The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-09-18

district, Of Meridian, was here yes
terday at the local Offices Of the or
ganization, attending to business
in connection with the coming
election, October 10.
The Nampa " Meridian district
directors have approved form Of
contract with the United States
reclamation service which 10 Of Viz
tai Importance to the whole dis
trict and especially 10 holders of
land to the extent OF more than
1000 acres, within the district,
which isthreatened with destruc-
tion In the near future, and every
effort 10 being made by the di.
rectors TO set the matter before the
public in such manner that all
within the district will understand
thoroughly the import OF the con-
tract, which goes before the voters
October 10 TO be ratified. When
1t 10 noted by the property holders
In the district that without drain
age facilities an increasing amount
OF land each year 10 subject to dam
age or complete spoilation, and
that those lands which still would
retain their values would have to
stand the entire taxation from
bonded indebtedness, etc, II 10
seen that the contract with the
government assumes far greater
import in regard to the drainage
than TO the provision for receiving
certain supplies OF water from the
Arrow Rock reservoir or the part
providing water for dry lands.
The drainage part of the contract
In its real feature, as the other pro-
visions are more or less automatic
and will take care OF Themselves.
PROVISIONS OF CONTRACT.
"What are the provisions Of the
contract in regard 10 drainageY'
was asked Mr.. Barker.
1.-THE contract provides that each
acre of wet land In the district will
obligats itself to pay the reclama.
ton service $l0.65."
what 10 wet land.9'
Every acre of land in the dis
trict which ID entitled to receive
five.eights of an inch or more Of
Ridenbaugh water, or which is en-
titled to receive like amount
from the Settlers canal or from
ownership OF stock in the New
York canal, 10 considered as wet
land in the proposed contract"
"What would be the status Of a
man who owns so acres Of land
and 10 entitled TO receive 40 inches
Of Ridenbaugh water?"
THAT is a typical situation, and
confronts many of the farmers
within the district, and detailed
explanation will make the situa-
ton clear. For every five.eighths
of an inch Of water be possesses
he viii have one acre classed as
wet, which would equal GA acres
of his eighty. His remaining l6
acres would be classed as dry and
would automatically receive full
seasons water right from the rec-
lamation service. This full sea-
sons water right would include
stored water from Arrow Rock
reservoir and would be exempt
from any drainage charges. Thus
the farmer with the so would pay
the government sl0.65 for each Of
his GA acres and $75 for each of
the 10 acres"
HOW PAYMENTS ARE MADE.
How are those payments to be
nader"
Those payments are 10 be made
in 20 years withoutinterest. That
is, 20 years from the time the pro-
ject is declared open, which may
not be for two or three years"
What would happen if this
contract is not ratified?
Careful, elaborate and thorough
surveys made by United States
reclamation service engineers
(checksd up by f. @. Horn, who
is an eminent consulting sngineer)
clearly show that unless these pro-
posed drains are constructed, r..
600 acres or more within the
boundaries of our district will have
become utterly worthless by 1918
Notonly will these worthless lands
have become unable to bear Their
bonded Indebtedness, such al
county, state. schools and roads
and the irrigation district charges
but this share. which should b.
paid by them, will have TO b.
bourne by land which is not de
stroyed."