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WHEREAS, congress has repealed the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 law-the home
stead law, under which title TO govern
ment lands can be obtained. and
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 a small part Of the many quarter
try of the arid Belt" and
WHEREAS, such lands cannot be dis
posed Of By the government uader the
present conditions,
Now, therefore, be il resolved, that
our legislature should memorialiZe con-
gress to enact a law granting 10 any
person now qualified as the Law describes
for obtaining the title 10 land under the
homestead law, the title TO a quarter
section of land in the said arid Belt"
who will build a reservoir or reservoirs
thereon Of sufficient capacity to hold
water sufficient to irrigate at least five
acres of land, and who will actually raise
and produce on such land at least Ave
acres Of crop, so irrigated for at least
five successive years.
WHEREAS the state is the owner Of
more than fifty thousand ecres Of land
in Meade county, and large tracts
amounting to over two hundred thous-
and acres i'm other Black Hills counties,
and many thousands Of acres elsewhere
in the state which cannot be sold for
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
artesian wells can be found that wll'
furnish a sufficient amount OF water to
sufficiently irrigate SAID LANDS, nc"
therefore, be il
RESOLVED, that the state should as the
largest land owner, devote q sum OF
money from the general and schoo.
| funds of the state, TO the sinking Of q
number of test wells in proper localities
| in the several counties, on lands ownSd
by the state, to test the practicabilitv o.
| irrigation BY means of artesian well:
/ in the said several counties; and, be j
! further
RESOLVED, that We urge our represent
atives in the legislature to urge the acc
essary appropriations TO carry out the
matter suggested dy these resolutions.
RESOLVED, that the association ask Oul
state legislature 10 so amend our present
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 md basins.
| RESOLVED, that We are in favor Of 9
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 the
Hon ). f. Wilson. OF Fall River county
and Hon. G. l.. Wood, of Pennington
county, who have as attorneys taker
great interest in the development o
irrigation in the Black Hills country bs
requested to formulate some laws tC
better develop the irrigation interests
of the state. Carried.
RESOLVED. That the thanks Of the as
sociatiCn are hereby rendered to the
board OF county commissioners for the
free use ofthe county court room. also
the citizens Of Sturgis and the press o
the Black Hills for the many courtesie.
| extended