The Hot Springs star. (Hot Spings [Hot Springs], Dakota [Dakota Territory, i.e. S.D.]) 1886-189?, 1890-08-08
ARTESlAN IRRIGATION
HOW 1T HAS BEEN UTILIZED
IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

HOW 1T HAS BEEN UTILIZED
IN SOUTH DAKOTA.
esuti of the Canal System Illustrated
Irrigation Advocates Glad to Know OF
fowrll's Defeat-A Field of Wheat Which,
Dcfiex Droutll and Hot Winds
Advocates Of q system Of practical irri-
CATION by means of artesian wells, in
South Dakota, are glad to know that Mai.
Powelfs pet scheme for q preliminary
survey" has been sat down on by congress.
People in South Dakota know for a GER
tainity that IN inexhaustible supply Of
water underlies the southern portion of
the state aud all that is necessary is to tap
it and the 'liquld' will gush from the
"original package" to refresh their thirsty
fields end cause them to bring forth
abundant harvests. The probability that
South Dakota will 1901 be provided with
money sufficient to put down a number OF
artesian wells for irrigation purposes is
very encouraging to those directly inter-
ested In the subject. Maj. Coffin, state
engineer of irrigation, believes that $780,
COO will be a fine start, aud it will be
thankfully received. He is of the opinion
that the results obtained on the farms Ire
rigated in the vicinity of Huron the present
season will be such rs to prompt many
farmers to try the experiment for them
solves next season. Arrangements are al
ready being made for putting down a mum.
Der OF wells in that vicinity, oil to be used
for irrigation purposes. A few days since
II correspondent visited the Dakota Farm
Mortgage company's farm, adjoining the
town of Hitchcock in the north part of
Bcadle county. This farm is being irri-
gated by water from an artesian we'll, and
is attracting tho attention of farmers
throughout The state. The Hitchcock farm
joins the town of the same name. 1t com-
prises 1GO acres and is an unusually arid
tract. About seventy-tive acres of tile
farm is being irrigated, all sown to wheat.
h work ct preparing the tract for water
was lone by W. II. Hedger, of Redfeld, q
civil engineer experienced IN this sort of
work. The lateral or main bitches
are on three sides of the irrigated
tract, while two others pene-
trate nearly to the csnter of
1t. These bitches are from four to six feet
wide and from l to two and a half feet, as
the surface of the land may require. From
each of these large bitches extend small
canals, raging from three to five inches in
depth and probably six inches in width.
These extend iuto the field at from 40 to rs
feet apart, giving tho field the appearance
of u mammoth checker board.
Tie water for supplying the canals and
bitches IN from an nltesian we'll about
5000 feet distant. The we'll is used for
operating the Hitchcock roller mill, the
waste water going into a large ditch which
extends diagonally across the farm. From
this ditch the water is turned into the
bitches and cannals for irrigating, the flow,
however, being much more than is neces-
sary for keeping the irrigated tract
in proper condition. The work of
flooding the bitches is ACCOM-
plishcd by means of gates, it being but the
work of q moment to open or close them,
From the main bitches the water is
turned into the smaller canals by means of
small box sluices at the head of each canal.
Should it be necessary to food any par
ticular point more copiously than another,
1t is only necessary to open the sluice hox
ut the head of tho canal leading to the
point and the water goes coursing through
the canal to the point desired. In tho
event that rains furnish sufficient moisture
the gate mt the head of the main ditch is
kept closed and the water continues to run
of through the waste ditch. A boy of or
binary judgment can easily care for the
irrigated tract and have several hours each
day to devote to other work.
Upon this farm is growing as fiue a
field of wheat as one could wish to see.
1t was own from four to five weeks later
than that upon n%eighboring fields, but its
growth has beon so rapid thut it is far
ahead of any i'll that locality. It stands
waist high, the heads are long and filled to
the very tips, and the entire field with
stood the scorching winds that did much
damage to other fields. The crop will be
very heavy and ready TO harvest as early as
that grown upon unirrigatcd farms. Tho
experiments OH the Hitchcock farm dem
o~nstrate that irrigation in this part of
South Dakota is not only practicable, but
is cheap and profitable, aud ii will not be
surprising if scores of farmers engage in
liks experiments next senson.
Coal Near Home.