The Imperial press., 1904-12-17


 very free expression of opinion then regarding the agreement which was presented by Mir. Holt. The general expression was as above given, that it did not bind the government, that 1t was necessary some agreement be made and peace secured or whirlwind of disaster would overtake the Imperial Valley and we would all go down in ruin together. Also that it did not bind us to do anything more than pass it up to the government. Dr. Lombard was the last man of all to sign. Mr. Emerson and himself and myself went to another place and Mir. Emerson spent more than an hour explaining the agreement to the Doctor, in several instances changing the wording of 1t and in others personally guaranteeing that certain provisions meant certain things. After very carefully going over the agreement in this way NIT. Finer son, Dr. Lombard and myself returned to Mir. EmersOns office. where the Doctor and myself signed the agreement as amended and explained by Mir. Emerson.
 In this connection I cannot refrain from stating that Willis George Emer- son is one of the most astute judges of human nature that 1 have ever met. He is tactful, resourceful, a polished gentleman withal, and of most magnetic presence. Being of exceptionally strong personality himself he is quick to detect the weakness of others. | distinctly remember that upon the signing of this agreement by Dr. Lombard and myself MT. Emerson congratulated the Water Users Association on having shaved two million dollars off the price that Mir. Heber first asked and sad that he had no doubt the government would shave off another million or two.
 In explaining the agreement and urging Dr. Lombard and myself to sign it, Mir. Emersom's strongest arguments were his heavy interests in the towns of the Valley and the disaster that would fall on all with cessation of negotia- tians, which would mean the abandon ment of the effort for government owner ship and the beginning of damage suits against the c. D. Co. He severely criticised Mir. Heber for his attitude and said that he did not act like the Harry Heber of former years.
 On August 23rd there was a meeting of the Water Users Association held in Imperial, at which the agreement with Mir. Heber was adapted and public meeting at which it was ratified. That evening Dr. Lombard, in order to make sure that the spirit in which the agree ment was entered into be not lost sight of, prepared the following letter, which was signed by the six members of the Water Users Association, whose names are given below:
 IMPERIAL, CAL, August g, 1904. MR. J. B. LIPPENCoTT, Resident Engineer
 U. $. Geological Survey, Los Angeles
 California
 My DEAR SRI learn from Mir. Ward that you had recently taken up the consideration of the situation at lm- perial with Mr. Newell to see if you can assist us in effecting a solution of our difficulties. trust that the result of our recent negotiations with the C. D. Go. will not hamper your future actions in the least, as our recommendation of a three million price for the C. D. Co. s holdings does not express that we con slider proper valuation of the property, although we would rather be compelled to pay it than lose government owner ship of the system. We expect now that this formality, the result of our best endeavors to obtain purchase price from the C. D. Go. having been