The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1922-07-27

that to admit competitor in that
sale of that power at once dimin-
ishes the return to the federal
government upon the great burden
that it must assume in providing
storage. The Diamond Greek Dam
would be cheaply constructed and
provides no storage consequence.
We must consider that the river
belongs to the people, and that
they have right to develop their
river in such fashion as to give
them maximum return in power,
storage, and control of floods.
have the feeling that the Boulder
Canyon Dam will require num-
Der of years for completion. 1t
will require 10 years before it can
be brought in as a large power
unit, and during that period there
will be a large development of a
market for power, and it is possible,
on careful study of the situation,
that the Diamond Creek power de-
velopment would not interfere with
the ultimate market of the Boulder
Canyon. But both the Depart
ment of the Interior and some of
the individual members of the Colo
RADIO River Commission considered
it was wise. to hold that application
up until the subject was fully in
quired into.
Mr.. Swing. May ! add, in fair
ness to the commission, that | per-
sonally know that a great number
of protests were filed with the Fed
eral Power Commission, many of
them from California, and | know
some in Colorado.
Secretary Hoover. There was
some feeling that Congress might
be less inclined to act in saving
this emergency situation in the I'M
perial Valley if the power develop
ment was not held up until Congress
had all factors before it.
Mr.. Ranker | understand then
that at the present time there are
no prior rights granted, although
there are some applications on file,
that would in any way affect the
government construction of the
Boulder Canyon dam to its highest
capacity.
Secretary Hoover. No. | do not
think there are any power rights
that amount to anything. There
are some rights in the upper river
but they are of no Importance in
consideration of the Boulder dam.
Mr.. Ranker. 1t seems to be the
policy to grant no rights until the
right of the government is fully
established as to the capacity of
the dam at Boulder Canyon and the
| amount of water that would come
there to create supply for power
purposes as well as irrigation.
Secretary Hoover. | have felt
that Congress ought to have the
right to consider this situation be-
fore any portion of it was disposed
Of.
Mr.. Ranker. Then as | under
stand it, as far as determination by
the Reclamation Service and the
Colorado River Commission has
gone, it is that there is sufficient
water, flood and otherwise. to
justify building the Boulder Canyon
dam?
Secretary Hoover. Certainly
Mr.. Ranker. Then, in the sec
ond place, the government acting
as an individual would act in con-
structing the dam, would make its
filing, just as anybody outside of
the government would do, for this
water right, and then when the
dam was constructed and ready for
use its rights would date back to
the time of its filing so it would
know what it originally started in
for and believed it had, a sufficient
water right, it could maintain al
the completion of the dam in order
that there would be no interfering
with any subsequent rights acquired
by virtue of prior construction nee
essary after fling notice by the
government.
Secretary Hoover. We have put
1t in different way do not be-
lieve the government requires any
water right. 1t does not need to
go through any process of establish.
ing a water right. The actual sit.
uation will solve that for itself
The flow of watre will, | believe
Keep the dam full even with full
development above. But | believe
that it is well to relieve the anxiety
Of the upper states by declaring
that the government would exercise
no claims in respect to it,
Mr.. Ranker. In that connection
would we not be met with the con.
tention that if other dams were
constructed, even after the govern.
ment had started, that they hac
complied with the law and that the,
might have prior right over the
government, and therefore it woult
be better for the government t.