Rocky Ford enterprise., 1911-02-24

Of US. just that long will we have a sup
ply OF pure artesian water in the sands
underneath us. Old mother nature re-
plenishes the supply every year. by the
snow and rainfall on the mountains, by
| the high rivers in the canons. where the
artesian sands outcrop. and suck in
rivers of water miles away from where
they are tapped by the deep wells.
We know that we have the water
there now just a little less than eight
hundred feet deep. and we know that the
quality is all that can be desired. All we
have to do is to developo it. and it is cas-
ier and cheaper to dig shaft eight hun
dred feet to the artesian sands and fill
our shaft and pump it from there into
our mains. than it is to go forty miles
away, try to develope water we do not
know is there in quantity and of which
the quality is just as doubtful. then build
a pipe line to bring it here. all at a pro-
hibitive price. that would result IN putting
a burden on the tax payers Of this city.
from which the city could not hope to re-
cover for the next half century.
Mr.. W. L. Fertig. for fourteen years.
water superintendent for the Santa Fe
road at La Junta. in a phone conversa-
ton with party here on Monday after
noon. made the statement that the Sd nta
Fe had eight artesian wells at La Junta.
bored in circle, close together. each Of
these wells are fitted with pumps. four
hundred feet deep. and are pumped twer =
ty four hours day. every day in the
year. and ever since they have been dug.
except reduction in the first test out.
they have each been averaging steadily
sixty gallons per minute or four hundred
and eighty gallons per minute for the
eight wells. and if you stop to figure you
will find that this amount Of water would
be sufficient for this city for good many
years to come.
But, the artesian flow at Rocky Ford
is stronger than in La Junta; none Of the
Santa Fe wells just mentioned ever came
closer to the surface than one hundred
feet: the old No. well here when first
brought in flowed from the surface one
hundred and forty gallons per minute,
and we believe woulj do ii yet II in pro-
per shape. and by sinking this proposed
shaft on the site OF this cid well adjacent
to it. we could get the benefit OF this flow
Even IL the wells should reduce IN vol
ume one fourth on account Of proximity
to each other. we would have more than
enough to supply the needs Of the city fer
the present and whsn the demand be-
came greater we could sink another
shaft at different point.
The report that the well Of the A. T. d
S. F. road at this place is giving out or
failing is eanard. The pumpman here
reports that steady pumping for twenty
four hours day. brings on an average
Of sky gallons per minute and has been
doing this for over year. In case the
pumps shut down over night, in the
morning the well is diseharging a natural
| flow. 1t is true the company is contem-
plating sinking a new we'll. but it is not
because the old one is giving out. but be-
cause a larger supply is needed at this
place on account OF increased business.
The shaft proposition is open to the
city to take up any way they see fit, to
install it them selves. or to hire it done
on contract Or il the eountil will grant
company the same contract as given
other parties heretofore. viz ten cents
per 1000 gallons artesian water. deliver
ed in the city mains. for term Of twen-
ty years, with the privilege Of purchasing
the plan: on an appraised value at the
end of that time. am positive it would
not be hard to secure the capital for the
proposition. The entire plant outlined
can be Installed for considerably less than
$50. 600. and this to my notion. would
be far preferable to any Of the plans
heretofore presented. am.
n. M. Minor.