Newspaper Page Text
Arizona Sentinel
WoJnhHRhPd Nov. 1870. bv Jas. M.Barney and Judge Wm. J. Berry; pur
chased 1875 by John W. Dorrington, who relinquished to W H. Shorey on
July 1, 1911; who in turn relinquished to B. F. Fly on Januarys, ivi; puo
lished for 46 years without missing an issue.
SUBSCRIPTION RATE, PER YEAR ?2-00
Entered at Yuma, Yuma Co., Ariz., as second-class mall. Published on Thursdays.
B. F. FLY
Editor-Owner
1 YOUR PRESIDENT SAYS :
WHITE HOUSE, May 10, 1917. "I have
today created within the Red Cross a war
council to which will be entrusted the duty
of responding to the extraordinary demands
which the present war will make upon the
services of the Red Cross, both in the field
and in civilian relief, and I hereby earnestly
call upon all those who can contribute either
great sums or small to the alleviation of the
suffering and distress which must inevitably
arise out of this fight for humanity and de
mocracy, to contribute to the Red Cross.
"Therefore, by virtue of my authority as
president of the United States, and as presi
dent of the American Red Cross, I, Woodrow
Wilson, do hereby proclaim the week begin
ning June 18th, 1917, as Red Cross week,
during which the people of the United States
will be called upon to give generously and in
a spirit of patriotic sacrifice for the support
and maintenance of this work of national
need.
"WOODROW WILSON."
DIPLOMACY, AIDED BY LEGISLATION HAS WON
GREAT VICTORY FOR SALT RIVER.
The identical thing has happened over in Salt River
Valley that I have always contended could be accomplished
for Yuma Valley the settlement by diplomacy and legisla
tive enactment of the great differences between the water
users and the government.
It will be remembered that when "public notice" of the
opening of the Salt river project was issued the water users
raised strenuous objections to the manner in which payment
was to be made; it will also be remembered that the people of
the Salt River project were told that the "public notice" had
been issued in strict accord with the law, and that if any
change were made it would have to be made through legisla
tive enactment. Instead of rushing madly into a law suit
with the government the water users employed the best
talent they could get and made their diplomatic fight in
Washington. It has been a persistent and consistent fight
ever since, up to a few days ago, when congress definitely
decided to amend the law in order to grant the relief prayed
tor by the Salt River project water users.
Judge Kibbey was the instrument through which this
relief was sought. He went to Washington, not with "blood
in his eye," nor a "chip on his shoulder," but with facts and
arguments and eventually was able to convince the powers
that be that the government should in all fairness grant the
relief prayed for. No stumbling blocks were placed in the
way by the reclamation officials. They were more than glad
to grant the relief, if the law would permit but the law had
to be changed, and in due course of time was changed, and as
result Salt River project farmers will not be required to make
any payment for something like fifteen years, the power
plant paying a sufficient revenue to make the first fifteen
annual payments.
That's the whole story in a nutshell.
I have steadfastly claimed, and still claim, that the same
good results could have been obtained for Yuma Project, if
we had kept our temper within bounds, used a little diplo
macy, and appealed to congress for relief. There is no ques
tion in my mind but that if a rehearing had been asked at the
hands of Secretary Lane he would have granted it. He has
invariably done so on every other project in the United
States and there is no reason to suppose he would have acted
any differently towards Yuma. As a matter of fact it is my
personal opinion, based largely on what has been done in the
past, that the secretary would have been more than willing to
hear any complaints Yuma had to make about the charge of
$75 per acre for construction of the Yuma irrigation project,
especially when it is well known that all the government of
ficials look upon Yuma Project as the one project in the Uni
ted States that can be" made an absolute success.
Instead of pursuing the course adopted and carried to
such successful conclusion by Salt River Valley we have
permitted a mere handful of men to lead us to the door of
the federal courts, and once well inside there is no telling
where the thing will end. It is this particular feature to
which I have solemnly protested.. It is this particular step
that I have earnestly urged should be put off until every oth
er means had utterly failed. But now that we are in it we
will have to make the best of a very bad bargain.
A rehearing would have given us a chance to find out
all that can be hoped to be gained by the hasty lawsuit. We
would very likely have been able to get a postponement of
the "public notice" for several years at least. We also might
have obtained a definite statement as to what the govern
ment proposes to do with the north and south Gila units.
At any rate a little diplomacy, an appeal to congress and leg
itimate arguments would have done no harm. I still hope
that by some hook or crook we can get by friendly negotia
tions even more than the most optimistic now hope can be
gained by court proceedings.
HERE IS SOMETHING WORTH READING.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
United States Reclamation Service.
Washington D. C, June 4, 1917.
Mr. D. L. DeVane,. Secretary,
Yuma County Water Users' Association,
Yuma, Arizona.
