Free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1888-1908, 1900-03-17
WATERING THE LAND
aOW IRRIGATION IS PROGRESS
ING IN IDAHO.
Her tofore Arid Regions Being Rapidly
Transformed Into Gardens-Farmers'
Societies in Many Instances Own the
Irrigating Works.
(Boise. Idaho. letter.

Most OF the people who farm In the
rainfall regions suppose that the irri-
cation of land is complicated process
and that the art of doing it can only
be acquired after years of experience,
whereas, as matter OF fact, it is
about the easiest and most simple
work the western farmer has to do. In
most cases the children attend to It
under the direction of their parents,
and any boy of 10 or IL can do mans
work when it comes to irrigation.
The western farmer is wholly indif-
terent as to rainfall. He doesn't de-
| pend upon it in the least. The water
| that interests him is that which flows
down into the valley from the melt
| ing SHOWS in the mountain ranges.
These waters he diverts into great
canals which run along the rim of the
valley about the irrigable lands and
are tapped at stated intervals by what
are called "laterals" or sub-ditches
which flow from farm to farm and out
of which the farmer takes the water
| for his fields. In some cases the waters
Of these mountain streams are acquired
| by the community Of farmers along
their course, each one holding as many
shares of stock in the cooperative
canal scheme as he owns acres Of land,
and being entitled to so many inches of
water for every acre Of his ownership.
This is the usual plan. But when the
construction of the main canal, owing
to engineering difficulties, is too expen-
sive piece Of business for the farmer
| to afford, irrigation companies under
take the work and build the canal into
portions of the country where large
areas of land are to be reclaimed.
These Irrigation companions are ''com-
mon carriers of water and furnish 1t
for nominal price per acre per an
mum to the farmer. Sometimes these
Irrigation companies own large tracts
under their ditch which they sell in
small farms with the water right, to
settlers at nominal prices per acre.
In other instances they do not own
land at all, leaving that to be acquired
by the settler under the various acts
of congress.
Perhaps no portion of the Union is
now making such active progress in
Irrigation development, or is receiving
so large a quota of immigrants as
southern Idaho. There are millions Of
unoccupied acres in that state which
only await settlement to become as
productive as the lands upon the Nile.
Efforts arc being put forth by the state
authorities to bring the advantages of
these lands to the notice of the eastern
farmer, and the several railroads Of
the state are engaged in the work.
Perhaps the easiest and the best way
to acquire information is from the
General Passenger Agent of the Oregon
Short Line at Salt Lake City, from
whence conservatively prepared pamph-
lets descriptive of irrigation meth
DDS and containing reliable informa-
ton about the various localities now
open for settlement. are being mailed
free.
The time is certainly not far distant
when the unoccupied public domain OF
Idaho will be entirely taken up, con-
dition which will be most unfortunate
to those who delay taking advantage OF
the rare opportunities now offered.