The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1920-09-23
FARMERS MEET TO
FORM IRRIGATION DIST.
Seriousness Of Water Shortage Is
Recognized. - Meeting on Satur.
day Afternoon Was Enthusiastic.
BY L. A. HUNT.

Following a call issued by Matt
Hughes, chairman OF the Irrigation
Committee Of the Farm Bureau, and
the County Agent, large number Of
farmers owning irrigated land along
Willow, Hinton and Rhea creeks met
in the Odd Fellows hall Saturday al
ternoon to discuss the possibility Of
increasing the water flow for irrga-
ton purposes. After some review of
Investigations which had been made
it proved to be the unanimous opin-
on of those present that the water
shortage was quite serious and
something should be done to over
come it.
Whether to raise the money to get
a permanent survey, which would
show the approximate cost of the va
rious reservoirs, by popular subscrip-
tion, or to raise it through the organ
ization Of an irrigation district vas
thoroughly discussed. 1t was quite
clear that IL the money were to be
raised by popular subscription that it
would not be evenly divided and there
would be no legal head to go forward
with securing the investigation and
taking definite action concerning the
same. 1t was the opinion quite free
ly expressed that no one was in favor
Of going ahead with the construction
of these reservoirs unless they knew
first what they were going to cost.
After considerable discussion it was
finally decided that the best plan for
providing the funds to make this in
vestigation would be through the or
ganization of an irrigation district.
A committee composed of Matt
Hughes, AL Henriksen Of Cecil, Ed
Rugg of Rhea creek, Guy Boyer of
Hinton creek, and Fred Lucas Of Lex
ington was accordingly appointed
with instructions to prepare the petit
tion, draw up the boundaries of the
districts, and proceed to get signers
necessary to call an election. Within
the course Of couple Of weeks it is
anticipated that this petition will be
in the field and the farmers who own
land along the creek will have an op-
portunity to sign it.
The object of this petition Is to
bring the matter before the county
court so that the court may order an
election to see whether or not the peo-
pie really want an irrigation dis
trict. At that time thtey will also
vote on directors for the district so
that in the event that the move to
organize a district carries there will
be no necessity for further election.
1t is hoped that anyone who has any
doubts or questions regarding the or
ganization Of an irrigation district
will feel quite free to write to the
County Agent concerning the same
and we promise that we will do our
best to answer his questions, at least
state what the law says regarding the
same. We wish that no one go to the
polls to vote on this question without
a very careful and certain knowledge
of what he is doing. We believe that
it is step in the right direction.
However, there is room for discussion
regarding this and every man has
perfect right for his opinion. One
thing is certain, the Board Of Direct
ors cannot assess your property more
than a dollar per acre without a
special election called to consider the
purposes of this money. All that they
can do under the action which this
meeting is prompting is to organize
the district and arrange for survey
to find out what 1t will cost to store
water to provide for the complete ir-
rigation of these lands. The letting
of contract and raising money for
construction must be referred again
to the people. 1t was expressed by
several of the men there that II good
water-rights could be given to the
land along Willow and Rhea creeks
that the farms could be divided up in
smaller units, because by this method
the farmers could raise great deal
of garden produce, and corn and po-
tatoes and practice more intensified
irrigation farming than is possible
now. 1t was generally felt that good
water rights along Willow creek and
tributaries would add materially not
only to the value Of the land but to
the development Of the whole county.
and greatly increase the number OF
its homes.