IRRIGATION IN THE ARTESIAN BASIN OF SOUTH DAKOTA. 



By A. B. Crane, Special Agent. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The great artesian basin of South Dakota comprises that area in 

 which flowing- wells have been obtained by drilling down into the 

 Dakota sandstone formation that underlies almost the entire State. 

 Owing, however, to the greater number of wells and to the ease with 

 which artesian water can be obtained there, the locality comprised in 

 the James River A'alley has become more familiarly known as the 

 artesian basin. It is within this area that most of the experiments in 

 irrigation from artesian wells have been conducted. 



The eastern limit of the artesian area is a line about 25 miles east 

 of the James River and approximately parallel to it to a few miles 

 south of Mitchell, from which point it bears southeast, following the 

 course of the river to its mouth. West of the James River artesian 

 water can be obtained almost anywhere except at a few points where 

 the elevation does not allow the water to rise to the surface, as in the 

 Wessington Hills or in the Missouri Coteaus east of Gettysburg. 

 Owing to the fact that the portion of the country west of the James 

 River Valley is given over largely to stock raising, the wells there 

 being used entirely for stock purposes, the work in irrigation is 

 restricted to the valley skirting to the east of Wessington Hills before 

 finally 1)earing off toward the Missouri. 



During the period from 1890 to 1894 quite a number of wells were 

 sunk with the intention of using them for irrigation. Their great 

 expense (from $2,500 to $4,000) restricted their construction to a few 

 persons with large means or to corporations. The wells were mostly 

 G-inch wells, with depths varying from 1,300 feet in the region of Aber- 

 deen to about 500 feet at Yankton. Few of them, however, owing 

 to various circumstances, have ever been used. The lands were placed 

 in the hands of tenants, most of whom knew nothing of irrigation. 

 The work was spasmodic and without any system or knowledge of 

 the use of water. Of course such attempts could result only in finan- 

 cial loss to the original projectors, so they were given up. 



Within the last year or two a new system has been adopted — the 

 sinking of small 1^ to 2 inch wells. These can be sunk much more 

 cheaply, the price ranging from $300 to ^650. Resident farmers find 

 it within their means to sink these wells, and many of them are being 

 sunk throughout the basin. 



29 



