Arizona republican., 1903-06-02
THE RESERVOIR PROJECT.
I. Will Help Even the Man With a
 Pumping Plant.

There was a very interesting and also very important meeting in the offices of the Water Users association yester- day relative to the irrigation pumping enterprises of the valley. It was in- | teresting to know that there are enough land owners now pumping water to hold a meeting by themselves, and it was important because it brought out phase of the irrigation question that has been given but little thought eN- cept by the few owning pumping plants.
 There were present George U. Collins. G. w. Smith, w. H. Perry and Nelson & McElwaine from west and southwest of town: A. R. Jenkins from across the river in the neighborhood of the Bart lett Heard ranch, and pr. A. J. Chand- Ter of Mesa. H. l.. Chandler, A. J. Hansen, Mir Olesen and A. c. Mcqueen were expected, but were unavoidably detained. These gentlemen and sever al others preparing to put in pumping plants represent a considerable acreage now being and to be watered by pumps.
 The purpose of the meeting was to determine just where the ''pumpn1en" are at under the provisions of the pro- posed storage enterprise. Several of them have plants, but they are large enuogh to afford only a supplemental supply They will probably sign, those who have not already done so. for stock in the Water Users association. There are some, though. that can fully N
 their lands with pumps, and one of them at least said he would sign on condition that he could buy power in- stead of water from the reservoir. If he could get some of the electric power that is to be supplied from the big wa ter power plant at the reservoir it would be cheaper than furnishing his own power to run his pumps.
 While that is a question perhaps for later regulation and it is possible that no ruling can be had yet, it looks alto gether plausible that the government through the Water Users association, would rather furnish power than water. The philosophy of it is that when the reservoir is constructed there will be much smaller number of persons want ing power than there will be persons wanting water. The power supply will be almost ineXhaustible, and there will surely be times when there is no water to waste even with a reservoir. The power is to be supplied through canal that circles the reservoir basin from it's head to the dam, there going down through an immense race turning the electric machinery. It then goes on to do it's full duty for irrigating purposes. It is presumed there will be more power for sale than can be found use for after the valley has been much more thickly settled. Every good customer will be o1e more Again. the man that buys power and uses q pump will leave just mat much more water for those who have no pumps. And lastly. the pump man will be just this much better off to pay him for the investment Of put ting in a plant. That is. that in the event of water getting low in the reser- voir there will still be water for run ming the power plant so long as there IS enough natural flow at the head of the ] basin 10 fill the canal. The reservoir In | fact would have to go clear dry before | the power plant could give out. Should | the water by any misfortune get scarce so a shortage followed, the pumpman could work away oblivious to the short | age of his neighbors. only knowing that | he had helped them by making one 1 less among whom the water had to be divided It is question not fully de Cided or worked out but it illustrates one mighty good reason why even the
 pump irrigator should come into the as | sociation. If he signs up he will hell i the cause along and long before the dam is built he will know whether he wants to perfect his right or not.