Here the true importance ot agriculture and forestry is 

 ijreatlv diminished, because ot the marked fluctuations in 

 enplovment in these two fields, the slack season falling in 

 March in both cases. 



Agriculture 



In terms of employment, farming is the principal indus- 

 try in northern Idaho. The 2.1 million acres ot cultivated 

 and other improved land and natural grass land shown in 

 table 1 does not represent the full acreage utilized by 

 farmers, since a large area of forest land is used tor grazing 

 ot livestock. The estimate ot March 1940, showing only 

 10,300 persons engaged in tarm work, is considered un- 

 reliable because of having been made in a slack season. 

 The doubt is supported by the fact that the 1929 census 

 indicated more agricultural workers — 12,700 in fact — 

 and tewer tarms. 



The first permanent settlers in this region were prospec- 

 tive tarmers, establishing themselves in the 1860's and 

 1870's on the fertile prairie land extending into northern 

 Idaho from eastern Washington and Oregon. When the 

 settlement ot these rich lands, lying principally in Latah, 

 Nez Perce, Lewis, and Idaho Counties, reached the satura- 

 tion point, farming spread, mostly after 1900, into the 

 cut-over forest lands (fig. 6) to the east and north. The 

 agriculture of these cleared farms is predominantly 

 diversified, in contrast to a heavy concentration on 

 grain and peas on the prairie tarms. 



In 1880 there were some 400 tarms in northern Idaho, as 

 compared to 9,000 in 1930 and 10,500 in 1940. The 

 heavy influx of farmers between 1930 and 1940 came 

 chiefly from the drought-stricken regions east ot the 

 Rocky Mountains. This recent expansion has drawn 

 attention to a problem directly concerning the torester. 

 In certain instances hwid clearing creates a liability rather 

 than an asset, since some ot the land which has been and is 

 being laboriously divested of trees and stumps is unfit 

 tor agriculture. 



The development ot cheaper and quicker land clearing 

 through the use of the bulldozer (a blade-pushing tractor) 

 for stump pulling has undoubtedly increased the area 

 which it is feasible to develop for farming. So also has 

 the present trend of government aid in land clearing. 

 However, agricultural technicians state there is probably 

 very little good land outside of present tarms which is 

 available for new farm development.^ No estimates 

 appear to have been made on the proportion of the present 

 farm population that can be permanently supported on a 

 satisfactory level at farming. This depends on the possi- 

 bilities of part-time agriculture and other factors which 

 are difficult to evaluate. 



It is perfectly clear, however, that some of the areas now 

 being farmed are definitely unsuited for agriculture and 

 that, from a social as well as a forestry angle, it is desirable 

 to determine these areas as quickly as possible and turn 

 them back to their proper use. 



Mining 



Mining in northern Idaho is virtually conterminous 

 with the Coeur d'Alene mining district. Occupying a com- 

 paratively small area in the vicinity ot Kellogg, Mullan, 

 and Wallace, this district is one ot the principal producers 

 ot nonterrous metals in the United States. It leads the 

 Nation in silver production and ranks high in the produc- 

 tion ot lead and zinc. The development of the mines here 

 began early in the 1880's and ever since mining has been 

 a stable industry. It dipped sharply during the depression 

 years but has since returned to its previous level. With 

 northern Idaho suffering from the effects of a declining 

 lumber industry, this recovery has been most fortunate. 

 In 1937 the value of the silver, lead, zinc, gold, and copper 

 produced in northern Idaho was approximately $34,- 

 000,000. In each of the years 1938 and 1939 it amounted 

 to $24,000,000. If all of the mining operations in other 

 parts ot northern Idaho are included, approximately 5,600 

 persons were employed in this industry at the time of the 

 1940 census. 



United States Bureau of Agricultural Economics, cut-over 

 i.and of northern idaho. migration and settlement on the 

 Pacific Coast Rpt. 5, 34 pp., illus. 1941. [Processed.] 



UUHITE PinE 

 LUmBER PRODUCTIOn. 1938 



NORTHERN ROCKY 



MTNS. (3.1) 



IDAHO 



(2.9) 



NEW ENGLAND (2 



4) 



1 ,,,J 



LAKE STATES (II) 



NORTHERN PACIFIC (.9) 



ALL OTHER (.5) 



I 2 3 



HUNDRED MILLION BOARD FEET 



Figure 7. — Norlhern Idaho is the principal source of white pine lumber 

 in the United States. 



