The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1946-02-14
THAT DAM STORY

The proposed Kootenai dam story
reprinted on another page, which
appeared in last Saturdays Great
Falls Tribune, has met with a diver
sified reception among Libby and
Troy citizens. Many are Skeptical
that the proposition will ever get
beyond the present stage; others
believe it will probably receive
considerable promotion but like the
proposed raising of the water level
on Flathead Lake some time back,
be defeated by popular disapproval.
Several have mentioned a qualified
approval of the project
Should the proposition ever re-
ceive the approval of Congress
which would be needed before it
might become a project, all pro-
perty along the Kootenai Valley
which would be subject to overflow
from waters backed up by the dam
would have to be condemned and
appraised by the government
which would make settlement on
the basis of appraised value. All of
which means that Troy, Libby and
ReXford, as well as all villages and
settlements along the valley be-
tween these points would either be
destroyed or moved 10 new loca-
tions. In case of the latter even
tuality. the government sometimeS
moves an entire community.
The opinion of the majority of
citizens with whom we have
talked, is that the project would
simply be another ruthless disre-
gard of Individual rights by the
government, and the destruction Of
thousands Of acres of merchantable
timber and timberlands which the
government has been endeaVoring
to perpetuate forever by putting
under the Sustained Yield plan.
This destruction they claim, will
merely be to add waters to the
Grand Coulee project for further
reclamation of marginal lands
for farming purposes. All who are
acquainted with the farm situation
during the past decade, remember
the government curtailment of farm
crops in some of the nations finest
farming country already under cul-
tivation, and find it hard to recon /
Gle the destruction Of so much /
property and fine timber lands in
Lincoln county, to provide more
farm land to compete with natural |
ly good farm land so recently re-
stricted from full production An I
example of governmental sagacity /
in such matters, is in the minds of /
many right now as they recall the /
governments curtailment of sugar |
beet crops during the early 40's, |
which has SO drastically cut the
amount of sugar, coffee drinkers are
able. to enjoy with their favorite
breakfast beverage
The information published in
the Tribune article was released by
Fred f Buck, Chief Engineer of the
State Water Conservation Board. A
letter addressed to the publisher of
The Western News by Mr. Buck I'M
der date of September g. 8 1915 in
response to an inquiry on the army /
study being made below Troy,
states in part:
Il believe at this time there is
no need for the people of Troy to be
tNtl ttACQ bFGl litc idCl tlldl # Odill
site is being drilled in their terri
tory Cerainly no dam will ever be
built within the Basin until the
people in the neighborhood have
had full information concerning
the matter 1t is the policy of the
Army Engineers to hold a public
hearing before attempting any ma
Tor development. and at such a
hearing any DIRECTORS may have a
voice in inserting their objections
IN the record ~
Regardless of the need, or lack Of
need for excitement South Lincoln
County is pretty well stirred up re-
garding the possibility of the pro-
posed reservoir. The columns of |
The Western News will be open to
all citizens of Lincoln County who |
may wish to express their opinions
on this subject.