The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-03-12
BOISE Dan e9a

sources, but the principal function of
this canal is to feed the Deer Flat res.
ervOir.
This reservoir was formed by build.
ing two long earthen dams in depres-
sions between surrounding hills. The
lower embankment, known as the
Hubbard and Carlson dam, is $3.50
feet long and 6S feet high. 1t is $50
feet wide on the bottom, and drive
way 20 feet wide extends along the
top. The upper embankment is only
43 feet high and 200 feet wide on the
bottom, but it has a length of nearly
a mile and half, and the volume of
each embankment is approximately
100000 cubic yards
The plans for the project also con-
template the diversion of the waters of
Payette river by gravity canals, and
the utilization of the Snake river Ivy
pumping. The canal work is being
done principally by the farmers.
The lands are generally smooth,
with gentle slopes The soil is vol
canlc, free from rocks, easily worked
and rich in the necessary mineral con-
stituents. The climate is delightful,
the mean winter temperature at Boise
being about tie same as that of Fred
ericksburg, Va, although occasionally
the temperature falls below zero for a
day or two. The summers are long
and warm and with irrigation promote
the most rapid vegetable growth. The
lands produce from five to seven tons
OF alfalfa per acre each year. four to
six tons of clover, so bushels CT wheat
and Is bushels of oats. The surround
ing mountains furnish large areas OF
grazing lands and alfalfa for winter
feeding Is always IN demand and
brings good prices. But it Is for its
fine fruit that the section is becoming
famous throughout the country, the ap-
pies, pears and prunes commanding
the highest prices In eastern markets.
The lands under the project have
practically all been filed upon, but
many settlers will be compelled to dis.
pose of their excess lands, as no water
right will be issued for more than 100
acres. 1t is no wonder that these
lands are being rapidly taken up, for
the marvelus crop yields are becom.
ing widely known In 1904 farmer
who was brought up in one of the
humid states in the \ ississppi valley
cleared $1,000 from a three-acre apple
ordchard. and in 1907 the same or
chard gave him net prof of $3.50
per acre. One neighbor was clearing
from 500 to 5000 per acre cn a prune
| orchard, and in 1907 the same or
| high as So bushels of whea. per acre
Last year number of his friends
from back home" moved to Idaho
The development of power incident
to the irrigation works will be of vast
| importance to the industrial develop
ment of the state. The dam on the
| Payette river, which will he 80 feet
high and we'll backed by storage in
the Payette lakes, will give practically
unlimited power. Will the Boise dam,
opened oday, will probably furnish
| power for municipal works. electric
| railways and industries of various
kinds. The completion of the project
| it is believed will result in laying the
| foundation for such an industrial de-
velopment as probably has never been
! paralleled in this country 1t means
the expenditure in that locality of mil.
| lions Of dollars in few years, the in
tensive cultivation of 100000 acres of
fine land: it means thousands of new
settlers, the doubling of the popula-
ton of the cities and towns in that
| portion of the state, an increased price
for all agricultural products; batter
roads, schools and churches.
But the significance of the opening
of the canal is not purely local in char
acter. The completion of a unit of this
great project only marks another mile
stone in the development Of the west
and heralds TO the world the begin
ming OF an era of prosperity that has
come to stay and that will te reflected
| In the increased prosperity in all lines
of industry throughout the Whole coun
J try.