The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1903-10-17
IRRIGATION DISTRICTS.

canal are preparing ~ "a
irrigation district, and this makes
rs think how much pleasanter Will
be their journey to success than was
that of those who organized the no
neer District. They are in position 10
nroft bv all our mistakes and apV
propriate all the knowledge we
have gained. But we have the al.
vantage in point of time and actual
experience. Now, if The TRIBUNE
could only reach all the people
under the Ridenbaugh system, and
pain sufficient of their confidence
to warrant US in giving them some
wholesome advice gathered from
the field of experience, we could do
them some good if they would con-
scientiously act on the advice. But
we will tell them a story.
When the Pioneers acquired the
PHYLLIS and Caldwell canals both
systems were out at heels and toes
and there were large triangular and
rectangular holes all down the legs.
They were dilapidated from one end
to the other and in momentary dan
ger of going all to pieces. 1t takes
patience and yarn and skill to mend
old stockings, and it takes labor
and money to mend old bitches.
But the old bitches were taken on
at time of year when only hurried
patches and repairs could be done,
so they broke in the old places AMI
disclosed new weak places. Then
when the time came for systematic
mending, which involved new legs
f and new feet, so to speak, there was
some unnecessary and a great deal
of unavoidable delay. The old
bitches were not put in order by the
/ time another irrigation season came
around, but the farmers had been
: busy. They were anxious for larg-
5 er crops and seeded more ground.
2 The acreage was nearly doubled but
e the capacity of the old bitches was
/ not increased by a jug full New
{. ertheless the pressure for water was
e so great that the diches, especially
: the Phyllis, had to be unduly crowd
0 ed, and there was a break which
: tore great rent in the Phyllis side.
o This cut off the supply at time
r when it was badly needed and ii
d made heavy expense items. Alto
y gether the people have had a hard
S time of it, and it has made thea
o cross and Crotchety at times. Nc
re one can blame them. They abused
n the Board of Directors and the Su
lie perintendent, the watermasters and
is even the scribbling secretary. NJ
A. one can blame them for they suf
n tered much. But upon the whole
l. they showed fund of good sens
y and exercised a great deal of pa
IS tlenCe, so that there will not be an,
l. bad old sores fostering after tn
IS things are once in comfortable run
S; ming order. Of course, most of tn
as things which made people crank,
r were things that neither Directors
n Superintendent, watermasters O
S; Secretary could help to save thei
i'd souls. But the people had to hav
S an outlet for their feelings, and the
as let out On the officers. To be abuse,
r for things for which one is not re
S, sponslble is hard luck but it is par
We OF the penalty which men who I'm
OF dertake to do business for the pub
he lie must pay.
a 1t is all over now, though; tina
al is to say, most of the exasperatin,
1t troubles are over. The work c
at charging the bitches is under wav
OF in good time and progressing splen
1g dldly. Everything is moving i
at tine shape. Taxes have been a lii
en- tie high, but when it is considere
ID that a great amount of improve
m ment work had to be done, whic
was not calculated in the origin,
to estimates, it must be conceded thu
SITS the tax is very moderate indeet
al People are apt to think that the ia
ne levied goes entirely to current e,