The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1904-05-03

Washington, May Am empire is
being founded in the most barren, desc
late region of the United States, the
great Colorado desert
Water diverted from the Colorado riv-
er has blessed the arid waste with boun-
tiful harvests. The time is not so far
distant when this land will be the home
Of 100000 happy, prosperous Ameri-
can citizens.
A fight is now ON in congress and the
departments to determine whether they
shall be subjected 10 the tax of a water
company OF of the United States.
This region is in the extreme south
western corner of the United States, Just
north Of the point where the boundaries
of California, Arizona and Mexico meet.
The California Development Co. has
reclaimed 100000 acres of the desert.
Ten thousand settlers have made their
homes there. Arid wastes have been con
verted into arabic land that yields rich
crops of wheat, barley and alfalfa.
Dates will be grown there. Railroads,
banks, telephones, schools and all the
other advantages of civilization are at
the disposal of the people. Stories are
told of men who have, in a year, made
from $40 TO $50 an acre from land that
cost So or less I'm acre.
Dazzling rs is this tale Of transforma-
ton, II is but the forerunner of enor-
mously greater development in the flu
ture.
IN the lower stretch Of the Colorado
river, between the Needles and Yuma,
on the Mexican boundary, there are to
be reclaimed, if the government is to
control the work, 100000 acres. Ac-
eording to the records of Southern Cali
fornia, this land viii be able to support.
on the farms and in the towns, 1900, 900
people.
Similar results are TO be gained all the
way 10 the headwaters of the Colorado,
which, with its tributaries, flows through
Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Cali
fornia and Arizona.
The development is to take place UNI
less the development company, which has
established irrigation works near the
Mexican boundary is awarded ownership
of the waters of the river at that point.
In that case there could be no diversion
Of the water further north
The company, under the laws Of Cali
fornia, in 1885, claimed 10000 cubic feet
per second of the water at Yuma. II is
now asserted that this was in effect an
appropriation of all the water in the
river
Ia accordance with its rights the com.
pany has irrigated 200 600 acres Of land
IN California and it plans 10 irrigate
100000 acres additional in the United
States and 100000 in Mexico.
Nothing occurred 80 interfere with
its ownership until the comparatively re
cent discovery that, according TO III,
Gsdsden treaty and the laws OF the Unit
ed States, the Colorado is a navigabl'
stream.
There is little or no navigation, hu
nnder the law il is nRvigable and there
fore its waters cannot be used for irri
cation.
To remedy this defect the water com
pany asked the present congress TO pas
4 short Law declaring the river non
navigable. That pTecipitated a contest
NJ. +. Smythe. of San Diego, Cal
father Of the national irrigation congress
and longtime advocate of irrigation
came here as a representative Of the sci
tlers to oppose the bin.
Officials Of the interior department
charged with the duty of carrying on
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The Str. Greyhound is now on the ru