Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1916-06-17
TERMS OF SUBSCRIPTION
RiDICULOUSLY
SIMPLE

1t was not until we had an oppor
tunity OF perusing the columns OF
our esteemed contemporary that we
realized just how simple matter il
is TO settle the water question; the
one big question that has been srieY-
ing the minds OF the people OF this
community almost from the beginning
OF its upbuilding. Having been
here only few months, and during
that time having heard the question
discussed from many angles and
phases by numerous people who have
been here Tor yeals, we had about
arrived AT the conclusion that the
people had taken the proper course
by submitting the question to the
utilities commission and biding the
time when that honorable body shall
determine ON basis of settlement
that shall be fair to all the parties
concerned. But We see that the
Idea is entirely wrong. The plan
our nelghbOr presents Is so simple
and makes possible settlement in
so much less time that we very
heartily recommend it to the holders
of water rights. Here is the plan
our friend presents:
First Organize a district.
Seoond-Find the cost of the sys-
tenn
Third Bond the district for the
amount of the cost.
Now isn't that the simplest thing
thing you ever heard of? And doesn't
II seem funny that someone didn't
think of the plan before? We look
around and see men who have made
a considerable success of their own
private affairs, men who would be
considered active progressive and
successful in any community, but
this water question has been worry
ing them for years. Then there is
another class who seem 10 have Civ
en- much thought to the water ques-
ton. They are the ones who made
little stake In other parts of the
country and lost practically every
thing they had after coming here by
reason of previous failures to salts
factorilly settle the water question.
These people too, we take 1t, have
given much deep study to the set
tlement of this question. And it does
seem matter of marvel that some
of these did not happen to think
of this remarkably simple remedy for
the settlement of the one great Ques-
ton that must be settled before this |
community can attain any d gree of
prosperity.
But here is another paragraph that
throws light on the plan of our
neighbor: Say the system cost
100000, Say it will irrlgate 10000
acres of land at 6 per cent interest;
that will be a charge of ST. an acre
a year for ten years to pay the inter-
est. AT the end OF ten years sink
ing fund could be created, say so
cents an acre addition a year, and
that would retire each year $4,000 of
the bonds reducing the interest
charge which could be applied to the
retiring of bonds and at the end of
twenty years there win be no bonds,
no sinking fund, no interest charges
and the people viii own the works
and the only cost to them then will
be the maintenance and distribution
charges,
Fine Nothing we have ever heard
OF compares with the general outline
of the plan. Of course the figures
are not exactly accurate but then it
is long-distance editorial and comes
about as close as one might be ex-
pected to come who has not even
general knowledge OF his subject.
Instead of the cost of the system
being $500 600, it is somewhere in y
the neighborhood of half million, {
and instead of being able to irrigate |
10000 acres the company is now
operating under permit from the ,
utilities commission by which it may
sell water rights for little over
5000 acres. At some future time it =
is the hope of the company to sell {
water for maybe 10000 And this
last figure, so near as We can learn, {
Is about the outside limit that it win |
be possible to irrigate under the sys- G
TEN in its present condition. I
These two little incidental phases t
OF the question may make a trifling v
difference in the working plan, and a
also there is one other matter that
may affect the general workings of
he plan somewhat: The company
has already sold water rights about
lp to the Limit imposed by the utiI-