American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-02-19

interest to the new lands and makes it
possible for a settler of limited means
to obtain home that is practically GER
tain to become valuable before he
reaches old age. AT present the soil is
both productive and cheap, a combina-
tion that is most attractive to the
homeseeker.
For many miles transcontinental trains
crossing southern Idaho run through the
Snake river lava plains, which are COW
cred with heavy grewth of sage brush.
This region has been called desert and
was of no value except for grazing until
development by irrigation began. 1t
was found that the soil was exception
ally rich and there was plenty of water
near by. Then engineers and capitalists
began to work on the problem of how
to get the water on the land, and the
present prosperity of this large region
is the result of their labors.
According to geologists, southern Ida
no was once a rocky, rough country
The original valley of the Snake river
is believed to have been broad, but the
steady flow of centuries cut a deep
channel. Then came a vulcanic out
break and much of the surrounding
country was covered by lake. By de-
grees the lake filled with ashes and
other debris from the volcanoes. The
disintigrating lava and the ash helped
form the present SOIL
The undertaking strata of lava con-
tain large crevices through which water
constantly is running. At one point
veritable river gushes from a thousand
crevices in wall of the Snake river
canyon and adds its volume to the flow.
This water runs many miles through
underground channels in the lava. A
condition of this sort is welcome be-
cause it assures perfect drain, a neces-
sity in irrigated areas.
The soil throughout this area differs
greatly from that in the humid regions.
A desert or arid soil of this kind is fine
in texture and contains high percent
age of the mineral elements that are
essential to fertility.
The altitude of the newly developed
portions of the valley is between 28OO
and 1890 feet. 1t is about 400 miles east
of the Pacific coast and 1900 miles west
of Chicago. Protecting mountain ranges
guard the antire area from destructive
winds and atmospheric disturbances.
According to the latest figures obtain
able, Idaho has more than 10, 900 miles
of main canals and laterals, and this
amount has been increasing so rapidly
that it is possible the length of these
big bitches today would reach half way
around the globe if it were possible to
stretch them out. The total length of
main canals has been placed at 4554
miles and of the laterals at 1854 miles.
These canals are to supply 4,04O, 80
acres when completed. The total area
of the state is $4,000, 900 acres, with
1,5l1, ,038 acres under cultivation as hu-
mid land. About one-third of the land
in the state is withdrawn from entry as
national forests. The total value of |
farms was placed at Sl05, 900, 900 on jan
uary l, of the present year. This rep
resented an increase of more than $780,
900, 900 during ten years.
Apple growing is likely to become a
leading industry throughout most of the
irrigated areas in Idaho, but at present /
only 16, 1863 acres are listed as being de-
voted to commercial orchards. The or
chards are in the older districts, as the
newer ones have not yet had time to
mature trees to the point where they
will produce fruit The orchard area is
certain to expand rapidly as trees are
being planted in many places where the
settlers have established themselves.
In spite of the rapidity of develop
ment in its agricultural districts, Idaho
still is an importer of many staple pro-
ducts from surrounding farm belts.
Three-quarters of million eggs and
5000, 900 pounds of butter are brought
in annually, along with enormous guam
titles of canned goods, coal and other
products that are likely to be produced
nearer home in the future.