Imperial Valley press., 1921-07-23
NEED MORE
MONEY FOR
BOULDER
PROJECT
Director Davis Asks City Of
Los Angeles to Provide
Funds for Further Work
on Colorado r

For the purpose of continuing cx-
ploration and surveys in Boulder cali
yon, and doing other necessary pre-
liminary work, before congress can be
asked to pass the necessary legislation
for the building of the great reclama-
ton dam on the Colorado river, A. P.
Davis, director of the United States
reclamation service, has written to w.
b. Matthews, attorney for the public
service commissioners of the city of
Los Angeles, requesting that that city
raise at least $4,000 for the purpose
Of defraying the expense of the work
and suggesting that an additional $780,
900 would be required. He also sets
forth the fact that the greater part
of the expense for the work so far
done has been borne by the Imperial
Irrigation District, and while por-
ton of the additional $4,000 might be
secured in the valley or from other
sources, it would hardly be fair to
ask it. Mr.. Davis in this letter to
Matthews has the following to say:
"Any time lost now upon this work
will be that much delay in the con-
struction of the dam, if this is decided
upon within the year," he states.
To resume this preliminary move,
Director Davis states, fund of $780,
900, with a minimum of 100000
should be raised to finance the seasons
work. Imperial Valley, he adds, has
contributed most of the money that
has been spent.
"Those contributors might justly
plead that they have already advanced
their full SHARE" he says. "Thc same
conclusion might be urged by the
Palo Verde valleys. am not sure that
the state of Arizona has any money
available for work of this nature, but
! expect to notify all of these to con-
tribute such amounts as they may be
able to give.
81 suggest, therefore, tina. the city
of Los Angeles contribute the amount
of 100000 and that additional sums,
not exceeding $4,000, be collected
from other sources if possible"
Director Davis states that the fav-
orable season for work due to both low
water and temperature, begins about
September /, and ends about April l.
The required work will occupy a full
season or more, he says, and it will be
necessary to order special machinery
and castings, which may have to be
manufactured for the purpose and il
is of special Importance to place the
order for this machinery at the earlies;
possible date in order to have i. in
spected and shipped in time to reach
Boulder Canyon by September l..
"The drilling already done has de-
veloped fairly well one cross-section OF
maximum depth to bed rock OF about
1876 feet" Director Davis states, "ant
on this basis we have assumed the
feasibility of the dam and made esti
mates of its cost. There is however
gap of so feet, unexplored, next tt
the deepest hole, which is in the mid
die of the canyon and this may per
haps contain deeper hole. The same
section should have two or three more
holes to bed rock in order to develop
that section thoroughly.
whether this is the best section o,
not is a matter to be determined b!
additional explorations and when tn
best section is found, it then becomes
necessary to develop the entire foun
dation SO as to locate the dam in tn
best place and also to develop the foul
dations of a Golfer dam to be place.
about, which it will be necessary t
carry to bedrock also. All this work
while expensive, is necessary as pre-
limirrary before beginning construc
ton and it is impossible to make an
close estimate of cost, but we hav
figured that it will be between $4,000
and $150.O0O.
'.In addition to this, We should hav
surveys Of alternative lines of raj
roads, make. tests of the material t
3. be used in the construction of the dan
explore the necessary quarters, an