Yerington times. [volume] (Yerington, Nev.) 1907-1932, 1912-06-08

bitches and dams, and it will double the value OF
many ranch in Mason Valley.
Pumping BY steam is expensive IN many ways
and requires constant attendance at the plant nc
gasoline engine is more or less eccentric, but better
than steam and many lands produce crops valuable
enough to admit of this method, although 1t still
requires practically constant SUPERVISION Eiec-
trcity will cost from one-fourth to one-third as
much gasoline, requires no watching, and the
cost of installation is usually much less. Mr. c. l.
Martin of this vicinity, starts his motor in the
morning and shuts it off at night when he is through
irrigatin for the day.
Right now Mr.. Martin is saving from the i'm
pending drought something like 800 acres OF land in
various crops and is perfectly Independent OF the
shortage of water this season, because he has an
electric pump. He is not using his share OF
the water flowing in the ditch of which he is a
shareholder He is also saving water for others
because the water at his place is pumped directly
onto the land and he avoids that 40 to 90 per cent
loss by evaporation and seepeage This gentle
has every reason to believe that he will harvest
IS bushels OF wheat to the acre this II he
did not have his electrical pumping plant he would
doubtless consider himself fortunate to harvest 20
bushels per acre. That means his pumping plant
is earning-to be conservative-Sl5 per acre on a
crop OF wheat alone This season Mr.. Martin 5
plant will easily earn double its entire first cost with
every present indication that it is going to cost him
less than dollar per acre to pump the water onto
his land One dollar per acre giving fifteen dollars
increased revenue is pretty good investment and
Mr.. Martin is well satisfied that he is pleased to
discuss it with his neighbors many OF whom are not
going to harvest IS bushels of wheat to the
even twenty bushels.
IF there were no bitches in Mason Valley that
is. if it possible for all farmers to pump from
the river direct to their lands instead OF rrigatinS
by of diverting dams and canals, there would
be twice much water in the river. This is not
practical however, many farms are too great a
distance from the Walker
Lying east OF the town. OF Yerington is series
of sloughs which said to be nevertailing so Tar
as water is concerned If this be true it is likely
that they lie above what was once the river bed.
and it remains but to sink well or pit to the
coarse gravel, which must underie the surface at
no great depth. and pump therefrom The artesian
well possibilities have not been explored to any
great and serious extent either.
I'm Carson Valley there has recently been COM
pleted lO-inch WELL tapping strata some 500 feet
below the surface which flows about 100 gallons
per minute A test shows that it will furnish a
pump from 800 to 1900 gallons per minute and the
electric pumping plant is now being rushed into
place.
Years OF irrigation has raised the water table
in Mason Valley to within few feet OF the surface
and it is likely that 800 gallons per minute would
take care OF considerably over 800 acres OF land,
planted to prevailing crops Water may be raised
from wells to any desired height, the cost for cleo
trio power. however, increasing in direct proportion
the vertical distances increased. In at least one
instance in California water for irrigation is lifted
1873 feet but it is more than probable that maxi
mum distance in Mason Valley would be found
around thirty.
The electric power company furnishing this
district has made an extremely low rate for rriga-
ton purposes-n fact the lowest OF which we have
knowledge-for the purpose OF encouraging local
agricultural development. 1t has competent staff
OF engineers who will be glad to place their services
at the disposal of any farmer desiring information
or assistance, and charge is made whatever. All
in all it presents opportunity for the farmers of
this section, of which, from present indications,
they are not going to be slow to avail themselves "
PROSPERITY IN SOUTH.