Wood River times. [volume] (Hailey, Idaho) 1882-1915, 1893-02-15


double the amount of the original es-
innate, and there is even now a cues.
tion as to whether this will be suiTi.
cient to carry the water to the lands
OF the taxpayers.
In Kern county some very exten.
sive work has been done under pri.
vate management, and with satisfac.
tory results. A large canal is now
under construction, having for its
purpose the irrigation OF an exte nsive
body of land above the lines of the
old systems. The owners of this land
have signed contracts to pay between
S11 and $l2 an acre for water rights.
and q small annual rental there after
for the delivery Of water. The feast
b'lity of organizing a district was disc
cussed here. but finally the private
plan prevailed. 1t is expected that
water will be available for a portion
OF the tract during the coming season,
the work having been carried out
much more rapidly than has been the
case in any district yet organized.
The Kern County Land Company has
extended the area covered by some of
its canals aud is actively engaged in
still further work in this line. This
concern has in q number of cases sold
water rights to land owners at $40 an
acre aud an annual rental of 81 so an
acre. AS the most accurate statistics
show that the average value of water
rights to the acre in this State is
S39.*8, the average first cost S12.95
and the average annual cost Of water
III go to the acre, it can be seen that
such propositions as that Of Mr.. Arm
strong AMI the Kern County Land
Company are unusually favorable to
the lard owner. In the far south the
leading private irrigating enterprises
have largely extended their operations
during the year. The Bear Valley,
the Semi-Tropio and the Arrowhe cad
Companies, in San Berna1dno coun-
ty. have done a large amount of new
work, and the first two concerns have
supplied water to much new land.
The latter organization has begun
work on an extensive reservoir aud
canal system, and promises to be
ready to deliver water next year. In
Los Angeles, Orange and San Diego
counties private enterprise has also
done much in promoting irrigation
schemes.
In regard to the district system, the
same difficulty in relation to the sale
of bonds prevails that has from the
outset ba,npered the operations Of the
Wright Act. In Colusa county, all
work has been suspended during the
year, and the hundreds of thousands
of dollars heretofore expended remain
OF no avail SO far as actual irrigation
is concerned. A huge, half>coo, pleted
canal is all there is to show for the
expenditure. The large land owners
are as bitter as ever in their opposi
ton to the scheme, and there is no
immediate prospect for the completion
OF the work, even to q point where
portion Of the district can be supplied
with water. The Modesto and Tu..
ock districts have issued bonds in
double the amount first proposed, and
work is progressing on the dam and
canals, but it is not probable any wa.
Ter will be available during the cons
ng season, or at least until late. The |
Selma and Sunset districts remain in |
heir preliminary stages, no actual
work having yet been done. The Alta,
rulare. Tule River and Poso districts
ire progressing favorably, and where
private canals were purchased water
delivered satisfactorily and the mas
onty Of the land owners benefited
ppear to be satisfied. An attempt to
a district at Hanford was
overwhelmingly defeated.
In the south a new district, the Riv-
rs'de Heights, was organized at Riv-
rslde. while the San Jacinto and
'ieasant Valley district completed its
rganization, ard both are in fair
'ay to become successful There has
cen considerable trouble in the Per
is district, and many land owners
but everything is now said
0 be harmonious. At Anaheim a BID
as been accepted for the bonds of
he district, and as soon as the money
realized development work will be
ushed. At Esoondido and San
larcos, as well as elsewhere IN San
)'ego county, there is clash between
he friends OF the private system and
hose OF the district. and actual work
as been largely delayed in conse>
uence.
There has been much discussion
uring the year as to the provisions f
ie Wright Act, and it is certain that
leasure will come before the next
legislature for amendment, though it