Arizona republican., 1918-05-06
The Drainaqe Question

The new board of governors of the Salt River Valley Water Users association elected month ago will be convened today. The most important problem just before the association is the drainage ques- ton which year by year. has been forcing itself upon the attention of the farmers. We pleased to know that not only majority of the members of the board but President Wilkinson also, recognize the seriousness of the drainage problem and are prepared undertake vigorously the solution of it without delay.
 Though, perhaps, in the late campaign the i'm portance of drainage not appreciated in all tons of project nevertheless it vital issue in the election and MT. Wilkinson announced as of his policies, the prompt handling of it. He said at that time:
 The question of drainage is becoming more
 and serious in the Salt River valley and
 believe should work out without delay,
 definite drainage policy based the best
 gineering advice obtainable, by which complete
 drainage system may be installed under the
 trol of the Salt River Valley Water Users Asso-
 citation.
 In my judgment, much better and more prac-
 tical results may be obtained by handling this
 whole problem through the association than by
 attempting to organize a number of small drain
 age districts I convinced that just plan
 can be developed for using these drainage waters,
 so that this water, either pumped out of the
 ground or drained out through ditches, be
 sold for the use of lands not now entitled to
 ter. bringing return to the association which
 would largely pay for the cost of drainage.
 We have come now to a stage which many other irrigation districts have entered to their great and from which they have emerged at great expense. We may profit by their experience and not enter it but avoid it by the drainage the lands under which the water level is steadily rising, under compre- hensve plan worked the benefit of the entire Salt River project.
 We are very fortunately situated in that the ir- rgated lands of this valley slope gradually toward the river which has excellent fall and to the fact that there large bodies of excellent land adjacent to the project without water or without an adequate supply of water whose owners would gladly purchase this drainage water. In this way we could not only maintain the present lands under the pro- ject in productive condition. but we could enlarge the acreage under the project by means of this drain age water.
 The valley is to be congratulated on the fact that the water users are thoroughly awake to a men, ace that at this time may be easily avered by prompt and vigorous action. It is only necessary to decide what steps shall be taken. If board of governors has not the power to install comprehensive drain- age system without a vote of the stockholders de- finite plans should be secured by the board of gov ernor for the solution of the drainage problem ore pared by competent engineers of trained experience m drainage questions and with the fullest possible data presented to the stockholders at regular elec tion called for that purpose.
 The gratifying thing is the fact that the board of governors is prepared to act and warned by tbo results of delay in other sections do not propose to teinporize with this matter, knowing that delay will be most dangerous.