Arizona republican., 1919-06-03
DRY LBN[)ERSS'
 GETPERMANENT
 RIGHT TO WATER
Water Users by Close Vote Yesterday Amend By Laws to Extend Rights to Owners of 16,OOO Acres in Valley

By vote of 13 to F, following a spirited discussion, the council of the Salt River Valley Water Users asso- citation yesterday determined to ex- tend permanent water rights to 16,000 acres of so-called ''dry lands"' of the valley. Numerous provisos were in cluded in the amendment to the asso- citation bylaws, which will be known as article If.
 The amendment provides that all lands within the boundaries of the Salt River project that were subscribed to the Salt River Valley Water Users association at the time of the opening of the project but which were later omitted from the farm unit plats, be accoI ded permanent water service, provided they pay amounts equal to the sums paid by permanent lands. The amendment further provides that these lands shall be subjected to all levies and charges levied against per manent lands until such time as they are formally placed on the farm unit plats
 End of Long Effort Those voting in favor Of the amend ment were Councilmen Ludden, Bark ley, Wilky, Stewart, Murphy, Creigh- ton, Miller, Austin, Sellers, Anderson, Wallace, Phelps and Nets. Council men voting against the amendment were, Kuchler Kimber Greenhaw, Gra- 1 ham, Kay, Hilbers, Jack, Reed, Hughes, i Wheat, Perry and Tweedy.
 l Owners of these so-called dry lands 1 have been endeavoring to secure per manent water service ever since they i were excluded from the farm unit plats prepared by the board of survey at the | instance of the secretary of the in- i terior, several years ago.
 ] The board of survey in it's final de- I termination ruled that but 1855, 900 acres could be given permanent water rights under the project, and in consequence ] they designated such lands as were i entitled to receive the benefits of the l reservoir. At the conclusion of theil work, owners of lands made formal wa l ter right applications, which were 1T 1 turn approved by the secretary of the 1 interior, and they became entitled tc i permanent service.
 Start Several Suits
 Several court actions have been in stituted by the owners of so-called dry lands, one of which is now pending 1T i the superior court of this county. They 1 claim right to permanent reservoir | benefits
 ] During the years that the reservoir was full and running over, temporary i service was accorded to these dr! lands, and during the period of the wal this service was continued that tn, production of the valley might b, maintained at maximum. This tempo rary service was continued after tn | a tlef, ois~sst f, last October when the shortage of wa ter in the reservoir resulted in tn board of governors determining to dis i continue the service.
 Get Restraining Order
 A supplementary ruling was mad by the board of governors alloting half acre foot to these dry lands, to b used any time previous to February
 of this year. This action was taken | save scores of growers great financia loses because or immature crops
 Shortage of water in the reservoir re
 suited in the board taking action t
 discontinue any additional service t
 the dry lands.
 Action was then started by the Ian
 owners in the superior court and temporary restraining order was issue . by Judge Frank Lyman, providing tha these lands be furnished with servic for the present growing season. Thi
 action is scheduled for trial in the su . perior court this week.
 I Notwithstanding the action of tn board of governors yesterday, whit automatically grants owners of dr
 lands their very wish, the court actio
 will unquestionably be fought out {
 the end, even to the extent of an aT g peal 10 the supreme court