The Coolidge examiner., 1946-07-12

said 10 have declared they We're
opposed 10 that part OF the pro.
ject proposing a canal from Stew
art Mountain dam TO transfer Salt
River water 10 the Casa Grande
valley" the letter. signed by T. G.
LAYERS. Casa Grande. district sec
retary. continued:
We have. on many occasions,
heard reports that the Association
was against bringing into Central
Arizona any Colorado River water
Now. however. IL seems that they
might be gracious enough to per
nit water TO come into Central
Arizona providing Pinal County
does not get any OF Il.
This point or view We know Is
not held by most OF the citizens of
Maricopa County and. possibly. not
by most OF the individual members
OF the Association: but as long as
the Association sees fit 10 main
ka&h bAAiAtAA anu ihAAuthAAaA tAAa
ployees TO speak for. and be I'm
charge OF the Association. then
this opposition TO the proposed
plan must be met and steps taken
by our Representatives In Washing
ton and by the Bureau of Recla-
nation 10 see that Pinal County Is
not chained TO the muzzle OF the
Water Users gun
by this latter expression we
mean simply this: II the Auihoriz-
atom Bill for the Bridge Canyon
Dam. tunnel and canal is passed
with a definite tie In TO the Gran
ite Reef Dam or the Mcdowell
Reservoir. then the salt River Val
ley Water Users Association can
demand any tribute they see fit to
ask before they permit water to be
brought To Pinal County.
1T is. therefore. suggested that
on page two OF Senate Bin 23f6 OF
the 18th Congress. Second Session.
at line IL. the word above" be
changed 10 ''in the vicinity Of
And that in line Is on the same
page after the word works. the
words. including a syphon under
the Salt River IL deemed advis-
able" be inserted
with this change the proposed
project would be described as fol-
lows:
"a tunnel and main canal from
the reservoir above the dam
at Bridge Canyon to the Salt
River ia the vicinity of Gran
ite Reef Dam. canal from the
Salt River to the Gila River
above the town OF Florence.
Arizona. and thence TO Pic
acho Reservoir. and thence
To the Santa Cruz flood plain,
such appurtenant dams and
incidental works including a
syphon under the Salt River If
deemed advisable. as may be
necessary for the successful
operation OF the undertaking
herein authorized.
with this language in the Bill.
the Salt River Valley Water Us
ers' Association could be by
passed without interfering with
their vested rights or their Salt
River water. We are sure that
the people OF Pinal County would.
year in and year out. prefer Colo
RADIO River water TO Salt River
water, and If the Association does
not want its share of the Colorado
River water we in Pinal County
will be glad to take II.
Practically no gravity water
originates within the boundaries of
the Salt River Valley Water Us
ers Associations lands. The wat
ter which the Association Is now
using at one time belonged TO
everyone in the State of Arizona.
They have seen fit 10 appropriate
the lions share of the states wat
er. albeit by legal means, but there
are many districts in the state
which already feel that the AS
sociation has already deprived
them OF water TO which they were
justly entitled.
we in Pinal County wish TO
cooperate fully with the program.
The suggested change does not
eliminate the Association They
can still come in and get their
share OF the much needed water.
We hope they will help us get it.
but with the avowal which they
BOW have made TO the public press
Pinal County should be protect
ed by specific legislative enact
ment.