400 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



CORRESPONDENCE 



THE IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago, 111., Sept. 10, 1918. 



Dear Sirs: 



On April 23, 1912, the government issued to me letters patent for 

 improvements on a certain hydraulic device for developing power from 

 rapid currents. The wheel is mounted on two floats as far apart 

 respectively ss the width of the wheel. They are decked over, as 

 shown in the accompanying cut, and anchoied by steel cables to the 

 banks on either side. The floats are made in sections and then sunk 

 to the bottom of the river. 



To illustrate: Suppose the river is one hundred feet wide, three 

 feet oeep and running at a velocity of six hundred feet per minute; 

 put three wheels abreast, each eleven feet wide, the floats occupying 

 the balance of the width of the river, thereby covering two-thirds and 

 the wheels one-third of the width. Thus the water is forced to run 

 through the wheel space three times faster than before. In order to 

 get this velocity the water is dammed by the sunken floats until it has 

 acquired a head of three feet and this volume of water falling three 

 feet is equivalent to 1,082 horsepower. This is the theoretical result. 



IN COMMISSION 



Dougine Water Wheel in Commission. 



In an undershot wheel the practical power is rated at fifty per cent 

 of the theoretical. If such a river had a gradual fall of eighteen feet 

 to the mile six sets of wheels could be placed in tandem, producing 

 in all 3.000 horsepower. 



Theoretically, 3,000 horsepower would pump one foot deep of water 

 on 272 a^res every day, while practically it would pump about seventy- 

 five per cent of the above or 200 acres per day, the water being ele- 

 vated 200 feet high. 



This amount of water would put three feet deep on 24,000 acres 

 each year. Assuming that from evaporation, loss of time by all and 

 every cause combined, that seventy-five per cent of this was lost, we 

 would have 6,000 acres under cultivation. 



In western Arizona, on the banks of the Colorado river, there are 

 several places where patches of land amounting to more than 20,000 

 acres can be put under irrigation. Take a patch of 6,000 acres, yielding 



OUT OF COMMISSION 



Dougine Water Wheel Out of Commission. 



eight tons of alfalfa per acre, worth in the field this year $12 per ton- 

 eve^ year it is worth $9 or $72 per acre 6,000 acres worth $432,000 

 for one year's crop. This land, with water, is worth from $100 to $500 

 per acre. 



It is stated by our government officials that there is more than 

 100,000,000 horsepower in the rapid currents running wild to the sea. 

 This does not include known waterfalls of which there are nearly 

 100,000,000 more, and less than 6,000,000 are now in use. 



When we realize that many of these rapid currents run through 

 our western states, most of them with banks from fifty to 1,000 feet 

 high, while often on either bank are large quantities of the best of land 

 only needing the water that is emptying into the sea. 



Take the Colorado river as it runs along the north and west 

 boundary line of the state of Arizona, and you have power enough in 

 125 miles of its north end to pu'mp the river dry before it would 

 reach Parl'er, enough to irrigate 1,000,000 acres and pump the water 

 200 feet high, and then have enough left to light, heat and cook for 

 the farmer, and of far more importance, plow his land and reap his 

 crops and take his product to market. 



This is an opportunity to produce food for unborn millions and 

 acquire fame and fortune in the immediate future. 



The accompanying cuts show wheel in and out of commission. 

 The method by which this is accomplished constitutes the merit of the 

 patent which is an open box, an incline plain, a rack and pinion, a 

 leaver to operate same, the pinion being on each end of the wheel 

 shaft. When in motion the racks are thrown into the pinions and in 

 an instant the pinions pull the wheel out of gear and roll up the 

 incline until the lower edge of the bucket is at top of water. To 

 return the wheel into commission the upper rack is engaged with the 

 pinion and the lower rack is withdrawn and the wheel returns into 

 commission by the current. A fifty-ton wheel can be put in and out of 

 commission in thirty seconds. 



The device for automatically putting the wheels out of commission 

 in case of drift-wood or any flotsam that might be in the river, work 

 perfectly. Also a device for putting one float out of commission by 

 dropping down stream and swinging behind its negihboring float this 

 is to be used in case of an avalanche of floating material. 



