204 THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



adopted by the Chase Nursery Company near Ferris is the most 

 economical. A central steam plant with high class machinery, 

 economical of fuel and requiring high class labor to operate it, 

 electric generators, vertical centrifugal pumps in "stirrups" at each 

 well, with an electric motor directly connected to shaft without belt 

 or gearing. One man and his assistant with a boy helper can operate 

 such a plant and furnish a dozen heads of 100 inches each, as may be 

 demanded. 



A large amount lifted to a high level will justify compressed 

 steam pumps. These will attain high efficiencies 300 feet for 33 

 cents for fuelat $1.50 per bbl. for oil. 



A brief paper of this kind can only be suggestive not exhaustive. 

 Let me close with some suggestions more or less elaborated. 



Never put in a cheap plant. 



Never be in a hurry to put in a plant. 



Look up your dealer's records. Do not suppose that the man 

 who publicly refers by name to men who have his plants needs no 

 investigation. Oftentimes the man who talks most confidently of the 

 perfect satisfaction his plants have given to your neighbors has made 

 a record black with failure, and all the men to whom he refers with 

 such apparent confidence are wholly dissatisfied and would not deal 

 with him again and are even now at law with him to force him to 

 take his plant out. This is experience in Southern California, not a 

 fancy sketch. 



Don't do any experimenting at your own expense. A good firm 

 will make a hard and fast contract, assuming the risks. Have it 

 examined by your lawyer. The $25.00 paid for that advice in 

 execution of the contract will be the best money you ever spent. 



Deal with good firms. Pay good prices for what you know to be 

 good rather than try to do better with firms of less experience and no 

 reputation. 



A man with an excellent well, water within thirty feet of surface 

 and abundant enough to afford 100 inches with a fall of only seven 

 feet took advice of an unknown firm. Put in an air plant at a cost of 

 $800, besides his boilers, etc., and it was so poorly made as to be 

 absolutely worthless to take out. I know expensive plants to have 

 been thrown out after a single season's use, bought by honest men 

 from honest men, but inexperienced. Some gasoline engines, new 

 and untried but very attractive in appearance drop to pieces in a 

 season, while others are known to do as good work as ever after five 

 year's use. The difference of cost is slight. The difference in effi- 

 ciency and wear astonishingly great. You must remember that in 

 the inexperienced business house you fall into the hands of a sales- 

 man who often knows no more than yourself. He is there to sell. 

 He is honest, but does not know. 



