Tombstone epitaph., 1922-08-06
ARlzoNA's BEST CHANCE TO
GET CHEAP POWER HELD UP
BY LEGISLATIVE rANeLEs

OF tne Boulder canyon PROJECT Tor de-
velopment OF the Colorado river. ac-
oording 20 letter TO the Arizona in
dustrial Congress. made public yes
terday. The letter was in reply 10
one sent Davis by the congress urg-
ing him TO use his influence in speed
ing up the granting of license TO
James c. Grand for immediate con-
struetion of power dam at Diamond
Greek.
Davis reiterated. in his letter, that
his sentiments were still favorable
10 Boulder Canyon. His only refer
ence 10 the Diamond Creek project
was that. in his opinion, il was too
email. One OF the most interesting
features of Davis letter was para
graph indicating how the develop
ment of the Colorado River has be
come entangled in mass OF COM
missions and legislation.
Everybody "Passes Buck"
Tha, paragraph follows:
The secretary of the interior has
by careful study of the situation
reached the conclusion that the Fed
eral Power Commission does not
have under the present situation the
jurisdiction over the Colorado River
that was implied in the Water Pow
er Act because since its passage, con
gress has passed two acts inferenti-
ally at least reserving certain dispo-
sition TO itself. The president has
approved this attitude and the ad-
ministration is now committed 10 the
policy that until congress has ex.
pressed itself positively. no license
should issue from the power commits
SIGN. This being the case. the real
friends OF quick power development
will get behind this legislation and
try to put it through or at least Sc
cure the early disposition of the
question
Replying to Davis claims that the
Boulder Canyon Dam should be sup
ported by Arizonans. the Industrial
Congress called his attention 10 the
fact that the Diamond creek dam was
the only project yet proposed that in
sured action instead of delay. and
that construction at Diamond Creek,
while giving Arizona cheap power for
industries and irrigation. would not
interfere with or impair the carrying
out later of any other project Part
of the Industrial Congress" reply to
Davis follows.
cry Farmers Discouraged
In June Governor Campbell ad-
dressed citizens CT Cochise county on
the Colorado River situation and
made the statement that if present
plans recommended by the govern
ment were carried out II would be
fifteen years before po@er would be
delivered to Cocbise county. This
Was practically notice TO the dry
farmers that any hope for their real
izing a decent living from their lands
was at an end.
After receiving many requests
from organizations in the state that
we consider the advisability Of OBJ
tanning power for our urgent needs.
took up the matter with Governor
Campbell and Mr.. Norviel, and was
given to understand that as far as
mower was concerned there was little
hope of obtaining quick action thru
any plans that had been presented TO
the federal government. Following
these conferences ! met with DR..
Ricketts,. General Greenway and Mr..
Grand and received from them a
statement that they would be in 20
sftion to deliver power to practically
any point in Arizona within four
years from the time that the Federal
Power Commission granted the IL
cense for construction at Diamond
Creek.
Diamond Creek Favored.
The Arizona Industrial Congress
then issued a request to all parts OF
the state asking a vote on whether we
were justified in recommending to
the Federal Power Commission their
immediate consideration of the Dia'
mond Creek Project. The vote was
Overwhelmingly in favor OF immedi
ate action. I then called a meeting