Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1921-07-14


courageousness and bravery at the
front
Commissioner Swendsen was intro.
duced and IN his opening remarks told
of his pleasure in noting the real in.
terest IN drainage plans which was
demonstrated in the large attendance
at the meeting. He said that the drain
ing of the Kootenai Valley was an in
ternational problem and that all work
must be done through cooperation be-
tween the two countries. He gave a
brief outline of reclamation work
which has been accomplished in This
state linking his remarks along this
line with a few words explanatory OF
the departments future plans in con.
junction with partially assured feder-
al aid.
Speaking of the Kootenai Valley pro-
ject Commissioner Swendsen said that
he was not prepared to speak of the
feasibility of present plans inasmuch
as he did not have complete data and
had not had an opportunity to go over
the ground. He considered that any
further progress must be preceded by
a thorough study of the Kootenai river
watershed and of the effect the pro-
posed manner of caring for overflow
waters would have on the navigability
of the Kootenai, upon the power sites
located along the river and upon lands
located below the Kootenai Lake. He
suggested that even if it We're possible
to care for the flood waters and to
drain the Kootenai Valley the farmers
might yet be confronted with ground
water troubles.
The commissioner stated that he
considered himself safe in assuring
his audience that the provincial gov
ernment was deeply interested in the
Kootenai Valley drainage project and
that so far as he was able to determine
from data available the feasibility of
the project seemed certain. He said
that he intended to work out every
detail of the program thoroughly and
that he would return here this fall to
go over the whole area affected by
overflow water. 1t is planned to place
engineers in this district soon to do
such preliminary engineering work as
Mr.. Swendsen deems advisable to en-
able him and the Canadian government
engineers to determine upon the best
course to persue in the future. He
assured his audience that only compe-
tent engineers would be engaged and
that the final result of their work
would not be questioned.
Mr. Swendsen said that thus far
none of the money appropriated by the
Idaho legislature for use in gathering
data concerning the Kootenai Valley
drainage project had been used and
that all expenses thus far had been
paid out of the general funds of the
reclamation department of the state.
Tuesday morning Mr. Swendsen, in
company with b. A. Cleveland, A. ].
Kent and e. L. Squirting, made trip
down the Kootenai Valley, to view
some of the overflowed lands and also
to see what this land is producing On
his return Mr. Swendsen stated that he
was greatly impressed with the facts
he secured on the trip and that he was
interested and anxious to begin the
work necessary towards
final action in regard to the project.
Mr.. Cleveland, who was with the party
on the trip down the river, is comp
troller of water rights for British Co
lumbia. He had planned to attend the
night meeting but was delayed
on account of poor train connections
in Seattle and did not arrive until
Monday.
Following the talk of Commissioner
Swendsen the presiding officer, DR.
Fry, called upon Guy Constable, of
Creston, who has been one of the most
ardent and enthusiastic supporters of
drainage plans for many years, for
few words. Mr.. Constable quoted fig
ures to show that the land proposed
to be drained would produce, on the
basis of past crops, on Canadian land
alone, 100000 bushels of wheat or
100000 tons of potatoes. He mentioned
that several soil analysis had proven
the bottom lands to be free from acids
and of a character certain to produce
the largest crops even the first year
of cultivation. He told of having
heard before of the old bogy of power
plants sustaining damage by reason
Of plans to control the high water
stages of the river and stated that
many competent engineers had said
that it would be quite easy to handle
the high water at the lower end of
Kootenai lake and at the same time
provide even greater power for cleo
Lrical plants during the low water
stages than is now secured. Mr. Con-
stable also said that the talk about in
Jury to navigation was another bogy
that has been used by those who have
been opposed to drainage for years. |
He thought that 1t would be a good
plan to at least make start on drain |
age at once and to proceed with the |
work at intervals as it is demonstrated |
hat the work can be done at cost |
within reason.
Mr.. Holt, drainage engineer Of many
years practical experience, and who is |
now employed by the federal govern |
nent to handle the drainage problems
Of Indian lands, gave an interesting
ak and said that when he sized up the |
and here and investigated the amount
0f CROPS it produces and then com |
pared II with other lands which have
been either drained or irrigated. he