Dear Mr. DeVane: Reference is made to the resolu
tion passed by the board of governors of the Yuma County
Water Users' Association at their regular meeting, May 7,
1917, in which reuqest wasxmade that the Reclamation Ser
vice suspend operations on the construction of the drainage
system for the Yuma Valley-until November 1, 1917.
A copy of this resolution was duly received but decision
as to what action should be taken thereon has been delayed
pending a careful investigation of present ground water
conditions in the valley and the advisability of postpone
ment, such as the board suggested.
I am now in receipt of a report by the board which was as
signed to this investigation and it is their opinion, concur
red in by the chief of construction and myself, that to serve
the best interests of the project the drainage work which is
now under way should be continued.
From the data obtained from about 20 wells located
principally in the upper portion of the valley where irriga
tion has increased most rapidly, it is found that the water
table has risen an average of 2.95 feet since July, 1912. The
records of about 100 wells, which were put in during the
first part of the summer of 1916, show an average rise in
water table from June, 1916, to May, 1917, of 0.25 foot. The
average depth to ground water over the entire valley as
shown by these wells is 7 feet. Over an area of about 4500
acres, the water table is 4 feet or less from the surface and
over an additional area of about 19,500 acres the water tahle
is 6 feet or less below the surface. On a large part of the
soils of the Yuma Valley a depth of ground water of from
5 to 6 feet is regarded as necessary to fully protect the lands
from the rise of alkali and give the best agricultural results.
This means that about 24,000 acres or 46 per -cent of the
total irrigable area of the Yuma Valley is already seeped
or threatened, due to the high ground water. During the
season of 1916, 43 per cent of the lands of the valley were
under irrigation. During 1917, it is expected that this area
will be increased to 60 per cent, and with the approaching
high water stage of the river- and the greatly increased acre
age under irrigation, it is not improbable that the average
elevation of ground water during the month of June will be
one foot higher than for the same period last year.
If the construction of drainage works is continued, it is
probable that the elevation of the water table can be con
trolled sufficiently to prevent any large additional areas
becoming injured through its rise. It will also permit earlier
reclamation of the lands now unfit for cultivation on ac
count of seepage and alkali. If work be suspended or de
layed until the need of drainage has been further demon
strated by the actual seeping of lands in other portions of
the valley, the work of reclamation will be made more diffi
cult. There are now considerable areas where the surface
soils contain sufficient harmful salts to prevent their suc
cessful cultivation. The washing oift of these salts reuiqres
time and consequent loss of crops while the reclamation is
being effected.
In view of the conditions which I have briefly outlined,
I am convinced that a postponement of drainage work at this
time would be most inadvisable. Very truly yours,
A. P. DAVIS,
Director and Chief Engineer.
PROPOSED NEW ROAD.
(Continued From Page One.)
month for our merchants.
Yuma, Mexicali, Calexico, El Centro and Imperial
should study up on this new route and build the road as
quickly as possible. It would save several hours time be
tween here and the coast and would be very much better
than risking your life in a sand desert.
Money! Money! Money!
I have all kinds of it to loan
on either straight loans at
8 or on easy repayment
plan.
Fire Insurance Specialist.
Emil C. Eger
Yuma Drug
Company
McCutcheon and Baily
YUMA - ARIZONA
ALPHA STEAM
LAUNDRY
We call for your clothes
and return them spotless.
Maiden Lane, Near Third St.
Phone 89-W.
O. C. JOHNSON,
Funeral Director.
356 Second Ave., Phone 171.
N. S. PARKS.
Plmbing and Tin Shop.
Best Equipped Shop in the City
Phone 145-J. 416 Second Street
........ J
I FOR CLEANING AND PRESSING f
that gives satisfaction; also altering of every kind for
Ladies and Gents. High Class, Hand Made Tailoring
. Stop At
ALBERT De PAQUETTE TAILORING CO.
348 Second Street. Yuma, Arizona.
X"X"X:::x:X":"X::::"
Yuma Valley Produce Store
Dealer in
GROCERIES, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES
First and Main Streets
Buys and Sells All Kinds of Country Produce.
X
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New Southern Pacific Hotel f
Only first class hotel in Yuma, with first class
Dining Room attached.
Sunday dinners a specialty.
F. S. MING, Proprietor
v
The Stag
Cafe
IS THE ONLY FIRST
CLASS RESTAURANT IN
YUMA THAT SERVES
MEALS AT ALL HOURS
OF THE DAY AND NIGHT.
SPECIAL DINING ROOM
FOR FAMILIES.
THE VERY BEST OF
EVERYTHING THAT THE
MARKET AFFORDS.
CHARLEY SAM, Proprietor
The Thomas Barber Shop
244 Main Street.
Everything new. The most up-to-date Barber Shop
in' Yuma. Your patronage solicited.
!
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TRUNKS
-AND-
VALISES
AT
Sim Freund's
