The Raymer enterprise., 1923-01-18

toiorhuO river anu nave SlEieh u 'oii
pnct which Is subject to ratification by
the legislature Of each Of the sgnaory states
and by congress In $" doing these seven states
of the Colorado River basin have
Settled by treaty lnstcnd nf by resort TO the
United States Supreme court fundamental and
vitality important Interstate rights:
Settled nj small expense within II months after
the appointment Of the commission multitude of
disputes thni 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 coast to coast.
The headwaters Of the Colorado river. as the
map shows. are IN Wyoming Just south Of Yellow
stone National park, and in northwestern Colorado
Water flowing from Miner pnss in the Rocky
Mountain National park falls lO750 feet on its
course to tine sea. The Green and the Grand come
together In Utah To form the Colorado The Col.
"raho In Arizona flows through Grand Canyon Na-
tional pnrk. II einptles into the Gulf Of California
In Mexico 1t Is nearly 1000 miles in length and
more than Of rivers contribute their wa
ters. 1t rrigntes and annually menaces with floods
the Imperial and palo Verde valleys In California
and the Yuma valley in Arizona. Its basin totals
242oW square miles Of American territory
II is no exaggerntIon to say that the original
contentious Of the seven states we're so far apart
that m agreement seemed hopeless But Herbert
Hoover, secretary of commerce. appointed by
President Harding as the representative Of the
United States, there as chairman Of the com.
mission Enough said The compact has been
signed by the Representatives " the seven warning
states md bears this: approved. Herbert
IIuov"r'
Following is the official text Of the compact
with the omission of certain technical details not
necessary to c%nr:ehensiye understanding Of the
whole:
"rhc States of Arizona. California; Colorado
Nevada. Now Mexico. Utah and Wyoming having
resolved tn enter into a compact under the act OF
the congress OF the United States OF America ap-
proved August 10, 1921 t42 Stat L., r. 17D, and the
nets Of the legislatures Of the said states have
through their governors appointed their com
mssloncrs W & Norylel for the State Of Arizona
W. r. Mcclure, fov the State of California; Deph
f. Carpenter for the State of Colorado; j. G.
ScruGham, for the State OF Nevada Stephen D.
Davis Jr.. for the State Of New Mexico: r. f.. Cald
well for tha State OF Utah; Frank c. Emerson, for
the State OF Wyoming, who after negotiations par
tlcpated In by Her*ert Hoover, appointed by the
President IS The representative Of the United
States OF America have agreed upon the following
articles:
article l. The major purposes Of this compact
are 10 provide for equitable division and apportIoD.
ment OF the use of the waters Of the Colorado
river system, to establish the relative Importance
of different beneficial uses Of water to promote
Interstate CUmisy, to remove Of present and
future controversies and to secure the expeditions
agricultural and Industrial development Of the Col.
orado River basin. the storage Of Its waters and
the protection Of life and property from foods
To these ends the Colorado River basin Is divided
into two basins and an apportonment 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 appointments may be made
"Art. H. As used In this compact: tA) The term
Colorado River system means tha: portion Of the
Color ado river and Its tributaries within the United
Sta es OF America OBJ The term Colorado River
bas'n means all Of the drainage area Of the Col.
orudo River system and all other territory within
the United States Of America to which the waters
Of the Colorado River system shall be benehcially
applied. (C) The term States Of the upper divi.
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.
Iornie and Nsvsda (RA TAs term Lss Ferry