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<br />-19'- <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />A Century of the Development of Water Administration in Colorado <br /> <br />,. <br /> <br />M. C. Hinderlider <br />· Colorado State Engineer, Denver, Colo. <br /> <br />In the presentation of this address, I hope you will bear with me <br />in touching upon many items which, more properly, should be presented <br />by an attorney rather than an engineer. . <br /> <br />The subject which has been assigned to the speaker however, is in- <br />separably associated with fundamental principles of law and legal pro- <br />cedures upon which the administration of the public waters of our State <br />are based, and with which those who are charged with the administration <br />thereof, must be guided. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Within the time available, it is possible in this presentation to <br />include 'only some of the more important aspects of this subject and <br />matters relating thereto. <br /> <br />Many years ago, one of the great Associate Justices of the Supreme <br />Court of the United States; namely, Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes, made <br />this sta tement: "A river is more than an amenity .. it; is a treasure <br />that offers a necessity of life that must be rationed among those who <br />have power over it." , <br /> <br />> <br /> <br />I have often recalled that statement because it so admirably covers, <br />in a few words, the subject of my talk to you on this occasion; partic- <br />ularly, as it applies to an arid or semi~arid region such as is our State. <br /> <br />The greatest problem with which man has had to contend, has been <br />that of food supplies. This shadow from time immemorial, has laid as a <br />pall upon all nations of the earth, unless it be our own fortunate <br />America. No other people have escaped the ravages of famine, that dread <br />scourge of nations. With the passing of time are we ~o'be less fortunate? <br />Future generations only, can answer this question. <br /> <br />It is of peculiar significance that since advancement comes through <br />incessant urgings, often impelled by necessity, civilizabion had its <br />awakening in a country plagued with sterility, where the', ever present <br />spectre of hunger stalked the footsteps of early man, and ,stimulated his <br />sluggish mentality into devising artificial means for supplementing his <br />food supplies by correcting nature's deficiencies. ' <br /> <br />It is also of significance, that civilization made its greatest <br />strides in regions where irrigation is necessary to existence, and <br />advanced or receded, with the growth or decadence of its agricultural <br />acti vi ties. '. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Agriculture by irrigation, antidates recorded history and is prob- <br />ably one of the oldest occupations of civilized man. The time and place <br />of its origin remain unknown. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />The early hieroglyphic records of the Pharaohs 2,500 years before <br />Christ, record the great achievements of irrigation which made Egypt the <br />