THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



227 



dary of the state is one continual range of mountains, 

 many of the peaks rising above the perpetual snow line; 

 the mountain scenery in this section not being surpassed 

 in any country of the world. 



12,078 feet. The atmosphere in all parts of the state is 

 generally dry. In the higher altitudes of the mountain 

 region the winters are long and the snow falls very 

 heavily, reaching from 7 to 10 feet, on the level, in 



Band of Thoroughbreds, Rexford, Idaho. 



This section of Idaho is a natural sanitorium. Any- 

 one spending a year or two in these mountains will re- 

 ceive lasting physical and mental benefit. 



Of the agricultural lands, 6,000,000 acres are in the 

 humid belt of the northern districts of the state, lying 

 along streams and in great sections of open prairie 

 country where agriculture is 

 carried on without the aid of 

 irrigation. Nez Perce and 

 Camas Prairie and Palouse 

 country are the greatest wheat 

 sections of the state. 



About 5,000,000 acres lies 

 in the irrigated belt of the 

 southern district of the state, 

 which is embraced within the 

 great Snake River valley and 

 its tributaries. The superb cli- 

 mate of Idaho is one of its 

 chief attractions. The varying 

 altitude that obtains through- 

 out the state, provides almost 

 any temperature that may be 

 desired. Commencing with an 

 altitude of about 757 feet, at 

 Lewiston, on the west border, 

 the elevation gradually rises to 

 the east and reaches a height 

 of 10,000 feet at the crest of 

 the mountain range on the 

 eastern border of the state. The 

 average elevation of Idaho is 

 about 4,500 feet. The eleva- 

 tion of the agricultural dis- 

 tricts in the humid belt, in the 



north, is about 2,500 feet, and that of the irrigated sec- 

 tion of southwestern Idaho is about 2,400 feet. The eleva- 

 tion of the irrigated land along Snake river is about 

 3,800 feet. The highest point within the state is Hynd- 

 man peak, in Elaine county, which reaches a height of 



many places. On the plains of the southern district the 

 winters are like those of the central states, while in the' 

 valleys the temperature is very mild and the snowfall 

 light. The thermometer seldom reaches the zero mark 

 in the valleys, and when it does it is an uncommon 

 thing for it to stay cold for more than thirty-six hours. 



Al Page, Orchard, on Twin Falls Tract, Idaho. Three Years Old. 



There are hot periods, during July and August, lasting 

 'three or four days at a time, when the mercury will 

 reach the 100 degree mark, but the atmosphere is so 

 dry that the heat does not become oppressive. 

 (Continued on page 259.) 



