The daily sentinel., 1914-02-17
MAGENHE|MERS
TO QUIT WORK
ON MESA LAND
Will Advance no More Cash il
Representation on Board is
Refused.
MAY GET NO WATER IN DITCH

The Sentinel does not wish to en-
ter into any controversy as to the
merits of the irrigation water trou-
bles on Orchard Mesa. 1t would seem
as If those who own land under the
ditch ought 10 see whittier they are
drifting. We shall simply give few
facts that have come to our know
ledge and which do not admit of
dispute.
The Magenheimers have been ad-
vancing money with which to pay the
expenses OF maintenance and had eX-
pected to do so again this year If Civ
en- representation on the board, and
they did not ask for a controlling
representation. At the election Mes
srs. Mccormack. Scribbens and Nail
were elected and the first named has
been acting as secretary at a salary
of $500 per year.
The Magenhelmers have already
broken up SEQ acres of their land and
had contracts for half dozen houses
for tenants, expecting to SOW the
coming year at least one thousand
acres of grain.
They ask for a member of the
board of directors and that secre-
tary aside from the board at a sal
airy not to exceed $500 shall be chos-
en-, and his duties Will be simply to
draw the warrants and visit the ditch
once month.
Their requests have been turned
down up to the present time. and
they are preparing to withdraw for
this year from any further activity
in the matter. Mr.. Andrews has or
ders to go to oregon after March list
to take up other work; they will
advance no more money for the pay
ment of warrants for maintenance;
they have cancelled the contracts for
the houses and have Withdrawn adj
yertising for tenants.
George Smith is arranging to start
up the pumping plant which formerly
provided water for his place anu
those OF Messrs. Page, Fox and Rain
ely, and will try and serve their own
orchards
These are facts as near as we can
CLEAN them; we are informed that
the directors are discussing a plan to
make special assessment to be-
paid in cash and water will be fur
nished to only those who pay this
special assessment for maintenance.
Just who will be able to pay this
amount and secure water is not stat
ed. but no doubt there will be many
who cannot afford to pay it and can
not find the cash to do so, and If they
do there will be troubles galore in
running water to a portion of the
land owners, as many VIII secure
such water as they need by opening
their gates. holding that they are en-
titled to water If it is running in
their ditch.
1t would seem as if there should
be vital interest taken in this mat
ter, and the land owners should get
together and with the directors give
II careful elaboration without ami
mostly or personalities. Many there
are who have invested in that land
under the ditcn; it seems to be mis-
taken policy TO refuse any money
that will aid in developing that sec
ton, no matter If ii comes from the
Magenheimers and it will be mis-
take not TO have a thousand acres in
cultivation the coming season II
means good money to pay for work
done by citizens of the valley. Good
money for our merchants and an
added interest for those who are GER
tainly partners in the ditch. and who
have some rights no matter how
those rights were secured.
Possibly we are mistaken and that
there are wiser heads than ours in
the management of the ditch and
that the officers have clear idea
of how il is going to work out. At
any rate The Sentinel trusts that the
good people who are dependent on
the operation of the ditch are wide
awake to their interests and are not
going to lose out while n water fight
controversy drags its weary way
along.