The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-02-11
BLACK HILLS SCENE
OF GREAT ACTIVITY
Government Undertakings In.
clude Big Irrigation Project
and Other Enterprises.
S1.t cial to TIE Journal.

Deadwood, S. D., Feb. 1O.-The fed
eral government has surprisingly large
number Of interests. and undertakings
on foot at present in the Black Hills.
1t is not an exaggeration to say that
there is no other section in the United
States of equal size where the govern
ment is engaged in SO many and such
various enterprises, as no other section
100 miles long and 40 miles wide offers
such variety of practical interests.
In Butte county, the government is
engaged on gigantic irrigation project
which will require several years for
completion and will cost in the neigh
borhood of $2,6OO,OO0. This was under
taken because the country needed moth
ing but water in order to make it pro-
ductive and valuable both to the agri-
culturist and to the stockman who did
not turn his stock out on the range.
It is estimated that 100000 acres Of
semi-arid land will be thus reclaimed.
Recognizing also the Importance of
the Black Hills from mineral stand
point, the government has established
at Deadwood United States assay Of
fee thru which passes a large portion
of the gold mined in the Black Hills.
A bill is now pending in congress for
the establishment of mining expert
mental stations in the different mining
districts. This bill has been reported
favorably and if it is passed, which
now looks probable, will result in the
establishment of such a station in the
Black Hills. 4-...
Hatchery Supplies the World.
Looking toward the interests of the
sportsmen and also noting the advan-
tages of the Black Hills, United
States fish hatchery has been estab-
lished at Spearfish. Trout is the sole
fish handled and about 100000 are
| planted yearly. This hatchery supplies
not only the. Black Hills streams, but
also all parts of the world. The yearly
shipment has reached as high as 49,
100000, some of which have been sent
as far as Wales. ....
! The Black Hills forest reserve, es-
tablished Sept. 10, 1898, includes prac-
tically all the timber area Of the Black
Hills and a small strip in Wyoming. II
covers 1,211,6 acres and has for its
object the purpose of preserving the
living and growing timber, promoting
the younger growth, and regulating the
water supply. The control and man
agement rests with the commissions,
of the general land office at Washing
ton. There are in the United States
fifty-four forest reserves and the bust
ness of this one reserve exceeds thai
Of all the others combined.
II sanitarium at Hot Springs.
At Hot Springs the government il
building national sanitarium TO,
soldiers, having decided on this afte
careful study of the waters and thu
general health giving atmosphere of tn
place. It will include FIVE hospital
and two general government buildings
and will accommodate about 600 men
Congress has thus far appropriate
more than 100000 and the hospital il
process of construction will be one o
, the best equipped in the world. A trac
! Of land six miles square has been sc
! aside for grounds.
The wards Of the government, tn
3 red men, are also being cared for i
: the Black Hills. The government schoe
l for Indian girls and boys at Rapid Cit
. is now in it's ninth year. 1t can accom-
modate $50 pupils and has in attend
e ance 253. So taxed is the capacity tina
: that government will expend $4,000
this coming summer for the erection c
four new buildings. In this same cit
is also a United States land office an
a signal service office, while at Dea(
wood, a public building at cost {
100000, built entirely Of home m;
. terial, is going up.
The government has also been 9:
pending a large amount of money
l. Fort Meade, with the object Of maxim
n it a permanent post. . .--