The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-01-22
IIE UNION.
! EST nr,ACK HILLS PUBLISHING co.
IRRIGATION.

IRRIGATION.
Ep,roR OF The BLACK HILLS UNION.
Dear Slr:-In reply to your request
for d written statement OF my views on
u national irrigation law Tor the benefit
Of the arid region OF the United States
as applicable to South Dakota re-
specially comply.
That irrigation is required absolutely
IN q large arena of the arid region, par
tally in a smaller area, has been fully
demonstrated. Therefore it is unneces-
sary to ATTEMPT to set forth the advan-
tages accruing to n portion OF the IL
riynble lands for agricultural purposes.
This has been seen and is known OF all
observing persons who are at all Ia
miliar with the subject.
President Harrison in his annual mes
sape to the present congress set this
forth completely. Several members OF
the present congress have introduced
hills in each branch with q view to the
development OF artesian wells, storage
basins, etc. Prior to this congress has
expended funds and time, literally. The
committee OF congress on irrigation as
we'll as the surveys and investigation
conducted by the agricultural depart
ment and typographical survey all show
clearly the necessity oil this.
AT a meeting OF the citizens of the sew
IN, states and territories OF the arid
region held in Salt Lake City, Utah, last
Septembcr the following resolutions
were adopted.
THE SALT LAKE PLATFORM.
(Adopted by the Irrigation Congress
September II, 1917
RESOLVED, That this congress is IN Ia,
vor Of granting in trust. upon such con
ditions as shall serve the public interest
to the states and territories needful o
irrigation, all lands now II part OF tho
nubiic domain within such states anc
territories, excepting mineral lands, fol
the purpose OF developing irrigation, tt
render the lands now arid fertile ant
capable Of supporting q population.
RESOLVED, That it is the sense oil TIL:
convention that the committee selected
to propose and present to congress The
memorial OF this convention respecting
public lands, should ask IL preliminary
to the cession OF all lands in the terri
Aries in accordance with the r~cso!n-lnns
~ h.,e convention, a liberal grant tt
anid ferfitories and to the states to bt
formed thereirom, OF the public lands to
lie devoted to bubble school purposes.
Whereas, Larfe areas of public lands
and semi-arid lands, situated upon the
q eat plains ind the Dakotas. western
Nebraska, KANSAS and Oklahoma were
settled upon in food faith by homeseek-
ers, under the f%upposltlon that they
were entering agricultural lands, and
Whereas. The settlers upon such lands
have expended much time and labor up
on the same; and paid into the United
States treasury therefor many millions
of dollars, only to discover that irrisa-
ton, to q greater or less extent, is neces-
sary in making homes for themselves
the. con, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the representatives
of all states and territories directly con
cerned III irrigation, do hereby pledge
their unwayering support to the Just de-
mands OF such settlers, that the general
government shall donate at least IL por.
ton of the funds received from the sale
of such lands toward procurement OF the
means necessaly for their irrigation.
RESOLVED, That this congress heart
MsrriieeaiftGTa1 'depafSfient 81 tic nation;
government in the collection and di:
semination of information; especial
its admirable progress, reports GOVERN
the whole field Of irrigation development
and tAatqWavors large appropriation
Tx hereafter.
Nth Dakota ! should sugscs
R&& 3hcndments to the Salt LAX
first resolution erase the claus
H&Eting mineral lands,' and to IL
6e1frse "for the purpose OF developer
irrigation" add and forestry
As to the second resolution, our stat
has been well provided for
an appropriation OF public lands for a
purposes except irrigation and forcstl
or the reclaIming and Development
the arid lands.
I suggest that with the donation Oft
public lands to the several states an
territories, congress should provide for
loan In proportion to the magnitude {
the improvements and work to be dor
to accomplish the object in view. TIL
would enable the several states an
territories to prosecute the work MOI
vigorously and economically.
As to the mineral lands IN some OF IL
states or territories, it may be best fo
congress to-retain control therein. 4
to South Dakota where we have but
small area OF mineral lands in propo
ton to our agricultural and grazing.
think it far better for all interests th;
the mineral lands should be included
the appropriation, conditioned tn;
they be held Tor exploration and loo
ton with all the privilege that existu
der the general laws. That all iutu
state Legislation as in the past, shou
encourage and facilitate the mining j
terest. TO MS the timber growing on Il
lands held for exploration etc. as mine
al land is Of vital Importance. That
is being shamefnlly wasted under Il
provision OF the general government is
fact known TO all who are familiar wiz
it.
That the state OF South Dakota cou
and would provide.for the protection
timber growing on these lands, I ha,
no doubt-also for the sale or distrib,
ton OF same, so as TO be ofmltual-be
eft to all interests.
As to ourfacilitics for procuring, st0
ing and distributing water sufficient i,
rrigating the irrigablc lands in Westel