Tonopah daily bonanza. [volume] (Tonopah, Nev.) 1906-1929, 1914-04-18
IRRIGATION BY PUMPING TREATED BY
EXPERTSOF THE j. S GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

irrigation with water pumped from
wells In the vicinity of Enid. Okla.
Is declared practicable in brief re.
port just issued by the United States
geological survey. The average an
nual precipitation at Enid for the
nine years prior to 1913 was 32h
inches. but during the season of 1912
l3 this region was affected by the
drought that prevailed throughout the
west and middle west and the rain
fall was only 1874 inches. The seri-
Gus effect of this drought on the
crops suggested the utilization of
ground water for irrigation, and the
director OF the geological survey was
urgently requested by Congressman
Morgan and Mcclure and by w. H..
Scarf. secretary of the Enid chamber
OF commerce, to have an investiga-
ton made of the ground-water pros
poets in this region The report just
issued is the result of brief exam
ination of the conditions at Enid by
A. r. Sehwennesen, of the survey
staff 1t contains map that shows
the distribution. over part of Gar
field county, of the Tertiary sands
and gravels, and those of later origin,
which are the principal water-bearing
beds of the region.
The ground water supply of these
beds. the report states, is replenished
chiefly by the local rainfall. This
supply is by no means inexhaustible.
but moderate drafts on 1t during the
comparatively short season in which
irrigation is necessary win be com
pensated by the rainfall throughout
the year Pumping can be done at
comparatively low cost. and IL the
ground water which is available Is
used conservatively and intelligently
for irrigation II can be made to add
greatly to the agricultural production
of the community.
The Carboniferous Red Beds
which underlie the Tertiary deposits
also yield some water. but the condi-
tions attending the utilization of this
water are so unfavorable that its use
is not recommended except where no
+ other supply Is available, and then
only for certain intensive crops, such
as fruit or garden truck, where the
| financial return per acre would war
rant a heavy expense for pumping.
The report includes note by o
E Meinzer. of the geological survey
on the general subject of ground
water for irrigation on the Great
Plains. in which the following state
ments are made:
The largest supply of ground water
on the great plains is found in the
4 Tertiary and Quaternary sands and
gravels that lie near the surface over
an area of more than 100000 square
miles of valley and plain in eastern
4 Colorado and New Mexico and II
MtHttTu NcbidShd,
and Texas These beds do not as ;
rule yield flows; their water mus
ordinarily be recovered by pumping
Pumping plants have been installed
at some places, chiefly in the Arkan
sas valley and in certain shollow wa
. ter belts in western Texas and ad
iacent parts of New Mexico. bu
many more can be successfully ope
rated
Because of improvements in pump
ing machinery especially in inter
nal.combustlon engines water can b
pumped at less cost now than fol
merly. and ON account OF improve
: methods OF irrigation and agricultur
and better adaptation of crops
water supply the value of pumpe
: water has been increased. Henc
pumping for irrigation is practicabl
today in localities where 1t was n,
practicable ten or twenty years ag
: With good management pumping Il
irrigation is now generally feasib