THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



345 



around the pump opening ordinary bolts (washered 

 and heads down) to the depth of 4 inches. To locate 

 these bolts correctly, set them by means of a wooden 

 block or templet in which holes have been bored 

 and spaced exactly like those in the pump base. 

 Lag bolts or similar devices may also be used for 

 this purpose. Finish the surface of the platform 

 with a wooden float and steel trowel the same as for 

 sidewalks. If the greased tin form is used, the 

 manhole cover may be cast at the same time as the 

 rest of the floor. Reinforce the lid with short 

 lengths of iron rods laid criss-cross. As a lifting 

 ring use half of an old bridle bit, or a hitching-post 

 ring, the end of which is provided with a knob of 

 twisted wire or with a nut and a large washer. If 

 the wooden manhole form is used, carefully remove 

 it after four hours. One day later build the man- 

 hole lid the same as for the tin form with this 

 exception place greased paper or card-board 

 around the edges of the opening to prevent the new 

 concYete from sticking to that of the platform. To 

 make the manhole lid lighter in weight, before 

 placing the concrete, spread \y 2 inches of wet sand 

 over the wooden platform inside the manhole open- 

 ing and then tamp in the concrete. Take care to 

 place the reinforcing within one inch of the bottom 

 of the manhole lid. 



After the well platform is two weeks old, care- 

 fully remove the wooden boards on which it was 

 built and set or lower it into place. Give the plat- 

 form a slope of l / 2 inch in the desired direction by 

 placing a layer of cement-sand mortar between the 

 well curbing and the platform. 



Other Plans of Making the Platform. 



Some persons prefer to make concrete well 

 platforms in two pieces with the division line 

 through the center of the pump opening. By this 

 means the pump barrel and stock are easily joined 

 and inspection is readily provided for. In other 

 cases where the pump and stock can be joined to- 

 gether and lowered into the well as one piece, the 

 concrete platform (removable) is made as a unit 

 and with a single opening merely large enough to 

 receive the pump stock. 



Concrete well platforms built according to 

 these methods can be depended on to protect the 

 well from mice^ vermin and scrub-water. In pure 

 water there is health. 



CORRESPONDENCE 



Send $1.00 for 1 year's subscription to the IRRIGA- 

 TION AGE and bound copy of THE PRIMER OF IRRIGA- 

 TION. If you desire a copy of The Primer of Hy- 

 draulics, add $2.50 to above price. 



Bowie, Arizona, August 8, 1913. 

 IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago, 111. 



Gentlemen : The Sam Simon Valley is a new two year 

 old homestead proposition, and is making good progress, big 

 developments going on and is truly a healthy infant. 



There is now being promoted three big irrigation and 

 power plants, by damming some of the large canyons in the 

 Dos Cabazes and Chirichau mountains, south of Bowie. 

 These will irrigate something like about 120,000 acres of this 

 higher mesa around Bowie. 



There is sufficient rainfall here during July, August and 

 September, to raise a good dry farm crop, and with the build- 

 ing of the irrigation dams, giving supplemental irrigation, this 

 land will raise in value from two to five hundred dollars an 

 acre, for the lands are rich, and the climate healthful and a 

 desirable place to live. 



This irrigation project is being promoted by J. H. Jaque, 

 (I. B. Rentchler and Elza Craig, all of Bowie, Arizona, who 

 are negotiating with eastern capital to carry the matter 

 through to a successful issue. 



Yours very truly, 



J. H. JAQUE, 

 Secty. Bowie Commercial Club. 



Idaho Falls, Ida., July 27, 1913. 

 THE IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago, 111. 



Dear Sir: Enclosed please find $1 for subscription of 

 your paper, THE IRRIGATION AGE. A man gave one copy to 

 me. I not only read, but studied same and found it excellent. 

 I also wish a copy of "The Primer of Irrigation." 



Respectfully, Yours for Irrigation, 



JOHN BUELER. 



Ann Arbor, Mich., Aug. 9, 1913. 

 Editor, THE IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago, 111. 



Sir : Please send me as per your offer on page 325, 

 August issue of IRRIGATION AGE : 



IRRIGATION AGE renewal. 



The Primer of Irrigation. 



The Primer of Hydraulics. 



Enclosed find $3.50, the price named, in ad. for same. 

 Would appreciate it if you would publish some supreme court 

 decisions as to the use of artesian wells and abuse of same 

 and how flowage from same is apportioned out to each, and 

 rights of appropriators determined. We live in a basin of this 

 kind and use artesian wells for irrigation. We have appre- 

 ciated your paper very much. 



Yours respectfully, 



MRS FRED OSBORN. 

 R. F. D. No. 6. 



Washington, D. C, July 29, 1913. 

 Editor IRRIGATION AGE, Chicago. 



On this, my sixth visit to Washington in the interest of 

 parcel post, I find a condition which should interest every 

 reader of your paper. The parcel post law contains a vital 

 clause, proposed by the "Parcel Post Congressman," Repre- 

 sentative Lewis of Maryland, giving the Postmaster General 

 power, by and with the consent of the Interstate Commerce 

 Commission, to change the zones, the weight of parcels, the 

 carrying charge, and all conditions of mailability. Acting 

 upon urgent requests from all over the country, Postmaster 

 General Burleson, after most careful study, with the permis- 

 sion of the Interstate Commerce Commission, announced that 

 on and after August 15, 1913, the postal service will accept 

 parcels weighing up to 20 pounds as follows : 



On rural routes only, at a charge of 5c for the first 

 pound, and l / 2 c for each additional pound, or fraction there- 

 of. The first zone is increased to 150 miles, airline, from the 

 receiving postoffice; and the carrying rate reduced to 5c for 

 the first pound and Ic for each additional pound. When this 

 ruling goes into effect a farmer can send a 20-pound package 

 for 15c to his postoffice, or to any person on his own rural 

 route; or 20 pounds to any postoffice within 150 miles for 

 24c. Thus, the weight is almost doubled and the rate cut 

 about in half. Thereafter, ordinary postage stamps are to be 



