El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-09-08
GOOD PROSPECT
FOR DRAINAGE
Irrigation Districts To Re
place Water Users Asso-
Citations in the Valley.

. taken soon 70 secure the reorGaniza -
tion of the Rio Grande reclamation
/ project into two irrigation districts,
! of New Mexico and another those of
! the FL Paso valley in this state. The
petitions which will start the irrigation
I districts in the manner required by
! law will necessarily be very extensively
! signed by the owners of lands to he
J incorporated. and will be in circulation
; this week.
This plan is the outcome Of negotia-
tons with the reclamation commission
! over means of securing drainage on
/ the Rio Grande project If the inltlai
steps are successfully taken for irrl-
cation district organization. the recla-
! nation commission has engaged imme-
diately to undertake extensive dram
age operations
Butte Water Users association. has ap-
pointed as committee which viii CO.
operate with him in securing the neces-
sary signatures to the petition for the
Elephant Butte irrigation district, w
/ B. Vaudeville. Dr. A S. Robertson and
James :. Quesenberry-
The board of governors of the FL
Paso Valley association will act as a
committee to perform similar work for
the Texas lands OF the project Rich
ard F. Burgess will incorporate the FL
Paso district and Mark E. Thompson
OF Las Cruces. will be attorney Tor the
Elephant Butte irrigation district.
The reorganization of federal recla-
nation projects as irrigation districts
is by no means confined to the Rio
Grande project, but is strongly believed
by the reclamation commission to be
advanta geous for all projects through
out the service. The following article,
by chief counsel Will R King. in the
Reclamation Record, sets forth the ad-
vantages which will accrue to the
water users from their organization
as irrigation districts.
System Already in Use.
The irrigation district system is In
use on reclamation projects in Wash
ington, Idaho and Nebraska Its ad-
vantages over what is known as the
water users association system are
by experience. clearly demonstrated
not only from the standpoint Of eff
cheney. but of economy as well
The advisability of adopting the ir-
rigatiOn district plan in place of the
water users system has been materi-
ally increased by passage Of house bill
No 252. recently approved by the pres
ident- This bill brings the reclamation
service in full harmony with the irriga-
ton district plan 1t subjects the land. /
the title to which may still remain in
.
district purposes. requiring thereby |
that all lands, whether entered or IN
entered public lands. shall stand their !
share Of the burdens of the construc- /
ton. operation and maintenance /
charges of the project included within !
the district. extending the taxing pow I
er OF the district not only to the en- /
tered lands for which no title has been /
produced. but 10 the unentered lands a. I
well The lien created by the orsani- /
zation Of district for construction and !
operation purposes Will follow the 4
lands :
All Lands nder Lien.
Furthermore. all private land hold !
inss within the district whether sub /
scribed to the payment of water right /
charges or not. will. with all other 1
lands. entered or unentered. become
subject 70 taxation for the payment OF /
their share Of construction and other /
expenses in proportion to the benefits
which may be received by reason OF
the construction of the project
1T viii thus be seen that the frriEa-
ton district system will necessarily re-
duce the pro rata cost OF construction Z
and operation and maintenance charges
to all who have subscribed to water
the district
1T requires but casual observa-
uon TO realize that. on practically all
government projects. there are various.
and IN many instances. large areas OF
private lands which do not share any OF
the burdens Of the project and which
remain out OF the project with a view
10 not only escaping such financial
burdens. but eventually OF receiving I
a larger price for their lands without
contributing anything occasioning
such rise. enhancing thereby the values
and profits at the expense Of the pio-
1eer water users who may have sub
;cribed for water rights
All of the readers of this article who
nay be interested in the subject are
recommended to write to their con-
gresham or senators for a COPY Of the
hearings before the house committee on
irrigation Of arid lands, held February
% 1915, being known as H. r. ESQ., in
which the advantages to accrue by this
ct were discussed by various persons
amiliar with the subject. The details
n how an irrigation district is organ
zed are therein fully presented by
Prominent persons in whose states the
irrigation district plan is fully devel-
ped by legislation and experience
Advantages of the Plan.
THE object Of the present discussion
3 TO give. in a general way only. the !
urpose and general effect OF such or
anization. together with the advan-
ages to accrue by adoption of the irri-
alton district plan.
in brief an irrigation district has
he same advantages over Individual
EXAMINATIONS. such as the ordinary cor =
orations Including water users asso-
lations). as city or town, when or
anized into municipal corporation.
lay have over a school district not
uly organized
In many respects the irrigation dis Z
-ict system is similar in its purpose
nd effects to school districts and
ounty organizations and city mu-
icipalities. differing only in details &"
le character of the details depending a
n the purpose for which organized | e
districts have their officers h,
he same as county and school districts J :
ave; and they are possessed with the III
ime taxing power. manner of collect W
IL the taxes, etc. with which taxes ! &C
lus assessed. the construction, opera
on and maintenance charges of gov
-nment projects are paid. 20
Under the water users association. JC
'ntracts are made with each individ- m
n water user: under the irrigation ca
strict plan tho contracts are made m
the United States with the irriga- al
on district as A uasi-municipality | W
Under the individual contract sys-
m each water user has placed upon co
s land a mortgage lien which being st