Imperial Valley press., 1920-11-23

L II N "A IL v "A IL IL II
principle is not insisted upon ant
should not be if any better methoe
can be suggested. On these points we
would like to have the opinion of you,
district and eventually have some
thing in writing which l can quote II
my report expressing the desires OF
your district for participation in the
power development, if you have such
desire, of course accompanied by tn,
expression of your willingness to par.
ticipate in the expense Of construc.
! ton.
General discussion of some of the
points involved. followed his talk ano
he was called on frequently for infor-
nation and advice.
Some of the figures Mr.. Davis pre-.
sented to the conference this morning
may be summed up as follows: The
probable cost of the Boulder canyon
dam at $75,000,000, although he was
very careful to state that under exist
ing conditions an accurate estimate OF
the cost, due to labor conditions, is i'm
possible.
This dam, it is expected will be
100000 acre feet capacity. 1t will
produce a maximum of 100000 horse
power and an average all year power
unit Of 100000 horse power.
The infinite variations and posi-
blities were illustrated by Mr.. Davis
when he pointed out that dam SOC
| feet high above the surface of the
water would store possibly 100000
acre feet. While the difference be-
tween dam 500f eet high and $50 feet
high would be only 10 per cent in
height and possibly less in cost. but
would produce 40 per cent additional
capacity.
| He stated that above 100000 feet
he did not believe a storage dam was
advisable because the entire flow OF
the Colorado would in peak years only
fill it. A dam of 100000 acre feet
would house the minimum flow of the
| Colorado for a year, and from there
the flood flow would be conserved.
A dam such as is being contemplat-
ed now would control the river, prob
ably to 50,000,000 feet at flood stage
Mexican lands were brought into
the discussion number OF times, but
so many variations of the various
sizes were given that even general
opinions would be vague. Mr.. Davis
did state, however, that the building
Of the largest possible dam, which
would utilize the entire flow of the
river for power purposes alone, this
water being sufficient for irrigation
Mexican lands would probably be
eliminated. At the same time he sale
that he did not think that size dam
would be built, as "a smaller dam
would be cheaper per unit.
Figures as to the increase in acre
age under the Colorado river in the
last five years were given to the con-
ference. Mr.. Davis said that in 1871;
the Imperial Irrigation District was
watering $4,000 acres; Mexico, 4O,.
900; Yuma, $4,000 and Palo Verde &c..
900 acres. Minor figures of acreage
in the upper reaches of the Colorado
were also given.
This year the acreages are: I'M
perial Irrigation District, 100000
acres; Mexico, 10000; Puma, $4,000
and Palo Verde $4,000 acres. He said
that altogether the increase in five
years had been 100000 acres.
In referring to his main address
Mr.. Davis said that eventually some
basis must be arrived at regarding the
costs and the benefits received and as
| these benefits will be of three natures
irrigation water, flood protection anc
power, he thought it advisable to ar
rive at some method of judging the
various proportions to be paid. He
suggested that the power interests
pay so per cent, the irrigation inter.
ests two-thirds and the remainder an(
flood protection the remainder
Here he hastened to say that power
interests do not necessarily NEAR
large corporations. If the Imperia
Irrigation District should pay for the
power portion of the cost, the district
would have the benefits to be received
from it. This was made very clear
The district was taken as an ex-
ample.
In making his suggestions Mr.. Dav-
is stated that they were only Sugges-
tions, and that even though, certain
things were said in the report which
he will mail to congress from Yuma
Nov. 20, it is possible to change them
afterward, as the report is not bind
ing on congress or the local district.
His basic principle that the cost
should be in proportion to the benefits
seemed to meet with the favor of all
those present. He laid particular
stress on the fact that irrigation cams