For several years the Congress has considered the erection of a dam on the
Colorado River for flood-control, irrigation, and domestic water purposes,
all of which ma properly be considered as Government functions. There would
be an incidental creation of water power which could be used for generating
electricity. As private enterprise can very well fill this field, there is
no need for the Government to go into it. It is unfortunate that the States
interested in this water have been unable to agree among themselves.
Nevertheless, any legislation should give every possible safeguard to the
present and prospective rights of each of them.
The Congress will have before it, the detailed report of a special board
appointed to consider the engineering and economic feasibility of this
project. From the short summary which I have seen of it, 11 judge they
consider the engineering problems can be met at somewhat increased cost
over previous estimates. They prefer the Black Canyon site. On the economic
features they are not so clear and appear to base their conclusions on many
conditions which can not be established with certainty. So far as I can
judge, however, from the summary, their conclusions appear sufficiently
favorable, so that I feel warranted in recommending a measure which will
protect the rights of the States, discharge the necessary Government
functions, and leave the electrical field to private enterprise.