The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1912-06-06
BONDED DISTRICT
MAY RESULT
EAST FORK co. SEEKS NEW METHOD
Defects in Contracts Prevent Enforcement
Of Collections for Necessary Funds
Bond Issue Falling Due.

1t is probable that the big East Fork
lrrigtaing Co, the ditch of which fur
nishes water for the ranchers of tn,
entire East Side, may take action
whereby its property becomes that OF
bonded district, the East Side dis
trict by election being formed into a
bonded irrigation district similar to
that supplied by the Hood River Irri-
CATION district on the West Side. The
contracts with water users under the
existing papers Of Incorporation are
/ difficult of enforcement and the com
pany has been unable TO secure sufici-
ent funds for maintenance and the re-
trement of its bond issue of $40. 600.
which comes due this fall.
A meeting Of the stockholders of the
big ditch company was held last Satur-
! day and different methods were sup-
gested Tor the future operation of the
ditch. The bonded district form of
ownership and operation was mentioned
and was received favorably. Since
that time it has been investigated by
a number of the property owners of
the East Side, who declare that the
bonded district form of control seems
in every way feasible. A committee.
composed of c. r. Bone, II. L. David
son, j. +. Ferguson, j. II. Day and
K. II. waugh, has been appointed to
further investigate the proposed bond
ed district form of irrigation manage
ment and report back to meeting of
the stockholders to be held at later
date.
k. W. Kelly, secretary Of the Hood
River Irrigation district supplying
water to the ranches of the West Side
not making use Of the Farmers lrri-
eating Company ditch, states that the
bonded district system is meeting with
the best results. "The Hood River
district, he says, "is composed of
5000 acres 4.S00 is tillable. By the
levy of tax. of Is mills on a nat valu.
alton OF S225 per acre we have been
able to pay the interest on our bonds
and pay a part of the maintenance.
The remainder of the maintenance is
cared for by tax of so much per inch
against the users of the water. If
properly managed | think the district
system the most efficient and cheapest
way of owning and operating ditch.
| do not see why this would not be a
way for the East Side raachers to in
crease the efficiency of their ditch and
decrease their troubles.
A bonded irrigation district is
formed Just as school district. II
takes the vote of twothirds of the land
owners to form the district. However.
a majority may vote the sale of q
bond issue. 81 consider the bonded
district the most equitable and efficient
form of irrigation systems, says Geo.
K. Castner, one of the first directors of
the Hood River Irrigation district
which was formed in the year 1905.
ut distributes the cost or maintenance
and operation of the ditch mos { evenly
over all the land concerned.
The East Fork ditch was built -
years ago by c. r. Bone, who is now
one of the largest land holders on the |
East Side and who thinks the bonded |
system the most feasible and practical
for future management of the ditch. |
The big irrigation system was sold to |
the ranchers on May z five years ago. /