The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1896-04-11
THE UPPER PAYeTTE VALLEY.

The UPPER PAYET TE VALLEY.
Paper read by Col. Il. X. Hayes at the Immi-
grafton Congress at Boise April 5rd. 1901
The question OF immigration IS one In
which the people OF Idaho are, or ought
to be greatly interested. OF all the states
In the Great Northwest Idaho has attract
ed the smallest immigration. This is
not because she lacks natural re-
sources, or is wanting in the native ele-
menis which 20 TO make pleasant and
profitable homes. 1t results from the
fact that other states have come In closer
touch with the home seeker and lmml-
grant, aud because they have been bet
ter advertised and their resources and
advantages brought more directly TO the
attention Of these classes.
Idaho is rich in all that goes to the
building up and ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF a
great and powerful commonwealth.
She has every variety OF resource Her
agricultural resources equal those Of any
northwest state. her mines are among
the richest In the world and her timber
rs noted for its quality aud quantity.
How easy IL is 10 conceive the help each
Of these resources will be towards the
support and development Of the others,
and 20 to the building up of great and
grand state such as Idaho is destined "a
be-
We have assembled here to set forth
In our state, aud l take great plcasur,
In presenting n few OF the many advant
ages of the Upper Payette valley. The
valley ~ situated In the northeast part
of Canyon county, about IS miles from
the County seat and 2S miles from tn,
Capital OF the state.
Our valley is about 30 miles long and
from to @ miles wide. but the part
shall particularly describe is the upper
or east end Of the valley.
We have on the north side Of the riv.
or about $4,000 acres OF bench land.
which is but 10 feet above the riv-
er aud as level AS a house floor. None
uf this land is under cultivation owing
to the fact that the land on the river
bottom was more easily watered, but
the land on the bench is as good or bet
ter than the bottom land.
The estimated cost OF ditch G feet
wide on the bottom MS surveyed by our
county surveyor last winter 10 cover
this bench land was 800, 600
Last year some of our citizens under
took to build y ditch TO cover this land
hut after having it surveyed they found
IL to be more OF an undertaking than
they felt equal to. owing 10 the fact that
the state holds some of the best sections
and In order to get this land parties
would have to pay $40 per acre and in
addition help build the ditch which
would cost them more than they could
buy land for on the east side of the river
under bitches already constructed, but
the time has come now that land with
water right will cost as much or more
In other localities as on the bench and
We feel certain that IL is only question
OF short time when our citizens with
the help Of homeseekers which we hope
TO attract TO our valley by this conven-
tion. will construct ditch OF sufficient
size TO water all the land not now cover
ed by other bitches. could go more
into details and tell you the estimated
cost Of all this, but instead | will give
the actual cost of some OF cur bitches
built by the farmers and owned by them
and then YOU may be judges whether or
not we are right in our prophecy.
The Last Chance ditch is about 2
miles long. There are 62i shares Of ~
inches each recorded. but the di,ch is
not la-ge enough to carry that amount
yet In 1895 IL carried little over IC
miners inches to the share and cost se5
- per share To maintain and enlarge H.
Two-thlrds Of this amount was labor
assessments. allowing a man and team
81 per dav. which left but small a.
mount 10 De PAID IN cash.
The Last Chance Ditch Co. have en-
tered into an agreement with number
Of farmers in the valley by which
the farmers are to do 5000 worth OF
work per share on said ditch and ther
become equal owners with the old stock
holders.
The EmmettsvilIe ditch is nearly
miles long and carries a little over q
miners inches Of water 10 the share and
tine cost OF maintaining il in 1895 was $40
- per share.
There are other bitches Of about ths
same size and the cost Of maintaining
them il about the same as those already