The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1905-01-28
AMEND THE BILL.

lie AN1S 10 AOJ al ~ hAAI AAASSAN9NS
of the people in every matter that
concerns their general welfare, and
the proposed deepening of the chan
mel of the Spokane river is one OF the
vital matters in which all are con-
Cerned. There are those who may
wish to see the lake lowered to
point where the city will be left .
several hundred yards from its shore, /
but we do not wish &c see this, and /
when it comes to a point where the
Washington Water Power company
wants the people to pay for deepening
the channel Of the river in order that
Il may have two or three feet Of
reserve water to draw from, we fail
to see the benefits or justice of its
plan. II the company wishes to con-
struct its dams at Post Falls so that
it can let off the surplus water in
food time and hold a reserve in the
lake at low water, no objections can
be made. The steamboat companies
and others interested in the matter
have no objections to any method
that will keep the water at or above
its present level in the lake, but if
the bill which is to be introduced in
the legislature to deepen the channel
Of the river so that the lake may be
lowered, should become a law, the
matter will undoubtedly be taken
into the courts, and it is such a we'll
established principle of law that the
level Of navigable waters cannot be
changed to the the damage Of naviga-
tion, that there is but little doubt Of
the result. The passage Of the bill
simply means expensive litigation,
and if the members from KOotenai
have the interests Of the people at
heart they will oppose the bill.
Fl. NJ. Strathern, the we'll known
Post Falls mill man, says that the
Washington Water Power company is
not interested in the matter further
than to raise its dams to a point
which the law permits it to do and
that be is the person responsible for
the provision of the bill which pro-
poses to lower the lake and that the
bill has not been introduced, but
will be if satisfactory to this city.
He is now willing to waive the pro-
vision for deepening the channel II
the stream is widened so as to permit
of a more rapid discharge Of food
water. II the proposed bill Is made
to conform to this idea, the Press sees
no reason Why it should meet with
any opposition, but We will oppose
the bill as 1t is now drawn to deepen
the channel and put 1t 10 condition
where the Washington Water Power
company can, if necessary, draw the
water off two or three feet lower than
the present level.
4 report comes from Boise that tbs
Kootenai members know nothing oi
the bill which the Press said haC
been introduced. We wers informed
by reliable authority that the bill
had been introduced and were giveI
copy Of the same. which We publish
ed last week, and if it was no
introduced at the time stated, al
parties admit that it had been pre-
pared for introduction. Mr.. Strath
ern admits this, but claims that /
was to be approved by interested
people of this city first. This ma,
be true, and We have no reason T.
matter. yet it is a fact that the peopl
knew nothing Of the provisions Of th
bill until it was published in tn
Press last week. It served the pur
pose Of making the whole matte
public and bringing concessions fror
the supporters Of the bill, whic
ought 10 BE- satisfactory to this cit
and that Is the object which the Pre-,
sought to accomplish.
With the wording Of the bi
changed 10 read widening instea
Of deepening the channel Of II
river, the Press viii support 1t. tn
Washington Water Power compan
can then fix its dams at Post Fal
to hold the water in the lake durir
the low season at a point where Il
depth in the river will be sutficieI
for floating logs or navigating sma
steamers. II Mr. Strathsrn does tn
with the bill, it is our opinion thu
he will meet with no opposition fro
this place. Otherwise 1t will be o.
posed by the steamboats, and all 9th
interest affected
"