The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1921-02-03
JOHN DAY LAND OWN
ERS MEET DIRECTORS
Fair Representation of Those Having
Holdings Within Proposed Project
Gather at Heppner Tuesday Evening.
Protest Action of Board of Directors
on Recent Election.


being present.
After some routine business was at
tended to- the meeting was transferred
to the dining room of the new hotel,
where it was continued until a late
hour. A large number of land owners
within the district, in response to a call
sent out were present in town to meet
with the directors, and Manager Hart
of the hotel kindly opened up the big
dining room for the use Of this meeting
As it was apparent that questions of
a personal nature were to come up,
Chairman Clark was relieved of the re-
sponsibllty of presiding further and
] Z. Gender was elected from the floor
to take charge. and f. X. Brown was
chosen to act as secretary.
Il. A. Poe. of lone, speaking on be-
half Of the land owners, stated that the
object of the meeting was 10 get infor-
nation; the land owners desired to
have statement from c. c. Clark, as
to things done by the board Of direct
ors; by what authority they had pro-
ceeded TO levy 50-cent tax on the land
in the district and why they had pro-
ceeded as they had with regard to the
recent election etc, and the statement
Of MIR Poe seemed to sound the key
note OF what the land owners were get
ting at. This same sentiment was ex-
pressed by a few others. and Mr. Clark
then gave some account Of his steward =
ship and answered numerous questions
put TO him concerning various steps
that had been taken by the board of
directors since the formation Of the
district Mr.. Clark's statement was
made in response TO a motion presented
by J. W Osborn OF Cecil. and others
taking an active part in the questions
asked were Jas Carly perhaps the
heaviest land owner in the district out
side Of the Northern Pacific Railroad
Co. AL Henrksen Of Cecil and Sam Fl
Van Vactor Of Heppner.
Mr. Lewis engineer on the project,
explained some Of the matters pertain
ing to the boundaries Of the district,
showing from his maps where the pres
ent high line runs approximately the
location Of the dam site on the John
Day river at diversion point as well as
where storage reservoirs Will be placed
and explained the basis on which the
assessment to cover the preliminary
work was made. Numerous questions
were also sprung on MIR. Lewis, all OF
which, so far as they pertained TO his
end OF the work, he answered in a cour-
teous manner if not always clear to the
party making inquiry.
The question having arisen over the
action taken by the directors regard
ing the recent election, in which they
held that Messrs. Minor and Wheel
house had not been regularly nominal.
ed as provided by the law governing
an election under the irrigation statute
Mr. Clark called on the attorney Of the
board. f. A. McMenamin, to reply tc
this, which he did by reading the two
sections Of the law covering, and ex'
planning why he advised the actor
taken.
S. Il. Van Nactor, speaking on behali
of the land owners, made reply to Mr.
McMeuamn, contending that the Law
made provision for the writing in OF
the names Of candidates to be voteC
for thus properly nominating them anC
that the American privilege of votine
for whom he pleased could not be de
MED any citizen having the right I,
vote under our laws and that the ac
ton Of the directors would be carried
to the highest courts for settlement
The remarks of Mr. Van Nactor seemed
to strike a very responsive chord in th
minds Of a large number present an
he was loudly cheered.
j.. u. Brown, of Portland who own
large tract of land in the district, an,
who will be called upon to give Vi
about two thousand dollars as his por
tion Of the assessment, was called or
Mr. Brown stated that for q number o
years he had been opposed to takini
hold of the John Day project; 1t ap
peared to be so monumental an under
taking and it's ultimate acceptance b
= the government seemed so far remove
rs to make 1t impractical and useles
expenditure of time and money on tn
part of those who would be called up
on to bear the preliminary expens,
However. he had changed his views o
late, after learning Of the prospects O
getting prompt action on the part 0
the government and he was now con
sistent and persistent advocate of put
ting the project over and was willin
to do all he could along this line, urg
ing all to unite with this end in view
Mr.. Brown also stated that he felt tn
election of the new directors had bee
rgulear and thought they should hav
been seated, as he could not perceiv
of any man being denied the right
vote for whom he pleased at any elec
ton held under our laws
C. II. Dillabaugh of Boardman mad
n short talk and plead for harmon
among the promoters of the John Da
proieCt and this sentiment was eS
pressed by several other speakers, S.
Boardman being chief among thes
The representatives present fro
Boardman are imbued with just or
dominant idea, and that Is that the bi
project should be built and they al
willing and ready to do everything POI
sible that this might be accomplishe
They speak from actual knowledge
what irrigation means and their hear
are In 1t.
Tho meeting continued on until abo'
midnight. when n motion to adjoul
was put and carried, Whether or n
the object for which the land owne
had been called together was accon
pllshed, we are not prepared to say,
doubt all were impressed with the ia
that It was not the desire of any
Llock the progress of 'he project. II
sentiment was frequently express
that nothing should be done that wou