The evening herald. [volume] (Albuquerque, New Mexico) 1914-1922, 1922-06-21
HOOVER ASKS
LEGISLATION
TO BUILD DAM
Congress Should Meet
Emergency He
Says

WASlilNGTON, June 2i.--im-
mediate enactment by congress Of
I LEGISLATION for the construction ot
y dam and reservoir at boulder
Canyon for the control Of tho
flood waters OF the Colorado ~
Yer. was urged by Secretary of
Commerce ftooyer Today before the
, nours cumnittee on irrigation Of
ara iands considering the awIEs
bill
secretary Hoover appeared az
chairman OF the Coiuruau river
commission. winch b. working out
wan the seven states In the basin
"a anlution OF the use uf the waters
90 that riser Tor irrigation and
power purposes.
Cong .css should act promptly
~ meet the emergency situation
'tNistlng In the Imperial valley
lhe se, retary stated. "and take ac-
son toe the control OF the river.
Congressional actlou on this pro-
Jrci should te taken separately OF
Ull other questions Involved Ia the
various other problems.
am confident the states of
" uuluE. Dtan. colorado. Nevada
ami New Mexico. would interpose
ANN - NNf'A|NANNNA ~ NNAN" NNNANNNN NANNN
work 80 essential to California iu
protecting ihe Imperial valley
agninat floods, aud 10 that state
and Arizona for irrigation Pur-
poses. and the latter state FOR ciec-
,ric power
"Thc objection OF the states In
she upper Colorado basin would be
removed. I am confident. should
congress in the act provide that
the erection Of the dam "a, BOui-
der Canyon would create no prior
rights 10 take the use OF the wa
ter. That would leave priority of
water rights 10 be later arranged
when the needs u the different
states are known. The danger OF
destruction ly floods In the Inn
perlal valley j. affecting the IL
Dancing of projects there nud
should have Immediate atte ntlon.
The rights of the seven states in
the Colorado basin TO 'he use II the
water Tor Irrigation ant power puf-
poses are being given cl,retu. con-
sideration. secdeiafy Hoover stat
- expls ring that the qlerfipns
iAhust In has judgine',, bs. a4tcf
UP "a storage
The secretary declared tns corf-
Nf'NN|fNAA AHANN NAANA MNNMN NNNH NNNNHN
OF the .lvcr was adequate 90 nttet
all possible demands Tor IrrIgtfluu
a D Lower purposes. With s,.-
piIs . unused water. As soon us
tla e. u,riiEslun obtains uI H4tD-
met n..onE tho sta eJ the fi,i.
VIII , ,lbmitt,G 10 congress Tor
approval The work of the com
mission ai a. next meeting TO bo
held al Sitnta Fe. ~ NJ August T.
Mr.. Hoover said would be much
simplificd by the recent decision OF
the supreme court In the Nyn-
ming Colorado ease. which cstah-
lished the rights Of the states gen
orally IN the use OF water.
Government Duty
Aside from the other Irrigation
and power projects. the Colorado
river must be controlled the secrc-
tary stated. preferably at Boulder
canyon. aS "a governmental duty to
the people ana property In I'm
periai valley The Boulder Canyon
dam and reservoir would not inter
fcrc In am way. he said. with
other projects on tht river.
Tho commission, the secretary
raid favored the construction OF
the Boulder Canyon dam.
Discussing NJ the request ~ the
committee his general vcws sn
projects along the entire river
Secretary Hoover said that con
Eress In leEislnting ON the subject
should give first consideration 10
the needs Of irrigation ana mGk,
the development OF power -cc-
ondary. Congress. he added should
not grant any absolute power
rights no individuals or private
corporations IN any of the states.
Tho emergency situation In the
Imperial Valley can be- removed
the witness said. within three or
four year. after congress has legal
lied and work has actually been
commenced.
Along the course 81 tho river,
damsltes have been located suffl-
client to develop between b.O00 coo
and 6.oo0, ,00o horse power but the
demand the secretary said viii
rNceed the supply, which the fed
erai government win generate. and
for thnt reason congress should
give consideration 20 plans hy
which private power construction
might be pr0vided 10 meet the
excess demands.