The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1911-01-12
ASK PROTECTION FOR
THEIR LIFE AND PROPERTY

Aiming to offer needed protection
to the citizens of Mackay as we'll as
the settlers upon the land surround
ing that city the first bill introduced
in the senate asks that the state
land board Immediately be given
authority 20 e1pend moneys for the
protection of life and property ON
Carey act projects through the prop
er construction and enlarging, it. nee
cessary, the spillways On dams in Lg-
der that the flood waters cam be TAX
en- care of. The measure calls for an
appropriation of $4,000. 1t was in
troduced jointly by Senator Ravenal
Macbeth of Custer county and Sena-
tor George 7. Coates of Blaine county
The Importance of the measure
warranted the senate sending it i'm
mediately to the printing committee
70 Senators Ravenal Macbeth, dem.
T. Coates, republican, Blaine county,
is given the honor 70 introducing the
first bill in the senate.
Arises From Mackey DanI
The bill aims to provide for the
construction of a proper spillway on
the Mackay dam, which during the
fall campaign was made an issue. 1t
is the claim of both Senators Coates
and Macbeth that the spillway ON tn S
dam is not large enough to carry off
the flood waters, but instead should
sudden flood come down the Salmon
river the water impounded behind the
dam would sweep away that struct-
ure, destroy the town of Mackay and
flood all of the agricultural lands,
causing unestimated damage to lie
and property.
1t is alleged that the spillway ON
all dams and that construction work
on all Carey act projects should be
properly inspected by the state land
board, and where it is found that any
of the structures are unsafe they
should be Immediately repaired by
seeks to create.
The title of the bill and it's provis-
ions are as follows:
"An Act Authorizing the State Land
Boai,d to Expend Moneys for the
Protection OF Life and Property,
or Either of them, in Carey Act
Projects,-and Granting Lien for
Said EXPENDITURES.
BE it enacted by the legislature of
the state of Idaho:
"Section 1. That whenever it shall
appear to- the state land board that
the life and property of settlers or
owners in Carey act projects are or
will be endangered by defective or
insufficient spillway construction
works, the said board will give notice
to the contracting company having
charge of the project in which the
said defective spillway is situated
to at onceproceed to provide for the
necessary and proper changes smd
corrections of said defective spillway
under the direction OF the state en-
gineer and the approval of the state
land board, and if the said work be
not prosecuted with reasonable dill
;gence and to- the satisfaction of the
board, the board may Within ten
days from the date O. the service OF
laid notice take charge of the said
defective and unsafe spillway and
W ks appurlenant theT eto, and max
, Ito state.
Carrie APPROPRIATION.
"Sec. 2. The expenditures SO mad'
by the state shall be primarily a
charge against the contracting Carey
act company, and should be first
: lien against it's construction works
l water rights and all it's other rea
= and personal property situated within
! the state. If said property be not su
2 ficient to Fay the amount expended
t by the state, then the remainder due
D the state shall be rayable as lier
l against the lands included in the pro
I ject.
"Sec. 3. There is hereby appropr'
ated for the purposes Of this act, ou
of money in the state treasury h
sum of $4,000.
"Sec 4. An emergency existing
therefore, this. act shall take effcc
and be I'M force from and after it.
;. approval"
On roll call following Senator Mac
, beth's motion the bill was sen