Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1907-08-08
HON. MADISON R. SMITH.
Letter From Idaho.
NAMpA, IDAHO, July 25, 1907.

dSIiCulbuIdl oCOtlOh VI oAO 0Ne"sS 80
Idaho. On the north is the great
belt and the rain belt,
where the land is cultivated with
out irrigation. Through the Snake
River Valley to the south and
southeast the farmers resort al
most wholly to irrigation, and turn
arid wastes into the most produce
tive of farm lands.
The city of Nampa is twenty
miles southwest of Boise on the
main line of the Oregon Short
Line, running from Salt Lake City
to the Pacific coast. Boise, of
course, is the best city in the State,
having population of 10000 per-
sons, all of whom are progressive
to an unusual degree. To say that
they are proud of their State would
be putting it mildly, but it is a
Western trait to stand stoutly by
the West and defend it against all
corners. All the modern and up
to-date conveniences are in use
and are enjoyed by the Idaho
genus, man. Boise's climate is
dry, light, hot and tense, not very
good, however, for persons who
require more equable tempera-
ture. The air is full of ozone and,
hence, very bracing, but with all
that there is too much exhiliration
and not that quiet and rest found
in lower attitudes and in a less
rarified atmosphere. AS far as
healthfulness is concerned, Boise
probably is unequaled.
| Nampa is not as large as Boise,
having only 5000 inhabitants, but
it has beautiful sidewalks and
grass lawns and plots, with beauti-
full homes. The. best hotel in
Idaho is here and of this I have
personal knowledge. 1t is Dewey
Palace, built about five years age
by western plunger, who having
acquired riches in mining and a
the same time grudge agains
Boise, announced that he woulc
make the grass grow in the streets
Of the capital city. In this hi
failed, for he is now dead ant
Boise thrives and prospers.
The timber interests of northern
Idaho are great, consisting 0
white and yellow pine, red fir
cedar, hemlock, tamarack AM
white fir. The tamarack is no
that of the Northern States, bein
a medium hard wood and taking
r fine polish. 1t grows from fifty t
, one hundred feet high and is al
d most devoid of limbs.
!, OF timber now standing in Idaho
= as estimated by the State Lam
d Board, there are not less than fifty
= eight billion feet, and this fact tn
! lumbermen of Wayne and Rey
. nolds counties can appreciate.
Irrigation was practiced by th
ancient Babylonians in the lowe
t, valley of the Tigris and Euphrate
= the Shinar of the Bible, wit
marvellous results 1000 years be
fore the Christian Era. This cour
= try was a perfect beehive of varie
y, r. agricultural industries, and IL
N same will be written of this gre
is western country after while, ju
!. = as surely as it has been truthful
0. written of Babylon and EgyF
There are now nearly 10000
acres of rich irrigated land und
" cultivation in Idaho, producing Il
," most generous crops Of all sorts
products. There are more thi
- 1000, 900 acres of unirrigated lal
under cultivation, lying in the ra
belt of the northern part Of t
State aggregating total Of 500
Z, 900 acres now being cultivated
the entire State.
The highlands from the first
April to the middle of Octob
and the lowlands throughout t
= year, afforded good grazing for t
stock of the State prior to the q
vent Of the forest reserve. The
y are about 18,000,000 acres Of Ia
in the forest reserves. This la
!. was free for pasturing before
~ law went into effect, but now II
closed, and yet there will be su
ject to pasture in the neighbcrho
( OF 3t,0O0,000 acres for the cat
q. and sheep men to fight over a
W occasionally to kill over.
There are persons who belle
z that the long struggle between
Il cattlemen and the sheepmen led
the killing Of former Cover
nv Steunenberg, which has be
placed at the door Of officials
aSs ,sa, the Western Federation of Mine