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DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



by neglect and exposure, are found on practically all mills. The remedy, 

 lubricating oil, is seldom regularly applied although recovery of the patient 

 by such treatment is rapid and remunerative. In spite of this neglect, 

 together with poor pump leathers and leaky tanks, the windmill labors on 

 even though crying out in its distress, and consistently furnishes great 

 quantities of water for domestic use. But the windmill must do more than 

 this. By tightening up the loose pieces and oiling the bearings more water 

 can be pumped. This water should be utilized to water vegetables for the 

 table and to irrigate trees to beautify the home. 



The rate of flow from the windmill pump is naturally very low. If 

 applied directly to the soil only a very limited area can be moistened. On 

 the other hand if this water is collected the product from the pump for a 

 24-hour period represents an amazing volume. If this is applied to the 

 soil a larger area can be irrigated and more good will result. In order 

 then, to cultivate the friendship of the windmill it is essential f or the far- 

 mer to construct a reservoir to impound the water and conserve it for 

 its greatest beneficial use. The greater the distance to water the more 

 valuable this water becomes when brought to the surface. That is, the 

 cost of lifting has been greater and in order to realize the greatest bene- 

 fits and profits from its use every gallon must be carefully conserved. 



In the shallow water districts, the windmills pump at a more rapid 

 rate, the water is less expensive, and therefore it is a common, practice 

 to use carefully constructed and well puddled earth reservoirs to impound 

 the water. These reservoirs are usually rather shallow and have, therefore, 

 more or less seepage on the sides and bottom and considerable surface 

 exposed to the water-dissipating winds. The rate of pumping being com- 

 paratively great, however, these losses by seepage and evaporation are 

 not so noticeable and on this account earth reservoirs are very satisfactory 

 in the shallow water districts. 



Where the depth to water is 100 feet or more the rate of pumping is 

 neecssarily slower. If this water were pumped into an open earth reser- 

 voir it is not likely that the average farm windmill would gain very 

 rapidly over the losses due to seepage and evaporation. In such localities 

 it is preferable and advisable to have smaller, deeper and more water 

 tight reservoirs. Wooden and steel tanks are frequently used, but these 

 are not permanent and are expensive if much storage capacity is required. 

 In recent years concrete has been successfully used for the construction of 

 both water tanks and storage reservoirs. The cost of materials for such 

 construction is moderate and no other cash outlay is required if the labor 

 is performed by the farmer. 



A concrete reservoir 20 feet wide by 30 feet long by 6 feet deep will 

 hold practically one acre-inch of water, or in other words, enough water to 

 cover an acre of land one inch deep. This water if carefully applied will 

 give a thorough irrigation to one-third of an acre o f land and in some 

 cases a half acre could be irrigated. A half acre of rich Western rrairie 

 land, if combined with sufficient moisture, will supply the average family 



