The Winslow mail., 1921-12-16

sibilities OF the Colorado river. 1t
was stated in those applications
that the company recognizes that its
power Developments can be made
under such conditions only as will
first provide for flood control and
irrigation, and that the company
will submit to such regulations OF
its operations as may be imposed by
the Federal Power commission or
other federal authority in the inter
ests OF food control and irrigation.
We are willing that any license
or permit granted us by the govern
ment or the State shall contain
provision that the existence and op-
Grafton Of cur power structures in
the liver at points below the Utah
Arizona line shall not operate to
confer any preferred right to the
waters OF the river as against fun
potential uses for irrigation and
other beneficial purposes in the up
per basin We acquiesce further
more, in principle, that the States
with which power is developed have
Irst right to its use
Il
Act, power rights are not granted
in perpetuity, but are limited to fif-
ty years, at the end of which time
the government has the right to
take over by paying the net invest
ment therein. The act also specif-
ically prohibits the capitalization of
water rights in excess of actual
costs"
NO one has presented any argu-
ment, except perhaps the Power Bu-
reau Of Los Angeles, that the water
Of the Colorado river and the power
that may be generated from it, mus.
not be under the control of the fed
eral government. Some seem to
thing that if private capital is per-
mitted to build the projects that the
control would be out of the hands
Of the government This is not ne
cessarily so and should not be So
FOR whether or not the projects are
constructed by the government and
the peoples money or by private
capital, the control of the product
as far is it's equitable distribution
and cost to purchaser is concerned
should be under the control of the
government, but the capital invest
ed should be allowed fair profit
on it's investment and the cost of
maintenance and operation. This is
similar to the control of public util-
tiles in nearly every State of the
Union. The question of taking the
financing before the communities of
the southwest and asking them to
contribute to the assistance of the
government in this construction in
proportion to the benefit which they
are to receive, does not appear to
be at all acceptable or logical. If
ne money is to be raised from the
people, let the private corporation
do it. Let capital make the invest
ment, not burden the people with
a tax for an investment, the bene-
fits of which they will not receive
until some years hence. Taxation
has reached a limit now
Former Governor r. E. Sloan of
This State has said that Arizona as
State is not committed to any de
finite plan as to how the dams shall |
be built, but it is committed to any |
policy declared by the Secretary of
the Interior i
Arizona should claim and has a |,
right to claim preference because
the projects are entirely within her
borders, or nearly SO. She is not |
alone entitled to a sufficient supply |
Of water and power for her immed-
late needsl but is also entitled to
such amounts of water and power
IS the future demands of a growing |
state may require, SO far as they
CAM be granted without infringing
on the same rights of other States.
Basing an argument on the ex-
preston of Secretary Fall that he
sees no objection to additional de-
velopment of the Colorado river by
private capital of otherwise. it ia
safe to make a prophecy that if the |
government will grant to the South
ern California Edison company a |
permit with such proper restric
the Edison company will be selling
power to the people of Arizona be-
fore the first real construction work
will have commenced upon the
Boulder Canyon dam. The Edison
people have stated they would be
ready to deliver power two years
from the time the government gave
them permit to go to work. Two
years from now the government will
still be busy making blue prints and
debating reports on the Boulder
Canyon project unless they show
more speed than has been exhibited
heretofore in the undertaking OF
big projects.