Omaha daily bee., 1911-01-25
Bird's-Eye Viewof IdahoResources
What inducements the State Offers
to the Home Builder.
CLIMATE FINE, RESOURCES RICH
Prosperity Awaits on Industry,
whether Applied TO Agriculture,
Fruit, stock Raising or MIN
ing In Fertile Idaho.

Cities and villages have sprung into life,
as Minerva was said TO have sprung tuU
orbed from the brow Of Imperial Jove, vast
areas of sage plains have been trans
formed into waving fields OF grain and
blowy sweep Of orchard and vineyard
The mountains have yielded their stored
treasures, while peace and plenty have
folded their white wings over happy homes
and a prosperous people.
Idaho comprises the territory lying be-
tween British Columbia on the north and
the states OF Utah and Nevada on the
south. and of Oregon and Washington on
the west. and Montana and Wyoming on
the east. 1t is nearly $50 miles long and
ranges from forty-five to 325 miles In
width, with an area OF a trifle over $4,000
square miles, or nearly equal in size to
New York and Pennsylvania combined.
Its acreage is something over 54,lAOOO. Its
present population as shown by the census
of 1910, is 325,594, and rapidly increasing
The elevation varies from 700 feet above
sea level in the extrme west to 10000 feet
in the extreme east. 1t is a land OF fertile
valleys and mountains rich in ore so valued
for its surface and elevation that all va
rieties Of climate that are to be found
abound here,
Climate IL Mild.
Idaho climate is one of the finest in the
world, and notwithstanding its high alti-
tude in some parts of the state and its
latitude, the influence of the Japan cur
rent greatly modifies the northern part OF
the state The average mean temperature Is
IS degrees. milder by 3 degrees than Ohio
and by u degrees than Maine and New
Hampshire Boise, the capital OF the state
has an average mean temperature of 81
degrees the cords of the United states
signal office showing that for seven CON
secutive years the lowest temperature in
Boise was IL degrees below zero in the
month of January and the highest los de-
grees in the month Of July. The prevail
ing winds are south southwest, and aver
aging only twelve miles hour and the
greatest velocity not exceeding thirty miles
Open air work is performed every day in
the year. sun stroke is unknown anywhere
in the state, billiards or cyclones to those
who have come from the storm center Of
other states soon become memories. Idaho
is a land of almost perpetual sunshine, the
state averaging 26O clear days each year
and showing 800 fair days to Boston's 1871
Idaho has no floods, no severe storms,
rains sedmon fall during the harvest time,
and crops can be gathered up to the time
that snow flies. Neither Italy nor France
can compare with Idaho as a health resort.
Statistics of mortality collected by the
United States census bureau show that
Idaho is the healthest state in the union.
its mortality being rated by the bureau at
o.93 while that OF Colorado is O94, Cali
fornia 161, Oregon, O69, Utah 1O3 and
Florida 1.21. There are many artesan hot
springs in various parts of the state that
are fine as health resorts. Its area has
been classified as follows Twenty-one mil
lion acres agricultural land, 100000 acres
mineral land, 100000 acres timber land
and 100000 acres grazing land.
Ranks High in Agriculture.
The agricultural resources of Idaho ranks
very high. Its 2l,OOO 900 acres of agricultural
lands produces every variety of CROPS
known 20 the temperate zone OF wheat
all varieties of both spring and fall are
produced, with an average yield of thirty
bushels to the acre, but yields have been
reliably reported as high eighty bushels
to the acre; of barley forty bushels to the
is an average crop; oats from fifty
five to ninety bushels weighing forty-fiv
pounds to the bushel; rye is produced in
large quantities and grows nicely even in
the arid belt without irrigation. In the
northern part of the state, flax is grown,
the yield being some twenty to thirty bush
els to the acre Fine corn in produced all
through InS irrigated ulSIIlClH. VI grasses
all the natural are Astounding, while all
falfa, timothy and clover are produced in
abundance. In the irrigated districts, es-
pecially these grasses grow profusely, al
falfa and clover yielding usually three
crops during the season from six to eight
tons to the acre.
All kinds of vegetables are profitably Gull
tivated; potatoes, beets, peas, squashes
beans, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions etc.
The sugar beet is extensively cultivated
and is one OF the important industries of
the state. The total value of the eight
principal farm products for 1910 is $50, 900 OOO
Fruits of all kinds are grown, with the
exception of those of the citrus family, in
Guiding berries, canteloupes and melons. The
value of the fruit production for 1910 is
S2,OOO,O00.
stock Raising, Mining, Timber.
Idaho ranks high as a stock raising state.
Its 100000 acres Of grazing lands are COW
cred with grasses highly nutritious and
furnishes abundant feed for grazing pur-
poses This immense range makes stock
raising very profitable. Herds can be pas
tured on high ranges in the summer time
and moved down to the valleys In the
winter time, and only in severe winters
must they be fed. During late years much
attention has been paid to quality of stock
and thorOughbreds of high grade cattle
and horses are rapidly taking the place OF
common stock. The sheep business has
mounted rapidly 20 the first rank Of Idaho
industry. The wool clip of last year was
1sOOOOOO pounds, valued at $4,000.
The possibilities of Idahos mining indus
try seems unlimited and 1t furnishes an
important factor in the development Of the
state. one county alone, Shonshone has
produced over 10000 in precious metals,
and the state in general produces over
forty per cent of the lead production of the
entire United States. The report OF the
state mining inspector for the year 1910
shows that the total output OF the Idaho
mines-gold silver, lead, copper and coal
was SO, Coz S62l5. Immense coal aud Bhos-
plate beds have been discovered and await
but the magic touch of capital and industry
to work out this enormous wealth
Idaho's timber resources are almost ilIl-
mitabe, It's forest area being estimated at
100000 acres, containing 57,5OOOOOOOO feet