Lincoln County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1911-1919, 1911-08-31
A TOUR OF INSPECTION

Canal Users Assn, and after listen
ing to the views expressed by sever
al, he deemed it imperative that an
investigation be made along the
canal as far a. Wilson Lake, which
constitutes storage reservoir for
water for the North Side tract.
lie invited President Speakman OF
the Jerome local branch, Secretary
O'Connell and Mr.. Thos. Jaycox,
to accompany him and Friday morn
ing the quartette departed on this
tour. As result of this investiga
ton it is only necessary to give the
following report, which was made
to a meeting of the board of direc-
tors Of the Association:
Jerome, Idaho, August %, 1911
To the Board Of Directors, Twin Falls
North Side Canal Users Association.
Gentleman:-
In response 10 your request for
written statement from us, of our trip
to Wilson Lake reservoir on Friday and
Saturday, August 18th and 10Th, We beg
10 submit the following statement:
We the undersigned would respect
fully state that upon invitation from
Will II. Gibson, field representative u:
the State Land Board, to accompany
him on Friday and Saturday, August
25th and 26th on trip OF inspection
OF our canal system, We inspected the
main canal from above Jerome Lake
reservoir TO point above the intake OF
Wilson Lake reservoir.
We assisted in taking several measure
mcnts OF the flow OF water in our canal
and the depth OF the water in the Will
son Lake reservoir.
On Friday evening, August 25th at
o clock, we found the gates OF Wilson
Lake reservoir closed and an approx
mate depth of II feet OF water above the
tunnel floor level. On the following
morning, August 26th at o'clock, w
found an approximate depth OF l21.
feet, showing rise during the 10 hour
OF ~ ieet. AT 9 4. III. Saturday, Aug
ust 10Th, measurement OF the flow o
q the main canal al the head Of Wilson
Lake, showed 4 flow OF at least 700 sec
ond feet.
A careful measurement taken at
O'clock Friday evening at point abou
/ $50 feet below Wilson Lake dam
showed i flow of 40 second feet Of waite
which found its way past the close
gates OF the dam.
To say that we were surprised whe
We reached Wilson Lake reservoir o
Friday evening, August 25th, when
learned that IL feet OF water stood in tn
\ reservoir above the floor level OF III
tunnel through the dam, is to put
very mildly, ior We were informed b
a member OF the Land & Water Ct
before leaving jerome that morning
: that We would meet the water comm
: and that the reason it was so long con
O ing, was because that the water in Wi
son Lake had settled some two feet b
low the outlet of the reservoir and tn
e had to be filled up before the wat
r could 90 through the dam.
Instead OF finding conditions as re
q resented 10 us in Jerome, we found tn
V the gates OF Wilson Lake reservoir h;
a been closed ior six days, and that du
ing that time water was rising steadl
: in the reservoir, and that when Il
ir additional head OF water was turned
& ON Thursday, August oath, the first
hours saw rise OF nearly feet in W
IT son Lake.
Of We were also informed that ord'
l. had been given to keep these ga'
NJ closed until Monday OF Tuesday, Al
N ust 2sth or 29th.
D, On Saturday, August 26th, the d
x after we were seen measuring the der
10 of the water in Wilson Lake reserv
NJ by Assistant Watermaster Sml'
:" Watermaster Rinker drove over
or Wilson Lake and opened the gates
le the reservoir.
er The question is-Why was this wa
that the settlers of this tract needed
their cnops, stored in Wilson Lake? a
us why Was il the intention of the Wa
is Company to keep it in Wilson Ia
until Monday or Tuesday, August =
,o or 18th, and that as soon as memb
~, ~ of our Canal Users Association w
"i w seen on the ground and saw conditlo
.lo .ao that steps were Immediately taken
1o 1 open the gates in Wilson Lake and
nn our water To u.s.
"o ~ These questions should be answer
y" oo to the satisfaction of the settlers OF t
,So wv North Side tract, by the Gen. Mana
w w of the Twin Falls North LSide land
,so Water Co.
~" nv A. l.. SrEAKNAl
NV Signed ~. w. OCoNNEI
iou THos. JAYoox.
$40 As Mr.. Gibson's report will
700 made to the Land Board, we
od not priyileged to make it public