Arizona republican., 1918-03-24
GREAT |RR|GAT|ON PROJECT NOW DEPENDS ON MUTUAL AGREEMENT

It would appear that completion of plans for the building of a diversion dam across the Gila and the conse- quent irrigation of lands on the Pima reservation and within the Casa Grande valley are dependent upon settlement of interior disputes and the adjustment of water rights among the white farmers to be benefited. Ihis much is to be assumed from a memorandum, signed by representa- tives of the Indian Service and De- partment of Justice, that has been submitted to the State Council of Defense. The memorandum has been considered by the councils executive committee and will be referred by Chairman Dwight B. Heard to the members of the Pinal County Council Of Defense, in the hope of securing a get-to-g gether movement on the part of the people of the districts af- fected that will result in the building of this much-needed dam. The State Council is deeply interested, as con- struction of the dam is bound to re- Sult in increased food production on the fertile Casa Grande plain.
 The full text of the memorandum follows:
 Memorandum for those interested h the Gila River Irrigation Project.
 The commissioner of Indian affairs desires to be able to report as soon eS possible as to whether the satis- factory determination of water rights, CT satisfactory arrangements there for. contemplated by the Act of Con- gress can be made. That the proper settlement of these questions is neces- sary, as we'll to insure the success Of the project as to warrant it's being carried out, is obvious.
 We who have been giving the mat ter attention in the field wish to know whether the various canals are ready and in a position to give the government good and unincumbered titles to their respective canals, water filing, rights to divert and carry water. etc. We also want to make up an accurate list of the proposed class A lands, showing owners, lega descriptions and water rights, and 2 similar list covering lands to be in cluded in class B.
 Concerning the canals; We should like to know whether the Casa Grandt
 
 a position and desires to convey tC the government it's property, or sucl part thereof as may be useful to tn, project. We have thought that par of that associations incomplete canal rights of way, etc. could be used b! the project and on that account coulC properly be paid for to an exten deemed equitable under all the cir cumstances. We wish the same In formation with regard to the othe canals; that is we want to know whether the owner of them desire t, convey and whether good titles fire, from encumberances and obligations can be given. As to most of thes, canals, it seems to us that the gov ernment would desire only such trans fers or contracts as would vest i with or confirm it in the right t divert and carry in the new govern ment canals the water theretofor carried by these old canals and permi the abandonment of the old canals except, of course, insofar as the. might be used as laterals. Certail of the rights Away of some of tn canals, and in the case of the so called Slight Cut, excavation work would or might be used; but the ide has been that all of these rights woul be conveyed without compensation other than that which would com