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rACK KILLS UHIO| JirTHE BLACK HILLSPUBLISHING CO. m»V i'rrt ;-.',V: s' • V-. . , \ • •-- •

8HBLBY 1>. BEBD, Manager.

Published every Friday, and entered at the poBtofflce at Rapid City, 8. Dakota as second class ma<l matter.

TERH8-Cash. One Year $1 99 Six MOnthB... 50 Three Months 25 «STAU correspondents are requested to send signatures whether they wish them published or not. Anno my nous communications will not be noticed

FRIDAY, APRIL 5, 1895.

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IRRIGATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA.

The highest achievement of invention industry and civilization is the utiliza­tion o! nature's iorces to the greatest possible extent. All matter and mo­tion is essentially nature, and mind can only direct them.

The three phenomena, fire, air and water—called "elements" by; the an­cients—form the forces by which the

pother element, earth, was made subser­vient to man's u«e, even the most de­structive of these, when controlled, cou-"tributin^ to his power. Nature, in tier

v^work uses only these same force and ^materials to perform the grand •> ian«es

«he i« continually working, and man only imitates her in his own attempts.

In our state of Sonth Dakota we re­cognise the greastest work to be argri-cultural; hence, nature's work is to build plant substance and man's work is to aid her, Th« question, then, is. "how can this best be done?"

It must necessarily be by adopting . the same plan u-ture herself would fol­low if postible, and furnish the material for her to w ork with. Man cannot make a plant—hecan onlv bring the ma­terial together for nature to use in mak­ing it for him. Give t>er earth, heat and moisture, and she will do the rest. With-hnld either of these, and she is al­most powerless. We can, and do, con­trol the supply of these requisites, an in hot-houses and enclosed gardens; but upoD the larger scale of general farm­ing the 6arne plan is impracticable and unnecessary. Our soil is sufficiently rich, the sun produces the requisite tem-perture; but nature fails to supply the proper amount of moisture at the the proper time. Manifestly, then, our method of assisting in the work of plant raising must be in furnishing and con-trolling this necessary element.

There is no place on earth so favored that just the right amouut of water ss furnished at just the proper time, and the most prosperous countries have al-wa\ s b»en those where irrigation has been practiced to the greatest extent. The ancient works of Egypt. Babylon, Palestine and Aboriginal America, to­gether with its modern utility in ChiDa. India, Europe and Western United States all attest to its value and ef­fect upon the prosperity of a nation. In China, the popular approval of the reigning dynasty has always been based on the perfection and extent of the irri­gation system carried on by its repre-sanratives. Palestine, today a barren, arid region, was in Solomn's time a rich fruitful country, made so by means of irrigation. Tne modern canals of Ari­zona and >Tc- Mexico are frequently built in chaftaeUs of ancient canals that were used by the Aborigines, and recent discoveries show that at one time this region supported a numerous and pros­perous people.

Today, in India, the government con­trols the irrigation system, builds canals and reservoirs and directs the natural streams, with the result that, though her population is ten times as many per square mile as in the United States, yet she can export wheat at prices to compete successfully with our owu country. Spain and Italy havefollowed the practice for hundreds of years. Aus­tralia is adopting a system which is in­tended to bring her most . barren dis­tricts under cultivation. Naturally, then, one of the leading questions of our own country may well be, "how can we irrigate our land and so increase its fer­tility and value?" The people of South Dakota must not overlook the question. It is a mistaken idea that "thatcountry is best which irrigates least-" That cauntry is best whtch best controls its water supply. In California and Colo­rado irrigation has added greatly to the prosperity of tne people, and districts lip-ve been organized with all the power of similar municipal bodies, having} tor their sole object the full complete irriga­tion so organized, each landholder bene­fited paying a taxior the support of the enterprise, much thy same as in the rood and school district system m South, Dakota.. Is it not needful that

the

••ex since 2000 B. <3. and all the methods possible hare been tested. It only re­mains for us to select those which M® most nearly adapted to our conditions and modify them to suit our require­ments. * .

The question with os, though import­ant, is not a difficult one. Our situa­tion is very favorable for its practical application. The great geologic lake bed, extending from the 97th meridian to the western limits of the state, and forming the great artesian basin, fur­nishes a supply of water only limited by the number of wells the inhabitants see fit to bore. It seems to be fed by the head waters of the Missouri and its tributaries, which, in flowing over the cretaceous outcrop of porous strata that underlie the drift material, perco­lates through and follows the trend of the dip into the great artesian basin. The fact that the Missouri is smaller after crossing these outcropping strata is considered good evidence in support of this theory.

