Marshall County independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1897-1902, 1900-03-23
THE MORMONS DID IT.
WHAT WE OWE TO BRIGHAM
YOUNC'S FOLLOWERS.
They We're the First To Put IntO Oper-
alton the Idea OF IrrigstIng ARID
EeGions-Has Grown Into Vast Pro-
portions.
Boise, Idaho. Letter.

NDotSCr iNdAiof l~cAicA-I
Crticise the Mormons as you will.
they must be credited with the won
de-ful system OF irrigation by which
the wastes of the western states have
been redeemed. On July "a. 1877.
Brigham Young and bis little band OF
pioneers began the construction OF the
first irrigation canal ever built IN tho
United States.
Irrigation made OF Utah's desert viii
derDess the garden spot of America. Il
is doing as much for Idaho. where thu
mountains are so located that ample
valleys. and plains of millions or
acres. may be easily and economically
watered. On the Nile. in Italy
Spain and elsewhere In Europe. irri-
CATION has prevailed for centuries In
deed 60 per cent OF the worlds bread
stuffs and cereals are grown by lrriga-
ton.
Where the vine-clad hills and citron
groves" around Vesuvius In sunny
Italy are found. great population has
been sustained for mary thousand
Quits wonderful vitality being due
10 underlying strata of lava which by
some curious chemistry renders the
sol. immortal.
Idaho'S wonderfully productive soil
covers lava strata deposited By volca-
noes long ago extinct The rejuVena-
tiDn OF the land results not alone from
this lava. but from rich fertilizers an
nually brought TO II by the irrigation
waters Ii is almost an aphorism that
lind is good where sage brush grows.
| Marvellous must therefore be the fer
tility of Idaho, for everywhere the
green OF the sage is seen. Wheat corn.
oats. barley, alfalfa. timothy. rye, lax.
tobacco. broom corn, sorghum, sweet
and Irish potatoes, beets. cabbages.
hops, and fruits, such as prunes, aP-
pies. pears. plums. peaches. cherries.
apricots. nectarines, grapes and all or
the small bush products. grow profuse-
ly. Particularly do the apple. pear and
pIune attain 10 perfection in size and
iayor.
Alex Mcpherson OF Boise City real
lied $500 per acre from apples. Geo.
/. Hall of Mountain Home sold $500
worth of peaches from one acre. 7. J
Phifer OF Boise City realized 5000 from
| two acres OF Italian pruneS. Instances
like these can be multiplied ad infht-
| tum.
But Idaho docs not depend entirely
upon agriculture. Its mountains are
| filed With mining camps which furnish
home market for far more agrlcul-
/ tural products than the state Is now
: able to produce.
Snake River Valley contains about
| 5000 600 acres and some OF the finest
pastoral scenes there presented are in
the midst OF gold placer mining opera
/ lions. Many farmers there realize
! handsomely for work during spare
hours-washlns shining powdered gold
| from the rivers bed.
In state having so many productive
portions to select from 1t Is hard 20
suggest particular locations. but set
tiers will find room for any number OF
| new homes.
Different state and private agencies
are sending out printed information
about Idaho Perhaps the most con
servatiyely prepared matter Is that
now emanating from the general pas
senger agent OF the Oregon Shot Line
at Salt Lake City, Utah. This railroad
. permeates almost every agricultural
region in the state and stands ready
! TO furnish to homcseekers every eour-
tesy in the power of its officers.
At the present rate Idaho will soon
be as thickly populated as Utah. II
Is in the same latitude as France. Swift
zerland, Portugal. Spain and Italy. and
its climate Is Incompatible.
Vast timber areas furnish lumber OF
excellent quality. Cyclones and de
structive storms never occur. The win
tiers are short and people work out
doors all the year. The annual death
rate is the lowest OF any state in the
| Union.
Verify Idaho is wonderful state and
destined 10 become the home place Of
many times its present population.