The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-08-30
WATER SUPPLY.
The Convention at Aberdeen OF
Irrigation Enthusiasts is
Largely Attended.
Great Interest Taken In the Var.
ious Addresses Delivered and
the Experimental CaSt $.
Resolutions and Reports Discuss
ed at Considerable Length and
Recommendations Made.


1t il seldom that more rnthuS.
iastic convention OF thinking, earnest
| men, is held than the one at Aberdeen
! on the Goth inst, called to take into
consideration the subject of irrigat on
| for the two DakOtas. The Conven-
! tlOn was held in the opera house, and
was largely attended by prominent
men from ali portions of the two
states, the house being we'll filled. 1t
was common remark, among dele
gates and people, that seldom had
| they heard a question more ahy ano
earnestly discussed, and IT. is believed
permanent good results will follows
Hon. Ira Barnes, Of Aberdeen was
called to tine chair. and DR.. Merchant
of EIlendalr, was madt secretary.
The following list OF committees
was then made up:
Resolutions +. +. Taylor, Columbia. :
Hawkins, Aberdeen; J. +. HHrknrs,. Scat
| trrwood Lake.
Legislation f. II. Hagcrty Abrrd,cn l.
| II. Hole, Huron 4. Chusr Rcdhrll; :. VI
Gibbs, Grutou; W. &. Dickinson, Webster
Canal Irrigation +. \. Brown, Aberdeen
!. u. Clark, MCPHERSON; q. II. G"tmau
Warner, G., II. HOFFMAN, Waiworth; NJ. 4
Rening,r, Wcstport
Artroiau Well Irrigation Rev. Gardner
Roscoe, Chas. Brown. luddrn NJ +. Mrr
ohant, ElIcndale; l.. II. Nrif, Groton; J. NJ
Howard, sphinx county.
Memorial f. +. i, Coffin. Huron, a. W
Burtt, Huron; thaS. Cook. Frederick; Chas
Flanders. Coiumhia. Col. u. VI. Evans
Aberdeen.
Mr.. Charles Cook, of Frederick
spake upon the subject, Is Irrigation
Desirable" expressing the opinion,
among many others, that the yield OF
the two DakOtns can be- Increased bl
irrigation TO twO-thirds over any yet
had in the very best seasons. He was
very emphatic in the assertion that
irrigation was the salvation of the
| country.
Rev Ira Clark, Of Mcpherson coun
| ty, spoke upon the same theme. He
| SAID that when he was asked, lis irri
| cation desirable2' hefelt like saying, Is
sunlight desirable?" He believed the
canal scheme was practicable. Tht
same thing had been done clScwher,
and could be done here, He was in
! favor OF both urtcsian wells and the
! canal. He had been an extensive
Traveller, but never had he seen sucl
rich soil as that of the DakotaS. Give
| il moisture and it would make a see
Ond Egypt. Mr.. Clark : remarks wert
received with every mark of approval
by the large audience.
A sort OF general debate was then
| INDUCED III until noon when the con
ventiOn took a recess until z O'Clock
| p. IN.
AFTERNOoN SESSION.
On re-asscmbling II. s Williams, o
Aberdeen, spoke on "the feasibility
and desramlity of a canal system o
! irrigatiOn' He said he had found
considerable feeling at Washingt on ov
er the two plans. Maj Powell was
! enthusiastic over the project az were
many of the southern and eastern
men In his own mind the artesial
we'll supply was incXhaustible, but II
| was difficult to convince those unln
! formed of the magnitude and power
of the Dakota wells. For this reason
among others the canal proposition
| had been brought forward. He ther
read the following letter from Maj
| Powell, superintendent OF the gcOiOgi
cal survey, which WAS in reply to i'll
formation given him of the call WnC
object Of this convention, that is tC
consider the pructicability OF irrlgat
| ing the valley OF James river from th'
waters Ot the Missouri river, and II
general 20 c0psider the question of ir
/ rigating the two Dakotas.
). rHE LETTER.
khnre now remains no doubt about tn
Il II),ta ance oi irtigatin west of the lo0tl
t{jan, and the time will soon com
n pfl the water OF the White, Cheyenne
s;rand, Cannon Ball, Heart and othe
& tributsry to the Missouri from tn
>FilI be used for agricultural purpose
tst 0f the Missouri there is the erca
~ fke James where agriculture
{1ae&1is,b and highly remunerativ
,Al;on; nevert theless, there ar
lSf<fiyre seasons when agriCu
},y reasons Of great drouti
fhe valley of the James, b.
w {ke Reneral conditions unde
M ke BEEN iormed, is not exCeled i
m md with a proper supply {
" I X IN MI ! boMntifully produce ali crop
eti Wy tho climate. But the rainfa
fexf0n Is always scarce, and in som
"a |ia Distirely insufficient for agriCultur,
|A1N two or more such dry seasons 10
4: Al NATURALIZATION fljsertsr " tbs iarme
= - M + 'the excessive dry &C.
;s:'',s!:ss: Nv: ,sss zss;:::' \: ! |; !; !
! times advantageous. Ia al the civilize
B couhtFies 81 the world, even Ia humid n
!; gions. farmers are gradually resortingm
. and more to irrigation fov the parpose ,
permanently improving the soil AMI ferti
izing the growing crops Water Artificial
supplied 10 the land il the great source
fertilization, compared with which all otl
ers sink into insignifcance. II "A region
! country Is irrigated aud abundant water
:, found Tor the purpose, the dryer the a
, 'nosphere the more luxuriant will be IL
: fegetation. When water is artificially SUI
. piled aridity Is removed. In the centri
belt Of the two Dakotas irrigation wi
? sometimes be. inlperatiyely necessary an
! at all times will be a benefit. The farmer
, Of this y~gion, therefore, should at once la
their plans 10 make agriculture permaneu
]
ton of every source of water which u
! country affords.
) There are four sources Of water supply Il
= this region, which are as follows:
= /. The artesian waters. These sh5u
: be utilized To the extent that they al
! available.
2. The well waters. The supply oI "
e tsr from this source will ultimately
t found 10 De OF much greater extent tha
: the supply from the artesian welh' b'
, such wa ters have 10 be pumped. The saI
beds and other geological formations
! | which such waters are found are Wide
/, scattered throughout the Dakotas, and Il
l waters from such sources can be pumps
} TO the surface without excessive cost,
/ experience in Colorado, Utah, Arizona al
= California abundantly show. In geners
q great areas cannot be cultivated from art
!, | sian and well waters, but they are DO
; valuable supplementary sources for {
!, waters Of irrigation.
y 3. The storm waters OF the region CT
. ! he atpred I'm small lakes or ponds whe