The Coconino sun., 1923-05-11

/ destructive torrents; setting it's vast
| ing waters to work reclaiming the
deserts of a great southwestern en-
pire, producing motive power for the
| myriad wheels of industry, creating
! fields for the utilization of labor, op-
poTtunities for the employment Of
/ capital, agencies for the betterment
of the human race and the promotion
of civilization. In rejection of the
compact lies delay-indefinite, per-
haps interminable delay-a delay of
which we who are here today may
never see the end 1t means contin-
ued controversy, pickering and per-
haps permanent disagreement. 1t
means the retardation of industry, the
prevention of improvement, the denial
of healthy growth. In the smaller
sense, and yet not so very small, it
means actual destruction. In its broad
er and more comprehensive sense it
stands for obstruction, for stagnation.
In terms of human emotion it would
typify pathos and tragedy. If | were
to name it, | would name it Disaster.
These are not mere figures Of
speech. They are not Pigments of the
1 imagination They are hard, practical,
common-sense facts, and we are not
wise if we refuse to look them square
ly in the face. There will be no de-
velopment Of the Colorado river un-
til the congress of the United States
says so, nor until it appropriates mon
ey for the purpose. Primarily, at
least, it is a work for the federal gov
ernment. 1t is for the federal govern
ment to institute, and many of US
hope for it to prosecute, for and on
behalf of the people. The congress of
the United States will do nothing -
nothing-until there is treaty be-
tween the states. That is as definite
as anything can be forecast. 1t might
be termed a fixed policy. Congress-
men come and congressman go, but
this Colorado river movement, this
Colorado river policy, is growth
which permeates the national law
making body, and there is no hkell-
hood that it will change. There must
be a treaty, and there is but one
treaty before us-but one treaty for
US to consider. Any other treaty, if
not a myth, is very distant and very
doubtful. If we consign the one we
have to defeat, we sentence ourselves
to a bitter struggle, a long wait, and
to nothing of promise in the end.
In this connection, some might
think it pertinent to mention that the
idea has been advanced, and | myself
have often thought, that it would be
worth while to at least consider wheth-
er the state of Arizona might not her
self finance power project In the
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, If
careful investigation should disclose
its engineering, financial and political
feasibility. A still better idea-in my
off-hand opinion-and one fraught
with much less peril Of financial
debacle, would comprehend co-opera-
ton by Arizona with the United
States. possibly with the United States
and other states, in the financing OF
an initial enterprise. But these are
suggestions having absolutely nothing
to do with the present question OF the
compact. Ratification of treaty
will have to precede any development
on the river, and development by the
state of Arizona would prove no ex-
ception to the rule.
Nor is there anything in the COM
pact to excite the fears which have
been expressed conceMng it, or to
Justify the complaints wSsch have been
directed toward it. 1t e simple, an
easilv understandable document. It
will accomplish what it was designed
for. 1t was not meant to do every
thing. but merely certain all-neces-
sarv. primarily-eSsential things. 1t
was meant to clear away the OBJ
stacles, the distractions preventing
the development Of the Colorado river.
And it clears them away. By guaran-
i teeing to the upper states, whose
mountains supply the greater part OF
the rivers flow, water for the recla-
nation of their arid lands, it removes
their objection to the construction of
works In the lower basin. By limiting
their use or diversion of water to such
as may be employed for agricultural
or domestic purposes, it insures to
the lower states the uninterrupted
flow of all they can ever put practlc-
able to work by way of reclamation
and an abundance for the creation OF
worlds of power. Thus it serves every
legitimate aim. 1t attacks no vested
interest, but rather recognizes and
protects them. It leaves the states
in the full possession and enjoyment
of every right sovereign or otherwise
which they now enjoy, or which they
kill ever enjoy with or without com
pact, and this may be understood te
include the right to tax, by royalty