The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1896-02-15
Brule County's Artesian Wells.
The Greatest IN the world,

Inc sSTeatCS1 IN the World.
The artesiar wells of Brule county are the
greatest within n given district in the world
greatest in size of bore greatest in pressure and
greatestin volume of water. They are the
wonder of even the wonderful West and are at
tracing SO much attention ali over the country
that brief description of them seems appropos
at this time.
In early the days of kimbull an adequate water
supply for the town was serious problem.
Chamberlain-ut the west end of the county
constructed II system of waicr-worlis by erecting
pumping plant on the bank of the Missouri
aud forcing the water TO II reservoir upon the
bluffs above the town. As a last resort Kimball
decided to try for an nrtesian we'll. This was
ten year ago. At that time there were outside
of Yanktcn county less Than half dozen arte-
sian wells in the state, and situated Kimball
is, upon the highes. point between the Missouri
and the Jim river. grave doubts were expressed
of ever striking u flow. But the well was suc-
cess, water mains and fire hytirauts were put in
aud II complete system of wate.-works con-
struc!ed ut cost of less than 5000. The ex-
pense of operating the system during these ten
years has been practically nothing and the re-
pairs on the we'll have not exceeded 800. In the
course of n few years Chamberlain abandoned
its expensive pumping plant and also sunk an
nrtesan we'll, and wllie! has ever since fur
nished the town with an abundant supply of
pure water.
FreE, these initial efforts sprans Il desire for
grentcr water supply all over the county other
than that from the ordinary farm we'll. With
an abundance of the most nutritious grasses
known u climate unsurpassed, all it lacked was
running streams to make it ai ideal stock
county and where the business could bo engaged
in on an extensive scale. Under the operations
of a state law The county began the construction
Of township artesiuE wells-the township pay
ing one-fourth the cost, the county one-tenth
and individual holdings the remainder, by
special assessment in proportion to benefit re-
ceived, in five annual payments. Twenty of
these wells have already been constructed and
their magnitude will be more reudily under.
stood when it is stated that nearly everyone of
them is capable of fcrcing water through fifteen
miles of ditches the bitches being about the
size of ordinary meadow brooks. The county
| now has over 800 miles of running Streams, II
| addition to the Missouri on the border. Nc
| county in Iowa and Illinois is so well supplied
with running water. TIE water from the wells
| is of high temperature. varying from 20 to s;
degrees and as puro as spring water, without its
| chilling effect. In addition to the runnint
| streams, large lakes are frequent, the one il
kimball covering % acres and .ffording boatli.s
and fishing in the summer. skating in the wlnt e
| and from which is gathered III abundance o
| the purest ice.
| Curing the past two years irrigation expert
ments on II small scale have been made by indi
| ridnal farmers tapping the streams from til,
| township wells and with such wonderful success
| that private wells are now gong down all owe
| the county. few were put down last year ant
nearly paid for themselves with one crop. b!
the time the planting season arrives in 1896 it il
Safe to estimate that the county will have fort.
nrtrsian wells all told. sending out millions o
gallons of water every twcnty-four hours. Fou
/ extensive irrigation plants will have been con
strncted-one has already been completed-cost
ing from $1,000 to $4,000 each in addition t,
| other private plants on q smaller scale. Owe
10,0O0 acres will be irrigated in 1895 from thes
private wells, and all Of the wells except one o
two are six ard eight inches in diameter ans
flow from so to 60 barrels minute.
| IL is peculiar feature that in no other part o
the state or in the world, for that ma!ter-ar
artcsian wells found Of such uniform pressur
and volume In Brule county. Wells whicl
throw solid six eight inch stream three fee
above the opening of tho pipe common. Til
county appears to be located over the very hear
of the great artesan busin. One of the well
recently put down in tho county throws an eigh
inch column of water twelve feet above til
opening. During test the stream was reduce
to two inches and the tremendous pressure 0
the we'll threw stream of water 1862 feet int
the air. The pressure of the well is 10l pound
to tho square inch and when controlled the wei
developes 50 horse power. The flow from thi
spouter is 1850 gallons miuute or 15a.M
b rres eve:y q honrs.
4 Think Of it!
The artesinn wells in BIule county vary i
depth from $50 to 1,2UO feet, but tho average
less than 1000 feet. They are tcattered all owe
the county nndit is now easy to estimate with
in foot almost ut what depth flow will
struck. The wells range in cost from 81, 900 1
81 600, depending upon size Of bore. The cos
is larsly determined by the labor md cost q
fuel. Six inch wells capable of irri,-ating 81
acres of lard have been put down for $1,000.
Tho wonderful fertility OF prairie soil is
subject of discussion amung all aEriculturalist.
Tho soil of Brule county is not onlythe riches
known but very deep. The fact that the prairi
countries have dry climate is not at all advers
to soil fertility. 1t rather contributes to il
strength. Light and warmth are great ferti
ize.s. Heavy und frequent rains are destructis
! to fertility becesee the chemical properties
the soil that mates it productive are bleache
out and washed away and unless renewed
fertilizers the coil becomes sterile and unpr,
ductiye. Irrigation. however, does not weake
the soil, but strengthens it,
Brule county has raised some magnificel
crorp Of corn, wheat oats, harley and vegetable
: !, before artesian wells were thought Of. But II
advantage of having great volume OF wat
ready for instant use in case Of immergent
even in amy country whrere the rainfall 10 en-
stant and regular in normal years is t60 appa
!. ont to enlarge upon. The climate, soil, u
= grasses, the absence OF deep snow and tEe'Nae
supply makes stock farming md general Ari
ing in Brule county possible on grsatsr saa
4 and at less nnst than almost any sp9 on n
r continent. Capitalists and visitors Ire FREE
stating that Brule u destined to BIO tho gard
county oil the Northwest.