The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-13
Department
ADVISES AS TO
WATER SUPPLY
Upon Ranges in Farmers Bull
letin Which Has Been Re-
centIyIssued.

WASHINGTON. D. c., Nov. 1s-
How range which ordinarily can not
be grazed because of inadequate wat
er facilities can be opened up for
stock, is told by the department Of
agriculture in farmers bulletin 592
on the development and Improvement
of stock watering places upon nation
al forests.
No stock range can be said to be
properly utilized, the department
AYERS. II there is an uneven distribu-
ton Of water. On some areas the
water supply is not sufficient for the
number Of stock the forage will sup
port On others the water, supply is
sufficient, but is not permanent, max
ing 1t necessary to remove the ami
mails before the season is over Still
other areas are made practically
worthless for stock purposes by the
absence Of water except at rare in
tervals during winter.
Range cattle need from eight to ten
gallons of water day, says the de-
partment, and sheep from one-half to
two gallons, unless there is heavy
dew and an abundance OF succulent
feed. No matter how good the forage
on given area may be, animals must
have all the water they need or they
will not thrive. Cattle, moreover
should not be required to travel on an
average more than two miles to reach
water, II they are to be in marketable
condition in the fall.
The flow from ordinary springs,
and even from seeps, can be increas-
ed by digging them out and curb
ing the sides with cement, the water
being carried in pipes to convenient
ly situated troughs. Swampy spots
can often be made to furnish water
supply by cutting an open channel
from some spring in the middle of
them, perhaps cutting other channels
across the main one, and drawing the
spring and surface water to some
storage point outside. Streams flow
ing through deep canyons may be
made accessible to stock by construct
ing trails over which the animals
can reach them, or by raising the
water to the surface OF the canyon
by mechanical means.
When a natural water supply is
some distance from the range, small
dirt flood water reservoirs can be
constructed almost anywhere to sup
plement the natural supply. II a
low place with heavy adobe or clay
soil is selected in the middle of some
open park with sloping hills about
It, comparatively little work with
plow and scraper will construct res
ervoir which, when trampled and
puddled by use. will hold enough
water for many head of stock for
some time. Burrows running dag
onally across the slopes will collect
the rainfall or melting snow waters
and carry them directly to the reser-
voir for storage. Artificial reservoirs
permit the stock to be scattered out
over a larger area than ordinarily.
and remove the need for them to con-
centrate at. permanent water places.
Where the natural water supply il
more than so feet below the surface
of the ground the best way to reach
It, says the department, is by drilling
or boring a well and raising the wat
er by means OF a windmill or pump.
Asdeep we'll of from $50 to 300 feet
such as; is common In the Texas pan.
handle region, complete with wind.
mill. truck, troughs, etc., represents
| an investment of about $1,000. and
should seasily supply between $50 and
500 cattle daily Novel; is complete
claims the department, without a res.
ervoir with a capacity large enough
to carry the stock dependent upon 4
over q long calm spell. The cost Of q
reservoir holding approximately 200.
900 gallons Of water should not ex.
coed 800.
The best kind ofstroughi far hold.
ling water derived from wells and
sprines. thinks the departmeut, !.
the ordinary metal.on used by stock,
men. It Is light in weight. will las
q long time. and costs little. How.
ever. where the materials are readil,
available and the cost Of cement Ii
not prohibitiye: the department. rec.
cnmends concrete as better than an,
80 4 - =