CHAPTER LXXV 



THE PUMPING PLANT 



The pumping plant for a farm water supply consists of 

 some form of motor and a pump. Although many pumps are 

 still operated by hand, a modern water system can scarcely 

 be considered complete without a motor, for the simple reason 

 that man cannot compete with motors in the production of 

 power. A specific instance is on record where a gasoline 

 engine pumped the water for a dairy herd at a cost of one cent 

 per day for gasoline; whereas two hours of hand labor, worth 

 at least 20 cents per hour, were formerly required. It is a 

 waste of money to pump by hand if a large quantity of water 

 is required daily. The forms of motors now in use for pump- 

 ing purposes are the windmill, the gasoline engine, and, in a 

 few instances, the hot-air engine and the water wheel. 



Sources of Power. A windmill is better suited by far 

 for the pumping of water than for any other purpose. The 

 power of a windmill is quite limited; yet an average pump 

 requires little power. Furthermore, the power is quite irreg- 

 ular, but if a storage reservoir is used this undesirable feature 

 is easily overcome. As discussed in a previous lesson, the 

 cost of windmill power consists of the interest on the invest- 

 ment, and the depreciation and maintenance. 



The gasoline engine is well adapted to the pumping of 

 water. As has been stated, the average pump requires very 

 little power, and the gasoline engine has the advantage over 

 other heat motors in that it is very economical in small units. 

 A series of tests made a few years ago at the Iowa State Col- 

 lege indicated that 20 barrels of water could be pumped 



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