The Imperial press., 1905-08-05

belief. There are other, however, who do not think so and believe the water flowing i'll the lower intake will increase till the entire flow of the river will be diverted and carried to the saltOn sea and none go to the Gulf of California.
 There are all kinds of stories and speculation rife in Yuma as to con ditions and possible results of the vari- ous moves that are being made by the different parties i'll interest Ill thls matter. Yuma people sympathize heartily with the farmers and pioneers of Imperial Valley and earnestly wish that events would so shape themselves as to bring Imperial Valley under the Laguna dam and make 1t an integral part of the Yuma project. They are also very much exercised over the possibility of the Southern Pacific track i'll the Salton sink becoming impassa- ble. This latter is now being remedied by the building of "shOo-fy" or dupll- cate track around the submerged DOT tion, on higher ground.
 The first proposition, however, IS one uf those matters that seems to be pro- gresslng i'll it's own way. Tine Colorado river may work out it's own problems faster than any amount Of schemlng. It is pointed out that the Southern Pacific could close the Mexican intake with far less expense than they can move their track. that they are at an expense of $2000 per day to keep the road open down there and are com : pelled to neglect much work that IS needed to be done in other places. Also, they are running the risk Of having the entire river flow into the Salton sink untill next November and may have to move their track the second time to keep out of the water. It is also mentioned that the Consulting Board of Engineers of the Reclamation Service Was III session at San Francisco last week considering ways and means by which the Colorado river could be controlled and prevented from wasting into SaltOn sink. And again. the treaty between Mexico and the United States established a point on the Colorado river twenty miles below it's confluence with the Gile as the point where the international boundary strikes said river. In case the river changes from running into the Gulf of California and debouches into Salton Sea, large
 
 ferred to Arizona, and already enter prising iumaites are figuring on jumping claims" Ill the new territory ill case the river changes it's course as above indicated. That the land referred to would belong to the United States is evident, for since the treaty was made in 1853 the changes in the river channel have given Arizona several thousand 0k ho Hn
 There are parties who wisely shake their heads and insist that there are wires pulling in this matter that no one can discover from the surface and that i'll the final show down Uncle Sam will be found to have the trump card that will take the trick. However, whether or not these wiseacres know what they are talking about or whether or not there is anything iH any of their speculations, is of very little moment to the people of Imperial Valley, or ! those who expect to cast their lot among us.
 There is no doubt whatever that our 1 river channels will carry any possible flow of the Colorado river between now and next April, so that even if the worst should happen and the entire flow of the river be diverted by the Imperial canal it could not possibly damage any of our farms
 The new headgate will most assuredly be i'll position long before that time, and 1 there will as certainly come fortuitous low stage to the river, during which time the old channel can be closed and the water put under control. The twelve miles of levee can be built before high water next year.
 The eupprr intakeat Hanlon's can be put Ill at any time as the water does not Interfere with work there. Aud while all this is going forward, if the amount of water flowing into the Salton sea causes 1t l., rise till the Southern Pacific has to move it's tracks again, they will assuredly be able to do SO. In the meantime, with the abundance of water ] flowing through our Valley, we will assuredly have no shortage and our peo- pie can go ahead and prepare their fields and SOW their crops, secure i'll the knowl- e-ige that the water supply will be ample In the meantime, should events take such turn as to remove the obstacles in the way of government ownership, our people will be found ready for the change and welcome it with ioyfnl hearts.
 In it- issue If July 2S the BrawIey News, Whicil i@ believed to be well in. f"rmed regarding such matters, makes statements which indicate that govern ment ownership is hOre,l for in quarters