The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1914-05-07

though the full capacity of all avail
able devices for lifting the water to
the surface are operated. The motive
power at the Dickinson plant is steam
and electricity, and powerful pumps
and compressed air lift devices are in
operation. At this time the city's
ordinary needs are supplied by using
power only about three and a half
hours daily,
The cost, using electricity for pow
er and an improved air lift device
designed by Mr.. Littlehales which has
been in operation for six months, is
said to be 2 cents per 1000 gallons
of water at the surface: but the cost
is dependent one the efficiency of the
air compressor, the size and depth Of
the wells, etc. 1t is expected when new
machinery, it is now contemplated to
install, has been placed in service, the
cost will be reduced to l cent, posi-
bly, to "a Of a cent, a 1000 gallons Of
water at the surface.
The compressed air waterlift de-
signed by Mr.. Littlehales has shown
remarkable efficiency and economy, in
comparison with pumps and other air
Applications in use before he attached
his device to the new eight-inch city
we'll. 200 feet in depth, about six
months ago. His invention differs from
others for applying compressed air at
the bottom Of a well casing to force
water to the surface; ordinarily water
forced from wells, by air pressure, is
delivered in an irregular stream as the
air pressure has not heretofore been
properly regulated. MIR. Littlehales'
device is an adjustable valve, placed
near the bottom of the we'll and may
be adjusted from che surface to give
any desired flow of water, requiring
only that the air pressure shall not be
| W. Ar. fn11 a. A.
tTUfnt. Before his appliance was at
tached to the city eight-inch we'll, the
ordinary air lift produced only about
$50 gallons an hour; since it was in
stalled waite" has regularly been drawn
from that well at the rate Of from 35C
to 500 gallons a minute, or in quaint
ties as desired, and it was demonstrate
ed Saturday the flow could instantly
be increased to $50 gallons a minute
by adjusting the regulator at top o.
the we'll which was done in two sec.
onds. The range Of adjustment gives
COMPLETE control Of the water flow
which may be made SO or $50 gallon!
a minute as desired, and the waite,
comes in q steady stream, not in jerk:
as it does with other air lifts in use
Briefly summed up. Mr.. Littlehales
invention gets more waite with les!
air and at much less expense.
Men who claim to be informed OF
the subject estimate that not mor'
than six inches of water is required
during irrigating season, and that
flow of 175 gallons a minute if reQuir
ed, will supply the necessary si1
inches of water to irrigate forty acre
of land. eliminating all fear of croI
failure on account Of scarcity of mois
ture and insure heavier yields. MI
Littlehales says a 20-horse powe
gasoline engine, a compressor of 16I
cubic feet air pressure per minute AM
his device installed in an eight-incl
Well-such as is believed may reacl
an ineXhaustible water supply a
depths depending on attitudes here
abouts-will lift to the surface 500 t,
500 gallons per minute, or regulate,
to give the desired flow. The cost O
machinery is roughly estimated at les
than 81, 900 and the well cased an,
fully equipped will cost about $3.50
foot; the water from such a we'll viii
cost about 3 cents a 1000 gallons
which seems cheap in: comparison wit
water used for irrigation in Oklahoma
Oregon and California at a cost G
! from 6 to 9 cents a 1000 gallons.
/ If the supposed water supply /
available here, it certainly seems
could be used to tremendous advant
age of the west Missouri river country
( and the prospects indicate that n
: time should be lost by Director Coop
I err and other connected with the stat
agricultural board and agriculture
college in thoroughly investigating tn
, possibilities, and reporting result
l which can best be determined a
Dickinson, where the best expert dat
l on means for raising water to the sur