Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1928-12-18

human necessity for its use is OF
little value. It required some
pressing need to turn the minds
Of men toward 1t in a construc-
tive way.
In the year 1905 the need for
the Boulder Dam was demonstrat-
ed by the great river which had
carved the canyon. The Colorado,
which had for centuries been
building its bed higher and high
er each year by the deposit OF
silt, broke through its sandy banks
in time Of flood and poured its
mighty torrent into Imperial VAL
ley and the Salton Sea. 1t cost
two years Of effort and the ex-
penditure of more than $500, 600
to turn the flow from the Valley
and send it again on its way to
the Gulf Of California.
The great cry Of the rich I'm
perial Valley that it be protected
from further destruction set on
foot the Investigations by the
United States Geological Survey
and the U. S. Reclamation Ser
vice which sought a means OF
controlling the Colorado River
floods. And today, with all the
features in the way OF benefltS
which the growth of the south
west has made possible from the
project, flood control for the pres
ervation of the Imperial valley
with its hundreds Of millions OF
dollars worth of property and It's
10000 prosperous people Is the
real necessity which compels the
creation of this great work. Other
benefits are merely incidental. so
out of the distress OF one region
comes the impulse which vii
within a few years result IN COM
pletion of the Boulder Dam pro-
iect with it's untold riches to be
showered upon millions yet un-
born through centuries to come.
Arthur Powell Davis, for many
wears Director Of the U. S. Recla-
nation Service, Is really the
father of the project. For many
years he directed the investlga-
tions made into every nook anc
Granny of the great river; he es-
tablished guaging stations u
measure its waters; he surveyed
its areas of irrigible lands; he ex-
amined its canyons for feasible
dam sites; and the Information
which he was instrumental II
bringing together and classifying
covers hundreds of printed pages
His task, to the ordinary man
would have seemed so vast anC
uncertain as to be hopeless. Ye
he was working with two power
ful incentives urging him on. HI
had seen the vast DESTRUCTIVE
power of the River venting 1T
anger against fertile valley I'LL
ed with peaceful and happy peo
pIe. And he had in his veins tn
same kind of blood which CAV
strength and courage 10 his uncle
John Wesley Powell, that lntrepl'
adventurer who was the first U
pass down through the Gran'
Canyon of the Colorado and who's
observations and comments on tn
nature of the river are still au
thoritative. No wonder that tn
spirit and accomplishments OF tn
great explorer should live on Z
INSPIRE his distinguished nepheN
in the great work before him. u
the writer 1t is a sad disappoint
ment that Arthur Powell DaVi
should not have been permitted =
carry to the finish the great worl
for which he so well laid tn
groundwork of knowledge.
The writer recalls other effoet
toward the development OF tn
boulder Canyon project. Ther
was for instance a man OF ou
own state, Henry Schmidt 9
Tonopah, who spent much tim
and money in Investigations an
surveys. He applied for perml
to develop power there and in tn
spring Of 1914 had complied WIT
all the requirements except som
few weeks work connecting u
surveys. But-in the summer
1914 the World War put its pa
over all civilization. Capital whic
had been offered freely before,
was impossible now to secure an
the effort died.
Senator Cameron, Setson an
Fred Hesse made earnest efforl
extending over several years
begin development Of the projec