Williston graphic. (Williston, Williams County, N.D.) 1895-1919, 1918-01-24
and other feed. We would be ship
ping them out instead.

ping them out instead.
There were three mistakes made
formerly that must not be made again.
TO prevent these (D Everyone must
use water. (2) Absent land owners
must pay as we'll as the residents. If
the majority of owners or leasers sign
the petition then an election is held.
(3) Facilities must be provided to use
products of irrigated land so that
there would be a demand for such
products" Mr.. Burdick then read an
extract Of the law regarding the
power of the board of Directors for
the Water Users Association. In con-
clusion he showed that, combining the
fertile land which we have with wa
ter, the country would be prosperous
regardless of rainfall. He thought it
possible that in time, through the
prosperity of the project, Williston
would have population of 10000 in
stead of 5000.
Attorney Overson gave a talk on
"The Future Possibilities" Of the dis
trict if carried through to organiza
tion. He said that he had been over
great many projects and that this
was the only one where there had not
been a great increase in land values
and this of course was due to the fail
ure to irrigate. In other districts in
Montana land that formerly sold for
thirty dollars now sells for $3.50, the
incraese due solely to irrigation. Un-
der the old irrigation system here
there was nothing definite but with
this new organization the old govern
ment lien against the lands under the
project would be eliminated. This
would leave the land clear and
farmer needing more money could get
it. Mr.. Overson also explained that
it would take about three months more
to get the organization of a new dis
trict completed so that prompt action
was needed.
Chairman Thomas at this time had
Secretary Ellithorpe read telegram
from the State Engineer in which he
stated that he had formally approved
the petition for the district.
A number of the men under the dis
trict who took water when it was fur
nished a few years ago said that they
were for irrigation and wanted water
this and every year. Mr.. Phillips said
he wanter water. That a few years
ago when he had irrigation he got 80
loads of hay and this last year about
six loads from the same land.
Joe Wegley stated that with irri-
cation they had raised 27O bushels of
potatoes to the acre and without it
their crop was practically failure.
Practically every farmer present
they wanted water.
Attorney Egleston was asked to ex-
plain in what way the district law
was different from the old one under
which the project was first organized.
He said that under the new law the
district would be purely local self gov
ernment and they would elect board
which would conduct their business.
Under this law the majority would
rule and could require all to come who
had land which could be proftably ir-
rigated. The charges under this or
ganization would be in the form Of
taxes and would be collected by and
payable to the county. The taxes
would be assessed by man selected
and he would assess the land accord
ng to the benefits received. The law
covers every contingency and the e.
icers Of the company would have the
,ower to adjust any differences, leave
,ut land where it could be shown that |
t could not be cultivated proftably |
md bring in land that could. He also
explained that under the old law the
.harges of construction, ETC., lay as
! lien against the property. Under
he association contract and the new
aw all this is wiped off the records
md leaves the land clear. This, said
Mr.. Egleston, is one of the biggest,
f not the biggest thing in favor Of
he change from Water Users As
to the District. 1t would
hen be more like a school district.
In regard to this change to a dis
riot association and self govern
nent we believe it would be well to
Continued on page 81