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Show Agriculture and Livestock; Foundations of Great Wealth Post Card Picture, A Field of Oats in the Parowan Agriculture Is Main Industry in Iron County Notwithstanding its vast deposits of iron, from which it derives its name, and its great livestock interests which bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars annually, still the cultivation of the soil and the production of agricultural crops has from the beginning, been a basic industry in Iron county. Large fertile valleys of deep soil, big areas of which are underlaid with subterranean waters, crystal streams flowing from the canyons, and a climate which in ordinary seasons approaches the ideal, are the chief contributing factors to this industry. Generally speaking, there are three big valleys in the county, the Parowan or the valley of the Little Salt Lake, the Cedar and Escalante,, each of which are mentioned herewith. PAROWAN VALLEY BY W. W. MITCHELL, Editor, Parowan Times The Parowan valley, sometimes referred to as the valley of the Little Salt Lake because it contains one of the remnants of old Lake Bonneville, located in the East end of the county, miles long with is about twenty-si- x an average width of about six miles, though it is much wider than that in the middle and narrower at each end. It has a variety of soils, from bench land down to a lake shore formation, which makes it admirably adapted for a variety of crops. For many years the. three mountain streams which flow into it at Parowan, Paragonah and Summit were depended upon as the only means of irrigation, and as a result only a small area was brought under cultivation. But in comparatively recent years, artesian water has been developed until now there is a larger area being irrigated from that source than from the canyon streams, and every indication is that that area will continue to grow. Moreover it is being demonstrated that large areas can be made product- A ive with little or no irrigation. large area of the valley is proven alfalfa seed territroy which requires irrigation only to start the alfalfa and then it produces year after year, profitable yields of good quality seed without irrigation. Some fields have been producing for ten or twelve years without a drop of water being applied by irrigation. On our bench lands along the South and East of the valley, corn, rye, Sudan grass and even potatoes have been produced in sufficient quantities with no irriga- tion to demonstrate the possibilities. Through the heart of the valley there is a proven area of about four or five by twenty miles in which pump wells can be developed at a nominal cost, and new farms are constantly being made in this area. Vast areas of it are still in its virgin state, however, and though practically all of it is privately owned, much of it can be purchased at a cost which makes it profitable to develop. Because of inadequate facilities in the past for marketing the crops of the section other than through livestock, only the common forage and grain crops, alfalfa, wheat,tooats and any apbarley have been produced preciable extent, and with the advent of better transportation facilities we of water annually for the valley. Investigations of the feasibility of this project are not completed yet. Underground Water Until very recently, underground water as a source of water for irrigation has not been considered very promising, doe altogether to the imperfect investigations conducted along that line. However, there are now a few pump wells in the valley that hold out a real promise in this line. The Dixie Power company now has lines in some parts of the valley and is ready to extend them when the demand justifies it. Their rates are very reasonable, the flat rate of $5.00 per II. P. per month for a five month irrigation season being equivalent to less than one cent per kilowatt hour when the farmer installs an pumping plant that can be operated continuously. Under these rates the cost of pumping including interest on investment, depreciation, repairs and attendance, and power of will be around $1.50 per acre-fowater lifted twenty feet, or $1.90 per acre-foof water lifted forty feet. One acre foot of water will give two h or three four-inc- h irrigations to an acre of land. If four or six applications are made each year the cost for a twenty-folift should be about $3.00 per acre and for a forty-folift about $4.00 per acre. These figures are based on an average plant of wat:r, and pumping a second-fooperating 25 days each month for five months. te Valley' havent overcome the habit of devot- ing practically all our energy to the production of these crops, all of which are consumed locally and marketed through our livestock. It has been demonstrated repeatedly, however, that small fruits, berries, apples, apricots, plums, peaches, and a variety of vegetables of a quality not surpassed anywhere can be produced and it is not too much to predict that with the growing market on the