Douglas daily dispatch., 1928-01-31
OHIO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IS
OPPOSED TO BOULDER CANYON
DAMPOWER DEVEL LOPMENT BY US.

dam in Boulder canyon would serve
to protect Imperial valley from floods
originating above the point, but not
below the point of the dam, it would
provide valuable agency for irriga-
ton, and would provide water sup
ply for the city OF Los Angeles.
give: The value of the dam for pro-
duction of hydro electric power is de-
batable; Boulder dam being situated
in an arid and sparsely settled region,
about $50 miles from the industrial
center.
"Six: Construction of the proposed
dam at Boulder canyon would not
prevent a recurrence of the disastrous
flood of 1906, which was caused by the
Gila river, a confluent of the Colorado
river much nearer the Imperial valley.
Seven: This is typical instance Of
the increasing Capitalization of auth
ority and expenditures in federal bu-
reaus. Plausible arguments are always
urged for each step in consolidation.
This particular project involves NUM-
cipal water supply and the manufac-
ture and sale of electricity by the fed
eral government for purely local uses.
"This is far cry from the ideas of
the founders of this government" the
statement concluded. IF the present
tendency to center power and admin
istration in Washington for all sorts
of purposes is not checked, the states
of the union will be reduced to the
position of mere counties within the
next two or three generations.
"Ohio is willing to do its share Of
any federal project that is economi-
cally SOUND. It is not against prop
erly conceived project to protect prop
erty and reclaim desert regions. But
it does protest against opening this
wide crack in the door for the entry Of
state socialism"
In the technical report, Mr.. Wyer,
referring to irrigation of the Imperial
valley planned as part of the pro-
posed project, said this land was de-
veloped privately and not through the
government ande that the development
was in the face of governmental warn
ings. However, he said, the valley soon
became probably the most advertised
farm land in the world and stock
SPECTATORS, tempted by easy diversion
c1I1O Hl1Ch H1O14OO, C4CdOCO q AOdNAJ NAC-
mand and made quick sales.
Regarding the proposed "all-Ameri-
can canal Mr.. Wyer declared a new
treaty with Mexico would be necessary,
thus adding international complica-
tons BY the construction of the
canal the main flow of the water
would be changed from the Mexican
side of the border to the American side
for Imperial valley use, he said.
Contrary to prevalent public opin-
ion, if the entire. Coloradp4sins flood
should break through the protecting
levees, as it did in 1906, there would
not be any hazard to life, merely some
property loss," said Mr.. Wyer.
He declared that for flood control
and irrigation service it would be ad-
vantageous to have the reservoirs in
the lower reach of the river rather
than in Boulder canyon because of the
greater ease in controlling discharge OF
water.
Pointing out that generation of elec-
tricity is the smallest item of cost in
electric service transmission and dis
tribution Icing overwhelmingly greater
Mr.. Wyer declared that regardless
of popular beliefs, water power is COM
petitive with fuel power and must
stand on its own feet. Water power
development, he said, made to carry
the cost of flood control, irrigation or
municipal water supply, might make
the cost of power SO high as to make
it cheaper to generate power by fuel.
The total cost to the federal gov
ernment, his report said, is estimated
at $125,OOO 900, exclusive of cost for
transmission and distribution of cleo
trical energy.