The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1915-08-12
also two and three shifts in the repair
shops, mill and concrete house in emery

also two and three shifts in the repair
shops, mill and concrete house in emerg-
encies.
| All of the sawed timber and lumber
used must be manufactured on the
ground. The timber is cut and logged
to the reclamation services mill at the
dam and sawed there. Eight miles dis
lance the reclamation service has
coal mine which it is operating. Last
winter it mined 1000 tons Of coal all
of which was consumed on the work at
the dam.
Mr.. Banks informed us that he hoped
to complete The earth work Of the dyke
this season, but that would depend
much on the fall weather or length Of
season before cold weather. Rip-rap-
ping will then follow another season.
The engineers consider it impracticable
to attempt retaining the maximum head
Of water above the dyke the first sea-
son, :s the dyke should settle and the
rip-rapping be completed before this is
undertaken. He stated, however, that
he hoped conditions would make pos
|sible the advancement of the work to
an extent that would permit of increas-
led storage next season.
As regards the present water situa'
tion at the dam, information furnished
us by the engineer, we found it about
as previously explained to the settlers.
The work throughout is of such magni
Ituce and requires such technical skill
that it would be presumptuous on our
part to attempt to pass judgment on
lit. But it appears to be Of the highest
order and directed by very competent
and experienced men Of the reclamation
se-vice.
We were most courteously received
land treated by these gentlemen, and
Iglady and fully furnished with all the
information asked for. Mr.. Banks fire.
lquently volunteering information and
"details which would not naturally be
asked for by laymen, but which were
livery pertinent to our visit. The settlers
!, Iof the tract, we are sure, have staunch
friends in the reclamation officers in
charge of this work.
The undertaking is known in the re-
defamation department records as the
"Jackson Lake Enlargement Project. )"
Returning to the railroad we took
another route. Having accomplished
the purpose of the trip we left the dam
at 40 clock on the afternoon Of July 2,
with the intention of reaching Wilson,
thirty miles distant, at the foot Of Te-
ton pass, for supper. We did, but at 3
clock that night.
Next morning we made detour OF
one and half miles out Of our way
to inspect the bridge across Snake
river which the North SIDE company as
:, sisted in building. We left Wilson,
Wyoming, at clock in beginning the
trip over Teton pass to Victor, Idaho
. TWENTY-FIVE miles distant. Four hours
: were consumed in covering the twelve
miles to the summit, and two more in
making the descent to Victor, reaching
: that place at 3 o'clock p. m. From
there to Ashton, forty five miles are
splendid roads, and the run was made
in little less than three hours, com
pleting trip of 1865 miles travelling in
an irregular circle. We left Ashton al
9:5s p. m. July 3rd, arriving home thu
y afternoon of July 4th.
Our only regret is that every per
: son interested in the North Side tract
. cannot be privileged to witness the
. magnitude and substantial construc
z ton of the work that is being done and
to realize what it means to the tract
= With this work entirely completed, thu
u amount of water to be stored there fol
the benefit of the North Side tract will
e give the people interested in the trac
:" one of, if not the best water rights il
'e the entire United States and the ques
~ ton of water shortage will neve
,e again come before the settlers here ex
cept it is brought about through som
Of Providence over which morts
70 man has no control. This is situatio
q. that all may well be proud of and tn
II company and settlers may we'll congrat
in ulate themselves upon the cOmpletio
Of this great work, and the settler
n. Especially are very fortunate in bein
~ able to share with the government i
ne this great storage project, which col
he sidering the size of the dam is tn
st greatest in the world.
d. (Signed)
~ l.. T. Alexander,
k. Editor Lincoln Co. New
e. John D. Minis,
TX Editor North Side New
of VIM. A. Pyne,
" Editor Wendell Irrigationis