American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-05-08
MINIDOKA HOME
STEADERS HEARD
REPRESENTATIVE OF NORTH
AND SOUTH SIDE TRACTS
GET HEARING.
BRADY HEARS WITNESSES
Secretary Lane Refuses to Give
Full Control Of Project to a
Water Users Association En-
gineer Denies Extravaganza.

E. l.. Rigg and J. l.. Rush of Ru-a
pert, representing the settlers OF tA&
North Side, and H C. Schenck for
the settlers of the South Side Mini
doka irrigation project, were given
three hours Wednesday morning to
explain before Secretary Lane the
conditions of the Minidoka irriga-
tion project and to file such COM
plants os they cared to make
against the construction and man
agement Of the project by the re-
clamation service. All the mem
bers of the Idaho delegation were
present throughout the hearing and
Senator Brady especially took part
in the examination of witnesses.
all witnesses impressed upon the
secretary the re necessity for
an extension of the time in which
to make water payments to the
government. explaining the peculiar
iy adverse conditions which have
Grated on this pre- iect 10 render
II difficult for settlers TO estab-
lish themselves and make their
lands profitably productive, dwell
ng particularly upon the drift
ing sands and the delay in furnish
ing water Extravaganza was
chan ged or the part OF the re
ciamation service, espee tally in the
construction of drainage work
Inc witnesses urged that the set
tiers be more freely consulted
about the new work before it is
Undertaken. Aprotest was made
against permitting reclamation Off
clals TO deprive settlers OF water
where they are delinquent with the
payments and it was proposed as
Il remedy that the Minidoka Water
Users association be formed with
authority to make collections from
all settlers or land owners, the
association to be alone responsible
to the government for the payment
and the association 10 exercise its
own authority in dealing with delin-
quents
There was disagreement on this
proposal, however, and Secretary /
Lane interrupted to say that while 1
he would be glad 10 see a water /
users association take the responsi- I
hility for the collection OF payments
from esttlers, he doubted if such a
scheme could be arranged in Mini /
doka.
You people are so suspicious of
each other" he sa d. that | doubt
+ the plan could be put through. If
the government should undertake to
organize such an association there
would be opposition to it, as you
have not the initiative yourselves 10
get 1t up. it iseyiden; you are di-
Vided in your feeling. There IS no
unity. The first thing is for you
people to think and decide what YOU
want and show some common pur-
pose in handling III enterprise" I
Rigg and Rush. laid particular
emphasis upon the desire II the set
lers 10 be relieved of the payment
II the full $50 per acre for water
lalming they should be held for but
'26 per acre, according to early con-
racts. They also want the govern
nent TO bear the cost of mainten-
nee and operation until the project
turned over 20 the settlers.
Project engineer Fogg made
rief statement in reply to COM i,
laints and vowed a purpose to &C
perace with the settlers as far as .
ossible. He denied many charges
( extravaganza and as'd work is =
o longer undertaken where it is
ossible TO do it, particularly on :,
ralnage canals under contract
18th the farmers.
uue tummius "a n h.. v,,S 80,