Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1900-04-05
SNAKE RIVER VALLEY,
Richest Farming Country i'm the
World

II is known In a general way that the passenger de-
partment Of the Oregon Short Line under the diree
ton OF General Passenger Agent Burnley, has been
advertising the resources of the Snake river valley
throughout the country, but the public understands
very little OF the vast scope Of the work OF this char
acter that Mr.. Burnley is having done Some idea of
the broad lines Of his plan may be gained from a
statement OF the fact that he las had series OF ar
teles published in 1928 weekly and semi. weekly
newspapers in the states OF Ohio Michigan, Indiana
Illinois, Minnetota. Wisconsin, North aud South
Dakota, Colorado, Texas, Arkansas Indian Territory
and Oklahoma.
Following Is one Of the articles referred to:
We are permitted to publish an extract from
private letter written by gentleman who has re.
Gently been dcyotng his time to he personal inves
tigation OF practical farming by irrigation in the
west His vivid portrayal Of the advantages of that
system will no doubt interest readers He saws:
There IL vast an Unreasonable difference be-
tween farming in the cast and farming In the west
i the farmers Of the east could only be made un.
derstand the advantages enjoyed by their western
brethren, | verify believe there would soon be no
land for settlement in tho great irrigation states
The irrigation farmer has absolute certainty Of crop
and certainty OF its perfect maturity. He never
plants that he does not reap and when say reap /
don't mean the respng of scattered stands of half
natured grain such the eastern farmer cuts at the
Of dry season but the reapng OF fields that
frequently average 90 bushels of wheat to the acre
every grain oil which has reached the perfection of
ueFtiopmeDt. 1here Is no anxious scanning OF the
skies Tor the cloud no larger than mani hand and
feftent prayers that it may enyeop the heavens and
send down water TO the thirsty fields The irrigation
farmer never thinks about rain. He watches his
growing crops, aud the day and the hour moisture is
needed he Is out with hoe flooding his fields with
water from canals that skirt them.
Everything grows in the west that grows any
where else Ia the United States north of Tennessee
Potatoes frequently yield 500 bushels to the acre and
Darcy Is grown far better than any raised in the
east. The fruits are delicious / never saw any 10
IA hn hgr. L..
peaches, pums cherries pears, apricots abound and
where there are thousands OF acres OF italian aud
German prunes which am told have made fortunes
for their owners.
ITO my mind Idaho is the best watored and most
inviting arid state In the Union. | made a careful
investigation OF the great Snake River valley in that
state along and tributary to the Oregon Short Line
Railroad, and saw there evidences II prosperity such
az have seen elsewhere in the United States
This wonderful valley is said to contain over 600 600
acres OF arabic land IL Is threaded with great irri-
CATION canals in every direction and there are vast
tracts awaiting only the touch of the farmer to make
them pfouuetye. The sun does mt shine finer or
more fertile land. When ! the happy homes
the well filled graneres the slick, fat stock aud the
smile on the face OF nature reflected In smile Of
ttntneht on the faces of the farmers my heart went
out IN pity to the thousands in the east who are
struggling along from year to year, toiling against
adverse climatic conditions, and knowing how
soon droughth win wipe out the profits OF prosper
GUS years.
Lands can be had In this Snake River valley al.
most Tor the asking, but they going, day by day.
Inc oregon short Line Is making extraordinary ef.
iorts to bring the advantages idaho to the notice
OF eastern farmers and flooding the country with
eonsersatirely written descriptions of the state.
Write To the General Passenger Agent OF this Rail.
road al Salt Lake for printed about Idaho
and sincerely believe VIII end in your removal to
the wCst