The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1915-03-12
.LOVEJOY SAYS CONGRESS
WILL VOTE MONEY IF
It GETS CHANCE


next regular session, from my talks
with members, ! believe that TINS
phase of legislation will be defeated
but if not we might as well get our
shoes half soled and ready to walk
out. as there will be nothing lett tor
the land owner if this becomes a law.
visited the great falls of the Po-
tamac river, located about sixteen
miles from the door of the Capital !:
1t has a drop OF about ~ feet and
when | inquired why this was not
used to light and heat the National
Capital and the District Of Columbia,
was informed that power company
had an option on it for 100 years, as
found by a congressional committee
of investigation some years ago.
| can verify the fact that the only
use these falls were ever put to was
by General Washington us years ago
when he ran canal from the top OF
same for a mill race, the ruins OF
which mill still stands today.
On my way home | was introduced
by friend to a Hydro Electric pro-
moter, who not knowing my mission,
and probably installing me for
power man also, conhded in me the
fact that he himself had investigated
the possibilities of promoting power,
in Idaho, and he said that he had
found that there was nothing in 1t
for the reason that there was already
more power developed in Idaho than
it was possible to find market for,
and owing to the fact that our utili-
ties commission has barred out new
companies in our state for similar rea-
sons, | am led to say that the power
interests should not be allowed to
take reservoir sites and public re-
sources that can be used for irriga-
ton of lands upon which to build
homes, when it is evident that they
only want same for the sole purpose
of tying up these resources for one
hundred years, perhaps, and in order
to prevent competition with their in
terests.
Much has been said about our right
of way above Horse Shoe Bend in the
canyon, and | understand that the
abandonment of same is being urged
as a reason why we should give up a
gravity system and government help
and resort to bonding or pumping
scheme.
fully investigated this matter and
found some plats on file (the blue
prints Of which have) where our
rights in said canyon under filing of
September %, 1911, were superseded
by, and made subject to the railroad |
right of way under order Of the
Secretary Of the Interior, dated April |
80, 1912, and also by plat certified
by the engineer of our district filed in
the Department at Washington and |
dated Oct, 80, 1912. and purporting
to have been made in order to show our
right of way and back water and the
location of the Idaho Northern Rail-
way, in pursuance of the said order of
the Secretary of the Interior. This
latter order and the plat filed Oct, 80,
1912, | take it was an abandonment
Of our diversion dam site filed upon
n, 1911, as far as the dis
trict is concerned and placed our
ditch right of way back of the rail-
road in a place impossible of con
struction if built BY the district.
report this, to now show you the
power of the government in matters
Of this kind. was shown the condi-
ton upon which this order OF the
Secretary of the Interior approving
the railroad right of way was made
The right being reserved by the gov
in this case and in every ap-
Droval of the right Of way OF rail-
road or other right of way ard every
patent issued for land i'll arid coun-
ries like this, to construct canals,
litches aud Ill things necessary in
he rec'am2ticr of arid lands when
oIilt by the government. Whatever
may have been done and whatever
mistakes may have been made it will
make no difference if the government
uilds our projects for us and | con
slider this one OF the most important
If the district under
axes to ruild this without govern
nent aid they will have to pay the
abroad all damage except for
mere crossing at one point and this
It the option of the Interior Depart
nent under above order,
We were informed by the ReclamA,
ng made for survey of our project
md | trust that no effort will he spar
d by the reclamation board
/ this survey is made, to ,
live us a square deal and the exact
acts in rcfer(ace thereto; and il this
here simple enough to believe that
rivate capital can do what the gov
rnmcnt can mott 1t is plain that no
me would risk money where the gov
rnmcut found it impossible of CON
truction unless this money is put in
nder the pretext of watering the
.nds in order to get something for /
themselves for the purpose of per
ctually tying up and taking over the ,
atural resources that might some day 4
e used for the land, if not at this 1
lme, as we'll rs the land itself through
bond deal or a pumping scheme of ,
ONE kind. Members OF the board q
lated that many projects that were ,
OF feasible under the 10 year pay
tent plan were now feasible under
he p year plan, and trust that this /
I'LL prove so with MS. a
The bitterest enemies ana oppOSi- i,
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