US1878295A

US1878295A - Process for reclaiming lands and maintaining lands in alpha condition suitable for cultivation or habitation

Info

Publication number: US1878295A
Application number: US202131A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richmond Walter
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1927-06-28
Filing date: 1927-06-28
Publication date: 1932-09-20
Anticipated expiration: 1949-09-20

Description

- Sept. 20, 1932. PROCESS w. RICHMOND 1,873,295 F0 CLAIMING LANDS AND MAINTAINING LANDS IN A CONDITION SUITABLE FOR CULTIVATIONOR HABITATION Filed June 28, 192.7 2 Sheets-Sheet I Sept. 20, 1932. w mc 1,878,295

PROCESS FOR RECLAIMING LANDS AND MAINTAINING LANDS A v CONDITION SUITABLE FOR CULTIVATION OR HABITATI Filed June 28. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 20 for these canal purposes.

Patented Sept. 20, 1932 WALTER RICHMOND, OF HOMESTEAD, FLORIDA PROCESS FOR RECLAIMING LANDS AND MAINTAINING LANDS IN A CONDITlEON SUIT- ABLE FOR CULTIVATION OR HABITATION Application filed June 28, 1927. Serial No. 202,131.

This invention is an improvement in the method and means for controlling the water table of land and. relates more particularly to a method of draining and irri ating land including that normally of a boggy or marshy nature.

Heretofore in the improvement of land by drainage and irrigation, resort has been made to open the drain ditches or canals passing throughth-e land along the lower portions thereof. In some cases canals have been formed by means of dikes and the Water from the adjacent land is pumped over the dikes into the canal and discharged. However,

such methods have proven very unsatisfactory in that, aside from the large expense involved in constructing and maintaining such drainage canals, a large portion of the useful land area is actually'lost as it must be used Furthermore, in the case of excessive rains the canals are apt to overflow and damage the lands or themselves be damaged and rendered unfit for future use. Another great disadvantage of such systems is that the land is drained of all the water which is completely disposed of except for a relatively small quantity which may remain in the canals at all times and which serves no useful purpose.

With these problems in mind, it is one of the objects of my invention to maintain positive control of the water table of lands, as for instance, where the land tends to lie under Wfihel,tl16 land may be drained to a predetermined water level. above or below the surface without the use of canals, pipe lines or the like. I Another object of my invention is to so control the Water table level that different levels may be obtained rapidly without injuring crops growing on the land.

Still another object of my invention is to prevent frost from injuring crops growing on the land by causing a quantity of the relatively warm sub surface water to circulate on or close to the surface of the land during the periods of low temperatures.

In the case of lands of peaty nature which are subject to fire, my invention offers a ready means for protection against fires.

Another object of my invention is to control the water on lands the contour of which renders drainage by the methods now in use excessively expensive or impossible, without erosion.

By the use of my invention, I am able to accomplish all of these desirable results at a very negligible initial and operating cost per acre of land.

These and other objects will become apparent in the following specification in which reference is made to the drawings, like reference numerals indicating the same parts in the various views in the drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a cross sectional view through a parcel of land with means, in accordance Wibth my invention, for controlling the water ta le.

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view through a sloping parcel of land adapted to be drained and otherwise treated in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the parcel of land shown in Figure 1, but on a reduced scale.

Fig. 4: is a plan view of the section of land illustrated in Fig. 2, showing the mamier of isolating a tract.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 but is shown in slightly enlarged scale.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view similar to Figure l and shows a slightly modified form of dike or barrier.

Briefly, my invention may be applied to otherwise tillable land which is by its nature and its natural environment, either flooded or boggy or subject to inundation and which rests upon a porous stratum separated therefrom by hardpan, rock or any impervious stratum. My invention likewise may equally and effectively be applied to arid lands or to lands actually under cultivation, where control of the water table is desired.

In most lands of this nature it will be found that this geological formation exists.

