The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1906-06-09
WILL AUCTION TOWN LOTS
Three Sites In the Heart of
the Minidoka Irrigated
Tract Of 10000
Acres.

Acres.
There will be rare day in summer
IN Idaho this year--a unique day-one
without precedent. Uncle Sam expects
~ invite members Of his numerous
family from all parts Of the country to
an unusual event in the southern part
Of the state He will offer for sale
b iut 200O acres Of land contained in
three town sites situated in the heart
Of great tract Of n, 900 acres Of rich
and fertile agricultural land which will
be watered by TIE Minidoka project.
a great national irrigation work. cost
ing 2,5OO, 900 The town sites are all
plated with wide streets and boule-
wards, with parks. and extensive areas
reserved for public buildings. The lott
are 70 be disposed OF 70 the highest
bidders for cash. They look sufficiently
desolate and forlorn now; but with the
opening of the canal headgatea, they
will bloom forth luxnriantly.
The dates Of the sale are not vet set.
but it is expected that congress will
soon designate them.
Under the wise provisions OF the rec
lamation act all the agricultural lands
have been cut into farms Of 10 and 50
acres, 20 that the instant the lands art
brought under cultivation this tract now
covered with sage brush will become
one Of the most densely populated farm
ing communities in the country. Its
prosperity is assured by the splendid
water supply furnished by the big gov
ernment canals and bitches, and thi-
prosperity is a guarantee of the future
success and substantial growth Of the
towns which Uncle Sam proposes to
foster there. The proceeds from tn,
auction sale will be returned to the
Irrigation fund"
1t requires visit to this section u
appreciate the wonderful transforms
ton which follows the construction o.
one Of these great irrigation projects o
the government. Two years ago the
Minidoka country was an uninhabitec
sage brush plain. The railroad wai
miles away from it, and is scenes
destined forever to serve only as haunt
of the jack rabbit and the sulking CO
J vote.
To irrigate this broad expense o
, plain the Snake river must be lIftes
from its bed. A dam was laid across
the stream at Minidoka rapids, grea
rock fill structure 80 feet in height an,
$50 feet long on top, which raised thu
water surface AZ feet at food level anC
backed it up for 35 miles. The dan
completed will cost nearly half million
dollars. When the immense gates il
the diversion channel are lifted the wa
ter will pass into the high line canals OIL
both sides of the river, and be led from
them thro ugh hundreds OF miles of lat
erals to every farm in the valley.
The initiation of this great work wa
followed by an influx of settlers from 81
over the country, and soon every farm
division had beed filed npon. While tn
government proceeded with its con
struction OF the dam and its canal sys
t.m, the settlers were busily engages
upon their own buildings. The coming
! Of large numbers Of settlers created
market. and store keepers, doctors an
!, mechanics OF all classes fiocked in. To
} day a population Of 400 awaits tn
completion OF the canals and tn
bitches.
! Scattered here and there in an
around the town sites are l22 mercantil
institutions waiting for the town 10
sale so that they can move over upo
their own property and no longer renal
tenants by sufferance of the govern