Arizona weekly citizen., 1884-08-02
AGRi CLTURAL.
An Observers Views Upon the Water
 Question.

Question.
 EDITOR CITIZEN: The "wster ques- tion" has for some time occupied the public mind, and opinions so different and divergent one from the other have been given, that feel compelled to say s word about it, the more so as l am justified in speaking about the matter having at the request of several farmers examined the premises-the "tOmas de agua," "puertas and compuertas,' "ta- poues," etc, which are the technical ex- pressions of the Mexican farmer for '.heads of water" "sluices,' etc.
 I had occasion to ask MT. Dalton for some water for the purpose of lrlgatrg two fields pertaining to Aleiandro Mo lima. I went to Mir. Dalton's residence on Sunday morning, July 18th, for that purpose, was very cOurteOusly received by him. and he immediately proceeded to slow me the map of tue fields, to- pether with his memoranda, and proved to me that the same fields had received their share of water on the 'th of that same month. He further stated that | the parties interested Lad been notlhed | to be ready for irrigation. Upon asklng g | these parties they acknowledged such lo have been fact, but that somebody had ' cut the water off above, and they | claimed that the water boss should go along with the water tO the field winch which was to be irrigated.
 | Now, NIT. Editor, this Is an assump- ] tion that has no right, no reason, no pre- cedent. If We consider the small amount of remuneration paid the "Jue7 de Agua" (water bOss) who, Tn order to respond to the multifariOus and by no means easy duties Of his position needs au assistant, and furthermore receives his bay n such small amounts as twen' tv-fye, fifty and seventy-hve cents OT account of a total due of SL5O; II k uC wonder that MT. Daltonl resigned. H' proved on the above mentioned occas ion not only to me but tO others that he did his best and nobody can do more. | MT. Holt has now been elected to tho position Mir. Dalton resigned and know Mir. Holt will give his best Jddg ment and entirO energy (which We al know to be s:periCr in these matters C the srduous duties of water-boss. From the first 1t was established as a rule tha the gardens should have the preference thls as a principle Is nothing but right however. during the last two years s' many gardens have been established 1T the southern part of the valley, that thS northern part cannot receive any wate at all, and in consequence hard working laborers north of the Hospital lands set their crops of beans, melons, squashes chill, etc. perish before their eyes.
 Could a little water be spared iron those gardens to irriGate say, once more these lower fields:
 | Much has been said about the wate company absorbing a great deal of thu precious element which on that accoun the farmer must miss. 1 do not know about that. but think that the beneti derived from said water company by the whole population will annul tha claim.
 | The great fault lies in this: That wher the water-bOss after notifying certain party that on such a day said party $ field will rec, i've the allotted quantity oi water, this party either has a saints day, or other diversion and therefore II robbed of 1t by some party cutting of his water above.
 | I am convinced that there Is not watel enough in the latter part of the summer for all the gardens and fields, but by malicious and honest use there can be obtained by each particular party mucl more than they have had.
 Do not complain of, but pity tho water-bOss, in these times.
 SPRING.