The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1905-02-25
TROUBLE AZ THE NORTH.

the Ceur d'Alen Journal is self
explanatory:
apparently the greatest disaster
that can happen the Occur d'Alene
and the whole lake country is favor
a,le consideration of the Reclama-
ton bureaus SCENE TO make Ceur
d'Alene lake a water reservoir for
the Big Bend country in Washing
ton. This is matter that should
receive the promptest sort of atten-
ton from this section and Senator
Heyburn's efforts to defeat the
measure should be assisted in every
way possible. "Reminiscences
should be at once forwarded to the
Senator at Washington and per-
sona1 letters sent in to show what
an enforcement of the Reclamation
bureaus recommendations in this
regard would mean. B. R. Lewis
wrote Senator Hepburn recently in
regard to the proposition and the
following letter from the Senator
indicates to what lengths the Re"
clamation Bureaus recommended
tions would so and what devastat-
ing results would follow:
B. r. Lewis, Esq,
Occur d'Alene, Idaho.
Dear Sir-Your letter Of Febru-
airy I'D in regard to the proposed
change of the level of Occur d.
Alene lake is received. I am very
glad indeed to see that some of the
people Of your city are waking up
on this subject. The present prop
osition is to lower Occur d'Alene
lake IS feet below low water mark,
to excavate the Spokane river be-
tween the lake and Post Falls, thus
destroying Post Falls power. 1t is
further proposed to withdraw from
the lake through a tunnel to be
constructed from down near the
middle of the lake on the west side,
1000 cubic feet per second, said
tunnel to be III miles long and to
be constructed under the entire Sec
tion Of country lying between Occur
d'Alene lake and Rock lake In the |
State of Washington. The amount |
Of water proposed to be drawn
through this tunnel is greater than
that flowing out OF Ceur d'Alene
lake during the months of August,
September, October and November.
You will see it will not only leave
your mills far above the high water
but would also destroy the power at
Post Falls and Spokane Falls and
Spokane's water supply.
In regard to draining the valleys
of the Ceur d'Alene and St. Joseph
rivers, 1t would convert them from
their present condition into arid
lands, as tLese are the character of
lands that need sub-irrigation incl
dent to the rise and fall of the wa
ter. It would absolutely drain sew
eral miles of the south end of Occur
d Alene lake and would diminish
the size of the lake to a large de-
gree. 1t would leave Cerr d.
Alene city far back from the shore. I
The proposition is so wild that I 1
have had difficulty in restraining
myself from denouncing it in more \
vigorous terms than I have. III
have sent maps and official state {
ment from the department to Mr.. {
E. J. Roberts, Spokane, Washing l
;on, general manager of the Federal {
company; they should be
autographed and published in the
papers of both Idaho and Washing a
on in such manner as the leave no =
com for doubt as to the result.
The scheme proposed would take q
sc, 200, 900 from the reclamation Fl
uud to the detriment of Idaho's in r
erests and for the problematical r.
Improvement of less than a million
ores of land in the Moses lake >
ountry in the State of Washing b
on, which land might or might f.
Iot be reclaimed. ;,
Very truly yours, 7
Z w. B. HEYBuRN. 4
Feb. 8, 1905. ID