| Show THE COUNTRY NEAR BLACKFOOT its advantages for settlement de eert bd BLACKFOOT BINGHAM CO idaho nov ath 1886 ed editor t D deseret news retes maies in liv ingon a farm about three miles southwest irom from blackfoot Black toot town tow u close to anade iziver river the land on this side of the river Is ia nearly all taken up lt it mostly consists of hay bay i ranches anches T the 0 other othel r side is being settled part of the land is very good of a light sandy loam with now and then a gravelly spot he land is mostly covered with a thick and tall sage or a rich growth crowth of rabbit brush the he country is 9 one large flat fiat of LEVEL TABLE LAND of about 20 miles att and 10 or 12 miles avers average e wid width wideha thA A few sloughs having thear their source in the river and carrying water all the year traverse this flat in a southwesterly direction from these sloughs water can easily be brought onto the land for irrigation feed is very scarce that is close to available arable land but there is an abundance af feed north of this flat on lava beds where are also rei red cedars in great abundance or southwest where lays an extended krass grass bottom the timber here is the only kind the country affords and that is the long leaved cottonwood on both banks of the river and the red cedar on the lavas the climate seems to be mild as far as an experience of two years could determine the wind generally blows from the southwest almost never from the north or east in my judgment it is a very favorable country for settlement if people could raise hay fast enough for keeping up work and animals the soil is superior to what I 1 have seen for the cultivation of potatoes and all kinds of roots I 1 have seen here the largest potatoes turnips carrots rutabagas etc I 1 ever saw I 1 of course the country has its cira drawbacks like every other new place water in wells is reached at a depth of from 16 to tobo 35 feet b but tit the ater A thus obtained I 1 is free from mineral aad a ad very soft we are 60 miles or more from a saw mill but the lumber it is very good there is another disadvantage which seems to me to be important the country is almost level with a very slight gradual fall towards the river consequently ditches have to be run man many miles before they reach the desired sired place then the water moves very slowly so it is also on the farm it takes a considerable time to irrigate a field but bat the land being a sandy loam loam we have this advantage that we irrigate here at longer intervals there is one thing that I 1 must here mention if any of tue the brethren SEEKING HOMES would like to come here let them do so only if they can get a few together and form some settlement of their they can live in peace and bring up their children childred properly they should do so the oppression here against any one that is on the them lords side is very severe t ignorance blaspheming and intemperance bordering on crime ore the order of the day the opposition to the saints is intense hitense and of the vilest character in society on the street corners in fact everywhere anti mormonism is fashionable we had an election last week well the saloons were all shut up but many were drunk anti mormonism h had a d its county ticket and was cheered by the liquor drinkers I 1 presume it lt carried the day I 1 would recommend the cori conniry on its natural merits but earnestly urge any and all saints desiring to settle here to come organized id in force and with toe ability to plant a peaceful god fearing law abiding thriving settlement I 1 will always be be glad to inform inquirers as well as I 1 lean can about the country if any ot the saints do come I 1 am ready to show them around and make them acquainted with the country I 1 am also willing to help as far as I 1 can any of my brethren in the commencement of their making homes WILLIAM M |
