Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1923-05-05
ARE WE READY FOR THE
PARTING OF THE WAYS

; believes all women false; like a pros
pector who's vein has pinched OF
and in his disappointment says ther
is no gold; such in measure is tn
morale of our people. who since Gar
rett's time have hoped against hope
year after year and labored on.
From the writer's observation
since coming to Mountain Home fou
years ago, the efforts of it's farmer
are handicapped by the working gu
Of its present system of irrigation
the dual interests often working a
cross purposes to the detriment O
all
There is very complex situation
to the ownership of the water, the
Gilmore Farms are entitled to the
run-off from the lower water sheds,
the Cooperative Irrigation Company,
the Little Cainas water shed, each
having its impounding system but
owned by the Cooperative Irrigation
Company some OF the land has flood
water rights, then too some of the
land owners have paid up water
rights, some partly paid up and some
have not paid the interest due on
their water mortgages, these to-
gether with the prior rights of the
Gilmore Farms has brought to the
management of the project problems
that would tax the wisdom of a Sol
mon and no matter how solved
brought reflex action.
From this it is apparent that to
bring into a harmonious whole such
conditions where each interest would
be safeguarded, and yet bear its
rightful share of the expense of pur-
chase and future operation is no
little task, but If the Farmers of
Mountain Home and vicinity ever
hope to have and receive the bene- |
fits that they might have if the sup
ply of water available for irrigation
was properly handled they will have
to COOPERATE in fact as well as
in name.
How this can be done is a mat
Ter for careful consideration and in
.elligent analysis.
If all of the water mortgages
we're paid off ad the system turned
,ver to the Farmers, they would be
confronted with the necessity of or
District in order to carry
tut the operation of the system law
ully and we'll.
It is the writer's opinion that the
ystem is not adequate to provide
water for the land now owning wat
r rights within the time it should
'e APPLIED to the land most econom-
cally and when it would be of the
most benefit to the growing crops,
ven if there was plenty of water in
he empounding reservoirs. =
It is his further opinion that if G
II of the run-off of every year could
e conserved, there would be enough
'ater to give three acre feet to each n
nd every acre of land in the Pro-
sct nearly every year.
The situation of the lands is like n
great checker board, covering p
amy square miles, with miles of g
nall bitches in which the loss from
gaporation and seepage in certain
mes of the year will reach nearly q
fly per cent of the water turned
ITO them.
Can we expect to get the maxi :,
UNI of service from such conditions,
I'd do you wish to continue your
ruggle against such odds?
1t is time for you to think and
think to some purpose Mr.. Farmer
r you know better than / what you
e headed for.
l would present for your consider
ion, that a Commission of three =
rigation Engineers be appointed, :,
e by yourselves, one by the owners
the system and one by the Cover
r, that this commission go over the
OBJECT, make careful examination \
the physical condition of its works
d make an estimate of it's worth
an irrigation system, taking i'm a
consideration the cost to the pre- 1,
Mt owners, the amount expended
Improvement if said improvement
found adequate to the require
snts of the lands served, reas-
able rate of interest on the monies
vested and from these findings Z
me a price that the land owners I,
Duld pay for the Project less that II
'eady paid on water contracts;
1t the owners of the Project and
2 Farmers agree to said appraise-
mt and that the Commissions
dings shall be final. y
After said appraisement and you "
ow just what your obligation is,
IN and not until then can you in
d