East of the 97th meridian, in the glacial deposits or moraine forming the ranges of coteaus which seem to limit the artesian basin on the east, are num­erous lake beds covering an area of about 768,000 acres, which are natural reservoirs for the reception of the perio­dic rainfa.ll and can be easily arranged so as to conserve it until needed bv th^ crops.

Maj. J. W. Powell, of the United States Geologic Survey says—and the reports of the Secretary of Agriculture confirm the statment—"an annual pre­cipitation of twentv inches is sufficient to mature all ordinary crops." Our annual rainfall varies from twenty-three inches in the eastern part, to twelve inches in the western portion, which shows that if we can conserve the ram that now falls, verv little addi­tional water is needed, especiallv in the ears tern part of the state.

In the Black Hills, the problemn is al­ready sol ved. as irrigation is now fol­lowed to a grea t extent. Spearfish and Rpdwater creeks are furnishing supplier of water that now irrigate upwards of 100 000 acres besides being used largly for mining purpose. The entire western portion of the state is traversed by bv streams having their head wa ters in the Rockv Mountains, which will sup­ply a'l the water needed in that section. The Grand, Moreau, Chevenne and Lit­tle Missouri rivers, with their many tributaries are a source of supply which may be pasily distributed over the now semi-arid plain of western Dakota.

There are. ilien, three distinct irriga­tion divisions in South Dakota each re­quiring a different method of operation.

First—The eastern division to be watered by means of the actual rainfall conserved in the lake beds and doled out to the land as needed through a svntem of canals from these natural reservoirs.

Second—The central division or ar;tes-sian basin where the water is supplied by flowing wells and easily distiibuted over the land.

Third—The western division where the water is supplied by streams who*© head-waters are in the mountains fur­nishing an abundant and constant sup-plv.

Regarding the last two divisions we need only say the system mentioned are already practiced in them and are found successful. The first division is the only one which seems to present any difficulty. But, after answering the ob­jection of lack of precipitation with the statement that, though but twenty inches per year is required, the average fall is about twenty-three inches, the greatest disadvantage that remains is this: Situated so near the great conti­nental divide, the land is so nearly level that it will be difficult to obtain a head of water sufficient to force its way through irrigation canals. This is part­ly true; but while the highest points may not be reached by means of the natural flow, the distance which it must be csr-ried by mechanical means is greatly lessone 1, though such means will need to be n-ed to some extent.

But the covering of this vast area of lake surface will in itself have very bene­ficial results. It will make the atmos pliere more btimid; lesson the liability «f early and late frosts, temper the hot south winds, dimish the frequency of hailstoims and supplv copious dews besides reaching the trirher points by means of percdlation or capillary at­traction.

Recognizing then, the feasibility ot the plan, it only remains to discuss the question, it shall becarried on by private enterprise or by state or national con­trol? The fact that it is a natural re­source and moreover, one so easy to fall into the handB of monoply, should we enact some measure-for the promo

tion of the welfare of our own state? , even debar it from the rapaciousness of The present hard times resulting from | private or corporate control. This has th^$Ontiuued drouths of the last few b -eu tried in California and Colorado jeiH*.certainly call for help if any can j and with so little satisfaction that the possibly be rendered. ' government of those states are taking

. We cau expect nothing new to be de- almost complete control of the svstems. •eloped. Irrigation has been carried on They must be supported by a direct

tax and legislated upon by the state government. There are scarcely any two states that would be dependent up­on the same source for 'their water supply. Some states will not need such extensive works as others. There­fore. it seems reasonable to place the enterprise under the control of the several states gather than raie nation at large, with such assistance from* that source as it seen fit to be offered. The prosperity of the nation depends on that of the states and there must neces­sarily be more or less co-operation. But from whatever source derived, fur­nish South Dakota with plenty of water, and with her proverbially rich soil, the genial healthful climate and the industry and enterprise of her peo­ple who can predict for her anything but. a baight and prospfltous future?— Industrial Collegian.

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TAXATION OE MORTGAGES.

EDITOR UNION: \\ :/' The articles appearing in your col­

umns in regard to the taxation of mort­gages have been interesting to me from several points of view, but principally because I live in a state in which mort­gages are taxed.

