The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-01-13
gem DISTRICT TO
BUY POWER PLANT
GEM IRRIGATION DISTRICT
BUYS GREAT SNAKE RIVER
POWER PLANT.

Will Soon Be in Way to Irrigate
Great Tract of Land Tributary to
Caldwell-Bond Election Will b
Held Soon So They Can Proceed.
With Project.
The officers OF the Gem Irrigation
District, consisting of Charles Nc
Cord of Homedale, president; c. S
Faurot, of Momedale, cretary; W,
Faurot of Homedale, secretary; w,
Charles L. Tabor, director, have en-
tered into a NATIVE agreement with
i. w. Sheffield of Spokane for a
power plant to be insta led in Box
Canyon springs in Lincoln county
The agreement is conditional upon
the property owners authorizing a
bond issue at an election to be held
as soon as State Engineer Martin
passes upon the feasibility Of the
project. 1t is proposed to issue
bonds in the sum Of $2,O34935, Of
which $864,O0O is to be spent upon
the power plant and transmission
lines
The district has contracted with +,
W. Sheffield of Spokane for 7,00C
electrical horsepower for pumping the
water the three lifts aforenamed.
This power is to be developed at Box
Canyon Springs in Lincoln county
Ida, at a point about three miles
from the famous Thousand Springs
Box Canyon Springs have a flow of
$40 second feet of water with drop
Of 200 feet One second foot Of
water dropping eight feet develops
one theoretical horsepower. These
springs will develop $4,000 horse
power A generator has been Sc
cured that is guaranteed to develop
80 per cent efficiency, or a total at
these springs Of 1O,4OO horsepower.
1t is l20 miles from the Box Canyon
springs to the Gem Irrigation dis
trict The contract with Mr.. Shelf
field calls for the construction of the
entire plant at the springs, including
the dams, power house and all mach
inery, together with l20 miles of pow
erline with transformers at both ends,
All material, machinery and equip
ment are to be approved by compe-
tent hydraulic and electrical engineer
employed by the district in conjunc-
ton with the engineers employed by
Sheffield According to this con-
tract the district pays Sheffield 1904,
600 for the entire plant Sheffield is
to be paid in district bonds at par.
These bonds are to be put in escrow
to be turned over to Sheffield on the
completion of the whole works. When
the power plant is entirely completed
and paid for, the contractor will turn
it over to the district. which, under
the laws of the state of Idaho can
not merely contract for power from
sonme individual or corporation, but
must own the power plant, power line
and all
The district made a great bargain
in getting this entire plant and line
for $864,O00. While this contract
calls for 1000 horsepower delivered
at the switchboard in the eastern
end OF the district, the district will
eventually have and own 1O,4O0 horse
power.
OF the 1000 horsepower contracted
for only 5000 horsepower is needed
to pump the water to the three lifts
already mentioned. The district al
ready knows where to place the sur
plus of 1000 H. p at $4,000 a year.
The income of $4,000 will pay for
all fixed charges, maintenance, etc.
The irrigation season each year is
five months. The district therefore
will have the use OF 5000 horsepower
seven months Of the year for lighting
and heating purposes. However,
LOCO horsepower Of this is to be set
aside by the district for the use OF
any who may wish to do some irriga-
ting before and after the close of the
irrigating season Thus, 1900 II. p
will be left to sell to towns that are
sure TO be developed in the district
and Tor other purposes. The income
this, It is estimated, will pay of the
ADffra k1D1aI t,I,I+a l..