Arizona republican., 1903-06-29

tributary, the San Pedro. and those of
the Indians, for whom the San Carlos
dam Will be especially built, there will
be little left for the later appropriations.
Again, there is 4 phase of the sub
ject concerning which nothing has
hitherto been said in print. This is
the deplorable condition of restitution
and distress nat has been brought up
on hundreds of worthy American citi-
Zens in the Salt River valley, owing
to the failure of the water supply
through large part of the valley dur
ing the several successive dry seasons
that have visited the southwest. The
Arizona papers, with studied lack of
candor, have kept entire silence on this
subject, owing to a mistaken idea that
in referring thereto they might injure
the prospects of the territory. whereas
such facts were bound to come out
sooner and later, and usually in eXag-
gerated form. while outsiders, no1
knowing of this condition of affairs.
have I'm many cases been led TO op-
pose the Tonic Basin project, when
they would have favored it had they
known Of the urgent necessity for Its
construction. 1t is a conservative es-
innate to say that during the past
three or four years over million dol
lars worth of improvements, made by
Industrious settlers of moderate means,
have been destroyed by drought in the
Salt River valley, near Phoenix. Or
chards of pears, apricots, lemons,
plums oranges, figs. also vineyards and
alfalfa fields and nurseries. have been
destroyed, and the owners in many
cases forced to abandon the scene of
what they fondly hoped would be a
permanent and prosperous home to
seek for a living elsewhere. Statistics
are being gathered for The Times in
relation to this subject. and we shall
have more to say about it at an early
date. Surely these people. as We'll as
the Indians, are deserving of some con-
sideration. 1t should be remembered,
moreover, that the government will be
completely secured for the return of
every cent expended on the reservoir
with interest.
There is no reason to suppose that
the construction of the Tonic reser-
voir should initiate against the CON
struction of a dam on the ella. They
are different enterprises, to be reached
in different ways. Delegate Wilson
has stated that he will. on the re-
assembling OF congress, introduce ana
push a bill granting S1.OOOOOO for the
construction of a water storage dam
on the ella river. particularly for the
benefit of the Pima and Maricopa
Indians, most of the Papagoes being
located around Tucson in the southern
part of the territory. where some of
them are editing newspapers. Let it
further be remembered that these peo-
pie who are making so much hubbub
over the Indians in the CHA valley are
the same who, by the construction and
operation of the Florence canal, first
deprived those Indians of their vested
irrigation rights. These Indians are,
as the Times has frequently said.
fully deserving of relief, not as a char
ity, but as a measure of justice. They
will undoubtedly obtain relief, in due
time. and by the proper methods. This
should not, however blind us to the
fact that the unfortunate white settlers
of the Salt River valley also have some
claim upon the consideration of the
country.