The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-06-16

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purchased In one Of two ways: BY
cash payment, or by land exchange;
that IL, one share Of water win be OK.
changed for one acre Of land. II the
shares are sold outright, giving pur-
chasers . property interest in the canal,
the arrangement Is ell that could be
desired. II, however, the corporation
conveys nothing but privilege to use
melted snow, there is some question
as to the continued success and satisfac-
ton Of the settlement. Nevertheless,
il the Payette Independent can be re-
lied on, IN agreeable and advantageous
arrangement has been accomplished.
That is the main thing. TIE TRIBUNE
cheerfully commends the action of the
Payette company to other water cor
porations. II that company can afford
to make terms satisfactory to thu
water users in the Payette Valley, the
same results can be accomplished in
the Boise Valley. We can not under
stand why canal companies object II
ultimate ABSORPTION Of the canals b,
the farmers. Terms can be made with
farmers without difficulty on the BASH
that whenever the conditions justify,
the farmers may purchase the irrigs-
ton works outright. That is all that
is asked or required. Lot it be defin-
itely fixed that at q certain time, con-
ditions being answerable, the farmers
along any canal may assume the
bonded obligations and take complete
possession Of the property and every
obstacle to the successful and profita-
BILE operation of canals viii be over
come. An understanding Of that kind
will bring the corporations and the
people together. Present conditions
can be discussed and explained. There
will be common interests and common
purposes. The farmers will be con-
eerned to keep the canals in proper re-
pair and working order. They will
enter with spirit into the detail and
science of management. Every land
owner will be directly interested in
having the country settled as rapidly
as possible. Farmers win discover
that large land holdings are unproft-
able if not imp6ssibla. One hundred
and sixty acre plots win be cut up into
forties. At the risk Of being tedious
we will make one practical illustration
and for that purpose name the Phyllis
canal. We will suppose that the
bonded indebtedness is 100000, float
ing debt and unpaid interest $50. 900.
At this time tho proposition represents
an investment of $4,000. which. at 8 |
per cent, involves an annual interest
Of 81, 900; current maintenance expense
$4,000; that provides q liberal salary for
4 6zst class superintendent. The an
nual gross expense would be $4,000.
II ut the present time there are only
1000. acres under cultivation, 1t will
readily be seen that tho canal can not |
be operated profitably without the i'm
position Of practically prohibitive tax
and the only escape from the burden is
TO cultivate moro land. It is q we'll |
known fact that the average settler
:an not Increase his productive acreage,
except by gradual process, process SO
low that it will take years to make
Iav material reduction in water rental
,ased on a fair decreasing scale. The
'nly remedy then is by cutting off un-
holdings and inducing others
% come in and cultivate. There will
70 double incentive to do this. First,
t will tighten the immediate burdens
md, second, it will hasten the time
then tho farmers will become able to
purchase the canal outright and derive
themselves the benefits accruing from
J permanent 8 per cent. investment.
Dur proposition involves three ideas.
FIRST; for the present, a rental rate
'ased on reasonably profitable opera
ion of canais. II this involves a pro.
iDitive burden, then such q rate as
ecple can. pay and, yet, sufficiently
urdensome to induce them to let 90 Of
urplus holdings. This means an an
ual deficit which added to the original
lvestment must result in one Of two
hings-an ultimate increase OF cost
hen the canal is purchased or a pro-
'nging of the period Of high rentals.
econd, tho rental charge shall always
3 based on the actual investment and
operating expenses, which I
'ust result in q reduction Of rates in
verse ratio to the cultivated acreage;
lat Is, as the amount of land brought I
ader cultivation increases, the cost Of i
ater will decrease. Third, whenever 6
10 amount of land under cultivation .
equal to the capacity Of the canal,
ZEN the actual settlers shall, If they
sire, assume the obligations Of the
NAL company and become absolute !.
vners Of the works. We hope canal I,
will wiv> <h> ,,,n.<;.. - 6