west coast, fruit growing and truck gardening will some day be important industries in this valley. That more hasnt already been done in this direction is due largely to the fact that the production of livestock has offered a more attractive and heretofore more profitable means of gaining a livelihood. The inhabtants of three communi-- i tics, Parowan, Paragonah and Summit, with a combined population of less than three thousand are struggling to develop this valley, but to dat? they have hardly scratched the surface of is vast resources. Properly developed it should provide happiness and contentment for at least eight or ten thousand people. ot ot six-inc- ot ot ot CROPS be built to hold water for late season growth. Navajo Lake, a major project, is under consideration with an idea of adding ten thousand acre feet regarding the resources of this part of the state. . ESCALANTE VALLEY By WILLIAM W. BUTLER, Realtor, Cedar City. Member Los Angeles Realty, Salt Lake City, Utah State Boards.- Layfayette Hanchett said something when he said, Remember! every acre of your sage brush land in Iron county has $40 worth of fertilizer on it, put there by God Almighty." Thats the reason we grow big crops the first year out of the sage brush. The Union Pacific officials determined that the first move for them to make, before advertising extensively the Escalante valley, was to have the soil analyzed as to fertility. Also to determine if alkaline salts were present in the soil in quantities detrimental to successful agriculture. They investigated as to the fact of underlying pure water for irrigation in sufficient quantity, at shallow i depth. in Experts agriculture, state officials, leading chemical and irrigation engineers all gave favorable reports as to conditions and potential future in the production of potatoes, all kinds of grains, garden truck and products from diversified farming generally. Especially was it emphasized that alfalfa raised for seed will probably be one of the main crops as the valley is developed. This on account of posibilities. So. through of the agricultural experts of the Union Pacific, state officials, land merchants and forward-lookin- g men in this community, the Escalante valley, espcial-l- y near Beryl, is beginning to take on the appearance of progress. New comers have built homes, put down wells for irrigation, cleared and leveled their lands, fenced, built roads and generally moved forward toward their goal of agricultural production upon a paying basis. 'This progress has gone on steadily for the past three years. The Escalante valley comprises approximately 300,000 acres of land, with an estimated watershed of 7,000 square miles. It is one of the last virgin empires of the state of Utah, where water conditions, climate and fertile soil, entice the home seeker. Lying in the western end of Iron and Beaver counties, it is traversed by the main line of the Union Pacific system, between Salt Lake City and Los A Class of Ewes Shown at One of the Annual Rambouillet Shows at Parowan County Is Noted for Its Rambouillet Sheep BY P. A. CLARK About twenty-seve- n years ago the first registered Rambouillet sheep to come into Iron county, were brought into Parowan. Sheepmen, almost at once recog-lizein this breed, the qualities that were needed to adapt their flocks to range and climatic conditions of this section. d, well defined lines of breeding back of them, to place at the heads of their flocks. During the years that they were developing their breeding stock, they visited the best flocks in America and selected stud rams, for which they paid extremely high at the national sales were purchased by our breeders. These rams were brought to Iron county, where they were mated with our largest and best ewes, carefully selected, for quality, density and length of fleece. of these matings and The the results from this careful and painstaking breeding was a wonderful Rambouillet sheep. Reared in our ideal climate, fed upon the nutritious, bone producing forage, - and ranged upon our mountain ranges at an altitude of from seven to ten thousand feet above sea level, the result was a new and bigger Rambouillet sheep, a marvel, even to the old producers of the breed. It was natural that the fame of these bigger and better sheep should spread and ever spread to wider and more distant zones. This it did, and today Iron county Rambouillets are becoming well and favorably known, in practically every sheep producing section of the United States, as well as in several foreign nations. Our breeders are now selling, as buying, many of the highest priced rams and sheep sold, at our state and national sales. off-spri- Alfalfa. A survey several year-- ' ago disclosed that nearly 80 per cent of the land under Coal Creek was From that time to the present, with planted to alfalfa. This almost tells few exceptions, pure bred Rama its own story. Agriculture is a cobouillet sires have been used on the operative enterprise with livestock. flocks owned by the