Arizona republican., 1902-02-02

Mr.. Dwight r. Heard on the storage
problem. Mr.. Heard
MIR: HEARD,S is member of the
pIAN-SOME water storage COM
SUGGESTIONS. mission which came
into existe
through an act of the last Legislature.
and The Republican therefore gladly
gives publicity to his views. although
it is understood that they are Some
what at variance from the opinions
held by his fellow members.
While Mr. Heard is in active affil-,
iation with Mr.. George Maxwelrs Ma
tional Irrigation association" he ad-
mits that the plans formulated by that
association do not meet the conditions
encountered in the Salt River valley.
and he admits that the bill framed oy
the voluntary committee of western
senators and representatives would be
of no direct benefit TO this community.
He favors a bond issue by Maricopa
county to acquire the site and con-
strtlct the reservoir. and his plan, in
brief. is to ask congress "a to make
direct appropriation of 100000 to pay
the interest on the bonds during con-
struction, and (2J to guarantee to pay
the interest on the county's obligations.
He advocates this programme because
municipal bonds guaranteed by the
government could be marketed at
lower interest rate than could county
or corporation bonds. Mr.. Heard pre-
SCENTS his views intelligenuy. No friend
of the valley can possibly find any
fault with the idea OF enlisting gov
eminent aid if il be possible to obtain
il.
There are grave reasons, however.
why Mr.. Heard's plan should be radi-
cally modified If the support of Phoe-
nix and the valley is to be expected
Before the county can do anything it
must secure an enabling act by con-
gress An enabling act properly drawn
could proba bly, be passed without ser
ious difficulty If free from eomplica-
tions. But to inject into it any pro-
visions for federal appropriation or
federal guaranty would probably prove
Immediately fatal to its chances, and
thus this session OF congress would be
lost The proper course to pursue
would be first To pass the enabling act,
which should be done between now and
the first of March. Then L second bill
could be introduced providing for the
appropriation suggested and the guar
anty, II responsible congressman should
hold out any encouragement. In short.
absolutely nothing would be gained.
and almost certainly everything would
be lost, by incorporating into the en-
abling act the provisions which Mr..
Heard's advocates. There should be
Two bills. by all means.
Hundreds of thousands of dollars are
being lost each year because of the
lack of reservoir. BY securing an
enabling act which will give the people
of the valley a wide latitude in the
matter of financial plans, a reservoir
can not only be assured within the
next ninety days. but construction can
begin before the end of summer. Hav
ing received the necessary authority
from congress the people can. and will.
quickly decide which of the many plans
suggested is best-whether to vote
bonds in sufficient amount to own the
reservoir, assume minimum risk
and extend some form OF aid which
win Immediately enable the reservoir
company. which controls the site. to
finance the enterprise. at once and con-
struct the dam. This session of con-
gress wasted. it would mean failure
in the short session of next winter, and
then, a year therefrom, all the weary
round would be gone over again with
a new congress and new members
seeking government aid
The national guaranty plan is not
new. A year and n half ago the great
est mass meeting ever held In the val
ley appointed water storage
committee from the citizens assem-
bled- That committee wrestled with
the problem for. months. and finally
majority favored appealing to congress
for an enabling act permitting the
county to do something. Mr.. Heard's
idea of a guaranty of the interest was
Incorporated in the draft of n bill pre-
scented to n number of congressman.
and so much hostility to the idea was
expressed in the house of representa-
tlves that the bill was not even intro
duced.
The golden opportunity was at hand
when the legislature met. Again a
great majority OF the people favored
bill which would enable the county to
vote bonds for or in aid OF a reservoir.
Mr.. George Maxwell of ,'national irri-
CATION" fame came on the scene and
lobbIed for week or more against any
measure permitting the county to at
tend to its own business. He implored
the people to cast their fortunes with
the national @irrigationists." Had an