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THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



Socorro, N. M., Sept. 2,1902. 

 EDITOR IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago, 1)1. 



Dear Str: I have received copies of 

 THE IRRIGATION AGE of August, and am 

 getting interested in the grand work. 



I have in view the establishment of ir- 

 rigation plants in several communities in 

 this valley, where the natives cultivate 

 small holdings, clustered together, which 

 they irrigate from common ditches, draw- 

 ing the water supply from the Rio Grande 

 river. This river goes dry now every year 

 in June, thus causing the loss of two thirds 

 of these crops. There is plenty of water 

 within a few feet under the surface of the 

 river bottoms, which could be pumped 

 and raised from 25 to 75 feet, thus in- 

 creasing the acreage of the planting up to 

 the foot hills, where the best lands now 

 are, besides furnishing sufficient water for 

 the actual acreage now in cultivation. 



For that purpose I am now agitating 

 and promoting the enterprise, getting the 

 people together to discuss the plan of co- 

 operation in the scheme. 



I have read pages 278-279, August 

 IRRIGATION AGE about electric pumping 

 plants, with interest, but as there is no 

 power generated here, the scheme could 

 not perhaps be adopted. What is needed 

 here would be the establishment of a plant 

 economical in original cost, and in main- 

 tenance, capable of furnishing and elevat- 

 ing water from 25 to 50 feet, in quantities 

 of 500 to 1000 gallons per minute, to fill 

 the ditches when the river supply gives 

 out, and to remain idle while the river 

 furnishes the water. 



Now, could you place me in corres- 

 pondence with some reliable firm who 

 not only manufactures such plants, but 



who would give me the necessary informa- 

 tion and data so that I could talk intelli- 

 gently with the people out here with ben- 

 efit to themselves? 



Yours truly, 



P. A. MARCELLING. 



THE ASPINWALL POTATO SORTER. 

 We illustrate herewith the new Aspin- 

 wall potato sorter, which received a silver 

 medal at Trondjhem, Norway, and also a 

 bronze medal at the Charleston (S. C.) 

 exposition. The machine is a new de- 

 parture in potato sorters, using an eleva- 

 tor with long distance travel, which en- 

 ables very rapid sorting combined with ex- 

 cellent work. In the construction another 



admirable feature is gained in having the 

 hopper down low, making easy work in 

 shoveling and feeding the machine. The 

 entire work is under control of the ope- 

 rator, any potatoes which are decayed or 

 ill-shaped may be removed while the work 

 is progressing; there is no bruising or in- 

 juring the potatoes in the least. The ca 

 pacity of the machine is upwards of 2000 

 bushels per day. The Aspinwall Manu- 

 facturing Co., Jackson, Mich., are the 

 makers. 



