Imperial Valley press., 1923-05-30

struction of BOnlder Canyon dam
has been carried on for the past
year, there are many people in I'm
peria! Valley even, who are not
familiar with the fundamental pro-
visions of this bill.
In order that the people Of I'm
perial Valley may become familiar
with the main points Of the bill, and
be able to explain it to others, the
Press today prints the bill in fun rs
it was introduced into the 9th
Congress by Congressman Phil D..
Swing, On April %, I922.
10 provide for the protection and
development Of the laNycr Colorado
River Basin.
BE it enacted by the Senate and
House Of Representatives. Of the
Cnited States Of America in Con.
grcss assembled, That for the par
pose OF providing for the regulation,
control, and development Of the
Colorado River, an International, in
terstate, and naWgab!e stream, im
accordance with n comprehensive
and unified plan, conserving natural
resources, and aiding flood control,
water supply, and power develop
ment, the United States hereby re-
serves to itself the exclusive right
to construct, provide, and control
dams, reservoirs, or diversion wcrks
upon the man trunk of said river
below the mouth cf-thc Green River
Construct a Dam
Sec. .. That, for the purpose Of
regulating the lower Colorado River
and controlling the floods therein,
providing storage Of water for ir-
rigation, securing the development
Of electrical power, and providing
homes for honorably discharged men
and women Of the United States
Army, Navy, and Marine Corps who
served therein during the war with
Germany, the War with Spain, or
in the suppression Of the insurec.
ton in the Philippines, the Secre-
tary Of the Interior is hereby an
thofized and empowered to construct
a dam and incidental works for the
purpose of providing Il reservoir at
or near Boulder Canyon on said
river, adequate for the purposes
aforesaid, and to acquire by pro-
cecdings in eminent domain or 9th
erwise all lands and rights of way
necessary for the said reservoir and
incidental works; also to, construct
q main canal and appurtenant struc.
lures located entirely within the
United States, connecting the La
guGa Dam on said river with the I'M
perial and Coachella Valleys, in Cal.
ifOrnia, together with such other
canals and structures as may be re-
quired for the distribution and de-
livery of water from said reservoir
and said river to lands in the Unit.
ed States which said Secretary may
find practicable of irrigation and
reclamation therefrom, and to ac-
Quire by proceedings in eminent do.
main or otherwise AL rights of way
necessary for such canals and struc.
lures. No expenditures for the con.
structiOn of canals or appurtenaut
structures authorized hcreunder
shall be made until the lands to be
irrigated thereby shall have first
been legally obligated to repay their
proper portions, as may be determin-
ed by tic secretary or the Interior,
of the total costs thereof to the
United States in accordance with
the terms of repayment prescribed
in the Act of Congress approved
June II, 1902, entitled - An Az ap.
propriating the receipts from the
sale and disposal Of public lands in
certain States and Territories to the
of irrigation works for
the reclamation of arid lands, - and
Acts amendatory thereof or supple
mcntary thereto, hereinafter refer,
red to as the reclamation law.
Electrical Power Question
See. ,. That the Secretary of the
Interior is empowered to receive ap-
piications for the right to use for
the generation Of electrical power
portions of the water discharged
from said reservoir and available
for the generation of electrical
power at said dam, and, after full
hearing of all concerned, TO allocate
to such applicants such portions OF
such power privileges as, in his
may be consistent with
an equitable distribution thereof
among the various interested states
and among the various interested
communities in each State. The said
Secretary, in making such aloca,
tion, may give considerat ion to the
plans Of the various applicants, hav-
ing regard to their relative adapt,
ability to utilize such power priv,
ilcgcs in the public interest, and at
reasonable cost to the communities
served: Provided, That subject to
such allOcations he shall give prefer,
ence to applications made by polit-
ical subdivisions.
To Make Leases
See. T. That the said Secretary
is authorized to make leases of the
power privileges so alloeated, limit
ed to fifty years, on such terms and
under such regulations as he may
prescribe, and to fix what he may
find to be a reasonable compensa-
ton therefor, Upon or after the ex-
piration OF any such lease, or renew
al thereof, the United States may
take over the property of the lessee
which is dependent for its useful
ness upon the continuation of the
lease, and if it shall do so shall pay
to the lessee its net investment i'll