The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1907-06-04
Magic Wand of Water Trans,
forming Idaho in Veritable
Eden's Garden.
VAST SUM EXPENDED
FOR IRRIGATION
TracklesS Waste viii Become
Productive Through Canals
and bitches.

l.. Bush LiVermore Of the PoCatello
Tribune contributes the following graphic
description of the gradual transformation
now taking place over the Gem State
through the intelligent use of water Sc
cured by irrigation:
The Los Angeles annual fiesta brings
to mind the fact that Pocatelo might
do well 10 follow In the footsteps Of the
California city. and arrange for a fiesta.
There is not an abundance Of flowers
in this part OF the country. but there is
plenty Of sagebrush, Why not, then, ar
range for sagehrush fiesta?
In the, midst OF beauty and fragrance,
In the Land OF Sage-.a wilderness OF
where every soft breeze is heavy with
the fragrance OF n million sasebrusheS,
and where the habitatlons of both the
lowly and exalted are powered amid the
odorous bush. where summer zephyrs,
whispering up from the Snake. bring
breath Of naked nature from the north:
TO mingle with the scent Of cedar and
pine brought down from the skyline hills
on the wings OF a gentle wtnd-what
more appropriate than feast Of sage
la fiesta del salvia-a holiday given over
TO reTeling in fragrance and sweetness,
subdued by pity for rapidly disappear
ing species2
Some time this year the government
of the United States will begin the eN-
pendlture OF $3.50 900 In the construction
OF an irrigation system on the Fort Hall
lands, including the immense tract abut-
ting on the north end OF town. where
hundreds Of POcatello citizens have taken
up homesteads and are awaiting the ap-
plicatlon OF water 10 mark transiorma-
tion from aridity into fertility, from
vast waste into waving fields OF grain.
Within a couple OF years at most the
saEebrush win have disappeared from
the plehan cabbage, the succulent young
onion, the saccharlne sugar beet. the
earthly but palatable potato. the useful
alfalfa and the humble hay. Before this
transformation Is accomplished. before
the rains Of two more springs kiss the
level acres into a new greepness and
sweetness and purity. Pocatelo should
honor the sage should attire herself I'm
wreaths OF sage and festoon her homes
and public buildings with spriSs and
bouquets OF sage. heaping homage upon
the altar OF n goddess VINO is about 10
be deposed, but who is worthy of all
honor for past greatness
Time was when the sage ruled supreme
in Idaho. over a million acres II reisned,
clinging to the precipitous walls Of tho
canyon of the Snake, lighting with the
lava reefs Of the great Lost Rover plains
for foothod, battling bravely with the
bunchgTass for the scanty moisture of
the arid belt. drinking thirstily of the
winter rains and autumn showers, creep
ing 10 the dooryards OF urban homes.
seeming half State with an odor cling
ing and cloyng. Coyotes and jackrabbitS
roamcd amid II. nffeCtionate woodticks
clUng 20 IL. pinto cayuses threaded a May
way through 1t. end Indians OF other DAYS
avoided il in their migratlons from win
ter camp Ia summer hunting grounds.
Then civilization came and viewed,
calm-eved and unafraid, this vast waste
OF sage. Slowly, as BELTS the task of
Transforming an empire. the sage began
10 be elbowed out. not urgently, but al
ways Unregretfully. The magic wand OF
the Payettc Galley. the immense valley OF
the Upper Snake, Gases began TO ap-
pear. widening with the years. Farm
encouraged by success. attacked the en-
croaching ranks of sage, and new fences
threw out their tentacular arms 10 em-
brace more reclaimed land. Across the
turgid Snake great dams were thrown at
Miner and Miuidoka, and through wind
ing mile on mile OF canals, water was
conducted 70 the battlefront OF this
wer of determination against the sage
as artillery is hurried To the firing line.
In two neeting years a domain larger
than an European Kingdom or an Eastern
State was transformed into fields and
farms. Within an equal period $50. 900
acres on the north side of the Snake will
immense Mlnidoka tract will have been
made to blossom as the rose: in six
months the canals OF the American Falls
project will have effected the redemption
Of 10000 acres; within eighteen months
the Fort Hall tract Will have emerged
from the desert. before another summer
comes the Bo)se-Iayette project VIII be
carrying water 10 thirsty empire, TO
enact another wonder of the West The
Lost River project the Bruneau project
the Marysville project. the Mountain
nome project score Of projects big and
little-are trending toward other speedy
redemptions, are girding up their loins
for a final fight with The sombre desert
Of Idaho sage.
II is an unfair fight. On the one
side is arrayed the Overwhelming forces
of modern civilization. hundreds Of thou-
sands Of homomakers and homeseekers
the wealth of the East the lndomita able
energy of the strong -lirnbed and strong
hearted men OF The New Idaho On the
other hand Is merely the quiet and help
less desert. blinking In the sunlight OF
summer. hroodins I'm the storms OF win
ter-sIcnt. tremendous. lone. austero, It's
army-massed ranks Of sagehrlsh I'm scr
Rated columns and hles-awaits leader
less, its snnihllation
Why poA then, fiesta de SALIVA tn
mark the passing Of the sage WHY nor
fete TO honor The death OF the desert.