Arizona republican., 1907-07-21

upon the scene or purchased the '':''is in question This water sii"nlation has since been rcaffirmed and permd- nently fixed by the government Cfl Pre- silent Diaz We. in fact. stanl in the relation. to some extent. of rate payers. I cannot see how there is any room for shouting, or complaint. or criticism, or accusation against us on any score. for the reason that the wat CTS of the great Colorado river are believed to be ample if properly con- served, for the irrigation of all the arable lands lying along the stream on either side. from the Laguna dam to the head of the Gulf of Califor- mia. None of the irrigable lands lH- ing on either side of tho river. below the points named. gar be justly and legally deprived of their equitable portion of the waters of this inter- national stream.
 "(5) The question whether the La guna dam would better have been built in the manner adoptei in the con- struction of the Southern Pacific dike built alow Yuma for th- purpose of larresting the runaway Colorado river. which broke through its easteriy bank and made a wild plunge for the de- pression which constitutes the Salton sea-:his question is one for engineers i to contend over. and I do m. enter here upon its discussion at all; nor have personally ever undertaken to pass Judgment upon the point at is sue.
 "(6) This same loose -mouthed off,
 cial is quoted (whether correctly or
 not. I am unable to say) as making
 this declaration: And there is also said to be a conspiracy, backed by the
 Times. to sell the old Ludy canal at
 Yuma to the government It cost in
 the beginning between s50.O00 and
 s6O 900 in actual work. but since that the river has filled In around its head
 to such an extent that during eight
 or nine months of the year the head gate is six or eight feet above the
 water level of the Colorado The all Ileged conspiracy is a mere creation of the officials excited brain. I know nothing of any movement to either buy or sell the canal named. nor have Imy business associates any purposes
 or intentions in that regard. We are not operating in that particular region land have no land or water interests there. and consequently have nothing to do with either the Farmers Gravity lcanar or the Farmers Pumping ca lnar referred to by the official In short, the government is pursuing its own course in respect to the Laguna dam and the private canals in that vicinity. without embarrassment or in- lterference from us, either directly or Indirectly. Finally. We have nothing
 to sell the government and are not seeking to buy anything from 1t.
 "G) A clearer and better under standing of these facts on the part oi some officials. newspapers and private individuals in Arizona would relieve them of some of their gross misun- , derstandings in regard to the situation . so far as myself and my associates o , the California Mexico Land and Cattle | company are concerned. It Is well an6 | widely known that the Times support ed. during years and years, the pro r iects of the reclamation service or the great Colorado river of the west and. in fact, throughout the entir' , arid region. The paper has been fore f Imost in that regard. l. was only af s ter matters arose in connection witt ) that service which were properly th \ subject of public criticism that tn 5 Times exploited the defects and tn . deficiencies in the construction of tn . I.aguna dam which have been allege' : by engineers and others not connect . ed with the government project. . is also true that the attitude of som . of the reclamation officials became . one time adverse towards the 1mperia enterprise. which the Times has al g ways encouraged. Naturally. criticism
 were made on that account also. Flo ? this course I do not feel called upO 9 to make either apology or excuse. Q "Yours very truly,
 HI. G. OTIS"