The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-03-10
DRAINAGE PROBLEM
VERY IMPORTANT
MATTER OF DRAINAGE BECOMING
MORE IMPORTANT EACH
YEAR WITH PEOPLE.
Plan Under Way for Organization of
Drainage District Covering Land
Between Caldwell and Nampa--
Owners are Signing Up Their Land
Holdings. -.

hOlUluSSs
Irwin Bissett of Nampa was in
Caldwell Tuesday in the interests of
a proposed drainage district covering
the land between Nampa and this
city. For some time past Mr.. Bis
sett has been trying to interests the
landowners in the organization OF
such a district. He has petition in
circulation which has been generally
signed up. However, it is necessary
to get a greater proportion of the
land signed up before the proposed
district can be organized. Mr.. Bis
sett was in town for the purpose Of
interesting the Caldwell landowners
1t seems to be generally accepted
now that the next step in the COM
plete reclamation of the land here is
the installation of adequate drainage
facilities. Meetings of farmers have
been held and considerable interest
aroused. The Nampa Leader Herald
contains the following account of a
meeting held at Nampa last week:
AT meeting of the Mason Creek
faNchers interested in the drainage
question at the chamber Of commerce
rooms Wednesday afternoon, Engin-
eer Robert Millikin, who had been
employed to make preliminary investi-
cations and surveys to learn just what
territory it would be feasible to in
clude within the district, submitted
his report The attendance at the
meeting was not as large as had been
anticipated but those who were on
hand evinced great deal of interest
and indicated that they are fully cog
infant that the drainage problem is
one of vital importance to them.
According to Mr. Millikin's plan the
district would include 6,40O acres of
he best farm lands in the country
under Mason Creek, and extending
from the sugar factory lands to the
Boise river 1t was originally esti-
mated that 10000 acres would be TAX
en- in, but for various reasons it was
decided that the smaller acreage
would be desirable However, this
matter is not settled definitely, and it
Is possible that the figures may be
changed several times before the
acreage is finally signed up. Approx
i.nately 500 landowners are affected,
there being small tract holders in the
district in question. The consent of
over 50 per cent of the land represent
ell is necessary to secure the forma-
ton of the district.
Mr.. Millikin advised the formation
OF a smaller district where everyone
affected would be in favor of the pro-
icct. rather than a larger unit with
ooosition to encounter, and he stated
that he had come in contact with
land owners who had not yet awak-
ened to the necessity of drainage
system and who opposed mourning ex-
lrense ito drain the other fellow s
land" 1t is only matter of time I'M
til these ranchers will need drainage
facilities, and when they do they car
provide them, as the Mason Greek
men are taking steps to do at tht
present time.
1t was remarked that the expense
would not be very heavy; the Plan'
could be prepared by an engineer an'
the work done under his supervision
each rancher doing the work on hi
own place. Messrs Bissett~ AM
Stone, who have taken n prominen
part in promoting the Pioneer dis
trict, were present to give the ranch
! crs the benefit of their experience MI
Bissett stated that there would b
only portion of the work that coul
u done by the farmers, for power mact
: merry would be required and he told {
'e the big dredge to be used in his d.
trict. He thought that similar il
struments would be needed in the MI
son Creek work He also advised Il
ranchers that they arc now at IL
, stage where they need the assistant
Of lawyers. and he also said that
l ed Miller and Government Engine
Hart, who had given excellent sc
= vice To the Pioneer people, wou
prove valuable to the Mason Cree
"a men,
A committee-wa appointed to int
view the land owners of the Mass
Creek district and to submit fin
report at meeting to be held in I
near future, this report to settle I
matter one way or the other and
provide the ranchers a basis on viii
10 organize the proposed district.
l., Calkins is chairman of the comm
IL tee, VIM Lemon is secretary and
h. h. other members are ]. f. Morrison a
Robert Miilil<in.