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Show I!BE OF WATEBS OF LOWER COLORADO RIVEB FOB IRRIGATION, 7 LEGISLATION NEEDED. The object of the resolution appeal's to be to ascertain what legislation, if any, is necessary to grunt or confirm to present and future api>ropriators and users perpetual rights to the use of the waters of Colorado River for irrigation. As thousands of acres of l>oth public and private lands in Wyoming, Colorado, I'tub, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona, and California, as well as a large area in Mexico, are dependent upon a comprehensive development and utilization of this stream, it would be manifestly improper to permit further appropriations by individuals or corporations as in the past, because the existence of their improvements will render it more and more diflicult to carry out the proper development of the waters of the river, unless Congress takes early action to control and regulate the matter. It is generally conceded that legislation is necessary, because, the lower part of the river being navigable, its waters are not subject to appropriation, and notices tiled in conformity with the customs of Ari zona and California are not valid. In this connection attention in called to Office letter of March 19, 1904, reporting to you upon Senate bill 4193. It has also been suggested in a letter to you dated March 22, 1904, that the legislation needed is along the line of protecting all of the interests and not conferring a monopoly upon any one corporation or interest. The following interests are to be guarded: 1. That of the people of the United States who are the owners of much of the irrigable land along the river and of the waters of this navigable stream. The public in general is deeply concerned to secure the establishment upon these lands of the largest |>ossih!c number of prosperous homes by the l>est use of the waters of this river. 2. The settlers upon the arid lands have already put to beneficial use a \nirt of the waters of Colorado River. The appropriations which they have made should be recognized, limited, however, to the extent to whirii the water has actually been diverted and beneficially used upon lands capable of producing remunerative crops. 8. The corporations or investors who have spent various sums of money in the construction of works, in the hope of making large profits out of the enterprise. Their interest is solely that of getting the largest return for the least investment, and may or may not he consistent with the public welfare. The legislation adopted should be along the line of guarding the present navigation interest* and gradually modifying them under the sti|>cr\ ision of governmental agencies as the country is develo|>ed and more water is needed for irrigation. Such legislation should provide that in granting rights to the use of water to private parties due consideration should be given to the preservation and maintenance of the navigability of the river; and in order that these interests of the settlers upon the public lauds may be pro|MM*ly protected, the law should provide that all grants of rights or privileges to divert and use portions of the water of the river shall 1)6 upon condition that the plans of all the irrigation and reclamation |
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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. |