The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-12-07


Blackfoot is one of the most inn
portant traffic junction points on
the Oregon Short Lines main line,
north and south. It's trade expan-
sion is highly flattering, due to the
completion and the opening of the
Aberdeen branch, which will be in
operation for distance of IS miles
from Blackfoot by the first of the |
year.
AS this new line opens up a sec
tion of country filling up with a
population that will be very produce
tive of trade it adds greatly to the
Importance of Blackfoot. The Sal
mon r yer branch of the Short Lir e
already in operation, begins here
and extends westward into Central
that it will be extended on through
the mcu tlins to Lewiston, in which
case kBlackfoot would be on the
main line between Eastern and
Western Idaho.
The elevation here is 400 feet.
Blackfoot is admirably protected
from hard winds by the mountain
ranges that rim the valley. Equa-
BILE conditions rule during the short
winter and the long summer.
Changes in temperatures are not sud-
den and they bring no discomfort.
The local climate is especially suited
to persons troubled with weak lungs,
asthma or bronchial affections. 1t
is favourite place for living out of
doors. Outing trips are attractive
and points of scenic attractiveness
are not lacking in scarcely any di-
rection from the city. The drive by
team from here to Yellowstone Park
no no mo n 10 TO III
good roads, in eight days, and every
moment of the time will be found
extremely delightful. Game and
fish are found in abundance along
the streams enrOute.
Blackfoot's apple orchards, hum
dreds of which are just coming into
bearing, are important factors of
prosperity. Inspection of trees
under authority is rigid, thus
preventing an invasion Of the var
! ious pests that blemish fruit. The
land and water are also free of that
dreaded elements of the plains
alkali.
Yields of gardens Of this locality
are verified by the records at the
Idaho State Mental Hospital, a
modern institution. Sixty acres of
wheat on the institution farm pro-
acres in orchard bore 1850 boxes OF
. apples. All classes of vegetables,
including berries were raised. Two
and half acres of ground produced
1873 tons of stock carrots and Is tons
for table use.
Nobody, it is believed, ever con.
tended that irrigation did not make
big crops but it has been said that
/ the quality was poor. The fruit and
| vegetables produced of Blackfoo,
efiectnally refute that statement
The finest apples the worlds mark.
cts know, are apples produced or
land where the owner is his own rair
maker. With little caution and
intelligence, the aquiring of the
best points in experience from 9th.
ers along this line, mistakes may
be avoided by the novice on an ir
l rigated tract.
Bingham county, at the Alaska
Yukon Pacific National Exposition
Seattle, got the gold medal aware
for the best sack of wheat, for thu
best sack of oats; first gold media
for the best general display of grains
and grasses, particularly for vege
tables also gold medal for mill pro
ducts, such as flour, sugar and lik'
products of the manufacturer pro
cess. The jury's awards give dis
tinction to Bingham county's fruits
At the International Horticulture
Congress, held at Council Bluffs
Iowa, in December, 1908, fruit from
Idaho's irrigated sections, in whicl
Blackfoot's products were conspicu
GUS, took seven out of eight gram
prizes. The victory upset all tn
traditions Of that time among pee
Il | ~ h h06 hut 4uR Ss1 h 0v~y1
edge of what irrigation will accom-
u plish. Great advancement is mad
every year in fruit and berry cul
= ture, and the quality is as good a
the best.
Sixty thousand boxes of first-clas
apples this season from the orchard
adjacant to this city, between her
and Idaho Falls, is the estimat
furnished by fruit buyer. Ruin
prices range from 81 to 81 80 per boz
The dwindling reputation of tn
eastern commercial apple is verifie
by high authority. The world
supply is shortened as old orchard
are failing and in places the soil
\ worn out and will require man
u years to be revivified, if at al
Hence, the Importance of apple Gu
ture cannot be overlooked. We az
wise careful preparation for tn
most profitable pursuit in Blackfo'
as the time is oppOrtune and the d.
mand is increasing. The tide,
taken at the flood, will lead on
fortune.
Good land is to be had near Blacl
foot at reasonable prices, rangir
from $25 per acre. with water, bl
unimproved, and $50 to $125 per acl
with water and improvements. CT,
property proves paying inves
. ment. At the United States lar
|. office in Blackfoot full details ca
. be had in regard to locating on ope
lands. The best method is first
spy out the land for yourself al
then file upon it if it is open or bl
er the REIMBURSEMENT of another Sc
tier. A man of family having b.
ISL little more than a team of hOrS