The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1909-12-31
PUMP TO lRRlGATE
WindmiIIs Sometimes Used, But
Cannot Be Relied Upon.
Efficiency OF Rotary Pump Is High,
Usually Exceeding, In Large
Sizes, That of Any Other
Style.


Hydraulic rams are of little value
for irrigation. They do excellent
work for supplying water for a res
| idence or for few head of stock, but
for more than few acres of land a
ram is out OF the question. If water
Is to be secured from wells of small
diameter more than 30 feet in depth
it is necessary to use cylinder
submerged in the water in the well,
the plunger being operated by means
of rod. Windmills are sometimes
used for operating these pumps, but
as the wind cannot be depended upon
entirely 1t is good thing to use a
gasoline engine or motor SO con-
nected that 1t can be used when the
wind does not blow.
1t Is seldom possible to secure more
than 200 gallons of water a minute
from deep well and in order to Sc
cure this 1t is necessary to have about
ten-inch casing, using cylinder
eight inches In diameter with &C.
inch stroke, writes Edwin c. Reybold
IN Denver Field and Farm These
outfits usually range in capacity
from 5 to 20 gallons minute. Ro.
tary pumps are excellent, but rather
expensive in all sizes. Their efficiency
Is high, usually exceeding in large
sizes that Of any other style of pump.
When 1t is possible to connect direct
to slow-speed water wheel there is
nothing better than rotary pump. 1t
cannot be used direct connected to
motors unless gears are used, since
the. speeds are very slow while those
of motors are high
ii small quantity of water is de-
sired and the head rather great, ex-
ceeding 5 feet and up to $50 feet, it
is necessary to use some form of
positive pump and as rotary pump
Is rather high in price horizontal
piston pump is frequently used.
These pumps in capacities from Is to
100 gallons minute are quite reason
able in price. A still better form of
pump for these heads, and one which
may be used for any head up to, sew
eral hundred feet, is the triplex pump
The cost of this pump is considerable,
but it has the best efficiency of all, as
it will deliver water with less con
sumption of power than any other
Such pumps are used very generally
for city water works.
1t is probable that over 95 per cent
OF all water pumped for irrigation is
handled by centrifugal pumps. They
may be had in any capacity from ten
gallons minute up to 100000 or $780,
900 gallons a minute They are also
made for any head desired some be-
ing used in mines for pumping to lifts
of, over 1000 feet. They. are also
widely used for pumping directly into
mains of city water works and into
pipes conducting water to the various
hydrants folaaigating lawns.
Centrifugal pumps are made in two
styles, horizontal and vertical. Hor-
izontal pumps are usually recon-
mended when it is possible to place
them within suction limit of the sur
face of the water Water may be
sucked as much as 20 or % feet at
sea level, but at an altitude of. 5000
feet it is not customary to place the
pump more than ten feet above water,
and the closer the better the results
will be. Vertical pumps are used
when conditions, require them. For
instance, the Palisade irrigation dis
trict uses vertical pumps geared to
vertical water wheels. When water
is pumped from wells vertical pumps
are also frequently used, as shafts
may be extended to the surface and a
quarter-turn belt used between the en-
CINE and pump. Or vertical motor
can be connected direct to the pump
shaft. Never use vertical pump
when it is possible to use horizontal,
as the difficulties encountered In prop
erly installing them are great and
proper oiling is almost impossible.
The standard type of vertical pump is
a terrible consumer Of power.