New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-05-26
MUST BUY WATER.

The water users associations referred 20 in
this article have grown out Of the fact that
practically no project could be located without
including in its irrigable area considerable seq
lions OF privately owned land. In order 10 in
sure 10 the government that the owners OF such
!ahd would use the water from the federal prof.
ect 1t became necessary 10 form the private own
ers into cooperative association which should
control the land and water within the irrfgable
area. The members of these associations agree
TO turn over TO the association the control OF all
water they may have previously used for irri
eating TO make their former rights and the gov
erhieht rights appurtenant to the land irrigated;
10 pay thelr pro rata Of the cost of the irriga-
ton project and to make their land security for
the governments expenditure: and finally tO
place on SAFE an land they may own in excess OF
the unit which shall be determined upon by the
government as the limit OF a private holding
within the area of each project. These assoCia-
lions. therefore, make themselves responsible for
the reimbursement OF the government. hold the
liens on the several holdings irrigated and thus
protect the individual land owner from RESPONSE
bility for any deficit resulting from the default
Ing OF the annual payments by shiftless neigh
bors
The government will. in each instance. deter
mine the amount OF land which can be irrigated
within a given project. This having been done
the water users association will thereafter have
control OF the water and will apportion it
among its members. Excess private lands can
OF course be disposed OF by their owner at pri-
vate sale. II such sale can be effected before the
PROJECT Is competed. III Inc owner mas not
ceeded in selling his land at that time he must
delegate its sale to the association. and If the
association cannot effect a sale. 1t must turn
the land over 10 the government, which will
open IL TO entry under the Homestead law al
though this is q contingency by no means likely
to occur.
There is every Indication that there will he a
lively demand for all irrigated lands. The lands
are generally exceptionally fertile, their previous
aridness having prevented their being cropped.
and the certainty of a water supply renders the
crops certain. IL Is asserted that in the Sec
ton adjacent to the Uncompahgree Valley Prof
ect. Colorado. for instance. many farmers made
from 500 To $50 an growing alfalfa and
sugar beets while fruit orchards twelve years
old brought a return Of from S4OO 10 $500 an
acre.
All the authorities in Washington. all those
who have had opportunity 10 study at close
range the relative merits Of the irrigated and
non-irrigated lands of the West, declare that
the woud-be settler Will i'll practically every in
stance be incomparably wiser to seek irrigable
lands rather than the reverse, despite the fact
that the former may require a considerably
greater Initial investment And while such
irrigable lands may be secured through q
homestead entry that is without any initial pay
meat are going rapidly. there is still opportunity
to secure them In many locations.