The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1922-03-30

assessment. The bankers Of south
ern Idaho then got together
to see IL they would finance 1t
and they found they could not
do 1t themselves, but they could
borrow money thru Seattle firm, II
the local banks would endorse the
notes, which they agreed to 60. But
they found that they would have to
pay interest at the rate Of II per cent
for one var or until such time as the
local canal companies could reem-
burse or pay back the loan which the
local bankers secured for them.
They did not think 1t advisable to
pay II per cent interest so they
asked the government for years ex-
tension of time, which the govern
ment granted, and now the year is
up and we cannot pay. When we
asked for an additional extension.
the secretary of the interior decided
that unless the canal companies
could make arrangements this
spring and summer to finance
their part of 1t the government
would not go on with the
work, but would move their equip
ment and men to some other project
in other states, where they are
clamoring for government coopera-
ton in such projects as the Columbia
river project in Washington or the
Colorado river project in the south
west. If we can push our opportun-
ity strong enough this spring and
summer to get ourselves financed
and keep construction in prepara-
ton and in progress on our project
and the Greater Fort Hall pOject 1t
will keep the activities of the recla-
nation department here rather than
in other states not so we'll prepared
to 60 ahad. 1t will give Idaho a vast
advantage in the sisterhood of west
ern states and help US greatly in re-
storing business. If our bonds are
put on sale before such securities are
taxed it will give us lower rate Of
interest on our bonds. A difference
of 1 per cent in the rate of interest
means an advantage to us of more
than a million dollars in the final
cost Of the project. If we get our
bonds sold and construction work
started in these hard times it will
mean that we can have our reservoir
built while it is easy to secure labor
and materials, and we shall have it
done and be using the water and
making crops while others are con-
structing and in the times of possible
and probable prosperity that in
evitably follow periods of depression
such as we are now in.
Expressions Of Canals
Chairman Kennedy asked for ex-
pressions from the representatives of
canals present, and began with w. e.
Jordan, secretary of the Peoples
canal. He said he could not say any,
thing definite as to their attitude be-
cause they had not given any express
sion themselves, but he knew there
was considerable opposition to going
into it and as body they might de-
eide to stay out. If they had meet
ing and heard full information as it
had been given in this meeting they
might take favorable action.
Peoples Canal
Mr.. Jordan thought there would
be objection to going in on account
of the danger or supposed danger of
the people of the lower valley out
voting the people of the upper valley
in business meetings and fixing of
policies. Mr.. Flenner said that the
upper valley would be as likely to
have control as the lower valley,
since the large block of stock taken
by the government would not be
voted At all events, this storage dis
trict is merely conservation dis
trict to build a dam and store water,
and has nothing to do with the man
agement of canals that own the
water. He repeated that the large
district Is organized merely to A.
nance the construction, the govern
ment will do the building, the gov
eminent will operate the dam, the
state will have Jurisdiction over the
waters while flowing in the river and
the canal companies will have jur-
isdiction over the water in the canals
The jurisdiction of the government
will cease when the water flows out
of the reservoir, the jurisdiction of
the state will cease when the water
flows thru the headgate into canal,
and the jurisdiction of the canal
ceases when the water flows thru the
private headgates into farmers pri-
vate or lateral ditch.
Mr.. Jordan raised the question as
to what is being done with the money
raised for this campaign of educa-
ton and information thru the Idaho
Reclamation association. He UNDER
stood that fifteen counties had paid
in $1,000 apiece to finance that work
and where was the money being
used?
Mr.. Flenner replied that in the
first place $4,000 had not been paid
in. Six counties had paid in $4,000
and the others had agreed to pay and
had not yet done it. Mr.. Jordan said
he believed it. would be we'll to have
a meeting at Moreland and present
the whole matter to them, for he
thought the people of his company
were at least open-minded and will
ing to receive information, but Sec
rotary Flenner said that if the
speakers continued to go back over
the country and hold meetings all
spring they would not get the petit
tinnc A1od iy, ffv,oo IN coA