The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1921-06-16
HALT CALLED ON BLACK
CANYON DAM
Shortage of Funds Given as Rea-
son for Order to Post
pone Work.

Settlers in the Emmett Irrigation
District and the Black Canyon Irriga
ton District were stunned upon th'
receipt Monday by Supt. MacLean o.
letter from J. B. Bond, manager o.
the Boise-Payette project, in which
was stated that orders had been re
ceived from the head of the reclama-
tion department ordering the indef-
mite postponement of work on the
Black Canyon dam near Emmett
Shortage of funds resulting from
marked decrease of payments from
other reclamation projects and oil
leasings was given as the reason for
calling off construction operations.
The seriousness of the situation if
this order should be unchanged is
so great that steps were at once tax
en- to have the order revoked. Three
Emmett men, V. T. Craig, C. E. Mac
Lean and George Heubener set out for
tour of the Black Canyon district
affected nan effort to arouse the
settlers to their danger Stops were
made at New Plymouth, Parma, Cald-
well, winding up with big meeting
in Commercial Club rooms AS
result of the information contained
in Mr.. Bonds letter, numerous tele-
grams were sent from each locality
to the Idaho delegation in congress,
urging that the utmost effort be made
to have the order changed The fol-
lowing telegram sent by the Caldwell
Comercial Club is sample of all the
messages sent:
"Letter from reclamation service
advises work on Black Canyon dam
in Payette river indefinitely postponed
on account of no funds. This must |
not be permitted. Would result in
tremendous loss and suffering. Plans
of Emmett Irrigation District and
whole community of Payette and Boi-
Sc valleys rely upon this work.
Farms on Emmett bench in high state
of cultivation and thousands of acres
of orchards, 10 to II years old, best
in northwest, will be ruined and coun-
try revert to desert condition. Dis
trict is unable to finance itself with
private capital. Present canal must
be abandoned this year. Advise US t
Immediately of exact cause of order" {
On Tuesday, Mr.. Craig, Van Deu- {
sen, MacLean and Skinner went to S
Boise and spent the greater portion |
of the day in conference with Cover l
j or Davis, Mr.. Bond, Attorney Haga,
Crawford Moore and others, explain \
ing the seriousness of the situation T
and urging that assistance be given ?
in the fight. All responded The C
is being waged vigorously :"
along the lines that if work is stop a
ped the Emmett Irrigation District, e
'elying on the promise of the govern 4
nent that construction of the dam r,
would be started this summer, no n
improvements have been L
made; that funds for making the nee ri
ssary improvements to keep the sys- tn
EN- in condition to insure an ade- to
uate supply of water for a consider by
BILE period are impossible to obtain, in
nd that failure to construct the dam br
vill mean that the reclamation of the in
econd unit of the Black Canyon pro- I'M
ect of approximately $4,000 acres Je
ill be impossible. Gil
Replies to the kilograms from Sen CO.
tors Borah and Gooding and Con- da
ressmen French and Smith began flo
ming in this afternoon. In all mes ate
ges the positive statement is made we
a8 there is no intention to abandon rid
e project. But all unite in saying JET
at there are no funds available to lin,
osecute the work this year. All Las
ate they will continue their efforts the
behalf of the project. up
French, however, goes inst
step farther and states that he IS tat,
'rkiug for loan or some other re- and
f. In this reply, as well as of the 7
lers, there is hope that some way par
| yet be found to relieve the present seat
ticai situation. ami