Mountain Home maverick. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1906-1911, 1911-02-16
IDAHO AND
IRRIGATION
An Interesting and Enlightening Ar
ticle on Idaho's Water Sup,
ply and Irrigation.

other state in the American Union,
is merely to say in other words, that
Idaho farmers are. to an extent not
approached by their brothers in any
other state, insured against crop fail
ure; and not only this, the Idaho
farmer is guaranteed that his pro-
auctions per acre shall not be ex-
celled by any one, and that his fruits
shall be the most lucious and his
grains the most sought after
To say that Idaho has expended
more money for canal construction
has more irrigated lands subject to
entry by the homesteader is to re-
veal facts that easily predict the
future greatness of the Gem State"
The heretofore desolate wastes are
fast being mad productive; the sun
parched plains are yielding to the
magic touch of this mighty power;
and where once the dwarfed sage.
nesting under it's wing the camel-liko
RABBIT, barred its lonely head to the
sun, now appear the fruitful fields
of growing grain ana the happy hon.
of the Nations sturdiest citizens.
Idaho's irrigated farms are at
the state each estimated all
the way from 10000 to $4,000 per-
sons who come and make homes. Con
sidering the many hundreds of thou
sands-nay, millions of acres Of vir-
gin lands yet untouched throughout
the state. one can easily see the per-
no has already made as the leading
petuity of the wonderful record Ida
irrigation and BODYBUILDING state in
the world.
The irrigation question, though
just awakened in many Of the arid
states, is practically a solved prob
lem, as far as this state is concern
ed 1t is one of The most important
factors in the history of Idaho and
it will continue to be subject de-
imanding the thoughtful attention
of thoughtful men for generations
yet to come; for, like all great insti-
tutions and industries founded upon
mother eartn and true principles
irrigation has come to stay. ana a.
the years succeed each other. i'm.
provements and progress will be
made in the method of its applica-
ton to the soil. The science will be
studied and perfected, bringing about
a condition wherein a maximum pro
duction can be obtained from a min
imum water supply.
Though Idaho has water suppl,
which has been considered inexhaust
ible, yet more conservative use o
our waters must be brought about
principally from the fact that as thu
irrigated area increases the waite
supply will decrease. Certain waite
courses are now taxel to their linn
1.-THE great Snake River can scarce
ly offer another decree. yet al
around them lay barren and unclaim
ed lands. I say, the day is coming
. if it is not already our doors, whei
more conservative use of waite
shall be demanded The old system
which is still in vogue, of foodin
things must cease and give way t
a more economical and conservativ
practice; there win then be enoug
} water for ali and to spare.
The conservation question in thi
state is live one. The protectio
through the shade offered by stanC
E ing trees, of our immense deposit
of snow in the mountains for the SUI
I ply of our streams during the sun
mer months is being carefully maii
tanned. The storing of the flood W.
ters in the spring in great artificial
ly constructed reservoirs for the SUI
/ ply of the irrigation canals, whe
J. the natural flow of the streams d.
= creases in summer, is already
$ practice here. The next move wi
\ doubtless be toward a successful ia.
n ping of the subterranean current
Z bringing their waters to the surfa'
n of the ground fer irrigation purpo
: es. And even this proposition is no
i being projected by certain compai
n operating in this state
le The simples. answer to the que
ie lon. "Why is irrigation practice
y in Idaho?" is because: There is n
D. sufficient rainfall to properly dev'
- op and mature the products of q
~ soil. This artificial application of W
u ter to the soil is. therefore. deman