79 8 IDAHO 



Agriculture.^- In 1910 nearly one-tenth of the state's area was in farms (5,283,604 acres), 

 but hardly more than half the farm acreage (2,778,7^40 A.) was improved; this was 96.6% 

 more than in 1900. The average number of acres in a farm in 1910 was 171.5; in 1900, 

 183.4. In the decade the value of farm property increased from 67,271,202 to $305,317,185 

 (land, 8219,953,316; buildings, 25,112,509; implements and machinery, $10,476,051; and 

 domestic animals 349,775,309); the average value of each farm from $3,850 to $9,911, and 

 the average value of farms per acre from $11.07 to $41.63. More than half the farms (and 

 more than one-fourth the farm acreage) were irrigated in 1910; of the 1,430,848 acres irri- 

 gated: 628,102 were by co-operative concerns; 403,600 by individuals and partnerships; 

 162,418 by Carey Act "enterprises"; and 47,500 by the U. S. Reclamation Service. The 

 (Federal) Boise project was 52 % (excluding Boise river storage, 98 %) completed in Novem- 

 ber 1912, and was in 1911 irrigating 12 1,000 acres; and the Minidoka project, 90% completed, 

 irrigated in 1912 91,000 acres. In 1910 more than 90% of the alfalfa and nearly half the 

 wheat acreage was irrigated. In 1912 (preliminary estimates) the following crops were 

 reported: Indian corn, 394,000 bu.; wheat, 14,566,000 bu.; oats, 17,017,000 bu.; barley, 

 6,916,000 bu.; rye, 66,000 bu.; potatoes, 6,475,000 bu.; hay, 1,938,000 tons, and sugar beets, 

 206,367 tons. In 1909 (U. S. census) the value of vegetables other than potatoes was 

 81,007,667; of small fruits, $201,525 (strawberries, $92,904); of orchard fruits, $863,516 

 (apples, $610,504; plums and prunes, $132,804). On January i, 1912 there were 214,000 

 horses, 94,000 milch cows, 343,000 other neat cattle, 2,951,000 sheep and 212,000 swine. 



In 1911 agriculture was first taught systematically in the rural high schools of the state. 

 The federal department of agriculture in 1911 established an experiment farm at Aberdeen, 

 for the study of cereals in dry lands, in co-operation with the state experiment station. An 

 irrigation demonstration farm at Gooding has done much to teach economic use of water. 



Mineral Products. Total value, 1911, $17,588,340. The principal products were gold 

 and silver; of the former, 65,688 fine oz., valued at $1,357,900, and of silver 8,184,900 oz., 

 valued at $4,419,800, mostly from lead mines in the Coeur d' Alene and Gilmore regions. 

 The output of lead, in which the state ranked second in 191!, was 1 17,159 tons (136,278 tons, 

 on mine reports); of zinc, 3,180 tons; and of copper, 4,514,116 Ibs. (less than for any year 

 since 1904). Less salt was produced than in 1910. A little phosphate rock was found in 

 1911 in the S.E. part of the state. 



Manufactures. The total value of factory products for 1909 was $22,400,000, 155.4% 

 more than in 1904; the capital invested in manufacturing, $32,477,000, an increase of 235.2%; 

 the number of establishments, 725, and the number of persons engaged in manufacturing, 

 9,909. Lumber and timber products valued at $10,689,310 (240.2% more than in 1904) 

 made up 47.7 % of the total value, followed by flour and gristmill products, $2,479,719; cars 

 and general shop construction and repairs by steam railway companies, Si, 366,000, and print- 

 ing and publishing, $1,148,033. Boise had factory products valued at $1,660,497. 



Transportation. Railway mileage, January I, 1912, 2,550.88. 



Government. The legislature met in regular session from January 2 to March 4, 



191 1, and in special session January 11-3-1, 1912. It ratified the proposed i6th amend- 

 ment to the Federal Constitution January 20, 1911, and submitted several constitutional 

 amendments to popular vote at the 1912 general election. These include: one provid- 

 ing for the referendum (adopted, 43,658 to 13,490); one providing for the recall of state 

 officers, except judicial officers (adopted, 37,875 to 13,469); one for the initiative 

 (adopted, 38,918 to 15,195); one making the limit of state indebtedness for work on the 

 capitol $2,000,000 (adopted, 31,712 to 18,083); one permitting convicts to work outside 

 of prison grounds and on the other public works (adopted, 33,908 to 17,876), and one 

 providing for an appointed board of education (adopted, 33,045 to 14,796), in place of 

 the present ex-ojficio board. 



In 1911, four new counties were created; Bonneville from the N.E. part of Bingham 

 (county-seat, Idaho Falls); Clearwater from the N.E. part of Nez Perce (county-seat, 

 Orofino); Adams from the N. part of Washington (temporary county-seat. Council); 

 and Lewis from the central part of Nez Perce (temporary county-seat, Nez Perce). 



The legislature passed a law revising and enforcing that of 1909, declaring saloons in 

 prohibition districts common nuisances, the discovery of liquor on the premises to be printa 

 facie evidence of guilt. In 1912 four counties which had been "no-licence" for two years 

 voted for licence. Saloons, dance-halls, etc. arc not to be opened on Sunday. 



The legislature enacted a commission charter for cities of 2,500 or more if they adopt 

 the act at a special election. The charter provides for nomination by petition, for initiative 

 (on a 10 % petition), for referendum (on a 25 % petition) and for the recall of any local officer, 

 after he has been in office three months, at an election called by a 20% petition. The 

 charter may be abandoned after 6 years by a vote at a special election called by a petition 

 of 25 i, of the voters. Boise adopted the charter on February 23, 1912; in effect May 21, 



1912. I.ewiston has had a commission government since 1907. 



