The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1893-08-13
AN IRRIGATION TALK.
Observations OF Salt Laker il
Idaho.
The Great Nampa Canal system-Arid
Wastes Being -FIowering
Orchards Seen Everywhere.

ssWhile mining as an industry has sus-
pended, and business is generally de-
pressed in sympathy the work of reclaim
ing and developing the vast areas of
agricultural lands of the Snake and Boise
river valleys continues unabated," re-
marked prominent railroad man, who
last evening returned from an extended
trip through the "great northwest as
he was pleased to term southern and west
ern Idaho.
Irrigation is becoming science in the
broadest sense,o continued the gentle
man. ''Not only in the application of
the water to CROPS are scientific principles
resorted to and followed closely, but in
the securing of water either by gravity or
force, and in its distribution by either or
both methods, while the economical side
OF it all is quite as perfectly solved"
s'The great Nampa canal system which
has done so much to reclaim the rich val
leys and the mesa lands adjacent to them
are being extended in every direction.
and singular as it might seem, during
these hard times many families from east
ern states are coming into the country
and putting in both energy and capital
toward the end of building homes, and
they are succeeding most admirably
''Io those who have not visited that
section for the past year or two great
surprise Is in store, and most agreeable
one, too. The sage brush mesa lands,
relieved OF their monotony only by the
little spots of green willows along
the Boise river and smaller streams
alfalfa and small grain, among which are
! comfortable houses and barns surrounded
by young orchards and other indications
of comfort and prosperity.
| s'The big herds of cattle have been
| taken to the hills or further north to
make room for the farmer and his high
| bred stock, which are stabbed and fed as
ton is complete.
''The same conditions confronts one in
many other localities. The Elmore
county canals in the vicinity OF Mountain
Home, east of Nampa, and the Caldwell
county west, are the most advanced,
perhaps, Of any of the mower localities,
| but little spots where ever the waters
from mountain streams or from springs
may be utilized, the same development,
| the same pastoral scenes are noted.
| $50 far artesian water has not become
much of factor in irrigation in southern
Idaho but results obtained by the Oregon
Short Line people in securing water at
several places for use in their engines,
and their continued efforts to supplaut
U4O OlQ LuoUuOuo VI WdJ6T may
have salutary effect, for it is asserted
and upon good authority, that artesian
water may be secured at almost any point
along the Snake River valley and the
smaller valleys leading TO it. If artesiar
water can be secured in that part of the
state as readily as some we'll Informed
people affect to believe, Idaho will soor
become one OF the foremost of western
states.
cit is surprising the number of orch
ards there are in that county, all new, o
course, but many OF them very large
Prunes seem to be the favorite frui
among the orchardists, but with good
reason they assert as it is universally
claimed there, that no other country viii
produce such excellent prunes or so larg,
yields. Other fruits are abundant
especially berries, and they are as fine o
flavor as they are perfect in appearance
which is perfection itself. No insect
have yet appeared to trouble the frui
there yet, and it is claimed by those VIII,
! have had experience in fruit growing il
similar climates, that none need troubl
their fruit il proper precautions are taken
} Idaho is all right.