History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 64

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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Spearfish Creek, which originates in two big springs in Lawrence County, has supplied many irrigation systems with water. It has a fall on its upper course of about 100 feet to the mile and is remarkably uniform in its monthly and annual flow. Near the end of the valley the fall is about 60 feet to the mile. The average flow is about 50 cubic feet per second. In 1909 there were twelve ditches taking water from this stream for irrigation purposes, and five for power purposes. The area irrigated was 4,810 acres. Spearfish Creek tributaries sup- plied three other irrigation ditches, irrigating 525 acres. Redwater Valley below the mouth of Spearfish Creek is used to irrigate hay and live stock ranches, and lower down in the same valley and extending over the Belle Fourche Valley is the Red Water Canal, the largest private irrigation system in the Black Hills district. This canal has a flow of from 41 to 71 cubic feet per second. The length of the canal is 42 miles, though only 30 miles are in use, and the head-gate is about five miles above the mouth of Redwater River. About 5,000 acres were being irrigated, though the capacity was about 10,000 acres.

Fall River is fed by warm springs and the water even in winter is compara- tively warm and ready for irrigation purposes. The normal flow is about thirty- two cubic feet per second. On its upper portion are many small tracts devoted to gardens and orchards. On Cascade Creek, which is likewise fed by warm springs, the flow is about twenty-eight cubic feet per second. About six miles above Rapid City, Rapid Creek emerges from the hills and becomes useful in the valley. For thirty-six miles thence its course is through a valley where its waters can be fully utilized. Eight to ten ditches are in operation and practically the whole valley is under irrigation. Along the valley are natural basins which could be used for storage reservoirs. Above Rapid City the stream is particularly valuable for its waterpower. The aggregate now in use is several thousand horsepower. Beaver Creek affords an excellent opportunity for the storage of flood waters. The valley is about ten miles long and widens to five or six miles broad at the outlet. There are at present six to eight irrigation ditches in use, several of which are not much importance. At least ten thousand acres could be irrigated by conserving the waters of this stream. Reservoirs could be easily and cheaply constructed. In that region the following creeks can be and are now being utilized for irrigation purposes: Elk, Bear Butte, False Bottom, Box Elder, Alkali, French, Spring and Battle. Nearly all of these have a continuous flow, and several pass under sandstone strata during dry seasons-underground. In each valley of these streams there are several thousand acres than can be and will soon be irrigated. Flood storage is entirely practical and desirable.

The whole of the western half of South Dakota is drained by the Missouri River and its tributaries. It would be a difficult and expensive task to dam up the Missouri River so as to carry its waters out over the elevated plateaus and table lands along its course. Doane Robinson has not only shown that the plan is feasible, but also that the cost is not prohibitive. The state could and should do this under stipulations that in the end would bring all the outlay back to the treasury. Bonds in any amount not exceeding $15,000,000 should be voted by the state, to be issued by installments and redeemed in the end by the usual irriga- tion charge of $1.50 or thereabouts per acre. Within three years after such irri- gation water was available more than 2,000,000 acres would thus be paying rental to the state, and within eight years more than 5,000,000 acres would be doing the

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same. The land is here; it is good; all it lacks is water, and the water will bring good crops despite hot or any other variety of destructive winds. The water thus used would build up the forests and that result alone would be worth all the state had spent for irrigation, even though the amount should be $10,000,000. If there were 5,000,000 acres under irrigation, each acre paying $1.50, the total receipts would be $7,500,000 per annum, or say at least $6,000,000 net to the state each year. How long, then, would it take the state to pay off its indebtedness of $15,000,000? But the most important fact in this connection is that a million of inhabitants would be added to the state, thus more than doubling its annual assessment and its annual income. Any first class hydraulic and irrigation engineer will tell the denizens of this great state that these statements are sub- stantial facts, namely: That an abundance of water to every farm applied under tried and true methods will soon people every farm of from 80 to 320 acres with a family and will bring all the increased prosperity which follows irrigation successfully applied. These are not dreams, but glittering realities that have been proved in hundreds of localities in all parts of the United States by trained and successful experts.

