American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1916-01-06


AS IRRIGATED IDAHO HAS MADE GOOD,
AS ACTUAL RESULTS SHOW
Every newspaper in Idaho and every commercial club
has told and retold for years the story Of Idahos wonder
full Irrigation developments and Of the marvellous results
that have been obtained in agriculture from the magic
During the past year the irrigated sections have pro
duced increased crops i'll al. lines and Idahos irrigation in
stlrance has accumulated an inexhaustible reserve in the
completion of such enterprises as the mammoth Arrow.
rock dam and in steps taken to further augment the water
supply by storage at Jackson Lake and other places.
The Arrowrock enterprise was distinctively the work
of the federal government. The Jackson lake storage will
be participated in by the federal government and private
corporations. Other private irrigation enterprises have
taken steps to increase their supply, to be drawn upon at
are still uncOmpleted and some are tied up in litigation,
nevertheless the irrigation phase Of Idaho agriculture was
never more healthful nor more promising.
The story in detail need not be told here. The expert
mental stage has long ben passed and the actual results
are in evidence for all Investigators. Irrigation has made
good and it has caused Idaho to make good. The canal
arteries leading from the reservoir hearts of supply slim
uate and energize the entire body of the state.
But in another agricultural development Idaho has also
made good, referring to dry farming. In no western state
has there been greater progress made in this direction.
Not only is the marvellous scope Of this character of farm
ing amply denoted, but it's future is assured and its growth
will constitute one Of the great features OF ldaho's dsyel-
opment. ~~FSTVM
Dry FARM Wheat Crops.
It may be a surprise to many readers to know that dur
ing the past year the wheat crop on Idaho unirrigated
Land represents seven million five hundred thousand bu-
shells, requiring at least five thousand cars for it's trans
~portation. This record has been made during one of the
driest seasons in the history of the state and following a
v winter and T EPTin asi II (which d there was wit an the fas sfd tha{ tS of
dry farmers have not yet thoroughly mastered the prob
lem Of cultivation, is responsible for a decrease in the ex-
pected crop-and still a remarkable record of production
was made.
What is true of wheat is true of other crops in the great
Snake river valley, extending from st. Anthony to Hunt
ington, not only on dry farms but on irrigated farms: Ac-
tual results in dollars and cents for 1915 are not available
but the bullying bank deposits in every town tell the story
Of this wonderful sections growing wealth in crops. This
is ~strikingly illustrated at Twin Falls, surrounded by a
section that was in s~agebrush a decade ago. Money COM
menced to pour into the banks there as soon as the first
crops were moved and deposits of over two million dollars
were shortly recorded and later increased.
That is the experience of every town in the Snake river
valley.
1t used to be said by miners and prospectors in their
deathless search hi in the hills and gulches that gold is ev-
unlikely places. The Idaho dry farmers have met with sue
cess in places that were most u%npromising and today, in
vast stretches that until recently were considered unpro-
ductive, and unhabitable, from the foothills that skirt the
Tetons down three hundred miles of the Snake, are pros
porous, highly productive farming communities.
Hilsides Teen With Life
Immense success has been attained on the benches be-
tween American Falls and st. Anthony in the cultivation
Of land lying above the irrigation canals. Great tracts last
year YIELDED an average Of fifty bushels Of wheat to the
acre The initial successes we're followed by a rush for this
heretofore neglected land until now every hillside that
t sssasr .' shs ,X upper reaches Of the Snake and its tributaries
Gradually the grain fields are being extended back into
ZEE si9s eng os so %s9 ~. places heavy crops are obtained at an
Tortyrfive thousand bushels represented the yield from
one farm alone last year in what Is generally known as the
t tdaso Eau Esls ssssao James .sa :, Webster rs ssa harvested that crop
The average production Of the small farms in that great
territory from dry land is around two thousand bushels.
otI ! : = s J; 4 = ThN ~ fsra h 1870 ~. = ~ : m ~ y hsrs