Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1911-11-10
WELL IN THE DESERT
New Plants Are Centrifugal
Pumps Run by Steam.
Regions Which Had Never Been
Forced by Drought to Seek Water
and Having Found II They
VIII Nov Use irrigation.

Sinking wells into water-bearsn,
strata to Secure domestic and irriga
ton suppIf& is now being resorted
10 as never before. New and broad
er conceptions OF the relations OF sub
terranean water TO irrigation have
recently prevailed. Individual irriga-
zion undertakings have been recently
established very largely upon wells
and pumps or upon flowing wells.
wherever they can be had. During the
last three years there have been per-
heps ten times as many pumping out
hts set up for irrigation as had been
employed during The whole earlier ir-
ngation OF this state.
Large Irrigation companies have
sunk groups of wells and pumped
from them into their distributing
bitches and fumes. Individual irri-
gators have sunk wells and bought
pumping plants when the ditch water
failed and have now learned the gu
oeriority OF home supply, TO be drawn
ap just when II can be used to best
advantage, and often to be had for
much less than the rates CT the ditch
companies. Large regions which had
never secured irrigation systems have
been forced by drought to seek water
and having found It below ground In
ample quantities they win not fail in
The future 10 use irrigation as sup
9lement to the rainfall.
Many OF these plants are centrifu-
gal pumps run by steam. These are
he larger plants. fifteen to forty
horsepower and In some instances
more, and the size OF the pumps ranges
rom four 10 twelve inches. Most OF
The smaller pumps are run by gaso-
tine, although several use crude oil
sud many OF them are also centrifu-
gal Some OF these are deep-well |
pumps and they are very satisfac.
DRY In raising water from a greater |
depth than 100 feet. From 100 to 900 |
'eet they work admirably. The cost |
1f pumping differs materially with |
he different kinds OF power, sizes OF |
pumps and depth OF wells. Figuring
rom what may be safe average OF
he actual cost OF fuel No. 4 pump.
centrifugal. using gasoline as power
Il 20 feet depth. viii cost about three
iolars day. This should result In
100 gallons minute, 10000 gallons an
,our. or 100000 gallons day OF ten
lours.
Such stream OF water Is calcu
ated 10 irrigate about FIVE acres day
0 q depth Of little, more than "a |,
inches. A better and safer estimate
would probably be four acres day
0 depth of about two inches. But.
Generally speaking. II is safer to say
hat at cost of three dollars an acre
and can be irrigated two or three
ines at six dollars an acre annually
nd It Is certainly worth the money
4 dry seasons like the present. The .
verage cost OF a plant Is about 81 200.
a many cases the cost win be only a ,
ractlon of that given. But even the
igher figures are below the cost war :
anted by the saving of crop. as the
experience OF individuals has shown. !
yer large areas OF the country wind
ills are used as motors for irriga-
on pumps and careful accounts of !
leir efficiency are available. They !,
serve an excellent purs !
ose under favorable conditions up to
10 limits OF their capacity.