American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1910-02-19
IDAHO LEADS WITH
| IRRIGATED ACRES
Chicago Paper Tells Of the
States Development.
creat Growth and Development of Our
State is Being Watched With
the Keenest Interest by
People of the East.

The Chicago Tribune, which has taken
the lead in metropolitan journals in ex-
bloiting irrigated Idaho and the great
Resources of the state, in a recent publi-
la tion published the following article
bn "What Irrigation Has Done For
IDAHO"
Hardly any part of the west can show
transformation equal to that which
las taken place in Idaho during the past
lew years, for within a surprisingly
HShort space of time the state has been
changed from sage brush desert to an
urea rich with blooming orchards and
prosperous farms. Idaho already has
more than 1900, 900 acres under irriga-
lion bitches and congress has guaran-
iced another 1000, 600 acres for deyel-
bpment in accordance with the provi-
lions of the Carey act, so it is certain
that the irrigated area will pass the
s, 900, 900 acre mark within a compara-
lively short period. The development
bf this area is practically equivalent to
LUncle Sam new state of the dImen-
hons of Maryland, as the land in its
Eormer condition was worth next to
hothing.
q Along with the developing of the re-
= Sources of the state has come an era of
home building that has made the future
certain for many thousands who have
orsaken the east for what the new
vest has to offer. Formerly Idaho was
Eiven over to the prospector, cowboy
Ind adventurer, but today it is dotted
With homes, the number of which is in
reasing every day.
Today Idaho is enjoying another turn
IF prosperity. but the present growth
kests on the firm basis of agricultural
Ind horticultural wealth, developed by
means of irrigation. The prophecy has
been made that the southern part of
IDAHO is destined to become one of the
fichest agricultural sections in the
United States. And most of this sub
tantial development has taken place
within only few years.
The Snake river is one of Idaho's
greatest resources, for it's lifegiving
waters enrich all the land they touch in
long strip that crosses the southern
part of the state and then runs far to
the north. At present the lower end of
he state is attracting the most atten-
bon, on account of the tremendous work
eing done there both by the govern
ent and by private capital.
The general prosperity of the farm
who are credited with being about
only ones who obtain practical ben
t from the high cost of living in the
hes, is one reason advanced in expla-
tion of the exceptional opportunities.
pother reason is that the agriculturist
today finds himself, for the first time
the country's history, practically
e from the competition of crops
wn on virgin SOIL Such crops are
lost invariably heavy and the cost of
wing is small, but impoverishment
pc soil is likely, on account of the
Re to get as much out of the ground
Dssible in short time
present these conditions are re-
pd, for high prices and steady
Let are the rule for agricultural
pcts. In the face of the develop
of western Canada, of Texas and
rier lands of the west, both demand
rices have gone up steadily until
wellers in cities who must depend
their country cousins for food are
hing alarmed. The growth of
ation has overtaken and passed
velopment of new lands. The
m today is to make each acre pro-
, much as possible in order to
ace with the demand from the
3 market. 1t is contended that
of farm staples never can go
Dwer, as the population is increas-
the limit for the development
land is close at hand. u
opportunity for the newcomer,
e of the reasons why the rush for
st has assumed such great pro-
As, are to be found in the fact
he price of land in the newly
districts is determined almost
y by the cost of getting water to
Ids. The producing capacit, of
III is not considered in fixing the
chat the settler must pay for the
ld. AS time goes on this condition
Panging, as can be seen in any of
older irrigated areas. 1t is this
hge in values that lends speculative