Weekly Arizona journal-miner., 1907-12-04
COMMISSIONER TO
TAKE EVIDENCE
IN SUIT

thanking tnlt'd Stat's Dl5ifi't ~
torncy Alexander for his kind Offices
in the suit now pending in the district
court Of Maricopa county, instituted
by T.. r. Hurley and others against the
water users of the Verde river and
tributaries, having for its object the
settlement of the right to use the
waters Of the Verde and Salt river.
The action was occasioncd by the
reading Of the following letter from
United States Attorney Alexander
Office OF United states Attorney for |
the Territory of Arizona.
Phoenix, Ariz., Nov, -, 1907.
Mr. Geo. W. IIance, camp Verde, fav.
apai county, Arizona.
Sir: Your favor of the lst inst, adj
dressed 10 me at Phoenix, reached me
n few days ago at Tucson, while there
attending session Of the United
states court, and I have had no time
TO answer the same until my return
here. the reason Of the delay in my
answer thereto.
note that you say that in the Hur.
Icy Abbott ease, pending in this dis
trict. which has for its object the set
| Element Of the rights To the use OF the
waters of the Salt and Verde rivers
by the various persons using the same
upon lands IN this valley and adjacent
TO said rivers, that there are about
40 persons wno are interested in said
litigation. residing at Verde, and that
il would he well to have commission
or empowered to take the dispositions
Of these people in order that expense
may be saved them in said suit.
I have shown your letter to Judge
Kent, who is trying the case in this
district, and he quite approves your
suggestion, and has authorized me to
say to you and, through you to the peo'
pie ON the Verde, to whom you refer
in your letter. that when the ease is
taken up for hearing in this district,
which will bc some time in the latter
part of this month, and when the lands
Of the people under the Verde are
reached. no action will be taken by the
court at that time in reference to them,
but the attention Of counsel will be
called to the same in order that "A
commissioner may be appointed by the
court TO take the testimony of said per.
sons on the Verde in respect of their
rights TO use the waters Of the Verde
river upon their lands adjacent thereto.
would suggest that you have coun'
sci appear for you in this court, To
make the proper motion to bring about
the appointment of said commissioners.
Yours truly,
j. l.. u. ALEXANDER,
u. y. Attorney
Speaking of the suit to n Journal
| Miner man, yesterday, Mr.. IIancc, who
, is n pioneer of tho Verde Valley, and
considered an authority on all Vcrd,
Valley matters, said:
"The people of the Verde Valley
are naturally indignant over the insti
: tuition of the suit. However, almost
= all who are using the waters Of th'
Verde and its tributaries for the irri
cation Of their lands are satisfied wits
;, the suggestions made by United State
District Attorney Alexander. The,
are willing TO have n commission ap
pointed by the court to take their ties
timony in respect to their rights {,
: use the waters. They dcplorc the nc
tion Of the water users Of the Sal
River valley in instituting the suit, bu
, have full confidence that the court
). will give ample opportunity to ever.
u settler to show his rights to the use o
g the waters.
= "The valley Of the Verde with It
,, tributaries, Oak, Beaver and Clea
- creeks, is forty miles in length, an
from fifteen to twenty miles in width
There are 5000 acres Of land undo
y cultivation, irrigated by sixty.sevei
bitches. The population in 1900 wa
1,5l2 whites and 37i Indians. Tn
= white population is exclusively Ameri
10 can. IL has increased at least 80 pc
cent since the last government censu
z was taken. There are thirteen publ
D schools, exclusive of the Jerom
schools, in the valley.
10 "The Indian school recently ostat
n lished at Camp Verde, has an enrol
& ment Of twenty'seven pupils, AMI n
average daily attendance of twenty l
n Is no longer branch of the Phoeni
k, Indian school. Tne Camp Verde schoc
'e principal was advanced to the positio
n Of Indian agent since the school star
IN ed. There Is female industria
to teacher in the school who is doin