Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1913-12-05
BIG CROWD
VISITS Martin
AROUSING IRRIGATION ENTHU.
SIASM and BOOSTING DITCH.
new PROJECT DISCUSSED
Big CROWD FROM THIS and OTHER
TOWNS VISIT CONGRESSMAN
MARTIN LAST WEEK.

MARTIN LAST WEEK.
Last Friday afternoon the Conner
cial Club carried out it's plan for a
meeting with Congressman Martin, at
his ranch, of representatives from Hot
Springs. Buffalo Gap, Oral and W. G.
Flat to talk over plans and prospects
for promoting the Cheyenne River Ir.
rigation project-named by state En-.
gineer Derr as the "Angustura Pro-
ject." Mr.. Martin expressed much
pleasure in greeting his friends and
constituents, as they arrived in autos.
After short exchange of courtesies,
and dispensing with some elegant,
luscious apples which the Martin home
passed around, Mr.. S. e. Wilson on
behalf of the visitors explained the OBJ
ject Of the gstLering-to confer with.
Mr.. Martin as to the most advisable
methods to pursue to accomplish what
the people Of Fall River and Custer
County so much desire in securing
Government aid in the construction of
the Cheyenne River irrigation project.
Mr.. Wilson was one of the active pro.
moters of the enterprise several years
ago when it was hoped the govern
ment would take hold of the project
and make it the first undertaking in
the state and told the gathering of what
was done at that time and explained
the present conditions and possible OBJ.
stacles that would be met in asking the
government to take hold of the pro-
jeot at once. He expressed for those
who had gathered to confer with Mr..
Martin. their confidence in his energy,
ability and desire to do all that can
possibly be done in furthering this pro-
ject, as he had done before, and at all
times, saying that this representative
and enthusiastic gathering at bis
ranch home was not deemed necessary
to enlist his assistance and cooperation,
but more to express the anxiety and
interests Of the people in the project,
which seems 80 vital to the successful
advancement of the agricultural por-
tions of the two counties, and to assure
him that the towns and communities
represented stood ready and anxious
at all times to be drafted to render any
assistance that they might be called
upon for.
Mr.. Martin was most gracious and
generous In expressing his pleasure
that so many would come 90 far to dis.
ouss this matter with him; that by this
they have certainly shown their deep
interest in this irrigation enterprise.
He reviewed the work that had pre-
viously been done in seeking to have
this project established by the Govern.
ment and the obstacles and difficulties
that had then and must now, under
present laws, be met. Yet he OK.
pressed grati6cation over the reported
opinions of Secretary of the Interior
Lane upon the matter of the irrigation
projects of the west, and believes II
congress will carry out the desires of
Secretary Lane there will be an oppor.
tunity of having prompt action taken
relative to this "Angustura" project.
Without some new or direct legislation
upon the question Of government ir.
rigation projects Congressman Martin
could not give much hope or encourage.
ment for action very soon, yet as has
always been the case with him. he was
optimistio and felt that some method
may be devised for working out this
most desirable project, which means
that this would become the garden
spot of the west.
Other means for accomplishing the
construction of the project were dis
cussed and while the matter is being
threshed out with the government, it
will also be taken up with corporations
which have constructed some of the
largest enterprises in the west; and
also later, If necessary, it will be taken
up thru the state Legislature according
to the methods that have been most
successfully adopted by the states OF
Colorado and Wyoming. Thus no
time nor opportunity will be lost fol-
putting this project before the Govern.
ment and capital in all forms.
Much grstiAcstion and appreciation
was expressed over the activities of the
state thru State Engineer Derr, In
making the preliminary survey of this