The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1923-06-21

for additional water to be supplied
them from the American Falls reser-
voir. The government, on its part,
is obliged to make a 1870, 00O-acre
addition to the Minidoka project, at
an estimated cost of 500 per acre,
and the bulk of the government s
contribution will yet have to be ap-
propriated by congress. To date the
government has spent about $780,
600 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.
To Clear up Preliminaries
With the funds now assured 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 q
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 Am
erican Falls and private lands in the
reservoir site. 1t will begin final
negotiations with the railroad COM
pany looking to the removal of it's
track to higher grade, and will pro-
coed with the task Of moving the
town onto higher ground.
| The contract with the Empire dis
trict contemplates that this district
shall acquire title to 100000 acre
feet in the American Falls reservoir,
but when the dam is finished this
water right will be exchanged for
| other water to be taken from the
BlackfoOt reservoir. When the ex-
change is made the Fort Hall irriga-
ton project will be supplied with
water from the American Falls dam,
and 10000 acre-feet from Black
foot reservoir will be diverted to the
Empire district. This exchange will
/, not become operative, however, until
water from American Falls is ac-
tually ready for delivery to the Fort
Hall project. In the meantime the
Greater Fort Hall project will have
been completed and its lands will !
continue to be watered from the |
present source Of supply until Am
erican Falls water is ready for de-
livery.
Height Not Yet Decided
Secretary Work did not decide to-
day the height of the American Falls
dam or the capacity of the reservoir.
In view of the fact that the depart
ment must go to congress for specific
authority to buy the 5000 acres of
Indian lands in the Fort Hall bot
toms which will be flooded when the
dam is built, and also in view of the
fact that funds now available will be
required for preliminaries, the ques-
or h. ~, -
quired is being left open, rather in
the expectation that with the build
ing of the project guaranteed addi-
tional lands will want to come in
and subscribe for water from the
American Falls reservoir. This
would call for greater storage capac-
ity than would be contemplated
solely on the basis of lands at pres
ent signed up.
Actual construction work on the
dam cannot begin before next spring,
mainly because there are no funds
available for this phase of the work.
When the bonds of the American
Falls and Empire districts are sold, I
the proceeds will be available for
dam construction, and congress in
the meantime will have appropriated {
sufficient funds to carry the work l
the next season, and also 1
will have cleared up the controversy
over the right to buy the Fort Hall i
bottoms. The length of time re- (
CURED to finish the American Falls '
dam will depend mainly on the gen. 5
crosby with which congress makes !
appropriations to keep the work go [
ing. Unless congress next session T
passes some bill to expediate recla-
nation work, the appropriations will
necessarily be limited, for appropria-
ions must come from the reclama- p
ion fund in which a dozen States U
share. This situation makes it highly u
to Idaho that some recla-
nation bill augmenting the reclama- II
ion fund be passed next session. II
The Smith-McNary bill, authorizing 8
he expenditure of 100000, is G.
ead because of the enormous sum a.
Presentation of a more u
Moderate measure that will not be OF
Ocal to the west, but that will re- m
lain swamp an dOther waste lands IN
S well as arid lands, is the only II
Ian that will be sure to receive W
congressional sanction, especially as &c
ne south is now demanding federal
i'd in retaining it's swamps.-Salt m
axe Tribune. Je