Arizona weekly journal-miner., 1902-05-21
WILL YAvAPAI COUNTY SUBMIT

A bill is pending before congress at the present time, which, oa the face of its title, looks perfectly harm less. and a matter of in Tiff erence to the residents of Yavapai county. It is entitlef "A bill to authorize the county of Maricopa, territory ot Ari- zona, to issue bonds for the construc- ton of reservoirs and dams for water storage and for other purp)'e'.
 If Naricopa wants to load herself down with bonds in order to secure water to irrigate her thirsty soil, It
 would seem no one should object. In this case it is contemplated to secure
 the object by encroachment on the
 rights of this county. Section seven
 of this bill provides as follows:
 And there are also hereby given, de-
 dicated, granted and set apart for the
 uses aud purposes aforesaid that IS
 to say, for Maricopa county), all
 water and water rights belonging to
 the United States or to the territory
 of Arizona, in connection with the flow of the Salt and Verde rivers, or
 their tributaries above the junction ot
 said rivers, subject only to existing
 private rights by way of approPrla-
 tion, or otherwise on the part of indi- viduals or corporations"
 Should the bill become law with the above provision in it, the miner who might wish to erect mill on the banks of the Verde river or its tribu- , taries, could do so only by first ob- taining the consent of Maricopa county. No water could be nsed fol any purpose whatever in the way oi
 the development of the resources oi
 this county. A forest reserve has already beer proposed, taking in practically all tho 3 agricultural land of this county, GOV ering an area of hundreds of square miles and on which probably DO more than 5000 worth of timber cal ), be found. This was secured througl - the influence of the residents of tn Salt river valley, their object being t e prevent further entry of land and tn acquisition of further water rights t' l. interfere with their interests.
 - Conditions in the Salt river valley for the past year have been reported '- rather alarming on account of tn e scarcity of water, and the peopl ', there are willing to sacrifice the ir $ terests of the entire northern portion c e the territory in order to save them t selves from the ruin which has COT IT fronted them.
 y The bonding scheme might prove s good one for that county. Of cours ' it would be quite burden to tn It county, but ranchers can as well talk T the chances of being wiped off tn IS earth financially by these bonds a k, to be dried up and withered of fc q want of water.
 st A determined opposition to the bil to as it now stands, should be inaugur; Y ted by this county, as we are scarcel D. vet in a condition where we are vii 'e ing to be sacrificed upon the altar e. the public good of a sister count ie The prime object of the bill Is to S K cure the impounding of the foo 'e waters of the streams. This can y done without any serious detriment y the interest of others, but when In comes to "dedicating, granting an
 setting apart to Maricopa all wat
 and water rights along the' O. streams" it looks like very hoggis of unjust and unprecedented act, al e. one which if passed would cause I to end of trouble and probable bloo'
 shedding. The time to prevent the
 is now, and vigorous protest shoul e. be entered at once against the inju h. tice proposed.