Arizona republican., 1908-06-02

SAiN CAiNcu States ing through the reclamation servicel on the one side and the Pacific Gas and Electric Co., on the other, -provid- ing for the supply by the government to the Gas and Electric Co., of elec- trical power or energy by means Of works connected with the irrigation
 works now being constructed by the government, under the provisions oi the national irrigation act of 1902 of- ficially known as the Salt River pro- ject
 Since then the director of the recla-
 nation service, Mir. F. H. Newell, has addressed a letter to this association
 under date of May 21, 1908 transmit ting copy of letters relating to this subject from the chairman of joint committe appointed by the Phoenix board of trade, the Maricopa county commercial club and the mayor of the city of Phoenix, addressed to the sec retary of the interior.
 The director in his letter of trans initial says that his office would be glad to have from the association an expression of its views relative to the
 
 order that as complete information as it is possible to obtain may be at hand in taking action on the matters dis cussed in those communications.
 I suppose that if l shall direct my self to a consideration of the letter of the board of trade, the commercial club and the city of Phoenix to the di- rector. dated May ', 1908, being one of those transmitted by the director, it will be in compliance with your in- formal request at your last meeting, as well as with that of the director for information.
 l beg then to submit to you for your consideration the following: The city of Phoenix is a municipal corporation created by an act of the legislative assembly of the territory in 1885, modified and supplemented by certain amendatory acts of a late date. It has the usual powers incident to like cor pOrations relating to the control and use of streets, alleys, public places and etc, and to the lighting and heating of the city and providing those convent ences or necessities to it's inhabitants.
 By its ordinance No. 53, dated April %. 1886, the city granted to one H. ohnick. and to his heirs, and assigns a franchise to supply the city and it's citizens and residents with illuminat- ing gas or electric light or both as he may determine with the consent of the city council. and to use the streets and alleys in which to lay the distri- outing pipes, or for the erection of an electric plant and the distribution of electric energy. This grant was for fifty years. By it's ordinance No. 23S, the city granted to the Phoenix Light and Fuel Co.,, its successors and as signs, the right to construct, main tain and operate gas works in the city and to use the streets for that pur- pose.
 By its ordinance No. 326, the city recognized the assignment by Ohnick to the Phoenix Light and Fuel CO. of all his rights under provision of orCli- nance No 5, before noted, granted to that company the right to construct, use and operate, an electric light sys- tenn in the city under the provisions of. and during the time prescribed in the Ohnick ordinance and granting to the fuel and light company and it's as- signs the privilege and franchise to use; operate and maintain an electrical power plant in the city for the supply of electric light and power to the city and to it's inhabitants.
 Later and before the 22nd day of June, 1907, the city. by an ordinance the transfer of all these rights to the Pacific Gas and Electric Co.,, as the successor of the Phoenix Light and Fuel company. so that whatever rights or franchises in the city, Ohnick or the Phoenix Light and Fuel Co. had, became vested in the Pacific Gas and Electric Co, at date earlier than June 22. 1907.
 The Pacific Gas and Electric Co, is a corporation organized under the laws of the territory of Arizona, having powers to manufacture gas and gener- ate electrical energy for sale and use to the city and it's inhabitants for lighting, fuel and power It is as I have notcd, the successor in interest of Ohnick and the Phoenix Light and Fuel Co, to whatever rights the latter had to the use of the streets, alleys. etc, of the city to supply light, heat and power
 The Arizona Water company was on the first day of March, 1901. and for sometime heretofore had been, the owner of the Arizona canal and of such an interest in the corporations owning the Grand, Maricopa and Salt River Valley canals, as to con- trol the operations of those canals. and was engaged in the business of di- verting water from Salt river and SUD- plying it to land owners under those canals for Irrigation, and making other beneficial use of such waters. All the water used for irrigation by land own CTS under the Arizona and Grand can als and most, if not the greater part of that used by land owners under the Maricopa and Salt River valley canals and a considerable part of that used by land owners on the south side of Salt river, was diverted from the river by the Arizona Water company by