Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1906-07-05


tions with Mexico in short time. il
such negotiations have not actually
been opened. Reports from the govern
ment engineers and from officials of the
Southern Pacific company agree that
| the Colorado is now on the most dan.
gerous and destructive rampage in its
history, and no one can fortell where
the trouble will end.
The Yuma irrigation project is in.
volved on account of the threatened de-
struction of the Laguna dam through
the erosion of waters. The entire river
is flowing in enormous volume into Sal
ton sink, and Salton sea is rising at the
rate of six inches a day, and now COW
ers 365 square miles. The Southern Pa
cific tracks will have to be moved if
| the food continues, and conferences
have been held in New York within the
past three days between the govern.
ment engineers and E. H. Hartman,
with view to devising plans for curb
ing the ravages of the river.
The reclamation service has made a
report to the president through Secre-
tary Hitchcock, suggesting such remedy
which will require cooperation of the
Mexican government. The report points
out that the entire trouble has been
caused by the diversion of the river
just below the international boundary
line, which resulted in a permanent
channel being cut into Salton sink and
the abandonment by the river of its
old channel to the gulf.
Reclamation officials assert that this
diversion was authorized by Mexico
contrary to treaty stipulation, and that
the Mexican government shouldsbe held
responsible for the threatened destruc.
tion of the government irrigation pro-
ject near Yuma. In view of the dam
age already done, and in view of the
damage that threatens 5000 American
citizens and $1O.O00,OOO worth of prop
e-ty in the Imperial country, the re-
clamation service suggests that Mexico
be asked to grant right of way to
the United States for a canal along the
general route of the present main chan.
mel through Mexican territory, to
point where the river re-enters the
United States. If such right of way is
granted, it is then suggested that this
government take charge of the entire
Imperial irrigation system, and take
steps to control the river and turn it
back into the old channel leading to the
gulf. This work will benefit Mexico as
well as the United States by preventing
further disastrous incursions of the
river.
In case the government undertakes !
the task of controlling the river, the
first step will be to build retaining ]
likes just below Laguna dam, to pre-
vent it washing out as il now threat
EMS. A dam will then be constructed at
The intake of the proposed canal, and
likes run down the river in such fash
on as gradually to throw it back into
is old channel.
The president now has the report and !
of the reclamation
Ierviee under advisement, and may de-
ide to instruct ambassador Thompson
o open negotiations with the Mexican
government. This course is heartily
Ipproved, it is said, by the Southern
'acifc company, which was badly beat
n in its recent struggle with the river.
The railroad company, it is understood,
an secure reversion of the Imperial
ystem to the government whenever de-
ired, and may do 80 for a very low
Igure in order to save its other inter
SITS.
The people of Calexico have built I
likes eighteen feet high to keep the I
liver out, an the river is now cutting
deep channel that win leave Calexico
ixty or eighty feet up in the air. I
Reclamation engineers report that the /
iver is rapidly cutting through from I
be old channel to Salton sink, which 7
I'LL soon be 25O feet deep. This chan j
el, which is really a canyon, was $50 i
set wide at the point of diversion, and
le efforts of the people there to shunt
back resulted in widening the river
, over half mile. Engineers report
lat private control of the Colorado is
upossible. The Southern Pacific has
lrown up its hands and is now consid- I
ing the question Of building a hun \
red miles of track through the hills, I
view of the possible filing Of the 3
alton sink TO sea level. I
II the Colorado should I'LL the sink 70 A
10 sea level about 1000 square miles
n n M - l.