The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1920-06-11
LAND OWNERS
ORGANIZE


Irrigation district. The meeting was
largely attended. but the fact that
many of the signers to the call were
absent resulted in an adjournment un-
iii Saturday, June 26, at o'clock, in
the Oroville town hall.
The call, OF which the following Is
copy. was issued May "a, and signed
by 70 water users of the district.
Call for Mass Meeting-We, the un-
dersigned owners and water users of
the West Okanogan Valley Irrigation
district believing that the land owners
and water users of the district should
organize as an association for their
mutual advantage and for the purpose
OF effecting better water service, do
hereby join in this call for a meeting
to be held in the town hall in Oroville,
Washington, on the fifth day of June,
1920, at l o'clock p. m, for the purpose
effecting said organization"
The meeting convened at 2 o'clock
and Mr. Hoskyn was elected tempor-
airy chairman. Mr.. Kitching suggested
the name of Major Longwell, new
conner to the district, as temporary
secretary, and there being no other
nominations the Major performed the
secretarial duties of the meeting.
draft of constitution had been
previously prepared by Mr. Hoskyn,
and this was placed in the hands Of
an elected committee composed Of
Messrs. st. Hill, Peterson, Samson,
Kitching and Longwell, who at once
retired to formulate the constitution
of the proposed association.
During the absence of the committee
the meeting discussed the matter of
name and decided upon "Oroville-To-
nasket Water Users Association" as
most appropriate. A short recess was
taken to allow the committee to con-
tinue its deliberations. and the meet
ing reconvened at 4 o'clock with a ca
pacity attendance, about S5 persons
being present
The constitution was read, each az
ticle being discussed, and changes
made in several of them. The consti-
tuition as adopted is. as will be seen.
incomplete, but the provisions therein
providing for amendments upon one
weeks notice. leaves no room for conn.,
plant. 1t will be noted that the duties
OF the executive committee are defined,
but that those of two other officers are
not, minor matter which can cause
no inconvenience or misunderstanding
There seemed to be an impression
among few of the water users pres
ent that the association was to be an
organization antagonistic to the pres
ent administration of the West Oks-
hogan Valley Irrigation district an i'm
preston that was soon dispelled. The
object of the OrOville-Tonasket Water
Users association, as set forth in the
constitution makes it cooperative
league which will when it's machinery
is once in operation become of inesti-
mable value to the members and to the
District administration.
The membership clause was the sub
5ect of much discussion. A small mi
nority of the committee favored the
barring the officers and members or
the W. o. V. l., district from member
snip, excepting only patrolmen or
ditch walkers 1t appeared to the ma
jority that such clause would imme-
diately cause dissension, and the COM
mittee was upheld by the meeting. No
water user in the district being barred
from membership. 1t is probable, how
ever that when the meeting Is recon-
vened an amendment will be presented
TO prohit any officer or salaried en-
ploye of the District from holding Of
lice in the association while he holds
office in or is employed by the Dis
trict. nE
Discussion of the duties of the exc
cutive committee was lively and at
times amusing. Many snappy COM
ments was made and it is evident that
member of this committee will be a
well trained arbitrator when he fin
ishes his term of office. The meeting
was almost unanimously of the opinion
that the executive committee will
prove an excellent medium of commu-
nication between the water users and
tne officers of the district.
Enough argument was dispensed
over the matter of assessments to fill
section Of the Congressional Record.
mere was large diversity of opinion
.ne maximum amount proposed by var
lous persons extending from nothing
u ten cents per acre per year. The lat
ter amount was decided upon as the
maximum, and the membership fee was
placed at 80 cents. Yearly dues was
also set at half a dollar
The first election of officers will be
heid June 26, at which time the orgi
nization will be formally launched.
In accordance with orders of the
committee, the temporary secretary
mas issued the following notice, which
Is published for the guidance of all
concerned:
10 the Water Users of the West
okanogan Valley Irrigation District:
Ihe meeting Of water users of this
district, convened in accordance with
i lSsueu May lf, lSIo, dt tHo
.own hall. Orovile. June 5, was ad-
'ourned that day to reconvene at the
same place at p. M June 26, 1920.
All water users of the district are
requested to attend. and If unable to
10 so, to send a representative.
Election of permanent officers will
pe held, and the policies and pur-