The Canon City record with which is consolidated the Canon City cannon., 1912-08-15
QUESTION TO
' Be DEFINITELY
Determined

Denver, Aug 15.-Notnlns that mas
occurred in recent years which will
mean as much 10 Colorado and her ir-
rigation enterprises as the determine
ton OF President Taft 10 settle once
and for all the controversies that have
arisen between the federal and the
state government over water rights.
In this case the waters OF the Rio
Grande river are the only ones 10 ques-
ton, but a determination Rs TO the
right OF the state government and as
toShe rights Of the federal government
in this case will determine the rights
Of both governments in practically all
OF the suits now pending. At the pres
ent time the federal government
claims the right 10 the use Of the waters
q the Rio Grande in order that 1; may
maintain the provisions OF the treaty
between the United States and Old
Mexico which treaty calls for our
government contributing one hundred
thousand acre feet Of water annually
to the Mexican government Al the
same time. the federal government Is
claiming the waters Of the Pine and
other rivers in southwestern Colorado
IN order TO maintain the provisions cf
the treaty which the government en-
tered into with the IEnati Indians
WIDELY the government is 20 furnish
that trfhe OF Indians 1900 acre feet
Of water annually. A; the same time.
~. government has iniervened in or
Ger TO protect It's own rights In the
syit now pending between the state OF
colorado and the state Of Wyoming -
garding certain water sheds. the ap-
pex OF which Is in Wyoming and the
xaiiey of which is In Colorado. Thus
giving the waters 20 Colorado
whilc rne xovernnsnt admits that
the waters Of the state belong 10 the
states. which was part Of the agree
ment in the enabling act The gov
ernmenf also maintains that II the
state does not use the water before II
crosses the boundary dine then I, be-
comes the property Of the next state.
And 10 that state does not use it then
II becomes the property OF the next
state. etc
Sfhe government In order 20 get the
water for the EnEle reservoir declined
20 grant 20 any irrigation company IN
Colorado the right OF imminent do
main for a ditch across government
land. This has the erect OF 9reccni-
Sag the construction Of any irrigation
projects across government land and
rs the government owns nearly all the
land on both sides Of the Rio Grandc
river and its tributaries in Colorado.
4 ,ss result is that the state does not
get TO use any of the waters OF that
stream before they flow across into
Mexico. The same condition prevails
and the government takes the same pc
sition with regards irrigation com-
panies in New Mexico. which canses
the water TO now on through that
state. The Engie dam which ls built
solely for the purpose OF supplying
the reservoirs that will guarantee n
sufficient amount of water to maintain
our treaty with the Mexican govern
ment is in Texas with the federal
government declining to allow irrisn-
tion c'mpanies to construct irrigation
systerfs across federal land. thus de-
privlng Colorado and New Mexico OF
the use OF Its own waters. the govern
. fent gets the water for use in the
Engle dam
This position OF the federal govern-
.ment was taken during the Roosevelt
administration and has been the great
est source of annoyance between the
|. federal and the state governments
ty.Ince the reclamation work was be-
g,s, by the federal government The