History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 66

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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By 1904 irrigation had made considerable advancement. In 1902 the total irrigated acreage was 53,137, an increase of 9,461 acres over those of 1899. There were 696 farms covered by 348 systems, costing a total of $381,569, with an aggregate length of canals and ditches of 426 miles. By 1904 the irriga- tion areas were determined as follows: (1) Spearfish River above Toomey Ranch-23 square miles; (2) Belle Fourche above the Belle Fourche River- 3,250 square miles; (3)Red Water River above Belle Fourche-1,015 square miles ; (4) Cheyenne River above Edgemont-7,350 square miles ; (5) Rapid City above Rapid City-410 square miles; (6) Box Elder Creek above Holmes' Ranch-157 square miles; (7) Spring Creek above Blair Ranch-205 square miles ; (8) Battle Creek above Hermosa-175 square miles; (9) French Creek above Fairburn-118 square miles; (10) Elk Creek above Piedmount-100 square miles ; (11) Little Missouri River above Camp Creek-1,900 square miles.

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

The Cheyenne system was designed to furnish water to 589 farms through 413 miles of ditches.

Of the National Irrigation Fund, $2,100,000 was for South Dakota and was used on the above systems. The big one on the Cheyenne was surveyed in May, 1904, and contemplated reservoirs that would furnish 175,000 acres with one foot of water a year. In that section the rainfall was from seventeen to twenty inches annually. The two would give that district all the water needed. It became clear at this time that the most productive years were not necessarily those of the heaviest rainfall, but were those when the rain fell at the most oppor- tune times. It was not what fell, but what was used, that produced the big crops. All thus began as never before to study water conservation.

In the western part of the state many irrigation projects are already in exis- tence. Much of the country between the Black Hills and the Missouri River is susceptible of irrigation. Portions are yet in the possession of the Indians and their adaptation to irrigation belongs to the future. In the open sections a few successful attempts at irrigation have been made and many others have been proposed. Reservoirs are the methods used thus far along the streams, but are mainly used for stock instead of for irrigation. Here and there small areas in this portion of the state, just west of the Missouri, are used for raising alfalfa, vegetables and the small grains. All of these attempts are mere makeshifts and only introductory to the irrigation systems that later will be adopted.

In the counties of Butte, Meade, Lawrence, Pennington, Custer and Fall River are at present the largest and most important irrigation projects in the state. Several of these are of great magnitude and great value. They have been put in operation from time to time as the years have passed mainly as private or individual enterprises and have received no assistance from the public as such. Each water user is required to provide and care for his own laterals. The cost of irrigating is about fifty cents per acre. The total cost is about $1.50 per acre. The water is good, reliable, and the crops therefrom are bounteous.

In Rapid Creek Valley are several important ditches, among them being Iowa and Hawthorne, which are owned by farmers. The former has a capacity of fifteen cubic feet per second. Owing to the conformation of the land the water is readily conveyed to out districts. Recently it has been extended. The Haw- thorne ditch has a capacity of thirty cubic feet per second and commences a short distance below Rapid City. It supplies a number of farms with water. In the valleys of Spearfish, Spring and Rapid Creeks are numerous small ditches which in the aggregate supply many farms. Several of them were completed as far back as the '70s, the very first settlers needing the water and seeing the feasi- bility. In the state water districts are many private ditches, which irrigate farms, large or small, and greatly extend farming operation. These additional dis- tricts are Little Missouri, Grand River, Moreau, Belle Fourche, Elk Creek, Battle Creek, Fall River and South Cheyenne. Recently others have been added. Many individual ditches have been built under the provisions of the Desert Land Act, and much waste land has thus been reclaimed. Nearly all of these move- ments are based on reservoirs where water is stored for use during the spring or early summer floods.

