Arizona republican., 1919-04-18
DRY LANDS OWNERS BEGIN TO GET WATER AF TER COURT RULING

4Drv Ianders" by the dozen flocked to the Water Users association build- ing yesterday to file their applications and pay their charges for water. after the court decision Wednesday that the association must give water to the owners of the so-called dry lands" Water is being turned onto the lands as fast as possible as the applications are received and the rents paid. Of ficials of the association said yester- day that within three or four days, at the rate the "dry landers" are coming in. practically all the lands affected by the court order will be receiving water.
 About 13,00O acres of "dry lands will receive water under the terms of the court decision, all owned by the POT ranchers and farmers of the valley who brought the matter of getting water for their land into court.
 Nearly 45,000 feet of water will be used from the reservoir in carrying out the courts order on the "dry lands" this season. Charles Van der Veer. sec retary of the association, said yester- day. The dry land owners are allowed two acre feet of water per acre this season, under the court order, for which they will pay the rate of $40 per acre foot.
 In speaking of the amount of water required. MT. Van der Neer said a serious shortage of water was possible next season if the winter proved a dry one He pointed out that the reser- voir is now far from full, and does not seem to be filling, and that the. in- creased use of water will materially lessen the reserve supply before the end of this season.
 It was to conserve as much as pos sible the waters in the Roosevelt reser- voir that the Water Users association shut off water from the so- called 'dry lands" some time ago as the crops on the land were completed. Some of the land continued to receive water until April 1. All are included in the orig inal water project and accessible from the canals
 i MT. Van der Eecr stated yesterday I that in supplying water to the owners of the dry lands the association would recognize only those who partici- pated in the suit brought in court to | compel the association to furnish the
 water. A number of "dry lands own
 CTS did not take part in the suit, and ! these will not receive water. MT. Van | 1 special grants from the association or
 bring court action for the water as did l the dry landers" affected by the pres
 ent court order.
 Whole hearted satisfaction appeared
 to be the dominant feeling among the
 dry flanders" who appeared yesterday
 to file their water applications and pay
 the charges. Practically all seemed
 fairly certain the two acre feet of
 water granted in the court decision
 would be sufficient to raise a cotton
 crop this season. The possibility of a water shortage later was ignored by most Of them, though the general com ment heard was that while conserva 1 tlon Of water was wise, the dry
 flanders" should not be made to bear
 the brunt of it.
 Meanwhile, Secretary Van der Veer of the association said yesterday, the pumping system authorized last season by the association should be completed oy summer and then able to augment | the water supply. The operation of
 the pumping system, now being in-
 stalled to obtain additional water for
 lrrlgating purposes, will also aid in preventing a possible shortage of water
 next season if the reservoir fails to meet the demand.