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writer offered his services at reduced rates, and an executive committee consisting of yourselves was selected to raise funds and make arrange. ments for the survey. The sparse population of the county responded liberally for new settlers, and the survey was made as complete as the limited means at disposal would permit. The result exceeded all anticipation. It is the general opinion of persons well acquainted with the country that by making the canal heading at Gibson's Ferry, about 30 miles above the American Falls, that an elevation of from 200 to 250 feet can be obtained above the river at the American Falls. Should this, however, prove to be not the case, places can be found all the way up Snake River that would make good headings and raise the elevation at American Falls. This would be no detriment in other respects, for the canal would run through a country just as feasible and cover much more good land. It is well known from inspection of Government reports, etc., that if the canal could not head at Gibson's Ferry it would not be necessary to go very far above that point.

The following facts were ascertained by this survey, viz: That if heading be made at Gibson's Ferry the length to West Cottonwood will be about 200 miles, to cover Salmon River Valley, about 250 miles. That by diverting the waters of Snake River at a point high enough up the stream to attain an elevation of 230 feet above the American Falls, at a point opposite that place, no great obstructions will be encountered on that route from the point of diversion to all places of intended use; the canal would run over a comparatively level country, through deep soil, admitting the use of the most improved excavating machinery on the largest scale. There would be but very little danger from slides, a very small amount of side hill or rock work; but very few hills of over five degrees slope are encountered, and rocks are found in loose washes and are not large. All cuts and gulches near such places were closely observed, and percentage, even of loose rock, will be small. This route would also run high enough to head the large gulches, thereby reducing the cost of flumes and aqueducts to a minimum, although it crosses a drainage system. The stream crossings are everywhere favorable; neither high nor long aqueducts will be required for this purpose. The seepage and evaporation would not be excessive after the first year. The Colorado estimate of duty for water is good here. Between Marsh Lake and Raft River is found a large block belonging to a class of lands hereinafter described. Here could be constructed a number of large storage reservoirs, in which sufficent water could be impounded to irrigate at least 300,000 acres of land. This at comparatively small expense. We are informed that similar blocks exist in Salmon River and Bruneau Valleys. The season of irrigation only lasting about 100 days, the canal could be used to fill such places during the rest of the year. By so doing a much smaller canal would auswer all purposes. The said blocks are not included in the amounts of good available lands, mentioned at different places in this report. The proposed route, for the most part, follows the base of the mountains to West Cottonwood, leaving out that portion of Raft River Valley above the bridge post-office. Further on will leave out the southern portion of Salmon River Valley. Any available route will run almost entirely across unoccupied Government land. A right of way across the Fort Hall Indian reservation could be easily acquired. More than 1,000,000 acres of good land will be covered in Rock Creek, Raft River, Marsh Creek, Goose Creek, Salmon River, and other valleys, and in all probability the canal could be extended to cover a vast area of good land in Owyhee County and eastern Oregon. By means of flumes and

aqueducts water could be carried on the north side of the river from this canal to irrigate, it is thought, as much land as will be covered on the south side. Numerous placer mines, which can not now be profitably worked, would also demand an enormous quantity of water for at least fifty years to come. Probably no other large district in the world. offers better natural facilities for the development of gigantic systems of irrigation. Snake River, heading on the main continental divide, is at its flood during the season of irrigation. The banks and bottom afford many good sites for the construction of dams, all necessary timber and stone can readily be obtained, and the construction of this canal and other works will develop unlimited water power. In Snake River Valley, on both sides of the river, but particularly on the north side, are found large sections of broken country not included in any estimate of good land, in which are numerous lake like depressions, some of them many miles in extent and of considerable depth. It is the opinion of the writer that a careful reconnoissance of the north side would show that three-fourths of that great section could be reclaimed, that many favorable reservoir sites would be found in which large quantities of water could be impounded by dams of moderate dimensions. Large and deep perennial lakes are found through that region now.

Regarding canals, stream crossings along the base of the Sawtooth Mountains are not so favorable as those already mentioned on the south side of the great valley, and routes through the valley would present much greater difficulties than the route just surveyed, but the territory to be reclaimed is an empire in extent and resources.

East of a line drawn north and south, through Salmon Falls, the valleys of Snake River contain at least 10,000,000 acres of good land. The su all streams are at their flood during the early part of the irrigation season, when a large amount of water runs to waste; a day's flow at flood amounts to more than a month's flow in average time. This waste could be stored, and as the time for retention would be short the amount of evaporation would be small. In the cañons are found many large bodies of flat or marshy land with narrow outlets that could be utilized in this way. By means of a properly constructed system of canals and storage reservoirs nearly the whole of Snake River Valley could be reclaimed. With outlying mining districts this would furnish homes for more than 1,000,000 of people. The population of the Territory within a generation can not fall short of 3,000,000 of people. As we have already remarked the supply of water in Snake River alone above the American Falls is sufficient to reclaim all of this vast area. Below the American Falls are many tributaries; among these are East and West Rock Creeks, Raft River, Marsh Creek, Goose Creek, Cottonwood, Salmon River, Bruneau River, Owyhee River, Lost River, Little and Big Wood Rivers, with many smaller streams. The builders of canals and reservoirs for purposes of irrigation should be aided by subsidies from the United States Treasury, for in importance this industry must rank full as high as the matter of river and harbor improvements, for which vast sums of money have been appropriated from the public treasury. The amount of subsidy could be divided proportionately and added to the price per acre, thus it would return to its original source through the proper channels. Subsidies of land should not be made, the soil should be held for the homes of the people. None of this land belongs to railroads or is claimed by them. There are no alternate sections in the hands of syndicates, none of it is in the open market to be purchased by speculators, but all of it is offered to actual settlers under the beneficent land laws of the United States, except the sections re

