The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1919-08-04
UNIVERSITY OF IDAHO SAVES
FORMER SOLDIERS FROM GRAFT

power units impracticable. The sur
face soil in the Big Butte district,
in the main, is silt loan. With a
depth of three to four feet and suf-
flcieht rainfall this soil would be
very productive. On some of the
flats where surface snow water col
lects, light crops of hay are frequent
ly obtained from the native grasses
growing there. Hardpan is found
10 to IA inches below the surface on
the uplands and from 10 to 20 inches
on the flats. The growth of the native
vegetation indicates a very scant pre-
lclpitation. While it may be possible
n obtain good yields of wheat in the
Big Butte district during years when
the rain comes at opportune times,
nevertheless we feel that the average
annual precipitation of this district
IS not sufficient to maintain profit
able and stable dry farming agricul-
ture.
The lack of water for both stock
and domestic purposes is a most
serious obstacle to dry farming in
this district. Some settlers are now
hauling water as far as "a miles. On
| the south side of the Big Butte water
! is being hauled 10 and IL miles.
From the dsep wells that have al
ready been drilled it appears that
water is exceedingly difficult to OBJ
tain, some of the wells being 700 to
300 feet deep. Such wells cost sew
eral thousand dollars and water is
not always obtainable.
Your committee feels constrained
to call your attention to a few of the
many gross Misrepresentation made
thD L
ganda to obtain settlers for this dis
trict. 4 copy of the printed litera-
ture referred to is attached hereto.
of this sheet will be taken by number:
Question No. 4.-"What is the rain
fall? (Ans.) Is to 20 inches, U. s..
Govt. Record"
Your committee has been informed
by the U. S. Weather Bureau that
there is but one record of precipita-
tion for Butte county available. This
record is for Lost River, a station
or miles northwest of Arco. This
record covers a period of years and
shows an annual average precipita-
tion of 9.45 inches. The maximum and
minimum annual records during this
period were 1874 inches and GIG
inches respectively. The average
annual precipitation records that
should give some indication to the
precipitation of Butte county are as
follows: Mackay, 9.60 inches; Aber-
deen, 9.65 inches; American Falls,
1427 inches; Blackfoot, 1120 inches;
Lost River, 9.25 inches; Martin, 1854
inches.
Question No. 5:-"How is the rain
fall distributed ?" (Ans.) ga large
portion during the growing season."
The answer to No.5 is particularly
for the bulk of the pre-
cipitation comes during the late fall,
winter and early spring.
Question No. 10:-"Can you get a
crop every year?" (Ans.) eyes, if
summer fallow method is used.'
This is clearly misrepresentation
for two years are required to produce
a crop by the summer fallow method,
the land lying idle as fallow one sea-
son and producing a crop the next
season.
Question No. lie what is the
average yield of wheat (Ans.)
Fifteen or twenty bushels"
Fifteen to twenty bushels is a good
average for the best farms in the
most favored localities. 1t is unfair
% lead unsuspecting people to be-
ieve they can obtain such yields in
ocalities now being settled"
Question No. 43:-"What per cent.
,an be plowed?" (Ans.) Average
70 per cent"
Our investigation leads US to be-
ieve that not over so per cent. of the
and being settled can be plowed. This
evidence is based on examination of
he claims that have been taken. 1t
S reasonable to assume that the set
Ter and locators will select the best
and first.
Much has been said to these set
lers to lead them to believe that the
and when decided will have sale
Lble value for pasture purposes OF
1000 per acre. Until water is pro-
ided such statements are absurd for
took can only go about eight miles
rom the watering places to pasture.
In view of the many abandoned
ry farms of former homesteaders IN
arious parts of Butte and adjoining
ounties and in view of the disad-
antages set forth in this report
our committee is convinced that dry
arming in the districts under con-
Iteration is a hazardous undertaking
nd should not be encouraged.
Respectfully submitted.
&. B. HITCHCOCK,
Soil Specialist.
BYRON HUNTER,
of Farm Management
Bureau.
L. C. AICHER,
uperintendent of Sub-station at
Aberdeen, Idaho.
Auto Runs Amuck.
Yesterday while motoring toward
le Moscow mountains, six miles
ortheast of Moscow, an automobile
riven by M. L. Romig was overturn-
/, by defective steering gear, and
Ie occupants thrown out. No one was
,riously hurt. only bruises resulting
r. and Mrs. NJ l.. Romig, Mrs.
omig's mother, Mrs. Curtis, and O.
Williamson were in the car.
After the car was again started 1t
IN into wire fence and the farm
s in that locality are telling how
r. Williamson was so excited he ran