Albuquerque morning journal., 1922-11-28
ESTATE TREATY
To ALLOT RIVER
WATERS PRAISED
Reason and Progress Sub
Stituted for Conflict and
Stagnation, A. P. Davis
SAYS in a Statement
Special to The journal

santa re, NOV 1i.--EAiA bpOu
citizens should rejoice in the sub
stitution of reason ard progress
for conflict and stagnation, as evil
denced by the signing Of the seven
state compact to govern division
of the waters of the Colorado
river system, it was declared by
Arthur p. Davis, director OF the
United States reclamation service,
Mr., Davis was in attendance at
the conference here, which ended
Friday night. with the signing of
the pact. Mr.. Davis statement on
the value and effect of the pact
follows
"The unanimous agreement by
the Colorado river commission
upon the details of a compact for
the division Of uses and protec-
tion Of rights to the use Of waters
Of the Colorado river and its trib-
utares, is signal victory for
those qualities and impulses which
distinguish the civilized man from
the savage.
" III cbNiutb btldN
1T will obviate the delay and
the acrimonious litigations which
a year ago seemed imminent, and
has cleared the way for the pro-
vision of flood control and irriga-
tion storage urgently needed, and
indispensable to further develop
ment in the Colorado river basin.
The original contentious of the
seven states were so far apart
THAT an agreement seemed hone
less. But a discussion Of the va
rious needs led to closer acquain-
tance with the facts and the va
rious points of view, and the con-
clusions may be said to award to
each claimant more than he ex-
pected, IN view of the original
contentious.
THE satisfactory settlement OF
all these disputes at small expense
Within a year after the organiza-
ton OF the commission is in
strong contrast to the alternative
Of litigation. The recent decision
Of the supreme court in the Wy
on1ing-Colorado case was rendered
about eleven years after its in
ception, and dealt only with a
single controversy in small
stream basin.
THE Colorado river lies in
seven states, in which thousands
Of users are diyerting its waters.
Its development involves some of
the largest and most difficult en-
gineering problems ever attempt
ed, and a multitude Of comph-
Gated interests and possible dis
putes, which have been settled
within eleven months instead OF
eleven years.
"All good citizens should re-
joice in this substitution of reason
and progress for conflict and stag
nation.
"This happy result Is due large
" TO the broad minded attitude Of
the members of the commission,
and especially to the patience,
tact, and diplomatic ability of the
chairman of the commission. Hon
orable Herbert Hoover.
Natural Flow of River
"The natural flow OF the Colo
RADIO river averages nearly 70
COO. 900 acre feet per annum. or
this. about one-third is now used,
and this includes the low water
flow in the lower basin, which
cannot further develop safely
without storage.
"The present uses in the lower
basin are about 100000 acre
feet. The compact awards this
portion Of the basin q total an
nual flow of s.500,00O acre leet'
or more than double its present
needs, and sufficient to develop
all feasible projects and some OF
doubtful feasibility. d,
"The upper basin is awarded
1900. 600 acre feet. which is also
more than double its present
needs. and sufficient to serve
nearly 100000 acres additional,
which will be sufficient for all
feasible projects, and some ol
doubtful feasibility. II this water
is not consumed in irrigation, II
will run down through the can
yons for use below. ,. a,
"There remains an apportloned
quantity of over 100000 acre
feet for future division, as un-
foreseen needs may appear.
"Such a further division is pro-
vided for in the compact Thus
both basins are fully provided
FOR. their present development
protected, and their future deVel-
opment unhampered by water
disputes"