Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1916-11-24
talAlElal ~.

From all present indications the
project of retaining the Kootenai
Valley of Idaho and British Col
umbia, which includes some $4,000
acres of rich bottom lands on both
sides of the Kootenai river for a
distance of some 60 miles, will soon
be taken up again. The project was
well under way just before the
present European war started and
the governments of the United States
and Canada were considering the
features which made the proposition
an international affair and had had
department heads and official engi-
neers over the field on. both sides
of the boundary line to determine
the feasibility of drainage plans.
At this time the renewing of in
terest in the drainage of the Koote-
mai valley comes from the work
of the people of Creston, B. c. The
Creston people have been quietly
working and thus far have secured
practical promises from the present
administration. Premier Brewster
was placed in office by the Liberal
party and this party is pledged to
several reclamation projects, it is
understood, among which that of the
Kootenai Valley is foremost.
1t is also claimed that the high
est officials of the Canadian Pa
cific Railway company have become
interested in the proposition believ-
ing that successful drainage would
bring the railway company a great
ly increased amount of tonnage.
1t is further claimed, and upon re
liable information, that certain cleo
trio power companies operating OF
the Kootenai river below the poin
where the greatest amount of worl
will be done in the effort to secure
drainage, have agreed to diverg'
the points of intakes for their powe
plants and that such changes will
be made at no cost to any govern
ment or drainage commission. II
the past the confliction of the in
terest of drainage and the powe
companies has been serious OBJ
stacle.
The first intimation the genera
public had of the renewing of re
clamation plans was when Richar'
here this week in conference witt
V. Bevans, of Creston, B. c., cam
A. ]. Kent. Mr.. Bevans is a mem
Der of the British Columbia com
mission elected to further the inter
ests of drainage in this district. TIL
details of the plans of the Canada
commission have not been made pub
lie as yet. While here Mr.. Bevan
agreed to send a written statemen
at once concerning the plans of tn
Canadians which will be forwarde
to Senator Borah at Washington
D. c., who in turn will take tn
matter up with the proper official
of the U. S. government. 1t
known that the Creston people wan
to get the engineers and heads Q
the departments of drainage togeth
err at once in order that they ma
compare data already gathered, chez
over surveys made and so decid
: upon the hest manner in which
proceed.
From Canada comes the repol
that this spring during the hig
water period the Kootenai river par
ly diverted from its natural cours
at a point above Fort Steel, B.
1t seems that years ago Canada
syndicate was granted a land cor
cession for cutting a canal frol
!, the Kootenai river to the Columbi
river at a point where the tw
streams are but a little over mi
apart. The canal was closed whe
complaint was made by people owl
, ing land along the banks of II
: Columbia river and was referred 4
5 the U. S. government that the d
, version of the sKootenai river waite
| into the Columbia river caused &
undue amount of spring high wat
: and ruined property. 1t is elaine
. that under Canadian laws the presel
e diversion of the Kootenai river ca
= not be blocked or hindered.
e 1t is also known that at Procte
: B. c., the Kootenai river was wi
e ened some 100 feet and somt S5(
Y 900 was spent in improving Il
river channel. People who ha