The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1914-01-02
TO TURN OVER
ENTIRE PROJECT
West Ind Twin Falls Company
Seeks to Save Name
THEY NOW WANT GOVERNMENT
TO COMPLETE THE WORK.
Entryman Writes Governor Haines
Asking Members of Land Board to
Cooperate With the Company.

Lnbfyman Writes Governor Haine
Asking Members of Land Board t,
Cooperate With the Company.
Professor Frank K. Welles, assistan
state superintendent of public instruc
ton for Oregon, who together will
MS father has over $4,000 invested il
the West End-Twin Falls Carey ac
project, has written letter to Cover
nor Haines urging him to cooperate
with the officers of that company il
inducing the United States to take ul
and complete the project through the
reclamation department. In his letter
Professor Welles declares that the
West End company's officers have
promised to take the matter up with
the government and have offered to
z Urn their entire interests over merel,
y A order to save their own good name
and he argues that inasmuch as more
than 100000 has already been ex-
pended on the project, he is convinced
that with the united backing of the
officers of the West End company
Inc contract holders and the state, the
government can be induced to act
quickly, save the good name of the Of
ficers of the irrigation company, save
the contract holders from loss and re-
gain for the state much of it's lost
prestige because of past failures. The
letter to the governor is as follows:
Salem, Ore, Dec. 26, 1913.
hon John M. Haines, Chairman State
Land Board, Boise, Idaho.
Dear Governor A few days ago Mr..
Sidney j. Dillon, attorney for the West
End-Tw1n Falls Irrigation company,
was IN Salem. He wanted me to as
sign my land and water contract to
the company and also enlist my sup
port In their plan of reorganization.
Although Mr.. Dillon explained the
plan OF the company and what they
hoped to do, he could not offer any
definite assurance that the project
would be financed and completed,
hence my father and | could not see
our way clear to assign our land and
water contracts to them. Mr.. Dillon
stated that E. T. Meredith, the princi-
pal stockholder in the company, has
personally advanced $4,000 without
security, during the last three years in
trying to finance the project, and that
ne is willing to advance more money.
have always heard the honesty and
Integrity of Mr.. Meredith very highly
spoken Of, and while I believe that he
and those interested with him have
been doing all they could do to fin
ance the project, | know the utterly
demoralized condition of the irrigation
bond market, SO do not have faith in
their ability to finance the work. For
this reason l believe it is safer for us
to Keep our contracts than to assign
them for stock in company that is
without funds, for / realize that Mr..
Meredith and the company are, in law,
entirely separate individuals.
Mr.. Dillon assured me that the COM
pany had no hopes of making any pro-
tit out OF the project, but that the
members of the company feel great
moral obligation to those who have
invested. and would do everything pos
slble to complete the project. Since
II fe Is to be no special session of the
IsAtho legislature, and the state has no
FUNDS at this time which may be used
for this purpose, urged Mr.. Dillon to
use his Influence in trying to induce
tbe United States government to take
c yer the project. Although he did not
believe that the government could be
Induced to cooperate in this work, he
telephOned me before leaving Salem
that he had wired Mr.. Meredith to take
up the matter with the United States.
Later l received telegram from Mr..
Meredith stating that he was writing
the interior department regarding the
project, and that If anybody could get
cooperation there he believed they
could, but that they were not hopeful. |
am not hopeful either, unless you
and the other members of your Carey
act board will join the company and
the settlers in requesting the govern
ment to take over and finish the pro-
)ect. IT we will all do this, have
great hopes that the government viii !
act. | am sure that every contract |
holder will join in the request, and |
Will write a personal appeal to each |
one ii necessary. Then we will all get !
our land and water for the actual cost
for construction, which, according to
he latest estimate is about $45 or $50
per acre. There would be no prOmot-
sr's profits to pay, which usually
to about 100 per cent OF the
cost OF the works. Furthermore,
here would be no interest on deferred
payments. Although the company is
requesting the government to take
yer the project, the government will
4 j do so without request from the
daho state officials Permit me to
lrge you to cooperate in this, and IL
We are successful you will save us
rom great financial loss, will relieve
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