The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1921-04-16
BOIL DIR C4N1Y-

and make 1t create wealth for the nation. There
is, however, another purpose. The lower COT
orado has become menace. Like other such
streams II has built for itself out of sediment
trough that is hundreds Of feet above some OF
the surrounding country. Whenever there Is
flood there is danger of breaking out of that
trough 1t did so once ten years ago and 1t re-
qured most frenzed fight to stop it. There
is an area in southern California as big as Della
ware that might be submerged. The lmperiai
valley might be wiped out. We must either con
troll the flow of the Colorado or build system OF
levees that must be watched and built hlgher
through all time. If this latter project were adj
vsabe from an engineering standpoint it would
be next TO impossible of actual Accomplishment!
because much of the area requiring ieyees is Id
sIexico and international cooperation would be
difficult.
1.-The canal which waters Imperial valley
runs partly through Mexico. The reclamation
service plan is to substitute an all-American canal
80 take the water out higher up. to run ditch
Mt a higher level that will double the area of ir-
rigable lands In Imperial valley. The dam for
this diversion is already built. 1t Is the Laguna
dam, above Yuma Already it is dyerting water
for the irrigation of 100000 acres in Arizona. Ii
the stream were regulated by storage all the
water in the river would be harnessed and all
the land available could be irrigated. The lower
Colorado would become the Nile of America
ssTwenty acres Of land is enough for family
in this section. so 100000 acres would make
homes for $4,000 families. The manner of its
cultivation is intensive. 1t is the most nearly
tropical corner of the nation.
Great Electrical! Power.
.sThe electrical power developed would be very
large When this reservoir is filed there will be
a column, of water 500 feet high with the pressure
of this great artificial lake back of it. river
of wafer will be constantly flowing from beneath
the dam 1t will have the force OF that 5O0 feet
of pressure. 1t can be set to turning as many
turbines as it may be profitable to turn 1t can
no generated so economically that 1t can be fur-
nished at prices that will be surprisingly low.
The only material problem Will be TRANSMISSION
limos II is long distances to any centers OF pop
nlation Mines will of course, be considerable
consumers. With cheap power new uses will de-
yelOp
.yery satisfactory results in power generation
hava been secured at the Roosevelt dam. The
advantages of these projects in the southwest
.re MANY. Down there they irrigate summer and
winter and so there is constant flow of water
through the dam. At the projects further north
The water runs but part of the year. There are
No nroblems of ice, none of frozen ground, frozen
mines in the Southwest. The electricity almost
makes itself every day in the year.
AT present we are hung up on the snag OF
ending the proper bedrock as foundation fol
!, orr dam. We are herring holes in the bottom OF
fba Ri
rock We have not yet FOUND II at the size winch
was our first choice.
AS TO the COST it will be large. Estimates as
vet are little more than guesses There are
auesses that range from $4O0O0,000 to $1500O.0ot
for different designs will, different assumptions
aof course the theory Is that in the long rur
these reclamation projects cost the taxpayer moth
mo AZ all The government advances the none,
far building them. but 1t is charged up agans
thp lands benefited and every cent Is paid bacl
Nv those who use the water. The construction
money is merely loaned to the settler! to be re
turned in instalments covering period of twent,
voars Threefourths of the land benefited by tlii
rroiect is already privately Owned. The govern
ment will be asked to advance OILY the none
that would be the share of the lands that ar
stiu owned by the Indians. Thus 1t will have t
finance but about one-fourth of the project. Thu
the reservoir win pay for Itself. The land tina
4 irrgates Will over night be worth S400 an acre
-The increased Wealth and production of the South
west viii be an element Of profit IN the futur
which Will bepefit tie entire nafinn"