Parowan sheepWinter feeding of cattle and sheep men. furnishes the ready market for the The splendid results obtained here hay. soon attracted the attention of sheepGeneral farming is likewise beginmen in nearby settlements and they, ning to join hands with dairy farmThe too, adopted the Rambouillets. ing, another means of marketing hay result is that the flocks of range and grain. sheep of Iron county now shear an The yield of alfalfa varies to some average of ten and a quarter pounds extent, an estimated average places CEDAR VALLEY per head, as against an average of it at three tons per acres. Yields as les3 than seven pounds per head, beBY ARTHUR FIFE, Civil Engineer, high as eight tons per acre per year fore the introduction of the Rambouilrecorded. are Prices State Water Commissioner on authoratively let. range from $8.00 to $15.00 per ton, Coal Creek. Many of the breeders, in Parowan. depending on the supply. Cedar valley runs North and South Alfalfa Seed. Each year sees more have specialized in the production of through the part of Iron interest in alfalfa seed growing. It flock headers and foundation stock. county, extending into Washington is a problem on which each farmer is They spared no expense in securing county a few miles at Dry Creek. It working to determine just what part the. best of individuals, with strong, is bordered on the East by the of his farm should be growing seed. Cedar and Summit mountains The most ideal conditions call for a and on the West by the Pine Valley, clay loam soil and subsoil with the Harmony, and Iron Springs mount water table from ten to fifteen feet ains. The valley is about thirty miles below the ground surface. Capillarity long and from three to eight miles supplies the plant roots with sufwide. It extends from Dry Creek on ficient water from below to insure the South to Rush Lake on the North. a regular but not a vigorous growth There are better than one hundred which condition is best for seed deand fifty sguare miles or one, hun- velopment. A light surface irrigation dred thousand acres of real valley early in the summer is well worth the land. effort. It is estimated that 1000 acres Angeles. The soil of this valley is mostly of This area is divided into three of land are used for alfalfa seed at The average yield per acre a sandy loam, containing a high perclasses; irrigated land, twenty-tw- o present. thousand acres; cultivated but not ir- is about 5 bushels. Yields on indi- centage of marl so necessary to soil Chemically the soils are rigated, three thousand seven hun- vidual fields run as high as 12 or 13 fertility. dred acres. The remainder or about bushels per acre. extremely rich, and with limited ex75 per cent of the whole area still Registered and certified seed prom- ceptions should prove very productremains in the native condition and ises to be an important part of the ive. The large sage covering much is used for grazing only. alfalfa seed raising in the future. Al- of the Escalante valley is the source The irrigated area is supplied with ready many acres are ready to be or of the humus found at present in water from the following streams: have been planted to registered or the soil. In isolated spots alkali is found, but with nothing but traces Upper Ash Creek, Harmony Creek, pure line seed. Potatoes. Potato raising has been over most of the great valley, soil Dry Creek, Kanarra Creek and Walt Hunter Creek which furnish water for sadly neglected because of the demand conditions are gratifying to the inA Group of Good Ones Produced on a Parowan Valley Farm. approximately five thousand acres, for forage crops. There is a real op- vestigator. Shirtz Creek which irrigates two portunity for the potato farmer if Water available for thousand acres; Quitchopa Creek, and he carefully selects a sandy loam soil through is a condition only The proper condition of the air will spin into the mountains and get upon Enoch Springs which reach two thou- and procures a regular water supply. recognizedpumping sure as more acreage goes a trout stream within a few hours within the past few years. be more sand acres; Coal Creek which covers Now that the railroad is here this This is the fact that in, as evaporation becomes greater from the Escalante valley. A lastfor responsible acres. thousand of thirteen conan area type of farming should receive cultivation has not been under way as irrigation expands over larger ing appeal is always made to the culThe dry farm or siderable attention. Southern Cali- long ago, as the unusual through the natural beaufertility of areas. tivated lands are located mostly in fornia is a very permanent market the soil has long been known. ties of this part of the state, where Employ scientific methods, stick to the Quitchopa, Kanarra, Harmony, for a standard product. hunting, fishing and all and Dry Creek districts. Also alfalfa Grain. Of all the grains, possibly is Lying in the Great Basin which it, and one is justified in looking up- camping, attractions are easily