The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-07-29

Secretary Hoover. Under the
reclamation act there is a practical
abandonment of interest during a
certain stage, as you know.
imagine this development should
have the same consideration. At
least that contribution (if it be-
comes necessary could be made
to secure flood control.
Mr.. Ranker. Mr.. Davis told us
last week that none of the ex-
pense for the construction of the
Boulder Canyon dam and its ac-
cessories would be expected to be
charged against the irrigation, and
that the Boulder Canyon dam would
be paid for by the sale of power
alone, and that it ought not to be
charged against the irrigationist.
What is your view on that? He
thought it would justify construc-
ton for power purposes.
Secretary Hoover. | think you
are justified in the conclusion that
if the Federal Government now adj
vances money in some form by
which this project can be carried
forward, it will ultimately recover
the money put into it. But to go
further than to express such an
opinion is very difficult, because
one gets in to calculations of the
power market and power rates,
and the period at which the power
could be delivered, etc.
Mr.. Ranker. But it is your view
that, irrespective of the returns
that may come from water or from
power or from irrigation there is
sufficient demand to fully justify
the government in constructing It,
with the assurance that it will be
reimbursed with a reasonable rate
of interest.
Secretary Hoover. ! rather feel
that the government ought to make
up its mind on one thing, and
while | believe it could be reim-
bursed with interest, yet there Is
here a federal function of estab-
fishing flood control in the protec-
ton of citizens in which the fed
eral government has, as an estab-
lished policy, always contributed
something from the people at large
and that we ought to be prepared
to believe that some sacrifice may
be made by the federal government
in that respect. ! do not thing you
need to contemplate it now, but
would not want to say that some
item of this sort does not deserve
consideration. If the power market
comes up to expectation the govern
ment might over a long term OF
years make profit from the
whole transaction on power alone
Mr.. Herrick. When the govern
ment builds battleship that costs
sac. 100000, at the end of IL oil
is years that battleship is obsolete
and its value to the government
has gone down to almost nothing
whereas if you build this dam with
the expenditure of this money at
the end of fifteen years its value
is intact.
Secretary Hoover. And not only
that, this dam will be for all time
source of direct income, and be-
yond that it will have created new
homes for many citizens and will
have protected many thousands OF
! them that are now in danger.
Mr.. Ranker. Mr.. Secretary, the
bill before the committe has in il
some very important provisions in
regard to the cost, and other fea-
lures which are important, and
would like to have your views, ant
| think the committee would, too
on some of those features of the
bill, if you care to give them.
Secretary Hoover have not
gone into the details of the bill
far enough, and | did not want tc
do that until ! had a chance tc
discuss it with the commission ant
ascertain their own views on that
and they no doubt will.
Mr.. Ranker. Will you come bach
later and give us the benefit Of
your views, that is, after you have
fully matured them?
Secretary Hoover. If you like
but l prefer that you get those
views from each individual state
in other words, hesitate to express
any views because am sitting as
chairman Of their commission. You
can get an expression from then
because they will no doubt be be.
fore you soon.
| Mr.. Smith Of Idaho. In your con.