Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-01-03
NELL IRRIGATION
| NOT INNOVATION
Method Practiced in Egypt and
Nubia Before the Time of
Christ
DID IN NEW MEXICO F,
Saw Indians on
the Rio Grande Using this
System.

Many people. not only visitors, but
old-time citizens, seem to have the
dea that pumping to secure water
br irrigation purposes is a new de.
parture. One hears a doubter now
md then who seems to believe that
his will be wonderful country
when they demonstrate the practi-
ability of pumping"
,, The practicability and feasibility
of raising water for the irrigation
of land higher than the source of
of the water was demonstrated long
before the time of Christ. For thous-
ands of years before then the Nubi-
ans and Egyptians along the Nile
had been using the great sweeps to
raise the precious drops from the
river to their fields 1t appears from
ancient records and prehistoric rel.
les that these people used the sweeps
before they thought of the diversion
Ham far enough up the river tc <.
cure sufficient head or fall to carry
the water to their fields.
Right here at home Marcua dc
Mia on his first trip up the Rio
Grande hundred or more years
before the Pilgrims made Plymouth
Rock famous, saw the Indians along
the Great River also using the prm-
tive sweep. This sweep was made of
long saping, forked at the end
In this fork was bound an ola or
earthen vessel This implement was
pivoted on another forked stick and
dipped into the river and emptied
into basin dug in the river bank
IS high up the bank as the sweep
Would reach From there it was
Ugted another step by another work
q, and so on to the top of the bank,
Where it entered ditch and was
conveyed on the small fields.
Modern visitors to China and Japan
frequently see the old.style method
fhese people use to irrigate their
rlce fields and hemp.
Those farmers who are wealthy
enough to afford the manufacture
Of one, have power wheel. This
~ an ordinary river water wheel,
only in the center of each paddle is
uounted n bucket As the river cur
mi turns the wheel these buckets
0ter the stream. are filled and
Used. As they pass the highest
rbint of the circle they are spilled
Ito trough and the water con-
Hyed thence to the field. Those of
Ru who have visited the mountains
is summer have probably seen the
oe in operation today ut the Sunset
<nch at Picacho.
The poorer Chinese use a similar
heel. only it is run by man power
lakes and on some of the rivers
ere is no current to turn the
heel, so a man or two are hired to
|mb the paddles, holding on to 8
Fnsspiece so they will not drop into
e stream.
In France horses were used ir
e treadmills to raise the water
pm ponds and dams. and occasion
n bitches. into the vineyards
Aany eastern people have the ides
Irrigation IS a new thing, There are
Ridences in France where prehis
5ric tillers of the soil not only irri
ated, but pumped water and ther
|stributed il in order t. eonserv,
peir water supply In parts o.
rance there are bitches in use to
In that were constructed of hand
lwn stone in the fourth century, i
|e are to believe the historians.
II has been proven that whereve
|e can find evidences of water hav
Sg been pumped for the same pur
Continued on last page.)