The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-10-07
Reclaim Arid
Areas of West

reclamation projects prOper-grOSs re-
turns Of vegetable products-were
about S79,OOO,OOO.
"The Salt River valley In Arizona
illustrates well the results of irriga-
ton development. based on the federal
work. The Salt river project Is In
Maricopa county, surrounding the city
of Phoenix, capital of Arizona. Ac-
cording to the census data and other
reliable statistics, about the time the
reclamation act became law the
population Of Phoenix was approx
mately 5000 and that of Maricopa
county $1,000. while the taxable value
of property In the county was $1,000
600.
'In 1920. the population Of Phoenix
had reached $4,000. that OF Maricopa
county $4,000, while the taxable value
of property in the county was close
to $1O0,0OO,OO0, or more than ten times
what 1t was when the reclamation
act was passed. These results are at
tributable mainly to irrigation devel-
opment by the United States. In ma
turc. that country was distinctly arid,
with rainfall wholly insufficient for
any cultivation.
"rhe main staple product five or ten
years ago was alfalfa, coupled with
dairying. Though there were many
gardens and some fruits raised and
other industries and good deal OF
grain. but the most important staple
was alfalfa and dairying.
"A few years ago the success OF
for that region. That bringing very
high prices large areas OF alfalfa were
pl0ughed up. the cattle were sold, and
the people went extensively into the
raising of long staple cotton. That
| was very profitable up to 1919 and was
one of the principal reasons why tile
| product that year was so high.
an 1920 about $4,000 acres were
| planted to long staple cotton. but the
| market failed and very little of that
| cotton has yet been marketed. al
| though il was picked six months ago.
| 1t has potential value, but leaves the
people In rather straitened circum-
market at the present time. and many
of them are going back to alfalfa and
| dairying The difficulty is TO get
| high-grade cattle, which they had be-
| fore In marked degree. but gradu-
ally they are getting back into the
more stable industry. Almost any
| agricultural industry down there is
| profitable"
| Frank w. Robinson. railroad
official, reports improvements in Idaho
which he thinks are typical of the
whole irrigation section.
Increase in Wealth.
I'm Latah county, In 1900" he said.
1.-THE assessed value of property was
Sc. 500 600: In 1910. So0,Ooo.Oo0. and in
! 1890. sS4.oO0.0o0. The increase In the
wealth of Twin Falls county in the
| last ten-year period was about 200 per
cent while in Latah county in the
| 20 per cent. The number of acres of
] improved land and i'm farms only
/ not including waste lands and lands
not under cultivation-in the Twin
Falls county section In 1910 WAS ap-
proximaiely 100000 acres. and In 1920
! 10000 acres. while In Latah county
1 IN 1900 there were $4,000 acres in
farms: In 1910. 213,oo0 acres: and in
| 1000. 223 900 acres. indicating that In
the last ten-year period 10000
acres of this non-irrigated section had
/ been placed under cultivation. willie
IN the Twin Falls section 10000 acres
had been placed under cultivation.
I'm 1919 the total value Of all crops
/ raised In the Twin Falls section on
| 100 200 acres was SOS. 5ai COZ. while In
Latah county. on $4,000 acres the
total value Of all crops was Si3,525y 900.
These people who have taken up
i these irrigated lands are the most
aggressive and best type Of home
maker and citizen In the United
States. They spend their money for q
large amount Of manufactured things.
! the comforts Of home, and they afford
the best market per capita for manu-
| featured Eastern goods. One Illus
tration typical of that. and typical OF