The Minneapolis journal., 1906-08-15
Weiser, Idaho, and the County Of
. Which It Is the Seat Appeals
Strongly to the Homeseeker and
the Farmer.
SECTIONS PROSPERITY DUE
SOLELY TO IRRIGATION
Soil That Was Once Of Desert
Character Now Transformed
Into Smiling Garden Through
Unfailing Water Supply.
BY HERBERT vANpERHooF.

BY HERBERT VANDERHOOF.a
The city of Weiser, the county seat OF
Washington, Idaho. held within its com
fines, at the last census taking, a popula-
ton Of $500 souls. It IS growing steadily,
thanks to the daily arrival OF homeseek-
ers who have chosen the spot for a per-.
manent resting place, and, judging from
the rate at which new settlers are ap-
pearing upon the scene, bids fair, to dou-
BILE its population within the next two
years. -. 49, .... ~
the fact that It is the acknowledged busi-
ness center of Washington county, that
extraordinarily fertile. region lying In the
southwest section Of the state. Nothing
succeeds like success, and the enterprise
of Weiser citizens has given. an impetus
| to the commercial activity Of their burg
vel for It's dure tS:
! Oregon boundary. line. The waters Of the
| tributaries Of the great Snake river, pour
| ing down from the neighboring noun
tains, afford unexcelled opportunities for
system which has converted Washington
county into one of the most fruitful dis
tricts In Idaho. Given a plentiful supply
Of moisture, combined with a naturally
to to- tn the rev rewards which the agricHlturist
may expect in return for his labors. ....
An eastern capitalist who recently saw
fit to purchase land in Washington county
has this to say regarding his Investment:
rouna fer tss5a stoek fsn as no
pass lightly over the agricultural posi-
bilities of this section of Idaho: Irriga-
ton has worked wonders for the soil; a
crop failure is a catastrophe utterly un-
known, and the returns In response to
cultivation are simply astounding. When
the outside world awakes to a sense OF
the riches to be accumulated by dint OF
little attention In this region, settlers
from all sides will descend upon 1t like
an invading army. III
The Advance In Values. .-
"At the present time 1 wouldn't sacri-
flee my holdings in Washington county
for four times the price I paid for them
aad5 f9a e ehs ago at ano the
pretty rosy Weiser City and Washing
: ton county have become important factors
in the commercial wcrid, although they
/, have practically only started In the race.
But you can't set any Ii 1t as to where
they will end up - ,stz>.,'- : - . :.
Wheat. oats, barley; potatoes, fruits and
county. The principal crops are, OF
course, alfalfa and red clover for hay
Much Of this, product is consumed al
home, being fed to stock. but of late a
considerable portion has been shipped out
Of the state in answer TO the market de-
mand, which groWs vs.. larger daily; Ill hooom q
famous for the rare quality of fruit they
produce This is particularly the case
with. apples. which are highly esteemed
for their delicate flavor by eastern critics.
Although the fruit lands are scheduled as
among. the most valuable in the ST state,
this fruit land viii yield comfortable
living to the fortunate possessor, and
offers Favorable chance to the man OF
narrow means who is seeking good In
vestment.
| rIa c1,o I,~nt IN, he Ia nd
tacteristics Of Idaho by the installation OF
the irrigation system is almost inconceiv-
able. One gazes in mute astonishmen
upon the wide expanse OF. acres; tnicf
with verdure, yielding untold wealth un'
der the supervision of the industrious
farmer, and wonders through what
mighty agency the transformation was
brought about. The contrast between the
forbidding desert plains Of Idaho In the
past and her glorious present is too grea
to be properly described in words.
Irrigation Solves the Mystery.
And the mystery of the change can b.
solved in one word-irrigation. Even a.
b5e1n Ms@ Of to d the is stp G ~sn ar 80 +
was water enough and to spare in tn
beginning-Nature had not been miserly
But human intelligence was required II
order, to distribute the supply properly
> draught to the fever-racked earth. Idah
: drank deep and irrigation repaid the give
= a thousand fold with the treasures of he
b lands.
Stock growing in Washington county 1
a highly profitable industry No bette
\ feed can be found anywhere than in tn
/ luxuriant growth Of native grasses an
+ vegetation that cover the great hills. Sew
\ through the year on the feed they fin
4 on the ranges.
A boom in the lumber trade Of lat
RH%ss Reepmsn "a no washngtoa h gs IN ns
81 the the ssaaF and and N
merous tributaries to the Weiser rive
q immense tracts Of standing timber offe
irresistible attractions to the lumber spec
ulator. These great sources Of supply al
rapidly being taken advantage Of.
mills in active operation throughout tn
county. Most of these are custom mill
and the remainder sell principally to tn
home market. So far only a small pei
centage of the lumber has found its wa
/ out Of the county.
1 But this condition will soon be RENE
NSt Of nl theF but other there z IS
rapid improvement in transportatio
facilities to be noted. - -.
Magnificent Climatic Conditions. Is:
= 1t must be conceded that Idaho ha
\ been greatly favored above her siste
states in point Of climatic conditions. ST
= IS most emphat tically the ''and of sur
n shine and on this subject YOU will ev.
a find the cd or young inhabitant ready
n wax enthusiastic. A Washington count
Who has spent two years
IS him what his unbiased opinion was r.
y garding the climate Of his home.
Is Seems, to me there can be only or
"a opinion as to our Idaho weather" he sa
q soWy, "ou don't need to spen md mar
n months here to find out that it's Il
b greatest in the world You don't free,
N to death In winter or roast in summe
# If ever there was happy medium In IL
~ weather line, it's to be found right her
Bully nights for sleeping cool and r
y freshing. A man wakes up ready +
Just as if tnss &sre made nH
order for the farmer.
H Take last year, for instance. I W
"a able to ploW every month in It, You dor
III need to be afraid of billiards. and thu
y der-storms, and the sun shines all ii
fime much as to say. Cheer UP. felIo,
going statement. A glance at the weath
\ bureau statistics will show that -, Ta Il, 10
B winter the country adjoining the Snaj
) river and Its tributaries enioyed ide
q weather conditions. The breath Of snri,
seemed in the air, the grass cover
the land with robes Of emerald, and. e
cept for the far-off patches of snow sho,
ing white upon the distant mounta
ranges, there was no evidence that {
world In his Icy grip.
YES, there Is no denying the fact th
washington county, Idaho offers u
81 equaled opportunities to the prospect
immigrant. Small tracts Of fertile la
-- are still to be had at cheap rates the