Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1915-12-10
NEW OFFICERS
WERE ELECTED
BLACK HILLS ANGOSTURA BOOST
ERS MEET
s. f. WILSON, PRES.
JUDGE P. F. WARD SELECTED AS
YICE-PRESlDENT AT MEETING
LAST SATURDAY


The annual meeting of the Black
Hills Angustora Irrigation Association
was held in Hot Syringe last Saturday.
The Association is central >organiz-
alton composed CT delegates from the
Hot Springs and Smithwick CONNER
cial Clubs, the Cheyenne-H Hay Canyon
Irrigation Association, of Oral, Custer
Fall River County Irrigation Associ-
alton, of Buffalo Gap, and the Harrison
Flat Irrigation Association of Mohler-
five organizations all told. Delegates
we're present from all but Smithwick.
The following officers were elected
for the ensuing year: President, At
torney 8. E. Wilson; vice-president,
Judge P. F. Ward; secretary, Attorney
Chas. A. Nystrom; and treasurer, Geo.
Coons.
After listening to various reports.
ways and means for carrying the pro-
posed irrigation amendment at the
next election we're discussed. 1t was
the consensus Of opinion that this
amendment must be adopted that
proper irrigation laws may be enacted
by our next legislature. paving the
way for the big Angosturs, and max
ing hundreds Of smaller projects pos
sible in the western half Of the state.
Whether the Angostura be constructed
with private capital or with federal
aid, our state must better irrigation
lava. A naseting will coon be callsd
with representatives pressnt from
every western country, and many from
east of the river, at which meeting a
vigorous statewide publicity campaign
will be inaugurated. It is believed,
that when our friends in the eastern
half of the state learn that this irri-
cation amendment aims to tax only
such land 40 is directly benefited in
proportion to the benefits received,
there will be little IL any active op-
position. But it will take q vigorous
campaign. much hard work. and some
money to carry this through.
Mr.. Fred Norenburg, the efficient
caretaker Of the government gsging
station, was present, and in character
istic way described the work done
there during the past year, showing
that more than one million acre feet of
water had flowed down the Cheyenne
river from October 1, 1914, to October
l. 1915. and since that time the flow
has been considerable.
A plan, suggested and outlined by
Judge McGee, for construction of pro
ject with private capital and nnder
private control, was discussed, and
will receive further consideration at a
subsequent meeting. In his judge
ment, the plan is perfectly feasible, has
been tried in other places. and has ed :
vsntages over government project.
The one report that elicited the most
ardent discussion, no 1ever, was the in
formation that Congressman Candy
had discovered possible way of fnanc.
ing our project with federal funds. Mr..
Candy has called attention to the Rec
lamstion Act of 1902, which provided
that ninty-five per cent of all funds re.
ceived from the sale of public Ian Z
over and above the costs of makiua
such sale, should be used in reclaimine
lands In the semi-erid states, among
which South Dakota was numbered
This money should remain in the state
where the money was received. Now
it appears that South Dakota has re-
csived about nine million dollars from
the sale of public lands, and that only
q little more than three million has
been used in this state, leaving nearly
six million dollars of surplus which
has been diverted to projects in other
states. Now Mr.. Candy will make an
endeavor to have this money returned
to South Dakota, to be used in th,
construction of our big Angosturs
II successful. our salvation is near al
hand. II not. then We shall have Il
try some other plan. It will not do {,
lie down now, when 30 many othe
states are clamoriDg for recognition
Persistent effort will eventually vii
the day! "Rome was not built in
day." nor was big undertaking lik,
the Angostura launched over night.
MORRIS GRAND THEATRE