AZ vs. CA:04 California Exhibits, Vol. IV; Nos. 151-192

page 3

COLORADO RIVER, CAL. AND ARIZ. ft country. The most imjwrtant use of the water is for irrigation purposes, and to increase tin tonnage of the country would lessen the amount of water available for navigation. The district officer is of opinion that improvement for navigation purposes is not justifiable, and in this view the division engineer concurs. 4. Interested parties were advised of the unfavorable tenor of the district officer's report and given an opj>ortunity of submitting their vnws to the board, but no communications on the subject have been received. 5. It seems clear from a study of the physical conditions that any improvement for the purposes of navigation would be very costly. The use of the river for irrigation purposes conflicts more or less with its improvement for navigation. The outlet of tho river is through a foreign country. It does not seem probable that even if the river were improved a large commerce would be dev°lop?d. 6. In view of tne facts outlined above, the board reports, in concurrence with the district officer and the division engineer, that in its opinion it is not advisable for the United States to undertake tho improvement of the Colorado River, Cal. and Ariz., at this time. 7. In compliance with law, the board reports that there are no questions of terminal facilities, wat?r power, or other related subjects having any material bearing upon the improvement of navigation at this locality. For the board: W. M. Black, Colonel, Corps of Engineers, Senior Member of the Board. PRELIMINARY EXAMINATION OF COLORADO RIVER, CAL. AND ARIZ. United States Engineer Office, Los Angeles, Col., May 21,1914. From: The District Engineer Officer. To: The Chief of Engineers, United States Army (Through Division Engineer). Subject: Preliminary examination of Colorado River, Cal. and Ariz. 1. In compliance with department letter dated March 18, 1913, the following report is submitted of a preliminary examination of Colorado River, California and Arizona, with a view of developing and improving navigation, as provided for by the river and harbor act of March 4, 1913. 2. The Colorado River forms the boundary between California and Arizona. It has been the subject of preliminary examinations several times, as follows: In 1857, by Lieut. Ives, Topographical Engineers. In 1879, by Lieut. Col. Stewart, Corps of Engineers. See Annual Report, Chief of Engineers, 1879, page 1773. In 1890, by Lieut. Col. Bonyaurd, Corps of Engineers. See House Document No. 18, Fifty-first Congress, second session. In 1895, by Lieut, rotter, Corps of Engineers. See House Document No. 101, Fifty-fourth Congress, first session.