El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-05-07
LAS CRUCES WATER USERS GIVE
THEIR SIDE Of THE CONTROVERSY

granted and INDUCED in severe adverse
criticism Of the members of this assO-
citation not justified by the facts The
statement that this association has al
most from first 10 last adopted an at
utude Of hostility TO the reclamat ion
service; has hampered the work of the
service; delayed the development OF
the project. and in numberless ways
has worked against its own interests
and the interests OF the New Mexico
land owners while claiming 10 be try
ing TO serve Them is an arraignment
Of all OF the members of this assOcia-
ton and the charge made is untrue.
Differences OF Opinion.
While slight differences of opinion
have heretofore arisen between the Of
this association. those differences in
the main were common TO this assOci-
alton and the FL PasO Valley Water
Users association. but were found TO
be readily susceptible OF. .adiuStnent
and were satisfactorily adjusted IN ev-
cry instance when proper representa-
ton of our contentious had been pre-
scented. but upon several occasions not
until delegations representing both as
sociatiOns made trips 10 Washington
for the purpose Of personally inter
viewing the higher officials Of the ser
vice. and in three or four instances not
until appeals were made TO the secre-
Iary of the interior, and upon two Oc-
States.
The members Of this association have
never assumed an attitude antagOnistic
TO the reclamation service. but have
always considered that IL was eminent
" proper for them thus to respectfully
urge upon the government officials due
consideration OF their views and rights
from time TO time as occasion arose so
TO do.
At the time when hearings were had
before secretary Lane pertaining TO the
affairs of all the reclamation projects
this association was one OF the only
two associations which were not an
tagonistic 10 and made no complaint
against the policy OF the reclamation
The members of this association have
not asked and 90 not ask anything un-
reasonable As one Of two contracting
parties they have respectfully urged
their right to be consulted as TO the
provisions OF contracts which from time
TO time they have been called upon 10
execute
Basis of Contention.
Since the year 1903 water users un-
der the Leas5urg diversion dam and
canal have paid TO the reclamation ser
vice over $4,000 in cash under rental
contracts made from year 10 year, sup
posedly based upon the estimated cost
Of the operation and maintenance OF
the Leasburz diversion dam and canal
N
been promptly made and the associa-
ton is not in default and has never
been So
OF the aggregate amount heretofore
paid approximately $4,000 is in the
hands Of the reclamation service as q
surplus fund which the association
claims should be applied as credit TO
the future cost OF the operation and
maintenance Of such works.
Several months ago directO-s OF the
association requested the service to
submit q contract covering use Of the
works during the year 1915. at which
time during a conference between the
board and 7 d. O'DOnnen, supervisor
of irrigation and member Of the Unit
ed States reclamation commission, ap-
proved the suggestion that the terms OF
the contract should be discussed and
agreed upon between the service and
the Water Users association, and that
ample time should be given for such
discussion before the provisions of the
contracts were finally decided upon Ee
further said that IT was not now the
policy of the service to take such dras-
tic action as the Withholding Of irriSa-
tion water from the lands of members
Of the Water Users association in case !
Of failure 20 comply with the require !
ments OF the service
At his suggestion this association
appointed a committee and invited rep
reseutGtives from the several bitches I
20 meet with Afr. Lawson. project man Z
ager, and like committee from the II .
PasO VALLEY Water Users association
for the purpose OF consulting and rec /
oulmending to the reclamation commits
sion the terms OF rental contracts for I
the coming year Soon afterwards the {
proposed Joint meeting was held. at /
was passed and signed by the members 4