The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1900-03-08
SNAKE RIVER VALLEY
RICHEST FARMING COUNTRY IN
THE WORLD.
A Complete System OF Irrigation
lieycs the Anxiety About Rain That
Prevails In Osne' Parts of the Oni'oa
st.,ss-Ea.t and West Compared.

We are permitted to publish an GA
tract from private letter written Wy :
a gentleman who has recently oeeh
devoting his time to the personal IN
vestigation of practical farming by II
rigation in the west. His viva por-
trayal of the advantages OF that sys-
tenn will no doubt interest our readers.
He says:
There Is a vast, an immeasurapie
difference between farming in the east
and farming in the west. IL the farh-
ers of the east could only be MADE 10
understand the advantages enjoyed py
their western brethren, verify believe
there would soon be no land for set
tlemcnt in the great irrigation states.
The irrigation farmer has absolute
certainty OF crop, and certainty OF Us
perfect maturity. He never plants
that he does nos 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
close Of dry season.: but the reap
ing of fields that frequently average bO
bushels OF whea' to the acre-every
grain of which has reached the perfec-
ton of development. There is ND
anxious scanning Of the skies for the
cloud no larger than a mans hand
anu fervent prayers that 1t may en-
velop the heavens and send down wa
ter to the thirsty fields. The irriga-
ton farmer never thinks about rain.
He watches his growing crops. and the
DAY and the hour moisture is needed,
he Ia out with his hoe flooding his
fields with water from canals that
skirt them.
Everything grows in the west that
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. l never saw any
to compare with those grown in Idaho,
where apples. peaches, plums, cherries,
pears. apricots abound, and where
there are thousands VI acres OF Italian
and German prunes watch l am told
have made fortunes for their owners.
ITO my mind, Idaho Is the best wa
tered and most inviting arid state in
the Union. / made a careful inv.stiga-
ton Of the great Snake nlver valley
in that state, along and tributary to
the Oregon Short Line Railroad, and
saw there evidences Of prosperity such
as have never seen elsewhere In the
United States. This wonderful valley
is said 10 contain over 900 900 acres
Of arabic Land. 1t is roaded with
great irrigation canals In e cry direc-
ton. and there are vast tracts await
ing only the touch Of the farmer, TO
make them productive. The sun doesn't
shine on finer or more fertile land
When l saw the happy homes. the we'll
filled granaries, the sleek, fat stock,
and the smile on the face of nature
| reflected in smile Of cortentment 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 never know
Ing how soon drouth will wipe out
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 advan-
tages OF Idaho to the notice of eastern
farmers. and ia hoodinp fha country
with conservatively written descriptions
OF the state. Write to the General Pas
senser Agent OF this Railroad at Salt
Lake for printed matter about Idaho,
and read 1t carefully. 1t will be a
revelation to you and / sincerely be-
lievc will end in your removal to the
west"