, 1922-03-30
state Engineer Discusses WyOminR's
interests In Connection With
Appropriation OF River

HpF lNtAou oJ ASlStf
Wyoming will have a chance to be
fully heard upon Colorado river prob
lens at Denver today and tomorrow.
State Engineer Frank c. Emerson,
Wyoming's representative upon the
Colorado commission. has announced
upon these dates a public hearing
will be held by the commission upon
the important questions concerning
the use and division Of the waters
OF this great river. The state en-
gineer-has spent much time during
the past two years upon a study OF
Colorado river problems and Is quail
flied to speak and act for the state
in relation to them. He believes that
this should not prevent. however, a
full showing at a public hearing by
those prepared to speak upon Wyo-
ming's important interests upon the
headwaters Of the Colorado.
with 435.000 acres OF land now
irrigated upon the Green and Little
Snake rivers. Wyoming tributaries
of the Colorado and possibilities for
the reclamation of $50 900 additional
acres. the state Of Wyoming should
certainly be much concerned over
present plans and possibilities upon
this river system" says Emerson.
plans and proposals for develop
ments upon the Colorado river and
tributaries are stupendous in magni-
tude and carry visions OF as great
engineering feats. and transforma-
ton Of city and desert, as have ever
been conceived. The protection OF
the wonderful Imperial valley from
floods. the generation Of immense
amounts Of power for the develop
ment OF the Pacific coast country.
and the storage Of water for millions
OF acres are all parts Of the big plan
OF development. The need Of prompt
action is urgent.
Starting with the meeting Of the
League Of the Southwest in Denver
in August, 1920. Colorado river prob
lens have been under active consid-
Grafton. To arrive at an agreement,
IL possible. between the Seven states
IN the Colorado river drainage area
the plan for the Colorado river com.
mission was formulated at the Den,
yer meeting. Legislative. action by
the several states and congress Great
ed the proposed commission gave II
authority to work out a form OF
compact or agreement as to the use
and division OF the waters Of the
Colorado river and its tributarie.
that. upon ratification by the sever
state legislatures and. the congress o.
the United States would constitute
treaty between states and be binding
for all future time. The opportunit!
seems at hand to secure a prope'
agreement. The lower states ar,
confronted by present necessities
but they cannot obtain an adequat'
solution Of their problems unles
they have the support in congress o
the upper states of the river basin
Wyoming, Colorado and Utah will b
found willing to subscribe to a plal
that will bring relief to the lowe
river, provided these three state
which supply the major portion o
water to the river, are protected b
an absolute agreement as to thei
rights to the use of water as tim
may make additional development
possible.
wyoming wants no repetition G
the Pathfinder situation whereby
great reservoir was constructed upo
the North Platte river and then, /
fear that Pathfinder rights needed a
the water to the North Platte. tt
federal government through its di
ferent agencies effectively held bac
developments in the valley for
dozen years. This situation has bee
finally adjusted and cooperative il
vestigations between the Unite
States reclamation service and tn
state of Wyoming have shown a su
ficient supply of water in the Mort
Platte river for all practical develop
ment in Wyoming. The agreemer
came only after years Of delay, how
ever One Of the important keys t
the solution of the problems of tn
Colorado river is the construction C
a great reservoir on the lower river
According to tentative plans. thi
reservoir would call for a dam O
over twice the height Of the presen