The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-09-07
THE TRIBUNE.
IN THE LOWER COUNTRY.
Sights and Signs Along the Sebree
Ditch From the Twenty Mile
Point Down.

the north and west of Caldwell was
as free from the surveyors calcula-
tons and the settlers filings as the
remotest part of the great African
desert.
sits fertility was undoubted; the
value of the broad expanse for ag-
ricultural and kindred purposes
was not denied; the probability of
unsightly sage brush some day CIV
ing way to beautiful orchards of
apple, peach, pear, plum, prune,
! ETC., was unquestioned; yet it lack
ed one thing-water.
ITO put water upon this fertile
land is the object of the Idaho Col
onization and Ditch Company, and
although four years behind our
town in starting, it bids fair to lie
the first enterprise to show up in
true light the boundless possibili-
ties of the sage brush bench lands
of this region"
THE TRIBUNE never claimed to
be phophet; not eve, t g the son
of prophet. Yet if its readers
could have accompanied its repre-
sentative on the tour of discovery
made last week, all would unite in
testimony to the fulfillment of the
above predictions. A belated freight
train afforded the means of convey
ance and we had scarcely accus-
toned ourselves to the luxurious
appointments of box car ere the
future great city of Parma broke
upon our astounded vision.
To eentralize is one of the laws
Of nature. The glowing mem
bers of our planetary sys-
tenn pay homage to the great
orb of day; the twinkling stars
of the heavens circle in infinite
orbits about common center; the
vast channels of commerce obey
the same unseen law; and the mind
of man in all its devious wanderings
continually reevrts to and obeys
the mandates of the one Great
Center. A mile and one-half walk
from Parma brings one to the head
quarters of all operations on the
Sebree Ditch-the center-Howard
Sebree's
MOUNTAIN VIEW RANCH.
The mind that cannot compre-
bend the change effected by trans
forming a section of somber sage
brush to one of green and waving
grass can here call the eye -
assist and see the wonders man
hath wrought. Two hundred acres
Of alfalfa put in this spring re-
turned one ton to the acre at first
cutting; the remainder of the Sec
ton will be put in this fall. A fine
orchard of three hundred apple.
plum, pear, peach and prune trees
and 1900 shade and ornamental trees
now occupy the place where eight
teen months ago desolation reigned |
supreme. The wonderful growth of
trees; the luxuriant thickness of
the alfalfa; the waving, heavy laden |
stalks of corn; vegetables of al
kinds fairly burndening the soil |
with their profusion and size all |
make known in no uncertain man
ner the wonderful properties of the |
soil when touched with natures
grlndest element-water. Mr.. Sc
bree calculates that four men can
irrigate his section and that two
will be constantly at work
five months in the year cutting the
three crops of hay. Mountain View
Ranch is veritable oasis in the
desert. and the mind given to re-
lection here finds a wide range.
The lair of the cayote has become
an abiding place for the domestic
animals of civilization; the wild
sage hen has taken flight to make
'oom for the stately Plymouth
Rocks; the Idaho sun sink
ng behind the Oregon hills shines
10 more on scene of desolate des-
'lation but sheds halo over a
picture of peace, contentment and
civilization; from a neighboring
,ond comes the croak of the frog;
he chirping cricket and industrious
mosquito begin to ply their sooth- {
ng occupations and natures restor-
r, balmy sleep, comes like a soft /
hadow. To the east of Mr.. Sc t
reefs ranch lies the section of &
VIM L. GEARY,
,ithout doubt one of the finest I'M '
er the ditch. Mr.. Geary's i'm a
rovements are confined to an or Y
hard of ten acres, situated on Q
ommandipg point of his land. Sew v
raj hundred trees here seem to be s
ngaged in race as to which can n
lake the largest growth this sea- n
Pm. Although set out late last t.
bring growth of three and four f
ct is the rule and not the excep- a
on. A ride of one and one-half p
lies north of Mr.. Sebree's brings