PULSE OF THE IRRIGATION INDUSTRY. 



121 



the farthest. I have two reservoirs, one 60 by 150 

 feet, and the other 30 by 150 feet, and have irri- 

 gated with this plant from ten to fifteen acres each 

 season. The greatest difficulty to overcome is to 

 learn economy of water. Reservoirs can be built at 

 very small expense. If you wish to make one 50 by 

 100 feet you take from the inside of the dimensions 

 from 8 to 12 inches of earth, and it will make your 

 banks from 4 to 5 feet high, which is high enough for 

 all practical purposes. The western plains are blessed 

 with cheap wind power, and here in Kansas the wind 

 will run a common windmill one-half the time at a 

 cost not to exceed one dollar a month for running, 

 except for accidents. Almost every man who has 20, 

 40~or 80 acres of land can in this way own and con- 

 trol his own irrigation system. "A little farm well 

 tilled means a large garner well filled." 



THE CHAPMAN ARTESIAN WATER LIFTER. 



This is an invention which 

 causes non-flowing wells to flow 

 without pumping, and it is 

 claimed will deliver from two 

 to five times more water than 

 can be pumped, and is more 

 economical than any other 

 means of raising water in large 

 quantities. Air is forced down 

 a small pipe and comes up in a 

 cone shape, filling the well 

 pipe, carrying the water up 

 with its force. It is suitable to 

 be used in wells of any depth, 

 and any number of wells can 

 be operated from one engine at 

 the same time. It is especially 

 valuable where water is not 

 within reach of a suction pump, 

 where the deep well pump does 

 not lift enough water, where 

 there are gases in the artesian 

 water, as the injected air removes the gases, where a 

 number of deep wells have to be operated by the 

 same power, where the water is sandy and cuts ordi- 

 nary pumps. This novelty in the water lifting line is 

 made by the American Well Works at Aurora, 111. 



WORK ON THE CROW RESERVE. 



WALLER H. GRAVES, the prominent irrigation en- 

 gineer, was a visitor in Chicago a few days ago. He 

 has recently come from the Crow reserve in south- 

 eastern Montana, where he is engaged under govern- 

 ment direction in building an extensive system of 

 irrigation canals. For the greater part of three years 



he has been pushing the work and has accomplished 

 a great deal during that time. Although the Crow 

 nation numbers but 2,500 people, yet the scheme as 

 outlined by the government contemplates putting 

 150,000 acres of land under ditch, and for this work 

 400,000 have thus far been appropriated. The 

 water is taken direct from a number of streams in 

 Yellowstone county, and Mr. Graves says there is a 

 superabundance of it for irrigation purposes. All 

 the construction work is done by the Indians, under 

 Mr. Graves' direction, and he speaks in the highest 

 terms of their ability in this line. The largest canal 

 thus far built is 14 feet in the bottom. Last year the 

 Indians raised splendid crops by the aid of irrigation, 

 and big profits were derived from the sale of their hay. 

 The project has been carried out in a very success- 

 ful manner up to date. Mr. Graves is now in Wash- 

 ington in consultation with the officials of the Indian 

 bureau. 



IN WASHINGTON. 



THE AGE is indebted to Dr. N. G. Blalock for the 

 following list of ditches built near Walla Walla, last 

 year. 



The Willis ditch, 14 miles long, water taken from 

 south side Walla Walla river, 5 miles south of Walla 

 Walla city; ditch 8 feet in bottom, will cover about 

 25,000 acres. Frank Lowden's ditch, 15 miles long, 

 water taken from north side Walla Walla river, six 

 miles west Walla Walla city, size same as the Willis 

 ditch; Lowden's ditch will cover 20,000 acres. Frank 

 Lowden's Dry creek ditch, 3 miles long, water taken 

 from Dry creek, 12 miles west from Walla Walla city; 

 size of ditch 5 feet in bottom. Lowden's Mud creek 

 ditch, $% miles long, same size as above two ditches; 

 covers 20,000 acres. The Hawley ditch, water taken 

 from the Tonchet river 16 miles west from Walla 

 Walla city, size 8 feet in bottom, length 15 miles; cov- 

 ers 10,000 acres. The Wallula ditch, sometimes 

 called Wolf ditch, water taken from south side Walla 

 Walla, 20 miles west Walla Walla city; will cover 

 10,000 acres; size, 8 feet in bottom. 



THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF IRRIGATION ENGINEERS. 



The first Year Book will shortly be issued. It has 

 been somewhat delayed but will lose none of its value. 

 Under the administration of President L. G. Carpen- 

 ter, Professor of Irrigation Engineering, State Agri- 

 cultural College, Fort Collins, Colorado, and Secretary 

 Jacobson, C. E., Assistant State Engineer of Colorado 

 the membership has steadily increased. The society 

 now has 144 members. 



