The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-08-24
ARTESIAN WELL IRRIGATION.
No Longer an Enthusiast Dream, bu
Demonstrated Success, Practically
and Financially, A Visit to the
Wonderful Hunter Farm.

Wonderful Hunter Farm.
1t has become quite the thing for peo-
pie interested in agriculture to visit the
now famous farm of Harry Hunter,
which lies 21s miles from Mellette. 1t
consists Of 800 acres and is indeed a
sight worth travelling far to see.
The farm is a beautiful lying piece of
ground and the SOIL is just the famous
South Dakota soil. no bettcr-no worse,
but so good that scientific analysis has
proven that its equal for fertility does
not exist elsewhere on the face of the
whole earth. Water enough, and at the
proper season, IS the only thing needed
to make this the most productive section
Of the world. Generous nature has sup
piled this want and says to mankind
'help yourself, thus showing worthiness,
and you shall receive the help You need.
The needed moisture is at hand, reach
down and tap it; place 1t on the ground
undelstandinglY and in wOrkman!ike
manner and the result is riches, besides
which the product Of the mine sinks
into insignificance."
The we'll on this place is LOGS feet
deep. It's flow is 1900 gallons per min
ute, but it is not allowed to flow its full
capacity, only from $50 to $50 gallons
per minute. Mr.. Hunter says Well
should be allowed to flow only so much
as it will flow clearly, when we'll car
| ries sand or sediment is working itself
out at the bottom and then it is only a
question of time when the we'll will be
spoiled. The pressure with the con-
trOlled flow is amply sufficient to devel-
ope 80 horse power, of which later. This
we'll has a very heavy S-inch pipe down
to sand rock. At that point the diam
eter was reduced and 6-inch pipe goes
from top to bottom. The pipe is the best
and heaviest made. The well cost S3,-
500 when put down four years ago. Such
well can now be put down for $4,000.
In this connection it is we'll to remcm-
Der that 1t is the lower half Of the we'll
which costs and we'll at the depth
needed in this county, 600 feet, at an
outside figure ought not to cost over
$l,500 and probably not over $1,000.
The reservoir contains five acres and is
built on ground no higher than the rest
Of the farm. The banks are made by
throwing up the dirt to hight 5is feet
from the inside with slope of two to
one. A breakwater of lumber is placed
around the inside to prevent the banks
from washing. This is to be removed
this fall and the inside Of the bank is to
be riprapped with stone four feet from
the bottom. The outside is to be planted
to willows. These will grow on the out.
lside aud the roots will go through to the
bank to the inside. Over 20O0 willows
were planted on the inside but the rise
and fall of water and the ice in the win.
tor killed them. This is only a small
example Of money lost by experiment Oh
this place in the last four years. The
cost of this reservoir, all work hired by
the day, was $500.
This fall tie reservoir is to be emptied
and bank thrown across the center, to
face the prevailing winds. This is for a
breakwater and is another sample OF the
knowledge gained by experience and at
the expense Of good money. Those who
make reservoirs IN the future can throw
up the bank or shoal at the time without
extra expense.
| The main bitches should be 6ls feet
wide and feet deep, and should be kept
full of water, These bitches. when all
work is hired done, cost a5 cents rod
There should be four to quarter section,
which would cost 1924 for a quarter OF
1896 for section of land. Small bitches
are only to be used when an odd shaped
piece is to be irrigated or when the
piece is detached or cut up by draws OF
lake beds. The small bitches are of littlt
consequence and are only mater o.
plowing a couple Of straight burrows
The outline Of the bitches given above
are not exactly like those on the Hunter
farm, but are as they should be. Mr.
Hunter has bought and paid for his ex
perience, but lie acknowledges it frankl,
and by explaining what has taken hin
years to learn hopes to benefit others.
The cost outlined above for reseryoi
, and bitches is the actual outlay wher,
, everything is hired. But an owner VIII,
5 worked himself and his own team coul,
, materially reduce it.
. Let us figure on the cost of putting
6i0 acres in shape to irrigate in thi
section Of the state. G-inch well, 60
, feet deep, 1880; reservoir. ) acres, $3.50
bitches, $500; total, *3,046. Take tn
: total expense aside from the bitches
S s1,5i6, which, by the owner working hi
own teams and men, could easily be Gu
: In half, s7773, making total cash cost
at ontslde figure, 50 213.
A half section could be placed in shap
q for irrigation in like manner. Reservoir
: 21a acre, cost, 1926; bitches S4i9; wei
g $1,5O0; total, $2,273. But do the work o
n the reservoir and bitches yourself an
p the cost would be s3S6.50 or total {
0 $1,SS6.50. For n quarter at lcasttwo an
F? better still four should club togethe
Z: place wei. and reservoir near convergin
o corners and divide the whole expense {
S2.273. making cost to each Of $685.
A contract or agreement could be draw
n up to protect the rights Of each party
n the agreement.
n Will this outlay payy This is the fir:
+ years success or the Hunter farm. I'll
" reason is want Of knowledge. Harr
II Hunter spent all his time during IL
farming seasons and every cent he coul
raise for the three years experimentin
working, but working without the knol
:, ledge necessary for success. He WI
~ jeered at and ridiculed. A man wit
less determination and hull dog 81
would have given it up. But Harry VIZ
off EnJ fhof In yUoo On 4ha rirbt frnt