The Lewiston teller. (Lewiston, Idaho) 1900-1905, 1903-06-26
MEN INSPECT TWIN FALLS
J. H. Larkes, of LenOrs, Tells Of His Trip to
South Idaho to Inspect the Twin Falls irri.
CATION Proposition. lie is Well Pleased.

Wednesday evening ]. H. Larkee and
Jack Crab. of Lenore, returned from a
trip made to South Idaho for an inspec.
ton OF the Twin Falls irrigation scheme.
They were accompanied on their trip by
Representative William Black.
Mr. Larkee tells an interesting story
to those who have been considering the
Twin Falls irrigation proposition either
as prospective place for a home or for
speculation.
His party stopped at Shoshone on the
Oregon Short Line and secured a livery
rig to take them to the Twin Falls, some
twenty five miles distant. A stage also
carries passengers between the two points.
At Twin Falls is hotel built by Senator
CLARK, of Montana, eighteen years ago.
and run by a Utah man. Here also is
the grandest cataract in the world to the
Idaho citizen and second in the world of
grandeur to the man from New York.
The waters of the Snake fall over two
rrecipices ais feet to the rocks below. In
he center is lonely island, never
touched by human foot. Above the falls
on the north side of the river a bend in
the bank makes an eddy. From point
| 500 feet below a hole fifteen feet in
diameter is being drilled through the
| solid basalt rock to this eddy. The work
has reached the goo foot level and will
be finished next month. At the lowest
point a wheel will be put in and the
power used for making electricity to run
car lines and electric lights throughout
the Twin Falls Land and Water Com
pany's 27I 900 acres of land. There will
be power plant developed second to
none, with the exception perhaps of the
one at Niagara in New York.
Twenty-three miles above these falls
the company's ditch leaves the river on
the south side. 1t is a canal eighty feet
wide at the bottom and I2o feet at the
top and will carry volume of water ten
feet deep. The ditch will be sixty nine
miles long when it is finished. From
the mouth of the ditch the country
slopes gradually to the south and west
1t is covered with small growth Of
greesewood a little larger than that
found west of Lewiston. The soil or
water contains no alkali and the climate
is cooler than 1t is here. Water from the
springs along the road is warmer than
the air and it was found to be improved
by bottling and exposing it to the air.
The general elevation Of the country is
about 800 feet
"How is this land obtainable?" was
asked of Mr.. Larkee, and he explained
that the company has tract of 27I,ooo
acres that has been granted to them by
the state under the Carey irrigation bill.
Under this act the government has with
drawn this land from the public domain
and transferred it to the state and the
state has turned it over to this company
for the purpose of irrigation and coloniz~
ing. The state charges so cents per acre
for the land and the company gets $40
per acre for a permanent waterright.
| 4 uICC uOlldIS pei dStC Idoh Oh thoAth 3
contract and 81 per acre tor six years,
l$3 for two years and 81 for one year,
with interest IN deferred payments at
per cent per annum. This gives the
settler ten years in which to pay for his
Hand. A man can take 100 acres of land
land his wife has the same privilege,
making gao acres. the largest tract man
and wife can hold.
Bids will be opened for the land on
lJuly Ist, when prospective purchasers
will draw for choice properties. This is
done to prev mt rush. The company
states that it will have water on 10000
acres next May, but the bitches will have
to be banked up in so many places that
our party formed the opinion that there
would be little water carried by the Main
ditch next year on account of the wash
outs that will occur. In fact they all
came 10 the conclusion that it would be
three years before the country will be
ready for occupation and the values will
increase. In fact they think it is fine
country but have some doubts of its rails.
ing smaller and semi-tropical fruits as
advertised, on account of its high altitude
If anyone should wish to inspect the
country the water company has men al
Twin Falls to show him around.
One of the amusing incidents of the
trip was the finding of Salt Lake
Herald man out on the broad plains
Upon inquiry it was found that he hat
been hunting for subscribers and lost hi
way.