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c-, 0': - ~ Progress Report \ N~Yfs ~f Ari.zo~a' s Water Fight .,'_ I \','.' / "''if -">, /; I /~", By tlowarel J. Smith, Executive Secretary Central Arizona Project AllOCiation 510 Goodrich "'lId;.g . Ph... 2-1112 P1Pt'Ee~VED '- .. , JUt'! 2 2 :951 (RePUblica+~~"A. ailIItIV.iw 10... Jime 11, 1951 SENATE APPROVES AUTHORIZATICN BILL The United States Senate reaffirmed its belief in the need and economic feasi- bility of the Central Arizona Project last week when it passed an authorization bill by the overwhelming vote of 50-28. It....s the second time in as many years that the senior body had given approval to the project, One amendment was voted to the measure, providing that construction may not begin until after t.he current emergency period~ The bill already contained a prov1.sion that any state, feeling it might be injured by construction of the project, can seek recourse in the Su- preme Court. Hence, it now more than meets any argument thus far introduced by California against its passage. The measure now goes to the House of Representatives, There, the Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs on April 18 voted not to consider a companion bill until the Colorado River argument had been settled by negotiation or by the Suj:xEme Court. The committee, which succumbed to Califom_iafs blandishments, overlooked the fact that Arizona three times has sought adjudication there. In each instance the Court refused to hear the case on grounds no one was injured, nor faced threat of injury, California opposed the suit in each instance. Arizona has made many concessions in its fight to obtain Colorado River -water. She must have ....ter to s1ll'vive. It is hoped that the prestige of Senate passage will lead the House committee to T&ronsider its previous action, and give approval to the Senate version. llEVAn\' S CLAIIIS AS expected, Nevada' B Senator George W. Malone made a plea for 900,000 acre-feet of Colorado River water during the Senate debete, despite the 300,000 acre-feet allocated by the Law of the River to that state. Nevada apparently hasn't awalened to the fact that California has gI. van every notice it intends to grab all the water in the West, if possible. CALIFOJJIIIA lIAS ENOUGll WATERl Senator Hayden made much, during the Senate dehate, of a statement by Celifornia State En~ineer A. D. Edmonston that the Coast state has sufficient water within its borders to meet all its needs. Edmonston pointed out, in a talk before the state chamber of commerce, that 10,000,000 acre-feet of ....ter is flowing to the S6 a in Northern California and could be diverted to the southern part of the state. . Blithely ignoring lack of water in 'its sister state, Arizona, farmers in the area around Blythe, are developing 10,000 acres of uncultivated land in the Palo Verde district bordering the Colorado. Meanwhile, two sources in Celifornia admitted water is being wasted in that state: Dr. F. J. Veihmeyer, University of Celifornia irrigation expert, said in many cases the state I 5 farmers could double their acreage W wise usage of water. As example, he cited the eight to ten cotton crop irrigations each season, when three should be sufficient. The California Farmer, supporting Dr. Veihmeyer J contended such conditions exist "a11 over the state". CENTRAL ARIZONA PRO.JIICT ASSOCIATION DIRItCTORS WAYNE N. AKIN, ""'IrSIOIrNT . A. I.. BARTUTT . HatBDtT H. nOWN . VICTOII1. COIIBIl1.I. . CLEON T. I(NAI'P . W,.. UNIr . II. H. MCIlLHANItY . !'RANI( M. n'l'W1I . HUCiH C. c;IIUWIrI.t. . .I0HN M. .IAC;OBB DEAN IITANLEY . D I. IITAPLJIY . ltODatlCX.l. McNUU.IN . ..It, NOHTliIOMIrIl'r . .10ft",. NUTT . IIINIn". SALMON __ . . .I.IiNNC.T~~~_~ .IlrnIrH.UDAI.I.' AHTHONYVAfIIWA.......... A.M.WAIlD