The Arizona sentinel., 1904-08-24
Cannot Agree

gone glimmering. Seettlement by ar bitration, which was formally agreed upon in July, has fallen through, owing to change of front by the water users, who now make demands which the company rejects instanter. President Heber of the California Development l Company (owner of the Imperial canal systeml in the last issue of the Impe- rial Standard, hurls an ultimatum at | the Imperialists, to the effect that no further attehtion will be paid to the water users association, and the only route now to municipal ownership is via the national government; all other negotiations are off.
 It appears to Us that the situation here in the Yuma valley is not nearly as satisfactory as it might be at this time as regards the present canal cOm- panies and their rights under the na- tional irrigation law. The water users association, through the advice of it's attorneys Kibbey and F. L.. Ingraham-hOld to the position that the government comes into this field as promoter and builder of irrigation works with exactly the same privileges as any private individual or corpora 4ion would have as competitor; that the government is not compelled to buy or pay for any portion of the pres ent irrigation systems, except such as may be required in the construction of the government system. Naturally enough this contention is disputed by the canal companies at least by the Irrigation. Land and Improvement Company, which owns quite an eXten- sive irrigation system in Yuma valley. As result of differences between this company and the water users assOcia- tion several thousand acres of land re- main yet unpledged to the government proposition, although the officers of the water users association now say that almost enough acreage has been signed up and that the government work will not be delayed on that ac- count-all of which we hope is true.
 It appears to the unprejudiced ob- server, however-considerin especial ly the situation in the Imperial district that it is time for the government to take a hand personally in the settle
 ment of these questions. It would evi dently facilitate matters for the interi or department to issue an official state ment as to what constitute vested rights in the irrigation districts that must be counted in the cost of govern ment construction. These questions will have to be settled, and settled right, before there will be peace. Ap- parently no agreement can be reached between the cana! companies and the water users; then why prolOng the dispute which has already engehdered bitterness and continue the strife indef initely? The secretary of the interior is vested with almost supreme power in the administration of the national irrigation law, and could settle these questions, giving absolute justice to all interested parties. This will be the final result--why put it off?
 If, as has been claimed, the govern ment has a right to go into any field and build irrigation works superior to those in existence, put the latter out of business a la Standard Oil Company methods, and they have no recourse, then it would be better for the depart ment to issue a direct official state ment to that effect. The uncertainty. the differences of opinion as to what the government can or cannot do, or will not do in the premises is simply operating as @ hindrance to the quick development of these irrigation dis 6ricts, and furnishing political hobby nags for ''lovers of the dear people,"