Evening star., 1928-04-03
Boulder Dam Bills Inspire
Keen Controversy i'm Press

Reports TO both houses OF Congress
ernnient construction OF a great dam In
Boulder Canyon OF the Colorado River
have encouraged advocates OF the project
and intensified the opposition OF those
who claim that this flood control water
supply and power dam will involve the
Government In Objectionable competi-
tion with private business Important
debates In the House and Senate are
forecast
The recent California food is held by
the Los Angeles Express to force "a
realization OF the imperative need of
the protection that great Government
work in Boulder Canyon will afford the
people In the lower valleys of the Colo
rado River: also that the time Is at
hand when Los Angeles must be pro-
vided a greater and more dependable
domestic water supply than can be OBJ
tanned from nearby sources. Every hon.
orable means should be employed" the
Express adds. Ito induce early action on
the bill by Congress"
Statements In the House report that
the Colorado River is at present q
menace to the lives and property of the
$4,000 inhabitants Of the Imperial VAL
ley. and that sooner or later 1t will in
evitably flood and permanently destroy
this region for human hahitation," are
quoted by the Lincoln State Journal
with the comment AT present the
inhabitants OF the Imperial Valley are
dependent for the water supply. both
for irrigation and domestic purposes, on
the water brought TO II through a canal,
SO miles Of which lie wholly within
Mexican territory. thus making the
whole valley entirely dependent on the
GOOD viii OF the Mexican government
for Its water supply"
the Pasadena StaT-News. "of q flood
along the lower reaches OF the Colorado
River which might make the late flood
from the breaking Of the 81. Francis
Dam seem pigmy by comparison This
risk OF disaster should not be prolonged
by dailying over the projected Boulder
Dam Construction OF that dam would
obviate destructive foods In the Colo
RADIO River There Is also the problem
OF domestic water supply from the Colo
rado River This is some
thing urgently needed so that growth
and development OF this section never
may be retarded"
IS The most important governmental
project In the history of the West" is
the estimate from the San Bernardino
sun, which expresses satisfaction with
the fact that the measure Is before both
houses OF Congress, and. remarking that
California has yielded on several
points" concludes: The main thing
Is that there Is now opportunity for the
enactment OF the legislation. Victory iS
not yet sure, but 1t Is materially closer
than II has been at any time"
Boulder Dam has been up for so long
and has been so widely discussed In the
prints" according TO the Oakland Trib-
une, that 1t may have won sufficient
support on the strength of the needs OF
the Imperial Valley and the Southwest.
1t has been up long enough TO see dissi-
pated the scare that the Government
Intends To so into the power business.
The Government will not 90
into business at Boulder Dam unless II
so happens that private concerns refuse
TO make adequate bids for privileges
Without the clause permitting the Gov
eminent To operate, 1t Is believed there
would be an invitation 10 private capital
10 make low bids and 80 postpone the
time when revenues may reimburse the
Nation for the si26. 900 900 10 be spent. -
Recognizing the primary object oi
food control, the Springfield Union de-
oiares. Were the project limited Ia
that object there would be no difficulty
Flood control Is q Federal function In
the circumstances, and q dam suffcient
10 hold back the flood waters would not
call for q large expenditure relatively
But this real need OF food control has
become involved In the proposal To con-
struct q much larger and higher dan,
and far more costly works, not only for
the generation and sale OF power hui
supply purposes, especially In Calitof-
MIA" The Union emphasizes "the more
difSinult questions nj the ALLEGATION 0i
power and water and the stili greater