218 



FORESTRY AND IRRIGATION 



May 



on top, 125 feet on the bottom, and the 

 capacity of the reservoir will be 190,000 

 acre feet. The north- side canal will 

 have a length of 20 miles and the south 

 side 40 miles. The estimated cost of 

 this section is $1,200,000. 



Section number two is a diversion from 

 the Boise River. The works consist of a 

 dam 10 feet high, 400 feet long on top, 

 and 400 feet on the bottom, constructed 

 of concrete, steel, and timber. The ca- 

 pacity of the reservoir is 150,000 feet. 

 Two diversion canals, one on each side of 

 the river, will have a combined length of 

 135 miles and a bottom width varying 

 from 45 to 90 feet. The estimated cost 

 of the Boise section is $2,000,000, and 

 the estimated cost of the entire project is 

 $3,200,000. The actual area to be bene- 

 fited by both sections is estimated at 

 372,000 acres. 



No other section of the United States 

 presents a more attractive field for the 

 reclamation engineers than is found in 

 these valleys. The lands lie at an eleva- 

 tion of 2, 100 to 2,800 feet, the climate is 

 the very best found in the arid region, 

 the winters being moderate and the ther- 

 mometer rarely reaching zero, and free- 

 dom from wind and an unusual number 

 of bright, sunshiny days mark the win- 

 ter months. The summers are long and 

 warm, and with irrigation promote the 

 most rapid vegetable growth. The soil 

 is rich, productive, and adapted to all 

 the fruits and cereals of the temperate 

 zone. All deciduous fruits and berries 

 produce abundantly, and apples and 

 prunes especially are shipped in quanti- 

 ties to eastern markets, where they bring 

 the highest prices. With a sufficient 

 water supply there is no uncertainty as 

 to the productiveness or adaptability of 

 this region to intensive farming. Culti- 

 vated lands on every side similar in na- 

 ture are ample evidence of their value. 



Since the government withdrawals 

 were made under this project more than 

 1 3,000 acres have been filed on under the 

 reclamation act by intending settlers. 

 More than 100,000 acres of public land 

 and 60,000 acres of state land are em- 

 braced in this area. There is every rea- 

 son to believe that as soon as the actual 

 construction has commenced every acre 

 of public land under this project will be 

 taken in a single season. 



An especially interesting feature in 

 connection with this great work is the 

 fact that its construction by the govern- 

 ment means not only a vast increase in 

 the cultivated area of this part of the 

 state, but also the final settlement of the 

 vexing questions and contentions now 

 arising in these valleys from an effort to 

 make a limited amount of water do 

 service on what is practically an un- 

 limited amount of land. It means the 

 passing of the promoter and ditch ma- 

 nipulator and the substitution of the 

 irrigator and business man. It means 

 that in a few years an advancement can 

 be made under this government work 

 that by the unaided efforts of the people 

 would never be possible. It means the 

 laying of the foundation for improved 

 agricultural conditions, for better trans- 

 portation facilities and industries of 

 every kind. Above all, it means homes 

 and living for a quarter of a million 

 people. 



Deep in the hearts of Idaho's moun- 

 tains the miner's pick is finding the 

 precious metals ; in her towering forests 

 the woodman's ax is felling her giant 

 timbers, and soon in her desert valleys, 

 smiled upon by the genial sunlight 

 nearly every day in the year, the 

 grasses will quiver, the golden harvests 

 will bend in the breezes, and orchards 

 will glow with ripening fruit. Of the 

 wealth deep bosomed in her tree-clad 

 mountains or sparkling in the sands of 

 her silvery streams much has been 

 written, but of the greater wealth which 

 lies in her valleys of inexhaustible fer- 

 tility much will yet be said. These 

 valleys, picturesque and beautiful, fer- 

 tile and healthful, offer ideal homes and 

 opportunities for winning comfort and 

 fortunes. 



The Secretary of the Interior tenta- 

 tively has approved the plans of the 

 irrigation engineers, and in compliance 

 with a request of the majority of land 

 owners of the Boise and Payette valleys, 

 has ordered a continuance of the surveys 

 and investigations with a view to setting 

 aside a sufficient sum for the completion 

 of this important work as soon as the 

 settlers perfect the necessary organiza- 

 tion to secure to the reclamation fund 

 the return of the money required for 

 the construction of the work. 



