The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-12

FARMS FROM
4 SAGE BRUSH PLAIN
Government Spends Lavishly to
Reclaim the Minidoka Coun-
try in Idaho.
BY w. w. Jernane.

BY w. w. Jermane.
Washington, Aug. 10.-A rather
unique event is scheduled to take place
this month, when Uncle Sam will offer
for sale the lots contained in two town
sites in the heart of the Minidoka irri-
cation project.
This project provides for the reclama-
tion of about 100000 acres lying on
both sides of Snake river. The land
was all public domain and when the
engineers designed the system they Did
for establishing an ideal farming COM
munity. w.
Three townsites were laid out in the
center of the tract on the proposed line
Of the Oregon Short Line railway; the
towns were plated with wide streets
and boulevards, and parks and extern,
sive areas for public buildings were re-
served.
All the agricultural lands were cut
into farms Of forty and eighty acres,
so that the instant the tract is brought
under cultivation it will become one Of
the most densely populated agricul-
tural communities in the country. Its
prosperity is assured by the unfailing
water supply, which will be furnished
By the big big gS rnsnev c w be and
OlGCuCS,
fected in the future success and sub
stantial growth Of the towns which
UnGe Sam proposes to esta blish there.
f Just sagebrush Plain.
{ Two years ago the Minidoka country
was an uninhabited sagebrush plain.
The railroad was miles away and the
region seemed destined forever to serve
only as a haunt of the jackrabbit and
the skulking coyote. Far below the sur
face the Snake river cuts it's way thru
a canyon across the plain, offering no
! opportunity for the pioneer with his
simple ditch to lead the water out upon
the thirsty soil. Only skilled engineers,
backed by vast capital, could tackle
such a proposition as this K
act on June II, 1902, :one Of these en-
gineers, who had joined the government
force, rushed field party to this point
PRESENTED ,ora Mt a set of plans for a compre-
| hensive system of irrigation: They
were accepted and bids were asked and
the contract awarded for the construc-
ton. 49,,
plain the Snake river must be lifted
from it's bed, and dam was laid across
the stream at Minidoka rapids, a great
rock fill structure fifty feet in height
and six hundred and fifty feet long. on
top, which raised the water surface for.
ty-seven feet at food level and backed
it up for thirty-five miles, The dam Is
half a million. dollars. When the i'm
mense gates in the diversion channel
| are lifted the water will pass into the
high line canals on both sides OF the
river and be led from them thru hun
dreds Of miles of laterals to every farm
in the valley.
First Rush of Settlers.
The initiation of this great work was
followed by an influx Of settlers from
all over the country, and soon every
farm division had been filed upon
4 While the government proceeded with
the construction of the dam and cana
system, the settlers were busily en-
gagged upon their own buildings.
The coming Of large numbers Of
farmers created market and store:
sprang up. An enterprising young maj
established newspaper and as if BY
" magic doctors, lawyers and mechanic
!. of all classes focked in. The intoxi
cation Of creation was in the air. 9th
, er newspapers were started, three banks
were established, school was opened
and seventy pupils greeted the teache
! the first morning. ~.E
Meanwhile two lines of steel-like rib
bons came creeping over the plain
crossed and passed the ,townsltes, am
T. the shrek Of the locomotive was addet
! to the creaking of the derricks as grea
!, blocks of stone were dropped into plac
on the dam. 49, ~ " Ss,A ~
: I. Today a population Of over 400
awaits the completion of the canals an
bitches. Scattered here and there i
and around the town sites are l22 mel
camille institutions waiting for the tow:
lot sale SO that they, can move owe
{ remain tenants by sufferance of tn
:, government.
: Idaho is famous for it's irrigate
: fruits and fields. The soil and climat
t are adapted to wide variety Of crop:
g Owing to the Importance Of the live
t stock industry in this section alfalf
> and other forage crops vii II, always tin
t abies and fruits of the north temporal
y zone may be grown here.
s With all these manifold advantages
/ prosperous future and rapid growth ar
/ assured for the new towns. The LOT
, in Sherrer will be reserved for futu1
sale. An important feature in conne'
tion with the construction Of the irr
cation system is the possibility OF poy
er development at the dam. This powt
can be transmitted economically to IL
e towns and utilized for municipal an
other purposes. s. &s*sS' $50;
The optimism Of the settlers on tt
Minidoka project has gone abroad thu
is the enterprising little newspapers whie
l. have grown and fourished on the sag
It brush desert, and ere the waning of Il
4, chit the trail for this land Of oppo
81 tunity. IS D