PRELIMINARY REPORT TO THE Alfalfa : Irrigation : and : Land : Co. ON ALFALFA ... BY Pump Irrigation WESTERN KANSAS. • • By H. V. HINCKLEY, Consulting Engineer Kansas Irrigation Association. Kansas Irrigation Commission. State Board of Irrigation. • e • Copyrighted 1895. atl rights reserved by the author. Class _ Book Copyiightl^^_ Sfcl3 COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. PRELIMINARY REPORT ... TO THE Alfalfa -. Irrigation -. and : Land : Co. ON ALFALFA . BY Pump Irrigation . . IN WESTERN KANSAS / ^0 ^ct f By H. V. HINCKLEY, I Kansas Irrigation Association. Consulting Engineer Kansas Irrigation Commission. I State Board of Irrigation. Copyrighted i8q5. /\ll rights reserved by the author, TOPEKA, KANSAS: THE HALL & O'DONALD LITHO. CO. 49529. ^•3 ToPEKA, Kansas, May i, 1895. Hon. Martin Mohler, President The Alfalfa Trrigatioti and Land Co., Topeka, Kansas, Dear Sir: In regard to the proposed irrigation of your land in Western Kansas, I beg to report as follows upon the water supply, cost of utilizing it, and prospective profits from alfalfa growing: LANDS. While not personally acquainted with many of the in- dividual tracts owned by your company, I know their general location, and my sixteen years with the Atchison Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad Company, and two years investigation of irrigation possibilities for Kansas, have made me sufficiently familiar wath the general character of the counties in which they lie to say safely that ninety per cent of their area (though now almost barren on ac- count of insufficient rainfall during the growing season), will, with the artificial application of sufficient water, grow better paying crops than the average now raised on the best bottom lands of the Eastern States. THE CLIMATE. The climate in western Kansas, except as to rainfall, is favorable to maximum plant growth. Mist, fog and " dog days " are unknown, and the Government records show an almost unbroken line of "clear" days. The constant breezes, averaging a yearly travel of over 105,- 000 miles, or twelve miles an hour night and day, are sufficient to produce lively respiration and growth, and to dry up and kill ordinary crops that are short of water. ALFALFA Is the best paying crop of those that require but little attention, and is the hardiest in dry soils and dry seasons. There are plenty of alfalfa fields in Kansas, which by irrigation, net from $25 to $40 per acre per annum, after pajnng for water and all labor. The average gross yield per acre (hay and seed), under irrigation, according to the report of the Kansas World's Fair Commission, 1894 (page 132), is $36 a year, the expense being $5.10 and the net profit $30.90. Where water is twelve to twenty-five feet below the surface, and the seed is har- vested, the average result, irrigated and unirrigated is about as follows: YIELD. 5 bushels of seed at *3.50 $17.50 3 tons of hay at $3.00 9.00 Total ■ .f26.50 EXPENSE. Harvesting two hay crops at 90 cents f 1 . SO Gathering seed 3 . 50 Total 15.05 Net profit .121.45 Net profit on seed crop alone 14 . 25 WATER DUTY FOR ALFALFA. The duty of water carefully measured as actually used in Colorado, for the years 1889 and 1890, on 400,000 acres, embracing the great potato and alfalfa districts, averages 226 acres per cubic foot per second, or a depth of thirteen iwches in 120 days, including the rain- fall during that period. "In California, alfalfa is grown with the most gratifying success, under a rainfall of less than 10 inches, on land irrigated with a miner's inch of water to each four or five acres." This corresponds with a dut}^ of 200 to 250 acres per cubic foot per second, or a total depth in 120 da3S of from twelve to fourteen inciies. On the desert sands of Arizona, twenty-four inches of water in the season, without rainfall, gives 7.5 tons of alfalfa per acre. On J. H. McClellan's farm, at Fort Collins, Colorado, alfalfa, under ten inches of rainfall, uses ten to twelve inches of irrigation, giving three cuttings of alfalfa, the soil being sand, clay and