Arizona republican., 1922-03-30
COLORADOANS DEMAND
SPECIFIC GUARANTEE
Of OWN WATER RIGHTS
Commissioner NorUeH Says CoLorodoons Are
Not Sportsmen; Not Willing To Take EUen
Chance On Diversion OF Waters Where
OuOn Rights May Be Interfered With

LnePuOhSan - =. Leased Wirel
GRAND JUNCTION. Colo. March
@s--Ihe Colorado river commission
spent today hearing witnesses from
the western slope, outline the water
neeos OF this section OF Colorado.
Every witness who testified was
questioned at length by the commits
sloners IN an apparent effort to Sc
cure statement as to the form Of a
pact that would be satisfactory but
not much progress along this line
4 do not see the situation altered
one way or the otherD was the reply
OF Herbert Hoover. chairman OF the
commission, to a Question a. ~
whether he considered today'x hear
ing had brought out anything 10
make the outlook for an agreement
more favorable.
state Senator j. ]. Tobin Of Nor
trose. who has been interested in tr:-
rigation developments in the dis-
trict for many years. occupied The
witness stand a large portion OF the
afternoon session. He outlined the
irrigation situation in this district
from the beginning OF the building OF
private canals TO the present time and
was questioned. at length by the COM
During the last "a years Tobir
estimated that the legislature OF Co.
dorado had appropriated $500. 600 Tor
a defense fund to protect it's waters.
Senator Tobin declared 4 long term
OF public education would be neces-
sary before it would be possible TO
get the legislature OF this state 10
pass any act that only allows Colo
rado certain amount OF water
Under the constitution" Tobin con
tinued. the water belongs to the
state or Colorado. The more water
that is stored in the higher lands, the
oetter viii be the water rights Of
other states. The more water YOU
put on land. the more that Is stored
the more continuous flow the river
VIII have. There is no doubt there
always will be ample water FOR ev-
eryone on the slower levels" Tobin
pointed out the great empire OF west
ern Colorado produced crops as fine
as those OF any other section OF the
country.
The mill never grinds with the
water that Is past" quoted the sem
ator. III il don't interfere with the
development OF the states at the head
OF the stream" witnesses replied.
Commissioner Emerson pointed out
1t was desirable that a pact be writ
ten not only guaranteeing the lower
basin ample water but also that the
states in the northern section should
have definite statement as TO what
OF water should be allocated
to their use. based on an estimate
Of the needs for future years.
Colorado Wants All Rights
,fssr r.
II we Can enter an agreement where
by neither OF us has any advantage
Il doubt that you'd ever get the
OF Colorado to accept any
unless you had conclusive
proof that the people OF Colorado
would not be intefered with in the
development OF all irrigation that II
desired to develop" Tobin replied.
Then you Coloradoans are not
sportsmen.. you are not willing 20
take an even chance" NoNiel sug-
gested.
Il did not say that" robin replied.
The state line has been our fortress
Tor "a years"
Governor Mechem asked the wit
ness il he would agree TO accept a
pact that gave Colorado the right to
water TO the utmost extent OF your
The witness said some
sort OF a similar agreement might be
'But you wouldn't specificailv
lgree 10 the amount OF land or the
amount OF water that could be used
or cultivation?V ~ Mechem asked.
"No' replied the witness.
Tobin said IL title did not run
against the upper states. he would be
lgreeable to attaching water title TO
and in the lower basin.
i. J Foster, manager OF the I'M
project. near MontroSe.
explained the problems OF the project
o the commission.
In your experience IN the initia-
ion OF projects is il necessary TO
ave some water title attached TO the
and to have ample assurance
f continuous supply?' asked Mr.
Ioover.
Yes" the witness replied I'VE
rouldn't go into business II we could
ot get the use of water for a pro-
ect j"
Closing the case. r. c. Merrieil or
-ruita, declared between 100000
nd 100000 acre feet OF water OF
he Colorado river each year crosses
he artificial boundary between Colo
ado and Utah and flows down TO the
over BASIN"
1--WE have no control OF that wa
err" he continued 1--WE could not
ivert it,. And IL would seem that n
ou accept the fact that the water
lows across the line we would have
loved a considerable distance in an
fort TO reach solution. We can
OF influence delivery across the
outhern boundary. We desire to
ee the water cross to Utah end go
own for the beneficial use of the
,wer river
Dodge Agreement Question
THAT being the case what can we
ffer you more than the discharge or
ne river. You ask the citizens OF
olorado TO guarantee something 70
le citizens of other states which We
IN not guarantee to ourselves"
Would you he willing TO make any
greement about these waters?" Mr..
oover asked. I'VE think the lower
asin should accept the discharge OF
le water as IL occurs annually from
lr boundaries as the discharge OF the