access-abl- e surrounded mountain on the by Escalante high seed is being produced farther north corn will be the most important from valley and alfalfa from the the surholds Escalante valley. seed valley production therein, as offering in the valley without the application the standpoint of production in the ranges water from hundreds of miles of better opportunity and return Good roads are prevalent in Iron than of water. future. There are two reasons for plus No surface could be looked for from other crops county and Escalante territory. The native brush land is found scat- this; little waer in addition to the mountainous valley. The flows to the ocean and esti- raised in any state in the Union, in- Union Pacific railroad tered the full length of the valley in natural precipitation is needed to ma- water have gives every enmates been given showing good vestment work and .attention, requir- couragement to the agriculturist in those places where it has not under- ture a crop and it will be an importwater for a area. Meth- ed, taken into consideration. conIron, rates and general service. gone the metamorphic change of be- ant part of dairy farming and hog ods of supply and large wells in Beaver, and Millard counties, Utah, fidently expect much of theThey sinking equipping A 32 bushels of produce ing cleared and cultivated. yield raising. per The soil of this valley is remark- acre of wheat can be procured with the valley show room for much im- are predicted as the location from going over their road from states provement, and when it is considered which most of the seed of the nation north and east to Los Angeles market, To the aid of one irrigation. able for its depth and fertility. what poor methods, with few excep- will come within the immediate fu- to soon be consigned from the Escathe irrigated areas the water from Dry Farming tions, have been thus far used, it is ture, with quality second to none. lante valley. Potatoes now going the mountain streams carries natural Small grains and especially wheat remarkable what success has been atwhich the elements through from Idaho, can be raised in keep Climatic fertilizing conditions in Escalante With better methods and this soil built up to a very high yielding are grown very successfully in the tained. which four valley distinct embody seasons. makes valley. Transportation1 farm districts mentioned pre- equipment much is looked for. The The communities, is unsurpassed capacity. There are alfalfa field.i dry summers are not excessively lift is near scientific when average Beryl probably warm as from the Escalante valley to 'the producing heavily that have not been viously, might be supposed. Being markets of the world. or planted to anything else methods are strictly complied with. twenty feet. 5000 feet above sea level with July This valley is classed as a reser- and since they wrere first broken up fifRATE OF EXPANSION The Great Southwest has made as August rains, results in moderaty years ago. The amount or perThe U. S. Irrigation census of 1902 voir valley with waters for irriga- tion of temperature. About one hun- much progress in five years as the tion obtained almost is at in land the alkali or throughout dred and thirty valley centage gave the irrigated area on Coal Creek days in the middle west has made in fifty. This almost negligible. pumping depth of from season gives onegrowing as a little less than three thousand agricultural an idea of the not means a movement to the back counseven to eighteen feet, not adding the g Water Supply summer. The quick matur- try, where good land can yet be had acres. This figure is a little low but The much repeated remark that the total at that time was consider- draw down, in Beryl and Nada dis- ity of crops in this valley is explained cheap. Where the dirt farmer has (Depth of pumping water in by the fact that our sunshine con- a chance because of real water, not land, is the limiting factor ably under four thousand acres. This trict. land cheap other of the parts valley approximate tains more violet rays than elsewhere that will yet in our agricultural development is shows an expansion of about four respond to work and 40 to 50 feet.) in the United States. Ira Jones, in- application. Where very significant Coal Creek discharg- hundred per cent, the largest part the investor has Based in been done what has upon es from twenty thousand to seventy of which has taken place since 1915. ternationally known scientist, is re- a chance to make a good margin on thousand feet annually. The dis- Expansion has been made on all the the Escalante valley, it is confidently sponsible for this explanation of our his investment, because of rock botcharges from other streams are in other streams in the valley but pos- predicted that the day is not far dis- quick growing crops. Summer nights tom prices on agricultural land that proportion to the acreage irrigated. sibly not to such a marked extent as tant when crops such as wheat, corn, always call for a blanket for comfort. will