The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-01-28
RUPERT PEOPLE
START GOOD WORK
Formulate Plan for Water
Users Dealing With the
Government.
SUPERVISOR D. w. ROSS
DETAILS THE SITUATION
Tells Mass Meeting What Is Re.
quired to Attain Best
Results.
Special to The Tribune.

| Special to The Tribune
| RUPERT, Ida. Jan. 27-Through ar
rnngemcnts made by the Rupert CONNER
cial club. D. w. Ross. supervising en-
gineer In charge OF reclamation In Idaho,
was given an opportunity to speak to
| representative citizens on tho project
| here at mass meeting assembled this
afternoon, About 800 citizens responded
to a hurried call A b Rief, chairman
of the Commercial club, introduced the
| chief speaker, touching lightly on the
| work done by tho department and styl-
! ing Ross the foster parent Of the Mini
| doka project Ross said. in part:
| Interests Have Grown.
| "It has become apparent during the
! past three or four months that the Inter-
ests OF people In the project have out
| clamation department to properly care
| for them. II has been the intention Of
| the local department 10 aid In some way
| In the formation and organization OF some
| form OF association whose duties II shall
be to represent the people In this project
in a way that will make II possible for
the department to consult with and work
In conjunction.
Must Get Together.
at is necessary that people get to-
gether In matters relating to their well
fare The present system OF presenting
their grievances in the form OF petition
is vague and not resultant Of the most
favorable action as s plain in the ques-
ton OF townsite sales. when people OF
this town forwarded n petition to our
representatives asking that lots be cold
upon them. and Hepburn presented a
petition asking just the opposite
Can't Realize Conditions.
"The people at Washington cannot be-
lieve that conditions arc as represented
10 them; they find It a hard matter to
decide just what is the best thing to do,
If the people of the project would organ
lie themselves together In q body and
present their Views as body, q great
amount of good could be accomplished.
The reclamation department has nothing
whatever to do with the disposal of town
sites. only In the way that the Secretary
OF the Interior has asked for recon-
mendations OF certain things. The plats
of surveys OF the town OF Rupert have
been approved by the department. and
order made to print off 1000 copies, suit
hble for wall purposes,
Turn 1t Over to People,
Hepburn plsts are approved. but are
held awaiting settlement OF the disagree
ment over the right of way of the rail-
road No date has been set for the sale
OF the lots. 1t Is the intention of the de-
partment TO turn over everything per
tanning TO the project at as early q date
as possible. This is the first project un-
der the reclamation act TO have a ma
terlal amount of land under irrigation. 1t
will fall TO the people Of the tract TO take
up new conditions and work out their
own dcstlnies. There is no agency on
the project wherein Is vested any author
ity for the people to deal officially with
the department, 1t is hoped the people
VIII accept the opportunity to organize
themselves Into body when they have
the assurance OF the department that
they will receive recognition.
Cut Maintenance Cost
1T Is the intention OF the Government
TO have all interests of the community
o-ordinated; 1t must all eventually be-
long to the people All the works are
being constructed in a manner to cut the
maintenance fec low as possible. The
people have a valuable adjunct in the
possession OF the power plant ut the
dam, the estimated revenues derived from
which Will pay for the maintenance of
the system. No man in the department
has any pccuniory aime.'
Plan Is Formulated
The mass meeting then discussed the
question In Its various lights, A plan was
formulated for complete organization OF
the people In the project Resolutions
were adopted that Mr. Ross be present
ed vote Of thanks for the interest dis
played and the valuable suggestions pre-
sented; that committee be appointed
by the chairman Immediately to confer
with tho people OF Acequa, Rupert and
Hepburn to formulate plans Mass meet
ings are to be held at these places each
meeting to select committee to meet
with other committees to make arrange
ments for permanent organization.
Mr., Rles appointed upon the local com
mittec J s. McQuiston, T. c. Hart and
a. C. Dcmary, Mr.. Ross returned TO
Boise tonight to open bids on the Boise
Payctte project.