DRY-FARMING CONGRESS, WICHITA, 1914 



163 



farm was established at Enterprise. This farm has for a number of 

 years been successfully operated. Yields of wheat as high as 30 bushels 

 per acre have been recorded and one year a yield of 33.6 bushels was 

 secured. Besides wheat, corn, potatoes, winter oats and barley have been 

 successfully grown. During the past year many of the settlers in various 

 parts of the valley have met with varying degrees of success, but there 

 seems to be no doubt that with proper cultural methods employed, the 

 summer-fallowing system and by the adaption of drought-resistant varie- 

 ties dry-farming^ will result in the production of various crops. 



However, it is believed that if homes are to be built and colonists 

 successfully established that some provision must be made for securing 

 water from subterranean sources. 



The United States Geological Survey some years ago made an in- 

 vestigation relative to the underground supply and in a report published 

 in 1911, howed that the valley is well supplied with an underground flow. 

 A flowing well belonging to Mr. John Webster, leading from Meadow to 

 Lund was discovered. Here the surrounding country lies low and is flat 

 except for minor irregularities which have been developed by wind erosion. 

 This well is IV2 inches in diameter, 150 feet deep and yields several gal- 

 lons of water per minute by natural flow. The San Pedro, Los Angeles 

 & Salt Lake Railroad dug a well at Lund in 1903. This well was carried 

 to a depth of 585 feet; the casing is 12 inches in diameter at the top, but 

 is narrowed to 10 inches, 8 inches and finally 6 inches. When this well- 

 is pumped it yields 100 gallons per minute. At Beryl, south of Lund, the 

 railroad well is 13 inches in diameter and 208 feet deep. Water was 

 found at depths of 23 feet, 180 feet and 203 feet. The well as finished 

 draws from the 203 bed from which the water rises within 19 feet of 

 the surface. During a pumping test of 24 hours this well yielded 183 

 gallons per minute. The water from these well's is used in the boilers 

 of the locomotives. 



Numerous wells have been dug throughout the valley during the past 

 few months and most of these will yield water of fairly good quality and 

 as shown by analysis, is fit for culinary use or for irrigation. The excep- 

 tion is formed by use of the dug wells in the shallow water tract, the 

 water from which, like the soil in these same tracts, is heavily charged 

 with alkaline salts. 



From an investigation of the work done in this valley I do not believe 

 that flowing wells are likely to be of much value in furnishing water for 

 irrigation. It is believed, however, that on land which lies higher than 

 the alkali desert flats considerable irrigation water in the aggregate can 

 be recovered by pumping f rom moderate depths and that sufficient water 

 can be secured on many of these lands to irrigate a small orchard, some 

 shade trees and shrubbery surrounding the house, a small patch of alfalfa 

 and furnish sufficient for culinary use. With this idea in mind the of- 

 ficials of the Salt Lake Route recently secured the cooperation of various 

 agencies, including the State Agricultural College, Irrigation Bureau of 



