The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-02-17
REVIVE SCHEME
TO GET WATER
on ARID LANDS
Black Canyon Comes To Life
As Result Of Determination
To Erect Big Dam Above
Emmett.

Irrigation of the entire Black Can
yon tract through the installation OF
a pumping plant in the Canyon can-
al and the construction of big dam
and storage reservoir above Emmett
in the Black Canyon of the Payette
river came to life again recently at
Emmett as result of the partial de-
struction again this winter of the d.
vision dam now used at the Emmett
Irrigation district. OF the proposal,
the current issue of the Emmett IN
dex says:
with an enthusiasm and an ear
nestness that left no doubt of their
hearty support the water users of the
Emmett Irrigation District unani-
mously adopted plan to build 90
foot concrete diversion dam at Black
Canyon at cost of approximately
half million dollars, and authorized
an expenditure of $500 or more to
defray the expense of securing opin-
ions of irrigation engineers as to feas-
Utility and estimates. And so, after
IL years of enormous expenditure for.
funds to build and maintain diver
sion dam and canal where neither
one ougt to have been built, the dam
is to be built where it should have
been built in the first place and Is
miles of expensive canal is to be eli
minated. If the present plans are car
ried to a successful conclusion, as they
will be without doubt, great load
of anxiety and expense will be lifted
from the shoulders of the land OWNERS
in the district and the future of the
district will be as rosy as an Idaho
sunset.
Meeting Largely Attended.
The meeting, held Saturday after
noon. was largely attended, CONNER
cial club rooms being filled with far.
mers from bench and slope. The Black
Canyon proposition came as sur.
prise to most of them. The meeting
was called for the purpose of auth
orizing a special assessment of $50,
600 for repairing the damage by ice te
the present dam. A contract for tn;
repairs had already been given t.
Morrison & Knudson and work had al
ready started. The assessment wa
authorized after brief statement o
conditions, and then the surprise wa
sprung.
Superintendent MasLean presente'
the plans for the proposed new dan
at the canyon. He gave detaile'
estimate of the cost, in the prepare
ton of which he had been assisted b.
G. B. Mains. Data had been gathere
from J. B. Bond, manager of the gov
eminent reclamation sefvice. Til
general plan and the estimates ha
been checked and approved as consel
vative by Mr. Wiley, the noted irrigs
ton engineer.
Means Big Saving.
Mr.. MacLean gave data to sho
the large saving in maintenance tn;
would accrue by the elimination I
the l6 miles of canal above the cal
yon, not taking into consideration Y
constant danger of break in Il
canal when water was most needle
Other advantages, not possible to e
umerate here, were presented. q.
Mains followed with brief corr
boration of the plan and estimat
given by Mr.. MacLean. The propo
al took the meeting by storm. The
was instant approval-unanimous, c
thusiastic. 1t was. at once realiz
that here was the solution OF I
TROUBLES" of the Canyon canal.
''In his statement, Mr.. Mains 81
he had been assured by Mr.. Bond, IL
the government would reserve
right to use the dam for DIVERT
water to the Black Canyon distrl
when the government undertook
construction of that project and wo
pay its proportionate share OF
cost of construction whenever use
made of the dam.
win Verify Plans.
"a committee composed of G.
Main, Superintendent 'Macdean,
I. Guthrie, chairman of the board