The Churchill county standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1908-1920, 1916-12-13

zation of water users on the Truck
ee-Carson project.
The main idea of the objections
raised seems to be that the irriga-
tion district under the present law
is not sufficiently complicated and
comprehensive to embrace various
forms of activity which Mr.. Sears
thinks should be entered into by the
organization of water users formed
for the purpose of eventually con-
duetfhg the business of the project
The meetings, however, have
the irrigation district is very effec-
tive and efficient scheme of organi-
zation; that it has the taxing power,
the lack of which is one of the prin-
cipal defects of the water users as
sociation; that it is designed to en-
brace all lands within the same gen.
eral irrigation and drainage system;
that the cost of whatever work is
built must be assessed on lands not
necessarily at a fiat rate per acre,
but in accordance with and in pro-
portion to the benefits conferred up
on the lands; that the powers of the
governing board of such district
are very limited, and that no con-
tract can be entered into or liabili-
ties otherwise incurred without first
submitting the question to the yot-
ers of the district and securing their
endorsement by a two-thirds vote
hese simple and essential features
are ali present in the irrigation dis
trict form of organization and its
very simplicity and directness com
mend it to many people. 1t is some
thing easy to understand 1t is not
complex and none of its operations
re obscure or hidden. Everything
must be done in the open and popular
approval is necessary to justify any
important action by the directors
1t has been pointed out that as
the needs of the project develop end
tie workings of the irrigation dis
trict become perfected, any addition
II powers necessary to increase the
scope of operations through the or-
ganization may be provided for by
way of such amendments to the iaW
as the people of the district may de-
sire. Many think ii preferable to
start out with an organization hav-
ing a few essential and well defined
powers and purposes, and to leave
the matter of further activities to
future developments, rather than to
attempt, at the start, to devise a COM
plicated organization designed to
meet all possible future require
ments.
One great advantage clearly
brought out a. the meetings is that
under the irrigation district form of
organization it will be possible for
the water users to place themselves
IN q much better position with re-
spect to obtaining loans on their
farms. 1t would be possible for the
district to assume the individual OBJ
legations to the government for con-
struction charges of each and every
land owner now having a contract
with the United States. Having the
taxing power and being required to
tax the lands in proportion to the
benefits, the district would be in a
position to enter into a contract with
the Secretary of the Interior under
which it would agree to pay the
charges of the individual land own
ers and such an agreement with a
district has been considered a suf-
fieient guarantee to the United States
10 justify the Secretary in releasing
the individual liens in the nature of
first mortgages which are now held
by the government against every par
eel of land within the project on
which construction charges have not
been paid in full
The series of meetings has been
of great value from the educational
standpoint and without a doubt a
great many people have been set
thinking on these matters of vital I'M
portance affecting the welfare of the
project 1t is hoped that these ac-
tivities will continue and will re-
suit in the organization of an irriga-
ton district through which the much
needed benefits possible under such
an organization may be promptly Sc
cured for this project
II nAIAA- nIGERICE IELNIG