In the year 1879 the state of Califor­nia adopted a ''new constitution" in which occurs the sections following, viz:

SECTION 4. A mortgage, deed of trust contract or other obligation by which a debt is secured, shall, for the purposes of assessment and taxation, be deemed and treated as an interest in the pro­perty affected thereby. Except as to railroad and other quasic-public cor­porations, in case of debt, so secured, the value of the property affected by such mortgage, deed of trust, contract, or obligation, less the value of such se­curity, shall be assessed and taxed to the owner of the property, and the value of sueh security, shall be assessed and taxed to the owner of the property, and the value of such security shall be ass­essed and taxed to the owner thereof, in the county, city, or district in which the property affected thereby is situate. The taxes so levied shall be a lien upon the property and security, and may be paid by either upon the property af­fected thereby shall become a part of the debt so secured; if the owner of the property shall pav the tax so levied on such security, it shall constitute a pay­ment thereon, and to the extent of such payment a fnll discharge thereof; PROVI­DED that if any such security or indebt-ness shall be paid by any such debt or debtors, after assessment and before the tax levy, the amount of such levy may likewise be retained by such debtor or debtors, and shall be computed accord­ing to the tax levy for the preceding year.

SECTION 5. Every contract hereafter made, by which a debtor is obligated to pav any tax or assessment on money loaned, or on any mortgage, deed of trust, or other lien, shall, as to any in­terest specified therein, and as to such tax or assensment. be null and void.

The current rates of interest at tha t time—1879—were from ten to fifteen per cent ner year, usually one per cent per month The usurer said that if the new constitution was adopted the tax rate would be added to the rate of in­terest and thus the tax on mortgages ™-oulrt be whifted to the borrower. The fact was not, so. There was no increase in the rate of interest eitherimmediately or afterwards, in fact the rate of in­terest has had a downward tendency ever since, until the reeent hard times beginning in the summer of '93.

In December 1885 I borrowed $1,100 on mortgage securitv at eight per cent the loaner paid the taxes about two per cent. I am creditablv informed that where the ability of the borrower to re­pay the loan an per the terms of con­tract is undoubted, the samo or a less rate prevailed three years ago, while money on note of hand with personal secujity was loaning at one per cent per month in small amounts, varying more or leas according to the reliability of the securitv.

Now it is difficult to borrow money on real estate security, the drpreciation of land compared with the appreciation of money having destroved its value as se­curitv. Right here is a point for Mc-Gee's consideration. Would not the raonev loaner rather extend the tfme of his loan at the present rate and pay taxes thereon than to burden himself with land which under present condi­tions is almost sure to be a loss to him

Another important feature is the fact that under California's system of tax­ing mortgages p. large amount of money loans, loanable "coufidence" and store, machinery and other accounts which ev«ntuallv often take the form of mort­gages are unable to escape the assessor as they otherwise would do. /

The plan of taxing land mortgages and exempting like values in the security from taxation has worked with great satisfaction to the people of this state. Excepting of course the traficing, shy-lock class who are contiuually seeking to overthrow the system but as a change can only be effected by a change in the constitution the people have the matter in their own hands and are likely to continue the present plan inde­finitely. Yours, etc.,

L. L. Redding, California, March 24,1895.

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v "Cadets. " The High School Cadets will give an

entertainment in Library Hall on April 5th. It will consist of a drama entitled '•At the Picket Line" much preperation has been made for giving a good program and no doubt the cadets and the inhab­itants of Rapid City will be proud of the pr«posed effort. Music will be dispensed by the Bower Family Band which in it­self is a guarantee of the quality of the of the melodies rendered.

Admission 35 cents, reserved seats fifty cents. Children 25 cents.

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Eastern Millinery. Mrs. A. E. Wallace is. receiving new

goods daily and is prepared to show the latest and most approved styles in all kinds of ladies, misses and children's headwear at reasonable prices. She will hold an opening the week before Easter to which everyone is cordially invited.

Notice for Publication. LAND OFFICE AT RAPID CITY, S. D.

March 18,1895. Notice is hereby given that the following

named settler has filed notice of his intention to make final proof in support of his claim, and that said proof will be made before regis.er or receiver at Rapin City, S. D. on May 3, 189n, viz: Abraham H. Tilson. homestead entry No. 2,902 for the SE^ Sec, 7 and N& NE% Sec. 18, Tp 1, S,R,8K,BH M.

He names the following witnesses to prove his continuous residence upon and cultivation of, said land, viz: Plummer C. Davis, of Rapid City, 8. D.. Horace Crockett, of Rapid City, S. D., Chas. Peabody, of Rapid City, S. D., Horatio N. Chapman, of Rapid City, S. P.

E. D. RALPH, Register.

By-Laws of The Black Hills Co-ooera-tiye Company.

