Arizona republican., 1907-09-05
PHOENIX ARIZ., SEPT. ,. 1907.
GOVERNOR KBBEY's ADDRESS.

GOVERNOR KIBBEY'S ADDRESS.
 Elsewhere in this issue is presented in it's entirety. the address delivered by Governor Kibbey yesterday before the irrigation congress in Sacramento. It is commended to every person in terested in the irrigation movement for a careful reading. Water users in sec tions where the work of government reclamation is yet only in contempla- tion or but just begun. and particularly the water users of this valley. should read and re-read it until they are thoroughly familiar with its subject matter: the principles discussed and their application to conditions most complicating and vexatious.
 It is for the benefit of local readers mainly that the paper is published in full. To many that may at first seem scarcely worth while. in view of the fact that the Salt River Valley Water users association is now and has been for some years. thoroughly organized and rapidly and successfully fulfilling its mission. Its fundamental princi- pies are established. it is believed for all time and its details have been quite fully worked out and are now in ac- tual practice. But there is vet much to be done by the water users of this valley. before the work of the assO- ciation shall become merely adminis- trative. perfunctOry and routine.
 The numerous obstacles to harmO- nious cooperation in this valley. thanks to the wisdom and fairness that has marked the conduct of the association. are becoming constantly fewer but two or three of the most delicate ques- tions with which the association has to deal are yet to he finally adjusted. Among them is the question of priori- ties and the specification of the lands to which water shall be assigned. The former is now under fair way to q settlement and the settlement may be hastened by greater cooperation of the water users and a greater appreci-
  ment no matter with what difficulties it is fraught.
 After a preliminary discussion of conditions. and principles which must be adhered to. Governor Kibbey's ad- dress is largely historically descriptive of the origin and development of the Salt River Valley Water Users asso- citation. After its perusaL every in telligent water user who has lived here since the inception of the movement and who has closely followed events. will be able to say that in the recital Of incidents and the listing of the prin- ciples involved the governor has said nothing new. That is very true for the governor has spent a large part of his time during the last five years in analysing these very conditions and in explaining and applying the principles involved, in great detail. as one or an- other came before the community in a timely way. But the value of his ad- dress to the reader in this valley. lies in the fact that within the limits of a single article the entire history of the growth of the association is reviewed. and each principle applied as it was reached in the order of events. together with recital of incidents resulting in the former complicated situation.
 As the various questions have arisen they have been worked out, put aside and in a sense forgotten by the indi- vidual As a new question arises. the individual to some extent directs him. self specifically to it. being prone to forget the effect any suggested action might have on difficulties already set tied or yet to be encountered. In the consideration of a specific question there must be no neglect of any ques- ton. or condition. that may possibly be affected. Hitherto there has been no paper or publication that has so com prehensively covered all features: that has so clearly shown the natural points of conflict. There is no man so con- versant with the subject as Governor Kibbey and even with him it has been the blazing of a new trail through a legal forest. The document is neces- sally very much in the nature Of lawyers brief, a statement of facts and the argument that proves them:
 When through it's reading one con- templates what has been accomplished in this valley under circumstances that were almost hopelessly embarrassing. there is inspired a faith that no future condition can possibly arise that can