, 1923-01-18

Colorado river and have signed a com
pact which is subject to ratification by
the legislature of each of the seven signatory states
and by congress. In so doing these seven states
of the Colorado River basin have
Settled by treaty instead of by resort to the
United States Supreme court fundamental and
vitality important Interstate rights;
Settled at small expense within IL months after
disputes that threatened years of litigation block
ing>t;ie development of the Colorado basin;
Set a 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 pass in the Rocky
Mountain National park falls 1O.759 feet on its
course to the sea. The Green and the Grand come
together In Utah TO form the Colorado. The Col
orado in Arizona flows through Grand Canyon M
tional park. 1t empties into the Gulf of California
In Mexico. II is nearly 1000 miles in length and
more than n score Of rivers contribute their wa
tiers. 1t irrigates and annually menaces with floods
the Imperial and Palo Verde valleys in California
and the Yuma valley in Arizona. Its basin totals
242,OOO square miles of American territory.
IL Is no exaggeratlon to say that the original
contentious of the seven states we're so far apart
that an agreement seemed hopeless. But Herbert
Hoover. secretary of commerce. appointed by
President Harding as the representative of the
-"
United States, was there as chairman Of the com.
mission. Enough said! The compact has been
signed by the representatives Of the seven warning
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 n 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 an
proved August ~. 1921 az stat. L.. p. 171). and the
acts of the legislatures of the said states have
through their governors, appointed as their com
missioners w. S. Norviel, for the state of Arizona
w. +. Mcclure. for the Stnte of California: Deph
". Carpenter, for the State OF Colorado; J. q
Scrugham, for the State of Nevada; Stephen II.
Davis, Jr, for the State of New Mexico: II. Il. Cald.
well, for the State Of Utah Frank c. Emerson. for
the state Of wyoming. who inter negotiations par
|ticipnted In by Herbert Hoover. appointed by the
President as the representative Of the United
States of America. have agreed upon the following
articles:
article l. The major purposes OF this compact
are TO provide for equitable division and apportion.
ment OF the use Of the waters of the Colorado
river system. TO establish the relative Importance
hf different beneficial uses OF water. 10 promote
Interstate comfy, TO remove causes OF present and
future controversies, and to secure the expeditions
agricultural and Industrial development OF the Col.
nradO River basin, the storage of It's waters. and
the protection OF life aud property from floods.
To these ends the Colorado River basin Is divided
Into two basins, md an apportlonment OF the use
uf part of the water Of the Colorado river system
Is unde 10 each Of them with the provision that
further equitable apportionments may be made.
Art. II. As used In this compact. (A) The term
Colorado River system means that portion of the
Colorado river and It's tributaries within the United
States OF America. () The term Colorado River
basin means all Of the drainage area Of the Col.
orado River system ana all other territory within
the United States of Americn to which the wnrers
Of the Colorado River system shall he benenclaIy
applied. tC) The term states OF the upper dlvi.
sion means the States OF Colorado. New Mexico,
Utah and Wyoming. tD) The term States OF the
lower division means the Stntcs of Arizonn. Call.
fornia and Nevada. tE) The term Lee Ferry