The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1905-04-08

Great irrigation Project for Southern
Idaho Receives Approval.

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| Idaho Receives Approval.
Washington. April 1.-The Payette
Boise irrigation project In Idaho ha
received the formal approval Of the sec
Rotary OF the Interior, who recently re
aside ~ BOG, 600 for initiating tn,
work Of ccsatruction. This action hal
been anticipated for some time. and i,
largely the result Of the splendid enter.
prise OF the citizens Of that section
For uore than year the landowners,
lprgapixed into a water- users associa.
ton, have labored indefatigabIy TO bar
monte 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.
| Crest as the satisfaction of the citl-
gems may 10 on @esvunf If the favor
able action of the secretary. IL 10 no
| greater than that felt by the reclamaa
ton service, which has long recognized
the fact that the Payeste- Boise project
l. one Of the most attractive IN the
arid West, and but for the many and
complicated private and corporate in
tsEssts involved. would have been se-
lected for the initial work Of the gov
eminent In Idaho. The people, having
worked out satisfactory solutions to the
divers problems, are deses ring OF the
success which b=s finally crowned their
efforts.
While the citizens we're Strengthening
out their difficulties the government
engineers thoroughly investigated the
physical conditions and worked out
comprei ensiye plans for irrigation,
which have been presented TO aad re-
celved the approval oil the board OF con-
suIting engineers. These investigations
show that the project IL entirely FEAST
BILE from an engineering standpoint.
The lands TO be reclaimed are OF excel
LEM quality, and with the climatic
conditions prevailing are capable OF
sustaining dense population. The
fertility OF the lands new under irriQa-
ton insures the financial soundness Of
the undertaking Nearly 30 per cent
OF all the irrigable land in the valley in
pledged 10 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 cost
not TO exceed $50 per acre for the land |
which has no facilities at present for
This amount includes main
tenance for ten years, also the value OF
existing works which would be utilized
but which would not have 10 be paid
for by the government, and the pur-
chase OF rights Of way, which will have
TO be provided from the reclamation
fund
The full utilization OF the water sup
ply In the poise and Payette rivers will
possibly be the complete reclamation
81 nearly 800, 900 acres, which. divided
into farm units Of so acres, will mean
Z 300 farms, a rural population Of 80
900, and population in towns and
villages Of double that number.
The agricultural wealth OF the val
ley, estimated ON the basis Of the last
census, would be approximate Irri-
gated land, $50, 000, 600; farm build
lngs, $4,000. 900; implements and ma
sl,4l0,000; live stock, 90,
800 800; canals and reservoirs, $l2.-
DOC, 900; total, t57, $40, 500. Ia 1900
the value Of farm property for the
whole state Of Idaho was $67 ,27l 200.
I seems safe 10 assume that with the
completion Of the Boise Payette project
he farm property Of this section would
have value equal to 80 per cent OF
hat Of the whole state.
The Boise and payette valleys consti-
ute one OF the most attractive sections .
4 the West, In the past few years
hey have undergone transformation :
hat Is nothing less than marvellous.
The progress in agriculture Is reflected .
n the splendid growth OF the towns adj
accent, and the whole basin presents an
lluring picture TO the visitor, and fur
fishes an excellent sample of the result !
( irrigation. II requires no particular !"
eumen to see that these valleys have
Inferred upon an era OF substantial de-
elopment which Is destined h. unite
hem in one Of the richest agricultural :
communities ON this continent. :