Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1906-07-12
WATER SUPPLY
South Dakota's Wonderful Ar
tesian Wells and Their
Inexhaustible Source.
Three Thousand Wells Afford
Fire Protection, Power and
Water for Live Stock.

One feature in which nature has been
exceedingly kind to South Dakota, is
in the wonderful artesian basin which
has been made to underlie the greater
portion of the state.
Twenty-Five years of exploitation of
this water supply. with a result of more
than three thousand wells, seems to
prove that it is inexhaustible.
The artesian water is found in the
soft sandstone of the Dakota geological
formation of the cretaceous. This form
alton is from two hundred to five hun
dred feet thick. 1t crops out in the
Black Hills and along the base of the
western mountains, and drinks up vast
quantities of water from the rains and
melting SHOWS of the mountain region,
which provides the perennial supply
which feeds the South Dakota wells.
The artesian water is found at vary.
ing depths in the different portions of
the state, and this depth is not alto
gether dependent upon the altitude of
the surface, though that has something
to do with it.
The artesian wells are easily secured
at every point in the state west of the
ridge separating the Sioux and James
valleys. The Sioux valley is underlaid
with a granite formation which cannot
be penetrated to the Dakota
All of the James and Missouri val
| legs have been fully examined and wells
secured at every point. West Of the
Missouri not many wells have been
ibored, but wherever attempted, wells
have been secured, which justllies the
| belief that all of that section is under
laid by the Dakota at a depth of about
fifteen hundred feet and with a dip cor
responding to that of the surface.
Though always found in the same
formation, the water from the deep
wells varies a good deal in character,
owing to the mineral qualities OF the
rock through which it has percolated.
| The first artesiau we'll was secured
at Iankton in September, 1881. The
citizens were prospecting for coal, oil
or any other thing they might discover
Iiby deep perforation OF the soil. They
EWere rewarded by an artesian we'll of
fsucE tremendous pressure as to be al
most beyond their control. Indeed,
grave fears were expressed lest the town
be drowned by the awful flood which
poured almost irresistibly from the
mouth of the well before valves could
be attached to bring it into submission.
/ The. wells, however, are a wonderful
convenience, and most progressive
farmers have them. They furnish
power for light work, fire protection
and stock water, which may be con-
IGucted to any part of the premises
An inch and a half well will supply
water for all of the necessities of any
ranch, however heavily stocked, sup
lplying drink of warm temperature
which live stock take with avidity in
] the coolest weather. They irrigate
gardens and trees and keep up the green
lawns in front OF the house.
4 1t is the opinion of many observers
that the artesian wells have materially
modified the climate of the section.
They bring vast quantities of water tc
| the surface which spreads out in shallow
ponds, presenting a wide surface for
Evaporation, and it seems that the at
mosphere is notably more humid than
| in the earlier days. All old settlers re-
tcall the dry, swapping, drouthy weather
to which the state was subject in the
first years of settlement. cit is so dry
III can hear it crack used to be a COM
Imon expression. Those conditions
1nayer exist any more and it is not i'm.
4 probable that the water from the more
| than three Thousand artesian wells has
| had an influence in modifying the eli.
lmatic condition.
4 1t must not be supposed that any por-
4 ton OF South Dakota is wholly depend
ent upon the artesian wells for water
supply. Surface wells can anywhere
4 be secured within a depth varying from
j ten to one hundred feet. In most sec
tons twenty feet provides an abund-
ance of pure water
Very Low Rates 10 omaha, Ncb..
Via the Northwestern line. Excursion
tickets will be sold: July 10 to 10, in.
1Iclnsive, with favorable return limits
on account Of b. X. p. u. Apply to
agents Chicago 81 Northwestern R'y.
Mary-Sponga the pimples with war
tWater. You need blood tonic, ucoid
advise you to take HOLSTERS Rock,
Mountain Tea. II drives away. all erup
ttions. IS cents. Tea or tablet form
N. 4. Schubert, druggist.
FOR SAlE.
Single comb, thorough bred Brown
8 I1eghesn Gockerels. Write,
IsEuEL BREEDEN,
l0l6 Euclid Ave. Pierre, 50. OAK
T.