Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1899-03-16
Idaho's Arid Land.

fiuences OF irrigation cannot be ex
celled I'VE have the water in abundance,
annually going to waste; we have the
timber in our mountains, awaiting the
labor and transportation necessary to
convert it into attractive homes; we
also have the climate, which consid-
cred as whole, the year round, can
not be excelled anywhere thai the flag
floats. Just enough OF winter to in
vigorate the system and render life
worth living after the arderous tot of
summer is finished and the harvests
are all gathered. And Just enough of
summer to mature to perfection under
almost perpetual sunshine the cereals,
vegetables and fruits common to the
temperate zone.
With these conditions established
bv benehcent Creator, Idaho will in
time rand as one of the great agricul-
tural and horticultural states Of the
Union With the climate conditions
thrown in (by way OF good measure)
that will give it the reputation, even
tually Of being one of the most wealth
full regions OF the great Rocky noun
tain talf of the Union. A region that
will become as famous in time for its
prod uctions of magnificent physical
and intellectual specimens of humaui
~ as for its incompatible productions
of the soil
Elk president Harrison in his re-
marks at Boise city, several years ago,
said in substance, thai as much as we
might rejoice in our mineral wealth
that in time the real basis of our pros
peritv and stability rs a state, would
be agriculture No doubt he was
, right
In brief article like this is de-
signed to be, it is impossible to give
more than skeleton sketch OF the oil
icy which IN all probabilities wolld
bring TO pass in the speediest man
, ner that prosperity and stability de
voutly to be wished.
Among some obstacles to prosperity
may be mentioned excessive taxation
The great disparity existing between
the remuneration resulting from farm
labor and other occupations of spec
ulative character including Office
r holding. T hese evils can only be
, overcome by wiser system Of legsla
! ton for the state, in which the farmer
= should take a more active part, or by
:, very arge increase Of population
r Population and prosper y being fhr
< hulwark If the state the steps nrces
0 sary to secure both are Of the first i'm
n portance.
The arid region Of Idaho embracing
perhaps four or five million acres, in
stead of being barrier to progress,
must become in a large degree the ba
sis OF our prosperity.
How shall this be acco mpllshed, is
the que stion that confronts us at the
present and one that will not cease to
te intensely important until it is set
tied right Having Civ n the matter
some thought | viii suggest plan
which although it may not he the
very best in every way, believe will
he u step IN the right direction
This immense area should bp so sub
div ded and disposed Of a. to afford
the largest number Of homes for act
ual settlers Under the present laws
Of the United States this cannot bp
done.
believe Steps should be taken 10
induce Cong ress to cede 10 the several
states Of the Arid region the lands
3 therein upon such conditions as will
: enable tae states To provide for their
! proper irrigation lad settlement, upon
easy eon1iIan, Il i u on such terms
a. vii forever pa sur monopoly ~
Inc la Il 81 Wtt#r.
| would suggest mat the states con-
t net the necessary canals to cover AL
the available land, classify it and sub
divide II according to the usual Legal
suhdiv sion, and permit it to be settled
accordingly, giving TO each actual
settler a maximum OF forty acres OF
first class lind, to be held IN perpetuity
by sad settler and his heirs, which
tide should neve be ahenated by any
: execution Or process Of law and non
} transferable to any one whoever al
: ready owing the maximum as Indicate
ed above
> \ plan lik, rhi, would give to Idaho
an addition Of At least seventy five
thou, nd families, or population OF
We times the amount.
In addition there would be large
number OF shop keepers, mechanics,
employees of new railroads and tran
; scent citizens with the towns aud cities
4 that would spring up. The practi-
cability Of the plan is evident when W.
j take into consideration the very low
figure at which the Snake river region
, can be reclaimed Under the man
, agement of Major Powell AS directed
10y the government some six or seven
years ago a canal was surveyed, tap
ing snake river above Am rican
Falls, following route that would
cover all the country lying between
: the mountains and the river GA the
, north side.
J The surveying engineer told me
after the work OF surveying was done,
. that the estimated cost OF the anal
, was three millions Of dollars and that
it would cover about three million acres
: OF arabic land. This, together with
| the government price OF one dollar
2 and quarter per acre would enable
the state to furnish land and water 10
the settlers at the low figures OF ~ %
per acre, aud the annual maintenance
Of the canal would not exceed % cents
! per acre and IN time need not exceed
10 cents per acre. When we consider