The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1920-08-30

have been looking to the time whei
We could make the water fall in tht
Ashton canyon furnish the current
that would lift the waters of Mut
Lake into the canals on the Owsle,
project which is a part of the Duboi.
country. And all thru the years we
have been hampered by every means
that shrewd corporation lawyers and
operators could devise to keep US
from building. They have done
everything from using the power Of
the public utilities commission tc
prevent our securing rights of way
and franchise, down to the least OF
petty transactions to retard the ship
ment of goods and the placing OF
cement in foundations or timbers in
construction. When we have tried to
borrow money, some unseen hand
has blocked our progress. When we
have issued bonds to raise money to
keep construction going, somebody
has searched out the particular bond
ing house that we operated thru to
sell the bonds, and something was
done to destroy our credit. When
we have gone out secretly and ar
ranged our sale of bonds, an unseen
hand has crept into a vital moment
and blocked the deal by showing that
an injunction was filed or that suit
was being filed that would hold up
operations or in some foul way stop
our progress. Time after time we
have had to levy assessments and
put up money ourselves to save the
enterprise after we had already in
vested all we were justified in taking
from our private business. At several
! times we were on the verge of ruin
just because of suits or applications
for hearings to decide whether we
had right to convey power and
light to some certain place or village
that had none. For year and a
half we have been just about ready
to deliver electrical energy to the
town of Ashton, situated right by our
plant, and yet before delivery was
accomplished and while we had made
most of our investment for delivery,
suit was filed protesting our right
to that territory, and we are deprived
OF that part of our expected income
thru all these months of hard financ-
ing. People on the Owsley project
put out crops depending upon the
completion of unit to lift water for
them, and distractions placed in our
way by our opponents, kept is from
connecting and making delivery of
current and the settlers saw their
crops wither and die. After we had
put in more than half a million dol
lars and had things arranged for sup
plying current to Ashton, Dubois,
the Owsley project and the town of
Arco, when we needed some more
materials to complete the system and
had all contracts let for materials
and construction and had all ar
engagements made for the sale of
$500, 900 worth of bonds to com )lete
it, they blocked our transactions
again and searched out every bank
where we owed money and brought
pressure to bear to cause them to |
demand immediate settlement of !
temporary loans that we had secured
to keep things going till the bond
money came in. Time after time
| had to put UP $4,000 quick, to
stop proceedings to tie us up. After
l. had invested all my capital that |
was justified in putting into any
deal, and during the past few months
had to put up $4,000 or see the
whole enterprise go into the discard
and be snapped up by the opposition
for a song. Mr.. Written put up large
sums and Mr.. Caps stood his ground
and put up large amounts, and the
most of the other stockholders were
10 hard up and so discouraged, they
lid not think it worth while to try
my longer, and that made it all the
harder for the rest of us. | never
Undertook anything in my life and
rave it up, and l was determined
lot to let this enterprise fail. am
Eighty years old, and have been try
ng to retire from active business,
tut the past two or three years have
me the hardest battles of nv
BUSINESS life, and we have won. But
omebody interested in seeing us fail
lid their very best to absorb us, and
here have been many times when it
ooked like they were going to sue
eed. They have absorbed every in a.,
ependent plant that undertook to
perate, and they have only been ,,
eaten in the maneuvers to get this
ne by the determination of three or 4,
our men who staked everything on ,,
ne game and succeeded.
I'm so far as you have explained !
ne troubles Of the Beetgrowers
ugar company in carrying on their :
Undertakings, they have been hound !
and handicapped in just about the >
ame way we have been. It seems =
most inconceivable that men should