The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1909-05-07

economic value Of irrigation has become
so established there is no longer doubt,
if any existed, but that the west, once
called the Great American Desert, is
bound to become the home of the high
est agricultural civilization of all Amer
lea.
The largest of the government IS
works in the state of Washington is
the Sunnyside project, in the Yakima
valley. 1t covers 10000 acres, and will
cost $l,600,000. The Teton project, in
the same valley, will reclaim "a 900 at
cost of $l,5OO,OO0, and the Wapato,
also in the Yakima valley, will eventu-
ally take in 10000 acres at a cost of
$l,500,000. The Okanogan project, in
the county of the same name, will water
5000 acres at cost Of 100000.
In addition to these, the government
has authorized the Kittitas and Benton
projects, covering several hundred thou
sand acres in Washington. The Indian
and reclamation service estimate that
$25 or less will cover the cost for water
right on the reservation. This is about
one-half the cost Of watering land un-
der other canals in the Yakima valley.
There are also 20 successfully operated
private irrigation projects in this val
ley.
Government officials report that
eventually more than $5o,OOO,ooo will
be expended by the reclamation sirvice
in the state Of Washington in reclaim
ing 100000 acres of land now entirely
or partly waste. Of this, $4,000 acres
will be in the Ellensburg district, 2OO,-
600 acres in the Rattlesnake and Coal
creek districts, and 10000 acres in the
valley of the Okanogan.
The government projects in southern
Idaho are the Minedoka, with an area
of 100000 acres, to be. completed at an
estimated cost Of $4,OOO,OOO, and the
Payette-Boise, 100000 acres, costing
J $4,000, 900, while Oregon has the Una.
J tilla project, $4,000 acres, costing ST..
100000, and the klamath, part of
which extends into California, 100, 600
acres, cost $3,600,OOO.
The projects in Montana are the
Huntley, 10000 acres, cost $9OO,OOO; the
Milk river, including Saint Mary, 80,
600 acres, cost $1,2OO,OOO, and the Sun
, river, $4,000 acres, costing 100000. The
Lower Yellowstone project, in Montana
J and North Dakota, takes in $4,000
acres, and will cost $2,7OO,OO0 wher
completed.
Two hundred private projects are il
, operation in the Inland Empire. Mum
, erous irrigation canals have been con
{ structed in Chelan county, which has
f the Wenatchee, Chelan and Entiat val
leys. There are also important work.
along the Columbia river in eastern
Oregon and in the Spokane, Kettle
y Falls, Bitter Root and Snake river ant
+ Clearwater valleys. One hundred thou
, sand acres of land in the Spokane val
= ley is capable of irrigation. The Spo
, ground stream, flowing through thu
! valley, are used by these plants, ont
g of which raises the water by means O.
electric pumps from wells, 81 to IA
feet in depth.
: The extent of operations on irrigated
lands in the northwest will be bette
understood when it is known that the
value of the apple and other fruit crops
in the Inland Empire amounted to $14,
100000 in 1908. 1t will be $6O,OOO,OO(
in 1912, by which time several million
trees, set out in the last two years, will
come into bearing, and others planted
between 1908 and 1906 will have reach
ed maturity.
This is only the beginning of the
fruit industry in the northwest, where
millions of acres of land, now fleckeG
with the dusty green of sagebrush, i:
awaiting the refreshing moisture tt
make it blossom like the proverbia
rose. Irrigation does much more fol
the growing crops than rain, as the
natural element gives nothing except
moisture, while the waters diverted
from the mountain sides bring with
them new fertility.
Irrigation is no longer an experiment
in the western country; it is confirmed
success from commercial and fnancia
viewpoints. 1t has been demonstrated
that under irrigation these lands viii
produce paying crops of anything which
grows in the temperate zone. The prod
ucts are noted for their brilliant color
ing, unusual size and excellent flavor
and they command the markets of the
world. Vegetables in almost endless
variety and the choicest vine and tree
fruits follow each other in rotation and
fill out the season.
Five to ten acres of land in the irri
gated districts will provide shelter
food and rament for a family anG
enable its owner to put aside from $500
to $1,000 year. Scores of hundreds OF
men and women, many of whom came
from the crowded cities, are doing that
much or better today, and the develop
ment of the country, now yet in its
infancy, will provide a safety valves
against the impending dangers of con
gestion in the cities of the east.
Resigns High Masonic Office.