Arizona republican., 1913-07-06
Control of Irrigation System

Control of irrigation System
 Whether the shareholders the Salt Valley Users association shall a special election on July n favor local administration mana cement dis trbuting system of the Salt River project, this a subject that will constantly be before the community until the time shall when the management of the entire irrigation project must be by themselves. It is very unlikely in view of the conditions imposed by Secretary Lane in his recent letter to President Orme of the Water Users association, that the required local management be secured But whatever agitation of the matter there may be will be educatve
 Probably majority any considerable number of the water users favor taking the responsibility for maintenance and operation the entire distributing system this time. The magnitude of the task and the necessity 0 preparation realized Perhaps. d q majority of the would go present. would charge the maintenance and improvement of certain sections of the distributing system where operations could be without conflict sections, It has been the frequently expressed opinion at meetings the board governors and the coun- cil that such work could probably be done cheaper Ib by water users being done, and by the would be gradually accustoming themselves their larger duties of the
 working T plan for gradually taking 
 assumed by the water users, large task in should be of haphazard formation. It must be evolved thoughtfully, looking to a fine business management of a plant that cost $12,000, successful operation which spells business prosperity for this section There is no other business enterprise and varied.
 There will be conflicts of interest which must be adjusted with fairness to all There must be practical economies which will reduce the cost of operation to the lowest unit and there must be such a management will give the operation of SIP O0OOO plant the highest efficiency. We think that the direction of this great enterprise when relinquished by the government should De placed in the hands of a trained business mana engineering experience and known ability, with of trained assistants, and believe that business manager, whether capable one could be secured home would have to be brought in should be a land owner have any private interest in the valley that might even wrongly subject him suspicion of discrimna- tion against any section of the system.
 The thing times be avoided in the administration the project is sectionalism. We all trouble that caused in the past-what it valley when neighborhood set against neighborhOod. The project must be administered that benefits will be distributed with absolute justice to the water users under every part of
 Various suggestions been offered concern the working out of a plan, looking to the complete management the project Among them first, the maintenance and operation of the ateras. then the canals and then the operation of whole system except those parts which must under the control the government until payment been made for the plant Gradually, responsibilities would be assumed, the per operating force would be changed During a process of change, the Water Users association in charge of operations would become the agent the government as well the repre- sentative body the
 is thought by many that in the initial tions should confine themselves maintenance and improvement of those parts the system which they would take charge leaving the distribution of the water to a development of the plan.
 In presenting this subject to the voters. the board governors makes recommendation in its favor they do in the of the three proposed amendments 0 articles, but they point to the increased charges for maintenance and operation which the would burden them selves as as O charges for completing the system within a designated of the conditions named by the secretary.
 Tho "Schoomaste