The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1889-07-26
Artesi.a wells ana I,risasi,.. =.


plIcation to tho purposes Of irrigation, b at
tracting great deal Of attention At tho pres
ent time throughout both Of the Dakotas, and
already anumber Of counties have appointed
committees for the purpose Of presenting the
matter to the United States Senate committee
appointed to investigate and report upon the
practicability Of furnishing water supply for
tho arid lands Of tho West and Northwest.
This committee is to met in st. Paul next
month, and committee Of tho citizens Of Hu-
ron has been appointed to invite them to visit
Huron and witness an artesian we'll In opera
ton, aud an effort will be made to have the
committee visit Jamestown. Tho LaMoure
County Chronicle Of last week contains a long
article on this subject from which We make
the following extracts:
The results which may be accomplished by
not made study Of the subject These wells
we're introduced into hot and rainless Algeria
many years ago, BY the French, and turned
large portions OF desert into fruitful soil. That
they would furnish living streams for old wa
ter courses, I'LL the dry sloughs, and supply va
por material which Is supposed to return in
local showers, have been generally conceded
ia. But the scope Of their usefulness is not
confined to these indirect influences. according
to testimony now furnished, for 1t is said that
these wells may be used for irrigation-for tho
application Of water direct to growing crops
not in exceptional cases only, but over by far
the greater part Of the Dakota plains. This is
very important II true for 1t places the solution
OF the water problem Immediately In the
hands Of the people themselves. On this point
We quote the following from the Aberdeen
News Of July 11th:
"TRR1GAT1OS-A BROWN COUNTY FARMERS
OBSERVATIONS.
S. NJ. Gibbs, resident Of Riverside town.
ship was in the city last evening Oh his way
home from All extensive trip through Arizona,
New Mexico, Utah. Colorado and Southern
California. He left Brown county the first OF
juno and has been putting in the tune investi-
eating the irrigation systems Of the above men,
few minutes conversation with MIR. Gibbs,
during which the latter was profuse In his eX-
pressiOns of the beneficial results Of Irrigation
aud the success sure to attend It II taken up in
Dakota. In the sections which he passed
through the supply comes largely, Of course,
from rivers and mountain streams, but OH
many occasions he had opportunity to inspect
large tracts Of land which were supplied will,
artesan wells alone, and whicl, were practi-
cally deserts before reclaimed by way OF luois-
ture drawn from the bowels OF the earth. At
Riverside, CAL, he found that the main supply
came from the wells and tho Gage system OF
water works, and here the results had simply
been magnificent.
"Mr. Gibbs talked at length of the devices
and plans whereby the ground Is thoroughly
saturated with moisture be It rugged and
mountainous or fairly level. Tho News has
not space to note them, but the thorough irri-
CATION Of nakota's prairies-even in their
~ cs4t4 a
eide OF what has been accomplished In the
section which Mr.. Gibbs visited. In his opin-
ion, the success of the system in Dakota is
hardly matter Of speculation, hut 10 ~ good
as assured from the very start. To be sure, the
hest results might not he obtained at the out
set, for It requires skill and experience to sue
cessfully irrigats aud regulate the supply Of
and no moro or no less. Tho ditching. of
course, 10 attended with some expense, but he
believes the loss OF one good crop would
amount to no more than the cost.
"Wherever he had opportunity Mr. Gibbs
consultod with practical engineers with refer
sink the we'll at the highest point on the land
sought TO be irrigated. Here large basin is
formed, the water In which will be several
feet deep. From this the bitches may extend,
following the elevations and rises In their va
rI0us crooks and turns and 30 placed that the
water may be run from either side onto tracts
devoted to crops. Temporary dams can be
put in and the water handled with practically
tho greatest Of case and convenience
''This statement of Mr.. Gibbs, based on 70
cent observations, and opening prospect that
artesian wells are practicable for purposes Of
irrigation, In this region, presents the question
10 such forcibIe light as 70 justify prompt
and general movement of the people of La
Mours county, not only in approval Of the ac-
tion taken BY the county commissioners, but
In the form Of a unanimous petition for state
and congressional help in the establishment OF
an artesian well system. 1t would ba a good
give 1t an emphatic endorsement"