Show A IEEHMTION TALK Observations of a Salt Laker in Idaho The Groat Nanipi Canal System Arid Wastes Being Reclaimed Flowering Orchards Soon Everywhere While mining as an industry has suspended sus-pended and business is generally depressed de-pressed in sympathy the work of reclaiming reclaim-ing and developing the vast areas of agricultural lands of the Snake and Boise river valleys continues unabated remarked re-marked a prominent railroad man who last evening returned from an extended trip through the I great northwest as he was pleased to term southern and western west-ern Idaho Irrigation is becoming a science the broadest sense continued the gentle man Not only in the application of the water to crons are scientific principles resorted to and followed closely but in the securing of water either by gravity or force and In its distribution by either or both methods while the economical side of it all is quite as perfectly solved 1 The great Nampa canal system which has done so much to reclaim the rich valleys val-leys and the mesa lands adjacent to them are being extended in every direction and singular as it mJght seem during these hard times many families from eastern I east-ern states are coming into the country and putting in both energy and capital toward the end of building homes and they are succeeding most admirably To those who have not visited that section for the past year or two a great surprise is in store and a most agreeable one too The sage brush mesa lands relieved of their monotony only by the little spots of green willows along the Boise river md smaller streams have been transformed into fields of alfalfa and small grain among which are comfortable houses and barns surrounded by young orchards and other indications of comfort and prosperity The big herds of cattle have been taken to the hills or further north to make room for the farmer and his highbred high-bred stock which are stabled and fed as in the east and all in all the transformation transforma-tion is complete The same conditions confronts one in many other localities The Elmore county canals in the vicinity of Mountain Home east of Nampa and the Caldwell county west are the most advanced perhaps of any of the newer localities but little spots where ever the waters from mountain streams or from springs may be utilized the same development the same pastoral scenes are noted So far artesian water has not become much of a factor in irrigation in southern Idaho but results obtained by the Oregon snore LIne peopie in securing water at several places for use in their engines and their continued efforts to supplant tho old methods of obtaining water may have I salutary effect for i is asserted and upon good authority that artesian water may be secured at almost any point along the Snake River valley and the smaller valleys leading to it I artesian water can be secured In that part of the state as readily as some well informed people affect to believe Idaho will soon become one of the foremost of western states statesI is surprising the number of orchards orch-ards them are in that county all new of course but many oi them very large Prunes seem to be the favorite fruit among the orchardists but with good reason they assert as it is universally claimed there that no other country will produce such excellent prunes or so large yields Other fruits are abundant especially berries and they are as line of flavor as they are perfect in appearance which is perfection itself No insects have yet appeared to trouble the fruit there yet and it is claimed by those who have had experience in fruit growing in similar climates that none need trouble ther fruit i proper precautions are taken Idaho is all right |