Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1884-06-10
CANVAS PRAIRIE.
THE MOST INVITING SECTION IN
THE MOUNTAINS.
A Valley That Is Poor Mans Real
Paradise-HOmcs for Over 1900 Fam.
lilies, to be Had for the Mere Taking
Up-Etc.

|
which command a view of
that valley, the scene presented Is (
lovely beyond description. There,
stretching for so miles in an easterly
and westerl y direction, and ID to Is
miles uortherly and sou'herly, lies an
almost level plane alive with flowers Of
varied hue, which make it look as if
covered by an immense carpet. New
houscs-for the first settlement on the
prairie is scarcely three years old-are
seen in every direction, usually on the
edge CT piece of plowed ground, the
coa!-black color of which indicates its
exceeding fertility.
But it is not its beauty as much as
its productiveness that attracts settlers
to Camas Prairie. Wherever thc pillow
has scratched the surface Of the |
ground, the earth has yielded more
than enough to ten times repay the
laborer for his work. The fertility Of
this soil is really wonderful, and al
though the experiments heretofore
made were on too small scale to adj
nit of averaging results, yet they suf-
feed to encourage the settlers to en-
large the scale of their operations. AS
a consequence broad fields were
plowed this year where only small!
patches were broken last year.
Camas Prairie is probably one of
the largest valleys in the mountain
region of Idaho, as it contains 21O,-
90 acres Of tilable land. Three
years ago there were scarcely half a
dozen settlers upon it; row there are
over 200, while the entries at the
Land Office indicate that many more
have filed upon land there. Many
have, however, filed under the pre-
emption and hom esteau law, who have
failed to establish their residence upon
their land within the time required by
law, and their claims will revert to
the government. This may cause
some litigation, but not for two or
three years, as there is enough rich
land on the prairie to supply all who
= ,.-t l., >,
. that period
The best land lies from a point
about two ana half miles east O.
Crchton to the new townsltc Of Sol
der This creek seems to be the di
viding line between the first class anC
second class land. That land YIN!
east and north Of Soldier is rich
coal black loan which will requir
little or no irri cation at all; whit
that adj Joining Soldier on the Yves
and south contains many sand ant
gravel bars that will require frequen
irrigation and much care to produc
crops. Again, the black loan WI
produce anything that similar Ian
anywhere in the same latitude wi
produce, while the sand and gray.
!, bars will not be SO prolific. Pota,oe.
it is said, will do better in the latte
while wheat will yield most abunc
antly in the black earth.
Although there are few flown
, streams to be seen on Camas Prairi
in summer, there will probably be II
. trouble in securing cncugh water fe
40 all purposes, as one can hardly strlh
spade down without water imm,
dalelv filing the hole thus mad
, Good drinking water can be got at
depth of four feet. and when dept
of six feet is attained, further pr
10 gress is greatly impeded by water.
:. The area under cultivation has bee
=, small heretofore. Last year the
. were scarcel y 200 acres cultivated
this year there will be 1900 acres,
least; and ne vt year, it may be depen
- ed on, there will be 10000 acres.
The mountains surrounding Cam
Prairie abound in timber and gam
- and the streams with fish, while it
. only 20 to 25 miles to good whit
range for stock.
Taken altogether, it is doubtful
m there is region in existence tn
'ur offers as many advantages to the II
on migrant rich or poor--as Cam