Bonners Ferry herald., 1919-09-23
NRTHER PLANS
FOR DRAINAGE
ouxION OF CANADA GOVERN
VENT is NOW ASKING COOP
ERATION OF THE U. S.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES HERE
., Joint Commission To Decide
On Drainage Plans

DrAmI
# Canada and citizens OF the kootenai
TsIley district in Canada were in this
',,y Friday in conference with Rep
Sentative A. j. Kent and others rel
live 10 plans for the reclamation of
.sa overflowed lands of the Kootenai
Valley The visitors announced that
~" government of the Dominion of
canada had been interested in the pro.
,"ct and had asked the United States
sovernment to cooperate.
Among the visitors were Edward F.
nrske. Director Reclamation Service,
nanartment of the Interior, r. Burley,
chief Drainage Engineer for the Do
minion of Canada, both of Ottawa, and
cuv Constable and c. B. Garland, boCh
nrominent citizens of the Creston dis
,rict and members of the Creston
BOARD of Trade, both men having
devoted considerable of their time and
money in efforts to secure drainage.
The marty came here by auto from
Creston.
Director Drake stated that the Brit
ish Columbia government had, at the
last session of it's legislative body
assed memorials similar to those
which we're passed by the Idaho legis-
laure last January, through the eff
forts of Representative Kent and Sen
stor Walker, in which congress was
asked to take steps towards assisting
in the draining of the Kootenai Valley
and to join with the Canadians i'll the
project inasmuch as the main work
would have to be done in Canada.
Mr.. Drake told that his government
had requested of the u. S. government
that joint investigation of the pro-
ject be made by engineers of both
countries and that if this joint COM
mission found the project feasible
one that they prepare plans and esti-
mates under which the work would be
done He said that there is now a
treaty in effect through which the
joint commission of engineers could
work
Amy investigation that is made by
the two governments" said Mr.. Drake,
should be thorough one so that II
any action is taken toward the carry
ing out of the project there will be no
time or money wasted. We should be
absolutely sure we are right before
We start to go ahead.
According to my understanding nei-
ther the Dominion of Canada or the
I. S. governments expect to bear any
share of the costs of this project ex-
eept for the investigation, survey and
Preparations of plans. The actual
cost of construction will have to be
hrrt hr Nf Il q
benefited"
At the conference it was brought
out that the u. S. government officials
had expressed themselves as favorable
to the plan of assessing Indian lands
pro rata for benefits derived.
Mr. Drake stated that in Canada
there would be the question of pro
tecting water power and navigation
interests and he thought that this
could be taken care of by the engi.
neers.
Mr.. Guy Constable stated to The
Herald representative that the people
Of Creston figured that they had taker
one of the most important steps II
drainage plans in interesting the OF
nwa government in the project. Rep
fesentative Kent assured the visitors
that the Idaho delegation at Wash
ngton was ready to do all in 1T
power for the reclamation plans ant
that Senator Borah would be able t
see to it that the U. S. government
| Joins in hearty cooperation with tn
dominion of Canada government
The question of probable assess
ments of lands to provide for construC
uon necessary for drainage, was dis
cussed and the visitors stated that l
ne Creston district it was figure
mat the lands could easily be assesse
lor 500 an acre as drainage woul
make these same lands worth frol
sSuO to $500 per acre. 1t is M
nought that any plan for reclamatio
VIII necessitate an assessment an.
"nere near the 800 per acre mark.
The fact that the government OF II
dominion of Canada has taken stel
n n drainage plans for the Kooten
ALLEY, comprising nearly $4,000 acr'
VI overflow land, is welcome news
nose Of this district interested in sc
'ng the Kootenai valley put in such
.ohdltion that it can be safely plant
" crops each year. In years that IN
.anu has not overfiowed it has yield
~ nigh as 72 bushels of oats to {
sr1e and other crops proportionate
"nat 1t will mean in a commerce.
"ay TO have these $4,000 acres I
'iaimed, is hard to estimate.
IN this connection Mr.. Kent h
cIS'eiy been advised that the Britt
sSsvaluumbia government has purchas
sSvV acres of land between Crest
snu Porthill which is to be divided
so,s, ~iv acre tracts for returned Canadi
sy,iulers. The Canadian soldiers "
s'so De given financial aid end be
S.ed to repay money borrowed at es
s-,V es OF interest and the paymel
VII ni De spread over a long term
niss Lillian Hallgren, of Sandpoi
has guest here on Saturday at