Jerome County times. (Jerome, Idaho) 1919-1920, 1920-01-01
PROPOSED NEW CONTRACT
CONTINUED from Page ~

er Company make the required ca
pacity.
BY reason of the new work being
done during 1919, cutting out the
Jerome reservoir loss. cutting OF
twenty acres of ponds along the main
canal, raising the concrete wall at
Miner and other work, the efficienc>
of the canal system and its capacity
have been greatly increased. When
/ came here the canal system and its
capacity at the head was about 2S50
second feet. of which amount only
about 46 per cent could be delivered
the farmers headgates; today the
capacity is 5000 second feet and 60
per cent OF this amount can be de-
livered to the farms. This means
that there is an increase of $50 sec
ond feet and an increase of over 40
per cent in quantity OF the amount
that can be delivered to the farms
One is an increase in the amount OF
water available at the head Of the
system, the other shows the reduc-
ton in transmission losses. l men
ton these facts to show you that
much has been done of which some
of you are not aware. and that II
for any reason any mistakes have
been made there is ample water and
capacity out of which to correct them
and that no new demands can be
created out OF this water and capac-
ity without first setting apart
enough to make the deliveries you
will be entitled to under this new
contract This is one OF the reasons
why If this contract is taken the
question OF the performance of the
state contracts will not seriously
concern you.
think you have all heard me
on the subject OF water duty and
how it should be determined. The
courts OF Idaho spend much OF their
time an d taxpayers money in try
ing to settle this question and
submit to you, if you have tried to
follow the courts on this subject
whether you want your water right
subject to any court proceeding. The
question, however is one that must
be settled by some one, and | know
of no better way TO let each indiyid-
ual farmer under certain reasonable
requirements fix this for himself
Therefore the contract provides for
the right on the part OF the water
users to adopt the Service method"
and if done then the Land and Water
Company may make the changes nee
essary to put this into effect BY
the service method each water user
will make his own demand for what
water he wants and will pay main
/ tenance on the basis OF the amount
of water he receives. On the present
basis he pays by the acre and has no
/ incentive to better irrigc ton pr2c-
tice. There is much TO be said on
this subject, which | will reserve for
another time. Should this new con-
tract be adopted l will make a prac-
teal of the new method and l will
be content to let the results decide
l will put in a farm engineering de-
partment to aid those OF you who
may wish help in planning your ir-
rigation work. think this will be
of great advantage to all
Another feature Of this contract
is the Commission to take the place
Of the Courts. AS 1t stands today we
are compelled to go to the courts
as we have no other way for the de-
termination Of such questions. AS
you all must realize this at best is an
unsatisfactory way. The contract
provides for a commission of three
men, trained in the kind of work
who will be better able to decide all
questions that may come up under
the contract. I believe you will find
this far more satisfactory way
an appeal may be taken to the
courts, however, If found necessary.
You will notice that all proposed
work under the contract must be
first submitted to the directors of the
| Canal Company for their approval
There can be only one real purpose
under the contract and that is tc
increase the efficiency of the system
If there would be any doubt of the
result Of any proposd work, that
would be good reason for further
study so that l can hardly imagine
where there would be any irreconcil
able differences between the two com
panies under the contract. l suppos,
the State Land Board would have tn,
| power to make contract with tn,
Land and Water Company that would
provide for the reclamation of the re
naming lands on the North Side;
am so advised by good ATTORNEYS.
do not consider this the best way
You all know the difficulties of thi