LAND DEAINAGE BY MEANS OF PUMPS. 57 



head, and at the same time must be as efficient as practicable for 

 more moderate heads. 



Since it has been shown that the average depth of water to be 

 pumped from such districts per year will be about 15 inches, with 

 well-designed and carefully operated plants the total cost per acre 

 of drainage area per year should not exceed 80 cents for a mean lift 

 of 5 feet and SI. 20 for a mean lift of 10 feet. 



The administration of the business of the district should be placed 

 in the hands of a competent engineer who is familiar with drainage 

 work. He should be held entirely responsible for the proper admin- 

 istration of the district business and especially for the operation and 

 maintenance of the pumping plant. Reliable, skilled attendants 

 should operate the pumping plant under expert supervision and snould 

 maintain it in first-class condition the entire year. Full records of 

 the operation of the pumping plant should be kept, as well as detailed 

 classification of expenditures, so that those in charge can determine 

 at all times whether the operation of the plant is as economical as 

 may be possible while securing the results desired from the plant. 



Where practicable, gravity outlet sluiceways should be installed in 

 connection with a pumping plant for use during times of low water 

 outside of the drainage district. 



The reclamation for agricultural purposes of river bottom lands 

 lying so low that they are subject to serious injury by overflows has 

 been proved by experience in this country and in Europe to be feasi- 

 ble and profitable where the land is of sufficient fertility and where 

 the improvements consist of a system of protective levees supple- 

 mented by interior drainage ditches and a suitable pumping plant to 

 remove excessive precipitation which may fall within the district. 

 Such results, however, can come only when the entire plant is prop- 

 erly designed and efficiently maintained and operated. 



