Arizona republican., 1910-07-23
PHOENIX, ARIZONA. JULY 28. 1910
Did the Water Users Make Mistake?

PHOENIX, ARIZONA, JULY 2S, 1910 Did the Water Users Make Mistake?
 The stockholders Of the Salt River Valley Water Users association acted wisely in voting for ratification of the contract between the association and the government of the United States for the enlargement of the power sys- tenn of the reservoir project. Under the terms of this contract the water users will assess themselves to the amount of approximately one million dollars during the next two years, the money will be used for new construc- ton. and a considerable additional revenue to the association will be as- sured Also, the beginning of assess ments in payment for the entire stor- age project is postponed until the completion of the new work.
 The shareholders did well to vote for ratification, because the proposed contract was the only proposition be- fore them. and matters had gone too far for the adoption of any alterna- tive plan.
 If any mistake was made-and in our Judgment serious mistake was committed-it was at the inception Of the recent negotiations with the department of the interior which led to the contract that has just been ratified. Some care and caution al few weeks ago would, in all probabil- ity, have avoided the necessity of making this million-dollar assessment. At least it was the opinion of Presi- dent Fowler and Judge Kibbey, then at the head of the association, that it could be avoided; but their sug- gestions were not needed, and the faction in the association that was opposed to them had its way.
 The idea of enlarging the power production and constructing the new canals originated with Judge Kibbey and NIT. Fowler, and it was their plan to resort to the special assessment only as a last alternative. It was their belief that congress could be induced to appropriate a large sum for the completion of the various projects which the reclamation serv- ice had in hand, and that from this appropriation the needed million dol lars could be obtained. The depart ment of the interior, looking out for the cash resources of the reclama- ton service, of course, as was its duty, tried to discourage the Water Users association from holding to the idea of looking to a special ap- propriation. But congress did appro- priate twenty millions of dollars for the completion of the projects in hand. Meanwhile, however, before congress had acted, the Water Users associa ton permitted itself to be rushed into d tentative understanding with the department that the contract just ratified would be relied upon for com pletion of the Salt River project. The department has outmaneuvered the association, and is now at liberty to expend all of the twenty millions elsewhere.
 It was the plan of Judge Kibbey and President Fowler to postpone all negotiations for an assessment con- tract until it was seen whether con- gress would make the proposed ap- propriation It was their plan, if this appropriation should be made, to in- sist upon getting one million of it for the Salt River valley, and to stand pat" on that proposition. Their suggestions of pOstponement were an- grily received, however, and they were accused of knocking a most meri- torious scheme.
 In negotiations for an allotment of a part of the appropriation for the benefit of this valley there would have been so many advantages on the side of the association that it is more than reasonable to suppose that Ine dSSOcldtloH WOuiu nave WOll, Hdu the policy of Judge Kibbey and Mir. Fowler been followed and had nego- tiations been entrusted to them. They had-and have-the full confidence of the department officials, and while the department might have done its best to get the better of the bargain ing. the equities were so many in fa- vor of giving this project a benefit in the big appropriation, and the old officers of the association were in such splendid position to exact jus tice for the valley, that the result could scarcely have been open to