Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-01-08
BLACK HILLS IRRIGATION.
The Association Metat Sturgis Last Week
Resolutions Adopted.

I
J Resolutions Adopted.
The third annual meeting of the
Black Hills Irrigation association met
/, at Stnrgis Tuesday and Wednesday OF
: last week. 1t was better attended than
amy previous meeting and was charac.
terized by greater interest, giving as.
surance that the matter of irrigation
will he pushed untiringly by the asso-
citation until it is obtained.
Tho question is one of the most i'm
portant before the people of this sec
tion. and should the idea be aggressive
ly worked out nearly all the arid lands
will hs reclaimed.
\ AT the close of the session the off,
reelected for the ensuing year were
president, j. M. Woods, Rapid City;
vice-president, s. E. Wilson, Hot
Springs; secretary, c. V. Gardner,
Piedmont.
i Excellent addresses were made be-
fore the association by j. B. Fairbanks,
$. T.. Wilson, E. T.. Clough and others
on the benefits to accrue.
After passing the following resolu-
tion the association adjourned to hold
its next meeting in Rapid City:
Whereas, Congress has repealed the
presumption and timber-culture laws,
and there is but one law-the home
stead law. under which title to govern
ment lands can be obtained, and
Whereas, There is large area of
country where small reservoirs can be
constructed for the retention of water
from rains and SHOWS sufficient to irri.
gate "a small part of the many quarter
SECTIONS of lond in the foothill coun-
try of the .arid belt,' and
Whereas. Such lands cannot be dis
posed Of under the present conditions
10y the government,
Now, therefore, be it resolved, That
our legislature should memorabilia
congress to enact law granting to any
person now qualified as the law de-
Sc ribes for obtaining the title to land
nnder the homestead law, the title to a
quarter section of land in said ':arid
belt" who will build reservoir or res
ervoirs thereon of sufficient capacity
to water sufficient to irrigate at least
five acres of land, and who will actually
raise and produce on such land at
least five acres of crop, SO irrigated for
at least five successive years.
Whereas, The state is the owner of
more than fifty thousand acres of land
in Meade county, and large tracts
amounting to over two hundred thous-
aud acres in other Black Hills counties,
and many thousands of acres else
where in the state which cannot be
sold tor the price limited by the con-
stitution under the present condition
Of the country, and
Whereas, There is no revenue de-
rived from said lands, either by the
state "r any county, and
Whereas, If said lands OF any con-
siderable part thereof could be irri-
gated. the state could sell the same for
the price limited by the constitution
and the same would then be on the ac.
tive taxpaying list, and
l Whereas we are of the opinion that
artesian wells can be found that will
furnish sufficient amount of water
to sufficiently irrigate said lands, now,
therefore be it
Resolved, That the state should, as
the largest land owner, devote a sum of
money from the general and school
funds of the state to the sinking of a
number of test wells in proper locali-
ties.in the several counties on lands
owned by the state, to test the practi-
cahility of irrigation by meaus of ar.
te>ian wells in the said several coun-
ties; and be it further
Resolved, That we urge our repre-
sentatives in the legislature to urge
the necessary appropriations to carry
out the matter suggested by these
resolutions.
Resolved. That the association ask
our state legislature to so amend our
present irrigation laws that it's pro-
visions shall apply to canals and res
ervoirs constructed to use for irriga-
ti"n purposes, the waters of natural
surface streams and basins.
Resolved. That we are in favor of a
district irrigation law similar in it's
provisions to the Wright law of Cali
fornia
Resolved. That it is the sense of
this associotion that the assistance of
the Hon S. E. Wilson of Fall River
county. and Hon. G. L. Wood of PEN
nington county, who have, as attor.
neys, taken great interest in the de-
velopement o: irrigation in the Black
; Hills country, be requested to formu-
late some laws to better develop the ir-
rigation interests of the state.
Resolved, That the thanks Of The
association are hereby tenderede the
! hoard of county commissioners fob the
free use of the county court rooms