Imperial Valley press., 1912-07-24
PRESIDENT WILLARD ON
WATER RATE METHODS

lin the following communication
President Willard of Water Company
No | evidently confuses two prob
lens. If the issue is whether livestock
raisers shall be charged for stock wat.
er, that issue should be settled by it.
self. 1t has no relationship to the
question whether water rates shall be
levied by assessment or toll. Under
either system it is possible to charge
for stock water if that is thought best.
Ed Press.]
Editor of Valley Press-Dear Sir:
Under date of 22d an article appeared
in the Press purporting to be fathered
by the livestock men, in which among
other erroneous statements and con-
clusions. appeared the following:
THAT as a matter of fact established
by competent engineers, it has been
determined that said seepage and
evaporation is much less than said 10
per cent, but it was intended by said
C. d. Co. that said 10 per cent should
be allowed so as to include the free
stock water
Let me parallel this statement with
an excerpt from No. 1 superintendent's
report. read at the last stockholders
annual meeting and printed and mail
ed to each stockholder of the company,
towit: During the year we delivered
SAL per cent of the water measured
to us, showing that $24,39139 worth
of water was unaccOunted for between
our points of receiving and delivering
This amount includes the 10 per cent
allowance made by the receiver, so
while the loss was 15.9 per cent, our
loss over and above the 10 per cent
was So per cent, or $9178.96 The diff
ference of $24,39139 may be account
ed for in Seepage, evaporation. waste
and stock water, of which I consider
stock water much the larger item"
This from the report of our super
intendent of facts seems to me suf-
ficient answer to that misstatement.
The charges that the directors are ac-
tuated by any sordid motive. or TO
favor the few is unworthy of an an
swer, as it is to believe that the live
stock men of this valley believe the
statement to be true.
The board of directors in placing
this matter before the stockholders
have given the matter much thought
and study We have at our disposal
data and facts unknown to nine-tenths
of the stockholders in the company.
You stockholders will not attend the
annual meetings of the stockholders
and you pay no attention to appeals
made to you by the directors. I am
informed that number of you started
a petition to raise money, hire law
yer and commence a suit, against
whom? Yourselves, as represented by
your directors.
You have taken the right course in
calling meeting of the stockholders
to consider the matter. All of you
come to that meeting. Come armed
with all the facts you can muster to
show the toll system is worse or bet
ter than assessments. Let me assure
you on behalf of each director that we
have no interest and no desire except
for the best good and welfare of ali
our stockholders. We know that there
are some who will not get what they
have been enjoying in the past-an ad.
vantage over their neighbor by this
change. But is there any difference
in raising a crop of sheep or beef than
of barley or hay? The water that each
consumes must be paid for, by whom ?
is the question put up to your board.
We believe that each paying for what
he uses, places the burden where it
belongs.
Don't fail to come to the meeting
Saturday at l p. m. Come prepared to
stay all night, and some of the next
day. Let's argue it out and find the
best way. The man who goes to courr
with the present directors is a fool
He will get more from the board than
from the judge. F. P. WILLARD.