American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-04-21
Time COMPANIES
SHOW GOOD FAITH
Money Already Spent Can Be Reeov-
cred In Large Part If Necessary
Says Secretary Fall-Must Meet OBJ
legations.

Washington, April 1.-THE gov
eminent looks with favor on the Amer
lean Falls irrigation project in Idaho;
thinks it is not only feasible, but gives
promise of being a gerat success, but
the government is not committed to
the building of that project and will
not obligate itself to build that project
unless the settlers under the various
irrigation companies coming within
the project make good their promises
n meet their obligations to the gov
eminent. The project has reached a
point where further progress depends
upon b settlers and the irrigation
companies"
This plain statement was made by
Secretary Fall today when his atten-
ton was invited to a dispatch from
Idaho stating that many settlers un-
der the project were inclined to back
on the proposal to form one
large, comprehensive irrigation dis
trict to take over and discharge the
obligation previously assumed by the
irrigation companies, because of a pre-
valent opinion that the government is
now committed to the American Falls
project, and will build it with its W
funds, yer if the settlers do not "kick
in"
Must Meet Obligations.
Secretary Fall made 1t clear that if
any settlers were laboring under that
idea they are badly mistaken, and are
in for a rude awakening. And he made
it equally clear that it rests with the
settlers of the proposed irrigation pro-
ject to determine whether or not the
American Falls project shall be built.
If they proceed in good faith, organize
their district obligate themselves and
then raise the funds pledged but never
paid by the irrigation companies, all
well and good; the project will go for
ward. II they do not meet their obli-
cations the project will be doomed.
Secretary Fall takes the position
that so far as the government alone
is concerned, it is not justified in the
expenditure of SIS, 000, 900 in building
the American Falls project, because
in building this project the government
must drown out or overflow 70. 600
acres of land now largely in private
ownership and only 100. 900 acres CT
public land a be reclaimed under the
project proposed. Roughly speaking,
- q purify SONGI ulltuJ
the building of the project would
mean increasing the cultivated area
less than 10000 acres, net, and that
acreage alone would never Justify the
vast expenditure.
Cooperation Needed.
Therefore, to make the project eco
nomically feasible, the private lands
must be brought in in a satisfactory
way, and must not only agree to, bear
their fair proportion of the aggregate
cost, but must begin to show their
good faith by contributing the amounts
that must be raised privately in or
der that the power company proper
ties may be taken over. The acquisi-
ton of these properties is the next
step in the project, and Secretary Fall
said that he stands today exactly
where he stood early in the winter
when he refused to sign the power
company contract. He is ready to
sign it when the funds are in hand; he
will not sign until they are, ami he Is
looking to the people of Idaho to pro-
vide funds.
Secretary Fall says the language of
the Interior Department appropria-
ton bill authorizing continuance of the
work unde way on the American Falls
townsite is not to be iterpreted as
committing the government to go
ahead with the project Only $240, 900
to date has been spent in buying up
property that would be flooded by the
reservoir, and if the project has to be
abandoned because of lack of local CO.
operation, that money probably can be
recovered by the government.