The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1913-05-09
BLACK CANYON d.
RECT0RS MEET
settlers
Answer a Series of Pertinent
Questions Regarding Affairs
of District
CAME AS A SURPRISE
Directors Had no Notice of Intention
Of Settlers to Call Upon Them but
Answers all Questions Satisfactorily
Books of District Always Open
to Inspection

In answer to printed circular is
sued by some of the settlers on the
North Side, about 20 of those interest
ed in the Black Canyon project met
at the Office of the directors of the dis
trict Tuesday afternoon and gave the
directors pretty searching investiga-
ton. The concensus of opinion at the
close OF the meeting seemed to be that
directors had done everything in their
power for the furtherance of the at
.airs of the district and at least the
majority OF those present went away
with expression of confidence in the
men who represent them on the board
of directors
J. D. Quick was elected chairman of
the meeting and list of pertinent
questions which had been prepared
was read and answers by the directors
returned. The directors had no init
nation that such a meeting was to
have been held and naturally had no
time in which to prepare any state
ment. They stated that the affairs of
the district were always open to the
public and Messrs. Newport and
Hawkes., the only directors present,
made careful and exhaustive answers
to all questions. At times Hon. J. M.
Thompson, legal adviser of the dis
trict was called in to the discussion
and materially helped to d:spel sever
al unfortunate impression which had
gained some credence among the set
tiers.
The principal cause of unrest ap-
peared to be the belief that the direc-
tors were in danger of signing away
the water rights of the district to some
power company. This belief gained
circulation because a company had
expressed desire to present a propo-
sition to the directors of the district
to build dams at the lakes and use the
power until such time until the dis
trict might be ready to take the site
over. This company also expressed
desire to bid on the con-
tract for the entire works
At present they have made
any concrete bid for the work and nat
urally the directors of the district can
not have cognizance of the matter
until such bid is regularly made.
The settlers of the district are anx-
ious that the government build the
works, and the directors expressed
themselves as being strongly in favor
OF this. Government or private cor
poration. the first to express them
selves as ready to start upon the act
ual construction of the works will
probably find active support from the
majority of the settlers.
President Newport after the meet
ing expressed himself as highly pleas
ed that the settlers had called the
gathering and hoped that they would
continue to take an active interest in
the affairs of the district
One of the principal causes of dis
rest developed in the matter of the
3S-cent assessment. Previous to the
formation of the district two lO-cent
assessments had been made. One d.
rectors of the company and certain
representatives had declared that
those paying these lO-cent assess
ments would be reimbursed when the
district made the regular assessment
that the amount paid would be de-
Quoted from the 35-cent assessment.
This was promised without any au-
thority and the directors now find
themselves unable to pay any of this
money back to the original donors.
The men donating money from EN-
NETT, New Plymouth. Notus and other
points have declared that the debt is
discharged. and certain members of
the Caldwell Commercial club have
declared that the club will pursue like
tactics in regard to the $4,000 loaned
by that organization.
1t is probable that the directors of
the district will in the future issue full
statements at regular intervals that
the settlers may at all times be full
aware of The status of the affairs of the
district.