Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1916-04-12

wing only temporary water rights,
similarly situated as rapidly AS the
lall be given permanent and regular
\ just solution of these three ques-
continued and most prosperous de-
velopment of this section. and we
will take up the various features of
this matter in the order presented:
1t seems to be generally admitted
by those best posted as to the con-
ditions of the project. that it Will
not be completed until an adequate
water right has been provided for all
the land which can be safely irri-
gated from the known sources of
water supply, and a system COM
pleted for delivery Of this water to
each quarter section of land fur
nished with water rights within the
project. Among these known sources
of water supply are the flood waters
'Of the Verde now wasted, although Il
most excellent reservoir site. of which
IA complete survey has been made for
the government, exists in the Verde
river at a point known as the Horse
shoe Reservoir Site about - miles
north of the junction of the Verde
and Salt rivers where, according to
careful estimates made by the en-
gineers of the government and the
Water Users Association. a substan-
tial dam can be erected at cost
iof approximately 81 900, thereby
securing an annual average storage
Of water now wasted of about 300 000
acre feet. 1t is also recognized that
with this additional storage added to
the storage now provided for at the
Roosevelt reservoir ample water
would he provided for the 1730o0
acres now entitled to regular water
are now receiving but temporary
supply, and the 1000 acres of school
land now receiving only temporary
water service.
In addition 10 the need of com
| pleting the storage on the Verde as
a part of the entire Salt River Pro-
| ject and not as separate unit quite
! a large amount OF work still remains
to be done under the regular Salt
River Project as now outlined, SC
that in all justice the time has not
Ryet arrived to declare this project
/ open.
The question of the proper cost tC
| be charged the water users Of the
| Salt River Project is still unsettled
AS is well known, the majority of the
Survey Board specially appointed by
the Secretary Of the Interior to con
slider the question of cost of the Sal
| River Project, reported that in theil
! judgment the cost should be approx
imatey $4,000 per acre. The Contra
Cost Review Board. appointed by The
Secretary of the Interior. revised the
decision of the other board and sug
gested that s5S per acre was Tho
just and proper cost; while the fig
ure suggested by Mr.. Morris Bien. &
representative of the Reclamation
Commission, but subject to revision
was $4,000 per acre.
The third question is the method
by which an adequate and permanen
water supply may be provided for tn,
$1,000 acres of land and the II ,00
acres ol ScnObl ldnu uluef tlie pro
ject. without infringing on the jus
rights of those water users under tn
project already furnished with a reg
ular water supply.
on the cath of this month a hear
ing on the cost of the project will
he held before the Reclamation Com
mission at which the water users o
this valley will be very ably repre-
sented by Judge Jos. H. Kibbey
counsel of the Water Users Associ
land Fred A. Jones, its consulting en-
gineer AT the same time or immed
lately thereafter, we understand tha
chosen representatives of the owner
sof the 80 600 acres are to appear be
fore either the Secretary of the In
terror or the Reclamation Commits
sion. asking that they be furnishe
Irregular permanent water rights with
out delay.
1t seems to us that this situation
creates an opportunity to build tn
Verde reservoir. Increases the spirit Q
unity among all the water users G
the valley, and at the same time oh
tain a very proper and reasonabl
extension Of the time of opening tn
project. Our plan is briefly this
That arrangements be made with tn
Secretary of the Interior-should tn
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