ARTICLE I. Meeting. SEC. 1, The regular annual meeting of the

Stock-holders ot this company shall be neld on the third Tuesday of December of each year, at the office of said company in Rapid City, S. D., and special meetings may be called at any time, in the manner hereinafter provided. Compiled Laws, Sec. 2931.

SEC. 2. A representation of a majority of the subscribed stock shall be necessary for the transaction of ail business of the stock-holders, and every person acting thereon, either in per­son or by proxy or representative, must be a bona fide stock-holder, having stock m his own name on the stock book at least ten days prior to said meeting, (Compiled laws, Sec. 2931.) Proxies may be in any form in writing, and show by and to whom they are given, and for what meeting; and duly filed with the secretarv before voting: providing that proxies are given to members only of this company.

SEC. 3. At all meetings ®L the stock-holders, each stock-holder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him, and such vote may be cast either in person or by proxy; provided such proxy shall be in writing; and filed with the secretary of the c.mpany; as pro­vided in Sec. 2.

SEC. 4. QUARTERLY MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS.

The regular quarterly meetings of the board of directors shall be held on the 3d Tuesday of March. June, September and December of! each year; and special meetings of said board of di­rectors may be called by -..he iH-esi.leiit when ever he mav deem it expedient, in the absence of the president, by the vice- president; or in the absence of both president, or vice-president, by ady two or more of the directors.

SEC. 5. QUORUM OF BIUEOTORS.

A majority of the board of directors- shall constitute a quorum;, and ,ior the transaction of ordinary business a majority ofsuch quorum of directors present shall decide all matters acted upon; provided, however, that In all mat­ters affecting the business of this company, in­volving rtu expenditure, purchase or investment in excess of $1.<>U0, it shall require, at ieast, five affirmative votes of such directors i resent.

SEC. (5. MEETIN«» OF ST.OCK-HOLDERS—HOW CALLED.

All meetings of stock-Holders shall be called by a notice in writing given or mailed to each stock-holder at lea-t tw« w<.-eks prior to said meeting, stating the time and place of suet, i meeting; and Jl a special meeting, the purpose thereof; provided tlist, it» ca-e of any special meeting called iortlie purpose of amending the article of inct*poration of said company, notice shall be g.veu m the manner perscribedby chap­ters 55 and 56 of the 1S90 session laws of South Dakota.

SEC. 7. SPECIAL MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS* All special meetings of directors shall be called

by special notice, in writing, to be given to each director by the secretary on the order of the president; or upon the order of two directors, in the absence of both president and vice-presi­dent,

ARTICLE II. SEC. 1. OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY.—HOW

ELECTED. The executive officers of this company shall

consist of a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, and general manager or superintend­ent, and they shall be chosen by ballot annually by the board of director* at their first meeting immediately after the election of said board.

The president and vice president shall be chosen from the board of airectors; and the other officers may be.

SEC. 2. DIRECTORS,—HOW ELECTED. A board of nine directors shall be elected at

each annual meeting of the stock-holders. All

elections of directors eh&U U? #. baijot, and a vote of stockholders representing, aj ffiajorlty of the subscribed capital stock shall necessary to a choice. In case ot the death of&fflanatiott ot any director the Vacancy shall be flllpd by the board of directors .«t a meeting called uhott such notice as is required for special meetings of the board of directors. {Compiled laws of South Dakota. Sec. 2925.)

SEC, 3: ELIGIBILITY TO OFFICE AS DIRECTOR. No person shall Ineligible as a director un­

less he is a bonafide owners ot at least one share of capital stock and after the first elec­tion must nave been a stockholder for at least six months prior to his election as such direc­tor. Compiled laws sec. 29, 26.

SEC. 4: DIRECTORS TERM OF OFFICE. The directors shall serve for one year

the time of their election, and until their cessor in office are elected and qualified. W°ART. 3. POWERS AND DUTIES OF OFEICERS. | sf * «

The president shall preside at all meetings of the directors or stock holders, he shall sign, as president all certiflca'es of stock and all con­tract and other instruments in writing which havabeen first approved by the board of direc­tors. He shall call the directors together w" ever he deems it necessary, or at the request of two directors; ana he shall' subject the advice, control and approvi directors the general superintendence of the af­fairs of the company in the absense or inability of the president the vice-president shall perform all the duties of said office. ,

