Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-16

of the pyramid of Cheops, which is es-
timated to have occupied 800 years in con-
struction. The Belle Fourche dam will
be completed in less than one year. This
dam will create a reservoir sixty feet deep
with a water surface of about 5000 acres
when full.
More than 1000 new farms will be Gre
oted by this project in a valley where the
principal product has been low grade range
cattle and the value Of lands, which now
range from IS to so per acre, will be in
creased to S75 and upwards.
With assured forage crops the ranchmen
can greatly increase their herds, and with
winter feed the quality of the stock will
be materially improved and the prices cor
respondingly better. Small grains, such as
oats wheat rye and barley, and such
fruits as apples, pears, plums, cherries and
small fruits can be raised. Sugar beets
will also probably prove a profitable crop
The demand for farm and garden products
is great on account of the proximity Of
the mining regions OF the Black Hills
The mining industry will undoubtedly I'M
dergo a fresh BOOM as food supplies at
reasonable price and increased Transports
ton facilities make the working of low
grade ore profitable.
New lines of railroad are already bel~
built which will connect this valley wit
Minnesota's Twin Cities, and already Il
population of Belle Fourche has more tina,
doubled.
The government officials hope to be abb
to furnish water for about 10000 acres dur
ing the season Of 1907.
Ground Waters of south Platte.
The results of study Of the underfow i0
the South Platte valley between Sterling
Colo, and North Platte, Neb., have beer
published by the United States geological
survey as water supply and irrigation
paper No. 1874. The investigation showed
that while the total amount of ground
water passing between the bluffs at Ogal-
lala does not exceed 10 foot. a considerable
quantity Of ground water can be safely
removed from the graves, because the
supply is renewed at frequent intervals by
floods in the river and rainfall on the ad-
jacent land AS there is an ample supply
OF ground water for a large number OF
small pumping plants, there have been in
cluded in this publication, which may be
obtained on application to the director of
the United States geological survey, Wash
ington, d. c., some valuable suggestions
for the construction Of small pumping
plants, The best adapted wells, pumps and
fittings are described, the best arrange
ment for such plants is indicated, and tn
cost Of pumping is discussed. The papeI
contains also a description Of the value
of underfiow bitches and Some analyso
showing the character Of the ground waters
along the Union Pacific railway.
ArtesIan Waters in Black Hills
with the rapid Increase IN settlement 10
western South Dakota, especially in con
nection with the Belle Fourche reclamation
project, the question Of local water supply
has taken on much interest. The surface
water In many portions OF the area is not
satisfactory in quality or quantity, so that
the deeper seated ana artesiaD waters will
have TO be extensively utilized. The United
States geological survey has been invest,
eating these underground waters for sew
eral years, and a report now in preparation
by n. H. barton viii set forth the re
suits
1t has been found that the entire plain.
region adjoining the Black Hills is under
laid by Dakota sandstone carrying a large
volume OF water under considerable pres
sure. This water lies at depths Of 800 to
1000 feet, or even more, and in many dis
tricts, especially along the valleys will
AFFORD large aTtesian flows. The investiga-
tions nave been carried on with the view
Of ascertaining the precise depth 10 the
WITHDRAWING sandstone at all points ana
the limits Of the area IN which an artesian
flow is available, This area has been
found 10 be much more extensive than
was originally supposed and artesian
waters may be obtained at many localities
where local supplies are greatly needed