Omaha daily bee., 1895-09-29
IRRIGATION IS PROFITABLE
Some Results Attained by Using Artesian
Wells in South Dakota.
HAS CEASED TO Be AN EXPERIMENT
Cost Is Comparatively Small ana the
Returns, ms Compared with Nom
Irrigated Farms, Demons
strnte Its Utility.

CHAMBERLAIN. s. D., Sept. 2s.-(special)
The question considered of the
most vital interest to South Da-
kota Is the irrigation question. While,
perhaps, not judicious statement to
make, 1t is nevertheless true that in con-
siderable portion of the state reliance in the
future must be placed largely, If not solely, in
irrigation. Otherwise, with the comparatively
few favorable crop seasons by reason OF
sufficient natural moisture, the state, outside
OF few counties, cannot support Its present
population. The time has arrived when this
fact must be looked squarely in the face, and
mere idle sentiment must be cast aside. 1t Is
admitted with truth that the soil OF South
Dakota cannot be surpassed for productive
ness anywhere in the United States. All 1t
lacks and has lacked to make this section one
of the most prosperous In the union Is SUI
fcient moisture-certainly serious question,
were 1t not for the vast artes!an basin under
lying the state. But with the unlimited
supply of water within reach Of the farmer
of even ordinary means there is nothing to
prevent this state becoming as prosperous as
any in the union, and easily supporting five
or six times its present population.
South Dakota has an area greater than
that of all New England, and its population
in round numbers Is placed at 800 0O0 With
a thorough system of irrigation there Is ample
room and no good reason why the state
should not support population OF l,bOoOoO
or 100000 happy and prosperous people.
And the writer maintains that the solution
of any problem looking to this end Is OF deep
concern to the business interests OF chicago,
the Twin Cities, Omaha and Sioux CITY, Tor
the reason that the prosperity Of South Da-
Lnta NNilI adj In a substantial
prosperity of the cities named by enlarging
the field for their products and manufactures,
and that encouragement should be given to
the present earnest agitation OF the irrigation
question.
PRACTICAL ILLUSTRATION.
During the past few weeks the writer has
made a careful investigation Of the irrigation
question and during this investigation 1t was
natural that the famous Hunter farm, near
the town of Mellette, Sphinx county, should be
visited. This is at present the only pract-
cal illustration In the state of what system
attic irrigation will do The results have
been more than gratifying AS this farm Is
a model OF its kind II will be carefully pat
termed after by others who are sinking wells
for irrigation purposes, and Tor TINS reason
a brief description of 1t and what was ac-
complished this season may be OF interest
and contain valuable information for those
interested in irrigation At this Juncture IL
might also be added that Mr.. Hunter Is so
well satisfied with what has been and can be
accomplished that his farm Is positively not
for sale. Neither am l a candidate Tor any
Office" said he TO the writer, but am trying
to demonstrate what South Dakota can do
I would be ungrateful did not say that the
railroad company has in every way done
everything possible to aid the experiment
The farm Is composed Of 800 acres OF
slightly rolling prairie, and Is about the
average Of South Dakota land. The artesian
well, which supplies sufficient water Tor IT.
rigating a tract OF 1,2O0 acres, mas very
heavy eight-inch pipe down to sand rock
There the diameter was reduced, ana SIX
inch pipe reaches the remainder Of the dis
tance down TO the artesian basin, l.o65 feet
below ahe surface. The normal flow OF the
well is 1.200 gallons per minute but IL Is not
permitted to flow its full capacity-only from
$50 to 7S0 gallons per minute. The well was
put down four years ago and cost $4,000. The
same we'll could now be sunk for $4,000.
STORING THE SURPLUS WATER.
Adjacent to the well is circular reservoir
covering five acres Of ground 1t is con-
structed on the highest point OF the farm, at
an elevation Of two and one-half feet. Three
feet to the mile is good fall for irrigating.
The banks of the reservoir are formed by
earth, thrown to height of five and one
half feet, and twenty-five feet thick at the
bottom and five feet at the top. The inside
of the wall thus formed has slope OF two
feet to one. This season breakwater con-
structed OF lumber prevented the water from
washing the banks, but workmen are at
present engaged in rip-rapping the inside OF
the reservoir with stone. This will reach to
q height of four feet from the bottom OF the
resel voir. The stone wall will add greatly
to the appearance and permanency OF the
reservoir. and make 1t sufficiently substantial
to last a lifetime. The original cost or the
reservoir all work hired by the day, was
$3.50. The cost of rip-rapping the interior
with stone will be about $500 additional, as
the stone had to be shipped in. Where the
stone can be obtained on the farm or on
adjoining land expenditure Of $500 would
suffice.
The openings from the reservoir into the
bitches are large enough to permit volume
of water two feet square to flow forth when
a full head Of water is on. Each OF the
bitches follow ridges slight elevations,
and the fields on either hand can be flooded
without difficulty The bitches are about
six and one-half feet wide and two feet
deep. 1t has been stated in newspaper ar
tcles that the bitches should be kept full
of water, but this is incorrect. While the
land on either side is bsing irrigated is the
only time the bitches should be well filled
Otherwise the water would soak through the
earthen banks of the bitches and crops
would, as a result, be drowned out. After
the adjoining land is irrigated the water in
the bitches must be kept below the level of
the field.
The mode Of irrigating which experience
has demonstrated TO be the best is to divide
of a field designed to be irrigated by throw
ing up lateral rdges-not bitches, as some
writer's assert-and then making a break in
the ditch opposite the land to be flooded
permitting sufficient water 10 run over the field
to thoroughly soak II. Then the break in the
ditch is repaired and another made opposite
the land embraced within the next lateral
ridges and so on until the entire field or farm
is carefully irrigated. These ridges are so
low that they do not interfere in the least
with the proper cultivation OF the land.
ADVANTAGES OF THE RESERVOIR.
The principal thing is volume of water,
and this is the advantage OF the reservoir
system. When the reservoir is full OF water,
and the gate two feet square. which leads to
the ditch is opened, a volume of water two
feet square, of course, bursts forth into the
ditch, The opening in the ditch should be
about four feet long and as the bitches are
about two feet deep, a solid volume of water
four feet wide and two feet deep rolls out.
and the force Of the water behind 1t will
push 1t clear across an ordinary sized field.
The well on the Hunter farm will fll the
6ve-acre reservoir in eight days while this
amount OF water can be used in thirty-slx
hours Still the we'll would easily irrigate
1000 acres of land, for when the ground Is
once thoroughly soaked It takes very little
water 10 keep II in moist condition.
The bitches. when all work is hired done
cost about 80 cents a rod, but when once con-
structed are easily kept in good condition for
years. Mr.. Hunter has learned from ex-