The Filer record. (Filer, Idaho) 1919-1930, 1923-06-21
CONTRACTS SIGNED
BY WORK FOR
BIG Dam AT FALLS
Federal Officials VIII Take Up OPP
lions and Clear Way for Actual
Construction In Spring.

I -
the American falls dam across the
Snake river, at a cost of from $751;
OOO, 900 to s16,0OO.OOO was abso-
lutely guaranteed Saturday when
Secretary of the Interior Work signed
contracts with the greater American
Falls irrigation district and with the
Idaho Power company. These con-
tracts pledge the government to pro-
coed with the building of the dam, in
cooperation with the two irrigation
districts, while the power company,
under its contract, agreed to surren-
der to the government its two plants
at American Falls and such other
property as may have to be taken,
incident TO the building of the dam.
While the dam is under construction
power from these plants will be used
at the damsite.
BY Saturdays action. Secretary
Work makes it possible for the
American Falls district to proceed
with the sale of its S2,700,000 fof
bonds, recently authorized. and the
Empire district is empowered to sell
its $2,500,000 of bonds, these
amounts representing what the land
owners of those districts will pay
for additional water to be supplied
them from the American Falls res
ervoir
Enlarge Minidoka Project.
The government, on its part is
Obliged to make a 20,0O0-acre adj |
dition to the Minidoka project at an |
estimated cost of 500 per acre and |
the bulk of the governments con-
priated by congress. To date the |
government has spent about $780,
900 at American Falls. An additional
$1,700,000 is on hand and can now
be expended and there is no longer
any danger that any part of the ap-
preparation will lapse.
With funds now available, the
government will make partial pay
ment to the power company. the con-
tract calling for one-fourth down.
and the balance In three annual pay
ments, the first payment TO be a
quarter of a million dollars. In ad-
dition the government will at once
take up numerous options on rights
Of way, including lands involved in
the moving of the townsite OF Ameri- .
can Falls and private lands in the
reservoir site. IL will begin final
regulations with the railroad com
oany. looking to the removal OF fits
rack to a higher grade, and will
proceed with the task of moving the }
own onto high ground.
Empire District Contract.
The contract with the Empire dis
rict contemplates that this district q
hall acquire title to 10000 acre .
eet in the American Falls reservoir :
nut when the dam is finished this !
Tater right will be exchanged for =
Their water to be taken from the a
Ilackfoot reservoir, and when this .,
xchange is made, the Fort Hall ir- n
igation project will be supplied with
'ater from the American Falls dam. n
nd the 10000 acre feet from the
lackfoot reservoir will be diverted
} the Empire district. This exchange
III not become operative, however,
ntil water from American Falls Is
ready for delivery to the ~
ort Hall project. In the mean -,
me the greater Fort Hall project -
i'll be completed and its lands will -
, watered from present sources of ~
pply. ~ J"
Height OF Dam Undecided.
Secretary Work did not decide tn
turday the height Of the American da
Ills dam, OF the capacity OF the tn
servoir. In view OF the fact that ais
must go to congress for CO.
celtic authority TO buy $4,000 10
res of Indian lands in the Fort sch
III bottoms. which will be flooded tbs
len the dam is built. and in view OF Jol
2 fact that funds now available will sch
required for preliminaries. the :.
estion Of the amount of storage re- soi
irements is being left open. rather III
expectation that with the building '"s
the project guaranteed. additional
Ids will want TO come in. will .ub- .'ii
be for water from the American na
lis Reservoir. and thus call for a .ne
'ater storage than would be con- .oi'
nplated solely on the basis Of the ~
ds al present signed up. WI
Start Work Next Spring. mi,
actual construction work on the Uni
n cannot begin before next pas
ing, mainly because there are no tfor
ds available for this phase OF the sarl
TX. When the bonds OF the Amer mu,
q Falls and Empire districts are fun