The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-07-27

ltIl IOiufiihS VI LcSti-
mony of Herbert c.. Hoover, secre-
tary of commerce, taken before the
House of Representative committee
on irrigation of arid lands, in con-
nection with consideration of the
Swing bill to provide for the pro-
lection and development of the
lower Colorado river basin. This
includes the great Boulder Canyon
dam project, which would irrigate
an immense area in southern Ne
vada and furnish electricity for a
portion of Nevada and southern
California, Arizona, and other states
adjacent to the dam site. The sub
ject is timely because of the great
amount of discussion being carried
on concerning the project and its
importance to Nevada. Hoover's
words will also serve to enlighten
a large number of people who have
little conception of what the project
consists.
Continued from Last Issue)
Mr.. Little. Has the commission
reached the conclusion that fed
eral enactment would settle the
question as to whether the lower
states should have priority on the
Boulder Canyon water?
Cn,rot.,x, uoaNar No. do
think the lower states want a
priority right at all.
Mr.. Little. | thought from what
you said that the bill should pro-
ably contain provision that no
special rights should arise to the
Southern states, as against the
others, by reason of the building
of the dam, and the question in
my mind was whether you had
reached conclusion that Congress
could probably maks such law.
Secretary Hoover. My advice
was that Congress could, in the bill
authorizing the construction of this
dam, make such provision as would
relieve the upper states of danger
upon this particular point.
Mr.. Little Have you had the
law examined sufficiently so that
you feel sure of your position?
Secretary Hoover. would want
to take further advice about it.
especially in view of the late de-
cision of the supreme court.
Mr.. Little. You also spoke of
agreements possible between the
states. Has it been settled legally
that the states can make agree.
ments about the water that would
bind anybody?
Secretary Hoover. III am
advised that this is a f estab-
lished right under the Con- luton
1t has been very seldom taken ad.
vantage of. In other words, il
has been established that a treaty
can be entered between the states
and If the treaty is ratified by the
Congress it becomes statutory law
Mr.. Sinnott. The states of Ore.
gon and Washington entered into
an agreement in reference to the
Columbia River which was ratified
by Congress.
Mr.. Little. Does that bind any.
body, in reference to the respective
rights?
Secretary Hoover. am sure il
is binding.
Mr.. Little. Suppose there were
no such agreement, what would be
the effect of federal law of that
kind?
Secretary Hoover. / suppose
that if the dam is erected by the
federal government, the federal
government would be the possessor
of any rights applicable to that
dam--you will need legal instruc-
ton upon many of these questions.
Mr.. Sinnott. Is that a navigable
stream, Mr.. Secretary?
Secretary Hoover. The Colorado
has been navigated above the mouth
of the ella River; it is not navi-
gated at the present time.
Mr.. Sinnott. Is it navigable at
the Boulder Dam?
Secretary Hoover, No.
Mr., Sinnott. How far from there
In it navigable above and below?
Secretary Hoover. Navigation
was once carried up to a point some
25 miles below, but systematically
say to 100 miles below the canyon.
Mr.. Hayden. Years ago steam
boats went from the mouth of the
Colorado River up to and above
Fort Mohave. That was before the
transcontinental railroads were con-
structed. Since that time there
has been but little navigation on the
river. The effect of the construc-
ton of the Laguna Dam was to
prevent navigation, although the
river is declared navigable by a
treaty between the United States
and Mexico and is so considered by
the War Department.
Mr.. Sinnott. Is there any public
land at the dam site?