The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-08-31
DLACkFOOT, the county seat Of Bingham county.

RLAGkEooT. the county seat Of Bingham county.
Idaho situated the Oregon Short Line Railroad, 26
miles north Of Pocatelo 1873 miles north Of Ogden and 1856
from Salt Lake.
1t is at the junction of the Salmon River branch line
penetrating central Idaho The population $780, and
the principal industry agricultue The has school
houses, with u another with There
five churches eight lodges the State asylum sugar
factory the land Office Armory and opera house. and about
fifty business houses II has telephones electric lights
ric power and many other modern improvements
Blackfoot situated in great expanse Of agricultural
lands which only partly settled and cultivated many great
canals being constructed for irrigation tapping Snake
and carrying the water out upon the plains which
constitute the matchless valley Of the Snake.
The vast expanse OF land which is susceptible high
state Of CIVILIZATIONS the abundant supply Of water the great
basins forming natural sites for the storage Of water
for irrigation, for raising Of fish, for supplying and
resorts furnishing opportunity for investment Of money and
investment Of labor which will yield returns in short
time.
Each the several branches Of agriculture holds out
inducements such have enriched the people the Middle
West and the problem presents itself here in modified form
OF irrigation, but with greater and grander possibilities
The beet sugar industry has been tried enough demon
sate the fact that this soil and climate place the ranks
Of the best sugar beet belts the world and who have
made the business Colorado ockng to eastern
Idaho get lands and business while the country
and nndeveoped There sugar factoresone
at Blackfoot, another at Idaho Falls
The cultivation Of hardy fruits longer an experiment
for already planted and well tested the past decade
have yielded such regular and valuable the invest
that organized effort the production best fruits
and the finding Of the best Of reaching distant markets
and Of developing the home market occupying the attention
Of the orchardsts Tracts Of land Baekfoo upon which
apples and pears raised paying annually that
would justify the investment Of from $500 to 81 500 for the
lands but until the past few years scarcely any land com
maned than $40 to $40 but the showing Of diff
ent crops from year keeps the price steadily adyanc
ing.
Backfoo natural center for eastern Idaho and the
location Of the Eastern Idaho Fair this place four Years
ago has brought together grand display fruits vegetables
this soil and climate will pro
duce. ~
This broad valley Of rrgable lands, which commences
the northern line Of the county where the energies
the foothills lies both sides the river and varies il
width from 10 to 20 miles All this land is filed upon and most
it patented The greater part is under cultivation
The soil principally sandy loan and varies in depth from
to 20 feet II is Of almost inexhaustabe fertility It's
natural crop sage brush but under the touch irrigation
this has given way abundant yields grasses fruit
and tubes All the tame grassegrown the eastern and
middle states grow in profuslon here. Alfalfa the most
nutritious OF forage plants fourishes under the soil and
climatic conditions Of this country being staple product
good per cent Of the valleys acreage III alfalfa which
from four to the with two cuttings
Some three crops harvested What is not used in
feeding the large herds sheep and cattle baed and shipped
Timothy red clover orchard and other grasses are also raised
extensively and yield heavy crops But the hay making
grasses alfalfa is king.
Cereals fruits and vegetables in this country attain the
highest degree Of development Wheat one Of the mostly
products under intelligent management averages 60
bushels to the acre.
The altitude Of the valley about 1900 feet above sea
level In most instances the great which traverse the
continent and especially those from to vest pass either
to the north Or south Of this section blizzard cyclone
is unknown in this valley. %
The climate is mild, not exceedingly hot in sumner and
the nights cool It succession Of bright and
sunny days The winters not severe although the murc
often indicates from 10 to 30 degrees below zero The
atmosphere being dry the cold felt to the extent the
same degree Of cold would be in damper climate
The climate under the climatic influence 81 the Pacific
and Japan current which our wsr hi
nook wind in the latter part Of the winter early spring
time. Sss
Generally where irrigation necessary intense and
diversified farming naturally obtains The tendency in arid
countries toward small farms and the production crops
high value compared To bulk The establishment OF beet
sugar factories in Bingham county naugurates industry
which, to certain extent. will revoutionze its agricultural
tendencies Some Of the large grain and farms will give
TO smaller tracts and the raising Of sugar bees promises
to becoms one Of our chief occupations.