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Show 2 USB OP WATERS OF LOWER COLORADO RIVER FOB IRRIGATION. will decrease, while the necessity for the use of its waters for irrigation will increase, so that the former use will eventually give way to the latter. Whether this results or not, the fact remains that effective control of the river and its waters is demanded by all interests. In some instances private appropriation of water from the lower Colorado has been effected, and inasmuch as this has been allowed it would perhaps only be just to confirm such appropriations. Any such confirmation should, however, be limited to the quantity of water heretofore actually diverted and beneficially used. The act of June 17, 1902 (32 Stat., 88N), commonly known as the "reclamation act,*' provides that (he right to the use of water acquired thereunder shall be appurtenant to the land irrigated. This is a salutary rule and should be made applicable to water rights conferred or granted by the United States. Attention is called to the recommendations made by the Director of the Geological Survey, which meet with my approval. It is proper in this connection to state that this Department has been informed by the Department of Stnte that the Mexican Government has presented a protest against the construction in the Colorado River of any works that will interfere with the navigation of that stream. Very respectfully, E. A. Hitchcock, Secretary. December 22, 1904. Sir: In accordance with vour instructions of May 10, 1904,1 have the honor to submit the folfowing report upon public resolution No. 32, approved April 28, l!K)4 (32 Stat. L., 591). This resolution is as follows: That the Secretary of the Interior is hereby directed to institute an investigation of and report to the (Hmtgivw on the varioun ijiieHtioiiH involved in connection with the use of the water* of the lower Colorado Kiver for the irrigation of arid lands in the State of California and the Territory of Arizona, with the view of determining the extent to which the waters of the Haiti stream may be made available for the said l»ur|N»w through work." under the national irrigation act and by private enterprise, and ax to what hyidatfein, if any, in wwmmry to grant or confirm to present and future appropriate™ and users thereof |xt|mI mil righto to the iw of said wateM for irrigation. INVESTIGATION AND KKl'ORT. The investigation ordered by the aliove resolution has been carried on by the reclamation service, tlie principal facts l»eing obtained* by Mr. J. B. Lippincott, supervising engineer, and his assistants. His work has Immmi confined mainlv to the lower river. Additional informa tion concerning reservoir sites and irrigation possibilities has been gathered by various other engineers of the reclamation service located in Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, and Arizona. This investigation is supplemental to systematic work which has been and is being curried on in the survey of reservoir sites, measurements of streams, and related investigations authorized originally in 1888 and described in full in the various annual reports of the Geological Survey and in the series of water-supply and irrigation papers.' -The iufoLuiation obtained is very voluminous, and the details can be found |
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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] : California exhibits. |