Arizona republican., 1901-09-22

from the nationa ltreasury are us far
 from conversion as ever.
 Then near the close of the session
 there was a complete change of pro-
 gramme on the part of the promoters
 of the national p!an," and the New
 lands Bill'' was favored as the only
 means of salvation. The Newlands
 measure provides that the money re- ceived from the sale of public lands shall be set aside as fund from which reservoirs are to be constructed. What
 the prospects are for its passage re- mains to bs seen. The outlook is by no means encouraging. But granting that it may become a law within Q few years, what encouragement is held out to the Sat River valley? It is conceded that if the Newlands meas ure does become a law, the money re ceived from the several states and territories will be set aside for use within the respective states and ter ritories from which it was obtained. Admitting this fact. certain employees of the geological survey have encour- aged our people by stating that the revenues from Arizona are large, and would soon suffice to build our needsd reservoirs. As a matter of fact, the receipts from all classes of lands in Arizona do not exceed $35.000 per an- num,-sufficient to create the neces- sary fund for this valley within say sixty years.
 Moreover. the whole movement for national aid Is predicated upon the argument that the expenditure by the government would make the arid lands available for new settlers in the west. All the speeches in congress have had as their keynote the argument that the government ought to provide homes Tor the homeless in the eastern states. There has never been single sugges- tion in congress that the government
 
 policy of reservoir construction for the benefit of lands already settled. How long would it take to win over our na- tional lawmakers to this theory when after years of agitation there is little perceptible inclination to do anything for the public lands?
 Again, Arizona has been united In the effort to obtain an appropriation for a reservoir on the Gila river, at San Car los or The Buttes. it being hoped that the advantages accruing to the Indians on the Pima reservation would infiu- ance congress to favorable action. The effort has been earnestly seconded dur Ing the past two years by all the great influence of the department of the i'm .erior. And still nothing tangible has been accomplished. This coming ses- ,ion our neighbors from the Gila will again go before congress asking for the What will be the result f against them there is opposed dele ration asking for an appropriation for he Salt River valley? Can it be sup posed for moment that congressman will refrain from saying, "Go home and ,ettle your differences?
 Eliminating the difficulty that would 'e involved in opposing the people from ha Cxifo tbo to slr vo,,,d ha ,a a, cia-. ,he facts would have to come out. It ould not be concealed that there are approximately 300, 900 acres Already ur.- Ter ditch in the Salt River valley which would demand water before a supply ould be furnished to new lands. It ould not be concealed that the capacity f any reservoir available for the vail sy would be taxed for years to come { n supplying the lands already claim 1g water. One of the most forcefuI . rguments made in congress against he San Carlos appropriation-and l. anal company near F1orence would enefit by the construction of the reser- I oir. How much more weight would e in the argument against a Salt {, fver reservoir, that all the lands to be 2 lppIied are under canals already coz .ructed? It could not be conealed from ( ,ngfess that this valley has assessed f edith approaching ten millions oi ollars. It would be folly to expect c nything but ridicule from congress ! ,ould we ask for an appropriation for IT benefit from the national treasury. t No child chasing a moonbeam ever ioad |, +ha ...n-<t.~ .Lo. xL;- 1,x-, | h