AZ vs. CA:24 California Exhibits, Vol. XXIV; Miscellaneous

page A76

A76 APPENDIX 2 09 Legislation of similar character was adopted by all of the other states. President Harding appointed Mr. Herbert Hoover, Secretary of the Department of Commerce, as the federal member. The Commission met in Washington, D. C, on January 27, 1922, and chose Mr. Hoover as chairman. Meetings and hearings have been held at- Phoenix, Arizona, March 15, 16, 17, 1922. Los Angeles, California, March 20, 1922. Salt Lake City, Utah, March 27, 28, 1922. Grand Junction, Colorado, March 29, 1922. Denver, Colorado, March 31 and April 1, 1922. Cheyenne, Wyoming, April 2, 1922. Santa Fe, New Mexico, November 9th to 24th, 1922. Compact adopted November 24th, 1922, at Santa Fe, New Mexico. The movement of which the Compact is the outgrowth started at the meeting of the League of the Southwest in Denver during August 1920. As a result of the Denver meeting a Commission was constituted as composed of the State Engineers, or similar officials, of each of the seven states in interest, together with the Director and Chief Engineer of the U. S. Reclamation Service, with the delegated purpose of studying the physical phases of the whole Colorado River problem and suggesting a basis and principles for solution. After a careful study of the matter uniform legislation was drafted for the creation of a Commission, which became known as the Colorado River Commission. This Commission was duly authorized by legislative enactment by the states in interest and the United States, and their respective representatives duly appointed. CONCLUSION In conclusion permit me to add that the terms of the compact do full justice to the states in interest, and the equitable division and apportionment of the use of the waters of the Colorado River System whereby the Lower Basin is allocated 7,500,000 acre-feet per annum, with an allowable increase of 1,000,000 acre-feet per annum by reason of the probable rapid development upon the lower river, and fully guarantees to California an ample water supply to adequately care for the enormous future growth of the Imperial Valley and adjacent territory. With the construction of an impounding dam at the proper location to restrain the floodwaters of the Colorado River, all menace of inundation, which is now an ever-present hazard to Imperial Valley, will be eliminated, and the value of electric energy possible of generation by water power through the construction of such dam will be of immense value not only to Imperial Valle}7" but to our entire southwest.