Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-10
OUT OF THE DESERT
Titanic Scheme of Reolaiming
Arid Lands.
HARVESTING A RIVER
SPREADING THE STREAM OVER
TOO SQUARE MILES
Great Engineering Feat Being Pushed
Rapidly to Completion in Idaho
Territory Opened for Settlement.

The greatest engineering work yet at
tempted in this country for the reclamation
of arid lands IS being pushed rapidly to
completion in Idaho, where. In the valley OF
the Snake river, in Cassia and Lincoln
counties 10000 acres have been thrown
open for settlement.
This Titanic scheme of reclamation Is
known as the Twin Falls canal. The waters
of the Snake river are to be lifted thirty
eight feet and through 100 miles of main
canal and a thousand miles of laterals
spread over 700 square miles of desert.
By this enterprise the most redundant
and certain sources of agricultural wealth
in Idaho, which have long lain dormant,
will be developed quickly by a system OF
artificial water using. the same as that
which prevailed centuries ago in Egypt,
with results which astonish the world.
The magic kiss of water will change
region in which today the sage brush strug-
giles for existence in the midst of a waste Of
sand to fields of ripening grain and bios
soming orchards
Land to Be Reclaimed.
Under the provisions of the Carey act
24S 900 acres of land from the public do
main have been segregated and will ulti-
mately be brought under irrigation by this
system. According to the terms of the
contract with the state and national gov
ernments the canal on the south side or
the river will be siXty-fve miles long.
ninety feet wide on the bottom at the head,
gradually narrowing to fifteen feet at the
lower end. 1t will have grade of one foot
In 5000, will carry water nine feet in depth
and have a capacity of 5000 second feet
The canal on the north side will be twenty
feet long, twenty-five feet wide on the bot
tom at the head, gradually narrowing to
ten feet at the lower end. 1t will have a
grade of two feet to the mile and carry
five and five-tenths feet of water at the
head. 1t will have capacity of 400 second
feet. The cost of dam, canals and COM
plete lateral system is placed at 81. 100000
The actual construction work on the main
canal began several months ago. and now
this region Is the scene of wonderful activi-
ty. Subcontractors are at work on the
canal at intervals Of one mile apart begin
ming near the town of Miner and extend
ing clear to the lower terminus Of the
canals The camp Of each subcontractor
Is small town of tents in itself. From
high point near the head can be seen a
white streak of sand in an almost I'M
broken chain, marking the immense banks
or the canal that have already been thrown
up, and in the daytime a cloud of dust
hangs over the heads of the workmen.
Site Of the Dams
The site selected for dams, where the
town Of Miner is now located, is particu-
larly well adapted for the purpose, as we'll
from the elevation Of the lava walls along
the banks which permit the raising of the
water the required height, as from the fact
that islands in the channel of the river fur
nish natural abutments to support the
dams. The dam will be in all 800 feet long
and "a feet high, and will be divided into
three sections or dams, connecting these
islands More than 900 miles of excava-
lions Will be reUnirad IN fha
works.
The first opening of the lands. under this
system was set for July 1. when some co.
900 acres were offered for sale Not more
than 100 acres Will be disposed of to any
one person. and tracts less than this can
be had in any quantity, though no one is
expected to purchase less than twenty
acres. The uniform price to be paid the
state for the land is 30 cents per acre %
cents upon application for same and the
balance any time after one years resi-
dence on the land. of which the settler must
cultivate one-sxteenth the first year and
one-siXteenth the second. q No annual
charge is made except for the water ac-
tually used. Besides this payment to the
state water right must be purchased
from the canal company which costs S25
per acre, with So per acre cash. and first
payment on making contract and partial
payments covering period of seven years.
When the s25 is paid the purchaser not
only owns his land. but also perpetual
water right. After the settlers have paid
one-half the purchase price they are to
have sole control of the water canal
Watched With Interest.
This is the first attempt on large scale
by a western state to induce settlement in
an arid region. and it is being watched
with interest. If the co 900 acres are taken
1t will mean very substantial addition to
Idaho. Should success follow settlers on
their irrigated lands, 1t will be but a short
time until all the land that can be irri-
gated will be taken.
According to the report of the census Of
fee for 1900 the average irrigated farm
contains forty acres. The average value
per acre of irrigated land in Idaho is $31.25;
the value of buildings. per farm, 1891; the
value of agricultural Implements $1SS and
of live stock, 81 ,24O. Considering the Won
derful fertility of the Snake desert when
watered, its adaptability for horticulture
and Vitaculture, these averages would be
conservative If used to measure the incre-
ment of Idaho's material wealth anticipated
by this work.
The following table illustrates what may
be expected after the Twin Falls canal is In
operation:
24S.OO acres in farms of 40 acres each.
arm Popuiauoh. ...........-........... $1,000
Urban populate Observation-Disclosures OOO0
Farm buildings at 1891 ... 81 424 900
Farm implements at $1S8.. l1656OO
Live stock at 81 ,2fO......... T6SS 900
24S0OO acres at 1928 per acre.. $4,000
24S0O acres at SOTO per acre,
value crops. ................-...... 1858 900
Total increase in farm wealth 800 GIL 900
Total increase In population. 81 900
cost OF lrrlgatlon system. .......... 81 500 900
HYMN SAVED HIS LIFE