384 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



a number of wells showed that the greatest yield recorded from any of them 

 was 175 gal. a minute In a contintious 24-honr test. 



It is stilted that the more highly mineralized " red bed waters " are unsatisfac- 

 tory for irrigation, but that many of these waters may be used without injury 

 to plant growth. The well waters from the Tertiary deposits are said to be 

 generally of good quality and are satisfactory for irrigation. A case is cited in 

 which a well in this formation yields 200 gal. per minute continuously for 24 

 houi's without an appreciable weakening of the supply. It is stated that in this 

 area the cost of developing and pumping water from the red beds will be much 

 greater than the cost of developing and i)umping water from the Tertiary or 

 younger sands and gravels. " The available sui)ply of water in the Tertiary and 

 later alluvial sands and gravels in the Enid region is probably not sufficient for 

 the heavy irrigation of large tracts, but is large enough for the irrigation of 

 many small tracts distributed over the area," 



In a note on ground water for irrigation on the Great Plains, by O. E. 

 Meinzer, it is stated that " with good management pumping for irrigation is 

 now generally feasible where the water level stands within 25 or perhaps 50 

 ft. of the surface and for the irrigation of vegetables and fruit where the depth 

 to water is even greater." 



Ground water for irrigation in the valley of North Fork of Canadian 

 B/iver near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, A. T. Schwennesen (U. S. Geol. 

 Survey, Water-Supply Paper 345-D (1914), PP- 11+^1-51, pi. 1). — This paper 

 describes the geology of a valley having an average width of about If miles 

 and an area of about 140 square miles, and reports on the occurrence, quantity, 

 and distribution of its ground-water supplies. 



The valley fill is said to be from 30 to 60 ft. deep, consisting of water-sorted 

 clays, sands, and gravels, and water may be reached almost anywhere at depths 

 of 15 to 30 ft. Bored wells are in most general use. Estimates on the yearly 

 accretions to the ground-water supply show them to be equal to a layer of 

 water 8 to 16 in. deep over the whole valley in average years and 4 to 8 in. in 

 the driest years. Analyses of water from wells in the area show all of them to 

 be satisfactory for irrigation. The irrigation of considerable areas of the land 

 is considered feasible, but it is stated that prospective irrigators should be 

 cautioned against making large outlays for pumping installations without first 

 duly considering all the factors of cost that are involved. 



Geology and underground waters of the southeastern part of the Texas 

 coastal plain, A. Deussen (?7. S. Geol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper 335 (1914), 

 pp. 365, pis. 9, figs. 17). — This report describes the underground water horizons 

 of a region embracing an area of 36,317 square miles in east and northeast 

 Texas, and discusses the artesian conditions and pi'ospects in the several coun- 

 ties included in the area. The arrangement of the relatively pervious and im- 

 pervious strata of the region is said to be such as to constitute five great 

 artesian systems, according to the order of their superixjsition, each consisting 

 of two confining impervious members between which is a porous water-logged 

 member constituting an artesian reservoir. 



"The [water] supplies of this area . . . vary widely in character and min- 

 eral content but in general may be called rather highly mineralized alkali 

 waters, likely to foam badly in boilers and to cause trouble by alkali accumula- 

 tion if used for irrigation. Though many wells furnish water too strong to 

 be potable and some furnish water too hard to be used in cooking, most of the 

 waters are drinkable and a large proportion of them can be used for all 

 domestic purposes." 



Underground water of Luna County, New Mexico, N. H. Daeton and 

 A. T. ScHWENNESEN (U. 8. Ocol. Survey, Water-Supply Paper 345-C {1914), 



