Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1909-03-18

SOS, uut tiiC plihNlpdl iuhSlioh Va
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 1880
feet long and 6S feet high 1t is 36c
feet wide on the bottom, and drive
way 90 feet wide extends along the
top. The upper embankment is only
43 feet high and 200 feet wide on the
bottom, but 1t has a length of nearly |
a mile and half. and the volume OF |
each embankment is approximately |
1,000,0 600 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 by
pumping. The canal work is being
done principally by the farmers.
The lands are generally smooth,
with gentle slopes. The soil is vol
canic, free from rocks. easily worked
and rich in the necessary mineral apn-
stituents. The climate is delightful,
the mean winter temperature at Boise
being about the same as that of Fred
ericksburg, Va, although occasionally
the temperature falls below zero for
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
~ PoIF Oh, ~
six tons of clover. so bushels Of wheat
and rs 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 1t is for its
fine fruit that the section Is becoming
famous throughout the country, the APP
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 a farmer
who was brought up in one of the
humid states in the Mississippi valley
cleared 81 200 from three-acre apple
ordchard, and in 1907 the same or
chard gave him a net profit of $75(
per acre. One neighbor was clearing
from 500 to 5000 per acre en- prune
orchard, and in 1907 the same or
high as So bushels of whea. per acre
Last year a number of his friend,
from back home" moved to Idaho.
! The development of power inciden
to the irrigation works will be of vas
importance to the industrial develop
ment of the state. The dam on tn
Payette river, which will be 80 fee
,, high and we'll backed by storage II
the Payette lakes, will give PRACTICAL,
unlimited power. while the Boise can
, opened to-day, will probably furnisl
power for municipal works, electri
, railways and industries of variou
kinds The completion of the projec
it is believed will result in laying tn
foundation for such an industrial de
, velopment as probably has never bee
t, 1 paralleled in this country II mean
> the expenditure in that locality of mi
q lions of dollars in few years, the II
tensive cultivation of 100000 acres {
o fine land; II means thousands of ne
! settlers, the doubling of the populi
ton of the cities and towns in ths
q portion Of the state, an increased pric
for all agricultural products bette
. roads, schools and churches.
But the significance OF the openin
# of the canal is not purely local in cha
l. acter. The completion of unit of tn
a great project only marks another mil
A. stone in the development of the WEI
II and heralds to the world the begi
2 ming of an era Of prosperity that hs
It come to stay and that will be reiecte
IS in the increased prosperity in all lint
II of industry throughout the whole cou
n try.