Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-12-10
:'EXAS DAILY PRESS LEAGUE
Black Canyon Recommended

r Th- BLACK Canyon site for the proposed dam on The
Colorado river has been recommended by the Colorado
River Board. established NJ congress. in preference to
the Boulder Canyon site. advocated BY the California
Interests. How California will react 10 this recon-
m%sndation has rot been definitely ascertained, but
Judging from previous comments of the leaders the
recommendation will not prove satisfactory to hat
state.
The report Of the board Of engineers appointed by
the secretary cf the interior. with the approval Of the
president, has been sent to the president q the senate
and the speaker Of the house. A thorough examination
CT the two sites was made by the board, which in its
report outlined the engineering feasibility Of the two
structure, their adequacy, the water supply Of the
Colorado, tho amount and use 81 the power to be de-
,eloped and the economic feasibility Of the project.
The board found that geological conditions at Black
Canyon are IN general superior to those Of Boulder
canyon, and that the site is more accessible. Danger
from local earthquakes is also almost negligible at that
cite. the report stated.
The report indicates that the cost OF building the
Colorado dam will be greater than that contemplated
ing the Swing johnson bill, passed BY the house. They
estimate the total cost Of all items called for IN the
resolution at SlG,0Oo,e0O, and that seven years would
be required to complete the structure. These are new
phases for the senate 10 consider, and doubtless Will
have considerable effect in connection with its de-
cision.
The proposed dam would be the highest ever con-
structed and would impound 2~6,O00,0O0 acre feet Of
water. n il should fail, the report states, the flood
created would destroy the towns Of Needles, Topock,
Parker. Blythe and Yuma and would permanently
destroy the Icvccs of the Imperial Valley irrigation
district. creating \ channel into the Salton Sea, which
would probably be so deep that il would be Impractical
bic TO re-establish the Colorado in its normal course.
The board did not commit itself to say whether the
proposed hydro-electric plant would he adequate Ii
generate sufficient power to make the project a self
supporting and financially solvent undertaking. It Is
impossible 70 estimate closely the average annual out
put Of power that would be obtained during a fifty
year period. the board finds, because Of the rapid irri-
cation development that would follow the building Of
the dam. Under present conditions it is believed that
. continuous output ~ 550.0o0 horsepower could he
maintained even through a year of normal low flow.
The board is Of the opinion that If the dam project IS
completed and put in operation, carrying as Il does the
costs or flood protection works ard the all-Amcricsn
canal Of tho Imperial Valley. it will be impossible to
meet operation and maintenance cost, and interest AMI
provide a sufficient sinking fund to retire the cost Of
the project within a nfty-ycar period.
. On this feature the report says: 1T is obvious the
power which can 10 generated ~ a valuable rcscuce.
If the income from storage can he reasonably increased
and the capital investment reduced by the cost Of tn
sl-American canal together with a reduction for Az
or part n the cost properly chargeable to flood pro-
'tsetoin. II would he possible 70 smortize the remaining
cost with the income from power