Referring more particularly to Figure 1, in which I have illustrated one embodiment of my invention, the tillable land indicated at 1, is of varying thickness, sometimes as much as ten to twenty feet deep. This stratum overlies a stratum, such as desig-.

nated at 2, of rock or hardpan, which is substantially impervious to water. Below the stratum 2 is found a porous stratum 8, usually of very coarse or porous rocks. This porous stratum is of such anature that water will flow therethrough with a noticeable current as distinguished from mere seepage, and usually extends many miles to a lower-level and discharges into some larger body of water.

In many localities several of these impervious and porous strata occur alternately, one over the other, to a great depth. To utilize these strata for the purposes above described, I form a septum, or dike l, which protrudes above the land surface a suflicient distance to extend above the surface flood water, thereby isolating the particular parcel or area of land to be reclaimed. These dikes preferably extend down to the impervious stratum to prevent the flow of water from adjacent land intothe segregated parcel. However, where the septum 4b Fig. 6 extends below the surface-of the tillable land asillustrated in Fig. 6 the walls of the septum below the surface may be of such porosity as topermit a retarded migration ofwater therethrough and across the area in intimate contact with the tillable soil as indicated by the arrows 10, Fig. 6. In such cases, the water could be drained ofi rapidly before the level approached the land surface close enough to be harmful. The purpose of this subsurface migration is described herein.

In carrying out my invention, I drill wells 5, depending upon the size of the area whose water table is to be controlled, throughfthe impervious stratum 2, the walls of each of the Wells being supported by a suitable casing 6 extending intov or through the impervious stratum. This casing not only prevents filling of the well by loose earth but also controls the height of the Water table. In practice, I make the top of this casing in the form of a telescopic sleeve 7 so that it may be adjusted to any desired depth on the casing above or below the surface of the tillable stratum. By the use of such an arrangement the water table can be maintained the desired distance from the surfaceof the land by raising and lowering the sleeve on the casing. The. porous stratum 3 usually extends over large areas and permits water to pass so freely that the wells 5 can discharge into it continuously as a fast flowing stream and thewater will be carried away in sufficient quantities to take care of the heaviest rains even though they extend over a very large section. At the same time a large volume of -waterremains in, or is passing through the porous strata after the head of water, due to the wells, has reached the normal water level of the stratum. This water, of course, remains at a substantially constant temperature and may be easily pumped back through land prior to the frosting period, remain during the frosting period, and then could be drained off rapidly.

Havinga discharge capacity which is so greatly in excess of requirements, it is not necessary to isolate the parcel of land with a water-tight septum and in some cases it is advantageous to use a semi-pervious septum and allow a retarded'migration of the subsurface waters. In many cases, I find it advantageous to use a semi-pervious septum or dike 4b, as illustrated in Fig. 6 and allow a retarded migration of the sub-surface water through the tillable stratum as indicated by the arrows 10?). This serves two purposes, first, preventing a stagnant pool of sub-sun face water and also furnishing inexpensive and almost automatlcally controlled 1rrigation. by maintaining a water level even with the top of the well casing and at a desired distance below the surface. In cases Where the entire area is to be drained and there are no higher areas to consider, irrigation can be provided by the use ofa small pump adapted to pump water out of the well and into the sub-surface pool. This can be effected at a very minimum cost as the only Water needed will be that required to maintain the sub-surface pool. Since this is not exposed to the direct rays of the sun and rises slowly through the soil, the losses by evaporation are not large. Lands of a peaty nature when overdrained, are subject to the hazards of fire and in fact thousands of acres of rich farming land have been completely destroyed by fire from overdrainage by the canal methods. By my invention, a water level may be maintained sufliciently high at all times to keep the soil moist and to eliminate this fire hazard.

If the land is of sloping nature, such as illustrated in Figure 2, the septum 40 may be arranged in steps or terrace fashion as illustrated and a correct water table maintained on each parcel. Since the surface water is carried off on each portion without passing over other portions, erosion of the surface is reduced to a minimum if not eliminated.

