Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-12-15
COLORADO RIVER POWER PROJECT
DWARFS SHOALS POSSIBILITIES
Senate Committee Sees
Plans Magnitude on
N Inspection.
Enormous Scheme W ould
Require $5O,OOO,OOO
tor Completion.

A vast water-power project, un-
equaled in any other part of the
United States, is under consideration
by the Senate committee on irriga ton
and reclamation-the development of
power in the Colorado River. The com
mittee headed by Senator Charles l..
McNary of Oregon, chairman. visited
some of the States through which the
Colorado River flows and viewed the
site of the proposed dam in Boulder
Canyon, just before Congress assem-
bled. Hearings on the project will be
continued during the coming week.
with the governors of Utah. Colorado.
Wyoming and New Mexico among
those teStifying.
The project must be of interest to
the people throughout the United
States as we'll as to those who live in
the intermountain States and Califor-
MIA, in the opinion of Senator Nc
Nary and other members of the COM
mittee. 1t is the source of a possible
supply of hydro electric power that
dwarfs the possibilities of Muscle
Shoals, for example. The day will
come, it is predicted. when supplies
of coal and oil will become less and
even will be exhausted. and the indus
trial world Will be forced to turn more
and more to electric power developed
when such power Will be utilized for
heating purposes also.
Far Exceeds Shoals.
The Colorado River is described as
the marrow" in the backbone of the
Rocky Mountains. 1t is LOO miles
in length. 1t starts at point IA 900
feet above sea level. Its waters run
between walls of granite from 900
TO 5000 feet high during a great part
of its length, affording unequaled OPP
portunities for the location of power
cites. The United States Geological
Survey estimates that if IS power
sites along it's length were used there
will be developed 1000 900 constant
horsepower. Muscle Shoals. it is es-
timated, will develop no more than
80 600 constant horsepower
a great difficulty in the power de
velopment of the Colorado has come
through the inability of the States
interested to agree. About two
years ago Congress passed resolu-
ton providing for these States 10 en-
ter an agreement to allocate the
waters of the river. The States are
Utah. Colorado. Wyoming. Nevada.
Arizona and California. All signed
but Arizona. California signed with
q reservation.
Inlll Ine states come together and
compose their differences over the use
of the waters of the Colorado River. it
is unlikely that Congress will make
an appropriation to develop the river
Nevada Ready to BaIk.
Nevada it is understood, will not
sign a new agreement unless granted
more liberal terms, it is said now.
The Senate committee is seeking to
pave the way for such an agreement
by the development of all the facts.
There is before the committee a bill
to appropriate money to build dam
at Boulder Canyon. A dam there. 500
feet high. would impound $4,000. 200
acre-feet of water, which would equal
100000 acres of land covered with
water TO A depth of one foot.
The impounding of these waters
would regulate the flow of the stream
taking up the food waters in the
Spring and early Summer and dis
trihuting them throughout the sea
sons. 1t would affect flood control
and prevent inundation of the Impe
rial Valley.
Los Angeles, San Diego and other
cities in Southern California are in
need of water for domestic purposes