Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-09-05
IRRIGATION.

The third plank in the platform
adopted by the Republican convention
at Mitchell, favors a constitutional
amendment so that our state, counties.
or townships, may maintain system
OF irrigation. All of our readers rea-
lize the Importance of this action. AT
the time the constitution was framed,
the fact that we were subject to long
and severe periods of drOuth had not
been brought to mind, for we were
then in a period of abundant rain fall.
The fact that we need irrigation is adj
mitted by all. Another factno fully
demonstrated, ia, that irrigation from
artesian wells can be successfully prac-
ticed. Those attending the convention
at Mitchell had an opportunity to see
the samples of grain raised on the
Hitchcock farm near Huron, where
irrigation from the artesian well was
used. The wheat was sown April 10Th
The irrigating bitches were not COM
pleted until July LIST, at which time
the water was turned on. The sam.
Piles were from the same field. From
the part of the field without irrigation,
the straw was not over two feet ia
height, and from the irrigated portion
1t was fully four feet, showing rank
heavy growth. with heads averging
from 81 to 4 inches in length, Sam
Piles Of the grain :hoWed as marked a
difference as did the growth of the
straw, one being small, the other plump
and we'll formed. Flax, grown under
the same conditions as the wheat was
also shown. and the difference was
just as marked.
AS to the yield, if oar memory is not
at fault it was six, and twenty three
bushels respectively. We were as
sured by Mr.. Hitchcock that perfect
fairness had been used in selecting the
samples. From conversations with
delegates 1T was learned that in some
counties at least half dozen wells will
be sunk, by private enterprise, before
winter sets in. 1t is the intention of
these parties to make test of the
system next year, on small scale at
least.
In one section, a gentleman who has
great faith in irrigation, is sinking a
large well and is now making contracts
to irrigate hundreds OF acres. at one
dollar per acre.
Considerable difficulty has been OK.
perinced in some Localities in sinking
wells on account of the drills not being
fully adapted to all the geological for
nations of South Dakota. A drill is
now being perfected at Aberdeen that
is doing good work, and it is believed
will overcome all the difficulties here
tofore encountered. Would it not be
wise for communities in our OWE
county to unite in sinking wells; plac'
ing them at points where they will
benefit the greatest number, and thus
provide against drouth another year
| If united action is taken, drilling
outfit cad be purchased on a stock
company plan that will be Of great
benefitto our county next year. Each
stakeholder, or community of stock
holders could either have free use Of
the machine, or pay in a deinate sun
To be returned as dividends. There
would then be little direct outlay IN
sinking well, aside from the tubing
If the direct outlay could in this man
ner be brought down to about $1,000
would it not be possible to find from
25 to so men in many portions OF oul
county, who would be almost equally
benefited by good well, who woule
be willing to unite in perfecting :
scheme on the above plan? There arr
points wehre one large well would ~
chain of lake-beds extending entlrel,
across our county. With our lakes
filled we would be certain OF having
more freqent showers. and the soutl
winds would loose some OF their ter
rors. u- ..,;,
But something more than talk VII
be necessary to accomplish this Il
will require hard work, united actlon
and the yielding of many lnolVlooa
; ideas and preferences.