gravel. On the coarse sands of the Salt Lake desert, the mean duty of a cubic foot per second is 256 acres, the alfalfa on 24,000 acres yielding on an average four tons per acre, and as high as ten tons per acre, the average crop grown being 1,020 pounds for each inch in depth of water applied. This corresponds to a crop of 6.12 tons per acre. Professor Robert Hay (geologist) says, "one inch of water every ten days is ample for plant growth in this [Kansas] latitude." From my personal familiarity with the lands covered by the above official reports, a general knowledge of the character of your lands, and a comprehensive study of the "duty" problem, I am satisfied that on such of your lands as can be given a depth of twelve inches of water in a growing season of 120 da3^s, with the assistance of the rainfall, with proper care in getting a good "stand" the first year, and with pumps having a little surplus power so that the most w^ater may be pumped when most needed, you will be able to get more than the average irrigated crop every year; for the average Kan- sas irrigator uses wind power, or is a canal patron, and, in either case, is short of water when most needed, while with gasoline you can pump whether the wind blows or not, and the immediate supply is independent of the visible flow of the streams; in fact, you will have the most favorable conditions possible for a good crop every year. On some of the lands six inches of water during the 120 days will probably give an average crop, if the pump be slightly in excess of needs, as per Table i, so that the water may be had to the greatest extent in the dryest time. While alfalfa responds readily to irrigation, its roots will go ten, twenty or thirty feet if necessary to water. C. W. Irish, chief of the irrigation inquiry. United States Department of Agriculture, says: "It will grow well and produce at least one crop every j^ear in very dry regions, without irrigation." This statement, in my opinion, is made more correct by adding, "if the sub- soil gets some moisture during the first growing season, so that the roots are encouraged to go down to nature's moisture," for there is always some moisture beneath any well-cultivated surface that gets any rain. In gen- e)"al, those of your lands that have the scantiest supply of underflow have the best soils and subsoils for retain- ing moisture, and on these lands one good crop of alfalfa, or a good seed crop and a half crop of hay, is a not unreasonable expectation; especially if a little water — say three inches — can be pumped onto it during the first growing season, or prior thereto, and stored in the subsoils to make the first year's "stand." The general rule for alfalfa in Kansas is about as fol- lows: With favorable conditions four crops of hay, or three of hay and one of seed. With unfavorable condi- tions, one crop of either hay or seed. The expense of the seed crop is generally paid in full from the hay of that cutting, which sells at one-half to three-fourths of the price of the regular hay crop. RAINFALL. The average annual rainfall on your lands is from six- teen to twenty-one inches, the general average being about eighteen inches. In 1883 and 1884, when the annual fall was thirty inches, settlers rusiied onto the Govern- ment lands with the hope that an increasing rainfall would prove ample for successful agriculture. This hope was blasted, and fully a quarter of a million people abandoned their claims and moved away. As a conse- quence western Kansas in general is'becoming more of a cattle country, hence the demand for alfalfa for winter- fattening beef. Fifteen pounds a day fed to steers in winter makes one hundred pounds of beef per ton, and spring prices are higher than fall prices. A glance at the following table reveals the fact that Kansas rainfall is not to be depended upon for successful agriculture: TABLE No. I. Record of Precipitation for Tv^^enty Years at Dodge City. Year 3 o > |2_ a ? > •a O o !2! a 1875 0.12 0.10 0.04 0.71 2.26 0.78 3.28 2.06 1.32 0.06 0.00 0.09 10.77 1876 0.00 0.05 