Arizona republican., 1905-03-28
DAY OF CONFERENCE
Water Users Discuss Pri-
 Ority Water Right Suit
Letters Read Announcing Clearly the Attitude Of the Government in the Premises.

Pursuant to the anno dnce1nent in Sunday mornings Republican, of the call of President B. A. Fowler of the Water Users association. there was practically an all day conference yesterday at the rooms of the associa- tion, for the study of the present phase of the water question in this valley as brought to an issue through the filing of the priority water right suit at the instance of the association, and the legal title of which is Hurley versus Abbot and several hundred CO., defendants. The purpose of this suit is to establish the priority of right, of each land owner in the valley claim ing appropriated water for his lands. Concerning the purpose of the suit there Is apparently, at least unanimity of sentiment, the end sought being the one thing desirable by all parties, in view of the fact that all believe there will under water storage, be ample , water for the irrigation of all lands now under cultivation.
 There is however considerable op- position to the means being employed by the association. namely the Hurley suit, for the determination of these rights. The motive is not excepted to | but the objections arc summarized as follows. It is contended that the suit is unnecessary, will prove decidedly expensive and ultimately. according to some may not accomplish entirely the object sought, unless each water user in the valley makes answer to the suit by filing a cross complaint of the same nature, and which would result in a court record of large magnitude, and very expensive litigation
 The Water Users association, through it's officers, insist that much of the fear of the opposition to the suit is groundiess, and that the rest of it is only the recognition of that which has been inevitable from tho begin ming and so far as has yet been con i ceived. there is no simpler way out In this view the association seems to have the unqualified support of the reclamation service. Even more. for the officials of the service announce that from the beginning this suit has been considered a very n cessary part of the plan. President Fowler has re- ceived communications from NIT. Ar thur P. Davis, acting chief engineer of the reclamation service and from Mir. Morris Bien, the legal adviser of the service, expressing fully the atti- tude of the government on the sub ject.
 Yesterday forenoon the board of governors was called together and i these letters were read and briefly dis i cussed. In the afternoon there was a semi-public meeting at which the at- torneys of the city were especially re- quested to be present and to which in vitatiOn there was a very general re- sponse. This meeting was called as previously announced. in the interest of harmony and it Is said to the credit of all that the utmost harmony pre- vailed. though nothing definite was ac- complished except the interchange of ideas through the discussion that fol- ; lowed the reading of the two letters above referred to. The meeting was presided over by President Fowler, who after reading the letters, called upon Governor Kibbey Counsel cn.. the association, to state the attitude of the association in the matter and throw any further light he could upon the question. He spoke at some length and very Interestingly. though space forbids a reproduction of his remarks. They covered points that the close student of the question is already quite familiar with. though it Is only .timely to say that many of the details familiar to the aforesaid student. were new to a large number of those pres ent. It Is a peculiarity of the water question here, that the average man sees a new side to it every time he looks at it. The reader can best under stand the situation by being next ih- troduced to the two letters from MT. Davis and MT. Bien, respectively, and which follows:
 Washington, D. c. Feb. 23 1905. MT. B. A. Fowler. president. Salt River Valley Water Users association. Phoenix, Arizona,
 Dear Sir: I have learned that there is a considerable sentiment in Salt River valley favorable to the dismiss al of a friendly sniL recently in stie-ated