Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1889-08-02
Arte.ian Wells and irrigation.
STERILE, u, r,

Hope (Steele County, Pioneer: The
subject of artesian wells and their app|i
cation to the purposes of irrigation is at
tracting a great deal of attention at the
present time throughout both of the D,
kotas, and already number of counties
have appointed committees for the pur
pose of presenting the matter to the u.
S. Senate committee appointed to invest
igate and report upon the practicability
of furnishing a wafer supply for the arid
lands of the West and Northwest. This
committee is to meet in st. Paul, and Il
committee of the citizens of Huron has
been appointed to invite them to visit
Huron and witness an artesian we'll in
operation, and an effort will be made to
have the senate committee visit James,
town. The LaMoure County Chronicle
of last weckScontains long article on
this subject, from which we make the
following extracts: u
"The results which may be accomplished by
artesian wells will surprise those who have not
made study of the subject. These wells were
introduced into hot and rainless Algeria many
years ago BY the French, and turned large por-
tions Of the desert into fruitful soil. THAI they
courses. till the dry sloughs. and supply vapor
! material which is supposed to return in local
showers. have been generally conceded as
But the scope of their usefulness is not confined
10 these indirect influences for it is said tlInt
these wells may be used for irrigation for the
application of water direct to growing crops
not III exceptional cases only, but over hy far
the greater part of the Dakota plains. This is
very IMPORTANT true, for it places the solution
| of the people themselves On this point we
quote the following from the Aberdeen News Of
July II:
III HRIdAr'oH-A sRoowN oUNTx FARMERS Or
sERyATIONs.
"'S. M. Gibbs, a resident of Riverside town.
ship. was in the city last evening his way
home from an n, extensive trip througl, Arizona.
New Mexico. Utah. Colorado and Southern Cali
fornia He left Brown county the first of dune,
and has been putting in the time investigating
states and territories. Our reporter had Il few
minutes conversation with Mr.. Gibbs, during
| which the latter was profuse in his expresssons
of the beneficial results of irrigation ami the sue
cess sure to attend it If taken up in Dakota. In
| the sections which he passed through the supply
comes largely, of course, from rivers and noun
portunity TO inspect large tracts of land which
We're supplied with artesian wells alone, and
which were practically deserts before reclaimed
| the earth. At Riverside, Cal, lie found that the
main supply came from the wells aud the Gage
system OF water-works, and here the results had
"'Mr. Gibbs talked at length Of the devices
| and plans whereby the ground is thoroughly
saturated with moisture, be 1t rugged and noun
| famous or fairly level. The News has not space
! to note them; but the thorough irrigation OF
Dakota 8 prairies-even in their roughest spots
would seem as nothing alongside of what has
been accomplished in the sections which Dir.
Gibbs visited. In bis opinion the success of the
system in Dakota is hardly matter of specull-
ton, but is as good as assured from the very
start. 10 be sure, the best results might not be
obtained at the outset, for 1t requires skill and
experience to successfully irrigate and regulate
the supply of Water that IL is just sufficient for
the crops and no more and no less The ditch
ing, OF course, would be attended with some ex-
pense, but he believes the loss of one good crop
would amount to no more than the cost.
wherever lie had opportunity Mr. Gibbs
consulted with prac.ica engineers with refer
ence to this work i'll Dakota. Their plan is to
sink the we'll at the highest point the land
sought to be irrigated. Here large basin is
formed, the water in which will be several feet
deep. From this bitches and sluices may extend,
following the elevations and rises in their varl-
water may be run on to the fields OH either side.
Temporary dams can be put in and the water
handled with practically the greatest of ease and
convenience
This statement of MIR. Gibbs based OH recent
observations, and opening prospect that arte-
sian wells are practicable for purposes OF irrga-
ton in this region, presents the question in suc
torcible light as to justify prompt and gene
raj movement of the people of LaMoure county.
not only in approval of the action taken by tho
county commissioners, but in the form of a
unanimous petition for state and national help
in the establishment of an artesian-well system.
1t would be good plan to hold meetings al va
rous points and give it an emphatic indorse-