The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1911-03-03

state to absorb the moisture, the
melting of the snow will be more uni
form and the water will be disposed
of more readily since there will not
be SO great tendency toward accu.
mutation and subsequent sudden re-
lease. 1t will be necessary, however,
to make special provision to lead the
surface drainage into the canals, as
the latter would be injured by any
water flowing down their banks.
The banks will be higher. naturally,
than the Immediately surrounding
land, and fumes should be provided
to carry the water through the banks
and drop it into the canal where the
water is deep enough to form a cush-
ion, or, in lieu of these, covered
fumes leading down the canal sides
into the channel should be provided.
The proposed system is primarily
an outlet system and is not intended
to accomplish farm drainage. 1t is
anticipated, however, that great deal
OF farm drainage will be afforded as
practically all the tract is underlain
with pervious sand formations and the
topograph is such that the drainage
canals will prove singularly effective
Where farm drainage is necessary,
new problems will enter in, a discus
sion of which would be out Of place in
this report. Suffice it to say that
these problems will deal with types of
drains, whether open or covered, pro
per depth for greatest efficacy, with
special reference to alkaIi and hard
pan; location; material for covered
conduits, etc, all Of which will neces-
state careful study and consideration
The first step necessary is the pro-
per organization Of the interested
landowners. The state statutes pro
vide legal means for such organization
into what is termed a drainage dis
trict. The law is apparently very
comprehensive and effective, and al
though it involves a considerable
amount of legal procedure, and offers
some opportunity for complications
it is recommended that the organiza-
ton be effected under its provisions
Great care must be used to see that
every requirement is faithfully met
and that every act is fully warranted
as the law is new and its purpose and
necessity are not well understood, and
there will be attempts to forestall the
efforts of the district should there be
the least technical infringement. The
matter of organization should be put
into the hands of efficient counsel and
the legal advisers should acquaint
themselves as fully as possible with
the technicalities of the drainage of
alkali lands.
1t is obvious that the work of CON
struction must be done by power ma
chinery, as the use of teams is impos-
sible and hand labor is out of the ques-
ton. The most successful excavator
for this class of work is the drag line
type and this machine is recommended
for the work. Several of the leading
excavator manufacturers turn out
suitable machines of various capaci-
ties. 1t is not deemed advisable to
employ machine using a bucket of
less than l yard or more than "
yard capacity. The machine should
be arranged so that the upper plat
not have the boom evolve merely
| around the mast. The machine should
be provided with skids or runners,
wheels or rollers being unnecessary.
| The outside width should be limited to
that of any bridges over which the
machine might need to be transported,
| Provision should be made to furnish
| light for the machine and work so
that operations may be carried on for
at least 20 hours daily, By all means
an experienced operator should have
| charge of the machine.
1t is proposed that the drainage sys-
| tenn have its outlet in Indian Creek.
| The only alternative would be TO 81
phon the drainage water under Indian
| Greek and carry ii through an out
let canal constructed along the Dot Of
| the bluff north and cast of Cal iwe,l
This canal would need to be about
three miles in length and ii construct
cd to sufficient depth to afford drain
age of the lands through which il
would pass, would represent an out
lay of funds far greater in proportion
than any direct benefits that would be
received Its chief advantage would
be indirect, and would be that of re
leiving Indian Greek of a considerable
amount of water during the freshet
season and during the period of max
imum drainage discharge, Even rhi,
advantage would not prove as greot