Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1917-10-02

The much advertised, long-looked-
forward-to drainage meeting at Cres
ton, B. c., on Saturday was another
red letter day in the history of eff
forts to secure the reclamation of
the Kootenai valley and, it is gen.
orally believed, considerable Roadway
was made toward the ultimate sue
cess of the project.
Several of the most prominent of
ficials of the British Columbia gov
eminent were present at Creston
Friday and Saturday and were ac-
quainted with the reclamation plans.
These officials refused to commit
themselves or make any promises
further than that if after all avail
able data had been presented the
drainage question appeared to be
feasible and economically sound the
British Columbia government would,
without question, father the scheme
and cooperate with the United States
government in retaining the Koo-
tenai valley tract of some $4,000
acres of richest agricultural land.
Engineers of the United States
government were not present at the
due to the fact that the depart
ment of the interior at Washington
wired to the British Columbia of
ficials several days before the meet
ing asking if the B. c. officials and
engineers would attend the Creston
meeting. The answering wire stated
that nothing was known of the Cres-
ton plans. AS soon as it was known
that these wires had been sent and
received the citizens of Creston and
Boomers Ferry got busy and Creston
secured the definite promise of the
Canadian officials to attend the meet
ing but it was then too late for
| Washington to send the engineers
of the United States. Engineer Nc
Crory and perhaps one or more of
his colleagues met yesterday and
today in Nelson, B. c., with Can
adian engineers and it is believed
that this conference will be the means
of working out a definite plan of
arriving at the costs and feasibility
of reclamation.
John Oliver, minister of agricul-
ture, Province of British Columbia,
was the spokesman for the govern
ment officials at the meeting Satur-
day afternoon. He gave the i'm
preston that earlier experience with
drainage plans which had been fail
ures had dampened his ardor. and
that he for one had no intention
of being identified with a scheme
which might prove a failure. "From
the standpoint of the government"
he said, "if this Kootenai valley can
be reclaimed at cost of $50, $50 or
even $50 per acre and absolute
drainage be assured. it is a good
business proposition" The minister
then went into, broadly, tie report
on the Kootenai valley drainage pro
ject by U. S. Engineer Jones, and
called attention to the fact that
under Plan No. the diversion of
the Kootenai river at Canal Flats
was recommended but that the en-
glneer stated that owing to his lack
of authority he had not investigated
how or at what cost the diversion
could be made. The minister also
stated that in proposing to divert
the Kootenai river it must be taken
into consideration what effect such an
act would have in the Upper Column
bia river valley where such diversion
would probably inundate homes, vii
lagos, farms, etc. The speaker took
up the subject of securing drainage
by widening and deepening the
West Arm of Kootenai Lake. Here
again, he asserted neither the Brit
ish Columbia or United States gov
eminent had any up-to-date or au-
thoritative data from whence to base
their judgment.
The minister was forceful in en-
phasizing his point that the drainage
matters were in a nebulous condi-
ton and that neither government
should be asked to endorse or take
up a drainage scheme without fur
; Their and exhaustive data at hand
; upon which to base conclusions. "If
; this proposition is economically
; sound" Mr.. Oliver concluded, "the
British Columbia government will en-
deavor to hold up its end of the
; stick"
; T. D. Pattullo, minister of lands
; endorsed the position taken by his
; colleague, Mr.. Oliver, and assured the
: gathering that the British Columbia
officials would give the Kootenai
valley drainage project their most
: serious attention and investigation
: and that if it were shown that bene-
, fits would be received in proportion
. to the cost the British Columbis
. government would see to it that
: drainage would be secured.
: John Keane, M. M. P, Kaslo Rid
!: ing told of his efforts in parliament
: to bring the Kootenai project to the
: front and that he was greatly en-
: couraged by the presence at Sat
!; urday's meeting of so many whC
: seemed to be so greatly interested il
: the matter of drainage.
: The meeting Saturday Afternoon
: was called to order by DR.. Henderson
: president of the Creston Board O
|: Trade. Later DIR. Henderson wa
: CALLED away and F. A. Starkey, pres
(: ident of the associated Boards o
: Trade of Kootenay and Boundary
!: presided.
|: State Senator Walker was the frs
= speaker and told in a few wei