Omaha daily bee., 1906-07-01
TWIN FALLS TRACT A WONDER
One Of the Irrigation Faradisss in the
Snake River Valley.
IDAHO SECTION WHERE FARMING PAYS
Project in which Government and
Private Interests are Concerned
and where Returns are
Certain.

TWIN FALLS Idaho, June A-(special
Correspondence to The Bee.)-The land
thirst with which the farmers in the con-
gested agricultural sections Of the east
and middle west seem to be afflicted IS
attracting them to the thirsty lands in
the arid regions of Idaho watered by the
serpentine Snake river. This remarkable
stream flows through the state of Idaho
for a distance of more than 1000 miles. 1t
irrigates nearly 100000 acres of land and
will in a few years irrigate as much more.
When all the power sites on the stream
shall have been developed the Snake river
will generate more than 100000 horse
l power. Electric power plants, several of
which are already in operation and many
more in course OF construction are scat
| tered along the stream from Its head to
| its junction with the Columbia Within
the past few days company with cap
| ital OF 100000 was formed to develop
| 5000 horse power at the Twin falls,
| Shoshone falls, Anger falls, Upper and
Lower Salmon falls and Malad falls, all
within a radius of forty miles. Land seek
ers from all parts of the country are
hooking into the Snake river valley and
| values are increasing at an amazing rate
The upper Snake river valley in Fremont
/
settled for years, but It is only recently
that land values began to soar in that
section. The boom, II such it may be
! termed, is due to the erection Of two huge
beet sugar factories, which paid out to the
farmers in cash last year upwards OF $780,
] 900. The land upon which the beets are
grown is also particularly adapted to
grain. Oats grown in Bingham county
| weigh heavier than the product from any
! other section on the globe. excelling the
New Zealand product at the 81. Louis fair.
Land values in Bingham and Fremont
counties average from 500 to 500 an acre
for cultivated and irrigated ground, and
are amply justified by the returns obtained.
A farmer who understands his business
will grow twenty tons OF beets to the acre.
The factories pay $3.50 per ton and the
cost Of growing does not exceed 81.
Work Now Under Way.
At Blackfoot, Bingham county, the Snake
river goes dry every summer. A few miles
below that point immense springs rise and
maintain a constant flow during the en-
tire year. These springs are supposed to
come from what is known as the Lost
rivers, streams which disappear in the lava
desert. They furnish water for the irriga-
ton OF the Mnidoka tract, which is being
reclaimed by the government, and the
Twin Falls tract, which has been irri-
gated by the Twin Falls Land and Water
company. under the provisions OF the
Carey act The Minidoka tract embraces
about 5000 acres, all Of which has been
homesteaded. The soil is rich and deer
and will be irrigated next year. In order
to insure a water supply for this tract
, during the dry seasons. however the gov
| will ha 70 htffld a4aa IN.
ing works at the headwaters OF the Snake
as the Twin Falls tract holds a prior right
to that OF Minidoka, and will use the en-
tire flow OF the river during the months
OF July and August. The construction OF
these retaining works would enrich south.
ern Idaho by many millions OF dollars
} and would eliminate the constantly increas
ing litigation over water rights superin
| duced by overappropration. II would re-
| suit in the reclamation OF a vast acreage
which is not now susceptible OF irrigation
because OF the lack OF water in midsummer
From early spring until the last week II
June the Snake carries sufficient water L
! irrigate many times the amount Of land II
its valleys.
Railroads Involved.
I The Twin Falls project Is the Iarges
: and most compact irrigation enterprise IL
: America, II not in the world. 1t coveri
j 10000 acres, OF which 10000 acres hay,
! already been reclaimed. This portion Il
. located on the south side OF the Snake rive
and is traversed by the Oregon Short Lin,
: railroad. The road leaves the main lin,
at MinidOka, cuts through the Minidok;
tract. crossing the Snake river at Burle,
! and extending westward to Buhl, a new
town seventeen miles west OF the city o
Twin Falls. Surveys are now being mad
r between Kelton, Utah, at the northern ent
= Of the Great Salt lake. and Burnley. Idaho
( for the purpose OF building a cut-on be
tween those points. The road will thel
h be closed between Bull and some points OF
d the main line near Nampa, thus reducing
: the distance between Salt Lake City an,
Portland about 100 miles and making wha
a Is now the Twin Falls branch betwee
b Burnley and Bull the main line OF the sys
y | tenn The Chicago A Rorthwssfern 4