Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1897-01-09
Important Resolutions.

The Black Hills Irrigation association
at their third annual meeting, recently
held at Sturgis, passed the following
important resolutions:
WHEREAS, congress has repealed the
pre-emption and timber culture laws,
and there is but one iaw-the home
stead law, snder which title to govern
ment lands can be obtained. aud
WHEREAS, there is a large area of
country where small reservoirs can be
constructed for the retention of water
from rains and SHOWS sufficient to ir-
rigate small part Of the many quarter
sections Of land in all the foothill coun-
try of the arid Belt" and
WHEREAS, such lands cannot be dis
posed of by the government under the
present conditions,
Now, therefore, be it resolved, that
our legislature should memorialize con-
gress to enact law granting to any
person now qualified as the law describes
for obtaining the title to land under the
homestead law, the title to quarter
section of land in the said arid Belr
who will build a reservoir or reservoirs
thereon OF sufficient capacity TO hold
NdiCI w at INucb hNC
acres of land, and who will actually raise
and produce OH 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 ceres Of land
in Meade county, and large tracts
amounting to over two hundred thous-
and acres in other Black Hills counties,
and many thousands of acres elsewhere
in the state which cannot be sold fo-
the price limited by the constitution
under the present condition OF the coun-
try, and
WHEREAS, there is no revenue derived
from said lands, either by the state or
any county, and
WHEREAS, if said lands, or any con-
siderable part thereof could be irrigated,
the STATE could sell the same for the
price limited by the constitution, and
the same would then be on the active
tax paying list, and
WHEREAS, we are Of the opinion that
artesan wells can be found that will
furnish sufficient amodnt Of wates to
sufficiently irrigate said lands, now
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the state should as the
largest land owner, devote sum OF
money from the general and school
funds Of the state, TO the sinking OF q
number of test wells in proper localities
in the several counties, on lands owned
by the state, to test the practicabilitv o.
irrigation by means of artesian wells
in the said several counties; and, be il
further
RESOLVED, that we urge our represent
atives in the legislature to urge the nee
essary appropriations to carry out thu
matter suggested dy these resolutions.
| RESOLVED, that the association ask oul
state legislature TO so amend our presen
irrigation laws that its provisions skal
apply to canals and reservoirs construct
ed to appropriate and use for irrigation
purposes, the waters of natural surface
streams and basins.
RESOLVED, that We are in favor Of ,
district irrigation law similar in its pro
visions to the Wright law Of California
RESOLVED, that it is the sense of thi
association that the assistance Of th'
Hon $. +. Wilson. OF Fall River county
and Hon. G.. L. Wood, of Pennington
county, who have as attorneys takei
great interest in the development o
irrigation in the Black Hills country b,
requested to formulate some laws t.
better develop the irrigation interest
of the state. Carried.
RESOLVED. That the thanks of the as
sociatiGn are hereby rendered to tn
board Of county commissioners for tn
free use Of the county court room. ais
the citizens Of Sturgis and the press O
the Black Hills for the many courtesie
extended.