The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1902-07-17
IRRIGATION IN
4 SOUTH DAKOTA
Area Reclaimed and Value of Cropc Is Very Large
Number Of Irrigators Increasing and
Systems Extended.

South Dakota is confined largely TO the
territory known as the Black Hills coun-
try, in the western parts of the state, and
comprises the following counties: Butte,
Custer, Fall River, Lawrence. Meade
and Bennington.
This region lies in a roughly shaped
triangle, with the Wyoming South-Da-
kota line as the base and the north and
south forks of the Cheyenne riyes as the
sides.
The Cheyenne, like all the rivers Of the
Mains, is subject to sudden rises during
storms or local cloudbursts, and at such
times carries great volumes Of water, lit
tie of which can be utilized. 1t receives
no mountain drainage in Wyoming and
the aow is irregular and uncertain. so
that very little land is irrigated from 1t.
The average midsummer flow of the
south fork where il enters South Dakota
is only ten to fifteen feet. Two large
canals have been constructed near Edge
mont in Fall River county, appropriahng
all the water in the river and also that
OF some Of the tributary streams. These
systems were quite expensive, but the
acreage irrigated by them in 1899 was
comparatively small.
All Supplied From Cheyenne.
Practically all the area irrigated from
streams in South Dakota is supplied
from the tributaries of the Cheyenne,
which rad among the slopes of the
Black Hills and afford a small but GER
tain water supply because of the tim
bered character Of the country which
they drain.
important among these are the follow
ing tributaries OF the south fork: Rapid,
Spring and Boxeder creeks in Custer
and Pennington counties, and Beaver
creek and Fall river in Fall River
county.
The first three mentioned furnish water
TO more than one-half OF the area irri-
gated by canals and bitches in the state.
The water supply is not sufficient for the
land under ditch, but the shortage could
be remedied by the construction OF res
ervOirs in which TO store the floods. This
would permit the extension OF bitches
and the reclamation of a much larger
area Of land.
The first important tributary Of the
north fork is Bear Butte creek. which
supplies the water for nearly all the irri-
gated area in Meade county, its full flow
being utilized.
In Lawrence county the principal
source of water supply is Spearhsh
creek, which is fully appropriated, al
though by the practice of economy in the
use of water larger area could be
brought under cultivation.
The most valuable irrigated land in the
state is located on this stream, the prices
ranging from S25 to $50 per acre, with
best alfalfa land worth as high as $50
per acre.
Artesinn Basin Well Developed.
The great artesian basin OF the eastern
portion Of the state has been extensively
developed. Preliminary Investigations
made by the geological survey indicate
that almost the entire state is under
laid by the Dakota sandstone, which,
throughout it's extent, is more or less
completely saturated with water.
Several OF these wells flow from 1000
to 1850 gallons minute with pressures
in some instances over $50 pounds per
square inch.
The pressure Of the large wells Is
often used directly for power to run
large Touring mills, electric light plants,
sewage pumps and other machinery.
The principal use OF the water. how
ever, is for irrigation and domestic pur-
poses, and the acreage irrigated has in
creased largely in ten years.
Examination Of the numerous reports
received from irrigators from wells indi-
Gates great difference OF opinion as TO
the relative value of artesian water for
irrigation.
This may be accounted for partly by
the fact that all these waters do not pos
sess the same qualities, some being quite
salty or very strongly impregnated with
other mineral matter injurious to plant
life.
Lack Of knowledge as to the proper use
OF water on growing crops and the best
time to apply il is responsible for many
failures. Generally, however, irrigation
from the wells has resulted In augment
ing the yields of vegetables and garden
produce and in insuring large crops of
various cereals.
There were operated in 1899 in South
Dakota 1SS irrigation systems receiving
water from streams by gravity diversion.
The total cost OF construction Of these
systems was 1927. T40. or an average of
S6.1S per acre irrigated.
The number OF irrigators increased
during the ten years ending with the
twelfth census year from 189 to 696, or
220.6 per cent, and the number Of acres
irrigated from 1917 to 1856, or 1T7.9
per cent.
or the total number of acres irrigated
SS,453 were watered from streams by
means of gravity diversion bitches aud
0,223 acres from wells.
The total irrigated area in crops In
1899 was 35.321 acres, and the value Of
the irrigated products was $20S,O65, or
an average of $3.50 per acre. The acre
axe in hay and forage was 74.3 per cent
OF the total.
District Fair.
A district fair, to be held on the
grounds of the Central South Dakota