I want to organize a company to be incorporated as the Interna- 

 tional Rivers Power Company. I will put sixty per cent in the treasury 

 for development of the above. I want ten men with $5,000 each 

 each man to be a director I to make the eleventh director. Capital 

 shall be $1,000,000 divided into 1,000,000 shares, at $1.00 per share. 

 The ten men should receive 25,000 shares each, thus coming in on 

 twenty cents on the dollar. When the first $50,000 is expended the 

 board of directors shall have the right to offer for sale 100,000 shares 

 for fifty cents on the dollar. This would leave 250,000 shares in the 

 treasury. 



The $100,000 acquired by the sale of 350,000 shares, judiciously 

 expended, will erect a plant that will put water on 24,000 acres of 

 land each year. This land will produce eight tons of alfalfa per acre 

 each year, worth $8 per ton in the field. The land will be worth $150 

 per acre. Large aa these figures appear, they are quite tru'e. Alfalfa 

 this year was worth $12 per ton in the field. 



This company will own the patents now issued in the Dominion 

 of Canada and in the Republic of Mexico and also in all other coun- 

 tries where patents may be granted. J. T. Dougine, 3143 West Polk 

 street, Chicago, 111. 



South Australia. 

 Department of Irrigation and Reclamation. 



Adelaide, August 8, 1912. 

 Mr. D. II. Anderson, 



Chicago, U. S. A. 

 Dear Sir: 



I am writing you to ascertain whether you can put me in tou'ch 

 with any reliable makers of concrete pipe, and pipe line machinery 

 manufacturers. This is a line that we are just awakening to in Austra- 

 lia, and I am anxious to secure all available information of a reliable 

 nature, with a view to business. 



You will be pleased to know that the large Austin type "A" exca- 

 vator is giving a most satisfactory account of itself, and has reduced 

 the cost of shifting soil from thirty-six to six cents per cubic yard; 

 in some instances, the same work u'nder existing labor conditions would 

 cost at least forty-eight cents per yard, while on the other hand the 

 machine has taken out a considerable quantity of material at a trifle 

 less than five cents per cubic yard. The department is also using an 

 Austin ditcher and three municipal engineering cube concrete mixers, 

 all of which are causing a very substantial reduction in working costs. 

 I am expecting a new Austin type "R" excavator, and a "Marion" 

 steam shovel to arrive during the current month. Another type "R" 

 machine, is also expected to hand for our engineer-in-chief's depart- 

 ment. In addition to this a number of other machines have either been 

 ordered, or orders are closing for same, so that you will gather from 

 this that Chicago has scored some throu'gh my visit to the States. 



I have just ordered, through Cole's Booking Agency, three of 

 your "Primer of Hydraulics," and have suggested that they might 

 also keep a stock on hand for likely enquirers. 



With kindest regards and very best wishes, I remain, 

 Very sincerely yours, 



S. McINTOSH, Director. 



Maple, Texas, 

 IRRIGATION AGE. 



Gentlemen: When I subscribed for your paper I thought I would 

 find something to fit my case but up to this time I have not found the 

 information I am seeking. Won't you please tell me how? 



I live in northeast Texas and while it rains a great lot in this 

 country the rain mostly comes when it is not needed and we have 

 many long and severe droughts when we wish to grow crops. 



Now I have about 5 acres of land on the bank of a river. The 

 land slopes from the river bank just enough for the water to run 

 very slowly down the rows. It is stiff, black, rich land. 



The water in time of drought is about 50 feet from top of bank. 

 I thought if I had a pump and engine on wheels I could set it at 

 water's edge and wet the crop and then take the engine back to the 

 house before a rise could come in the river and carry away ray pump. 



Won't you please tell me what kind of a pump and power to get. 

 Also what kind of crops succeed best under irrigation. Would a 

 steam or gasoline engine be best? 



Please give me all the information you can. 



Very respectfully, 



W. R. HARKEY, 



[Editor's Note This letter has been referred to manufacturers 

 who will give Mr. Harkey all the information he desires. We con- 

 cluded that it was better to let the manufacturers secure the exact 

 data, lift, etc., and thereby give him definite information.] 



August 31, 1912. 

 IRRIGATION AGE, 



Chicago. 

 Gentlemen: 



I own half of 1,200 acres of fine land on Santa Fe, near La Marr, 

 Colo.; want to cut up and sell. Can you get me agents or some one 

 to help sell or handle it? 



E. G. KINDRED. 



(Continued on page 408.) 



