American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-01-06
CONDITION UNBEATABLE
Asks Government To Immediately
Complete Purchase of All Property
Affected by the Dam or Reservoir
Claim Government Property Net
Taxable.

A formal request that the Reclama-
tion Service Immediately complete the
purchase of American Falls property
falling under the reservoir and that
the new town be established as soon
as possible, is made in a resolution
passed Tuesday evening by the eoun-
Gil. 1t cites the many reasons why
the city is suffering through the delay
in reclamation work. The text fol-
lows:
To the Honorable Albert B. Fall, Sec
retary of the Interior, Washington, ID.
C.
At a regular meeting of the city
council of American Falls held Jam
uary 8, 1922, the following resolution
was presented and adopted unani-
mously:
Whereas: 1t apears to the City
Council that the assessed valuation for
the year 1921 of the property in this
city is $1,242, $500 and whereas it ap-
pears that the Reclamation Service mas
purchased $261, ,124.00 worth of city
property and has contracts approved
for $196,000.00 additional and whereas
such property owned by the United
| States Government is not taxable it
would cause the whole burden for the
year 1922 and subsequent years of tax
alton and maintaining our schools and
institutions to be borne by little more
than half the property which former
ly carried 1t. We submit that taxa
ton on this basis would mean confis-
cation of property in this city and,
Further: 1t appears that all Bid
ing and Loan Associations by whose
aid a great deal of our building has
been made possible are refusing to re-
new any old loans or to make any new
loans because first the tax situation
and second because the unsettled con-
ditions existing here on account Of
the uncertainties which exist as to
when the property will be purchased
if at all, and,
Whereas: The people of this city
have at all times co-operated with the
Reclamation Service and now stand
ready to join them in building a new
| town. Relaxing that our personal
convenience and desires must be set
aside for the great good to be derived
by the whole Snake River Valley and
whereas If the said Reclamation Ser
vice delays further at this time 1t will
| further depreciate the value of all pro-
perties in the city and we will be un-
| able to induce new capital to invest
because of the delay and uncertainty OF
conditions, and,
Whereas: We understand all alb
stracts are prepared and all apprais-
ments completed covering the proper
ty in the proposed reservoir site and
the purchasing of the town of Amer
lean Falls can be- closed up and the
new town established Immediately.
Now therefore; Be it resolved that
on behalf of the citizens and property
owners of American Falls we pray that
the Reclamation Service be directed to
Immediately complete the purchase OF
all necessary or affected property in
the present town site Of American
Falls and that they proceed with the
opening and establishing of the new
town which will be necessary when the
dam is built, and relieve the uncer-
taintiy and strain which is becoming
unbearable to our citizens
G G. SPRIGG, Mayor.
Attest:
G. S. WENNSTRoM. City Clerk.