3.59 0.16 1.15 2.53 2.26 1.03 2.13 1.00 1.35 0.15 15.40 1877 0.18 0.56 0.25 8.88 4.96 3.92 1.79 4.09 0.50 3.34 0.56 4.36 27.89 1878 0.21 1.13 1.01 1.06 4.68 2.19 1.61 4.48 0.76 0.09 0.60 0.19 17.96 1879 0.87 0.08 0.17 0.40 0.90 4.40 3.90 3.75 0.80 0.00 0.04 0.12 15.48 1880 0.00 0.00 0.04 0.11 3.83 1.59 4.00 5.17 0.32 1.42 2.43 0.03 18.44 1881 0.15 1.63 0.50 2.38 12.82 1.77 5.06 2.86 8.13 2.19 0.95 0.61 33.55 1882 0.52 0.22 0.24 0.68 8 87 1.51 3.04 1.07 0.15 1.62 0.11 0.11 13.14 1883 0.44 1.42 0.42 2.40 5.41 4.81 2.61 5.66 1.32 3.82 0.12 1.07 28.50 1884 0.08 0.28 1.91 1.07 4.47 7.67 6.40 4.82 0.23 1.50 0.83 1.10 30.36 1885 0.52 0.47 0.75 1.39 4.07 2.02 6.08 1.80 3.48 1.06 0.36 1.76 23.71 1886 1.82 0.46 1.50 1.90 0.40 5.47 2.07 2.46 2.88 0.45 0.24 0.25 19.35 1887 0.07 0.53 0.17 2.46 3.69 4.00 1.00 2.28 0.14 0.48 0.35 0.54 15.71 1888 0.23 0.73 0.93 4.08 2.86 5.16 4.07 3.00 0.78 0.81 0.06 0.28 22.94 1889 1.69 0.84 1.88 2.12 1.54 3.43 2.02 2.14 0.86 2.88 0.77 0.00 19.17 1890 0.42 0.39 0.05 2.90 1.19 1.00 0.22 3.45 0.57 0.89 0.50 0.14 11.72 1891 0.98 0.27 3.32 2.76 3.36 6.27 5.16 1.36 4.56 8.38 0.12 0.85 82.34 1892 0.25 1.01 2.62 0.40 8.28 3.34 0.66 4.69 1.04 0.78 0.31 1.88 19.66 1893 0.02 0.34 0.00 0.04 1.81 0.76 3.32 1.82 1.74 0.25 0.42 0.10 10.12 1894 0.04 1.03 0.40 1.88 0.95 2.80 2.05 0.15 2.08 0.62 0.03 0.62 12.60 THE WATER SUPPLY. The subterranean sheet water, or underflow, which is found under almost the entire area of western Kansas, is suppHed by the downward passage of the rainfall, supplemented sometimes in the valleys by horizontal seepage from the streams. This underflow varies in depth and thickness in different localities, depending upon the topography and geology. In the valle}- proper of the Arkansas, for example, it has been sounded in different places to a depth of i,ooo and 1,300 feet; while on some of the divides it has been found to be only one or two feet in thickness. To make an exact calcula- tion of the water supply available for the irrigation of any particular tract of land is impossible. The supply for a majority of your tracts can be determined only by sinking and testing wells thereon. But after two years devoted almost entirely to the study of the western Kansas water supply, I am able to make an approximate estimate of the supply available for your lands, as fol- lows: 45,000 acres — ampl^ supply for twelve inches of water each season over the entire area, producing more than average crops. 20,000 acres — probable supply of six inches during each growing season, and an additional six inches during winter and spring for saturating the subsoil, producing good average crops. 25,000 acres — supply of three inches during growing season, producing small crops — one cutting only per an- num. In the above estimate I have omitted ten per cent as being possibly too sand}' or too broken to be irrigated to advantage, and also to allow for public roads, buildings, driveways, pump- houses, etc.; leaving a net irrigable area of 90,000 acres. As to pumping for irrigation purposes, it is being done successfully all over western Kansas, by those (probably 2,000 farmers) who have been able to put in pumps of any kind. Wherever the water is found in the substrata of sand eighty or ninety per cent of it is readily pumped out, and the pumping method gives a more reliable sup- ply than the canals which take water from the rivers, the rivers generally going dry just at the time when the water is most needed. The storage of rainfall above ground in western Kan- sas is (generally) impracticable on account of losses by evaporation and percolation. The subterranean reservoirs provided by nature are beyond the evaporative influences of wind and sun. POWER TABLES. Table No. 2 shows first cost and annual expense for fuel and repairs of gasoline engines adapted to the irri- gation of 160 acres each, with water fifteen to 150 feet below the surface, and for depths of twelve, six and three inches of water each season. Table No. 3 shows net horse power of a ten-foot wind- mill, as carefully determined at the State