Another important irrigation feature of recent years in South Dakota is the large number of private reservoirs built to water land too high to be reached by

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

gravity flow. They are built to catch the flood waters that fall on the elevated tracts or table lands, and at this day meet a large demand that could not be sup- plied in any other way. This reservoir system on uplands does and will see enormous development in the future. On almost every farm high above the water courses enough rains fall in the spring to supply the farm demand. This method is by far the most practical, the cheapest, the most serviceable, the most unfailing of any that has been proposed for the farmers of the uplands. A stone and cement reservoir with sufficient capacity to put on the cultivated land a few extra inches of water at just the right time for the crop, will alone solve the problems of good crops. Not only that, it will enable farmers to cultivate every foot of suitable soil in the state, so that only the worst lands will be left. Later, by degrees, the latter may be brought under the influence of timed water floods. Upland farmers with adjoining lands may co-operate in the construction of these reservoirs, where their lands are so exposed that the same body of storage water can be used by all. Side ditches to feed the reservoirs can be built so that enough water can and will be secured to meet the known crop demand, with allowances made to meet the exigencies of phenomenally dry seasons. There is not a farm on the uplands, and to a great extent of the middle and lower lands, where such a reservoir cannot be built so as to catch enough of the rainfall to water the crops. The actual amount of water needed to mature a grain or grass crop is much smaller than nine out of ten persons imagine. Numerous experiments show that ten inches of water, used at the right time and fully conserved, are am- ply sufficient for any crop grown in South Dakota. There is no portion of the state that does not have a greater rainfall than that. But, in spite of all care and precautions, much of this runs away, evaporates quickly, and thus cannot be used for the crops. The only certain, sure and useful way is to build the reser- voir to supply, at the right moment, just the amount of water needed.

The office of state engineer was established by the Legislature in 1905, and made operative the following year. Gradually this department took control of the irrigation management of the state. In addition, the good roads movement was soon placed under his control. Both projects, by 1915, are well advanced and efficient. In 1909 the drainage problem was also placed under the supervi- sion of this officer. He is thus required to give expert advice on water power, drainage, artesian wells, public building construction, roads and bridges, irri- gation, conservation of natural resources, dams, water rights, canals and ditches, permits, licenses, etc.

The state is divided now into three water divisions: No. 1-Butte, Meade, Perkins and Harding counties ; No. 2-all counties west of the Missouri River, except Butte, Meade, Lawrence, Perkins and Harding; No. 3-all counties east of the Missouri River. No. I is subdivided into Little Missouri, Grand River, Moreau River, Sulphur Creek, Belle Fourche and Elk Creek water districts. No. 2 is subdivided into Rapid Creek, Battle Creek, Fall River, South Cheyenne, East Cheyenne, Bad River and White River water districts. No. 3 embraces the Big Sioux water district-the entire watershed of that river lying in South Dakota. Each of the three districts has a water commissioner.

There are numerous other irrigation projects already commenced or under consideration, among which is that of Rapid Valley which is an enlargement of Iowa Ditch and is designed solely to store the flood waters of Rapid Creek, the

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

normal flow having been otherwise appropriated. Another is in Cheyenne Valley, where it is proposed to store flood water for the irrigation of 100,000 acres in Stanley and Pennington counties. This project was surveyed in 1911. The Bad Lands Basin was planned to be used as a reservoir. Another is the Box Elder project. In ordinary years only about twenty thousand acres of land can be irrigated in this valley, but it is now planned to store the surplus waters and irrigate 10,000 additional acres. Work has commenced on this improvement. There are many other areas under consideration.

AREAS UNDER IRRIGATION WORKS AND PROJECTS, 1909

Areas to Be under Irrigation by Jan. 1, 1909 Acres

Additional Area to Be Reclaimed under

Present Projects Acres

Project

Redwater Canal

5,000.00

Spearfish Valley

5,335.00

Little Missouri Water District.

213.00

631.77

Belle Fourche Water District.

3,242.13

1,872.21

Elk Creek Water District.

75.00

727.20

Rapid Creek Water District.

15,278.00

2,237.60

Battle Creek Water District.

148.66

461.70

Fall River Water District.

3,900.64

750.00

South Cheyenne Water District.

2,708.60

3,640.00

Grand River Water District.

1,201.1I

Moreau River Water District.

434.88

Belle Fourche Project.

12,000.00

88,000.00

Reservoir Filings, estimated.

