Arizona republican., 1910-03-12
CONSOLIDATION Of ' CANAL INTERESTS REPORTED NEGOTIATIONS BE TWEEN W. c. GREENE AND
 ChAS. R. SliGH.
n| Charming Easter Fashions at The New York Store
Expected Result Will Be Greater lrri gation System and Assurance of
 the Through Railroad Line.

Though no one has sought u preju dlre either interest. or could have prof lied by so doing. the fact that the Casa Grande valley will eventually be wa tered by one-large system has been patent tO observing persons ever since The announcement that w C. Greene and associates had undertaken an ir- flgatiOn project, in competition with the interests of Charles R. Sligh and associates. Conditions naturally sug seSt the idea, and 1t has only been question of whether they would both spend good money in fighting until one bought the other out. or whether they would combine their interests in one big enterprise It was learned yes terday that negotiations are already on between MeSSrs. Greene and Sligh and though 10 what purpose has not been announced. the assumption is that the plan is to get together and unite their interests.
 Mir. Sligh and associates are pos sessed of the old Casa Grande canal, a ditch that seems to be about tn" right thing in the right place. only the system needs considerable repair ing and d good diversion dam. The so-called Florence reservoir is a part of the system. The Greene interests are possessed Of the property of the santa cruz Reservoir company, located some distance from TOltec. d station a few miles east of AriZOla. on the Southern Pacific. IL consists of a reservoir site in the bottoms of the santa Cruz, a disappearing river. in the southern part of that great plain possible to be watered from the Gila river by diversion in the vicinity of Florence: of filings on a considerable acreage of land in the vicinity of the site; and of appropriations on all the unused flow of the Gila river near Florence. Between these water ap- propriationS and those If the Sligh interests il is alleged there is contro- VerSy.
 Before the Greene interests can wa fer any portion of the great Casa Grande valley from the Gila river it will be necessary to acquire the Sligh canal system, or build another paral- lelling il to an extent Between the two sources of water supply the set tiers in the valley must take their choice. or go without water The lAiFs AH OlS fAlpuEiA II IApPfAAN velOped. to make the fortunes of both groups of men and incidentally put thousands of settlers on Easy street. providing ail concerned do not waste their money blocking each others plans while the settlers look on and impatiently wait.
 The news of yesterday is that par ty consisting of w. C Greene, c. NJ Shannon and Charles R. Sligh arrived al Toltec Wednesday in MT. Greene's private car and spent Thursday in ninetv-mile drive to the Santa Cruz reservoir site and through the Casa Grande valley, the purpose of the tour being an inspection of all interests preliminary to negotiations from merging them into one project This is what many had hoped for but really feared would not come tO pass SD quickly Meantime the settlers in the valley are proceeding with the organi- zation of a water users association that they may be able to protect their own interests and also be in a position to do business with either group Of capitalists, or with the combination of capitalists if it be effected.
 Though not a drop of the Gila wa ter will come to the Salt river valley. Phoenix has just as lively an interest in these events as the Florence and Casa Grande valley people have, through their bearing on the railroad situation The low line railroad through the Gila canyon above Winkel- man, it is contended by the Southern Pacific is necessary to the building of its through system and the branch line to the Durango coal fields. The Slgh interests claim reservoir rights that if perfected preclude the build ing of the road. The matter is before the general land office for settlement. Colonel Epes Randolph. who is at the head of Southern Pacific interests in these parts, is also associated with Colonel Green in this irrigation project, the railroad having contended always that the Casa Grande valley may be watered just as well without the San Carlos reservoir by diversion lower down. The natural conclusion is that if the Sligh and Greene interests are consolidated, the Casa Grande valley will not only get early action on magnificent irrigation project. but both the Florence country and the Salt river valley will be assured of the much coveted through railroad line.