THE HOOVER DAM

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 123, 27 May 1933, Page 15

THE HOOVER DAM

A GIGANTIC SCHEME

RAISING THE COLORADO.

WATER FOR CALIFORNIA

The United States Government is at present engaged upon one of the greatest engineering projects ever attempted. This-is the tremendous "Hoover Dam," formerly known, as "Boulder Dam," on tlie border between the States of Nevada and Arizona. This project, which will cost in all 365,000,000 dollars, has several purposes. It will include a hydro-electric power plant generating a maximum of 1,800,000 horse-power. It involves protecting ' the regions along tho liower part of tho Colorado Eiver from the danger of flood. It will provide water for the sea-coast cities of Southern California. It will control the amount of silt carrioa by the river (says the "Manchester Guardian"). Though the, project was originally known as "Boulder Dam," tho actual structure will bo some distance from Boulder Canyon, in Black Canyon, about 100 miles north of the spot where tho State boundaries of California, Novada, and Arizona meet, At this point, between tho towering1 walls of tho Colorado Eiver, the huge dam is being constructed. It is 730 ft high and 1180 ft in length, and it 'will raise the surface of the river 582 ft. The.dam will require 4,400,000 cubic yards of cement, and will create a reservoir Covering 227 square miles with enough water to submerge the entire State of Connecticut tea feet deep. ENDING A PERIL. The dam will remove the peril which at present hangs over the Imperial Valloy, in Southern California, of another disastrous flood such as took --place thirty years ago. Part of tho project is the'improvement of navigation on, the lower reaches of the Colorado. At present irrigation canals • bringing water to American, farms pass through Mexican territory, and to prevent this situation, which might be. dangerous in time of war, an "All American Canal" is planned to parallel the border on its northern side. Tho aqueduct, taking water to the fast-growing and parched cities of which Los Angeles is the chief, is not a part of the Federal project. Hoover Dam and the other plans already mentioned will cost 165,000,000 dollars, and the other 200,000,000 dollars will be spent by California on the- aqueduct, bringing 1500 cubic feet of water per second across 265 miles of semi-desert and through one range of mountains. Negotiations over Hoover Dam are more than ten years old. The Colorado Biver touches seven States, all of them arid, and its water is their life-blood. Not unnaturally, they were suspicious of every.plan which might reduce the. amount of water any one of them, would receive., A compact was signed in 1922, and a Commission set up to study the question. This Commission divided water rights equally between the upper' basin States—Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Neiy Mexico—-and those iii tlie lower basin—Nevada, Arizona, and California. Arizona still objects to the settlement, and the matter will finally be thrashed out in tho courts. A WORKMEN'S CITY. The spot where- the dam is being constructed was a desolate piece of desert country when work began, and it was nocesaary to build a city where the workmen might live. This new town was planned and erected by the United States Government, and is a complete community with a population which averages 3000 persons. Electricity is brought to the town (until tho dam is completed) a distance of 235 miles from San Bernardino, California. The Union Pacific Railroad built a branch line twenty-two miles long, the United States Government added, tea miles more, and the State of Nevada constructed twenty-three miles of highway. . The town's water supply is brought nearly seven, miles, and because of its silt and saltiness it has to undergo expensive treatment before it is fit for use. The engineers are confident, however, that the water which will be sent to Los Angeles will be satisfactory. The dam which is named after him has been a chief interest of Mr. Hoover both during his eight years as Secretary of Commerce and during his four years in the Presidency. Mr. Hoover, it is well known, is strongly opposed to the Government ownership and operation of public utilities; and this fact has led to several bitter disputes in regard to the project. Many persons wanted the dam, to.. be built by the Government engineers, who have produced many other important works, including the Panama Canal. > Mr. Hoover insisted, however, and tho work is being done privately by a group of contracting firms of San Francisco. SALE OF POWER. , Another dispute arose regarding the manufacture and sale. of the hydroelectric power which will be one of the important by-products. American Liberals urged, that the Government should itself sell this power, as a wholesome example to profiteering private companies, such as President Roosevelt proposes to make out of Muscle Shoals. Mr. Hoover had his way and the power is being sold to private companies, who will, of course, resell it at the highest price they are able to' charge. Though this project is now called Hoover Dam, there is a strong likelihood that it will finally revert to its original name of Boulder Dam. No legal action was ever taken to confirm the altered title. "When work began in 1930 Dr. Kay Lyman Wilbur, president of Stanford University and at that timo'Socretary of the Interior, presided at the ceremonies. On his own authority h6 announcod that tho project would be known, henceforth as Hoover Dam. Mr. Hoover is, however, intensely' unpopular with the present Congress, and it is not at all unlikely that a law may be passed confirming the original title.