The Delta independent., 1913-05-23

portant work than is left uncompleted
On our project
believe it is the duty OF our board
and our people to insist that our Of
flee and supervisory expenses be re-
duced, most of which might have been
tolerable when we were building the
tunnels and south canal that can cer-
tainly not be necessary while our
work is just as simple as was that in
volved in building the Loutsenhizer
Highline, Ironstone, Delta Chief, or
1 Cimarron or Garnet, and all of these
were built under the supervision of
OF a local engineer, and, from what
we can learn, at a much less cost, than
like bitches that are being or VIII be
probably constructed under govern
ment supervision | am informed that
the rent charges alone at Denver and
| Washington are immense, including
supervising and consulting engineers.
1t doesn't seem to be logical for our
farmers, when reminded of these en-
ormous expenses that can't be now
beneficial to US. for some one to get
up and remind them that if they have
to pay $50 or s75 per acre, that they
will still get a low water right.
1t developed at Washington that
the reclamation service now estimate
that about one-third of the land they
water will go TO seep. and it contem-
plates draining this land. then water
ing it again, which would keep this
expensive machinery in operation for
| a quarter of a century yet. The direc-
tor told US that he should approve of
4 the bills to extend out time of payment
beyond ten years. but, only on condi-
ton that we pay interest after ten
years: and in all probability. the ex-
tensions will be based upon fixed
Interest charge added.
The building of the Taylor River
Reservoir is still in contemplation. II
/ that continued now. We Will be kept
probably for ten or fifteen years lon
ger under the high expenses. 1t seems
"a me that We should Immediately
fix our minds on getting our remain
ing little distributing bitches and the
paraIleling of the Ironstone. if need
b. completed at once. Get it turned
over and stop these expenses and. If
need be. sell half our land to the wa
ter charges on the other. l know
there is a sentiment there which says
lie, them spend right along, even on
the Taylor River Reservoir. that we
MAY putt off the day of payment; that
is the same policy that the man pur-
sues who mortgages his property to
the limit ii the day of payment is only
prolonged: but it usually ends in bank
ruptcy and ruin. No one need cher
Iish anv happy thought that he will
4 not have to pay every dollar of this
I money including interests after ten
2 years.
Practically every witness that was
put on the stand was asked II there
was any sentiment in his community
in favor OF trying to avoid these pay
U mentS. anu every bhS AVFA'SN '
The California representatives were
even more insistent that no money
should be spent where any idea pre-
vailed that payments might be avoid
ed. than eastern representatives. They
claim that SlS.0O0.OO0 of this money
that has been spent had been taken
as a result of the sales of public lands
in California. and were clamoring FOR
the government to require all water
users to begin to pay for rights, that
the money might be used on other
western projects.
Practically every project claimed
great waste and inefficiency in con-
struction. and the early projects that
they had been compelled to educate
the green men for subsequent projects
and now that they were TO be held un'
der large charges OF the general Of
flee in Washington and district office
at the state capital, for which they
should have a reduction; but we could
see no indication of sympathy to the
extent of allowing any such reduction,
and IL they do not it will make the
early projects much more costly ac-
cording to the work done than the
later ones.
The government officials attributed
the slowness on our project TO the de-
lays in getting rights of way. NO
doubt but the fixed charges, which
the government calls overhead char-
ges, at Washington, Denver and Mont