Arizona republican., 1906-10-23
DAY OF UTILIZATION
 ARIZONA CANAL VILLA.
It's Construction Work Completed, Every Dollar of Indebtedness Paid and Money in the Bank.

The executive committee of the Ari- zona Canal Water Users association held a meeting yesterday forenoon in the board of trade room and did something that perhaps no other ir- rigatiOn management ever did yet in this valley. that is audited and ordered paid every dollar of indebtedness for which claims had been presented and still had a bank balance left This is a report that the farmers under the Arizona will be more than glad to hear for it is the final proof of the success of the undertaking they engaged in over a year ago with a great deal of doubt and trepidation. and were per suaded to do so only because it was the only means of salvation left tD them. It was Hobson's choice and it chanced to be a good one.
 A brief review of the situation will perhaps be interesting, not only. to the farmers but others. When the Ari- zona dam went out there was a tedious wait for it's repair with the final an nOuncement that it would not be re- paired. The owners of the canal however. offered to turn the use of it over to the farmers if they chose to make an effort to save themselves They accepted the offer. it being then believed that by repairing the breaks in the ditch sufficient water to serve their purpose could be had at the old head Tn this they were disappointed for another flood broke the canal again. Again it was repaired and de- cision made to skirt the river bank some thousands of feet upstream with an extension canal, to a new heading where it was hoped water could be secured without a dam. That was done at great expense. though economically, as it was necessary to cut through little mountain spur to reach the de- sired point. Again there was partial failure for the new ditch could not draw sufficient water from the river at it's low stage, to supply a very large acreage. In the meantime the initial association had been thrown heavily in debt. though il had been thoroughly organized and incorporated. It's re- sources were only from the member ship which paid S1.5O per acre for all the lands signed. The prospect then looked gloomy for the credit of the association was about exhausted. \ reorganization of tle executive board was made in such a way as to protect new executive officers who accepted appointment and undertook to finance the project sufficiently to build a tenn porary dam. They succeeded better even than was hoped for a first. It was soon discovered that the little dam proposed would not be sufficient lv dependable. Contractor Collins Was employed and instructed to build .' good dam; that is not one that is
 water tight or on bed rock. but one of sufficient size to raise the water to the desired height and Of sufficiene weight to withstand any ordinary flood Mr. Collins delivered the gooSls. Then came an extraordinary flood and injured the dam somewhat but not dis astrously in fact less than was ex- pected.
 In the meantime funds were again exhausted but the time had come for payment for another years water and the farmers having faith in themselves and in their executive committee. came forward with creditable prompt ness. The necessary repairs were I'm ished last Saturday night the rails by which the rocks were carried to and on top of the dam were pulled up and stacked in a safe place against fur ther possible need later on Yesterday MT. Collins came back to town. his men are on the way and the money to pay them is in the bank waiting for them.
 week or two ago the executiva committee held a meeting and an nounced that it was ready to make a payment of fifty cents on the dollar of its indebtedness. which was quite large, and at once did so. Since theE considerable money has been coming in and yesterday. as stated in the be- ginning. the last of the bills on file were ordered paid and there will be money enough left in the bank to paX the twenty men recently employed at the head and leave a few dollars more in the treasury against a rainy day that is. such a rainy day as shall cause another damaging flood. The impress sion should not be conveyed that the association has more money than it needs for it is altogether likely that there will be some further trouble in the future as in the past and the major part of the water for the coming year has been sold and paid for. The rules for the future which have been the square deaI'' will be as rigidly en- forced as in the past and nobody will get water unless he pays for it or. un- til he pays for it, for business is busi ness and it is that principle alone thar has enabled the management to achieve such a success and present this glorious slate-wiping spectacle.
 It is impossible to call names at this time in giving credit. for every mem Der who has done his duty is entitled to credit and that means most of them. It is another fine illustration and one of the few that can be found locally, of cooperation and-'a determined pur- pose that has surmounted embarrass- ing and almost discOuraging obstacles. The present executive committee has done more than it's predecessors be- cause they are equally as good men and had greater resources available