30 



Though at present used for stock and household purposes, great 

 numbers of them have been located with reference to a possible util- 

 ization for irrigation purposes if needed in the future. It is to these 

 wells in the hands of the actual owners and users to which we will 

 doubtless have to look for the future development of irrigation rather 

 than to the larger wells owned by the corporations and nonresidents. 



As shown on page 44, the annual rainfall of this region has varied 

 during the last eight yearn (1896-1903) from less than 13 to over 26 

 inches, the average being about 19 inches. This is sufficient for many 

 crops when favorably distributed, but seasons of drought have been 

 sufflcientlj' frequent to lead to the construction in many localities of 

 reservoirs, canals, etc., for the utilization of the artesian water for 

 irrigation. 



An investigation during the season of 1903 shows that during the 

 last few years there has been an abundance of moisture, well distrib- 

 uted and fully sufficient for all the ordinarj^ grain crops; hence many 

 farms with fall equipment of well, reservoir, ditches, etc., have not 

 used the water supply at all, many not even cleaning out their ditches 

 for the last six or eight seasons. As a consequence, most of the posi- 

 tive results that have been reported are from small areas devoted to 

 gardens, fruits, orchards, and forests. 



Many of the irrigation plants mentioned in the reports of 1895 and 

 1896 as being in successful operation have been practically aban- 

 doned, and no report can be found for them subsequent to those made 

 at that time. Many of the farms have changed hands, some have 

 fallen into the possession of large land companies, and some of the 

 wells have failed. In general, those who have most thoroughly and 

 sj'stematically tried irrigation are the most enthusiastic regarding it, 

 while reasons for the failure of most of those condemning it can be 

 found in. the faulty method of operation. 



A detailed report of what is now being done in the different coun- 

 ties of the artesian basin follows. 



AURORA COUNTY. 



The Smith-Jonet} farm, about 5 miles east of Plankington, for- 

 merly owned by J. D. Bartow, has a 3-inch well, 756 feet deep, dis- 

 charging 150 gallons per minute; a reservoir about 2 acres in area, 

 which can be filled to a depth of 5 feet, and about a half mile of main 

 ditch. Eighty acres of this farm is situated so that it can be put 

 under ditch. Mr. Bartow sold the farm several j^ears ago and reports 

 nothing done since 1895, but previous to that he irrigated 35 acres 

 with decided success. He raised corn, potatoes, and melons in great 

 abundance, and made a great increase in the grain crop by the use of 

 the water. He estimates that the yield of small grain is doubled in 

 ordinary years, while the yields of jjotatoes and garden crops are even 

 more largely increased. Mr. Bartow gives as the reason the irrigation 



