The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1906-03-30

Thsss h 10 Qusssioa bot Whist there
IN. plenty u wstef-" Aswinga b. -us'svsry
year 10 supply al Of " With all the
water We could possibly use il we only
had some way Of holding it back until
We had use for It and then let IL come
down the river and every one take all
they needed.
There are great natural reservoir sites
on the head waters Of the different trib-
utaries Of the river in which this surplus
water could be held at a nominal cost,
and let down to us when we had use for
it.
In view Of all these facts, l became
convinced that the proper thing for the
people Of this valley to do was to all get
together regardless OF the priority Of
| rights, and construct reservoirs to hold
back plenty of water SO that we could
have all the water we wanted at any
season Of the year.
! | learned that many of these natural
reservoirs had already been surveyed by
| government engineers, and in order to
get what information | could on the sub,
ject and try and learn what the probable
| cost pc acre would be to reservoir water,
! | took the matter up with Chief Engin-
eer Ross of Boise City, and through him
aud his assistants, l learned that the
government had already withdrawn from
entry all lands in what they considered
feasible reservoir sites, and had them
located for future use as reservoirs when
needed, and that they expected to begin
the construction of a reservoir in what
is known as Jackson's Lake, in the very
near future for storing water to be used
in connection with the Minidoka pro.
iect.
He also advised me hat if the canal
companies in this part of the valley
wanted an interest in that or any other
reservoir, that the only way" the matter
could be taken up was through the Sec
rotary Of the Interior, by petition or re-
quest Of some kind that would bring the
matter to his attention, and that he
would then likely refer the matter to
their Office 30 that they might devise
ways and means for supplying of the
necessary water.
He stated that they had not yet made
any estimate Of the probable cost per
acre of storing waters, but that would
have to be an after consideration. I was
however, told by a friend of mine, that
one Of the engineers who had actually
participated in the work of making these
surveys, had told him they had made an
estimate among themselves in which
they figured that sufficient water could
be stored for the entire valley at a total
cost of about 35c per acre.
If this estimate is any where near cor
rect we could not afford to be without
water. even to the extent of keeping the
corps of water commissioners employed
for two OF three years would amount to
more money than that. even If we did
not lose a dollar by being short Of
water.
In this I am only considering the very
Oldest canals and those that are most
favqrably situated for getting the water
from the river, and considering that they
had a right to take the water all away
from the other canals, and supposing
that every company is satisfied with the
decree Of the court when it is made.
l have no idea that the decree will be
satisfactory to all, or 70 half Of the CON-
panies, and l expect to see appeals taken
and to see the matter kept in the courts
for years to come, unless we turn our
attention to getting water and not to
fighting over what we now have to draw
on.
l suppose that many Of our attorneys
will say, reservoirs will cost too much
money, why not get your rights to the
water you now have in the river" 1t is
a self evident fact that there will be
much more money in it for the attorneys