Arizona republican., 1901-01-23

maintaining the building and grounds. and sufficient appropriations should be made therefor.
 | It has been suggest that a suitable dedication of the capitol be had durlng your session. and that appropriate ger emonies fitting the occasion be held. and recommend that you cooperate with the commission and citizens for thy purpose
 EDUCATION.
 The territorial superintendent of pub | lie instruction has made most com prehensive and instructive report on the educational affairs of the territory. There are approximately 2l,O0O chil' dren of school age, and this largs num- Der of future citizens are deserving or your thoughtful consideration ih all matters touching their educational Well fare. Arizona has achieved an "nViao'e reputation for the maintenance or schools at a high @tandarl. and ap- propriations should be made with a view of carrying this standard sill higher.
 The University at Tucson, under Its present most excellent management, is a source of pride to all our citizens, and the same is true of the normal schools at Tempe and Flagstaff An advanced educational system, more than anything else, commands the ie- spectful admiration of the country.
 Two years ago there was an uniiil- ished building at Flagstaff which had been originally erected for reform school and subsequently designated by the legislature for a branch insane asylum. Your predecessors in their wisdom provided for the completion of the building as a normal school. It is now thoroughly conducted lnsti ution Of learning, with fair attendance and a faculty of high attachments. l believe the efficiency of the school can be in creased by providing for a dorm!tery and place for the scholars to live with in the building, which IS large enousa for the purpose. As a boarding school it would in my judgment b easily s,if- supporting as to living expenses.
 The normal school d Tempe is a com plete success in every way, and is !n high favor throughout the territory. The management and faculty are su- perior, and the educational worS of tha institution from it's beginning has been very gratifying to the people of the territory.
 recommend that jor make a careful study of the reports of the territorial superintendent. the board of reg nts of the university. and the board os direc- tors of the normal schools, in order that the various recommendations therein made may have your due consideration, | WATER STORAGE AND IRRJGA-
 TION.
 An important problem which should engage your earnest attention. is that of the further development of thr agr!- cultural resources of the territory. It is clear that there can oe but little en- largement of the irrigated area with out the storage of the flood waters of the streams. The soils of 'ur v2lieys are almost unequaled in fertility and merely require the application oi water to produce great wealth. Nature las provided a number of excellent iessr- voir sites. and it is entirely feasib'" to store in sufficient quantities the waters which annually run to vase. Results elsewhere have demonstr atad that the storage of irrigation water directly op- crates to the creation Df taxable wealth with marvellous rapidlty. The possibil- ities in this direction in Arizona are unusual. At present the tendency CT public opinion here seems O he toward municipal ownership of the proposed reservoirs. While I have grave doubts as to the practicability of municipal ownership, and would hesitate Co en- Gorse the proposition I wish at II tiDcs to respect the will of the people where their interests are so V.tal,y concerned. This sentiment arises from the fact that private capital has 1eah SOW 10 embrace the opportunities extended: and the residents of he agricultdi a' valleys, impatient for the beginning Of storage, have devOrad much attention to the feasibility of reservoir construc- ton through the creation of bonded debt by the communists most inter- ested In Maricopa cou lty, particular ly. an organization of t,ie taxpayers has been perfected and plans propose d for submitting to the voters the Ques- ton of issuing the bonds of he county in the sum of two millions of dollars for the construction of a res arvor Ee- fore, however the question can be sub mitted to . vote, the sanction of con gress is necessary. A bill was prepared by the Citiz 'as com nltsaa and Etrward . ed to Washington for introduction in congress; but the existing congress will | adjourn withir little over a month, and 1t is ia more thar. probable that the necessary consiilrrat- m cannoy be tt . voted by chat body to the hill prepared. A plan much simpler an6 far more promising of speedy results would, | submit. be that of obtllning yonc sane ton to the bond issue m some sorm, ei- ther in the amount suggested. with a plan for municipal construction and lownership, or for a lesser amount to ail private enterprise based upon an exchange Of securities-and subsequt nt- ly secure congressional approval of the legislative act. This procedure would rot call for extended inv, stigation by congress nor the taking of the time of that body in the consideration of a lengthy bi!. And should you see fit to grant to Maricopa county (and pos sinly any other countlss wishing tn avail themselves of the privilaSe) the right to issue bonds for tl,e purposes