The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1908-06-26
RESERVOIR
ON UPPER
BLACKFOOT
GOVERNMENT BUILDING A DAM TO
FORM A NEW LAKE-WILL I'M.
POUND ENOUGH WATER TO IRRI-
GATE THE RESERVATION, OR TO
WASH BLACKFOOT AWAY IF THE
DAM SHOULD BREAK,


DAM SHOULD BREAK,
9. L. Braley and others who went on
70 Upper Blackfoot last week to Sc
~nat is being done on the dam to i'm
pound water for Dubois irrigation pro
!ect Tor the reservation, returned Fri
oay' and we are indebted to Mr.. Brale,
Tor much information regarding it.
READERS of The Republican will re-
member that one of the last things tha,
senator Dubois did before retiring from
'ne senate was to get an appropriation
OF $3bO,0OO to begin work on an irri.
cation project which will ultimately he
the means OF opening the Shoshone and
Bannock reservation,
Nothing has been done looking IN
the opening Of this reservation. except
10 get more room for the CITY at Po-
catello, and one of the obstacles that
mad always stood in the way was on
old order that the Lemhi Ind,ons
should be removed to this reservation
anu lahas allotted to the three tribes
IN severalty. Until this was done
nothing could be done toward OPENING
the rest OF the land to settlement On
Two years ago, the order to move the
Lemh1 tribe was put into execution. al
though the actual removal of the Tn
olans was not made until the sprinp of
Iso1. Now follows the building of the
plg reservoir to impound water To re-
claim all the lands on the reservation
ana when the Indians have made their
selectlons, the rest will be opened to
entry oy anybody wishing to paw the
minimum price for the land with the
cost OF water right added to it,
The Indians will be given the frs+ |
choice because the lands belong ~
them. They will not be permitted n |
sell their homesteads to white mon ,,,t
may lease them, and the outcome of II
wan De that a. white population will
occupy the country south of town, with
corresponding increase of trade. The
indians will probably live as they do
now but derive some revenue from
their farms.
Ihls much, by way of review bring
US up to the question as it confrants
US today.srvith construction work com I,
ihehced on the dam, and surveys in pro-
gress on the lands and canal lines.
lhirty miles east of Blackfoot and ,
ABOUT ten miles south, where tho ,
blackfoot river enters box canvon {
aHnlo majestic ranges of mountains t
ana valley opens out above the can @
yon 1or nfteen or twenty miles almost
oh aead level several miles wide. is a
the reservoir site. :
The engineers have determined tbo+ q
oy putting in dam to close the can v
ron, the whole valley above can ba f.
urned into lake that will hold nearly d
1noush water to reclaim the tillable O
ands on the reservation. I,
across low divide to the northeast N
yaro Is Gray's Lake. fine body of m
yater that lies at the head of the South cl
'ork OF the Snake river, and has a lo
Nriace OF nearly a hundred square e
niies OF water. A, great drainage ca tt
~ is to be built to carry the waters W
gray Lake, or so much of 1t as NAV tn
n needed, to the reservoir on the b,
AacKroot. Another canal is to be built di
LOSS low divide to deliver water ar
- on the head Of the Portneuf river. tn
ype carried down that stream for ir ar
sation In the vicinity Of Chesterfield. tn
Me main volume of the waters of the
sservoir are to come down the RlacL | Tn
'ot river to be diverted in canals near tn
lAckfoot to be spread over the reser- tn
ltion. g..
The width Of the canyon where the bu
Is TO be built is about 500 feet, and 70
3aormed by almost perpendicular fri
iis OF lava" a tunnel will be driven wi
rcugh the point Of the mountain. or str
sher, the angle of the lava wall on ret
e side, and the river will be turned co,
Rough the tunnel while excavation is thu
Ade In the canyon for the base OF the fin
"a A place will be cleared out. 400 the
n up and down the stream, extend I
Gown to bedrock and connecting lis,
the walls Of the canyon. Great wo
''ncnes Will then be blasted out ant
F0ss the canyon and away up the big
dra