Arizona republican., 1921-12-13
DAMS BELIEVES U. {. WILL BUILD. COLORADO RIVER IRRIGATION DAM
rRepubIlean A. p. leased wIreJ

SAN DIEGO, Calf, Dec. 12-I Construction of dam at Boulder Canyon in the Lower Colorado river. by the United States solely, and maintaining control in perpetuity. was recommended to Secretary of by Arthur P. Davis. director of the United States reclamation service This was announced by Director Davis at the opening of a hearing here called by President Harding to hear protests against a preliminary report by the director that con- struction be started under funds icipalities and other interests under commission of three who had no interests in the states involved.
 The Cochella valley. California, people who had protested to Sec retary Fall against the original recommendations for development by the public interests of the west As result of this and other pro- tests the hearing was set here. ment construction of' the dam was favored now by the director changed the status of the hearing.
 Director Davis announced that as a primary condition to any con- struction work by any one he was in favor of the principle that the United States in providing storage and further development should not prejudice the carrying out of uses of water in the upper basin of the Colorado" He assured representa- tives of the upper states that he urgeed that no irrigation uses of water by the upper states should be thwarted by construction work in the Lower Colorado
 .l. sz fighting chance to get congress to give the necessary funds for con- struction of the dam by the United States" the director said.
 Hearing from representatives of | the Imperial Valley, other parts of Southern California and from sew eral southwestern states then pro- ceeded.
 George Brewington, spokesman for 1 New Mexico, said that the ssate would stand ty her sister states. R-B. Caldwell, Utah state engineer, said | Utah wanted development of the Col orado with equitable rights of the states safeguarded.
 | J. G. Scrugham, representing Ne vada, said that Nevada was unitedly | in support Of tie federal government | on any agency the government pro- ! posed, but beliey ed that the govern rnent member to the interstate Colo
 rado river commission should be ap- pointed immediately. Secretary Fall 1 replied that the president was ready | to appoint the delegate but had been l requested to delay action by the sev-
 en states interested.
 Captain T. J. Worthington. repre-
 senting American Legion members,
 urged that any lands reclaimed be
 divided Into 70 acre tracts and for
 mer service men he given preferen-
 tiaI opportunity 10 file on these.
 Frederico Ramos, representing the
 Mexican government, said:
 "we have determined from Sec
 retary Falls statements that justice
 will proceed in the development of
 the river"
 R. E. Sloan. former governor oi
 Arizona, said Arizona was committed
 to any policy that meets approval oi
 the secretary O. the interior. but il
 stands ready tt pledge Itself that nc
 project should be built that would
 prejudice the rights of the uppei states on the Colorado to their equit-
 able portion Of the river system: resources. He declared the proposed dam site was within Arizona ana looked upon as . natural resource O.
 Arizona, in the belief that Arizons , had preferential right to power de r veloped therefroI to meet the futur, needs Of the state. Arizona woult want this preferential right protected by some contract he said.
 } California was represented by " F. Mcclure. He told Secretary Fal } that an emergency exists and tha : immediate action vas called for. H. ? said that the secretary had voiced hi; policy plainl. and all that Californi; wished to brirg before the govern ment was the need of speed.
 Secretary | III gave an exposition ! here tonigh of an attitude he sai, was evident in Colorado of opposition to government development of tn Colorado rive He said the Colorad, feeling arose over events affectin. development O. the Rio Grande. an, , discussed the history of that strean ! lengthily to show slmilarities be
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