Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1916-09-30
AID FOR
PROJECT IS URGED
ON DEPARTMENT
B. P. Shawhan Returns
From Washington, Where
He Placed King Hill Mat
ters Before Lane.

The matter of federal aid for the
King Hill irrigation project is now be-
fore Secretary Franklin h. Lane and
1.-THE reclamation board of the interior
department. Whether or not the new
policy of extending aid to a Carey act
project will be adopted by the secre-
tary for his department and urged on
congress hinges upon the King Hill
project matter. B. p. Shawhan, form
err senator from Canyon county, man
ager for the project for the last sew
eral years, is back from Washington
where he spent a month comforting
with department officials on the en-
gineer's report and supplying such
data as would tend to make 1t clearer
as well as give the human side" OF
the project. He went there as re-
preventative of the land board and
one of the features of his stay was
conference with Secretary Lane at
New London, where the Mexican Dor
der conference is being held.
TRIP WAS JUSTIFIED.
81 feel that the trip to Washington
was justified" said Manager Shawhan
when interviewed. There is not
much that can be said with regard to
what the secretary of the interior or
ton board will do The engineers re-
ports were placed before the board.
They take up the engineering side of
the King Hill project in detail. I en-
deavored to give more of the human
side which of course would not show
on a detailed engineers report. The
matter of extending federal aid to a
Carey act project such as the King Hill
is new problem which the interior
department will have to solve. A de-
csion to back a bill in congress to ex
tend this aid will mean the adoption OF
new policy. OF course am in hopes
that such action will be taken. was
shown every courtesy by the depart
ment officials and by Secretary Lane
himself who extended hearing to me
at New London. Shortly after my ar
rival in Washington he left for New
London. That was at a time when l
was not ready to go before him as
had some important data to look up.
However, I visited him at New London
later and went over the King Hill pro-
tect matter thoroughly with him."
PROPERTY OF STATE.
The King Hill project is now the
property of the state of Idaho, the land
board having authorized that 1t be bid
in under forced sale conducted by q
master in chal-cery appointed in the
federal court From time to time the
land board has extended financial aid
to the project. Mr.. Shawhan was plac-
ed in charge and as general supervisor
placed the irrigation system in shape
to supply the settlers with water for
Irrigation purposes. He conceived the
idea of asking for federal aid and had
been an ardent hacker and supporter
of such a movement. AS a result the
interior departn ent through the recla-
nation department sent engineers to
the project and a careful engineering
examination was made. Their report
was forwarded to Washington tc
which city Senator Shawhan followed
1t. He took every precaution to see
that the department officials were CIV
en- all of the details in connection with
1t.
FEDERAL AID SOLUTION
Federal aid for this Carey act pro-
feet, would, 1t is said, mean the adop.
ton of new policy on the part of the
interior department. There are 6
number of Carey act projects in the
same condition as the King Hill and Il
is felt that the only way these projects
can be reclaimed is by placing the
government behind them. They are
financially embarrassed. having frs
been promoted by private capita
which, through engineering mistakes
or otherwise, failed to build adequate
irrigation systems after settlement
started. Shortage of water and i'm
proper distribution through fault,
construction works. caused hardships
BY extending to such projects. finan
cial aid. congress. It is claimed, car
: place the projects on their feet ant
witness their ultimate completion t.
the general benefit Of the public, es
/pecially the settlers on them.
Mrs. F. w. Humphrey, who has beer