Evening star., 1935-02-20

Completion Of Boulder Dam, which
will control the waters of the Colo
RADIO River, is believed by newspaper
observers to present possibilities Of an
unprecedented character In changing
natural conditions Of the great South
west. It is called the worlds biggest
engineering project, achieved in the
face of dismal prophecies of few
years ago.
The Pasadena Star-News says it is
little less than phenomenal in its
success" The Portland Oregon Jour-
nal points out that big as the project
is, there has been but little fear that
it would not pay its way and repay
its cost"
"Just what use Boulder Dam will
have in the New Deal scheme" re-
marks the Grand Rapids Press, ais
not yet announced. It will safeguard
life and crops in the rich, fertile I'M
perial Valley from this year onward.
But what use to make of its irrigation
possibilities may puzzle the admins
tration. Reclaiming land means pro-
| viding for new and greater crops, but
the Government is also engaged in an
active crop-reduction program. On
one point there can be no doubt.
Boulder Dam represents an engineer
ing triumph over experts who but a
few years ago said 1t couldn't be done" !"
Before the dam, constructed in
record time, could be completed" ac-
cording to the Jersey City Journal,
there had been a cry that farmers
have been guilty of overproduction, as
well as the manufacturer, and the
effort is being made to throw huge
acreage back into the wild state as
habitation for our game. But perhaps
the need of q dependable supply Of
potable water for the cities Of the
Southern Pacific Coast, as well as the
power to be generated, are reason
enough for the construction. Then.
too, the dam is expected to put an
effective check to the destructive
floods loosed by the erratic Colorado
almost every year. Creation Of such
@ huge lake In the arid southeastern
corner of Nevada will be of interest
to sportsmen as well as prospective
settlers and water supply and flood
control engineers. Unless the soil
thereabouts is so alkaline as to make
the waters unsuitable for fish, the lake
should speedily develop resort Sec
ton about its borders. 1t will be in
teresting to note, also, whether any
change in the climate Is brought on by
the watery expanse."
Fear of flood and fear Of drought
alike are lifted from the Imperial
Valley" AYERS the Los Angeles Times,
with the statement as to the condi-
tions met by the builders: "They have
been favored with luck. The flow Of
the Colorado has been light, indeed,
and at no time have they had to con-
tend with serious high water. But
with due allowance for such fortunate
circumstances, the starting Of water
storage at Hoover Dam today reflects
abundant credit upon the contracting
and engineering forces"
1.-THE huge DAM" the Long Beach
(Calif.) Press Telegram explains,
will be able to supply water for the
next growing season, according to DR..
Elwood Mead, United States director
Of reclamation, land while the power
plant at the dam viii not be COM
pleted until 1910, some Of the gener-
ating units may be In operation before
the end Of 1896. Gratifying progress
also is being made on the Metropoli-
tan Aqueduct"
Considering the problems involved
for the individual States that are
beneficiaries under the Boulder prof.
ART tha Pam (Nevl Evening GazettA
says: Every power withdrawal that Is