OCR Text |
Show -18- stallation and operation of a line of river steamers to operate all the way to the mouth of the Colorado. Incidentally, Mr. Twogood claims that the Mexican Government is very anxious to have such a line established and is lending valuable aid and encouragement to the enterprise in the way of concessions. Notwithstanding Mr. Twogood's belief in the success of such a line of river steamers as it is proposed to install, he states that, "Last year (1901), in the month of September and months subsequent up to April, we have had trouble at various points between Needles, California, and the Hardy River in Lower California, with steamers drawing not to exceed eighteen inches." He makes this statement in support of his contention that the withdrawal of any considerable amount of water from the river, during the low stage of water, would seriously interfere with the operation of even very light draft vessels on said River. It will be seen, therefore, that while the present navigation interests on the Colorado are so small as scarcely to warrant the use of the word "navigation," the River is, in fact, navigable above Yuma, and must be regarded as a navigable stream, notwithstanding the fact that its navigation is "encompassed with difficulties by reason of natural barriers." It will also be noted that the diversion of water by the irrigation companies is at a point such as to cause no interference with the present navigation of the River, which is entirely above the point of diversion. It is a patent fact, however, that the volume of water in the River below the point of diversion is decreased by the amount of the water diverted. |
Source |
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. |