Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1920-01-04
Agricultural Resources Devel-
oped on Large Scale During
Last Twelve Months Through
Good Irrigation.
MANY NEW PROJECTS
Fine Highways and Roads Con-
meet Prominent Towns, Cit
les and Farms in the Gem
District.
BY FRANK E. TRoTTER.


second largest county in the state has
enjoyed her full share Of prosperity
during the year of 1919. Although she
has a great record in the production OF
minerals and livestock, it is only dur
ing the past six years that her agri-
cultural resources have been devel-
oped on any large scale. During this
later period several new irrigation pro-
jects have been constructed and today
she ranks well with the other coun-
ties of the state in the production of
agricultural products.
In the extreme southeastern part OF
the county is the King Hill project.
which the government is completing
and which will furnish water for some
10000 acres of land. The soil and cli-
mate of that district is especially well
adapted to the growing of all kinds
of fruits and vegetables and the farm
ers have already gained wide repu-
tation for the early production Of mel
ons and potatoes. Coming north from
King Hill Is found the Indian Cove dis
trict which nestles on the banks of
the Snake river and is doing, it's part
in adding to the wealth of the county.
Next is the Bruneau district, which
has one of the very Oldest irrigation
systems in the state that furnishes
land. This locality is especially well
adapted to the growing Of grass seeds.
Twenty miles north from Bruneau is
the famous Grandview Irrigation dis
trict that covers about $4,000 acres of
land that is in a high state of cultiva-
ton and making wonderful record
in the production of alfalfa. There
are Several hundred acres of land un-
der cultivation in the Castle Creek
and Oreana sections that are provid-
ing homes and good incomes to their
owners but after leaving Grandview,
the next irrigation district of any great
importance is that on Murphy Flat,
where some 5000 acres of rich land is
being watered and is growing splendid
crops of alfalfa and grain.
From Murphy to Givens Springs and
on Reynolds Creek are to be found
many of the biggest and most pros
porous ranches, all of which add a
great sum each year to the wealth of
their owners and the county. In the
extreme northeastern part of the
county is the famous Gem irrigation
district which comprises some 10000
acres of the most productive land in
the west. 1t is in this district that the
greatest development has taken place
during the past few years. especially
during 1919, when her farmers pro-
duced over million and half dollars
worth Of crops.
BIG LAND SALE.
The Gem irrigation system was COM
pleted six years ago but the rapid de-
velopment of the district has been
greatly retarded on account Of over
one-third of the area of the district
being owned by the state of Idaho.
On Sept 23 the state held a land sale
,f dol Ia of yuI, ta1r fv,,n NC RI 200A
acres of Gem lands were sold to ac-
tual homebuilders at prices ranging
from $12 to 500 per acre for raw sage
brush lands and from $50 to 5000 per
acre for improved or partly improved
farms that had been improved under
lease. The sale was the largest ever
held in the state, not only In num-
Der of acres actually sold but in prices
received, and will net the state over a
half of million dollars over and above
the moneys that have been appropri-
ated in the past to pay the states
share of constructing and operating
the irrigation system. These lands
are famous for their heavy yields of
alfalfa and grain. One 65-acre alfalfa
field has averaged 10 tons of hay to
the acre for the past three years and as
high as ~ bushels of wheat per acre
has been produced. Being directly
tributary to good spring range, there
is q great demand for the hay raised
In the district and top prices are al
ways paid. The district has also made
some wonderful records in the produce
ton of potatoes and seeds.
LARGE FREIGHT SHIPMENTS.
Homedale is the shipping point for
the Gem district, large territory on
the Canyon county side of Snake river
and the Jordan Valley country. 1t is
served by the D. S. L. with a branch
line from Nyssa. This line Is the first
link of the proposed Nyssa- Bull cut
off, and when completed will give that
road a water grade between Hunting
ton and Minidoka, putting Homedale
on a mail line. During the year Of
1919 the following shipments were
made from Homedale: 700 cars of hay,
70 grain, nine wool, seven prunes, 20
apples, Is potatoes and over 400 cars
of livestock. During the same period
the following shipments were received:
75 cars Of lumber and building materi-
ais, rs of coal, $50 of livestock and Is
IMMIGRANT cars. No exact record is at
hand covering merchandise shipments
received but they were at least three
times greater than that received the
previous year. Two million. ono hum
dred and ninety-nine thousand pounds
OF freight was forwarded from mere 10
Jordan Valley, according to the rec
ords OF the forwarding company.
NEW IRRIGATION PROJECT.
The prospects are very bright for
the early construction Of the proposed
Succor Creek Irrigation project, which
will cover 1900 acres OF very desir-
able land adjacent to HomedAle. The
surveys and plans for condensation
have been completed and the directors
Of the district Win soon call for bond
election to raise money for building
the system. several large bond buyers
already have offered to buy the honda.
This will be gravity system ana VIII
be one Of the best Constructed ana
| cheapest operating Systems In the
state. All the lands under this pro3ect
- Hold ~ deod Or homestead. "
Ho0tlVvAYo AND DRl0o34
ovvSSo ceunfv vas among ~ 49,
|Gsst oeQn11aD - - state q 49, ~ ~
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