St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-08-03
THE DAKOTA NEED.

1t is no disparagement to Dakota that
it finds an urgent need of more water
give the nee ded activity to the nat
ural fertility of its soil. If there were
numerous forests and groves on every
section, no doubt the precipitation would
be ample. But little Roadway has been
made as yet in this essential, and the
people who have settled the country
generally have small means, and cannot
wait for possible relief in this direction.
There are portions of both DakotaS that
have never failed to grow fair crops;
but large areas in each are suffering
from lack of sufficient rain. With
soil in some sections rivaling that OF
the valley of the Nile in possibilities, its
productive efforts are often shriveled by
lack of seasonable moisture. This is
particularly the case with most of
the Missouri valley and the region 100
miles east. No doubt this is equally
true of the entire country west of the
big river, but away from the Black
Hills there has been little attempt to
grow crops. Even the Red river valley,
the valley of the Sioux and all Eastern
Dakota would be greatly benefited by
use Of the fertilizing element in sutfi-
cheney at the right periods. The yields
of thirty and forty bushels of wheat per
acre would not then be the exception.
If the tendencies of the past few years
are to be continued, there are large sec
tons that must have some artificial sub
stitute for the delinquency of nature or
the people will not take the chances.
The county of La Moure may be taken
as an Illustration. 1t Was represented
before the senate commission in st. Paul
Thursday by committee appointed
by the county board. 1t is in the
James valley, little north of the divid-
ing line of the two states, is an average
county, and has been settled some eight
years or so. In the earlier times it had
numerous sloughs and small lakes, and
considerable streams. Now there is not
a slough not passable for vehicles, but
one little lake not dry, and but
here and there mudhole in the creeks.
The rainfall for June, when specially
needed for wheat, was Isl inches. This
was much less than the preceding year,
and greatly below the average of the
past seven years. Of course there is an
insufficiency of surface water for stock.
The Subterranean streams that seem to
flow under pretty much all Of Dakota
are reached in La Moure apparently at
from 200 to 1000 feet. 1t is claimed
by careful observers that the great
er portion of the DakotaS can be
easily Watered from this source. The
lakes and sloughs could be kept filled,
and afford surfaces for evaporation and
the return in precipitation. The resi-
dents are not able to accomplish this
work. 1t would add good many dol
lars per acre to the productive value of
their land, and they could eventually
refund much of the cost; but com
petent and reliable exploration of the
country with view to the adoption Of
the most feasible and economical mode
of relief is the Immediate requirement.
This can only be met by the general
government. 1t has encouraged the
settlement of that country and taken
several million dollars from the people
who have gone there. 1t is not un-
reasonable that they now ask for some
aid in making the country desir-
bic for residence and a contributor to
the wealth of the land. They have the
soil, climate and everything that is
needed for one of the most prosperous
countries upon which the sun shines;
but the experience of the older settlers
is that a rainleSs period, with dry
winds in the growing era, may nearly
destroy the fairest prospects. A little
assistance from the general government
in inaugurating the most feasible sys-
TEN will enable the states and locali-
ties to carry on the work to the most
prosperous results. With the peril of
drouth removed, the farmer could an
ticipate the future with assurance. and
the country could be relied on to feed
the world in time of need.