The Coconino sun., 1923-08-31

This natural heritage is ours and the
compact does not take it from US. Ari-
zona under the pact would have prior
right to all the power developed in
the state and the use of as much as
needed to develop her industries, the
surplus to be disposed of to California
or elsewhere.
3sBut keep this in mind: Despite the
advancement in electrical science,
power transmission is costly propo-
sition. Long transmission lines mean
tremendous outlay and considering
expense for upkeep and an appreci-
able leakage.
''To such points as Kingman, Peach
Springs, Flagstaff and Prescott, pow
er from the Colorado river could be
delivered at a rate of SO per horse
power per year cheaper than to Los
Angeles, and even to Phoenix and
other southern Arizona points. The
distance would be much shorter and
the cost of power proportionately
lower.
Climate and cheap transcontinental
/ freight rates have made southern
| California, but with cheaper power
Arizona can become competitor with
southern California. Today, | am re-
liably informed, eastern interests are
planning the expenditure Of millions
of dollars In or near Los Angeles for
| the construction of the largest cotton
/ and wooden mills in the United States,
/ establishments which could more log
ically be built in Arizona, the source
of supply of the raw materials, and
establishments which could have been
/ landed somewhere in Arizona were we
ready and able to offer cheap power. !"
Throughout the state and through
out the nation there is greater in
! terest than ever in the development
! of the Colorado river and in the action
of this state on the pact, according to
| Mr.. Norviel, who expressed the opin-
ion that the change of administration
at Washington will not stand in the
way of the reclamation program, flood
control and power development. Pres
/ ident Coolidge is regarded as being
] favorable to the pact, as his thorough
sympathy with Mr.. Harding's policy
Of extending reclamation is we'll
known, he said.
Ratification of the pact by the sew
!
\ for all time dispose of the bureau
! cratic control of the river by the gov
ernment, in the opinion of Mr.. Nor
viel, who pointed out that in all OF
the recent interstate litigation be-
| fore the United States supreme court,
notably in the Kansas-Colorado suit
and the Wyoming Colorado and Okla
homa- Texas suits, the government IN
| tervened and made claim to all of the
unappropriated waters of the inter-
state streams involved in the con-
/ troversies.
He also called attention to the fact
that Secretary of the Interior Fall at
! the San Diego meeting in December,
| 1921. made the following statement:
"The decision of the supreme court
4 of the United States was against the
Rio Grande Dam and Irrigation Co.,
of New Mexico and did not mention
the people of the state of Colorado
did not involve them except that the
decision of the United States su-
preme court was to the effect that the
/ Rio Grande was navlgabie stream,
an international stream, and belonged
4 to the United States of America from
the head springing (springs) in the
Rocky Mountains to its mouth in the
Gulf of Mexico, and the same law,
the same rule applies to the waters
of the basin and the land of the Rio
Colorado"
"But," declared Norviel, "the Colo
rado river compact recognizes in full
the rights of the states to the control
of the waters Of the Colorado river
system and creates an absolute integ-
rity Of complete sovereignty in the
states of the basin to the control and
use of those water, if and when rati-
| fled by Arizona and approved by con-
gress."