The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-01-28
WILL THE LAKE Be LOWERED?
BILL MAY BE AMENDED
II. ~. strathsFn Gives His views on the
Matter PAYERS widening Channel
settlers Of D. doe valley Hold Meet
tng-PTOtsst Against Raising Dam.


company has its rights established
along the Spokane river, and can
compel that river 10 run normally.
II can prevent tho normal fiow Of
water from being intsrferred with,
and yet the company has never com
piained because tho people Of this
city arc taking the water out OF the
river daughter aud jeers.
'.LAugh, II you will, but the courts
could aud would prevent that II APP
Pealed To. "--tFom an address before
the city council Of Spokane by H. Al.
Stephens. attorney for the Washing
ton Water Power company.
That IL analogous 20 the claim
made In the Press last week stating
that thoss interested la this city and
Ia the mills and steamboats, would go
Into court 70 prevent any inter
ferrencs with tho natural level or
a0a " the water. lta normal con.
dillon must not he intsFferred sith
% ths injury Of any ole.
Discussing the proposed bill for
she deepening Of tho channel u the
Spokane river al lie source, II, 81
StratbeFn informed tbs Press that BIO
u the author Of ths hIli and not the
Washington Water poEeF company.
lie says that company IL interested 10
ths dam at Post Falls and iu main.
tainiug = proper bead u water Ia tho
- "A A
will keep II twa or thrce fest higher
than the pFosent los waiter line; aud
that ho Is responsible for the effort 20
DEEPEN tho channel u the river.
which Wili. with The additional bead
maintained by she dam. ratss tho
water IN the lake 90 that steamers
can navigate the river at all seasons.
Mr.. StrWtheFu also admits that this
NAV b. done without deopenlue the
ch 81 aud Il siiilnR TO widun Il 20
q eho surplus food water may run
"a morU rapidly. bat thrFn are prop.
Srty rights along the shore IL tho
river 10 DO considered and this may
1 offer obstacles 10 his proposed change
fFOm despohinR 10 widening the
channel Mr. stFathern confirms the
report from Boiso that the bill has
not yet bgou introduced Ia the lceis
lAtuFe, but admita that u 10 rNady
for introduction. lie says that tho
object u the bill originally was 10
deepen the channel uf the river 10
that The water will run of more
rapidly during high wator and that
IN order that this may be done sue.
coasfuliy the Washington Water
Power company sill pat IN dame with
automatic doodgatea which will not
obatruo, ita fiov At that point. This
company. he says, IL willing To do
shat IL can TO relieve the situation.
The membora ot the Legislature
from this county. when shown tho
last Issue ~ the Prcas at Boise, ex.
pressed themselves ns surprised tina,
such a bill aa that published should
he considered seriously. They bad
~ baon asked 20 introduce II aud
from their attitude Il ia certain the
measure would not receive their sup.
port Tho members are quoted as
saying that they have no intention Of
introducing tho bill.
AZ st. Marius Monday a meeting Of
the farmers Of the St. Joe valley WAS
held for the purpose Of taking action
Aeaina, the Washington Water Power
company TO prevent It's raising the
dam at Post Falls. The meeting was
largely attended and a number Of
speeches we're made. Some Of the
older settlers claimed that before the
dam was RAISED To lie present height
they we're not troubled with the high
water 40 much as az Ahis time They
are quoted ~ saying that the valley
is more subject 90 overflow now than
formerly and that the water remains
longer. VIM. Terrell was one Of the
principal speakers and II IL said that
he offered to take charge of the mat.
ter ara procure counsel for the pros
ecuttsn Of claims for damages
against the Washington Water Power
company II the farmers would assign
their claims to him. He sald that
he had consulted the best legal talent
In the state aud was ready to proceed
whenever the claims we're assigned.
lie also proposed to obtain an In
junction to prevent the raising Of the
dam at Post Falls. II was claimed
that the present dam In now four feet
= higher than the water Lowell at the
head OF navigation. Tho water Is
not now running over the top Of
the dam.
Mr.. strathern claimed, In his talk
with tho Press, that the top Of the