The Fallon standard. (Fallon, Nev.) 1920-1958, 1923-03-28
Drainage Plans
Under Discussion
Serious Condition Ex-
lists With No Funds
Now Available
By c. G. SWINGLE

n oCilouo pIODleul ludt presents
itself to the irrigation district board
and to the water users of the district
is, What shall be done to provide
funds for extending the scope of the
drainage work to cover those sec
tions not provided for in the drainage
contract, but which have recently
gone bad or which show evidence
that unless relieved they will suffer
in the near future.
The estimated cost of the original
contract drains of classes one, two
and three was $4,000. The con-
tract called for the expenditure of
100000. 1t now appears that the
100000 provided will do the work
estimated to cost $4,000, which is
certainly gratifying so far as it goes.
But in the meantime 1t has become
evident that other areas must be
drained. To provide for drains not
included In the contract $4,000 of
o & M funds was expended in 1922
and like amount was added to the
budget for 1928; but already $685.
600 of work has been approved by
the board for this year, and 1t is
evident that we can go no further un-
less the money is in sight, though
additional work involving an expend-
iture of some $4,000 has already
been requested and there is more to
follow.
1t would seem that we must follow
one of three policies:
First-We must continue to raise
drainage funds by o & NJ assessment
Second-We might by two-thirds
vote of the water users provide for
necessary funds either by contract
with the reclamation service or by
bonding the district for such a sum
as survey may show to be nee
essary.
Third-We might let the addition
al work go undone.
Raising drainage funds by o & M
assessments is, in my opinion, oil
questionable legality and it is OBJ.
jectionable in that the tax is toe
great for us to bear in these time.
of depression, and besides the bur
den is not equally apportioned in al
much as the accent lands are nol
called upon to bear any part of it
As to letting the work go undon,
and allowing additional lands to be
ruined now that it is apparent thai
drainage is a success in this project
this seems unthinkable; especl-
ally so since the owners of these
lands have assumed their share oil
the cost of the drainage which has
already been provided for.
We have at present dredgers and
machinery and competent and
trained working organization which
will probably complete the work al
present under contract by the close
of the present season, and 1t would
seem to be good business to keep the
present force at work until it shall
have completed such work as it is
apparent must be done in the immed-
late future. 1t is much easier and
about to go bad than it is to reclaim
it after 1t has become alkalied.
If arrangements could be made
with the reclamation service to fur
nish additional funds to do this work
and to take care of the $4,000 al
fund and allow it to be repaid after
the expiration of the 20 years during
which we are paying the 100000
already voted it would seem to be
the wise thing to do.
The board of directors has been
subject. but so far has not determin-
ed upon any policy to be pursued
and suggestions from the water u.s.
ers of the several communities would
be welcomed. Already some of the
farm bureaus have taken the matter
up. At its last regular meeting the
Northam farm bureau voted unan.
imously in favor of a supplementary
contract and similar action was taken
at the Soda Lake farm bureau meet
| ing. The matter should be pretty
we'll thrashed out before an election
is decided upon, as ii would be fool
ish to go to the trouble and expense
of a special election unless there i:
reasonable prospect that the pro
position would carry. In the mean
time steps might be taaken to ascer
tain the probable attitude of the rec
lamation service officials toward sucl
proposition.