The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1912-09-20

2 =
Second The second way in which
l think the irrigation district has an
advantage is that il has the taxing
power and is a. much stronger orkani-
cation than the private corporation
This fact also gives il more RESPONSE
bility and better credit. The taxing
power, gives a means. Of collection
which is sufficiently effective to Sc
cure the necessary money without
being SO drastic as the remedy of can
collation. Of. the entry or absolute for
fixture of the water right. =,
One difficulty which is being met
on the Boise Project at the present
time which ]. think could be overcome
if we had a. district organization in-
stead Of merely an association, is the
fact that a part. of the lands Of the
project are being held out Of cuitiva-
tiop for speculation by people who are
making absolutely no improvements,
but merely waiting for an increase in
value. Under the present form of or
ganization no charge can be collected
from these speculative lands until the
projectis formally opened by the c.
retary. q If the district form Of or
ganization were in effect instead of
merely an association, a contract could
be made with the district for the col
Lection by the district of tie necessary
maintenance charge forstke operation
ofthe project and this charge could be
distributed over all the lands in the
project and collectedfas tax, regard
less of whether tile lands were in Gull
tivation Or not and this would tend to
H. Assel ~ -
tiers who are cultivating the land and
using the water. and would also be a
powerful influence in encouraging the
cultivation of the land which is now
being held for speculation, as the
water charge would be the same
whether the land was irrigated or
merely held for the increase in value.
| think as time goes by a number Of
other uses would be found for athe
district organization. For !. instance,
when the annual installments of the
construction charge begin to come
due, the settlers might find that they
would prefer to postpone the payment
for number of'years and pay a mod
crate rate Of interest rather than to
pay off the charges at a time when
they needthe money very badly for
improvements. If this were the case,
it is possible that the district could is
sue and sell sufficient bonds to pay to
the government the installment then
coming due and it is probable that the
district could secure "A lower rate OF
interest on transaction of this kind
than the individual land owner could
do. Perhaps this condition would
,r:eo -, - D1c II, 1c.,~vo- n:~
trict. or the people Of the district
Knight never wish to, take advantage
Of it. but it is a possible use to which
the district Organization might be put
if it should be found desirable.
Another advantage of the district
kform of organization is. that it gives
the government, Of other party that
mays build the project the necessary
security for the return of the cost
without encumbering the, record title
Of the individual land owners with a
mortgage or contract fora lien which
would be regarded as equivalent tO,a
mortgage. .,sSa
Mortgage companies and other sinl-
lar concerns regard the bonds of an
irrigation district r,sitsAcolltract in
debtedness as similar to the bonded
indebtedness of a town. county. az
school district, a public Indebtedness
of the entire community but not an. in
divdual mortgage on each land own
| ers', farm. -,s,,.
Consequently the irrigation district
form sof organization interferes less
with sthe free. transfer Of the land or
the use OF the land as a basis of credit
in Securing loans Than does any other
form Of Organization that know of.
On account of some of the advan-
tages which have mentioned the d.
rectors of the Payette-Bo Water
Users. Association are. now4.cousider-
ing the organization Of an irrigation
district to include all OF those portions
of the Boise project which are not in
Guided in the existing irrigaiehs dier
tricts. '
The form of contract for co-opera-
ton between the government and the
Pioneer District to provide for storing
water and drainage in the districty has
been approved as to form By the Sec
rotary Of the Interior and Is soon to
be submitted to the voters Of the dis
trict, after which it is to be submitted
tothe courts for approval OF the le-
gality and regularity Of the procedure.
This case will doubtless dispose ofSny
legal Questipns which may atiss - this
conne6fion; IA
/ wish to say in this connection that
the. above Is my individual opinioa
after considerable study Of this cub
jocE but should not, BE- taken g iadi.
Fca<ing in any way what the opinion
of the department may be.
+ / do not know what the views Of
the department may be on this subject
except in 50 far as the approval Of the
proposed contract with the Pioneer
District on the condition that the
legality and validity thereof be fully
affirmed by the courts may indicate
the position Of the department on this
subject.
Verytruly yours,
E RE CTOI1TEMYER. X