The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1920-01-06
GET AN ORGANIZATION

very accurate information with refer
ence to the famous case Of Payette-
Boise Waters Users association VS..
Cole, and number of irrigation dis
tricts, but from what we can CLEAN
from the decision and the statements
of those interested it appears that
the government will collect the costs
Of the project, that being apparently
what the court held
We under stand that the costs will
not be materially different from what
the reclamation service announced.
The reclamation service has been urg-
ing for a number Of years that the
people of the project form an irriga-
ton district and make a contract with
the government for a definite amount
of water and the terms Of payment.
As an inducement for the organi-
cation OF an irrigation district, the gov
eminent stated that the cost of the
project would be $1,000 providing thew
would form an irrigation district, and
by so doing bind all the lands within
the district to pay. If they do not
form an irrigation district and bind
all the lands, water will cost $4,000
per acre. One can readily see that
collecting from large number of set
tiers on the project and giving credits
tor the next twenty years would cost
the government more than if the dis
trict was properly organized.
We can see no objection to the or
ganization of district when the set
tiers would save $1,000 per acre by so
doing, they would elect their own Of
ficers and the district would also
have charge of the distribution of wa
ter.
OF course, the organization of the
irrigation district would not bind the
district to accept any contract the
government might wish to make, for
following the organization of the dis
trict, the contract would be submit
ted to the board of directors, and a
special election would be called to
vote upon that contract. The contrac,
would be specific in what the settlers
were purchasinr through the irriga-
ton district organization. As it is
now, on account Of the number of
settlers. it is almost impossible to
state what interest each 100 or so or
40 acres has in Arrowrock reservoir.
This idea was suggested the other
day by settler on the project who
said that he had always favored an
irrigation district but that the Off
Gals and water users did not favor it.
The settler stated further.that he ia
vored the district organization with
contract giving them a longer period
within which to pay, that is, provid-
ing for small amounts for number
OF years and larger amounts later.
There are portions of the proiec,
that necessarily have to be drained
In fact, some of the project is in a
bad condition at the present time. If
the settlers would form a district and
have submitted TO them contract up
on which they would act, they could
see that such provisions were made
that the district would have a certain
interest in Arrowrock reservoir, and
also provisions for the expenditure of
money for the drainage OF the over
wet and water logged portions of the
district.
The Tribune does not propose to be
authority on the question of irrigation
districts, but we do not understand
Why it is that there is an objection to
such an organization when we think
how successfully some of them are
operated, and particularly in view OF
the fact that the settlers could save
Slo.W an acre on the costs of the pro
lect. 1t may be that this variation of
5000 and $4,000 is not right We do
not know, but we cannot understand
why, when the settlers are confronted
with the possibility OF saving $1,000 per
acre they do not embrace the oppor-
tunity Of doing so. At least, it should
be investigated.
The suit was started for the purpose
of holding the cost to 5000 per ac
re. rs We understand it, but it seems
now. from the public meetings held
at Nampa and other places, that the
cost is immaterial providing users can
get the water We understand that
the Payette- Boise water users assoc
lation does not distribute any water or
take charge of the distribution of anv
water, but it represents the settlers
in what? We do think that the set
tiers of the Payette- Boise project are
entitled to an organization that would
handle its affairs and take charge OF
water distribution.