The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-10-23

acre less than it would be ii the Gen
district were omitted, which would
aid very materially in making the
Owyhee project feasible proposition
6. When the Owyhee project, in
Guiding the Gem district. is construct
ed. gravity water supply would be
furnished to the Gem district and then
the reservoir at Payette Lake and the
power plant at Black Canyon dam
could be Immediately turned over for
the Black Canyon project, or Black
Canyon division OF the Boise project
and with the diversian dam. reservoir
and power plant all constructed. the
Black Canyon project would be pretty
nearly half completed and would only
require the construction of the canal
and distribution system. This plan
would also provide enough surplus
power to make it possible when the
power plant is turned over TO the
Black Canyon district. to include some
additional lands under another pump
ing unit of that project POSSIBLY as
much as 10000 acres) and still furnish
sufficient surplus power to provide for
the supplemental plant desired by the
King Hill project during the peak of
the irrigation season.
7. This plan would avoid the OPP
position of that faction OF the Payette-
Boise Water Users association which
is protesting the construction of a
power plant at Arrowrock dam, and
appears to be a plan which would
secure the support of the Oregon
delegation and the Owyhec project
people as il airs very materially in the
feasibility of the Owyhee project and
also appears to be one which would
secure the united support of the Gem
district, the Black Canyon district, the
King Hill project, the Owyhee project
and the various communities tribu-
tary to these four different projects.
8. Another advantage of this plan
is that it would provide the necessary
power for operating the dragline ex-
cavating machine with which the canal
system for the Black Canyon division
is to be constructed and make the con-
struction of these canals some what
cheaper than would be the case il the
power were purchased from the lines
of the Power company.
9. 1t is also true that the power
plant at the Black Canyon dam could
be built more economically while the
present organization. camp and ma
chinery are available than would be
the case after the present organization
is broken up and the camp and equip
ment removed.
TO- Another point which | think
may be of considerable importance is
that the Payette Lake reservoir is by
far the best and the cheapest rcser-
voir for the Black Canyon project.
and it would undoubtedly be easier
to build this reservoir at the present
time than it would five or ten years
hence when the improvements around
the lake will have been considerably
and this is especially true
in view of the fact that the legal au-
thorities indicate that the title to the
land between the high and low water
line of the Payette Lake, and also the
title to the land under the bed of the
lake, is in the state of Idaho, which
has granted us a permit to construct
this reservoir, which permit is now
in full force and effect, but which will
expire if the construction is not car
ried out in the near future.
IL. II it should not be desirable at
this time to commit the bureau or de-
partment to the Owyhee project, i'll
would be feasible to take care of the
present emergency in the Gem district
and provide for the needs of the Gem
district for a number of years to come
by means OF the power development at
the Black Canyon dam and leave it
Tor future decision whether the per-
manent works for the Gem district
should be provided as a unit of the
Owyhee project, or by means of a |
power plant at Arrowrock or else
where when the time arrives for turn
ng the reservoir and power plant on
he Payette river over to the Black