Agricultural College, for the year 1891; also of a fourteen-foot wind- mill, upon the basis of the same winds as of 1891, and the amount of water which a fourteen-foot windmill will pump each month of the year. Table No. 4 gives cost of fourteen-foot windmill, which is the largest size in general use, and the number of acre-feet of water which it will pump. Table No. 5 compares gasoline power with wind power. lO o z u OQ < u w CO W Pi < Pi o CO W o w w o < 't3^ ^ ^o o--i5 oc CO o; 00 c^ 'M c: ^r; CO 1-1 CO «:> t- O 'M CO tJi CO lO CO w C^ CO "* CO o" T-H -m' Co' -TtH CO If? t- -M Osl CO GO ■^ i-il^ rH 00X05 CO Tf :0 t* OS m -* CI 05 0 COCJ t'l.^ Ci HO 1 'f o t^ O: t O O' o o o o ■o o o o o o iH CO -J* lO t- CO CO ^ T-j rr ^ K? :c r-l 0-. X I- «o - >H rH m in t.- T ic It? o ira o Q t-x ^ w o t- t-- o: X o c-i ic O O tH C'l CC rt< rH O !D t^ CO T-t CD XlO(N Xt ■ o" O rH (m' cc o o o; o I- O rH 5^' (M -»«' o IC If? c IC w o rH (^1 U-S I- — HT 1.03 1.39 1.77 2.51 0.83 1.15 1.48 2.18 0..50 0.75 1.00 1.-50 OT oxen M rn" Hj.' co' rH O? CD O: LT -TT CD X O X X X X 5^ CD Xrr T-( rH rH -M Ills ;52Ss. CD CD' ox CO TC !7I 1.^ IB >> -3 rHS^T «".«.' O IH c OlSClil t^ OI TJ. I- O IM 9 O B e 2 tS H 1 O OrHCNW O Iff O c: rH rH (N C^l If iC- Sl'^ll J 6 o — 13 J^IS = 55= — J3 3? * 05 e rH So" °. II a _o «.»^ ^ u ir 1) a, ^ =«i g 0) -S ■*-• l-i w tag o rt C 1- ^ M " >. ^ >- i)= _• D .c c« o H-H5 U c ! M 0- -t< CO Xr- Cl X ci '-I 15 ft. l-J h-1 C3 1^ '~0 i--'> Q 150 ft. — OSStH ^ t- Z 100 ft. ^ H M 75 ft. u z rH -^ w 50 ft. rHCOCTOOC t-'^O X c: xoco re OJ < OOMOl = X d W 25 ft. u z rj* 15 ft. . • . 06 x' ira t~ Ki t- 150 ft. Si Pi '-' ciia -o 1— X t^ ^ I..^ r^ ~ '^1 — rH "^ 0-1 mg 100 ft. *^(>i ^^ iS: ft oi ?i S ... ^_^ t:~ ^ ~. ^ , -.- ^ i~. — 1 ~ LT- 75 ft. «^motSS -*OTCM(M ^1 :i :§ 50 ft. cr. Oi 10 05 iri 25 ft. m CO 000 CO 7— I CI T^ rH CO rH rP ^^ ,^ — ^1 rH ^ -^ ,yi 15 ft. ^oSox 3 X S = ^ !h Ji2 ^ rH tH ^ CC d T-l i-H r- . 1 Cl i.,! CI MO'Ni-q -T<"^-f~r. rH t-OsiS! CO CO : U-tt . Mill. "Sqss rHrH OC: rH^-lrHO rH 3 : ■ .1 OSrHX 3; xoro -+ 10-ft . iMiU. *v, 10 to '^ ^ 0000 0000 H >> 0) ■^ 1- P a, . O-e >, ^ 2-r, 2'"' T3 C - Q§2 be ijc > "' c 5j rt C3 c X ;> C aj rt i3 u S bfl ■ "t3 o Q ?f o -o ■*-' H .';-. r:^ Oi •<-> TJ r) M rrt ci rtX! 2 llK-iJ rn Kt3 CA! « ;^ •<^ v^.2 "« g p. 12 CHECKS ON TABLE NO. 3. Windmill catalogues give such variable capacities for mills of the same size that I have thought best, in addi- tion to the check [c) given in the bottom of Table No. 3, to add the following: "At Tribune, Eugene Tilleux pumped with an eight-foot windmill, and a lift of 120 feet, onto one acre, half the season. He then abandoned three-fourths of it, and pumped onto one-fourth acre only for one-half the season, in which the one-fourth acre re- ceived not over six inches of water. He says with a reservoir he could have given the quarter acre a foot of water. Therefore, the duty of the eight-foot mill with reservoir, would be tw^o feet in depth on one-fourth acre, or one-half an acre-foot. A fourteen-foot mill should, therefore, have a duty during the growing season of 1.5 acres. By Table No. 3, from May 15 to September 15, the duty for 120 feet lift is 1.83 acre-foot. While based upon the work of the eight-foot mill in July and August at one-fourth of an acre six inches deep, a fourteen-foot mill should furnish three-fourths of an acre six inches deep (.375 of an acre-foot), while Table No. 3 gives .67 of an acre-foot. The results in the table being both above and below the actual work reported, is as near a check as can be obtained, without more accurate deter- mination of the water pumped. D. M. Frost, of Garden City, reports that his fourteen- foot mill,(i5-ft. lift) for May, June, July and Aug., 1894, pumped (as near as he could tell by careful computation,) 14.5 acre-feet, while the table gives 14.14 acre-foot. Columns ten and eleven of Table No. 3, show that during May, June, July and August, with lifts of twelve and twenty-five feet, a dejith of twelve inclies may be sup- 13 plied to fourteen and eight acres