The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1891-01-09
Practical Demonstration OF the
Noa.ao a -

Mitchell Republican, visit to the
Schlund farms in Blendon township, this
county, revealsa practical demonstration
of what a be done in the artesian flood
land districts OF South Dakota. We pre-
fer not to call it irrigation, for that con-
yeys an idea of an experience and expend-
iture very different from what is required
in the artesian districts of the Jim and
Missouri valleys. Irrigation in the Rocky
Mountain regions implies a re-distribu-
tion Of surface water existing in rivers
or lakes, a project which occasions an ex-
pense of from $40 to $50 per acre to the
land irrigated. The artesian system in
our W state brings to the surface an
additional supply of water which con-
stantly flows and which can readily be dis
tributeL over the land by inexpensive
means. To demonstrate the utility of an
artesian well OH a South Dakota farm let
a practical example be taken:
Henry Schlund owns a quarter section
Of land about fourteen miles northwest
of Mitchell. His land is generally level,
but slopes slightly to the east and south
east. Last summer he had an artesian
well sunk near his barn and a strong
flow of water was struck at a depth of
about $40 feet, the we'll costing him
about 1904. On approaching the farm
on the 3rd inst. it was observed that al
most the entire quarter section had the
appearance of a low, fat piece Of land in
Iowa after it has rained daily for about
three weeks. 1t wasn't all under water,
but water lay in small pools and burrows
all over the place and every foot of land
apparently was soaked and saturated with
the subterranean overflow. On going
up to the well it was nOticed that a crane
neck was attached to the top of the six
inch pipe tnat protruded from the ground
and to this a wooden tube was fastened
in such a way that the stream of water
can be turned to flow in any direction.
From the we'll shallow trenches have
been made in a dozen different directions.
Other trenches and burrows branch out
from these. His well being near the
northwest corne Of his farm and the
land sloping to the east and southeast it
can readily be seen that when the water
is turned into these bitches it flows to
nearly all portions Of the farm. These
trenches are shallow and as they over
flow the water naturally seeks all tho lit
tie low places and soaks into the ground.
By capillary attraction the water pene-
trates from one trench to another. Mr..
Schlund has had this water flowing over
his land for the past six weeks and as he
thinks his ground is well supplied for
the present he is getting ready to run the
flow of the we'll into an artificial lake
or reservoir, covering about an acre of
ground, which he has made by ~excavat-
ing and building earthern banks. When
this shall have been filled it will contain
water about five feet deep. His plan is
to plant willow trees around the enclos-
ure to make the banks permanent, and
then put in a supply of fish. Now Mr..
Schlund, SO far as his own farm is CON
cerned, is entirely unconcerned about
the rainfall, and with the rich soil and
bright sun we have he is absolutely sure
Of a crop, unless %perchance his grain
should be hailed out. Judging from the
experiences of those who have tried this
plan before he will be sure Of % to 80
bushels to the acre, so bushels CT corn
and oats, barley and garden vegetables
accordingly. This beng the prospect
Mr.. Schlund would not trade his farm to-
day for an Illinois farm. His land with
this well thereon makes it worth $40 or
$50 per acre and it would take that to
buy it,