Jamestown weekly alert. [volume] (Jamestown, Stutsman County, D.T. [N.D.]) 1882-1925, 1890-10-30
7'HE: IRRIGATION PROBLEM.
Col. NettletOn Returns to North
Dakota to Continue his
Investigations.
The Practicability of Artesian
Irrigation Will be Thorough
ly Looked into.
Numerous Petitioners ask the
Council to Extend the EIec-
tric Light Contract.
More Irrigation Investigation.

More Irrigation Investigation.
Col. z. S. Nettleton, who is in charge
of the government investigation of irri-
CATION by means of artesian wells, is in
the city. The recent session OF congress
made additional provision for this irriga-
tlon survey, and although the present
work is continued under the appropria-
tion made by the last congress, tho scope
of the department has been considerably
enlarged 50 as to include not only study
OF irrigation by means of artesian wells,
but general investigation of the whole
subject Of underground water supply,
and the means of utilizing it for the
benefit Of agriculture. Prof. NettIeton
reports that under this plan of operation
an organization has just been completed
dividing the work into departments of
engineering, geological and statistical
work. or these departments Prof. Net
tleton has direct charge of the engineer
ing bureau, and is assisted by Prof.
Robert HAY Of Kansas, in charge of the
geology. and Col. Richard J. Hinton of
Washington. d. G, who has in charge
the collection and compilation OF statis-
tics relating to irrigation and under
ground water supply The colonel is in
consultation here with Senator Casey
and others interested in artesian irriga-
alton and will probably organize his field
work for North Dakota from this place.
The work in North Dakota will be con-
tinued until prevented by the severity of
the weather. A report must be made to
congress by July, 1891, and after going
through North Dakota the force will go
into South Dakota, then to Nebraska,
Kansas, Indian Territory New Mexico,
and Texas. Col Nettieton expects to
stay in North Dakota abont two weeks
In regard to past work in thlsh ED and
his intentions for the future Col. Netlle-
ton says:
The work We now have in Charge is Il
continuation Of that begun last spring
under an appropriation by the last con-
gress, but it has been broadened some
what since it was begun, SO rs to include
also study of the underground water
supply and the means of it's utilization.
The last congress interested itself to a
considerable extent in this matter, and
both Senator Casey Of North Dakota,
and Senator Moody of South Dakota did
good work at the last session for the ex-
tension of this investigation.
The work was commenced during the
latter part of this year and resulted in
some valuable discoveries, and the re-
suits are now in the hands of the public
prin ter, and will be out in few weeks
From the investigation last spring 1T
was found that the largest artesian basin
in the world exists in the Dakotas. The
eastern edge OF this artesian basin stops
suddenly at a line between the James
and Red rivers. Northward it extends
into Manitoba, and the western limit has
never been defined. Professors Hay and
Culver of the geological survey, who
studied the subject with mo last spring,
think the source of supply must be III
the Rocky mountains. If this is true,
the supply of water is limited only by the
the amount Of water the rocks will take
up. From appearances the rock is very
poroug and will hold Il large supply.
Some Of the wells. if allowed to discharge
freely, throw up loose sand as if there
was stratum SO open that the water
and sand were all mixed together.
In the investigation which I am about
to undertake we shall visit, inspect and
report on the present artesian wells,
studying their capacity, depth, general
characteristics of rock strata and the
feasibility of their use for irrigation pur-
poses. In addition we shall investigate
every possible means by which the under
ground water supply may be brought to
the surface, either on the Persian plan
of deep cut canals or the various mechan-
ical powers.