The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-01-13
MILLIONS WILL Be
SPENT ON IRRIGATION
Great Nebraska Project Involves
Reclamation Of Lands in
Northern Part
WATER WILL BE STORED
immense Reservoir Is Planned to Re.
tain Water of the North Platte
for Use in the Dry Months
South Dakota Plan. ~

Washington, D. c., Jan. THE
galley of the North Platte, in Ne
braska, is about to enter upon an era
OF substantial development which will
in time convert it into one of the most
populous and prosperous districts in the
west. Nearly $4,000 900 will be ex-
pended within the next two or three
Years in western Nebraska and con-
uSuous territory upon irrigation pro-
iects. This means labor for thousands
of men in the state.
Inc Nebraska project will reclaim
100000 acres. Most of it has been sur
FeYed by the geological survey, but it
mas not Yet reached the point where
specifications and blue prints can be
made. 1t is an extension of Il great
wyoming project contemplating the
construction of Il gigantic dam between
the high perpendicular walls of Il rock
bound canyon in the mountains,
Though which the North Platte river
forces its to the Nebraska prairie
down the eastern slope Of the Missouri
river.
Great Reservoir Planned.
The dam will create an immense
reservoir for storing the water, which
is plentiful in early spring, but which,
under natural conditions. disappears
during the growing seasons. 1t pre-
SCENTS an engineering problem of i'm
mense proportions.
The cash is III the United States
treasury with which To do this work.
on June 80 1904, the available fund to
NeDraSk;l'S credit was $417 93742 of
which sum $243, 766.44 must be ex-
pended in Nebraska; or, in other words,
cannot legally be diverted to apply to
irrigation projects in other states
Another great irrigation project UNI
der way is the Belle Fourche reservoir
to be constructed in South Dakota. This
project will cost 81 ,920,O 600 and reclaim
over 10000 acres
Inc reclamation service is Informed
mat the landowners on both sides of
the river in the Belle Fourche valley
nave completed Il water users aSsocia-
tlon and have pledged their lands to
lhe Belle Fourche project in accord
ance with the law
ChleI Engineer Newell said
The Belle Fourche project in many
respects is one of the most attractive
mat the reclamation engineers have
mus lar developed. Its completion is
certain to work Il remarkable change
IN valley in which farming is yet in
It's infant stage.
Will Settle Up the Country.
me acreage involved is 10000, of
winch more than one-half is yet gov
eminent land. The public lands will
be divided into farm units of eighty
acres. thus creating GOO new farms
Inc lands in private ownership will be
cut up into farms of 100 acres and the
total addition of new farms to the val
ley will be more than 900.
rms Will mean Il great development
in South Dakota and will encourage the
extension or the present railroad sys-
TENS and the building of new lines
into this valley which, in Il short time,
VIII be densely settled and highly pro-
ductive."
g. II. Fitch, supervising engineer for
South Dakota, said
Having made the first examination
and initiated the surveys on the Belle
fourcne project am particularly
pleased to hear that not only the land
owners on the north side of the river.
put those on the south side have signed
agreements to take the water to be BRO
Nlded by the government, thus assuring
the success of this project and neces-
stating active steps at once in order to
push it to completion.
believing this to be one of the best
projects in the country on account of
its favorable location and good soil.
which is unusually free from alkali |
feel confident that all the farms will be
taken by the time the water is con-
veyed upon the land Being in the
lledfl Oh great cattle range the profit
able production of alfalfa should make
1t a staple crop and on account of the
of the Black Hills mining
region, whore there are numerous large
towns, the raising of grains, forage
vegetables. fruits and dairy produces
should encourage div ersified farming.
'JulgilS IrOr. tie fine Specimens OF
apples raised last season under the
Redwater canals l am sure that this
fruit will produce aburdantly and ex-
pect to see the day when many or
cndrds will be found over this already
attractive country"
"One of the problems remaining to be
solved in the Belle Fourche project"
SAID Norris Bien, the legal adviser, lis
he determination of the vested water
rights. 1t is believed that this can be
done by negotiation 10 the satisfaction
OF all parties concerned. But if it is
necessary to proceed to an adjudication
by the courts the laws of South Dakota
afford no means for a prompt settle
lnent OF the questions involved"