The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1920-06-11

TEN has been In successful operation
for many years in our neighbor state
of Wyoming, resulting in great eff
q cheney to the state, satisfaction to the
farmers, and the saving of practical
ly all of the great amount of money
annually wasted in this state in liti-
+ cation over water rights.
) Practically all legal and irrigation
) experts who have carefully studied
the operation of the Wyoming law,
, agree in recommending the adoption
of the Wyoming code for this state.
We may find some alterations and
improvements advisable, but in the
main the Wyoming code is undoubt-
eddy the system that should be adopt
ed by Montana, and is in the opinion
of the writer the best known remedy
for all the ills above enumerated.
Opposition to such a change will
probably come from early appropria-
tors, who fear that such a law will
deprive them of some privilege al
ready enjoyed, but the experience of
other states proves that the Wyoming
system will protect them even more
than the present law in all their Just
rights while not encouraging them in
any waste of water. Opposition will |
also come from those who claim that !
such change in the irrigation laws |
of the state is either impractical or :
very expensive during the period of |
change. Its practicability can be |
! proven by the experience of other
states which have adopted such a
law, and the expense of making the
change will be much less than the
cost of litigation, even for one year,
under the old system; and when the
&c do h. |
cost will be very slight, while under
the old system the actual loss is con-
tinual and constantly increasing.
Furthermore, the adoption of def
mite and sane irrigation law will sta
Billie and develop irrigation and en-
courage the extension of the same in
districts where capital would not
dare enter under the present unsatis-
factory laws.
Two other features deserve consid-
Grafton in this connection-the irri-
cation district law, and the licensing
of irrigation engineers. These are /
both included as supplementary to {
the Wyoming code. The present irri- :
cation district law of Montana is a
good one and should be retained +
without much alteration in connec- :
ton with any new irrigation code. !
One very necessary amendment how +
ever should be made to the present 4
district law. This is the i
provision found in the California and r
Oregon laws that the state after 4
thorough investigation of a district g
may certify the bonds of such district c
as a safe and proper investment for e
state and other trust funds. While n
his provision does not cost the state ;,
h two
makes the district bonds readily mar y
zetable and saves the districts from j,
he embarrassing condition which is ~
low retarding the irrigation district 6,
development in Montana =,
A bill is now being proposed to CO
bond this state for $20,00O,OO0 to be n
lsed in the buying of irrigation dis b
riot bonds, in order to create a mar m
ret for these securities. This same OF
object could be accomplished by the BIZ
eature above proposed, without the
necessity of such a state bond issue, al
nd the present proposition would, m
therefore,, be unnecessary If the sug- th
.eSted amendment were made, as it is DIG
ow in operation in California and til
oregon and has proven satisfactory d,
n those two states. III
AS to the licensing of engineers te
his is thing greatly to be wished
he success of this measure in sew III
raj states that have tried it has led nj
o strong movement now under way I'll;
boxing to the adoption of a uniform We
licensing law for all western states. la
his feature has been in successful tn
peration in Wyoming for many an
ears ana mas Deen very effective in tit
rotecting the public against incom- lila
etent engineers, in guaranteeing the VIZ
tate the proper cooperation in the gr
administration of the waters, and in m,
ncouraging capital in legitimate in MI
estment in irrigation enterprises.
In addition to the improvements =
bove mentioned, there is yet one r
ital matter worthy of consideration
and that is, some adequate system |
Dr. financing and constructing irriga- |
on projects on new and unsettled |
lnds. In this regard, it is unfortun-
he that misunderstanding is so
revalent in this state, even among
promoters, as to the proper
cid for the successful operation of
lie irrigation district. Many attempts
e being made to develop new and
lsettled areas under the irrigation |
strict law, when all competent au- |
critics on the subject agree that
e district law is not applicable to
oh cases and can neyed hope to be
ccessful when SO applied. L
Since the bonding feature is the
lin staff of life to the irrigation =
strict law, any attempt to apply
Is measure to the development of III
W and unsettled areas of very little
ssent value, is to create an obIiga-
n whose only security is a value
yet created, and therefore con-
ry to the fundamental principles III
bonding. The irrigation district
7 is we'll adapted to cases where It IA
desired to purchase irrigation u.
rks already constructed, to extend Tn
n construction or to furnicb oddi the p
nal water to lands already culti- and I
ed and having a present value " ~
lewhat commensurate with the Price
posed bonded Indebtedness, and q q q ..
otaI value after construction at THE
1t twice as great as the total bond