The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1914-04-24
ROUS|NG BLACK CANYON
MEETING HELD At EMMETT

He said that the project as first con-
sidered consisted of the North Side,
the present Black Canyon, comprising
some $4,000 acres lying between the
Payette and Boise rivers, and the
South Side, lying between the Boise
and Snake rivers, and comprising
Z0O,0OO or more acres.
In the year 1908 the government
withdrew these lands under the Rec
lamation Act and the preliminary
surveys were started. This caused
settlers to make entries upon these
lands, relying upon the implied prom
Uses of Uncle Sam. For some reason
in 1905 the service changed the plans
and the work was started on the
South Side first, instead of on the
North Side as was first intended.
AT one of series OF meetings with
the officials Of the Reclamation Ser
vice in 1908 it was suggested that the
settlers on the North Side be grant
ed leaveSof absence. This PROPOSE
ton the settlers rejected, stating that
they had settled upon the land with
the purpose of making homes and had
spent their savings in building homes
and improving the land, and had no
other place in which to live.
Secretary Ballinger at a meeting
held at the Caldwell Commercial
club July "a, 1909, stated that it
would be FIVE or six years before the
Service could take up the work and
again urged the settlers to form an
irrigation district, that they might in
terest private capital, assuring them
that they would not in any way jeap-
ordize their rights to have the gov
eminent construct the works.
The settlers acting upon the advice
OF the secretary then formed the
Black Canyon Irrigation district. At
ter the authorization of the indebted
ness the representatives of the dis
trict called upon the Reclamation
Service, soliciting a contract by which
the service would construct these
works, telling them that private cap
ital was out fthe question. They
heard the, same old story-no avail
able funds.
These lands" continued Mr..
thompson, were settled by home
builders during the years from 1908
to 1908, and these settlers have en-
dured hardships and privations dur
ing these many years which language
cannot describe. Parents and chill
dren have been denied the benefits of
society, school and church, in the
ond hope that Uncle Sam would
fulfill his implied promises and that
they would have a comfortable home.
Many of these settlers were old, who
came here with the savings of a life
time, which they have expended in
the building Of house. in improving
the lands and in living these many
years, waiting for the water, and they
are now destitute"
Mr.. Thompson declared that the
man who failed to respond to the
cry of those down trodden and in
need, was out of tune with the great
force and power which moves the
world and which will move it more
and more as the world gets better and
truer. What is true of the individ.
ual," declared the speaker, SIS true
Of the nation of individuals"
Illustrations were used of the pri'
vations and hardships which these
brave settlers had so long endured
: He described a funeral train whiet
but lately conveyed to its last resting
, place the body of wife and mother
/ who with husband and children TO
II years had buffeted want. povert!
and hardship on their homestead
never faltering in the faith that I'm
Gle Sam would fulfill his promises
{ Before her hopes we're realized, tn
mother was touched by the Angel o
, Death, leaving husband and childrei
, in their desert home, overhung wit
! dense clouds of poverty, disappoint
ment and despair.
{ Not long SINCE" continued Nj
/. Continued on last page)