Arizona republican., 1905-04-23
WATER USERS COUNCIL
Institutes a Movement for Priority
 Agreement Among Land Owners.

There was an all day session yes terday of the council of the water users association, devoted mainly to consideration of plans for an agree ment or stipulation for the purpose of facilitating the settlement of the pri- ority suit The forenoon was devoted to a report Of the subcommittee which held a meeting previously for a similar purpose to listen to plans prepared and simplify action. The sub committee reported two proposed plans, one pre- sented by Frank Parker and the other by C. E. Wood.
 The afternoon was devoted to a dis cussion of these plans after which res olutions were passed authorizing fur ther action and which are given below
 The Parker plan which had been submitted al the meeting of the sub committee was further elucidated so that when considered yesterday it GOV cred four large typewriter pages. It cannot be reproduced at this time eX- cept by brief reference as follows: It is based on the general admission that there are 75O quarter sections or 120, 900 acres in the valley that are first entitled to water up to the measure of their needs. before other lands. As suming that the plan is signed by all the owners of these lands the plan stipulates that pending the adjudica- tion of the Hurley-Abbot suit the own CTS of these 750 quarter sections agree among themselves that the water sup ply whatever 1t be shall be prorated to their lands at any stage of the river up to the full measure of the apropria tions belonging to these lands. That for the purpose of carrying out the stipulation the records of the Wormser case against the north side canals and the data collated by the water stor- age commission. shall be the basis for the determination of the location Of the said 75O quarter sections. It suggests that matters would be facilitated if this area entitled to first flow could be reduced to 700 quarter sections to be designated as class A lands and that class B lands could include all other lands in the valley that have had oc- casional irrlgations and that the own CTS of such lands could enter into similar agreement. This would include 4OO or more quarter sections which would be entitled to water after class A had been served. Then follow ex- cerpts from the "Kibbey table" show ing watered acreage. location, etc, anc suggestions concerning details of the plan. which of course should be read in full and understood before either adopted or condemned by the reader of this article.
 The plan of C. B. Wood was similar but more brief as to detail and like the other can only be referred to here. It suggests first that the Tempe and San Francisco continue to get water as at present under the Kibbey deci- sion. That it be understood by all other land owners htat forty inches is a maximum need for a quarter sec ton and that the lands be divided into four classes. X. B. C. and D, according to priority of filings. That the owners of all classes agree to a stipulation on these lines and share equitably the cost of settling the priority litigation.
 After a discussion Of the two plans it was evident that it would take great deal of careful derberation to work out in detail an acceptable plan that would do justice to all. The sense l of the council was therefore expressed l in the adoption of the following reso- 1 lution:
 Resolved: That in the judgment l of this council a concerted effort should l at once be made to unite the owners of l cultivated lands both within and with 1 out the association. on some form of an | agreement as to the use of the natural l flow of the Salt and ! Verde rivers. Said agreement to be i used as a stipulation in the suit of | Hurley versus Abbot, ct al.. and to be |