The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-08-30
RESERVOIR NEWS


s The first payment was made Tues
S day, on contracts aggregating mor'
S than half a million dollars for Ameri
: can Falls property purchased by the
( Reclamation Service for the grea
o reservoir to be built here. The pay
ment, $19,175, was made to the Fal
VI Creek Mercantile company for the
: building occupied by the Fall Creek
! store, and three lots. Other pay
, ments will soon follow.
Since the bond election of May IL,
when the American Falls Irrigation
District voted bonds for $2,700,000
to cooperate with the reclamation
service in the building of great
reservoir at American Falls contracts
for the purchase of property have
been closed for about 100000. Up
i to July twenty contracts covering
i S557,OO had been approved, and
other contracts have been submitted
for approval. AS rapidly as alb
stracts can be made and approved,
purchase money will be paid in
amounts ranging from 500 to ap-
proximately $4,000. w. H. Spence,
who has acted as purchasing agent,
expects to close contracts for most
of the improved property within the
next few weeks.
When negotiated, contracts are
| forwarded to Washington for review.
So far they have been returned
promptly. The purchase of property
was not begun until about the first of
June. Early in July contracts call
ing for $317,117 were returned from
Washington, approved. The Fall
Creek Mercantile contract was one Of
these. Since that time energy has
been conferred in bringing abstracts
down to date. AS rapidly as these
details can be taken care OF, the pur-
chase price is paid. There are a
number of large payments to bel
made soon.
During the week ending July 81,
sixty-seven contracts calling for
$4,000 were returned from Wash
ington, approved, and this money |
will also soon be paid. In all, ap-
proximately a half million dollars
should be received by american
Falls property owners by the end of
September.
A large, modern hotel is in pros
pect for the new American Falls.
Salt Lake parties were here last
week with a view to the purchase OF
site on the main street of the new
townsite, fronting on the park, but
found they were too early. They left
promising to return when property
is put on sale.
The site desired by the parties,
who are said to be experienced hotel
men, is the one selected by the town
planner for that purpose. 1t is full
block is width and three lots deep.
The location is at the upper end OF
the main business street, and cOnven-
lent to sites selected for the post
office and other public buildings.
The impression prevails outside
the state, that the reservoir and
townsite projects are farther adj
yanced than they are. Several parties I
have come or written concernisg the G
purchase of business property, under a
The impression that townsite prop a
erty is already on the market. This e
week, several contractors arrived, Y
lnder the impression that construc- q
ion had already begun. They were
much disappointed to learn that they n
we're too early. c
No one is now able to say when n
work will be begun. The construc- 4
ion of waterworks, sewers, side v
walks, the grading and graveling OF
treets, is the first work cOntem- r
plated. Many details remain to be q
lrranged before these improve "
nents can be put in. Estimates OF
ost of the sewer system are not yet v
complete. Details of the water +,
ystem have not been determined. f
The plat of the new town, with the T,
rices of lots, has not been approved. b
III these preliminaries are being K
worked out, and it is hoped they will +,
re completed soon. G,
Then will come a delay while bids h
re being advertised for, and con-
racts awarded. Thirty days, or
nore, will be required for advertis-
ng. If there are no delays construc-
ion can hardly begin under two ..
lonths, and it may be longer. "
An opinion handed down at Twin te
'alls, Saturday, by Judge w. A. Bah "
ock, approving the proceedings re
nder which the American Falls Res IN
rvoir District received authority to al
sue s2,7OO,O0O worth of bonds for u
ayment of a proportionate share in
ne construction of the American pc
alls reservoir and purchase Of u
hare in the storage capacity and IN
,ored waters made available by the te
,servoir.
The opinion upholding the legality 10
[ the issue is the first step in the Tn
lie of the bonds, the proceeds from
hich will enable the district to al
eet its obligations to the govern WI
ent The bonds were voted at a nc
,ecial election held May IL last, and &c
.rried by a majority of about nine &c
one. Sale of the bonds are not
until after the supreme 10
'urt passes upon their legality Al
ne American Falls Press. IN
Fl