Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1894-09-06
Artes,an Wells.

The Sioux lily Jourhai oi""yo 80"
good word to say OF South Dakota ana
rpdeayors to keep its interests constant
" before the people. A few days ago
that progressive journal contained an
article on artesian wells and their posi-,
BILE benefit to the state. Inc Jourhai
said:
The feasibility of irrigation as a means
of offsetting the disasters OF drouth ID
| no longer questioned, and the possibility
| of artesian wells over a large part Oh the
| state OF South Dakota has been demon
strated to the satisfaction OF all. Ii 10
therefore natural that much attention Is
being paid to the subject OF irrigation
| this A large nnmber oil wells nave
long been in operation in south DAKOTA
aud many more are being bored every
year. There are few years when the
rainfall is 30 evenly distributed through
Out the season as to makeit unprohtaDle
to provide artificial moisture. In years
like the present one i becomes indispen-
sable. r.. ..
The cost OF wells is large, but where 1T
il borne in coInmo by all those Dement,
ed it is small compared to the good 1t
does, A proposition for bonding a part
OF Charles Mix county for the boring oil
| wells is soon TO be voted on, and the
Edyerton News furnishes the figures
made by the county surveyor and board
OF viewers ON the cost and the apportlon-
ment OF expense to the farms adjacent.
1t is proposed to put down nine wells at
an estimated cost OF "a, 500 each. One
well will benefit seventy quarter sections
and will cost them 500 each. Another
will cost 500 to each OF Twenty-Five
auarter sections. The Others will vary
between the two. The nile wells will
benefit 464 quarter sections and the town
OF Edgerton. The cost will doubtless be
less than that estimated and the tax will
be paid in annual installments. But
these statistics show the great posi-
bilities OF the irrigation plan by artesian
water. A large number OF farms can be
supplied from a few wells where they are
located with especial reference to the ac-
commodation vi all the farmers. The
value OF cooperation In this work is an
important matter.
But the law under which wells can be
bored at public expense does not satisfy
the needs OF all parts OF the state. In
Beadle county, Tor instance, the board OF
supervisors has taken the initiative In q
demand for further laws enabling town.
ships or counties to put down wells.
They claim that under the present law
some townships are helpless, and there
is need OF law that will give them greater
powers. Further they ask that credit OF
the state be placed at the disposal of the
artesian well advocates. I'VE believe"
suy these supervisors, that every means
should be exhausted by the state az the
various counties therein, consistent with
the constitution, in providing funds sui
tcient to sink and fully equip an artesian
we'll in every township"
The Washington Springs True Republi-
can approves the idea and urges that in
the selection OF candidates Tor the legis-
laturc the views of the men on this sub
ject should be made known. 1t also
hints that it might not be bad policy for
the state TO utilize the proceeds OF it's
school lands in artesian development
which is impracticable. But all this
shows that the people OF South Dakota
are in dead earnest in this matter and
will not stop until something tangible
has been accomplished. 1t is good year
for the agitation OF the subject.