American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-07-27

Among the new dry farming districts
built up in this locality during the
past few years is Caulder, frequently
referred to as the Heglar or Raft riv-
er country. Located in the extreme
northeast portion Of Cassia county,
touching the state highway Fl miles
southwest of American Falls. this little
farming community OF about n and
q half townships of rolling mountain
slope enjoys the richest of southern
Idaho climate and'fertility.
Seven years ago under the curious
gaze of range horses and cattle and
great bands of sheep the first settler OF
Caulder built his homestead shack.
Circumstances and prediction were in
great odds against him. Only to him
and the few settlers who followed dur
ing the next two years a the incon-
venience and hardships of pioneering
in that remote locality be appreciated.
Water was six miles way. A a OF
flour or a pound of coffee twenty-five
miles, and no teams. But where
there is a will there is a way and
while necessity is the mother OF In
vention it was also closely allied to
contention with sheep herders and
commissary wagons.
Laying along the west base OF Bad
ger Peak with mountain-like hills to
the south and Chapen hills to the
west the locality is in a great degree
protected from wind and storms. Up
in the hills to the south and east, ov-
erlooking the farming region is Caul-
der springs, from which the country
takes its name; the memory Of John
Caulder who died at Bonanza Bar
about the time first settlement was
made. 1t is to be regretted that this
man who made many surveys about
the springs and dreamed Of the u
try's future could not have lived to see
its development.
With the clearing and grading oil
a road the springs became the main
water supply for the settlers. Rank
! groves of quakingasp furnished wood,
posts and material for out buildings
> and corrals.
The early settlers homesteading
was lone principally in winter and
4 spring. During the summer and fall
it was a case of hustle for grub stake
, and other necessities. In many In
, stances the wife was left alone with
few or no neighbors to pass the weary
months, for be it remembered that al
that early date American Falls and
! tributaries was overstocked with that
class of men who, in many instances
were forced to seek work in other
states.
II AS the community settled with fam
! lilies and children school and Sunday
school became necessary. One hall
n of the school district as organized in
= cluded unsurveyed land. or the re-
naming half there were but n OF
4 two patented claims. School bonds
: were out of the question. Special TAI
/, amounted to little with ready cash q
close balance. Therefore without
bonds, tax or help from any source
the settlers attacked the problem will
the result that they have a nice schoo
building. painted, finished and fur
nished. Just how they managed II
. another story, suffice it to say tha
} all bills are paid.
However, those hardships have pas
sed. Better things have come. Wit
the rapid growth of the country condi
lions and facilities have greatly i'm
proved. The Raft river road is a Ger
tainty the state highway a reality
while the big plant being installed o
Snake river to handle grain will ole
a close market.
Four years ago the markets saN
practically the first grain from tn
Caulder district. Today every acre
farmable land is taken with a larg
part Of the entire area under cultiva
ton. The present crop is estimate
at one hundred thousand bushels Q
more There is no surface water
the community, consequently no mo-
/ auitoes, but almost every n ma
a we'll, varying from go to 300 fe'
with a pure unlimited supply OF WI
ter.
Caulder has no lava. no hard pa
Bunch grass grows on the south slop'
as we'll as the north. The settle
have never had a crop failure, recei
ed no damage from hail and little
none from frost except for earli
gardens.
= To strike an average for the cr'
= yield would hardly be justice at tn
time. The and is practically all ne
and good farming is greatly obstrut
ed by sage and trash. However. sor
Of the older ranches are yielding
to 40 bushels per acre each yet
Caulder is developing by virtue OF
soil. There has been no boomers.
farming on a large scale that did Z
have its humble beginning. A Il
we're men Of modest means, some W
the pare necessities for farming, VII
the majority came empty handed, wi
out even a team to begin operati'
Yet the country looks prospero
They were northwest dry farmers "
knew the game.
L. thaoa fau yaara fhay hayp