The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-08-27
surface, while at other places the wells are

surface. while at other places the wells are
1000 to 200 feet deep. and at jamestown,
N D.. the water supply comes from depth
Of /, 500 feet. The extent OF the formation
is not yet clearly defined, at least In the
latest reports Of the Geological Survey, but
there Is some reason to believe that 1t
stretches into Manitoba and Nebraska.
The largest plumber Of wells has been dug
In the southern counties OF South Dakota,
and the most favorable results OF irriga-
ton are obtained. Irrigated lands have
yielded thirty-four bushels Of wheat to the
acre, corn forty-eight, oats seventy-three
and potatoes 21O, while on adjacent I'M
watered lands the wheat yield was seven
bushels, corn eight and oats twenty-five.
This Is doubtless an extreme case, but
everywhere very profitable results have
come from irrigation. A well costing
$4,000 and watering section Of $40 acres
will pay for itself In year.
There are some artesian wells in Nebraska
and Kansas, but the possibilities OF water
winning by this method have not yet been
thoroughly investigated. In the sub-arid
belt of both States the farmers are now oc-
oupying the lands near the rivers and are
irrigating all the acreage for which they
have water. 1t Is only four years since Me-
braska organized her first irrigation board,
and hardly any OF the farms have been arti-
Totally watered more than FIVE years. but
several millions Of acres thus far have been
reclaimed, and the success has been 80
large that the Legislature organized an
Irrigation Bureau last winter with practical
and well-equipped men to run it and an
adequate appropriation.
1t remains to be seen how far the sub
arid belt may be made tenable for farm
ing population by irrigation. 1t is evident
that the water supply from the rivers Is
available only for a small part Of the land,
probably not more than an eighth OF 1t.
But as Nebraska and Kansas are showing,
a combination OF farming and grazing is
mutually advantageous and may be made
to turn most Of the land to good account.
1t Is probable also that. even IL the artcsian
waters OF the Dakotas are perennially re-
plenished, the drafts upon them may easily
become too large and very likely they will
not serve to water more than an eighth Of
the land. 1t Is fortunate that owing to the
clay subsoil in these States the moisture
thorough irrigation Is required only once
in two years to raise fine crops; and If the
farmers can water only an eighth Of their
lands they may advantageously utilize the
remainder In stock grazing and their titled
lands will supply the grain needed to fat
ten their cattle and sheep for market.
Thus combination Of farming and graz
Ing seems to offer an inviting prospect for
the future Of the sub-arid belt. This will
be splendid result we'll worth working
for. II only an eighth Of this region can
be turned into the best OF farm lands the
titled area will be far larger than Iowa, one
of our richest agricultural States. The di-
rect addition it will make to the national
wealth will be felt throughout the land, to
say nothing OF the impetus it will impart to
the grazing interests that will occupy the
remainder OF the region.