The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-03-02
THEIR TRIBUTE OF PRAISE
Representative Men Respond to the Presidents
Invitation to Speak

GreSluenp CueluOn--At tulo pouiV VIZ
welcome the Hon. A. G. Baker, Chief
Justice of the Supreme Court, and Judge
of this judicial district of Arizona. One
OF the most important questions in CON-
ing into new country is that of protec-
ton to life and property. Without the
protection of the law, through its fearless
administration, development would cease
and anarchy take the place of society.
Our honorable guest has obtained the en-
viable reputation upon the bench of pro-
tecting the inves tments of those bringing
capital here for the developme MT of this
country.
The developement of any country"
said Chief Justice Baker, lis largely de-
pendent upon the administration of the
law, the protection Of life and property
rights must be absolutely assured before
capital will venture into new fields.
An enterprise like that of the one here
represented requires the outlay of an
enormous sum of money and is worthy
of the assurance that all the rights ac-
quired by it shall be faithfully maintained
in the courts of justice. We invite this
capital here and it is our bounden duty to
see that it is fairly treated in our tribu-
mails.
Webster says: 1.-THE Courts of law are
citadels and temples of private justice.
They guard with strong arm the rights of
person and property"
Gentlemen. hear the best OF reports
concerning your enterprise. Everywhere
you are well spoken of. There is no
question but what there is rich harvest
awaiting your investment. Thousands of
acres of the best land in the world lie in
this beautiful valley awaiting the magic
touch of water.
We are happy to recognize you among
a thrifty population engaged in building
here q noble American Commonwealth"
Mr. Sheldon-We have here this evening
General Collins, well acquainted with the
early history of this country. He is
magnificent talker, and | know you will
be glad to listen to him.
After enjoying the Injuries of the
season in this splendid banquet at your
hands, said General Collins, you will
agree with me that it requires consider
able effort on the part of a participant to
say anything approaching Justice to the
occasion.
The question is,Nwhat are these men
doing? Let us look at the progress al
ready made. | came here 10 or 10 years
ago, and | recollect the valley very well at
that time. The first canal constructed in
this valley was the Salt River canal. A
few old settlers came in here and built
that canal, and they thought when they
let the water out into their canal that it
covered about all the land that the river
would supply for irrigation purposes,
but when the land was all taken
up under that canal, along came another
set of fellows and they went up above
here and started what is known as the
Maricopa Canal and then the men under
the Salt River Canal kicked and said:
Oh, You are going to take all our water
away; there is not enough water in the
river to supply any more land. but after
Ino1 tn1l- 4 is.t,t ha,, tlo
canal was completed and the settlers began
to take up the land under the Maricopa
Canal-there was found to be plenty of
water for all = and when the land
under that canal was all taken up, and
then another set OF men formed a COM
pany and came in and built the Grand
Canal. Then the settlers under the two
former canals both kicked and complain
ed that there wasn't enough water for any
more land, that they would ruin their
ranches already started. They alb
solutely threatened to go up there
and blow out their dam, but the Grand
Canal people were progressive, energetic
and persistent in their rights and they got
a canal, whose land, like others, all filled
up with settlers, who brought another
large area under fine state of cultivation.
Then we all knew that there wasn't any
more water left to supply any more land
in the valley and we were afraid at the
time that large portion OF the lands
would have to go back to the desert condi-
tons. But behold in came those other
men, Murphy, Christy and Sherman, and
they started the Arizona Canal and then
we did have a howl. We told them that
they were going to ruin our country, take
away all of our water; we told them that
the older fellows that came in here pion-
eerng had prior right to the water and
they wo ildn't submit to their taking out
anothercanal from the Salt River in this
valley, but the canal, nevertheless, was
built and the lands under it are filing up
with settlers who have plenty of water, in
spite of the Mesa, Highland, Consolidated
and other canals above US and an equal
number below; and still we are now in
favor of the outside bitches, so that | tell
you gentlemen from Minneapolis come
on, there is plenty OF room. The more
water we use the more we seem to have.
The men who GO into new country and
develop it are entitled to our sympathy
and encouragement. They need our sup
port and assistance and | believe that all
of the old settlers will now give it. We
hope they will take courage and profit by
our successes and our failures, and 90 for
ward with the enterprise until this land
that they talk about, some 25O, 900 acres,
is all settled, and then you will find
them reaching out somewhere else, IN
the ultimate result will be that all this
desert land will be put into cultivation. |
don't like to let myself out before Salt
River Valley visitors, but | will say one
thing more: When | came into this val
ley they thought we couldn't raise any
thing but cottonwood trees. There
wasn't rose in the valley, nor an
orange, nor pumpkin nor any thing
but alfalfa and hogs, which were pretty
hard looking specimens and they were
not all of them four-legged hogs. either,
laughter because they opposed every
thing in the way of development and i'm
provement. Look at the valley today
teeming with prosperity; what contrast.
Look at our climate, at the wonderful
productions OF our soil, the length of our
season. Why, they spend six months of
the year in the East trying to raise .
crop OF corn and then consume the other
six months in feeding that crop, and
there is nothing left to sell. Here we
have nothing in the way of cold weather
to set back the growth of our stock, and
the pastures are green the year round.
Look at Florida. Kansas and Nebraska,
what storms they have been having and
what great suffering in consequence there
of, while we have so many of the favor
able features of their pleasant season, the
year round; and room for multitude of
people.
1t is said that there was at one time
some 10000 or 400, 600 inhabitants in this
valley. Evidences of it are to be seen on
every hand, but OF that we cannot tell, nor
how they obtained their livelihood but
we do know that there can be more raised
to the acre today under our present sys-
tenn OF irrigation on small piece of land
than in any other place OH the face of the
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