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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />:I <br /> <br />-19" <br /> <br />co <br /> <br />A century of the DevelolJllent of Water Administration in Colorado <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 m~ 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 iaw and legal pro- <br />cedures upon which the a<l!ninistration 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 />Witlrl:n 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 Suprems <br />Court of the United States; namely, Jus~ice Oliver Wendell Hollnes, made <br />this statement: "A river is more than an amenity" iti is a treasure ' <br />that offers a necessity of life that mus't be rationed among those who <br />have power over it." ,1 \ <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 qccasion; p8.rtic- <br />ularly, as it applies to an arid or sem1.,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 .to 'be less fortunate? <br />Future generations only, can answer this question. <br /> <br />\ <br />I <br />1 ' <br /> <br />It is of peculiar significance that since advancement comes through <br />incessant urgings, often impelled qy necessity, civilizahion had its <br />awakening in a country plagued with sterUity, where the;ever present <br />spectre of hunger stalked, the footsteps of' early man, anq ,stimulated his <br />sluggish mentality into 'devising artificial means for sup'plementing his <br />food supplies by correcting nature's deficiencies. \ <br /> <br />" '.' , ! <br />It is also' of si.gnificance, th8.t civilization made i~s greatest <br />strides in regions where irrigation is necel'lsary to existence, and <br />advanced or receded, with the growth or decadence of'its agricultural <br />activities.' " ' \ <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 or the Pharaohs 2,500 years before <br />Christ, l'ecord the great achievements of irrigation which made Egypt the <br /> <br />-.. ", ,.' <br /> <br />'. ,"...,,", <br />