THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



167 



the work, organization of operating forces, griev- 

 ances, winter water, hours of work, salaries, etc. 



The Board will select a manager or superin- 

 tendent, who should have charge of the operation 

 and maintenance of the project, and who should 

 also have charge of all equipment and buildings and 

 be responsible for all expenditures. All unusual 

 expenditures, however, should be approved in ad- 

 vance by the Board of Directors. The Superin- 

 tendent's organization should consist of an Assist- 

 ant Manager, who will spend practically all of his 

 time in the field, two Water Masters, a Hydro- 

 grapher and Ditchrider, Headgate Tenders, laborers 

 and teams as required. The Superintendent should 

 be given complete charge of his organization and be 

 held responsible for the results accomplished. " The 

 operation of this project is no place for petty politics 

 and all the evils that follow. 



A man will be required to handle routine office 

 work, purchases, storehouse, etc. ; another to handle 

 the collections and disbursements; another to handle 

 the bookkeeping. Stenographic help will also be 

 required and at times special help to handle collec- 



It will be necessary to acquire certain equip- 

 ment, either by purchase from the Government or 

 by purchase from private firms, as the occasion 

 arises. These may include small tools, slips, scrap- 

 ers, plows, concrete plants, pile drivers, camp equip- 

 ment, automobiles, office furniture, office equipment, 

 engineering instruments, etc., also miscellaneous 

 supplies, such as lumber, nails, sacks, cement, re- 

 inforcing steel, etc. 



It will be necessary to acquire quarters, es- 

 pecially for the headquarters office. This may be 

 done by taking over the Government quarters or by 

 purchasing or renting quarters and is a matter that 

 should receive serious consideration. 



The organization can be financed on a strictly 

 cash basis by collecting a portion of the charges 

 December 1st, and the remainder before water is 

 delivered, or on a part credit part cash basis, bor- 

 rowing money from the banks until the collections 

 are made prior to delivery of water, or on a credit 

 basis, borrowing money and collecting at the end of 

 the season to repay it. The part credit part cash 

 proposition is probably the most feasible for the 



One of the Pump Stations on Patterson Irrigated Farms, Patterson. California. There Are Eight of These of Varying Capacity on This Project. 



tions. The above mentioned men may report to 

 the Superintendent or to the President of the asso- 

 ciation. They should be properly qualified for their 

 positions. It is possible for the Secretary of the 

 Board to act as office man and for the Treasurer 

 to act as Field Agent. However, there are some 

 drawbacks to this arrangement on account of the 

 difficulties encountered if they are not competent in 

 removing them from office if they occupy positions 

 as Directors of the organization. 



In addition to the above, legal advice will be 

 required from time to time and if your Superin- 

 tendent is not an Engineer, engineering advice will 

 be needed as the occasion arises. 



The collection and disbursement vouchers 

 should be audited annually by a regular auditing 

 company. 



Among the things that must be considered in 

 taking over the control of the project are equipment 

 and quarters, to be acquired from the Government 

 or otherwise, the matter of financing the undertak- 

 ing, the collecting of operation and maintenance 

 charges, method of accounting to be used, method 

 of water delivery, etc. 



best interests of the Water Users, because the As- 

 sociation, when properly conducted, will have better 

 credit facilities and will be able to borrow money 

 at a lower rate of interest than can the individual 

 farmer, especially those who have to borrow. 



It is probable that the banks would carefully 

 examine the legal status of the Association before 

 loaning money to it. This would be especially true 

 if the Association has to go outside of the Valley for 

 money. 



Rules and regulations will have to be prepared 

 for enforcing collections and a regular routine de- 

 termined upon for disposing of these cases where 

 payment is not forthcoming. It will probably be 

 necessary to carry some cases to the Courts in order 

 to establish the rights of the Association. 



A system of accounting will have to be estab- 

 lished, including Time Books, Time Checks, Pay 

 Rolls, Vouchers, Accountability of funds and of 

 equipment, method of purchasing, notices of charges 

 due, receipts for money paid, etc. Certain men 

 who are entrusted with funds will have to be bonded. 

 Cost reports will have to be made and annual re- 

 ports to the stockholders. 



