The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-12-30

''Of the family of states that forms
the empire OF the northwest, Idaho is
lhe CinderelIa-the least known and the
most fair. And her foremost foot is
Blippered by the Payette valley and it's
surroundings. Even now the tread of
the Fairy Prince who is to lead her to
wealth and prosperity is heard"
These wods were written nine years
Bgo. They have proven to be the words
Df a prophet. At that time the tread
of the Fairy Prince was very near and
1T was but shortly until he was at the
eide of his Cinderella and the Gem of
the Mountains was transformed to a
state the most sought after of any in
the family of states Courtiers seeking
The wealth soon known TO be among her
resources came from far and near and
her valleys and plains became peopled
with the best blood of the nation. Her
reputation spread until he is now
known as one of the foremost. though
one of the youngest states of the union.
Idaho is known for it's great irrigation
projects, its great timber resources. its
immense production of wool, its great
mineral output. and last but not least
its splendid orchards and gardens.
which furnish fruit and vegetables not
TO be exceIled i'm any other spot be-
tween the Atlantic and the Pacific.
Idaho is thus widely known for it's
abundance and quality of production,
and the Payette valley is the Eden. the
mecca of the hOmeseeker. the paradise
of this wonderful commonwealth. Why
no we make this broad claim? Because
there is to be found in the Payette val
ley that which substantiates it.
First of all, to be ideal, a section
must have an agreeable climate. The
land that is brOadened into the fer
tile valley of the Payette is warmed
in the summer by sun that does not
fatigue one by its intense heat but
which imparts to the growing fruits
and grains the life producing substance
that makes them thrive beyond all eX-
pectation. When the glowing orb sinks
behind the hills to the west nature is
left in comfortable and sweet repose.
The hot Silly night is for chimes other
than Idaho. Spring, fall and winter
equally are as agreeable. When the
billiards rage through Wyoming and
Colorado, and the storm king lashes
the elements into fury in the north and
farther east the Payette valley is tran
quill. Snow lies lightly on the ground
and zero weather is seldom known.
That much for the climate. But
what is delightful, health-giving, in
productive soil? The climate alone
may make a country famous as a
health resort, but il requires the COM
bination of soil and climate to make a
Eountry rich in production. Where else
an the world can the soil of the Pay
ette valley be excelled? You may find
It's equal. but not its superior. And wa
ter! The life giving fluid that is so
precious where it is limited In this
limit
st. only a small fraction being utilized.
The water supply is the mighty Payette
river. 1t rises in the SawtOOth range
and at its lowest ebb is a powerful
stream. Canals convey its waters to
farm and orchard and the fear of wa
ter shortage is unknown.
Now with these three important ne
cessities to the continued prosperity of
section in what state of development
is the Payette valley? There is con-
siderable raw land still in the valley,
while at the same time farms and or
chards are to be seen in a high state of
cultivation. But it is only within the
last few years tina the awakening has
come to the farmers and fruit growers
and they have realized the possibilities
of their land. That awakening is still
in swaddling clothes and the coming
years will witness a greater reforma-
last decade, during which the sage
brush desert has been transformed into
a paradise.
This year 32S cars of fruit and melons
were shipped from Payette, the thriv-
ing city Of 5000 inhabitants lying not
far from the mouth of the river from
which it took it's name and on the main
line of the Oregon Short Line railroad.
These were divided into $50 cars of ap-
pies, 120 cars of prunes, 6 cars of pears
. cars of peaches and so cars of melons
representing estimated returns of 1885,
zoo
Besides these, this year the beet SUI
gar industry was an important factor
in the output of the valley. Something
over $50 cars of the big tubers were
shipped to the Nampa factory, repre-
senting an income of $S5,3S7.50 Men ex-
perienced in sugar beet culture say the
tonnage received off the acreage in the
Payette valley is greater than was ever
known in the history of beet raising,
Many fields averaged more than TWEEN
" tons to the acre, and a few as high
as thirty tons, while the general aver
age of the entire valley was above fiji
teen tons. Payette is assured bv the
Western Idaho Sugar company that one
of their largest factories will be bujlt
here in 1908, and there is possibility
that it will be ready to handle next
years crop.
Payette cantaloupesl If one has ever
eaten them their name bring water
10 his mouth as he is thus reminded of
their deliciousness. They are rivals of
the famous Rocky Fords and while now