The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-07-19
SWENDSEN COMPLIES DATA
ON MAMMOTH DAM PROJECT
In Report to Governor State Commissioner of
Reclamation Makes Public Heretofore I'm
published Details of Various Contracts Con-
corning American Falls Dam.

For the first time in the history
OF the American Falls reservoir, a
compilation OF the details OF all con
tracts involved in the construction
OF this proposed project has been
completed by Warren O. Swondsen,
state commissioner OF reclamation.
The state officer takes each con
tract involved and explains the. de.
tails of its working giving figures
facts and other information which
have heretofore not been published.
The information on these contracts
is contained In a report made to Gov
ornor C. c. Moore following the com
missioner's return from Washington
where he went in June To close up
the final affairs OF the project pre-
paratory to beginning construction
on the dam.
Work, however, will probably not
start. the commissioner says, until
some legal tanglos IN which certain
Indian lands are involved are unray-
eled These lands are required az
they will be submerged by the res
eryoir. but an act OF congress will
be necessary to give the govern
ment title.
The first OF the contracts taken
up by MIR. Swendsen Is that OF the
Idaho Power company with the gov
eminent. He says:
Under the provisions OF this CON
tract the power company releases
control and ownership OF a consider
able area OF land which II had here
tofore acquired through various
means, situated above American
Falls reservoir dam. and inside OF
the proposed reservoir. the said land
having been acquired by the power
company for use IN connection with
It's forebay bondage or storage, to-
gether with the ownership and con- /
troll OF its water rights, permits. etc.
and old power plants at American
Falls known as the Island and West
Side plants.
AS a consideration OF these rights
the power company is TO receive ST.
100000 In cash, payable IN four
equal installments. One upon the
approval OF the contract by the sec
rotary OF the interior. the second In
one year, at which time title 10 the
power plants mentioned In the fore
going was 10 pass, and the other
TO be made within three
and four years, respectively, from
the date OF the execution OF such
contract
'"In addition TO this cash consid-
Grafton, the power company rs TO
have right TO $4,000 acre-feet OF
water aud reservoir capacity for It's
use at American Falls and elsewhere
on the lower reaches OF the Snake {
river exclusively for power purposes
and TO be drawn off AZ they desire.
also a right TO the use OF 100 second
feet OF water beginning April OF q
zach year. increasing uniformly 10 !
$500 second feet on May /. and con- q
inuing at that amount 10 Septem- a
Der Is. inclusive. then decreasing 8
10 100 second feet on Oc- d
ober 81. This last mentioned right a
" water. while available 10 the pow 4
n company for power purposes dur b
ng the foregoing period each year al r
american Falls, u not lost 10 irri-
tatiOn. but under the provisions OF :
he contract as executed, Is available :
or diversion 20 the Mindoka prof.
Ct or the Twin Falls project for ir-
igation uses I'm satisfaction OF
ights which have already accrued.
In addition 20 the foregoing con
liberation. the power company OBJ
aimed a secondary right 20 the use
I 255.000 acre-feet capacity OF the
merican Falls reservoir uD q err
ertain restricted conditions, which
-ill not interfere with the use Of the
eservoir for irrigation purposes un-
! capacity greater than the mil
on aud half acre-feet - created.
Briefly. Il may be stated that the
jntract between the power company
nd the government provides for
ie regulation OF snake river in the
lterest Of Irrigation. adequate 70
le needs Of a million and a half I
're-fe~t. reservoir capacity. II when
s reservoir Is constructed bey ond
is capacity. Il will be necessary. n
e reservoir Il to be filled each year ,
acquire additional power rights.
IL my belief that the contract ar a
~ satisfactory. ade- /
lately protects the Interests OF the
ate. and II fair aud equitable" =
Why District Formed.
In order TO ,obligate the govern
ant IN hufld the dam and reaervofr