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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br />'~,age S~ven <br /> <br />assert F"ederal rights opposed to the rights of 1:.'1e people of the <br /> <br /> <br />State of Colorado as guaranteed in its .Constitution, which was accepted <br /> <br /> <br />by the Congress and President of the United States at the time Colo~ <br /> <br /> <br />rado was admitted to t..~e Union in 1876. The doctrine of appropriation <br /> <br /> <br />and State water practice is clearly spelled out in that Constitution. <br /> <br />Extension of wilderness in a manner designed to attempt to defeat <br /> <br />the appropriation of water by Denver under State law is just one <br /> <br /> <br />more way to impede development of water rights which have been guara.'1tee <br /> <br /> <br />to the people of Colorado and upon which t..~e whole prosperity of <br /> <br />Colorado .and the West is ciependent. It seems to us t.hat t.he Governor <br /> <br />of Colorado, as well as Western Slope residents who may well have <br /> <br /> <br />their ability to develop their own water rights 1:.'1rea~ened by such <br /> <br />unwarranted Federal intervention in the futu:::e would join us in <br /> <br />defending these basic State rights and doctrines. Such a course <br />of action would eliminate a veritable morass of legal problems which <br />undoubtedly will occur if Congress adopts wilderness boundaries that <br /> <br />interfere with and attempt to supercede these basic rights guaranteed <br /> <br />all Colorado citizens by their .State Constitution. <br /> <br />, <br />ThereIore, t..~e Board will continue to plead 1:.~is case for Denver <br /> <br /> <br />and Colorado to the Colorado Congressional delegation, members of <br /> <br /> <br />the House Committee on Interior and Insular Affairs which is s~~eduled <br /> <br />to consider the legislation and other members of Congress. <br /> <br /> <br />. The Board will pu:::sue 1:.'1is course with its own staff, supple- <br /> <br /> <br />mented with professional help headquartered in Washington, D.C. <br /> <br /> <br />Board members have taken an oat..~ to fulfill the responsibilities <br /> <br /> <br />placed on them by the citizens of Denver through t..~e City ~~a.-ter, <br />