Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1929-12-19
SACRAMENTO RIVER
AOUEDUCT PROPOSAL
is GIVEN NO BACKING
Suggestion of 0. T. Johnson, Jr., That Los
Angeles Get Water Supply From Northern
River Is Revival of Project Which Was
Discarded Long Time Ago

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 18. U,P-
CONSERVATION was created in the
city council yesterday as the coun-
cilmen discussed advices from
Washington, D. c., which asserted
that o. T. Johnson, Jr., newly ap-
pointed member of the Metropoll-
tan Water District board, had ad-
vocated abandonment of the high
dam proposed for Boulder Canyon
and had advocated that Southern
California obtain water resources
from the Sacramento River
johnson recently went to Wash
ington as a member Of the Metro
politan Water district board to at
tend ALLEGATION hearings.
Dispatches which were read as
Sertedly carried the idea that
Johnson believed Los Angeles
should not go on with it's Colorado
river development, but should
stay at home" in the develop
ment of water resources, should
abandon the proposed high dam
and erect low dam at Mojave or
some other point south on the
Colorado.
Statement hepudlatcd
The ccuncilmen debated the
matter and finally turned over to
the Water and Power committee,
motion by Councilman williams
to the effect that "The council
should go on record repudiating
such a statement and reaffirming
the city's intention of proceeding
with the Colorado river develop
ment program"
Mayor John c. Porter said he
had not been informed of john
sons statement, but that Los An
geleS is committed to the expan-
sion of the Owens Valley reser-
Voir water resources and Colorado
river development for a future
water supply. The Sacramento
river. he said. had not been con-
Sidered.
Mayor Surprised
"If the attitude of Mr.. johnson
is correctly represented" said May
or Porter, who recently appointed
johnson. Il am surprised and cha
grinned. The city is committed to
the policy Of expansion of the
water resources in the Owens
river valley. Mr.. johnson has re-
peatedly assured me that he will
'harmonize' on the Colorado river
project. The subject of getting
water from the Sacramento river
has not even been opened for dis
cussion"
Engineers Outline Task.
Characterizing the Colorado riv-
er aqueduct as the greatest dom
eStic water-supply ever launched
anywhere in the world the three
members of the Engineering Board
of Review retained to select the
best route for the water line, yes
terday outlined some of the fea-
lures of this task at a luncheon
meeting of the Exchange Club in
Glendale.
The noon meeting conducted by
the Glendale Exchange club was
devoted almost entirely to the
Colorado river aqueduct project.
The three members Of the Board
of Review of the Metropolitan
Water District, including A. j.
Wiley, Richardson r. lyman and
Thaddeus Merriman. together with
Chief Engineer Frank E. Weymouth.
of the district, each made a short
address on the subject Of the aque-
duct project.
Each of the three engineers on
the Board of Review emphasized
the immensity of the aqueduct un-
dertaking and each declared that
it provides the only means of OBJ
tanning for the cities of Southern
California the large additional sup
plies of domestic water that soon
will be SO urgently needed by these
communities.
Although the members of the
Board of Review refrained from
discussing the details of their eX-
haustive studies of the aqueduct
route problem they indicated that
they rapidly are completing the
first DhaSa of their studies.