14,000.00

30,000.00

Totals

61,901.03

129,956.47

About this time the Business Men's Club of Rapid City was conducting a series of important experiments in dry farming. They operated on three tracts with different soils and followed the rules laid down in Prof. H. W. Campbell's system of dry farming. Professor Willis investigated their work and approved the means and measures, especially the attempts to conserve moisture. The latter question was one of great moment this year. There was a widespread-a general-movement for soil and water conservation this year, among the leaders being A. E. Chamberlain. The agricultural college and the experiment stations, of course, gave great momentum to the movement. Much in the same cause was done by J. J. Hill, the railroad magnate. Everywhere tree planting was in progress. Everywhere rang the cry to save the soil by rotation, fertilization and conservation. It was publicly announced that of the twenty to thirty inches of annual rainfall, two-thirds was permitted to run off without entering the soil or being used. Why permit this waste and go to the expense of irrigation, it was asked? It was further declared, that if all the rain and snow that fell was saved, economized and used, no part of the state would be without all the mois- ture needed for crop and stock production. At last the state was becoming partly awake on this important advancement.

WARD HALL OF SCIENCE, YANKTON COLLEGE Gift of Dr. D. K. Pearsons

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

The first Dry Farming Congress ever held in the state assembled at Rapid City, in July, 1910, with A. E. Chamberlain in the chair. Prof. M. E. Carle- ton, of the Department of Agriculture, addressed the congress at length on Plants Adapted to Sterile Soils. Prof. N. E. Hansen described how he had traced alfalfa, from its birthplace in Persia thousands of years ago, through Europe, Chili and California, to the Missisippi Valley. He also delineated his travels through Siberia, Asia Minor and the Crimean region, in search of hardy plants for this state and the whole arid West. Prof. W. P. Snyder, of the North Platte Experiment Station, scored the farmer for his haphazard and slipshod methods, and his astonishing waste. He said that if there were 7,000,000 farms in the United States, and if each lost annually, through the depredations of rats, five bushels of corn, a small estimate, the waste was 35,000,000 bushels. He fur- ther showed that on each of those farms there was wasted annually from $20 to $200 worth of manure, which if put on the soil, would increase the crops not less than ten per cent. Thus he showed waste, extravagance and astonishing losses in dozens of farm undertakings. Important papers were read by Doctor Stover of Highmore and Superintendent Snyder of North Dakota. The congress adjourned to meet next at Pierre. This was one of the most momentous move- ments ever undertaken in this state.

The Conservation Congress met at Pierre in January and held an elaborate and important session. Many of the brightest men of the state and many able speakers from outside were present and participated in the proceedings. As on former sessions, all of the great conservation questions were duly considered- soil, water, farming methods, cropping systems, dry farming, irrigation, legumes, drouth resistant plants, good roads, agricultural education, fruit and forest trees, live stock, alfalfa and forage crops, silos and silage, dairying, etc. The congress favored the big game preserve which had been planned for the Black Hills region. They also favored the proposed county agricultural advisers, but insisted that they should be well qualified.

Another meeting of great moment was the Conservation Development Con- gress, which met at Pierre late in June, 1910. Able speakers from all parts of the state and from outside were present. Governor Vessey presided and State Historian Doane Robinson served as secretary. Archbishop Ireland was adver- tised to be present. Governor Eberhart of Minnesota spoke of the importance of keeping the boys and girls on the farm; Dr. Robert L. Slagle delivered an address on Land Grant Colleges and State Farm Schools; Dr. H. F. Ratte described how it was possible to control the white plague; Prof. N. E. Hansen lectured on Northern Plants for Northern Prairies; Doane Robinson showed how the waters of the Missouri River could be used by South Dakota for irri- gation purposes; Judge C. S. Whiting spoke on the Growth of Law; Senator Crawford talked generally on Reclamation, Irrigation, Soil Waste, Intensive and Dry Farming, etc .; Hon. J. W. Parmeley advocated good roads in a strong speech ; President Cook of Spearfish Normal, described Fruit Possibilities in the Hills. Dr. A. A. Brigham delivered an eloquent address on The Conservation of South Dakota's Best Product-Her Girls and Boys. Other speakers were Professor Bigelow, State Engineer Lea, and A. J. McCain. President Vessey appointed a committee of representative men to organize a permanent congress to hold regular meetings.

472

SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

One of the largest drainage propositions ever projected in this state was complete in 1911, near Young Lake in Sanborn County. A large tract of coun- try there was opened by a large ditch, which carried the water into the James River. Several lateral ditches were dredged at the same time. During the pre- vious four years thousands of valuable acres there had been almost constantly under water. This ditch opened up this land to cultivation. It had for three years been a popular rendezvous for hunters. The ditch was four miles long, from five to sixteen feet deep, and from twenty to fifty feet wide in places, and cost about $18,000.

