The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-05-09
Water turned ON
|. LANDS Of gem
District
Stream of Life Giving Water
So Long Looked For at
Last Flowing.
FREE WATER TWO YEARS
Morrison and Knudsen Make Many
Friends by Their Splendid Work.
Crane Falls Company Makes Good
5000 Acres Irrigated Land Added
to Caldwell Section.

= "J 'th VIII Always De d great Gay
in the history of the Gem Irrigation
district; for it was on that day that
water was turned into the A, B. and
canals to water the fertile lands of
Crescent valley. Long has the reign
OF the desert held sway over this
splendid stretch of country to the
south OF the Snake river, but at last
this mysterious monarch has been de-
throned and another large body of
land has been added to those already
supplying the wants of man. Ten
years ago, and more, some of these
lands were filed upon, and it has been
long wait these settlers have endur-
ed until they saw the fruition of their
hopes in the gushing water that was
poured into these canals on the date
| bove given.
Inc settlers were out in force. an
| army OF laborers and the officers of
the Gem district were all there to see
the water turned in. Early in the day
the great pumps were started; the one
that was designed to fill A canal was
the first one put in commission Then
the water began to flow into
the interior of the pipe line
to the canal 40 feet higher
than the river; the noise made bv Il
on the walls of the pipe seemed as
though IT was making a terrible fight
against being lifted so high from the
stream where hitherto it peacefully
flowed, but--at last with arush +
spread into the big ditch and ran
headlong on its journey of blessing to
the waiting farms below. The came
the starting of the pumps on the R
and Z canals, and again the struggling
waters were forced to enter unon
their mission of enrichment
1t was we'll worth the trip to the
pumping plant to see Harry Morrison
mounted upon his bay, marshalling
his forces to take care of these streams
OF water and see that they should do
no narm to the, as yet, untried bitches.
And there afoot was Knudsen watch
ing with keenest interest the results
OF their arduous labors. Morrison
ana knudsen are the men who in the
last two months have gathered men
from every source, taken the raw ma
teriais and the cumbrous machinery.
putting each in its respective use and
completing one of the finest irrigation
systems in Idaho. These men have
worked quietly. but most effectively.
IN accomplishing the task entrusted
TO them by the Crane Falls company.
who had the original contract from
the Gem district. So far as the writer
mas seen their names have hardly an
peared in the papers that have any,
tning to publish in regard to this
work; and yet they are worthy of the
highest praise for the part they have
had in bringing to a successful con-
clusion the long struggle to put water
upon the lands of the Gem district
morrison is still young man. but he
has hown himself to be a great power
tor good in building the material pros-
perity of Idaho. Mr.. Knudsen Is an
older man; and he has been the faith
ful office man of this firm. The
names of these two men will always
De remembered by the residents of
this valley as the men who "did
thngs" in short time and when thew
were most needed.
Nor will we forget the men of the
Crane Falls company. They have
thought and worked and worked and
thought. and then again thew worked
to bring this great undertaking TO a
successful conclusion. No one will
ever know their anxiety and worry
over their failure last fall to market
their bonds and finish up this system
on contract time.
Sometimes they were criticized for
looking so carefully to their own in.
terests, but on the day when the water
was turned into the bitches no one
had anything but kind thoughts and
good words for these men.
And who can tell of the relief to the
farmers. who have sown their grain
in earth too dry to send it forth TO
gladden. the hearts of these men, when
they stood on the ditch banks at the
mouth of the pipe lines and listened
to the struggling waters and then saw
them leaping down the valley to water
the thirsty lands. The drouth is over;
and hereafter Crescent Valley is to
blossom as the rose.
Some of these men have worked on
their farms getting ready for this
event when their friends were think
ing. of them as foolhardy; now they
will be congratulated for their fore
thought and faith. No matter, how
ever. whether they blamed or praised
II will be difficult to find in ali Idaho
a. happier set of men and women than
those now living in the Gem district.