served for the maintenance of public schools. In regard for the prob able demand for land, turn to the records of settlement in other States and Territories. In Colorado during the years 1881, 1882, 1883, and 1884, canals were constructed aggregating the flow of over 15,000 cubic feet of water per second, or over 750,000 inches of water under a 4-inch pressure; during the said four years the total demand for public land reached the enormous aggregate of 2,085,141.80 acres. The State records and ratings of the Cache la Poudre River for the years 1885-'86 are said to furnish the most trustworthy data for estimating the duty of water yet available in that State. From a table showing duty of water from the Cache la Poudre River, in district No. 3 for 1886, we find that an average flow of 1,040.4 cubic feet per second during the irrigation season was sufficient for 125,000 acres of land. The numerous placer mines which can not now be profitably worked would also demand an enormous quantity of water in the aggregate for at least fifty years to come. Central to the great upper mountain district is a depression between the main Rocky Mountain divide on the east and the Blue Mountains of Oregon on the west; the Owyhee and Goose Creek ranges on the south, and the Sawtooth Mountains on the north. Lying as it does in the heart of this vast region, no portion is more favored than the county of Cassia. To assist in the development of its manifold resources was the main object of this survey.

CLIMATE OF IDAHO.

Meteorological data obtained from the U. S. Signal Office at Boisé City, Idaho, for the eleven years ending December 31, 1887: Mean monthly temperature, 500.5; mean monthly rain-fall, 1.12 inches; mean hourly velocity of wind, 4.3 miles.

The lowest temperature in the history of the station was 270.8, on January 16, 1888. At this time the signal officer regularly walked from his office to his residence and back without an overcoat, and he noticed many other men on the streets without overcoats. Such habits are very possible in the exceptionally fine climate of Idaho. This occurred dur ing the twenty days when a thousand persons froze to death between. the Rocky Mountains and the Mississippi River. Rarely ever does the temperature fall to zero. This highly oxygenated atmosphere is specially adapted to the cure of catarrh, consumption, and many diseases in which a cure depends upon a purification of the blood.

At this date, October 9, there has been no frost. The most tender vines and flowers are as vigorous and fresh as in spring.

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IDAHO ALTITUDES.

Elevations of prominent towns, lakes, and valleys of Idaho, as ascertained by Professor Hayden and other explorers.

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Supreme court meets at Boisé City on the second Monday in January.
United States business at Lewiston, Boisé City, and Blackfoot.

First judicial district (Hon. John Lee Logan, justice).-Kootenai County, at Rathdrum, April 2 and September 3. Idaho County, at Mount Idaho, April 16 and September 19. Nez Perces County, at Lewiston, April 26 aud November 1. Shoshone County, at Murray, June 14 and December 14.

Second judicial district (Hon. Hugh W. Weir, chief justice).-Ada County, Boisé City, March 19 and September 10. Alturas County, at Hailey, May 15 and October 23. Boisé County, at Idaho City, May 1 and October 9. Owyhee County, at Silver City, June 26. Washington County, at Weiser City, April 17 and December 4.

Third judicial district (Hon. Charles H. Berry, justice).-Custer County, at Challis, April 3 and September 4. Lemhi County, at Salmon City, April 16 and September 17. Oneida County, at Malad City, May 1 and November 12. Cassia County, at Albion, May 15. Bingham County, at Blackfoot, June 4 and October 1. Bear Lake County, at Paris, July 9.

RECOMMENDATIONS.

I very respectfully offer the following suggestions to the Department: That all Indians be given their land in severalty, and the balance of the reservations in Idaho be opened to settlement.

That the people of the Territories shall be given the privilege and right of voting in the election of President and Vice-President of the United States.

That Boisé Barracks be increased from a two-company to a four-company post.

That the Territory have the right to lease the school and university lands and apply the money thus derived to the support of the common schools.

That the United States penitentiary be enlarged and improved, or

turned over to the Territory upon such conditions as may be just and equitable.

That the mail facilities of Idaho be increased and new routes established to meet the growing necessities of our new frontier settlements. That all crimes committed by Indians on the reservations be tried in the United States courts, and sentenced to the United States penitentiary, and the expenses paid out of the United States Treasury.

CONCLUSION.

In conclusion, I have the honor to say that I have not been able to give several localities of Idaho a fair showing in this report. Several of the county assessors, who are required by law to furnish data and statistics, have neglected and refused to give me any information or assistance, but I have spared neither time nor expense in endeavoring, by personal observation, and the best information possible, to make this report reliable and useful.

I extend the thanks of this department to those gentlemen and friends in every county who have so generously helped me in collecting the data and statistics for this report.

Respectfully submitted.

EDWARD A. STEVENSON,

Governor.

Secretary of the Interior, Washington, D. C.

Hon. Wм. F. VILAS,

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