The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-07
ASK j. s. To FOUND
IRRIGATION SCHOOL
Senate and House of Idaho
Memorialize Congress on
the Subject.
BY G. E. ARNEY.
10 The Tribune.

Special 10 The Tribune-
BOISE. Idaho, Feb. 6.-Probably few
measures for consideration OF the Idaho
state Legislature. In its eleventh session.
Will be of more far reaching importance,
should 1t accomplish the end sought. than
the Nihurr house joint memorial No, :.
1t Is as follows:
ITO the honorable, the senate and house
OF representatives of the United States
In congress assembled:
your memorialists. the senate and
house OF representatives OF the state Of
Idaho.
would respectfully represent and make
known that the development of rrIga
ton has been very rapid in the west.
there having been millions OF acres added
10 our irrigation area during the past few
years;
THAT the settlement on these new
la ands has been almost wholly by people
from the east who have practically no
knowledge of Irrigation: that irrigation
farming is an Intricate science which re-
quires considerable study that the inter,
ests OF the millions OF farmers in the ir-
rjgated portion OF the west and of the
west wholly demand that these settlers
learn irrigation farming in the shortest
possible time.
Wherefore. your memorialists urgently
petition that the government of the United
States provide moro literally for educa
tion on the subject OF irrigation through
the irrigation branch of the United States
department OF agriculture, and that at
some place centrally located in the irri-
cation belt a permanent institute be es-
,ablished at which instruction In the sub
ject OF irrigation and allied subjects be
made a speciality and that said subject be
taught TO all those who desire lnstruc-
ton therein"
Phenomenal Growth.
In our agricultural sections the growth
OF Idaho has been phenomenal. The
country population for tho past five years
has far exceeded the city population in
point Of increase. Especially Is this con-
dition true in the arid section OF the
state where irrigation is a prerequisite.
For the most part. indeed. more than
80 per cent OF the new population is ut
terly devoid OF a knowledge of irrigation,
Those familiar with it are. almost TO a
man. versed only In the crudcst phases
OF the science, for irrigation OF the bene-
acal order is indeed a science.
There Is no higher rate OF intelligence
anywhere In AGRICULTURAL sections than
with this new population In arid Idaho.
They are men-for the most part young
men-possessed OF fair education and a
mental capacity to study and retain that
which they see and hear about their
business.
1, was my privilege, six years ago, Just
the tract from Miner TO Twin Falls with
the congressional irrigation committees
party Of whGs Si Pro b:,6re a. Newe ,hS Tas
had reached Twin Falls. hence our trip
was made by team. and the first years
work OF the farmers could be the better
studied at close range.
Irrigation rs a Science,
remember we'll the statement of MIR,
Newell as we neared the end OF the trip.
II was his statement that these hard
working men We're using about twice tho
amount OF water necessary for. the perfect
benefits of their crops and OF their land.
This Is but an incident. but II serves to
illustrate only one OF the minor points on
which the successful irrigation farmer
should be duly advised
4 year ago II WAS my privilege to be
present in the Boise Commercial club
rooms whom tho Burloy potato excursion
delegation was lecturinS to the farmers
OF the Eoise valley. To heRIn with the