Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1919-03-02
Recommendation Program Has
Fertile Field in Gem State
Declare Those Who Have
Studied Resources.
5000, 900 ACRES Of LAND
r Reclaimed II viii support
From Z to Is People to the
Acre Contains Thousands
Of Miles.

The great Snake river basin, II the
lands contained therein gre reclaimed,
can support population Of 100000
people This is the claim of those
Idahoans who have studied its re-
sources. They base the estimate ON
the fact that eastern states with the
same area as contained in the valley
of the Snake. which have an inferior
soil from productive standpoint, sup
. port that population.
Since there has been inaugurated
plans to reclaim lands in the various
states, including Idaho, that they may
be used as future homes for soldiers
and sailors who entered the service OF
their country during the late war,
careful study has been given to the
resources of Idaho with the result that
some startling facts have been brought
to light. Idaho is said to offer greater
advantages from a land reclamation
standpoint than any other state, as
sert those In touch with and who have
taken occasion to review its possibiii-
ties.
COMPARISONS MADE.
i, They bring out the fact that there
are 100000 acres of land in what is
commonly known as the Snake river
basin, or an area equal to nine eastern
states. 1t Is about five times the area
Of Switzerland, wherein over 100000
people live from the products of 1,700,-
600 acres of cultivated lands, less than
one third the present cultivated area
of Idaho. 1t is 20 per cent larger
than the irrigated area of Egypt,
where more than II ,000, 900 people live.
The dry farm area of the Snake river
basin will. it Is claimed, be fully equal
to the states irrigated area. In addi-
ton there are contained within its
borders thousands of square miles Of
timber. millions of acres Of pasture
land and great mineral tonnage which
has not been estimated either as to
quantity or value. This area can sup
port from to Is people to the acre.
WORKING WITH GOVERNMENT.
The resources of the state of Idaho
are being called to the attention Of
Franklin K. Lane, secretary of the in
terror, who is familiar with them. It
is pointed out that data has hecn and
Is being gathered for the purpose of
plIClGS lhS ldClS pcIOTe HHuo Gl
the interior department, who Is WORK
ing out the governments reconstruct
ton plans.
A number of conferences have been
held in the state for the purpose of
presenting Idaho's claims notably
among which was the one at Pocatello,
which was attended by number Of
prominent business men of Boise. The
Idaho Reclamation association was
perfected at that meeting.
The present legislature. 1t Is pointed
out has passed the land settlement act
carrying an appropriation Of 100000,
so that the state can work hand in
hand with the federal government.
This act has the Endorsement of the
interior department. II is uniform in
all states, and a compstnfon TO the
$100,000,000 appropriation bill pending
In congress for the reclamation of
arid. stump and swamp lands, so that
they may be turned into productive
areas for soldiers and sailors who took
up the battles of their country. Part
of this appropriation will be allotted
to Idaho. 1t Is said that the amount
will on the showing this state can
make to the government departments.
have its administration in charge.