The Richfield recorder. (Richfield, Idaho) 1909-1931, 1909-08-26

Inc development OF TINS great united states o.
ours, to the utmost extent of its boundaries, ha,
been the achievement of the great mass of its cit
izenship, known as the common people. The hard
hood with which they have wrested from the great
wilderness Of America in 900 years of time the
strength and support of the greatest nation under
the sun, and their accomplishments in the mighty
upft of all branches of commercial activity acts as
leaven to the entire world today, and nearly all
nations partaking Of the spirit and energy
manifested by the American pioneer.
The accomplishments of the people, however, are
seldom heard Of or talked about until the rays of
their perfection shine out upon the world, forcing
their recognition.
Our own fair state OF Idaho has been developed
by the pioneer His deeds and accomplishments
have begun to attract fortunes seeking investment
and as result great portions of state be-
coming perfect beehives of activity and develop
ment Other portions, blessed beyond measure by
the fruits of the pioneers toll have until recently
been practically unheard of by the great army of
emigrants moving westward, and the thousands
whose eyes are turned this way seeking homes or
opportunities of investment Every portion of Ida
no offers so many advantages that the home seekers
hardly decide just where to locate and they
rush to those portions most extensively advertised
and perhaps in doing pass by land of golden
opportunities for them of which they had never
heard
The great farming area surrounding Rigby has
been peculiarly unfortunate in this respect, being
located adjacent to Idaho Falls and on a line of
travel which the "gobe trotter' seldom passes
except in the night time on his way to and from the
Yellowstone National Park.
The interests of this vast area of agricultural
land have been gradually centralizing themselves
about the little town of Rigby, whose wealth. pros
perity and advantages reaching such proportions
to force its attention upon the public who are
amazed at the hitherto undiscovered advantages
and opportunities of the country, made possible by
its great ideal system Of irrigation built and per-
fected by the people who came emigrants seek
ing homes, who have cleared the brush from their
lands and who have lived in their little dirt-roof
log cabins but who now live upon prosperous and
well cultivated farms and in beautiful homes en-
joyng the fruits of their labors and the independ
ence such courage, energy and thrift always pro-
duces.
The Country Adjacent to Rigby.
The Snake river after leaving Grand canyon
through the Teton mountains. flows in north
westerly direction the valley for about 20
miles where it joins its waters with the Henry's
North Fork and then flows almost due south to the
city of Idaho Falls. The immense tract of land,
lying within the great bend of the river, is vast
flood plain built up by the overflow of the mighty
has melted, poured down in torrents and spread its
rich detritus the valley. AS the river cut
deeper and deeper through the lava shelf which
crosses the valley from east to west near Idaho
Falls, it confined itself more and to its pres
ent channel and it's Hoodngs gradually ceased leav
ing the valley marked by several old channels which
used canals in conveying the water out
over the plain. The land a result is level and
so fertile that have failed to yield in
tended to-
The natural water courses so used have made
possible the best, most extensive and cheapest sys
tenn of irrigation canals to be found.
The Snake river, until recently, occupied chan
mel which is known the Dry Bed. In the
year 1894 it began cutting its way into the chan
mel it occupies. portion of the water had
been flowing into the channel for years, but the
main body of water flowed through the Dry Bed
channel until the year above mentioned. I speak
of this change of channels here to add intelligence
to the many references made, of necessity, to the
channel called the Dry Bed.
Early History of Canal Building.
About the year 1880 few settlers established
themselves upon the barren plains of the upper
Snake river at the place called Lewisvile. The
first thing necessary to make their lands product
i've was water. A canal route was chosen, and on
the 22d day of December, 1884, they incorporated
themselves under the title of "The Parks and Lew
isville Irrigation Co.., and proceeded to post due
tice the point of diversion claiming 72, 600
inches of the waters of Snake river in the Dry Bed
channel. They then proceeded to construct their
main canal and laterals In the course of time the
canal finished to its capacity and the desert
along it's way began to blossom. Other home seek
ers were attracted to the valley and soon all the
water the large canal could carry needed to r-
rigate the many farms along its course The whole
valley began to be filled with settlers and the great
est era of canal building ever known in the west
was commenced.
The Burgess Canal and Irrigatng Co.
This company was organized by few farmers
Who had settled south and east of Lewisvile in the
eighborhood of the towns now known as Rigby and
rant. On the 4th day of April, 1885, they posted