Arizona republican., 1909-11-02
WORK IF THE
 WATER USERS Satisfactory Result of Yes
 tePday's Conference  ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
What Salt River Valley Will Say to the Senators When They Come-Nec- essity of Mass Meeting is Obviated

The meeting of the board of gov ernors of the Water Users associa- ton yesterday, in conference with delegates from each of the ten dis tricts was about as satisfactory in it's results as such a meeting could be conceived to be. It was not to be wondered at that there was some diff ference of opinion as to the proper answers to some of the questions pro- pounded by the senators. the list in one way or another practically cover ing the entire field of reclamation. On the contrary, it was remarkable that there were not greater differences of opinion. In only one instance did the propositions before the house come to a showing of hands and then the question carried by a vote of 24 to ,. All other questions were settled by viva voce vote and most of them unanimously. Those who comprise the faction among the membership of the association that has heretofore taken issue with its administration on some points. were quite we'll rep resented and given full opportunity for an expression of their views. In
  any material difference of opinion concerning the answers to these ques- tions. and at the conclusion of the meeting it was unanimously agreed that there was no necessity for call ing a public mass meeting of water users. for further ratification of the answers arrived at yesterday. The board had planned such, meeting. ,ferl,t ha frrlln sion. yesterdays work to be taken as a basis of action. But it seemed to be the opinion of all yesterday that all sides had had a fair hearing. all districts had been well represented and there was little left for a mass meeting to talk about, so it will be dispensed with.
 Answers were formulated to the en- tire nineteen questions. and adopted. and at the conclusion President Fowl CT of the association was directed to appoint a committee of five to pre- sent the answers to the committee of senators. prefacing them with reso- lution of appreciation of the recla- nation act and commenting the ad- ministration of the reclamation serv- ice as a whole. This committee has not yet been appointed. nor the com mandatory resolution drawn. but that will be attended to very soon
 The nineteen questions and the an- swers made to them are as follows;
 First-Is the existing reclamation law satisfactory. and if not. in what respect should it be amended?
 Answer-Yes. We are informed through our land office that less than 100 homesteads G6.000 acres) are now being held under the Salt River proj- ect, or rather under the reservoir dis trict: and that practically all of this land is signed up with the Water Users association. Under existing laws, title to such homestead land will not be issued until payments for the reservoir rights are all made-the payments being made through our government land office. We believe that when final five-year proof is made and accepted. patents should be issued to all homestead lands under this project. and all collections made for reservoir rights by the local Water Users association, the land being held by the association as security for the payments assessed by the government against said lands. as is the case of holdings in private ownership.
 Second-Are the local laws govern ing the appropriation and use of water for irrigation satisfactory in their ap- plication to lands being reclaimed by the government or through private enterprise and if not. what amend ments are required?
 Answer-Yes.
 Thirds the administration of the law by the reclamation service satis- factory. and if not. what are the ob- jections and what remedy is pro- posed?
 AusWer-Yes.
 Fourth-Is your water supply ade- quate both for irrigation and domes- tics uses?
 Answer-Not under present condi- tions. but it will be when the recla- nation project is fuify completed.
 Fifth-where your towns have been laid out by the reclamation service. how do you provide for the improve ment of streets adjacent to lots owned by the government. and how do you provide a municipal water supply?
 Answer-Does not apply.
 Sixth-Is your canal and distribu- ting system satisfactory. and if not, what are the defects. what caused them, and what remedy is proposed?
 Answer-The distributing system under the canals acquired by the gov ernment is steadily improving. and