The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-03-03

order to make the Carey act available IN
the state of Washington our legislature
should provide for the carrying out OF Its
provisions. otherwise the act will not be
operative within our borders. Each or
the arid states. where legislatures have
been in session since the passage OF -
law, has taken up the matter of secur-
ing the I.0oo.eoo acres with much enthu-
siasm.
Coy, MeGraw, In his message, very ably
sets forth the manner of carrying out the
provisions of the act. Under its terms the
state must cause surveys 10 be made to
find out what lands can be reclaimed by
irrigation and the cost per acre. Maps
must be prepared with reports showing
the irrigation system. its source of water
supply, the arid lands covered by the
system selected. and all must be submit
ted to the secretary Of the interior. IL
they are approved by him the state will
then be authorized TO dig the bitches and
do all acts necessary to reclaim the lands.
The lands must then be sold at cost. to-
gether with water right. in tracts not
10 exceed $50 acres to any one person. II
any surplus or profit should accrue
through the sale of the land and water.
reclamation OF other lands Thus 1t will
be seen that the plan is for the state to
furnish homesteads of not TO exceed $50
acres each TO settlers at cost.
The Irrigation District Law.
The legislature of four years ago
PASSED an irrigation district law. which
was taken largely from the Wright act
OF California. II provides that when
ever fifty, or a majority of the freehold
ers owning land. may petition the county
commissioners. they may order a survey
OF the proposed ditch and the boundaries
of the district and divide 1t into five di-
visions as nearly equal as possible. call
AN election and do all other acts neces-
sary for the preliminary organization. If
the freeholders vote In the affirmative,
then another election VIII be called TO
elect district officers 10 conduct the af-
fairs of the district. and the power of the
county commissioners at this point
ceases. The distric. must then refund to
the county all the money expended by II
for surveys and other expenses. Power is
granted to issue per cent. thirty-year
bonds for the construction of the bitches.
4 sinking fund II provided after fifteen
years TO pay them of. An assessor and a
collector OF taxes is provided for; in fact.
the irrigation district liz simply a small
government In itself within the county
government. with full powers to provide
for and carry on the work OF irrigatine
the land within its boundaries
This law was enacted by our tegisia-
ture about the time that the present un-
paraiieled financial depression came upon
us. hence only one or two districts have
| organized under IL. They have, of course
been unable to sell bonds or raise money
and ara quietly awaiting the terrnina ton
OF the money famine.
The same Law has been In operation In
| California since 1856. and ii has been crit.
/ ieiZed very severely. but the criticisms
have been mostly by those who could no,
use IL for speculative purposes. Several
suits were entered ard fought with great
| erergy 10 prove the uncons,itutionaiity oi
the law. but II was In every instance up.
| held by the courts. Over fifty irrigation
/ districts have been organized. Bonds ,c
| the amount OF s-ooSo. go have been voted
| Oven 100000 has been realized from the
/ sale Of bonds and the money expended
1 in digging thousands OF miles OF irrf
eating dlteTes. The average cost OF ths
/ water per acre has been sses Thus IL will
/ be seen that In the years that have fol
| flowed the enactment OF the law It has
| been fully INDICATED In California. New
Districts are being formed now at rspse
/ rate. The irrigation district bond II
about the only one on the market whiei
finds buyer 1t the present time.
How to Amend the Law.
The law as at present IN force iE