Arizona republican., 1913-11-11
FITCH PROJECT
 MANAGER NOW
Broader Powers and Duties Will Be Exercised; Co operation Sought With Water Users: Routine Changed to Hustle.

An era of operation between the administration of the Salt river pro feet and the farmers on it is com ing. Heralded by the changes in the project administration, and by changes in the policies of the farm CTS toward the reclamation service, comes now a time ot preparation for the day on which the land owners the actual tillers of the soil will take upon themselves the administra- ton of the irrigation system in all it. phases.
 One of the first intimations that a change would come was the pre- paratory legislation enacted by foresighted council ard board last spring. and ever since no meeting of either body has gone by without there being some action taken look ing forward to the time when the project is declared open
 Project Engineer C. H. Fitch has now become Project Manager Fitch. With enlarged duties and responsi- bnities. but with greater powers and privileges, Fitch has returned from Washington prepared to start the great cooperative movement among hls men and those they serve. Al though it's manager is now absolute ruler of the project affairs, with supervision over every bit of busi- ness. the Salt river project still mains under the southern irrigation Gsstrict. which has headquarters at Los Angeles. and 5over which Louis C. Hin exercises the powers of su- perVising engineer.
 In discussing this matter with nf iP9T n yesterday. MT. Fitch said:
 My authority or commission dates from November l. and from the hands of Arthur P. Davis. in the ab sence of Mir. Newell. chairman of Jhe new reclamation commission. In designating me project manager, this commission gives me full authority in connection with the details of work on this project It enlarges my authority and also places heavy responsibilities on me. l report my works in this valley to the depart nent and to the supervising engineer of the division in which this state is included.
 The first official act under the new regime will be to exchange of flee for field work. As soon as can get organized | shall commence spending many hours a day in the l field. getting acquainted with the l farmers, learning their needs and 1 discovering how best to benefit them. | Tie office work will be gradually l disposed among the force until it is SC arranged I can attend to all of | it that is necessary in a few mom- cnts each day.
 There will be closer touch be- tween the farmers and the recIama- tion service than ever before. Tn broadening my duties. the depart ment has made it possible for me to come into direct communication with the affairs of the project work CTS. and in this way I can see just how they are getting along with the water users.
 T have already started getting closer to the water users. I ex- pect to continue as I have begun. One of the first tasks will be to thrash out the problem of lateral control Many water users are ask ing the government to take over the laterals. and the government has replied it would do this providing the ditches were thoroughly clean ed. In many cases there are several laterals where one good one would do. The economical course would lee to improve one to take care of the work of all. It will take about a million dollars to complete this work. There is al present no money in the fund for the Arizona projects. and no promise that money will be immediately forthcoming.
 This is the greatest and best of all the projects. It will be the ex- ample project too, if I have good luck with my plans"
 MT. Fitch was very earnest He was also very busy. A month in Washington has left a lot of work on his desk, and there were many visf- tCrs yesterday.