Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1914-11-12
WATER USERS
MET MONDAY
AFFAIRS FULLY DISCUSSED AT
A GENERAL MEETING-LARGE
* ATTENDANCE

A general meeting of the Williston
Water Users Association was held at
the Court House Monday afternoon,
November 8. The objects and purpose
Of the meeting were fully set forth III
'nie Graphic last week, The publicity
given to the meeting by the local pa
pers and by letters from the project
office resulted in as large 2 representa-
ton Of actual users IS ever attended
a meeting Of the association.
After the meeting was called to or
der by the President of the ass0cia-
ton, Mr.. Geo. NJ. Thomas, Mr.. John
Bruorger, one of the trustees, briefly
Eayiewad the history Of the project,
NDlaiuing that because Of the fail
ure of the water users to meet their
payments Of building charges from
wear to wear. the payments had been
set aside in 1911 and the project put
upon an operation and maintenance
basis. Special terms were made for
operation and maintenance to encOur-
age more extensive irrigation and
cultivation of project lands. The cul-
tivation of lands and use of water even
under these terms was limited to a
relatively small acreage and the op-
Grafton of the project necessarily re-
suited in the accumulation of a large
deficit or difference between the cost
and amount of payments. 1t had been
proposed by notice of 1911 and subse-
quent ones to apply this deficit to the
construction charges to be repaid as
increased construction charges.
Mr.. Bruegger explained that the
Secretary of the Interior had recently
advised the water users of the passage
of the Reclamation Extension Act and
had stated that an increased building
charge would not be implied in the ac
ceptance of the Act, but that board
of review would be named to review
the expenditures of the project from
the beginning, that the water users
were to have a representative on the
board which would decide whether an
increased or reduced building
charge should be recommended. The
board would report to the water users
who, in turn, would by majority vote,
either accept or reject the report of
the board. The two chief objects Of
tie meeting were therefore the ac-
ceptance of the Reclamation Exten-
sion Act and the election Of the wa
ter users representative on the board
of review.
A rising vote of the water users to
express the sentiment of the meeting
resulted in 20 voting for and one
against the acceptance of the new law.
Mr.. Wm G. Owens was selected as
the water users member on the To-
cal board of review.
tJr. Arthur, the project manager,
stated early in the meeting that ne
was present by invitation of the d.
rectors to answer questions and to
help in arriving at clear under
standing of the new act. The water
users kept him pretty busy answering
questions. He had acceptances ready
! Prepared for signature, and Mr.. w. B.
Gverson took acknowledgements.
After considerable discussion COM
mittee was selected to draft letter
to the Secretary of the Interior stat
ing, in effect, that the water users ap-
proved the acceptance of the Reclama-
tion Extension Act and the require
ments to pay 2 per cent of the con-
st11uction charges December I. 1914;
buS requesting that the project be con-
tinued on a rental basis as in 1914 for
one year longer instead of fixing op-
Grafton and maintenance charge for
1915 as contemplated in the new law.
1t was thought that the new law gave
the Secretary of the Interior discre-
lion to that extent.