Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1905-04-07
ENRICH THE LAND.
Great irrigation Project for Southern
Idaho Receives Approval.

Great irrigation Project for Southern
Idaho Receives Approval.
Washington, April 4.-The Payette-
Boise irrigation project in Idaho has
received the formal approval of the sec
retary Of the Interior, who recently set
aside 81 300, 900 for initiating the
work of construction. This action has
been anticipated for some time, and is
largely the result of the splendid enter
prise of the citizens of that section.
For more than year the landowners,
organized into water-users' associa-
ton, have labored indefatigably to har-
monize the many conflicting claims of
private interests in lands, canals, and
water rights, with the result that today
practically the valley as unit stands
pledged to the government enterprise.
Great as the satisfaction of the citi-
zens may be ON account of the favor
able action of the secretary, it is no
greater than that felt by the reclama-
ton service, which has long recognized
the fact that the Payette-Boi project
| is one of the most attractive in the
arid West, and but for the many and
complicated private and corporate in
terests involved, would have been Sc
lected for the initial work of the gov
ernment in Idaho. The people, having
worked out satisfactory solutions to the
divers problems, are deserving of the
success which has finally crowned their
efforts.
While the citizens were Strengthening
out their difficulties the government
engineers thoroughly investigated the
physical conditions and worked out
comprel ensive plans for irrigation,
which have been presented to and re-
ceived the approval of the board of con-
sulting engineers. These Investigations
show that the project is entirely feasi-
BILE from an engineering standpoint.
The lands to be reclaimed are of excel
lena quality, and with the climatic
conditions prevailing are capable OF
sustaining dense population. The
fertility of the lands now under irriga-
ton insures the financial soundness o1
the undertaking. Nearly 80 per cent
of all the irrigable land in the valley is
pledged to repay the government its ex.
penditure for providing a permanent
water supply.
The estimated cost of the entire sys
tenn is $40, ,732 900, or an average cos
not to exceed $50 per acre for the lane
which has no facilities at present fol
irrigation. This amount includes main
tenance for ten years, also the value O
existing works which would be utilized
but which would not have to be paie
l for by the government, and the pur
r chase of rights of way, which will hav,
to be provided from the reclamation
p fund.
= The full utilization of the water sup
ply in the Roise and Payette rivers will
possibly be the complete reclamation
: of nearly 100000 acres, which, divides
q into farm units of 80 acres, will meal
$500 farms, a rural population of 80.
ioOO, dAO d pOpuideiOu LII tOWuS du'
g villages of double that number.
). The agricultural wealth of the val
f ley, estimated on the basis of the las
census, would be approximately: Irri
gated land, 100000, 900; farm build
u ings, $4,000, 600; implements and ms
z chinery, $1,410,000; live stock, So,
: 800, 800; canals and reservoirs, $12,
900, 900; total, $57, ,21O,5OO. In 100
the value of farm property for tn
d whole state of Idaho was $67, ,271 zoo
: It seems safe to assume that with tn
/ completion of the Boise Payette projee
l. the farm property of this section woul
l. have a value equal to so per cent {
that of the whole state.
nj The Boise and Payette valleys const
tute one of the most attractive section
of the West. In the past few yeal
re they have undergone transformatio
that is nothing less than marvellous
ia The progress in agriculture is refecte
in the splendid growth Of the towns &C
jacent, and the whole basin presents a
~ alluring picture to the visitor, and ful
nishes an excellent sample of the resu
of irrigation. It requires no particuls
ID acumen to see that these valleys ha1
entered upon an era of substantial d,
a. velopment which is destined to unit
them in one of the richest agricultur;
communities on this continent.
IL Decides to Indict Packers.
H. III