WSP07699 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

o relating to the utilization of the water snpplies of the Colorado River and its tributaries, and especially in connection with a law then proposed py Secretary Lane relating to soldiers' and sai!- aI's' settlement,: Hon, W, J,! Spry, ex-govel'nor of Utah, present Commissioner of the General i Land Office, presided over the meeting and was made permanent chairman of a contInuing organization, The other ~olorado River Basin States above noted were rep- resented, The :meeting of the seven States resolved itself into a permanent organi.ation to be known as "The League of tbe Sonthwest." As a result of the sessions the following resolutions, inter alia, were adopted: , "'rhe .histo~y of il'rigation throughont the world has shown that the greate~t duty of water is had by first using it upon the upper reaches of the stream and continuing the use progressively downward, Ill' other words, 'The water should first be captured and used whi!~ it is young,' for it can then be recaptured as it returns from the performance of its duties and thus be used over nnd over again:. . "Attention is further directed to the fact that many of these irrigation projects, of a magnitude to be developed only by the Federal Goverhment, can be' properly carried on without inter- fen'ing wIth sinaller developments whIch should be undertaken by indIvidual and corporate initiative, and we therefore urge upon the InterIor a~d Agricultural Departments the. adoption of a lib- eral and sympathetic policy in tbe granting of rIghts of way for reservoirs and; ditches. upon the public domain, where the same are essentIal to the development of such prIvate projects, "We furtljer urge the liberal administration of all land laws of tbe United ,States looking to the end of placing the lands of the United St(ti:es in the actual posession and occupation of its citiz'ens in order that. the citizens may have a home and that the lands may go upon the tax rolls' of the varIous States In which they may be located in order that they may bear their just portion oj the expense of State administration, "Along tIje lines set forth in these resolutions, we pledge ourselves to a hearty cooperation wIth the representatives of the Federal Government in order that the desired end may be attained at tile earliest possible moment consistent with a wise administration of the affairs of the Nation and of States, "In the carrying out of all reclamation projects in which the the Federal <l\overnment may become interested, its activities shonld ever be in conformity with the laws of the State in which tIle project urder development is located, In the arid States , ,. [ 18']