Hand County press. (Miller, Dakota [S.D.]) 1882-1893, 1889-12-19
iRRIG CATION!
Hand COunty's First Steps
Towards a Grand
Future.
The Opportunity Afforded from Dam
Ing clutches Etc.

No question now under discussion so
nearly affects the very foundation of
western states as a means of supply
ing moisture for growing crops at time
when such moisture is needed, and when
nature may fail of her duties as irrigation.
Without entering into detailed discus
sion of what irrigation can and will
do for the farmers of the north west the
PRESS takes pleasure in recording this
week the first steps that have been taken
in Hand county towards overcoming the
difficulties heretofore experienced farming
in dry seasons. Elsewhere in this paper
will be found notice for sealed proposals
for putting down an artssian we'll in Rose
dale township, 1l0.66, which starts the
ball rolling for irrigation under the terri
torial law of 1887.
This law makes the probate Judge of
each county ex-officio artesian well COM
missioner, and upon the application of ten
or more citizens Of any locality, the COM
missioner instructs tie county surveyor
to examine said locality to see If irrigation
as desired is practicable. Upon the sur
veyors recommendation the commissioner
calls together the artesian we'll board, con-
sisting Of the chairman county commits
sioners, county treasurer and probate
(or now county Judge. This board levies
a tax upon the land to be benefited, TO
defray expenses of well and irrigation,
then makes its report to the county COM
missioners who order the work to proceed
If all is satisfactory.
Another application is now in for q well
in Spring Lake township, which will be
acted upon soon. If this latter we'll
proves success r. A. Sherman, Of the
same township, says he will sink private
well for his own use.
One of the most practical suggestions
upon irrigation reaching the PRESS comes
from the irrepressible Major Campbell, of
the gulch, which is not restricted to as
small an area as would at first seem in
this county. The Majors idea is to make
a large lake at the west end of his eulch
to be filled from the springs and by the
extensive water shed furnished by nature
during the wet season each spring. From
this LAKE many acres could be irrigated Of
the gently sloping plain which extends
from the hills for from three to eight
miles ncrthward. This is certainly
very feasible and inexpensive method Of
irrigating many farms lying upon the
slope of the Rec Hills. Large lakes can be |
made higa up in the many guiches and !
the natural flow of water from spring rains
would soon fill these reservoirs. to be !
preserved to such time as needed by fail |
ure of rainfall. The Rec Hills, Wessing- |
ton Hills and Bald mountains in Hand |
county afford opportunities to the citizens |
living near them to irrigate thousands of
acres by daming mp the Rulches. Now
who will take the first step in this |
direction. Prompt action is required, and |
the dams should be made this winter.
The artesian we'll meeting held in Miller |
last summer appointed committee to in |
That committee was
composed of Chas. Thomson. Glen |
dale township; b. X. Purkey, Alpha
S. L. Sage, st. Lawrence; g. II. Carroll
Miller.
They met at the office Of G.. II, Carroll |
last Saturday for general consultation and !
of notes, and the following |
report is furnished the PRESS by the |
Secretary:
at was decided that the number of said
committee be increased by adding the
following named gentlemen : S. s. Keeler,
F. d Ensign and A. Sebring.
The following we're appointed q COM
mittee on legislation S. f.. Sage, b. X.
Purkey and s. S. Keeler.
The following were appointed COM
mIttee ON experimental wells 4: Chas.
Thomson, G.. L. Pinkham, G.. II. Carroll,
F. d. Ensign and A. Sebring.
Meeting adjourned to meet in Miller, |
Jan. 4th, 1890.
CHAs. THOMSON, Chm'n,
G. H. CARROLL, Sec,y."