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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 21 Lee's Ferry and still deliver nearly the required minimum at that point. . . . [A]II human factors and prejudices respecting the protection of an unlimited development within the States of origin are at once completely satisfied and silenced by the method suggested. There need be no interference from below. There need be no contest of speed giving rise to foolhardy rivalry to result in disaster and financial disappointment. The upper country is left to its natural and normal development. 45 The Lower Basin would be assured a definite, perpetual minimum average flow at Lee's Ferry. Any excess could be used for power and then proceed to the sea. Dam and reservoir construction could begin immediately with confidence that "a certain quantity of water would always be available." The Mexican situation would be left entirely for the future, knowing that "[w]hatever burden is placed upon the river [will be] equally distributed and the lower country will obtain the benefit of all power returns from the excess water passing Lee's Ferry to satisfy one-half of the international burden." The benefits to be gained from power generation would more than offset losses by evaporation between Lee's Ferry and Yuma and in the reservoirs to be constructed in the Lower Basin.46 Central to Carpenter's thinking was the belief that the Upper Basin "could never use even an equitable part of the waters rising and flowing within the respective territory of each. "47 "1 have steadily refused to fix any acreage limitation upon [Colorado's] development," he reasoned, "but have insisted that our [state's] maximum development will never consume more than an equitable part of the water which arises within our own border."48 Fifty percent of the natural flow originating in Colorado would be ample.49 All of the commissioners had heard at one time or another that the