Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1919-09-30
LUNCHEON TALKS
ABOUT IRRIGATION
DR.. 8. ID. Swope Proposes Unit Power
System For Developing Water for
Irrigation In Mimbres Valley
r. =. THOMPSON GIVES idea
Shows Thak War Prices Have Made
Pre-War Cost Estimates Unreliable
Guide and Submits Figures

In choosing for his subject at the
community luncheon last Wednesday
at the arinory Irrigation In the MIN
bres Valley" DIR. ). ID. Swope, chair
man, brought forth new idea thss
the citizens assembled thought Ii well
TO investigate more fully with view
Of adoption.
DIR. Swope believes that irrigation
wnter can be raised much more cheap
ly through the installation OF system
OF power units 10 serve a number OF
water users to replace the system now
In vogue OF individual installations.
He believes that electricity could be
generated at this central plant and the
cost OF pumping be reduced TO four
cents per 1000 gallons.
A 50O-horsep0wer Diesel engine
could be installed at cost OF $4,000
and would irrignfe about 1890 acres
Of land nf cost of S8.25 per acre. The
power would be capable Of developing
1,170,0O0 gallons Of water at cost OF
$55, working only half time. The COO
horsepower engine would give power
to operate seventeen pumps, giving 90
horsepower TO each, for ten hours a
day. developing 600 gallons OF water
per minute, placing one inch Of water
over forty-four acres every ten hours.
This would mean the irrigat ton OF
1900 acres every twelve days.
| At the conclusion OF DIR. Swope's adj
dress, motion was made TO constitute
a committee to further investigate the
matter and repor at the next luncheon
DIR. Swope was appointed chairman ia
choose his own co-workers.
| DIR. II, ID. Vickers was named to be
host at the next luncheon which falls
on the second day of the fair and has
therefore been postponed until the next
regular date OF meeting. However. DR.
Vickers announced that the ladies OF
the Methodist. Presbyterian and
Christian churches would provide a
cafeteria luncheon each day OF the fair
from noon until O p. IN.
The women OF the Christian church
had charge OF the luncheon service and
II was veritable feast Mrs. +. ID
Wicker, Mrs. ]. G. Taber, Mrs. Estes
and Mrs. Fairfax made the arrange.
ments and the Misses Frances Allen
and Inez Sullivan served the guests IN
really professional style. Miss Helen
Holt accompanied at the piano and MIR
and Mrs. II. c. Bassett led the singing
X. II. Thompson, manager OF the
Deming Ice and Electric Co., was very
much interested in the idea that DR.
Swope advanced at the last community
luncheon at the armory m regard to a
/ 40 nf 10 fA
Der OF pumping plants for irrigation
He Is well acquainted with the Diesel
type Of engine and has given considera.
BILE thought TO cost OF installation
operation and efficiency He is Of the
opinion that at present costs II would
not be practicable. "Low efficiency In
pumping plants Is the seat of the
trouble" he maintains In some ways
he In inclined TO favor the air lift, but
admits that the initial cost Is heavy.
Following are his conclusions as to the
unit power system:
A Diesel engine plant. centrally 10.
Gated TO conveniently supply power
for irrigation purposes, appears to be
an ideal method of obtaining cheap
power, and with this In mind the
writer has recently obtained prices
from number OF different engine
builders, made several trips to similar
plants now operating, and otherwise
obtained data ON the costs involved
In the construction and operation of
such a plant.
Pumps OF 600 gallons per minute
capacity have been suggested. SO far
| ttsa hox In. 4
ley of 30 per cent efficiency. Their
average Is close TO 30 per cent, re-
quiring approximately 30 Horse Power
to operate Now the 800 II. +. Diesel
engine recently suggested. Is rated at
800 ii. +. at sea level. At our alti-
tude of 1900 feet, the rating on this
engine would he reduced to 420 II. +.
To get fair life out OF the engine, II
has been found to be poor policy To
drive these engines under steady load
Of more than S5 per cent rating, which
brings the desirable load down to 33d
H. +. The loss In the generator and
distributing lines under the best con-
d.tions cannot be less than 10 per
cent which leaves only 302 ii. =. de-
liyered to the motors on the pumps.
/ thcu, Ntig uttNiy Nv
pumps OF coo gallon capacity
The Eo0 II. l.. unit is size of engine
widely used. a comparatively satisfac-
tory engine of this size has been re-
Gently quoted at $4I, 10000 (. o. b. fac
tory. 300 X. W. generator direct con-
nectel 10 this engine Is quoted at
-, 10000 T. o. b. factory. Freight to
Demlng, estimated by engine builder.
s. 10000. Recent experience indicates
the ccst Of installation. which must
include very heavy foundation, extra
pumps. piping, building. and numerous
other details so often overlooked In
an estimate OF this kind, approximate
ly $50,O000O. This would bring the
cost OF our engine ready to operate
l$i1t,460O0.
Well. let us say that by using the
cheapest building possible. and by
some possible good luck we could
save about SS.0O0OO or more and get
our plant set up for Si05,0O000. Elec-