The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-09-23
IDAHO LEADS in
IRRIGATION WORK
Irrigation Congress Of
Western States
Suggested
HUGE RESERVOIR
RESERVOIR

scheme contemplating the most gi-
gantic irrigation and power system
in the United States was touched
upon in general way before the
state land board last week when the
Twin Falls-Bruneau Land & Water
Co. asked the board to apply to the
secretary of the interior to have
$4,000 acres of the Big Bruneau
project segregated as the first unit
in the proposed development.
| Attic the first segregation lies in
the extreme southwestern part Of the
state, the system when completed,
according to information now avail
able, will stretch from Yellowstone
lake in Wyoming across the entire
width of southern Idaho to the
Oregon state line.
It will cost completed, more than
800 100000. A dam across the
| Snake river at American Falls, the
main engineering feature, will cost
/ $40, 1000, O0O-five times more than
Arr0wrock dam.
/ w. G.. Swendson, reclamation COM
missioner, will make report, prob
ably the latter part of the week, to
the land board on the ACCESSIBILITY of
H recommending to the interior de-
partment the segregation of the big
Bruneau unit.
The huge American Falls reservoir
would back up enough water in the
Snake hiver, as now planned, to fur
nish an inexhaustable supply for
every irrigation project now using
from it or in contemplation, 1t is
claimed by the promoters, and the
power resources of the enterprise
cannot even be estimated under
standingly because of the magnitude
of the thing.
n Waters of the Snake river would
be supplemented with the winter
run-off from Yellowstone lake In
Yellowstone park, which would be
diverted to the Snake river by means
of an enormous tunnel thru the
divide.
Another unique engineering fea-
ture would be ninetymile canal
from Miner dam to the Bruneau
project. The water from the Ameri-
can Falls reservoir would be taken
down the river to the Miner dam,
and thence diverted to the project
thru the canal. This canal, to meet
even the demands of the first segre-
cation, must be as large as river.
1t is not improbable that transpor-
tation by gasoline barges will grow
out. of its construction as by
industry.
/ Back of the enterprise are e. HI.
Dewey of Nampa, |. B. Perrine of
Twin Falls, H. L. Hollister, E. T..
Meredith of Des Moines, Ia, and
other capitalists and promoters.
Because of the gigantic proper
tons of the scheme attacks are be-
ing made on the promoters by anti
: development corporation interests,
who would have the enterprise state
owned. Others contend that it can
be handled only by private interests
competent to assemble the enormous
capital required.
]. H. Richards of Boise, chairman
of the company's executive commit
Itee, told the state land board when
the first segregation was asked that
the Big Bruneau would be under a
common law trustee form of man
agement," and that every detail of
the construction would be referred
to the land board for approval.
A theoretical calculation on the
population capacity Of the lands in
volved when they are reclaimed and
the system is complete, together with
the ratio Of city workers to the in
creased rural population, makes it
appear not unreasonable that south
ern Idaho will double in population
if the scheme goes thru in it's en-
tirety. At least that claim is made
by the promoters.
|. A survey of the situation shows
that Idaho is leading the west in its
interest in irrigation matters. No
ether state can claim such apparent
possibilities.
To arrive at some definite policy
to be followed by the west in its de-
mands upon congress for favorable
reclamation legislation, Governor D.
w. Davis has suggested to the gov
ernors of other western states that
an irrigation congress be held at an
early date at some central point
such as Salt Lake. The meeting will
probably be held in October OF
November.