Groundwater
Irrigation
Beginnings
The San Joaquin Valley's groundwater
reservoir was first tapped with a
practical pumping plant 4 miles
northeast of here on Dec. 12, 1894.
William de la Grange of Selma, tired
of upstream irrigationists draining
Kings River water from the canal he
used, drilled a pioneering open bottom
well. Using steam power, he pumped
350 gallons of water per minute
onto his ranch at the southeast
corner of Manning and Bethel Ave's.
The plant attracted great attention.
Within several years, groundwater
irrigation was common and pumps
were being powered with electricity.
De la Grange, by 1900, opened Selma's
first well drilling business.
Jim Savage Chapter 1852
E Clampus Vitus
June 21, 1985