Furthermore. by the use of such controlled drainage, swelling of surface streams by the rapid inpouring of successive amounts of sur face drainage water is eliminated and other till able land lying at a lower level than the land being drained is not subjected to the cumulative effects of the drainage of exten- 39 thoroughly; saturated, the adjustable top 7 of thewell casing may'belowered to the desired water table level and "excess water then drained ofl'. .Theseptum or dike may be madevery economically from puddled earth or rock .Which'gives a somewhat impervious dike, depending onthe degree of fineness and puddling. a i l Iclaim: V 1. The method of Water control forlland overlying a porous; substratum and separated therefrom :-'by a substantially impervious stratum which consists ofpartially isolating a "parcel of said i land by. partially damming 1 off water from an elevation abo ve'the normal.

water level to the substantially impervious stratum and causing retarded migrationfof subsurface V waters through the, land so isolated, draining a portion ofthe water in said.

parcelto a given location below thesurface of the normal Water table of said arcel,;re5

moving aportionbf the water rom said parcelby drainage at -a predetermined rate into said'poroussubstratum whereby a water table is maintainedat a predetermined depth below the surface. of said isolated parcel and theivvater above said substratum and in 'said parcel may be continuously-changed.

. 2.1The m'ethodgof controlling moisture in land overlying a porous stratum and separatedftherefrom bya substantiallyimpervious stratum which; consists of isola'ting the parcel by dammingitthe watenfrom the tele vation above the normal water level to the substantially impervous stratum, passing a portion o-f the impounded swater ofsaid isolated parcel through a passagewaythrough said impervious stratum whereby the water is passed; from said parcel into the porous stratum,.i-:positioning the mouth of said pas saigeway a predetermined distance below the normalwaterlevelwhereby the water table below the land surface of the isolated parcel.

may be-fretained at a 1 predetermined depth '3. The f method of controlling moisture'in land overlyingaiporous stratum andseparated' therefrom? by a substantially impervious stratum which consists of isolating the parcel 'by damming the water out fof jsaid parcel from an elevationj above 'them'orinal water level to a predetermined distancebelow said normalwater level and allowing water to migrateslowly intosaid isolated. parcelat a lower portion thereof, passing the Water i from said isolated parcel through an opening through the impervious stratum and dis charging! it into theporous stratum vthere-1 beneath, controlling the level at which the water may. enter said-passage whereby the water-below thezsurface of said parcel and above; said 3 impervious stratum ma yi be changed continuously and a' predetermined water level maintained in: said parcel. a f

4.In a water:table control for land overlying aporous stratum and "separated there fromjby a substantially imperviousstratum,

means including a di-ke'for damming the waterin the area under control, said dike ex tending around sa d area and extending from an elevation above the normalwater level to the substantiallyimpervious stratum, a passage communicating the'area within the dike Y with the porous stratum and'means for-regw lating' the quantity'of water to be retain'ed in the area. 1

5. method of water control for *land overlying a sloping F substantially; impervious substratum which consists of {arresting migration-of part of the 'waters normally passing through said land in the direction of the downward slope-'oflsaid substratumkand-im pounding a portion ofsaid waters above said impervious substratum and beneath the surf pounded Waters at'a predeterminedlevel below theland surface. r Y

The method of controlling water on tract of'land overlying a slopingsub'stanface of saidland and maintaining said imtially impervious substratum which con'sis-ts of isolating the tract of land by extending a dam from an elevation above the-normal water level to the substantially impervious-straturn and arresting migration-of partjof' the sub-surface waters a'c'ross said land, and 1m'-- root" pounding part of said waters in said traaand, i

above saidimpervioussubstratum and main} f taining the water table of-tlie impounded water inthe' isolated tractbelowithe normal land we surface. I r

' 7i-The method of controllingthewater on a tract of land overlying'a sloping substantially impervious substratum which fco'nsists'of iso I lating said tract by extending'a damvf'rom an elevation above thenornraljvvater level to ,tli'e' I substantially impervious stratum,- arresting migration of'the water normally passing through said tract, in r the "direction of the downward slope of s'a id substratumfimpound V ing'a'portion' of said Water'abo've theinipervi- ,ous -sub striatum 'andbeneath the surface of r saidtract, and removingfpartjofsaid-ini'gratf I ing water froin said tract r A s o r 1 an inalying a porous 'stratumfand separated there from by a substantially impervious stratum which consists of isolating a parcel o'f'the land by extending adam from an "elevation above v thenormal waterlevel; to the substantially impervious, straturn andblocking the flow of;

waters thereacross; passing Evvaterin saidiso latedparcelthrough a passageway in the pervious stratum and discharging it into the porous stratum therebeneath, and withdrawing Water from said porous stratumanddischarging it into the isolated parcel at predetermined times and in predetermined quantities.

