Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1906-08-02


G. . Saschbacher, irrigation engi-
neer, that is of great interest to the
man in the east seeking a home in
the irrigated regions of the west.
The following are some extracts
from the paper:
The territory discussed in this
report lies along the Snake river
from ST. Anthony, near the eastern
line of Idaho, down to where Sal
mon river enters from the south, a
distance of about 200 miles, and
embraces approximately that part
of Snake river plains which was In
geologic times covered with lava,
While this prehistoric lava bed
has total area of about $4,000
square miles, the amount of land
which can ever be farmed under
irrigation is limited to certain
tracts comparatively free from out
cropping lava rock, and conveniently
situated for gravity irrigation from
Snake river or its tributaries.
The report of surveys made in
1904 for the state engineer, as the
bs&is for water-right DEGREES, shows
an irrigated area of 900, 700 acres,
and an additional irrigabie area
(r3nder diteh) Of 500, 500 acres, in
the valley as far down as Raft
river. If to these large areas of
new land is added the Dubois
reclamation project, which is r-o-
posed for the irrigation of 200, 900
acres southwest of St. Anthony,
with water to be stored at the head
of Snake river, we have a grand
total OF over a million acres OF
new land, nearly every acre OF
which will have to be cleared,
fenced, snoothcd, and prepared for
irrigation in the next few years.
OF this area 80, 900 acres, including
the north side Minidoka tract, is
actually under ditch today.
With many local differences,
these lands are alike covered more
Vi 1908 iCdNAy Will SoS GIL eoii'
The fine, yellow-white, wind
deposited soil, underlaid by porous
strata of lava, varies in thickness
from nothing to 40 feet, but is Sc
generally alike in texture and quali-
ty that similar methods OF prepar-
ing land for irrigation apply to the
entire basin. 1t contains all the
chemical constituents necessary for
plant growth, and is especially rich
in lime. The prevailing winds are
from the southwest, and the soil is
found to be exceedingly deep or
the northeastern slopes of knobs,
while lava rock generally outcrop'
on the southwestern slopes
Analyses of samples of soil taker
from different depths show practi
cally the same chemical constituent
throughout, except that a small
amount of humus is found in TIL
first six inches. Both black ant
white alkali are found, but ii
rather small amounts. The sol
is exceedingly light and tine, AM
except in creek bottoms is almos
entirely devoid of coarse sand
Though the virgin soil is lackin
in humus, some exceptionally goo
crops have been raised, and once
is properly fertilized with legumin
Gus crops the yields should be heavy
The somewhat rolling characte
of the Snake river plains and tn
porous character of the underlyin
lava rock are its best safeguard
against the rise of alkali in the fl
ture, and this advantage goes far
offset the greater hardship in leve
ing the land and getting it in
shape for irrigation. Nearly ever
quarter section has its own drair
age channel, and all excess alksli
carried through it to the Snake RI
er, without being deposited on II
land lying below. The high du
of water usually assumed in sci
ing water rights will tend to pr
vent excessive irrigation, and thi
with the natural drainage cond
tions, assures the complete imm
nifty of the tracts from injurious Z
kali.
To the first cost Of land and wat
must be added the cost of fencin
grubbing sagebrush, blowing, gra
ing, marking, ditching, seeding a
irrigating.
Fence posts cost about 10 Ger
each delivered. About $40 posts {
required to fence 40 acres, whe
roads or lanes are laid out eve
half mile, making the cost per az
for posts about ST.. The addition
cost depends upon the kind of w
used and number of wires strur