, 1890-05-22
eroNAEE FALLS. NAY ~. 1880
.KEUL1INT-VG THE DESER r.

. The nsport or the senate select
cofnmittce ON Irrigation and recln-
nation of arid lands, which has jtlst
becp issued from tho government
printing office, IA exhaustive and In
ierestin9. This committee, IL will
b. recalled by the reader, Elade n
tour OF the Pacific Northwest last
summer, aud gathered much valua-
bio information, which has been
embodied In Its report to tho senate.
Elsewhere in this number Of the
REVIEW the reader will find that
part Of the report referring particu-
Larry to Washington, Idaho aud
Oregon. But In addition to that Sc
Ic<4icn tho body OF the
report contains great
deal that IL Of general and To-
cal Interest," From this report It Is
learned that over two-fifths of the
area Of the United States. excln-
slve Of Alaska. requires irrigation to
Insure regular crops. When this
fact is grasped by the niind 1t is not
dIfilcult 10 comprehend the magnl-
tusls aud importance OF tho task OF
reclamation. 1t is beyond question
the most stupcndous industrial
movement that Is contemplated to-
day upon the face Of the globe.
The nrid region comprises between
100, 600 aud 500, 600 square miles,
being olie-third larger than British
India. and very similar TO II In its
general characteristics.
In liz PREDATORY remarks the COM
m;ttec writes as follows of Washing
ton and Idaho;
Washington, east OF the Cascade
r,ounsaius, would be greatly benefited
by Irrigation. and large areas Of 10 must
bs irrigated 10 produce crops. 1t H.
howe yer. more favorably situated than
any OF the other interior states on &C.
Guu,lt Of the great opening in the Cas-
cnde moupiaiDs through which the Co
lambda river flows. The mouth OF the
CoIumbia river Is great storm center.
The western or Chinook winds In win
ter focusing there. drive the clouds
Through the Columbia river pass, and
their contents are precipitated when
they strike the Bitter Root mountains
IN Northern Idaho and other elevations
IN Eastern Oregon and Western
Montana and Washington. In
these localities farming is sue
ccssfiiily conducted without irrigation.
although In most places the practice
would be highly beneficial There are
large sections not reached by sufficient
rain fall, occasioncd by the passage OF
clouds through the Columbia river
pass. These sections must be cult
waited. II at all, by irrigation. TO what
exteue tho Columbia river and its tribu-
taries may be utilized for this purpose
sn Eastern Oregon and Washington il
not yet tetermined. There is a large
cxtent Of Oregon east of the Cascades
which POSSESSES great natural fertility,
but II is entirely Sependent upon ir-isn-
tion.
Idaho comprises SO, 29f .,aare miles.
The northern part Of 1t, commonly
known as the Pan Handle, Is well snp-
piled with water, and farming is prose-
csitod with success without irrigation,
although II would be of great advan-
tage. and the water for that purpose can
be easily ATTAINED. The groat valley of
southefn Idaho, through which the
snake river and its tributaries flow, is
the largest interior valley in the United
States which can be irrigated by one
se,,s ,nr@.as Nv s -, ' rai,ss arJ nsaSls
WITH e. rnn,sro,. @ s h,.nchcs in fhe hi,h
mountains Of wyoming, near the Ysi-
iowstone Park, where there are numer--
Gus important lakes which can be
utilized as reservoirs TO keep back the
flood waters until the season Of iriiga-
tion. The land OF this great valley rs
exceedingly productive. That In the
vicinity OF Boise City is already under
a high state OF cultivation, producipg
nc the crops and fruits of tho temper
ate xone TO perfection and in great
ABUNDANCE. The climate is mild, being
modified by the Chinook winds from the
Pacific ocean passing through the open. !
inFin she Cascade mountains where tho