Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1916-02-04
IRRIGATION
meet SATURDAY
FIRST MEETING OF THE YEAR
HELD HERE LAST WEEK
A GOOD REPRESENTATION
PLANS OUTLINED FOR THE PROMOTION
OF ANCOSTURA PROJECT DUR
ing COMING YEAR

(By Charles A. Nystrom, Rapid City,
Secretary Black Hills Angostura Irri-
cation Association
The Black Hills Angostura Irriga-
tion Association held its first meeting
this year in Hot Springs January 29th.
There we're representatives present
from Oral, Smithwick, Ardmore, Oel-
richs, Ardmore, Buffalo Gap and Hot
Springs.
After listening to reports, ways and
means for carrying the proposed irri-
gation amendment at the next election
were discussed. 1t was the concensus
of opinion that this campaign should
be carried on most vigorously east of
the river. where the people know little
or nothing about this amendment, and
having no information to act upon,
will naturally cast an adverse vote.
1t is proposed to show those voters
that this amendment merely permits
the legislature to provide for the or
5anization of irrigation districts in
townships, counties or otherwise, and
to operate the same under proper safe.
guards. taxing the property directly
benefited according to the benefits re-
oeived. Those living outside the pro-
posed projects will not have dollar
to pay. The cost Of construction and
operation is placed where it belongs
and the general pubiic viii have no
added burden to bear. In fact, the
taxes of the general public will be less
by reason Of large areas of largely
nonproduotive land being brought un-
der high state of cultivation through
irrigation. This has been the exper-
ience of every state where irrigation
has been tried. When our friends east
of the Missouri understand the provis
ions of this amendment it is believed
there will be little If any opposition to
its adoption. But it will tsSe hard
and strenuous work to make this mat.
ter clear.
It will be remembered that this same
amendment was up for vote at the
last general election, and in common
with number of other measures went
down in the ''vote no" campaign then
waged. At that time less than three
thousand votes would have changed
the result Its defeat was not due to
any organized opposition, but our
eastern friends, and many west of the
river knew nothing about this meas
ure, and therefore voted mo-" The
South Dakota Irrigation Association
then organized with the state histor-
ian, Doane Robson, as president, and
q vice president in every western
county did valient service in carl rlyine
on publicity campaign and had the
election come month later it is b.-
lieved the amendment wou d have car
ried. This year 1t is proposed to start
the publicity campaign early.
In line with the adoption of the irri-
cation amendment is the Jones bill
now before congress. This bill pro-
vides for federal guaranty of irrigation
district securities. Such districts or
ganized under the laws of the several
states may ask the government for Co
operation in financing the project. The
secretary of the interior shall cause the
project to be examined, and if ap.
,,rnvod mav nm hehalf nf the onvarn.
ment guarantee the interest on such
bonds to be issued by said district for
the constr uction and operation of the
project. Such bonds shall run not to
exceed forty years and shalt bear in
terest at not to exceed four per cent.
In case any district shall default in
its bond interest, such interest shall
be paid by the United States under it's
guarantee and such interest and bonds
shall be made lien upon all the lands
within the district.
With government guaranty of inter
est bonds there would be no lack of
private capital to develop the hund-
reds of larger and smaller projects
throughout the country, should the
reclamation service oe SLOW in taking
hold. The one great drawback, as SEQ
retsry Lone SAYS, has been the lack of
funds. Should the Jones bill pass. it
is anticipated there will be ample pri-
vate funds available to take care OF