El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-08-05

ly all of her vegetables, Just as the old
time cow man used nothing but con-
densed milk though surrounded by
thousands Of cattle. The simple fact
it that we have been both ignorant and
indolent in the development Of our re-
sources, intolerant of technical advice
from outside, and attracted only by the
quick and especially theeasy dollar.
Truck Gardening.
THE allusion to the truck industry
suggests a line of development on
which some men have already embarked
in this territory, and for which definite
figures are at hand Our method of
water exploitation on the plains is
still that of the cowman. The water is
usually pumped by windmills from
wells sunk with no attention TO modern
hydraulic methods and stored in I'M
lined earth tanks from which the seep-
age is so extreme that one might well
be justified in doubling the adequacy
Of the supply. The usual earth tank is
circular and about 20 feet in diameter.
A better proportion would be 50x100.
With a depth Of five feet, and allowing
for sloping sides, this would contain
10000 gallons and suffice for the irri-
cation Of 25 acres if the ultimate wa
ter supply were present. smaller
tank is scarcely economical, consider
ing head, evaporation, accidents, etc,
even for a 10 acre patch. which we shall
here assume as the basis of discussion,
in accordance with the original quota
ton Withdraw two-fifths of this, or
$4,000 gallons. for the 10 acre truck
patch, and our 10 gallon well, serving
14,400 gallons per day, will replace it
in a trifle over four days. AS a matter
of fact, the "a hour supply of 10 gal
l. ~
in far less than "a hours, but for sare-
ty. in order to insure supply, we shall
suppose that two such wells are installed
at one tank, which is customary prac-
tice in this country, and add the addi-
tional expense to capital account pres
entity to be considered. Our experience
is that two such wells placed a fair dis
lance apart-say on opposite sides of
the tank-practicaIly double the flow
but in this argument we shall assume
that only so percent is added by the
second we'll. In a season of 200 days
these wells, on this estimate, will sup
ply 1920, 600 gallons. Allow 20 percent
for evaporation and 100000 gallons
will be available. the equivalent Of
lila inches per acre. This would be
22.3 inches or more than the total an
nuaI duty of water as usually esti-
mated ON each of five acres, or lila
inches on each of 10 acres.
Cost of Water.
The average annual rainfall for the
past 10 years at Big Springs, 40 miles
from Midland, is 20.65 inches, and at
Midland will, therefore, probably ap-
proximate 10 inches Add to this the
II inches arrived at above, and such a
water source as we have been consider
ing will supply over 80 inches to 10
acres of land. or an amount more than
sufficient for any crop.
A plant of two 100 feet wells, such
as has been described cased and equip
ped and provided with a gasoline en-
CINE suitable to the service. can be in
stalled here for s465 The earth tank
can be built for SIS and plastered with
cement for an equal amount, or what
is better, lined with paving pitch for
$3.50. a total in the latter case of 1925,
or, with the wells. a grand total of
$500. Let us say $3.50. Estimate sink
ing fund on 10 year basis, exclusive
of the two actual well bores. at s55
annually and interest at SIS. a charge
Of $3.50, or s13 for each acre under .rri-
cation
Profits Actually Taken
Now one truck man in Midland who