PUMP IRRIGATION ELECTRIC POWER 

 TION IN CALIFORNIA. 



FOR IRRIGA- 



Irrigating by electrically operated pumps has been for some years 

 in a more or less experimental stage in California, and has been an in- 

 teresting pastime for wealthy or particularly enterprising landhold- 

 ers. Now, with the great extension, during the last year or two, of 

 the territory reached by the long distance electric transmission lines 

 of the state, this mode of irrigating has gone beyond the experi- 

 mental stage. It seems to be fully demonstrated that pumping by 

 electric power is a cheap and satisfactory method. With the low 

 rates for power which now obtain a relative small supply of water 

 can, by almost constant pumping, be made to irrigate a fair- sized 

 orchard, and to keep it in fine condition. With the rapid progress of 

 electrical development has come an equal development in its use for 

 irrigation. Already many of the older plants are out of date and are 

 being replaced by the latest refinements in centrifugal pump practice. 



Numerous old pumping plants have been taken out and especially 

 designed apparatus of higher efficiency has been substituted with 

 satisfactory results. Ideas on economic pumping are also changing 

 with experience. Until recently there was a feeling among irriga- 

 tors that there was not great economy in pumping against high 

 heads for irrigation work. This idea has, however, been disproved 

 by recent practice, and where formerly 15 or 20 feet was considered 

 a high enough head, heads of from 70 to 100 feet are now qnite com- 

 mon. 



Previous to the advent of cheap electric power the orchardists in 



