Arizona republican., 1922-06-03
URGES ARIZONA
BUILD OWN DAM
ON COLO. RIVER

Before an audience at the chamber
of commerce last night which inciud-
ed several recognized authorities on
the power development possibilities
of the Colorado river A. G. McGregor,
member of the Arizona resources
board and nationally known as a
practical and foresighted engineer.
outlined plan by which he proposed
that Arizona build and operate its
own dam at Lees Ferry and thus
anticipate any attempt OF congress
to nationalize one Of the states
greatest assets.
I'VE of Arizona cannot consistently
oppose the naturalization program
flr the great water power resources
uf our state unless we work out a
constructive substitute program, he
declared then proceeded to offer the
logical substitute.
LET the state of Arizona. through
proper legislation and condemnation
proceedings take over all power prof.
Gets on the Colorado river within the
state. Let the state authorize the
issue Of low interest. serial long term
bonds for the development OF its
Colorado river monopoly. with the
understanding it will enter into a So
year contract with the operators as
socation for the latter to perform al
administrative duties was his pro-
posal. The operators association he
explained as follows:
THE power users will eventually
pay all the bills for the construction
and development of the project. Who
will be more vitality interested in the
best possible plan and in the man
agement than they? Let them or
ganize an operators association for
the purpose of directing and financ-
ing the development and operation of
a state owned super power project.
With maps, diagrams and a table
of convincing figures the speaker
proceeded to point out how such a
plan would not only be entirely feas-
ible, but could be carried out in
much shorter space of time than
the proposition along that line now
before congress in the Swing bill
could be carried out by the govern
ment.
The Swing bill, carried into the
senate by Hiram Johnson OF Califor-
MIA, proposes to deprive Arizona of
its jurisdiction over the power re-
sources of the Colorado river, he de-
clared, adding that he believed Cali
fornia would readily accede to his
plan if that state could be assured OF
flood protection for the Imperial val
ley.
McGregor pointed out how dam
at Lees Ferry could be built of rock
blasted from the high and narrow
cliffs bordering the river at that
point, thus reducing cost and time.
He estimated that an adequate dam
could be built within four years and
could begin to deliver power in its
fifth year. He estimated that to con-
struct the Boulder Canyon dam of
concrete, as proposed i'll the Swing
bill, would require at least 10 years
if no unusual difficulties were en-
countered.
"Let those who pay the bills say
whether the first dam should be at
Boulder Canyon or Lees Ferry, he
invited. ITO get federal appropria-
ton we must get the senators at
Washington in the proper mood. 1t
may prove quite an undertaking and
time may be required TO get an ap-
preparation of funds for a project
that viii be wrangled over by the
politicians of seven western states"
There are Just two things that will
give us cheap power from the Colo
for capital and good management.
AS to the rates for capital. the state
of Arizona can get money at about
the same rate of interest as the fed
eral government. AS to management,
compare the planning and locating of
such a project by the senators OF the
states of the basin with the planning
and management to be obtained II
the administrative powers are placed
where they belong, with those who
must eventually pay the bills--the
power users"
Stressing the point that the cost OF
horsepower under the plan he pro-
posed would be based upon the in
terest charge McGregor showed with
detailed figures how the selling price
per horsepower year would gradually
diminish from $50 to s12 as compared
with the present rate of approxi-
mately s100. lie based these figures
upon the assumption that the bond
interest would be fixed at per cent
net and that the bonds would be IS
year serial which would begin to
refund % years from the date of
issue.
The plan proposed would be differ
ent from the plan used in some states
for financing irrigation projects,
where the states credit is used in
order to get cheap money. In such
cases. when the bonds are paid off
by individuals, the property goes to
the individuals. In the present case,
it is proposed that bonds will be paid
off by individuals, the power users
but the property will go to the state.
Harry Welch presided at the meet
ing which was held under the aus
pices of the chamber Of commerce.
Those attending gave a unanimous
vote of thanks to the speaker and