American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1922-01-13
ACTIVITY OF STATE RECLAMA-
TEON OFFICIALS AND REPRE-
SENTATIVES OF CANAL COM.
PANIES CAUSES CHANGE IN At
TITUDE AT WASHINGTON.
SITUATION IS PROMISING
Believed That Secretary Fall VIII
Sign Contract Following Removal
of Director Davis From Opposition
is Now In New Mexico.

An extension of ten days has been
granted the Reclamation Service in
which it may affix the signature of the
Secretary of the Interior, A. B. Fall
to the contract with the Idaho Power
Company, an act that is regarded here
as meaning the present life or death
of Reclamation activity at American
Falls. The ninety days given the Rec
lamation Service to sign the contract
with the Power Company expires to-
day. The extension will permit of the
signing of the contract not later than
January 23rd.
Prominent Men Cooperating.
The above information came to the
Press yesterday over the phone from
Judge o. R. Baum of PocatelIo, who
has been in close touch with w. G..
Swendsen, State Commissioner of Rec
lamation who is now in Washington,
D. c. and Governor Davis, as well as
the various canal companies, signatory
to the Reclamation Contract in the
Valley. Mr. Baum received a wire
yesterday morning from MIR. Swend-
sen stating that the committee consist
ing of R. E. Sheppard, Col. L. L. Evans,
l. w. Rockwell and himself, had ar
rived in Washington and had found
.
Davis, and Assistant Secretary Finney
of the Reclamation Service were op-
posed to the signing of the Power Com
pany contract until such a time as the,
Irrigation Companies of the Valley
had paid the past due installments on
! their contracts.
| Canal Companies Slow.
/ Mr.. Swendsen further stated that
the Canal Companies had not forward
ed resolutions supporting their con-
tracts with the government, as plan
ned at the Idaho Falls meeting, and in
j, structed Judge Baum to Immediately
obtain their affirmation or rejection
of the Reclamation contract and wire
results to Washington. Mr.. Baum as
certained within a few hours that all
companies were anxious to fulfill
!, their contracts with two exceptions
and answered Mr.. Swendsen to thai
effect This information laid before
the director of Reclamation and Sec
retary Finey, together with other data
and information, the wire said, caused
the Reclamation Officials to changs
their attitude from disfavor to one OF
, approval Secretary Fall had pre-
, viously left for New Mexico and had
instructed his subordinates to treat
the contract as their Judgment dicta-
ted.
Director Davis then asked the Pow
er Company for a ten days extension
of time in which to make a favorable
report to Secretary Fall Mr.. Fall
will return within the ten days and il
is believed at that time that he will
sign the contract.
New Aspect Hopeful.
Local reclamation officials and per
sons familiar with the situation had
regarded the situation with little hope
as far as the Power Company Con-
J tract was concerned. The new turn
of events holds more encouragement
( than anything that has occurred within
the past two months The signing oi
the contract with the Power Company
it is believed will release quarter Oi
million dollars for townsite activity
, at American Falls.