The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1921-07-29
GETTING BUSY At
AMERICAN FALLS
Government is Active in Clearing the
Way for Big Reclamation Project.
Condemnation Suits Filed.

Boise.-Sixteen condemnation suits
ON property involved in the construc-
ton of the American Falls dam were
filed in the United States district
court at Boise early Friday afternoon.
There are 43 lots in the original
townsite of American Falls cited in
the complaint at value OF $S957.55.
The cases were drawn up by ]. L.
McClear, United States attorney, at
the direction Of the department Of
justice on the request Of the secre-
tary of the interior. Instructions
for the condemnation suits came
from the reclamation office at AM
erican Falls. u ~h
A large portion Of the land requir-
ed for the reservoir site has already
be acquired by direct purchase or
agreement, according to Mr.. McClear.
1.-The cases which have just been
filed are those involving land that
can not be easily disposed of outside
;of court" said the attorney. 1T is
not SO much the question of price
that is the cause of these actions as
it is the legal procedure that is nee
essary for the sale Of this real estate.
One of the cases concerns land that is
being held in trust for minor chill
dren and can not be sold unless a
condemnation suit Is consummated."
Only One Before.
Only one Condemnation case has
been filed in the federal court prior
to those put on record Friday. The
hearing on that one will be held
with the others when the court con-
venes at Pocatello in October. More
suits are expected to be fled before
the time of the hearings.
The complaints read as follows in
part:
THE secretary of the interior has
selected. property for use in the
construction of the American Falls
reservoir, part of the Minidoka pro-
ject, which is under construction in
pursuance to the act of congress of
June II, 1903, and provisions sup
Elementary and amendatory. The
project contemplates the use Of the
waters of the Snake river during lat
ter part of the rigation season and
has been approved 10y projects having
rights prior in time to the rights Of
the proposed extension of the Mini
dOka project.
This land has been found neces-
sary in order to reclaim and irrigate
properly the public lands of the I'm
tied States in Mndoka project and
to conserve and sore in a reservoir
the flood water and winter flow Of
the Snake river.
Site Most Desirable.
"The secretary Of the interior has
caused surveys and Investigations TO
be made for the location of a suit
able reservoir for such a purpose and
has approved of the American Falls
site as the most desirable for the i'm
pounding Of water of the Snake river.
The described property is necessary
as a part of the reservoir.
1.-The United States intends in good
faith to construct the American Falls
reservoir. This project and reser-
voir are being undertaken primarily
for the irrigation and reclamation of
public lands of the United States.
THE plaintiff prays that public
use requires the condemnation Of the
real property described and that this
court proceed to determine the inter-
est of the defendant. The plaintiff
asks that the title be decreed the Un-
tied States on payment of reasonable
value for the property as ascertained
by the court"