Arizona republican., 1921-08-15
MONDAY MORNING. AUGUST IS. 1921
To tell men that they cannot help themsetUes IS to fling them into reck- tessness and despair. -Froude.
Flooding the Roads

tourist complains hundreds of others have Some of the road flooding valley. It has been Eoine on ever since irrigation introduced with sne coming of the white men, and suppose in 7renssforic irrigation of which have some evil 7ence in the ancient canals such roads they had In those days were flooded by water hogs.
 Within our own time it has mattered what scarcity of water there might be have found the road turned into small rivers and rendered almost impossible Before the automobile era teams could somehow manage get through. But now, an auto mobile with lack of traction account of mud s nkely 10 come permanently to standstilL
 There are certain places in the highways where she roads are flooded regularly every eight days. A jingle unprecedented flooding might be regarded as sxcasAnie There might be an unexpectedly large nesd'~ an unlocked for break in ditch; gopher hole But when the same section Is flooded week ser week there is evidence criminal carelessness on the part of somebody and the criminal should be e@xaly found.
 The laws of this state make it crime to flood Sne road: for one to neglect to take care of waste water There have been numerous arrests under the anw but we cannot recall that anybody was ever so adequately punished make his experience a de- rerrsnt to road flooding. seldom that there is even pretenze of punishment. The offender is almost always respectable and otherwise a law abiding citizen. and nimsy excuse he offers is
 
 those incidents known as 'acts of God' who is be- vond the Jurisdiction of inferior courts Perhaps that is why some magistrates say it is impossible so enforce the law against road flooding.
 But we wish they would try 1t. We wish that they would go the limit in the next case SO that the defendant would it up to the highest court that we might find out whether the law is a good one.
 II is essential that we know, 50 that if 1t Is not have a law that is effective Formerly II csd not matter much that the roads were ren- dered impossible. After the construction of the Roosevelt dam. we had water for all purposes bene- fcizi use and waste If an automobile was stuck tn the mud that only the individual misfortune of the owner. He only caused some inconve- nience and disturbance of peace of mind. But now ~e have highways which have cost us more than s-seeo miie- There better laid highways anywhere and should last practically forever But where they are subjected flooding they will not last two years The soil of this valley where these roads were laid is not good for the making q a subgrade- But it has been made as good as x vas possible to make it. good enough to withstand any reasonable demand that may be made upon it. But II is not impervious to water Constant flood as VII cut rivuies across it undermine the five CT six-inch concrete and it must go down.
 Perhaps we should say in some cases com p2rauvely few though, the flooding is caused by imperfect waste dtches the construction of which is the business of the Water Users association IT many parts of the valley has been attended to and everywhere, where the waste ditches are imperfect flooding might be prevented by the CO., operation Of the farmers. In most though tho flooding occurs from flat disregard by the user o water. of the rights and comfort of others.