The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1922-07-20
,,.,d Of Columbia District
b saoounces Reduction OF
s1.65 an Acre
anal SYSTEM IS
n GOOD CONDITION
!. 80 is Every Reason for
~ encouragement, Says
Manager Muldrow

h last weeks c0urler-kepofsef
i. vase printed statement by
r.p.ser ". G. Muldr0w explaining
u the irrigation assessments IN
Columbia Irrigation district will be
= nor acre less next year than
n Continuing the statement Mr..
ludrow says:
The operation of the irrigation dis
,,.t laws in collecting assessments
!. .rch that several years may elapse
~, certain assessments are due be-
sre they can be collected. But they
.,v,vs are collected, with interest,
except in those rare cases where the
hud simply isn't worth the taxes
4 which cases, of course, these taxes
oueht never to have been levied. The
dtuation is such that all operating
districts are carrying at all times
/, heavy balance of assessments in all
stages Of delinquency. A few OF these
ue against lands that finally go to
hx deed, and some tracts may be
% poor that they will finally have
10 be sold for less than the taxes
AGAINST them. But the great bulk
Of these assessments are finally col
,Iected. And this situation does not
throw any great hardship on the man
Who pays promptly, as so many seem
to feel. It actually works out this
way:
The district levies an assessment
to run it next year. Suppose your
share is 500, your neighbours the
same. You pay yours at once, he lets
bis run for two years, and finally
pays up just in time to keep his land
from being tax-deeded. Meanwhile
the district has had to use the 5000.
1t has paid out your hundred in cash,
not having his, it has issued $100 in
$50 warrants, which run until he
pays up. But when he pays up he
has to pay penalty of 5eo plus in
tsrest at 1870 for two years, MAX
ing $l2S.OO in all. This takes up the
NoO warrant, plus interest at go
lor two years, or $1,000, and leaves
balance OF $500 in the treasury
% reduce the next years assessments
% tnat you get the benefit of half
u TINS balance. This is actually what
happens, this district is now collect
ng from delinquents a good deal
more interest than it is paying out
On warrants.
a careful study of the financial con-
9uon Of this district, made by the
1ara IN preparation for the levy,
moved number Of interesting and
s'eouiaglng facts. In spite of the
@lo times, collections from land
'Sners in the past 12 months had
zen VESSELS and have been show
T great Improvement since April.
~ warrant Indebtedness has been
.suaeed nearly $4,000 since one year
and our forecasts indicate a
y. 'aer reduction OF about $4,000 in
next IL months. This is being
L.s s''plsned by the paying up of
- assessments. Maintenance war
~ are now running 16 months and
I'VE. year will be running less than
:. 'i'as and each dollar outstand-
= : covered by nearly two dollars
s,. ''s' sm due against good pro-
~. h.. all doubtful assets cut out.
r.. as - Warrants are actually better
: Liberty bonds-they are perfect
WI Ssl le and they bear 500 interest,
's q short maturity.
.,, mere is every reason for encour-
,is,.s. '. Turning out the water has
nd II, ~. the canal of weeds and moss
~,t., y are now delivering more
be,a', snan they have ever carried
Aeht s :. any one time. Constan,
fuhssss alnst gophers, constant watch.
a,e,s Ss Of the patrolmen and water.
.st,s . ano constant repairs by thu
.msa. rev, have kept us free from
provas Wv. " breaks and gradually i'm
mora sne system, making deliverie.
make, suiar and abundant. Thi:
Il Va .or larger and better crops
should han tsa keep these things up, W.
Year I re a little better service mex,
ter. M, = crop prices are a little bet
,ssessr nents will be also, and tn,
eeed th; sn's next year should not ex
and mar. nalf-holiday from payment.
Up. Tha Tiny y who are behind will catcl
hict i nnanclal condition of the dis
tinue = cry sound and should con
night % improve. The outlook il
8" +za. ..-zeIs.