The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1927-02-23
P0NEREEP
PUSHD DAM

"A delegation oe engineers and
technicians, prominent in public
utility and power work throughout
this country, arrived In washington
today to lend their efforts and the
prestige Of their names to the
Boulder Dam bill, now the subject
Of one OF the bitterest fights In
legislative history.
Clifford Pinchot, former governor
Of pennsylvania, It was learned,
win arrive in Washington today
to engage actively IN the effort
that Ii being made TO pass the leg.
islation. Statements from i few
Of the engineers and nationally
known utility men regarding Boul.
der Dam. follow:
Rate Qualification
Professor Edward w. Bemis, $50
South Michigan Ave-. Chicago,
former professor at the University
Of Chicago. former head Of the
water department Of Cleveland. and
later Of New York, and consulting
engineer for numerous western
cities: The need for Boulder Dam,
ana for similar large public deyel.
0Ded projects, such rs the proposed
81. Lawrence project In New York
ana the Muscle Shoals power project
In Alabama. Ii outstanding.
10 begin with. IL will clarity the
tangled dispute between privately
owned utility corporations all over
the country, and the regulatory
commissions. over the actual cost 81
making electrical water power.
There u growing dissatsifae.
ton with the commission form AZ
regulating rates. This Is due ID
the fact that members 0f utility
commissions are constantly icing
changed. putting new men In the
places 81 those who have studied
the rate making problems. The
Federal courts have further CON-
pllcated matters By insisting that
rates be based upon what Is known
40 the Replacement theory Of eval.
natiOn.'
''The one great opportunity for
forming q public opinion on tie
most rapidly growing public utility
lelectTic water power u through
the development Of public owned
Waterp0Wer projects.
IF New York, under Governor
Smith, can develop The 81. Lawrence
project. and the Government retain
Muscle Shoals and other sites on
the Tennessee River, and Boulder
Dam, there will be d great quad.
|rilAteral Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENT power
In Washington, Arizona, Alabama
and New York, which, under accu.
rate Government accounting, viii
show the real cost Of electrical
power.
There Is q special reason for de.
yelOping Boulder Dam, in. that that
y the only known way 20 protect
the thousands Of residents 81 the
Imperial Valley from the annual
menace Of death BY floods.
The entire cost OF the project
would be paid for within q few years
~ the sale Of power leases.
The argument that &c 81 not 4
Junction Of the Government 70 build
. power project seems rediculOns n
View Of the Governments fee0uent
enactment Of tariff for the DrOtec.
ton Of manufacturers, and a. kle
recent enactment Of the NFcNarv.
Haugen farm relief BILL
Maurice Liewilyn Cooke. fornerlv
1880 "a PSAAA4E WOIAG, EuItAuGks
phla, head Of the Giant Power sur.
yeys Of Pennsylvania, under Cover.
nor Plnchot. and nationally known
engineer: Professor Benlis a 8
public OWnership man: 1 am NOT.
Nevertheless / strongly favor fF,e
enactment Of Tire BOULDER nam RIM
The rates for electricity r, fhe
average American home are nine
times the rates that are CHARGED
Tor large power use. This ls 4
Spread that b absolutely without
the basis Of reason. The Spread
should not under amy circumstances
pc more than one 60 three.
Nothing can be gained By de-
laying the Boulder Dam project.
WaterpOwer machinery Il now 80 10
% per cent efficient. This q not
true Of steam generated power ma
chinery. There Is q great DISPUTE
among engineers as to whether, the
steam plants should be located &c
the mines, or the coal hauled 20
steam plants on the seabOard.
Lincoln, The Great Emancipa.
tor, by Ida M. TarbeII. illustrated