The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1904-06-03

An Important Irrigation Work.
The secretary of the interior has ten
tntively approved plans for a stupen-
aous irrigation project to be constructed
in the valley of the Payette and Boise
rivers, in southwestern Idaho. This in
formation Will be especially Interesting
to those WHO are familiar With the pub
Iications of the United States GEOGRAPHIC
lcal survey. One of the most recent
geologic tolios issued by the survey is
that relating To the Nampa quadrangle.
which is situated near the lower end of
Snake river valley, mostly III Canyon
county, Idaho. Mr.. Waldenlar Lind
gren. author % :he folio, states that in
this region. owing to the lack of RAIN,
fall, vegetation is scant. and the entire
quadrangle may be called a sagebrush
desert. He calls attention to the fact
that. with the exception of the foo
plains of the Boise n Payette rivers,
tributaries of Snake river, where there
is a natural s~ub-irrigation that keeps
vegetation growing, and some places
along Willow creek, where under
ground water provides similar sub-irri-
cation, the agricultural lands of the
quadrangle must be irrigated. In view
" this great seed. it is gratifying to
earn hat work has been begun to
BRING under N comprehensive national
irrigation project $4,000 acres of land.
n more than the total irrigated area
If Arizona, Washington or New Mex
GO. In compliance With n request from
The majority OF the land owners of the
Boise n Payette valleys. the secre-
AIRY of the interior has ordered a con-
;inuance of h surveys and investisa-
ions preliminary to actual construction
work. y sufficient sum for The compile
.ion of the work will be set aside as
soon MS the settlers perfect the neces-
;aiy organization to secure Ia the re-
'lamation fund the return of :he money
equired for the undertaking.
The project requires two features, a
masonry dam in Payette river and
works for the diversion of water from
Eoise s!ver. Associated With the dana
II fayette river is a ana on each side
IF the stream, that on the south side
connecting With a large pumping plant.
The dam will be 80 feet high. $50 feet
,ong on top, and 125 feet long on he
bottom. The capacity of the dam viii
De 10000 acre feet. The north side
canal Will have a length of twenty
niles, the south side forty miles. The
estimated cost of these works is ST.
oO,000. BY means of them. 600 ubic
seet of water may be diverted every
second for the irrigation of $50, 600 acres
Of land.
The works for the diversion of wa
ters from the Boise river consists of a
lam ten feet high, 400 feet long on TOP,
una 400 feet on the bottom. constructed
Of concrete, steel and timber. The
eapacity of the reservoir will be $50, 900
Get. Two diversion canals, one on each
side of the river, will have a combined
,ength of 1875 miles and a bottom width
varying from forty-ive to ninety feet.
The estimated cost of this section of
he project is 81, 900, 900, making the cost
Of the entire project So, 200, 600.
No other region of the United States
presents a more attractive field for the
Engineers of the reclamation service.
The lands in these valleys lie at an ele-
vation ranging from 2,10o to $500 feet
and the climate is pleasant the year
'ound. The winters are moderate, as
The thermometer rarely falls to zero.
md the valleys are protected from
winds. The are long and
warm, and with the help of irrigation,
promote the most rapid vegetable
growth. The soil is rich and productive,
adapted to all the fruits and cereals of
The temperate All d~eciduous
1ruits and berries produce abundantly.
Large quantities of apples and prunes
are shipped to eastern markets. where
hey bring the highest prices.
Since the government withdrawals
were made under this project, intend
ing settlers have filed on more than
$4,000 acres. An especially Interesting
feature in connection with this great
work is the fact that its construction
means not only q vast increase in the
cultivated area of this part of the state,
but also the flna settlement of those
vexed questions hat are now contin-
lally rising in these valleys from the
Effort to make Il limited amount of
land. 1t means the passing of the pro-
noter and ditch manipulation and the
coming of the irrigator and business
man. 1t means ultimately improved
agricultural conditions. better trans
portation facilities, and Industries Of
every kind. Above all. it means homes
and living for a quarter of a million
people.
The Nampa folio, which describes
the photographic features of a part of
this interesting region may be obtained
for % cents or application to the di-
rector of the United Staes geological
survey. Washington, D. C.