The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1905-04-27
FARMERS Meet
AGAIN FRIDAY
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
WillowElat, East Hood River, April
25.-So far there is nothing new in
the water situation, neither side being
ready to make concessions. The meet
night tomorrow, Friday night, should
be the-largest meeting yet held, as the
committee has some important rec
concentrations to make.
The more the question is turned
about the more convinced the farmers
seem to De that they should own their
own irrigating sygj EN- Two import
ant features from financial view are
First. Under bonded district the
system is exempt from taxation, while
as corporation or private property
the taxes are amounting to approx
mately A per cent,
Second. Under the present condi-
tions the ditch company pays 8 per
cent for borrowed money, while the
district bonds can be placed at or 5
per cent.
Community of ownership would
effect a clear saving to the people of
7 to per cent that is now peing paid
to corporate interests.
Along this line of municipal owner
ship, We wish to include the follow
ing from the biennial report for 1904
of the state engineer of Idaho:
"The oragnization of water users
into an irrigation district forms the
most satisfactory method yet devised,
in my Judgment, for rapid, econom-
ical and successful development of the
irrigatiOnn resources Of the state,
and the maintenance of works and
distribution Of water. 1t has the ad-
vantage of getting the community
locally interested in the discussion
of all information concerning the pc
culiar local conditions that may OBJ
tain in each case, nature and growth
of crops, character Cf soil, water neces-
sities, cost of imp ovements, expenses
of oberation, and all hindred subjects
upon which the success Of the farmers
so much depends. Each community
has men eminently qualified to carry
on the business of the district when
Oragnized with the proper authority.
Although the prime object of the
organization of an irriagtiOn district
has heretofore been considered to lie
in the municipal powers granted it for
the issuance of bonds for the construc-
tion and purchase of irrigation works.
| consider that the law as it exists,
will be no less advantageous to the
districts in the home rule it be-
stows, by virtue of which catch district
can work out its own salvation as to
the pest methods Of maintaining ir-
rigation works and administering the
water along those lines found to be
of grf attest advantage to each commu-
nifty.
" A great advantage under our dis
triCt system, which is becoming more
and more apparent is the fact that
water quirements are found to be less
under intelligent cO-Operaive manage
meant, and that the same quantity
of water acn be used to raise larger
and better crops each year. The neces-
sity for each water user demanding
the full amount of his water right each
year Off fear his neighbOr will aquile
a right to portion Of it his flow
if left unused, grows less as his conf
dene increases in sthe administ rative
offers whom HE has aided in select
ing"
The East Fork Irrigation Co. is put
ting in much needed improvement
across Mrs Atkinson's ranch, in the
way Of a tlume. Heretofore the water
has been running in an open ditch.
4. j. Price, for the past wa foreman
for the Hood River Orchard Co., has re-
signed bis position and will seek a new
location, the condition of Mr.. Prices
health necessitating the change. We
regret to lose Mr.. Price and his family,
he having proven himself reliable and
capable man in every respect.
We are glad to note the excellent
quality OF the work done by Road Sup
ervisor Massep. Low places have been
made higher, bitches made along the
sides and outl, Is given them to prevent
water standing in pools by the wayside.
When the maln-traveed roads are once
put in proper condition, the expense of
maintaining them are reduced to a
minimum, and then more attention can
be given to the secondary roads and
trails
The ! ost Lake Lumber Co. have
started heir potato planter on their
large orchard tract, The company eX-
poets to plant the major portion of this
tract to Burbanks. We understood
some time since that the Hood River
Orchard Co. expected to plant about 200
sacks. The Davidson Fruit Co will al
go plant about 10 acres There will be
several smaller tracts planted. Willow
Flat potatoes stand in the same relation
to other Oregon potatoes that her
strawberries stand to these same fruits
grown elsewhere.
c. D. Thompson has sold II acres off
his tract here to a Mr.. Robinson, we
understand.
Frank Massee Goes Hunting For
some time Frank Massee has been an
nOuncing his intention to take hunt
ing trip. Monday morning the spirit
moved him to saddle up his elegant
black hunter, and calling choice fox
terrier pup he rode joyfully away,
dreaming Of the glorious spoils of con-
quest. Turning in at d l.. Davidson's S
to cut across LIT, he started a monster
"Jack Rabbit" Presently Mrs David
son heard furious uproar in the di-
rection of the road. ooEing out she
saw sight to delight even an amateur.
First came the rabbit; 50 yards behind
came the pup baying at every jump,
and 100 wards still further back came
Mr. Ma see, riding at full speed, and
yelling like ComanChe Indian. Ar
riving at the house he dismounted fol
refreshments Finally he decided to re-