Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1920-03-30
URGE INTEREST
In DRAINAGE,
CREST0N PEOPLE ASK STATUS OF
RECLAMATION WORK IN
NORTHERN IDAHO
HOPE FOR RESULTS THIS SEASON
Are Asking Their Provincial Govern
ment for $4,000 Appropriation

Members of the Creston Board of
Trade fear that Bonners Ferry is
letting up in its efforts towards the
reclamation of the Kootenai Valley
and are urging that the project now be
given more attention than ever before
as it is apparent that great headway
can be made the coming season by the
cooperation of the citizens of the vail
ley.
With the idea of awakening and in
stilling new interest in the drainage
project, the following letter was writ
ten this week to the Herald by G. H.
Hayes, of Creston, who is the secre-
tary of the Creston Board of Trade
and also the editor of the Creston Re-
view:
Editor Herald
Those interested IN the drainage of
the Kootenay Flats have, doubtless,
been wondering for some time il no
thing has eventuated following the en-
thusiasttc conferences on this all inn
portant matter, held in 1917 in both
Bonners Ferry and Creston.
AS The ovezfiowed area in British
Columbia is almost entirely the prop
erty of the provincial government and
any effort TO get cn with finish-up
work had to originate in that quarter,
the speedy progress such an undertake
ing would warrarE has not been in
levidence-as is almost invariably the
lease where governments have to be
Ireckoned with. However, creston has
lnever wearied In the well-doing in
this connection and we are now in
position to report favorable progress
At the 1918 session vi the British
Columbia legislature we were sue
cessfua in having that body pass a res
oluyion calling upon the Dominion
reclamation service at OTTAWA (the Ca
iat1an capitUlD to communicate with
the United States drainage service to
! have the lattHr body name q board of
engineers tO Cooperate with a like
number OF Canadian engineers and to
/ pruceed witt finish-up work In due
Icourse the Washington authorities
/ were communicated with and we are
NOW, unofhcially hut we believe ac-
.cSrately. Uniformed that the United
States has notified Canada that thew
Il Gthe Unftad States government only
await the word ta at once have their
lcorps of engineers ready to proceed.
\ The purpose of Fhis better is not on
gfy to advise as la how matters stand,
hut to have the B0nners Ferry Com
Club at once iin4uire OF Wash
Hipgton ii tthe matter has developed to
the stage above outlined ana If so
limlll your Idaho representatives in
PCvngress see 10 iE, if constitutional
4 rthat constant inquiry iis made of OF
tawa untul such time as the engineers
.of the two countries are actually -at
work on the project.
III this pressure from the United
Estates rs maintained ON the Ottawa
government the latter in turn will
bning pressure tD bear ON the province
I % proviae the necessary finances to
sp61 the engineers expenses-a liabil-
sfty the pUOvince cannot shirk in view
ot IT'S owning the lands to be benefited
The CTeston Beard of Trade is now
bringing what influence il can bear
ION the provincial government to in
fclude not less than $4,000 in this
years estimates, for this purpose and
Iif Boomers Ferry can assure us that
THE matter stands as outlined, we can
get after the provincial government
stronger than ever as we WHY then
have both the u. s. and Canadian gov
erment assurance that both are ready
and willing To proceed with what en-
gineering work remains to be done to
definitely pronounce as to the FEAST
bility of the scheme-physicalI and
economically.
G. F. HAYES, Secretary.
Board Of Trade, Creston. B. G
March 20, 1920