The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1911-11-03

ty, in which lies the famous South
Side project. The assessed valuation
in each of these counties was increas
ed by 100000 in the two years
from 1908 to 1910.
| Twin Falls County
Twin Falls county contains ovel
1,100, 900 acres, and has population
of about 10000. 1t has sprung from
almost nothing in seven years. More
over, this population is all on 240,.
600 acres Of land irrigated under the
South Side system-less than 22%
of the whole area. The South Side
project was the pioneer of these great
reclamation undertakings, and SO
skeptical was the public when i,
was inaugurated that only Is people
were present at the first drawing
But its fame has swiftly spread and
there is no more sKepticism, as is
shown by the fact that when the
Salmon Falls tract was thrown open
several thousand people were repre-
sented at the drawing, although it
was smaller in size and the water
rights were higher in price.
Many crops have proven successful
here, though the principal effort so
far has been put forth on alfalfa,
wheat and oats. This year these
three crops represent in value 1870
of the total output of the district.
This is less proportion than in past
years and should continue to lessen.
A very conservative estimate of the
output of this district Gin which /:
is estimated that 100000 acres out
of 100000 are in CROP gives total
! of $2,500,000. An excellent class of
farmers is populating this and other
districts of its sort. 1t is particularly
encouraging that each year sees a
greater diversification of crops. Sew
eral nurseries are under way, a few
berry farms, together with many
small and few large orchards of ap.
pies, cherries, peaches, plums, prunes,
pears, etc. A vineyard may be found
here and there, and many fields OF
potatoes, beets, onions, tomatoes, etc.
Seventy-five-bushel wheat yields, 100
bushel oat crops, and potatoes yield
ing $50 bushels to the acre are in
dicative of the possibilities in this
district.
Yet with all this, the Twn Falls
country is not particularly better than
other parts of Idaho or Utah. We
dwell on it because it is the oldest
and furthest developed example of
Carey act irrigation ON large scale.
AS this has developed, so will other
districts develop in the future.
Government Attitude
The recent decision of Secretary
Fisher to reopen lands which had
been withdrawn from entry ION sus-
picion" that they might contain coal,
will be of great assistance to Idaho.
OF no less Importance is his CONVEX
sion to our western idea that three
years, instead of five years, of resi-
dence on these government irrigation
projects, should be sufficient to evil
dence good faith and earn the patent,
and that full title, subject only to
water liens, might wisely be given
even at the time of issuing the patent,
instead of at the end of ten years as
now. Moreover, he has expressed his
willingness to assist the settlers in
their first few years of residence by
postponing water payments for two
or three years, and then taking them
up by easy graduation. That one mat
ter of giving title at an earlier date
than now Is really of large import
ance. 1t will mean that as men i'm
prove their farms, they will be Great
ing an equity which banks and loan
companies can take into account in
advancing money for further devel-
opment. The past inability of the
farmer on government projects to
borrow money, except on chattels, has
been one of his severest handicaps.
Mr.. Fishers handling of the various
difficulties of settler in this territory
will mean much to Idaho. His will
ingness to acquaint himself at first
hand with the needs of the people
and his energy in applying remedies
have won, many friends.
The Future
The high yield Of wheat and oats,
as compared with eastern farms,
should not tempt the irrigationist to
raise them except as rotation crops
and for feed. There are ten million
acres of dry farming land in Idaho