Arizona republican., 1918-03-22

To have complete control of both riv CTS is to prevent disputes with others as to the use of the water. If any other system is constructed to share with us in that we use, it seems to me almost inevitable that long and veXatious litigation will result. One of the most influential factors in induc- ing the water users of this valley to associate themselves together was to create mutual interest in all the irri- gation works and the water controlled and distributed by them to eliminate rivalry and hostility of interests and to put an end to that constant flood of lawsuits which characterized our his story before the construction of the Salt river project.
 | It is impossible to estimate in dollars the value to us of that situation, but that it is of very great value in dollars must be admitted.
 Certainty of the extent of our water supply is much the greatest element of | it's value
 The admission into the situation of rival claimants at once renders that very uncertain which is now and would be if we constructed the Verde, estab- lished and certain, and no one can an- ticipate the dangers that would inevit- ably result. It would be measured only by hundreds of thousands of dollars.
 Merely advance Payment
 The payment of $5 in five annual in- stallments by the present water users, it should be understood, would be, in the readjustment, a credit upon the acre cost charged-it is not in addition to the present charge of $55 but merely an advance payment on it.
 You will note the assessments of the
 
 unless an amount in the aggregate equal to such assessments shall be as- sured from other sources.
 The first other source is the fund to be raised by the so- called dry land people, and the next is the United States.
 The Indian department wants water for about 6,500 acres of land in addition to that now supplied from the project.
 It may fairly be expected that con- gress will make the necessary appro- priation. It is provided in our contract iin taking over the project that we will supply this additional water to the h. dians upon condition that the govern ment pays the cost of it's development. Congress a couple of years ago direct ed the secretary of the interior to se- cure this additional water at the cost of the government.
 Computed upon the basis applied to the other water users, the appropria- ton by congress for this purpose should be $353,070.
 The remainder to be raised would be $572, ,00O which charged upon 23O0O acres of land would be s24.S7 per acre of s497 per acre per year for five years Have Been Modified Slightly
 These figures may have been modi- fled slightly, depending upon the cost of the proposed Verde dam
 Indeed there may be found slight discrepancies in the figures I have used but so slight as to be entirely neglig- , ible. These discrepancies are due in one or two instances to dropping small fractions from the computations. They will not amount at most to more than ' one or two cents an acre either way The chief element of uncertainty is. the } unknown cost of the Verde dam. We } have here estimated it at $1,525,57S as we depart from that estimate either way we must modify our figures ac- , cordingly
 It should be noted too the statement of the number of acres irrigated is ap- l piled only to those which have rights r from the government under the rec t lamation. The statement of 1S5,00t 3 acres excludes lands in townsites. Since making the computations O. 5 the probable cost of a dam on tn, Verde as proposed. Mir. Elliott, man ager of the association who made thu f estimates 1 have quoted, suggests tha 5 those estimates had better be increased 25 per cent rather than 20 per cent al had done. I have not had time tt s make a re-calculation on that basis 9 In any event, adding the 25 per cen f to his original estimates the cost of tn e rockliffed, and the reinforced multipl e Iarched dam are within the $1,S50,00 y provided for in the proposition submit e ted, and will not much affect the situa ' ltion as 1 have stated it.