336 THE I R RIG A Y76LV A GE. 



surface. The flow of a spring is often sufficient to parry in open 

 ditches for miles, where one half will waste in seepage and evapora- 

 tion, but the best and safest plan is to convey the water to the dis- 

 tributing point in wooden pipes or flumes. An ordinary V shaped 

 trough will deliver an immense volume if given sufficient fall, and the 

 saving made in one year, will repay the outlay for timber and nails. 



In many sections of the west the streams run in deep banks, mak- 

 ing independent gravity ditches an impossibility, by reason of the ex- 

 pense. This objection can frequently be overcome by sinking wells 

 alongside the stream, and cutting under channels or tunnels from the 

 low water mark to connect with the wells. Water can then be raised 

 by windmill, horse, steam or gasolene power to the surface and dis- 

 tributed over the fields. Windmills may be made of common lumber, 

 at very nominal cost, some farmers building them for $3 each, and re- 

 quiring but one to lift sufficient water for ten acres. 



The underflow of streams is a very prolific source of supply for 

 the independent owner of water. In some instances, particularly in 

 Kansas and Colorado, the entire volume of a stream suddenly disap- 

 pears from the surface, at certain seasons, and seeks underground 

 channels, coming to the top again several miles below the point of 

 disappearance. This water may be obtained by tunneling, on the 

 gravity plan, to the bedrock which seldom goes more than ten feet in 

 depth. In this way the streams are tapped and a portion of the flow 

 diverted, the same as though the water was visible on the surf ace, the 

 plan is not merely theoretical but is in practical operation at vari- 

 ous places. 



Artesian water supplies many thousand independent farmers in 

 almost every irrigated state. The wells are more numerous in South 

 Dakota, Utah and California, but are valuable sources of moisture 

 wherever used. The expense of sinking such wells does not exceed 

 one dollar per foot when all labor is employed, and of course is much 

 less if the farmer does his own work. Water from such wells has a 

 much higher temperature and can be put upon early gardens before 

 the mountain streams are warm enough to assist in germinating seed. 

 The artesian water in some places is used for keeping an even tem- 

 perature in stables, barns and chicken-coops throughout the winter, 

 and is a very valuable assistant in the kitchen. 



In some of the districts favored by wind the homemade mills are 

 often used advantageously by the individual farmer. Wells are sunk 

 to tap the underflow of sheet water of a river bed or mountain current 

 and by the aid of pumps the mills are made to lift water every day in 

 the year. This may be stored in a reservoir and distributed over the 

 fields as needed for irrigation. The reservoir can also be utilized for 

 fish pond, boating place, watering pool for stock and other purposes 



