Idaho

a Rocky Mountain state of the American Union. To those traveling westward Idaho is the first state beyond the Rockies. Although presenting an irregular appearance on the map, the boundaries of the state may be drawn readily. The northern boundary is the 49th parallel, the southern boundary the 42nd. The western boundary is the 117th meridian, save that, in the center, the line follows the Snake River for 200 miles or more. The eastern boundary begins at the southeastern corner with the 111th meridian and ends at the British boundary on the 116th meridian. Across the interval between these meridians, the line follows the highest summits of the Rocky and the Bitter Root mountain ranges. Thus the southern part of the state occupies six meridian spaces, the northern extension but one. The general outline suggests a ham, trimmed square at the large end. The extreme lenght is 485 miles. The breadth varies from 50 to 300 miles. The area is 84,800 square miles, a little larger than Korea.

TOPOGRAPHY. Idaho is decidedly mountainous. The mean elevation is about 4,700 feet. The greatest elevations are in the northeast. They attain a height of 12,000 feet, and are capped with perpetual snow. The state is drained almost wholly by the Columbia River. The waters of the southern four-fifths of the state reach the Columbia through its largest tributary, the Snake. There are numerous cataracts. The Shoshone Falls are 210 feet in height. The soil of the southern part of the state is volcanic in origin. There is one lava desert in the valley of the Snake having an area of 20,000 square miles. There are many geysers, soda springs, and hot pools in this region. Geologists have found it rich in fossils of animals once supposed to be peculiar to other continents. The remains of the elephant, mastodon, tapir and huge lizard-like animals have been found here. In this particularly arid region, the streams formed by the melting snows of the mountains lose themselves in the sands not far from the mountain ranges. A part of their water finds its way to the Snake. Some day it will all be utilized for purposes of irrigation. The northern part of the state is covered with a dense growth of timber, consisting chiefly of pine, cedar, spruce, and hemlock. In this region, lumber is an important industry. The output is worth about $1,000,000 a year. The northern extension is noted for beautiful lakes. Kaniksu, Pend d'Oreille and Coeur d'Alene are deep, clear lakes, well stocked with fish, and are unsurpassed for scenery.

CLIMATE AND PRODUCTIONS. The climate of Idaho is much milder than that of corresponding latitudes on the Atlantic coast. Rainfall is abundant in the north. Mining is the chief industry. There are rich deposits of gold, silver, copper, lead, iron, coal, and salt. The Coeur d'Alene mines produce a third of the lead supply of the United States.

AGRICULTURE. Agriculture is gaining in importance. There are vast areas in the southern part of the state suitable for agricultural purposes in all respects save that of water. In the valleys, among and near the mountains, rainfall is abundant. Other districts require irrigation. Idaho has over 1,500,000 acres of land cultivated by irrigation; over 3,000,000 acres of farm lands lying under canal systems; over 10,000 miles of irrigation canals built at a cost of approximately $21,000,000. It has 200,000 acres under plow in the irrigated district, and about 100,000 acres under plow, not irrigated and located in the northern part of the state or Panhandle. Hay is the most important crop. Several crops a year are taken from the land. It brings high prices. Several million bushels of wheat and other cereals are produced.

Idaho is assuming importance as a fruit producing state. Apples and plums are shipped from the irrigated districts to the eastern markets. The dairy and stock interests are increasing. Idaho ranks third in the Union in its production of wool. In 1905 its wool clip reached 15,000,000 pounds. Both sheep and cattle live the year around on the ranges without artificial protection and without hay in winter. The natural grasses cure on the stem, making an excellent hay, which the stock gathers for itself. Four lines of the Great Northern and Northern Pacific railroads cross the northern part of the state. The Oregon Shortline follows the Snake River from east to west.

EARLY HISTORY. Idaho was explored in 1805 by Lewis and Clark. In 1842 Father de Smet, a Jesuit missionary, established a mission at Coeur d'Alene. In 1882 gold was discovered at the mission and immigration set in. In 1883 the territory of Idaho was organized. It then included Montana and part of Wyoming. Idaho was admitted to the Union in 1890. It has two senators, one representative, and three electoral votes. There are twenty-three counties. Many names have been imported from the East by settlers. Many are local. Such racy county and town names as Kootenai, Coeur d'Alene, Shoshone, Nez Perces, Boise, Canon, Bear, Blackfoot, Buffalo Hump, Salmon, Basalt, Lost River, Shotgun, and Teton are full of suggestion. The population returned by the census of 1900 was 161,772. The next census will show two or three times that number. There are about 5,000 Indians, living on reservations.

A state system of education has been established, including common schools, high schools, two normal schools, and a state university at Moscow. Women as well as men vote. The capital and largest city of the state is Boise. It enjoys the distinction of being heated by hot water obtained from an artesian well and distributed by means of pipes. At a depth of 1,500 feet or over water is obtained at a temperature of 220 deg. F., 12 deg. above boiling.

STATISTICS. The following statistics are the latest to be had from trustworthy sources: