The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-05-11
Irrigation by Pumping.

day III more than one household IN
New England. The disastrous attempt
Of years back to inhabt and. farm these
semi-desert praries lends much inter
est to the first government irrigation
works to be located in the Great
Palm region-the Garden City pro-
ject. Contracts will be let in May and
the work will doubtless be completed
in time for irrigation in the spring of
1907
Unusual interest attaches to this
project not alone because it is the
first which involves pumping from
underground sources but because it is
believed that its successful operation
will usher i'll new era for the Great
Plains The Importance of this pro-
ject is more fully realized when it is
rememberer that the division Of the
United States known as the Great
Plains comprises 100000 square miles
or over one quarter OF the total area
OF the whole country Over a vast
portion Of this region the settlers are
few and far apart. 1t is the short
grass country and is today furnish
ing forage and grazing for great herds
and hocks, West of the Tooth merid-
ian the climate belongs to the semi
arid region and general farming with
out irrigation is not successful except
in years Of unusual and timely rain
fall The history OF this section has
been marked by number OF dis
astrous failures, most Of which re
suited from lack of knowledge of
the climatic oscillation and from
fever OF speculation in western
mortgages.
During a cycle of wet years agri-
culture was extended far across the
plains, the movement being greatly
facilitated by companies formed to
place loans and take mortgages on
real estate. The East was the treas
ury from which the funds were drawn.
During the continuance Of several
years Of ample rainfall the profits Of
these loan agencies were great and
prudence was thrown to the winds. A
series OF dry years and the consequent
failure Of crops forced the settlers to
abandon their farms and whole coun-
ties were practically depopulated To
day here and there on the plains and
deserted sod house or the more sub
stantial farm dwelling are framed
against level landscape, lonesome
reminders OF the pioneers failure. DC
caSionally the remains OF dozens OF
structures mark the site Of what was
once a prosperous town or county
seat but what is now only the haunt
OF the coyote or the gaunt gray wolk.
Mortgages were foreclosed and the
makers Of loans became burdened with
large areas OF lands practically value
less. Attempts were made to con-
struct irrigation works to insure crops,
but the results as a rule were not sue
cessful and the stockholders lost their
Some of the pioneers tenaciously
hung on to their homes and when the
bitches failed they sunk weels and If
rigated small tracts from windmills.
The yields from these small bitches
were phenomenal and suiliced to tide
many Of the farmers over the years OF
drouth
Farms Of ten and twenty acres in
gardens and orchards and irrigated
from wells now support whole fami
lies in comfort Systematic irrigation
Of this kind not only embraces extern
slve cultivation, small farms and or
chards, but ii increases and spcialzes
calling into play the edu-
Gated brain and the trained hand and
the cultivators into highly or
ganlzed communities.
The well in Kansas has been most
potent factor i'll establishing num-
Der OF the best communities in the |
state, These facts are recited to ex-
plain why the Garden City project is
attracting a public. interest, create
than would follow the construction of |
a project of this kind in other sections I
Of the West The water for this pro-
iect must be recovered from Inc IN
dertlow waters Of the Arkansas valley
which lie i'll gravel deposits existing
below the bed OF the river The plans
Of the government pr v'le 1nr the
sinking OF several hundred wells from
which the water will be pumped and
distributed into collecting conduit.
These wells will be scattered along
/ line nearly five miles long.
The power is generated at single
central plant situated on the railroad,
md is then distributed by electricity
o the wells.
Applications for water under this
project have been made by the owners
If more than 10000 acres OF land to
&c benefited and the community is
'cry enthusiastic concerning the III
IRE success OF irrigation in the Ar
;ansas valley One private pumping
liant erected three years ago in this
leighborhood al a cost OF more than
5000 supplied water to 1000 acres
n wheat The first crop harvested
vas sold for more than the origina1