FOREST RESERVES. 



BY Gov. N. C. MURPHY, Governor of Arizona. 



So much has been written and said; so much apparent alarm exists 

 among the farmers of the valley at what is alleged to be a serious 

 menace to their water supply; so many hasty conclusions have been 

 formed, and unjust and unfounded accusations made, even to the ex- 

 tent of threatening personal and sectional strife, that it seems proper 

 to present the questions involved to the citizens of both northern and 

 central Arizona for cool and impartial consideration. The best inter- 

 est of the whole territory requires careful and considerate investiga- 

 tion of such important questions before conclusions are formed and 

 action taken which subsequently may prove to be mistaken and un- 

 warranted by the facts; and at all times there should be observed a 

 just recognition of individual and community rights. 



In the first place, it is proper to state and emphasize that these 

 subjects which are now being so earnestly discussed are in no respect 

 political, and they have no proper place in party platforms. Political 

 leaders or official place hunters who seek personal advantage by using 

 party machinery regardless of principle should receive no considera- 

 tion from the people, no matter to which party they may happen to 

 belong. It is folly and destructive of public welfare to adopt any 

 course which tends to array section against section or industry against 

 industry for the purpose of the arbitrary ruin of either, especially if 

 either occupies any considerable place in the progress and develop- 

 ment of the commonwealth. The questions disputed are of public in- 

 terest, especially in the localities most affected. Democrats, republi- 

 cans, populists and all classes of citizenship and political faith should 

 desire a fair, honorable and impartial adjustment of the problems pre- 

 sented. Neither political bias nor superficial and hasty judgment 

 should be allowed to prejudice and inflame the public mind. Political 

 conventions and party declarations of principles cannot affect the con- 

 tention in the remotest degree except to complicate it injuriously, 

 although public meetings, non-political in character, attended for the 

 purpose of enlightenment and an intelligent interchange of opinions 

 for the purpose of devising ways and means to correct abuses where 

 they exist, are perfectly proper and beneficial, and if well conducted 

 are educational and corrective in their effects. 



I shall try to review the controversy over the grazing, forest 

 preservation and water supply problems which has developed during 

 the year, without bias or personal interest of any nature or degree 



