Southold High School - Snuffbox Yearbook (Southold, NY)

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THE SNUFF BOX 100,000,000. This valley during May, June and July of each year is threatened by destruction by flood and in September and October is threatened by drought. Part of the Boulder Dam project is concerned with the construction of a canal entirely on United States soil. Originally, in order to avoid prohibitive cost of construction, the canal which now provides a water supply for Imperial Valley was built on the United States side of the boundary line, but passing immediately into the Republic of Mexico, through which it runs for a distance of sixty miles before recrossing the international boundary. The seriousness of the situation may be realized by the fact that, if the supply of water delivered by this canal were interfered with for only a few days, Imperial Valley would not only be faced with financial ruin from the destruction of all crops, but the people themselves would have to move from the valley as no other source of water is available, even for drinking purposes. Under the plan developed for the canal, it was proposed to divert the water at Laguna Dam, located some twelve miles above the city of Yuna. This diversion and grade of canal would be so constructed that some 500,000 acres of additional land may eventually be placed under cultivation. This necessitates that the canal be considerably larger than the present canal which passes through Mexico. The canal will not only guarantee a water supply to Imperial Valley, but will, in conjunction with Boulder Canyon reservoir, make it possible for the American land owners in Mexico to develop a million acres of land below the border without affecting land owners in the United States. The total cost of the entire project has been estimated to be about 125,000,000, of which 41,500,000 will be expended for the dam itself, 31,000,000 for the canal, and 31,500,000 for the water power development. Other expenses of construction, including interest during the development of the project, will bring the total bill to the amount stated above, which has been appropriated. Because the Colorado River is an interstate and international stream, and since the proposed site of Boulder Dam is on the boundary between Arizona and Nevada, thereby affecting the interests of more than one state, the Federal Government is the logical agney to undertake this project. Federal Government officials, whose duties have brought them into a close study of the Colorado River problem, were unanimous in their conclusion that immediate legislative steps should be taken to curb the flood-mad waters of the great river. Every phase of the problem has been surveyed, investigated, and considered most thoroughly by the nation’s most competent authorities. These authorities agreed that the time for action had arrived—action by Congress that will accomplish the Conquest of the Colorado River. M. E. H. ’29 18

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THE SNUFF BOX BOULDER DAM Captain Hernando de Alarcon set forth upon the waters of the Gulf of California in 1540 in search of the Seven Cities of Cibola. He never found the Seven Cities, but in his course, he discovered a great river known today as the Colorado. This untamed river has been the natural enemy of man. The Colorado is an ever increasing flood menace and a notorious waster of its precious cargo of water, so desperately needed in the region through which it passes. In recent years the Federal Government has turned its attention to the Colorado. A careful and thorough survey of this has been completed by the Department of the Interior, and from this survey there has been evolved a definite and complete plan known as the Boulder Dam Project, whereby this growing flood menace may be transformed into a great natural resource. The Colorado River rises in the high mountains of Colorado and Wyoming. It flows through these states and the states of Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California, forming part of the boundary between Arizona and Nevada, and between Arizona and California. Flowing some fifty miles through Mexico, it discharges into the Gulf of California. The rim of the upper drainage basin of the river is composed of high mountain ranges, the lower portion of the basin being composed of hot arid plains, while the central portion consists of a high plateau, through which the river runs for hundreds of miles in a deep and narrow canyon. The topography of the country is such that one section through which the Colorado River flows is threatened in times of high water by serious floods, while another section is subject to long periods of droughts. The engineers who have investigated these sections have agreed that a dam across the Colorado will correct both of these conditions as well as provide a much needed domestic water supply for cities on the Pacific Coast. It will also improve navigation, safeguard interstate commerce and protect Government property. One of the sections of the Colorado basin in which drought conditions prevail throughout most of the year is known as Imperial Valley. This valley lies in the southeasterly portion of California. On the south it is bounded by the Mexican line; its easterly edge being about forty miles west of the Colorado River. Centuries ago Imperial Valley was the northerly end of the Gulf of California, but the tremendous quantities of silt carried by the river gradually built a great delta across the gulf. Thus Imperial Valley lies like a great saucer with the Colorado running along its rim. The valley secures its sole water supply from the Colorado River by means of a canal which starts from the river just above the boundary and runs thence for many miles through Mexico before re-entering the United States. Imperial Valley has a population of 65,000 people, six well-built, incorporated cities, over 400,000 acres of cultivated farms, and property values of over 17

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THE SNUFF BOX FRIVOLITY AND FATE For generations the Scranton family had considered frivolity ill becoming to a woman. All of the sisters of the Reverend Mr. Scranton had been serious minded—pioneer women, physicians, women collegians, missionaries, and the like. Now the Reverend Mr. Scranton and his wife were rejoicing over the fact that already three angelic daughters had lived up to the family tradition. Ruth, the eldest, had become a missionary; Helen, a prominent woman suffragist; and Pauline, a professor of science in a large western college. The fourth daughter, Rosalind, who was now attending Ardsley College, was the youngest of the four girls and the pride of both father and mother. Surely she would have some great work planned, which would undoubtedly surpass all the rest. Re. and Mrs. Scranton had not seen Rosalind for nearly a whole year as she had spent both the Christmas and the Spring vacations at the home of her room-mate, Angela Smythe. The month of June, the month when school would close, could not fly fast enough for Rev. and Mrs. Scranton, so great were their anticipations to have with them once more their beloved daughter. For several months Mrs. Scranton had been making plans for their daughter’s home-coming—the beneficial things she could do during the summer months, the Sunday School class that she could take charge of. Then, too, arrangements were being made whereby Rosalind should continue some of her missionary work. At last, that long-anticipated day of days arrived. Barely had the train come to a stop alongside the little station when a slip of a girl not more than twenty-two bounded gleefully from the steps of the train into the arms of an anxious mother and father. Surely it was as she had always done, but still, Rosalind had changed so in appearance that everything seemed radically different. She seemed to have stepped from a fashion plate. Her smart tailored ensemble, the nifty little hat, and the neatly shod feet, all seemed to radiate worldliness. How Rosalind had planned and dreamed about the homecoming and the meeting of her old school chums. How she had thrilled at the thought of creating a sensation in town! Now she was home—and two solid months of recreation before her. Needless to say, the Scrantons were horribly shocked at their daughter’s frivolity and immediately took prompt counsel together concerning the possibilities of her reformation. After you have spoken to Rosalind regarding her future purpose in life,’’ said Mrs. Scranton, I shall appeal to her about her dress. She has steadfastly refused to teach the Sunday School class and seems to take no interest whatsoever in our missionary work. I believe that it has been very unwise for us to allow her to spend her vacations away from home, and also to attend to the buying of her clothes, but I had actually believed that now was the best time for her to be independent 19