The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1892-01-21
A Question Of Vital Import
to Our People.
LET US SECURE
The Same Agent that is
Making Other Sec
tions Prosperous

The question of irrigation is one
that those who have an interest in the
development, to productive prom
inence, of the land immediately
surrounding Weiser can no longer
ignore. 1t is now beginning to be
impressed upon every mind thatwhile
we will no doubt have an ever Increas-
ing revenue from the mining, stock
and other interests in the country |
surrounding us, yet the only true,
sure and certain factor of future
greatness lies in the magnificent body |
of comparatively yet untitled land 4
of which Weiser is nearly in the |
center. While the mines may
fuctuate and the stock interests shift |
here and there, this land, developed
into vineyards, fruit orchards and
grain fields, would be certain and
never weakening lever to lift us high
in the world of wealth. Let the
mines play out the stock live or die,
although it would have its effect, yet
with this vast valley transformed into
one great farm, Weiser would, with
such a backing, march steadily
onward unshaken by any blows to
minor interests and resources. To
secure these conditions it is self
evident that one factor is necessary
irrigation. Of irrigation two ways
are before us. One-artesian water
is yet untried The other is by canals.
The first method would, if it can be
had, undoubtedly be the cheapest as
once the farmer gets a good flowing
goes on. But if this method fails,
or through timidity to risk a few
dollars in experimenting it is Stunned
as thing unholy, there is that tried
and true ay-canals-with which,
by securing sufficient capital, enough
water can be had from the Weiser
and Payette rivers to irrigate every
foot of land between the town of
Payette and Olds ferry. While
Caldwell, Nampa, Boise and Mount
ain Home are gazing with gladened
eyes at the huge canals being con-
structed in their vicinity soon to turn
thousands and thousands of acres of
barren desert into blooming gardens,
our better and easier irrigated spot
is lying unnoticed. Why? Because
the people of the places named, con-
urary to Weiser, do not sit back on
i their launches and be satisfied with
J the dim vision of the future. No.
They realize that life is too short,
u that they must be up and doing or old
age will be upon them and the
: glittering era will still be as far in
the future Realizing this they kick
old Procrastination into the dim
d distance and send their delegates to
+ the east to interest capital. The
: capitalist comes and begins the work
s of transforming their plains and
making them rich. He builds great
dams, tunnels hills, runs great cut:
fro m thirty to forty feet deep through
ridges to make a way to bring watel
onto the land. He is doing it solely
IS because, from the representations o
It the people and his own observation
he expects a good return for th'
money invested, and consequent,
u expends hundreds of thousands o.
- dollars. He does not know that by
" coming little farther west he coulC
plece Just as much if not more Lane
IS under cultivation and obtain create
is revenue by the expenditure of onl,
a half as much money. Why, again
lie Because the people of Weiser an,
vicinety have not told him that her
re is just as good a body of land whic
III shorter canals would cover; that tn
,e Payette carries billions of inches
,e that 30-mile canal would reac
er from it to the extreme west end 0
t. the Weiser valley and cover 25, 00
acres of the best land out of doors
that canals would be easily con