The Coconino sun., 1922-05-12
M'GREGOR DEFENDS PLAN FOR DAM
 AT LEE FERRY

| In a recent number of the Mohave County Miner the editor flays Engin- ger A. G. McGregor, of Warren, for advocating rock-fill dam at Lee Fer " in preference to concrete dam at Boulder Canyon.
 In referring to Epes Randolph, who once damned the Colorado and saved the Imperial valley, and suggested a rock-fill dam, and whose engineering achievements in all phases of railroad construction as disclosed by Who's Who in America" have been surpass- ed by no engineer, the editor of the Miner says: "We are certainly sure that Mr. Randolph was never an 'em- inent' engineer"
 Replying to the attack, in an inter view yesterday, MT. McGregor said:
 Tt is natural for the people of Mo have county to boost for the project which is closest to them, thinking it will best serve their individual in terests, but l believe a careful con sideration of all the facts in the case will show that Mohave county itself will profit more and the state of Ari- zona as whole and the power users of California vastly more by a dam at Lee Ferry rather than at Boulder Canyon.
 "I have been advocating the Lee Ferry site for several reasons. 1t happens to afford the largest storage available in the canyon. At the same time, it is at the head of the canyon, where it will be of greatest benefit to subsequent power developments all of ,,-l,oL Lo Dn,,1la. have little storage capacity in them selves. Lee Ferry will afford more than twice the storage of Boulder Canyon with the same height of dam, and as a consequence will afford a safer flood control, more power ca pacity and more water for irrigation should it ever be required. The close return windings of the river in the narrow canyon above Lee Ferry are such as to make it particularly at tractive site for a rock-fill dam and the tunnels required with this type of construction. Such a dam and tunnel will cost only half what the same l height of concrete dam at Boulder l Canyon would cost and could be en- tirely completed before the construc- tion of the foundation 140 feet deep at Boulder Canyon was well started.
 Davis big argument for Boulder Canyon is that it is closer to the pow CT market of Los Angeles than Lee Ferry. This is true, but Lee Ferry is closer to the bulk of the Arizona power market. It is quite likely that the Colorado will be greater than the California requirement.
 "A properly constructed rock-fill dam will be safer from disaster due to the possible changes of time. An example of this type of dam is the Gatum dam, 115 feet high and one and one-half miles long, at Panama, | where dependability was the first consideration in determining the type of construction.
 "Mohave county will be handy to the power lines from a dam at either I site. If Mohave residents are inter- ested in the cheapest power in the shortest time, and if they would pre- | fer to have their own state receive the benefit from any state taxes that may be levied on the project, they | should boost for the Lee Ferry dam. If these advantages do not appeal to them and if they wish Arizona power users to pay tribute to Nevada over. which they will have no control, then they should aid Nevada by boosting for the Boulder Canyon dam. Bis | bee Review.