The Coconino sun., 1925-11-27
Los ANGELES HAS MOTHER
PIPE DREAM ON WATER

The following from the Los Angeles
Times is amusing if not enlightening:-
San offer to provide Los Angeles
for $3,000,000 or less with all the
water it needs from the Colorado
river by private arrangement and
without dealing with other states or
the government is under consideration
by the board of water and power COM
missioners. The offer proceeds from
Jay Turley, noted western engineer
and attorney now residing in Albu-
querque. Capt. Turley twice. has been
before the board and William B.
Mathews special counsel for the body
has spent some time investigating the
offer. The city has sent survey
party to examine the Turiey water
rights on the San Juan river. Mayor
Cryer has been acquainted with the
proposal and some Of the administra-
tion officials have discussed with Tur-
ley the possibility Of forming pri-
vate organization to procure his rights
and then negotiate with the city for
its acquisition of the rights through
them.
According to Capt. Turley's rep
reservations to the board, he owns
about 1000 second-feet of Colorado
river water having come into possess
sion of that right in 1901 and 1905
from New Mexico and the United
States department Of the interior. He
offers to sell the 1900 second-feet
of water Los Angeles needs from the
Colorado river on the basis Of about
$40 per miners inch. 1t is reported
that the city has acquired water in
Owens valley in certain instances on
basis as high as $500 per miners inch.
"Capt. Turley's right to the water
in the river proceeds from his owner
ship of nearly all the water in San
Juan river, tributary of the Colo
RADIO river, at point near that where
the four states, Utah, Colorado, Arr
zona and New Mexico meet. This. is
about. 120 miles east of where the San
Juan empties into the Colorado river
in Glen Canyon, up the Colorado
about 80 miles from. Lees Ferry, Ariz.
He is not now taking the water out
of San Juan and is said to possess
the right to- deliver the water to- any
one with whom he might deal at
point elsewhere than where his prof.
ect is located. His rights date back
over 20 years and are prior to those
of either Arizona or New Mexico.
Capt. Turkeys right to 1900 sec
ond feet of water, according to the
offer before the board, would be given
to Los Angeles at any point it might
wish to take it if the city pays him
sufficient money to finance the first
unit of a power and irrigation project
he wishes to undertake in the San
Juan basin in the northwestern cor
ner of New Mexico He could under
take his project at low water for ST.,
100000, or, at high water at $3,000,-
900, and asks that much of the city.
"This water could be withdrawn
from the Colorado river, it was ar
gued before the board, without con-
sent Of any state, or congressional ac-
tion or action of any federal depart
ment. This is because it is water all
ready owned or appropriated under.
private prior rights,
Capt. Turley's right to practically
all the water in the San Juan river
was declared by Carl A. Davis, widely
known expert on water rights, last
night to be valid. Mr.. Davis was for
eight years a judge in, Boise, Idaho,
sat many. times on that states SUI
preme court in irrigation matters and
occupied a position in the United
States department of the interior un-
der Franklin X. Lane as, an irrigation
law expert