The Ordway new era., 1911-01-27
GETTING USE OF UNDERFL0W
Man Who Has subterranean Supply
Of Water In Easy Pumping Reach
Has Many Advantages.

The moro one examines into the
irrigation problems Of the west the
more deeply he becomes impressed
with the advantages possessed by the
man who has subterranean supply
in easy pumping reach. He need not
envy the possessor Of a flowing ar.
tesian we'll for the first cost Of the lat
ter is heavy and there Is no certainty
as to when the pressure will ease up
and 1t becomes necessary to attach .
pump to the receding flow. The para
mount advantage Is that water &C.
cured by pumping is applied direct to
the farmers own system Of distribu-
ton and there is little loss by evap-
oration or seepage.
The flow is benefting the land
from the mouth Of the we'll to the
end Of the smallest lateral. writes r.
B. Rose in the Field and Farm. The
next important advantage Is that
he controls the supply absolutely
and can start his pump at the hour
the water is most needed-not
waiting his turn at the canal sup
ply source. II this farmer will cul-
tivate thoroughly and apply the
water with intelligence his soil
will produce such crops that a
comparatively small acreage will
satisfy his ambitions. You could
not get him to set . price on his
acres unless he had made a for
tune and had in mind permanent
REIMBURSEMENT of farming as a busi-
ness
One OF the most practical demon
strations Of the benefits OF the pump
ing system is to be found in this coun-
try is in the rice fields Of Louisiana
and Texas. In addition to the great
canal systems that furnish a supply
for thousands upon thousands OF acres.
there are more than 1000 pumping
wells. each capable Of irrigating from
forty to one hundred and twenty
acres OF rice. 1t takes a great deal
Of water to raise a rice crop and these
growers pump the water from a depth
Of seventy feet on the average. How
many thousands Of acres OF our rich
arid soil are underlaid with an abun-
dant water supply at similar depths?
Look into the matter and you will be
astounded. II It pays to pump water
on rice crop that returns growers
from twenty-five to forty dollars an
acre. how about our fruit. vegetable
and alfalfa lands that can annually
produce crops worth from $50 to $500
an acre?
But It Is not necessary to go SO
far for object lessons and positive
proof OF the profit in pumping irriga-
ton water. We have a good many in.
stallations all around us in successful
operation. The lands in these sections
will grow any crop desired. A few
dollars an acre for a reliable water
supply applied while you wait Is a Sec
ondary consideration. In the eastern.
southern and many northern states
the agriculturist and fruit grower
thinks nothing Of spending twenty to
thirty dollars IN acre for fertilizers to
boost his crop. It pays handsomely.
and that is all he cares to know. It is
Just the same with irrigation. What.
ever the water costs It pays in tho
long run. The farmer whose land
does not come under some ditch sup
ply. or who cannot obtain an artesian
flow. has still this resource-if his
land Is in the right place. II all the
acres that come within the range OF
these various sources OF, water supply
were titled the remainder could be
relegated TO range purposes or left
barren.