Arizona republican., 1903-01-19
Some Facts and Observations Con- corning a Very Interesting
 Situation.

cernlng very lnlcISstihS
 Situation.
 With the view of inducing the gov ernment to construct a storage reser- voir for the Salt River valley under siie provisions of the national irrigation law. a committee of representative citi- zens have been engaged for several months in preparing a comprehensive scheme for submission to the secretary of the interior. One of the features of this scheme is a plan for the formation of Q cooperative corporation to include the water users of the valley. It is proposed that this corporation shall take over the canal systems, acquire the reservoir site, and otherwise iron out the wrinkles" so as to enable the secretary of the interior to pass upon the proposition and, if he decides fla vorably, go ahead with the construction of the reservoir. Obviously, the articles of incorporation of the proposed com- pany must be prepared with great care if they are to meet the approval of the government.
 In the preparation of these articles q capable executive committee, guided by competent counsel, have consumed many weeks. It is well, perhaps, to speak more in detail upon this point, although the facts are quite generally known. The leading counsel of the committee is former Judge Joseph H. Kibbey, than whom there is not a sounder lawyer in the territory. His reputation in this regard is not bound ca by. territorial lines. Moreover, he is exceptionally well versed in irriga- tion law. And so well grounded is he in the confidence of this community that any individual client after SUD- mitting papers to him would unhesi- tatingly sign them should the judge say Sign; you are entirely safe in do- ing so." Associated with Judge Kibbey as counsel has been George H. Max we'll, Esq, who is acknowledged by his worst enemies to be a man of great ability, and who is regarded by the le gal profession as standing among the experts on irrigation law. These gen. tlemen have had the benefit of con- sultation with other lawyers of emi- hence at the Arizona bar.
 The articles of incorporation as drawn (except such finishing touches as may be required to make clear En- glish throughout) have the approval of the good lawyers mentioned and of most of the executive committee.
 It developed. Saturday, however, at a meeting of the general committee, that a minority of the executive com mittee are opposed to the adoption Of the articles as now drafted
 As nearly as can be ascertained, the opposition is based on the alleged fear that somebody would get the best /6f somebody else should the articles be accepted-the fear, in short, that some of the interests which now consider themselves in a position of advantage as against their neighbors, would sur render some of their rights or privi- leges or advantages, should the govern ment take up the work on the lines laid down by the committee. Bad faith the members of the committee is i'm piled, if not directly charged.
 This, we believe, is an exactly fair and truthful recital of the facts as de- veloped to date. Now for a few com ments on the situation as presented.
 Unfortunately, there is not too much reason to expect that the government will construct the reservoir. even should everything be perfected at this end of the line. The secretary of the interior Is an autocrat in the matter, and what he may decide to do, nobody can say, for the project has not yet been laid before him. We have never been over sanguine that any plan whatsoever for the storage of water primarily for the lands already titled in this valley, have the approval of the government But while there is the slightest hope in that direction-and it must be con-