The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1894-03-17

Nampa and Caldwell. Those towns, on
the sagsbrush plains and in the arid
belt where hundreds Of thousands of
dollars have been expended to secure
water supply, have both been mum
dated. Through the two towns runs,
what in Kansas would be called a
draw" is, a gulch supplying
drainage for that portion of the Snake
river plains lying between Nampa ard
Mountain Home. This is digni6ed
with the name OF Indian creek. For
the greater part Of the year it is dry,
but in the spring Of the year the melt
irg SHOWS and the rains make it a con-
siderable stream. On this stream, 90
miles east Of Nampa large reservoir
was built two years ago to store this
drainage for irrigation in the new settle
ment known as Orchard Farms. The
waters in this reservoir, when full, it is
said, cover an area two miles square to
an average depth Of fifty feet. The
reservoir, rapidly filling up, broke last
Wednesday. 1t came down the twenty
miles to Nampa and on to Caldwell with |
mad rush. At Nampa the stream
runs on the north side of the railroad,
and the railroad embank me Mt saved the
business portion of the town and the
water only caught number of the
small buildings, stables, shops, etc
The stream crosses the track, however,
and runs on the business sids of the
road at Caldwell. The Caldwell people
had warning from Nampa ofthe coming
food and set Justify te work to save
their property. The Coffin Commercial
Co., the M. B. Gwinn Mercantile Co.,
Isidor Mayer and the Caldwell Forward
ing Co., all have large Easements used
for storage and all set to work to save
the more valuable merchandise or the
articles which would be most damaged.
Whom the foods came the water reach
ed almost to the first floor of their
stores. Tho damage has been very
great, but fortunately the stocks at his
season Of the year are lighter than
usual The particulars of the damage
done to the merchants and to residents
have not reached US. Several ranches
along fine route of the food have been
damaged. The loss of the
water in the reservoir is likely to work
! serious hardship upon the settlers at
Orchard Farms. That settlement is
made up largely of railroad employees
Who settled their families one year ago
lpon ranches there, promising to make
hat settlement prosperous fruit grow ]
ng community. Upwards OF 10000
ruit trees were planted there last year
nd we're doing nicely. The shortage
t water this year may cause the loss Of
early all ofthsm. Doubtless the reser-
DIR will be repaired as quickly as pos
ible but it can scarcely be done in
lme to save much water for this season.
1t is generally predicted here that
re will have high water in DeLamar
uring this spring. There is more snow
4 the mountains this winter than in
ny winter for the past fifteen years
nd the town has been built up since
lere has been any very high water
nd the creek cramped into closer
larters. If the snow should go off
it'll rains or chinooks we are liable to H
ave washouts of bridges and flooding 81
buildings.
LATRR.-The above was written early
the week. Thursday night after an n,
days rain, the ice and snow was
ashed out of the creek channel All =
rough town the snow, slush and ice =
as crowded out of the channel and
rived as dykes to give the wa.sr
can chute, and but very little damage
as done. The several houses below
e mill which were apparently in the IN
eatest danger were dyked in by the
> so that the water did not reach
en-. Now that the ice is out Of the
annel, it will take much higher water
do any material damage. We are
ry sure of getting higher water, how
err.