186 



THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



pumping plant is an important factor in successful 

 irrigation, but among the many Kansas idle plants 

 are numerous first class installations. A good well 

 with a good pump and suitable power does not in- 

 sure profitable irrigation. There must be a man 

 behind the plant to consistently and persistently 

 operate the machinery to supply the water for the 

 best yields. The greatest boost for Kansas in the 

 way of irrigation is not more wells and more pumps 

 to throw more water, but more men with practical 

 irrigation experience to operate these existing idle 

 plants. 



The idle plant problem emphasizes the 'per- 

 sonal equation" in the success of individual pump- 

 ing plant operation. With every other factor per- 

 fect, if the individual has no natural liking- for irri- 

 gation, his efforts are almost sure to meet with 

 failure. There are many misfits in irrigation work. 



used irrigation pumping plant is a monument to a 

 dead investment. 



In Kansas, where the pumping plant is not used 

 for a very long period during the year, the electric 

 motor is a very desirable power. A first-class motor 

 represents an investment of about 30 per cent of 

 the cost of oil engine of equivalent horsepower. The 

 depreciation in an electric motor is relatively small. 

 With a slight depreciation and a low investment 

 we are eliminating two sources of expense which 

 must be considered in pumping plant operation. 

 When these are considered as they should be elec- 

 tric power at a relatively high rate quite often has 

 an economic advantage. 



My investigations included 16 typical shallow 

 water electric driven plants in the Garden City 

 district. In no case did I find the farmers dis- 

 satisfied with the electric driven plant. 



Dumping Rock From Trestle, Calaveras Dam, California. 



We must not, therefore, judge pumping by indi- 

 vidual conditions; we should form our conclusions 

 more from average conditions. A large number of 

 our our idle plants were installed to demonstrate 

 that water could actually be secured in quantities 

 sufficient for irrigation. These demonstrations, so 

 far as they were intended to apply, were successful. 

 It has been definitely demonstrated that the water 

 is there and machinery does lift it to the surface. 

 The new settler, however, who comes into our 

 pumping district to investigate conditions views 

 with considerable apprehension the idle pumping 

 plant, and why should he not do so? Every un- 



Keep away from freak ideas and freak ma- 

 chinery, was the advice of Chester Carter of Gar- 

 den City, a graduate of the agricultural college, 

 who read a paper on "Recent Developments in 

 Pumping Plant Installation." 



"Probably the most striking change, and the 

 one which would appeal to the casual observer," 

 said Mr. Carter, "is the general improvement of the 

 looks of pumping plants and their permanent 

 character. 



"As has been the tendency in all branches of 

 building and construction in the last few years, 

 (Continued on page 188) 



