Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1910-05-27
SHALL We ORGANIZE AN
IRRIGATION DISTRICT?
(By Elias Ruud, Consulting
Engineer.)

or combined source and by the same
system Of works desire to provide
for the irrigation of the same, they
may propose the organization OF an
irrigation district, under the pro-
visions OF this act, and when so or
ganlzed such district shall have the
power conferred, or that may here
after be conferred, by law, upon such
irrigation districts. The equalized
county assessment roll next preced-
Ing the presentation Of petition for
the organization OF an irrigation dis
trict, under the provisions Of this
act, shall be sufficient evidence OF
title for the purpose OF this act =
H. 1895. p. 13, No. ~
Thus commences the law Of irri-
cation district, and then It goes on
and completely covers all questions
OF ways and means to accomplish the
purpose. IT provides for elections to
decide whether district shall be
formed or not-three-flfths majority
required to vote In favor OF dis
trict. Then It provides for division
in five divisions and the election of
director from each division, also
an assessor, collector and a treas
urer. How funds may be raised by
assessments or by issue OF bonds for
acquiring plans and works.
We might go on and write book
on the reasons why this section
should organize an irrigation dis
trict, and there can be no arguments
Of weight advanced against It. 1t Is
possible to cover over forty thousand
acres in the district and It would en-
brace the following lands:
Beginning at a point on the north
side Of the Applegate river at or near
Murphy; thence north and east to the
south end OF the Golden Drift dam;
thence north to the north end OF said
dam; thence north and west to the
divide on the Merlin road thence In
n general northern direction to the
north side OF the Jump-Off-Joe val
ley; thence westerly to the head Of
Quartz creek: thence south to the
Rogue river; thence southerly up the
Rogue river to the mouth OF the APP
plegate river; thence up along the
Applegate river south and east to the
point OF beginning. Having an area
of irrigable land Of approximately
11S square miles. Allowing square
miles for hills, and deducting 25 per
cent for lands not available for cul-
tlvation--occupied by roads, build
ings, right of ways. pits, hollows and
creek and river beds-there still re-
mains SO square miles OF land with
In the district, or 54,400 acres. Now
deductlng all lands for which irriga-
tion Is not needed, or for which priv
ate plants are already constructed,
easily 10000 acres remain for the
district.
AS we all can realize what an i'm
mense benefit to each and every acre
n system of irrigation would bring,
It takes some figuring to estimate
the total value to the district. Some
people might suggest that each acre
would be worth 800 more right
away, and think that figure Is mod
est, with the soil and climate Of
this section, dare say that each
acre would yield, on an average, 500
more per acre, which means the COM
Portable living Of 10000 people
above the pconlc now supported by
this section These are strong fig
ures, but there is no way Of denying
them We all agree that this sec
tlon Is making progress every year,
but that Is nothing 10 the progress
we will make when the construction
Of comprehensive system Of irriga-
tlon shall have become an accom-
plished fact
We have made some progress by
the start made by the Josephine
County Irrigation company we have
aroused the people TO the interest ne
ccssory In making the greater thing
possible We have demonstrated the
fact that great things can be accom-
pllshod by the united efforts 10
bring the water to our fair lands.
nut we have also demonstrated the
fact that Il Is next to impossible 10
finance an irrigation scheme with
out putting the land behind the con
struction money rs security Let MS
also come right down TO admitting
that nobody can helm solve this
problem facing the district but the
property owners Of the district
themselves Nobody else can huild
an irrigation plant for that very
reason, all statements 20 the con