Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-08-03
Enterprise ContempIates RecIa'
nation Of 10000 Acres OF
Land Along Snake River.
Fine Chance for Home and Lands In
Section That VIII soon he Pop
ulous and Fruitful.
lspeclal b the ~. p

lots contained In two townsltes stu
sted in the heart Of the Minidoka irri-
cation project
This project provides for the reela-
nation Of about 10000 acres lying on
both sides of Snake river. The land was
all public domain and when the eng-
neers designed the system they aid not
neglect the splendid opportunity for
establishing an ideal farming communi-
~. Three tovnsi,es we're laid out in
the center Of the tract on the proposed
line ~ tho Oregon Short Line railway;
The towns were plated with vide
streets and boulevards and parks and
extensive areas for public buildings
were reserved.
CIT INTO SMALL FARMS.
An tho agricultural lands we're cut
into farms Of 20 and so acres 50 that
the instant the tract Is bought under
cultivation II viii become one NJ the
most densely populated agricultural
communities IN the country. It's pros
parity Is assured by the unfsiing wa
ter supply which viii be furnished nv
the big government canals and bitches
and this prosperity WIN be reelected in
the future success ana substantial
growth 81 the towns which Uncle san,
proposes TO establish there.
RECLAMATION ACT DID 1T.
Two years ago the Minidoka country
was an uninhshitsd sage brush plain.
The railroad was miles away and q
seemed destined forever 10 serve only
as q haunt Of the jack rabbit ard tho
sk''lkinE coyote Far below The sur
face the Snake river cut It's wsy
through a canyon across the nlein. o.
fcring no opportunity Tor the pioneer
with his simple ditch to lead The water
out upon the thirsty soil Only skilled
engineers. backed by vast capital couif
tackle such a proposition as this Many
men without the necessary Rherewlthal
had looked N Il. but us great cost had
forced them 10 give u M. with trr
passage of the reclamation ac' on Junc
L. 1902. one ~ these engineers Who
had Joined the government force rushed
Held party 10 this point. aud in q
single season urenared and proseniri
a sci Of plans for comprehensi,
system o. Irrigation. They were ar-
cepted. and bids we're asked and con.
tract awarded FOR construction
WILL LIFT THE RIVER.
To irrigate this broad exrarse 30
plain the Snake river must DO Nt
from it' bed and a dam was laid r
The stream az Miridoka rapids
rock hll structure 50 feet 'n height
$50 feet long ON top, which rsirri
water surface A. feet an food lalrf
backed 70 up for s. miles. The dem
near completion and viii cost rc
HAIR million dollars. When Tie
mense gates in the diversion chan
are lifted the water VIII pass in.o
high line canals on both sides Of
river and be led from them throuer
hundreds Of miles OF laterals 10 eyery
farm In the valley.
INFLUX OF SETTLERS.
The initiation Of this great work vas
followed b. an influx 81 settlers from
81 over the country, and soon over.
farm division had been filed unor
While the government proceeded ui;n
the construction % the cam and can.
system the settlers were busily enenr
cd upon their own buildings. The come
Ing OF large numbers OF farmers crea..
ed market and stores sprang ~. s..
enicrprising young man established "a
newspaper, and As II by magic doctors
lawyers and mechanics Of all classes
nocked In. The intoXiCation % crea
ton was IN the air. Other uewSp7pefe
were started. three banks were estab.
lished. a school was opened and 20 pu-
pills greeted the teacher the first morn
ms Meanwhile two lines OF steel Ike
ribbons came creeping over the plain
crossed and passed the town sites. AMI
the shrek o. the locomotive wAs added
10 the creaking OF the derricks as great
blocks ~ stone were dropped into place
on the dam.
SALE or AUG q.
The secretary OF the interior he's
fixed the date % town lot sale, Hey-
burn. Aug 20. Rupert Aug q" When
this message was flashed over the wires
% carried Joy 10 the hearts o. the wait
INK settlers Scattered here and there
IN and around the town sites are l2s
mercantile institutions waiting Tor tho
town 10; sale so that they can move
over upon their own property and no
longer remain tenants by suforance az
the government. and on every 40 or 81
acre tract a home has been bunt.so that
today q population OF over 1000 awaits
The completion OF the canals and
bitches
lDAHOS FAMOUS FIELDS.
Idaho Is famous Tor its irrigated
fruits and fields The soil and climate
IRE adapted 90 n wide variety OF crops
owing 90 the Importance ~ the i've
vock industry in this section alfalfa
ard other forage crops VIII always
7rd a profitable market and an the
vegetables and fruits ~ the north
temperate zone may be grown
4 PROSPEROUS FUTURE.
With all these manifold advantages
b prosperous future and rapid growth
are assured for the new towns The
lots in sherrer. the third town site,
win be reserved for future sale. An
Important feature On connection with
he construction ~ The irrigation sys-
tenn Is The possibility u power de-
relopmeut az The dam This power
Fan be transmitted economically %
ne towns and utilized for municipal
md other purposes
The optimism 90 the settlers on the
Ninindoka project has gnut abroad
through the enterpriFing tre news
.apcrs which have grOr. 'ud Hour
shed on the sagebrufh desert ard
.re the waning Of the moon hundreds
N tendsrfeet viii hit The traI' for.
his land Of opportuniU.