Arizona republican., 1907-06-05

the lands and To put those that are
needed in the best of condition. Sup
pose for instance that a has a farm
under the Grand canal. has acquired
by use the right TO run his appro-
priated water through that ditch. and
resting on that right. has refused To
join the association. Suppose that in
the system to Ice ultimately created
or perfected. the Grand canal should
he abandoned and possibly some 9TH
ers. a new ditch taking the place of
several old ones. The government IS
bound To- care for every acre in the as
Sociation. but Mr.. \ is not in il. The
government viii merely say To Mr.. \
that there is his old abandoned ditch.
and over there in the river is his water
let him take the ditch and get the
water. if he wants to. How long would
a dozen or 80 farmers in the west end
try 10 keep up the big ditch 10 get their
few gallons of water down to them?
1t would take more than their combin-
ed appropriation To soak up the ditch.
Suppose. on the other hand. that the
government was real good To them.
and real sorry for them. and finally
consented to carry their water through
its new system. II could not in jus
tice to the members Of the association
carry their water at cost or on any
other basis than a good snug profit
for the time and trouble and book
keeping and collections. And that
profit would all go to the credit of
the association. composed of their
Heighbors who accepted the good
thing when it was offered 20 them.
These non-members would always be
in jeopardy and beside. would be pay
ing much more for their water than
the members would be.
The moral of all this is that a man
who proposes to farm in this country
has got 10 belong TO the association if
ne makes a success Of it. This is not
4 threat but merely the stating Of a
fact. The books Of the association
were closed long ago. but a waiting
list has been made available FOR the
foolish virgins who had no oil in their
lamps. 4 sort Of a second chance. as il
We're. Anyone who owns land signed TO
the association and now on the delin-
quent list should at oECe prepare to
get right with the powers that be.
Those who have lands that were never
signed to the association should get
on the waiting list at the earliest pos
sible moment. Just how soon they
Will be permitted to move up from the
probationary bench into full fellow
ship, nobody in these parts can say
just now, but when the lands to be
watered are designated by the secre-
tary of the interior. il is very likely
that a number Of things will be taken
into consideration. The best interests
OF the entire district will be the main
purpose If a little patch of unsigned
land is found here and there between
large areas Of signed land. II seems
reasonable that the secretary would be
willing To take in the little patches. not
as = favor to the recalcitrants who
tried their best TO sin away their day
of grace. but for the good Of all in
making a solid area of land under
government irrigation. And nothing is
being gained by these owners by hang
ing out. for when they do come in.
they will have to pay as much 10 get
in as the sum total Of what the oldest
member paid per acre.
1t may be summed up allegorically
by saving that a man is foolish to pay
brakeman a dollar for the privilege
of riding into town on the bumpers of
a freight train. when the same money
VIII get him plush seat in 4 palace
car. and he can just as well as not
come through in style and comfort.