The New York herald., 1921-03-06
POWER PROJECT
STARTS CONTEST
IN MONEY WORLD
League OF Southwest Fights
Interests for Control OF
Colorado Basin.
BIG FUND is RAISED
Attempt to End Private Con-
troll of Resources Is I'm
der Way.
BIG FUND is RAISED

Resources worth billions OF dollars
arc at stake in a contest between the
people of the old Spanish Southwest
and the great power interests with al
flliations in Wall Street.
The fight concerns the use Of the
waters Of the Colorado River. the third
largest stream on the American con-
tinent. From Wyoming to the Mexi-
can border the stream is to b har-
messed By series of gigantic works.
The initial work On the frsa unit
has been started at Boulder Canyon,
twenty-five miles cast OF Las Vegas,
near the southeastern tip of Nevada.
It will be the loftiest dam ian the world,
approximately as high as the WOOL
worth Building; and 1t will impound
enough water to make an artificial lake
almost as large as one OF the great
lakes. The power product from this
dam alone is estimated to be worth
from $4,000, 900 TO s1O,OO0,o00 income
a month. Seven to ten such dams are
to be built at various points along the
1900 mile course Of the river and its
fifty tributaries.
Crux OF the Controversy.
The power interests, it is alleged BY
representatives Of the Southwest. seek
~ build tho works as private enter
-. ,ta1 far fptt IN
while the homesteaders Of the South
west ask that the undertaking be carried
out under the supervision and perma-
.ient administration Of Uncle Sam. They
do not expect an appropriation from
Congress and are ready to furnish the
money to pay the bills
The movement to develop the re-
sources of the Colorado River basin has
been conducted by the League of the
Southwest, of which Thomas f. Camp
bell, Governor Of Arizona, is the presi-
dent This league consists Of thousands
or civic, social. commercial, industrial
and other organizations in the States Of
Arizona. California Colorado. New
Mexico Nevada, Utah, Wyoming, Texas
and Oklahoma. u bears the same reia-
ton TO the Southwest that a chamber
Of commerce bears To 4 city. Its head
quarters are in Los Angeles.
Homcsteadcrs' Viewpoint.
.'Tha mower interests honestly believe
they are proposing a sound economic
solution to our water problems when
they offer to invest their money in works
to harness The Colorado River. They be-
lieve private enterprise can more
economically build and operate the great
water works than is possible under
Government control, said Arnold
Il aud nlanlprr of the
board Of directors Of the League Of the
Southwest, yesterday at the Hotel Bre-
wort.
.To understand the homesteader's
viewpoint you should see the back
ground Of blooming desert acres which
his savings and his energy have created.
Here in the East you have 50 much
water that It is a problem to get il out
OF the way after blizzards like the storm
OF last sunday with us water is as
precious as life. We have practically no
rain TO get the water we must build
dams aud reservoirs on our rivers and
We must construct canals and bitches
70 bring the water to our desert acres.
And III order to distribute the limited
supply cautaby for the welfare Of the
whole community we have evolved
systcm or cooperation and team play in
i1e social as well as economic life OF the
community that IS scarcely understood
" the East.
1T IL obvious why We are seeking to
do away with private control OF our
water resources. Without water we
can't exist And II some private organi-
ration exercises an overlordship through
control of the water we are virtually
tenants on our own acres.
Ask only Protection.
1--WE believe Government development
and administration of our water works
are consistent with our experiences and
needs. II will cost 800 600. 900 to build
the Boulder Canyon Dam The commu-
mites to be benefited b. the undertaking
have already furnished Uncle Sam the
necessary funds with which the reclama-
tion service paid FOR the preliminary
work. The same communities are ready
10 guarantee the bonds necessary TO
finance the construction. and the South
west stands ready e. absorb those bonds.
We simply ask Congress to give us lcgis-
lation which will insure that we may
carry out our plans through the agency
Of the reclamation service without inter-
ference from any source.
Boulder Canyon is tho last OF the
series Of great canyons through which
the Colorado River courses. II is about
100 miles west Of the celebrated Grand
Canyon. The granite walls OF Boulder
Canyon are 5000 feet high ana 800
feet apart. The dam Will be 700 feet
hish, 40 feet higher than the highest
dam IN the world. which Is located at
Arrowrock. on the Boise River. ii
idaho. The reservoir will be q lake OF
200 square miles. with al average depth
of $50 feet. sufficient to cover $4,000
600 to 100000 acres with a sheet OF
water ono foot deep. This equals two
years flow OF the entire river. II Is ex-
pected tho work or constructing the
dam will support from $4,000 to $4,000
people. an important item in this period
OF unemployment. and II Is anticipated
the work will be finished within Ave
years.
Most Marvellous Soil.
The Colorado River drains 4 basin