, 1934-12-08
GIANT TEXAS
POWER PLANT
: DRIVE BEGINS

AUSTIN. Dec. 3. P-Enginecrs
and biologists worked at top speed
Saturday to complete technical and
economic data for proof before IN
gress next month Of Texas right to
$5O,000.000 New Deal funds to fl
nance the southwest's largest Wa
ter Conservation and Hydro E,cc-
trio project on the Brazos river.
Encouraging tentative reports
have been forwarded to Congress
man j. p. Buchanan n. Brennan,
already in Washington. The e;er-
an congressman and chairman Of
the house appropriations con uittee
has shouldered the task Of direct
ing a campaign in congress to Sc
cure federal ~fiancing.
Action Plan incomplete
Buchanan's plan Of action was in
complete pending final reports
from the Texas technical staff sub
Stimulating the engineering and &C.
onomic practicability Qf the gigan-
tic project. Meanwhile, Texans
awaited the congreSsmanS instruc-
tionS.
They were optimistic, however,
recalling recent stateme"Js Of
Buchanan that prospects would be
materially bettered Il Texas con-
trihuted a share. Supporting that
belief, the Texas legislature recent
" RENTED $780, 900 property taxes
over a 20-year period # congress
would provide at least S3O,0OO.0O0
by 1910.
Local sponsors understood that
federal funds %aggregating s50,000,-
600 would be sought by a special
act, either in the form CT z grant
and loan without interest or mere
IL an advance.
A Two engineers and two biologists
y meanwhile trudged up and down
reservoir and dam sites TO confirm
surveys of the Texas Board Of Wa
ter engineers. which 10 years ago
mapped oct the comprehensive ma
tural resource conservation program
as the most necessary IN Texas.
Elated Over Reports
John A. Norris, chairman Of the
water board, was elated yer tenta-
tive reports OF the technical re-
port. He termed them very encour-
aging. No discrepancy N previous
findings was uncovered. he said,
although he explained If any we're
detected, there were many alter
nate dam sites available.
The site chosen for the largest
power dam. Norris said recently,
was pronounced by a veteran geolo-
gist "as one OF the very best ne
had ever seen" IT was the site IN
Palo Pinto county Oh the main
stream OF the Brazos river for the
"Possum Kingdom" dam. II would
impound 100000 acre Tee. O. water
and its turbines would generate p
per cent OF the 300.000Q00 .liOwatt
hours annual output Of the entire
project.
The iielC force planned o COM
plete its recheck of data before
Christmas. Two engineers directed
TO ascertain the feasibility Of .cca-
tions for water supply ami hydro
electric power generation, and two
biologists. who inquired into geolo-
gical structures to determine their
ability to support dams and store
water. composed the field force.
Thirteen major dams. seven equip
ped To generate electricity, vert
projected as the counterpart Of the
Tennessee VALLEY authority or the
four-state Boulder dan for a vast
southwestern region yet untouch-
ed BY the administrations New
Deal III natural resource CCnierva I
ton and electric Towe~ generation.
states Largest River
M HarnesSing the states largest and
Fnost destructive river was the goal
Cheap electric power ac ,aSsible 10
three-fourths Of Texas 5000. 900
people was the chief SQUIRE Of rev.
n IA relied uoon to liuuidate con
struction costs.
Conservation Of water and flood
prevention, however, were the main
detectives. Revenue from sale OF
stored water for irigation and COM
este purposes would :oltribure TO
operating income.
Engineers, upon whose reports
the state backed the project With
over SIS 600. 900 OF its property tax
money, would prove feasibility Of
the requested federal expenditures
strictly on a financial basis. Their
tentative reports declared $780,
600 annually would BE- realized
from wholesaleing electricity, which,
with revenue from sale Of water for
other purposes, would De sufficient
to amortize construction indebted
ness.
Furthermore. the system Of cams
would prevent an annual flood dsm-
age r. over $1,000. 900: reclaim g.
100000 fertile acres of bottom lands
subjected to devastating overflOws;
make possible irrigation Of 1900
900 acres: supply needs OF many
municipalities and seve al aver
age OF q lives lost annually by
floods.