The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-10-25
PIONEER DISTRICT
Will PASS ON
CONTRACT
Government Proposes to Drain
Swamp Lands 1t
Cost.
ELECTION ON TUESDAY
Will Release District From Lien Of
$500 Per Acre. Build Drainage
System and Give Flood Water
Right in Arrowrock Dam-An For
$500 Per Acre.


$500 Per Acre.
On Tuesday. the 18th of the month,
the voters living within the boundaries
of the Pioneer Irrigation District will |
be called upon to pass upon the ques-
ton of accepting or rejecting the |
proposal of the United States Govern
ment to the District.
The government proposes to build
a drainage system for the district to
cost $3oO.OO0.O0. A portion of |
this will probably be finished and the
result considered before further out
lay be had. For this work the govern
ment will make absolutely no charge
to the district until one year after the
Secretary of the Interior has declared
that the work is fnished-that the
sum of $3.50, 10000 has been expended,
or as much thereof a. has been finally
decided shall be used. There is to be
no interest charges on the money thus
spent. 0ns year after IT.: work is
pronounced completed, the district IS
to pay one-tenth of the entire sum-
S3s,OOO.OO, if the full $3sO,OOOOO be
used Each year thereafter a like
sum is to be paid, without interest.
The government also proposes that
the district buy water right in the
Arrowrock reservoir for enough water
to cover the district. This will re-
qure sum amounting to $500, 10000.
One year after the Arrowrock reser-
voir is pronounced completed by the
Secretary of the Interior, one-tenth
of the whole sum shall be payable
and each year q like sum until the
entire amount be paid, without in
terest.
When the contract now in force
with the reclamation service was
made. the estimated cost of the Pay
cite Boise project was 5000 per acre.
The addition of the Arrowrock dam
has caused this price to become about
$1,000 The district under the original
contract was allowed $l4.00 for the
work they had completed. to which
was to be added their proportionate
cost of the project. This it was
thought at the time would be about
$1,000 The additions to the system
has brought this charge up to $500
the difference between the allowance
of $l40O and the estimated cost now
Of 5000 per acre.
For some time it has become ap-
parent to all close observers that some
action looking to a drainage system
would soon be Necessary if large por-
ton of the district were not to be-
com swamp land. pure and simple.
About SO per cnt of the lands of the
district are now listed as swamp land.
we are informed. and this area will
extend rapidly unless prompt meas
ures looking toward complete drain
age system be had. With such =
system in operation there IS probably
not an acre in the district that may
not become producing. As the area OF
swamp land increases the mainten-
ance cost to the remaining area in
creases proportionately.
This being the case, it is imperative
that some drainage system be built
at once. The voters of the district
refused to vote bonds for a system to
be built by the district. It being gen.
orally felt that if they had to pay
5000 per acre to the government tina!
they could not afford any additional
expense, no matter how much the
work be needed.
Relief By the Government
Recognizing that some hardship va
being worked upon the people ownint
land within the Pioneer district. thu
government offered the plan outlines
above. They propose, in other words
to cancel the old contract. and eharg'
what was originally estimated ~ tn
cost to the land under the Pioneer.
$1,000 per acre. But the district need
ing drainage system % badly
TACT such system being absolutel!
necessary, the government also oster
to build this, At actual cost Of con
struction. without interest. This COS
OF $1,000 per acre will be added to to
$ioO. bringing the entire cost unde
the new contract, with drainage, =
but $500; instead Of the presnt lie!
OF $s6O0-without drainage. In al
dition the government will give. te'
years to pay for the work-and n
payment due until one year after tn
work be declared completed, which !
all probability win be FIVE or d
years hence.
Summed up. the situation 10 this:
The Pioneer Irrigation Distris
must at once build complete drair
age. system. The government otfe'
to build the system. with no profit {
interest charges. and asking no pa!
ment until after one year after Il
whole work Il completed. Then pa!