Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-05-22

I Big Wood river than would serve to
| irrigate many times the acreage pro-
posed to be improved: that the pro-
posed dam and lake site was almost
| absolutely ideal for the purpose: that
| the lands the segregation of which were
asked We're the best in the state. Once
these proofs were submitted, the state
land board acted favorably, and in the
latter part of the summer Of 1907, there
was a Carey act land drawing of about
80. 900 acres of extremely rich land COW
er1ng what had long been known as the
Marley Burn, on the Little and Big
Wood rivers. This opening was at,
tended by a large number and the
greater portion Of the land offered was
at once taken. The lands of the Mar
ley Burn resemble In their chief char
ncteristics the great grain lands of the
Palouse country of eastern Washington
and northern Idaho, the rainfall, how
ever, being somewhat less, and pre-
venting the successful prosecution of
dry farming
The WorkSof development was at once
begun. AT great expense the COM
spany began preparation for the build
ing of Its dam. x diversion dam was
constructed in Big Wood river about
-four miles below the big dam, and
work on the main canal was at once
commenced Work was prosecuted
with a very large force of men through
cut the summer and fall, and when a
second drawing of Carey act lands was
announced to occur in November. the
first fourteen miles fBthe main cana
had been completed. The second open
ing under this project was held in No
vember, 1907, at Gooding,g occurring in
the midst of financial panic which
had at least partially paralyzed growth
Despite these untoward conditions, al
most all the lands surrounding Gooding
to the east. south and west We're filed
on.
Soon after this came the final slump,
the New York hackers of the project
Withdrew their support, and the Idaho
irrigation company was compelled to
find market for it's bonds in a deplet-
ed money market. Work was stopped
and for time it looked as though the
plans Of the company could not be car
3ried out. There was so much merit
In the idea. however, that j. G.. White
IL Co., of New York, the greatest con-
tracing firm in the world, became in
.tcrestcd, and late in the fall OF 1905, thu
work Of continued development COM
menccd. During the succeeding seven
months, the company hasscompleted the
digging Of the main lire and lateral
canals for the Marley Burn lands,
which are now being served with water.
1t has also placed q. divcrting dam In
the Little Wood river about nine miles
east of GoodiHg, and constructed IS
miles OF main canals to serve the landSe
in WHAT'S called the south Gooding
tract. The water has been turned into
this main line canal during the past
two weeks.
It was found necessary. in order 10
bring the water on the land to the
south and west of Gooding, to convey
tile water across the valley of the Little
Wood. J river for distance Of nearly
1900 feet. through a siphon, This ST.
phon. which has just been completed.
is said to be the largest and longest
siphon used in connection with an ir-
rigation system in the United States.
The siphon is built of Oregon fir The
lumber being absolutely clear. Tho
outside diameter is six feet and the |
inside diameter i've feet and four inch
es The siphon has a drop of seven I
feet in four thousand. Still further
down the canal there are number or