The Dolores star., 1923-01-26

pact which Is subject to ratification by
the legislature of each of the sgnatory states
and by congress. In doing these seven states
Of the Colorado River basin have
Settled by ueaty instead of by resort TO the
United States Supreme court fundamental and
vitality important interstate rights;
Settled at small expense within II months after
the appointment of the commission multitude of
disputes that threatened years of litigation block
Ing the development of the Colorado basin;
Set precedent in American history;
Taken the first step toward the creation of an
empire within an empire, the development of which
taxes the Imagination and will affect Individual
living from to coast.
The headwaterS of the Colorado river as the
map shows. Wyoming just south of Yellow
stone National park, and in northwestern Colorado
Water flowing from Miner pass in the Rocky
Mountain National park falls 1O759 feet on its
course to the The Green and the Grand come
together in Utah to form the Colorado The Col
orado in Arizona flows through Grand CANYON Ma
tonal park. 1t empties into the Gulf Of California
In Mexico. 1t is nearly 1000 miles in length and
more than score of rivers contribute their wa
ters 1t irrigates and annually menaces with foods
the Imperial and PalO Verde valleys In California
and the Yuma valley in Arizona. Its basin totals
242GOo square miles of American territory
1t Is no eNaggeration to say that the original
contentious of the seven states were far apart
that an agreement seemed hopeless But Herbert
hoover, secretary of commerce. appointed by
President Harding the representative of the
oh'eu suites, was tllere as chairman of the
mission Enough said, The compact has been
signed by the representatives of the seven worrinp
states and bears this: approved. Herbert
Hoover
Following is the official text of the compact
with the omission of certain technical details not
necessary TO comprehensive understanding of the
whole:
The States of Arizona. California Colorado
Nevada New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming having
resolved TO enter into a compact under the act OF
the congress of the United States of America ap-
proved August 10, 1921 az Stat L.. D. ND and the
acts of the legislatures of the said states have
through their governors, appointed as their com
missioners w. S. Norvel. for the State Of Arizona
w. F. Mcclure, for the State of California; Deph
j.. Carpenter, for the State of Colorado; ] G.
Scrugham, for the State of Nevada; Stephen u
Davis, Jr.. for the State of New Mexico r. f. CaId.
well for the State of Utah Frank c. Emerson for
the state of wyoming who after negotiations pnr-
ucipated In by Herbert Hoover appointed by the
President as the representative of the United
States of America. have agreed upon the following
articles:
article I. The major purposes of this compact
are to provide for equitable division and apportion-
ment of the of the waters Of the Colorado
river system. to establish the relative Importance
of different beneficial of water to promote
Interstate comfy, to remove causes of present and
future controversies, and to secure the eyDeditous
agricultural and Industrial development of the Col
orado River basin, the storage of its waters and
the protection of life and property from floods
To these ends the Colorado River basin is divided
into two basins, and an npportIonment of the use
OF part of the water of the Colorado river system
is made TO each Of them with the provision that
further equitable apportionmens may be made
art. II. AS used in this compact: (A) The term
Colorado River system means that portion of the
Colorado river and its tributaries within the United
States of America (B) The term Colorado River
basin means all of the drainage area of the Col
orado River system and all other territory within
the United States of America to which the warers
OF the Colorado River system shall he benefcially
applied. Co The term States of the upper diyi:
sion means the States of Colorado New Mexico
Utah and wyoming D) The term States of the
lower division means the States of Arizona Cali
eornia and Nevada. (E) Tie term Lee Ferry