respectively. This cor- responds with the acreage actually being irrigated with windmills at Garden City, with those depths to water; though some irrigators get along with less depth of water and make it cover twenty acres. I. L,. Diesem, of Garden City, with lift of seventeen feet and a fourteen-foot mill, gives twelve inches of water during May, June, July and August to ten acres. One year to thirteen acres. By table the dut}^ would be 12.5 acres. P. C. Morgan, near Garden City, has lift of fifty-one feet and an eight-foot mill. He reports "over nine acres " irrigated January to September, or two acres, June, July and August. By table, we would get six inches on 9.7 acres, January to September, and 1.85 acres in the three summer months. S. T. Percell, Grainfield, has lift of 143 feet and a ten- foot mill. He reports two to four-acre inches per month. Table gives 1.5 to 3.5. TABLE No. 4. Cost of Fourteen- Foot Windmill Plant and of Windmill Power. Mill, tow er, pip^, rod and spout, all on cars at nearest railroad station. D ravage $5 . 00, reservoir $50.00, and well @ 50 cts. Total. Repairs and renewals per annum @ 10 per cent. From Table No. 8. First cost per acre tor 3 inches of water in May, June, and Aug. Lift. {Feet.) Acre feet per annum. Acre feet May, June, July. and Aug 1 15 25 50 75 100 150 2 $215.00 215.00 215.00 215.00 215.00 215.00 3 $62.00 67.00 80.00 92.00 105.00 130.00 4 $277.00 282.00 295.00 307.00 320.00 345.00 5 $27.70 28.20 29.50 30.70 - 32,00 31.50 6 61 36 18 12 9 6 7 /14.15 8.47 4.23 2.83 2.12 1.41 8 $4.90 8.32 17.44 27.12 37.44 61.77 ''Ideal" prices 1-14-95. 14 TABLE No. 5- Comparative Cost of Water by Gasoline and Wind Power. (.\nnaal Expense Capitalized @ 6;C ) (14-foot Windmill.) A— Per acre foot per annum. GASOLINE WIND. ( 5) Lift. Cost of plant. (1) Fuel X JLJia 6 Repairs etc. 1(J5^ X ilUi 6 (3) Total. Cost of plant. |4) Fuel X Repairs etc. lo^t X J_lliL 6 Totai. Cost by wind cost by gasoline. (1) 15 ft. 25 ft. -50 ft. 75 ft. 100 ft 150 ft. (2) $1.05 1.52 2.04 2.61 3.29 5.33 (3) $11.11 16.67 37.00 50.00 74.00 111.11 (4) $1.75 2.-53 3.60 4.35 5.48 8.88 ^5) $13.91 20.72 42.64 56.96 82.77 125.32 (6) $4.-54 7.84 16.40 25.58 35.55 57.50 (7) $7.57 18.07 27.33 42.63 59.25 95.83 (9) $12.11 20.91 43.73 68.21 94.80 153.33 (10) $0.87 1.01 1.02 1.20 1.15 1.22 B — Fer acre foot i'l 130 days. 15 ft 25 ft. -50 ft. 75 It 100 ft. 150 ft. 3.15 11.11 5.25 19.-51 19.-57 32.62 52.19 4.-57 16.67 7.61 28.85 33.29 -55.48 88.77 6 12 37.00 10.20 53.32 69.74 116.23 185.97 7.82 9.86 50.00 13.03 70.85 108.48 180.60 289.08 74.00 16.43 100.29 1-50.95 2-51.58 402.-53 15.98 111.11 26.63 153.72 244.68 407.80 652.48 2.67 3.08 3.49 4.08 4.01 4.24 C— Per acre foot 6 inclies in 130 days. (6.) 15 ft. 25 ft. 50 ft. 75 ft. 100 ft. 1-50 ft 5.68 6 00 8.96 11.92 12.24 15.64 11.11 16.67 37.00 .50.00 74.00 111.11 9.80 10.00 14.93 19.86 20.40 26.06 26.59 32.67 60.89 81.78 106.64 152.81 (7J 19.57 33.29 69.74 108.48 1-50.95 244.68 32.62 55.48 116.23 180.60 251.58 407.80 52.19 88.77 185.97 289.08 402.. 53 652.48 1.96 2.72 3.05 3.05 3.77 4.27 D-r er acre foot 3 inches in 120 days. «.) 75 ft 100 ft. 150 ft. 16.08 19.36 25.33 50.00 74 00 111.11 26 80 82.26 42 22 92 88 125 62 178.66 (7) 108.48 1-50.95 244.68 180.60 2.51.58 407.80 289.08 402.-53 6.52.48 3.11 3.20 3.(55 1. Col. 14 of table 2-^3. 2. As in table 2. 3. (As in table 2-i 3) x^r Col. 4 , table 4. Col. 6 .\crc ft. per Col. 6, table 4. 6. Gasoline one foot : Wind (May, June, July and August) per Col. 7, table 4. 