Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-22
TROUBLE rs BLACK CANYON.
Col. Dewey and the Dam Promoters Come
into Collision.

Rumors OF an impending conflict on
the Payettc river reached this city yes
terdny. says the Idaho Statesman,
published nj DO sc. Wednesday. a
pitched battle between the men
under Contractor J. J. Mcdonald.
who has charge OF the work OF con-
structing the extension OF the u.
N. o. railroad and those
under Engineer a. j. Wiley.
who Is IN charge OF the survey
Ing party sent out by the promoters
OF the Payette dam and power project,
was reported TO be Imminent In the
Black canyon OF the Payette. To pre-
vent open violence and to preserve the
natural contour OF the country In the
locality. an Injunction was asked for
and granted by Judge Stewart OF
Caldwell and an officer was sent post
haste to serve II on Contractor Me-
Donald.
The trouble II between Colonel Dew
ey and promoters OF the dam and
power project. one In bent on de-
stroying the natural dam site In tho
Black canyon and the power people are
as fully determined that II shall re-
main AZ nature left II.
Contractor Mcdaniel set men to
work drilling holes Into the great mass
OF rock that iuts out into the river.
Should he succeed In his purpose the
partial dam that nature has thrown
!
atoms and the power enterprise would
receive a severe setback II not n per-
mancnt injury. In other words the
success OF the proposed Payettc val
ley electric railroad, the electric lines
to Boise and the Basin. to Pearl and
owyhee county depends very largely
upon the ability OF Contractor MELON
aid to shattor the rock-rlbbcd walls
| OF the canyon ut the point where II In
proposed 10 put In the dam.
The appearance OF the contractors
men on the scene and the drilling illed
Engineer Wiley with alarm. He made
a night ride to lay the matter before
his people. He was instructed TO hold
the fort at all odds and prevent tho
contractor from accomplishing his pur-
pose until an injunction could be se-
| cured. He went back to Black canyon
| fully determined to do so.
The Injunction suit was begun In the
name OF !. II. Berry. who owns the
land ON each side OF the dam site and
who has practically sold II TO the pro-
moters Of the dam enterprise. The in
| junction IN directed To the Idaho North
| ern I,ailrond company. limited, and j.
J. Mcdonald. According TO statements
made by men here who are Interested
N the power project negotiations with
Mr.. Berry have been ON for s1mc little
time. 1t was determined to buy Mr..
Berry's interest lie placed figure
ON the property and the company
wrote Its acceptance. but the latter had
scarcely reached him before the SON
aational developments nj the dam site
occurred. AS title WAS stun vested IN
Mr.. Berry the Injunction was secured
IN his rGmc by his consent.
IL Is claimed by those Interested
In the 20 ger enterprise that the ncw-
oy road has no rlght In the prenilses.
never having obtained n right-o.-wHy
or secured the land by condemnation
| proceedings. They assert that tho sur
vcy Cor the railroad takes the road
back OF the protruding lodges and that
their destruction would In no wise Ia
| cllitatc the work OF constructing the
reed. They. therefore. attribute the
desire TO blow up the natural lam site
TO pure malice and point out that Mr..
Dewey IL interested IN preventing tho
construction OF the dam and the carry
Ing cut Of the power plans The Pay
cite road would cut him out OF no
small amount Of buslness and the sup
plying OF the Owyhec mines with cleo
trclty for power purposes would ina
tcrially diminish the business OF the Il,
n. e o. They, therefore, set up that
he not only has no rights at the point
where his men are endeavorlng 10 de-
stroy the dam site but that his propo7el
action would not In any manner as
sist In the construction OF his road;
further. that the construction OF the
dam would not Interfere with the road
but that the destruction Of the
natural site would probably re-
suit fatally to the dam ana power en-
terprise.
Photographs Of the scene displayed
by men interested In the power pro-
ject show the situation plainly. The
lodges OF solid rock on both sides Of
the river. immovabe excepting by soma
extraordinary effort OF man, tut out
into the river. narrowing It TO width
OF l25 feet. In addition to narrow
! ing the river and thereby materially
decreasing the cost OF the dam. the
lodges furnish natural abutments. Tc
Thorn the dam can be tied" making
II as solid as the immovnble granite.
n. NJ. Ruick, attorney for the Pay
cite dam people. went to Caldwell &c