Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1917-02-07
K|bbEY ANDORME'
OFF TO CAPITAL
To ASK RELIEF
Verde Dam Project Plan to
Be Presented Secretary
of Interior Lane When
Phoenix Men Reach East

Judge ]. H. Kibbey and President
John Orme will start this week for
Washington. D. c. to interview Secre-
tary Lane of the department of the
interior with regard to the Verde river
dam project. They will present the
claims of the water users to a ruling
that the present work be termed the
completion of the original water pro-
ject and that the government, through
congress, make an allowance upon the
report of engineers for the alleged I'M
necessary sums which have been eX-
pended.
1t is planned, if the government will
agree, to have the water users then
undertake the completion of the Verde
project under the plan presented to
the board of governors and the council
of the users, by Judge Kibbey.
This plan includes the postponement
of the time of beginning the payment
of the construction charge for a period
of five years, upon the condition that
the water users shall, in the meantime,
at their own cost, according to plans
and specifications approved by the
government, proceed to the construc-
ton of the impounding dam in the
Verde river, thus making the Salt river
Na4tSS piOytCl CUIlpltle.
II will be recalled that the majority
OF board Of three engineers held after
painstaking investigation that $780,
zoe had been improperly expended in
the project work anu a review board
held that the sum should be at least
1882 600. This is the allowance which
VIII be sought in Washington through
the good offices of Congressman Carl
Hayden, whose offer to aid in every
way has been received by the Water
Users Association. Mr.. Hayden also
submitted bill he has introduced di-
rectiEg the secretary of the interior to
devote the surplus from the sale of
power to the operation and mainten-
ance of the project The bill received
the approval of the water users coun-
ell.
The board of governors of the as
ISOLATION has also decided to include in
the voting list of the association the
occupants of state school lands who
have secured a purchase contract for
the land and who hare recorded II with
the county recorder.
The council, at a separate meeting
adopted an amendment to the bylaws
relative to the voting privilege. Here
after those delinquent in installment
payments may not vote.
The recommendations of Judge Kib-
hey, which met with approval Jointly
from the governors and council, We're
as follows
First: That the secretarv of the in
terror declare the salt river project. as
far as the government intends to con-
struct it. completed.
Second: That congress be asked to
authorize the secretary of the interior
il he has ~ authority now to do it, to
n r fn h. -
by the departmental books, By q sum
in which the opinion of engineers in
private practice should advise. or as
congress might independently de-
termine
Third: That the time for the be-
ginning Of the payments of the con-
struction charge be postponed for five
years. upon condition that the Water
Users Association shall IN the mean
Ntime, al its own cost, according to
plans and specifications to be approved
by the government. proceed to the con-
struction of and within that time com
plete, the impoundirg dam across the
Verde river.
Fourth: That the operation and
maintenance Of the WORKS comprising
the project be turned over to the as
ISOLATION. thereafter TO be operated and
maintained by it at it's cost.
Futh; That the association have
power to better. extend, enlarge. or
otherwise increase the efficiency of
the project at its own cost.
Sixth: That the secretary of the
interior in fixing the amount of land
to be irrigated under the provisions of
the third clause of the contrac. berore
referred to, include in his estimate the
increased supply of water that NAV be
found to be available from the i'm
pounding of the water of the Verde.
Seventh: Embody in such legislation
the substance of the ruling of the de-
partment OF the interior, that upon the
approval of an a~1lication for a water
right the land and the appurtenant
water right should be alienable without
limitation. subject to the deferred pay
ments of the cost cuarge and obser-
vance OF other requirements by the
grantees.
Eighth: That q limitation of six
months be fixed within which SUD
scrlbers to stock should file their ap-
pllcation for a reservoir right, subject
to forfeiture in case of non compliance;
as contemplated by the articles of in
corporation and the Kent decree.