The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-09-29
LANDS
SHARE BURDEN
WHEN BENEFITED BY IRRI-
CATION PROJECTS OF THE
u. S. GOVERNMENT.

Irrigation Districts to Supersede
Water Users Associations on Pro-
jects; New Law Will Force All to
Share In Irrigation Cost.
Helena. Waite users associations
which have the supervision of com
pleted reclamation projects, will be
superseded by irrigation districts and
thousands Of acres of private lands
not signed up for water and much
unentered public land will be made
liable for the cost of the reclamation
works if the plans of the United
States reclamation service are car
ricd out. The change will enable land
owners to borrow money on first
mortgages, it is said.
Willis J.. Egleston, district coun-
sci of the reclamation service for
Montana, North Dakota and Wyom-
ing, with headquarters at Helena, has
just received a copy Of III. Il. 1866,
approved August II, authorizing such
irrigation districts, and a statement
bearing on the matter made by Judge
Will r. King, chief counsel of the
service.
All Lands Benefited Pay.
Montana has a law providing for
the creation of irrigation districts
whereby 81 per cent of the land own
ers in a given area can force the min
GRITTY of 40 per cent to form a dis
trict for the reclamation Of the land
in that district. The new federal law
permits such districts to include I'M
entered public lands and entered
lands, the title to which has not yet
been secured, providing the secretary
of the interior approves the pro- ect.
While the government will not be-
come responsible for charges against
the land, these charges attach as liens
which must be cleared by an entrymar
before his application is allowed.
1t is pointed out that there arc
thousands Of acres of private lands
within the boundaries of government
projects, the wnc of which decline,
to sign up for water, but whose hold.
ings have been enhanced in value by
the construction of the bitches.
, Private Owners Taxed.
If land owners on the projects who
+ have already signed up for waite,
proceed with the creation of irrigatio'
districts, they will force the owner
of private holdings into the districts
! and thus reduce the reclamation COS
!, per acre by distributing it over
o large area.
q Judge King says in part:
@ "1he advisaility of adopting Il.
$ irrigation district plan in place of tn
waters users system has been mate
), rally increased by passage of hous
f bill No. 1866. known as the Smit]
: bill brings the reclamation service o
: the government in full harmony wit
] the irrigation district plan.
;. Subject to Leins,
ct subjects the land. the title t
which may still remain in the Unite
States. to liens for irrigation distric
purposes. requiring thereby that a
: lands. whether entered or mentcrc
public lands, bear their share Of tn
y burdens of the construction, opcratio
@ and maintenance charges of the pro
5 .icrt included within the district. e.
tending the taxing power Of the dis
=, trict NOT only To the entered lands tc
. which no title has been procurc'
but to the menlprcd lands as wei
The lien created by the organization
of Il district for construction and ol
d Grafton purposes will follow the land
e and when entry is made, or wle
L patent Is secured for the entcrc
l. lands. the cntryman will thus be I,
quired TO share the burdens with n
le others in the project included Will
/ in the district.
Furthermore. all private Ian
holdings within the district. whcth(
W SUBSCRIBED to the payment of wat'
l. right charges or not. will, with Il
other lands, entered or mcntercd. b
le come subject to taxation for the pa
o ment of their share Of constructic
l. and other c%Npcnscs.'
Will Reduce the Cost.
h Judge King goes on to say that Il
:, new arrangement will reduce the pl
r rata cost Of construction. operate
- and maintenance. and will make a
who are benefited by the governmcl
expenditure help to bear the burde
and make it possible for the farmc
concerned to take advantage of II