Arizona republican., 1920-01-06
''DRY LANDS'' ARE. NJ LONGER DRY; NOW IN PROJECT
Long Legal Fight Ended By Secretary Lane Ordering 10000 Acres To Be Ad- mitted-Majority Wins

Formal admittance of 10000 acres of so-called dry lands to the Salt River valley water project has been ordered by Secretary of the Interior Lane, in keeping with a majority resolution re- gently forwarded to Washington by the board of governors of the Water Users association. No date for ad- mitting these lands and including the same on the farm unit plats was fixed in the communication received yes- terday and signed by John w. Hal lowell, assistant to the secretary.
 This order ends legal battle ex- tending over a period of years in whic howners of dry lands, so called. have attempted, through more than a score of court actions, to secure per manent water rights.
 The last court actions brought by the plaintiffs resulted in a victory for the dry-landers in Judge Frank I.y- 1t was this decision on which the ma jority members of the board of gov ernors based their recent resolution to the secretary.
 In this resolution. the board recom- mended that the lands in question be admitted to the project and included on the farm unfit plats. They pointed out that installation of pumping plants had provided, in their opinion, water supply, together with the supply from the Roosevelt reservoir to meet all demands.
 A minority resolution was also for warded to Washington at the same time. in which the minority members strongly protested against the action of the majority, and recommended an appeal from the decision of Judge Ly man to the state supreme court. The minority resolution was disregarded in the final decision by the secretary of the interior
 The date for admitting the lands to the project will be fixed at some fu ture time in informal correspondence, it is expected. Until such date is fixed, the lands will not be formally admitted to the farm unit plats nor will funds in payment of back assessments against these lands be accepted.
 The letter, admitting the lands to the project, as read before the board of governors meeting yesterday, follows: Salt River Valley Water Users Assn.
 Water Users Building,
 Phoenix, Arizona.
 Gentlemen:
 Your letter of December 2, signed by the president and the assistant sec retary, has been received, and together with the resolutions herewith en- closed, has been carefully considered.
 The most important matter dealt within these resolutions is contained in the resolution adopted by the board of governors recommending that all lands heretofore subscribed to the Salt River Valley Water Uusers' asso- citation shown as irrigable on the plats filed with the association which have been excluded from the farm unit plats and granted pegmanent water rights. Against this resolution three mem bers of the board of governors have protested. This protest is based upon the opinion that there is not sufficient water for the additional acreage which would increase the acreage entitled to water rights about 10 per cent.
 It is my understanding that the Salt River Valley Water Users associa- ton has voted funds for installing drainage works and that such installa7 tion is now in progress, which will pump water from the ground into the canal system and make it available for irrigation. In view of the recent large accessions of water to the reservoir and the promising outlook at the pres- ent time. together with the progressive increase in water supply by the above mentioned developments: and consider ing also the hardship and loss that would be caused by denial of water toll the additional acreage, the resolution as passed by the board of governors is hereby approved.
 Cordially yours,
 (Signed)
 JOHN w HALLOwELL,
 Assistant to the Secreta~v