Arizona republican., 1901-11-14

talk of "confiscation" and "condemna tion' and government ownership" the time was not opportune for laying the matter before investors-because cap italists do not force their money on anybody, and they arways look for a profit and protection.
 Unquestionably, if investors could be made satisfied that the Tonto reservoir project has the firm friendship of this valley. the necessary money could be commanded very quickly. But for years and during the last year espec ially, the leading spirits in the ma tional irrigation" plan have indus triously circulated the assertion that no reservoir constructed by private capital has paid or can pay a profit on the investment. The leader in this movement was made a hero by the people of Phoenix and the handsome sum of s75O was contributed to send him on rejoicing to the next town. What does it avail for everybody here to know that the Tonto reservoir would pay more than ten Der cent net per annum on the investment when 1t is dinned into the ears of capital that no reservoir can pay?
 National irrigation in a modified form, at least, will ultimately re ceive favor with congress. But the people of the Salt River valley. by reason of the lands under the canals being already titled, have no more direct interest in the movement than they have in the Nicaragua canal, the general development of the west by railroads, or any other broad scheme which promises benefit to the whole Pacific coast. Those of our citizens who have been misled by this rainbow can point to nothing more tangible than the fact that the president Is fa- vorable to the reclamation of the arid lands. and to the fact that their hopes have been encouraged by clerks and engineers of the geological survey to speak for the government than the county surveyor of Maricopa county has to speak for the territorial legis- lature. The geological survey has talked and written the same way for twelve years. to no purpose.
 And all that our citizens have gained by clinging to national irrigation" Is the knowledge that. they have helped to swell the golden stream of coin which flows into the pockets of a few shrewd men who are working the thing for all it is worthwhile the investing public has been led to believe that even a reservoir for this valley would be a precarious investment. Any of this class of our citizens can have their delusions removed by candidly laying the situation before the members of congress next month. They can quick ly learn that no matter what the gov ernment may do ultimately for the In dians or the public lands, 1t has never been contemplated that appropriations shall be made for the benefit of lands already settled and worth from s25 to S20O per acre.
 There are two methods by which storage can be obtained. One is through a bond issue by the county or a district thereof in an amount suffi- . other is by an investment by the coun- ty or district or by citizens on a large scale which will convince eastern in vestors that the people here are will ing to take the same chances which must be run by the capitalists who shoulder the main burden. Undoubt edly an investment of a quarter of a
 
 would make storage a certainty. Entire ownership by the county is practicable. The only question is whether the people would favor a bond | issue of the size required.
 For some reason the national irriga- sary to manifest hostility to the cor poration which has the Tonto enter prise in hand. False impressions hav., | been created. The Tonto company is controlled by Henry H. Man, one of l the most reputable men in New York. Although no plan for local ownership had been formulated and nobody had authority to represent citizens here in contracting capacity. MT. Man was approached more than one for a price on his holdings-a price to be hung ! up' in sight of the world at the very time he was negotiating with investors Because he courteously declined to name figure and told these enthusi- asts that they must depend upon it i that when the time came he would be found cooperating with the people here in a friendly way, offense was taken and sneers have been frequent as to his rights.
 In effect the position of a few peo pie has been that MT. Man should be
 punished for having so much faith ir the valley and the enterprise as to ex- pend the vast sum of money that he