9. A method of frost protection for crops growing on land overlying a porous stratum and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, which consists of isolating the portion of land on which the crops are growing .by extending a dam from an eleva tion above the normal water level to the substantially impervious stratum, withdrawing water from the porous stratum and discharging it into the isolated portion at predetermined times and maintaining the water so wlthdrawn from sald porous stratum in said isolated portion durlng lntervals of frosting temperature, and passing the excess water on the isolated portion through a passage in the impervious stratum into the porousstratum at predetermined times.

10. A water control means for land overlying a porous stratum and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, which includes a dike arranged for isolating a parcel of said land from contiguous land by damming the water from an elevation above the normal water level to the substantially imperviousstratum, a conduit passing .through said impervious stratum and having an inlet opening within the land so isolated.

11. A water control means forland overlying aporous stratum and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, which includes a dike arranged for isolating a parcel of said land from contiguous land, said dike extending downwardly from above the normal water level of said land tothe impervious, stratum, a conduit passing through said impervious stratum and having. an inlet opening within the land so isolated. I l

12. A water control means for land overlying a porous stratum and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, which includes adike arranged for isolating a parcel of said land from contiguous land by damming the water from an elevation above the, normal water level to the substantially impervious stratum, said dike being slightly porous for permitting partial migration of waters from adjacent land across said isolated land, a conduit passing through said impervious stratum and having an adjustable inlet opening within the land so isolated.

13. A water control means for land overlying a porous stratum and'separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, which includes a dike'arranged for isolating a parcel of said land from contiguous land by damming the water from an elevation above the normal water level to the substantially impervious stratum, a conduit passing through said impervious stratum and having an inlet opening within the landso isolated, and means for adjusting the height of said inlet opening of said conduit above the impervious stratum for maintaining the water level in the isolated land at predetermined depths above the'impervious stratum.

14. A water control means for land overlying a porous stratum and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum, which includes a dike arranged for isolating a parcel of said land tromcontiguous land, by damming the waterfrom an elevation above the normal water level to the substantially impervious stratum, a conduit passing through said impervious stratum and having an inlet opening within the land so isolated, and means for adjusting the height of said inlet opening of said conduit above the imf pervious stratum for maintaining the water level in the isolated land at predetermined depths above the impervious stratum, said means including a sleeve telescopic-ally mounted on the inlet end of said conduit. 15. A frost, irrigation and fire control apparatus for land overlying a porous stratum and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum which includes a dike arranged for isolating a parcel of the land from contiguous parcels, by extending a dam from an elevation above the normal water level to the substantially impervious stratum, a conduit extending through said impervious stratum and having an inlet opening within the isolated parcel for passing watertherefrom into a porous'stratum, and means for adjusting the height of the inlet opening above the impervious stratum, a pump arranged for drawing water from a porous stratum and for discharging the water withdrawn from. said porous stratum into said isolated parcel of land.

16. The method. of controlling water on land overlying a porous stratum; and separated therefrom by a substantially impervious stratum which includes isolating a parcel of the land by damming out water from an elevation above the normal water. level to the substantially impervious stratumand passing excess water from-said parcel into the porous stratum through an op'eningin the substantially impervious stratum.

17. The method of controlling the water on a tract of land overlying a sloping substantially impervious substratum, which consists of isolating the tract of land by extending a porous dam from an elevation above the normal water level to the substantially impervious'stratum and partially blocking the natural flow of sub-surface waters for a distance upwardly from the said impervious substratumand thereby arresting migration of part of the sub-surface water, and impounding part ofsaid water to maintain the water table of the impounded water in the isolated tract above itsnormal level.. V t 18. The method of controlling Water on a parcel of landoverlyiug a porous stratum V 6 and separated therefrom by a substantially WALTER RIQICHMONYDQ