The copper era and Morenci leader., 1922-08-04

SCOntlnueQ lt rom rage IWO)
 without water, and the past two years$ especially has resulted in an almost total crop failure for the users under the Model canal
 Now that their right is fully estab- lished the users under the Model canal propose to extend their ditch to point above the head of the Sunset and take their proper quota of the water. For this purpose an irrigation district is to be formed and funds raised by bond or other means to accomplish the purpose stated
 An Interesting possibility pr-ses m this connection with respt. to the damage and injury that has been caused land owners under the Model canal by reason of the wrongful di- version and appropriation of their water in the past. Action for dam ages against these persons and against their canal company will un- doubtedly lie according to the advice of all lawyers who have been con-
 
 federal courts, rather than in the Courts of either state. Whether such action will be taken remains to be determined.
 In view of the foregoing possibi- I lities a number of the prominent land owners of the valley have been working upon the question of deter mining whether or not the users of water throughout the entire valley,
 including the users in the state O.
 New Mexico, cannot be brought to- gether in a common irrigation plan | that will secure an additional water supply, an equitable distribution of water, and single united system 1 Of water control. If such could be accomplished it would result in so many common advantages that it's value would be beyond present com putation. Suppose that a sub-surface diversion dam at the box were to be constructed. There is every reason | to believe that the amount of under flow raised to the surface would, in times of water scarcity, double the | present supply at like times And while there is plenty or water in the river every one has sufficient, it be- ing only in times of scarcity that loss is occasioned. Then let us sug- l gest that the entire water systems of the upper valley be joined into one system; that one large ditch be taken out on each side of the river. That the water be classified as in the Salt River valley, according to agreed priority and distributed accordingly That the entire part of the area within the County of Greenlee be fnrnPh ir.r-so liefr ,of and a like action be taken in New Mexico, under laws similar to ours, and the two districts enter into d perpetual agreement relative to rights in the two states. Could that now be done, this section would be made | a real farming district,
 Such a system if put into opera tion would effect the following re suits:
 1. It would put an end to the pos siblity of long and expensive litiga- tior. which is almost sure to come The Wyoming case was in the courts l for eleven years at an imme mense cost | to the land owners
 2. It would enable the construc- tion of reservoirs at various points and the storage of large supply of water in times of plenty; 3. It would make possible the cultivation of large areas of land
 now Idle without in any way af- l fecting the present use of waters, such lands coming in as lower class lands not entitled to the use of
 water until present holdings are | taken care of
 1 i. It would increase the supply of
 water in times of scarcity, would conserve it in the use of water. and
 secure an agreed and equitable dis 'tribution of supply.
 5. It would enable the users to l make use of all their present canals as auxiliary canals and as canals to
 divert all the underf1ow waters com ing in below the diversion dam and
 all seepage waters and accretions
 to the water supply. Thus nothing
 would be lost either in prior ditch 1 holdings Or in water supply.
 1 It is now up to the water users oi l this valley They can get together l and settle all their troubles without
 great expense and long litigation, oI
 they can sit down and snarl at each other over their rights and all gC down together Think it over, and see if concerted action cannot be l taken so that next year will be a 1 real year in the history of the Upper
 Gila Valley.