The Coconino sun., 1922-12-15

lant action of the seven states direct ed to their own mutual protection it is in the highest degree improbable that the government of the United States will give to Mexico such an amount of water as may interfere with the proper development of any of the states. At any rate, we are safer with seven states united than if only two or at best three states be interested in keeping down this allot- ment to the minimum.
 There is no occasion for apprchen- sion that the compact denies the use of any water that may be needed for Arizona's agricultural development in the future. Indeed, with adequate storage the real problem will be to find available lands upon which to place our available water. No one knows with any degree of certainty how many acres of land may be re- claimed in Arizona from the Colorado river. The engineering commission headed by MT. La Rue of the geolog- ical survey is now in the field acquir- ing data to determine definitely what lands are possible of irrigation from the Colorado river within this state. The report of the commission should be available by the first of the new year. The reclamation service has estimated that only about 23O,O00 acres of new lands may be irrigated by diversion from the river below Boulder Canyon. It is sincerely to be hoped that the engineering commis- sion may report many times as many acres as estimated by the reclamation service that may be reclaimed, for otherwise there will be water in ex- cess of all needs.
 The extent to which new develop ment in California may proceed is definitely well known. The present acreage of lands within the state of California irrigated from the Colorado river is approximately 450,000 acres for which approximately 2,250,000 acre feet per annum is UCed. This acreage cannot be materially extended unless what is called the All-American canal shall be built at an expenditure of $30,000,000, but with the All-Amer- ican canal the acreage in California cannot be extended beyond 940,00O acres, and this acreage cannot be reached without taking in lands of doubtful value. Even if California should ever reach this maximum it will require not to exceed 100000 acre feet per annum. The maximum requirements, therefore, of California and the upper states will not exceed 10,000,000 acre feet per annum. Talk ing the average flow for the last twenty years as a standard this will leave for Arizona alone at least G. 0H),000 acre feet per annum, after making a reasonable allowance to Mexico. To make this water avail able, assuming we have the lands up on which to put it, will entail the ex- pGpditure of vast sums of money, probably not less than $100,000,000. Where such a vast sum is to be had is at present an unsolved problem. The water, however, is available whenever the time shall come for it's use. So much for irrigation.
 There is urgent need for power de- veIopment on the lower Colorado riv- er We are reasonably assured of this within a relatively short time if only the opposition of the other states be withdrawn. The pact allows the full est and freest use of waters of the river for this purpose fer no possible use can be made of the water in the upper states that will seriously cur tail power development in the can-