7. Col. 4 + 7, table 4. S. Gasoline 6 inches : Wind (May, June, July and August) per Col. 7, table 4. i". Gasoline 3 Inches: Wind (May, June, July and August) per Col. 7, table 4. Irregularity of ratio in Col. 10 is due to size of gasoline engines not having a uniforiu % above H. P. required. Purpose i I this table not affected thereby. GASOLINE VERSUS COAL. For walerworks pumping in Kansas, where constant attendance is necessary for possible fire pumping, and where tiie pumps arc handy to raih-oads, steam-power 15 is used and is best adapted. With no coal mines in western Kansas, and bituminous coal selling at $4.50, the cost for coal and gasoline power along the railroads is nearly the same, leaving engineer and foreman out of the account. Gasoline engines are self-feeding, and need only to be looked after from two to six times a da3^ The laborer who is applying the water to the ground can also watch the engine. In this way at least one man's labor is saved, and gasoline power is cheaper than coal power. The difference becomes greater as we get away from the railroads, on account of the haul on coal, the coal being several times heavier than gasoline for the same power. GASOLINE VERSUS WIND. So many windmills have been put to use for irriga- tion pumping the past two years in western Kansas (probably 2,000) that one naturally concedes that they are the cheapest power, but such is not the case. They have been put in because the purchasers were starting experiments on small areas, usually seven to ten acres each, and after years of crop failures they must needs buy what their means would permit, and the smaller size gasoline engines were generall}^ too costly for them. Comparing column 8 of Table 4-with column i^ of Table X-C, we notice that the first cost of windmills is from six to ten times the first cost of gasoline engines of the same duty. The annual expense for fuel brings the capitalized values nearer together, but even on these column 10 of Table ^ shows windmills to be generally from two to four times as expensive as gasoline plants. i6 DEPTHS TO WATER. The following is an approximate statement of your Superintendent, Geo. W. Watson: 25,000 acres, average depth 25 feet. 20,000 acres, average depth 30 feet. 20,000 acres, average depth 70 feet. 25,000 acres, average depth 125 feet. COST OF GASOLINE PUMPING PLANTS. Based upon the above estimate of water supply, and depths to water, I compute the cost of necessary pumps, engines, engine houses, wells, etc., complete in place, as follows: TABLE No. 6. 25,000 acres, average lift twenty-five feet, twelve inches of water in 120 days, per table No. 2-A, at $4.57 $114,250 20,000 acres, average lift thirty feet, twelve inches of water in 120 days, per table No. 2-A, at $4.88 97,600 10,000 acres, average lift thirty feet, six inches of water in 120 days, per table No. 2-B, at $5.66 56,600 $268,450 10,000 acres, average lift seventy feet, three inches of water in in 120 days, per table 2-C, at $3.89 .... $38,9(X) 25,000 acres, average lift 125 feet, three inches of water in 120 days, per table 2-C, at $5 58 139,500 In place of permanent pumping plants for the last two items I recommend the purchase of, say twelve portable plants, costing about J 2,(XX) Making a total outlay for pumping jilants of $280,450 These temporary plants will serve the double purpose of wetting the subsoil to give the alfalfa a good start, and of testing the water supply below. Wherever the supply proves ample for irrigation to the extent of six, or even three inches, during each growing season, pei"ma- nent plants may be elected in time for next year's water- ing; and in place of one good crop, as estimated in the annual statements herinafter, the result will be two or three good crops. 17 NET YIELDS. When all the lands are in alfalfa the net yields should be about as follows: TABLE No. 7. 45,000 acres good crops at $24.00 an acre $1,080,000 20,000 acres, average crops at $18.00 an acre 360,000 25,000 acres, one good seed crop at $12.00 300,000 Total annual net revenue $1,740,000 But these results cannot be realized immediately. To do the work properly on the 65,000 acres first mentioned in Table No. 7 will require six or eight years. In the last item, (25,000 acres,) the twelve portable engines running ten months of the year, and pumping 120 days for each quarter section, will give one three-inch irriga- tion to less than 5,000 acres a year, requiring six years to bring the 25,000 acres into profitable service. When rains come at the right time, this work maybe materially hastened, but it is not safe to figure much on the rain- fall, except as conserved in the subsoil for the roots. It is not to be depended on for starting seed or getting a stand of alfalfa. In the following statements, in order to be conservative, and to allow for miscalculations and mistakes in management, I place net profits at two-thirds of those given in Table No. 7, although the latter are below the average realized and ofBcially reported: STATEriENT FIRST YEAR. EXPENSES. 