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

Secretary Hoover. Yes.
Mr.. Hudspeth. What do you
think of the feasibility of a dan
there?
Secretary Hoover. These can.
yons on the Colorado are the most
ideal spots in the world for dams
of large storage and power pos
sibilities.
Mr.. Ranker. Irrespective of the
fact that this dam might be filled
up with silt, the expenditure would
justify its being built now, would
it not?
Secretary Hoover. Yes. The
silt is purely academic. 1t has
been brought forward in criticism.
Director Dawes estimates that il
will require over 200 years to fill
the dam. 1t would still be goot
for power purposes even then.
Mr.. Little. May l inquire what
is the history as to filling up with
silt? Are they filled up with silt
Secretary Hoover have moi
looked into that.
Mr.. Little. l am rather surprised
with the statements of the expert.
on this silt business. l have MOI
heard anything of that kind hap
pening, and | have lived alongside
one of these dams for a long time
This is the first time / have hearo
of that.
Mr.. Herrick. This will be th'
first dam built on the river, ant
the erection of another is hardly
contemplated; so is it not true tina
this dam will be completed befor,
the other project woud be started
Secretary Hoover. Yes; it woult
be long before that.
Mr.. Herrick. In that event, i
would not need the entire flow o.
the river to obtain level; the sur
plus from the other watershed
would probably be sufficient t.
maintain the level.
Secretary Hoover. One has t,
bear in mind that the averag,
amount of water that can be pu
to maximm use below the Bouldel
Canyon dam will probably be mucl
less than the average flow of thu
river over a number of years, n,
matter how many dams there ar,
built above.
Mr.. Herrick. That is what wa
in my mind.
Mr.. Sinnott. Are there an.
other features of the bill that YOU
desire to present to the committe
Secretary Hoover. No.
Mr.. Sinnott. Woul the building
of number of dams lessen thu
flow of the silt?
Secretary Hoover. Yes; Their,
are dams that will create a larg'
body of still water. Glen ant
Boulder Canyons would each Great,
lake, and that will undoubtedl!
result in a deposit of silt. This j
river that carries good deal o
mud. That mud is now deposited
in the lower regions of the river
At the present time it is raising tn
bed of the lower end Of the rive
at the rate of somewhat under
foot per annum. So that the dixie
which now protect the lmperia
Valley must be lifted every year
If it is possible to put the sill
farther up the river it is going t
relieve the problem down belos
very materially. That is one of tn
advantages in having the dam
built.
Mr.. Herrick. Would the Boulde
Canyon dam back the water up tn
the river to the Grand Canyon?
Secretary Hoover. No; it is
long way from that. There is n
destruction that will be caused b,
any of the contemplated work.
Mr.. Smith. Do you think tn
Director of the National Park Ser
vice would admit that?
Secretary Hoover. | think h
would be good enough to admi
that it would improve the scener,
| in some Of that section.
Mr.. Bankhead. You said that i
was the intention that the govern
| ment should be ultimately REIN
bursed. That would have to com
either from the power generate,
or from the distribution of waite
fights for agricultural purposes?
Secretary Hoover Yes.
Mr.. Bankhead. Is it contem
plated that any interest will b
charged or simply the original in
vestmsnt?