The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-12-27

and makeup Of her population. might
he divided into two states-eastern and
western Idaho. There is a very fertile
and desirable stretch Of country ex-
tending up and down the western side
Of the state. which was first settled
over a half century ago by the people
who came inland from the Pacific coast
IN search of gold. because Of this in
fux Of gold hunters many Of whom
turned to agricultural pursuits after
the gold excitement subsidized the west
ern portion of Idaho became quite
thickly populated. resulting in the es-
tablishment OF the states capital near
Its western boundary.
About the fall of 1863 Mormon colo
nists. under the direction of Brigham
Young, journeyed northeasterly from
Cache valley. Utah. and established
settlements i'm what IS now known as
Bear Lake county. Ida. along the
shores Of the lake of the same name.
Prior TO this no Mormon settlers UNI
dertook to venture northward into the
Snake River valley, excepting a small
band Of missionaries, who, i'm early
1856. wendell their way north and en-
deavOred TO establish a post on the
salmon river. I'm Lenhi county, and
near Fort Lemhi's location. named by
them. but were soon forced to retire 20
Utah on account Of Indian hosulities,
several Of their number being slain.
Populated From Utah.
tt is presumed that the reason OF no
further attempts on the part of the
Mormon people being made to effect
the settlement of that part Of Snake
River valley, which forms the eastern
part Of Idaho. was on account Of the
BlackfOot Indiens occupying the reser-
walton of the same name, which
blocked the entrance to the valley
from the southeast. The fate Of the
missionaries referred to evidently
checked further Mormon emigration in
this direction. But notwithstanding
This, it seemed that southern and east
ern Idaho was destined 70 be populated
by the overflow population from Utah.
Thus the population OF the eastern part
of the state were prompted TO settle
there by different motives, came from
different environments and essentially
are a different people than those Of the
western part of the state. The eastern
part of Idaho's population feels related
60 Utah.
It is stated that President Brigham
Young Mormon leader and colonizer OF
the arid west, once stated as a reason
Tor calling his people TO go 10 southern
Utah and Arizona, and said nothing
about them migrating northward, that
cit was necessary to call the people 20
go south, but they would so north OF
their own accord
The wisdom of the above statement
has proven true. Along in the early
'S0s. after assurances Of the peaceful
attitude of the Blackfoot Indians, and
also after the completion OF the old
Utah e. Northern railway (now the
Oregon short Line) from Ogden, Utah,
TO Butte Mont, Utah emigrants began
10 settle the upper Snake River valley,
then an included in Bingham county
in the four or five succeeding years
nearly all Of the tillable land from the
Rlacllfoot river (the northern bounda-
~ of the reservation. 60 the head
waters OF the Snake river, was taken
uu-leO acres to each man-and farm
ing and irrigating operations COM
menCed.
In travelling north and south through
the valleys of this intermountaln coun-
try. the casual observer cannot help no.
ticing the fact that starting in Arlzo-
no. the further one goes the more
abundant the water supply is. and thus
Snake River valley surpasses any or
the valleys to the south in this respect
Snake river is By far the largest river
IN the intermountain states furnishing
a never-failing water supply for Lne
irrigation of this huge valley with con-
siderable to spare.
Many Great Canals.
There are several hundred miles OF
canals now I'm operation in this part
of Idaho. which are rivers in extent.
Many of these artificial waterways are
unfordable by team and wagon. and
range in size from twenty to 100 feet
i'm width and from five to ten feet In
depth, carrying a swift running cur
rent. hence the reader may judge as 10
the vast amount of water they carry.
The Great Feeder canal. taken from the
south fork of Snake river, about four
teen miles east Of Rigby, Ida, is 100
feet in width and about thirty miles IN
length. not including laterals.
In point OF volume this great ditch
might be termed the Father OF Irri-
eating Canals" because st carries more
water than any other known irrigation
ditch This gigantic enterprise mas
been built and is exclusively owned by
the farmers residing in that part Of
Snake River valley adjacent 70 Rigby,
and waters an expanse of country
about thirty by twenty-five miles In
extent
snake river IS an easy stream from
which to take water for irrigation pur-
noses. compared with streams and DIFF
nculties I'm Utah and elsewhere. Here
tie banks are seldom over ten feet
deep. and there is scarcely no side-h1l
ditching to be done. In this valley the
irrigation problem is easily solved.
After leaving the rivers banks about
half a mile, 1t is only necessary 70 take
out two ploughing and the canal IS
made. The slope Of the country is such
that an the canals have plenty OF falL
and one sees no dead water in this
country Each farmer here owns Ger
tain number Of inches of water, which
entities him 10 its continual use. and
therefore no such thing as turns are
known IN it's distribution The very
first thing that impresses new arrivals
here Is the great size and frequency or
the irrigating canals.
Sugar Beet Industry.
TIP tin this year grain of all kinds.
potatoes. hay and livestock have formed
tho principal products OF the farms
But 1903 has witnessed the Introduction
OF sugar beet growing and sugar manu-
featuring on "a large scale. The idaho
Sugar company was organized in the
early part Of this year. and at once
closed contracts with the farmers or
the valley for the planting and growing
of about 5000 acres Of sugar beets.
When assured that this company
meant business. the farmers took hold
OF the proposition. and the beets were
raised 20 the amount Of about $1,000