The Bingham County news. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1918-1930, 1923-05-11
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Twin Falls, Idaho, May 11.-Next
Saturday, May II, at an election OF
the largest irrigation district in arti-
ficially watered America, will be de-
cided the fate of the largest reservoir
undertaking but two in the world--a
reservoir so mammouth as to rival
those on the Nile and Euphrates, with
a floor of $4,000 acres providing wa
ter for an empire, and the construc-
ton of which will involve the moving
of an entire town Of considerable pro-
portions, with its public and private
buildings, its mills and its railroad
trackage.
The seat Of this proposed develop
ment Is American Falls where the
government, in cooperation with var
ious irrigation tracts combined In the
American Falls reservoir district, and
others being financed independently
of the big district, proposes to con-
struct this great reservoir, inundat'rg
what is now the town Of American
Falls and storing waste waters OF
the Snake river to the extent Of l.
100000 acre feet is the first unit TO
be built and, potentially, 100000 acre
feet.
Election WIN Settle It
The big district is an essential fac
tor in the financial structure and,
therefore, il the bond election should
fail in that district the whole thing
would collapse, and the government
has already announced that such faH
ure would mean abandonment OF the
undertaking.
The governments share Of the cost
is provided by congressional appro-
priations under its contract, as pro-
posed, with the big district and the
other units pleading only the favor
able action Of the various localities,
has been available for long time. At
present there is 100000 Of govern
ment money available. This contract
with the government will be executed
II approved by two-thirds majority
at the election on May IL, the same as
required on the bonds.
Big Vote Needed
The committee in charge, having
the cooperation Of the Idaho Recla-
nation Association, through its man
ager, Guy Flenner, are urging heavy
vote as the only means Of surely ov-
grooming an opposition that Is largely
fomented by Misunderstanding and
MISREPRESENTATION and much Of which
might not be reached with all the
facts In the course Of short cam
paign.
One Of the latest statements of the
committee to the public follows: !,
"The reason for increasing the bond
issue to $2,7OO,000 was
FIRST: To take care OF the inter''t :
for five years, 80 no payment will :
have to be made until benefits have
been received from the reservoir and
from allied developments, and every
one will be in better position to pay =
the same later than now.
Bond Issue to be Reduced
"SEOND: The bond issue is based :
on a minimum of reservoir and a max =
imum Of cost The present contract ?
ors represent 100000 acre feet Of stor- =
age. That was the total when the Of
ficial call for the election was made
and the contract between the q. 8. I,
and the district agreed to
The figure had to be put
at the actual storage contracted for. .
Since then the Empire district has . :,
voted bonds to take 10000 acre feet .
Of storage at American Falls. Others y y
are coming in as fast as possible 70
here is little doubt that capacity Of
he first date of the reservoir will be !"
;, 500 900 acre feet As the capacity 10
Increased the cost will decrease with
he result that the amount Of bonds to
Do actually issued undoubtedly will be M
he original amount figured or-S1I- 81
,00, 900 with the deferred interest add p.
ID lpi