The Idaho scimitar. [volume] (Boise, Idaho) 1907-1908, 1907-11-02
THE IDAHO SCIMITAR.

the people, the Government passed legislation by
which it alone in partnership with the state, took
the initiative in building and encouraged and
assisted the individual to acquire the land Another
beside the fact that public lands susceptible OF
cultivation had been taken UP under the various land
acts, spurred Congress to further effort to provide
homes for the people
Commencing some thrty-fve years ago the ten
dency of the people of the United States, especially
among the young and women, has been to mi
CRATE from the country to the towns, and especially
to the cities
Farm life was not particularly agreeable and did
not furnish opportunities sufficient to compensate the
ambitious. The result followed that the excessive
competition in cities among equipped people has
duced the amount of compensation There has al
ways been a great surplus seeking employment in
the same channels in populous centers.
The concentration of business enterprises of all
kinds in fewer hands has aggravated the condition
which already existed and made the struggle in the
cities even for respectable livelihood, more I'm
certain
Within the past few years. and at the present time,
farm life has been made agreeable, through
mail telephone, electric transportation, better school
facilities and Improvement in farm implements
Farm products have also advanced, and thus the
rewards have become greater for the til1ers of the
soil and the rasers of stock and generally speaking
upon all things dependent upon farming. Not only
have all food products risen in price, but almost
everything else which the consumer must of neces-
sity have.
Struggle in Cities.
The struggle for those living on salaries in the
cities has in consequence become douby severe for
they not only have to meet competition but COM
PEELED to pay higher prices for nearly all of the
absolute necessities of everyday life. The inevitable
result follows, and the condition is upon us
when the migration to the cities from the country
has not only been checked but the reverse situation
prevails, that those in the cities are seeking the
advantages of farm life.
Lands have risen in value everywhere in the United
States, and there is more demand for land and more
sales of land everywhere than for many years, and
perhaps more than before in this history of Our
country. In the great agricultural belt which is
known as the Middle West, and even further west
in Iowa and Eastern Kansas and Nebraska farm
lands command such high price that many are
selling in order to acquire cheaper lands in the Far
West.
Safety in Irrigation.
It has been fully demonstrated now that the safest
and most successful farming can be done through
he irrigation of arid lands This fact had not been
accepted until very recent years.
All of the above enumerated causes and many
others which not so patent, have combined to
make the arid section of country very attractive
It the present time to those desiring farm life. The
i'm of the different states and territories of the arid
e1 for the past decade has been through legislation
o make irrigation as easy and as safe as possible
'he Federal Government has also encouraged the
irrigation of the arid belt each state and territory of
he arid section has local laws aDD1cab1e to local
onditions.
T