Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-02-26
HEADGATES ARE OPENED



Continued from page -
J along this route a smaller ditch di-
verts water TO supplement the sup
ply from other sources, but the prin-
cipal function of this canal is to feed
the Deer Flat Reservoir.
This reservoir was formed by the
building of two long earthen dams in
depressions between surrounding
hills. The Lower Embankment,
known as the Hubbard and Carlson
dam, is 1880 feet long and 6S feet
high II Is 800 feet wide at the bot
tom, and driveway 20 feet wide ex-
tends along the top. The Upper EN-
| bankment is only g feet high and
200 feet wide at the bottom, but 1t
/ has a length Of nearly a mile and a
/ half. and the volume of each en-
bankment is approximately 900, 900 |
cubic yards. The process of con- I
struction was marvel of modern en-
cheering. Great steam shovels of
the type used in digging the Panama
canal tore gravel from the hillsides.
two bites of one OF these giant ma
chimes filling a car, while big steam
plows dug up trainloads of clay
which were also dumped from nova
BILE tracks laid along the top of the
embankments.
The plans for the project also CON
template the diversion of the waters
OF the Payette River by gravity can
ais. and the utilization of the Snake
River by pumping The canal work
is being done principally by the farm
ers. who receive therefor certificates
which the government takes in pay
ment of the building charge of the }
project.
The lands are generally smooth.
with gentle slopes. The soil is vol
canic. free from rocks. easily worked :
and rich in the necessary mineral
The climate is de- g
Iightful the mean winter tempera- !"
.ure at Boise being about the same y
as that OF Fredericksburg. Virginia,
although occasionally the tempera- u
'.rc fails below zero for a day or u
s0. III" summers are lots ara "
rarm. aud with irrisaipl pro1i'fe -
he most rapid vegetable growth The
ands produce from FIVE . seven tons
i alfalfa per acre each year. four
o six tons of clover, fifty bushels of o
wheat and seventy-hve buahals of
ats. The surrounding mopntatas
nrnish large areas OF grazing lands. nj
nd alfalfa for winter feeding is al ST
ays in demand and brings Yccd III
rices. But il is for its fine fruit 90
lat the section is becoming famous ,,a
ears and prunes commanding the IA
ghest prices in the eastern mar tn
ITS. We
The lands under the project have ma
any OF the settlers will be compel nus
d TO dispose of their excess land 10
no water right will be Issued for -,
ore than 100 acres. II is no won. -,
a thaA thtoC JANUS ait btAAb thPtt- HRp
taken up. for the marvellous crop bee
lids are becoming widely known car
1901 a farmer who was raised A
one of the humid states In the the
ssissippi valley. cleared $1,000 "n
IN three-acre apple orchard. and -
1907, the same orchard gave him -,
act profit OF $3.50 per acre One r.
ghbor was clearing from 800 to wro
DO per acre on prune orchard. The
lie another was growing as high l "
So bushels OF wheat per acre. brol
st year a numebr OF his friends to $
m back home" moved TO Idaho. Ter
rhe development OF power incl n''
Il TO the irrigation works will Oe 49,.
vast Importance to the industrial
elopment OF the state. The dam
the Payette River. which will be In
fee. high, and we'll backed by crys
age in the Payette lakes, will and
: practically unlimited power, reve
lie the Boise dam will probably his
iish power for municipal works, Com