Arizona state miner., 1926-01-30


caion for further extension Of the
contracts of May 21 and %, 1920,
covering the use of public lands for
water storage and power purposes,
was received here Monday.
The Secretary's decision received
by William Spry, land commission
er, follows:
"May 21, 1920, the then Secretary
of the Interior entered into con-
tract with the Paradise-Verde Irri-
cation District now the Verde River
Irrigation and Power District, under
which the district was granted the
right to use certain public lands, on
condition that it would proceed to
construct reservoirs for the utiliza-
ton of water, and would within three
years show to the satisfaction of the
secretary that id had arranged for
the necessary funds for construction,
and would complete the project with
In six years.
Q third application for extension was
the subject of hearing before me
January Is, 1925, at which represen-
tatives of the district appeared in
support of the application, and rep
resentatives Of the Deer Valley Pro-
tective Association, representing a
part of the land owners in the dis
trict, as well as representatives of
the Salt River Valley Water Ussrs'
Association, appeared Ia opposition
thereto.
upon consideration Of the entire
record, the department held, January
20, 1926
"a further extension does not
appear to be warranted and
would not be in the interest Of
parties concerned, including the
settlers and land owners in the
district. The petition is accord
InWly denied.
Thereafter. on petition from the
district and to afford an opportunity
for parties In interest to effect a
compromise of their differences, the
department, on February 21, 1895,
granted a further extension Of 90
days.
This period was subsequently further
extended until May 80. 1925. Prior
To the expiration of this period O:
extension I was requested to further
suspend action In the matter until
the senate committee ON irrigation.
or q subcommittee, could have op-
portunity to visit the locality and
to hold hearings, the results to be
Submitted to the department. for it's
consideration. l am advised that NO
bearing wae held by the committee,
bua that Senator Cameron was au-
th0riEed to hold and did hold hear.
ing or conference at Phoenix Art
xoua, December l, 1925. The depart
meht has several times requested.
but has not received. transcript Of
said hearing.
The Deer Valley Protective Asso
ciatiog., representing land owners in
the district, as stated objected to
further extensions and to the carry
ing out of the districts plans
"The Sal River Water Users Asso-
citation has filed objections thereto
Individual land owners havt COM
planned of the assessments being
levied on their lands to pay the ex-
pense of the district and the salaries
of it's officers.
cover $500, 900 has been raised by
the district through assessments on
the land owners for this purpose No
moneys have been expended for con-
struction work After more than five
years the district has been unable to
finance or begin construction or to
file satisfactory evidence that it can
finance or construct.
Accordingly. in view of the fore
going, further delays or extensions
are not warranted, and the action
of January 20, 1925, is hereby adher-
ed to and made effective as of this
date Land Office will take the nee
essary steps to carry this decision
into effect
(Signed) HUBERT WORK,
Secretary"
The above full text ties up the
Verde River and Power District in
definitely This cannot be if Mari
copa County is to make the desert
bloom If the districts rights are
denied, how is any one or group TO
become legally entitled to them? This
newspape is not creating discord.
but it is facing issues and facts. Upon
tfreless investigation we find that It
ID impossible to get water permit
WSfhoS1f hand IN Uuf IL ~ Va rnA-