Arizona republican., 1906-04-18
ETHER IGNORANCE
 OR MS RESERVATION
Regarding a Way to Break Into This
 Reservoir District.

X somewhat startling situation was disclosed yesterday by an interview with W. A. Parish, an engineer of the reclamation service who is in charge of the offices of that service in this city. The fact is revealed that some one, either through ignorance or de- sign, is imposing on we'll meaning peo- pie who desire to get possession of land in the Salt River Valley reser- voir district. and it is reported is talk ing from them fifty dollar fees for services that are worse than value less. It is understood that two tran sections of this sort have been con- summated and that the preliminaries have been gone through with for sev- eral other similar frauds. Whether this state of affairs is the result of either ignorance or design 1t is the duty of all citizens, and especially real estate men, to nip the enterprise in the bud before other frauds are per petrated. The facts came to the Knowledge of reclamation officials here through letters of inquiry ad- dressed to them by residents of Scotts- dale and other points in the upper end of the valley.
 The project is that of inducing per sons who desire to get land bargains, to file on government land in the low CT end of Paradise valley, above the Arizona canal at the point known as Indian Bend in the vicinity of Scotts- dale. The agent who induces the prospective settlers to file, asks, ac- cording to report, fifty dollars for his assistance in pointing out section lines and locating vacant lands, as we'll as in giving aid and advice as to the pro cess of filing. The argument employ ed as an inducement to settlers, Is that since the government is in fair way to acquire the canals very soon, and proposes to repair and somewhat remodel Arizona canal which undoubt- edly will be the principal water way, it has decided to rebuild a portion of the Arizona in that locality. skirting the mountains at a higher altitude or making it higher line" canal, talk ing in considerable area of govern ment land in the lower end of Para disc valley, that this land, now vacant. will be as valuable as any and can now be had for the ordinary ex- penses of filing.
 The proposition is rather alluring to those not well posted for several req sons. It is known that there is no bet ter land anywhere than that in Para disc valley, and it is known that the government proposes to make some changes in the canal system. It is all so known that some people have all ready filed on tracts in that vicinity, all of which has weight with those who are nibbling around for something good.
 But those who have followed the subject of water and land in this val ley, or who have taken the trouble to post themselves on the details of the at fraudulent nature of this enterprise. Engineer Parish said he was willing to be quoted as a warning to those who might otherwise be victimiZed and any who are in doubt about his state ments can verify them by study of the articles of incorporation of the Salt River Valley Water Users asso- citation. If they are still dissatisfied they can dig deeper into irrigation law. when they will find that there is no water even in the river, for any new land until that which is already in private ownership has been amply provided for
 The articles of incorporation above referred to. define the reservoir dis trict. the northern boundary line of which is the present Arizona canal and those articles have been approved by the secretary of the interior. That dlStrlct may be enlarged in a few years if an ample water supply for more land, Is in any manner secured, but on the other hand it might never be enlarged, in which event the settler In Paradise valley. so far as reservoir water is concerned, might as well be located on top of Camelback moun- tain. There is no high line canal, SC called, in contemplation by the re- clamation service and persons locat- ing land outside the reservoir district thinking they will come under such . canal have been misinformed and will have to look to some other source than the reservoir for water supply. Ii any person is encouraging others to locate land through representations that the government will build a high line canal covering the land in dues- tion he is leading such persons into error either knowingly or through his own transformation. If knowing the facts regarding the boundaries of tn, reservoir district, he represents tC strangers that the boundaries of the district will be changed from those designated in the articles of incorpor alton of the Water Users association he is deliberately deceiving them fol purposes Of his own.
 Respecting the nature of the land ir Paradise Valley there is no argument 1t is as good land as anybody want. but at the present time there is nc water for it. The few who have knowingly filed on land there have done so with view of developing their own water through pumpino mi nYaNn.