The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-17
UNCLESAM'S GREAT
SOUTH |. 1 D D A! d
LOCATION Is CLOSE TO THE
BLACK HILLS REGION.
Section Is Destined to Grow With Great
Rapddity as Soon as the Water for
Irrigation Is Ready to Be Turned On.
hY HERBERT vANpERAooF.

for settlement, the United States govern
ment has had fostering care over the
land from the public domain, taken up
by settlers. but Of late years this interest
has intensified and large amounts Of
money have been spent in experimenting
with crops for different sections of the
country, and In trying various means
Of making what have hitherto been con-
sidered arid or semi-arid lands, At only
Tor grazing. available for farming pur-
poses, thereby increasing their value many
fold and opening great future for this
new country. The success which has
attended these efforts has more than
fulhlled the expectations Of all interested
IN tho various undertakings and a YER
table empire is being opened to home
seekers in the states west of the Mis-
sissippi. 49,. -. ...,-. >.
Farming by irrigation is, Of course
not new idea, but modern methods arc
a great Improvement over those used by
former generations, and especially have
there been great advances made in this
kind Of farming since the United States
government entered upon the construc-
ton OF extensive irrigation systems.
Three years ago congress passed the
reclamation act. which opened the way
for the irrigation of large tracts of
public lands which had hitherto had
almost no attraction for settlers because
the rainfall was 50 scarce and uncertain
that most OF the territory could be used
only for grazing on an extensive scale.
Under the provisions Of this law, part
Of the money, obtained from the sale Of
public lands is set aside as reclamation
fund to be used in carrying out great
irrigation projects. The land thus pro-
vided with the means Of securing the
moisture needed for the successful rails
ing Of crops, together with the perpetual
water rights, is sold by the government
to settlers under the United States home
stead act, and the extra charge Is SIM
ply what the actual cost of irrigation
has been per acre. The money thus
paid in returns to the reclamation fund
to be again used in constructing reser-
voirs and extending the irrigation sys-
TENS. -..
The Belle .Fourche Project.
= Under the reclamation act the govern
ment has made surveys for thirteen great
irrigation projects, and it is Of one of
these that want to speak. It is known
as the Belle Fourche project. close to the
famous Black Hills region in South Da
kota, for it Is north Of Deadwood and
Lead, those we'll known cities Of the
gold mining districts. The government
plans to irrigate $4,000 acres and open
the entire tract to settlers. The town
Of Belle Fourche has been chosen as
IL. -
about q mile, from the city. that the
water will be led from the Belle Fourche
river and the head gate erected
49, The water VII run into an enormous Dr. o.!
sf II Il. If ths
will be necessary to build an embank-
ment twenty feet wide at the top, a mile
long, and at one place about 400 feet
the, most immense earth entertainments
to be found In the United States. The
reservoir thus formed will be sixty feet
deep and will have the appearance Of a
aks It will A haye a as sn IF
the water for the thousands Of. acres OF
land lying to the east and make them
yield rich returns to those who cultivate
them. Conditions are unusually favor
able here, because the water win be
to distribute it. - - 49,, :: r.,
To further increase the deSirability OF
the. region the government has mapped
out TOWNSHIP near the center of the
tract under irrigation and will sell the
| lots to those who desire home or a
chance of building up a. new business
mario ee when the T nu1 Of setters begns
The streets Of the town VIII be well LAID
out and graded and the best possible
sewers constructed. Waterwerks will be
| -%4I ar S1yofnv h,,{lt
throughout the town. The money which
! will come from the sale Of lots will be
turned back into city improvements, an6
the future success Of the enterprise
seems we'll assured. 80 49,.
Soil Is Exceedingly Fertile.
The soil in this region has been TESTED
and has proved to be rich and fertile
when It Is supplied with water, and i
is entirely free from alkaii: It will yielt
grain, and alfalfa grows most luxuriant
~. It Is estimated that It will harves
ten or twelve tons to the acre. TIL
sugar beet industry will sundoubtedl!
in this line have proved exceedingl,
satisfactory. This will greatly increas,
the facilities for the wintering OF cattle
for the food value Of sugar beet pulp IL
fact. The native hay, which grows IL
great abundance, is Of fine quality, ant
will undoubtedly be one Of the mali
products Of the region.
adapted to cattle raising, for north. cas-
range where thousands Of cattle can b
pastured in the summer months an
farms on the products Of the soil Of tn
valley A ready market can be foun
at the mining cities for all the cattle
grain, fruits and vegetables, or ship
for the railway facilities are excei ellen
now, and will be improved by the com
pletion Of direct line to st. Paul an
Minneapolis So
the Belle Fourche project to settlers a
the rate Of 1920 an acre, including per
petual water. privileges, and payment
to be made In ton annual instalmente
the first being due after the first Gro
the Belle Fourche Valley Water User
association, which has been organize
to facilitate the local management q
AFFAIRS, and is directly controlled b
through the personal supervision Of
resident government representative wi
look after all the irrigation system an
everything Of general interest to tn
period Of ten years. when the last pay
ments for the land will be due.
Chance for the hor,eseeker.
With such securities as these, tn
tunities are unusually favorable undo
this Belle Fourche project. wonderf,
results have been obtained by irrigatio
where the soil Is fertile and nothin
lacking but a the nee needful supply Of waite
proofs are being shown Of the practic,
and permanent success of such enter
prises. s5s