296 



THE IERIGATION AGE. 



average annual cost of operation and maintenance per acre 

 in 1909 was 51 cents. 



No irrigation enterprises in the state are operating 

 under the Federal reclamation act (act of June 17, 

 1902), the Carey Act (act of congress August 18, 1894), or 

 irrigation district laws. Co-operative enterprises sup- 

 plied water to 2,000 acres. The remaining 3,402 acres were 

 supplied by individual and partnership enterprises. 

 Streams supplied 5,269 acres, or 97.5 per cent of the total 

 area irrigated. Of the remaining acreage, lakes supplied 

 28 acres, wells 69 acres, springs 16 acres and reservoirs 

 20 acres. 



EVERLASTING WATERING TANKS. 



Many farmers and stockmen want to know how to 

 build their own concrete watering tanks and troughs. The 

 method is easy and a tank is not expensive. To explain 

 the plan, a horse and cattle tank is described below which 

 holds 30 barrels of 31J4 gallons each. If desired, smaller 

 or larger troughs, round or square, may be built in exactly 

 the same manner. Such tanks, well made, never crack, 

 wear out or cause mudholes. 



To build an oblong tank like the one shown in the 

 picture, mark out the ground plan 5 by 14 feet. Within 

 these lines scrape away all trash and dig a 

 foundation trench 10 inches wide and 'Z l / 2 feet 

 deep around the entire tank. Lay all inflow 

 and overflow pipes (not less than \ l / 2 inches 

 in diameter) so that the ends, fitted for con- 

 nections, will be even with the finished bottom 

 of the tank. 



Before digging the foundation trench, 

 build the forms and have all materials on 

 hand. For forms use 1-inch siding on 2x4- 

 inch uprights spaced 2 feet apart. The out- 

 side form is a bottomless box 5 feet wide by 

 14 feet long, inside measurements. Make it 

 3 feet high to provide for a 6-inch floor and a 

 clear depth of 2J/2 feet. The inside form must 

 be narrower and shorter to make provisions 

 for walls 5 inches thick at top and flaring to a 

 thickness of eight inches at the bottom of the 

 tank. When ice forms, this slope allows it to 

 slip up the tank walls instead of pushing di- 

 rectly against them. The sides and ends of 

 the forms may be made separate and put to- 

 gether in place; or, if there is sufficient help, 

 each form may be entirely completed and set 

 up as one piece. The "forms are held in posi- 

 tion by 2x4-inch liners at top and bottom and, 

 if necessary, by sloping braces nailed to stakes 



driven in the ground. Cut strips of heavy woven wire fencing 

 long enough to cover the bottom of the tank crosswise 

 and to project up into the walls to within 6 inches of the 

 top, and likewise a strip 4 feet longer than the inside 

 length of the tank. 



With the forms ready, mix the concrete 1 part Port- 

 land cement to 2 parts sand to 4 parts crushed rock. In 

 measuring the materials, count 1 bag of cement equal to 

 1 cubic foot. If bank-run gravel is used, mix the concrete 

 1 part cement to 4 parts gravel. Fill the foundation trench 

 with concrete. Set the outside form in place. See that 

 it is level, so that the tank will be level and can be entirely 

 filled with water. Lay the 6-inch bottom reinforced l]/i 

 inches from the under side with the short lengths of 

 woven wire crosswise and l l / 2 inches from the upper side 

 with the long strip of fencing. Bring up the extra length 

 of wire so that the ends will project up into the future 

 side-walls and can be fastened to the reinforcing rods. 

 (This wire reinforcing in the bottom will prevent possible 

 cracking due to heaving by frost.) Finish the surface of 

 the bottom the same as for a sidewalk. Do not let con- 

 crete get into the inflow and overflow pipes. 



With the bottom finished, immediately set the inside 

 form in place and fill the wall space with concrete mushy 

 wet. Half-way up the side, and 1 inch from the outside, 

 lay a jHi-inch rod (or several hooked together) entirely 



around the tank. Again 2 inches from the top 

 and I inch from both inside and outside, imbed 

 two more .}^-inch rods in the concrete. Round ihe 

 top edges of the tank with a trowel or a sidewalk 

 tool. If a tank cover is desired, insert J^-inch 

 bolts, heads down, in the soft concrete with suf- 

 ficient length above the top of the wall to pass 

 through the wooden cover and to receive a nut 

 and washer. 



When the tank is three day* old, remove the 

 inner form and paint the inside of the tank with 

 a mixture of cement and water as thick as cream. 

 Screw into the overflow connection the necessary 

 length of overflow pipe. The tank may be used 

 in ten days provided the outside form is left in 

 place. If the outer form is removed at the same 

 time as the inner, do not use the tank for two 

 1C W* weeks. 



BILL OF MATERIALS. 



Crushed rock, 6 J / 2 cu. yds., at $1.10 $ 7.15 



Sand, 354 cu. yds., at $1.00 3.25 



Portland cement, 10J4 barrels, at $2.50 26.25 



12 rods, y% in. by 10 ft., 45 Ibs., at 2;4c l.Off 



Total $37.05 



By getting prices from local dealers, the cost 

 may be found to be less. Such a tank is by far 

 the cheapest to be had, since it never needs re- 

 pairs and never wears out. 



