The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-03-11
AN EXPERIMENT STATION FOR
BLACKFOOT
Chance to. Get q Government Dry
Farm Experiment Station il
zeal People Act Promptly

zeal People Act Promptly
The last legislature appropriated
$S,OOO.O0 to be used under the direc-
tion of the board of regents of, the
University, for experimental work In
agriculture in three different stations
to be selected by the board, the con-
ditions to be that the locality wish
ing the station shall furnish 160 acres
of land, with suitable improvements
upon it, including a house, a barn,
a we'll and good fences. The state
will operate the experimental farm
ten years and then surrender 1t to the
owner or owners in a high state of
cultivation, with all added improve
ments. The state will take sage
brush land, and put it all under cul-
tivation, and make experiments that
will be of great value to the sur
rounding country having like condi-
tions of soil, moisture and climate.
One station was established at
Gooding last May, and another has
been located in North Idaho. Anoth-
er will be located in Eastern Idaho,
and Pocatello, American Falls and
Blackfoot are bidding for it,
The BlackfOot Commercial club
took the matter up on Monday. and
the party, including two representa-
tives from the University, went out
into the Snake River plains along the
Mackay Branch to make selections of
state land with a view of offering it
with noodnd innrOUnmpntc
Prof. w. L. Carlyle, director of
agriculture at the University at Mos
COW, and F. D. Farrell have been
looking over the eastern part of the
state, examining sites offered, and
they were much pleased with the To-
cation offered in the Snake river
plains near the Salmon river rail-
road.
In reviewing the matter before a
meeting of the Commercial club he
stated that the conditions of soil and
climate are representative to de-
gree that gives educational value
that is, experiments conducted here
will prove what can be done all up
and down the valley; the railroad
connections are good, it being acces-
sihle to excursions from all over this
end of the state, and it is the pur-
pose of the state to have people visit
the experimental farm so they can see
the soil being treated and the crops
growing, and compare the various
belts of each kind of crop as they
grow side by side under diffreeht
treatment. This has greater educa-
tional value than issuing printed lit
erature, and the excursion method of
bringing people in touch with the
work is to be carried out to a great
I extent.
| 1t is desirable to have the land ly-
ing beside the tracks so people can
reach it afoot from the trains, and
such location has been selected, in
fact several are available.
/ Attorney Geo. F. Gagon of the firm
of Hansbrough & Gagon was pres
ent, and said he would donate pine
logs if the organization furnishing
the improvements would build fine
bungalo on the experimental farm.
He stated that he has fine lot OF
pine timber on his land in Island
Park, the trees being about fourteen
inches in diameter at the butt, and
seventy feet high. He would like to
see fine large bungalo with porches
and a great fire place made of the
lava which abounds in the plains neal
the proposed farm.
At the meetings held on Monday
afternoon and Tuesday evening, there
were not many present, but it was
thought best to purchase the pro.
posed site by applying land script
form a stock company for $6,0OOO0
sell the stock to local people in any
amounts they may wish from ten dol
lars up, make the improvements this
spring and summer, and have the
stock payable in four monthly install
ments beginning with April.
Another meeting was called fol
Wednesday evening in the hope tha
a larger attendance might be had
and thus secure the advice and co
operation of a greater number O
people.
At the meeting held Wednesda.
evening the subject was discussed b.
the visiting brethren Messrs G. O. Nc
} Cutcheon, Prof. Carlyle and T. D
Farrell and many Blackfoot citizen
who were present, all being yer,
much in favor of securing the sta
ton.
A committee consisting of F. c
Parkinson, G. T. Peck, Byrd Tregc
e. M Kennedy and P. G. Johnston
was empowered to appoint sub-com
, mittees and canvass BlackfOOt an