Arizona republican., 1903-07-26
PHOENIX, ARIZONA, JULY 26, 1903
fir. FowIer's Mission.

When the stock SupSCTlptlOn poOhS u the Water Users association were clos ed the most important years work in the history of the Salt River valley was finished, but the splendid local achieve ment must now be supplemented by the final work at Washington. The secretary of the interior has not yet de- cided officially that the government will enter into a contract with the associa- tion. and until such contract is made it cannot be said with absolute certain ty that the reservoir on the Salt river will be constructed. That the plan presented by the association will be ac- cepted, and that construction will be ordered immediately thereafter, is con sidered extremely probable by every body that has knowledge of the situa- tion. but the official declaration Of the government will be awaited with much interest, nevertheless.
 Under the circumstances, the asso- ciation acted most wisely in determin- ing to send a representative to Wash ington, and as a matter of course President B. A. Fowler was unani- mously chosen. MT. Fowler is not only the official chief of the association, and therefore it's proper spokesman. but his qualifications for the duty assigned to him are pre-eminent. He understands thoroughly all phases of the irrigation question. and is familiar with every detail of the plan which he is to lay before the secretary. Quite as import ant, he enjoys the confidence of Secre- tary Hitchcock, Director WalcOtt and Chief Engineer Newell of the geologi- cal survey While, therefore. he goes upon the most significant mission ever formally entrusted to a citizen of this valley. he goes completely equipped for success, and incidentally he will have the satisfaction of knowing that his fellow citizens at home are confident that as their ambassador he will sue ceed completely.
 Indeed. The Republican merely voices the sentiments of the entire valley in saying that Mir. Fowler has nobly won the gratitude and confidence of this community. And it is eminent ly proper to say, now that so many years of anxiety on the part of all our people and so many years of faithful endeavor on the part of scores of our public spirited citizens are on the point of being crowned with success, that credit for our impending good fortune is primarily due to George H. Maxwell and B. A. Fowler. There was time when it did not seem within the bounds of possibility for this valley to share in any of the benefits of a national irriga- ton law. The propaganda of the na- tional irrigation association as cour- ageously carried on for years, was for water storage for the public lands. The lands here mad already passed into pri- vate ownership. Apparently, there was not shadow whereon to found hope that the government could do anything for us. But Maxwell and Fowler, with that faith which moves mountains and with a perseverance and diplomacy that made their campaign one of the most notable ever witnessed in Wash ington. stemmed an adverse current for months and organized a glorious victory. When the national reclama- tiOn law was at last enacted it was seen that Maxwell and Fowler had succeeded in so amending the bill that it permitted the Salt River valley to be covered by the provisions of the law The clauses in the law which enable the secretary of the interior to accept the plan of the Water Users associa- ton are clauses which were placed in the statutes because of the persistent work of George H. Maxwell and B. A. Fowler. For all time, the dam on the Salt river will be d monument that will honor these men.
 Remembering what he has done in the past, it is most natural for the public to expect the speedy success of Mr. Powders present mission.