American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1908-11-21
ORGANIZED EFFORT
TO SETTLE ARB0N
Thousands Of Fertile Acres
Invite Settlement.
Booklet Descriptive Of Valley to Be
Published Committee Appointed
to Answer Inquiries and
Aid HomeSeekers.

An organized effort is to be made to
settle Arbon valley. At meeting held
at the upper schoolhouse in Arbon the
first of the week steps were taken to
supply homeseekers with information
regarding the advantages and opportun-
tiles offered by this favored section. A
committee consisting of Adam Affieck,
Lorenzo Evans and John Payne was ap-
pointed to answer correspondence and
to send out literature, with view OF
securing the settlement and cultivation
of the thousands of fertile acres that
abound there.
The valley is about six by thirty miles
in extent To the west is high range
of mountains; its canyons are well sup
piled with timber A sawmill is located
in one of the canyons, and furnishes an
ample supply of lumber for the settle
ment at SIG per thousand. The timber
supply is abundant for the needs OF the
valley. 1t is estimated that there are
1000, 900 feet of good saw timber in the
canyon in which the mill is located.
On the east side of the valley is another
range of mountains, not so high, but
rising about 2, 900 feet above the valley
The land slopes to the north and east,
tending to protect the surface from the
fierce rays of the summer sun and con-
serving the moisture. Melting SHOWS
in the mountains nurture many fine
springs, and also keep sufficient sup
ply of moisture in the soil to mature
crops without careful soil culture.
Some of the land sub-irrigates from che
mountains and produces 80 bushels of
oats and first class alfalfa. One good
crop of alfalfa can probably be secured
from any of the land, however, as once
started, its roots will penetrate to never
failing moisture at depth of from
eight to twelve feet.
Between the settlement and the Fort
Hall reservation line is about town.
ship and third of very desirable land,
almost every acre of which is first class
for farming purposes. j. R. Bailey,
who has lived there for seven or eight
years, says there is not more than ten
acres in this township and third that
is not good plow land. The settlement
is confined to about one township, and
beyond it for twelve miles is only an
occasional house, not to exceed a dozen
in the two townships.
For dry farming this land is not sur
passed in Idaho Anywhere in the val
ley the finest water for domestic pur-
poses can be secured at depth of from
fifty to seventy-fve feet. Springs in
many places provide ample water, and
some to spare, for irrigation. Irriga-
ton, however, is not generally prac-
ticed because it is not necessary.
Snowfall in the valley will average two
feet, not only supplying sufficient mois-
ture, if conserved, to mature crop,
but protecting the crops from winter
killing. 1t is fourteen years since the
first settler located in the valley, and
there has never been crop failure dur
ing that time. Dry land oats averaging
forty to fifty bushels are raised every
year, which is sufficient evidence that
the land is ideal for dry farming.
AS soon as cuts can be procured lit
erature will be printed and distributed.
If the virtues Of the country can be
made apparent rapid settlement will
result