Graham guardian., 1902-08-29
WATER STORAGE,
Uncle Sam Wont do Anything Us-
til We are Ready for il,

I'll we are Ready Tor 1t,
Mr.. f. H.. Newell chief Hydro.
gapher of the L. S. was visitor in
Salt Lake recently and made some
valuable observations to the citi-
zens on the subject Of water stor-
age and the operations of the
determination act, and was show
ing among other things, to prepare
the people for the practical op-
Grafton Of the valuable law.
Mr.. Newell is chief engineer Of
the Reclamation survey. 1t will
be under his direction and in ac.
cOTdance with his advice that
reservoirs will be built in the arid
lands ct the west that good re-
suits may come from the recla-
nation act to the people of the Gila
Valley and that they may profit
by the new law.
Mr.. Newell has stated that it
rests with the people, they must
get togather and demonstrate to
the satisfaction Of the department
that they mean business. 1t is
very gratifying to know that on
this line of suggestions the farmers
and merchants, few of them. at
least, have started out right. The
organization recently effected at
Thatcher will prove, we hope,
start in the right direction.
"The Arizona Forestry, Home
Irrigation Association" is organ
lied for the express purpose of
procuring if possible a consertcd
effort to the end of what the name
Of the organization implies. Tho
preservation of our forests and
other water preservatives in max
ing homes, the impounding of the
wasting water, that there might be
surplus instead of taking our
chances on the natural flow as it
comes from the hills.
No one will question this propo.
sition, surely there are none so
small that they will say: | have
plenty, my water rights have been
established by law, its good enough
for me. Surely the good people Of
the Valley cansagrec upon propo-
sition affecting the general good Of
all. If we could see alike long
enough at least until we become
converted to broader views. Don't
condemn, until you know. The
passage of the Reclamation act
which, if taken advantage Of will
very naturally affect our prosperity
and the prosperity Of our homes,
the passage of which was indirec-
tly the result of an educational
campaign taken up about twenty
years ago by the National Irri-
CATION Association" strengthened
by the "Trans-Mississippi Gem.
merciaI Congress" and aided by
the Forestry aud Irrigation Asso'
citation" Of the United States.
The result Of education. People
residing in the east, outside Of the
arid districts, who don't need irri-
cation, are alive for our good; they
are working with the officeres of our
Nation, they are sending out q
series of educational pamphlets,
they are expending their time and
their means for our good. Won't
we do so much as to help our
selves?
According to Mr.. Newell it rests
entirely with the people as to
when and where this work is to
begin; he says that the people hav-
ing conflicting rights in any
stream or body of water, must get
together and compromise there diff
ferences, and be ready to place the
matter in the hands of the general
government or the government
will be able to do nothing. The
government engineers concede
that under this act the waters now
appropriated by the people, by
being held back with reservoirs
would not only give to the prior
owners a much more reliable water
supply but give to all Others now
making homes, IL better supply and
open for settlement many thousand
acres more land.