Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1921-09-30
The SITUATION AT AAIERI-
CAN FALLS DAM

( pocatello. Sept. 2s-The following
statement was Issued by Guy Elem
.ner. managing director OF the Idaho
keclamation Association:
This Office has made some investi-
cations as to certain phases OF the
American Falls project and desires to
lay before that portion Of the public
/ directly interested, some facts that it
has collected.
The. American Falls project IS set
up, az n matter of financing. on the
basis OF the work being paid for for
the most part. through tho joint fnan-
cfal assistance of irrigation companies
/ in the Snake River Valley and the
Federal Government through the Re-
clamation Service.
Tn line with this plan, these irri
CATION companies have been request
ed 20 pay in certain sums on the basis
of an acreag ge Assessment OF their
members into the reclamation fund.
and we find there have been some oh
Jeclons to this plan. which coupled
with conditions that have made pay
menfs difficult at this time on the part
OF those who favored II. has resulted
in the PAYMENTS being deferred until
next year. as we are informed.
The information We have from Of
ficial sources warrants the stateu ents
that unless this toint payment pian
can be carried out. the construction
of the American Fails dam viii be
greatly delayed. IL not abandonment
caused for an Indefinite period.
1.-The demands upon the Heclar1a-
ton fund are pressing, and the amount
available Is below the estimated re-
ceipts. Moreover, considerable sums
or money have been received hy the
Reclamation Service 70 assist IN the
investigation Of projects IN rlany cssee
without contribution from the r.. 6.
government II these Investigation
should develop feasible projects. the
parties interested g1fi, IN some case
actually advance the funds for con
struction under the same plan &c was
promisedby the canal svstao,s o., ,he
Snake River As tire ser,ine must
give preference In c. ees nf the latte-
Kind. any unreasonable delay ~ 70
the American Falls rroieof viii fur
ther delay the constructions Of the
dam.
TT Is hoped that The McNarv smith
bill can -. ~ ssaa ~ t1a
next regular session or anaress. but
II that should be done tho Z t..f an,cItrlt
woula not he avail; bio 80 anee and
probably not over es1nnn .00A the first
year which apparently is absorbed In
advance. The American Falls project.
If participating in that fund. would be
delayed contra sted with
the advancement that is possible un
der the present plan.
In Wow Of the conditions. we sue
gest that the most serious consfdera-
ton be given on the part Of the mem
Ders of the canal companies to the
pressing needs of the Reclamation Ser
vice as hearing unon this great Idaho
fevelopment, to the end that assist
ance be forthcoming promptly when
the deferred payment 1erfod referred
to In the foregoing has lapsed.
With this dam constructed. the
Jackson Reservoir storage can be uti-
zed on the land in the upper Snake
River valley, insuring q greater sur
ply, leaving the lands below to be sup
olied from the American Falls dam
The benefits 10 the state at large and
70 all those holding land or who may
reclaim land within the influence Of
his project IS SO Incidentally immense
hat one can only look upon any un-
necessary delay az being extremely
'ostly and hazardous
I'VE are not desirious Of farousing
my controversial spirit among those |
Who advocate any other means OF
inancing the project Our sole pur-
nose Is TO lay the facts before the In !
crested public In way to point out !
he apparent necessity Of following a !
that has been laid down, un- !
Ter which contracts have been en-
cred into, and which. so far As We are /
Ldvised. Is TO be adhered to.
"The desire Of this Association Is /
o assist in bringing about the sue /
essfui contamination OF this great |
'roject with the least possible delay /
lnder any plan whatsoever. but 1t !
Gems to us that to fall in coopera-
ion with the program adopted and 4
carried out would set the /
lock Of progress back until the strik- l
ng hour of completion would be dis |.
oura gingly postponed"