Imperial Valley press., 1928-02-13
PART
The Colorado Golden Resources

1t truly has been said that the
destiny of the Great Southwest
rides upon the waters of the Colo
RADIO River. In elaboration of this
declaration it might be stated, with
equal truth, that within these wat
ers, now flowing for the most part
wastefullv into the sea, there are
potential riches far greater than ali
the gold washed from the hillsides
of California since the days of
forty mine.
The almost immeasurable wealth
of the Colorado River exists i'll the
form of hydro-electric power which
nav be made available from that
source, and in its vast quantities of
water which, controlled and conser-
we'd, will provide dependable ir-
rigation supply for land now under
cultivation, and will supply the dom
este and industrial needs of the
cities of the Southwest.
For many years the people of
this section of the country have real
lied that the Colorado, if properly
developed, could be transformed into
& golden national asset instead of
an. ever threatening flood menace
to the lands and cities along its
lower reaches. 1t has been only with
in the last few years, however,
that the full extent of these resour-
ces of wealth fully have been com
pretended, and constructive steps
taken to reap the benefits awaiting
mankind in the waters of this tur-
bulent river.
From its headwaters to its out
let in the Gulf of California, the
Colorado River flows through two
nations-the United States of Amer
lea and the Republic of Mexico. In
this country it flows through or
forms the boundary line of seven
Southwestern states; namely, Wyo-
ming. Colorado, Utah, New Mexico,
Arizona, Nevada and California.
Those portions of the seven states
which form the watershed for this
gigantic stream aggregate pa, 600
square miles in area. This is, in
fact, vast empire larger than all
If France and half of Germany with
its 65,000,000 inhabitants, larger
tan the total area of England,
Scotland, Wales and Ireland and
five time greater than the combined
area of the New England states.
Within these seven Southwestern
states reside today approximately
100000 people. An area of like
size centering in Chicogo supports
65,000,000 people. Through the pro
per conservation and development
OF the Colorado Rivers resources
the Southwest rightfully may eX
pect to increase its population ten
fold and its actual wealth according
ly. This is not the wild, ain-glori
Gus boast of Western booster; it
is the calm, disinterested estimate
of hard-headed engineers and econ
omists who have studied and come
to realize fully the possibilities of
Colorado River development.
Electric Energy Enormous
With its highest tributaries ris-
ing in the Rock Mountains at an
elevation of 1900 feet, the Colo
ado journeys for distance of 100
miles in its course to sea level. En-
gineering studies have revealed that
III this rivers fall to sea level d
total of 100000 horsepower of
hydro electric energy may be de-
yelopcd.
Some conception Of the trcmend-
Gus quantity of water power availa-
HE from the Colorado may be gain
ed by pointing out that in all these
Unitel States there is in actual use
100000 horsepower of electricity.
In the Southwestern area which
will be directly affected by Colo
RADIO River power there is but 1900
600 horsepower of hydro-electricity
developed and in use.
Let US consider, for a moment, the
vast wealth to be brought into ex-
istenee through the use of these
100000 horse power of electricity.
In the IS Southern California
counties, it has been found that
for each horsepower of electricity
how in use, there is $4,000 in act