Arizona republican., 1910-03-27
A STATEMENT BY MR. ORME.

To the Members of the Salt River i Valley Water Users Association. Phoenix. Ariz.
 | Gentlemen has been suggested l m view of some of the important ! questions now before the water users.
 that il might be wise for me to make 1 d public declaration or my position [ nn the matters on which l shall be called tp act if | should be elected i president of the Water Users asso- Jiation
 | one of the most important ducs- tions which the Water Users asso- citation have under consideration IS i some plan by which the revenue pro-
 ducing power plants recommended by 1 Mir. l.. C. Hill. supervising engineer. may be constructed. One of these
 plants to be erected just across the ! river from Tempe and to utilize the 1 power now wasted in the present . crOss-cut. another at point where ! the new government canal discharges ! into the Consolidated. The old power ! plant at the Arizona falls can also. at ! slight expense be made d rcvnuc ! producer for the association. These three plants will develop not less than l 1000 horse power, which l understand from Mir. Hill can be promptly rented at q very desirable figure
 I believe that it would be thorough ly wise for the Salt River Valley Water Users association to assess its members s2 or s2.25 q year per acre for a couple of years to cover the construction of these revenue pro- ducing power plants and to complete the new -cross-cut canal.
 The total cost of these various inn provemcnts. l am informed by Mir Hill. will not exceed SS50,000. and after the power plants are construct ed would bring in an annual revenue of not less than s200.000 per annum therefore am strongly in favor of these improvements on the distinct understanding with the secretary of the interior that the opening of the project and the date of commence ment of payments to the government would be deferred not less than two years. or until the completion of the power plants and canals.
 I understand that there is q very large area east and south of the Tempe canal. lying south and south east of Phoenix, alomst entirely uC- cupied by homcStcdders who are nak- ing valuable improvements on their lands and who are members of tn" Water Users association. further understand that through the co-opera- tion of the reclamation service It IS possible. within very reasonable cost, to irrigatc these lands with pumped water. and that the homcSteaders and others interested are ready |" ad- vance the necessary money for tn" cost of such pumping plant, on the understanding that it shall be paid back to them from the first receipts from the Salt River project, ur cred tied to them on their payments to the government I therefore strongly fla vor such practical steps as will bring about the early construction of this pumping plant. and will give tu these homesteaders the irrigation water which they need for the cultivation of their lands, especially in view of the fact that they are class of land holders for which the reclamation act especially provides.
 I make the above declaration "t principles that the water users of this valley may understand distinctly the basis on which l hope to be elected president of the Water Users asso- citation. believe that on all impor- tant questions the members of this association should have an opportunity to express their will and wishes through the ballot box at elections properly called
 JOHN P. ORME.