The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-12-30
FOR BIG Project
sacfsls q Lstd fsiver Interests Jubil.
ant Over thesGood Prospects
w. II. Philbrick Says French Capital
Will Likely be Forthcoming ~
(Statesman)

anu IHe IuIuTe looks good dea
brighter to both the company and tn
settlers as we'll as for the hackers
according to w. H. Philbrick O
Ameican Falls, big sheepman, heav
holder of irrigation interests, an,
member of the last legislature, VIII
arrived in Boise Wednesday on bust
ness and is stopping at the Owyhe,
hotel.
Mr.. Philbrick travelled over tn,
Lost River project last week and tn,
week before and is thoroughly con
versant with the existing condition,
there. He stated that Mr.. Niver Il
the Trowbridge & Niver Bondins
Company, of Chicago, has succeeded
in interesting heavy French capita
in the project and that everything
looks lovely as far as negotiations
have proceeded across the water.
1t is believed that If this French
capital decides to go into the invest
ment the Lost River projects sue
cess is assured. The greatest difficult
ty that has been encountered is the
apathy in the irrigation bond market,
and various trobles have been ex-
perienced by the promoters ever since
Trowbridge & Niven suffered reverses
on their Colorado project last year.
Mr.. Philbrick is confident that if
sufficient money is secured to put
the project through everybody con-
nected with it will be in the clear
Asked what seemed to be the main
trouble with the Mackay dam, Mr..
Philbrick said he thought that mis-
AXE was made in the start regarding
he location. Instead of going down
he river about mile and half fur
her, where deep rock foundations
could be made, the dam was built in
| great gravel bed, he said.
Acts as Water Filter
In dumping the carloads OF gravel
,ver in making the dam, the power
If gravity tended to draw the larger
powders and rocks to the bottom
While the finer stuff stayed on top,
lie said
Because of this the water seeps
through as clear as though it were
rom spring. The filtering does
lot necessarily mean that the dam
Till ever weaken, of course, and there
5 no special danger of the structure
DING out, but Mr.. Philbrick thinks
hat it may be necessary to build |
mother dam, or else the present !
tructure will have to be improved
y solidifying the surface rock with |
luvial SOIL
Mr.. Philbrick said he drew a valu- |
BILE suggestion in this connection
rom the experience he had in Colo
ado on the great Arkansas river
am, where the same problem came
p Solution was arrived at finally |
y going up the river several miles
} heavy clay bank, where the fiat |
oats were loaded with clay and then
IN down stream and dumped at the
am. The clay was pressed up tightly
y the water pressure to the dam wall
nd in a short time it became as
did and hard as concrete and made
perfect retainer, so that not drop
,uld get through.
Has Faith in Future :.
This a wonderful project said
n. Philbrick, and when it is put
trough and is on working basis,
laho will be proud of it. | think
lat the agitation caused by the fears
the Mackay residents that the dam
light go out has done considerable
arm, but | believe matters will rap
ly straighten themselves out.
There is just as good land there
in any other place in this state.
he season is fairly long and as far
, as Arco | have seen fine crops of
piles. They suffer little danger from
ost. The soil is wonderfully rich
d is mixed with that famous lava
h which produces Idaho's greatest
ops in all lines.
Mr.. Philbrick will attend the Ma
NAL Wool Growers association con-
ntion in Portland, January 4. The
dwinter sheep show will also be
Id there on the same date and
aho will be represented by large
legation.
The wool men will discuss tariff,
est reserves, quarantine, speed
VS., predatory animals, the wool
re house and other subjects i'm
rtant to the industry. Schedule
or the wool tariff schedule, will
one of the topics most discussed.