UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
BULLETIN NO. 1177 
Washington, D. C. Y September 22, 1923 
IRRIGATION DISTRICT OPERATION AND FINANCE. 
By Wells A. Hutchixs, 1 Assistant in 1 Economics, Division of AgricuX 
Engineering , Bureau of Public Roads. 
CONTENTS. 
Page. , Page. 
Introduction 1 
Nature of irrigation districts 1 
Present status of irrigation districts 4 
or failure 6 
Purpo-e o f f^nna' ion 9 
The electorate 11 
Management 12 
Finance 13 
State supervision 2: 
State financial aid 
Relations with the United' State-; 33 
Other salient features 
Irrigation district development 41 
S ummary and conclusions 54 
INTRODUCTION. 
Thirty-iive years have elapsed since the passage by the California 
Legislature in 18S7 of the Wright Act, authorizing the formation of 
irrigation districts. During this time the district movement through- 
out the West has encountered many changes of fortune, but it is 
more widespread and economically important to-day than ever 
before. As a result of two periods of district speculation and failure 
there still exists in some quarters a belief that all irrigation districts 
are speculative enterprises and a consequent prejudice against invest- 
ing in district bonds. On the other nand, the district is now so 
popular in many of the Western States that tendencies have some- 
times developed recently toward organizing projects which may 
contain the elements of failure. It is hoped that the data presented 
and conclusions reached in this bulletin may disabuse the minds of 
uninformed investors who cling to the idea that all irrigation districts 
are unsound, and at the same time may be of value to State 
and to communities contemplating the formation of irrigation districts 
in pointing out what the experience of other communities has shown 
to be the essentials of success. 
NATURE OF IRRIGATION DISTRICTS. 
The irrigation district may be defined as a public or quasimunici- 
pal corporation, organized under State laws for the purpose of pro- 
; The earlier work of the department on irrigation districts was done largely by or under the 
tion of Frank Adams. The more recent field work has been done by Justin T. Kingdon, Guy Krvin, 
Harold A. Weds worth, and the author. 
