The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-10-25
TEXT OF THE
SALMON TRACT
SETTLEMENT
RECOMMENDATION OF U. S.
LAND COMMISSIONER
TALLMAN
Action of State Board
Thereon
Full Official Report of the Pro-
ceedings of the State Land
Board in re the Salmon Irriga-
tion Project.
Jerome. Idaho. Oct. Is. 1911

jerome, 1udnO, Ott. Is, lJl g.
The Idaho State Land Board met
pursuant ii adjournment at the par
lor of the North Side Inn
Same members present as at the
morning session, also the commits
sioner of the general land office and
associates.
Whereupon the United States COM
missioner of the general land office
submitted the following cOmmunica-
ton to the State Land Board:
Gentlemen of the State Land Board
of Idaho:
Having examined the Salmon River
priject, together with the land board
with a view of making such a read
justment as is necessary in order to
permit of an application for and grant
ing a patent as promptly as possible,
to the end that the uncertainties and
difficulties that have heretofore eX-
listed in connection with this project
may be terminated at as early a date
as practicable, I propose to you the
| following plan of procedure based on
the facts Indicated
1. That the present. available water
supply for irrigation on the project
on an average year, taking into con-
sideratiOn the use of the reservoir for
storage purposes for holdover water
from year to year, is estimated at ap-
! proximately $4,000 acre feet at the
farmers headgates or at the measur-
| ing weirs that are used on the prof
ect. This quantity of water on a ba-
sis of 2A acre feet per acre as a duty
of water would furnish sufficient wat
er for the irrigation of $4,000 acres
It was indicated at a meeting held by
the settlers however, that two acre
feet would be required to raise alfal
ia crops; though doubtless less thar
one-half of the project is devoted tC
alfalfa crops, let us assume for the
purpose of argument that approx
mately 21h acre feet on the land ar'
need for diversified crops, considering
the peculiar character of the soil il
some portions of the project.
1t appears further that a marke,
saving of water can be made by elimi
mating the so-called check basin stu
ated just below the reservoir, by plac
ing a canal through this basin o
> around it, it appearing that this basil
has developed serious leakages int
the lava. 1t is also apparent that
large saving in the water can be mad
by eliminating certain canals particu
I. the check basin and the west laters
are eliminated it will bring the waite
, supply for the farmers up to approx
: mately 21s acre feet per acre on tn
= land measured at their measurin
\ weirs for $4,000 acres actually irr
. gated and cultivated.
:, l, therefore, have to suggest tn;
: the land board proceed to contra
= this project to a total area of lanC
2 which will contain approximately 81
600 actual irrigable acres; with Il
> understanding that this contractic
shall be worked out so as to elm
nate the west lateral; also that Il
:, requirement shall be made of the cor
- pany or bondholders committee tn
the so-called check basin be elimina
y ed
?, 1t is my opinion that in the cour
- - of time less amount of water W
be necessary properly to reclaim L
~ land under this project; in 9th
words, that a larger area can be 7
- claimed and irrigated from the ava
AZ able water supply. /, therefore, ha
ie to suggest further that whatever ar
~ is necessary be permitted to rema
under segregation for some years
&c come, with a view of increasing t
~ irrigated area of the project by s
=, =. 5000 acres at a later time if it sh;
~ prove that there is a sufficient wat
u supply for that purpose.
~ Yours very truly,
Vi CLAY TALLMAN
Upon motion made by Governor 4
e exander. the report of the commissic
er of the general land offices HC
ne Clay Tallman, was adopted and ord'
~ ed spread on the minutes in full.
81 Upon motion by Attorney Genel
~ Walters, the following resolution "
nc unanimously adopted:
Resolved. that the total irriga
acres in the Salmon River Twin RI
'ey Carev Act project shall not exec
$4,000 irrigable acres within the pr
Is ect, and that the state land board v
Continued on Page 81