5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 25 feet, at $4.57 $22,850 One year's fuel and repairs, at $1.46 7,300 4,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 80 feet, at $4.88 19,520 One year's fuel and repairs, at $1.73 6,920 2,000 acres, pumping plants for" 6 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at $5.66 11,320 One year's fuel and repairs, at $2.13 4,260 12 portable pumping plants at $1,000 12,000 2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 3,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 $5,400 Breaking and preparing 16, OCX) acres (less 4,000 now in wheat), 12,00) acres at $2.00 24,000 Putting in alfalfa, 16,000 acres, at .t2.25 36,0X3 Putting in shade crop of barley, 16,000 acres, at 50 cents 8,000 Taxes 20,000 Int-rest, 5 per cent on $300,000. .-. 15,aX) Engineering and general supervision 15,000 Total $209,750 RECEIPTS. Barley, 11,000 acres, at 25 bushels, at 40 cents $110,000 N et expense $99,750 STATEriENT SECOND YEAR. EXPENSES. 5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 25 feet, at $4.57 $22,850 10,000 acres, fuel and repairs at $1.46 14,600 4,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 30 feet, at $4.88 19,520 8,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.73 13,840 2,0(X) acres, pumping plants for 6 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 f'eet, at $5.66 11,320 4,000 acres, fuel and repairs at $2.13 8,520 2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 3,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 5,400 Breaking and preparing 16,000 acres (less 4,000 now in wheat), 12,000 acres, at $2.00 24,000 Putting in alfalfa, 16,0)0 acres, at $2.25 36,(XK) Putting in shade crop of barley, 16,000 acres, at 50 cents 8,00) Taxes 20,0)0 Interest, 5 per cent on $300,000. 15,0)0 Engineering and general supervision 15,000 Total $216,230 RECEIPTS. 11,0)0 acres barley, at 25 bushels, at 40 cents $110,000 9,000 acres alfalfa, good crops, $lS.O) 162,OX) 2,(X)0 acres alfalfa, average crop, $12.00 24,0)0 5,OM) acres alfalfa, one cutting, $8.0) 40,0)0 Total $336,000 Net receipts $119,770 STATEriENT THIRD YE\R. EXPENSES. 5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 25 feet, at $4.57 $22,850 I5,(K)() acres, fuel and repairs at $1.46 21,90) 4,(MH) acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 30 feet, at $4.88 10,520 J2,()()U acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.73 20,760 19 2,000 acres, pumping plants for 6 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at 15.66 $11,320 6,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $2.13 12,780 2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 3,000 acres, fuel and rer airs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 5,400 Breaking and preparing 16,000 acres ( less 3,000 now in wheat ), » 13,000 acres, at $2.00 26,000 Putting in alfalfa, 16,000 acres, at $2.25 36,000 Putting in shade crop of barley, 16,000 acres, at 50 cents 8,000 Taxes 20,000 Interest, 5 per cent on $300,000 15,000 Engineering and general supervision 15,000 Total $236,710 RECEIPTS. Barley, 11,000 acres, at 25 bushels, at 40 cents $110,000 Alfalfa, 18,000 acres, good crops, at $18.00 324,000 Alfalfa, 4,000 acres, average crops, at $12.00 48,000 Alfalfa, 10,000 acres, one cutting, at $8.00 80,000 Total $562,000 Net receipts $325,290 STATEnENT FOURTH YEAR. EXPENSES. 