54 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



Colorado consists of sandy flood plains, which are sub- 

 ject to occasional inundations and unsuitable for culti- 

 vation. This large acreage it is proposed to reclaim by 

 impounding upon them the silt which annually passes 

 down the Colorado river. 



Mr. Davis' plan is for the provision of a series of 

 reservoirs on the Colorado river by the construction 

 of dams where the possible storage is large. The fall 

 of the river is so slight that reservoirs of enormous 

 capacity may be constructed without involving dams 

 of impracticable height. At any time by opening the 

 sluiceways of the reservoirs the current of the river will 

 quickly cut the channel through the deposited sediment. 

 With this exception, each reservoir is expected to grad- 

 ually fill with sediment. 



When this occurs it is proposed to draw down the 

 surface of the reservoir permanently twenty to forty 

 feet and to convert all of the reservoir site except the 

 river channel into irrigated farming land, and, if 

 necessary, construct another reservoir for storage pur- 

 poses higher up on the stream. 



It will then be practicable, whenever desired, to 

 close the sluices and inundate all of the agricultural 

 land in each filled reservoir, and thus fertilize it, as 

 has naturally been done by the river Nile for its valley. 

 Such irrigation is done artificially in some parts of 

 Europe and Africa. With the deep alluvial soil, semi- 

 tropical climate, arid atmosphere, abundant water sup- 

 ply and the practicability of thus richly fertilizing 

 fields every year without expense, Mr. Davis states that 

 such lands can be farmed the year around and several 

 crops taken off annually, no acreage production being 

 attained entirely without precedent in history. 



LOCATION OF THE DAMS. 



Mr. Davis has outlined a tentative plan, contem- 

 plating four dams, one at Norton, Ariz., with a capacity 

 to irrigate 300,000 acres near Yuma; a second one at 

 Bill Williams' fork, with a capacity sufficient to irri- 

 gate 400,000 acres; a third one at Bull's head, with a 

 capacity to irrigate 300,000 acres, and a fourth one 

 in the Black canyon of the Colorado, with a capacity of 

 200,000 acres. These reservoirs would each be provided 

 with large canals, which would be navigable. The 

 reservoirs, Mr. Davis estimates, would also develop water 

 power to the extent of 500,000 horse power. In case 

 more storage capacity is required in the future, other 

 reservoirs could be constructed in the canyon of the 

 Colorado, each of which would furnish additional stor- 

 age, power and navigation facilities. This additional 

 storage would only be needed by the complete filling 

 by silt of the reservoir in the Black canyon, which Mr. 

 Davis says would mean the creation of 200,000 or 300,- 

 000 acres of rich farming land, the value of which would 

 far more than pay for the additional reservoir above. 



The development of the enormous horse power 

 above mentioned could be utilized extensively in the 

 mining industry throughout the region, where power is 

 very costly. 



The cost of the entire development as outlined by 

 Mr. Davis is $22,000,000. Against this, however, he 

 credits at least 1,200,000 acres of land, which could be 

 irrigated, alone worth several times the cost of the 

 project; 500 miles of navigation worth at least $10,- 

 000,000, and immense power possibilities worth easily 

 $100,000,000. 



CORRESPONDENCE 



NEW MEXICO COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND MECHANICAL 



ARTS AND AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION, MESILLA 



PARK, 



December 4, 1902. 

 THE IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago, 111. : 



Gentlemen I notice in your issue for November, last, 

 more or less reference to the important question of pumping 

 for irrigation, among which, on page 10, second column, is 

 in full one of the recent press bulletins of this experiment 

 station. Nothing is given to show to what it refers, and a reader 

 would naturally presume that it was the result of some ex- 

 periment in Colorado. As a matter of fact, this refers to one 

 of the experimental tests conducted at this experiment station 

 in connection with the extensive investigation' of the best 

 methods of pumping from wells, that this station is carrying 

 on and has been carrying' on for several months past. 



For the whole of the Rio Grande Valley in New Mexico, 

 and the arid regions generally, the question of pumping 

 for irrigation is one of the most important of those present- 

 ing themselves to the farmer or fruit grower. Recognizing 

 this fact, this experiment station has undertaken the investi- 

 gation referred to, which has been carried on for nearly 

 a year. The work accomplishel has demonstrated an ap- 

 parently inexhaustible underflow on the grounds of the ex- 

 periment station at Mesilla Park, New Mexico, which are 

 typical of the agricultural lands of the Rio Grande Valley. 

 A well, 48 feet deep, was sunk with slotted strainer in a 

 gravel bed, and from this well, six inches in diameter, over 

 1,000 gallons a minute has been pumped. A steady stream 

 was pumped for a test of thirty hours, throwing over 800 

 gallons a minute. The experiment station has already tested 

 six different makes of pumps under precisely the same condi- 

 tions on the same well, and full and complete data has been 

 recorded, showing the economy of the various types. A 

 comprehensive bulletin is in course of publication, giving the 

 results so far accomplished. The experiment station is now 

 about to sink another well, 12 to 14 inches in diameter. It 

 has been demonstrated that the farmer can pump water from 

 the underflow at a low cost and for a moderate outlay of 

 capital can provide himself with a reliable and independent 

 water supply. Respectfully yours, 



FRANCIS E. LESTER, Registrar. 



We have written to explain that the article referred to 

 was copied from a western exchange, to whom credit was 

 duly given. The bulletin mentioned will be published in full 

 when a copy is received at this office. EDITOR. 



OBERLIN, OHIO, December I, 1902. 

 D. H. ANDERSON PUBLISHING Co., Chicago, 111. : 



Gentlemen The enlarged form of THE IRRIGATION AGE 

 for November brings a pleasant surprise and is an indication 

 that, in common with almost every other enterprise now- 

 adays, THE IRRIGATION AGE is prospering. I congratulate 

 you upon the persistent pluck and foresight which enabled 

 you to hold on through so many years of depression to the 

 development of irrigation interests until the dawning of the 

 new day, so full of hope and of promise to the great, arid 

 West. That you are already reaping your merited reward is 

 evident. Your absorption of the Drainage Journal should 

 add much to the value of your paper for the advertiser, ana 

 doubtless will. The quality of the leading articles in THE 

 IRRIGATION AGE is deserving of especial notice and com- 

 mendation. The article in the November number, for ex- 

 ample, by Mr. Pargiter of India, on "Laterals and Their 

 Management," gives the results of a large experience on an 

 important question in practical irrigation. No irrigator, who 

 wishes to keep abreast of his art, can afford to do without 

 THE IRRIGATION AGE. Yours truly, B. F. SHUART. 



Send in your subscription for IERIGATIOK AGE. 



MOLINE, ILL., November 28, 1902. 

 D. H. ANDERSON PUBLISHING Co., Chicago, 111.: 



Gentlemen We wish to compliment you on the im- 

 provement in THE IRRIGATION AGE. Think you will be able 

 to do much more business on it in this shape arid with its 

 improved appearance. Yours truly, 



DEERE & Co., 

 By L. B. KUHN, Advertiser. 



