Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1901-07-19
MUST BE SHOWED"

MUST BE "SHOWED."
In Its issue of last Tuesday the St.
Marics Courier takes the Republican
pretty severely to task because of our
recent criticism Of its stand relative
to the project of improving the Post
Falls dam and the Spokane river at
It's sut,rce.
The Courier argues that the dam at
Post Falls can not be raised without
danger to the low lands on the shores
Of Occur d'Aicne lake and along the
rivers emptying into it: and that Wild
ening and dredging the Spokane river
at It's source Will not improve the sit
tlation.
The subject first came up when it
was learned that the syndicate Of
mine owners, who control the Post
Falls water power, were taking steps
looking toward the improvement Of
the Occur d'Alenc river at It's source
by the aid of congrcss. This project
met the Republicans approval, be-
cause we believed 1t would result in
reciaiming u lot of low lands and inn
prove Others which are now subject to
hoods during high water periods.
From what we know Of the current in
the Spokane river from its source to
Post Falls, the Republican believes
the fall Is sufficient to make the plan
perfectly feasible. Not only would
this project prove a boon to the set
lers on low lands drained by Occur
d'Alene lake, but by raising the dam
the capacity OF the water power could
be largely increased without affecting
The interests Of these settlers. The
Courier says this Is all wrong and
eharacterizcs the plan AS dam pro-
lcct"
The Republican deems further com.
ments upon this subject unnecessary
at present, and SO far as the Courier is
concerned, useless, because nothing
beneficial can result through argu-
ment with person who evidently
must be showed" that water will
find It's level and does not flow up hill.
We quote the following gem from
the Couricr's article: "a youthful
editor sitting In his 'Rathdrum easy
chair could never conceive the injury
to lands, even II there were no syndi-
Gates to stunt ones senses" That is
very gentlemanly insinuation and
the Courier man has our thanks for 1t,
"Youthful' though we may be, it Is
much more than decade ago when
lirst we gained practical knowledge
ut the current in the Spokane river
between its source and Post Falls, by
the very common experience Of row.
ing a boat. Besides, we know what
reports numerous civil engineers have
made on the subject. The following
article on this subject from the Occur
d'Alene Press will prove interesting
In this connection:
1.-THE editor of the st. Maries Conr-
Ter has been tearing his hair and max
ing big fuss over the proposed I'M
proyements OF the water power at
Post Falls. lie said the dam was to
be raised nine feet, and almost went
Wild with fear because this would
flood the farms from the source OF the
Spokane river To the heads of the st.
Joe. Occur d'Alenc and st. Marles
rivers. After all his fuss and worry
over a phantom that exists. only In
his imaginative brain, the promoters
now announce that the new dam will
not be any higher than the present
one. This pnnctures the bubble over
which the Courier editor has wasted
80 much space and labor. A ncwspa-
pcr should be reliable, especially
where a large number of people are in
ierested, and the recent attempts OF
The Courier To frighten people prove
It to be the reverse. The editor
speaks Of the underground channel
Vt the mouth OF the Spokane river.
and the .bottomleSs pit where this
water escapes in It's onward ilow To
worlds unknown These things are
news To the people Of Occur d 'Alene
and the wild statements OF the Cour-
Ter editor can be accounted Tor only
on the theory that he has wheels In
his head.