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Show -5- Historical Background The Colorado River Indian Reservation was established by the Act of March 3, 1865 (13 Stat. L.559). The selection of the area to become the reservation was made in the fall of 1863 by Colonel Charles D. Poston, Superintendent of Indian Affairs for Arizona Territory, and Mr. A. F. Waldemar, a civil engineer. Their objective was to locate an area which could be irrigated readily. They reported the best, largest, and quickest place on the Colorado River to establish an irrigation project was the area later established as the reservation. The reservation boundaries were subsequently adjusted by the Executive Orders of November 22, 1873, November 16, 1874, May 15, 1876, and November 22, 1915. Irrigation development of the reservation lands has been in progress for ninety years. In 1866, the Congress appropriated $50,000 for the initiation of work on an irrigation canal. Construction work was started December 16, 1867, by 300 Indians working at 50^ per day with hand shovels and baskets. When the funds were exhausted in June 1868, one mile of canal was completed. On July 27, 1868, the Congress appropriated $50,000 for the completion of the canal. In July 1870, the first water was turned into the canal, but too much water partially destroyed the headgate and demolished the lower portion of the canal. The canal was repaired. In 1872 the canal was extended up the river to a new heading at Corner Rock; now named Headgate Rock. Water was turned in through the new heading on June 23, 1874. From 1870 to 1876, canal breaks and tunnel cave-ins plagued the operation. Subsequently, wells were dug and water pumped with steam engine power, but were unsatisfactory. Water wheels were installed in the river, but were lost in floods. From 1870 through 1912 the Indians experienced alternate periods of hope as new works were installed and of frustration with semi-starvation as they failed. On De- |
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Original book: [State of Arizona, complainant v. State of California, Palo Verde Irrigation District, Coachella Valley County Water District, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, City of Los Angeles, California, City of San Diego, California, and County of San Diego, California, defendants, United States of America, State of Nevada, State of New Mexico, State of Utah, interveners] : |