The Washington times., 1924-05-22
The Boulder Canyon Dam and
Great Falls Projects
BY BILL PRICE.

IN another month news dispatches viii be carrying daily
statements about destructive floods the Colorado river IN
the Southwest perhaps tell Of vigorous fight being
made by the American farmers Of famous Imperial Valley in
California to protect their homes and ranches from inund
Raging along msy 800 feet above them is this mighty
stream held back by levees Of silt and hand placed rock
temporarily and finally the Southern Pacific Railway was
called to stop the evee break Millions Of dollars
expended before Hartman succeeded and thousands Of
acres inundated only to be gradually reclaimed In
June the same story may be repeated
For years these farmers have been coming Washington
and pleading with Congress to give them flood protection
Slowly the Government engineers have worked out plan for
great dam Boulder Canyon $50 feet high that will store
these flood waters let them off gradually and incidentally
produce 100000 hydroeectrc horsepower day in
and day out the round Bidders for this power declare
they ready to buy it They willing pay the entire
cost Of this flood protection within period usually covered
by bond issues They do not ask Congress
aney sugges. business popostlon They do not ask the
The bill covering all thistle Swing Johnson b-has been
lingering in committee since the opening day Of the session
Long hearings have been held Chairman SMITH individually
appears to favor the legislation do practically all
mittee membership subtle hand first unseen and now
Presenting front the private power
companies shout loudly that they flood protection
These enemies are defeating the bill
b delay and apparently they know well their workings
less the bill Is reported its enemies will have
victory have forced those farmers below level to
continue their struggle for existence alone unaided al
though the remedy here and its cost nothing to the Gov
eminent which unwtngly holds the helping hand in
restraint. 4. nnz1swp
Some weeks ago the Senate unanimously passed the Norris
bill for the Harvesting Of the power Of Great Falls according
70 the Tyler plan and the bringing Of that power to Wash
ngon for distribution to Government buildings and to private
homes The Tyler plan makes disposition Of the power
after it gets to this city leaving the question Of Government
ownership or leasing to private power company open
The best engineers in the United States army have testified
N House hearings that the Tyler plan will make electricity
Tor this city far below the present cost thus bringing about
great saving to the Government and the people Of this CITY
The Government itself is directly and vitality interested In
saving money Not only would the Of electric power
here be materially cut but at the low price can be sold
enough money would be put aside each year pay the entire
cost Of the project in thirty years or less.
is dencaly the thought put forward as to the
Boulder Canyon project-THEY WILL PAY FOR THEM
SELVES in generation So the same time giving to the
public ncalcuabe benefits cheaper In addition to
this 50 far Boulder Canyon concerned giving to farmers
lars. = -
The old hand in the Great Falls scheme az
IN Boulder Canyonat time the open opposition of the
private power interests Of the country then the open
fight weaken the underground methods that are still more
powerful and insdious:
may be that there will be favorable reports on both
projects just Congress is adournng thus giving
70 the powerful interests that opposing them that MOTH
ING CAN OR WILL BE DONE toward passage In the next
session the sort Of ddng and bacsteppng will 90 on
with SOME LoOPH0LE ALWAYS OPEN that viii protect
massed money and give consideration to other things