The Coolidge examiner., 1945-06-15

Rotary and Lions clubs in Cool
idge were visited Wednesday noon
and evening by Representative Will
lis (BilD Rugg and Ed Aerndt,
both of Casa Grande, who brought
a vital message on the necessity
of united action if Central Arizona
and the Casa Grande valley are
to be protected in their rights to
the use of water of the Colorado
river.
This is absolutely necessary,
stated Representative Aerndt, If
this valley is to be protected against
drought and assured of an ade-
quate supply of water to continue
profitably cropping even that area
OF the valley now under cultivation.
Not to mention putting under cul-
tivation thousands of acres of level
fertile lands in this valley which
are not farmed for lack of water.
The proposal put forth by Rugg
and Aerndt was that closely
knit organization be formed to
represent the farming and business
interests of the valley. They ask
that each local club appoint two
to represent the Lions and Ro-
tarians of Coolidge at meeting
to be held at the Chamber of Com
merce in Coolidge on Thursday
evening June 21. Every other serv-
ice club in Pinal county will have
equal representation at this meet
ing in which the farming interests
will also be represented. Both the
Lions and Rotarians agreed to ap-
point representatives to attend the
meeting. The speakers pointed out
the fact that although the organi-
zation was being sponsored by
service clubs, it was not a Rotary.
nor a Lions organization, but one
for the entire Pinal county.
The Casa Grande visitors made
it plain that in order to function
effectively the proposed organiza-
tion must be well financed. pointing
to the fact that other similar Or
ganizations for the benefit of the
valley had died, or been entirely
ineffective to accomplish their pur-
pose because they never had the
needed funds.
1t is planned to gather funds
from interested farmers and land
owners, as well as to collect from
business and professional men who
will benefit directly and indirectly
from the improved economic condi-
tion in the Casa Grande valley
which would be brought about by
bringing in water from the Colo
rado river.
1t is planned to complete the
organization quickly, using the Pr
nal County Research Association
as a nucleus of the organization
and working under the same name.
That organization has already ac-
quired invaluable records that
would be of immeasurable benefit
to the new organization; and at
the same time the larger member
ship and additional funds brought
in by the new group would enable
the Pinal County Research COM
mittee to greatly broaden the scope
of its activities and function more
effectively for the benefit of tax
payers of the county.
The meeting of representatives
of all service clubs of Pinal county
(who also indirectly represent all
Chambers of Commerce in the
county in which the men hold men,
bership as well as in their service
clubs) with officers of the research
association has been called for
Thursday evening, June 81, at the
Chamber of Commerce building in
Coolidge.
Upon completion of the revital-
lied and better-financed Pinal
County Research association, it is
planned to apply to the county
board of supervisors to set up a
sufficient sum, probably $4,000 to
aid in financing the work of seeing
that Pinal county gets its full share
of Colorado river water rightfully
belonging to central Arizona.
Bruce Moody and Clark Wells
were appointed to represent the
Rotary club, and Carl Mcfarland
and Clair Kennedy were named to
represent the Lions club at the
meeting.