Arizona republican., 1919-04-25
CLEAR NAY FOR
 BIC FLORENCE
 NATERPROJECT
Government Agents, Land Owners and Water Users Reach Agreement-35 900 Acres Indian Lands and 27,000 in Casa Grande Val ley Affected

Negotiations between United States Indian service officials, a land owners committee for the entire Casa Grande valley and representatives of the Water Users association were fin ally concluded at Los Angeles yester- day incoming, according 10 a telegram received at this office yesterday from Judge O. J. Baughn of Florence, who has been attending the conference.
 An entirely satisfactory settlement of the whole matter at issue was reaShed and the way now is clear for the government to arrange for the con- struction of the Florence diversion dam and canal system to begin at an early date.
 Thirty five thousand acres of Indian land and 27.000 acres in Florence Casa Grande valley will come under the project All prior rights are protected, complete plans for the dam are ready aud work will begin as soon as the secretary of the interior approves the contract and declares the project open.
 The following summary of the agree ment, prepared by Judge Prouty of Casa Grande, one of the conferees, was received last night hy telegraph from Ted Healey, commissioner of imni- grafton for PinaI county:
 The Agreement
 Following is a resume of the tenta- tive agreement signed by the commit lee Of six in Los Angeles, representing the land owners. to induce the secre- tary of the interior to undertake the tlorence-Casa Grande irrigation project.
 The project works and structures shall consist of a diversion dam in the 'iila river above Florence, with head sates and the main south side canal with d carrying capacity of 1000 sec end feet This main canal will be con- structed 10 g. point to be determined by the secretary of the interior, at which point Pima lateral will be taken off extending toward the Pima reservation; from this point also the canal will be extended to the Picacho reservation. From the point of di- version the north side canal will be constructed al a. point fixed by the sec retary of the interior. The secretary will determine the length of these branch canals so as to equalize as neatly as may be the project costs and benefits
 The water rights which shah be at lached 10 and used in connection with the project shall consist of all water rights either vested or in choate in the waters Of the Gila. river, including In- dians and whites.
 Project lnciues 62000 Acres
 The project is to include 62,00o acres, 10 be divided 35,000 acres to the In dians and 27,000 acres to the whites.
 The Indian land is to be divided into 20000 acres of "A" lands and 15,000 acres of "B" lands.
 The white lands are to be divided into 13,000 acres of "A" lands and 140o0 acres of "B" lands.
 These lands are to be selected by the secretary Of the interior from the lands of persons who sign the agreement said selection to be made so as to bring into the said project such property owned lands in the Florence Casa Grande valley as in the judgment of the said secretary have the best right to l, the use of the waters of the Gila river and will in conjuction with the lands in the Pima Indian reservation best form an economically feasible irriga- ton project. to be irrigated from the project works.
 Lands to be Selected
 Tn selecting the lands the secretary of the interior is authorized to include in the project: First, any and all lands amounting 11,039 acres, more or less decreed 10 have water rights in the tiila river by the superior court of Piual county in the case of. Lobb vs Avenente et al; second, approximately .951 acres. oe which about 931 acres shall be land lying above the McCle- Ian wash and approximately 9S0 acres lying below said wash, and third, Ii, ,00C acre& which shall consist of an equa number of acres above and below saic Mcclellan wash and of which the sec retary of the interior is authorized tt permit the board of directors of the Casa Grande Valley Water Users as- sociation to designate 1000 acres o said 1000 acres lying above the sai( wash, and to permit Charles R. SIigf to designate 1.500 acres of said 7,0OC acres lying below said wash and 2,oSt acres lying above said wash, upon the condition that said Charles R. Sligl will cause such of the water servic, corporations in which he is iuterested waive, have or claim rights in the wa ters Of the Gila river, or have or clain rights in the waters of the Gila river or have or claim title to irrigation sys o-fns, canals or reservoirs in the Flor