The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1922-11-17
Colorado
River Fight.
Is Settled.
\srecment Tor Division Of
Waters Reached by Connnis.
sion Headed by sccre.
lary Hoover.
Existing Rights Stand

sautn ~ \ ~ NoF. lG.-tBy 4
1.-THE Colombo river commission
composed ~ representatives ~ sevet
western states nnd the federal govern
ment. at its meeting today. reachc,
agreement upon the main principles oi
a treaty 10 be entered into between tho
seven stutes IN the basin and the fed
eral government for division of IN,
water and the proper development oi
the river
The plan provides for division ol
the basin into two groups, embracing
the states ~ ubh. Colorado, Wyoming
and New Mexico IN the upper division
and the states of Arizona, Nevada and
California IN the lower division.
II was considered that inasmuch as
the character OF agriculture, the
method OF use of water, the general
econom G conditions surrounding
power and other uses were widely DIFF.
ferent In the two areas, separated as
they are by 1000 miles Of Colorado
river canyon, this division was nat.
uraI and logical one.
Existing Rights Stand.
Definite allotment Of an equal
amount Of the voters of the river
was agreed upon between the two di.
visions, and provision WIS made for
the summoniDg Of second commits.
sion some years hence to provide for
The equitable division OF the unalIoted
water. In the light Of the then In.
creasing knowledge and Increasing
need.
Preference in rights for use OF the
water is to be established to agricul.
ture and none Of the existing rights In
he basin are disturbed
The commission viii proceed i'm.
mediately 10 the drafting Of the Ian.
Suage Of the compact.
The governors and governor.elect Of
mo states In the basin have been In,
Wited by Chairman Hoover TO Join the
commission OF Santa Fe at once, in
order to obtain their final views on
tho compact.
The commission has agreed upon
The extreme urgency for immediate
erection Of control work TO protect the
imperial valley from floods. II has
developed that the situation in the
valley has become much more acute
during tho past month. due to partial
failure OF Pescadero cut to assure
hoped for temporary relief from dan
ger OF renewed break Of the Colorado
river into the Salton sea.
Full Details Withheld.
The commission. headed by Her
bert Hoover representing tho federal
government. IL composed OF commits
sioners from the states of Arizona,
Colorado, Nevada, New
Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. II had
been assisted by Director Davis OF
the United States reclamation service
and representative engineering and
legal STATS In the various states.
Chairman Hoover announced that
the commission feels gratified at the
successful issue OF the unique confer
ence for treaty between such a large
number OF states. submitting the
method under the constitution for an
prolonged contesting liti.
cation and arresting development in
the Colorado river basin which would
otherwise have followed"
Full details OF the compact are being
by the commission pending
Z IN Araf ft,v af taa
Tho commission did not announce
where the water passing from one
division 10 another would be meas
ured. nor did II announce the t.chni,
col details Of the compact, such as
the agreement reached concerning the
actual figures covering the volume OF
flow of The river. Much OF the com
time since II convened has
been occupied IN the discussion Of
technical details OF this kind.
No announcement was made, either,
any provision for possible
future requirements for the republic
Of Mexico.
agriculture Given Preference.
Agriculture will be given preference
In rights for use Of the water Of the
stream. according 10 the commissions
II was the general expectation ="
might thai the commission would be
able to complete the actual lnnsusse
~ the compact hy saturday, although
there vas said to be o poe fihllily that
sesslens would SO into newt week ="
hermit governors and governors
elect ~ the seven stnles of the besin
20 COME 90 Santa -
THE Legislatures 1 tbs seven states
In tbs sasin must rsiify the eonpae'
before u tscumes effective, tensrosH
sisa niue, approve i 20 make ~
fs.ffKe