Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-03-14
Irrigation Convention,

The second annual meeting Of the
Black Hills Irrigation Association held
ut sturgis on the 4th and 5th inst, was
fairly we'll attended, and the occasion
was marked by An unusual degree Of
interest and enthusiasm. Prominent
speakers from various sections Of the
Hills we're in attendance and addressed
the convention upon the important SUBJ
jsct Of irrigation, which was ably dis
cussed by number of them who had
given the matter their attention. The
convention is regarded as having been
2 success in ali respects, and will doubt
less be supplemented with important
practical results.
The committee on organization re-
ported constitution and set of by laws
that were adopted, and the date Of the
annual meeting was changed TO the first
Tuesday in September. The following
RESOLUTIONS were unanimously adopted
Be it resolved: First. That it is the
sehse or this convention that the laHds
of South Dakota are by nature peculiar
ly adapted TO the storage system of irri-
CATION. That we deem it not only oi
great benefit to the citizen. but by rea.
son Of the large quantity of land owned
by the state and federal government
they ought to bs Interested in this
question. That by reason Of the large
quantity Of unappropriated lands be-
longing to the state and United States
and the increased value that must be
added to arid lands by any system oi
irrigation, that both the state and gen.
eral government ought TO aid irrigation
by mos: liberal laws. That right Of way
for bitches and the right to locate re.
servoir sites upon such unsppropriated
lands should be granted TO citizens at q
Rominal price.
Second. That we heartily endorse the
reservoir system and believe it is the
best adapted TO the lands of the north
west, and we earnestly urge upon our
senators and representatives In congress
TO use their best endeavors to secure the
passage Of a reservoir bill at this session
Of congress.
Third. We request the farmers and
stock men of the Black Hills to construc,
reservoirs wherever they can do so iol
the storage of water for irrigation pur.
poses and the use of live stock.
Fourth. We request the journals oI
the Black Hills to gather and publish
information on the subject of irrigation
and aid in securing the necessary legis
lation 10 inaugurate the reservoir sys
tenn.
Fifth. That the general government
could greatly aid irrigation by the con
struction in the northwest OF few
food water canals for experimental pnr
poses, for the reason that if the waters
Of the northwest are necessarily held ir
storage. it would tend 10 lessen th'
overflow of the Missouri river anC
thereby save the government large surn
Of money now annually expended upoI
levees. and that it would be proper anC
right for the general government to as
sist in experiments now under way.
The following officers were chosen fol
the ensuing year: President, ]. M.Woods
vice president, S. L. Wilson secretary
and treasurer, c. V. Gardner. Vic.
f7zisrt;ss-r's 7stss.- 'rHase'sfesae.sswp,'e: pt6ssr: ptssr:
Butte, Jas. Newland; Pennington, V.
McGillicudy; Custer, Ed. Stenger; Fs
River, Fred T. Evans, each vice-presi
dent being the ex-officio president o
his local county organization.