The Twin Falls times. [volume] (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1905-1916, 1916-07-25
Will GO TO LIMIT
OF OFFICIAL POWER
Governor Proposes To Act In
Salmon Tract Matter
WILL HAVE RECOMMENDATIONS
READY INSIDE OF WEEK.
Governor Thinks He Can Get Some
Results For Settlers. Says Time
For Discussion Has Past.

Governor Alexander will do every
thing within his official power to give
relief to the settlers on the Salmon
river project, who have suffered a
great deal because of lack of water.
He is back from the project, having
made an inspection of it with Secre-
tary of State Barker. Regarding the
trip and his findings the governor
said:
"The Twin Falls-Salmon river tract,
located south of Twin Falls; is where
Secretary of State Barker and myself
spent two days investigating the wa
ter supply the condition of the crops
and the general outlook of things as
they existed.
This is my fourth visit to the Sal
mon river tract, once in 1914, once in
1915, and twice in 1916, so I have
seen a fair average of the conditions
as they are today and as they have
been in the past and I can form a fair
idea of what the probable run-off will
be in the reservoir taken, averagely
speaking, for years to come.
"The Salmon river tract presents a
problem unique above all others. II
is a problem that has to be dealt with
/ by tBe7land board, the state, the com.
pany and the settlers. 1t requires the
incest adjustment possible to restore
confidence and make it possible for
the people on the tract to prosper.
There have been mistakes made.
The people have but one complaint
and that is the shortage of water The
settlers claim that under their con-
tract, they are entitled to 3-4 acre
feet of water per acre They claimed
last year, which was exceptionally
dry, to have received less than one
acre-foOt. This year they claim to
have received a foot and a half and
the last run through the ditch Will be
completed in about a week. The crcps
present the condition that about that
amount of water would produce, un-
der ordinary circumstances, of course
the ground last year, last fall and this
spring was devoid of any moisture on
account of the intense drouth. The
shortness of rainfall makes the matter
still worse
"The people on that tract have suf-
fered as perhaps only few have, and
how they have ever preserved with all
the obstacles in the way is hard fol
me to comprehend. They certainly
! possess patience, pluck and enduran &C
that commands the admiration of all
who know the conditions existing
there.
"They are uncomplaining about the
many hardships. All they ask ant
want is sufficient water. They are
ready to work hard and faithfully tC
build their homes and the state
ION different occasions they have
discussed the shortness of the water
supply from every angle and so has
the land board, and l presume previ
GUS land boards did likewise. TheS
have taken the case into the United
States courts and secured a deere,
from Judge Dietrich for the 81
acre-feet of water per acre They
have the decree but they have not tn,
water.
There are now over $4,000 acres O
land in cultivation on this tract anC
there is not water sufficient to supply
2 ga acre-feet per acre, or anything
near like it under the most favorabl,
conditions for that amount of acreage
"The land board adopted a resolu
tion requesting the settlers and tn,
company to consider said resolution
and neither the company nor the set
tiers have so far been willing to take
the matter up.
This year it looks as though i
had been normal year for precipita
tion, but the water supply on tn,
tract is short. While some few ma,
make fair crop of hay and grain il
a general Wav ae a xuhoIa II doao no