The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-10-09

1 opment on the Snake river Is the largest and most successful project yet com pleted in the United States. It represents total segregation of 425,000 acres. The first of this land was opened in 1904 and | practically the whole tract is settled by | now. At the present time a large dam is being constructed on the Little Salmon river, which will store water for the irri- | gation of 125,000 more acres south of the | Twin Falls project. This tract will be l-ppened for entry during the coming fall and the company back of the develop ment promises to complete the dam In | time for irrigation in 1911. The secretary of the interior has approved the mann
 moth American Falls project and work will begin this autumn on the construction l of a system whose estimated cost is $20,000 GOO, and which is designed to re- claim e00,000 acres. Eventually 1t is ex- pected that more than million acres will be under irrigation in a solid body in | southern Idaho.
 | While the Cabrey act has made possible an earlier and more rapid reclamation of the desert, 1t has of late years found a | powerful ally in the government itself
 The United States reclamation service
 started by statute in l9G2 has become increasingly useful during the past few years. The seIice has watered and opened for settlement many valuable areas. The largest and in many ways the most interesting tract now being de veloped by this agency is what Is known as the Salt River project in the Mazat- sal mountains of Arizona. Four million, | five hundred and thirty-nine thousand
 one hundred and sixty-one dollars were allotted for this project from the recla- nation fund. The Roosevelt dam Of this enterprise will be one of the greatest en- gineering feats of its kind ever unoer- taken. It will irrigate 270,o00 acres of fiat desert lands around Phoenix | Another factor in the winning of the west has ben dry farming. By system of summer blowing and alternate-yeeI cropping sufficient moisture is collected and retained in the soil to enable the more hardy varieties of grain 10 tide | over the dry season. While trc yield is necessarily limited, wheat grown in this way is particularly hard and rich m gluten. Dry farming has saved 10 the farmer much valuable land wnich yer | physical reasons can never be success | fully irrigated.
 The irrigated country is still in sense new and pervaded with something or the clan of the frontier. The towns grow away from population statistics like the pr6verbial school girl from her sKlrts' Iwi Falls, the new metropolis or soutn- ern Idaho, is but six years from the sage brush and yet 1t has @ popuiauon or Sc00. Bend, Ore, in the center oi tne largest undeveloped region of the Uni- ted States. is probably the greatest boom town in the continent at the present time. A large part of the hinterlind Of Bend will depend upon irrigation for its development. Boise,- the picturesque and quiet capital of Idaho, is taking on new life and with the growth of railroads and irrigation :n the state Is destined to be- come an important commercial center.
 The people talk big and hopefully. They believe in their land. They are not afraid to undertake large enterprises.