The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1898-12-27


ditch around the side CT that butte, and
another garden of Eden blossomiDg
out right here where we are standing,"
'4Oh!" said the oiler.
''Oh, the deuce." said the kicker.
The promoter went to big eastern
city and openedi an office on a busy
street. Conspicuous signs announced
cheap and fertile irrigated lands in
the golden west. Few in the passing
crowds noticed, but many saw, the win
dows dressed with tempting fruits.
Some entered the office- Baxter street
methods are not available in the real
estate business. but once inside his
doors our promoter asked od6s of no
dealer and rarely failed of interesting
and convincing those who crossed his
threshold. His forte was frankness.
a plump and heaithy-looking man, with
nothing sinister about him except
habit Of looking out al his customers
from under half-closed eyelids, he re-
ceiyed them without effusion and
opened upon them in this manner.
Fruits in the window raised On our
lands? Certainly not. Our lands have
no improvements whatever upon them.
That's why we offer them SO cheap
$50 per acre, and half on time. But
look It this map. Right here is our
property. just seven miles north IS
Highgroye, the famous Grange colony,
these specimens were grown there.
I Land worth s1.5OO an acre. Ten miles
! -
I land. except ours, IN the state. These
! cherries and apricots grew there. Come
I in next week and see the early peaches
I from that section. We combine the
/ advantages of both these communities.
I Level, fertile land pure recuntain
water. We can raise anything On earth.
/ Why has our tract ret been improved
before2 Because it takes large capital
TO bring the water 10 ii. We are CAPT
/ tailed al one million ard can get more
If we need IL. Here. take a copy Of cur
prOsPectus-and. held on. just I'll your
pockets with fruit. and when you get
home tell your wife Of this chance we
are offering people TO secure a home
and profitable business in the fruit
belt of California al nominal cost.
We raise the price TO 500 per acre next
month If you buy before you start
you get one-half your transportation. .
Among many who heard this siren
song was young drug clerk, lately
married. who was looking about for
something better than the living al
foTded by his present employment.
After several visits 10 the land agent,
he one night asiounded his wife with
the announcement that he had. bought
ten acres Of California land and had
given up his Place in the store TO 81
west. She cried little-wcmen are 50
deficient in enterprise, so fearful of the
new and untried-but early autumn
Saw the plan carried out.
1t was in the month Of Septembe:
that Fred Fisher and his wife first saw
their California fruit farm.
They were among the first arrivals il
the rev colony. and the big field o.
stubble still had few other settlers thar
the wary jackrabbit and the whistiins
quail. \ VOW of white flags On lath.
showed the line Of survey fer canal
and parallel interesting furrows a
regular intervals Indicated the streets
ard avenues. BY the aid Of the ma;
furnished purchasers our clerk idepti
fled the choice" selection which h
had made. and knew 50 little Of the re
quirsmenis OF irrigation that be wa
rather pleased 10 find il upon littl
knoll. Busy days followed; the cabin
which was TO serve as dwelling Unit
a more pretentions house should be bull
from the profits Of the orchard was sool
/, put up and occupied. Many other new
corners were building near them.
when get over my nomesiokness
shall Ike this. Fred said the wife CT
/, day: ~that is. if we can make livinl
: here
There are twenty ways Of doini
that he answered; ''srd the man sal
/. the orchard would be productive j
! three years"
= 'Dut the water2- she questioned.
"0h, the superintendent Is sure ii
), canal viii be finished before mex
!. spring. ard he says that I can hav
: work with the construction force a
: winter"
L Two years later the bubble had burs
aud the canal company was hopeless
t lyinsOlvent. 1; haCifurnished much wOr
{. and little pay TO Fred and 10 4 hundre
IS other settlers as nnsophisticzted as b
n The canal was Incomplete; rot a 6rC
. Of water had ever reached he parche
soil upon the little knoll they callC
a their home. Even The customary rain
?. season had failed them. ard the efTol
II 10 raise crop OF grain upon their sma
: holding had resulted only in loss Of L