Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1922-01-05

Owners of overflowed lands in the
Kootenai Valley and those who for
many years have been vitality inter
ested in the drainage problems of the
district, will be greatly pleased to
know that State Commissioner of Rec
lamation w. G. Swensen, who was here
twice last year to investigate the pro-
ject, has endorsed it as being feasible
and far more favorable enterprise
than he had expected.
Mr. Swensen has apparently salts
fled himself of the feasibility of the
project as far as the engineering prob
lens and physical conditions are con-
cerned and plans to do all in his power
to assist in financing it.
The first part of December of last
year the editor wrote Mr. Swendsen,
asking for information as to the out
come of the conference which he had
held here and in Canada few weeks
/ prior, with Canadian officials relative
to the Kootenai drainage project At
that time the Idaho commissioner of
reclamation wrote that it had been
found necessary to keep an engineer
! in Canada to secure data necessary in
the compiling of the report; that a,
second conference with representa-
, tives of the British Columbia govern
ment would be had in the near future.
Writing again under date of Decem-
ber 81, Commissioner Swendsen is
quite optimistic and gives information
that will be of great interest to many
readers of the Herald. In part this
letter is printed below
Il had made a tentative arrange
ment to meet Mr.. Cleveland at Victoria
on the Bird of January but | am OBJ
llged to delay the trip because of the
necessity of my going to Washington,
ID. G. on very urgent matter affect
ing federal aid for reclamation in Ida
ho, which will probably consume my
time until near the goth. If am able
to do so and If I can make satisfactory
arrangements with Mr. Cleveland, /
shall go direct from Washington to
Victoria for a final consideration of
j the Kootenai Valley with Canadian Of
ficials. In any event | will arrange
to have this matter cleaned up the last
half of January.
I'm the meantime, Mr.. Sloan has
concluded his study (this is the engi-
neer that accompanied by on my re-
cent trip and remained on the ground
to collect additional data and has
submitted his report which | am
pleased to say indicates rather a more
favorable enterprise than | had ex-
pected to find. | therefore feel very
optimistic concerning the possibilities
OF this enterprise insofar as physical
conditions and engineering problems
are concerned. OF course, you will
understand | have not yet secured a
definite commitment as to feasibility
from the Canadian people. This |
hope to do on my next visit and to
secure their concurrence in definite
report and recommendations.
Il am taking this data with me and
while at Washington | will give the
matter consideration with our con-
gressional delegates in an effort to
start on its way legislation necessary
to the negotiation of proper treaty
between the two countries so that
when our report is ready and funds /
made available, the construction work
will suffer no delay.
Regarding the possibility of funds /
for this work, it is my thought that
our best opportunity will be found in
employing the provisions of the Smith
McNary bill, if and when the same is
passed. This bill as it now stands
provides for drainage as we'll as irri-
cation and in every respect it is
drafted to meet the needs Of your en-
terprise From present indications, /
this bill has a very fair chance of |
early favorable consideration. The /
entire west is now consolidated in an
effort to secure its passage and have
the support of the solid south; in addi-
tion to this, the national admins
tration is definitely committed to it.
We have also secured the support of
numerous of the large manufacturing
interests and commercial industries of
the east to the measure The u. S.
chamber of commerce has appointed a
committee on reclamation They are
meeting in Chicago on the Sth and 9th
for the purpose of considering recon-
mendations. Idaho was favored in
having a member appointed to the
committee in Mr.. R. e. Sheperd who
will be present at this meeting. 1t is
my purpose to attend the meeting
since | have been requested to do so
by the chairman of the committee who
is my close personal friend, Mr.. E. t.
Meredith.
while there has been some delay
in getting an outline of what can be
accepted in Kootenai Flats, rather feel
now that we have not really lost any
time. The loss of time in negotiation
with Canada and getting recommenda-
tions prepared, l think was necessary
owing to their recent national election.
The old officials rather felt, as I see
il now. reluctant to give the matter
consideration until after the election
was over. AS you know, the election
resulted in defeat of the old govern
ment, hence, had we negotiated this
deal with those officers, we would
merely have been confronted with the