El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-10-31

ating under Gen Mackenzie. and ably
assisted by Texas rangers.
It was found that it was the practice
Of the indians to obtain their water
supply by digging into the sands of
the draws that run through the re-
gion and after satisfying their imme-
date wants TO carefully fill the holes
so their secret would not be discovered
by any chance white pursuer. The
buffalOes also followed the method OF
paving into the earth for water in
times Of emergency, but for the most
part they depended upon waterholes
that were scattered through the coun-
try, often 100 miles apart.
Ranchmen Discourage Farmers.
While the digging Of surface wells
and putting up OF hundreds Of wind
mills solved the ranching problem. IL
was not considered a practical way OF
obtaining water for the purpose Of ir-
rigating the land. The ranchmen
discouraged the idea that II could
be made a farming country. The
coca siOnal homesteader or nest
erer," as he was derisively called
ditiOns so disagreeable that he was
usually willing 10 abandon all at
tempts at farming after a short stay
upon the land BY degrees, however,
the fact was established that the
whole plains territory was sDlendfdlv
It was following the construction OF
lines Of railway through the heretofore
isolated region that many farmer-set-
tiers came in and established comfort
able homes for themselves. Big crops
Of various kinds were raised without
irrigation, the annual average rain
fall Of % inches being sufficient 10
practically insure good yields where
the moisture is conserved IN the soil
by proper cultivation methods.
Hgwaf- F1.Hru . -
almost inestimably valuable discovery
was made that the water basin, from
which the windmills obtained their
supply, was Of vast area and practi-
cally ineXhaustible in its storage ca
pacity; also that lying not far below
this first water strata was one or
more other lakes or rivers Of the
fluid. In other words, IL was proved
by drilling wells in the Plainview
section that the rich lands are under
laid with a sea Of water. Then came
the first utilization Of the valuable
discovery in the form OF the installa-
ton Of centrifugal pumps upon the
wells
when these giant water-Hfting ma
chimes were first given a trial there
were many doubling Thomases who |
predicted that after few hours con-
slant operation the underground water l
supply would be exhausted. They were /
wrong: instead OF there having been
any -EE1EAAAs "a the hD4Aa-E anu
strength Of the flow Of the many cen
trifugal pumps that now dot the land I
scape on all sides, there are evidences
Of the underground supply having in
creased. This is indicated by the ris-
ing of the water in the different wells. /
The possibility OF utilizing this hidden
wealth of nature for irrigarlng the |
level-lying land has attracted wide at !
tention and remarkable results IN the I
production OF crops Of many kinds are ]
already being accomplished through |
this means. This TACT Is 1orclDly !
shown by the many wells that have I
already been drilled, and upon which l
pumps have been installed one con-
Germ purchased $4,000 acres Of land IN /
the Plainview territory two years ago, :
and it is its purpose TO provide water 1
for the irrigation Of all Of IL by the I
centrifugal pumping method It has 4
already punctured the earth with 81 !
large wells and placed pumping plant /
upon each hole The plan or me me
cab Tor the drilling Of $40 4
wells and the installation of that many j
additional pumps and engines.
The development Of the subterranean
water supply and the reclamation OF ]
the land by irrigation has spread TO 4
the territory lying 10 the south OF
here for 70 miles, ard TO the east and
west for many miles The water is
'ound in almost absolute purity ana
nexhaustible quantities at depths
angling from on 10 AUN ANN-H INV Aa1 hl--- .
depending upon the locality How much
more water lies below the first two
strauas that have so far been pene-
-rated is not known at this time. That
his big sea Of underground water has
Z constant movement towards the
south is claimed by men Of science
who have Investigated the matter No
me knows for q certainty where the
supply has its source, except that II
must come from rainfall or the SHOWS. ]
Reclaim 100000 Acres.
It is estimated that more than 1000 /
100 acres have been reclaimed from the
-anches Of the plains region as re-
iult of the discovery Of the under
,round water supply. Enormous crop
fields are being obtained, even upon
and that is not irrigated Wheat, I
milo maize. feterita. kaffir corn, alfal-
a, indian corn, oats and a variety Of I
ther grain and forage products are Z
-rO7vn extensively It costs from $1,000 ]
o $4,000 20 equip a well with a pump .
ng plant that is capable OF irrigating
so acres, and this expense is too
reat for many farmers TO bear. The
rofits OF irrigated land is so large,
owever. that the plan Of lifting Of the
-ater by machinery is being adopted
Y the farmers as fast as their finan-
iaI condition viii permit their max HI
lg the Improvement