The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1922-04-05
RECLAMATION man !.
TALKS on SUBJECT
COLORADO RIVER, ouEsTloN 10
DISCUSSED BY PROMINENT 6
,s ~, SPEAKER ~
Director Davis Files Rscord 70 show
/, Relation % Uss and Return Flow
OF Water as Applied
-. Ia irrigation

-. II, irrigation
DR.. John A. Widstoe, recognised 40
m authority on various phases OF
exclamation. summed Utah's position
pm the question now before the Colo.
sado River Commission, at the Salt
Lake Meeting. 40 follows:
z ''Ehe proposed treaty should rscos-
hise as fundamental considerations: :
II. That for the purpose Of best
development the Clorado- basin 10 an
economic unit.
~. That no other use should pre-.
eede the use Of water for irrigation. in
Guiding food, control and domestic
needs. 80 a.. A.. .st.
g. That there is ample water In
the Colorado river for all economical
y irrigable lands.
~. That beenfical use merging in.
70 economical use, alone should CON
tribute water rights on the river.
The compact might then include:
Il. Tho free and unrestricted de.
Kelopment Of the river. under the laws
OF the states interested. for a period
cay, Of fifty years. after which another
commission may consider the future.
=. The precedence of irrigation, in.
Guiding its concomitants, tho control
Of food waters and domestic use, over
power Development. en,sa.. -.,
-. The united attempt Of the sew.
en- states interested to secure immed.
late and continuous development of the
river. beginning with dam to serve
flood control and storage purposes,
and, If possible. to place the major
structures. affecting several states.
under federal control.
~. Erection of a continuing Colo.
RADIO river commission, without judi.
cial or administrative power, to act 40
q bureau to encourage the continuous
study Of the Colorado; to assemble in
an easily accessible form all available
facts concerning the river. and TO make
Seports and recommendation to the
respective states and to the govern.
0aent." r' s''@' e'.+',aiv,s,
'The power possibilities Of the Col.
Qrado river are of little concern In
comparison with the irrigation and
homo possibilities. for In the Colorado
basin We must have water to reclaim
our barren lands and to establish
homes az the foundation of all devel.
opment. Fortunately, however, on the
Colorado river tremendous power pro.
ductton 10 assured without interior
eucs with the irrigation possibilities.
The application Of broad and gen.
eral principles, such a. are desirable
In the considerations Of the great prob
lem " the Colorado river basin, varies
WatA.sths quantity of irrigation water
available and <hs ease Of winning Il
- agricultural ; use. Therefore the
fundamental physical fact concerning
Shes Colorado river II that. a. q result
Ok elshtesn years Of measurements.
under govssnmsntAl auspices and &C.
,eerding TO- 4hs best methods, Of the
Hlnss. IN average OF 1880. 900 acre
fet .p< water run past the Yuma sta.
elop annually-15. 100000 Acrs-fset Of
Nhtch are wasted into the Gulf Of Call.
iornia.
-This quantity Of water. II properly
conserved; that 10. made available by
dams and canals. has been estimated
By the reclamation service to be suffi.
cient TO irrigats al the economically
1TFiSabls lands OF the basin, including
. large acreage In Mexico.
There can be NO doubt about the
reasonable accuracy Of either Of tlfbse
statements; consequently. the labor Of
formulating q Colorado river agree.
ment q greatly diminished; for many
OF the petty. but annoying. questions
Of irrigation rights and practices, not
ably those relating to prioritiss. may
be. and should be. ignored, in view of
the plentiful supply Of water for the
irrigable lands Of the basin.
The Colorado river commission. &C.
cording to law, shall negotiate ana
enter into . compact or agreement
providing for an equitable division
and apportionment among said states
of the water supply Of the Colorado
river and the streams tributary there
to-
THE division that first suggests IL
self 10 naturally the assignment of a
certain proportion Of the river flow
to each OF the states interested in pro-
portion TO the probable irrigable land.
However. such a mechanical partition
10 wholly at variance with our best
irrigation experience. First, because
1T practically forces each state to claim
Ia maximum quantity Of water, to sat.
isfy the popular demand. as well az
TO protect the interests Of the state ~
more detailed information 10 secured
concerning irrigation possibilities.
"A dam In the lower reaches Of the
river would effectively furnish the
flood control 20 sadly needed by the
A&-A> - evla