The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-12
IRRIGATION.

San Francisco Chronicle of Sunday last
and when he has studied its contents
should put it carefully aside for future
reference. With a spirit of enterprise
that leaves the magazines far in the
rear, the issue we speak of devotes
nearly thirteen seven-column pages to
the ventilation and discussion of the
great question of irrigation. The facts
are fresh and clearly stated, and the
showing is something wonderful. India,
Spain, Italy, France are all drawn upon
for information and experience, and the
records Of the doings Of the agricultur-
lists of these foreign countries TEEN with
information that cannot fail to be Of use
to Montanians. California, as might be
expected, occupies the place of honor
and monopolizes the bulk Of the reading
matter. The full text of the Wright ir-
rigation law is given, and the proceed
ings and decisions Of the various courts,
in which its constitutionality has been
attacked and upheld, are furnished in
~extenso. The value Of irrigation bonds
is discussed, and their worth and sta
bility are certified to not only by a long
array of the business men of San Fran
cisco, but by capitalists Of national repu-
tation. Full details are given of the
brilliant Transformation that irrigation
has wrought at Readlands, Anaheim,
and many other Of California's modern
show-places. An enormous bulk of sta
+;n&;oc -,,o{ol frooo tho MOST oroilob1o
sources, goes to prove the immense
amount of money there is in irrigation
schemes, carefully thought out and we'll
executed.
Any attempt to compress the Chroni-
cle's information within the limits Of an
article in these columns would, of course,
be futile. But a synopsis of the Wright
law and a showing in brief Of the growth
of some sections of California under it's
wise provisions cannot fail to be of inte-
rest to u readers. At the basis of the
working of the measure is the district
system of organization. The people in
any given section, the lands of which are
irrigable from a common source are at
liberty to form an irrigation district,
similar to all intents and purposes to a
municipal corporation. Further pre-
liminary work consists in the determi-
nation of the best and most suitable
source Of supply, and the most feasible
method of constructing the necessary
works. Estimates are subsequently
called for, and the people interested are
empowered to vote bonds to defray the
necessary cost. Upon all property in
the district that will be benefited, these
bonds are a first lien, and the payment Of
interest and redemption is made through
taxes regularly levied and collected as
in a case of city or county bonds. 1t
ought to be perfectly evident
that we'll placed bonds of this des-
crlption constitute first class security.
No business man would be SO foolish as
to invest in the bonds of any particular
district, simply because they are irriga-
ton bonds. That is not the meaning
we wish to convey. Due inquiry should
first be made as to the value OF the Sc
curity and the ability Of the district to
meet its obligations, just as in the ne
gotiatlon of a loan on city property the
title must be searched and the value APP
praised. But with satisfactory creden-
tials, irrigation bonds must always rate
high in the market. They constitute, in
fact, a first mortgage upon all lands in
the district, but, unlike other mort
cages, they possess this notable advant
age, that the proceeds are en-
tirely devoted to the enhancement
of the value of the original Sc
curity. So far as we know, there
is no other form Of bond that can il
every instance claim the same recon
mendatlon. In brief, the Wright irri
CATION law has proved itself in Califor
mia a shining success.
Personal observation has made many
of the citizens of Montana familiar with
the wonderful increase in wealth anC
population which irrigation has accom-
p!lshed for California. For the benefit
OF those OF our readers who have not en-
Joyed that advantage, we collect a few
OF the Chronicles figures on the subject
Much OF the ex perience of irrigators il
the state, We are assured, is Of 80 mar
Vicious a character as to be almost in
credible, would be incredible were not
the accounts known to be absolutel,
correct. The principal irrigation cen
tiers are the counties of Los Angeles
San Diego, San Bernardino, Keen, Tu.
lare, Fresno and MERGED. Within til,
last twenty years the increase in popu
lation has been as follows: Los Angelica
from l5,309 to l0l 40. San Diego, from
1881 to 34,8TS. San Bernardino, fron
1888 to 25,4s6. Tulare, from 4,533 t
$3.50, and the rest show similar results
Within the last decade the state ha,
been gaining in population at the rat.
of 80 per cent. Thirteen counties hay
lost in population from one to 70 pc
cent, and in these mining, stock raisin!
and lumber industries have been tn,
leading industries. Fifteen other coun
ties, including the most important irr
gated areas, have grown more rapid
than the state at large. The gain in tn
eleven counties most deeply interegte,