Imperial Valley press., 1929-04-27
IMPERIAL VALLEY NEEDS
DISTRICT POWER PROJECT OPPOSED

DISTRICT POWER Project OPPOSED
Believing that the time has come when the best m
of Imperial Valley demand that definite stand
be taken the question of power development III TINS
community and feeling is newspapers duty to take
such stand questions vitality effectng the conlmun
tv which it serves the Press after giving the matter
considerable thought and studying it from all angles
presented, has the conclusion that it cannot
support the Imperial Irrigation District plan for erect
ing power plants oh the canals of its system.
In taking this stand the Press is prompted pri-
mary by the belief that the proposed plan is too costly
to be undertaken, particularly at this time ant
would impose additional burden on the already
heavily laden taxpayers. The Press believes that
every effort should be made to decrease rather than in
crease taxes.
Further. after study CT the various reports sub
mted in connection with Imperial Valley power pro
iects the Press Is influenced by the findings of l. S.
Wing, competent and disnJerested engineer sent by
the California Farm Bureau Federation to make sur
vey Of Imperial Valleys power needs.
After survey Of several months, during which he
conferred with Irrigation District officials, studied
their reports, and the entire physical system of the dis
trct he declares that the canal power system offers
insufficient possibility OF profit to warrant the Dis
trct entering into this field of service"
The conclusions of Mr. Wings report are printed
opposite this article that ell who interested may
read and study them They arc based on the facts as
presented 10 him.
Agriculture is the backbone of Imperial Valley
and those engaged in it form the majority OF popu
lation. All of US are dependent upon It. 1t there
fore follows that the findings Of competent engineer
employed BY an organization representing the agricu
among VALLEY residents Neither the farm bureau nor
Mr.. Wing. has any to grind. Both are concerned
only with serving the best possible degree the inter-
e5ts Of the agricultural industry.
MIR. Wing endorses the idea Of developing power at
Pilot Knob in which the Press heartily cOncurs He
states The combined kilowatthour output of Pilot
Knob and the live hydro plants proposed in this ithe
canal systcn) project viii likely exceed the total lo
watthOur requirements Of loads available to the Dis
trct for at least twenty years in the future and the
peak requirements fer over ten years.
IF THE DISTRICT BUILT THE FIVE h1D DRO
TOWER PLANTS IN THE VALLEY AS OUTLINED
N THIS FBOJECT. THESE WOULD BE RE READEK- Nd r.
ED USELESS FOR MANY YEARS IN CASE PILOT
KNOB IS HEntLOPhQ l4leESS a AAkhh1I OCl- IL
SIDE OF THE VALLEY FOR TIE OUTPUT OF
PILOT KNOB COULD BE FOUND
All who have Investigated the matter agree on the
c0uadness Of the Pilot Knob project. The Press be
ieve it represents ideal Of settling the entire
power matter. In measure II IS acompromse'
Imperial Valley was split for several years the
Boulder dana and all-Amerlcan canal project. This
has been settled Why split again on the power cues
ton? We all agree that need unity Of action and
that only BY working together can the valley progress
IT. after developing Pilot Knob it r found that
additional power is necessary then the canal system
project can be taken up We are sure OF c Los % h4oo
and other engineers condemn being theoretical ard
not practical. Why not play safe?
The Press has urged before, since the matter ol
power has been under discussion, that not be per
aitted c brine additional discOrd into his community
Thee is no need for IT, The Press does not seek 10
aIgn itself With the power company aga!n.1 nc ~.
rict any more than fl would wish TO align with the
District aCajna. the power ccmoanF 1T IS concerned
tho ,,roa..ss number OF valley residents
TIE California Farm Bureau Federation calno1
10 o,rI+ Of bcIlr nrocd by the so-caIied power
rust et il engineer Says "ImpcriaI VALLEY has an GE-
cccnt opportunity TO obtain lower electric rates IN c
Immediate future which will be hIndered ra1her lGI, @
helped II enters into competition with the existing
uiIiiv" rcdGct on was made some two months ago
foiIowin~ ont thi. statement which is dated FebruaTy
1929 The Press believes further rcduct ions shouIo
BE made and urges a careful study toward tins end;
in concluding aga urge cur readers ana an
Interested In read and study ,no Wing report. IT is
unbiased politically sound technically, and It's concu-
s arc 80 dr, a. 10 Be easily understood by the lay
an VINO after an IL the cno 10 must decide the issue