The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-04-05

done in the face of hard times is now
bringing a great deal of business to
this section of the valley at a time
when it is much needed He said he
thought the people of the community
loyal support, and to be responsive
about attending the special meeting
called by the board.
Regarding the American Falls
reservoir it was said that Blackfoot
had not shown much interest in It,
and had not given much help in the
task of putting on the preliminary
election held in January, and that
altho the election carried by vote
of about six to one, there we're
good many votes cast by people who
would not be privileged to vote in the
bond election to be held May IL, and
we should see to it that every avail
able voter should be seen and in
duced to give it his attention. He
thought that Blackfoot should awake
from it's Indifferent attitude and be-
come positive element for progress.
A committee was appointed consist
ing of L. B. White, ]. G. Hartong,
M. M Foster, j. A. Stewart and r. A.
English to work for it.
C. A. Eng1e, manager for the
Reclamation office, addressed the
club on the condition of the FIT. Hall
project and stated that about SO per
cent of the acreage under it is signed
up for financing the cost of the en-
largement. The present system
waters about $4,000 acres and the
plans contemplate watering $4,000.
The original cost of the present sys-
tenn was Sc an acre, and the rebuild
ing and charging will entail an ad-
ditional cost of $3.50 an acre. The
government is advancing $525,0OO
for the Indian lands, and this will be
repaid by the Indians, either in in
stallments or from the sale of lands
owned by them. The other $228,000
is to be repaid by the white land
owners receiving the benefit of it.
The present operation and main
tenance cost, as a result of the de-
plorable condition Of the present irri-
cation system, is excessive and the
water service very unsatisfactory. |
II the project is not completed, the |
operation and maintenance assess
ments will continue to increase and
the water service will of necessity
become still more unsatisfactory.
The present operation and main
tenance cost is $1.25 per acre per
year. If this work Is completed, 1t
will doubtless be considerably less,
probably not greater than SO cents
Or rs cents per acre, so that the en-
ire annual payment, including both
he operation and maintenance as
'essment and the installment of the
cost will in all probable
ty be but little If any, more than the
present operation and maintenance
you are now paying,
md in addition the water supply will
,e ample and the service greatly i'm
proved
If the work is not completed the
oss to land owners because of insult
icient water supply and unsatisfac-
DRY service will doubtless be greater
within a few years than the entire
mount required for the completion
+ the project.
The work will greatly enhance the
alue of the land by increasing the
alue of the water right and this in
IcdS0 Ill tu0 fdluo VI Iuc lduu 40 d
esult of the work proposed, will
oubtless be several times the cost
f the work.
AS an example of the increase in
and values likely to accrue as re-
ult of the proposed work, your at
ention is called to the following
act: A land owner on the project
vas recently refused loan by the
ederal land bank until he had
igned the reimbursable agreement
nd thus saveguarded his water
ight and assured himself and the
ank of an ample water supply.
The preliminary estimated cost of
le Minidoka project was $22 per
ere, while the actual cost was SAP
or acre.
The preliminary estimated cost of
lie Boise project was $45 per acre,