El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-02-03
Assessment Is Called From
the Valley Farmers to Pay
Expenses of Their Asso-
citation.

Does an acre of valley land look like
80 cents? 1t does TO the Water Users
association 1t looks like much more
than this amount, but 80 cents an
acre is all the Water Users association,
which is, in fact, the landowners them
selves, since the association is CO.
operative one, asks for at the present
time. Notices were recently sent TO all
Of the landowners who have holdings
In the valley that are signed up under
the Elephant Butte project An assess
ment of 80 cents an acre on the orig
inal 5000 acres was ordered, and these
notices were TO notify the landowners
of that order.
Should all of the assessments be paid,
there would be $4,000 raised to meet
the expenses of the Water Users asso-
citation for the past five years This Is
the first request the Water Users assoc
citation has made for funds. The bene-
fits received so far have been directly
caused by the service of 1.-The asSocla-
ton. The board of governors now
wishes to pay the Indebtedness OF the
association. To do this. the 80 cents
per acre assessment. This assessment,
if paid in full, will cover the present
indebtedness, amounting TO about
$4,000. and will provide about $4,000 for
the maintenance and expenses of the
association when the amount Of the un-
maid assessments are deducted.
Landowners Pay Promptly.
The assessments are being paid with
surprising promptneSs, according to the
officials of the Water Users associa-
ton. Not only are the owners of the
original $4,000 acres making an effort
70 nav promptly but the holders OF
the additional $4,000 acres of land in
the valley who have cOnditionaly en-
tered their lands have written and
called at the office Of the Water Users
association. wishing TO know why they
were not asked for the same assess
menf as the owners of the $4,000.
1--WE have no right to collect the as
sessment only from the owners of the
AZ. 600 acres originally signed up Felix
MARTINEZ. chairman of the executive
committee and secretary of the assOcia-
tion said. The government has been
making a survey of the valley for the
mast nine months and will complete the
survey in about four months more
When this is completed 1t VIII be def
nitaly known exactly how much of the
original $4,000 acres are irrigable and
what mart is not irrigable Then part
y
he acted upon by the Water Users as
sociation and as much of it viii be adj
mitted as will make the total Of $4,000
acres after the deduction of the nom
irrirabIe land is made
The Water Problem.
eft is thought that there will be wa
Ter enough for al. but the acreage
above the revised $4,000 acres will
probably have to come in as buyers Of
water from the association from year
n wear The landowners are paying
The 30 cents per acre assessment with
nromntness. and it is well that they
are for the owners of the land not
stoned Nd are waiting eagerly for a
cbancn 10 pay the assessment"
According to the circular letter sent
ont regarding the assessment. the non
,,ax,rant of the acreage assessment on
go, ocre will cause the filing and en-
try to he Cancelled. and the next filing
80 a,+rv in order Will be admitted in
t+s nIace. and the owner OF the land
mon which the assessment was not
nsid will not be considered a member
pf +be association. The time limit for
a. ,ovment of the 30 cents per acre
eeeessnent is Feb. 81