Las Vegas age. [volume] (Las Vegas, Nev.) 1905-1947, 1929-12-14
SMOOT NO
LONGER TO
FIGHT DAM
u ia h Senator Who
Has Opposed BOul-
der Legislation Now
For Early Start

A powerful enemy to the Boulder
Dam legislation during the years
OF its development, Senator Reed
Smoot of Utah has at last swung
over. and now is in full accord
with Secretary OF Interior Wilbur
for immediate construction of the
dam.
He is now agreed that is will be
best, not only for the Southwest,
but for Utah as, we'll, for the
Black Canyon dam construction to
be started at the earliest possible
date.
Smoot has been a powerful fac
tor in the Boulder dam opposition,
and the value of this change OF his
present attitude cannot be over
estimated in consideration of the
political complexion of the prob
lem.
Smoot Writes Views.
A recent letter written by Smoot
gives his present views:
December 6, 1929.
Mr.. W. r. Wallace,
Salt Lake City, Utah.
Dear Friend: The letter of No
vember 81. 1929, signed by your
self. william w. Ray and w. D.
Beers. Colorado river commission
erS received.
l have taken this matter up
with the Secretary of the Interior
and the following are the conclu-
siJns which we have reached:
1t is our belief that the states
interests will be best served by
the early beginning of Boulder
dam This will create market for
products of Utah's farms and mar
ket gardens, for the output OF
Utah's cement factories, and in
crease the trade of Utah'S stores.
Boulder dam is the development
needed by the southern section OF
the river Immediately that starts
the states in the upper section OF
the river have a claim on the con-
sideration of the country for the
utilization of the water of that
section. and the outstanding oppor-
tlnity, in an industrial way. is the
power development at Flaming
gorge.
Flaming Gorge Should
Fellow Closely on Boulder.
The construction Of Flaming
gorge should follow closely on the
beginning of Boulder dam, but
carly development will not be pro
noted by attempting to tie 1t to
Boulder dam. Exactly the reserve
will be true. Conditions which
ought to control the Flaming
gorge power development should
be determined by the needs OF the
region it will serve. This Will be
difficult to secure a solvent con-
tract for the power at Boulder
dam.
Several of the proposals OF the
Utah Colorado river commission
involve changes in the act. 1hai
means delay and uncertainty. SeV-
oral Of them, if embodied i'll that
legislation, would almost certalnlS
be applied to Flaming gorge III
this we have special reference tC
the PROPOSAL that a reservation ol
Roulder dam power be made lol
Utah. without any obligation OF,
the mart of Utah to purchase ano
the recommendation tina Tn
charge for storage of domesti'
water be increased.
proposed Reservations
Lessen Power Value.
With regard to the tlrSt' InI
reeervations proposed for NeVada
and Arizona have lessened the
value of this power to those VINO
must sign firm contracts, to take
all of it before the secretary car
certify to congress that ne ma
contracts which he believes VII
rcnav the cost. Those who slgl
these firm contracts must find mar
tets for the power and pay 1h'
heavy costs of conveying IL u
customers. It that power IS SUP
eeouentlv Withdrawn they mus'
fnd new source of power. WI
have been surprised that any o
The contractors for power woul'
acree TO this provision, and We az
convinced that their statemeh
that the imperative need OF III
cities and coast counties OF Cal
afNI the IN