120 



THE IKEIGATION AGE. 



as the irrigation system, is owned by the land-owners 

 of the colony, gives to the entire system what is prac- 

 tically public ownership, resulting in the people getting 

 both water and electricity at cost of production. The 

 colonists believe the time is shortly coming when the 

 water .users will not only have all operating expenses 

 paid by the sale of electricity, but will actually draw 

 dividends on the water stock on which, until this little 

 feat was accomplished, they had expected to have to 

 meet perpetual assessments. 



The subject of irrigation has become one of grave 

 importance to The producers of the western, half of the 

 Union, and the great work which is now being prose- 

 cuted under Government direction in the arid sections 

 is pregnant with possibilities of good to millions. In 

 the western parts of the great agricultural states of 

 Texas, Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas, as well as 

 in the inter-mountain and coast country, scientific in- 

 formation in regard to the possibilities of utilizing the 

 waters which are known to flow in abundance below the 

 earth's surface is being eagerly sought for, and no ex- 

 hibits that will be made at the World's Fair will com- 

 mand such attention from Western people as such 

 practical illustrations of the science of irrigation. 



A recent report from Fort Collins, Colo., says: 

 The financial deals in water were made public here 

 yesterday, the first of local interest and the other in- 

 volving the entire llio Grande valley below Wagon 

 Wheel Gap. Former Governor Ben Eaton sold a three- 

 fifths interest in one of his reservoirs on the Cache 

 in la Poudre for $100,000 cash, representing a profit in 

 less than five years of $90,000, aside from the amounts 

 received each year from water, estimated at $100,000 

 more. 



Hay Sayer of Denver was here in the interest of 

 the State Agricultural College regarding the details of 

 a dam which he and Eichard Broad intend building on 

 the south fork of the Bio Grande river about 15 miles 

 above Del Norte. The dam will be very small in struc- 

 ture, being located in a narrow canon a short distance 

 above South Fork station, on the Creede branch of the 

 Kio Grande road, below Wagon Wheel Gap. Its cost 



will probably be less than $5,000, but it will impound 

 a vast amount of water. The site has already been 

 chosen, but the filings in the land office will not be made 

 until some time next week. The estimates of the col- 

 lege people place the value of the dam at a quarter of a 

 million dollars after the selling of water is well under 

 way. The idea is to impound only flood waters, for the 

 appropriations along the stream already exceed the flow 

 by several hundred feet. No accurate survey has yet 

 been made, but the opinion of experts seems to indicate 

 that with a circular dam about 100 feet long and 25 

 feet high about 200,000,000 cubic feet of water can 

 safely be stored. 



The engineering department of the college ex- 

 pressed surprise at the carefully prepared plans made 

 up by Mr. Sayer, who lays no claim to being highly 

 skilled in work of this sort. His idea is to build a 

 semi-circular crib of heavy logs, with the convex side 

 upstream and have the ends abut into heavy piers in 

 the rocky banks. Then by filling the long crib the 

 clam can be made not only very strong, but thick and 

 heavy as well. As soon as the incoming water commis- 

 sioner is appointed the plans will be laid before him 

 and his consent asked for pushing the work so some of 

 the spring flood water may be impounded. 



The announcement of the plan to build the dam 

 will probably cause a rush of locations in the vicinity 

 of the South fork, which drains an enormous area of 

 the San Juan mountains in the Eio Grande country 

 and is in reality the main feeder for the Eio Grande, 

 which is quite a sturdy stream below the junction, 

 especially during the early summer. 



The New Mexico Territorial Irrigation Commis- 

 sion has addressed urgent requests to the secretary of 

 the interior for a soil and irrigation survey -of the 

 Puerco and Pecos valleys from the point where the 

 Pecos Valley and Northeastern railroad crosses the 

 Pecos down to the town of Carlsbad. 



Eenew your subscriptions to the IRRIGATION AGE 

 for 1903. Send us in Post Office or Express money 

 order for $1.00. 



THE USE OF GASOLINE ENGINES in the pumping field is practically but just begun- 

 The demand on our Omaha and Chicago branches for pumping engines during the last year 

 has been greatly due to the deserved popularity of the "OTTO." The special attention we 

 have given to the building of this class of machinery is bringing its reward in increased trade. 

 We can serve buyers yet to come as satisfactorily as those that have already favored us. 

 Tell us your requirements and mention the " Age." 



THE OTTO CAS ENGINE WORKS, 



CHICAGO. PHILADELPHIA. OMAHA. 



Beloit Champion, 



STEEL FRAME 



SELF DUMP RAKE. 



With Angle Sfeel Axle, the Stifftst, 

 Smoothest and Nicest Steel Rake Axle 

 In the world. 



Irrigators who contemplate buying a Rake, Plows, Planters, Cultivators, 

 I Harrows or Seeders should write us for catalogue, which will be sent post-paid. 



J. Thompson & Sons Mfg. Co., Beloit, Wis 

 | We make the Lewis Gas and Gasoline Enjine 4>r irrigation pumping plants. 

 Mention Irrigation Age 



E 



Purpose 



Buy a THOMPSON-LEWIS and 

 have a reliable Gas or 



Gasoline Engine 



That will always be ready and easy to start, safe 

 convenient, economical and durable. For de- 

 scriptive catalogue, address the manufacturers. 

 J. Thompson & Sons Mfq. Co.. Be'O't. W s. 



