The morning call., 1892-02-12
IRRIGATION IN IDAHO.

The census bulletin on idaho supple
ments the information contained in the
bulletin on Montana. These two States
constitute the northern extremity Of the
aid region, and as in large sections Of both
agriculture IS practically impossible without
irrigation, necessity is compelling the in
habitants to solve irrigation problems, of
which California is pOstDoning the study.
Without irrigation Idaho will grow only the
coarser grains; its fields will remain past
ure land II is a question for the people
whether they will irrigate or lag backward
in the march Of progress. Fortunately for
them nature has furnished them. in the
Snake River, with a supply OF water from
which the whole southern part Of the State.
which is the dryest, may some day be fer
tilted.
No portion Of Idaho can be said to be en-
tirelY rainless. At Boise City the average
rainfall is usually 10 inches, which would
be ample to secure crops If 1t we're uni
formly distributed through the seasons :;
but twO-thirds of the precipitation falls be-
tween December and April; only One-seY-
enth falls in May and June, and only
one twenty fifth in July, August aud Sep
TENDER. There being few reservoirs any
where. the winter rains either pour into the
Snake and are carried off to the ocean, or
they are absorbed by the porous soil Of the
southern portion of the State and lost
The State is a triangle. Of which the
Rocky Mountains constitute the east side
and the Snake River the west side and base
line. In ancient geological times the mount
ain range was al endless chain OF vol
canoes, which buried the primevaI rocks
and drifts under a layer Of lava. Exposure
to the air decomposed this lava, and con-
yerted it into pulYeriZed matter, which pos
sesses remarkable fertility, if the elements
which are wanting in its composition are
supplied by the addition Of water. In the
southeastern tier Of counties Bingham.
Logan, Alturas. Custer, Cassia aud Oneida
mary land plateaus are clothed with a
deep sheet Of this lava, solid al the bottom
and p0Wdery at the surface. Unfortunately
the lava is very pOrOus-sO IOrOus In fact
that water poured on it escapes rapidly,
and sinks to the rock or clay bed under
meath. Thus, as in Nevada, where the
phenomenon proceeds from a different
cause Southern Idaho is full Of lost rivers
which flow with some vigor for certain
distance and then disappear under the SOIL
The same feature is observed all through
Australia.
Again, as in Montana, on the other side
Of the range. the rivers. which were fed by
mountain streams, no sooner reached the
Level lands than they cut channels for them
selves through the friable lava, and thus at
the present day their beds are many feet
below the adjacent country. Some of them
flow through narrow gorges at a depth of
200 10 800 feet below the level Of the plains
they traverse. To utilize the water Of these
streams for purposes Of irrigation, lifting
works of considerable power aud costing
large sums Of money would be required
The settler in Idaho is thus confronted with
the double problem. bow to raise the water
Of bis river into his reservoir, and when this
Is done how to prevent the contents of the
bitches from his reservoir seeping through
the lava and losing themselves in subter-
Tanean lakes. The whole of Southern
Idaho must be undertake with vast bodies
Of water; and yet, strange TO say, artesian
wells have not been a success no flowing
well having yet been struck.
Ii has always been Major Powell's opin-
iOn-and in this Mr.. Newell, who has had
charge Of the irrigation department Of the
census, cOncurs-that the most extensive
system of irriga alton which this country is
destined to see will be constructed on the
banks Of the Snake. Both regard that river