The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-08-29
Irrigation, Applied with Method
to Barren Stretches of Idaho, Is
Rapidly Transforming Them
Into Most Productive Fields !
AIDED BY THE GLORIOUS .
SUNSHINE, CROPS THRIVE
All the Products of the Temperate
Zone, and Especially Fruits,
Thrive There with Luxuriance
that Is Unequaled Elsewhere.
BY HERBERT VANDERHoOF.

In the southwestern portion Of Idaho, |
at the junction of the Payette and Snake |
rivers, lies one, Of the most interesting |
land examples Of the modern irrigation |
movement. For here the farmers, work.
ing together with common goal in view,
have transformed a desolate stretch of
country into an agricultural garden.
The town of Payette Is the center OF
this twentieth century Eden, where the
crops spring up in wondrous luxurance
under the combined influence Of the
gracious Idaho sunshine and bountiful
supply Of water.
Among the many business enterprises
now flourshing in Payette are five gen.
| eral merchandise stores. two banks. two
sAWmills box factory, canning factory
creamery, two fruit packing houses
owned and operated by the farmers; an
electric light plant and two telephone sys-
TENS. At the present time the popula-
! ton of Payettee is estimated at $500.
Judging by the rapid growth during the
past three years this number should
double within the next twelve months:
For settlers are pouring into the ray
desert by irrigation has. attracted the
attention of thousands of home seekers
who are taking advantage OF the golden
offered them ny Inc sc
rich rewards for small investments. Even
the casual observer cannot fail to notice
the advantages which nature has pro-
ton of Idaho.
Extent Of the Valley.
Approximately, the valley is forty miles
long, two miles miles wide at the upper 3e sn a.
an elevation Of 1000 feet and contains
over 100000 acres, of which over one
half is now under cultivation. Payette
river flows through the valley and the
town Of Payette to it's confluence with
the Snake river, almost mile below the
town. After irrigating this vast body OF
land there still flows. down the river, at
a low stage, 2, $50 cubic feet per second.
This is a magnificent body of water.
A continuous acreage of cultivated
farms extends fifteen miles from the town
to the highands Of the bench eo sn3S
east whence the lower bottom lands.
partly sub-irrigated, merge into the bet
ter farms of the bench country, an .ele-
waited plateau fifty feet above the bot
tom land. T..
Here the topography seems to have
been designed by nature for perfect
irrigation system There Is gentle a stppe
side of the Payette. river toward the
EriversJtsef, which affords q most excel
Elent opportunity" FOR complete drainage
constructions which often entail a great
burden upon irrigation enterprises. .
The valley is irrigated from several
large bitches. Z. OF these the largest is
] managed and operated by the Farmers
| cooperative Irriga ton company. limited:
/ an association that has successfully solved
the irrigation problem in this country: The
ditch is thirty-five miIes long and will
4 was constructed in cement at cost OF
100000. 1t is admitted by eminent au-
thorties that these farmer cooperative
companies are the best method OF private
enterprise in the irrigation line.
+ In fact, it may be said that it. chiefly
Ito the enterprise of the farmers that
Payette valley owes its present prosperity.
D These men did not wait for success to
come to them. they Wen, forth and met
the goddess of fortune half way. The
( irrigation system they have established
memory of the energetic originators
q thereof. They fought the fight with hand
A and brain and are now reaping the har-
I vest of their exertions. 5 =
Fertility OF Magical Nature.
The wonderful fertility Of the soil Of
4 the Payette valley becomes magic tale
a to the Eastern farmer who reads Of the
\ rnarvels wrought by nature therein. A.
\ falfa and clover produce good crops and
\ make a large growth TOR pasture besides.
4 All varieties of pasture grasses grow
\ well.
It has been repeatedly demonstrated
4 that the farmers can add stock growing
I especially sheep and hogs, to their grain
I raising industry with great profit. The
sheep and hogs are raised on m the s+, gFass
I fields after the grain has been removed
AS fruit producing section the Pay
( cite valley has earned an enVlable repu-
APs
grapes all thrive we'll and yield big re-
turns. Berries of all kinds grow plenti-
B fully and produce really enormous crops
Some of the reports Of yields, and returns
received from small tracts of fruit and
\ berries read like overdrawn fiction. But
the facts are indisputable and speak fol
\ themselves. 1t Is not necessary to draw
4 upon the imagination when describing
1 the wonderful products Of the valley.
Government statistics show that thu
winter apple as grown in Payette is ont
\ Of the most productive Of fruits. The
/ fifth year after planting an apple orchard
A commences to bear. and yields return
Z sufficient to pay expenses At the !1i clos.
\ of the seventh year the crop Will brint
q 500 to $500 per acre. Winter apples ar
ga thered in October and packed in boxe
containing fifty pounds. They are thel
= ready for market, and, can be placed II
Il storage or sold Immediately, according t.
S9 the demand. i. ~. g.
81 Winter pears are also very profitable
81 $500 to $1,000 being frequently realized
y on single. carloads The fruit farme
his produce j Good cash prices are al
4 ways in evidence. NJ
s Abounds In Opportunities.
II There are many fine opportunities out
El side of, agriculture for would-be investor
H in the Payette valley. There is room TO
.. the establishment of a wooden mill t
Il work up. the immense wool clip shippe.'
tht p %oaa and Also pg
Sa terprise. ,. !,
"a The electrical resources Of the vale
81 invite capital. : Power plants could b
81 established along the @Payette river an
Sa ind a market at their coors.
E One of the immediate needs is nov
n being supplied In the building of a rail-
Il road line to connect New. Plymouth wit
81 Payette. This road will traverse we
&9 settled and prosperous farming countr
&a capable Of supplying enough traffic at tn
Isl present time to furnish a profitable rev
|ss33 enue to the road, without counting upo
63 the future profits to be realized by tn
@ stimulated growth which Invariably fol
E lows the Introduction of railroad. :
$a Is The numbering industry is PRACTICAL
~ still in its infancy. But sawmills ar
"a 5springing up throughout the state, an
"a Idaho promises to become one of tn
III greatest producers Of lumber in the coun
a try The vast tracts Of timber land
a hold boundlesss resources within their cor
m fines, and their development is but
SS question of time. AS regards mining
"a there is no state that possesses miners
~ resources so vast, rich and varied 6