Arizona republican., 1918-03-22

To bring the figures in direct view for comparison we may summarize: Cost per acre of present project. $5495 | Cost if assessments are made as
 proposed ..................... 55.S9 | Cost including cost of reinforced
 dam, estimated at $1,525,S7S.SO 54.3S |
 May Have Money to Return
 l have not taken into consideration | In these computations, interest either | to be added or discounted. Nor have | ] taken into account the money the as- sociation will have to return to sub scribers to stock whose lands have been excluded from the project by the estimate of 1S5,0O0 acres as the limit of acreage that can be supplied by the present system. This sum is about Sl0OO0 which has all been assessed and been raised, and is now in the associa- tons treasury, or will be by the middle of this year. If we do not build the Verde reservoir we will have to return this Sl00,OO0 to subscribers whose lands have been thus excluded.
 lt may be possible to develop some electrical power at the proposed Verde dam. To determine the feasibility of G plant to generate power would re- quIre the consideration of a hydro electric engineer l have to leave It out of consideration because of my want of knowledge of the factors en- tering into it's proper consideration. A mere casual consideration however, of the hydrography of the Verde does not render the notion of electrical develop ment there very encouraging.
 The increase in the number of acres 10 which the water may be served will tend directly and substantially to de- crease the cost per acre of operation and maintenance.
 Assuming that 1S5,000 acres now bear the cost of operation and main- te-ance and that after the completion of me Verde dam, 215.000 acres will share in that cost. there would result approximately a lowering of the cost per acre by 15 per cent per acre per annum.
 l say approximately because have not taken into consideration the in crease of cost in the aggregate of the operation of the larger project on the cost of the operation of the present project.
 The added cost will be comparatively small, involving only the care of the new dam, consisting chiefly in the maintenance of a watchman there. The cost of distribution will not be in- creased at all for the distribution sys- tenn now in use will be continued in use with practically the same operation force.
 Neither do I take into consideration the service of lands of those having only temporary rights for that service will continue as it is now at least without any considerable change.
 The cost of operation and mainten- ance will always appear in the service charge for water.
 Using this year as an illustration, we find the charges to be S1.25 for the fret TX each additional foot.
 Upon an average use of 31a -acre feet per year this would amount to $237 50 per acre per year. Computing upon this basis of at 15 per cent less cost because of the increased number of acres in case the Verde dam is con- structed, there would result a saving of 351ac per acre year.
 l have left out of consideration power profits if any, as they will doubtless be applied to construction cost and not to operation and maintenance until and unless they should exceed construction cost. This omission will not change the figures which we have used for il- mstration.
 This saving represents profit on the proposed investment which cannot ex- ceed S1 of 30 per cent per annum for all time.
 AuultlOHdl OOSt 0y Sf cents
 It should be borne in mind that the payment of the S5 assessments is not an additional investment in the project The additional investment is only 94 cents
 I have purposely left out any con- sideration of the Paradise valley prof ect so far as the merits of that propo- sition is involved.
 There was scheduled last Tuesday a hearing, before the assistant secretary of the interior, of the application of the Paradise valley people for the grant of the dam site and incidental rights of way for canals for the construction by them of dam on the Verde and of a canal system designed to irrigate lands north of the Arizona canal and outside of the Salt river project I have been advised that those people contemplate the inclusion of plan to utilize the re- sulting hydraulic power for the devel- opment of electrical energy on a com- mercial basis for sale or other use am also advised that the Water Users association appointed representatives to appear at the hearing and oppose the grant of rights of way upon the ground that the association cSntem- plates the construction of the dam by it for the use of it's members upon lands within the limits of the project and that it has the prior right thereto
 We have not, of course, been advised of the result of that hearing. It may l think, be assumed that the result of this election will have great influence in the determination by the depart ment, of the application of the Para disc valley people,. It is quite probable that if the association votes adversely to the proposition submitted to its members to construct the dam, that the right to do so may be given to the Paradise valley people,
 In addition to the proposed project If the Paradise valley people there arc in contemplation irrigation works be. low us on the Salt and on the Gila ant Rs time goes on rights may be ther acquired to this surplus water superior To our own. We may expect too tha there will be an increasing use of tn, water of the Verde above the proposed dem, which will diminish any .surplu. that may now be in that rivef
 We must Proceed PromptIy
 These prospects admonish us that i we intend to utilize whatever surplu. waters there may be In the Verde tha we must proceed promptly.
 Public interest demands that thi, water should be put to use. Delays ar, not favored If we cannot make use o it. or will not then it is open to in, next taker. The law will not tolerat delays, merely to await our leisurel, contemplation of the situation. If WI intend to use it. we must prompt, adopt measures to enable us to do if.
 In determining the rights to the us of water for irrigation the law ha great regard for vigilance-little fo neglect and delay.
 There is another reason that is ad vanced why the Association shoul construct the Verde dam, which ha