AZ vs. CA:09 California Exhibits, Vol. IX; Nos. 400-457

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assume the obligation of reimbursing the Government for the cost of the project with interest, will undoubtedly be a public district comprising a large group of cities in southern California, which will contract both for storage of water at the dam, with its delivery at a point on the river, and also for a large block of the power necessary to pump a domestic water supply to an elevation of 1,200 or 1,300 feet, in order to get the water over a pass into southern California. Second, the project is so shaped that it will make possible the securing of a domestic water supply. Other plans of development tentatively suggested have not been adequate to this end. The coastal belt in southern California, having a population at present of nearly 2,000,000, is fast reaching the limit of its available domestic supply, and careful investigations have shown that the populous cities of this coastal plain, including the city of Los Angeles, must for their own security acquire an added source of domestic water supply, and that the Colorado presents the only place where this may be secured. Some years ago the city of Los Angeles went to Owens Valley and constructed a great aqueduct 240 miles in length to augment local sources. Even this added supply is not proving sufficient for the needs of that city. Nearly three years ago that city voted a bond issue of $2,000,000 for preliminary surveys and investigations respecting the securing of a supply from the Colorado River, and a large part of this money has been expended, and the work done has established the feasibility of the plan, if and provided there is large storage of the flood waters of the river.