Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-02-20
RLMouE COUNTY.

1
We are indebted 20 r. II. Newell,
Of the U. S. Geological Survey, for
a copy of the Census Bulletin" the
sixth series, devoted solely to irriga-
tion in Idaho, prepared bv him. He
takes up each county, alphabet
ically, but we have space only for
that part relating to Little Gilmore:
Gilmore county is in the south
western part Of Idaho, extending
from the north fork Of the Boise
river south TO Snake river, and boun
ded on the east and west by straight
lines arbitrarily located. This strip
of country includes part of three
minor drainage basins, these being,
first, ON the north, large portion
of the catchment area OF Boise river;
second, near the center of the county.
small portion of the headwaters
of the Camas creek, which flows
easterly into Logan county opposite
20 the general course Of the Boise,
and third, on the south, areas
drained by small creeks flowing to-
ward the Snake over or through the
lava formed plain bordering that
river. The divide between the drain
age basin of the Boise and that Of
the streams 10 the south is compar-
r'i~c'v low, so that these latter
arr 81. 20 not, as n rule. receive a
l!.sse - perennial supply Of water.
Ile northeastern corner of the
/ ..unty is part of the Sawtooth
range, containing summits which
rise TO heights of 1000 feet and up
ward. The water supply of the
Boise is therefore large. but the area
of tillable land along the river in
this county is Limited. To the west,
however, in Ada county, are i'm
mense tracts Of fertile land, rcquir-
ing all the water that can be fur
nished by this stream. On the mar
row bottom lands in Gilmore county
are n number of ranches. the aver
age area of the level land Of which
is from 80 to 100 acres. There still
remain other small patches to be
taken up by settlers along the
mountain valleys, the altitude Of
these, however, being so great that
only forage crops or the harder
grains and vegetables can be sue
cessfully raised.
The principal agricultural settle
mcnts Of the county are along the
southern foot Of the low range which
separates the Snake river plain from
the Boise drainage. Along each Of the
small creeks which issue from these
mountains are areas 81 cultivated land,
the water supply without storage be
ing hardly sufficient To cover the land
now titled. Wherever water can be
had. large crops Of wild hay, alfalfa,
wheat, rye. and vegetables are raised.
There arc no canals in this county. ir.
rigation being carried on by means OF
email private bitches. The inhabitants
are hopeful, however, that in the future
great canal may be built 10 take wa
Ter from the Snake river far To the east
aud bring il out upon the broad plain
which stretches from the foothills 10
the edge of the gorge in which the
Snake river flows.
The broad, fertile plain extending
from the Snake river nnrthward To the
foothills is uaderlaid with lava. and az
tic streams leave the mountains and
flow out upon this lava sheet many 81
them lose large part, II not all of the
water IN the porous strata. Among
the foothills there is usually an amI,l,
supply from February to April, the
amount depending largely upon til,
temperature of the season and the rate
at which the snow melts, whether grad
ually, giving continuous flow. or rap
idly, resulting in short, early flood,
followed by droughts, as Was the cas-,
in 1889.
In this region stock raising il tn,
principal industry, the tiliing of Ga,
suil being Of secondary importance
The settlers have taken up the Ian,
near each spring and along every
stream. Both hot and cold springs are
TO be found along the foothills and
near the Snake river, and most al these
are now used for agriculture. In som,
instances the owners Of these spring,
have built small reservoirs To hold ,h,
surplus waters, and they can Thus ir
rigats comparatively large areas o
ground.
The principal crop is hay made from
the natural grasses OF the bottom lands
The creeks are sometimes dry from thu
last Of June or first Of July until lat,
in the year. In q few instances we'll
have been dug TO depths OF 20 feet OF
more, supplying water in abundance
and small areas have beeu irrigated by
raising this water by windmills. II il
reported that in several instances mp
wards OF five acres have beca watered
by means of windmill with vince
/ l6 feet in diameter