SEC. 2: POWERS AND DUTIES OF TREASURER. It shall be the duty of the treasurer to re-

cieve and keep safely, at such place or places as shall be designated by the directors al 1 monies belong to thecompay and to disburse the same under the direction of Xki board of directors. Upon order.signed by the president and secre­tary. The books kept by the treasurer shall be at all times subject to the inspection cf ,the president and board of direc­tors and every three months or oftener if re­quired, he shall submit to the said board of di­rectors at their regular quartealy meetings a c >mplete itemised statement of hts account with the proper vouchers for their information He shall receipt to the secretary lor all monies received by him At each annual meeting of the stock holders he shall submit a complete statement of his accounts for the past year with the proper votches for their imrormation. He shall discharge such other duties pertaining to his office as shall be perscribed by the board of directors and he shall give a bond for the faithful performance of the duties ot said office before entering thereupon, in the sum of five-thousand dollars with two or more sufficient surities to be approved by the board of direc­tors- The board of directors may increase the-amount of said bond from time to time as they deem it necessary.

SEC. 8. POWERS AND DUTIES OF SECRETARY. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keen

a record of the business transaction of this company, he shall keep a journal of all meetings of the boartf of dire •co'-s and of th* stock holders, with the timeaud place of * olding the-s-tme. whether regular or special, and if *p^cial tin object, how authorized, and the notice thereof givening the -record must embrace every act done or ordered to be done Must state who were present and who were absent and if requested by any d rector or stoc* hoUer tne time shall be noted whenever he enter the meet­ing or obtained leave of absense therefrom. On a similar request the ayes and navs must be taken on auv proposition, and a record'thereof made. On a similar request a protest of any stoc< holder or director to anv action or pro­posed action must be entered in lull: < om-piled Laws S. D. Sec. 2937.

He shall also keep a stock and transfer book in which he shall keep a record of all stock is­sued or transfered and which shall contain' the name of the stock holders alphabetically ar­ranged and tneir P. n. addre-ses, installments, paid or unpaid a statement of v-verv alienating' sale or transfer of stock made, the date thereof and by and to whom .ind the number of design-nation of such share cr share-. Compiled Laws S. D. Section 2927. He shall have charge of said corporatioh ami keep the book of blank c rtiflcates of stock and fili up and countersign all the certificates issued and make the corres­ponding en; t ies on the margin otVach book on such issuance. Me shall countersign ail orders upon the treasury Keeprproper account books, issue the notices and csills for all meetings of the directors and stock holders when duly auth­orized and di.M.'ha,rue such other duties as per­tain to his office a:nt aj;e or shall be prescribed by the board ot directors. e shall also keep a rt cord o< nil propeni"s real or persona! bought and sold by the nation with desc.iiption of the same and pri •• |> tiil or received. The sec­retary shall uive bon-i in the sum of. SI.UOO coii'dtione t for the f -ithful performance of his duties a< s 'orerarv «;i:d bond to be approved by tne board of diwrors.

PEC 4-. AGEU.

It shall ho tl • .'.iityof the general manager or superintendent: First: to take charge of all the-property belongi-ur to the company; or such part thereof as snail be designated by the board of'directors: and to,control and direct such la­bor and management peeatihinc to the- inter­ests, business objects and operations of said' company, a* said board of directors shall des-ignate'and direct. Second: To make quarta'-ly returns-to the directors of all persons in the emplo- of the. company: and a statement of all the expenditures, attending the same with the necessary vouchers, and a general report of the-progress- and condition of such labor, WOTK management, business or operations as-is being, carried OH by or on account of the comwauy. Third;: Ti give orders upon the treasurer on account of such woric and labor and employee's hire and other necessary expinnitures in the carrying:on of the business ot the company as relates directly to the department of general manager, and not otherwise limited by these-ly-laws. or restricted by thv board of dir ctors which orders shall be paid by the said treasurer, alter the same has been duiy approved by the-president and secretary,

He shall have no power to sign notes or con­tracts for the company: neither shall he have, power to incur any indebtedness, unless so specially authorised by the board of directors, transmitted to him in witting by the secretary. Fourth. Said'manager shall deposit, wi h the treasurer daily, all monies coming intohis hands or possession.from or through the business of said company, and shall take vouchers there­for. Ki»th: Said manager shall perform s 'oh

from suc-

I'OWEK.1 IXQ DUTIES-OF GENERAL JIAN--

MAN WANTS

And can easily fiud the best assortment of Clothiug and Eur-nishmg Goods ai.

BUT LITTLE more than the actual cost of manufacture. Such real bargains, we «re sun-, were never offered

HERE BELOW

Call on as and make sure that we will save you money on all pur­chases.

BUT CAN GET ALL HE

WANTS TO WEAR AT THE

DEAH SALMON CLOTHING COMPANY, MAIN 8TREET. RAPID CITY.

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