Cost of Each Watering, 25 



of land that can be irrigated by the use of a steam- 

 pump in a day of twelve hours is about three acres. 

 The expense would be about $10.00 per day, in- 

 cluding the wear and tear of the pump, hose, etc., as 

 it would take one man to run the pump and another to 

 tend the hose, which, with cost of coal and various 

 minor items, would foot up about the amount stated. 

 It will be seen by the above figures that the direct cost 

 of irrigating an acre of land once would be about 

 $3.50. This is exclusive of interest on the original 

 outlav. A suitable pump will throw one hundred 

 gallons per minute ; which, in a day of twelve hours, 

 would be equivalent to covering three acres nearly one 

 inch deep. This is much more than an average single 

 rainfall; and certainly there is no acre of growing crops 

 which, in a dry time, would not be benefited to an 

 amount much more than S3. 50. or even double that 

 amount, by such an application of water. Many claim 

 that watering by artificial means does not pay; but 

 certainly, where water is available so that it can be 

 applied in such ample quantity at the price thus 

 indicated, it must be plain to every one that it will pay, 

 and in many cases will earn many times the amount it 

 costs. Oftentimes such a watering will save a crop 

 which otherwise would have been a failure. 



There is very seldom a season so wet that the steam- 

 pump will not be required two or three weeks ; and in 

 m.ost seasons it will be in use eight or ten weeks. 

 When the weather is ver\- dry, and all the crops need 

 abundant watering, the pump should be kept running 

 night and day, by employing two sets of man. It will 



