Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-09-21
reclaim Arid
Areas of West

reclamation projects proper-gross re-
turns az vegetable products-were
about S7aO0O.OOO.
THE Salt River valley In Arizona
illustrates well the results OF irrica-
ton development. based on the federal
work. The salt river project Is IN
Maricopa county. surrounding the city
III Phoenix. capital Of Arizona. Ac-
cordlng 10 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 $4,000. while the taxable value
OF property In the county was $1,000
600.
in 1920. the population OF Phoenix
had reached 29.OOO. that Of Maricopa
county 5000. while the taxable value
II property In the county was close
% SlO0000O00. or more than ten times
what Il was when the reclamation
act was passed. These results are at
tributable mainly 10 irrigation devel-
opment by the United States. In ma
ture. that country was distinctly arid.
with rainfall wholly insufficient for
any cultivation.
'The 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 a good deal OF
H. So
was alfalfa and dairying.
"a few years ago the success OF
long staple cotton was demonstrated
Tor that region. That bringing very
high prices large areas or alfalfa were
ploughed up. the cattle were sold, and
the people went extensively into the
raising az long staple cotton. That
was very profitable mp 20 1919 and was
one Of the principal reasons why the
product that year was so high.
~In 1920 about $4,000 acres were
planted 90 long staple cotton. but the
market failed and very little Of that
cotton has yet been marketed, al
though II was picked six months ago.
II has potential value, but leaves the
people In rather straitened circum-
STAGES. because Of the lack or
market az the present time. and many
OF them are going back 90 alfalfa and
dairying. The difficulty Is 20 get
hIgh-grade cattle. which they had be-
fore I'm n 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. n railroad
official. reports Improvements in Idaho
which he thinks are typical Of the
whole irrigation section.
Increase in Wealth.
an I.atah county. In 1900" he said,
athe assessed value az property was
Sc 10000: In 1910. s20OOo.O00 and In
1920. Ss40o0oO0. The Increase in the
wealth u Twin Falls county In the
last ten-year period was about 200 per
cent while I'm Latah county in the
20 per cent. The number Of acres OF
improved land and IN farms only
not including waste lands and lands
NOT under cultiyntion-in the Twin
Fails county section in 1910 was ap-
proximately 100000 acres. and I'm 1870
10000 acres while in Latah county
IN 1900 there were $4,000 acres In
farms: In 1910. 213.Oo0 acres; and In
1890. %. 600 acres. indicating that in
the last ten-year period 1000
acres Of this non-irrigated section had
been placed under cultivation. while
IN the Twin Falls section 10000 acres
had been placed under cultivation.
in 1919 the total value OF all crops
raised I'm the Twin Falls section on
10000 acres was SOS. 591. 692. while in
Latah county. on 223.0O0 acres the
total value Of all crops was Sl3.525,OoO
These people who have taken up
these irrigated lands are the most
aggressive and best type Of home
maker and citizen in the United
States. They spend their money for
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