Jerome County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1919-1920, 1920-01-01
HARVESTING SNAKE RIVER
CONTINUED from LIS, Week.

CONTINUED from LIS, Week.
Large as the cost estimates are
the faint-hearted who are likely 10
predict failure should not forget that
in the Snake river valley today IFS
irrigated sections from the Wyoming
line to where Snake river forms the
boundary of eastern Oregon cre the
show places OF the Great American
Desert. The Minidoka and Twin Falls
projects, containing 448,0OO acres OF
/ irrigated land produced in 1918 Il
crop valued at S4O,00O,OOO, or an
average Of $50 per acre according TO
the state engineer The Boise and
Payette valleys are equally we'll
known for their abundant and yalu.
able crops. In the upper valleys
where the season is somewhat short
er, the crops are restricted to GER
eals, sugar beets, hardy vegetables
and forage crops for livestock. which
latter constitutes IN important and
profitable industry. The accumulated
data by careful investigation and
study furnish imGubitable evidence
that if the engineering works can
be constructed within the estimcte
Of 800 to 1925 per acre to furnish
a guaranteed water supply. the lands
/ benefited can easily bear the charge.
together with interest on payments
/ spread over term OF years
Geographically the Who'll. region is
Of extraordinary interest. In ages
gone the Snake river valley. which
is 400 miles long by 40 to 60 miles
wide, was an arm OF the sea which
slowly rose above its waters. It's
climate was semitropical, as evil
denced by the remains of prehistoric
animals Of warm regions. The valley
during period covering millions Of
years was the scene of series OF
tremendous volcanic eruptiOns, dur
ing which the mountains in the north,
east and south belched forth rivers of
molten lava which flowed out and
covered 1t hundreds Of feet deep. Not
less than twelve of these flows have
been definitely excellent quality. and
high percentage OF fore is largely
residual, that is, it is soil which is
composed OF decomposed rock which
has not moved from where it was
originally deposited. This rock is
known as Columbia river lava, OF
basalt, and it is overlain in many
places with volcanis ash borne by the
winds and distributed generally over
the lava plain. The combination oil
decomposed basalt and volcanic ash
furnishes an excellent type of sol
for the production of all varieties O.
crops which are climatically adapteC
to the region. The most valuabl,
crops are the seed crops in the grow
ing OF which the Snake river valle-
Is becoming famous. All the countr,
4 is familiar with the perfection. ex
4 cellent quality, and high percentag,
Z Of termination OF numerous seer
crops like red, white and alsike clov
ers, alfalfa, beans, peas, etc. all o
which command the highest price
In the large markets. The CROWN,
q OF these seed crops. though -requirin,
4 care and intelligence. is very profit
4 able, and gross yields OF from s2Ot
TO $500 per acre is not uncommon.
Popular conception of the Crea
1 American Desert has changed mater
Tally since the facts concerning III
subjugation have become more wide
ly known. This vast empire is nov
g generally recognized as an asse
: where once it was held as a liabiIitv
The marvellous development which
has taken place in numerous valley
in the arid west has sounded no,