The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-01-08

hSAW Htl9 w WI ~ N6N hsAtf y -
wofts, issne bonds, AssOsS property through
q district aEaassor. ut ~ q board ~ equal
fxAtion, and In all feApe0tH regulate the AZ
fair. pertaining TO irrigation ~ the ais
triat.
should Tho arsa callol Tor In tho petition
extend into two on more counties. tho atl-
pervisors Of the county within which tho
p~etition originated shall notify the super+
visora OF the other counties within Whpaa
boundaries the district extends of the fnet
such d!atfict ID organixed. and such
other supervisors arc enjoinBd from inter
boundaries with any other district bonn-
darios.
Tho dofscts in this law are 10 apparent II
iR necessary only 70 mention them IL conn
pNrison with the plan proposed In the reso-
~lutiong to show that while the California
law is q decided stop In advance and IL tho
IL should be. " win bo noted that dis
trict may extend into two OF more conn
ties; that the district 10 established by tbs
supervisors OF one without the necessary
corporation of the other boards, wherein
lies q foundation for conflict betwesn the
counties. Ihe plan proposea ~ ths fsso.
to q central atnte commission the power TO
fix the boundaries OF n district, TO regulate
Ito Organization and TO pass upon Ill dis
pntes as between notwithstanding aa
auch having no Jurisdiction. The Cali
fornia Inv gives to the board Of county
q district the sole power OF deciding upon
the feasibility Of . scheme OF irrigation.
Such boards, from the nature Of things
{their members not being MS q rul0 engin-
sers) are incompetent TO Judge
Of tbs practicability Of q project;
local engineer with little OF no experience
and, too, local bias would probably affect =
board composed necessarily Of farmers
whose interests would demand tbs IN
struction Of works INT the expenditure q
money In the purchase Of products Of the
farm. This plan is met ia the proposed
law BY the creation Of 4 state commission.
known ability, with nm engineering depart.
ment thoroughly fortified with alt dnta
bearing upon the drainage and lands Of the
whole stats-the number of acres suscepti-
BILE Of irrigation and the supply Of water
permanently available under all circum-
necessary works and the size and class OF
work most suitable. / have been informed
that out of Ss24, 600, 600 in bonds issued vi
der the California law only $4,000. GOO have
been sold, leaving $19..COo,O0o upaold.
Caused, in my Judgment. wholly ~ the
lack Of faith in the ability and honor OF
local boards. Without the confidence Of
the financial world IN q securities, it il
needless to attempt the reclamation of this
empire of Montana. !
This proposed law contemples the man.
agement Of immigration to the state,
Through state management, immigration
would be under absolute control, as any
tematically settled by any class desired,
through colonies or by individuals. All
settlers would secure employment upol
public works in course OF construction fol
one or two years.. thus aiding in building
up achlocality; in the meanwhile farms
would be titled. houses and fences erected
and prosperity would reign by the tins
water could be delivered. In addition il
will place in circulation millions OF dollars
that will be repaid by its own results.
The state will soon reap the full ~fruition
Of such wise legislation by NIL such landi
becoming subject to tax. Not alone will
Montana gain by the immediate output Of
will create Q growing demand for manufac-
tories. wooden mills, iron furnaces, Touring
mills, sugar and cheese factories ane
creameries and the innumerable accessories
of such industries will spring nj
and add to the prosperity q
our commonwealth. Railroads run BY elec
tricity, generated under the pressure Of ou1
mountain streams will penetrate every sec
ton. and Montana will lead not alone in
mineral, but in the production of every
other source Of wealth. / have in my pos
session the laws Of every county praotic-
ing irrigation, and believe that a Law
carrying out the ideas as expressed i Thu
resolutions, as offered, will prove eficaciou
in every emergency, as it will embody thu
best parts of all, and will avoid the errors
as we'll. The people now own the water il
some states, they should own it in all ant
exercise ownership over the means of dis
tribution. In this way only can conflicts
be avoided and much litigation prevented