Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-22
SNAKE RIVER VALLEY
RICHEST FARMING COUNTRY IN
The WORLD.
pe'e system of Irrigation Re-
he'e' the Anxiety About Rain That
Prevails In Other Parts OF the United
siates--East aud wss, c,

we are permitted to publish an ex
Haet from private letter written by
gentleman who has RECENTLY heen
6eVotins his time to the personal in
'es'isation OF practical farming by IT.
rlgation in the west. His vivid nor
trayal of the advantages Of that sys-
lem VIII no doubt interes, our readers.
lie says.
here Is a vast. an unreasonable
adherence between farming in the east
ana farming In the west. II the farm
ers OF the east could only be made to
understand the advantages enioyed by
their western brethren, verify believe
mere would soon be no land for set
tlemeht In the great irrigation states.
ne irrigation farmer has absolute
certainty of crop and certainty of is
perfect maturity. He never plants
mat ne does not reap, and when say
reap don't mean the reaping OF scat
tered stands OF half matured grain
such as the eastern farmer cuts at the
ciose OF a dry season: but the reap
Ing OF helds that frequently average so
bushels of wheat to the acre-eyery
grain OF which has reached the perfec-
uoh OF development. There is no
anxious scanning OF the skies for the
cloud no larger than a mans hand
ana iervent prayers that It may en-
'eiop the heavens and send down wa
Ter TO the thirsty fields. The !rriga-
tlon farmer never thinks about rain.
tie watches his growing crops. and the
Gay and the hour moisture Is needed.
ne Is out with his hoe flooding his
heids with water from canals that
skirt them.
Everything grows in the west that
grows anywhere else In the United
States north of Tennessee. Potatoes
frequently yield 500 bushels to the
acre and barley is grown far better
than any raised in the east. The
fruits are delicious | never saw any
TO compare with those grown in Idaho,
where apples, peaches, plums, cherries,
pears, apricots abound, and where
there are thousands OF acres OF Italian
and German prunes which | am told
have made fortunes for their owners.
TO my mind Idaho is the best wa
tered and most inviting arid state in
the Union. made careful investiga-
ton Of the great Snake River valley
in that state along and tributary to
the Oregon Short Line Railroad and
Jaw there evidences of prosperity such
as have never seen elsewhere in the
United States. This wonderful valley
Is said to contain over 5000, 900 acres
Of arabic land. 1t Is threaded with
great Irrigation canals in every direc-
ton, and there are vast tracts await
ing only the touch Of the farmer 10
make them productive. The sun doesn't
shine on finer or more fertile land
When ! saw the happy homes, the we'll
filled granarles, the sleek, fat stock,
and the smile on the face Of nature
reflected in smile OF contentment on
the faces OF the farmers, my heart
went out in pity to the thousands Is
the east who are struggling along from
year to year, toiling against adverse
climatic conditions, and never know
ing how soon drouth will wipe cut
the profits OF prosperous years.
Lands can be had in this Snake
River valley almost for the asking.
but they are going, day by day. The
Oregon Short Line is making extra
ordinary efforts to bring the adyan-
tages OF Idaho to the notice OF eastern
farmers, and IS flooding the country
with conseryatively written descriptions
Of the state. Write to the General Pas
senger Agent of this Railroad at Salt
Lake for printed matter about Idaho.
and read 1t carefully. 1t Will be q
revelation to you and | sincerely be-
!ieye will end in your removal to the
vest"