Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1912-12-07
34TH YEAR-NUMBER 40
Irrigation With the Windmill.


l believe the possibilities of wind
mill irrigation are great in western
Kansas In western Kansas less
wateriS required to produce the same
results than in country which is
obliged to depend entirely on irriga-
tion and wind power is cheap. l have
given the subject of water pumping
by windmills a study because l am
putting in such plant on my farm
in Scott county. 1t includes a reser-
yoir covering one acre and a dixie
made of earth and feet high, sur
rounded by five l2-foot direct stroke
Althouse windmills. The pumps are
inch cylinders, and there is four
inch discharge pipe and the depth of
the water is 81 feet. The cost com
plete, will be something less than
$1,000, hiring all the work done For
such woIk the windmill and pump
cylinder should be selected with care.
They should be the best. l am using
the wood openewheeT mill.
A great many of the large plants
cost too much for the average man TO
ffsls who does not Know the real value
proposition will appeal to many.
Such "a plant can be added too, not
necessarily by more windmills, but
by installing larger pump, and other
power, and pumping into the same
reservoir that the windmills do. only
using the larger pump in cases of
emergency 1t won't take long for a
1000 irrigation plant to make money
enough for its owner to install
more expensive plant if he desires.
Another good feature is the wind
mill plant does not require the big
water bearing strata that is needed
to supply the larger plants, where
large volume of water is pumped
from one we'll
Mr.. Fred Mailer, of Scotn county,
has installed a windmill pumping
plant, of 10 mills, seven 4-cylinders,
and three 6-inch with a reservoir
covering 7-1O of an acre. He has
successfully seeded So acres to alfalfa
growing as a nurse crop, barley and
oats and getting a good yield. 1 con-
slider Mr.. Mahler's plant has paid for
itself this year.
have to depend entirely upon irriga-
tion. winter irrigation is abotst. all we
need. There is very little evapora-
ting at that time of year, and by stor-
ing the water in the ground then, we
get the benefit of it the next growing
season, and for a good many crops
and seasons. As to the possibilities
of windmill plant the size of Mr..
Mahler's, or the size of the one ] am
installing: If Mr.. Mahler will
thoroughly irrigate his 56 acres of
new alfalfa this winter this insure
two good crops the coming season.
Then he will have the use of his
plant for like amount of land in
the spring. and in the following
spring finish out the remainder OF
the 160 acres. l believe that it is
possible with plant of this kind to
successfully irrigate 16O of alfalra
where it is not more than 80 feet to
water. L have recently learned that
wind mill pumping plant in western
Nebraska where they have to go 200
feet to water proving a success.
While in this locality we are so
undertiow of pure soft water at q
shallow depth, there is large part
of western Kansas that cannot be ir-
rigated successfully any other way
other way than by the windmill, as
the water supply is not sufficient to
supply large amount from one well,
as is required where the larger and
more expensive pumping plant is in
stalled. l believe the time is fast
approaching, when these large farms
of the richest farms in the world
will be cut up into 40 and so acre
farms, and then the windmill pump
ing plant will make a stronger appeal
than ever.-E. E. Coffin of Scott
county, in Topeka Mail and Breeze.
Notice to Stockholders.
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