Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-02-02
WATER SUPPLY ON THE SALMON
RIVER PROJECT SUFFICIENT FOR
100000 ACRES OF LAND

The water supply OF the Twin Falls
Salmon river project is only sufficient
to irrigate 10000 acres of land and 2.26
acre feet is the highest possible duty
that can be advantageously employed
on that project. These are the find
ings of the state land BOARD after a
thorough investigation into that prof.
ect's affairs. 1t instructs the state en-
gineer to report at the earliest possible
time the particular 10000 acres which
will be most advantageously and eco
nomically irrigated while settlers on
the project are admonished to abstain
from new or additional cultivation un-
til further order of the board.
The board adopted the following
resolution after Governor Alexander
made a report on the project which,
also, was unanimously adopted:
Resolutions Adopted.
Resolved, that the state engineer be
advised of the findings of this board
that the water supply for the Twin
Falls Salmon River project is INSULT
cient at the present time to irrigate
any land in excess of 10000 acres as
evidenced by the report of the commits
sioner OF the general land office before
the board; and that 226 acre feet is
the highest possible duty of water that
can be advantageously employed on
said project.
1T is further resolved. that the state
engineer be requested to report at the
earliest possible time the particular
10000 acres which. in his judgment
II will be most advantageous and gen.
orally economical to irrigate and what
particular lands should be eliminated
from the segregation; in which re-
port he shall have due regard for the
economical handling of water, the elm
ination of all possible loss from seep-
age and evaporation or other causes
with the object of obtaining the high
est possible duty and the most eco
nomical and scientific use to which
the water, capable of being impound =
ed, can be put; due regard shall also
be given to soil values and the prob
able ultimate productivity therefore.
1T is further resolved that settlers
under said project be admonished to
abstain from any new or additional
cultivation or improvements on their
lands until further order Of this board"
On the motion of Secretary of State
Barker the board decided that no final
proofs will be accepted by the board
where improvements upon the land are
shown to have been made subsequent
to the date of the order
Findings of Board.
The following were the findings
drafted Ly Governor Alexander pre-
scented to the board and unanimously
adopted:
ITO the Honorable Board OF State
Land Commissioners:
"Gcntlemen-In relation to the Twin
Falls Salmon River irrigation project
which we have had under consideration
for the past six months and to which
we have given considerable discussion.
time and attention, there seems to be
many different angles to take into con-
sideration on this project.
What we have always had in view
was to get the project into such a
shape that the bona fide settlers upon
the lands will be enabled to remain
and prosper and the company in time
receive compensation for their invest
ment to the extent that they are able
to furnish water for the reclamation
Of arid lands.
Tn my talk with Mr.. Edwards, who
represents the bondholders on this
project in Washington and New York
the purport of our talk was that il
should be determined what was to be
done and then do it quickly and that
the bondholders were ready to take the
adjustment and loss that would be
necessary in the event of a rehabili-
tation of the project.
I'VE have worked diligently upor
this matter and there seems to be nc
solution in sight. excepting that some
body is to give and take the loss in