El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-02-25
LONG LEASE
To SOLVE
PROBLEM
Water Power of Elephant
Butte Dam Will Open Up
Great Possibilities.
PURCHASE OF PLANT
IMPORTANT FEATURE
Much to Be Accomplished
by Putting in Alternating
Current Generators.

Washington. D. c. Feb 25.-vEen
the president signed senate bill No
1O-57i today. a law was placed on
| the statute books allowing the sec
rotary OF the interior. with TIE approx
/ al Of the water users association to
lease the water power under the Ele-
plant Butte project for 4 perio1 Of so
years, thereby opening up an era OF
/ development in the Rio Gsrande valley
| the Ike OF which has never been seen
! in the land Of sunshine
Record Tine Made.
Wren the general slowness Of 1egis-
/ lative matters are considered. it viii
1 be seen that record was made in this
/ case On January so. Senator Bailey
I introduced the bill February IS It
passed the senate amended to apply to
/ the Rio Grarde project only. and Feb
ruary 20 it passed the house as amend
ed \ similar bill was introduced in the
house February p by representative
/ Ralph Cole Of Ohio. which was unani-
mously reported from the COMMITTEES
on irrigation and failed Of passage
February Il. because Of the absence
, from the house Of its friends. who had
understood that II was not to be called
up that day. However. when the
amended senate bill arrived from the
cC4-iNC anu ff1S 4d4u Oh the speakers
table FL PaSo'S representative. W R
! Smith. Immediately called it up for
consideration. Ralph Cole from the
Republican side seconded Mr.. Smiths
efforts. and it was passed without a
dissenting vote
The bin amends article OF IAN act
providing for the withdrawal from
public entry Of lands needed for town
site purposes in connection with irri-
cation projects under the reclamation
act CT June II, 1902. and for other pur-
poses. approved April Is. 1906 The
amended article is printed below, that
part of the article after the words
provided further" being the amend
meEt which was made a law by the
passage o. this bill:
Sec D That whenever a develop
ment OF power is necessary for the ir-
rigatica OF lands. under any project
undertaken under TIE said reclamation
act, or an opportunity is afforded for
the Development Of power under any
such project. the secretary OF the in
terror is authorized TO lease for Pc
rod not exceeding 10 years. giving
preference 10 municipal purposes, any
surplus power or power privilege and
the money derived from such leases
shall be covered into the reclamation
fund and be placed TO the credit OF
the project from which such power is
derived: Provided. That no lease shall
be made Of such surplus power or pow
er privileges as viii impair the eff
cheney CT the irrigation project Pro-
vided further, That the secretary OF the
interior is authorized in his discretion
to make such a lease in connection
with the Rio Grande project in Texas
and New Mexico for a longer period
not exceeding 80 years. with the ap-
prevail Of the water users association
OF associations under any such project
organized. in conformity with the rules
and regulations prescribed by the sec
rotary Of the interior in pursuance OF
section of the reclamation act ap-
proved June II 1902
S1,0O0,c5O For Development.
In the estimated cost Of the dam
S9.s55.000. the sum OF $1,000, 600 is set
aside for electrical development. that
is for the power plant at the dam aux
iliary plants. transmission lines. pump
ing stations for irrigation of lands
too high for any of the bitches. etc.
This would be installed by the gov
eminent and paid for out of the ST.
00o. 600 which would be advanced by
the reclamation fund and later paid
back by the farmers When the dam
Is 80 percent completed. a power
plant viii be installed at the damsite
under q low head Of water, perhaps
90 feet, and 1000 or 5000 horsepower
viii be developed. which power will be
used in constructing the remainder OF
the dam Later this power will be
transmitted to different parts OF the
valley TO individuals for irrigation.
TO the towns and cities in the valley
for lighting and manufacturing pur-
poses. But in all its efforts. the gov
eminent viii be limited in the deve1-
opment 1t brings about. first because
it is not in that business, and second
by lack Of sufficient funds in the rec
lamation service to bring about the
greatest development possible. Fur
thermore The government does not
want to do anything the water users
can do themselves.
When the dam is completed. and a
greater drop is secured, say perhaps
$50 feet. at the lowest estimate TO-
600 or $4,000 horsepower viii be pos
sible OF development. but not with
the same machinery that developed the
power under the 50-foot fall, unless
the right kind of generators are in
stalled in the first place. When the
government inStalls its machinery.
when the dam is so percent completed.
$780, 600 or $500. geo of that $1,000. O0e
will be required. The cheapest AMI
perhaps the best type OF machine for
the low head Of water would be d.