The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1922-11-10
SMITH SUPPORTS.
DISTRICT PLANS,
n D LOST RIGHTS
Approves
Plan to Change Project
Management; Settles
Questions in Issue.

Congressman Addison T. Smith ap-
proves the formation of an irrigation
district in place Of the water users as
ISOLATION ON THE Boise project.
1T seems to ME that it has been so
conclusively demonstrated dhat an dr-
rigation district is the most advantage
eous manner of conduction that the
dealings between the settlers and the
government" Congressman Smith
wrote C. R. Kollenborn, secretary of
the Boise Project Improvement club,
the organization backing an irrigation
district, in response to an inquiry.
There is no possible danger of
your rights being lost by entering
an irrigation district and it is GER
tainly more economical to do bust
ness through a district than
through the present plan.
Il have no hesitancy in stating to
you that congress has invariably re-
sponded to the recommendation of the
secretary of the interior appropriations
for reclamation work and the i'm
provsments suggested in your letter
will doubtless be authorized by con-
gress if recommended by the secretary
OF the interior on the advice of Dr.
rector A. p. DAVIS"
This communication of endorse
ment by Mr.. Smith for an irrigation
district ON the Boise project is regard
ed as vttally important by Mr.. Kollen
born and Others who are advocating a
change from the present association.
The letter is in response to commun-
ication that was sent to ali members
of the Idaho congressional delegation.
Mr.. Smiths reply was dated at Twin
Fails, November 7. Responses are
daily expected from other members of
the delegation.
In explaining the request for an
opinion on the merits of this contro-
versy, a similar letter was sent to all
Idaho congressman and senators. Ex-
cerpts from the letter are as follows:
1--WE believe that majority of the
settlers on the Project are now in fav-
or of the formation of district, but
the law requires that in order to carry
the election two-thirds of the votes
cast must favor district. There are a
considerable number of others who
are inclined to look favorably upon
such an organization, but who are
withholding their final decision in the
matter to obtain information on two
or three points on which they are in
doubt
1.-THE rights of the settlers as they
exist are set out and defined in con-
tracts existing between the United
States, the individual settlers them
selves, and the Payette- Boise Water
Users Association 1t has been sug-
gested that these rights are in danger
of being lost if an irrigation district
be formed, while rs our contention
that such rights would be in no danger
and that the formation OF a district
would only change the form OF gov
crment, or in other words it would
simply change the vehicle by which
such rights would be administered. a
great many on the Project would wei
come the truth on the above question
coming from an authentic and reliable
source.
There are large portions OF tins
Project fhat are badly water-losget
and i'm need of immediate drainage, lh'
Director OF tho u, S. Reclamation Ser
Vice has suggested that an approprM
tion n,igh, be made by which reelama
tion funds could be used for this work
provided suitable contract could o'
made with some responsible party to-
guaranteeing the return OF the money
so expcnded He has further suggest
ed that an irrigation district is, III TN
opinion OF attorneys OF the Reelama
ton Service. the best and most respon
siblc organization for entering anti
such a contract. and has expressed
Doubt as no whether the Association
could execute a contract which woul'
be acceptable to the Secretary OF IN
Interior for the following reasons:
has been admitted by the Association
counsel in letter to the Director. a
p, Davis. under date of April ls, l9l-
that yhe Association has not had
legal election or a legally elected Boar
nj Directors since its organization /
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