Houston to
make this model farm, and already
he has one OF the most perfect irrfga-
tion systems In the world. The en-
tire 500 acres will be cut into small
tracts, forty acres or even less, as the
needs of tenants may require. The
most intensive cultivation will be
employed, and at the same time the
fertility of the soil kept up. Partly
for that purpose Mr.. Houston had
establish on the place dairy, that
he might have the manure to put on
the ground. He Is now keeping a
record of the increased production
each year since he took possession,
but owing to the fact that last year
he added about 100 acres to the
farm, OF land not ur to the rest in
fertility, he is not yet ready to give
the result of his Investigations, but
has gone far enough to know that
the increase in production Is prac
tically keeping pace with the expen.
sive Improvements being made.
The convenience Of having water
all over a 500 acre tract so that the
farmer can simply turn on the valve
the same as for watering his lawn is
apparent. The system is intended
exclusively for day irrigation. The
pipes are strong enough to stand the
pressure, so that 1t Is not necessary
to go to the reservoir a mile or more
away and turn off the water at night,
but each tenant can shut the valve
controlling the water to his particu-
lar tract without interfering with
ANYBODY else. Mr.. Houston contends
that not alone is great deal OF
| water wasted when ditch is turned
on at night aud permitted to run,
but it often results in much damage
to crops and to country roads. By
his system there will be no waste of
that kind. The water will all be
shut off at night, and the supply al
lowed to accumulate in the reser-
yoir. Through this system Mr.,
Houston can also distribute his
water in the Greeley & Loveland
canal, In fact his holdings there are
made a part Of the holdings OF the
new Miami Water company.
As soon as he can get the time,
Mr.. Houston intends putting In a
little power plant to be run by the
same force, to generate electricity
for lighting the numerous houses
that will eventually occupy the
smaller tracts.