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Show A124 APPENDIX 214 Movement toward the end of securing a treaty between states was started at the meeting of the League of the Southwest, in Denver during August 1920. This Denver meeting brought to the forefront the important interests of the upper river which had received but little attention at the previous meetings of the League in California and Arizona, although these meetings had primarily been held for consideration of Colorado River problems. 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 to study the physical phases of the whole Colorado River problem and suggest basis and principles for solution. After carefully considering the matter, this Engineering Commission, following further the plan proposed by the Denver meeting, drafted uniform legislation for the creation of a treaty or compact commission which became known as the Colorado River Commission. This Commission was duly authorized by proper legislative enactment by each State and by the United States, and the several representatives appointed. Proceedings of Colorado River Commission.-The first session of the Colorado River Commission was held in Washington, D. C, in January 1922. No definite plan of solution of the complex problems presented could be determined at this meeting. It was then decided to hold a series of public hearings at different points in the Southwest in order to give all parties an opportunity to present their plans and projects, to advise the Commission as to their ideas of the form an agreement between the States should take, and otherwise be fully heard. Following this plan public hearings were held by the Commission during the month of March at Phoenix, Arizona; Los Angeles, California; Salt Lake City, Utah; Grand Junction and Denver, Colorado; and upon April 2 at Cheyenne, Wyoming. El Centro, California, ancl Las Vegas, Nevada, were also visited but no special hearings were held. During the series of hearings the Commission received a large amount of information and many suggestions as to a proper solution of problems involved. Adjournment was then taken by the Commission in order that all matter might be carefully considered by the members. The final meeting of the Commission was held at Santa Fe, New Mexico, beginning upon November 9, 1922. After eighteen days of continuous session, the Commission was able to unanimously agree upon a form of Compact, and in the historic Palace of the Governors, in the City of Santa Fe, the "Colorado River Compact" was subscribed to on the 24th day of November 1922 by all the Commissioners. Upon ratification by the several State Legislatures, and the approval by the Congress of the United States, this Compact will become a treaty between the seven States and will be the water law of the |
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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] : |