Arizona republican., 1903-06-03
The Cost of the Tempe BIunder.

Salt River valley found that his wheat field of BOO acres needed a full irriga- tion in order to mature the bounteous crop that had been promised. The water supply to which he was entitled was not adequate to irrigate his field. He applied to lis neighbors. They had no water to spare. Finally, he did get the desired head" of water from a neighbor farther away. The field was watered. and the great wheat crop was made" What do you sup nose this rancher paid for that one irri- gation? Six hundred dollars, cash. Two dollars an acre, for a single irri- gatIon! And be 1t remembered, he earnestly sought for an opportunity to pay the $500. He paid the sum gladly. and he got its value many times over. in golden grain.
 Not many weeks ago, the Hon. J. w. woolf. an estimable citizen and ranch CT of the Tempe district. in discussing the statement that at the end of ten years after construction the reser- yoir will have cost subscrib- ing ranchers approximately s15 an acre. stated. we are informed, that if he could have plenty of water where with to irrigate his ranch he could make that extra sl5 an acre in one year. And yet. Brother Woolf is so ''sot" that he will do without the reser- voir If he cannot have it on the terms which he lays down to the government.
 The foregoing statements of fact carry their own conclusions for every man whose mind Is open to the light of reason. They are of especial im- portance in any effort to find a limit to the cost of the blunder perpetrated by the Tempe ranchers last Saturday. It is not possible. of course. to say what that blunder will ultimately cost the Tempe district, for the penalty will be paid year after year, for all time. Having decided that they will not join the other ranchers of the valley in Sc- curing a government reservoir the Tempe ranchers declare in favor of perpe etuating existing conditions in that locality. They would say. to b. sure, that no such construction should be nlaced upon their action. They would point to their petition to the secretary of the interior as proof that they want water storage. and when It finally dawns upon them that they have cut themselves off from the storage system which :he government proposes to build. they win feel that they have been greatly wrOnged. But as mat ter of fact the course they have adopt ed speaks for itself. and they as men of mature years must be prepared 70 abide by the consequences of their acts.
 Extremely sorry as we are to see the Tempe ranchers close their doors in the face Of fortune. we are glad to ob- serve that the ranchers of all other sections Of the valley have been aroused to Gn appreciation of what 1t means to have a government reservoir and what 1t means to reject the gov crnment's offer. During the past few days many thousands Of acres have been added to the lists of the Water Users association. It is evident that the ranchers of other districts have been giving some attention to the question Of cost-not only what 1t will cost to get the reservoir. but what it l would cost to tell the government to | go elsewhere with its money. Realiz- | ing that the money to pay the install l ments to the government will be made | from water furnished by the govern | ment, thinking ranchers comprehend | that all the advantages are on their | side. Every loyal citizen of the valley | desires to see prosperity brought 10 | every inhabitant of every ranch, town | and city in the valley, and there is | keen regret on every hand because of | the action taken by the Tempe ranch ers-a regret heightened, doubtless, by | appreciation of the fact that Tempe | has accepted advice directed against | its best interests-but it cannot be l