The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1895-05-16
THE WEISER SIGNAL.
ORGANIZE A DISTRICT.


the new irrigation laws of Idaho,
lately received frcm the state house
at Boise, and we are minded to re-
mark that, although we believe the
water men have sought in their
back ground style to make it too
unwieldy for the farmers to handle
and it will therefore need some trim
ming by the next Legislature, the
provisions of the Daily act offer
long stride towards intelligent and
equitable relations between land and
water Pondering the matter over
well we are impressed with the ur-
gent necessity for the people here to
form a district at once under the
provisions of the said law. Through
ont the past and up to the present
this community has enjoyed immu-
nifty from the subtle evils of the
water right system. While corporate
greed has stalked forth, gaunt-eyed,
around US levying and wrestling its
tribute of so an acre (water-right)
from the land and forging the chains
by winch to lead men into abject
terantry, we have pursued our peac-
full way unstartled by his tread. We
have had, it is true, corporation
ditch upon which to depend for water
for irrigation, but it has been con-
Quoted along legitimate lines all it
has asked has been a compensation
for conveying water through its
canal, and it has never demanded a
subsidy for the privilege of receiving
its services nor sought to secure a
perpetual grasp upon our agricul-
tural industry Still there has been
some dissatisfaction and we have
many times in the past been asked,
''why don't you sock it to that
dtch?' But looking from an i'm
partial point OF view we could not
see where relief from evils (real or
imaginary could then be found
there was nothing to be gained by
''sockin' it to anybody, and we
cared not for so tnstcless and thank
less job from which no advantages
would result to any person, and of
the justifiableness of which we had
very serious doubts But now new
conditions front us, and through the
new law it is possible to make de-
cisive move and see daylight shining
ahead. Therefore we urge that the
people arouse themselves and organ
ize district. The farmers have
long expressed their opposition to
prevalent methods, talked of state
ownership aud told how they hun
tered for chance to control an irri.
cation system OF their own. Now is
the opportunity and are they moi
going 10 take advantage of it? Are
they going to sit idly by and see 8
still worse state of affairs come or
them, and gaze placidly at the creep
ing, craving approach of the subtle
cneMy they have long shouted
against? We hope not. We hop,
HE people Of the Flat will rise t,
their present opportunity and as FIRE,
and Independent citizens own ant
control their own water supply, FIRE,
from the grasp of any individual o
corporation They will certainly no
lie drawn like sheep into entangl
lnentsfrom which they cannot extri
cate themselves in the future. Fo
less than IS an acre they cal
buy and enlarge the Galloway ditch
and water will not cost them owe
25 cents an acre afterwards. Thel
why should they be cinched for S
or 80 per acre and then not own tn
ditch and have the water costin,
them an additional 81 an acre eac
year The people can issue bond
for the above purpose, and as thei
payment will extend over perio,
of twenty years, the bonds, interes
and ditch maintenance combine,
will not cost them half as much pc
annum rs the water alone does now
Sooner or later (perhaps at pres
enD this choice agricultural sectio
will be longed for as tender morse
for The hungry belly of corporal
greed. Head it Off Let us organic
and then we can treat with water com
panles as an organized body instea
of as individuals, and can let it b
known that the people are protectin
themselves against encroachment o