How was the former commune of Granges financially strangled by the damming of the river?
Par Charly-G. Arbellay
For several years, the 3rd correction of the Rhône keeps the news. There are plans to decorvesce the river to allow it to wander. The elders of the former commune of Granges (Valais) who are still alive have a less enthusiastic vision of this future work. The story of the damming of the river stuck in their throats.
A little historical reminder
In the 19th century, the riverside municipalities were required to maintain the banks of the Rhône. They suffered a lot financially from this unfair situation compared to mountain communities.
In 1880, the commune of Granges was required by the State of Valais to build the banks of the Rhône (10 km, from Noës to Bramois). Grand Lens which was not yet divided into four communes (Lens, Icogne, Chermignon and Montana) and had taken great care to limit its territory to the hillside up to Vaas in particular, so as not to have to maintain its share.
In 1885, the state engineer drew up plans and carried out the work. And the town of Granges is paying. But this project being poorly put together, the bills far exceeded the financial possibilities of Granges who had to pay 290,000 francs, a colossal sum for the time (several million today). Strangled, Granges could not pay! The municipal authorities then drafted a petition arguing that the calculation error was attributable to the state engineer. And it was therefore not up to the Grangeards to pay for the work overruns. The Council of State and the Grand Council then looked into this matter and decreed that we could not effectively bleed the commune of Granges following this containment. An arrangement was finally reached. A decree passed by the deputies stipulated that the revenues of the municipality must be used first of all to pay operating costs, the maintenance of schools, roads, bridges, canals, the treatment of phylloxera and the surplus to pay the interest on the debt. “All surpluses, if there were any, would be paid into a special debt repayment fund, managed by the State,” underlines the official message.
Ultimately Granges had to pay 80,000 francs and, for the balance, it was entitled to loans from the Canton and the Confederation which had to be repaid. For many years, the commune was under the supervision of the State. Officials controlled all his expenses. This dark page in history had a serious impact on the development of Granges, which always remained in a weak situation. Until May 28, 1972, when Granges merged with Sierre, its neighbor.
Bibliography –
Valais – Illustrated chronicles from prehistory to the 21st century – René Arbellay 2005
Photo captions
In 1870, the Rhône surrounded the town of Granges. Clermont map.
The Rhône at Granges-Gare in 1926 after damming. Arbellay Collection
December 2005 – The Rhône seems to be sleeping. Photo Arbellay
The anger of the Rhône in 2007. It overflows at La Millière in its northern part. Photo Arbellay
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2023-12-12 19:28:03
#Finances #swallowed #Rhône
