The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-28
ARTESIAN IRRIGATION.
Col. Nettieton Tells Of His Observe
tions In the Oakotas.

tIOVo wv tuto SdNOtdus
Col. K. 8. Nettelton supervising en-
gineer OF the artesian wells investiga-
tion ordered by congress two months
ago, arrived in Washington on the
18th inst. from the fields Of investiQa-
tion. He said to correspondent
that he had Travelled in all over IL, 900
miles. having covered the ground twice
from Dakota to Texas. The result OF
the inquiry, considering the brief time
allowed for 1t, is quite satisfactory.
Col. ettleton agrees with the geolo.
gists, Prot. Hay of Kansas and Prof.
G. +, Culver OF South Dakota, that
the Dakota artesian water basin is
without doubt one oi the largest and
OF the most permanent character
found in the world. Prof. Hay,
with the three geoIogists engaged
in the investigation OF the north
ern field, Culver Of Dakota, Hicks
of Nebraska and Bailey of the Black
Hills, will meet at Omaha on the Sth
to compare notes and correlate their
deductions. 1t is Prof. Culver's be-
lief, and in this Messrs. Nettleton and
Hay agree, that the James River val.
ley basin and that in Northeast Da
kota, which is marked by the wells at
Devils Lake, Tower City, Grafton and
Grandin, as we'll as the numerous shall
lew flowing wells in the Red River val
ley, are supplied from different sourc.
es. The eastern limit OF tine great
To 81; fNU Iu pf y
is probably west OF Devils Lake. The
basin in the noI theast part of North
Dakota is believed to be supplied by
the drainage waters and precipitation
OF a large area OF that state and OF
Manitoba. The northwestern limit
of the James river basin is found, 40
far as the outcroppings OF the Dako-
ia sand stones show, in the neiohbor-
hood Of Fort BufOrd.
FED FROM THE ROCKIES.
Prof. Culver has examined west as
far as Great Falls in Montana, and
found the same strata. Indications
all point to an artesian basin ranging
from $50 to 450 miles in width, fed
from the Rocky mountains precipita-
ton and following generally in it's
course the great lines Of the hydrcloe-
zeal basin OF the Missouri river from
northwest to southeast. There is ev-
cry reason, then, to expect perma.
nent supply within the limits indicat-
ed. Engineer Nettleton does not, how
ever believe that the people OF either
North or South Dakota from the Mis-
souri, river eastward will have to de-
pend permanently for agricultural sue
cess upon srtesian or any other arti-
ficial irrigating supply. He believes
that the development oi the artesIan
basin will greatly help the agri-
cultural development, but that the
equitable distribution WHICH will un-
doubtedly follow continued culti-
walton will be the final solution OF the
drouth difficulties OF the region. Stor-
age from artesian wells and numerous
small lagoons OF both Dakotas will
greatly aid in the more permanent
distribution cf rainfall. He is satis-
fed that the encouragement already
given to the settlers, not alone in the
Dakotas, but all over the great plains,
by act OF congress providing Tor the
investigation has already compensat.
ed for the outlay. While it 10 not
considered positively settled, yet all
the reports received by Col. Win
ton, the agent in charge, and by Col.
Nettleton, the supervising engineer,
there is reason to believe that this in
vestigation has succeeded in defining
the western rim OF the great Dakota
artesian basin, q fact heretofore in
doubt among geoloeists.