Graham guardian., 1916-02-04
SAVE VALLEY LANDS
By Organizing the ella River
Improvement Association,
Says H. M. Woods

article on saving valley lands, says
Ever since the last issue of THE
IGUARDIAN, the writer has been be.
sieged with inquiries concerning
proposed steps to secure the atten'
ton of our government to the ex-
treme need of protection from the
terrific flood-tides of our waterways.
| He has been asked to take further
counsel with his neighbors.
! Pursuant to desire to focus as
much first. hand advice as possible,
let US look the matter straight in
the eye.
| /. 1t would seem necessary to
have an organization. This might
we'll be a body consisting of the
chairmen of the different canal
boards, with some legal counsel in
connection. 1t might be called:
The Gila River Improvement Ass O.
ciation." Let the different direc.
torates invest their committeeman
with a proxy for theiI board.
2. The power of this committee
could be exercised In the levy Of a
per share tax, say, to start with, Of
one per cent of the par value of the
stock. This ought to give US a
couple of thousand dollars.
8. Preparation of data. These
data will be of several classes:
Exhibit A will contain all avail
able copies of former Typographical
work done on the river.
Exhibit B contains certified values
of all lands washed away in our dis
trict.
Exhibit C., a collection of all
photographs of prior flood times,
as well as numerous ones to be
made at once. To this might be
added certified excerpts taken from
the county press during the past
years Of accounts of foods and any
casualties arising therefrom.
Exhibit D is the most important.
1t will be detailed report of sur
veyor sent to take notes along the
river course in this county. This
need not be in thenature of an actual
survey. Stations can be made every
mile showing the width Of the new
channel with the topography of the
channel on each side of the station
a half mile. This would need to be
made simultaneously on both sides
of the river. From such notes
specifically good map can be made.
This work would occupy three men
a week. Certify to this work.
4. Personal representation in
Washington.
1t happens that Senator Smith,
of Arizona. is chairman Of the Sen
ate Committee on Irrigation and
Reclamation of Arid Lands. Many
of us can appeal to him personally
and we must do this. In our own
case we found, upon looking up the
personnel of the different commit
tees in the Senate and House, q
good many men who were either
known to US personally, in some of
our schooling. or were acquainted
with some branch of our immediate
family. Doubtless. many others
will find the same thing to be true
Let US give you the roster of the
important committee just referred
to: Senator Mark Smith. Arizona,
Chairman; Members, Senator'S Lane.
Oregon; Pittmap, Nevada; Thomp
son, Kansas; Sheppard, Texas;
Thomas. Colorado; Myers, Montana;
Jones. Washington; Warren, Wy
oming; Sutherland. Utah; Borah.
Idaho; Works, California; Catron,
New Mexico.
In the House, Congressman Smith,
of Texas, is chairman of cores
ponding committee. Carl Hayden
is q member of this committee. |
Others are Taylor. Colorado; Baker,
California; Rucker. Missouri; Stout,
Montana; Bowdle, Ohio; Connelley,
Kansas; Green. Massachusetts; Rob
erts, Nevada; Smith. Idaho; John
son, Utah; Sinnott, Oregon.
1t would be well to direct the at
tention of each one of these men to
our extremity. Even if we are
strangers It will be a wise thing to
do. In the face of a coming ger.
eral election, we might stir up a
good bit of activity along this line.
There is committee In Washing.
ton called Public Lands Commit.
tee." This committee is directly
Interested in the acquisition of pub
lie lands. 1t would be we'll to put
up the matter of acquisition, by
reclamation, of much of the pres
ent river bed which has never been
patented.
If Mr.. Fred H. Newall. Director
IF Reclamation Service, could be
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