The enterprise. [volume] (Harlem, Mont.) 1899-1926, 1916-09-28

"oISA Al6HI llCuJ uiutf Lu6 l0u0Tdl
banking act, from money loaning
onpanies, or under the recent rural
credit act. But under the irrigation
district plan these obstacles are re-
roved.
When district is fully organ
-Zcd under the law individual liens
upon the land are released nd the
district as whole is held for the
contracted Indebtedness, in the same
manner in which school district,
county, city or other municipality
may be held upon an issue OF bonds
for school, county, city or other mu-
nicipal purposes, leaving the liens to
accrue only in case of a default in
payment of taxes levied for the pay
ment Of such Indebtedness or what
may be termed ''tax lien for de-
fault in payment of such tax, not a
lien of record for the entire indebt-
edness. In other words, in an alb
stract of title for the purpose OF pro-
tecting a loan, no lien will be dis
closed, unless it be for one or more
unpaid installments of taxes levied.
Necessary Steps
ut will thus be observed that, it
those on reclamation projects are to
receive the benefits of the federal
banking act, rural credit loans, or
even loans by the state or loans by
large loaning companies, the, pro-
jects will have to substitute the irri-
cation plan for the present system
"Several states have adopted the
irrigation plan, but it is important
that these be further amended in
some particulars
"All irrigation districts, therefore,
should be organized prior to the
convening of the next legislature.
BY so doing any defect now undis-
covered may speedily be met by pro-
curing from the legislature soon to
convene the required amendments
without waiting two years more for
these benefits.
'.In the past some prejudice has
principally due to wildcat organiza-
tions by incOmpetents and sDcculat
ors who had in view the sale Of bonds
on certain projects, where neither q
sufficient water supply or proper
iIui Wei q lOUit 6fIi!GbiS,
which in some instances were cue to
.ack Of invest cation along these
lines prior to the organization of the
district.
Suggests Substitution
These defects would not exist
should any OF the reclamation pro
jects now in operation substitute for
the water users association toh ir
rigation district plan.
''The irrigation district plan Of
organization, OF course, will not
provide a water supply where none
exists or make good land out of bad,
nor will it convert into a success a
reservoir which by reason of natural
formation Of it's surroundings and
lack of water supply, may be fatally
defective.
''1n sections where irrigation is
relied upon there is impliedly in
cluded in the irrigation district the
plan to make all necessary contracts
looking toward the drainage of such
parts of the district as might be
found necessary.
'This position has been upheld by
the suprem ecourt of Idaho, where
the plan has been fully and success
fully tried and properly presented
to the courts for determination. The
irrigation district plan can, therefore
be used to solve the drainage prob
lem, and it has been so held by the
supreme court.
May Tax Lands
I'm the case of drainage the lands
within the district, like lands for ir-
,-;U ti0n NOV In faynd only, in nro-
portion to their share of the cost
II there are lands in the district that
cannot be irrigated, or lands for
these lands may be excluded from
taxation for one or the other pur
pose, but no lands in the district,
whether in cultivation or otherwise,
must pay the taxes for either pur-
pose.
"As indicated, under the new law
the same liability follows the lands.
whether private lands or entered or
unentered lands. Drainage districts
were only devised for use in ocaii-
ties where drainage, and drainage
only is necessary, such as in states
or parts Of states ias in western Ore
gon, tor eXample), where bitches
and canals are necessary to keep
water Off the land and not with a
view Of running water onto IT,.
Drainage districts will not solve the
irrigation problem Hence when ir-
rigation is necessary, irrigation, and
not drainage districts should be or
ganized.
Tor the perfection of an organ
Ezation under the irrigation district
system, and for the placing thereof
III proper condition, and for dealing
With the United States, the time re
Qulred under the different statutes
varies from three to six months AS
stated, therefore, it is important that
steps should be taken in this direc-
ton without delay with a view to re
ceiving legislative aid, if required,
prior to the coming session of the
legislatures of the states in the arid
section.
The members of the reclamation
commission and members Of the le-
gal division of the reclamation SER
vice have unanimously decided in
favor of the irrigation district plan,
and I have nlacad in tho uonnra |