Imperial Valley press., 1908-07-18
IMPERIAL VALLEYS PROBLEM.

411ti[1A AIO'A1l1-n'
 The president of the Mutual Water Company Mo- l. writing Judge Weborn decisions and their bearing upon irrigation af
 fairs treats drbers and knockers all who have the hard hood discuss the matter his standpoint characerizes choice bit of transformation the statement that contracts of mutual companies with the California Develop men Company void The statement made with distinct reference to contracts in which the stock of mutual companies
 placed under control o the Co and sold by that corporation for its and benefit that choce bit of msnfora cson:
 satisfied that said devices for additional compensation are unlawful because violation of article IA of the Constitution California and the Act of the Legislature of California of March, the 2 1885, and that said nseparay with other provisions of the contracts render the whole
 Mr Apn further that the recent decision has not dered void of the contracts which Water Company Mo- that assertion is limited strictly executed
 tracts be but is nevertheless obvious that the de-
 son vods the contract made by the directors which
 the C. D. Co., the control the proceeds of proposed increase of capital stock of Mo- The decision also to buy water stock at $25 share build their own distributing system with S $0 of the pr0Geed and leave l5 share in the nation do obscure the plain fact that all contracts of mutual by the D. Co., and requiring water purchase such stock condition precedent to the purchase of water have beer nounced illegal invalid and void by the United States Circuit Court.
 on created by the decisions reasonable He lightly point of considerable importance when he there companies If the entire proceeds the stock invested building the distributing system But is we'll major part was devoted to building supply system EchHg the early the D. G a some & o whTm nom a nave paid building the supply system they have right title interest in that system This is siy prejudice against the cOmpany is the cold fact evidently recognized by Mr. Apn The people of the valley the Southern Pacific have paid for dollars worth of property held by the D. Co., and they have paid beside for all the bnders and the graft which have been conspicuous features of that companys
 As Mr. Apln points the D. Co., water not being but it carrier and charge lawfully it's conveying water to the distributing system
 The belongs the not to the c. D. Co., and the c. Co., the purchase stock o sort as condition upon which they obtain water at fixed rate.
 Nevertheless necessary that the landowners mutual stock in order obtain water for only by cooperation individual settler construct the diversion works and the dche required take from the supply canals and it upon his land combine with others and his share of
 the the practicable plan of combination the mutual company But he has right to demand that the him shall be used for the and that his shall his interest the property of the mutual nothing else The notion that after the supervisors fixed the the of land will have nothing else pay order get crude absurdy Moreover the fixed will apply agreements contracts between the mutual companies and the c. D. Go.
 Final solution of the whole irrigation problem of Imperial Val ley doubtless will found in ownership of the supply and dis rbutng systems by the people of the valley When the affairs of the D. Co., shall have been order VeXatous litigation either concluded averted by adjustment of differences and reasonable apprasemen of the property made possible terms be made with the Southern Pacific for transfer ot control m company representing the settlers As MT Apln suggests when appraement made for the of determining the price be paid the amount which mutual stockholders have contributed toward building the D. Co.'S system through the device declared illegal by the United States Court may be taken 1aRafinV