392 IRRIGATION FARMING. 



which to start, by the time the pump has been running 

 a short time the water will have been lowered to a 

 level of twelve to fifteen feet, and if the bottom of the 

 well is located in gravel strata, as it should be, chances 

 are good that a well ten feet in diameter will supply 

 two twelve-inch pumps. One four-horse gasoline engine 

 costing about $250 will operate these two pumps. 

 The two pumps would cost $100, the pump-jack and 

 walking-beams $100 more, making $450, or, for a safe 

 estimate, $500 for the plant after the well and water- 

 supply have been secured. It is a difficult matter to 

 estimate the cost of the material for such a well. With 

 hard brick at $10 a thousand, a well ten feet in 

 diameter and twenty feet deep can be put in for $500, 

 making a complete plant capable of supplying two 

 twelve-inch pumps, or 422,640 gallons in twenty-four 

 hours. It is estimated that this would cover from six- 

 teen to twenty acres of ground every twenty-four 

 hours, with a first cost of from $1,000 to $1,200. 

 These plants could be duplicated about 1,000 feet 

 apart until the necessary amount has been secured to 

 supply the land under the ditch. 



This is one of the most practical ways of securing 

 water along insufficient streams, although a cheaper 

 well can be made with what is called perforated cast- 

 ing. This casting, made of galvanized sheet steel and 

 thoroughly riveted together, is pressed down into the 

 sand and the sand subsequently baled out from the 

 inside. After it has been carried down to the desired 

 depth the bottom is filled with gravel or rock to pre- 

 vent the sand from rising. The pump can be lowered 

 into these tubes, leaving them in an almost open body 