But the great mass of the people do not know how to accomplish these results. They are largely unlettered as to the methods that would have to be employed. They were afraid that they would be hoodwinked by a coterie of official knaves, who would plunge the state heavily in debt while lining their own deep pockets. In addition the state has never had a few great trustworthy leaders to outline the plans and show beyond doubt how they could be put into acceptable effect. Apparently the state has no great mind capable of creating a broad and attractive system of state internal improvement. Or if there is he does not dare to proclaim the fact and the plan with that openness, sincerity and frankness that would win success through the allegiance and support of the people. All he has dared to do is merely to suggest how it could be done. And even while making the sug- gestion he has trembled with fear lest his official head should be chopped off for being too far in advance of his time, for wanting to plunge the state into debt- horrible thought !- for being crazy and therefore dangerous, for not knowing what he was talking about, for working desperately for his own pockets, and for numerous other very grave offenses. Hundreds of other localities are run- ning up great debts to do so and are doing just what the South Dakota voters should do at the very next election: Create a Commission of Internal Public Im- provement, with enough means to make a thorough investigation as to the improvement of the semi-arid lands of the state. Then whenever a given loca- tion promised success beyond a reasonable doubt put it under way and sell bonds enough to pay the expenses. The Belle Fourche project stands out as a shining example to be imitated and surpassed, if possible. Then one after another the systems could be created, commenced and completed and thus step by step the smaller systems one after another could be added to the domain until at last the use of the great Missouri River surplus water could be placed in the category of success.

The total fall of the Missouri River across the state is about four hundred and seventy feet in 547 miles, the length of the winding river. The water in this river is the purest and most healthful in the state and would be the best for irrigation. The James River is second in importance and has a length of about

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five hundred miles in South Dakota. Sometimes it is dry in the summer as far down as Mitchell. For so large a river it carries an unusually small volume of water. The Big Sioux River drains a considerable tract in the eastern part. Many lakes are in this portion, and the country is quite level, but lower down the stream flows between steep banks, which are often rocky. The Vermillion River waters a considerable portion of the southeastern part. From the divide between the James Valley and the Missouri Valley small streams flow westward to the latter, among them being Swan, Little Cheyenne, Okoboja, Medicine, Chapelle, Crow, Platte, Chateau, and other creeks or small rivers. Thus the whole state east of the Missouri contains enough fresh and pure water streams to supply that section with all the water needed for every branch of husbandry.

Previous to 1905 this state exercised no supervision over flowing streams and pioneer customs prevailed in the usage of stream water for field or domestic purposes. This was due to the custom in the Black Hills mining districts to claim the water to be used in placer mining, and this was done on all the gulches and streams in that region. The posting of a notice or the filing of such a claim at the courthouse was considered sufficient. When the placers were largely aban- doned these water claims became obsolete from nonuse, but which are still valid time alone will tell. The laws of the state permitted the water to be thus used and the pioneer or miner customs rendered the above notices sufficient. In a few cases these water claims were made for speculative purposes, though this step was frowned upon by the mining fraternity generally. Quite often the water claimed greatly exceeded the annual discharge of the stream. One early law permitted the acquirement of this water right by continuous usage through a considerable time. All of the old water rights secured under the operation of the state water laws were recognized as valid and in full force and effect if they had been kept alive by usage. A failure to use the water for two years nullified the rights of the claimant.

But the law of 1905 provided for a readjustment of existing rights and the absolute state control of the water supply of the future. The state engineer was vested with authority to put the whole water question in a state of development and a condition of fairness to all claimants and citizens. Two years later the law was amended and made applicable to all beneficial uses of water and not limited to irrigation alone. The law gives the engineer power to make all neces- sary general rules and regulations. One of his duties is to make hydraulic sur- veys of each stream and source of water supply and to co-operate with similar agencies from the Government and other states, the object being the thorough determination of the extent and character of the water supply and how it may be used to the best advantage by the citizens. A complete record of all this was directed by the law to be kept in the office of the state engineer. In any suit on water rights all claimants are to be made parties and the records of the state engineer are used as evidence to determine individual and corporate values. Costs are assessed in proportion to the amount of the water rights allotted to claimants. Appropriations are made by the Legislature to meet the necessary expenses. The decree of the court is filed in the office of the water commis- sioner of the water division in which the stream is situated. It is required that such decree shall in every case declare as to the water right adjudicated to each party, the priority, amount, purpose, place of use and the specific tracts of land

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to which it shall be appurtenant, the object being to define the right and the priority.

Necessarily the law must be strict or there would be no system or order. Ditch owners, therefore, are required to put in head-gates and measuring devices under the penalty of a shut off of the water supply after twenty days. And the taking of water in violation of this order is made a misdemeanor. Material interference with the system is also a misdemeanor. Owners of works for storage, diversion, or conveyance, when such works contain water in excess of their needs for irrigation or other beneficial use, are required to deliver any sur- plus at reasonable rates to the persons entitled to the use of the water for beneficial purposes. He may be forced to do so by mandate of the County Circuit Court. The object is to afford a guaranty to landowners of a continu- ance of the water supply and to safeguard his possession of a normal supply under any and all conditions. Thus the state steps in and safeguards the rights of both parties-the provider and the user of water. It also insures an equable distribution or division of the water supply. Owing to the common tendency of all water users to turn on too much water the water commissioner of that par- ticular water district is authorized to lock the head-gates leading to any particular tracts, thus preventing the waste of water. Canal owners are required to furnish water at reasonable rates to other users than the regular customers, in order to prevent exorbitant charges. Courts are the last resorts in case of disputes be- tween the authorities and the consumers or customers. The water commissioners are paid by the state. Certain state fees are collected by the state engineer.

