THE PROGRESS OF WESTERN AMERICA. 



137 



LOS ANGELES COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, THE HOME OF THE ORANGE AND LEMON. 



gation would appear to be sufficient to guarantee 

 proper attention to the needs of the people of its 

 western counties. 



A T- _ The awakening of irrigation interest in 



A Proposed , 



Texas Texas is very marked. It seems certain 



Measure. to accomp ii s h important results in time. 

 One phase of it is the discussion of proposed irriga- 

 tion legislation. F. E. Roesler, of Dallas, contributes 

 to the Texas Ranch and Farm the rough draft of a 

 measure which would provide for irrigation district 

 works by a unique method. He would have a State 

 Irrigation Board, composed of the governor, auditor, 

 treasurer, attorney-general and insurance commis- 

 sioner. This board would pass upon the feasibility 

 of district works, which should not be undertaken un- 



til duly authorized by a two-thirds vote of the people 

 living in the proposed district. After favorable ac- 

 tion, first by the district, and second by the State 

 board, bonds would be issued to the amount of the 

 estimated cost of the work and turned over to the 

 State. The State board would then construct the 

 works for the district, using convict labor for the pur- 

 pose. The bonds would be payable in equal instal- 

 ments over a period of fifty years. Estimating the 

 average cost of reclamation at $5 per acre, the annual 

 assessment for payment on principal would be 10 

 cents, and for interest 25 cents at the beginning, 

 decreasing each year. Probably $1 per acre 

 would cover the bond charge and expense of main- 

 tenance, and Mr. Roesler thinks there is no question 

 but that irrigation is worth $1 per acre every year to 



