The Benson signal., 1920-01-24
$500
Entered at the Postoffice at Benson, An
zona, as second-class mail matter
WHY NOT NOW?

WHY NOT NOW?
In another colump we give reports from Washington
relative to that $3.50 ooooo appropriation for eclama
tion purposes in the West The last report sounds e
more encouraging than the first but the whole the pros
poets for the building of the Charleston damby Federal ap
preparation are none too bright
What then should be the course pursued by the czenS
of Benson and vcinty2 Can imagine ourselves falling
in faint and dropping by the waysde to drift another dec
ade So waiting for good Samaritan to pass by and
lift US to our feet? That wouldn't be bit like Westenes
1t wouldn't be bit like Arzonans. Natives OF the West
are long schooed In conqueng outlaw broncs and in
mounting the seemingly nsurmountable With fortunes tor
all of us feet would even be un-Amercan to be
deferred from whatever effort may be necessary to grasp
that fortune.
The ST. David people have started something. Their bas
is is solid their reasoning correct, their plans we'll laid
They propose to delay no longer awaiting Federal aid which
NAV never come They have bought the best legal advice
and hired the best engineering skill They have organized
and propose to no longer sit idly by and rivers of gold
sweep bv their DOORS They woat 500 ooo in bonds,
conserve the floods and direct their distribution.
The Signal would move that the whole body of citizens
interested directly indirectly in San Pedro Valley, join
the people of ST. David, the whole territory and go
In fof bond issue which will build the Charleston DAM
THERE'S advantage, see it. in Federal aid over
the laws of Arizona pertaining to reclamation When Uncle
Sam puts project he expects finally to get his money
back from those who the water Local bond issues and
home construction could mean more.
The statement was made last week that quarter century
had passed. seeing the ST. David righteousness repeat it
self each season. The statement also made that the
acreage be increased from 1000 to 5000 Now
taking these figures and one decade of tme let's what
these people alone lose by action for another dec
ade First the increased production (not mentioning de-
creased expenses per per the 1000 acres
would easily amount to $25 On 1000, S25 900 per year,
or $3.50 100000 in ten years. Now allow but SIS per
for the other 1000 acres which is $3OOO 900 90 per annum
or 49, 900 900 in decade. And yet they put
stop this oss,three million dollars in ten years. or
grand total of than 49, in the quarter cent
ury menoned-by the investment of but 100000! This
immense sum represents total oss and that due to lack
of investment Of 1 Il per cent of the loss. "
These Figures loud as to these good people
to appear so ridiculous attitude to De-We hardly
congratulated.
But how about ourselves citizens of Benson and vicni
ty equally interested in the Charleston dam? Can we
prove by figures that possess any gray matter than
the citizens of ST. David? The production and distribution
of wealth to the amount of $6 10000 per annum, $780,
o0o oo0oo $150OO0 for the said twenty-five years.
versus-zero! How does that sound as compliment to
men of sound (?) business sense? By the investment of
one million dollars this princey would appear the
horizon like prize ship coming into port Does the stua-
ton look Ikea lack money lack of business sagacity?
But YOU suggest, 'our liberal State reclamation laws
have not always been with u.s.. True, but they here
now.
Bonds issued to the amount of $50 per St David
proposes but $20 and bearing per cent would be just $5
per acre per year for water Is it worth it? Why with
our soil and climate $40 for water is easy going
In the final outcome this project will cost really nothing
All we would put up would be little brain work and little
political power. Thousand of immigrants waiting for
chance to step in and bear the bunt of the burden.
A The St. David peope will no doubt welcome such gen.
eraI But they will wait no longer depending upon
some politician with supposed pull at Washington to pull