Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 7.pdf/291

Rh what they see, of what the State has to offer in soil and mineral wealth and scenery and climate, and for the benefit of such I will make a few statements. Though classed as an arid State, Idaho is by far the best watered of the arid States and one of the best watered in the Union. It is the only State, with the possible exception of Washington, which has a river of the magnitude of the Snake flowing 1,000 miles within its own territories. This river has numerous large and important tributaries all available for irrigation. Idaho has the greatest natural water power of any State in the Union, and this time we will not except Washington nor even New York, which has the American Falls of Niagara. Hundreds of thousands of horse power are being developed on the cataracts of the Snake, and thousands more can be developed on the Salmon. One hundred thousand horse power at one cataract, the Augur Falls, and above and below a dozen other falls of greater or less dimensions. Like the rays of a spider's web, electric wires will radiate from the Snake River Valley, carrying the imprisoned energy of the Snake River over hill and dale, propelling trolley cars, lighting distant cities and homes, and turning the wheels of industry in our own and neighboring States.

And now I will make a statement that to the people of Salem may sound like heresy. The Snake River Valley is larger and will support a greater population than the Valley of the Willamette. It is nearly 500 miles long and from two to 40 miles in width. It is being rapidly reduced by irrigation to a high state of cultivation. Over 1,000,000 acres are now in process of reclamation. Think what this means in a country where 40 acres is as much land as one family can properly take care of. If you would have an object lesson of the boundless possibilities of American enterprise, visit Twin Falls, where a town