Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1929-06-27
Who'll Operate
Power Plant Is
Only Question
Mead Discusses Problems
With Company Represen-
tatives; Confab in L. A.
Ends; Pittman Gives
Views.


After concluding conferences here
with possible buyers Of power from
Boulder Dam, DR.. Elwood MeaG.
commissioner of reclamation, left
here late today by airplane fer
Imperial Valley.
The conferences gave promise OF
definite agreement looking TO inn
mediate steps for construction Oh
thc great Colorado River project.
DR.. Mead learned here that very
little basic differences exist be-
tween utility purchasers and the
government as to the best methods
Of administering the power fea-
lures of the dam.
II was brought out here at TIE
conferences that opinion varies only
on the question Of whether the
government or an independent
agency shall construct the power
plant at the dam. 1t was said that
this question can be settled by
slight modification Of the several
proportions informally presented
to Mead
DR.. Mead said the verbal offers
of cooperation and assistance made
by representatives Of the SoUtnelE
California power companies would
be submitted to him in writing
within the next ten days, and that
he will forward them 10 Secretary
Ray Lyman Wilbur.
Nevada Represented
Among those comforting here
were the Los Angeles Bureau of
Water and Power, the Southern
California Edison company, Los
Angeles Gas and Electric Corpor-
aticn, Southern SieITaS Power COZ
poration, and officials representing
the state of Nevada.
The first formal statement IRON.
tne Bureau of Water and Power,
issued by II. A. Van Norman, gem
cral manager. said that the con-
ferenceS demonstrated the teaS.-
bility of the immediate financing
lor the project,
lie said that the willingness OF
the utilities, both private and pub
lie. to cooperate gave indication OF
a satisfactory conclusion.
The suggestion of the pOssi-
bility Of government built
power plant at Boulder Dam to
be turned over to a COMPETENT
purchasing agency for operation
and maintenance was suggest
ed by Van Norman. He added
that the operating agent should
nay the government stated
rental for the power-generating
privileges.
BY this he said the federal gov
ernlnent would not be placed in
the power business, but would be
assured of a return sufficient to re-
paw the initial construction OUTLAY
within the fifty years specified III
the Swing johnson bill.
Pittman Speaks
United States Senator Pitlman
said the best interests OF thu peU-
pie of California, Arizona and Ne
vada will be served IF actual op-
Grating control of all power deri'
ed from Boulder Dam should go to
the party having the largest needs
and the largest interests - SUI
party unquestionably being III Los
Angeles"
Pittman said such procedure
would shorten materially the SIX
months period in which the tHre2
states are permitted to decide me
amount of power each Will use
and hasten work on the md'H
project
Senator Pittman said he c0Ll2
not understand the need oil walt
lug six months for California, Ne
vada and Arizona to decide what
their power needs will be, and that
d mixture Of interests, each want
ing control, would lead only To
chaos.
1T is impossible for the various
interests to determine at tins tlint
lust what their power needs Whl
he" he said. Certainly my oWf
state of Nevada cannot determine
that with accuracy. With agrlcdi-
,ure and industry to be developed
in Nevada water and poWei neeua
will increase"
He cited rich silica and other
mineral deposits in Nevada wnicn
are bound to be developed Wheh
cheaper power is available.
Purchase of the maximum power
TO be developed by Boulder Dam
was guaranteed by representatives,
of the Los Angeles Bureau OF Power
and Water and the Southern Cali
fornia Edison Company i'll confer
cnCes with Dr. ElWood Mead. U. >.
Commissioner OF Reclamation, here
yesterday.
Although details OF the prclimn-
airy meeting of the officials were not
disclosed. it was learned that the
applicants for power contracts arc
divided i'll their opinion OF the
falling water policy of the govern
ment.
Southern California Edison COM
pany favored construction by the
purchasers OF a hydro electric plant
while the bureau of water and
power preferred that the govern
ment build and operate the generat-
ing system. it was said.
DR.. Mead and his staff OF govern
ment engineers today continued the
series of conferences with power