The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1892-06-02
And What He Saw Of South
ern Idaho.
Irrigation the Factor of
Prosperity.

A trip up the road has conviced us
that while there are many worse pla-
ces than Weiser, and none with
brighter prospects, our sister towns of
south Idaho are using a little more
push and energy than we are. They
are iourishing and forging ahead in
a surprising manner, and it is sure
and certain that the reputed barren
desert of south Idaho is being trans
formed and in few years will be a
garden Of roses, fruits, flowers and
grain, unrecognizable in its present
appearance-all will be the magic of
irrigationl Rushing and roaring
along on the train between Nampa
and Mountain Home, and beyond, the
stranger is impressed with the idea of
barren, grim and worthless desert.
He whirls through long stretches Of
wild, uninhabited and desolate sage
brush plains, level for miles and
miles around until bounded by the
distant hills. But out of the latter
pour many voluminous streams which
money and labor can divert and spread
over the plains in canals, and-presto
change-the sage brush disappears
and out blooms the prune and pear,
the grape and grain, fruits and fiow-
ers, everything tropical and torrid,
from the onion to the orange, making
of the rolling plain one vast and glo-
rious farml Such is the condition
that is rapidly approaching, but which
the stranger hurrying by does not
comprehend. But he is astonished
when he suddenly rolls into beauti-
full little town, an oasis in the desert
Mountain Homeland the train
stops. He has no idea it is within
miles until he is there. The little
garden spot bursts upon his view q
striking emblem of what magic irri-
cation can work in the wonderful soil
over which he is rushing. Even this
does not cause him to grasp the fact
that the whole south end of the state
from Pocatello to Weiser, can be thu
metamorphosed by sufficiently exten
sive canals. But we ramble. w,
started to tell what was noted on ,
late trip to the Gate City of Idaho.
Considerable high water is to b.
encountered just at present. Th'
Payette and Boise rivers are booming
full and out of their banks in places
while it simply takes the passengers
breath when crossing Snake river.
Payette, Caldwell and Nampa ar
!, exhibiting considerable life and hav
q a steady growth.
Mountain Home is very prett
little town, and though not havin,
grown much for several years, tn
Inauguration Of several large irrigatio
Y enterprises there of late has place
s it on the verge of substantial boom
r Pocatello is prosperous, but
e curious town to one unacquainte
v with the conditions that hav
surrounded her. At first glance
seems to be backward, shiftles
f.. town for one containing over 800
!. inhabitants. But the first impression
i created by its rambling un-ne'
u appearance, is hastily dissipate
i after looking beneath the surfac'
q Until one year ago the inhabitan
IS did not own the ground upon whiC
they lived, it being a part of Il
IL Fort Hall Indian reservation, ar
10 had no encouragement whatever
n improve. But the town site has no
,. been opened, which necessitates col
" siderable confusion in changir
,e around and moving houses, mai
"a having built on ground owned by Il
70 railroad They are now beginnil
to get Strengthened out and the ci
is ready for boom, which it
IN certain to have. Many importa
be buildings of brick are now bel
w contracted for, among which is
ed magnificent three-story hotel. I
n wooden town will soon be replac
IT. with one of the handsomest cities
at Idaho. With the most magnifice
mt water works facilities, the juncti
he of two great railroads, machine shol
immense irrigation enterprises