American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1914-09-24
TO STOP THE FLOODS
Senator Brady Asks Government Aid
For Controlling Waters OF
snake River.

Washington, ID. C., sept. l-Sena-
tor Brady has taken up with the in
terror department the question of con-
trolling the waters of the Snake river
in the upper Snake river valley from
where the south fork m out Of the
canyon to the Buttes twenty miles
below. The river flows on a very
out of the canyon and in this twenty
miles are located the head-gates Of
thirty-one canals watering an area OF
over two hundred and fifteen thousand
acres of land.
Senator Brady impressed upon the
department hat it costs thousands of
dollars each year for the farmers to
protect their homes and their head
gates from the flood waters; and then
costs thousands of dollars in the fall
to build temporary dams across the
several channels to secure water
enough to mature their crops, perman-
ent dams being almost impossible and
impracticable because of the shifting
conditions of the river channels. Be
sides the people spending thousands
and thousands of dollars each year to
protect their canals and their homes.
the county has replaced II bridge
five times in the past twelve years, the
last bridge and grade costing 100000.
The Oregon Short Line railroad has
spent many thousands of dollars in
money in order to protect the bridge
and grade. At one time the Oregon
Short Line was compelled to place two
hundred car loads of rock within a
distance of four hundred feet in or
der to protect its property. Some
farmers have had heavy personal loss,
some losing their farm buildings and
others having portions of their land
actually cut away by the river I'm
food time. Senator Brady is urging
the department TO have a survey made
locating a permanent channel of suf-
ticient capacity to carry the food wat
ers from the canyon for twenty
IA ~ AhR Juice Ahho y -
necessary to enable the government
engineers to make a proper estimate
of the cost and feasibility of the work.
Senator Brady called the attention
of the department to the fact that they
are voting 1000. 900 this year for
the improvement of rivers and har-
bors, and that $780, 00, 900 has been
spent on this work and, although the
Snake river in connection with the
Columbia. is the second largest river
in the United States, and the seventh
largest river in the world, yet there
has been no money spent in order
to keep the Snake river within its
proper channel, while in one instance
in Tennessee IS, 600, 900 has been spent
on the Tennessee river and $500, 600
is being appropriated this year for a
river that has very little more traffic
on it than the Snake river, and where
it actually costs $4,000 per o for the
freight moved on it. Yet the govern
ment refuses to spend a few thous-
and dollars in order 10 protect the
homes Of the people BY l-eopins he
Snake river in its proper channel.
Senator Brady claims that if the
government is going to control that
river under its conservation policy il
ought at least TO keep the water with
in its proper channels
In speaking OF the matter Senator
Brady said. The government will
either fix Snake river from the canyon
to the Buttes as it should be fixed OF
u eastern friends viii have a whole
lot Of trouble in securing some of the
unwarTanted appropriations they are
asking for in order 70 improve rivers
that dc not deserve improvement one.
half as much as the Snake river.
believe in the end this work will b.
done and when it is done il will re
suit in the saving of thousands an'
thousands of dollars 70 our citizens
every year"