Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-02-18
VAST IRRIGATION
DISTRICT Being
FORMED ON SNAKE
All Territory in Upper Val
ley to bs Taken Into One
District 10 B nd for
American Falls Dam.

To meet what 10 regarded as the
gravest crisis In the history OF Ida
no. conference of representatives
Of irrigation companies and districts
In the Snake River valleys, was held
In Pocatleeo Friday with state on
cials, government reclamation off,
cials and men prominently identified
with the Idaho Reclamation associa-
ton.
The object OF the conference was
to save the great American Falls
project.
An agreement was reached to un-
dertake the formation of gigantic
district, for the purpose of financing
the obligations of irrigation COM
panies to the government In con-
nection with the American Falls
project. and without interfering In
any manner with the present or fu
ture operating end of any irriga-
ton Organization.
The district will include all ter
ritory embraced within these con-
tracts excepting sections already or
ganized as irrigation districts under
the laws OF Idaho.
This means. Ii the results desired
may be obtained, that the whole
strength OF practically the entire
Snake River valley will be thrown
behind the fnancing OF the Ameri-
can Falls project insofar as privately
owned lands are required to partici-
pate.
Every company and district con-
tracing with the government In con-
nection with the American Falls en-
tsrprise Ia delinquent In Its pay
msnts. due solely to general financial
conditions plus the low prices of
farm produce prevailing during the
unusual season OF 1871.
Secretary OF the Interior Fall re-
fused to approve the pivotal con-
tract with the power company, which
gives the government Its rights on
Snake river water, unless these OBJ
legations were met.
This created an Incompatible
crisis for Idaho. involving the aban-
donment of the American Falls pro-
ject.
To meet 1t the Idaho Reclamation
association called the conference,
which held sessions afternoon and
evening yesterday.
Various means of financing were
discussed and 1t was finally agreed
that the most effective and economi-
cal plan, as we'll as the most speedy
OF contamination, was to organize a
blanket district and issue bonds,
which. 1t was stated, would find a
ready and favorable market, to sup
ply funds necessary to meet the
terms of the contract with the gov
ernment.
Governor Davis and Attorney Cen
eral Black were present to represent
the state government. B. e. Stoute-
myer, district counsel for Idaho of
the reclamation service, with other
reclamation officials, including Barry
Dibble, project manager of the
Americas Falls project. were on
hand to give counsel as requested.
President Howard OF the Idaho Rec
lamation association. Guy Flenner,
its manager, and Directors l. e. Rock
we'll, of Bellevue; P. C. Meredith of
Buhl. w. II. Gibson of Mountain
Home and Joe Young of Pocatello
represented the association.
Around one hundred representa-
tives OF the various contracting
companies and districts were present
and the meeting was in their hands
after the preliminaries, which in-
cluded q brief address Of welcome by
II. M. Wolf. representing the Pocatel-
10 Chamber of Commerce, the host OF
the occasion. and remarks by Presi-
dent Howard of the Idaho associa-
tion. who called the meeting to or
der. Hon. Peter g. Johnson, OF
Blackfoot, was elected to preside
over the proceedings and Miss E.
CHASER was made secretary.
kilograms to the manager of the
Idaho Reclamation association and
to representatives of the government,
from Congressman Addison T. Smith
and A. P. Davis, director of the rec
lamation service at Washington,
were read, stating that unless the
contracting companies met their OBJ
legations the American Falls project
would collapse.
After fuIf discussion Of the con-
ditions In the various districts and
the sentiment OF the farmers therein,