THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



307 



Kuhn control. The Kuhns merely acted as fiscal 

 agents in placing bonds on the work. All the land 

 has been sold and the money being paid in by the 

 purchasing settlers is being used to liquidate the bonds 

 issued by the construction company. 



Title to the land itself is taken under the Carey 

 Act direct from the state at the rate of 50 cents an 

 acre, one-half of which, or 25 cents, is payable at time 

 of entry. No entry can be made, however, on land 

 which is not susceptible of being irrigated. Per- 

 petual right to the water costs from $35 to $60 an 

 acre, the latter being the prevailing price on the South 

 Side tract. Payments are strung out over a period of 

 from ten to twelve years. The first payment is usually 

 at the rate of $3.25 an acre (including 25 cents an 

 acre to the state). This makes the first payment on a 

 40-acre tract $130, with $1 extra for recording the 

 contract. 



As the crops raised are phenomenally large, and 



In the vicinity of Twin Falls there are 15,000 acres in 

 orchards, principally apples, this section rivalling the 

 famous Hood river valley of Oregon in the perfection 

 of size and flavor of this fruit. 



A large proportion of the settlers come from the 

 East and the Middle West, farmers, mechanics and 

 professional men of intelligence and worth. The en- 

 tire Twin Falls country shows the advantages of se- 

 curing this class of people. Not only is the country 

 well farmed, but many thriving towns and cities have 

 sprung up. Chief among these is the city of Twin 

 Falls, a place of from 8,000 to 10,000 inhabitants. 

 When one looks at the well laid-out city with its hand- 

 some buildings, attractive homes, and busy mercantile 

 center, it is hard to believe that a short seven years 

 ago this was a wild sagebrush plain. The erection 

 of a rude frame shack to serve as a real estate office 

 was then considered an audacious proceeding, and 

 doubts were expressed as to the sanity of the men 



Flume 300 Feet Long, 64 Foot Span and 44 Feet High Erected Near For syth, Montana, for the Yellowstone Irrigation District by the Klauer Man- 

 ufacturing Co., Dubuque, Iowa. 



there is little or no expense for clearing the ground 

 beyond removing the sage brush, many settlers find 

 that the income derived from the land is sufficient to 

 meet their living expenses and more than pay the 

 annual installments. Alfalfa, all kinds of hay grasses, 

 vegetables and fruits grow in profusion. To attempt 

 to give well-authenticated money yields would sound 

 like the yarn of a Munchausen. A net income of $100 

 an acre is well within the truth. ' There are instances, 

 supported by affidavits, in which the net yield has 

 run from $500 to $1,000 an acre, but these are ex- 

 ceptional and secured only by extra care and highly 

 intelligent cultivation. While hay, grain and vege- 

 tables are all profitable, fruit is the great money maker. 



who were so reckless. Today the building of a $25,000 

 structure occasions no particular comment. Twin 

 Falls must be seen to be appreciated. 



There are few places in this country where more 

 attention is paid to the social, educational, and re- 

 ligious needs of the people. Nearly every known re- 

 ligious denomination is represented and well housed, 

 there are unusually handsome public schools and 

 county buildings, and a number of up-to-date clubs 

 and hotels. Three schools cost $250,000, the county 

 building $150,000, and thousands of dollars have been 

 expended on roads and similar public utilities. There 

 are three modern hotels. These are the Perrine, the 

 Rcgerson. and Tustamere Inn. Male club life centers 



