Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1925-10-16
THE IRRIGATION SITUATION

After hectic career continuing almost since It's
inception the affairs of the Mountain Home Coop
erative District and the Gilmore Farms seems now
near conclusion that will stabilize conditions exist
ing between the water and the irrigation inter
ests This statement is based upon the announce
ment last Saturday by the Board of Directors of the
Mountain Home Irrigation District that they had
reached an agreement with the Brady interests for
the purchase of the system, the details of which are
more completely given in another column
1t is unnecessary here to recite the trials and tr
buations Of the farmers of this section under the sys
tenn it has heretofore been handled 1t is natural
consequence Of private ownership of irrigation
project for the owners to desire to make as much
financially out of their property possible and with
out any reflection the Brady interests it must be
said that they were no exception to the rule. They
permitted the system to deerorate much to the det
rment of farming interests thereby causing losses Of
considerable amounts to the water users Their con
tract called for only two acre feet of water which if
adhered to strictly would have in most cases, re-
suited in complete crop failures as it is well known
fact that crops will not mature with less than three
acre feet
Inasmuch as an agreement has been reached
whereby the farmers may take the system over, and
operate it themselves for the common good a much
different picture may be painted. Doing away
with private ownership the entire system will be OPP
Grated much more cheapy it will not, within ITSELF
be operated for the express purpose Of making money
for the system but will be maintained for the sole pur
pose of providing the life giving fluid for five thou
sand of the best land that exists in the
try. While the purchase price may seem somewhat
excessive it is the final cost in connection with the
farmers water right aside from slight charge year
ly for maintenance. Without doubt the farmers on
the local project will appreciate the fact that when
the purchase price is paid that there will be no
squabbling relative to their rights They will all
share and share alike in the storage benefits, the his
tory of the watershed showing that they will receive
in the neghborhood Of three feet annually, thus
insuring good crop under normal conditions.
There may be some who will be pessimistic rela-
tive to the farmer making the grade" but without
doubt with intensive cultivation and diversified in
terests the five thousand of land surrounding
Mountain Home should prosper 1t has been proven
this year by Tom Moore, well known local farmer
that beans may be grown here very proftaby. There
is no reason why corn and potatoes should not also
bring good returns. Chicken raising and dairying
could also add materially to the farmers exchequer
One thing is certainty alfalfa and hay raising for
the market will not bring the desired results to the
farmers as has been demonstrated time and again
In order to reach their goal cooperation is essen
tal. Petty differences between farmers themselves
will have to be settled readily and spirit of
optimism developed The earnest efforts of the farm
to make success of their enterprise should be
couraged by every business interest in Mountain
Home With these conditions brought about there is
no reason why Mountain Home and surrounding ter
ritory should not into its own, supported by
prosperous surrounding farming territory, where sat
isied residents receiving just compensation for
their untirng efforts.
The election for the voting of the bonds has been
set for November 49, and at that time the farmer viii
voice his opinion to whether irrigation matters will
be carried forward in the haphazard way of the past
or whether the systems will be taken by the
farmers themselves and operated in efficient and
way.
In concluding some credit should be given those
IN charge Of the local situation the concensus of
opinion amongst farmers seems to be that they have