Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1893-06-10
Wanted In Lower ella
Bend Precinct.
How the Need Was Made
Prominent.
There Is a Loud Demand for a
Justice of the Peace
Who Recognizes the Difference Be.
tween a Canal and Natural
Water Course.

Residents OF the Lower Gila Bend
precinct were in the city yesterday to
confer with the board of supervisors
with reference to the appointment of a
Justice of the peace in that precinct.
Last fall no election was made of a
iustice OF the peace at Lower Gila
Bend, the electors believing that the
judicial facilities at ella Bend were sui.
fcient for both precincts. An incident
occurring there recently, however, dis
closes, SO the residents believe, a need
oil additional judicial machinery. Ac-
cOrdingly they want another motor put
in.
Here is what furnished the impress
sion The East Riverside Canal Com
pany, is an irrigating system backed by
astock company, composed OF adjacent
ranch men, whose original stock and
subsequent assessments were paid by
work upon the canal. These stock
holders all had unrestricted access to
the canal in which respect it resembled
snstural water course. A want of sys-
tenn in the matter OF the distribution OF
the water frequently left those at the
lower end end of the canal without wa
ter.
This season, the directors OF the COM
psny determined to put in measuring
gates and divide the water equitably.
About three weeks ago, +. II. Willard,
one Of the stockholders, who is describ-
ed as having used water, as ii there
we're no one else to be served tore the
gate out which restricted the flow of
water upon his land.
The gate was restored to its place by
the president OF the con- pany, who left
sman in charge of it. Mr.. Willard APP
peared and again tore the gate away,
leaving it lying on the bank of the
canal.
President Light, acting for the East
Riverside Canal company, made COM
paint against Willard and the case was
taken before Justice Ramsay at ella
Bend. The law on this subject seemed
to be so plain that the presence of an
attorney TO represent the mplainants
vassnpposed to be unnecessary. District
Attorney Williams, to whom the facts
bad been submitted, prepared the
necessary papers in proper legal form
and mailed them to ella Bend.
The finding OF the justice was nat.
lraliy surprising to those living in an
Hrlgating country. He decided that
the prosecution was malicious; that
10 the first place neither the manager
Oi the canal, the president or anyone
else had any right to place an obstruc-
ton in the canal, and that having so
placed it Mr.. Willard had right TO re.
move it. The costs were assessed
against the complainants and Mr.. Will
lard afterwsrd set up a claim OF owner.
ship to that part OF the canal.
Although the directors say he hasn't
ashsdow OF right to it they decided to
let him have it and they Immediately
cut across the canal above that portion
claimed by Mr.. Willard 80 that it has
since had no water. They are now ex-
pecting him to institute some sort OF an
ALTON and they are accordingly in hur-
iyiOr the appointment of a justice of the
peace whose knowledge Of irrigation
avs has not been obtained from a
n1dy Of the laws in eastern states re-
atlng to natural water courses and ri
Parlan rights.
Justice Ram say 10 given credit by the
directors with being an honest and con-
rientious official, but they say he is
thoroughly misinformed on irrigation
customs.
The necessary blanks and justice
bonds were sent down to ella Bend
asst night and the board OF supervisors
SeIpected TO take some action in the
matter Of The appointment next week.