KlyKCTRIClTY IN IRRIGATION. 453 



encountered. The Kern county wells are six feet 

 apart on centers, and the flow from four wells is a little 

 more than double the quantity supplied by one well. 

 The sills of the pit on which the pump is set are placed 

 at the surface water-level, and the water is exhausted 

 in the wells to a depth of from twenty-two to twenty- 

 eight feet, making the total lift from thirty-five to 

 forty feet. The pit was excavated to water and lined 

 with redwood one inch thick. The pump was set in 

 the center with two wells on either side, and is of the 

 ordinary centrifugal pit type, with a specially designed 

 runner adapted to permit of dire(5l connedlion to a 

 high-speed vertical shaft-motor, without sacrifice of 

 efficiency. 



Efficiency of Service. — The pumps are scattered 

 over a wide area of land belonging to the company, 

 and are operated by three attendants and one inspe(ftor. 

 The attendants are paid $40 a month and are required 

 to visit each station under their charge once or twice a 

 day. The stations are so far apart that the men have 

 to ride from twenty-five to thirty miles a day to perform 

 their duties, and one man operates as many as ten 

 plants. The inspec5lor is a skilled mechanic, who, as 

 far as possible, anticipates any deterioration, and when 

 accidents do occur is prepared to make repairs with the 

 least delay possible. During a whole year there were 

 months when the actual operating period of all the 

 pumps was over ninety-eight per cent, of the possible 

 time. The pumps ran night and day, Sundays in- 

 cluded, except when the current is shut off the lines to 

 permit eledlrical repairs, and thus beneficial use is 

 made of the water throughout the year. 



