The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-09-07
arLesisn HcitS.

The Sioux City Journal always has IA
good word to say OF South Dakota and
endeavors to keep its interests constant
ly before the people 4 few days ago
that progressive journal contained an
article Oh artesian wells and their posi-
bic benefit 10 the state The Journal
said:
The Feasibility ol irrigation as means
OF ulisettug the disasters oi droulh is
no longer questioned, and the possibility
o1 arltsian wells over large part OF the
state o1 South Dakota has been demon
stralcd to the satisfaction oil all. 1t is
Therefore natural that much attention is
beng paid to the subject of irrigation
this year. A large number OF wells have
long been III operation in south Dakota
and many more are being bored every
year. There are few years when the
rainfall is SO evenly distributed through
out the season as TO makeit Improbable
to provide artificial moisture In years
like the present one it becomes indlsprn-
sable
The cost Of wells is large, but where it
is borne IN common by all those benefit
ed 1t ls small compared to the good it
does. proposition ior bonding u part
o Charles Mix county tor the boring of
wells is soon to be voted on, and the
LdIerton News furnishes the figures
made by the county surveyor and board
oi viewers on the cost and The apportion-
menI ol expense to the farms adjacent
1t is proposed To put down nine wells at
an estimated cost OF 81 800 each. One
well viii benefit seventy quarter sections
and Will cost them $50 each. Another
viii cost SluO to each OF tweMty-nine
quarter sections. I he others viii vary
between the two ! he niLe wells will
benefit lGi quarter sections and the town
OF Edgerton. The cost will doubtless be
less than that estimated and the tax viii
be pulI III annual instalimeuts. But
these statistics show the great pCSsi
bi!ltles OF the irrigation plan by artesiun
water a large number ol farms can be
supplied from IL few wells where they are
located with especial reference to tie ac-
connAotlttlun vi all the farm. rs. The
value .! CO. operation III this work is an
important matter.
l}Et the Law under which wells can be
bored at pubic expense does not satisfy
the needs OF an parts OF the state. III
EeIdle county, tOr instance, the board OF
Supervisors has taken the initiative III q
demand for further laws enabling town
ships or counties to put down wells.
1nvy claim that under The present law
some townships are helpless, and there
il need oi a law that will give them greater
powers. Farther they ask that credit OF
/ the state be placed ut the disposal Of the
artesian Well advocates. I'VE believe,
say these supervisors, that every nieans
should be exhausted by the state as the
various counties therein, consistent with
,ur constitution, in providing funds sui
tcient to sink and ia.ly equip an artesan
well in every township
The Washington 5 lringS True Republi
can approves ihn idea aud urges that in
,, the selection OF candidates Tor the legis-
! lature 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 its
school lauds in urte-ian development
which is impracilcable. 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 isa good Year
for he agitation of the subject.