Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1908-08-19
IDAHO LEADS
IN IRRIGATION
has 3,oolDoO ACRES UNDER
WATER, ExCEEDlNG ACRE
AGE OF EITHER CALIFORNIA
OR COLORADO.

DOblSc, aug. lS.-0diuuci Toi
tier OF Washington, D. c., chief OF
irrigation Investigation Of the de.
partment OF agriculture, has been
spending few days in Boise, says
the Statesman The chief object OF
his visit here at this time was to
consult with State Engineer Steph.
enson regarding report on irriga.
ton in Idaho which he is prepar-
ing. The preparation OF series OF
reports on the arid region was de-
cided upon in Washington last
spring. Immediately after the con-
vention of governors. Secretary
Wilson of the department OF agri-
culture was OF the opinion that this
was good time to call for reports
from the various state engineers
on matters pertaining to the land
and water reserves of the respective
states and territories. Mr.. Fortier,
In an interview said:
II am very much pleased at the
progress which State Engineer
Stephenson and his department
have made in collecting what con-
slider valuable Information about the
land and water resources of Idaho.
It is not generally known that this
| staate has advanced SO rapidly in
irrigation development. According
to the last census California and
| Colorado were in the lead in the
number of acres actually irrigated.
According to figures furnished by
Mr.. Stephenson, Idaho is today irri-
eating considerably more than s..
100000 acres and knowing what
DC of. the conditions in California
and Colorado am inclined to think
that Idaho leads all Western states
in the extent of irrigated areas
Several years ago l computed as &C.
curately as possible the irrigated
area In California, and the result
was something over 100000 acres
Colorado may have considerably
more than 100000 acres under
Gu 'tivation at the present time, but
II do not think that the irrigated
land in that stae Is as extensive a,
In Idaho.
1.-THE land actually under irriga
ton is what we are meaning. ant
not that under projects as yet un
completed AZ the last Twin Fall
tract which was opened up and up
on which there IL no water. We ar
figuring only that which Is rsall
under cultivation with irrigation q
the present time.
"Mr. Stephenson's report will dea
with the general topography an
, drainage basins Of the state, includ
Ing the water resources. and givinl
summaries of the flow of the princi
pal streams. The climate will ais
b. described and brief accounts O
the leading enterprises will be CIV
. on. This will include the work tina
has been accomplished in privat
, enterprises. district organization,
in the Carey land act and unde
government reclamation projects.
There is no other state in tn
West that has made 30 much use {
the Carey land act as Idaho. TIL
has proven to be very popular er
actment and there has been a wor
derful development OF the land ur
der It, One OF the most noticeabl
examples is the Twin Falls cour
try. All this will be fully shown I
the report. which we hope to hav
u published before the close of tn
calendar year. II I mistake not. tn
report will do much to correct .fal.
:, impressions concerning the. lar
u and water resources of Idaho and I
future place in the commonwealth
az AoA