Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1911-08-04
BY M. J. Anderson.


setting the date for voting on an irri-
cation district makes this the one
public question that cannot be too
thoroughly discussed. The gumshoe
methods OF procedure should now be
dropped and we should consider VIII
such q district hasten irrigation in
the valley? VIII 1t encourage the eff
forts OF those now constructing the
irrigation system? VIII 1t lessen the
price OF water 10 the consumer? VIII
Il insure better service? These ques-
tions should be discussed fairly and
openly.
The law 10 new one. and this is
probably the first case coming under
Its provisions; SO It would be well to
get the opinions OF able attorneys on
some OF its new, and odd features be-
fore the landowner ties his property
up In the hands OF board OF five d.
rectors with almost an unlimited pow
or TO Great an indebtedness and in
volve the owner in endless litigation.
The fact that about zoo farmers in
Merlin and on lower Rogue river dis
tricts owning over half the area Of
the proposed district have investlgat-
ed this law for several months, and
have unanimously voted to be elm
mated, should give their brother
farmers remaining within the lines,
something to think about. Ore Cf the
Objectionable features seemed to be
that the board of directors had the
same power to levy and collect tolls
and assessments as the county court
and were practically unlimited as to
Indebtedness they could incur. The
latter provision is as follows "The
board Of directors, or other officers
OF the district shall have no power or
otherwise, In excess OF the express
provisions OF this act, and In no event
shall the board Of directors incur an
Indebtedness In excess OF 5000 per
acre In the aggregate OF the land sit
uated In the district and any debt or
liability incurred In excess OF such ex-
press provisions shall be and remain
absolutely void, except that, for the
purpose OF organization, or for any OF
the purposes OF this act, the board
may, before the collection OF the first
assessment, incur indebtedness not ex.
ceeding $4,000 and may cause war
rants OF the district To be issued
therefor bearing interest at seven pei
cent per annum."
The delegation OF abouc half hun.
dred farmers who laid aside theil
work and visited the county court or
Wednesday to see that their remon'
STRANGE was needed, were to a man
anxious TO secure water on their land
and stated that they would Willingly
purchase II II the system now under
consideration Is extended to them;
but they desired to retain little con
troll over their affairs.
Many seem to have been induced tC
favor this district organization be
cause the stockholders of the Jose
phine Irrigation company endorsed 1
at the meeting Of February 81, anC
because the directors OF that compau,
were behind the petition placed II
circulation soon after that date. Thl
was true at that time, and Il may b,
true yet that the board OF director
favor district, but II ia not true a
10 the sentiment OF the stockholders
for since that time the local compan,
has sold all It's rights and property I,
the Chlcago-Rogue River compan
and the court has ordered the recelv
or OF the Ament dam to lease tha
plant TO the Chicago company in or
der that II may comply with the cor
tract made with the Josephine IrrIga
tion company. There is no man, In
position TO know the sentiment OF IN
stockholders, and OF the general pub
lie, at the time OF the transfer OF IN
districts on June ib, but knows tina
II was intended that this transfer cal
ry the good viii OF the local compan,
No one interested on either side OF IN
transaction would say then, or wi
honestly assert now, that the propert
transferred was worth half the prlC
agreed upon unless the good will an
hearty support OF the community wa
20 remain bohlud the purchaser: b,
now II Ia openly talked and general
understood that the district NOV,
meut Is entirely In the hands OF tho,
unfrlcndly 20 Mr.. Sanders.
That the movement has not bee
eNceediugly popular Is evident fro
tho fact that since the sale II has bee
necessary To import outside men
handle the petition and 20 do u
work before the county court NJ