The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1905-12-31

AT Mlnidoka the government has
been at work during the year. The
river has been damned and an extern
sive system of canals is nearing COM
pletion. This system will cover ap-
prOXimately 100 600 acres. An interest
ing feature of the project is that the
land has all been taken up by settlers
and three towns have been started,
while the town of Burley. just across
the river, has also attained good size.
Uncle Sans Good Work.
The great feature OF the government
work is its substantial character. Moth
ing is overlooked that could contribute
TO the permanence of the works. EV-
erything is done to stand indefinitely,
and the works have a massive appear
ance that betokens strength, while ev-
cry precaution has been taken to guard
against weakness.
The lands on this tract have been
entered in eighty-acre tracts, excepting
in close proximity to the townsites,
where the farm unit has been fixed at
forty acres. It is understood there is
no other government reclamation prof.
ect in the country where the lands
have all been taken up long before the
completion of the works. Indeed, all
this Minidoka land was staked out be-
fore q shoVelfui Of earth was turned,
and there was not enough TO go around.
The other government project, that
known as the Boise-Payette, has been
prepared for the letting OF contracts.
It has presented a complicated prob
lem. OF the $4,000 acres covered by
the entire project, 100000 acres are I'M
der cultivation. Some of this has ade-
quate water rights while other Sec
lions are in such q position that an
additional GtIpnlu y1a1Iaf ha cap11raI For
them. These lands needing water
must pay a portion OF the cost of the
works, and the problems to be solved
IN connection with the matter have
been numerous and complicated. An
association had to be organized among
the owners to deal with the govern
ment and those connected with the
undertaking have had an immense
amount Of detail work to perform,
while no little trouble has been expert
enced in getting all to understand the
necessity for what was asked of them
But these difficulties have all been
overcome, and it is expected that, in a
short time bids will be called for for
the construction of that portion of
the proposed system lying on the south
side of the Boise river. This will cover
some $4,000 acres OF new land and sup
plement the supply for perhaps 60, 900
acres already titled.
Great Reservoir at Nampa.
The water will come from the Boise
river. the flood supply being stored in
an enormous reservoir below Nampa.
This will have a circumference of some
twenty-five miles and hold 2O0. 900 acre
feet Of water The Boise does not
carry sufficient water during the hot
he 70
ready irrigated but this reservoir will
relieve the tension and carry the entire
tract through.
On the north side Of the Payette
river, opposite Emmett, a private com
pany is building works for the recla-
nation Of some 10000 acres under the
Carey act. The American Falls Canal
company is completing its works for
diverting water from the Snake river
near Blackfoot for the irrigation Of
some $4,000 acres.
The projects mentioned, not includ-
ing the Boise-Payette, call for the
reclamation of 59O.o acres, while the
Botse-Payette, work on which has not
yet begun, will increase the total of
lands reclaimed to nearly three-quar-
ters Of million acres. Other projects.
upon some Of which work has been
started in a small way. will add fully
100000 acres to the cultivated area.
More Reservoirs Needed.
The Snake, great as it is, does not
carry sufficient water during the hot
months to supply all the canals which
are being taken from 1t. Indeed at
extreme low water, there would be
none after the lands are all under Gull
tivation were II not for another feature
of the government plans This is the
damming Of Jackson and other lakes
at the headwaters of the stream to
impOund water This will have to be
done without delay. and the subject is
already receiving the active attention
of the reclamation officials. It is prob
able temporary dam will be thrown
across the outlet to Jackson's lake. to
be supplanted later by a permanent
structure Of much greater height.
With the entire reservoir system that
has been laid out, the government will
be able to proceed with the reciama-
ton of what is called the Dubois living
to the north Of Idaho Falls. This en-
braces some 100000 acres. This en-
terprise is also taking hold of reservoir
projects, and It is probable that an
immense amount of land will be irri-
gated in that manner Such an enter
prise is wei under way at Mountain
Home, another on Camas prairie. an
other on the Bruneau, and still another
in the county Of Bear Lake.
Mining Pays in Idaho.
The mining development of the state
has progressed satisfactorily during the
year and the prospects are that great
strides viii be made during the year
now dawning. IT is undeniable that
the great amount Of attention drawn
to Nevada has retarded the expansion
of the Industry in its sister state. but
it IS felt that this will prove temporary.
as the wealth of the mining sections
of Idaho is being brought out so strik-
tngly that mining investors are look
ing toward the state with increasing
interest.
Idaho has deposits Of all the metals
that are generally sought after. and
these are of great size and are found
in many sections. The state leads all
others il. the production of lead. About
half Of the production of the country
is from its mines. The center of the
silver-lead industry is I'm the Occur
d'Alenes. which easily keep its place
as the leader of all the lead camps
of the United States.
In that famous district the develop
ments of the year have been phenome-
nal. Though the district has been
worked vigorously for many years, the