Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-04-05
THE MORMONS DID 1T.
WHAT WE OWE TO BRIGHAM
YOUNG'S FOLLOWERS.
They Were the First to Put Into Oper-
alton the Idea of Irrigating Arid
Regions-Has Grown Into Vast Pro-
portions.
(Boise, Idaho, Letter.)

Criticise the Mormons as you will,
they must be credited with the won
derful system of irrigation by which
the wastes of the western states have
been redeemed. On July "a, 1S47,
Brigham Young and his little band of
pioneers began the construction of the
first irrigation canal ever built in the
United States.
Irrigation made of Utah's desert will
derness the garden spot of America. 1t
is doing as much for Idaho, where the
mountains are so located that ample
valleys, and plains OF millions OF
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 irriga-
ton.
Where "the vine-clad hills and citron
groves" around Vesuvius In sunny
Italy are found. great population has
been sustained for many thousand
years-and the land has never worn
Quits wonderful vitality being due
to underlying strata Of lava which by
some curious chemistry renders the
soil immortal.
Idaho's wonderfully productive soil
covers lava strata deposited by volca-
noes long ago extinct. The rejuvena-
ton of the land results not alone from
this lava, but from rich fertilizers an
nually brought to it by the irrigation
waters. 1t Is almost an aphorism that
land 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. fax,
tobacco, broom corn, sorghum, sweet
and Irish potatoes, beets, cabbages,
hops, and fruits, such as prunes, APP
pies, pears, plums, peaches, cherries,
apricots, nectarines, grapes and all of
the small bush products, grow profuse-
ly. Particularly do the apple. pear and
prune attain to perfection in size and
flavor.
Alex Mcpherson of Boise City real
ICED $500 per acre from apples. Geo.
L. Hall of Mountain Home sold $500
worth of peaches from one acre. T. J.
Phifer of Boise City realized 5000 from
two acres of Italian prunes. Instances
like these can be multiplied ad infini-
tum.
But Idaho does not depend entirely
upon agriculture. It's mountains are
filled with mining camps which furnish
a home market for far more agricul-
tural products than the state is now
able to produce.
Snake River Valley contains about
5000, 900 acres and some of the finest
pastoral scenes there presented are in
the midst OF gold placer mining opera
tions. Many farmers there realize
handsomely for work during spare
hours-w washing shining powdered gold
from the rivers bed
In state having so many productive
portions to select from it is hard to
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-
servatively prepared matter is that
now emanating from the general pas
senger agent of the Oregon Short Line
at Salt Lake City, Utah. This railroad
permeates almost every agricultural
region in the state and stands ready
to furnish to homeseekers every cour-
tesy in the power of its officers.
At the present rate Idaho will soon
be as thickly populated as Utah. 1t
is in the same latitude as France, Swift
zerland, Portugal, Spain and Italy, and
It's climate Is incompatible.
Vast timber areas furnish lumber of
excellent quality. Cyclones and de-
structive storms never occur. The win
ters 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 to become the home place of
many times its present population.