The Delta independent., 1909-10-22
Senate Committee on Irrigation.

Senate C0n7Hnfee on Irrigation.
The Senate committee on Irrigation
will be along November 1st and they
want information More, they should
have it. Better still, they have adopted
the right course to get it. They not
only propose to interview the heads of
the projects, but the farmers and water
users as we'll. They are an investigat-
ing committee and they want to know.
They will listen to complaints as we'll
as eulogies and recommendations, and,
if all interested will answer the ques-
tions they PROFOUND in the following
list, it should be the means of placing
in their possession knowledge of the
situation which will enable them to act
intelligently and for the best interest
of all. The Senate Investigating Com
mittee on Irrigation is at the top and
will no doubt be largely based upon
their investigation and the knowledge
thereby attained, must have important
effect on the future of irrigation and
reclamation. 1t is largely duty of all
interested to give them such informa-
tion as they may think valuable.
Here are the questions:
First: Is the existing reclamation
law satisfactory, and if not in what re-
spect should be amended?
Second: Are your local laws govern
ing the appropriation and use of water
for irrigation satisfactory in their ap-
plication to lands being reclaimed by
the government or through private en-
terprise, and if not what amendments
are required?
Third: Is the administration of the
law by the reclamation service salts
factory, and if not what are the objec-
tions and what remedy is proposed?
Fourth: Is your water supply ade-
quate both for irrigation and domestic
uses?
Fifth: Where your towns have been
laid out by the reclamation service how
do you provide for the improvement of
streets adjacent to lots owned by the
government, and how do you provide
municipal water supply?
Sixth: Is your canal and distributing
system satisfactory, and if not what
are the defects, what caused them and
what remedy is proposed?
Seventh: Can the cost of maintain
ing and operating the canal and dis
tributing system be reduced, and if so,
in what way and to what extent?
Eighth: Can the water users by en-
ploying reasonable industry and econo-
my promptly make all payments re-
quired by the existing law?
Ninth: What additional terms and
conditions, if any, should be imposed on
those who default in payment?
Eleventh: What are your present
transportation facilities and are they
adequate and satisfactory?
Twelfth: What is the reasonable
present average value per acre of land
in your project, exclusive of water
right, the value being computed on the
basis of productive capacity, interest
being computed at six per cent per an
mum, and what was the value thereof,
exclusive of water to the cultivation Of
pense connected with the initial cost
and the cost of improvements.
Sixteenth: What is your source of
and the average cost thereof?
Seventeenth: To what extent have
you been aided in your farming opera
tions by information acquired from the
work of the agricultural experiment
stations, and demonstrating farms es-
tablished on the irrigation projects?
Eighteenth: What are your school
facilities and how are school funds pro-
vided?
Nineteenth: How in your opinion.
can CO oogress best promote the general
welfare of the water users and carry
out the purposes of the reclamation
act?