The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-09-10
ELECTION SEPTEMBER 10TH AS
TO BOND ISSUE OF $751; ,ooo-
WHAT ABOUT IT?

AT a meeting OF taxpayers last niaat
al the court house the question of buy.
ing Oh providing an adequate water
supply for Salmon was discussed in an
INFORMAL way for an hour without ar
irving AT any conclusion. Mayor Glen.
non was requested by Chairman Fred
V. Biscoe. who called the meeting 10
order and stated its purpose, 10 ex.
plain the situation. The mayor said
The city government had been oOnsid.
ering ways and means 10 secure
enough water Tor the needs of the city
Tor four years. There was no question
about its insufficicncy. It's right was
only secondary right to the flow OF
Jesse creek, amounting TO approx.
maseiy forty inches. There are 100
inches OF the first right TO the same
waters, all decreed To ranches below
The city. II has been found that ai how
stages OF the iiow Jesse creek always
carries at least that volume Of water
or very nearly that much
The mayor stated further that he
and his associates in the council had
diligently tried TO solve the water
question and provide an adequate sup.
ply at less cost than is proposed In the
present bond issue OF $25 900. but they
had failed TO get anywhere in the ef-
fort. AT first they sought 10 secure
water from the Salmon river TO be
ditched TO one OF the ranches al the
citys expense and then traded for the
first right water owned by the ranch
Then 4 pumping plant was proposed
both for the citys supply from the
river and to exchange for the same
ranchs right in Jesse creek. but both
these propositions were found imprac.
tical and out Of the question NJ being
| too expensive. Al last the mayor and
council determined upon the present
plan OF buying the Smith ranch water
right 10 the amount OF seyenty,five
inches. giving $4,000 for II. together
| with the second right water now
| owned by the city. No other interest
would sell. The mayor thought this
| TO be the only practical solution OF the
problem. He criticised the newspaper
| statement that Salmon is not growing
| by saying the revenues derived from
| water users was largely in excess OF
what II was four years ago, being now
about $500 per month. He thought
with an adequate supply this revenue
would amount UP TO $1,000 per month
al once or as soon as service could be
installed. The mayor invited Qucs
tions on the subject and explained
them as frankly as could be desired
| by anybody after stating his own posi-
tion RS being In favor OF voting the
bonds. Going back TO the original pur,
chase of the water works system, the
mayor said il had cost $4,000 for the
plant and as much more for recon
struction and extension. for which
there are outstanding bonds OF $50. 900
In his opinion jesse creek water was
the ci,y's best asset. II 1t can be se
cured.
Allen {. Merritt explained the neces
sites of the situation us 10 the city's
water supply, saying that 10 construct
a pumping plant with the necessary
filtering attachment would cost up
ward OF $4,000. 10 say nothing about
the expense OF It's operation. Mr.. Mef
rfit contended that nothing else than
enough of the flow feoin The purii,
OF Jesse creek should be considercd
Harry Hin, who has charge OF The
water works, stated that he found The
city's supply running low even now
the city being compelled 10 use soms
OF the Smith water.
a. +. Rose. who formerly owned the
Smith ranch, said he sold II because ol
the everlasting trouble he had with
securing the water that belonged 10 IL
lie had found that the city just tool
II from him without any regard To his
lights. On this account he was offer
In controversy with the former cit,
water works management.
Judge Padgham explained the lega
phases Of the question. and w. c
Smith. who was called upon AZ a part,
in interest. went fully into the entire
matter. which he explained at lengif
from his point OF view. Mr.. Smith wa,
questioned as 10 The worth OF his iant
and answered tina, he thought IL wortl
5000 per acre. In which statement The
former owner corrobo.at him. III