Show representative HAMMOND AT SANTA FE URGES DEWEY DAM BE INCLUDED IN COLORADO RIVER development grand county legislator insists that utah should demand her rightful share of benefits to come from big development utah should insist on the protection of her rights in connection with the colorado river development and the construction of the proposed dewey dam above moab before or concurrently with the construction of the boulder dam would preserve these rights and place this state in a position to compete with the development that is sure to follow in the lower basin states in the opinion of W D hammond of moab representative from grand county to the state legislature mr hammond is a member of the committee of the utah state legislature who are attending the tri state conference at santa fe N M called to iron out the difference between the lower basin states mr hammond has made a serious study of the boulder dam project and feels that utah should not be neglectful of the opportunity now presented to insist on the protection of her rights in the river in a letter to the times independent written from santa fe mr hammond outlines his views and undoubtedly these views will be shared by the people of grand county whom he represents mr hammond s letter which will be perused with interest by almes in dependent readers follows santa fe N M feb 17 1929 mr L L taylor moab utah dear loren you have probably noted that I 1 was named on the legai dative committee appointed to listen in at the tri state conference now being held here at santa fe senate A B irvane was chosen as our chairman and s agn fir f utah is concerned 1 I personally feel that utah has been neglectful in this great scheme of colorado river development known as the seven basin states to make clear my meaning it will be necessary to consider just what we are getting under the swing johnson bill as corn pared with other states we musi acknowledge that california is th state that will receive the greatest immediate benefit of course utah along with the other three upper basin states by virtue of either a six or seven state compact does preserve her water rights in this we are not gaining anything that is not rightfully ours but we do protect these rights As to power where do we stand california derives practically the entire benefit lower california has been built up because of its water and cheap power with the extremely low priced power she would receive from the boulder dam california will actually draw from our population which is already too small manufacturing concerns of all descriptions script ions will go to california because of cheap power so tar as utah Is concerned there is only one way in which she can compete with california that is to have the dams at dewey and flaming gorge built either before or concurrently with the boulder dam it has been shown by very good authority that the dam at dewey would be good business tor the government because this dam could be built at a very reasonable cost thereby providing flood control to such an extent that the cost of constructing boulder dam would be greatly lessened this saving at boulder dam would be in the construction of the cotter dams and the bypass by pass tunnels the plans call for four bypass by pass tunnels perhaps two such tunnels would suffice it the dewey dam were constructed and of course the cost of the boulder dam itself would be reduced just in proportion to the control ot terpe by virtue of the dewey dam it is my contention that we as delegation should at this conference ask the operation cooperation co of the other states in securing such an amendment to the swing johnson bill as would include the building of the dewey and flaming gorge dams before I 1 could vote tor a six state ratification I 1 would want to feel sure that every effort had been made to secure for utah at least one of the abovementioned above mentioned dams utah more industries more industries mean more people more people with more and greater industries mean prosperity and this whole needed program depends on cheap power 1 I could not vote tonight tor ratification tomorrows outcome might change my mind I 1 dont mean that the six state compact would not be better than nothing but I 1 do mean that utah should tight tor her rights to the last ditch we are trading for future generations and unless we fight tor our rights we will be condemned 1 I think this program ought not to be held up just because we want but it looks to me as though in order to satisfy arizona and california it may be necessary to amend the swing johnson bill in that event we surely should be to offer an amendment such as 1 have mentioned california Is somewhat worried about utah and it seems to me that the opportune time Is at hand to ask for what we want wo could lose nothing and if we could gain our point utah would indeed be in i position to compete in a small way at least with california this must be tiresome to you so I 1 had better get off the boulder dam santa pe Is indeed an interesting city not large population about but with a real history it is the second oldest town in the U S they claim the oldest church in the U S the typical mexican architecture Is interesting santa fe Is a tourist city the stores are tilled with souvenirs and junk after tomorrows meeting I 1 may write you something of the outcome i remember me to my friends yours very truly W D HAMMOND |