The Imperial press., 1904-08-27

last few months that the government had formulated plans tor operating on : the Colorado River, under the terms ' and provisions of the Reclamation Act, and tlfat the successful com pletiOn of it's : plans would necessarily interfere with ' the ultimate and complete success of the work of the C. D. Co.,, and that fur- thermore the government was willing to include the Valley in it's original plans for it's work on the river, then the people united to agreeing that the best interests of all concerned demanded the purchase of the C. D. Co. properties, aud governmental aid and control for the completion of the work here. For as between National and private owner ship of the waters of the Colorado River when those two enterprises cannot con tinue to exist without conflict, there can be no choice for the people.
 If the government controls the Colo radO River the people of Imperial Val ley must have their part in the benefit tO be derived from it's works. Anything else means an inevitable attack upon their right tO the Use of water from the River. and limitation placed upon the future growth and development of this region. If then We concede that the situation demands the purchase of the canal system of the C. D. Co.,, in order to bring about government ownership and control, We would expect the Inl- perial Valley Water Users Association to proceed in one of two ways, viz: by cOnpemnation proceedings instituted by proper authorities or by negotiation of price.
 IL i- sufIicieht to say for the first al- ternative that no such proceeding could be brought against the C.. D. Go. be- cause the main canal system lies in Mexico and is not amenable to the laws of this country. Mr. Heber's company holds the key to the situation; the water for the use of this Valley must be brought through his lands in Mexico. The only other route possible, by reason of the contiguration of the land, would be twelye-mile tunnel through shifting sand hills, which could not be constructed, 90 government experts say, short of an expenditure of SIG, 900 900.
 The Water Users Association was then compelled to rely on the second method of procedure Measured by the strength of MT. Heber's position, and the un- doubte'i great expectant earnings to be derived by his Company by furnishing water to 22O, acres of land at fifty cents ger acre foot, g ,0O0, 900 is not such an unreasonable sum to exact III payment for his expenditure, his busi- ness foresight and his right to reason able profit. Measured by the necessity of the people of the Valley, present and future, and by their ability to pay, by their freedom from the burden of water rentals at the rate of fifty cents per acre foot, and the security to their water rights, the sum to be paid Is a mere bagatelle.
 \ negotiated price must necessarily be compromise price. Let this be said for the work of the Water Users Association. NIT. Heber lowered his original price more than the Association raised it's offer. Neither party could reasonably expect the other to concede all the difference between them.
 The people realize as did their repre- sentatives, that in the ten to twelve years or more which will elapse before the amount advanced by the govern ment for the purchase of the property of the C. D. Co. must be repaid, they will save enough in water rentals which would have been paid to the Company to pay the price agreed on twice over.
 In other words, ii the California De- velopment Company remains m owner shin, and is able to fulfil it's contracts to ! tha raoDle the peODle will nav tO the