5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 25 feet, at $4.57 $22,850 20,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.46 29,200 4,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 30 feet, at $4.88 19,520 16,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.73 27,680 2,000 acres, pumping plants for 6 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at $5.66 11,320 8,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $2.13 17,040 2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 3,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 5,400 Breaking and preparing 16,000 acres (less 2,000 acres now in wheat), 14,000 acres, at $2.00 ■. . . 28,000 Putting in alfalfa, 16,000 acres at $2.25 36,000 Putting in shade crop of barley, at 50c 8,000 Taxes 20,000 Interest, 5 per cent on $300,000 15,000 Engineering and general supervision 15,000 Total $257,190 RECEIPTS. Barley, 11,000 acres, at 25 bushels, at 40c $110,000 Alfalfa, 27,000 acres, good crops, at $18.00 486,000 Alfalfa, 6,000 acres, average crops, at $12.00 72,000 Alfalfa, 15,000 acres, one cutting, at $8.00 120,000 Total $788,000 Net receipts , , $530,810 20 STATEHENT FIFTH YEAR. EXPENSES. 5,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 25 feet, at $1.57 $22,850 25,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.46 36,500 4,000 acres, pumping plants for 12 inches of water in 120 days, avej-age lift 30 feet, at |4.88 19,520 20,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $1.73 34,600 2,000 acres, pumping plants for 6 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at ^5.66 11,320 10,000 acres, fuel and repairs, at $2.13 21,30) 2,000 acres, fuel and repairs for 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 70 feet, at $1.09 2,180 3,000 acres, fuel and repairs tor 3 inches of water in 120 days, average lift 125 feet, at $1.80 5,400 Breaking and preparing 16,000 acres, at $2.00 32,000 Putting in alfalfa, 16,000 acres, at $2.25 36,000 Putting in shade crop of barley, at 50c 8,000 Taxes 20,000 Interest, 5 per cent on $300,000 15,000 Engineering and general supervision 15,000 Total $279,670 RECEIPTS. Barley, 11,000 acres, at 25 bushels, at 40c $110,000 Alfalfa, 36,000 acres, good crops, at $18.00 648,000 Alfalfa, 8,000 acres, average crops, at >?12.00 96,0tX) Alfalfa, 20,000 acres, one cutting, at $8.00 160,000 Total $ 1,014,000 Net receipts $734,330 STATEMENT SIXTH YEAR. EXPENSES. Fuel and repairs, 25,(XM) acres, as in fifth year $36,500 Fuel and repairs, 20,000 acres, as in fifth year 34,600 Fuel and repairs, 10,0(X) acres, as in fifth year 21,300 Fuel and repairs, 2,(XX) acres, as in fifth year 2,180 Fuel and repairs, 3,000 acres, as in fifth year 5,400 Breaking and preparing 5,0CI0 acres, at $2.00 10,000 Putting in alfalfa, 5,000 acres, at $2.25 1 1,250 Putting in shade crop of l)arle , at 50 cents 2,500 Taxes 20,000 Interest 15,000 Engineering and general supervision 15,(.XX) Total $173,730 RECEIPTS. Barley, 5,(X)0 acres, at 25 bushels at 40 cents $50,0a) Alfalfa, 45,(X)0 acres, good crops at $18.()0 810,aX) Alfalfa, 10,000 acres, average crops at $12.00 120,tKX) Alfalfa, 25,000 acres, one cutting at $8.00 200,000 $ 1,180,000 Net receipts $1,006,270 With 5,000 acres more to swell the alfalfa receipts next year. 21 I have not entered any account of the barley crop, except where it gets six or twelve inches of artificial water supply in addition to the rainfall while growing. I leave the crop where three inches only is pumped to barely pay for cutting. Wheat or oats will answer, as far as shading the young alfalfa through the first sum- mer is concerned; but in general barley will probably be the most profitable shade crop. I have not mentioned labor as the crop returns given are "net." I have not mentioned the propriety of handling cattle and hogs along with the alfalfa and barley, but this matter is well worth consideration. I have not considered it necessary in the above esti- mates to make any provision for sinking fund for the redemption of the bonds, or to refer at all to the capi- talization of the company. In conclusion, I am entirely satisfied that the plan herein outlined is the only one by which your lands could be made to grow crops with any degree of certainty. Yours truly. ^^5^^^ I^^SiiiJLl LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 00DEST5aS73 #