The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-18
Idaho Shows What the Possibin-
ties of irrigation Are in Re
claiming the Waste Lands Into
the Most Productive Of Soils.
WEIsER AND ADJACENT
TERRITORY CONSPICUOUS
One Of the Most Florrishing Sec
tions Of the State Now Re-
deemed by the Utilization Of
Water that Once Ran to Waste.
RY HERBERT vANDERHooF.

= 'AH6@ns SSSsSN~sNt1SSTs K
The city Of Weiser, Idaho, furnishes
one of the most surprising modern in
| stances Of what can be done by enter
| prise when combined with the forces Of
nature in the way Of forging to the front
in the world Of commerce.
Washington county, of which Weiser
is the county seat, has long been famous
for the fertility Of it's land But, as was
the case in other parts of the state, the
earth suffered severely from excessive
drought, and the broad acres were value
less In consequence. It was not until
irrigation was brought into play that
Idaho lands were reclaimed from their
desert state. II. 49,. = >...y II: -
For water was the one thing lacking
to make these millions Of arid acres an
agricultural paradise; water properly dis
| tributed in such fashion as to aid the
efforts Of the genial sun to ripen the
crops. And the problem was solved by
irrigation. Dc. ....r.v ......-.. II r.
Washington county was peculiarly well
adapted for irrigation purposes. On
the western border Of the county there
frowns a tall, dark, imposing range OF
mountains. On their craggy sides through
| the winter months the snow falls heavily
and lies in heavy drifts from ten to
forty feet in depth.
The Provision of Nature.
This bountiful supply of nature fur
nishes water for the entire summer
which is carefully measured out and dis
tributed through an elaborate storage and
canal system over the land. It, Is
recognized fact that water which has
io after the FASH
ion in vogue in Washington county. at
tains certain degree of warmth. Which
proves extremely beneficial to the soil.
That this holds good as regards the
Weiser country land Is amply proven by
the crop statistics for the past season.
According to the official schedule
wheat averaged eighty bushels to the
acre, barley sixty-fve, oats 1905, and corn
out other grain raising states IN the
bushels per acre, Contrasted with me
weiser country yield this seems nothing
short Of extraordinary, but it must b.
remembered that Idaho Is state OF a9ri-
cultural surprises: .,.
casual wanderer through washington
county Is the opportunities presented to
those wishing to take up farming on q
small scale. The land Is not portioned
out in large tracts, but prosperous little
farms greet the eye on every side.
Ask one of the owners of these small
holdings how many acres ne CONSIDERS
essential to make not f. fair but z good
living and the answer will inevitably be-:
ooh, anywhere from forty to forty-f1ve
acres, No.. .,,,,,
"Oh, ten acres will keep man going
f fruit raising country that ever was!"
The city Of We1ser nas perhaps n RS s}afe
] through the retaining Of Idaho's desert
! lands. During the past Ave years it's
population has increased steadily and has
/ passed the $500 mark, from population
K Of 1900. It is safe to say that IN the
\ next ten years the number or 1nhapi-
tants will have swelled to extraordinary
has proved such a success. Weiser has
become a perfect Mecca for honeseek.
/ Also the town enjoys unusually gooe
" on the western border Of the state the
railroads surround it with network o.
steel, and one can go direct to Wee,
Lake city Without changing cars.
I The stock raising industry has be
1 come an important factor in the develop
a Conservative calculation, there are owe,
4 10000 head Of sheep scattered through
/ out washington county. They thirty
splendidly on the rich. sueculent gra ,s
1 to the never failing water supply, ant
are a fruitful source Of income to thei
owners. @ =. . H.. .s.--..3.,
n turned their attention to the raising 0
l hogs. Immense numbers of the porker
are insevidence and cattle and horses ar
/ also plentiful upon the ranges. -.s&. liz
Nj Great Supply Of Timber. Is
sawmills are springing " up On all Isl, side
ber fae are spendid tracts Of timber n til
section, which furnish excellent -timbe
for building purposes. There is no troubl
in finding in ndg for ar fSa der 81
The The possibilities , in the timber industr!
have attracted a, great deal OF attention
and goodly amount OF capital IS bein,
Among the minor industries which
commend themselves to the busy house
wife, poultry and bees occupy prom
A carefully conducted poultry ran H;
in the Weiser country is e prontan !,
Poultry raising has consequently becom
popular among the farmers.
Bees thrive well ana q prGd taf, +;,ar yer!
a constant demand on the markets. 4
aassing dollars by s9 ing Int into III tn
small and the profits considerable.
Let it Be remembered that Weiser fruit
4 brought the highest prices In the market
4 Of the East last year. Apples, pears
I peaches, apricots, cherries, prunes. plums
l nectarines black and red raspberries
j loganberries, blackberries dewberries
4 strawberries, all were In demand and sol
rapidly
Great Demand for Fruits.
As matter Of fact It is hard t
meet the market demands for fruits an
berries, although they grow In SUCH len
ty. There never were such golde
as those now offered by the fertile so
Of the Weiser country.
And, best Of all, one does not nee
to be bloated capitalist In order TO en-
4 Joy the privilege Of owning land II %
Weiser country. Taking into CONSIDERS
4 ton the splendid crops produced ana tn
excellent market facilities offered, 20
schedule Of land prices Is surprising
Raw sagebrush land, without watsr (
irritation, brings from $40 TO $S0 pe
4 acre Improved land. with full Wats
rights, is listed from $40 to $50 per acr
In word, Washington county Is
+ the van Of the onward march Of progress
"A golden future liz assured, not only x
the enterpr1sing little city Of Weis'
4 itself, but for all the surrounding teri
e tory, where the magic power OF irrist
- ton has performed such miracles.
The fairy wand Of science has outdor
- in many ways the wonders OF the q
q tales Of the necromancers, and never hi
% than In the changing Of Idaho's million
* of Hnonr< q nroa "a Po,.fi1A MA fnn f0y. ~