Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1919-11-19
GEORGE HISLOP WRITES
Former Well known Residen Writes
Henry Meuser Interesting Letter
From Idaho
Leaving This Week for Portland
Oregon. Likes the Country in
Idaho Very Much, and Will
Possibly Locate There
Caldwell, Idaho,
Nov. 8, 1919

daughter Hazel and family on
Sunny Slope in the Beautiful
Roise Valley. This valley is about | +,
to Is miles wide, with the snow cali
ped mountains on one side and foot
hills on the other The Snake river
| reputed to be the seventh In size in
| the United States, runs nearly thru
the center of this valley. This coun-
try is comparatively new, the oldest
settlers having been here from 10 TO
IL years. Nothing would grow here
We're it not for the irrigation projects
two OF them. One of these projects
is governed by the U. S. government,
the other by the settlers, and is re-
claimed from sage brush deserts.
The main farming here is alfalfa,
potatoes, clover seed and all kinds
of fruit-apples, apricots, cherries
of all kinds, plums, prunes, pears,
peaches, ounces, berries of all
kinds, fancy grapes OF the different
varieties, some pecans and English
walnuts.
The farmers here tell of the Won
derful production of the soil, in fact
some of them realize from $500 70
$500 an acre on potatoes and the
acreage runs from one acre to 100
acres. Three or four crops of alfalfa
are taken off the fields each year,
averaging five tons to the acre. This
crop is sold to sheep ranchersi in the
stack for SIS ton at a ready sale.
Glover seed is also raised here to
! considerable extent which demand
good prices. Apple orchards are very
numerous, ranging in size from the
Home Orchard" up. In fact, in
autoing from here to Nampa yester-
day, Nov. Z, We passed a 400 acre
orchard of apples and cherries for
which there is good market
While there are few good sized
farms on which are raised cattle,
small grain of all kinds, corn, hogs,
sheep and poultry, an 80 acre farm
is considered big investment and
returns good results, so much so,
that prices range from 5000 to $500
per acre for improved farms, which
they claim pays 10 to 25 per cent on
the money from the different crops
| harvested.
The climate is another big asset,
to which 1 can subscribe Since
have been here it has been simply
fine, and in the winter time, am
told, the coolest weather hovers
around zero and that for only few
days. 1t is truly sunny cline since
have been here.
Wild game is found here, but the
most prevalent is the Chinese
pheasant, and every day you can
hear the reports of the shot guns on
every side of you from hunters OF
these beautiful birds.
Well Henry so much in brief for
this great country for which I might
write columns, and will drift on TO
/. o. o. f. interests, of which 1 finl
a live bunch of representatives.
hunted up the secretary of the lodge
at Caldwell and he invited me 10
/ inspect their lodge room, which I
found to be the most beautifully
equipped apartments for the differ
ent branches / have ever visited, and
have been in good many differ
/ ent ones throughout the country.
Although a young lodge It appears
very prosperous and wide-awake. I
have not attended lodge as yet,
living out in the country about 1
miles, but l hope to, as / have had
/ a very cordial request to do SO. This
! lodge occupies all the upper story
of the building and has in it a
beautiful large library room, carpet
ed and frescoed, waiting room, ante
rooms, kitchen, labratory, all finish
ed in the most up-to-date stuff. III
fact everything is as it should be.
/ herewith enclose you a letter and
souvenir which will further explain.
Having so many friends back in
dear old DEBORAH to which it is i'm
possible to write individually | VIII
ask you to convey to them my
greetings and well wishes.
I~expect to leave this country for
Portland, Oregon, in about week
and when you answer it tell me al
the news you can about my dear old
home, DEBORAH.
Your staunch friend and brother,
GEO. HISLOP.
SAY, 41st Ave.
Portland, Oregon.
may return to this country ana
locate.