The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1921-05-27

PRESENT CALCULATION IS
THAT WORK WILL BE UNDER
TAKEN IN TWO YEARS. OR
SOONER IF FINANCES DEvEL-
OP.
When the American Falls reservoir
and dam are completed, not only will
the project comprise the largest res
ervoir in the world but a new city
will be constructed and an old town
site eliminated and buried forever un-
der fifty or seventy-five feet of water.
Constructed to full capacity. which is
the hope of the engineers and other
officials of the reclamation depart
ment as we'll as the hope of residents
of Idaho, the impound will have y
maximum capacity Of 100000 acre
feet, will cost $13, 100000 and will ir-
rigate approximately 100000 acres
OF land.
1t is stated by Barry Dihble, pro-
ject engineer, that land has now been
purchased for the new townsite of
American Falls, and at an early date
"a city planner will lay out the tract
and shape it into model town, with
every advantage that such operation
would imply. After the town has
been completely planned its develop
ment will begin by the gradual re-
moval of the present town, so that
the new city will be ready to function
during the construction Of the dam.
Engineer Dibble states that it is
impossible to approximate the time
construction will be started, as this
will depend upon the rate money is
available. This involves the co-opera-
tion of the various irrigation COM
panies which desire storage in the res
ervoir, but it is figured that the great
er part of two years will be required
before the project can be undertaken.
Once under way, two years will be re-
quired for the completion of the res
ervoir.
Because of the uncertainty attend
ing the financing Of the project pre-
| liminary estimates have been prepar-
ed not only for the maximum capac-
lity but for the reservoirs of 100000
acre feet and 100000 acre feet.
This data, however, assumes that the
structure will be complete, as there
is urgent demand for the water stor-
age and for the developmnt of the
country.
Near the present town of American
Falls, where the Short Line bridge
crosses the Snake river, is located
the site for the 100 foot dam that
will make available for irrigation the
Ientire water resources of the Snake
river. In this connection the engi
lneer states that il will be necessary
to relocate the town, and likewise re-
locate about two miles of the railroad
as well as to acquire the 5000 horse
power hydro-electric plant of the Ida
no Power company, located just be
low the damsite.
The engineers are now completing
surveys on about $1,000 acres, mos
of which will be flooded by the reser
voir when it is completed to maximum
capacity. With the water at its full
height behind the hundred foot dan
litAwill back up nearly TO Batist'
Springs, about six miles below Poca
itello.
As indicated the participation O.
various irrigation companies Is essen
tial to the speedy construction Of thu
giant enterprise, and while the pledg'
made on the initial program was sat
Iisfactory because of local conditions
but one out of thirty-five subscriber
Imet the payments due on the con
tracts in February of this year ant
There is little likelihood of furthe
payments from this source befor'
next fall. The Reclamation service !
participating in the reservoir to sc
cure storage for the North Sid
dumping extension Of the Minidoki
project. The funds which the Recla
mation service will put into the pro
ject come from the Reclamation treas
Jury, which is largely dependent upol
the returns from the various project
ion the Reclamation service. At pres
lent these returns are slow. The Re
lclamation service, states Engineee
Dibble, also hopes to secure fund
from the oil lease on public lands
but these funds have not materializ
. ed TO any material extent.
The first money available, natural,
must go into the purchase of right
of way in order to clear up the situa
ton. and because of the money out