The Blackfoot optimist. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1907-1918, 1916-02-17
BIG LOST RIVER PROJECT
WILL BE COMPLETED

BY vote of four to one the mem.
bers of the state land board on Mon.
day entered into the contract with the
Utah Construction company regarding
the Big Lost River project. The gov
ernor was the only member of the
board who did not agree to the terms
of the contract.
Three sessions were held Monday
before the contract was finally signed,
one in the forenoon, lasting until near
ly noon, another at clock, and the
third and last, which was an execu-
tive session, lasted until after 4
| O clock
Both Sides Present
w. A. Watts of the Utah Construc.
ton company and his local attorney,
Edwin Snow, appeared for the COM
pany. Arrayed on the opposite side,
and representing the new created Big
Lost River Water Users association,
were Chase A. Clark, William A.
Brodhead and State Senator Ravenel
Macbeth.
1t was the contention of the pro-
testants that the board was not pro.
tecting the rights of the settlers in
the Mackay district, who are taking
water from Big Lost river and Antelope
creek, and whose state permits wers
subsequent to the filings of the Utah
Construction company.
Settlers Favor Contract
Settlers already on the project We're
represented by X. l.. Molen, G. r.
jefferson of Arco and others, and they
contended that the representations
made by the opposing side were gross
ly exaggerated. They said that it was
not the prerogative of the board to sit
as adjudicators to adjust the water
rights in this case, and they and w.
H. Watts maintained that the matter
Of the water rights should not enter
into the consideration of the contract.
1t was question, they contended, Of
granting to the Utah Construction
company the right to carry out its
contract, nothing more.
Vexatious Problem
With the signing of the contract
for the completion of the Big Lost
River project, the state land board has
settled one of the most vexatious
problems that state officials have had
to deal with.
More than seven hundred settlers
residing in practically every state in
the Union had purchased water rights
from the Big Lost River company
and the disastrous failure of the COM
pany has been responsible, in largo
measure, for the unfortunate reputa'
ton gained for Carey act projects in
Idaho. These settlers have their
rights protected under the new con-
tract with the Utah Construction COM
pany to the extent of all moneys they
have paid in on their old contracts
with the defunct company.
w. II. Watts, president of the COM
pany, announced on Monday that i'm
mediate steps would be taken to pros
ecute the work to completion and that
dirt would be moving on the construc'
ton work within the next few weeks.
Help Other Projects
The completion of the Big Lost
River project will be a big step to.
ward rehabilitating Carey act pro.
iects in Idaho, in the opinion of those
well versed in irrigation matters. 1t
will also mark the introduction of the
unit plan of construction, whereby
the danger of opening large tracts OF
land to settlement before water IS
provided will be averted. The water
supply is first developed and the land
is disposed of only after it is demon
strated that there is water for its irrl-
cation.
Other Development
The interests of the Utah COnstruc.
lion company are more or less closely
aligned with those of the Oregon Short
Line and the Utah Idaho Sugar com.
pany, and it is predicted that the COM
pletion of the project will result in
the construction of the Big Lost River
branch of the Oregon Short Line
through the tract and the establish.
ment of sugar factories in that re-
gion.