The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1916-04-07

case may be, so the organization Of Z
district makes no difference on thi:
point.
Would Hit Spectators.
If a district we're organized lower
water rental charge could be made tc
the water users as part of the COS
of operation could be collected from
the uncultivated private lands which
are being held for speculation.
| The collection of charges from the
uncultivated private lands would tend
to induce the owners of such lands to
either cultivate their lands or sci
them to some one who would do so
and this would be a great benefit tc
the neighboring water users who have
been contending with the disadvan.
tages OF rabbits end other pests that
are harbored on the sagebrush lands
| Facilitates Loan.
Under the district plan the stock
subscription contracts which have
been recorded and appear on the abb
structs of title as first mortgages
could be released as has been done in
the Pioneer district. SO that less diff
fculty would be encountered in con-
nection with loans and transfers.
Postpone Opening.
In appreciation of The fact that it is
very desirable both from the stand
point of the water users and from the
standpoint of the government that all
the irrigable land located under the
constructed bitches should be def
nitely secured as a part of the pro-
ject, the reclamation commission has
passed the following resolution:
Resolved. That the WAFER users on
the Boise project be informed that the
reclamation commission will recon-
mend the postponement of the open
ing of the Boise project until 1917 on
condition that prior to July, 1916. an
irrigation district be formed under the
laws of Idaho, and all lands for which
water can be served by gravity within
the limits Of the project brought into
the district and made to pay their
proportion of the cost of the project"
From this resolution it will be seen
that by complying with this sugges-
tion the water users can secure some
additional time before beginning con-
structive payments which would not
otherwise be available to them.
No Need to Bond.
In replying to numerous inquiries
as to whether the organization of an
irrigation district would mean the is
suing of bonds and the payment of in
terest, | would advise that the terms
of payment would be the same under
the district as under the association
Except that if district is organized
the opening of the project would be
postponed year longer) and there
would be no more need of issuing
bonds or paying interest under the
irrigation distri: t than under the wa
ter users association. In either case
the terms would be the terms set out
in the reclamation extnsion act.
Paragraph so of the regulations is
sued by the department appearing
on page So of the general reclamation
circular, provides:
go In the case of lands in private
ownership and homestead entry made
prior to reclamation withdrawal, rec
lamation is required to be shown of
one-hal of the irrigable area in each
instance before any final water right
Is issued upon a water right applica-
ton made for such lands under the
reclamation law. Further, before is
suance of such certificate under the
act of August 9, 1912. (37 Stat. 265).
on account of any lands so held, evil
dence must be filed satisfactorily
showing that the applicant for water
night has an unencumbered title to the
land, or, where encountered, the con-
sent of the encumbrancers must be
furnished in such form that the lien
to be given, the government to secure
the preferred payments on account of
the water right shall. as contemplated
by the law, constitute prior lien up
on the land"
Under this provision if the project
remains under water users associa-
tion, the private land owners will
have to furnish abstracts of title which
will have to be examined by some gov
ernment officer to determine whether
the applicants have title to the lands
that they offer as security for the wa
ter right charges.
Makes for Economy.
The expense to landowners in fur
nishing abstracts of title and the ex-
pense to the project for the examina>
ton of a thousand abstracts, more or
less, would be a considerable item,
which can be avoided If an irrigation
district is organized.
As the district can collect from all
lands within the district regardless of
ownership and the lien of the district
tax is superior to all mortgages, it
would not be necessary to know
whether or not any individual has or
has moi. a good title to any particular
tract Of land. Consequently. the ex-
pense of securing and examining alb
stracts of title could be avoided.
Recommends Change.
The irrigation district laws as
amended at the last session of the leg
islature permit irrigation districts to
have such number of directors as
may be desired. not less than three,
nor more than seven.
The irrigation district is needed as
. substitute for the water users as
sociation in order to secure the bene-
hts mentioned above.