The Dethridge Meter 
7 
Developmenf of Vane and Drum Sheets 
Figure 2, Details of Wheel for Dethridge Meter. 
capacity, is free from sand and silt trouble, and has no delicate 
working parts. Its one principle disadvantage is that any large 
piece of floating trash, such as a Russian thistle, will be liable to 
clog the wheel, and result in damage by causing the water to top the 
ditch bank. Blocks of wood or other floating trash may float into 
the space between the blades and the drum, and be carried under 
without damage, but if the trash is caught by the edge of the vane, 
it will be carried down and wedge on the floor. 
The wheel may be lifted to allow the ditch to be cleared of 
trash when water is first turned in each season. It is advisable to 
place a Dethridge meter not far from the headgate, for this offers 
the least liability of trash being collected in the ditch, with resulting 
interference with the operation of the wheel. 