In the summer of 1911, Census Director Durand issued an important bulle- tin on statistics concerning irrigation in South Dakota. The report was based upon the findings of Dr. LeGrand Powers and R. P. Steele. This report was made under the act of Congress of February 25, 1910, which provided for the census on irrigation and for the collection of full information concerning all irrigation enterprises, whether under national, state or private control. The total number of farms irrigated in South Dakota in 1909 was 500; in 1899 the num- ber was 605, a decrease of 171/2 per cent. During that period the number of farms in the state increased 47.6 per cent. The total acreage irrigated in 1909 was 63,248 acres, against 43,676 acres in 1899. This was an increase of 44.8 per cent. During the same period the improved areas of farms increased 40.2 per cent. The total acreage which was irrigated in 1910 was 128,481 acres, an excess of 65,233 acres over the area irrigated in 1909, which showed that the existing irrigated acreage could be doubled with the construction of new works. The number of independent irrigation enterprises reported in 1909 was 395, against 188 in 1899. Many of the new enterprises were reservoirs and artesian wells used to irrigate single farms. The length of main ditches in 1909 was 631 miles, against 223 miles in 1899. The number of reservations reported was 314. Most of these were small, irrigating single farms or small parts of single farms. The total cost of all irrigation systems as reported for 1910 was $3,043,- 186, against $270,018 for 1899. The annual average cost per acre for main- tenance in 1909 was 64 cents, against 23 cents in 1899, showing that the newer works were not only in the cost of construction, but to appropriate and maintain. Streams supplied water to 47,662 acres or 75.4 per cent of the total area irri- gated ; lakes supplied water to 200 acres ; wells supplied 1,456 acres; springs sup- plied 395 acres, and reservoirs supplied 13,535 acres.

The Conservation Congress at Sioux Falls in January, 1912, was a grand and elaborate affair, replete with excellent advice and distinguished by speeches and papers that touched many vital points in public progress. Elwood C. Perisho was president ; Doane Robinson, secretary-treasurer; and Mark C. Rich, vice president. In spite of the intense cold the congress was a marked success. Doz- ens of important questions were considered by many of the ablest men of the state and nation. All things considered this was the most momentous industrial meeting ever held in the state, considering its breadth of discussion and its far- reaching effects. The meeting of the congress in 1911 was attended by 4,000 people and great impetus was given the upward movement-a campaign of prog- ress and enlightment. This impetus was given fresh and strengthened propul- sion by this congress at Sioux Falls. Among the subjects considered were-con- servation; education in horticulture; education in agriculture ; demonstration

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

farms; South Dakota hogs for export; battleships or better roads; interstate wagon roads ; seedcorn ; institutes ; grain grades and seed; economy of higher education ; consolidated schools; conservation in state education; the teacher ; health supervision in schools; common and rural schools; irrigation in central South Dakota ; conservation of surface waters; corn growing; conservation of human life; National Tuberculosis Association; pure food and health; tubercu- losis exhibits ; germination tests ; alfalfa and other hay : farmers' institutes, etc. Governor Eberhart of Minnesota, and Governor Vessey were among the speakers. Among those who took part in the proceedings of this congress were : R. F. Petti- grew, Doctor Wilson, R. F. Kerr, L. J. Bruce, H. K. Warren, N. E. Hansen, J. W. Campbell, W. S. Hill, J. H. Foster, J. S. Kelley, R. M. Crawford, J. W. Parmeley, J. R. Dalton, J. M. Manson, N. G. Reininger, E. C. Issenhuth, Doctor Stoner, Clifford Willis, O. S. Jones, A. W. Krouger, A. E. Chamberlain, Mark Rich, Frank Bower. A. E. Hitchcock, Doane Robinson, W. A. Wheeler, John T. Bilk, C. G. Lawrence, A. O. Eberhart, Governor Vessey, S. W. Glenn, Dr. C. G. Cottam, W. L. Cosper, F. B. Gault, J. G. Parsons, C. R. Jorgenson, Doctor Hume, T. F. Riggs and Dr. A. N. Cook.

The Great Plains Irrigation Company was organized in January, 1913, with Judge E. H. Barthow as president. They planned to irrigate a tract 25 by 500 miles, extending from northwest North Dakota, southward across South Dakota to the Nebraska line. They estimated that 8,000,000 acres of semi-arid land could thus be reclaimed with Missouri River water.

