The Florence tribune., 1901-03-16
MR. MAXWELL IN PHOENIX.
He Visits Arizona at Request of Prominent
 Citizens.
From the Arizona Republiean.l


 chairman of the National Irrigation association, arrived here Monday after noon and will be in the city for the next week or ten days. He is here in response to the invitation extended to him last fall by the Maricopa county water storage committee, and which he has been unable to accept at an earlier day, owing to legislative mat ters that have been pending in Wash ington.
 With the exception of his short visit here year ago last December, when he delivered an address on the subject of irrigation at the opera house, this is his only visit to Phoenix since the meeting of the irrigation congress four years ago. He says that since that time, indeed, since his last visit 8 year ago, great progress has been made in the moulding of sentiment favorable to the government irrigation of arid lands.
 In speaking to reporter for the Republican last night, he suid that the business men and manufacturers of the east were rapidly falling in with the idea, as they are beginning to real ize what the development of the arid west means to them in ths opening up of @ wider market. The labor organi- cations are also becoming interested, as they realize that in times of depres- sion or an overplus of workmen the great west, if open for settlement, will act as a safety valve on industrial mat ters, and no doubt prevent many troubles that would otherwise spring up. But the most notable thing of all, he says, is the growth of the irrigation sentiment in congress.
 He considers that the senate may safely be considered friendly to the west and willing to treat irrigation questions liberally, while there is a rapid changing of opinion in the house in favor of aiding irrigation.
 In illustration of how sentiment has changed in congress, Mir. Maxwell gave short resume of the treatment accorded irrigation measures in the last two years. He said that the appro- priatiou in the river and harbor bill two years ago passed the senate after hard fight. This year the appropria- tion, in a larger amount, passed the senate without a dissenting vote. Last year the senate raised the appropria- tion of the Photographic division from $100, ,000 to s250, 900 after spirited de- bate, several eastern senators strenu- ously objecting. This year it was raised from s1o0,000 to $200,000 with out dissenting vote. The San Carlos matter last year failed to get out of the committee, though only $25,0 ,0O0 was asked for. This year the committee re- ported favorably and raised the appro- priation to $l00, 900, amending it to not only complete surveys but to begin work on the foundation for the dam. It passed the senate by large ma jority.
 Up to tbis session the subject has never been discussed in the house. This year both the irrigation and pub lie lands committees took 1t up and held frequent hearings during the last month of the session and both com mitees reported favorably on irrigation bills creating construction fund, by setting apart the proceeds of the sale of public lands of the west for that purpose. The bills were reported too late for consideration this session.
 The senate amendments to the ap- propriation bills were defeated in con- ference, party owing to the vigorous objection of the house conferees to hav- ing legislation on this important sub ject come in the shape of riders on the appropriation bills.
 All that is needed. says Mir. Max we'll, is an organized effort on the part of those residing in the sections inter. ested, and he feels sure that some great things can be accomplished at the next session. The only thing to contend with is the lack of information on the subject by members of the low CT house, whose entire attention has been taken up by other matters and who when favorably impressed by a measure are influenced by some other congressman, who has purpose in defeating the legislation at issue. He says if the proper influences are brought to bear to inform the members of the lower house on the subject, at has been done in the case of the up. per house, there will be no trouble.
 MT. Maxwell will in all probability address the people of the valley or the subject some time during his visit here.