Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-05-26
MAKES A COUNTER OFFER
WILL NOT PAY $4,000 FOR COM
PANY'S PROPERTY
viii Pay Actual Cost of Construction
Of Ditch Sys-
TEN

President II. l.. Gilkey of the Jose
rhine County Irrigation and Power
company made an offer to the
Chicago-Rogue River company to
sell the Josephine company's irriga-
tion bitches to the Chicago-Rogue
company for the sum of $4,000,
one-half payable June and the re-
mainder secured This offer was
made May II and given publicity on
that date In The Courier. Tues
day George E. Sanders. representing
the stockholders In the Chicago
Rogue company replied to President
Gilkey, refusing the offer and max
ing counter proposition. Mr..
Sanders letter to President Gilkey
follows:
Grants Pass, Ore, May 23, 1911.
"Mr. II. l., Gilkey, President
Josephine County Irrigation
& Power Company, Grants
Pass, Oregon.
my Dear Sir; In reply to your
favor of the 18th instant, published
In The Courier, offering us your
bitches for $S5, 900, one-half payable
in cash by June /, 1911. and the
balance secured, will say that we
respectfully decline your offer,
"Mr. Reames and myself careful
ly considered your proposition and
can not recommend the proposed
deal to our stockholders, as the
terms you ask are, In our estimation,
not warranted.
THE Golden Drift plant is now
nearly ready for operation, and we
would much prefer to have you i'm
mediately put the Grants Pass ditch
in repair to carry water, and also
complete the construction of the
Fruitdale ditch. This work is very
imperative, as It will require about
thirty days to put the ditch in a con-
ditlon to serve the farmers this sea.
son.
Il would also call your attention
TO the fact that several land owners
below town would like to take water
from Gilbert creek. Unless work Is
started on such ditch Immediately
the water will not be available fol
their use until about July /, 1911, II
at all, for beneficial use this season
"As an alternative, will say that
we are willing to buy your dltcheS
at the actual cost of construction
work and pay for same In some con
venient negotiable security that car
be converted into water payments
and will take such securities for sc
per cent Of any water payment each
year. In this way the entire cash
| lhNtbtiuthL VI JOuI bloNhHOlutIt
would be returned TO them. This
offer is made on the premise OF an
existing contract between your com.
pany and the Golden Drift Mining
company, as the ditches have very
little value to us, or to any one else
without recognized source for q
water supply.
Considering the best interests oi
the water users, regret that your
hoard could not see their way clear
to make more reasonable Offer
along somo line that could be more
easily carried out
you have an obligation TO th,
public to supply them with watel
through your ditches. This obliga
tlon Is certainly moral one, and
probably legal one as well II
recognition Of similar obligations OF
} the part OF the Golden Drift Mlninl
company, the stockholders hav,
made large Investment Of monel
getting the Golden Drift plant read,
10 pump water,
I'VE do not want 20 make larg'
! additional Investment at this tim,
: TO pay for bitches AZ we would thei
b only be in the position your com
, pany now IL, and be compelled Il
Immediately expend considerabl