The record-union., 1893-01-07
IRRIGATION MATTERS.
An Important Conference in Session
in This City.
Some of the Proposed Amendments tc
the Wright Law-Amount of
Bonds Voted.

A most important convention of State
lrrigationists was in session in this city
yesterday. Delegates from almost every
part Of the State have been in attendance,
nearly every irrigation district having
one or more representatives.
u. Dewitt President of the State Asso-
citation, presided at the meetings, and L. NJ.
Holt, editor of the Orange Belt at Rialto,
ot1iciated as Secretary. Among the other
noted persons in attendance were C. C.
Wright, author of the famous Wright ir-
rigation law; w. S. Green, editor of the
Colusa Sun: Il. II. Tucker of Selma, + Y.
Baker, P. L. Reed, A. J. Pilsbury, j. w.
Mackey and E. d. Vogelsang Of Tulare,
ID. Robinson and Samuel Merrill of
Rialto, I. A. Wells of Kern County, L.
I. Casper of Poso and r. b. Beaver of
Escondido.
The most important business before the
convention was preparation ofamend-
ments TO the Wright irrigation law and
other matters which will be brought be-
fore the attention of the present Legisla-
ture.
During the last session of the Legisla-
ture several amendments were adopted
to the Wright law which have proven
beneficial. one of the very important
amendments to be proposed at this ses-
sion, IL is understood, will provide that
the school fund of the State may be in
vested in irrigation district bonds. This
amendment is approved by the State
Treasurer and other State officials, and if
1t becomes law it will go far towards
assisting III marketing this class of Sc
curities. The State school fund is now
invested in a class of bonds that can only
be had by paying premium therefor
AS result, it is claimed by irrIgationists,
the fund has lost 5000 by this process
Of paying a premium for bonds and then
having them redeemed at par. If the
school fund could now buy irrigation dis
trict bonds at 80 or 80 cents on the dollar
in the course of time this loss would be
made good again. The school fund could
take care of only small portion of the
irrigation bonds offered, but the very
fact that the State did invest in those
bonds from time 10 time as it had money
to do so would materially affect the sale
OF such bonds to private capitalists.
But few of the districts represented in
the association have issued bonds for
more than $40 per acre on the land to be
irrigated and it is claimed the land in
most cases is worth ut least twice that
amount. And when the districts are in
full and successful operation it is fully
expected that the land will double IN
value, thus rendering the security for the
bonds ample.
In no case has there been a default in
the payment of the interest on the bonds
voted. At the present time, however.
some of the bonds, which run twenty
years, with interest at + per cent, pay
able semi-annually, can be purchased at
or below par.
The Wright irrigation law has been in
operation five years, ana under it about
forty districts have been formed.
Some are now in successful operation,
others nearing completion, and still
others are but recently organized.
\ few weeks since l.. NJ. Holt sent let
ters to the secretaries of the various irri-
CATION districts in the State, asking for
Information relative to the progress of
the districts III issuing and selling bonds,
and from the answers received the fol-
lowing summary is.made up:
Nineteen districts report having voted
bonds to the extent OF SIl ,S3f 900.
There are also thirteen other districts
that have voted S4,942,0J0, and these dis
tricts have sold no bonds.
This makes total Of S1G, 776,0 900 in bonds
voted by thirty-twO districts.
There are six districts in the list that
have not as vet voted any bonds.
The sale of bonds for cash amounts to
SL,O--,uUt, anu IEdOCu IOT WuJcf-ilpntS
s., ,995, 200, total of S5,6l7, 200 in bonds
disposed of out of a total of Sll 1874 coo.
The other districts are evidently not
ready to sell their bonds as yet.
The thirty eight districts contain 2,149.-
724 acres Of land.
The assessed valuation of twenty-eight
districts is S32, ,982, $40. These twenty
eight districts contain SIS, ,594 acres, and
the assessed valuation is little over S2I
per acre.
The thirty-two districts that have voted
bonds contain 2,S3l ,424 acres, and the
bonded debt Is an average of So 81 to the
acre.
Some districts have failed to material
ize
The Elsinore District is abandoned, as
the courts declared it Illegally organized.
Muriieta District has been unable to do
much, as there is a difference Of opinion
among the people, and the cost of getting
water will be very great.
Reports from Big Rock Creek are very
conflicting, but it is said that the district
is practically abandoned, and the interest
on it's outstanding bonds is not being
paid.
Selma District, on account of opposition
from the people, has never, as yet, been
able To vote bonds.
OF the thirty-eight districts, the issue of
bonds has been confirmed in the courts
in twenty six districts.
In twenty-six districts the report comes
that the Wright irrigation law is satis-
factory to the people. OF course this
means in general way, subject to such
amendments as may be deemed neces-
sary. In one district the report is that it
is unsatisfactory; in one district the re-
port is doubtful, and the other districts
are not heard from.
The whole of yesterday was consumed
in the discussion of the school-fund
amendment and minor matters, and an
adjournment was taken until 1880 O. clock