Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1893-06-02
INTERESTING REPORT.
rae PHYSICAL FEATURES OF
DAKOTA.
An Interesting Repors.

THERE has just been issued BY tho
Weather Bureau 1t Washington y most
interesting and important report bear
ing upon the climatic conditions Of the
two Dakotas. IT was prepared under
the authority Of = .Oint resolution in
trod uced by Senator Psttigrew on FEB
rusry "a ls9a, and the work was con.
ducted by Lieut.. John L. Finley
Nothing that has come before the peo-
pie interested In these " states is OF
more absorbing I'm portanee than this
report and it is replete with sugges-
tiOns that should be examined 6y the
citizens OF that northwestern TERRITORY.
In the first place, a vast amount OF
data was carefully collected and the
analysis thereof has largely been made
with the view OF throwing s me light
upon the fundamental causes OF the re-
peated drOughts on the northern
plains. The data have been selected,
arranged and analys ed to broadly
cover the field OF investigation and
suggest lines Of compai alive study and
research to those who may desil 9 t o
pursus the subject, especially In cer-
tain directions. While South Dakota
has the greatest number Of weather
bureau stations, their distribution is
not altogether as satisfactory rs in
North Dakota. Tn the whole, .this re-
port presents TO the public the most
complete. comprehen i've and accurate
collection OF meteorological and eli.
matoiogtcal data eve published for the
~ Is importaht 70 note nat
the records 'hc'ode the year 1851 III,
the aecoh. OF
when mas ehta''ea mucn iaoo,' Tvs
scope o. TINS report wiii aHord opppr
tnhity ,of Vaiiao'e stuoY IN cohhecs'on
Win me snoIect o. Irrigation WI :"
othef directions Inc hethoas Oh eA.
animation are De'ieVeu 10 % s'mp'e anu
piact'eai ana IL - expected tha' Sno
information furnished WIZ oe "llhih
reach Of me agricultural anu CONNER
ca. classes
ne region "hher 'he u,scussioh w
she feportehh braces over lou, ooo SQUARE
mics, an era ABOUT hve t,nies as great
rs the who'e OF New fhgiahn. lts ek-
IRENE length from north. 10 sonth IS
aoout $50 miies III me with from
east TO west IS $40 miles. inc river
systems OF the IaRotas are very eNteh-
slve and OF coMmercia' value to the az.
r,cu1turai ana commercial interests 81
the STATE: "Ithii Inc Va''ey OF Tue
lanes, or Dakota river ihe
aftes,an we'is III me wof'd nave oeen
ouhu, Tue possio'itles IoF winch iof
Irrigation are enormous. Inc extra
ordinary supply OF motive power along
the rapid decent OF the Big SIOUX River
furnishes opportunities lor manutac-
turing n other Industries OIL great
commercial Vaiue. Inc Two ahntas
are estimated to nave a water surface
OF ABOUT i, 800 square miles. ne gen.
Graz contour OF the Whoie 'erritoly ~ .
vast uhduiatlnR plain, stopinS grad
ually from west 70 eest.
AFTER going somewhat INTO detal'
concerning the topography oil the
states, Llent Finley says. line topo-
graphical snd geological surveys OF
the akota are yet Tar TOO neon piete
10 urnish data upon "hiIh 10 oase
more than a very general ana rather
Imperfect description OF thelr phvslca'
characteristics. IL Is EVIDENT rom the
at hand that there are
marked local pecnliarities IN spite OF
what appears to be . sameness o! sur
face. Under such circumstances CORE
spending vagaries oil climatic cohdi'
lions may be expected when can only
Do satisfactorily known AFTER the mos
extensive and thorough system OF mete
-
curate photographic survey OF ootf
states.
The " considerable area Of fores
Is to be found In the two mountain lie
glons, In the black Hills there is esti
mated 10 be about 400 square miles O.
wooded area. Along the river oottom'
ana aoont tne are occasional
heavy vrowths OF timber ms United
states geological survey III iss9 estl
mated the approximate area IN square
miles OF timber and In North Dakota
river oottomsl as "oo: IN south )akot;
2,sOo square mics, oniy 4oo OF whlcl
em ace m~erchantaDle tlmoer. Ih'
cultivation OF FOREST trees 10 ootn Ia
kotas began III 1854, ana Vefy sasisIac
tory results nave followed TINS enter
prise,
turning 10 the SUBJECT OF precipita
ton. Lieut. fihley says that an accu
rate knowledge OF the ralnlali OF an
considerable area OF ountry - indis
pensaole 10 q estimate o
It's pFodncttVehess. Inc hoame
source OF material prosperity and com
merclai supremacy OF u country lie
III the OF the SOL, the deVeiop
ment OF when depends upon IN
amount distribution OF stmospheri
pIec'piS"'ioh u'!oeS v"'o"sn '"c III
strumentaiity OF lrrlRation. ~ Is tn
most important e,emen1 aside !roI
evaporation, % also the most o'Ihca
loi enoiv"eu sS."n n u1e
area EN- Oy the DAkOtaS, inc ilW
tied number Of stations for observation
.rd the l.ck ~ uniform and con Tin II
~ "'..s .n-n. ~ 49,. 49,.
Gus methods OF Work ~ all places, fen
der the data submitted inadequate TO
n satisfactory ~nrasentati az IN
ss.n -ss.y $50 = 49, MISC,
TAinisif' especiaiiy west VI .ho nlissoui
River. The photography OF b Dako
fas ~nresent ~neculiar features Of loca
Li.c.nao ~. 800, no, nIica hlo ~,
u'eouIo 'u"s 0
typographical Influences alone. How
over. the averages OF precipitation shO,
th.ttha 1,Horor.. ha,waor tho sho,
sneS - uinoAouS0 ~"
RECORDS In North DaxotA IN Inc WINE
(dry) months, are about G5 per cen
greater than these eyistinp between IN
... -. .La .ont...n :;