Arizona republican., 1901-03-20
Last september meeting of the clti-

zens of the valley was called for the
 purpose of devlsing ANOTHER ways and menas for OPPORTUNI- securing a greater and TY DIED more permanent water A-BORNIN'. supply. This meeting
 was largely attended by all classes of men. The opera house was full of interested citizens eager for light and knowledge. The seasons drouth had been terrible. All had been smitten by the blight and the scourgo had made conquest of every nook and corner of the valley. Some had lost their all by the death of orchard or vineyard. others had lost merely sea- sons profits. but all had suffered. The meeting lasted the entire day. Many earnest speeches were made; speeches drawn so deep from the heart that they assumed the importance and weight of prayers. It was agreed that a perma- nent supply of water must be secured. Experience had taught that enough moisture fell in various forms on our vast water sheds to develop to its full est extent al! the land now under culti- vation. and perhaps a hundred thous- and or two hundred thousand acres more. But this moisture was allowed to run untramelled to the sea. It was not saved. No attempt had ever been made to save It. It fell and vanished while the farmers stood helpless, with gaping mouth, and the merchant had more time on his hands than business In his store or money in his till.
 At the close of the meeting a com mittee of thirty-six men. representing every canal. every section and every industry in the valley was selected ito devise ways and means for securing a storage reservoir" Since then the committee has met two or three times a week. The effervescence of the en- thusiasm displayed at the early meet ings gradually settled into sterner and more wholesome stun. Men thought something practical and tangible would be evolved. and hope budded in the hearts of all. Then came peroids of depression. Dissensions appeared. There was talk, talk, talk, and inac- tion and grumbling and accusations. Motives were impugned and c.iques were formed and some determined if the plan they advocated were not adopted no plan would be. Then the rains came and the need of water grew happily less The drouth of the past season was forgotten, and men be- gan to believe that the scourge was for ever lifted and would no more be laid upon this fair land.
 The water storage committee has vir. | tually disbanded It has been difficult ' to secure quorum at Its later meet | ings. The members have become dis- gusted and the grandest opportunity ever offered our people has been insult ed and slapped and driven away. The insidious hope of fedora, aid has stolen in and adulterated the usual Judgment of our people and they have sadly fallen. In the hope os getting for nothing. they. like our Indians, are willing to sit and dream and hope. Like Micawber they are waiting for something to turn up Like Ihe red man they sit on the sand and sigh and curse and long for hand puts. The drouths that have crippled us in the past will cripple us again. Every year the long summer will fol- low the winter. bringing a water fam ne. and the hot winds will deluge the and moaning like whitening simeon of despair. Industrial paralysis is sure to follow. We know these results will follow. yet we wait and put or he time of doing something that will bring relief.
 Let us reason together. What will We gain by inaction and delay?
 We may get federal aid. you say. Lay aside delusions and seriously ask yourself the reasons of such belief What has Arizona ever gotten from he federal government? Every state n the union is represented on the river and harbor bill. but you will search the items in vain for Arizona. We are a territory and liable to re- main so indefinitely, and anybody who