The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1910-01-20
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::.:Smdu Farmer
Irrigation by Small Plants

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A moderate sized plant, recently in
stalled near Stockton, Calf, shows re-
markable economy in first cost. The
expenditure for a 10-inch well, 6inch
pump and 20 horsepower engine, all
complete in place, was little more than
plant will irriGate 40 acres of alfalfa
This supposition is probably within
the limits of safety. This is about
$500 per acre for installation of out
| fit, which is far below the average
cost. This is fairly typical plant, a
great number of plants about this size
being in successful operation in this
| section. Interest and taxes on the in
vestment will amount to at least 5
| per cent. Fuel cost here ranges from
| &C cents to $1.65 an acre for each ir-
rigation of alfalfa The average for a
large number of plants is just about
SIS per acre per year, for five irriga
tions. Estimating on the basis of five
irrigations per season, we have the
following:
Annual Cost of Pump Irrigation for
Forty Acres.
Cost of plant ............ 100000
Interest and taxes at per Ct 1000
II ao;o
Fuel at 81 each, five waterings 10000
Incidentals estimated at soc
per acre 20.0O
Total cost 40 acres per year
Exclusive of labor $4,000
Cost per acre per year (exclu-
/ siVe of labOr) ... 925
Or $1.S1 per acre foot, exclusive of
labor.
In comparing the cost to the farmer,
of pump irrigation for small installa-
tons, the difference in the cost of Ia
her should be taken into consideration
ac compared with the cost of irrigat-
ing from canals supplied by gravity,
Ter from large central pumping sta
tons. 1t cannot be expected that one
man can irrigate more than three acres
per day, with a plant of small size,
even upon very favorable soils, while
from canal system, with the land in
proper condition, one man can irrigate
II to 20 acres in the same time on
similar soil. 1t is probable that with
the exception of small area in south
ern California, there is no portion of
the United States with as many pump
ing plants as this part of the%San
Joaquin valle:' After an experience of
some years during the nineties in the
sale and installation of irrigation
pumping machinery, and from my ex-
perience and reasonably close obser
vetion since that time, I have arrived
at the following conclusion: Irrigation
pumping under favorable conditions
is profitable The elevation to which
water can be profitably raised depends
largely upon the class of crops and
the price of fuel. Water for orange
growing is frequently raised 300 feet
and sometimes even higher. A plant
at Exeter, California, is raising water
$50 feet for orange growing Many
plants in southern California are lift.
irg water 60, 80 and even 100 feet for
the irrigation of alfalfa. 1 should say
that, as general rule, 60 feet would
be the economical limit here, except
where alfalfa brings. unusually high
prices. Where a sufficient supply Of
water can be obtained at from 20 to 40
feet with reasonable fuel cost, irri-
cation pumping can be considered a
Igood business proposition, provided a
gravity flow cannot be obtained at
cost within 800 per acre.
Under California conditions, with
distillate at nine cents per gallon, and
fuel oil at 1925 per barrel, l would
advise the use\of steam plants for in
stallations of more than 60 horse
power. In plants below that size, dis
tiilate is usually preferable.
There are being constructed in the
Estate of Washington several pumping
Plants to be operated by water power.
None of these plants have been in
operation long enough to justify the
announcing of definite figure rep
resenting the cost per acre foot of
water delivered to any given elevation
After a careful examination of two
of the larger plants, I have found the
following estimate of the cost of
plants and operation for lifts of 100
feet:
Cost of installation, about $50 per
acre, taking into consideration the