The Coconino sun., 1922-12-22
DAM SITES AND PACT
 ARE DIFFERENT THINGS

We do not know whether any con-
 siderable number of Arizonians have
 read the Colorado River compact, but
 in some way many of them have been
 misled as to it's purpose. One hears
 in discussions of it much talk about
 the type and location of dams to be
 erected in Arizona Gentlemen are
 divided as to whethe. there should be
 a dam at Boulder Canyon, at Glen Canyon, or in both places. There is
 some dispute also as to the height of dam that might be erected at Boul- der Canyon.
 And all this has nothing whatever to do with the compact. There is just as direct or remote reference to the location and types of dams on the Colorado River to be found in the Ten Commandments as there is in the Col orado River compact. Never is the location of a dam advised or mention ed. The Colorado River Commission was not formed to build dams or to prescribe any plan for the develop ment of the basin. It was organized only to lay foundation on which the people of the seven states might con- struct a plan of development, so that the operations of one state would not interfere with the operations of another.
 Once such a foundation plan was laid each state, or the group of states in each division, might proceed with in itself or with the aid of the fed eral government to the work of de- velopment. It would then be decided, and the decision would not be dictated in the slightest egree by the compact, where the dams, reservoirs or other works should be located.
 These are matters to which the leg islature in considering the compact is any action which it is possible to take on the compact, the legislature could not commit the state.
 If in Arizona any extensive develop ment works are built within the pres ent generation, it will have to be done by the United States government. The greater part, if not the entire initial cost, will be paid by the government. The reclamation service will have charge of the works which will be To- cated by government engineers where they may believe they will do the most good.
 So, in ratifying the compact we will not bind ourselves to the location or type of dam, but if we should re- fuse to ratify it we will declare that we will not agree with our neighbors as to a plan for an equitable division of the waters of the Colorado and will leave it pretty well settled that there will be no beneficial development of the river so far as concerns Arizona. There is nothing we can gain by re- fusal but there is much that we might lose.
 It is altogether likely, in fact, al most inevitable, that the government will take steps for the protection of the Imperial Valley and the lands along the lower river against floods. The government would like to do that under the terms of the compact, in conjunction with the general develop ment of the basin for irrigation and power purposes. But if we or any oth- CT state should foolishly decline to ratify the compact, that would not lessen the need of flood protection and the government would then act on its own initiative. It would not then con- suit Arizona as to the location of a dam. It would put it where it would best serve the purpose of flood pro- lection.
 That would likely be accomplished under some such legislation as the pending Swing bill, which has not been drawn with reference to Ari- zona's needs and wishes.-Phoenix 
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