The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-06-06
OLD SYSTEMS DOOMED.


have been held the disposition to
form a district has been markedly
predominant. There are some things
in the law which are not satisfactory
and it could be amended with advan-
tage. The tax is levied on the as
sessed valuation when it ought to be
on the acreage. 1t is not right for
the man who has his land into we'll
cultivated orchards to have fine
placed on his industry or to be
obliged to pay higher water tax
than neighbor simply because he
has more enterprise, Raw land or
cultivated ought to be taxed alike at
so much per acre, and then raw land
held for speculation would be forced
into cultivation. 1t may not be that
bonding proposition will be immedi-
ately taken up even if district is
formed, but the organization will be
a bulwark erected against future in
Engagements on the agricultural rights
OF this community, and the canal
proposition can be taken up at any
time afterwards. Attendant expenses
OF election, etc are an obstacle with
some, and it is true that good many
dead weights have been hung onto
the plan At the same time it is
encouraging to note the interest that
is being taken in the irrigation ques-
ton, not only locally, but everywhere.
With increased interest and investi-
CATION opinions are changing and
popular intellect is growing to the
idea that land and water are insepa.
rable. The Irrigation Age, Ameri-
can Agriculturalist and all leading
irrigation and agricultural journals
are opposed to the evils of the water
right system; the Salt Lake Tribune
has shown symptoms of coming out
openly in favor Of the people con-
trolling the water. Even the Spokes-
man Review, OF Spokane, is just out
IN strong editorial on the subject, in
the course of which il refers to an
irrigation enterprise Of the late Paul
Schrlse, and one paragraph says
The price asked for the land represents
over 400 per cent upon what the cost of
reclamation ought to have been, and rep
resents profit of from 100 TO 200 per
cent upon the actual investment. and it is
proposed 10 supplement even these exor-
bitant profits with perpetual rental, so
that after the entire Investment has been
taken out, over and over again. the settlers
shall pay eternal interest upon no capital
whatever
The Irrigation Age, IN referring to
the same scheme refers to the water
right system as scheme by which
men ''set deliberatelyNat work to OBJ
tain control Of natural opportunities
and to levy prepostercus tribute upon
the industry of men who earn their
bread by the sweat of their faces. F."
The irrigation problem is deep
one that will require careful study to
settle in line with the interests of the
state Of Idaho Men who have never
given an hour to the analysis of the
subject, but who meet newly adj
vanced ideas with "psh, will find,
sooner or later, that it affects the
liberty, independence and future
prosperity Of the state. There is a
principle in human nature which
rebels against tenantry, and tenantry
mark the words) will prevail in the
arid region if the old systems are
allowed to go on unchecked. In
principle water lordism and land
lordism are alike, and we cannot con-
denim one and encourage the other.