Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1915-05-06
N. P. AND G. N. RVS. TO ATTRACT
ATTENTION OF FARMERS IN
DEVELOPING RESOURCES.
PROF. SHAWEXPERT ENGAGED
Meetings to be Held at Nezperce, Cot
tonwood, Kamiah, Orofino and
Grangeville, Idaho.

department Of the Northern Pacific
and Great Northern systems to attract
the attention of farmers in all sec
tions served by those lines to the neces-
sity of developing latent resources by
the cultivation of much of the land now
held under ownership but as waste
lands, is apparently destined to be well
received by the people of the Clear
water, Nezerce and Camas prairies
There is a movement on foot to attract
the attention of the farmers unions of
this and surrounding counties to the i'm
portance of the work being undertaken.
The plan of the transportations sys-
TEN, so far as known, is chiefly to
bring Prof. Thomas Shaw, one of the
great agricultural experts of the world,
with a number of other skillful farmers
and instructors, into the Clearwater
section in special train toward the
latter part of the month, and have "a
series of meetings at such points as
Nezperce, Kamiah, Orofino, Grangeville |
and perhaps Cottonwood and other
places, with the definite purpose of |
calling attention to the value of alfalfa
growing and incidentally of other grass
crops on lands upon which alfalfa can
hardly be grown. The itinerary of
this series of meetings has not been en-
tirely determined. 1t is amour ed
that Prof. Shaw will speak at Nez-
perez on the afternoon of May %, and
on May 26 to the people of Orofino
and neighborhood. Arrangements are
being made at both places to give him
as large an audience as possible. Prof.
Shaw has made an exhaustive study of
alfalfa growing both with and without
irrigation, and his addresses on this
subject hould be fully illuminative Of
the subject. He will be accompanied
by Mr.. Wilson, who is also known ~ an
expert on forage plant production.
The work of these gentlemen and of
others that these great railway sys
TENS have it in mind to send out as
observers and instructors during the
coming season, should be of value
throughout the country in this and
neighboring sections. The develops
ment of the waste places into some bet
ter and more profitable use than that
prevailing at present has been the hope
of the more progressive of the farming
population for many years. These
lands are used for some small grain and
,ha,, ! Il. III 8
they can. be grassed and permitted to
rest for a year or so until the grasses
planted gain root, many of what are
now waste lands can be made to yield
returns as great in the aggregate as are
now being secured from the better and
more easily farmed lands now used for
the production of wheat.
In connection with the above news
published in Sundays Tribune and
which should be received with interest
by farmers and business men of this
section in view of the noticeable devel-
opments of the past few months in the
extraordinary demand for farm lands,
pasture lands, rocky lands, and any
kind of land. In connection with this
demand the Tribune gives further in
formation as follows:
The state land department has dis
covered this demand in its efforts this
year to dispose of the small amount
allowed to be sold from the school and
other granted lands of the state. Sales
Il G.. l. - l..
state since the first of the year, have
all been numerously attended, prices
! offered have been high 'and the compe
! tition have been decidedly keen. Re
ports from similar departments il
Oregon and Washington are of the sam,
tenor.
In this state part Of this increased
demand can be credited to the actio,
of the last legislature, permitting tn
payment of the purchase price bein,
extended over very long period Q
time. Previously those who purchase,
farm lands from the state were Above,
to make partial payments extendin,
over a period of Is years. Under tn
recently enacted law, this period nd
been heightened to 40 years, six pc
cent interest being collected on all de
ferred amounts. Land COMMISSIONS
Day in recent newspaper statemen
explained that he believed the chang
in the law would not only increase tn
dems.nd for state lands, but woul
materially advance the price. He illus
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