surely enhance due to the law A large percentage of the water on Coal Creek. barley, rye, potatoes, sugar beets, The fall is typical Indian summei of supply and demand. reaches the valley during a few weeks As is the case in any new agricul- vegetables and small fruits will thrive and the days usually In urging into our in April, May and June. However, tural section local capital is soon to the point where they will be ship- extend far into .October and Novem. to outside such markets quan-ber. The winters are not excessively country we wish to have investors in the deep and fertile soil is particu- worked to the limit and new capital ped and settlers talk to our agricultural larly adapted to absorb a generous is needed. For several years outside tities as will result very profitably cold, just peppy, although the valley so conveniently at hand at experts, to artd to the the is is farmer, water the the time visited indirectly with some severe snow supply during capital has played quite a part in the Branch Agricultural College at plentiful and retain much of it for transforming the sage brush land in- business institutions in Iron county. storms and zero weather. The snow Cedar City. We invite them to conAlfalfa seed is recognized as one and cold soon disappear, however, beto cultivated fields. Interest in this late season growth. sult the leading men in our banks An increased water supply and an direction is increasing. Especially is crop that should be much worked to- fore our wonderful sunshine. A y thaw may always be looked for, and business institutions. increased efficiency in its application this noticable in the districts suitable ward with possibility of unusual reAll advantages are to be had are the two methods open for pro- for alfalfa seed production. turn. In this valley there is much which usually enables several weeks by nounced future development. GradThe new capital is not of much good land where the water table is plowing to be done in January and the Escalante valley farmer. Let him imare ten the of benefit until it goes beyond the point an average feet beneath the February. irrigation companies ually jump into the old jit and in an hour proving the irrigation canals and of purchase and puts the land - into a ground surface. No where in AmeriThe climate, all in all, is healthful he finds culture, music, theatre, enstructures with a view of increasing productive state. More real dirt ca is found more perfect conditions and education, all to be had People on ,tha shady tertainment, the efficiency of the distributing sys- farmers are needed. The safest plan for success in this crop than here. side pleasant. in larger towns. of life benereceive invariably is a tem. There very pronounced to avoid future misunderstanding is The production of the alfalfa seed fit from this climate, and there is no The chambers of commerce will move on the part of irrigators to for prospective purchasers to care- crop is limited to a small area in the humidity, but on the con- show one hospitality. They have comeliminate waste as much as possible fully investigate all phases of the dis- United States. It requires dry sum- depressing trary one gets up in the morning mittees who will give their best judgin the application of the water to the trict before buying. It will always mer months within which to mature. fully pepped up for the days work. . ment relative to land values and waland. The knowledge of the intrinsic be a good investment for buyers, even Deep rich soil containing a limited Their aim is to be Life is worth while here, and the ter conditions. value of water and the adoption of of small parcels, to make careful amount of salts is necessary. Subof service and protection to the newbusiness economy in the use of the personal inspection in order to select irrigation at about ten feet with con- Escalante valley is a good place to comer. They want him to make good water will be the future pressure what they want at a price which is stant movement of underground wa- grow up with the country. and will help if given half a chance. which will demand efficient use of the reasonable. ter to insure drainage, is essential. One may find his recreation and Dont water. The Cedar City Chamber of Com- A certain amount of wind and cool rest among the scenic wonders of land confine your inquiries to the seller only. Look around and A few small storage reservoirs may merce invites inquiries of any nature mountain breezes insure pollenization. Southern Utah, near at hand. He may take time. east-centr- al Ka-narr- a. irrigation non-irrigat- new-com- er va-vati- on dry-far- m over-lon- semi-summ- er new-come- rs , . Jan-uar- " Courtesy Zion Studio One of the services of the Branch to Agricultural College has renderedthat Southern Utah has been to prove for underground water may be hadabove The Cedar Valley. in irrigation well flows a second foot of water and will Irrigate over a hundred acres of land. prices. Many of the highest priced rams sold your l |