repair and replacement of the tile line

Since it was another very late day, everyone was was tired. The general consensus was if you try to fix something this late in the day, with everyone tired, it will not go well.

Terry had turned the water off already so we all headed home for a rest.

Then back early, early the next day to find the leak.

Richard ‘witched’ for the line. I found this really cool. He let me try. I could do it.

Neat!

Then it was time to begin.

Yep, there it was. A rock…more than likely, as the boring machine head and pipe moved under the road.

It took some time…a run to the hardware store, repairing the leak, turning the water back on,

Then covering the hole; making the road perfect again, (Once more it was getting late in the day…you can see the shadows are from the west as they work.)

Since the next day was going to be another HUGE big day — with the need to be rested and refreshed. The work stopped for the night.

See you tomorrow when we work on the the tile line in the field!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

We live in an area where the water table can cause havoc in a farm field. So years and years and years ago, when our part of the world was just getting settled (from 1882 onwards)…the need for water and for good farm good was vital. (it still is)

As the population expanded the requirement for good land and water increased. I have read diaries of men who helped create and build the canals on California Mesa and Ash Mesa which confirms the horrendous amount of work it took to bring water to our high mountain desert landscape.

After getting water here they realized they now had to put tile lines under the farm ground to get the water to ‘move’ on out and back into the canals.

These very creative people used thick clay tiles to create the drain lines which move the water from under the ground back into canals.

We are not sure, but we think the tile lines on our place were put in around 1890 or 1900. Gradually over-time, the clay tiles collapse and must be replaced.

So THAT is what we have been doing for six full days. Replacing the tile line in one of our fields. The water, which comes out of this tile line, feeds into a ditch that flows to all the farms in an area called Saw Mill Mesa.

This very expensive operation helps not only us but those on-down-the-line. 🙂

Now you have a wee lesson on water, the maintenance of the water and what we were doing this past week.

Tomorrow I will continue. I hope I don’t bore you. I found this whole process fascinating, interesting and VERY labor-intensive. All through the process, I kept thinking about those marvelous men of years gone-by which did this all by hand.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda