The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-02-09
REPLY TO Mr.. KENNEDY,
Further Discussion of the Proposed
Bill to Establish a Water
Commission.
Mr.. Shuart Emphasizes the OBJ
tections OF a Former Paper
on the Subject.
And Adduces More Reasons Why tho
Plan Is FrauEht with Great
Danger to Montana.

To The Independent;
In your issue of Jan. % You published a
communicated from me on the water
commission bill now pending before the
legislature, to which, in The INDEPENDENT
of Jan. 81, Mr.. Will Kennedy. of the Boul-
der Age, makes reply. In my article l said,
In substance. that the plan OF reclamation
contemplated by this bill is unsuised to sx-
listing conditions in Montana, because our
public lands are owned by the United
States. and are therefore not available for
securing irrigation bonds; that this fact. if
our bonds wore 80 be salable, would neces-
state their being guaranteed in principal
and interest by the state; that inasmuch az
the direct benefits of RECLAIM alton would ae-
orue principally to those owning or acquir-
ina lands under the ditohes built, it would
be unjust to lay upon the people at large
the enormous burden of taxation which this
system would involve; and expressed the
opinion that this feature of the bill consti-
tutes a Fundamental objection" because
the people. though the bill should become a
law, would certainly refuse to vote the
bonds under conditions SO unequal and IN
just.
The bill would work injustice as between
counties. The counties most needing
ditohes are those having the liRhtsst assess
ment rolls. which, therefore. while reapina
the greatest benefit, would bear least OF she
burden. Gallatin county has already footed
the bill of her own development. The min
ing counties have little need of farm bitches.
Is it likely. therefore, that these counties
would consent to be taxed for the develop
ment of the rest of the state?
In his reply. Mr.. Kennedy comedies that
il would be necessary for the state to guar
antee the bonds, and that for a while the
system would lay burdens upon the major
ity Of the taxpayers, not rightfully theirs.
Hut he argues that this in Justice would be
rightcd by a Simple amendment" provid-
ing that fair tolls shall be charged for
water, and that all surplus over the cost of
maintenance, interest, etc., shall go into
the general fund of the state" He believes
that eventually the revenue from water
tolls would not only reimburse the state for
interest advanced during the non produc-
tive years of the enterprise. but would be-
come an important source Of revenue to the
state for the reduction of taxes.
Accepting Mr.. Kennedy's proposed
amendment, and granting for the moment
that his confident estimates respecting the
financial outcome of the enterprise would
be realized; what then would be the naked
proposition which would confront ths tax
payer when asked TO vote the bonds2 Would
1t not be this: That they vote millions of
dollars in bonds, and that they consent to
be u~njustly taxed TO pay the interest on the
same. for an indefinite term Of years, on
condition that when the water tolls should
become sufficient they should be reim-
bursed for their generosity Docs MIR.
Kennedy seriously believe that the people
would vote ''les' to this proposai2 / fear
that fhay unul6 raplv in tNraa Mnntana
phrase, Life is too Short
But would Mr.. kennedy's glowing 8ntic-
ipations respecting tho enOrmou revenues
which would accrue TO the state from water
tolls be- realized? Before me lies a letter
but a few days old from an official of one
of the largest and most costly bitches in
Montana. In answer to an inquiry he re-
plies: 1.-The water rentals never have or
ever will pay the expenses of running the
ditch. The company would give the ditch
TO any reliable person or persons who
would give a bond to run and keep the
ditch In order for q term of years." 1 think
] could name several other large bitches
in this state which the owners would be
very glad to have the state Of Montana take
Off their hands at considerable less than
their original cost. and this experience is
not peculiar to Montana ditch companies.
In fact the testimony ia almost unanimous
throughout the arid states that bitches
which have been built to convoy water for
toll have proved unremuneratiye And this
ia largely true also of bitches from which
water rights have been sold. The bitches
which pay are usually those which belong
to the owners of the land.
In my previous article | spoke of the i'm
probability that our lands, when reclaimed,
would sell as readily as Is assumed, and
cited the fact that Of the Is, 800, 600 acres
under ditch in the arid states Jan. |. 1892,
fully 10, soc, 600 yet remained to be brought
under cultivation: which shows conelu-
sively that, despite the Brilliant exceptions
which exist here and there. generally speak
ing, the home-seeker is Il long way from
treading upon the heels of the ditch
builder. ! also expressed the conviction
that the minimum ptice of $40 per acre
for reclaimed land. coupled with the exist
ing depression ia the price of farm pro-
ducts. is oxerting, and will continue so to
do, a powerful restraint upon the settle
ment of irrigated lands, and that in view
of these facts a forced development of the
agricultural lands of the state, such az the
Huffman bill oontsmplatss, might prove n
sadly mistaken policy. Mr.. Kennedy thinks
this a peculiar suggestion to come from q
Montanian." Perhaps 1t is; but 1T seems
TO me that the peculiarly lies in the facts
themselves, rather than IN the inference
which | draw from them. The scheme
proposed b. this bin iR based upon
the assumption that our lands, If
u hIAo1 uibtA oud plhCcl upon tH6
ma ket. would sell like hot cakes: aud un-
less they should, it is certain the state
would speedily be overwhelmed with aisas.
ter. The facts to which | have rsferte ed at
least Justify grave doubts whether our
lands would be quickly taken, and how
ever nninportaut these facts NAV seem to
Mr.. Kennedy, | believe il will require a
sturdier logic than that of irony to CON
vince the public that they may be safely
lRno. ed.
y further objection to this water com
mission I'LL. 10 which did not refer in my
previous a ticle tor want of space, liz this
lhe bAl Proposes a plan of reclamation
under the auspices of the state. he funds
for thus goat undertaking are to be de-
rived from the ssls OF bonds issued and
guaranteed by the state. lbese bonds
would be voted from time &c
tlme by the people. Assuming nov
that public sentiment would favor
she bonds, how would tho system
wo k in practice In the first place II
would be absolutely necessary in order IL
carly e vote for bonds tina, each county il
the department be pledged its due proper
ton OF the funds arising from the sale o
the bonds for expenditure within itA Owl
limits. Yellowstone, Dawson and Custe