Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-10-26


penses and in defending law suits in
stituted by persons who believed they
were deprived of their rights. Unfor-
tunately for all concerned the only
| benefit yet derived from this litigation
has been to lawyers and court officials
/ the status of the water Users remain
! ing about the same as before any suits
were begun. Only recently a number
! of suits have been brought by farmers
who believe their rights have not been
accorded them. The canal companies
have been made defendants in these
suits, but the question at issue is of no
Importance to them, they owning no
water rights.
Every inch of water that flows in
our canals is represented by water
rights, and these water rights are in
use by the owners or renters of them,
and if the courts grant the prayer OF
the individuals bringing the suits,
people who own water rights must be
deprived of the water they are equit-
ably entitled to. The question is, who
is entitled TO the water, the owners of
the water rights, who are farmers, or
farmers who do not own water rights?
1t is well known that the acreage
under cultivation under our lower ca
nails has increased year by year, until
now the demand for water exceeds the
capacity Of the canals. 1 see no rem
edy for this except through water
storage, which We have reason to be
lieve Will soon be attained.
The Arizona Water company is the
successor of the Arizona Canal com
pany, and the Arizona Improvement
company, both of which became de
funct in December last. With other
heritages the new company has had
turned over to it many of the enmities
engendered by it's predecessors. This
is unreasonable and unjust, as the
new company is on new basis. and is
owned and controlled by different peo-
pie.
We are endeavoring to build up and
perfect an irrigation system unham-
pered by collateral enterprises. We
fully understand and appreciate the
fact that we cannot succeed unless the
farmers to whom we deliver water are
prosperous. Our interests are mutual,
and the farmers may rest assured that
everything possible within the bounds
of reason, will be done to give them
the best possible service, and we earn
estIy request their cooperation. When
they have cause for complaint we in
vite them to make it known to those in
and we guarantee them L
patient hearing and full investigation
of the grievances, and adequate rem
edy.
Upon assuming control last Decem- /
Der extensive repairs and improve
rnents We're begun which will be con
tinued until the entire system is in
first class condition. The Arizona ca
nal is being enlarged and thoroughly /
cleaned It's capacity at the upper end /
will be So, 900 inches, and it will be suffi- i
GENTLY enlarged throughout its entire /
ength to convey water several times in 4
excess of the usual amount supplied by /
me normal flow of the river, to give i
farmers the full benefit of flood waters. +
The company proposes to do every
hing in its power to give water users +
l service that will enable them to OBJ
ain the best possible results from their
abors. AS evidence of the watchful
are the present management is exer-
Using, we call attention to the eXtens-
We repairs now being made at the dam
It a cost of some $4,000.
We do not know that this work is
absolutely necessary at this time but
We do not propose to incur the risk OF
a seasons crop by the pos
Utility of an accident at the head.
The Arizona canal dam is the only
dam in the river. all others
eing temporary structures, which are
washed out by every freshet CT a few
eet in the stream, rendering it impos-
ible for the farmers to derive full ben
fit from flood waters, as by the time
he dam is repaired the flood waters
ave passed on to the gulf.
There are seasons when the cost of
estoring the temporary dams amounts
D many thousands of dollars, in addi-
ion to loss of water while the dam IS
ut Owing to this risk, provision was
lade several years ago for the DIVER
ion of wafer from the river to which
he Grand canal is entitled, through
ne Arizona canal head, thereby saving
ne stockholders of the Grand canal
everaI thousand dollars every year .
I evidence of the efficiency of the new
amusement 1 cite the cash dividend
gently declared by the Grand Canal
1mpany, it being the first and only
ash dividend ever paid by canal
)mpany in the valley, and it mas
rgeIy gone into the pockets Of the
lrmers.
The Maricopa and Salt River Valley
,naIs would also pay dividends We're
1t their surplus funds used for pay
2 expenses in defending useless law
tits. the principal result of which Is
prejudice intending settlers from To-
ting in the valley,
As further evidence of our apprecia~
on of our obligations to users Of wa 81
T under our system, all water rights
longing to the Arizona Canal com a a.
my have been Withdrawn from sale SC
It'll such time as we may have an u
creased supply OF water. fr
sincerely hope we may soon august al
-. 1oca1 6;mcuI+iac and then make ST.
- .e-o1,-oc | m
united eIIOfI TO prove OH1 SO- is
1rthv to occupy this most favored if
nd. p
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