El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-12

their coming into the agricultural de-
velopment of the country have arisen
many new problems These problems
arc not only Of a very trying nature
to the newcomer. but to the old timer,
as well, because there is nothing to
guide either except a close study OF
local conditions, the duty Of pumps and
fuel, and common sense.
The New Mexico College Of Agrlcul-
ture and Mechanical Arts, at Mesila
Park has given much attention to the
problem as applied to irrigation UNI
der the old methods, but with the in
PRODUCTION OF the more scientific meth
DDS of farming, requiring less water,
a broader field opens up for the small
pumping plant, and the possibilities OF
such development are as yet only spec
ulative beyond a certain point.
Development of Underflow.
The development Of extensive under
flows in many parts Of western Texas,
New Mexico and Arizona, outside Of
certain artesian belts in New Mexico
and Texas, has caused those desiring
to locate upon the surface to look to
the pumping plant to bring to the
crops the water necessary for their ma
turity. In pursuing these investga-
lions it has been found that many Sec
tions of the southwest heretofore sup
posed to be useless because not sup
piled with running streams, can be
profltably farmed, and that the soil and
climate are particularly adapted to
crops bringing the highest prices in
all the markets of the land.
Small Pumping Plants.
The Agricultural college OF New
Mexico has accomplished much to de-
termine the possibilities Of the small
pumping plant under known conditions
in actual practice. and these investiga
tons with the different available fuels
have resulted In much useful informa-
ton being given out to the settlers in
both Texas ana Arizona, as well as to
those of the territory of New Mexico.
The extent of country possible to re-
claim because of it's underflow, with
proper pumping facilities, has not yet
been determined and cannot be defi-
nitely determined until each particular
section has been determined for itself,
as the occurring underflows seem. to
defy the known laws of nature and re-
fuse to be absolutely ruled by human
determination Of the geological condi-
lions. In a general way however, it
Is believed that a large proportion OF
the total area OF New Mexico, western
Texas and southern Arizona can be re-
claimed by the proper use Of pumps and
the right fuel
The Fuel Question.
The question Of fuel has in the past,
and will, in the future be the most i'm
portant problem connected with pump
ing with small. or individual plants. To
give the settler struggling with this
problem some idea of the condition, it
may be said that the experiments in
New Mexico have demonstrated that
gasoline at 16 cents 81 gallon Is much
cheaper fuel than coal, of the Ignite
variety, at $3.50 a ton, and that crude
oil is still cheaper, while producer gas
Is the cheapest OF ALL If the cost OF
installation and maintenance is not toe
great
With crude oil as fuel, costing about
10 cents a gallon, it has been found
extremely profitable to pump from
depths exceeding 100 feet for alfalfa
while for orchard crops almost any
reasonable depth can be pumped from
at a profit AS a rule the more profit
able the crop to be raised on the land
the greater the depth OF possible water
lift Producer gas coal will go into
competition with other fuels, even VI
to SIS a ton, but 1t is found that these
Goals, like those produced at Gallup
but require the hard coal produced at
Cerllos. and it Is not always possible
to obtain suitable coal at that price.
Types OF Pumps.
After settling the fuel question, the
selection OF a pump becomes the next
important question, and the expert
ments so far conducted would indicate
that but three types are really avail
able, or at least sufficiently intro
duced in this section to be considered
and the depth and duty viii determine
between them. Pumps of the centrifu
gal type are coming more into favor
sthoy are better understood. because
of their efficiency and simplicity, Il
adapted to the work. The air lift has
been extensively tried, but in mos
cases it fails in efficiency as to cost
but is peculiarly adapted to some wells
The water lift and the volume required
will, however, be the determining fac
tor between the centrifugal and re