The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1895-04-27
rne Lord He,ps rno.c. etc.

ppVSlal " SlOuh Ealto ARus,
ia day or two since Hon. John II.
Baldwin, state engineer of irrigation,
who had just returned frcm an official
visit to Brule county, talked interesting
ly Of artesian wells and irrigation in
progress there. Mr.. Baldwin says the
county, through its board of commission
ers has taken hold of artesian we'll work
under the law Of 1889, whereby the coun-
ty pays 10 per cent of the expense, the
township in which tho we'll is located
pays % per cent and the lands directly
benefited pays the balance -G5 per cent
according to relative benefits. This is
levied by assessment against the land
and paid as their taxes. In 1890 the coun-
ty commissioners purchased two we'll
drilling outfits and began business. 1t
was thought that men could be hired to
operate the machines and not give the
work out by contract. thus making the
cost to the county much less. But this
plan was not satisfactory, 50 the commits
sioners let contracts and as q result
there arc row in Brule county compile
ted or In course OF construction-nine
teen artesian wells. all for irrigation
purposes. Besides these there are two
wells in Chamberlain, one in Kimball
and two private wells in the southwest
part of the county. The wells average
six inches in diameter and 1000 feet
deep. and much money has been ex-
pended In their construction.
The law under which the work is be-
ing done requires fhe county to issue
warrants cotering all expenses, and
these warrants are to DO paid out Of
money assessed and collected as taxes
against lands benctiscd. Warrants is
sued up to this time, in round numbers
will aggregate about $4,000. No trouble
has been experienced thus far in collect
ing the tax, and un to the 1st of April
something like S37, 900 had been paid in.
A remarkable face about the Whole mat
ter is that nominalIy no litigation has
grown Of The plan only S3S.i0 has been
paid out for "lawing" and this was not
because OF a desire to interrupt the work
but because of d disagreement in the
location of a we'll.
The county Waat,s referred TO arc near
iy all completed and the water is util-
lied for stock and irrigating farms in
their respective localities. bitches con-
structed for the purpose. carry the water
to desired points; these bitches vary, hut
the average is about thirteen milas OF
iditching ia each well==-a few have eigh-
teen miles, Up to last year the water
was mostly used for stock, but since
then irrigation has been in progress
quite extensively, and is being greatly
enlarged the present season. Near
Grand View, where there is an eight.
inch well, 1925 feet deep and having all
immense flow, half dozen or more far
mers will irrigate from twenty to thirty
acres each with water from this we'll; il
is located about eighteen miles south
west OF Kimoall. Claus Arp, who lives
near by, is a believer in irrigation and
was quite successful in that Lire las
!: year. He is i2w Estting downan eight
inch well, has purchased $50 acres ad
joining his home farm and proposes t.
engage in farming on an extensive seal,
, by irrigating. Henry Willrodt is anothe
enthusiastic irrigator and has fin
we'll on his farm. He. like others In th
same locality. ls a practical farmer; the.
work hard, attend to business and hav
, no time TO sit on store boxes, whistl
and talk politics.
Mr.. Baldwin is much pleased wit
what he saw and learned in Brule count
and will soon visit other counties in dis
i charge OF his duties.