The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-11-20
HEAVY IDAHO CROP
DIFFICULT To MOVE
Oregon Short Line Needs
More Cars to Market Fruit,
Grain and Potatoes.
Special 10 The Trlhnne.

special TO lne tribune.
BOISE. Idaho. Nov 1o.-Southcrn
Idaho's pumper horticultural and agrcul-
tural crops, now being moved, are tax
ing the capacity OF the entire Oregon
Short Line system and all heretofore idle
rolling stock is being brought into com
mission To assist in the gigantic task. The
crops this year have been larger than
ever before in the history OF the state
and the ready market open to them de-
mands that they be moved as fast as
cars can he provided
Southern and eastern Idaho will ship
10000 car loads OF potatoes. This Is the
estimate of tho potato crop and the rail
roads are making preparations to provide
that number of ears 10 handle them. In
other words, figuring fifty cars TO train,
which IS a high estimate. there Will be
zoo train loads OF potatoes shipped east
and south out of this territory. Railroad
authorities when asked to make all esu-
mate OF tho number OF cars that will he
needed TO move the entire crop both ag-
ricultural and horticultural. declare that
they cannot do so. They claim that the
only demand they hear in this territory
is for more cars and that every effort
Is being put forth by them 10 rush empty
rolling stock TO southern and eastern
Idaho to move the crops a quickly as pos
sble
Focateo. tive gate city for tho south
cast where all eastern shipments center
and are made UP. Is congested with load
ed cars There arc usually 500 cars there
practically every day waiting TO he made
up into trains and either sent south or
east. wheat. oats, cars of grass seed. sugar
beets, hay. fruits of all kinds, principally
apples and numerous other products
shipped from the west and north into Po-
IN ad IN h1 nStl 1.l-
less OF the fact that the Hartman sys-
tenn is making up trains daily and rush
Ing them out. the incoming cars keep
the yards full.
Stations and sidIngs nloug the main line
Of the Short Line both north and west
OF Pocatcllo as we'll cast and south.
which never before were known TO de-
mand a car for shipment OF products have
this year demanded and filled from ten
TO 100 cars OF potatoes. wheat. oats or
hay. This is also true OF the smaller sta
tions along the Minidoka e. Southwestern
branch which connects with Twin Falls.
Crops in this section have been phenom-
eual.
North of Pocatcllo from Blackfoot TO
Ashton demand has been made for 5000
cars 10 handle tho potato crop alone. In
addition the grain crop demanded many
hundreds of cars. Dry farm land there
this year averaged ffty bushels OF wheat
10 the acre and seventy-nve bushels of
oats. The farmers OF Bingham, Ronne-
Vile, Fremont, Twin Falls and Lincoln
counties have averaged from $40 TO $50
per acre from their potato crop this
year,
Farther west in ada, Canyon. Washing
ton: Elmorc. Owyhce and Boise counties.
the fruit crop has been exceptionally large
and tho demand for cars to handle IL
has been insistcnt. There has been little
delay in the shipments, all OF which have
gone into Pocstello where they were
made mp into trains To he rushed east and
south,
The present year was an exceptionally
profitable ono for dry farms, due 10 the
heavy rainfall last spring and thousands
OF acres OF new land was put into crops,
with The result that The harvest was rich.
The supply OF water for irrigation assured
big crops on all projects and added 10 tho
general output making It a record break
er for southern Idaho.