Time Capsule: Polson problems, after the war plan, irrigation board

The Ronan Pioneer, April 24, 1941

Meeting at Polson Considers Problems

A meeting of the Western Montana association was held at Polson on Monday, with forty representatives from Lake, Flathead, Missoula, Lincoln, Sanders, Ravalli and Mineral counties were present. The meeting was presided over by Hal T. Cheney, Missoula, chairman. Water problems and their conservation occupied most of the attention of the association. The next meeting is to be held at Hot Springs on the last of September. It was decided to hold four general meetings annually, with committee meetings when necessary.

The Lincoln County group from Libby offered a proposal to protect the scenic attractions along the highways by preserving strips of trees. George Neils of Libby was made chairman of the committee to carry out such a program with the cooperation of the Forest Service … 

Fish and Game Matters

William Steinbrenner of Missoula presented three resolutions from the fish and game committee, which were unanimously adopted by the association. First was one to endorse the wildlife policy adopted by the fish and game commission of the state. A second one commended Governor Sam Ford for his interest in the fish and game matters and his efforts to take the administration of the affairs of fish and game from politics. A third resolution condemns leasing hunting sites around the Ninepipe and Pablo reservoirs and condemns the practice of special privilege. It also asks that the Federal Wildlife Service open suitable areas around the reservoirs to general public hunting … 

After the War Plan By Clarence Streit

Clarence Streit, a former Missoula man and author of the much-discussed "Union Now," is author of another book called "Union With Britain," which is an extension of the previous book.

The recent book, written since the European war began, has been commented on in such magazines as Life, Time, Saturday Evening Post, and Colliers. The dangers of drifting into an alliance with Britain, leaving the problem of peace to a peace conference, as was done in World war, are pictured in Mr. Streit's new book.

He would organize the seven English-speaking democracies into a union during wartime, as the 13 original states organized themselves in the Revolutionary War.

Mr. Streit even goes so far as to discuss the living men who would today be the John Hancocks, Thomas Jeffersons and Benjamin Franklins of the modern constitutional convention. He discusses whether Washington or Churchill, or both, would be the modern-day Washington.

The resolution by which our Congress could get this greater union started is outlined.

Mr. Streit was born in Missoula and was an A. E. F. veteran, a Rhoades scholar and served abroad for 20 years as a newspaper correspondent.

Stanley Scearce, Head of Irrigation Board

The commissioners of the Flathead Irrigation District met in regular quarterly session at Polson, Saturday, April 19. All members were present, and many important matters were given consideration.

G. L. Sperry, project engineer, was present and reported storage in the reservoirs of the project slightly above that at the same period in 1940. He reported the snow depth in the Missian Range was not so good, and suggested that the irrigation season might open with a water allowance for the gravity area of the project of about one acre-foot per acre.

The outlook in the Camas division of the project is better than it was earlier, as the diversion of McGinnis Creek is progressing rapidly and will be completed this month, and the output of the new well, which was drilled in the Lone Pine area during the winter, promises to be above expectations. A pump of eight-second feet capacity is being shipped for this well to give it a test.

The development of the Turquoise Basin power and water project was given an extended study, and an attempt will be made to secure funds for a complete investigation of this project. This project contemplates the boring of six miles of tunnel to divert the flood waters of the higher levels of the Mission range south of McDonald Peak into Mission Canyon …