Arizona republican., 1900-12-05
THE VALLEYS LIFE
Meeting Of General Water
 Storage Committee
A Larger Step Taken in the Direct ion of the Object of the Movement. Another Advance Will be Made Today.

A well-autended meeing of the gen erll water storage committee was held yesterday in two sessions, be- ginning at 10 o'clock. It was the first general committee meeting in three weeks, during which time there had been no falling off in interest Mir. w. H. Code submitted a short prelim- mary report upon the Gila river pro- ject, by which it was proposed to bring water into this valley, and he intro ducad data from the survey of McGin- his and Breckenridge. Dr. Ford, speaking of a letter by MT. w. J. Mur- phy, some time ago, printed in the lO- cal papers, in which he said that the government owed it to the Salt River valley to assist it in an irrigation enter prise, since it had permitted its water supply to be shortened by the grazing of stock on forest reserves, said that the government owed the valley noth- ing. Dr. Ford, speaking in his dou- ble capacity as member of the commit tee and member of the legislature, pledged himself to use his latter ca pacity to favor any plan upon which the committee might agree.
 The subject of bonding the county was taken under consideration, and MT. s. NJ MoCowan discussed plan for issuing them and for their sale. Regarding federal aid, Mir. McCowau believed that if representation were made to congress of the barren condi- tions of the Salt River valley field by reason of the lack of water, assistance in some form would be extended.
 pr. A. J. Chandler suggested divis- ion of the valley into districts.
 Col. William Christy favored federal permission to bond the county for a million dollars, and more than all, he favored a direct progress to the de- sired end, and no more Hopping or siGewise motions.
 J. B. Hoover raised the question of the distribution of water, suggesting that, however it might be obtained. that the distribution should be ordered by a board of control.
 The discussion from this point, though it covered a wide range, which led off upon irrelevant matters, proved generally upon the lines of county bonding.
 Mir. w. A. Wallace offered a resolu- ton that a committee be appointed to urge the present congress to make an appropriation for making soundings for dam in Tonto basin. The only Cbjestion raised to the resolution was that officers of the interior department who had already expressed their will ingness to order these explorations, might feel that an appeal to congress would be passing the subject over their heads. With Mir. Wallace's consent, the resolution went over to the next meeting.
 It was finally decided that bill, au- thorizing the county to bond itself for the building of a reservoir, should be drafted by the executive committee, and presented to the general commit tee today for approval.
 Following this act the question as to whether the bonds should be issued by the county or by districts, was raised again. Mir McCowan reminded the meeting that enc district law, better known as the Wright law, of Cahfor- mia, had proved to be a failure. The greater difficulty in securing con- gressional authorization for issuing bonds was pointed out, as well as the greater difficulty in disposing of them if they.should be issued.
 It was ordered that a telegram should be sent to MT. B. A. Fowler, who is now at Washington, that a bill would be drafted and forwarded and that telegrams be addressed to Gov ernor Murphy, Delegate Wilson and W. J. Murphy, urging them to keep before the department the matter of making surveys for a reservoir site.