THE IRRIGA1ION A GE. 245 



A water right in a good irrigation ditch is a splendid investment, 

 but a good pumping plant, located where there is an abundance of 

 water near the surface, in coarse sand or gravel, will prove a more 

 satisfactory investment, and if rightly managed a more profitable 

 one, 



If you have a water right in a ditch, you are subject to the ditch 

 rules and regulations, you cannot always have water just when you 

 want it, or as much as you want, and you may have to wait indefinitely 

 while damage resulting somewhere along the canal, by floods or other 

 causes, is being repaired, and then have to help pay for the repairs as 

 well. Again, drouth or some other dire catastrophe may seriously re- 

 duce the water supply for the canal and curtail your allowance pro- 

 portionately. 



If you have a good, well-located pumping plant of your own, you 

 you are "the captain"; it is all under your personal control; you don't 

 have to ask for water, and perhaps wait an indefinite time for it; you 

 can start your pumps and a supply is certain; floods or drouth don't 

 effect you; the water flows when ^ou want it and as long as you want 

 it; you are independent of any outside control, you are the "boss." 



To return to the subject of expenses, will say that in raising 

 water for irrigation purposes it should never be lifted a foot or an inch 

 higher than is necessary. Make your calculations carefully, as every 

 inch you raise it more than is required is an extravagance and a use- 

 less expenditure. 



COST OF IRRIGATING WITH PUMPS, WINDMILL AND GASOLINE EN- 

 GINE POWER. 



Annual expense per acre, 15 feet elevation $1,15 



" " " 20 " " 1 38 



" " " " 25 " " 1.62 



" " " " 30 " " 1.85 



" " " " 40 " " 2.35 



The above estimate contemplates, in each case, the supplying of 

 30-acre inches of water per acre during the irrigation season of 180 

 days. 



An acre of water one inch in depth contains 27,154 gallons; 10 

 inches, 271,540 gallons. Obviously, an immense amount of water 

 must be pumped if a large number of acres are to be watered, but a 

 properly constructed, well-located pumping plant, built on the lines 

 suggested, will be found equal to the requirements. 



