Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1895-12-05

A Big Irrigation Enterprise.


a scheme for the irrigatiou of the
Lewiston flats has taken definite shape
within the past week. This is II matter
of the greatest importance to the buSi-
ness men of this city. The land To be
under high state of cultivation Is the
finest in all the Northwest. The eli
mate is so favorable for the cultivation
of fruit and vegetables that the land
will bring the greatest possible returns
to the farmer This location is espe-
cially adopted to intense farming,
Every ten acre tract will make Il farm
The fact that this land all lies at an
attitude Of less than seven hundred
feet above the SEA and that'it Is of the
class to secure and retain the warmth
Of the sun, makes it the most favor
able. 1t is safe to say that the waters
are more mild on Lewiston flat than
ut any other place in the Northwest.
| The building of home upon every
ten acre tract of land broad area means
more to Lewiston than railroads and
the reservation. \ system of farming
with artificial and perpetual sunshine
to consume bounteous and certain
harvest brings positive wealth to any
community. And the prosperity
brought by this means Is not of the
fuctuating kind. An assured continu-
Gus prosperity Is the greatest of com
mercial blessings.
The new irrigation scheme in
cludes not only Lewiston flat but
all The Hill district and the valley
of the Clearwater as far up as the
Porter farm OH both sides of the
river. The water supply is to be
drawn from Asotin creek near the
Dill farm. The valley of the Aso-
tin will be supplied from a branch
of the same ditch, and the Lewis
ton side Of the Snake will be sup
piled by pipe under the river at
some point above the w. 7. Cox
farm. On this rightoi-way there
will be some six miles of flume six
feet wide and three and a halt fee,
deep, and the estimated cost is
S25, 900. Work will begin on the
ditch about the first of the year
1t is the intention to have water
upon the Lewiston flat in time fol
the next crop. The land to be
watered by this enterprise will pro
duce all the best money crops com
mon to the country. The climate
and soil are especially adopted t.
the growth of alfalfa, which vii
be a permanent money crop in thi
, valley. The general cultivatio,
of alfalfa will revive the stock bust
= ness. We have the cheap grain
necessary to feed stock with
u, profit, but we have not had chea1
:. supply Of hay in the valley wher
the dry soil and sunshine are $
< favorable for stall feeding cattle
: The land too is very favorable fo
~ the cultivation of early gardc
- vegetables and fruit winch mus
VI ever have wide field for marke
" The promising mining district
r. tributary to us will make a gres
VI market for fruit and vegetables i
~ grain state. The greatest none
a. crops are berries and vegetable
" where market is within reacl
!" Land suited for truck farming
'e this valley now is worth four hui
nS dred dollars an acre, and even tn
'e season our gardeners have i'll son
instances realized ali income of fo'
III hundred dollars an acre from Il
IS proceeds o. single crop. II
rs conditions of climate and soil tn
81 are combined here are rare. Wh'
"9 these facts are not Comprehcndc
u the above estimates may seem e
US travagant, but they are Conscrv
'' tive.