The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-03-07

loan, exceedingly fertile and. free from
slkali Fruits, such as apples, cherries,
plums and small fruits, do WE'LL es-
pecially on the higher portions Of the
project near the bluffs, and potatoes
produce abundantly on the south side
of the river where the soil is more
sandy. Sugar beets raised in the val
ley, it is claimed, contain as much sug-
ar as those raised in any other section
of the country, and are profitable as
special crop. The pulp is nourish
ing and cheap as winter feed for
stock. Preparations are being made for
rations are being made for building d
beet sugar factory in the district
I The vast open country surrounding
the valley affords pasturage for inn
mense herds, making that section one
of the largest cattle ranges in the Uni
ted States AS many as 5000 carloads
of cattle have been shipped from Belle
Fourche in year. Large flocks of
sheep also feed on the ranges, and one
and one half million pounds Of wool
are shipped annually from this region
With the irrigation of+the valley and
, the production of abundant crops of
small grain and alfalfa, new import
ant industry will be developed in the
winter feeding and fattening of
stock.
! All the fruits and vegetables that can
be raised in the valley can be sold to
the mining camps of the Black Hills,
where employment is given to thous-
ands of men. Milk, eggs, butter, pouE
try and garden truck all bring high
prices and there is growing and CON
slant demand for these products
Sturgis. Whitewood, Belle Fourche,
and other towns. have. direct, connec-
ton over the Chicago & Northwestern
railroad Omaha, Minneapolis, st. Paul
| Chicago, and other large cities. These
great markets take all the surplus
| products, sending return machinery,
household supplies and other manu-
| featured articles not vet produced in
| the valley. A new railroad is being
built the entire length Of the project,
SO that the transportation facilities
4 will be excellent 4
/ From an engineering standpoint the
Belle Fourche project is one of the
most interesting which the govern
ment has yet undertaken. Its princi-
4 pal structure Is an earthen dam, one
of the largest of its kind in the world
This wonderful dixie. which closes the
lowest depression in the rim of nat
ural basin, Is 5000 feet. long, 90 feet
/ wide on top, and lis feet high in the
| highest place. The inside face Of this
structure, which has slope of to 4,
will be protected from wave and ice
action by two feet of screened gravel
on which will be placed concrete Blocks
each four by six feet and eight inches
thick The cubical contents OF this
| dixie swin4 be AZ, 100000 cubic feet, 81
about half that of the famous pyramid
of Cheoos.
/ The reservoir created by this dan.
will cover about 5000 acres and viii
be the largest lake in the state II
will receive water through an ir1lei
canal six and one half miles long
forty feet wide on the bottom. and
capable of carrying the entire flow 81
Belle Fourche river.
| The Belle ,Fourche offers opportuni.
ties in every line OF business. The
valley is practically a virgin field
The mercantile pursuits are not over:
crowded. Manufacturing is vet to BIZ
developed, and the professional mar
has great opportunity.
| The reclamation OF 100000 acres o
land included in this project. with /
family on every forty or eighty acri
tract, will necessitate the. establish
ment of several new towns and viii
add greatly to those now In existence
Around the new government townsite
and also the new railroad toWnsite
there are already several stores
banks and hotels in temporary QUAR-
tiers ready to move into permaflen
buildings as soon as the town lots ar
ION sale. Lands which sold for SIS pc
acre before the project started are roz
valued at $50 per acre and are in goo
: demand