Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-21
BUILDING DAMS
ALONG COLORADO
To Be STUDIED
viii Be One of the First
Questions to Be Decided
BY the Commission Au-
thorized By Congress.
(By Tho Associated Press. J

Washington, Dec. 20.-Whether
the construction of dams along the
Colorado river for the development
Of power and irrigation projects
shall be undertaken by the federal
government or by private interests
will be one of the first questions
to be decided by the interstate COM
mission authorized by congress. it
was said in statement issued to-
night by the department of COM
merce.
The statement announced the
designation by President Harding
of Secretary Hoover as chairman
of the commission, which Is to be
known as the Colorado river COM
mission and on which California
Arizona, Nevada. Utah, Colorado,
wyoming and Montana have rep
resentatives.
Is the First Step.
Creation of this commission"
said the statement, SIS the first step
in what promises to become one
of the greatest of our national i'm
provements, involving over a term
of years an expenditure of several
hundred millions of dollars Of
either private or public funds. CAL
ifornia, Arizona. Nevada. Utah, Col
orado, Wyoming and Montana are
interested in the irrigation and
power to be derived from the river
and considerable conflict has de-
veloped. Unless the river prob
lens are considered as a whole
there is likely to be a great waste
both in water and power through
private or public grabbing or ILL
considered plans with much con-
flict between both the states and
with private interests.
Land Under Irrigation.
"The land under irrigation in
1920 from the river and it's tribu-
taries amounted to about 2,464,00
acres in the United States and
10000 acres in Mexico, If the
river were equipped with proper
storage dams the amount of irri-
gated land could be increased to
about 6.123,0 900 acres in the United
States and 100000 in Mexico. There
is practically no power developed
on the river at the present time but
it has possibilities of developing six
million horse power as an incident
to development of irrigation stor-
age. Some of this horse power is
urgently needed in southern Cali
fornia and Arizona.
"The progress in long distance
transmission will yet bring this en-
tire volume of horse power into
possible natl nal use.
Ono of the Largo Problems.
zone of the large problems OF
the river is the constant threat Of
the lower river to break through
its bank and to flood the Imperial
valley, where something like $780,
100000 worth of property is at
stake. Such a break occurred a
few years ago and it cost several
dollars to restore the river
"To secure a definite control of
the flood waters and systematic
development of its power possibil
tiles and give maximum storage for
irrigation, the river must be con-
sidered as a single problem in the
interests of all the states and the
nation. If such a co-ordinated
long view plan is worked out it is
that enough water will
be available for all the land avail
able to the river and enough power
for all of the community.
ut is the duty Of the commits
sion to determine plan for such
and to make recon-
to congress. A number
of private concerns are anxious to
the development of the
power and water. The municipali-
ties of southern California are also
to undertake various pro-
jects. One of the first questions
before the commission will be to
whether construction of.
the dams along the river should be
by the federal govern
ment or whether they should be-
to these different interests.
In any event, whatever program is
it must be undertaken
from the point of view OF the CO.
whole and with view to
he greatest national benefit