In March, 1914, the Conservation Congress assembled 'at Sioux Falls, there being at the start a somewhat small attendance, owing to the weather. There were present many eminent speakers and scientists. The congress recommended the following progressive measures : (1) The regulation and control of streams ; (2) protection and extension of the forests ; (3) more money for farmers' insti- tutes ; (4) organization of farmers; (5) a new state constitution; (6) advised inviting Professor Holden of Iowa to traverse the state and lecture on alfalfa; (7) recommending a thorough survey of state soils; ( 10) commending the estab- lishment of a tubercular sanitarium; (II) condemned the liquor traffic and asked for a national prohibition law; (12) commended the Legislature for send- ing Prof. N. E. Hansen to Siberia after hardy plants; (13) commended the railways for aiding the agricultural college to send out instruction trains ; (14) favored a merchant marine instead of more battleships. At this meeting all up-to-date and important subjects were duly considered by the ablest men of the state. The general demand was to build up the state and save its natural products for home use. Among the subjects were, forest reserves, coal beds, Missouri River water, the homes, agricultural progress, better agricultural meth- ods, more manufacturing plants, better use of home resources, better education, irrigation possibilities, water power, economic problems, good roads, agricultural extension, etc. Professor Perisho urged generally better agricultural methods, and asked farmer, merchant, manufacturer and professor to unite to push the state forward. State possibilities had been only half exploited, he declared. He particularly urged the consideration of economic and domestic problems and con- gratulated the state on the appropriation for the good roads movement.

By September 12, 1911, there was but one irrigation project in the state under the United States Reclamation Service, but it embraced 90,000 acres,

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SOUTH DAKOTA: ITS HISTORY AND ITS PEOPLE

though the total acreage entered was only 20,000, with 30,000 more subject to entry. The average price of the water rights was $36 per acre. The sum expended on the project up to March 31, 1912, was $3,216,240; total length of main canals and laterals, 225 miles.

On September 12, 1911, there were in the state 101,685 acres of privately irrigated lands; the cost of construction was $2,444,044, and the total length of the canals was 631 miles, with 500 farms under irrigation. The number of reservoirs was 314. Total acreage under irrigation canals in the state was 201,685, all classes; actual number of acres under irrigation, estimated, 128,- 481 ; total acreage to be irrigated, 225,000; total irrigable area of the state still unclaimed, 550,000 acres.

The Legislature of 1909 enacted a law providing for the acceptance of the offer of the United States in relation to arid lands, commonly known as the Carey Act. Under the provisions of this act, in each public land state to which it is applicable, as much as one million acres of the public lands susceptible of reclamation by irrigation may be segregated by the secretary of the interior and turned over to the state. The reclamation works are built by outside capital under the supervision of the state and the state turns the land over to the settler at a minimum price of 50 cents per acre, this money going into the state treasury. This act does not conflict in any way with the United States Reclamation Act, but is supplementary thereto.

The subject of drainage, while of great importance to Eastern South Dakota, is not as prominent now as it was a few years ago. At that time vast areas of low lands in the southeastern portion of the state were covered with water, and lake beds and depressions that were formerly dry, were then wet and unpro- ductive. It was estimated that about a half million acres of land in the state were unfit for agricultural purposes because of an excess of water, and that about four million acres were wholly and partially unproductive by reason of being too wet to cultivate properly. Since the enactment of a state drainage law by the Legislature in 1909, a vast amount of drainage work has been done in the state, and many thousands of acres of land have been reclaimed thereby. For a period of two years the precipitation in the state was below the normal and there was consequently no great accumulation of surface water in the low areas. These two causes have resulted in a situation that does not now call for extensive drainage operations, although many localities in the state require drain- age for agricultural lands.

LAWS CONCERNING ARTESIAN WELLS

Section 2648. Whenever a petition signed by not less than fifty resident freeholders of any county in this state, of whom fifteen shall be each the owner of not less than eighty acres of land, located on any natural watercourse on which an artesian well is sought to be located, shall petition the engineer of irri- gation for the location and establishment of an artesian well, it shall be the duty of such engineer of irrigation to personally investigate and view out the course and extent of such natural watercourse, for the purpose of determining the prac- ticability and advisability of such well. And, if in his judgment, it is found practicable and advisable, he shall locate and establish an artesian well on such

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 66

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