Imperial Valley press., 1910-08-20
aid of the State and National Gov ernment which can be obtAined.
 THE sALToN BASIN.


 THE sALToN BASIN.
 An adequate water systsm for Im- perial Valley requires the control of the salton Sea Basin for purpose of drainage. The power to do so Is con ferred by the set approved March IS. 1907 Claws D. 569). An act to pro vide for drainage by Irrigation Dis tricts."
 In the comprehensive plan which looks to reclaiming all the irrigable lands of the Valley, the promotion and conservation of their fertility and the prevention of injury by oversatu- ration of the subsoil with stagnant water proper drainage is of capital importance. Nature, among it's other wonderful gifts to Imperial Valley, has provided this natural drainage basiu The law provides the authori- ty and power to acquire it; and what seemed an unfortunate catastrophe has cleared the way for putting it to this natural purpose, subject only to the condition of making just compen- sation for the property to be taken for such use.
 PETITION FOR ORGANIZATION.
 The petition to the Board of Super visors of the County is required by Section l of the Bridgeford Act to be signed by a majority in number of the holders of title or evidence of title to lands susceptible of irrigation from the common source, and by the same sys- tenn of works, such holders of title, or evidence of title, representing a ma jority in value of said lands, according to the equalized County Assessment roll or rolls for the year last pre- ceding. Said Section further provides that said capitalized assessment roll or rolls shall be sufficient evidence of title for the purpose of this Act. :" Under this section the question arises } what entrymen of lands in Imperial Valley are, Holders of Title, or evidence of Title" It was held by the Supreme Court in the case of Di- rectors of FaIIbrook irrigation Dist. V AbiIa, 106 Cal. 355, that one who held merely certificate of purchase from the State for, certain school land with in the proposed district, upon which he had paid only 20 per cent of the purchase money was not free holder owning land" within the mean ? ing of the Wright Act. Owing to tho fact that final receipts of purchases and patents have not yet been issued upon many of the entries of land in Imperial Valley; and inasmuch as subdivision 1 Section 636 of the Poli- tical Code defines possessory interests of those who are not holders of title or evidence of title, as taxable, it is quite possible that the assessment rolls of Imperial County may show the :. listing of mere possessory interests for taxation. Under that state oi facts, the question arises whether persons who are listed in the tax rolls as owning possessory interests only, where the legal and equitable title still remains in the United States, are competent signers of the peti- whether they are within the meaning of the law, holders of title or evidence of title. This question deserves the most, careful consideration, since the petition must not only be signed by a majority in number of the holders of title or evidence of title, but the signers must also represent major ity in value of the lands according to the capitalized County Assessment roll.
 In circulating such petition, care should be taken that proof can be made before the Board of Supervisors of the genuineness of each signature, and that it corresponds to the name upon the assessment roll in all re- spects. I am of the opinion that your counsel should examine the assess ment roll carefully and give the most explicit instructions to all who circu- late petitions respecting who are qualified to sign, and how they should sign as to the preservation and proof of the genuineness of their signatures to be made before the Board.
 CONCLUSION.
 My general conclusions upon the whole matter submitted Is:
 l. That the only feasible method of