Old Timer's Column

Paul Flinn

Boundary County Historian

From The Bonners Ferry Herald

July 25, 1913

Commissioners Hawkins and Elliott of Drainage District No. 5 returned Monday evening from Spokane where they spent the day in consultation with the engineer of the district in regard to drainage plans. The plans of the engineer were approved and the commissioners believe that they will be able to carry out their drainage plans at a very nominal cost. The present plans call for the diking of the Kootenai River to a height of 30 feet above the low water level.

Preliminary work of the drainage of the district has been commenced, and a contract for the clearing of the slough from which seepage will be drained has been let to Oliver Campbell.

County Fair to be Held in Bonners Ferry

After some conference Wednesday between the board of county commissioners and various businessmen of Bonners Ferry, it was definitely decided that the local commercial club would take charge of the Bonner County fair this year.

A. J. Kent was among the most prominent in the movement to secure the fair for Bonners Ferry, and under his management, there is but little doubt that the fair this fall will be one of the most successful of any that has been held in the county.

Mr. Kent intends to begin getting ready for the fair immediately, and a subscription list will be circulated immediately in order that it may be determined the amount which will be available for premiums.

The farmers all over the county are urged to begin to prepare to make exhibits at the fair. Those in charge of the fair plans will be pleased to hear any suggestions and to answer any questions. The complete plans will be announced at a later date.

Voters Argue Consolidation

Over 200 residents of Bonners Ferry and vicinity attended the meeting held at Kent’s Hall Wednesday night. It was called by the board of county commissioners for the purpose of obtaining the sentiment of the taxpayers of the Independent School District No. 4 in regard to the consolidation of the two districts.

Despite the fact that plausible reasoning was not forthcoming, it was apparent that a large number of the residents of District No. 14 were strenuously opposed to the consolidation. The radicals were victorious in their efforts to prevent free and open discussion of the merits and demerits of the issue for which the meeting was called.

Briefs

C. C. Ames of Porthill was a business visitor in town Tuesday and Wednesday. Mr. Ames says that he has had trouble with miscreants who have been killing his cattle. He found several carcasses lately which had been shot with a .22 caliber rifle. Mr. Ames offers $100 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the guilty parties.

A company of 10 citizens for the Copeland district were in town Wednesday to meet with the board of county commissioners and talk over road plans. Among the Copeland people present were E. C. Maxwell, J. H. Gutherie, H. L. Edwards, J. W. Turner, Lewis Cooper and E. E. Elliott.

A dance will be given tonight at the Pavilion for the benefit of the Bonners Ferry baseball club. Music will be furnished by the full Utopia orchestra. The baseball boys promise all a good time. The admission will be $1.

M. M. Fry returned Wednesday from Leonia, where he had spent several days at the property of the Idaho Gold, Radium Mining Co. The company has received a steam shovel and will use it in construction of a four-mile road from Leonia to the placer claims. Some 30 men are now employed by the company.

(Note: The placer claims name was later changed to Gold and Ruby mine. The steam shovel was still at the head of Boulder Creek in 1958.)