El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-05-18
FARMERS MUST
DECIDE FUTURE
Election in County Satur-
day, If Carries, Will Help
Water Matters.

/ over 5000 farmers. land owners and
water users in FL Paso county will
/ have an opportunity to decide the i'm
mediate future of agriculture in the
/ El Paso valley, for which they have
been working for ten years. at the
| election to be held Saturday. May 70,
in answer TO the petition of c. y. Bas-
sett, J. J. Schairer and others before
I the county commissioners to deter
mine whether the z! FSso Valley Water
| Users association shall be trans
/ formed into public Improvement cor
pOration under the laws Of Texas. to
be known as the FL PasO water i'm
provement district number one.
This form of organization provides
for the election of a board OF five di-
rectOrs who shall represent the cor
poration in the making of contracts
and in other interests pertaining to
the association. but only with the
previous approval OF the members. Sc
cured by a vote OF the people con-
cerned- This corporation viii be
definite and tangible company with
which the government can reach
decisive understanding regarding
plans for the universal advantage Of
all the members.
Makes Contracts Possible.
The FL Paso Water Users assOci-
aLlOE ola not nave the authority as q
private corporation to take any con-
certed action. nor did il have credits
or assets. because il did not have the
backing OF united individuals. and was
but a loose organization which had no
intention of assuming obligations and
carrying on large projects, according
to one of its officials. II would be
practically impossible for 5000 farmers
to conclude separate contracts with a
private company or the government
the official said.
Makes Government Aid Easier.
The government is not inclined to
lend aid TO the FL PasO valley farmers /
If they do not organize into a definite 4
district company, so that the govern I
ment viii have a specific group with .
which to deal. said reclamation !
project engineer L NJ lawson in /
the year 1916 the reclamation officials. .
in cooperation with the department OF I
the interior. discussed plans for the .
organization Of the irrigation dis
tricts. and We recommend this plan
above all others for the benefit Of the
farmer. The largest irrigation dis
trlct in the United states, in the I'm
perial valley in California has been
organized under this form and in the
course Of time under the influence OF {
the government all the projects will ]
adopt these plans"
Says Government Waits Election.
The earliest possible action on the
feAA VI LlAE 6UN CT lAAllt CONCERNING the ]
drainage and canal plans for the
lower FL PasO valley is the thing
most desired said J. a. Smith. land
as soon as a definite form Of organi-
zatiOn which can deal with the gov
eminent and make valid contracts can
be created, the government stands
ready TO proceed with the further
development of the valley by the con-
Of drainage and irrigation
canals"
Clint Farmer Raises Point.
Pat DOlan, a farmer at Clint, tele-
phoned The Herald Thursday after
noon the following communication
With reference to the article BY R
F. Burgess and J. A Smith in The Her
aid, would like 70 say that the farm
ers OF the FL Paso valley want the
drainage and irrigation affairs in the
ALLEY TO remain absolutely in the con-
-ral OF the reclamation service and its
employees
In reference to their statement that
ne government would not proceed
With the drainage canal unless we &C
'epted this drainage district law. Mr..
smith, who sat and listened Wednes-
lay night TO L NJ LaWson's talk. re-
used to state that the government
would not proceed with the cOnstruc- ,
ion of the drainage canal Neither !
would Mr. Lawson affirm that the
-overnment would either proceed or
ot with the construction OF the
rainage canal" a
Fears Some misunderstood Plan.
i am surprised TO think that many q
Z the men in the valley should I
hose to misunderstood the plans :
nd object OF the organization. when q
concerns the things which have :
cen innermost in our hearts for the J
asst ten years and for which we have q
trived and hoped. first with the i
government. then with the people, y
Which it will benefit most" said :
richard F. Burgess For a number of e
ears various advances were made
o the government for assistance, but
7ithout avail. but now that the gov I
rnment is inclined to pay some at u
ention to the FL PasO valley some OF 2
he people, il seems. do not know G
hat they most desire" I;
People Always Control, says. 7
There is no possibility for disad- o
ambiguous results TO the farmers il
nder the irrigation district plan. E
DIT every action of the directors is is
ubject to the vote of the people," II
ontinued Mr.. Burgess. and they have $
he advantage of being able to accom- e
lish something If they so desire
he people owe the government some
for they have derived d
ne benefit OF over $4,000. OOO without O