White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1929-03-22
WORLD EMPLOYS ODD
WAYS TO GET WATER
Ferris Wheels and Tread.
mills Old Devices.

mills Old Devices.
Washington.-Win water
pumps, long characteristic landmarks
of Holland, are giving way to electric
power plants.
"This evolution" says a bulletin
from the National Geographic society,
suggests many odd ways in which
the world pumps its water supply.
while American farmers on hither-
to arid areas Of the West are having
their water delivered to them for irri-
cation purposes, Chinese farmers,
known the world over for raising
from one to four crops year on
their less-than-an-acre plots, are still
using devices which antedate the
windmill by many centuries.
1.-THE Chengtu plains Of Szechwan
province are dotted with huge water
wheels, which resemble the Ferris
wheels at state fairs. Upon close in
spection, however, ride on a Cheng-
tn irrigator would be bit damp. for
water cups and pipes occupy the
space where seats would be If the
wheel were in an amusement park.
AS the wheel turns, the cups dip wa
ter from the canal. When the con-
tainers reach the level of the field,
the water is discharged into trough.
"In Chilli province, even within
sight Of Picking, farmers irrigate their
farms largely by foot power" contin-
ues the bulletin. Zone device consists
of long, open trough with one end
In the canal and the other on the
edge of the farm. Three or four Chi
nese boys tread spokes extending from
hub which, revolving, causes a
chain with loose boards attached to
push water from the canal through
the trough until it reaches the field.
One Man Footpump.
"Japan's footpump is a one-man
affair. Instead Of treading 'spokes'
the Japanese farmers tread the pad
dies of the irrigating wheel.
"Korean farmers are content with
their spoonlike scoops which are tied
| to tripods placed on the bank Of
stream. When the scoop is filled with
water it is hoisted to the field and
emptied.
"African water supply systems range
from gourds carried on the heads Of
native women to the great Aswan
dam, which controls the Nile flood
waters. Drifting down the Nile, how
ever, the traveller sees several inter-
esting contrivances used by the ma
tives to augment the natural irriga-
ton of the Nile valley.
"The Shadoof, the most commonly
used device, consists of a wood H.
the uprights of which are driven deep
into the river bank. On the crossbar
between the uprights long pole is
balanced. The end over the water
bears reed basket, while on the
other end clod of mud acts as a
counterbalance.
"The Persian water wheel resem-
bles wheels used in our Northwestern
states until the early part of this cen
fury. On the sites of several western
irrigation projects water wheels, SIM
liar to paddle wheels on Ohio river
boats, pumped water for irrigation
purposes. In remote districts some
of the old wheels are still in opera
ton.
"Among the Indians of the West,
the tribal womenfolk still carry water
Jars on their heads in much the same
manner as the natives of central
Africa.
Easy for Indians.
''The American Indian needed no
pumps for he moved where there was
abundant water supply. Civilization,
however, makes it difficult to move,
so man has devised numerous ways
to have his water brought to him.
A tunnel 40 miles long and large
enough to accommodate a railroad
train supplies New York city with
water. Los Angeles water flows
through an aqueduct, $50 miles long,
crossing the Mojave desert in its
course to the city. Chicago, however,
has not gone far for its water source;
Its aqueducts are laid but few
miles out into Lake Michigan. The
Nadral aqueduct in India, which car
ries water from the lower Ganges to
irrigation canals in the northwest,
would reach from New York city near
~ to Cleveland, Ohio, were 1t in the
United States.
"The Queen Mary reservoir at Lit
Teton, England, which supplies Lon
don's water, is the worlds largest en-
tirely artificial reservoir, with a ca
pacity Of about 100000 gallons. The
Elephant Butte irrigation dam on the
Rio Grande river, although not en-
tirely artificial, holds more than
hundred times as much. There are
several dams in the United States
more than 300 feet high, with the Ar
rowrock on the Boise river, Idaho,
topping all of them at $50 feet"