The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-11-09
ROSEBUD LANDS and
THE KIND OF FARMS
OPENING TO PUBLIC
Geologist Perisho Surveys
Closely and Reports Con-
dition of New Country.


ing the present great interest In these
recently opened portions OF the Rose
bud and Pine Ridge reservations. the
state survey made an examination or
these areas during the past summer.
Some OF the results are given below.
At an early date a fuller account of
the resources, geology and biology OF
this part OF the state will be published
and distributed gratis
Mellette county used to be the north
west portion of the Rosebud reserva-
ton. The north boundary is the White
river. across which lies Lyman county.
The Milwaukee railway. to the north,
is the nearest railroad and practically
all the county is within 25 miles Of 1t.
An extension of the Northwestern be-
yond Winner is expected soon and Will
result In fair railroad facilities.
The centrally located county seat,
White River. Is about Is miles south
OF Murdo. Mellette county IL thorough
ly drained by tributaries Of the White
river-Oak creek. Thunder creek, Lit
tie White river and Cottonwood creek
These streams are permanent and usu-
ally flow clear water.
Bennett county is southwest OF Mel
lette. Nebraska Is on south. Upon the
other sides are portions of Indian res
ervations. The Northwestern railroad
in Nebraska is within 25 miles OF most
VI the country ana lHe nOrtnWeStern
corner Is about 25 miles from the Mil
waukee at Interior. The northern half
is drained by the head waters Pass,
Bear and Medicine creeks, and the
southern half by the shallow, clear Lit
tie White river
Area geography and Elevation.
These two counties have an area OF
over 100000 acres. Indians have been
allotted nearly 100000 acres and after
h. al Ia... L. ILL Ao1 ~
100000 acres remain for homesteading.
This is equivalent to about 5000 home
steads.
Large portions Of both the counties
are gently rolling. In Mellette county
there are bad lands and rough areas
along each Of the principal streams,
and not very much Of the country is
smooth. Most Of Bennett county 10
quite level. However. the southern
edge is covered with sandhills and 9TH
er portions, especially Of the north GEN.
trail part. are rough
Mellette county averages somewhat
over 1000 feet in altitude above the
is more than 1900 feet In elevation.
The highest points rise to above $500
feet.
Soil, Water and Climate.
In regard to soil. these areas are
as fortunate or more fortunate than
nearby counties to the north or east.
The soil OF most of Mellette county rs
Pierre clay GOTTEN popularity called
gumbo). Areas of loan occur along the
southern border and in patches few
sections in extent, along the northern
line and elsewhere.
Bennett county has three kinds of
soil. Most OF the country is covered
with the Rosebud" loan. A strip five
to eight miles wide along the southern
ed 10 nd nf ha
10 miles Of the county is covered with
a sandy loan.
In the loan and sand areas an
abundant supply OF excellent water can
be obtained from shallow wells. In the
clay districts OF Mellette county the
well water supply is more Of a prob
lem Shallow wells are frequently Bit
ter. Deep tubular wells can be OBJ
tanned in this part of the county and
flows from a depth of 1,500 to 1000 feet
can be expected In the valleys Of the
northern and northeastern parts.
The areas under consideration have
more rainfall than regions to the
north. Because of increased elevation
they are cooler and hence there is not
so much evaporation and q given
amount of rainfall will leave more
moisture for vegetation. The loan Is
more productive In dry year than Is
clay and even In q wet year 1t Is not
W the CldS. buTiHB lSll
driest summer in years." there were
considerable quantities Of hay cut, and
crops were fairly successful in Ben
nett county.
General Survey.
Mellette and Bennett counties. for
merly portions Of the Rosebud and
Pine Ridge reservations. are now be-
ing opened for homesteading. The In
dians have selected much OF the
choicest land. but here and there an
excellent piece has been left vacant.
Even the less desirable areas are good
mixed farming or grazing land. Indian
lands can be rented at a reasonable
rate. In few years much Of their
land can be purchased. At present
these counties are not very accessible
to railroads. but extensions westward
Of the Northwestern railroad are eX-
pected soon.
YANkTON SIOUX BEGIN SUIT
ON TITLE PiPESTONE QUARRlES
Yankton, 5. d., Nov. IL. b.
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