Evening star., 1935-09-30

health and comfort of the people
who live in the Southwest.
To divert and distribute the
waters Of an arid region, so that
there shall be security of rights and
efficiency in service, Is one of the
greatest problems of law and of
administration to be found in any
government. The farms, the cities
and the people who live along the
many thousands of miles of this
river and its tributaries all depend
for their permanence in value upon
the conservation. the regulation
and the equitable division of its
ever-changing water supply.
What has been accomplished on
the Colorado in working out such
a scheme of distribution is inspir-
ing. Through the cooperation of
the States whose people depend
upon this river and of the Federal
Government, which is concerned in
the general welfare, there is being
constructed system of distributive
works Of laws and practices which
will insure to the millions of people
who now dwell in this basin and
the millions of others who will
come to dwell here in future gen.
erations. just, safe and perma-
nent system of water rights. In
devising these policies and the
means Of putting them into prac-
tice, the Bureau Of Reclamation
has taken, and is destined to take
In the future, leading and helpful
part. The bureau has been the in
strument which gave effect to the
legislation introduced in Con-
gress by Senator Hiram johnson
and Congressman Phil Swing.
Unregulated River
Often Brought Disaster.
AS an unregulated river, the
Colorado added little of value to
the region this dam serves. When
in flood the river was a threaten
ing torrent. In the dry months OF
the year it shrank to a trickling
stream. For a generation the peo-
pile Of Imperial Valley had lived in
the shadow of disaster from the
river which provided their liveli-
hood. and which is the foundation
of their hopes for themselves and
their children. Every Spring they
waited with dread the coming OF a
flood. and nearly every Autumn
they feared a shortage OF water
would destroy their crops.
The gates of the diversion tun-
nels we're closed here at Boulder
Dam last February. In June
great flood came down the river.
It came roaring down the canyons
Of the Colorado. through Grand
CANYON, Iceberg and Boulder Can
yons, but it was caught and safely
held behind Boulder Dam.
Last year a drought OF unprece-
dented severity was visited upon
the West. The watershed of the
Colorado River did not escape. In
July the canals of the Imperial VAL
lev went dry Crop losses in that
valley alone totaled 100000 600.
Had Boulder Dam been completed
one year earlier, this loss would
have been prevented. because the
Spring flood could have been stored
to furnish a steady water supply
for the long, dry Summer and
Fall.
Southern California
Constructs Aqueducts.
Across the San Jacinto Noun
tains. southwest of Boulder Dam,
the cities Of Southern California
are constructing an aqueduct to
cost 1920, ,000,0 600, which they have
raised. for the purpose of carrying
the regulated waters of the Colo
RADIO to the Pacific Coast, 259 miles
away.
Across the desert and mountains
10 the West and South run great
electric transmission lines by which
factory motors, street and house,
hold lights and irrigation pumps
will be operated in Southern Ari-
sona and California. Part OF this
power will be used in pumping the
water through the aqueduct to
supplement the domestic supplies
of Los Angeles and surrounding
cities.
Navigation Of the river from
Boulder Dam to the Grand Canyon
has been made possible, ll5-mile
stretch that has been traversed
less than half a dozen times in
history. An immense new park
has been created for the enjoyment
Of all our people.
Cost Of Sos. .ooo,o0o
To Be Repaid in so Years.
At what cost was this done?
Boulder Dam and the power houses
together cost a total Of $108, ,000, 900,
all of which will be repaid with
interest in so years under the con-
tracts for sale OF the power. Under
these contracts, already completed,