The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-08-15
ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF THE
DISTRICT.

1t is reported that certain mem
bers of the Pioneer Irrigation Dis
trict are seriously considering the
ACCESSIBILITY of commencing some
sort Of legal proceedings in order
to have settled questions of distri.
button. THE TRIBUNE will NOT
venture at this time discussion oil
the merits of any controversy among
the people themselves or between
the people and the officers of the
District. There is always much to
be said, and frequently too much is
said. ON both sides. What we de-
sire is to present calm and consid-
crate review of the entire situation
on broad lines.
People, in general, should recog-
nize certain facts and conditions
which, largely unavoidable, have
operated to embarrass and retard
satisfactory operations of the Dis
trict. 1t was no fault of the Dis
trict or any one connected with it
that the work Of enlargement of
the canals was not begun earlier
last fall and pushed with greater
diligence after it was begun. The
difficulty was, in large measure,
the fruits of fraud practiced some
years ago in California and some
other States. There irrigation dis
tricts had been organized upon en-
tirely unsubstantial bases; large
issues Of bonds had been hoated,
and subsequently became worthless.
Through these dishonest and ILL
advised operations, irrigation bonds
came into notorious disrepute.
Consequently, when it came to dis.
posing of the bonds of this District,
the Directors were confronted by
the problem of placing on the mar
ket q class of securities which had
been condemned in all financial
centers. Published offers to sell
the bonds of the District, while
eliciting numerous curious inquiries,
secured no purchasers. Special
inquiries addressed to bond pur-
chasers were answered by fiat and,
sometimes, indignant refusals to
consider irrigation bonds. Then it
was that the assistance of local
banks was invoked and, to the
credit Of these institutions let it be
proclaimed, they came generously
to the rescue. Mr.. Howard Sebree,
president ofthe First National Bank,
proposed taking, at par, without
commission, $4,000 of the bonds
If each of the other three banks,
one in Caldwell and two in Nampa,
would take $1,000 each on the same
terms. To this proposal the Com
mercial Bank of Caldwell and the
Citizens State Bank of Nampa
promptly and cheertully agreed,
but the other Nampa bank decided
that it was not in position to join
in carrying these securities. Mr..
Sebree's proposition involved the
participation Of the other three
banks, and the refusal of one of
the Nampa banks, of course, liber-
ated Mr.. Sebree. Unfortunately,
he was in California at the time,
and delay was occasioned in COM
municating the situation to him.
Promptly on receiving the informa-
ton, he wired the Directors to 90
ahead, that he would take SIS, 900
anyway. 1t is proper to state that
the Commercial Bank and the Citi-
Gems State Bank were equally at
liberty with Mr.. Sebree to withdraw
from the arrangement when the
one Nampa bank refused to join,
but these showed the same spirit
and enterprise that Mr.. Sebree did,
and so $4,000 of the bonds were
placed. This action of local banks
at once benefcially affected the
status of the Pioneer bonds, and |
after some delay $4,000 worth
were placed with Duke M. Farson
& Co.. of Chicago. Long before
this deal, however, the Directors
had, Professionally, accepted a bid
for enlargement work, but no con-
tract could be closed, under the law,
until money sufficient to pay the
price was actually in the treasury.
This difficulty and delay in uegoti-
ating bonds dragged the business
into January. Then the ground
was frozen so that work progressed !
with extreme slowness, and finally
arose difficulty over securing men.
In measure the contractors were
perhaps blamable, but the Direct
ors were up against the proposition
Of possible litigation involving in
definite delay, or getting through
with as little friction as possible.
The final result was that the irriga-
ton season came on and the work
Of enlargement was in a half.baked
The Phyllis canal, while
large enough and to spare at some