132 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION. 



March,. 



STEEL WINDMILI, AND TOWER CARRYING TANK. 



right angles. On each end of the shaft 

 is attached a crank, and each of these 

 cranks in turn drives some simple form 

 of home-made pump. The lower half 

 of the mill is boxed in, and thus forms 

 a small building without roof, above 

 which project the arms carrying the 

 sails. 



Another home-made device has been 

 introduced. This mill and water ele- 

 vator, invented by the owner, has been 

 successfully used to furnish w^ater for 

 irrigation; and, although not by any 

 means an economical device, nor one 

 that can be recommended, it has served 

 its purpose. In other words, while, as 



a rule, it is economical to pur- 

 chase the best, there are cir- 

 cumstances and times when, 

 for special reasons the best mill 

 cannot be had ; but it is still 

 practicable to construct a ma- 

 chine which will accomplish 

 the desired end, that of get- 

 ting water from the ground 

 upon the land. 



These examples of inventive- 

 genius on the farms of the West 

 might be almost indefinitely 

 multiplied, but are sufficient tO' 

 demonstrate the principle that 

 with energy and ingenuity a 

 start toward irrigation can be 

 made. When, however, some- 

 experience has been had in ir- 

 rigation and newer mills are 

 being procured, it is highly 

 essential for continued success- 

 that something better than the 

 ordinary form of mill be ob- 

 tained. Many of these have 

 been designed for some other 

 purpose than that of raising 

 large quantities of water 

 through a short distance for' 

 irrigation. Some, for exam- 

 ple, have been built with the 

 idea of pumping a small quan- 

 tity from great depth for 

 watering stock. Such mills, 

 as a rule, do not fill the re- 

 quirements of the irrigator. 

 Thousands of windmills are in 

 use and thousands more will be 

 purchased, involving expend- 

 itures on the part of farmers aggregat- 

 ing millions of dollars. A saving of 

 even a small percentage in cost of re- 

 pairs is a matter of considerable impor- 

 tance to the irrigators of the country in 

 the continued use of the water. 



If a farmer is able to buy a windmill 

 and pump he should get the best, as the 

 first cost is about the same for different 

 makes ; but the economy of repairs is- 

 far different. In subsequent articles the 

 attempt will be made to give the expe- 

 rience of practical irrigators in using 

 various styles of machinery, pointing 

 out the benefits of each under certain, 

 conditions. 



