Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-11-10
INVESTIGATION
BY ENGINEERS
REPRESENTATIVES, OF IDAHO
AND BRITISH COLUMBIA EX-
ANIME DRAINAGE PROJECT
COMMISSIONER IS OPTIMISTIC
Hopes To Secure Federal Aid for the
Reclamation Work.

of reclamation, and his assistant, w. G.
Sloan, arrived in Bonners Ferry Sat
urady to meet b. A. Cleveland of Vie
toria, comptroller of water rights for
British Columbia, and his assistant.
W. J. &. Biker, of Nelson, B. c., the
party planning to spend several DAYS
conducting a joint field examination
or the Kootenai drainage project pre-
paratory TO holding a conference at
which all available data will be con-
sidered, the feasibility of the project
reported upon and plans laid for the
securing OF treaty between Canada
and the United States whereby the re-
claiming of the Kootenai valley NAV
be carried on jointly by the two gov
ernments and the citizens of Idaho
and British Columbia
The engineers spent all dav Satur
day in the immediate vicinity of Bon
ners Ferry, making a complete exami-
nation of the work being done in
Drainage District No. 1. In this dis
trict deep bitches have been dug and
dykes are being built. The engineers
mad an excellent opportunity to in
vest1gate the character of the soil
which will have to be dealt with in
the proposed drainage project and
they were thoroughly impressed with
the plans of District No. l and with
the work being done. They were ac
companied on the trip by Commission
ers Hoagland, Clapp and Mcdonald.
A company of Creston citizens who
have been vitality interested for MANY
years in the Kootenai drainage pro-
Ject, came here Saturday to meet the
party of engineers and to inspect the
WORK being done in Drainage District
NO. l. Included in the party were Mr..
and Mrs. Guy Constable, Messrs. Gar
iand, Bevan and Hayes. Mr.. Bevan
IS president of the Creston Board of
Trade. Mr. Hayes is the editor of the
Creston Review.
Engineers Swendsen and Cleveland
and their assistants, accompanied nv
Mr.. and RS Constable. left Sunday
IN autos, for Creston. E. l.. Squirting
took the engineers in his auto.
Ihe party expected to spend con-
siderable time in field work at the
kootenai Narrows where it is believed !
that the principal drainage work viii
be done. They will also investieate
the Canal Flats diversion plan as waIl
as two others of similar nature. one
Delng a diversion of part of the waters
OF the kootenai into the Pend d'Oreille
river
Mr. Swendsen is armed with praea
ucally all available data on the nro-
Ject, having in his possession an ex-
naustlve report made by the United
states department of agriculture
through its drainage engineers some
years ago, photographic data collected
Dy the United States geological sur
vey and various data and information
corrected by private drainage districts
and individuals, all Of which bears di-
rectly upon the problem in Idaho
Engineers Cleveland and Biker did
not commit themselves, while in this
viclnltyA as to their ideas of the FEAST
Dliity OF the Kootenai drainage plan.
MT cleveland was undoubtedly i'm
pressed with the possibilities of the
project, especially after he had visited
drainage District No. / and after
proofs of the fertility of the soil of
Ihe river bottoms had been presented.
Mr. Swendsen discussed the matter
only IN general way. He is deeply
interested in the project and stated
lnat ne believed it would be possible )
10 secure federal aid, to a considerable
eAtent, Tor part of the work He pro- {
poses 10 tabulate data which will be I
presented to the proper committees {
Lnrough the Idaho delegation at the {
ueAt regular session of congress and l
an appropriation will be asked. |
IN an interview given to the Boise
statesman by Mr.. Swendsen just be-
ore ne LETT last Thursday for Bonners
FERRY, he said in part: '
"(Qnara1lv tI,o
1T will involve a consider
ation OF widening the outlet to Koo- I
ehai iaKe, all of which is situated in b
10 relieve the present throt- O
ieu condition OF the Kootenai river q
There IL discharges into this lake.
ms problem is somewhat complicated v
" reason OF the use of Kootenai lake a
or commercial purposes.
In addition to lowering the lake n
ome dyking and other work will prob A
'Diy De necessary at various points b
'etWeen Bonners Ferry and the points T
where Kootenai river discharges into
lootenai lake.
MY examination of the project in
uly disclosed the fact that the soil
tue area involved is perhaps the y
most fertile in the west, being made d
p Oh rich alluvial deposit possessing :.
nusuai quantities of all necessary =,
liant food. Sufficient use of the y =
round for agricultural purposes has o
cen mad heretofore to demonstrate its
aiue and prove the feasibility of the u u
cheme from purely an agricultural I.
tandpoint A
NO definite plan of financing this
cheme mas as yet been determined
pom, but on account of its interna-
onal character, it is the hope of all hi
1terested parties and the reclamation te
apartment, that the federal govern It
lent can be interested in the project tf
the extent of contributing financial t
Id. am advised that the Canadian ec
overnment is now ready to lend its et