In the distribution of water, system is necessary. In a few of the systems land owners own ditches and feed gates and take their supplies whenever they please. When there is an ample supply of water this is unobjectionable, but in times of extreme drought they are required to take their supplies alternating so as not to exhaust the supply by all using at the same time. In the valley of Rapid Creek there is more land proportionately than available water, particularly in very dry seasons, and then the system of taking in rotation is in vogue, the one longest without water being next in the order of taking. This valley is wholly under ditch and the system here employed to such excellent purpose should be studied by every land owner in the state, particularly by all who need water for irrigation. Many suits have been instituted and tried in order to establish equitable principles in the new relations under the irrigation program. Usually all water is measured as it passes from the canal through the weirs to the feeder ditches leading to the farms. There is and has been much contention in the different systems between water users until rules and principles have become established in those particular localities. There will always be found men who will think or say they are not getting their due supply. The company keeps the canal in repair, but the land owners must take care of the laterals.

To prepare irrigated land for cultivation is much more expensive than to pre- pare ordinary land. This should be borne in mind by the prospective home- steader or buyer of land where irrigation will be indispensable. But in the end he will get back much more than this extra expense. Government land under the reclamation project will cost the same as other Government land, but the pur- chaser will have to pay in addition the cost of the irrigation. In fact the irriga- tion is, and should be so regarded, a permanent tax on the land. On the other

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hand, the added benefits will far surpass this tax. One of the most important truths about the use of irrigation is that it makes better farmers out of men --- forces them to become intensive. On the Belle Fourche system the maintenance charge is about forty cents per acre annually. The cost of getting started on irrigated land is considerable and should not be underestimated by the newcomer. This cost is much greater than on ordinary raw land. Recollect that irrigated crops are always sure. Every dollar spent and every hour worked will come back accompanied by commensurate profits. But all should understand the different conditions in the humid regions. But after all, storm water reservoirs, aided perhaps by windmills, are better than any other system for farmers situ- ated on elevated lands providing such reservoirs can be filled by easy and natural drainage assisted by windmills.

In recent years the rainfall per annum east of the Missouri seems to be suffi- cient under the conservation methods adopted by the agriculturalists for all ordinary farming operations. Some soils not receiving sufficient moisture are the cement hardpan lands found in tracts not far from the Missouri River and the gumbo hills appearing here and there. It thus occurs that the eastern and southeastern parts of the state need irrigation only rarely and not oftener per- haps than large portions of Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Illinois, and other states. In fact portions in the eastern part need drainage worse than they need irrigation. However, large reservoirs of surplus water stored in the spring could often be used to advantage in July and August, and in time will be built.

But it is different west of the Missouri where large tracts do not get sufficient rainfall and irrigation is necessary to insure good and regular crops. This is particularly true of the extreme western region adjacent to the Black Hills. Numerous small streams, branches of the Cheyenne, spring from the hills and hasten on down to their mouths through narrow defiles or valleys and afford very little help to the crops. They originate from natural springs and melted snows, the best water in the world for irrigation-as good, in fact the same, as rain. Where they finally spread out into valleys their speed is so great that they still do not water the soil sufficiently for the crops. Irrigation is necessary. The water is there; the soil is there; but they are not associated. The South Fork and the Belle Fourche of the Cheyenne River system enclose the Hills closely as between two fingers. As many of the first settlers came from Montana, where water rights were as important as land rights, all located their lands and water rights so that they could be united for the production of crops and the rearing of cattle. Many took out such rights as early as 1876-77. In truth, from this fact and this period may be dated the origin of irrigation in the Black Hills. It is thus the second agricultural district in the state, the first being a narrow strip in the southeast, bordering on Iowa, Nebraska and Minnesota.

But irrigation grew slowly because it was very costly, though it received a signal impulse at the time artesian irrigation was all the rage in the eastern part of the state. During this period, in the late 'Sos and the early '90s, two impor- tant irrigation canals were built in the Black Hills region --- Redwater Canal and Edgemont Canal. The former had a measured flow of from forty-one to seventy- one cubic feet per second and its head gate was five miles above the mouth of Redwater River. Its whole length is now forty-two miles and its total capacity is sufficient for 10,000 acres. The Edgemont Canal is in Fall River County and

MASONIC TEMPLE, YANKTON

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was built to irrigate a portion of Cheyenne River Valley. It was first built four- teen miles long at great expense, but was abandoned when the company failed. Recently it was repaired and put to use. During this period other irrigation canals were constructed in Rapid Creek Valley below Rapid City. All of these with perhaps one or two exceptions have proved of great value to their owners and the agriculturalists in this region of the state. Where they have been used under right methods the profit has been very great. Cascade Ditch was at first a private enterprise, but was later extended to meet the wants of the neighboring farmers.

