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THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



Great Future for Shoshone, Idaho. 



Reclamation of Surrounding Lands Opens 

 Promising Outlook for Town. 



Shoshone is one of the pioneer villages of southern 

 Idaho. Its primitive resources were the machine shops of 

 the Oregon Short Line Railroad Company, and the patron- 

 age of the sheep and cattle men of Elaine and Lincoln 

 Counties. Under the sole influence of these enterprises 

 it acquired, in the early nineties, a population of over 1,000 

 persons. On the removal of the machine shops to Poca- 

 tello it was predicted by the pessimist that ten years in 

 the future would see the streets of the unfortunate village 

 filled with jack-rabbits and coyotes; but the optimist, hop- 

 ing, apparently against hope, that something would emerge 

 from the sage-brush deserts that would restore to the town 

 the prestige and support of which the removal of the shops 

 had deprived it, stayed with Shoshone. Subsequent to the 

 removal of the shops, it is true that for a number of years 

 the town suffered a period of retrogression; but at length 

 the dreams of the faithful were realized, though in a man- 

 ner wholly unanticipated, and so soon as the process of 

 reclaiming, under the government reclamation and the 

 Carey acts, the arid lands of Lincoln and neighboring 

 counties was begun, activity and progress were again in 

 evidence. Vacant houses became at a premium, building 

 was again resumed and land values increased rapidly, and 

 it is today more prosperous than ever before during its 

 entire past history. 



The business transacted here, as evidenced by the re- 

 ports of commercial travelers, and substantiated by the 

 volume of freight handled through the railroad company's 

 local agent, is greater than that of any other town in 

 Lincoln County, of which Shoshone is the capital. This 

 last mentioned fact should itself contribute much to the 

 future of Shoshone, as Lincoln County is unquestionably 

 destined to become one of the wealthiest and most densely 

 populated counties of southern Idaho. Including the Twin 

 Falls North Side, the Wood River and Alberta segrega- 

 tions of Carey act lands; the Minidoka government and the 

 proposed additional government projects, together with 

 the deeded farms and the new segregations of both the 

 Twin Falls North Side and the Idaho Irrigation Company, 

 this country will itself have a total area of not less than 

 650,000 acres of reclaimed spil. Shoshone is favorably 

 situated for a commercial center for these entire combined 

 tracts, and is already beginning to respond to the influence 

 of their reclamation, notwithstanding the fact that very 

 little of the land has yet been subjected to cultivation. 



Shoshone is also the junction of the Hailey branch and 

 the main line of the Oregon Short Line Railroad, and is, 

 hence, the gate city to the rich agricultural and mining 

 districts of Elaine and Custer Counties. It now has a per- 

 manent and steadily increasing population of over 1,200 

 persons, and some of the best and most substantial im- 

 provements of any town in southern Idaho. New build- 

 ings for both business and residence purposes are con- 

 stantly in course of construction; cement walks are laid 

 in almost every portion of the city; new additions' are be- 

 ing platted and placed on the market and readily taken 

 up, and every thing points to a continued and increased 

 growth. 



There are two national banks, with the promise of a 

 third one, which are rated among the most substantial in- 

 stitutions of the state; two first class hotels which are 

 taxed to their utmost capacity in their efforts to accom- 

 modate the public; three large lumber yards; a number of 



important mercantile establishments, and many other en- 

 terprises which go to make up a prosperous village. Its 

 two elegant schools, five churches, court house and other 

 public buildings will compare favorably with those of many 

 cities several times its size. 



While it cannot be definitely predicted whether or not 

 the railroad company will reinstate their shops at this 

 point, it is beginning to look very probable and is at least 

 a well known fact that more men are employed in and 

 about the round house and repair buildings than for many 

 years past. 



Shoshone is favored with both an abundant water sup- 

 ply and a good electric lighting system. Local parties are 

 contemplating establishing a brick yard and cement-block 

 factory, and it is quite certain that a flouring mill and 

 elevator and a steam laundry will be installed at this point 

 in the near future. With ,the opening of the Idaho Irri- 

 gation Company's new segregation, just east of town, in 

 the spring, it is anticipated that Shoshone will make a 

 marked and rapid growth, and that property values, which 

 are now reasonably low, will advance to a comparatively 

 high figure. While there are now many attractive resi- 

 dences in course of construction, it is almost impossible 

 to find a vacant office or dwelling house, and the public 

 schools are almost filled to overflowing, the attendance 

 being larger than ever before in the history of the village. 



While a stranger to the process of a boom, Shoshone 

 is making that steady and permanent growth and advance- 

 ment that must of necessity be the basis of all substantial 

 cities. 



Reclamation Service News 



The Secretary of the Interior has restored to entry 

 the following described lands which were withdrawn under 

 the first form in connection with the Shoshone irrigation 

 project. Wyoming-Montana: Montana Principal Meridian 

 Montana Townships 7 and 8 S., R. 25 E., all Sees. 25, 

 26, 27, 34, 35, 36. 1, 2, 3, 11, 12, 13 and 24; townships 7 and 

 8 S., R. 26 E., all Sees. 19 to 36 inclusive; 1 to 30 inclusive, 

 and 32 to 36 inclusive; township 7 S., R. 27 E., all Sees. 19 

 to 36 inclusive; township 8 S., R. 27 E., all; township 7 S., 

 R. 28 E., all Sees. 19, 30 and 31. 



The Secretary of the Interior has restored to the pub- 

 lic domain the following described lands which were with- 

 drawn from entry under the first form, in connection with 

 the Minidoka project, Idaho-Wyoming Township 45 N., 

 R. 114 W., Sees. 34 and 35. 



The Secretary of the Interior has withdrawn from 

 entry, under the second form of withdrawal, in connection 

 with the Rio Grande project, New Mexico, the following 

 lands: New Mexico Principal Meridian Township 26 S., 

 R. 2 E., all Sees. 1, 2 and 11; N. ^, N. V* S. W. %, N. W. 

 }4, S. E. ;4 and lots 1, 2. 3 and 4 of Sec. 12; township 26 

 S., R. 3 E., W. l /2 N. W. Y 4 , W. '/ 2 S. W. !4 Sec. 5; all 

 Sec. 6; N. ^ N. E. Y 4 , N. E. % N. W. % and lots 1, 2, 3, 

 4, 5 and 6 Sec. 7; lot 3, Sec. 8; township 29 S., R. 3 E., lots 

 1, 2 and 3. N. W. J4 N. W. y 4 , S. ^ N. W. ^ and S. # 

 Sec. 2; lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, S. YI S. W. J4 and S. W. % S. E. 

 Yi, Sec. 1; all fractional Sec. 12; township 29 S., R. 4 E., all 

 fractional Sees. 16, 17 and 18. 



The Secretary of the Interior has restored to entry 

 (Continued on Page 91.) 



SHOSHONE LAND COMPANY 



SHOSHONE. IDAHO 



Improved Irrigated Farms. Homesteads with Government Water Right. 



CAREY ACT RELINQUISHMENTS 



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