Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-12-27
Let US Have Practical Irrigation.

as mercnanCaDie.
Let US Have Practical Irrigation.
The following is from a correspondent
of the Pioneer Press writing from Athol,
8. D., and shows the great benefit Ar
tesian water will be to the state when
properly applied in sufficient quantities:
One OF the most important questions
before the coming legislature will be re-
garding the question Of sinking wells for
irrigation and other purposes. That
there will be a general inclination to re-
duce the expense OF the state government
to a minimum, there is no question, yet
there is also a determination on the
part OF the taxpayers to secure such leg
islation as will insure a practical trial OF
the artesian well system, both by irriga-
ton and surface, lake and stream sup
plies so that the theory OF attraction in
this manner may be demonstrated
throughout the artesian belt.
EThe third biennial report OF the state
engineer of irrigation is now in the hands
OF the printer, and from the proof sheets
many questions OF interest are deducted.
Among the many reports OF experiments
OF irrigation are the following: Lorenna
Boswell Of Condse, Sphinx county, has
this, his second year, tested a ten acre
tract, with the following results: Gar
den truck to the amount of over 81, 500
has been sold, while the expense OF dis
tributing the water was but $50.
W. o. Bisserund, Cavour, Beadle coun-
ty, irrigated pineteen acres, for which he
paid the township 81 per acre for the
water. Result: Wheat, 80 bushels per
acre; oats, so bushels; onions, $50
bushels, and potatoes, uncultivated, 80
bushels.
Alonzo Melville Huron: Wheat, 80
bushels; oats, % bushels; potatoes, $50
bushels; millet, 4 tons per acre, Mr.. Mel
vile will irrigate sixty acres next year,
and claims that the extra crops each
year would pay for the sinking OF a well
each year.
The above are only three of more than
n score OF testimonials published by Mr..
Fassett. Mr.. Fassett states that the ex-
pense of o three-inch well, which would
naturally flow say 900 gallons per
minute, should cost not to exceed ST..
700, and a four and one-half inch well, at
a cost OF about 81, 900, should irrigate
from $40 to l 200 acres.
One experiment shows that the flow
taken direct from the well, 81 days flow,
IT 1-2 days labor, flooded 100 acres
from s to II inches. This year there
have been fifteen wells sunk under the
law OF 1889, and eighteen under the law
OF 1898, while there have been scores OF
personal or individual wells sunk.
There is no question as to thefuture OF
South Dakota, provided a water supply
can be obtained, and there is also no
question but an abundance OF water can
be had over a part OF the territory pro-
vided means a be obtained to bring it
to the surface.
There are many theories as to the best
manner to secure such means, but the
general impression is that it must be
done in som manner by the state, and
under state supervision. Take, for in
stance, the proposition to sink four wells
in each township. These wells can be
and a half-inch well in size. Six per cent
bonds could be foated at par, and the
interest thereon would be less than 90. so
per quarter section. This water could, in
most sections, be used for irrigating pur-
poses, and it could all be run through ra-
vines, creeks and streams into
dams, small lakes and the like, and the
amount OF water on the surface would
attract rainfall, ~eyaporate in dews and
kill all the hot winds. 1t would not
only increase largely the yield OF grain
and grass, but it would also supply an
aburdance OF water, which would make
South Dakota the greatest stock grow
ing state in the Union.
This question the farmers have deter
mined to make the one and all absorb
ing one before the coming body OF law
making.
The irrigation convention which has
Just been in session at Kearney, Neb.,
have gathered much valuable informac
ton upon various irrigation processes
from which we select as follows, as be-
ing particular interesting to farmers in
the Dakotas: William Stafford, of Jules
burg, gave his experience with irriga-
ton by mea OF windmills and reser.
voirs. A good reservoir, he said. can
be built by banking up the sod, turning
in the water and allowing stock 10
tramp down the wet ground. 1t wiIl
soon hold water as well as If cemented,
lie did not think water could be pun p
ed with profit ii raised more than so
feet, and believed that pumping water
was too expensive. All kinds of soil can
not be handled in the same way, and
each man must determine for himself
how land should be treated. In raising
potatoes the water should be run by the
side OF and below the potatoes rather
than on top of them.
Mr.. Benson, OF McCook, said he had a
great deal OF experience with alfalfa.
and had raised hundreds OF acers with
irrigation, but it was only 10 TO 30 ieet
TO water. de cautioned people not to
SOW more than an acre the first year as
an experiment.
w. X. AcSers, OF SCOTS Bluff county.
said alfalfa and stock were the most
prontabie thing q farmer could raise.
and would not SOW over 10 pounds Der
acre.