Where irrigation has been tried and then abandoned in South Dakota, the reason will be found mainly in the fact that irrigation must be followed by intensive instead of extensive farming. Irrigation is costly, but will and does greatly repay the farmer, but not unless he pursues intensive methods. As not one farmer in ten can do this, as nearly all still pursue the old bonanza methods, they find that irrigation does not pay and they therefore go back to the old extensive methods. It is common all over the western half of the state to see private irrigation systems of all patterns in operation. These methods were forced where the rainfall was insufficient and were undertaken by individuals when combinations of capital could not be formed. Thus it has required many years to perfect the irrigation systems, because it required double work on the part of the farmer-to learn how to irrigate and how to farm along intensive lines. Both were serious problems and are only partly mastered today (1915). The reason why farmers do not pursue intensive methods is because they dare not abandon old, tried and reliable methods for those that are new, would have to be learned through many years of study, and in the farmer's judgment, would delay or handicap his operations. On the other hand, there is no doubt whatever that the Department of Agriculture and the experiment stations have developed a system of intensive farming by which the farmer on the same soil can double his production on the same acreage. All the great improvements in agriculture during the last twenty years have come from the above sources and from the agricultural colleges. It thus happens that intensive farming is absolutely essen- tial to successful irrigation and that irrigation is necessary to the success of intensive farming.

No doubt intensive farming is practiced better in the Black Hills region than in any other part of the state. This has been forced upon the agriculturalists there by the necessity of intensive farming. Where a man can raise twice as much on an acre with the same cost as before he can afford to pay the expenses of irrigation. But it required many years before the present good results were brought about. At first the farmers and stock growers did the best they could with the old bonanza methods, the only one they knew. The rich valleys were used for grain growing and the hills and uplands for grazing. The fact that some sort of a crop could be grown every year, cattle could be raised or raised themselves and land was cheap-were the causes that checked the progress of irrigation in this portion of the state. Along later in the 'gos it became a common belief that irrigation was more of a luxury or a fad than a progressive and desirable advance in farming methods. It has required years of argument to drive into the hard head of the farmer that intensive farming pays and that irrigation is one of the chief requirements to this end. Few could be made to

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believe that "college farmers" had anything of real importance to communicate. So at first they held back and nine-tenths of them hold back yet, refusing to believe that intensive farming through irrigation and other artificial methods will make them far more certain of their crops and yield them double the products for the same labor. But the Government has the system, even though they will not believe it and in time intensive farming will be the rule as it is in Spain, Portugal, France, Belgium, Germany, Switzerland, and other countries of Europe.

The advent of many new settlers ten or fifteen years ago, the growing scarcity of good farming land, the fencing up of the ranges, the pressure to bring al! good land under cultivation by the many new settlers, the homesteads which sprang up all over the western part of the state, the calls for larger yields from the acreage and the high prices of all farm products, have contributed to the inevitable and irresistible force that is compelling farmers to adopt intensive methods at least in part. Increased land values demand better returns. Increased population consumes more field products.

A new departure was made when the Government inaugurated the Belle Fourche irrigation project in the southern part of Butte County and it was soon followed by many others and generally by a striking revival of irrigation. The vast and valuable possibilities of irrigation were soon realized by all. It affected the whole state, because the movement demanded state supervision of all the stream-the conservation of the water fit for irrigation. All non-navigable streams were placed under the management of the state. In 1905 the Legis- lature passed an irrigation law patterned after the recommendations of the reclamation service and providing for the appointment by the governor of the state irrigation engineer, with an official term of six years. His duties were to supervise the state waters and learn their measurements, discharges, distribution and usability. Thus after a period of decadence and inactivity irrigation again took an advance step toward intensive farming. Water rights were at once determined and tabulated and recorded in the different counties penetrated. It was necessary to survey all the streams of the state, note the areas that could be irrigated, estimate the probable costs and benefits, place the rights of each person beyond jeopardy and ascertain the crops that might be expected to do best in the various soils and valleys. All of this has been done, but considerable work is yet to be performed to perfect it .· Water power and water conservation were also investigated and studied. The irrigation engineer was aided by the state geological survey, because their objects and duties in a measure dovetailed or overlapped.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 64

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146