Imperial Valley press and the Imperial press., 1906-05-12
OUR WATER RIGHTS
BY F. G. RAVENS

flee in rejecting final proofs on lands in this Valley on account of an insufficient showing of ownership of water rights by the claimants has given rise to considerable alarm and much discus sion among those interested. The rulings were generally such as to leave the claimant much in the dark as to just where he does stand. The fact that the land office recognizes the right of the entryman to mortgage his entry before final proof, and protects the mortgagee in such cases by refus- ing to permit the entrymen to even re- llnoulsh his land back to the govern ment unless the mortgage is satisfied caused many to feel that the ruling could not be taken on the ground that the water stock was not fully paid for and therefore must go to the root of the water right itself. The following ruling in the case of the final proof of Felix C. Ravens, assignee of l. w. Gleason. is case in point;
 WASHINGTON, D. C., March 2l 1906. Register and Receiver,
 Los Angeles, California. Gentlemen: D. l. E. No. HIS (F. c. No. l67 May 12, 19O4,) was made on May 22, 1900, by Irving w. Gleason, for tbe N1S, Sec. 20, T. 16S, R. 13 F, s. B. M., 32O acres, and was amended by let ter "G" of September "A, 1900, to the E1a of NW14 and NE14, Sec P, and VIZ of NW14, Sec. 23, T. 16 S, R. 13 E, $. B. M., 32O acres. Said entry as amended was cancelled by relinquishment as to the E16 of NW14, Sec. 22, WIZ of NW4 Sec. g, T. 16 S, R. 13 k, s. B. M., on December 3, 1900, leaving the entry in- tact as to the N.E14, Sec. 2, T. l6 $. R. I3 E.; s. B. M, containing l60 acres, which was assigned on the same day to. Felix G. Ravens.
 On May l2, 1904, the assignee made final proof before the Register, and final receipt and certificate No. 167 issued the same day.
 With the final proof papers is found cross-examiuation deposition by claim ant in which the following question and  answer appear:
 Question: Have you mortgaged the land em braced in this entry or assigned the water stock appurtenant to the same? If so, state to whom and for what pur- pose?
 Answer At the time l became the assignee of Irving w. Gleason for this land, the entry was mortgaged to the California Development company, to se- cure tine payment of the balance on the purchase price of the water stock for the irrigation of the land, and the water stock was assigned to the same company as collateral security. l assumed the obligation entered into by said Gleason and have made all payments as they fell due, both on principal and interest, reducing the indebtedness $320.00.
 The land is still III ortgaged and the water stock still assigned. but the inter est of the California Development com pany has been assigned to George c. Hunt, of 1247 Ingraham St., Los Angel es, California. Mir. Hunt holds the mortgage against the land and the as- signment of the water stock to secHre the unpaid balance of $720.O0. There is no other indebtedness either on the land or the water stock. The water stock is worth $20.00 per acre or $32O00O and the land and water stock together are worth $8000.00. l, therefore, owe less than ten per cent of the value of the land and water stock.
 Claimant states that he is not making proof on this entry either directly or in- directly for the benefit of any person other than himself, and that he has not sold, assigned or transferred his claim to said land or agreed to do so.
 Ip his final proof deposition claimant stated that
 The water stock bought from I. w, Gleason cost $l250 per share for l6OI shares of which amount have paid $7,75 per share, and the annual interest. Bal ance due is $4.75 an acre or $76O.00 in all. am now paying out at the rate of $160.00 each year and interest at per cent.