El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-07-18
AREA KNOWN To De
WATERED IS
INCREASING
Midland viii Attempt to
Develop New Strata.
Gaines County Has
New Splendid
Producer.

West Texas is beginning to appreci-
ate the possibilities Of irrigating by
means of pumps-a subject that is TAX
ing possession OF the minds of all who
have at heart the future progress. de-
velopment and prosperity Of the coun-
try
Gaines County Success.
F. H. Shell, president of the Semi
mole Commercial club. Seminole, Texas
says attempt to secure supply of wa
ter by pumping for irrigation in Gaines
county has proven a success This is
considered the greatest piece of de-
velopment news originating in the his
tory of Gaines county. No one had an
ticipated that enough water was avail
able in that part of the country. for
shallow water pumped irrigation.
The test was made by E. c. Eubanks,
a farmer living II miles southwest of
Seminole Work was started on the
well no less than a year ago. but for
one reason and another it was never
completed until recently The first Sc
feet of the well was dug five feet
square, then a II inch hole was sunk
46 feet more. Another hole was then
drilled 80 feet deep. A No. 3scentrifu-
gal pump, with a four inch discharge
pipe was installed. The pump was
placed down to a depth of sc feet and
the pump extended on down % feet in
the 46 feet drilled hole. When reaoy
to test, the water stood six feet deep in
the dug well Pumping was then start
ed and the water was lowered four
feet below the dug part of the well.
This put the level of the water 70 feet
from the top Of the ground and the
beauty of the test was revealed in the
fact that notwithstanding the depth
of the water, it proved a glowing sue
cess, for the pump turned the water
out Of the pipe at the top of the ground
at the rate Of $50 gallons of water per
minute, an astonishing flow for 20
foot pumped water proposition, cons,u-
ering the engine and pumps used A
test showed that the well, properly
equipped, would flow 1900 to 1000 gal
Ions of water per minute, thus putting
the Gaines county field on an equal ba-
sis with any other pumping territory
in the southwest. To gather the real
meaning Of this Gaines county discov-
cry, it only remains to be said that
this well, when pumping it's capacity,
will water about 542 acres of land
giving the land the equivalent Of SO
inches of rain during the seven months
growing season.
Mr.. Shell stated that no estimates
had been made as to the approximate
Gaines county. this well being put
down as a test.
Test at Midland.
Since Seminole has been so success
full an attempt is to be made at Mid
land along the same lines as pursued
at Seminole. Many people believe that
it is practical to pump water as much
as 100 feet where a high class crop can
be raised. II so, since the water in the
Midland country rises to within so to
10 feet. the attempt TO try the expert
ment there should succeed. Forty-two
such outfits are in and contracted for
in Pecos field.
Simon Gregg, of Midland who has
made study of the pumping propo-
sition. writes as follows in the Mid
land Reporter:
Prior to the AGE of Wells
1t was generally believed that this
country was uninhabitable because of
the absence Of running streams and
surface water fit for drinking pur-
poses. The soil was just as rich as
it is today, the climate just as ideal
and there was just as much water
hidden away in the secret recesses of
the earth as there is now and ever will
be. but the time had not arrived when
it was ordained that man should dis
cover 1t and the ways and means Of
utilizing il. Many Of US have read
with horror the detailed accounts OF
unfortunate human beings who would
undertake TO cross the Llano Estacado
or Staked Plains would lose their way
because OF the absence of natural land
marks to guide them and would fam
ish for water. The only lakes that held
water for any considerable period Of
time were salt lakes.
Wind Mills and Surface Tanks
Then came the windmill to lift the
water from its hiding place to the sur
face and then the large surface tanks
TO store it. which have proved such
blessing to mankind and a boon to the