Evening star., 1923-03-03

mdTklnS the HrSL time tndL a con-
siderable number Of states have set
tied fundamental Interstate rights by
process of treaty instead OF resort to
the Supreme Court of the United
States. the Colorado river compact,
signed by representatives of seven
southwestern states. and awaiting
ratification by the legislatures of
those, will break the blockade on de-
velopment of the whole river. accord
ing to Secretary Of Commerce Hoover.
chairman of the Colorado River Com
mission.
ut allows US all to get ahead with
river development and with food pro-
lection to the Imperial and Yuma VAL
leys,' the Secretary adds.
The compact. which was signed No
vember "a. 1922. at Santa Fe, y. M.
Is the first interstate treaty involving
more than two states which has been
executed in the history of the United
States. Its purpose was to put all
end to the litigation which has held
for many years, and which threatened
to hold 1t up for another considerable
period.
Ratification by the state legislatures
of the Colorado river compact means,
according to Clarence C. Stetson. ex-
ecutive secretary of the commission,
elimination Of legislation, thus re-
moving a blockade on development of
PAP 900 square miles Of American ter
ritory, a territory larger than the
reDllhi!C
ment through irrigation and Guilt
walton OF four million acres of land.
now desert; construction of dams
urgently needed for control of floods
and Palo Verde valleys. in California.
and the Yuma project in Arizona
rich communities assessed at more
than one hundred million dollars,
where 10000 to 100000 Americans
gain their living. Other advantages
to be gained by ratification include
new homes for three million Amer
lean men and women, new communi-
ties which Will furnish Increased
markets for the whole country, and
Increased wealth to be spread over
the nation
The worst thing about the compact.
Secretary Hoover says, is that it will
destroy much oratory. 1T makes for
growing spuds and not for glowing
speech" he adds.
Not an Emotional Matter.
"One can get great emotion over
conflict and quarrel" Mr.. Hoover
says, but there is no great oratory
about the fact that the northern
basin is separated from the southern
basin by a thousand miles of barren
canyon; that the agriculture and
economic life of the two basins are
wholly different, and that the logi-
cal thing Is to divide the water be-
tween them 30 they can make homes
instead of defend injunctions.
Nor can one make great oratory
out of the fact that there is ample
water and to spare after the appor-
tionment of enough water to each
| basin in perpetuity to cover all of
feasible projects, plus 20 per cent for
good measure. then holding in re-
serve 20 per cent for forty years to
see where II is most needed. There
is nothing sensational about compact
that leaves all question of Mexica n
water rights to the State Depart
ment OF the United States, which is
the only organ Of the American peo-
pie which has any right to deal with
It
There is nothing especially roman
tic about the provisions in the COM
pact for complete priority OF agri-
culture over power forever in the use
Of water of this river.
Yet. behind all the precise and COM
monplace language of this compact
lies the greatness and romance of
the west, the building Of q million
more homes out under the blue sky
In security and good will.
The compact has a side interest. for
with the exception of two other
cases, and these only between two
states, the Colorado river compact
marks the first time that a consider
able number of states have settled
fundamental interstate rights by proc
ess Of treaty instead OF resort to the
Supreme Court"
A Triumph for Civilization.
Agreement by the commission upon
the details Of the compact is a signal