Imperial Valley press., 1928-12-04
CONTINUED From Page y

power distribution and nitrat,
salcs,' he added.
Boulder Dam Views
In speaking of the erection of. ;
Colorado River dam (commonl,
known as the Boulder Dam project,
for floodcontrol, irrigation, and do
nestle water purposes, each of gov
ernmental function, the Prcsideu
said:
"For several years the congress.
has considered the erection of a dan
on the Colorado river for floodcon
troll, irrigation, and domestic watel
purpose, all of which may properly
be considered as government func
ti0ns. There would be an incidenta
creation of water power which coult
be used for generating electricity
As private enterprise can very wei
fill this field, there is no need fol
the government to 90 into it. 1t i:
unfortunate that the states interest
cd in this water have been unable
thcless, any legislation should giv'
every possible safeguard to the pres
ent and prospective rights of eacl
of them.
"Thc congress will have before i
the detailed report of n specia
board appointed 10 consider th
engineering and economic feasibilit,
of this project. From the shor
summary which / have seen of il
| judge they consider the engineer
ing problems can be met at some
what increased cost over previous
estimates. They prefer the Blacl
Canyon site. On the economic fea
lures they are not so clear and ap
pear to base their conclusions OF
many conditions which can not b,
established with certainty. So fa1
as | can judge, however, from the
summary, their conclusions appea
sufficcn ,ly favorable, so that ! fee
warranted in recommending n meas
urc which will protect the rights OF
the states. discharge the necessary
electrical field to private enter
prise. ...
Lease Muscle Shoals 3
The President. said he was dis
posed to approve legislation grant
ing the, secretary of war authority
to lease Muscle Shoals for nitrate
production. He said:
"Thc development of other meth
ods of producing nitratcs will prob
ably render this plant less importan'
for that purpose than formerly. Blu
we have it, and | am told it still
provides n practical method of max
ing nitratcs for national defense ant
farm fertilizers. BY dividing th'
property into its two componen
parts Of power and nitrate plant
it would be possible to dispose o
the power, rcscrving the right t.
any concern that wished to make nj
tratcs to use any power that NIGH
be needed for that purpose. Such
disposition of the power plant cal
be made that will return in renta
about $2,000,000 per year. If thu
congress would grant the secretar.
of war authority to lease the nj
tratc plant on such terms as would
insure the largest production of nj
trates, the entire property could be
gin TO function. Such a division,
am aware, has never seemed to ap
peal to the congress. ! should ais
glady approve n bill granting author
ity to lease the entire property 70
the production of nitratcs.
81 wish to avoid building anothe
dam at public expense. Futur
operators should provide for tina
themselves. But if they We're t
be required to repay the cost o
such dam with the prevailing con
mercial rates for interest, this dit
ficultv will he considerably lessened
Nor do l think this property shoul
be made vehicle for putting tn
United States government indiscrin
inately into the private and retai
field of power distribution and n
tratc sales.'
Agriculture Improved
The past year was characterize
by noteworthy, though not uni
form, improvement in agricultur,
Mr.. Coolidge said. Though notabl
improved, the current status of az
riculturc bespoke need of additions
improvement, in the President
opinion. This need of betterment
Mr.. Coolidge said, called for cor
certcd and determined effort of tn
farmers themselves, encouraged an
assisted by wise public policy.
"The government has been, an
must continue to be. alive to tn
needs of agriculture, he continued
"The surplus crop problem demand
attentions.
"As emphasized in my last mes
sage, the government should assum